ASBAREZ Online [06-28-2006]

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06/28/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Oskanian Reveals More Details of OSCE Plan 2) Erdogan Reacts to Claims of Danish Parliamentarian 3) Oskanian Meets with Georgian Officials 4) Mutafyan Disagrees With Catholicos on Genocide Recognition 1) Oskanian Reveals More Details of OSCE Plan TBILISI (Armenpress, RFE/RL)Armenia's foreign minister Vartan Oskanian announced Wednesday during a press conference that OSCE Minsk Group US co-chairman Matthew Bryza's revelations last week of confidential provisions of a proposed Nagorno-Karabakh peace plan were incomplete and failed to present other important principles outlined by the plan, reported the Armenpress news agency. He stressed that the Armenian foreign ministry's statements reflect the true nature of the OSCE proposed plan. Security guarantees for the corridor connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the need for a temporary status for Karabakh were two key principles that according to Oskanian should have been included in the interview Bryza gave to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "One of the key components of peaceful resolution should be guaranteeing the security of the corridor between Armenia and Karabakh. The second, until a referendum to decide the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a temporary status should be determined for the region," said Oskanian in response to questions during a press conference with his Georgian counterpart Gela Bezhuashvili. The foreign minister added that for the first time, the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group determined that the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic shall be determined through a referendum of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. He added that the OSCE peace proposal is balanced and all encompassing, pledging Armenia's continuous willingness to negotiate with Azerbaijan within the framework of the outline proposals. "The Karabakh issue has its logical elements and we should allow for a natural progression of the process and not artificially accelerate it," said Oskanian in response to questions regarding a possible meeting between Armenian and Azeri leaders during the upcoming G8 Summit, reported Armenpress. In a joint statement that was circulated by the U.S. embassy in Yerevan on Wednesday, the Minsk Group's American, French and Russian co-chairs said their hitherto confidential peace plan envisages a self-determination referendum to be held in Karabakh after the liberation of Armenian-occupied territories in Azerbaijan, reported RFE/RL Wednesday. The statement was presented to the OSCE's decision-making Permanent Council in Vienna last Thursday and was not made public until being posted on the U.S. embassy website almost a week later. Washington's new top Karabakh negotiator, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, revealed details of the proposed peace plan to RFE/RL shortly after the Permanent Council meeting. "These principles include the phased redeployment of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for Kelbajar and Lachin districts [separating Karabakh from Armenia proper]," said the co-chairs. "Demilitarization of those territories would follow. A referendum or population vote would be agreed, at an unspecified future date, to determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh." "An international peacekeeping force would be deployed," added the statement. "A joint commission would be agreed to implement the agreement. International financial assistance would be made available for demining, reconstruction, resettlement of internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied territories and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. The sides would renounce the use or threat of use of force, and international and bilateral security guarantees and assurances would be put in place." The mediators said the sides to the conflict would also have to work out practical modalities of the Karabakh referendum. "Suitable preconditions for such a vote would have to be achieved so that the vote would take place in a non-coercive environment in which well-informed citizens have had ample opportunity to consider their positions after a vigorous debate in the public arena." This peace formula seems largely acceptable to Armenia. Its Foreign Ministry argued that the mediating powers have thereby recognized the Karabakh Armenians' right to self-determination. The ministry said in its statement that Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian have agreed to the proposed referendum but remain divided on other, unspecified issues. The Azerbaijani side initially responded positively to Bryza's disclosure of Minsk Group peace proposals. But in a statement on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry in Baku chided the U.S. official for "taking them out of the general context of the proposed document." It also reiterated that Baku is only ready to grant Karabakh "the highest status of autonomy" and will never recognize its secession from Azerbaijan. The mediators, meanwhile, warned that failure by the two sides to cut a framework peace deal before the end of this year would close a rare "window of opportunity" to eliminate the principal source of instability in the South Caucasus. "We see no point right now in continuing intensive shuttle diplomacy we have engaged in over the past several months," they said. "We also see no point in initiating further presidential meetings until the sides demonstrate enough political will to overcome their remaining differences." Meanwhile in Baku, the Azeri Foreign Ministry of issued a statement Tuesday in response to what it termed continuing attempts by Armenia to distort the essence of the ongoing Karabakh peace talks, reported Armenpress and RFE/RL. The Azeri statement said that the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh could not be determined until the territories currently occupied by Armenian forces are liberated and the entire conflict zone demilitarized. The statement also affirms Baku's willingness to grant the NKR the highest degree of autonomy within Azerbaijan stipulated by the current Azeri constitution. 2) Erdogan Reacts to Claims of Danish Parliamentarian STRASBOURG (Combined sources)"You shouldn't confuse the concepts of insult and freedom of criticism," said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after claims of Danish radical left parliamentarian Rune Lund following the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg. Lund claimed that under the freedom of expression he must have the right to say that "Turks committed genocide on Armenians, occupied Cyprus and outraged Kurds." Erdogan, in return, reacted strongly and said, "You should not fail to distinguish between the concepts of insult and freedom of criticism. The Danish parliamentarian claims that there is a Armenian genocide, but his statements must be based on scientific data." Enumerating freedom of expression and thought among indispensable common goals of humanity, Erdogan said, "All freedoms have a limit under international laws on human rights. You cannot have unlimited freedoms." On the other hand, Rene van der Linden, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said that PACE extends full support to the Alliance of Civilizations Initiative launched by Turkey and Spain. In the session, Linden indicated that the aim of this initiative is to help people understand each other's cultures, and avoid fanaticism and extremism. 3) Oskanian Meets with Georgian Officials TBILISI (Armenpress)Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian arrived in Georgia June 27 on a two-day official visit. On the first day of his working visit, Oskanian met with his counterpart Gela Bezhuashvili. In their welcoming remarks, the two foreign ministers expressed their shared belief that Armenian-Georgian relations, based on solid historic ties, will continue to develop in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. The two ministers discussed bilateral issues in detail. They noted that the Armenian-Georgian bilateral agenda is a full one and their broad relationship is reflected in frequent hihg-level meetings and visits. Oskanian spoke about the economic and political importance of the operation of the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway and its contribution to the growth of trade in the region, equally benefiting all countries. The Georgian foreign minister affirmed that Georgia is aware of its bridging role and responsibility in the region and will continue to work for more favorable transit conditions for Armenia. He explained that Georgia, too, is interested in ensuring diversified transport routes. On the topic of Javakhk, Oskanian stressed that the Armenian government stands prepared to work with the Georgian government to resolve the socio-economic problems facing the population. They addressed issues of border delimitation and confirmed that there exists the political will on both sides to resolve outstanding issues and reach a mutually acceptable solution. Oskanian briefed his colleague on the current state of the Nagorno Karabakh negotiations. In turn, Minister Bezhuashvili spoke about the negotiations surrounding Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Oskanian also met with Georgian parliament chairwoman Nino Burjanadze, who expressed hope that Oskanian's visit will boost bilateral ties between the two countries. Burjanadze said there exists a good legal framework that can support cooperation between the two countries. She also emphasized Armenia's clear-cut position in regard to Georgian-Armenian relations. "Armenia has stressed many times that it defends Georgia's territorial integrity, which is very important issue for us. Both Armenia and Georgia stress that conflicts must be solved exclusively through peaceful means and dialogue," Burjanadze said. "We are happy that the people in Javakhk have proved smarter that some people predicted and did not prevent the withdrawal of the Russian base from Akhalkalaki, realizing what is good for Georgia is good for every citizen, irrespective of their ethnic belonging," she commented. She also spoke about the Karabakh conflict, emphasizing Georgia's good relations with Yerevan and Baku, saying Georgia wants the conflict to be resolved peacefully. During his visit, Oskanian also visited the Armenian embassy in Tbilisi and will deliver a lecture at the Georgian Center for Strategic and International Studies before returning to Armenia. 4) Mutafyan Disagrees With Catholicos on Genocide Recognition ISTANBUL (Marmara)The Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan told reporters Wednesday that he did not agree with statements made by His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians regarding the need for the Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Mutafyan proposed that the "1915 issue" be addressed by historians and sociologists in order for the sides to "understand each other's sensitivities." During a pontifical visit to Istanbul, Catholicos Karekin II said the Genocide was not a debatable issue for Armenians and it is a fact that Turkey should recognize. The Turkish press reacted adversely to this statement, with one newspaperthe Hurriyetcharacterizing the Catholicos' visit as a protest demonstration. Mutafyan said that the Catholicos' statements were not unexpected and since his pontifical visit was being covered by the Armenian media and would be seen by the Diaspora communities, "the Catholicos spoke taking into consideration Diasporan sensitivities." 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) 2006 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.