SAFAROV’S LAWYER TO APPEAL AGAINST BUDAPEST COURT VERDICT
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 03:13 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The sentence of the Budapest regarding Azeri officer
Ramil Safarov is “unfair,” lawyer Adil Ismaylov stated in an interview
with ANS TV channel. Budapest court judge Andras Vaskuti announced the
verdict, according to which officer of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan
Ramil Safarov is sentenced to life imprisonment. In Ismaylov’s words,
the resolution can be appealed against in 30 years.
To remind, within the framework of NATO Partnership for Peace Program
Azeri military officer Ramil Safarov was sent by the Ministry of
Defense to Hungary for participation in English language trainings
in January-February 2004. Several days before the completion of the
course, on February 19, he hacked Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan
with an axe. Safarov and his lawyer decided to appeal against the
Budapest court decision, Trend reports.

MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERI PRESIDENTS CAN BE HELD IN JUNE
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 02:22 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The negotiation process over settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict did not decease after Rambouillet, it
continues,” stated OSCE Minsk Group French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier
at a news conference in Yerevan. In his words, the possibility of a
meeting of Armenian and Azeri FMs is not ruled out in May.
Speaking of the schedule of the OSCE MG visits to the region, Bernard
Fassier remarked, “the co-chairs visit the region in compliance with
a clear agreement and after consultations among themselves. After the
Easter (April 16) US mediator Steven Mann will arrive in the region. I
will leave for Moscow from Yerevan. There I will meet with Russian
Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov and Russian Deputy FM Grigory Karasin,”
he remarked.
The diplomat also said the MG intends to form new conditions for a
meeting of Armenian and Azeri Presidents. “Nothing is decided yet,
however we want very much the meeting to be held in June admittedly
and in a venue, where the Presidents will agree to meet,” the French
diplomat said.

ALIYEV TALKS OF NEW FORMAT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH REGULATION
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
14/04/2006
Recently, the supposition that the United States suggested new
principles for the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
to Azerbaijan seems to be one of the greatest expectations of various
high-ranking Azerbaijani officials. Though Reno Harnish, US Ambassador
to Azerbaijan, stated that the officials of his country made no new
suggestions in the course of the Washington visit of President Ilham
Aliyev, Azerbaijan continues speculating on these ideas. Particularly,
yesterday, according to Trend agency, Ilham Aliyev said that the
process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement “is being carried
out in a new format that keeps in line with the national interests
of Azerbaijan.” He added that the new format creates good grounds
for restoration of territorial wholeness of Azerbaijan.
One wonders what he means by speaking of a new format when the
representatives of the mediators and other international organizations
still consider that the OSCE Minsk group is the best format for the
negotiations. If Aliyev means the aspect of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
the only expected change is the participation of Nagorno Karabakh in
the negotiations.
Yet, this factor is hardly in the interest of Azerbaijan.
It may seem quite queer but Aliyev kept from making militant statements
in front of his own people. He just stated that the Azeri authorities
are unwilling to unfold military actions.
It’s worth mentioning that Rene van der Linden, chairman of PACE,
said two days ago that they will expel the country that will resume
military actions in Nagorno Karabakh from the European Parliament. In
fact, Aliyev was quite impressed by the warning of Mr. Rene van
der Linden.

OSKANIAN AND FASSIER DISCUSSED KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 00:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian met with OSCE Minsk
Group French co-chair Bernard Fassier, reports the Press Service of
the Armenian MFA. During the meeting the interlocutors discussed the
current situation in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
as well as exchanged views on the prospects of the talks.

TERRY DAVIS: WE OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED WITH THE MONUMENTS BEING DESTROYED
AZG Armenian Daily
14/04/2006
“We are civilized people and ought to be concerned with the monuments
being destroyed. We ought to respect each other’s culture and
religion,” Mediamax agency quoted Secretary General of the Council
of Europe Terry Davis as saying while touching upon the topic of
destruction of Armenian monuments in Nakhijevan, Azerbaijan. Davis
suggested setting up a fact-finding group and send it where information
of threatened cultural monuments comes from.
In Davis’ words, the issue of setting up a fact-finding group was
discussed with Armenian and Azerbaijani leadership and now is the
time for PACE to respond.

THE CO-CHAIRS MANAGED NOT “TO BREAK THE GLASS”
A1+
[09:35 pm] 13 April, 2006
“The diplomatic circles never move from their seats without any
reason,” today the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chair Bernard Fassier announced
in the French Embassy in Armenia. Mr. Fassier made no comments on
his visit to Azerbaijan in today’s press conference.
He preferred to describe the events of Rambouillet artistically
leaving out the details.
“What happened in Rambouillet? Of course the Co-Chairs did not gather
for that purpose. Before our visit to Rambouillet we had a half –
empty glass and wanted to fill it there but our endeavour was a
failure. We only managed not to break the glass,” mentioned Mr.
Fassier. He also assured that the procedure of the Nagorno –
Kharabakh conflict settlement is still continuing. “I am leaving
for Moscow tomorrow where I am to meet Juri Merzliakov and the RF
Foreign Vice-Minister. The Co-Chairs will visit the region at the
end of May with joint solutions. We merely try to make the meeting
of the 2 presidents probable.”
The next meeting of Kocharyan and Aliev will be in June, but they won’t
be discouraged in case the meeting fails; it will be held in July. In
the name of all Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chair Fassier
stated that there is no alternative in the NK conflict settlement
except the peaceful settlement. “After the meeting in Rambouillet a
cease – fire was fixed in the borderline as a result of which there
were victims.
The war control and regulation is the worst variant for the two
sides.” He also mentioned that there isn’t a profitable solution
for the sides. “In the best case we can find a solution which will
suffice the sides with 70%. We must only pay attention to the fact
which of the sides first initiated aggression, which of them reached
Kharabakh, etc.”
“We lay emphasis on the conflict settlement. And it is difficult
to answer the question whether it will be done immediately or step
by step.”
From: Baghdasarian

CRITICISM FROM A COALITIONAL PARTY
AZG Armenian Daily
14/04/2006
“I do not agree with the critical statements addressed to RA
government by Orinats Yerkir party for violations in the course of the
privatization processes in 2001-2003,” RA PM Andranik Margarian said
at a parliament hearing on April 12. He emphasized that all decisions
for privatization were taken in the course of government hearings
where the ministers from Orinats Yerkir were present as well. “If this
party had any objections concerning the privatization processes, they
could state about that during the government hearings,” he emphasized.

THE AUTHORITES OF NK RELEASED A LETTER TO CONDOLEEZZA RICE
A1+
[08:44 pm] 13 April, 2006
The NK Foreign Minister Georgi Petrosyan and the NK Police Chief Armen
Isagulov released a joint letter to the USA State Vice – Secretary and
the Chief of the USA State Secretary Bureau combating drug transfers.
The concern of the NK authorities was determined by the review on the
international strategic control on drugs in which it was mentioned that
Nagorno – Karabakh is a transit area for sedative drugs transfers. By
the way, there was no mention of Kharabakh in the reviews of the
previous years.
“We disagree with the fact that unverified data are used in the
review. It is evident that using unwarranted accusations Azerbaijan
hopes that international society will view Kharabakh as a territory
without control which is beyond the law,” the following was said
in the letter. “On this score we assure you that Nagorno – Karabakh
is not a transit area and this is not determined by the absence of
road – communication net because of the constant blockade but by the
preventive measures taken by the NK legislative bodies.”
In their letter the NK authorities expressed their readiness to receive
expert observation group in NK that will give a just assessment after
the survey. “In this way all the concerns connected with the matter
will vanish. Otherwise the concerns may complicate the peaceful
settlement of the conflict and prevent the prospect of establishing
stability and peace.”
By the way, the copy of the letter was also sent to Condoleezza Rise,
the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chair Steven Mann and the Drug Regulating
National Service Chief John Walters.

ARMENIAN LEADER, FRENCH MINSK GROUP MEDIATOR DISCUSS KARABAKH PROBLEM
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
13 Apr 06
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received the French co-chairmen
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Bernard Fassier, in Yerevan today.
The sides discussed the latest developments around the Nagornyy
Karabakh settlement.
[Video showed the meeting]

THE VERDICT WAS LIFE IMPRISONMENT
A1+
[06:59 pm] 13 April, 2006
more images Today the Budapest Court brought a verdict on the case
of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan’s murder realized by the Azeri
defendant Ramil Safarov. The latter was found guilty and sentenced to
life imprisonment with the right to be forgiven in 30 years’ time. The
representative of the RA Defense Ministry Hayk Demoyan informed “A1+”
about it. The latter participated in the trial.
The judge presented the details of the trial thoroughly in the
courtroom rejecting the fact that Safarov doesn’t know Russian,
revealing the groundless “intrigues” of Safarov’s lawyers an refuting
Safarov’s presumption of innocence. He ended his speech in the
following way, “It is not heroism to kill a sleeping man in peaceful
conditions; it is a crime and it doesn’t matter which nationality
the murdered officer belonged to.”
Safarov will serve his sentence in Hungary. By the way, according to
the laws of the country people committing crimes in severe conditions
serve their terms in special criminal establishments.
Safarov’s barristers have a right to appeal against the court verdict
within 3 days’ time. At present they are consulting with Safarov in
order to make an appeal decision. Let us mention that Hungary has
a 3 – level court system, so there are two possibilities to appeal
against the decision.
The Armenian side is sufficed with the verdict brought by the Hungarian
court. “I think the court was just in its verdict,” the representative
of the RA Defense Ministry Hayk Demoyan informed “A1+.”