Month: November 2009

GREEK CYPRUS CHURCH SUES TURKEY OVER WORSHIP IN NORTH

Hurriyet Daily News
Nov 23 2009
Turkey

Greek Cyprus’ Orthodox Church said it has sued Turkey for allegedly
preventing worship at religious sites in Turkish Cyprus.

Church lawyer Simos Angelides said Monday the lawsuit with the European
Court of Human Rights concerns 520 churches, monasteries, chapels and
cemeteries. He said the court’s past rulings hold Turkey responsible
for Turkish Cyprus because it maintains 35,000 troops there.

Angelides said Orthodox Christian faithful could not worship at those
sites because they were either derelict or have been converted to
mosques, army barracks, stables or nightclubs.

Cyprus was split into a Turkish Cypriot north and a Greek Cypriot
south in 1974. The island joined the European Union in 2004, but only
Greek Cypriots enjoy the benefits of membership.

Reconciliation talks between Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali
Talat and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Dimitris Christofias were
launched last year by the United Nations. Talks under Alexander Downer,
the former Australian foreign minister, who is the U.N. envoy to
negotiations, have made significant progress in a number of areas.

However, momentum has slowed as a looming election due to be in held
in the Turkish territory next April overshadows the meeting. Turkish
voters are deeply disillusioned with the south’s unequal position. The
Turkish Cypriot leader since 2005, Talat favors reunification and
membership of the EU for the whole island but his rivals disagree
with him.

CYPRUS’ GAROYIAN: HISTORIC TRUTH ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUST BE RESTORED

Financial Mirror
and_World_News/18345
Nov 23 2009
Cyprus

President of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian has
underlined the need to restore the historic truth as regards the
Armenian Genocide.

"We ask for justice. We demand the restoration of the historic truth,
not its falsification, which is the attempt of the Turkish government,
which uses methods and so called initiatives for peace with Armenia",
he stressed.

Speaking after a mass at the Armenian Church in Nicosia, he said
that "on days like this one, I believe we have the duty to remember
the Armenian Genocide and reaffirm our steadfast faith towards the
struggle for international recognition of that terrible crime which
marked the fate and the course of the Armenian people".

Garoyian pointed out that "justice and freedom is what we want for our
common country, Cyprus, which for 35 years now suffers the consequences
of the Turkish invasion and occupation".

"We want a just, functional and viable solution, that would restore
the unity of Cyprus’ territory, its people, its institutions and that
would safeguard human rights for all its people, Greek Cypriots and
Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins and give an end
to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, to Ankara’s policy to illegally
bring settlers to the island, to Turkish guarantees and intervention
rights", he went on to say.

Garoyian said that the solution in Cyprus must be based on
international law, the UN values and decisions, human rights and the
EU values and principles.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and
occupied its northern third.

The Parliament of Cyprus was the first in the EU to adopt a resolution
recognising the Armenian Genocide, in 1982.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI MP: ARMENIA WANTS PEACE

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

"I cannot yet give any comments regarding yesterday’s meeting of the
presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Munich as there is still no
official information in this regard. You know the co-chairs often make
optimistic statements but later it turns out that Armenia has been
unconstructive during negotiations, therefore, it is now difficult
to evaluate this meeting", MP Asim Mollazade has said.

"The most important point now is that Armenia should accept norms of
international law and stop occupation of Azerbaijani lands. I hope
Armenian side took the statements of the Azerbaijani president made
before the Munich meeting with responsibility", he said.

Answering the question whether the nationalistic forces of Armenia
may hamper the current process, Mollazade said they do not have
much influence in the Armenian society: "Nationalists and Armenians
living in the safe countries of the world are now speaking against the
normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, while people
in Armenia want peace. Therefore, I think if Sargsyan demonstrates
will for peace, he will face no serious obstacles inside the country".

ARMENIA MUST PULL OUT ITS TROOPS FROM THE OCCUPIED LANDS: TURKISH FM

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Ahmet Davutoglu Turkey tries to put an end to Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, said Foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Answering to questionnaire by MP from Nationalist Movement Party Momin
Inan with respect to signing of protocols with Armenia, Davutoglu said
‘it is impossible to achieve peace in the region until Azerbaijan`s
occupied territories are liberated.’

He added Armenia must pull out its troops from the occupied lands.

The Turkish foreign minister stressed his country was dissatisfied
with Aremnia`s so-called "genocide" claims and showing Aghri mountain
as a state symbol on its flag.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN TO MEET WITH ALI SAHIN

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Armenian side confirms the information on meeting of RA National
Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan with his Turkish counterpart
Mehmet Ali Sahin in Moscow, RA NA Press Secretary Nairi Petrosyan
told NEWS.am.

According to Turkish Zaman daily, the meeting will take place within
the framework of PABSEC sitting. "We will try to establish dialogue
with Armenia," Sahin said.

Nairi Petrosyan did not rule out that Hovik Abrahamyan may meet
with other high ranking officials. "These events are used for
organizing bilateral meetings like in any international forum,"
Petrosyan outlined.

As NEWS.am reported previously, the 34th plenary sitting of the
Parliamentary Assembly of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) will
be held in Moscow, Nov. 23-24. Armenian delegation headed by RA NA
Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan will also attend the sitting.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS MEAN WHEN TALKING ABOUT IMPORTANT PROGRESS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH TALKS: AZERBAIJANI MP

Today
html
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Optimism by the American and French co-chairs of OSCE Minsk deserves
attention," member of Azerbaijani parliament Aydin Mirzazade said.

The OSCE Minsk Group issued a statement on Munich meeting of Presidents
Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia on Nov. 22.

"The talks which lasted nearly four hours were constructive. The talks,
which lasted almost four hours, were constructive. Progress was made
in some areas. At the same time, some issues still remain open,"
the statement said.

"It does not matter for Azerbaijan that there is some progress in
every meeting. Only result of the meeting is important for us. But
it has not been achieved yet. There is no a serious condemnation of
Armenia’s occupation policy and there is no international pressure
on Armenia to respect international legal norms," Mirzazade said.

"The negotiations have been going on for almost 17 years. How long
will it last? On one hand, OSCE Minsk Group statement on meeting of
the presidents draws attention while it is unclear what the co-chairs
have in mind when talking about important progress," he said.

"At the same time, the very fact that they intend to organize a new
meeting of the presidents immediately after the talks indicated that
resource of negotiation process has not been fully exhausted and
the negotiations can continue. Meantime, concrete results, namely,
recognition of country’s territorial integrity, withdrawal of Armenian
forces from occupied Azerbaijani territories and return of refugees
to their territories are important for Azerbaijan," he added.

"I think that the upcoming meeting of Azerbaijani and Russian
presidents Ilham Aliyev and Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow may be assessed
as a positive factor in the negotiation process. Russia plays an
important role in the negotiations process. We hope that Russia will
continue to use its influence to resolve the problem," the MP said.

ROTTERDAM CONVENTION PRESENTS TRAINING SEMINAR

Aysor
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Today the training seminar was launched in Yerevan sponsored by
Rotterdam Convention Secretariat and Armenia’s government. Among
participants are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Moldova,
Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Russia.

Welcoming the participants, Armenia’s Minister for and Nature
Protection Aram Harutyunyan said that there are still countries which
do not have official bodies responsible for pesticide management and
chemical crop protection.

The Rotterdam Convention was officially ratified by Armenia. The
Rotterdam Convention is a global treaty that came into force in
February 2004. It is designed to protect public health and the
environment by promoting informed decision-making by importing
countries in relation to products that have been banned or severely
restricted by at least two other Parties to the Convention.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI, U.S. OFFICIALS MULL SITUATION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

Trend
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev and U.S. Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Celeste Wallander
discussed U.S-Azerbaijani cooperation, the situation in the South
Caucasus and Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh, the ministry’s
press service told Trend News today.

Abiyev brought to Wallander’s attention Armenia’s attempts to delay
negotiations to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Abiyev also met with member of the House of Lords of the British
Parliament Lord Waverley.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US MEDIATOR IMPRESSED WITH KARABAKH TALKS

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Robert Bradtke The US co-chairman of the Minsk Group, the OSCE
mediators on the Karabakh conflict, was impressed by Sunday’s talks
between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders.

He was commenting after the talks in Munich between Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.

"I think today what was impressive was the way the two presidents
worked with us, the depths of their discussion, the seriousness of
the discussion, their willingness to discuss points that are quite
difficult and controversial," Bradtke told reporters.

AIVAZYAN: AZERBAIJANIS HAVE RECEIVED AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE

Aysor
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

Armenian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has met some
staff-related changes, as Karen Aivazyan announced today. Its members
are now deputy of the Republican Party Artak Zakaryan and head of
Heritage Party Stepan Safaryan.

Armenian delegation has participated in all NATO Parliamentary
Assemblies. Stepan Safarian spoke to Assembly when items of
cyber-security were discussed. In particular, he presented those
matters that Armenia met since the hacker attacks. "Azerbaijani
delegation responded by charges with ‘Armenian aggression’ and
‘occupied territories’ and met an adequate response," told Karen
Aivazyan. According to him, Lithuanian delegate spoke in favor
of Armenia.

Azerbaijan’s delegation was represented only by two members and didn’t
participate in Assembly, added Karen Aivazyan.