TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 14 2006
Union of liberation movements addresses local offices of
international organizations and Hungarian courts

Source: «Trend»
Author: S. Ilhamgyzy

14.04.2006

Union of liberation movements addressed local offices of UNO, OSCE,
EC, Hungarian government and legal instances, Trend reports with
reference to the Union officials.
The address states the negative reaction the sentence issued by
Budapest municipal court on Azeri military officer Ramil Safarov
received in our country; this sentence causes doubt in justice in
Hungary that is a member of European family. It also gives the notion
of R.Safarov’s psychological state in the moment of the crime, and
says Armenians had occupied his homeland and murdered all relatives.
It stresses that Hungarian court’s sentence issued on R.Safarov may
result in distrust between Azeri and Hungarian nations and calls to
fix this injustice.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
April 14 2006
War Worst Option For All Parties Of Conflict, Says Bernard Fasye
The Co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group warned all parties of the
conflict that war is the worst option and war means new victims,
tragedies, orphans, destructions, refugees and meaningless expense.
Irregardless of the outcome of a war, the sides will find themselves
in the situation that existed before the war, said Bernard Fasye,
French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, at a press conference
yesterday in Yerevan.
He urged the parties to put off the dispute about who declared
started the war and who settled in Nagorno Karabakh first. It is
necessary to build a peaceful future as neighbors, he added.
Fasye said format of negotiations cannot be changed, it can be
“adapted,” but not replaced. It is impossible to fully resolve the
conflict, because of the absolutely opposite demands of the sides. He
added that the co-chairmen are seeking, for the basis of the future
settlement, to prepare the framework agreement.
The co-chairmen’s hopes for the talks in Rambouillet went unrealized,
but negotiations did not reach an impasse, they continue, he said. In
early May the co-chairmen intend to meet again in Moscow and then
together visit the region to prepare for another meeting between the
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents.
“Right now I cannot say the place or date of the meeting, because
they are yet to be determined. But the co-chairmen will use every
opportunity to organize the meeting in June or July,” he stressed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Regnum, Russia
April 14 2006
Powerful Motherland Party: `Armenia has more powerful resource than
oil dollars’
`We are ready to cooperate with parties outside of the National
Assembly, and to take part in 2007 parliamentary elections being
united,’ leader of Democracy and Work Party Spartak Melikyan stated
at a press conference on April 14. According to him, the law On
Electing of Armenian National Assembly Deputies has to be changed. In
particular, Spartak Melikyan stressed, at 1999 elections 23% of votes
were not taken into consideration, as well as 27% in 2007, `because
in total exactly so many citizens voted for parties and blocs, which
did not overcome 5%-barrier, and , correspondingly did not receive NA
mandates.’ `In such a way, forces are now presented at parliament,
which do not represent interests of one third of Armenian
population,’ resumed the party head, suggesting decreasing of the
barrier up to 3%.
In its turn, Head of the Armenian United Communist Party (AUCP) Yuri
Manukyan excluded possibility of unification with other political
groups, motivating his position by fact, `at present, there is no
party in Armenia, except for AUCP, which strives for returning to
socialism.’ Deputy Head of Powerful Motherland Party Shirak Torosyan,
foreseeing `possible falsification of 2007 parliamentary elections,’
insisted on changing of the law’s norm on announcement election
results. According to him, the outcomes have to be known at midnight
of the election day, and not of the following day, as it is foreseen
now.
Finally, participants of the discussion agreed, state should not
`concentrate efforts,’ but `guarantee conducting of fair and
democratic elections.’ `We have not to fear oil dollars of
neighboring enemy, we have even more powerful resource – democratic
society,’ stressed the head of the Powerful Motherland.

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 14 2006
Members of PACE Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in
Armenia

On April 15-18 Vera Oskina, Rapporteur of the Committee on Equal
Opportunities for Women and Men and Jannick Devaux, PACE Secretariat
officer will be in Yerevan.
On April 16 they will meet with the representatives of the NGOs.
On April 17 meetings with Norayr Davidyan, RA Minister of Health and
Aghvan Vardanyan, RA Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Ruzan
Alaverdyan, RA Urban Development Deputy Minister and Armen
Harutyunyan, Human Rights Defender.
The same day Mrs. Vera Oskina and Mrs. Jannick Devaux will be
received by Tigran Torosyan, head of NA delegation in PACE, NA Vice
President, Gagik Mkheyan, Chairman of NA Standing Committee on Social
Affairs, Health Care and Environment, MPs Hermine Naghdalyan and
Armenuhi Hovhannisyan.
Vera Oskina, Rapporteur of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for
Women and Men and Jannick Devaux, PACE Secretariat officer will visit
RA Obstetrics and Perinatalogy Research Institute and Abovian
Criminal Procedure Institution of the Ministry of Justice.
On April 18 the madams will leave Yerevan.

Ïðàî ûáîðà, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
April 14 2006
“Echo”: Armenian Lobbyists Change Position
14.04.2006

James Kolbe thanked Azerbaijan for partnership in anti terror
coalition
“Let me express gratitude of American nation to Azerbaijan nation for
partnership in anti terror coalition”. James Kolbe, US Congressman
from Arizona State, Chairman of Sub-Committee for External Affairs of
the House of Representatives of US Congress stated at the
press-conference. He underlined that Azerbaijan sent its peace-makers
to Afghanistan and Iraq, and also gave the right of flight all along
its air space and landing in its territory.
Talking of the settlement of Nagorno-Garabagh conflict, James Kolbe
reminded that the United States are one of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group, and urged for signing long-term just peace that could
set up conditions for development and prosperity of the region. He
also expressed a confidence that Azerbaijan President’s visit to
Azerbaijan will demonstrate development of US-Azerbaijan
relationship.
But journalists were interested with another: reportedly
well-informed sources, in due time James Kolbe was one of the
co-authors of the 907 Amendment “tied hands” of the Washington to
develop bilateral relations with Azerbaijan that called by Kolbe
himself as strategic ally of the US. At the instance of “Echo”
commenting this point James Kolbe hastened to assure that his role in
adoption of 907 Amendment “had been exaggerated a little” and
underlined that for the last five years he always voted for support
of the US Administration’s proposal concerning to suspend 907
Amendment. Demonstration of “change of positions” of the most
Armenian lobbyists in US Congress turned out more impressive.
James Kolbe did not exclude that the issue relating elimination of
907 Amendment will be discussed pending Azerbaijan President’s visit
to US, but underlined that last word is behind the US Congress. At
the same time, he said that one of the ways for elimination of 907
Amendment should be the conflict settlement.
James Kolbe also commented the fact that differing from Armenia and
Georgia Azerbaijan was not included to the Millennium Challenge
Programme. James Kolbe emphasized that no projects being implemented
within the framework of Millennium Challenge Programme concern
Nagorno-Garabagh. According to him, he took an active part in project
development that should give a new direction to US financial aid
abroad. According to him, annually, 6-7 new countries are included to
the Programme, and the main criterion of choice is efficiency of
national power branches. The corruption level determined by the
Congress on the basis of estimation of independent experts plays a
leading role.
At the instance of journalists James Kolbe commented the fact that US
Congress is not concern with reinforcement of neo-authoritarian
tendencies in Russian policy towards newly-established States. As
stated James Kolbe, the United States are, mostly, concerned with
political and economic aspect of this point rather military, and
assured of that Washington is ready to support political and economic
independence of the newly-established countries in the region,
including Azerbaijan.

Turkish Press
April 14 2006
Press Review
TURKIYE
GUL MEETS WITH POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his Polish
counterpart Stefan Meller in Ankara. During their talks, the two top
diplomats discussed bilateral relations. At a press conference,
afterwards, citing the Polish Parliament’s decision last year on the
so-called Armenian genocide, Gul conveyed Turkey’s concern over the
matter. Stressing that the issue should be taken up by historians,
not politicians, Gul said the move could encourage Armenians. Turkey
has offered to Armenia to investigate the matter, but has so far
gotten no reply, added Gul. For his part, Meller stated that his
government’s support for Turkey’s European Union membership bid would
continue. /Turkiye/

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 14 2006
National renascence movement addresses Europe protesting unjust
sentence issued on Ramil Safarov Karabakh’s youth associations to
address international organizations

Source: «Trend»
Author: J.Shakhverdiyev

14.04.2006

National Renascence Movement (NRM) has addressed European
organizations in a way of protest the unjust verdict issued on Azeri
military officer Ramil Safarov charged with murder of Armenian
officer in Hungary, NRM head Faradj Guloyev told Trend.

Mr Guliyev said an official address had been sent through NRM
representatives in Switzerland, Russia and Turkey to the governments
of these countries and international organizations. «We have also
dispatched a protest note to the other European countries and all
diplomatic representations in Azerbaijan. In the event of any protest
rallies or campaigns run by some organization we will join them
immediately».

NRM leader said also some actions would be taken tom protect Mr
Safarov’s rights. Mr Guliyev stressed that the verdict issued by
Hungarian court on R. Safarov’s case is an unjust and unfriendly one.

New Anatolian, Turkey
April 14 2006
Meller: Turkey’s membership will bring positive added value to EU
The New Anatolian / Ankara
After pledging to further develop and strengthen bilateral ties with
Turkey, visiting Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller yesterday
said, “Turkey’s membership will bring a positive, added value to the
European Union.”
Meller made the remarks at a joint press conference with Turkish
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul following a meeting in Ankara where
they
Expressing his country’s support for the EU enlargement process,
Meller said, “The members of the bloc expect new political and
cultural values from possible future members.” In accordance with
this goal, besides Turkey’s contributions to the EU, the members
expect Turkish membership will bring with it a positive, added value
since the country has an important position in the region.
“I believe that the criteria applied to Turkey should be the same as
the EU criteria applied to other candidate states,” said the Polish
foreign minister while at the same time underlining the importance of
a complete fulfillment of obligations for Turkey to become a member
of the bloc.
‘Polish stance on Armenia shouldn’t affect relations with Turkey’
Meller stated that Poland’s positive stance towards the Armenians
shouldn’t negatively affect relations with Turkey, referring to the
Polish Parliament’s decision taken in favor of the Armenians over the
controversial “genocide” claims.
The visiting foreign minister denied the recognition of Armenian
genocide claims by the Polish Parliament, saying, “The Parliament
only expressed its view which reflected the atmosphere of that era.”
Meller also stated that Poland used to be composed of different
nations up until the end of 18th century, adding that many
Armenian-origin bureaucrats, soldiers and artists still live in
Poland.
Gul praises strengthening of ties between Turkey-Poland
Foreign Minister Gul, for his part, praised the development and
deepening of bilateral relations especially in the areas of trade,
economy, the defense industry and culture, citing 600 years of ties
between Turkey and Poland.
“The countries are together under NATO’s umbrella and I believe that
Polish support for Turkey’s EU membership will continue,” Gul said.
Meller said that Turkey and Poland are friends and allies in NATO,
adding that his country will never forget Turkey’s support during
Poland’s NATO membership process.
The polish foreign minister also praised the high level of investment
from Turkish businessmen in his country and called on Turkey to
cooperate in joint investment projects in third countries.
Gul: No Turkish mediation in Iranian nuke standoff right now
Asked whether a Turkish official will be asked to be responsible for
bringing Iranian and Western officials towards a diplomatic solution
to Tehran’s nuclear activities, Gul stated that such a role isn’t on
Ankara’s agenda.
Gul also called on all concerned states to contribute to efforts to
finding a diplomatic solution to the issue and to work towards easing
the standoff.

Interfax, Russia
April 14 2006
Duma ratifies agreement on CIS anti-terror center
MOSCOW. April 14 (Interfax) – The State Duma has ratified an
agreement signed by the Russian government and other CIS
member-states on the presence of the CIS anti-terrorist center on
Russian territory.
“The ratification of the aforementioned documents meets Russia’s
national interests and will make the fight against international
terrorism more effective,” the Duma’s CIS committee said in a report.
The agreement, which was signed by Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Uzbekistan and
Ukraine in Moscow on October 21, 2003, and will be valid as long as
the anti-terrorist center continues to operate.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Messenger, Georgia
April 14 2006
Wine blockade update: Armenian winemakers plug their product
“There exists the opinion that Georgia is good in wine and Armenia in
cognac and it is high time to break these stereotypes,” Avak
Arutunian, Armenian Wine Producers head
By Keti Sikharulidze

The head of the association of Armenian Wine Producers Avak Arutunian
believes that his country’s product can easily replace Georgian wine
on the Russian market.
Speaking with the Russian news agency Regnum Arutunian called
Russian’s resolution to ban Georgian wine imports as a “correct
decision.”
Arutunian thinks that Armenian wines can compete with both Georgian
and Moldavian vintages and that the only country that is capable of
competing with Armenian wines, in terms of quality, is France.
“Our wines are highly competitive with Georgian, Moldavian and even
French wines. The thing is that there exists the opinion that Georgia
is good in wine and Armenia in cognac and it is high time to break
these stereotypes,” Arutunian stated on Thursday.
At the same time that Arutunian was speaking of the great merits of
his country’s wines, a Georgian delegation headed by Minister of
Agriculture Mikheil Svimonishvili left for Moscow on Thursday to hold
meetings with Russian officials to discuss lifting the Russian
embargo on Georgian wines.
“We should do everything we can to solve this problem in order to
avoid any kind of confrontation,” Svimonishvili told journalists.
Russia banned imports of all Georgian and Moldovian wine on March 27,
and last week the ban was extended to include cognac and sparkling
wine.
According to Russia’s Chief Sanitation doctor Gennady Onishenko 13
percent of the Georgian and Moldavian wine tested in 38 Russian
districts meet international standards, while 46 percent of the wine
tested in Moscow is of bad quality.