Suleyman Demirel: “Gars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway project will
be realized no matter in what way”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 31, 2006
“Gars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi- is an economic project. An economic project
within the time gets over the political obstacles.”
The ninth president of Turkey, Suleiman Demirel in his exclusive
interview to Turkey bureau of APA while answering to the question
“Is Armenian’s not participation in Gars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku
railway project related to its occupation of Azerbaijani territories
and groundless claims against Turkey.” Demirel stated that
Gars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway project will be realized no
matter in what way. Dealing with Baku-Tbilisi- Arzurum gas pipeline,
Suleiman Demirel said: “Gas pipeline will serve welfare of Azerbaijani
people. Turkey becomes energy terminal. Part of natural gas to be
transported will satisfy demands of Turkey. After that energy sources
of Caspian region will be put into use of Europe. So, Silk Road –
means the region we live in and Europe’s economic integration will
be realized.”/APA/

ARKADY GHOUKASSIAN ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO PRESENCE OF AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION
IN ARTSAKH AS EXAMPLE OF POSITIVE DIALOGUE
STEPANAKERT, JULY 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 29,
NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian received members of a delegation
consisting of human rights activists and journalists representing
Armenia, NKR, Azerbaijan, Georgia and a number of European countries.
Arkady Ghoukassian attached a special importance to the presence
of an Azerbaijani delegation in Artsakh, which, in his words, is a
positive example of a constructive dialogue between two societies
separated by war.
Arzu Abdullayeva, Co-chairwoman of Helsinki Civil Assembly and
Coordinator of organization’s Azerbaijani National Committee, said that
the Azerbaijani members of the Helsinki Civil Assembly and the Public
Council of Nagorno Karabakh Settlement created lately in Baku are
for the Karabakh side’s immediate participation in the negotiations
process, peaceful settlement of the conflict and establishment of
neighborly relations between the societies of the two countries. Mrs
Abdullayeva said that a warm atmosphere of mutual understanding and
cooperation exists among Armenian, Azerbaijani and Karabakh NGOs acting
in the sphere of human rights. “We would like such an atmosphere also
to be established in contacts of official circles,” he said.
As NT was informed by NKR President’s Acting Spokesperson, the
meeting participants attached importance to peaceful settlement of
conflicts and establishment of mutual confidence between the peoples
and societies.
Answering guests’ questions, NKR President, in particular, said that
the most important precondition for Nagorno Karabakh settlement and
establishment of peace is establishment of historic reconciliation
among the regional countries. Without this reconciliation it will be
difficult to realize any agreement of conflict settlement, to liquidate
war consequences and to pave a way towards regional development,
he said.

MATTHEW BRYZA: THERE IS POLITICAL WILL FOR SOLVING PROBLEM
YEREVAN, JULY 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 29, after his
meeting with RA President Robert Kocharian, OSCE Minsk Group American
Co-Chairman Matthew Bryza announced that he is satisfied with that
meeting which was useful for him. “I see that there is a political
will for solving the problem, and the philosophy on the basis of our
suggestions is acceptable”, said Matthew Bryza to the radio Liberty.
Speaking about the details of the suggestions, he said that still
there are problems connected with Kelbajar and Lachin, as well as
with the referendum. Bryza confirmed that as the co-chairmen affirm,
the Karabakh people should solve the problem of the Karabakh status.
“But the question is whom we should consider the people of
Karabakh. There are also inhabitants of 1988, who also want to take
part in the referendum”, said Bryza hinting at displaced Azerbaijani
minority of Karabakh. In his words, “all these problems should be
still worked out as part of the large-scale package of agreement”.
“The principles, that today are on the table, are not an agreement
yet, they are only principles, suggestions. So as it is impossible to
avoid the agreement if there is not such”, said the American diplomat.
“You are the deputy assistant of the U.S. state secretary and so
the most high-ranking official of the United States who has ever
visited Karabakh, aren’t you?. In response to this question of the
radio station, Matthew Bryza said:” Frankly speaking I don’t know
the history who have visited Karabakh, but I go there not as deputy
assistant of the state secretary but as Minsk Group co-chairman. I
will also visit Azerbaijan, and then I will share my impressions with
the other co-chairmen Bernard Fassier and Yuri Merzliakov.”
In response to the question, whether there is a chance to come to
an agreement this year and if this year the problem isn’t solved,
is everything postponed at least until 2009, Bryza said: “Of course,
there is a chance and it would be beneficial for the leaders of the
two countries to participate in the elections after having solved the
problem. But the elections are not an obstacle for the negotiations
process. Simply it is easier to solve the problem at a time when the
political processes have not flamed up yet”.
In response to the remark that the Minsk Group has been functioning
for more than 10 years, but the problem is not solved yet, and to the
question whether that group is ready to function for another 10 years,
the American co-chairman said: “We are ready to function as long as
the sides treat the negotiations process seriously. We see that our
friends in Armenia treat the process seriously.”
In connection with the democratic state in Armenia, M.Bryza mentioned:
“We hope that Armenia has chosen a right way. The ties between America
an Armenia will be as strong as the democracy will be in Armenia. And
Armenia’s participation in the Millenniun Challenge program is the
best way for America to be sure that Armenia moves forward on the
democratic way. Democracy is a process”.
In response to the question whether the expression that there are
more visible tendencies of democracy in Azerbaijan, is ascribed
to him, the American diplomat answered that he did not say such a
thing: “Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be compared at all. Both have
their advantages and disadvantages. I meant that Azerbaijan doesn’t
correspond to certain standards, but this doesn’t mean that there is
no progress. The tendencies in Azerbaijan are positive over the past
months. The tendencies in Armenia are also positive”.

EXHIBITION OF WORKS OF ARMENIAN, IRANIAN, TURKISH AND
GEORGIAN ARTISTS TO KICK OFF IN AUGUST
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS: Works by 25 Armenian, Iranian, Turkish
and Georgian artists will be presented at the exhibition entitled
“Art without Borders” which will kick off August 4 at the Center of
Innovative Experimental Art.
The head of the project Eduard Palasanian told Armenpress that 6 of the
artists are from Armenia, five from Georgia, seven from Iran and seven
from Turkey. According to him, the exhibition is a unique phenomenon
of contemporary art and it proves that political controversies do
not influence the cultural life.
Palasanian also noted with regret that their three-year efforts
towards involving Azerbaijani artists in the exhibition failed. At the
exhibition paintings, photos and different equipment will be presented.
The exhibition will last until August 25.

ARMENIAN RED CROSS READY TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES FROM LEBANON
AZG Armenian Daily #143, 01/08/2006
Regional
At present, already 600 people were forced to leave
Lebanon and Israel for Armenia. 51 of them has turned
to RA Migration Agency to receive the status of
temporary residents. But none of them has appealed to
the Armenian office of the Red Cross yet, though the
organization is ready to render any kind of assistance
to them. “if they appeal to us, we can render them
financial, legal, psychological, consultative aid, as
well as food,” Edmon Azarian, head of Disaster
Management Department of the Armenian Red Cross
Office, said. The office has set the list of monthly
rendered food, including certain amount of oil, rice,
sugar and other products, as well as financial aid
envisaged for a year depending on the social status of
the citizens that turned for help.
The Armenian Red Cross is collaborating with the UNHCR
and is being financed by that. “If the number of the
refugees grows, after evaluating their needs, we will
be able to render aid to as many people as required,”
Azarian said. Certainly, the refugees do not turn to
the Armenian Red Cross, as they have no idea about the
existence of such a source. Besides, as a result of
the tense situation in the region, it is expected that
more Armenians will arrive in Armenia from Georgia.
By Karine Danielian

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND OSCE MG AMERICAN CO-CHAIR DISCUSS
SOME DETAILS OF PRINCIPLES ON NEGOTIATIONS TABLE
YEREVAN, JULY 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian and OSCE Minsk Group American Co-chair Matthew
Bryza discussed the current state of Nagorno Karabakh settlement
negotiations at the July 29 meeting. The interlocutors discussed some
details connected with the principles on the negotiations table. They
exchanged thoughts about their future tasks and settlement prospects.
After the meeting M.Bryza left for Nagorno Karabakh where his meetings
with NKR leadership are scheduled.
According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, this is the American
Co-chair’s first visit to Armenia on his current post and the visit
has a cognitive character.

BRYZA CONTENT WITH PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS IN ARMENIA AND
AZERBAIJAN AROUND PROPOSALS PUBLISHED BY HIM
YEREVAN, JULY 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 29,
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza made his first
visit to Armenia as U.S. OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair. Following his trip
to Yerevan, Bryza visited Stepanakert and Baku, this is mentioned in
the official report provided to Noyan Tapan from the Public Relations
Department of the Embassy of U.S. to Armenia.
“In Armenia, Matthew Bryza met with President Robert Kocharian and
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Bryza discussed the conflict in
Nagorno-Karabakh, noting that he was pleased to see so much public
discussion in Armenia and Azerbaijan about the Co-Chairs’ proposals,
which were made public by all three Co-Chairs at the OSCE Permanent
Council in late June. Bryza emphasized that the Co-Chairs remained
committed to engaging with the parties, but that the key next steps
must be determined by the presidents of Armenia and Azerbiajan. He
remarked that the Co-Chairs join with the presidents who participated
in the G-8 Summit in encouraging the Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents to make the difficult decisions necessary to put the region
on a path towards peace,” the report read.
According to the report, following his visit to the region, Matthew
Bryza will brief his fellow Minsk Group colleagues on his meetings.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT ADVISER: DAY WHEN ARMENIA HAS OPEN BORDERS WITH TURKEY IS NOT FAR OFF
Yerevan, July 31. ArmInfo. “Armenia will make all the efforts,
especially within the frames of the New European Neighborhood Program
for the issue of release of the border with Turkey to always have
much force in our dialogue with the European Union”, Vigen Sarkissyan,
RA President adviser, told ArmInfo.
According to him, the fact that the EU negotiate with the country,
which grossly violate the ideology of the European family, was
initially unacceptable for Armenia. However, the EU leaders assured
that since Turkey had meet a number of preliminary conditions, it
may be dangerous to raise new issues as it can undermine the whole
idea of the negotiation process and the work with Turkey. “However,
there were affirmations that, when the negotiations start, the issue
of joining is out of question without meeting a number of criteria,
including the issue of borders opening “, V. Sarkissyan said.
Talking of specific terms, when the issue of Armenian-Turkish borders
release enters the agenda of EU-Turkey negotiation process, Sarkissyan
noted that it depends on the duration of negotiation process with
Turkey. “I am sure, the day when Armenia and Turkey have open borders
and normal neighborly relations, is not far off “, Sarkissyan said.

NKR FM: NKR PRESIDENT AND OSCE MG US CO-CHAIR DID NOT DISCUSS
RECENTLY PUBLISHED NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT SCENARIO
Stepanakert, July 31. ArmInfo. During the meeting both NKR President
Arkady Ghoukassyan and OSCE MG US co-chair Matthew Bryza showed quite
creative approach. Ghoukassyan has a whole range of new proposals, They
should be coordinated and thoroughly discussed, NKR Foreign Minister
Georgy Pogossyan said after the Saturday meeting of Ghoukassyan and
Bryza in Stepanakert.
He said that the sides did not discuss the co-chairs’ recent statement.

NKR DM REFUTES AZERI MEDIA REPORTS ON CEASE FIRE REGIME VIOLATION AND DEATH OF AZERI SOLDIER
Yerevan, July 31. ArmInfo. Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Ministry refutes
one more report by Azeri media about violation of the cease fire
regime and the death of an Azeri soldier.
Referring to the Azeri DM the Azeri media have reported that Azeri
soldier Galib Ismaylov was killed as a result of cease fire violation
in the direction of Terter July 29. The press secretary of the NKR
DM Senor Asratyan says that no single cease-fire violation has been
registered on the Azeri-NK contact line of late.