Author: Boshkezenian Garik

Nagorno Karabakh President on Montenegro referendum: The precedent is
important’

26.05.2006 12:50

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – If the international community is really ready to
recognize Montenegro and Kosovo’s independence, I believe it will be
very difficult to explain to them, why they are not ready to recognize
Nagorno Karabakh’s independence; Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady
Gukasyan, who attended the third Congress of Russia’s Armenians Union
on May 25, stated, speaking to a REGNUM correspondent.

`I believe that every question has its specificity, but, nevertheless,
there are some common positions, typical for all unrecognized states
and such conflicts ` in this aspect, I believe that precedent is
important,’ Gukasyan stressed, commenting on the referendum outcomes
concerning Montenegro independence.

At the same time, the NK president stressed that `Karabakh has much
more grounds ` historical, legal, and geographic ones ‘ to reckon on
independence.’

`Let us not forget that Nagorno Karabakh people defended their
independence with weapons in hands; they held out in war imposed on it
by Azerbaijan, and they are building their state now at the cost of
their best sons’ lives.

I believe that we have every reason to reckon on recognition of our
independence by the international community. In any case, I do not see
any alternative for it. Nagorno Karabakh is independent; Nagorno
Karabakh will be independent, and it does not depend on Azerbaijan’s
will.

This process may not be stopped and I am sure, the international
community will recognize Artsakh sooner or later. The sooner it will
do it, the more chances there will be for prevailing of peace, order
in region, and establishment of mutual understanding between its
peoples,’ Arkady Gukasyan believes.

NOW IS TIME FOR SIDES TO REACH AGREEMENT ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT BASIC PRINCIPLES

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.05.2006 19:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Having visited Armenia, representatives of co-chair
countries of the OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict issued a joint statement for the press, which
specifically says, “We, the representatives at the Deputy Minister
level of the Russian Federation, the United States and France,
together with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, have come together
in this joint diplomatic mission because of the need to promote a
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and because now
is the time for the sides to reach agreement on the basic principles
of the settlement.

We were received by President Kocharian and met earlier with Foreign
Minister Oskanian. As we did yesterday in Baku, we have discussed
important aspects of a future settlement. We have worked to create
the conditions for a meeting of the two presidents in the near
future. We have stressed the belief of our nations and, more widely,
of the international community that the conflict can be resolved in
no other way than a peaceful one. Both countries should, moreover,
prepare their publics for peace and not war.”

The Statement notes that discussions, both in Yerevan and in Baku,
were constructive. “A joint mission such as this one is a special
event. It must be taken as a sign of the seriousness with which we
approach the issue and in particular, a belief that we are at the
point where a mutually beneficial agreement is achievable.

What happens now will be up to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

We leave with hopes and expectations of progress,” says the Joins
Statement of the OSCE MG co-chair countries.

AZERI FM INVITED TO CUBA
Author: S.Agayeva

TREND, Azerbaijan
May 25 2006

Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov received an official invitation
from his Cuban mate Felipe Perez Roje on May 25. Foreign Ministry
officials told Trend that the invitation was handed by Eumelio
Cabalero, deputy Foreign minister of Cuba.

Cuba wants to develop cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of
trade, energy and health, Cuban diplomat said at the meeting. Cuba,
he said also, fully supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and
calls Armenia to commit to UN resolutions approved for the settlement
of Azeri-Armenian conflict.

In turn, Elmar Mamedyarov stated Azerbaijan’s interest in close
cooperation with all countries of the world, including Cuba.

At the meeting, a memorandum on mutual cooperation of the countries
was signed.

THE TIME HAS COME TO AGREE ON BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RESOLUTION – JOINT STATEMENT OF OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR COUNTRIES
Author: R.Abdullayev

TREND, Azerbaijan
May 24 2006

The time has come for both the sides in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to
reach agreement on basic principles of settlement. Russia, France,
the US underline the international community’s belief in peaceful
settlement of the conflict, Trend reports referring to joint statement
of OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries issued May 24 in Baku.

The statement says Azerbaijan and Armenia shall prepare their people
for peace, for to war.

Daniel Freed, Assistant to US Secretary of State, said the meetings
with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov
have been led during the visit to Baku, discussing important aspects
of future settlement of the conflict and working out the options of
meeting of president of the two countries in the closest future.

“Our discussions in Baku were constructive. We are heading for
Yerevan tomorrow and then we will return to our capitals to brief
our leaders”,- US official said.

In turn, Grigory Karasin, deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, said this
joint mission is an extraordinary event. It must be taken as a sign
of the seriousness with which OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries
approach the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement issue, and belief
that the countries are at the point where a mutually beneficial
agreement is achievable. “What happens now will be up to Azerbaijan
and Armenia”, – Karasin said, outlining the mission is leaving Baku
with hope for progress.

ALIYEV CONSIDERS RELATIONS OF HIS COUNTRY WITH RUSSIA TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE

Regnum, Russia
May 23 2006

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that his country’s
relations with Russia have been developing constructive for the last
time; he made the statement on May 23 at a news conference of GUAM
leaders in Kiev, commenting on relations between the two countries,
a REGNUM correspondent informs.

“If we remember practically the whole period of the 90s, so perhaps
most strained relations in the whole post-Soviet space were developing
between our countries,” Aliyev reminded. “There were then both
blockades and illegal arms trafficking at the price of billions into
Armenia, which occupied the Azerbaijani territory. Now, when it is
time to reconsider these processes, we have been trying to focus on
positive things since 2000. The tactic has produced the result and
there are no questions now, which could cause mutual dissatisfaction
between Russia and Azerbaijan. Commodities turnover has increased
twofold during the last two years.”

Also, Aliyev stressed that for Azerbaijan the GUAM is not an
organization against anybody; it means constructive activity aimed
at promotion of mutually beneficial projects. “New realities and
situations appear in Caspian-Black Seas region and we should be ready
for them. We will initiate ourselves and head reformation processes,
and we consider GUAM as means of effective political and economic
cooperation, development of democratic processes in our region. It
is inevitable, that is why we will actively develop the approach,”
the Azerbaijani president stressed.

THE YERKRAMAS: NOT TURKS VOTED FOR ANDRE IN TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.05.2006 17:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The votes of not Turkish population of
Turkey influenced the results of the vote at Eurovision-2006
contest. According to the Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of
Russia, a reader of the newspaper’s internet version from Ankara,
ethnic Armenian reported. In his words, ethnic Turks, not having the
right to vote for the Turkish participant at the Eurovision, merely
ignored the vote. As a result, most of the voters represented not the
Turkish population, but Armenians (including Islamized Armenians and
Cryptoarmenians, i.e. those, who conceal their Armenian origins from
people around them), Kurds, Greeks, Jews and others.

Andre singer, who represented Armenia at Eurovision-2006 was the
second best according to the Turkish vote. This was taken as a
sensation, taking into account the fact that contemporary Turkey has
not recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1915 yet.

NATO PROMOTES OSCE MG ACTIVITIES TO SOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.05.2006 19:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO does not directly participate in the talks
over peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Special
Representative of the NATO Secretary General for the South Caucasus
Robert Simmons stated at a news conference in Yerevan. In his words,
the NATO promotes the OSCE MG activities to solve the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. “As of deployment of NATO peacekeeping forces in the conflict
zone, I think the parties should agree first, and then the issue of
peacekeepers may be raised. Speaking of peacekeepers in the zone of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is still early and the NATO does not
offer its assistance in the matter,” Simmons remarked.

NATO SECRETARY’S GENERAL SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO SOUTH CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA ARRIVES IN ARMENIA ON MAY 22

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 22 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Robert Simmons, the
NATO Secretary’s General Special Representative to South Caucasus and
Central Asia arrives in Armenia on May 22. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, during
the two days working visit, R.Simmons will meet with RA President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, NA Deputy Speaker
Tigran Torosian and other high-ranking officials. R.Simmons’ meeting
with RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian will take place on
early May 22. RA Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian’s and NATO
Sectetary’s General Special Representative’s joint press conference
will take place on late May 23.

BAKU INSISTS ON STEPWISE SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.05.2006 19:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “No one can force Azerbaijan to a compromise not
meeting the interests of the republic,” Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov stated.

In his words, the “stepwise settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
is the most optimal variant.”

“Resolving the problem by a stepwise principle, we will be given
back the territories around Nagorno Karabakh. After the return of
the refugees works for improvement of their living conditions will be
carried out,” Mammadyarov said. He also noted that fixing time for the
conflict settlement forecast by some diplomats in 2006 is incorrect,
reported Day.az.

NK ANALYST: “AFTER THE LISBON SUMMIT RUSSIA BEGAN LOSING GROUND IN THE NK PEACE PROCESS”

Regnum, Russia
May 19 2006

“There has been no significant progress in the settlement of the
Azeri-Karabakh conflict in the last 12 years of truce in the conflict
zone; mostly because the trilateral settlement format Azerbaijan –
Nagorno Karabakh – Armenia ‘departed from life’ in 1997-1998 after the
OSCE Lisbon Summit applied the notorious ‘international law principles’
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” independent Karabakh analyst David
Karabekyan says in an interview to REGNUM.

After that, Russia began gradually losing its initiative, and after
the Lisbon Summit of 1996 “the activity of France and the US, as OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs, got, if not higher, then, at least, not lower
than that of Russia.” “The US’ growing activity in the post-Soviet
area, the victory of color revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia, the
ongoing withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia, demands for their
withdrawal from Transdnestr, rising US-Iranian tensions – this all
has urged the ‘unrecognized’ or ‘unrepresented’ states to look anew
at the problem of their security,” says Karabekyan.

He says that after the overthrow of the Abashidze regime in Ajaria,
liquidation of the Russian military bases in Akhalkalaki (Georgia),
completion of preparations for launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline, creation of the Azerbaijan-Georgian transport corridor
between the Caspian and Black Sea countries, geo-political arc the
US-Turkey-Ukraine-Georgia-Azerbaijan has closed up near the borders of
Armenia in the south, Belarus – in the west and Russia – in the north.

Karabekyan also notes that, apart from being just promising
financially, the transit energy and transport corridor via Azerbaijan
to Europe has inspired Azeri President Ilham Aliyev so much that he
keeps talking about Azerbaijan’s growing role in the South Caucasus.

“Naturally, such conditions will make it easier for Baku to push its
plan of the conflict settlement, and, sooner or later, Yerevan and
Stepanakert will have to reckon with it,” says Karabekyan.