ASBAREZ Online [02-15-2005]

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02/15/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) The Aftermath of Hariri's Death 2) Kocharian, ARF Lebanon React to Hariri’s Assassination 3) Armenian Youth Determined to Gain Genocide Recognition 4) ARF Leader Stresses Turkey Has Nothing to Offer through Mere 'Dialogue' 5) Mediator Sees No Organized Settlement Policy in Karabagh 1) The Aftermath of Hariri's Death --US Recalls Ambassador from Syria BEIRUT (MSNBC)--The United States recalled its ambassador to Syria on Tuesday, expressing "profound outrage" amid growing suspicion that Damascus was involved in a massive bombing in Lebanon a day earlier that killed Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Condemnation and expressions of grief echoed throughout the Arab world and beyond, while in southern Lebanon an angry mob attacked Syrian workers. The bombing and its aftermath raised fears that Lebanon might revert to the political violence of the 1970s and '80s, and the US Embassy in Beirut warned Americans in the Lebanese capital to exercise extreme caution. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous said the UN Security Council was working on a declaration demanding that the Lebanese government bring to justice those responsible for the assassination and could adopt it later Tuesday. "For us, it is very important that the text can effectively express today and without waiting the unanimity of the international community in condemning this criminal and odious act," Ladsous said. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, told The Associated Press on Tuesday he saw no immediate need to change EU relations with Syria, but supported an international investigation into the bombing. EU relations, he added, could change depending "on how the responsibilities on the assassination of Mr. Hariri are resolved." Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh suggested that, based on the crater in the middle of the road and preliminary reports, the attack may have been carried out by a suicide bomber who rammed Hariri's motorcade with a vehicle laden with explosives. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, announcing the move to withdraw American ambassador to Damascus Margaret Scobey, said it reflected the Bush administration's "profound outrage" over Hariri's assassination. Boucher did not accuse Syria of being involved in the bombing Monday in Beirut. "I have been careful to say we do not know who committed the murder at this time," he said. But he said the deadly attack illustrated that Syria's strong military and political presence in Lebanon was a problem and had not provided security in the neighboring country. Earlier, Scobey delivered a stern message to Syrian officials, a senior State Department official told NBC News, saying the Syrians needed to take action to fight terrorism in Lebanon, stop interfering in Lebanon's internal politics, and abide by a UN resolution that calls for Syrian troops to withdraw from Lebanon. Boucher refused to describe Syria's reaction to Scobey's diplomatic messages in Damascus. Syria has not yet taken any reciprocal action, such as withdrawing its own ambassador to Washington. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the United States has "made it clear to Syria that we expect Syria to act in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and the disbanding of militias." McClellan said, "We also made it clear to Syria that we want them to use their influence to prevent the kind of terrorist attack that took place yesterday from happening." Although most suspicion has fallen on Syria or its supporters in Lebanon, it was clear the possibilities also might include rogue Syrian intelligence operatives, or even factions among the country's myriad religious groups. Claims of responsibility by Islamic militants also raised the possibility that Hariri had been targeted because of his close ties to Saudi Arabia--a top enemy of al-Qaida and other groups. But Justice Minister Adnan Addoum played down that possibility, and Hariri's political allies openly accused Syria and its Lebanese allies of being to blame. In Hariri's hometown of Sidon on southern Lebanon's Mediterranean coast, dozens of demonstrators attacked Syrian workers Tuesday, slightly wounding five before police intervened. Hundreds of others marched in the streets. Black banners and pictures of the slain leader covered the streets as the country began three days of official mourning. On Monday night, a mob attacked the offices of the Lebanese chapter of Syria's ruling Baath Party in Beirut with stones and set fire to shacks used to exchange money and sell cigarettes in front of it. Police said the toll from the bombing was 14 dead and about 120 injured. A claim of responsibility by a previously unknown Islamic militant group--Support and Jihad in Syria and Lebanon--was not considered credible, with Addoum warning it could be an attempt "to mislead the investigation." At Hariri's Beirut residence Tuesday, long lines of mourners offered condolences to the family. Dignitaries also arrived to pay their respects, including Syrian Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam, a longtime friend; Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos; and Hariri's political ally, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, head of the Maronite Catholic Church. 2) Kocharian, ARF Lebanon React to Hariri’s Assassination (Combined Sources)--President Robert Kocharian conveyed his condolences to his Lebanese counterpart Emil Lahoud, expressing sorrow for the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. Praising Hariri as a leading political figure who made considerable contributions to strengthening Lebanon's statehood and Armenian-Lebanese relations, Kocharian said Hariri's death is a difficult challenge not only for Lebanon, but also for the entire region. In his message to Hariri's widow Nazik Hariri, Kocharian said, "Rafik Hariri not only made an invaluable contribution to strengthening of peace and stability in Lebanon and in the whole region, but also exerted considerable efforts to strengthen the relations between Armenia and Lebanon. I remember my meetings with Rafik Hariri with special warmth. On behalf of the Armenian people and myself, I express deep condolence to you and all his relatives." The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee of Lebanon also issued a statement on Monday denouncing the assassination and extending its condolences to the families of Hariri and other victims. The statement condemns the blast, calling it "an attempt to infringe on the Homeland's security, peace, civil serenity, and national accord." "This crime was committed against the Lebanese Homeland and points to the dangerous stage Lebanon has come to," the statement continued. Urging all to maintain internal unity and underscoring national responsibility in the dangerous and sensitive situation that Lebanon and the region are facing, the statement concludes, "The absence of Rafik Hariri, a symbol of the national accord and prominent political leader, will felt greatly in Lebanon and the Arab world." 3) Armenian Youth Determined to Gain Genocide Recognition YEREVAN (Armenpress)--The youth divisions of Armenia's political parties, student councils, and a number of non-government organizations (NGOs) released a joint statement on Tuesday condemning the Turkish media for deliberately distorting historical facts about the Armenian genocide. The deputy head of the Armenian NGO youth division, Abraham Bakhchagulian, said youth must work for the recognition of the Armenian genocide, and are ready to organize various events to attain that goal. He said it is inadmissible to talk about the Armenian genocide in a dismissive manner, as the Turkish mass media and political elite do, in order to hinder the process of the international recognition of the Armenian genocide. "We condemn the activity of the organizations and people who aim to cast doubt on the Armenian genocide and impede the process of condemning this crime against humanity. Armenian youth are determined and united in its position to promote the recognition of the Armenian genocide," the statement reads. 4) ARF Leader Stresses Turkey Has Nothing to Offer through Mere 'Dialogue' YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Levon Mkrtchian, who heads the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's (ARF) faction in parliament, described an offer to the ARF to engage in "dialogue" with Turkey, as "unserious," and questioned the motives behind yesterday's invitation. He also questioned the credentials of Turkish businessman Kaan Soyak, who made the offer at a news conference in Yerevan yesterday. Soyak co-chairs the Turkish-Armenian Business Council (TABC). "Dashnaktsutyun [ARF] has received no formal offers to that effect," Mkrtchian said. "I don't know who that person represents, what goals he is pursuing here and how substantiated his proposals are." "Offers of a dialogue addressed to Dashnaktsutyun [ARF] must be much more serious. They must specify the subjects or topics of such a dialogue. Dashnaktsutyun [ARF] ascertained those topics long ago," Mkrtchian added. Mkrtchian argued that Turkish-Armenian rapprochement and reconciliation is hardly possible because Turkey's ruling establishment remains unwilling to come to terms with its Ottoman past. "Modern-day Turkey, given its position on the genocide issue and policy on the Republic of Armenia, has nothing to offer Dashnaktsutyun [the ARF] in a dialogue," he said. 5) Mediator Sees No Organized Settlement Policy in Karabagh By Jean-Christophe Peuch The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) last week completed an unprecedented fact-finding mission to regions around Mountainous Karabagh to verify Azeri claims that Armenian authorities are sending settlers to the area. The mission, which was supervised by the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, was the first of its kind since the suspension of the 1988-94 Karabagh war. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, France's Minsk Group co-chairman, Bernard Fassier, discussed the mission's preliminary findings. PRAGUE--For more than a week, experts from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) conducted an unprecedented tour of the Kelbajar, Lachin, Qubadli, Fuzuli, Cebrayil, Zangilan, and Agdam districts around Mountainous Karabagh. The eight-member mission was placed under the supervision of the Minsk Group of nations that has been mediating the Karabagh conflict for the past 13 years on behalf of the OSCE. That Group has been co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States, beginning in 1996. France's co-chair, Bernard Fassier, who toured the territories with the OSCE experts, said that the mission, which had long been demanded by Azerbaijan, was made possible only after arduous talks between Baku and Yerevan. Azerbaijan claims the Armenian and Karabagh authorities have already sent some 23,000 settlers to the areas and demands that an end be put to what it says is a deliberate policy of colonization. "The determinant factor that made this mission possible--despite Armenia's earlier objections--was a compromise reached recently by the two countries under the aegis of the Minsk Group co-chairs. The main provision of the compromise was that Azerbaijan would suspend its action at the United Nations in return for--among other things--Armenia's consent to that mission, the technicalities of which were agreed to by both parties," Fassier said. In early 1993, ethnic Armenian forces were in full control of Mountainous Karabagh and had already secured the strategic southern corridor of Lachin that links the exclave to Armenia. In March 1993, ethnic Armenian forces launched a two-pronged offensive that drove Azerbaijan's army farther east. Kelbajar fell on April 3, 1993. Agdam, Fuzuli, Cebrayil, and other cities and towns followed soon thereafter. Azerbaijan claims the Armenian and Karabagh authorities have already sent some 23,000 settlers to the areas and demands that an end be put to what it says is a deliberate policy of colonization. But French Ambassador Fassier said that, with one noticeable exception, Armenian migration into the occupied territories seems to be largely spontaneous and improvised. "Contrary to what many people thought, there doesn't seem to be a deliberate, large-scale plan to settle those areas. One exception, however, is the Lachin district. In Lachin, one can say that the [Armenian] settlement is being encouraged and sponsored. But with regard to the six remaining districts, its seems that up to 80 to 90 percent of settlers have gone there either on their own or with the support of local nongovernmental organizations or the [Armenian] diaspora. Except for Lachin, there is no large-scale involvement from [the capital of Mountainous Karabagh Republic] Stepanakert, even less so from Yerevan," Fassier said. The French diplomat said the largest group of settlers is made up of Armenian refugees who fled Azerbaijan before the Karabagh war broke out in 1988 and in the early months of the conflict. The second-largest group is composed of victims of the December 1988 earthquake that leveled the Armenian city of Spitak and partially destroyed Leninakan, Stepanavan, and Kirovakan. "Finally, there is a third and much smaller group that consists of people who have fled Armenia for economic reasons, or who live in mountainous areas of Armenia and come on a seasonal basis to these more temperate areas for cattle-breeding purposes. During the winter season, these families come down from their mountains to graze their few cows or sheep in these more temperate zones," Fassier said. Fassier noted that most Armenian settlers are apparently receiving no assistance whatsoever from Yerevan or Stepanakert. He said the precarious Armenian settlements, generally made up of a few families, remain isolated from each other because there are neither roads nor any means of communication. With the exception of Lachin, no organized effort has been made to restore infrastructure destroyed during the war. Also, Fassier said, no reconstruction program has been initiated and many settlers continue to live in appalling conditions more than 10 years into the cease-fire. "In many areas there is no electricity and poverty predominates. I wouldn't say people live. Rather, they are surviving in half-destroyed walls topped by a tin roof. To survive, these families rely on small gardens or plots of land that offer only limited agricultural possibilities. Sometimes, they also rely on what a few fruit orchards that have been in a state of neglect for the past 10 years are still able to produce. In the most extreme situations there is no electricity and just a hole in the ground, a fountain or a well to draw water from. In areas where conditions are slightly better, accumulators allow for just enough electricity to supply a single bulb. In other areas there are small generators. Sometimes electricity is either imported from Karabagh or supplied by an Armenian military base nearby," Fassier said. Due to its key strategic importance as a land bridge between Karabagh and Armenia, Yerevan insists that the notion of returning the Lachin corridor to Azerbaijan is a nonnegotiable issue. In Lachin, Fassier said, migrants live in much better conditions then in other occupied lands. The reconstruction rate is nearing 50 percent. Schools have been built with government support, water and electricity supplies progressively restored, and local administrations set up. The OSCE experts are due to present their final report to the Minsk Group co-chairs. The latter will then add their own recommendations and political conclusions before passing on the report to the other Minsk Group members and the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna--tentatively scheduled for the second half of March. 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) 2005 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. --Boundary_(ID_n487VAWzt2L++rPl2HTrIA)--