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.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 14 2006
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry: `We’ll try to commute unfair verdict
on Ramil Safarov’
[ 14 Apr. 2006 13:24 ]
`The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan does not agree to the unfair
verdict passed on Azerbaijani army officer Rami Safarov for murdering
Armenian army officer Gurgen Markarian in Hungary,’ the spokesman for
the Defense Ministry Ilgar Verdiyev told APA. He said that Safarov’s
lawyer will appeal against the verdict.
`Ramil Safarov is the officer of the Defense Ministry. We’ll take
necessary steps to defend our officer, to commute the unfair verdict
on him,’ Verdiyev said.
Verdiyev also said the Ministry will defray all expenses for legal
defense of Ramil Safarov.
The Budapest court yesterday sentenced the Azerbaijani army officer
Ramil Safarov to life in prison. /APA/

Regnum, Russia
April 14 2006
Armenian MP considers spreading of anti-Russian feelings to be
inadmissible
Deal on selling of Hrazdan TPS 5th energy unit by Armenian government
to Russian Gazprom is enough interesting, and its details are not
confidential and accessible to everybody, MP Armen Ashotyan stated
during a press conference on April 13. According to him, the deal was
repeatedly discussed by mass media, as well as by the parliament.
As a REGNUM correspondent informs, the MP expressed his
dissatisfaction with negative mood of opposition forces toward the
deal. `It is wrong to say sell of the 5th energy unit considerably
crippled Armenian statehood. All European countries depend to some
extent on Russian gas, but they have not lost their independence and
statehood,’ stressed Armen Ashotyan. According to him, buying of
Hrazdan TPS 5th by Russian side is not directed against Armenian
statehood, and `it is not worth to take one fact and to black
everything’. `It is inadmissible to spread anti-Russian feelings,’
stressed the Armenian MP.
Mentioning rumors, that Armenian authorities had sold part of
Iran-Armenia pipeline and because of that had robbed Armenia of
perspectives to become transit country in perspective, Armen Ashotyan
stressed, if Russia wishes, so without regard to everything, Iranian
gas will not get into Europe. `Gazprom possesses Ukrainian
gas-distributing systems’, he stressed, adding, if the company
wishes, it will always use the advantage.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 14 2006
Nagorno-Karabakh problem included in Istanbul Declaration – MP
Kazimly

Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

14.04.2006

The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has
been included in the Istanbul Declaration at a conference of the
Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Conference, MP
Khanhuseyn Kazimly, the chairman of the Social Welfare Party of
Azerbaijan, told Trend in an exclusive interview.
He noted that the Azerbaijani delegates made remarks on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. `It was our great achievement. Moreover,
the Azerbaijani representatives were included in the composition of
three commissions of the OIC Executive Committee,’ he said. The
conference mulled the problems of Islamic countries and the ways for
their resolution.
The event was organized in Istanbul from 8 to 13 April with the
participation of 437 delegates from 47 countries. Members of the
Azerbaijani delegation – Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Javanshir Pashazade,
Khanhuseyn Kazimly and Sabir Rustamkhanly will be back on 14 April.

The Gauntlet, CA
April 14 2006
System Of A Down singer signs new act
System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian has announced a new signing
to his Serjical Strike record label. According to a press release,
Tankian has inked a deal with Dallas, Texas group Fair To Midland,
who were named as one of the top 100 unsigned acts of 2005. Tankian
said about the signing, “They are one of the best live unsigned bands
I have ever seen. Their songs are moody and dynamic, not dependent on
one catchy beat or emotion to present their art.”
Fair To Midland has already recorded and released a debut album on
its own, titled Inter.Funda.Stifle.
Tankian will serve as executive producer for the group’s next effort,
which it plans to begin recording later this year.
Through Serjical Strike, Tankian has previously released albums by
Kittens For Christian, Bad Acid Trip and former Guns N’ Roses
guitarist Buckethead, as well as Serart, his own collaboration with
Armenian vocalist and percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan.
System Of A Down will hit the road on July 1st as co-headliners of
this summer’s Ozzfest.

Kazinform, Kazakhstan
April 14 2006
Hungary jails Azerbaijani killer of an Armenian
BUDAPEST. April 14, 2006. KAZINFORM – An Azerbaijani army officer has
been jailed for life for murdering an Armenian while the two were
taking a Nato course in English in Hungary.
Safarov was also convicted of trying to kill a second Armenian;
KAZINFORM cites BBC News.
Lt Ramil Safarov confessed to hacking Lt Gurgen Markarian to death
with an axe in February 2004 in a dormitory used by Partnership for
Peace trainees.
The Budapest court sentenced Safarov to life in prison, with a
30-year minimum term before any parole hearings.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been bitter rivals since a war in the
1980s-90s.
Verdict welcomed
Safarov, 29, showed little emotion as Judge Andras Vaskuti read out
the sentence.
He had claimed that he had been driven to his act by the plight of
fellow Azerbaijanis, including close family relatives, in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
He also said he had been provoked by what he called the insulting
behaviour of Lt Markarian towards the Azerbaijani flag.
But the judge ruled that the murder was pre-meditated and had been
carried out with extreme cruelty.
Had his fellow officers not restrained him, the judge added, Safarov
would have killed a second Armenian officer as well.
A lawyer representing the victim’s family welcomed the sentence as a
“good decision for the Hungarian court and for [Armenian] society”.
Safarov’s lawyer said he planned to appeal against the verdict.

New Anatolian, Turkey
April 14 2006
Polish F.M. Meller Proposes Turkish, Armenian & Polish Historian To
Meet
ANKARA – Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller suggested Turkish,
Armenian and Polish historians to meet to discuss so-called Armenian
genocide allegations.
Turkish deputy Parliament Speaker Sadik Yakut received Meller in
Ankara on Thursday.
Yakut said, ”Turkey expects support from Poland during EU membership
process.”
He also said, ”we felt very sorry over Polish Parliament’s decision
(in April 2005) about so-called Armenian genocide. This distressing
development against Turkish nation emerged after Armenia’s unilateral
propaganda which deteriorates the realities. I believe Poland will
not allow the initiatives of marginal Armenian groups against the
relations of the two countries. I believe such groups will not be
supported by Polish Parliament.”
Regarding cartoon crisis, Yakut said, ”the cartoon crisis in Denmark
brought clash of civilizations onto agenda again. Those who used
freedom of expression irresponsibly depressed billions of Muslims
deeply. We believe that Poland’s exerting efforts to end anti-Islamic
winds by using its influence within EU will have important
consequences.”
Meller said that both the prime minister of Poland and himself
released the necessary statements to apologize from the Muslim world
for the cartoon crises.
Referring to a decision approved by the Polish parliament last year
to recognize the events in 1915 as genocide, Meller said that
Armenian people had been living in Poland for centuries.
Recalling that a number of Polish citizens of Armenian origin have
carried out significant duties, Meller said that they considered that
decision of the Polish parliament as a compensation for suffering and
pain stemming from 1915 events.
Noting that the decision did not have any binding impact on Poland’s
foreign policy, and it did not reflect the view of their government,
Meller said that the decision was not against Turkey.
Meller said that he proposed Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul to undertake a good-will mission and bring
together Turkish, Armenian and Polish historians.
Stressing that they did not aim to give lessons to the others, Meller
said that Poland had earlier succeeded in resolving the problems with
Germany and Ukraine through dialogue.

New Anatolian, Turkey
April 14 2006
Turkey To Add Optimism Value To Eu, Polish Fm Meller
ANKARA – Polish Foreign Minister Stefan Meller said that Poland
supports Turkey’s EU membership process, adding that Turkey will add
optimism value to the EU.
Holding a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul on Thursday, Meller said regarding Turkey’s EU
membership issue that Poland has always supported Turkey’s EU
membership and will continue to support.
Meller said that the criteria which were applied to other countries
(during EU membership process) should be same with the ones applied
to Turkey, noting that Turkey should implement the same criteria
completely to be a member of the EU.
Noting that Poland’s European vision is to further extend the EU,
Meller said that new ”added values” (in the aspects of culture and
civilization) are expected from the countries which will join the EU.
He said that besides other contributions, Turkey will add optimism
value to the EU due to its importance in the region.
Upon a question about the debates in Polish parliament on so-called
Armenian genocide, Meller said that Polish parliament did not take
any decision about the issue; it only stated a view, and that view
reflected the atmosphere of that period.
Noting that there are many bureaucrats, soldiers and artists of
Armenian origin in Poland, and Poland has good relations with
Armenia, Meller said that however, this should not be reflected to
foreign policy. He added that Poland will be pleased with solution of
this problem.
Meller said that there were not any problem in the bilateral
relations between Turkey and Poland.
Eulogizing Turkish businessmen’s achievements in Poland, Meller said
that Turkey and Poland could make joint investments in the third
countries.
Referring to the cultural relations between Turkey and Poland, Meller
thanked the Turkish government for its support to restoration of the
Adam Mickiewicz Museum in Istanbul.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Gul said that
their government was determined to further improve commercial,
economic, cultural and defense relations with Poland.
”I believe that Poland will continue extending support to Turkey in
its EU membership process,” Gul added.
Upon a question about Iran’s nuclear program, Gul said that all
relevant sides should help efforts to find a solution through
diplomatic channels.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TMCNet
April 14 2006
Canceled USC event featuring Turkish ambassadors draws controversy
(Comtex Business Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)LOS ANGELES, Apr 13,
2006 (Daily Trojan, U-WIRE via COMTEX) –An event at the University
of Southern California Center for Public Diplomacy featuring two
former ambassadors from Turkey was canceled late March, days before
its scheduled date, amid complaints and controversy about its
intended subject. Former Turkish ambassadors Gunduz Aktan and Omer
Lutem were scheduled to speak at USC to coincide with their visit to
Los Angeles, Calif., for an event at the Los Angeles World Affairs
Council.
The event was canceled, however, after administrators at the USC
Center for Public Diplomacy realized that the original topic of the
event had been changed, said Joshua Fouts, director of the center.
“When we first scheduled the event, it was described as an event
about Turkish civil society and Armenian relations,” Fouts said. “The
final description that was e-mailed described the event as a
discussion about the genocide.”
But despite the official reason given by USC, members of both the
Turkish and Armenian communities in Los Angeles expressed differing
opinions regarding USC’s decision.
Days before the event was scheduled to occur, members of the Armenian
community, including the Western region office of the Armenian
National Committee of America, sent a letter to Fouts encouraging the
university to cancel the event.
In the letter, Steven Dadaian, chairman of the ANCA Western region
office, wrote that the event would provide a forum for the Turkish
ambassadors to make false statements and deny historical facts about
the Armenian genocide.
“(Genocide) denial is a deliberate misrepresentation of fact and a
scientific fraud which must not be tolerated by the university,”
Dadaian wrote. “This panel will undoubtedly be considered an
extremely offensive event which disrespects the rights and dignity of
not only your students but to all the hundreds of thousands who are
the victims and surviving children of the Armenian Genocide.”
The letter went on to warn Fouts that “if USC chooses to proceed with
this program, our organization will be forced to take further action
to protest the University’s complicity in providing a forum for
genocide deniers.”
The letter to the university was written because “we didn’t want
these (genocide) deniers to have this platform in front of students,”
said Armen Carapetian, director of the ANCA-Western Region.
“(Aktan and Lutem) were going to talk about the Turkish perspective,
but the world community has already acknowledged that the Armenian
genocide occurred. All they have to do is throw a shadow of doubt
into it and confuse people,” Carapetian said.
One former student, who is Turkish, responded to the cancellation
with an e-mail of his own.
In the e-mail sent to USC administrators March 30, Evren Ugurbas,
former president of the USC Turkish Students Association, accused the
university of violating free speech and buckling to political
pressure for canceling the event during which the ambassadors were to
discuss Turkish-Armenian relations.
In the e-mail, Ugurbas wrote that the cancellation of the event,
which had been planned and scheduled by the USC Center for Public
Diplomacy, “was a grave and embarrassing mistake (the university)
made by cowardly resorting to censorship under partisan pressure by
local activists.”
The Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles scheduled the event with the USC
Center for Public Diplomacy, which “enthusiastically welcomed our
efforts,” said Engin Ansay, Consul General of Turkey in Los Angeles.
The purpose of the event, Ansay said, was to promote positive
relationships between the Turkish and Armenian communities by
discussing the long-debated Armenian genocide and “how best to remedy
the situation and shed light on this dark period in history.”
Turkish Consul General Ansay said, “It was not an exercise in Turkish
propaganda. We’re just trying to find a dialogue. There can be a
fruitful cooperation between the Turkish and Armenian communities,”
he said.
Ansay said that the consulate was surprised to hear from USC
informing it of the cancellation.
“We were astonished, flabbergasted, because where is the freedom of
speech? It was a big blow to everyone who heard about it. USC is a
respectable institution but we regret that it happened,” he said.
But Carapetian said that USC had been misinformed about the event.
“I think that they had heard from one side, and it was our
responsibility to let our community know and weigh in on the subject.
It was freedom of expression on our side,” he said.
In a press release posted on ANCA’s Web site, the organization
applauded the university for the cancellation, stating that “(t)he
quick action to draw attention to this issue by many groups and
individuals resulted in the ultimate cancellation once USC officials
were made aware of the real intent of the event.”
But Fouts said the Armenian community’s efforts had no bearing on the
center’s ultimate decision to cancel.
Instead, the reason behind the cancellation dealt with the relevance
of the intended discussion to the Center for Public Diplomacy’s
mission, he said.
“We have a great relationship with the Turkish Consulate, but we
can’t afford to host an event not central to public diplomacy,” he
said. “At the same time that we realized this, the Armenian community
was contacting us about it. As much as the Armenian community would
like to take credit for (the cancellation), it was just a
coincidence.”
Regardless of the reasons behind the cancellation, Armenian students
were satisfied with USC’s decision.
“They tried to change the topic before anyone realized it,” said
Nerses Ohanyan, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering and a
member of the Armenian Student Association. “But I’m very glad that
this event didn’t happen regardless of the reasons.”
Ugurbas, the Turkish former student who wrote the e-mail to
administrators, expressed concern that opposing viewpoints could not
be considered.
“(The Armenians) are talking, and we are listening. But we also want
to reflect our opinion. In a community like this we should understand
each other,” he said.
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