ARMENIA URGED TO FOLLOW AZERI ‘DEMOCRATIC REFORM’
By Harry Tamrazian in Prague
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
June 26 2006
Azerbaijan is moving faster than Armenia in democratizing its political
system despite being considered a more undemocratic country by Western
human rights organizations, according to a senior U.S. administration
official.
In an RFE/RL interview late last week, Matthew Bryza, the U.S. deputy
assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia, implied that
President Robert Kocharian has to follow Azerbaijan’s reform example if
he wants to be received by President George W. Bush at the White House.
Washington normally snubs those foreign leaders who were not elected
in polls deemed free and fair by the international community. Bush
made what is widely seen as an exception to that rule when he held
talks with Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliev at the White House last April.
The talks came five months after an Azerbaijani parliamentary election
that was denounced as fraudulent by Western observers.
Asked whether Kocharian too can now count on securing a White
House reception, Bryza said, “We obviously don’t look at balancing
presidential meetings like that, but there’s no reason not to want
President Kocharian to come to Washington. Let me just say I hope we
can see a similar series of positive steps on democratic reform in
Armenia as we hope we are starting to see in Azerbaijan.”
“Maybe we’re wrong about Azerbaijan. Maybe we’re overly hopeful. But
we think things are moving in a positive direction. And we hope to
see more of that from Armenia,” he said.
Bryza claimed that there were “some significant improvements” in
the Azerbaijani authorities’ conduct of the November parliamentary
election even if they “didn’t go as far as we would like.”
A monitoring mission from the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, headed by a U.S. congressman, described the
polls as deeply flawed, citing numerous serious violations witnessed
by its observers. Western human rights groups also condemned a brutal
break-up by security forces of a big opposition demonstration in Baku
against the official vote results.
In a statement issued ahead of Aliev’s Washington trip, Human Rights
Watch urged Bush to “press for concrete progress in Azerbaijan’s poor
human rights record.” The respected watchdog said the Azerbaijani
government continues to harass political opponents and has yet to
implement election-related recommendations of the OSCE and the Council
of Europe.
Another New York-based group, Freedom House, again rated Armenia more
highly than Azerbaijan in it latest annual survey of political reform
across Eastern Europe and the former Soviet that was released earlier
this month. “Azerbaijan’s democratic performance continues to show
signs of deterioration, especially in the categories of electoral
process and civil society,” the survey said, explaining a drop in
the country’s already poor democracy rating.
By contrast, the same rating assigned by Freedom House to Armenia
improved slightly. The watchdog argued that although the November
constitutional referendum in Armenia was also flawed, it resulted in
the enactment of amendments that “should provide a more even balance
of power between the president, Parliament and the judiciary.”
Bryza insisted that democratic reform is high on the Bush
administration’s agenda but admitted that other factors such as
Azerbaijan’s oil reserves and geographic location are also at play.
“Just because Azerbaijan hasn’t gone as far as we would like on
democracy doesn’t mean we’re going to ignore our energy interests or
our military interests,” he said.
“Why would we freeze out President Ilham Aliev from contact with our
president forever because we think he needs to do more on democracy?
That doesn’t make sense,” he added.
Turning to the Armenian government, Bryza pointed to its handling of
the constitutional referendum which was also criticized by European
observers and denounced as fraudulent by the Armenian opposition.
Washington expects relevant “positive changes” from Yerevan before
the next Armenian elections, he said.
Incidentally the Bush administration official stopped short of
questioning the Kocharian administration’s commitment to democratic
change when he spoke with RFE/RL in the wake of the disputed
referendum. “It’s too early to judge whether or not democracy has
moved forward,” he said on December 7.
Bryza also steered clear of criticizing the Armenian authorities’
democracy and human rights records when he visited Yerevan last March,
stressing instead the importance of building democracy “from the bottom
up.” He said Washington regards Armenia as a “democratizing country.”

GAREGIN INSISTS ON GENOCIDE RECOGNITION IN TURKEY
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
June 26 2006
The head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Garegin II, said in Istanbul
Sunday that Turks committed genocide against Armenians, a statement
that is likely to increase tensions during the last two days of his
weeklong visit to Turkey.
Garegin II, whose official title is Catholicos of All Armenians, has
been facing protests since his plane landed at the Istanbul airport
on Tuesday. The protesters included prominent lawyers from the Turkish
Lawyers’ Union, who previously pushed for the prosecution of novelist
Orhan Pamuk after he said that Turks had killed 1 million Armenians.
Turkey vehemently denies that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks around the time of World War I was genocide, and several cases
have been brought against those who say otherwise. The cases have
been opened under a law making it a crime to “insult Turkishness.”
Armenians say that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were
killing in an organized genocidal campaign by Ottoman Turks, and have
pushed for recognition of the killings as genocide around the world.
Garegin II was unreceptive Sunday to Turkey’s requests that Turkey
and Armenia, which are neighbors but have no diplomatic relations,
open their historical archives to researchers from both countries
to try to ease tensions and reach an objective conclusion about the
killings. “For our people research is not an issue. This is something
that happened and it needs to be recognized,” the Dogan news agency
quoted Garegin II as saying. “The genocide issue has been researched
for 90 years by academics.”
Garegin II said the protests hadn’t affected him. “They didn’t break
my spirit and they don’t reflect my visit,” he said. “But if these
kinds of protests continue, it shows that we have a lot of work so
that these two societies can live together.”
(Armenian Apostolic Church photo: Garegin II, right, and Patriarch
Mesrob II, the spiritual leader of the Armenian community in Turkey,
pictured outside an Armenian church in Istanbul.)

LIVING WELL AND BADLY
by Haroutiun Khachatrian
Transitions Online, Czech Republic
June 26 2006
South Caucasus and international experts find tentative agreement and
lingering tensions over the region’s political-economic affairs. From
EurasiaNet.
A recent economic conference held in the Georgian capital Tbilisi
sought to lay the groundwork for closer regional cooperation among
the three South Caucasus states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Regional economic integration was not formally on the agenda of the
1-2 June conference, titled the International Monetary Fund and the
South Caucasus in the 21st Century. Participants officially explored
best practices as each state attempts to modernize its respective
economy. However, the underlying hope was that sharing experience would
provide an impulse for officials to explore integration opportunities
down the road, provided that existing political obstacles, including
the lack of a settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, are eventually removed.
The regional IMF representatives from all three states – James McHugh
in Armenia, Basil Zavoico in Azerbaijan, and Robert Christiansen in
Georgia – were featured participants, and all faced a diplomatically
delicate task of outlining economic problems without appearing
to overly criticize government policies and responses. While each
Caucasus country features specific development conditions, conference
attendees generally agreed that corruption and tax evasion were among
the most serious problems prevalent in all three states.
“A large shadow economy should be brought into the formal economy
through an efficient tax [system] and improved corporate governance,”
said McHugh, referring to the situation in Armenia.
Georgian Minister of Finance Aleksi Aleksishvili said Tbilisi had
managed to improve its revenue collection capabilities, while stressing
that the government has stopped a practice common during the first
months following the 2003 Rose Revolution, in which entrepreneurs
were arrested, only to be released after making substantial payments
to the state treasury.
The conference scrutinized the unique economic situation in Azerbaijan,
where oil and gas development is causing revenues to spike. Several
participants focused on the potential threat of “Dutch disease,”
in which a rapid rise of income from the energy sector renders other
economic sectors of a given state uncompetitive in the global market.
Given that only about one percent of Azerbaijan’s population is
directly involved in the oil sector, the energy windfall stands to
be enjoyed by relatively few Azeris. Sabit Bagirov, president of the
Azerbaijan Entrepreneurship Foundation, warned that social tension
could grow worse in the country. “In several years, we may face a
situation that, with huge oil revenues, still a great number of poor
people are in the country, and the unresolved Karabakh conflict will
make their situation even worse. This may [make] millions of people
unhappy,” Bagirov said.
Most participants avoided making direct comparisons about the successes
and failures of economic development in the Caucasus.
Tigran Sargsian, chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia, was
perhaps the only participant who sought to place developments in each
individual state within a regional context. “Today, the countries
of the South Caucasus live similarly badly and differently well,”
he said. Sargsian highlighted differences among the three Caucasus
countries. For example, according to Sargsian, Armenia was recognized
as a leader in terms of market reforms, while possessing a bad
record on poverty reduction. Georgia, meanwhile, was labeled as more
competitive than Armenia. Yet at the same time, Tbilisi must struggle
with a deficit of power producing capacity.
Given the underlying political differences, it did not come as a
surprise to participants when Sargsian’s analysis was characterized by
Azer Alasgarov, an Azerbaijan National Bank official, as “politicized.”
“I agree with your critical notions, but I would like the Azerbaijan
National Bank to have presented its own vision of the situation,”
was Sargsian’s answer. The conference was organized by the Caucasus
Research Resource Centers, the IMF, and the National Bank of Georgia.
“Living Well and Badly”
Haroutiun Khachatrian is a Yerevan-based writer specializing in
economic and political affairs. This is a partner post from EurasiaNet.

ANKARA SHOULD RECOGNISE THE ARMENIAN MASSACRE: KAREKIN II
NTV MSNBC, Turkey
June 26 2006
Karekin II conducted a service on Sunday in the central church of
the Turkish Armenian Patriarchy.
NTVMSNBC & NEWS WIRES
Guncelleme: 16:00 TSÝ 26 Haziran 2006 PazartesiISTANBUL – Armenian
General Patriarch Karekin II, currently on a visit to Turkey, on
Sunday said that Ankara should recognise the so-called Armenian
genocide of 1915.
Speaking at a press conference after conducting a mass in an Armenian
church in Istanbul, Karekin II said the allegations of genocide against
the Ottoman Empire’s Armenian community had been studied for 90 years
by academics.
“For our people the genocide is not an issue of research,” he said.
“This is an incident that has happened and its has to be recognised.”
Karekin II said that Armenia was very willing to develop relations
with Turkey and stressed that if the two countries worked together
constructive solutions could be found to the problem.
In response to Turkey giving high points to Armenia in the Eurovision
Song Contest, Karekin II said that this should be seen as a positive
step.
–Boundary_(ID_SetT9OKH4arM32UUvmq t2w)–

THE SYSTEM FIGHTS BACK: ARMENIAN ROCKERS EDUCATE POLITICIANS ABOUT GENOCIDE
by Sandra Sperounes, CanWest News Service
The Calgary Herald (Alberta)
June 26, 2006 Monday
Final Edition
Spotlight
System of a Down performs with Hatebreed tonight at the Saddledome.
– – –
Photos rarely capture the true essence of a band — but this portrait
of System of a Down comes awfully close to representing the four
faces of the Armenian-American metal acrobats.
Goofy. Devilish. Aloof. Brooding.
There’s vocalist Serj Tankian, the curly haired Rasputin figure with
a silly grin.
His lyrics on System’s last two albums, Mezmerize and Hypnotize,
are just as loopy. Interspersed with biting condemnations about war,
politics and Hollywood are unexpected bursts of nonsense. “Banana
banana banana terra cotta!” he sings on Vicinity of Obscenity.
Then there’s guitarist Daron Malakian, the wide-eyed scamp who looks
like he’s trying to conjure up a halo over his head.
His bratty vocals on Lost In Hollywood and B.Y.O.B. provide a
counterpoint to Tankian’s deeper, richer tones.
There’s bassist Shavo Odadjian, who looks more interested in what’s
beyond the camera’s reach.
Similarly, you won’t find any of System’s members hamming it up for
the paparazzi, hanging out with the likes of Paris Hilton or Tara
Reid in the pages of Us or In Touch.
Instead, the musicians would rather remain distant from the Hollywood
machine — or talk about issues that don’t get a lot of media exposure,
such as the Armenian genocide of 1915.
Then, there’s drummer John Dolmayan, who admits he never smiles in
snapshots or onstage. His menacing look mirrors the group’s heavier,
darker side. It also comes in handy when he visits his favourite Las
Vegas casinos.
What this photo doesn’t reveal is Dolmayan’s passion for poker. He
even lives in Sin City, making him the only member of System who
doesn’t reside in the Los Angeles area.
“I don’t know if I’m good . . . yet,” he says via his cellphone, on
his way to a poker game. “Let’s just say that I’ve only been playing
for 10 years.”
Even Dolmayan wasn’t willing to bet System could release two
chart-topping metal masterpieces in less than a year — 2005’s
Mezmerize and Hypnotize. Nor did he think he’d ever end up hobnobbing
with U.S. politicians. But earlier this year, Dolmayan and Tankian
flew to Washington to talk to U.S. senators and congressmen about an
issue close to their hearts.
In 1915, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were evacuated and later
killed by the Ottoman Empire, now known as Turkey.
Dolmayan thinks it’s about time for an official apology and wants
the U.S. to lean on the Turkish government to do so.
“We had families who were extinguished in this genocide and the
people who perpetrated it have never been brought to justice,” he
says. “That’s wrong. I can’t live a happy life without making an
effort to make that right. We don’t necessarily blame the Turkish
people because they’re taught from birth it didn’t happen.
“And during the genocide, a lot of Turkish people helped Armenians
at great risk to themselves. We were neighbours, we helped each other.
Our ancestors were really close.”
Dolmayan believes his words were taken seriously by politicians,
but he doesn’t think his pleas will lead to an instant solution.
“All efforts lead to something,” he says. “It might not be this year,
it might not be because of our trip, but if you’re going to run a
marathon, you have to take the first step. Each step brings you closer
to the end of your journey. We’re just doing our part and hopefully
there will be a positive outcome. We’re going to continue to fight
for it. It should be important to other people, too. As you can see,
genocides are still being committed. If we don’t care what happened
in the past, why should we care what’s happening now.”
By the end of the year, Dolmayan will have a lot more time to lobby
politicians.
After 11 years and five albums, the members of System want to take
a bit of a breather and work on other projects.
He’ll also be hanging out in his warehouse, where he keeps his
collection of old-school arcade games — including Tempest, Donkey
Kong, Tron — and four million comics. His favourite title? Fantastic
Four.
“It’s a great hobby,” he says. “It fulfils my nerd credentials.”
– – –
System of a Down
Formed: In 1995 in Los Angeles.
Members: Serj Tankian (vocals-guitar), Daron Malakian (guitar-vocals),
Shavo Odadjian (bass), John Dolmayan (drums).
Heritage: All four are Armenian. Dolmayan was born in Lebanon, then
moved to Montreal, where he demolished his first drum set at the age
of seven. After a few years, his family headed to Los Angeles.
Discography: System of a Down (1998), Toxicity (2001), Steal This
Album! (2002), Mezmerize (2005), Hypnotize (2005).
Quote: “A lot of people look at System and see us as very serious and
political or however they want to look at us,” says Dolmayan. “We
are. We have that side, but each of us have another side to us. We
enjoy being fans of other things and being kids in a lot of ways.
Believe me, if you want to get into other aspects of my life, I’m
very serious about bringing to light the Armenian genocide issue.
There’s a lot of things wrong with the planet that I’d like to see
righted. But you can’t be that all the time, otherwise it just gets
boring. I like to enjoy things, too, I don’t want to sit in my room
and sulk all day.”

THE U.S. COCHAIRMAN OF THE MINSK GROUP UNCOVERED SOME DETAILS OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
Source: Turan information agency (Baku), June 23, 2006
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 26, 2006 Monday
The US cochairman of the Minsk OSCE group uncovered some details
of negotiations between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
regarding the Karabakh conflict in an interview with Radio Liberty.
He stated that the group prepared a framework agreement aimed at
asking Armenia to withdraw its troops from Azerbaijan’s territory. At
the same time, the document is aimed at improving diplomatic and
economic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and deploying
a peacekeeping contingent in the conflict zone. In addition, it’s
supposed to support Nagorny Karabakh and organize a referendum on
the status of the territory.
The US representative noted: “The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
received a concrete document, which they refuse to accept.” He refused
to say what clauses of the document the presidents reject. “We ask
the presidents to accept the framework agreement but this requires
their political will.”

RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS MIGHT BE SENT INTO NAGORNO-KARABAKH
by Sergei Bekirov
Translated by Pavel Pushkin
Source: Rossiiskie Vesti, No. 23, June 22, 2006, p. 6
Agency WPS
What the Papers Say Part A (Russia)
June 26, 2006 Monday
BREAKING THE DEADLOCK;
Azerbaijan is a promising partner for Russia; It’s no secret that
relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia remain strained due to the
protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Nagorno-Karabakh is called a
“frozen conflict.” If that is the case, a question arises: what might
happen after it’s “unfrozen”? Another war?
The complexity of intra-CIS relations was vividly demonstrated at
the latest meeting of CIS defense ministers in Baku, Azerbaijan. The
Armenian defense minister stayed away because Azeri authorities
refused to guarantee his personal safety.
It’s no secret that relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia remain
strained due to the protracted Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This
problem isn’t being resolved, despite measures taken by various
international negotiation mechanisms. Nagorno-Karabakh is called a
“frozen conflict.” If that is the case, a question arises: what
might happen after it’s “unfrozen”? Another war? But geopolitical
circumstances have changed since the last war, and if Nagorno-Karabakh
flares up again now, it might further destabilize the situation in
the Greater Middle East region, which the West defines as including
the former Soviet republics of the Trans-Caucasus. Therefore, no
expression of readiness to take part in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
resolution passes unnoticed.
This applies to a recent statement from Russian Deputy Prime Minister
and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, made at a news conference in Baku:
“I don’t rule out the possibility that in the foreseeable future, our
peacekeeping forces may be sent into the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
zone to carry out all the political agreements that will be reached
sooner or later.”
“A ‘neither one thing nor the other’ situation cannot last forever,”
said Ivanov.
Clearly, the decision to send in peacekeepers would primarily depend on
the two sides involved in the conflict: namely, the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic and Azerbaijan. However, it is undeniably Russia that has
attempted to break the deadlock, with this proposal.
This “push” has been met with approval in Azerbaijan and alarm
in Armenia.
>>From Baku’s perspective, the deployment of peacekeeping contingents
would open up the prospect of liberating the Azeri districts which are
presently controlled by Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR). But the most important aspect here is that for the
first time in many years, Moscow is taking a constructive approach and
supplementing the efforts of other Minsk Group c-chairs. Presumably,
Russia and its Western partners have made some significant decisions
about the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. To all appearances, Russian
keepers might be deployed in the conflict zone beneath the OSCE flag
and under OSCE command; moreover, most of the contingent would be
made up of military personnel from NATO member states. These issues
were considered in the process of preparing a step-by-step conflict
resolution plan in the mid-1990s, and the principal points were
discussed at the OSCE’s Budapest summit. It isn’t very appropriate
to draw parallels with the situation in Abkhazia, South Ossetia,
or the Trans-Dniester region. The Nagorno-Karabakh proposal bears a
greater resemblance to Russian participation in the Bosnia and Kosovo
peacekeeping forces.
Thus, geopolitical processes in the South Caucasus are developing
some new directions. It’s worth noting that Nagorno-Karabakh marked
the start of the USSR’s disintegration process and the emergence of
hot-spots across the former Soviet Union. At the time, the influence
of external forces was clearly aimed at undermining the situation
in this region, and Russia subsequently had to to “lock” quarreling
entities together, while distancing itself from conflict zones.
Nowadays, much has changed. Russia and the West are establishing
a substantial dialogue with regard to conflict resolution in the
former Soviet Union. On the other hand, the South Caucasus is
being increasingly drawn into processes in the Middle East. For
example, political processes in Iran now have a direct impact on the
Armenian-Azeri conflict. As Azeri awareness grows and the ethnic Azeri
component of Iranian politics becomes stronger, this will certainly
make the regional geopolitical situation worse for Armenia.
Moreover, given that Russian troops are being withdrawn from Georgia,
the Armenian government’s position becomes even more vulnerable from
the geopolitical standpoint.
As for Azerbaijan, it seems to be a promising partner for Russia.
Baku maintains the most balanced and moderate position within GUAM.
At a press conference after GUAM’s Kiev summit, Azeri President
Ilkham Aliyev indicated directly that in his view, the GUAM project
is not aimed against any other country. That was a veiled reply to
those who are trying to intensify an anti-Russian tendency within
GUAM. Aliyev’s stance is understandable: unlike Ukraine, Moldova,
and Georgia, which are closer to Europe and have direct contacts with
it, Azerbaijan is surrounded by Russia, Iran, and Armenia. Geography
itself requires Azerbaijan to be cautious. All the same, it should
not be forgotten that Azerbaijan’s sole truly strategic ally – Turkey
– is an influential NATO member and European Union candidate. The
aim of ensuring security and development for Azerbaijan prompt an
analogous choice. Baku’s movement toward NATO and the EU could be
rapid or relatively slow, depending on the situation. Incidentally,
Turkey doesn’t even object, in principle, to the prospect of Armenia
joining NATO. How would Yerevan react to a new situation in the
conflict zone, with the West no longer prepared to give unconditional
support to Armenia’s Nagorno-Karabakh claims? So far, the reaction
has been cautiously hostile: while ignoring the Baku summit, Armenia
has been transferring a great quantity of arms and military hardware
to Nagorno-Karabakh.

AZERI DM SAYS HIS ARMY READY TO FREE OCCUPIED LANDS
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
June 26, 2006 Monday 6:09 PM MSK
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev said on Monday that his
country’s armed forces are ready to liberate the occupied Azerbaijani
lands.
“If necessary, our army will liberate the occupied lands by force,”
Bakiyev told reporters in Baku. Azerbaijan celebrates Armed Forces
day on June 26.
According to the minister, Azerbaijan will boost the defense spending
this year in order to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The armaments to be manufactured by the newly-established Defense
Industry Ministry will further strengthen the Azerbaijani army’s
capabilities, he said.
Abiyev stressed that not only Armenia, but “several large countries”
threaten Azerbaijan’s sovereignty.
“There are several large countries that still want to keep Azerbaijan
under control. Time will come and the countries that put pressure
on us will understand that Azerbaijan is an independent country that
is capable of protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity,”
Abiyev said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ISLAMIC COUNTRIES SUPPORTED AZERBAIJAN IN ITS POSITION REGARDING KARABAKH, AND IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
by Mehman Gafarly
Source: Novye Izvestia, June 22, 2006, p. 4
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 26, 2006 Monday
ISLAMIC COUNTRIES EXPRESS THEIR OPINION; THE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN
MINISTERS OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION PASSED THE BAKU
DECLARATION; The ICO intends to defend the interests of Muslim
countries in influential international organizations. The ICO
secretary-general proposed to make representatives of the Islamic
world members of the UN Security Council.
(…)
According to the Baku declaration passed by the Islamic Conference
Organization (ICO), Armenia must leave “Azerbaijan’s territory”.
However, the Turkish foreign minister noted that “the Karabakh
conflict should be solved peacefully, which will create conditions
for cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia”.
However, independent analysts think that Baku should not rely on the
support of the ICO. The point is that the position of the majority of
Islamic nations is reserved. For instance, Iran and Egypt maintain
friendly relations with Armenia. Only Turkey and Pakistan support
Azerbaijan’s position.
The support of the Iranian nuclear program was the most unexpected
results of the meeting despite the fact that many Islamic countries
have serious bilateral problems with Teheran.
The ICO intends to defend the interests of Muslim countries in
influential international organizations. The ICO secretary-general
proposed to make representatives of the Islamic world members of
the UN Security Council. He noted: “Muslims account for a fifth of
the population of the planet, and I consider it necessary to make
one Muslim country a member of the UN Security Council.” He welcome
Russia’s participation in the Baku forum (Russia has the status of an
observer). Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov noted that
he welcomes Teheran’s intention to hold negotiations with the G-6
(members of the UN Security Council plus Germany), which settles the
crisis over the nuclear problem.

ANOTHER TRAIN WITH RUSSIAN MILITARY HARDWARE READY TO LEAVE GEORGIA
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
June 26, 2006 Monday 6:09 PM MSK
Another train with Russian military hardware has been prepared for
leaving the Tsalka railway station in Georgia, Colonel Vladimir
Kuparadze, deputy commander of the Russian military force in
Transcaucasia, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
“The train will leave Tsalka early on Tuesday and deliver to Russia 22
self-propelled artillery systems and 72 tonnes of ammunition and other
property of the 62nd Russian military base stationed in Akhalkalaki,”
Kuparadze said by phone from Tbilisi.
“It will be the 12th train with Russian materiel leaving Georgia in
the framework of Russian military bases withdrawal from the country,”
he said.
Seven trains with hardware, armaments and other property of the 62nd
base and the 12th base in Batumi earlier left for Russia through
Azerbaijan. Four more trains left Batumi for Armenia to deliver
addition armaments and materiel to the 102nd Russian base stationed
in the town of Gyumri.
The Russian military bases are to be withdrawn from Georgia before
the end of 2008.