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11/04/2004
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1) Any US Policy Shift Positive for Armenia Says Manoyan
2) Kocharian Congratulates Bush Reeelction
3) ANCA Congratulates President Bush
4) French Minister Addresses Precondition to Turkey EU Entry
5) Moscow Fails to Solve Abkhaz Crisis
1) Any US Policy Shift Positive for Armenia Says Manoyan
YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Referring to worries that the US will adopt a negative
policy
toward Armenia because of the Armenian National Committee of America’s (ANCA)
endorsement of Presidential candidate John Kerry, ARF Bureau Political and
Armenian National Committee Director Giro Manoyan, called such concerns
“baseless.”
“I believe any shift in US policy toward Armenia will be positive because the
activism of the ANCA and the Armenian community became even more apparent
[during 2004 elections],” explained Manoyan, who stressed that in the US,
support for one candidate doesn’t necessarily bring about hostilities. The
three main Armenian political parties in the US also backed Kerry in a joint
appeal to the community, released last month.
ANCA-backed Congressional candidates from both parties fared much better,
with
199 of the 202 endorsed winning their races.
As for ANCA’s plans to work with the new Administration, Manoyan said that
the
goals are defined based on the organization’s mission to work with the US to
strengthen Armenia, secure a proper resolution to the Mountainous Karabagh
conflict, as well as, among other things, ensure appropriate commemoration of
the Armenian genocide. “This is our agenda regardless who is in office,”
stressed Manoyan.
2) Kocharian Congratulates Bush
YEREVAN–President Robert Kocharian congratulated President George W. Bush on
his reelection to office, in a letter to Bush released by his office on
Thursday.
“Accept my warmest congratulations in connection with your reelection as
president of the United States of America,” Kocharian said, “I anticipate a
further strengthening of the already extensive relations between our countries
in the next four years.”
Kocharian thanked the US for its continuing economic assistance to Armenia,
particularly the Bush administration’s decision to include the country in the
Millennium Challenge Account program that has made it eligible for additional
assistance. He also noted Washington’s active involvement in international
efforts to resolve the Mountainous Karabagh conflict.
“We hope to register serious progress in that process during your second term
in office,” Kocharian said.
3) ANCA Congratulates President Bush
–Urges administration to pursue a more constructive approach to Armenian
American issues in second term
“If Armenian history has taught us anything, it is that we may not win every
battle, but the surest way to lose every one is to sit on the sidelines.”
–ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian
WASHINGTON, DC–The Armenian National Committee Of America (ANCA)
congratulated President Bush on his election victory on Tuesday, thanked
Senator Kerry for a hard fought election campaign, and praised the Armenian
American community for an unprecedented level of activism in this season’s
electoral contests.
“Throughout the course of this highly competitive election season, George W.
Bush fought to advance his ideals, John Kerry fought for what he believes in,
and so did we–out there on the front lines of American politics, fighting
hard
for the values and interests of the Armenian American community,” said ANCA
Chairman Ken Hachikian. “As a result of our unprecedented electoral
involvement, we have emerged from this contest having earned the respect of
both parties, and of political insiders across the spectrum, as a vibrant,
extremely well organized, and highly motivated electoral constituency at the
presidential election level.”
Commenting on the outcome of the election, Hachikian noted, “While, of
course,
we would have liked to see a different outcome having endorsed Senator Kerry,
we understand that for our community the fundamental truth for Armenian
Americans remains that the key to this election–like all elections–is to
recognize that our future rests in our hands. Sometimes the candidates we
support will win, other times they won’t. But we–the ANCA–will always be out
there–on the front lines, working with all sides to advance our issues across
the American political landscape.”
He closed by noting, “If Armenian history has taught us anything, it is that
we may not win every battle, but the sure way to lose every one is to sit on
the sidelines.”
4) French Minister Addresses Precondition to Turkey EU Entry
PARIS (Combined Sources)–Armenia’s National Assembly Chairman Arthur
Baghdasarian met with a representative of France’s Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Renaud Muselier, on the sidelines of a meeting of South
Caucasus Parliament heads in Paris.
Baghdasarian and Muselier’s representative discussed Armenia-France
relations,
as well as recent developments in France concerning Turkey’s aspirations to
join the European Union.
Though French President Jacques Chirac has indicated his support for a start
to talks with Turkey, many in his ruling party, the opposition, and the
general
French public are against Turkey’s EU membership.
Asked about Muselier’s position, his representative revealed the minister
believes Turkey must first recognize the genocide of Armenians before entry
into the EU.
Just last week, France’s Armenian community said it would appeal to President
Chirac to prevent negotiations on Turkish membership into the EU until Turkey
acknowledged responsibility for its 1915 genocide of Armenians.
In January 2001, the French parliament passed legislation recognizing the
Armenian genocide. In the aftermath of that decision, relations with Turkey
became strained.
5) Moscow Fails to Solve Abkhaz Crisis
–Opposition leader Sergey Bagapsh says Moscow mounted pressure on him
(Civil Georgia)–Despite two days of talks in the Russian capital of Moscow,
the two main rivals for the Abkhaz presidency keep pursuing uncompromising
stances–opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh is preparing for his presidential
inauguration on December 7, while pro-government candidate Raul Khajimba
insists on a reelection.
Some details of the talks between the two men and Russian officials became
known on November 3, after the return of Khajimba and Bagapsh to Sokhumi.
Bagapsh told reporters in the Abkhaz capital that he held talks with
Secretary
of the Russian National Security Council Igor Ivanov and with chief of the
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Nikolay Patrushev while visiting Moscow
on November 1-2, according to Russian news agencies.
Speaking with his supporters in Sokhumi on November 3, Bagapsh made it clear
that the Russian officials, who support pro-government candidate Raul
Khajimba,
mounted pressure on him by threatening economic sanctions against Abkhazia.
“We accept the advice and respect the position of the Russian authorities,
but
we can not accept pressure. Someone tried to threaten us by warning that they
might close down the Russian-Abkhazian border at the river of Psou if we do
not
agree to hold a reelection. But if they think that it is possible to
intimidate
us by these threats, they are making a mistake,” stated Bagapsh on November 4,
according to the Russian Kommersant daily.
“Representatives of the Russian National Security Council and Raul Khajimba
had similar positions and I was alone. But I told them that I am not an enemy
and am not representing myself, but the Abkhaz voters who cast their ballots
for the opposition,” he added.
According to the Kommersant daily, Bagapsh is ready to offer a cabinet
position to Khajimba in the case that he agrees to halt his campaign for the
presidency. Bagapsh has indicated that he will offer either the Security of
Defense Ministerial post, but not the Prime Ministerial position.
Bagapsh also ruled out the possibility of holding a reelection and said that
he will prepare for his official inauguration in December.
On the other hand, Khajimba stated at a November 3 news conference that
reelections in Abkhazia will be held in December. “At least we hope,” Khajimba
added.
He said that outgoing Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba has already issued
an order regarding the reelection. “This order should be fulfilled,” Khajimba
said.
Ardzinba issued the ordered on October 29, following a controversial
ruling by
the Supreme Court, which annulled the Central Election Commission’s
decision to
declare Bagapsh the president-elect, and instead ordered repeat elections. But
later, a presiding judge, Giorgi Akaba, admitted that he was under pressure by
Khajimba’s supporters to pass forth the ruling. Due to the conflicting
rulings,
little room has been left for a legal solution.
But Bagapsh said on November 3 that he will defend his victory only through
legal means, adding that there are two ways of peacefully solving the current
crisis. “The first one is to solve [the problem] in the Parliament. And if the
Parliament fails to adopt a decision, we will convene an all-Abkhaz National
gathering,” he noted.
Meanwhile, reports state that the Parliament building remains blocked by
Khajimba’s supporters. Bagapsh’s supporters say the legislative body is
“paralyzed,” while the only television building in Abkhazia remains under
opposition control.
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