AZERI ELECTION: CANDIDATES SEEK VOTERS’ SUPPORT IN PARLIAMENTARY POLLS
Azerbaijani TV Channel One, Baku
13 Sep 05
Political pundit Rovsan Novruzoglu, a parliamentary candidate from the
Liberal Party of Azerbaijan, has praised his professional skills and
contribution to Azerbaijan’s independence. In his election broadcast
on Azerbaijani state television on 13 September, he said that his
works have played a significant role in exposing Armenian plots
against Azerbaijan. At the same time, Novruzoglu accused officials
of Baku’s Yasamal district of interfering in the election process.
Siyavus Novruzov, deputy executive secretary of the New Azerbaijan
Party, praised President Ilham Aliyev’s economic policy and accused
his opponents of misinterpreting facts. In his election broadcast
on state TV, he hailed the government’s policy to stamp out bribery
and corruption and accused the parties of the Azadliq election bloc
of corruption. He expressed his confidence that voters will support
Heydar Aliyev’s policy again.
In turn, the founder of the New Policy (YeS) bloc, Eldar Namazov,
highlighted the bloc’s innovation mission. He said that the bloc
includes representatives of three governments and they represent all
strata of society.
Namazov said in his election broadcast that the bloc is fighting for
democratic changes and against corruption in the country. He said that
only national unity will save the country from current lawlessness.
For his part, Ali Karimli, chairman of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan
Party, spoke about the Azadliq bloc’s approaches to the country’s
burning problems. In his election broadcast, he accused the Aliyev
regime of dividing Azerbaijanis into two parts. Karimli said the
majority of the country’s population is unemployed and is leaving
the country in search of a job abroad.
However, a privileged group of people are living a prosperous life,
he said. Karimli accused the privileged class of enjoying all
opportunities in Azerbaijan and exploiting the country’s riches to
their own benefit. He stressed that everybody should be equal before
the law. Karimli said that Azadliq bloc wants to eliminate inequality
in Azerbaijan and called on voters to support the bloc in order for
them to be able to implement their plans.

‘CONFLICT CANNOT BE SETTLED IF BORDERS REMAIN CLOSED’
AZG Armenian Daily #164
14/09/2005
Interview
Kaan Soyak Assures
Daily Azg received these days a copy of an interview of Kaan
Soyak, chairman of Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council,
to Associated Press. The interview contains interesting views on
Armenian-Turkish relations and Nagorno Karabakh issue. Below we
present it abridged.
– How do you evaluate the current situation of Turkish-Armenian
economical relations?
– The economical relations are developing well despite of
all difficulties; a lot of businessmen are establishing mutual
relations. Armenian and Turkish businessmen are cooperating especially
in the market of Russia and Middle Asia. Armenian Diaspora and Turkish
businessmen have established serious relations recently. There are
a lot of representatives of Armenian Diaspora willing to meet and
cooperate with the businessmen from Anatolia.
– How much is the total volume of trade turnover between Armenian
and Turkish businessmen at the moment?
– This is not les than 100-120 million dollars. The nations of both
countries are interested in establishing economical relations. There
were large-scale trade relations between the Turks and Armenians
in the history of Ottoman too. Sale and purchase are mutually
at the moment. We have implemented some projects so far through
the organization I run. We are cooperating in a number of spheres,
especially energy, transportation, telecommunication, textile industry,
tourism.
– Have you achieved any positive results as the result of the
implementation of projects to normalize the relations between Armenia
and Turkey? Could you do any change to the public opinion in comparison
with the previous periods?
– Of course…Turkish community got to know Armenia, Armenians
again. They got to know that most of Armenians want to live in a
friendly atmosphere with Turkish people. Turkish community treats
the problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan more objectively;
wrong policies of both countries are given coverage by the press
obviously. It is accepted now that Russia’s obvious policy for the
benefit of Armenia in previous years did nothing good.
Besides, Turkish public opinion advocates objective resolution of the
conflict. The economical difficulties faced by Anatolia province are
due to the closing of Turkey-Armenia borderlines. Azerbaijan is also
responsible as Armenia for Turkey facing this problem.
– Is Turkey which is facing hardships in regard to access to European
Union expected to take any positive step in the direction of opening
its borderlines with Armenia?
– European Union is expecting Turkey-Armenia borderlines to open
obviously.
There is no reason to prevent this. Thus, Europeans do not think
like Azerbaijanis regarding this matter. I mean, the conflict between
Azerbaijan and Armenia cannot be resolved by closing the borderlines,
as you see it has not been solved so far. Azerbaijan puts pressure
on Turkey for leaving the borderlines closed. However, changing of
this policy would ease Turkey and provide opportunity for finding more
active variant supported by the international community with regard to
the resolution of the conflict. If Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev
reach a consensus concerning the resolution of the conflict in Kazan
on 26 August the matter of opening the borderlines will come to the
agenda, of course.
– How does the international community assess the activity of TABDC?
– They think positively concerning our activity. We have relations
with a number of organizations. We have regular contacts with the
high-ranking officials of the important states. Even the UNO approves
the activity of the TABDC and supports it. Our functioning is indicated
as a model in other similar regions of the world.
– How do you evaluate the imprisonment of historical scientist Ektan
Turkyilmaz in Turkey?
– I regretted that Turkyilmaz was imprisoned, regrettably, Armenian
government made a great mistake here. The matter of releasing of
Turkyilmaz brought Turks and Armenians together. We all want him to
be set free.
Personally I do not believe that Turkyilmaz attempted to export
forbidden books from Armenia on purpose. Azerbaijanis, Turks and
Armenians can cooperate for releasing this scientist. The number of
those intending to investigate the events happened in 1915 began
to increase in the past few years. The number of those willing to
investigate these archives has increased. The step taken by Armenia
is not a right one.
– The official Ankara announced that it will not open its borderlines
with Armenia in the period when you are increasing your efforts. How
do such statements affect the activity of the TABDC?
– Of course, such statements are not approvable, Ankara stated that
its official position depends on the improvement in the resolution
of the Upper Garabagh conflict and waits for the step taken in this
direction. A consensus should be reached regarding this matter. The
step to be taken by Azerbaijan is also important as the step of
Armenia. Regrettably, it would not be right to announce the communities
of both countries about the steps to be taken. Do remember how the
radical nationalists criticized Turkey’s supporting Annan plan on the
resolution of the Cyprus conflict. The communities of Azerbaijan and
Armenia are very responsible for this matter.
They have to support the step to be taken by the government and should
know that these steps will be the most right steps for the future of
the peoples even if they are not the most ideal ones.
– We would like to know your opinion concerning the so-called “genocide
of Armenians”…
– We do not deal with this matter, however, we want the both
sides to discuss the matter together, exchange their information
and documents. I treat this matter a little bit morally. I am
impressed when seeing that Armenians from Anatolia still preserve
the traditions of Anatolia though they lived in foreign countries
for 2-3 generations. Though I want to tell them “come back and turn
to your homes” inside me I know they will not return. God willing,
if Turkey-Armenia borderlines are opened thousands of immigrant
Armenians from Anatolia will visit Turkey, Armenia, even Azerbaijan
as tourists. It is very important for us to understand each other
morally in regard with the solution of the events happened in 1915.
– Do you believe the reconciliation of Turkish and Armenian peoples
and opening of the borders?
– I believe that, peace will be restored in the South Caucasus in
a shortest time and the borderlines will be opened. Azerbaijan and
Armenia should reach a consensus and Turkey-Armenia borderline should
be opened in order to reconcile. The meeting due to in Kazan is very
important in this matter, I believe that peace will be achieved soon
if no one prevents it. The most important problem will be the status of
the Upper Garabagh, of course. There must a formula for both countries
to reach a consensus. Can Turkish businessmen cooperate with the
businessmen of Upper Garabagh if there is no peace? Why not? There can
never be any obstacle for trade. But, Upper Garabagh is not recognized
by the international community. Therefore, no credit can be given to
this region, the goods exported her can not be insured, international
banks cannot function, there is no international guarantee for the
capital invested here. There are some other problems, only free trade
can be realized with this region unless the status of Upper Garabagh
is defined, but, of course, no one wants such trade. The situation
is the same in North Cyprus that is why no capital is invested to
this region. I think, tourism must be the first sector which will be
given impulse to by Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia jointly,
if peace is achieved and the borders are opened. The South Caucasus
has the richest tourism potential in the world; this region can
attract thousands of tourisms.
– The TABDC demonstrated the initiative on crossing the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline through Armenia …Do you
still support your initiative?
-The TABDC called the pipeline to pass through Armenia as “Pipeline
of peace”, it means, this pipeline will link us for many years. All
the countries, including Azerbaijan admit that the pipeline to pass
through Armenia is more effective economically. The construction of
Armenia section of the pipeline means 20% reduction in the financial
expenditures. We cannot say that this matter was decided fully,
there are pipelines remained from the USSR period in Armenia and it
is possible to reconstruct these pipelines by the account of very
little investment. As the result, Turkey and Azerbaijan might gain
a lot of incomes from these pipelines.
– How much is Turkish community ready for the opinions, ideas you
mention?
– Turkish public fed up with the political difficulties, we have Cyprus
problem which has been lasted for more than 30 years and expected to
last, the problems with Iraq and Syria have not been solved and the
problem in regard with Armenians has not been solved either. Turkish
public opinion would not judge Azerbaijan 7-8 years ago, but now the
public opinion is that Azerbaijan is not making enough efforts for
achieving peace.
– What do think, your efforts will result in when Armenia makes
territorial claims against Turkey?
– The territorial claims have no ground and I have not met any
Armenian working seriously in this direction. Minor part of the
Armenian Diaspora claim this, but these claims are not accepted
seriously by the community.
The borderlines of the two countries are guaranteed by the
international commitments and these claims will be removed after
the diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia are restored. As
the matter of fact, Azerbaijani Turks, Armenians and Anatolia Turks
must chose a target as it is in Europe in which there is no borders
and it is possible to move freely. Who can tell that one state has
a territorial claim against the other in Europe today?
Regrettably, such matters are only disputed in our region.
– There are Russian military bases in Armenia; don’t you think that
this factor might endanger Turkish capital invested to the economy
of Armenia?
– Russia is not a threatening factor for Turkey; on the contrary,
Turkey can meet some needs of Russian military bases. The Turkish
are real professionals in meeting the needs of military objects. The
USA military bases have been in Turkey for a long time and the needs
of these bases have been met by Turkey. Russia intends to function
together with Turkey. Russia and Turkey can keep peace in the South
Caucasus jointly. The dividends gained by keeping peace in the South
Caucasus are many times better for Russia than the dividends gained
by the military bases.
– Have you been put any pressures by the government and NGOs of
Azerbaijan with regard to your efforts in the direction of normalizing
the relations with Armenia?
– We want to establish peace between Armenians and Turkish people
and we believe that our activity will be the foundation of peace
and tranquility in the whole South Caucasus. On the other hand,
we do not treat the problem like Armenia or Turkey. Therefore, we
have been pressured by the organizations that interpret the problem
meeting the interests of Azerbaijan. We always tell them to take into
consideration the interests of Turkey too.
– Does the Foreign Ministry of Turkey support your activity?
– We are not linked with the government; we are NGO that tries
to normalize Turkish-Armenian relations. We have nothing against
Turkey, Armenia or Azerbaijan. Turkish Foreign Ministry is aware of
our activity.
– Are you supported by any people or organization from Azerbaijan?
– No Azerbaijani or organization from Azerbaijan judged us when we
explained our action plan .On the contrary, there are many persons and
organizations that want us to include Azerbaijan into our activity
circle. We are going to expand our action circle by the account of
Azerbaijan and Georgia in a shortest time.

US AID AIMED AT PREVENTING GAS PIPELINE PRIVATIZATION – GEORGIAN TV
Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
13 Sep 05
[Presenter] In New York today an agreement was signed with the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, as a result of which Georgia will
receive 295m dollars. Of this, 44m dollars will be for repairing the
[Russia-Georgia-Armenia] gas trunk pipeline . The only condition is
that this strategically important asset is not sold. Davit Nikuradze
joins us live from New York. Dato, why is the gas pipeline attracting
such attention in Washington? Usually, the White House is not so
openly categorical.
[Correspondent] America’s interest is simple to understand. They do
not want eastern European countries to be dependent on the Russian
Federation. The USA has been opposed to the privatization of the trunk
gas pipeline ever since State Minister Kakha Bendukidze put the idea
to the Georgian government. The USA believes that the privatization
of the trunk gas pipeline would result in Georgia losing its energy
independence. It is also linked to the Sah Daniz and Ceyhan projects,
in which the Americans have a major interest.
Recently, this has been the most sensitive issue in Georgian-American
relations.
After the meeting in New York, you could say that the privatization
of the gas pipeline is off the agenda for the time being, but only
time will tell if it is forever.
[Passage omitted]

OCCUPIED AREAS BECOME “CAMP FOR TERRORISTS”, SAYS AZERI OFFICIAL
ANS TV, Baku
12 Sep 05
[Presenter] Occupied territories in the entire word are used to
cultivate narcotic plants and produce drugs. These territories also
are transit routes for narcotics, whereas funds received from these
activities are used to finance international terrorism, the chairman of
the Azerbaijani state committee on drug addiction and drug trafficking,
Ali Hasanov, has said.
[Correspondent, over video of UN conference in Baku] The 40th session
of the UN sub-commission on illicit traffic in the Near and Middle
East opened in Baku today [12 September]. Representatives of the UN
Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the UN Office on Drug and Crime and over
25 [UN] member states are attending the session. Occupied territories
are being used to cultivate narcotic plants and produce drugs, and
these territories are also transit routes for drugs, the chairman of
the Azerbaijani state committee on drug addiction and drug trafficking,
Ali Hasanov, said, opening the session. The funds received from these
activities are used to finance international terrorism. Aggressive
regimes which are behind all this pose a constant threat to the
international public and peace as they violate international legal
principles and norms.
[Ali Hasanov, addressing the session] We understand this very well
as our country is suffering from separatism and terrorism. A total
of 20 per cent of our territories have been occupied by the Armenian
armed forces and as a result, 1m people have became refugees. The most
dangerous thing is that a new international [word indistinct] has been
created in that area. Narcotic plants are being cultivated [there]
to produce and export drugs. At the same time, various international
terrorist groups have turned this territory into their camp as the
territory is beyond control.
[Passage omitted: UN official spoke about the number of drug addicts
and funds received from illegal drug trafficking in the world]

IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL, GRADUAL STATUS ACHIEVEMENT
By Tatoul Hakobian
AZG Armenian Daily #164
14/09/2005
Karabakh issue
International Crises Group Made Two Reports on Karabakh Regulation
The International Crises Group will make public its first report
“Viewing the Conflict from the Ground” on Wednesday. The second report
“Voices from Negotiations’ Table” will be put out by the end of this
month. Alan Deletroz, the Vice-President of the ICG, and Sabina
Friesner, President of the Caucasus project, held meetings with
Armenian and Azeri authorities these days.
“Seven Armenian and Azeri experts have been working on these two
reports for the last 9 months. Hundreds of interviews were conducted
in Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan”, Friesner told a press
conference Monday. Deletroz refused to reveal the names of Armenian and
Artsakhi experts that took part at the preparation of the reports. The
first report, Deletroz said, deals with “current situation in Nagorno
Karabakh, in occupied territories and Azerbaijan”.
Though presenting Armenian and Azerbaijani alternatives of the
conflict settlement, the report leaves no room for the past. It’s
not only neglect to the centuries-long history but also the post-war
period as well. Deletroz said that as a starting point they take the
current status quo. The rights of half a million Armenians who lost
their property in Azerbaijan are not taken into consideration. The
same is true for 170.000 Azeris who left Armenia.
Deletroz and Friesner stated that they keep in touch with the Minsk
Group and are aware of the conflict details. They urge the conflicting
sides to follow the Prague principles. Deletroz thinks that Armenia
should stop inhabiting the territories under its control. The ICG
suggest the following: Armenian forces withdraw from the occupied
territories leaving the status of Nagorno Karabakh to be decided in
10-15 years. Deletroz emphasized that security issues should be the
cornerstone of the regulation. He also explained why the status, being
the key element of the conflict, is set aside for future. Deletroz
said that positions of the sides are far from each other and it is
not likely to bring them together in near future.
“A special status of Nagorno Karabakh” is how Deletroz sees Karabakh’s
future. Deletroz seems to be suggesting that Armenians and Azeris
live together in Karabakh and neighboring territories before the
status is achieved. As evidence of possible peaceful co-existence
of the Armenians and Azeris he indicated the relative peace at the
contact line of Armenian-Azeri and Artsakhi-Azeri borders maintained
without international peacekeepers.
The ICG thinks that the communities representing the conflicting sides
are not ready to accept either of the settlement options that Armenian
and Azeri foreign ministers discuss. ICG thinks it is important that
both peoples are informed about details of peace process. “There is
no way to success for any peace process unless all sides actively
sell this idea to their people”, Deletroz stated.
In mid-July, the ICG organized a closed-door meeting in Tbilisi,
Georgia, with the participation of 10 experts from Azerbaijan, 8 from
Armenia and 2 from Karabakh. The Azeri side not only made discussions
public but also complained of the report. Parliamentarian Gyultekin
Hajiyeva told mass media that the document does not mention “the
fact of occupation and tends to legalizing de facto administration
of Nagorno Karabakh”. “The bill mentions of dangerous proposal of
referendum. That’s why we need to review this document”, she said.
Only the publication of the ICG report will show to what extent
it reflects the real state of things. It should be noted that the
formulations of ICG officials at the press conference were not very
different from those that official Yerevan has been articulating
lately.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO GO TO THEATER
A1+
|18:38:23 | 13-09-2005 | Politics |
November 15-18 orphans and children with special needs will be given
an opportunity to go to the puppet theater. The fact is that on the
occasion of the 7th anniversary of the theater the administration
has organized 4 charitable performances.
The repertoire will be renewed this year. The Little Prince, The Cat
in Boots and the fairy tales by Hovhannes Tumanyan will be staged. To
note, director of the theater Ruben Babayan says that children enjoy
The Red Cap, Three Little Pigs and The Gold Fish.
Dramas and pantomimes for adults will be also included in the
repertoire soon.
Presently over 300 puppets sent from 17 states are kept in the
theater museum while the puppets of the Armenian masters are used in
the performances.
A book by actor and dramatist Derenik Martirosyan dedicated to
outstanding cultural workers of Armenia will be also dated to the
jubilee of the theater.

NEW IRANIAN MILITARY ATTACHE TO ARMENIA APPOINTED
A1+
| 20:20:16 | 13-09-2005 | Official |
Today Secretary of the National Security Council at the RA President,
Defense Minster Serge Sargsyan received Iranian Ambassador to RA
Alireza Haqiqyan and newly appointed military attache, Colonel Bizhan
Hamzeil Hashame.
At the beginning of the meeting the Ambassador conveyed to Serge
Sargsyan the greetings of the Iranian Security Council Secretary and
Defense Minister and expressed hope that the joint programs will be
successfully launched.
Congratulating the newly appointed attache the Defense Minister
thanked Col.
Eshkhifor his activities at the post.

ARMENIA OBLIGED NOT TO STYMIE AZERBAIJAN’S MEMBERSHIP TO WTO
AZG Armenian Daily #164
14/09/2005
Neighbors
As far as the Nagorno Karabakh issue is on the agenda of Armenia
and Azerbaijan, Baku will not cooperate with Yerevan within the
frameworks of World Trade Organization, Mediamax agency quoted deputy
foreign minister of Azerbaijan as saying. “It does not contradict
the standards of WTO; besides Armenia assumed an obligation not to
stymie Azerbaijan’s membership to that organization”, deputy minister
Mahmud Mamedkuliyev said. The WTO will solve the issue of Azerbaijan’s
membership not earlier than spring of 2006.
Armenia is a WTO member since 2003.

UN PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS
A1+
| 17:51:15 | 13-09-2005 | Official |
Human Rights Defender Larissa Alaverdyan met with members of the UN
mission that arrived in Armenia for discussing the National Action
Plan for Human Rights. International expert of human rights Bill Barker
and regional advisor of the UN Development Program Sergey Sirotkin.
The guests showed interest in the legal situation in Armenia,
constitutional amendments and freedom of speech and press. The
interlocutors also touched upon the place and role of the institute
of ombudsman in the elaboration of the National Action Plan on Human
Rights, potential participation of various state organizations and
choice of key structures in charge for elaboration and implementation
of the Plan. It was emphasized that Armenia is the first country in
the South Caucasian region (including Russia) to start the discussions
over the National Plan.
Bill Barker also noted that the political will of the authorities is
essential for the elaboration and realization of the National Plan
on Human Rights as a priority line of the domestic policy.

‘COLORFUL REVOLUTIONS’ SWALLOW PRIME MINISTERS
By Tatoul Hakobian
AZG Armenian Daily #164
14/09/2005
Analysis
Yulia Timoshenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine, was one of
the “lucky” prime ministers who came to power through “a velvet
revolution.” Though she was sacked of her position, she wasn’t killed
or died in suspicious conditions. The velvet revolutions that took
place in various countries during the recent 15 years “swallowed” the
key figures of those revolutions, as a rule. It’s worth representing
several interesting facts without making any comments.
Vazgen Manukian, first Prime Minister of the third Republic of Armenia,
was one of the key figures of All Armenian Movement that struggled
against the Communist Party. After the communists lost power, Levon
Ter-Petrosian and Vazgen Manukian occupied the two key positions of
the newly born republic.
The first became chairman of RA Supreme Council, while the
second became the republics Prime Minister. Vazgen Manukian was
dismissed. The whole power in the republic appeared in the hands of
Levon Ter-Petrosian and his allies.
In 1991, Eduard Shevardnadze seized the power from Zviad Gamsakhurdia
with the help of his allies Jaba Ioseliani, criminal authority,
and Tengiz Kitovani, untalented artist. Soon, Zviad Gamsakhurdia was
killed in the Megrelia woods. Shevardnadze returned to Tbilisi, in
1992. Ioseliani, head of the Armed Forces and Kitovani, representative
of coalition, were dismissed and sent to prison.
In the summer of 1993, Heydar Aliyev, head of Nakhijevan’s Supreme
Council, rebelled against Abulfaz Elchibey and soon his forces entered
Baku. Suret Huseynov, one of Karabakh war participants, was among his
allies and played active part in the rebellion against Elchibey. Aliyev
forget the assistance of Huseynov already next year. Accusing Huseynov
of coup d’etat, Aliyev sent him to the prison.
In late 997 and in early 1998, Levon Ter-Petrosian had to resign
under the pressure of Vazgen Sargsian and the military branch of
the power. Robert Kocharian came to power. In 1999, as a result of
parliamentary elections, Sargsian and Karen Demirchian, his new ally,
won the victory. Sargsian became RA Prime Minister, while Demirchian
was appointed Chairman of Ra National Assembly. In few months, Sargsian
and Demirchian, as well as 6 other high ranked officials and deputies,
were killed in a terrorist act.
Serbian revolution took place in Belgrade, on October 5-6, 2000. Zoran
Djindjic, one of the key figures of the revolution, managed to
seize the power from Slobodan Miloshevic. Next year, Djindjic passed
Miloshevic to the Hague Criminal Court. Zoran Djindjic, Serbian Prime
Minister, was killed in Belgrade, in March, 2003.
Eduard Shevardnadze had to resign as a result of the so-called
“revolution of roses” in November, 2003. Zurab Zhvania, Mikheil
Saakashvili and Nino Burjanadze were the key figures of the
revolution. Saakashvili became the president, while Zhvania was
appointed the Prime Minister. In the February of 2005, Zhvania was
found dead in one of his Tbilisi apartments.