Month: June 2005

Turkish Press
June 27 2005
Orange Handkerchiefs are in Pockets Already
Ferai Tinc
Source: Hurriyet via BYEGM, 27 June 2005
Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on her meeting with Azerbaijani
politician Isa Gamber. A summary of her column is as follows:
“I recently met with Azerbaijani opposition leader Isa Gamber
in Istanbul. He was in Istanbul to participate in the meeting on
Democratization and Security in the Wider Middle East, organized by
the ARI movement last week. Gamber has been carrying the mantle of
Azerbaijan’s opposition leader for the longest time in Azerbaijan. He
believes the general elections set for this November are very important
for democratization in his country. It seems Azerbaijan will be
the next stop of the velvet revolutions. They have already put
orange handkerchiefs in their pockets. However, I didn’t talk about
these issues with Gamber. We discussed mostly Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations. ‘Turkey shouldn’t shrink from dealing with the Armenian
issue,’ he said. ‘If it’s going to take steps about this issue, it
should talk with the Azerbaijani government.’ Maybe Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan will talk about this issue with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev during his visit this week to Baku, but
Gamber means that Turkey shouldn’t discuss the border gate problem
with Armenia separate from the Nagorno-Karabagh issue. He asked,
‘Would establishing good relations with the Armenian government save
Turkey from the pressure of the “genocide” claims?’ Then he answered
himself. ‘It’s a mistake to think that if concessions are made, the
Armenian government would soften its stance. When Turkey opened its
airspace, what changed? Genocide allegations are still the backbone of
Armenian state policy. It won’t stop these allegations. If Turkey is
going to open its borders, it should firstly talk to the Azerbaijani
government and tell it the reasons for doing this and the sums to be
earned in return.” Because the Azerbaijani government, 20% of whose
land is under Armenian occupation, should know what Turkey’s change
of policy will bring.
I wanted to know if Turkey’s relations with Armenia would always
be like this. He replied, ‘We believe that relations with Armenia
should be improved. When we come to power, we will try to do this,
but problems in Caucasia should also be solved. Democracy should
come not only to Azerbaijan, but also to Armenia.’ So many things
have slowed down in Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, compared to 15
years ago. There’s nothing concrete except mutual interest in the
Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. Now nobody is taking creative steps to develop
the humanitarian or cultural aspects of relations. Gamber said,
‘We should discuss such subjects as the Armenian or Cyprus issue with
Turkey and draw up plans together.’ It’s our responsibility to start
with Azerbaijan to develop a common basis of action covering Georgia
and Armenia.”

Christian saint’s anniversary celebrations in Iran:-
Tehran | June 27, 2005 1:44:01 PM IST
Webindia123, India
June 27 2005
Christians from all over the world will gather at Iran’s Saint Thaddeus
Church July 1 for the annual commemoration of the martyrdom anniversary
of St Thaddeus.
The St Thaddeus Church, also known as the Black Church (Ghara Kelisa),
is Iran’s most notable Christian monument, located near the Chalderan
region in Maku, West Azerbaijan, reports Mehr News Agency.
One of Jesus Christ’s 12 disciples, St Thaddeus, also known as St
Jude (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot), was martyred while
spreading the Gospel. He is revered as an apostle of the Armenian
Church. As legend has it, a church dedicated to him was first built
on the present site in 68 AD.
Nothing appears to remain of the original church, which was extensively
rebuilt in the 13th century, but some sections around the altar may
date back to the 10th century. Most of the present structure dates
to the 17th century and is of carved sandstone.
The apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew travelled through Armenia in 45
AD to preach the word of god. Many people were converted and numerous
secret Christian communities were established.
When the Armenian kingdom split into two parts, King Ananun gave the
order to kill St Thaddeus in Edessa. The king’s daughter Sandokht,
who had converted to Christianity, was martyred with Thaddeus. Her
tomb is located near the St Thaddeus Church.
Only Christians will be allowed to visit the church during the
ceremony.

Statue of Komitas to be unveiled in Canada
By Hovhannes Yeranian
Yerkir/Arm
24 June 05
Yerkir informed in one of its previous issues that the Pan-Armenian
Educational and Cultural Union had announced a competition for
preparation of a bronze statue of Komitas to be set up in the public
park in Quebec.
The competition was truly international – 36 participants from Lebanon,
Italy, Georgia, Canada and Armenia participated in it. 12 works were
short listed and the selection committee members in Yerevan, Montreal
and Quebec made their final decision.
Sculptor Samvel Ghazarian’s work was announced the winner in the
competition. On this occasion, we interviewed sculptor Samvel Ghazarian
and director of Pan-Armenian Educational and Cultural Union Armenian
office Lilit Galstian.
Samvel Ghazarian is one of the most talented and unique sculptors
in Armenia Only one of his works, a tuff-stone statue of Adam and
Eve, is located in Yerevan while many of his works are in Bishkek,
Tashkent, Samarqand and Moscow.
These are all monumental works. His small works are exhibited in many
galleries including the Armenian National Arts Gallery and Tretyakov
Gallery in Russia. His works have won prizes at the international
biennale in Ravenna. Samvel Ghazarian does not speak much about his
own works and this is by no means false modesty. Lilit Galstian who
chaired the jury committee spoke about the winning sculpture.
“I should say that I am very happy that the opinions of selection
committee members in Yerevan, Quebec and Montreal coincided. There
were no disagreements regarding the winner. Samvel fully deserves this
success. His Komitas statue combines all the features of the Armenian
spiritual person, great artist and true patriot,” Galstian says.
Since Samvel Ghazarian was not much eager to speak about his
own work, our conversation mainly touched on the Armenian art and
culture in general. When asked what his preferred working materials
were, Ghazarian answered, “I have two favorite materials ‘stone and
bronze. Marble is of course the king of stones’. Ghazarian has taught
at the Institute of Fine Arts in Yerevan for 12 years. We asked him
to share his opinion on the recent changes in Yerevan.
“Criticizing has become a very easy and convenient approach. However,
making mistakes is equally easy. In Yerevan we do not have lack of
something; rather we have some things in excessive quantities. Our
city is not too big and so many architectural efforts are simply
tasteless in this context.” I don’t think we need new statues.
I could easily refuse any of my statues if I knew that it would be
set up at the expense of cutting down trees. If you ask me which is
the statue that is needed most in Yerevan, I will say it’s the Diary
of Nzhdeh. This is an architectural complex that is devoted not to
one person but to his ideology. The scripture of King Argishti was
thrown out. Maybe we need to have Nzhdeh’s words in our city.”

Don’t forget officer’s dignity
Yerkir/Arm
24 June 05
As reported earlier, on June 21, Pavel “Aparantsi Pavlik” Manukian
was rushed to a Stepanakert hospital after sustaining severe beating.
Manukian was running for the Karabakh National Assembly from the
ARF-Movement 88 bloc, and is a renowned veteran of the Artsakh
liberation war.
After recovering in the hospital, Manukian said he was beaten in the
office of the NKR defense minister. He also said that Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanian and Deputy DM Samvel Karapetian struck the first blows
knocking him down and then other military officers joined in.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Artsakh Central Committee
has demanded that the NKR president fire all the high-ranking officers
involved in the incident. Requests for an impartial investigation of
the incident have also been sent to the president of the Republic of
Armenia, military prosecutor and other governmental agencies.
It remains to see what results the investigation would bring. But
one thing is clear outright: it was a low act unfit for a military
officer. Armenian army officer’s honor is not in the number of stars
on epaulettes or the office he holds.
Since when is it a “bravery” for Armenian men to attack when
outnumbered? Our enemies, not combat friends, should give us
opportunity to use our bravery. Is it possible you have forgotten who
our enemy is? Or maybe office and interest make forget friendship so
quickly? If yes, then we all have been punished.

Armenia finding its place in global IT market
Yerkir/Arm
24 June 05
An Armenian IT representation office was created in Canada with the
purpose to assist to the presentation of the Armenian IT sector to
the international market and attract investments into the IT sector.
The representation was launched in October 2004 as an initiative of
Enterprise Incubator Foundation.
First, the Canadian IT sector was explored, its position and
significance in the global IT market was studied and the possibilities
for integration of Armenian IT companies and products into the Canadian
market were identified. At the second stage, a representation office
of the Armenian IT sector was established in Canada with the purpose
to increase awareness of the Armenian IT products and services in North
America. “We are trying to establish business contacts between Armenian
and Canadian IT companies and encourage and attract investments into
the IT sector in Armenia,” chief specialist of Enterprise Incubator
Foundation, Canada Representation project coordinator Anna Piloyan
says.
Only one person, Grant Thomas, is currently representing the Armenian
IT sector in Canada. However, it is envisaged to create an Armenian IT
center where 3-4 Canadian specialists will work. The IT representative
in Canada is currently receiving detailed information regarding private
IT companies working in Armenia. Several companies have been selected
by the Enterprise Incubator Foundation whose work will be presented
to the Canadian IT companies with the assistance of Grant Thomas.
The selected companies are NATK e-payment system, SystroTech Company
specializing in modeling of resource management systems, Netman
Company specializing in modeling of virtual offices, Bi-Line, Triada
and M-Possible companies specializing in multimedia, CIT, ABM and
Outsourcingarmenia.com companies. Currently, Grant Thomas is working
with EIF to develop information packages to present these companies on
the international market. “The information packages will include all
necessary information to show that Armenian companies can cooperate
with large international companies and be trustworthy partners,”
Piloyan says.
The Armenian Embassy in Canada has assisted greatly in implementation
of the project. Two teleconferences have been organized by the Embassy
which stirred the interest of Canadian IT companies. Representative
of more than 45 IT companies from Canada and Armenia participated in
the teleconference organized in the framework of ACITIP project.
Research and Innovations Center in Ottawa with assisted the
organization of the teleconferences. The Armenian IT representation
office is located in this research center. Two more roundtable
discussions will be organized in Montreal and Toronto. Grant Thomas
is also supporting a project on exchange of experience whereby 5
specialists and managers from Armenian IT companies will be given
an opportunity to visit Canadian companies specializing in similar
services.
The anticipated duration of the project is one year with possibility
of extension if positive results are achieved by the end of the year
and if contracts are signed between the Armenian and Canadian IT
companies. “We can assure that the project is very efficient and the
Armenian companies will definitely sign contracts with their Canadian
counterparts,” Piloyan says.
Similar representation offices will be established in USA and Europe
with the purpose of presenting Armenia’s IT potential and attracting
investments into the Armenian IT sector. Currently, France and Germany
are being considered as potential candidate countries for creating
Armenian IT centers.
“We are thinking about Germany because it has the largest IT market
in Europe. And we are thinking about France since we have Diaspora
there working with IT companies. In any case, the experience of work of
the Armenian IT center in Canada will be very valuable for organizing
the operation of the centers in USA and Europe,” Piloyan concluded.
Varduhi Zakarian
PanARMENIAN Network

US POSITIVELY ASSESSES ARMENIA’S IPAP WITH NATO
Pan Armenian News
27.06.2005 03:08
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The US positively assesses Armenia’s Individual
Partnership Action Plan with NATO”, US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans
stated. In his words, a huge deal of work has been done, however it is
the Alliance to decide on the Plan. “The Armenian-American relations in
defense and security develop independently of any circumstances”, the
US Ambassador stated. When asked whether the dislocated Russian bases
can impede close cooperation between Armenia and the US Mr. Evans said,
“Both the US and Russia maintain good relations with Armenia. I hope
the Russian Ambassador will agree with me. We do not see any opposition
here. We wish Armenia to develop economically and socially. The matter
concerns not only military cooperation but the cooperation between
the people”, IA Regnum reports.

Turkish PM to Visit Azerbaijan
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
June 27 2005
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to travel
to Azerbaijan on Wednesday for talks with Azeri officials.
During his two-day visit, Erdogan will meet with President Ilham
Aliyev.
Following interdelegationary talks, various agreements are expected
to be signed. He will also meet with the Parliament speaker and then
address the Parliament.
Turkey and Azerbaijan has close relations. 20 percent of Azerbaijan has
been under Armenian occupation and Turkey called Armenia to withdraw
its forces. The EU consider Armenia occupier in Karabakh.

ARF participates in PES meeting
27.06.2005 17:56
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Council of Party of European Socialists held
its meeting in Vienna on June 24 and 25, ARF press service reported.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) was among those invited and
was represented by Mario Nalbandian, ARF Bureau’s representative in
the Socialist International.
The Party of European Socialists (PES) comprises socialist parties of
the European Union member states. Socialist parties from EU candidate
countries have observer’s status. The presidium may also invite other
parties to some of the meetings.
The Vienna meeting discussed two key issues: PES stance on EU
enlargement, and PES organizational reforms.
Mario Nalbandian met with representatives of various parties to
discuss issues related to Armenia and Armenians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Artsakh Armenians’ democratic victory
Editorial
Yerkir/Arm
24 June 05
The June 19 election to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) National
Assembly was a victory for Armenians in terms of strengthening the
democracy in the liberated Artsakh. Over 1,500 foreign observers
watching the race and the vote noted that Artsakh conducted free,
transparent and clean election.
They also pointed out that Azerbaijan should learn lessons from
Artsakh’s democracy. Even the American observers’ spokesman stated
that it would be better for Baku to win in the democratic battle
rather than in the race of armaments.
Would Azerbaijan learn its lessons or not is not important; but it is
appropriate to congratulate the entire people of Artsakh — the
electorate, authorities, political forces — over this victory of
democracy. This success that would significantly increase the
international image of Artsakh, the people of Artsakh proved that
they are mature and determined to fix their home democratically.
It was, indeed, not an easy task to remain on the democratic path
during the election, especially in such vigorous race with the
pro-government circles united around the NKR president on the one
side, and the opposition seeking fundamental reforms on the other.
The latter included the ARF Artsakh organization. The fact is that in
the pre-election stage, the government used its resources to get
desired outcome, but the strong race helped to avoid any rigging on
the day of the voting.
It is a topic of a separate and serious discussion why the
reform-seeking opposition lost so heavily in the National Assembly
election, and especially in the single-mandate constituencies. The
electorate effectively chose to elect the so-called business people,
unequivocally distancing from the candidates who stood in the roots
of the Artsakh liberation war. Even under the proportionate
(party-list) system, the opposition took only 27 percent of the
votes.
Such stance of the electorate offers a number of lessons for the
forces, including the ARF Artsakh organization, which want radical
changes in the way of the governance. After all, the outcome of the
June 19 election came to prove that fears of turmoil and instability
have deep roots in our people: the majority effectively hopes to
improve its life conditions through the investments of the
businessmen.
The democratic election held on June 19, however, is also valuable
because it guarantees that the long fight for political reforms would
be kept away from election fraud.
Droshak
June 2005

PEOPLE SHOWED THEY LIVE IN A TRUE STATE
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 June 05
The director of the Institute of CIS Countries, Member of Parliament
of Russian Duma Constantine Zatulin monitored the NKR parliamentary
election on June 19th. In the morning of June 20th he gave a press
conference for the mass media and the observers from different
countries at the press centre of the Central Election Committee. In the
beginning C. Zatulin said he had also monitored the latest presidential
election, and he was in Karabakh a month before, therefore, he is
well-acquainted with the Karabakh issue and the current situation
in the country. Highly evaluating the parliamentary election,
the director of the Institute of CIS Countries said, “Taking into
account that the results of the elections have not been officially
stated yet, I do not want to single out myself, but I would say the
opinions of the observers on the election are mostly similar. In this
poll the people of Nagorno Karabakh voted for different political
parties and candidates but, in the long run, the people voted for
democracy, at the same time viewing the matter as a resolution of the
political issue.” He mentioned that there are in the world, as it is
now trendy to say, unrecognized countries, and there is a mistaken
opinion especially among those who deny the existence of independent
Karabakh, and accuse Nagorno Karabakh of not only the absence of
statehood but also the right for self-determination. This election
once again shows that the logistical preparation and standards, as
well as the democratic means in Nagorno Karabakh are on a higher level
than in several neighbouring countries which do not want to recognize
NKR. “At least in Nagorno Karabakh it did not occur to anyone that
power could pass from father to son,” said C. Zatulin. “I think,
in this election with such a high turnout people bore in their minds
not only the election of candidates but also the issue of resolution
of the territorial dispute. This election revealed the commitment of
the people of Nagorno Karabakh to the democracy and acted as a means
for the people of different political views and interests to show
to the world that they live in a true state. One cannot explain this
activity otherwise, for the election campaign was politically tense,
and nevertheless, it did not give rise to cataclysms, incidents. The
election was free, transparent, better organized than the previous
ones.” C. Zatulin said he had visited several polling stations,
witnessed a number of positive things one will not come across in
other, even developed countries. He singled out the stamped electoral
rolls posted outside the polling stations, which is not practised in
Russia. According to him, all the observers pointed out the fact that
it is the first time that the parliamentary election in Karabakh is
held under both the majority and proportional representation system.
Although many candidates stated that people are not ready for this
system of election, nevertheless, the observers think people were quick
in orienting themselves in the new situation. In the end C. Zatulin
advised the candidates who had not passed either under the majority,
or the proportional representation system not to consider themselves
to be “finished” with politics. “I stood for the RF parliament for
four times, twice I lost and twice I won. I want to say that elections
are like parachute flights. And sometimes, elections mean risk. One
needs to pull the rip cord on time to land softly instead of falling,
falling and crushing against the ground.” C. Zatulin congratulated all
the elected candidates, wished success to the new members of parliament
and further effective activity for the good of the country and people
to all the candidates. Then he answered the questions of journalists.
LAURA GRIGORIAN. 26-06-2005