ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN TO DISCUSS KARABAKH IN PARIS
by Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 12, 2006 Monday 09:44 PM EST
The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Paris on
Tuesday to discuss the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan told a news conference.
He said that the format and the agenda for the meeting hadn’t been
finalized. The main aim will be to create conditions for arranging
a new meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents.
“The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan last met in Bucharest with
no result,” the Armenian foreign minister went on to say. He added
he would try to overcome the differences over an issue on which the
presidents failed to reach an agreement.
“The settlement plan under discussion contains many positive elements,
including an agreement on issues, which used to be stumbling points,”
Vartan Oskanyan concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEVELOPPEMENT CALMY-REY EN ARMENIE ENTRETIENS MINISTERIELS ET VISITE AU MONUMENT DU GENOCIDE
Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Service de base francais
12 juin 2006
Erevan (ats) Micheline Calmy-Rey s’est rendue en Armenie lundi,
effectuant la première visite officielle d’un membre du Conseil
federal dans ce pays. La cheffe du DFAE a rencontre les dirigeants
armeniens et rendu hommage aux victimes du genocide.
Le voyage d’un jour de Mme Calmy-Rey dans cette republique du sud
du Caucase a permis de faire le point sur les relations bilaterales,
qualifiees de bonnes par le ministre armenien des affaires etrangères
Vardan Oskanian et par la conseillère federale devant la presse
a Erevan.
La Suisse a entame un dialogue politique avec l’Etat du sud du Caucase
en 2004. La cooperation humanitaire et technique avait pour sa part
demarre en 1988, a la suite du tremblement de terre qui a detruit le
nord de l’Armenie.
Position centrale
L’Armenie beneficie d’une position centrale dans cette region de
l’ancienne Union sovietique et la Suisse a interet a sa stabilite,
a explique la cheffe du Departement federal des affaires etrangères
(DFAE). Cette stabilite passe en particulier par une solution au
conflit du Haut-Karabakh qui oppose ce pays a l’Azerbaïdjan.
Ce territoire, qui s’est declare autonome, est peuple majoritairement
d’Armeniens, mais est rattache juridiquement a l’Azerbaïdjan. Il a
fait l’objet d’une rude guerre de 1988 a 1994, provoquant des dizaines
de milliers de morts et des centaines de milliers de deplaces des
deux côtes.
Cette question a dès lors egalement ete abordee lors des discussions
de Mme Calmy-Rey avec le ministre des affaires etrangères, le premier
ministre Andranik Margarian et le president Robert Kotcharian. En
fevrier, la cheffe du DFAE avait fait de meme en rencontrant les
autorites azeries a Bakou.
La Suisse a offert ses services a deux reprises a ces deux pays en
organisant des reunions entre les deux parties sur son territoire,
a releve Mme Calmy-Rey. Mais elle n’a pas l’intention de jouer
actuellement un rôle de mediateur actif dans ce dossier, tant Bakou
qu’Erevan n’ayant pas sollicite un tel interet.
Reconnaissance du genocide
La cheffe du DFAE a aborde avec les autorites armeniennes un autre
thème sensible: le genocide perpetre par les Turcs contre les Armeniens
durant la première guerre mondiale et qui vu la mort de 1,5 million
de personnes, selon les Armeniens.
Usant du langage diplomatique, elle a rappele que le Conseil national
a reconnu cette “tragique deportation de masse et massacre auquel on
se refère sous le nom de genocide”. La Suisse a toujours condamne de
tels actes, a-t-elle ajoute.
A l’instar de tous les officiels se rendant en Armenie, la conseillère
federale a visite le monument et le musee commemorant le genocide
armenien. Elle a depose une gerbe de fleurs et s’est recueillie devant
la flamme du souvenir.
“J’ai tenu a exprimer ma sympathie a ce peuple”, a-t-elle dit lors
d’un entretien a l’ATS, ajoutant qu’elle avait ressenti une “profonde
emotion” sur le site.
Tensions avec la Turquie
Ce geste symbolique pourrait durcir les relations deja tendues entre
la Suisse et la Turquie. Ankarra reproche a Berne des procès pour
negationnisme menes contre des Turcs par la justice helvetique. En
signe de represailles, elle a notamment annule une importante commande
a l’entreprise Pilatus.
Cette visite au monument du genocide ne change rien aux relations avec
la Turquie, qui connaît deja la position de la Suisse, a souligne Mme
Calmy-Rey. La Suisse reste prete a aider au dialogue entre Ankara et
Erevan, a-t-elle ajoute.
Profitant de sa presence en Armenie, la conseillère federale a
signe une convention de non-double imposition. Cette demarche vise a
favoriser les echanges economiques et commerciaux entre les deux pays.
NOTE: depeche developpee au terme de la visite. Deux encadres suivent
sur l’aide a la cooperation et les relations commerciales
–Boundary_(ID_WaJuIOjzeAsWn89PdhBvU A)–

REPETITION CALMY-REY EN ARMENIE L’AIDE SUISSE EN PLACE DEPUIS 1988 – 30 MILLIONS DE FRANCS INVESTIS ENCADRE
Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Service de base francais
12 juin 2006
Erevan (ats) La conseillère federale Micheline Calmy-Rey a profite
de son voyage d’un jour en Armenie pour visiter un projet soutenu par
la DDC sur place. Depuis 1988, annee du grave seisme qui a detruit le
nord du pays, la Suisse a investi 30 millions de francs a titre d’aide.
Actuellement, l’aide annuelle versee par la Direction du developpement
et de la cooperation (DDC) sur place se monte a près de quatre millions
de francs. La Suisse favorise principalement les programmes d’aide aux
personnes deplacees, nombreuses depuis la guerre du Karabakh entre
1988 et 1994, ainsi que des projets en faveur de la bonne gestion
des affaires publiques (bonne gouvernance) et la gestion durable des
ressources naturelles.
A l’occasion de sa visite a Erevan, la cheffe du Departement federal
des affaires etrangères (DFAE) a quitte les salons feutres des
ministères pour la banlieue industrielle de la capitale armenienne.
Aux abords de l’ancienne usine desaffectee de caoutchouc, elle a visite
un projet de l’organisation non gouvernementale (ONG) Mission Armenia,
qui s’occupe de loger des personnes âgees ou refugiees.
L’aide helvetique pour cette ONG a demarre en 1999. A terme, elle
representera un investissement d’un million de francs, a indique a
l’ATS le chef de la DDC pour le Caucase du sud Thomas Ruegg.
La DDC dispose d’un bureau en Armenie depuis deux ans. Il depend
de l’office regional destine au Caucase du Sud, base a Tbilissi,
en Georgie. L’Armenie, ancienne republique sovietique, a obtenu son
independance en 1991, dans le sillage de la chute de l’URSS. Le pays,
dont la superficie correspond aux deux tiers de la Suisse, compte
trois millions d’habitants.
–Boundary_(ID_OzkHuzui1dAgpyzmvZwYx A)–

AZERI MEDIA CONTINUE DISSEMINATING FALSE INFORMATION
ArmRadio.am
13.06.2006 15:52
NKR Ministry of Defense resolutely rejected the reports of the Azeri
APA Agency on cease-fire violation in the direction of Aghdam on the
night of June the 12th.
“It is a false report and the recurrent disinformation,” Press
Secretary of the NR Ministry of Defense Senor Hasratyan told “Arminfo”
correspondent.
In his words, no cases of cease-fire violation have been registered
recently.
To note, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan did not confirm the
report of the APA.

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN HAD A WORKING MEETING WITH RA MINISTER OF ECOLOGY
ArmRadio.am
13.06.2006 15:58
Issues related to rising the level of Lake Sevan and exploitation
of mines were discussed today during President Robert Kocharyan’s
working meeting with the Minister of Ecology Vardan Ayvazyan.
The Minister informed that the rise of the lake’s level is 2.38 meters
and presented the process of cleaning works at the shoreline. Prospects
of development of Sevan were discussed as well.
The President instructed to guarantee the transparency of geological
studies and tenders for the right of exploitation, as well as to
tighten the control of these processes.
The interlocutors discussed the doctrine of implementing mechanisms
of ecotourism in Armenia. They turned to the issues of air pollution
and biodiversity.

ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: RESTORATION OF SHUSHI MORE IMPORTANT THAN BUCHAREST TALKS
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 13:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ I am not apt to consider that conflicts can be
settled via normalization of economic cooperation. Nothing can be
settled by money only, Director of the Caucasus Media Institute (CMI),
political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan stated in an interview with
PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, this doesn’t mean that economy should
not be taken into account. “If funds flow to the conflict region
the sides may spend them on weapons. This way has no prospects,”
he considers.
Alexander Iskandaryan noted that as regards the Nagorno Karabakh
problem the society should be interested in other issues as well. “In
other words, people should decide what is more important: the
Bucharest talks or restoration of Shushi. Certainly, the restoration
of Shushi is. I would add that juridical settlement of conflicts is
counterproductive. Let us take Taiwan for example.
They do not shout or press for recognition. They do not demand
independence but live and form their state.
We should determine what is more important: independence or state
building. In my opinion, state building is more important, since
it includes political mechanisms, formation of institutes of a
civic society, democracy building and many other aspects,” the CMI
Director said.

40 DAYS SINCE A-320 CRASH TO BE MARKED IN SOCHI
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 13:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 40 days have passed since the crash of the Armenian
A-320 jet near Sochi. Over 100 relatives of those killed in the jet
crash will arrive in Sochi to commemorate the victims of the tragedy
June 14. A liturgy will be chanted in the Armenian Church in Adler. The
people will sail into the sea to the crash site and lower wreaths to
the water. Then a stone and a cross symbolizing the future moment to
the victims will be laid in the churchyard.
To remind, on May 3 night Airbus-320 owned by Armavia national carrier
crashed in the Black Sea 6 km away from Adler airport killing all of
113 people aboard, including 6 children and 8 crewmembers. Among them
were 26 Russian citizens, one Ukrainian and one Georgian citizen,
while the rest were Armenian citizens.

MEETINGS OF KARABAKH CONFLICT PARTIES ESSENTIAL
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 13:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The meetings of the parties to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict at the level of FMs and Presidents are essential. We should
demonstrate some conduct. This is the demand of the international
community and Armenia and a part of it,” Director of the Caucasus
Media Institute (CMI), political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan
stated in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. It’s very important to
keep in contacts with the opposite side. The communication channel
must not be lost. As for the meeting of the Foreign Ministers, it’s
clear. There are no diplomatic relations established between Armenia
and Azerbaijan,” he remarked.

IRAN WILL JERK THE WORLD IF ATTACKED
Lragir.am
13 June 06
Deputy Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Ali Akbar Jokhar announced June 13
at the Hayeli Club that the nuclear program of Iran is not an object
of future tensions. The deputy ambassador of the Islamic Republic
of Iran supported his view by the forecasts of international experts
who say tensions would lead to a defeat of all the sides. Ali Akbar
Jokhar said during the Iranian visit of the EU Delegate Solana progress
was reported in the settlement of the problem related to the nuclear
program, as well as in the new proposals of the United States. The
deputy ambassador mentioned that no details of this proposal are
being published but it must absolutely honor the right of Iran to
generate nuclear energy. “Naturally, whatever the package contains,
honoring of the right of Iran must underlie it,” said Ali Akbar Jokhar.
He said the Unites States does not have a reason to launch a military
campaign against Iran. The deputy ambassador also says that the
international community does not have a reason to support the U.S.
militarism, if it occurs. Ali Akbar Jokhar thinks it is not right to
compare Iran and Iraq. In Iraq there was a dictator who had nothing in
common with people, whereas in Iran there is strong popular support,
therefore the approaches of both the Unites States and the European
Union have become moderate. Besides, the deputy ambassador of the
IRI to Armenia says the force of Iran and Iraq cannot be compared
either. Ali Akbar Jokhar also states that Iran is a key geopolitical
actor, and attempts at destabilizing Iran may cause a serious financial
and political shock.

SOUTH AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT EXIST
Lragir.am
13 June 06
The expression “South Azerbaijan” is false, it does not exist,
stated Ali Akbar Jokhar, Deputy Ambassador of Iran to Armenia June
13 at the Hayeli Club. He rejected that the Azerbaijanis living in
the north of Iran claim independence. The deputy ambassador told the
Armenian news reporters that the disorder among the Azerbaijanis of
North Iran several weeks ago was not given a correct interpretation
or was not presented fully. “Do you know how it happened? It happened
so that there was an insult one day. Not only the Azeri-speaking
people protested but also the people of other provinces of Iran
protested. Because if we are members of a family, if they offend
one of us, they offend everyone. And different Iranian ethnicities
consider it a national problem, not just a problem of Azeris,” said
the Deputy Ambassador of Iran. According to him, the events that
took place in the north of Iran were interpreted as it was favorable
for the West. “It is natural, and we knew that this problem would be
manipulated. Be sure, however, that the Iranian identity is based on
beliefs, history and traditions,” said Ali Akbar Jokhar. According to
him, “it is not difficult to find a hundred people in every nation,
who can shout different slogans, but the Iranian identity dominates in
Iran.” Deputy Ambassador Jokhar reminded about the history of Iran,
where the Azeris had a significant role. Ali Akbar Jokhar says the
members of the royal family of Sefids, who had a great role in the
Iranian state and culture, were Azeris. Ali Akbar Jokhar also says
that the regions inhabited by Azeris greatly favored the Islamic
revolution, and the Azeris have always had an important role in the
country’s government. Deputy Ambassador Jokhar says it is worthwhile
to visit and see the situation at places to confirm his words.