Armenia, Azerbaijan `Close To Karabakh Deal'

[Gavur]

Baku Call to NKR Citizens to Take Part in Parliamentary Election in Azerbaijan «Absur

11.10.2005 11:08 GMT-08:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the National Assembly of Nagorno Karabakh Ashot Gulyan called «absurd» the Azerbaijani Central Electoral Commission call to NKR citizens to take part in the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan. «It is clear that there will be no participation,» the NKR Speaker said. As of the domestic situation in Azerbaijan on the threshold of the election, he said it «fully corresponds to our forecasts.» «We are sure the election will be held with shortcomings, unsanctioned rallies, pressure upon the opposition and dispersal of rally participants,» Gulyan stated. «I think international observers will have an opportunity to assess the electoral situation in Azerbaijan and compare it with that in Nagorno Karabakh,» stated Ashot Gulyan. Under the conditions of absence of confidence between the parties to conflict, when Azerbaijan prevents contacts between representatives of the two peoples, reaching a settlement of the issue is impossible, he said when commenting on the Karabakh settlement. Karabakh party's stand based on the NKR people's right for state independence is unchangeable, Gulyan said.

[Hovik]

AZERI PUNDITS DOWNPLAY EU WARNING OVER TIES WITH TURKISH CYPRUS
by R. Azar

Zerkalo, Azerbaijan
Oct 7 2005

Another ultimatum from the European Union

If Azerbaijan does not change its position on Cyprus, the EU will
only accept Armenia and Georgia

Relations with Northern Cyprus may prolong Azerbaijan's joining the
European Union's [EU] New Neighbourhood Policy, the Trend news agency
has quoted EU Commissioner for foreign relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner
as telling the Radio Liberty.

"The EU only recognizes the independence of the Republic of Cyprus.

But this republic is protesting against Baku's contacts with Lefkosa
and flights from Azerbaijan to Northern Cyprus," she said.

Addressing the foreign relations committee of the European Parliament
in Brussels, Ferrero-Waldner said she had informed Azerbaijan that
if the country did not change its position, the EU would only accept
Armenia and Georgia. She expressed her hope that Azerbaijan would
resolve this issue. "But this will take a few weeks," she said.

The head of the information department of the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry, Tahir Tagizada, said that Baku's policy is directed at
preventing the crisis in both the Turkish and Greek communities of
Cyprus. Tagizada said that he had not received any official information
concerning cooperation with the EU within the framework of the New
Neighbourhood Policy.

"Azerbaijan is ready to take steps under the approved action plan. As
for the flights, this is a commercial initiative and has nothing to
do with the government's foreign policy," Tagizada said.

Political pundit Vafa Quluzada said that Azerbaijan pursued a right
policy towards the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC]. He
added that Azerbaijan had established bilateral relations with Finland,
Great Britain, France and other EU member states although it was not
a member of the union.

"The EU has closed the door on the TRNC and does not want other
countries to cooperate with it. Baku is on the right track. The EU
can never influence Azerbaijan in this issue," Quluzada said.

Another political pundit Zardust Alizada said that on the one hand,
Azerbaijan wants to be accepted to the EU and on the other hand,
it goes against the principles of this organization.

"However, despite the statement of the EU official, I do not think that
the EU will take any dangerous step against Azerbaijan," Alizada said.

Western analysts believe that Azerbaijan, as part of the South
Caucasus, is of great importance to the EU. Therefore, stability in
Azerbaijan, which goes through a democratic election, means stability
in Europe. Azerbaijan's participation in the EU's policy ensures
the supremacy of the law and the development of democracy. From this
viewpoint, our laws should be brought into conformity with European
standards.

But further development of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU
will largely depend on the course of the forthcoming parliamentary
election in our country. The EU calls on Baku to make a concerted
effort to ensure that the election is in line with international
norms. Brussels believes that the EU's tough position may put an end
to the views that democracy has several varieties in the West and
these varieties must be the way it wants.

[Gavur]

Levon Ter - Petrosyan: Armenia And Azerbaijan Will Not Manage To Avoid The

LEVON TER - PETROSYAN: ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT MANAGE TO AVOID THE
IMPOSED CONCESSIONS

De facto
Information-Analytics Agency
10/11/2005

The West will impose the compromise option of the Karabakh conflict
settlement on Azerbaijan and Armenia in the end. According to Day.Az, RA Ex
President Levon Ter - Petrosyan stated it in the interview with Groong
agency.

According to Levon Ter Petrosyan, "the international community does not
intend to silently follow the situation in the region". "The above -
mentioned contradiction not only threatens security and cooperation in the
South Caucasus, but also runs counter to the West's oil interests in
Azerbaijan", believes RA Ex President. In his opinion, Armenia and
Azerbaijan will not manage to avoid the imposed concessions.

[Gavur]

International Opposition Continues To Mount Against

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org

PRESS RELEASE
October 13, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

INTERNATIONAL OPPOSITION CONTINUES TO MOUNT AGAINST
CAUCASUS RAILROAD PROPOSAL THAT BYPASSES ARMENIA

-- European Commission Rules Out Support for Turkish
Railroad Proposal that would Institutionalize
Turkey's Closed Border with Armenia

WASHINGTON, DC - The European Commission has added its voice to the
growing international opposition to a Caucasus railroad proposal by
the Turkish government that would, if built, institutionalize
Turkey's border closure with Armenia, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

The Commission's position was articulated this week by the
Directorate General for Transport and Energy. In explaining why
the European Union would not support the creation of this rail
line, the Directorate noted that its construction was both
unnecessary and inefficient in light of the existing railroad
connecting Kars, Gyumri, and Tbilisi. This line, which passes
through Armenia, was effectively shut down more than a decade ago
by Turkey's imposition of its blockade of Armenia, which continues
to this day.

The Commission's adoption of this position comes in response to a
May 21st letter from Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian to
Jacques Barrot, Deputy Chairman of the European Commission. In
this letter, the Foreign Minister outlined the destabilizing
implications of the proposed route bypassing Armenia, and stressed
the willingness of the government of Armenia to cooperate in the
reactivation of the existing Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway, which
remains fully functional but unused due to the unilateral Turkish
blockade.

"We welcome the wise position taken by the European Commission
against Turkey's most recent effort to effectively institutionalize
its border closure with Armenia. The well founded concerns raised
by the Commission reflect and reinforce those being addressed in
the U.S. Congress by the South Caucasus Integration and Open
Railroads Act," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "In
pressing forward so recklessly with this politically motivated
proposal, Turkey openly disregards the Administration's repeated
calls to end its decade-long border closure with Armenia. Clearly,
this disregard must be recognized and reckoned with by the U.S.
Congress, which should, in the coming weeks, act in an urgent and
decisive manner to check Turkey's growing indifference to U.S.
priorities in the region."

On July 21st, Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and
Frank Pallone (D-NJ), along with Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA),
introduced legislation addressing this issue by barring U.S.
financing for such rail projects circumventing Armenia. The ANCA
welcomed this bipartisan effort, noting that it would protect U.S.
taxpayers from subsidizing a totally unnecessary and regionally
destabilizing proposal by Turkey aimed at isolating Armenia. The
measure, known as the "South Caucasus Integration and Open
Railroads Act of 2005" (H.R.3361), currently has 39 House
cosponsors and is gaining support from both sides of the aisle.

The text of the legislation notes "the exclusion of Armenia from
regional economic and commercial undertakings in the South Caucasus
undermines the United States policy goal of promoting a stable and
cooperative environment in the region." In its operative section,
the legislation prohibits U.S. assistance "to develop or promote
any rail connections or railway-related connections that do not
traverse or connect with Armenia, but do traverse or connect Baku,
Azerbaijan; Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey." Specific forms of
U.S. assistance prohibited would include: foreign economic and
development aid, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Trade and
Development Agency, and the Export-Import Bank.

The ANCA raised this issue publicly as early as June 10th of this
year in a question to Foreign Minister Oskanian, during a briefing
at the National Press Club. Minister Oskanian expressed concern
that this would be a wasteful undertaking for the international
community. He said that they [Turkey] are "planning on spending
something from $600 million to $1 billion to put that railroad in
place."

The Minister closed his comments, by stressing that, "This is in no
one's interest - not the U.S. or European Union or the countries
involved. I have raised this issue with the Administration and
they understand, they promised to follow this, and to try to talk
them [the Turkish government] out of engaging in this type of
senseless, useless activity."

[Gavur]

West Reportedly Urging Armenian, Azeri Leaders To Final Karabakh Accord In 2006

Haykakan Zhamanak, Armenia
Oct 15 2005

"Peace soldiers"

While the opposition and pro-government officials are commenting on
the coincidence of the Armenian constitutional referendum and the
Azerbaijani parliamentary election (both will take place in November),
our sources say that the terms were fixed as a result of consultations
with the West. The reason for this choice is a desire to avoid waste
of time in the Karabakh talks. That is to say, it was clear from the
outset that in the pre-election and post-election periods, Ilham
Aliyev will not be able to take part in the Karabakh talks and in
order not to have such a break because of the Armenian constitutional
referendum, they decided to hold the referendum in November as well.

Incidentally, our sources say that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen
and the two presidents agreed to intensify the Karabakh talks from
January. It becomes clear that Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev feel
more confident due to this agreement. The logic of this confidence
is if the West is going to provoke a revolutionary mood in Armenia
or Azerbaijan in November or to support the opposition very much,
what is the use of making the January working schedule with Kocharyan
and Aliyev?

According to our sources, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen put a
condition to the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents to sign a document
on the Karabakh settlement during 2006 and Kocharyan and Aliyev agreed
to this condition. The co-chairmen told Armenian president that the
delay of settling the conflict would be destructive for Armenia as
after the functioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the
balance of forces will change in favour of Azerbaijan that may have
serious consequences for Armenia.

Moreover, after the Karabakh settlement, the construction of the
Iran-Armenia-Europe gas pipeline will become highly realistic and
will bring billions of dollars in income to Armenia and will be a
definite counter-balance to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan [oil pipeline].

Our sources say that after the signing of a peace agreement, both
parties were promised investments and direct aid.

It is also expected that about 10b dollars will be given to Armenia if
events develop in this way. According to our information, the world
community do not even forget about personal encouragement of the
two presidents. If the Karabakh issue is settled, the two presidents
will be granted security guarantees for life and will be nominated
for the Nobel Peace Prize.

However, it is also obvious that though Yasir Arafat and Iskhak Rabin
were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for signing an agreement on the
Arab-Israeli conflict settlement in 1994, the conflict has not been
settled up to today and Arafat and Rabin have not only left the
political scene but also dead.

[Gavur]

Karabakh diary

KARABAKH CONTROLS 8 PERCENT OF AZERBAIJAN'S TERRITORY

The press service of the Government of Nagorno Karabakh informs that in its October 17 issue the Washington Post published the letter of Vartan Barseghian, NKR representative in America, which is his reply to the paper's October 5 article titled "Independent Candidates Court Anger in Azerbaijan Campaign."

Vartan Barseghian writes, in particular, that Philip Kennicott, author of the article, misrepresented the key causes of Nagorno Karabakh conflict in his speech on Azerbaijani parliamentary elections. As a reply to the wish of self-determination of the people of Karabakh, Azerbaijan started war against Nagorno Karabakh and not Armenia. Karabakh managed to get the war out of its borders to Azerbaijan and reach a ceasefire by exerting pressure on Azeris.

It is not Armenia but Nagorno Karabakh that controls part of Azerbaijan's territory. Barseghian also points out that it is 8 percent of Azerbaijan's overall territory but not 16 as asserted. The buffering zone between Karabakh and Azerbaijan helps to maintain relative peace in the region, the NKR representative says.

By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert

[Gavur]

Alghuli - Another Blemish On Azeris' Conscience

In September of the current year "Alghuli" Association applied to the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh to officially mark the 100th anniversary of 1905-1906 events. The government elaborated a corresponding project in response. Following the government's decision, last week a rally was held and a temporary monument was erected in Alghuli village to be replaced soon by another one to immortalize the memory of the perished Alghuli residents.

A scientific workshop with the participation of eminent scholars and descendents of Kashatagh residents on October 15 was held as a continuation of arrangements.

All reports made at the workshop dealt with the historic past of Kashatagh from Middle Ages to early 1900s, the events of 1905-1920 -- the period when the region was finally deprived of Armenian population. Another group of reports dealt with the policy of eliminating of Armenians in Kashatagh.

The participants tried to find answers to a number of questions concerning the history of Kashatagh-Aghahechk region. They alluded to diverse Armenian, Georgian and Russian sources indicating that Kashatagh used to be an Armenian land whose ethnic population - the Armenians - had to immigrate to survive.

The reports claimed that the former authorities destroyed monuments and changed Armenian names of settlements to appropriate the region. The word "Lachin" was said to be the Azeri contraction of Aghahechk-Lahechk name.

The scholars were unanimous in one thing: there can be no return of territories liberated in 1992 as it will mean weakening Armenia's and Artsakh's defense.

By Kim Gabrielian

[Hovik]

Karabakh Controls 8 Percent Of Azerbaijan's Territory

KARABAKH CONTROLS 8 PERCENT OF AZERBAIJAN'S TERRITORY
By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert

AZG Armenian Daily #188
19/10/2005

The press service of the Government of Nagorno Karabakh informs that
in its October 17 issue the Washington Post published the letter of
Vartan Barseghian, NKR representative in America, which is his reply
to the paper's October 5 article titled "Independent Candidates Court
Anger in Azerbaijan Campaign."

Vartan Barseghian writes, in particular, that Philip Kennicott,
author of the article, misrepresented the key causes of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict in his speech on Azerbaijani parliamentary
elections. As a reply to the wish of self-determination of the people
of Karabakh, Azerbaijan started war against Nagorno Karabakh and
not Armenia. Karabakh managed to get the war out of its borders to
Azerbaijan and reach a ceasefire by exerting pressure on Azeris.

It is not Armenia but Nagorno Karabakh that controls part of
Azerbaijan's territory. Barseghian also points out that it is 8 percent
of Azerbaijan's overall territory but not 16 as asserted. The buffering
zone between Karabakh and Azerbaijan helps to maintain relative peace
in the region, the NKR representative says.

[Gavur]

Karabakh Settlement Process Developing Right - Mann

By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
October 18, 2005 Tuesday 2:15 PM Eastern Time

American Cochairman of the OSCE Minsk Group for Nagorno-Karabakh
Steven Mann thinks that the Karabakh settlement process is developing
in the right direction.

Mann is accompanying U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried on a South Caucasian tour. On
Tuesday the delegation met with Armenian President Robert Kocharian.

The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents and foreign ministers have
defined their positions rather firmly, but the range of contradictions
has narrowed, he said.

[Gavur]

Azeris Refuse From Electricity To Spite Armenians

Azerbaijan refuses to participate in regional energetic projects with Armenia.
18.10.2005 GMT+04:00
Baku has expressed distrust to the recent initiative of Russian energy group «United Power Systems» to synchronize the energetic systems of Russia and Iran through Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The parliament of Azerbaijan even discusses the necessity to review the memorandum signed between the government of Azerbaijan and the management of «United Power Systems». This is reasoned by the reluctance of Azerbaijan to be in the same team with Armenians even if it is economically feasible.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The creation of unified energetic system proposed by «United Power Systems» group supposes the formation of energetic corridors that will enable to realize interchange of electricity if needed. This project presents interest to the countries of the region because it gives opportunity to generate incomes from transit and electricity export. The abovementioned memorandum was signed in Tehran by the president of «United Power Systems» group Anatoly Chubays. According to the agreement reached the power systems have to be synchronized already in 2007. This causes alarm of some Azeri legislators who are very worried about the fact that they may take part in a project which can be useful for Armenia. Besides, Azeris are alarmed at the fact that they will not know the source of electricity coming to their homes. It is theoretically possible that Baku will receive electricity produced for example in Hrazdan heat power plant or in Metsamor atomic power plant. Azerbaijan considers it completely unacceptable. This situation reminds of the behavior of a true Muslim who wants the salesman in a shop to guarantee that there is no admixture of pork in the cans.

Some pragmatically thinking Azeris are afraid that the electricity produced in Azerbaijan will go to Armenia and will promote its economic development. “Armenia may fulfill its demands at the cost of our energy systems”, said Milli Mejlis deputy Maisa Safarli in an interview. Continuing this thought, economist Gubad Ibadoglu says that “the initiative of “United Power Systems” group contradicts to the principles followed by Azerbaijan”. The anxiety of Baku patriots is really hard to understand, since it is known that currently Armenia has an excess of energy and possesses serious resources for export. At the same time Azerbaijan is sometimes short of energy. If Azeris have an aversion for Armenian electricity, it is of course their business. But in Yerevan no one is embarrassed by the perspective of mediate supplies of Armenian energy to Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Meanwhile, it should be mentioned that the initiative of “Unites Power Systems” group is first of all profitable for Azerbaijan. As it is known, the energy systems of Armenia and Iran have already been synchronized. This means that "United Power Systems” group could easily implement the project without Azerbaijan. The group could supply electricity to Iran through Armenia and it would be more profitable to sell electricity produced in Russian-controlled Armenian energy plants of Metsamor, Hrazdan and Sevan. However Moscow decided to involve Azerbaijan too, creating an alternative to Armenian transit. Thus, the idea of Anatoly Chubays should alarm Yerevan and not Baku. Today Azerbaijan does not possess enough energy resources to think about export, but the possibility of transit promises good incomes. This is why some sober-minded Azeri economists call the initiative of «United Power Systems» group the great success of Azerbaijan. However, thanks to the efforts of pro-governmental mass media of Azerbaijan the hatred of an average resident of Azerbaijan has grown to such an extent when a single notice about the possibility of participation in the same project with Yerevan provokes aggression and disapproval. This is more a psychological problem and Azeri leaders have to think about the fact that the stereotypes they spread hinder the economic development of their own country.
«PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department
! Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to «PanARMENIAN.Net».