AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENT URGES JAPAN TO INVEST IN OIL INFRASTRUCTURE

AP Worldstream
Mar 09, 2006

Azerbaijan’s president on Thursday urged Japanese companies to invest
in his nation’s oil infrastructure, saying he hoped the Caucasus
country will soon become a major oil exporter.

President Ilham Aliev, in Tokyo on a four-day trip, told Japanese
Foreign Minister Taro Aso that Azerbaijan had implemented a range of
social and economic policies and had “high expectations” for increased
Japanese investment, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Aliev told Aso he hoped Azerbaijan would soon become a major exporter
of oil and natural gas, according to the statement.

Aso said Tokyo was interested in maintaining strong bilateral
ties because of Azerbaijan’s importance, geopolitically and as an
oil-producing nation.

Aliev was slated to meet Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday.

Azerbaijan is rich in oil and gas reserves. But development of those
reserves has been hindered by conflict with neighboring Armenia over
the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave within
Azerbaijan.

The 18-year dispute, in which at least 30,000 people have been killed
and 1 million made refugees, has affected stability throughout the
strategic and oil-rich Caucasus region.

2004-2006 EXPENDITURES ON IMPROVING WOMEN’S CONDITION IN ARMENIA TO MAKE ABOUT 1 MLN USD

Noyan Tapan
Mar 09 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. At the March 9 sitting RA government
approved the list and schedule of the programs envisaged by 2004-2010
national program of improvement of women’s condition and raising of
their role in the society. RA Ministers of Labor and Social Issues,
Education and Science, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Territorial
Government, Nature Protection, Trade and Economic Development, Culture
and Youth Affairs, Head of RA Police and Governors were charged to
ensure the implementation of the envisaged events. As Lala Ghazarian,
Head of Women, Family, and Children Department of RA Ministry of
Labor and Social Issues, informed journalists after the sitting, the
main goal of the program is to use women’s potential to the maximum
extent. According to her, in 2004-2006 the program’s expenditures
will make about 1 mln USD, the most part of which is given by UN and
other international organizations.

L.Ghazarian said that within the framework of the program it’s
envisaged to organize trainings on gender issues for civil servants
this year. It was mentioned that spreading of information on gender
problems has already started at 36 educational institutions. According
to L.Ghazarian, it’s envisaged to work out a bill “On Equal Rights
and Opportunities” where the concrete mechanisms of raising women’s
role in the society will be exactly mentioned.

US, AZERI OFFICIALS MULL GARABAGH

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 14 2006

Baku, March 13, AssA-Irada
US officials arrived in Baku on Monday to discuss settlement to the
long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict
with the top Azeri leadership.

“Our discussions proceeded very well and we sought answers to some
questions concerning the conflict,” the US co-chair of the mediating
OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, said after meeting Azeri Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

Mann said he would inform the visiting US Department of State Assistant
Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried of the outcome
of the discussions. Fried is scheduled to meet with President Ilham
Aliyev, followed by a news conference.

The mediator told reporters that considerable progress in the conflict
resolution is anticipated this year. “We believe that the spring of
2006 will be an important time for the Garabagh peace talks.”

The US co-chair also met with President Ilham Aliyev. Along with the
Garabagh conflict, bilateral relations and democratic development
issues were tabled. The details of the discussions are not reported.

Assistant Secretary Fried is further expected to leave Azerbaijan
for Georgia, Armenia and Turkey to hold talks with officials there.

“HERITAGE” PARTY AFFIRMS THAT AUTHORITIES UNDERTAKE ACTIONS FOR PARALYSING ITS ACTIVITY

Noyan Tapan
Mar 09 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. An incident connected with unknown
people’s entering the office of the “Heritage” party, and then with
changing the locks on the party doors is a regular link in the chain of
encroachments, recently implemented by the rulling circles againts the
“Heritage” party and its leader Raffi Hovhannisian. This is said in
the press-release of the “Heritage” party spread on March 9. According
to the press-release, “in response to Raffi Hovhannisian’s active
political and civil position, the reaction against organizations
headed by Raffi and Armenuhi Hovhannisians of mass media under control
and marionettes in the type of an extensive black PR followed, and
now actions have already been undertaken for paralyzing the party’s
activity.”

“Cases fabricated by the acting authorities against the “Heritage”
party and its members as well as their persecution may follow then,”
is mentioned in the press-release. To recap, three unknown people broke
the door of the “Heritage” party office on March 4 and changed the
locks. The party representatives can’t enter their office up to now.

MATTHEW BRYZA ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO DEEPENING OF DEMOCRACY IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 09 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Issues concerning
Armenian-American relations were discussed at RA NA Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian’s March 8 meeting with Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. Touching
upon the parliament’s work, Artur Baghdasarian mentioned that
after the adoption of the constitutional amendments 70 new laws and
amendments to laws are envisaged mainly in three directions – local
self-government and territorial government, court and legal systems
and Electoral Code. NA Speaker expressed gratitude to the U.S. for
the assistance rendered to Armenia attaching importance that economic
assistance is accompanied by assistance to democratic reforms. Matthew
Bryza also attached importance to deepening of democracy in Armenia
mentioning that conflicts settlement, energy security and economic
development are within this framework. A special importance was
attached to fighting corruption as ensuring of a possibility of
stable investments. Touching upon energy problems, Matthew Bryza
attached importance to development of alternative possibilities in
the respect of energy security. As Noyan Tapan was informed by NA
Public Relations Department, both of the sides attached importance
to the implementation of the Millennium Challenge program, publicity
in the course of this program’s implementation – ensuring of public
control by means of NGOs. In connection with the Nagorno Karabakh
problem Artur Baghdasarian said that the year 2006 hasn’t exhausted the
possibilities of problem’s peaceful settlement yet and there are still
opportunities of success in the negotiations process. M.Bryza also
attached importance to the problem’s settlement for the development
of the region. Within this framework they also attached importance to
normalization of relations with the neighbors to which the U.S. can
provide assistance. They also attached importance to possibilities
of development of the EU New Neighborhood program and Euroatlantic
cooperation. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans was also present
at the meeting.

SHOTS PERIODICALLY FIRED IN DIRECTION OF ARMENIAN POSITIONS FROM AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES’ SIDE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 09 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A number of cases
of breaking the cease-fire regime by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces
were fixed on March 7 and 8. Paricularly, shots were fired in the
direction of Ijevan fighting positions at 10:40, 14:40 and 20:15,
of the Shorzha fighting positions at 12:00-15:00 with interruptions,
on March 7. Shots were again fired in the directions of the Ijevan
posts at 00:10, 12:20, 20:50 and 21:50, of the Vayk posts at 20:30,
of the Noyemberian posts at 21:30, on March 8. As Colonel Seyran
Shahsuvarian, the RA Defence Minister’s Press Secretary informed Noyan
Tapan, the Armenian side didn’t respond in all the mentioned cases,
there are no injured people, and the information spread by Ilgar
Verdiyev, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s official representative
about the issue that there were shots from the Armenian side in the
direction of Ghazakh doesn’t correspond to the reality.

REP. PALLONE CALLS FOR PARITY IN ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN MILITARY ASSISTANCE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 09 2006

WASHINGTON, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Congressman Frank
Pallone (D-NJ), Co-Chairman of the Armenian Issues Caucus, took to the
floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on March 7 to criticize the
Administration’s “breach of an agreement struck between the White House
and Congress in 2001 to maintain parity in U.S. military aid to Armenia
and Azerbaijan,” reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA). The Bush Administration recommended last month, in its Fiscal
Year 2007 budget, that Azerbaijan receive significantly more military
training and hardware than Armenia. The President also proposed
cutting U.S. economic aid to Armenia from last year’s appropriation
of $74.4 million to $50 million, a nearly 33% reduction. The New
Jersey Congressman explained to his House colleagues that, “a lack
of military parity would weaken ongoing peace negotiations regarding
Nagorno Karabakh.

Furthermore, I believe that any imbalance will contribute to further
instability in the region if military parity is not achieved.” He
added that, “failing to respect the parity agreement undermines the
role of the U.S. as an impartial mediator of the Nagorno Karabagh
conflict.” Representative Pallone closed his remarks by noting that,
“in the coming weeks I will advocate to the Foreign Operations
Subcommittee to restore military parity, to increase economic
assistance to Armenia, and to provide for humanitarian aid to the
people of Nagorno Karabakh. It is incredibly important to reward our
allies and to send a message to Azerbaijan and Turkey that ethnically
charged genocides, illegal blockades of sovereign nations, and the
constant harassment of the Armenian people will not be tolerated.” “We
want to thank Congressman Pallone for his longstanding leadership in
educating his colleagues about the important U.S.

interests served by our assistance program to Armenia, direct aid to
Nagorno Karabagh, and the other Armenia-related provisions in the
Foreign Operations bill – most recently and notably – the need for
maintaining parity in U.S. military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan,”
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“We also want to express our appreciation to Congressman Knollenberg
for his work, within the Foreign Operations Subcommittee itself,
generating vital support for maintaining military parity and other key
provisions of special concern to the Armenian American community.” The
President’s proposal for Freedom Support Act aid is $50 million for
Armenia, $28 million for Azerbaijan, and $58 million for Georgia. His
Foreign Military Financing proposals are $3.5 million for Armenia,
$4.5 million for Azerbaijan, and $10 million for Georgia.

The White House’s recommendation to Congress for International
Military Education and Training is $790,000 for Armenia, $885,000
for Azerbaijan, and $1,235,000 for Georgia. The Foreign Operations
Subcommittees of the Senate and House Appropriation Committees
are currently reviewing the President’s proposed budget and are
each drafting their own versions of the FY 2007 foreign assistance
bill. The agreement to maintain parity in U.S. military aid to Armenia
and Azerbaijan was struck between the White House and Congress in
2001, in the wake of Congressional action granting the President the
authority to waive the Section 907 restrictions on aid to Azerbaijan.

ANCA CALLS ON SECRETARY RICE TO EXPLAIN REPORTS OF AMB. EVANS’ RECALL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 09 2006

WASHINGTON, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian called
upon Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to address reports that the
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, is being forced from
office based upon truthful and forthright statements about the Armenian
Genocide. In a March 8th letter, Hachikian asked Secretary Rice to
comment on published accounts (California Courier, March 9,2006) that
the Ambassador is being recalled, well before the normal end of his
term of office, due to remarks during a series of presentations to
Armenian American communities across the country. Speaking last year
to an Armenian American gathering at the University of California
at Berkeley, Amb. Evans said, “I will today call it the Armenian
Genocide… I informed myself in depth about it. I think we, the
U.S. government, owe you, our fellow citizens, a more frank and honest
way of discussing this problem. Today, as someone who has studied
it . . . there’s no doubt in my mind [as to] what happened . . . I
think it is unbecoming of us, as Americans, to play word games here. I
believe in calling things by their name.” Referring to the Armenian
Genocide as “the first genocide of the 20th century,” he said:
“I pledge to you, we are going to do a better job at addressing
this issue.” Amb. Evans also disclosed that he had consulted with
a legal advisor at the State Department who had confirmed that the
events of 1915 were “genocide by definition.” Within days after his
remarks and the conclusion of a speaking tour of Armenian American
communities, Ambassador Evans was apparently forced to issue a
statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian Genocide were
his personal views and did not represent a change in U.S. policy. He
subsequently issued a correction to this statement, replacing a
reference to the Genocide with the word “tragedy.” Later last year,
the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), in recognition of
his honesty and commitment to principle, decided to honor Ambassador
Evans with the “Christian A. Herter Award,” recognizing creative
thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service. Sadly,
as Washington Post staff writer Glenn Kessler revealed on June 9th,
AFSA withdrew its award following pressure from “very serious people
from the State Department.”

In his letter, Hachikian wrote that, “the prospect that a U.S. envoy’s
posting – and possibly his career – has been cut short due to his
honest and accurate description of a genocide is profoundly offensive
to American values and U.S. standing abroad – particularly in light
of President Bush’s call for moral clarity in the conduct of our
international affairs.” He added that, “if, in fact, punitive measures
are being taken against Ambassador Evans, this would represent a
tragic retreat from our nation’s core values. It would also represent
a new low in our government’s shameful complicity in the Turkish
government’s campaign of denial. Not only does the State Department
continue to be publicly silent as Turkey criminally prosecutes its
writers and citizens for speaking about the Armenian Genocide, it
appears the State Department is following Turkey’s lead by muzzling and
punishing an American diplomat for his speech and his acknowledgement
of a genocide that is extensively documented in the State Department’s
own archives.” The ANCA letter also urged Secretary Rice to respond
in a timely manner to the series of written questions on this matter
submitted on February 16th by Congressman Adam Schiff during her
testimony before the House International Relations Committee. Among
these questions was a specific request that the Secretary assure the
Committee that the Department of State has not taken – and will not
take – any punitive action against Ambassador Evans for speaking out
about the Armenian Genocide. On the other hand, Congresswoman Grace
Napolitano (D-CA) submitted a series of questions to a senior State
Department official during his testimony before the U.S.

House International Relations Committee – including a pointed question
about reports that the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia is being recalled
due to his public acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. As a follow
up question, addressed to Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried, the
California Congresswoman asked for a clarification of any restrictions
placed on State Department officials concerning the use of the word
“genocide” when discussing the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians
starting in 1915. She also inquired about U.S.

policy on the Turkish blockade of Armenia and the proposed Caucasus
railroad line circumventing Armenia. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice has yet to respond to an earlier written inquiry regarding
Ambassador Evans from Congressman Adam Schiff during her February
16th testimony before the same panel.

Responding to a reporter’s question at today’s State Department
briefing, spokesperson Sean McCormack said, “I’m not aware that
we have recalled anybody. . . I believe that he’s still serving as
ambassador in Armenia.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DAVID HAYRAPETIAN WINS IN RUSSIAN BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 09 2006

KHANTY MANSIYSK, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On March
5, the Russian Boxing Championship ended in Khanty Mansiysk. This
was one of the chief elimination tournaments to the July Europe
Championship. According to the “Yerkramas” (Territory) newspaper of
Armenians of Russia, David Hayrapetian from the Stavropol territory
won in the weight category of up to 48 kg. A number of other boxers
of Armenian origin also became prize-winners in the championship:
in the weight category of up to 54 kg Artur Hambartsumian (Krasnodar
territory) took the third place, in the cetegory of up to 60 kg
Eduard Hambartsumian (autnomous region of Khanty Mansiysk) won a
silver medal, in the cetegory of up to 69 kg David Arustamian (Moscow)
won a bronze medal.

ARCHBISHOP SEPUH SARGSIAN: ENEMY OF RELIGION IS NOT OTHER RELIGION, BUT GODLESSNESS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 09 2006

TEHRAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Every religion
has its holinesses, sanctuaries, its prophets and the credo, making
the axis of its belief. Nobody has right to despise or to mock the
cherished holinesses, authorities of another religion. This is one of
the most important circumstances of the human morality”, announced
Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian, the primate of the Armenian diocese of
Tehran, making a speech at the second sitting of the regional council
of the Religious leaders, that was held on March 4 in the building
of the Islamic Culture and Communication organization. His Holiness
Sepuh mentioned that ten days before, the 9th conference of the
International Council of Churches, held at the city of Porto Allegre,
Brazil, which was headed by Aram I Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia, refered to this phenomenon with a special announcement,
condemned the happened and called to avoid the savagenesses. “The enemy
of religion is not the other religion, but the Godlessness, poverty,
the usage of drugs, unjustice, the degradation of moral values and
the globalization. We all are called to be unanimous in order to
fight against this kind of phenomena”, mentioned the primate of the
Armenian diocese of Tehran. As the Tehran daily “Alik” (Wave) informs,
Gholamali Haddad Adel, President of the Islamic Parliament of Iran;
Seyed Mohammad Khatamin, Ex-President of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, Director of the International Center of Dialogue of Religions
and Civilizations; Saffar Harandi, the Minister of Islamic Culture
and Leadership; the Deputies of the religious minorities of Iran,
the President of the Council of the Orthodox Church of Russia, the
Ambassador of Vatican in Iran and others also made speeches. Among
those invited were Archbishop Nshan Garakeheyan, the Primate of the
Armenian Catholicos Community of Iran, Henrik Shahnazarian, spiritual
paster of the Armenian Gospel Community of Iran, Academician, Doctor
Harmik Davtian, Gevorg Vardanian and Robert Beglarian, Deputies of the
Northern and Southern Armenians of Iran in the Islamic Parliament,
representatives of the Armenian Diocesan Council of Tehran and of
national primacy. The participants of the sitting condemned the
outrage against the religious holinesses. At the end of the sitting
a resolution was read, one of the points of which, that was worked
out with help of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran, was the following:
“The present century is a century of dialogue. For true, valid and
sincere dialogue the following should be taken into consideration:
every religion has its ideological world, credo. We shouldn’t give
us right to explain and comment upon that persuasions and credos and
to present it as a absolute truth”. At the end of the sitting trees
were planted as a token of dialogue of religions.