TREND, Azerbaijan
June 23 2006
Chairman of CUP met with American diplomat
Source: Trend
Author: S.Ilhamgizi
23.06.2006
PM Sabir Rustamkhanli, the chairman of Civil Unity Party (CUP),
met with the advisor of the USA embassy on political issues
Rebek.J.Naslind, Trend reports with reference to CUP.
The meeting held at headquarter of CUP with the initiative of
the USA embassy took mainly a familiarization character. Naslind
was interested in the activity of the deputy group of the party,
mechanism of developing bills in the parliament, attitude of CUP
towards Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and upcoming municipal elections,
structures of the party and other issues. Rustamkhanli answered the
questions of the USA diplomat. Naslind noted that they were interested
in development of permanent relations with CUP.

Court Rejects Expert Witness in Zarakolu Case
BÝA, Turkey
June 23 2006
Istanbul 2nd Court of First Instance asks for expert report for
Jerijan’s book while rejecting expert witness statement for Prof.
Sakayan’s book in two cases against publisher Zarakolu who faces 13
years 6 months imprisonment.
BIA News Center
24/06/2006 Erol ONDEROGLU
BÝA (Istanbul) – Belge Publications House owner Ragýp Zarakolu was
once again at court this week on trial for Turkish translations of
Prof. Dr. Dora Sakayan’s book “Garabed Hacheryan’s Izmir Journal: An
Armenian Doctor’s Experiences” and George Jerjian’s “The Truth Will
Set Us Free: Armenians and Turks Reconciled”.
In two cases heard one after another at Istanbul’s 2nd Court of First
Instance on June 21, the prosecution demands a total of 13 years 6
months imprisonment for the publisher.
Zarakolu had invited Prof. Dr. Baskin Oran to Wednesday’s hearing as
an expert witness in the case against Prof. Sayan’s book but judge
Sevim Efendiler rejected the witness saying it she would read the
book herself in the 6th hearing of the case.
Despite this, in the second case against Zarakolu heard immediately
afterwards, the court was still waiting for an expert report from
Korkmaz Alemdar of Ankara Gazi University, Cafer Yenidogan of the
Galatasaray University and Prof. Dr. Emin Artuk of Marmara
University.
They were assigned to read and analyze Jerijan’s “The Truth Will Set
Us Free” during the April 19 hearing and to prepare a report for the
court.
Zarakolu faces 6 years imprisonment for the Turkish translation
publication of Sakaryan’s book on grounds that he violated the law by
publishing context that “degraded Turkisism” and “insulted and
ridiculed the Army”. He faces up to 7.5 years imprisonment for
Jerjian’s book on charges of “insulting and ridiculing the State and
Republic” as well as “Insulting the memory of Ataturk”.
In Wednesday’s two consecutive hearings both cases were adjourned to
October 5, 2006.
The Initiative Against Crime of Thought made a statement after this
week’s trials of Zarakolu reacting to the court rejecting an expert
witness in one case while waiting for its own experts report in
another, saying this was contradictory while also showing that the
court had not even read the books that it had on trial (EO/TK/II/YE)
–Boundary_(ID_6Il56yuvyXdb3gRJy7IX pw)–

Collective Security Treaty Organization summit opens in Belarus
ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 23 2006
23.06.2006, 17.38
MINSK, June 23 (Itar-Tass) – The second summit in a day opened y in
the Belarussian capital Minsk on Friday with the participation of
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He attends the meeting of the Council of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO) together with the presidents of Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia – Alexander Lukashenko,
Nursultan Nazarbayev, Emomali Rakhmonov, Kurmanbek Bakiyev and Robert
Kocharyan.
The presidents are to sign later in the day a document on the action
of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian region.
“The agreement on the procedure of rapid deployment, use and
comprehensive support of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces will
be of much importance for development of cooperation in the military
sphere,” a high-ranking Kremlin source told Itar-Tass.
CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said that the task was “to
transform the CSTO in an evolutional way from the military-political
block into an international multifunctional universal organization
able to react by collective efforts to all categories of challenges
that the states confront”.
“Apart from the military component, we shall seriously develop the
political cooperation and attend to the formation of a peacekeeping
potential,” Bordyuzha said meeting Putin a month ago.
He then said that the peacekeeping forces “will be used both within
the boundaries of operation of the CSTO and beyond the boundaries of
the Organization on a UN mandate”.
The Kremlin administration source said that “matters of further
improvement and enhancement of the effectiveness of the Organization’s
activity, development of the integration in military and other areas
of cooperation are in the centre of attention of the Council of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization”.
“Thorough analysis of the military-political situation in the CSTO
operational area and adjacent areas will be carried out at the summit,”
the Kremlin official said.
Bordyuzha said that the CSTO was pursuing “concrete measures to stop
the Afghan drug traffic”.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the CSTO could have
effectively interact with NATO in this area. He expressed regret that
the Western alliance “is still not ready to establish cooperation
with the CSTO”.
The Kremlin source also said that the presidents would pay “serious
attention to matters of interaction of CSTO member states in prevention
of illegal trade in small and light arms”.
“It is planned to coordinate a text of a CSTO statement at a UN
conference on this problem”, he said.
The six former Soviet republics signed the Collective Security Treaty
in 1992 months after the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent
States.
Ten years later, in May 2002, the treaty was transformed into the CSTO.
Its key goal is national security and the territorial integrity of
every member state.
The CSTO has the obligation to provide necessary help, including
military one, in case of emergence of a threat to any of its members.
The CSTO system includes regional subsystems that operate in three
areas – East European, engaging a Russian-Belarussian military
grouping; Caucasian that is in charge of the Russian-Armenian grouping;
and Central Asian, where the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces were
formed for the region in 2001.
The participation in the CSTO also envisions political cooperation
of the member states.
One of important goals of the CSTO is creating a mechanism for
coordination of political stances of the members on events in the
international life.

Peabody reaps benefits of growth, diversity
Salem News, MA
June 23 2006
Flags of some 16 countries could be seen flying at Peabody High
School’s graduation ceremony this spring. They represented seniors’
countries of origin and signified the diversity that is one of the
city’s great strengths.
It should come as no surprise that between July 1, 2004, and July 1,
2005, Peabody gained more people ~W 975 ~W than any community in
the state. Since the latter part of the 19th century when Greeks
and Turks arrived in droves to work in its tanneries, the city has
been welcoming new arrivals attracted by its affordability, sense of
community and job opportunities. Today that tradition is celebrated
each fall at the International Fall begun by the late Mayor Peter
Torigian, himself the son of Armenian immigrants who arrived with
little more than the clothes on their backs.
But some, including Mayor Michael Bonfanti, are concerned by what
he describes as a growing sense of hostility toward newcomers,
particularly those from foreign shores. In his mind, as long as they’re
here legally, these new arrivals deserve to be treated like those whose
families have lived in Peabody for a generation or two or even longer.
In fact he’s justifiably proud of the fact that so many want to live
in his city.
“People vote with their feet,” Bonfanti told reporter Alan Burke,
when asked about the population surge this week. “We’re a welcoming
community.”
That welcome extends to all, he notes, whether it’s the senior citizens
who’ve made Brooksby Village their new home, or families attracted
by the relatively low rents downtown. And he’s not about to suggest,
as some have, that couples with children look elsewhere.
Certainly growth can have a negative impact in terms of traffic and
the cost of municipal services. But it also brings new people with
fresh ideas, and the latter is something that’s been in short supply
in Peabody lately.

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 23 2006
International Crisis Group to announce its report on the situation of
national minorities in Georgia in August
Source: Trend
Author: R.Abdullayev
23.06.2006
The International Crisis Group (ICG) in August will announce its
report on the situation of national minorities in Georgia where the
main attention will be paid to the situation of Azerbaijani
community, Vugar Gojayev, the representative of ICG in Azerbaijan,
told Trend.
According to Gojayev, the preparation of the report was trusted on
Baku office of the organization and at the moment, serious measures
are taken to study problems of residents of KvemoKartli region of
Georgia populated by Azerbaijanis.
“In July, the representatives of the office will leave for Gardabani
and Dmanski (Georgia) where they will study different life aspects of
Azerbaijanis’ within 2-3 weeks, especially statistic data,
implementation of reforms, as well as land reforms,” told Gojayev. He
noted that in parallel work is carried out in Javakheti settled
manily by Armenians.
“Our group also includes Sabina Frazer, the project coordinator of
ICG on Caucasus,” stressed Gojayev, adding that for the preparation
of the report, meetings are held with Georgian citizens in
Azerbaijan.

PRAVDA< Russia June 23 2006 Ex-Soviet nations meet in Belarus to discuss defence and economic cooperation Leaders of Russia, Belarus and four Central Asian nations - Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - sat down for a summit of their Eurasian Economic Community in the Belarusian capital, focusing on plans to form a customs union. Opening the talks, Belarus' authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, also said they would discuss ways to coordinate strategies for joining the World Trade Organization. Talks on forming a customs union were also moving slowly, he said, and the pact's members so far had agreed on just over half of all customs tariffs. "The process isn't advancing as quickly as we would like it to happen," Lukashenko said. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who took over from Lukashenko on Friday as the chairman of the group, tried to sound optimistic, saying that "we are paying a close attention to forming the customs union and have an intention to form it quickly." Numerous previous attempts by the ex-Soviet nations to form a customs union and coordinate their economic policies have failed because of sharp differences in size and level of development of their economies, as well as fears of Russian domination. The same six leaders and Armenia's president planned later Friday to take part in a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, according to the AP. Lukashenko, dubbed "Europe's last dictator" by the United States and other Western nations for his relentless crackdown on dissent, has repeatedly accused the West of harboring aggressive intentions and sought to build closer economic and military ties with Russia and other ex-Soviet nations.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 23 2006
MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY MEETS GENERAL DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION
[June 23, 2006, 17:23:15]
Minister of National Security of Azerbaijan, general-lieutenant
Eldar Mahmudov has met a delegation being on a visit in the country
headed by the General Director of the International Organization For
migration Brunson McKinley.
Informing visitors about the processes proceeding in region, present
conditions and arising various threats, minister E. Mahmudov has
noted, that growth of the facts of the international terrorism, illegal
circulation of drugs, illegal migration and other dangerous displays of
the transnational organized crime causes serious concern all over the
world. He has brought to attention of visitors, that in this connection
the Ministry of National Security carries out adequate measures.
Having concerned the problem of the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, minister of National Security has noted,
that occupied territories of the country, and also a 130-kilometer
site adjoining on Iran are outside of the control and that this
factor represents serious threat for safety not only of Azerbaijan,
but also all Europe. Such situation creates favorable conditions for
illegal migration and drugs trafficking, he stressed.
Minister Mahmudov has noted, that Azerbaijan quickly developing from
the economic point of view where are established civil and democratic
principles, steady stability, involves not only foreign businessmen,
but also illegal migrants, he has emphasized importance of acceptance
in this connection purposeful adequate measures.
Having thanked for the detailed information, Mr. Brunson McKinley
has told, that he regards Azerbaijan especially, has concerned
intensive positive changes in Republic. He told, that the migratory
problems are solved in the country at state level. The guest also has
noted importance of creation of global system and common database,
connected with biometric measurements, carrying out of discussions
in this direction, and also an opportunity of rendering to Azerbaijan
financial support within the “Program of the assistance for voluntary
returning of migrants”.
At meeting, also discussed were other questions of mutual interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri leader appeals to UN
By Sun Staff
Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
June 23 2006
The Human Rights Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of
Azerbaijan last week held a round table to discuss the role of the
Diaspora in Azerbaijani-Russian relations.
Tatyana Poloskova, head of department at the Center for International
Scientific and Cultural Cooperation (CISCC) under the Russian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, also attended the event.
Baku Sun~Rs Mammad Bagirov asked Ms Poloskova for her comments on the
problems facing Russia~Rs sizeable ethnic Azerbaijani community. ~W
What are the main problems facing Azerbaijanis in Russia today? ~W
During the round table, we agreed that Azerbaijanis really are facing
problems in Russia.
The main problem is the negative image of Azerbaijanis which has
developed in Russia. As I said at the round table, it is actually
possible to improve this image. A group of Russian and Azerbaijani
experts are going to look into the reasons for this negative image.
On the surface, the negative attitude towards Azerbaijanis in Russia
stems from the fact that Azerbaijanis have filled a certain economic
vacuum in Russia, particularly in the sphere of trade. But in fact,
there were no other contenders for this vacuum apart from Azerbaijanis.
As Russians have traditionally never shown interest in trade,
Azerbaijanis engaging in trade cannot serve as a reason for this
negative image. Yes, we have to admit that one can frequently observe
Azerbaijani vendors behaving incorrectly in Russian markets. However,
vendors representing other nationalities behave in the same way as
well. This is a special market environment.
I think one of the main reasons behind this negative image of
Azerbaijanis is their ability to compete. They are hard working,
mobile and less inclined to alcoholism. There are ways of building up
a positive image, and we are ready to work with the Azerbaijani side
on this. Why is this important for us? One of the responsibilities of
the CISCC is to accompany Russia~Rs foreign policies with informational
initiatives in the humanitarian field.
It is very difficult to hold a humanitarian dialogue with Baku as
long as the problem of Caucasusphobia remains in Russia. If we do not
resolve this problem, it will hinder our humanitarian relations. ~W One
of the problems hindering Azerbaijani-Russian relations is Russia~Rs
policy of double standards toward Azerbaijan. For instance, when dozens
of Azerbaijanis were killed in a market roof collapse in Moscow, Russia
did not declare mourning. But Russia did mourn Armenians killed in
a recent aircraft crash. ~W Yes, Russia should have declared morning
after the roof collapse in the Basmanniy market. It is difficult to
say why the Russian authorities did not do so. I think in politics
lobby systems play a greater role than states. However, I cannot say
that there is an efficient Armenian lobby in Russia today. They are
much less efficient than they might be.
On the contrary, the Azerbaijani lobby in Russia is becoming more
powerful with each passing year.
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. As strange as it may seem, Russia
reacted calmly to this. Is this a sign that the position of Russia~Rs
political elite is changing towards realism and pragmatism? ~W Reaction
always means something. Moscow realizes that Azerbaijan is a key player
in the South Caucasus region with its political, economic and cultural
potential. Russia has spiritual and religious ties with Armenia and
Georgia. But Azerbaijan is the key player because of its potential.
Therefore, one should address the key player while building relations
with the region. The reaction of the presidents is important. You may
have noticed that the issue of the Diaspora receives great attention
in the Azerbaijani-Russian dialogue. If you have such a large Diaspora
in Russia, one cannot but view Azerbaijan as the key player.

Thursday, June 22, 2006
**************************************
Once in a while I am compared to such famous writers as Camus, Mencken, and Vidal only to be told that I am a total mediocrity and a miserable failure.
I don’t mind admitting that no matter how hard I try I will never be as good a writer as Camus and Vidal, or Arlen and Saroyan. But I hope my detractors will agree with me when I say, if I were as good a writer as they are, I would be treated with such respect by my fellow Armenians that no one would dare to say anything remotely critical about me; and if anyone did, my fans would tear the poor bastard to shreds.
As a better writer, moreover, I would have been exposed to an entirely different set of experiences and thus would have acquired an entirely different perspective on my fellow Armenians. I might even have been misled into thinking that Armenians are indeed among the Chosen. That’s because, even the greatest of writers have an ego that is not immune to flattery.
If I write as I do it may be because I write not as a first-class giant in world literature but as a second-rate scribbler; and if God in His infinite wisdom made me who I am, namely a mediocrity and a failure, He must have done so for a purpose, and who am I to question His judgment?
Do I really believe I am a mediocrity? That is not a question that I would even consider replying because experience has taught me to assess oneself is to make an ass of oneself. Besides, trying to be honest in a dishonest world keeps me so busy that I consider it a waste of time to engage in endless speculations and controversies about intangibles with men who seem to be more interested in who I am and less in what I say, more on my status and less on the reality we confront.
However, I will say this in my favor: if readers who have read Camus, Vidal, Saroyan, Mencken, Arlen, and many other great writers take the trouble to read and assess me, then I must be going places.
#
Friday, June 23, 2006
****************************************
FROM HOMER TO HITLER
**************************************
The Greeks had a word for everything, but I doubt if they had one for miscegenation, perhaps because even their gods fornicated with mortals. (How low can you get?)
*
By inventing fornicating gods, the Greeks may have understood that if fornication with mortals was uppermost in their gods’ minds, why should we pretend to be any better?
*
By proscribing fornication, Christianity invented a literary genre (fiction) whose central concern is fornication. But the Greeks were ahead of the rest of us there too – after all, is not adultery what propels the action in the ILIAD?
*
To how many of our racists I could say, “Please, don’t waste your breath on me. I too have read MEIN KAMPF.”
#
Saturday, June 24, 2006
******************************************
In the following definition from THE DEVIL’S DICTIONARY, Ambrose Bierce was not thinking of Armenians but he might as well have been: “RESPONSIBILITY: A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one’s neighbor. In the days of astrology it was customary to unload it upon a star.”
*
When asked what he knows now that he did not know on the first day of his presidency, Bush is said to have said something to the effect that he had learned to be more careful in his choice of words. It is to be noted that he did not say he learned to be more careful in his thinking or more objective in his judgment or more tolerant of opposing views and arguments, only more carefully with his vocabulary.
*
Don’t tell me what you should think; tell me what you think. On second thought, don’t tell me what you think because when an Armenian says what he thinks, out pops an insult.
*
By insulting another we also insult ourselves by exposing the absence of reason in our thinking, lack of manners in our conduct; and if we speak in the name of God and Country we also run the risk of exposing the moral bankruptcy of both.
#

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 315-3339
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:
PRESS RELEASE
June 23, 2006
HIGH-RANKING NAGORNO KARABAKH OFFICIALS BEGIN U.S. VISIT
Conflict Resolution, Political and Economic Issues Top the Agenda
Washington, DC — On June 23-30, 2006 Nagorno Karabakh Republic
(NKR) National Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulian and Foreign Minister
Georgi Petrosian will visit Boston, New York and Washington, DC for
a series of political and economic discussions aimed at garnering
stronger support for NKR, while highlighting Karabakh’s progress
during almost 15 years of de-facto independence. NKR leaders will
meet with Bush Administration officials, Members of Congress and the
Armenian-American community.
In Boston, Speaker Ghulian and Foreign Minister Petrosian will
meet with Massachusetts State Assembly representatives, leaders of
the Boston area Armenian-American organizations and members of the
Armenian Community. In New York and New Jersey, the delegation will
meet with major supporters of NKR and take part in community events.
On June 26 – 30, NKR senior officials will be in Washington D.C. to
discuss issues related to the settlement of the conflict with
Azerbaijan and increased humanitarian and development assistance.
A U.S. Capitol Reception is scheduled for June 28, which will be
followed by a Diplomatic Reception at the Armenian Embassy on June
29. Speaker Ghulian and Foreign Minister Petrosian will be available
to press throughout their stay in the U.S.
The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia
and the public representing the official policies and interests of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh.
* * *
This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the USA (NKR Office) on behalf of the Government of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the
U.S. Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional
information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.