Armenia, Azerbaijan `Close To Karabakh Deal'

[Hovik]

Nkr Leader Doesn't Wish To Show Cards Prematurely

NKR LEADER DOESN'T WISH TO SHOW CARDS PREMATURELY

Pan Armenian
15.12.2005 00:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia have some discrepancies
on some issues, however they are being settled in the process. We
discuss the existing problems and admit the most appropriate approach,
"NKR President Arkady Ghukasian told journalists in Yerevan after
the meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. When commenting on
the issue of liberated territories Ghukasian stated, "For us these
territories are the security belt and security guarantor," he said. In
his words, no single issue can be lifted out of the context. When
asked whether he fancies the status of Nagorno Karabakh without
these territories the NKR President noted he "would not like to open
his cards prematurely." "Any settlement implies mutual concessions,
which should be determined during the negotiation process," he added.

When asked why the meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group was held in
Yerevan but not in Stepanakert he noted that it is conditioned by the
schedule of the visit adding that thanks to the organization of the
meeting in Armenia the mediators could visit the NKR representative
office in Yerevan.

[Hovik]

Armenian President And Osce Minsk Group Co-chairs Discussed Karabakh Settlement

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS DISCUSSED KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

Pan Armenian
15.12.2005 01:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard
Fassier (France) and Steve Mann (the U.S.), RA leader's press service
reported.

Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk
was also present at the meeting. The interlocutors discussed the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process and prospects of the
meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents.

[Hovik]

Karabakh Leader Wary About Settlement Prospects

KARABAKH LEADER WARY ABOUT SETTLEMENT PROSPECTS

Mediamax news agency
14 Dec 05

Yerevan, 14 December: The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic
(NKR), Arkadiy Gukasyan, has said that "international mediators do not
conceal that they consider 2006 year to be crucial for the [Karabakh]
conflict settlement, but I think we are quite far from a solution to
the conflict".

"Stepanakert's position remains unchanged, and I have informed
the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group about it," Gukasyan told
journalists today after his meeting with the mediators in Yerevan. The
NKR president pointed out that he had discussed with the mediators
"all issues related to the settlement process".

Gukasyan also said that the mediators "have not presented any new
proposals". "There is no final package of proposals, at issue are
only different versions of issues," he said.

Gukasyan said that the NKR would be involved in the negotiations as a
party after the talks fully resumed within the framework of the OSCE
Minsk process. "No-one believes that a final settlement is possible
without our direct involvement in the talks," the president said.

The NKR president said that at the meeting with the mediators he
expressed his concern over aggressive statements of Azerbaijani
officials and noted that this rhetoric did not facilitate a peaceful
solution to the problem.

Gukasyan said that disagreements sometimes occurred between Yerevan
and Stepanakert during the negotiating process. "However, they are
solved there and then and we choose the most reasonable approach,"
the president said.

Speaking about Stepanakert's position on the problem of occupied
territories [seven Armenian-occupied districts around Nagornyy
Karabakh], Gukasyan said that the NKR's position, as before, is that
"we cannot take certain issues out of the context and try to resolve
them without deciding on Nagornyy Karabakh's status".

[Hovik]

Karabakh Parliament Approves 2006 Budget

KARABAKH PARLIAMENT APPROVES 2006 BUDGET

Noyan Tapan news agency
13 Dec 05

Yerevan, 13 December: The National Assembly of the Nagornyy Karabakh
republic [NKR] approved the 2006 budget on 12 December.

Budget revenue will be 25bn drams (about 56m dollars), and budget
expenditure 27.2bn drams (about 60m dollars). The budget deficit
of 2.2bn drams is to be covered from domestic and foreign financial
resources.

According to the government, the budget is social-oriented and at the
same time contains components of development. In particular, from 1
January 2006 retirement pensions will increase from 4,000 drams [9
dollars] to 4,250 drams [9.4 dollars] and additions to the pension
for every year of service will grow from 160 drams [0.35 dollars]
to 180 drams [0.4 dollars]. [Passage omitted: minor details]

In 2006, it is also planned to allocate 800m drams [1.8m dollars]
from the state budget for developing small and medium-sized
enterprises. Capital expenditure will also grow.

[Gavur]

Mediators propose status of enclave for Karabakh - Armenian daily

Iravunk, Yerevan
16 Dec 05

Text of unattributed report by Armenian newspaper Iravunk on 16
December headlined "Was the status of enclave proposed for Karabakh?"

Speaking to journalists yesterday [15 December], the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairmen again repeated their idea that 2006 would be "favourable"
for the Karabakh settlement. They also denied [Karabakh president]
Arkadiy Gukasyan's assertion that they had presented their proposals
on the settlement verbally. [Russian co-chairman] Yuriy Merzlyakov
said that all the proposals had been submitted to Gukasyan in a
written form.

But according to our diplomatic source, the co-chairmen proposed to
give the status of an enclave to Karabakh and return Azerbaijani
refugees even to Lachin [Lacin] and Shushi [Susa]. According to our
source, the co-chairmen's proposals did not guarantee any ground
connection between Karabakh and Armenia. It was precisely this
condition that made Arkadiy Gukasyan angry and disappointed.

[Gavur]

“Without establishing trust between the conflict parties it is impossible to achieve

2005-12-15 19:58:00


ARKADY GHOUKASYAN: “WITHOUT ESTABLISHING TRUST BETWEEN THE CONFLICT PARTIES IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS IN THE KARABAKH TALKS”


“Without establishing trust between the conflict parties it is impossible to achieve progress in the Karabakh talks”.
According to the information received at the Nagorno Karabakh Republic President’s Administration, NKR President Arkady Ghoukasyan stated it in the course of the meeting with the OSCE Minsk group Co – Chairs conducted in Yerevan the day before. The President stressed that belligerent statements made by Azeri authorities recently did not contribute to the settlement process.
Arkady Ghoukasyan also noted that official Baku’s refusal from any contacts with NKR could not be explained, as without taking into consideration Karabakh party’s stand it was impossible to settle the issue.
NKR Head reminded that Nagorno Karabakh had presented a package of proposals targeted at strengthening confidence between the conflict parties. Arkady Ghoukasyan suggested that the OSCE Minsk group Co – Chairs should establish a stricter control on the parties’ contact line.
According to NKR President, it is necessary to hold meetings and discussions between representatives of NGOs and mass media, as well as experts of the three conflict sides. In his words, serious and effective contacts are being conducted within the frames of the Dartmouth conference.
Among the issues raised by the Karabakh party Arkady Ghoukasyan emphasized the issue referring to Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan. He noted the problem was not discussed in the present format.
The OSCE Minsk group Co – Chairs took a favorable view of NKR leadership’s readiness to promote the settlement process via useful initiatives. They noted future of the negotiation process, including Nagorno Karabakh’s participation, was likely to be verified at the Armenian and Azeri Presidents’ forthcoming meeting.
The mediators stressed 2006 might become favorable for attaining positive outcomes in the Karabakh settlement process.

[Gavur]

Poll in Armenia on Resolution of Karabagh Conflict

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--The Caucasian Institute of Democracy foundation conducted a survey of 1,600 people in Yerevan and other Armenian provinces to find out what they think of the different approaches to resolving the Karabagh conflict. The poll was conducted in September and October 2005.

49.1 percent of the participants said the acceptable way to regulate the Karabagh conflict is the international recognition of the Karabagh's independence; 41.4 percent views the uniting of Karabagh with Armenia as the solution, while 0.6 percent think that the conflict will be solved if Karabagh becomes an autonomous part of Azerbaijan.

34.6 percent thought that Karabagh conflict will be resolved in coming years. 34.4 percent of those surveyed think a resolution will be in sight only in several decades, and 12.1 percent think it will never be resolved.

35.2 percent think the regulation process will be facilitated by direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, while 27.9 prefer direct dialogue between Karabagh and Azerbaijan. 24.3 percent think mediating countries should increase their efforts, while 12.7 percent said other countries should exert pressure on Azerbaijan.

72.2 percent viewed Russia as having a positive role in the regulation of the conflict, while 7.6 percent targeted the US. 78.1 viewed Turkey as having a negative influence on the issue.

[Reincarnated Am]

Representatives of Dashnaktsutiun deny statements of Azerbaijan Social Democratic Par

Representatives of Dashnaktsutiun deny statements of Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party co-chairman

“To call the statement of the Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party Co-Chairman Araz Alizade ‘a lie’ may be rough, but it is the most correct impression, because it is a complete lie,” stated participant of the Socialist International in Kiev and Director of Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau's Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Kiro Manoyan, commenting on the recent statement of Alizade, who said that “the Socialist International left in force the resolution ‘On aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan’.”

According to Manoyan, there were no talks about Armenian aggression and especially a corresponding resolution in Kiev, moreover, the Socialist International never regarded Armenia as an aggressor, so there was no need to change the non-existent point of view. He also informed that as the result of the session, a report has been worked out, which also contains opinion on the recent parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan and the post-electoral situation in the country. “There were no talks about exclusion of the point about possible withdrawal of Azerbaijan PACE delegation mandate from some resolution,” stated Manoyan. He thinks that Araz Alizade had to make such statements to explain his participation in the session of the Socialist International.

It should be noted that after returning from Kiev, Araz Alizade noted that the Armenian side that participated in the session proposed to Secretary General of the Socialist International Luis Ayala to change the resolution on Nagorno Karabakh, but he declined. “He informed them, that until Armenia frees the Azerbaijani territory, the resolution will be in force,” stressed Alizade.

Alizade informed that the session was organized by the SI Committee for the CIS and the Caucasus, and one of the resolutions, made at the session concerned parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan.

Below REGNUM publishes the text of the resolution on Azerbaijan adopted by the the SI Committee for the CIS and the Caucasus:

“The Socialist International Committee for the CIS and the Caucasus, meeting in Kiev on 16-17 December 2005, strongly condemns the use of violence by police in Azerbaijan against demonstrators peacefully protesting the extensive fraud that took place during the recent elections, and calls for basic freedoms to be respected in the country.

”The vote on 6 November was marked by undue government control and interference in both the electoral process and the campaign; restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression; police intimidation and arbitrary arrests of opposition candidates and supporters; and vote-buying, ballot-stuffing and gross irregularities in the counting of the votes, as reported by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other independent observers.

“The Socialist International calls upon the authorities in Azerbaijan to carry out a full investigation into the police violence, holding accountable those who are responsible, and strongly urges that all citizens of the country be allowed to exercise their democratic rights without fear.

”The International reaffirms its full support for its member party, the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, and all political and civic forces in the country which continue to struggle for democracy and respect for human rights, and expresses its solidarity with the people of Azerbaijan rallying to demand elections that are free and fair.

“The Socialist International calls upon the international community to take a firm stand in favour of democratisation in Azerbaijan and to strongly urge the government to conduct, in conjunction with independent observers, a thorough assessment of the recent electoral process to determine whether all or part of the elections should be repeated and to ensure that guarantees for a clean and democratic outcome are put in place.”

http://www.regnum.ru/english/564687.html

[Gavur]

Historical Falsifications Of The Azerbaijani Scientists

THE COUNCILOR OF THE ARMENIAN MINISTER FOR DEFENSE DETECTS FACTS OF HISTORICAL FALSIFICATIONS OF THE AZERBAIJANI SCIENTISTS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23. ARMINFO. The Councilor of the Armenian Minister for Defense, Hayk Kotanjian, detected facts of historical falsifications of the Azerbaijani scientists on an interview to Armenian mass-media.

Mr. Kotanjian commented on gross falsifications of the Armenian history by the scientists of Azerbaijan. He stated that Azerbaijan is taking for its own the cultural heritage of the peoples, which lived on the territory of modern Azerbaijan long before the invasion of Turkish tribes. The Azerbaijani institutions of historic science function under the influence and control of the authorities. The Azerbaijani government encourages falsification of historical sources and finances partial expropriation and extermination of the Armenian culture of Karabakh.

One of the most famous falsifications of Azerbaijani "historic science" concerns the famous poet Nizami (1141-1203). Nizami was declared the greatest Azeri poet by the Soviet authorities of Azerbaijan, whereas "Encyclopaedia Britannica" states that Nizami was born in Iran and wrote in his only native language - Persian. The most of his life he spent in Gyanja, a city in modern Azerbaijan that belonged to Iran in the middle ages.

[Gavur]

Anti-armenian Hysteria, Instead Of Making Concessions

ILHAM ALIEV PREFERS TO FALSIFY HISTORY AND SPREAD ANTI-ARMENIAN HYSTERIA, INSTEAD OF MAKING CONCESSIONS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23. ARMINFO. Ilham Aliev, President of Azerbaijan, prefers to falsify the history and spread anti-Armenian hysteria, instead of making concessions for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Hayk Kotanjian, councellor of RA Defence Minister, member of RF Academy of Military Sciences, expert of the U.S. National Defence University, stated this during the press conference, today. He said that on December 14, 2005, when co-chairs of Misk group arrived, Ilaham Aliev called for the Azeri historians to elaborate a program that would deny any evidence of historical existence of the Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh, in his speech during the 60th anniversary of the National Academy of Science of Azerbaijan. Aliev also promised great financial subsidities for the scholars involved in this project. The project is based on the theory of Aliev, that says that the Armenians appreared in Nagorno Karabakh only in 70-ies of the 19th century and have no historical rights for the territory of NKR.

Hayk Kotanjian stated that Aleiv emphasized the importance of creating "historical grounds and evidences" for his theory of anti-Armenian hysteria, imparting startegic importance to it.

Kotanjian said that we deal with unprecedented case of public and political order for historical falsifications concerning the disputable territory to the fundamental science.On the other hand, Aliev anounced about state sponsorship for spreading anti-Armenian hysteria by means of mass media.