Month: October 2005

KARABAKH NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN AZERI ELECTION – SEPARATIST SPEAKER

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Oct 11 2005

Yerevan, 11 October: The speaker of the National Assembly of the
Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR], Ashot Gulyan, today described as
“absurd” the appeal of the Azerbaijani Central Electoral Committee
to NKR citizens to participate in the parliamentary election in
Azerbaijan.

“It is clear that there will be no participation because we conduct
our own elections,” Gulyan said.

Commenting on the domestic political situation in Azerbaijan in the
run-up to the election, Gulyan pointed out that “it totally coincides
with our predictions”, Mediamax reports. He said that “we were sure
that the election campaign will be accompanied by violations, illegal
rallies, pressure on the opposition and dispersal of demonstrators”.

The speaker of the NKR parliament said that the situation in
Azerbaijan will worsen even more as the election approaches. “I
think international observers will have the opportunity to assess the
situation in the run-up to the election in Azerbaijan and compare it
with the situation in the run-up to the election in Nagornyy Karabakh,”
said Ashot Gulyan.

Touching on the Karabakh conflict settlement, Ashot Gulyan pointed
out that it is impossible to achieve a solution to the problem when
there is no trust between the conflicting sides and when Azerbaijan
is torpedoing any contacts between representatives of the two nations.

The speaker said that the position of the Karabakh side based on the
will of the NKR people, who have spoken out in favour of independent
statehood, remains unchanged.

DEFENCE OFFICIAL SAYS ARMENIA INTERESTED IN BUYING BELARUSIAN ARMS

Belapan news agency, Minsk
Oct 11 2005

Minsk, 10 October: A top Armenian defence official has said that the
country’s army is interested in buying certain types of weaponry
in service with Belarusian units and Belarusian-designed military
hardware.

While talking to reporters in Minsk on Monday [10 October], Armenia’s
deputy defence minister, Col-Gen Mikayel Arutyunyan, said that his
country’s government is examining the price and performance of the
equipment.

The official arrived in Belarus on a three-day visit earlier in
the day.

General Arutyunyan noted that his talks with Syarhey Hurulyow, the
Belarusian army’s chief of general staff, focused on the situation
inside the Collective Security Treaty Organization of which both
countries are members.

The Armenian official stressed that his country is interested in
studying Belarusian army training practices and command principles,
military reform and weapons modernization projects.

Preparations for a visit by Belarusian Defence Minister Leanid Maltsaw
to Armenia later this year were also discussed.

While in Belarus the Armenian delegation is to visit the Military
Academy and the 120th Guards Detached Mechanized Brigade.

NOBEL JUDGES REPORTEDLY TORN
>>From a Times staff writer

Los Angeles Times
October 11, 2005 Tuesday
Home Edition

QUICK TAKES

The decision of who will be given the Nobel Prize for literature has
been delayed by a split among the judges, the Guardian newspaper of
London reports.

The announcement of the winner was supposed to come last week but
now is scheduled Thursday.

The Guardian reported that the Nobel judges are split over honoring
the controversial Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, author of the novels
“My Name Is Red” and “Snow.” He faces trial later this year for having
said in an interview that Turkey was guilty of a 20th century genocide
against Armenians and Kurds, the newspaper said.

AZERI PUNDITS DOWNPLAY EU WARNING OVER TIES WITH TURKISH CYPRUS
by R. Azar

Zerkalo, Azerbaijan
Oct 7 2005

Another ultimatum from the European Union

If Azerbaijan does not change its position on Cyprus, the EU will
only accept Armenia and Georgia

Relations with Northern Cyprus may prolong Azerbaijan’s joining the
European Union’s [EU] New Neighbourhood Policy, the Trend news agency
has quoted EU Commissioner for foreign relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner
as telling the Radio Liberty.

“The EU only recognizes the independence of the Republic of Cyprus.

But this republic is protesting against Baku’s contacts with Lefkosa
and flights from Azerbaijan to Northern Cyprus,” she said.

Addressing the foreign relations committee of the European Parliament
in Brussels, Ferrero-Waldner said she had informed Azerbaijan that
if the country did not change its position, the EU would only accept
Armenia and Georgia. She expressed her hope that Azerbaijan would
resolve this issue. “But this will take a few weeks,” she said.

The head of the information department of the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry, Tahir Tagizada, said that Baku’s policy is directed at
preventing the crisis in both the Turkish and Greek communities of
Cyprus. Tagizada said that he had not received any official information
concerning cooperation with the EU within the framework of the New
Neighbourhood Policy.

“Azerbaijan is ready to take steps under the approved action plan. As
for the flights, this is a commercial initiative and has nothing to
do with the government’s foreign policy,” Tagizada said.

Political pundit Vafa Quluzada said that Azerbaijan pursued a right
policy towards the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC]. He
added that Azerbaijan had established bilateral relations with Finland,
Great Britain, France and other EU member states although it was not
a member of the union.

“The EU has closed the door on the TRNC and does not want other
countries to cooperate with it. Baku is on the right track. The EU
can never influence Azerbaijan in this issue,” Quluzada said.

Another political pundit Zardust Alizada said that on the one hand,
Azerbaijan wants to be accepted to the EU and on the other hand,
it goes against the principles of this organization.

“However, despite the statement of the EU official, I do not think that
the EU will take any dangerous step against Azerbaijan,” Alizada said.

Western analysts believe that Azerbaijan, as part of the South
Caucasus, is of great importance to the EU. Therefore, stability in
Azerbaijan, which goes through a democratic election, means stability
in Europe. Azerbaijan’s participation in the EU’s policy ensures
the supremacy of the law and the development of democracy. From this
viewpoint, our laws should be brought into conformity with European
standards.

But further development of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU
will largely depend on the course of the forthcoming parliamentary
election in our country. The EU calls on Baku to make a concerted
effort to ensure that the election is in line with international
norms. Brussels believes that the EU’s tough position may put an end
to the views that democracy has several varieties in the West and
these varieties must be the way it wants.

V. HOVHANNISIAN: 1915 GENOCIDE WASN’T TURKEY’S ONLY CRIME AGAINST ARMENIANS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 11 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s letter to President of Armenia
Robert Kocharian was an attempt cleverly to cheat the international
community. Vahan Hovhannisian, the Vice Speaker of the RA National
Assembly, a member of the ARF Bureau, characterized in this way
the proposal of the Turkish party to create a joint commission of
historians to study the Armenian cause in his speech at the NATO
“Rose Roth” seminar held in Yerevan.

According to him, besides the 1915 genocide of Armenians living on the
territory of Ottaman Turkey, Turkey conducted another crime as well,
this time against the independent Republic of Armenia.

According to him, in 1919 the Republic of Armenia had a territory of
70 thousand square meters, but as a result of Turkey’s agression which
the Russian Bolshevics also supported, Armenia lost the marzes of Kars,
Ardahan, Surmalu as well as a considerable part of their inhabitants.

According to Vahan Hovahannisian, this crime was already an agression
against another state as a result of what the most part of those
problems arose which have caused an instability in the South
Caucasus today. All issues connected with the Armenian-Azerbaijani
and Armenian-Turkish relations were among those problems.

That’s why, according to the rapporteur, the mutual proposal of
Robert Kocharian, the President of Armenia, to create an interstate
commission instead of a commission of historians was more correct.

According to the NA Deputy Speaker, the interstate commission’s work
can have more practical result: “I think that’s why the proposal
remained without answer.”

According to Vahan Hovhannisian, ideas of penance and confession
which are in the basis of European values aren’t accepted by the
Turkish society. “Turkey which today attempts to become a member of
the European Union, should be ready for this from inside, the Turkish
society should still change itself.”

Welcoming Turk historian Halil Berktay’s position concerning the
Armenian cause, according to what, the 1915 events are qualified as a
genocide, Hovhannisian mentioned: “I think that it will be useful to
listen to his speech for those Armenian figures who, like the Turkish
state historiography, consider that the Armenian Genocide took place
as a result of the activity of the Dashnaktsitiun (Federation).

Touching upon Berktay’s idea that the Turkish society should be
supported in the issue of accepting the real historic truth, Vahan
Hovhannisian mentioned: “I think that the propaganda led by the Hai
Dat offices all over the world serves first for that purpose and
shouldn’t make nervous those Turk figures who themselves consider
that this way should be passed.”

ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO PAKISTAN, INDIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 11 2005

YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin
II has addressed a message of condolences to President of Pakistan
Pervez Musharaf and to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Sinkkh on a
devastating earthquake in Kashmir, which claimed numerous lives. On
behalf of the Armenian people and on his own behalf Garegin II wished
India and Pakistan to overcome the consequences of the earthquake as
soon as possible.

CONFIDENCE MEASURES, REFERENDUM NEEDED TO SOLVE KARABAKH DISPUTE: THINKTANK

Agence France Presse — English
October 11, 2005 Tuesday 4:23 PM GMT

An influential Western thinktank proposed a package of
confidence-building measures on Tuesday it said should lead to
a referendum on the status of the disputed Caucasus territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) said there remained a risk of a
resumption of large-scale conflict 11 years after a 1994 ceasefire
ended a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory that
claimed some 25,000 lives.

“So far, despite progress in the negotiations, the resumption of war
remains as likely as peace,” the Brussels-based group’s European Vice
President, Alain Deletroz, said in a statement introducing a 40-page
report on the dispute.

The measures it proposed include a withdrawal of Armenia-backed
Nagorno-Karabakh troops from districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh
and the renunciation by Azerbaijan of the possibility of using force
to take control of the territory.

The voluntary return of displaced persons would also be a crucial
element, as would investigations of war crimes, under the plan proposed
by the group.

In endorsing such measures, Armenia and Azerbaijan should also agree
the mechanism for an eventual referendum on the territory’s status,
in which only Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians and Azeris would participate,
the ICG said.

The risk of a return to armed conflict was symbolised, the thinktank
said, by a “line of contact” on which are stationed some 18,500
Nagorno-Karabakh soldiers, half of them estimated to be from Armenia,
and 30,000 to 45,000 Azerbaijani fighters.

“Nothing has been done on the ground to build confidence and trust,
demilitarise and demobilise, or resume trade and communications,”
the report read.

Agreement to hold a later referendum “is the crucial ingredient in
a viable peace process,” it continued.

Despite the failure to achieve a settlement, the ICG said both sides
had shown signs of flexibility in recent years that should eventually
enable a final status referendum.

NOBEL LITERATURE PRIZE DUE THIS WEEK AMID TALK OF NEW TWIST

Agence France Presse — English
October 11, 2005 Tuesday 11:39 AM GMT

The Nobel prize for literature, one of the most keenly-awaited awards
of the Nobel season, will be announced on Thursday, the Swedish Academy
said, amid speculation the jury this year could switch tack and honor
a non-fiction author.

While the list of possible winners appears largely the same as in
recent years, featuring US novelists Philip Roth and Joyce Carol
Oates, Ismael Kadare of Albania, Israeli Amos Oz and Swedish poet
Tomas Transtroemer, the Swedish Academy might just have a surprise
in store, pundits say.

“The Academy has spoken of wanting to broaden the prize, which could
open the door for instance for literary journalists like Poland’s
Ryszard Kapuscinski,” Eva Bonnier, head of Sweden’s Bonnier publishing
house, told AFP.

“Kapuscinski is a possibility. It would be very exciting if the Academy
decides to go in that direction,” agreed Ola Larsmo, a freelance
literary critic who writes for Sweden’s paper of record Dagens Nyheter.

Speuclation is just that, though — speculation. Larsmo pointed out
that the Academy is keeping tight-lipped about this year’s laureate
ahead of the announcement at 1100 GMT Thursday.

Horace Engdahl, head of the Swedish Academy, acknowledged that “it
is important that the prize develops as literature develops”.

If the award ends up going to a non-fiction writer it would not be
the first time, he told AFP, pointing out that Alfred Nobel, the
awards’ founder, did not specify in his will whether it had to go to
a fiction writer.

Since the first Nobel Prize was awarded in 1901, several non-fiction
writers and non-poets have won, including Bertrand Russell in 1950
for his philosophical writings and Winston Churchill three years
later for his historical texts.

However the majority of prizes have been awarded to fiction writers
and poets.

If the academy sticks to tradition this year, authors like Algerian
Assia Djebar, Dutch Cees Nooteboom, Belgian Hugo Claus, Somalia’s
Nuruddin Farah and Nigerian poet and novelist Ben Okri are thought
to be among the front-runners.

Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, who was recently charged in Turkey with
“public denigration of the Turkish identity” for remarks he made
about the country’s massacre of Armenians, is also considered a
leading candidate.

Last year, the prize went to Austrian author Elfriede Jelinek.

That award came as a complete surprise to most Nobel observers and
was so controversial that it continues to make waves today.

On Tuesday for instance, a member of the Swedish Academy said he was
resigning to protest the choice.

“Giving the Nobel Prize to Elfriede Jelinek has destroyed the value
of the award for the foreseeable future,” Knut Ahnlund wrote in a
column published in the daily Svenska Dagbladet.

Ahnlund, who has been a member of the academy since 1983 but who has
not actively participated in the jury work for nearly a decade, said
he would officially hand in his resignation over last year’s choice.

The Nobel Literature Prize is traditionally made public on a
Thursday. It will be the sixth and last of the 2005 Nobel Prizes to
be awarded.

Each Nobel prize this year carries a prize sum of 10 million Swedish
kronor (1.1 million euros, 1.3 million dollars), to be shared if the
award is given to more than one laureate.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN, ARMENIAN POLICE HOLD JOINT RIOT DRILL – TV

Channel One TV, Russia
Oct 11 2005

A joint exercise of Russian Interior Ministry and Armenian police
special-purpose units has been held outside Krasnodar. The two
countries’ law-enforcement agencies practised how to counteract
mass riots.

Under the scenario of the exercise, a group of protesters gathered
outside a government headquarters and demanded the government’s
resignation. The unsanctioned rally then turned into an impromptu
storming of the building. In 15 minutes’ time special-purpose police
units squeezed the crowd off the square. However several protesters
managed to get inside the building and take hostages. The second
phase of the exercise was an operation to free the hostages.

Over 1,500 people took part in the operation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA LIKELY TO MAINTAIN CONTINGENT IN IRAQ, DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS

Associated Press Worldstream
October 11, 2005 Tuesday 3:25 PM Eastern Time

Armenia’s military will likely seek to maintain its small contingent
in Iraq for at least another year, the defense minister said Tuesday.

The first rotation of 46 servicemen was sent to Iraq in January and
replaced by a second group that began a six-month tour of duty in July.

“In all likelihood, the (Defense Ministry) will ask the National
Assembly to approve a third and fourth rotation of Armenian
peacekeepers in Iraq,” Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian said Tuesday
during a ceremony in which he decorated members of the first group
to serve in the U.S.-led coalition there.

Parliament approved the decision to send troops to Iraq late last
year despite criticism from opposition parties, many Armenians and
even the 30,000-strong Armenian community in Iraq, which fears being
targeted for attacks.

President Robert Kocharian and his government have sought to portray
the contribution as a way to boost ties with Europe.

The Armenian contingent serves under Polish command.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress