TRAFFIC ON MILITARY-GEORGIAN ROAD RESTRICTED
Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 9 2006
Tbilisi, March 09 (Prime-News) – Traffic of any transport on
Gudauri-Kobi of Military-Georgian road is restricted due to threat
of avalanches.
The Prime-News was told at the Roads Department that traffic of
trailers, semitrailers and transport with more than 30 passengers
is restricted on Akhaltsikhe-Ninotsminda section of the road near
Georgian-Armenian state border.
According to forecasts situation will last at least for two days.

YEREVAN, BAKU EXCHANGE ACCUSATIONS OF CEASEFIRE VIOLATION
RIA Novosti, Russia
March 9 2006
YEREVAN/BAKU, March 9 (RIA Novosti) – Azerbaijan and Armenia Thursday
continued to fling allegations at each other of numerous ceasefire
violations on the border near the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict zone.
Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Seiran Shakhsuvaryan said
Azerbaijani troops continued shooting at Armenian positions in the
Indevan, Baik and Noyemberyan regions through March 7-8.
Azerbaijan Defense Ministry spokesman Ilgar Verdiyev said Armenian
troops were shooting at Azerbaijani positions 500 kilometers from the
capital, Baku, and 250 kilometers from the zone of the Nagorny-Karabakh
conflict.
The conflict between the two former Soviet republics over Nagorny
Karabakh, an Azerbaijani region with a largely Armenian population,
first erupted in 1988, when the region claimed independence from
Azerbaijan to join Armenia.
Over 30,000 people were reported dead on both sides between 1988
and 1994, and over 100 others died after a ceasefire was concluded
in 1994, leaving Nagorny Karabakh in Armenian hands, but tensions
between Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted.
Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
announced that its officials would monitor ceasefire observance on
the stretch of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border near the village of
Borsunlu in western Azerbaijan March 10.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Soldier of the Azerbaijani Army Alakbarov struck a mine and was
seriously wounded in Yusifjanli village of Aghdam region at 9.20a.m
yesterday.
The Garabagh bureau of APA reports that the solider (born in 1987)
was hospitalized. The Defense Ministry’s press service confirmed
the information. The official of the Ministry, major Ilgar Verdiyev
said that the wounded soldier underwent an operation and his leg was
amputated. The soldier is in better condition now.
Alakbarov was drafted by the military registration and enlistment
office of Geranboy region in April, 2005.

RUSSIA ASSURES ARMENIANS AGAINST TURKEY
By Foreign News Desk, Istanbul
Zaman Online, Turkey
March 9 2006
Armenia trusts the military cooperation with Russia against any
threats that might come from Turkey.
A report titled “Armenian National Security Strategy Tendencies,”
prepared by the National Security Council under Armenian Defense
Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, has defended that Russian units stationed in
Armenia, with the help of Armenian-Russian cooperation, will paralyze
any possible Turkish threats.
According to the news published on “Panarmenian.com” website, the
report details the development of a strategic cooperation between
Russia and Armenia in fields such as the “involvement in coalition
groups, common air defense system and collaboration in the Security
Collaboration Organization, including some former Soviet countries”.
Pointing at the importance of Russian and Armenian relations within
the multinational structure, the report indicates the air defense
system as an example.
Cooperation with both NATO and Russia
Serzh Sarkisyan, in his speech to Russian reporters on Wednesday in
the Armenian capital Yerevan, highlighted the news reported in the
Russian press claiming that Armenia aims at achieving North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) standards in the army.
Their target is to attain world standards for the Armenian army by
2015, Sarkisyan said; Armenia has never concealed their relations with
NATO from Russia, or the military cooperation with Russia from NATO.
He also advocated that their military cooperation with NATO favors
the cooperation between Armenia and Russia. “We do not want war;
however, if required, we are ready to fight,” the Armenian defense
minister declared.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS ENDED WASHINGTON MEETING
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Steven Mann (US), Yuri Merzlyakov
(Russia), Bernar Fasie (France) and Andrzei Kasprzyk, personal
representative of OSCE-chairman-in-office, ended their meeting in
Washington (APA).
During the meeting, the co-chairs analyzed the conclusions of the
Rambouillet meeting, that was held between Azerbaijan’s and Armenia’s
Presidents for the resolution of the Nagorno Garabagh conflict,
and determined further steps concerning efforts in this direction.
The issues discussed in the 3-day meting were not made public, and it
was said that the official Baku, Yerevan and Vienna will be informed
about the conclusions of the discussions as well as further steps to
resolve the conflict.
The American co-chair Steven Mann said he will give detailed
information to the Presidents of the two countries on the issues
debated in Washington, when he and US Assistant Secretary Daniel
Fried visit Azerbaijan and Armenia.

ARMENIANS HOLD MILITARY DRILL ON OCCUPIED LAND
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Armenia has held military exercises in the occupied Azerbaijani
territories, a move that comes just a day after Azerbaijan President
Ilham Aliyev visited the frontline during his visit to the central
districts in lowland Garabagh.
The training was spearheaded by the commander of the former Russian
366th motorized- infantry regiment, “defense minister” of the
self-proclaimed Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh republic, lieutenant-general,
Seyran Aronian, Armenian media reported. The military unit was
responsible for the horrendous massacre of Azerbaijanis perpetrated by
Armenians in the Khojaly district on February 26, 1992, which killed
hundreds of civilians, including the elderly, women and children.
Aronian was granted the military rank of lieutenant-general on the 14th
anniversary of the tragedy. Special instructors from Russia, Canada,
USA, Germany and England were reportedly drawn to the exercises.

ARMENIA OFFERS BOUNTY FOR AZERI OFFICER’S LIFE
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
A hard-line group has urged the Hungarian court to ensure the security
of an Azeri officer accused of killing an Armenian serviceman at a
NATO course in Budapest in 2004.
The chairman of the Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) has sent a
petition to the Budapest City Court and some Hungarian media requesting
security guarantees for Ramil Safarov. “We have repeatedly stated
that when Safarov was committing the killing, his mind was clouded
with revenge for the crimes the Armenian armed forces had unleashed
on peaceful Azerbaijani population. Armenia is trying to affect the
course of legal proceedings.
The chairman of the Armenian Progress Party, Tigran Urikhanyan,
reportedly offered a $125,000 reward to anyone who kills Safarov,”
the GLO said. The appeal termed this as a graphic example of the
Armenian government’s terrorist essence. The Armenian leadership
is even trying to have Safarov killed in the Budapest prison,
therefore, it is necessary to take extra precautions and provide
for his security. Azerbaijan has been left to deal with a terrorist
state, the document said. “Another fact we would like to point out
is the trial of Armenian Lt-Col Pargev Abramian currently underway
in Yerevan. He is charged with dismembering his wife with an axe. The
defense claims that he has committed the crime in a state of emotional
distress,” the GLO said, urging the Hungarian court to be mindful of
these facts when handing down a ruling.

USA DOESN’T RECKON THAT COSOVO MODEL COULD BE APPLIED TO NK AND SOUTH OSSETIA
Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 9 2006
Tbilisi, March 09 (Prime-News) – The USA reckon that conflicts in
Nagorno Karabakh and South Ossetia have their differences and they
should be treated as separate issues.
Sean McCormack, official representative of the US Department of State,
stated about that commenting statement of Russian president about
conferring the status of independence to Cosovo could set a precedent
for resolution of post Soviet conflicts.
“Our position is that conflicts in Nagorno Karabakh and South Ossetia
have their peculiarities and they should be treated as separate ssues,”
McCormack noted.

AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENT IS ON OFFICIAL VISIT IN JAPAN
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev had a one-on-one meeting with
Japanese Emperor Akihito on 8 March, in the framework of his official
visit to Japan.
APA reports quoting ‘Azertag’ that highly appraising official visit
of the Azerbaijani President to Japan, His Majesty Akihito said
development of bilateral relations would be useful for both sides.
Touching upon the historical friendly links between two peoples, the
Emperor said Japan is deeply interested in strengthening of relations
with Azerbaijan. The Emperor added that successful reforms are leading
Azerbaijan to the world’s developed counties.
President Aliyev said he was pleased with the visit, and spoke of
the legal, democratic, secular state building process ongoing in
Azerbaijan. “The current visit will open a new phase in development
of bilateral relations”, he emphasized.
President Aliyev also said Azerbaijan always attaches great importance
to mutually beneficial ties with the world countries.
“From this standpoint, the relations with Japan are of particular
importance. The country is open to businessmen of world counties,”
Mr.Aliyev stressed.
Speaking of the works done for joint development of prospects at the
Azerbaijan sector on the Caspian, the Azerbaijan President said the
Japanese Itocu had greater share in the projects.
During the talk, also were focused the prospects of the Azeri-Japanese
cooperation, the situation in the region, settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict and other questions.
President Aliyev at his residence in Tokyo received the President
of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ms. Sadako Ogata
yesterday. Reminding that Japan is keen in development of ties in all
fields, and the Japanese companies had invested in some important
projects in Azerbaijan, Ms. Sadako Ogata said that the Japanese
credits are for expansion of cooperation with Azerbaijan, “which is
such a country in the Caucasus that any investment in its economy
would certainly yield fruits in future and promote dynamic progress”.
The Azerbaijan President expressed consent with the relations
established between JICA and Azerbaijan, noting there are good
opportunities and prospects for widening of co-operation between
the countries.
President Aliyev also attended the Azerbaijan-Japan Economic Forum
yesterday. The forum brought together representatives of 30 Azerbaijani
and 100 Japanese companies.
Mr. Aliyev gave a large speech, expressing hope that the Forum would
benefit mutual ties.
As a result of the Forum, some companies from each side have sealed
several million dollars contracts.

ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES CONTINUE CEASE-FIRE VIOLATION IN GAZAKH
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Armenian side keeps on breaking the cease-fire. Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry press service told APA that Armenian Armed Forces fired on the
Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ opposite positions from their positions near
Mezemli village, Gazakh, at 18.25 on March 7 and again they fired on
Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ positions in Gizil Hajili village, Gazakh,
from their positions in Berkaber village, Ijevan at 2.20p.m, March 8.
On March 8, they also fired on Azerbaijani Armed forces’ positions in
Jafarli village, Kazakh, from their positions near Mount Sarakpikash
in Ijevan from 10.40a.m to 10.45a.m.
The enemy forces fired on Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ positions in
Baganis Ayris village in Kazakh region from their opposite positions
at 12.26 p.m, they fired on Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ positions in
Kemerli village, Gazakh, from their positions in Berdavan village,
Noyemberan at 18.50.
They fired on Azerbaijani Armed forces’ positions in Gizil Hajili and
Ashagi Askipara village in Kazakh from their positions near Berkaber
village, Ijevan at 2.09pm.
The enemy was silenced by the counter-fire, no loss.