SERIOUS FORCES CRITICIZED CATHOLICOS
Lragir.am
07 July 06
The instigators of the campaign of protest during the Turkish visit
of Catholicos Garegin II are not simply abstract forces. They are
representatives of serious non-governmental organizations, stated
Ruben Safrastyan, expert on Turkish studies, July 7 at the Hayeli Club,
commenting on the incidents during the visit of the Catholicos.
Ruben Safrastyan thinks that the Christian world should stand up
against the incident involving the Catholicos of All Armenians.
Particularly, the European community should not have remained silent,
thinks Ruben Safrastyan, stressing that the system of values is
concerned. According to him, this incident showed that Turkey is not
ready to become a member of the European family.

RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES DENY BRITISH JOURNALIST ENTRY VISA
CPJ Press Freedom Online, NY
Committee to protect journalists
July 6 2006
New York, July 5, 2006 –The Committee to Protect Journalists is
concerned that Russian authorities have refused an entry visa to
British journalist Thomas de Waal. The Moscow-based Union of Russia’s
Journalists (RUJ) had invited de Waal to present his book on the
conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, which was translated into Russian last
year. The Federal Migration Service in Moscow wrote the RUJ Monday
that de Waal’s application had been denied under a 1996 security law.
De Waal told CPJ that he had not experienced trouble over his work on
Nagorno-Karabakh–a turbulent province in western Azerbaijan under
Armenian occupation for a decade. “I believe the entry denial is
connected to my work on Chechnya and the North Caucasus,” de Waal said.
In the past 12 years, de Waal has written extensively on the war in
Chechnya. From 1993 to 1997, he worked in Russia, covering the North
Caucasus for the English-language daily Moscow Times and The Times of
London. He wrote a book Chechnya: A Small Victorious War, and in 2003,
he testified as an expert witness for the defense at the extradition
trial in Britain of Chechen rebel leader Akhmed Zakayev.
“We are very concerned by Russian authorities’ decision to deny Thomas
de Waal an entry visa,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “This
appears to be part of a pattern by the authorities of controlling
coverage. We call on the Federal Migration Service to allow de Waal
to enter Russia, and to stop harassing journalists whose reporting
on the war in Chechnya contradicts the official line.”
De Waal said he believed Russian authorities were now reacting to the
body of his work over the past decade. “I must have somehow gotten
on their black list,” de Waal said. He last visited Russia in January
2005. He has been to the North Caucasus twice during President Vladimir
Putin’s tenure, both times visiting the republics of Ingushetia and
North Ossetia, but not Chechnya.
Oleg Panfilov, director of the Moscow-based media watchdog Center
for Journalism in Extreme Situations, said his organization keeps
a list of foreign journalists denied visas since 2000. The list now
contains over 30 names, Panfilov told the Russian service of Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

IRAN, ARMENIA AGREE TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
July 6 2006
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Wednesday afternoon Iran and
Armenia have reached an agreement to accelerate implementation of
joint projects.
In a joint press conference with visiting Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, Ahmadinejad described his counterpart’s visit to
Tehran ‘positive’ adding the two countries have agreed on different
cooperation fields, including legal, cultural, economic and investment
issues.”
He expressed hope that the visit can be a big step in developing
bilateral ties and pointed out that in the meetings mutual relations
and world issues have been discussed and bilateral cooperation in
different fields have been reviewed.
Ahmadinejad described Iran-Armenia relations historical, friendly,
sustainable and comprehensive and added there are a lot of
commonalities which connect us and we are determined to develop
our ties.
Armenian president appreciated Iran’s government and nation for their
warm hospitality as well as friendly meetings he had in Tehran and
good bilateral agreements and said seven agreements have been signed
which are complementary to former agreements.
Kocharian said there have been one hundred agreements between the two
countries so far, which prepared an appropriate ground to develop ties.
He stressed that although the two countries have cultural and
historical commonalities, but the new round of relations have started
since 15 years ago, and in this concern both countries have tried
hard to prepare a desirable and proper situation to develop relations.
Armenian president arrived in Tehran on Wednesday morning at the head
of a high ranking politico-economic delegation.
During his 2-day official visit, Kocharian is scheduled to meet with
Iranian senior officials.

IRAN, ARMENIA HOLD ENERGY, TRANSPORT TALKS
Mehr News Agency, Iran
July 6 2006
TEHRAN, July 5 (MNA) – Negotiations were held here on Wednesday between
a high-ranking delegation from Armenia headed by its President Robert
Kocharian and officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran led by
President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
During the meeting, Ahmadinejad stressed the need for the two countries
to make use of the huge potential for expanding bilateral ties in
various fields.
The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes and supports the development
of ties with Armenia in various areas particularly in energy fields
as well as transportation, sports, and tourism, he noted.
Ahmadinejad stated that so far six successful sessions have been
held by the Iran-Armenia joint cooperation committee, adding that
new documents will be signed between the two countries during the
Armenian president’s stay in Iran.
Iran and Armenia also enjoy good cooperation on regional and
international issues, the president said, adding, “I hope the Armenian
president’s trip to Iran would serve as an important step toward the
development of all-out ties between the two countries.”
For his part, Kocharian expressed pleasure with his visit to Tehran
and recalled the good memories of his last visit to the country.
Fortunately, Iran and Armenia enjoy extended ties and have signed as
many as 90 documents on mutual cooperation, he said.
He added that the countries should take new steps to implement
previous agreements.
Kocharian expressed his country’s readiness to develop ties with Iran
in the fields of energy and transportation particularly in a project
to connect the two countries’ railway systems.
He also called for efforts to increase the power transmission capacity
between the two neighboring countries.
Kocharian invited Ahmadinejad to pay an official visit to Armenia
for inaugurating joint projects.
The two presidents were to sign new agreements in a special ceremony
Wednesday afternoon in Tehran.
Iran is building a pipeline to supply Armenia with needed natural gas,
much of which now comes from Russia.
Earlier this spring, OAO Gazprom (GSPBEX.RS) announced a deal that
would give the Russian state-controlled gas monopoly ownership rights
to the Armenian segment of a planned pipeline; Armenian officials
denied they were turning control of the pipeline over to Gazprom.
President Kocharian arrived here at the head of a high-ranking
politico-economic delegation for a two-day official visit Wednesday
morning.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Energy Armen
Movsisyan and Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Kirakosian are accompanying
the president in this visit.
The Armenian president, during his two-day stay here, is scheduled
to hold separate meetings with senior Iranian officials including
Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki.

REGULATION OF NK CONFLICT TO BE RAISED AT MOSCOW MEETING OF PROCURATORS-GENERAL OF CE
Author: R.Agayev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 5 2006
Heads of the Procurator’s Offices of the Council of Europe (CE)
member-countries will be presented extensive information about the
important reforms held in Azerbaijan, as well as Armenian-Azerbaijan
conflict. Such statement was made on July 5 in Moscow by the
procurator-general of Azerbaijan Zakir Garalov who participates at
the meeting of the procurators-general of CE member-countries.
According Garalov, the activity of Armenian armed forces in Karabakh
and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan is assessed as crime
against humanity, genocide and ethical cleansing. “We have collected
enough materials about these facts and will continue to deliver this
information to European and world public. All these facts, as well
as photo materials have already been presented to the attention of
European colleagues and this action will be continued, ” told Garalov.
The key topic of the present 7th conference of procurators-general
of CE member-countries is dedicated to the interaction of
procurators-general of CE member-countries in fight with crimes, and
realization of the role and activity of newly created Consultative
Council of procurators-general of CE member-countries, Garayev
stressed. According to Garayev,
the legislation of Azerbaijan, as well as criminal and
criminal-procedural codes have been brought into conformity with the
CE standards and this allow us to cooperate with European colleagues.
Garalov pointed out that within this forum it is planned to hold
meetings with the procurators-general of Russia, Hungary, Austria
and other countries.
Answering the question about the level of the relations with the
Russian procurator-general of CE member-countries, Garalov mentioned
that “Azerbaijan procurators-general’s office expands its relations
with not only Russian colleague, but also procurators-general’s
office of the countries around the world. The relations between
procurators-general’s offices of Azerbaijan and Russia are successfully
developing and there is not any unsettled problem. We assist each
other in revealing crimes and delivering offenders,” Garalov added.
The Moscow meeting brought together the representatives of 44 European
countries, and the common number of the participants, including the
representatives of international organizations, exceeds 150. Russia
chair the CE Committee of Foreign Ministers from May to April of
this year, and one of its first tasks is to conduct the constituent
conference of the new Consultative Council of CE.

IRAN FM: LARIJANI-SOLANA TALKS ON IRAN NUCLEAR ISSUE CALLED OFF
Author: À.Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 5 2006
(IRNA) – Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here Wednesday said that
talks scheduled for today between Supreme National Security Council
(SNSC) Secretary Ali Larijani and European Union foreign policy chief
Javier Solana will not be held.
Larijani and Solana were scheduled to hold talks on Europe’s package
of incentives to Iran on Wednesday (today).
Mottaki made the disclosure on the sidelines of the official
welcoming ceremony held this morning to welcome Armenian President
Robert Kocharian who is in the country for a two-day official visit,
reports Trend.
Mottaki made the disclosure when asked about the Larijani-Solana
talks and what he predicted would be the outcome.
–Boundary_(ID_oaGOlOpKosibfvKLKx2gcg)–

NO INCIDENT WAS NOTED DURING MONITORING ON FRONTLINE
Author: E.Javadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 5 2006
On July 5, no incidents were noted during the monitoring held in
accordance with the mandate of the present OSCE chairman on the front
line controlled by Azerbaijani and Armenia forces, Ilgar Verdiyev,
employee of the press-service of the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry,
told Trend.
In accordance with the mandate of the personal envoy of the present
OSCE chairman, the monitoring was held on the front line near the
highway of Kuropatkino and Ashagi Veysalli villages in Agdam district.
>From Azerbaijani side, the monitoring was held by Imre Platinus
and Jiri Abrel, the assistants of personal envoy of the present
OSCE chairman.
And from the other side of the territory which has been internationally
recognized as the territory of Azerbaijan, the monitoring was held
by the personal envoy of the present OSCE chairman, ambassador Anjey
Kaspishk and his assistants Gunter Folk and Peter Kee.

DM OF AZERBAIJAN AND KOREAN CHARGE D’AFFAIRES DISCUSS AZERBAIJAN-KOREA MILITARY COOPERATION
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 5 2006
Defense Minister of Azerbaijan Safar Abiyev met with Lew Kwang-chul,
charge d’affaires of Korea to Azerbaijan.
Minister updated diplomat on the reasons, results and ways of
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Lew Kwang-chul told of the current socio-political situation in the
Republic of Korea. Diplomat said Korea supports Azerbaijan’s fair
stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The meeting focused on the possibilities of beginning the military
cooperation between the two countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZADLIQ BLOC ISSUES STATEMENT ON SETTLEMENT PROCESS OF NK CONFLICT
Today, Azerbaijan
July 5 2006
On Wednesday Azadliq Bloc has issued a statement on recent process
of settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
The statement given to APA by Azadliq bloc press service says that
the bloc concerns about confidentiality of talks between Azerbaijani
and Armenian officials.
Azadliq bloc states that manipulation attempts at territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan are unacceptable. The bloc also expressed concern over
western countries’ recent stance on settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
problem.
Saying West preferring their economic interests are obviously seen
in their stance, oppositionists state that Azerbaijani people have
more and more serious lack of confidence in these countries’ stance
concerning the conflict.
URL:

CONFERENCE OF GENERAL PROSECUTORS OF EUROPE HELD IN MOSCOW
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 5 2006
Seventh conference of general public prosecutors of the European
countries has opened in Moscow, 5 July. General public prosecutors from
44 countries of the European community and representatives of many
international organizations participated in it. The general public
prosecutor of Azerbaijan Zakir Garalov represented the Azerbaijan
Republic at this forum.
At the Conference, presided by the general public prosecutor of
Russia Yury Chaika, also was taking part the President of the Russian
Federation Vladimir Putin. Participants of the 2-day conference
consider questions of coordination of efforts of the European states in
combat against the transnational criminality in the field of protection
of human rights, and also roles of bodies of the Office of Public
Prosecutor in protection of the person that is the basic direction of
activity of the Offices of Public Prosecutor of all European countries.
Participants of the event will set up Advisory Council of the
general prosecutors of the European countries, which will strengthen
interactions among the bodies of prosecutors of the European countries.
‘The Conference is a very significant event for all countries as
questions of the agenda have global character’, the Prosecutor General
of Azerbaijan Zakir Garalov said. As he stated, the basic purpose
of the Forum is maintenance of closer interaction of the Offices
of Public Prosecutor of the Council of Europe member countries and
activation of the role of the created Advisory Council.
Z. Garalov has informed, that now the legislation of Azerbaijan had
been brought in full conformity with standards of the Council of
Europe that gives ample opportunities for interaction with European
colleagues, and also enables much more integrate to the European
structures.
The general public prosecutor of Azerbaijan also has noted that
that during conference he would have bilateral consultations with
the general public prosecutor of Russia Y. Chaika, and also public
prosecutors of Hungary, Austria and other states.
Concerning mutual relations between the Offices of Public Prosecutor
of Azerbaijan and Russia, Z. Garalov has emphasized, that the links
actively and successfully develop not only with Russia, but also with
other countries of Europe.
Z. Garalov stated that the delegation of Azerbaijan has prepared
detailed information on reforms conducted in the country and has
distributed among the participants. At his words, the information also
includes details on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and its sequences, which will become property of general public
prosecutors of the European countries participating in this forum.
It has to be noted that the Conference passes on the threshold of the
Summit of leaders of G8 to start 15 July in St. Petersburg. This is
also notable that since May until June 2006, the Russian Federation
presides at the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress