Author: Chalian Meline

“Jews Believe That It’s Right To Spit At Servants Of Other Religions”

Samuel Avitar Assures

Azg/am
16 Oct 04

A group of young Jews attacked an Armenian clergyman during a
religious procession in Jerusalem on October 10. One of the Jews spat
at Archbishop Nurhan Manukian leading the procession then slapped him
and threw his mitre on the ground. Archbishop Nurhan hit the rogue
back and as a result a scuffle began.

It’s interesting that the Israeli police guarding the procession
was there while this mean assault took place. Police even detained
archbishop saying that he hit the attackers back. The fact rose
Jerusalem’s Armenian community’s indignation.

Palestinian Wafa news agency immediately responded to the assault
(more details in Azg Daily October 13 issue). The Israeli Haaretz
touched open the issue on October 12 and Istanbul’s Nor Marmara
Armenian newspaper on October 13.

The Haaretz notes that not only the youth but also older Jews spit at
Christians and that Greeks and Armenians alike put up with this fact.

Hence, those rogues, young and old, aim not at Armenians but all
Christians. But still the attitude towards Armenians is unique. Daniel
Rasing, head of the Center of Christians’ and Jews’ Reconciliation,
says in the Haaretz that Armenian clergymen do not dare to look out of
their homes during days of Jewish Purim. Samuel Avitar, ex-counselor
of Jerusalem’s mayor on Christian affairs, defined this attack as a
“disgrace” and added: “I try to do something but all in vain as Jews
are sure that clergy is created to be spat at”.

Though archbishop Nurhan informs Nor Marmara saying that “Armenian
clergy of Jerusalem are accustomed to such an attitude and try to
ignore it, they cannot ignore this last incident”. In this case the
only alternative is to leave the Holy City.

Having this perspective in their minds, Jews go even further. This was
not the first time Armenians were attacked. Still in January archbishop
Torgom Manukian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, complained deputy
interior minister of Israel Abraham Porazi that “the Jews rail and
spit at Armenians when they walk down the streets”. Porazi tried to
find out “why government doesn’t take measures to hold extremist Jews
back from abasing the Armenian patriarch and Armenians?” “We don’t
have enough means to guard every priest”.

Haaretz covered this issue on January 13. Jerusalem’s
Patriarchate again turned to the minister of interior in April but
vainly. Apparently the minister had no means to provide the police
with, as the attacks still occur. We can understand that the ministry
may falls short of means but what should we think about the policemen
guarding the procession of October 10? What was their mission if not
securing the clergy?

There may be only answer: police backs those attacks on the Armenian
Patriarchate, Armenian clergy and community in order to win interior
minister’s approval. We may conclude that those rascals are encouraged
by the state and that the attacks are organized on a state level.

What can we expect of a state citizens of which think that it’s right
to spit at servants of other religions?

By Hakob Chakrian

Armenia transport isolation thwarts trade with RF – minister

ITAR-TASS News Agency  
October 13, 2004 Wednesday

YEREVAN — Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said Armenia’s
transport isolation thwarts trade with Russia.

Levitin, who is Russian co-chairman of the inter-governmental
commission on economic cooperation, said this problem is in the focus
of sessions of the inter-governmental commission.

Among major problems, the Russian minister named the unsatisfied
development of the transport infrastructure, which requires additional
finances, and Georgia’s unconstructive position on opening through
railway traffic between Russia and Armenia.

Levitin said, “There are obstacles to carry out the project on
organising direct ferry traffic via Poti. The solution of the transport
problem in the Caucasus should be subject of the whole region.”

Armenia ranks third among CIS countries in investments in Russia’s
economy, he said.

Speaking at an international economic forum, the minister said,
“At present, the improvement of trade structure and the expansion
of investment cooperation is one of priority tasks.” The forum was
organised by the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians
of Russia.

He recalled, “Russia invested in different fields of Armenia’s economy,
primarily in the productive and banking sectors of the economy.”

Last year Russia’s investment in Armenia’s economy reached 68 million
U.S. dollars. From 1988 to 2003 Russia’s direct investment in Armenia
exceeded 230 million U.S. dollars.

Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said Russia is ready to take an active
part in investment programmes and the implementation of economic
projects in Armenia.

The prime minister’s message was read by Russian Transport Minister
Igor Levitin.

Fradkov said he is hopeful that this forum would become a catalyst
for the development of trade and economic ties between Armenia and
Russia and other countries.

He noted that the Armenian community in Russia played a significant
role in launching mutually advantageous ties in various spheres
between the two countries.

Levitin said the development of inter-regional relations between the
two countries was an important reserve of bilateral relations.

Commenting on Armenia’s state debt to Russia, the minister said the two
countries had found a solution to this problem last year. The handover
of companies as payment of the state debt creates preconditions for
boosting trade and economic interaction between the two states.

Russian-Armenian trade and economic cooperation is developed in
accordance with the principle of equality, while meeting each party’s
national interests and to their mutual advantage, the minister said.

Levitin noted positive examples of cooperation, including such joint
ventures as Armenal, in which the Russian Aluminium Company invested
more than 40 million dollars, the Armavia airline, in which Russia’s
Sibir holds a 70-percent sake and the Orbita plant, which is wholly
owned by Rosaviaspetskomplex.

“We have cooperation plans in the fields of power generation,
including nuclear power generation, and information technologies
where resources and experience of Russian communication operators
on Armenia’s market will be used, as well as in the sphere of space
exploration and science,” the minister said.

He said Russia’s commercial banks begin to display interest in
servicing Russian companies, which operate in Armenia, and setting
up new joint ventures.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (E.)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

October 12, 2004
___________________

DIOCESAN COMMITTEE WORKING ON 10TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL COMMEMORATION
FOR HIS HOLINESS VASKEN I

Memorial Event Scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 5, at NYC’s St. Vartan
Cathedral Complex

A select committee representing a broad spectrum of the Armenian
American community has been organizing a special program in memory of
His Holiness Vasken I, of blessed memory, the late Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians.

The year 2004 represents the 10th anniversary of Catholicos Vasken’s
passing, and the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) is
observing the milestone with a requiem service and program, on Sunday,
December 5, at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue, in New
York City.

The memorial committee, formed under the auspices of the Diocesan
Primate, His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, is co-chaired by Mr.
Bedros Givelekian and Mr. Edward Jamie.

Other members of the experienced and versatile group include: Fr.
Mardiros Chevian, Fr. Vasken Karayan, Edward Barsamian, Dr. Arthur
Kubikian, Nubar Kupelian, Gregory Manuelian, Sarkis Matosian, Sam
Mikaelian, Dr. Louiza Puskulian, and Kegham Tcholakian.

The committee, which has been active since June, has planned a dignified
and captivating program.

“The day’s events will begin with the Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m.,
celebrated by Archbishop Barsamian, followed by a memorial luncheon and
program at 1:00 p.m.” said co-chairman Bedros Givelekian. “We’re very
pleased to have Ambassador Harry Gilmore, the former U.S. Ambassador to
the Republic of Armenia, as the keynote speaker during the memorial
program,” Mr. Givelikian added.

“A beautiful and informative commemorative booklet will be printed, and
memorial khatchkars crafted in Armenia will be distributed to the
attendees” said Mr. Jamie, also a co-chairman of the December 5 event.

Loved and respected by all during his long pontificate, His Holiness
Vasken I served the worldwide Armenian community as the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians from 1955 to 1994.

Prior to that, Vehapar served as primate of Romania–and many of his
students, parishioners, and friends from those days now live in the
United States. The 10th anniversary memorial committee has made a
special effort to contact members of New York’s Romanian Armenian
community, to share memories of Vehapar with the attendees during the
program.

The memorial luncheon is free and open to the public, but with limited
seating. To reserve a place for the luncheon, please call the Diocesan
Center, at (212) 686-0710.

–10/12/04

PHOTO CAPTION: Members of the H.H. Vasken I Memorial Committee, who are
organizing a special commemoration for Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at New
York’s St. Vartan Cathedral complex, marking the 10th anniversary of His
Holiness’ passing.

# # #

MEETING AT THE NKR PRESIDENT

A1 plus
12-10-2004

On October 11, NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian received members of
the Directors’ Board of the Armenian Educational Foundation of the
USA (AEF) Hakob and Hilda Baghdasarian and Executive Director of the
organization’s department in Armenia Stepan Nalbandian. Leader of
the Armenian General Benevolent Union department in Austria Tamara
Babayan also participated in the meeting.

In the course of the meeting, Hakob Baghdasarian informed the
President about the projects, realized in Nagorno Karabakh by the
Armenian Educational Foundation. According to him, 37 schools have
been repaired and built in different regions of the republic since
1999. This year, the organization represented by him has already
reconstructed 8 schools, works on the reconstruction of the music
school are made in the town of Shoushi. Mr.Baghdasarian also added
that the Armenian Educational Foundation, besides educational programs,
planned to realise here also a number of projects on improving streets
and developing the NKR settlements.

In his turn, the Austrian spokesman of the Armenian General Benevolent
Union Tamara Babayan informed that her visit to Artsakh pursued the
aim to define the prospects of the contribution which the led-by-her
department could make to the resolution of vital problems of Nagorno
Karabakh.

Expressing gratitude to the guests for their aspiration to help
Artsakh, Arkady Ghoukassian at the same time appealed to them to
participate more actively in the republic’s development and
improvement.

PanArmenian News
Oct 12 2004

TODAY FIRST TRIAL AGAINST TURKISH CONSULATE GENERAL IN PARIS FOR
DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WILL BE HELD IN FRANCE

PARIS, 12.10.04. Today the first trial against the Turkish Consulate
General on the suit of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) will be
held in France. As reported by Zaman Turkish newspaper, for the first
time the Turkish diplomat will be brought up due to `the so-called
Genocide ideas.` It should be noted that in its suit in June this
year the ANC demanded to call to account the Turkish Consulate
General in France for publishing materials on its web site, denying
the Armenian Genocide, and to close the site. Official Ankara hopes
for the French court not to allow the suit, taking into account the
diplomatic immunity. Otherwise, the court decision may tell on the
Turkish-French relations very negatively.

Le Monde, France
02 octobre 2004

Les juifs et Israël : western ou tragédie ? ;
HORIZONS DÉBATS – Point de vue

par Christine Sukic

ON SE DIT, lorsqu’on découvre la page Débats du Monde du 28
septembre, que le journal nous a fait un nouveau cadeau : une pleine
page consacrée au Proche-Orient, dont l’amorce en « une » associe,
sous la plume de Freddy Raphaël, Ariel Sharon au négationnisme, ce
dernier mot étant pudiquement orné de guillemets, sans doute pour
couper court à toute critique.

Le reste est à l’avenant, assez prévisible. On se demande même s’il y
a lieu de s’irriter, tant on connaît par coeur le contenu de ce que
l’on découvre.

Une gourmandise tout de même (peut-être ne s’agit-il pas d’une
nouveauté, mais d’un cliché lié au sujet et qui nous avait échappé
auparavant) dans le point de vue de Stéphane Hessel : dans ce texte
adressé au gouvernement israélien, aux membres de la Knesset et aux
commandants en chef de Tsahal, l’auteur accorde à ses interlocuteurs
qu’ils doivent « trouver [leur] place » au Moyen-Orient. Cela doit
leur faire plaisir.

On reviendra sur la pièce maîtresse, le plat principal, le rôt de ce
festin de choix. En fait, on jette à peine un oeil sur ces articles,
que l’on a l’impression de connaître déjà. On pourrait les écrire
soi-même. Seuls quelques mots-clés surgissent lorsqu’on parcourt la
page. Tout est là, ouf ! Obsession, désespoir, arrêter, droit,
amalgames, agressions verbales, le peuple, anéantissement physique,
la haine, moralement injustifiables, totalement inacceptables,
également inacceptables, l’antisémitisme, nous soutenons, nous nous
dressons, nous condamnons, nous sommes, nous n’autorisons, nous ne
pouvons pas supporter…

Une lecture rapide permet d’envisager tous ces mots. Reconstituer le
puzzle est un jeu d’enfant. Chacune de ces emphases verbales, chaque
manifestation de ce style amphigourique, provoque en nous un petit
élancement, peu douloureux certes, car on s’habitue à tout, mais une
telle accumulation peut devenir insupportable. Plus que de la peine,
il s’agit d’une amertume, d’un petit mal au coeur tenace,
imperceptible, que l’on doit porter en soi sans pouvoir s’en
débarrasser. Mais pourquoi pas d’énervement ? On pourrait jeter le
journal, froissé, en boule, dans un coin, et se désabonner.

Justement, parce qu’on s’habitue à tout. On sait aussi que, si tout
va bien, d’ici à quelques jours, répondra à cette page une autre
page, dans le même journal. D’autres répondront à ceux-ci, et les
bons terrasseront les méchants (évidemment, on pourrait envisager les
choses autrement et inverser ce schéma : ceux à qui on avait si
élégamment cloué le bec avec nos arguments de poids nous répondent).
Et ainsi de suite : les bons, les méchants, les méchants, les bons.
Le journal nous a préparé une version de ce qu’Amos Oz, dans
Aidez-nous à divorcer, appelle un « western », sauf que, dans un
western, les bons sont en général les mêmes pour tout le monde, et
les méchants aussi.

Les bons juifs, les mauvais juifs se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas
dans ce très mauvais feuilleton que nous offre le journal. C’est
d’ailleurs ce même western que propose cette « autre voix juive »
(mal au coeur, élancement, plat trop lourd). Elle persiste ( « notre
obsession » ) à opposer ses bons et ses méchants, tout en soutenant
l’initiative de Genève ! Mais comment fait-elle ? Ne lui opposons pas
d’autres bons et d’autres méchants, car nous ne voulons pas jouer
dans ce feuilleton imbécile.

Ceci, simplement : l’ « autre voix juive », si l’on en croit son nom,
considère qu’il y a une « voix juive » dominante, voix qui écrase
toutes les autres, sûre d’elle et dominatrice. Loin d’évoquer la
possibilité d’une infinie variété de voix juives, l’autre voix
s’enferme dans son schéma binaire de bons et de méchants : les
mauvais juifs, les bons juifs. Elle réussit aussi à opposer à «
l’antisémitisme d’aujourd’hui » ce qu’elle perçoit comme son
contraire : le « privilège » des juifs qui soutiennent « qu’il n’y a
d’autre crime contre l’humanité que l’extermination des juifs par les
nazis ». Autrement dit, l’autre voix accuse ses mauvais juifs d’être
communautaristes, de ne pas voir plus loin que leur Shoah.

On se souvient peut-être que, lors de la première pétition rédigée
par l’« autre voix », certains signataires se réclamaient, justement,
de ce lien à l’extermination (Untel, petit-fils de déportés à
Auschwitz, Unetelle, petite-fille et nièce de déporté), en lieu et
place de l’indication de leur profession. Si l’on voulait faire du
mauvais esprit, on pourrait se demander si leur judéité se définit
par le nombre de grands-parents déportés à Auschwitz. Mais on ne veut
pas faire de mauvais esprit. D’autres signataires avaient indiqué,
comme profession, « d’origine juive ».

On peut s’interroger sur le terme d’ « origine ». Qui est ce juif qui
est à l’origine ? Qu’est-ce qui est à l’origine ? Juif d’origine, ou
d’origine juive ? D’origine, mais donc pas juif maintenant ? Etrange,
cette manière de se prévaloir de cette « origine » ou de ce lien à la
Shoah, pour des gens qui refusent le « privilège de la victime ».
Est-ce qu’être « d’origine juive » apporte un poids supplémentaire au
contenu de ce que l’on avance ?

Cette origine me paraît bien ténue. Elle a oublié l’essentiel. Non
contente d’écrire de nouveaux épisodes du western, fruit du « blocage
mental » dénoncé par Amos Oz, elle oublie la part d’universalisme de
ce judaïsme, d’origine ou non, dont elle se réclame. L’universalisme
juif ne consiste pas à montrer l’un ou l’autre du doigt, mais à
envisager toutes les données du conflit, et, surtout, l’universalisme
juif (d’origine) a le sens du tragique. C’est lui qui dénonce les
crimes de Milosevic et le génocide rwandais, qui condamne l’action
menée par les Russes en Tchétchénie et qui milite pour que soit
reconnu le génocide arménien.

L’origine n’est donc même plus une trace ici, mais un mot vidé de sa
substance, estampille dont on se prévaut et qui donne tous les droits
à la lourdeur et à l’emphase. S’il y a eu extermination, elle est
peut-être là aussi, dans la disparition de cet universalisme qui
faisait de l’Europe, du Centre et de l’Est, un foyer d’humanisme, de
culture et d’intelligence. S’il faut retrouver une origine, c’est
bien celle de cette « géographie tragique » si bien décrite par Ivo
Andric et qui permettrait de mettre un terme au western pour
envisager la fin de la tragédie.

NOTES: Christine Sukic est maître de conférences de littérature
anglaise à l’université de Bourgogne (Dijon).

ArmenPress
Oct 6 2004

AMBASSADOR OF BELGIUM TO ARMENIA HANDS OVER HER CREDENTIAL TO
PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS: Today, the ambassador of Belgium
to Armenia Ms. Daniele del Marmol (residence in Belgium) handed over
her credentials to president Kocharian.
Congratulating the diplomat on her new mission, the president said
that Armenia underscores both bilateral relations with European
countries and integration into European structures. Robert Kocharian
expressed his satisfaction with the current pace and effectiveness of
political and economic relations between Armenia and Belgium. In his
words, the two countries also effectively cooperate within
international organizations and European Union.
Speaking on economic partnership, the president noted that Belgium
is the main trade partner of Armenia in the EU. Belgian companies
have made good investment in the republic and the Armenian Belgian
community played its role in this regard. Kocharian said there are
good grounds to enlarge cooperation.
The president of the republic and the ambassador talked also about
regional issues, underscoring the inclusion of South Caucasus in EU
Broader Europe: New Neighborhood program.
The same day Armenian foreign minister received ambassador of
Belgium to Armenia Ms. Daniele del Marmol .

Manitou Messenger Online, MN
Sept 30 2004

Sudan situation dire

Politicians on both sides of the aisle in Congress have suggested
that the United States should have known that the Iraqi “liberation”
effort would go sour, citing the Vietnam conflict as proof of the
inevitable failure of “Operation Iraqi Freedom.”
Politicians who argue so vehemently that we remember history seem to
have forgotten the Armenian Genocide following World War I, the
Holocaust of World War II and the brutal ethnic cleansings in
Cambodia, Serbia and Rwanda.

In the Darfur region of Sudan, this century’s first major genocide is
unfolding while the supposed defenders of righteousness stand by
powerless and unmotivated.

In Darfur, one million people have been forced to live as refugees.
Following an uprising by the oppressed African minority, roving
Pro-Government Arab militias have killed 50,000 or more of the
region’s Black African population.

The government admits to forming self-defense militias against the
rebels in Darfur, but denies any links to the Janjaweed militia
groups responsible for the mass murders and rapes in the region.
Refugees, however, paint a very different story.

According to victims, the Sudanese Government Air Force is bombing
villages suspected of being rebel strongholds. Following the
bombardment, the Janjaweed militias ride through the village on
horses and camels, massacring men, women and children. The Janjaweed
themselves admit to these atrocities, claiming that men are killed
and women are raped if they stray too far from the protection of the
refugee camps in search of wood or water.

The African Union (A.U.) seems powerless to stop the violence.
Neighboring countries, like Chad, have closed their borders for fear
of spreading the battlefront of Arab-Black confrontation. Sudan
itself seems at best complacent and at worst complicit with the
slaughter of the mostly Christian Black African population by their
Arab-African countrymen.

Under massive political pressure from the United Nations and the
United States, Sudan has weakly promised to disarm the Janjaweed. The
United Nations is threatening sanctions  with the United States
leading that push, yet some nations are still resisting a broader
A.U. or U.N. military presence to ensure the safety of the refugees,
including Sudan itself.

Given the remoteness of Sudan, it is not likely that a western nation
will be involved in any broad-based military action to protect the
refugees as they did in Kosovo in 1999. Despite the similarity of the
Darfur crisis to the Kosovo genocide, Darfur is considerably vaster
and much further away from NATO’s main bases of operation than
Kosovo, Serbia.

Because of Africa’s status in the world, an African crisis somehow
always needs to be especially gruesome for western nations to take
notice. Rwanda practically bled itself dry before the United Nations
decided to care.

While it is understandable that the West is apprehensive about
putting troops into yet another Muslim country, a multi-national
coalition featuring the United Nations or African Union would not be
there to challenge the validity of the Sudanese government. The U.S.
Congress recently declared the conflict “genocide” but only in a
non-binding resolution in the House of Representatives. The Senate
has yet to agree, but if they were to concur, such a decision would
set off intervention actions under the guidelines of the Genocide
Convention, although the depth of the resolve of such action is
uncertain.

Secretary of State Colin Powell recently visited Sudan, and in a
promising first step, stated, “Genocide has been committed in Sudan,
and the Sudanese Government and the Janjaweed militias bear
responsibility.”

For all those in the government today who continue to question the
moral basis of the war in Iraq, Sudan presents itself as a clear
example of when intervention is not only necessary, but also vital to
the preservation of human rights for an entire region of the world.

To have invaded Iraq on shaky foundations with vague moral reasoning
was bad enough. For the United States to ignore Sudan as its people
die by the thousands would only further blemish a record of
righteousness already on life support.

Staff writer Byron Vierk is a senior from Lincoln, Neb. He majors in
history.

ICRC BEGINS TRAINING COURSE FOR IHL

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: The International Committee of
theRed Cross (ICRC), Armenia office has started today a five-day
training course on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for 12
officers of Armenian Armed Forces in the resort town of
Tsakhkadzor. The course for future IHL instructors is organized by the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in cooperation with
the Ministry of Defense of Armenia.

Conducted by the ICRC regional IHL expert, this course focuses on
the effective use of the “IHL for Commanders” and “IHL for
Instructors” manuals, used as a didactic tool for IHL training in the
Armenian Army. The course also covers topics such as conduct of
operations, commander’s responsibility, behavior in combat and the
ICRC and its activities.

Similar training courses have been organized in the past. Through
such courses, the ICRC seeks to ensure that officers from Armenian
Armed Forces know and respect the rules and principles of IHL.

The ICRC stands ready to support the Armenian military
authoritiesin integrating IHL into the teaching and combat training
programs of the Armenian armed forces.

BRAMA (press release), Ukraine News stand – United States
Sept 28 2004

Statement
by H.E. Mr. Kostyantyn Gryshchenko,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
at the General Debate of the 59th session
of the UN General Assembly
New York, 27 September 2004

Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Jean Ping on his
election as the President of the United Nations General Assembly at
the 59th session.

H.E. Mr. Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Ukraine at the General Debate of the 59th session of the UN General
Assembly, New York, 27 September 2004
——————————————————————————–

Let me also pay tribute to His Excellency Mr. Julian Hunte for his
highly professional and fruitful work at the helm of the General
Assembly.

Mr. President,

A year ago the UN Secretary General stressed in this hall that the
United Nations reached a fork in the road.

Today it is still true.

We have a long list of problems, but not a clear vision of how to
deal with them.

To choose the right way, to solve a conflict of wishes and resources,
of desirable and achievable we should concentrate on priorities.

Let me outline Ukraine’s vision of the most important issues, which
the United Nations should focus on.

Tragedy in Russian city of Beslan and other recent terrorist attacks
leave no doubt that fight against terrorism is truly the major
priority.

We express sympathy to the victims and strongly condemn terrorism in
all its forms and manifestations.

The reason behind terrorism is to create chaos, to disrupt the global
system of peace and security established and promoted by our
Organization.

So, we have to act collectively.

We have to overcome old prejudices and to establish a spirit of
confidence and a new culture of international cooperation, which
would embrace the whole spectrum of political, law ,enforcement and
security instruments.

Creation of a new efficient system of information exchange on
terrorism will help prevent new attacks and save priceless human
lives. We support views expressed by previous speakers on the need of
a broader approach to address the complex and interdependent nature
of security.

To prevent terrorist acts and to eliminate roots of terrorism, the
United Nations must promote better understanding, if you wish – a
global rapprochement between different civilizations and religions.
There are universal values of peace and security, which are a
corner-stone of our Organization and which can serve as a basis for a
new atmosphere of tolerance in the world.

Mr. President,

As a country actively participating in Stabilization forces in Iraq
we are concerned with terrorist insurgency and continuing violence
there. Though the situation in Iraq remains difficult, there are some
positive trends.

Ukraine welcomes the transition of power to Iraqi people, formation
of the interim authorities. It is important to ensure effective
implementation of the timetable for comprehensive political
transition process in the country, particularly through holding free
and fair election with the highest possible under the current
circumstances standards. The UN Security Council resolution 1546
(2004) clearly extends a central role to the United Nations in
comprehensive political transition in the country, as well as in the
reconstruction process.

However, the Iraqi crisis and international fight against terrorism
revealed the need to strengthen the United Nations as a key
instrument of safeguarding international peace and security.

Institutional reform of the United Nations, including the Security
Council, which should become truly representative and balanced, is an
important task.

We understand reasons behind suggestions to enlarge the Council in
both categories — permanent and non-permanent and are ready to
consider carefully relevant proposals.

In this respect Ukraine attaches primary importance to allocation of
an additional non-permanent seat to the Group of Eastern European
States.

But the reform must not mean only some structural changes. We should
not embark on it every twenty years, trying to reflect a new balance
of power on international arena.

Universal criteria, common understanding of threats and challenges
are necessary to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of our
organization in the XXI century.

We fully share the views expressed by the Secretary General at the
beginning of the general debate that rule of law should be a priority
both at home and in international affairs.

We are looking forward to the outcome of the High Level Panel on
Threats, Challenges and Changes.

Authority of the UN should be increased, particularly, through its
greater involvement into conflicts prevention and resolution. As the
President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma emphasized, conflict prevention
should become pivotal in the philosophy of the United Nations work in
the new millennium. In our region frozen conflicts in Abkhazia, South
Osetia, Nagorny Karabakh, and Transdnistria need to be solved as soon
as possible.

As one of the major contributors to the UN peacekeeping operations
and the largest in Europe, Ukraine is deeply concerned with
increasing danger to the peacekeeping personnel.

We stand for universal application of the Convention on Safety of the
UN and Associated Personnel and call upon all Member States to abide
strictly by its provisions.

Role of the UN in the field of non-proliferation and disarmament
should be also strengthened.

This year Ukraine will mark the 10th anniversary of its accession to
the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The
landmark decision to eliminate the third largest nuclear arsenal and
relinquish nuclear capability has significantly enhanced
international non-proliferation regime and global security.

We hope that this positive example will be followed by countries,
which entertain ideas of protecting their security through the access
to nuclear weapons.

Mr. President,

All achievements by the international community may become futile
should we succumb to the threat of HIV/AIDS that kills each year more
people than all armed conflicts on the planet taken together.

We highly appreciate the work carried out by the United Nations, its
specialized agencies and personally by the Secretary-General in
combating this pandemic.

Ukraine supports the initiative to hold in June next year a high
level meeting to review progress in the implementation of the
Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS.

At the same time we believe that millions of our infected fellow
citizens need concrete actions.

We are convinced that HIV/AIDS poses one of the fundamental
challenges not only to human health and well-being, but to the very
security of our world. In this regard we attach particular
significance to declaration by the Organization of a global emergency
alert on fighting HIV/AIDS.

The main focus must be placed on prevention and treatment of the
disease.

As President Leonid Kuchma stressed last year at the high-level
meeting on HIV/AIDS, we need to elaborate a clear system of
encouraging sponsorship of medical projects as well as expand
educational campaign on preventing the pandemic.

A leading role in this regard should be played by mass media. Ukraine
has launched an active mass media campaign with the involvement of
all social groups and is ready to lead regional media movement in the
field of prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Another pressing problem is trafficking in persons, especially in
women and children. Ukraine spares no effort to address it.

This year Ukraine has become a party to the UN Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime and to its two optional protocols.

However, tackling these issues requires a comprehensive approach and
close cooperation of the international community. We need to create a
truly functioning and efficient mechanism to combine the efforts of
the countries of origin, transit and destination.

Effective strategies to combat human trafficking should be based on
both – law enforcement measures and improvement of economic and
social conditions of potential victims.

Ukraine welcomes the appointment of the Special Rapporteur of the
Commission on Human Rights on trafficking in persons, especially in
women and children, and stands ready to render every support in
implementing respective mandates. Excellencies,

Last year the world observed the 70th anniversary of the horrible
genocidal famine, which took lives of over 7 million of Ukrainian
people. Taking this opportunity I wish once again to express our
gratitude to all States, who signed the Joint Statement on the
Seventieth Anniversary of the Great Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine
(Holodomor), whose parliaments adopted acts of condemnation and
sympathy, and to all organizations and individuals who took part in
the events to honor the victims of the Great Famine.

International community must thoroughly study this phenomenon in
order to prevent it in the future.

We hope that the newly appointed Special Advisor to the UN Secretary
General on the Prevention of Genocide will also duly focus on this
issue.

Almost two decades have passed since Ukraine was struck by another
tragedy – Chornobyl disaster.

Ukraine together with other interested delegations put forth an
initiative to hold in the framework of the 60th session of UN General
Assembly in spring 2006 a special plenary meeting to commemorate the
victims of Chornobyl disaster.

Ukraine has fulfilled its commitments related to the closure of
Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

What needs to be done today is to construct a new safe confinement.
We expect that funds to this purpose promised by G7 in 1995 will be
fully provided.

Chornobyl remains a burning wound, which proves every day how fragile
is our world and how easily broken is our nature. No one should doubt
our commitment to the preserving of our environment.

That is why Ukraine is so sensitive to environmental protection,
whether it concerns building of roads, construction of new power
plants or reopening of a navigable waterway that existed before.

Mr. President,

There was a fashion some years ago to criticize the United Nations
for inability to solve the most important problems. Today we all come
to this Assembly with ever stronger conviction that there is no
alternative to our Organization.

I am confident, that despite all obstacles and doubts of the past, we
can act for the attainment of the UN goals, common for all of us. Act
swiftly, collectively and with a vision.

I thank you.