Month: July 2007

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: DINK TRIAL A TEST FOR TURKISH JUDICIARY

arminfo
2007-07-02 23:11:00

International human rights protection organization Human Rights Watch
says. As Turkish daily Zaman says, on Monday the court process on
the case of the murder of editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian
"Agos" newspaper Hrant Dink, killed on 19 January started in
Istanbul. Evidence that will be heard in the trial, beginning on
Monday, may raise serious questions about the possible involvement
of security forces in Dink’s killing, HRW said in a statement.

will be closely watching how the court handles any evidence that may
implicate the security forces", HRW says. Holly Cartner, HRW Europe
and Central Asia director said: "The Turkish authorities failed to
protect Hrant Dink, despite evidence that his life was at risk.

They must now ensure that those responsible are held to account and,
where appropriate, prosecuted."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEVEL OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND FRANCE CAN BE WELCOMED

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.07.2007 13:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenia-France relations are completely
satisfactory, French Ambassador to Armenia, Mr Serge Smessov said in
an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. "This fact can be proved by the
visit of French President Jacques Chirac to Armenia last fall and the
visit of Armenian leader Robert Kocharian to Paris in February. Our
ties are not limited to relations between the executive powers. They
are developing between the legislative structures at the level of
National Assemblies and Senate as well. I should also mention the
significant role of regional administrations and Mayors of Armenian
and French towns in developing cooperation," Ambassador Smessov said.

FRANCE’S POLICY TOWARDS ARMENIA WILL UNDERGO NO CHANGES WITH NEW PRESIDENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.07.2007 13:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ I can firmly say that in the person of new president
Nicolas Sarkozy, France will maintain traditional friendly policy
towards Armenia, French Ambassador to Armenia, Mr Serge Smessov said
in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

"The foundation for friendly relationship is strong enough and has a
long-term outlook. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations,
we have worked for consolidation, deepening and diversification of
cooperation," he said.

ARMENIA-FRANCE ECONOMIC RELATIONS DO NOT REACH THE LEVEL OF POLITICAL ONES

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.07.2007 13:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Economic relations do not reach the level of
political ones, French Ambassador to Armenia, Mr Serge Smessov said
in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. "However, there is real hope
that the trade and economic relations will activate in the coming
years. Investments of French companies in Armenia’s economy, namely
energy, gas, water supply, food industry, do prove the interest of
French minor and middle business in cooperation with Armenia.

Exchange programs have also been launched. The recent forum on high
technologies can open good opportunities for Armenia and her young
talents," he said.

RA DEFENSE MINISTER DISCUSSED KARABAKH ISSUE WITH PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.07.2007 14:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Defense Minister Mikael Harutyunyan held a
meeting with Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office,
Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk.

As Defense Minister’s spokesman, col. Seyran Shahsuvaryan told
PanARMENIAN.Net, the parties discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement.

They noted the necessity of preventing resumption of hostilities and
securing continuation of the peaceful process.

Mikael Harutyunyan and Andrzej Kasprzyk also referred to the Armenia-EU
Action Plan within the ENP and Armenia’s relations with the neighbor
states.

ANCA HELD 24-HOUR "CALL FOR JUSTICE" CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.07.2007 15:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Thousands of Armenian Americans and human rights
advocates participated in the ANCA National Call-In Days this
week calling for increased bipartisan backing for the adoption of
the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106) by the U.S. House of
Representatives, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

The June 27th campaign, titled "Call for Justice", was extended by
24 hours, following community requests to expand the program due to
overwhelming interest from local activists.

Over 12,000 visited the ANCA Call-in webpage and more than 2,000
submitted call-feedback forms reporting their conversations with
Congressional offices. The effort is a follow up to April’s successful
"Click for Justice" ANCA WebFax campaign to Congressional offices,
touted as the internet’s largest on-line genocide protest.

"The ANCA’s national congressional call-in day, "Call for Justice",
is a great demonstration of the power of grassroots advocacy," said
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), sponsor of H.Res.106. "These calls are a
useful tool in the fight to get the Armenian Genocide resolution
passed. I thank the ANCA and all their supporters for making these
important calls."

"We want to thank the thousands of our friends – Armenian and
non-Armenian – who took part in National Call-In Day," said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "This type of authentic
grassroots activism is vital to building the support we will need
to overcome the deniers who continue to stand in the way of America
speaking with moral clarity on the Armenian Genocide."

The Armenian Genocide Resolution has already gained support of 218
Representatives. It urges the U.S. President to use term ‘genocide’
in his annual April 24 statement.

BORIS TADIC: RESOLUTION OF SOUTH CAUCASUS CONFLICTS MAY DEPEND ON KOSOVO DECISION

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.07.2007 15:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Resolution of the Kosovo conflict may change the
situation in the South Caucasus, Serbian President, Chairman of the
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE), Boris Tadic,
said in Strasbourg July 2.

Settlement of conflicts in the South Caucasus would depend upon the
decision on Kosovo, according to him.

"Kosovo could serve as a precedent for other conflicts. I am hopeful
Kosovo will not be granted independence," he said.

The Serbian President added that irrespective of the decision on Kosovo
he will support the territorial integrity of Serbia. A rash decision
can create problems in many other areas, particularly energy, he noted.

Tadic believes that the situation in Kosovo is similar to Nagorno
Karabakh, Abkhazia, Turkey, Ukraine and Romania. All countries of
the Black Sea region have come across identical problems, he said.

Stressing the necessity of studying the conflicts accurately, Tadic
said officials do not analyze the situation well enough. "We should not
make references to history when speaking on resolution of conflicts,"
the Serbian President stated, Trend reports.

TWO TURKS ARRESTED IN SWITZERLAND FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.07.2007 16:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Two Turks were arrested in Switzerland for the
Armenian Genocide denial last week. The Swiss police reported that
the Turks were arrested at a conference during which posters denying
the Armenian genocide were stuck to the walls and leaflets of similar
contents were circulated. One of them is reported as initiator of
the event, the other was crying out slogans before the conference
participants, the RFE/RL reports.

The law providing for punishment for the denial of the Armenian
Genocide was adopted in Switzerland in 1995.

Turkish Workers’ Party leader Dogu Perincek was fined with $2.5
thousand and handed a 90-day suspended sentence equivalent to $7
thousand in 2007. The court also obliged Perincek to pay $280 to an
Armenian organization. Late July the court of appeals of Vaud Swiss
canton upheld the decision of the Lausanne court.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSKANIAN REQUESTED TERRY DAVIS TO COMMENT ON HIS STATEMENTS ON ELECTIONS IN KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.07.2007 17:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Statements like those made by Council of Europe
Secretary General Terry Davis on elections in NKR do not correspond
to reality, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said at a joint
news conference with Ago Group head, Mr Per Sjogren.

"A letter was sent to Mr Davis with a request to explain what exactly
he meant when speaking about elections in Nagorno Karabakh and its
being a part of Azerbaijan. I am hopeful Mr Davis will reply to my
letter," Minister Oskanian said.

For his part, Mr Per Sjogren said any elections on the territories of
"frozen conflicts" are not recognized either by the Council of Europe
or the European Union.

"As to the future status of Nagorno Karabakh, this issue is in
competence of the OSCE Minsk Group. The CoE mandate does not extend
to conflict settlement. We just help to reach a political resolution,"
he said.

In an interview with one of Armenian news agencies CoE Secretary
General said the Council of Europe will never recognize the
presidential election in Nagorno Karabakh. Mr Davis also said that
Nagorno Karabakh is a part of Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION GAINS 218 VOTES

AZG Armenian Dail
03/07/2007

The Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106) reached an important
milestone today with the number of cosponsors for the human
rights measure growing to 218 – a majority of the U.S. House of
Representatives, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

"We welcome the growth of Armenian Genocide Resolution cosponsors to
the 218 threshold – and want to extend our appreciation to Congressman
Schiff and his colleagues who helped us reach this mark, as well
as to each and everyone of the two hundred and eighteen cosponsors
of this measure," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the
ANCA. "We look forward in the coming days and weeks to working with
our chapters and activists across the country in maintaining and
expanding the bipartisan majority in favor of the timely adoption of
this human rights legislation."

"In gaining 218 cosponsors, we have demonstrated that a majority of
the House strongly supports recognizing the facts of the Armenian
Genocide," said lead sponsor, Congressman Adam Schiff. "While there
are still survivors left, we feel a great sense of urgency in calling
attention to the attempted murder of an entire people. Our failure
to acknowledge these dark chapters of history prevents us from taking
more effective action against ongoing genocides, like Darfur."