Armenian leader, Council of Europe official discuss constitutional reforms
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
19 Aug 05
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and the president of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Rene van der Linden,
have discussed the progress of fulfilment Armenia’s commitments to the
Council of Europe and especially the process of constitutional reforms.
The Armenian president said he was confident that the constitutional
reforms were important for Armenia in the first place. Kocharyan said
constitutional reforms were part of his election platform back in
1998 and that they were to ensure balanced relations between different
branches of powers.
Kocharyan rated highly the assistance of the [Council of Europe]
Venice Commission and said the reforms should fully meet European
standards. A referendum [on constitutional reforms] due to be held
in November is of special importance for Armenia and the authorities
will be consistent in order to achieve success, Kocharyan said.

Today.az, Azerbaijan
Aug 19 2005
Agreement on military partnership signed between Azerbaijan and
Latvia
19 August 2005 [09:29] – Today.Az
The visit of the minister of defense of Azerbaijan, general-colonel
Safar Abiyev to Latvia finished. The visit was realized on invitation
of the minister of defense of Latvia Eynars Repsher.
According to the information given to APA from the press-service of
the Ministry of Defense, a meeting was conducted between S.Abiyev and
the commander of the National Armed Forces of Latvia, Vice-admiral
Gaydis Andreys Zeybots during the visit. Safar Abiyev also met with
the minister of defense of Latvia Eynars Repsher on that day.
The minister of defense of Azerbaijan gave information about the
partnership of our country with NATO, participation of Azerbaijan in
the international anti-terror coalition and the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict: ~SWe believe that all countries will recognize Armenia as an
invader country sooner and require it to leave the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan will restore its territorial
integrity and we will not give even one inch of our land to Armenia.
All occupied lands including Nagorno Karabakh must be returned back
to Azerbaijan. Only after this we can agree to give autonomy to
Nagorno Karabakh and guarantee security of its population and
development of the economy~T. E.Repsher, in his turn, stressed that
Latvia supports territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and valued highly
Azerbaijan~Rs participation in the peace-forming mission.
After the meeting, the ministers signed an agreement on partnership
in the field of defense between the Ministries of Defense of Latvia
and Azerbaijan. The agreement intends experience interchange in
connection with participation in the measures conducted in the frame
of the ~SPartnership for Peace~T program and NATO, defense policy and
strategy, commanding and management, supporting international peace
and humanitarian operations, military construction and military
reforms, partnership in the military education, military-technical,
military-scientific and other fields.
Besides, S.Abiyev also met with the chairman of the Sejm of Latvia
lady Ingirida Udre, minister of foreign affairs Artis Pabriks and
chairman pf the Defense and internal affairs committee of the Sejm of
Latvia Yuris Dalbinsh. S.Abiyev also was acquainted with the activity
of the Quest-Rescue Service Center acting inside Military Naval
Forces of Latvia.
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Today.az, Azerbaijan
Aug 19 2005
Visit of PACE president to Southern Caucasus countries started
yesterday
19 August 2005 [11:11] – Today.Az
The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) Rene Van Der Linden will be on a visit in the Southern Caucasus
countries on August 18-23.
APA was informed about it from the CE Information Office in Baku.
This is the first visit of Rene Van Der Linden to the Southern
Caucasus region after he was elected the president of the organization
in January.
The PACE president arrived in Yerevan today will be in this country
till August 20. He will conduct meetings with the Armenian president
Robert Kocharyan, chairman of the parliament Artur Bagdarsaryan,
minister of foreign affairs Vardan Oskanyan, Minister of Justice David
Arutunyan, and representatives of NGOs and opposition. His meeting with
the Catholicos of all Armenians II Garagen was also planned. The main
questions to be discussed are the process of constitutional reforms,
regulation of the Upper Garabagh conflict, democratic reforms and
pluralism.
Rene Van Der Linden will be on the visit in Georgia on August 20-21.
He will meet with the prime-minister Zurab Nogaydeli, vice-chairman
of the parliament Mikhail Machavariani, oppositionist representatives
represented in the parliament and representatives of the public.
Besides, the meeting of the PACE head with the patriarch of Georgia
second Iliya was also planned. The constitutional situation,
independence of the courts, freedom of gathering and speech, and
press pluralism will be mainly discussed in the meetings.
Rene Var Den Linden will be in Baku on August 21-23. It is intended
that he will conduct meetings with the president Ilham Aliyev, chairman
of the parliament Murtuz Alasgarov, prime-minister Artur Rasizade,
minister of foreign affairs Elmar Mammadyarov and representatives of
NGOs, opposition and mass media. His meeting with the sheikh of the
whole Caucasus Haji Allahshukur Pashazade is also planned.
The parliamentary elections to be held in November, political
prisoners and Upper Garabagh conflict will be the priority questions
among the topics to be discussed during his visit to Azerbaijan. A
press-conference will be held at the end of the visit.
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Today.az, Azerbaijan
Aug 19 2005
First candidate from Khankendi election constituency # 122 was member
of Musavat Party Isi Baghirov
19 August 2005 [09:10] – Today.Az
After the Khankendi election constituency # 122 started its activity,
the first candidate from this constituency was the representative of
the “Azadlig” bloc, member of the Musavat Party Isi Baghirov.
I.Baghirov informed in his explanation to APA that he has already
taken signature cards. I.Baghirov informing that the list of
territories the residents of Khankendi live is prepared at present
considers that they will not encounter any problems in signature
gathering. According to his words, the Azerbaijani residents of
Khankendi live mainly in Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja and Naftalan in a
compact form. I.Baghirov informed that he himself is from Khankendi
and is registered in this city and noted that he has connections with
many of the people being registered in the territory of the
constituency.
“That is, no problem will occur in conducting the election and
propaganda campaign there. The main question is that the stations
should be formed and we will determine our steps after this. I
believe that the elections will be held in that constituency.
Probably, the Central Election Commission will coordinate with
Armenians living in Khankendi their participation in voting and they
will give their votes”.
Though I.Baghirov wants to be elected a deputy from that
constituency, he does not intend to make any appeal to Armenians
being citizens of Azerbaijan. At the same time, he informed that most
of Armenians of Khankendi know him and considers possible
establishing connection with Armenians in any form in case their
participation in the elections is possible.
“They know me well. But if any condition occurs there, I would like
to conduct the election campaign. The process of registering the
candidates is already conducted and there is no Armenian candidate
among them yet. But I also do not exclude that such candidate will be
among the candidates”.
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Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Aug 20 2005
Ambassador of Azerbaijan in USA Hafiz Pashayev sent letter to members
of the USA Congress
20 August 2005 [09:57] – Today.Az
The extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Azerbaijan in USA
Hafiz Pashayev sent a letter to the members of the USA Congress.
APA was informed about it from the embassy of our country in
Washington.
The ambassador exposed the congressmen Frank Pallone and Joe
Nollenberg for their actions. We should note that the co-chairmen of
the working group on Armenian questions in the USA Congress Frank
Pallone from the New-Jersey state and Joe Nollenberg from the
Michigan state appealed to the president George Bush and asked him to
increase the aid to Nagorno Karabakh and also asked the all members
of the Congress to support it.
H.Pashayev informed in his letter that the appeal made by Pallone and
Nollenberg does not reflect correctly the situation in the region and
position of the international community on the status of Nagorno
Karabakh. Nagorno Karabakh, never being independent or included in
Armenia, is recognized as the part of Azerbaijan by UNO and other
international organizations. That is why USA must take any political
or economic step in connection with Nagorno Karabakh in the frame of
the legal, political and economic interest of Azerbaijan.
The ambassador explained the members of the congress the facts known
to the whole world: “Not only Nagorno Karabakh, but also other seven
regions of Azerbaijan was occupied and 1 million people became
refugees and internally displaced in the result of aggression of
Armenia. After conducting ethnical cleaning in the occupied lands
they were engaged in forming a “democratic image” on Armenians of
Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia and began holding elections one after
another. Those elections were not recognized by any international
organization or state. The United States itself valued those
elections to be illegal and as an obstacle to the Minsk process”.
H.Pashayev stressed that Armenia does not pay attention to the
decrees of the UNO Security Council, NATO and OSCE on non-conditional
withdrawing of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied lands. It
was also reminded that though Russia mediated in achievement of the
ceasefire regime in 1994, just the Russia’s military aid to Armenia
and Russia’s sending illegal weapons costing 1 million USA dollars to
Armenia helped the invader policy of Armenians.
The ambassador called on the congressmen to treat with respect the
official policy of USA recognizing the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. He noted that any support to the initiative of Pallone
and Nollenberg shown in the stage of peaceful talks between
Azerbaijan and Armenia will damage the Minsk process.
H.Pashayev also stressed that Azerbaijan already suffered damage from
the initiative of the pro-Armenian members of the Congress:
“Azerbaijan was the only country deprived of the USA aid in the
result of the 907 amendment to the “Support to Liberty Act. The USA
government stopped the unfair amendment after 11 September events and
thus, demonstrated that what the interests of America consist of”.
The ambassador called on the members of the Congress not to forget
these facts when expressing attitude to the initiative of Pallone and
Nollenberg.
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Israel does not want Kurdish state in Iraq, Israeli envoy in Turkey says
Hurriyet website, Istanbul
19 Aug 05
Excerpt from report by Ipek Arioglu and Selcuk Senyuz: “We do not
want a Kurdish state” published by Turkish daily Hurriyet website on
19 August
Stating that they would act jointly with Turkey in northern Iraq,
Israel’s Ambassador Pinhas Avivi said: “If a Kurdish state is formed
in the north then a Shi’i state would be formed in the centre of Iraq,
and that we are opposed to.” Avivi also said that securing economic
support from Turkey in the Gaza Strip was important.
Stating they were definitely opposed to the formation of a Kurdish
state in northern Iraq, Israel’s Ambassador Pinhas Avivi said:
“I promise that nothing we are not coordinating with Turkey will
happen in the region. Israel will conduct all its activities in the
region by acting jointly with Turkey.”
Talking to Hurriyet Avivi gave the message that Israel would do nothing
in northern Iraq that went against Turkey’s interests. Avivi also
said allegations that Israel was backing the Kurds in the northern
Iraq were completely baseless, and that they had been fabricated by
the Iranian embassy.
We are opposed to Kurdish state
He continued: “I guarantee you that Israel is not acting against
Turkey’s interests in northern Iraq. If a Kurdish state is formed
in northen Iraq then a Shi’i state would be formed in central Iraq,
and that we are opposed to. Both Turkey and Israel are elements of
the region, and we both want stability. We want Iraq to be a unified,
Western and democratic country. Any development to the contrary would
affect both Turkey and Israel adversely.”
Turkish support for Gaza
“Israel’s evacuation of the Jewish settlements in Gaza is a positive
decision. It is important for ensuring that the economic gulf between
the two people’s living on that land is closed and for bringing about
peace. If the withdrawal from Gaza is a success and I Turkey and the
other regional countries provide economic support to the area and
terrorist activities come to a halt then peace is possible. Failing
that peace is not possible. We welcome Turkey’s promise of support
with the aim of contributing to the peace process. In this context
the Ankara Forum, which aims to bring together Israeli, Palestinian
and Turkish businessmen at the Turkish government’s initiative is
important.”
Armenian problem
“It is wrong to look for similarities between the so-called Armenian
genocide and the Jewish Holocaust. The Holocaust was a political
decision made with the aim of wiping a nation of the face of the
earth. I have great respect for the decision made by the Turkish
government and the Turkish people regarding the Armenian problem. We
believe that the matter should be debated by historians and not
politicians in order to expose the truth. Turkey has opened its
archives, and this is very important.”
Serving Turkey
“Israel supports Turkey’s EU bid. When my European friends ask,
“What will become of Europe when Turkey and its 70-million population
joins?” I ask them, “You should consider what might happen to the
world if Turkey remains outside the EU.” In every place where there
is an Israeli Embassy there are two embassies supporting Turkey’s EU
bid: the Turkish embassy and the Israeli embassy.”
[Passage omitted].

Today.az, Azerbaijan
Aug 19 2005
Vidadi Mahmudlu: “Assistance of the international organizations will
be used for obtaining elector’s lists from Khankendi”
19 August 2005 [10:57] – Today.Az
“The process of forming the Khankendi election constituency # 122
was already completed. Probably, this question will be solved for
the last time in the next meeting of CEC”.
This explanation was given to APA by the secretary of the Central
Election Commission (CEC) Vidadi Mahmudlu. According to his words,
the personnel of the commission consisting of 9 persons were defined.
So, the Yeni Azerbaijan Party will be represented in the election
constituency by Nazim Veliyev, Vugar Ahmadov and Zahid Alishov,
neutralists Svetlana Gorchiyeva, and Naila Guliyeva, Communist Party
by Arif Aliyev, Musavat Party by Arzu Khudayarov, Democrat Party by
Zakir Huseynov, and PFPA by Teyyub Khalilov.
We should note that Zahid Alishov was elected the chairman of the
Constituency Election Commission. The representative representing
Armenians in the commission is Svetlana Gorchiyeva.
V.Mahmudlu also noted that a building was determined for the Khankendi
Constituency Election Commission which acted in the building of the
Central Election Commission up today and this building is situated in
the territory of Khatai region. We should note that, according to the
information by midday, 2 candidates appealed from that constituency
for participating in the elections. Another 3 persons presented
their applications today.
It was mainly intended to use electron voting for participation
of citizens of Azerbaijan being Armenians by origin living in the
territory of the Khankendi Election Constituency. Besides, election
stations will be created in foreign countries and territories situated
near the battle-field. As to Azerbaijani electors, stations will also
be established in territories where they live.
V.Mahmudlu noted that it was not determined how many stations will be
formed for the constituency; this will depend on the number in the
constituency. “The list of Azerbaijani and non-Azerbaijani electors
in the constituency is determined at present. This process and forming
stations will be finished recently. But we consider that assistance of
the international organizations will be used for obtaining elector’s
lists from Khankendi”.
As to the question about that in which constituency Azerbaijanis
removed from registration in this territory after leaving Khankendi
will give their votes the CEC secretary said that they work on
this question, too: “The position of CEC is that those people
must be included in the elector’s lists on the Khankendi Election
Constituency”.
According to the words of the CEC secretary supposing that the
elections will be held in the mentioned constituency, assistance
of the international organizations will be used for the propaganda
campaign of the candidates in the territory of Khankendi. “Some
organizations were already appealed in this connection; definite
works must be realized in this direction. Some of these works were
already realized and consulting is conducted with the international
organizations. But participation in the elections is the right of
the citizen. They also have the right to renounce the elections in
parallel with putting their candidacies forward”.
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Ilham Aliyev: “Unlike Armenia, the position of Azerbaijan in the
talks process was always unchanged”
Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Aug 20 2005
20 August 2005 [10:18] – Today.Az
“The talks held till now were ineffectual. We know this, at the
same time, we still hope. As long as there is hope, the talks will
be continued”.
This was told by the president Ilham Aliyev in his talk with the
journalists when expressing his attitude to the upcoming Kazan meeting
of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
According to the words of the president, the international public began
to express unambiguous attitude to the question in the result of the
works conducted during the recent years: “Putting this question into
discussion in the international organizations shows that the Nagorno
Karabkah conflict is the focus of attention.
Decisions adopted in connection with this question reflect the
reality”. The head of the state expressing his attitude to the
question of holding a referendum in Nagorno Karabkah noted that all
possibilities are used for solving the conflict peacefully.
According to the words of I.Aliyev, unlike Armenia, the position of
Azerbaijan in the talks process was always unchanged. The president
repeated once again that the lands of Azerbaijan must be released
from occupation, internally displaced people must return back to their
homeland; security of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh must be guaranteed.
The head of the country stressing once again that the “Prague process”
intends the solution of the conflict in stages said that at first the
lands must be released for it and then talks should be continued:
“The economic potential and international influence of Azerbaijan
is higher than those of Armenia. Armenia must take this reality
into consideration and know that separatism is out of place in the
globalizing world”.
/APA/
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Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Aug 20 2005
Reno Harnish: “The USA supports realization of the political
processes in Azerbaijan only by means of evolution”
20 August 2005 [09:41] – Today.Az
The USA ambassador Reno Harnish held a press-conference today in
connection with his visit to the Guba-Khachmaz region.
According to the information of the north bureau of APA, the ambassador
said that the goal of his visit was to be acquainted with the regions:
“We often visit the regions in order to be acquainted with facts in
the regions. At first, we pay attention to that how USA economic aids
are utilized”.
He informed that a milk production enterprise in Khachmaz, bee-keeping
farm, carpet-making enterprise in Guba started activity thanks to the
grants of USA. The ambassador saying that they will also meet with
the structures representing ethnical minorities noted that he already
met with the representatives of the Lezghin and Jewish communities
and one specialist on the Islam religion.
The ambassador also noted that his visit has special significance
on the eve of the parliamentary elections to be held in November and
said that he met with the executive heads and members of the parties.
As to the opinion of the ambassador noting existence of the forces
interested in straining the pre-election situation, some people want
to conduct elections in an old form: “The president informed that
he supports conduction of normal elections. But some persons try
to prevent the right of gathering in the regions. Resources of the
government are used for some candidates in signature gathering. This
is an old tradition. When saying it, I intend some forces in the
authority. They are against of giving the right of gathering to the
people in the decree issued by the president in May. I consider that
this also troubles the supporters of conduction of normal election
elections in Azerbaijan”.
The ambassador calling these parliamentary elections to be the “most
interesting elections” said that the USA supports realization of the
political processes in Azerbaijan only by means of evolution: “We
support realization of the political changes by means of elections.
Some respectable persons representing USA visited Azerbaijan.
M.Albright, deputy of the state secretary and me informed that we
support only conduction of the democratic elections in Azerbaijan.
While I am the ambassador in Azerbaijan, I will continue by visits.
It is impossible to get all information only sitting in Baku. We must
establish connection with all layers of the population. That is, I
am not the supporter of any political force’s seizing the power. The
USA elects neither political parties, nor candidates”.
The ambassador calling the USA to be the friend of Azerbaijan
stressed that they share their opinions with the authority and carry
out trainings for the political parties for normal conduction of the
elections. R.Harnish welcoming the decrees on abolishing imprisonment
on the persons arrested during the events happened on October 16
valued this as a positive step of the government.
The diplomat touching the solution of the Garabagh conflict stressed
once again that he supports peaceful solution of the problem. The
ambassador called the Moscow meeting of the MFA heads and Kazan
meeting of the presidents to be important events.
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Yerevan – Los Angeles: Sister Cities
National Assembly of RA (press release), Armenia
Aug 20 2005
On August 19 the members of the Armenian-American friendship group
of the National Assembly met Eric Garcetti, member of Los Angeles
city council.
He arrived in Armenia on the initiative of declaring Yerevan and Los
Angeles sister cities. It is envisaged to sign an agreement in the USA
about it after holding relevant discussions in Yerevan. The Armenian
parliamentarians refer to this proposal with satisfaction taking into
account the existence of the big Armenian community: it’s the third
largest after those in Armenia and Russia. Levon Lazarian, Head of
the friendship group, noted that this is a good occasion to deepen
the relations between the two communities and strengthen cultural
and scientific ties. In case of the implementation of the program
and in future opening of an economic representation of California in
Armenia those present expect big progress. Besides, the cooperation
will be moved into more practical plane. During the meeting with
Hranush Hakobyan, Chairwoman of NA Standing Committee on Science,
Education, Culture and Youth Eric Garcetti discussed the issue of
possible cooperation in the sphere film industry.
In the state of California three models of elections of the community
head is applied. In case of having the electoral system of Mayor
of Yerevan (it’s envisaged within the framework of constitutional
reforms), it will useful to apply the experience of California:
a preliminary agreement was reached about this.
Levon Lazarian informed that the tradition of friendship groups is
planned also to spread on state parliaments.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress