ASBAREZ ONLINE [05-12-2004]

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05/12/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Uncompromising Opposition Stance Hinders Success of Upcoming Dialogue 2) Just a Scuffle 3) ARF Meets with Iranian Ambassador 4) Turkey Must Shed Its Genocide Burden Says EU’s Gharton 5) ARS Seminar in Bulgaria 1) Uncompromising Opposition Stance Hinders Success of Upcoming Dialogue YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Armenia’s government coalition partners put forth a four-point agenda for its upcoming dialogue with the opposition. The three political parties of the coalition suggested that the two sides try to reach an agreement on reforming Armenia’s constitution; formulating election legislation to fully correspond to international criteria; working out models for active participation of opposition in the fight against corruption; and cooperate in complying with recent resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In a joint statement, the parliamentary leaders of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Orinats Yerkir, and Republican parties said these issues must be at the heart of the dialogue strongly encouraged by the PACE and the United States. The opposition Artarutyun (Justice) bloc and the National Unity Party (AMK) have called for discussions on “ways of overcoming the political crisis in Armenia resulting from the 2003 elections,” which they believe were rigged by the authorities. The coalition leaders said they will agree to include the issue on the agenda of the talks if the word “crisis” is changed to “situation.” The first official negotiations are scheduled for Thursday. Regardless of the outcome of the talks, however, opposition leaders said their rallies in Yerevan would resume on Friday, and would continue to campaign for Kocharian’s resignation The uncompromising stance led one of the top coalition figures, deputy parliament speaker Tigran Torosian, to seriously question the opposition’s commitment to the dialogue. “I don’t think the negotiations will last too long, and I am not particularly optimistic about their results,” Torosian said. 2) Just a Scuffle TBILISI (Combined Sources)--Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said that the skirmish between ethnic Georgians and Armenians of the Tsalka region on May 9 is not an ethnic conflict, and should not be over dramatized. "Let’s not make the situation tragic. It’s not an ethnic conflict, rather a fight between Georgians and Armenians. But we won’t tolerate disorder and we don’t intend to be drawn into provocation,” he told journalists on Tuesday. He noted that while Georgia’s enemies have retreated since the quelling of the recent Ajarian upheaval, “some enemies of Georgia” seek to involve the country in a new conflict. “We won’t allow anyone to blackmail us and will respond appropriately to such tactics.” Stressing that Georgia’s neighbors are peaceful, he said that both the Presidents of Armenia and Ukraine applauded the peaceful settlement of the Ajaria conflict. Though officials from the Armenian Embassy in Georgia have not issued a statement on the incident, they did indicate the issue lies within the jurisdiction of Georgian internal affairs, excluding Armenia’s active involvement in the matter. A statement was to be released late Wednesday. Georgians living in the Tsalka region meanwhile rallied in front of the State Chancellery in Tbilisi on Tuesday, demanding to meet with President Saakashvili to discuss disarmament of the Armenian population in Tsalka. The rally participants said that almost all the Armenian families keep firearms. There is a pending threat that the frequent conflicts in the Kveda Kartli region may turn into the armed clashes. Notably, what began as an argument among soccer fans at the Tsalka stadium on May 9 grew into a brawl, with scores reported injured. After the incident, the Georgian government deployed regional police and interior forces. 3) ARF Meets with Iranian Ambassador YEREVAN (Yerkir)--The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau’s Vahan Hovhannisian, Supreme Body’s representative Armen Rustamian, and member Levon Mkrtchian, met with the Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Farhad Koleini on Wednesday at the Simon Vratsian Center in Yerevan. They discussed Armenian-Iranian relations, Armenia’s political developments, and regional issues. Addressing the recent political tensions in Armenia, Koleini praised the ARF for its efforts to resolve the matter politically with its calls for negotiations. The sides confirmed that Armenian-Iranian relations are a key in strengthening the stability of the region. 4) Turkey Must Shed Its Genocide Burden Says EU’s Gharton YEREVAN (Yerkir)--Speaking at a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, European Parliament (EP) member Per Gharton said that Turkey must take responsibility for the 1915 Armenian Genocide. "Turkey should get rid of that burden. This year, the European Union reaffirmed its decision recognizing the Genocide, and calls on Turkey to do the same," Gharton said during the roundtable “Wider Europe: New Neighborhood: What are Armenia's Expectations?" He said that it is senseless for Turkey to deny the Genocide, pointing to the decision of Istanbul courts immediately after the Genocide to sentence to death the perpetrators and Turkish officials responsible. “Where would Germany be now hadn't it admitted the Holocaust against the Jews,” he asked. He stressed that though Turkey “improves,” it fails to meet EU’s demands “to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to cease its blockade against Armenia to become an EU member.” He said that the EU will not accept a state with local or regional conflicts. “Cyprus was a bad precedent and we won’t make the same mistake again,” Gharton said. He said that while Armenia is Europeanized politically and is a member of the Council of Europe, it must still tackle issues tied to democracy, the environment, and settlement of confrontations. Also attending the conference was National Assembly Vice-speaker Tigran Torosian, who noted that Armenian authorities are determined to integrate into Europe. “Armenia has no alternative," he stated. 5) ARS Seminar in Bulgaria Representatives of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) European chapters will gather in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, May 21-22, for a Seminar on Voluntary Organizations in the 21st Century. Organized by the ARS Central Executive, the seminar will address modernity and the Armenian women, as well broader topics on Armenia and the Diaspora. Lectures include, Status of Armenian Organizations in a Newly Emerging Europe by Hilda Choboyan, Non-Governmental Organizations by Helen Merdjanian, and Javakhk by Garine Hovhanessian. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.