BERNARD FASSIER: WAR CANNOT BE A SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 13:05

“The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are deeply confident that there is
no alternative to peace in the Karabakh issue,” French Co-Chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier declared yesterday at a news
conference in Yerevan.

He expressed concern over the fact that following the Ramboulliet
meeting of Armenian and Azeri Presidents there have been clashes and
even victims at the contact line.

“We should remind the parties that war can in no way be a solution
to the problem. War is the worst way for both countries, since it
will not resolve anything: despite the outcome of the war, the two
countries will find themselves at the former initial position,”
Bernard Fassier declared.

The mediator called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to build a joint future
without returning to what has been in the past and without centering
attention on who has been guilty in the past. He urged to follow the
example of France and Germany, which found the formula of peaceful
and mutually beneficial coexistence after long wars and confrontations.

Bernard Fassier refuted all the talks about changing the format of
the negotiations process on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

According to him, the OSCE Minsk Group format is a constant one.

“We are decisive to use every chance for the settlement of the
conflict. It is a new approach in the activity of the Co-Chairs,”
Ambassador Fassier declared.

According to him, the Co-Chairs tried to work out some agreement
based on fundamental principles in Ramboilliet. He considers
that consent on basic principles will simplify the adoption of an
inclusive agreement. Fassier noted that the Co-Chairs aim at finding
the suggestions, which will be directed at the improvement of the
future agreement.

OFFICIAL STEPANAKERT SUGGESTS SENDING A GROUP OF EXPERTS TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 14:25

NKR Foreign Minister Georgi Petrosyan and Head of Police Armen
Isagulov sent a letter to US Assistant Secretary of State, Head of
the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of
the US Department of State Anne Patterson, in which they stated that
” Nagorno-Karabakh is not a transit country for drug trafficking.”

The letter particularly says, “Appreciating and welcoming the
contribution of the United Stated in establishment of genuine
democratic principles in the international relations, as well as
consistent efforts of US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, aimed at
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we want to call your
attention to an issue of high importance to the NKR authorities.

Different from previous years, in 2006 the State Department’s
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report mentions
Nagorno-Karabakh as a transit territory for drugs. We do not have
doubts that the information is provided by Azerbaijan, which has
made the adulteration and discredit of the Armenian party its state
policy. We express categorical disagreement over such a respected
Report utilizing unconfirmed data.

Thereupon we assure you with all responsibility that Nagorno Karabakh
is not a transit way for drugs not only due to absence of a developed
transport and communication system owing to continued blockade by
Azerbaijan, but also as a result of efficient preventive work of NKR
law-enforcement bodies.”

The letter further cites facts, evidencing the aforementioned
arguments. Specifically, the authors of the letter write, “The Office
of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, which
regularly monitors the cease-fire regime, can confirm absence of any
criminal facts and actions here.” They also draw attention that the
OSCE fact-finding mission, composed of over 30 diplomats and experts,
accompanied by the OSCE MG co-chairs, visited Nagorno-Karabakh in
January-February 2005. “The detailed monitoring contains no mentioning
of such negative facts.

On behalf of NKR authorities again expressing readiness to receive
a special monitoring group, composed of experts, who can provide
an independent conclusion, the letter authors frankly believe that
“the US State Department will have an opportunity to make sure at
the scene that the above-stated is true and stop alarm over issues
that can more complicate the peace process and postpone prospects of
peace and stability.”

Copies of the letter are sent to US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice,
US co-chair of the OSCE MG Steven Mann, National Drug Control Policy
Director John Walters.

BERNARD FASSIER: WE WANT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KOCHARYAN-ALIEV MEETING

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 14:50

During the coming weeks active discussions are expected around
Nagorno-Karabakh. The regional tour of the OSCE Minsk Group French
Co-Chair Bernard Fassier came to an end yesterday. Today he will have
consultation meetings with the Russian mediator Yuri Merzlyakov and
Deputy Foreign Minister Gennadi Karaskin in Moscow. The coming days
the visit of the US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann to
Yerevan and Baku is expected, on April 21 Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan will meet Yuri Merzlyakov in Moscow.

As it is known, on April 28 Ilham Aliev is leaving for Washington,
where he will be received by US president George Bush. Naturally,
one of the central topics of the meeting will be the Karabakh issue.

Late April or early May Bernard Fassier is expected to visit the
region. Early may the Co-Chars will hold a consultation meeting in
Moscow. However, the active discussions on the settlement issue and
the visits of the mediators to the region in no way speak about a
break in the negotiations process. Moreover, at this moment it is not
clear whether a new meeting between Kocharyan and Aliev will be held.

“We want to create opportunities for the meeting of the Presidents of
the two countries. Today I cannot indicate the date and place of the
meeting, since nothing has been set so far. It will be good if there
is an opportunity to have the meeting be held in June. If not, let’s
hope that such meeting will be held in July,” Bernard Fassier declared.

VARDAN OSKANYAN: ARMENIA IS NOT READY TO JOIN NATO

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 15:22

“Armenia is not yet ready to join the NATO, and the alliance is
not yet ready to accept us,” RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
declared today.

The Foreign Minister noted that the security system of Armenia includes
several components – membership to the Collective Security Treaty
Organization, development of relations with NATO and participation
in EU programs.

ARF HOSTS ‘ARMENIANS AND THE LEFT’ CONFERENCE

Yerkir
14.04.2006 15:37

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Armenian Revolutionary Federation concluded
a weekend-long conference entitled Armenians and the Left on April
9th, when featured speakers Robert Fisk and Noam Chomsky spoke at
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in front of a crowd of 750
about War, Geopolitics and History: Conflict in the Middle East.

During his lecture, Fisk explained why the Armenian Genocide must be
known in order to understand how the region has been condemned since
World War I to foreign intervention, chronic war and >mass slaughter.

The conference began on April 7 at the New York Society for Ethical
Culture, where over 1,000 people attended a lecture by Fisk about the
Middle East and US journalism. The crowd featured many out-of-town
guests, including twenty members of the Armenian Youth Federation
of Canada as well as travelers from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.,
Boston and Los Angeles.

The conference’s main events took place on Saturday, April 8, when
twenty activists, scholars, and opinion makers gave presentations at
the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan. Presentations took place in six
panels on a variety of critical topics, including human rights in the
Caucasus, women and political power, globalization and imperialism,
Armeno-Turkish dialogue, Armenian political identity, and reparations
for mass crimes against humanity.

Fisk also promoted his most recent book, The Great War for
Civilization, in which he dedicates an entire chapter to the Armenian
Genocide, which he described as `The First Holocaust.’ Fisk announced
his plans to travel to Van and other areas of Western Armenia to
promote the Turkish language edition of his book.

NKR MFA: KARABAKH NOT DRUG TRANSIT WAY

Yerkir
14.04.2006 12:32

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The other day FM of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Grigory Petrosyan and Head of the NKR Police Department Armen Isagulov
sent a letter to Anne W. Patterson, US Assistant Secretary of Bureau
for International Narcotics, reports the Press Service of the NKR MFA.

The letter specifically says, “Appreciating and welcoming the
contribution of the United Stated in establishment of genuine
democratic principles in the international relations, as well as
consistent efforts of US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, aimed at
resolution of the NK conflict, we want to call your attention to an
issue of high importance to the NKR authorities.

In 2006, as different from previous years the State Department’s
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report mentions NK as a
transit territory for drugs. We do not have doubts that the information
is provided by Azerbaijan, which has made adulteration and discredit
of the Armenian party its state policy. We express categorical
disagreement over such a respected Report utilizing unconfirmed data.

Thereupon we assure you with all responsibility that Nagorno Karabakh
is not a transit way for drugs not only due to absence of a developed
transport and communication system owing to continued blockade by
Azerbaijan, but also as a result of efficient preventive work of NKR
law-enforcement bodies.”

The letter further cites facts, evidencing the aforementioned
arguments. Specifically, the authors of the letter write, “The
Office of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office,
which regularly monitors the cease-fire regime, can confirm absence
of any criminal facts and actions here.”

They also draw attention that the OSCE fact-finding mission, composed
of over 30 diplomats and experts, accompanied by the OSCE MG co-chairs,
visited NK in January-February 2005. “The detailed monitoring contains
no mentioning of such negative facts.

On behalf of NKR authorities again expressing readiness to receive
a special monitoring group, composed of experts, who can provide
an independent conclusion, the letter authors frankly believe that
“the US State Department will have an opportunity to make sure at
the scene that the above-stated is true and stop alarm over issues
that can more complicate the peace process and postpone prospects
of peace and stability.” Copies of the letter are sent to US State
Secretary Condoleezza Rice, US co-chair of the OSCE MG Steven Mann,
National Drug Control Policy Director John Walters.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEMBERS OF THE EU-ARMENIA COOPERATION COMMISSION TO VISIT THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 16:16

Next week members of the EU-Armenia Cooperation Commission will visit
the Armenian-Turkish border.

The 8th sitting of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission
will be held April 18-19 in Yerevan.

In the framework of the visit members of the Commission will have
meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, Chairman of the National
Assembly Arthur Baghdasaryan, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan,
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and Human Rights Defender Armen
Harutyunyan.

Members of the delegation will meet also representatives of independent
TV Channels, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Vladimir Pryakhin
and Ambassadors of EU member states.

EVENTS DEDICATED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 91ST ANNIVERSARY TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 19:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A series of events dedicated to the 91st
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be held in Moscow in
April. As PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from the Armenian Apostolic
Church Ararat Diocese, today by the initiative of the “Mitq”, the
Union of Armenian Youth, a meeting with the Director of the Armenian
Institute of International Law and Political Sciences, professor
Yuri Barseghov will take place in the conference hall of the Russian
public-political center. The agenda includes the following issues:
the Armenian Genocide as a crime against humanity, international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide and Turkey’s legal responsibility,
acknowledgement and condemnation of the Genocide by Turkey, Hay Dat
decision on the basis of international law.

April 15 the cultural center of the Moscow department of the Union of
Armenians of Russia will host Armenian youth and outstanding Italian
writer Giovanni Guaita, the author of a series of books dedicated
to the history of Armenia, the Armenian Church and the Armenian
Genocide. The program includes the presentation of a unique multimedia
CD which contains documents, photos and video on the Armenian genocide,
questions and answers.

April 22 a mourning vigil will be held. Held for the second time
already, the action is targeted at the recognition of this crime
against humanity, commemoration of the Armenian Genocide victims and
prevention of such evils in future.

April 24 officials of the RA Embassy in Russia, representatives of the
New Nakhichevan and Russian Dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church
as well as members of Armenian NGOs will lay wreaths to the Khachkar
at the St. Harutyun Church, where a mass will be chanted afterwards.

Besides, April 24 a rally initiated by the Union of Armenians of
Russia and the Union of Armenian Youth will be held at the Turkish
Embassy in Moscow. “Araks” Belgian band will give a charity concert
dedicated to the Armenian Genocide victims. The purpose of the concert
is to attract public and political circles of Russia to the Armenian
Genocide issue and contribute to the consolidation of the Armenian
community, especially the youth.

AZERI PUBLIC DEMANDS INFORMATION ON KARABAKH TALKS CONTENTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 19:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The coordinating center of the Azeri opposition is
going to hold a rally in Baku May 6.

“The process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement should be put
for discussion of the political circles and parliamentarians. This
will be the burden of the action,” chairman of Umid (Hope) party,
MP Igbal Aghazade told Interfax-Azerbaijan.

In his words, the OSCE Minsk Group and other international structures
say that the year of 2006 is the most appropriate for the conflict
settlement however the Azeri society does not possess sufficient
information on the negotiations yet.

“The information may be published incompletely but the government
should hold consultations with the political circles and
parliamentarians. This is the problem of the state and the opposition
should elaborate a unified position on the issue,” Aghazade said,
reported Interfax-Azerbaijan.

RALLY AGAINST SAFAROV’S SENTENCE TO BE HELD IN BAKU TODAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 19:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 14 an action in protest against the sentence
passed upon Azeri officer Ramil Safarov by the Hungarian court will
be held in Baku.

As reported by the Organization for Karabakh Liberation, members of
Safarov’s defense committee and a group of refugees and displaced
persons will demand “to change the punishment meted out to Safarov”.

Protest action will also be held in various regions of Azerbaijan,
reported Trend. To remind, yesterday the Budapest Court sentenced the
murderer of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan to life imprisonment
without the right of pardon during 30 years.