Author: Antonian Lara

Montenegro referendum sets precedent for Karabakh solution – Armenian paper

Ayots Ashkhar, Yerevan
24 May 06

Text of Vardan Grigoryan’s report by Armenian newspaper Ayots Ashkhar
on 24 May headlined “Montenegro precedent” and subheaded “New
situation in the Karabakh negotiations”

The independence referendum held in Montenegro on 21 May drastically
changes the world’s previous ideas of the right to self-determination
and territorial integrity.

It turned out after the referendum that it is possible to separate
“blood brothers” in the Balkans in order to speed up Montenegro’s
admission to the European Union, while everything possible can be done
in the post-Soviet area to preserve the nonexistent “territorial
integrity” of Moldova, Georgia and Azerbaijan which are weaker than
Serbia. At the same time, it is known that international law equally
applies to all subjects that recognize its standards.

The double standards of the West lead to the freezing of post-Soviet
conflicts and turn nations involved in them into hostages of serious
geo-political games. This happened in the case of the Dniester region,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

But the Nagornyy Karabakh problem was separated from this “package”.
It is no secret that in the last few years, the USA and the European
Union have always separated Karabakh from the rest of the unrecognized
post-Soviet countries, emphasizing the unique nature of the Karabakh
issue. The idea of holding a second self-determination referendum in
Karabakh result from this. This referendum gains a new sense and
meaning after the referendum held in Montenegro.

Earlier, the problem of holding the self-determination referendum in
the Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR] was seen in the context of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations and the signing of a peace agreement
on their basis. It is natural that Azerbaijan is doing everything
possible to postpone the referendum.

But the recent events show that the world community should see the
referendum which will be held in the NKR through the prism of the
“Montenegro option”, i.e. it should not take Azerbaijan’s agreement as
a basis. When the leadership of Serbia recently spoke out against the
referendum in Montenegro, nobody listened to them. In doing so, the
entire Western community in the person of the OSCE Minsk Group member
countries – the USA and France – set a precedent according to which
the holding of a referendum does not depend on the principle of
“territorial integrity”. It is clear that in this new legal and
political reality, the terms and procedure of the referendum in
Karabakh become a subject not of the Armenian-Azerbaijani talks, but
of relations between the NKR leadership and people and mediator
states.

ECONOMISTS’ CLUB FUNCTIONS IN GAVAR STATE UNIVERSITY

GAVAR, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The first anniversary of the Economists’
Club of Gavar State University has been marked lately. The club was
founded with the efforts of the students of the Faculty of Economics
and University’s management. Founder-Rector of Gavar State University,
professor Hrant Hakobian, Dean of the Faculty of Economics Samvel
Amirkhanian and Deputy Dean Mariam Hergnian became honorable members
of the Economists’ Club. The club’s mission is to unite the students,
to give them additional information about innovations in the sphere of
economy, about issues relating to this or that sphere. Dean of the
Faculty of Economics Samvel Amirkhanian said in his interview to Noyan
Tapan correspondent that besides economic knowledge, the students
should also get acquainted with practical works and club members’
visits to many industrial enterprises are organized for this purpose.

EXTREMIST GANG IN RUSSIA DISMANTLED

New York Times
Indianapolis Star,IN
May 25 2006

Officials say arrests bring end to group accused of a series of
racially motivated killings

MOSCOW — The authorities in St. Petersburg announced Wednesday that
they had broken up an extremist group that had shocked Russia with a
string of racially motivated killings, including that of an African
student in April and of an expert on hate crimes nearly two years ago.

The authorities said they had recently arrested five members of the
loosely organized group. Two others appeared to have been arrested
earlier on separate charges, while an eighth was fatally shot as police
tried to arrest him May 18. The police seized weapons, explosives
and neo-Nazi literature in raids of the gang members’ apartments,
the authorities said.

Though charges have not been filed, the case amounted to a rare
judicial success in Russia’s fight against a deadly wave of racism
that has resulted in at least 48 killings across Russia in the past
18 months.

St. Petersburg’s prosecutor, Sergei P. Zaitsev, said the seven
young men in custody were members of a small extremist group with no
known name.

The group’s members are accused of killing Lamzar Samba, a 28-year-old
student from Senegal, who was shot in the neck as he left a nightclub
April 7.

Zaitsev accused the group of killing an Armenian and a Korean, as
well as two of its own members. He said the group was also involved
in the killing of Nikolai M. Girenko, a Russian anthropologist who
became an expert on neo-Nazis, skinheads and other extremist movements.

LE KARABAKH VEUT SUIVRE L’EXEMPLE DU MONTENEGRO

Agence France Presse
25 mai 2006 jeudi 1:44 PM GMT

Le territoire azerbaïdjanais du Nagorny Karabakh, contrôle par des
separatistes armeniens, a salue jeudi la separation du Montenegro
de la Serbie, esperant etre lui aussi reconnu comme Etat independant
par la communaute internationale.

“Le referendum au Montenegro a cree un precedent important. (…) Je
pense que nous avons toutes les raisons d’esperer etre reconnus (comme
Etat independant) par la communaute internationale”, a affirme le
“president” du Nagorny Karabakh, Arkadi Goukassian, en visite a Moscou.

“La republique du Nagorny Karabakh est independante et le restera,
independamment de ce que veut l’Azerbaïdjan”, a ajoute M. Goukassian,
cite par l’agence Ria Novosti.

Le Nagorny Karabakh, peuple de quelque 145.000 Armeniens, a fait
secession de l’Azerbaïdjan au terme d’un conflit arme qui a fait,
entre 1988 et 1994, quelque 25.000 morts et des centaines de milliers
de deplaces.

Un cessez-le-feu est intervenu en 1994 mais la situation reste tendue,
malgre des efforts de mediation de l’OSCE.

Le Montenegro a vote dimanche a 55,5% pour sa separation de la Serbie,
lors d’un referendum, un choix qui a marque le demantèlement definitif
de la Yougoslavie.

La separation du Montenegro pourrait ouvrir une “boîte de Pandore”
pour une myriade de mouvements independantistes en Europe et dans
l’ex-URSS, estiment les analystes.

Les independantistes du Pays basque (nord de l’Espagne) et de Catalogne
(nord-est), ainsi que la republique separatiste non reconnue de
Transdniestrie, en Moldavie, et celle d’Abkhazie, en Georgie, ont
exprime leur satisfaction après le referendum montenegrin, esperant
etre legitimes par un processus similaire.

–Boundary_(ID_d/CRkJyvrBEtkdtXLZlE/g) —

WHO DOES HISTORY BELONG TO IF NOT THE HISTORIANS?
By Semih Idiz

Turkish Press
May 25 2006

MILLIYET- I said earlier that the bill to criminalize denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide would be passed by France’s Parliament.

We can’t say that it didn’t pass. In other words, we can’t say that
common sense won. Observers believe that the bill will pass if it comes
to a vote. Now people say the bill will be brought to the agenda by
the end of this year.

The French Armenians aren’t satisfied with the situation either. They
would prefer for the bill to be passed in the General Assembly and
stay in legal procedures even if it’s not accepted. Armenian Deputy
Partick Deveciyan lashed out at French Foreign Minister Philippe
Douste-Blazy. In his speech in Parliament, Balazy pointed to France’s
important political and economic interests in its relations with Turkey
and said the bill should be rejected. Deveciyan branded Blazy’s request
“unethical.”

However, the French are concerned about their economy. Smart observers
know that foreign trade and foreign investment are very important
in their economy. In other word, they are aware that Blazy’s words
aren’t empty. If we come to ‘ethical’ Deveciyan, in light of the
French approach to Algeria, he is also aware that the bill isn’t at
all ethical. He’s already stated his views on history.

After being reminded how at least one leading French historian is
opposed to the bill, he said meaninglessly: ‘History isn’t the private
property of historians.’

Judging from the comments of French Armenians, this problem is
a political problem rather than a historical one. That’s why the
Armenians are against Turkey’ proposal for a commission of historians
which was also supported by Douste-Blazy. They try to base the problem
on demagogy. That’s why Turkey hast to stick to its proposal.

But Ankara isn’t doing much about this.

The fact that the Armenians didn’t reach their goals this time doesn’t
change the situation much, because there are third parties who want
to use this issue for their own interests.

ALGERIA SIDES WITH TURKEY ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.05.2006 13:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Algeria sides with Turkey on many matters,
including the issue of the Armenian Genocide, Algerian President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika said yesterday at a meeting with Turkish PM
Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Bouteflika agrees with Turkey, which “proposes a joint study of
history by academics.”

The Prime Minister reportedly said a European Union decision to
reject Turkey’s possible membership would threaten global peace
and lead to a clash of civilizations, instead of an alliance of
civilizations. Erdogan said that the population living in Europe
is not only Christian, stressing that the EU cannot ignore Muslims
who constitute the second largest group in Europe. “If the EU is to
become a Christian club, it should announce this,” he said.

The Turkish PM noted that Turkey has always asked the EU a question:
What they expect from Turkey? “If the answer is integration we say
“yes” but if it is “assimilation” then our answer is “no.” We want an
understanding based on unity in numbers to come true,” Erdogan added,
reports Turkish Daily News.

STANCE OF UKRAINE CONCERNING TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN STABLE

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 24 2006

President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko has declared, that his country
is ready to be one of participants of forming of plans of settlement of
“the frozen conflicts” in territory of the GUAM states. As informed,
Yushchenko has declared it on May 22 in Kiev after the meeting with
the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, answering the question of
the Azerbaijan journalists in connection with Nagorno Karabakh.

“We recognize that each such conflict demands personal plan. There
is no typical recommendation, there is no typical recipe – as,
shall admit, to resolve problem of Nagorno Karabakh, the problem
Pridnetsrovie, or the problem of Abkhazia. These are very personified
conflicts, and they should be considered exclusively proceeding
from the personal plan”, the head of Ukraine has declared. Having
reminded of the plan offered in due time by Ukraine on settlement
of the Pridnestrovie conflict, he has noted, that the given plan was
accepted both by the Moldavian Parliament and leaders of Pridnestrovie.

“Ukraine admits that each country, including the countries of GUAM,
require support concerning the declared sovereignty and the line of
borders which have been originally defined. We speak about firmness
of borders, about integrity of territories. It is a key component of
policy”, Yushchenko said. He added, that the given position concerns
not only to the GUAM countries, but also the world policy as a whole.

“Therefore, the stance of Ukraine concerning territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan is firm, and I can only confirm it”, Mr. Yushchenko stated.

AZERI NEWSPAPER EDITOR HELD HOSTAGE THREE FOREIGNERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 15:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ People’s Tribune newspaper editor-in-chief Sharif
Salmanov his acquaintance Aynura Allahverdiyeva, who held hostage
Turkish citizen Yilmaz Mahmoud, Bolgarian citizen Kocheva Ivanovna and
her 7-year-old daughter Marchella Penova, were detained. The local
prosecutor’s office has initiated a criminal case; investigation is
being carried out, reported APA news agency.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
05/24/2006
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1) Bush Nominates New Ambassador to Armenia
2) Azeri Statement Does Not Correspond to Ongoing Negotiations
3) OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen to Arrive in Armenia May 25
4) Greece Condemns Turkey over Fighter Jet Crash
5) Western Prelacy Elects New Council Members And Delegates
6) Second Black Box from Crashed Armenian Airbus Recovered

1) Bush Nominates New Ambassador to Armenia

(Combined Sources)–The White House announced on Tuesday that President George
W. Bush will ask the US Senate to endorse his nomination of Richard E.
Hoagland
as the new US Ambassador to Armenia to replace outgoing Ambassador John
Evans.
Hoagland is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of
Minister-Counselor. Currently, he is serving as the US ambassador to
Tajikistan.

2) Azeri Statement Does Not Correspond to Ongoing Negotiations

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–The Armenian Foreign Ministry responded Wednesday to a
statement made by Azeri Foreign Affairs Minister Elmar Mamedyarov, in which he
advocated a step-by-step solution to the Karabagh conflict.
“We are once again surprised that the Azerbaijani side tries to present such
an approach to the public, which does not correspond to the content of the
negotiations over the Karabagh conflict regulation,” said spokesman for the
Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry Vladimir Karapetian.
Azeri media outlets reported Tuesday that Mamedyarov stated that the optimal
regulation of the Karabagh conflict would be a “stage-by-stage” solution and
that only after the return of the refugees it will be possible to discuss
status of Karabagh.
“We have stated many times that to reach a mutually acceptable agreement,
Azerbaijan should first recognize the right to self-determination of Nagorno
Karabagh’s people,” said Karapetian, adding that only then will it be possible
to discuss eliminating “consequences of the war.”

3) OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen to Arrive in Armenia May 25

YEREVAN (Armenpress/Yerkir)The Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group co-chairmen Yuri Merzlyakov, Steven Mann, and
Bernard
Fassier will visit Armenia on May 25.
The delegation will also include Russian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister
Grigori Karasin, Director of the political affairs department at the French
Foreign Affairs Ministry Stanislaus De Labouillet, and US Assistant Secretary
of State Daniel Fried, reported the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The delegation will meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Foreign
Affairs Minister Vartan Oskanian to discuss the current round of the Karabagh
conflict regulation process and the possibility of another meeting between the
Armenian and Azeri presidents.
The Russian, French, and American co-chairs also visited Baku and Karabagh
prior to their visit to Yerevan.

4) Greece Condemns Turkey over Fighter Jet Crash

PARIS (Reuters)The Prime Minister of Greece Costas Karamanlis condemned Turkey
on Wednesday for its part in a crash involving Turkish and Greek fighter jets
over the Aegean and said such incidents did not tally with Ankara’s
ambition to
join the European Union.
NATO members Greece and Turkey have blamed each other for the crash in
disputed air space on Tuesday.
“Yesterday’s incident should be a signal… to persuade Turkey to abandon
such
tactics which do not tally with its European perspectives,” Karamanlis told a
news conference in Paris.
A warming in relations between the two long-time foes has been vital to
Turkey’s drive to join the European Union. Athens’ backing of Ankara’s
candidature in 1999 opened the door to negotiations now taking place with
Brussels.
Asked whether the incident would prompt changes in Greece’s strategy
regarding
Turkey’s EU path, Karamanlis said: “All this is taken into consideration
vis-a-vis the European perspectives of Turkey. All behaviors are taken into
consideration.”
The two countries, who came close to war as recently as 1996, have improved
ties but have yet to resolve territorial disputes in the Aegean Sea and over
the divided island of Cyprus.

5) Western Prelacy Elects New Council Members And Delegates

The Western Prelacy held its 34th National Representative Assembly on Friday
and Saturday, during which new Religious Council members and Delegates for the
Catholicosate’s General Assembly were elected.
The Assembly, conducted under the auspices of Prelate, Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, also discussed the activities of the Religious and Executive
Councils of the previous year and various other issues. The Assembly then
proceeded to conduct elections. The following is the list of the newly elected
members:

Religious Council Members:

Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, Rev. Fr. Vahan
Gosdanian, Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian, Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian, Rev. Fr. Razmig
Khatchadourian, and Rev. Fr. Gomidas Torossian.

Executive Council Members:

Dr. Garo Agopian, Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian, Mr. Vahan Bezdikian, Mr. Boghos
Sassounian, Mr. Garbis Bezdjian, Mr. Garo Avakian, Mr. Mher Der Ohanessian,
Dr.
Navasart Kazazian, Mr. Nerses Melkonian, Mr. Vahe Havaguimian, and Mr.
Varoujan
Der Simonian.

General Assembly Delegates:

Mr. Khajag Dikijian, Mr. Hrair Balian, Mr. Armand Keosian, Esq., Mr. Peklar
Pilavjian, Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian, Mr. Vahan Bezdikian, Mr. Garbis
Bezdjian, Mr. Boghos Sassounian, Mr. Hagop Yedalian, Mr. Garo Avakian, Mr.
Noubar Demirjian, Dr. Hagop Dickranian, Dr. Garo Agopian, Mr. Khatchig
Yeretzian, and Deacon Mark Shirin.

Substitute Delegates:

Mr. Krikor Sulahian, Mr. Sarkis Kitsinian, and Mr.Vartan Minassian.

6) Second Black Box from Crashed Armenian Airbus Recovered

(AP)–Russian search teams recovered Wednesday the second flight recorder from
an Armenian airliner that crashed into the Black Sea three weeks ago, killing
all 113 people aboard, local media reported.
The flight data recorder was lifted by a diving apparatus from a depth of
about 1,640 feet (500 meters) after it was separated from a thick layer of
silt, said Transport Ministry spokeswoman Svetlana Kryshtanovskaya, according
to the RIA-Novosti news agency.
The black box was discovered within 16 meters (50 feet) from the spot where
workers on Monday found the plane’s cockpit voice recorder. Russian television
channels showed footage of a yellow, remote-controlled apparatus lifting the
red recorder from the sea surface.
Investigators hope the two recorders will help determine why the Armavia
Airbus A-320 plane plunged into the sea on May 3 amid heavy rain and poor
visibility. The flight was en route from Yerevan to the southern Russian sea
resort Sochi. All passengers and crew members on board were killed.
Prosecutors almost immediately dismissed the possibility that terrorists had
brought the plane down, and officials point to rough weather or pilot error as
the likely cause. Armavia officials have suggested, however, that air traffic
controllers were at least partly to blame.

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EDITORS IN AZERBAIJAN BEATEN OR CONVICTED
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
24/05/2006

On May 18, 5 unknown people beat Bahadin Ghaziev, editor-in-chief
of Bizim Yol newspaper. On his way home late at night, Ghaziev was
attacked by unknown people who took him to Masazir settlement and beat
him there. As a result, Ghaziev received several serious traumas. The
beaten editor was found in the morning and taken to the hospital.

In general, taking into account the position of his newspaper, the
crime was characterized as violence against free journalists. While,
at present, Ghaziev has already managed to state that notwithstanding
his traumas he didn’t lose consciousness and remembers quite well
that the attackers called someone on their mobile phone and told that
they had carried out the order. This testimony proves that the case
was a political order. According to some of the political figures
of Azerbaijan, this case of violence against Ghaziev aimed to exert
pressure on the independent press of the country.

Perhaps, the same evaluation can be given to the case that
happened with Fail Balabeyli, editor-in-chief of Yeni Kheber
newspaper. According to the law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan,
Balabeyli was arrested when taking bribe from the chief physician
of Bailovo hospital. Yeni Khaber became popular after publication of
caricatures of Jesus Christ and Holy Mary.

Besides, when the law enforcement bodies were arresting Balabeyli,
the Azeri court was judging Elshad Mehteev, editor-in-chief of New
Press newspaper on charge of corruption.