ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/19/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1. OSCE Blames Azerbaijan for Karabakh Arsons 2. Lebanese Evacuees Seek Refuge in Armenian Community 3. ANCA Challenges Rep. Burton's Attack On Nagorno Karabakh 4. Turkish Prosecutor Probes Armenian Journalist For Genocide Statement 1. OSCE Blames Azerbaijan for Karabakh Arsons YEREVAN--After weeks of monitoring the region, the OSCE concluded that recent wildfires in Nagorno-Karabakh were a direct result of arson perpetrated by Azerbaijan, reported Armenia's Foreign Ministry Wednesday in a statement. A report by a personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzei Kasprchik was delivered to both the Armenian and Azeri foreign ministries, concluding that Azerbaijan was the cause of the wildfires in that area. "We hope that this will put an to Azerbaijan's irresponsible and absurd false accusations," said Armenian foreign ministry spokesman Vladimir Karapetian. The Azeri foreign ministry acknowledged the receipt of the report. A ministry spokesperson said that it will issue a statement after reviewing the entire report. On Tuesday, the Armenian Foreign Ministry issued an announcement regarding this matter. Below is the translated text of the statement: "The fires on the Nagorno Karabakh territory bordering with Azerbaijan have been taking place since early June 2006. The situation is a subject of serious concern for the Karabakh leadership, since it poses a threat for the security of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and its population. "A special commission formed by the representatives of the ministries and departments responsible for security issues has been established in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to study the circumstances and reveal the reasons of the fires. The subunits of fire-prevention service, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Department for Emergency Situations and the leadership of local administrations and population have been mobilized for the localization of the centers of the fires and non-admission of fire spreading. A twenty-four-hour duty has been organized in all the communities to prevent emergency situations. "However, the situation in the regions is deteriorating due to the fires and is ripe with unfavorable long-term consequences for the Nagorno Karabakh Republic agriculture and food security. The number and area of the fires at wheat fields on the territories bordering with Azerbaijan have sharply risen. "As a result of the work of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic special commission, indisputable data indicate that the reasons for the fires were hostile activities by Azeris. By these actions official Baku pursues an agenda to erode the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's economy and deprive it of the possibility of development. In order to conceal its intentions, the Azeri leadership, from the very outset, has launched a wide-ranging campaign both in the local and foreign mass media, in an attempt to lay the blame on Karabakh. This campaign is a continuation of the propaganda and the psychological war against the people of Nagorno Karabakh and is blatant attempt to hide this act of aggression. "We would like to remind that as early as in 2001, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic authorities suggested via the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution, a package of measures on establishing confidence between the parties to the conflict. In particular, we offered cooperation in fire prevention on pastures and agricultural territories in the bordering regions. Regrettably, official Stepanakert's initiatives were not supported at the time in Baku and were not honored with due attention by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen. "Moreover, as early as June 15, 2006, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed a request to the Office of the OSCE Chairman-in Office's Personal Representative to hold a crisis monitoring on territory bordering with Azerbaijan to estimate the real situation on the spot and refute the Azeri party's vain accusations. "We draw the attention of the international community and especially the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen to the Stepanakert's right, in the event Azerbaijan's hostile activities are not addressed, to undertake adequate measures of response to ensure the Republic's security". 2. Lebanese Evacuees Seek Refuge in Armenian Community BEIRUT (Aztag)--As the number of displaced people increased as a result of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, many Lebanese refugees sought refuge in Armenian community establishments in and around Beirut Wednesday, the Aztag newspaper reported. Public school building have been turned into shelters for evacuees. Aztag reporters toured the Bourdj Hammoud neighborhood and discussed the situation with several refugees. To address the needs of the affected population, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Lebanon Central Committee announced the establishment of a task force, which will organize relief efforts in and around area, coordinating activities with city hall and relief organizations working in the area. The Armenian Relief Society Araxi Boulghourjian infirmary has been designated as the headquarters for the efforts. The ARF CC of Lebanon issued an announcement Tuesday, pledging all its organizational resources to the affected Lebanese public. This announcement and other details about the ARF-initiated efforts were broadcast on Lebanese television and radio, as well as other media outlets. The Lebanon Prelacy issued an announcement Wednesday condemning what it called the barbaric attacks by Israel on Lebanon. Armenia's Ambassador to Lebanon Vahan Ter-Ghevondian held a press conference Wednesday afternoon, announcing that Armenia's Embassy in Beirut would continue its operations. "Our embassy will be open 24 hours a day and our staff has been answering phone calls and inquiries regarding the developments and continues to accept visitors," said Ter-Ghevondian, adding that through the embassy's and Armenia's foreign ministry's efforts Armenian citizens were being evacuated to Armenia. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that some 200 more Armenian citizens and other residents of Lebanon will be evacuated to Armenia on Thursday amid the continuing Israeli assault on the tiny Arab state, the Foreign Ministry in Yerevan said on Wednesday. A ministry spokesman, Vladimir Karapetian, told RFE/RL that the evacuees will be transported to Syria by bus and then fly to Yerevan on board two Armenian airliners. "Most of them are citizens of Armenia," Karapetian said. The evacuees will be accompanied by Armenian diplomats during the high-risk journey from Beirut to Aleppo, he said. According to the ministry, 160 Armenians and dozens of Lebanese citizens of Armenian descent have already escaped to Armenia since the start of devastating Israeli raids on civilian and guerrilla targets in Lebanon on July 12. It says some 1,200 Armenian nationals lived in the country before the assault. Prime Minister Andranik Markarian has promised to provide "state support" to them and other Lebanese residents who would like to take refuge in Armenia. Two Armenian diplomats have been sent to Lebanon and Syria to assist in their voluntary evacuation. "I wouldn't say there is a big influx of evacuees from Lebanon right now," said Karapetian. "It's just that we are prepared for such an influx because it is not clear when all of this will end." The official added that no Armenian casualties have been reported so far. "There is no mass exodus of Armenians yet," Shahan Kandaharian, editor of the local Armenian-language "Aztag" daily based, told RFE/RL from Beirut. 3. ANCA Challenges Rep. Burton's Attack On Nagorno Karabakh WASHINGTON--The Armenian National Committee of America responded today to a July 17th speech on the House floor by Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) that seriously misrepresented Nagorno Karabakh's history, status, and right to self-determination. The Indiana legislator took to the House floor yesterday in an apparent attempt to undermine the growing Congressional support for Nagorno Karabakh - as demonstrated by the successful recent Washington, visit and US Capitol reception for the Parliamentary Speaker and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. Commenting on what he perceived as a pro-Nagorno Karabakh tilt among US legislators, Rep. Burton stressed that: "Any outside influence, any shift in neutrality can only result in a false peace. That is why I am deeply concerned when I hear some of my colleagues throwing barbs at the Azeris and attempting to lay all the blame for this complicated issue at their doorstep." In a factually incorrect statement, he sought to call into question Nagorno Karabakh's right to self-determination, asserting that: "So far as I know, the Nagorno-Karabakh region has never been a part of Armenia. To suggest otherwise, and to suggest that the problems in Nagorno-Karabakh are caused solely by Azerbaijan seems to me to distort the facts and potentially undermine our good faith efforts to see this conflict resolved; and to see peace and prosperity come to the people of both Azerbaijan and Armenia." In a three-page fact sheet sent to every Congressional office, the ANCA challenged Congressman Burton's inaccurate description of the Nagorno Karabakh issue as well as the biased and counter-productive advice he offered to his House colleagues. The key points addressed in the ANCA document included: 1. Nagorno Karabakh's commitment to peace 2. Azerbaijan's threat to regional stability 3. Nagorno Karabakh's economic growth 4. Nagorno Karabakh's right to self-determination 5. Nagorno Karabakh's commitment to democracy 6. Nagorno Karabakh's pivotal role in ending the Soviet threat to America In addition, the ANCA provided a one-page update on Azerbaijan's post-Soviet evolution into an increasingly corrupt and autocratic petro-state, characterized by leaders who seek to bridge the growing gap with their own population by demonizing their Armenian neighbors. 4. Turkish Prosecutor Probes Armenian Journalist For Genocide Statement ISTANBUL (AP)--A Turkish prosecutor once again launched an investigation into an Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink for calling the events of 1915 a Genocide, a news report said Tuesday. The probe may or may not lead to Hrant Dink, editor of the bilingual newspaper Agos, being prosecuted for insulting "Turkishness," the Dogan News Agency reported. He could be imprisoned if charged and convicted. Dink said he was aware of the reports but had not been officially notified about the probe. The prosecutor in Istanbul could not be reached for comment. The investigation was launched over Dink's statement to the Reuters news agency in which he said: "Of course I say it was genocide... With these events you see the disappearance of a people who lived on these lands for 4,000 years." Dink said he was surprised by the probe. "I had no intention of insulting Turkishness," Dink said. "My only concern is to improve Armenian and Turkish relations." The new probe comes just days after a Turkish high court confirmed a six-month prison sentence imposed on Dink for attempting to influence the judiciary after Agos ran articles criticizing the law which makes it a crime to insult Turkishness. Dink's sentence, however, was postponed. The law, which also brings penalties for insulting Turkish officials or government institutions, has been used to bring charges against dozens of journalists, publishers and scholars. The European Union has warned Turkey that the law could seriously hamper efforts to join the bloc. Author Elif Safak, a University of Arizona assistant professor, was recently charged with "insulting Turkishness" because of the words uttered by fictional Armenian characters in her novel "The Bastard of Istanbul." Turkish courts dropped similar charges against acclaimed novelist Orhan Pamuk earlier this year following an international uproar. 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.