Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 15 2008

Azerbaijan Opposition Considers Possible to Devise Single Conception
on Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Settlement
15.11.08 11:20

Azerbaijan, Baku, 14 November / TrendNews , corr. A.Huseynbla / The
opposition parties of Azerbaijan consider it possible to devise a
single conception on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

`I do not think that there is a difference of opinion in opposition
parties’ preparation of a single conception on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement,’ Etibar Mammadov, Leader of Azerbaijan National
Independence Party (ANIP), told TrendNews on 14 November.

Up to now, Azerbaijani opposition has not achieved to devise a single
conception on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. Although the
political parties have pack of proposals, a single document has not
been prepared.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these
territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. 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 USA) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

Mammadov said that indeed, both government and opposition supports the
solution of the problem within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and
international principles.

`Opposition can make a single conception,’ Mammadov added.

`Opposition’s devising a single conception is possible,’ Sulhaddin
Akber, chairman of Assembly of Musavat Party, told TrendNews on 14
November.

In 1999, Musavat Party prepared `Ugur’ pack of proposals envisaging
the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. The principles in the document were made
publicly available.

He said that during 8 November meeting of the Assembly of Musavat
Party, the conception was approved, taking into consideration the
processes in the world and region.

`The leaders can make a decision on the single conception. I think
that there can not be difference of opinion amongst the opposition
parties,’ Akbar said.

`I consider that if a necessity appears to devise a new conception,
the provisions specified in Karabakh Charter can be used,’ Eldar
Namazov, President of public union `For Azerbaijan’, told TrendNews on
14 November.

Formerly Karabakh Charter was prepared with the participation of the
opposition parties. This document was presented to the Government of
Azerbaijan, all public-political organizations of the country, as well
as international community. The Charter was signed by more than 600
organizations.

`The proposals of opposition have been presented both to the community
and co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group,’ Lale Shovkat, Leader of
National Unity Movement, told TrendNews on 14 November.

She says that the basic principle in the conflict solution must be
inviolability of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

`Unfortunately, two questions in the international law norms `
territorial integrity of states and self-determination right of the
nations ` contradict each other. We did not make right to present the
solution of the conflict to the international arena 15 years ago. I
think that it would be more exact to settle the conflict inside the
country. It is already late, the issue in the focus of attention of
the international community. For this reason, the solution of the
conflict depends on the international law norms,’ Shovkat said.

The Leader of Movement considers that in order to realize
international norms, geo-political consensus on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement should exist in South Caucasus. `Without
consensus, we will not settle the conflict. Because the interests of
Russia and the West confuse in South Caucasus. If indeed Russia and
the West can come to consensus, it will be possible to settle the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,’

BRILLIANT START OF ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS

armradio.am
14.11.2008 13:30

Armenian chess players made a brilliant start at the 38th Chess
Olympiad in Dresden.

In the first round of the tournament the men’s team, current Olympic
Champion, defeated the team of Italy 4:0. Levon Aronyan defeated
Fabiano Caruano, Vladimir Hakobyan beat Sikele Godena. Gabriel
Sargsyan and Tigran Petrosyan defeated Luka Shitaji and Sabino
Berunelli respectively.

In the second round the Armenian chess players will meet the team
of Moldova.

In the women’s competition the Armenian team defeated Italians 3.5:0.5.

In the second round the Armenian women’s team will meet the Czechs.

Fourteen Armenians play in teams representing different countries. The
chief coach of the Russian team is Yuri Dokhoyan.

KHAZAR IBRAHIM: "OPINIONS OF SERZH SARGSYAN CONTRADICT MOSCOW DECLARATION"

Azeri Press Agency
Nov 11 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. "Statements made by Serzh Sargsyan in
Brussels contradict Moscow Declaration", Khazar Ibrahim, Spokesman
for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told APA.

He stated that Moscow Declaration covered solution to Nagorno Karabakh
conflict basing on decisions, documents adopted within the framework
of international norms and principles.

"All decisions and documents envisage territorial integrity and
self-determination of people within territorial integrity", he
said. The diplomat added that Moscow Declaration covered settlement
of the conflict in stages.

"The stages may envisage withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from
Azerbaijan, return of IDPs to their homelands and determination of
the status within the territory of Azerbaijan", he said.

HOW DO THEY SPEND THE INVESTMENTS OF ARMENIAN RAILWAY?
K.Beglaryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
11 Nov 08
Armenia

1,8 Million Dollars For The Reconstruction Of The Electric Locomotive

According to available information "South Caucasian Railway" is
going to say a new word to the history of the world economy. The
reconstruction of one electric locomotive, which is realized in
Georgia, is more expensive than the reconstruction of a plane. How
can this be explained? Does the principle of "kickback" work here?

The Wagons Reconstructed By Four Times More Expensive Price

Besides purchasing dozens expensive cars and apartments (we have
already touched upon this issue) the company has sent another part of
the invested dollars for the refreshment of the rolling stock. Alas
there is an impression that this was done not for solving the primary
problems faced by the railway, but for money-laundry and exaggerating
the investments.

Otherwise it is unclear why they did this work by four times more
expensive price.

The wagons of Armenian railway have been reconstructed in Georgia. They
have signed an agreement, which is four times more expensive than the
reconstruction of Georgian or any other country’s wagons. Of course
the leadership of the company can reason that there are different types
of reconstruction: depot, capital, etc. and the costs of course differ.

But the problem is far not here. The conversation is about the
wagons in the same technical state. If in case of other companies the
reconstruction of half-wagon cost 8-10 thousand dollars, the Armenian
wagons were reconstructed for 40 thousand dollars.

The Armenian electrical locomotive has also been reconstructed
in Georgian locomotive depot, for 1,8 million dollars. It is more
expensive than the reconstruction of a plane. Whereas according to
the specialists 200 thousand dollars is quite enough for the work of
similar volume.

Let’s explain what is "kickback". For example the work X costs 2
dollars. But the two parties come to an agreement to do the work for
10 dollars. They share the remaining 8 dollars. The documents are ok,
everyone is pleased.

But why?

The concessionary manager has got investment obligations, which must be
fulfilled. So we can presume that these exaggerations were intentional
to show later that they have done more than they have promised.

But it is difficult to say whether or not the Armenian railway will
benefit from it. By the way we have similar precedents.

To Be Continued

GALUST SAHAKIAN ELECTED HEAD OF RA NA RPA FACTION

Noyan Tapan

Nov 11, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Galust Sahakian was unanimously
elected head of the RA National Assembly RPA faction at the RPA
Board sitting convened late in the evening of November 10. He also
headed the faction in the NA of the previous convocation. As Noyan
Tapan correspondent was informed by RPA Spokesperson, NA deputy
E. Sharmazanov, G. Sahakian’s candidature was the only one and was
nominated by RA President, RPA Chairman Serzh Sargsyan.

It should be mentioned that the post was vacant from September 30,
after former head of the faction Karen Karapetian was appointed head
of the RA President’s administration.

PRESS RELEASE
For Further Information, please contact:
Ms. Gloria Caudill, Administrator
Armenian Studies Program
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Tel: (734) 763-0622
Email: [email protected]

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN UNVEILS ARCHIVE OF HUNCHAKIAN LEADER
Ann Arbor. At a special event organized on October 31, the
Armenian Studies Program and Special Collections of the University of
Michigan unveiled the archive of Hamparzoum Arzoumanian, a leader of
the Hnchakian Party from 1891 to 1909.
The Arzoumanian Archive, consisting of some 1200 pages of
party related and personal correspondence, Hnchakian Center circulars
and related materials, mostly in Armenian, had been donated to the
University of Michigan by the granddaughter of the Hnchakian leader,
Mrs. Marguerite Harms, and the Arzoumanian family, some time ago. The
archive was organized and documents classified recently.
Hamparzoum Arzoumanian was born in historic Gantzak; he
started his political activities in Tabriz, Iran, as a field worker
for the party and continued as organizer, propagandist and ideologue
in Russia, Europe, and the United States until his death in New York
in 1909, where his life ended at age 43 as a factory worker. His
archive spreads light on a variety of issues, including the battles
within the Hnchakian Party, the organization of chapters in places
like Baku, Novorossisk and cities in the US. Throughout his life he
remained a staunch believer in socialism and its relevance to the
Armenian struggle for liberation. Throughout his career Arzoumanian
had the full support of his wife Sona.
More than 60 faculty members, students, administrators and
members of the family participated in the presentation of the
archives. Fifteen grandchildren and their offspring had traveled to
Ann Arbor from California, Pennsylvania and other states to attend the
event and learn about the Arzoumanians.
Ms. Margaret McKinley, Director of Development of the
University Libraries opened the evening with remarks on the value of
special collections and archives. Ms. Peggy Daub, Director of Special
Collections discussed the place of the Arzoumanian Archive in the
Special Collections. Historian Dr. Nora Nercessian, special consultant
for the project and organizer of the Arzoumanian Archive, presented
the life of the Arzoumanians and the contents of the archive, while
Prof. Gerard Libaridian, Director of the Armenian Studies Program,
assessed the value of the archive for Armenian and regional history.
The Arzoumanian Archive is currently being digitized and
placed on the website of the University Special Collections
gradually. Information regarding the Arzoumanian papers and the
documents themselves can be accessed on the web at
-idx?c=sclead&idno=umich-scl-arzoumanian
or through the University Special Collections (History) and Armenian
Studies Program websites; the archive is also open to researchers who
wish to access them at the Special Collections.
"One reason we wanted to organize this event and present the
Arzoumanian Archive is to encourage others to preserve family papers
and prod organizations to open their archives to researchers," stated
Prof. Libaridian. "The Armenian Studies Program and the Special
Collections at the University of Michigan are ready to assist in
achieving these goals, including receiving papers, organizing them and
making them available to researchers in a safe and professional
environment."

BOX: UNDERDOG DARCHINYAN CREATES HISTORY WITH KNOCKOUT WIN
by Peter Mitchell

AAP Newsfeed
November 2, 2008 Sunday 3:27 PM AEST
Australia

Vic Darchinyan announced himself as his country’s newest boxing
superstar today, becoming the first Australian since Kostya Tszyu
to unify a division with a brutal knockout of Mexican glamour boy
Cristian Mijares.

Darchinyan’s stunning upset made him the the first man to unify the
super flyweight division, adding the World Boxing Council, World
Boxing Association belts to his International Boxing Federation title.

The Armenian-born power puncher knocked Mijares down with a vicious
uppercut in the first round, pummelled him over the next seven and
finished him off in the ninth with a powerful straight left.

The Home Depot Center, located in Los Angeles’ southern suburbs, was
packed with Mexican boxing fans screaming for Darchinyan’s blood,
but the stadium was left deathly silent by his demolition of the
feted Mijares.

The fight ended with Mijares flat on his back and a doctor rushing
to his aid.

The 27-year-old Mexican went into the fight as a short-priced
favourite, with bookmakers from Las Vegas to Alice Springs not giving
Darchinyan much chance.

The US media also wrote Darchinyan off.

A poll of 31 of America’s top boxing writers released on the eve of
the fight had just six willing to predict the Australian would win.

Darchinyan used it as motivation.

At a jubilant post-fight press conference Darchinyan, who had predicted
he would knock Mijares out, made the American press eat their words.

"All the writers, did I keep my promise?" a feisty Darchinyan,
32, asked.

"Did I?

"I told you what I would do.

"I said I was going to destroy him and knock him out.

"I delivered."

Mijares, a skilled technical boxer, could not match Darchinyan’s power.

The upper-cut that first flattened him came with 20 seconds left in
round one, allowing Mijares to stumble to his feet and be saved by
the bell.

The bout-ending left also came late in the ninth, with just eight
seconds left, but this time Mijares was unable to get up.

Mijares was too dazed to give interviews after the fight, but managed
to walk from the ring.

Darchinyanfell in love with Australia while a member of the Armenian
boxing team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and became a citizen in 2004.

The last Australian to unify a division was Tszyu, who first won the
IBF, WBC and WBA light welterweight belts in 2001 with an equally
stunning knockout upset over then rising star, American Zab Judah.

The win gives Darchinyan a 31 win (25 knockout), one loss, one draw
professional record.

Darchinyan and his American promoter, Gary Shaw, said they may look
to higher weight divisions for big money fights.

Mijares, who had a 25-fight winning streak before today, now has a
36 win (15 KO), four loss, two draw record.

Earlier at the Home Center, Darchinyan’s Sydney stable-mate Victor
Oganov suffered a controversial loss in his super middleweight world
title elimination fight against hyped American Andre Direll.

Russian-born Oganov protested angrily when referee Ray Corona stopped
the fight 30 seconds into the sixth round.

Oganov was hit with an upper-cut before the stoppage and had taken
a barrage of blows in the earlier rounds, but was still on his feet
and ready to continue when the fight was halted.

"The main thing is the safety of the fighter," Corona explained.

"He took some heavy blows."

Oganov was also not given much of a chance of victory, with
unbeaten Direll, a bronze medallist at the 2004 Athens Olympics,
the overwhelming favourite and hyped as one of the division’s top
prospects.

The win gives Direll a shot at the World Boxing Organisation’s super
middleweight title.

ARMENIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST: "AZERBAIJAN IS A SERIOUS ECONOMIC, GEOPOLITICAL AND GEOPOLITICAL POWER IN THE REGION"

Today.Az
litics/48772.html
Nov 5 2008
Azerbaijan

"The trilateral meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Russia in Moscow is a logical continuation of the Russian policy, aimed
at establishment of its dominating position in the South Caucasus",
considers Ruben Akopyan, political scientist and head of the center
of political analysis.

The expert considers that the conflict in South Ossetia in August of
2008 showed the seriousness of Russia’s intention to defend its rights
in the region and the new stage of the Karabakh conflict settlement
will base on Russia’s interests.

"The declaration must be considered in the context of the whole
regional development of events, rather than a separate attempt of
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The South Ossetian conflict
formed a new situation and this stage of the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict must be considered as a logical continuation of
this new stage", said he.

According to Akopyan, the main lesson of the South Ossetian conflict
is that Russia proved that it has national interests in the said region
and is ready to protect its rights by any means, including forced.

"Russia tries to fully embrace this region under its influence thus
preserving peace here. The new stage of developments in the Karabakh
problem settlement should be considered in this context. Russia will
come out from its interests in the resolution of the Karabakh problem",
said Ruben Akopyan.

The political scientist also considers that under Russia’s patronage
Azerbaijan has more advantages than Armenia in the resolution of the
Karabakh problem.

"Azerbaijan is a serious economic, geopolitical and geographical
power in the region. Such a strong factor as a presence of the
Azerbaijan-Turkey alliance should also be attributed here. Russia
also does not mind becoming the transit country for transportation
Azerbaijani energy sources to Europe or use its energy sources as
a consumer and having Azerbaijan among its friends, Russia will,
in fact, settle the issue of her hegemony in the region.

Therefore, today Russia tries to please Azerbaijan. But it is clear
that Russia should pay something for it. The issue of Karabakh is in
the basket of methods of "pleasing" Azerbaijan. Time will show how
Russia will use this component. Armenia has nothing to give Russia,
we have already given everything that we had. In the future, Armenia
may also have some advantages.

Thus, at the current stage the process of the Karabakh conflict
resolution is in favor of the Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance, which
is obvious. It has always been like that: if interests of Russia
and Turkey coincide in something, Armenia always loses", said the
political scientist.

ILHAM ALIYEV: "TURKEY-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS HAVE VERY SERIOUS POSITIVE IMPACT ON REGIONAL PROCESSES"

Azeri Press Agency
Nov 5 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Mayis Alizadeh-APA. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met
with President of Turkey Abdullah Gul within his official visit to
Turkey, APA Turkish bureau reports. The meeting was developed with the
participation of the delegations. The presidents made announcement
for media after the negotiations. President Gul said he was glad
that Ilham Aliyev made his first visit after the re-election to
Turkey. He said he discussed with his Azerbaijani counterpart the
stability and security in the Caucasus, Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
economic cooperation, as well as results of US presidential elections.

Abdullah Gul said a new situation was created in the Caucasus. "The
Caucasian countries are interested in peaceful solutions to the
problems of the region, including Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Turkey
has an important role in the new era began in the Caucasus".

Gul said he welcomed the declaration signed in Moscow.

In his turn, President Aliyev also noted that he made his first
official visit after the re-election to Turkey. "It shows the highest
level of our relations. Turkey-Azerbaijan bilateral relations were
established after Azerbaijan restored its independence, but before
our peoples were living and supporting each other throughout the
centuries".

ANCA BACKS CONGRESSMAN MCCAUL, OPPONENT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL CAMPAIGN

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2008 14:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee – Political Action
Committee (ANC-PAC) has endorsed Congressman McCaul’s reelection
campaign, ANCA told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Congressman Michael McCaul, a conservative Lone Star State Republican,
is now locked in a close race against Democratic lawyer Larry Joe
Doherty. According to Congressional Quarterly Politics, the latest
polls in the race show that McCaul is only narrowly ahead of Doherty,
despite the fact that President Bush carried his congressional district
with 61 percent of the vote in 2004.

Despite a personal phone call from President Bush in October of 2007
urging him to participate in Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide,
Congressman Michael McCaul politely refused. In fact, days later
he would vote, as a member of the powerful House Foreign Affairs
Committee, to pass the Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res.106).

"We are pleased that a number of ANC-PAC supporters are providing
financial support and assistance on the ground for Congressman McCaul
in Texas’ 10th District," remarked an ANC-PAC spokesperson. "The
Armenian American community in and around Austin understands that
Congressman McCaul is a principled leader on human rights issues and
look forward to voting for him on November 4th," added the spokesperson
According to a report required by the Foreign Agents Registration Act
(FARA), a lobbying company hired by a foreign government, the Republic
of Turkey, has consistently sought to urge the Congressman to deny
the Armenian Genocide. Led by the former House Democratic Leader
Dick Gephardt, the DLA Piper lobbying firm has repeatedly sought
to encourage McCaul to ignore the murder of 1.5 million Armenian
Christians by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Impressively, Congressman
McCaul has rejected all efforts by Turkish lobbying firms to deny the
reality of the Armenian Genocide. FARA was enacted in 1938 and is a
disclosure statute that requires persons acting as agents of foreign
principals in a political or quasi-political capacity to make periodic
public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal,
as well as activities, receipts and disbursements in support of
those activities.

Congressman McCaul is currently serving his second term representing
Texas’ 10th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 10th
Congressional District in the Lone Star State stretches across 8
counties from Austin to the Houston suburbs, and includes Austin,
Bastrop, Burleson, Harris, Lee, Travis, Washington and Waller
Counties. Prior to coming to Congress, Michael McCaul served as Chief
of Terrorism and National Security in the U.S. Attorney’s office in
Texas, and led the Joint Terrorism Task Force charged with detecting,
deterring and preventing terrorist activity. Congressman McCaul also
served as Texas Deputy Attorney General under current U.S. Senator
John Cornyn, and served as a federal prosecutor in the Department of
Justice’s Public Integrity Section in Washington, D.C.

Congressman McCaul is a fourth generation Texan, who earned a
B.A. in Business and History from Trinity University and holds a
J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law. He is also a graduate
of the Senior Executive Fellows Program of the School of Government,
Harvard University.