NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROBLEM TO DISCUSS IN MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
May 19 2006
A round table on Nagorno-Karabakh problem will be held at the
initiative of information-analytical center with Moscow State
University, Trend reports quoting Farhad Mamedov, cofounder of
All-republican Youth movement “Forward”.
The similar round table on April 16 was devoted to problems in Dnestr
countries, Osetia and Abkhazia.
Mamedov said the discussion of Nagorno-Karabakh problem was scheduled
to May as a session. “However, we received information that the
problem will be discussed in summer at a round table”,- he said.

BLURRED VISION
By Petya Sabinova
Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria
May 19 2006
One look at a map of the Balkans, with the list of Eurovision
finalists in one hand, shows a big void right where Bulgaria is. For
the second year in a row the country fails to reach the longed finals
and this time we’re the only “losers” on the peninsula. It’s even
worse, because Armenia made it with their first ever entry in the
contest. All aspiring stars in Bulgaria should have watched the show
on Thursday and taken notes if they want a chance next year. For it
is evident that a wailing ballad only does it for countries that have
established a name for themselves – like Ireland. Not that our song
was bad, not at all, it just wasn’t right. What we need is something
like Lithuania (maybe with sexier guys), or Finland, well, perhaps
not so scary, but you get the point. We need to either go mainstream
like Armenia and Ukraine did, or surprise everyone with one hell of
an original show. So far our vision of the contest has been blurred by
either the local scandals marring it, or the tears of pain that Azis’
bawling brings. And unless someone in Bulgaria can produce an upbeat,
interesting song that teenagers would love to listen to over and over
again in the disco, then the third time won’t be good luck.

ARMENIAN LAW IN FRANCE DROPPED FOR NOW
By Ali Ihsan Aydin
Zaman, Turkey
May 19 2006
The legislative bill penalizing those who deny the so-called Armenian
genocide in France has been postponed indefinitely.
The motion discussed in yesterday’s morning session of the French
Parliament was dropped as the allotted time ran out.
Parliamentary Speaker Jean-Louis Debre had to twice pause the tense
session to reestablish order.
Deputies and Armenians supporting the motion accused Debre of extending
other discussions deliberately to drop the motion.
Armenians angered by the result caused a commotion in the parliament’s
audience gallery.
Foreign Minister Philippe Doust-Blazy, speaking on behalf of the
government, objected to the motion and appealed to French deputies
to not to inscribe history with laws.
The Socialist Party (PS), which made the legislative proposal, placed
the genocide bill as a second item on the agenda although it had the
right to arrange it anyway it wanted.
While talks on the first item on the agenda continued, some socialist
parliamentarians reacted saying talks were extended deliberately.
Since the proposal would automatically fail if it were not voted
at the first section where PS had the right to arrange the agenda,
parliamentarians wanted to start the genocide proposal sooner.
President of the parliament Jean-Louis Debre, upset with the protests,
reminded that it was not himself who formulated the agenda but the
socialists.
When the socialist parliamentarians rebelled again, tension increased
in the parliament.
Members of PS accused Debre of his attempts to fail the proposal
since Tuesday.
Members of UMP, who support the proposal, said, “Do not fall into
their trap, they want to deceive you”.
Upon the increase of the tension Debre gave two breaks.
Many parliamentarians, who wanted to discuss the first item on the
agenda, did not make their speech to proceed to the genocide proposal.
It took an hour to proceed to the proposal, but Debre ended the
section after a few talks because of the time constraint. Thus,
the proposal was dropped out of the agenda.
PS Group Leader Jean Marc Ayroult held the government and Debre
accountable for the cancellation of the bill.
Ayroult said UMP did its best to postpone the bill and accused UMD
of playing small tricks to reach its goal.
Armenian Originated French politician Patrik Deveciyan, who was angry
after the session, said the postponement of the bill is a result of
the lobby activities Turkey launched in all areas.
The Armenians who came to the parliament to watch the session created
chaos after the bill was postponed.
The crowd sang the French National Anthem and did not leave the
building.
PS Secretary-General Francois Hollande approached them requesting
them to remain calm.
The Armenians organized demonstrations near the parliament and
protested the decision.
The Turks, on the other hand, chained themselves and taped their
mouths. Some held banners in their hands saying “Do not restrict our
freedom,” and “Do not prevent the realities from being revealed.”
French Government Opposes Genocide Bill
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, representing the
government in the parliamentary session yesterday, said if the bill
is enacted the French Parliament will have interfered in history and
cited his opposition to the proposal.
The minister, who recalled the agreement on “leaving the history to
the historians” invoked in the parliamentary discussion regarding the
law of colonialism said, “The French Parliament is again attempting
to interfere in written history.”
The foreign minister said enactment of the bill will harm long-standing
Turkish-French affairs and the dialogue process between Turkey and
Armenia.
Douste-Blazy reminded that more than 300000 Turkish people lived
together with people of Armenian origins in France, and said the bill
will affect “human relations.”
From: Baghdasarian

AZERI DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES NATO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
Author: E.Javadova
TREND, Azerbaijan
May 19 2006
Azerbaijani Defense Minister received on 19 May the commander-in-chief
of NATO’s Air Forces in Europe, General William Tom Hobbins, the
Ministry told Trend.
During the meeting Abiyev noted that Azerbaijan closely cooperates
with NATO and the United States. The cooperation with NATO
successfully continues in line with the Action Plan on Individual
Partnership. Concerning the existing military-political situation in
the South Caucasus region the minister said that the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is the major reason impeding the rehabilitation of peace and
stability in the region. “Armenia with its destructive policy avoids
from peaceable talks and keeps under occupation 20% of Azerbaijani
territory,” he underlined.
In his turn, General Hobbins noted the successes in the cooperation
between NATO and Azerbaijan. The successful implementation of the
Action Plan of the Individual Partnership will bring close the country
with the bloc. He also noted that the visit targets familiarity with
the air forces of Azerbaijan. “I believe that the US-Azerbaijan
cooperation in the sphere of air forces is getting expanded,”
he underlined.
The gathering focused on exchange of opinion on future perspectives
of the US-Azerbaijan military cooperation between, integration in
to the European organizations, Azerbaijan’s activities under the
anti-terror coalition and different issues of mutual concern.

NKR PAVILION WORKED TILL END OF MOSCOW EXHIBITION
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 19 2006
As it has already been informed, a group of Azeris held a protest
rally at the exposition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic during
the International Tourist Exhibition titled “Tourism and Rest 2006”
conducted in the Moscow Exhibition Centre “Gostiniy Dvor” requiring
forbidding the NKR presentation.
While commenting on the incident at the DE FACTO Information-Analytics
Agency’s request, Director of the Karabakh agency for development
of tourism Sergey Shahverdyan stated it was a provocation. He said
about 15 young men dressed in shirts with inscriptions “Stop Armenian
Aggression” picketed the NKR pavilion raising the Azeri national
flags and chanting anti Armenian slogans.
Sergey Shahverdyan highly estimated the measures undertaken by the
exhibition’s organizers, having noted “they did not surrender to
intimidation and did not suspend the presentation”. He mentioned with
satisfaction that despite the Azeris’ demands the Karabakh pavilion
was not closed and worked till the end of the exhibition. According to
Sergey Shahverdyan, “the Azeris’ trick became a peculiar publicity of
the Karabakh exposition, as it drew more visitors”. On the outcomes
of the exhibition the NKR participants received the organizers’
diploma. Sergey Shahverdyan stated 40 countries and 80 regions
of Russia had participated in the exhibition and stressed the NKR
participation in such a representative exhibition was of extreme
importance. In his words, “not production, but the country is
advertised” at the exhibitions of the kind. Director of the Karabakh
agency for development of tourism added the Nagorno Karabakh would
take part in the Moscow International Tourist Exhibition in 2007.

RUSSIA REMOVES ARTILLERY SYSTEMS FROM AKHALKALAKI BASE
Civil Georgia, Georgia
May 19 2006
Four self-propelled howitzers 2C1 were withdrawn from the Akhalkalaki
military base on May 19 and moved to Tsalka, Kvemo Kartli region. From
Tsalka the Russian military equipment will be loaded on train and
taken to the Russian Federation via Azerbaijan on May 23, the Georgian
Defense Ministry reported.
This withdrawal is part of the base pullout process, which should be
completed in Akhalkalaki before December 31, 2007, according to the
March 31 Georgian-Russian agreement.
A convoy of ten trucks, loaded with military equipment, as well
as an armored vehicle departed from the Russian military base in
Akhalkalaki and headed towards the Russian military base in Gyumri,
Armenia, on May 18.

HOBBINS: I BELIEVE COOPERATION BETWEEN US AND AZERBAIJANI AIR FORCES WILL EXPAND
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 19 2006
Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister, Colonel-General Safar Abiyev today
received the delegation led by General Tom Hobbins, US Air Forces in
Europe commander.
The Ministry told APA that Mr.Abiyev said at the meeting that
Azerbaijan is cooperating with both Azerbaijan and NATO. The
cooperation with NATO is held in accordance with the Individual
Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). Touching on the military and
political situation in the South Caucasus, the Minister noted that
the Armenia-Azerbaijani conflict is main obstacle to the restoration
of peace and stability in the region.
“Armenia is pursuing a destructive policy by avoiding the peace talks
and keeping 20% of Azerbaijan’s territories under occupation,” the
Defence Minister stressed.
Mr.Hobbins satisfied with Azerbaijan’s achievement in partnership
with NATO stressing that successful implementation of the IPAP will
make Azerbaijan much closer to NATO.
“The objective of my visit is to closely familiarize with Azerbaijan’s
Air Forces. I believe the cooperation between US and Azerbaijani Air
Forces will expand,” Mr.Hobbins stressed.
US charge d’affairs ad interim in Azerbaijan Jason Hyland also
participated at the meeting.

14TH ANNIVERSARY OF OPENING OF LACHIN CORRIDOR CELEBRATED IN NK
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 19 2006
Festivities were held today in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic on the
occasion of the 14th Anniversary of the opening of the Lachin corridor.
The Lachin region administration, Karabakh MPs, the NKR Minister of
Defense Seyran Ohanyan, representatives of commanding staff of the
NKR Defense Army, as well as guests from Armenia participated in the
festival measures, DE FACTO own correspondent reports from Stepanakert.
The operation on the opening of the Lachin corridor was implemented
May 17-18, 1992. The voluntary units of the Self – Defense Forces
and groups of volunteers from Armenia took part in the operation. The
opening of the humanitarian corridor through Lachin enabled Karabakh
to establish a secure connection with Armenia and the world.

ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMS’ MEETING HELD IN STRASBOURG
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 19 2006
May 18 RA and AR FMs Vardan Oskanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov met in
Strasbourg. During the meeting the parties considered the ways of
the Karabakh conflict settlement.
According to the information DE FACTO received at the RA MFA press
service, the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs Steven Mann (the U.S.), Bernard
Fassier (France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) had also participated
in the meeting. After the negotiations Vardan Oskanyan and Elmar
Mammadyarov proceeded with the talks in a separate format.
The meeting’s goal is to prepare a visit of the Deputy FMs of the U.S.,
France and Russia, the countries that co-chair the OSCE Minsk group,
to the conflict region late May. In the course of the meeting the
principles and approaches to the Karabakh conflict settlement were
discussed. The Armenian party gives positive estimate to the meeting,
though there still remain unsettled issues.

SOUTH AFRICA PLAN TO SELL ARMS TO LIBYA
Nic Dawes
Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa
May 19 2006
Denel CEO Shaun Liebenberg hopes to provide Libya and Turkey with
Rooivalk helicopters
Planned weapons sales to previously taboo customers, such as Libya and
Turkey, are part of the package of measures adopted by the troubled
parastatal defence conglomerate Denel to turn around persistent losses
and declining sales.
Briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on public enterprises on the
status of his turnaround plans for the company, CEO Shaun Liebenberg
said new markets were opening up as the company won improved political
backing for its marketing efforts and sought more flexibility from the
National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), which regulates
arms exports, ostensibly limiting sales to repressive regimes and
conflict zones.
The company will record a loss of about R1billion for the 2005
financial year, he said. “There are markets where I can go right now
and get R1billion worth of business, but those markets are closed
to us for very good reasons,” he said. Other markets, however, were
closed for what he described as “legacy” reasons. Libya, which is
enjoying dramatically improved diplomatic relations with the West
as its dictator Moammar Gadaffi opens it borders and oil fields to
foreign investment, is one potential customer.
A more immediate prospect, however, is Turkey, where Denel hopes to
conclude the first major sale of its hi-tech attack helicopter, the
Rooivalk, despite persistent concerns from human rights organisations
over the use of helicopters by Turkish forces in suppressing internal
dissent. This deal, worth between R12billion and R15billion, would
rescue the Rooi-valk programme from commercial oblivion. Despite
its impressive capabilities, the helicopter has been unable to find
international customers in competition with European and United
States alternatives.
“Technically, we are looking very good,” Liebenberg told the committee,
but he warned that Turkey might feel constrained to buy from a European
country, given the support it needs in its quest for European Union
accession. The deal is already being used to apply political leverage
in the increasingly bitter stand-off between Turkey and France.
Denel is competing against the Franco-German firm Eurocopter, which
manufactures the Tiger, Italian firm Augusta with its a-129 Mangusta
and Russia’s MI-28 havoc. It narrowly lost out to Eurocopter in a
bid to sell the Rooivalk to Australia, but has been in talks with
the firm over a strategic equity partnership for aspects of its
helicopter business.
According to French and Turkish media reports, Eurocopter has sent a
strongly worded letter to French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin,
protesting at proposed legis-lation that would make it a crime to
deny the “genocide” of Armenians at the hands of Turkish troops during
World War I.
The Bill exacerbated tensions between the two countries, which are
already at odds over French opposition to Turkish entry into the EU.
Some Turkish newspapers have said that the contract will most likely
go to Denel if the French Parliament passes the Bill, which was due
to be debated as the Mail & Guardian went to press.
Liebenberg said Turkey had traditionally been off limits because of
sensitivities about its internal situation, but the Rooivalk deal
now had backing at presidential and Cabinet level, and two ministers
would soon visit Ankara to press for a deal.
NCACC approval for this transaction, should it happen, has not yet
been sought, said Liebenberg, but he is confident that the political
backing of the Presidency and Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin,
who sits on the committee, is in place.
Turkey has, since 1996, sought to conclude a major helicopter
purchase to assist in its crackdown on the activities of Kurdish
separatist rebels in the east of the country. A previous deal to buy
145 King Cobra helicopters from the American firm Bell Textron ran
into intense international opposition over human rights concerns,
and the US ultimately withdrew its bid on the grounds that it was
dissatisfied with the tender conditions.
Amnesty International has been protesting since the mid-1990s about
the use of military helicopters for both transport and attack purposes
in operations that have apparently targeted civilians in remote parts
of the country. It has repeatedly said helicopter exports under these
circumstances violate international law.
South Africa’s National Conventional Arms Control Act prohibits the
export of military equipment if there is a risk it will be used in the
violation of human rights. Sales to Libya, where economic opening has
not been accompanied by democratic reforms, may also attract scrutiny.
Denel has often expressed frustration in the past with the approvals
process at the NCACC, which is charged with applying the provisions
of the Act, but Liebenberg says the company is working much better
with the committee now as government support for his restructuring
plan becomes more coordinated.
The committee, chaired by Minister of Provincial and Local Government
Sydney Mufamadi, is supposed to report annually to Parliament on
weapons exports. Its 2004 report is more than a year overdue and
2005 statistics, which were due at the end of March, have yet to
be tabled. It has been criticised in the past for allowing sales to
countries with poor human rights records or messy internal conflicts.
Denel is restructuring into a holding company with focused subsidiaries
working in areas such as missile technology, aircraft components,
optical systems and artillery. Equity in each of these is likely to
be sold to international partners with the heft to assist in market
access and the capital to help scale up production.
As the M&G has previously reported, the government has agreed to
provide about R5,1billion to recapitalise Denel and rescue it from
bankruptcy over the next three years.
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