Lithuania preparing to host international conference in Vilnius 3-5 May 06
Kauno Diena, Kaunas
28 Apr 06
Twenty-six high-ranking delegations from different countries of the
world will take part in a large international conference that will be
held in Vilnius next week.
More than 2000 police officers will maintain order in the centre of
Vilnius, when dozens of important guests from many different countries
of the world will arrive to the large international conference in
Vilnius. The three-day forum, which will cost 2 million litas to the
government, will take place in several places in Vilnius; therefore,
strict city security and strict traffic restrictions have been
planned.
US Vice President Is Expected To Participate
Even 26 top-ranking delegations are expected to participate in the
Vilnius conference – Common Vision for Common
Neighbourhood. Presidents of Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova,
Georgia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, US Vice President Dick Cheney,
Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and
Security Policy, NATO Deputy Chief Alessandro Minuto Rizzo,
Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, Swedish Deputy Prime
Minister Bose Rinkholm, foreign ministers of Armenia, Belgium, and
Spain, European affairs ministers of the UK and Germany, other high
ranking officials will come to the Lithuanian capital to discuss
Europe’s eastern policy and the future of the Baltic-Black Sea region.
During the international conference, youth, public organizations, and
individual intellectuals will hold various forums. The forums will be
attended by scientists, political analysts and experts from many
countries of the European Union, the United States,
Canada. Representatives of public organizations from Russia and
Belarus opposition representatives will also attend the forums.
Former Belarus opposition’s presidential candidate, Alexander
Milinkevich, was supposed to take part in the forum. However,
yesterday special agencies detained him at the order of Belarus
President Alexander Lukashenka. He will spend 15 days in jail.
Meeting of Presidents To Top The Agenda
The conference will end with the meeting of the presidents on 4
May. Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Polish President Lech
Kaczynski will be hosting the meeting.
By the way, the Polish president will commemorate the Constitution Day
on 3 May, and the Latvian president will commemorate the country’s
Independence Day on 4 May in Vilnius.
Plans have been made to announce a common declaration of the
presidents. Moreover, bilateral talks between presidents and other
officials will be held during the forum.
Approximately 500 guests will come to Vilnius. Almost 200 accredited
reporters will be covering the event.
Some Will Bring Their Wives
Five presidents and top officials, including Cheney, will travel to
the conference with their significant others. There has been a
separate programme planed for them. Alma Adamkiene, the wife of the
Lithuanian president, will entertain the first ladies.
The presidents will start arriving in Vilnius on 3 May. In the evening
of the same day there will be a reception held at the President’s
Palace. The presidents’ conference will be held on Thursday at Reval
Hotel Lithuania.
During lunchtime, there will be another reception. It will be held at
the Sky Bar, located on the 22nd floor of the hotel. The dinner, which
will end the conference, will be held at Prie Belmonto Kriokliu
Restaurant.
Various events of the forum will also be held at the President’s
Office, the University of Vilnius, and the Forum Palace Conference
Centre. Press offices will be set up at the President’s Office, Reval
Hotel Lithuania, and Naujasis Vilnius (New Vilnius) Hotel.
The guests will be staying at nine hotels in the city. The majority
will be staying at Reval Hotel Lithuania and Naujasis Vilnius. By the
way, the Cheney family will be staying in presidential suites at Reval
Hotel Lithuania.
Common folk will not be able to rent rooms at this hotel during 3-5
May. Special attention will be devoted for the safety of this hotel.
The majority of the guests will leave Vilnius Thursday evening; some
will stay until Friday.
Year of Preparation
Almost a year was spent preparing for the Vilnius Conference: Common
Vision for Common Neighbourhood. Several dozen officials from the
President’s Office the Foreign Ministry and Polish diplomats have been
organizing the conference.
Two million litas has been allocated for the forum from the Lithuanian
budget.
The logo of the conference shows silhouettes of two people holding
hands. Different shades of blue colour symbolize two regions of
Europe: the light blue symbolizes countries of the Baltic Sea region,
dark blue – countries of the Black Sea Region. The event’s organizers
explained that, “the people holding hands are forming a circle, which
is symbolizing close cooperation of Europe’s many regions in the areas
of science, culture, business, politics, and in other important areas
of life.”
Will Guard Bridges
Due to the visits of the presidents and top officials, traffic in the
capital will be restricted. In addition, safety measures will be
increased. According to State Security Department Director Raimundas
Kairys, “all special agencies of Lithuania will participate in
ensuring safety of the event.” The list will include the Police
Department, the Border Patrol, Fire Safety and Rescue Service, the
State Security Department, certain departments of the Defence
Department, including the very secretive Second Department of Special
Operations.
The Police Department announced that more than 2000 police officers
would be working in Vilnius during the event. Eight hundred out of
them will be brought in from other cities. They intend to guard all
the bridges of the city. Police officers and National Guard troops
will be stationed around the city.
Officers strongly urged the capital’s residents not to drive their
cars to the city’s centre and the old town. They also reminded that
the traffic would be restricted not only around the areas where the
forum’s events will be held, but also around the streets leading to
the airport, when delegations’ convoys will be using those streets
[passage omitted on more traffic restriction information].
Officers’ Slap in the Face
A portion of police officers may create headaches for their colleagues
who will be guarding the important guests during the Vilnius Forum.
On May 4 they are planning to hold protest rallies in front of the
parliament and the government office. The officers who will be off
duty that day should be protesting against the government’s
unwillingness to compensate their salaries that have been reduced over
a few years. Five hundred police officers are expected to participate
in the rallies.
However, the organizers of the rallies have not made final decision
whether they will be holding the protests on the scheduled
day. Moreover, the Vilnius City Municipality has not issued the
permission to hold the protests on 4 May.
Organizers of the Vilnius Conference say that even if the protests
will be held, they will be held relatively far from the places where
the international forum will be held; thus, major problems should not
occur.

From: Sebouh Z Tashjian
Subject: PACE: Karabakh Issue Should Be Solved for Sake of Young Generation
PanARMENIAN.Net
PACE: Karabakh Issue Should Be Solved for Sake of Young Generation

29.04.2006 19:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Nagorno Karabakh conflict `should be solved for
the sake of the young generation first of all,’ President of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) René van der
Linden said. `Solving conflict is always difficult, however after my
visit to the region it was obvious to me that both parties have the
desire to settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. There are many people
outside Armenia, who push Armenian government and opposition in a
certain direction. I am sure the future of the young residents of
Armenia is much more important than the feelings of Armenians
outside,’ the PACE President said.
Answering a question on the prospects of settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh issue in 2006, René van der Linden said, `I hope for it. The
international community wishes to help, however, it is hard to solve
problems when there is lack of political will. It is utterly important
for political parties, the government and opposition form an
atmosphere favorable for taking decisions. If you exploit the
situation for electoral goals, you cannot solve the issue,’ he said,
reports Mediamax.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Oskanian: Karabakh Subordination to Azerbaijan Ruled out

29.04.2006 19:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `When it is time to reach an agreement on principles
of settlement of the conflict, Nagorno Karabakh should take part in
the talks without fail, as its fate is decided,’ Armenian FM Vartan
Oskanian stated at a meeting with the teaching staff and students of
Artsakh State University within his two-day visit in NKR. `I cannot
now state which status NK will have, however subordination to
Azerbaijan is merely ruled out. NK has never been part of Azerbaijan,’
he emphasized.
The international situation does not allow recognizing the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic yet, however the issue of recognition of the NKR is
a political lever, which should be used at an apt moment, the Armenian
FM remarked. Touching upon mutual concessions, Oskanian said, `Mutual
compromises should be born during talks. Each of the parties has `a
read line’ that it cannot overstep. For the Armenian party it is the
guarantee of NK security and uninterrupted land communication with
Armenia,’ the Armenian FM said. In his words, in any case settlement
by force is not acceptable. `Although the probability of resumption
of hostilities is low, we should be constantly ready to these. I am
glad NK is ready to it. We work for peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, however if Azerbaijan wants to solve the issue by
force, then, as stated by President Kocharian, Armenia will recognize
NKR,’ Oskanian noted. He emphasized that only after recognition of the
NKR elimination of the consequences of the war can be the point,
reports IA Regnum.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Four Soldiers Judged in Baku for «Cooperation with Armenians»

29.04.2006 19:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A preparation session on the case of four
servicemen, accused on article 274 (parricide) and 338.1 (violation of
combat post rules) was held in Azerbaijan. All the four are accused of
«conveying secret information to the Armenian party.» Binali
Mamedaliyev, Shakhiyar Ismailov, Shamhal Aghajamaliyev, Parviz Habibov
served in Fizuli region.
«During their service, they were recruited by Armenians and cooperated
with them. The trial is scheduled to begin on May 4. Owing to presence
of secret information, the process will be held behind closed
doors. This is not the first case of the kind, when Azeri soldiers are
judged for cooperation with Armenians,» reports Day.az.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Van der Linden: Armenia Should Look in Future to Normalize Relations
with Turkey
29.04.2006 20:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) René van der Linden said that to normalize
relations with Turkey Armenia should `look in the future, not using
the past to block it and look for peaceful solutions.’ `The fact that
Armenia and Turkey and CE members provides an opportunity to MPs of
the two countries to meet and discuss problems. I believe if you live
in a region and you do not have actual open contacts: trade and
economic, cultural and personal relations, you do not serve to the
cause of securing a better future for your country. It is impossible
to build a sustainable future in a region, where you are isolated from
your neighbors. I am sure that looking in the future is in the
interests of Armenia, not using the past to block it and look for
peaceful solutions.
If you want to find a solution, you will find it. However, you will
never find one securing a 100% outcome for you. Compromise is always
necessary, as the other side has its arguments and if you insist only
on your principles and feelings, it will be very hard to find a
sustainable and peaceful solution,» the PACE President said, reports
Mediamax.

PanARMENIAN.Net
PACE Subcommittee on Karabakh to Visit Region in October 2006

29.04.2006 20:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The next session of the PACE Subcommittee on Nagorno
Karabakh will be held in October 2006, head of the Armenian delegation
to the PACE, Armenian NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan stated in a
conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, the
Subcommittee is expected to pay a visit to the region at the same
time.
«Lord Russell-Johnson will visit Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan within
the Subcommittee’s regional visit,» Torosyan remarked. After the PACE
summer session the Subcommittee is not going to visit the region, he
said. The mandate of the Azeri delegation and activities of the PACE
Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh will be considered at the PACE summer
session, he reported.
To note, head of the Azeri parliamentary delegation to the PACE Samed
Seidov stated in Baku that Russell-Johnston is to visit the region in
summer 2006.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Armenian and Turkish Scholars to Have Fifth Meeting in US in May

29.04.2006 20:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 5th meeting of the Workshop for Armenian and
Turkish Scholarship (WATS) will be held at New York University May
14-16. All 4 previous meetings organized by professors Fatma Muge
Gyocek, Gerard Liparitian and Ronald Grigor Syuni (all from Michigan
University) were held at the universities of Chicago (2000), Michigan
(2002), Minnesota (2004) and in Salzburg, Austria (2005). Paul
Poghosian (philosophy, NY University) will join the group for the 5th
meeting. This year’s meeting is titled Genocide’s Borders, Goals,
History and its Peoples. The three-day get-together will kick off
with an open sitting on May 14 during which representatives of the
hosting university will answer the audience’s questions, reports the
Azg newspaper.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Oskanian Discussed Karabakh Settlement with NKR President
29.04.2006 21:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 28 NKR President Arkady
Ghoukassian met with the delegation of the Armenian
MFA led by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in
Stepanakert. The parties specifically spoke about
prospects of development of cooperation between the
MFAs of Armenia and NKR. Noting the importance of
programs to strengthen expert interaction, Ghoukassian
said that he is confident that development of ties
between Stepanakert and Yerevan will promote
strengthening the positions of Armenian parties in the
talks. At the instance of the guest, the Karabakh
leader presented the current social and economic
situation in the NKR. The same day Ghoukassian met
with Oskanian tete-a-tete. The parties discussed the
current state of Nagorno Karabakh settlement and
exchanged views over OSCE MG latest initiatives,
reports the Press Service of the NKR President.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Sergey Mironov Suggests Resuming Meetings of Armenian,
Azeri, Georgian and Russian Speakers

29.04.2006 21:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 28 Chair of the Council of
Federation of the Federal Assembly of Russia Sergey
Mironov sponsored resumption of regular meetings of
Armenian, Azeri, Georgian and Russian Speakers. `I
discussed this matter with my Azeri and Armenian
counterparts and they hailed this initiative. I hope
Georgian Parliament Chair Nino Burjanadze will not
object,’ Mironov told journalists. The latest meeting
of the four Speakers was held in Moscow in September
2005. According to reports, Russian State Duma Speaker
Boris Gryzlov refused from a meeting with Burjanadze
scheduled April 28 during the Georgian Speaker’s visit
to Russia to take part in events marking the 100th
anniversary of Russian State Duma.

Armenian, Russian presidents discuss mutual cooperation by phone
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
28 Apr 06
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan had a telephone conversation with
his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin today, Mediamax news agency
reports.
The presidents discussed Armenian-Russian cooperation and multilateral
cooperation within the framework of regular exchanges of views.