Regnum, Russia
Dec 1 2006

Armenian-Russian extended meeting is being held in Moscow

Issues of the Armenian-Russian cooperation first of all in trade
relations are the subject of a meeting of governmental delegations of
Russia and Armenia in Moscow. The Armenian delegation headed by Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan arrived in Moscow to participate in an
extended meeting with Russian colleagues and will further go to St.
Petersburg, where a ceremony of closing the Year of Armenia in
Russia.

As a REGNUM correspondent informs, opening the meeting, Russian Prime
Minister Mikhail Fradkov announced that the Armenian side has a very
busy schedule in Moscow, despite the fact that the main aim of their
visit is participation in the ceremony of closing the Year of Armenia
in Russia. `We focus upon issues of trade and economic cooperation,’
the Russian prime minister stressed.

In his turn, his Armenian counterpart Andranik Margaryan said that
effective cooperation is being developed between the two countries;
he expressed confidence in continuing such relations. `The political
dialog, economic and humanitarian cooperation have promoted
improvement of relations between our countries,’ he stressed.
Speaking on the Year of Armenia in Russia, the Armenian prime
minister noted that the countries did a good job.

Hurriyet, Turkey
Dec 1 2006

Extra security precautions for Pope disrupt daily life in Istanbul

Istanbul’s Chief of Police, Celalettin Cerrah, commented yesterday on
the disruption to Istanbul residents’ daily life resulting from the
extraordinary security preacautions taken due to the papal visit this
week, noting "In every country in the world, there are precautions
taken when such visitors arrive. Istanbul’s residents are sensitive
to this fact."

Walking to work

Yesterday morning, due to the closures of the very central Istanbul
boulevards of Halaskargazi, Cumhuriyet and Tarlabasi in order to
allow the passage of the papal convoy, thousands of people reached
their homes and work places on foot.

Close control

Pope Benedict XVI arrived at the Vatican residence on Harbiye’s Olcek
Sokak only after close control and careful searches of homes and
businesses in the surrounding area.

Municipality street cleaners out in force

Street cleaners working for the Sisli Municipality swept through the
area around the Pope’s residence prior to his arrival, cleaning and
gathering all of the leaves which had fallen from the trees.

Sharp shooters on the rooves

Sharp shooters were placed by security forces on the rooves of
buildings surrounding the Armenian Patriarchate yesterday, with
additional security support provided by a police helicopter from
above.

AzerTag, Azerbiajan
Dec 1 2006

FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH HEAD OF OSCE OFFICE IN BAKU
[December 01, 2006, 14:40:27]

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with Maurizio
Pavesi as the latter recently completed his tenure as Head of the
OSCE Office in Baku, press service of the Ministry said.

Mr. Mammadyarov and Mr. Pavesi discussed current state of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations over Nagorno Karabakh as well
as Azerbaijan-OSCE cooperation, and social and economic reforms in
the country.

Maurizio Pavesi said he welcomes the level of Azerbaijani
government’s cooperation with OSCE during his tenure.

The Italian diplomat also said he believes the bilateral ties between
Azerbaijan and his country will further deepen.

Elmar Mammadyarov informed Maurizio Pavesi about the outcomes of the
meetings of Presidents and foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and
Armenia, which took place recently on the sidelines of the summit
meeting of the heads of CIS member states in Minsk.

Elmar Mammadyarov stressed the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute should be
solved only in accordance with international norms and the principle
of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

TREND, Azerbiajan
Dec 1 2006

`Window of Possibilities’ in Peaceful Negotiations over
Nagorno-Karabakh Still Open: Armenian Foreign Minister

Source: Trend
Author: Trend

01.12.2006

Vardan Oskanyan, Armenia’s Foreign Minister, has claimed in Yerevan
today that `controversies concerning both principles of the peaceful
agreement and its nuances still remain in the negotiations over the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement’, Trend reports.

Mediamax News Agency reports that answering questions put by
journalists during today’s press conference in Yerevan, the Head of
the Armenian Foreign Office pointed out that a `window of
possibilities’ for settling the Karabakh issue was likely to remain
opened in 2007 as well.

Mr. Oskanyan said that in the near future, the Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents would give concrete instructions to their
Foreign Ministers to continue the peaceful negotiations. `We can
state, with confidence, that the process is not in a dead alley, said
Mr. Oskanyan.

Commenting upon the fact that officially Baku continues to call the
observation of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity as the basis of the
settlement process, and Yerevan’s insistence on the right of the
people of Nagorno-Karabakh on self-determination, Mr. Oskanyan
claimed that `this issue could be settled only via a referendum that
was pointed out in the document that both parties were discussing
presently.

According to the Armenian Minister, since both parties could not
achieve a final agreement concerning the holding of the referendum,
it is too early to speak about the details. At the same time, Mr.
Oskanyan pointed out that `the referendum would be held on the
territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, and only those people who had lived
there or were still residing there would have the right to take part
in it’.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND, Azerbiajan
Dec 1 2006

Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict May be Resolved Only within Framework of
Territorial Integrity of Azerbaijan – Azeri Foreign Minister

Source: Trend
Author: S.Agayeva

01.12.2006

The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict may be resolved
only within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
and international standards and principles, the Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, stated at the time of the meeting with
the member of the House of Lords of the British Parliament, Baroness
Detta O’Cathain, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry.

The Armenian lobbyists who are conducting propaganda of a slanderous
nature adversely affect the negotiations process to settle the
conflict, the Minister stated.

The meeting focused on the globalization, economical projects
realized in the region, and its fight against international
terrorism, etc.

Today, Azerbiajan
Dec 1 2006

Vahit Erdem: "Special attention will be paid to Georgia and
Azerbaijan at NATO summits"

01 December 2006 [14:21] – Today.Az

"Decisions were taken in NATO Prague and Istanbul summits to
strengthen the struggle against new dangers.

"Riga summit decided to continue this policy persistently," Vahit
Erdem, Member of Turkish Grand National Assembly and Vice President
of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, AKP parliamentarian told the APA
Turkish bureau.

He said that the decision was taken to make NATO’s quick reaction
alert forces effective in early 2007. "The army consisting of land,
air and sea forces will reach the region and will be able to fight
for 30 days without any help. Turkey took the commitment to sent 2000
soldiers to this army. Besides, Turkey supported NATO’s strengthening
in Afghanistan. While adding the paragraph concerning the territorial
integrity of Georgia to the final declaration, Turkish delegation
insisted in adding Azerbaijan to the document. Treatment of the
territorial integrity of all South Caucasian countries – Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Armenia with respect was reflected in the document," he
said.

Vahit Erdem explained the decision on the continuation of NATO’s open
door policy. "Preparations of Ukraine and Georgia for the
organization membership and membership of Albania, Macedonia and
Croatia in 2008 were considered expedient within this framework.
Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina will participate in NATO’s
Partnership for Peace program. Of course, with acceleration of
Georgia’s membership to NATO, it is necessary for Azerbaijan to join
this process. The important problem is Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
the problem with Armenia," Vahit Erdem said.
Vahit Erdem said the U.S. Great Middle East project was approved in
Riga summit.

"This project is closely connected with South Caucasus and Central
Asia. I think special attention will be paid to Georgia and
Azerbaijan in the next NATO summits. Armenia has special relations
with Russia; Russia has military bases in this country. Azerbaijan
has very good relations with the US and Azerbaijan’s being an
important country in energy questions will influence the change of
NATO’s attitude to your country. If Armenia solves the problem with
Azerbaijan and goes closer to the West, then the new approach to
NATO’s relations with Central Asia will be on the agenda. If Nagorno
Karabakh conflict is settled, the relations of South Caucasus with
the EU will be improved, so, Azerbaijan’s way to Europe will be open.
All this needs time," Vahit Erdem said.

URL:

International Herald Tribune, France
Dec 1 2006

Belgium says Turkey should be given ‘honest chance’ to continue
membership talks

The Associated Press Published: December 1, 2006

BRUSSELS, Belgium: In another sign of the disagreements over Turkey’s
drive to join the EU, Belgium said Friday that the predominantly
Muslim country should be given an "honest chance" to continue
membership negotiations.

A Dec. 14-15 summit of EU government leaders will decide whether to
act on a recommendation by the EU’s executive arm to partially
suspend the negotiations, which began a year ago.

Countries like Germany, France, Greece and Cyprus are seeking tough
measures against Ankara until it opens its ports to Greek Cypriot
ships and planes. Others, like Britain, Spain and Sweden want to make
sure a potential important ally like Turkey is not excluded.

"To refuse Turkey an honest chance would be a historical error,"
Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht wrote in an op-ed piece in De
Morgen newspaper. Yet he criticized recent developments in Turkey.

"Trials against intellectuals for insulting the Turkish identity,
discussions about the Armenian genocide, quarrels about relations
with Cyprus," he said. "Old symbols are coming to the fore."

De Gucht said, however, that the EU had to look beyond the current
differences.

"Enlargement is a good thing and Turkey deserves the benefit of the
doubt," he said.

On Wednesday, divisions among EU nations were laid bare after the
European Commission recommended partially halting membership talks
because Turkey refuses to extend a customs union with the EU to
include Cyprus and nine other countries that joined the bloc in 2004.

"It is of major importance that Turkey remains a stable, secular
democracy," De Gucht said.

"Joining the Western club, which is the European Union, would send a
very strong signal to the world that the ‘clash of civilizations’ is
not inevitable."

If the talks are partially frozen, it would significantly slow
Turkey’s EU membership talks, which already were expected to last at
least a decade. The EU has always stressed they offer no guarantee of
membership.

"Negotiating with such a strong neighbor can only be a tough,
time-consuming process," said De Gucht.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Dec 1 2006

Fradkov begins talks with Armenian PM

MOSCOW, December 1 (Itar-Tass) – – A visit of Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan will become a milestone in the development of ties
between Russia and Armenia, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov
said opening talks with his Armenian counterpart.

`I’m pleased with the opportunity to discuss issues of
Russian-Armenian cooperation,’ Fradkov said. `I know that the chief
aim of your visit is participate in the closing ceremony of the Year
of Armenia in Russia due to held in St. Petersburg. In Moscow, You
also have a saturated programme.’

Fradkov offered to discuss topical problems focussing `first of all
on trade and economic ties.’

For his part, Andranik Margaryan expressed confidence that `the Year
of Armenia has promoted the intensification of the political and
economic dialogue and made it possible to expand bilateral
interaction.’

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

Dec 1 2006

Joint statement by OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

VIENNA, 30 November 2006 – The Russian and the French Co-Chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
Ambassadors Yuri Merzlyakov and B Bernard Fassier, acting also on
behalf of the U.S. Co-Chair Matthew Bryza, visited Yerevan and Baku
on 20 and 21 November.

They met with Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijan
President Ilham Alyev, as well as with Foreign Ministers Vartan
Oskanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov.

As a result of these meetings, which took place in an open minded and
constructive spirit, both Presidents accepted the Co-Chairs’ proposal
to meet in Minsk next week on the margins of the next CIS Heads of
States Council meeting.

The discussions in both capitals confirmed that the three rounds of
consultations between the Foreign Ministers – which took place in
Moscow, Paris, and Brussels in October-November – were useful in
moving the negotiations forward.

Building on their recent meetings with the Presidents and Foreign
Ministers, the Co-Chairs hope that the upcoming Armenian-Azerbaijani
summit in Minsk will allow both sides to take a new step toward an
agreement on basic principles for the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as endorsed by the G8 leaders in St.
Petersburg last July and which remain on the table as the best chance
to achieve a fair and sustainable peace.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Spero News
Dec 1 2006

Papal visit to Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate

The tragic divisions which, over time, have arisen among Christ’s
followers openly contradict the Lord’s will, give scandal to the
world and damage that most holy cause, the preaching of the Gospel to
every creature

Friday, December 01, 2006
by Spero News

Dear Brother in Christ,

I am pleased to have this opportunity to meet Your Beatitude in this
very place where Patriarch Kalustian welcomed my predecessors Pope
Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. With great affection I greet the
entire Armenian Apostolic community over which you preside as
shepherd and spiritual father. My fraternal greeting goes also to His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of Holy Etchmiadzin, and the
hierarchy of the Armenian Apostolic Church. I give thanks to God for
the Christian faith and witness of the Armenian people, transmitted
from one generation to the next, often in very tragic circumstances
such as those experienced in the last century.

Our meeting is more than a simple gesture of ecumenical courtesy and
friendship. It is a sign of our shared hope in God’s promises and our
desire to see fulfilled the prayer that Jesus offered for his
disciples on the eve of his suffering and death: `that they may all
be one. As you, Father, are in me and I in you, may they also be one
in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me’ (Jn
17:21). Jesus gave his life on the Cross to gather into one the
dispersed children of God, to break down the walls of division.
Through the sacrament of Baptism, we have been incorporated into the
Body of Christ, the Church. The tragic divisions which, over time,
have arisen among Christ’s followers openly contradict the Lord’s
will, give scandal to the world and damage that most holy cause, the
preaching of the Gospel to every creature (cf. Unitatis
Redintegratio, 1). Precisely by the witness of their faith and love,
Christians are called to offer a radiant sign of hope and consolation
to this world, so marked by conflicts and tensions. We must continue
therefore to do everything possible to heal the wounds of separation
and to hasten the work of rebuilding Christian unity. May we be
guided in this urgent task by the light and strength of the Holy
Spirit.

In this respect I can only offer heartfelt thanks to the Lord for the
deeper fraternal relationship that has developed between the Armenian
Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church. In the thirteenth century,
Nerses of Lambron, one of the great Doctors of the Armenian Church,
wrote these words of encouragement: `Now, since we all need peace
with God, let its foundation be harmony among the brethren. We have
prayed to God for peace and continue to do so. Look, he is now giving
it to us as a gift: let us welcome it! We asked the Lord to make his
holy Church solid, and he has willingly heard our plea. Let us climb
therefore the mountain of the Gospel faith!’ (Il Primato della
Carità, Ed. Qiqajon, p. 81). These words of Nerses have lost nothing
of their power. Together let us continue to pray for the unity of all
Christians, so that, by receiving this gift from above with open
hearts, we may be ever more convincing witnesses of the truth of the
Gospel and better servants of the Church’s mission.

egory=33&idsub=128&id=6858&t=Papal+vis it+to+Armenian+Apostolic+Patriarchate