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Associated Press
Jan 26 2005

First checks distributed from Armenian genocide insurance settlement

By KAREN MATTHEWS
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK AP) _ Five New York-area Armenian charities received checks
for $333,333 each on Wednesday as part of a settlement between an
insurance company and descendants of Armenians killed 90 years ago in
the Ottoman Empire.

The checks are part of a $20 million settlement between New York Life
Insurance Co. and descendants of a community that suffered what
Armenians characterize as the first genocide of the 20th century.

“It’s a happy day,” said New York Life spokesman William Werfelman.
“This is the day that’s the culmination of a lot of hard work by a
lot of the parties to bring an amicable solution and resolution to
this matter.”

Armenians contend that 1.5 million people were executed between 1915
and 1919 by Turkish authorities who accused them of helping the
invading Russian army during World War I.

Turkey rejects the genocide claim and says Armenians were killed in
civil unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. France and
Russia are among countries that have declared the killings a
genocide, but the United States has not made such a declaration.

The settlement approved last year by U.S. District Court Judge
Christina A. Snyder in Los Angeles is believed to be the first ever
in connection with the events of the era.

Under the settlement, $3 million was earmarked for charities and at
least $11 million was set aside for the heirs of New York Life policy
holders, with $2 million used for administrative costs and anything
not spent on expenses going to additional charities.

The remainder of the $3 million will be handed out to four additional
Armenian charities in a ceremony in Los Angeles.

Brian Kabateck, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs in the
class-action lawsuit, said there were 2,300 policies issued to
Armenians in Turkey before 1915 that were never paid. People who
believe they may be descended from the policy holders have until
March 16 to file claims.

Under a formula taking inflation and interest into account, the
amount of the original policies will be multiplied by 15.5.

“We are here today urging people to make claims and urging people not
to forget the genocide,” said Kaboteck, who was joined by members of
Armenian religious and social organizations at a news conference at
the midtown offices of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, one of
the groups that received a check.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RFE/RL Analysis: Council Of Europe Calls For Talks Between Azerbaijan,
Karabakh Leadership
Wednesday, 26 January 2005

By Liz Fuller

In the late summer of 2004, British parliamentarian David Atkinson, who
succeeded Terry Davis as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe’s (PACE) rapporteur for Nagorno-Karabakh, was tasked with
completing a report begun by Davis for the assembly on the situation in
the disputed region.

Even though such reports, when adopted, are only recommendations, ever
since that draft was unveiled two months ago, legislators and political
commentators in both Armenia and Azerbaijan have evaluated, and lobbied
to amend, criticisms they consider unwarranted and terminology they
consider inappropriate or misleading.

Specifically, the Armenian side objected from the outset to the
assertion that “considerable parts of the territory of Azerbaijan are
still occupied by Armenian forces, and separatist forces are still in
control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.” The Armenian PACE delegation
sought to substitute “supporters of democracy” for the term “separatist
forces,” presumably in order to underscore that the elections that have
taken place in the disputed republic were free and democratic, in
contrast to those in Azerbaijan that the OSCE has consistently
criticized as not meeting international standards for free and fair
elections. The Armenian side also considered inappropriate the use of
the term “ethnic cleansing” in connection with the exodus from the
region of its minority Azerbaijani population.

The Davis/Atkinson report was the subject of a three-hour debate on 25
January during the PACE winter session. The Armenian delegation’s
efforts to tone down wording that it considered unfair proved largely
unsuccessful, partly, delegation head Tigran Torosian told RFE/RL’s
Armenian Service on 20 January, due to lack of Russian support.
According to zerkalo.az on 26 January, most speakers expressed support
for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and for the withdrawal of
Armenian forces from areas bordering on Karabakh. The report was finally
approved by a vote of 123 in favor and seven against. Moreover, the
final version of the report terms the occupation of the territory of one
Council of Europe member state by another “a grave violation” and
stresses that the independence and secession of a territory may be
achieved only through a lawful and peaceful process and not in the wake
of an armed conflict leading to the expulsion of part of the region’s
population. It calls for compliance with four UN Security Council
resolutions adopted in 1993 calling for the withdrawal of unnamed
occupying forces from districts of Azerbaijan bordering on
Nagorno-Karabakh. And it calls on the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
to expedite a formal agreement on cessation of the conflict that would
“eliminate the major consequences of the conflict for all parties” and
pave the way for the so-called Minsk Conference that would address the
region’s future status vis-a-vis Azerbaijan.

That approach is tantamount to endorsement of the so-called “phased”
approach to resolving the conflict, and it would apparently require the
withdrawal of Karabakh Armenian forces from the seven districts of
Azerbaijan bordering on Nagorno-Karabakh that they currently control,
and the return to their abandoned homes of the region’s Azerbaijani
minority, prior to the beginning of any formal discussion of the
region’s political status and of the measure of self-rule to which it
would be entitled as part of Azerbaijan. The Armenian government
considers this approach anathema, insofar as it would deprive the
Armenian side of its sole bargaining chip (the occupied territories)
before talks on Karabakh’s status got under way.

Azerbaijani commentators on 26 January termed the final wording of the
report a major defeat for Armenia. But the report also contained at
least one recommendation that is not acceptable to Azerbaijan: the
Armenian delegation succeeded in having it amended to include a call on
the Azerbaijani leadership to embark immediately and unconditionally on
talks with the leadership of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
on the region’s future status. Moreover, addressing the Assembly on 25
January, Atkinson argued that Azerbaijan should be expelled from the
Council of Europe if it attempts to restore its hegemony over
Nagorno-Karabakh by military means, Turan reported. Atkinson reminded
PACE that he visited Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s, and added that
he “will never forget” the Azerbaijani bombing of Stepanakert.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS ACCUSE AZERBAIJANI JOURNALIST

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
26 Jan 05

The director of the NKR human rights organization `Center for Civil
Undertakings’ Albert Voskanian characterized the article by
Azerbaijani journalist M. Mejidli published in `Zerkalo’ `Where Our
POWs Disappear?’ as nonsense. The author of the article raises doubts
about the objectivity of the monitoring conducted by the center in NKR
prisons, claiming that there are still Azerbaijani POWs in the prisons
of Nagorni Karabakh. `First I want to mention that the organization
monitors prisons only in the territory of Nagorni Karabakh. Wedo not
attend to similar establishments in Armenia, as the Azerbaijani
journalist says. During regular observations we pay special attention
to the moral, psychological and physical state of the inmates, as well
as hygiene conditions of the cells, the rights of prisoners. All this
is reflected in our reports which we then send to over 100
international and human rights organizations, including the OSCE, the
Council of Europe, the UN Human Rights Commissar, etc. We do not
pursue any political aims. In our reports, besides other aspects, we
have pointed out that in the prisons of Karabakh there are only
persons of Armenian nationality and in case of discovering people of
other nationalities we would mention it by all means. I want to
announce that no slander on the CCU can obstruct our humanitarian
mission which the international community needs in order to get
acquainted with the situation of the NKR prisons,’ told Albert
Voskanian to the agency `Regnum’. In order to make his article sound
truthful, M. Mejidli tried to refer to Karabakh journalists
announcing that journalist Ashot Beglarian (reporter of the agency
`Regnum’, as well as member of the Center for Civil Undertakings) had
stated in his interview to ITAR TASS that there were Azerbaijani POWs
in Karabakh prisons. Ashot Beglarian denied this information
characterizing it as `barefaced slander’. According to the journalist,
` The Center for Civil Undertakings got the permission for entering
NKR prisons in the spring of 2003 therefore in 2001 I simply could not
speak about the presence or absence of Azerbaijani POWs because I did
not possess privileges and information. The absence of Azerbaijani
POWs in Karabakh prisons was for a number of times confirmed by
experts from different countries, including Azerbaijani defenders of
human rights who visited Nagorni Karabakh in the recent years.
Besides, the representatives of the Red Cross regularly visit the NKR
prisons and their objectivity cannot be doubted. I feel shame instead
of my Azerbaijani colleague who resorts to open slander in his
pretensions to discredit Karabakh. It concerns that the author tries
to involve ITAR TASS in his libel, although by studying the archives
of the agency of 2001 one will easily get convinced in the slander of
the Baku journalist,’ said Ashot Beglarian.

AA.
26-01-2005

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Deacon Vagarsag Seropyan
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (212) 516-4833
[email protected]

Monitorial Group on the Melkonian Trust Meets With Patriarch in Support of
Legal Action

ISTANBUL (26/01/2004) – His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of
Istanbul & All Turkey, received the members of the Monitorial Group on the
Melkonian Trust (MGMT) on 24 January 2005, at 18:00 hours, at the Armenian
Patriarchal headquarters in Istanbul.

Chaired by Mr Ardashes Cavusyan, the MGMT members thanked the Patriarch for
his willingness to act concerning the Melkonian Trust, in order to secure
that the historic school continues to function.

Patriarch Mesrob had received in his office in Istanbul, on 28 December
2004, Mr. Raffi Zinzalian (Chairman of the Melkonian Alumni Association,
LA), Mr. Mgo Godjamanian (Vice-Chairman of the same) and Mark MacCarley
(attorney-in-law) who furnished the Patriarch with a copy of the Melkonian
Trust as amended on December 15, 1926.

In 1921, Garabed Melkonian, a wealthy Armenian businessman, conveyed a gift
of real and personal property to Patriarch Zaven of Istanbul, with which the
hierarch established a school and orphanage in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1924, and
named it Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI).

On December 25, 1925, Patriarch Zaven conveyed the entire Melkonian gift and
the proceeds thereof, to include the newly founded MEI in Nicosia, Cyprus to
the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), in trust due to the AGBU’s
expressed ability to better manage the trust assets and execute the original
deed. The Melkonian Trust was then amended in writing on December 15, 1926,
between the AGBU, Patriarch Zaven and Garabed Melkonian.

According to the Deed of Amendment to the Garabed Melkonian Trust, dated
December 15, 1926, the AGBU is responsible for maintaining the MEI in
Nicosia, Cyprus; paying an annual subsidy of one thousand Egyptian pounds to
the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem; paying an annual subsidy of one
thousand Egyptian pounds to the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul; building
a kindergarten for Armenian children in the vicinity of the Armenian
Orthodox Church of Alexandria; paying the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul
an additional perpetual annuity of five hundred Egyptian pounds per year.
For more than 75 years the relationship between the Armenian Patriarchal See
of Istanbul and the AGBU has been cordial, as the AGBU has fulfilled its
minimum obligation to support the MEI in Nicosia, Cyprus. However, in
violation of the Melkonian Trust, the AGBU announced formally in March 2004
that it would absolutely be closing the MEI in Cyprus, and transferring the
students elsewhere, at the end of the 2005 schoolyear in June. The AGBU has
taken this decision without informing or consulting with Patriarch Mesrob of
Istanbul who is the lawful successor of Patriarch Zaven.

Patriarch Mesrob informed the members of the MGMT that he first became aware
of the existence and contents of the 1926 Deed of Amendment to the Melkonian
Trust only on December 28, 2004, through the MEI Alumni in Los Angeles. The
Patriarch emphasized that he is now cognizant of the multiple obligations
the AGBU accepted from his predecessor, Patriarch Zaven, in 1926.

The Patriarch informed the MGMT members that, represented by Attorney Mark
MacCarley, Esq., of Los Angeles, he has filed a petition to the Los Angeles
Superior Court, in his fiduciary capacity as Patriarch of the Armenian
Patriarchal See of Istanbul and All Turkey. The Patriarch explained that he
has petitioned for 1) instructions with regards to the obligations of the
AGBU; 2) compelling the AGBU to perform the Trustee’s duties; 3) compelling
an exhaustive accounting on Melkonian Trust transactions since 1926; and 4)
compelling the AGBU to redress any breach of trust.

Endorsing the Patriarchate’s legal action in order to compel the AGBU to
perform the Trustee’s duties, the MGMT members thanked Patriarch Mesrob for
acting to prevent the closure of the MEI.

The Monitorial Group on the Melkonian Trust was formed out of necessity
following Armenian Christmas on January 6, 2005, in order to monitor the
worldwide press and the AGBU actions with regards to the MEI. The members of
the MGMT are Mr. Ardashes Cavusyan (Chairman), Mr. Hagop Mamigonyan
(Vice-Chairman), Mrs. Silva Kuyumcuoglu (Secretary), Yervant Asa, Artin
Kilerci, Dork Miricanyan and Aram Ozhalacyan – all educated at the MEI and
residing presently in Istanbul, Turkey.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:

PRESS RELEASE

SPEECH OF H.E. VARTAN OSKANIAN, FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA AT THE LEAGUE OF
ARAB STATES

January 19, 2005

Your Excellency Mr. Secretary General

Your Excellencies Permanent Representatives at the League of Arab States

The signing of a Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between the Foreign
Ministry of the Republic Armenia and the League of Arab States is certainly
a historical event. This opens an important new page for further improving
and deepening Armenian-Arab relations.

Signing this document is the natural consequence of the centuries-old
historical and cultural links between Armenians and Arabs. It is also the
result of the persistent execution of Armenia’s foreign policy.

Armenians are among the region’s oldest nations, with a historical and
cultural past that is strongly interlinked with other peoples in the region,
including Arabs. For centuries, Armenians have had a great input towards the
development of culture, economy and science in the region. In turn,
throughout history, Armenians have come under the influence of neighboring
peoples.

Our common history is full of pages of friendship and cooperation with
thousands of examples of instances of reciprocal support.

At the beginning of the last century, Armenians, victims of Genocide in and
by the Ottoman Empire, lived the most tragic pages of their history. There
is a popular saying, in Armenian as well as Arabic, that essentially means:
‘a friend in need is a friend indeed.’ During those dreadful days, when
Armenians were either killed or forcefully deported from their ancestral
homes, Arabs rendered assistance to the Armenian refugees, supplied them
with shelter and provided them the urgent assistance they needed. Armenians
not only survived in Arab countries but they were given the opportunity to
rise and become full citizens in their new homes, while preserving their
national identity establishing schools, culture and sport clubs.

Grateful Armenians will never forget the humane approach of the Arab people.
This historic reality naturally had influenced the foreign policy of newly
independent Armenia.

Since gaining independence, the Republic of Armenia has been committed to
improving relations with Arab states and, in the Middle East Peace Process,
always expressed its solidarity with the Arab position.

We highly appreciate the mediation efforts of the Quartet and the work done
in that direction. We consider very important both the Road Map and the
development of constructive dialogue between the parties in the conflict
resolution process. The establishment of an independent Palestinian state is
at the core of the process of establishing regional security and stability.
It would directly eliminate regional tensions, change the existing
sociological trends and create new opportunities for mutual cooperation.

I am confident that the election of Mahmoud Abbas to the position of
President of the Palestinian National Authority will have a crucial impact
on this process.

Events in Iraq remain under the constant attention of the international
community. It is our desire to see Iraq a sovereign, united, stable and
democratic state and we are ready to take part in the realization of these
goals.

We cooperated with Arab states on various issues within international
organizations (arrangements, institutions).

Within a short period of time, we have achieved tangible successes in our
relations with Arab states: we have signed a number of bilateral documents
in various fields, we have created intergovernmental commissions, we have
frequent exchange visits and we’ve established working ties at all levels.
We also conduct mutual cultural events.

Armenia adheres to the policy of complementarity, which means that we build
our international relations not on the basis of competition and rivalry
between powers but rather on the basis of co-operation and complementarity.
We are doing our best to develop mutually beneficial relationships with both
regional parties and powers with interests in our region.

Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh issue, I should stress that we are
committed to a negotiated settlement of the conflict and international
recognition of the right of self-determination for the people Nagorno
Karabakh.

Since 1994 the truce has been observed by the conflicting parties. Regular
meetings between the Presidents and Foreign Ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group are aimed at finding a
mutually acceptable solution to the conflict. We highly appreciate the
mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and we consider it to be the best
international format for the settlement of the conflict.

I wish to particularly stress that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is purely
a matter of self-determination and has no religious basis whatsoever.
Azerbaijan’s efforts to attach religious motives to the conflict are not
only groundless, but they are unacceptable and dangerous. We flatly reject
Azerbaijan’s attempts to attach a religious character to the conflict. We
also reject their ill-intended efforts to draw parallels between themselves
and the Palestinians, by presenting themselves as victims of the conflict.
Those steps by Azerbaijan are intended to gain the sympathy of the Islamic
world.

Any conflict is unique in nature, but if one wishes to draw parallels, then
in this case it is the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh who, like the
Palestinians, strive for free determination of their own destiny in their
historical homeland, without foreign domination.

Armenians have lived in Nagorno Karabakh from time immemorial and, with the
exception of the Soviet period, this land has never been part of Azerbaijan.
The only desire of the Armenians of Karabakh is to correct Stalin’s unjust
decision to forcibly attach Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

Your Excellency Mr. Amre Mousa,

We highly appreciate the role of the League of Arab States in strengthening
the sovereignty of Arab countries and in ensuring Arab solidarity. Despite
many difficulties the League did not loose its significance and continues to
prove its vitality and importance. We are confident that with its immense
potential the League is able to play a decisive role in establishing
regional stability, ensuring natural development of Arab countries and
broadening cooperation between them.

I would like to particularly acknowledge your efforts in making the League
more viable and in introducing new qualities to the organization. We are
well aware of the commitment that you always display in safeguarding the
interests and rights of Arab countries, and supporting unity and solidarity
among them. Taking this opportunity we would like to express our support to
your efforts and we wish success to all your initiatives.

I wish to congratulate all of us on the occasion of the signing of this
historical document and express our confidence that the Arab League will
contribute to the further development of mutually beneficial Armenian-Arab
relations and to strengthening the friendship between our peoples.

Esteemed Mr. Amre Mousa,

In conclusion, I would like to sincerely thank you for the warm reception
and support that you and your staff have kindly provided in the course of
preparation of this document and our visit.

Shuqran aleiqom.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Resolution 1416 (2005)[1]

A1+
25-01-2005

The conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region dealt with by the OSCE
Minsk Conference 1. The Parliamentary Assembly regrets that, more than
a decade after the armed hostilities started, the conflict over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region remains unsolved. Hundreds of thousands of
people are still displaced and live in miserable
conditions. Considerable parts of the territory of Azerbaijan are
still occupied by Armenian forces and separatist forces are still in
control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

2. The Assembly expresses its concern that the military action, and
the widespread ethnic hostilities which preceded it,led to large-scale
ethnic expulsion and the creation of mono-ethnic areas which resemble
the terrible concept of ethnic cleansing. The Assembly reaffirms that
independence and secession ofa regional territory from a state may
only be achieved through a lawful and peaceful process based on
democratic support by the inhabitants of such territory and not in the
wake of an armed conflict leading to ethnic expulsion and the de facto
annexation of such territory to another state. The Assembly reiterates
that the occupation of foreign territory by a member state constitutes
a grave violation of that state’s obligations as a member of the
Council of Europe and reaffirms the right of displaced persons from
the area of conflict to return to their homes safely and with dignity.

3. The Assembly recalls Resolutions 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993)
and 884 (1993) of the United Nations Security Council and urges the
parties concerned to comply with them, in particular by refraining
from any armed hostilities and by withdrawing military forces from any
occupied territories. The Assembly also aligns itself with the demand
expressed in Resolution 853 (1993) of the United Nations Security
Council and thus urges all member states to refrain from the supply of
any weapons and munitions which might lead to an intensification of
the conflict or the continued occupation of territory.

4. The Assembly recalls that both Armenia and Azerbaijan committed
themselves upon their accession to the Council of Europe in January
2001 to use only peaceful means for settling the conflict, by
refraining from any threat of using force against their neighbours. At
the same time, Armenia committed itself to use its considerable
influence over Nagorno-Karabakh to foster a solution to the
conflict. The Assembly urges both Governments to comply with these
commitments and refrain from using armed forces against each other as
well as from propagating military action.

5. The Assembly recalls that the Council of Ministers of the
Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) agreed in
Helsinki in March 1992to hold a conference in Minsk in order to
provide for a forum for negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the
conflict. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, the former Czech and Slovak
Federal Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Russian Federation,
Sweden, Turkey and the United States of America agreed at that time to
participate in this Conference. The Assembly calls on these states to
step up their efforts to achieve the peaceful resolution of the
conflict and invites their national delegations to the Assembly to
report annually to the Assembly on the action of their governments in
this respect. For this purpose, the Assembly asks its Bureau to create
an Ad hoc Committee with inter alia the heads of these national
delegations.

6. The Assembly pays tribute to the tireless efforts of the Co-Chairs
of the Minsk Group and the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office,in particular for having achieved a cease-fire in
May 1994 and having monitored the observance of this cease-fire since
then. The Assembly calls on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to take
immediate steps to conduct speedy negotiations for the conclusion of a
political agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict, the
implementation of which will eliminate major consequences of the
conflict for all parties and permit the convening of the Minsk
Conference. The Assembly calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to make use
of the OSCE Minsk Process and actively submit to each other via the
Minsk Group their constructive proposals for the peaceful settlement
of the conflict in accordance with the relevant norms and principles
of international law.

7. The Assembly recalls that Armenia and Azerbaijan are signatory
parties to the Charter of the United Nations and, in accordance with
Article 93, paragraph 1 of the Charter, ipso facto parties to the
Statute of the International Court of Justice. Therefore, the Assembly
suggests that if the negotiationsunder the auspices of the Co-Chairs
of the Minsk Group fail, Armenia and Azerbaijan should consider using
the International Court of Justice in accordance with Article 36,
paragraph 1 of the Court’s Statute.

8. The Assembly calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to foster political
reconciliation among themselves by stepping up bilateral
inter-parliamentary co-operation within the Assembly as well as in
other forums such as the meetings of the Speakers of the Parliaments
of the Caucasian Four. It recommends that both delegations should meet
during each part-session of the Assembly to review progress on such
reconciliation.

9. The Assembly calls on the Government of Azerbaijan to
establishcontacts without preconditions with the
politicalrepresentatives of both communitiesfrom the Nagorno-Karabakh
region regarding the future status of the region. It is prepared to
provide facilities for such contacts in Strasbourg, recalling that it
did so in the form of a hearing on previous occasions with Armenian
participation.

10. Recalling its Recommendation 1570 (2002) on the situation of
refugees and displaced persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, the
Assembly calls on all member and observer states to provide
humanitarian aid and assistance to the hundreds of thousands of people
displaced as a consequence of the armed hostilities and the expulsion
of ethnic Armenians from Azerbaijan and ethnic Azerbaijanis from
Armenia.

11. The Assembly condemns any expression of hatred portrayed in the
media of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Assembly calls on Armenia and
Azerbaijan to foster reconciliation, confidence-building and mutual
understanding among their peoples through schools, universities and
the media. Without such reconciliation, hatred and mistrust will
prevent stability in the region and may lead to new violence. Any
sustainable settlement must be preceded by and embedded in such
reconciliation processes.

12. The Assembly calls on the Secretary General of the Council of
Europe to draw up an action plan for specific support to Armenia and
Azerbaijan targeted at mutual reconciliation processes and to take
this resolution into accountin deciding on action concerning Armenia
and Azerbaijan.

13. The Assembly calls on the Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities of the Council of Europe to assist locally elected
representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan in establishing mutual
contacts and inter-regional co-operation.

14. The Assembly resolves to analyse the conflict settlement
mechanisms existing within the Council of Europe, in particular the
European Convention for the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes, in order
to provide its member states with better mechanisms for the peaceful
settlement of bilateral conflicts as well as internal disputes
involving local or regional territorial communities or authorities
which may endanger human rights, stability and peace.

15. The Assembly resolves to continue monitoring on a regular basis
the peaceful resolution of this conflict and decides to revert to
considering this issue at its first part-session in 2006.

[1] Assembly debate on 25 January 2005 (2nd Sitting) (see Doc. 10364,
report of the Political Affairs Committee, rapporteur: Mr
Atkinson). Text adopted by the Assembly on 25 January 2005 (2nd
Sitting).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Recommendation 1690 (2005)[1]

A1+
25-01-2005

The conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region dealt with by the OSCE
Minsk Conference

1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its Resolution 1416 (2005) on
the conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference and recommends
that the Committee of Ministers:

i. urge the parties concerned to comply with the United Nations
Security Council Resolutions 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and
884 (1993), in particular by refraining from any armed hostilities and
by withdrawing military forces from all occupied territories of
Azerbaijan;

ii. monitor the compliance by Armenia and Azerbaijan with the United
Nations Security Council Resolutions and the decisions of the OSCE
Council of Ministers on this conflict and to report to the Assembly on
the outcomes of this monitoring;

iii. report to the Assembly on the efforts undertaken by member states
for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in accordance with the
Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council including whether
member states refrain from the supply of any weapons and munitions
which might lead to an intensification of the conflict or the
continued occupation of territory in violation of Resolution 853
(1993) of the United Nations Security Council;

iv. recalling its Recommendation 1251 (1994) on the conflict in
Nagorno-Karabakh, place experts at the disposal of Armenia and
Azerbaijan who could help draw up a political status for
Nagorno-Karabakh, if they so wish;

v. allocate resources for an action plan of specific
confidence-building measures for Armenia and Azerbaijan;

vi. allocate resources for specific training programmes for teachers
and journalists from both countries aimed at better mutual
understanding, tolerance and reconciliation;

vii. allocate resources for specific action by the European Commission
against Racism and Intolerance concerning both countries, in
particular with regard to educational institutions and the public
media;

viii. instruct its competent steering committee to analyse how far the
European Convention for the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes reflects
the current requirements of conflict settlement among member states of
the Council of Europe and where it should be revised in order to
provide an adequate instrument for the peaceful settlement of disputes
between the member states of the Council of Europe;

ix. take Resolution 1416 (2005) into account when deciding on action
concerning both countries;

x. forward Resolution 1416 (2005) and this Recommendation to the
governments of member states with a view to supporting them
nationally, bilaterally and internationally.

[1] Assembly debate on 25 January 2005 (2nd Sitting) (see Doc.10364,
report of the Political Affairs Committee, rapporteur: Mr
Atkinson). Text adopted by the Assembly on 25 January 2005 (2nd
Sitting).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Deutsche Welle, Deutschland
01/25/2005

Pour une solution au conflit du Nagorny Karabakh

Le Conseil de l’Europe a appelé à une solution au conflit qui oppose
l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan au sujet de l’enclave azerbaïdjanaise à
majorité arménienne du Nagorny Karabakh, aujourd’hui contrôlée de
facto par Erevan. Les deux anciennes républiques soviétiques ont mené
une guerre sanglante au début des années 1990 qui s’est soldée par
30.000 morts et quelques deux millions de déplacés.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

La Croix , France
25 janvier 2005

Les camps, soixante ans après. L’auteur de “Shoah” dialogue avec des
élèves d’un lycée de banlieue. Face à l’ignorance ou à la négation de
la Shoah chez certains élèves de banlieue, des lycées organisent des
rencontres autour du film de Claude Lanzmann.

par GORCE Bernard

“Avez-vous ressenti du remords, au moins décelé une part d’humanité
chez les anciens SS?” “Pensez-vous qu’il soit possible aux survivants
des camps de pardonner?” Ils sont élèves de classe de terminale, et
leurs questions hésitantes brisent le silence total qui a enveloppé,
durant près d’une heure, la projection.

Ce jeudi 6 janvier, les élèves du lycée Auguste-Blanqui, à Saint-Ouen
(Seine-Saint-Denis), viennent de visionner en présence de l’auteur,
Claude Lanzmann, deux extraits de son film Shoah. Où le nazi Franz
Suchomel explique comment, à Treblinka, il fallait deux heures pour
vider un train, une journée pour “traiter” 18 000 personnes. Où un
coiffeur de New York, Abraham Bomba, se souvient: à Treblinka, il ne
tondait pas mais coupait les cheveux des femmes. Une coupe presque
“normale”, afin de ne pas trahir la présence de la chambre à gaz,
derrière la porte.

Des mots, des images d’une telle violence que les questions des
lycéens tentent de se frayer une issue, une ouverture, vers le sens,
l’éthique, la morale. Lanzmann tend l’oreille, écoute. Au sujet du
pardon, il cite le philosophe Jacques Derrida. “On ne peut pardonner
que l’impardonnable. Réfléchissez bien à cela.” Mais, avec patience,
le vieil homme en revient à une explication précise de l’entreprise
d’extermination des nazis. Il insiste sur les aspects techniques. La
différence entre un camp de concentration et un camp d’extermination,
comme Treblinka où furent gazés 600 000 juifs. “Vous n’avez vu aucune
image de cadavres, poursuit le cinéaste. Car les hommes qui
arrivaient étaient tués dans les heures qui suivaient, les corps
étaient brûlés, les os étaient pillés, les cendres dispersées.”

Shoah, onze ans de travail pour neuf heures trente de pellicule,
n’est pas un document, ni un reportage, encore moins une médiation.
Ce travail unique représente une oeuvre de “création de la mémoire”,
explique Claude Lanzmann, car il a fallu “partir du néant”. Dans une
salle du lycée Auguste-Blanqui, la conversation se poursuit sur ce
travail. Claude Lanzmann décrypte les conditions de tournage des deux
scènes. Dans le salon de coiffure, Abraham Bomba, l’un des très rares
“revenants” de Treblinka, fait semblant de coiffer un client tout en
poursuivant son long récit. Le réalisateur le pousse à témoigner. À
un moment donné, l’homme pleure. “Ces larmes, dit Claude Lanzmann aux
lycéens, ont le prix du sang. Elles sont le sceau de la vérité.” Avec
le SS, la mise en scène était totalement différente puisque l’homme
était filmé à son insu. Durant le film, on entend Lanzmann promettre
à Franz Suchomel que son témoignage restera anonyme. Les élèves du
lycée Blanqui interrogent l’auteur sur ce mensonge. “J’ai menti, oui,
mais à la face du monde. J’ai fait ce film comme une sépulture. J’ai
ressuscité les victimes de la Shoah pour qu’elles meurent une seconde
fois, mais que, cette fois, elles ne meurent plus seules.”

Puis le dialogue avec les lycéens aborde les questions d’actualité.
On évoque rapidement le conflit au Proche-Orient. Lanzmann dit son
espoir qu’avec le nouveau président de l’État palestinien, la
situation puisse évoluer très vite. On parle de la sortie du film La
Chute sur les derniers jours d’Hitler. Lanzmann n’ira pas le voir,
“mais si vous y tenez…”, répond-il au jeune public. La rencontre
s’achève sur des applaudissements. “Je vais enregistrer le film à la
télé, j’essaierai de tout regarder”, explique un adolescent. Ne
serait-ce que pour ce lycéen, le pari, pourtant risqué, est gagné.

Auguste-Blanqui est un de ces établissements de la banlieue nord de
Paris, qui scolarise une population très brassée. Très peu de
Français de souche, essentiellement des enfants de familles d’origine
africaine ou maghrébine. Un de ces établissements où les enseignants
affirment qu’il devient de plus en plus difficile de parler de la
Shoah. Où l’on s’insulte en se traitant de “feuj”.

En septembre 2002, la publication du livre Les territoires perdus de
la République provoqua un véritable séisme au sein de l’éducation
nationale. Une poignée de professeurs apportaient des témoignages
terrifiants sur la poussée de l’antisémitisme, mais aussi la
banalisation des comportements racistes ou sexistes dans les collèges
et lycées à forte composante maghrébine. “Exempts de tout sentiment
de responsabilité, voire de culpabilité ou plus simplement d’empathie
vis-à-vis de la Shoah, les élèves qui se revendiquent de confession
musulmane expriment parfois librement leur antisémitisme”, écrivait
par exemple un professeur agrégé d’histoire des Hauts-de-Seine. La
sortie de ce livre fut très diversement appréciée dans le monde
enseignant, mais il a incontestablement participé à la prise de
conscience. Parce que, déjà, la situation s’était dégradée, Jack
Lang, en 2001, avait convaincu Claude Lanzmann de rassembler dans un
DVD trois heures du film Shoah. Non pas une “version courte”, insiste
l’auteur, mais bien des extraits, qui doivent inciter les jeunes
publics à regarder toute l’oeuvre. Pourtant, les milliers de DVD sont
restés un temps dans les placards des rectorats. À son arrivée rue de
Grenelle, François Fillon a relancé l’opération. Depuis, Claude
Lanzmann répond aux invitations des enseignants et part à la
rencontre des lycéens.

L’opération reste pourtant délicate. Une telle séance ne s’improvise
pas. “Les élèves ignorent tout du génocide”, explique Carole Diamant,
professeur de philosophie à Auguste-Blanqui. Cette enseignante vient
de publier un livre témoignage sur son expérience en banlieue (1).
Elle y décrit comment les “vive Ben Laden” qui suivirent les
attentats du 11 septembre lui révélèrent la profondeur d’un fossé
creusé entre son univers et celui des nouvelles générations d’élèves
issus du monde arabo-musulman. Mais le livre de Carole Diamant peut
être lu comme une réponse à la vision pessimiste des auteurs du
premier livre. Sur le terrain “miné” – et non pas perdu -, Carole
Diamant refuse de baisser les bras.

À Auguste-Blanqui, les enseignants ne laissent passer aucun dérapage
verbal. Mais l’enseignante souhaitait aller plus loin. Avec quatre
collègues d’histoire, de français, d’économie et d’éducation
physique, Carole Diamant a fait travailler les élèves de deux classes
de terminales sur les thèmes “Exclusion, déportation, extermination”
à l’occasion de travaux personnels encadrés (TPE). C’est ainsi que
des rencontres ont été programmées sur quatre génocides du siècle: la
Shoah, d’abord, puis les génocides arménien, cambodgien et rwandais.
À chaque fois, une oeuvre ou un reportage est visionné en présence de
l’auteur. La singularité de la Shoah – le projet de supprimer non
seulement toute trace du peuple juif mais aussi de l’entreprise
d’extermination elle-même – a été bien expliquée aux élèves. Mais en
mettant en perspective ces génocides, Carole Diamant explique qu’il
s’agit de souligner leur point commun. “La négation d’autrui. Ils
sont une perversion du rapport de l’homme à l’homme.” Lors de la
première séance, celle consacrée à la Shoah avec Claude Lanzmann,
l’enseignante a relevé que les lycéens sont demeurés dans une posture
très scolaire. Puis, au fur et à mesure, ils ont quitté cette
attitude. “Si l’on veut aller au bout du projet pédagogique, il faut
dépasser l’élève, et toucher la personne elle-même. Il ne s’agit pas
seulement d’instruire, mais aussi de former des hommes”, explique
l’enseignante.

BERNARD GORCE

(1) École, terrain miné de Carole Diamant, Éd. Liana Levi, 120 p., 12
Euro.

Une heure sur la Shoah dans toutes les écoles

Le ministre de l’éducation nationale François Fillon a demandé que le
27 janvier, dans tous les établissements scolaires, une heure de
cours soit consacrée dans chaque classe à la mémoire des victimes de
la Shoah.

Le DVD du film Shoah, édité par Sceren-CNDP et L’Eden cinéma, propose
six extraits du film Shoah de Claude Lanzmann accompagné d’un livret
pédagogique à destination des lycées.

Sur Internet, des sites proposent des dossiers et des pistes
pédagogiques. Les enseignants du primaire trouveront des fiches
pédagogiques sur le site du Centre national de documentation
pédagogique: Pour les collèges et
lycées, un dossier complet sur le site de France 5:
education.france5.fr/shoah/

L’association Yad Layeled-France a réalisé une excellente mallette
pédagogique pour les élèves de CM2 ou de début du collège.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Aberdeen Press and Journal
January 24, 2005

Icas helps armenia rebuild its economy

by Keith Findlay

Scotland’s prized reputation for financial prudence is helping the
former Soviet state of Armenia rebuild its economy. The Caucasus
republic aims to have its fledgling accountancy profession
rubber-stamped by international governing bodies in the next two
years and has enlisted the help of the world’s oldest accountancy
body – the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland.

Hundreds of young Armenian students are now being put through
professional exams as part of an international effort to encourage
investment in the country and secure its membership of the respected
International Federation of Accountants.

Armenia’s best-known exports are its fine brandy and cut diamonds,
but the economy has depended heavily on foreign aid since
independence in 1991.

It has been forced to rebuild its formerly Soviet-funded power
industry.

Neil Wallace, ICAS head of international services, has been leading
the project from Armenia’s capital Yerevan and is now seeing
Japanese, Korean, German and French investors looking for business
opportunities.

“It sounds a bit pie in the sky to say you can help people become
rich, but it does happen,” he said.

“If you can put in an accounting and auditing system in these
countries, it does help attract investment and you can see the
progress.” He added: “Whenever a country’s coming out of a period of
crisis, accountants are among the first people called in by the
international agencies because no one is going to invest in an
organisation unless they have an idea of its financial position or
projections.

“Joining IFAC will give credibility to members of Armenia’s local and
international institutes because they’ll be regarded as working to
the highest international standards.” ICAS, which celebrated its
150th anniversary last year, is collaborating with Armenia’s ministry
of finance to set up an independent body along the lines of the UK’s
Financial Reporting Council.

It is also helping the Armenian Association of Accountants and
Auditors to develop ethical standards, disciplinary procedures and
training resources.

“We’re the oldest professional accountancy body in the world and
probably the most respected,” Mr Wallace said. “Scotland has
generally got a solid reputation for producing good, honest
accountants and people tend to trust what we say.” ICAS is working on
similar projects in Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Poland and is
tendering for contracts in other countries around the world.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress