PACE: AZERBAIJAN EXPERIENCES SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH DEMOCRACY
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 18:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The hot debates on Azerbaijan’s fulfillment of
obligations to the Council of Europe were not much different from
the previous ones.
Rapporteurs Herkel and Gross again said Baku neglects its commitments
to the CoE. They also pointed out to the unwillingness of the
authorities to conduct democratic elections and secure rights and
freedoms of the citizens.
Gross said the authorities try to justify the problems available
by the presence of refugees and consequences of war. They think
that if they have oil they can neglect the laws and the opinion of
the international community. This was the reason for the falsified
parliamentary election in 2005 and similar election in May 2006.
During the debates some parliamentarians from Eastern Europe and
Turkey supported Azerbaijan and offered to recognize the Azeri
delegation mandate.
As for the speeches of the Azeri delegation members, they were
remarkable with emotionality and absence of arguments. The speeches
assured that the Council of Europe should understand that Azerbaijan
is a young state and he should be assisted but not criticized.
With majority of votes the resolution and recommendations submitted
by Gross and Herkel were adopted. The rapporteurs said Azerbaijan
experiences serious problems with democracy and fundamental freedoms
such as elections, freedom of speech and other fields. In spring
2007 the PACE will again revert to the commitments to be fulfilled by
Azerbaijan. Till that time the PACE will proceed with the monitoring
of all the spheres of life, reported Turan.

COE SECRETARY GENERAL SAYS KARABAKH PROBLEM MILITARY SETTLEMENT INADMISSIBLE
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 18:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Council of Europe stands for the soonest peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict and both Azerbaijan and Armenia
should be interested in it, CoE Secretary General Terry Davis stated
at a news conference in Strasbourg.
Terry Davis voiced regret over the protraction of the settlement
process. “The resolution should be quick but appliance of force
is inadmissible. Too many people died during the recent years. I
negatively treat any idea of military resolution and emphasize that the
war caused great sufferings to both conflicting parties, Mr Davis said.

‘BRIDGE OF UNIFICATION’ FROM GYUMRI TO SHUSHI
By Gegham Mkrtchian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/06/2006
The Gyumri Municipality and “ART” company are going to hold “Bridge
of Unification” from Gyumri to Shushi.
Artyom Toumanian, chairman of “ART” company, said this at yesterday’s
press conference at “Asparez” pres club. The initiative is aimed to
contribute to the establishment of cultural, sports and other relations
between these two cities. It is envisaged that an expedition from
Gyumri will launch. Twenty people will participate in the expedition,
which will last 10 days. The expedition will include famous art
workers, singers, freedom fighters, physicians and other specialists.
Gyumri-Shushi foot expedition will launch on July 15.
The expedition will pass through Aragatsotn, Ararat and Syunik
regions. A gala concert will be held in Shushi on the occasion of
the expedition members’ arrival.
The initiators of the arrangement hope that that will be a success
and will become an annual tradition.

STRENGTHENING DEFENSIVE MEASURES ON ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER
AZG Armenian Daily
28/06/2006
The number of frontier guards’ stations have increased on the
Armenian-Georgian border. A new frontier guard station opened in
the Kalinino village of Ninotsminda region. While the control of the
Turkish-Georgian border has weakened.
New Passport Checking Point to Open in Ninotsminda
In the course of his visits to Javakhk, the Georgian justice minister
promised to open a new passport checking point in Ninotsminda
region. “A-Info” informed that there had been no passport checking
point in Ninotsminda for the last two years. It’s worth mentioning
that in 2005, the Akhalkalaki based department for international
passport checking was closed for a short time, too.

TESTS CHECKING KNOWLEDGE OF GEORGIAN LANGUAGE TO BE CARRIED OUT IN AKHALKALAKI
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/06/2006
>From July 1, a new testing system will be carried out in Georgia by
the decision of the Georgian Labor, Healthcare and Social Security
Ministry. The physicians of Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda regions will
also participate in the new testing that requires brilliant command
of the Georgian language.
According to “A-Info” this last factor may serve as grounds for
depriving people of their jobs. While it isn’t that necessary to
have brilliant command of the Georgian language to carry out medical
activities in the hospitals of Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda.

RF PRESIDENT ORDERS TO ASSIST RESETTLEMENT OF RUSSIAN SPEAKING CITIZENS IN RUSSIA
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/06/2006
RF President Vladimir Putin instructed to assist the voluntary
resettlement of the Russian-speaking citizens in the territory of
Russia. Regnum agency informed that the implementation of the relevant
program began on January 1, 2007. Before that, an interstate committee
will be shaped to deal with the implementation of the program. The
Federal Migration Service will regulate the realization of the project.
The probation realization programs will be carried out in Kaliningrad,
Kaluga, Lipetsk, Tambov, Tver, Tyumen, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk,
Primorye and Khabarovsk from September 1, this year. It is envisaged
that several millions of Russian-speaking citizens will be resettled
there, including those from the CIS member states. It is expected
that the project will be completed by 2012.
From: Baghdasarian

CRIES OF WAKENESS FROM THE RA PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE AND FM
A1+
[05:41 pm] 27 June, 2006
“The continuation of such actions from the Armenian side may put
the agreement signed in the framework of the “Millennium Challenge”
into peril,” cited Alexander Arzoumanyan, ex Foreign Minister in his
addressing speech from the “Millennium Challenge” organization letter
addressed to President Kocharyan in club “Pastark”.
In Arzoumanyan’s opinion the letter is a slap in RA President’s face,
“It testifies to the inaction of our authorities.” In his words
OSCE Minsk group American Co-Chair Mettew Bryza’s announcement is
the continuation of the slap. “Today the authorities of the two
Armenian countries are busy with the reproduction of their power,
and the Kharabakh issue has become a stake in this context.”
As for Mettew Bryza’s announcement Mr. Arzoumanyan finds it an attempt
to arouse a discord among the public on the Kharabakh matter. Such
an attempt was done by Levon Ter-Petrosyan which led to power change.
In order to understand the American Co-Chair’s announcement and
interview more clearly Arzoumanyan advised to observe it from the
point of view of the Armenian interior policy. “It is simply put
down that the RA President may visit Washington if he carries out
the democratic reforms which have already been carried out by Ilham
Aliyev.” This means that like Aliyev Kocharian is to arrest 16 – 17
people among his acquaintances and start corruption combat the father
of embodiment of which is Kocharian himself. I don’t think Azerbaijan
is a democratic country and we must be compared with them. My concern
is that they speak to the Armenian President in that way and in that
language, “Go and stand on the same equal level with Aliyev to be
accepted in Washington.”
“ROBERT KOCHARIAN DOESN’T WANT TO PASS HIS POWER TO SERGE SARGSYAN”
“You, journalists, have your share of blame in the current situation of
Armenia. Every day our authorities are accused and threatened whereas
you support them and present them as almighty people,” Alexander
Arzoumanyan, ex Foreign Minister told the journalists today during
the press release.
In Arzoumayan’s opinion the inaction and irresponsibility of the
authorities is conditioned by the passiveness of the Opposition but
he also added, “There are people in the Opposition who claim that
there is chaos in the country all day long and they are ready to
give their votes to other people even to Serge Sargsyan instead of
Kocharian. That is what our authorities want.”
Arzoumanyan noted that Robert Kocharian in not inclined to pass his
power to Serge Sargsyan.
“Kocharian’s steps testify to the reverse outcome.
Look at the activity of “Prosperous Armenia” Party and the barriers
put in front of oligarchs and officials who try to become members of
that party. This is a special grouping.”

AZERBAIJAN RESPONDS TO THE ARMENIAN WISH
A1+
[06:05 pm] 27 June, 2006
“The main principles of the conflict are presented in the document
of OSCE Minsk group American Co-Chair Mettew Bryza. By this document
first of all the issue of the NKR status is taken into consideration,”
Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told the journalists during
the press release according to “Day.az” agency. He noted that the
Karabakh status was discussed during the negotiations.
“We must view the issue of granting Karabakh self-determination
status. These are questions of principle. The issue must be discussed
alongside with the communities living in Karabakh and create links
with them,” claimed Elmar Mammadyarov. The latter finds RA NA Speaker
Tigran Torosyan’s announcements that the Azeri side is lingering
the negotiation process artificially groundless. “I have met with
my Armenian counterpart for 10 times during my office. We are ready
to continue negotiations. The conflict is very delicate. We think
that the conflict must be solved stage by stage,” noted the Azeri
Foreign Minister.

THE PROSECUTOR PLANTING TREES ERADICATES FREE SPEECH
A1+
[06:31 pm] 27 June, 2006
Today the staff of “Zhamanak Yerevan” newspaper held a rally of
complaint opposite the RA Prosecuracy at 2 p.m. with suchlike posters
in protection to Arman Babajanyan, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper
who was arrested yesterday.
They demanded to release Arman Babajanyan and considered his arrest
illegal for a number of reasons.
Manouk Soukiasyan, executive director of the newspaper noted that
neither they nor Arman Babajanyan’s relatives granted him an advocate.
Rouben Sahakyan, president of the Advocates’ chamber informed the
strikers that nobody has turned them with such a request.
He also informed that they have already applied to many international
organizations and will apply to the European Embassies within
the day. They also got a message from Georgian legal and media
organizations in which they express their readiness to render their
assistance without going into details and they will follow the future
events attentively.
The strikers claim that they will go to the Prosecuracy every day
and continue their rally by the time Arman Babajanyan is set free.
As for the newspaper “it was published today, we are going to publish
it tomorrow as well and we are not inclined to stop our work,” assured
the strikers. By the way they wanted to meet Aghvan Hovsepyan, RA
Attorney General but they didn’t get a reply to their request today.

THE AZERIS ARE COLLECTING SIGNATURES
Karine Asatryan
A1+
[07:28 pm] 27 June, 2006
At present the Azeri delegates are approaching the deputies in the
corridors and collecting their signatures in support of their project
– to make a report “on setting a deliberate fire by the Armenian side
in the occupied territories.”
Samed Seidov, head of the Azeri delegation claims that they have
already collected the necessary quantity of signatures, the document
is ready and they have got material supporting it. “It is upon the
CoE to make reports but it is important to us to make public the fact
of fires for the international community,” he said.
Asked the question by the “A1+” correspond that according to the
NKR authorities the cause of the fires was the dry weather Samed
Seidov answered, “Karabakh is neither Baku nor Mingetchaur where the
temperature goes up to 40 – 45 degrees and it is quite normal for
them. We have all been in Karabakh and the lawns don’t burn there
because of dryness.”
By the way, two months ago the NKR authorities demanded in their
statement to reveal the fire initiators as fires are mainly caused
in areas where the Azeri side frequently violates the cease-fire
regime. “Too many hectares couldn’t have burnt because of a few
shoots,” rejected Samed Seidov.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress