RA DEFENSE MINISTER: ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN MILITARY RELATIONS SHOULD CONSTANTLY DEVELOP
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 00:45 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The level of the Armenian-Russian military
cooperation is very high and covers a wide scope of issues, Armenian
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan stated in an interview with “Krasnaya
Zvezda” Russian newspaper. “We should not stop at the achievement
we have made. On the contrary, we should constantly develop these
relations. We possess the appropriate legal and historical base and
wish. I hosted my Russian counterpart Sergey Ivanov in January and
we discussed the prospects of the Armenian-Russian relations,” he
remarked. “I would like to say that Armenia by no means develops the
relations with NATO at the expense of the Armenian-Russian cooperation
that expands in all directions. But we understand we should be
familiarized with the experience of other states,” the RA Defense
Minister stated. In his words, special place in the Armenian-Russian
relations is given to 102nd Russian military base that was located by
proposal of the Armenian party. “Do you remember early 1990-ies when
military units were seized in the post soviet republics or Russia
itself conveyed the property of the bases to them. At that time by
our suggestion half of the property was conveyed the Armenian party,
on the rest 50% a military base was formed. If Armenia took the
decision it was important for it,” Serge Sargsyan said.

RA AMBASSADOR TO ARGENTINA VLADIMIR KARMIRSHALIAN OFFICIALLY STARTS IMPLEMENTATION OF HIS OBLIGATIONS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
BUENOS AIRES, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Vladimir
Karmirshalian, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Argentina
handed copies of his credentials to Jorge Taiana, the Minister of
Foreign Relations, International Trade and Worship of the Republic
of Argentina, on April 18 and officially started implementation of
his obligations. The private conversation of the Foreign Minister
of the Republic of Argentina and the RA Ambassador took place
after the official ceremony. The Minister congratulated Ambassador
Karmirshalian on the occasion of the appointment and wished success in
this responsible mission. The necessity of strengthening and deepening
relations between the two countries was touched upon, a number of
international and regional issues of mutual interest was touched upon
during the conversation. At the Minister’s request, the Ambassador
presented relations among Armenia and the region, the process of
democratic and economic reforms taking place in Armenia. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, issues connected with opening soon the Embassy of Argentina
in Yerevan were touched upon during the conversation.

SARGSYAN DOUBTS SERIOUS PREPARATION FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN KARABAKH
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 01:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “To tell the truth I doubt that serious preparation
for peacekeeping operation in Karabakh is carried out somewhere. The
consent of the parties is needed for it,” Armenian Foreign Minister
Serge Sargsyan stated in an interview with “Krasnaya Zvezda”
Russian newspaper when commenting on the reports of the Russian
media that a peacekeeping operation for Nagorno Karabakh of being
elaborated in Brussels under the aegis of the OSCE. In his words,
this will become possible when the conflicting parties come to an
agreement. “Unfortunately there is no agreement between Armenia and
Azerbaijan at present.
Consequently it’s premature to speak of peacekeepers yet,” he said.
When commenting on the current situation with Nagorno Karabakh the
Armenian Defense Minister said, “I should note that the Karabakh issue
is being constantly raised in Azerbaijan and some forces try to solve
internal political problems by gambling on it. You are aware that the
Azeri President and Defense Minister reiterate that if we do not agree
on their conditions Baku will have to settle the problem by force.
Moreover, Azerbaijan has doubled its military budget and the Azeri
President promised to bring it to $1 billion. But it resembles
blackmail.”
“We are not afraid of war but we do not want it. In 1994 the ceasefire
agreement was achieved with Russia’s mediation. Today our troops
occupy firm defense positions. Billions of dollars will not help.
If the military budget could determine the efficiency of the army all
oil-powers would possess the most efficient armies. But it’s not so,”
Serge Sargsyan resumed.

EU: DEMAND OF KARABAKH PEOPLE SHOULD BE MET
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 01:27 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The European Parliament considers it has not clear
“road map” to settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, however the EU
should take part in the solution of the issue without fail,” Chair
of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, French MP
Marie-Anne Isler-Beguin stated at a news conference in Yerevan. In
her words, the international community wants soonest settlement
of the Karabakh conflict by peaceful tools. “The other way is just
impossible. The conflict should be solved based on the right of peoples
to self-determination and observation of national minority rights. The
demand of the Nagorno Karabakh people should be met and Azerbaijan
has to respect people’s right to self-determination,” she remarked.
The delegation head believes that the OSCE MG should find a
political compromise between the parties of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Marie-Anne Isler-Beguin emphasized the EP does not speak
“either of occupied, or liberated territories.” “These are the seven
regions around NK, where refugees should return and decide their
status themselves,” she underscored.
At the same time Isler-Beguin supposes the Armenian society should
be ready to living with Azerbaijanis.
At that she cited the example of France and Germany, which in spite
of past differences, are an exemplar of peaceful cooperation.

TURKEY OBLIGED TO RECOGNIZE AMRENIAN GENOCIDE, MEP BELIEVES
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 01:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Each time the matter of talks on Turkey’s accession
to the EU is discussed at the European Parliament, the issue of
recognition of the Armenian Genocide is raised, Chair of the EU-Armenia
Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) from France Marie-Anne Isler-Beguin stated at a news conference
in Yerevan.
In her words, it is impossible to imagine that a state can enter Europe
without recognizing a genocide fact and having a blocked border with
a neighbor. “We remind Turkey of the need to acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide and open the border and will always abide by this position,”
she emphasized.

FRENCH HOME SECRETARY CENSURED PROFANATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL IN LYON
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 19:37 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ French Home Secretary Nicolas Sarkozy censured the
vandalism act regarding the Armenian Genocide memorial in Lyon. In
his words, “this crime of violence, expresses negationism and hatred,
and is unacceptable.”
To remind, on April 17, seven days before the commemoration of
the Armenian Genocide of 1915, the steles of the Armenian Memorial
set up in the town of Lyon (France), which was to be inaugurated by
President Jacques Chirac, were profaned with inscriptions of insults
and negationists: “There never was genocide of the Armenians”. This
act of vandalism followed upon the consecutive racist drifts with the
ultra nationalist Turkish demonstration of last 18 March. Armenian
associations and organizations (CCAF – CDCA) call the authorities
of Police force to seek and sanction the persons in charge for these
intolerable attacks of human dignity.
“Authors of the inscription must be severely punished,” added Nicolas
Sarkozy. He assures the Armenian community of its ” whole solidarity
“. He reminded, “the Republic has expressed its stance by the law
of January 29th, 2001, according to which France recognizes publicly
the Armenian Genocide of 1915.” Thus, he added, “the authorities of
the Republic will not admit scoffing at the law.”

CANADIAN PM RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 20:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, has
made a clear statement recognizing the historical fact of the Armenian
Genocide, reports the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC). In
response to a reporter’s question regarding the Armenian Genocide,
the Prime Minister said: “That was a vote held in the last Parliament
[Motion M-380 – April 21, 2004]. As you recall, Parliament passed that
resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Our party supported that
resolution and we continue to recognize that parliamentary resolution”.
Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of
Canada (ANCC), thanked Prime Minister Harper, on behalf of the Canadian
Armenian community, for his historic statement. “Stephen Harper’s
principled and righteous stand in recognizing the Armenian Genocide
will finally bring closure to the Canadian-Armenian community,”
said the ANCC Chairman.

TYUMEN TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 20:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A memorial evening on the Commemoration Day
of Victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 will be organized by
Stroitel palace of national cultures in Tyumen on April 24. The event
program includes a story on the historical developments in 1915,
an exhibition devoted to national heroes, performance of patriotic
songs, declaration of poems of Armenian poets. April 24 is marked in
Russia, Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora as the Commemoration Day
of Victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. Russia
officially marks the Commemoration Day since 1995, when the State
Duma recognized the fact of the Genocide. The date was introduced in
Armenia 8 years before. Ritual measures on the occasion will be held
on that day worldwide, reports NewsProm.Ru.

RESERVED ATTITUDE NECESSARY TOWARDS TURKISH AND AZERI PRESS PUBLICATIONS
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 20:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Reports that Baku will attack Armenia in a few days
are hardly true. I do not think serious people disseminated these,”
Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian said in response to a question of a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter regarding “official Baku has resolved to
launch a war”. In Oskanian’s words, reserved attitude is necessary
towards all statements of the Turkish and Azeri press. “I suppose
this report deserves no attention,” the Armenian FM underscored.
To remind, the Media Forum, an Azeri newspaper, reported referring to
Turkish web-site that “Azeri army will attack Armenia
in a few days.” “Diplomatic sources provided the information,” the
web-site reported. According to the web edition, “the Azeri government
has seriously prepared for liberating Karabakh and official Baku has
resolved to launch a war”.

LEONID IVASHOV: THREAT OF RESUMPTION OF HOSTILITIES IN KARABAKH QUITE REAL
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.04.2006 GMT+04:00
Interview
The South Caucasus has always been a place of collision of
superpowers. Due to the Nagorno Karabakh and Georgian-Abkhaz conflict
there is an impression formed that Russia is gradually being forced
out of the region. What is the actual state of affairs?
PanARMENIAN.Net asked first vice-president of the Academy of
Geopolitical Studies, Colonel General, Doctor of Historical Sciences
Leonid Ivashov, who headed Russian Army General Staff till 2001.
How serious are Azerbaijan’s statements on readiness to resumption
of hostilities on the Karabakh front?
Security issues should always be treated seriously.
Taking into account the complexity of the Nagorno Karabakh problem
security is the main task of the state and the major responsibility of
the President and government. Only via military balance it’s possible
to preserve political settlement. The threat of an armed conflict
and resumption of hostilities is quite real.
Keeping the situation within a political settlement is possible only
via balance of military potentials.
Domination of military force of one of the parties can result in a
new bloodshed.
Which is the Russia’s policy towards settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict?
The Russian leadership lacks a precise strategy on the South
Caucasus. In relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia Russia abides
by the balance of friendly interaction. This line helps to maintain
peace in Karabakh.
A notion is formed lately that Russia is trying to strengthen its
position in the South Caucasus resorting to means that are not
popular. Is this true?
Russia, in the person of the reasonable part of its leadership, is
trying to maintain its presence and influence in the Caucasus. It’s
important for Russia to prevent destabilization in the North Caucasus,
deployment of NATO military bases and projection of military force
inland.
In my opinion, Armenia is Russia’s monument point in the South
Caucasus. At the same time it is vitally important for Armenia to have
allied relations with Russia. If Armenia relies on promises made by
the West it will lose its state system and independence.
If Georgia and Azerbaijan escape the zone of Russia’s influence, will
not Armenia be isolated, hoping for Russia’s good will, which can act
in the same manner, as in 1921 by concluding an alliance with Ataturk?
Armenia has the right to establish relations with whom it wishes. But
if it conflicts with Russia’s interests Moscow can transform
cooperation into the level of mutually beneficial relations without
any political or economic preferences. However such situation will
conflict with Armenia’s national interests and will result in the
isolation of the republic and even in its collapse.
A large Armenian Diaspora lives in Russia. “I think it could make a
great contribution to the development of the Russian-Armenian allied
relations.