Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

Turkish Speaker protests to Dutch counterpart on draft Armenian genocide bill
Anatolia news agency
25 Jul 06
Ankara: 25 July: Turkish Speaker of parliament Bulent Arinc has
sent a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives Speaker Frans
Weisglas expressing his dismay on a draft law that, if accepted,
would make any rejection of the so-called Armenian genocide a crime
in the Netherlands.
Arinc’s letter pointed out that, if the Dutch House of Representatives
vote in favour of the draft, this would put barriers in front of those
willing to conduct historical research on and/or debate historical
events.
Bulent Arinc stressed that allegations of a so-called Armenian genocide
are sensitive issues for the Turkish people and government.
“All documents we possess prove that there has not been a genocide,”
noted Arinc. “What took place was a re-location and deportation of
a portion of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 during
a time of war,” remarked Arinc.
According to Arinc, the draft law will also hurt Turkish-Dutch
relations.
“Turkey’s call to Armenia to jointly study historical documents has
not received a positive response. Although the Netherlands should
support Turkey’s call to Armenia, it is acting in a way that will
have a negative impact on bilateral relations,” expressed Arinc.

MOODY ASSIGNS ARMENIA Ba2 RATING
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS: The governor of the Central Bank of
Armenia, Tigran Sarkisian, said today the Moody’s Investors Service
had assigned on Monday a Ba2 foreign and domestic currency ratings
to the government of Armenia.
He said Moody made its decision based on continued GDP growth rates
of around 10% per annum or above since 2001, the subdued inflationary
pressure due to the appreciation of the national currency dram and
to a cautious monetary and fiscal policy stance.
Sarkisian said the rating was given in light of the progress made by
the country since 1995, the year that marked the end of the seven-year
contraction that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.
“We believe that over the medium term, there is sufficient scope
for further GDP growth such that it will help alleviate poverty
and reduce unemployment, both of which remain high in Armenia,”
Moody’s Vice President Sara Bertin was quoted as saying in a press
release. “Moreover, the rating is supported by the limited level and
favorable maturity structure of Armenia’s foreign-currency denominated
debt,” she said.
She said that with a 23% debt-to GDP ratio at the end of 2005, the
country compares well to its peers.
Ninety percent of the debt is owed to multilateral lenders on
concessional terms representing a long maturity and associated minimal
debt-servicing cost.
“We have also taken note of the high level of dollarization and the
country’s lack of financial depth,” said Bertin.
“Moody’s assigns a very low probability that the conflict between
Azeris and Armenians might resume over the short to medium term,”
said Bertin. “As long as a credible and sustainable solution has yet
to be found to the conflict, uncertainties remain over the countries
of the South Caucasus. Due to their borders with Iran, countries such
as Armenia and Azerbaijan are potential strategic partners for the
United States, Russia and Iran,” she said.
Tigran Sarkisian said this rating allows Armenia to have its own place
in the international financial markets and gives foreign companies and
private businessmen to have a clear idea of Armenia and its economy
and is essential in their deciding whether to invest here or not.
The governor said five local commercial banks have already asked the
Moody’s for their, possibly higher individual l ratings.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
STATE DEPARTMENT MISLED SENATE ON
TURKISH COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT AMB. EVANS
— Signed Statements Contradict State Department’s
Official Denial
— Justice Department Records Reveal Repeated Contacts
by Turkey’s Foreign Agent with the State Department
Concerning Remarks by the Ambassador to Armenia
WASHINGTON, DC – In yet another troubling development concerning
the controversial nomination of Richard Hoagland to serve as U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, Department of Justice records have revealed
that the State Department has misled the U.S. Senate regarding its
communications with the Turkish government concerning the February
2005 public affirmation of the Armenian Genocide by U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia John Marshall Evans, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
In a letter, dated June 28, 2005 written on behalf of Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice to Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), the Ranking
Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the State
Department denied that the Turkish government had even approached
the Administration on this issue. However, official Foreign Agent
Registration filings by the Turkish government’s registered foreign
agent, the Livingston Group, document that, in the days following
Ambassador Evans’ February 19, 2005 remarks, one of Turkey’s agents
communicated on at least four different occasions with State
Department officials concerning the envoy’s statement and his
subsequent retraction.
“With each new revelation, we see more clearly the corrosive impact
that the Administration’s complicity in Turkey’s denial is having
on our own core values as Americans,” said ANCA Chairman Ken
Hachikian. “This latest failed attempt by the State Department to
mislead the Senate adds to the many compelling reasons to block the
confirmation of a new Ambassador to Armenia.”
Consistent with the pattern of unresponsiveness that has come to
characterize the Administration’s actions on the Hoagland
nomination, the only answer the State Department chose to provide
in response to Senator Biden’s four questions was a misleading one.
His other inquiries – including an official request for an
explanation of why Ambassador Evans was being replaced prematurely
– remain unanswered.
On June 23rd, as part of Ambassador Richard Hoagland’s confirmation
process to replace Amb. Evans in Yerevan, Senator Biden wrote a
letter asking Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a series of
questions including the following: “Has the State Department
received any communication – written, electronic, or spoken – from
the Turkish Government concerning Ambassador Evans?”
Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Jeffrey T.
Bergner responded on behalf of Secretary Rice with the following
assertion: “Please be assured that allegations that the U.S. is
removing Ambassador Evans under pressure from the Government of
Turkey are simply untrue. The Government of Turkey has not
approached the Administration on this issue, and the United States
and Turkey engaged in no diplomatic exchanges related to this
matter.”
However, Justice Department filings by the Livingston Group reveal
that a day after Amb. Evans’ statements on the Armenian Genocide
were publicized in an ANCA-San Francisco press release dated
February 24, 2005, a Turkish agent communicated with the State
Department concerning his statements. On February 28, 2005, one
business day after the agent’s first phone call, Ambassador Evans
issued his first public retraction – noting that his mention of the
Armenian Genocide was made in a private capacity. Later that same
day, the Livingston Group reported three additional calls between
one of Turkey’s agents and State Department officials including the
Deputy Chief of Mission-designate at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara to
discuss Ambassador Evans’ retraction. The very next day on March
1, 2005, Ambassador Evans issued a public correction of his
retraction – removing entirely any mention of the Armenian
Genocide.
In addition to the Justice Department filings, several Turkish
press accounts reported that officials of the Government of Turkey
communicated their concerns to the State Department regarding
statements made by Ambassador Evans:
1) Turkish Press
On March 3, 2005, Turkish Press reported that, “Turkey’s Ambassador
in Washington Faruk Logoglu reacted to this. Ambassador Logoglu
reminded his interlocutors in the State Department that the United
States did not recognize ‘Armenian genocide’ noting the expression
in Evans’ apology was unacceptable. Justifying Turkey’s warning,
US State Department made Evans to issue a ‘correction’ for the
apology.” (“Evans Had to Correct His Statement Again After Using
‘Genocide’ in His Apology,” Turkish Press, March 3, 2005)
2) Anadolu News Agency
On March 4, 2005, the Anadolu News Agency reported that, “The
Turkish ambassador to Washington Faruk Logoglu reacted to this
message and the Washington administration approved Turkey’s demand
and made Evans correct the message of apology. Logoglu reminded the
US State Department that the US does not recognize the Armenian
genocide, but the term was used in the message of apology of the US
Yerevan Ambassador. Logoglu noted that a term that is not accepted
by USA could not be used in a statement of policy.” (“Double
Genocide Correction from US Yerevan Ambassador,” Anadolu News
Agency, March 04, 2005)
3) Turkish Daily News
On May 27, 2006, Turkish Daily News reported that, “‘After his
remarks last year that caused reaction at the State Department and
by Turkey, Evans was given a second chance, but he continued to
deviate from the official U.S. policy, working almost as a part of
Armenian groups that have a specific agenda,’ one U.S. analyst
familiar with the matter said on Thursday. ‘As a result he was
recalled.'” (“US Envoy Fired Over ‘Genocide’ Claims,” Turkish Daily
News, May 27, 2006)
The ANCA has circulated relevant sections of the Justice Department
FARA filings to Congressional offices.
#####

RA PM ANDRANIK MARGARIAN CONDEMNS ANY ATEMPT OF EXERTING PRESS ON
MASS MEDIA
Yerevan, July 22. ArmInfo. RA PM Andranik Margarian condemned any
attempt to exert pressure on the journalists. He said this at today’s
press conference, commenting on the recent attempt to set on fire
the editorial office of “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” newspaper.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko not to partake in the CIS non-official
summit
ArmRadio.am
21.07.2006 16:18
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko will not participate in the
non-official summit of CIS leaders in Moscow, Ukrainian Presentment’s
Spokesman Irina Geraschenko informed, ITAR-TASS reports.
“Considering the political situation in the country, the President
decided to stay in Kiev,” Geraschenko clarifies. She said Viktor
Yushchenko will send an official letter to the President of Russia,
in which he will explain the reasons of his non-participation in
the summit and will confirm that Russia is the strategic partner
of Ukraine.

Azeri official says Karabakh talks reach “most sensitive point”
ANS TV, Baku
20 Jul 06
[Presenter] The Baku government has already commented on the
report prepared by the personal representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, on fires set by Armenians [in
Nagornyy Karabakh]. Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov rated highly
the report that confirmed that Armenians set the fires.
The Baku government hopes that the expected visit of the US co-chairman
[of the OSCE Minsk Group], Matthew Bryza, to the region will have
a positive effect on the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement. Araz Azimov
commented on the situation in the settlement process in the run-up
to the visit.
[Azimov] The process has reached the most sensitive point. The latest
statements by the co-chairmen have somehow impacted on the process. If
necessary measures are not taken, this impact can be negative.
We are ready to take appropriate steps to further discussions in an
effective way. But again, like in all cases, we should be based on
law. Any idea can be considered only within the framework of these
principles.

Armenians try to block nominee
Los Angeles Daily News, CA
July 21, 2006
Ambassador-pick Hoagland must admit genocide, critics demand
BY LISA FRIEDMAN, Washington Bureau
Armenian-Americans in Southern California and elsewhere are leaning
on the U.S. Senate to block President George W. Bush’s ambassadorial
nominee to Armenia until he utters the word “genocide.”
So far, no lawmaker has placed a hold on Ambassador-designate Richard
Hoagland. But Sen. Barbara Boxer and several others say they are
frustrated by the refusal of Hoagland and the U.S. State Department
to recognize the killing of 1.5 million Armenians during the Ottoman
Empire as a genocide.
The controversial issue cut short the tenure of John Evans, the
previous U.S. ambassador to Armenia, after he openly declared that
the slaughter of Armenians between 1915 and 1923 should indeed be
called genocide.
“My concerns are about the absurdity of a policy that does not allow
an ambassador to recognize the genocide of a people in the country
in which he is serving,” Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., said Thursday.
Coleman likened the situation to hypothetically having a
U.S. ambassador to Israel who was unable to call the massacre of 6
million Jews during World War II the Holocaust.
Elizabeth Chouldjian, spokeswoman for the Armenian National Committee
of America – which this week formally requested that the Senate delay
Hoagland’s confirmation – said the organization believes he cannot
represent U.S. interests in Armenia.
“Sending a genocide denier to Armenia is a disservice to the American
people,” Chouldjian said. “How effective can a U.S. ambassador to
Armenia be if they, in confirmation hearings, deny the genocide?”
Hoagland, in written responses to Senate lawmakers, denied being
instructed not to us the word genocide.
At the same time, he repeatedly sidestepped questions about precisely
why the administration feels the mass deportations and killings should
not qualify as genocide.
“This tragedy is of such enormous human significance that its
historical assessment should be determined not on the basis of
politics, but through heartfelt introspection among civic leaders,
scholars, and the societies at large,” Hoagland wrote to Boxer.
The U.S. government, sensitive to offending Turkey – a traditionally
close and strategic NATO ally – has steadfastly refused to refer
explicitly to the issue as a genocide.
Turkey, for its part, acknowledges that atrocities were committed
against Armenians, but maintains there was no intention to eradicate
a people – and therefore no genocide.
Turkish officials point out that Armenian militias teamed up with
advancing Russian armies, killing thousands of Turks in the chaotic
aftermath of World War I. They contend about 300,000 Armenians
were killed.
Omer Taspinar, director of the Turkey program at the Brookings
Institution in Washington, D.C., said the Hoagland controversy comes
at a difficult time in U.S.-Turkish relations.
Resentments, he noted, still linger in the U.S. over Turkey’s refusal
to allow America a northern front in the Iraq war and the Turkish
government’s recent decision to host Hamas leader Khalid Mishal.
Meanwhile, Turkey has signaled it will send an army into northern
Iraq to confront Kurdish terrorists, despite U.S. warnings that the
country should not take unilateral action there.
“It is no longer so easy to talk about a strategic partnership between
Turkey and the United States,” Taspinar said.
The problems, he added, have significantly eroded the rationale that
the U.S. should not alienate Turkey with genocide resolutions because
of its role as a key ally in the region.
“For the lawmakers, there is no reason why they should defend
Turkey. Ankara has proven to be an unreliable partner in Iraq. There’s
quite an anger,” he said.
Meanwhile, Boxer and other lawmakers say Hoagland’s nomination will
be delayed.
“A lot of people have concerns, so nothing’s happening on it,”
Boxer said.
Added Chouldjian, “At the very least, the State Department has an
obligation to explain clearly what its policies are with respect to
this issue.”
Regardless of when Hoagland gets to his post, Taspinar said the
genocide dispute underlying the nomination could further erode an
already rocky U.S.-Turkey friendship.
“Any kind of recognition of the genocide issue will poison
Turkish-American relations, which have already gone to hell because
of Iraq. The White House does not want that,” he said.

ARMENIAN IMPORTS GROW IN HALF 1, EXPORTS SLIGHTLY DOWN
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: In the first six months of 2006 Armenia’s
foreign trade amounted to $1.395 billion, posting a 12.7 percent growth
from a year ago. Armenia’s National Statistical Committee (Armstat)
said the volume of foreign trade without cut diamond output, was $1.159
billion, a 23.3 percent year-on-year upsurge. Armenia’s exports in
January-June stood at $437.7 million, down 0.6 percent from a year
ago, while imports amounted to $951.8 million, marking a 20 percent
year-on-year growth. Armstat said exports, not counting cut diamonds,
was $324.8 million and imports $834.9 million. Growth from a year ago
was respectively 7.6 and 30.6 percent. Armstat also said population
money incomes in this time span amounted to 684.4 billion Drams,
while expenses rose to 685.3 billion Drams. Some 545 billion Drams
were spent on purchase of goods and services. Growth from a year
ago was respectively 17.4 and 19.2 percent. Armstat also said the
number of officially registered unemployed by the end of June stood
at 90,000, down 7 percent from a year ago. Average wages were 59, 600
drams, 21.6 percent higher from a year ago. Wages in public sector
were 41,800 drams (approximately $100) and 73,000 drams in private
sector. Growth from a year ago was respectively 21.9 and 20.7 percent.

Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture, Switzerland
July 17 2006
Azerbaijan: Sentencing of Mr. Bashirli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Tagiyev
Case AZE 250805.8 – Follow up to Cases AZE 250805 /.1 /.2 /.3 /.4 /.5
/.6 /.7
Sentencing
Geneva, 17 July 2006
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against
Torture (OMCT) has received new information about the following
situation in Azerbaijan.
New Information
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Human
Rights Centre of Azerbaijan, a member of the OMCT network, that on 12
July 2006 the Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Mr. Ruslan Bashirli,
chairman of the Youth Movement “Yeni Fikir” (New Idea) to seven years
in prison, Mr. Ramin Tagiyev, vice-chairman of Yeni Fikir to four
years and Mr. Said Nuri to five years. According to the information
received, judge Tofiq Pasheyev read out the sentence and ordered a
three year probation for Mr. Said Nuri, considering his illness, with
the remaining two years in reformatory.
According to the information received, they were charged with
attempting to overthrow the government with the aid of the Armenian
secret service. Furthermore, the charge of illegal entrepreneurship
has been dropped on the suggestion of the prosecution. The defense
lawyers asked the court to acquit the defendants. It is reported that
none of the two lawyers, representing the Yeni Fikir members, was
present at this hearing. One of them was informed about the hearing
only half an hour before and the second lawyer was not informed at
all.
It is reported that Mr. Said Nuri said that representatives of Yeni
Fikir will appeal the verdict and are willing to take the case as far
as the European Court.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned that the
defendants’ right to a jury trial -provided for by the Azerbaijani
Code of Criminal Procedure – has not been respected. Moreover, the
lawyers of Mr. Bashirli, Mr.Tagiyev and Mr. Nuri, were not present
during the court session on 10 July 2006 in which the indictment was
read out by the court. These grave violations of their procedural
rights call into question the fairness of their trial.
The International Secretariat of OMCT also expresses its grave
concern over the independence of the judiciary.
>Brief reminder of the situation
According to the information received, Mr. Ruslan Bashirli was
arrested on August 3, 2005, on charges of “plotting to overthrow the
Azerbaijani leadership at the instigation of Armenian intelligence
agents”, with whom he allegedly met in Tbilisi on July 28 and 29,
2005. A criminal case under clause 278 of the Criminal Code of the
Republic of Azerbaijan (“actions directed to seizing or keeping the
power by force”) was brought against him by the Prosecutor’s Office
of the Republic of Azerbaijan. If found guilty, he could face life
imprisonment. Moreover, he was accused of “illegal entrepreneurship”
(Art.192 of the Criminal Code). According to the article, the running
of a business (entrepreneurship) without registration or license is
punished by fine, limitation of liberty up to 3 years, or
imprisonment up to 5 years. However, this should not apply to a
non-profit organisation. Furthermore, Mr. Ruslan Bashirli’s family
has been subjected to harassment. Mr. Ruslan Bashirli’s father, Mr.
Djalil Bashirli, was forced to leave his position as a schoolteacher.
Moreover, his house, located in Zardob, was attacked by a mob that
threw stones at his house. Mr. Ruslan Bashirli’s uncle, Mr. Fuzuli
Qasimov, senior tax inspector in the region of Goychay, was dismissed
on August 8, 2005. Mr. Ruslan Bashirli was allegedly tortured which
resulted in the deterioration of his health. Therefore he was
transferred to the medical unit of the Bayil Prison, Baku city.
However, according to his lawyer, the conditions of the medical unit
did not permit adequate medical treatment.
On 12 September 2005, police arrested Mr. Said Nuri. He was
temporarily detained in confinement at the Narimanov District Police
Administration, where he was reportedly accused of “preparation of a
coup d’etat and getting financial support from interested forces”.
The “evidence” was his participation in a seminar in Poland organised
by the Institute of European Democracy. On the day after his arrest,
Mr. Nuri was hospitalised because of a poor health condition
(talassemia, and problems with his internal organs) in the City
Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Baku. On 14 September 2005, it was
reported that Mr. Nuri had received necessary treatment and was
released. However, the next day, he was rearrested on his way to
work, although the Prosecutor’s Office stated that he was “invited”
by the investigator. On 14 November 2005, Mr. Said Nuri was released
from hospital where he had been since 15 September 2005, and was
placed under house arrest. At that time, the charges against him had
not been dropped.
On 16 September 2005, the Nasimi district court of Baku approved the
preliminary arrest of Mr. Ramin Tagiyev. He was detained in Bayil
Prison (Investigation Isolator #1 of the Ministry of Justice), on
suspicion of preparing the forced seizure of power under the same
case as Mr. Ruslan Bashirli’s. Mr. Bashirli’s lawyer would have
reported that he was kept in a very cold cell in isolation.
The trials for Mr. Bashirli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Tagiyev started on 31
March 2006 in the Court of Grave Crimes under chairmanship of judge
Tofiq Pasheyev. The bill of accusations against the three men
included Articles 278, 192.2.1 and 192.2.2 Criminal Code of the
Republic of Azerbaijan (attempt of illegal seizure of power and
illegal entrepreneurship). Following the decision of this judge that
the hearings would take place behind closed doors, Mr. Bashirli and
Mr. Tagiyev started a hunger strike on 2 April 2006. Moreover, on 7
April 2006 Mr. Bashirli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Tagiyev refused themselves
lawyers, asserting that they do not consider their services useful if
the process is not transparent. Following this, the judge forcibly
appointed new lawyers, who are paid by the government, because the
Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Azerbaijan states that
a defendant who is tried under Article 278 is obligated to have a
defender. Moreover, as conviction under Article 278 can lead to life
imprisonment, in such cases Azerbaijani legislation requires, since 1
September 2000, that the case is to be tried by a jury. However, for
unknown reasons, the establishment of a jury is still pending.
Therefore ordinary courts now give all the verdicts, including
life-long sentences.
Furthermore, during the above-mentioned hearing on 7 April 2006, the
defendants were removed from the court hall for disruption of order
because they actively protested and ‘shouted various slogans’. Also,
Mr. Said Nuri, who was placed under house arrest was threatened to be
arrested if he continued to inform the media about the content of the
closed hearings.
Action requested
Please continue to write to the authorities in Azerbaijan urging them
to:
i. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and
psychological integrity of Mr. Bashirli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Tagiyev;
ii. Ensure that, should Mr. Bashirli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Tagiyev
appeal, all their procedural rights will be respected;
iii. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental
freedoms throughout the country in accordance with international
human rights standards.
Addresses
Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Office of
the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 19 Istiqlaliyyat St.,
Baku AZ1066, Azerbaijan, Fax: +994 12 492 06 25, +994 412 92 28 68,
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Prosecutor’s Office, 7 Nigar Rafibeyli St., Baku, Azerbaijan, Fax:
+994 12 492 06 82, +994 12 492 26 63, E-mail: [email protected]
Minister of Internal Affairs of the Azerbaijani Republic, Lt.-Gen.
Ramil Usubov, Fax: + 994 12 492 45 90
S.E. l’Ambassadeur H.E. Ambassador, Mr. Elchin Amirbayov, Rue de
Lausanne 67, CH-1202, Genève, Suisse, e-mail :
[email protected], fax: +4122 901 18 44
Minister of Justice in Azerbaijan, Mr. Fikret Mamedov, Prospekt
Stroitelej, 1 Baku Azerbaijan, e-mail: [email protected], Tel
(99412) 430 01 16, Fax (99412) 430 09 81
Azerbaijani Embassy in Brussels, Mr. Mamedov, Avenue Moliere, 464,
1050 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: +32 2 345 26 60, Fax: +32 2 345 91 85
Please also write to the embassy of Azerbaijan in your respective
country.
page=article&num=6170&consol=close&kwr d=OMCT
–Boundary_(ID_1MgQL/BTaMSguwPViU1OlA)–

Aussies escape by bus
Dance troupe now safe in Syria
Border Mail, Australia
July 18 2006
Members of an Armenian dance troupe who had been stranded in Lebanon
were among 86 Australians safely evacuated from the war-torn country
by bus, braving Israeli bombing attacks to cross to safety into Syria.
A Sydney spokesman for the Sevan Dance Group, Archbishop Aghan
Baliozian, said the 45 young performers and 36 parents and supervisors
had been picked up from their Beirut hotel in a three-bus convoy
yesterday morning.
The busloads of Australians fled Beirut, heading north along the
Mediterranean coast road and early last night crossing the Syrian
border and on to the capital Damascus.
“They had an uneventful trip to Syria and I can confirm they are
now in Damascus,” Archbishop Baliozian said.
“We expect them to be taken to Jordan tomorrow, where they will fly
to Bahrain, and to be in Sydney in two days.”
Thousands more Australians remain trapped in Lebanon as Australia
struggles to get them home, but last night’s successful operation
could be repeated in days to come.
“Tomorrow, we will endeavour to try to repeat this exercise,”
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said as he announced the evacuation
in Adelaide last night.
Hundreds more are set to be evacuated by ship later this week, he said.
Mr Downer had earlier warned of the potential danger of evacuating
Australians by road, saying some Italians fleeing Lebanon had almost
been hit by a missile.
The coastal route north from Beirut to Syria has been used by several
other nations to evacuate their citizens, but convoys have been
held up by Israeli bombing attacks as part of their campaign against
Hezbollah guerillas.
While Mr Downer said earlier yesterday that Australia believed it
had found a safe land route out of Lebanon, he warned: “This is a
difficult and hazardous exercise”.
“It’s a war situation and in a war there are high risks – there
are risks trying to get out of the country, there are risks staying
in the country.”
Mr Downer said he had spoken to Israel’s Foreign Minister before the
busload of Australians departed Beirut, but said Israel had given no
assurances about the safety of those on the buses.
However he said Australia’s close relationship with Israel was a
factor in the operation.
“I really appreciate the fact that we gave the information to the
Israelis about what we were doing and the route we were taking,”
he said.