SERGE SARGSIAN DOES NOT THINK THAT THERE ARE CHANGES IN NEAREST FUTURE
IN ISSUE OF INVOLVEMENT OF KARABAKH IN NEGOTIATION PROCESS
STEPANAKERT, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Azerbaijan
wants to tear many things for its benefit, to make new proposals
what is inadmissible for us,” Serge Sargsian, the Secretary of the
RA National Security Council attached to the President, the Defence
Minister stated at the press-conference taken place at the end of
the military exercises held in Nagorno Karabakh. “If each of us makes
an attempt to tear for him more things for obvious, clear purposes,
we can hardly come to common denominator,” the Minister emphasized.
According to Serge Sargsian, the Armenian side never violates
conditions of cease-fire: “We just respond to press, and there are
few shots.” As for the issue of involvement of Nagorno Karabakh in
the negotiation process, Serge Sargsian mentioned: “I do not think
that there will be changes in future. Of course, it’s desired that
Nagorno Karabakh as well participates in the negotiations, but not
everything happens according to our wish.” The Minister estimated
normal the political situation in Armenia: “The political process
seems to develop in normal way, and, of course, such a situation
have a more favourable influence than when political passions are
imflamed. Of course, a more favourable atmosphere may be created, but
this one is also enough.” According to Serge Sargsian, a tolerance
is necessary for a favourable atmosphere as well as it is necessary
to avoid unwarranted political ambitions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. Wants Belarus on G8 Agenda
The Moscow Times, Russia
April 20 2006
A senior U.S. diplomat said Wednesday that the United States would
press for discussion of political developments in Belarus as well
as conflicts in Georgia, Moldova and Nagorno-Karabakh to be on the
agenda of this year’s Group of Eight summit, to be held in St.
Petersburg in July.
Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said it would be the first
time that the G8 had discussed “these … conflicts very close to
Russia’s borders” — underlining the stark political differences
between Russia and the other G8 members.
He said that most G8 members agreed that Belarus’ recent election,
which returned President Alexander Lukashenko to a third term, was
“anti-democratic,” and that the G8 should help the governments of
Georgia and Moldova resolve conflicts with their separatist provinces
— all of which enjoy support from Russia.
Russia and the United States are working together under the aegis
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to find a
resolution to the 18-year-old conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic
Armenian-inhabited enclave in Azerbaijan. They have both expressed
optimism that progress could be made this year.
U.S. President George W. Bush has said he will raise concerns about
Russian democracy during the summit.(AP)

Ex-Foreign minister of Armenia Aleksandr Arzumanyan: “I do not
exclude Azerbaijan to start war”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 20 2006
[ 20 Apr. 2006 18:11 ]
“Results of Azerbaijan and Armenia presidents Rambouillet talks is
not only failure of Nagorno Garabagh conflict resolution as well as
it is a failure of OSCE Minsk Group mission.” ex- Foreign minister of
Armenia Aleksandr Arzumanyan has made this statement. Negotiation
process, according to him, is prolonged not only by conflicting sides
but also the USA and European Union artificially.
“European Union appointed new representative to South Caucasus in
2006, Peter Semneby needs much time to be adopted to the situation.
Then the USA has changed its ambassador to Azerbaijan. This happens
to prolong the process by the end of 2006, and then pre-election
marathon will begin in Armenia. During the election process, as we
know, conflict regulation process stays in background.” Criticizing
the activity of OSCE Minsk Group in Rambouillet talks Arzumanyan has
stressed not existence of better mediating format. “I do not believe
happening any fundamental changes in regulation process. But after
Rambouillet talks, the tone sounded by Azerbaijani side does not
exclude this country’s start war.”/APA/

Vardan Oskanian: Co-chairs haven’t made new proposals to settle Garabagh conflict
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 20 2006
[ 20 Apr. 2006 17:58 ]
“The people of Nagorno Garabagh should decide themselves which status
they need – this is Armenia’s stance,” Armenian foreign minister
Vardan Oskanian stated (APA).
“Armenia is ready to discuss matters of overcoming the consequences
of the war when official Baku recognizes Garabagh people’s right to
self-determination. Only after that, speaking about territories that
form the security belt and return of internally displaced persons
will be possible. As coming to OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs making new
proposals, this is both true and not. Proposals, or rather principles
of the settlement, remain the same. Mechanisms are subject to change,”
Oskanian said./APA/

Tigran Torosian: “Diplomats co-chairing OSCE Minsk Group might be changed”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 20 2006
[ 20 Apr. 2006 18:36 ]
“Changes might happen in OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing Institute. I
do not exclude change Mann- Merzlyakov-Fasie trio. International
mediating process format has changed, therefore I do not exclude
change of anyone in OSCE Minsk Group diplomatic corpse,” head of
Armenian delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe
Tigran Torosian has stated. (APA).
He stated the impossibility of valuing the situation right after
Rambouillet talks. “But statement of official Baku after talks
on strengthening the army and increase of military budget worries
me.”/APA/

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 20 2006
Eldar Ibrahimov: We’ll try to achieve OSCE PA adopt document on
Garabagh being under control of Armenian separatist forces
[ 20 Apr. 2006 17:40 ]
“We try to achieve in OSCE Parliamentary Assembly like Council of
Europe Parliamentary Assembly to acknowledge Armenia as invader.
We’ll also try to achieve OSCE PA adopt a document on Nagorno Garabagh
being under control of Armenian separatist forces,” Eldar Ibrahimov,
member of Azerbaijani delegation to OSCE PA told journalists (APA).
He said that the delegation will do their utmost to achieve this very
difficult goal.
“I admit that this is a very difficult issue. Armenian lobby, Armenians
try to prevent bringing of the Nagorno Garabagh conflict up for
discussion in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly,” Ibrahimov underlined.
The delegation member also said OSCE PA rapporteur on Nagorno Garabagh
conflict Goran Lenmarker is due to visit Azerbaijan on May 5 this
year. The rapporteur will meet several officials during the visit.
Mr.Ibrahimov noted that it is not yet known what is on the agenda
of the OSCE Summer Session, and he thinks it will be known during
Lenmarker’s visit. Stating that it is not known whether Lenmarker’s
report will be discussed in the summer session, the parliamentarian
said the delegation will try to include the report on the agenda.
Ibrahimov said that Lenmarker could not visit the region due to the
parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan last year. His visit scheduled
for March was postponed later on./APA/

ARMAVIA AIRLINE GIVE VALUABLE PRESENT TO ITS 100,000TH PASSENGER IN 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 20 2006
Yerevan, April 20. /ARKA/. The “Armavia” airline has given a valuable
present to its 100,000th passengers in 2006, the resident of Ashtarak
Marina Sarkisyan.
The present has been given to her in Yerevan by Director General of
the “Armavia” airline Norair Belluyan. The present costs AMD 200,000
($500).
This is an interim result of a special action announced by the airline
in 2006. According to the action terms, the first 100,000th, 700,000th
and 1,000,000th passengers can receive valuable presents.
The 700,000th passenger will receive keys of a “Peugeot” or “Renault”,
and the 1,000,000th passenger will be presented with a “Mercedes”.
The “Armavia” airline intends to exceed last year’s air transportation
index, 550,000 passengers, by October 2006.
The “Armavia” airline was founded on December 12, 1996. The airline
is currently owned by MIKA Armenia Trading. Î.À. -0–
–Boundary_(ID_8f4zKQxfPGR2ns/LVYh8hQ)–

ARMENIA-EU NEGOTIATIONS SECOND ROUND TO BE HELD IN EARLY MAY IN
BRUSSELS AS PART OF ENLARGED EUROPE – NEW NEIGHBORS EU PROGRAM
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 20 2006
YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. The second round of Armenia-EU negotiations
is to be held in the beginning of May in Brussels as part of Enlarged
Europe – New Neighbors EU Program, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan said at a news conference given Thursday after meeting with
his Austrian counterpart Hans Winkler in Yerevan.
In his words, the program will give a new impetus to cooperation
between Armenia and European Union and raise it to a new level. He
said the program will pay special attention to democratic reforms in
Armenia, especially taking into account parliamentary and Armenian
presidential elections expected in 2007 and 2008. Oskanyan stressed
that if the elections are conducted in wrong way, Armenia will loose
not only moral, but also financial support from European institutions.
Austrian Foreign Secretary Hans Winkler, in turn, noted that
the program adoption will lay proper groundwork for deepening
cooperation between the countries. He also expressed hope that
Armenian parliamentary and presidential elections will be up to
European standards.
EU Three delegation headed by Austrian Foreign Secretary Hans Winkler
arrived in Armenia on Thursday as part of his regional visit. The
delegation is made up of Austrian and Finnish Ambassadors to Armenia,
EU Special Envoy in South Caucasus as well as European Commission
and European Union representatives.
The delegation members are set to meet Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan and Armneian National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan
in Yerevan. M.V. -0–

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS HOPE AZERBAIJAN TO RECOGNIZE KARABAKH
PEOPLE’S SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 20 2006
YEREVAN, April 20. /ARKA/. European parliamentarians hope
Azerbaijan to recognize Karabakh people’s self-determination
right, Marie-Anne Isler-Beguin, Chairwoman of the EU Commission on
Parliamentary Cooperation, said Wednesday in Yerevan. In her opinion,
self-determination right is one of the most important principles in
Karabakh conflict settlement.
At the request from Armenian side, the concept was included in the
proposals made by EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission at
its Wednesday’s session in Yerevan.
Isler-Beguin also pointed out refugees return to the conflict-stricken
region among the key parts of the conflict settlement process.
She said the European Union is ready to provide any assistance in the
process of Karabakh conflict settlement and added that the conflict
must be solved only by peaceful means.
The commission’s eighth session was held on April 18, 19 in Yerevan.
At their session, lawmakers also discussed issues related to Karabakh
conflict peaceful settlement, Armenia’s home and foreign policies
as well as the process of activity program preparation as part of
European Neighborhood Program. M.V. -0—

Scientific conference dedictaed to Atmenian-Turkish relations to be held in Turkey
ArmRadio.am
20.04.2006 12:38
A scientific conference dedicated to Armenian-Turkish relations will
be held in the University of Kesari city of Turkey. The debates will
focus on “The art of living together in the Turkish society: Issues of
Armenian-Turkish relations. 125 scientists from different countries
will participate in the conference. The organizers were particularly
inspired with the fact that an invitation to participate was accepted
also by the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Archbishop Mutafyan.