THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE OF AZERBAIJAN OBJECTS TO THE REPORT OF PACE
Source: Voenno-Promyshlennuy Kuryer ¹ 15, 19 April, 2006, p. 12
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 24, 2006 Monday
About The Deaths Of Servicemen And Morale In The Army Of Azerbaijan;
Speaking with the journalists, Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan
General-Colonel Safar Abiev called the information in the report,
which was read out during the spring session of Parliamentary Assembly
of Council of Europe (PACE) concerning the existence in the army of
Azerbaijan hazing and duck-out, to be preconceived and malevolent. He
supports his words with the statistics concerning these matters.
Speaking with the journalists, Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan
General-Colonel Safar Abiev called the information in the report,
which was read out during the spring session of Parliamentary
Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) concerning the existence in
the army of Azerbaijan hazing and duck-out, to be preconceived
and malevolent. The head of the military department confirmed the
mass-media that the answer to this report will be given “on the high
level”. General-Colonel also remarked that the regime of cease-fire
is more often violated now, and the Armenian side “is carrying out
an intensive gunfire of all the positions of the Armed forces of
Azerbaijan in all directions of frontlines. Recently another service
man of ours has been killed”. That’s why, as it is stated by the
General-Colonel, the number of losses is constantly growing.
Answering the question concerning the retaliatory steps of
Azerbaijan, Safar Abiev one more time repeated, “The situation
has become aggravated. The way of further development of processes
and retaliatory steps, which will be taken by Azerbaijan, will be
determined by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief”. The death of a soldier
on the “opposition line” is not a single case. According to the data
of the Center of military research of journalists “Doctrine”, during
the first three months of 2006 the Armed forces of Azerbaijan lost
minimum 20 fighting men, which were killed or injured.
The study of the publications of print and electronic mass media,
which was made by “Doctrine”, showed that as a result of accidents
(car accidents, fires and carelessness) 8 servicemen died, 2 men
committed suicide. 8 servicemen, as it was declared, “died because
of Armenian bullets”. The majority of the men died (12 people) are
soldiers. As a rule, they served in the units of the ministry of
Defense. In the first quarter of the current year due to these or
those reasons 10 servicemen of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan
were injured. Two of them suffered from fire, 4-from “Armenian
bullets”. Another 4 servicemen were injured because of explosions
of shells and bombs. It is worthwhile mentioning that in comparison
with the corresponding period of the previous year, the number of
losses has increased (in the period of January to March of 2005 16
servicemen died, 34 were injured). The experts of “Doctrine” inform,
that taking into account the data of the current year, on the whole,
the losses of the Azerbaijan Armed Forces since the beginning of 2003
has reached 169 men. Among them 84 men are battle losses (Armenian
bullets and explosions), non-battle losses are 85 servicemen. The
number of the fighting men injured in the period of three years and
three months exceeded the number of one hundred. The statistics
shows that the overwhelming majority of injures is the result of
“shots from the enemy positions” (monitoring was based also on the
single reports of the press-service of the Ministry of Defense). (…)
The changes of the reasons of losses during the last years
haven’t escaped the experts. If year after year the number of
non-constitutional relations is constantly decreasing, the dynamics
of suicides is on the same level. And the number of accidents has
a tendency to grow. Some experts think that the real statistics of
losses in the army is much higher. Though, the Ministry of Defense
doesn’t give this information. The press-center of MD declares that
the defense department keeps count of all losses of personnel, but
due to some reasons that can’t be subject to speak about. That’s why,
as it is considered in the defense department, otherwise the fighting
spirit of servicemen would be undermined.
According to the data of Judge Advocate General of the country
General-Lieutenant Khanlara Veliev, in 2005 in the army there was
a decrease of the number of crimes, connected with suicides and
attempts of suicide (almost 30%), murder( 27.3%), and rowdyism as
well (50%). But in 2006 there were registered 12.4% more crimes than
during the same period of the previous year. The entire statistics
of the military crimes was represented by the Judge Advocate General
in percents, which can be explained by a military secret. The Judge
Advocate General remarked that in 2006 the number of crimes connected
with corrupt practices and neglect of official duty doubled. There
was a considerable decrease in the number of military absentees. In
comparison with the beginning of the nineties this number 6-7 times
decreased. In 2005 only three cases of duck-out was registered, and
during the period of three months of the current year-only one case.
In the previous year crime detection reached 99.8%. As a disciplinary
measure 12 members of the military prosecutor’ office were punished
because of the “duty mistakes”, and four members were fired from the
military prosecutor’s office. (…)
Answering the questions of the journalists, the Judge Advocate
General declared that in the army of Azerbaijan there is no “hazing”
in its classical notion. Still he didn’t object to the existence of
non-constitutional relations, which are accompanied by injures. (…)
–Boundary_(ID_hwHKmdraifgtR8j2EkTVrg)–

WHITE HOUSE OFFERS CONDOLENCES ON ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Agence France Presse — English
April 24, 2006 Monday 10:59 PM GMT
WASHINGTON, April 24 2006
US President George W. Bush on Monday remembered the exile and killing
beginning 91 years ago of some 1.5 million Armenians as “one of the
horrible tragedies of the 20th century.”
“This was a tragedy for all humanity and one that we and the world
must never forget,” the US president said in a statement released by
the White House.
“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,” Bush said.
His remarks came on the 91st anniversary of what is considered the
beginning of the genocide carried out under the Ottoman empire.
Armenians claim some 1.5 million people died in the waning years of
the empire, from 1915-1922, while Turkey, which refused to recognize
the killings as genocide, puts the death toll at between 300,000
and 500,000.
Bush called for continued dialogue and “shared understading” between
the two sides, praising “the individuals in Armenia and Turkey who
have sought to examine the historical events of this time with honesty
and sensitivity.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: GENOCIDE RECOGNITION IS A QUESTION OF PRINCIPLE
ArmRadio.am
25.04.2006 18:08
“For a long time the question of international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide was the captive of the ideological division in the
world, and Armenia did not have statehood and corresponding tools,
which would allow to attain international recognition,” declared RA
President Robert Kocharyan during the joint press conference with
the President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus.
Robert Kocharyan expressed his gratitude to the Parliament of Lithuania
for recognizing the Armenian Genocide in 2005 and underlined that
the international recognition of the tragic events of 1915 is a
“question of principle.”
In Robert Kocharyan’s words, there are no more such obstacles today,
and together with the Diaspora independent Armenia is struggling for
the international recognition of the 1915 events.
“At the same time we do not intend to become the captive of the
past. Our efforts of international recognition of the Genocide are
directed today at having a more favorable and stable situation in
our region,” Robert Kocharyan declared.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN ARMENIA
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
25 Apr 06
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus arrived on a two-day official
visit in Yerevan today. The main purpose of the visit is to strengthen
ties between the two countries, discuss future directions of economic
cooperation and encourage scientific and cultural relations.
The Armenian and Lithuanian presidents will have a one-to-one meeting
at the presidential residency after an official reception.
An agreement on encouraging investments and improving mutual defence
will be signed between the two countries. The Armenian and Lithuanian
presidents are expected to give a joint news conference.

TURKEY CRITICIZES CANADA’S PM HARPER
Edmonton Sun, Canada
April 25 2006
PM backs recognition of Armenian genocide
ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey on Tuesday criticized Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper for remarks he made in support of recognizing the
mass killings of Armenians during the First World War as genocide,
and warned that such statements threatened to harm Turkish-Canadian
relations.
In a statement on April 21, Harper recalled that Canada’s Senate and
House of Commons had adopted resolutions recognizing the killings as
genocide and said, “I and my party supported those resolutions and
continue to recognize them today.”
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry issued a stern statement saying it
“regretted” Harper’s remarks over the killings that occurred more
than eight decades ago.
“Statements concerning disputed historic events by foreign parliaments
or governments nearly a century later will not change the nature of
what happened in reality,” the statement said.
“Such statements do not contribute to the environment of
dialogue between Turkey and Armenia, and have a negative effect on
Turkish-Canadian relations,” it added. “The stagnation of relations
between the two countries after the Canadian Parliament’s decision
is the clearest example of this.”
Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper reported Tuesday that Turkey would bar
Canadian companies from bidding for the construction of a nuclear
power plant that Turkey hopes to build in the Black Sea coastal town
of Sinop.
In 2001, Turkey cancelled millions of dollars’ worth of defence
deals with French companies after legislators in France recognized
the genocide.
Armenians say some 1.5 million of their people were killed as the
Ottoman Empire forced them from eastern Turkey between 1915 and 1923
in a deliberate campaign of genocide.
Turkey denies it was genocide, saying the death count is inflated
and insisting that Armenians were killed or displaced as the Ottoman
Empire tried to secure its border with Russia and stop attacks by
Armenian militants.
Several other countries, including Argentina, Poland, France and
Russia, have declared the killings a genocide, and there is strong
pressure from Armenians worldwide for the U.S. Congress to recognize
the killings as genocide as well.

FEDS CRACK $20 MILLION LA MEDICARE FRAUD RING
NBC4 TV, CA
April 25 2006
Investigators Say Defendants Had Organized Crime Ties
LOS ANGELES — Five members of a Russian-Armenian organized crime ring
have been indicted in connection with a $20 million Medicare fraud
conspiracy that operated out of clinics and labs in Los Angeles,
Glendale, Van Nuys and Pasadena.
They have been charged with conspiracy, health care fraud, Medicare
kickbacks, making false statements to Medicare and money laundering,
the Daily News reported.
“This case shows how criminal organizations seek to adapt over time
to Medicare’s fraud-prevention efforts,” Assistant U.S. Attorney
Bruce Searby said in remarks reported by the newspaper. “Here, the
defendants were able to outrun the government for a while, but they
did not count on the perseverance of Medicare administrators and
federal agents whose job it is to protect this important program.”
The group allegedly was led by Konstantin Grigoryan, 56, of Altadena,
a former colonel in the Soviet army; his wife, Mayya Leonidovna
Grigoryan, 54; the Grigoryans’ son-in-law, Eduard Gershelis, 34, of
Los Angeles; Mayya Grigoryan’s brother-in-law, Aleksandr Treynker,
48, of Canoga Park; and Haroutyun Gulderyan, 36, of Tujunga, the
Daily News reported.
The Grigoryans and Gershelis have been in federal custody since their
March 21 arrests. Gulderyan and Treynker have been released on bond.
The five suspects are scheduled to appear in court June 13. They were
indicted Thursday.
In court documents, Searby wrote that the case is connected to
Russian-Armenian organized crime that gutted Medicare of more than $20
million using a network of clinics, paid kickbacks to marketers for
patient referrals and billed Medicare for tests that were unnecessary
or went undelivered, the Daily News reported.

GEORGIA-ARMENIAN AGREEMENT TO FOCUS ON TRAFFIC
Author: Mammadov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 25 2006
A new Geo-Armenian agreement on traffic communications will be inked
April 25.
The Armenian delegation led by the Minister of Transportation Andranik
Manukian arrives in Tbilisi Tuesday morning.
The Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia reported to
InterpressNews that the new project is meant to increase the rate of
cargo transportation between the two republics and strengthen the
tendencies of economic cooperation. Irakli Chogovadze, Minister of
Economic Development of Georgia and the Minister of Transportation
of Armenia, Andranik Manukian will sign the draft agreement.
According to the new agreement the permission quotas set for cargo
transportation will be lifted and the taxes for the Road Fund of
Armenia will be abolished. This will make the transportation process
much more convenient not only for truck owners but also for the owners
of passenger vehicles.
The Road Fund Taxes have been abolished in Georgia since year 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BUSH SAYS ‘TRAGEDY’ NOT ‘GENOCIDE’ FOR 1915 EVENTS
By Cihan News Agency, Washington
Zaman Online, Turkey
April 25 2006
US President George W. Bush has describe the incidents that took
place in 1915 as “a tragedy”, in the message he prepared for the 91st
anniversary of the so-called Armenian genocide allegations.
The White House announcement reads that the events were a tragedy for
mankind and should never be forgotten. Bush, overlooking the demands
of the Armenian Diaspora, did not term the incidents as “genocide.”
The event is a source of pain for all Armenians, the. President
acknowledged, and Americans feel deeply for this page in history.
Bush invited all parties to take part in dialogue and determine
common understanding, and he praised the parties in both Turkey and
Armenia who examine the happenings of 1915 impartially, accurately
and sensitively.
The Armenian Diaspora alleges a genocide occurred, Armenians were
forced to leave their home in 1915; Turkey, on the contrary, refutes
these allegations and advocates the deaths were caused by difficult
road and weather conditions during the migration.

KOCHARIAN THANKS LITHUANIA FOR GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
By Anna Saghabalian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep
April 25 2006
President Robert Kocharian thanked Lithuania for its parliament’s
recent recognition of the Armenian genocide as he received his visiting
Lithuanian counterpart, Valdas Adamkus, on Tuesday.
In a resolution overwhelmingly approved last December, the Baltic
state’s legislature, Sejmas, urged Turkey to “recognize historical
facts” and drop its insistence that the 1915 mass killings of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire did not constitute a genocide. The
Turkish government denounced the move.
“The issue is very important for us and it is not just historical
in nature as today our relations with Turkey are burdened by
this historical reality,” Kocharian told reporters after talks
with Adamkus. “I think that recognizing the genocide and coming
to terms with history is extremely important for normalizing our
[Turkish-Armenian] relations.”
He said Yerevan will continue to seek worldwide recognition of
the genocide in collaboration with leaders of Armenian Diaspora
communities.
Adamkus arrived in Yerevan on a official visit which appears to
have focused on ways of restoring economic ties that used to exist
between the two former Soviet republics. They announced plans to hold
a Lithuanian-Armenian business forum in the near future.
A statement by Kocharian’s office said Armenia’s relations with the
European Union, which Lithuania joined two years ago, were also on
the agenda of the talks. Kocharian again stated that his country is
interested in learning from Lithuania’s as well as neighboring Latvia’s
and Estonia’s successful transition to democracy and the free market.
The Lithuanian president, for his part, made a case for political and
economic integration in the South Caucasus. “We have discussed common
regional policies,” he said. “I think it is about time our regions —
the South Caucasus and the Baltic states — joined forces to build a
better future. This is what we call a three-plus-three formula which
I think will become reality after this meeting.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OPENED IN MARSEILLES
Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 25 2006
YEREVAN, April 25. /ARKA/. A memorial to the victims of the Armenian
Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 has been unveiled in Marseilles,
France. Attending the ceremony were Speaker of the RA Parliament
Artur Baghdasaryan and RA Ambassador to France Eduard Nalbandyan.
A monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide was also unveiled
in Lyons on April 24. The ceremony was attended by Mayor of Lyons,
Senator Gerar Colomb and RA Ambassador to France Eduard Nalbandyan.
In his speech, the RA Ambassador pointed out that the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide by France and existence of 50 monuments to
the victims throughout the country are perceived as manifestation of
solidarity by the Armenian people.
The Armenian Genocide, first genocide of the 20th century, was
organized and committed by the Government of Young Turks in the Ottoman
Empire in 1915. Over 1.5mln Armenians were slaughtered. The Armenian
Genocide has been officially recognized by many countries.