IRAN WILL JERK THE WORLD IF ATTACKED
Lragir.am
13 June 06
Deputy Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Ali Akbar Jokhar announced June 13
at the Hayeli Club that the nuclear program of Iran is not an object
of future tensions. The deputy ambassador of the Islamic Republic
of Iran supported his view by the forecasts of international experts
who say tensions would lead to a defeat of all the sides. Ali Akbar
Jokhar said during the Iranian visit of the EU Delegate Solana progress
was reported in the settlement of the problem related to the nuclear
program, as well as in the new proposals of the United States. The
deputy ambassador mentioned that no details of this proposal are
being published but it must absolutely honor the right of Iran to
generate nuclear energy. “Naturally, whatever the package contains,
honoring of the right of Iran must underlie it,” said Ali Akbar Jokhar.
He said the Unites States does not have a reason to launch a military
campaign against Iran. The deputy ambassador also says that the
international community does not have a reason to support the U.S.
militarism, if it occurs. Ali Akbar Jokhar thinks it is not right to
compare Iran and Iraq. In Iraq there was a dictator who had nothing in
common with people, whereas in Iran there is strong popular support,
therefore the approaches of both the Unites States and the European
Union have become moderate. Besides, the deputy ambassador of the
IRI to Armenia says the force of Iran and Iraq cannot be compared
either. Ali Akbar Jokhar also states that Iran is a key geopolitical
actor, and attempts at destabilizing Iran may cause a serious financial
and political shock.

SOUTH AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT EXIST
Lragir.am
13 June 06
The expression “South Azerbaijan” is false, it does not exist,
stated Ali Akbar Jokhar, Deputy Ambassador of Iran to Armenia June
13 at the Hayeli Club. He rejected that the Azerbaijanis living in
the north of Iran claim independence. The deputy ambassador told the
Armenian news reporters that the disorder among the Azerbaijanis of
North Iran several weeks ago was not given a correct interpretation
or was not presented fully. “Do you know how it happened? It happened
so that there was an insult one day. Not only the Azeri-speaking
people protested but also the people of other provinces of Iran
protested. Because if we are members of a family, if they offend
one of us, they offend everyone. And different Iranian ethnicities
consider it a national problem, not just a problem of Azeris,” said
the Deputy Ambassador of Iran. According to him, the events that
took place in the north of Iran were interpreted as it was favorable
for the West. “It is natural, and we knew that this problem would be
manipulated. Be sure, however, that the Iranian identity is based on
beliefs, history and traditions,” said Ali Akbar Jokhar. According to
him, “it is not difficult to find a hundred people in every nation,
who can shout different slogans, but the Iranian identity dominates in
Iran.” Deputy Ambassador Jokhar reminded about the history of Iran,
where the Azeris had a significant role. Ali Akbar Jokhar says the
members of the royal family of Sefids, who had a great role in the
Iranian state and culture, were Azeris. Ali Akbar Jokhar also says
that the regions inhabited by Azeris greatly favored the Islamic
revolution, and the Azeris have always had an important role in the
country’s government. Deputy Ambassador Jokhar says it is worthwhile
to visit and see the situation at places to confirm his words.

TURKEY TOOK FIRST STEP ON WAY TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 14:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey signed an agreement on cooperation in
scientific investigations with the EU thus taking the first step on
the way towards the European integration. Yesterday the document
was signed in Luxembourg by 25 EU Foreign Ministers and Turkish
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul. The agreement is the
first out of 35 documents Turkey has to sign with the European Union
before the discussion of the terms of the state’s membership in the
European community. The signing of the agreement was nearly blocked
by Cyprus which urged Ankara to fulfill obligations on the terms of
its recognition. It should be noted that presently Turkey recognizes
only the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus located in the northern
part of the island, reported Golos Rossii.

THEY KNOW ABOUT BUCHAREST AS MUCH AS OTHERS
Lragir.am
13 June 06
The Islamic Republic of Iran did not have detailed information about
the last harbor of the settlement of the conflict over Karabakh. The
deputy speaker of Iran to Armenia Ali Akbar Jokhar stated June 13
that they learned about the meeting in Bucharest as much as everybody
else. “Our information about Bucharest is as much as the press and
government officials gave. However, we believe that the path of the
settlement of the conflict is negotiations and dialogue,” said Ali
Akbar Jokhar. He asserted in the name of Iran that the country is
ready to give the sides every kind of support that could lead to the
settlement of the conflict. The statement of the deputy ambassador that
Iran is, in fact, unaware of the details of the meeting in Bucharest
is interesting in the sense that after the meeting in Rambouillet
the deputy foreign minister of Iran Mottaki was informed about the
Armenia-Azerbaijan talks, whereas after Bucharest Iran asserts knowing
as much as it could learn from press.
It means that there are no details on Bucharest as such, or this
time Iran was not informed about them, or the details are not related
to Iran.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE SETTLED VIA TALKS, IRAN SAYS
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 14:26 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iran adheres to the opinion that the Nagrono Karabakh
conflict can be settled via negotiations only, Iranian Deputy Chief
of Mission Ali Akbar Jokar stated at a news conference June 13. In
his words, Tehran has many times confirmed its readiness to assist in
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. “Iran enjoys good relations
with all its neighbors and is interested in stability in the region,”
he remarked, reported IA Regnum.

NO ONE EXCEPT BAKU TO BENEFIT FROM BAKU-TBILISI-CEYHAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 14:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Since 1990-ies I have reiterated that the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is a mere political project with
no economic dividends. Now, when it’s built and put into operation,
it has become an economic project, Director of the Caucasus Media
Institute (CMI), political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan stated in
an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, in the worldwide scope
it will yield no effect but Azerbaijan will derive benefit from it.
“By the way, all the oil states except Norway are similar: I have a
pipe and you should share the income. To keep the “guards” of the pipe
becomes the main task. Such states have many internal enemies. As for
the BTC future, it can seriously change is Kazakhstan doesn’t join it,”
the CMI Director said.

INFORMATION FROM JAVAKHK REACHES ARMENIA SOMEHOW DISTORTED
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 14:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The information that reaches Armenia from Javakhk
is in a way distorted. The reason is clear, the information comes
either from Georgia or from relatives living in Akhalkalaki, Director
of the Caucasus Media Institute (CMI), political scientist Alexander
Iskandaryan stated in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words,
the situation there is really complicated and tensed. “The problem
can be divided into several parts. The first is the socio-economic
tension. The region is the poorest in Georgia. It was such in the
soviet period as well but at that time it received grants. Georgia is
not a state that can subsidy retarded regions. As a matter of fact,
the troubles of Javakhk are common for whole Georgia. All what is
earned there is seized for the state budget. Second, it’s the language
policy pursued by the Georgian authorities. A man who doesn’t know
Georgian cannot find a normal job. The problem always existed but
now it has become more pressing. There are no Armenian institutes
of higher education there, consequently there is little chance for
bringing up intelligentsia. There is only a branch of the Tbilisi
University in Akhalkalaki where ethnic Georgia who failed exams in
Tbilisi go,” he said. The Armenian political scientist also remarked
that the Armenian population thinks that the Georgian authorities
attempt to change the demographic situation in the region.
“Let’s just fancy that this happens not accidentally.
A remiss official orders to open an orphanage in Javakhk. The
population rates this as an attempt to change the demographic
situation. The deployment of the Georgian armed forces at the
border is rated the same way. They say “peaceful Armenians and
armed Georgians. Even if all this happens accidentally the population
perceives it as pressure from official Tbilisi. I think the authorities
should be cautious with the issue,” Alexander Iskandayan said.

DANIEL FRIED: U.S. WILL NEVER RECOGNIZE NORTHERN CYPRUS
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 15:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried said Turkey should open its sea ports
and airports to Cyprus if it hopes to become a member of the European
Union. He also said that the U.S. will never recognize the breakaway
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and only aims to reunite the
island.
At a conference held by the Greek Cypriots, Fried said, “Turkey
should open its ports to Cyprus ships and airplanes and fulfill its
responsibility of expanding the Customs Union agreement in a way to
include the Republic of Cyprus.”
Fried stated that the United States will continue helping the both
parts reach a solution with the help of the United Nations and
two-party talks.
But he added: “We do not recognize and will not recognize any
government other than the Republic of Cyprus on the Cyprus Island. We
are quite open about this issue. None of our policies are aimed at
recognizing another political existence; the United States does not
even imply this. Cyprus is a single country. We have a single embassy
there and it will remain so,” reported the Anatolian news agency.

SHAHUMYAN AND GETASHEN ARE QUICKLY BECOMING AZERI LANDS
A1+
[02:15 pm] 13 June, 2006
“The issue of Northern Artsakh must be involved in the procedure of
the Minsk group negotiations and solved,” Edik Balayan, chairman of
“Shahumyan-Getashen” Patriotic Union aroused this question in the club
“Pastark.”
Today is a tragic day for all the residents of Shahumyan and Getashen
regions as the Azeribaijanis forcibly displaced 21 000 residents
from their dwelling places 15 years ago. According to Edik Balayan,
18 Armenian villages of the Northern Artsakh were confiscated and are
still occupied by the Azeri armed forces. “The residents of Shahumyan
and Getashen migrated to Armenia, USA and Russia and settled there
with the hope that one day their homeland will be liberated and they
will have a chance to return,” claims Edik Balayan.
In his words though 15 years have passed since then, the overwhelming
majority of the displaced people is in terrible social state; they
live in temporary shelters and are unemployed. Besides, the issue of
the missing people, hostages and war prisoners is almost neglected.
Edik Balayan urges that the Armenian lands are quickly repopulated
and the Azeri side has provided special conditions on this score; the
new dwellers are given houses, 300 USD, 25 000 manats, animals, etc.
The chairman of the Patriotic Union also underlines the fact that
the Azeri side destroys Armenian monuments, graveyards and attempts
to eliminate all the bases of the ethnic origin.

YEREVAN IS NOT READY FOR THE SEISMIC RISK
A1+
[03:10 pm] 13 June, 2006
Yerevan is located in the territory of great seismic risk, and
about 45% of its total territory has a high seismic risk. Michael
Melqumyan, chairman of the Seismic Proof Armenian Association briefed
the journalists the results of the Armenian seismologists’ observation.
He claims that in case there is an earthquake in Armenian having
the force of the earthquake of 1988 or if the hearth of the Garni
earthquake activates “nothing will remain of Yerevan, there will be
about 300 thousand victims, and 80% of buildings will level to the
ground.” This possibility is ignored while building elite blocks of
flats in the city centre. “If I were the head of the constructions
I wouldn’t build multi-storeyed buildings,” urges professor Melqumyan.
As a witness of the current construction work implemented in the
capital he assumes, “It is the outcome of nowadays demand. But if
there is a demand it must be realized properly.” By this he means that
seismic isolation pillows must be used during the construction as at
present many organizations apply various technologies to provide the
seismic proof of their buildings.
The number of the organizations which order and use seismic isolation
pillows during the construction work is not significant. At first
sight it seems that the pillows are connected with great expenses as
the price is 550 – 750 USD per a pillow. For instance, 170 seismic
isolation cushions are required for 10-storeyed building. This gives
ground for constructive organizations to apply other technologies. But
according to the professor more constructive material is needed in
case they don’t use cushions.
“Intellect is needed for all these calculations.
People should realize the effect of the system,” maintains the
professor. By the way, there are 4 factories in Armenia producing
seismic isolation cushion. In Melqumyan’s words there are a lot of
unsafe buildings in Armenia and their security must be the foremost
task for the country. He claims that the money given by international
organizations was not to be spent on the construction of roads and ways
but in other way, “If I were the Prime Minister of the country I would
have started from schools, kindergartens, as all these infrastructures
will be useless if all the buildings are ruined.” By the way a project
aimed at the provision of the seismic security of Yerevan was presented
to the government. Though the government supported it the cost of
the project is 4 milliard USD and the country cannot afford it.
International conference devoted to the matters of seismic security
will be held in Armenia on June 15 – 17. 40 representatives from 9
countries will participate in the conference.