WORLD BANK TO ALLOCATE 6.25 MLN DOLLARS FOR BIRD FLU PREVENTION
MEASURES IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The Board of Directors of the World Bank
(WB) will soon provide a 6.25 mln-dollar credit for bird flu
prevention measures in Armenia. Head of the Foreign Relations
Department of the WB Yerevan Office Vigen Sargsian told NT
correspondent that the Japanese government will also allocate a 1
mln-dollar grant.
RUSSIA TO BE INVOLVED IN KARABAKH PEACEKEEPING EFFORT, AZERI PAPER SAYS
Azadliq, Baku
1 Jun 06
The opposition daily Azadliq has said that despite Azerbaijan’s
efforts, Moscow will never recognize Armenia as “an aggressor” state.
In an article on 1 June, the paper said: “Russia does not want to
recognize Armenia as an aggressor and in no way can Azerbaijan accept
Armenia’s current position. It appears that Azerbaijan will have to
agree to Armenia’s demands. In any case, those turning towards the
north should think again.”
It added that Russia will remain loyal to its 200-year-old Caucasus
policy and Armenia will continue to be Russia’s outpost in the South
Caucasus.
Speaking in the Azerbaijani capital during a meeting of CIS defence
ministers on 31 May, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov had twice
mentioned the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Nagornyy Karabakh.
According to the newspaper, “Russia will never accept the
implementation of this plan” in Karabakh, unless it is involved in it.
ORAN: ‘SOON LAWYERS WILL BE IN ARTICLE 288’S CROSSHAIRS’
New Anatolian, Turkey
June 1 2006
Professor Baskin Oran, the author of disputed report on minorities
now facing allegations of trying to interfere with the judiciary,
warned yesterday that lawyers would soon face similar legal challenges
on the same legal grounds targeting him.
According to Oran, Article 288 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which
he called “tragicomic,” was being used almost every day by the public
prosecutors to start dozens of cases against people.
“Such an attitude has just one aim: to intimidate people,” he added,
explaining how the prosecutor started the probe against him. “I’m
afraid the public prosecutors will soon start charging defense lawyers
too, because they’re also trying to affect judges with their defenses.”
“In February a story appeared in a newspaper (Radikal) quoting my
defense, with the headline ‘The real separatist is the prosecutor’,”
he explained. “In the story, some parts of my defense were quoted. So
the public prosecutor is now charging me with trying to interfere
with the judiciary. But this is tragicomic, because I was cleared of
those charges a while ago.”
According to Oran, there is a dangerous rash of investigations by
public prosecutors, and he cited the case of Armenian daily Agos
Editor in Chief Hrant Dink.
“Those charges are mostly based on Article 288,” he claimed. “The
same thing also happened to Dink. You know he faced the same kind
of charges. In one of his columns in Agos, he used parts of his own
defense, and that led the prosecutors to file further charges against
him. This is ridiculous.”
NKR DOES NOT EXPECT BREAKTHROUGH FROM KOCHARIAN-ALIYEV MEETING IN BUCHAREST
Yerkir
31.05.2006 12:20
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – One should hardly expect a breakthrough in the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement from the meeting of Presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan in Bucharest, Chair of the NKR Parliament Commission
for External Relations Vahram Atanesyan said.
In his words, no agreement will be signed and the leaders will make an
individual or joint statement on commitment to peaceful settlement
at best. “I suppose time has come for Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to come to agreement over settlement basic principles.
This will provide an opportunity to resume full talks in the trilateral
format, i.e. with participation of the NKR,” Atanesyan underscored,
reports IA De Facto.
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
May 30 2006
Azeri, Armenian presidents probable to meet in Bucharest – Armenian
FM
Source: Trend
Author: À.Mammadov
30.05.2006
The Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents will more probably meet in
Bucharest on 4 June, Vardan Oskanian, the Armenian Foreign Minister,
told journalists in Yerevan.
The meeting will be held within the framework of Back Sea Forum for
Dialogue and Partnership. `The President gave their agreement on the
meeting,” Oskanian underscored.
The FM said that the talks on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict are too far from the situation allowing the signing of any
document, Novosti Armenia reports.
“A document on principles is on the table awaiting the Presidents,’
Oskanian stressed.
According to Oskanian, if all rule of the document are accorded, it
could gain more volumetric shape. “At the moment there is no
agreement no agreement around these principles,’ the minister
underlined.
“Though some principles have been coordinated, there are still
disputable rules. The presidents meet merely to try to find solution
to these problems,’ he added.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF RESOLUTION AND VITAL INTERESTS OF KARABAKH
PEOPLE
Lragir.am 30 May 06
In early June the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in
Bucharest. It is foreseen to sign a document with the core principles
of settlement.
The question has been discussed in press whether the document will be
signed or not, whereas the principles get very little attention. What
principles are meant? Presumably, it is a peace settlement of the
issue. What is next?
Logically, the approval of concession of territories by Armenia, and
recognition of the right to hold a referendum in Nagorno Karabakh by
Azerbaijan.
Apparently, everything has already been arranged with Armenia, whereas
Baku is reluctant to implement its obligations. Or it pretends to be
reluctant. To show later on what a sacrifice it made to claim more
than it has now. In the meantime, with an easy agreement Armenia will
have nothing to claim and will not be able to retrieve what it will
have given up.
The talks for settlement have been expedited, which indicates the
likelihood of the mediators to settle the issue quickly. There is no
time and feeling like observing the rules of the same ritual.
Negotiations are conducted with Armenia and Azerbaijan, though
formerly the mediators would visit Stepanakert for appearance.
Moreover, during the recent visit of the mediators the NKR president
was in Moscow participating in the Congress of the Union of the
Armenians of Russia. And generally everything is so confidential as if
a question of some territories or deployment of forces at the Iranian
border is discussed rather than the fate of a nation.
At least, the leadership of Karabakh would not say whether these
principles are favorable for the people of Karabakh.
Paper says Armenian officials “nervous” ahead of next Karabakh talks
Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
27 May 06
Excerpt from Anna Akopyan report by Armenian newspaper Aykakan
Zhamanak on 27 May “To sign or not to sign”
It has become known from reliable sources that the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs expect [Presidents] Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev to
sign a document on the Karabakh settlement during their meeting in
Bucharest on 4-6 June. All the developments of the last one month and
a half prove that in Bucharest the world community will force the two
presidents either to sign a peace agreement or an intermediary
agreement.
[Passage omitted: more of the same]
No doubt unlike before the USA would like to see the Karabakh conflict
solved.
No doubt that Russia is not secretly fighting against the settlement
initiatives. The participation of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Grigoriy Karasin in the recent trip by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
to the region showed that Russia will not be against Kocharyan and
Aliyev signing the peace agreement in Bucharest. But is that really
going to happen?
Let us note that Azerbaijan sent positive “messages” in this regard
yesterday. In particular, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov, who is used to making harsh statements, changed his style
yesterday. He spoke about the need to reach a compromise and finally
specify the status of Karabakh. He even spoke about the NKR
constitution.
[Passage omitted: some excerpts from Mammadyarov’s statement,
speculates on reasons for such a change]
Unlike the Azerbaijani leaders, their Armenian counterparts have not
been spreading any kind of “messages” or assessments. The most recent
statement by the Armenian side was made by the press secretary for the
Foreign Ministry that “agreement can be reached only if Azerbaijan
recognizes the right of the Karabakh people to
self-determination”. And if we accept that the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic’s intermediary high status is the same as the right to
self-determination, and on the other hand to accept that speaking
about the constitution Mammadyarov meant just this intermediary high
status, it turns out that the document may be signed.
But unlike before it is now difficult to answer the question as to
whether Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev will sign the document. We
can only note that, according to our information, appropriate
officials of Armenia are feeling rather tense and nervous ahead of
their Bucharest visit.
AGO GROUP ARRIVING IN YEREVAN JUNE 9
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.05.2006 16:00 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ June 9-10 Ago Group of the Committee of Ministers of
the Council of Europe (CE) will be in Armenia, acting Spokesperson of
the Armenian MFA Vladimir Karapetyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
Ago Group is monitoring the implementation of commitments, assumed by
Armenia and Azerbaijan when entering the CE. From Yerevan the group
will leave for Baku.
THOMAS DE WAAL: MONTENEGRO INDEPENDENCE RECOGNITION NOT PRECEDENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.05.2006 13:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recognition of Montenegro’s independence is not
a precedent, Caucasus Project Coordinator and Editor at the Institute
for War and Peace Reporting Thomas de Waal told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. In his words, a civilized detachment like Armenia’s
secession from the USSR took place. “The Kosovo issue is much more
interesting. Will Kosovo receive independence without Serbia’s full
consent?” de Waal remarked.
SALE OF ARMENIAN DRINKS PREVENTED IN AZERBAIJAN?
Yerevan, May 24. ArmInfo. The sale of Armenian alcoholic drinks has
been prevented in Azerbaijan, reports Day.az.
Referring to the Azeri Agriculture Ministry, the source reports that
the drinks were imported into Azerbaijan from Iran via Georgia and
were sold there as Russian “Mikhaylovsky” brand. The producer is
“the Armenian lobby of Iran.” Now the Azeri authorities are taking
measures to seize wines produced by local wine makers and sold as
Russian, French, Bulgarian, Ukrainian and Georgian wines.