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11/08/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Ghukasian Open to Start Negotiations with Azerbaijan 2) Kocharian Names New National Security Service Chief 3) Safarov Trial Set to Begin 4) Akhtamar Church Targeted for Shooting Practice, Treasure Hunts 5) Erdogan Says Human Rights Report Never Disclosed to the Prime Ministry 6) Armenia Tightens Control over Radioactive Materials 1) Ghukasian Open to Start Negotiations with Azerbaijan YEREVAN (Combined Sources)Referring to the two resolution strategies"step-by-step" and "package" accordthat have been proposed by the conflicting sides, Mountainous Karabagh Republic President Arkady Ghukasian stated on November 8 that "Karabagh is ready to conduct negotiations with Azerbaijan within the context of any formatwith or without Armenia." "We are ready to discuss any issue with Azerbaijan," noted the president while elaborating on his government's stance, which he considers to be "very productive." Ghukasian stated that Azerbaijan's ability to settle the conflict is currently inhibited, however, by its "hostile political stance," adding that Azerbaijan's policies will not impact the position of the OSCE Minsk Group chairmen, who will be able to realistically gauge the proposals offered by each side. 2) Kocharian Names New National Security Service Chief YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Gorik Hakopian, the former Deputy Director of Armenia's National Security Service, has been appointed by President Kocharian as the new chief of Armenia's National Security Service. Hakopian, 58, who took one of the most powerful government positions in Armenia, was born in Gyumri. He has graduated from the Higher Courses of Soviet KGB. A statement from Kocharian's office says, "Hakopian worked in the security system from 1970...Since December, 2002 Hakopian worked as Deputy Director of National Security Service." 3) Safarov Trial Set to Begin YEREVAN (Armenpress)--The trial of Ramil Safarov, accused of killing Gurgen Margarian in Hungary on February 19, 2004, is set to begin on November 23. Both were officers participating in an English-language course at the Hungarian University of National Defense as part of NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) program. The Armenian officer Margarian, 26, was axed to death in his sleep by Safarov, who is an Azeri. Safarov is accused of premeditated murder with unusual cruelty and may face a sentence 15 years to life imprisonment. Attorney Nazeli Vardanian will represent the Margarian family. The Armenian International Union of Lawyers has created a team of lawyers to assist Vardanian in the case. 4) Akhtamar Church Targeted for Shooting Practice, Treasure Hunts VAN--The Istanbul-based Marmara Armenian newspaper reports that sculptures on the Akhtamar Church, located on Akhtamar Island, in Western Armenia, are being used as targets for shooting practice by visitors. A photo accompanying the article in the Turkish Newspaper Milliyet reveals the pierced images. Reporting from Van, writer Cukran Bakan says that a guard is posted at the historical site only during visiting hours, and only during the summer season. Though visitors routinely arrive to the island to practice their shooting, visitors have also begun to dig underneath the church for hidden treasure. A professor of Ancient Studies at Van's Yuzuncu Yil University says that people have the notion that there are treasures buried in Van. A guard at the Akhtamar Church was even caught and arrested for digging for treasure. Marmara also laments a reference in the first paragraph of the Milliyet article that refers to the Akhtamar Church as a 1,000 year-old sacred site for Christians and Jews. "There is nothing left for us to say," writes the Armenian paper. 5) Erdogan Says Human Rights Report Never Disclosed to the Prime Ministry ISTANBUL (Combined Sources)--Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a minority report released by the Human Rights Advisory Board had been drafted without instructions from him. "It was unethical to disclose the report to the press before informing us, that is, the Prime Ministry," Erdogan said. The report broadened the definition of minorities in Turkey and criticized the government's policy towards minorities, which has drawn criticism from various circles. Erdogan responded to questions at a press conference in the Black Sea province of Rize on Saturday. He emphasized that the minority report should have been submitted to the prime minister or the deputy prime minister before it was released to the press. "After the public debate, the report was again discussed by the board and amended. Later it was sent to the Prime Ministry. This [sequence of events] is ethically wrong," said Erdogan. Asked about criticism alleging that he had signed the European Union Constitution in Rome on Oct. 29 without reading it, Erdogan said those who released such news were not aware of the content of the constitution and how it was drafted. Drawing attention to the fact that the Inter-parliamentary Conference had drafted the constitution, Erdogan said: "Turkey participated in studies on the drafting of the constitution, which is not legally binding on Turkey. It will be binding on us when we become a full member of the EU." The report on ethnic minorities in Turkey, released by an advisory body linked to the office of the Turkish Prime Minister, has led to debates in Turkey. Issued in Late October, the report recommends greater recognition be given to ethnic minorities in Turkey. Currently, only three ethnic minorities--the Jews, Armenians, and Greeks--are officially recognized. Chairman of the Human Rights Advisory Board Ibrahim Kaboglu, said the report had been submitted to the Prime Ministry, but government officials denied having anything to do with it. 6) Armenia Tightens Control over Radioactive Materials YEREVAN--The Armenian government approved the licensing order of radioactive materials to prevent illegal shipments of materials and equipment containing them, reported RIA-Novosti. Armenian authorities arrested a man last month carrying radioactive cesium-137 in the trunk of his car. The highly toxic material is capable of contaminating large areas if used as a dirty bomb. Yerevan resident Gagik Tovmasian was arrested on charges of illegal trade in radioactive materials. It was unclear how the man obtained the material which is used in Armenia in density gauges and for machine calibration. Devices containing cesium-137 can cause serious radiation exposure if broken and held. Depending on the amount and form, experts say a dirty bomb made with cesium-137 could spread intense radioactivity over a section of a city, making it uninhabitable. The AP reported that a powerful source of radiation was found last February on the Armenian-Iranian border, amid scrap metal headed for Iran. 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. 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