MOST IMPORTANT TASK OF ARMENIAN OPPOSITION TO RESTORE PEOPLE’S CONFIDENCE
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, September 11. /ARKA/. The most important task of the Armenian
opposition is to restore the confidence of the population’s confidence
in itself and its actions, Armenian MP from the Justice opposition
faction Hrant Khachatryan reported at a press conference Saturday.
“Restoration of the Armenian people’s confidence, which is already
almost lost, must become the basic goal of the opposition’s activity.
This task can be done not only by organizing meetings or discussions.
The opposition, first of all, should give clear-cut evaluation of
the authorities’ actions,” he said.
Khachatryan also pointed out that the opposition “should always be
up to the mark to merit the people’s confidence”.
The MP expressed an opinion that by organizing meetings, the opposition
will not manage to prove that “it has the majority of votes”.
“The opposition should create an atmosphere, where the population
and the society of the country not only have trust in the honesty
and incorruptibility of the opposition, but also in its political
actions.” Khachatryan reported.

ARMENIAN GOODS FIRST EXHIBITED AT “ETHNIC FOOD 2006” IN TORONTO
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, September 11. /ARKA/. Armenian goods are first exhibited at
the leading “Ethnic Food 2006”, held in Toronto on September 10-11.
Karen Harutunyan, representative of the Center for Agriculture and
Rural Development (CARD), six producers represent Armenia in Toronto.
Among them are Vedi Alco, Getnatun, Mets Syunik wine producers,
factories, producing natural juices Noyan and Sis, and also Gam
Company, producing herbal teas.
Harutunyan reported that the Armenian products are exhibited in a
separate pavilion at 200 square feets under the support of the CARD.
“Participation of Armenian companies in this exhibition will help
national processing companies promote their range of goods on the
Canadian market,” he said.
The CARD was founded in April 2005, based on the Marketing Assistance
Project of the U.S. Department for Agriculture (USDA).
Since 1996, the USDA-MAP has rendered assistance to over 60 Armenian
enterprices, 25 producers’ and selling co-operatives, 50 credit clubs,
and thousands of farm economies throughout Armenian regions, giving
technical, financial, and marketing support.

COSKUN: OUR GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO ADHERE TO THE E.U.
Turkish Press
Sept 11 2006
ISTANBUL – “Our government is determined to do what it takes to
become a full member of the European Union (EU),” said Ali Coskun,
Turkish Minister of Industry & Trade, on Thursday.
Coskun was a guest speaker at a symposium organized by the Istanbul
Trade University on “Turkey and EU Membership Process.”
Ali Coskun indicated that Turkey’s ultimate goal is to join the EU as
a full member. “Screening meetings for 25 topics have been completed.
We plan to accomplish screening of 35 topics by October 13th, 2006,”
remarked Coskun.
Meanwhile, another participant, EU Harmonization Committee Chairman
Yasar Yakis has stated that entry negotiations with the EU are going
on successfully at technical level.
Referring to the ‘Turkey Report’ made public by the European
Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee two days ago, Yakis said that
“the topics regarding the so-called Armenian, Pontus and Syrian
genocides cannot be included in entry negotiations process. We are
hoping that the EP General Assembly will remove those topics when it
votes the report later this year.”

ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
Esteemed guests,
Esteemed Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen!
I am very glad to welcome you to Azerbaijan.
The events of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) held
in Azerbaijan further strengthening relations between the country
and the organization. We are trying to be a very active member of the
organization, take part in all of its events, and are the initiators
of some of them. This is the second gathering of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference in Baku. The first one, which brought together
Ministers of Foreign Affairs, was marked by making very useful and
important decisions. Today, Azerbaijan is hosting the Session of
the Tourism Ministers. This event in itself shows that Azerbaijan
is very active in the organization and seeks to contribute to its
strengthening. The Organization of the Islamic Conference is that
uniting the Islamic world. It pleases us very much that international
influence and the role of the organization is growing every year
because nowadays, solidarity and unity of the Muslim countries take
on special significance. Our historical and cultural ties, as well
as political interests are of great importance. Our joint responses
to the existing challenges, our attitude to the critical situations,
and developments in hot spots across the globe, have essential impact
on the processes taking place worldwide.
Strengthening of our organization, the Organization of the Islamic
Conference, will strengthen our positions, bring our views on the
region and the world even closer, and thus, increase our influence
on the processes taking place around the world. This is what we want,
and this is what the OIC’s events in Azerbaijan are aimed at.
At the same time, the Islamic tourism ministers’ get-together in
Azerbaijan is a kind of presentation of Azerbaijan, because the
country is the young independent state. It has been only 15 years
since we lived as an independent state, and we still have a great
need for popularization of our country. I know the vast majority of
the ministers are for the first time in Azerbaijan, and I believe
that their familiarization with our country will create a good basis
for further cementing our relations.
What we want, and what we seek is to deepen the existing cooperation
with all the member-countries of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference. This, of course, is the aim of holding such events in
Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is rapidly developing in both political and economical
areas. The processes taking place in Azerbaijan, the processes taking
place in the region further strengthening of our country. Last year’s
economic growth in Azerbaijan was 26 percent, and has reached 36
percent only for six months of this year. It enables us to have
our financial possibilities increased, and the problems facing the
republic solved successfully. We intend to develop all sectors of
the economy, and undoubtedly, a great attention is being paid to
the tourism one. In a word, the yearly growing economy of Azerbaijan
creates a very good basis for all-round development of our country.
At the same time, unfortunately, no solution has been found to the
longstanding Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the source
of the greatest danger for Azerbaijan and the whole region.
The Armenian military aggression against Azerbaijan and the policy
of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis have led to occupation of
20 percent of our lands. Because of the occupation and the policy
of ethnic cleansing, over million of Azerbaijanis became internally
displaced. This is not only a humanitarian catastrophe; it is a great
injustice, and violation by Armenia of all the international legal
norms. Various international organizations have adopted respective
resolutions on this conflict. The United Nations Organization adopted
four resolutions demanding unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian
armed forces from the occupied territories. However, Armenia has
been ignoring the resolutions. In the beginning of the last year,
the Council of Europe adopted the similar resolution recognizing
Armenia as an aggressor. The Organization of the Islamic Conference,
as always, supports the fair position of Azerbaijan overtly demanding,
in its resolutions and decisions, putting an end to the aggressive
policy of Armenia. However, no solution has been found to the
conflict. Azerbaijan was subjected to the policy of ethnic cleansing,
and experienced a number of terrorist attacks killing over two thousand
of our compatriots.
Today is September 11, and all of you remember well the horrible
terrorist attacks on the United States of America. Innocent people were
killed, and today we are commemorating them. The Muslim world condemned
those horrible attacks, and today, our joint efforts also include
the fight against terror. All the efforts should be consolidated to
withstand terrorism. One cannot fight this threat alone.
Azerbaijan is ready to contribute to this business, and is doing
that. There is one more point that is always raised at the meetings
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference: some forces attempt to
identify terror with Islam. It must not be allowed. Those who identify
terror with Islam, deliberately or not, thereby carry out aggression
against our religion. Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. We
want to live in peace and stability with representatives of all other
religions, and we will achieve it.
Therefore, there are a lot of economic, political and cultural issues,
challenges in the organization to cover. I am convinced that the more
often we meet the more progress we achieve.
Cooperation between member-states of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference should be more intensive. We have very good cooperation
in political sphere, and the cultural ties we are bound by make a
great contribution to it. In the economic sphere, there is a need
for closer cooperation. Our countries have huge economic potential,
and I think encouragement and support of mutual trade should occupy
its place in the economic policy of each member.
Today’s conference deals with the cooperation in the tourism sector,
and short film demonstrated today here presented tourism opportunities
in Azerbaijan. There is very beautiful nature, nine climatic zones,
over 800-km coastal zone in our country. Therefore, Azerbaijan has
every condition for tourism development. We pay a great attention to
this sector now. Much investment will be made to boost the tourism
infrastructure. Besides, country’s infrastructure is being completely
renewed since there is a need to create infrastructure objects –
roads, airports and others – for developing tourism.
I can say that three new international airports are being built in the
west, south and north of the country although its territory is not so
big. Three new airports, which are up to the international standards,
will serve as a tool for the development of tourism. Motor roads are
being rapidly built, including rural roads and highways.
New roads are being built in the outlying villages to facilitate the
locals’ movement and, at the same time, create good conditions for
tourists. New modern hotels are scheduled to be built both in Baku
and Azerbaijani regions.
In a word, government does its best to have infrastructure projects
implemented for developing tourism. At the same time, the private
sector must take this opportunity to create new modern tourism
infrastructure objects.
Today, I would like to avail myself an opportunity to call on the
companies and government agencies of OIC member countries to benefit
from tourism opportunities in Azerbaijan, as this sector will develop
very rapidly in Azerbaijan; a great amount of foreign investments
are scheduled flow in the country. We would like representatives of
friendly and brotherly countries to operate in this sector. Tourism
is a culture and, of course, a great sector of the economy. At the
same time, it’s a factor uniting our countries because the fact that
people arrive in various countries, familiarize themselves with the
countries’ situation, historical monuments makes member countries of
the organization closer. Of course, political links are important and
they exist. I told of the economic relations and believe that they
will unite OIC member countries even more. Furthermore, people will
get closer to each other if tourism opportunities are taken. There
is much need in it.
I want to say that we have very rich shared history, culture; there
is Islamic religion uniting us. The more people communicate with each
other the better it will be for us, the stronger Islamic world will
become, the more accomplishments the Organization of the Islamic
Conference will achieve; and, as a whole, the world will develop
more comprehensively.
The Islamic world is a very big power. We have to effectively use
this power. Islamic world plays a key role in restoring global peace,
security, and this role is increasing. We all have to try to strengthen
relations uniting the Islamic nations and reinforce our positions even
more. Taking all the matters into consideration, I want to reiterate
that the fact that session of the Islamic Conference tourism ministers
is held in Azerbaijan is of great significance for us. I once more
welcome all the visitors, thank you for coming to Azerbaijan and wish
every success to the conference.
Thank you.
***
Then the meeting was addressed by Chairman of the 4th session of
Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers, Senegal’s Minister of
Tourism and Air Transport Ousmane Massek Ndiaye, Secretary General
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu,
Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization
Francesco Frangialli and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture and Tourism
Abulfaz Qarayev.
***
Afterwards, President Ilham Aliyev and session participants
familiarized themselves with the exhibition of photographs presented
in the “Azerbaijan – 2006 tourism world” photo contest, in Gulustan
Palace.
***
After the break, the tourism ministers continued the discussions
behind the closed doors.
***
On behalf of President Ilham Aliyev, the reception in honor of tourism
ministers of OIC member countries was given September 11 at the Baku
Entertainment Center.
***
The conference will be continued on September 12.

FRENCH PROSECUTOR ASKS REJECTION OF APPLICATION OF ARMENIANS AGAINST TURKISH CONSUL GENERAL IN PARIS
Turkish Press, MI
Sept 11 2006
PARIS – French prosecutor asked Paris Appellate Court to reject file
which was submitted by Armenians against Turkish Consul General in
Paris Aydin Sezgin.
The prosecutor asked rejection on the grounds that Sezgin has
diplomatic immunity as well as the freedom of expression in the
country.
Paris Appellate court will make a decision on October 11th.
Association of Armenian Case Defense earlier applied to the Paris 17th
Basic Criminal Department against Paris Consulate General’s official
web-site which included articles against so-called Armenian genocide
last year, but the Department rejected the application as Sezgin
has diplomatic immunity. In spite of the rejection, the Association
applied to the higher Paris Appellate Court.

NO WORLD PEACE WITHOUT RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE: ARCHBISHOP OF TEHRAN
Mehr News Agency, Iran
Sept 11 2006
TEHRAN, Sept. 11 (MNA) — Archbishop Sebu Sarkissian, the spiritual
leader of Armenian Orthodox Christians in Tehran, said here on Monday
that dialogue is an absolute necessity of the modern world.
The main objective of all divine religions is to teach people to live
better lives, Sarkissian told the Mehr News Agency.
“Since the followers of all divine religions have a strong belief
in their religious values, it is essential to hold talks between the
followers of different religions and religious denominations.
“Religious negotiations are the most important kind of negotiations
in the modern world because mutual understanding and religious
tolerance will be established between religions when they actually
become familiar with each other,” he said.
Archbishop Sarkissian stated that the topic of discussion in dialogue
among religions depends on the interests of the participants in the
religious, social, political, or cultural spheres.
“Moral values are necessities of human life and religious dialogue
because these are the values that unite humans and help them understand
each other,” he added.
Religious dialogue has become essential in recent years because
world peace can never be established without mutual understanding,
Sarkissian said in conclusion.

TAN: ANNAN THANKED TURKISH AUTHORITIES
Turkish Press, MI
Sept 11 2006
ANKARA – “United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan thanked the
Turkish authorities for contributing troops to the expanded United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),” said Namik Tan, spokesman
for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Tan said that technical details
were not discussed during Annan’s meetings with Turkish officials.
“Relevant authorities will start working on technical details in
the coming days. Then, we will hold a series of talks with the United
Nations. After necessary arrangements are made, the conditions on which
Turkish soldiers join the expanded UNIFIL, will be clarified,” he said.
“The Turkish party expressed its sensitivities to Annan about mandate
of the peacekeeping force. Annan told us that he understood our
perspective. He also indicated that the force would not be involved
in disarmament of the Hezbollah. Annan noted that the United Nation’s
resolution created the necessary legitimacy,” he said.
-CYPRUS-
Upon a question about the Cyprus issue, Tan told reporters, “Turkey’s
views are already known. We are in favor of finding a comprehensive
solution to the Cyprus issue under the good-will office of the United
Nations Secretary-General.”
“We attach great importance to lifting of the isolation of Turkish
Cypriots. It will be the most tangible step to be taken for a
comprehensive solution,” he said.
-KIRKUK-
Referring to the Kirkuk issue, Tan told reporters, “Turkey has
some expectations from the United Nations about Kirkuk. There have
already been some movements in the region to change the demographic
structure. Earlier, we stressed that those were extremely dangerous
attempts. Such attempts may jeopardize the balance in Iraq.”
-EP’S REPORT ON TURKEY DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING WITH ITS CURRENT SHAPE-
Tan said, “European Parliament’s report on Turkey does not mean
anything for us with its current shape.”
Stating that the report included some issues unacceptable for Turkey —
matters regarding so-called Armenian genocide–, Tan said, “we expect
that some baseless and imaginary issues included in the report would
be changed in the following period.”
Underlining that the important thing for Turkey was to boost reform
process, Tan stressed, “we will take concrete steps before the EU
releases reports in the following period. We have determination on
this matter. Our government has been working on it.”

“IRALI” REPUBLICAN YOUTH MOVEMENT BLAMED VISIT OF AZERBAIJANI YOUTH GROUP TO ARMENIA
Author: J. Shakhverdiyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
Today, on September 11, in the Baku International Press-Centre,
the Republican Youth Movement “Irali” has held a press-conference
devoted to the subject “Attitude toward Visit of a Group
of Azerbaijani Youth to Armenia”. All participants of the
press-conference blamed the visit of Azerbaijani youth to Armenia,Trend
reports.
It should be mentioned that, a meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian
youth took place in the youth camp “Gugark” within the activity of the
organization “Helsinki Civil Initiative”. The initiative was named “The
Camp of Mutual Trust”. Representatives of so-called Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic also participated in the arrangement. The Azerbaijani
delegation to the camp included Rena Yuzbasheva, local coordinator
of Helsinki Civil Assembly in Azerbaijan, Fidan Mammadova, journalist
Seymur Baydjan, Ismayil Abdulazimov, Khamis Massisov, and others.
In their speeches, founders of the Republican Youth Movement “Irali”
Farkhad Mammadov, Jeyhun Osmanli, Roya Talibova pointed out that
such trips contradict to Azerbaijan`s national interests. They also
pointed out that such arrangements cannot have a positive influence
on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue settlement.

E.P.’S TURKEY REPORT INCLUDES ISSUES FAR FROM COMMON SENSE AND OBJECTIVITY, TAN
Turkish Press, MI
Sept 11 2006
ANKARA – “It is obvious that the (EP) report (on Turkey) focused on
issues which has nothing to do with common sense and objectivity. We
hope that those points will be addressed before the vote in the
General Assembly at the end of this month,” Turkish MFA spokesman
Namik Tan said regarding the Turkey Report which was adopted by the
Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament (EP), yesterday.
Upon a question, Tan said that the report, which was prepared by
Christian Democrat MEP Camiel Eurlings, would be voted at the General
Assembly on September 28th, 2006.
Tan noted, “several matters in the report which are far from to be
real and written with political impulses do not reflect EP’s esteem
and seriousness.” He mentioned as example issues like the so-called
Armenian genocide.
Tan said, “we expect the EP would encourage Turkey-EU relations. We
hope MEPs will demonstrate common sense to fix this situation during
general assembly meeting.”

US EMBASSY TO AZERBAIJAN: TERROR NOT EMANATES FROM ISLAM, AND AMERICA WELL AWARE OF IT
Author: A. Ismayilova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
An Azerbaijani man was among the victims of the act of terror
happened on September 11, 2001, Jonathan Hanick, Head of the Press
service of the American Embassy to Azerbaijan told journalists today,
Trend reports.
According to him, there has not been such a death toll in America for
last 100 years. Representative offices of 90 countries were located
in the World Trade Center. Following these events, all civic countries
including Azerbaijan rendered their assistance to US.
Commenting Armenian terror, Mr. Hanick added that America is against
a death of any human. “The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be settled
peacefully, and we hope that the conflict will be resolved in the
nearest time”, he pointed out.
Touching upon the issue on identification of Islam with terror, the
Head of the Press Service of the American Embassy told that terror
does not emanate from Islam, and America is well aware of it. America
has an excellent cooperation with Muslim countries. Several millions
of Muslims live in US.