THIRD ECHELON LOADED WITH MILITARY EQUIPMENT WITHDRAWN FROM RUSSIAN BASE IN GEORGIA ARRIVES IN AZERBAIJAN AT 7P.M
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 30 2006
Third echelon loaded with military equipment withdrawn from the
Russia’s 62nd military base in Akhalkalak, Georgia, set off in Salka
railway station today.
The troop train going to Russia through Azerbaijan has been loaded
with 15 self-propelled artillery facilities.
The next troop train loaded with weapons and military equipment will
set out to Armenia from Akhalkalak tomorrow. Withdrawal of weapons
and military equipment of Russian 12th base in Batumi, Georgia, will
be launched from 1 June Azerbaijan’s State Railway told APA that the
echelon set out from Akhalkalak arrived at the Boyuk Kasik station
of Azerbaijan at 7p.m today. The train will be delivered to Russia
at Yalama station at 11.00 tomorrow.
The loaded echelon is protected by the railway military security
group and the commandant. The echelon will pass through Azerbaijan
without a stop.

NEW TIMES PARTY ON WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN BASES FROM GEORGIA: WHEN RUSSIANS GO AWAY, ARMENIANS HAVE TO DO THE SAME
Regnum, Russia
May 30 2006
The New Tinmes opposition party has held a sanctioned rally in Yerevan
under slogan “Attention to Javakh.” “We do not want to interfere into
Georgia’s internal affairs, our task is to tell the Armenian government
that after Russian military withdraw from Georgia, social, economic
and demographic situation of Armenians living there would worsen,”
leader of the Party Aram Karapetyan announced during the rally.
According to him, a negative trend for Armenians can be seen in the
post-Soviet territory: “When Russians leave, Armenians have to follow
them.” “So, in Javakh (Samtskhe-Javakheti – REGNUM) up to several
thousand Meskhetian Turks can settle, in the long run, Javakh can be
taken under control of Georgian troops,” Aram Karapetyan noted.
After the rally, the participants marched to the Foreign Ministry,
then to the Armenian Government, where Aram Karapetyan gave appeal
of the Attention to Javakh Action participants to officials of these
agencies. A copy of the appeal was given to Ambassador of Georgia in
Armenia Revaz Gachicheladze. The message particularly presents two
claims to the Armenian authorities. First, “to increase substantially
finances allocated for settlement of social and economic, cultural
problems of the Javakh Armenians.” Besides, the New Times Party claim
for “discussing multilaterally and achieve a positive solution to
all vital issues about which Javakh Armenians are concerned, up to
signing a bilateral agreement on border delimitation.”
Late March Tbilisi and Moscow signed two agreements concerning time
limits for withdrawal of Russian military bases and transit of the
armaments. The Base from Akhalkalaki will be withdrawn from Georgia
by the end of 2007, and the Batumi base by the end of 2008.

GUL – LIVNI MEETING
Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 30 2006
ANKARA – Turkish and Israeli parties expressed their satisfaction as
regards the meeting between Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni.
Sources told the A.A on Monday that the meeting focused on the
bilateral relations, Israeli-Arab dispute and regional issues.
Gul informed Livni on Turkey’s EU membership process, Cyprus and
the Armenian issue. Livni also extended Israel’s support to Turkey’s
EU bid.
The parties agreed to increase the trade volume between the two
countries up to 5 billion USD.
The issue of aid to Palestinian people was also high on agenda,
however, parties failed to draw a frame suggested by Turkey.
Hamas’ delegations visit to Ankara in February was not taken up during
the meeting, executives said.

AZERBAIJAN REPRESENTATIVES TO TAKE PART AT THE 13TH PLENARY SESSION OF CLRP OF CE
Author: R.Abdullayev
TREND, Azerbaijan
May 30 2006
The Azerbaijani representatives will take part at the 13th plenary
session of the Congress of local and regional power of the Council of
Europe (CE) in Strasburg, Trend reports. Fikrat Mammadov, the Azeri
Justice Minister, will deliver a report before the participants of
the session on June 1.
On the same day, Anar Mammadov, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation
in the Congress, will also deliver a report.
After the appearance of the representatives of the three countries of
Southern Caucasus, there will be held debates on the development of
the local democracy in regions. Georgian deputy parliament speaker
Mikel Machavarian and the president of national association of the
local self-government organs Mamuka Abulzade will speech on behalf
of the Georgia government. Armenian will be represented by the head
of the Armenian delegation in the congress Emmin Ertisyan.
The debates on “Local and regional democracy in Southern Caucasus”
is the 28th topic of the agenda of plenary session which started its
work today.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN CIS DM’ COUNCIL TO BE HELD IN AZERBAIJAN
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 30 2006
Today Defense minister of Ukraine Anatoly Grichenko has arrived in
Baku to participate in the next meeting of Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) Defense Ministers Council, Azerbaijan Defense Ministry
press service has told APA.
Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, general-colonel Safar Abiyev received
the delegation headed by Grichenko. In the meeting process of Armed
Forces organization, development of cooperation in military field,
integration to European security structures and issues of mutual
concern were discussed in the meeting.
It should be noted that CIS Defense Ministers Council will held
next meeting in Baku. Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Ukraine Defense Ministries as well
as CIS Executive Committee and Defense Ministers Council Secretariat
delegation staffs will participate in the meeting. Armenian delegation
will not participate in the talks on cooperation issues in military
field among CIS countries. Though Defense Ministry issued a statement
on participation of this country, it was stated then that Armenians
will not come to Baku since Azerbaijan side does not guarantee
security.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MILLI MEJLIS DISCUSSED 6 QUESTIONS
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND, Azerbaijan
May 30 2006
6 questions were discussed at the session Milli Mejlis (MM) (National
Parliament) held on May 30, 2006. Aydin Mirzazade, the chairman of
the permanent parliamentary commission for security and defense,
delivered a report on the confirmation of the volume of the transit
transportation of the Russian military cargos brought from the
territory of Georgia via the territory of Azerbaijan. He noted that
the transit transportation would be carried out in 2006-2008s.
Deputy Asim Mollazade expressed that although the transportation
process of the Russian military technique from the Georgia via
Azerbaijani territory started, it was inaccurate to present this
document to discussions now. “I think that the rights of MM are
violated. The large part of the Russian military base is transported
to Armenia. Azerbaijan possesses many opportunities to put conditions
before Russia,” told Mollazade noting that the military base should
be delivered to Russia.
“At present, the transportation of the military bases to Batumi and
Akhalkalaki starts. It is clear that the military technique of the
7 Russian armies based in Armenia are in the hands of the Armenian
armed forces. The Armenian armed forces are formed exactly on the
base of 7 Russian armies,” told Mollazade. He stressed that he didn’t
consider accurate to present this document to the confirmation of MM
while the transportation process is continuing. The deputies expressed
their opinions in connection with the document and the document was
confirmed after voting.
Ziyad Samadzade, the chairman of the permanent parliamentary commission
on economical policy, delivered a report on the confirmation of
“The Cooperation program between Azerbaijan Republic and the World
Intellectual Property Organization”. He noted that Azerbaijan should
use the international practice for the protection of intellectual
property. MM holds discussions in connection with this question.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHIRAC STATES THE NECESSITY IN URGENT SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT
Author: À.Mamedov
TREND, Azerbaijan
May 30 2006
At his today’s meeting with Azeri president Ilham Aliyev, President of
France Jacques Chirac stated the necessity in the urgent settlement of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Trend reports with reference to ITAR-TASS,
head of France said, quoting ‘there could be no other process but
peaceful one’ and reminded of peace significance for Azerbaijan,
Armenia and the rest of the region.
French government official said that president of France, quoting,
‘confirmed the principles of joint statement made by three co-chairs
of Russia, the US and France may 25 in Yerevan, which states that the
time has come for both the parties to come to an agreement on basic
principles of the conflict settlement’.
Chirac and Aliyev also exchanged opinions on the situation in region,
in particular conflict around Iran, French official said, reminding
journalists that nowadays Azerbaijan is chairing in Islamic Conference
Organization.
–Boundary_(ID_zqrvQY2dR cns6uT4B1FjZw)–

THIRD PHASE OF TURKEY-ARMENIA UNOFFICIAL TALKS YIELDS NO RESULT EITHER
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 30 2006
Since a letter that Turkey’s Prime Minister Rajab Tayyib Erdoghan
sent to Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian diplomats from both
states have had three private meetings (APA).
The last round of the talks closed to media and public took place
in March in Vienna. Though Turkish diplomats offered “to discuss
political problems and genocide issue between the states but let
historians investigate the genocide not just politicians,” official
Yerevan rejected this proposal. Armenian diplomats wanted to discuss
the genocide issue at the joint commission of the two countries.
Ankara, however, did not accept this proposal. The sides are preparing
for the next round of the talks.

FIRE ENGULFS SIX RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS IN ARMENIAN CAPITAL
RIA Novosti, Russia
May 30 2006
YEREVAN, May 30 (RIA Novosti) – A major fire has engulfed at least six
residential blocks in the center of the Armenian capital, Yerevan,
but a spokesman for the emergency services said no injuries had yet
been reported.
Nikolai Grigoryan said a fire alarm had gone off at about 4 p.m.
local time (1 p.m. GMT), and eight fire engines had been summoned to
the site.
“There are some problems here because the roads in the area are narrow,
which makes it difficult for fire engines to pass, and accordingly low
pressure in the hoses is preventing us from extinguishing the blaze,”
Grigoryan said.
The spokesman said rescuers had contacted the municipal water supply
service but were told that the pressure in the pumps could not be
raised because of an accident.
He said water was being brought by special water carriers and street
sprinklers. Electricity has been switched off in the area.

UPDATE: FIRE IN CENTRAL YEREVAN EXTINGUISHED
RIA Novosti, Russia
May 30 2006
(Adds details, corrects GMT)
YEREVAN, May 30 (RIA Novosti) – A fire that affected a residential
area in the center of the Armenian capital, Yerevan, Tuesday has been
put out, emergency services said.
“The fire that swept five small houses was extinguished at 4.55 p.m.
[12.55 p.m. GMT], and there are no victims,” Ara Movsisyan, senior
spokesman for the rescue service, said.
Earlier spokesman Nikolai Grigoryan said a fire alarm had gone off
at about 4 p.m. local time (12:00 p.m. GMT) and eight fire engines
had been summoned to the site in the Kond district.
Firefighters experienced difficulties in extinguishing the blaze
because fire engines could not pass easily through narrow streets
and an accident the municipal water supply meant that pressure in
the hoses could not be increased.