ARMENIAN SIDE FIRES THREE TIMES ON GAZAKH REGION LAST NIGHT
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
April 26 2006
Yesterday at 11.00 p.m. Armenian troops fired on Azerbaijani army
positions in the Gazakh region. The gunfire came from Armenian
occupied Azerbaijani villages Ashagy Askipara and Boganis Ayrym in
the same region.
At 2.50 a.m. Armenian troops fired on Azerbaijani positions near
Gushchu Ayrym village and at 5.15 a.m. Armenian divisions opened fire
at Azerbaijani positions near Jafarli village in the Gazakh region.
The Azerbaijani side returned fire. Casualties are not reported by
Azerbaijan Defense Ministry’s press office.

AZERBAIJAN LEADER STAYING OUT OF IRAN FRAY
By Barry Schweid
Washington Post
April 26 2006
WASHINGTON — President Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan opened a three-day
visit to the United States on Wednesday by saying he would not
allow his country to be used by the U.S. for any operations against
neighboring Iran.
Aliev, scheduled to meet with President Bush on Friday, cited a
“very clear” agreement with Iran that the two countries would not
permit their territory to be used for operations against the other.
His visit comes at a time of rising U.S. tensions with Iran over its
nuclear program, and Aliev said he would remain at arms’ length from
that conflict.
“Azerbaijan will not be engaged in any kind of potential operation
against Iran,” he said in remarks at the private Council on Foreign
Relations.
The Caspian nation, which shares a border with Iran and Russia, is
strategically important to the U.S. because of its location and its
role in supplying the West with oil.
Azerbaijan wants to remain an “island of stability” in the region,
Aliev said. At the same time, he said Azerbaijan had sent troops
to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, and would “do its best to stand
shoulder-to-shoulder” with the United States on security.
The president, who took office in October 2003, has the potential to
be an intermediary between the Bush administration and Iran. Iranian
Defense Minister Mustafa Mohammad Najjar, on a visit to Baku last
week, said Aliev could use his talks in Washington to “explain”
Iran’s views to the United States.
Aliev said he did not think Iran would be a “major aspect” of his
talks in Washington, which are due to include a meeting with Vice
President Dick Cheney. But he said “if the question of regional
security arises we will discuss it.”
Azerbaijan is committed to peace in the region, he said. “We need to
try to provide peace and stability.”
“At this time,” he said, “it is best to concentrate on a peaceful
resolution” of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programs, which the
United States and European allies say seek development of a nuclear
bomb.
On another issue, Aliev conceded there was need for political reform
in his country, a former Soviet republic that became independent 16
years ago. Referring to Azerbaijan’s energy boom, Aliev said “economic
reform without political reform will lead to severe problems.” He
said his country was moving forward on both fronts.
Human rights groups have criticized the nation for restricting
political and human rights and questioned whether U.S. criticism
would be muted due to Azerbaijan’s role in supplying the West with oil.
Freedom House on Tuesday said Azerbaijan restricts political and human
rights and is among the lowest-ranked countries in the private rights
group’s annual surveys.
“President Bush has made democracy promotion a priority of his
presidency,” Freedom House executive director Jennifer Windsor said
in a statement. “His upcoming meeting with President Aliev presents
an important opportunity for him to discuss Azerbaijan’s democracy
deficit.”
Aliev, in response to questions Wednesday, rejected the description
of his government as a “regime” and said, “We have all the major
freedoms.”
In his remarks, Aliev spoke most about a dispute with Armenia over the
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave of Azerbaijian. Ethnic Armenian forces occupy
the region, in what Aliev called an occupation. He said Azerbaijan’s
recovery of the territory was not subject to negotiations.
Photo: Azerbaijani President, then Prime Minister, Ilham Aliev,
speaks to the media in Baku, Azerbaijan, in this Monday, Oct. 13,
2003 file photo. As the starting point for a pipeline that will pump
1 million barrels of oil a day to Western markets, the former Soviet
republic Azerbaijan has long ranked as a strategic foothold for the
United States in the Caspian Sea region. But it’s the shared border
with Iran, where up to 30 million ethnic Azeris live, that has earned
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev an invitation to the White House
this week, analysts say. Aliev leaves Tuesday for a three-day visit on
the invitation of President George W. Bush. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky,
File) (Efrem Lukatsky – AP).

VALCAV HAVEL: ARMENIANS ALSO SUFFERED HOLOCAUST
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NY
April 26 2006
Former Czech President Vaclav Havel equated the Turkish killing of
Armenians during World War I to the slaughter of Jews in World War II.
Havel made his comments yesterday during a speech in Prague at a
Council of Europe conference on Holocaust education, saying that
civilization’s moral failings were responsible for genocides, “be it
the holocaust of Armenians or Jews.”
“These big catastrophes in fact are monstrous but in a way
understandable products of this civilization.”
Up to 1 million Armenians died in ethnic strife under the Ottoman
Empire from 1915-1917.
Twenty-four countries officially recognize the Armenian deaths as a
genocide, but Turkey is adamant that no genocide occurred.

TURKEY CANNOT SHARE SOME EXPRESSIONS OF BUSH, TAN
Anatolian Times, Turkey
April 26 2006
ANKARA – “It is not possible for Turkey to share some expressions of
U.S. President George Bush in his statement released on April 24th.
On the other hand, the reference to creation of joint commissions
is positive,” said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan
on Tuesday.
Replying a question about President Bush’s statement on so-called
Armenian genocide anniversary, Tan said, “President Bush displayed
his regular attitude of releasing a written statement on ‘Armenian
remembrance day’ on April 24th this year as well. It is not possible
for Turkey to share some assessments in the statement.”
“History can only be written and assessed on the basis of official
documents. The resource is the archives,” he noted.
“Controversial part of Turkish-Armenian joint history can only be
researched on scientific aspect, and the assessments can be made
under the results of these researches,” he added.
Tan said, “Thus, Turkey’s proposal (to Armenia) to investigate
incidents before and after 1915 by a joint history commission (and to
share results with people) can enlighten this period of history and
normalize the relations between the two countries, and this initiative
should be supported.”
U.S. President George Bush said in his statement (released on April
24th), “today, we remember one of the horrible tragedies of the
20th century — the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5
million Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915.
This was a tragedy for all humanity and one that we and the world must
never forget. We mourn this terrible chapter of history and recognize
that it remains a source of pain for people in Armenia and for all
those who believe in freedom, tolerance, and the dignity and value
of every human life. We encourage dialogues, including through joint
commissions, that strive for a shared understanding of these tragic
events and move Armenia and Turkey towards normalized relations.”

SO STRIKES AGAIN IN DUBAI CHESS
By Arman Armero
Manila Standard Today, Philippines
April 27 2006
FIDE master Wesley So, a 12-year-old kid among chess giants,
secured his second win in three matches to bring himself closer to
an international master norm after three rounds in the eighth Dubai
Open Chess Championship late Tuesday at the Dubai Chess and Culture
Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
So, the country’s youngest chess whiz from Bacoor, Cavite, demolished
IM Sale Srdjan of Croatia after 42 pushes of a Benko Opening to be
in the company of 10 other players in the event, historically the
strongest open tournament in Asia.
Also in So’s company in a tie from 11th to 21st places are grandmasters
Ashot Anastasian of Armenia, Levan Pantsulaia of Georgiz, Tigran
Petrosian of Armenia, Moussa Taleb of the UAE and IMs Oleg Kulicov
of Russia, Farid Abbasov of Azerbaijan, SA Sarsam of Iraq, Abhijeet
Gupta of India, Fouad El Taher of Egypt and fellow FM Eltaj Safari
of Azerbaijan.
So’s fourth-round opponent is Taher, formerly a Board 1 player for
Egypt in various world team championships.
Standings after three rounds: Izoria, Sadvakasov, Sargissian,
Miroshnichenko, Kacheishvili, Maghami, Fedorchuk, Gelashvili, Kotsur,
Gagunashvili 3.0 points; So, Pantsulaia, Petrosia, Taleb, Kulicov,
Abbasov, Taher, Sarsam, Gupta. Safari.

VALDAS ADAMKUS: “WHAT BELONGS TO YOU SHOULD BE YOURS”
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006
“Any person, any country has got the right to be free and the right of
territorial integrity – this is a basic principle”, stated President
of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, who is in Yerevan on an official visit,
at a meeting with the students and professorial staff of the Yerevan
State University April 26.
While commenting on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process
President of Lithuania noted: “What belongs to you should be yours”,
REGNUM correspondent reports. At the same time he said military
solution of the conflict was inadmissible. “A dialogue is necessary
for the conflict’s peaceful settlement. I call on you to speak to
each other. One can find the ways for the problem solution only via
mutual understanding and a dialogue,” the Lithuanian President stated.

MILITARY SOLUTION OF IRANIAN PROBLEM WILL HARM BAKU AND YEREVAN
RIA Novosti, Russia
April 26 2006
Moscow, (Alexei Makarkin for RIA Novosti) – Escalation of the
U.S. conflict with Iran directly affects the interests of its
neighbors.
A military solution may generate serious problems for Iraq, where it
took the political forces several months to agree on the distribution
of government positions. Moreover, a Shiite has again become Prime
Minister, and the Iraqi Shiites have historical ties with their
brethren in Iran. Understandably, political risks in Afghanistan
and Pakistan will markedly grow. The states of the South Caucasus,
also Iran’s neighbors, will face problems too.
The media report that the United States is hoping for Azeri cooperation
– its territory could be used as a potential bridgehead for military
action against Iran (this may or may not happen, but nevertheless
is on the agenda). Ilham Aliyev may discuss this issue during his
U.S. visit this week. The agenda may include the use of Azeri air space
and airfields, and the deployment of U.S. troops on Azeri territory.
Obviously, Baku is not very enthusiastic about this prospect. To begin
with, Azerbaijan maintains close relations with Iran. They signed a
non-aggression and cooperation treaty in 2002. Last December their
representatives attended the inauguration of the gas pipeline –
under a 25 year-long bilateral agreement, Iran will supply 80.5
million cubic m of natural gas a year.
During his recent trip to Baku, Iranian Defence Minister Mostafa
Mohammad-Najjar said: “The security of Azerbaijan is the security of
Iran. Our defence capability is your defence capability.” He seemed
keen to find out the Azeri position on the eve of Aliyev’s visit to
the U.S. It is clear, however, that if Azerbaijan becomes an American
ally in the war against Iran, it will itself become a target for
Iranian missiles.”
Moreover, Iran is the home for at least 35 million Azeris ( their
number being bigger than the population of Azerbaijan itself), many of
them with relatives in Azerbaijan. It is rumoured that the Americans
may try and use the ethnic factor – contradictions between the Azeri
diaspora and the Tehran regime (as Stalin tried to do in 1946). If so,
the U.S. will find it hard to do without Baku. But let’s not forget
that Stalin did not succeed, although the Iranian central government
was much weaker than it is now. In addition, if hostilities break
out, refugees may flood Azeri territory and create serious problems
for the Baku authorities. Finally, the Islamic fundamentalists in
Azerbaijan may use military action to enhance their positions by
espousing anti-American rhetoric.
While Baku is thinking about its position in the Iranian crisis,
Armenia is worried that it may have a negative effect on the
Karabakh problem, in which the U.S. is increasingly trying to act as
a go-between. So far, the point at issue is whether Baku will grant
Karabakh the right to self-determination, and sanction a referendum,
the results of which are already clear. Only in this case will
Armenia agree to concessions, and return to Baku control over the
areas of the country (outside Karabakh), which are now occupied by
its armed formations. For the time being, Aliyev rejects the idea of
a referendum as a matter of principle – if he agrees to it, he will
weaken his position inside the country and give the opposition an
excuse to lash out at him.
Today, the Americans are emphasizing their role of an “honest broker”
at the Karabakh negotiations, and are trying to exert equal influence
on either side. But the question is if they are so interested in Azeri
territory as a bridgehead for military action against Iran, how can
they “compensate” Baku for the tremendous political risks involved?
At the very least, the U.S. could support the Azeri option of the
Karabakh settlement, which Armenia finds unacceptable. At most,
Washington may look the other way if Baku possible attempts to resolve
the issue with military force. The leader of the Armenian opposition
Stepan Demirchyan said with good reason: “The consequences of a war
in Iran will be destructive for the whole region.” He added that a
war in Iran would spell disaster both for Nagorny Karabakh and Armenia.
Although unlikely, even the possibility of such a war causes concern
in Armenia and other CIS nations, which have a vested interest in
peaceful settlement of conflicts on their territory.
Thus potential U.S. military intervention in Iran may not only
result in huge casualties (part of which will be caused by Tehran’s
retaliation), but also exacerbate old seats of tension, which have
been almost extinguished. In short, it could trigger a chain reaction
with unpredictable consequences.
Alexei Makarkin is Deputy General Director of the Center for Political
Technologies.

RUSSIA SAYS AKHALKALAKI BASE PULLOUT HINDERED, AS LOCALS PROTEST
Civil Georgia, Georgia
April 26 2006
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikheil Kaminin said that the
process of launching the withdrawal on military hardware from the
Akhalkalaki military base, scheduled for April 26, has been dragged out
after local residents of this predominantly ethnic Armenian populated
town blocked the road on April 25 to protest against the base pullout.
“The command of the base requested the local military police to
ensure safe movement of military hardware. However, the Georgian
authorities refused to take any measures, citing that this does not
their responsibility,” Kaminin said.
He said that the locals protest against the military base
withdrawal, as they fear the process might trigger “deterioration of
social-economic conditions in the region.”
Kaminin also said that under the agreement signed by Tbilisi and Moscow
on March 31, the Georgian side undertook a commitment to ensure safe
pullout of bases, as well as safe transportation of military hardware
and personnel.
“We expect that the Georgian authorities will take relevant measures
in Akhalkalaki,” he added.

ALIYEV BEGINS CRUCIAL US VISIT
By Enes Cansever, Baku
Zaman Online, Turkey
April 26 2006
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev set off to the United States
yesterday for a critical official visit taking place at a time when
the Iranian crisis has deepened. Aliyev will meet US President George
W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld,
and Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman.
The issues in the nuclear crisis with Azerbaijan’s neighbor, Iran,
and the Upper Karabag (Karabagh) under the Armenian occupation,
are expected to mark Aliyev’s three-day visit.
Aliyev’s foreign policy adviser, Novruz Mammadov, told Zaman that four
main subjects such as dual relations, energy, regional security and
international terrorism will be handled, but the Iran and Karabagh
issues will be the main focus of the Aliyev-Bush talks.
Mammadov announced Baku wants the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program
to be overcome by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the
United Nations. “There are enough problems in the region already. As
the nation of Azerbaijan, we have never had and we will never have
any intention of interfering in Iran’s domestic affairs. We are
ready to offer the necessary support for this issue to be solved by
peaceful means.”
The Azeri official also criticized Tehran for following a policy
favoring Yerevan over the Karabagh issue despite Baku’s policy of
mutual respect and good neighborly relations.
Mammadov, also criticizing the US on this issue, highlighted that
Washington remains silent regarding Armenia that continues to occupy
one fifth of Azerbaijan’s territory.
“The United States may instantly take action for disagreements in
other countries. We think it should show the same sensitivity for
Azerbaijan, too,” the Azeri official added.
Mammadov said the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe) Minsk Group co-chairs have not been able to make any concrete
progress in the Karabagh case for years. “We believe the problem will
be solved if the US shows necessary sensitivity.”
Strategist Rasim Musabaev said Aliyev’s visit, taken at a time when
the Tehran-Washington conflict is at its peak, is no coincidence.
One of the most important ways for Baku to emerge from the Iranian
crisis with least damage is to follow a policy parallel to Turkey,
Musabaev added.
The Azeri official maintained Turkey and Azerbaijan are facing
US pressure over the Iranian issue. “It is difficult for these two
countries to say ‘yes’ to the United States because Iran is neighbors
both countries; therefore, we should focus on ways of solving the
problem peacefully.”
The Azeris also indicate the importance of the visit Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay to Baku on May 5.
Turkey’s Ambassador to Baku Turan Morali said Turkey and Azerbaijan
carefully follow Iran’s nuclear crisis and said the two brother
countries want the problem to be solved through peaceful means.

‘GENOCIDE’ SEVERS TIES WITH CANADA
By Foreign News Desk, Istanbul
Zaman Online, Turkey
April 26 2006
Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper was harshly criticized by the
Turkish administration over his assessment of the Armenian arguments is
“genocide.”
A written statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said the
statements made by the Canadian administration have had a negative
impact on relations between the two countries, since the statements
were not based on objective opinions.
A decision issued by the Canadian parliament two years ago in support
of the Armenian Dispora resulted in a period of weakened bilateral
ties between the two governments, an obvious sign of the impact of
such a statement, said a release from the Turkish government. The
Canadian ambassador to Ankara was summoned to the Foreign Ministry
and issued the warning by the Turkish government.
“Although the objective studies by eminent historians have proved
the arguments over ‘genocide’ to be unquestionably groundless, it is
only prejudice that would lead Harper to present such arguments as
historical facts,” the statement read.
The statement also said that a Turkish military attache in Canada
had been killed, and that a commercial attache and the ambassador
had been injured in an assassination attempt carried out by a group
of Armenians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress