JOINT MISSIONS ON FIRE TO BE SENT TO OCCUPIED TERRITORY OF AZERBAIJAN
Author: S.Aliyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
“We have co-ordinated a draft resolution. I think it will be an adopted
consensus, without vote. I was informed that the document was being
approved and all 191 member-states, including Armenia are adopting it,”
Trend reports quoting Foreign Minister Mammadyarov. He was commenting
on the adoption of a resolution on fires in the occupied territory
of Azerbaijan by the UN General Assembly.
“The issue was put forward as an ecological catastrophe. The Chairman
of the OSCE will organize missions to these areas,” he stated.
Mr. Mamadyarov said that a special mission will be sent to the areas
to familiarize themselves with the situation. The Azerbaijani and
Armenian experts will then participate in the mission, together with
the international experts. Also included will be representatives of
the UN ecological program, OSCE representatives, and possibly, the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. “After the situation has been estimated
and measures to be taken clarified, a mission will be sent out to
consider the rehabilitation and erosion,” the Minister stated. These
issues have been included in the Resolution.
After the completion of the process the OSCE Chairman is to present
a final report to the UN General Assembly, the Foreign Minister
emphasized.

AZERI & ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING NOT NECESSARY – MINISTER
Author: S.Aliyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
On September 12, Armenian Foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan is meeting
with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen in Paris. The Azeri Foreign Minister
is then meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen on September
13 in London, Trend reports quoting Elmar Mamedyarov, Azeri Foreign
Minister.
Mamedyarov said it is not necessary to meet with Armenian
counterpart. “First, we should meet with the Co-Chairmen and discuss
ideas”, he outlined.
Speaking on new proposals on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
Mamedyarov said the work with the Co-Chairmen would go on as usual.
“We will try to work out the basic principles and I am very concerned
with the Co-Chairmen’s opinions, their proposals and how to compromise
on this issue”, he added.

UN GA CALLS ON CONDUCT OF ECOLOGICAL OPERATIONS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES
Author: A.Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
On Thursday (7 September) the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution
with consensus (without vote) “The situation in the occupied territory
of Azerbaijan” submitted by the Azerbaijani delegation, Trend reports
citing ITAR-TASS.
The Assembly voiced its concerns on the fires in the occupied territory
of Azerbaijan and called for the urgent ecological operations to
extinguish them and prevent fatalities. The General Assembly took into
consideration the OSCE’s intention to send a mission to the region
to estimate the impact of the fire to the environment in preparation
of an ecological operation. It welcomed the willingness of both sides
to co-operate in this respect and called such an operation a measure
of confidence consolidation.
The General Assembly called on the UN Environment Program to render
assistance with the OSCE, as well as in estimating the short- and
long-term results of the environment in the region and resistance to
them and their rehabilitation. It asked the OSCE Chairman-in-office
to present to the UN Member of States a report on the issue up to 30
April 2007.
In his address on behalf of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, a
U.S. representative, Alexandro Woolf, underlined that Russia, France
and the United States are still loyal to the peaceful resolution
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “In this respect we seriously
regard the concern voiced by both the two conflict on threats to the
stability and security of the region, which pose new obstacles in the
negotiations process,” the U.S. diplomat underlined. He voiced their
Minsk Group co-chairs’ readiness, together with the special envoy of
the OSCE Chairman-in-office, to render assistance in the organization
of the OSCE mission with the support of UNEP.
Russia, France and the United States hope that ‘the goodwill spirit
demonstrated by Armenia and Azerbaijan during the work over the
resolution testifies the readiness of both sides to take additional
measures to consolidate matters, which would support the talks,”
Woolf underlined. He reminded that over the past 2 years the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs carried out intensive work with Armenia and
Azerbaijan over the definition of major principles of the agreement
which would lead to fair and durable resolutions”. The July Summit of
G8 held in St. Petersburg called on the Presidents of Azerbaijan and
Armenia to take these principles as a basis for the resolution of the
conflict. “Today we again appeal strongly and state the Government’s
readiness in rendering its full support to the achievement and
implementation of the peace agreement,” the U.S. diplomat stated.

“ECHO”: OFFICIAL BAKU DOESN’T BELIEVE THAT ANKARA WILL OPEN FRONTIERS WITH ARMENIA
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
Despite of all difficulties, Turkey won’t open frontiers with Armenia
neither it recognizes false genocide. Milli Mejlis deputy representing
ruling party and member of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, Aydin
Mirzazade, informed “Echo”. Otherwise, as deputy holds, Turkey would
deny its history, roots and primarily its national dignity. At the
same time, accordingly to Armenian mass media, EU draft report on
Turkey, discussed and adopted September 4 on the part of commission
on foreign relations of European Parliament, urges Ankara to open
frontiers with Armenia.
Following Armenian mass media document says that Turkey should take
all necessary measures to establish diplomatic and good-neighbor
relations with Armenia without precondition, including frontiers
opening accordingly to resolutions of European Parliament of 1987-2005.
A casual remark on recognition of genocide of Armenian in 1915 is made
in the draft report – governments of Armenia and Turkey are urged to
“continue the process of reconciliation for adoption of mutually
beneficial proposal”.
As deputy, Aydin Mirzazade, points out the issue on opening of
frontiers with Armenia is political but not juridical. Deputy reminds
that in the course of whole period of its existence EU presented
no demand to any future member-state. “Now issues, which have to be
dealt by historians and scholars, are focused on”, deputy holds.
Armenian diaspora plays its role in this connection, deputy believes.
“However, sooner or later Europeans will have to review their
positions as it is impossible to imagine Europe without Turkey,
being its integral part”, deputy insists.
“Within last 14-15 years Turkey has been steadfastly showing its
brotherhood with Azerbaijan. Ankara severed diplomatic relations
with Yerevan for the first time after Khodjali genocide committed by
Armenians in Nagorni Garabagh.
Azerbaijan will never forget heroic deed of Turkey, its faithfulness
to friendship and cooperation with our nation”, Mirzazade stresses.
However, deputy recognizes that there are some forces in fraternal
country, ready to open frontiers with Armenian aggressors for the
sake of their own interests.
“But I don’t think that any Turkish government will do so”, deputy
supposes. In this case, following deputy, they will have to answer
before Turkish nation, which at one with Azerbaijan.
As political scientist and co-founder of Azerbaijani national and
public committee on European integration, Leyla Aliyeva, says,
open frontiers is one of EU principles. “But Armenia is not EU
member”, she stresses. That is why it is not right to put forward
such conditions before Ankara. In this connection EU uses different
pressure instruments with respect to Turkey. “Some issues concerning
historical past are focused on and it is particularity of EU-Turkey
relations”, political scientist, Aliyeva holds.
Accordingly to her, there are many anti-Turkey forces in EU,
particularly, Greece and Cyprus. At the same time respond of Ankara
to EU requirements on frontier opening will depend on internal
situation in Turkey. “If European perspective of Turkey is getting to
be realistic and everything depends on frontier opening with neighbor
state, then who knows…” It’s not easy to predict steps of Turkish
government, Aliyeva says.
Chief of Administration on Information Policy of Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Tair Tagizade, particularly
underlined for “Echo” that Turkey and Armenia have number of issues,
apart from Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, which aggravate inter-state
relations. “At the same time Azerbaijan highly appreciates principal
adherence of Turkey to international law showed by Ankara with regards
to Garabagh conflict”, T. Tagizade concluded.
–Boundary_(ID_sjZhP5czgCmoUobEOf/h0Q) —
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DATE OF PACE RAPPORTEUR’S VISIT TO REGION DEFINED
Author: A.Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rapporteur
on the Missing in Southern Caucasus, Leo Platvoet, told Trend he
is visiting Armenian on 17 September 2006 to meet with the Armenian
community, Platvoed told Trend.
On 18 September he will visit Nagorno-Karabakh to meet with the
Armenian community of the region. During the visit Platvoed also plans
to meet with the representatives of the International Committee of
the Red Cross.
Earlier Platvoed told Trend that his visit program includes of tour
of Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

LEBANON’S ARMENIANS DENOUNCE TURKISH UN FORCE
By Jocelyne Zablit
Burj Hammud, Lebanon
Agence France Presse — English
September 8, 2006 Friday 12:33 PM GMT
Lebanon’s Armenians, who have not forgotten the massacres their
people suffered under Ottoman rule, demonstrated Friday against
Turkish troops set to take part in a UN peacekeeping mission.
Waving Lebanese flags and banners denouncing Turkey as a murderous
state, several hundred gathered in the Beirut suburb of Burj Hammud,
heavily populated by Armenians, and appealed to the United Nations to
reconsider Turkey’s participation in an expanded UN force in Lebanon.
“Genocide, massacre, deportation: Turkey’s definition of peace,”
read one banner.
“No to the participation of Turkish forces among UN troops coming to
Lebanon,” read another.
“We had 1.5 million of our people slaughtered under the Turks and
you expect us to welcome them?” asked Arous Ghougassian, the owner
of a home furnishing business.
“I can assure you that I won’t sell them anything if they come into
my shop,” she said.
Hagop, an employee at the Basterma Mano food store, raised his fists
in anger when asked about the Turkish UN force.
“Look at my arms, I get goose bumps when you refer to them,” he said.
“If they dare come into our neighborhoods we’ll deal with them.”
Garo Hovsipian, a shopkeeper, said he could not put to rest the
massacre of his uncle and grandparents by the Turks in 1915.
“I somehow become a fanatic when I hear the word Turkey,” he said,
drawing on a cigar. “It brings back memories of my ancestors, our
history, the massacres.
“Still if I encounter any soldiers I will treat them as guests because
we are more civilized than them.”
Lebanon’s minority Armenian community, which numbers about 140,000
people, has objected to Turkey taking part in the UN force because
of mass killings of Armenians by Turks in 1915.
“Turkey, which carried out horrible crimes against humanity, cannot
take part in any peace process until it recognizes the massacre of
the Armenian people,” Jacques Choukhadarian, a former MP and minister,
told Friday’s gathering.
Representatives of the community have sent letters to UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan and to Western embassies in Beirut urging them
to reject Turkish participation in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL) set to number 15,000 troops from various countries.
Religious leaders has also issued a statement calling the Turkish
participation in UNIFIL “morally unacceptable”.
The Turkish parliament voted after fierce debate at an extraordinary
session Tuesday to authorize the government to send troops to take part
in the UN force to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said the number of soldiers
is not likely to exceed 1,000.
Under the old Ottoman empire, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians are
said to have been killed or died after being forcibly driven from
their homes in Turkey between 1915 and 1917.
Ankara rejects all accusations of genocide, estimating the number of
Armenian deaths at 300,000 and arguing they were not a consequence
of deliberate extermination but a combination of war, disease, famine
and ethnic conflict.

LEBANON’S ARMENIANS PROTEST OVER TURKISH PEACEKEEPERS
Burj Hammud, Lebanon
Agence France Presse — English
September 8, 2006 Friday 11:58 AM GMT
Lebanon’s Armenians, who have not forgotten the massacres their
people suffered under Ottoman rule, demonstrated Friday against
Turkish troops set to take part in a UN peacekeeping mission.
Waving Lebanese flags and banners denouncing Turkey as a murderous
state, several hundred gathered in this Beirut suburb heavily populated
by Armenians and appealed to the United Nations to reconsider Turkey’s
participation in an expanded UN force in Lebanon.
“Genocide, massacre, deportation: Turkey’s definition of peace,”
read one banner. Another said: “No to the participation of Turkish
forces among UN troops coming to Lebanon”.
“We had 1.5 million of our people slaughtered under the Turks and
you expect us to welcome them?” angrily declared Arous Ghougassian,
the owner of a home furnishing business.
“I can assure you that I won’t sell them anything if they come into
my shop,” she added.
Hagop, an employee at the Basterma Mano food store, raised his fists
in anger when asked about the Turkish UN force.
“Look at my arms, I get goose bumps when you refer to them,” he said.
“If they dare come into our neighborhoods we’ll deal with them.”
Lebanon’s minority Armenian community, which numbers about 140,000
people, has objected to Turkey taking part in the UN force because
of massacres of Armenians by Turks in 1915.
Representatives have sent letters to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
and to Western embassies in Beirut urging them to reject Turkish
participation in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) set to
number 15,000 troops from various countries.
The Turkish parliament voted after fierce debate at an extraordinary
session Tuesday to authorize the government to send troops to take part
in the UN force to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said the number of soldiers
is not likely to exceed 1,000.
Under the old Ottoman empire, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians are
said to have been killed or died after being forcibly driven from
their homes in Turkey between 1915 and 1917.

AZERI, ARMENIAN MINISTERS TO MEET WITH MEDIATORS SEPARATELY
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
September 8, 2006 Friday 5:43 PM MSK
Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian will discuss the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem with the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group on different
dates and in different European capitals, Mammadyarov said.
“Oskanian will meet with the co-chairmen in Paris on September 12, and
my meeting with the mediators will take place in London on September
31,” the Azeri foreign minister told journalists.
He said he did not see the point in meeting with his Armenian
counterpart at present.
“We need to clarify our positions with the co-chairmen and analyze
some ideas,” Mammadyarov said.
At the upcoming negotiations, the parties will continue “working in
the same direction in which we have worked before,” he said.
“We will try to work on the fundamental principles of a settlement.
I would be interested to know the opinion of the co-chairmen themselves
and to hear their proposals, and we will discuss how to find a
way to advance the settlement of the conflict through compromise,”
Mammadyarov said.

OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL’S MEETING TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN ARSONS IN OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI LANDS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
The issues on arsons committed by Armenians in the occupied Azerbaijani
lands will be discussed at the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council’s
meeting scheduled for September 14.
OSCE headquarters press secretary Martin Nesirski told the APA
ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk will also attend the discussion in Vienna.
The arson issue was to be discussed at the Permanent Council’s meeting
on 6 September. But, it was postponed due to some reasons.
OSCE Permanent Council meets in the Austrian capital, Vienna, every
week.

TEXT OF DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UN
Federal News Service
September 7, 2006 Thursday
United Nations, New York City, New York, September 06, 2006
STEPHANE DUJARRIC: Good afternoon.
Ibrahim Gambari, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs,
as well as David Hamburg, the Chair of the Advisory Group on
Genocide Prevention, will be joining us today to brief on the
Secretary-General’s report on conflict prevention.
[parts omitted]
Q: There’s been an item that the General Assembly was supposed to
vote on yesterday, and today, and now it’s going to be tomorrow,
about Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan and Armenia. So, part of the
dispute is this request that the Secretary-General do a report on
the area. Is the Secretariat involved in these discussions at all?
MR. DUJARRIC: It’s before the General Assembly. Once they vote and
instruct the Secretary-General, then we’ll follow that resolution.
But we’re not involved in those discussions.
Q: Is it possible to describe the United Nations activities in
Nagorno-Karabakh? Which agencies are providing services?
MR. DUJARRIC: We can look on the humanitarian side.
(The Spokesman later added that the Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) did not have a presence in Nagorno-
Karabakh. Nevertheless, it had recently worked with the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) to support efforts by the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to control the forest
fire situation there.)