Author: Chilingarian Babken

ARMENIANS CUT RED OAKS IN OCCUPIED LANDS AND SELL ABROAD FOR COGNAC PRODUCTION

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006

Armenians cut red oaks in the occupied Lachin and Gubadli regions
of Azerbaijan, sell abroad for cognac production and use nut trees
as furniture materials. Ecology and Natural resources Ministry told
APA that wild animals are massively hunted in these territories.

“Rules of international ecologic conventions are being violated
and animals are being destroyed in the territories out of control
of Azerbaijan and international structures. Unfortunately, this
ecologic terrorism has not been given its deserving assessment in
international arena. It was made clear through testimonies of former
Azerbaijani captures and by other means that these territories have
been vandalized by Armenians”.

Gubadli State Nature Preserve, one of the greatest State Preserves
of Azerbaijan (22,000 hectare), covers Gubadli’s villages-Basarat,
Deshtahat, Muradkhanli, Amudurkh, Lachin’s villages-Yukhari Ferejan,
Ashagi Ferejan, Suarasi Gishlag, Khanlar and Nagorno Garabagh’s
territories-Khojabird, Arpa Gadik and Tagh villages.

AZERBAIJAN TO PRESENT DOCUMENTS TO PACE DISMISSING ARMENIA’S CLAIMS

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006

Baku, March 28, AssA-Irada
Another slander by Armenia concerning the alleged destruction of
ancient Armenian graves in Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan will
be dismissed at the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe with relevant documents, a member of the Azeri
delegation at PACE, Rafael Huseynov has said.

Huseynov said a document condemning Armenia’s territorial claims on
the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic had already been prepared.

“With the problem of Armenia’s occupation of 20% of Azeri land yet to
be solved, this country has new intentions of aggression and wants to
occupy Nakhchivan. Although they insist that cultural monuments and
Armenian graves have been allegedly destroyed here, the fact is that
there were ancient Azeri and Alban tombstones in these territories.

Certainly, we will raise this issue at the [PACE] committee on science,
education and culture and condemn this policy pursued by Armenians.”

The MP added that these facts will be reflected in various documents.

REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN DIASPORA OF EUROPE CONSIDER INADMISSIBLE ANDRE’S PERFORMING “WITHOUT YOUR LOVE” SONG AT “EUROVISION”

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 28 2006

BRATISLAVA, MARCH 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “An ode to
“unprecedented successes” of the Armenian singer participating in the
“Eurovision” was presented by the “Haylur” program of the RA Public
Television on March 23, to what we, representatives of the Armenian
Diaspora of Europe, had to respond,” is said in the joint statement of
the Armenian community of Vienna, the Armenian Forum of Europe and the
Armenian community of Slovakia. “Dear editorial staff of “Haylur” and
administration of the H1 TV, specialists more or less acquainted with
the Armenia music will fact you that the song performed by singer Andre
has more connection with neighboring Azerbaijani art of singing than
with the Armenian national song. Even more, the song is “cribbed from”
“hits” of Turkish famous singer Tarkan. Certainly, this “Armenian”
song has a chance to arise interest among the European audience,
and this was your only goal. Yes, it’s possible to become famous in
this way and to get points. But at a what price?” representatives
of the Armenian Diaspora of Europe mention. “We state that if this
“hit” is sent to the “Eurovision,” we’ll speak against it and call
on everybody to blame for your not serious action as well,” is said
in the message. To recap, it is spoken about the “Without Your Love”
song performed by Andre which arose opposing responses among the
cultural figures and the society.

DEPUTY MINISTER REFUTES

Lragir.am
28 March 06

On March 28 RA Minister of Defense Arthur Aghabekyan refuted the
information that people of draft age are not allowed to leave the
country. Moreover, the deputy minister wondered how obstinately this
information is circulated in public and in the mass media.

Arthur Aghabekyan emphasized that the high officials of the Ministry
of Defense of Armenia and the minister of defense Serge Sargsyan
himself have refuted this information for a number of times.

AZERI LEADER PRAISES SECURITY SERVICE AS HE UNVEILS HIS FATHER’S BUST

Turan news agency
27 Mar 06

Baku, 27 March: President Ilham Aliyev today visited the academy of
the National Security Ministry and addressed its students on the
occasion of the 87th anniversary of establishment of the security
service. Before that he

he presented a military banner to the academy and inaugurated a hall
of fame and unveiled a bust of [the late President] Heydar Aliyev.

National Security Minister Eldar Mahmudov told the ceremony that the
ministry’s priority is to maintain stability and regain the occupied
land. Positive changes have taken place in the work of the National
Security Ministry lately, he said. Its material-technical base has
been upgraded and the staff’s social security has been improved. The
ministry is actively fighting against terrorism and organized crime.

In his address, President Ilham Aliyev described the sociopolitical
situation in Azerbaijan as “very good”. The security service plays
a significant role in securing the country’s successful development
and achievements.

“The National Security Ministry has been particularly successful
recently,” he said, noting the elimination of gangs of dangerous
criminals and terrorists.

The president said the ministry’s material-technical base should be
upgraded and brought in line with international standards.

Once the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum
gas pipeline are put into operation, “pressure” on Azerbaijan will
increase. Baku is aware of this and is ready to take appopriate
measures.

“We are not interfering in others’ internal affairs and will not let
others interfere in our affairs,” Aliyev said.

The president confirmed Azerbaijan’s committment to the antiterrorist
coalition and the fight against international terrorism.

[Passage omitted: Aliyev on Karabakh]

ALIYEV: “ARMENIA TRIES TO GAIN TIME BY DEMONSTRATING UNCONSTRUCTIVE STANCE”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 27 2006

“Azerbaijan-Armenia, Nagorno Garabagh conflict can be settled in a
political, diplomatic and military way. Though there is still peace
potential, we should be ready for any variant. Armenia should bear
it in mind,” Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said today in his
speech before the staff of National Security Ministry Academy named
after Heydar Aliyev.

The head of state stressed that the conflict can be solved only in the
framework of international juridical norms. President Aliyev underlined
that Armenia tries to gain time by demonstrating unconstructive stance
regarding the settlement of the problem.

PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED IN HERMITAGE WITHIN YEAR OF ARMENIA IN RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.03.2006 18:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A number of projects dedicated to the history and
archeology of Ancient Armenia will be carried out in the Hermitage,
Saint Petersburg in 2006 within the framework of the Year of Armenia
in Russia, Hermitage Director Mikhail Piotrovsky stated at a briefing
that followed a visit to Armenia. “I came back with a set of projects,”
he noted. In his words, some events will be dedicated to the 100th
birthday of Boris Piotrovsky and the Armenian-Russian cooperation.

It should also be noted that the Caucasus halls will open after
restoration in the Hermitage late this year.

When commenting on the possibility of cooperation in other fields,
Piotrovsky marked out the Christian East. “We are bound with common
belonging to the eastern culture and the Hermitage has experience
in the field,” the museum director added. He also informed of some
joint projects with Ukraine and Tajikistan. “The atmosphere created in
the post soviet space contributes to the renaissance of our cultural
ties,” he said. In his words, the restoration of a united cultural
space will be a priority task for the Hermitage.

Regular misinformation of the Azeri media on the violation of the cease-fire
regime

ArmRadio.am
25.03.2006 14:30

The information spread by Azerbaijani media, according to which fire
was opened this morning in the direction of Azeri positions from
Shihlar village in Aghdam region, does not correspond to reality; the
Armenian forces are maintaining the cease-fire regime.

Head of the Information Department of the NKR Defense Army Senor
Hasratyan informs that this morning fire was opened by Azeri Armed
Forces in the direction of the Armenian Defense Army at the Northern
part of the contact line. No victims were registered.

OSKANYAN SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A NOTE

Lragir.am
25 March 06

The reaction to the U.S. Secretariat report on the strategy of
struggle against drugs is acquiring new forms. On March 24 the leader
of the National Unity Artashes Geghamyan again raised this issue. He
said that instead of assuming the role of a translator and explaining
that the report was translated with mistakes, he should have issued a
protest note to the United States, for ` the mentioning of Armenian
government officials is a blow to the national dignity.’ According to
Geghamyan, however, something different happened. Putting together the
American report, the information of the Russian border guards about
the prevention of transit of drugs on the Iran-Armenia border and the
silence of tax and customs services, Geghamyan concludes, `If all this
information was bottled up, logically government officials are
engaged, who can make this silent. And we know who is almighty.’

Another oppositionist, Victor Dallakyan said the parliamentary
majority was reluctant to set up a provisional committee on the
legitimacy of constitutional referendum in 2005, and concluded that
`they are engaged in electoral fraud.’

24-03-2006

Abkhazia: Deeper EU Engagement in South Caucasus Conflicts

The future of the South Caucasus hinges on the sound resolution of its
ethnic conflicts, said the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Europe
and Eurasia on a recent visit to Yerevan.

“The countries will lead a peaceful lifestyle and they will define
their place in the world without any pressure,” said Daniel Freed,
according to Regnum.

But some analysts are less optimistic. It is impossible to resolve the
conflicts in the near future, they say, though the will to do so
should intensify.

Russia has long been the main “peacekeeper” in the South Caucasus. But
with little progress in the past 12 years of negotiations, hopes for a
brighter future have thinned since the 1990s.

Even the West is troubled by the conflicts in the South Caucasus,
perceiving them as a potential threat to regional security and taking
a more active role in their settlement. But the European Union has
been more cautious than the Americans.

In a recent report on “Conflict Resolution in the South Caucasus: The
EU’s Role,” the International Crisis Group (ICG) called for greater
involvement on the part of the European Union, which has an interest
in South Caucasus security, it argues. For an outbreak of war on the
periphery of Europe could spread to involve its core, reports Regnum.

According to Director Sabine Freizer of the ICG Caucasus Program,
Brussels became involved in the South Caucasus conflicts only
recently. The UN is actively engaged in Abkhazia and the OSCE in South
Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

The European Union can do more: not only can it serve as a mediator,
but it can encourage cooperation among the parties by offering deeper
integration into its structures.

“The European Union tries to define its role in new neighborhood where
there is neither peace nor war,” says Director Nicholas Whyte of the
ICG Europe Program. If the EU can’t develop a strategy for South
Caucasus security, argues Director Whyte, then it will lose regional
credibility. Worse still is the possibility of a war breaking out for
which the EU had no effective response.

Why should the EU grow more active in the South Caucasus? For
starters, to ward off the impending threat of conflict. But also, as
several European analysts note, to promote democracy and lasting
political stability.

The EU has other interests in the South Caucasus: access to Caspian
oil and natural gas, reliable communication between Europe and Asia,
and the suppression of drug trafficking, human trafficking and
environmental protection.

While Georgia often tries to distance itself from its South Caucasus
neighbors in its case for joining the EU, European analysts cast doubt
on the accession of any South Caucasus states. Nonetheless, the EU
must recalibrate its approach. It must embrace the action plan of the
European Neighborhood Policy and set out to resolve the South Caucasus
conflicts.

EU strategy should aim to promote a united and strong South
Caucasus. This could lay the groundwork for the peaceful resolution of
South Caucasus conflicts.

While South Caucasus states remain disunited, and local analysts rule
out any future federation, the EU could use the “Stability Pact for
the Caucasus” as the basis of its conflict resolution policy.

Regional cooperation grows more urgent with time – the South Caucasus
cannot escape this.

1991-2006 UNPO – Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
_Source: The Messenger_
( 5_march_23_2006/opi_1075.htm)