A SOLDIER DIES, ANOTHER GETS INJURED INCEASFIRE BREACH IN AZERI-ARMENIAN FRONTLINE
Author: E.Javadova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 7 2006

A soldier died and another got injured during the armistice breach
in the Azerbaijani-Armenian frontline on 6 and 7 March, the Defense
Ministry of Azerbaijan announced.

Nazimov Muhiddin Veli, an Azerbaijani soldier, got injured in a firing
of the Azerbaijani positions on 6 March at 12:00 from the Armenian
positions in Ashagi Seyidahmedli village of Fizuli, which is currently
under Armenian occupation. Nazimov, 19, was called up to military
service by the Military Commissariat of Oguz District in July 2005.

Jahangirov Parviz Asif, an Azerbaijani soldier, died as a result of
firing on 7 March at 04.45 from the enemy’s positions in southwest
of Giziloba village of Terter District. Jahangirov, 20, was called up
to urgent military service in April 2005 by the Military Commissariat
of Khachmaz District.

The leadership of the Defense Ministry expressed its condolences to
the parents and relatives of the killed soldier.

U.S. DEPUTY STATE SECRETARY ON EUROPE AND EURASIA TO VISIT ARMENIA ON MARCH 15-16

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 14 2006

YEREVAN, March 14. /ARKA/. The U.S. Deputy State Secretary on Europe
and Eurasia Daniel frid will visit Armenia on March 15-16 within the
frames of regional visit, according to the Press Service of the U.S.
Embassy in Armenia.

According to the press release, Frid will be accompanied by the
American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann.

The day before the US delegation arrived form Georgia in Azerbaijan
and after visit to Armenia American officials will leave for Ankara
on March 16 and on March 17 they will return to USA.

RUSSIA 10 TIMES BEHIND AZERBAIJAN IN GROWTH

Kommersant, Russia
March 7 2006

Of CIS member states, Azerbaijan posted the highest rates of industrial
growth in January 2006, the CIS Inter-State Statistics Committee said
in the report promulgated Monday, March 6, 2006.

In Azerbaijan, the industrial output climbed 40.2 percent on year
in January 2006, the CIS Statistics Committee reported. Belarus
had 12.6-percent growth, Tadjikistan posted 10.3 percent. Russia’s
industry manifested just the 4.4-percent advance in the first month
of the year and Kazakhstan showed acceleration of 0.5-percent.

Kyrgyzstan posted the 8.3-percent decline vs. January 2005. The
indicator lost 2.9 percent on year in Ukraine, 1.3 percent in Armenia
and 1.0 percent in Moldova. No information was provided about the
industry’s performance in Georgia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES VIOLATED CEASE-FIRE IN GAZAKH

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 7 2006

Defense Ministry press service told APA that Armenian side broke
the cease-fire again. From the positions in 1km to the north-east of
Berkaber village, Ijevan, Armenian Armed Forces fired on the positions
of Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Gizil Hajili village, Kazakh at 18.30
on March 6.

Armenians also fired on positions of Azerbaijani Armed Forces in
Farahli village, Kazakh by sub-machine and machine guns from their
positions in Noyamberyan from 1.10 a.m to 1.15 a.m on March 7.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PERES STEPS IN TO SOFTEN JEWISH LOBBY’S BACKLASH OVER HAMAS VISIT
Senem Caglayan – The New Anatolian / Ankara

New Anatolian, Turkey
March 7 2006

Israeli moderate leader Peres takes mediator role between Turkey and
American Jewish lobby as Jewish groups criticize Ankara over Hamas
visit. In his meeting with Jewish representatives, Peres asks for
continued support for Turkey, which is significant ahead of April 24,
anniversary of so-called Armenian genocide.

Robert Wexler, pro-Turkish Congressman, will visit Turkey on
Thursday to express behind the closed doors Washington’s concerns
and disappointment over the visit of Hamas.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Tuygan goes to Israel to meet his
Israel counterpart and discuss bilateral relations, recent regional
and intl developments.

Shimon Peres, a moderate Israeli political leader and prominent figure
in the leading Kadima party, last week took a mediating role between
Turkey and the American Jewish lobby during his visit to Washington.,
trying to soften negative reaction to last month’s Hamas visit to
Ankara, diplomatic sources told The New Anatolian.

Peres’s visit with the representatives of Jewish lobby was significant
ahead of April 24, the so- called anniversary of the Armenian
“genocide,” when the Armenian lobby steps up its campaign for the
recognition of the so-called genocide in the U.S. Congress.

The Jewish lobby so far backed Turkish efforts to block any resolution
referring to Armenian genocide claims. But following the Turkish
government’s meeting with Hamas representatives last month, important
members of the American Jewish lobby strongly criticized Ankara and
gave signs of withdrawing this key support.

The exiled political leader of Hamas, Khaled Mashaal, visited Ankara
last month, triggering a diplomatic rift between Israel and Turkey.

Ankara rejected Israeli criticism of the visit and said an Israeli
spokesman’s comparison of the Palestinian group to Kurdish guerrillas
in Turkey was an “unfortunate statement.” Later the Turkish and Israeli
prime ministers talked on the phone and agreed not to let disagreement
on Hamas ruin the overall relations and bilateral cooperation which
is significant for both countries.

Jewish-American groups were very furious with Ankara over the Hamas
visit, suggesting that the Turkish government’s move to engage with
the radical group would “lead to consequences.” U.S. Congressman Tom
Lantos, a Jewish-American who is the only Holocaust survivor ever
to serve in the U.S. Congress, sent a protest letter to Erdogan due
to his party’s talks with Hamas. Lantos warned that the meeting with
Hamas would seriously damage Turkey’s national interests, its fight
against terrorism and relations with the United States.

Critical visit from US Congressman Wexler to Turkey

While Ankara tried to ease the concerns of Jewish lobby through
several meetings, it also finalized preparations to host an important
U.S. delegation chaired by Congressman Robert Wexler.

Wexler, who is Jewish and also chairman of Turkish-American Caucus that
supports Turkey against the Armenian “genocide” motions, will begin
his contacts in Ankara on Thursday. According to sources Wexler will
express behind closed doors Washington’s concerns and disappointment
over the visit of Hamas.

Ankara, for its part, is expected to clarify the reasons for
organizing the visit of Hamas to Turkey and explain in detail the
messages conveyed to Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal during the visit,
sources added. Turkish officials will also seek the continuation
of Wexler’s support for efforts to block Armenian genocide claim
resolutions in Congress, the sources said.

Turkish undersecretary to visit Israel

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that the
Undersecretary Ambassador Ali Tuygan went to Israel on Monday for
a two-day visit. Tuygan will meet with his Israel counterpart Ron
Prosor today to discuss bilateral relations, recent regional and
international developments, the statement added.

ARMENIA DEFENSE MINISTRY REPORTS SHELLING FROM AZERBAIJAN

ITAR-TASS, Russia
March 7 2006

YEREVAN, March 7 (Itar-Tass) – The Armenian Defense Ministry has
reported the shelling of border army units from Azerbaijan on Monday
and overnight to Tuesday.

According to the spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry, Colonel
Seiran Shakhsuvaryan, the Armenian side had not retaliated with fire.

He said positions in three regions had come under fire.

Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan believes there is “no particular
aggravation of the situation on the border”. The minister, who is also
secretary of the National Security Council, told Russian reporters here
that following the signing of an agreement on ceasefire 12 years ago,
it has been violated on a monthly or weekly basis.

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday the
shelling of the Azerbaijani western Kazakhsky region from the side of
Armenia. Ministry spokesman Ilgar Verdiyev said national army positions
had been shelled twice from Armenia. He said Azerbaijani positions
had been shelled from sub-machine guns and machine guns. He said
there had been no losses among Azerbaijani military. No retaliatory
fire followed, he added.

ARMENIA TO DEVELOP RENEWABLE ENERGY?

Regnum, Russia
March 7 2006

Yerevan, 7 March 2006 (Regnum – website) – The Armenian Government is
negotiating with the World Bank to get $8 mln for developing renewable
energy. The director of the Armenian Renewable Energy Foundation Tamara
Babayan says that the WB is ready to provide $5 mln in soft loans for
the construction of small water and wind power plants and $3 mln in
grants for the formation of a favorable investment climate and the
preparation of business plans. Babayan says that her foundation was
set up in Apr 2005 and start up Nov 21 2005.

The foundation has already applied for a total for $15 mln crediting.

Babayan hopes that the first credit will be received in Apr 2006
– though it has yet to be approved by the WB and ratified by the
Armenian Parliament. The foundation provides credits on a revolver
basis, with the beneficiaries having 30% therein. Babayan says that
other financial organizations are also interested in the program.

EBRD is ready to provide $7 mln, Gafesjyan Foundation $3 mln.

(Delovoy Ekspress)

DOES THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA NEED A CONCEPT OF NATIONAL SECURITY?

Regnum, Russia
March 7 2006

Armenian press digest

Yerevan, 7 March 2006 (Regnum – website) – Does the Republic of Armenia
need a concept of national security? 87.8% of Lragir readers say “yes”
– it is time for Armenia to specify its security priorities. 12.2%
say it’s not time yet.

The attempts to develop a national security concept have a long
history, says Lragir. The first such attempt was made in 1994-1995 –
a governmental commission led by Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan worked
on a military doctrine and a mobilization program. Later the Defense
Ministry and the Foreign Ministry formed a working group who developed
relevant programs and drafted necessary documents. But the project
was not approved for several reasons: in 1997 it was yet unclear who
should approve a military doctrine in the first place.

“Coming up with a national security concept in 1998 was also Vardan
Oskanyan. We in the Defense Ministry got the draft but it was never
discussed. Why? You better ask the President and the Security Council,”
ex Infrastructure Coordination Minister, ex Deputy Defense Minister
Vahan Shirkhanyan says in a talk with Lragir. The leader of the
Fatherland and Honor party Garnik Margaryan says that “a state that has
no national security strategy cannot speak about the existence of its
nation. But to speak about national security concept today is absurd.”

Novoye Vremya daily says that the concept development has a point that
has got not very adequate response from journalists. The point is that,
according to National Security Council Secretary Serzh Sarkisyan,
at a certain stage, before public discussion, the draft will be sent
for examination to Russian Civil Service Academy and US National
Defense University.

“No single country in the world has ‘a shadow strategy,'” says
Sarkisyan. “Simply, our national security strategy will lay the basis
for a defense doctrine and some departments will be able, within their
competence, to make secret some of its provisions, particularly, those
concerning economic secrets.” “There is nothing strange in the fact
that the draft will be sent for examination to the US and Russia,”
says MP Hamayak Hovhannissyan. “The US and Russia are our political
allies and, naturally, should be informed of our strategic plans.”

The point is that Armenia cannot ensure its security all alone, with
no support of international organizations and allies. Unable to do
this alone are even far bigger and richer countries. Each country,
however self-sufficient it might be, should look to its allies in
security issues.” Hovhannissyan does not agree with those saying that
the document is sent somewhere for approval. “Our allies should inform
us of their views. Armenia’s security system is based on its alliance
with Russia and the US, their commitment to develop relations with
their ally and to promote its security,” says Hovhannissyan.

CONFUSION AS POLICE CONFRONT ARMENIAN

Daily Nation , Kenya
March 15 2006

One of the Armenian brothers at the centre of claims and counter
claims by the Government and Orange politicians yesterday refused
to allow police into his rented home and rebuffed their attempts to
persuade him to record a statement.

Mr Artur Margaryan addresses the press outside his house in Nairobi’s
Runda estate yesterday where he lives. Photo by Fredrick Omondi Mr
Artur Margaryan told the squad of eight police officers who went
to his home in Runda, an upmarket Nairobi estate, that they should
either arrest him or produce a search warrant before he could cooperate
with them.

The police, headed by Runda police station boss Jeremiah Langat,
left the house after receiving a telephone call from a senior officer
ordering them to return to their base.

The eight had gone to House 977 on Glory Road, off Runda Grove, as
an advance team to provide security for detectives investigating the
activities of Mr Margaryan and his brother, Mr Artur Sargsyan.

Mr Margaryan was to have been interviewed by Nairobi deputy
provincial CID chief Isaiah Osugo, who was appointed last week by
police commissioner Mohamed Hussein Ali to investigate claims by
Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga that the brothers were mercenaries.

Mr Osugo did not go to the house after his advance team was denied
entry.

However, Mr Margaryan later emerged from the compound and chatted with
journalists as Mr Langat, his deputy and three armed police officers
in uniform returned to the house. When Mr Margaryan saw the officers,
he cut short his impromptu Press conference and called someone on
the mobile phone who rushed to open the compound gate.

During his brief talk to the journalists outside his gate, Mr Margaryan
confirmed the police had gone to his house in the morning and that
he would neither leave nor allow the police into the house unless
they had either an arrest warrant for him or a search warrant.

Mr Margaryan repeated his claims that he had in the past met Mr
Odinga. He said it was between December 13 and 15, last year in Dubai,
when he allegedly gave him the equivalent of Sh100,000 in UAE currency
(dirham), to spend as he wished.

He said his brother would be returning to Kenya next week.

He went on: “I will go to court as well as demand protection from
the Government because it was my right to ask for protection.”

Mr Margaryan acknowledged that his company Brotherlink International
Ltd had entered into a contract in January this year to rent the
house. His company was involved in various businesses including car
imports, electronics and real estate.

He further denied having ever visited State House or having met any
senior police officers.

Meanwhile, State House last night warned Mr Odinga against dragging
the presidency into the mercenary claims.

It said in a statement that allegations that the two men alleged
to be mercenaries had visited State House on two occasions in the
recent past were part of a “propaganda war” by Mr Odinga and other
politicians in the ODM .

Asked who allowed him and his brother to hold a Press conference at the
VIP lounge at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Mr Margaryan
claimed it was the journalists themselves who had diverted them to
the lounge as they were walking to the first class lounge.

But when journalists, some of whom were at the Press conference
protested they did not have such powers, he contradicted himself,
saying it was his lawyers Mr Antony Macharia and Mr Fred Ngatia who
had arranged the Press conference.

Mr Macharia, who had arrived earlier, declined to comment. He
also refused to say where or when a Press conference promised by
Mr Margaryan would take place saying he could do that only after
receiving instructions from him.

Asked to explain why his brother’s particulars were missing from the
passenger manifest on the flight he claimed he had taken from Dubai to
Kenya, he said all passengers from Arab countries used their mothers’
names and not their own or their fathers’.

He promised to avail the manifest during the forthcoming Press
conference.

After his brief chat with the journalists, Mr Margaryan returned to
his compound and later drove off in a dark blue Subaru whose number
plates were hidden behind strips of cardboard. He was accompanied by
a woman who on Monday he claimed was his bodyguard.

OSCE COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL TO NA PRESIDENT AND BOOKS TO NA LIBRARY

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
March 7 2006

On March 6, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, head of OSCE office in
Yerevan, handed over to the library of the National Assembly books
in Armenian, Russian and English concerning different spheres.

Artur Baghdasaryan, President of the National Assembly, noting that
effective cooperation has been established between the National
Assembly and OSCE, also touched upon the stable traditions, which
are disclosed in that cooperation.

The Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, head of OSCE office in Yerevan,
highlighted the role of the National Assembly in the formation of
the civil institutes and establishment democracy. Noting that after
the constitutional amendments the powers of the parliament has been
expanded, the Ambassador highlighted the deepening of cooperation
between OSCE and NA in the spheres of the improvement of law-making
activity, anti-corruption combating, etc. “I cannot but make use of
the opportunity and note the wonderful cooperation that was has been
established between OSCE and National Assembly,” said Mr. Pryakin.

According to the agreement reached with the Parliament Preisdent,
another sphere will become the anti-corruption activity, the
improvement of law-making activity and the compliance of the Electoral
Code with the new realities, the result of which will become the
contribution to the free, fair and transparent 2007 parliamentary
elections.

The Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, head of OSCE office in Yerevan,
awarded an OSCE commemorative medal for the development of close
cooperation with OSCE to NAS President Artur Baghdasaryan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress