Author: admin

ARMENIA BECOMES FINAL POINT IN ANATOLY DRYUKOV’S DIPLOMATIC CAREER

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Russia’s Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Anatoly Dryukov has completed his
mission in Armenia and his state service as well. “Armenia is the
final point in my diplomatic career. I am submitting a resigantion
application,” the Russian ambassador stated at the April 8 press
conference in Yerevan, noting that 45 years of his life have been
devoted to diplomacy. Anatoly Dryukov as the RF Ambassador to Armenia
will be replaced by Nikolai Pavlov who has held various diplomatic
positions, including the post of the RF Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Mongolia, and Ambassador at Large of the
RF MFA. Summarizing the results of his over 6 years’ tenure in
Armenia, Anatoly Dryukov underlined that he is fully satisfied with
the level of political interaction between the Russian and Armenian
leaderships. He denied the opinion that there has been a decline in the
Russian-Armenian relations. According to him, it would be completely
wrong to divide the world and Russia into separate poles at a time when
various integration processes are taking place in the world. He called
“stupid” the assertion that relations between Armenia and Russis have a
vassal character. “Some political circles are using such statements in
their own interests,” the ambassador stated. According to him, politics
are the ability to achieve a compromise without losing one’s principal
positions. Anatoly Dryukov pointed out the military and military
technical cooperation, economy, trade, science and culture as spheres
of successful cooperation. He said that Russia has invested about 300
mln USD in the Armenian economy, with the energy and banking spheres
being the most important investment spheres. The Russian capital, for
example, accounts for about a third of the overall banking capital
of Armenia. A. Dryukov noted that the opening of the ferry link
Kavkaz-Poti with internal Russian tariffs operating for Armenia has
contributed to the development of trade relations. He indicated the
restoration of cultural and scientific links, which is also evidenced
by holding Year of Russia in Armenia. Anatoly Dryukov considered the
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two visits to Armenia to be special
success of his mission since important agreements were reached during
these visits. “I am leaving in Armenia my love and respect for the
Armenian people. I am convinced Armenia will occupy its deserving
place among the nations of the world,” Anatoly Dryukov said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN TERRITORY OF THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC IS NOT PRESENT ARMENIAN WAR PRISONER

AzerTag
[April 09, 2005, 20:56:25]

An ungrounded reports were disseminated by mass-media about the
meeting which is held on March 18 in Tbilisi of representatives of
the Azerbaijani and Armenian State Committes for missing, captured and
hostages citizens. In this connection the Azerbaijan State Committee
told the AzerTAj agency that during the said meeting were held a
negotiations for elaboration a possible constructive cooperation
mechanism on the base of the international and humanitarian law
principle. The both sides are agreed to facilitate prisoner return
after the nessesary verification, considers the exchange of persons as
discordant to morality and promised that in the future will appeals
only for release of war prisoners. The sides has noted also its
willingness to create all conditions for international organizations
and prisoner’s families meet with the later.

According to the Committee there were an agreement on the organizing
of the mutual monitoring for determination of the maintenance place
of a war prisoners.

The Committee statement said that at the meeting has not been agreed
any other question between the sides and there were stated that in
the Azerbaijan Republic territory are not persent an Armenian war
prisoners.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“Garabagh conflict is like dispute between husband and wife” Belgian MP

Baku, April 7, AssA-Irada

A 10-member delegation led by chairman of the Belgian parliament’s
House of Representatives Herman De Croo arrived in Baku on Thursday.

Croo told journalists at the Bina Airport of Baku upon arrival that
prior to visiting Azerbaijan he discussed the Upper Garabagh conflict
with the Armenian President and government officials in Yerevan.

Croo said that the Upper Garabagh conflict “is like a dispute between
husband and wife”. “We have become familiar with Armenia’s position
and will study that of official Baku before expressing our attitude
towards the conflict,” Croo said, voicing a hope that his meetings
in Baku would be fruitful.

The Belgian delegates, who started their visit by paying tribute to
the late Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev, met with opposition
MPs and members of the Azerbaijani delegation at the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the same day.

The Belgian parliament recognized the fake “Armenian genocide”
in 1998.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Politician urges closer attention to Georgia’s Armenian-populated region

Aravot, Yerevan
7 Apr 05

Text of Nelli Grigoryan report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 7 April
headlined “There is a danger that all the Armenians may leave Javakhk”

The leader of the Powerful Motherland Party, Vardan Vardanyan, has
commented on the events that are taking place in Javakhk [Georgia]
at the moment. “Under [former Georgian President Zviad] Gamsakhurdia,
when there was an attempt to enter Javakhk with a slogan ‘Georgia only
for Georgians’, residents of Javakhk did not succumb to provocation
and supported Georgian statehood. I am sure that the rallies taking
place today are not directed against the state,” Vardan Vardanyan said.

He said that the situation in Javakhk is really complicated and
“external forces” are trying to channel social and economic problems
in another direction. It is not by chance that rallies simultaneously
took place in Batumi and Javakhk. He agrees that the Russian military
bases do not resolve problems linked with unemployment today.

Moreover, Vardanyan said that residents of Javakhk understand very
well that rallies are not a way of solving problems. “About 20,000
residents have left Javakhk in order to find a job abroad. In this
situation, it is not by chance that the visa regime established by
the Russian side has become complicated. That’s to say, they are
doing everything possible to anger the residents of Javakhk,” he said.

“But one should understand the residents of Javakhk: what will happen
in the future and who will substitute these [Russian] troops?”

And what is Armenia’s task? Different programmes concerning Javakhk
have been prepared for many years: the authorities have changed, and
programmes have been extended as the number of problems has increased.

Today we say that the Georgian and Armenian authorities should
deal with Javakhk. Many people may say they cannot deal with
another country’s problems. First, Armenia has a problem with its
laws. Artificial customs problems on the border also deteriorate the
economic situation of residents of Javakhk. In this sense, I would like
to note that Armenia’s attitude towards Javakhk is not satisfactory,
to put it mildly. This may lead to serious consequences. Georgia
openly says that it is ready to cooperate with Armenia to fulfil
Armenian-Georgian programmes together. Otherwise, Armenians will
leave Javakhk. There is such a danger today. I think everybody can
understand what this means for Armenia. Javakhk is and will remain
a buffer zone in Armenian-Georgian relations.

“When we say that Armenia should pay attention to Javakhk, many
people think that our budget should be channelled there. No. The
state’s approach is quite another matter. Over the past several
years, spiritual, cultural and educational programmes supported by
the government have been implemented in Nagornyy Karabakh. Is it
impossible to implement such programmes in Javakhk as well?

We are anxious that the rallies may continue and, God forbid, damage
Armenian-Georgian relations. It is very important for everybody to
understand this and act in a way that will not allow external forces
to make use of the situation,” Vardanyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia to fulfil commitments to Council of Europe by end of 2005 – minister

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
8 Apr 05

[Presenter] Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today held a meeting
with members of the commission coordinating the process of fulfilment
of Armenia’s commitments to the Council of Europe [CE].

The meeting discussed the process of fulfilment of Armenia’s
commitments to the CE and changes to the laws on elections, political
parties, local governments, human rights, media and others.

[Correspondent] Members of the commission informed the president that
the drafts of amended laws have been sent to the Venice Commission of
the Council of Europe. A positive answer is expected and the process
will be completed then.

[Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan] The meeting assessed the
results of the fulfilment of Armenia’s commitments to the CE. I want
to say that the processes under way today were positively rated by the
participants. We can divide these processes into two categories. The
first are the processes related to constitutional reforms and the
second are other issues, for example, the electoral code, the law on
political parties and so on.

[Correspondent] The Armenian president said that constitutional reforms
should not be slowed down and noted that a final option should be
agreed upon.

[Oskanyan] If everything is okay, Armenia will fulfil its commitments
to the CE by late 2005. I think this will be a positive achievement
for Armenia both in the CE and in the region.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News

EVENTS ON 90-TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN OTTOMAN TURKEY CONTINUE
IN POLAND

09.04.2005 04:04

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 10 and 17 events on the occasion of the
90-th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey will be
held in Krakow Polish city, Krakow Monastery Archimandrite Tadeush
Isahakian-Zalezsky told PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent. In his words,
the meeting of religious representatives of Poland, as well as the
Armenian Catholics will be held in the Warsaw Old City April 10. As
noted the by Archimandrite, Armenian clergy not only from Poland,
but also Ukraine will be present at the event in St. Mikolaj church in
Krakow April 17. On that day prayers will be read next to the Kharchkar
erected in the churchyard last year. In Isahakian-Zalezsky’s words,
the Association of Armenians of Poland has organized the events.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Nagorno-Karabakh: OSCE To Unveil New Peace Plan
By Liz Fuller

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Friday, 08 April 2005

8 April 2005 — The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov, will meet in London on 15
April to discuss new proposals drafted by the OSCE Minsk Group for
resolving the Karabakh conflict, a Moscow correspondent for RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service reported on 5 April quoting Yurii Merzlyakov, the
Russian Minsk Group Co-chairman. Merzlyakov did not give details
of the new peace plan, other than to warn that it will require
mutual concessions from both sides. Armenian Defense Minister Serzh
Sarkisian warned last week that “painful” concessions are unavoidable
(see “RFE/RL Newsline,” 31 March 2005). The London talks will also
determine whether Armenian President Robert Kocharian will meet with
his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliev in Moscow next month on the
sidelines of a Council of Europe summit in Warsaw.

Two trends in recent weeks had seemed to call into question the
prospects for further progress towards a peaceful solution of
the Karabakh conflict. In late February, Oskanian fell ill with
pneumonia, and was unable to travel to Prague for a further round of
talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov (see “RFE/RL
Newsline,” 2 March 2005). Oskanian had hinted at the beginning of a
“new phase” in the conflict settlement process following his previous
meeting with Mammadyarov in January (see “RFE/RL Caucasus Report,”
21 January 2005). But the Minsk Group’s failure to reschedule the
Prague meeting fuelled speculation that unanticipated obstacles to
the peace process had emerged.

Second, a considerable number of minor violations of the ceasefire
agreement signed 11 years ago have been registered in recent weeks on
the Line of Contact separating Armenian and Azerbaijani forces. At
least six servicemen have reportedly been killed in those exchanges
of fire (see “RFE/RL Newsline,” 23 March 2005). Several Armenian
politicians have construed that escalation of low-level hostilities,
which Oskanian said on 29 March is the result of Azerbaijani efforts to
move their front line closer to Armenian positions, as evidence that
Azerbaijan is preparing for a major new offensive — an assumption
that is corroborated by the militant rhetoric of Azerbaijani President
Aliev and Defense Minister Colonel General Safar Abiev. Oskanian
initially told journalists on 23 March he thinks such rhetoric is
intended for a domestic audience, Noyan Tapan reported. But one week
later, addressing the Armenian parliament, he admitted the possibility
that Baku may seriously intend to start military actions (see “RFE/RL
Newsline,” 30 March 2005).

It is not clear whether, as Oskanian and defense officials from the
unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) have claimed, Azerbaijan
was indeed the aggressor during the recent spate of shootings along
the Line of Contact. But it is not beyond the realm of possibility
that Baku was prepared to risk provoking such limited exchanges of
fire and blaming them on the Armenian side in order to deflect public
attention from the recent report released by the OSCE Minsk Group on
the situation in the seven districts adjacent to the NKR which are
under Armenian control. That report, presented to the OSCE’s Permanent
Council in Vienna last month, effectively demolishes Azerbaijani
allegations that the Armenian government has over the past decade
engaged in a deliberate and systematic attempt to resettle tens of
thousands of Armenians on those territories. An OSCE fact-finding
mission that toured the districts in question in late January and
early February at the request of the Azerbaijani government concluded
that resettlement is “quite limited,” strictly voluntary, and not the
result of a deliberate Armenian government policy, and that most of
the Armenians resettlers involved are displaced persons from other
regions of Azerbaijan. It estimated the total number of such Armenian
settlers as less than 15,000, in contrast to Azerbaijani projections
of over 30,000 (see “RFE/RL Newsline,” 18 March 2005).

Despite the recent ceasefire violations, both Oskanian and Mammadyarov
remain publicly committed to the search for new blueprints for
resolving the conflict — even though their respective priorities may
be difficult to reconcile. On 29 March, Oskanian addressed a special
two-day session of the Armenian parliament devoted to the conflict
settlement process. As the only senior official in either country
who has been actively engaged in that process since the early 1990s,
Oskanian provided an overview of the OSCE’s efforts to resolve the
conflict, which he subdivided into four stages. Oskanian reiterated
the three principles which Yerevan considers central to any formal
solution: that the unrecognized NKR not be vertically subordinated to
the Azerbaijani central government (which would rule out autonomous
status, but not a joint or federal state); that the NKR should have
an overland link with Armenia (which would entail de facto recognition
of Armenian control over the so-called Lachin corridor); and that the
security of the Armenian population of the NKR should be guaranteed.

At the same time, Oskanian made some statements that are in
all likelihood unpalatable, if not anathema, to Baku. He argued
that the international community should abandon its insistence
that the principle of territorial integrity, which Azerbaijan
consistently adduces as central to any settlement of the conflict,
should not automatically take precedence over the right to national
self-determination. In that context, he cited the examples of East
Timor and the ongoing discussion over the future status of Kosova,
independence for which could set a precedent for Karabakh. He
substantiated the argument in favor of self-determination for the
NKR by pointing out, as he has done on previous occasions, that the
region has never been part of an independent Azerbaijani state; that
it seceded legally from Azerbaijan (in a referendum in September 1991)
in accordance with the Soviet legislation in force at that time; and
that the Azerbaijani government has had no control whatsoever over the
region for the past 15 years, during which time democratization has
made far deeper inroads in Karabakh than in Azerbaijan itself. Finally,
he argued that by perpetrating violence against the Armenians of
the Nagorno-Karabakh when the region was still formally a part of
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan “lost the moral right” to hegemony over them.

Mammadyarov, too, has new suggestions to air at his next meeting with
Oskanian, according to OSCE Chairman in Office Dmitrij Rupel, who met
with Armenian leaders in Yerevan on 30 March and in Baku with President
Aliev and Mammadyarov two days later. Also during his talks with Rupel,
Mammadyarov signaled a softening of Azerbaijan’s position on one key
issue: he admitted that “sooner or later” the Armenian community of
the NKR should join in the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks on resolving the
conflict because “we cannot take any steps without them,” according
to the independent ANS television station. But Mammadyarov added,
“We think we should continue the talks with Yerevan and achieve
some results.” Previously Baku has ruled out the participation of
the NKR in such talks unless the Azerbaijanis who fled the enclave
in the late 1980s are also included.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE

Alpha Epsilon Omega,
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee
Contact: Misak Zetilyan
Tel: (626) 398-9846
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

ALPHA EPSILON OMEGA, The Armenian Fraternity will be
hosting “the FACE OF DENAIL Does Not Lie” Lecture
Series on April 14, @ 5:00PM in Moore Hall 100 UCLA.

LECTURE TOPICS “Literature, Film, and Genocide Denial:
The Case of Franz Warfel’s The Forty Days of Musa
Dagh” Dr. Vahram Shemmassian, CSUN “Prospects for
Armenian Genocide Recognition in the United States:
Past, Present and Future” Ardashes Kassakhian, ANCA
“Reactions on Turkish Television to Genocide
Resolutions in Paris and Washington” Dr. Levon
Marashlian, GCC

DETAILS
Day: Thursday, April 14, 2005
Time: 5:00PM – 7:30PM
Place: UCLA Moore Hall 100

DIRECTIONS
South Entrance Take 405 (San Diego Freeway) to
Wilshire Blvd. East Travel east three blocks to
Westwood Blvd. Turn Left on Westwood Blvd. Travel
five blocks to Parking & Information Booth North
Entrance Take 405 (San Diego Freeway) to Sunset East
Take Sunset east to Westwood Plaza Turn right on
Westwood Plaza Proceed straight to Parking &
Information Booth Park in Parking Lot 4

Misak Zetilyan
Alpha Epsilon Omega,
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee
(626) 398-9846
[email protected]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #063, 09/04/2005

Student

STUDENTS ESTIMATE PROFESSORS

Arrangement at Journalism Department

The students of the Department of Journalism at State University were
estimating their won professors in a unique way yesterday. Contrary
to other usual cases, this time the contest was organized for
professors. The students were choosing among the teaching staff the
smileiest, the most feast-lover, law-abiding, punctual, honest and
meanwhile asked nominees recommendations.

Future journalists are seldom asked to name the important event of
the week. The students decided to find out the most correct answer
from dean of the Department, Garnik Ananyants. “Certainly this event”,
said the dean apparently satisfied with the students’ idea.

By Tamar Minasian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPE MOURNS THE POPE WHO HELPED REUNITE A CONTINENT

Agence France Press
Friday, 8 April 2005

ZAGREB, April 8 (AFP) – Europeans Friday took time out to remember
Pope John Paul II, credited with setting in motion a chain of events
which led to the collapse of communism and the reunification of a
continent torn apart by war.

Around Europe, almost a year since 10 mostly communist countries
joined the European Union swelling the EU family to 25 nations,
people were remembering the role played by the pope in modern post-war
European history.

In Zagreb, the flag was flying at half-mast above the city’s imposing
cathedral, where dozens of candles were lit inside in remembrance of
the pontiff.

“When I learnt of his death, I felt as if I had lost someone very
close,” said businessman Miljenko Berislavic, watching the pope’s
funeral in Rome on a television screen in one of the city’s cafes.

Croatians, like many peoples in the region, felt overwhelming gratitude
towards Pope John Paul II, for his support as it struggled for its
independence from Yugoslavia in the bloody 1991-95 conflict.

Pope John Paul II, who was born in Poland, was the first eastern
European to be appointed at the head of the Roman Catholic church.

He was never to forget his roots, and during his first visit to Poland
in 1979 just after being appointed, he appeared before the crowds
and said: “May the spirit come down and renew the face of this land.”

His words were interpreted by many as an exhortation to stand up to
the oppressive communist regime.

The fledgling Solidarity union movement took strength from the pope’s
words, and a decade later the Berlin Wall fell, leading to the collapse
of the Soviet Union and its grip on eastern Europe.

In mostly Orthodox Ukraine, churches in the Catholic west of the
country were packed to mark the funeral of the man revered for leading
a revival of Catholicism after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

“This day is the hardest in my life,” Ganna Kovalets, a 76-year-old
Greco Catholic worshipper said at one of the churches, with tears in
her eyes. “There is an emptiness in my soul.”

In Russia hundreds were watching the funeral in silence on a giant
screen in the cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the centre
of Moscow.

Some were crying, others had their heads bent in prayer, in front of
a large photo of John Paul II, after Russian television refused to
broadcast the ceremony live.

“The pope for me was a moral voice and it is a great misfortune and
injustice that he could not come to Russia,” said museum employee
Yevgenia.

The Russian Orthodox church had refused to allow the pope to visit
the country, judging the time was not right.

In France, thousands of people applauded outside the Notre Dame
cathedral when the pope’s coffin was shown on giant screens inside
and outside the church being borne aloft in Rome.

A few hundred people also gathered at the Sacre Coeur which towers
above the French capital. There were similar gatherings across France,
and in churches in parts of Germany, particularly the Catholic
strongholds in the south.

Despite reluctance from the Serbian authorities, the funeral was
broadcast live in Belgrade as it was in Bulgaria.

Church bells also tolled across the Czech Republic at midday, with
flags on public buildings, including the building of the Czech Senate,
flying at half-mast as the country, like Hungary, observed a day of
national mourning.

Meanwhile, gypsies in Romania announced they were postponing for a day
an international festival as a mark of respect for the late pontiff.

“John Paul II worked a lot for multi-cultural respect. For us his
26-year pontificate was historic. The Roma people of all religions
in Romania loved him a lot,” said Roma leader Aven Amentza.

In largely Roman Catholic countries, such as Spain and Portugal,
bells tolled and special masses were held, although most people
appeared to have chosen to watch the pope’s funeral in their own homes.

In Lisbon, a giant television screen was set up outside a Roman
Catholic church in the heart of the Portuguese capital, and the
small crowd stood in silence or quietly prayed as they listened to
the proceedings.

And in a small orphanage in northern Armenia built with the pope’s
help after the 1988 earthquake, the pope’s death was being felt as
a very personal loss.

“We prayed for the peace of the pope’s soul. It is a great loss for
all the Catholics in the whole world. He was an exceptional spiritual
leader with his humanism and courage,” said Sister Aruciak.

In Brussels, the heart of the European Union, the bells tolled and
all the flags on the European institutions were flying at half-mast.

But in the Netherlands and Britain, ceremonies were more low-key with
only a few hundred people turning out for special masses.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress