U.S. Embassy holds fifth annual Jazz Appreciation Month
20.04.2006 12:14
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The U.S. Embassy in Armenia is proud to announce
that it will hold its fifth annual Jazz Appreciation Month in Armenia
April 26-30. This year’s program will include multiple events including
film showings, a jazz dance performance, and Armenian and American
jazz music concerts, which are open to the public.
The Judy Bady Quartet from New York City, along with many well-known
Armenian jazz musicians, will take part in this week-long celebration
of jazz. A new addition to this year’s events is a jazz dance
performance at the Paronyan Theater.
Tickets for all performances are on sale at the Opera and Paronyan
Theater box offices. Additional information can be found on the
U.S. Embassy website at

Final Planning Conference on Rescuer-2006 Exercise Started in Yerevan
20.04.2006 12:13
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The final conference on Rescuer-2006 exercise
started in Yerevan in April 19. During the conference David J. Wheeler,
the Kansas Army National Guard Commander said military cooperation
between Armenia and the U.S. is very important.
In his words, teamwork experience is significant for regional emergency
situations. At that he gave a high estimate to the organization works
carried out by the Armenian party.
250 participants from 12 countries will take part in the
exercises. Rescuer-2006 exercises are of command and staff nature
and are aimed at organizing and comparing the work of the military
and medical department of the Armenian MOD with the Rescue Service
of Armenia, as well as expansion of cooperation opportunities with
NATO partner states.

Baku Can Resort to Hostilities at Pinch
20.04.2006 12:12
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Today Azerbaijan cannot alone take a decision to
resume hostilities, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated
in an interview with Haykakan Jamanak newspaper.
“Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev’s capabilities in this issue are
rather restricted. They can take such step at a pinch only,” Oskanian
said. In his words, Azerbaijan realizes that it’s pregnant with a great
number of negative consequences and “it will be the last attempt to
resume hostilities, since it will legalize Karabakh’s status.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iranian defence minister denounces US threats – Azeri TV
ANS TV, Baku
20 Apr 06
Iranian Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar has said that US
statements on a possible military invasion of Iran are only aimed at
frightening Tehran.
This is no news to us because the United States has been trying to
frighten us for 27 years, the Azerbaijani private TV channel ANS
quoted Najjar as saying during his visit to Baku on 20 April.
The Iranian defence minister also said that his country is ready to
repel any US attack.
“We have never been afraid of US threats,” he said. “We maintain our
relations with the world anyway and are ready to solve any problem
in a negotiated way.”
He also said that the main purpose of his visit to Baku is to develop
military cooperation with Azerbaijan. “The purpose of this visit is
to develop relations and meet Azerbaijan’s needs. We are even ready
to provide Azerbaijan with any possibilities we have to develop
Azerbaijan’s military industry,” Najjar told ANS.
Najjar also denied that Iran is developing military cooperation
with Armenia.

EU demands closing down the nuclear power plant
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 16:42
“The European Union ids interested in closing down Metsamor nuclear
power plant,” Head of the EU Trio delegation, Foreign Affairs State
Secretary of Austria Hans Winkler declared today in Yerevan.
Hans Winkler said that “the Armenian nuclear power plant uses old
technologies, which do not come up to modern security standards.”
“On the other hand the European Union respects the sovereign right
of every state to chose the type of energy, which best corresponds
to its capacities and interests,” Hans Winkler said. In his words,
during the talks in Armenia the prospects of construction of a new
nuclear power plant were not discussed, “since it is not in the
liabilities of the European Union.

NKR IS READY TO COUNTERATTACK
Lragir.am
20 April 06
The Defense Army of Nagorno Karabakh Republic will counterattack
to any attempt of aggression on behalf of Azerbaijan, stated NKR
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan April 20 in a press conference in
Stepanakert. “The Defense Army of NKR will fight for every patch
of its land. Nagorno Karabakh is permanently ready, which excludes
the possibility of unpunished aggression on behalf of Azerbaijan,”
stated Seyran Ohanyan.
At the same time, Seyran Ohanyan denied the possibility of waging a
“lightning war” by Azerbaijan. “Even if the foe succeeds in capturing
our trenches near the front line, which I think is impossible; they
do not know what awaits them at the front line,” stated Seyran
Ohanyan. According to him, any advance of the foe is aimed at
strengthening its positions, “but this advance is insignificant.”
On April 20 NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan stated in Stepanakert
that Armenia makes efforts to settle the Karabakh conflict. “The
leadership of Nagorno Karabakh does not have reasons for distrust,
and thinks that Armenia is trying its best to protect the interests of
the people of Nagorno Karabakh.” At the same time, Arkady Ghukasyan
said the settlement is not a one-sided process, “Each of the sides
pursues its interests and here the question is not in distrust but
in the effectiveness of the process.”

International recognition of NKR – the primary issue of the Armenia’s foreign policy agenda
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 17:05
Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly, member of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Vahan Hovhannisyan said today that the
primary issue in the foreign policy agenda of Armenia, i.e. the
negotiations with Azerbaijan, should yield its place to another
question – recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by Armenia.
Turning to the opinions that Armenian-Russian cooperation is living
a troublous period, Vahan Hovhannisyan said that the question has
two faces – economic and political.
“In political respect there is really reason for trouble,” Vahan
Hovhannisyan said, adding that economically the most efficient solution
has been found.

Serge Sargsyan: We never violate the cease-fire
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 17:45
“We never violate the cease-fire, we just respond to pressure the
shoots,” RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan said.
Commander of the NKR Armed Forces Seyran Ohanyan confirms that the
combatant preparedness of the Army is on a high level.
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan has the impression that Azerbaijan is
willing to make new suggestions and gain much, which is not acceptable
for us.
“If any of the sides tries to gain more in such an obvious, apparent
way, then we shall hardly be able to come to an agreement,” Serge
Sargsyan said.
He does not consider the militant statements of Azerbaijan are attempts
to fail the negotiations process.

RA President received teh EU Trio delegation
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 17:58
RA President Robert Kocharyan received today the EU Trio delegation,
headed by Foreign Affairs State Secretary of Austria Hans Winkler.
The parties exchanged views on the cooperation between EU and South
Caucasus.
Positively assessing EU’s growing interest in the region,
the President attached importance to the final adoption of the
Individual Partnership Actions Plan with Armenia in the framework of
the European New Neighbors Policy and noted that it will make our
further collaboration of the European Union with our country more
simple and clear. “We consider the Actions Plan a certain route of
bilateral relations, which provides a new opportunity for implementing
targeted and coordinated reforms,” the President remarked.
Later Robert Kocharyan presented the latest developments in the
peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict and Armenia’s approaches
regarding the issues of energy security and cooperation.

Recognition of Karabakh should be on agenda- ARF Bureau member
20.04.2006 16:38
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau
member and National Assembly Vice Speaker Vahan Hovannisian spoke on
Thursday about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenia-Russia relations
and domestic political developments.
Taking a question on Yerevan’s current position on the Karabakh
conflict settlement, Hovannisian said that Yerevan is not going to
make more concessions other than those already spelled out for years.
“The statements Armenia makes to succeed in talks and show the
country in a better light should not be confused with the final goal,”
Hovannisian said. “If Azerbaijan admits even once it recognizes the
self-determination right of Nagorno Karabakh, it would be hard for
it to take its words back later.”
“Today, the negotiations with Azerbaijan should not be the first
issue on the agenda. Instead, the first item on the agenda should
be the recognition of Karabakh – in any form – by the international
community. This would make Azerbaijan go for more compromise.”
He added that presently not only the ARF but also state officials
realize this. Referring to the latest gas deals with Russia,
Hovannisian said that the political side of the deal was “really very
obnoxious,” but in terms of economics, the deal was the best solution
currently possible.
Speaking of the prospects of the political developments and the
possible outcome of the parliamentary election due next year,
Hovannisian said he was sure the ARF will be presented at the National
Assembly, noting that unlike the opposition, he believes the elections
will be fair.