TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY: WE’LL SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN’S REPLY TO THE MINSK GROUP’S PROPOSALS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 31, 2006
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry commented on the U.S co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group Mathew Bryza’s calling for the parties to the Nagorno
Garabagh to make a trade-off.
A Foreign Ministry official told the APA’s Turkey bureau that
Azerbaijan’s position remains important to them.
“We’ll support whatever reply Azerbaijan gives to these proposals. It
is up to Azerbaijan to accept these proposals. What will happen
if Azerbaijan does not accept these? Would power states invade
Azerbaijan for that? Turkey will never force Azerbaijan to accept
any proposal. We unconditionally support Azerbaijan in this issue,”
the official underlined.

ARKADIY GHUKASSYAN: I UNDOUBTEDLY BELIEVE IN NKR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Stepanakert, August 31. ArmInfo. In view of 15th anniversary of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s formation, NKR President Arkadiy Ghukassyan
answered the questions of electronic site of “Azat Artsakh” Republican
newspaper. Several hundred questions from Karabakh, Armenia, Russia,
USA, Azerbaijan and other countries, concerning different spheres,
entered the editorial office.
As the ArmInfo own correspondent in Stepanakert informs, asked “Do you
believe in International recognition of Nagorno Karabakh Republic?”,
A. Ghukassyan answered: “Undoubtedly. When our people had declared,
at the referendum, for NKR independence 15 years ago, it thought first
of all about its future and not about the possible response of the
International community. NKR, independent from Azerbaijan, is not a
self-purpose but the only condition of the Karabakh people existence
on the land of its ancestors, of its development and prosperity. We
clearly understood that the International recognition of NKR is a
long and extremely difficult way. But, finally, all depends on us,
on our will, patience, and ability to overcome difficulties and
our readiness to build a legal state. The Nagorno Karabakh Republic
is de-facto formed and this is recognized by many in the world. We
could defend our independence in the war, moreover, we overcame its
consequences for a relatively short historical period of time and
built a state which left Azerbaijan behind it by many parameters,
including the level of democratization of the political-social life”.
Asked “If you and the military-political authorities intend to hand
over the territories of the so-called security zone without NKR
independence recognition?”, the President answered: “We shall never
agree with such settlement which can prejudice the Karabakh security,
not to mention the independence from Azerbaijan. I am sure the attempt
to solve any issues, including that of the security zone around NKR,
is a way to war. We have no closed subjects, however, it does not mean
we are ready for one-sided concessions. The degree of our concessions
depends on the degree of Azerbaijan ‘s concessions”.
Asked “How would you comment the recent expression of OSCE MG
American Co-chairman, Mathew Bryza, saying that the participation
or non-participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiation process
depends on the will of Armenia and Azerbaijan?”, A. Ghukassyan
answered: “Only Azerbaijan stands against NKR participation in
negotiations as a conflict party. Baku prefers to deal with Yerevan in
order to transform the problem of NKR people self-determination into a
plane of territorial claims of Armenia to Azerbaijan. Unfortunately,
the International mediators made concessions to Azerbaijan for the
peaceful process maintenance. But I am sure this concession has a
temporary character. In the documents of Budapest (December, 1994)
Summit of SCCE, the Karabakh side is actually recognized as a conflict
side. Moreover, there are questions which cannot be solved without
our participation. And their number is not less. This circumstance is
fully realized by all the MG Co-chairmen. By the way, when Azerbaijan
had ever turned out in a difficult situation during the war, Baku had
directly contacted with Stepanakert. We have a rather considerable
portfolio of corresponding documents”.
Asked by Azeri citizen Akhmedov: “Mr. Ghukassyan, is there actually
any single Armenian in the world who really believes that Azerbaijan
will ever give in Karabakh? Do you in Stepanakert actually want
war? The Azeri army is not the way it was in 1992,” Ghukassyan said:
“I will answer in your style: is there actually any single Azeri in
the world who really believes that the Karabakh Armenians will ever
agree to submit to Baku? Do you in Azerbaijan want war?
The Karabakh army is by far not the way it was in 1992. War is not
a solution. Unfortunately, you, Mr. Akhmedov, is a typical victim to
the Azeri propaganda, who denies the right of the Karabakh people to
self-determination – the right that is recognized by the international
mediators: the OSCE MG co-chairs – the biggest world powers – the
US, Russia and France. We should look for reasonable compromises,
while hope for military budget, hope for revenge is a bad, suicidal
hope. Azerbaijan has always been several times stronger than Karabakh
in personnel and hardware, but you all know the results of the previous
war. I think that the Azeri authorities should stop misleading their
people and start natural direct contacts with Stepanakert. We can
really solve many problems if we sit down at the negotiating table.
Asked by Seidova from Ganca (Azerbaijan): “Mr. Ghukassyan, the world
will never recognize the independence of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic.
Sooner or later, Azerbaijan will get Karabakh back. Isn’t it better
for you to agree to this at once? You will not deny that the unsettled
Karabakh problem hinders the economic development of Armenia, will
you?,” Ghukassyan said: “Dear Ms. Seidova, the Karabakh Armenians have
chosen independence for fully exercising their rights and freedoms
which were grossly violated by the Azeri authorities. Time has shown
that we were right and we have chosen the right way.
Look, what an attitude the authorities of your country are showing
to the Karabakh Armenians today. They are threatening to finish us
off if we refuse to join Azerbaijan. Is this serous? Do civilized
leaders use threats and blackmails when urging their neighbors
to co-exist? The Karabakh people does not hate the Azeri people,
while in your country the situation is opposite. In Azerbaijan the
authorities are actively cultivating hatred towards Armenians. One
proof: you in Azerbaijan present the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as
Armenian-Azeri conflict. If you happened to wish to visit Nagorny
Karabakh you would see that there is such more freedom of speech and
democracy here than in your country. Unlike Azerbaijan, we are not
forced by anybody in the world to comply with democracy norms or to
hold elections in conformity with the European standards. But despite
everything, despite the protests of your authorities, we persist
in democratizing our society even though the Baku authorities are
constantly threatening us with new war. We are doing this, first of
all, because we need democracy. I assure you that people in the world
perfectly know about progress in Karabakh. No coincidence that the
army of our friends is growing every year. As regards the prospect
of our international recognition, unlike you, I have higher opinion
of the international community. Please, don’t worry for Armenia, you
better think about the abyss your own authorities are leading you to.
To the question of Hakopyan from Tbilisi: “From his very first days
in power of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has been daily saying that
his country will be able to solve the Karabakh problem by force. Do
you think this scenario possible?,” Ghukassyan said: “We can’t
fully exclude the possibility of new war, but I don’t think that
Azerbaijan will take such a suicidal step. We have already got used
to the Azeri authorities’ blackmails. Today they want to scare us
with growing military budget fed by oil revenues, but such policy
is unpromising. First, should Azerbaijan decide to resume war, it
will face a worthy rebuff and quite sad consequences. Second, the
military scenario seems unreal also because the world and regional
powers are not interested in instability in the region because of
its oil projects and their huge investments therein. Third, the Azeri
society does not want war as it suffered much from the military actions
of 1992-1994. Only those who don’t know what war is are speaking of
it now. Those people will hardly fight should the war resume. If you
have noticed, most aggressive are those who are sitting in warm seats
of the Azeri government and, certainly, have “reserve airdromes”
for their children and relatives in case of war. If Azerbaijan was
a democratic country, the Azeri people would ask their former and
present leaders: for how long will they be used as cannon fodder? I
think that it is immoral to think and speak about war. Life has proved
that the Karabakh problem cannot be solved by force.”

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT IS NOT GOING TO OPINE ON VERSIONS OF ARMENIA’S NATIONAL ANTHEM
Yerevan, August 30. ArmInfo. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is not
going to opine on the versions of the national anthem of the Republic
of Armenoia, says the spokesman of the president Viktor Soghomonyan.
He says that, of course, Kocharyan has his preferences but if he
expresses his opinion this may be regarded as pressure on the expert
commission. The commission includes professionals, the versions will
be discussed by wide public and in the parliament, so everything is
going on normally, says Soghomonyan.

ARMENIA IS NOT YET GOING TO SEND ITS PEACEKEEPERS TO LEBANON
Yerevan, August 30. ArmInfo. Armenia is not yet going to send its
peacekeepers to Lebanon, says the spokesman of the Armenian President
Viktor Soghomonyan.
He says that it is not clear yet what mandate the peacekeepers
deployed in the Lebanese-Israeli conflict zone will have. Besides,
there is a big Armenian community in Lebanon and the appearance of
Armenian peacekeepers in the region may damage its interests, which
is inadmissible, says Soghomonyan.

SPOKESMAN OF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT REFUTES RUMORS ABOUT CONFLICT BETWEEN PRESIDENT AND DEFENSE MINISTER
Yerevan, August 30. ArmInfo. The spokesman of Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan Viktor Soghomonyan refutes the rumors about conflict
between Kocharyan and Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan.
He says that there is no conflict between the Republican Party and
Prospering Armenia party. There are some contradictions between them
but this is normal as otherwise they would be one party.
Soghomonyan refutes the reports that during their last meeting in
Sochi Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kocharyan discussed the
candidacy of Serzh Sargsyan as future president of Armenia.

SPEAKER OF RA PARLIAMENT AND AMBASSADOR OF CHINA DISCUSS ISSUE OF CHINA’S PARTICIPATION IN CONSTRUCTION OF KARS-AKHALKALAKI-TBILISI-BAKU RAILROAD
Yerevan, August 30. ArmInfo. Togran Torosian, Speaker of RA National
Assembly and Chinese Ambassador Zuo Xueliang, Ambassador of China,
discussed the issue of China’s participation in the construction of
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad.
The Press Service of RA Parliament informed that Mr. Torosian approved
the participation of China in development of cooperation with the
countries of the region. Besides, the Speaker expressed hope that
Beijing has chosen the most optimal variant that connects Europe
with the Eastern Asia by railway. The sides also discussed issues of
activating the inter-parliamentary relations. Mr. Zuo Xueliang passed
the invitation of the speaker of Chinese Parliament to visit China.
He emphasized the importance of the coming visit from the viewpoint
of developing the bilateral relations. In his turn, Torosian
added that soon the Chinese inter-parliamentary delegation will
visit Yerevan. The sides emphasized also the developing inter-party
relations, particularly, that between the republican Party of Armenia
and the Communist Party of China.

ARMENIAN SPOKESMAN URGES MEDIA NOT TO POLITICIZE TRIAL OF EDITOR
Arminfo
30 Aug 06
Yerevan, 30 August: Some local media have excessively politicized the
trial of the editor-in-chief of Zhamanak newspaper, Arman Babadzhanyan,
the Armenian president’s press secretary, Viktor Sogomonyan, told a
news conference today.
Babadzhanyan faces charges of dodging military service and
counterfeiting documents.
Sogomonyan said that Babadzhanyan has already pleaded guilty. The press
secretary added that he will not comment on the trial. In any case,
there is no point to politicize Babadzhanyan’s trial, Sogomonyan noted.

INDIA EXPORTS GOLD ITEMS TO ARMENIA
Panorama.am
14:21 31/08/06
Armenia exported diamond and gold items costing $303,000 to India
during 2003-2004 and India exported similar items costing $1,6 million
during the same period. In the course of 2004-2005, India doubled
its export to Armenia and Armenia exported gold and diamond items
costing $348,000.
A delegation of an Indian council, which promotes diamond and gold
item export, paid a visit to Armenia.
The members of the delegation told a presentation today that this
branch makes up 3% of the Indian GDP.
Rina Pandey, Indian ambassador to Armenia, also present at the
presentation, said Armenia and India are developing links in economy.
The 14-member delegation visited the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan
and Georgia prior to the visit to Armenia. The delegation aims to
step up export of Indian diamond and gold items in the markets of
Newly Independent States.
Being under the jurisdiction of the Indian ministry of trade and
industry, the council functions since 1966 and represents 6500
goldsmiths. This is a promising branch in India and has reported $17
billion export only last year.

WITNESSES TESTIFY AGAINST JAMANAK YEREVAN’S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Panorama.am
15:46 31/08/06
The hearing of the case on Arman Babajanyan, editor-in-chief of
Jamanak Yerevan newspaper, closed today. The next hearing is expected
on September 4.
The judge announced that all 4 witnesses are away from Yerevan for
various reasons. He read out the testimonies upon the consent of the
advocate and the prosecutor.
Armine Arakelyan, the wife of Vahe Aboyan, writes, “I have never been
the wife of Arman Babajanyan and my marriage certificate was faked
under the name of Arman Babajanyan.” The birth certificates of both
of her daughters were also faked. She says, “Babajanyan caused moral
damage to my family but I do not want any money from him.”
In their testimony, the officials of military commissariat, Tigran
Harutunyan and Samvel Khachatryan, write that they trusted Emilia
Nersisyan, employee of the president’s staff and mother of Babajanyan,
and did not check the validity of the marriage certificate, even
though it was without notary certification. The next witness, Monk
Arshak, mentions that they do not have letterheads as submitted from
Babajanyan as if from the seat of St.
Edchmiadzin. Therefore, these documents were also faked.
The judge also read out the letter, based on which the case
was instituted against Babajanyan, which tells the story of
faking the documents. The letter was signed from the name of
“A. Khachatryan.” However, the advocate said, “It is nameless and
cannot be a sufficient base for a charge because they have searched
a person with that name but could not find him/her.” The advocate of
Babajanyan submitted proofs, which say that Babajanyan could not have
stolen the marriage and birth certificates. The trial is postponed
until the next hearing.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES DRAFT OF FOREIGNERS
Panorama.am
17:10 31/08/06
Armenia has had no laws regulating work of foreigners in the
country. The government only today approved Draft Bill On Foreigners,
including provisions on work. Gegham Gharibjanyan, deputy foreign
minister, assures that all foreigners are viewed as equal, i.e., the
same conditions are stipulated for people of all nationalities. The
draft says foreign citizens, having no Armenian citizenship, have
no right to take up top public posts. In case of a need to make
amendment in the law, the government is entitled to issue decrees,
Gharibjanyan says. He also says, “we tried to keep to international
human rights norms and European Court of Human Rights practices while
drafting the law.”