JIHAD REDEFINED AT MULTI-FAITH TALKS -08/09/06
Ekklesia, UK
Sept 8 2006
The idea of ‘jihad’ has been publicly redefined and reinterpreted
according by a Syrian Islamic leader.
The suggestion came during a four day visit to the republic of Armenia
by Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassuni.
The Sheikh, invited by the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Catholicos Garegin II for inter faith talks, suggested that far from
being a justification for violence and killings in the name of Allah
it was better interpreted as a means to ‘enjoy the blessings of life
and not to be killed’, reports the news agency Panorama.am.
Sheikh Hassuni has often criticised Muslims for their closed minds
to Buddhism, Christianity and Judaism.
Armenian Archbishop Petrosyan suggested that through his visit the
Sheikh was opening a door to the Islamic world and attempting to
create bridges between Islam and Christianity.
The head of the Armenian Church, Garegin II, further suggested that
such cooperation between Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders could
help the peaceful development of relations between the countries of
the world, noting the benefits of establishing greater links between
the Armenian Apostolic Church and Islamic clergy in Syria.
Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassuni echoed his sentiments, and stressed
the importance of his visit in the current political climate and
amidst suggestions of a “clash of civilisations.”
“Cooperation between the two religions must oppose aggression and
confrontation both in the Caucasus and in the Near East” the Sheikh
said, according to the ARKRA.am news agency. But this was not just
a significant point for world peace but also for Armenia as well as
its church.
Armenia was the first nation to accept Christianity as its official
religion, Christianized by Tiridates III 36 years before Constantine
was baptised.
Today Armenia is constitutionally a secular state, although the
Apostolic Church still plays a prominent role in national identity
and culture.
This recent dialogue between the Armenian Church and a representative
of the Muslim world is being seen as a move away from the
confrontational history that Armenia has had with its Islamic
neighbours, including the ‘genocide’ attributed to Turkey and the
recent war with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh.

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE VIKTOR YUSCHENKO
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
Esteemed Ilham Heydarovich!
Esteemed Azerbaijani friends, ladies and gentlemen
First of all, I would like to thank the President for the invitation.
I am satisfied with the talks we have had in the spirit of traditional
friendship. The subject-matter was wide-ranging – we touched on the
issues concerning various aspects of our relations including political,
economic, humanitarian, defense and foreign policy ones. Besides,
we discussed our military-technical cooperation, and realization of
a number of energy projects.
I would like to mention that today Ukraine has reached the stage of
political stability. Political forces that that were involved in the
parliamentary elections have passed through the difficult path towards
forming parliament’s majority, forming the government, forming major
view on nationwide values, integration vector and attitude to the
key issues that has bothered the nation for many years.
It is with great satisfaction that I want to say that today Ukraine
is on the stage of political stabilization. It is very important from
the standpoint of the issues we have discussed to understand economic
prospects of their realization.
Evaluating the today’s Ukrainian market, macroeconomic culture and
other indicators, I would like to say that our indicators we have are
may be unique for the Eastern Europe. Our GDP’s growth rate is 7.7%.
All the branches of the economy tend to grow. None of our branches
is experiencing depression, slowdown or crisis.
Today, the country has the least, over the past 15 years of
independence, level of unemployment measuring 7.2%. We have the
highest indicator of per year foreign investments, which measures $7.4
billion. The dynamics of our budget’s forming is very good with 53%
growth in budget receipts last year. This year, this growth makes
up 18%. We have managed to tackle greater part of the social and
humanitarian issues that we failed to do for many years.
I consider it as a good basis for development of multilateral and
bilateral relations with Ukraine. Ukraine is a promising country. I am
convinced that Ukraine has many opportunities for the mutual interests
to be satisfied. That is why it was so important to us to discuss a
number of issues of traditional significance for our relations. The
first group of issues constitutes cooperation in energy sphere. There
are three directions in energy sphere, which Ukraine is interested
in today. The first is forming joint structures with potential
Azerbaijani companies to deal in both markets with extraction,
exploration, processing and sale of oil products. Such readiness
have been expressed by Ukrainian side, and officially submitted to
the Azerbaijani colleagues.
We consider this as the first stage of them mutual penetration
to markets and development of mutual potentials. The second step
is continuation of the transportation of the Azeri and Kazakh oil
through Odessa-Brody-European market route. The project is currently
working. Today, the Caspian and Black Sea region is already making new
offers concerning crude oil that easily agrees with realization of
the Odessa-Brody project. The third step is forming joint positions
on such important issue as supply of gas, practically, though the
same route – the Caspian region-Ukraine-European Union.
We are very interested in continuation and development of cooperation
in aviation. Today, Ukraine can present seven types of aircrafts,
which have been tasted, and meet the highest safety requirement and
economic characteristics of the contemporary aviation market.
We believe here is our perspective. Our offer today is that we have to
study this issue on the highest possible level, highlight key points
and continue our work.
We have paid great attention to the activity of GUAM, we have also
focused on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, concerning
which Ukraine, as before, use all available opportunities to help in
resolution of this conflict. We are ready to be a party to play the
part, which could be most acceptable for the conflict sides.
We talked about providing vital conditions for national minorities.
It pleases me much, as the President, that the Azerbaijani community
of Ukraine feels fine. If there are problems we have not yet solved,
we are ready to do so at a highest level.
Frankly speaking, our negotiations were very easy because, on one
hand, our relations are historically and traditionally good, and
have been formed and enshrined in the two peoples at both conscious
and subconscious level. On the other one, I think the policy of the
last years is the policy, which have demonstrated careful attitude
to national interests of the countries. Ukraine is ready to continue
this policy.
We are very pleased with the last years’ dynamics of our trade
relations: 37% growth last year, and nearly 30% this year. It proves
the effectiveness of the mechanism of organization of the trade
relations between the two countries in the framework of GUAM. The free
trade zone produces its regular results. However, we were ready to sit
down at the negotiating table to tackle the problems if they exist and
are worthy of attention of the working commissions or the Presidents.
No matter do these issues concern tariff policy or insurance, something
else, we realize that these relations need to be perfected.
So, both sides agreed, after all, to raise the status of our relations
and create a new constitutional mechanism in the form of the Council
of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine. In the framework of the
Council, a strategic plan will be developed to cover the most important
aspects of the bilateral relations. Relevant orders have been given
today by the Presidents. I am convinced that our relations are not
only mutually beneficial but also very promising. So, I thank you,
Ilham Heydarovich, for the atmosphere our talks, and those of the
two government teams were held.
Thank you.

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT TO VISIT FRANCE IN JANUARY 2007
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev will pay an official visit to
France in January, 2007 at the invitation of President Jacques Chirac,
Foreign Ministry told the APA.
French President is expected to visit Azerbaijan in the first quarter
of 2007.
The Ministry also informed the relations between France and Azerbaijan
have developed significantly recent years, “The high level political
dialogue continues between Azerbaijan and France. France in conjunction
with Russia and United States is mediating in the settlement of the
Nagorno Garabagh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group.
The exchanges between France and Azerbaijan in the fields of economy,
aviation, energy and infrastructure are increasing dynamically.
French companies have been provided with large opportunities
regarding the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline
and construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Arzurum gas pipeline.
The mutual visits will strengthen the relations between our countries
and peoples.”

AZERBAIJAN, UKRAINE ESTABLISH NEW CONSULTATIVE MECHANISM
Author: S.Aliyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
During the talks in Baku on 7 September the Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Ukraine made a resolution on the establishment of a
new consultative mechanism between the two countries. It will be a
council of the two Presents, Trendreports.
Ukrainian President Victor Yuschenko noted that the Council will
develop a strategic plan on co-operation, which will reflect the
issues of bilateral relationships.
Azerbaijani Present Ilham Aliyev stated that during Yuschenko’s
official visit they discussed a range of issues, analyzed the
situation, as well as perspectives for the co-operation,” the
Azerbaijani President stressed.
“We regard Ukraine as a friend and important partner. The talks also
focused on co-operation in the energy sector and relevant bodies were
given concrete instructions,’ he stated.
“The most satisfactory issue is that the Ukrainian Diaspora in
Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani Diaspora in Ukraine have been integrated
into the society and feel comfortable, which is a positive factor,”
Azerbaijani President stressed.
According to Mr. Aliyev, over the 6 months of 2006 the economic growth
of Azerbaijan was 36%, while industrial production rose 41%.
Over the past several years 435,000 jobs have been opened in
Azerbaijan. “Potential of economy is increasing and opportunities
for economic cooperation are boosting,” Aliyev underscored.
Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, President Aliyev stressed
his satisfaction with Ukraine’s position on this issue.
In his turn Yuschenko said that he was satisfied with the talks held
in Baku. “We discussed co-operation in the political, economic,
humanitarian, defense sectors, as well as implementation of some
energy projects. The talks were easy, but there are still problems in
the bilateral relationships which should be resolved,” he emphasized.
He regarded the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as one
of the fields of bilateral co-operation. “Ukraine is ready to offer
a means to settle the conflict,” he stressed.

AZERI & FRENCH PRESIDENTS TO EXCHANGE OFFICIAL VISITS IN 2007
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
In 2007, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and French President Jacques
Chirac will exchange official visits, Trend reports with reference
to the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan.
In keeping with the close ties between Azerbaijan and France, the Azeri
President is making his official visit to France in January 2007 at
Chirac’s invitation, the message said. In turn, Mr Chirac will make
an official visit to Azerbaijan during the first quarter of 2007.
In recent years, Azeri-French relations have developed signifncantly
and politically the discussions between the two countries cointinues
at the highest level. France, alongside USA and Russia, is working to
settle the Nagono-Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group. The
two countries’ economic relations are progressing rapidly in such
fields as aviation, energy and infrastructure, especially under such
projects as BTC and BTE.
The Presidents’ scheduled visits will create opportunities to further
strengthening relations between the two countries and nations, says
the message.

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO MEET WITH ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FMS
Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will meet with Azerbaijan and
Armenian foreign ministers separately.
The meeting with Armenian minister Vardan Oskanian will take place in
Paris on 12 September and Azerbaijani minister with Elmar Mammadyarov
in London on 13 September, APA reports.
Minister Mammadyarov told journalists the positions need to be
specified at the meeting with the co-chairs. He said it is interesting
what proposals the co-chairs will offer.
The minister also said it is important to agree on the meeting of the
Presidents (Azerbaijani and Armenian) this year. “It is premature to
talks about this,” he said.
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JOINT MISSIONS ON FIRE TO BE SENT TO OCCUPIED TERRITORY OF AZERBAIJAN
Author: S.Aliyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
“We have co-ordinated a draft resolution. I think it will be an adopted
consensus, without vote. I was informed that the document was being
approved and all 191 member-states, including Armenia are adopting it,”
Trend reports quoting Foreign Minister Mammadyarov. He was commenting
on the adoption of a resolution on fires in the occupied territory
of Azerbaijan by the UN General Assembly.
“The issue was put forward as an ecological catastrophe. The Chairman
of the OSCE will organize missions to these areas,” he stated.
Mr. Mamadyarov said that a special mission will be sent to the areas
to familiarize themselves with the situation. The Azerbaijani and
Armenian experts will then participate in the mission, together with
the international experts. Also included will be representatives of
the UN ecological program, OSCE representatives, and possibly, the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. “After the situation has been estimated
and measures to be taken clarified, a mission will be sent out to
consider the rehabilitation and erosion,” the Minister stated. These
issues have been included in the Resolution.
After the completion of the process the OSCE Chairman is to present
a final report to the UN General Assembly, the Foreign Minister
emphasized.

AZERI & ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING NOT NECESSARY – MINISTER
Author: S.Aliyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
On September 12, Armenian Foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan is meeting
with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen in Paris. The Azeri Foreign Minister
is then meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen on September
13 in London, Trend reports quoting Elmar Mamedyarov, Azeri Foreign
Minister.
Mamedyarov said it is not necessary to meet with Armenian
counterpart. “First, we should meet with the Co-Chairmen and discuss
ideas”, he outlined.
Speaking on new proposals on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
Mamedyarov said the work with the Co-Chairmen would go on as usual.
“We will try to work out the basic principles and I am very concerned
with the Co-Chairmen’s opinions, their proposals and how to compromise
on this issue”, he added.

UN GA CALLS ON CONDUCT OF ECOLOGICAL OPERATIONS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Author: A.Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
On Thursday (7 September) the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution
with consensus (without vote) “The situation in the occupied territory
of Azerbaijan” submitted by the Azerbaijani delegation, Trend reports
citing ITAR-TASS.
The Assembly voiced its concerns on the fires in the occupied territory
of Azerbaijan and called for the urgent ecological operations to
extinguish them and prevent fatalities. The General Assembly took into
consideration the OSCE’s intention to send a mission to the region
to estimate the impact of the fire to the environment in preparation
of an ecological operation. It welcomed the willingness of both sides
to co-operate in this respect and called such an operation a measure
of confidence consolidation.
The General Assembly called on the UN Environment Program to render
assistance with the OSCE, as well as in estimating the short- and
long-term results of the environment in the region and resistance to
them and their rehabilitation. It asked the OSCE Chairman-in-office
to present to the UN Member of States a report on the issue up to 30
April 2007.
In his address on behalf of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, a
U.S. representative, Alexandro Woolf, underlined that Russia, France
and the United States are still loyal to the peaceful resolution
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “In this respect we seriously
regard the concern voiced by both the two conflict on threats to the
stability and security of the region, which pose new obstacles in the
negotiations process,” the U.S. diplomat underlined. He voiced their
Minsk Group co-chairs’ readiness, together with the special envoy of
the OSCE Chairman-in-office, to render assistance in the organization
of the OSCE mission with the support of UNEP.
Russia, France and the United States hope that ‘the goodwill spirit
demonstrated by Armenia and Azerbaijan during the work over the
resolution testifies the readiness of both sides to take additional
measures to consolidate matters, which would support the talks,”
Woolf underlined. He reminded that over the past 2 years the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs carried out intensive work with Armenia and
Azerbaijan over the definition of major principles of the agreement
which would lead to fair and durable resolutions”. The July Summit of
G8 held in St. Petersburg called on the Presidents of Azerbaijan and
Armenia to take these principles as a basis for the resolution of the
conflict. “Today we again appeal strongly and state the Government’s
readiness in rendering its full support to the achievement and
implementation of the peace agreement,” the U.S. diplomat stated.

“ECHO”: OFFICIAL BAKU DOESN’T BELIEVE THAT ANKARA WILL OPEN FRONTIERS WITH ARMENIA
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
Despite of all difficulties, Turkey won’t open frontiers with Armenia
neither it recognizes false genocide. Milli Mejlis deputy representing
ruling party and member of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, Aydin
Mirzazade, informed “Echo”. Otherwise, as deputy holds, Turkey would
deny its history, roots and primarily its national dignity. At the
same time, accordingly to Armenian mass media, EU draft report on
Turkey, discussed and adopted September 4 on the part of commission
on foreign relations of European Parliament, urges Ankara to open
frontiers with Armenia.
Following Armenian mass media document says that Turkey should take
all necessary measures to establish diplomatic and good-neighbor
relations with Armenia without precondition, including frontiers
opening accordingly to resolutions of European Parliament of 1987-2005.
A casual remark on recognition of genocide of Armenian in 1915 is made
in the draft report – governments of Armenia and Turkey are urged to
“continue the process of reconciliation for adoption of mutually
beneficial proposal”.
As deputy, Aydin Mirzazade, points out the issue on opening of
frontiers with Armenia is political but not juridical. Deputy reminds
that in the course of whole period of its existence EU presented
no demand to any future member-state. “Now issues, which have to be
dealt by historians and scholars, are focused on”, deputy holds.
Armenian diaspora plays its role in this connection, deputy believes.
“However, sooner or later Europeans will have to review their
positions as it is impossible to imagine Europe without Turkey,
being its integral part”, deputy insists.
“Within last 14-15 years Turkey has been steadfastly showing its
brotherhood with Azerbaijan. Ankara severed diplomatic relations
with Yerevan for the first time after Khodjali genocide committed by
Armenians in Nagorni Garabagh.
Azerbaijan will never forget heroic deed of Turkey, its faithfulness
to friendship and cooperation with our nation”, Mirzazade stresses.
However, deputy recognizes that there are some forces in fraternal
country, ready to open frontiers with Armenian aggressors for the
sake of their own interests.
“But I don’t think that any Turkish government will do so”, deputy
supposes. In this case, following deputy, they will have to answer
before Turkish nation, which at one with Azerbaijan.
As political scientist and co-founder of Azerbaijani national and
public committee on European integration, Leyla Aliyeva, says,
open frontiers is one of EU principles. “But Armenia is not EU
member”, she stresses. That is why it is not right to put forward
such conditions before Ankara. In this connection EU uses different
pressure instruments with respect to Turkey. “Some issues concerning
historical past are focused on and it is particularity of EU-Turkey
relations”, political scientist, Aliyeva holds.
Accordingly to her, there are many anti-Turkey forces in EU,
particularly, Greece and Cyprus. At the same time respond of Ankara
to EU requirements on frontier opening will depend on internal
situation in Turkey. “If European perspective of Turkey is getting to
be realistic and everything depends on frontier opening with neighbor
state, then who knows…” It’s not easy to predict steps of Turkish
government, Aliyeva says.
Chief of Administration on Information Policy of Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Tair Tagizade, particularly
underlined for “Echo” that Turkey and Armenia have number of issues,
apart from Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, which aggravate inter-state
relations. “At the same time Azerbaijan highly appreciates principal
adherence of Turkey to international law showed by Ankara with regards
to Garabagh conflict”, T. Tagizade concluded.
–Boundary_(ID_sjZhP5czgCmoUobEOf/h0Q) —
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress