SPEAKER: BULLYING POWERS FRIGHTEN NATIONS BY PRESENTING AN UGLY IMAGE OF IRAN
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Sept 11 2006
Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel said on Tuesday that the world
bullying powers constantly present an ugly and unreal image of Iran
and try to frighten other nations by raising unfair charges against
the Iranian nation.
A report released by Majlis Media Department said that the speaker
made the remark while speaking at the University of Armenia.
“The Iranian nation managed to rid itself of the hegemony of foreign
powers through a religious revolution launched by masses of people
without politically relying either on the West or on the East. Thus
through establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran a new and
independent path was selected,” he said.
“The propaganda against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program is the clear
sign of such animosity, which is associated with our nation’s will
to protect its cultural and political identity.
“Besides, Iran’s foreign policy based on friendly ties with other
countries and mutual respect in relations with world nations aiming
to further promote global peace, tranquility and welfare is another
cause for the enemies’ hostile approach,” he added.
He referred to the friendly ties between Iranians and Armenians and
compared such friendship to a tree with a deep historical root whose
trunk, branches and leaves are today manifested before our eyes in
solid grandeur.
“Several centuries before the advent of Islam, Armenians considered
Iran as a safe residence and religious difference of ideas have never
created any gap between Muslims and Armenians neither in pre-Islam
nor post-Islam eras.
“They have always lived a comfortable life in Iran and have protected
their rituals and churches. They have had friendly relationships and
close cooperation with their Iranian countrymen,” he added.
Turning to multifaceted bilateral relations, Haddad-Adel said that
Iran and Armenia cooperate in various political, cultural and economic
fields.
The speaker said that both sides are determined to expand mutual ties
by making optimum use of each other’s actual potentials and facilities.
He pointed to the life lived by Iranian and Armenian along with each
other in the course of history as the most superior and laudable
example of peaceful coexistence between followers of various religions
in the world.
Underlining that scientific and university interconnection is one
of the options of such relations, he stated, “Fortunately, given the
good potentials of Yerevan State University with a 90-year history,
both sides will benefit from exchange of university instructors,
students and scientific achievements.”
Putting the number of Iranian students at 2.5 million, he pointed to
Iran’s trend of growth in various scientific branches and declared
readiness for cooperation with Armenia in the sector.
“Iranology as well as Persian language and literature have long been
taught in Yerevan State University. Iranologists and professors of
Persian language attach great value to such an ancient tradition.
“Armenia is one of the most reputed hubs of Iranology in Caucasia
and Central Asia. After the disintegration of the ex-Soviet Union,
the trend continued more freely and even was strengthened,” he said.
The official said that the Armenians’ Interest in Persian language and
literature as well as their attraction to outstanding Iranian poets,
in particular Ferdowsi, is considered as one of the factors for the
spiritual bonds between the two sides.
“University instructors who are bound to promote science and knowledge
in their own countries, have a heavy burden on their shoulders,”
he said.
Haddad-Adel said that such a task is not restricted to advancement of
science and technology in the community rather keeping the nations
updated on the real developments of the world of today is more
significant.
“The facts which were once revealed, will not only result in the
vigilance of nations, but will make them realize the truth and revise
their false ideas formed under the impact of wrong propaganda of the
world tyrannical powers,” he concluded.
Haddad-Adel arrived in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, Monday on the
first leg of a two-nation visit to the region.
His official visit takes place in response to the invitation of his
Armenian counterpart.
The speaker is accompanied by a number of executive officials and
Majlis deputies.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARCHBISHOP OF TEHRAN: NO WORLD PEACE WITHOUT RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
Payvand, Iran
Sept 11 2006
TEHRAN, Sept. 11 (Mehr News Agency) — Archbishop Sebu Sarkissian,
the spiritual leader of Armenian Orthodox Christians in Tehran, said
on Monday that dialogue is an absolute necessity of the modern world.
The main objective of all divine religions is to teach people to live
better lives, Sarkissian told the Mehr News Agency.
“Since the followers of all divine religions have a strong belief
in their religious values, it is essential to hold talks between the
followers of different religions and religious denominations.
“Religious negotiations are the most important kind of negotiations
in the modern world because mutual understanding and religious
tolerance will be established between religions when they actually
become familiar with each other,” he said.
Archbishop Sarkissian stated that the topic of discussion in dialogue
among religions depends on the interests of the participants in the
religious, social, political, or cultural spheres.
“Moral values are necessities of human life and religious dialogue
because these are the values that unite humans and help them understand
each other,” he added.
Religious dialogue has become essential in recent years because
world peace can never be established without mutual understanding,
Sarkissian said in conclusion.

BANGLADESH BLAMES ARMENIA`S AGGRESSION TOWARD AZERBAIJAN
Author: S. Aghayeva
TREND, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
Bangladesh condemns Armenian aggression toward Azerbaijan, and
advocates against Azerbaijan`s historic territories occupation,
Bangladesh`s Tourism Minister Mirza Fakhrul Ýslam Alamgir told
journalists today, Trend reports.
According to him, Bangladesh has always backed Azerbaijan in this
issue, and supported Azerbaijan`s position in all international
organizations. The Bangladesh`s Minister pointed out that he will
fully support corresponding items concerning this issue including
the resulting document of the Baku Conference of the Organization
for Islamic Conference (OIC) member-states` Tourism Ministers to be
adopted today.
“We have not backed any aggressive and terror policy against any
Islamic state”, stated the Minister.
–Boundary_(ID_esJDuvbMIF4+g01svT30pg)- –
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEBANON HAS NO EXACT POSITION OVER KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.09.2006 12:56 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Lebanon has no exact position over settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, editor-in-chief of the Azdak, the
largest Armenian newspaper of Lebanon, Shahan Kandakharyan stated in an
interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, during a visit to Yerevan
Lebanese Parliament Chair Nabih Berri stated he supports the Nagorno
Karabakh people right for self-determination. NKR FM Georgy Petrosyan
was in Lebanon lately. He met with the President, Parliament Chair and
FM. “I remind that the Lebanese political leadership states on various
occasions that it supports the claims of the Armenian people, which
also refers to the Karabakh issue,” Shahan Kandakharyan underscored.

OSCE REPRESENTATIVES DID NOT MONITOR ARMENIANS’ FIRING SHELL DURING MONITORING OF CONTACT FRONT LINE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
The contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops near the
Gapanli village of Azerbaijani region of Terter was monitored in
accordance with the mandate of personal representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office today.
The monitors were Gunter Folk and Peter Ki, field assistants of
the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office from
Azerbaijani side and Imre Palatinus and Jiri Aberle, field assistants
of the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office from
the opposite side, internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan.
The Defense Ministry told the APA the monitoring passed without any
incidence. However, APA’s Garabagh bureau reports Armenians fired
incendiary shell to Gapanli village during the monitoring. The shell
stroke local resident’s house causing fire.
Though the field assistants were notified about this incident, the
OSCE representatives did not monitor it.

ILTIMAS MAMMADOV: ‘ARMENIAN TV CHANNELS INTERFERED IN AZERBAIJANI AIRSPACE IN SUMMER’
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
‘Armenian TV channels interfered in the airspace of Azerbaijan
in central and outlying regions in summer, Deputy Minister of
Communications and Information Technologies Iltimas Mammadov said,
APA reports.
He said Azerbaijan and Armenia has taken a commitment upon themselves
before the Regional Communications Union. By international norms
Armenia decreased the interference in Azeri airspace.

IRANIAN NATION WINNER IN N-CASE: HADDAD-ADEL
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Sept 11 2006
The Iranian nation will emerge winner in the nuclear standoff,
visiting Iranian Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel said in Yerevan
on Monday.
Haddad-Adel, who arrived in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, Monday on
the first leg of a two-nation visit, met with staff of Iran’s embassy
in Armenia and their families. Following his visit to Armenia, he
will next pay a visit to Kyrgyzstan.
“If the bullying powers impose sanctions against Iran, our nation
will not yield to them and give up its rights,” he said.
He added that joy and hope have been created in Iran for the country’s
development in all fields, saying “Iran will achieve success in
economic areas day by day.”
The speaker said Iran took steps for its development and growth,
stressing the nation has an optimistic view of the future.
He noted that Iran had become self-sufficient in the production of
wheat and said the country is currently self-sufficient by 90 percent
in the production of agricultural goods.
The speaker stressed the importance of making use of the two countries’
potentials to further promote bilateral relations.
From: Baghdasarian

IRAN-ARMENIA RELATIONS EXAMPLE OF COOPERATION FOR STATES OF REGION
PanARMENIAN.Net
11.09.2006 19:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian National Assembly Speaker Tigran
Torosian met today with chairman of the Iranian Mejlis Gholam Ali
Haddad-Adel. The parties underscored that during 15 years of Armenia’s
independence the relations with Iran were not darkened by political
discrepancies. Tigran Torosian remarked that Iran was Armenia’s best
ally, especially during the years of blockade. He also pointed out
to cooperation in the energy sector and voiced hope that the problem
with Iran’s nuclear program will be settled via talks.
For his part, Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel noted that the relations with
Armenia can serve as an example of cooperation for the states of
the region. The interlocutors also referred to the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The Mejlis Speaker underscored that Iran
stands for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and continuation of
talks between the leaders of two states.
During the visit Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel also met with RA NA
Vice-speaker Vahan Hovhannisian, representatives of permanent
commissions and deputy factions, reported the RA NA press office.

CRISIS DAYS IN UN
By Gayane Movsisian
Yerkir.am
September 08, 2006
The Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations over Karabakh have stalled
in a critical stage. Yerevan has not yet made a decision over a
meeting of foreign ministers that mediators propose to hold in Paris
or London. But such meeting may never take place if Azerbaijan’s
initiative to shift the issue to the United States take a turn that
might harm Armenia.
In July, Azerbaijan sent a letter to the UN with accusations that
Armenian-controlled territories were subjected to arson. Later, a draft
resolution was sent which this time dealt not only with alleged arsons;
the draft called the UN to reaffirm Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
More recently, a joint request by the member states of GUAM (Georgia,
Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) asked the UN General Assembly to include
in its agenda an issue dealing with the “frozen conflicts on the
territory of GUAM states.
” The issue, according to the UN web site, has been included on the
preliminary agenda.
This has encouraged Baku make self-confident statements. “The issue may
even be included on the agenda without a vote,” Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamediarov said. He also added that OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs are working with Armenia and UN secretary to work out the
text of the draft resolution.
Vladimir Karapetian, the acting press secretary of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry, said that the negotiations are almost over and that
the draft may be presented to the UN on September 7. We believe the
language of the draft would fit us, Karapetian added.
Recently, Foreign Minister Oskanian said he thought the UN would
not make new steps taking into account that negotiations have been
going on under the OSCE auspice. The discussion of the issue in the
UN makes no sense but it may be included in the agenda, Oskanian said.
Minister Oskanian will represent Armenia at the General Assembly and
is scheduled to make a speech on September 25. He is also expected
to meet with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, particularly with
Mathew Bryza. The Azeri minister is also scheduled to meet with the
mediators. A meeting between Oskanian and Mamediarov has not been
scheduled yet.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE MAJLIS OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Sept 11 2006
On September 11, Mr. Tigran Torosyan, the President of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia had a private talk with Mr.
Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, the President of Majlis (Parliament) of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, who arrived in Armenia with an official
visit. The meeting was attended by the ambassadors of two countries,
Mr. Arman Kirakosyan, Deputy Foreign Minister, as well as other
officials.
Welcoming his partner, the President of the National Assembly expressed
his satisfaction that after the independence of Armenia it is the
first time that the President of the Majlis of the Islamic Republic
of Iran (IRI) visits Armenia: also he expressed his surprise that
during the past 15 years it is the first time that the Parliament
President of the friendly and neighbouring country visits Armenia:
Both sides explained that fact with the existence of really friendly
relations, during which political, economic, cultural problems have
not occurred. Touching upon the past 15 years, Mr. Torosyan noted that
the centuries-long neighbour has been the most effective partner,
especially during the hard and difficult years for Armenia, when
the country appeared in the blockade. In connection with bilateral
relations the Parliament President highlighted the energy cooperation,
emphasizing the projects of the main pipeline and hydroelectric
station that are under construction on the river Araks, and the third
line of high voltage electric communication. The President of the
National Assembly expressed his gratitude to the President of IRI
Majlis for kind attitude towards the Armenian Iranians. Touching upon
the developments around the Iranian nuclear programme, Mr. Torosyan
expressed a hope that the further problems will be solved through
negotiations.
Mr. Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel assessed the inter-state relations an
exemplary one saying that after the visits of the Presidents of two
countries they entered into new stage of development. He noted that
the Armenians in Iran are permanently treated with respect and the
proof is the presence of two MPs in Majlis. Mr. Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel
considered necessary to deepen and develop the inter-parliamentary
relations, as it is an important and inseparable component in
inter-state relations.
After the private talk a meeting of the delegation headed by
Mr. Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, the President of IRI Majlis and
Mr. Torosyan, the President of the National Assembly, Vahan
Hovhannisyan, NA Vice President, representatives of Standing
Committees, factions and groups was held, which was attended by the
ambassadors of two countries and other officials.
Highlighting the visit of the President of IRI Majlis to Armenia,
Mr. Torosyan noted that during the last years the inter-state
relations have been activated, to which the mutual visits
contribute, and expressed confidence that the visit is a basis for
deepening inter-parliamentary relations. The Parliament President
highlighted the balanced and restrained stance in Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Mr. Torosyan touched upon also the assiduous attitude
towards the monuments of Armenian culture in IRI, in contrast with
the other neighbour, which simply annihilates those monuments.
Mr. Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel highlighted the friendly relations of two
states in the regional aspect, noting that though the two countries
have religious difference, but there are numerous similarities.
During the last thirty years for his country assessing the Islamic
revolution of Iran and the collapse of the USSR the most important
event in the region, as a result of which, new states were formed near
the northern borders of Iran, the Majlis President noted that the
foreign policy of his country relies on Islam, which does not allow
to form the foreign policy for the sake of a group by contradicting
with another one. He highlighted the strengthening of relations with
Armenia, the cooperation in the sphere of energy and noted that his
country is for the peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh problem and
continuation of the negotiations of the Presidents of two countries.
During the meeting other issues were also discussed.
The members of the delegation headed by Mr. Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel,
the President of Majlis of the Islamic Republic of Iran met with
Armenia-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group in the parliament.
Welcoming the guests, Galust Sahakyan, Head of Armenia-Iran
Parliamentary Friendship Group, noted that the political and
economic ties between the two countries get strengthened, the
inter-parliamentary friendship deepens, and the Armenian-Iranian
friendly relations will get a new impetus with this visit and will
obtain new level. It was noted that the year 2006 is a fruitful
year in the aspect of cooperation between the parliaments of two
countries: recently the Armenian parliamentarians have been to Iran
with a working visit, important meetings were held, as a result of
which the inter-parliamentary relations have been more deepened and
strengthened. It was emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran
pursues balanced policy in the region, has always been a good neighbor
for Armenia and today all possibilities of deepening the relationship
in political, economic and scientific-cultural spheres are available.
Gevorg Vardan, Co-Chair of Iran-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship
Group, highlighted the deepening of partnership of two countries and
parliaments, noting that the inter-parliamentary ties have reached
the level of economic relations. It was noted that from now on RA-IRI
friendly relations will deepen and promote the welfare of of two
countries and people. It was noted that pursuing balanced policy,
Iran is for peace and stability in the world and region.
The perspectives of the development of the Armenian-Iranian
parliamentary relations, which will promote the deepening of
inter-state relations were discussed during the meeting.