RIA Novosti, Russia
June 2 2006
Experts start analysis of Black Sea Airbus flight recorders
16:56 | 02/ 06/ 2006

MOSCOW, June 2 (RIA Novosti) – Investigators have started analyzing
data from the black boxes of an Armenian Airbus that crashed May 3
into the Black Sea with the loss of everyone on board, Russian
prosecutors said Friday.
Rescue teams recovered the cockpit voice recorder on May 22 and the
flight data recorder May 24.
“Experts instructed to conduct a forensic examination and experts
from the Interstate Aviation Committee have started analyzing the
data from the flight recorders,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said
on its Web site.
The airliner, operated by Armenia’s Armavia, crashed while flying
from the Armenian capital, Yerevan, in stormy weather 6 kilometers
(3.7 miles) from Russia’s Adler airport, which services the popular
resort of Sochi. All 113 people on board died.

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006
National movement in Southern Azerbaijan to continue

Source: Trend
Author: S.Ilhamgizi

02.06.2006

On June 2, the Congress of World Azerbaijanis (CWA) held a press
conference on `National-liberation movement of Southern Azerbaijan is
continuing’. The conference informed about the events, protest
actions taking place in Southern Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

According to information provided by CWA press service, 24 persons
have been killed, 44 wounded and 106 arrested during the actions in
different cities of Southern Azerbaijan. During the conference, the
journalists were submitted the list of victims, wounded and arrested
men. The member of Mejlis of CWA Ajdar Tagizade stressed that the
process in Southern Azerbaijan turned into a national movement, and
our demand is independence, Turkism and union. Denying the talks on
the issue that as though the movement in the south was realized by
America or Kurds, he noted that the southern Azerbaijanis were free
in their policy. The head of the CWA Baku representation professor
Pahsa Galbinur pointed out that Azerbaijan Republic was described as
`Northern Iran’ and Karabakh was described as the territory of
Armenia in the map published in the newspaper `Misag’ in Iran. The
same newspaper was looked through at the conference.
Sarvar Masimli who participated in the action held in cities of
Southern Azerbaijan – Julfa, Marand, and Tabriz, told that the police
forces blockading these cities prevented the actions. According to
Masimli, the national movement has already created in Southern
Azerbaijan. However, in Azerbaijan Republic, this issue draws little
public attention. The CWA representatives attending the conference
pointed out that all political forces, intellectuals and community in
Azerbaijan should keep Southern Azerbaijan on the focus of attention
because Baku plays a very important role in this national movement.
The head of the CWA press service Ali Nijat said that actions and
demonstrations in Southern Azerbaijan have lasted for already two
weeks.

Today, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents to have tete-a-tete meeting in
Bucharest

02 June 2006 [17:10] – Today.Az

Armenian President Robert Kocharian will pay two-day working visit to
Romania June 4.

According to APA, he will participate in the Black Sea Forum for
Dialogue and Partnership in the capital Bucharest.
Kocharian is expected to meet with Romanian President Traian Basescu
and have other bilateral talks.
In addition, Azerbaijan and Armenian Presidents are due to meet in
Bucharest. The meeting will start by presence of Foreign Ministers of
the two states, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister
Karel de Gucht as well ad OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Steven Mann
(US), Bernard Fassier (France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and
Andrzei Kasprzyk, personal representative of the OSCE chairman, and
then there will be one-on-one meeting between the Presidents.
The MG co-chairs are assembling in Bucharest. They will hold a
consultation on preparation for Ilham Aliyev-Robert Kocharian meeting
in Bucharest on 3-4 June.

URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman, Turkey
June 2 2006
New Genocide Denial Bill on Agenda in Netherlands
By Anadolu News Agency (AA), Cihan News Agency, Hague,
Published: Friday, June 02, 2006
zaman.com
After the delay of the French bill to penalize the denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide, a similar offer came from the
Netherlands.
Prepared by the Christian Union (CU) party having three seats at the
150-seat Dutch parliament, the draft was presented to the assembly.
The bid aims to criminalize denial of the so-called Armenian
genocide.
Tineke Huizinga-Heringa, who submitted the motion, said the bill does
not contradict the freedoms of thought and speech.
Huizinga-Heringa said they thought legal regulation was called for
after certain developments were not initiated for the so-called
Armenian Genocide and Jewish Holocaust, adding they expect support
from other parties for the bid.
The Netherlands Armenian Federation and Dutch antiracism organization
(LBR) supported the offer.
The Turkish community showed immediate reaction to the latest
development by Dutch deputies.
Last year, the Danish Administration had attempted to prepare a law
criminalize people and foundations who voice their ideas about
neglecting, approving or rejecting terrorist actions.
The bill, which accepted genocide as a crime, did not mention the
so-called Armenian Genocide explicitly. The government later
abandoned this attempt.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents to have one-on-one meeting in
Bucharest
[ 02 Jun. 2006 16:57 ]
Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian will pay a two-day working visit
to Romania on 4 June (APA). He will participate in the Black Sea
Forum for Dialogue and Partnership in the capital Bucharest.
Kocharian is expected to meet with Romanian President Traian Basescu
and have other bilateral talks.
In addition, Azerbaijan and Armenian Presidents are due to meet in
Bucharest. The meeting will start by presence of Foreign Ministers of
the two states, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister
Karel de Gucht as well ad OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Steven Mann
(US), Bernard Fassier (France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and
Andrzei Kasprzyk, personal representative of the OSCE chairman, and
then there will be one-on-one meeting between the Presidents.
The MG co-chairs are assembling in Bucharest. They will hold a
consultation on preparation for Ilham Aliyev-Robert Kocharian meeting
in Bucharest on 3-4 June./APA/

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 2 2006
SENOR ASRATYAN: `HOUSES WERE DESTROYED 13 YEARS AGO BY RETREATING
AZERIS’
According to the Spokesman of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic /NKR/
Defense ministry Sub colonel Senor Asratyan, the information
circulated today by the APA Karabakh Bureau on the fact that
`Armenians began setting fires to the houses on the territories they
had occupied in the Azeri Aghdam region villages of Yusifjanly,
Novruzlu, Baghmanlar, Sarijaly and Saybaly’ is `an awkward propaganda
action’.
While commenting on the information on DE FACTO Information-Analytics
Agency’s request, Mr. Asratyan said the information had nothing in
common with reality. In his words, the houses were destroyed 13 years
ago by the Azeri troops `retreating under attack of the Karabakh
army’.
Senor Asratyan also noted the Azeri party’s affirmations that
Armenians had allegedly taken their property from the houses to the
cars first could hardly be taken seriously: `If someone was about to
do it, why should he be waiting for over ten years?’

ARMENIA OFFERS SPECIAL FORCES TO QUELL AZERI PROTESTS IN IRAN – ACTIVIST
Azerbaijani news agency APA, Baku
1 Jun 06
Baku, 1 June: The Armenian ambassador to Iran, Gegam Garibdzhanyan,
suggested during secret talks with the Iranian government that
his country can send military forces to crush protests in southern
Azerbaijan [northwestern Iran], Sirus Azadi, a member of the World
Azerbaijani Congress and the committee to support the National Movement
of Southern Azerbaijan, has told APA.
There is no doubt that the sides have secured some kind of agreement,
Azadi said. “It is possible that special forces will be brought from
Armenia to crush protests in southern Azerbaijan.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BELARUS TO HOST JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE WITH RUSSIA IN JUNE
Belapan news agency, Minsk
1 Jun 06
Minsk, 1 June: For the first time the [Belarusian-Russian] Union
Shield-2006 command-post exercise involving the command bodies of
the 20th Army of the Moscow Military District [to be held in Belarus
on 17-25 June] “will test the functioning of not only the command
structures of the regional military group of the two countries but will
also assess its efficiency and viability. This, in turn, will allow
us to set development priorities in view of modern warfare methods
and cutting-edge information technologies,” Lt-Gen Syarhey Hurulyow,
chief of the armed forces’ General Staff and first deputy minister
of defence, said at a news conference in Minsk today.
He said the main goal of the exercise, which will be held in Belarus
on 17-25 June, will include “the assessment of the capability of
command bodies of units of the Belarusian and Russian armed forces
to fulfil tasks dealing with the union state’s armed defence within
the framework of the regional group of forces”.
[Passage omitted: minor details]
About 8,800 servicemen, including about 7,000 Belarusians and 1,800
Russians will participate in the manoeuvres along with more than 40
tanks, about 180 armoured combat vehicles, more than 40 artillery
pieces, 30 multiple fire rocket systems, six helicopters and 23
military planes from Belarus, and six helicopters and 13 military
planes from Russia.
The exercise’s practical stage will be held at three ranges of the
Belarusian armed forces in Brest and Hrodna regions. Representatives
of more than 40 states will be invited to observe the exercise.
Hurulyow said that the observation of the exercise’s active phase
by the heads of member states of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization [CSTO, member states are Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus,
Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan] and by the [CSTO] defence ministers
and the secretaries of security councils at the Abuz-Lyasnowski range
on 24 June is being considered at present.
About 1.9m dollars will be allocated for the manoeuvres by both sides
in proportion to their involvement.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN KAZAKHSTAN TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC TIES
Khabar Television, Almaty
1 Jun 06
[Presenter] The head of state [Nursultan Nazarbayev] received the
Armenian foreign minister today. Vardan Oskanyan has come to Kazakhstan
to expand political, economic and cultural cooperation.
Trade between Kazakhstan and Armenia exceeded 45m dollars last year.
Relations between the two countries are based on the principles of
mutual understanding and respect, the high-ranking guest from Yerevan
noted at a press briefing.
[Vardan Oskanyan, in English with Russian translation overlaid] We
view Kazakhstan as a major regional leader. We therefore would like
our relations to develop as deep and broadly as possible. There are
no political disagreements between our two countries. A great number
of political agreements have been signed and an intergovernmental
commission is working. We agree that great significance should be
attached to developing our economic relations.

TOO EARLY TO DEPLOY PEACEKEEPERS IN KARABAKH – ARMENIAN OFFICIAL
Interfax-AVN military news agency website, Moscow
1 Jun 06
Yerevan. 1 June: Armenia’s Foreign Ministry believes it is too early
to consider a possible deployment of peacekeepers in the conflict
zone in Nagornyy Karabakh.
“At present there are no final agreements concerning the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict, so it is premature to speak about a deployment of
peacekeepers,” a representative of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry told
Interfax on Thursday [1 June].
The Armenian diplomat also refused to comment on the possibility
of sending CIS peacekeepers to the conflict zone in case Baku and
Yerevan reach an agreement on a settlement.
Armen Rustamyan, the chairman of the foreign policy parliamentary
commission, told Interfax “at present it is too early to talk about
the possible presence of any peacekeeping forces in the zone of the
Karabakh conflict”.
“The issue of peacekeepers’ deployment in the conflict area is only
a component of the whole package on the Karabakh settlement, and it
makes no sense to comment on it separately,” said the MP.
“We think that all issues concerning the possible deployment of a
peacekeeping force in the zone of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
can be discussed only when some agreement on the Karabakh settlement
has been reached but not apart from the general package of issues,”
said Rustamyan.