Month: July 2007

PanARMENIAN.Net

AXA published list of Genocide victims insured till 1915
30.06.2007 15:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ AXA French Insurance Company has published the list
of people who were insured by its Turkish branch till 1915 and who
fell victims to the Armenian Genocide. Heirs of the Genocide victims,
who find last names of their ancestors in the list, should file an
application till October 1, 2007.

Besides, those who are sure that their ancestors were insured by AXA
can also submit applications. According to an agreement concluded with
the company, AXA will assign $17 million in all. $3 million will be
allocated to Armenian benevolent organizations functioning in
France. $3 million will cover the costs and will also be spent on
notifications to the victims’ relations. $11 million will be allotted
to the fund that will start paying insurance fees.

The lists of people insured by AXA are posted on

PanARMENIAN.Net

Hrant Dink’s family brought action against Turkish general
30.06.2007 15:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The family of Armenian editor Hrant Dink,
assassinated January 19, 2007 in Istanbul, demands to launch legal
proceeding against general Dursun Ali Karademir. The motion came after
the general recited an equivocal poem during the funeral of a Turkish
soldier. The poem was dedicated to the soldier killed January 18 in
Diarbekir.

In April general Karademir said `the U.S. and EU did not condemn the
murder of a soldier but condemned the murder of a traitor.’

Dink’s family accuses the general in inciting hatred between the
families, Radikal newspaper reports.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Elif Shafak prosecuted for `insulting Turkishness’ receives Freedom of
Speech award
30.06.2007 16:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish Union of Publishers has handed the
Freedom of Speck award to writer Elif Shafak, the author of `The
Bastard of Istanbul’, which once caused prosecution against her. When
speaking during the ceremony Ms. Shafak said this award is very
important for her and fills her with strength.

Besides, the Turkish Union of Publishers has issued a report which
rates 2006 as the most negative year as regards freedom of speech. In
2006-2007 legal proceeding were launched against 43 writers and 24
publishing houses, the report says, Turkish media reports.

Arizona University professor, renowned Turkish writer and Zaman
columnist Elif Shafak stood trial under article 301 of the Turkish
Criminal Code, which provides for imprisonment up to 3 years. The
novel of the 35-year-old writer tells about the events in 1915 in the
Ottoman Empire.

Charges against her were, however, dropped. The Beyoglu (Supreme)
Court in Istanbul decided that there was not sufficient evidence for
the crime, so Shafak could not be prosecuted.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Appointment of Rudolf Perina may be qualified as USA’s intention to
strengthen its positions in Armenia as counterbalance to Russia

Rudolf Perina took part in formation of the Dayton
Agreement in 1995, which gave bases for the
constitutional structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina
existing up to present.

28.06.2007 GMT+04:00

The appointment of the new temporary chargé d’affaires for the USA in
Armenia Rudolf Perina gives reason to see some things over. First of
all there is an idea that the question of appointment of the
Ambassador will take longer to be solved, and Perina, as a rather
skillful diplomat, is needed in Armenia, moreover taking into account
his large experience in conflict resolution processes.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the former Russian Ambassador Vladimir
Kazimirov, he is not only a highly qualified professional but also an
advocate of creative approach to the most complicated problems of
Karabakh. `As far as I remember he has been one of the initiators of
one of the most essential turning points of the resolution of this
conflict. As it was mentioned the present OSCE Co-Chairs are also
involved in the process and also come up with ideas of their own,’
Kazimirov mentioned.

It must be reminded that in 2002 the American diplomat, who is by the
way specialist of conflicts, announced on the radio station Echo
Moskvi; `The international community, I repeat, is not ready to
recognize neither South Ossetia, nor Abkhazia or Transnistria as
independent countries. The case with Nagorno-Karabakh is a little
different, and negotiations are held between Armenia and Azerbaijan
regarding the status of the mentioned region. The negotiations haven’t
given any specific outcomes yet; the international community supports
the idea of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and doesn’t recognize
Nagorno-Karabakh. We, the mediators try to help the two countries to
find a solution.’ In fact not having any other propositions, `the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan’ is accepted. But as soon as the
mediators, together with the President of Armenia and the President of
Azerbaijan come to a common agreement, taking into account the will of
the nations, the notorious principle may be forgotten.

Appointment of Rudolf Perina may be qualified as USA’s intention to
strengthen its positions in Armenia as counterbalance to Russia. Most
likely the new chargé d’affaires will have his indirect role in the
works carried out by OSCE Minsk Group regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh
Conflict resolution. This assumption may be grounded by the fact that
Perina is perfectly familiar with conflict resolution processes and
with Karabakh Conflict particularly. Moreover, Rudolf Perina took part
in formation of the Dayton Agreement signed in 1995, which gave bases
for the constitutional structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina existing up
to present. The established system is considered to be ineffective,
but by the reestablishment of the mutual confidence between the three
nations; the Bosnians, the Serbs and the Croats, it will make things
more complicated in case of cancellation. Lately the western countries
have been calling on reconsidering the Dayton systems and the adoption
of the traditional Constitution. This plan in particular would improve
the relationship between European Union and Bosnia and
Herzegovina. However, no particular agreement is reached regarding the
issue.

We should not ignore the possibility of a new US war in the region
with Iran, but in this case Armenia will have to face the outcomes of
the war as well and in this case diplomats capable of making quick
decisions are needed. By the way Richard Hoagland is not the worst
variant for a small country like Armenia. Most likely he will arrive
in autumn. His viewpoint regarding the Armenian Genocide is the same
with the one that the Administration and the US State Department has,
though the fact that the US Ambassador to Israel recognizes Holocaust
doesn’t count in this case, as the Holocaust is officially recognized
by the US Government. The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is far
from the same destiny at present, and we don’t think that the new
temporary chargé d’affaires will dare to publicly speak about the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, for a diplomat has no right to
express his personal viewpoint regarding such issues.

«PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department

AZG Armenian Daily #123, 30/06/2007

Karabakh Issue

RA FOREIGN MINISTER VARTAN OSKANIAN: ARMENIA’S POSITION UNCHANGEABLE:
DE JURE RECOGNITION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH AND PARTICIPATION OF NKR
REPRESENTATIVES IN TALKS

"Azerbaijan’s problem is the lack of political will to tell the public
about the ongoing talks on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The publics
of both states should be informed of the fundamental settlement
principles. The statements of the sides should not be mutually
exclusive," Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told a news
conference in Yerevan.

"The international community knows the worth of Ilham Aliyev’s
statements and doesn’t always rate them as adequate," he said.

"Armenia has numerously repeated the settlement principles. These are
the status of Nagorno Karabakh, security guarantees, overland
communication with Armenia, territorial issues, refugees and displaced
persons. The negotiated document contains all these elements but
before determination of the status I will no comment on other
issues. Armenia’s position has undergone no changes since 1997. We
press for de jure recognition of Nagorno Karabakh and participation of
NKR representatives in the talks. I am ready to work with the next NKR
President," the Minister said.

When commenting on possible changes after the NKR presidential
election, Vartan Oskanian said, "This subject is mush spoken about,
however, there is no serious ground for it."

As to the regular meeting of the Armenian and Azeri FMs, Mr Oskanian
said, "The OSCE MG Co-chairs will hold separate negotiations with each
Minister. After that it will be possible to speak of
Oskanian-Mammadyarov meeting."

By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily #123, 30/06/2007

Karabakh Issue

AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION TO ARMENIA CURSED AT HOME

Former Culture Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, at present the
ambassadors of their states to Russia, Armen Smbatian and Polad
Bul-Bul Oglu organized a joint tour of Armenian and Azeri
intellectuals to Yerevan, Stepanakert and Baku. The delegations were
recived by the presidents of the countries they visited.

On June 28 in Baku took place the interview of Bul-Bul Oglu and the
members of the Azerbaijani delegation. As Bul-Bul Oglu started to
speak, representative of "Karabakh Liberation Movement" Mahir Kerimov
made a number of inappropriate statements to his address. A quarrel
began and it was finally settled by the police detaining the movement
activist. Agif Nagi, leader of the movement, made another quarrel with
his speech criticizing the idea of the visit itself. The policed was
forced to detain him, too.

After the audience calmed down, Polad Bul-Bul Oglu stated that he
considers the visit to Armenia and Karabakh a right and important move
and added that he is intended to continue activity in that
direction. He said that the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides could even
cooperate in frameworks of humanitarian programs, such as
reconstruction of the Azerbaijani mosque in Shushi, which is at
present undertaken by the Armenians.

Rector of the Slavonic University of Azerbaijan, Kyamal Abdullah
stated that both Armenian and Azerbaijani intellectuals are advocates
of peace settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Azerbaijani delegation also stated that their meeting with the
Armenian representatives brought down the psychological barrier
between the sides of the Karabakh conflict for the first time in 17
years. They said that in case both the sides have the good will and
opportunity to continue reciprocal visits, this format may become an
important factor of peace settlement of the conflict.

By Nana Petrosian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #123, 30/06/2007

Nagorno-Karabakh

NKR MFA EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER SETTING FIRES IN BORDERLINE AREAS BY
AZERI SIDE

On June 27 the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a note to
Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, expressing concern over numerous cases of fires
from Azerbaijani side across the line of contact between the armed
forces of NKR and Azerbaijan.

Taking into account the detrimental impact on republic’s economy and
environment, as well as threat to human health and security, caused by
fires in summer of 2006, the NKR MFA urged the Office of the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to conduct a crisis
monitoring of the borderline area.

The NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed hope that timely
interference by the Office of Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office will allow to avoid the repetition of the summer
2006 situation, which in particular, Azeri authorities used for
propaganda and which became an additional factor to destabilizing the
peace process, the NKR MFA Press Office reports.

By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily #123, 30/06/2007

Genocide

THE INSURANCE SETTLEMENT OF THE HEIRS OF 1915 ARMENIAN VICTIMS CONTINUES

Armenian-American attorneys Vardgez Eghiayan, Mark Geragos and Brian
Kabatech, filed a suit against New York Life Insurance Co. in
1999. The long-running suit was settled for $20 million – a
compensation for the descendants of Armenian victims in 1915.

Now they carry negotiations with French "Axa" company, which agreed to
compensate $17, 5 million to the heirs of the Armenian victims of the
1915 massacres. $3 million of it will be given to the Armenian
organizations in France.

"Axa" beneficiaries can check their names in
website list until October, 2007.

On May the Armenian-American attorneys will visit Berlin to meet the
representatives of "Deutsche bank", who don’t agree with them on this
issue.

According to French newspaper "Yaraj", the reason is in one-century
silence of Germany on the 1915 Genocide, its fault for it and also the
pressure that Turkey applies.

According to the newspaper this time the pressure is bigger than in
the case of New York Life Insurance Co.

An appeal was filed against another German bank "Drezdner", which is
considered as an appropriator of the sums of Armenian depositors. The
Armenians deposited different valuable things in the cashboxes of the
bank. Thousands of Armenians, who worked on the construction of
Berlin-Baghdad railway, made payments before they were driven away to
Der Zor Desert or just murdered there.

"Deutsche bank" was the general investor and tax-farmer of the
construction of Berlin-Baghdad railway.

The evasion of "Deutsche bank" makes the attorneys to schedule
meetings with the officials of the Ministry of Finance of Germany.

"H’araj" informs that there is no limitation of time on the
persecution of bank accounts, but the last date for the kept property
in the cashboxes is 2016.

The American attorneys said that "Deutsche bank" is not the last
organization in their mission; they are going to pursue this issue
against 20 other organizations.

By Melanya Badalian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #123, 30/06/2007

Genocide

OCTOBER 1 – THE DEADLINE OF MAKING A CLAIM UNDER THE ARMENIAN
INSURANCE SETTLEMENT AXA

"Azg" daily and "Erkir" weekly newspapers will publish the statement
of the United States District Court, Central District of California
about the Armenian Insurance Settlement AXA (the settlement of two
class actions, Kyurkjian and Ouzounian against AXA).

Before the 1915 Armenian Genocide many Armenians had insurance sums in
French AXA Company, which remained unpaid.

Now AXA is ready to compensate 17.5 M dollars to the heirs of the
Armenian beneficiaries and Armenian organizations in France thanks to
the Armenian-American attorneys Vardgez Eghiayan, Mark Geragos and
Brian Kabatech.

The claimants should find their names in
website and make a claim under
the Settlement no later than October 1, 2007.

AZG Armenian Daily #123, 30/06/2007

Genocide

MEETING AT HOUSE OF COMMONS DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

June 27, at the House of Commons of the UK Parliament was held a
meeting entitled "The Denial of the Armenian Genocide and the Moral
Foreign Policy of the United Kingdom", which was organized by
British-Armenian multipartial parliamentary group and "Armenia
Solidarity", "The Armenian Genocide Trust" and "Aegis Trust" NGOs.

As the Press and Information Department of the Armenian Foreign
Ministry informs, on the meeting MP David Drew, Armenian Ambassador to
UK Vahe Gabrielian and "Aegis Trust" director executive James Smith
made a report on the events in Darfur and the Armenian Genocide, and
Ruth Barnet, head of the Jewish "Raphael" consulting service, made a
report on the consequences of genocide denial.

Ambassador Vahe Gabrielian emphasized the importance of holding such
meetings and jointly striving against denial of genocide. He expressed
opinion that Armenian organizations must take part in illustrating the
situation in Darfur and international efforts of preventing genocides.

By Ara Martirosian