Author: admin

The National Assembly to develop its own concept

By Karine Mangassarian

Yerkir/arm
11 March 05

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations is
planning to organize a series of parliamentary hearings titled
`Nagorno-Karabagh Issue: Ways of Settlement’.

Head of the Committee Armen Rustamian says the hearings are aimed at
defining the potential and mechanisms of parliamentary diplomacy,
contributing to the solution of the Karabagh problem, clarifying the
role of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic in the process of
conflict settlement as well as bringing together and systematizing the
approaches and positions of the Armenian side with the purpose of
presenting those approaches in the context of possible developments
connected with the conflict settlement process.

All the political forces represented in the National Assembly will
participate in the hearings including all of the political forces in
the opposition camp. The Committee has sent invitation letters to the
experts in Nagorno Karabagh Republic involved in the negotiation
process. It should be noted that a wide range of experts have been
invited including international experts.

Representatives of international organizations where the Karabagh
problem is discussed at the parliamentary level will also participate
in the hearings. These organizations include the Council of Europe,
OSCE, UNO, NATO and others.

Representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group member countries will also
participate in the hearings. It is possible that the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs will also participate in the hearings. Armen Rustamian
informed that the list of questions to be discussed during the
hearings has been sent to the participants.

The questions are classified into three groups. First, Rustamian
believes, is that an attempt must be made to clarify the nature of the
Karabagh problem, the reasons for its emergence, the process of its
development, its consequences and the current situation from the
perspective of the problem’s political, historical, legal aspects,
humanitarian law and its international perception. In this context,
the legal value and significance of various documents adopted by
international organizations will be discussed. The arguments put
forwardby the Azeri side will be discussed and comprehensively
evaluated.

The hearings aim at finding the key to the solution of the
problem. Several possible options have been outlined in this
respect. 1) conflict settlementvs. solution of the problem, 2)
stage-by-stage, package or incremental strategy vs. a mixed one, 3)
advantages and disadvantages of the so-called `territories in exchange
for status’ and `territories in exchange for peace’ approaches.

As to the negotiation process, the rights and obligations of the sides
will be discussed, the proposals made by them will be comparatively
analyzed, the possible consequences for conflict prolongation and
probability of restart of war will be assessed and the efficiency of
the mediation missions will be evaluated.

By the end of the parliamentary hearings the Committee will publish
the hearing materials. The Committee is planning to publish a
collection of the presentations made at the hearings. `Based on this,
the Committee will summarize the hearings and will come up with a
conclusion.

We hope that this conclusion will become the document based on which
the parliamentary diplomacy will be coordinated. In other words, we
expect it to become the main element in our concept of pursuing the
solution of the Nagorno Karabagh problem,’ Rustamian noted.

Answering the question whether it is possible that this final document
might become a concept for our Foreign Affairs Ministry, Rustamian
noted that recommendations based on this concept will be presented to
various agencies including the executive agencies in Armenia and
Nagorno Karabagh Republic which will also be participating in the
hearings.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARF delegation participates in PASOK congress

Yerkir/arm
11 March 05

Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau delegation, comprised
of Grigor Erjenian and Gaspar Karapetian, took part in the 7th
congress of the Greece Socialist Movement, PASOK.

The ARF delegation members also had brief meetings with PASOK Chairman
Yorgo Papandreus and former Greek Prime Minister Gostas Simitis.

They also met with Socialist International Chairman Antonio Gutieres
and Secretary General Luis Ayalla, who reaffirmed that the Socialist
International would implement several initiatives in the region with
the ARF.

In addition, the ARF members met with former speaker of the Greek
parliament Apostolo Kaklamanis, as well as Vasos Lisaritis, honor
chairman of the Cyprus Socialist Party, present chairman of the party
Yanakis Omiru, and others.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USSR archives disprove Armenian genocide claims – Turkish politician

Anatolia news agency
14 Mar 05

ANKARA

Labour Party [IP] leader Dogu Perincek said that the research his
party conducted in the former USSR archives showed that the
allegations that Turkey committed an act of genocide against the
Armenians during World War I are untrue. He said that Turkey should
confront the Armenian allegations by saying, “I waged a war of
liberation and defended my homeland.”

Speaking at a press conference at the IP general headquarters,
Perincek recalled the murder of Talat Pasa in Berlin 84 years ago
after he was accused of being responsible for an act of genocide
against the Armenians and said that the party’s branch abroad will
hold a ceremony tomorrow to remember him where he was martyred. He
asserted that the IP provincial branch in Istanbul will hold a
ceremony to remember him near his grave in the city.

Describing the Armenian allegations related to an act of genocide
against them as an “imperialist campaign”, Perincek said that Turkey
waged a war of liberation from 1914 to 1922. However, he said, Turkey
is now accused of committing an act of genocide from 1915 to 1922. He
asserted: “Our party conducted a research in the former USSR
archives. We established that the Armenian claims that Turkey
committed an act of genocide against the Armenians during World War I
are untrue. A war was fought between the Armenians and the Turkish
state and Muslim people during that period. People were killed on both
sides. The United States, Britain, France and Tsarist Russia were
responsible for what took place. They were the countries that armed
the Armenians and encouraged them to attack Turkey. Their objective
was to divide and share the country.”

Asserting that Turkey waged a struggle to defend itself from 1914 to
1922, Perincek said that accusing it of committing an act of genocide
while it waged a struggle against the imperialists is “absurd”. He
said that Turkey should react to the allegations by saying: “I waged a
war of liberation and defended my homeland. I definitely had the right
to remove those who coveted my territory.”

Perincek claimed that appealing to the United Nations over the
Armenian allegations would be tantamount to abandoning the struggle
waged to defend Turkey. He said that no initiative was taken to
commit an act of genocide against the Armenians in the past.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THREE EARTHQUAKES RECORDED IN SOUTH CAUCASUS DURING LAST 2 DAYS

YEREVAN, MARCH 14. ARMINFO. During the last two days, 3 earthquakes
were registered in the South Caucasus region.

The National Seismic Protection Service of the Armenian Government
Emergency Situations Department informs ARMINFO that on March 13 at
07:02 local time, on the Armenian border with Azerbaijan 25 km South
of the Armenian town of Vardenis an earthquake measuring 4 of 12-scale
bar was reorded, and 6 in the epicenter. The earthquake was felt in
the populated areas of Armenia Sotk, Tretak, Azat, Norabak, where
houses and economic buildings were insignificantly damaged.

According to the source, today at 05:55 local time in 65 km North-East
of the town of Bingyol in the territory of Turkey an earthquake
measuring 5.5 and 8 in the epicenter was recorded. Besides, today at
08.55 local time another earthquake measuring 4.2 and 5 in the
epicenter was recorded in 63 North-East of the town of Bingyol. No
information on casualties and destructions has been reported yet.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Providence Journal , RI
March 14 2005

Symposium on genocide today at RIC

01:00 AM EST on Monday, March 14, 2005

Five years ago, the Genocide Education Bill was passed into law in
Rhode Island, but not all the state’s school systems have
incorporated the corresponding curricula. But a symposium organized
by several local educators that is scheduled to take place today may
change that.

The first genocide education symposium in the state is being held at
Rhode Island College’s Gaige Hall. It will feature noted authors and
professors, as well as U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and U.S. Rep. James R.
Langevin.

Esther Kalajian said that she and co-organizer Pauline Getzoyan
embarked on “a two-year labor of love to promote genocide education
in our schools,” that led to today’s symposium. The Armenian National
Committee of Rhode Island and the Armenian Martyrs’ Memorial
Committee of Rhode Island have lent their support.

Kalajian, an educator and parent, whose own parents “were very
dedicated teachers themselves,” said that “this was a cause that I
believed in.”

The speakers include Peter Balakian, author of The Burning Tigris;
Judith Claire Mitchell, author of The Last Day of the War; Jim
Fussell, director of Prevent Genocide International; Jimmie Jones of
Facing History and Ourselves; George Aghjayan of the Eastern Region
Board of the Armenian National Commtitee of America, and Dr. Henry
Theriault, associate professor of philosophy at Worcester State
College.

The sessions will cover topics including the writing process and the
effects of uncovering history, genocide denial, labeling and
genocide, when neighbor turns against neighbor, legislation and
foreign policy.

The bill that passed in 2000 was sponored by former state Rep. Aram
Garabedian. It opened the door for elementary and secondary educators
to develop curriculum on genocide and human-rights issues, says
Kalajian.

“Obviously, there are pockets of genocide education in the state, and
maybe one or two that are covered more extensively than others. But
we wanted to give teachers as much information as possible, and let
them see what is done in other states,” Kalajian said.

Educators will receive a copy of a working curriculum from
California, she said, and hear about curriculum in other states,
including New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York.

“We invited people from outside of Rhode Island, experts in the field
. . . not only in their chosen field but experts who work well and
relate well with students and teachers. We read books, and we went to
hear them,” Kalajian said.

“We are excited not only by the integrity and ability of the people,”
but also by their ability to relate to students and faculty, she
said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 14 2005

US co-chair says fact-finding mission’s report `precise and detailed’

Baku, March 11, AssA-Irada

The OSCE fact-finding mission’s report on settlement of Armenians in
the occupied regions of Azerbaijan is precise and detailed, the US
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann has said.
`Everyone should understand that the report by the fact-finding
mission targets promoting the Armenia-Azerbaijan talks,’ said Mann,
underlining that this is desired by the Minsk Group and the US
government.
The report will be elaborated upon at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent
Council in Vienna on March 19.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia’s rigid policy towards Georgia could backfire, paper says

Kommersant, Moscow
11 Mar 05

Russia is reluctant to withdraw its military bases in Georgia fearing
this might weaken its influence in the Transcaucasus, a Russian
newspaper suggests. However, attempts to retain its military presence
in Georgia at any price could backfire – Moscow’s rigid policy towards
Tbilisi is making political elites in the post-Soviet area
increasingly wary and Russia’s position there increasingly shaky. The
following is the text of a report by Russian newspaper Kommersant on
11 March.

Probably Moscow’s main argument in its years-long dispute with Tbilisi
over the future of the Russian military bases on Georgian territory is
the idea that the withdrawal of such a large number of troops is an
extremely expensive undertaking, and that time (a lengthy period of
it) and money (a substantial amount of it) are needed to find and
equip a place for their future stationing. Therefore, Moscow says,
the Russian troops will not be able to leave Georgia for at least
seven or eight years, and Tbilisi’s demands for their immediate
withdrawal are unrealistic and therefore not serious.

However, the problem of the withdrawal of the Russian troops from
Georgia is not merely a bitter dispute about the timeframe for their
withdrawal and possible compensation. The stakes in this dispute are
far more serious. It is a question of whether Russia retains or loses
its presence and influence in the Transcaucasus.

Moscow’s main strategic partner in the region is Armenia, where there
is a major Russian military base, whose future, as far as the position
of the Armenian authorities is concerned, provides no cause for even
the slightest concern. However, the route to Russia’s base in Armenia
passes through Georgian territory, and the presence of Russian
servicemen there is perceived by Moscow as a sort of guarantee that
the route will not be blocked. Russia’s loss of effective levers of
influence on Tbilisi will make its military presence in Armenia
virtually pointless. Communications with the base there will have to
be made through airspace, Georgian airspace, and this will make those
communications extremely unstable, and therefore unreliable.

So Russia’s loss of influence in Georgia will inevitably lead to a
weakening of its position throughout the Transcaucasus. And this, in
turn, will bury once and for all the idea of recovering Moscow’s
former influence in Central Asia: after all, the Central Asian
republics see the Transcaucasus as an alternative to the Russian route
for exporting their strategic resources to the West; first and
foremost this takes the form of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

Therefore the Kremlin is not happy with mere normalization of
relations with Tbilisi, a key point in which is the future of the
Russian bases. Moscow would like to radically change its relations
with its southern neighbour. And the main idea of this change is to
preserve (or, even better, to consolidate) Russian influence in
Georgia. Moscow seems unwilling to accept anything less, taking the
view that either the normalization of Russian-Georgian relations leads
to a strengthening of Russia’s presence in Georgia, or else
normalization does not take place at all.

However, attempts to retain its military presence in Georgia at any
price could backfire on Moscow and eventually cost it even
more. Moscow’s rigid policy towards Tbilisi is making political elites
in the post-Soviet area increasingly wary and Russia’s position there
increasingly shaky.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Messenger
Friday, March 14, 2005, #045 (0819)

Armenia, Georgia praise expanding trade, energy

In Armenia, Georgian PM discusses trade links, energy and Russian bases in
Georgia
By Christina Tashkevich

Zurab Noghaideli
The development of economic relations between Armenia and Georgia topped the
agenda during Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli’s two-day visit to Yerevan on
March 10-12.

Noghaideli and Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met on March 11 to talk
about cooperation in the energy sector and the expansion of trade links.

News agency Ria Novosti reports that Kocharyan expressed his satisfaction at
the meeting with Noghaideli that the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental
commission on economic relations will continue its activities headed by the
prime ministers of the two countries.

“Armenian-Georgian relations have always included a wide spectrum of issues
of mutual interests,” he said. The commission will meet next in Yerevan.

The sides positively assessed the increase in trade turnover between the
countries last year, which according to Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan rose by 51.1 percent.

The National Department of Statistics of Armenia reports that trade turnover
between Armenia and Georgia equaled USD 78 million in 2004 compared to USD
51 million in 2003.

The two countries hope to further increase trade, however, and Noghaideli
made a report to his Armenian colleagues about the completion of the
construction of the road between Sadakhlo on the Georgia-Armenia border and
Marneuli. The sides also discussed the construction of a new border
checkpoint in Sadakhlo.

The prime minister was upbeat about energy cooperation between the two
countries, telling journalists that for the first time in recent years the
Armenian energy ministry of energy had not made claims against the Georgian
side.

“For the first time we discussed not past problems but issues of future
cooperation between Georgia and Armenia,” he enthused.

One issue of discussion during the prime minister’s visit to Armenia was the
construction of a gas pipeline linking Iran with Europe via Armenia, Georgia
and Ukraine.

Construction of the Iranian-Armenian segment of the pipeline has already
started, while the two countries are currently in negotiations with Ukraine
and Georgia. One issue likely to hold up the project is the exorbitant cost:
the prime minister of Armenia said the total cost of the pipeline was
estimated at USD 180 billion.

Noghaideli and Kocharyan also discussed the existing conflicts in the region
and their resolution, and the Georgian PM told journalists in Yerevan that
he was confident an agreement would be reached between Moscow and Tbilisi in
regard to the withdrawal of Russian bases on Georgian soil.

“In the nearest future we will agree with the Russian side on the withdrawal
of Russian military bases,” he said in Yerevan airport before returning to
Tbilisi.

News agency Regnum reports Noghaideli as saying he did not discuss this
matter with the Armenian side, although Armenian Prime Minister Margaryan
noted that the issue was important to Yerevan because of the predominantly
Armenian population living close to the base in Akhalkalaki.

“The only thing which is important for us is the provision of jobs and
resolution of social problems facing the Armenians living in Javakheti,” he
said, adding however that Armenia does not plan to interfere in Georgia’s
internal affairs regarding the issue of Russian military bases in Georgia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

L.A. Mayoral Hopefuls Vie for Key Groups
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD

The Associated Press
03/12/05 14:17 EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Mayor James Hahn is limping toward a May runoff
with no clear path to a second term, mostly deserted by his fragile
political coalition in one of the nation’s most diverse cities.

Hahn squeaked into a rematch against city Councilman Antonio
Villaraigosa with a paltry 24 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s primary,
having squandered his good will with the two constituencies credited
with vaulting him into office four years ago: South Los Angeles blacks
and the moderate-to-conservative voters in the San Fernando Valley.

Hahn’s support among black voters in the 12-candidate primary shrank
drastically from 2001 – when the two Democrats also faced each other
in a runoff – and the more liberal Villaraigosa beat him in the valley,
according to an exit poll.

Even union members, whose leaders switched allegiances and endorsed
Hahn this year, threw more of their support to Villaraigosa, helping
him reach 33 percent overall.

The primary showed Hahn “has no identifiable group in the city that
is the base of his support,” said Raphael Sonenshein, a political
scientist at California State University, Fullerton. He “has to
reconstruct something that isn’t there anymore.”

Will Hahn, a white former city attorney with long-standing familial
ties to the black community, be able to reclaim his base in largely
black South Los Angeles, where some voters feel he hasn’t lived up
to promises? Or will Villaraigosa, the son of a Mexican immigrant,
overcome historic rivalries between blacks and Hispanics?

The Jewish vote also is in play for the May 17 election, now that
third-place finisher Bob Hertzberg is out. So are Republicans, who
also gravitated to Hertzberg, along with the valley and the largely
white, liberal-tilting west side.

“If the black vote sits at home, the Jewish vote becomes very
important,” said Frank Gilliam, a political scientist at the University
of California, Los Angeles. “There is a social justice vote in the
Jewish community, in particular, and they may decide it’s time for
a Latino mayor.”

The question now is whether Hertzberg will endorse anyone.

Hertzberg supporters “voted for change, they voted for big ideas,”
said his consultant, John Shallman. “When you say change, when you
say big ideas, you don’t say Jim Hahn.”

There’s also an untapped pool of more than 1 million registered voters
who ignored the primary.

Unlike 2001, Villaraigosa is muting references to his Hispanic heritage
and focusing on inclusiveness, an apparent attempt to make himself
more attractive to blacks and others dissatisfied with Hahn.

“Can he reach out, particularly to black and west side voters, and keep
his (Hispanic) base at the same time?” asked Gilliam. “As a uniter,
you can stand for everyone and stand for nothing.”

Hahn still has the advantage of being the incumbent. What’s more,
he bears a gilded political name in city politics – his father was a
county supervisor who represented black neighborhoods for decades –
and has won six citywide elections dating to his days as controller
in the early 1980s.

And he did manage to beat 10 other candidates to make the runoff
with Villaraigosa, despite a flood of bad publicity over a corruption
investigation at City Hall.

Polls before the election found the mayor was damaged by two decisions
he defends as a sign of leadership – his support for the ouster of the
city’s black police chief in 2002 and his opposition to a secession
movement that would have split the valley from Los Angeles.

Many blacks recoiled at his treatment of then-Chief Bernard Parks,
and San Fernando Valley voters sympathetic to secession were riled
when Hahn raised millions of dollars to fight off the proposed split.

The majority of the black vote in the primary went to Parks, now a
councilman, a Los Angeles Times exit poll found.

Four years ago, Hahn was elected with about three of four black votes,
the bloc once faithful to his father. But in this primary, the mayor
could only muster 23 percent of the black vote.

Both candidates have already started campaigning, with Hahn planning
to walk South Los Angeles streets during the weekend.

Villaraigosa rushed to campaign in the valley the day after the
primary. And on Friday he was in South Los Angeles, where he was
endorsed by a black county supervisor who backed Hahn four years ago.

“Today is a different day,” said the supervisor, Yvonne B. Burke.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman, Turkey
March 13 2005

No Deployment Motion, Unintended Success for Bush Administration
By Foreign News
Published: Sunday 13, 2005
zaman.com

American expert on Turkey Alan Makovsky has qualified the deployment
motion, which had blocked Turkey’s north frontier to be opened to the
US forces, as “An ironic success of the US in democratizing the
Middle East “.

Having worked on Turkish research at the Washington Institute,
Makovsky attended a panel on “Changing Images in Turkish-American
Relations” organized by Georgetown University Turkish Studies
Institute. Makovsky said there was a negative opinion in the Turkish
public about US interference in Iraq during the Gulf War in 1991.
Makovsky said that former President Turgut Ozal, “had managed to
control the situation in the best way and he provided party
discipline by holding an open ballot. If the same thing had applied
in the voting of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) on 1
March 2003, we would not be discussing this today.” However, Makovski
emphasized that the ‘no’ vote against the US had won respect for
Turkish democracy. “In my opinion TBMM voting on 1 March 2003
ironically turned into a development which supported the Bush
Administration’s initiation to expand democracy in Middle East” said
Makovski.

Makovski emphasized that Turkey and the US needs each other and that
sharing information about Iraq would be useful. About the Armenian
claims to be brought to the attention of the US Congress in a new
bill, he explained that he does not believe Bush Administration would
support such an attempt.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress