16th GLOBAL FORUM TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN IN AUTUMN 2007
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The 16th Global Forum, which is one of
the biggest annual international forums of the innovation sector, will
be held in Yerevan in the autumn of 2007. NT correspondent was informed
about it from Ashot Khandanian, Head of the Science, Technologies
and Innovation Policy Department of the RA Ministry of Trade and
Economic Development. He noted that Global Forum’s organizer – the
management of the largest Sophia Antipolis Technopark Foundation (Nice,
France) proposed the Armenian government holding the forum in Yerevan
in 2007. The European Commission and ITEMS International company
(France) specialized in information and communication technologies
(ICT) advisory services are the forum organizers as well. According
to A. Khandanian, the proposal to hold a Global Forum in Yerevan is
indicative of the fact that Armenia is gradually becoming a country of
science. He noted that ministers of countries – the world’s leaders in
the innovation sector and managers of a number of large companies that
create and use innovation production will participate in the forum.

GLOCOMS GROUP INTENDS TO ENTER ARMENIAN CONSULTING MARKET
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Glocoms Group (US) intends to carry
out extensive activities on the Armenian consulting market. One of the
important spheres of the company’s operation is participation in the
World Bank (WB) programs in developing countries. In recent years,
Glocoms Group started operating in CIS countries as well. In 2006,
the company has implemented 5 tax and customs advisory programs of
the World Bank in CIS countries – State Customs Process Reorganizing
(Russia), State Tax Document Management System (Ukraine), State
Tax Information Systems (Ukraine) and State Control Strengthening
(Azerbaijan). In Armenia, Glocoms Group has been involved in 4
programs organized by the Enterprise Incubator Foundation – IT Programs
Management Course, Information Security Course, Java 2 Platform Web
Element Development Course and Java Security Systems Programming
Course. The company has developed, implemented and evaluated the
programs for the above mentioned courses. Glocoms Group was founded in
1998. With representative offices in 5 continents and access to more
than 800 senior level management and technology consultants worldwide,
the company is involved in more than 140 national and international
prominent projects.

TREES AND FAUNA OF SHIKAHOGH RESERVE WILL BE RESTORED, RESERVE DURECTOR ASSURES
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
KAPAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the changed variant of
construction program of Kapan-Tsav-Shvanidzor-Meghri alternative road,
the 6.5-km road length will pass through the Shikahogh reserve. As
reserve Director Ruben Mkrtchian mentioned in his interview to
Noyan Tapan correspondent, the alternative inter-state road is a
necessity. According to him, though trees will be cut down during the
construction, in accordance with the contract, the reserve area will be
enlarged and this will make possible to plant new trees. Not denying
the fact that the explosions made for building the road damage the
fauna of the region, R.Mkrtchian meanwhile said that “after the works
are over we will have a possibility to restore the region within a
year or two”. He also assured that numerous programs of restoration
have been already worked out for this purpose.

ARMENIAN POLICEMEN ARE REPLACED BY GEORGIANS
Lragir.am
26 April 06
AKHALKALAKI, 26 APRIL, A-Info. As a result of reorganization in the
system of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs policemen with
Armenian origin are gradually dismissed and replaced by Georgians.
Quite recently three captains and one lieutenant, Armenians by origin,
were not admitted to work, and the reason was that they had got higher
education in Armenia (at least the chief of the police of the region
of Akhalkalaki gave such an oral explanation).
It should be noted, however, that the two captains were sent to study
at the Police Academy of Internal Affairs of Armenia by the Police
of Akhalkalaki (which is in the system of internal affairs of Georgia).

AZERBAIJAN BACKS PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO IRAN CRISIS – PRESIDENT
Turan news agency, Baku
26 Apr 06
Washington, 26 April: President Ilham Aliyev, who is paying an
official visit to the USA, has delivered a speech at the Foreign
Relations Council of the Carnegie Foundation.
A special correspondent of Turan reports that the former national
security adviser of the US president, Brent Scowcroft, said at the
opening of the meeting that Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of the
United States. At the same time, he said that Azerbaijan, which is
rich in natural reserves, has been subjected to aggression. “Armenia
has seized a considerable part of Azerbaijan,” Scowcroft said.
In turn, Aliyev pointed out that the Karabakh conflict can be settled
only on the basis of international law and Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity.
Aliyev confirmed Azerbaijan’s readiness to grant the highest degree of
autonomy to Nagornyy Karabakh on the basis of the model of autonomies
existing in Europe. In Aliyev’s opinion, Armenia must give up its
hostile policy against its dynamically developing neighbour. Aliyev
pointed out that Azerbaijan is trying to solve the problem in a
peaceful way. “But the patience of the Azerbaijani people might run
out,” he said.
Touching on the situation surrounding Iran, Aliyev pointed out that
Azerbaijan is in favour of settling the problem in a peaceful way. He
explained that Azerbaijan and Iran have an agreement not to use their
territories against each other.
Asked whether Azerbaijan might become a subject of rivalry between the
USA and Russia, Aliyev pointed out that if there is rivalry between
the USA and Russia, the territory of Azerbaijan cannot be a subject
of the dispute.

EUROPEAN WESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
AP Worldstream
Apr 26, 2006
Results Wednesday from the European Wrestling Championships at the
Olympic Indoor Stadium:
Women
48 kilograms
Bronze Medals
Francine De Paola, Italy, def. Maryna Markevich, Belarus, 0-1,
2-0, 1-0.
Fani Psatha, Greece, def. Cristina Croitoru, Romania, 3-1, 3-0.
Final
Mariya Stadnyk, Ukraine, def. Lilya Kaskarakova, Russia, 0-3, 1-0, 1-0.
55 kilograms
Bronze Medals
Johanna Mattsson, Sweden, def. Jessica Bechtel, Germany, 4-0, 1-0.
Anna Gomis, France, def. Mariya Egorova, Belarus, 4-0, 0-2, 4-2.
Final
Natalya Golts, Russia, def. Ludmila Cristiya, Moldova, 2-1, 5-4.
63 kilograms
Bronze Medals
Nikola Hartmann-Duenser, Austria, def. Monika Szerencse, Hungary,
1-0, By Fall.
Agoro Papavasileiou, Greece, def, Mihaela Sadoveanu, Romania, 1-0, 2-0.
Final
Alena Kartashova, Russia, def. Monika Michalik-Rogien, Poland,
4-0, 1-0.
72 kilograms
Bronze Medals
Karine Shadoyan, Armenia, def. Ana Maria Paic, Romania, 1-0, 1-0.
Anita Schaetzle, Germany, def. Maria Louiza Vryoni, Greece, 1-0, 1-0.
Final
Stanka Zlateva-Hristova, Bulgaria, def. Svetlana Sayenko, Ukraine,
2-0, 3-1.

PRESIDENT BEGINS VISIT SEEKING TO REMAIN AT ARMS-LENGTH FROM U.S. TENSIONS WITH IRAN
Barry Schweid
Associated Press writer Aida Sultanova contributed to this report
AP Worldstream
Apr 26, 2006
While pledging ccontinued support to counter terrorism, President
Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan said Wednesday, “Azerbaijan will not be
engaged in any kind of potential operation against Iran.”
Aliev opened a three-day visit Wednesday seeking to remain at
arms-length from rising U.S. tensions with Iran.
He cited a “very clear” agreement with Iran that that the two countries
would not permit their territory to be used for operations against
the other.
Aliev, who is due to meet with President George W. Bush on Friday at
the White House, spoke at the private Council on Foreign Relations.
He said his Caspian Sea nation, which shares a border with Iran
where 30 million Azeris live, and with Russia, wanted to remain an
“island of stability” in the tough neighborhood.
At the same time, Aliev said Azerbaijan had sent troops to Iraq,
Afghanistan and Kosovo, and would “do its best to stand shoulder to
shoulder” with the United States on security.
The president, who took office in October 2003, has the potential to
be an intermediary between the Bush administration and Iran.
Iranian Defense Minister Mustafa Mohammad Najjar, on a visit to Baku
last week, said Aliev could use his talks in Washington to “explain”
Iran’s views to the United States.
Next week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due in Baku for
a regional economic conference.
Aliev said he did not think Iran would be a “major aspect” of his
talks in Washington, which are due to include a meeting with Vice
President Dick Cheney.
But he said “if the question of regional security arises we will
discuss it.”
Azerbaijan is committed to peace in the region, he said. “We need to
try to provide peace and stability.”
“At this time,” he said, “it is best to concentrate on a peaceful
resolution” of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programs, which the
United States and European allies say seek development of a nuclear
bomb.
On another issue, due to be aired during Aliev’s visit, he conceded
there was a need for political reform in his country, a former Soviet
republic of 7.9 million which became independent 16 years ago.
Referring to Azerbaijan’s energy boom, Aliev said “economic reform
without political reform will lead to severe problems.”
He said his country was moving forward on both fronts.
Freedom House on Tuesday said Azerbaijan restricts political and human
rights and is among the lowest-ranked countries in the private rights
group’s annual surveys.
“President Bush has made democracy promotion a priority of his
presidency,” Freedom House executive director Jennifer Windsor said
in a statement. “His upcoming meeting with President Aliev presents
an important opportunity for him to discuss Azerbaijan’s democracy
deficit.”
Aliev, in response to questions Wednesday, rejected the description of
his government as a “regime” and said ‘we have all the major freedoms.”
Critics have questioned whether U.S. criticism would be muted due to
Azerbaijan’s role in supplying the West with Caspian Sea oil.
In his remarks, Aliev spoke most about a dispute with Armenia over
the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave of Azerbaijian. Ethnic Armenian forces
hold the region, in what Aliev called an occupation.
He said Azerbaijan’s recovery of the territory was not subject to
negotiations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY “INSULTED” BY CANADIAN PM’S STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.04.2006 22:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “We are insulted by the Canadian Prime Minister’s
comments, which promote Armenia’s accusations as regards the
genocide. These statements damaged relations with Turkey,” the Turkish
MFA said, reported Hurriyet Turkish newspaper.
To remind, the other day Canadian PM Stephen Harper welcomed the
events dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. “As
you remember the Canadian parliament passed the Armenian Genocide
Resolution on April 21, 2004. Our party supported the document and
we keep on supporting this decision,” he said.

AZERBAIJAN TO SUFFER MOST OF ALL IN CASE OF HOSTILITIES AGAINST IRAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.04.2006 23:26 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The anti-Azerbaijani statements made by the Iranian
government on the threshold of Azeri President’s visit to the United
States resembles an attempt to exert pressure, political scientist
Vafa Guluzade stated when commenting of the statements by head of
the Iranian Supreme Security Council Ali Larijani, who did not rule
out that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline may be hit if the
U.S. launches hostilities against Iran.
Guluzade considers that Azerbaijan will be the first to suffer from
hostilities against Iran and presently the U.S. concerned over a
single question: “How to hit Iran to avoid the possibility of a
counterblow?” In Guluzade’s opinion the answer to this question may
be received after the Aliyev-Bush meeting.
For his part political scientist Ilgar Mamedov states the crisis
aggravates and this can be proved by the frequent sharp statements. In
his opinion, Iran’s conceal some real plans however the oil pipeline
destruction is unreal. “The start of hostilities will put Azerbaijan in
a hard state. If the U.S. promises Azerbaijan to support its position
on Karabakh in exchange for joining the anti-Iranian coalition,
Azerbaijan will have to take the move. Otherwise the incumbent
government will be subjected to sharp critics by the society. If
Azerbaijan accepts the U.S.
proposal it will acquire a dangerous enemy – Iran. If it defends
Iran’s interests it will be transformed in one of the theater’s
of military operations. In case we take a neutral position both
conflicting parties will exert pressure on us,” the Azeri political
scientist said, reported APA.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE PA RAPPORTEUR ON KARABAKH TO ARRIVE IN AZERBAIJAN MAY 5
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.04.2006 23:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE parliamentary assembly rapporteur on
Nagorno Karabakh, Goran Lennmarker will arrive to Azerbaijan on May
5, Milli Mejlis vice speaker Bahar Muradova stated. “We have already
received a letter from Lennmarker, he will arrive in the first decade
of May. Here, he will prepare for the report on Nagorno-Karabakh and
have a number of meetings. During the previous meeting we requested him
to visit areas of residence of forcibly displaced persons,” she said.
“Karabakh was discussed at every OSCE meeting, as the Minsk group is
a mediator of the peaceful resolution of the conflict. Introducing
this question to the OSCE agenda will depend on development of the
negotiating process. Meetings of Azerbaijani and Armenian heads of
state and Foreign Ministers hint that the settlement process keeps
on moving forward. However, only in case if some positive results are
achieved the OSCE will start talking about Nagorno Karabakh. Otherwise,
discussions will be fruitless as we have already raised this question
previously,” she said.
“The given question has to be reviewed in the similar order in
Azerbaijani parliament too. Talks are held behind the closed doors
and their details are not disclosed. If there are no exact results,
we have nothing to discuss. Parliament can only discuss the exact
results,” she concluded, reported Trend.