ASBAREZ Online [04-10-2006]

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04/10/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) US Suggests New Proposals for Settling Karabagh Issue 2) Karabagh Asks Azerbaijan to Maintain Ceasefire 3) Third Pan-Armenian Writers' Conference Concludes in Antelias 4) Aznavour Hails New Paris-Yerevan Flights; Visits Monasteries in Tavush 5) Morgenthau's Memoirs Published for First Time in Turkey 6) First Part of Russian Material to Be Withdrawn in May 1) US Suggests New Proposals for Settling Karabagh Issue BAKU (Armenpress)--The United States has suggested new proposals to continue the Prague process of the Karabagh conflict regulation, said Azeri Foreign Minister, Elmar Mamedyarov. He said that the proposals are interesting. Azeri officials will analyze the new proposals and give their opinion when Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk group co-chairman Steven Mann visits Baku. Mamedyarov also said that a recent decision to promote US-Azeri relations has been made, in accordance with Azeri national interests. 2) Karabagh Asks Azerbaijan to Maintain Ceasefire STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)--The Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) Foreign Ministry expressed its concern last week over frequent ceasefire violations along the contact line between the Armenian and Azeri armed forces. The statement blamed the incidents on increasingly hostile statements made by top Azeri government officials. The statement said that the ceasefire violations have increased casualties along the contract line, led to mutual distrust, and could possibly escalate tensions in the Karabagh conflict zone, threatening the stability in the entire region. "The Nagorno Karabagh republic confirms its adherence only to the peaceful settlement of the conflict, as well as its readiness to implement the sides' open-ended obligations to maintain the cease-fire, which is confirmed by the 6 February 1995 agreement signed between the defense ministers of the Nagorno-Karabagh, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. We call on the two other parties that signed the agreement, namely Azerbaijan and Armenia, to join our initiative. "We hope that through joint efforts and with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen and other international mediators and interested sides, it will be possible to confirm our adherence to the agreement and implement the mechanisms it indicates in order to localize incidents on the armed forces' contact line," the statement said. MKR confirmed its position that along with the strict observance of the ceasefire, other preconditions for a peaceful solution are a peace process that involves all the parties to the conflict, confidence-building, strengthening of democracy, and respect for human rights. 3) Third Pan-Armenian Writers' Conference Concludes in Antelias The Third Pan-Armenian Writers' Conference, which began Thursday in the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, concluded its sessions Saturday. The official closing ceremony of the conference was held on Palm Sunday, under the patronage of His Holiness Aram I, who also delivered his Pontifical speech on this occasion. The conference was initiated by the Writers' Union of Armenia in cooperation with the Assembly of Lebanese-Armenian Writers. It was held under the patronage of His Holiness Aram I. More than 300 Armenian writers from Armenia, Karabagh, Lebanon, the Middle East, Europe, Northern and Southern America, Canada and Australia gathered in Antelias, Lebanon to participate in the conference. Thursday's sessions were dedicated to, "Modern Children's Literature and National Schools." Eduard Milidonian from Armenia and Krikor Shahinian from Lebanon gave two expert presentations about this topic. The next session was dedicated to proposals about the Fourth Pan-Armenian Writer's Conference. Under the chairmanship of Norayr Atalian from Armenia and Markar Sharabkhian from Canada the participant Armenian writers made various proposals about the importance of contact between Armenian writers around the world. The idea of establishing a website for this purpose was proposed. Other suggestions were made on the organization of the printing press. The ninth session was dedicated to the concerns and difficulties of Armenian writers. Seiran Krikorian from Armenia and Jirayr Tanielian from Lebanon chaired the session, during which various suggestions were made about coordinating intellectual activities in Armenia and the diaspora. The conference also included a performance of "I Veh Partsants" and "Cilicia" by the Seminary Choir and an exhibition of books published in Armenia. 4) Aznavour Hails New Paris-Yerevan Flights; Visits Monasteries in Tavush YEREVAN (RFE/RL/Armenpress)--Charles Aznavour, the famous French singer of Armenian descent, was in Armenia Monday to inaugurate new regular flights between Yerevan and Paris by Air France, one of the world's biggest airlines. Aznavour was among 39 French officials, business executives and other dignitaries who arrived in the Armenian capital on Saturday on the flagship French carrier's first-ever flight to the South Caucasus. "I feel happy attending any event that strengthens Armenian-French friendship," he said during the official presentation of the new flight service at the French embassy in Yerevan. The 75-year-old crooner, who has a square named after him in the city center, took the opportunity to again emphasize his Armenian heritage. "I am 100 percent Armenian by heart, by soul and by family language," he told reporters in French. On Sunday, Aznavour visited the Armenian region of Tavush, where he was welcomed by the local governor and the head of Gugarats diocese of the Church. Aznavour visited two medieval monasteries in the region-Goshavank and Haghartsin, and was welcomed by local residents. Aznavour also met with President Robert Kocharian, telling him that he has decided to visit Armenia "at least a couple of times a year." "I am happy to see that life is moving forward in the country," Kocharian's office quoted him as saying. Air France will fly to Armenia three times a week in addition to two weekly Yerevan-Paris flights that have long been carried out by the Armavia national carrier. A senior company executive, Etienne Rachou, said the launch of the new flight service is part of a broader Air France strategy of boosting its passenger traffic in Central and Eastern Europe by 10 percent. "And in this development of Eastern Europe Armenia is naturally findings its place now," Rachou told a news conference. The French ambassador in Yerevan, Henry Cuny, said the Air France flights will testify to the "strengthening of political relations between France and Armenia." "The presence of Air France underscores Armenia's rapprochement with Europe," he said. "It is also an appeal addressed to new French investors." Air France is the fourth major Western airline to operate flights to Armenia. The three other carriers are Austrian Airlines, British Airways and Germany's Lufthansa. They are believed to mainly cater for passengers traveling between the United States and Armenia. 5) Morgenthau's Memoirs Published for First Time in Turkey Ragip Zarakolu, owner of Belge Publishing House, recently published Henry Morgenthau's memoirs of his term as US Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian genocide. This is the first time his memoirs have been published in Turkey. Zarakolu is notorious in Turkey for publishing books deemed subversive by the Turkish authorities. Because of his work, Zarakolu spent three years in prison in the 1970's. His wife also spent several years in prison. Belge Publishing House has published countless books about the Armenian genocide, including Franz Werfel's Forty Days in Musa Dagh, Tessa Hoffman's Talaat Pasha Trials in Berlin, and Peter Balakian's Black Dog of the Fate. When Zarakolu was acquitted of charges against him for publishing a book by Vahakn Dadrian, the possibility of more free discussion about the Armenian genocide in Turkey increased. Since then he has withstood a constant barrage of criminal charges, further imprisonment, confiscation and destruction of books, the bombing of his publishing house, and heavy government fines and taxes. His publishing house has endured more than 40 criminal indictments. 6) First Part of Russian Material to Be Withdrawn in May TBILISI (Prime-News/OSCE)--The first train loaded with military equipment from Russian military bases will be removed from Georgia in mid-May. "According to the negotiated plan, the train will be loaded with armored vehicles of the 62nd military base of Akhalkalaki," reported Interfax, quoting Vladimer Quparadze, Deputy Commander of Group of Russian Forces in South Caucasus. According to him, Valeri Evnevich, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Russian Land Forces has arrived in Georgia to negotiate the details of base withdrawal from Georgia with the representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia. The bases are being dismantled under an agreement signed last week between Russia and Georgia on the temporary functioning and withdrawal of Russian military bases and other military facilities deployed in Georgia. Under the agreement, Russia would complete the withdrawal of the military base in Akhalkalaki by 2007, and finalize the closure of the military base in Batumi by 2008. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, has welcomed the agreement between the two countries. "This agreement marks significant progress in the talks between the Russian Federation and Georgia, and is a way forward in the establishment of good neighborly relations between the two countries," said Minister De Gucht. "It also contributes to enhanced confidence among the countries of the region," he added. "The Chairmanship remains ready to promote OSCE assistance in support of the implementation of the agreement, should this be requested by the Russian and Georgian Governments." All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.