WASHINGTON RECALLED ITS AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA FOR STATEMENTS ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Regnum, Russia
March 7 2006
Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the US in Armenia John Evans has been
recalled to Washington. According to “The California Courier”, Evans
already informed about it the Armenian government. The reason of the
recall is statements of the Ambassador regarding the Armenian Genocide
in Ottoman Turkey in 1915. According to the source, US Senate already
approved new Ambassador, current head of American diplomatic mission
in Tajikistan Richard Hoagland.
On February 19, during a meeting with representatives of the Armenian
community in San-Francisco, John Evans told about “importance of the
Armenian Genocide recognition.”
He said that he studied the fact about the Genocide of Armenians, and
that he always wanted to “call things with their real names, but the
official US policy did not change, because Turkey is an important US
partner in military sphere.” He said that “all American officials never
denied this fact, and I think that it is unsuitable for American to
play on words in such case.” Evans stated that “the Armenian Genocide
was the first genocide of 20th Century,” and noted that the world then
was not prepared for suitable reaction, but now the problems will be
seriously discussed. Earlier, American officials never used the tern
“genocide” to the events of early XX century in Armenia.
On February 28, speaking in US Embassy in Armenia, John Evans decided
to give a more precise definition to his speech of February 19. He
said that official US position is still the same, and in his previous
statement he declared only his personal opinion. He expressed regret
that his statement caused misunderstanding.
It should be noted that Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
European Affairs Matthew Bryza is currently visiting Yerevan.

TURKEY TO GIVE MILITARY HELP TO AZERBAIJAN
Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 7 2006
Tbilisi. March 07 (Prime-News) – Turkey is ready to give military help
to Azerbaijan in case of corresponding agreement, APA news agency says,
as quoting Turan Moral, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
According to him, two countries have not signed an agreement on close
military cooperation yet.
Turan Moral also said that he was against military resolution of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
According to him, Turkey was assisting Azerbaijan only in construction
of military units within the frameworks of the present agreement.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CSTO CHIEF MEETS WITH ARMENIA FM
by Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 14, 2006 Tuesday 05:52 AM EST
General Secretary of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha, who arrived in the Armenian capital for
a working visit on Tuesday, discussed with Armenian Foreign Minster
Vartan Oskanyan the situation in the CSTO zone of responsibility and
ways of improving its activity.
“Issues of CSTO cooperation with other international organizations
were considered,” Itar-Tass learnt at the Press and Information
Department of the Armenian Foreign Ministry.
In this context, Nikolai Bordyuzha informed the interlocutor on the
results of his visits to Central Asian countries and the U.N.
headquarters. The sides exchanged opinions on preparations for a
session of the Collective Security Council and for meetings of other
CSTO bodies.
The CSTO includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia
and Tajikistan.

ARMENIANS VIOLATED CEASE-FIRE, ONE AZERI SOLDIER KILLED, ONE WOUNDED
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 7 2006
Armenians violated cease-fire, one Azeri soldier was killed another
was wounded. Defense Ministry press service told APA that from the
positions in occupied Ashagi Seyidahmedli village, Fuzili, Armenian
Armed Forces units fired on the opposite positions of Azerbaijani Armed
Forces at pm 12.00 on March 6. Azerbaijani Armed forces 19-year-old
soldier Nazim Muhiddin Vali was wounded and his health condition is
bad now.
He was drafted to the military service by Oghuz Military Registration
Office in June, 2005.
Armenian Armed Forces shot 20-year-old Azeri soldier Chahangirov
Perviz Akif at 4.45 on March 7 from their positions in south-west of
Giziloba village, Terter. He was drafted to the military service by
Khachmaz Military Registration Office in April, 2005.

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.