Author: Arsine Chaltikian

Russian TV suspended in Azerbaijan over Armenian president’s interview
Space TV, Baku
23 Apr 05
The rebroadcasting of Russia TV in Azerbaijan will be suspended for
half an hour at 2125 Baku time [1625 gmt] today. This decision was
taken by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and
the National TV and Radio Council.
The ministry press service said that the reason for the suspension was
an interview planned by the channel with Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan on the so-called genocide of Armenians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

California Courier Online, April 21, 2005
1 – Commentary
Some Surprises Turks Did Not Expect
In Anticipating Armenian Tsunami
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
2 – Authors Kherdian and Hogrogian
To Discuss Books at CSUF, May 2
3 – CSUF Professor’s Book Details
History of Armenians in Canada
4 – Deadline for ARPA2005 Film
Festival Entries is June 30
5 – L.A. Triple X Hosts Annual
Golf Tournament at Brookside
6 – ‘Brave’ Pastor Aghabaloglu
Visits AMAA Headquarters
7 – Republican State Senators Unanimously
Endorse Poochigian for Attorney General
8 – UCLA Students Pass Resolution Banning
Sale of Turkish Goods on Campus
*************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Some Surprises Turks Did Not Expect
In Anticipating Armenian Tsunami
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
At the time of writing this column, the Armenian Tsunami, much anticipated
by the Turks in advance of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
is still a few days away.
The Turks correctly anticipated the Tsunami, but miscalculated two things.
First, the Turks themselves contributed greatly to this Tsunami, by
unintentionally publicizing the Armenian Genocide through their
“pre-emptive” activities. Second, the Turks did not realize that it was
going to be an international Tsunami, rather than one limited to Armenians.
We have seen reports of various events that have already taken place in
advance of April 24, and announcements of other activities being planned
later this week around the globe. These events are too numerous to mention
here.
For example, the City Council of Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, passed
a resolution on March 30, naming a central square of the city, “The Square
of the Armenian People’s Genocide.” A monument dedicated to the memory of
the victims of the Armenian Genocide will be erected in that square. In
addition, the legislatures, governors and mayors of various states and
cities throughout the United States and several other countries issued
proclamations and resolutions on the Armenian Genocide.
Incidentally, Uruguay was the first country to officially recognize the
Armenian Genocide. The country’s Senate and House and Representatives
adopted such a resolution on April 20, 1965. Last year, on March 26, the
President of Uruguay signed a law designating April 24 as a “Day of
Recognition for the Armenian Martyrs.”
Amazingly, the normally astute Turkish diplomatic corps do not seem to know
how many countries have already recognized the Armenian Genocide. Last
week, I was both saddened and amused, seeing in the Turkish press a picture
of all 550 members of the Turkish Parliament signing a joint letter of
complaint to
the legislatures of 11 countries for having recognized the Armenian
Genocide. This miserable spectacle reminded me of those horrible days when
the Fuhrer would give an order and everyone in sight would salute him in
blind obedience, by proclaiming: Hail, Hitler! I also recalled the days of
another brutal dictator, Stalin, holding a session of the Supreme Soviet in
the Kremlin, with all of its members approving his decrees, by yelling
“Da,” in unison.
Seeing 550 members of the Turkish Parliament blindly sign a letter full of
lies about the Armenian Genocide made me wonder how the Turkish leaders
hope to ever join the European Union, when they just showed the world that
their country is no better that Hitler’s Germany or Stalin’s “Evil Empire.”
I probably need to send the Turkish leaders a copy of my new book that was
just published this week. It lists the names and the statements of the all
17 countries, not 11, that have recognized the Genocide so far. This book
is sponsored by the “90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Commemorative Committee of California” (composed of 26 Armenian
organizations and political parties) as well as the “Armenian Genocide
Commemoration Committee – Lebanon.” The book is titled: The Armenian
Genocide: The World
Speaks Out, 1915-2005, Documents and Declarations. Copies of this book are
being handed out to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and
the Senate, as well as the legislatures of several states. It is the only
book of its kind that contains the texts (translated into English) of the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the legislatures of all 17
countries, as well as reports by international organizations and statements
by government officials and prominent individuals.
One of the unexpected items washed up by the “Tsunami” is a full-page ad in
the April 25 issue of the influential “U.S. News and World Report” magazine
which is read by millions of people around the world every week. That issue
is already available for sale in most bookstores and newsstands. The text,
linking the Armenian Genocide to various other genocides, was prepared by
the Zoryan Institute among others, including this writer. The ad was made
possible by a special gift from a generous donor “in memory of millions of
voices silenced by genocide.” The ad provides a web link for further
information on genocide. I encourage everyone to buy one or more copies of
this issue for yourself, your family and friends.
Finally, the Fox TV station in the Los Angeles area (Channel 11) will
devote a few minutes of its 10 to 11 p.m. news program on April 23 to the
Armenian Genocide. It will air live footage of the April 24 procession of
hundreds of thousands of Armenians placing flowers at the Armenian Genocide
Monument in Yerevan. At the invitation of Fox TV, live commentary will be
provided by this writer.
**************************************************************************
2 – Authors Kherdian and Hogrogian
To Discuss Books at CSUF, May 2
FRESNO – The acclaimed husband and wife team of author David Kherdian and
author/illustrator Nonny Hogrogian will discuss and read from their new
books at 7:30 p.m. on May 2, in the Industrial Technology Building, Room
101 (corner of Barstow and Campus Drive) on the Fresno State campus.
The lecture is part of the Armenian Studies Program Spring 2005 Lecture
Series and is co-sponsored by the Armenian Students Organization.
Between them, David Kherdian and Nonny Hogrogian have written, edited, or
illustrated over one hundred books. Their work has encompassed the Armenian
Genocide, life in America as first-generation Armenians, children’s books,
memoirs in verse and prose, folklore, and the mystical teachings of
Gurdjieff.
David Kherdian will read from one of his latest books, The Song of the
Stork, a spirited translation of an important collection of poems first
compiled and published by the Mekhitarist priest and scholar Levond Alishan
in Venice in 1850. Kherdian writes of these songs/poems that “their
humility and troubled faith draws a response from that place in us that is
reserved for the essential and true “from our own unspoiled reservoir of
spirit, that understands what has been lost and can yet be regained.” The
book features illustrations by Nonny Hogrogian.
This will be followed by a selection from some earlier books of poetry and
memoirs, concluding with readings from his new book, Letters to My Father,
which is a meditation on the elusive bond between fathers and sons. In this
suite of 60 poems, Kherdian evokes his Armenian father through plainspoken
recollections of poignant details: a heavy gray coat, the way he combed his
eyebrows, his signature X.
Kherdian is well known as the author of the Newberry Award Winner The Road
>>From Home: The Story of An Armenian Girl, which detailed his mother’s
experiences in surviving the Armenian Genocide. Read by students and
adults alike, it has contributed greatly to increasing awareness of the
Genocide.
He has been widely recognized as one of the most important and distinctive
voices in Armenian-American poetry for nearly four decades. The title poem
to his collection On the Death of My Father was praised by William Saroyan
as “one of the best lyric poems in American poetry.” Kherdian has also
memorably chronicled his youth growing up in Racine, Wisconsin, and his
experiences as an Armenian American in such works as Homage to Adana, I
Remember Root River, The Dividing River/The Meeting Shore, and My Racine,
among many others.
Nonny Hogrogian’s newest book, Finding My Name, is a memoir of her first
thirteen years growing up in the Bronx, New York. It explores both her
efforts to find herself as a budding artist and the joys and difficulties
of growing up as an Armenian-American torn between two cultures.
Hogrogian has twice won children’s literature’s highest honor, the
Caldecott Medal, for her books Always Room for One More and One Fine Day.
Her illustrations to Virginia Tashjian’s Armenian folktale collections Once
There Was and Was Not and Three Apples Fell from Heaven and her husband’s
retelling of the Armenian tale The Golden Bracelet are beloved by several
generations of Armenian children.
Following the authors’ talk and a question-and-answer period, they will be
available to sign copies of not only their new titles but also selected
older titles as well.
Copies of Kherdian’s books will be on sale after the talk.
Relaxed parking will be available in Lots Q, K, and L after 7:00 PM the
night of the lecture. For more information on the presentation, contact the
Armenian Studies Program at 278-2669.
*****************************************************************
3 – CSUF Professor’s Book Details
History of Armenians in Canada
FRESNO – A Fresno State professor’s book looking at Armenians in Canada was
published this month and coincides with the 90th anniversary of the
beginning of the Armenian genocide that killed 1.5 million people.
Dr. Isabel Kaprielian-Churchill, a professor of history at California State
University, Fresno wrote `Like Our Mountains: A History of Armenians in
Canada,’ which was published by McGill-Queen’s University Press. The book
recounts the sweeping social history of the Armenian-Canadian experience
that links the Old World with the New against a far-flung diaspora.
The genocide of Armenians in Turkey began in 1915. More than seventy-five
thousand Armenians have found refuge in Canada and Kaprielian-Churchill’s
narrative is the first comprehensive account of their experience from the
late 19th century to the devastating earthquake in 1988.
`Like Our Mountains’ relates the history of the Canadian Armenian community
from its founding, settlements and economic adjustments, to its social,
religious, political and cultural life, transformations
over generations, and relationship with other communities in Canadian
society. The book examines the cities settled by Armenian immigrants:
Brantford before 1914, St. Catharines after World War I, Hamilton
after World War II, and Toronto and Montreal from the 1960s to 1988.
Kaprielian-Churchill carried out exhaustive research in English, Armenian,
and French sources including interviews with survivors of the genocide,
archives, oral histories, diaries and memoirs and letters.
A professor of Armenian and Immigration History, Kaprielian-Churchill
specializes in the field of Armenian diasporan history.
**************************************************************************
4 – Deadline for ARPA
2005 Film Festival
Entries is June 30
LOS ANGELES – Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art will host the annual
Arpa International Film Festival October 3-6, 2005 at Arclight Cinemas in
Hollywood, California.
Arpa is now accepting films for competition in the following categories:
Feature Film, Short Film, Documentary and Animation. Entries must be
received no later than June 30, 2005.
Now in its 8th year, the festival has established itself as an
international resource for independent filmmakers. Last year’s festival
featured over 50 films from 20 different countries. The Arpa International
Film Festival is one of the most dynamic important niche festivals.
The Festival is dedicated to cultivating cultural understanding and global
empathy, creating a dynamic forum for international cinema with a special
focus on the work of filmmakers who explore the issues of Diaspora, exile,
and cross- and multi-culturalism. And it celebrates the ideals of
independent thought, artistic vision, cultural diversity and social
understanding.
Submission rules and entry form are available online at
or For additional information, contact the Arpa Foundation
for Film, Music and Art at [email protected] or call (323)
663-1882.
**************************************************************************
5 – L.A. Triple X Hosts Annual
Golf Tournament at Brookside
PASADENA – The Los Angeles Chapter of the Triple X Fraternity will host the
50th Annual Armenian Open Golf Tournament June 17 at the Brookside Country
Club in Pasadena.
Brookside has been the site of many Golden State and Nike professional
tournaments and is considered one of the outstanding golf courses in the
area.
For over 75 years, the Triple X has enjoyed a reputation as an organization
that has contributed to the Armenian community.
Since its inception in 1955m the golf tournament has raised over $200,000
that has been distributed to various Armenian charities locally and abroad.
After golf, players and their guests will be entertained at an awards
banquet that will include live Armenian music and a raffle with many
prizes. The highlight of the evening is the presentation of trophies to
players in various categories and all skill levels.
For more information on how to participate, call Tev Eminian (818)
366-7888, or Mike Kourtjian (818) 885-6500.
**************************************************************************
6 – ‘Brave’ Pastor Aghabaloglu
Visits AMAA Headquarters
PARAMUS, NJ – The Armenian Evangelical pastor who became an international
hero among the Armenians as a result of his appearance on Turkish
television, paid a visit to the headquarters of the Armenian Missionary
Association of America (AMAA) on April 12.
Rev. Krikor Aghabaloghlu was invited to participate in a five-hour show on
Turkish television to present “the Armenian point of view” in a discussion
of the Armenian Genocide. Rev. Aghabaloghlu is a well-known activist who
has already been jailed once for challenging the confiscation of his
church’s property by the Turkish government.
“We were doubly proud to have Krikor visit us,” said Andrew Torigian,
AMAA’s Executive Director, “First, of course, because he is one of our own,
but also because he had the courage to speak out about the truth of the
Armenian Genocide on Turkish television, something that is rarely done.”
At the AMAA offices, Rev. Aghabaloghlu was introduced to the headquarters
staff, and had discussion with both the Executive and the Administrative
Directors. He reported on the progress of the Armenian Evangelical work in
Turkey, which goes beyond the Armenian communities and reaches out to the
local community. Many non Armenian Christians now regularly participate in
the Sunday worship services
The outspoken and courageous Istanbul pastor was encouraged and supported
by the AMAA to attend the Bitinia Bible School of Istanbul, from which he
was graduated.. In September 1999, the Union of the Armenian Evangelical
Churches in the Near East granted him a license to preach and perform the
sacraments of Baptism and Communion in Armenian Evangelical Church of Gedik
Pasha. He was ordained as a pastor in December 2002 and continues to serve
as pastor and Chairman of the same Church.
On the program, much to the surprise of both Hulki Jevizoglu, the host of
the show, and his main guest, historian Mehmet Saray, Rev. Aghabaloghlu
made it clear that there is no doubt a genocide was committed against the
Armenians. It is reported that while the two Turks were in a state of
disbelief, Pastor Aghabaloghlu went on to state that all Turks in Anatolia
know the truth about the Armenian Genocide, although no one dared to talk
about the subject and that anyone who had the courage to speak about it,
is called a traitor, condemned by the media, taken to court, and sent to
jail.
He kept on insisting that, as a clergyman, he has the obligation to tell
the truth, and refused to allow himself to be silenced.
Undeterred, Rev. Aghabaloghlu said that he knew the facts first-hand from
the experiences of his own family, and added that there is irrefutable
evidence for the Genocide in hundreds of books in many languages and that
everyone knew that the Armenians in Anatolia were the victims of Genocide.
Adding insult to the injury of the Turks, he asked rhetorically, “What did
happen to the Armenians inhabiting that region? Did they evaporate? Did
they decide to migrate en masse? Are there any Armenians left in
Anatolia?”
Rev. Aghabaloghlu was born in Arapkir in 1957. He studied in Arapkir and
Malatia and, in 1979, he was graduated from the University of Istanbul,
receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Education and majoring in the history of
Turkey. He is married to Maria Semerji. They have a son and a daughter.
***************************************************************************
7- Republican State Senators Unanimously
Endorse Poochigian for Attorney General
SACRAMENTO – The Poochigian for Attorney General campaign announced last
week that all of Senator Chuck Poochigian’s Republican colleagues in the
State Senate have endorsed him in his bid to be California’s next Attorney
General. This unified support of a candidate so early in the election
process is quite unique and is a testimony to the enormous respect
Poochigian (R-Fresno) has earned during his tenure in the California
Legislature.
“Few public officials serve their constituents and their state as well as
Chuck Poochigian,” said Senator Dick Ackerman (R-Tustin), Senator
Republican Leader. “He will make an excellent Attorney General and we, his
colleagues in the Senate, are pleased to offer our unanimous support to his
campaign.”
Poochigian thanked his fellow senators saying: “I’m honored to receive
such tremendous support from my colleagues. I look forward to continuing
to work on the important public safety and consumer issues that we’ve
focused on in the Senate after I’m elected as California’s next Attorney
General.”
In addition, three former members of the California State Senate have
endorsed Poochigian as well. They include former Senators Jim Brulte, Ross
Johnson, and Rico Oller.
**************************************************************************
8 – UCLA Students Pass Resolution Banning
Sale of Turkish Goods on Campus
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA student government, the Undergraduate Student
Association Council (USAC) unanimously passed a resolution introduced by
the UCLA Armenian Student Association (ASA) Wednesday night in support of
an initiative to ban the sale of Turkish goods at UCLA until Turkey
addresses its human rights record.
The resolution, entitled “Fight to Protect Human Rights in Turkey” made
reference to numerous historical and current human rights violations which
Turkey has committed towards its people, especially minorities. “What makes
this so important is that it not only highlights the historical human
rights violations committed by the Turkish government, but also the crimes
the government commits against its citizens today,” asserted Shant
Taslakian, a fourth year Philosophy major and ASA member who researched
goods sold in the ASUCLA store in preparation for the council meeting.
Other ASA members, including Garen Kirakosian and Ani Garibyan had done
extensive research – starting in 2004 – before presenting their findings to
USAC. “The passage of this resolution is a great step toward justice
throughout the world. It is important that institutions of higher learning,
like UCLA, take the necessary steps to make it known that they will not
conduct business with governments that mistreat their people and attempt to
deny and revise history,” proclaimed Kirakosian, a third-year Political
Science student.
The resolution sends a clear and bold message to the government of Turkey
by the UCLA student body. “This was a great victory not only for the
Armenian community at UCLA, but for all those who believe in the protection
of human rights,” asserted Raffi Kassabian, president for the Armenian
Student Association at UCLA. “We have seen USAC pass resolutions similar to
this before whether it is with the divestment from South Africa during
Apartheid and divestment from Burma. It is important for the UCLA student
body to take a clear and consistent stance on such human rights abuses.”
The ASA must now present the resolution to the Campus Services Committee of
the ASUCLA, which consists of various students and economists, among
others. The committee must determine the economic impact the resolution
would have on the university, before they can implement it. “Going into
May’s meeting with a resolution that has been unanimously approved by USAC
is a huge step for the ASA. We will do our utmost to work with the services
committee in implementing the resolution,” mentioned Garibyan, a
fourth-year Political Science student.
***************************************************************************
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Press
Unseal Our Borders?
Published: 4/5/2005
BY OKTAY EKSI
HURRIYET – Armenians in Armenia are in big trouble. Nowadays, each and
every one of them comments on how beneficial it would be for Turkey
to unseal its border gate to Armenia. Leyla Tavsanoglu’s interview
with Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) moderator David
Philips was published in Sunday’s Cumhuriyet’s. Philips is obviously
one of those who seems sure that we’re too stupid to recognize our
own national interests. He mentions 10 times during the interview
how we could benefit from opening our border gate to Armenia. He’s
actually trying to say, ‘Just open your gates, the rest is easy.’
Not only Armenians, but also proponents of the Armenian ‘genocide’
thesis among us and especially the US have recently been dropping the
border gate issue whenever possible. Whatever they are going to say,
they begin with, ‘You should open your borders to Armenia…’
All these efforts surely serve a good purpose. Armenia had a population
of 3.44 million in 1998. However, by 2004 its population had fallen to
just 2.99 million. The reason why almost 500,000 people left Armenia
during this six-year period is purely poverty. The Armenian economy
is a shambles, and half of its population lives in poverty.
Once they persuade us to open the border gates, their next move will
be to try to open out to international markets and improve their
economy. Soon enough, they will be trying to corner us and get us to
admit their ‘genocide’ claims. Their constitution and declaration of
independence are full of hatred against us, and they will be trying
to realize their schemes at the earliest opportunity.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul recently noted that over 40,000 Armenians
work just in Istanbul, which is a sign of Turkey’s good will. But
what do we get in return? Armenia pushes to make us recognize their
‘genocide’ claims. And next they’ll demand compensation and land
from us. They don’t even bother to conceal their aims. What kind of
a person would agree to this?
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN’S MAIN PLAN ENVISAGES TO RESTORE GREENERY
AZG Armenian Daily #051, 23/03/2005
Yerevan
Romik Kosemian, head of the Ecology Department at Yerevan Municipality,
represented the municipals ecology programs for 2005 at a regular
briefing.
The more Yerevanners and the ecology organizations blame the Yerevan
Municipality for annihilating green territories of the capital
during the recent decade, the more municipal officials try to prove
the contrary.
As 2005 is announced a year of tree planting for Yerevan, the mayor’s
office decided to renovate the water supply system to have good results
first of all. Thus, 640 million AMD are envisaged to be spend on
the tree-planting program in total. On June 1, the renovation works
of the water supply system will be completed (including 31 parks,
gardens and lawns).
The local administration bodies will allocate 326 million AMD. 90
million AMD will be allocated by a separate program for the renovation
of the water supply system of Tsitsernakaberd.
On April 16, within the framework of the annual municipal weekend
activities, 30 thousand trees and bushes will be planted. Nobody
knows whether the newly renovated water supply system will manage to
water the newly planted trees or the majority of them will get dried
up just like the ones planted during the past years did.
Generally, the Municipality will have planted 117 thousand trees
and 260 thousand bushes covering 360 hectares’ area by the end of
2007. 60-80 thousand trees will be planted in the woods, according
to the agreement signed with Hayantar.
The most unbelievable correction in the plans is that they decided to
increase the current indicator of 4sq.meters of greenery to 20-22 sq.
meters. It is envisaged in the main plan of Yerevan.
A special committee is numerating the kiosks set up on the formerly
green lawns. It is envisaged to step by step remove these unauthorized
buildings.
By Karine Danielian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS DISCOURAGE ANY FURTHER SETTLEMENT OF TERRITORIES OF
AZERBAIJAN CONTROLLED BY NAGORNO KARABAKH
YEREVAN, MARCH 18. ARMINFO. Based on the report of the OSCE MG
Fact-Finding Mission the OSCE MG co-chairs discourage any further
settlement of the Azeri territories controlled by Nagorno Karabakh.
The co-chairs urge the parties to accelerate negotiations toward a
political settlement in order to inter alia to address the problem of
the settlers and to avoid changes in the demographic strucuture of the
region which would make more difficult any future efforts to achieve a
negotiated settlement.
In view of the extensive preparation that would be required before the
return of refugees and internally displaced persons could be possible
in the framework of the negotiated resoluton of the conflict the
co-chairs commend that the relevant international agencies reevaluate
the needs and finding assessments in the region inter alia for the
purpose of settlement.
In order to ensure the presentation of the cultural heritage and
sacred sites including inter alia, cemeteries, of the affected regions
the co-chairs urge the parties to allow for direct contacts between
the interested communities.
The co-chairs also urge the sides to develop practical measures to
build trust and confidence between the parties and the communities and
work with their publics to prepare the groundwork for a peaceful
settlement.
Taking into account the implications of the situation for the future
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict the co-chairs reserve the
option of further investigation and consideration of this issue for
the benefit of the Minsk peace process including fulfillment of these
recommendations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BP dismisses Azeri pipeline security concern
Zerkalo, Baku
10 Mar 05

Text of C. Bayramova’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 10
March headlined “The pipeline is safely buried” and subheaded “The
terrorists of the whole world can never reach the country’s main oil
artery”
Are Azerbaijan’s oil “veins” threatened by terror attacks?!
[Azerbaijani] Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sarifov does not seem to have
any doubts about it and does not rule out that they may be committed
by Armenia. The high-ranking official has recently called for tougher
measures to prevent possible terror attacks along the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), Baku-Novorossiysk and Baku-Supsa pipelines.
Sarifov, who is also the chairman of the state commission for
emergencies, said that the government did not have logistics and
resources enough to eliminate the consequences of possible acts of
sabotage.
What made the deputy prime minister make a statement of this kind? Has
he observed drawbacks in the work of both the government and the
operators of the mentioned oil projects, which are, in fact, to watch
for the security of the pipelines? Or, is there another reason
involved? Why should not one suppose that the hypothetical threat of
terror attacks may be a successful pretext for stationing NATO troops
near the pipeline? It would open up opportunities to explain the
deployment of US military bases in our country.
“Special security measures to protect the BTC pipeline were devised
well before the implementation of the project and they are being
carried out now,” the head of the press service of BP [Azerbaijan],
Tamam Bayatli, has told Zerkalo. “One of the basic elements of the
security of the BTC, which stretches 1,770 km, is that it is buried
underground, except some terminals on the ground such as: Ceyhan,
Sanqacal, Nasosni [Tagiyev settlement outside Baku] etc. where special
security measures are also arranged.”
Besides, the design of the pipeline is also important. “The thickness
of the pipes, the quality of steel, cementing, the alarm system – all
this is in conformity with advanced international standards for
building pipelines. Moreover, the population in the nearby areas also
acts as a sort of guard together with constant BP supervision. We
regularly conduct appropriate training with those people and are
planning to make them highly qualified security staff after the BTC is
commissioned,” Bayatli said.
Meanwhile, commenting on possible negative occurrences, including
terror attacks near the BTC, our interlocutor said that there are more
attractive places for terrorists than the BTC pipeline, which has been
placed deep underground and “secured”. “It is not easy to find it,”
the head of the BP press service stressed.
Commenting on Sarifov’s statement, political analyst Rasim Musabayov
has not ruled out possible acts of sabotage by Armenia. In other
words, anything may happen given that the Karabakh conflict has not
been resolved yet and both countries are still at war. But the
political analyst said that even the most extremist circles in Armenia
can hardly ever try to attack the BTC pipeline as long as there are no
military operations in place so far, realizing that this will be
directed not much against Azerbaijan, but against the interests of the
great powers and the biggest transnational corporations.
Sarifov’s statement was most probably aimed at extracting extra funds
from the budget and the consortium to carry out security measures, he
said.
“I think that Sarifov expresses his concern on the one hand and wants
to draw additional money to resolve the tasks that have been assigned
to him on the other,” Musabayov stressed. Sarifov in no way aims to
give the “green light” for NATO military forces in Azerbaijan.
“At least because the deputy prime minister himself does not deal with
issues of this kind. It is not in his competence,” our interlocutor
stressed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
March 5 2005
AZERI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ASSURES «FACTS OF SETTLING ARMENIANS IN
SOME REGIONS CONFIRMED»
05.03.2005 13:07
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov
assures that the OSCE Fact Finding Mission report has confirmed «the
facts of illegal settlements in Lachin, Kelbajar, Zangelan, Kubatlu
and Jabrail.» «Although the mission did not come about population in
other regions, the representatives saw there repaired houses and
divided lands,» he noted. A. Azimov said that one could suppose that
«before the arrival of the mission in the territory Armenians took
certain measures, instructed the population.» Answering the question
whether the Lachin region territory will be provided as a corridor
for Armenia, A. Azimov reported that the Azeri party suggests using
the road both by Azerbaijan and Armenia after achievement of a peace
agreement. «We propose that the road be used both for communication
from Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia and communication from Armenia to
Nagorno Karabakh, as well as cargo transportation. Azerbaijan in its
turn will use the road for communication with Nakhichevan,» he
stated. Due to locating peacekeeping forces at the contact line of
the Armenian and Azeri Armed Forces A. Azimov said it will not do any
good: «Azerbaijan wishes not to freeze the conflict but to solve it.
Only after the signing of a peace agreement, return of the population
to their residence places such forces can be located there.» A.
Azimov said that there is probability for the postponed meeting of
the Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers Vardan Oskanian and Elmar
Mamedyarov to be held next month.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 17:38:55 | 02-03-2005 | Social |
SHOOTING IN THE ECONOMICAL INSTITUTE
Today there has been an incident in the Yerevan State Economical
Institute Economical faculty. Hamlet Qeshishyan, a student of the
faculty, has shot the dean and the deputy dean of the faculty with a
blast gun. It is known that they are alive. According to experts, shots
of the blast guns are usually not mortal.
According to a preliminary variant, the cause of the incident was that
Hamlet Qeshishyan had an exam problem with the professors. By the way,
the student’s father, Tigran Qeshishyan, is a commander of a military
unit in the Ministry of Defense. At present Hamlet Qeshishyan is being
looked for.
The informational department of the RA Police confirmed the information.
The worker of the service said that there will be an official
announcement within the next half an hour.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
Feb 26 2005
KOCHARIAN: TALKS ON KARABAKH ACTIVATE AND THERE IS SLIGHT HOPE FOR
EFFECT
26.02.2005 12:54
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At present the negotiation process over Nagorno
Karabakh has activated and there is a slight hope for an effect,
Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated in an interview with the
Golos Armenii newspaper. At the same time R. Kocharian noted that
“there is no practical solution of the Nagorno Karabakh problem yet,
the talk will concern the stalemate in the negotiation process.” “The
world experience shows that such conflicts do not solve soon,” the
Armenian President considers. Touching upon the issue of
participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the talks R. Kocharian said that
NKR participation in the negotiations is taken incorrectly. “The
negotiation process is much wider than the meetings of the Armenian
and Azeri Presidents. These implies OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’
systematic visits to the region, their meetings with Nagorno Karabakh
leaders,” he noted. “At the meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan I represent the interests of Nagorno Karabakh as well,”
the Armenian leader noted. At that R. Kocharian added that he will
also work for involvement of Nagorno Karabakh into the format of
those meeting. “I think we will succeed in it. More active
involvement of the NKR into the process will undoubtedly increase the
settlement chances,” the President noted. At the same time R.
Kocharian stated with regret that “Armenian-phobia in Azerbaijan is
state policy.” Speaking of the preservation of the military and
economic parity with Azerbaijan, the President noted that the
economic potential in the contemporary world is determined “not by
the barrels of oil produced, by effective economy and Armenia
undoubtedly surpasses Azerbaijan here.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
February 21, 2005, Monday
ARMENIA CONFIRMS CAPTURING 3 AZERBAIJANI SERVICEMEN
Armenian servicemen have captured 3 Azerbaijani servicemen, who
crossed the frontline, at 5.20 p.m. on February 15. At this time,
special services of the Karabakh separatists were questioning the
captives to ascertain how the Azerbaijani servicemen managed to cross
the frontline; was it accidental or on order of the Azerbaijani side.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress