AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT SETS LIMITS TO KARABAKH COMPROMISES
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
June 29, 2006 Thursday
The deployment of foreign peacekeepers to the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict zone and a top autonomous status for Karabakh are the greatest
compromises that Baku is prepared to make on Nagorno-Karabakh,
President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting with writers on Wednesday
evening.
“Territorial integrity cannot be a subject for compromise. Yet we
may agree to the possible deployment of peacekeeping forces,” he said.
“We may be ready to do that, although it is not easy to give our
consent. As you know, there are no foreign military units on the
territory of Azerbaijan. This is our firm policy,” he said.
“Our position is not and will not be altered. I believe that we will
regain our lands. We have political, economic, military and every other
possibility to do that. This is the only serious problem Azerbaijan
is facing,” Aliyev said.
He said they must be prepared for any solution to the Karabakh
problem. “We will never put up with the Karabakh secession from
Azerbaijan,” he said.
Azerbaijan lost control over Karabakh in the 1990s in an armed conflict
with Armenia.

ANOTHER RUSSIAN MILITARY CONVOY LEAVES GEORGIA FOR ARMENIA
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
June 29, 2006 Thursday
Another convoy of the Russian 62nd military base at Akhalkalaki
departed for Armenia on Thursday, a source at the base headquarters
told Interfax-AVN by telephone.
“The convoy is made up of 18 wheeled vehicles and six guns. They are
headed for the Armenian city of Gyumri, where Russia has the 102nd
base,” the source said.
Seventeen vehicles carrying 106 tonnes of ammunition departed for
Gyumri from Akhalkalaki earlier this month.
The 12th train carrying armaments of Russian bases in Georgia departed
for Russia from the Tsalka railroad station two days ago.
The train was carrying 22 self-propelled guns and 72 tonnes of
ammunition and other military property.
Seven trains carrying armaments and property of the 62nd base and the
12th base in Batumi departed for Russia through Azerbaijan. Another
four trains left Batumi for Armenia.
Russian military bases are to be withdrawn from Georgia by 2008.

KAZIMIROV: NO SUFFICIENT ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS CAUSED BY BRYZA STATEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 13:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The interview of US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Matthew Bryza
causes several questions and sub-questions at once, former Russian
Co-Chair of the OSCE MG Vladimir Kazimirov told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. “First. Is it agreed upon among the OSCE MG Co-Chairs,
and maybe the parties, that the beginning Co-Chair makes a statement
explaining the essence of their proposals to two parties out of the
three? The response of Armenia and Azerbaijan shows that it surprised
them. Is not it a surprise by the novice for the two his colleagues,
who have been dealing with the settlement a few years more? There is
much extravagance in that move of the novice. Mere trifle remains now –
to work out this pretence by actions,” Kazimirov noted.
“Second issue: to which degree is his presentation of the essence
of co-chairs’ proposals to the parties is full and reliable? Not
everything is even here, judging by the response of Yerevan and
Baku. The next sub-question: what is the cause of incompleteness of
what Bryza said in his interview? Intention or not full assimilation
of the material? Third, I would not like to believe that it is a
completely independent decision of the individual, not controlled by
the State Department leadership. However, what is the goal of the US
diplomacy then, who chose that peculiar method to arrange interaction
with co-chairing partners, when changing their representative? Will
the two partner applause him? How will Armenian and Azeri journalists
exploit this talkativeness of the new co-chair during his coming
trip to the conflict region? Returning to traditional reserve of
his colleagues will not be that easy now and it will even form an
impression that is not favorable for him.
Continuing in the same manner cannot last long and will form an
impression of lightness,” Kazimirov stated.
“In a words, Matthew Bryza caused many questions, however there are
no sufficient answers to these.
There are additional questions instead. He caused more confusion and
gossip, even exacerbated the debate between the parties to conflict. Is
it necessary for the settlement, or it pursues other goals? It should
be examined closely and time will show,” summed up the former Co-Chair
of the OSCE MG.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY SPECIAL TROOPS AND ARMENIAN POLICE JOINT EXERCISES TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 14:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Joint tactical-special exercises of Russian Interior
Ministry Special Troops and Armenian Police will be held at the sport
base of Tsaghkadzor resort town in Kotayk region of Armenia. The
soldiers of special detachments of the two countries will hold
an operation to release “hostages” taken by “terrorists.” In the
words of Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, “Russia’s and
Armenia’s special troops already had experience of interaction past
October. During the joint exercises the special troops of the two
countries will train joint fulfillment of operative combat tasks and
joint actions to arrest armed criminals, reports RIA Novosti.

BAKU MILITANT STATEMENTS FOR DOMESTIC CONSUMER ONLY
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 14:22 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should find common points with Armenian
and Azeri Presidents, as well as the President of Nagorno Karabakh,
resume the talks and find a peaceful solution to the issue, stated NKR
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan in a conversation with journalists. In
his words, the Karabakh issue cannot be solved by force – “it already
was solved by force in 1994.” “No one wishes war, especially the
military,” Ohanyan said, adding the meetings of the Presidents of
the two countries show that the Azeri party does not wish to negotiate.
Touching upon Azeri MOD Head Safar Abiyev’s statement “that Armenian’s
are afraid of war,” Ohanyan said “Armenians are not afraid of war since
1988 up to now: we have a defense that makes us self-confident.” At
that he noted that militant statements by Baku are aimed for domestic
consumer exclusively, reports IA Regnum.

PACE INTERIM SUBCOMMITTEE ON KARABAKH TO VISIT REGION IN OCTOBER
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 14:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Leader of the Armenian delegation to the PACE,
Speaker Tigran Torosyan and Azeri delegation head Samed Seidov met
with Rapporteur of the PACE Interim Subcommittee on Karabakh Russell
Johnston.
They discussed the Subcommittee coming visit to Armenia, NK and
Azerbaijan in compliance with the 1416 Resolution of the OSCE MG
for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The PACE Bureau
has approved the composition of the commission proposed by Armenian
Speaker, Armenian delegation leader Tigran Torosyan at the Spring
Session. It now includes heads of the Armenian and Azeri delegations,
one opposition MP of each country, reporters on monitoring in the
two states, Lord Russell Johnston, PACE Rapporteur on the missing in
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan Leo Platvoet.
Taking into attention the circumstance that in the second half of
October a meeting of the PACE Monitoring Commission will be held
in Yerevan, while in the second half of November the sitting of the
Political Commission will take place in Baku, a preliminary agreement
is reached that the Subcommittee will arrive in the region in the
last week of October.
The visit will be familiarization and meetings in Armenia, NK and
Azerbaijan are planned, reports the Armenian NA Press Service.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN DEPUTIES IN PACE AGAINST TURKISH AND AZERI POLICIES
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 15:06 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Member of Armenian parliamentary delegation Artashes
Geghamyan addressed the discussion non the freedom of expression
and respect of religious confessions at the PACE Summer Session. In
his words, hooligan manifestations during the visit of Catholicos of
All Armenians Garegin II, denial of the Armenian Genocide, blockade
against Armenia held by Turkey are inadmissible for a country aspiring
for EU accession.
Hermine Naghdalyan addressed the sitting on migration and human
rights. She noted that migrants and displaced persons often find
themselves in unbearable conditions and need protection of human
rights. She showed the difference in documents on the state of affairs
in Armenia and Azerbaijan, reports the Armenian NA Press Service.

OSKANIAN AND BURJANADZE DISCUSSED SITUATION IN JAVAKHETI
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 16:31 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian during his two-day visit
to Georgia met with Speaker Nino Burjanadze. Matters referring to
Armenian-Georgian relations, specifically parliamentary cooperation,
were discussed. Attention was paid to employment problems of the
Armenian population of Samtskhe-Javakheti. After the meeting the
Armenian FM made a speech at the Center for International and
Strategic Research (GFSIS), where he acquainted the audience with
regional processes and Armenian foreign policy directions, reports
the Armenian MFA Press Service.

PROTEST ACTIONS IN ISTANBUL DID NOT DARKEN GAREGIN II VISIT
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 16:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 39 churches, 17 Armenian schools function in
Istanbul, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II stated upon completion
of his patriarchal visit to Istanbul. “We were glad to see our
compatriots in Istanbul. The 600-year-long history of Constantinople
Patriarchy is preserved,” Garegin II said. He emphasized he does
not think statements on the Armenian Genocide can change Turkish
authorities attitude towards the Armenian community of Istanbul.
“We did not express hatred or hostility in our words, we just stated
the truth,” the Catholicos said. He said that protest actions in
Istanbul, that the authorities characterized as actions of extremist
groupings, did not darken his visit, reports the Press Service of
Holy Echmiadzin.

US SENATE HEARS CANDIDACY FOR US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 17:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ While Members of Congress and the Armenian community
demand a full explanation for the premature replacement of Ambassador
to Armenia John M.
Evans, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the
Administration’s nominee, Richard E. Hoagland, reports the Armenian
Assembly of America (AAA). Senator George Allen (R-VA), who chaired
the proceedings, noted that there have been serious concerns that Evans
was forced to prematurely end his service as a result of those public
declarations. “I don’t know this to be true,” Allen said, referring
to the circumstances surrounding Evans’ departure. “[I] will say that
many of my colleagues and I refer to the tragic events of 1915 as
genocide and have strongly encouraged the President to do so as well.”
Allen asked Hoagland a series of questions on the issue of the
Armenian Genocide beginning with the Administration’s policy towards
referring to the events of 1915. Hoagland responded that no one in
the Administration has ever denied the tragic events that befell
the Armenians. He said his visit to the Genocide Museum and Memorial
in Yerevan was a very sobering and disturbing experience, but added
that the Administration’s position is clear and that, if confirmed, he
would uphold U.S. policy. Allen next asked him if he received specific
instructions on how to address the Armenian Genocide. Hoagland answered
that he hadn’t, reiterating that “whatever we say must be consistent
with the Administration and its policy.”
Following Allen, Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) began his line of
questioning. The Senator said he understood the nominee was in
a difficult position, recognizing that Hoagland “can’t utter the
word genocide.” He expressed hope that the U.S. would reaffirm the
genocide, saying that “you can’t look to the future if you deny
the past.” Switching topics, Coleman questioned Hoagland over the
Turkish blockade against Armenia, asking him how he plans to address
this issue. Hoagland responded that he would support talks between
the countries, noting that a peaceful resolution to the NK conflict
was paramount.
In his statement, Hoagland stressed the importance of strengthening
U.S.-Armenia ties and said that if confirmed, he would work to advance
democratic and social reforms.