Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION IN PACE OPPOSES FULFILLMENT OF SOME OBLIGATIONS BEFORE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Trend News Agency
July 25 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 24 July/ TrendNews, E. Babayev/ The Azerbaijani
delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) is opposing passing Bill on Alternative Military Service.

"This Bill must be discussed in Milli Majlis. If some MPs insist on
passing this Bill, some terms will be set forth for it to take effect,
that is, the alternative military service will not be introduced
in Azerbaijan unless the occupied lands of Azerbaijan are freed,"
Gultakin Hajiyeva, member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE and
MP said to TrendNews on 24 July.

Azerbaijan undertook several obligations in 2001when it was admitted
to the Council of Europe. One of them is to pass a Bill on Alternative
Military Service. At present, the parliament is developing this Bill.

According to Hajiyeva, Azerbaijan has fulfilled all obligations before
the Council of Europe excluding the Bill on Alternative Military
Service. "There are reasonable grounds in this regard. About 20% of the
Azerbaijani lands have been occupied. There is no need to pass this
Bill which creates conditions to deviate from the military service,"
Hajiyeva said.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and
Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active
hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia,
France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful, but fruitless
negotiations.

KARADZIC – WAR CRIMINAL OR NATIONAL HERO?

Azg
July 24 2008
Armenia

Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has been arrested.

More specifically, Serbs have arrested a Serb and put him on a military
court trial. Karadzic is accused of committing war crimes in Bosnia. In
other words, Karadzic is accused of protecting the interests of Serbs
with too much diligence or patriotism.

Oh, those double standards…

What is patriotism and the striving to protect the security and
interests of one’s own nation and people and what is international
terrorism and Bin-Ladenism; what is implementation of international
arrangements and what is awkward servility-careerism; what is
a complaint against the leader of a state and what is indirect
collaboration with the enemy… [ellipses as given] It seems that
one can get lost in these ifs and thens, but it only seems. In fact,
everything is much clearer, much more cynical – the rules of the
global game are established and their implementation is controlled
by the global superpowers, let’s say the USA, Masonry-Zionism, some
other state or organization.

Who can unambiguously state that dictatorship in a country is
more harmful for the people of that country than the experience
of introducing democracy with bombing on the part of a foreign
country. Iraq’s example is great, the long-suffering people of which
"went from one evil to another" – from years of fear under Saddam’s
rule into, this time, fear of everyday terrorist acts, law violations
and violence intended to establish public order or carried out under
the name of it. Only instability, distrust and uncertainty have
increased. It is, of course, true that "fighting is not sweet", but
it is also true that it is the same for an ordinary Iraqi whether his
child dies of a bullet of a local killer or a foreign "peacekeeper".

The situation is about the same in former Yugoslavia. Who benefited
from Yugoslavia’s collapse? It seemed that all the countries that it
previously was comprised of. It seemed. Now one can be sure that not
all of them [benefited], and Serbia in the first place.

One can cite more examples and numerous convincing and non-convincing
arguments, but does that make sense? Nothing at all will change if
one learns a lesson, if it is not late, the game and the players will
remain the same.

All this is sad. It seems that we, the Armenians, should not be very
much interested in what the Serb children will be told about Karadzic –
whether he is a hero or a terrorist and murderer. Only if we, as a
nation, do not have similar artificial doubts.

NOT EVERYONE ACCEPTS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 23, 2008
Armenia

Deputy Assistant Secretary of RF Security Council, Army General
Yury Baluyevsky made a sharp statement in the address of the USA:
"One super power dictates its own formula to all the countries of the
world – guaranteed national security, independence, sovereignty at
the price of losses. But not every country accepts the existence of
one super power, though the USA will try to confirm its super power
in all the parts of the world."

"HERITAGE" MAKES INQUIRIES

A1+
22 July, 2008

On July 17 and 21 members of the "Heritage" Party sent inquiries to the
RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian, Chief of Police Alik Sargsian,
Head of the Office of Supervisory Services at the President’s Office
Hovanes Hovsepian and Director of the RA National Security Service
Gorik Hakobian, asking if the newspaper reports on election fraud,
election bribes, and other violations during the parliamentary
elections of May 13, 2007 and the presidential elections of February
19, 2008 have been viewed as crime reports, and if so, what measures
have been taken in that respect.

HAJI ALLAHSHUKUR PASHAZADEH: "FALSEHOOD AND TREASON RUN IN ARMENIANS’ BLOOD"

Today.Az
July 22 2008
Azerbaijan

Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Sheikh-ul-Islam Haji
Allahshukur Pashazadeh voiced strong condemnations to Armenians.

According to APA, Sheikh-ul-Islam has met with the head of Los
Angeles Tolerance Center Rabbi Abraham Cooper at his residence on
Tuesday. He said Armenians wanted to bring Nagorno Karabakh conflict
to the religious confrontation.

"We proved that this conflict is of political nature".

Pashazadeh said several days ago Bibiheybat Mosque was opened. He
noted that this mosque was destroyed during Soviet regime in 1934
as many others in various regions of Azerbaijan, but churches and
synagogues, including Armenian church in Baku, were protected in the
country. Pashazadeh said Azerbaijan wanted to solve Nagorno Karabakh
conflict peacefully, but the opposite side didn’t show sincerity.

"We are making all efforts to solve this problem peacefully and holding
meetings for this goal, but we don’t see results of these meetings,
because falsehood and treason run in Armenian’s blood. They ate our
bread, but spoke against us while leaving".

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WILL NOT HOLD DIALOG WITH OPPOSITION LEADER

Interfax News Agency
July 21 2008
Russia

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan does not want dialog with opposition
leader, ex-president Levon Ter- Petrossian.

"Dialog implies communication with people, the society, not between the
president and a certain individual," he told a Monday press briefing
in Yerevan.

"What should we talk about if their only demand is an early
presidential election? Should we talk about the time of the new
election? We are tired of elections, and the next election Armenia
has will be regular," he said.

Asked whether Armenia can fulfill the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe (PACE) resolutions on time, Sargsyan said,
"If we fail to do something, nothing terrible will happen."

The PACE adopted the resolutions after the March riots in Yerevan,
when ten people were killed and over 250 wounded in clashes between
the opposition and the police. The resolutions said that Armenia
must hold an independent investigation into the March events, free
political prisoners and guarantee citizens’ rights to rallies. If
the demands are not fulfilled by the PACE session of January 2009,
Armenia may lose its vote.

"It would be desirable to find a solution as soon as possible, but
it is wrong to set any time limit. Armenia volunteered to take the
commitments, and it would fulfill them," Sargsyan said.

ARMENIAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SPIES ATTEMPTED TO CROSS STATE BORDER OF AZERBAIJAN

Axis Information & Analysis
July 21 2008

Eurasian Secret Services Daily Review:

Armenia’s Defense Minister has refuted information of the Defense
Ministry of Azerbaijan about an attempt of a group of Armenian military
intelligence spies to cross the state border of the neighboring
country, online paper Day.Az reports.

"This announcement is another propagandist action of Baku, which
does not fall within any reasonable frames", Russian news agency
Interfax cites spokesman for Armenian Defense Minister, Seyran
Shahsuvaryan. "Moreover, such disinformation threatens the negotiation
process on the peaceful resolution of Upper Karabakh conflict",
added Shahsuvaryan.

Spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry, Eldar Sabiroghlu, told the
press that a group of Armenian military spies attempted to cross the
Azerbaijan’s border in the direction of the Aghdam village of Tovuz on
July 19. He said their attempt was averted by the Azerbaijan servicemen
and one of the Armenians was killed while the rest retreated. The
body and the gun of the killed Armenian military spy, Gor Mikhailovich
Manasyan, remained on the Azerbaijani side of the border, Day.Az adds.

News agencies have been pointing out that Armenia and Azerbaijan
remain locked in a tense stand-off over the enclave of Upper Karabakh,
where ethnic Armenian forces took control during a war in the early
1990s that killed thousands and forced nearly a million people on both
sides to flee their homes. Agence France Presse notes that a ceasefire
was signed between the two former Soviet republics in 1994 but the
dispute remains unresolved after more than a decade of negotiations,
and shootings are common; up to 16 soldiers were killed in a clash
last month.

ARASIM MUSABEKOV: "TURKEY’S SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT TO US, BUT AZERBAIJAN IS NOT STRONGLY DEPENDENT ON TURKEY IN THE ISSUE OF PROTECTION OF NATIONAL INTERESTS"

Today.Az
July 21 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with famous political scientist Rasim Musabekov.

– High ranking representatives of Turkey and Armenia have had secret
talks on normalization of relations between the two countries…

– Frankly speaking, it is difficult to me to call the meeting even
as talks. There are numerous problems in the bilateral relations
between Armenia and Turkey. I do not see anything incredible in
it. The United States and Iran also support contacts on the level of
diplomatic relations.

Why can’t Turkey and Armenia maintain such contacts? Azerbaijan and
Armenia are also in a state of war, still we hold negotiations with
Armenians.

I think the said secret talks can not be effective, as Armenia does
not intend to disavow its territorial claims to Turkey and "genocide
of Armenians". Armenian diaspora organizations throughout the world
will continue works for recognition of the "genocide of Armenians".

– Do you think the soonest opening of borders between Turkey and
Armenia is possible?

– Even if Turkey opens borders with Armenia, it will not give
anything, for nothing will pass Armenia until Azerbaijan opens
its borders. Georgian road is closed due to the Abkhaz problem and
Azerbaijani section of the border is closed by the well-known reasons.

The talks about the soonest opening of borders by Turkey and Armenia’s
getting a window to the world are unfounded.

And finally, Turkish public opinion will not allow the government to
sign a cynical deal with Armenians, even if they attempt to settle
problems with Armenia at Azerbaijan’s cost.

I can not say that interests of Turkey and Azerbaijan fully coincide,
for example in the gas issue. Azerbaijan is interested in the
implementation of large scale gas projects, while Turkey wishes to
purchase Azerbaijani gas by law prices and sell it on the European
market.

Anyway, our interests fully coincide in the strategic issues. And I
do not think that Ankara is ready to sacrifice strategic relations
with Azerbaijan in favor of concessions to Armenia, which would bring
no profit.

– As is known, the Armenian president invited his Turkish counterpart
to Yerevan to watch a football match between the combined teams of
Turkey and Armenia. Do you think the Turkish President will visit
Yerevan, taking into account the announcement of Turkish Foreign
Minister that this issue is being considered and all depends on the
processes, preceding the match?

– The invitation is connected with definite actions of the
Turkish side-opening of borders. In this sense, borders will not
opened. Acceptance of the invitation will not be useful for the
President and the ruling party of Turkey.

Even if Abdullah Gul visits Yerevan, it will not cause damage to
Azerbaijan. We have firm demands and they will not change depending
on whether the Turkish President will visit Yerevan or not.

Hypothetically, Abdullah Gul’s visit is possible. To visit a country
with which you have no diplomatic relation, would hardly be appropriate
for the Turkish president. Presidents do not tour the world much in
the practice, common in Turkey.

– Anyway, if borders between Turkey and Armenia open…

– I want to repeat-this will not be effective. We do not lose anything
from it. The most important is the opening of the Azerbaijani border. I
have read the versions, according to which Azerbaijan will surrender
its positions within almost a day, following the opening of the
Turkish border. This is a complete nonsense.

Turkey’s support is indeed important to us, but Azerbaijan does not
depend on Turkey so much in the issue of national interests protection.

IRAN CAN MEDIATE FOR RECONCILIATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.07.2008 13:24 GMT+04:00

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki spoke by phone to his
Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian during his recent visit to
Ankara, hailing positive developments between Ankara and Yerevan.

Iranian news agency IRNA said Iran, as a powerful and stable country in
the region, can bring about reconciliation between estranged neighbors
Turkey and Armenia.

The report of the telephone conversation between Mottaki and Nalbandian
indicates that a series of positive developments between Turkey and
Armenia may also be on the agenda.

In his phone conversation with Nalbandian, Mottaki expressed hope
that positive developments in Armenia-Turkey relations would help
strengthen regional peace and friendship, according to the IRNA.

In a further sign of readiness to normalize ties, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan proposed "a fresh start" in relations with Turkey
in an article published in The Wall Street Journal earlier this
month. Sargsyan also invited Gul to a World Cup qualifying match
between Armenian and Turkish teams in September. Officials say the
invitation is still under consideration and that the president will
decide according to developments.

As Azerbaijan’s ally, Turkey severed diplomatic relations with Armenia
in 1993 over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Ankara also denies claims that Armenians were subjected to genocide
during World War I and says "both Armenians and Turks died in civil
strife that erupted after Anatolian Armenians took up arms against
the Ottoman state in search of independence," Today’s Zaman reports.

Aravot, Armenia
July 19 2008

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION RALLIES IN CAPITAL, DEMANDS RELEASE OF PRISONERS

The Armenian opposition staged protests in the capital Yerevan on 18
July as the country’s president marked his 100 days in office, the
Aravot daily reported.

The protesters rallied outside the Prosecutor-General Office, the
Justice Ministry’s penitentiary department, the Government Building
and the presidential residence, demanding free speech and release of
all political prisoners, the report said.

The wives of those arrested following the post-election riots of 1
March and members of the Committee for the Protection of Political
Prisoners attended the rally near the Prosecutor-General office,
Aravot said.

Outside the presidential residence, the protesters demanded that all
political prisoners be released and the persecution of opposition
members is stopped. Members of the youth movement Hima chanted slogans
against President Serzh Sargsyan, Aravot said.