Author: Antonian Lara

AZERBAIJAN’S DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION
By Hafiz Pashayev, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The Washington Times
September 11, 2005 Sunday

In a recent visit to Azerbaijan as National Democratic Institute
chairman, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said, “Election
day is important, but the months leading up to the elections are
also crucial.”

She referred to the parliamentary elections to be held Nov. 6, when the
citizens of Azerbaijan go to the polls to elect their representatives
to Parliament, or Milli Mejlis.

The Bush administration views these elections as a litmus test of the
Azerbaijan government’s commitment to democracy. The U.S. Congress
has weighed in by passing a resolution calling on Azerbaijan “to hold
orderly, peaceful, and free and fair elections in November 2005 in
order to ensure the long-term growth and stability of the country.”

We are the first to recognize that independence, stability and
prosperity depend on successful democratic reform. President
Ilham Aliyev wants an orderly transition, as our last few years
of unprecedented economic growth would be jeopardized by political
instability. Toward this end and to conduct elections according to
international standards, the president issued an Executive Order
outlining steps to be taken:

(1) Allowing all political parties to organize rallies free from
violence and intimidation.

(2) Welcoming domestic and international election observers. (3)
Providing access to media, thus ensuring fair coverage.

(4) And ensuring central and regional authorities create the necessary
conditions for exit polls.

Among many provisions of the Order already carried out are those that
concern participation in the political arena by opposition parties.

There has been dialogue between ruling and opposition parties, all
opposition parties may freely conduct rallies and demonstrations and,
thus far, all opposition activists – including those who called for
overthrow of the government in October 2003 – have been allowed to
become candidates if they wish. During his visit to Azerbaijan at
the end of August, Sen. Richard Lugar, Indiana Republican, said:
“The opposition leaders underlined that the registration process of
the MP candidates went well, which is a step forward compared to
the previous elections.” President Aliyev went further by warning
all regional election officials not to interfere in the old Soviet
fashion, when ballot-stuffing was common.

President Aliyev’s insistence on free and fair elections in November
is based on the idea Azerbaijan’s secular government can co-exist
with its Muslim traditions.

Our vision is premised on the belief democratic pluralism will ensure
a peaceful outlet for dissent, eliminating the need for violent
alternatives. Citizens of all ethnicities and political persuasions
are free to advocate their positions peacefully.

Today, Azerbaijan is a vibrant, independent state. We have faced many
challenges in our young country’s life: preserving our independence
in a tough neighborhood; making the transition from a shattered to a
market economy; building government institutions and an independent
judiciary; finding a peaceful solution to our conflict with Armenia;
and developing and delivering our natural resources to world markets.

Throughout these difficult years, the United States has been a friend
and ally of Azerbaijan. Our strategic partnership has blossomed since
the attacks on America on September 11, 2001. Immediately after,
the late President Heydar Aliyev visited the U.S. Embassy in Baku not
only to express his condolences but to offer his full support. Today,
we stand side-by-side in the global war on terrorism. Our troops
proudly serve in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Azerbaijan’s location between Russia, Iran and Turkey, coupled with
our desire to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community, requires
that we conduct a balanced foreign policy fostering development of
democratic institutions and a strong economy. Azerbaijan has come this
far without tangible foreign aid and expects to continue democratic
and economic development, primarily through its own resources.

According to a recent survey by the International Republican Institute
sponsored by USAID, an overwhelming majority of Azerbaijanis want
economic and social development to be their government’s priority
concerns.

This November, the people of Azerbaijan will elect a Parliament I
believe will accelerate our transition toward democratic pluralism to
match the country’s unprecedented economic growth. Mr. Lugar told the
press in Baku: “I sense in Azerbaijan a yearning for building strong
democratic institutions.”

Hafiz Pashayev is Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the United States.

CSTO CHIEF TO WATCH JOINT RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN DRILL

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
September 12, 2005 Monday 5:23 AM Eastern Time

Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Nikolai Bordyuzha flew to Armenia on Monday to watch a joint
Russian-Armenian drill, the CSTO’s secretariat told Itar-Tass.

The exercise practices protection and defense of CSTO member-states
by Russian-Armenia units,” Bordyuzha told reporters before flying
to Yerevan.

“Taking part in the military exercise are two motorized rifle
regiments, representing each of the party, as well as support units.

This drill is important for us as an element of combat training,”
he underlined.

Bordyuzha praised Armenia’s contribution to collective security
efforts.

The exercise will take place in Armenia from September 10 throughout
September 13, in line with bilateral accords. It involves Armenian land
troops and Air Force units and units from Russia’s 102nd military base,
the CSTO secretariat said.

ARINC CONFIDENT ABOUT THE START OF EU TALKS ON OCT 3

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 12 2005

Turkish Parliament Speaker expressed yesterday his confidence about
the start of negotiations between Turkey and the European Union on
Oct 3, as scheduled.

Arinc made the remarks at a press conference at the conclusion of
the Second World Parliament Speakers’ Conference in New York .

“There are some circles in the EU who don’t wish to see Turkey in
the Union ,” said Arinc. “We are bothered by the acts and statements
of some European politicians who have made the issue of Turkey into
fodder for domestic political debates.”

Arinc also touched on the recent street demonstrations in various
Turkish cities, saying, “These will not deter Turkey from its path of
democracy and freedom. The Turkish government is taking the necessary
steps so that such demonstrations will not hurt democracy or innocent
citizens.”

Arinc: Instead of being rewarded, Turkish Cypriots were punished

Arinc also held a press conference in New York on Saturday where he
said the Turkish Cypriots who voted in favor of a solution in Cyprus
last year were punished instead of getting a reward.

He also touched on the controversial Armenian genocide issue,
condemning the one-sided recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide
claims by some parliaments.

MPAA: Kids Can’t Handle “Truth”

by Josh Grossberg
Sep 9, 2005, 10:30 AM PT

Two’s company but three’s definitely a crowd.

That’s the verdict of the Motion Picture Association of America, whose
Ratings and Classifications Board has upheld the dreaded _NC-17
rating_ (,1,17213,00.html) it
slapped on Canadian filmmaker _Atom Egoyan_
( es/0,127,31877,00.html) ‘s
new art-house drama, Where the Truth Lies, because it featured a
ménage à trois.

The movie, which stars _Kevin Bacon_
(,128,102,00.html) , _Colin
Firth_ (,128,537 0,00.html) ,
_Rachel Blanchard_
( o/0,128,38399,00.html) and
_Alison Lohman_
( ,128,71269,00.html) , makes
its North American debut next week at the _Toronto Film Festival_
(,1,16931,00.html) .

It follows a popular 1950s-era comedy duo (Bacon and Firth) whose
career is derailed after they engage in a night of debauchery,
including a threesome with a beautiful woman who turns up dead the
next day in their hotel suite.

After reviewing Truth last month, the MPAA’s Ratings and
Classifications Board gave the picture an NC-17, which means no one
under the age of 17 is allowed admission, citing “some explicit
sexuality” involving Bacon, Firthand Blanchard.

The decision prompted protests from independent distributor ThinkFilm,
which claimed the three-way was artfully choreographed by Egoyan and
is central to the movie’s mystery. The company also noted that the
rating severely hampered the flick’s commercial prospects, since many
exhibitors refuse to book NC-17-rated fare.

ThinkFilm appealed and on Wednesday the filmmaker and Blanchard went
beforea 10-member panel in Los Angeles to make their case. Egoyan
argued that he filmed the ménage in a sustained master shot and that
trimming it would be nearly impossible without losing the scene’s
intent, which anchors the storyline.

An NC-17 is an “unwarranted response given the story it’s telling and
the way it needed to be told,” Egoyan told the Associated Press. “We
couldn’t trim any more without destroying the heart of the movie.”

Blanchard added that she had no problem shedding her inhibitions,
since the scene was vital to the integrity of the drama being played
out.

“The film is basically about the power of celebrity and the abuse of
that power,” she told the wire service. “It sort of expands on how
abusing that power sexually has consequences. It’s a redeeming film
and it has a positive message.”

Unfortunately their arguments failed to make the cut. The appeals
board voted 6-4 to overturn the NC-17 rating and give it an R,
falling one vote short of the required two-thirds majority.

Despite the setback, Where the Truth Lies will still be released
uncut. Because ThinkFilm is not an MPAA signatory like the major
studios, it has the option of issuing the movie unrated, and,
according to chairman Robert Santos, that’s exactly what the company
intends to do.

That’s the same strategy the distributor recently employed with its
potty-mouthed documentary The Aristocrats, in which a who’s-who of
comedians riff on the same dirty joke. Nonetheless, ThinkFilm faces an
uphill battle at the box office, since many exhibitors outside major
cities typically shy away from screening unrated films, and media
outlets don’t like to advertise such fare.

Another problem possibly hindering profitability: ThinkFilms is
contractually required to deliver an R-rated version to Columbia
TriStar Home Video. No word yet whether the film will need to be
chopped for its DVD release.

Where The Truth Lies is set to open in New York and Los Angeles on
Oct. 14 before expanding one week later to whatever U.S. theaters
agree to book it. E! Entertainment Television, Inc.

Armenian leader welcomes sports complex deal with Russian company

Arminfo
9 Sep 05

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today received the president of
the Russian construction holding BAMO, Murad Muradyan, who has bought
the Karen Demirchyan sports and concert complex. A relevant agreement
was signed today between the management of the holding and the state
property department of the Armenian government.

During the meeting, Kocharyan expressed his satisfaction with the
deal, the presidential press service told Arminfo news agency. In
turn, the new owner of the sports and concert complex assured the head
of state that he will rigorously keep his commitments stipulated by
the deal.

The two parties noted the importance of the fact that the
implementation of the investment programme of the sports and concert
complex will open new opportunities for the development of Armenia’s
cultural and sports life.

It must be remembered that BAMO has bought the sports and concert
complex for 5.7m dollars. The government decided to sell the complex
on 25 August this year.

[Passage omitted: Details of BAMO’s obligations]

WAHRHEIT DURCH GERICHTSBESCHLUß?; DIE SCHWEIZ IN DER KLEMME: AN DEN TURKEN ZEIGT SICH DAS DILEMMA DER ANTIRASSISTISCHEN STAATSRASON
Jurg Altwegg

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
8. September 2005

GENF, 7. September

Seit Jahren sind die Beziehungen zwischen der Schweiz und der Turkei
schlecht. In der Schweiz laufen Untersuchungen der Staatsanwaltschaft
gegen den Prasidenten der Turkischen Historischen Gesellschaft, Yusuf
Halacoglu, wie gegen den Vorsitzenden der turkischen Arbeiterpartei,
Dogu Perincek: Beiden wird vorgeworfen, den Genozid an den Armeniern
zu leugnen. Verargert uber die Schweiz ist die Turkei auch Orhan
Pamuks wegen, der sich kaum zwei Monate nach der Verleihung des
Friedenspreises vor einem Gericht verantworten muß. Ihm droht eine
Gefangnisstrafe, weil er in einem Interview im Magazin des Zurcher
“Tages-Anzeigers” erklart hatte, in der Turkei seien 30 000 Kurden
und eine Million Armenier ermordet worden.

Pikant wird die Lage dadurch, daß in beiden Landern versucht wird,
offizielle Versionen der historischen “Wahrheit” mit der Gewalt
von Gerichtsbeschlussen durchzusetzen. Mit welchem Recht, darf
man sich in der Turkei fragen, erregt man sich in der Schweiz
uber das Verfahren gegen Pamuk, wenn man selbst spiegelverkehrte
Äußerungen zum Anlaß fur analoge Verfahren nimmt? Die Schweiz tut
sich schwer mit ihrem Antirassismusgesetz und ganz besonders mit
einem Artikel, der das Leugnen von “Volkermord und anderen Verbrechen
gegen die Menschlichkeit” unter Strafe stellt. Konnen oder mussen
die Strafverfahren die demokratischen Debatten und historische
Untersuchungen ersetzen?

Das Gesetz entstand zu Beginn der neunziger Jahre im Zug neuer
antisemitischer Äußerungen. Der jetzige Innenminister Christoph
Blocher wurde damals des Antisemitismus, sein journalistischer
Gegenspieler Frank A. Meyer noch kurzlich des Rassismus gegen den
Islam bezichtigt. Seit Jahren muß sich der Publizist Frank Lubke vor
wechselnden Gerichten fur einen offenen Brief verantworten, in dem er
Attentate “als Beispiel fur die islamistisch-arabisch-palastinensischen
Wahnsinnsschlachtereien gegen die judisch-israelische Zivilbevolkerung”
bezeichnete. Ob das Gesetz wirklich zum Schutz der Minderheiten
beitragt, erscheint ungewiß. Die vielen Affaren vergiften jedenfalls
das Klima.

Die Spannungen mit der Turkei dauern seit Jahren an. Staatsbesuche
wurden verschoben – und nachgeholt. Im Juni kam eine Delegation der
Außenpolitischen Kommission des turkischen Parlaments in die Schweiz.

Man konne von der Bevolkerung nicht erwarten, daß sie die Großvater
zu Kriminellen erklare, teilte man den Schweizern mit.

Ministerprasident Erdogan habe eine Historikerkommission eingesetzt,
welche ganz nach dem Beispiel von Jean-Francois Bergiers “Unabhangiger
Expertenkommission Schweiz Zweiter Weltkrieg” die Volkermord-Vorwurfe
abklaren werde. Die Große Kammer des Schweizer Parlaments hat – wie
Frankreich, wie der Europarat – die Massaker, deren Opfer die Armenier
waren, per Abstimmung vor zwei Jahren zum Genozid erklart. Es gibt
auch entsprechende Gerichtsurteile: In juristischer Hinsicht scheinen
die Falle Halacoglu und Perincek klar, die Äußerungen beider erfullen
offenkundig den Strafbestand.

Schweizer Politiker verweisen auf die Gewaltentrennung.

Nun wird auch das fragwurdige Gesetz wieder diskutiert. Die
“Auschwitz-Lugner”, schreibt der Historiker Georg Kreis in der
Zeitschrift “Tachles”, bestreiten nicht nur die Tatsache der sechs
Millionen Toten: “Sie werfen den Opfern und ihren Nachkommen auch vor,
mit der Fabrikation dieser ,Legende’ politischen und pekuniaren Gewinn
erzielen zu wollen.” Das sei Antisemitismus. Kreis erkennt an, “daß man
antirassistische Normen nicht als Schutz einzig fur Juden ernst nehmen
darf”, ein solches “Privileg” wurde auch von den Juden abgelehnt:
“Es gibt aber in den europaischen Gesellschaften aus Rucksicht auf die
historische Schuld die Neigung, gegenuber antijudischer Diffamierung
besonders sensibel zu sein. Die muslimische Minderheit etwa, der
gegenuber Europa nicht in dieser Weise schuldig geworden ist, kommt
nicht in gleichem Maß in den Genuß einer solchen Sensibilitat.”

Das Gesetz, mit dem sich die Schweiz ein gutes Gewissen verschaffen
wollte, hat Ungeister geweckt, die sie nicht mehr los wird. “Die
Leugnung des Genozids an den Armeniern ist wohl nicht ein taugliches
Objekt, um die Gleichbehandlung einzufordern und durchzuexerzieren”,
befindet der Historiker Kreis. Mit dieser Formulierung ist er nun
selbst unter Beschuß geraten. Denn zumindest vor dem Gesetz mußten
auch alle Genozide gleich sein.

–Boundary_(ID_XIl7b5ykPJHeB03ee4qE/w)–

TURKISH-EU RELATIONS: A WAR OF NERVES?
Cem Oguz

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Aug 8 2005

Last December, the European Council announced that Turkey had
fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria and the EU would open
accession negotiations with Turkey on Oct. 3 this year. However, in
the same statement that gave Turkey the green light, it was clearly
underlined that the negotiations were to be an “open-ended process,
the outcome of which can’t be guaranteed beforehand.” Paradoxically,
it had to be ensured that Turkey would be fully “anchored in European
structures through the strongest possible bond,” even if it fails
“to assume in full all the obligations of membership.”

Given that these two prerequisites were accepted at the time by
the Turkish government, there’s indeed substantial irony in hearing
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s, as well as Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul’s, recent statements such as the “EU shouldn’t toy
with Turkey” or “Turkey would walk away from the EU for good,”
if there were attempts to water down its membership. Apparently,
similar to that prevailing sentiment among EU circles, there’s also
confusion in the higher echelons of the Justice and Development (AK)
Party government. I’m willing to assume that such statements are
either tactical maneuvers or, as characterized by political analysts
close to the government, must be part of sincere warnings rather
than empty threats. Yet it seems that, so far, they’re destined to
remain vain efforts. What I find more important is Erdogan’s remark of
“Turkey has nothing more to give.”

Readers will probably remember that a short while ago I wrote that none
of the so-called concessions on the issues relevant to EU accession
had created a notable outcry in Turkey. But I warned, as many other
people possessed of common sense did, that the honeymoon seemed to
be over and popular disappointment in Turkey was rapidly growing. At
present anger has reached such a level that almost the entire country
is engulfed by anti-EU feelings, although some domestic, as well as
foreign, circles are choosing to ignore it. Last week, I visited some
remote villages in the Taurus mountains and astonishingly witnessed
that even among the villagers living there the current stage of
relations with the EU unleashes powerful emotions. The question then
should be: What’s changed so quickly?

The answer is very simple: First of all, Turks, by and large, have
lost their hope, and secondly the repercussions of radical changes on
sensitive issues have eventually started to affect their daily lives.
The recent rise in attacks by the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK), for instance, is linked by a considerable number of ordinary
Turks to the biased attitude, as well as support, of EU circles.
Suffice to say that the EU right now is associated with the notion
of instability. Apparently, it’s the US administration that has
realized how acute the danger is. Washington, facing rising criticism
from the Turkish establishment about PKK hideouts in northern Iraq,
recently announced that it will help the Turkish government to combat
the PKK on European soil. Isn’t it a paradox to mention Europe,
while the Turkish fingers were pointing at Iraq? Washington can
indeed be accused of willing to deflect attention from itself. But
it’s not that simple. The US authorities are fully aware that
the surge of nationalism in Turkey, as well as reactions towards
the broadly-defined West, the EU in particular, must be balanced,
before it turns out to be detrimental to the interests of each party
concerned. It shouldn’t be allowed to reach a level that would result
in an ultimate breakaway. In that regard, they seem to be supported by
some prudent EU members. Measures recently applied by Germany against
the PKK, for instance, are a precise example of that phenomenon.

Some EU members, in turn, once again appear to be in denial about
the depth of rising discontent as well as reaction in Turkey.
Irreversible concessions on Cyprus, the Armenian allegations, and
minority issues are the three main subjects that have been the cause
of agonizing debates between Brussels and Ankara. They’re adding to
popular indignation in Turkey. Obviously, however, they’ll be used
increasingly by ardent Turkey-skeptics in Europe to block its full
membership. French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, for instance,
sarcastically claims that he’s in favor of Turkey’s membership process,
as long as Ankara “has a calm and peaceful relationship with the whole
of Europe” and “as quickly as possible commits itself to the road of
recognizing [Greek] Cyprus.” Are we talking about the same southern
Cyprus that’s solely responsible for the current deadlock subsequent
to Kofi Annan’s efforts for a peaceful resolution on the island?

In the meantime, Turkish people have run out of patience and are
becoming more disgusted with each passing day. They’re tired of
endless conditions and aren’t willing to make more concessions
without concrete results. Inevitably, this leads to political
extremism in Turkey and the radicalization of Turkish politics.
Nationalist sentiments are running high. In such a milieu, Erdogan,
who’s based his party’s as well as the government’s entire vision
on the ideal of Turkey’s full membership, can’t simply say “enough”
and turn his back on EU prospects. People would then question why
sacrifices were made or concessions were given. At this point,
it’s Erdogan himself who’s believed to be playing to the gallery.
Consequently, it seems that there might be a war of nerves between
the Erdogan government and Turkey-skeptics in Europe, each trying to
leave responsibility for failure in the hands of the other side. This
stubborn war will probably continue until one side finally just gives
up. Whether this becomes a long-term disagreement and doors will be
closed to each other forever, is right now in the hands of visionary,
honest, and sincere circles in the EU itself.

TURKISH OFFICERS IN RETIREMENT SHOULD INTERPRET “GENOCIDE” TERM

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6. ARMINFO. About 300 Turkish officers in retirement
intend to take active part at “Armenia in period of Ottoman empire
downfall” forthcoming conference in Istanbul, as Turkish “Zaman”
informs, Head of Turkish retired officers Union, divisional general
in retirement Rza Kyuchugogly stated.

Kyuchugogly noted that he has sent a proper letter to conference
organizers and informed on their wish to take active part at both
the conference and the discussions. In his words, officers are
tuned resolutely enough and certainly will participate there. Both
Kyuchugogly and Union members prove their certainty with the importance
of the forthcoming conference in the interests of Turkey’s future. “If
this action are being organized under a slogan that the Armenian
issue will be given democratic explanation, we consider necessary our
participation there. If they use “Genocide” word, in fact groundlessly
blaming Turkey in its fulfillment, we at least will demand to interpret
“Genocide” term”, he stated.

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE VISITED ODESSA

Pan Armenian News

05.09.2005 07:43

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On invitation of Mayor of Odessa E. Gurvits Armenian
Ambassador to Ukraine Armen Khachatrian paid a call to Odessa August
1-4, RA MFA press center reported. Within the framework of the
festivities A.

Khachatrian met with governor of the Odessa region V. Tsushko and
Mayor of Odessa E. Gurvits. The interlocutors discussed a wide range
of issues referring to the development of the Armenian-Ukrainian
relations. In part, they noted the vital importance of the
Ilichevsk-Poti ferry line. During the visit Armen Khachatrian also
met with the representatives of the local Armenian community.

NKR PRESIDENT: BEHAVIOR OF BAKU AUTHORITIES MORE AND MORE POSTPONE DAY OF KARABAKH CONFLICT’S RESOLUTION

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 2. ARMINFO. Baku authorities try to conceal
the successes of Nagorny Karabakh in construction of a legal and
democratic state from Azerbaijani people by all means possible, not
allowing their citizens to visit NKR and communicate with Karabakh
people. It is not accidental, however, such behavior has no prospects,
a it is even more postpones the day of full and mutually advantageous
resolution of the conflict. NKR Presiden Arkady Ghouakssyan made such
an address on the occasion of the 14th Anniversary of NKR Independence.

According to ARMINFO’s special correspondent to Stepanakert, in his
address NKR President said that such acts by the Azerbaijani leadership
as well as its unwillingness to negotiate with the Karabakh conflict
cast a serious doubt on the prospects of the conflict’s settlement
by civil methods on the basis of reasonable compromises. That is why
the fact of the unsettled conflict remains a factor threatening with
new destabilization in the region, Arkady Ghoukassyan thinks. He
once more assured all those present that NKR leadership adheres
exclusively to the peace settlement of the conflict. “At the same
time our people must be sure that no one will be able to deprive us
from the independence gained by means of irreplaceable losses. The
All National NKR Defense Army is able to give a proper counteraction
to all those who will dare to encroach upon our Motherland. We have
all the necessary means and possibilities for it,” NKR President says.