OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to assemble in Paris in August
TREND, Azerbaijan
July 21 2006
Trend 22/07/2006 01:43 — The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh intend to carry out next round
of consultations in Paris early August, Russian Ambassador Yuriy
Merzlyakov, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair told Trend in an exclusive
interview.
The objective of the meeting is to hold consultations on the results
of a tour of the region of the U.S. Ambassador Matthew Bryza the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chair. Merzlyakov said for the time being it is unknown
what resolution can be taken and whether there will be discussed on the
organization of the next round of meetings between the conflict sides.
“We will resolve this issue as soon as we meet. I don’t know the
estimation that the U.S. Ambassador is going to make. By that time
he will have last contacts, he will talks to the Presidents and will
more probably make estimation,” the Russian diplomat underlined.
Armenian news agency ARKA has recently reported that Bryza will pay
a two-day visit to Khankandi on 29 July. Then he is to leave for Baku
for talks from 31 July to 1 August.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Nationalist leader Volen Siderov is sentenced for discrimination
Bulgarian News Network, Bulgaria
July 21 2006
SOFIA (bnn)- Sofia District Court convicted for discrimination Volen
Siderov, leader of the ultra-nationalist party Ataka, Darik radio
reported on Friday.
He must interrupt making such statements and should refrain from
further similar actions in future, judges ordered. The court has
rejected as ungrounded the claim for Siderov’s public excuse.
The trial was initiated by ethnic Armenian Yuliana Metodieva. Siderov
has stepped out the limits of the freedom of speech and thus he had
violated the right of freedom from discrimination. The decision may
be appealed in 14 days.
This is the first court decision for one of the eight trials that were
started against the Ataka leader. The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
organized a coalition from 68 civil organizations and 18 citizens
and imitated proceedings against Siderov in January. The court later
decided the claim should be divided to eight legal procedures as
different reasons for discrimination were given. /bnn/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgia Leader Cancels Moscow Trip Amid Troop Dispute (Update2)
Bloomberg
July 21 2006
July 21 (Bloomberg) — Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
canceled a trip to today’s Moscow summit of former Soviet states
as increasing tension over the presence of Russian peacekeepers in
his country threatens to derail Russia’s attempts to join the World
Trade Organization.
“He’s not coming,” because he and Russian President Vladimir Putin were
unable to find time to meet privately at the summit, Georgian Foreign
Ministry spokeswoman Nino Kajaia said in a phone interview. Saakashvili
was busy planning changes to his Cabinet’s lineup, after dismissing
his ministers today to allow new appointments to take place on July
24, Kajaia said. Both governments said talks may be rescheduled.
Russian-Georgian relations, tense since Saakashvili came to power after
the 2003 “Rose Revolution” vowing to join the European Union and NATO,
worsened this year as Russia banned Georgian wine and mineral water
imports, citing health grounds. Georgia said July 14 it may review
a trade accord with Russia, a step that could wreck Russia’s push to
join the WTO.
Putin’s government estimates WTO admission, on which talks have lasted
for more than a decade, would add $10 billion a year to its economy
by aiding exporters. The country’s decade-long bid to join the WTO
stalled last week over its barriers to U.S. meat exports. The U.S. is
the only one of the WTO’s 149 members yet to approve an accord that
would let Russia join the group.
Russia must sign individual treaties with every WTO member before
being admitted to the organization.
Ukraine President Cancels
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, a Saakashvili ally, also
decided not to attend the two-day summit of leaders from the 12-member
Commonwealth of Independent States, citing the “political situation”
in his own country, according to Yushchenko’s Web site.
A political standoff has left Ukraine without a government since
parliamentary elections in March.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian also canceled his trip to the
summit because he has a bronchial infection, Interfax said, citing
his press office. Armenia’s Foreign Ministry had no comment on the
report when contacted by phone.
Russia’s Vedomosti newspaper today said Turkmenistan’s President
Saparmurat Niyazov, who has missed some previous CIS summits, will
skip the meeting. The CIS includes all of the former Soviet states,
except for the three Baltic republics.
Turkmenistan is in a dispute with Russia over natural gas prices.
Georgian Demands
In a July 18 resolution, Georgian lawmakers called for an international
force to replace Russian troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The
regions, with pro-Russian leaderships, broke away from Georgia when
the country became independent after the Soviet Union was dissolved in
1991 and have been outside Georgian control since a civil war. Russia’s
government this week said the vote was a Georgian attempt to provoke
conflict.
Georgia will reopen bilateral trade talks with Russia and demands
Putin’s government deal with its concerns about Russia’s policies,
Interfax reported, citing Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Tamara
Kovziridze in Tbilisi. Russia must close allegedly illegal checkpoints
in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, ship taxable goods only through the
legal Kazbegi-Verkhny Lars checkpoint and protect Georgian goods and
intellectual property, Interfax cited Kovziridze as saying.
Saakashvili has the support of the U.S., which has been critical of
Russia’s record on democracy and human rights. Russian energy supplies
to Georgia were cut this year in incidents that Putin’s government
said were accidents or terrorist acts. Saakashvili accused Russia
of sabotage.
`Full Timetable’
The informal summit at the Presidents’ Cup horserace at the Moscow
Hippodrome has a full timetable that “does not allow the possibility
of separate, detailed bilateral conversations,” Russia’s Foreign
Ministry said in a statement. Saakashvili and Putin last met in the
Russian president’s hometown of St. Petersburg on July 13.
The EU said in a statement today that it’s “deeply concerned” about
continuing tension between Georgia and Russia.
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, a Putin supporter, visited Abkhazia
yesterday, with the Georgian Foreign Ministry describing his trip as
“a provocation and yet another demonstration of disrespect for the
universally recognized norms and principles of international law.” It
said the trip showed Russian policy is aimed at “actual annexation
of Georgian territory.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FM MAMMADYAROV: “AZERBAIJAN APPRECIATES PAKISTAN’S SUPPORT IN SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT”
[July 21, 2006, 22:13:28]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 21 2006
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov on 21 July met the
ambassador of Pakistan to Azerbaijan Mohammad Hafiz on completion of
his diplomatic mission in the country.
The Ambassador expressed pleasure with the works done for strengthening
of the friendly and cooperation links between two countries during his
activity, thanked the Azerbaijan Government for help rendered to him.
M. Hafiz expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan’s support on the
international organizations, in particular, in conducting reforms in
the United Nations. He stressed the necessity of expansion of links
also in the economic field.
Minister Mammadyarov, noting the close friendship ties between
the two nations, especially emphasized ‘Pakistan’s fair stance in
support of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict’.

SURVEY: EX-SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT MOST POPULAR POLITICAL FIGURE OF ARMENIA
Arka News Agency, Armenia
July 21 2006
YEREVAN, July 21. /ARKA/. Ex-Speaker of the RA National Assembly,
leader of “Orinats Yerkir” party Arthur Baghdasaryan is the most
popular political figure of Armenia, according to the Internet
survey held by the “Election Systems” Armenian center among 10thsd
respondents.
The survey, held between June 20 and July 20, shows that Baghdasaryan’s
popularity rating makes 27%, reducing by 2 points, against his previous
rating, as of May 20 – June 20 with participation of 9812 people.
The second comes President of the ALM Media-Holding, Chairman of
the National Party Tigran Karapetyan, who has 26% sympathy of the
respondents (earlier – 28%).
Leader of Heritage oppositional party, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs
Raffi Hovhannisyan is the third, with his 16% rating (1% slide).
Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik Margaryan, leader of coalition
Republican Party of Armenia holds his stabile 4th place (earlier 13%
respondents sympathized him).
Leader of National Democratic party, oppositional deputy of the RA
National Assembly Shavarsh Kocharyan is the fifth among the leaders,
with his 6% (2% rating growth).
Following 5 leaders, comes Gagik Tsarukyan, big businessman and
Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia (5% like a
moth ago), and Aram Sargsyan, leader of Republic oppositional party,
ex-Prime Minister of Armenia is the 7th, according to the survey (1%
– again without any change).
During the survey none of the respondents voted for the RA Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan, Vice- Speaker of the National Assembly Vahan
Hovhannisyan, head of Justice oppositional parliamentary faction
Stepan Demirchyan, Secretary of the same faction Viktor Dallakyan,
deputy Arshak Sadoyan, leader of National Unity Artashes Geghamyan, as
well as for leader of the United Labor Party faction Gurgen Arsenyan,
Chairman of the Liberal-Progressive party Hovhannes Hovhannisyan and
leader of “New Times” party Aram Karapetyan. S.P.-0–

Ukrainian President changed his mind to go to Moscow informal CIS summit
Regnum, Russia
July 21 2006
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko will not visit Moscow informal
CIS summit convening July 21-22, presidential press secretary Irina
Gerashchenko announced at a press briefing on July 21. “Taking into
account the political situation in the country, President of Ukraine
took decision that he must stay in Ukraine these days,” REGNUM quotes
the press secretary.
Gerashchenko also said that Yushchenko on July 21 sent an official
letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he assured the
latter of the openness of Ukrainian-Russian relations and that Ukraine
regards Russia as her main strategic partner.
Earlier, a number of Ukrainian media referring to official and
unofficial sources close to the Ukrainian President alleged that
Yushchenko was ready to attend the summit in Moscow.
Previously, President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili also unexpectedly
decided to cancel his visit to Moscow. Some sources reported that he
turned back his motorcade virtually in Tbilisi airport. No official
reason for the decision was announced. However, sources in Tbilisi
hinted that Saakashvili did not manage to agree with Putin on a
special meeting.
Later, it was reported that President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
also would stay home due to acute respiratory disease.

Georgian police violates agreement on free movement of Ossetians in
the conflict zone; citizens of Armenia and Azerbaijan are blocked, too
Regnum, Russia
July 21 2006
Movement of ethnic Ossetians is blocked again by Georgian police in
Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. South Ossetian Interior Minster
Mikhail Mindzayev is quoted by REGNUM as stating that recently,
Georgian police did not let pass passenger buses to remote villages
of Tskhinvali and Leninogorsk districts of South Ossetia. It was a
gross violation of agreements on the movement of persons and vehicles
in the conflict zone, the minister noted.
Mikhail Mindzayev assessed the Georgian police behavior as abusive. He
said that while performing their personal and baggage checks, the
police are going into minute details and insult people.
Georgian police control all roads connecting Ossetian and Georgian
villages. The minister pointed out that an agreement on free movement
of Ossetians was achieved earlier. “In case the Georgian side’s
tactic is continued, we will be forced to take adequate measures,”
Mikhail Mindzayev said.
At present, Georgia does not let pass Armenian and Azerbaijani citizens
through South Ossetian territory too.

FM OF AZERBAIJAN MEETS EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ON S. CAUCASUS
[July 21, 2006, 19:14:50]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 21, 2006
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov on 20 July has met
with Mr. Peter Semnebey, Special Representative of the European Union
on South Caucasus.
The sides had a comprehensive exchange of views on the issues of
the present status of the Azerbaijan-EU relations, the negotiation
processes on settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, regional relations, the large-scale economic and transport
projects being realized in region.
In the discussions related to the Azerbaijan-EU relations, focused
was the process of negations on the Plan of Activity for Azerbaijan
in the frames of the Organization’s New Neighborhood Policy, and
especially were discussed the co-op opportunities in the energy sphere.
Noting, Azerbaijan is not only the source of energy, but also the
transit country, Minister Mammadyarov said the integration to reach the
European markets is priority in state policy of Republic. It is also
of great importance form the national security standpoint, he stressed.
In meeting, also touched were issues of energy safety, support for the
final document adopted by G8 on the problems of global energy safety.
Speaking of the negotiations on peaceful settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Mr. Semnebey stated
expressed hope for peace achievement with the help of mutual trust
steps.
‘Azerbaijan adheres the negotiations to be continued in the frame of
Prague process’, the Minister said. ‘The occupied territories should
be freed, the refugees and IDPs return to their homelands. But the
unconstructive position of Armenia impedes it’, he underlined. The
Minister called the mass fire set in the occupied areas by Armenians
as ecological catastrophe. ‘Should these fires be eliminated by
Azerbaijan or with the mediation of the OSCE, it would contribute
mutual trust actions’, Mammadyarov stressed.
Peter Semnebey promised to lift the question in Brussels, and stressed
necessity to stop the fires.
In the meeting, also discussed were a range of questions of mutual
interest.

Safar Abiyev: Armenia should pull back its forces from occupied Azerbaijani lands
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 21, 2006
[ 21 Jul. 2006 18:36 ]
Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Safar Abiyev today received the
European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter
Semneby. The Ministry press service told the APA Minister Abiyev
touched on Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe.
He also said some aims artificially caused the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict.
“Armenia has occupied Azerbaijani lands and on the other hand,
it intends to build mutual confidence with Azerbaijan. However,
we have no trust in Armenia. Since Armenia wants to build mutual
confidence, it should pull back its forces from the occupied
Azerbaijani territories, provide refugees and IDPs returning to
their native lands, and infrastructure should be restored in these
territories. This conflict should be resolved in the frames of the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,” Mr.Abiyev said.
Mr.Semneby wished that conflict be resolved peacefully underlining
the European Union will make all efforts for the settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict./APA/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenians violate the cease-fire in Tovuz front
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 21, 2006
[ 21 Jul. 2006 17:37 ]
The companies of the Armenian Armed Forces from their positions in
Kokhanabi village of the Azerbaijani region of Tovuz fired on the
opposite positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces with submachine
and machine guns from 17:55 till 18:10 yesterday.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry press service told the APA the enemy
was resisted by response fire. No casualties were reported./APA/