Month: June 2005

AZERBAIJAN HOPES TO PROMOTE TIES WITH EU
[June 04, 2005, 10:52:59]
Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
June 4 2005
On June 3, Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov received
delegation of the Slovenian Parliament led by the National Party
leader Zmago Jelinic, reported theForeign Ministry’s press-center.
Minister Mammadyarov expressed the great significance attached by
Azerbaijan to the relations with EU and its Neighborhood policy and
particularly emphasized its steady commitment to European integration.
Mr. Jelinic, having delivered to the Minister greetings from his
Slovenian counterpart the OSCE Chairman-in-office Dimitrij Rupel,
expressed his content upon the visit to Azerbaijan, pointed out
striking democratic reforms conducted in the country. Underlining the
importance of upcoming parliamentary elections, the head of delegation
stressed his hope that the elections would be held under democratic and
transparent conditions. He also expressed his willingness to take part
in elections as an observer. Further the guest touched upon the process
of democratic reforms, social and political situation in the country.
The guest touched upon the issue of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno
Karabakh conflict emphasizing the determination of Slovenia in its OSCE
chairmanship capacity to work for soonest settlement of the dispute. He
also stressed unacceptability of conflicts between European nations.
Elmar Mammadyarov, having underscored achievements of Azerbaijan
in economic, political, social and other areas, informed the guest
in detail about measures taken by the state to held free and fair
elections. He stressed the crucial importance of the President’s
Executive Order on improving of the election practices in Azerbaijan,
both during the pre-election campaign and in the election proper.
Foreign Minister stated that he was pleased with the level of bilateral
relations between the two nations, expressing at the same time his
hope that the relations would further develop in the future.
The minister informed the guest in detail about current stage of
peace talks in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He
also underscored the importance of territorial integrity principle
and termed unacceptable attempts at changing frontiers through force.
During a meeting other issues of mutual interest have been discussed
by the two sides.

Konukcu: Yerevan Will Not Open Its Archives
Turkish Press
June 4 2005
ERZURUM (AA) – Prof. Dr. Enver Konukcu of Erzurum Ataturk University
Department of History said on Friday, “our state archives have already
been opened. However, Yerevan will not open its archives since there
are so many documents which constitutes evidence of massacres committed
by Armenians against Turks.”
Holding a news conference, Prof. Dr. Konukcu said, “the Ottoman Empire
faced a series of Armenian uprisings in eastern Anatolia in 1829,
under Sultan Abdul-Hamid II. After problems became more serious, the
Ottoman Empire adopted the Relocation Law. About 12 thousand Armenians
had been living in Erzurum when the law had come into force. 5 thousand
of them had been relocated. The Ottoman Empire had taken all necessary
measures to protect the Armenian people during the relocation.”
“Armenians claim that 1.5 million Armenians had been killed by
Turks. In fact, Turks have never committed genocide in their history.
Our state archives have already been opened. But, Yerevan will not
open its archives since there are many reports proving massacres
committed by Armenians against Turks,” he said.
Konukcu noted that the media had an important place in prevalence of
such allegations, adding that owners of many newspapers in the United
States were of Armenian and Greek origin.

WC Qualifiers: Czechs crush Andorra, Macedonia beat Armenia Written by Jonathan
Roorda
Soccerway, Netherlands
June 4 2005
LIBEREC/YEREVAN, Jun 4 (SW) – The Czech Republic easily defeated
Andorra, who did manage to score one goal but could not avoid conceding
eight, while Macedonia had an away win to Armenia.
Thirteen minutes were needed for Vratislav Lokvenc to open the score
for the Czechs in the city of Liberec. Dortmund forward Jan Koller
got the second in the 29th minute, but the hosts were surprised when
Riera actually got one back, six minutes later.
However, the visitors could not celebrate for long as Vladimir Smicer
scored just three minutes later to restore the gap. In the second
half, Ajax player Tomas Galasek converted a penalty, and the Czechs
added four more goals in the last ten minutes, with Milan Baros, Tomas
Rosicky (pen), Jan Polak and again Lokvenc doubling the score for 8-1.
In Yerevan, home team Armenia could not avoid a Macedonian win. The
guests scored twice (one penalty) through Goran Pandev, in the 29th
and 47th minutes. Edgar Manucharyan got one back for the Armenians
in the 55th minute, but his side failed to score an equalizer.
In the only remaining match of the night, group 1 leaders The
Netherlands will host Romania.

Russia Downplays Baku’s Concern over Relocation of Part of Arms from Georgia to Armenia
Civil Georgia, Georgia
June 4 2005
Russia’s permanent representative at the OSCE Alexei Borodavkin said
while addressing the organization’s Permanent Council in Vienna
on June 3, that Azerbaijan should be not concerned over Russia’s
decision to redeploy part of its military hardware from bases in
Georgia to Armenia.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s information note issued
on June 3, Ambassador Borodavkin informed the OSCE Permanent Council
about the joint declaration signed by Russian and Georgian Foreign
Ministers on May 30, in which Russia pledges to pull out its military
bases from Georgia in the course of 2008.
“Russian armaments which will be redeployed from Georgia to Armenia
will not exceed the norms set by the Adapted Conventional Armed Forces
in Europe (CFE) Treaty.”
“This armament and military hardware will be under permanent and full
control of Russia,” the Russian Foreign Ministry quotes Borodavkin
as saying.

EU COUNTRIES SATISFIES WITH REFORMS IN AZERBAIJAN
[June 04, 2005, 15:22:56]
Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
June 4 2005
Vice speaker of the Milli Majlis Mrs. Govhar Bakhshaliyeva received
delegation of the Slovenian Parliament led by the National Party
leader Zmago Jelinic, reported the parliament press service.
Mrs Bakhshaliyeva expressed the great significance attached by
Azerbaijan to the relations with EU and its Neighborhood policy and
emphasized the recently signed Executive Order of the Azerbaijan
President Ilham Aliyev on establishing a commission for integration
into Europe Union. In his opinion, commissioning of the Heydar Aliyev
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline will be new impulse for this
integration process.
The Azerbaijani parliament’s vice-speaker has also informed the guest
about economic, social and legal reforms in the country, noted that
more rapidly development of Azerbaijan and all region has stumbled
on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh that has
brought to humanitarian catastrophe with over 1 mln. refugees and
IDPs in Azerbaijan. In his opinion, as the OSCE chairman Slovenia
will contribute to peace process.
Mr. Zmago Jelinic said they visiting Azerbaijan on the invitation
of the Association for support of development of civil society
in Azerbaijan. As he noted, in some European countries has been
disseminating untruth information about Azerbaijan. For example,
delegation from Switzerland recently has prepared improbable report on
Azerbaijan. As the European parliament’s member I must say that we are
always attaches a great importance to learn a truth about Azerbaijan
and disseminate it in the European countries, said the guest.

Turkish Author Who Criticizes Armenian Conference, Loses Book Contract
Journal of Turkish Weekly
June 4 2005
The recently delayed “Ottoman Armenians During the Collapse of the
Empire” conference, which caused a storm of critcism around it, is
responsible for a parting in paths of Turkish writer Nihat Genc and
the Turkish Iletisim (Communications) Publishing House. Iletisim is
known a left-wing group.
Genc, who used his weekly column in the Aksam Newspaper to join in
the chorus of criticism against the conference organizers, received
word from the publishing house following his column that they would
no longer be publishing his books.
Genc: My Ideas Affected Them
In Genc’s column yesterday in Aksam, the writer said:
“Iletisim has said that my books, which they have been publishing
now for 12 years, will no longer be published by them. Oh well,
that’s their decision. If it were a matter of friendship, they would
continue. But clearly my ideas affected them. The fact that they
will no longer publish my books is a sign of their lack of respect
for ideas.”
Publishing House: Genc’s Writing Becoming “Fascist” in Nature
According to Iletisim Publishing House, the decision to discontinue
the Genc’s books was made by the board.
A spokeperson for the publishing house said that their general feeling
was the Genc’s writing and commentaries were become more and more
“fascist” and that they were uncomfortable with this. They defended
their right to stop publishing Genc’s work, and said it had nothing
to do with his freedom of speech.
Nihat Genc has also indicated that his books, which were until now
on sale at most Migros supermarkets, had been sent back to Iletisim
Publishing. A spokesperson from Migros denied this however.
‘The Armenian Conference’ will be hold later. The Conference organizers
invited only the pro-Armenian authors and experts.

Louisville Courier-Journal, KY
June 4 2005
Church helps refugee family settle in Parish assists with housing,
furniture
The Taleb family was photographed this week in front of its new home
in Buechel. From left were mother Knarik; Khamdi, 8; Malik, 18; Lili,
14; Usan, 22; Muhamed, 20; and father Hasanin. St. Gabriel the
Archangel Catholic Church and Catholic Charities rented the
four-bedroom house. (BY ARZA BARNETT, THE COURIER-JOURNAL)
QUICK TAKE
Name: St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church
Address: 5505 Bardstown Road
Services: Sunday Mass, 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; Saturday
Mass, 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m.; daily Mass, Monday through Friday, 8:15
a.m.
Congregation: About 2,000 families
Telephone: 239-5481
Web site:
By Christopher Hall
Special to The Courier-Journal
On Wednesday afternoon a small cluster of people stood anxiously
waiting at the arrival gate at Louisville International Airport.
Members of St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, with a
representative from Catholic Charities, were ready to greet a family
they’d never met before.
St. Gabriel, which is in Fern Creek, and Catholic Charities are
co-sponsors of a refugee family of seven, whose tortuous journey over
the last five or six years has taken them from Armenia to Azerbaijan
to Russia, and finally to Louisville.
The Taleb family — Hasanin Qaid Mohammed Taleb and his wife, Knarik
Taleb, and their four sons and a daughter, ages 8 to 22 — arrived
about 1:30 to be greeted by hugs, handshakes and signs saying
“Welcome Home.”
Catholic Charities brings hundreds of refugees and immigrants to
Louisville each year. Perhaps five families a year have the help of a
co-sponsor parish such as St. Gabriel or frequent co-sponsors St.
Margaret Mary and Holy Trinity, according to Gail Dupre,
community-resource developer for the Migration and Refugee Services
of Catholic Charities.
For several months, a committee at St. Gabriel headed by Sister Ruth
Ann Haunz, a pastoral associate, and two church members, Glendon
Smith and his 17-year-old daughter, Abbey, has been preparing a place
for the refugee family.
The church and Catholic Charities rented a four-bedroom house in
Buechel, and church members organized drives to raise money and
gather household supplies and furniture.
“We’ve been anticipating this day for five months,” Glendon Smith
told a friend at the airport.
The rent will be paid by Catholic Charities from federal grant money,
Dupre said. The U.S. Conference of Bishops contracts with the federal
government to help resettle refugees regardless of religious
persuasion, she said.
At the airport, Dupre said that she wasn’t sure why the family had
fled its homeland but that it could be because of their ethnicity or
mixed marriage.
Hasanin Taleb is an Arabic Muslim from Yemen, and his wife is an
Armenian Christian, Dupre said.
“These are folks that are seeking refuge from persecution,” Dupre
said.
Members of the church have made a six-month commitment to assist the
family and have formed committees to help the family with
transportation and other needs. Catholic Charities also will help
with job searches and learning English.
Dupre said the relationship between refugee family and church usually
lasts far longer than the six-month commitment.
“The tough part is getting people organized, and Sister Ruth Ann and
Glendon have done a tremendous job at St. Gabriel,” Dupre said. “It’s
yeoman’s service. They coordinated everything.”
The church’s pastor, the Rev. John Stoltz, called his congregation’s
work a ministry of hospitality and a “wonderful Christian witness.”
Hasanin Taleb said through an interpreter Wednesday that he and his
family were very tired, and happy to have finally arrived.
“We have been working for almost five or six years to come here,” he
said. “It’s very good.”
“We are so happy,” the oldest son, Usan, 22, told one of the church
members as they walked down the airport concourse toward the baggage
claim, ready to go to their new home.

Fussballzeit.com, Germany
June 4 2005
WCQ Preview: Group 1
6/4/2005 4:34:00 AM
The Netherlands and the Czech Republic have the chance to pull clear
of the rest of Group One on Saturday as Marco van Basten’s side host
third placed Romania and the Czech’s entertain group minnows Andorra.
Netherlands currently sit one point ahead of the Czechs, while Romania
are a further two points adrift and so really can’t afford to lose
to the group leaders when they meet in Amsterdam.
Two months ago Romania were shocked by a 2-0 home defeat to van
Basten’s troops, but will be encouraged by a string of absentees
from the home side. Experienced midfielder Phillip Cocu suffered an
injury in PSV’s Cup final win and was forced to withdraw from the
squad, while team-mates Wilfred Bouma and Ooijer will also miss out.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst was another absentee, while Mark van Bommel
and Rafael van der Vaart are doubtful.
Romania included Juventus striker Adrian Mutu in their squad, but
he may not start due to being far from match fit having only just
completed his eight month ban for taking cocaine.
The three points should be a mere formality for the Czech Republic
when they host Andorra, who are bottom of the table with four points
to their name. The home team, who won 4-0 away to Andorra earlier
in the campaign, are almost at full strength, although Jiri Jarosik
misses out.
The two teams above them, Armenia and Macedonia, meet in the final
game on Saturday.
On Wednesday the Czech Republic have another home tie, against
Macedonia, while Netherlands must travel to fourth place Finland.
Romania will be expecting victory when they entertain Armenia.

Kremlin hosts ceremony in honor of Moscow Military Conservatory 2005 graduates
18:01
RIA Novosti, Russia
June 4 2005
MOSCOW, June 4 (RIA Novosti) – A ceremony honoring the 2005 graduates
of the Moscow Military Conservatory was held in Kremlin’s Cathedral
Square on Saturday.
Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Belousov
congratulated the graduates, pointing out that “military musicians
have made a major contribution to many glorious victories won by the
Russian armed forces since the epoch of Peter the Great”.
“Music guides, lifts up spirit and leads into battle,” the Deputy
Defense Minister stressed.
All in all, 35 Conservatory graduates received their Diplomas and
lieutenant epaulets at the Saturday ceremony, with five graduating with
honors. Four of the graduates represent Belarus, one is from Armenia.
The Moscow Military Conservatory is the world’s only military school
providing professional conservatory-level training for military
bandmasters and leaders of military song and dance companies. Its
graduates serve in the ranks of the Russian armed forces as well as
the armed forces of foreign states.
Conservatory students of every year of training have their own brass
band. These bands take part in numerous Russian and international
contests and festivals, frequently appearing in radio and TV programs.
Many former Conservatory graduates have won major state awards and
hold honorary artistic titles. The military bands and companies led
by former Conservatory graduates perform both in Russia and abroad,
participating in numerous cultural events and programs.
In 2005, the Moscow Military Conservatory marks its 70th anniversary.
It has trained over 3,000 military musicians over the period.

Zaman Online, Turkey
June 4 2005
Babacan: Look with the Eyes of Public
By Ercan Baysal
Published: Saturday 04, 2005
zaman.com
Discussion over Quranic study courses occurred in an association
advisory council meeting for The Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen
Association (TUSIAD) Friday, June 3.
TUSIAD President Omer Sabanci claimed that tolerating the illegal
courses will fuel rumors in Europe that Turkish secularism is
weakening.
TUSIAD Representatives criticized the government fiercely regarding the
EU process in the Istanbul meeting . Sabanci opposed the restriction
of freedoms in the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK), police brutality in
demonstrations, and harassing academics who discussed the Armenian
Issue. TUSIAD, as a business association, does not accept any
alternative but full EU membership.
Newly appointed Top Negotiator for European Union (EU) talks State
Minister Ali Babacan replied to critisizms in his speech. He said
Turkey in 10-20 years will be a country closer to the union than ever
and a country that cleaned its whole system from A to Z. Turkey has
become a stable country in terms of economics and politicals. The
recent economic success, Babacan claimed, is due to Turkey’s focus
on the EU. The country achieved the reforms set by the Copenhagen
Political Criteria of December 17, and completed the critical political
reforms, Babacan emphasized. Reform will continue and three out of
four of the talks to start on October 3 will be about economic issues.
As for the criticizm on Quranic study courses, the Minister said
the sensitivities of the public should definitely be taken into
consideration. “We are a government that has come from the people. We
know the difficulties and problems of Turkey very well. We know what
our people are uncomfortable with. We have grown up with a lack
of human rights and freedom in many areas. For this reason while
evaluating some issues we should not look at the issue only from our
point of view, we have to learn to evaluate them with the eyes of
the public.”