Author: Adrine Hakobian

PanArmenian News Network
July 14 2005
NKR PRESIDENT MET WITH OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS
14.07.2005 03:52
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Steven Mann (US), Bernard Fassier
(France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) arrived in the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic (NKR) capital of Stepanakert. The mediators had a meeting
behind closed doors with NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan. Touching
upon the talks with Mr. Ghukasyan, the Russian Co-Chair noted that
the conversation was very constructive and interesting. `The
Co-Chairs got the answers of the Nagorno Karabakh leader to a number
of questions that have appeared during the settlement and shared
their ideas and views taking into account the fact that a year and a
half have passed since their latest visit to the region,’ Y.
Merzlyakov summed up, reported Regnum news agency.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News Network
July 14 2005
ARMENIA READY TO PROVIDE MERELY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO RESTORATION
OF ABKHAZ RAILWAY
14.07.2005 08:05
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Armenia is ready to take part in restoration works
at the Abkhaz lot of the Transcaucasian railway, provide technical,
however by no means financial assistance,’ Armenian Minister of
Transport and Communication Andranik Marnukyan stated in the course
of a press briefing July 14. In his words, Russia and Georgia will
have to carry the financial burden, which makes some $150 million.
`The opening of the railway is favorable both to Armenia and Georgia.
The latter does not have direct rail communication with Russia, uses
the territory of Azerbaijan for transit and pays large sums for it.
In case of opening the Abkhazian part of the railway, Armenia will
give up ferry communication with Russia,’ the Minister said, hoping
for a positive solution of the issue. He also informed that Armenian
party’s proposal on technical assistance has not been discussed yet.
`Our proposal will be discussed when the opening of the Abkhaz part
of the railway is on the agenda,’ Manukyan stated, reported Regnum
news agency.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US EMBASSY IN ARMENIA ORGANIZES RECEPTION DEDICATED TO 229TH
ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF AMERICA
YEREVAN, JULY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On June 1, the US
Embassy organized a reception dedicated to the 229th anniversary of
the Independence Day of the United States of America. U.S. Ambassador
John Evans welcame guests to the celebration. United States
Independence Day honors the day in 1776 when the Declaration of
Independence was signed by the Founding Fathers. According to the
information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the Public Relations
Department of the US Embassy in Armenia, the principles found in this
document have brought change to countries around the world and have
continued to be influential through the centuries to our own day.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
OSCE PA SESSION MAY PASS RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
23.06.2005 07:19
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the invitation of the US Congress a session of the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly will be held in Washington July 1-5 that may pass a
resolution on the Armenian Genocide. As Anadolu Turkish information agency
reports, over 700 delegates, including those from Turkey headed by ruling
Justice and Development Party MP Nevzat Yalcintas, will take part in the
session. In spite the Armenian parliamentary delegation has not submitted
written proposals yet, lobbying moves for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
final decision to include an item on the Armenian Genocide are already
taken. In case the majority of the session delegates support the question
the Armenian delegation is expected to attain its goal, the Yerkir newspaper
reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh leader upbeat on elections despite Azeri protests
Arminfo, Yerevan
22 Jun 05
STEPANAKERT
Any elections in the Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR] cause the
concern of the Baku government. Yet in spite of Azerbaijan’s protests
at the current parliamentary elections in the NKR, Azerbaijani
politicians are nevertheless closely following them, the NKR
president, Arkadiy Gukasyan, has told journalists.
The international community does not want the NKR to be a totalitarian
state, he said. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen and international
observers understand that Azerbaijan has always taken a destructive
stance regarding the elections in the NKR, but for fear of worsening
relations with the Baku government, they display some formal
restraint.
The situation on the Karabakh-Azerbaijani border was calm on election
day, Gukasyan said.
He does not believe that the balance of power in the region will shift
when the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is built. He recalled that
when Azerbaijan unleashed a war against Nagornyy Karabakh, it had
hundreds of tanks, armoured vehicles and military aircraft, whereas
the defence army of the NKR had only three tanks. “However, everyone
is well aware of the outcome of that war,” Gukasyan said. He added
that the basis of the victory of the Karabakh people was that they
realized their goals.
“We live in our land and we know very well what we are defending,
which cannot be said for the most of the Azerbaijani soldiers,” he
said. The NKR is ready for any challenge. “We know perfectly well that
a long and difficult road awaits us on the path towards the
recognition and confirmation of our independence,” Gukasyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Today, Azerbaijan
June 18 2005
Azeri vice speaker skeptical of NATO presence in occupied lands
17 June 2005 [10:00] – Today.Az
It is still early to speak about the positioning of NATO peacekeepers
in the area of Karabakh, which is under Armenian occupation as a
result of ethnic hostilities with Azeris.
Following the announcement, vice speaker Ziyafat Asgarov told Trend
that the issue “as far as I know is not a subject of talks” between
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“On June 17, Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan
and Vardan Oskanian of Armenia will continue to discuss ways of
peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict, in France. There is
a great possibility that the talks [between the ministers] would be
a follow-up in the run up to the upcoming meeting of Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia.
It is well known that the presidents will discuss the withdrawal of
Armenian armed forces from seven occupied districts surrounding the
upper part of Karabakh. Discussion on other issues is possible after
a success of the meeting of presidents only,” Asgarov noted.
He added that the place and date of the upcoming meeting of presidents
depends on the results of talks between foreign ministers of the
sides of conflict.
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN YOUTH SHOULD GET MORE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN POLITICAL DECISION MAKING
YEREVAN, JUNE 17. ARMINFO. The Armenian youth should get more actively
involved in political decision making, Armenia’s Deputy Culture and
Youth Minister Lilit Asatryan said during the republican youth forum
“Youth: Reality and Prospects” today.
Attending the forum are also young people from Karabakh and Javakhq
(Georgia) and representatives of international organizations working
in Armenia.
Asatryan said that the forum is aimed not only to make the
Armenian youth politically more active but also to solve their key
social-economic problems – employment and housing.
Over 50 reports on the youth’s health care, religious and other
problems are to be made during the forum.
The Javakhq representatives say that their key problem is employment
and the acknowledgement of Armenian diplomas in Georgia – presently
those with Armenian diplomas should get permission from the Georgian
authorities to qualify for a job. This is leading to low education
level in the region for many young people especially girls prefer
marrying to entering a university in Armenia.
An exhibition of applied arts and printing materials is also to be
held in the framework of the forum.
There are over 800,000 young people (16-30) in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COLLECTIONS OF DOCUMENTS CONCERNING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BEING KEPT IN
FRENCH AND GERMAN ARCHIVES PUBLISHED IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, JUNE 10, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the 90th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide, the History Institute of the RA National
Academy of Sciences published the works “Great Powers, Ottaman Empire
and Armenians in French Archieves” by Artur Peylerian, a historian,
and “Armenians’ Genocide” by Walfgang Gust. The books were published
at the “Hayastan” (“Armenia”) publishing house. Artur Peylerian’s work
was first published in French in 1983, and this year the work has
first been published in Armenian. The French Armenian historian found
757 documents in French archives, classified them on 5 themes
including main intents of Antanta states concerning eastern regions of
Turkey, Armenians’ displacemets and massacres, activities of the
Armenian national delegation in France and Nubar Pashah, activities of
detachments formed from Armenian in the Eastern Legion’s structure and
the Caucasian front. The work of Walfgang Gust, the editor of the
German famous “Schpigel” journal is published in Russian. Official
documents and materials from German archives which are being published
for the first time are presented in the book. Stepan Stepanian, Doctor
of historical sciences, Professor wrote in the preface to the book
that “Turks living in Germany having become furious of Walfgang Gust’s
publications gathered then in front of the publishing house, demanded
liquidation of the print run. But, Gust continued Lepsius’ activity
and found out that, in German archives, the number of documents
concerning the Genocide surpasses 3000.” W.Gust placed about 100
documents in the armenocide.com Internet site opened by him.

Erdogan Receives U.S. Senator Hagel
Turkish Press
June 1 2005
ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received
U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel on Monday.
Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and Gen. Charles Wald,
Deputy Commander of Headquarters U.S. European Command, also attended
the meeting.
Hagel told reporters after the meeting that they discussed common
issues which concern Turkey and the United States.
Hagel said that after Turkey, they will visit Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Armenia and Ukraine.
When asked whether they discussed fight against PKK terrorist
organization in the north of Iraq, Hagel said that they especially
discussed Iraq issue.
Hagel noted that Erdogan informed him about visit of Iraqi Premier
Ibrahim al-Jaafari to Ankara.
Upon a question, Hagel said that they also discussed Cyprus issue,
adding that he conveyed the stance of the United States about this
issue.
Hagel said that positive response of Turkish Cypriots to Annan Plan
shows how much Turkey will be a reliable partner within the EU.
He added that U.S. administration supports Annan Plan.
Sources said that Hagel stressed the strategical partnership between
Turkey and the United States during the meeting.
Erdogan said that there is an important strategical partnership
between two countries, adding that Turkey is determined to pursue
its contribution to regional peace.
Erdogan recalled his visits to Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine as
well as Turkey’s undertaking the command of International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) for the second time. He said that these are
all signs of Turkey’s contribution to regional peace.
Erdogan said that Turkey’s contribution to democratization process
in Iraq will continue.
Noting the importance of fight against terrorism, Erdogan said that
Turkey suffered from PKK terrorist organization for years and is
still fighting against it.
Erdogan said that Turkey gave nearly 40,000 victims to terrorism,
adding that joint fight against terrorism is important.
Regarding Cyprus issue, Erdogan said that Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) voted ‘yes’ to Annan Plan in a referendum last year,
but it also became the punished side. He added that Greek Cypriot side
that rejected the plan in the referendum was awarded and joined the EU.
Stressing that Turkey-EU and Turkey-U.S. relations complete each other,
Erdogan expressed his pleasure over rejection of so-called Armenian
genocide claims at U.S. Congress.
Sources said that Hagel stressed in the meeting that the visit of
U.S. delegation to TRNC is a sign which shows the importance attached
to Turkey. He said that he agrees with Turkey regarding so-called
Armenian genocide claims. He noted that the issue should be researched
by scientists, social scientists and historians, adding that everybody
should bear the results of these researches.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Orange County Register, CA
May 30 2005
Hariri’s son leads in Lebanon
The country holds the first round of its national elections Sunday.
By SORAYA SARHADDI NELSON
Knight Ridder Newspapers
BEIRUT, LEBANON – The 35-year-old son of slain opposition leader
and billionaire Rafik Hariri appeared to sweep an election Sunday
in Beirut, the first round in Lebanon’s freest nationwide election
since the end of its civil war 15 years ago.
Lebanon’s Interior Ministry reported that unofficial results showed
28 percent of roughly 400,000 eligible Beirut voters turned out in an
election for a new parliament. Voter participation was expected to be
higher over the next three Sundays, when the elections continue across
this Mediterranean country. Tighter races were expected in the north
and central part of the country, especially among Christian rivals.
Lebanese media reported Sunday night that with nearly half of the
votes tallied, Hariri’s son, Saad, and his slate of 18 candidates
had won by a landslide in two of the city’s three districts and were
ahead in the third. Official results were expected today.
The election was the first since Syria withdrew its troops from the
country in April, ending a 29-year presence in the country.
Rafik Hariri’s assassination in a bomb blast was widely believed to
have been linked to his Syrian enemies. Large demonstrations sprang up
against Syria and its allies who ran Lebanon’s government. Many groups
pledged to unify to strengthen Lebanon’s independence and economy.
In recent months, however, the solidarity of the anti-Syrian alliance
has crumbled. Candidates for each of the 18 sects entitled to seats
in the government have returned to focusing on their own interests.
Political alliances among Hariri’s bloc, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt,
some Christian opponents of Syria and the pro-Syrian Shiite Muslim
guerrilla group Hezbollah have become fragile.
The younger Hariri’s opponents Sunday blamed the poor showing on
backroom deals by clan and religious leaders that left him running
uncontested in nine of 19 races.
But candidates allied with Saad Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, said few
people were willing to run against them after the uprising forced
Syrian forces to withdraw from Lebanon and brought down the pro-Syrian
government. Only a handful of pro-Syrian leftists and Muslim militants
competed with Hariri’s Ma’ak (With You) ticket in the Beirut polls
Sunday.
Under an election law, seats in the 128-member parliament are allotted
equally between Christians and Muslims.
“Everyone on my list is willing to give their soul and blood for
the good of the country like my father did,” Hariri said in a radio
broadcast Sunday morning.
“What Lebanese people have to do is vote, even if they do so with a
white slip” with no names on it, added Nabil de Freij, a Hariri bloc
incumbent, standing outside a polling station in a Christian-dominated
neighborhood. “To say ‘No, I don’t want to go vote’ is like saying
‘I don’t want to stay in this country.’ ”
Their pleas failed to resonate with many of Beirut’s diverse residents,
however, especially Christians.
Some Hariri opponents, including followers of Christian leader Michel
Aoun, who returned from exile three weeks ago, pressed for a boycott.
“We are not getting our rights, so why should we vote?” asked Garo
Asdvazadorian, 21, a hairdresser and activist with the Armenian
Tashnag party. The Tashnag party was disgruntled because some seats
reserved for Beirut’s Armenian community had gone unopposed to the
younger Hariri’s candidates.
Many voters who turned out Sunday wore buttons and ribbons to reinforce
their demand for change.
“We were expecting more, but we have to vote,” said Randa Daouk, 23,
a graphic design major at Lebanese American University. “It’s the
first time Lebanese are deciding their future, now that there is no
Syria here anymore.”
Some voters expressed disappointment at the number of uncontested
races.
“This is the worst election because it isn’t really an election,” said
shopkeeper Mosan al Sagir, 57. He said he voted for Hariri’s opponents.
International observers monitored the election for the first time
in Lebanon.
The voting continues next Sunday in Lebanon’s Shiite-dominated south.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress