Author: Nahapetian Lilit

TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA JOIN IN A MILITARY ECSTASY?
By Gayane MOVSISSIAN

Yerkir.am
March 10, 2007

The process of formation of the military alliance between Turkey,
Azerbaijan and Georgia (this possibility has been widely discussed
in the context of protection of regional oil- and gas pipelines) has
recently emerged in the context of Azerbaijan’s possible accession
to NATO.

This week Baku-based Zerkalo newspaper wrote, referring to diplomatic
sources, that Azerbaijan is in principle ready to address Brussels
with an official request for joining NATO but does not do so because
there are no security guarantees. NATO gives no security guarantees
to applicant countries in the 3-5 year period when membership in the
organization is being negotiated. Baku is afraid that the "unfriendly
countries" surrounding Azerbaijan – Russia, Armenia and Iran – will
exert additional mechanisms to pressure Azerbaijan.

In such cases, the issue of security guarantees for NATO applicant
states is usually solved through a bilateral treaty for military and
political cooperation with USA. However, USA has limited possibilities
for such a treaty with Azerbaijan. "Article 907 of the Freedom Support
Act does not allow violating the parity between military assistance
to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Today US can provide military assistance to Azerbaijan indirectly
through various NATO programs. However, this will not be sufficient
in case a crisis situation arises," Zerkalo’s source stated. This
is why several alternatives for settling this issue are currently
under discussion.

The first option is connected with Washington’s expectations of
settling the Karabagh conflict in the first half of 2007, an option
that is not likely to take place.

The second option would be signing a treaty that would allow temporary
dislocation of "foreign primarily American troops" in Azerbaijan in
case of " threats to the pipelines and oil fields". However, this
option is not 100% viable either.

The third option is that another NATO member state, for instance
Turkey, could be the guarantor of Azerbaijan’s security. Zerkalo’s
source indicated that active negotiations are underway in this
direction. A package of treaties is under development to regulate
military and political cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey on
the one hand, and Turkey and Georgia on the other.

The recent exchange of high-ranking military delegations between Baku
and Ankara is connected with preparation of these treaties. However,
this option has its drawbacks as well. Turkey’s increased military
presence in Azerbaijan can result in aggravation of relations
between Turkey and Russia on the one hand, and Turkey and Iran on
the other. This goes against Turkey’s interests because the latter
depends on the energy resources of Russia and Iran. Besides, not all
western countries are interested in increased Turkish presence in the
South Caucasus. Armenia would be the first country not to be happy
with Turkey’s increased military presence in the region because the
latter’s policies pose a direct threat to Armenia’s national security.

The possible consequences of military actions against Iran are equally
disturbing for Armenia and the region in general. The Russian experts
comment on Pentagon’s plans to explode Iran from within in a book
titled "Introduction to the Future. The World in 2020." Commenting
on Pentagon’s plans to use 25-30 million Azeris living in Iran to
divide the country the Russian experts assume that if something like
this takes place, Turkey will emerge as the only stabilizing force
in the region. At the same time, the Turks will not be able to avoid
interference in a conflict in which their kin nation is involved.

They would have to take up the military control of Southern Azerbaijan.

Therefore, irrespective of how this will be formulated in terms of
treaties, a united military and political space involving Turkey,
Northern Cyprus, Southern Azerbaijan and the Republic of Azerbaijan
will emerge with a population of 110 million people. Turkmenistan,
including Turk-populated regions of Iran and Azerbaijan, as well as
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbek-populated Mazari-Shariff
region of Afghanistan will inevitably join such an alliance. In
other words, Turkey’s foreign policy vector will change its European
direction and move towards the Caspian region, Caucasus and the
Central Asia.

There is no need to speak about the consequences of such developments.

OSCE CO-CHAIRS DISCUSS MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS

Today, Azerbaijan
March 13 2007

Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza (US), Bernard Fassier
(France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), mediators in the settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, met in Geneva.

Yuri Merzlyakov told the APA that French co-chair Bernard Fassier
informed the co-chairs of his latest visit to the region.

The co-chairs also discussed the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanyan, which is to
be held in Geneva on Wednesday.

Merzlyakov noted that the co-chairs are preparing for the meeting.

Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers will have the next round
of negotiations for the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with
the participation of the co-chairs.

URL: Turkish diplomats
have been unsuccessful in mustering broad community support against
the non-binding resolution proposed by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who
is Jewish and has a large Armenian constituency. A number of Holocaust
scholars have labeled the massacres, carried out by Ottoman-era Turks,
as a genocide and have called it a precursor to the Holocaust. Ovadya
said such considerations were best left to historians, but claimed
that politically the resolution would harm relations between the
United States and its closest Muslim ally.

HOW TO ATTRACT FOREIGN STUDENTS

A1+
[02:28 pm] 13 March, 2007

Yerevan State University (YSU) is going to implement credit system
in the Magistrates department starting September 2007 and next year
in Bachelor’s department as well. There are some problems about the
Armenian credit system "project".

Firstly, there is no state financial support for business tours based
on the Bolonia declaration article, stating about free move from one
university to another. The number of English speaking professors and
lecturers is very few. There are no dormitories corresponding to
European standards to allow us to host foreign students. In spite
of all these problems, the specialists predict quick solving of
suchlike issues.

Secondly, what if all "minds" move to European universities and never
come back? There might not be any scientist left in the country by
2010, whereas the European Universities do their utmost to "cherish"
their "minds".

YSU vice-dean Alexander Grigoryan, is of different opinion. "We should
not afraid of the flow-out of "minds". After all, the opposite is
also inevitable.

Free movement is the essence of Bolonia activities," he informed
to A1+.

Gagik Torosyan, vice-dean at Yerevan State University of Architecture
counts on the productivity of credit system with some reservations. He
believes that the transmission will not be very easy, it may also fail.

"We are able to create a regional scientific center and compete with a
number of famous universities, if we implement the Bolonia Declaration
clauses thoroughly," he claimed.

Alexander Grigoryan thinks that all the positive things in our
educational system should be considered, and only afterwards Bolonia
requirements can be satisfied. We need to be rather realistic and
not just implement everything existing in Europe."

The experts share the idea that the credit system has some advantages
compared with the traditional system, as it enlarges the role of
a student in his/her education planning aspect transferring into "a
learner- centered" system. The results of course and exams remain after
the term even if the academic year or the term is not fully covered.

According to Alexander Grigoryan, they are a little realistic about
the system and they do not want to implement anything existing in
Europe: "We are going to create national credit system which should
be comparable to that of Europe."

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Azeri leader demands Armenian withdrawal from occupied territories

ITV, Baku
9 Mar 07

President Ilham Aliyev has demanded that Armenia withdraw from
Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and give up its "baseless" claims
against Turkey, warning that Baku may reiterate by laying territorial
claims to Yerevan.

"We are not laying territorial claims to Armenia. However, we can do so
given that the territory which is today’s Armenia is ancient
Azerbaijani-Turkish land," Aliyev told a meeting of Azerbaijani and
Turkish diaspora leaders in Baku on 9 March.

The meeting was also attended by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

"If they [Armenian leaders] care about the future of their own people,
they should change their policy. They should unconditionally withdraw
from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and give up the baseless claims
against Turkey. Otherwise, Armenia’s own fate may come under question,"
President Aliyev told an applauding audience.

"ARMENIA FAILS TO ADEQUATELY ANSWER AZERI PROPAGANDA", POLITICAL SCIENTIST BELIEVES

Panorama.am
18:27 06/03/2007

Sometimes Levon Melik Shahnazaryan, a political scientist, makes
an impression that only he writes on Khojalu. He told a press
conference today that the Armenian side does not properly react to
Azeri propaganda. He says no films are shown on Kojalu whereas he
claims that Azeries have shot several films on Khojalu events.

As a participant of freedom fight, Shahnazaryan reminds that Khojalu
residents were killed in Aghdam and not Khojalu. Referring to an
Azeri program, he said an Azeri reporter made a tour in the area and
shot dead bodies. "Two days later they showed that the dead bodies
were tortured. If Aghdam was under the control of Azerbaijanis and
the reporters could freely make pictures there, it means that the
Armenian forces had nothing to do with the crime," the speaker said.

"Many things are just made up, which causes harm to the image of our
nation," the political scientist says.

REQUIEM CEREMONY HELD IN MOTHER SEE FOR PEACE OF HRANT DINK’S SOUL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 06 2007

ETCHMIADZIN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A requiem
ceremony for peace of the soul of Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of
the Agos weekly, killed on January 19 in Istanbul was held on March 4
at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, at the end of the Surb (Saint)
Liturgy. According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by
the Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin,
the ceremony was held with sanctification of His Holiness Karekin
II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians and headed
by Archbishop Tatev Sargsian. Before the ceremony Bishop Arshak
Khachatrian of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin addressed to the
present believers with a speech. Bishop Arshak Khachatrian attached
importance in his speech to Hrant Dink’s activity and called on to
jointly pray the God for peace of the deceased’s soul. Monks of the
Mother See, representatives of the Armenian community of Constantinople
were present at the ceremony.

RA CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION GETS OTHER 3 CLAIMS FOR NOMINATION ON MARCH 2

Noyan Tapan
Mar 05 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The United Labour Party, People’s
Party of Armenia and Marxist Party of Armenia placed orders on March
2 with the RA Central Electoral Commission (CEC) for nomination at
the coming parliamentary elections by the proportional electoral
system. Commission Press Secretary Tsovinar Khachatrian informed
the Noyan Tapan correspondent about it. The CEC had got other 6
claims earlier on the same day. There are 68 candidates in the PPA
list. It is headed by party Chairman, NA "Ardaroutiun" (Justice)
faction head Stepan Demirchian. There are 83 candidates in the ULP
list. It is headed by party Chairman, parliamentary faction head
Gurgen Arsenian. There are 8 candidates in the MPA pre-electoral
list. It is headed by party Chairman Davit Hakobian.

ARMENIAN CB LEAVES REFINANCING RATE UNCHANGED

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 2 2007

YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. On March 2, 2007, the Board of the Central
Bank of Armenia (CBA) made a decision leaving the annual refinancing
rate unchanged – 4.75%.

The CBA Board believes that inflationary pressures are maintained in
Armenia, which is accounted for by economic growth and large-scale
inflow of funds. On the other hand, the CBA Board members pointed out
that the external inflationary pressures were considerably relieved
in January-February 2007.

The CBA Board considers it possible to ensure a ±1.5% corridor within
the planned 4% inflation rate. The CBA Board intends to apply for
the revision of interest rates after the information on inflation
and economic growth has been published.

In February 2007, 0.2% inflation was recorded in Armenia compared to
January 2007, with 1.5% annual inflation recorded in February 2007
compared to February 2006.

–Boundary_(ID_VP43wiZ/e4WJcDlKUPGNcg)–

LE FESTIVAL DU FILM SUR LES DROITS HUMAINS: 5ECLAP

La Tribune de Geneve, Suisse
Edition Tribune de Genève
05 mars 2007 lundi

Droits de l’homme L’evenement se deroule a Genèveau Grutli du 8 au
17mars en parallèle au Conseil des droits de l’homme de l’ONU.

"C’est une demarche a la fois culturelle et politique. " Depuis
cinqans, Leo Kaneman s’obstine a denoncer les violations des droits
de l’homme a travers la projection de metrages du monde entier. Le
message du directeur du Festival international du film sur les droits
humains (FIFDH) est clair: il s’agit de "mettre un coup de projecteur
sur tous les fronts où les droits humains sont bafoues". Le concept
"un film, un sujet, un debat" permet d’approfondir les thematiques
choisies chaque annee.

L’evenement se deroulera en parallèle a la 4e session du Conseil des
droits de l’homme de l’ONU. Une necessite selon Yaël Reinharz Hazan,
directrice des programmes du festival, car "face aux discours des
Etats, il est de notre responsabilite de ne pas baisser le regard et
d’eveiller les consciences".

Parmi les evenements, la soiree du 9mars sera consacree a la situation
en Irak avec notamment la projection du film d’Olivia Rousset Abu
Ghraib Trilogy. On parlera de la Suisse et de l’asile, le 12mars, en
presence notamment du vice-president du Parti radical Leonard Bender
et de Jean-Pierre Hocke, ancien haut-commissaire aux refugies de
l’ONU. "Faut-il legiferer contre le negationnisme?" sera le thème du
13mars, avec entre autres Philippe Val, redacteur en chef de Charlie
Hebdo, de l’historien francais Jean-Pierre Azema et du realisateur
armenien Serge Avedikian dont le film Retourner sera projete.

Parmi les invites prestigieux, la presidente de la Confederation,
Micheline Calmy-Rey, et la haut-commissaire aux droits de l’homme,
Louise Arbour. Dans un message au public, cette dernière a tenu a
souligner qu’"en seulement quelques annees d’existence, le festival
a contribue a faire evoluer la facon de parler des droits humains".

–Boundary_(ID_lnWic8Ai309y602O9pt IwA)–

EurasiaNet, NY
March 4 2007

ABKHAZIA: PRESIDENT, OPPOSITION TRADE ACCUSATIONS
Liz Fuller 3/04/07
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from RFE/RL

Less than a week before the March 4 parliamentary elections in
Georgia’s unrecognized breakaway republic of Abkhazia, opposition
candidates have accused President Sergei Bagapsh of interfering in
the election process with the aim of ensuring the election of a
parliament "loyal" to the present leadership.

Less than a week before the March 4 parliamentary elections in
Georgia’s unrecognized breakaway republic of Abkhazia, opposition
candidates have accused President Sergei Bagapsh of interfering in
the election process with the aim of ensuring the election of a
parliament "loyal" to the present leadership.

The pro-Bagapsh camp is fielding candidates in all 35 constituencies;
to judge from their surnames, as listed in an appeal to the
electorate posted on February 26 by the official website apsny.ru,
they include three Slavs, two Armenians, and one Georgian.

On February 23, Bagapsh held a press conference (originally scheduled
for February 12), carried live by state television, in which
opposition deputies subsequently claimed he made derogatory comments
about them that constitute direct interference in the election
process and that triggered "a storm of indignation and concern" among
the population at large. That allegation was made in a February 26
statement carried by the website kavkaz-uzel.ru and signed by 19
opposition candidates, against five of whom Bagapsh is said to have
leveled unfounded criticism.

One of the five is Anri Djergenia, who from June 2001-November 2002
served as prime minister under Bagapsh’s predecessor Vladislav
Ardzinba. The statement further quotes Bagapsh as having told the
electorate they have a choice between voting for "those who will
bring peace and stability, or those who want to bring us to the verge
of civil war."

Damaging Evidence

Specifically, Bagapsh is said to have admitted that he has tried to
persuade one of the 19 signatories, Lieutenant General Vladimir
Arshba, a former first deputy defense minister and chief of General
Staff, to withdraw his candidacy in a "Russian" constituency and
register in a constituency where the rival candidates were Abkhaz.

Even more damaging, Bagapsh was said to have accused Arshba of trying
to organize a coup d’etat, an accusation the 19 signatories reject as
"absurd." Neither of Bagapsh’s imputed accusations against Arshba
figure in the verbatim extracts from the press conference carried by
apsny.ru and posted on Bagapsh’s website (http:).

Eight of the 19 opposition deputies also signed a formal request to
Abkhaz Prosecutor-General Safarbey Mikanba and State Security Service
Chairman Yury Ashuba to convene a press conference and comment on
Bagapsh’s alleged accusations against Arshba, according to regnum.ru
on February 26. Regnum.ru also quoted Arshba as accusing the
republic’s authorities on February 26 in a televised campaign address
of slander, infringing on his constitutional rights, and trying to
"get rid of an inconvenient candidate."

Bagapsh admitted in a February 27 statement that he asked Arshba to
"take into account the importance" of Abkhazia’s Russian community
and not put forward his candidacy in a constituency where a Russian
was already registered. At the same time, Bagapsh insisted that his
sole consideration in making that request was to preclude interethnic
tension. He further affirmed his conviction that he had "the moral
right" to make such a request, and that it did not constitute a
violation of the constitution.

But in a seeming departure from his earlier appeal to the electorate
not to classify society in terms of "us and them," he went on to say
that "it seems we are pursuing different goals. One is left with the
impression that some opposition representatives are prepared to do a
great deal, including using the rostrum of the election campaign, in
order to slake their thirst to return to power and appease their
pathological desire to gain control once again over public property,"
apsnypress reported.

Accusations Exchanged

Georgian media have seized on the indications of rising tensions
between the Abkhaz authorities and opposition. Bagapsh’s spokesman
Kristian Bzhania rejected on February 27 as untrue Georgian media
reports of exchanges of fire in Sukhum(i) between supporters of
Bagapsh and Khadjimba.

Nonetheless, Abkhaz Interior Minister Otar Khetsia told Apsnypress on
February 28 that additional police will deployed to Gali Raion on
polling day to maintain calm. Bagapsh’s representative in Gali,
Ruslan Kishmaria, claimed that Georgian special services are
threatening to burn down the homes of any villagers who cast their
ballots in the March 4 poll.