COMMITTEE TO PROTECT SAFAROV DEMANDS DELAY OF ANNOUNCING VERDICT
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 01:14 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The Budapest city court is influenced by Armenian
lobby and therefore will not pass a fair verdict regarding the
Azerbaijani officer,” Head of the Committee to Protect Ramil Safarov’s
Rights Akif Naghi said in Baku. In his words, the Committee demands
that the trial scheduled April 13 be postponed and the court staff
be replaced.
The Committee also believes that Azerbaijan’s parliamentary group
for relations with the Hungarian Parliament should leave for Budapest
as soon as possible. In addition, the Azerbaijani parliament should
hold a debate on Safarov’s case at Hungarian Parliament, a large
media group should be sent to Budapest, and his extradition should
be achieved irrespective of the verdict on him, APA reports.

GEORGIAN CHURCH PREPARES GROUNDS FOR TERRITORIAL CLAIMS TO ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2006 GMT+04:00
Orthodox hierarchs have declared their rights to Armenian churches
located in the borderline regions of Armenia.
The newly established special commission created in the patriarchy
of Georgian Orthodox Church is aimed at proving the necessity of
passing six Armenian churches located in the Northern regions of
Armenia to the ownership of Georgia. The decision on the creation of
such a committee is viewed in Yerevan as a deliberate provocation,
which can have political consequences with a negative impact on
Armenian-Georgian relations.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It is not the first time that Georgian Orthodox
Church asserts unconcealed claims to the property of Armenian
Apostolic Church. It is noteworthy that this time Georgians lay claim
to churches, located in the Republic of Armenia – regions of Tavoush
and Lori. What is especially delicate in this issue is the fact that
those churches are located on territories, which were included in
the map of united Georgian Republic by Georgian Mensheviks back in
1918. It was the control over Tavoush and Lori regions that caused
conflicts between Armenia and Georgia. Fortunately the rulers of
the first Georgian Republic found enough wisdom and common sense to
acknowledge the sovereignty of Yerevan over those territories. Since
then no one has publicly cast doubt on the fact that those territories
belong to Armenia.
This is why the decision of orthodox hierarchs promoting reanimation
of the closed and completely senseless discussion looks even more
unexpected.
The establishment of the “special commission” was preceded by
another demarche, which was no less provocative. Early in March,
the supreme synod of Georgian Orthodox Church made a decision on the
establishment of eparchy of Georgian Orthodox Church in Armenia. Making
the decision Georgians did not even inform Armenian Apostolic Church
or the political leadership of Armenia. “To restore historical
existence of the eparchy of Agarak-Tashir and subordinate it to the
bishop of Dmanisi with a title bishop of Dmanisi and Agarak – Tashir,
Dmanisi chair”.
This is what the synod’s decision says. Taking into account the fact
that there is not a single pious Georgian in those territories, it
is not clear for whom they are creating the new eparchy. Meanwhile,
Georgians living in Yerevan have the opportunity of holding liturgies
according to the Orthodox rite. As a gesture of good will the Armenian
Apostolic Church has given them a church, creating all the necessary
conditions. It is quite strange that the gesture was not appreciated…
There is no doubt that the synod of Georgian church made the decision
on the establishment of eparchy and creation of the special committee,
basing on the claims to Armenian churches and the approval of
Georgian political leadership. But why did the official Tbilisi need
that? Usually Georgian political scientists accuse Russian special
services in the rise of tension between Armenia and Georgia. But this
time it is quite obvious who is standing behind the attempt to involve
the two neighbor nations in a quarrel. It is especially strange that
those things happened immediately after the successful visit of the
newly appointed Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gela Bejuashvili
who gave special attention to the problem of relations between Armenian
and Georgian churches.
Nevertheless, it is not hard to find an answer to the question “Why
now?”. The problem of defining the status of traditional faiths has
been discussed in Tbilisi for a long time. Though in the multi-national
Republic of Georgia the church is detached of state, authorities refuse
to create legal base for the activities of other faiths. Especially
morbid is the attitude of Georgians to the issue of defining the
rights of the local eparchy of Armenian Apostolic Church. The issue
of the status of the eparchy presupposes determination of ownership
rights on the six Armenian churches, which ceased functioning after
the establishment of Soviet power. Orthodox hierarchs call those
churches Georgian. There is no doubt that latest demarches of the
Georgian Orthodox Church are an answer to the demands of Georgian
Armenians. It looks like the claims of Georgians to the six Armenian
churches are not accidental too. They are probably guided by the
principles “eye for eye” and “best the defense is attack”…
Under such circumstances it is getting harder and harder to believe
in the purposefulness of the planned visit of Armenian Catholicos
to Tbilisi. The issue of the visit of Garegin II to Tbilisi has
been discussing for a long time. His visit to Georgia could become
a break-through in the complicated relations between Armenian and
Georgian churches. It is worth mentioning that the last Catholicos
to visit Georgia was Khrimyan Hayrik who went to Georgia 110 years
ago. Thus, the situation is not normal: the patriarchs of two
sister nations communicate through mediators and see each other on
the funerals of their predecessors. Wishing to put an end to this
absurdity the Armenian Catholicos was ready to pay a visit to his
Georgian brother. And this is how Tbilisi responded.
“PanARMENIAN.Net” analytical department

AZERBAIJAN OPPOSES EXAMINATION OF OLD JUGHA CEMETERY BY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MISSION
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
12/04/2006
Baku will give consent to the 10 member commission of the European
Parliament to examine the site of ancient Armenian cemetery of Old
Jugha, Nakhijevan, only on terms of conducting “two-sided examination”,
AzeriPress agency reports.
The president of the European Parliament has recently approved of
the initiative to send a mission to survey the site of destruction
of Armenian monuments.
Azerbaijan voices dissatisfaction with the fact that the EP decided
to entrust the mission to Armenia-EP interparliamentary committee
instead of setting an ad hoc committee.
To date, the European delegation is due to arrive in the region on
April 17-21.

RENO HARNISH DOES NOT CONSIDER US NEW PROPOSALS TO MAMEDYAROV
AZG Armenian Daily
12/04/2006
US new proposals over the Nagorno Karabakh process are not new,
US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish said, when answering a
question on which proposals were presented during a meeting of US
State Secretary Condoleezza Rice with Azeri FM Elmar Mamedyarov,
Panarmenian.net reports. In Harnish’s words, during the meeting only
practical matters, relating to attaining lasting and fair peace were
discussed. The US diplomat also remarked that the work during the past
two years allowed attaining a higher level and “matters like those
should be decided by presidents and peoples of the two countries.” Reno
Harnish hoped that both Armenian and Azeri peoples will defend their
leaders. In his words, besides the Karabakh topic, security, energy
matters and reforms were discussed during Washington talks.

CHARLES AZNAVOUR ARRIVES IN YEREVAN BY THE MAIDEN FLIGHT OF AIR FRANCE
AZG Armenian Daily
12/04/2006
Air France launched its activities in Armenia by its first flight
on March 27. Henry Cuny, French ambassador in Armenia, represented
the guests that arrived in Yerevan by the first flight of Air France,
namely RA ambassador in France, counselor of French President Jacques
Chirac, the representatives of the French parliamentary friendship
group. Outstanding singer Charles Aznavour also was aboard this flight.
Emphasizing the importance of opening Air France office in Yerevan,
ambassador Cuny, stated that it is of great political importance, as
the company’s activities in Armenia will contribute to strengthening
of relations between our countries. He also pointed out to the economic
importance of the newly opened office of Air France that will establish
everyday communication between Armenia and France through the flights
of the French company and ArmAvia.
“What can I say? I am not a French Armenian. I want to emphasize with
pride that I am a Frenchman with Armenian origin. I am a Frenchman by
my homeland and education, but by my spirit, heart and family relations
I am an Armenian,” Charles Aznavour stated in his speech. Though
Mr. Cuny introduced Mr. Aznavour as one of the honored first passengers
of the first Paris-Yerevan flight of Air France, Mr. Aznavour said that
he had the impression that he was the representative of Air France.
Mr. Aznavour emphasized the importance of spreading the French
language in Armenia, stating that he would like the French to be
at least the third language in Armenia, as the second language is
already Russian. “I am glad to be here,” he said in the end of his
speech and added already in Armenian: “See you soon.”

BAGRAT YENGIBARIAN EXPLAINS HIS CANDIDACY FOR MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES CHIEF’S POSITION
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
12/04/2006
Bagrat Yengibarian, head of the Fund of Incubator Enterprises,
has applied for the position of project director of the Millennium
Challenges among other 48 applicants. “I think there are lots of
question I am going to ask once I am called for an interview. One
thing is certain: at stake are the Fund of Incubator Enterprises and
its successful development. I will demand equivalent compensation
for that. I am applying for the position as I see great demand for
human resources. I think my career and potential can help fill the
gap and it would be wrong to stay out.”

“THE FALSIFIERS ARE BETRAYERS”
A1+
[08:51 pm] 11 April, 2006
“Now the favourite moment of many deputies starts,” the NA vice-speaker
Vahan Hovhanessyan said these words in his speech the key issue of
which was the sale of the 5th block of the Hrazdan heat-electric
generating plant to the Russian side.
“Isn’t there anyone who can advise Robert Kocharyan not to estimate
criminal deals as a successful ones?”
said the member of the “Justice” party Grigor Harutyunyan. The
latter also spoke about other “successful deals,” such as “ArmenTel,”
Yerevan Brandy Company and “ArmFilm.” His oratory question was soon
answered in the same way by his partner, the Deputy of the “Justice”
Party Stepan Zakaryan, “Who has such a right?” he said and brought
the following example, when the Minister of Science who did not
approve of Andre’s song was offered to go on hunger-strike. And
the only reason was that “they did not approve of the things liked
by Robert Kocharyan’s team.” Judging from the above mentioned the
oppositional deputy concludes that our authorities are divided into
“the 1st, 2nd and 3rd categories.” In Stepan Zakaryan’s opinion the
tragedy of our country is not in the fact of having “Kadj Nazars,”
but in the fact of having “Lord Sakos who make Nazars brave.”
While enumerating the advantages of the possibility of giving Hrazdan
energy block to the Russian side or the possibility of its keeping
a state property Victor Dallakyan announced that they threaten the
security of the country.
The Deputy Manuk Gasparyan expressed his suspects on “our authorities’
putting money into their pockets” after the deal. By the way, while
the oppositional deputies spent their 3 minutes on the criticism of
the last bargain, the member of the Republican Party Sukias Avetisyan
thanked the Armenian officialdom in the name of all Armenians for
the decision on “gas price abate.”
The Deputy Shavarsh Kocharyan focused on the settlement of external and
internal problems of the country. He claims that we must provide real
economic growth and enlarge our army. “The latter is a more serious
task,” he says bringing the following datum; the 50% of women under 50
are not married and have no children. “Armenia must become a social
country as is written in the Constitution,” added Shavarsh Kocharyan
saying that people falsifying the 2007 elections are betrayers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE SIDES CAN BE PLEASED BY 80%
A1+
[11:54 am] 12 April, 2006
The OSCE Minsk group French co-chair Bernard Fassier will arrive in
Armenia from Baku today. During the concluding press conference in
Baku he said, “We cannot take decisions instead of the two states. The
decision taken by us can cause serious problems as no way of peaceful
settlement can fully justify the expectations of both sides. But I
can say that there is a way out which can justify the expectations of
the sides by 80%. But the final decision is to be made by the heads
of the countries.”
The regional visit of Bernard Fassier is to be discussed during the
Moscow meeting of the co-chairs, agency “Trend” reports. After the
meeting the Minsk group US co-chair Steven Mann will arrive in the
region. Till the end of April the Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov
will come to the region too.
At the beginning of May the co-chairs will meet in Moscow and discussed
the April meetings. Later on they will visit the region together. The
aim of the visit is to prepare the new meeting of the Armenian and
Azeri Presidents the date of which is not yet known.
After that the co-chairs will represent new approaches towards the
peaceful settlement of the conflict to the Presidents.

THE PACE PRESIDENT THREATENS
A1+
[12:23 pm] 12 April, 2006
“The country which tries to solve the Karabakh conflict by the military
way will be excluded from the CE”, announced the President of PACE
Rene van der Linden.
According to the website day.az, the PACE President also mentioned
that does find it possible to keep a country in the CE which can use
armed forces in case of restarting military operations in Nagorno
Karabakh, “In that case we will have to reconsider the membership of
that country.”
Rene van der Linden called on all the sides of the Karabakh conflict
to refrain from militant statements and to realize that the conflict
can be settled only by the peaceful way.

SEPARATE CALLS HAVE SPECIAL STRATEGY
A1+
[04:39 pm] 11 April, 2006
The OSCE Minsk group co-chairs will visit the region in May on the
issue of the Nagorno – Kharabakh conflict. According to the “Trend”
agency, the OSCE Minsk group French co-chair Bernard Fassie who
visited the region without his companions declared about the coming
call in Baku.
The French co-chair claimed that the separate calls of the Minsk group
co-chairs to the region will contribute to the new phase establishment
of the negotiation procedure between Armenia and Azerbaijan and
will help to reveal the positions of the sides towards the conflict
settlement. He also mentioned that the mediators “worked hard” last
year but there was no progress during the presidents’ meeting in
Rambouillet. He voiced hope that the “new possibilities” given by
the Minsk group co-chairs in the negotiating stage will pave a way
for the future meeting of the Armenian and Azeri presidents.
Bernard Fassie mentioned that he arrived in Azerbaijan with concrete
suggestions but he did not reveal their contents. He only assured
that there was nothing special in them. The OSCE Minsk group French
co-chair Bernard Fassie met the Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedjarov
today. It was a closed meeting and no announcements were made after it.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress