Author: Badalian Vardan

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 315-3339
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

PRESS RELEASE
June 23, 2006

HIGH-RANKING NAGORNO KARABAKH OFFICIALS BEGIN U.S. VISIT
Conflict Resolution, Political and Economic Issues Top the Agenda

Washington, DC — On June 23-30, 2006 Nagorno Karabakh Republic
(NKR) National Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulian and Foreign Minister
Georgi Petrosian will visit Boston, New York and Washington, DC for
a series of political and economic discussions aimed at garnering
stronger support for NKR, while highlighting Karabakh’s progress
during almost 15 years of de-facto independence. NKR leaders will
meet with Bush Administration officials, Members of Congress and the
Armenian-American community.

In Boston, Speaker Ghulian and Foreign Minister Petrosian will
meet with Massachusetts State Assembly representatives, leaders of
the Boston area Armenian-American organizations and members of the
Armenian Community. In New York and New Jersey, the delegation will
meet with major supporters of NKR and take part in community events.

On June 26 – 30, NKR senior officials will be in Washington D.C. to
discuss issues related to the settlement of the conflict with
Azerbaijan and increased humanitarian and development assistance.

A U.S. Capitol Reception is scheduled for June 28, which will be
followed by a Diplomatic Reception at the Armenian Embassy on June
29. Speaker Ghulian and Foreign Minister Petrosian will be available
to press throughout their stay in the U.S.

The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia
and the public representing the official policies and interests of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh.

* * *

This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the USA (NKR Office) on behalf of the Government of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the
U.S. Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional
information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

EDELMAN TAKES FLOOR IN OZAL CONFERENCE

Anatolian Times
June 22 2006

WASHINGTON D.C. – Eulogizing Turkish leaders Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,
Ismet Inonu and Turgut Ozal who managed to bring "times of crisis
to progress of the country", U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Eric
Edelman stressed that the United States needed such an impressive
leadership in Turkey.

Edelman, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey between July
2003-2005, took the floor at traditional "Turgut Ozal" session
organized in Washington D.C. by the Washington Institute for Near
Eastern Policy, a think-tank organization.

Edelman extolled Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who turned Turkey’s face to
the West with his reforms, Ismet Inonu who steered Turkey toward
international organizations like the UN and NATO after the Second
World War, and Turgut Ozal who had Turkey integrate with the world
economically and politically.

-"STRIKING LEADERSHIP CAPACITY-"

Replying to a question about current leadership in Turkey, Edelman
said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan "displayed a
striking capacity in political and economic reforms particularly in
the first period of the government and paved the ways for beginning
of negotiations with the European Union (EU).

Edelman also underscored that the Turkish government at the same
time displayed a valor for a solution in Cyprus based on Annan plan,
"thanks to this courage, for the first time after 40 years, the
parties approach the solution this much," he indicated.

"However, the process was obstructed after the Greek Cypriot voted
‘no’ in the referendum," he said.

-"SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE"-

When he was recalled that positive point of view of the Turkish public
towards U.S. administration was at the lowest level (when compared
with the whole world) according to the surveys, Edelman said it would
be advantageous if the administrations of Turkey and the United States
have consistent exchange of views.

-"TURBULENCE IS NOT A SECRET BUT BEING OVERCOME GRADUALLY"-

"Turkish-U.S. relations entail attention of both parties," Edelman
remarked and noted that both countries should continuously work to
enhance dimensions of bilateral relations and consult each other.

Edelman said, "there are not only Armenia and PKK issues in
Turkish-U.S. relations. Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey’s relations
with Ukraine and Russia and various NATO issues are in question."

"The United States values Turkish-U.S. relations," Edelman said and
added that the "turbulence" which started in the wake of September
11 and with Iraq war was not a secret, yet noted that all those were
being overcome gradually.

-"IRAQ SHOULD NOT BE A SHELTER FOR PKK ANYMORE"-

"Our hearts beat together with the families of Turkish citizens
who lost their lives because of PKK terrorism," Edelman indicated
and noted that Iraq should not be a shelter for the terrorist PKK
organization anymore.

Edelman emphasized that Turkey and the United States were in
collaboration on that matter. "The two countries have never been so
close to each other in exchange of intelligence."

Edelman said methods other than military force should be sought while
searching for ways to impede acts of terrorism. He said that efforts to
improve economic situation in Turkey’s southeast would be beneficial.

-"ALSO TURKEY IS ON TARGET"-

Pointing out that the United States was determined to resolve Iran
issue through diplomatic ways, Edelman said Washington welcomed
the support that Turkey gives to the process carried out with 3 EU
member countries.

Edelman said it would be the regional countries (in geographical terms)
that would be mostly harmed in case Iran attains nuclear capacity
and stressed that Israel and Turkey were "on the target".

He said Israel and Turkey were two democratic countries in the region
and contributed to the democratic progress of the region.

-IRAQ-

Edelman acclaimed the efforts that Turkey exerted for stability in Iraq
and particularly the initiative that convened Sunnites in Istanbul.

Asked about the situation of Kirkuk, Edelman said, "this is a very
sensitive issue for Iraqis," and noted that the decision pertaining
to the situation of the city belonged to Iraqis.

-CYPRUS-EU-

Responding to a comment that Cyprus question obstructed Turkey’s EU
membership, Edelman said this problem was considered a "potential
obstacle" yet joint efforts were underway to resolve the problem.

Edelman stated that the Turkish government displayed "flexibility"
in the past few months on Cyprus question, indicating that the other
party should display the same flexibility.

"The United States has been advocating Turkey’s EU membership since
1963. This is not something new. We have always been consistent,"
Edelman said.

-ATTACK ON COUNCIL OF STATE-

Asked whether the attack on Council of State judges was an attack
against secularism, Edelman said, "I do not make any comment on an
issue which is under investigation."

-"I SHARE SAME VIEWS WITH MY BOSS"-

Asked if he shared the views of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
who had said, "the insurgents in Iraq would not be so effective if
Turkey had approved March 1 motion," Edelman said, "I have same views
with my boss."

-TURKEY-RUSSIA RELATIONS-

Responding to a question, Edelman said improvement of Turkey’s
relations with Russia should not be considered an alternative to its
relations with the West.

"The U.S. is pleased to see that Turkey has constructive relations both
with Russia and Ukraine." On Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Edelman
said Turkey would play the role of an "energy depot" in the region.

ARMENTEL MAY GET NEW OWNER ALREADY TOMORROW

Yerevan, June 21. ArmInfo. OTE General Assembly, the owner of 90 pct
stake in ArmenTel, will meet tomorrow on June 22 in Athens to adopt
a decision on the sale of its stake. OTE headquarters told ArmInfo.

The source refrained from any comments on the upcoming decision of OTE
before the official report. To note, according to unofficial data, 8
companies applied for the stake. Among them are large Russian companies
"Mobile TeleSystems," "Vimpelcom," and "Megaphone" who control over
70 percent of the market in the post-Soviet area.

ARMENIAN SPIRITUAL LEADER IN ISTANBUL

Zaman, Turkey
June 21 2006

Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II, came to Istanbul
Tuesday as a guest of Turkey’s Armenians Patriarch Mesrop II and
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew.

Karekin II, welcomed by Bartholomew, will hold week-long meetings
with several leaders.

Karekin II, who traveled from Erivan on Armenian Airlines, was expected
to leave the airport via the VIP Hall at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport,
but left instead in a vehicle convoy for security reasons.

A crowd of nearly 50 gathered at the airport protested the arrival
of Karekin II.

200 INVALID CHILDREN UNDERGO MEDICAL EXAMINATION IN ARMAVIR WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF "HEALTHY START" PROGRAM

Noyan Tapan
Jun 21 2006

ARMAVIR, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The "Nariri" NGO engaged in problems of
invalid children in the marz of Armavir, in which about 450 children
are involved, showed regular assistance to invalid children on June 20
within the framework of the "Healthy start" program. Invalid children’s
medical examination was organized at the pediatrics department of
the Armavir polyclinical center on that day. Nune Alexanian, the
responsible for the "Arabkir" medical center of Yerevan held the
medical examination. To recap, medical examination of invalid children
was held on the same day in the rural communities of Karakert and
Dalarik as well.

The main goal of the program is to examine invalid children. 200
invalid children already underwent medical examination in the marz
within the framework of the program.

This medical examination will finish late this week, when a group
of doctors of the "Arabkir" center will visit Armavir. The latters
will hold a final medical examination based on examinations of the
whole week.

WORK OF NEWPAPER "SYUNYATS YERKIR" HALTED BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICIANS

A1+
[02:29 pm] 21 June, 2006

The director and two deputy directors of "Tatev" branch of "Armenian
Electricity Network" CJSC visited the editorial office of newspaper
"Syunyats Yerkir" and deprived them of electricity.

The problem emerged after the newspaper published an article titled
"The energy system of Syunik is corrupted" in the June 15 issue of
the current year.

During the discussion of the article the newspaper offered the heads
of "Tatev" branch to answer the criticism within the framework of
the law if they have something against the material printed in the
newspaper. But the authorities of the branch were not content with
it. By order of Arayik Grigoryan, the director of the branch, the
editorial office was immediately deprived of electricity. As a result
of this the newspapers was forced into a standstill.

"What took place testifies to the fact that the energy system of
Syunik is really fully corrupted. It proves that the terror against the
newspaper which started two years ago still continues", the statement
of the newspaper says.

The editorship of the newspaper applied to Robert Kocharyan as the
guarantee of the Constitution asking to stop the persecution of the
newspaper and give them a chance to resume work.

GAZPROM’S INTEREST IN GEORGIA’S GAS PIPELINE MAY FADE

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
June 20 2006

RBC, 20.06.2006, Moscow 17:27:15.Gazprom is still interested in the
acquisition of Georgia’s gas transportation system, but this interest
may fade, Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Ryazanov declared at a press
conference today. He said Georgian officials were slowing down the
process. According to Ryazanov, the negotiations have been completed,
but the government of Georgia is still thinking the deal over and
hasn’t voiced its final decision yet. "I’m afraid Gazprom’s interest
may fade," the Deputy CEO of the Russian gas giant reported, adding
that he had no idea what Georgia might need the backbone gas pipeline
for since it was in a terrible condition at present.

Ryazanov also stressed Gazprom still couldn’t ensure a smooth transit
of gas to Armenia via Georgia.

ISTANBUL TO WELCOME HEAD OF ARMENIAN CHURCH

Pravda, Russia
June 20 2006

Karekin II, whose official title is Catholicos of All Armenians, has
issued statements saying Turks committed genocide against Armenians
around the time of World War I. Turkish nationalist protests during
his visit are likely.

Karekin’s official title is Catholicos of All Armenians.

Turkey has no relations with Armenia, and vehemently denies that Turks
committed genocide, saying Armenians who lived under the Ottoman
Empire were killed in internal fighting among ethnic groups as the
empire collapsed, the AP reports.

PLANE’S ENGINE WORKING BEFORE BLACK SEA CRASH

Irish Examiner, Ireland
June 19 2006

The Armenian airliner that crashed into the Black Sea last month
killing all 113 people aboard was intact, with its engines operating
normally and enough fuel to land prior to impact, a Russian
investigating commission said today.

The Armavia Airbus A320 was also under manual control by its pilots
up to the moment of the May 3 pre-dawn catastrophe near the Russian
port of Sochi, the Transport Ministry commission said in a statement.

The commission, which based its conclusions on an analysis of the
plane’s "black box" flight recorders, did not assign blame for
the crash.

Prosecutors have dismissed the possibility that terrorists had brought
the plane down, and officials point to rough weather or pilot error
as the likely cause.

Armavia officials have suggested that air traffic controllers were
at least partly to blame, for giving the pilots improper instructions.

The commission said it planned further analysis of the recorders and
computer modelling to determine a cause. The flight was en route to
Sochi from the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

AZERBAIJANI ‘FIRE’ FABLE
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
20/06/2006

The recent favorite topic of Azerbaijani online newspapers was "the
conflagration of fields" by Armenians in non-existent bordering
settlements.

Moreover, the made-up tumult grew into accusation and false
denunciation to international structures "on annihilation of Azeri
settlements by the Armenians."

Perhaps the cause for worry about these extremely dubious settlements
is conflagration in Nagorno Karabakh lowlands that cannot be stifled
because of the firing from the Azeri side.

It should be reminded that a few years ago authorities in Nagorno
Karabakh applied to the Azerbaijani side via the OSCE Minsk Group
suggesting to cooperate in stifling the seasonal fires.

It’s not something new that the Azeri side does not discern methods
used against the Armenian side. If editing of their own officials’
statements is an everyday business, it is perhaps the boredom that
makes Azerbaijani journalists to bring diversity in the anti-Armenian
propaganda by using illogical creativity. Such as declaration of
uncommitted genocide, for one, or "subversive fires", quotations from
Zori Balayan’s "unwritten book" etc.