ARMENIAN FM SAYS SHOULD SEEK ALTERNATIVE GAS SUPPLIERS
RIA Novosti, Russia
June 28 2006
TBILISI (Georgia), June 28 (RIA Novosti) – Armenia’s foreign minister
said Wednesday that the South Caucasus country should seek to diversify
its natural gas suppliers, following Georgia’s example.
In January, Russia doubled the price for natural gas supplies to the
former Soviet republic from $54 per 1,000 cubic meters to $110 as part
of its efforts to put the gas market on a free-market basis. But the
move has put some strain on relations with Armenia, whose struggling
economy is heavily dependent on Russian supplies.
“Like Georgia, Armenia should diversify its gas sources,” said Vardan
Oskanyan, who is in Georgia on a two-day visit. “We are currently
discussing with our Iranian colleagues issues concerning Iranian gas
supplies to Armenia.”
Georgia now imports natural gas from Iran via Azerbaijan. Supplies
began in January after explosions on a pipeline from Russia, previously
Georgia’s sole supplier.
Oskanyan said that the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline would be commissioned
by January 2007 and added that a mooted trans-Caspian gas pipeline
to pump gas from energy-rich Central Asia to Turkey and Europe via
Azerbaijan and Georgia, was also of interest for his country.
The construction of the 141-kilometer (90 mile) pipeline from Iran
began in 2004. It will bring Armenia about 36 billion cubic meters
of gas over 20 years. The natural gas will be used for electricity
generation for Armenia’s domestic needs and for export to Iran.

NO ARSONS DETECTED BY OSCE MISSION IN NAGORNO KARABAKH SECURITY ZONE
Regnum, Russia
June 28 2006
On June 28, a recurrent monitoring was held at the contact line of the
Karabakh and Azeri armed forces’ contact line near the settlement of
Yusifjanly, reported the Nagorno Karabakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Field assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Peter Kii (UK), Irzhi Aberle (Czech Republic), and
Hunter Folk (Germany) conducted the monitoring from the Karabakh side.
The monitoring was held according to the schedule. No ceasefire
violations were fixed. The representatives of the NKR Foreign and
Defense Ministries who accompanied the OSCE mission remarked that
despite the Azerbaijani party’s allegations of arsons in the Nagorno
Karabakh security zone, the monitoring participants did not reveal
any cases of arsons in the area.

MEMBERS OF AZERI DELEGATION IN PACE MET WITH HEAD OF COE ON ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 28 2006
The members of the Azeri delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe (PACE) Gultakin Hajiyeva and Fazail Ibrahimli
met with the head of the Council of Europe on ecology and environment,
Gultakin Hajiyeva, deputy chief of Azeri delegation, told Trend.
She noted the meeting focused on the fires committed by Armenians in
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. “We presented information about
the vandalism of Armenians. We stressed that the fires committed by
Armenians break the ecological equilibrium in the region and inflict
serious damage to the environment,” Hajiyeva told.
Besides, she mentioned that this issue was discussed in the political
group of European democrats of PACE. “The head of Azeri delegation
Samad Seyidov and other parliamentarians delivered a report on the
tiopic. The head of Armenian delegation Tirgan Torasyan promised to
check up the matter and present information to the group,” she added.

SWEDISH PARLIAMENTARIANS VISIT OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 28 2006
The delegation led by Swedish parliamentarian Ulla Hofman visited the
occupied Azerbaijani territories at the invitation of the authorities
of the alleged “Nagorno Karabakh Republic” (APA).
The Swedish delegation composed of members of the Swedish Left Wing
Partys arrived at the occupied Azerbaijani territories through
Armenia and met with Rudik Usnunch, vice-speaker of the alleged
“Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s parliament” Expressing his gratitude
to the Swedish government for recognition of the so-called “Armenian
genocide”, Rudik Usnunch asked the parliamentarians to take steps in
recognizing “The Nagorno Karabakh Republic” as an independent state.
Ulla Hofman said the party she represents has always taken interest in
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and said they will have regular relations
with the “The Nagorno Karabakh Republic”.
The Swedish parliamentarians accepted the invitation to the events on
“the 13th anniversary of the liberation of Mardakert region of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic from Azerbaijani Armed Forces”.

TWO DOCUMENTS REGARDING OCCUPATION POLICY OF ARMENIA WAS DISSEMINATED IN PACE
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 28 2006
Two documents regarding the occupation policy of Armenia was
disseminated by the Azeri delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE), Rafael Huseynov, the member of Azeri
delegation in PACE, told Trend.
He noted that in the document “Crimes of Armenia against humanity”,
there were used different facts of bloody Armenian terror against
Azerbaijan during XX century. “We raised a question before the Council
of Ministers that the document should be presented to a separate
discussion and gave recommendations for the consideration of the
facts in the European Court on Human Rights,” told Huseyinov.
Besides, he stressed that the second document was named “Ethic
cleansing held by Armenian against Azerbaijan”. “It was stated in
the document that Armenia and Armenian lobby jeopardize not only
Azerbaijanis, but also several countries around the world. They
implements secret and clear separatism policy in the territories
densely populated by Armenians. It is described in the document that
Armenians is continuing its separatism policy against Azerbaijan,”
Huseynov stressed.
According to Huseynov, special points of the document describe
the mass destruction of Azerbaijans by Armenians in 1905 in Baku,
Nakchivan, Iravan and Zangazur. Besides, thousands of Azerbaijanis
were killed in Karabakh, Shusha, Jabrail and Ganja in November of
the same year. “In 1914, Armenians killed 150 thousand Azerbaijanis
in Khoy and Urmiya and 200 thousand in Kars, Arzurum and Ardakhand.
Under the Bolshevik regime, Armenians killed 50 thousand Azerbaijanis
in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Kurdamir and Lankaran in March-April 1918,”
added Huseynov.
Besides, Huseynov ruled out that 1930-1937s were described as a new
phase of ethnic cleansing. “It was especially stated in the document
that more than 50 thousand Azerbaijanis were departed from their native
land to Kazakhstan and Siberia. Besides, it was mentioned that the
ethic cleansing of Azerbaijanis was realized according to the special
decision of Council of Ministers of USSR dated December 20, 1947
and March 19, 1948 under the pressure of Armenian representatives in
Kremlin. During these years, 150 thousand Azerbaijanis were departed
from Armenia to the territories that had bad climate. Many people
died in result of departure. The next ethnic cleansing policy of
Armenians is related to Nagorno-Karabakh,” he stressed, adding that
in connection with this issues, a question will be raised before PACE
on appointment of reporters.

CSTO SUMMIT: MILITARY BLOC NOT YET CEMENTED
By Vladimir Socor
Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
June 28 2006
Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Alexander Lukashenka of Belarus,
Robert Kocharian of Armenia, Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan,
Kurmanbek Bakiyev of Kyrgyzstan, Imomali Rahmonov of Tajikistan,
and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan met on June 23 in Minsk for a dual
summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the
Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEc). The two groups’ membership
rosters are identical except in the case of Armenia, a member of the
CSTO but not of EurAsEc.
Speaking to journalists during a break between the two meetings,
Putin asserted, “Developing closer cooperation between EurAsEc and
the CSTO is one of the most topical tasks, which will make it possible
to protect integration processes from various threats” (NTV Mir, June
23). “Integration processes” being the classic code word for Russian
policies, Putin’s statement confers a distinctly military dimension to
such processes. Combining the CSTO and EurAsEc summits into a single
event in Minsk underscored that idea. Trading chairs at this summit,
Putin handed over the CSTO’s rotating chairmanship to Lukashenka
while the latter turned the EurAsEc chairmanship over to Putin.
The CSTO summit decided to place the Collective Rapid Deployment
Force under the command of a single headquarters that would operate
on a permanent basis. Until now, a standing operational group
based in Bishkek has been in charge of that Force under Russia’s
Major-General Sergei Chernomordin, who is also deputy chief of staff of
the Volga-Urals Military District. The 4,000-strong Rapid Deployment
Force, earmarked for possible operations in Central Asia, presently
consists — at least on paper — of 10 battalions of varying readiness
levels, including: three battalions from Russia, three from Tajikistan
(two of these apparently from the Russian division stationed in that
country and one from Tajikistan itself), two from Kazakhstan, and two
from Kyrgyzstan (the latter country has pleaded poverty asking to be
excused from contributing a second battalion). These units are based
in the respective countries under national control and hold joint
exercises, usually at annual intervals, under joint command. Russia’s
air base at Kant in Kyrgyzstan, with some 10 tactical combat aircraft
and about a dozen helicopters, is designated a CSTO base and assigned
to the Collective Rapid Deployment Force.
According to some Russian media reports, participants in the Minsk
summit approved a decision whereby any CSTO member country wishing to
accept a deployment of non-CSTO troops on its territory must first
obtain the agreement of all the other CSTO countries (RTR Russia
Television, June 23). If so, this implies that military exercises
involving U.S. or NATO countries’ troops, their transit passage,
or their use of military installations in any CSTO member country,
for example on anti-terrorism missions, would necessitate Russian
approval. Thus, Washington or NATO allies would have to negotiate
the approval not just with possible host countries, but with Moscow,
which could either withhold the approval, maneuver one or several
CSTO countries into withholding it, or try to trade its approval for
some geopolitical quid-pro-quo elsewhere.
Thus, if this summit decision is final, Moscow would insert itself
between the Western alliance system and CSTO member countries,
trying to force the latter to deal with the West through Russia,
not directly. In Central Asia, such a situation would reverse the
Pentagon’s historic diplomatic achievements of 2001-2002, when it
negotiated basing agreements directly with Central Asian presidents,
who felt encouraged to resist Moscow’s pressures at that time.
The decision in Minsk may also aim to nudge NATO into
alliance-to-alliance contacts and common activities with the CSTO,
thus granting the latter a form of political recognition. However,
CSTO member countries are generally interested in cooperating with
NATO in a national capacity, and NATO has always related to them
directly, consistently avoiding the pitfall of dealing with the
CSTO collectively.
At present, NATO prepares to expand its operations in Afghanistan and
may request logistical support from certain Central Asian countries.
Moscow apparently calculates that it could in that case arrange to
refer the request formally to the CSTO for consideration, so as to
press NATO into dealing with this Russia-led structure. One item in
the Minsk summit declaration (such documents are Moscow-drafted as
a rule) says that alliance obligations among CSTO member countries
take precedence over other obligations.
Participants in the Minsk summit approved measures designed to turn
the CSTO into a multifunctional organization. At Putin and Russian
Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov’s initiative and Lukashenka’s proposal,
the summit resolved to develop joint structures of the member
countries’ intelligence and law-enforcement agencies and Internal
Affairs ministries, as well as strengthen the Defense Ministries’
joint structures. Beyond its military and political-military remit,
the CSTO would create joint capabilities to deal with natural and
technological disasters, illegal migration, and the narcotics traffic.
Contrary to some expectations, the summit did not officially announce
an intent to create CSTO peacekeeping troops or a legal mechanism for
rendering emergency military assistance to member countries in the
event of aggression against them from outside the CSTO. Kocharian
in particular expressed regret over the failure to advance on the
assistance issue (Arminfo, Itar-Tass, June 23). For its part, Moscow
has developed a full-fledged concept for CSTO “peacekeeping” operations
within the CSTO area and collective participation in international
operations beyond that area. Moscow will almost certainly call in the
months ahead for adoption of this concept and a political decision
on creating CSTO peacekeeping troops.
The dual summit was timed to coincide with the final phase of a
Russia-Belarus military exercise, the largest-ever held in the CSTO’s
framework. Forces from Russia and Belarus comprise the CSTO’s “regional
group of forces” in the West, along with the Russian-Armenian group
and the Russian-led Central Asian group in the respective theaters.
(Interfax, Belarus Television Channel One, June 23, 24)

OVER 140 YOUTH EXTREMIST GROUPS OPERATE IN RUSSIA – INTERIOR MINISTER
MosNews, Russia
June 28 2006
Russia has more than 140 youth extremist groups with overall membership
reaching 6,000, the country’s interior minister said Wednesday,
RIA Novosti news agency reports.
“Youth groups have become more aggressive and better organized, and
some of them are under the influence of criminal organizations,” said
Rashid Nurgaliyev. He spoke to reporters in the Armenian capital,
Yerevan, where he is attending a joint board session of Russia’s
interior ministry and Armenia’s police force.
Nurgaliev expressed concern over extremist organizations’ promotion
of violence among the younger generation. “It is worrying that some of
the extremist organizations use violent forms and methods of protest,
promoting them among young people,” he said.
The minister said law-enforcement agencies had launched anti-extremism
raids in 38 of Russia’s 89 regions so far this year, tracking
down groups believed to be behind serious crimes, including in
St. Petersburg and in the southwestern region of Voronezh, both of
which have acquired reputations as sites of Russia’s most violent
race-hate crimes.
Voronezh has seen at least seven apparently racially motivated killings
of non-white foreigners over the past six years, including the murder
of a Peruvian student last October.
St. Petersburg has been suffering from negative publicity over alleged
neo-Nazi attacks and killings, including the killing of a student
from Senegal in April and the stabbing of a nine-year-old girl of
mixed Russian-African origin in early 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH PREMIER RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN ADDRESSES PACE SESSION TODAY
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 28 2006
A debate on freedom of expression and respect for religious belief
was held at today’s meeting of the Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE).
APA’s Europe bureau reports from the session that Finish
parliamentarian Snikka Hurskaine presented a report on the basis of
the report of the PACE Education, Science and Culture Commission.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressing the Assembly
talked about the religious situation, religious tolerance and freedom
of expression in Turkey. The Premier responded to the questions of
parliamentarians. Danish parliamentarian Rune Lund stood against
Turkey accusing it of committing genocide of Armenians, occupying
Cyprus and using torture on Kurds. Erdogan in his response called him
“helpless who cannot base on historical facts”.
The Prime Minister advocated investigation of the issue on genocide
by historians and said they invite Armenian historians to participate
in this process. Responding to the question “Why did God let the
genocide occur?”, Erdogan said there is no genocide in Islam adding
that Islamic community loves all creatures created by God like they
love the Creator.
Armenian parliamentarian Gegamyan accused Turkey of Armenian genocide
and imposing a blockade on Armenia. Gegamyan called on the Turkish
government to recognize the Armenian genocide.
Azerbaijani parliamentarian Elmira Akhundova said populist and
groundless speeches like that of Armenian parliamentarian are
unacceptable in the Assembly. As a response to Gegamyan’s groundless
claims on destruction of Armenian monuments, the Azerbaijani
parliamentarian mentioned the facts on Armenian aggressors destroying
Azerbaijani monuments. She stated that disputed historical issues can
be solved progressively only through inter-religion and intercultural
dialogue.

ARMENIA NOT TO MEDDLE IN PROBLEMS OF SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI REGION
Daily Georgian Times, Georgia
June 28 2006
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan, being on an
official visit to Georgia, says Armenia won’t interfere in resolution
of Samtskhe-Javakheti region problem, Parliamentary Speaker of Georgia
Nino Burjanadze stated shortly after the closed-door meeting with
the Armenian high-ranking official.
As per Burjanadze, Vardan Oskanyan reiterated the stance of Armenia
with regard to Samtskhe-Javakheti region, that present situation in
the region is domestic affair of Georgia and hence, Armenia won’t
meddle in this matter.
Nino Burjanadze stressed that the parties focused on deepening
Georgian-Armenian economic relations and Parliamentary ties. She
also said that according to Oskanyan, Armenia recognizes Georgia’s
territorial integrity and supports peaceful settlement of conflicts,
as well as resumption of a political dialogue.
As to construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki trunk railway, the sides have
not highlighted the mentioned issue, Burjanadze said.

GEORGIA AND ARMENIA DISCUSS POSSIBLE FULL-FLEDGED OPERATION OF TRANSPORT ROUTES IN REGIONS
Daily Georgian Times, Georgia
June 28 2006
The Georgian and Armenian foreign minister discussed the outlooks
for full-fledged operation of transport routes of the region at the
meeting in Tbilisi on Wednesday.
Vardan Oskanian, Armenian Foreign Minister said that a set of economic
issues have certain political implication and need to be addressed
in particular way.
According to him, start of operation of the Karsi-Gyumr-Tbilisi railway
route will contribute to increasing of bilateral cargo turnover and
enable all South Caucasian countries to use regional transit capacity
at its best.
Gela Bezhuashvili, Georgian Foreign Minister said that the Georgian
party is fully aware of its role of regional junction and will continue
work for elaboration of more advantageous transit routes.
“Georgia is interesting in diversification of transport routes that
will facilitate development of all countries in the region in the
future”, he added.