NATO DEPUTY CHIEF URGES NEGOTIATED GARABAGH SETTLEMENT
AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 4, 2006 Tuesday
NATO calls on both Azerbaijan and Armenia to seek a negotiated
settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, its Assistant
Secretary General Jean Fournet has said. The dispute can be resolved
only in peace and all other means questioning this option should be
given up, he told a news conference in Baku on Tuesday.
We are interested in the continuation of talks. But we have no
intention to act as a part of the OSCE Minsk Group dealing with the
conflict. Asked of the alliances possible role in case the parties
strike an agreement, Fournet said this question could be answered
only after the actual peace accord is reached. The enforcement of
decisions passed by influential international organizations has been
in public domain of late. Particularly alarming is the fact that the
UN Security Councils four resolutions on the unconditional withdrawal
of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan
have not been implemented yet. Fournet said the issue should not be
addressed by NATO proper. He said all decisions in the alliance are
made based on a consensus and are definitely enforced. Fournet said
he is not inclined to talk of other organizations in this respect but
added that all of their decisions should be properly executed. The
NATO official avoided commenting on the fact that 20% of Azerbaijans
territories are under occupation. Although he repeatedly stated
that the alliance is committed to fighting terror, he failed to put
forth a firm stance concerning Armenias committing an act of terror
against its neighbor. Fournet hinted, however, that NATO has no plans
to eliminate the aftermath of the Armenian terror, adding that the
organization intends only to jointly struggle against emerging threats.

TREND, Azerbaijan
Aug 4, 2006
Azeri Foreign Minister hasn’t received any proposal to hold meeting
with his Armenian colleague in Prague
Source: Trend
Author: A.Mammadov
04.08.2006
The Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov hasn’t received
any proposal from the mediators to hold a meeting with his Armenian
colleague Vardan Oskanyan in Prague in the fall. Event the American
co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group Mathew Bryza didn’t touch up on this
question, Mamadyarov told journalists on August 4, Trend reports with
reference to Lider TV.
According to the minister, the co-chairs discussed different variants
of resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Official Baku isn’t aware of
the negotiations.
Mammadyarov noted that Azerbaijan support the peaceful talks.
“One of the disputable questions in settling the conflict is the
conducting of the reforms. American co-chair supports the position
of Azerbaijan in this direction,” Mammadyarov stressed.
Official Baku is worried by the activities of the foreign companies
belonging to Armenian businessmen in the Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories, the minister added, noting that they are mainly engaged
in the construction of hotels and other objects.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 4, 2006 Friday
KARABAKH: IN THE IMPASSABLE JUNGLE OF RESOLUTION
by Ambassador Vladimir Kazimirov, the head of the Russian Mission for
Truce in Karabakh
RUSSIAN, AMERICAN, AND FRENCH CHAIRMEN OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP WILL
DISCUSS THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION; The OSCE Minsk
Group is meeting to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution.
Russian, American, and French chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group will
meet in Paris on August 2-3, to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
resolution. This is going to be the first conference of international
mediators after the June demarche, caused by fruitlessness of the
meetings between Presidents Robert Kocharjan of Armenia and Ilham
Aliyev of Azerbaijan this year.
Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group called a break this June, and urged
the heads of the involved states (Armenia and Azerbaijan) to display
political will for peace. Their demarche and some leaks to the media
on what suggestions had been made generated public debates. The
cul-de-sac situation is being grappled with at this point, but few
stimuli for mutual concessions appear. Official reaction in the
respective capitals proved quite traditional. President of the
unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh Arkady Gukasjan was the
first the other day to promote in public the necessity of long
overdue reconciliation between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis.
Yerevan began play-acting, pretending that the suggestions made by
foreign intermediaries were acceptable as a basis for talks
continuation. The Armenians never hesitate to show their own
“constructive stand” whenever they are confident of Azerbaijan’s
reaction – meaning that whatever is suggested will be turned down by
Baku. It gives the Armenians a slight advantage. In the meantime,
many Armenians complain that the other side is not dependable enough
when it comes down to honoring accords and grumble over what they
call exaggerated readiness of their own leaders (virtual readiness,
if the truth were to be told) to withdraw from the occupied districts
around Nagorno-Karabakh.
It is more difficult for the Azerbaijani leadership, which is
compelled to reassure its general public that nothing has been agreed
on actually and that the key idea of a referendum on the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh is to be reduced to the level of an ordinary opinion
poll. In the meantime, it was only recently that official Baku was
bragging that only two issues of eight or ten had to be settled yet.
This permanent lack of exactness (whether or not accords have been
made and if they are being honored) is typical of the adolescent
Azerbaijani diplomacy.
Official Baku is racking its brains to try to come up with new
demands now. Demilitarization of the conflict area, i.e. disarmament
of Nagorno-Karabakh, is insisted on. It becomes more and more clear
that Aliyev does not really want an agreement, that he is stalling
for time in the hope to build up military muscle despite his regular
threats to Yerevan to the effect that Azerbaijan’s patience is
running out. Ducking the suggestions made by the international
community, official Baku itself procrastinates the sufferings of
Azerbaijani fugitives from Nagorno-Karabakh (it claims that they
number over a million!) and makes them hostages of the unsolved
problem of Nagorno-Karabakh. Every now and then Aliyev even hints at
the possibility of a military operation of vengeance – even though
the international community has made its stand on this particular
option clear. No new war will be tolerated.
This time-out taken by the intermediaries prompted some other players
to try their hand with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution. The
notorious International Crisis Group or ICG went to great lengths to
show the panic it was in and all but proclaimed the need for a new
international intermediary. France alone would not do, as far as ICG
representatives are concerned. They want all of Europe dragged into
the matter. Peter Semneby of the EU visited the region in unseemly
haste. Pierre Leluche of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly grew
active…
This eagerness to play the arbiter for Nagorno-Karabakh proves
existence of certain geopolitical appetites and even certain
shallowness of the thinking processes. A great deal of states and
prominent state officials racked their brains, collective and
individual, afterwards trying to save face. Lack of knowledge on what
the conflict had been about in the first place and how it had evolved
let down the overly eager more than once. It happened so to the ICG
or Lord Atkinson, author of the report to the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe who chose to rely on “a single still shot”
of the situation in the region in 2005, when even a whole “movie”
(figuratively of course) wouldn’t have sufficed as a basis for
serious debates.
New American Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza joined
the club in the cowboy-ish manner typical of the Bush Administration.
Bryza visited Yerevan, Stepanakert, and Baku – and left the
impression of having been overly long-winded.
It stands to reason to expect three chairmen to base their future
actions on Bryza’s trip to the region. Even another meeting between
Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers may be arranged.
The OSCE set out to have the conflict resolved peacefully. It ought
therefore to be more consequent and persistent. First and foremost,
it should demand a peaceful solution to the problem more firmly,
denouncing everything that collides with its efforts – including all
and any threats particularly when they are made by the heads of
states.
Undeniably nit-picking in the matter of human rights and electoral
procedures, OSCE structures are surprisingly tolerant when
confronting militarist and revenge-monger-ish statements from
officials and outright blase when it comes down to the continuing
arms race, actual skirmishes, and neglect of the existing accords by
the involved countries. The Middle East in the meantime is an example
of how even a restricted war results in mass and huge violations of
human rights.
A categorical denouncement of a new war alone will pave way to actual
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Source: Vremya Novostei, August 2, 2006, p. 5
Translated by A. Ignatkin

Armavia says paid off debt to Russia for air navigation services
Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
August 4, 2006 Friday 8:04 PM EET
YEREVAN Aug 4 — Armenian airline Armavia has paid off all its debt to
Russia’s State Air Traffic Management Corporation for air navigation
services, Rafael Avetikyan, the airline’s deputy general director,
said Friday, ITASR-TASS reported.
All issues have been settled and Armavia will continue carrying out
flights to Russia, Avetikyan said.
His statement followed an announcement made earlier Friday by the
State Air Traffic Management Corporation that it planned to stop
providing air navigation services to Armavia starting August 14 due
to Armavia’s failue to pay back U.S. $800,000 for services rendered.
The State Air Traffic Management Corporation first suspended air
navigation services for Armavia February 10 due to the debt, it said.
Armavia provided a timeline for debt redemption February 17 and was
expected to redeem the debt by May 31. However, Armavia reduced debt
payments after the crash of its Airbus A320 plane May 3 and asked
the State Air Traffic Management Corporation for an extension. The
Russian company agreed to provide the extension, but Armavia again
failed to redeem the debt on time.
Armavia’s Airbus A320 plane crashed May 3 into the Black Sea near
the Russian resort of Sochi, killing all 113 people onboard.
Armavia started operating flights in 2001. Its fleet currently
includes six aircraft, including one Airbus A320, two Airbus A319s,
as well as Russian Il-86, Yak-42 and Yak-40 aircraft.

Azerbaijani soldier killed in fire from Armenians: Baku
Agence France Presse — English
August 4, 2006 Friday 12:38 PM GMT
BAKU, Aug 4 2006 — An Azerbaijani soldier has been killed by fire
from ethnic Armenian forces near the disputed Nagorno Karabakh region,
the defense ministry in Baku said Friday.
The 20-year-old, Babek Mirzaliyev, died Thursday on the Azerbaijani
side of a ceasefire line that has been in place since a temporary
accord was reached between Baku and Yerevan over the disputed region
in 1994.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six-year war over the Armenian-majority
enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, which seceded from Soviet Azerbaijan in
the early 1980s.
The conflict claimed 25,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands
of people, ending in the 1994 ceasefire.
Tensions have remained high and incidents occur regularly, with the
Armenian-controlled region’s status still unresolved.

Russia to stop aero-navigation services to Armavia due to debts
ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 4, 2006 Friday
The Russian State Air Traffic Control Corporation will stop giving
aero-navigation services to the Armavia Armenia airline in the
Russian skies starting from August 14.

IRNA, Iran
Aug 4, 2006
Iranian Theater Under Int’l Spotlight
Tehran, Aug 4, IRNA Iran-Theater A close look at the functioning of
Performing Arts Center’s International Affairs Department in the four
months since March as well as the growing participation of artists
and entries in foreign events reveal that the Iranian theater
industry has had an active international presence.
The Arts and Culture Desk of IRNA’s English morning paper, the Iran
Daily has in its Saturday edition focused on the matter.
The daily writes, “Of course, in some cases the high quality of
Iranian theatrical productions can be considered as an indicator of
the major improvement in the country’s theater industry.
“The department has been involved in organizing the 11th
International Puppet Festival for the past three months.
“Its activities include submission of calls to Iranian foreign
cultural and political offices as well as 400 puppet show bands.
It is also planning to hold the 25th International Fajr Theater
Festival.
“The office seeks to conduct talks with performing groups from
Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Armenia to undertake joint
productions.
“The International Affairs Department also plans to hold specialized
meetings and educational workshops in Iran in cooperation with
international artists and experts.
“Today, Iranian theater industry can forge communication with
international cultural centers better than in the past as the artists
have also presented successful performances worldwide.
“For example, Amir Reza Kouhestani, a young director has performed
many plays overseas since 2002 including ‘Dance Over Glasses’ at Le
Lieu Unique in France and ‘Recent Experiences’ at Maison Des Arts.
Mohammad Rahmanian is also one of the directors who has actively
participated in student festivals and theatrical events.
‘Fenz’, written and directed by Rahmanian, was warmly welcomed in
Europe and Canada.
“Meanwhile, leading Iranian artist Behrouz Gharibpour along with Ali
Pakdast and Farindokht Zahedi reviewed of puppet shows in Poland last
March.
“Gharibpour served as a member of panel of jury at the international
Puppet Arts Festival in the Czech Republic two months later.
“Such involvements signify the high status of Iranian artists in
international events.
Prominent director Chista Yasrebi also participated in the Russian
Classical Festival with her production ‘Crime and Punishment’, which
is based on a free interpretation of a novel by Theodore Dostoyevsky.
Yasrebi received plaque of honor at the festival while Mahsa Mahjour
won the award for the best actor.
“Afsaneh Zamani also staged ‘Three Piglets’ in Turkey while Zahra
Sabri performed ‘Eight Moment’ in the Czech Republic.
“Also, 24th Freiburg International Festival was attended by a group
of outstanding Iranian theater experts who presented three Iranian
puppet shows.

Permanent exhibition of conventional arms to be established in Moscow
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
August 4, 2006 Friday 5:21 PM MSK
The International Defense Exhibition of Land Forces, IDELF-2006,
has great growth potential, deputy director of the Federal Military
and Technical Cooperation Service Vladimir Polischuk said.
“We will do our best to establish a basic exhibition of conventional
arms in Russia, and not only for land forces,” he said at a news
conference in Moscow region’s Krasnoarmeisk, where the second stage
of the IDELF-2006 has begun and where arms and equipment will be
demonstrated in action.
“IDELF-2006 is one of the best exhibitions in Russia as far as the
implementation of plans and ideas is concerned,” he said.
A protocol on military and technical cooperation between Russia and
Armenia was signed during the exhibition, Polischuk said. The protocol
stipulates prospects for such cooperation as well as issues linked
to the improvement of the legal base and arms deliveries.
Another exhibition, a “security means salon,” is planned to be held
in Krasnoarmeisk from 2007, Polischuk said.

Armenian occupiers damage Azerbaijani infrastructure – Baku
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
August 4, 2006 Friday
The damage to Azerbaijan’s transport infra-structure in the areas
occupied by Armenia is estimated in the hundreds of millions of
dollars, Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Transport Minister Musa Panakhov
told journalists on Friday.
“According to our estimates, over 200 kilometers of rail lines
and 4,000 kilometers of highways are under Armenian occupation. In
addition, the occupied territory of Azerbaijan has an infra-structure
serving these roads. According to our data, for the most part this
infrastructure and road system has been destroyed,” said Panakhov.
“We do not know exactly the current situation in the occupied
territories, so it is difficult for us to name a precise figure. But
the volume of the damage is counted in the hundreds of millions of
dollars,” he said.

Russian command requests Georgian visas for over 1,000 servicemen
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
August 4, 2006 Friday 4:48 PM MSK
TBILISI Aug 4 — The command of the Russian military force in
Transcaucasia has sent a list of over 1,000 servicemen who are
applying for entry visas to do their military service in Georgia to
the Georgian authorities.
“We are asking for visas for exactly as many people as have left
Georgia and hope for a positive reply,” a spokesman for the command
told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
“This is essential for the continuation of the base withdrawal
process,” he said.
“Six trains of arms have left the 12th base in Batumi this year.
The armaments were taken to the 102nd Russian base in Gyumri, Armenia.
Twelve trains have left the 62nd base in Akhalkalaki. From there the
arms and vehicles are being withdrawn to Russia. Six more trains will
leave Akhalkalaki this year,” he said.
“This year our emphasis is on heavy vehicles, next year we will focus
on property and equipment that remains in large quantities,” he said.
The Russian military bases in Georgia are due to close down during
2008.