Month: May 2008

AZERBAIJAN’S NAGORNO KARABAKH REGION SHOWN AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE IN WEBSITE OF RUSSIAN "FREE TRAVELS ACADEMY"

Azeri Press Agency
May 14 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Zaur Nurmammadov-APA. So-called "Nagorno Karabakh republic"
operating in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan has been shown
as an independent state in website of Russian "Free Travels Academy"
, APA reports.

It has been stated in Nagorno Karabakh section of the website that "the
state" was established with combination of, Nagorno Karabakh Autonomy,
Shaumyan, Getashen and Khanlar regions as a result of self-defense
movement of local Armenians. The website says that Armenian separatists
have gained a part of Lachin, Kalbajar, Gubadli, Zangilan region,
"safe zones" of Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Aghdam regions from Azerbaijani
Army through fighting.

Khazar Ibrahim, Spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told APA
that Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia would be commissioned to investigate
this issue. He noted that presentation of occupied lands of Azerbaijan
as an independent state was unacceptable and Azerbaijan would demand
to take out the information from website.

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF VIRGINIA TO BE ACTIVE WITH ARMENIAN CAUSE

DeFacto Agency
May 14 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 14.05.08. DE FACTO. On April 20, 2008, Armenian National
Committee of America, Eastern Region (ANCA-ER) Executive Director,
Karine Birazian, traveled to Richmond, Virginia, where she spoke to
the Armenian community on ANCA objectives and initiatives, as well
as how to become more active with the Armenian Cause.

"The excitement to have the ANCA ER Director come to Richmond was
amazing," commented Melanie Kerneklian, chairperson of the ANC of
Richmond. Kerneklian also served as the former chair of National
Organization of Republican Armenians (NORA) and currently serves
as the vice chair of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) "Hooys"
chapter. A dinner party was held that evening by Dr. & Mrs. Murad
and Melanie Kerneklian to give an opportunity for community members
to have a more in-depth exchange with Birazian. There, Birazian also
gained insight as to genocide education initiatives undertaken by
the Armenian Education Center, a grassroots organization founded to
help teachers in the Commonwealth of Virginia gain access to Armenian
Genocide curricula. The Armenian Genocide is included in the Virginia
Department of Education’s revised Curriculum Framework as the first
major example of genocide in the 20th century and a precursor to the
Jewish Holocaust.

The following day, Birazian visited Thomas Dale High School where
she spoke to a class of students on 20th century genocide and the
ongoing genocide in Darfur.

On Wednesday, April 23rd, nearly 40 Richmond activists, among whom
close to a dozen were young teenagers, traveled to Washington,
DC, and participated in the 93rd Commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide on Capitol Hill. Activists also had an opportunity to meet
with and speak to Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA-7) to discuss foreign aid
and genocide recognition. To note, while serving in the Virginia
House of Delegates, Rep. Cantor cosponsored the Armenian Genocide
Resolution. Against tremendous Turkish opposition, the ANCA, coupled
with Rep. Cantor’s leadership, helped pass the resolution. As a
result, Virginia also introduced the Armenian Genocide curriculum
for Virginia schools.

RUSSIA IS READY TO USE INFLUENCE ON MEDIATORS TO REGULATE NAGORNO GARABAGH CONFLICT

Azerbaijan Business Center
May 14 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Russia is trying to redress a wrong to Azerbaijan
for its voting against resolution on Situation at Azerbaijan occupied
territories proposed by Azerbaijan at the UN General Assembly.

Russian State Duma Chairman Boris Grizlov said today in Baku at the
meeting with Azerbaijan Speaker Ogtay Asadov that Russia uses influence
on other mediator countries to regulate Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

"As OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairman we have a serious impact on other
group participants (US and France), therefore there is a possibility
of talks," B.Grizlov said. All mediator countries voted against
UN resolution.

"Russian position is to provide agreements to which parties of
the conflict will come to. The peace brought outside is useless,"
B.Grizlov said. He delivered speech in the favor of peaceful regulation
of Karabakh problem.

In his turn O.Asadov said he hopes Russia will make more efforts to
solve the conflict.

Ceasefire regime has been applying between the two countries since 1994
within the conflict that has led to occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani
territory by Armenia and existence of almost 1 million refugees and
IDPs. Since then conditions for convocation of the conflict settlement
conference in Minsk, Belarus, under the aegis of OSCE have not been
created. Armenia declines to release the seized Nagorno Garabagh
and seven adjoining regions. And Azerbaijan, in no circumstances,
will agree on recognition of independence of self-proclaimed
Nagorno Garabagh Republic. Garabagh conflict is the oldest display
of separatism on the former USSR area. Georgian-Abkhazian and
Georgian-Osetian conflicts followed on the same scenario, but
Azerbaijan managed not to allow bringing of CIS peacemaking troops
in the country.

ABOUT 300 ARMENIAN FAMILIES FROM ARMENIA AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES MOVED TO OCCUPIED LANDS OF AZERBAIJAN LAST YEAR

Azeri Press Agency
May 14 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Ramil Mammadli-APA. Association of Civil Society Development
Centre and Public Union on Defense of Rights of Migrants and IDPs in
Azerbaijan has held a roundtable on settlement of Armenians in the
occupied lands of Azerbaijan, APA reports.

Adil Abdullayev, Chairman of Public Union sated that Migration
Organizations established in Armenia and so-called "Nagorno Karabakh
republic" has been engaged in settlement of Armenians in Karabakh
and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan. About 300 Armenians
were moved to the occupied lands of Azerbaijan last year. Faig
Ismayilov, head of the Organization on Protection of Historical and
Cultural Monuments noted that Armenian Cultural Centre was engaged in
Armenianizing of Azerbaijani monuments in the occupied lands. Ismayilov
noted that he had concrete facts about it.

"Orthodox and Albanian Churches are reconstructed as Armenian
monuments. Armenian cross is on several monuments. Things found
in Azikh cave during the expedition in 2000-2006 have been sent to
London", he said. Appeal on the behalf of attendees to international
organizations has been adopted at the event.

YURI KHACHATUROV TO PARTICIPATE IN SITTING OF HEADS OF GENERAL HEADQUARTERS OF NATO MEMBER COUNTRIES AND PARTNER STATES’ ARMED FORCES

DeFacto Agency
May 14 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 14.05.08. DE FACTO. A sitting of heads of general headquarters
of NATO member countries and partner states’ Armed Forces will be
held in Brussels, at the NATO headquarters. Colonel-General Yuri
Khachaturov, the head of the RA Armed Forces’ General Headquarters,
will participate in the measure.

According to the RA MoD Press Office, the heads of the Armed
Forces’ Headquarters from over 60 countries will participate in the
sitting. Such meetings are targeted at exchange of experience at high
level and formation of positions in military sphere.

Yuri Khachaturov will also participate in a public meeting of
the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Military Committee and a closed
meeting devoted to the mission in Kosovo – as the head of General
Headquarters of the country granting appropriate forces for the
mission’s fulfillment.

NEW HEADS OF NKR ASKERAN AND KASHATAG REGIONS APPOINTED

DeFacto Agency
May 14 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 14.05.08. DE FACTO. According to a decree the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic PM Ara Harutyunian signed on May 13, Vahram Baghdasarian
has been appointed the head of the Askeran region. To note, Samvel
Harutyunian held the position before and has been dismissed in line
with his statement.

According to the NKR PM’s another decision, the head of the Kashatag
region Henrich Ghevondian has been relived of his position according
to his statement. Kamo Martirosian has been appointed the regional
administration’s new head. To note, before that Kamo Martirosian
headed the NKR Department for Migration, Refugees and Repatriation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NAGORNO-KARABAKH GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES NEW POLICY IN SPHERE OF POWER ENGINEERING

DeFacto Agency
May 14 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 14.05.08. DE FACTO. The sitting of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic government held today was devoted to the problems of the
sphere of power engineering. The NKR PM Ara Harutyunian noted the
state was initiating new policy in the sphere of power engineering,
which would be realized via a number of target programs. In part, a
decision on transformation of ArtsakhHES CJSC to OJSC, share-holders
of which can also become ordinary citizens of the NKR, was made
today. According to Ara Harutyunian, the task to draw both external and
internal investments to ArtsakhHES has been set today. The shares will
be offered at low prices and will be available even to pensioners. "A
lot of persons should be drawn to valuable usage of the object of
nationwide significance and its management to ensure profitability
of HES", the PM underscored. The state will hold control package of
shares. The total market cost of the share company has been estimated
at 5, 6 milliard drams.

The government has also approved the NKR water resources development
programs. ArtsakhHES OJSC has been commissioned to start works on the
construction of small hydro electro stations. The program’s principal
goal is to completely ensure the needs of the Nagorno-Karabakh’s
economy and export electro energy. At the first stage it is planned
to build five mini hydro electro stations.

Over 783 million drams is planned to be invested in the sphere of
electro power engineering in 2008. In Ara Harutyunian’s words, the
profitability of the branch where significant amendments will be
made will exceed the index of 2006 by 400 million drams. Besides,
1 milliard 200 million drams will be assigned to gasification.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MAJORITY OF DRAFTEES IN ARMENIA IS INELIGIBLE FOR MILITARY SERVICE

Azeri Press Agency
May 14 2008
Azerbaijan

Yerevan -APA. According to Abovian TV channel of Armenia, 500 young
people of 800 recruited by Kotayk military commissariat of Armenia
were found ineligible for military service, APA reports.

Ineligible draftees were sent to check-up again. Chief Doctor of the
medical commission Nune Avetisian related ineligibility of draftees
with their birth after earthquake in Spitak. "Generation born after
the earthquake in a difficult time for Armenia is recruited now for
military service. They have grown up in cold and dark conditions
and therefore they have serious health problems". Earlier draftees
have problems in breast, backbone and foots. Now there are many
young peoples with mental disorder, nervous and eye diseases among
the draftees.

THE FIFTH KURDISH FILM FESTIVAL

Kurdish Globe
sp?id=379547813C5A69608B5C6520A8E108FF
May 14 2008
Iraq

With 45 short, documentary, and feature films, and 30 directors from
all parts of Kurdistan, the Fifth Kurdish FilmFestival will be held
in Berlin from May 24 to June 1.

Participating films show the life, culture, and misfortunes of Kurds
in Turkey, Syria, and Iran.

The festival first ran in 2002 and has since become the world’s
largest Kurdish film festival as well as an important meeting place
for Kurdish filmmakers.

Several workshops built around the themes explored in some of the
films will take place, as well as discussions on the past, present,
and future of Kurdish film.

Prominent and creative Kurdish directors such as Bahman Ghobadi,
Hiner Saleem, Rahim Zabihi, Yuksel Yawz, Hisham Zaman, and others
will attend.

Berlin sponsors the festival, held at the Central Cinema Art Hall
(Filmkunsthaus Babylon Mitte), and two films will kick it off: the
Kurdish-Norwegian Vinterland by Hisham Zaman, and White Mountain by
Taha Karimi.

Others include On the Way in the EU, about the Kurdish issue in
Turkey and its affects on this country and its possible entry into
the EU, and Close-up Kurdistan by Yuksel Yawz, a documentary about the
history of emigration of Kurds to Europe and conflicts between Kurds
and Turks. Kurds on the Map talks about the 15 years of the political
entity in Iraqi Kurdistan. Bahman Ghobadi’s Half Moon, Hiner Saleem’s
Dall, and Rahim Zabihi’s The Land of Legend will also be screened.

Children on Border by Burhan Dogan, and The Lark Farm by two Italian
brothers Vittorio and Paolo Taviani that reflects relations between
Turkish and Armenians with Kurdish actors are to be screened.

According to a press release by festival organizers, the goal is to
get Kurdish films to Kurds in Diaspora.

"This festival is a good omen for the birth of Kurdish Cinema," said
the general manager of the festival, Memet Aktash, to local Kurdish
media. "I hope that Erbil will announce the birth of the Kurdish
national cinema and embrace directors and film companies from all
four parts of Kurdistan."

WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?
By Kay Azadabeen

Kurdish Aspect
ml
May 14 2008
CO

According to a humorist, one of our relatively respectable senators
had been portrayed to be confused about the Iraqis while needing
a nap. Although tired, he was awake enough not to confuse Shiites
and Sunnis with the Kurds. A main advantage for the Kurds during the
Iraq war has been to be known as they are, non-sectarian, religiously
neutral, and ethnically distinct.

The uninformed senator responded to the question if the Kurds confuse
him the way Shiite and Sunnis do. He simply responded "who the hell
are the Kurds?" For a few minutes I was disappointed in his statement
and than realized he is not to blame but the Kurds themselves. I
think he deserves to hear from the Kurds who the hell they are.

Many Kurds have been in hell for too long. The senator might have
intended to ask the Kurds of which hell, instead of who the hell are
the Kurds. As an experienced politician he must know there are two
Arab hells, a Turkish ,and Persian one for the Kurds. In these hells
many Kurds have been prisoners of war, a traumatic experience that
the senator is familiar with.

In the Iraqi hell over 180000 Kurds were killed by the Ba’ath
regime. In the Syrian hell many Kurds still have no citizenship and are
treated brutally by one of the member states of the so called "axis of
evil". In the Persian hell, a main center of the so called "religious
fascism", many Kurds have been bombed, hanged, and assassinated. In the
Turkish hell, the Kurds have gone through similar cultural and ethnic
genocide as Armenians went through. Despite denial of their rights to
be equal with their neighbors, the majority of the Kurds have lived
in peace with their Turkish, Arab, and Persian neighbors. However,
a minority of them have responded to force with force, something that
the senator must be familiar with.

In all of the four hellish states the determined Kurds, who do not
accept anything less than self determination and the freedom of
learning their own language at public schools, have been labeled as
separatist by the states that have separated and divided them between
themselves. The leaders of these hells treat the Kurds the way Russian
leaders treated other nations before the collapse of the Soviet empire,
or the way the British Kings treated their colonies in America before
1776, something that the senator must be familiar with.

Despite their betrayal by some American corporations many Kurds
still trust the American people as they share their dreams. They have
recognized that without the approval of the liberated Americans, the
captive nations of the world have a much harder time to be liberated
in this era. They are watching American leaders carefully and support
those who support them, whether it is a traumatized, experienced, and
forceful prisoner of war, a caring mother, spouse, and free woman,
or an energetic, intelligent, and progressive black man. If any of
them don’t take the Kurdish dream for liberty and justice seriously,
the Kurds would respond to them who the hell are you.