Month: June 2005

German parliament passes Armenian resolution
Berlin, June 16, IRNA
The German parliament here Thursday approved a resolution aimed at
commemorating the expulsion and massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman
empire some 90 years ago.
Petitioned by all German political parties, the three-page resolution
urges Turkey to “take historic responsibility” for the massacres and
expulsions of Armenians by the Ottoman government.
The resolution points also to a limited German role in the massacres
of Armenians since Germany was a close ally of the Ottomans.
Turkey has harshly criticized the German resolution, calling it
“irresponsible”.

German parliament calls for Turkey to re-examine Armenian killings
AP Worldstream; Jun 16, 2005
Germany’s parliament on Thursday urged Turkey to examine its role in
the killing of an estimated 1 million ethnic Armenians a century ago,
an issue that could weigh on Ankara’s hopes of joining the European
Union.
Lawmakers adopted a cross-party resolution asking the Berlin government
to press Turkey to investigate the “organized expulsion and destruction
of the Armenians” and foster reconciliation.
“The motion is passed with votes from the whole house,” parliamentary
vice president Antje Vollmer announced after a show of hands in the
lower house.
Armenia accuses Turkey of genocide in the killings as part of a 1915-23
campaign to force Armenians out of eastern Anatolia. At the time,
Armenia was part of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey remains extremely sensitive to the issue. It denies that the
killings were genocide and says the death count is inflated and that
Armenians were killed or displaced along with others as the Ottoman
Empire tried to quell civil unrest.
In its motion, the German parliament said it was “convinced an honest
historical review is needed and represents the most important basis
for reconciliation.”
“This is particularly true in the framework of a European culture
of remembrance which includes openly debating the dark side of each
nation’s history,” it said.
The motion didn’t mention Turkey’s bid to join the EU, but said the
Armenian issue was an example of how Turkey needs to guarantee freedom
of speech _ an area where Ankara has been told it must improve if it
is to join the 25-nation bloc.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has been one of Turkey’s strongest
backers in its membership bid, but the conservative opposition _
which hopes to win elections later this year _ argues that it should
be offered a lesser “privileged partnership.”

ARF bureau representative: There is misrepresentation that Armenia is
losing in Karabakh talks
16.06.2005 16:32
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Commenting on the current stage of the Karabakh
conflict negotiations process, Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF) Bureau representative Hrant Margarian told a news conference on
Thursday that it is wrong to create a defeatist environment in Armenia.
Margarian Margarian said his impression is that on the one hand the
international forces pressure Azerbaijan to accept that Karabakh (and
probably Lachin, too) should be joined to Armenia, and on the other
hand they pressure Armenia to accept that the liberated territories
should be returned to Azerbaijan.
“I don’t believe there is an Armenian who wants the liberated
territories to be reutnred,” Margarian mentioned. “But I admit that
the issue can be touched upon during the talks process for tactical
reasons, but when Azerbaijan refuses at all to consider the issue
of ceding Karabakh to Armenia de jure — on the contrary, militant
rhetoric prevails in Azerbaijan — then I don’t understand why are
we creating a seemingly defeatist mood among our people?
This is unwise, to say the least. Our people have paid a big price
for the liberation of Karabakh and will not let anyone surrender
territories.” He added that concessions should not include such
issues as Karabakh’s sovereignty, national identity and today’s
factual borders.

Draw for 118th Wimbledon Championships
AP Worldstream; Jun 16, 2005
The draw for the 118th Wimbledon Championships made by the All
England Club on Thursday (seedings in parantheses):
Singles
Men
Roger Federer (1), Switzerland, vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu, France
Ivo Minar, Czech Republic, vs. Michal Tabara, Czech Republic
Joshua Goodall, Britain, vs. Alessio Di Mauro, Italy
Julien Benneteau, France, vs. Nicolas Kiefer (25), Germany
Juan Carlos Ferrero (23), Spain, vs. Qualifier
Thomas Enqvist, Sweden, vs. Hyung-taik Lee, South Korea
Florian Mayer, Germany, vs. Santiago Ventura, Spain
Fernando Verdasco, Spain, vs. Tommy Robredo (13), Spain
Joachim Johansson (11), Sweden, vs. Albert Montanes, Spain
Alberto Martin, Spain, vs. Greg Rusedski, Britain
Jose Acasuso, Argentina, vs. Tomas Zib, Czech Republic
Alan Mackin, Britain, vs. Fernando Gonzalez (21), Chile
Mikhail Youzhny (31), Russia, vs. Marcos Baghdatis, Cyprus
Oscar Hernandez, Spain, vs. Jean-Rene Lisnard, France
Jonas Bjorkman, Sweden, vs. Qualifier
Scott Draper, Australia, vs. Nikolay Davydenko (8), Russia
Lleyton Hewitt (3), Australia, vs. Christophe Rochus, Belgium
Jan Hernych, Czech Republic, vs. James Blake, United States
Qualifier vs. Qualifier
Sargis Sargsian, Armenia, vs. Nicolas Massu (29), Chile
Taylor Dent (24), United States, vs. Qualifier
Kevin Kim, United States, vs. Alex Bogdanovic, Britain
Qualifier vs. Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic
Lars Burgsmuller, Germany, vs. Mariano Puerta (16), Argentina
Mario Ancic (10), Croatia, vs. Qualifier
Qualifier vs. Stefan Koubek, Austria
Gael Monfils, France, vs. Olivier Rochus, Belgium
Cyril Saulnier, France, vs. Dominik Hrbaty (22), Slovakia
Feliciano Lopez (26), Spain, vs. Bjorn Phau, Germany
David Sherwood, Britain, vs. Ricardo Mello, Brazil
Karol Beck, Slovakia, vs. Mark Philippoussis, Australia
Paradorn Srichaphan, Thailand, vs. Marat Safin (5), Russia
Guillermo Canas (7), Argentina, vs. Qualifier
Max Mirnyi, Belarus, vs. Rainer Schuettler, Germany
Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland, vs. Fabrice Santoro, France
Peter Wessels, Netherlands, vs. Jiri Novak (28), Czech Republic
Tommy Haas (19), Germany, vs. Janko Tipsarevic,
Qualifier vs. Qualifier
Andrei Pavel, Romania, vs. Qualifier
Bohdan Ulihrach, Czech Republic, vs. Thomas Johansson (12), Sweden
Radek Stepanek (14), Czech Republic, vs. Robby Ginepri, United States
Andrew Murray, Britain, vs. Qualifier
Karol Kucera, Slovakia, vs. Luis Horna, Peru
Raemon Sluiter, Netherlands, vs. David Nalbandian (18), Argentina
Richard Gasquet (27), France, vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany
Sjeng Schalken, Netherlands, vs. Potito Starace, Italy
Felix Mantilla, Spain, vs. Gilles Muller, Luxembourg
Vincent Spadea, United States, vs. Rafael Nadal (4), Spain
Tim Henman (6), Britain, vs. Jarkko Nieminen, Finland
Nicolas Almagro, Spain, vs. Dmitry Tursunov, Russia
Alexander Popp, Germany, vs. Jerome Haehnel, France
Wayne Arthurs, Australia, vs. Filippo Volandri (32), Italy
David Ferrer (17), Spain, vs. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Spain
Juan Monaco, Argentina, vs. Qualifier
Victor Hanescu, Romania, vs. Kenneth Carlsen, Denmark
Michael Llodra, France, vs. Sebastien Grosjean (9), France
Guillermo Coria (15), Argentina, vs. Tomas Behrend, Germany
Jonathan Marray, Britain, vs. Xavier Malisse, Belgium
Alex Calatrava, Spain, vs. Qualifier
Jurgen Melzer, Austria, vs. Ivan Ljubicic (20), Croatia
Robin Soderling (30), Sweden, vs. Igor Andreev, Russia
Davide Sanguinetti, Italy, vs. Qualifier
Qualifier, vs. Ivo Karlovic, Croatia
Jiri Vanek, Czech Republic, vs. Andy Roddick (2), United States
Women
Lindsay Davenport (1), United States, vs. Alina Jidkova, Russia
Marta Marrero, Spain, vs. Qualifier
Barbora Strycova, Czech Republic, vs. Lilia Osterloh, United States
Sanda Mamic, Croatia, vs. Dinara Safina (30), Russia
Ai Sugiyama (23), Japan, vs. Roberta Vinci, Italy
Abigail Spears, United States, vs. Anne Kremer, Luxembourg
Marissa Irvin, United States, vs. Qualifier
Katie O’Brien, Britain, vs. Kim Clijsters (15), Belgium
Patty Schnyder (10), Switzerland, vs. Antonella Serra Zanetti, Italy
Tatiana Perebiynis, Ukraine, vs. Qualifier
Maria Kirilenko, Russia, vs. Qualifier
Magdalena Maleeva, Bulgaria, vs. Shinobu Asagoe (24), Japan
Nicole Vaidisova (27), Czech Republic, vs. Jelena Kostanic, Croatia
Samantha Stosur, Australia, vs. Michaela Pastikova, Czech Republic
Akiko Morigami, Japan, vs. Sania Mirza, India
Rebecca Llewellyn, Britain, vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova (5), Russia
Amelie Mauresmo (3), France, vs. Paola Suarez, Argentina
Maria Sanchez Lorenzo, Spain, vs. Marta Domachowska, Poland
Sarah Borwell, Britain, vs. Shenay Perry, United States
Tamarine Tanasugarn, Thailand, vs. Karolina Sprem (25), Croatia
Silvia Farina Elia (22), Italy, vs. Martina Sucha, Slovakia
Maria Vento-Kabchi, Venezuela, vs. Milagros Sequera, Venezuela
Meghann Shaughnessy, United States, vs. Julia Schruff, Germany
Anna Smashnova, Israel, vs. Elena Likhovtseva (13), Russia
Anastasia Myskina (9), Russia, vs. Qualifier
Evie Dominikovic, Australia, vs. Aiko Nakamura, Japan
Mariana Diaz-Oliva, Argentina, vs. Anne Keothavong, Britain
Anna Chakvetadze, Russia, vs. Jelena Jankovic (17)
Amy Frazier (28), United States, vs. Mashona Washington, United
States
Selima Sfar, Tunisia, vs. Emilie Loit, France
Elena Baltacha, Britain, vs. Qualifier
Iveta Benesova, Czech Republic, vs. Elena Dementieva (6), Russia
Justine Henin-Hardenne (7), Belgium, vs. Eleni Daniilidou, Greece
Klara Koukalova, Czech Republic, vs. Laura Granville, United States
Gisela Dulko, Argentina, vs. Yuliana Fedak, Ukraine
Emmanuelle Gagliardi, Switzerland, vs. Flavia Pennetta (26), Italy
Ana Ivanovic (19), Serbia-Montenegro, vs. Vera Douchevina, Russia
Denisa Chladkova, Czech Republic, vs. Stephanie Foretz, France
Qualifier vs. Tathiana Garbin, Italy
Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic, vs. Mary Pierce (12), France
Venus Williams (14), United States, vs. Qualifier
Nicole Pratt, Australia, vs. Ludmila Cervanova, Slovakia
Qualifier vs. Shahar Peer, Israel
Evgenia Linetskaya, Russia, vs. Daniela Hantuchova (20), Slovakia
Marion Bartoli (29), France, vs. Rika Fujiwara, Japan
Qualifier vs. Jill Craybas, United States
Qualifier vs. Qualifier
Angela Haynes, United States, vs. Serena Williams (4), United States
Nadia Petrova (8), Russia, vs. Virginia Ruano Pascual, Spain
Claudine Schaul, Luxembourg, vs. Michaela Krajicek, Netherlands
Zuzana Ondraskova, Czech Republic, vs. Cara Black, Zimbabwe
Catalina Castano, Colombia, vs. Virginie Razzano (32), France
Francesca Schiavone (21), Italy, vs. Kristina Brandi, Puerto Rico
Conchita Martinez, Spain, vs. Qualifier
Kveta Peschke, Czech Republic, vs. Dally Randriantefy, Madagascar
Marlene Weingartner, Germany, vs. Vera Zvonareva (11), Russia
Nathalie Dechy (16), France, vs. Maria Elena Camerin, Italy
Jane O’Donoghue, Britain, vs. Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Germany
Tatiana Panova, Russia, vs. Lisa Raymond, United States
Alyona Bondarenko, Ukraine, vs. Tatiana Golovin (18), France
Anabel Medina Garrigues (31), Spain, vs. Katarina Srebotnik, Slovenia
Yoon Jeong-cho, South Korea, vs. Arantxa Parra Santonja, Spain
Amanda Janes, Britain, vs. Sesil Karatancheva, Bulgaria
Nuria Llagostera Vives, Spain, vs. Maria Sharapova (2), Russia

COSSACKS OF AZERBAIJAN «INTEND TO HELP BAKU SOLVE KARABAKH ISSUE»
Pan Armenian News
16.06.2005 06:55
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Friendly Association of Azeri Cossacks (FAAC)
has asked Republic President Ilham Aliyev to form a Cossack battalion
within the National Army. Baku MPs have supported Cossacks. FAAC
leaders do not conceal that the decision of the Russian State Duma,
passed the Bill on State Service of Russian Cossacks in the first
reading on May 18 ~V on the day of the 200th anniversary of the Don
Cossacks’ capital of Novocherkassk. By the way, it is submitted for
consideration by the MPs by Vladimir Putin. The document provides
for service of Russian Cossacks in Armed Forces. The formations they
will join will given traditional Cossack names. FAAC Chairman Victor
Mereshkin explained that Cossacks of Azerbaijan has studied the bill
and asked President Ilham Aliyev to lobby a similar one. «We are
ready to do everything to assist the country leadership in solving
the Karabakh problem. Karabakh should belong to Azerbaijan not only
de jure, but also de facto,» Mereshkin said. In his words, there are
1.5 thousand Cossacks in Azerbaijan. He reported that according to
the statute of Cossacks, representatives of other nationalities,
including Azeris, can serve in Cossack battalions. Baku MPs have
already stated they are ready to support the FAAC initiative. Milli
Mejlis Deputy Mais Safarli urged to legalize the activities of
local Cossacks. «Victor Mereshkin has fought in the Karabakh war at
Azerbaijan’s part. All Cossacks he leads are people, who are ready
to fight for Karabakh. They propagate Azerbaijan everywhere and have
attained the support of Russian Cossack societies’ support of our
country,» the MP said. In his words, in the near future the Azeri
Parliament intends to discuss the matter of service of local Cossacks
in a detachment within the National Army, the Novye Izvestia reported.
–Boundary_(ID_0Ho+q7yIj+fIHvJuBTzdIA)–

Turkish Army will continue antiterrorist fight in southeast – general
Anatolia news agency
16 Jun 05
Ankara, 16 June: Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen Ilker Basbug said:
“The responsibility of Turkish security forces in southeastern Anatolia
region is to fight against terrorists. They will pursue their mission.”
When reporters recalled statements of EU ambassadors who said
Turkey should be active in southeastern Anatolia region not only by
military measures but also by civilian measures, Gen Basbug said: “The
responsibility of Turkish security forces in southeastern Anatolia
region is to fight against terrorists. Certainly, it is normal to
take measures against terrorism. We have taken these measures; it is
not a new issue.”

Azeri opposition bloc demands Public TV boss’s resignation
Yeni Musavat, Baku
16 Jun 05
Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat
on 16 June headlined “Our Azerbaijan bloc demands Ismayil Omarov’s
resignation” and subheaded “The bloc also wants the dissolution of
the Broadcasting Council”
A session of the Our Azerbaijan bloc [led by opposition Musavat Party
and including dozens of small parties] was held yesterday [15 June].
The session adopted a statement concerning Public TV. The launch of
public TV and radio broadcasting – one of the fundamental principles of
building a civil society – is the most important aspect of transition
to democracy and one of the main commitments of the Azerbaijani
authorities to the Council of Europe, the statement said.
The Council of Europe demanded that Public TV be set up on the basis
of state TV, that state TV be shut down and that Public TV go on air
on 1 June 2005, the bloc said. This practice has been used in Georgia,
Ukraine and even in Armenia. Obstacles created on the way of setting
up Public TV began after the Milli Maclis [Azerbaijan’s parliament]
selected and appointed members of the Broadcasting Council. “The
regime staffed it in such a way that this immediately elicited
disapproval of the Azerbaijani public and international community,”
the statement said.
Little time remains till the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan
and [director-general of Public TV] Ismayil Omarov has been in office
for two months. “Over this period he was observed ‘settling scores’
in the Milli Maclis on the principles of nepotism – he had a conflict
with staff of Azerbaijani [state-owned] radio and begged that he not be
stripped of the MP mandate. Currently, he is conducting a ‘competition’
among those who wish to work for Public TV. It is alleged that 700
people will be recruited, although the TV channel needs 250-300
employees to function in accordance with European standards. It is
already obvious for everyone that Omarov is creating another nest of
corruption under the guise of the Public TV idea,” the statement said.
The Our Azerbaijan bloc demands that the authorities fulfil their
commitment to the Council of Europe and that Public TV operate
in accordance with its mandate. “The composition of the Public
Broadcasting Council has to be changed by 1 July 2005, and a genuine
public council has to be composed of independent specialists renowned
in Azerbaijan as democrats,” the statement said. The bloc demanded
that Ismayil Omarov – who will never be accepted by the Azerbaijani
public, who was appointed by the presidential administration under
pressure from a tycoon and who is an enemy of democratic thought –
be relieved of the post of director-general of Public TV.
Necessary measures must be taken so that independent and democratic
journalists are represented at Public TV and that the TV channel starts
to operate in accordance with its mandate not later than 1 August 2005.

Azeri economy should orient towards Europe, not Russia, minister says
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
15 Jun 05
[Presenter] Azerbaijani Minister for Economic Development Farhad
Aliyev, who returned from an international economic forum in Russia,
has made an interesting statement. Aliyev believes that the Azerbaijani
economy should be oriented towards the West rather than Russia.
[Correspondent over video of Farhad Aliyev] Azerbaijan should expand
its economic ties mainly with the USA and European countries, the
minister said.
Commenting on the results of the ninth international economic forum
in St Petersburg, Minister for Economic Development Farhad Aliyev
said that the Russian market was attractive for Azerbaijan in terms
of agricultural export.
[Aliyev speaking to microphone] I think we can learn nothing serious
from our neighbour. We are in no way lagging behind our neighbours
in terms of development. We are ahead of them. Therefore, we should
try to integrate mainly into more developed countries, especially
Western countries, Europe and the USA.
[Correspondent] The minister said that the export and import operations
with Russia comprised 11 per cent of Azerbaijan’s total trade and
oil products accounted for over 80 per cent of them. Therefore, Mr
Aliyev regarded as advantageous increasing export of agricultural
products to Russia.
[Passage omitted: Farhad Aliyev about exhibition of Azeri goods,
expresses hope that talks with Russia will yield results]

UNION OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA MARKS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
Pan Armenian News
16.06.2005 06:24
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR) today marks
a jubilee. Founded five years ago the Union replaced several hundreds
of small national organizations, which engaged in preserving the
national Armenian culture in Russia to the best of their abilities
and as far as possible. As UAR President Ara Abrahamyan said, “from
the moment of the creation of an all-Russian national NGO a new phase
referring to the strengthening of centuries-old traditions opened
in the life of Armenian Russians.” In his words, the Union “has the
complicated task to promote integration of hundreds of thousand of
new migrant Armenians from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia into the
linguistic, social, economic and cultural environment of Russia.”
“Simultaneously our goal is further strengthening of the relations
between Russia and Armenia,” Ara Abrahamyan emphasized. The summit of
the program of celebration of the jubilee will be today’s concert of
Armenian song and dance ensemble at the International House of Music
in Moscow, the Trud newspaper reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DIRECTOR GENERAL
DISCUSSED URGENT ISSUES
Pan Armenian News
16.06.2005 05:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ June 15 Director General of the Russian Foreign
Ministry Doku Zavgayev met with Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen
Smbatyan in Moscow, reported Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service. In
the course of the meeting the parties exchanged views over a number
of urgent issues of bilateral relations, including the location
of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Russia and Russian
Consulate General in Gyumri Armenian city. The parties reaffirmed
their readiness to further solve question appearing in the bilateral
agenda within the spirit of mutual understanding and in full compliance
with the high level of the allied relations between Russia and Armenia.