Month: June 2005

US CONGRESS TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN NEW ANALOGOUS RESOLUTION
YEREVAN, JUNE 10. ARMINFO. A new draft resolution “On Recognizing
Armenian Genocide” will be presented in the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the US Congress within the nearest weeks, the resolution’s
author, congressman Adam Shiffer stated in an interview to Radio
Liberty.
He says that the resolution has been discussed within a few weeks in
the US Congress. “All the congressmen tried to present a resolution
on recognizing Armenian Genocide in appropriate commissions could not
provide discussion and voting”, Shiffer noted adding that the
agreement reached the day before will give an opportunity to hold
discussion and voting on the draft. The source notes that the last
voting in committee took place 5 years ago. “The Resolution will
present the history of Armenian Genocide. It will be noted there that
the first Genocide of the last century assassinated more than 1.5 mln
Armenians was planned beforehand. The Resolution will note that the
US Congress recognizes Armenian Genocide”, congressman noted.
The source notes that Henry Hayditz, the US Congress committee
chairman on foreign affairs was given a right to present the
Resolution in the US Congress. -r-

ARMENIA’s PRIME MINISTER: TURKEY DOES NOT WANT TO CONTACT WITH
ARMENIA EVEN IN ABSENCE OF PRECONDITIONS
YEREVAN, JUNE 10. ARMINFO. Turkey does not want to contact with
Armenia even in the absence of preconditions, stated Armenia’s Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan in an interviwe to Japanese independent
NHK TV-channel. He stressed that Turkey denying Armenian Genocide in
Ottoman Turkey in 1915 continues to keep communications closed, thus
preventing the economical growth in the country. At the same time,
Margaryan noted that Armenia’s authorities do everything to maintain
balanced relations with superpowers. -r-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US daily editors, Turkish PM discuss unpublished advert on Armenian issue
NTV television, Istanbul
11 Jun 05
[Announcer] It has emerged that New York Times [NYT] [daily] refused
to publish an advertisement by 36 Turkish nongovernmental
organizations [NGOs] which reject the allegations regarding the
Armenian genocide.
The NYT advertisement section wrote a letter to the said Turkish NGOs,
stating: We believe that the Armenian genocide took place. Therefore
we do not find it right to publish your advertisement.
At a meeting with the editorial council of the NYT, Prime Minister
Erdogan expressed his displeasure regarding this issue.
On the last day of his contacts in the United States, Erdogan held a
meeting with the NYT editorial council. At the meeting, the NYT
officials criticized the cancellation of the planned Armenian
conference that was to be held at Bogazici University. Prime Minister
Erdogan said that Justice Minister Cemil Cicek’s remarks on the issue
were his personal views and that there was no legal barrier to hold
the conference.
At this point, Erdogan raised the issue of the NYT’s refusal to
publish the advertisement last April, and criticized the paper for the
decision. Erdogan pointed out that by showing its goodwill Turkey has
opened its archives. Anyone can come and learn the truth from these
official archives, he said.
Given this situation, Erdogan went on, the fact that the NYT refused
to publish the Turkish NGOs advertisement by claiming that it believed
in the Armenian genocide showed that it had had certain ulterior
motives.
Akif Beki, the prime minister’s spokesman, related how the NYT editors
responded to the prime minister’s remarks:
[Beki] They merely listened. Then they said that they would study the
said advertisement as well as the refusal by the head of the
advertisement section, and that they would inform us of the results of
their evaluation.

Turkish MP says Turkey ready to discuss “baseless” Armenian genocide claims
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
11 Jun 05
YEREVAN
[Ruling] Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Turhan Comez told
Armenian deputies and officials on Saturday [11 June] that Turkey was
ready to debate genocide claims both on historical and in legal
platforms.
Responding to questions of some Armenian deputies about Armenian
claims of ‘genocide’, Comez explained to them the historical
realities, and noted that the Armenian claims were baseless.
Reminding of the UN Genocide Convention, Comez said that genocide
meant committing mass massacre with the intention of killing all
members of an ethnic or religious group. Many Muslim Turks were killed
during the uprising of Armenian gangs, said Comez, adding that the
Ottomans adopted the Deportation Law in order to protect the integrity
of the country.
“Citizens (of Armenian origin) living in Izmir and Istanbul were not
asked to migrate. Therefore the decision (of deportation) can’t be
considered within the UN Genocide Convention of 1948. Maximum security
measures were also taken to guarantee the safe deportation of
Armenians showing that Ottomans didn’t have the intention to kill
them,” Comez told Armenian politicians.
“Turkey is right in its point of view historically and legally against
those claims,” he said.
Comez added that the two sides shouldn’t get stuck on the past, but
look for common interests for the future.

Armenian opposition leader vows to topple authorities
Arminfo
11 Jun 05
YEREVAN
The restoration of constitutional order in Armenia and the departure
of the illegitimate authorities are the main condition for the further
development of the country, the leader of the Justice faction, MP
Stepan Demirchyan, said during a press conference at the Azdak
[National Press Club].
He pointed out that there is a clear demand for a change of power in
society, because since 2003, i.e. since the “falsified” presidential
and parliamentary elections, the situation in the country has not
improved. On the contrary, the social abyss in society has become
deeper and wider, while corruption is flourishing and the authorities
are restricting themselves to declarative statements instead of
fighting it. Prices for essential goods are also rising.
The overwhelming majority of the Armenian population lives only on aid
provided by their relatives from abroad, which is not at all helped by
artificial fluctuations in the rate of the US dollars.
All this means that the need to change the authorities is clear to
everyone. The Justice faction and the People’s Party support the
constitutional way of solving these tasks, and armed upheavals are
unacceptable to us, Demirchyan said.
[Passage omitted: minor details]

IF ARMENIA NOT TO REACH DEMOCRATIC BREAK WITHIN 6 MONTHS,
KARABAKH ISSUE TO BE SOLVED INSTEAD OF IT: ARAM SARGSSYAN
YEREVAN, JUNE 10. ARMINFO. The European Union will draw much more
attention to Armenia within the “Widened Europe: New Neighbors”
Program framework, whereas President is not ready for even little
changes, Leader of Armenia’s Democratic party (DPA) Aram G. Sargssyan
stated journalists today.
In his opinion, world powers have not elaborated the united approach
to Karabakh issue yet, however, strict directives of the EU should be
expected in 6 months.
To remind, Sargssyan returned from Netherlands where Armenian, Azeri
and Turkish parliamentarians and diplomats, with the participation of
the EU experts, discussed problems of trilateral relations. A worker
of Turkish embassy stated at the meeting: “We cannot establish
diplomatic relations with Armenia as a part of Turkey is mentioned in
Armenia’s Constitution as the Western Armenia”. “Our state is so weak
that they try to bereave even our historical memory”, Sargssyan
resumed.
ARMINFO once again reminds, in particular, “workers of Turkish
embassy” and Aram (Gaspar) Sargssyan that neither “west” nor “Turkey”
have been mentioned in Armenia’s Constitution. Skeptics may be
acquainted with the official translation of Armenia’s Constitution by
-r-

DEPUTY OF TURKISH PARLIAMENT IS IN ARMENIA WITH INFORMAL VISIT
YEREVAN, JUNE 10. ARMINFO. A member of Turkey’s parliament from
“Justice and development” party Turkhan Comes is in Yerevan with an
informal visit. This is the first visit of Turkish Milli Mejlis
deputy to Armenia.
At today’s meeting with students of the Yerevan State University, he
conveyed greetings of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Ergodan and
determined his visit to Yerevan as a first step on the way of
establishing good-neighbor relations, and strengthening confidence
between Armenia and Turkey. “We want to keep peace and develop
relations with our countries, which is possible without laying down
the preconditions. We also wish that all the countries of the region
may hope on getting the access to its riches. Turkey’s authorities
shown interest and supported my initiative to arrive in Yerevan”,
Comes noted expressing certainty that the visit will have positive
results and give an opportunity to other Turkish officials to follow
his example, especially as the Turkish side has the same wish.
Speaking about Ankara’s policy regarding Armenia in invariable
closure to Nagorno Karabakh and Azeri subject-matter, Comes noted the
necessity to focus on subjects drawn together but not separate both
peoples and states. “It is important to realize what happened in past
and speak openly and honestly about it”, he stressed. Comes informed
that he plans to meet with his Armenians counterparts in the National
Assembly. “This meeting may be decisive and have deep meaning for
future political relations”, he said. -r-

ARA ABRAHAMYAN PROMISES TO SOLVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF
EQUATORIAL GUINEA IN EXCHANGE FOR RELEASE OF ARMENIAN PILOTS
YEREVAN, JUNE 11. ARMINFO. Head of the World Armenian Congress (WAC)
Ara Abrahamyan has undertaken definite commitments to the Government
of Equatorial Guinea i.e. to solve socio-economic problems of that
country, in exchange for release of six Armenian pilots sentenced to
long-years of imprisonment charged for an attempt of a state coup. WAC
Representative, specialist in political science Andranik Mihranyan
said at a press conferences in Yerevan. Mihranyan arrived in Malabo to
accompany the Armenia pilots to the Motherland on the instruction of
A.Abrahamyan.
In his turn, A.Abrahamyan confirmed this statement promising to
fulfill all the commitments to the leadership of Equatorial Guinea. He
said release of Armenian pilots was a victory of the Armenian
people. Abrahamyan informed those present that he was asked by the
Armenian Foreign Ministry to interfere into the process. He pointed
out that no matter whose efforts were a success, the most important
was that Armenia’s international image was not damaged. He said he had
applied to Russian Foreign Minister, to UNESCO and even the Roman Pope
John Paul II for mediation for amnesty of Armenian pilots. WAC Head
emphasized the great contribution of the Armenian Foreign Ministry to
the release of the pilots. Thus, he stated that Representative of the
Armenian Foreign Ministry seven times visited Malabo and negotiated
with the leadership of Equatorial Guinea. If even one link fell from
this chain of persons and structures, this case would not be a
success, he said. Abrahamyan also pointed out the importance of
Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to Russia stated at a press conference
in Moscow that Armenian pilot might not be guilty, they might be used.
In his turn, Mihranyan told the details of his trip to that
country. He told that arriving in Malabo, he met with Security
Minister of that country who stated that Ara Abrahamyan did not
fulfill part of his promises so the pilot could not be
released. Mihranyan told he was scared of being imprisoned together
with the pilots. Fortunately, the following day, the minister told
that Ara Abrahamyan fulfilled his commitments and the pilots were
released. Mihranyan admits that few people believed in the success of
this case as citizens of Russia, Bulgaria and other states are
currently in prisons in African states and being humiliated. He said
that Armenian pilots behaved very good and did not give in morally.
In their turn, the Armenia pilots reiterated that they were not guilty
in the crime. They told they had been kept in cells for 457 days put
into irons, however those in prison were to some extent afraid of them
and they were respected. “IF any devices were out of order in prison,
we were often asked for help. After Ara Abrahamyan sent money and
brandy for us through the brother-in- law of the President of
Equatorial Guinea, the attitude of the prison guards sharply changed,
they used to leave the door of the cells open. While, the head of the
prison used to bring us beer from the shop. Of course, we paid him,”
joked the Armenian pilots. They said in prison they undergo medical
treatment and lived exclusively on the funds transferred by Ara
Abrahanyan, though only 205 of these funds were given to them.

ALL-ARMENIAN CONTEST OF WEB-TECHNOLOGIES IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, JUNE 11. ARMINFO. An All-Armenian contest of web-technologies
took place today in Yerevan. Winners will present Armenia at the
International Summit of International Technologies in Tunis in
November, 2005.
As Secretary of the Armenian Assistance Council to IT-developments at
Armenia’s Prime Minister Armen Grigoryan informed in an interview to
ARMINFO, more than 200 Armenian web-developers presented their works
to the contest. The authoritative jury formed with representatives of
state, public and international companies, elected 55 best
works. Experts took into account electronic mediums (CD,DVD),
web-design, contents of web-sites and many other characteristics in
spheres of programming, medicine, education, working projects,
tourism, etc.
Contest President Garegin Chugaszyan noted that he is extremely glad
as “results of 10-year work in IT-sphere are summarized today”. 16
organizations were awarded honorary diplomas and money
prizes. Armenia’s Public television () , Armenia’s Public
Radio (), “Internews” public organization
(home.media.am), Armenia’s Foreign Ministry
(), “Matit” studio (),
Project Armenia 2020 () and “Hetk”
Internet-newspaper () were awarded main prizes.
To note, Armenian Institute of Psychics was awarded a prize for
contribution to the development of electronic science at the
IT-technologies Summit two years ago, presenting the web-site of
investigations of solar processes. Armenia’s President Robert
Kocharyan participated at the ceremony of awarding international
prizes.

Armenian, Thai premiers discuss economic ties
Arminfo
10 Jun 05
YEREVAN
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan, who is paying a four-day
working visit to Thailand, met Thailand’s Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra today.
The parties discussed issues of cooperation in the spheres of
agriculture, tourism, education, health and industry.
Thailand expressed its interest in the joint production of medicines
and even in exporting them to third countries.
During the meeting, Markaryan invited Thailand’s prime minister to
visit Armenia. The Armenian prime minister is scheduled to meet the
president of the Thai National Assembly, Phokhin Phonlakun.