ITAR-TASS, Russia
Aug 23 2005
Azerbaijani, Armenian FMs to meet over Nagorno-Karabakh in Moscow

MOSCOW, August 23 (Itar-Tass) – Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers will discuss the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh settlement in
Moscow.
`At first, an informal meeting with the Armenian counterpart, Vardan
Oskanian will be held,’ Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov
said on Tuesday. `On Wednesday, an official meeting will take place.
It is necessary to work actively,’ he said. `At present, we see light
at the end of the tunnel and we have an opportunity to find a common
denominator in dealing with this problem.’
Asked whether Azerbaijan was satisfied with the role of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Mamedyarov said that he could
not be satisfied, as the conflict was still smoldering. He pointed
out that `at present, the talks became very active and it is
necessary to continue to make steps in this direction.’
The two ministers took part in the meeting of CIS foreign ministers
in the Russian capital on Tuesday.
`In contrast to previous meetings, this one was more active and more
interesting,’ Mamedyarov said. He pointed out Azerbaijan `refrained
from signing several documents.’
`We cannot accept the documents bearing `supra-national elements,’
because they affect the country’s sovereignty,’ he said.
As for the CIS future, Mamedyarov pointed out that `the CIS is rather
alive, than dead.’

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Aug 23 2005
Nigeria president pledges to UNESCO to take care of Russia sailors

MOSCOW, August 23 (Itar-Tass) – Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo
will take care of Russian sailors who are kept in custody in this
country. He made these pledges in a message addressed to the Paris
UNESCO headquarters after an address of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Ara Abramyan.
`I bear in mind your concerns and intention to quickly settle the
situation,’ the president emphasized. He noted that after the
proceedings and the pronouncement of the sentence `political steps
may be made or possible exchange of prisoners may be considered.’
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and head of the Union of Russian Armenians
Ara Abramyan is taking part actively in the efforts to return the
sailors to the homeland. The Russian side handed over to Nigerian
lawyers all necessary documents for their release under guarantees of
the embassy.
`The formalities that the Nigerian court demanded from the Russian
side are fulfilled,’ the Russian Foreign Ministry said. `At present,
the point is that these documents should pass through relevant
Nigerian instances,’ the ministry said.
The Russian sailors are kept in custody in the strict regime prison
Kiri-Kiri. They are accused of oil smuggling. The tanker African
Pride flying the Panamanian colors and belonging to the Greek company
Azora-service was detained on October 8, 2003, 18 miles off Lagos on
suspicions of crude smuggling.
The hearings of the case began in the Nigerian federal court in March
2004. Only some crewmembers of the tanker, including 12 Russian
sailors were charged with attempted oil smuggling from the country.
The defendants refused to plead guilty.
The youngest crewmember is 25 years old, and the oldest is 65 years
old. All of them need qualified medical aid. They recovered from
malaria, are exhausted and sick with gastroenteritis.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/22/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Sense of Justice Has No Equal 2) Truth First, Then Reconciliation Says Visiting Howard Dean 3) Lake Sevan Sets Stage for Kocharian, Saakashvili Informal Talks 4) Kurdish Rebel Ceasefire Meets with Chilly Reaction in Turkey 5) ECHR Fines Turkey for 'Freedom of Expression' 1) Sense of Justice Has No Equal Azeri Oil Money Does Not Intimidate Armenia Says Oskanian YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--In a strongly worded statement released over the weekend, Armenia said that Azerbaijan's planned military buildup would not force Armenia into making increased concessions in negotiating the Mountainous Karabagh conflict. The statement came in response to Azeri President Ilham Aliyev's pledge to boost his country's military budget by 70 percent through multimillion-dollar proceeds from its soaring oil exports. Aliyev said in a speech last Tuesday that increases in Azeri military spending will eventually force Armenians to make more compromises on Karabagh But in his written statement, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian point-blank stated: "They can neither seduce nor, worse, scare us with their oil. Armenia always has the ability to militarily counter any Azerbaijani military budget. In fact, the advantage that Armenians have over Azerbaijan is not in military expenditures or arms, but in the justness of the cause." Oskanian also said that Azeris will always lack the motivation to win back Mountainous Karabagh, and that the international community has come to terms with Armenian control over Karabagh. "Armenians believe that the Mountainous Karabagh cause is just, and in case of war, they will be fighting for their own homes and land. This is not what the Azerbaijanis did or would do," he said. "It would be better for Azerbaijan to compete not militarily, but engage in healthy economic and political competition," said Oskanian. "And in those realms, today, Azerbaijan is far from challenging Armenia or even Mountainous Karabagh." The chief of the Armenian army staff, Colonel-General Mikael Harutiunian, also brushed aside Aliyev's threats on Monday. "I think they ought to invest that money in the socio-economic development of their country and people who are poor and starving," he said. Harutiunian also warned that the Armenian side "will not stay idle" either. "We are also preparing and although we are not going to invest big money, we will invest enough," he said without elaborating. The latest round of war of words between Armenia-Azerbaijan comes on the eve of Aliyev's talks in Russia with President Robert Kocharian, which international mediators say could mark a turning point in the long-running efforts to broker a solution to the Karabagh dispute. Oskanian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will meet in Moscow on Wednesday to prepare for those talks. Speaking to journalists in Baku on Friday, Aliyev said although the conflicting parties have made serious progress towards a peaceful settlement there are still "serious differences." He claimed that they have been discussing a "step-by-step" peace accord that would indefinitely delay agreement on Karabakh's status. But Oskanian denied this, saying that the Armenia is only ready to accept a "package" deal that "may be implemented in stages." He also said the international community is "assessing the situation more realistically" than Azerbaijan. "The international trend regarding conflicts--East Timor, developments around Kosovo, the Sudan Agreement--all these developments demonstrate that the international community today is leaning towards greater respect for the right of peoples to self-determination," he said. 2) Truth First, Then Reconciliation Says Visiting Howard Dean YEREVAN (ANCA/RFE-RL)--Former US presidential candidate Howard Dean ended a two-day visit to Armenia this weekend with a pledge to drum up greater support among fellow Democrats in US Congress to pass legislation recognizing the Armenian genocide. Dean, who now heads the Democratic National Committee, criticized the Bush administration for its failure to publicly refer to the 1915-1918 mass killings and deportations of Armenians as a genocide. He said Washington should not fear antagonizing the government of Turkey, a key US ally, which strongly denies the Genocide occurred. "The truth is that the Armenian genocide took place 90 years ago," the former governor of Vermont told reporters after laying a wreath at Yerevan's hilltop memorial to some 1.5 million victims of the genocide. "Over a million people were killed. There is no question that the United States should recognize this." "Sometimes facts are inconvenient," he said, commenting on the Bush administration's stance on the issue. "It is true that the Turks are great friends and allies of ours, but every country does things wrong once in a while. Our country enslaved millions of Africans for a long time. So we have to look back at the past. If you want to have reconciliation, you first have to have the truth." Dean pledged to recognize the Armenian genocide during his unsuccessful campaign to secure the Democratic Party's nomination in the last elections. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, who unexpectedly defeated Dean in the Democratic primaries, gave similar promises. Dean grinned when asked whether he thinks the US would have already recognized the genocide if Bush had failed to win reelection. "There is no way of knowing that," he said. "I believe that the Democratic Party has to deal with what the facts are. And the facts are that a genocide occurred. You can't pretend that it didn't happen." Dean went on to express his support for a draft congressional resolution that calls on Bush to "accurately characterize the systematic and deliberate annihilation of 1,500,000 Armenians as genocide" in his annual messages to the US-Armenian community. "The Democrats do not control the House [of Representatives] or the Senate or, unfortunately, the White House," he said. "But when I get home I will be speaking with the Democratic leadership of the House and ask them to support this resolution. And if we get a few Republicans we can pass it." The Armenian Genocide Resolution, which was formally introduced on June 14 by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), calls on the President Bush to ensure US foreign policy reflects appropriate understanding of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution includes thirty detailed findings from past US hearings, resolutions, and Presidential statements, as well as references to statements by international bodies and organizations. Dean, who many Democrats hope will help to revive their party's fortunes, said that the existence of the influential Armenian-American community was a key reason for his decision to visit Armenia. His meetings on Friday with President Robert Kocharian and other senior officials in Yerevan were organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. The meetings focused on US-Armenian relations and the situation in the region. "It is very important for us in the United States to have a strong Armenia," said Dean. "We want Armenia to succeed as a democratic state and I think Armenia has done well in the last ten years. There is more that needs to be done, but I'm very pleased by the progress and I hope the progress will continue." 3) Lake Sevan Sets Stage for Kocharian, Saakashvili Informal Talks LAKE SEVAN--President Robert Kocharian met with his Georgian counterpart Mikhail Saakashvili at a popular Armenian resort on Monday for informal talks, according to a presidential source. Sources in the Armenian presidential administration said that Saakashvili arrived in Yerevan on Sunday and joined Kocharian at his summer retreat on the shore of Lake Sevan. His Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili later joined them. The last meeting between the two leaders took place at a Georgian ski resort last April, when they discussed tensions in Georgia's impoverished Javakhk region, which is mostly Armenian-populated. According to a Russian news agency, the situation in Javakhk was again on their agenda. The Armenian and Georgian prime ministers paid a joint visit to the restive region late last month, promising joint efforts to alleviate socioeconomic problems. The Georgian premier Zurab Noghaideli announced his government will use additional U.S. assistance that will be provided to Georgia to rebuild the local roads and other infrastructure. Speaking to a group of Armenian journalists last week, Saakashvili called for the establishment of closer economic ties between the two neighboring countries. "Developing without each other would not be rational, natural or right," he said. 4) Kurdish Rebel Ceasefire Meets with Chilly Reaction in Turkey ANKARA (AFP)--Turkish officials snubbed a decision by the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for a one-month ceasefire, as analysts predicted no breakthroughs in the conflict that continues to burden Ankara as it prepares for accession talks with the European Union. The PKK's decision to stop armed action until September 20 followed a landmark pledge by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week to resolve the Kurdish problem with "more democracy" and mounting calls by civic groups on the PKK to lay down arms. Government officials refused to comment on the cancellation of a news conference by the PKK's political wing KONGRA-GEL, which was scheduled to take place in Belgium. Kurdish sources, however, described the move as Turkish pressure on Belgium. The PKK has fought Ankara since 1984, and is blacklisted as a terrorist group by Turkey as well as the EU and the United States. "It is out of the question for us to comment on this issue," said Akif Beki, Erdogan's spokesman. A senior foreign ministry official, who requested anonymity, stated that "those people are terrorists and it is not possible for us to qualify their actions either as positive or negative." Ankara has meticulously avoided any move that could imply recognition of the PKK. "We will closely watch the developments in this one-month period. We will give time to Prime Minister Erdogan's well-intended efforts," KONGRA-GEL head Zubeyir Aydar told the pro-Kurdish MHA news agency. The PKK has markedly intensified attacks on the army in the past several months since calling off a five-year unilateral truce in June 2004 on the grounds that Ankara did not respond in kind. Turkish officials have also blamed the PKK for several deadly bomb blasts in Istanbul and tourist resorts, but the rebels have denied responsibility, putting the blame on a radical splinter group. In Diyarbakir, the central city of the mainly Kurdish southeast, Kurdish activists who had urged an unconditional truce expressed disappointment with the one-month ceasefire but kept their hopes alive that it could help build confidence between Ankara and the rebels. "The announcement falls short of our expectations, but a partial ceasefire will end the fighting and should be seen as a beginning, an opening for a resolution of the conflict," Mesut Bestas, a senior local politician, told AFP. Analysts were less optimistic. Political scientist Dogu Ergil said the PKK move was "political blackmail" aimed at extracting concessions from Ankara as it gears up for accession talks with the EU on October 3. "The PKK has no genuine political agenda," he said. "Its real concern is to secure an amnesty for its militants and get [jailed PKK leader Abdullah] Ocalan out of prison." Ismet Berkan, editor-in-chief of the Radikal daily, said the army was unlikely to stop cracking down on the PKK, which would give the rebels an easy pretext to renew armed action. "It is inconceivable for the army to stop operations against militants up in the mountains who possess hundreds of kilograms of explosives and mines," he wrote in anticipation of the ceasefire announcement. The conflict has claimed some 37,000 lives since 1984, when the PKK took up arms for Kurdish self-rule in the southeast. The brutal state response led to gross human rights breaches on both sides and opened a wide confidence gap between Ankara and the Kurds, who make up about a fifth of Turkey's 70-million population. Anxious to boost its EU membership bid, Ankara has ended 15 years of emergency rule in the southeast and allowed the Kurdish language to be taught at private courses and used in public broadcasts over the past several years. Even though the reforms are believed to have diminished popular support for the PKK, Kurdish activists say Ankara should further expand the minority's freedoms. 5) ECHR Fines Turkey for 'Freedom of Expression' STRASBOURG (BIA)-- The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) handed Turkey a fine of 400,000 dollars in damages so far this year in legal cases about freedom of expression and fair trial. The court fined Turkey 166,000 dollars in similar cases last year. The ECHR ruled that Turkey should pay 20,500 dollars in damages to Socialist Part (SP) leader Dogu Perincek; a total of 36,100 dollars to Gunluk Emek newspaper's chief editor Ahmet Ergin and owner Halit Keskin, and 116,200 dollars to Ilkay Adali, the wife of journalist Kutlu Adali who was killed in northern Cyprus, among other people. Since 2004, Turkey has been fined 557,554 dollars in damages for violating article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which oversees freedom of expression, article 6/1, which calls for a fair trial, and article 2, which concerns not "investigating enough" journalist deaths. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Open Democracy, UK
Aug 23 2005
Abkhazian futures
by Andrew Mueller

A small, little-known corner of the southern Caucasus resists
Georgia, relies on Russia, and is resolute for independence. Andrew
Mueller reports from Abkhazia.

Sukhum’s international airport must be the quietest such aviation hub
on earth. There are only a couple of passenger jets parked on the
runway, derelict Aeroflot planes that look like they haven’t been
airborne since Leonid Brezhnev was in power. There are no customs
formalities, just a bored security guard waving the few arrivals
through, and outside there are no taxis, no buses, no uniformed
chauffeurs holding up the names of their passengers.

Also on Abkhazia and Georgia in openDemocracy’s `Caucasian
fractures’ debate:
George Hewitt, `Sakartvelo: roots of turmoil’ (November 2003)
Nino Nanava, `Mikhail Saakashvili: new romantic or modern realist’
(December 2003)
Neal Ascherson, `Tbilisi, Georgia: the rose revolution’s rocky road’
(July 2005)
Chris Smith, `Baku-Ceyhan, the politics of oil’ (August 2005)
If you find this material valuable please consider supporting
openDemocracy by sending us a donation so that we can continue our
work and keep it free for all

The moribund status of Sukhum’s international airport is a by-product
of the fact that nobody outside Sukhum (sometimes rendered as
`Sukhumi’) considers it an international airport. Sukhum is the
nominal capital of Abkhazia, a region in the north-west of Georgia
which has been struggling for more than a decade to be recognised as
an independent, sovereign state. The cost, in money and human life,
has been incalculable: around 10,000 people are estimated to have
died in the little-reported 1992-93 war with Georgia, many of them
Abkhazians in a total Abkhaz population of only 90,000.
For most foreigners, coming here is possible only if they can gain
the necessary approval to travel on one of the United Nations’s
sporadic helicopter flights from the Georgian military airbase near
Senaki. The lumbering Russian-built Mi-8s fly straight to the coast
and then miles out into the Black Sea before turning back around to
Sukhum; the careful arc an acknowledgment that in October 2001, a UN
helicopter was shot down over Abkhazia, killing all nine people
aboard.
A shadow state
Abkhazia is visibly determined – despite the overt hostility of
Georgia, and the indifference of the rest of the planet – to make its
own way in the world. The territory’s public buildings, shops and
street stalls, fly Abkhazia’s own flag, rich in symbolism: green and
white stripes (representing Abkhazia’s mixed Christian and Islamic
heritage), a red panel emblazoned with an open palm (denoting
friendship), which appears to be juggling seven white stars
(representing Abkhazia’s provinces).
The formalities of independent status are everywhere. Abkhazia has
its own government, which collects its own taxes, and includes its
own foreign ministry (even if, by definition, this seems a bit like
Switzerland having a navy minister or the Netherlands a mountain
rescue service); its own police, operating according to Abkhazia’s
own laws; its own military, in which two years’ service is compulsory
for young men; its own postage stamps (though opinion about the
chances of postcards sent with them ever being seen again is mixed).
At the same time, the realities of dependency abound. Abhkazia plans
to issue its own passports, though an agreement to give all
Abkhazians the right of Russian citizenship in 2002 seemed to
compromise the goal of statehood. Russian troops guarantee the
country’s border with Georgia on the Inguri river to the east, and
are present in Sukhum itself – enviably billeted in tree-shrouded
dachas next to the beach in one of the old Soviet Union’s premier
holiday resorts (which must beat serving in Chechnya).
Abkhazia may shun the Georgian currency (lari), but it uses the
Russian rouble rather than any currency of its own. Russian is also
the most commonly heard language, though in recent years there has
been a revival of interest in the northwest Caucasian language of
Abkhazian, another marker of distinction from south Caucasian
Georgian (kartvelebi) and Mingrelian (megruli) of Georgia.
Abkhazians are fond of pointing out that the country’s modern
difficulties derive from a decree by a son of Georgia, Josef Stalin.
After the consolidation of Soviet power in 1921, Abkhazia enjoyed
(for want of a better term) the same constitutional status within the
Soviet Union as Georgia itself – that of an Autonomous Soviet
Socialist Republic.
Stalin’s regular holidays in Abkhazia inspired no fondness for its
people (with his chief henchman, Lavrenti Beria – a Mingrelian – he
would destroy Nestor Lakoba and the rest of Abkhazia’s political
leadership in the 1930s purges). In 1931, he decided to reduce its
status by incorporating it into Georgia. Georgian was made Abkhazia’s
official language, and thousands of Georgians were encouraged to
settle there. By the time the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
stopped answering to its own name in 1991, only around 20% of
Abkhazia’s population were ethnically Abkhazian.
War descended upon Abkhazia in August 1992. Post-Soviet Georgia had
lurched from the crazed misdirection of chauvinist zealot Zviad
Gamsakhurdia to the overlordship of ex-Soviet foreign minister Eduard
Shevardnadze, who – in face of Abkhazian moves to outright
independence – sanctioned a brutal invasion of the rebellious
province.
The thirteen-month war was largely ignored by a world then
preoccupied with the carnage in disintegrating ex-Yugoslavia. Yet
there are deep parallels between the conflicts – in the `ethnic
cleansing’ of populations, the state- and media-orchestrated
nationalist intolerance, and the impulse to cultural annihilation as
well as military victory.
Just as the Bosnian Serbs attempted to extinguish proof of Bosnia’s
national identity by destroying the national library in Sarajevo, so
Georgian bombs razed Abkhazia’s Institute of Language, Literature and
History, and used Sukhum’s monuments to local heroes as target
practice (the bulletholes are still visible in many cases, while the
statue of poet Dmitri Gulia has its head blown off).
It is hard to find a single Abkhazian who didn’t lose friends or
family members in the conflict with Georgia. Eventually, Abkhazia’s
hastily-convened irregular forces – abetted by various detachments of
Russians as well as Chechens and other `north Caucasians’ – drove the
Georgian military from Abkhazian territory. Around 250,000 ethnically
Georgian refugees fled with them, many to a hellish long-term
existence in the ruins of Tbilisi’s Hotel Iveria.
Abkhazia declared independence in 1994. It has been painfully
attempting to recover ever since. The territory still has no formal
transport links with the rest of Georgia, though discussions about
restoring the railway line have been held. Ships from Turkey call at
Sukhum, though they risk being impounded or fired on by Georgian
naval vessels. Increasing numbers of Russian tourists negotiate the
only open border crossing near Sochi to enjoy the beaches and hotels
of Gagra and Pitsunda, prestigious resorts during Soviet times.
No compromise
The potential wealth generated by tourism, against the backdrop of
one of the most fertile regions in the world, would certainly be
enough to sustain a workable Abkhazian economy. Yet in present
geopolitical circumstances it is difficult to see how Abkhazia’s
dreams can possibly come true.
It is inconceivable that any Georgian government will offer it
independence – aside from giving up miles of potentially profitable
coastline, recognising Abkhazia could only encourage Georgia’s other
restive regions (the Adzharian problem may have been solved, but
South Ossetia is beyond Tbilisi’s control and there is growing
discontent among the Armenian minority in the south).
Moreover, the United States has no conceivable interest in Abkhazian
statehood. It is developing closer military and strategic ties with
Georgia, and its interest in Caspian oil supplies is reflected in its
support of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline that runs through Georgia’s
territory.
The US has consistently made clear its positive view of Georgia since
the `rose revolution’ that brought its smart young president, Mikhail
Saakashvili, to power in late 2003 – even extending the honour of an
ecstatically-welcomed visit by George W Bush in May 2005.
Meanwhile, the present uncertainty over Abkhazia’s status and future
suits Russia rather well. As Tbilisi strives to move closer to the
west, Moscow can loom menacingly in Georgia’s wing-mirrors and
preserve its strategic options in the troubled region (fuelling more
febrile Georgians’ fears that Abkhazians may one day be used – like
Sudetenland Germans in Czechoslovakia in the 1930s – as a pretext for
military intervention).
Despite this apparent absence of hope for a diplomatic breakthrough
in Abkhazia’s recognition by the international community, there seems
no appetite – among Abkhazia’s government or public alike – for any
sort of compromise. Indeed, in a government riven with personal
rivalries (something that became dangerously apparent during the
contested, divisive, and occasionally violent electoral process
between October 2004 and January 2005), this may be the only unifying
factor. When examples of a middle way are suggested, such as the
Basque country’s autonomy inside Spain or Scotland’s and Wales’s
within the United Kingdom, they are swiftly dismissed.
`There are’, the foreign minister Sergei Shamba declares, `no models
which could bring us together with the Georgian state. Due to
history, and due to public opinion, we stand by our right to
independence.’
`It’s about us, now’, confirms Vice-President Raul Khadjimba. `We
have to create the conditions for the world to hear about us. We have
to use television, newspapers, the internet, to tell people more
about Abkhazia. Maybe one day these issues will touch someone’s
heart, and the world will give us a chance.’

Armenian union urges people to restore “constitutional order”
Arminfo
23 Aug 05
Yerevan, 23 August: The political association called People are
masters of their own country has launched a campaign for restoring
constitutional order in Armenia, Aleksandr Butayev, deputy chairman of
the National-Democratic Union, which is a member of the association,
said at a news conference today.
He said that the association was set up several months ago by a number
of public and political organizations with the aim of restoring the
constitutional system in the country. He went onto say that today’s
task was to define whether the constitutional reform “thrust” upon
Armenia by the European community is the primary task or whether
people have other much more important problems that require an urgent
solution.
“How can the president say that he guarantees the implementation of
the constitution, if he himself, his administration and the entire
ruling structure up to the heads of village administrations take
pleasure in violating the constitution. Not constitutional, but
criminal laws have been reigning in Armenia in the past 15 years. In
this regard, the political association is calling on the people to
unite in order to restore the constitutional system and then “to
reform the constitution which was thrust upon the people in 1995”,
Butayev said.

Belarusian air defence unit placed on duty status during CIS exercise
in Russia
Belapan news agency
23 Aug 05
Minsk, 23 August: Missile crews of the 15th Anti-aircraft Missile
Brigade of the Belarusian air force and air defence forces’
Northwestern Operational and Tactical Command have been placed on duty
status at a Russian training ground as the third stage of a CIS air
defence exercise unfolds.
In the framework of the drill, the Belarusian crews together with
Russian, Armenian and Tajik units are to guard airspace over the
Commonwealth’s southern border, according to the Belarusian Defence
Ministry’s press office.
Live-fire practice involving Russia’s missile systems is scheduled for
25 August.
On 30 August, the Belarusian air defence unit is to take part in the
final phase of the drill, which will be observed by the Belarusian,
Armenian, Russian and Tajik defence ministers.

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES PACE PRESIDENT RENE VAN
DER LINDEN
[August 22, 2005, 20:39:41]
President of the Azerbaijani Republic Ilham Aliyev received the
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Rene
van der Linden, 22 August.
Head of the Azerbaijan State mentioned his meeting with the PACE
President in Warsaw, noting that the meeting set up good chances for
discussion of the questions of mutual interest. Stating that huge
works are being realized in the country for democratization of
society, President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence the visit of
PSCE President would serve closer familiarization with the
development process in Azerbaijan.
Mr. Rene van der Linden noted the Council of Europe supports the
process of reforms in Azerbaijan. Underlining that settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict is the major question
for Azerbaijan Mr. Linden expressed consent for peacemaking efforts
of Azerbaijan in this direction. PACE President said that during his
visit to Armenia he has discussed the issue with the Armenian side
either and expressed hope for sooner resolution to the problem.
In the meetings, also discussed were other questions of mutual
interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Aug 23 2005
Postponed Armenian conference on again
ISTANBUL – A conference on Armenians which was postponed due to sharp
reactions in the media and the government has been rescheduled for
23-25 September at Bosporus University, Istanbul. Bosporus University
is a state university.
The preparation committee for the conference has decided to limit its
comments on the conference to strictly official ones. Likewise, the
Rector of Bosporus University, Dr. Ayse Soysal, has said she does not
want to say anything in advance of the late September date.
“Ottoman Era Armenians During the Collapse of the Empire”
The conference, entitled “Ottoman Era Armenians During the Collapse
of the Empire: Intellectual Responsibility and Democratic Problems,”
wasoriginally supposed to run between May 25-27.
The participants in the Armenian conference will include professors
from Bosphorus and Sabanci Universities, as well as Turkish academics
who work at universities from prestigious universities from around
the world. However the Conference Committee did not invite the
well-known Turkish Armenian researchers who advocate Turkish
perspective on Armenian issue, including Prof. Dr. Turkkaya Ataov,
Prof. Dr. Mim Kemal Oke, Prof. Dr. Ilber Ortayli etc.
Lasting two days, with 12 sessions, and featuring the participation
of 38 academics, the conference will have panels like “Deportation
and Massacre,” “Disaster and Rescue Stories,” “Memories and
Witnesses,” “Things the World Knew that Turkey did not Know.”
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan said the conference is not scientific but like a
religious ceremony: `All say the same thing. They do not want listen
any opposing word. They just invited the academicians from the same
groups. They cannot organize a similar conference in Yerevan,
California or Lyon. The Armenian extremist do not allow such a
conference. Yerevan even did not allow a Turkish historian to make
archive studies’ she added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Fourteenth anniversary of NKR to be celebrated on September 2
23.08.2005 14:58
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The fourteenth anniversary of declaring the
independent Nagorno Karabakh Republic will be celebrated on September
2, Armenpress reported.
In a row of celebration events, a service will be carried out in the
Kazanchetsots church of Shushi, public figures, including NKR
parliament members and other government officials will attend lessons
at public schools dedicated to the Independence Day. They will also
pay visit to the Stepanakert Memorial to pay tribute to the heroes
killed in the liberation war.
The celebrations will be crowned with grand fireworks.

VIVACEL PROVIDES COMMUNICATION IN VARDENIS
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian
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YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. The new operator of cellular service in
Armenia, the company VivaCell already provided communication in town
of Vardenis of Gegharkunik region of Armenia, ARMINFO was informed in
the company.
According to the resource, the management of the company understands
the problem to provide a high-quality service in the remote populated
areas of the country.
It should be noted that recently the company started providing its
services in Gegharkunik region of the republic. According to General
Director of VivaCell Ralph Yerikian, the company intends to cover the
whole territory of Armenia with cellular connection till the end of
Oct of 2005.