LAW-DEFENDER OF ARRESTED AZERI OFFICER TO LEAVE FOR BUDAPEST ON 2 APR
Author: E.Javadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006
Adil Ismayilov, a law-defender, will leave for Budapest on 2 April
to attend the hearings on the case of Azerbaijani officer charged
in murder of his Armenian fellow during the military exercises in
Hungary in 2004, Trend reports.
The last hearings of the case of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani
officer who is accused of assassination of An Armenian officer,
Gurgen Markarian in Budapest, was held on 7 March
The last 4th examination for definition of psychological state
of Safarov defines that accused committed the crime in state of
responsibility. The judge appointed the appearance for 4 April,
while the issue of sentence for 14 April.
After the last hearings Ismayilov stated to a news confreec in Baku
that the Hungarian court openly defended the Armenia’s stance and
held a tendension position in respect to Safarov.

SABINE FREIZER: “NAGORNO KARABAKH IS NOT A ‘FROZEN CONLICT'”
Today, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006
Sabine Freizer, Caucasus project director for the International Crisis
Group, said March 28 in Washington that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
is not a ‘frozen conflict’.
“There are still people being killed regularly,” she underlined.
As many as 19 people, including eight civilians, have been killed in
cease-fire violations over the past month, following inconclusive
peace talks in Rambouillet, France, she said. As many as 90 people
were killed in 2005, Trend repoted.
She said renewed warfare does not seem imminent but could be triggered
by “an unraveling” along the tense, heavily armed confrontation line.
Many of the Armenian-occupied towns outside of Nagorno-Karabakh have
been destroyed and would require substantial rebuilding, Freizer said.
The region is especially sensitive because of its geography. Renewed
military operations in Nagorno Karabakh potentially could involve
Russia, Iran, the Republic of Georgia and Turkey, Freizer said.
URL:

ARMENIANS CUT RED OAKS IN OCCUPIED LANDS AND SELL ABROAD FOR COGNAC PRODUCTION
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006
Armenians cut red oaks in the occupied Lachin and Gubadli regions
of Azerbaijan, sell abroad for cognac production and use nut trees
as furniture materials. Ecology and Natural resources Ministry told
APA that wild animals are massively hunted in these territories.
“Rules of international ecologic conventions are being violated
and animals are being destroyed in the territories out of control
of Azerbaijan and international structures. Unfortunately, this
ecologic terrorism has not been given its deserving assessment in
international arena. It was made clear through testimonies of former
Azerbaijani captures and by other means that these territories have
been vandalized by Armenians”.
Gubadli State Nature Preserve, one of the greatest State Preserves
of Azerbaijan (22,000 hectare), covers Gubadli’s villages-Basarat,
Deshtahat, Muradkhanli, Amudurkh, Lachin’s villages-Yukhari Ferejan,
Ashagi Ferejan, Suarasi Gishlag, Khanlar and Nagorno Garabagh’s
territories-Khojabird, Arpa Gadik and Tagh villages.

PERSPECTIVES OF IRAN GAS – SOUTH PARS AS GLOBAL ENERGY FACTOR
Regnum, Russia
March 29 2006
Perspectives of Iran gas extraction and transit, in particular,
current stage of realization of the Southern Pars project, as well
as international and regional political and economic tendencies,
connected with it, were presented by Deputy Director of Noravank
Scientific-Educational Fund Sevak Sarukhanyan on March 28 in Yerevan.
As a REGNUM correspondent informs, several Armenian experts and
analysts were present at the event.
According to Sarukhanyan, by the end of 2004, proven gas reserves
totaled 7.1 trillion of cubic meters in South and Central America,
7.32 trillion m³ – in North America, 14.06 trillion m³ – in Africa,
14.21 trl m³ – in Asian-Pacific region, 64.02 trl m³ – in Europe
and Eurasia, and finally 72.83 trl m³ – in Middle East. At the same
time, 28.5%, 15.2%, and 14.1% of world energy balance correspondingly
fall on Russia, Iran, and Qatar. Accordingly, parts of Russia, Iran,
and Qatar in world gas export vary near 34%, 1%, and 1%.
Meanwhile, as Sarukhanyan stressed, gas usage will triple in the EU
by 2020. According to the expert, such drastic rise of the fuel’s
consumption will be accompanied by sharp reducing of gas extraction
in Norway, and little by little strengthening of the Russian monopoly
concerning Turkmen and Uzbek gas transit to Europe. According to
Sarukhanyan, increasing of Russian gas supply to Europe will be
accompanied by diversification of its transit routes. During the
next 15-20 years, big part of Russian gas will be supplied to Europe
through three main routs: 120-150 billion m³ – through Ukraine, 50-70
billion m³ – through the North-European pipeline, 50-70 billion m³ –
through Norwegian pipeline system, taking into consideration decreasing
of gas production in Norway. In context of signing Russian-Chinese
agreements, Russia will, according to the expert, direct considerable
part of the Russian gas from Siberia to China.
“Even, if to take into consideration possible increase of Russian gas
to EU, European ‘negative’ gas balance will reach 150 billion m³ by
2025,” believes the Armenian expert.
According to his prognosis, solving problem of missing gas, Europe
has chosen Iranian South Pars project. It is known as world biggest
natural gas deposit, which may be connected with Europe by pipeline.
According to Sarukhanyan, South Pars contains huge gas reserves of
best quality, which are still uncontrolled by USA, Russia, and China.
According to the presentation’s information, 8 South Pars’ sections
are completely ready; every one produces 25 million m³ per day.
Annual production at these 8 sections totals 73 billion m³.
Mentioning rival projects of Iranian gas export, the Deputy Director
of Noravank Fund conditionally named them the ‘West’ and the ‘East’
ones. West Project is route Iran-Turkey (South Caucasus)-Europe, East
Project – Iran-Pakistan-India. Actually, according to Sarukhanyan,
Pakistan and India together pretend to 40 billion m³ of Iranian gas,
and Europe – to 150 billion m³. “Politicization of the question is
caused by fact that behind Iran and Pakistan stands threatening shadow
of Chinese People’s Republic, which is pretending to the lion’s share
of Iranian gas by 2020. The USA is worried by Chinese strategy of
energy import, based on two fundamental principles: seller of oil
and gas guaranties stability of supplies, and buyer (i.e. China)
guarantees their security at whole route. It naturally strengthens
military-economically China and Shanghai Organization of Cooperation
in regions of supply and transit”, stated the expert.
What does Iran want, asked he himself? According to Sarukhanyan,
basically Iran prefers European market, because EU countries are
ready to buy gas at European prices. As for Pakistan and India, they
suggested Iranian side making long-term agreement on gas supply
at fixes prices, which basically does not satisfy Iran. At the
same time, Iran skillfully uses the East Project in order to have
additional arguments in his European policy, as well as in talks on
nuclear problems. From other point, characterizing US position on
the question, Sarukhanyan stressed, energy strategies of US and EU
fundamentally differ. It was obviously demonstrated by the American
way of Iranian problem’s solution. “It is more favorable for the USA,
when Europe consumes Russian gas, but not Iranian one. From the other
side, US general aim is not to allow Iranian gas to get into China.
American-Indian agreement on construction nuclear reactors, aimed
at decreasing India’s energy needs, may be connected with the fact”,
stated he.
Mentioning perspectives of Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Ukraine-Europe route,
Sarukhanyan pointed out, construction of new pipeline in Ukrainian
territory would be very expensive. It will take from $35 billion up
to $40 billion, because 90% of existing infrastructure are used for
transit of the Russian gas. Hypothetical transit incomes of Armenia and
Turkey, for transition of Iranian gas, may approximately total $160
million for Armenia (in case of transit of 50 billion m³ annually),
and for Turkey up to $4 billion (in case of transit of 150 billion
m³ annually), according to the expert.
–Boundary_(ID_qJRhl6Z8KysmKNlec5TWZw)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARIF MAMMEDOV: “MISTAKE AT THE EU COMISSION WEBSITE FIXED”
Today, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006
Mistake at the EU Comission website, where Nagorno Karabakh was shown
as an Armenian territory, is fixed, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Benelux
and EU countries, Arif Mammedov told.
After the tough reaction from the Azerbaijani side, EU Comission
representatives have admitted the mistake committed by some of its
employees, he said. Admittedly, mistakes on the map were committed
not only towards the Azerbaijani territory but also the Balkan states
and the Palestinian autonomy.
“Literally 1, 5-2 hours from our demand these maps will be taken off
the website. They have apologized and promised to investigate the
issue. This employee will be probably punished or fired,” Mammedov
said, adding that all maps were taken for the revisal from the website.
An appeal was send to the EU General Directorate on international
relations considering the fact that EU Comission website’s on energy
Gas section showing the pipeline route depicted Nagorno Karabakh,
adjacent regions and Nakhcivan as an Armenian territory, Trend reports.
URL:
TREN D Information, Azerbaijan March 29 2006
Arif Mammedov: Mistake at the EU EuroComission website fixed
Source: Trend Author: E. Huseynov
29.03.2006
Mistake at the EU EuroComission website, where Nagorno-Karabakh was
showed as an Armenian territory, is fixed, Azerbaijani ambassador to
Benelux and EU countries, Arif Mammedov told Trend.
After the tough reaction from the Azerbaijani side, EU EuroComission
representatives have admitted the mistake committed by some of its
employees, he said. Admittedly, mistakes on the map were committed
not only towards the Azerbaijani territory but also the Balkan states
and the Palestinian autonomy.
“Literally 1, 5-2 hours from our demand these maps will be taken off
the website
. They have apologized and promised to investigate the issue. This
employee will be probably punished or fired,” Mammedov said, adding
that all maps were taken for the revisal from the website.
An appeal was send to the EU General Directorate on international
relations considering the fact that EU EuroComission website`
s on energy Gas section showing the pipeline route depicted
Nagorno-Karabakh, adjacent regions and Nakhcivan as an Armenian
territory.

FREIZER: “AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA CHOSE TIME GAINING STRATEGY IN SETTLING OF NK CONFLICT”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006
The International Crisis Group (ICG) Caucasus Project Director Sabine
Freizer held a presentation of the Nagorno Garabagh conflict within
traditional conference of the US Columbia University.
The ICG office in Tbilisi told APA that the presentation was made
on the reports on the conflict that the ICG made last year. In her
speech, Sabine Freizer said the Nagorno Garabagh conflict is not a
frozen conflict.
“There are still people being killed regularly,” she underlined.
According to Ms. Freizer, both Azerbaijani and Armenian sides consider
that their stances are strengthening as long as the peaceful way of
solution of the conflict is delayed.
Stressing that as many as 19 people have been killed in cease-fire
violations over the past month and 90 people were killed in 2005,
Freizer said outbreak of the war might lead to great harms.
“There are 30 thousand Azerbaijani and 20 thousand Armenian military
men in the front line,” she said.
The ICG representative also reported that the Armenians of Nagorno
Garabagh hope to gaining independence gradually and Azerbaijanis
think that oil and gas revenues will strengthen the Army and provide
an opportunity to resume military operations.
“Both parties have chosen the strategy of gaining time,” Freizer said.
She also added that renewed fighting in Nagorno Garabagh potentially
could involve Russia, Iran, Georgia and Turkey.

GEORGIAN PRESIDENT, ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS
Arka News Agency, Armenia
March 29 2006
Yerevan, March 29. /ARKA/. Georgian President Mikhail Sahakashvili
and RA Ambassador to Armenia Hrach Silvanyan discussed the prospects
of developing bilateral relations.
The press and information department, RA Foreign Office, reports that
during the meeting Ambassador Silvanyan presented his credentials to
the Georgian President.
Before being appointed RA Ambassador to Georgia, Hrach Silvanyan
worked as RA Ambassador to Ukraine.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRIED: “USA DOES NOT EXERT PRESSURE ON AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA IN SOLUTION OF NK CONFLICT”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006
“The USA does not exert pressure to the sides in the settlement of
the Nagorno Garabagh conflict.” The statement was made by Daniel Fred,
the USA State Secretary deputy on Europe and Eurasia issues.
Mr. Fred has stated that the USA will support the variant which will
satisfy the sides. However, the USA Secretary State deputy said that
the USA co-operates with Azerbaijan with regard to security issues:
“But the money allocated to Azerbaijan by the USA will not be directed
against Armenia, it will be used for fight against terrorism.” Mr.Fred
added that security of Armenia is significant for Washington: “In
this context parity should be observed in allocation of financial
aid to Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

MONITORING AT THE FRONT LINE NEAR GAPANLI VILLAGE OF THE TERTER DISTRICT DID NOT HAPPEN
Author: E. Javadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006
Due to the armistice violation by the Armenian armed forces monitoring
which had to take place at the front line near Gapanli village of
the Terter district did not happen, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry
press-service head, Ilgar Verdiyev told Trend.
Monitoring had to be carried out according to the existing OSCE
mandate, he said. The field assistants of the OSCE chairman, Harry
Eronen and Peter Key had to observe the condition of the cease fire at
the front line and from the opposing side- the personal representative
of the acting OSCE chairman, ambassador Andjey Kaspshik and his field
assistants- Alexander Somarski and Imre Palatinus had to conduct the
observation.
However, fire arm shots from the Armenian side showed that Armenian
armed forces are not observing the agreed armistice.
That was the reason forcing Andjey Kaspshik to stop the monitoring.

ALIYEV: ARMENIANS WERE MOVED TO AZERBAIJAN TERRITORY FROM IRAN AND TURKEY IN 20TH CENTURY
Regnum, Russia
March 29 2006
“Armenian nationalistic policy of genocide and aggression against
Azerbaijan people is 200 years old,” is said in President Ilham
Aliyev’s address to Azerbaijani people on the occasion of March
31 – Day of the Azeri Genocide, published by press office of the
presidential administration. Aliyev continues: “Such policy is aimed
at expatriating of Azerbaijanis and establishing Great Armenia in
their native territories, invented by Armenian ideologists”.
The president stresses, “history of Azeri people was boldly falsified,
and its historical and cultural sights, as well as place-names
became objects of open aggression of Armenian historians and so
called ideologists”. “To achieve the aim, they mobilized Armenian
lobby and Diaspora, founding ‘national-cultural’, political, and
even terrorist organizations. Resettlement of Armenians from Iran
and Ottoman Empire into native Azerbaijan territories – Karabakh and
Zangezur at the beginning of 20th century, followed by forced changing
of demographic situation, mass murders of Azerbaijanis in 1905 and
1918, aimed at threatening and expatriation of native population,
transfer of Zangezur to Armenia in 1920, granting to Nagorno Karabakh
status of Autonomous Region, resettlement of hundreds of thousands
of Azerbaijanis from Armenia, in accordance with decision of USSR
leadership, in 1948-1953, are bloody pages of Azeris’ deportation
from native territories. In 1988, Armenian nationalists, stirred up
by foreign forces, waged open actions, aimed at tearing away Nagorno
Karabakh from Azerbaijan and its further joining Armenia. The conflict
resulted in occupation of Nagorno Karabakh and neighboring areas. Over
one million of Azerbaijanis became refugees and forced migrants. Dozens
of thousands of people died,” is said in the presidential address.
Further, Aliyev stresses: “Armenian chauvinists’ aggression against
Azerbaijan has been continuing till now. And it is not completed
list of Armenian nationalists’ crimes. Policy of Armenia and its
protectors is doomed to failure, because the line sharply differs
from leading tendencies of international policy.” “We need solution
of Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict in accordance
with international law, in the framework of acceptable variants. We
demand to guarantee Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and to create
conditions for returning home forced migrants. Aggressive policy
debars Armenia from all regional projects. We advocate restoration of
historical justice, calling to account persons, pursuing policy of
occupation and genocide, before international community. I am sure,
national unity and purposeful policy will result in indispensable
achievement of proclaimed aims, and denunciation of all those,
who dooms peoples to eternal hostility and isolation,” Ilham Aliyev
finishes his address to Azerbaijan people.