NKR TERRITORY IS CONTROLLED
Lragir.am
29 March 06
“There are no facts of traffic in drugs in Nagorno Karabakh,” said
Victor Cherkasov, the head of the Russian Federal Service for Control
of Traffic in Drugs, in Yerevan on March 29. Victor Cherkasov told
news reporters that as the head of the Russian Federal Service for
Control of Traffic in Drugs and the president of the coordinating
board of the Collective Security Pact Organization he could assume
the responsibility to announce that there are no facts that drugs
are exported from and transited via Karabakh.
Haik Harutiunyan, the chief of the Police of Armenia, also denied
that there is traffic in drugs in Nagorno Karabakh. “This question
is politicized and has nothing to do with the reality. The Police of
Karabakh control the entire territory of Nagorno Karabakh, cooperating
with us,” said Haik Harutiunyan.

TWO APPROACHES TO PROBLEM OF RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Regnum, Russia
March 29 2006
“Not recognizing the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915,
present Turkey wishes to avoid the status of country-aggressor in the
international community. Territorial or financial reasons do not play
important role in the process,” stated Professor, Head of Turkish
Department of Oriental Institute of Armenian NAS Ruben Safrastyan
during discussion with member of governing board of the Armenian
National Movement, Chairman of Permanent Parliamentary Commission on
External Ties in 1995-1999 Hovhannes Igityan.
As a REGNUM correspondent informs, according to Ruben Safrastyan,
despite the fact, that the Turkish state policy, and its history
has excluded “a page devoted to massacre of 1915”, the authorities
of the country do not deny the genocide. They invite Armenia to
conduct discussion, which is “rejected by our side.” He suggested
using experience of state suits against state: Bosnia against Serbia,
Serbia against Croatia. “Armenia has to use the experience now,” stated
Safrastyan, adding, little by little the Armenian Genocide recognition
transits from state level to problem of national security. At the
same time, he stressed, solving the problem one should not rely on
the UN, because “pressure of Islamic states is high there”. Also,
Ruben Safrastyan suggested establishing of two special commissions,
first of which would, using “legal terms”, present a concept on the
Armenian Genocide, and, based on it, second one would make economical,
political, territorial demands of Turkey “on more global and scaled
level.” “After thorough preparations the Armenian state should bring an
action against Turkey at Hague International Court, despite of threat
to loose process. 18-19 countries have already recognized Armenian
genocide; the time has come, when the whole world may support us. Now,
we may demand apologies from Turkey,” concluded the expert.
In his turn, Hovhannes Igityan stressed, that the Armenian genocide
recognition will become happened fact only in case of its recognition
by societies, and not by authorities of two countries. According to
him, international mediators and judicial institutions has not to
be engaged in problem of Armenian genocide recognition. “Dialogue
and diplomatic mission will be most effective ways here,” believes
Hovhannes Igityan. Also, the expert pointed out, Armenian community of
about 50,000 people, living now in Turkey, does not reduce despite of
all events, and “news about beating of and misdeeds toward Armenian
citizens come not from this country, but mainly from Russia and
Georgia.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAKU, STEPANAKERT ACCUSE EACH OTHER OF THWARTING BORDER MONITORING
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
March 29, 2006 Wednesday 4:58 PM MSK
An operation to monitor the border between Azerbaijan and the
self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh will not take place
on Wednesday.
The measure was called off “after shots were fired in the Karabakh
village of Karmiravan, which is currently under Azerbaijan’s
occupation,” a spokesman for the Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Ministry
told Interfax.
“Three shots fired from automatic weapons were heard by a group of OSCE
observers led by the OSCE chairman-in-office’s personal representative,
Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, and officials of Nagorno- Karabakh’s
Defense and Foreign Ministries who were accompanying the mission,”
he said.
Kasprzyk decided to cancel today’s monitoring due to the absence of
security guarantees, the spokesman said.
Azeri Deputy Ministry spokesman Ilgar Verdiyev has accused Armenia
of thwarting the effort.
“During monitoring preparations, the OSCE chairman-in-office’s personal
representative Andrzej Kasprzyk heard shots fired at the Armenian
section of the border and ordered that monitoring be cancelled,”
Verdiyev told Interfax-Azerbaijan.

BILL TO BAR ASSISTANCE FOR RAILWAY BYPASSING ARMENIA INTRODUCED IN U.S. SENATE
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.03.2006 21:32 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As Armenian Assembly activists stormed Capitol Hill
topromote community concerns to over 80 congressional offices today,
Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced
a major bill (S. 2461) in the U.S. Senate that would bar assistance
for a proposed $800 million railway that would connect Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Turkey while bypassing Armenia, reported the Armenian
Assembly of America. “United States policy in the South Caucasus seeks
to foster regional stability and enhanced cooperation, and includes
open borders and transport corridors,” Santorum said. “The proposed
rail link would not only undermine U.S. long-term goals for the region,
but serves to isolate Armenia.
Efforts to foster economic integration and reduce the risk of further
tensions are in the best interests of the United States and the South
Caucasus.” Menendez, echoing Santorum, added that “the sole aim of
this costly project is to further isolate Armenia by enhancing the
ongoing Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades.”

KARABAKH AND AZERI CONTACT LINE MONITORING UPSET
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.03.2006 21:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The monitoring of the contact line of the Karabakh
and Azeri armed forces near the settlement of Seysulan of NKR Martakert
region scheduled for March 29 did not take place over the shots fired
by the Azeri side from the occupied village of Karmiravan, reported
the information and analytical department of the NKR MFA. The OSCE
observing mission led by personal representative of the OSCE CiO,
Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk as well as representatives of the NKR
Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs registered 3 shots. Due to
the absence of any guarantees from the Azeri side Andrzej Kasprzyk
cancelled the monitoring.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MUNICIPALITY HAD GUESTS
A1+
03:13 pm 29 March, 2006
The tradesmen of the subways of the Barekamutyun, Yeritasardakan,
and Sasuntsi David Underground stations, as well as those of the
Komitas 53 and Abovyan-Koryun subways gathered today opposite the
Yerevan municipality. The gathering of hundreds of people brought
the Security Service workers to the above mentioned area.
The organizers of the act of complaint demanded the mayor to receive
them. Deputy mayor Sargsyan came to receive them instead.
The tradesmen of the Barekamutyun and Yeritasardakan subways do not
have a rent contract with the municipality. “We asked them more than
once to sign a contract with us, but they refused saying that they
have to reconstruct the area. Taking into account the fact that we
do not have a contract, we are afraid that after the reconstruction
there will be 12 stores instead the 37 kiosks with completely different
owners. We made an offer to carry out the process with our financial
means and their projects. Deputy mayor Sargsyan received us and
promised to sign contracts about the payment. At the same time we
will sign contracts that if the present kiosks are deconstructed,
only we can become owners of them after the reconstruction”. These
were the words of Azat Navasardyan who represented the interests of
the 37 tradesmen of the Abovyan-Koryun subway.
Today the real danger menaces the tradesmen of the Barekamutyun subway,
but the other joined them because they fear soon they will deserve
the same fate.
According to Andranik Haroutyunyan, “They want to sell the area to
someone who will carry out total reconstruction and give us the areas
for 150-200 USD instead of the 6500 AMD which we pay today”.
The participants of the act of complaint left the area filled with
hopes and expectations.

AZERBAIJAN COMPLAINS OF THE EU
A1+
01:07 pm 29 March, 2006
The Azeri Embassy to Belgium which is at the same time accredited in
the EU has sent a note to the EU Chief Directorate of International
Relations. This time the Azeris are complaining of the maps.
The Azeri have discovered that, for example, in the website of the
EU Commission Karabakh and Nakhijevan are mentioned as Armenian
territories. The same is mentioned in the website of the Energy
Directorate of the European Committee.
According to the Azeri Mass Media, the third secretary of the
Azeri Embassy in Belgium has said that the EU Chief Directorate of
International Relations has claimed the mistake will be amended.
By the way, a similar incident took place some time ago when the
Nagorno Karabakh was mentioned as a separate territory in the website
of the European Parliament.

TWO DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY JOIN OPEN LETTER INITIATED BY ARSHAK SADOYAN ON ISSUE OF “ZHARANGUTIUN” PARTY OFFICE
Noyan Tapan
Mar 28 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Considering the policy fostered by
the authorities in the issue of the “Zharangutiun” (Heritage) party
this to be a flagrant infringement, on the part of the incumbent
presidency and its ruling clique, of fundamental civil liberties and
political freedoms, MP and chairman of the National Democrats’ Alliance
Arshak Sadoyan has launched an initiative whereby he has petitioned
all political parties in Armenia as well as institutions that are
interested in the establishment of democracy in the Republic. “On
March 4, 2006, a criminal break-in took place at the premises which
Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K. Hovannisian has
been leasing for more than 12 years. Without advance notice on legal
warrant, the lock of the Heritage Party headquarters’ main outer door
was smashed and replaced with another. As a result, the chairman of the
Heritage Party and the staff of its central office have been forcibly
denied the right of entry into their own place of work, which under
the existing contract is theirs until June of this year. The absolute
closure of access to Heritage’s official seal, documents, computers,
and means of telecommunication has brought the party’s activities to
a standstill, paralyzing the regular contact between its headquarters
and regional offices,” is said in the open letter. The authors of
the document reminds that Raffi Hovannisian and the executive board
of the Heritage Party have issued formal and telephonic petitions to
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepian,
and Police Chief Haik Harutiunian regarding this unlawful act. “No
response, explanation, or comment has been received to date from the
law enforcement bodies. In fact, the constitutional order has once
again been violated in Armenia. A leading opposition party that has
stood out of late with its civic and public initiatives has effectively
and illegally been shut down,” is said in the letter. The authors of
the document consider this to be a flagrant infringement, on the part
of the incumbent presidency and its ruling clique, of fundamental
civil liberties and political freedoms. We demand that the Armenian
authorities reopen the Heritage Party headquarters immediately and
implement measures guaranteeing its normal, unfettered, and secure
operations. About two dozens of parties, unions and organizations have
already joined the open letter, including the Forum of Intellectuals
of Armenia, Social Democrate Hnchak, “Hanrapetutiun,” “National
Democratic Union,” “National Democrates’ Alliance,” “Nor Zhamankner”
(New Times), “Zhoghorvrdavarakan Hayrenik” (Democratic Fatherland)
parties. The letter is open for signatures.

CO-CHAIRMEN OF WORKING GROUP OF DARTMOUTH CONFERENCE ON REGIONAL CONFLICTS TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN ON MARCH 29
Noyan Tapan
Mar 28 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Vitaly Naumkin (RF) and Harold Sonders
(U.S.), Co-chairmen of the American-Russian working group of Dartmouth
Conference on Regional Conflicts, will leave Baku for Yerevan on
March 29. They have been working with representatives of the public
of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh since 2001. As Noyan
Tapan correspondent was informed from the office of the Democratic
Party of Armenia, the draft frame agreement of peace process will be
presented during the meeting. A round table, then a press conference
will be held in Yerevan. The American and Russian Co-chairmen will
leave Yerevan for Nagorno Karabakh.

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN 4 RURAL COMMUNITIES OF THREE REGIONS IN APRIL
Noyan Tapan
Mar 28 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 28, NOYAN TAPAN. In April, local self-government
elections will be held in one community of Kotayk and Shirak regions
and two communities of Vayots Dzor. As Noyan Tapan was informed by
Tsovinar Khachatrian, Spokesperson of RA Central Electoral Commission,
a village head will be elected on April 16 in the rural communities
of Khachik and Saravan, Vayots Dzor. The first has 899 electors,
the second 240. On April 23, village head elections are planned in
the community of Hatsavan (Kotayk region) having 413 electors and
community of Pokrashen (Shirak region) having 122 electors.