U.S. DECLINES RUSSIA’S POLICY OF UNIVERSALITY IN CONFLICT RESOLUTIONS
Civil Georgia, Georgia
March 13 2006
The United States considers that conflicts in South Caucasus are
“unique” which should be dealt “with on their own merits,” Sean
McCormack, U.S. Department of State Spokesman, said on March 8.
He was responding to a question regarding the Russia’s position
solution on the status of Kosovo should be “universal” in character
and applicable for the conflicts in the post-soviet space.
“I think, again, these are issues that are unique unto themselves
that have to be taken on their own merits and be dealt with as
separate issues. You [referring to a journalist] mentioned conflicts
in Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia. Each of those have unique
characteristics that need to be dealt with on their own merits and
that’s how we view the issue,” Sean McCormack said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPING BATTALION CAN BE REFORMED IN BRIGADE
Regnum, Russia
March 13 2006
Armenian peacekeeping battalion can be reformed in a brigade, Armenian
Deputy Minister of Defense Artur Agabekyan stated during a seminar
in Yerevan on March 13. He said that it was caused by reforms in
county’s defense system that will fit NATO standards and logics of
professional army establishment.
One must note that Armenian peacekeepers are currently on duties in
Iraq and Kosovo. Third relief of Armenian peacekeepers, consisting
of 46 people departed to Iraq on January 18.
As REGNUM already informed, in the fall 2005, the Armenian Parliament
approved prolongation of Armenian peacekeepers mandate in Iraq for
another year, Armenian peacekeepers are part of Polish peacekeeping
mission. All charges for dislocation, communication, medicine and
other corresponding needs bears the US government. Memorandum on
participation of Armenian peacekeepers in Iraqi operation in staff
of Polish division was ratified in the fall 2004.

ON THE EDGE OF A NEW FRINGE
Budapest Times, Hungary
March 13 2006
The Budapest Fringe is adding an experimental edge to the end of the
well-known Budapest Spring Festival and perhaps will bring a carnival
atmosphere to the streets. Whilst the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe
drew only eight performers when it was launched in 1947, Budapest’s
fringe has already got off to a sharper start.
Close to 1,000 artists will appear at eight venues between Friday,
March 31 and Sunday, April 2 from noon till 2 am. Some, in true
fringe style, are alternative, while others are not so close to
the edge. According to Spring Festival director Zsofia Zimanyi,
the organisers want to give unknown artists the chance to come face
to face with an international festival audience. “This way street
performers and rock bands, as well as professional groups not in the
main programme of the festival will also be able take part,” she said.
“We were shocked to receive so many applications to perform,” says
Zimanyi. Alongside the many Hungarians, a number of foreigners will
also perform. Most are from neighbouring countries, but France and
Japan will also be represented. According to Zimanyi the festival
will act as a kind of talent show, with the most successful artists
to appear at the main Spring Festival next year.
Well known and unknown
Whilst many of the artists are unknown to Hungarian and international
audiences alike, they will be joined by some well-known names, such
as Ando Drom, known for their mix of authentic Gypsy music and daring
innovations, at the Korona theatre on April 1. David Yengibarjan,
famous for his blend of Armenian folk music, and Argentinian tango,
will play together with the trio of Montreal-based jazz trombonist Tom
Walsh at one of the Fringe’s closing concerts at the Merlin Theatre
on April 2.
“There are no restrictions on the nature of performances and
no artists were turned away,” says Zimanyi. Unlike in Edinburgh,
performers are not expected to pay for the use of stages. Financing
the Fringe will come to around HUF 20-30 million (EUR 78,000-117,000)
from the Spring Festival’s total budget of HUF 1.2 billion (EUR 4.67
million). Performers have been given the choice whether to charge or
not, but most shows will be free.
Other performances include contemporary dance from the L1 experimental
collective, the Hungarian Youth Opera Singers with Mozart’s La
finta giardiniera, Cavalcade fire acrobats and an English-language
performance of Alfred Sutro’s comedy A marriage has been arranged,
as well as an individual take on Debussy and Prokofiev by the Kontars
Improvisation Centre.
Quality and quantity
Whilst only five city-centre venues were planned, more were added
as artists lined up. The event will extend from the Merlin, Orkeny
and Korona theatres, the Godor club, the Pavilion in the town-hall
garden and open-air venues at Vorosmarty ter and Madach ter.
If this year’s Fringe proves to be a success, Zimanyi has hopes
of attracting more international artists, or perhaps extending the
Fringe from three days to a week next year. “This is still a very
early stage for this event and we can’t vouch for what the quality
of the performances will be like, but the main thing is that already
the idea has taken off.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN SIGNALS EASTWARD TILT WITH PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO JAPAN
By Fariz Ismailzade
Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
March 13 2006
President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Japan on March 8 marks
another milestone in Azerbaijan’s slow re-orientation toward Asia.
During the visit, he met with Japanese Emperor Akihito, Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, and the head of the
Japanese International Development Agency (ANS TV, March 8).
Aliyev and Koizumi signed several agreements to expand bilateral
cooperation.
Aliyev delivered a keynote speech at the Japanese Institute for
International Relations and attended a business forum that hosted
more than 150 businessmen from both countries (Echo, March 8).
Hosting business forums in conjunction with President Aliyev’s visits
abroad has become a regular event, which shows his strong commitment
to developing economic ties with foreign countries and attracting
new investment to Azerbaijan.
The business agenda for Aliyev’s visit is particularly noteworthy. It
included presidential meetings with the heads of several large Japanese
companies, including Itochu and Inpex, as well as with members of
the Japanese-Azerbaijani Parliamentary Friendship Society.
The growing Japanese demand for energy makes Tokyo a reliable and
eager partner of Azerbaijan, which is increasing its oil production
year-by-year. At the same time, the development of infrastructure in
Azerbaijan requires technical assistance from abroad. During the visit,
Azerbaijan and Japan signed an agreement on the provision of technical
assistance to Azerbaijan by the Japanese government (Trend, March 7).
One of the key goals of President Aliyev’s visit was to draw more
Japanese investments into the Azerbaijani economy, particularly
sectors other than oil. Speaking at the Business Forum in Tokyo,
Aliyev said, “We have a very good investment climate. Azerbaijan
highly values direct foreign investments. We have received a great
deal of assistance from Japan in the past. But now, the time for
real, active cooperation has come” (Xalq Qazeti, March 12). During
his meeting with President Aliyev, Prime Minister Koizumi also noted
the friendly nature of bilateral relations and stressed that Japan
was looking for reliable a partner in the region (Sherg, March 11).
Japanese businesses have already invested more than $844 million
in Azerbaijan, primarily in the oil sector. Mitsui and Mitsubishi
provided Azerbaijan with loans up to $274 million for construction of
the “Severnaya” power generation plant in the vicinity of Azerbaijan’s
capital, Baku. The plant came online in early 2003.
Altogether, Japan’s overall assistance to Azerbaijan through various
organizations has reached $694 million, including $74 million in grants
(Turan, March 6).
Japan has been particularly keen on funding the construction and
repair of new public schools in Azerbaijan and providing educational
opportunities for the country’s youth. For his efforts to promote
education in Azerbaijan, former Japanese ambassador to Azerbaijan
Toshiyuki Fujiwara was awarded with the highest state prize ever given
to a foreign ambassador, the Order of Honor, and ANS Media Group
named him “Man of the Year.” Azerbaijan has opened a department of
Japanese language at Baku State University, where more than 40 students
currently study. Aliyev also hopes to draw the Japanese government’s
attention to the plight of internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan,
a population that receives less and less humanitarian assistance each
year. Japan is traditionally one of the largest humanitarian donors
around the world.
With Western countries and organizations pressing Aliyev regarding
democratization, the Azerbaijani president feels much more comfortable
with the less-demanding Eastern partners. Thus, the development of
relations with the Middle Eastern countries as well as with China,
Japan, and Pakistan are seen as priorities. Although Azerbaijani
foreign policy officials continue to claim that the country is pursuing
a balanced foreign policy, a strong bias toward Asia is evident.
Azerbaijan also hopes that Japan will support its case regarding
the ongoing Karabakh conflict with Armenia. Baku is prepared to
support Japan’s nomination to the UN Security Council in exchange
for help with Karabakh. Lider TV reported on March 8 that President
Aliyev had devoted much of his speech at the Japanese Institute for
International Relations to the Karabakh conflict. Koizumi confirmed
Japan’s recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity during his
private talks with Aliyev (Sherg, March 11).
Ties between Japan and Azerbaijan are increasing markedly. First
established in 1992, bilateral relations skyrocketed following former
president Heydar Aliyev’s visit to Japan in 1998. Baku subsequently
negotiated with Japanese companies to secure their involvement in
the Ateshgeh, Mugandeniz, and Yanan Tava Caspian oil fields (Zerkalo,
March 8). Azerbaijan recently opened a new embassy in Tokyo.
At the moment, Azerbaijani-Japanese trade is nearly $70.6 million, yet
much of it ($52.3 million) comes from imports of Japanese products into
Azerbaijan, such as steel pipes, electric appliances, transmissions,
spare parts, and telecommunication materials.
Azerbaijan exports alcohol, carpets, plastic, and textiles.
The visit should open new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
Novruz Mammadov, head of the International Relations Department within
Aliyev’s office, told Trend News Agency on March 7, “The visit carries
a very important nature, both from the side of inter-governmental
and also inter-parliamentary relations. The purpose of the visit is
to deepen these relations in all spheres.”

MANN: “I DISCUSSED GARABAGH AND SOME OTHER ISSUES WITH ELMAR MAMMADYAROV”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 13 2006
The US Department of State special envoy for conflicts in Europe and
Asia, OSCE Minsk Group American co-chair met with foreign minister
Elmar Mammadyarov today (APA). After the talks, Steven Mann told
journalists that it was a good meeting.
“We exchanged views on Garabagh and some other issues”.
American diplomat said that he will give information to Daniel Fried,
Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, who visited
Azerbaijan today. Elmar Mammadyarov will also receive Mr. Fried today.

DEPUTY US SECRETARY TO VISIT SOUTH CAUCASUS
Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 13 2006
Tbilisi. March 13 (Prime-News) – Daniel Fried, US State Assistant
Secretary for Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs is to visit
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Turkey on March 13-17, Trend says.
According to it, Steven Mann, Senior Advisor of Caspian Basin Energy
Diplomacy and US co-chairman of the Minks Group for Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution will be accompanying him.
Daniel Fried is to conduct negotiations to discuss the issues on
development of bilateral relations, democracy and resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Baku on March 13-14. He will also meet
the representatives of the civil society and businessmen.
Daniel Fried is to meet the high-ranking Georgian officials to discuss
the issues on the US assistance to the democratic reforms in Georgia,
peaceful resolution of territorial conflicts and cooperation of
Georgia with the Euro Atlantic agencies on March 14-15.
Daniel Fried is to hold several meeting in Yerevan on March 15-16. He
will meet the Armenian governmental officials to discuss the issues on
bilateral relations, democracy and resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

TURKISH GROUPS UNITING AGAINST FRANCE’S ‘GENOCIDE’ RECOGNITION
New Anatolian, Turkey
March 13 2006
Turkish groups in France are set to join forces in Paris today to
work to overturn the French Parliament’s recognition of the so-called
Armenian genocide.
For the first meeting of an umbrella committee spearheaded by
local offices of the Anatolian Culture Centers and Kemalist Thought
Association, some 300 Turkish associations in France were invited.
Today’s meeting is going to be held to exchange ideas for the goals
and work of the committee. A public statement after the meeting
is planned to announce how the committee will campaign against the
legislative recognition.
At a press conference last week, the groups organizing the committee
meeting demanded that Parliament’s recognition of the “genocide” in
2001 be reversed, saying that judging history was up to the historians,
not lawmakers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US STATE DEPT’S FRIED TO VISIT TURKEY THIS WEEK
New Anatolian, Turkey
March 13 2006
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe Daniel Fried will visit
Turkey this week to discuss recent developments in the Caucasus.
The State Department has announced that Fried will come to Ankara on
Thursday, following his talks in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.
Fried will be in Baku today and will discuss bilateral and regional
issues and the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. He is also expected to urge
Baku to move forward with democratic reforms. The U.S. envoy will visit
Georgia tomorrow and will head to neighboring Armenia on Wednesday.
The U.S. diplomat will conclude his regional tour with his meetings
in Ankara on Friday.

DIYARBAKIR MAYOR: KURDISH ISSUE ISN’T JUST TERROR PROBLEM
New Anatolian, Turkey
March 13 2006
The Kurdish problem is not solely an economic, security or terror
problem, Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir yesterday told a Kurdish
conference at Istanbul’s Bilgi University.
The controversial two-day conference on the Kurdish problem organized
by the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (hCa) was held at Istanbul’s Bilgi
University over the weekend.
The conference, entitled “Looking for Civil and Democratic Solutions
I: Turkey’s Kurdish Problem” brought together academics, writers,
journalists, former deputies, and lawyers to discuss the Kurdish
problem in Turkey.
Addressing a panel on identity rights, social and cultural dimensions
of the meeting, Baydemir said that the Kurdish problem is an economic,
social, political and cultural problem.
“In order to solve the problem, a civilian project, a roadmap
which will include all these details should be developed,” said the
southeastern city mayor.
Author Muhsin Kizilkaya told the same panel that being a Kurd is a
somewhat dangerous issue in Turkey, while French Rouen University’s
Assistant Professor Salih Akin suggested to the panelists that Kurdish
should be accepted as a second official language in Turkey.
Ankara University’s Prof. Baskin Oran said that Kurds reject minority
concept but demand minority rights in Turkey. Oran underlined that
Kurds are not a minority in Turkey but a fundamental and founder
element.
Nationalists protested Saturday at the opening of the conference.
Small groups of demonstrators greeted participants with banners
reading: “The Turkish Republic is a whole – it cannot be divided”
and “No imperialist plot can separate our Kurdish brothers from us.”
Nationalist protesters said the conference was one-sided and
antidemocratic.
The Kurdish problem is still largely a taboo subject for public debate
in Turkey.
On Saturday, panelists called on the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK) to lay down its arms. The most well-received speech on Saturday
came from Democratic Society Party (DTP) Co-Chairman Ahmet Turk.
Turk said that he believed the Kurdish problem can be solved within
the unitary state structure through a democratic political project.
Turk also urged a political pardon, suggesting that it’s not enough
to just call for people to give up their arms.
Bilgi University, in Istanbul, last year also hosted a conference on
so-called Armenian genocide — another controversial topic in Turkey.

MANN: “SPRING OF 2006 IS IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN RESOLUTION OF NK CONFLICT”
Today, Azerbaijan
URL:
March 13 2006
“Spring of 2006 is an important milestone in the resolution of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict,” Steven Mann, the US Department of State Senior
Advisor for Eurasia Steven Mann, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair.
“We think we will achieve considerable results in 2006,” Mann stated
in Baku to local television channel ATV, Trend informs. During the
two-day visit to Baku he is scheduled to have meetings with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
The discussions will focus on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. He is also scheduled to hold meetings with the
representatives of civil society and entrepreneurs.
Mann is accompanied by Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian
Affairs Daniel Fried will travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia,
and Turkey.
On March 14-15, Assistant Secretary Fried will meet with senior
Georgian, March 15-16, Assistant Secretary Fried will hold meetings
in Yerevan with senior government officials to discuss our bilateral
relationship, democracy, and Nagorno Karabakh. On March 16, Assistant
Secretary Fried will depart for Ankara, Turkey, and will return to
the United States on Friday, March 17.