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02/08/2005
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1) Armenian Genocide Back in German School Curriculum
2) OSCE Minsk co-chairs View Return of Refugees as ‘Unrealistic’
3) Kurdish Leader Barzani Vows to Never Forsake Kirkuk
4) Minsk Envoys Meet Oskanian after Karabagh Mission
1) Armenian Genocide Back in German School Curriculum
BERLIN (DPA)–Defusing a possible fiasco after Turkish pressure forced the
removal of the Armenian genocide from German public school curriculums, a
state
premier said on Tuesday the 1915 killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians would
be again be taught in history classes.
Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Matthias Platzeck admitted it had been a mistake
to remove all mention of the genocide from his state’s education ministry
website curriculum planner.
The Armenian genocide–which had been used as the only example in history
classes other than the Holocaust–will now be returned to high schools along
with other cases of 20th century genocide, he said.
Platzeck denied media reports that he ordered removal of the Armenian
genocide
from his schools after strong pressure from a Turkish diplomat.
“None of that happened,” said Platzeck.
Platzeck made his announcement after a meeting with Armenia’s ambassador to
Germany, Karine Kazinian, who expressed deep anger over the move.
“The key point is that the genocide and everything that happened back then is
being clearly addressed,” said Ambassador Kazinian.
The row began last month after Turkey’s Consul in Berlin, Aydin Durusay,
raised the issue of the Armenian genocide in connection to Brandenburg–which
is so far the only one of Germany’s 16 federal states, which described the
killings as “genocide” in its official public school curriculum.
Most European and US historians agree, however, that up to 1.5 million
Armenians were systematically massacred and deported by the Ottoman Turks
during World War I.
Eight European Union (EU) parliaments including France and the
Netherlands–but not Germany–have passed resolutions declaring the deaths
genocide.
With about two million resident ethnic Turks, Germany is cautious about any
issue which could disturb ties with its biggest minority.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is a firm supporter of Turkey’s bid to
join the EU.
Platzeck is a rising star in Chancellor’s Social Democratic Party (SPD)
and is
tipped by some as a possible successor to Schroeder.
2) OSCE Minsk co-chairs View Return of Refugees as ‘Unrealistic’
YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Speaking with the Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, Yuri
Merzliakov, the Russian co-chair of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, said the issue of refugees cannot be
viewed separately from the entire conflict.
Referring to the region’s instability, Merzliakov said, “I could not imagine
how Armenians would be able to return to [Azeri-occupied] Shahumian.” He added
that their security must not only be guaranteed, but the issue must also
remain
a component in reaching a settlement.
Minsk Group French co-chair Bernard Fassier–who served as the French
ambassador to Georgia in 1990s–said he witnessed firsthand the unorganized
return of refugees to the Gali region of Georgia–and the consequences
involved
when the situation is not fully scrutinized.
Both Merzliakov and Fassier just wrapped up an OSCE fact-finding mission
around Mountainous Karabagh to investigate Azeri claims that they were being
populated by “illegal Armenian settlers.” Fassier commented that the mission
proved useful for understanding the situation.
3) Kurdish Leader Barzani Vows to Never Forsake Kirkuk
(Combined Sources)–Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKPD) leader Massoud
Barzani declared on Tuesday that no matter the circumstances, he would never
relinquish the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.
“No power or no state in the world will make us forsake Kirkuk,” he stated.
Speaking to Zaman froom his compound in Erbil on Feburary 3, Barzani said
that
the establishment of an independent Kurdish state was the Kurds’ right, but
that neighboring states firmly opposed this.
“We want to unify Kurdistan, he said, adding that Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and
Syria must understand the reality of the situation.
Stressing that their first priority at the moment is a federal Kurdish state,
Barzani said, “We cannot agree with Turkey on two issues. One is the Kirkuk
issue, and the other is the situation of a federative Kurdistan within Iraq.”
The Kurdish leader stressed that Ankara should not intervene in the region,
and that Turkish military intervention might be tragic for both parties.
Referring to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s harsh remarks
about
the Iraqi elections and Kirkuk, the Kurdish leader argued that such statements
by Turkish authorities regarding northern Iraq are based on “some problems
stemming from internal affairs.” He added that Erdogan should know what the
will of the people means.
Countering claims that the elections in Kirkuk were illegitimate, Barzani
reiterated, “Those who voted in Kirkuk are all residents of Kirkuk. There is
not a single non-Kirkuk resident among those who voted.”
When asked how they will direct their relations with Turkey, Barzani
answered:
“The Turkmen are our brothers. We will protect their rights as much as they
[protect] their own rights. We protected their rights in the past and will do
so today as well. I hope relations with Turkey will be better from now on.”
Barzani, emphasizing that relations between Kurdistan and the US are strong
and
deeply rooted, said that the US should not withdraw from the region until
terrorism is eliminated.
4) Minsk Envoys Meet Oskanian after Karabagh Mission
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–The Russian and French Minsk Group co-chairs met with
Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian on Tuesday to discuss details of the upcoming
round of
Armenian-Azeri peace talks which they said could mark further progress toward
the conflict’s resolution.
Yuri Merzlyakov and Bernard Fassier arrived in Yerevan from Karabagh where
they accompanied officials from the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe on a fact-finding trip to Armenian-controlled territories.
The OSCE mission led by a senior German diplomat, Emily Haber, spent more
than
a week touring Armenian occupied regions around Karabagh. Haber and members of
her team were tasked with investigating Azeri claims that the lands have been
illegally populated by Armenians.
The OSCE representatives were still in the Armenian capital as of late
Tuesday, and are due to submit a report on their findings to the OSCE’s Minsk
Group on Karabagh which is co-chaired by Merzlyakov, Fassier, and their US
counterpart, Stephen Mann.
“It is still early to speak of conclusions to be made by the report,” the
Russian co-chair said after the meeting with Oskanian. “It is not yet ready.
Members of the mission are still working on it.”
“We simply informed the minister that, logistically, the mission went very
well,” he said, praising the authorities in Stepanakert for cooperating with
the OSCE officials.
The Russian and French envoys said they also discussed with Oskanian
preparations for yet another meeting in Prague of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
foreign ministers. Azerbaijani media reports have said the meeting is
tentatively scheduled for March, but Merzlyakov said no final dates have been
set yet.
Oskanian and Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov announced no far-reaching
agreements after their most recent Prague talks held last month.
Asked whether a breakthrough can be expected this year, Merzlyakov said, “I
can not make forecasts on time frames. We hope that there will be is progress,
if not breakthrough.”
“We hope that there will be progress,” Fassier said for his part. “But
progress is not yet a breakthrough.”
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