EU SPECIAL ENVOY DISCUSSED NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT WITH AZERI PRESIDENT
Author: A.Mammadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
On August 27, during his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, the special envoy of European Union (EU) on South Caucasian
countries Peter Semneby discussed the European neighborhoods policy
and particularly, the opportunities that open a favorable Action
Plan of European neighborhoods policy for Azerbaijan, Peter Semneby
exclusively told Trend.
Also, Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was discussed
during the meeting. Semneby refused to inform about the details of
the talks due to their confidentiality.
According to Semneby, by meeting with Azerbaijani president, he wants
to get familiar with the position of Azerbaijan on various issues.
The negotiations were held after the international economic conference
“Caspian-2008” organized by Slovenian government. It was dedicated
to the delivery of energy resources from Caspian region to Western
Europe. According to Semneby, the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict was also on the focus of attention of the conference.

RAILWAY IN CIS: CHINA TO JOIN BAKU-TBILISI-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY PROJECT
Railway Market Magazine, Poland
Aug. 28, 2006
China joined the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki railway project, Turkish
Transport Minister Binali Yildirim told in his interview with “Zaman”
Newspaper, Trend reports.
The Minister noted that Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki Railway Project
had been drawn up at the beginning of 1960, adding that together
with China, Kazakhstan also participates in the project. “In case
of realization of the project, each person moving from Kars with
railway may reach Shanghai,” the Minister emphasized, saying that on
completion of the Marmaray Project, each Chinese citizen may travel
to Great Britain.
“The Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki railway will be ready within two years,
and approximately 20 million tons of cargo will be transported through
the railway annually,” the Minister stressed, spelling out that today
the cargo transportation through all rail links of Turkey forms less
than 18 million tons annually.
“The Project will change the face of all regions and help its
prosperity,” Turkish Minister pointed out.
In addition, the Turkish Transport Minister stressed that in relation
to the problems with Armenia, the Eastern regions of the Country have
shared closeness for many years. “Because of this, Caucasus and Asian
countries were united for the railway transportations to Europe,”
Yildirim said, mentioning that from a strategic point of view, the
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki railway is very optimistic. The Minister
once again mentioned the figure of $250 million that is needed for
the completion of the project. “The stretch of 79 km up to the border
with Georgia will be constructed at the expense of Turkey, but the 25
km stretch in the territory of Georgia at the expense of allocations
by the Georgian Government. At the same time, works will be carried
out for the modernization of all stretches from Tbilisi to Baku,”
Yildirim stated.
It was further stated that the engineering works within the project
started in 2001, and in the first stage, it was announced of the
necessity of spending $463 million on the construction of the rail
link. “Even China offered low rate credits for the commencement of
works. Peking Government particularly voiced its readiness to allocate
credit for 13 years, with 5.5% annual rate. However, Turkish government
refused to receive the credit, as it did not wish to provide State
guarantee for the credit,” Turkish Transport Minister concluded.

ALLAHSHUKUR PASHAZADEH: EVERYONE SHOULD BE READY TO JIHAD IF HIS HOME COUNTRY IS UNDER OCCUPATION
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
“Everyone should be ready to jihad if motherland has been occupied.
It is duty of every citizen to protect his country. The very situation
is in Azerbaijan…” head of Office of Caucasian Muslims Sheikulislam
Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh told journalists while commenting on his
recent statement on the importance of making jihad for Garabagh.
Stating that his statement was misunderstood that time, Pashazadeh said
as Sheikulislam he cannot call for people to take arms and go to war.
“But it is not right to deprive the people of this courage,” he
underlined.

AUGUST 31 SEPTEMBER 13 DELEGATION OF THE IMF IS TO VISIT ARMENIA
Author: À. Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
(ArmInfo) – On August 31 – September 13 the delegation of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) will visit Armenia. The delegation
will be lead by Hassan Al-Atrasha, head of the Armenian quarter
of Department for Middle East and Central Asia. During the visit
the process of realizing the economic growth and poverty reduction
programs will be discussed, reports Trend.
To be reminded, in the frameworks of the poverty reduction program
Armenia is to receive SDR 23 million ($32,8 million). The credit is
to granted for 10 year term with 0,5% annual interest rate.
–Boundary_(ID_OgAX9VBQNkoAWzx3zJsUdA)–

AZERI FOREIGN MINISTRY DOESN’T ASSERT MEETING OF AZERI AND ARMENIAN FMS IN SLOVENIA
Author: À.Ismaylova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
The meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia Elmar
Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanyan in Slovenia isn’t planned, the head
of the press and information policy department of Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry Tahir Tagizade told Trend.
It should be mentioned that Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers
participate at the international conference “Caspian-2008” held
in Slovenia.
–Boundary_(ID_SrDG0MrTZRY/zlhQRbd67Q)- –

FIRES IN BABAKYAR MOUNTAIN REACHED OUTSKIRTS OF SADAHLI VILLAGE – AZERI AMBASSADOR
Author: S.Ilhamgizi
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
The fire in the Babakyar mountain located in Marneul region densely
settled by Azerbaijanis has reached outskirts of Sadakhli village,
Azerbaijani ambassador to Georgia Namik Aliyev exclusively told Trend.
The ambassador asserted the fact that pasture and forests have burnt,
and noted that the fires are still continuing. According to Aliyev,
the fires have reached Sadahli village. “The village is located 30
km from the fires. At the moment, measures are being taken to prevent
the fires,” Aliyev stressed.
It should be mentioned that Babakyar mountain and near villages are
border with Armenia. It is supposed that the fires have been committed
by Armenians.

AZERBAIJAN TARGETS OSCE SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR CRITICISM
Shahin Abbasov and Khadija Ismailova
EurasiaNet, NY
Aug. 28, 2006
Azerbaijan’s patience is wearing thin over the lack of movement toward
Nagorno-Karabakh peace settlement, and officials in Baku are taking
out their frustration on the OSCE’s trouble-shooter responsible for
monitoring the cease-fire.
Hopes for a breakthrough in the Karabakh peace process, so high
at the outset of 2006, now appear to be thoroughly dashed. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. In a mid-August speech to
Azerbaijani diplomats, President Ilham Aliyev indicated that Baku’s
position is hardening. [For background see the Eurasia insight
archive]. “Azerbaijan will not tolerate the creation of a second
Armenian state on its territory,” the president said.
Another sign that trouble may be looming on the horizon is the vehement
criticism coming from Baku aimed at Andrzej Kasprzyk, the special
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office on Karabakh-related
issues. Recent statements by Azerbaijani officials, backed by media
reports, have portrayed Kasprzyk as incompetent, biased in favour of
Armenia and possibly involved in nefarious financial dealings under
the guise of diplomatic immunity.
Having held the special representative designation for nearly a decade,
Kasprzyk’s responsibilities include managing existing cease-fire
monitoring mechanisms and promoting confidence-building measures
between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He also supports the OSCE’s Minsk
Group in promoting a lasting peace settlement for Karabakh.
Now it appears that Kasprzyk no longer enjoys the confidence of
Aliyev’s administration. Dissatisfaction with Kasprzyk’s handling of
a recent inquiry into a series of fires in areas of Azerbaijan under
occupation by Armenian forces triggered Baku’s attacks against him.
The fires began breaking out in June. Convinced that the blazes had
been deliberately set by Armenians, Azerbaijani officials pressed
Kasprzyk to look into the matter, and quickly started to criticize
him for not pursuing the investigation vigorously.
Azerbaijani officials reportedly became enraged when Kasprzyk’s
report went into specific detail about the damage done by the fires,
but shied away from examining how they started. The closest the report
got to taking a stand was a suggestion that, given the arid conditions
prevailing in the area during the summer, fire was a perennial threat.
“I am not an investigator,” the Arminfo news agency quoted Kasprzyk as
saying. “I could not find any evidence about what caused the fires.” He
indicated that international efforts to monitor the fires was hampered
by gunfire exchanges between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces deployed
along the so-called contact line.
On August 17, the Turan news agency quoted Novruz Mamedov, the head of
the Azerbaijani presidential administration’s International Department,
as complaining that Kasprzyk and the Minsk Group co-chairs had
“displayed a belated reaction” to Baku’s request for an investigation,
thus “showing their one-sided position.”
The same day, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated
that “the non-prevention of Armenian-instigated blazes in the occupied
territories may lead to an ecological catastrophe.” Other Azerbaijani
officials assailed Yerevan, accusing Armenian authorities of taking
no action to fight the fires. Azerbaijani authorities at the same
time appealed to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
and UNESCO for help in containing the fires. Armenian officials have
generally maintained a low profile in the controversy.
>>From Baku’s viewpoint, the fires are politically motivated,
designed to prevent the resettlement of Azerbaijani internally
displaced persons. “If the fires continue, it will create problems
for people who will move to these areas; people will not be able
to use this land for at least the next five-10 years,” Araz Azimov,
Azerbaijan’s deputy foreign minister, told reporters.
Azimov went on to ridicule Kasprzyk’s assessment on the fires.
“Kasprzyk himself admitted that he is not an ecologist,” Azimov said.
“Therefore, his [inference] that natural causes were behind the fires
in the occupied territories is completely groundless,” Azimov said.
Despite their clear dissatisfaction with Kasprzyk’s performance,
Azerbaijani officials have not taken formal action to prompt the
special representative’s replacement. Without such action, Kasprzyk
said he intends to keep performing his duties. “I will not resign,”
the Turan news agency quoted him as saying August 26.
Editor’s Note: Editor’s Note: Khadija Ismayilova is an analyst based
in Washington. Shain Abbasov is a freelance journalist based in Baku.

FIRE IN BABAKAR MOUNTAINS MIGHT CAUSE WATER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION
Author: S. Ilhamgizi
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
The fire took place yesterday in Babakar Mountains located in Marneuli
area of Georgia, where mostly Azerbaijanis reside,Trend reports quoting
Aliblaa Askerov, head of Geyrat national movement acting in Georgia.
The version of Armenian trace in this event is spreading now. Askerov
says the fire was not occasional. Alongside the harm it made to
Azerbaijanis farms, it caused problems with water supply. “This fire
resembles those occurring in Azerbaijan, i.e. behind the Azeri-Armenian
frontline. The mountainous gazes have been set on fire, then the
fire was taken to woods by the wind. The gazes we used are now
destroyed. Besides, the villages at the feet of the mountains used
mount springs as a water source, and now their use is doubtful”,
said Askerov.
Askerov also said the fire smoke spread to the nearby areas and the
fire is seen at 2km distance. “These villages are located near the
Georgian-Armenian border and inhabited mainly by Azerbaijanis evicted
from Armenia in 1988”, he said.

KAZAKHSTAN AND CHINA JOIN KARS-AKHALKALAKI-TBILISI-BAKU RAILWAY PROJECT
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
Kazakhstan and China join Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway
project, Turkish transportation minister Binali Yildirim said,
APA reports.
He said that as a modernized version of Great Silk Way, this route
will be long-time and beneficial one.
They route will allow traveling from Kars to Kazakhstan, and then,
to Shank hay and Hong-Kong.
Through this railway to be balanced with Marmray project, a train
will be able to head for China through Turkey.
“Body passengers and freight will be carried by through this pipelines
expected to be completed in two years.
Per year 20mn tonnes of freight are expected to be transported through
this pipeline. 18 mn tonnes of freights will be carried in Turkey”.
He also said that railways in Eastern gate remained unused because
of Armenian-Turkish problems.
“That is why we can’t contact the Caucasus and Far East. Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Turkey is working on this issue.
Kazakhstan’s and China’s joining will give an impetus to the project.
Azerbaijan will directly gain support of Turkish Republics”.
Turkey will construct 76-km part of the railway from Turkey and
Georgia. Georgia will build 25 km.
The part between Tbilisi and Baku will be repaired. Turkey will spend
250 mn.

AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTER WAS NOT OFFERED TO MEET WITH HIS ARMENIAN COUNTERPART
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 28, 2006
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who is attending in
“Caspian prospect-2008” international forum in the Slovenian capital,
Ljubljana, is expected to have bilateral meetings, Tahir Taghizadeh,
FM Press and Information Policy Department chief told the APA.
The Minister plans having talks with OSCE Chairman-in-Office & Belgium
Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht and US deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza.
Mammadyarov said that he has not been offered to meet with Armenian
Foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan.
The Foreign Ministers will address the international forum today.