Military exercises in Nagorno-Karabakh are over
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 12:55
The military exercises of the NKR Armed Forces came to an end in
Nagorno-Karabakh.
The military exercises were held according to the 2006 Army
preparedness program for the purpose of determining the combatant
preparedness of the Armed Forces.
The process of the military exercises was followed by NKR President,
Chief Commander Arkadi Ghukasyan, RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan,
Deputy Defense Minister, Head of the Genetral Staff of the Armed
Forces of Armenia, Colonel-General Mickael Harutyunyan. In the result
of the exercises, the best officers and soldiers were awarded diplomas
and valuable prizes.

The US mediator had meetings at the Minitry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 13:35
The Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia informs
that “preceding the visits to Baku and Yerevan, US Co-Chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann was received April 19 at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.”
“Issues related to the coordination of further steps for the progress
of the settlement process in the OSCE Minsk Group format were discussed
during the meeting,” the press release of the Russian MFA says.
Today Steven Mann will arrive in Yerevan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Serge Sargsyan: Armenia does not develop its relations with NATO at the expense of Armenian-Russian cooperation
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 14:08
“Armenia does not develop its relations with NATO at the expense of
Armenian-Russian cooperation,” RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan
declared in his interview to “Krasnaya Gazeta” newspaper. According
to him, Armenian-Russian cooperation can only expand in all directions.
“However, we understand that we should learn about the experience of
development of Armed Forces in other countries,” the Minister added.
Turning to the military and technical cooperation between Armenia and
Russia, the Defense Minister emphasized the importance of permanent
development of these relations. In his words, the 102nd Russian
military base has a special role in Armenian-Russian relations.

Vardan Oskanyan: The mediators can suggest new wording of the principles
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 15:31
“If Azerbaijan accepts the right of self-determination of the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia is ready to seriously discuss the issues
of elimination of war results,” RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
declared today. According to the Minister, “it is our position in
the negotiations process.”
Commenting upon the latest statements on the mediators’ “new
suggestions,” Vadan Oskanyan said that this characteristic is both
“correct and incorrect.”
A one-page document on the principles of regulation is put on
the negotiations table. Agreement has been reached only on some
principles. I think when the mediators speak about “new suggestions,”
they mean new wording of the principles, which have not been agreed
upon. The principles have not changed,” the Foreign Minister clarified.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LARGE-SCALE MILITARY EXERCISE IN THE KARABAKH THEATER
Lragir.am
20 April 06
Debates on the Karabakh issue are intensifying. Their relatedness
with the developments in Iran is becoming more visible. The military
exercise in Karabakh is underway, and according to the minister of
defense of NKR, the exercise is unprecedented, for it checks the
readiness of the armed forces. Serge Sargsyan, the defense minister
of Armenia, who participated in the military exercise, announced,
“Armenia is the guarantor of security of NKR.” The minister said,
“I think all the fuss that the Azerbaijanis are making about this
exercise is inadequate. Two weeks ago they held a military training
in 50-60 km from here, were we also supposed to fuss.”
It is a fact, however, that both sides are holding a large-scale
military exercise in the Karabakh theater.
Also, new tendencies are outlining in the standpoint of the European
Union. In a news conference in Yerevan French MP Marie Anne Isler
Beguin, the head of the delegation of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee said the Europarliament finds that it does not
have a clear road map for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict,
nevertheless, the EU must become engaged in the settlement of the
conflict. She said that the claim of the people of Nagorno Karabakh
should be satisfied, and Azerbaijan must respect the right for
self-determination of nations.
With regard to the seven regions, forming the security zone of NKR,
Marie Anne Isler Beguin emphasized that the Europarliament does not
consider either “occupied or liberated areas”. She said these are
seven regions around Nagorno Karabakh, where the refugees should
return and decide their status.
If Azerbaijan recognizes the right for self-determination of the people
of Karabakh, Armenia is ready to consider the question of elimination
of the consequences of the war. This standpoint was expressed by the
foreign minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan. By saying “consequences
of the war” he meant the territories and the return of refugees.
NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan thinks that Azerbaijan is
temporizing. “Today it is not ready for a settlement,” said the
president. Not being ready means Aliev has not agreed yet to recognize
the right for self-determination of the people of NKR. However,
this is apparently possible, considering that in late April Aliev
will visit Washington. Probably, the U.S. President will “talk him
into” accepting that Karabakh people also have the right. Now we can
simply guess what Aliev might demand in return for this agreement. It
may become known during the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair
Stephen Mann (U.S.) to Yerevan.
It is notable that on these days the deputy foreign minister of Russia
Grigory Karasin is visiting Armenia. He is visiting Armenia on the
occasion of the regional consultation of the Russian ambassadors to
Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey. In this context the president
of Iran announces that he is going to visit Azerbaijan.

U.S. Embassy holds fifth annual Jazz Appreciation Month
20.04.2006 12:14
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The U.S. Embassy in Armenia is proud to announce
that it will hold its fifth annual Jazz Appreciation Month in Armenia
April 26-30. This year’s program will include multiple events including
film showings, a jazz dance performance, and Armenian and American
jazz music concerts, which are open to the public.
The Judy Bady Quartet from New York City, along with many well-known
Armenian jazz musicians, will take part in this week-long celebration
of jazz. A new addition to this year’s events is a jazz dance
performance at the Paronyan Theater.
Tickets for all performances are on sale at the Opera and Paronyan
Theater box offices. Additional information can be found on the
U.S. Embassy website at

Final Planning Conference on Rescuer-2006 Exercise Started in Yerevan
20.04.2006 12:13
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The final conference on Rescuer-2006 exercise
started in Yerevan in April 19. During the conference David J. Wheeler,
the Kansas Army National Guard Commander said military cooperation
between Armenia and the U.S. is very important.
In his words, teamwork experience is significant for regional emergency
situations. At that he gave a high estimate to the organization works
carried out by the Armenian party.
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.

Baku Can Resort to Hostilities at Pinch
20.04.2006 12:12
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Today Azerbaijan cannot alone take a decision to
resume hostilities, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated
in an interview with Haykakan Jamanak newspaper.
“Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev’s capabilities in this issue are
rather restricted. They can take such step at a pinch only,” Oskanian
said. In his words, Azerbaijan realizes that it’s pregnant with a great
number of negative consequences and “it will be the last attempt to
resume hostilities, since it will legalize Karabakh’s status.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iranian defence minister denounces US threats – Azeri TV
ANS TV, Baku
20 Apr 06
Iranian Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar has said that US
statements on a possible military invasion of Iran are only aimed at
frightening Tehran.
This is no news to us because the United States has been trying to
frighten us for 27 years, the Azerbaijani private TV channel ANS
quoted Najjar as saying during his visit to Baku on 20 April.
The Iranian defence minister also said that his country is ready to
repel any US attack.
“We have never been afraid of US threats,” he said. “We maintain our
relations with the world anyway and are ready to solve any problem
in a negotiated way.”
He also said that the main purpose of his visit to Baku is to develop
military cooperation with Azerbaijan. “The purpose of this visit is
to develop relations and meet Azerbaijan’s needs. We are even ready
to provide Azerbaijan with any possibilities we have to develop
Azerbaijan’s military industry,” Najjar told ANS.
Najjar also denied that Iran is developing military cooperation
with Armenia.

EU demands closing down the nuclear power plant
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 16:42
“The European Union ids interested in closing down Metsamor nuclear
power plant,” Head of the EU Trio delegation, Foreign Affairs State
Secretary of Austria Hans Winkler declared today in Yerevan.
Hans Winkler said that “the Armenian nuclear power plant uses old
technologies, which do not come up to modern security standards.”
“On the other hand the European Union respects the sovereign right
of every state to chose the type of energy, which best corresponds
to its capacities and interests,” Hans Winkler said. In his words,
during the talks in Armenia the prospects of construction of a new
nuclear power plant were not discussed, “since it is not in the
liabilities of the European Union.