ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING OF GYUMRI MILITARY BASE COMPENSATES WEAKENING OF RUSSIAN POSITIONS IN GEORGIA
Regnum, Russia
May 19 2006
Through additional bringing up to strength the military base in the
Armenian city of Gyumri (102nd Russian military base, situated in
the north of Armenia – REGNUM), Russian military presence in Armenia
increases and it compensates weakening of Russia’s positions in
Georgia,” Chief of Caucasus Department of CIS Countries Institute
(Russia) Mikhail Alexandrov stated to a REGNUM correspondent.
According to him, the fact is quite logical that the armaments were
transported exactly into Armenia. “The Armenian border is enough
near to the strategic Akhalkalaki and Batumi road. Now, in spite of
inability to control the sector, our strengthened base in Armenia
will be able to block the road in case of any crisis,” Mikhail
Alexandrov stated.
“From its part, Georgia, which relied upon NATO in settling Abkhazian
and South Ossetian conflicts, made a serious mistake, because if Russia
took neutral stand regarding the conflict parties before, later it
sided with South Ossetia and Abkhazia, realizing geopolitical threat
to its interests. Russia is interested in having more hard-edged
regional leaders in power here, who will not yield to Georgia,”
Mikhail Alexandrov believes.

TURKEY DISSATISFIED WITH RESOLUTION BY FRENCH PARLIAMENT
Author: À.Alasgarov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
May 19 2006
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has voiced its dissatisfaction
with the resolution by the French parliament on temporary delay
of the consideration of a draft law on criminal persecution for
non-recognition of the so-called ‘Armenian genocide’, Trend special
correspondent reports from Turkey.
Turkey expects from France repeal of the draft law and support in
organization of a meeting among the Turkish and Armenian historians
for objective consideration of the so-called ‘Armenian genocide’.
–Boundary_(ID_OIT9B3QYz9zAyy5nsuInHg) —

YEREVAN APPRAISES MEETING OF AZERI, ARMENIAN FMS IN STRASBOURG
Author: À.Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
May 19 2006
Yerevan appraises the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministers held in Strasburg on 18 May, the Armenian Foreign Ministry
announced. Armenia positively estimates the meeting though there
are still unsettled and uncoordinated issues, Trend reports citing
Mediamax.
The key objective of the meeting in Strasbourg was to set up
preparations for the forthcoming visit of the senior diplomats of
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries – Russia, France and the
United States to the region.
The meeting between Vardan Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov started in
presence of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, while after hey continued
the talks on one-to-one.
“The meeting centered on principles and approaches to the resolution
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict laid on the table of talks,” the
Armenian Foreign Ministry announced.
During the visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan on 24-25 May the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs will be accompanied by Russian Deputy Foreign
Minister Grigoriy Karasin, US Assistant Secretary of State, Daniel
Fried, and the Director of Department for Political Issues of the
French Foreign Ministry, Stanislav D’Labule.
–Boundary_(ID_fSND7ErS+Y9sWwaGEafDqA)- –
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RF HOUSE COMMISSION CONDEMNED ACTS OF VANDALISM COMMITTED BY AZERBAIJAN
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 19 2006
May 17, 2006 a sitting of the Russian Federation House Commission
for Cultural and Spiritual Heritage was held under the chairmanship
of Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borov. The issue “About
Appeal of the Moscow Round Table Participants: Armenian Cultural
Monuments of Nakhijevan – Object of Azerbaijan’s Vandalism” was
discussed during the sitting. According to the information DE FACTO
Information-Analytics Agency received at the “Yerkramas” newspaper of
the Armenians in Russia, the report made by the “Armenian Friendship
and Cooperation Association” President Victor Krivopuskov ran in
December 2005 Azerbaijan had committed an act of vandalism on the final
destruction of an ancient Armenian cemetery having 4 000 khachkars
(cross stones) – medieval monuments of the Christian architecture –
in the populated locality of Old Jugha. Then it was mentioned that
during the years Nakhijevan was within Azerbaijan 27 000 centers of
the Armenian cultural heritage of VII – XIX centuries were destroyed,
including churches, monasteries, khachkars of historical and cultural
value common to all mankind. “Actually, the policy of destruction of
the ethnical evidence of Nakhijevan’s belonging to Armenia is pursued
at the state level in Azerbaijan”.
While addressing the audience, a historian and film director Kim
Bakshi, a writer, member of the Union of Writers of Russia Supreme
Creative Council Valentin Osipov, the President of the International
Academy of Spiritual Unity Among the Peoples of the World Georgy
Trapeznikov, “Russian-Armenian Commonwealth” organization President
Yuri Navoyan not only mentioned numerous facts of destruction of
the ancient Armenian monuments in Azerbaijan, but referred to the
fact that Azerbaijan had recently implemented the state policy of
falsification of the Russian and Armenian history, disoriented and
misled its own nation and the world community, which affected Russia’s
interests, its interstate relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia and
had an adverse effect on the establishment of trust and development
of friendship between the nations.
Metropolitan Kliment stated the Armenian historical and cultural
monuments destroyed by the Azeris had been the property of the modern
world civilization and added their destruction had entailed irreparable
loss for the world cultural and historical heritage.
The House Commission unanimously condemned Azerbaijan’s acts of
vandalism against the monuments of the Armenian spiritual culture
in Old Jugha and stated it intended to study the present state and
maintenance of the cultural and spiritual heritage of other nations
by Azerbaijan together with the concerned commissions on tolerance
and freedom of consciousness, culture, globalization and national
development strategy, the international cooperation and public
diplomacy.

PARIS WON’T SUPPORT BILL ON ARMENIA
Gulf Times, Qatar
Published: Friday, 19 May, 2006, 01:01 PM Doha Time
PARIS: The French government said yesterday it would not support
a proposed bill to punish anyone denying Armenian genocide claims
because it would upset Turkey, the alleged perpetrator of the killings.
Turkish officials have warned France of “irreparable damage” to
bilateral ties if Paris passes the law, presented in parliament by
the opposition Socialists. Ankara recalled its ambassador to France
this month and a leading deputy there warned of a possible boycott
of French goods.
But without the support of the ruling UMP party, the bill is unlikely
to ever become law.
Turkey denies claims that 1.5mn Armenians perished in a genocide
committed by Ottoman forces during and immediately after World
War One. Around 400,000 people of Armenian descent live in France,
Europe’s largest Armenian diaspora.
“We cannot accept this proposed law,” Foreign Minister Philippe
Douste-Blazy told deputies during a debate on the bill.
“The Armenian cause is just and should be defended and respected,”
he said. “But the bill you have submitted today would, if passed,
be considered as an unfriendly gesture by a large majority of Turks,
whether you want this or not.
“That could have serious political consequences and weaken our
influence, not only in Turkey but in the whole region.”
Turkish media say the bill is an attempt by politicians to court the
Armenian vote as France gears up for presidential elections in 2007.
Turkey says the Armenians who died after World War One were victims
of partisan fighting that claimed even more Turkish lives as the
Ottoman Empire collapsed.
The bill suffered a second blow yesterday when deputies had to cut
short the debate for time reasons. The next time they can review it
under the procedure used for this debate is next November, they said.
Groups of Armenians and Turks demonstrated outside the National
Assembly as the debate was taking place.

ELMAR MAMMADYAROV AND VARDAN OSKANYAN TO MEET IN STRASBOURG
Today, Azerbaijan
May 19 2006
Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is in Strasbourg, France,
to attend the 116th session of the Council of Europe Committee of
Foreign Ministers scheduled for 18 and 19 May.
Mr. Mammadyarov is expected to meet Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan. The Foreign Ministers of the Council of Europe 46 member
states will discuss human rights and cooperation between the Council
of Europe and the European Union today.
Russian Federation will take over the presidency of the Committee of
Ministers from Romania, for a period of six months. Mammadyarov will
deliver speech at the session.
At the invitation of Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis,
the Ministers will hold an informal meeting with Martti Ahtisaari,
the United Nations Special Envoy for the future status of Kosovo. The
Ministers will also discuss other major priorities resulting from the
Council of Europe’s Third Summit in Warsaw, namely: the reinforcement
of the Council’s action in support of democracy and good governance,
the development of intercultural dialogue and the Organisation’s
process of internal reform.
Foreign Ministers of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova will have
separate talks on the development of the GUAM alliance, APA reports.
URL:

UNION SQ. NORTH-END RENOVATION GETS FINAL APPROVAL
By Albert Amateau
The Villager, NY
May 19 2006
The city’s Art Commission on Monday unanimously approved the
much-revised renovation plan for the north end of Union Square Park,
with some further modifications.
The vote by all eight of the 11 commissioners present at the May
15 meeting means that construction on the Union Square north plaza,
the pavilion with a controversial seasonal private restaurant and an
expanded playground, can begin this year.
The renovation, sponsored by the Union Square Partnership business
improvement district with the Parks Department, has been planned,
hotly debated and revised several times over the past several years.
Playground space, renovation of the now underused and decrepit pavilion
and preserving the north plaza as a place of public assembly and as
a venue for the largest Greenmarket in the city have long been points
of debate.
Neighbors who have been anticipating the renovation were gratified at
the final conclusion. Ken Salzman, who lives a block away from Union
Square with his family including three young children, said he hoped
the playground would be done before his children were too old to use
it. He also lauded the proposed new restrooms, one of which would be
accessible only by children and their caregivers.
Gabrielle Tessler, who also lives a block from the square, praised
the playground proposal, which includes equipment for older children.
Tessler visits Union Square with her daughter, Julia, a 6-year-old
pupil at P.S. 41 in the Village.
But several elected officials joined the chorus of neighborhood
opponents against a pavilion renovation that depends on use as a
restaurant six months of the year.
Nevertheless, the Art Commission commissioners made it clear that
they had jurisdiction only on the park design and had no say at all
on the use of the pavilion.
The commission approved the plan for the pavilion as submitted by
the Department of Parks and the landscape architect Michael Van
Valkenburgh Associates, but demanded the elimination of a proposed
cantilevered balcony on the south side, which was added to provide
the seasonal restaurant with a terrace for 10 additional restaurant
seats. Commissioners agreed with several neighborhood critics that
the balcony with its 4-foot-high banister was not appropriate for
the pavilion.
The commission also eliminated a proposed row of trees next to the
north side of the pavilion, saying the trees obscured the view of
the pavilion, which was built in 1932. But the commission did endorse
the disputed proposal for a row of eight trees along 17th St. at the
north end of the open plaza, plus a row of trees on the west side of
the plaza between 15th and 17th Sts.
The commission called for the new trees to be planted 30 feet apart
in a continuous trench rather than in individual tree pits. The
planting arrangement is intended to give the trees a chance to grow
in a high-risk location. A row of trees planted in pits along 17th
St. in the 1980s to commemorate the Turkish massacre of Armenians in
the 1920s did not survive longer than four years.
Jack Taylor, a preservation advocate and public member of Community
Board 5, and other critics, have called for a north plaza – the
historic site of mass public protests – to be free of any trees or
barriers that would inhibit public assembly.
“We urge you to remember that Union Square is a national historic
landmark, designated for the role of the north plaza in accommodating
mass demonstrations, rallies, parades, political and social protests
and the exercise of citizens’ rights of peaceful public assembly and
free speech,” Taylor said. “An unhindered and unadorned space has
been maintained there since 1882 and even earlier,” he said.
However, William Castro, Manhattan Parks commissioner, told the
Art Commission that since the renovation of the south end of Union
Square Park was completed four years ago, 98 percent of permits for
public assembly at Union Square were issued for the 14th St. end of
the park. Nevertheless, he added, the north plaza is still available
for public demonstrations.
Castro also pointed out that the new playground will be three times
the size of the present playground, and the restaurant space in the
renovated pavilion will be smaller than the space that Luna Cafe,
the current seasonal outdoor restaurant, occupies on the south side of
the pavilion. The plan originally called for a year-round restaurant
in the pavilion but was changed last year to seasonal use.
Longtime critics of the plan, including former City Councilmember
Carol Greitzer, Paula Schaeffer and Geoffrey Croft, also denounced
the proposal for a restaurant in the 31/2-acre park. Castro, however,
said that City Councilmembers Christine Quinn and Rosie Mendez,
have accepted the plan.
But some critics derided as “public outhouses” the two proposed
free-standing restrooms for public use to be built on the east and
west sides of the pavilion. Critics said the restrooms within the
pavilion should be reconstructed and made public all year-round.
Under the approved plan, the pavilion restrooms will be for restaurant
patrons during its seasonal operation and open to the public the rest
of the year.
Critics including Barry Benepe, a founder of the Greenmarket and the
father of Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, criticized the location
of the playground in the sunken area now occupied by Luna Cafe.
“Nowhere else is there a playground that you have to walk into down
a flight of stairs or a ramp,” he observed. Benepe also denounced
the restaurant use of the pavilion in an area with many prominent
restaurants.
Aides for Borough President Scott Stringer, Assemblymember Richard
Gottfried, State Senator Tom Duane and Congressmember Carolyn Maloney
called for work to begin as soon as possible on the playground. But
they also denounced the pavilion restaurant.
Earlier this year, Community Board 5 approved the plan by a vote of
29 to 1.

AZERBAIJAN FACES IRAN DILEMMA
By Kenan Guluzade in Baku
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
May 19 2006
Baku uncomfortable as its major ally confronts its southern neighbour.
As tension grows between Iran and the West over Iran’s nuclear
programme, agonised debate has begun in Azerbaijan about what stance
the country should take if the crisis escalates and it is called on
to join an anti-Iranian coalition.
Should it come to military action, many observers assume that the
United States would want to use Azerbaijani territory for its troops.
Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter was quoted by the Azerbaijani
information agency APA as saying that Azerbaijan would be a likely
base from which the US would launch military strikes.
The US government has already paid for a radar station to be built
in the south of the country, on the border with Iran.
However, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliev has explicitly ruled out
joining any anti-Iranian coalition. Speaking on an official visit to
Washington on April 26, Aliev said, “Azerbaijan, of course, will not
be engaged in any kind of potential operations against Iran, and our
officials [have] made it very clear, including myself in the past…
it’s time to stop speculating on this issue.
“We have a bilateral agreement with Iran which clearly says that the
territories of our countries cannot be used for any danger towards
each other.”
The non-aggression pact between Iran and Azerbaijan was signed two
years ago in Tehran by the defence ministers of the two countries.
During a visit to Azerbaijan by Iranian defence minister Mostafa
Mohammad Najjar in April, the two sides discussed implementing the
agreement. The Iranian minister said a second agreement covering
military cooperation could be signed if necessary.
Many Azerbaijani experts warning that the risks entailed in getting
involved in any operation against Iran would be high.
Political analyst Zardusht Alizade says it could mean Baku losing
all hope of regaining Nagorny Karabakh. “We have always called for
a solution to the Karabakh problem which is within the framework
of international law,” he said. “If we take part in an anti-Iran
coalition, we will lose Karabakh. The US flouts international law
and wants other countries to support it in doing so.”
Noting that Azerbaijan has no serious quarrels with Iran and obtains
some of its electricity from that country, Alizade asked, “On what
grounds would we join some mythical anti-Iran coalition?”
Hikmet Hajizade, a former Azerbaijani ambassador to Moscow who is now
a political analyst with the opposition party Musavat, said Azerbaijan
would be hit hard by any imposition of sanctions against Iran and
trade would suffer. According to the Iranian embassy, trade between
the two countries came in at an estimated 450 million dollars last
year. Trading with Iran is the main source of income for people in
the south of the country.
Hajizade pointed out that if the crisis escalates, the Nakhichevan
Autonomous Republic, an exclave cut off from the rest of Azerbaijan
and whose border with Armenia is sealed, would be in particularly
deep trouble, as it gets all its gas and electricity from Iran.
He said that if it came to war, Azerbaijan would have to deal with
an influx of refugees from Iran – particularly ethnic Azerbaijanis –
and would itself be vulnerable to attack.
“It would not be at all hard to break the backbone of the economy:
all that would be required are several torpedoes… and two or three
medium-range missiles,” Hajizade said, speculating that offshore
oil platforms and the Sangachal terminal that supplies oil to the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline would be targeted.
Most Azerbaijanis, like the Iranian state, are Shia Muslims, and a
rise in tension could provoke an angry backlash from them. “There
are too few pro-Iranian Islamists in Azerbaijan to destabilise the
country, but there are enough of them to carry out various terrorist
and diversionary acts,” said Hajizade.
However, some experts argue that it would be dangerous for Azerbaijan
if Iran were to produce nuclear weapons, as the country – which
currently has better relations with Armenia – would become even
more powerful.
Parliamentary deputy Igbal Agazade argues that by supporting
Washington, Azerbaijan will be choosing the lesser of two evils,
and that it would be better to avert the Iranian threat and reap the
political rewards. Agazade said that as a result, Baku might receive
US support over the dispute over Karabakh and adjoining Armenian-held
regions close to Iran.
“Membership of the coalition will mean greater defence for Azerbaijan
against an Iranian threat, and will help in solving a potential
humanitarian crisis,” argued Agazade.
During a two-day visit to Baku, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
refrained from expressing an opinion on the position Azerbaijan should
take in the current crisis, saying only that Iran is a peace-loving
state and that Baku and Tehran are friends.
Visits to Azerbaijan by Iranian officials and President Aliev’s trip
to the US give the impression that some serious horse-trading is
going on over the Iran crisis.
Azerbaijan’s position can be compared with that of Turkey, which is
similarly hesitant about strong action against Iran but reluctant to
offend the United States. Turkey saw its relations with Washington
deteriorate after it failed to offer support for the war in Iraq. As
the crisis over Iran develops, the Baku authorities will be mindful
of this experience.
Kenan Guluzade is deputy editor of Zerkalo newspaper in Baku.

NO BACKING FOR GENOCIDE BILL
Gulf News, United Arab Emirates
May 19 2006
Paris: The French government said yesterday it would not support
a proposed Bill to punish anyone denying Armenian genocide claims
because it would upset Turkey, the alleged perpetrator of the killings.
Turkish officials have warned France of “irreparable damage” to
bilateral ties if Paris passes the law, presented in parliament by
the opposition Socialists.
Ankara recalled its ambassador to France this month and a leading
deputy there warned of a possible boycott of French goods.
But without the support of the ruling UMP party, the Bill is unlikely
to ever become law.
Turkey denies claims that 1.5 million Armenians perished in a
genocide committed by Ottoman forces during and immediately after
World War One. Around 400,000 people of Armenian descent live in
France, Europe’s largest Armenian diaspora.
“We cannot accept this proposed law,” Foreign Minister Philippe
Douste-Blazy told deputies during a debate on the Bill.
“The Armenian cause is just and should be defended and respected,”
he said. “But the Bill you have submitted today would, if passed,
be considered as an unfriendly gesture by a large majority of Turks,
whether you want this or not.
“That could have serious political consequences and weaken our
influence, not only in Turkey but in the whole region.” Turkish media
say the Bill is an attempt by politicians to court the Armenian vote
as France gears up for presidential elections in 2007.
Turkey says the Armenians who died after World War One were victims
of partisan fighting that claimed even more Turkish lives as the
Ottoman Empire collapsed.
The Bill suffered a second blow yesterday when deputies had to cut
short the debate for time reasons. The next time they can review it
under the procedure used for this debate is next November, they said.
Groups of Armenians and Turks demonstrated outside the National
Assembly as the debate was taking place.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES ENVIRONMENT MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION CONCEPT
Arka News Agency, Armenia
May 19 2006
YEREVAN, May 19. /ARKA/. Armenian Government approved Thursday a
concept of environment monitoring implementation, Armenian Deputy
Environmental Minister Simon Papyan said Thursday at a briefing in
Yerevan. Under this concept, the ministry has to work out monitoring
program within 6 months and give certain powers to appropriate units.
Papyan said the state monitoring concept embraces air, water, soil,
bio-variety and radiation safety areas.
The deputy minister also said it is under consideration now how much
money is needed to put this concept into practice.
The program will be funded by state budget, international organizations
and donors.