Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

Pro-government party wins majority in Karabakh parliament –
preliminary results
Mediamax news agency
20 Jun 05
YEREVAN
The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR] has summed up preliminary results of the parliamentary
elections under the proportional representation system.
MPs elected from party lists will gain a third of the 33 seats in the
NKR National Assembly. The remaining 22 mandates will go to those
elected under the first-past-the-post system.
According to the preliminary results of the NKR CEC, the
pro-government Democratic Party of Artsakh will get five seats in the
new parliament (22,393 votes), the bloc of Dashnaktsutyun and
Movement-88 (14,534 votes) and the Free Motherland Movement (15,931
votes) will get three seats each.
The list of the bloc of Dashnaktsutyun and Movement-88 is led by
former Deputy Defence Minister Gen Vitaliy Balasanyan, Mayor of
Stepanakert Eduard Agabekyan and former NKR Minister of
Education and Culture Armen Sarkisyan.
According to the preliminary data, 73.6 per cent of voters took part
in the 19 June parliamentary elections in the NKR.

Parlamentswahl in umstrittener Region Berg-Karabach
SwissInfo, Deutsch
19 Juni 2005
STEPANAKERT – In der international nicht anerkannten Republik
Berg-Karabach ist ein neues Parlament gewählt worden. Bei dem
Urnengang in der zwischen Armenien und Aserbaidschan umstrittenen
Region zeichnete sich eine hohe Beteiligung ab.
Nach Behördenangaben gaben bis drei Stunden vor Schliessung der
Wahllokale 60,5 Prozent der etwa 90 000 mehrheitlich armenischen
Wahlberechtigten ihre Stimme ab. Aserbaidschan bezeichnete die Wahl als
“illegal”. Sie sei von Armenien betrieben worden, um seine “Besatzung”
des Gebiets zu legalisieren.
Bevor nicht hunderttausende aserbaidschanische Vertriebene zurückkehren
dürften, sei jede Wahl in der Region unrechtmässig, erklärte die
aserbaidschanische Wahlkommission. Es ist das vierte Mal, dass in
der Region eine Parlamentswahl stattfindet. Sieben Parteien und 185
Kandidaten bewarben sich um die Gunst der Wähler.
“Präsident” Arkadi Gukassian hatte vor der Wahl erklärt, der Urnengang
müsse nach europäischen Standarts ablaufen, um das Bild Berg-Karabachs
in der Welt nicht zu beschädigen. Dies sei wichtig für den “Prozess
der friedlichen Einigung” mit Ascherbaidschan.
In der international nicht anerkannten Republik Berg-Karabach,
die sich auf aserbaidschanischen Gebiet befindet, leben 145 000
Einwohner. Die meisten von ihnen sind Armenier. Seit Anfang der 90er
Jahre kontrolliert das armenische Militär die Region.
Im Krieg um Berg-Karabach von 1992 bis 1994 wurden etwa 25 000 Menschen
getötet. 1994 schlossen die Kontrahenten einen Waffenstillstand,
aber die Krise schwelt weiter. Internationale Vorschläge sehen eine
Selbstverwaltung des Gebietes vor.
–Boundary_(ID_Zfm6vwrxN53nJh5UCJBnuw)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
June 19 2005
Occupied Karabakh Holds Disputed Elections, Azerbaijani Refugees Not
Allowed to Vote
Jan SOYKOK – Parliamentary elections are being held in the occupied
south Caucasus enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenian forces occupied
and many more Azerbaijani towns in 1991.
Around 106 Armenian candidates from seven parties are contesting
33 seats. While Azerbaijan called the vote illegitimate, the
territory’s so-called ‘president’ says he hopes it will boost its
bid for international recognition. The European Union and OSCE
called Armenia ‘occupier’ in Karabakh and in other Azerbaijani
territories. More than 1 million Azerbaijanis became refugees. The
Armenian riot in the Nagorno-Karabakh has claimed up to 30,000 lives
and displaced more than 1 million Azerbaijanis. Now no Azerbaijanis
left in Armenia. The other minorities, including Jewish, have also
suffered from ultra-nationalism. Karabakh’ so-called ‘president’
Arkadiy Gukasyan promised an honest and transparent vote and warned
against any actions which could harm the province’s image. All attempts
at violations, whoever the author, will be denounced and initiators
punished with the full severity of the law,” he said.
Azerbaijan claims sovereignty over the territory but was beaten back
by Armenian forces in the war, which ended with a ceasefire in 1994.
Azerbaijan says if Yerevan does not withdraw its forces from the
Azerbaijani territories, the Azeri Army will retake the occupied
forces. Turkey has also declared Sunday’s vote illegitimate. In 1991,
the Armenian forces had attacked to Naxchivan, and Turkey stooped the
Armenian occupation by warning the Armenians. Turkey says no state
in the region should change the borders by using military force.
Armenian breached the UN principles in Karabakh and other occupied
territories.
Two thirds of the parliament’s 33 seats are to be elected directly and
the remaining 11, under a proportional system. Results of the poll,
which is being monitored by around 100 non-governmental observers,
are expected late on Monday or early Tuesday. For the elections to
be declared valid, at least 25% of the 89,000 people eligible to vote
must turn out.
Azerbaijani refugees cannot vote in the elections. If the Azerbaijani
voters are allowed to vote, Karabakh would possibly have an Azerbaijani
president.

Clarin, Argentina
Sabado 18/06/2005
EL PARLAMENTO DE ALEMANIA
Presión a Turquía por el genocidio armenio
BERLIN. LA VANGUARDIA. ESPECIAL
El Parlamento alemán aprobó el viernes una resolución que condena “la
matanza masiva de armenios” hace 90 años por parte de turcos otomanos.
La resolución insta a Ankara a examinar el papel que desempeñó Turquía
en el asesinato de casi un millón y medio de personas de esa etnia,
en lo que es conocido como el primer genocidio del siglo XX.
La presión de los legisladores tiene una fuerte carga política. En este
sentido advirtieron al gobierno turco que el asunto, de no resolverse,
podría afectar la esperanza de Ankara de iniciar negociaciones
para ingresar en la Unión Europea. La resolución eludió calificar
el crimen de genocidio, para no exacerbar los ánimos en Turquía,
donde se rechaza este término.
El tema de la masacre de los armenios, cuyo 90 aniversario se cumplió
el pasado 24 de abril, crece en Alemania donde Gobierno y oposición
se enfrentan por el ingreso de Turquía en la UE. Ese paso es resistido
por diversos partidos políticos, en particular la oposición de derecha
de la Unión Cristiana Democrática de Angela Merkel.
La discusión sobreviene además en momentos que hay una crisis profunda
en la Unión Europea por el rechazo al proyecto de Constitución y la
posibilidad del ingreso de más estados, en especial la gigantesca
Turquía.
El ministro turco de Exteriores, Abdullah Gül, recalcó en un
comunicado, tras conocer la decisión del Bundestag, que “esta
resolución es lamentable y la condenamos fuertemente” y la calificó
de una “provocación” que herirá los sentimientos de sus compatriotas.
Ankara no acepta las denuncias de que en el fin del imperio otomano
se perpetró un genocidio ordenado por la jerarquía gubernamental
contra los armenios y sostiene que las muertes fueron consecuencia
del conflicto con los partisanos ya que los armenios apoyaban al
invasor ruso.
–Boundary_(ID_3qjGgy5Mtw2iBwVznRd+JA)–

The New Anatolian, Turkey
June 18 2005
Erdogan rebukes Germans over Armenian decision
The New Anatolian / Ankara
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday criticized
the German Parliament’s decision this week urging Ankara to examine
its role in the so-called Armenian genocide. Accusing the German
Parliament of “sacrificing” this serious issue to “simple lobbyists,”
without making any meaningful investigation of it, Erdogan called
the decision “politically wrong and ugly.”
The German Parliament on Thursday urged Turkey to examine its role in
the so-called Armenian genocide, an issue that could thwart Ankara’s
hopes of joining the European Union. German lawmakers adopted a
cross-party resolution asking the Berlin government to press Turkey
to reexamine theso-called Armenian genocide.
“The word ‘genocide’ was not used in their decision,” Erdogan said,
speaking to reporters about the German Parliament’s decision on his
arrival to Turkey from Lebanon late Thursday. “They chose to use the
word massacre. But still, I think that it’s politically wrong and
ugly to make this decision without investigating or negotiating on
it. We opened our archives, but they showed no interest.”
Erdogan said that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s “attitude is
opposite to this decision.” He continued, “We expected the chancellor
to move on this and try to persuade some deputies to voice their
reservations about the decision.”

Turkey condemns German resolution
NTV MSNBC, Turkey
June 17 2005
Turkish-German relations could be harmed by a resolution passed by
the parliament in Berlin calling on Ankara to acknowledge that there
had been massacres of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire 90 years ago.
Guncelleme: 04:55 ET 17 Haziran 2005 CumaANKARA – The action of the
German parliament was irresponsible, the Turkish Foreign Ministry
said.
The resolution, passed unanimously by the German parliament Thursday,
said there needed to be an honest appraisal of history so as to form
a basis for reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia.
Armenians allege that the Ottoman empire committed acts of genocide
against its Armenian community during the First World War, claims
Turkey strongly rejects.
A statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry late Thursday
condemned the resolution and warned it would affect relations between
the two countries.
“We regret and strongly condemn the resolution,” the Turkish Foreign
Ministry statement said. “We are saddened to see the German
Parliament fail to listen to Turkey’s warnings that the resolution
would deeply hurt the Turkish people and have a negative impact on
bilateral ties.”
It was irresponsible and narrow-minded to use such a sensitive
subject for petty political calculations, the statement continued.
The motion in the German parliament also condemned the then German
government for failing to try to stop the killings. This was despite
having information about “the organised expulsion and extermination
of Armenians”.

Pan Armenian News
“OLD EUROPE” IS AGAINST NEGOTIATIONS WITH ANKARA
The potential leaders of France and Germany suppose that the dialogue on
Turkey’s EU membership is senseless.
“Negotiations on Turkey’s EU membership are senseless”, announced the leader
of France’s ruling “Union for a popular movement” party, Interior Minister
Nicolas Sarcozy in his speech in Paris. According to Sarcozy, the European
Union has “more urgent and important issues than that of negotiations with
Turkey. Thus, the second person in the French government has confirmed his
position and spoke out categorically against Turkey’s membership in the
family of European nations.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Of course, it does not follow from Sarcozy’s statement
that official Paris insists on the refusal to start negotiations with Ankara
on the conditions of Turkey’s EU membership. Sarcozy only states that he
considers negotiations with Ankara unreasonable and having no prospects. But
if the start of negotiations for Turkey is an end in itself, then no
problem. Negotiations may start but never finish. EU
Commission representative to Ankara, Hans Kretschmer has already stated that
if negotiations start they will hardly finish by the end of 2014. Before
that, Europe may change beyond recognition. It is quite possible that by
that time, the issue of Armenia’s EU membership will be already put on the
agenda.
Nicolas Sarcozy has always been against Turkey’s EU membership, but it is
the first time that he speaks out so definitely. Sarcozy’s current status
allows to suppose that his position is the official position of the
government. Even if it is not so, let us not forget in any case that he is
the most probable successor of Jacques Chirak. In case of success in the
2008 presidential elections his personal point of view will become official.
Sarcozy’s statement contains an important accent. He underlined that he
considered Turkey’s EU membership unacceptable, since Turkey “is the largest
country of Central Asia and not of Europe”. So, he is against Turkey’s
membership in the family of European nations not because Turkey has not yet
fulfilled all the set requirements, but because of the geographical factor.
It follows that Sarcozy supposes that Turkey cannot even aspire to gain a
place in Europe even if all the requirements are fulfilled. This
circumstance cannot but worry us, because the French minister’s point of
view which becomes more and more popular contradicts to our interests. The
problem is not in the fact that Armenia is also geographically located in
Asia and that with the same logic Armenia can also be deprived of the right
for a place in Europe. The thing is that there is a serious danger that
Turkey may become absolutely unpredictable and unmanageably aggressive in
case there is no stimulus to follow European values.
Hopes that Ankara will agree to be satisfied with the status of a
“privileged partner” are not so big. Rejeb Erdogan has recently stated that
he is not going to agree to that. Nevertheless European leaders, including
Nicolas Sarcozy continue to state that “privileged partnership” is the
maximum of what can be offered to Turkey. In the same spirit was also the
statement of the head of Christian Democratic Union – Christian Social Union
of German Bundestag. The leader of the parliamentary majority has clearly
called to refuse to start negotiations with Ankara that were planned for
October. It should be noted that the head of CDU-CSU is not just the leader
of one of the political parties, but is a person that represents a political
force which according to forecasts will win in the upcoming elections. This
means that like in the case with Nicolas Sarcozy, we deal with “favorites”
that may soon be at the controls. The future leaders of the two most
influential countries of “Old Europe” are categorically against Turkey’s EU
membership. In case of victory, those people will rule until 2010-2015.
During that period of time, Turks will have no chances at all. Maybe this
was what the EU Ankara representative meant saying that the negotiations on
Turkey’s EU membership would last at the least until 2014.
It is likely that the negotiations with Ankara will start in October as it
was planned during the last year’s EU summit. This was confirmed by the
president of EU Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. But in the situation formed,
the negotiations will hardly achieve any success.
15.06.2005, “PanARMENIAN Network” analytical department
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN EXPERT: ENOUGH BASES FOR NKR TO HOLD FAIR ELECTION
Pan Armenian News
16.06.2005 08:08
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “I think the parliamentary elections in Nagorno
Karabakh will be one of the most transparent and fair ones in the
history of the Karabakh Republic and will continue the baton of
the latest democratic elections in the NKR”, stated Vigen Badalyan,
the leader of the Moscow Consulting Firm, which engaged in political
technologies and political consultations, reported the Press Service
of the NKR Foreign Ministry. According to the expert, the NKR has
enough bases for conducting fair and transparent elections. “Everything
depends on how well the observers from parties, candidates, alliances,
etc will work. For some reason, I am inwardly sure that no “faults”
or other violations will occur and voters themselves will not allow
it”, the Russian political technologist said. Vigen Badalyan was
at the backgrounds of the Karabakh television, has authored various
broadcastings of famous Russian TV channels. He is a lecturer of the
chair of public politics in the Highest School of Economy (Moscow).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN MASS MEDIA COUNCIL HOLDS CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, June 15. /ARKA/. The Armenian-Russian Mass Media Council
(ARMC) has held its constituent assembly in Yerevan. The ARMC has
been formed on the initiative of the Russian REGNUM News Agency and
the Armenian “Iravunk” (Right) newspaper. Among the ARMC founders are
also the ARKA News Agency, AR TV channel, Armenian-Russian Business
Journal, “Argunety y Facty v Armenii” (Arguments and Facts in Armenia)
newspaper, and the representative office of the Interstate TV &
Radio Company “Mir”.
During the meeting the founders elected ARMC co-chairmen –
Editor-in-Chief of the Caucasian Chief Editorial Office, REGNUM
News Agency, Armenika Kiviryan and Chairman of the Editorial Board,
“Iravunk” newspaper, Hayk Babukhanyan. He reported that Speaker of
the RA Parliament Artur Baghdasaryan and RA Premier Andranik Margaryan
were informed of the ARMC foundation.
Babukhanyan read the ARMC founders a welcoming message of the managers
of the RIA “Novosty” News Agency, who expressed confidence that the
ARMC’s foundation and activities will contribute to the development
of Armenian-Russian strategic partnership. Executive Director of the
REGNUM News Agency Boris Sorkin expressed his hope for the ARMC’s
effective activities. In his welcoming message he expressed readiness
for all possible support to the ARMC’s initiatives and projects.
The ARMC members discussed a number of issues related to their
status, dissemination of information on the ARMC’s activities,
enlargement of the number of ARMC’s members. The meeting participants
advanced the initiative of holding the First Congress of Armenian
and Russian mass media on the occasion of Year of Russia in Armenia,
as well as an international conference themed “Mass media coverage
of Armenian-Russian relations and problems in the North and South
Caucasus.” The ARMC founder decided to specify their proposals and
ways of putting them into practice until the ARMC’s next meeting in
Yerevan on July 6. P.T. -0–

Armenia, UN sign memorandum to combat human trafficking
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
14 Jun 05
[Presenter] The Armenian Prosecutor-General’s Office will soon present
the government with a draft law on additions and changes to the
Armenian Criminal Code. The main goal of these changes is to improve
the struggle against human trafficking. Human trafficking is a new
type of crime for Armenia, and the United Nations and the Armenian
Prosecutor-General’s Office have launched a joint struggle against it.
Armenia’s Prosecutor-General Agvan Ovsepyan and the UN deputy permanent
coordinator in Armenia, Aleksandr Avanesov, have signed a memorandum
on mutual understanding in which the parties agreed to set up a new
department at the Armenian Prosecutor-General’s Office within the
framework of this memorandum in order to combat this type of crime.
[Avanesov speaking in Russian with Armenian voice-over] We believe that
this memorandum is an integral part of the UN programme. There is such
a problem in all the post-Soviet countries and similar programmes are
also being implemented in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Our donor countries
have also welcomed the implementation of this programme.
[Armenia’s Prosecutor-General Ovsepyan] We have taken considerable
measures to solve crimes in 2004-2005 and have made progress. A
general mechanism of investigating criminal cases has been established.