BAKU POSITIVELY ASSESSES RECENT STATEMENT OF ARMENIAN FM
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 26 2006
The recent statement by the Armenian Foreign Minister, Vardan Oskanyan,
regarding the return of all occupied Azerbaijani territories is very
highly assessed, the Chief of the Press & Information Policy Department
of the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry, Tahir Tagizade, told Trend.
According to him, the inevitability of returning occupied Azerbaijani
territories within the regulation process is a factor for Armenian
side. “The Armenian Foreign Minister made it clear that the Armenian
side understands that the return of all occupied Azerbaijan territories
is a very essential element of the regulation,” Tagizade emphasized.
Recently, during his speech at the Armenian Parliament, Oskanyan stated
that the return of the territories forms a part of the proposals. “We
will discuss the territories once a definite agreement has been reached
regarding the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Only then will we discuss
the details of returning the territories,” the Minister said. In
addition, he made it clear that all territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh
are under the territories – northern and eastern parts – including
Martuni, Mardaket and Shaumyan. “All the territories are topics for
discussion.” Oskanyan added.

SOLDIER SHOT ONE AND HIMSELF
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 26 2006
A soldier serving in Military Unit N shot his soldier friend today,
APA Garabagh bureau reports.
The soldier shot himself too after the incident. Defense Ministry
Press service proved the fact. The officer of the press service
Ilgar Verdiyev told the APA that the soldier Nuriyev Asif Seyidbala
(drafted by Lenkeran region Military Registration and Enlistment
Office in April, 2006) wounded the soldier Mirzeyev Fakhraddin Natig
(drafted by Sumgayit city Military Registration and Enlistment Office
in January, 2006). Being shocked, Nuriyev killed himself. Nuriyev
died in the site, but Mirzayev was hospitalized. The criminal case
was launched on the facts. Verdiyev said that the incident happened
because of violating the security rules.

HUBERT BALS FUND ROLLS COIN TO 24 PROJECTS
By Melanie Goodfellowlondon
Variety, USA
Oct 26 2006
More than $444,000 handed to filmmakers from developing countries
The Intl. Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund, aimed at
fostering filmmaking in developing countries, has awarded Euros 353,000
($444,462) to 24 projects in its fall 2006 selection round.
The grants are awarded over four categories: script and project
development, post-production and distribution, and the recently
announced digital production section (Variety, Oct. 16, 2006).
The selection includes Thai Anocha Suwichakornpong’s “The Sparrow,”
Palestinian Ismail el Habbash’s “Dancing at the Checkpoint” and
Argentine Milagros Mumenthaler’s “Absences,” all of which are in
development.
Pics in post-production include Armenian Hovahannes Galstyan’s
“Bonded Parallels,” about a female teacher in contemporary Armenia,
and Malaysian Woo Ming Jin’s post-Tsunami tale “The History of Pink
Elephants.”
More established directors to have picked up grants include South
African Ntshaveni Wa Luruli, whose Cape Town township-set “Wooden
Camera” previously screened in competish in Rotterdam, and Iranian
Mohammad Shirvani, who attended the 2006 edition of the fest with
“President Mir Qanbar.”

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS, THAT HIS AZERBAIJANI COUNTERPART ADVOCATES KEEPING CEASE FIRE REGIME TOO
TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 26 2006
Armenian Defense Minister, Serg Sarkisyan considers that his
Azerbaijani counterpart also advocates keeping the cease fire regime.
“He doesn’t want to break the cease fire regime”, Mr. Sarkisyan told
journalists on Wednesday, commenting the recent meeting between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian Defence Ministers.
“Simply, we should realize that thousands of armed people stay on
each side, and sometimes shots are fired. It is important that these
shots would not become deliberate and not to take the form of large
incidents”, pointed out the Armenian Defence Minister.
The meeting between Armenian Defence Minister Serg Sarkisyan and his
Azerbaijani counterpart was held on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border
on October 20. The two Ministers discussed issues that are of a great
interest for both parties, particularly an issue on keeping the cease
fire regime, Trend reports referring to News-Armenia.

COOPERATION WITH JAPAN IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 26 2006
YEREVAN, October 26. /ARKA/. Armenia attaches importance to the
development of cooperation with Japan, RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan stated at his meeting with the newly appointed Japanese
Ambassador to Armenia Yasuo Saito (residence in Moscow).
“Armenia’s authorities attach importance to consistent development of
relations with Japan – one of the Asian-Pacific region, considering
its contribution to stability in the world assistance the developing
countries,” Margaryan said.
He congratulated Ambassador Yasuo Saito on his appointment, assuring
him that the Armenian Government will support all his initiatives
toward Armenian-Japanese cooperation.
Margaryan added that since Armenia and Japan established diplomatic
relations in 1992, Japanese Ambassadors have exerted great efforts
toward the consolidation of friendly relations and development of
bilateral political, economic and cultural cooperation.
Margaryan said that Armenia is grateful for Japanese aid both at the
official level and by means of international financial organizations.
Margaryan gave assurances that join technical projects and grant
programs in the cultural and educational spheres, as well as soft
credit programs in such spheres as agriculture, small and medium
business, community infrastructure, energy, healthcare are aimed at
facilitating economic reforms in Armenia.
The RA Premier singled out the agreement on the allocation of a
$150mln soft credit for modernization and renovation of the Yerevan
TPP, welcoming the Japanese Government’s intention to implement two
new grant programs in rural communities.
Margaryan also pointed out that the development of Armenia’s rural
areas, especially the borderland, is one of the priorities of
Armenia’s economic policy, because the poverty level is relatively
high in those regions.
Margaryan pointed out good preconditions for the development of
bilateral cooperation, pointing out that during a visit paid to Japan
by an Armenian delegation headed by him in 2005 the sides signed an
intergovernmental agreement on technical cooperation. An Armenian
pavilion was also opened at the “EXPO 2005″exhibition in Aichi.
In his turn, Ambassador Saito pointed out limited natural resources
and serious intellectual potential as a common feature of both
countries. He said that effective use of this potential can result
in great achievements.
The sides also pointed out the importance of cooperation in the
international arena.

VNESHTORGBANK TO LAUNCH NEW INTERNATIONAL BRAND
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 26 2006
YEREVAN, October 26. /ARKA/. The VneshTorgBank is launching a new
international brand VTB.
On this occasion, VTB Senior Vice-President Vasili Titov is to hold
a new conference at the Armenia-Marriott hotel at 10:30 a.m., on
October 27.
The VTP representative will inform the journalists of the bank’s
plans to expand its presence in Armenia.
The organizing committee reported that the re-branding of the VTB and
its subsidiaries in the CIS is an important stage in the implementation
of the bank’s development strategy, which envisages the formation of
a powerful financial group VTB.
The introduction of a single brand will be an important instrument
of enhancing business efficiency and increasing the share of the VTB
group on the Russian and international markets of banking services.
The VTB is the principal share-holder of one of the largest banks of
Armenia, “Bank VTB Armenia”.

AMBASSADOR’S GENOCIDE DENIAL CASE DELAYED
By Ali Ihsan Aydin, Paris
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 26 2006
A lawsuit opened against Turkish Ambassador to Paris Aydin Sezgin
has once again been delayed because of problems with the court’s
computer system.
Following a ‘computer breakdown,’ the Paris Court of Appeals delayed
its verdict in a lawsuit opened by Armenians against Sezgin for openly
denying the alleged Armenian genocide on the embassy’s website.
The court stated that it would announce its verdict on November 8.
Internet service provider (ISP) France Telecom is also being tried
along with Sezgin for their role in publishing the information.
The case, which Ambassador Sezgin is strongly favored to win because
of his diplomatic immunity, is notable in terms of the anticipated
verdict on France Telecom.
The Paris Civil Court of First Instance, the first authority to
discuss the case, ruled that Sezgin could not be tried because of
his diplomatic immunity and France Telecom was not punishable by law
because the 2001 Armenian genocide law does not carry any sanctions.
The delay reportedly came about because of another ongoing lawsuit
the same day, again opened by Armenians, against an encyclopedia
named Quid for its alleged “pro-Turkish” version of the 1915 events.
The court had previously confirmed that the Sezgin verdict would
be delivered yesterday. However, judicial circles in France, who
are very interested in the case, associated the delay with France’s
yet-unclear policy on the Armenian genocide and its indecision over
how to tackle the problem.
The government is reported to be in close contact with the court in
regard to the issue.
Armenian associations have been seeking to convict ‘deniers’ by
interpreting other laws in ways that suit their purpose.
At yesterday’s hearing, the prosecution asked the court to punish
Quid according to Article 1382 of the French Civil Code, which covers
civil liability for offences related to violations of privacy.
The first court that handled the case had found Quid guilty according
to this article.

‘THOUSANDS OF ARMENIANS CONVERTED TO ISLAM’
By Ahmet Dinc
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 26 2006
Abdulilah Firat, grandson of Sheik Sait, asserted that thousands of
Armenians converted to Islam and became Kurds during the Ottoman era.
More than 500 Armenian villages converted to Islam during his
great-grandfather’s lifetime alone, Firat stated and in doing so,
instigated a new debate.
Speaking to Zaman, the former Erzurum deputy recalled that those who
had converted remained ambivalent during the 1915 incidents. Firat
asserted that they chose neither side, but tried hard to prevent
the events.
He further claimed that their offspring supported the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK), when the separatist Kurdish movement gained
momentum. Reacting to Hrant Dink’s remarks implying that the genocide
was actually committed by the Kurds, Firat said Armenians first
attacked Muslims.
European countries and Russia have been provoking Armenians since
the eighteenth century, Firat said. “We only protected our lives
and honor. The homeland of Armenians is Palestine. They were exiled
by the Byzantines to Anatolia. Kurds called the Armenians ‘Fille’
in a special reference to Palestine. Those ‘Filles’ were sent back
to their homeland during deportation. The number of Armenians who
died during the armed conflict is not more than a few thousand.”
Firat further noted that Armenians and Turks lived in urban residential
areas, while Kurds inhabited rural areas. He asserted that when
Armenians began slaughtering Turks, the Kurds sent armed forces to
the urban areas in an effort to protect their Muslim brethren. Because
they had lived together in urban areas, Armenians mostly killed Turks
rather than Kurds, he said.
Stressing that the incidents were triggered by the Armenians, Firat
also stated that Hamidiye units were founded for the purpose of
protecting Muslims from the Armenians.
His grandfather, Sheik Sait, was an influential figure, Firat said,
and claimed that Sait urged Armenian leaders at the time not to give
in to Western provocations and attack the Muslims.
Firat regretfully noted that Sheik Sait’s efforts were not fruitful and
Armenians initiated a large scale campaign of massacre and slaughter,
and that the Ottoman administration armed Kurds as the European
countries armed Armenian guerrillas.
Firat also added that the majority of Armenian casualties were caused
by famine and illnesses during deportation, and not by direct armed
conflict.
Those who Armed Armenians Also Claim Genocide
Firat claimed that Armenians possess an inherent feeling of resentment
against Kurds. According to Firat, this feeling was first created by
Western countries, which offered the Kurds to a chance separate from
the Ottoman state and form an independent country to be inhabited by
both Kurds and Armenians.
Asserting that Europe has continued this conspiracy, Firat concluded
that those who had provoked and armed the Armenians in the past are
now in a similar fashion attacking Turkey with the genocide laws.

TURKEY: TOP EUROPEAN COUNCIL OFFICIAL VISITS
AKI, Italy
Oct 26 2006
Istanbul, 26 Oct. (AKI) – Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
President Rene van der Linden on Thursday met with top Turkish
officials, including Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, for discussions
focusing on human rights and dialogue between civilisations. Van der
Linden was also scheduled to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan but the meeting was cancelled since Erdogan is on a
prolonged vacation following his fainting at a public gathering last
week. The fainting incident was attributed to a drop in Erdongan’s
blood sugar level caused by his fasting for the Muslim holy month
of Ramadan.
On his arrival in Turkey on Wednesday, Van der Linden who supports
Turkey’s bid for membership of the European Union, criticised the
French lower house of parliament’s passing of a bill that makes it
an offense to deny that the massacre of Armenians under Ottoman rule
amounted to genocide.
Van der Linden criticised suggestions in France and elsewhere that
Turkey should officially recognise that the Armenian genocide took
place as part of the conditions it has to comply with in order to
enter the EU.
“It is inappropriate trying to set new criteria for Turkey’s
membership. You cannot change the rules of the game after you start
playing,” he said.
Ahead of a progress report on Turkey’s bid due to be presented on
8 November, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, said in an
interview with the Italian daily Corriera Dela Sera he was concerned
that the EU-championed reform process in Turkey was slowing down.
Turkish enthusiasm for EU membership also appears to have cooled
according to a survey released Thursday indicating that only 32
percent of Turks think that ‘Turkey must enter EU’, compared to 57
percent who thought so last year. The survey was conducted by A&G
research company with a sample of 2,408 people being interviewed.

HAIRIKIAN: ROBERT KOCHARYAN, SERGE SARKISIAN AND ANDRANIK MARKARYAN ARE THE AGENTS OF RUSSIA INTELLIGENCES
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 26 2006
“Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan was the agent of the
former USSR KGB (State Security Committee).
His partnership with those Intelligences continues up today,” Armenian
National Self-Determination Party chief Paruir Hairikian said, APA
reports quoting to Armenian press service. He said the president and
Defense minister are also the agents.
“This is a fact. The main problem of Armenia is president Robert
Kocharyan and Defense minister Serge Sarkisian are the agents of the
Russia Intelligences,” Hairikian said.
Armenian press published Vladimir Vardanov’s thoughts who headed
Armenian riot squad in Khojali operation and the officer of USSR
Intelligence Agency (IA). Vardanov said that he observed Sarkisian’s
secret intercourse with the officers of IA in 90s.
“Azerbaijani captured Serge Sarkisian during the early years of
Garabagh conflict. He was released only after Russia’s interference,”
he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress