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07/07/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Armenian Delegation to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Thanks States That Have Recognized Armenian Genocide 2) Four London Blasts Kill 37, Injure 700 3) Georgia's Armenian Parliament Members Address Regional Issues, Tarrifs with Armenian Counterparts 4) His Holiness Aram I's Pontifical Visit to Western Prelacy 5) Paris Court Fines Book Editors for Armenian Genocide Denial 1) Armenian Delegation to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Thanks States That Have Recognized Armenian Genocide --Delegation Head Praises Karabagh's Elections, Calls for Baku to Restore Direct Ties to Karabagh's Government, and Notes Armenia's Progress on Constitutional and Electoral Reforms WASHINGTON, DC--Speaking in Washington, DC at the July 4th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA), the head of the Armenian delegation, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Vahan Hovhannisian briefed over 300 parliamentarians from 55 OSCE member states about recent developments in Armenia and the South Caucasus region, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Joining Vahan Hovhannisian as members of the OSCE PA delegation were Artashes Geghamyan, MP and Samvel Nikoyan, MP. At the outset of his remarks, Hovhannisian noted to his colleagues that 2005 marked the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, commenting that "it would not be an exaggeration to say that most of the current problems in our region stem from those tragic events." He went on to thank the OSCE member states that have recognized the Armenian Genocide, among them Cyprus, Canada, Russia, Greece, Belgium, Sweden, France, Italy, Switzerland, Slovakia, Netherlands, Poland, and Germany. Hovhannisian praised the conduct of the recent Parliamentary elections in Mountainous Karabagh, the fourth held by the Republic since independence in 1991. Noting the positive findings of international election observers, hem pointed out that, "Some of Nagorno Karabagh's neighbors can learn a great deal from its example of holding democratic elections." In a related matter, the ANCA has supported the efforts of Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA), the Chairman of the International Relations Subcommittee on Europe, to pass legislation, HRes 326, calling for free and fair parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. This resolution outlines the expectations of the US regarding the upcoming November 2005 balloting, with a special focus on preventing problems, reported in past elections by international observers, regarding "inequality and irregularities in campaign and election conditions, including intimidation against opposition supporters, restrictions on political rallies by opposition candidates, and voting fraud." Speaking directly to the Karabagh peace talks, which are mediated by the OSCE's Minsk Group, Hovhannisian remarked that other regional conflicts being addressed by the OSCE, such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Moldova, are all characterized by direct talks between the conflicting parties. "As such," he commented, "we do not see a reason why the Azerbaijani authorities cannot do the same and try to restore their contacts with elected authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh." In closing, Hovhannisian noted Armenia's progress in revising its Electoral Code in accordance with European standards, a move that was welcomed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. He added that the political parties in Armenia have, after extensive deliberations, reached an agreement about constitutional changes and amendments in accordance with the recommendations of the Council of Europe. 2) Four London Blasts Kill 37, Injure 700 LONDON (AP)--Four blasts rocked the London subway and tore open a packed double-decker bus during morning rush hour on Thursday, sending bloodied victims fleeing in the worst attack on London since World War II. Thirty-seven people were killed, British officials said, and 700 wounded in the terror attacks. A clearly shaken Prime Minister Tony Blair called the coordinated attacks "barbaric" and said they were designed to coincide with the G-8 summit opening in Gleneagles, Scotland. They also came a day after London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympics. A group calling itself "The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe" claimed responsibility. The four blasts went off within an hour, beginning at 8:51 a.m., and hit three subway stations and the double-decker bus. Authorities immediately shut down the subway and bus lines that log 8.4 million passenger trips every weekday. Doctors from the nearby British Medical Association (BMA) rushed into the street to treat the wounded from the bus. "The front of BMA house was completely splattered with blood and not much of the bus was left," said Dr. Laurence Buckman. As the city's transportation system ground to a near-halt, buses were used as ambulances and an emergency medical station was set up at a hotel. Rescue workers, police and ordinary citizens streamed into the streets to help. Blair, flanked by fellow G-8 leaders, including President Bush, read a statement from the leaders. "We shall prevail and they shall not," he said. "Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilized nations throughout the world," he said earlier. In Scotland, Bush warned Americans to be "extra vigilant," and his administration raised the terror alert for mass transit a notch to code orange. Security also was stepped up in the US Capitol and in train and bus stations around the country. Much of Europe also went on alert. Italy's airports raised alert levels to a maximum. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, the Netherlands, France and Spain also announced beefed-up security at shopping centers, airports, railways and subways. A group calling itself "The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe" posted a claim of responsibility, saying the blasts were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. 3) Georgia's Armenian Parliament Members Address Regional Issues, Tarrifs with Armenian Counterparts YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The Armenian members of Georgia's parliament urged Armenia on Thursday to abolish prohibitive charges levied from Georgian vehicles entering its territory, and to discuss the conditions of Georgia's Armenians, including those living in the impoverished Javakhk region. The five lawmakers led by Van Bayburtian, a leader of the Armenian community in Tbilisi, said the Georgian government has already scrapped similar tariffs for Armenian vehicles and expects Armenia to follow suit. The road tolls worth $50 per car or truck, a large sum by both Armenian and Georgian standards, are one of the factors that have hampered commercial and individual traffic between the two countries since the Soviet collapse. Georgia unilaterally abolished them on January 1 at the request of Georgian businesspeople promoting closer economic ties with Armenia. "That issue is being discussed in accordance with the president's instructions and I think it will find a positive solution soon," Transport and Communications Minister Andranik Manukian said on Thursday. Armenian officials have praised President Mikhail Saakashvili's administration for thoroughly repairing the main Georgian highway leading to the Armenian border. They also admit that Saakashvili's dramatic overhaul of Georgia's formerly corrupt traffic police all but put an end to the extortion of bribes from Armenian motorists. Bayburtian was speaking to reporters in Yerevan where he and his Georgian-Armenian colleagues arrived at the invitation of parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian. He said they discussed road tariffs and other issues relating to cross-border travel with Baghdasarian and other Armenian officials. The situation in the Armenian-populated areas in southern Georgia was also high on the agenda of their talks. One of them, the Tsalka district, has been particularly restive in recent years with clashes periodically reported between local Armenians and Greeks and Georgians. Tbilisi deployed interior troops in the area last year in a bid to keep the situation under control. However, tensions there rose again late last month after Georgian soldiers shot and wounded an Armenian youth in still uncertain circumstances. The incident sparked protests in Tsalka and even Armenia where a group of nationalist students protested outside the Georgian embassy in Yerevan. Meanwhile, speaker Baghdasarian was quoted by his press service as telling the visiting Georgian-Armenian deputies that he and his Georgian counterpart Nino Burjanadze will soon jointly visit Georgia's mostly Armenian populated region of Javakhk to assess progress in stated government efforts to alleviate serious socioeconomic problems there. Those problems may be further aggravated by the upcoming closure of a local Russian military base, the area's single largest employer. Saakashvili on Monday again sought to allay the Javakhk Armenians' concerns, announcing that the economically depressed and largely agricultural region will become the principal supplier of foodstuffs to the Georgian military. "Today, together with the Georgian defense minister, we have decided that all 20,000 military personnel of the Georgian armed forces...will be fully supplied with agricultural produce by residents of [the Javakhk districts of] Akhalkalak and Ninotsminda," Saakashvili said in a speech in Tbilisi. 4) His Holiness Aram I's Pontifical Visit to Western Prelacy LA CRESCENTA--His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of Cilicia, will make His Pontifical visit to the Western Prelacy, October 5-19, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Seminary of the Holy See and the 10th anniversary of His enthronement. With the theme, Towards The Light of Knowledge, Catholicos Aram I will visit all three Prelacies of North America, inaugurate the Prelacy's New Building, consecrate the Prelacy's St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen Chapel, and the St. Sarkis Church of Pasadena. During his visits to Los Angeles, Fresno, and San Francisco, His Holiness will attend symposiums, meetings with students and youth, and other official events. Under the auspices of the Prelate His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, a Welcoming Committee has been formed to organize the Pontifical visit and related events. 5) Paris Court Fines Book Editors for Armenian Genocide Denial (AP)--A Paris court on Wednesday ordered the editors of a French reference book to pay a small fine for its unbalanced portrayal of the genocide of Armenians by Ottoman Turkey. The court said the Quid reference book favored Turkey's position of denial and only briefly described the Armenian point of view. The court issued a fine of $1.19 and ordered the publication of its verdict in three daily newspapers, three weekly newspapers, and on the Quid internet site. The committee for the defense of the Armenian cause filed a complaint against the encyclopedia in 2003. Defense lawyers for the reference book underlined its editorial freedom and pointed out that the book mentions a 2001 French law that recognizes the Armenian genocide. 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. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress