ARMENIAN INTERFERENCE IN AZERBAIJANI WEBSITES DECREASE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
“Azerbaijani hackers interfered Armenia’s and other countries’ websites
many times, and Armenian websites met the danger of being hacked,”
Iltimas Mammadov, Deputy Minister of Communication and Information
Technologies told journalists, APA reports.
“Our websites are controlled from one center, and that is why our
network has stronger protection than any other CIS countries,” he
said. He also said Armenian interference to Azerbaijani websites
has decreased.
The deputy Minister did not rule out that there is Internet relation
between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“This aims to find the enemy’s week points. It is not possible to
break up the Internet relations fully, because the providers are
connected to the Global Internet Network. Armenians’ any actions
against Azerbaijan are prevented,” he said.

DASHNAKS WARN AGAINST VOTE RIGGING
By Karine Kalantarian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 12 2006
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) will contest
next year’s parliamentary elections on its own and will pull out
of Armenia’s governing coalition if their results are falsified,
its leaders said on Tuesday.
They said the decision not form electoral alliances was made at a
conference of the nationalist party’s organization in Armenia which
finished its work at the weekend.
“It was decided that Dashnaktsutyun must participate in the
parliamentary elections by means of a broad-based cooperation with
other political forces but without forming election alliances,”
one of its leaders, Armen Rustamian, told a news conference. He said
Dashnaktsutyun will work closely with pro-democracy forces to prevent
a repeat of serious fraud that marred just about every election held
in the country since independence.
Rustamian warned that if the vote, due in early 2007, again falls
short of democratic standards, his party “will become extremely
resolute and move into opposition” to Armenia’s current leadership
which it has supported for the past eight-and-a-half years.
Dashnaktsutyun, which has four ministerial portfolios in President
Robert Kocharian’s current cabinet, will stop being a governing party
also in the event of its poor showing in the polls, he said.
“In that case, we would not be able to have the kind of influence that
is needed for making sure that important decisions in the country are
not made without our consent,” explained the chairman of the Armenian
parliament’s committee on foreign relations.
Like the Armenian opposition, Dashnaktsutyun charged serious fraud
during the last parliamentary election held in May 2003. However,
it chose to join the governing coalition, citing the need to maintain
“political stability” in Armenia.
Its latest warnings appear primarily addressed to the governing
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) which many fear will try to win
control of the next National Assembly at any coast. Analysts say the
HHK’s unofficial leader, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian, considers
victory in the 2007 elections to be vital for the success of his
reputed presidential ambitions.
Rustamian made it clear that the Dashnaks will not endorse Sarkisian’s
widely anticipated bid for the Armenian presidency. “As we have stated
repeatedly, Dashnaktsutyun is today inclined to have its own candidate
[in the 2008 presidential election],” he said.
“This is the dominant mood in the [party] ranks.”

THEY IN AZERBAIJAN DEMAND TO EXPATRIATE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE VISITED ARMENIA
Regnum, Russia
Sept 12 2006
In Azerbaijan, youth organization of the Civil Solidarity Party demands
depriving of citizenship the 10 people who have visited Armenia in
the framework of the Camp of Mutual Understanding project.
Among them are the chairperson of the Azeri National Committee of the
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Arzu Abdullayeva, human rights activists
Nigyar Abdullayeva and Rena Yuzbasheva. Particularly, those people
visited the Gugark children and youth camp in Armenia.
A REGNUM correspondent reports them in the Civil Solidarity youth
organization to say that in the camp the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly
organized a meeting of Armenian and Azeri youths, and young people
from Nagorno-Karabakh were also present at the meeting. They say that
the visit was “treason” and demand that those people be deprived of
citizenship and passports. They also demand expelling from Azerbaijan
the international organizations organizing such projects.
In its turn, the Azeri National Committee of the Helsinki Citizens’
Assembly denies the charges and says that they are aimed at casting
slur upon the activities of the Assembly.

FM MEETS WITH OIC SECRETARY GENERAL
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 12 2006
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met September 11 with Secretary
General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin
Ihsanoglu to discuss the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the latest developments in the Middle
East, the 5th session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers
and other issues, press service of the Foreign Ministry said.
Mr. Mammadyarov described as very important the resolution adopted by
the United Nations General Assembly at its 60th session in connection
with the damage caused by wide-scale fires in Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu stressed that burning of occupied Azerbaijani
territories by Armenia, and destruction of cultural and historic
monuments have been hindering the development of Azerbaijan’s tourism
sector.
Mr. Ihsanoglu said this issue has been widely discussed at the fifth
session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers in Baku.
Elmar Mammadyarov and Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu also discussed other topics
of mutual concern.

GHOUKASYAN: ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY SHOULD BE MORE ACTIVE
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 11 2006
“First I would like to mention that it was our proposal, and only
after that Azerbaijan made a fuss. It is absolutely obvious that it
is an artificial fuss, as Azerbaijanis themselves are the “authors”
of both fires and propaganda”, stated Nagorno Karabakh Republic
President Arkady Ghoukasyan, while commenting on the resolution on
the fires on the territories controlled by the NKR adopted by the
U. N. General Assembly.
According to the NKR President, “the whole problem is that we have
repeatedly applied to the international instances to send an expert
group, as our concern is that the international community clearly
visualizes the situation in Karabakh, in part, in the border line”.
“We haven’t made official statements yet, but we are going to do it,
and we are ready to receive the OSCE mission. I am convinced the
mission’s conclusion will be impartial. As for Azerbaijan, it has
got one goal – to blacken everything referring to Karabakh”, Arkady
Ghoukasyan noted.
Answering the question concerning the NKR leadership’s attitude to
the fact that the Karabakh issue will be discussed in the U. N., the
President said it was a destructive approach. “It is absolutely clear
that the OSCE has been dealing with the issue all these years, so any
effort to discuss the issue at the other international organizations
may result in a fuss, which is unfavorable for the conflict parties and
the negotiation process. Armenia has precisely declared its position;
it is against the efforts to lead the discussions of the issues,
which are under the OSCE’s authority, to other instances. In my
opinion diplomacy is the best instrument, so the Armenian diplomacy
should be more active. Unfortunately, now the Azeri Diplomatic Corps
is constantly delivering assaults, and we have to constantly protect
ourselves. I believe it is time to launch a counter-offensive”,
A. Ghoukasyan stated.
According to the Nagorno Karabakh President, he does not think that
Baku pursues a goal to establish cooperation and create constructive
atmosphere for a dialogue. “Azerbaijan pursues other goals – to create
problems around Karabakh and make the international community condemn
what is going on in Karabakh. If Azerbaijan proffered cooperation,
we would gladly respond”, Arkady Ghoukasyan said.
“We think the more we communicate with Azerbaijanis, the more chances
we will have to settle the conflict. We have a lot of problems
connected with water, fires and other issues in the border line. I
am sure the inhabitants of Azerbaijan’s border regions are also
interested in the contacts, as the matter concerns problems, which
are urgent for them. However, the Azeri authorities that reject any
proposal on cooperation have always been against it”, NKR President
said, KarabakhOpen reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRANCE WELCOMES TURKISH CONTRIBUTION TO UNIFIL
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 11 2006
French Ambassador in Ankara Paul Poudade said on Monday that his
country welcomed Parliament’s approval of a motion to send Turkish
troops to Lebanon.
“Turkey did well in joining the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL)
in Lebanon,” he added.
Asked by reporters about the deployment of Turkish troops in Lebanon
and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s visit to Paris this week, Poudade
said that sending troops to Lebanon would be one of the main topics
of Gul’s trip.
Poudade added that Turkey has good relations with both Israel and
many Arab countries, and said that it would be the stabilizing force
in a troubled region.
Foreign Minister Gul will arrive in Paris today to participate in a
Mediterranean cultural workshop entitled “Dialogue Between Peoples
and Cultures,” to be held tomorrow.
Gul is also expected to meet his French counterpart Philippe
Douste-Blazy on the sidelines of the meeting.
The foreign minister’s visit to France comes after relations
were strained earlier this year by the French Parliament’s move to
criminalize questioning Armenian genocide claims, and several obstacles
from Paris impeding smooth progress for Turkey in its European Union
accession talks.
Gul is expected to remind Douste-Blazy of EU pledges to end the
international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and express the
Turkish government’s expectation about finding a solution to the Cyprus
problem. The French minister is expected to brief Gul on the status
of a proposed French base in Greek Cyprus. The two ministers are also
planning to discuss current Middle East issues, including Iran.
Gul will also deliver a speech at the French International Relations
Institute on Thursday and leave the country on Saturday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ADORES ARMENIA’S FRIENDLY TIES WITH IRAN
Fars News Agency, Iran
Sept 12 2006
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad
Adel appreciated the Republic of Armenia for its friendly attitude and
kindness to Iran during the two thousand years of the two countries’
neighborly relations.
Visiting Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel met with
his Armenian counterpart Teigran Torousian in Yerevan on Tuesday,
a statement released by the Information and Press Department of the
Islamic Consultative Assembly said.
During the meeting, Haddad Adel described the two countries’ ties in
the last 15 years as exemplary and stated that ever since the victory
of the Islamic Revolution, Iran has based its political relations with
other countries on the understanding of its religious leaders, adding
that justice-centered approach (that Iran has always been pursuing)
rises from Islamic teachings.
Reminding that Iran is an extensive country with a large population
and abundant possibilities and potentials, he thanked the Republic
of Armenia for its friendly attitude and kindness towards Iran during
two thousand years of coexistence of the two nations, and mentioned,
“And it is now the time for the two parliaments to help to the
consolidation of mutual ties.”
The top legislative official further voiced preparedness of the
Islamic Consultative Assembly to ratify the laws required for the
development of Iran-Armenia relations, specially in the economic
areas, and expressed the hope that the two nations’ friendship would
further deepen and consolidate through the exchange of visits by the
parliament members of the two countries, Parliamentary friendship
groups in particular.
For his part, Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly Teigran Torousian
expressed pleasure with the presence of the Iranian parliamentary
delegation in Yerevan and described the visit as a significant step
for the consolidation and strengthening of mutual ties.
He also viewed Tehran-Yerevan relations as exemplary and appreciated
the Islamic Republic of Iran for all the aids and assistances it has
extended to Armenia during the years of his country’s independence.
The chief law maker also noted the significance of Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline, Aras hydropower Plant and the high voltage power projects and
said that development of such cooperation would further reinvigorate
the two countries’ ties.
He also praised Iran’s due attention and efforts to safeguard the
historical and cultural heritage of the Iranian Armenians as well as
Tehran’s attention to the Armenian society in Iran.
To conclude his words, Torousian called for the expansion of the two
states’ parliamentary relations in all the various spheres.

PM ERDOGAN SPEAKS ABOUT ARMENIA AT TURKISH HISTORY CONGRESS
Hurriyet, Turkey
Sept 12 2006
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated yesterday in
the 15th Turkish History Congress in Ankara. Speaking to congress
attendees, Erdogan touched on questions surrounding the so-called
Armenian genocide, noting “It is nearly impossible to come across a
people as free of guilt as ours in history. Still, there are those
who try to blacken our history for political reasons. This is where
the accusations of a so-called Armenian genocide come in. On this
subject, as the prime minister, I proposed to Armenia that we form
a commission. I still have not received a positive response to this
request. Still, we have hope. All of the Ottoman archives are open
to those who wish to investigate. In fact, foreign researchers talk
about how our archives are more open than those of other countries.”
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer also sent a message to the
president of the Turkish History Foundation, Yusuf Halacoglu, noting
that “no efforts would be successful in hiding the truth about Armenian
genocide accusations.”

ARMENIAN PREMIER STRESSES IRAN’S NUCLEAR RIGHTS
Fars News Agency, Iran
Sept 12 2006
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Armenia’s Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan
stressed in a meeting with the visiting Iranian Parliament Speaker
Gholam Ali Haddad Adel that rules of the International Atomic Energy
Agency entitle all the world states, including Iran, to the peaceful
use of the nuclear energy.
A statement released by the Information and Media Department of the
Islamic Consultative Assembly said that also during the meeting,
Haddad Adel pointed to recent statements made by the US officials in
justifying their double-standards in the face of Iran’s nuclear issue,
and stressed, “That they admit to their double standards in treating
our case is a success for Iran.”
He further mentioned that the pressures the Untied States has exerted
on Iran on the pretext of the nuclear case come in reaction to Iran’s
independent views and its insistence on safeguarding its independent
stances.
“The US is worried that access to peaceful nuclear energy can make
Iran mightier,” the top legislative official stated.
He said that powers exert pressure on every country which intends to
adopt independent decisions in the contemporary world, adding, “Slavery
is said to have been eradicated in the world, but the world powers
have unfortunately maintained their slavery-loving spirit and mindset
and they desire to make all the world nations their own slaves.”
Elsewhere, Haddad Adel described Iran-Armenia relations as excellent
and noting the 200-billion-dollar volume of two countries’ trade
exchanges, he said that the figure could grow several times more.
Also pointing to the two states’ extensive possibilities, he said
officials on both sides should think of measures and plans to
facilitate exchange of visits by tourists and private sector activists.
For his part, Armenia’s Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan underscored
that rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency entitle all
the world states, including Iran, to the peaceful use of the nuclear
energy.
Margaryan said his nation may never forget Iran’s aids to that country
during the early years of Armenia’s independence, and further voiced
his country’s strong support for Iran’s balanced stance on the
establishment of regional peace and stability.
Also reiterating the need for the development of all-out relations
between the two countries, the official expressed the hope that
Iran-Armenia ties would help to the restoration of regional peace
and stability.
Also referring to the strategic significance of energy in the
contemporary world and the expansionist policies of some powers
for gaining dominance over regional energy resources, the Armenian
Prime Minister mentioned that from the view point of his country,
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project which is now under construction
underlies the two countries’ future cooperation.
He also said his country attaches much significance to Iran-Armenia
railway as well as Iran-Armenia link road which are now, as instructed
by the two countries’ Presidents, under construction, as Armenia
believes that the two projects play a crucially important role in
the development of the two states’ economic ties.
The Armenian Premier also praised the Islamic Republic for paying
special attention to the affairs of Iranian Armenians.

SPEAKER STRESSES EXPANSION OF PARLIAMENTARY TIES WITH ARMENIA
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Sept 12 2006
Visiting Iranian Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel in Yerevan on
Monday called for bolstering of parliamentary ties with Armenia.
Haddad-Adel, who arrived in the Armenian capital Yerevan Monday on
the first leg of a two-nation visit, met with the chairman of the
Armenia National Assembly, Tigran Torossian.
The speaker, who described Tehran-Yerevan bilateral relations as
“outstanding” during the past 15 years, said that since the victory
of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 Iran has endeavored to establish
ties with states based on justice and Islamic teachings.
He urged strengthening of mutual relations through enhanced cooperation
of the two states’ parliaments, and expressed the Iranian parliament’s
readiness to enact laws to boost cooperation particularly in the
economic field.
Haddad-Adel also expressed hope relations between the two states would
receive a further boost through exchange visits between the two sides’
MPs and members of their parliamentary friendship groups.
Torossian, for his part, said he was happy with the visit of the
Iranian parliamentary delegation to Armenia, saying it would be an
important step toward consolidation of ties.
He praised Iranian assistance provided to Armenia after the country
obtained independence.
The Armenian chairman stressed the importance of implementing the
two sides’ gas pipeline project as well as the Aras water power plant
and high-voltage electricity line.
He called for upgrading of parliamentary ties with Iran.
Haddad-Adel, following his visit to Armenia, will next pay a visit
to Kyrgyzstan.
The Majlis speaker’s official visits are upon the invitations of his
counterparts in these countries.
He is accompanied by a number of executive officials and Majlis
deputies.