Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

STATEMENT CALLING TURKEY TO ACKNOWLEDGE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE PUT
TO VOTE NO EARLIER THAN MAY 2005
06.04.2005 05:42
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the German-Turkish forum of the
Christian Democratic Union Bulent Arslan refused to participate in
consideration of the statement by the faction of Christian Democratic
Union and Christian Social Union on Armenian Genocide. In his words,
it is a very subtle issue and cannot be really presented in Germany.
“Any interference from outside will impede reconciliation of the
Armenian and Turkish people. It is essential to perceive history
impartially”, he noted. To remind, early March Christian Democratic
Union and Christian Social Union submitted to the consideration of
Bundestag a statement calling Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide. However, the discussion was postponed at the urgent request
of the greens and social democrats, who did not wish to tense relations
with Turkey on the threshold of Gerhard Schroder’s visit to Ankara. The
preliminary hearing of the statement will be held April 21, however
it will be put to the vote in May or June.
From: Baghdasarian

TURKISH SCIENTIST: “WE STATE PUBLICLY: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TOOK PLACE”
06.04.2005 07:38
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish scientist, professor of Michigan University
Geychek, who participated in the scientific conference entitled
“The Consequences of the Armenian Genocide: 90 years later” held in
Los Angeles April 1-3, apologized to the Armenian people during his
speech, Yerkir online reports. In Geychek’s words, Turks do no know
history and they are not told what really happened. That is why the
Turkish people are convinced that there was no genocide. However not
all the Turks are ignorant, he noted. “We are not afraid not arrest
and we state in everyone’s hearing: yes, the Armenian Genocide really
took place”, the scientist stated. Despite the fact that the Turkish
government does not make any steps to reconciliation, the issue of
the Armenian Genocide recognition can be settled within 5-10 years.
From: Baghdasarian

AZERI FM DOES NOT RULE OUT PARTICIPATION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH AT
CERTAIN STAGE OF SETTLEMENT PROCESS
04.04.2005 05:19
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov does not
rule out that Nagorno Karabakh will joint the settlement process
at a certain stage of the negotiations. “The negotiations between
formal Baku and Yerevan should produce effect first; then experts
and specialists will proceed to work”, Elmar Mamedyraov said when
commenting on Azerbaijan’s position. The Azeri FM confirmed the meeting
with Vardan Oskanian scheduled for April 15 in London. In his words,
the format of the upcoming meeting to be held with the participation of
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and OSCE Chairman-in-Office’s Special
Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk is being discussed at the moment. To
note, the Armenian Foreign Ministry has not confirmed the information
on the meeting yet.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Online Armenian Newspaper
Yerkir
An ARF Publication
Armenia: Facing New Challenges
Raffi K. Hovannisian
Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs, 1991-92
and the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
founding director
Dear readers,
Between March 14 and 21, 2005, you had an opportunity to address your
questions on the Yerkir’s website to RAFFI K. HOVANNISIAN, Armenia’s
first Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Armenian Center for National
and International Studies (ACNIS) founding director. See the full
version of the interview in Armenian.
Thank you for your active participation: Spartak Seyranian,
editor-in-chief of “Yerkir” Weekly.
Hosein Tabatabaei – Dear mr. Hovhannesian. What is you opinion about
Iran – armenia relationship and cooperation ?
Raffi K. Hovannisian – Armenia and Iran share long-standing cultural
and civilizational traditions, which continue to this day. Iran plays
an important role in regional cooperation and security.
Hosein Tabatabaei – How do you think about similarities and diferences
in cultural view of piont ? shat shenoragalootion.
R. H. — Real strength comes from respectful diversity.
Stepan – Dear Mr. Hovhannisyan, Could you comment on prospects of
Armenia as transit country, especially recent developments regarding
gas from Iran. Thank you
R. H. — Armenia must strive to diversify its economic, energy, and
security strategy at home and abroad. New transit prospects flowing
from the Iran-Armenia line must be developed to safeguard Armenian and
regional energy security and the respective sovereignties of all
concerned parties.
Vatche Iskedjian – Mr. Hovannisian, According to you, what’s the best
to tackle `corruption’ in Armenia? How can we elect a parliament which
serves the people and not the oligarchs who `buy’ their seats in
parliament by bribing voters?
R. H. — Bribery, corruption, abuse of power, and the broader scourge
of conflicts of interest between public service and private gain have
become endemic in Armenia. It gives us no consolation that other
countries are corrupt as well. And the problem by no means resides
solely in the parliament. It is presidential, governmental, judicial,
oppositional, societal-in short, system-wide. Administratively,
Armenia continues to be a very vertical place, so the example `up top’
is crucial. If the president or a key official is corrupt, if they or
their family member or their staff pronounce beautifully on the rule
of law and a variety of anti-corruption programs but in reality abuse
their office for personal benefit, then the average citizen loses
confidence in his or her leaders and tries to beat the system as
well. A vicious circle indeed. What is needed are personal example;
political will; amendment of legislation to enable the formation of an
independent investigative and prosecutorial body that starts with the
presidency and moves down through every nook and cranny of the
administration and society; application of mechanisms for citizen
empowerment and public oversight; and finally, broad popular support
to stand together against the inevitable reactions of violence from
affected quarters both in and out of government.
Gevork Ter Astvadsadrian – Hello Mr. Hovannisian, I’d like to know
what Armenia’s alternatives are in light of recent PACE pronouncements
, and what are possible consequences if Armenia is declared to be an
aggressor? What is the impediment to the recognition of the
independence of Atsakh, what are possible disadvantages if any, and
advantages. Thank you for your good work, and your efforts to get
recognition for Artsakh as Foreign Minister, and your commitment to
our homeland
R. H. — Thank you for your kind words. I have always favored
Armenia’s recognition of Artsakh’s right to liberty,
self-determination, and decolonization?under international law,
domestic Soviet legislation, and historical-political
benchmarks. These legitimate advantages notwithstanding, we have not
done our utmost to design and pursue a comprehensive blueprint for
realization of its quest for freedom. Often we have sent out
conflicting signals and suffered from partisanship and parochialism
under both administrations. We need new leadership.
Eric – Are you going to participate in the upcoming presidential
elections in 2008?
R. H. — Presidential elections are not an end unto themselves. I plan
to the best of my abilities to continue contributing to Armenia and a
dignified, democratic future for all of its citizens. Each of us must
do his or her part. For now, the best answer I can offer is that no
decision has been made nor any option ruled out. In any event, that
high office is not my raison d’etre.
Eric – Do not you think that with the current educational level of the
members of Armenian Government the country cannot progress with the
pace the rest of the world does? The Government consists mainly of
`strangersâ=80=9D in the areas they are responsible for.
R. H. — On the whole I agree, though there are happy exceptions to
the rule. We must do our utmost to keep our best and
brightest-especially ouryouth-in the country and offer them
meaningful, contemporary avenues for self-advancement and public
service.
M. Moradian – Do you think that Armenian government should approach
the US and the West in order to make closer ties with them or the
authorities should remain a Russian ally and base in Caucuses? Why?
R. H. – 21st-century Armenia should chart a course founded on its own
national interest, the absolute sovereignty of its state, the unity
and security of its nation, the democracy of its system, and the
liberty of its citizen. All else is in the derivative domain of
strategic and tactical implementation according to global and regional
developments, political consensus-building, and public confidence. A
successful, proactive policy of outreach would engage a variety of
partners on the basis of healthy competition, common causes, andshared
interests. Armenia’s freedom to establish multilateral, mutually
beneficial relations, and not multilateral dependency, should
constitute the most telling index of its integral independence.
Against this background, a considered foreign policy for the Armenian
nation-state, requiring as it does the assumption of the hard lessons
that history has dealt, recognizes its sovereignty as a supreme value
to be treasured atall cost; defines maintenance of a peaceful
geopolitical environment as its vital national interest; and accepts
steady pursuit of dignified bilateral ties with all, near and far, as
the most effective modality for achieving national security. To these
ends, it behooves Armenia to cultivate a straightforward, sovereign
partnership with Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States; to
reconcile words and deeds in its attempt to integrate into European
institutions; to explore new connections in the Middle Eastern and
Asian dimensions; and to continue to bridge common domains with
neighborly Iran and transatlantic America. The world after September
11 avails Armenia of the ways and means to check and balance these
policy directions.
M. Moradian – If the border between Armenia and Turkey re-opens, what
would be the challenges that Armenian businessmen, farmers and people
will face?
R. H. – The frontier in question was closed unilaterally by the
Republic of Turkey in flagrant violation of the 1921 Treaties of
Moscow and Kars on which it so often relies-to the point that the
validity of those documents is now in deeper question than ever
before. This is Turkey’s issue, though both nations stand to gain from
an open border and full normalization of relations basedon a brave
facing of history that includes acknowledgment, atonement, and
ultimate accommodation. Obviously, Armenian farmers, entrepreneurs,
and the people at large would gain in terms of access to markets and
consumer prices, but would benefit even more if Armenia found itself
in advance in a more developed state of economic
affairs. Self-confidence abroad requires first putting our own house
in order.
Zohrab keropian – I want to express my deep gratitude towards his
Excellency for the excellent job that he did while in office, during
that difficult times and not forgetting the raising of the Armenian
genocide issue in Constantinople Turkey. I want to ask his Excellency
on his political standings remembering the fact that during
presidential elections he supported the opposition candidate for no
clear reason thus can you give us a clear glimpse on your political
grounds?
R. H. – Thank you for your kind words. The political precepts that
guide me are inalienable sovereignty for our republic, security in
unity for our nation, democracy for our society, and liberty for each
and every citizen. When by application of double standards and
fear-based presidential decreesI was denied my own civil right to seek
election, I decided not to sit in a corner, instead endorsing the
distinguished candidate from the opposition. I exercised this option
because I felt that, all things considered, he was the better
candidate. What do you think, will our generation ever witness a fair,
dignified election by which authority is transferred peacefully from
incumbent to challenger? Regardless of personalities, such a
transition is imperative for Armenia’s future development. It is only
with a legitimate, democratic, and rule-of-right homeland that we can
expect fulfillment of foreign-policy objectives in the region and
beyond. Stealing the vote-and thus conscience-from one’s own
citizens, brutally cracking down on them, and employing violence at
every turn are domestic realities directly connected with our national
capacity to seek and attain justice for other watershed issues in the
international arena. The unjust state of our state -which has lost 1.5
million of its citizens to emigration during the years of its own
independence-relates immediately to the efficacy of our demands for
justice in the name of the 1.5 million victims of the Genocide. The
world, in essence, has become one long chain and these are its
links-apparently distant, but intertwined nonetheless.
Gaytzag Palandjian – Would you consider a highly necessary post, as
Minister for Diaspora-Affairs? If and when created?
R. H. – The position, if one of substance and not of imitation, is
worth considering at the highest levels. I believe there would be
several candidacies better than mine. Kind regards.
Gaytzag Palandjian – Would you not consider as imperative
invigoration/Re-organization of the Diaspora, to become a
Super-structure with Head, i.e. a Supreme Council with five
departments:-1. The Legal-Political in Strasbourg(next to RA
rep.)2. The Economic in Geneva, CH with 16-field representing chambers
of Professional Colleagues Associations. The Executive in N.Y.,next to
RA ‘s U.N. Rep.4. The Social Services and Repatriation in
Moscow. Spiritual at St. Etchmiadzin in constant contact with Great
House of Cilicia? Thanking you in advance, Respectfully, g.p
R. H. – It reads well on paper and in concept. The Armenian reality
will probably prove otherwise. Still, the aspiration is commendable
and might contribute to an informed public discourse on both
individual and structural contributions to development of a
contemporary Diaspora working professionally for its own longevity and
for the Homeland’s perpetuity. Strategy should be Armenia-driven.
Gevork (CAN) – Mr. Hovannisian what is, from your point of view, the
best recipe or mechanism by which Armenians worldwide can optimize the
level of involvement of the Diaspora in the homeland. Is it dual
citizenship? Or maybe just time is needed for Armenians to fully
comprehend the concept of state as well as the mentalities of each
other (spyurk and hayastan)? Or maybe there is something else that we
still have not understood? Everybody agrees that Diaspora has done a
lot to help Armenia, but I think most also agree that incomparably
more may be done if the proper conditions and settings are created on
both sides.
R. H. – You are right. Time, mutual respect, hard work, and an
uncommon ability to look beyond the limitations of one’s own vantage
point are part and parcel of the `optimization formula.’ Dual
citizenshipâ=80’which requires that thoughtful programs be tailored
for the discharge of civic obligations by dual-national applicants and
that minimum residency thresholds be set for exercise of electoral
rights-is one important measure for ascertaining greater involvement
and inclusivity. But standing alone it is not a panacea. A grand
design, which entails a unifying cause and mutual accountability, is
in order.
Gevork (CAN) – Mr Hovannisian, as the director of ACNIS, how would you
assess the morale of the citizens of Armenia today (is it more or less
similar to that of citizens in other Caucasian states). If you have
information about the same issue in spyurk I would be glad to read it
as well.
R. H. – As you know, we are a nation that cherishes individual thought
and enterprise. One can find a multiplicity of views and dispositions
across the Homeland-Diaspora divide. Despite our trials, errors and
tribulations, there still are points of light at both ends of the
bridge. Generally speaking, however, an independent analysis would
reveal relatively low morale and overall malaise both at home and in
our communities.
M. D. Ajemian – Mr. Hovannisian, Has ACNIS developed any reparation
scenarios in the event that Turkey (within the context of their 10
year or so E.U. accession talks) accepts the validity of the Armenian
Genocide? And would it not be a good idea to start a national
discussion on the various possible scenarios including defining and
delimiting Western Armenia? Much of the land of Western Armenia has
been abandoned due to the Armenian Genocide and Turkishpolicy over the
last 80 years.(It should be noted that 80% of eastern Anatolia is
owned by the Turkish government) Should we not start promoting the
fact that eastern Anatoila today is not as populated as the Turkish
statistics claim,making it easier for Turkey to give up these lands
which are not essential to the existence of the Turkish State?
R. H. – A national discussion is always a good idea, though we have
trouble from time to time in graduating beyond our partisanship and
parochialism to achieve that level. A comprehensive framework for
examining the Genocide, its legacy, and its consequences for Armenia
and the Armenian people-both historic and contemporary-is part of this
challenge. At the same time, we must take a critical, honest look at
the state of affairs in the small parcel of the Armenian patrimony
which survives today as the Republic of Armenia. We of all people do
not need double standards. We reject them when they are applied by
Turkey, Azerbaijan, and sometimes the international community. We
certainly should not accept them in our own nation-state and among our
leaders, whether elected or not. These cannot, and shall not, be the
criteria by which we make judgments on the matters of yesterday and of
tomorrow.
M. D. Ajemian – Mr. Hovannisian, When I was a college student in the
late 70’s and early 80’s I attended many discussions on the future of
Soviet Armenia and the possibility of an independent Armenian State. I
was one of the few people who believed that the Soviet Union because
of its corrupt and economically mismanaged system would not survive
for long and that an independent Armenian State would emerge. Now most
take it for granted that Armenia is independent including those who
laughed at the idea. I for one believe that the Turkish Republic could
emerge into a different entity if all the players in Turkey’s future
push hard enough to break the hold of the Kemalist elite. There are
ways to do it. It is a limited number of people who prevent Turkey
from being a European state. Should we not start making an effort to
start Turkish-Armenian conciliation with various Turkish groups in
Europe initially and as the E.U. process unfolds with groups in
Turkey?
R. H. – There is today an emerging Turkish voice, still in the vast
minority, seeking a brave reexamination of Turkish history, the
foundations of the modern Turkish state, and Turkish-Armenian
relations in particular. These beginnings of a crack in the official
wall of silence are gradually approaching the seminal crossroads of
the Armenian Genocide. Unbeknownst to them, this follows in the
exceptional tradition of thousands of Turkish families who in 1915, at
the risk of losing their own lives, endeavored to hide and save
individual Armenians from certain death. My grandmother owed her life
to one such righteous family of heroes, who to this day remain unsung
because of the official Turkish dialectic. Whether in Turkey or
abroad, this new generation of compelling, liberated Turkish thought
should be engaged on all levels. And, yes, potential Turkish and
Armenian accession to the European Union should become the major
causal thoroughfare for a truly European coming to terms with history,
a settlement of accounts, an inevitable normalization, and the joining
of forces for regional security and cooperation-both as neighbors and
as states member in the EU. No one should be the odd man out.
Feasibility or fantasy? The answer lies within.
See the full version of the interview in Armenian.
From: Baghdasarian

TV company staging rally in Armenia to protest at closure

Regnum, Moscow
2 Apr 05
A rally organized by the staff of the A1+ TV company, which was closed
down three years ago, and a number of public organizations started in
the centre of Yerevan at 1200 [0700 gmt].
The protesters are demanding that a new competition be conducted
fairly, our Regnum new agency correspondent reports.
The organizers of the rally stated that various open-ended events and
actions will be staged in Yerevan till 12 April. At present, hundreds
of people are moving towards the capital’s central avenue and heading
for the conservatoire. The protesters are holding posters like
“Freedom”, ”Watch us”, ”Freedom of speech is the achievement of
the people”, etc.
We should remind you that the A1+ TV company has been off the air for
three years. The company was deprived of its frequency as a result of
a competition on 2 April 2002.
The TV company has lost eight competitions over the last three
years. The organizers said that the state TV and radio committee has
not held competitions for more than a year, explaining this by the
fact that there are no vacant frequencies.
From: Baghdasarian

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
March 30, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA SEEKS ADOPTION OF DARFUR ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
— Launches New ANCA WebFax Campaign in support of
Decisive U.S. Action to Stop Genocide in Sudan
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
has joined the growing coalition seeking decisive U.S. action to
stop the ongoing Genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
In an action alert circulated to more than 50,000 activists in
every U.S. state, the ANCA called on Armenian Americans to work for
the adoption of Congressional resolutions in favor of the
appointment of a Presidential Special envoy to Sudan and the
imposition of sanctions against the Sudanese Government.
Known as the Darfur Accountability Act of 2005 (S.495), the
measure, introduced on March 2nd by Senators Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and
Sam Brownback (R-KS), calls for a new UN security Council
resolution with sanctions, an extension of the current arms embargo
to cover the Government of Sudan, and as well as the freezing of
assets of those responsible for genocide and war crimes in Darfur.
The Special Presidential Envoy for Sudan would work with all
parties and the international community to stop the genocide in
Darfur and help craft a comprehensive peace plan.
The ANCA WebFax letter reminds legislators that, “The international
community watched as Turkey massacred over 1.5 million Armenian
civilians and drove hundreds of thousands more into the desert to
die during World War I. After this first genocide of the 20th
Century, the nations of the world pledged to prevent such
atrocities in the future. And yet, over 6 million Jews and
millions of others were exterminated by the Nazis during World War
II. The world community again vowed to stop future atrocities,
proclaiming, ‘Never again.’ And yet again, over 1.7 million
Cambodians were killed under Pol Pot’s repressive regime in the
1970’s, and less than 20 years later after that, 800,000 Tutsi
civilians were slaughtered in Rwanda in 1994. I urge you to take
action to end this cycle and move us to finally realize the call –
‘Never Again.'”
Joining Senators Corzine and Brownback in cosponsoring the Darfur
Accountability Act in the Senate are Evan Bayh (D-IN), Barbara
Boxer (D-CA), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Susan Collins
(R-ME), Mark Dayton (D-MD), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Christopher Dodd
(D-CT), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Russell Feingold (D-WI), John Kerry
(D-MA), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Frank Lautenberg
(D-NJ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Patty Murray
(D-WA), Benjamin Nelson (R-NE), and Jim Talent (R-MO).
Similar legislation was introduced in the House on March 17th by
New Jersey Democrat Donald Payne and have 11 cosponsors including
Representatives Michael Capuano (D-MA), John Conyers (D-MI), Tom
Lantos (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-CA), Joseph
Pitts (R-PA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Thomas
Tancredo (R-CO), and Bennie Thompson (D-MS).
Following the introduction of the Darfur Accountability Act,
Illinois Senator Richard Durbin spoke in the support of the
measure, citing a state’s inherent responsibility to stop genocide:
“‘Genocide’ is a word this is rarely used in human history,”
explained Sen. Durbin. “There have been genocides against the
Armenian people and the Jewish people during the Holocaust, perhaps
in Pol Pot’s times in Cambodia, and other times we can point to.
Rarely do we use the word. It is a word that is freighted with
responsibility. You cannot just say there is genocide in some part
of the world and isn’t that a shame. We signed a genocide treaty
that said once we detect a genocide, we go to international
organizations – the United States does – and demand action. So
using the word “genocide,” as the Bush administration has done, is
a good thing because it prods us to do something, but it is a
challenge that we must meet on something this timely and
important.”
The escalation of Congressional efforts regarding the Darfur
Genocide coincides with an expanded Sudanese government effort to
deny its role in the ongoing tragedy. In a March 22nd front page
Washington Post article, Sudan’s First Vice-President Ali Uthman
Muhammad Taha argued that, “his government had received an unfair
share of the blame for the war in Darfur.” The Washington Post
article, which presented highlights from an interview with the
First Vice-President continued: “We do understand and appreciate
people having sympathy with the victims of Darfur,” said Taha, 57,
who called the situation a ‘sad chapter’ in Sudan’s history. But he
added: “This was not genocide, but an unfortunate internal
conflict… that has nothing to do with ethnic cleansing. We urge
people to see the difference between the innocents caught in the
middle and the rebels who are escalating their claims to gain
sympathy.”
“Genocide denial – of past atrocities or ongoing massacres – only
serves to encourage perpetrators – emboldening them with the
knowledge that their crimes can be committed with impunity,” said
Hamparian. “As Armenian Americans, we are reminded by the Sudanese
government’s efforts to blame the victims – like its hollow claims
of self-defense – of the Turkish government’s campaign – now in its
ninth decade, to escape responsibility for the Armenian Genocide.”
Express your support for the Darfur Genocide Accountability Act of
2005 by sending a free ANCA WebFax to Congress from the ANCA
website Additional information about the Darfur
Genocide can be found at:
Africa Action
Save Darfur
From: Baghdasarian

Kirkorov cancels Yerevan concerts amid protests
30.03.2005 16:54
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Russian singer Philip Kirkorov has cancelled his
upcoming concerts in Armenia, according to reliable sources.
The move followed strong protests staged by over 30 Armenian youth
organizations against the singer, who despite his Armenian origin, is
knownfor his affection for Turkish music. In past, Kirkorov had
performed wrapped in a Turkish flag, and last year, speaking at a news
conference in Russia, he insulted a reporter pointing to her Armenian
ethnicity.
From: Baghdasarian

Conflicts hamper economic development in South Caucasus – OSCE chairman
Aravot, Yerevan
30 Mar 05

Unsettled conflicts in the South Caucasus hamper the region’s economic
development, Slovenia’s foreign minister and OSCE chairman-in-office,
Dimitrij Rupel, has told the Armenian news agency Mediamax. There will
be no real prosperity in the South Caucasus, traditional economic ties
will not be restored and the involvement of foreign investment will
remain a difficult problem until the conflicts are settled, he
said. At the same time, Rupel stressed that the OSCE supports the
dialogue and peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and added that the
organization has been working hard to ensure progress in the Karabakh
peace talks. The following is the text of the Mediamax news agency
report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 30 March headlined “The parties
should be confident about the expediency of the peace
agreement”. Subheadings have been inserted editorially:
An exclusive interview with the OSCE chairman-in-office, Dimitrij
Rupel.
OSCE’s role is to stimulate the peace process
[Aravot correspondent] At the beginning of the year you gave quite an
optimistic assessment to the Prague process of the Karabakh
settlement. What is the reason for such optimism?
[Dimitrij Rupel] I am closely following the developments within the
framework of the Prague process. I recently discussed this problem
with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen. I understand that the Armenian
and Azerbaijani foreign ministers are involved in a constructive
dialogue, which may ensure significant progress in the negotiations.
[Correspondent] The authorities of Nagornyy Karabakh that represent
the interests of about 140,000 Armenians declare from time to time
that they have to participate in the negotiating process. Azerbaijan
is against this. Do you not think that with this obvious disagreement
the peace process will not yield real results?
[Rupel] The two parties are mainly responsible for the conflict
settlement. The role of the OSCE is to stimulate the peace
process. Thus, the OSCE will support any format of the negotiations
that may ensure progress and is agreed to by the two countries.
[Correspondent] From time to time, Azerbaijan criticizes the OSCE
Minsk Group. Why is the OSCE silently listening to those accusations
and not making Azerbaijan return to the agreements reached in Paris
and Key West in 2001. There is a viewpoint that in that period, the
parties had to make only one step and sign a peace agreement.
[Rupel] The task of the OSCE Minsk Group is to ensure that the parties
have a relevant negotiating format. Since the moment of its
establishment, the OSCE Minsk Group has been working hard to make
progress in the peace process. At the same time, the Minsk Group can
aspire to dialogue and peace only together with the two countries. The
settlement of the conflict is possible only if both parties are sure
that a peace agreement is advantageous.
Armenian-Turkish relations
[Correspondent] Do you not think that the European Union is making a
moral mistake by studying the issue of the Armenian genocide only in a
political, not humanitarian context. In 2002, you visited the memorial
to the victims of the genocide in Yerevan and said that you will
instruct Slovenian experts to learn the problem of the Armenian
genocide of 1915. What conclusion did the experts make?
[Rupel] When I visited Armenia as Slovenia’s foreign minister three
years ago, President Kocharyan told me that Armenia had unsettled
problems with its neighbours. Armenian-Turkish relations are one of
those important problems. I agree that the history of any country is
very important, every country should know and respect its history. But
any country also wants a better future. In this sense, we should not
forget about the wider context of Turkey’s integration into the
European Union, which will have a positive effect on Turkey, as well
as on the whole region. I think Turkey’s relations with the Caucasus
countries, including Armenia, will develop in a new format, which will
create more favourable opportunities for overcoming unsettled
historical problems.
Conflicts hamper economic development in the South Caucasus
[Correspondent] If we look at the publications of the world press, we
shall get the impression that the Georgian and Ukrainian events have
become a “watershed” that worsened disagreements between Russia and
the OSCE even more.
[Rupel] Russia is playing a very important role in the Caucasus and is
actively involved in the process of settling the Georgian-Abkhaz,
Georgian-Ossetian and Nagornyy Karabakh conflicts. For this reason,
Slovenia, as a chairman of the OSCE, thinks it necessary to cooperate
with Moscow closely on matters concerning this region.
[Correspondent] You represent a state that has successfully overcome
the transition period and is a member of the European Union and NATO
today. The South Caucasus states started reforms 15 years ago, but
they are still far from “New Europe”, as well as from the civilized
democracies of western Europe. What is the main reason for this?
[Rupel] There are significant differences between the three states,
but I can say that we support the strategic choice of the South
Caucasus states in favour of democratic reforms. We are closely
following the efforts made in the sphere of legislation, which form
the basis of dynamic development. But the implementation of the new
laws is also important and one can achieve an improvement in the
situation here.
There will be no real prosperity in the South Caucasus until the
conflicts are settled. Traditional economic ties will not be restored
and the involvement of foreign investment will remain a difficult
problem until the conflicts are settled. The refugee problem will not
be settled either. We know what kind of heavy burden it is for the
economies of the region.
From: Baghdasarian

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 29 2005
No plans to resume war – Yerevan
Baku, March 28, AssA-Irada
`The chances for resuming the Armenia-Azerbaijan war are slim.
Official Yerevan has no plans to resume military action’, says
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian. He said that Armenia does
not recognize the independence of the `Upper Garabagh Republic’ to
avoid negatively affecting the ongoing processes.
Margarian said Armenia allocates loans to the separatist regime and
that normal social conditions cannot be provided for the population
in Garabagh without these loans.
Allocation of loans is legalized by the Armenian government, which
means that Armenia de-facto recognizes the independence of Upper
Garabagh.*
From: Baghdasarian

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL IN ARMENIA
Azg/arm
29 March 05
On May 7-13, the Union of Cinematographers of Armenia organizes
“It’s Me” International Youth Film Festival. Young artists from
Armenia, Diaspora and foreign countries are invited to participate in
the festival. The participants should not be older than 35 and should
represent pieces made in 2004-2005. Moreover, the deadline for the
submission of the pieces is April 7. The works should be done in VHS
or DVD formats.
“It’s Me” international film festival has envisaged prizes in the
following nine nominations: the best feature, documentary, animation
films, the best student’s, cameraman’s, director’s work, the best
musical and advertisement clips and the best video art. The jury
consists of 12 members and is led by Ruben Gevorgiants, chairman of
the Union of Cinematographers of Armenia.
Nina Ordoyan, member of the festival’s steering committee, stated that
the documentary films prevail in the 40 pieces that were submitted
till now. She said they received works from Moscow, Iran and the USA.
The International Youth Film Festival will be held in the
Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia. It will be completed on May 13.
By Gohar Gevorgian
From: Baghdasarian