L’Express
11 octobre 2004
Turquie: la Commission contre l’opinion;
Tribune libre
par Leylekian Laurent
Si l’on veut donner tort aux eurosceptiques, il ne faut pas laisser
une instance non élue prendre en sous-main des décisions d’une telle
importance
La Commission européenne a rendu le 6 octobre un rapport largement
positif sur la candidature turque à l’Union et, le 17 décembre, le
Conseil devrait autoriser dans un délai plus ou moins bref le début
des négociations d’adhésion avec Ankara. Tant pis pour l’occupation
du nord de Chypre ou les réformes législatives, qui, comme à l’époque
du Tanzimat, resteront sur le papier. Tant pis aussi pour ce que
l’International Publishers Association nomme les six tabous de la
Turquie: la place de l’armée, le problème kurde, le génocide
arménien, le kémalisme, l’émancipation des femmes et la loi
islamique. Si cela advenait, ce serait une double faute dont les
répercussions dépasseraient de loin la question turque.
En ce qui concerne la méthode, cela attesterait l’évolution de
l’Union vers une “technocrature” où une Commission “technique” impose
des décisions majeures contre l’opinion. Rappelons que la seule
instance élue, le Parlement européen, s’est souvent exprimée de
manière très critique sur la candidature turque. On appréciera à cet
égard le fait que la Commission arguë de sa volonté “ne pas blesser
l’opinion publique turque”, qui semble revêtir plus d’importance que
la nôtre. Si l’on veut impliquer les Européens dans la construction
européenne et donner tort aux eurosceptiques, il ne faut pas laisser
une instance non élue prendre en sous-main et en toute opacité des
décisions d’une telle importance.
Sur le fond, cette adhésion constituerait une formidable régression
éthique de l’Union, qui représentait un fantastique espoir: pour la
première fois, des peuples renonçaient à une part de leur
souveraineté pour se choisir un avenir commun. L’objectif – ne plus
connaître les ravages du nationalisme – impliquait un ticket
d’entrée: Etat de droit, respect des minorités… bref, les fameux
critères de Copenhague. Mieux encore, nous prétendions ériger ces
principes en exemple jeté à la face du monde. Or l’Europe, dans son
souci de montrer qu’elle n’est pas un “club chrétien” – c’est
l’antienne chère aux zélateurs d’Ankara – soulignerait surtout, à
travers l’adhésion de la Turquie, qu’elle récompense les régimes
xénophobes, militaristes et ultranationalistes.
A terme, l’Union ne résisterait pas à un tel reniement. Soumise à des
contradictions insoutenables et à des forces centrifuges croissantes,
elle se réduirait alors au champ clos de toutes les luttes
d’influence – l’Europe du congrès de Vienne, en quelque sorte. On
connaît la fin. Mais peut-être est-ce le but visé…

L’Europe, les Turcs et les Arméniens
par NICOLAS TEKNETZIAN 92250 La Garenne-Colombes
Les Echos , France
12 octobre 2004
J’ai lu avec beaucoup d’intérêt l’analyse titrée « L’heure de vérité
pour la Turquie » dans « Les Echos » du 6 octobre sur l’adhésion
de la Turquie à l’Europe. Je tiens à insister sur l’existence du
préalable absolu à toute discussion avec la Turquie que constitue
la reconnaissance sans réserve du génocide des Arméniens par le
gouvernement turc en 1915.
Ce préalable de taille, plus d’un millions et demi de victimes,
qui semble ces derniers mois totalement oublié par nos dirigeants
les plus importants, doit être sans cesse rappelé, affiché, martelé
si nous souhaitons construire une Europe forte, juste et durable. Il
est de la première importance de se remémorer dans nos écrits, dans
nos discours, dans nos argumentations ce déni de génocide sur lequel
repose la société turque depuis quatre-vingt-dix ans et d’exiger la
reconnaissance du génocide avant tout autre débat.

Norwegian minister, Azeri opposition discuss election reforms, rights
ANS TV, Baku
12 Oct 04
[Presenter Leyla Hasanova] Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen
is on an official visit to Azerbaijan. Petersen held meetings with
opposition leaders today.
[Correspondent, over video of Petersen outside the Norwegian embassy in
Azerbaijan] Petersen, who is the chairman of the ministerial committee
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE] as
well, started his official meetings today. He met the leaders of
three opposition parties, i.e. the chairman of the Musavat Party,
Isa Qambar; the chairman of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party,
Ali Karimli, and the chairman of the Azarbaycan Milli Istiqlal Party,
Etibar Mammadov, at the Norwegian embassy in Baku.
Following the meeting, Qambar said that the sides had discussed
relations between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan.
[Qambar] We discussed all the issues. Petersen said that Azerbaijan
should fulfil all its commitments to the Council of Europe.
[Correspondent] Qambar said that the opposition leaders had expressed
their unbiased opinions at the meeting with Petersen.
[Qambar] You must know that what we tell representatives of
international organizations is similar to what we tell the Azerbaijani
media, i.e. you receive the same reports as they do. We discussed
election issues, the events in Azerbaijan after the [2003 presidential]
elections, political arrests, the issue of political prisoners, false
trials, violation of human rights and other problems of Azerbaijan.
[Correspondent] The opposition leaders put forward a proposal to the
European guest as well.
[Qambar] We proposed that the Council of Europe acted in line with
the principles it had declared.
[Correspondent] Karimli said that election reforms had been discussed
at the meeting as well. He spoke about the need for conducting election
reforms ahead of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary and municipal elections.
Mammadov drew Petersen’s attention to the fact that Azerbaijan is
not the only one to blame for its failure to fulfil its commitments
to the Council of Europe. Mammadov said that the Council of Europe
should share responsibility for this as well. Speaking about the lack
of independent courts in Azerbaijan, Mammadov said that this issue
should be settled.
Petersen is meeting representatives of Azerbaijani NGOs at the
moment. He will hold a meeting at the Azerbaijani parliament
tomorrow. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is expected to receive
Petersen as well. Petersen arrived in Baku following his visit to
Yerevan within the framework of his South Caucasus tour.
Qanira Atasova, Zeynal Zeynalov for ANS.

Azeri picket against Armenian presence at upcoming NATO seminar foiled
ANS TV, Baku
12 Oct 04
[Presenter Leyla Hasanova] The United People’s Front of Azerbaijan
Party has protested against Armenian MPs’ presence at the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly’s Rose-Roth seminar [on 26-28 November]. The
party tried to stage a picket outside the Azerbaijani parliament.
[Correspondent, over video of police dispersing pickets] The United
People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party started protest actions against the
presence of Armenian MP at NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly Rose-Roth
seminar in November. The pickets first visited the Martyrs’ Avenue
[near the parliament]. Then they tried to picket the Azerbaijani
parliament. But the policemen, who gathered outside parliament
beforehand, blocked their way in the Martyrs’ Avenue. [Video showed
pickets chanting “Death to Armenians”]
The police confiscated placards and the party’s flag and took five
pickets to the Sabayil district police department [in Baku]. Our
attempt to find out about the fate of those detained in the police
department failed. There wasn’t anyone to let us in though.
[Passage omitted: mayor’s office banned the party’s all planned
pickets]

Azerbaijani police detain anti-Armenian protesters
AP Worldstream
Oct 12, 2004
Azerbaijani police on Tuesday briefly detained five activists of the
Popular Front of United Azerbaijan who tried to hold an unsanctioned
rally outside parliament to protest Armenian legislators’ planned
participation in a NATO-sponsored seminar next month.
About 30 protesters gathered in the Alley of Martyrs, where Azerbaijani
soldiers killed during the war in Nagorno-Karabakh are buried. They
then marched toward parliament, carrying party flags and banners
reading “Down with the Armenian Occupiers!” Police cut them off and
confiscation their flags, banners and leaflets.
Police told The Associated Press that all five protesters had been
released.
The Popular Front plans further protests this month outside the
U.S. Embassy and the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. On Nov. 2, the
front will rally outside the Turkish Embassy.
The Armenian legislators are due to take part in a Nov. 26-28 NATO
Parliamentary Assembly seminar in Baku called Rose Route.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been under
control of ethnic Armenian forces for more than a decade. A cease-fire
was signed in 1994 after Azerbaijani forces were driven out in a
six-year war that killed some 30,000 people and drove a million from
their homes, but the enclave’s final status has not been resolved and
shooting still breaks out sporadically along the “line of control”
that separates the enclave from the rest of Azerbaijan.
Talks under the auspices of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe have not made visible progress in recent years,
although hopes had risen in 2001 that a settlement was near.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
October 11, 2004
Episcopal Ordination in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
On September 26, on the feast of the Holy Cross of Varak, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians celebrated a
Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
During the liturgy, His Holiness consecrated and ordained the Very Rev.
Father Arshak Vardapet Khatchatrian as a bishop of the Armenian Church.
Assisting His Holiness during the service were His Grace Bishop Yeznik
Petrossian and His Grace Bishop Navasard Kjoyan. The intercessor for Father
Arshak was His Grace Bishop Paren Avedikian.
During evening services the previous day, Father Arshak kneeled before the
Holy Altar of Descent in the Cathedral and solemnly read and signed the oath
to remain faithful to his episcopal vow and to the Catholicosate of All
Armenians.
On Sunday morning the Pontifical procession led by the Catholicos of All
Armenians entered into the Cathedral. The public examination of the faith
and worthiness of Father Arshak took place before the Altar of St. Stephen
the Protomartyr, during which his profession of the orthodox faith was
confirmed.
According to accepted tradition, representatives of each ecclesiastical and
hierarchal rank – acolytes, deacons, priests and two laymen representing
different classes of society approached His Holiness and publicly bore
witness on the behalf of the candidate. His Holiness then confirmed the
testimonials and presented the candidate with his episcopal omophorion.
The Divine Liturgy then continued before the Main Altar of the Mother
Cathedral. Reciting prayers from the “Mashtots” (ritual book) of
ordination, His Holiness called the candidate to the rank of bishop. The
Supreme Patriarch consecrated the candidate’s forehead and the thumb of the
right hand with Holy Chrism, following which the symbols of episcopacy – the
episcopal staff and ring, were presented to the newly consecrated bishop.
In his Pontifical message, His Holiness stated in part, “Every time we
ordain a clergyman to spiritual service by giving him ecclesiastical,
particularly episcopal rank, we experience moments of consolation inside our
hearts, as we feel our Lord’s presence and assistance; we witness the
reawakening of our Church and we believe that we shall be able to fulfill
our Lord’s message of service directed to us. We strongly believe that the
souls, hearts and spirits of our priests and bishops of Holy Etchmiadzin
that have been confirmed by the seal of the Holy Chrism, will contribute to
the vibrancy and well-being of Holy Etchmiadzin, and thus to the well-being
of the worldwide Armenian Church and people.
“We believe that the miraculous Holy Chrism will grant new strength, zeal
and wisdom to our new bishop. In our understanding, the sacred mystery of
Holy Etchmiadzin and the grace of spiritual power are woven together in an
unbreakable bond. That is why our holy and gloried forefathers decided to
grant the awarding of the highest ecclesiastical rank – the ordination to
bishop, exclusively and only in the Mother Cathedral of All Armenians, as
Holy Etchmiadzin is the very soul of the whole body of all Armenians.”
After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reception was hosted in the
Mother See in honor of the new bishop. His Holiness presented an episcopal
panagia to His Grace Bishop Arshak and congratulated him, asking for God to
grant him greater devotion and dedication in his mission of service.
* * *
HIS GRACE BISHOP ARSHAK KHACHATRIAN
Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian (baptismal name Samvel) was born on August 5,
1973 in the village of Voskehat, district of Armavir.
>>From 1980 to 1990 he received his secondary education in the local school.
In 1990, he entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin. On May 19, 1996 he was ordained to the diaconate by
Bishop Anania Arabajian.
He graduated from the Seminary in 1996, and in 1997 he successfully defended
his graduation thesis entitled “The Indo-Armenian Colony and the Legates of
the Mother See in India”.
>>From 1996 to 1997 Deacon Samvel worked in the Secretariat (Divan) of the
Catholicosate.
On December 14, 1997 he was ordained as a celibate priest and given the
priestly name “Arshak” by Archbishop Zaven Chinchinian of blessed memory,
then Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Egypt.
In 1998, he served in the administration of the Mother See.
In March 1999, under the direction of the Pontifical Vicar General,
Archbishop Karekin Nersissian, Fr. Arshak was appointed to serve in the
editorial office of “Etchmiadzin” monthly (the official journal of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin) as Acting Editor in Chief.
In June 2000, upon the order of the newly-enthroned Catholicos of All
Armenians His Holiness Karekin II, he was appointed the director of the
newly established office in charge of Mother See / Diocese Relations.
In January of 2001 by the Pontifical order of His Holiness, he was assigned
as Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In 2001 he successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled “The
Legateship of the Armenian Church”. On February 22 of the same year he
received the rank of Vardapet (Archimandrite) by the Vicar General of the
Araratian Pontifical Diocese, His Grace Bishop Navasard Kjoyan.
On September 26, 2004, Fr. Arshak was consecrated and ordained as a bishop
by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. His Grace Bishop
Arshak will continue to bring his service to the Armenian Church as
Chancellor of the Mother See.
##

BORDERLINE VILLAGES CONNECTED BY NEWLY BUILT ROADS
Azg/am
13 Oct 04
The house of Sveta Markosian, dweller of Tavush region’s Voskevan
village, is built on the crossroad of the road connecting Voskevan,
Koti and Barekamavan villages. For many months she has been watching
the reconstruction works of the road stretching 18118 meters. She
said that the dwellers of the village were always glad to invite
the builders to their houses and talk to them, as many workers from
neighboring villages were involved in the reconstruction works.
“You can’t fancy in what state was the road before the reconstruction.
Sometimes we were stuck on the road in winter,” Sveta Markosian says.
On October 9, RA President Robert Kocharian was present at the opening
ceremony of Voskevan-Koti-Barekamavan road. The reconstruction works
cost $986 thousand in total.
“In several weeks you will get accustomed to the road and you will
think of reconstructing the club, the school and the water supply
system of the village,” Robert Kocharian stated in his speech.
In the course of his visit to Tavush region President Kocharian
get familiarized with the reconstruction works of Paravakar-Tovuz
road. 1 billion 360 million AMD were allocated from RA state budget
for reconstructing this part of the road stretching 19,5 km. The
reconstruction works will be completed by late October. 143 million AMD
were saved. This sum will help begin reconstruction works of Aygehovit
village’s road. About 400 people are involved in the reconstruction
works. Artsrun Ghulamian, MP of RA National Assembly, director of
“Ijevantchanshin” organization, said that each worker received $100-120
of salary. Khachik Grigorian is from Tsaghkavan village and he works
at reconstruction of the roads. He hasn’t received any salary yet
and he even doesn’t know how much he will receive money,” Khachik
Grigorian says and adds that it is more important to have a job.
Robert Kocharian is satisfied with the reconstruction works in the
region and assures that in the course of coming two-three years the
road stretching to Berd will be renovated, too.
“Our economy will not develop if we have no good roads. In this
respect, the contiguous villages should have no problems with
communication. Roads, schools, water supply system and communications
are the problems that need urgent solution,” RA President stated.
Cognac factory has opened a branch in Berd and now a stone plant is
being built in the region. On October 9 Robert Kocharian also visited
the newly opened branch of “HayGyughPokhBank”. The leadership of
the bank has already made investment amounting to $800.000 in the
region. It is determined to double this sum in coming years.
By Arevik Badalian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia to benefit from NATO expansion into Caucasus, US envoy says
Mediamax news agency, Yerevan
12 Oct 04
NATO’s expansion into the Caucasus should not worry Moscow since
the alliance’s major goal is to boost security cooperation in
the region to ensure peace and stability, US ambassador to NATO
Nicholas Burns has said in an exclusive interview with Armenian
Mediamax news agency. The reason for NATO’s shift of focus is that
it faces common security threats with the nations in the region.
“These are the threats Russia faces as well, and Russia can only
benefit from NATO’s work in this area,” Burns said. However, he said
that despite active cooperation with the South Caucasus countries,
it was premature to consider NATO membership for these countries. The
following is an excerpt from the interview in English by Mediamax on
12 October headlined “NATO’s special focus on the Caucasus should not
raise concerns in Moscow”; subheadings have been inserted editorially:
[Mediamax correspondent] For the last two or three years Armenia-NATO
relations have entered a qualitatively new level. What factors do
you think played the main role in Armenia’s decision to activate its
relations with the alliance?
[Nicholas Burns] I remember listening to your president’s speech at
the summit meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council [EAPC]
in Prague in November 2002. He announced that Armenia would hold its
first Partnership for Peace (PfP) exercise and contribute to NATO-led
peacekeeping operations. Since then, Armenia successfully hosted the
Cooperative Best Effort 2003 exercises, joined the KFOR operation in
Kosovo, announced its intention to launch an Individual Partnership
Action Plan with NATO, and nominated its first ambassador to be
accredited solely to the alliance. So you are certainly right that, as
your president pledged, Armenia has been increasingly active with NATO.
As to why, of course, only your government can provide an authoritative
answer.
Cooperation with NATO to help reduce regional tension
I will say, however, that, given NATO’s role as the primary guarantor
of peace and stability in Europe, cooperation with the alliance offers
a range of benefits to Armenia. Moreover, the September 2001 terrorist
attacks stimulated a closer relationship between NATO and all members
of Partnership for Peace, as it brought home the recognition that we
face new, immediate, and common threats.
Participating in NATO’s Partnership for Peace can also help reduce
regional tensions. It is therefore natural that Armenia would want
to be an active part of Partnership for Peace, which embraces all
nations in the Caucasus.
[Correspondent] Many people in Armenia think that sooner or
later Armenia will have to choose between maintaining close
military-political relations with Russia and striving for further
integration into NATO. There is another opinion as well: Armenia
can become kind of a link between Russia and NATO in the South
Caucasus. Which of these two positions is closer to you?
[Burns] [Armenian] Foreign Minister [Vardan] Oskanyan speaks of
the principle of “complementarity” between closer relations with
the Euro-Atlantic community and Armenia’s historical relationship
with Russia. The fact that other CIS members also participate
in Partnership for Peace, that Russia itself enjoys a unique and
constructive relationship with NATO, and that we cooperate with Russia
in security issues from the Mediterranean to the Arctic support your
minister’s view.
At the same time, there are indeed substantial differences in the
ways NATO and Russia organize their military forces and defence
organizations. If Armenia wants to significantly improve its
interoperability with NATO, it will have to revise some of those
structures. So there are practical issues that may convince your
government to take a hard look at the future structure of Armenia’s
armed forces.
NATO membership for Caucasus countries premature
[Correspondent] It is very often noted in the western press that
despite the activation of relations with NATO, pro-Russian Armenia
is less preferred than Georgia and Azerbaijan, which are allegedly
“more sincere” in their desire to enhance cooperation with the
alliance. That’s why the authors of such statements say that NATO
should “forget” about Armenia and pay special attention to Georgia
and Azerbaijan. What do you think about this?
[Burns] At the Istanbul Summit in June, NATO decided to put a special
focus on the Caucasus and Central Asia, assigning liaison officers and
appointing a special representative for the two regions. The amount
of time and effort devoted to individual nations within those regions
will be largely demand-driven, depending on the level of interaction
that each nation chooses to have with NATO.
Partnership for Peace is a “26+1” arrangement meaning that partners
individually choose which joint activities they want to participate
in. These can range from training and seminars to participation in
full-fledged peacekeeping operations. None of these activities is
required of any partner. So it is really up to you how much attention
Armenia gets from NATO.
Georgia and Azerbaijan have been active in Partnership for Peace
and the EAPC, as has Armenia. I would mention especially Armenia’s
contribution to peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and successful
hosting of the Cooperative Best Effort 2003 exercise last year. Armenia
recently announced its intention to prepare an Individual Partnership
Action Plan IPAP a demanding and ambitious program for restructuring
defence institutions along more transparent and efficient lines. That
is a strong commitment to continuing cooperation with the alliance,
and NATO appreciates this.
[Correspondent] Do you agree with the point of view that NATO is
ready to go as far in its relations with Armenia as Armenia itself
is ready for it?
[Burns] Through the IPAP, the Partnership Action Plan Against Terrorism
and for Defence Institution Building, joint peacekeeping operations,
and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council consultations, NATO and Armenia
can go long ways together indeed.
[Correspondent] This April, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
said: “If Georgia and Azerbaijan become NATO members at last and
Armenia does not, this will obviously bring about new separation
lines in the Caucasus.” He noted that “these issues not only caused
our concern but also worried NATO, the United States and Russia,
and that’s why they will be very careful and will try to avoid such
a scenario”. Are you really trying to avoid such a scenario?
[Burns] In Istanbul, NATO reaffirmed its “open door” policy and stated
that its seven new members would not be the last but it is premature
to consider eventual membership for any nation in the Caucasus.
NATO’s goal is to increase security cooperation in regions and we
are ready to work closely with the Caucasus countries for peace
and stability.
Russia to benefit from NATO expansion
[Correspondent] After the recent NATO Summit in Istanbul it became
obvious that the South Caucasus has become one of the top priority
regions for the Alliance. Won’t this arouse a new wave of concern on
the part of Russia?
[Burns] Compared to the broad range of interests that Russia shares
with NATO promoting peace, stability, and growth, and combating
terrorism, proliferation, and illegal trafficking areas of difference
are relatively few.
NATO’s special focus on the Caucasus should not raise that kind
of concern in Moscow. Via the NATO-Russia Council, NATO allies and
Russia are addressing our shared interests and seeking to combat common
threats. The reason for NATO’s shift of focus is the recognition that
we face common security threats with the nations in those regions, and
many of those threats arise from the periphery, beyond Europe. These
are the threats Russia faces as well, and Russia can only benefit
from NATO’s work in this area.
[Passage omitted: Armenia is working on the Individual Partnership
Actions Plan with NATO; NATO regrets cancellation of PfP exercises
in Baku; Turkey-Armenia partnership possible within NATO]

Azeri prosecutor requests sentences for seven jailed opposition leaders
Lider TV, Baku
12 Oct 04
Another hearing into the case of those accused of committing mass
disturbances in the capital on 15-16 October [after presidential
elections in 2003] was held at the Grave Crimes Court today.
Prosecutor Nazir Bayramov continued [he started yesterday] reading
out the indictment. He requested that the court sentence [chairman of
the People’s Party of Azerbaijan] Panah Huseynov and [former general
secretary of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan] Sardar Calaloglu
to five years in prison, [editor-in-chief of Yeni Musavat newspaper]
Rauf Arifoglu and [deputy chairman of the Musavat Party] Arif Hacili
to six years as well as [chairman of the Hope Party] Iqbal Agazada,
[deputy chairman of the Musavat Party] Ibrahim Ibrahimli and [chairman
of the Karabakh disabled society] Etimad Asadov to four years and
three months.

Azeri MP to Europe body dismisses criticism, promises fair municipal
elections
ANS TV, Baku
11 Oct 04
The head of the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation at the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), MP Samad
Seyidov, in a 30-minute interview with the “Point of View” programme on
the Azerbaijani independent TV station ANS, welcomed a PACE resolution
complementing Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on releasing political
prisoners and the reforms he was implementing.
After a while the presenter pulled him up short, saying that the report
“contained a fair amount of criticism of commitments” that could have
been easily honoured by Azerbaijan and which were important not only
for the Council of Europe (CE) but for Azerbaijan, too.
Seyidov took on board some of the existing problems that were mentioned
but added that the Azerbaijani parliament had already endorsed setting
up public television, for example. He then changed tack saying that
“analysing Ilham Aliyev’s one-year period in office, his latest steps,
we see why the resolution is positive because within the shortest
period of time, he has taken such important steps that they should
indeed be assessed positively. As for criticism, this will never end”.
Seyidov praised the role of the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation
at the PACE session, adding that the CE and Azerbaijan should work
closely on the implementation of laws. Seyidov said that some Armenian
proposals to amend the PACE rapporteurs’ report on finding a Karabakh
settlement should not be taken seriously but stressed the importance
of the report by Council of Europe Secretary-General Terry Davis on
the Karabakh conflict.
The MP said he thought that Azerbaijan has been honouring its
commitments to the Council of Europe and would soon complete them
successfully as they and the Karabakh settlement were interwoven.
Asked about Azerbaijan’s readiness to hold the upcoming municipal
elections in December so that they were in line with Council of Europe
standards, ahead of the January session of PACE where the issue will
be debated, Samadov said that “we should be very serious in how we
organize the municipal elections” to avoid providing those working
against us with “extra pretexts”. Highlighting the significance of the
elections, the MP said that this will give us an opportunity for the
“normal, fair resolution of the Karabakh and the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict”.
In reply to a question about whether the president would meet relevant
bodies coordinating their activities with those of international
organizations, the deputy said that the foreign policy issues were
being centralized and that the relevant state bodies had to come up
with specific proposals to coordinate their efforts.
The MP was upbeat about the Azerbaijani parliament’s interaction with
other parliaments, stressing that its activities should be transparent
and active without becoming a “hostage” to policies of others. He
rejected proposals by international organizations for holding joint
meetings between the three South Caucasus republics and separatist
bodies operating in these republics.