AZG Armenian Daily #049, 18/03/2006

Neighbors

TURKEY TO LAUNCH TELECOM SATELLITE IN 2008

Turkish satellite operator has ordered a new French-built
communications satellite that will be launched in 2008.

The Alcatel Spacebus 4000 will be dubbed Turksat 3A and will provide
telecom and television broadcast service in Turkey and parts of Europe
and Central Asia.

The spacecraft will replace the current Turksat 1C and will be fitted
with 24Ku-band transponders with 8 kilowatts of power.

Alcatel has built five previous satellites for Turksat.

RA FM: Continuation of Talks Main Task of Karabakh Issue

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2006 20:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Presently the continuation of the talks is the main
task of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian stated in an interview with H2, the second
Armenian Public TV Channel. In his words, Baku made a backward step in
Rambouillet and now the task is to bring the process to the position
gained before the Rambouillet meeting. The RA FM reminded that the
OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs will meet in Istanbul soon. According to
U.S. mediator Steven Mann the decision on further steps will be taken
during the meeting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

50 Congressmen Call to Maintain Parity in Military Aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2006 22:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Joining Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George
Radanovich (R-CA) 48 House members called upon the House Foreign
Operations Subcommittee to support pro-Armenian provisions in the
fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill. The letter notes that members of
Congress are “deeply troubled” that the Administration’s request for
military aid for Azerbaijan is considerably higher then the request
for Armenia. By signing the letter, legislators will add their voice
to the effort to ensure that the agreement struck in 2001 between the
White House and Congress to keep aid levels to these two countries
equal is fully respected. In addition, the letter calls for a hard
earmark of at least $75 million for Armenia, a one-year $5 million
allocation for Nagorno Karabakh, and the preservation of Section 907
of the Freedom Support Act, reported the ANCA.

Baku Unaware of Belonging of Military Ground in Old Djulfa to Azerbaijan

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2006 22:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The photos spread by the Armenian Foreign Ministry
show that the Armenian cemetery in Old Djulfa was turned into a
military ground. The photos were taken from a short distance and
the military equipment is clearly seen. “We do not possess official
information on the belonging of the military ground to Azerbaijan,”
head of the department of press and information policy at the
Azerbaijani MFA Tahir Taghizade stated, reported Zerkalo newspaper. In
his words, even if the information on the belonging of the military
ground to Azerbaijan proves true it won’t be surprising. “The measures
undertaken in military sphere are the exclusive right of each sovereign
state. Azerbaijan has a particular right for it, since 20% of our
lands are occupied,” he emphasized.

Taghizade denied that Armenian graves were demolished in
Azerbaijan. “The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has announced the
position of our state on the issue. The misinformation spread by the
Armenian party is targeted at aggravation of the negotiation process.
The fact is that Azeri historical and cultural monuments are being
demolished on the seized territories and in Armenia. Most likely, with
such ungrounded statements Armenia tries to distract the attention
of the world community from its own acts of vandalism,” he said.

To remind, the RA MFA press office spread the photos which prove that
the last 3 500 out of 10 000 Armenian khachkars (cross-stones) that
had been preserved by December 2005 have been completely destroyed.

RA MOD Denied Men Aged 18-45 Prohibited from Leaving Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2006 23:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The hearsay that by a decree of the Armenian Defense
Ministry men aged 18-45 are prohibited from leaving the republic does
not correspond to reality. According to RA Defense Minister’s Spokesman
Seyran Shahsuvaryan, such decree does not exist. “The hearsay that the
Armenian Armed Forces hold unscheduled call-up is false. The persons,
who have already served their military service, are not conscripted
in Armenia, Shahsuvaryan said.

Millennium Challenge Account to Promote Political Reform in Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.03.2006 00:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is pleased with the participation in
the Millennium Challenge Account, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian stated in an interview with H2, the second Armenian Public TV
Channel. He informed that he together with the Finance and Economy
Minister will attend the ceremony of signing an agreement with
Millennium Challenges Corp in Washington on March 27. “This is a
very serious program that will promote political reform. At that the
Armenia-U.S. relations will reach a new level,” Oskanian noted. When
touching upon the energy problems the RA FM noted that diversification
of energy sources is very important for Armenia. “In this view we are
interested in the U.S.’s approaches in this field. Our energy security
is conditioned by the capability to use the nuclear energy resources,”
Vartan Oskanian underscored.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Peter Semneby: EU Interest in South Caucasus Grows

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.03.2006 00:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The EU-Azerbaijan relations are successfully
developing, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated at the meeting
with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby.
In his words, the EU plays an important role in the implementation
of the European Neighborhood Policy, energy projects and conflict
settlement in the South Caucasus. For his part Mr. Semneby noted
this is his first visit to the region at the post of the EU Special
Representative. In his words, the EU’s interest in the South Caucasus
is growing. He voiced assurance that the bilateral relations will
develop, reported Trend news agency.

Mujgan Suver: Turkey Doesn’t Infringe Rights of Armenians Living on Its Territory

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.03.2006 00:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Istanbul-Yerevan and Yerevan- Istanbul flights
are exercised not by the government but by private airlines, Mujgan
Suver, President of Human Rights Platform of the Marmara Group
Foundation stated. In her words, the flights are exercised for the
Armenian, citizens of Turkey, whose relatives live in Armenia. She
also noted Turkey doesn’t infringe the rights of Armenians and other
peoples living on its territory, reported APA news agency.

Talaat Pasha Action Authorized by Berlin City Administration

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.03.2006 00:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 500 Turkish public and political figures as well
as members of youth organizations of Azerbaijan will depart for
Berlin to take part in the Talaat Pasha Action to be held in March
18. The Berlin City Administration authorized the march to be held
by leader of Cypriot Turks Rauf Denktash. Security measures have been
undertaken. The rally participants will condemn the “Armenian terror”,
commemorate Talaat Pasha and protest “transformation of losses of
three nations in 1915 into the Armenian Genocide.”

To remind, the other day people in Paris, Marseilles and Valance
protested the Talaat Pasha Action in Berlin. They stressed the
inadmissibility of Turkey policy of denial and noted that “such Turkey
has no place in the democratic world.”

Armenian Parliament Called upon Latvian Saeima to Recognize Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.03.2006 01:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the meeting with Latvian Ambassador to
Armenia Aivars Vovers RA Parliament Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan
called upon the Latvian Saeima to recognize the Armenian Genocide
for the prevention of similar crimes in future, reported RA NA press
office. The parties discussed the interparliamentary cooperation
and noted the importance of Latvia’s experience for the process of
bringing the Armenian legislation up to the European standards. It
was also noted that in 2007 Armenia will be included in a program
of assistance in legislative issues to the new member states of the
European Neighborhood Policy. For his part Mr. Vovers briefed to Artur
Bahghdassaryan on the parliamentary election to be held in Latvia in
October 2006.