WASHINGTON DENIES PRO-ARMENIA BIAS
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
April 6 2006
A high-ranking US official has said Washington supports a fair and
peaceful settlement to the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict that meets the interests of both sides,
despite some analysts describing US government’s financial aid to
Armenia as an indicator of bias.
The allocation of more financial assistance to Armenia than Azerbaijan
does not imply that the United States favors this country on the
conflict resolution, said the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza. Washington backs
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and a conflict resolution based
on the United Nations resolutions, Bryza said during his visit to
Baku jointly with a State Department Policy Planning Director Stephen
Krasner on Monday.
“The UN Security Council resolutions represent worldwide laws and we
support them. We are interested in the continuation of peace talks.
The key issue here is for the sides to reach agreement that would
benefit both of them,” the American official added. Commenting on the
operation of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic’s office in
the U.S., Bryza said this is in line with American laws. He said US
legislation does not ban the opening of any entity’s representation
in his country despite certain restrictions. “We allow any given
organization to operate in the United States unless this runs counter
to our laws. There is nothing illegal about the activity of an
organization from the Garabagh region or the Cyprus Turks’ community
in the U.S. But personally, I have not had any officially meetings
with the Upper Garabagh representatives.” In a meeting with President
Ilham Aliyev, the head of state said the successful development of
multi-lateral US-Azeri relations was essential for the whole region
and expressed hope for further expansion of cooperation. Heisner
thanked Azerbaijan for its contribution to the anti-terror campaign in
Afghanistan, Kosovo and other hot spots and said bilateral relations
were of strategic importance for his country.
‘Double standards’ The American officials met with opposition leaders
to exchange views on the social and political situation in Azerbaijan
after last year’s parliamentary elections, as well as democracy
and human rights. The current status of the Garabagh talks was
also reviewed during the meetings with the leaders of major Musavat,
Popular Front and Azerbaijan Democratic Parties, and the National Unity
Movement, according to the US embassy. A source from the PFPA said
the opposition raised the issue of what they described as a double
standard policy pursued by the U.S. with regard to Azerbaijan. The
US officials are expected to attend an international conference on
transparency in extractive industries. The event focusing on the
experience of pilot countries will take place next Thursday as part
of the fourth meeting of the Coalition on the Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiative (EITI).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GENOCIDE SURVIVORS TO SPOTLIGHT DARFUR HORROR
Jim Doyle, Chronicle Staff Writer
San Francisco Chronicle
April 6 2006
A monthlong effort to focus attention on the atrocities being committed
in Sudan will begin tonight with a gathering of survivors of the
Holocaust and genocides in Rwanda, Cambodia, Armenia, Nanking and
Bosnia at a San Francisco synagogue.
Eltayeb Ibrahim, whose family has lost more than 200 relatives in
Sudan’s genocide since early 2003, will be one of several speakers
at Temple Emanu-El.
The event marks the beginning of an effort called “National Days
of Conscience,” a grassroots campaign that will culminate on April
30 with a silent vigil on the Golden Gate Bridge, a rally at Crissy
Field, and similar demonstrations in Washington and other U.S. cities.
Ibrahim, whose family is of the tribe of Tunjur Sultanates that
ruled Darfur since the 12th century, lives in Oakland. He said the
whereabouts of many of his family members are unknown, as the genocide,
by the Arab-dominated Sudanese troops and militias against non-Arab
Darfurians goes on.
“My home village of Korma and the villages surrounding it were burned
last year, and 132 people were killed,” said Ibrahim, who left Sudan
15 years ago to study economics in India. “All of them were related
to me. These are people from my tribe.”
Violence is escalating in Sudan’s provinces of Darfur, according
to the United Nations. Earlier this week, the Sudanese government
refused to allow a U.N. representative to enter Sudan.
“Four months ago, the Janjaweed (militia) came and burned all the
homes in my cousin’s village. … They killed him in front of his wife
and five kids,” Ibrahim said. “He was like my brother. We grew up in
the same house. He was a very simple man. He didn’t even understand
politics.
“A week ago, I called home and got the news that two of my cousins
were killed. It’s painful to hear that a relative got killed. But
it’s even more painful to have a relative and not know whether they
are alive or dead.”
Six other survivors of genocides will also share their memories
of atrocities committed and light candles in honor of lives lost,
including Elvir Camdzic, a survivor of the genocide in Bosnia.
Salih Booker, executive director of the Africa Action humanitarian
group, plans to speak about the systemic use of rape against Darfurian
women by Sudanese troops and militias.
The rallies scheduled for later this month are part of the “Million
Voices for Darfur” campaign to collect signatures for tens of thousands
of postcards for delivery to the White House — cards urging President
Bush to redouble his efforts to stop the genocide in Sudan. The rallies
are being organized by the Save Darfur Coalition (),
an alliance of more than 150 religious and humanitarian organizations.
“How can we as a civilized nation sit around for three years while
it happens again?” said Gayle Donsky, a coordinator of tonight’s
event for the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition, which includes
dozens of nonprofit organizations, religious denominations and human
rights groups.
Tonight’s free program is at 7 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 2 Lake St. It
also includes the short film “Witnessing Darfur.”

SEZER PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR AZERBAIJAN
The New Anatolian, Turkey
April 6 2006
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer expressed late on Tuesday Turkish
support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, underlining
that occupation of Azeri lands blocks efforts aimed at attaining
stability and cooperation in the region.
Sezer, in a speech in Baku at a dinner given by his Azerbaijani
counterpart Ilham Aliyev in his honor, called on Armenia to immediately
withdraw its forces from Nagorno-Karabakh.
“The occupation of the lands of another country without any aim
to contribute to the region’s development, peace and stability is
unacceptable for societies that respect law, justice and human rights,”
he said.
While expressing full Turkish support for Azerbaijanis in the disputed
enclave, Sezer underlined the necessity of finding a solution to
the problem in a way that will be acceptable to Azerbaijanis and
that respects the territorial integrity of the country. “Turkey is
determined to continue putting forward initiatives towards a peaceful
solution in Nagorno-Karabakh,” he added.
Touching on bilateral relations between the two countries, Sezer stated
that their ties are based on a unique solidarity and friendship and
expressed Turkey’s aim to further develop the ties that he said set
an example for other countries to follow.
Stressing that strengthening bilateral cooperation is also aimed
at contributing to the region’s peace, stability, prosperity and
security, the Turkish president said that the realization of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project indicates that Ankara and Baku
can succeed in achieving their goals. “We hope success in this sizable
but attainable goal will influence other countries in the region to
take steps expected from them,” Sezer added.
Aliyev for his part underlined the importance of economic
cooperation to further develop relations while making reference to
the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project that will connect Turkey to
Azerbaijan and on to other Asian countries.
Concerning the democratization process in Azerbaijan, Sezer extended
Ankara’s support for Baku’s aim to take its place among the Western
democracies and its position in European Atlantic organizations.

GAZPROM SAYS WILL SELL ARMENIA GAS AT $110 PER 1,000 CU M TO 2009
RIA Novosti, Russia
April 6 2006
MOSCOW, April 6 (RIA Novosti) – Energy giant Gazprom said Thursday
it would supply natural gas to Armenia at $110 per 1,000 cu m until
2009 under an agreement signed with the country’s authorities.
The agreement defines strategic cooperation principles for projects
in the gas and energy sector in Armenia.
In January, Russia doubled the price for natural gas supplies to
Armenia from $54 per 1,000 cubic meters to $110.
The move has stirred heated debate in Armenia, whose struggling
economy is heavily dependent on Russian gas, and prompted some
political groups to demand a review of relations with Moscow.
Armenia does not produce natural gas, which it uses to generate
electricity, and Russia is its only supplier.

ARMENIAN FM EXPRESSES OPTIMISM FOR PROGRESS ON DISPUTED ENCLAVE
The New Anatolian with AP / Baku
April 6 2006
Armenia expressed optimism Wednesday that progress could be made
toward a settlement of its dispute with Azerbaijan over the status of
the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave despite the breakdown in talks between
the two countries’ presidents earlier this year.
“The negotiations must be continued and what we have on the table
today must be used as the basis,” Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
said at a meeting with Peter Semneby, the European Union’s special
representative in the South Caucasus region.
“Armenia has already made all possible compromises, there is no place
left to step back,” he said. “The time has come for Azerbaijan to
take steps so that we can get this (negotiation) process moving and
bring it to completion.”
Semneby urged the two sides to act soon to get talks under way again.
“Indeed, there is a window of opportunity, which we need to take
advantage of,” he said.

CENTRAL ASIA’S RAPID GROWTH TO CONTINUE IN 2006-2007, SAYS ADB
Journal of Turkish Weekly
April 6 2006
Central Asia will maintain its rapid economic expansion with GDP growth
in the region projected at 10.3% in 2006 and 9.8% in 2007, according
to a major ADB report released today. The region grew 10.9% in 2005.
Regional inflation is expected to rise slightly to about 7.9% in 2006,
but the current account is now expected to post a strong surplus due
to high oil prices.
“Many Central Asian economies are benefiting from a range of reform
measures under way. But the overall picture masks a large gap between
growth in the oil-producing nations and the rest,” said ADB Chief
Economist Ifzal Ali in launching the 2006 edition of ADB’s flagship
annual economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO).
“As a region, Central Asia would benefit most from an aggressive
campaign to remove barriers to trade and foster closer economic
cooperation,” he said.
ADO 2006 forecasts overall growth for the 43 countries of developing
Asia of 7.2% in 2006 and 7% in 2007.
In Armenia, rapidly rising incomes and falling poverty rates
abetted by well-sequenced economic reforms are the country’s current
hallmarks. GDP growth is forecast between 6% and 7% in 2006-2007 as
inflation is expected to be well contained, and the current account
deficit is expected to narrow further. The medium-term outlook is
favorable although prospects would brighten if an agreement to resolve
the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh was concluded and the country’s
borders were fully open to trade.
Azerbaijan experienced unprecedented GDP growth of 26.4% in 2005.
This momentum is set to build further to 30.5% in 2006 and nearly that
rate in 2007, driven by oil and gas production and exports as recent
large investments come fully online. The 2006 budget calls for a very
large increase in spending and the Government will need to carefully
manage expenditure to avoid stoking inflation, which started to pick
up last year. Key challenges are controlling inflation, preventing
excessive appreciation of the Azerbaijani manat, and diversifying
the economic base.
Ambitious structural changes, foreign investment, high prices for
hydrocarbons, and political stability have spurred Kazakhstan’s
economy and improved living standards in recent years. GDP growth is
projected to average 8.5% in 2006-2007 as high investment continues
in this oil-driven economy. The challenge ahead is to maintain
past successes and ensure broad-based development and employment by
expanding non-oil manufacturing, raising productivity in agriculture,
and extending the reach of small and medium-sized enterprises.
In the Kyrgyz Republic the “Tulip Revolution” and the fall in gold
production at the country’s major mine adversely affected the economy
in 2005. The outlook is for recovery and GDP growth is projected at
5% in 2006 and 5.5% in 2007 based on implementation of an economic
program supported by the Poverty Reduction and Growth facility of
the IMF. The new Government has declared its commitment to addressing
the three main challenges facing the country: low living standards,
unemployment, and widespread corruption.
GDP growth in Tajikistan slowed to 6.7% in 2005 due mainly to falling
cotton production and deterioration in the terms of trade. The
outlook is for a recovery in activity with GDP growth projected at 8%
in 2006 and then moderating to 6% in 2007. Progress has been made
in implementing a poverty reduction and growth strategy in recent
years, despite the legacy of weak institutional capacity and a limited
resource base. Medium-term economic prospects are promising in view of
the start of major foreign-invested projects and intensified efforts
to advance structural reforms.
The outlook for growth in Turkmenistan is subject to considerable
uncertainty because of the economy’s heavy reliance on exports of a
handful of energy and agricultural products. If prices for exports
of natural gas rise in 2006 this will provide a short-term stimulus
to the economy and GDP should grow 5%-7% a year in 2006-2007.
Uzbekistan has posted strong growth over the past two years with
significant contributions from agriculture and robust performance
on external trade. This growth momentum is expected to continue in
2006-2007 with GDP projected to expand about 6% annually, aided by
greater foreign direct investment in the hydrocarbon sector.
Medium-term prospects are bright; however, a sustained, broad-based
high-growth track would require undertaking the critical mass of
reforms needed for private sector-led growth.

BILLBOARD MESSAGES PROMOTE PEACE
Christina Pazzanese
Boston Globe
April 6 2006
Two colorful billboards loom large over Mt. Auburn and Arsenal
streets in Watertown with a simple message: “Join US: Recognize
the Armenian Genocide.” Artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian, the son of
genocide survivors and a former Watertown resident, said he put them
up in March through his nonprofit entity, Peace of Art, to “promote
peace and awareness” and to remind people of the Armenian Genocide
of 1915. Hejinian has been behind similar signs displayed around town
since 1996.

TELEPHONE TALKS BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA DISCOVERED
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 6 2006
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies had
enough facts proving that there were telephone talks between Azerbaijan
and Armenia. Minister Ali Abbasov told journalists about it (APA).
Saying that “These talks are heard by the National Security Ministry”,
the Minister added the talks are under surveillance of security bodies.
Mr.Abbasov also confirmed that there are links, exchange of ideas
and talks between Internet users of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“Probably, it is argue or propaganda. If these services are contrary
to Azerbaijan’s national interests, the National Security Ministry
will found it out. These links are watched to a certain extent.
However, it is very difficult process. We supply the Security Ministry
with necessary means,” The Minister concluded.

GEORGIA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE ON STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION
Prime News Agency, Georgia
April 6 2006
Tbilisi. April 06 (Prime-News) – Georgia will take part in the
international conference on struggle against corruption, which will
be opened in Yerevan on Thursday and closed on Friday.
Arthur Bagdasaryan, the chairman of Armenia Parliament told journalists
that as a result of conference Armenia will become a member of the
international organization of parliamentarians against corruption
(GOPAC).
In conference will also take part representative of USA, Great
Britain, Germany, Poland, Canada, Ukraine, Secretary General of
GOPAC. Organizations of conference are Armenia parliament, OSCE,
UNDP, Eurasia foundation and USAID.

GARABAGH ARMENIANS MAY JOIN TALKS ON ‘CONDITIONS’
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
April 6 2006
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on Thursday that Azerbaijan
may agree to the participation of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh Armenians
in peace talks, but warned this is possible only after they recognize
themselves as Azerbaijani citizens and honor the country’s laws.
“Armenians living in Upper Garabagh must first recognize Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and admit that Baku is the Azerbaijani capital
and they are ready to negotiate with us,” he said, while commenting
on some statements by Armenian and European diplomats on a possible
involvement of the Armenian community in the negotiations.
“Then they should state willingness to cooperate and live in accord
with the country’s Constitution,” said Mammadyarov, elaborating on
the conditions put forth by official Baku. The minister also said the
Armenian community’s participation in talks at this point runs counter
to Yerevan’s interests and Armenian officials’ zealous statements
to that end simply represent a “diplomatic move”. “I believe Yerevan
itself does not want the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic to
be involved in the negotiations now, as they are interested in holding
talks on their own.” Mammadyarov added that the talks are under way in
the existing format, which suits Azerbaijan’s interests. Meanwhile, the
OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
still hope for a peaceful solution, despite the latest unsuccessful
round of talks between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian
in France in February, which was followed by belligerent statements
by both sides. President Aliyev has said on several occasions after
the talks that Azerbaijan would regain its territories no matter
what it takes. The American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven
Mann said he still hopes for a conflict resolution this year, which
was predicted earlier. “We will now analyze the situation and map
out further steps. I can say with hope after the last meeting of the
Azeri and Armenian presidents that we can find a way to resolve the
conflict. 2006 is ideal for this.”
Mann said the next meeting of the mediators may be held in April. He
also did not rule a meeting between the two countries’ foreign
ministers soon, but did not cite a specific timeframe. Political
analyst Vafa Guluzada regarded Mann’s statement as “not serious”.
“The conflict will be resolved only if the United States recognizes
Armenia as aggressor and demands it to withdraw from the occupied Azeri
land. We can’t bind any hopes with talks,” he said. Upper Garabagh,
which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, has both
Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian population. It was occupied by Armenia
in early 1990s, along with seven other Azerbaijani districts, after
large-scale hostilities that killed up to 30,000 people and forced
over a million Azeris out of their homes. The ceasefire accord was
signed in 1994, but peace talks have been fruitless so far and refugees
remain stranded.