AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT DENIES ALLEGATIONS THAT ARMENIAN GRAVESTONES WERE DESTROYED

AP Worldstream
Apr 13, 2006

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev on Thursday vehemently denied
allegations that gravestones in a centuries-old Armenian cemetery in
western Azerbaijan had been destroyed.

Armenians have accused Azerbaijani forces of systematically breaking
up and disposing of the intricately carved crosses, called khatchkars,
some of which date back to the sixth century, at the Djulfa cemetery
in the Nakhichevan region of Azerbaijan, near the Iranian border.

“This is an absolute lie, slanderous information, a provocation,”
Aliev said in a speech in the western city of Sheki. “All historic
monuments are preserved in Azerbaijan.”

He accused ethnic Armenian forces in the disputed enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh, which is on Azerbaijani territory, of destroying
mosques and Muslim cemeteries.

“The most valuable museum displays were stolen and taken to Armenia,
and all the rest destroyed,” Aliev said.

At least 30,000 people were killed and 1 million made refugees in
the six-year war over Nagorno-Karabakh, which was ended by a shaky
cease-fire in 1994.

OPPOSITION SAYS BASE AGREEMENT WILL LEGALIZE RUSSIAN SPY PRESENCE IN GEORGIA

Imedi TV, Tbilisi
13 Apr 06

[Presenter] The Democratic Front has welcomed the start of the process
for the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia, but has
objections to a number of clauses in the agreement. They say that the
creation of a joint Georgian-Russian antiterrorist centre will impede
NATO membership. The opposition also thinks the Georgian-Russian
agreement on the transit of Russian military equipment to Armenia
through Georgia is unacceptable. Koba Davitashvili says that the
Georgian government is only interested in PR and is not taking real
steps to have the bases withdrawn.

[Davit Zurabishvili, MP] The withdrawal of the Russian bases is
absolutely essential, it is an urgent matter. However, this should be
a complete withdrawal. A Russian contingent should not be present in
a country which has ambitions of joining NATO and the EU. Therefore,
we are particularly concerned about several points in this agreement,
specifically the one on the establishment of a joint Georgian-Russian
so-called antiterrorist centre on the site of the Russian military
base in Batumi.

[Ivliane Khaindrava, MP] Why is the Batumi base going to be the site
of this centre? Why is it necessary to set up a Russian-Georgian
antiterrorist base or centre in Ajaria so close to the border with
Turkey, a NATO member? Why does Georgia need Russia’s GRU [Russian
Defence Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate] to have a formalized
spy station [Georgian: rezidentura] in the country? To what extent
does this match our country’s rapid progress towards NATO?

[Davitashvili] Russia is now free to use us as a transit country on
the way to Armenia as much as it wants, like never before, not even
in Shevardnadze’s time. They have refused inspections of the Gudauta
military base [in Abkhazia] which has not been withdrawn. This was
all signed so that in 2008 they can stage a PR stunt about the bases
being withdrawn. I would once again like to call on the government
to stop its obsession with PR. In reality this document is useless
and I call on members of the majority to refrain from ratifying it.

GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES DISMISS OPPOSITION CRITICISM OF RUSSIAN BASES ACCORDS

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
13 Apr 06

[Presenter] We are now going live to parliament to speak to our
correspondent Vako Avaliani. Vako, is the opposition planning to end
its boycott [of parliamentary proceedings in order to take part in
the ratification of the agreement on the closure of Russian bases]?

[Correspondent] No, the opposition is not planning to end its
boycott. Democratic Front faction MPs are now holding a news conference
to highlight the negative aspects of the agreement on the closure of
the bases. For example, the opposition has a suspicion that Georgia
and Russia will sign an agreement on an antiterrorist centre and
that this centre will be stationed in Gonio, next to the Turkish,
that is NATO, border. No Russian armed units should be allowed to be
deployed near the Turkish border, the opposition says.

[Davit Zurabishvili, opposition Democratic Front MP] Of course,
these are historic documents and we have stated our position. I do
not think there is any risk of this issue being voted down. Naturally,
the opposition supports the troop withdrawal but we also have serious
criticisms, for example over the antiterrorist centre. We believe
that perhaps it should not even be ratified in this form and these
principles should be reviewed.

[Correspondent] The establishment of an antiterrorist centre was also
discussed in the debating chamber because members of the parliamentary
majority are aware of these criticisms by the opposition. An
explanation was provided by the deputy foreign minister [Merab
Antadze]. He said that Article 20 of the agreement, which deals with
the antiterrorist centre, merely speaks of the need to start talks.

[Mikheil Machavariani, deputy speaker addressing parliament] The
sides will start preparing an agreement. There is no obligation here.

This is just an expression of will to start it. That is why I do
not want anyone to get nervous. The Georgian government and the
parliamentary majority will not take any decision that is not in the
Georgian national interest.

[Antadze] An undertaking to start talks does not by any means signify
the establishment of an antiterrorist centre.

[Correspondent] Parliament has also examined the provision in the
agreement concerning the transit of Russian military cargo through
Georgia to Armenia where Russia has a military base. This has been
agreed for a five-year period, but, in any case, if Russia breaks this
provision or if the transit of some cargo damages Georgian interests,
Georgia has a right to declare it void by giving six months’ notice.

PLANNING CONFERENCE ON RESCUER-2006 EXERCISE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 19:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The final planning conference on the Rescuer-2006
exercise will be held in Yerevan April 19-21, RA Defense Minister’s
Spokesman, Col. Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net. 250
participants from 12 countries will take part in the exercises.

Rescuer 2006 exercises are of command and staff nature and are aimed
at organizing and comparing the work of the military and medical
department of the Armenian MOD with the Rescue Service of Armenia,
as well as expansion of cooperation opportunities with NATO partner
states.

ARMENIA AND RUSSIA DIDN’T DISCUSS IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE SELLING

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 19:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia did not convey any sectors of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to Russia, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan stated. “The issue of the abuilding Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
was not discussed during the talks on the 5th unit of the Hrazdan
Heat Power Plant,” Margaryan said. At that he remarked he will not
demand Gazprom to refute information on the purchase of one of the
pipeline sectors. For his part Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan said
141 km of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will remain the property of
the republic, reported RosBisinessConsulting reported.

ROMANIAN FM HOPES FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IN 2006

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 19:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “I hope following a few meetings between ministers
of exterior of Azerbaijan and Armenia within the framework of Prague
process and negotiations held in Warsaw and Kazan in 2005, as well
as in Rambouillet, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be resolved,”
Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu and chairman of
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers said in his written response
of April 12 to the questions raised by members of Azeri parliament
Ganira Pashayeva and Rafael Huseynov.

The letter says in part, “Heads of states shared their opinions
regarding the unresolved conflicts at the third meeting in
Warsaw. The CoE Committee of Ministers has come to decision to pay
special attention to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. This position has
undergone no changes since Azerbaijan and Armenia joined the CoE. The
societies of both countries, including members of parliament, have
their responsibilities in this respect. Using the language of threats
is it impossible to come to a positive solution,” the Romanian Minister
writes. He opines that neither the CoE nor Committee of Ministers
is authorized to interfere into the negotiations or the conflict
resolution, as this is responsibility of OSCE Minsk Group. However,
the CoE may provide some assistance in development of cooperation
between the two countries, in particular, resolution 1690 approved
by Ministers Committee in September 2005, which states a number of
such initiatives, reported Trend.

ARMENIA TO PRESS FOR DEPORTATION OF KAREN AVANESYAN TO YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 20:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The issue of deportation of 19-year-old Karen
Avanesyan from the UK is still being discussed, but the youth will
not be sent to Azerbaijan, RA MFA press office told PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. Presently Armenia is undertaking the essential measures
for the deportation of the Armenian youth to Yerevan.

To remind, illegal migrant Karen Avanesyan, who arrived in the UK three
years ago, failed to receive asylum there and the British authorities
decided to deport him to the homeland. Since Avanesyan was born in
Nagorno Karabakh, the British decided to send him to Baku. The youth
was told that April 12 he will be taken aboard of London-Moscow flight
and then sent to Azerbaijan.

SENOR ASRATYAN: NO PERIODICAL TRAININGS HELD IN NKR

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 21:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Some Azeri media spread information, according
to which the Halo Trust Company is engaged in illegal activity in
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan under the pretext of mine
clearance. As APA reports quoting First secretary of Azerbaijan’s
Embassy in Belgium, Fuad Humbetov the Halo Trust company “questioned
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.”

As head of the department of Information and Propaganda of the
NKR Defense Ministry, lieutenant colonel Senor Asratyan told
PanARMENIAN.Net the Halo Trust is really engaged in mine clearance of
the NKR regions that suffered during the national liberation war in
1991-1994. “The Azeri party is as usual exercising misinformation. No
periodical trainings are conducted on the NKR territory, more over
by an NGO,” lieut. col. Asratyan said.
From: Baghdasarian

RAMIL SAFAROV DECLARED HIMSELF IRRESPONSIBLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 21:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Ramil Safarov accused of the murder of Armenian
officer Gurgen Margaryan has addressed the Hungarian court with his
last statement.

He said he was irresponsible when hacking the Armenian officer. Telling
about the faults that in his opinion occurred during the process the
accused requested the court for a fair sentence.

Safarov focused his story on the “occupation of his native Jabrail
region by the Armenian invaders and the tortures Armenians subjected
the Azeri people including his relatives and friends to.” He
also mentioned of the “millions of Azeri refugees and displaced
persons.” In his words, he committed the crime because the Armenian
officer “outraged the state flag of Azerbaijan and insulted the Azeri
armed forces,” reported Day.az. To remind, the court will announce
the verdict on Safarov’s case today.

NO AMENDMENTS TO BE INTRODUCED IN ARTICLE 301

Yerkir
13.04.2006 16:15

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, unveiling a
new reform package prepared by the government, said on Wednesday there
was no problem in the implementation of the new Turkish penal code.

Gul said the reform package did not foresee any amendment to the 301st
article of the Turkish penal code under which several journalists and
authors including Orhan Pamuk have been accused, reported Zaman. The
Foreign Minister said the new reform package would swiftly be brought
on to the parliamentary agenda. The anti-terror bill, which was opened
to the cabinet signature, would not infringe on liberties, Gul added.

To note, the controversial article 301 of the new Turkish Penal Code
(TCK) received criticism by the Council of Europe. The Council’s
Committee of Ministers answering Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE) French deputy Rudy Salles’s question about the new
TCK said they are nervously following the new law after freedom of
expression cases opened about Orhan Pamuk and Ragip Zarakolu.

The subsequent dropping of the Pamuk case and the circular published
by the Ministry of Justice in January stating that “the new TCK
will be implemented in the frame of the European Convention on Human
Rights” have been welcomed in the official answer of the Committee
of Ministers; the Council of Europe’s decision-making body.

The answer says the new law caused concerns in the Council just as in
the world’s opinion, and the Turkish Ministry of Justice’s declaration
that it will interpret the TCK in the frame of European Human Rights
Convention was found positive. The Committee of Ministers asked Turkey
to act in the frame of Convention resolutions in the cases opened for
article 301, and emphasized they will keep a close eye on later cases.

It should be noted that Article 301 provides for punishment for the
“outrage of the Turkish state”. Orham Pamuk and other journalists were
accused for mentioning the Armenian Genocide in their publications.