NO ISSUE, CONCERNING ARMENIA, TO BE DISCUSSED AT COMING OCTOBER 2-6 AUTUMN SESSION OF PACE
ARMINFO News Agency
September 27, 2006 Wednesday
No issue, which directly concerns Armenia, will be discussed at the
coming October 2-6 Autumn Session of PACE, the Head of the Armenian
delegation in PACE, RA Parliament Speaker, Tigran Torossyan, told
ArmInfo correspondent, when asked about the coming PACE session agenda.
He noted all the issues, discussed in PACE, are somehow or other
related to Armenia. He also noted the issues, related to the matching
of the country’s legislation with the new clauses of the Constitution
will be also discussed during the meeting, to be held tomorrow with
PACE monitoring group members. T. Torossyan informed the reporters for
monitoring in Armenia prepare a report on matching the RA legislation
with the Constitution. Their visit to Armenia is devoted just to this
issue, T. Torossyan said.

TURKISH MPS HOLD TALKS IN GERMANY ON OBSTACLES TO EU ACCESSION
Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
26 Sep 06
Berlin, 26 September: Members of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary
Commission met members of EU Commission of German Federal Parliament
in Berlin on Tuesday [26 September].
Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Aydin Dumanoglu
told reporters after the meeting that they discussed problems of
Turkish citizens who are living in Germany as well as obstacles before
Turkey’s EU accession process.
“We exchanged views about Cyprus question, so-called Armenian genocide,
and privileged partnership which concern Turkey,” he added.
On the other hand, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul deputy
Onur Oymen told reporters that Turkish side expressed uneasiness
about so-called Pontus and Syrian genocide allegations as well as
headscarf issue. [Passage omitted]

UK FIRM OFFICIALLY GIVES ARMENIAN POWER GRID TO RUSSIAN COMPANY
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan,
27 Sep 06
The [British] Midland Resources Holding Ltd has officially handed the
management of the Electricity Networks of Armenia to Russia’s Inter
RAO UES [Unified Energy Systems of Russia].
Russia’s Inter RAO UES manages more than 20 facilities in Europe and
Asia. The company promises to overhaul the Electricity Networks of
Armenia with new methods and investment programmes.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS ACCESSION PROGRESS REPORT ON TURKEY
Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
27 Sep 06
Strasbourg, 27 September: European Parliament on Wednesday [27
September] approved Turkey report which was prepared by Dutch
parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings.
During voting of the report, 429 parliamentarians voted positive
against 71 parliamentarians, and 125 parliamentarians abstained.
The report, which is not binding but recommendatory, calls Turkey to
accelerate reforms on the path to EU membership.
The report wants Turkey to speed up reforms and implementations
especially on freedom of expression, religious rights, minority
rights, civilian-soldier relations, women rights, labour unions,
cultural rights and independence of jurisdiction areas.
Expressing pleasure over Turkish government’s preparing the 9th
reform package, the report recommended the new anti-terrorism law
not to include restrictive elements against basic rights and freedom.
The report called Turkey to amend Articles 216, 277, 288, 301, 305
and 318 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) claiming that they are open to
arbitrary interpretation.
The report also strongly condemned PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party]
terrorist organization.
Noting that discharge of Van Public Prosecutor Ferhat Sarikaya from
his post was concerning, the report claimed that developments after
Semdinli incidents showed that the role of army continues in Turkish
society.
The report asks Turkey to drop 10 per cent election threshold, and
thus, a broader representation, including Kurdish parties, will be
provided at Turkish parliament.
Noting that a new constitution may be needed to reflect the reforms
on the path to EU membership, the report also condemned attack on
Council of State.
Expressing regret that Turkey could not record a progress in religious
freedom area since the last report of EP, the report calls Turkey to
overcome problems in education of clerics of minorities as well as
their owning properties.
Condemning the attacks of PKK terrorist organization, the report
stressed that EP is in solidarity with Turkey in fight against
terrorism.
The report calls Turkey to abolish village guard system, to find
democratic solution to Kurdish problem and to apply European standards
in custody and arrests.
The report noted that modern, democratic and secular Turkey can
undertake a constructive role in dialogue among civilizations. It
also asked Turkey to take necessary steps and swiftly open border
gate with Armenia to start diplomatic and good neighbourhood relations
with this country.
The report also wanted Turkey to open its ports to Greek Cypriot
vessels, stating that Turkey’s recognition of all EU countries
including Greek Cypriot administration is a compulsory part of EU
negotiation process.

EU ENVOY URGES TURKEY TO OPEN BORDER WITH ARMENIA
Mediamax news agency, Yerevan,
27 Sep 06
Yerevan, 7 September: “The decision to keep the Turkish-Armenian border
closed has no justification,” the EU envoy for the South Caucasus,
Peter Semneby, has said in an exclusive interview with Mediamax
news agency.
“I think that the issues with Turkish-Armenian relations should have
been settled a long time ago. We have told the Turkish authorities
that the decision to keep the Turkish-Armenian border closed has no
justification. At the same time, solution of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict will most likely rapidly result in the opening of the border,”
Semneby said.

EU RAPPORTEUR SEES ADOPTED PROGRESS REPORT ON TURKEY AS “FAIR”
Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
27 Sep 06
Strasbourg, 27 September: EP [European Parliament] Turkey rapporteur
Camiel Eurlings said (regarding the Turkey report) that it has mainly
returned to its first shape.
Speaking after the voting of the report, Eurlings said that the
current shape of the report is fair.
Expressing pleasure on withdrawal of the call on recognition of
so-called Armenian genocide before Turkey’s EU full membership,
Eurlings said that it is not right to ask for new pre-conditions
from Turkey.
The proposal of Greek parliamentarians for Turkey to recognize
so-called Pontus Greek and Syrian genocide was rejected during the
voting of the report.
The expressions about Pontus Greeks and Syrians was included in the
part about Armenians, and stated that Turkey should adopt the same
attitude towards other minorities like Pontus Greeks and Syrians.
The report calls Turkey to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia
and lift economic obstacles with that country, stressing that studies
of historians, academicians and researchers on historical archives
should be supported and encouraged.
The report noted that Turkey should solve its border problems in a
friendly way.

RULING PARTY MPS VIEW EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S REPORT ON TURKEY
Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
27 Sep 06
Strasbourg, 27 September: Turkish MPs from [ruling] Justice and
Development Party (AKP) expressed their views on the Turkey report
which was approved by the European Parliament today and said the
evaluation report is better than the report prepared by Foreign
Affairs Commission.
AKP Deputy Chairman Saban Disli, Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE) Turkish delegation leader Murat Mercan and Turkish
Parliament EU Adjustment Commission Chairman Yasar Yakis spoke at a
joint press conference after EP’s decision, on Wednesday.
AKP Deputy Chairman Disli said that they met representatives of EP
in Brussels and Strasbourg prior to EP’s decision. “We relayed them
the message that, it wouldn’t be beneficial to anyone to accept the
report prepared by Foreign Affairs Commission,” Disli added.
Disli mentioned that they succeeded on their attempts and the lawmakers
dropped their demand that Turkey must acknowledge the so-called
Armenian genocide before it can join the European Union. He also
expressed his gladness on the refusal of French lawmakers proposal
for Turkey’s privileged partnership to the EU.
Saban Disli said that the report is not worse than the prior reports
and he added “however, there are parts of the report that bothers us.
We expect them to act fairly especially on the Cyprus issue. We hope
them to take a decision that rewards Turkish Cypriots”
Disli stated that for the first time EP documents mentioned that
Turkey’s economy is going well.
Meanwhile, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Turkish
delegation leader Murat Mercan said that the claims on Turkey’s reform
period has slowed down are not true. “It is in our hands to change
this misunderstanding” he added.

WHEN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IS SEIZED BY EXTREMISTS
by Igor Plugatarev
Translated by A. Ignatkin
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 27, 2006 Wednesday
Special forces of the Federal Security Service are to be involved in
liberation of hostages taken at a strategic object in Armenia
EXERCISE ATOM-COUNTER-TERRORISM’2006 OF CIS SECRET SERVICES WILL TAKE
PLACE IN ARMENIA; CIS secret services will run an counter-terrorism
exercise in Armenia.
Atom-Counter-Terrorism’2006, an exercise that will take place on the
territory of Armenia between September 26 and 29, is not going to
be ordinary. Officers of the CIS Counter-Terrorism Center told this
newspaper that the exercise would be an element of a conference of
senior officers of CIS special forces.
What distinguishes the exercise is that it will be run at the
Armenian nuclear power plant in the town of Metsamor in the Ararat
Valley (35 kilometers southwest of Yerevan). This is going to be
the fifth exercise of this kind in six years of existence of the
CIS Counter-Terrorism Center (the previous were run in Tajikistan,
Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Ukraine) and the first to involve units
of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization. A great deal
of observers are expected at the exercise. They will represent G8
countries, Counter-Terrorism Unit of the Secretariat of the CIS
Collective Security Treaty Organization, Counter-Terrorism Committee
of the UN Security Council and UN Directorate for Drugs and Crimes,
and Regional Counter-Terrorism Structure of the Shanghai Organization
of Cooperation.
This correspondent unearthed some details of the legend of the
exercise. As a matter of fact, the exercise is already under way.
“Terrorists” are already fighting their way through the territories of
some other countries to the nuclear power plant in Armenia. Their part
is being played by officers of the Armenian National Security Service
and Special Task Center of the Russian Federal Security Service. The
officers are disguised as gunmen of Al-Qaeda, Moslem Brothers,
Islamic Movement of Turkistan, Hizb-ut-Takhrir, Taliban, and other
international extremist organizations operating in the Commonwealth.
“We know their ways,” officer of the CIS Counter-Terrorism Center
said. “This information was obtained in a series of actual operations
secret services of CIS countries (first and foremost Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) ran in 1999, and in the 2000’s.
The CIS Counter-Terrorism Center has compiled all the data. The
information was used when the exercise was planned.”
The first phase of the exercise began in the middle of September. The
involved assets drill actions needed to localize, contain, and destroy
terrorist groups determined to invade the territory of the Republic
of Armenia. The “terrorists” are numerous and well-trained.
The Armenian National Security Service and law enforcement agencies
are trying to cope with the problem but available information on
“terrorists'” numerical strength and gravity of consequences of
the potential terrorist acts persuades the national leadership to
holler for help. CIS leaders and the CIS Collective Security Treaty
Organization are asked to come to Armenia’s help. Once the decision to
help is made, the national army of Armenia together with the tactical
team of the United Headquarters of the CIS Collective Security Treaty
Organization will plan and mount a special operation against the
criminals. The operation will take place on the shooting range of
the Armenian army.
And yet, by the legend of the exercise several splinter groups will
escape and seize the nuclear power plant in Metsamor. The “terrorists”
will put forth political demands threatening to blow up the reactor.
Once the threat is valuated, Armenian leaders will appeal to the CIS
Council of the Heads of States to dispatch Special Forces to save the
hostages and retake the seized objects. Officers of the Special Task
Center of the Russian Federal Security Service will immediately fly
to Armenia.
This correspondent will try to see the developments right in
Metsamor. This is going to be the first such exercise in the last
twenty years. It will be an analog of the unique drill servicemen
of Vympel (a KGB special force) ran at a nuclear power plant in the
Soviet Union in the distant 1980’s.
Source: Nezavisimaya Voennoe Obozrenie, No 34, September 22 – 28,
2006, p. 7.

MEETING OF FM OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN NOT HELD AFTER INCLUSION OF “FROZEN CONFLICTS” ISSUE IN UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY AGENDA
ARMINFO News Agency
September 27, 2006 Wednesday
The meeting of Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan was not
held after inclusion of the “frozen conflicts” issue in the UN General
Assembly agenda, RA FM, Vardan Oskanyan, told “Svoboda” Radio station.
In fact, there was a proposal, during our Parisian meeting, about a
meeting in New York. However, when the GUAM initiative entered the
agenda, the situation has changed and this meeting was taken off the
agenda by our proposal”, V. Oskanyan said. As for the meeting with
OSCE MG Co-Chairmen for the Karabakh conflict settlement , held the
day before, V. Oskanyan said the meeting was held in a constructive
atmosphere. According to him, the main issue at the meeting was the a
newly created situation. “I think, the Co-Chairmen now better conceive
the situation and we shall take a corresponding decision on what our
further actions will be”, V. Oskanyan said.
According to the data of the “Trend” Azerbaijan Agency, the OSCE
MG Co-Chairmen will visit the Karabakh conflict region again in the
near future, which will be preceded by a visit to Helsinki. Finland
chairs the European Union at present and the mediators intend to inform
Helsinki about the course of negotiations for the Armenian-Azerbaijan
problem settlement. According to the same source, all the issues
concerning the Karabakh conflict settlement, are discussed during a
two-hour meeting of the FM of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mamediarov, held the
day before.

MAN GETS 26 YEARS IN FILMMAKER’S ROAD-RAGE MURDER
CBS Broadcasting Inc
Sep 27, 2006 3:15 pm US/Pacific
VAN NUYS The first man to be handed over to U.S. authorities by Armenia
to face criminal charges was sentenced today to 26 years to life in
state prison for the road-rage murder of a documentary filmmaker.
Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Kathryne Stoltz rejected the defense’s
request for a new trial for Shahen Eghia Keshishian and refused to
reduce his first-degree murder conviction to second-degree murder.
Keshishian, 34, was also found guilty Aug. 25 of vehicular manslaughter
with gross negligence and leaving the scene of an accident.
Jurors also found true the allegation that Keshishian used his GMC
Suburban as a dangerous and deadly weapon when he ran down Michael
Craven on April 29, 2000, as he stood on the shoulder of the Hollywood
(101) Freeway, south of Barham Boulevard.
The Canoga Park resident, 44, had been driving southbound when someone
in the SUV that Keshishian was driving began lobbing eggs at his Jeep,
authorities said.
Both motorists pulled over and Keshishian ran down Craven as he stood
on the shoulder, then sped away. The filmmaker died at a hospital.
Keshishian was charged with Craven’s slaying on June 23, 2000, and
charged separately by federal authorities that November with unlawful
flight to avoid prosecution.
He was placed on the Los Angeles Police Department’s most wanted list
and named as a fugitive on the FBI’s Web site.
In October 2004, with the help of various agencies in the United
States and in Yerevan, the LAPD’s homicide unit located Keshishian
in Armenia, where he had ties, according to Glendale police.
He was arrested a month later by the Armenian government for
overstaying his visa and subsequently extradited to the United
States. Glendale police said then that it was the first time someone
located in Armenia was handed to U.S. authorities to be returned to
face criminal charges.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress