“NAGORNO KARABAKH HAS NEVER BEEN PART OF AZERBAIJAN”
A1+
[04:42 pm] 09 June, 2006
Today in club “Mirror” leader of the Democratic Liberal Union of
Armenia Seyran Avagyan and political scientist Alexander Manasyan tried
to find ways of settling the Karabakh conflict favorable for Armenia
and to comment the results of the last two meetings of Kocharyan
and Aliev.
According to Seyran Avagyan, Armenia tries to bring about peace in
the region, whereas Azerbaijan tries to delay the settlement of the
conflict which was especially obvious during the last meeting. The
international community is well aware of the approaches of the two
countries. “The delay has nothing to do with diplomacy. It is just a
way to hide their inability”, said Seyran Avagyan and added that the
coming generations must not be charged with the task of settling the
conflict as that would not be moral.
Alexander Manasyan thinks that there have been changes in the
negotiation field and in the policy of Azerbaijan. For example,
during the last meeting the two Presidents were offered documents
to sign which testifies to the fact that the mediators have adopted
a new strategy. “We must underline that historically, legally and
factually Nagorno Karabakh has never been part of Azerbaijan “,
the political scientist claims.
As for the delay of the settlement, Mr. Manasyan is not worried about
it. “If we can change the overall impression of the conflict in favor
of us, there will be no other problems”, he mentions.

EACH CHESS OLYMPIC CHAMPION TO GET 7.5 MILLION AMD
AZG Armenian Daily
09/06/2006
The Armenian Government decided yesterday to grant each member of
Armenia’s victorious chess Olympic team 7.5 million AMD. In accordance
with government’s decision of 2001, sportsmen who achieve good results
in the Olympic Games, world and Europe events receive 2.5 million
AMD. Additional 5 million was allocated from the reserve fund.

WORLD CUP FEVER
A1+
[01:47 pm] 09 June, 2006
The World Cup 2006 is bound to start in Germany at 09:00 PM Yerevan
time today. The population of the whole world has been looking forward
to this major event. Armenia is no exception. Although at present
chess is at the center of attention in the sports life of Armenia,
many people look forward to the start of the World Cup which will
finish exactly in a month, on July 9.
Unfortunately the national team of Armenia will not participate in the
world cup and the Armenian football fans will have to support other
teams. The Armenian fans are mainly for Ukraine, Brazil, England,
Italy, Argentina and France. Although the national team of Ukraine
is not considered as strong as the rest, it has many fans in Armenia
as it was once part of the Soviet Union.
The national team of Brazil too has many fans in Armenia. According
to the bookmakers Brazil is the main favorite of the world cup and its
index is only 2.8. Then come England, Italy and Germany. Their indices
are about 7-7.5. The index of Ukraine is 55 which is rather high.
By the way, two Armenian football players will participate in the World
Cup. They are Andranik Teymourazyan and Vahid Hashemyan, members of
the Irani national team. Teymourazyan is the only Christian member
of the Persian team.

TRIAL SET IN FESTIVAL TRAGEDY
Joe Menard / The Detroit News
DetNews.com, MI
June 8 2006
SOUTHFIELD — A 34-year-old Troy man will stand trial on 28 felony
charges in a school-carnival crash that injured 13 people after a
judge ruled Wednesday that there is enough evidence to try him on
charges of assault with intent to kill.
Timothy Hall Buss, 34, is expected to be arraigned in 6th Circuit
Court on June 19.
At his preliminary hearing Wednesday, witnesses to the May 21
incident outside the Alex Manoogian School at St. John’s Armenian
Church detailed how Buss ignored their pleas to stop his minivan and
proceeded to plow into festivalgoers, including children as young as 6.
“I saw six kids get hit by the van. The kids were like bowling pins,”
said business owner Michael Kayayan. He said he saw Buss drive over
a woman’s legs, breaking both ankles. “I actually saw the tire run
over her ankles. It sounded like a tree branch breaking.”
Witnesses said the incident started at around 2 p.m., when Buss slammed
his 1994 Plymouth Grand Voyager into a metal abutment separating the
school grounds from a service drive for the Southfield Freeway. They
say Buss then drove the van onto the school grounds at a high speed.
Several parents pleaded with Buss to stop, and one man punched out
Buss’ driver’s side window, but Buss turned into the crowd, hitting
13 people before speeding off, witnesses said.
He was arrested about nine hours later at his home.
Buss had an emotionless expression as he sped through the crowd,
witnesses said, and avoided eye contact.
He is being held on a $1.3 million bond.
Photo:
/article?AID=/20060608/METRO02/606080388/1009

PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN VISITS VILLAGES OF TOVUZ BORDERING ON ARMENIA
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 8 2006
Pakistan’s extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Azerbaijan
Mohammad Hafiz is visiting Tovuz region at the initiative of
parliamentarian Ganira Pashayeva.
APA’s western bureau reports that the ambassador first visited the
Martyr’s Alley in the center of the region. Tovuz governor Hamid
Baghirov received the Pakistani ambassador and parliamentarian Ganira
Pashayeva. Baghirov and Ms. Pashayeva informed the ambassador about the
strategic location of Tovuz and the problems of the region bordering
on Armenia. The region’s governor said though Tovuz is not in Nagorno
Garabagh which is subject to Armenians’ territorial claim, Armenians
often fire on peaceful residents and their houses in the villages of
the region bordering on Armenia.
Expressing his gratitude for detailed information on the problems that
the region is facing, Mr.Hafiz presented governor Hamid Baghirov with
a silver sword. Baghirov thanked to the ambassador for accepting the
invitation to visit Tovuz and presented him with Azerbaijani folk
musical instrument saz.
Following this, Mr. Hafiz accompanied by Ganira Pashayeva visited
Alibayli village of Tovuz bordering on Armenia.
600 of 800 houses in Alibayli village have been destroyed by Armenians
during the war and the cease-fire. 200 houses and 30%-40% of the
destroyed houses in the village are populated at present.
Meeting the villagers, the Pakistani ambassador was interested in
their conditions. The residents said Armenians often fire on the
houses but they go on living there.
Mohammed Hafiz and Pashayeva met with soldiers of Azerbaijani Army
after that. The visitors arrived at the secondary school named after
National Hero Gasim Rzayev in Hajiili village. This village often
becomes subject to Armenian bullets. There are bullet holes on the
door and walls of the school.
Speaking to APA’s western bureau, Ms.Pashayeva appreciated the
Pakistani ambassador’s visit to the border zone.
“Mr. Mohammad Hafiz demonstrated his support for us by visiting
the zone. He accepted my invitation on visiting the region with
great pleasure. Such visits are very important for us. Pakistan
has its special weight among Muslim countries. As a member of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference, Pakistan plays one of the
key roles there. Mr.Hafiz is sure to share his opinions on the visit
with other ambassadors, especially those from Muslims states,” the
parliamentarian said.
Pashayeva also noted that Mr.Hafiz wants the relations between
different parts of our country and Pakistan to strengthen, “Pakistan
gives great support for Azerbaijan regarding the Garabagh conflict.
Mr. Ambassador promised to often visit our regions.”
Pashayeva also said the initiative of organizing visits of western
ambassadors to our country is also being considered.
“Most of the western ambassadors have promised to visit our regions.
British ambassador Laurie Bristow has agreed to visit this region in
July or August this year,” she said.
The Pakistani ambassador is still visiting villages of Tovuz
bordering on Armenia now. Mohammad Hafiz and Ganira Pashayeva will
leave for Aghdam region today to familiarize with conditions of
local residents. The Pakistani ambassador is due to visit Ganja
tomorrow.

US BELIEVES 2006 TO REPRESENT A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR RESOLUTION OF NK CONFLICT – US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 8 2006
The United States remains committed to helping secure a peaceful
resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Matthew Bryza, the US
Assistant Secretary of State, told Trend in exclusive interview.
The Presidents met in Bucharest last weekend for intensive, detailed
negotiations. “Obviously, no breakthrough was reached, but we
continue to believe that 2006 represents a window of opportunity
if the Presidents can make difficult, courageous decisions to move
forward with a settlement,” he underlined.
Bryza also underlined that the United States is interested in
broadening our cooperation with Azerbaijan in all spheres. We already
enjoy excellent cooperation on military and security matters, energy
issues, and democratic and economic reform. President Aliyev’s visit
to Washington was very successful in advancing this cooperation and we
hope to deepen our cooperation still further in the weeks and months
to come, he stressed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENTS COULDN’T MAKE AGREEMENT ON ANY COMPLEX QUESTION IN BUCHAREST
Author: A.Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 8 2006
The Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan doesn’t exclude that
Azerbaijan and Armenia will reach an agreement on the principles of
solution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2006.
Answering the question of MediMax news agency, Oskanyan noted that
“it is impossible to exclude anything”. “The hope dies at the end,”
told Oskanyan.
Oskanyan stressed that as a result of the talks between Aliyev and
Kocharyan held in Bucharest on 4-5 June, no new meeting of the state
heads was fixed.
“The sides agreed that if after the new consultations of co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group, it is considered necessary to hold the meeting
of Azerbaijan and Armenian foreign ministers, then such meeting will
be held,” told Oskanyan. Besides, he noted that there wasn’t any
defined date for his meeting with his Azerbaijani colleague.
“Everything depends on the decision of mediators,” said Oskanyan.
“In Bucharest, the presidents, as being in Rambue, couldn’t make an
agreement on any complex question,” stressed Oskanyan.

IRAN, BULGARIA RATIFY AGREEMENT FOR AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION
Asia Pulse
Jun 08, 2006
TEHRAN, June 8 Asia Pulse – The Guardian Council ratified here
Wednesday an agreement for avoidance of double taxation between Iran
and Bulgaria to make it possible to became a law, the economic and
finance minister’s public relations department reported.
The agreement was previously approved in the Majlis. The law covers
avoidance of taxes on income acquired in housing, agriculture sectors
as well as various private sectors professions and extraordinary
incomes, the ministry reported.
Iran has signed agreements with 48 nations encouraging joint trade
and investments.
The agreements stipulate that the governments of the countries involved
finance private companies doing business in their territories thereby
making them partners in economic development.
Iran has inked accords with 34 countries for removal of double taxation
on trade and investments which can increase the flow of capital into
the national economy.
In addition to double taxation agreements Iran has also signed
agreements to boost its trade exchange.
The number of customs agreements signed with foreign countries now
stands at 31.
The report added, “Out of the signed documents, 19 have been ratified
by Iranian Majlis and the rest are being assessed by various Majlis
commissions.
“The ratified customs agreements have been signed with Italy,
Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba,
Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, India, Sudan, Pakistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Tunisia.” Talks are currently underway between
Iran’s Customs Administration and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Hungary,
Morocco, China, Iraq and Nigeria. Once the negotiations are finalized,
customs cooperation agreements will be signed with those countries.

AZERI-ARMENIAN TALKS FRUITLESS
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
June 8 2006
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert
Kocharian met in Bucharest for another round of talks on resolving
the long-standing Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict on Sunday. The
meeting, held at the Polish embassy in the Romanian capital, produced
no results.
The first part of the four-hour meeting was attended by the OSCE
chairman-in-office and Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht,
co-chairmen of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann, Yuri
Merzlyakov and Bernard Fassier, as well as the OSCE chairman’s special
envoy, Andrjei Casprzyk. The talks continued with a private meeting
between the two leaders.
Although the decision was made to continue the presidential talks on
the following day, something observers said gave hopes for a positive
outcome, the discussions turned out fruitless again. The presidents
did not sign a joint statement, as was previously planned. Armenian
President Kocharian left the conference hall first, followed by
Presidents Aliyev.
No information was provided to the press after the negotiations.
Kocharian explained this by what he described as “nothing to disclose”
about the meeting results.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the co-chairs said they
“regretted” the failure of the sides to reach an agreement on solution
principles.
The US Minsk Group co-chair Steven Mann told Radio Liberty that the
heads of state conducted a very intense discussion.
“The co-chairs will discuss the outcome of the talks in the coming
days on their own, plan further steps and inform the OSCE Permanent
Council of this at the upcoming meeting.”
Mann declined to disclose the gist of the presidential talks but said
they centered on “multi-faceted issues”.
Asked whether the talks marked any differences to the previous round
of discussions between the two leaders, he said: “I can only say
that we had very comprehensive talks. We are currently at the stage
of detailed and comprehensive discussions.”
The sides failed to agree on issues of principle during the talks
in the French town of Rambouillet in February, which was followed by
Azerbaijan’s threats to resort to military action.
Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said the key differences
between the conflicting sides concerned general principles.
“Azerbaijan’s stance remains unchanged,” he said.
Mammadyarov noted that he could meet with his Armenian counterpart
again if the need be. As for another meeting of the presidents,
he said this would depend on the prospects for further negotiations.
The head of the President’s Office international relations department,
Novruz Mammadov, said the two leaders had decided not to disclose
information to the media. He indicated, however, that the meeting
could be seen as a step forward and marked some rapprochement in the
positions of the parties.
The US Department of State Assistant Secretary for European and
Eurasian Affairs, Daniel Fried, stressed the importance of resolving
the Azeri-Armenian dispute and said there are opportunities for
achieving the goal. Reaching a possible accord depends on the Azeri
and Armenian presidents, the Russian media quoted him as saying.
Fried emphasized that the OSCE mediators had put forth a number of
proposals that could create a platform for solution. These ideas are
neutral and do not favor either of the sides, he said.
“As a representative of the United States, I would like to say that we
want as much territory as possible to be returned to Azerbaijan in a
short period of time. We also want refugees to return to their homes,”
the diplomat said. He added that each of the conflicting sides has its
own interests involved and various options for the conflict settlement.
Upper Garabagh, which is internationally recognized as being part of
Azerbaijan, has both Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian population. It
was occupied by Armenia in the early 1990s, along with seven other
Azerbaijani districts, after large-scale hostilities which claimed the
lives of up 30,000 people and forced over a million Azerbaijanis out
of their homes. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace
talks have been fruitless so far and refugees remain stranded.

TURKISH DEPUTY PREMIER SIGNS BSEC PROTOCOL IN RUSSIA
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
7 Jun 06
Sochi, 7 June: Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Mehmet Ali Sahin signed the additional protocol to the international
cooperation agreement of BSEC – Black Sea Economic Cooperation –
member states in Russia on Wednesday [7 June].
Sahin told reporters that the agreement envisages assistance and
solidarity between BSEC member states in case of natural disasters,
as well as disasters caused by human beings.
Within the scope of the agreement, liaison offices (in all BSEC
member countries) will be established for exchange of information
in emergency.
On 25 June 1992, the heads of state and government of eleven countries
(Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova,
Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine) signed (in Istanbul) the summit
declaration and the Bosphorus statement giving birth to the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC). It is a model of multilateral political
and economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction and harmony
among member states, as well as to ensure peace, stability and
prosperity encouraging friendly and good-neighbourly relations in
the Black Sea region.