Month: March 2007

Today, Azerbaijan
March 4 2007

EU endeavors for Armenia’s participation in regional projects and
opening of Turkish borders

04 March 2007 [13:51] – Today.Az

EU Special representative in South Caucasus Peter Semneby and
Armenian Premier Andranik Markarian discussed a number of issues on
relations between the EU and Armenia, forthcoming parliamentary
elections, regional cooperation and settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.

It was concluded that after the EU/Armenia Action Plan signed the
parliamentary elections and democratization process in the country
have become more important.

The EU diplomat said that bringing elections in line with
international standards is crucial for not only Armenia but also the
South Caucasus. Andranik Markarian expressed deep concern over the
construction of the Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway project
which bypasses Armenia.

Peter Semneby said the EU continues to endeavor for Armenian’s
participation in the projects in the South Caucasus and opening of
the Turkey-Armenia borders, adding that the Union is ready to help
settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

As we have close relations with both Azerbaijan and Armenia,
resolution of the conflict is also to our interests. Although we
don’t take part in the negotiations, we support the process and offer
our help, he noted.

URL:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
March 4 2007

New preservation order delays Melkonian sale plans

INTERIOR Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis has issued a new preservation
order for the disputed estate of the Melkonian school in Nicosia,
which could cause indefinite delays in the administrators’ efforts to
dispose of the land.

A previous order, declaring most of the 125,000 square metre property
a heritage site with `historical, architectural and national
importance’ had been overturned by the Supreme Court in December
following an appeal by the lawyers of the AGBU.

The Armenian community then wrote to the President of the Supreme
Court, the Attorney-general, political party leaders and the Interior
Minister expressing its dismay at the decision and calling on all
parties involved to review the matter and reinstate the preservation
order.

Reports last month suggested that the Town Planning Department had
reviewed the case and was working on a new preservation order based
on stronger arguments justifying the decision in order to prevent the
case from being thrown out of court again.

The new preservation order was published in Friday’s Official Gazette
with immediate effect, which means that no one can harm any part of
the old buildings erected in 1925 or even cut any of the trees of the
forest on Limassol Avenue planted by the first orphans who found
shelter in Cyprus after the genocide of the Armenians by the Ottoman
Turks.

`I am delighted with this news as it shows the determination of the
Republic of Cyprus and in particular the Minister of Interior to
protect this important site not only for the Armenians of Cyprus and
the whole diaspora, but also for all the people of Cyprus for whom
the Melkonian has been and will always be a jewel with historic
value,’ said the Armenian Representative in the House, Vartkes
Mahdessian.

The Melkonian Alumni, who were at the forefront of the struggle to
save the Melkonian ever since the decision to close the school was
made three years ago, praised the efforts of a few dedicated people
at the Town Planning Authority.

`They seem to have appreciated more than many other people the true
value and importance of this historic school,’ the Alumni said.

The Alumni also made reference to the justification used to
reintroduce the new preservation order according to which it is
deemed imperative `to protect the larger part of the property with
historic traditional buildings as a unified whole, as the property
with its structured and natural environs is part of the larger
historic and traditional town planning network of Nicosia, which must
be protected.’

The Alumni conclude that `with such decisions, as well as the general
support of the whole community, hopes to reopen the school one day
are revived. We thank the Representative, Mr Mahdessian and the
Minister, Mr Sylikiotis, for all their efforts in this direction.’

Baltimore Sun, MD
March 4 2007

Judged wanting
Originally published March 4, 2007

Serbia, acquitted last week of the charge of genocide, has been
handed a unique opportunity. If Serbia was not complicit in the
effort to exterminate Bosnian Muslims in the first half of the 1990s
– as the International Court of Justice ruled Monday – Serbia should
have no reason to keep on protecting the two Bosnian Serb leaders who
did have genocide in mind: Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. If
Serbia’s hands are clean, it should turn these two men over to the
international tribunal in The Hague.
Clean hands? The court says so – but the court was looking through a
very narrow window. Serbia clearly had a major role in the
atrocity-riven war in Bosnia, and it encouraged ethnic cleansing of
Muslims and Croats. But atrocities and ethnic cleansing are not
genocide, and what the court ruled was that there was no evidence
that the government in Belgrade had set out to commit that particular
crime.

Genocide happened, the court said – in the silver-mining town of
Srebrenica, in July 1995, where 7,000 or more Muslims were killed by
General Mladic’s men. (Again, a narrow view – scores of thousands of
civilians were killed in Bosnia during the war, but perhaps only
Srebrenica fit a textbook definition of genocide.) Belgrade could
have stopped it, and didn’t, the court said. But there is no proof
that it was a result of national Serbian policy, according to the
ruling, and therefore Bosnia today cannot collect reparations from
Serbia.

The court’s decision raises an interesting question: What is the
culpability of the so-called Republika Srpska, set up by Bosnian
Serbs and, under the Dayton accord of 1995, one of the two entities
that make up Bosnia today? Bosnian Serbs did commit genocide. What
should the penalty be? On the other hand, neither the Bosnian Muslims
nor Croats have clean records, either – but no court has issued a
finding of genocide against them.

This was the first case in which one country sued another on a
complaint of genocide. The legalistic result isn’t very satisfying,
though it’s better than a resumption of war. Clearly, it’s too early
for historians to sort things out, or for the survivors to be
mollified by historical findings. Turks and Armenians are still
arguing bitterly – or, more often, refusing to talk to each other at
all – over events that took place back in 1915. The war in Bosnia is
an unhealed wound; courts alone can’t resolve the damage.

But they can tackle a piece of it, and that makes this is an
opportune moment for Serbia to recognize its responsibility as a
nation in good standing – and hand over the men who brought so much
death to Bosnia.

Reuters , UK
March 4 2007

Darchinyan batters Burgos to retain IBF flyweight title
Sun Mar 4, 2007 3:02AM EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Vic Darchinyan retained his International
Boxing Federation flyweight title by stopping game challenger Victor
Burgos of Mexico in the 12th round.

The Armenian-born Darchinyan, who is now an Australian citizen,
overwhelmed former IBF junior flyweight champion Burgos from the
start, using his crushing left hand to the body and head to dominate
the scheduled 12-rounder.

Burgos, who took a crunching punch to his body in the second round,
fought bravely but the accumulation of blows took its toll.

In the last round, Burgos, who had a big welt under his right eye and
an abrasion on his forehead, went down after a flurry of punches and
a push that was ruled a slip.

After reassuring the referee he was all right, the Mexican became to
stumble backwards as he was chased by Darchinyan, who hit him with
two more lefts before the referee stopped the bout at 1:27 of the
round.

Burgos slumped to the canvas and had to be helped on to his stool.
The 32-year-old Burgos was carried off on a stretcher and was
slipping in and out of consciousness, according to ring doctor Paul
Wallace.

Darchinyan, 31, improved to 28-0 in making his sixth defense of the
IBF crown. Burgos dropped to 39-15-3.

"I give him good credit, he’s very tough," Darchinyan told reporters.
"I hope he’s all right."

A1+

`IMPEACHMENT’ DISCLOSES THE OPPOSITION
[08:24 pm] 02 March, 2007

more images Why couldn’t `Impeachment’ join the opposition? On March
2, `Impeachment’ Public-Political Initiative held a rally adjacent the
Matenadaran to find the answer to this question. First of all they
named all the candidates nominated for the `Impeachment’; Stepan
Demirchyan, Aram Sargsyan, Raffi Hovannisian, Artashes Geghamyan and
Arthur Baghdasaryan.

`During our previous meetings we called on the oppositional figures to
ally and expressed our readiness to serve them without getting engaged
in the proportional ticket. We wanted them to unite and to combat the
anticipated election frauds in one front’, announced Aramazd
Ghalamkaryan. `I must state that the traditional opposition didn’t
take the new generation’s advice. None of the above-mentioned
political figures took practical measures to make the alliance
probable.’

`The oppositional forces failed to display political will and to get
rid of their ambitions and personal interests’, Ashot Sargsyan said.

Aghasy Enoqyan noted in his speech that `all those who aren’t guided
by the idea of `Impeachment’ are in close connection with President
Kocharyan. It isn’t too late to join the `Impeachment’.

Vahagn Khachatryan suggested the rally participants asking the
candidates the following question, `Are you for or against the
`Impeachment’? This will be a kind of testing. If the candidate
rejects the idea of `Impeachment’ it means he pursues other objectives
while running for the elections.’

To note, the Alternative will hold its recurrent meeting on March 9,
at 5:00 p.m.

Panorama.am

17:44 02/03/2007

`NEW WAVE OF VIOLENCE EXPECTED AGAINST MASS MEDIA’

Impediments of reporters’ activities continue both by individuals and
the state. Violence against them becomes intensive when the political
situation becomes heated. These are some of the opinions Davit
Sandukhchyan, Olga Safaryan, lawyers of Internews NGO, expressed. They
believe there will be more violence against reporters taken the fact
of upcoming parliamentary elections.

Speaking about the recent two months of the running year, Ashot
Melikyan, chairman of freedom of speech committee, said cases of
hindering the activities of the mass media have continued. `Recently,
it has become a fashion to burn cars. This year, the car of Suren
Baghdasaryan, editor of Football+, was burned two times. Later the car
of Ara Saghatelyan, owner of Panorama.am web portal and `My Right’
newspaper, was burned,’ Melikyan said.

The study conducted by the committee on violence against reporters
says that 16 such cases were reported and few of them got into
court. If judicial proceedings were instituted, such cases were either
suspended or discontinued. Sandukhchyan believes article 164 in
Criminal Code envisages too mild punishment for hindering reporters’
activities.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

It’s hard to prove genocide

mns/world/10108276.html
03/02/2007 09:14 PM | By David Kaye
Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service

Does the international law against genocide have force today? Or is it
that genocide, a powerful political and rhetorical tool, is nearly
impossible to prove in court?

Those weighty questions are hanging over The Hague after two legal
actions recently. In one, the International Court of Justice found
insufficient evidence to hold Serbia responsible for genocide in
Bosnia-Herzegovina in the early 1990s. In another, the International
Criminal Court refrained from characterising the atrocities committed
in Sudan’s Darfur region as genocide.

The term "genocide", coined during the Nazi Holocaust of the Jews, was
given its legal definition by the Genocide Convention of 1948. The
treaty defines genocide as certain atrocities – for instance, killing
or causing serious bodily or mental harm – committed with the
"specific intent" to destroy a particular group.

Bosnia claimed that Serbia committed genocide against Bosnian Muslims
during the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia between 1991 and
1995. Yet the International Court of Justice rejected most of Bosnia’s
contentions. With one exception – the 1995 massacres at Srebrenica
that left more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys dead – the court found
insufficient evidence of the intent to destroy the Muslim community.

With this opinion, the court has made it nearly impossible to hold a
state accountable for genocide because it required each specific crime
to be committed with genocidal intent. The court could have inferred
Serbia’s intent from the larger pattern, but instead it applied a high
standard much like that used to determine an individual’s guilt or
innocence.

At the same time, however, the court reaffirmed that states, not just
individuals, can be held responsible for acts of genocide. It
pointedly found that Serbia, in not preventing the Srebrenica
massacres, failed to meet its obligation under international law to
prevent genocide. But one cannot escape the conclusion that proving
responsibility for genocide is now an impossible task.

No accusations

Across town, Luis Moreno-Ocampo seems to have gotten that
message. He’s the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
– a tribunal (which the United States does not support) devoted to
trying individuals rather than resolving claims of states. On Tuesday,
Moreno-Ocampo issued his assessment of Sudanese atrocities in Darfur –
and did not include any accusations of genocide.

Instead, Moreno-Ocampo alleges that a Sudanese government official and
a janjaweed militia commander bear responsibility for war crimes and
crimes against humanity, including brutal attacks against civilians in
Darfur. He has made a smart choice; better to prosecute these
perpetrators on provable grounds than try to make a symbolic statement
about genocide and risk losing the case. Taking these developments
together, one has to wonder whether genocide can be proved in a court
of law. It rarely has been prosecuted and even more rarely been a
basis for conviction. Some might even be inclined to do away with the
term altogether.

But that would be shortsighted. The Serbia-Bosnia decision and the
Darfur allegations should be seen for what they are: specific
approaches that are part of a wider effort to halt atrocities against
civilians. The Genocide Convention is not only a tool for
international courts. It still should spur nations to intervene to
prevent genocide.

More important, governments should get beyond the semantics. No matter
what we call them, we know horrible atrocities when we see them. Such
crimes, on their own, should be met with political, humanitarian and,
when necessary, forceful responses.

The people of Bosnia and Darfur should be able to look to other
nations for support. Clearly, they cannot rely on courts alone.

David Kaye, a visiting professor at Whittier Law School in California,
was a legal adviser to the US Embassy in The Hague.

`Zerkalo’: Human Rights Watch, About Aggravation of Situation Relating
to Freedom of Speech in Azerbaijan

A. Rashidoglu

_www.zerkalo.az_ ()
01.03.2007

The above mentioned human rights organization calls on to remove
hostility on the part of state towards mass media. Policy of
Azerbaijani authorities in the field of freedom of speech has been
criticized again, this time on the part of respectable international
organization Human Rights Watch.

European and Central Asia executive director at Human Rights Watch,
Holly Cartner, applied to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev, in connection with this problem.

Appeal letter states that Human Rights Watch is concerned about the
fact that opposition or independent journalists often get threatening
calls after publication of critical materials. Journalists said that
threatening calls demanding to stop journalistic investigation
preceded attacks. Organization regrets about widespread impunity,
even if there is information allowing to identify personality of ones
who made calls.

Appeal also reads that currently rapid increase of slander related
proceedings instituted against journalists by state officials is being
observed.

In 2006 only more than 10 suits have been filed against `Azadlig’
newspaper. Newspaper repeatedly mentioned in cases relating to slander
or abuses of officials. Total sum of fines exceeded 300,000 US
dollars. Some journalists including editor-in-chief of `Milli Yol’,
Shakhin Agabeyli, and editor-in-chief of `24 Saat’, Fikret
Faramazoglu, were severely sentenced up to imprisonment. After
serving 7 out of 12 months of imprisonment term Agabeyly was released.
With regards to others fines are imposed just like in the case of
editor-in-chief of `Real Azerbaijan’, Eynulla Fatullayev, and
political scientist from Baku, Zardusht Alizade.

When the said letter was being prepared Human Rights Watch learnt that
on January 30, 2007, journalists of newspaper `Nota Bene’, Faramaz
Novruzoglu and Sardar Alibeyli were sentenced to 2 years of
imprisonment and 1,5 year of correctional works. Slander related suit
was filed on application of Minister of Internal Affairs and head of
State Committee on the issues of Azerbaijanis living in foreign
countries. Criminal sanction for slander is unequal reaction of
government when the matter concerns significant issues or public
figures. Moreover, discriminative operation of law against independent
or opposition journalists took place in cases under
consideration. Such sharp escalation of criminal and civil slander
related cases negatively affects mass media in the country. At the
same time majority suits are filed against opposition editions. On
June 23, 2006, journalist of `Azadlig’ newspaper and famous satirist,
Mirza Sakit Zakhidov, was arrested for politically motivated and
fabricated accusation of keeping drugs. On October 4, Court on grave
crimes sentenced him to 3 years of imprisonment. On December 15,
Appeal Court hasn’t changed the sentence. Referring to local and
international observers, suit against Zakhidov aimed to stop
publishing his articles in newspaper and to punish him for writing
satiric verses about governmental officials.

Human Rights Watch also points to the cases of threat to close
independent mass media in Azerbaijan or eviction of publishing houses
from the buildings, namely, closing of TV channel ANS in November last
year and eviction of opposition newspapers `Azadlig’ and `Bizim Yol’
and `Turan’ information agency.

The above cases show growth of hostility on the part of state to
independent and opposition mass media what jeopardizes security of
independent journalists in Azerbaijan, – appeal reads.

Azeri officials reportedly evacuate relatives over possible US-Iran war

Yeni Musavat, Baku
2 Mar 07

Excerpt from report by Arslan Aras and Sams in the Azerbaijani
newspaper Yeni Musavat on 2 March headlined "Officials are relocating
families from Baku"

According to information available to us, some high-ranking officials
have recently started sending their family members, especially
youngsters and children, abroad.

As is known, the Azerbaijani authorities consider that the start of
the US-Iran war is highly probable. They are concerned that missiles
may hit Baku and Azerbaijan’s other populated areas during the war. We
wrote in our previous publications that the authorities have already
instructed the appropriate bodies to draw up a plan of measures to
counteract consequences of possible missile strikes. In addition, it
emerged that a presidential instruction to improve the material and
technical infrastructure of the First Aid Service has to do with the
said assumptions about war.

On the other hand, the fact that the Emergencies Ministry has hastily
started a campaign for vacating basements in Baku and its statements
that the latter will be used as shelters are not in vain. Civil
defence exercises broadcast by TV channels are not
accidental. Azerbaijani officials have involved our country in [US
President] George Bush’s escapade and turned it into a secret member
of the anti-Iran coalition. They have given four military units to US
military [as published] and have therefore turned themselves and our
country into a target. They would not have relocated their families if
they didn’t know something.

[Passage omitted: real estate prices have stopped to rise after the
war assumptions]

Long time ago Tehran said that it will target the countries in the
sphere of US interest in case of military intervention. Azerbaijan is
named among these countries. According to some experts, the main
targets which Iran might hit are located in Baku. For this reason, it
is expected that prices for flats in the capital will speedily
reduce. Our interlocutor, who is a businessman working in the
construction sphere, has said that prices in the flat market will
really reduce if the US-Iran war starts. According to our
interlocutor, some businessmen are already going to stop the
construction of buildings.

"Half of the population will flee Baku if a missile hits
it. Especially rich people who are our main clients will not want to
live in a dangerous zone. Therefore, we are not in a hurry to launch
new projects. Personally, I am about to end the construction of two
buildings. I am going to start the construction of another two. I
simply do not start the new projects as I am concerned about the
US-Iran war," he said.

[Passage omitted: the subject to be covered again in the near future]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia’s new air defenses to be based on S-300 and S-400 systems

14:06|02/ 03/ 2007

TVER, March 2 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s fifth-generation air defense
missile system will be developed on the basis of existing S-300 and
S-400 air defense complexes, the Air Force commander said Friday.

"The system will undoubtedly inherit the best features of the S-300
and S-400 systems, but will be designed using advanced technology,"
Army General Vladimir Mikhailov said.

The new missile system will combine elements of air, missile and space
defenses, and will be developed by the Almaz-Antei air defense
consortium.

Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who has been
charged with supervising the country’s defense industry, said earlier
that priority should now be given to the development of a
fifth-generation air-defense system capable of staving off
commensurate threats.

"It must be an integrated system combining weapons, information and
fire control elements," he said, addressing the participants of a
meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission.

Almaz-Antei, one of Russia’s largest defense-industry holdings,
specializes in the development of air defense missile systems and is
famous for its S-300, S-400, Pechora-2A, Buk-M1 and Tor-M1
ground-to-air missile systems.

The S-300 (SA-10 Grumble) anti-aircraft missile system was designed to
protect military and industrial facilities from massive air strikes.

A missile launched from the system can travel at a speed of 2,000
meters (6,000 feet) per second, and is capable of hitting a target at
a distance of 150 kilometers (93 miles), flying at an altitude of up
to 30 kilometers (19 miles) and at a speed of up to 10,000 kilometers
per hour (6,215 miles per hour).

According to Alexander Lemansky, chief designer at Almaz-Antei, the
S-400 Triumf air defense complex is considerably superior to the S-300
system because of its effective firing range, firing capacity and
other parameters.

The Air Force commander said Friday the first air defense regiment
equipped with S-400 ground-to-air missile systems will be put on
combat duty in the Moscow Region in July 2007.

Mikhailov reiterated that the Russian Air Force currently deployed
more than 30 regiments equipped with S-300 missile complexes, which
will be gradually replaced with S-400 systems.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress