Author: Tamamian Anna

GEORGIA ‘HINDERING TURKISH-AZERI RAIL LINK’
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 26 2006

Georgia is unexpectedly obstructing plans to build a controversial
regional railway that would connect Turkey to Azerbaijan and bypass
Armenian, reports from Ankara claimed on Tuesday.

"Georgia is deliberately delaying the start of work on the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway," an unnamed senior official
from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in remarks reported by the
Baku daily "Zerkalo."

"Georgia is one of the countries that will draw great benefits from
this project," the official was quoted as saying. "Despite that,
Tbilisi is creating all kinds of bureaucratic obstacles to delay the
railway’s construction. This is absolutely incomprehensible."

The Turkish, Georgian and Azerbaijani governments have for years been
discussing the project estimated to cost $400 million, saying that
it will promote regional stability and economic integration.

The Armenian government is fiercely opposed to its implementation
and says its main purpose to deepen Armenia’s economic isolation.

Official Yerevan says Turkey already has a rail rink with the South
Caucasus running through Armenia. The Kars-Gyumri railroad has stood
idle for more than a decade as part of the continuing Turkish economic
blockade of Armenia.

Armenian-American organizations have successfully lobbied the U.S.
Congress to ban any U.S. government assistance to the project. The
Senate’s Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee approved an
appropriate bill late last week. The U.S. administration has not
objected to the ban.

Turkish and Azerbaijani officials have dismissed the congressional
restrictions, saying that Ankara and Baku have sufficient resources
of their own to finance the project. According to the unidentified
Turkish official, Ankara is ready to spend $220 million for that
purpose. The head of Georgia’s state rail company announced earlier
this month that work on the 192-kilometer-long Georgian section of
the planned railway will be financed by an Azerbaijani government loan.

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN STILL FAIL TO CO-ORDINATE TWO MAJOR ELEMENTS – AZERI FM
Author: A.Ismayilova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2006

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov made a statement for
the General Debate of the 61st session of the UN General Assembly
on 25 September 2006, Trend reports. At the outset, Mammadyarov
congratulated the participants in the Assembly with the election to
the post of the President of UN General Assembly.

The situation in the occupied territory of Azerbaijan recently has
become a subject of urgent consideration by the General Assembly due
to massive fires registered in those areas. The Assembly adopted a
resolution, without a vote, stressing the necessity to conduct an
urgent environmental operation with a view to suppressing the fires,
overcoming their detrimental impact and rehabilitating the affected
territories.

"The resolution has a two-fold purpose. On the one hand, it envisages
a number of practical steps to counteract the fires, while on the
other hand, it serves to attract the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, which will help in the implementation of the resolution
and create mutual confidence, which will undoubtedly have a positive
impact on the talks process. It is only a temporary achievement’
the Minister stressed.

Mammadyarov stated that there are still two elements that the
parties are still to co-ordinate. This is the issue of a status for
Nagorno-Karabakh and the withdrawal of the Armenia forces from the
occupied territory of Azerbaijan. There is a general agreement in that
the status should be defined with the participation of representatives
of both Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. From this end, the
Armenian armed forces should step away from their current positions
and residents of the occupied territories should be repatriated.

Furthermore, the Minister touched upon the admission of a unified
resolution by GUAM countries on resolving static conflicts,
the economic situation in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan’s activities
at the Organization of the Islamic Countries (OIC), the upgrade
of relationships between the UN and Azerbaijan, as well as
inter-civilization problems.

CIS SECURITY SERVICES OPEN ANTITERROR EXERCISES IN ARMENIA
by Vladimir Zainetdinov

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 26, 2006 Tuesday

Security services of the CIS and Collective Security Treaty
Organisation (CSTO) countries opened the massive exercises Atom –
Antiterrror-2006 at the Armyanskaya nuclear power plant on Tuesday.

The exercises will continue through Friday.

The CIS Aniterrorist Centre’s chief Colonel-General Boris Mylnikov
told reporters that the Atom – Antiterror-2006 operative-strategic
exercises would be a drill of planning and conducting the search "to
reveal and destroy sabotage groups that infiltrated the territory of
Armenia and seized a nuclear power plant in the city of Metsamor".

Workers of the Armenian National Security Service and the Russian
Federal Security Service’s Special Task Centre will act as "terrorists"
who have been secretly moving in Armenia for ten days with designs
to seize the Armaynskaya nuclear power plant, Mylnikov said.

He said that antiterrorists divisions of CIS security services would
hold the exercises of this scale for the first time jointly with the
allied headquarters of the CSTO and Armenian army units that are a
part of the CSTO Collective Rapid Deployment Forces.

The Armenian National Security Service and antiterrorist units of the
FSB Special Task Centre will play a main role in the exercises. When
"terrorists" are spotted, the Armenian army’s motorised infantry
battalion of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces in the
Trans-Caucasus and two companies of special forces will join the
action, Mylnikov said.

The active phase of the exercises, at which the anti-terrorist forces
will free the "seized" nuclear power plant will be held on Thursday.

Representatives of G8 countries, the antiterrorist division of the
OSCE Secretariat, the counter-terrorist committee of the UN Security
Council, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation’s Regional Antiterrorist Structure have been invited to
the exercises in a capacity of observers.

The US, Greece, France, China and the OSCE have confirmed their
attending the exercises.

Security services of Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will not
participate, Mylnikov said.

CDA too removes candidates because of Armenia-standpoint

De Telegraaf (Dutch national newspaper)
26 September, 2006, 22:27

THE HAGUE – After the PvdA (Labor Party), the administration of the CDA
(Christian Democrats) decided on Tuesday to remove candidates from their
list for the Parliamentary elections on November 22, because of
controversial standpoints on the genocide in Armenia.

It concerns the CDA members Ayhan Tonca (35th on the list) and Osman Elmaci
(56th) who were called to attention because they do not recognize the
genocide in Armenia in 1915. Last Friday, the two had made a statement that
they do recognize the genocide.

Nevertheless, after a meeting with the daily administration of the CDA
Tuesday evening, the party decided to remove the two from the list.

The party administration of the PvdA decided Tuesday to remove Erdinc Sacan
(number 53 on the list) because he does not recognize the genocide.

CDA and PvdA feel that it is of great importance that the candidates
underline the faction’s standpoint. In 2004, on the initiative of the
ChristenUnie, the Parliament unanimously agreed that the government should
continuously raise the issue of the Armenian genocide in its negotiations
with Turkey in the framework of Turkey’s accession to the European Union.

OSKANIAN: ONE MAY NOT DEPRIVE PEOPLES OF SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT, SIMPLY COMING OUT OF POLITICAL APPROPRIATENESS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 25 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
participated on September 22-23 in the 10th Bertelsmann forum held
in Berlin.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and
Information Department, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, Prime
Minister of France Dominique de Villepin, EU Commission Chairman Jose
Manuel Barroso and Prime Minister of Belgium Guy Verhofstadt made
opening speeches as the "Europe’s Strategic Responses" international
conference. The conference at which more that 100 politicians were
present, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany
Hans-Dietrich Genscher and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry
Kissinger, was dedicated to prospects of the "Europe’s Strategic
Responses."

Minister Oskanian participated in a discussion on the theme
"The Balkans – The Black Sea: Litmus Test for Europe", in which
the Presidents of Bulgaria, Romania and Azerbaijan and the Prime
Minister of Montenegro participated as well. During the discussion
Minister Oskanian affirmed that an effective implementation of the
EU New Neighborhood Policy, practical approach to conflicts and
completeness and functioning of the Black Sea region are a litmus
test of the region for Europe.

During an active discussion on the Kosovo issue, Minister Oskanian
warned that one may not deprive people of the self-determination
right, simply coming out of political appropriateness. "If the world
was led by a fear of creating new precedents, a half of the world
states would not exist. At the same time clear standards must be the
main principles of which the issue will be if the state has a moral
authority of existence," V.Oskanian mentioned.

Middle East Media Research Institute, DC
Special Dispatch Series – No. 1296
Sept 22 2006

Iranian Report on Russian Military Maneuver ‘to Protect Iran From
Possible U.S. Attack’

The Russian military recently held its annual RUBEZH ("Border")
maneuver in the Caspian Sea region. The Iranian website Baztab,
affiliated with Expediency Council Secretary and former Revolutionary
Guards commander Mohsen Rezai, presented the maneuver, based on a
report in the Central Asian press, as aiming to prepare the Russian
army to respond to a possible U.S. military assault on Iran.

The following are excerpts from the Baztab report: [1]

"The maneuver, called ‘RUBEZH 2006,’ [which included] 2,500 troops
from the armed forces of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan, was held last week (August 24-29) in the port of Aqtau,
[Kazakhstan]… on the basis of the ‘Collective Security Treaty’
[CST]. [2] Uzbekistan participated as an observer in this exercise;
Belarus and Armenia did not take part in it.

"The maneuver was purportedly intended train [the forces] in
combating terrorism, but was in fact a kind of military preparation
[intended] to provide an answer to America’s military threats in the
region against Iran… Some believe that the maneuver, which was
planned by the Russian military’s joint chiefs of staff, was an
exercise in preparedness for frontal confrontation in a possible
American war against Iran in the region of southern Eurasia and in
the Caspian Sea region.

"Military personnel and politicians regard the maneuver as a
reflection of tightening cooperation among the countries in the
region. Experts believe that the Aqtau maneuver will have decisive
influence and importance with regard to future events in the region,
since with the progressive intensification of American pressures and
the possibility of an attack on Iran, it is expected that America’s
armed forces will be sent to the [Caspian Sea] region in order to
defend the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the oil regions
between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

"In parallel with the Aqtau maneuver, the armed forces of Kazakhstan
and China conducted joint military operations in Kazakhstan in the
context of the Shanghai Cooperation Pact. [3] These military
operations revealed more clearly the signs of cooperation and
military-security coordination between the member states of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the member states of the
Collective Security Treaty.

"Iran, which is a member with observer status in the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization, continues to maintain informal relations
with the Collective Security Treaty.

"Experts on military affairs believe that the Aqtau military exercise
should be seen as a ‘turning point’ in the relations and military
cooperation between [the countries] in the region…."

—————————— ————————————————–

[1] Baztab, September 17, 2006;

[2] The Collective Security Treaty, signed in September 2003 by
Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, and Armenia, is
a military treaty to guarantee the safety of the region and of the
member states.

[3] The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was founded in June
2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and
Uzbekistan, with the aim of promoting economic cooperation among
these countries and ensuring their military stability.

DECLARATION ADOPTED AS A RESULT OF THE THIRD ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE

Armenpress
Sept 22 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, ARMENPRESS: A declaration was adopted to sum
up the work of the third Armenia-Diaspora Conference that was wrapped
up in Yerevan on September 20. Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press
service told Armenpress that the declaration particularly refers
to the readiness and determination of the Diaspora to support the
resolution of problems faced up by Armenia.

The declaration, particularly, approves the program on reduction of
poverty in the Armenian rural areas and calls on all stakeholders
and organizations to have active participation in the implementation
of this program. "We also reconfirm our complete responsibility and
support in the regulation of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," says
the declaration.

Besides it reconfirms determination to continue work in all countries
for international recognition of the Armenian genocide.

The conference took place on the eve of the 15th anniversary of the
Armenian Independence. President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, Karabakh
President Arkady Ghukasian, Armenian NA Speaker Tigran Torosian,
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian, Armenian Catholicos Karekin II and Cilician Catholicos Aram
I delivered speeches at the conference.

The participants also presented and discussed a program on the
elimination of poverty in the Armenian rural communities. The
program will be started in spring 2007. The conference also decided
to establish a consultation body which will ensure the continuation
of Armenia-Diaspora partnership and form the agenda.

As part of the conference forums and exhibitions were conducted.

CAFESJIAN CENTER TO SCREEN DIGITIZED VERSION OF POPULAR FILM

Armenpress

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: As part of festive events marking
the 15-th anniversary of Armenia’s independence from the former Soviet
Union, residents of Yerevan can watch today evening the digitized
version of a popular film shot in late 1970-s called ‘Men"

The screening will be performed by Cafesjian Art Center that will
install a big screen in a downtown site known as Cascade. The film
will be shown at 9. pm local time.

Cafesjian Foundation said the film was restored and digitized by CS
Films, the new owner of ArmenFilm Studio.

PARTICIPANTS OF ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE ENVISION FUTURE

Panorama.am
14:52 20/09/06

The participants of Armenia-Diaspora Forum tried to envision Armenia
and Diaspora in the year 2020.

Everybody was optimistic in the visions but everyone also agreed that
serious steps must be taken to accomplish the tasks.

Chairman of Constitutional Court, Gagik Harutunyan, said that a
pan-Armenian board should be established comprising Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh with their statehoods and a representation from
Diaspora. An open vote among participants supported this idea. Fewer
people backed the idea of a ministry as a coordinating unit between
Armenia and Diaspora.

Tom Samuelyan, representative of the American University of Armenia,
envisioned that the Armenian genocide would be recognized and Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settled as well as the task of unified language
accomplished by the year 2020. It may be possible that Turkey also
hands over our ancient land.

We will have developed economy, thousands of citizens with double
citizenship, Samuelyan thinks.

The editor-in-chief of Turkey based Akos weekly, Hrant Dink, also
thinks that the genocide will be recognized by 2020. Moreover, he
believes that most states must take their share of responsibility
for the tragedy.

Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said, "We must have expectations
but should also be realistic." In his words, despite of limited
opportunities, the blockade and the war, Armenia manages to compete
with its neighbors and even wins the competition. The foreign
minister said our challenge should be to give our sons and daughters
a democratic, stable and developed state that will be able to face
competition.

"If Artsakh, Armenia and Diaspora unite, you will see we will
accomplish wonders. I am sure the 21st century will be ours," Oskanyan
summed up.

CLONING AROUND

Entertainment Weekly
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

On "Weeds," the mother plant survives the non-raid, but Sanjay has
destroyed much of the crop; meanwhile, Yael surprises Andy
by Hannah Tucker

WHO’S THE MAN? Andy’s relationship took an unexpected turn

The mother plant is present and accounted for, but her life hangs in
the balance. Things are tense. Conrad, who really didn’t need to be
reminded that he’s surrounded by idiots, has to save Mama from Andy’s
panicked and unconventional hydration methods and then tend to a new
batch of clones to make up for the ones Sanjay tried to flush. For
their part, poor Andy and Sanjay (both of whom must’ve lost many
games of hide-and-seek as children) are understandably shaken by the
DEA raid. Andy comments that his pretty face would get him unwanted
attention in prison, and oh, how ironic that observation will seem by
the end of the episode. Who needs inmates when you’ve got Yael and
her bedroom accessories? Not only is that moment more than Andy was
bargaining for, but it also makes the massage-parlor incident look
as risque as an episode of Blue’s Clues. I say: Mazel tov, Andy! Who
knew rabbinical school would open your eyes to so many new things?

Apart from these highlights (sorry, but half the fun of this TV Watch
is getting away with these puns), this was not a particularly strong
episode. As Celia’s swipe at Doug ("You won’t be able to get a seat
in a chair factory") suggests, the writing was a bit lackluster. Not
that the half hour was devoid of fine moments that kept things
rolling – like Nancy’s horrified expression when Shane says he’s
joining the debate team, and Vaneeta finally getting the nerve to
tell off Heylia. But buying Shane a car to help him get past losing
Megan and inviting Peter and Conrad out for a nice dinner to smooth
things over? Nancy is usually more creative than that (although the
black dress was very Lacy LaPlante of her).

Still, I’m sure there’s no reason to panic, just as there’s no need for
a panic room. (Actually, just the idea of being stoned in a windowless
room with reinforced walls makes me paranoid.) Surely the bloom’s
not off the rose, nor the mother plant. I’m looking forward to the
possibility that these pedestrian plot points will lead to surprises
next week. Maybe shin-kicking Shane will actually get the girl. Maybe
Silas won’t wreck his new wheels in the first five minutes. Maybe
Nancy will really buy herself a gold tooth!

What do you think? Will Peter and Conrad declare war or call for
a truce? Is this really the last we’ve seen of the Armenians? Will
Heylia choose her risky business or her scary suitor? Will Dean be
able to balance doing virtually nothing to help the grow business
and doing virtually nothing to manage his daughter’s career?