ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DUE IN TEHRAN
Fars News Agency, Iran
July 4 2006
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Armenian President Robert Kocharian is
due to arrive in Tehran Wednesday morning.
The visit takes place at the invitation of the Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who will extend an official welcome to Kocharian
at the presidential office tomorrow morning.
The Armenian President is scheduled to attend meetings with
different Iranian officials, including President Ahmadinejad,
Expediency Council Chairman Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Speaker of
the Islamic Consultative Assembly Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Supreme National Security Council
Secretary Ali Larijani, to discuss bilateral relations and exchange
views about different issues of mutual interest.
The two sides will also sign several cooperation agreements at the
end of Koucharian’s visit to Iran.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AMERICAN CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MG TO PAY VISIT TO TURKEY
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
The date of the visit of American co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza to the region of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict hasn’t been defined
yet, the head of the press-service of the USA Embassy in Azerbaijan
Jonathan Henik told Trend.
Bryza is planning to visit the region in the person of the new USA
co-chair, but the date of the visit hasn’t been announced yet.
Besides, Henik stressed that Bryza is expected to participate in the
opening ceremony of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. The ceremony will
be held on July 12-13 in Istanbul and Adana.
According to information of diplomatic sources, during his first visit
in the person of co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group, Bryza will visit to
Azerbaijan and Armenia where he will hold talks with the heads of
the two countries.

AN ENTIRE MECHANISM OF REPRODUCTION IS DISSOLVING
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
04 July 06
Armenia and Azerbaijan reacted to the revelation of negotiations
for the Karabakh conflict by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Mathew
Bryza rather strangely. Official Yerevan complained of Mathew Bryza’s
statements more than Baku. It would not seem strange if there were
not for a circumstance. Complaining of the publication of the proposal
on the table of negotiations, Yerevan announced that it approves the
proposal. Baku did the contrary; it did not complain of publication but
it announced that the proposal was unacceptable for Azerbaijan. This
situation is a little strange, we should confess.
But I wish this situation were only strange. Because when after the
death of Heidar Aliyev Ilham Aliyev sat at the table, Azerbaijan
demanded to start from zero, and Armenia demanded to start from Key
West. In fact, everything started from Prague. It is difficult to
tell whether Prague is closer to Key West or zero, but most probably
Prague is close to neither of them, it is closer to the reality.
Perhaps because the leaders of the conflict sides constantly tried to
present their reality to their societies. No doubt, it is not helpful
for the settlement of the Karabakh issue and other problems, which
have accumulated so far. The presidents of both countries avoided
the reality, inventing another reality, and the problem of Karabakh
was a wonderful opportunity. Therefore, perhaps, Mathew Bryza and the
other co-chairs of the Minsk Group decided to reveal the reality to the
societies to protect them from manipulation by presidents, especially
that elections are drawing nearer in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Karabakh issue has always been a core issue in these elections,
both directly and indirectly. Even when it was not discussed, it was
always taken into account. Moreover, the Karabakh issue served the
governments of both countries as a peculiar shield against outside
intervention in home political processes. In fact, with regard to the
internal situation in Armenia and Azerbaijan the West was also guided
by the light of the Karabakh conflict, expecting that if reproduction
of power in both countries is bad in terms of democratization, it
may serve as a factor of stability in the conflict over Karabakh.
Perhaps, it was also expected that by guaranteeing reproduction of
power the parties would come closer to the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict. Otherwise, it is difficult to explain in Armenia and
Azerbaijan that it was delicately instilled in public consciousness
in both Armenia and Azerbaijan that only Kocharyan and Aliyev could
resolve the issue of Karabakh, and any other circumstance would cause
the war to ignite. In Armenia it went even farther. In addition,
the representatives of some traditional parties announced that only
a president, who comes from Karabakh, can settle the Karabakh issue.
The minister of foreign affairs went farther and shifted this thesis
to the level of a right, announcing that the fact that Robert Kocharyan
comes from Karabakh gives him the right to act on behalf of Karabakh.
In fact, by a single interview Mathew Bryza destroyed the entire
mythology, which used to protect governments of Armenia and
Azerbaijan with the laurel of a settler. To say that Bryza did not
do it on purpose or he did it unconsciously, or not as seriously as
we think he did means to be at least an Armenian politician. By their
statements Bryza and the other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group let
Kocharyan and Aliyev know that they are unlikely to foster their
reproduction because they used to foster it to achieve reforms in
internal policies rather than only resolving or not only resolving
the Karabakh issue. If it fails, the West does not see a point in
overlooking electoral fraud using delicately the Karabakh issue with
expressions like “What democracy are you talking about? Look out,
they may take Karabakh away from us.”
In other words, it is certain that the settlement of the Karabakh
issue is not as urgent for the West and namely the United States as
the promotion of democracy in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Therefore,
on the one hand, Armenia is disturbed by Bryza’s statement, and
on the other hand, it endorses talks based on the proposals on the
table. Armenia is troubled because it realizes that Karabakh is not
the problem. They are not going to take Karabakh away from us, they
are not going to take away anything, some people are losing power
rather. Therefore, they are worried. If in Azerbaijan Aliyev has
oil resources, which might be a lever in negotiating with the West
to keep power, in Armenia Karabakh has always been the only resource
of Robert Kocharyan for keeping power, which is now checked out from
the agenda by the Americans. There are two things to do: to rely
on the short-term effect of accepting the proposals on the table
of negotiation or to look for a more reliable and modern resource,
such as democratization of the government system.

NEW STATEMENT BY MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
Lragir.am
04 July 06
Trend News Agency reports that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
made a new statement. The proposals developed through the past two
years of negotiations hold the best potential for achieving a fair
settlement of the conflict and lasting peace. The co-chairs say the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan should seek for agreement on
the resolution. They are willing to contribute to this agreement if
the presidents affirm their commitment. The statement of the Minsk
Group Co-Chairs states that although no Minsk Group-mediated meetings
are scheduled, the co-chairs are, nevertheless, ready to participate
in these meetings if the parties have political will, which is not
sufficient presently.
Besides, the co-chairs state that the proposals offered to Ilham
Aliyev and Robert Kocharyan may lead to a lasting settlement.
According to the co-chairs, it involves withdrawal of the Armenian
troops, a special approach to Lachin and Kelbajar, demilitarization
of these areas and a referendum on the status of Karabakh. The method
and timing of the referendum will be chosen during the talks.
According to the Co-Chairs, peacekeepers will be deployed in the
conflict area and a commission on application of the agreement will be
set up, and there will be international assistance in mine clearance,
reconstruction the areas and return of displaced persons.

OSCE MONITORING IN KARABAKH CONFIRMS VERSION ON AZERI PARTY BURNING GRASS
Yerkir
04.07.2006 16:13
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – On July 3, the Office of the Personal Representative
of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office (C-i-O) monitored the contact line of
the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Aghdam-Gindarkh
direction and in the settlement of Novrouzlou, reports the Press
Service of the NKR MFA.
>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring mission
was led by Personal Representative of the OSCE C-i-O Andrzej Kasprzyk.
Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE C-i-O
Peter Key (Great Britain), Irzhi Aberle (Czech Republic) and Gunter
Folk (Germany) were in the group. The monitoring passed in accordance
with the planned schedule; however Azerbaijani side as before did
not lead out the OSCE mission to the front line. In the course of
the monitoring no violations of the cease-fire regime were registered.
The representatives of the NKR Ministries of Foreign Affairs and
Defense, who accompanied the OSCE monitoring mission, noted that
contrary to the Azerbaijani side’s allegations on the burning of the
populated areas, which were in the NKR security zone, the monitoring
participants did not find such facts.
In one of the sections of neutral region traces of fire were
discovered, which spread from territories under the control of
Azerbaijan. This again confirms the version earlier announced by NKR
authorities that the Azerbaijani party burns grass. The monitoring
of different sections of contact-line will also be conducted on July
4 and 5.
We remind that June 15 the NKR MFA addressed the Office of the
Personal Representative of the OSCE C-i-O, asking for monitoring
the zone adjacent to Azerbaijan to provide a real assessment to the
situation and to make sure Baku invents accusations on alleged burning
of border settlements on territories controlled by the NKR.

NOT ONLY LAND, THEY WILL RETURN EVERYTHING
Lragir.am
04 July 06
Several former commanders of the Karabakh war made a statement July
4 at the Pastark Club. The reason for their statement is the recent
activity around the settlement of the conflict over Karabakh,
particularly the proposals involving the return of liberated
territories, which are approved by official Yerevan.
“We call the patriotic forces for unification at this crucial moment,
and defend our endangered Fatherland,” announce the veterans of the
Karabakh war led by Manvel Yeghiazaryan, the commander of the Arabo
squad and the former commander of the organization National Army of
Liberation of Artsakh Arkady Karapetyan.
“In fact, it means surrendering our homeland. Everything starts little
by little, first they will surrender a village, then a region, then
Karabakh, then Armenia. This is the logic,” says Arkady Karapetyan
with regard to Vardan Oskanyan’s statement on endorsing the proposal
of the mediators.
The azatamartiks began their statement with a description of the hard
social conditions of most participants of the war in Karabakh.
According to Manvel Yeghiazaryan, it is not an accidental reference.
“We know who did what, who has power, who is oligarch, who is
rich. Damn them! The war in Artsakh is not over, we know very well
what they did during the war in Artsakh. I assure that their political
will, their role in the society now was the same during the war in
Artsakh. People made millions, naturally they fear for their money,
they think what’s the point in countering the United States or Russia,”
says Manvel Yeghiazaryan. He announces that in case the territories
are surrendered, he will become a militant because 21 soldiers from
his squad are missing, and he does not know what he would tell their
mothers in case the land is surrendered.
The former azatamartiks think that accepting the proposal of the
mediators is a defeatist policy, mentioning that the Armenian diplomacy
proved unable to set down our victory in the world. Manvel Yeghiazaryan
is convinced, however, that Robert Kocharyan will not sign a defeatist
agreement but he assures that people around him push him.
The participants of the liberation war are ready to take any step
to prevent surrender of territories. “Nothing is impossible, we may
protest, maybe, I do not know, everything is possible because our life
will lose its meaning after such steps. We think they will surrender
some territories. They will not surrender land, they will surrender
everything, you and us,” says Arkady Karapetyan.

SADOYAN’S COMPLEX PLAN BEFORE ELECTIONS
Lragir.am
04 July 06
On the eve of the parliamentary election 2007 Arshak Sadoyan,
National Democratic Alliance, offers a complex program costing 3
million dollars. To implement the program, the “author” suggests
spending 6 million dollars allocated by the United States.
How about the other 3 million? “Well, we will do something with it,
we will spent it on the elections,” says Sadoyan angrily. One of
the innovative approaches offered by Arshak Sadoyan is electronic
vote. He says this is a universal variant, because it is applied in
democratic countries.
The next real variant of the Sadoyan’s program is, according to the
leader of the National Democratic Alliance, ballots with a protective
layer, which cannot be applied in our country (he is afraid of the
ruse of our nation). Sadoyan suggests organizing courses for the
members of divisional committees in 1920 electoral districts. Since,
according to Arshak Sadoyan, our country lacks free mass media,
Sadoyan suggests opening a commercial TV channel of democracy, why
not also a radio of democracy and publish a colored newspaper, where
every party would have a page. Sadoyan suggests inviting experienced
politicians living in a democratic country, who would change the
moral and psychological atmosphere in the country.

SERGE SARGSYAN DOES NOT KNOW THE HISTORY?
Lragir.am
04 July 06
The participants of the war in Karabakh, condemning the stance of
official Yerevan on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict on July 4,
addressed strictures against Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, who is
conducting a defeatist diplomacy, they say. The same azatamartiks,
however, did not criticize Serge Sargsyan, the minister of defense,
who upholds compromise, moreover, he would not utter a word against
the return of territories, as a minister of defense should have done.
Moreover, the famous phrase that “Aghdam is not our homeland” belongs
to Serge Sargsyan.
“Perhaps he does not know the history well, because Aghdam is our
homeland, and formerly it was not called Aghdam, and used to be
one of the capitals of Armenia, Tigranakert can still be found near
Aghdam. Varazabun, the summer residence of the kings, is near Aghdam,
in the land where there are traces of Armenians everywhere, but not
traces of Turks,” says the former commander of the National Army for
the Liberation of Artsakh Arkady Karapetyan. As for an assessment of
the duties of Serge Sargsyan, Arkady Karapetyan is quite brief.
“By saying army I understand ideology. Our army today does not have
an ideology,” says Arkady Karapetyan.
His brief speech is completed by Lyova Sahakyan, a former soldier of
the Army of Independence, who recalled the interview of a TV channel
with Serge Sargsyan in 2003.
“He asked have you ever thought about what our army lives on, and
so on, and so forth, our budget is not sufficient, we lack this and
we lack that.” Now I am asking who sustains our defense ministry,
our troops. The state should sustain our troops. If someone else is
sustaining the army, it is not an army, it is not a ministry. Draw
your own conclusions,” says the former azatamartik.

PEOPLE LIVING ON THIS LAND MUST SPEAK ON BEHALF OF NAGORNO KARABAKH
Lragir.am
04 July 06
Ashot Bleyan announced July 4 at the Pastark Club that he is ready
to visit Baku again. “I will go to Baku directly, not to be taken
there by other ways. A politician is obliged to step into fire if
the resolution of the question requires that.”
In the meantime, Armen Ashotyan, who debated with him, thinks
that the best variant for us is the status quo in the question of
Nagorno Karabakh. “We need to digest these territories, resettle
these territories. If there are only soldiers, there are no farmers,
doctors, teachers, there is no society, it contains certain dangers.”
“There cannot be a status quo. It would mean that life stops,”
counters Ashot Bleyan. “If the occupied territories are your homeland,
you are government, go and live there, build houses there. Establish a
branch of the National Assembly and live there, set a model. You have
money and power. Whereas you tell people living in Armenia to leave
their houses and move to live there because I want you to go. This is
adventurousness. Are we captives?” asks Ashot Bleyan. He is convinced
that we turned the question of self-determination of people into
struggle against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. “We did
it. Ashot Bleyan did not do it,” noted Ashot Bleyan.
According to him, people who live in that land, should speak in the
name of Nagorno Karabakh. “Honor and glory to the people of Nagorno
Karabakh, who showed that they struggle for the land by living in
that land. We benefited because the people of Artsakh stayed to live
on this land. But there were more people until 1988. I do not think
that it is in my interests that the ethnic Azerbaijanis left Nagorno
Karabakh,” announced Ashot Bleyan. And the loss, the greatest loss
for Ashot Bleyan is that “in 1988 250 thousand Baku Armenians became
refugees and now we do not know where these people are. The loss of 250
thousand Armenians of Baku with their property was a destructive loss,
people who could have privatize the oil pipeline. The Mantashov family
came from Karabakh, and at one time they bought Baku with money. We
also lost Shahumyan and Getashen forever.”

THE CONFLICT WAS NOT INSTIGATED BY ONE PERSON
Lragir.am
04 July 06
Ashot Bleyan, the New Way Party, announced July 4 at the Pastark Club
that the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Mathew Bryza is
favorable, for it allows to become alert, understand, focus attention
on the fact that the conflict is not resolved and the resolution is
not likely in the nearest future. The conflict was not instigated
by one person, and if all of us took part in the occurrence of the
conflict, consequently this complicated conflict cannot be resolved
without participation of everyone of us in person, believes Ashot
Bleyan. After this statement he noticed, “It is useful that people
worry about Bryza’s statement, why are you afraid?”
Republican Armen Ashotyan, debating with mutual accusations and stings,
says Mathew Bryza who has experience of a mediator in Georgian-Ossetian
and Georgian-Abkhazian conflicts, has assumed a greater goal. He must
expedite the settlement of the conflict for the sake of the economic
interests of the United States and the question of Iran. And these
interests are the ways of energy resource supply, notes Ashotyan and
announces that Bryza’s statement smells the oil of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
and the gas of Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum. This gas pipeline will supply
Europe, says Ashotyan. He is also hopeful that one day Iran-Armenia
will become a transit pipeline to Europe.
Ashot Bleyan says, “It is clear that at one time the former government
was busy hampering Azerbaijan, allegedly it has no oil and gas and a
strike is enough to make it collapse. It is obvious that Azerbaijan
is not going to collapse, on the contrary, the rates of development
of Azerbaijan in the past few years and in the upcoming two years
exceed the rates of development in Armenia several times.
It is known that the state budgets, state wealth cannot be compared.
If we are trying to measure our budgets by hundreds of millions,
they are already measuring by billions of dollars, it is obvious
that Azerbaijan increasingly feels confident as a powerful state in
the region.”