Author: Chatinian Lara

ARMENIAN AND NKR DEFENCE MINISTRIES REFUTE INFORMATION ABOUT SKIRMISH
WITH AZERI MILITARY FORCES SUPPOSEDLY OCCURRED THE DAY BEFORE

YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. Armenian Defence Ministry refutes a
regular information of Azeri mass media about a skirmish supposedly
occurred the day before. Ministry’s press-secretary, colonel Seyran
Shakhsuvaryan stated ARMINFO that the information does not represents
the facts and continues a propagandistic campaign developed by the
official Baku.

NKR Defence Ministry also refuted this information. To note, TURAN
Baku agency spread today an information with accusations against
Armenian and NKR military forces in violation of armistice regime,
referring to the press-service of Azeri Defence Ministry. According to
the information, the skirmishes supposedly occurred on the contact
line of Armenian and Azeri military forces in the region of Ijevan
(RA) and Ghazakh (AR), as well as on the contact line of NKR and Azeri
military forces on the Aghdam direction. -r-

Turkish Press
March 30 2005

Hurriyet
GUL: `THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WAS INVENTED BY THE DIASPORA’

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his visiting Swiss
counterpart Micheline Calmy-Rey. After their talks, Gul told a joint
press conference, Gul said that the two countries enjoyed good
relations and that that visit would help to boost these ties.
Stressing that they had comprehensively discussed the Armenian
genocide allegations, Gul called the allegations groundless
accusations put forward by the Armenian diaspora to justify its
ongoing existence. `We are confident in ourselves, and so have opened
all archives to everybody for examination,’ added Gul. In the
evening, he hosted a dinner for Calmy-Rey and his accompanying
delegation. /Hurriyet/

Les Echos , France
29 mars 2005

Festival du film des droits de l’Homme

Trois salles parisiennes accueillent les quelque 40 films réunis par
le 3e Festival international du film des droits de l’Homme, depuis le
23 mars. Il met à l’affiche, sous le parrainage de Charles Berling,
qui sera présent aux soirées d’ouverture et de clôture, une sélection
de documentaires, pour la plupart inédits, produits en 2004, certains
en compétition, qui portent notamment sur le recours aux enfants
soldats dans les conflits armés, sur les lieux de pauvreté en France,
et sur le génocide arménien. La manifestation propose aussi des
oeuvres de fiction inédites, et organise, après les projections, des
débats en présence des réalisateurs et des organisations humanitaires
(jusqu’au 5 avril, à Paris à l’Action Christine Odéon,
01.43.29.11.30, et au Bastille, 01.43.07.48.60, à Saint-Denis à
l’Ecran, 01.49.33.66.77).

Upcoming votes in ex-Soviet nations gain urgency after ‘revolutions’

Agence France Presse — English
March 27, 2005 Sunday 11:46 AM GMT

MOSCOW March 27 — Georgia, Ukraine, now Kyrgyzstan — these ex-Soviet
nations all had longtime pro-Russian regimes swept out after protests
over disputed polls. Against this background, the electoral calendar in
former Soviet nations is being carefully watched in Moscow and abroad.

Herewith a list of elections (in chronological order) in the countries
that comprise the Commonwealth of Indpendent States (CIS), which
includes all former Soviet republics except for the Baltic States.

REVOLUTION DREAMING?

Most CIS countries have yet to witness the kind of massive protests
that swept through Georgia in November 2003, Ukraine late last year
and Kyrgyzstan last week.

AZERBAIJAN
Parliamentary: November 2005
Presidential: October 2008

The oil-rich nation of eight million on the western coast of the
Caspian Sea is currently ruled by Ilham Alieyv, who succeeded his
father Heidar to the presidency in October 2003.

The leadership has been heavily criticized for stiffling dissent,
both by jailing opposition members and muzzling an independent press.
The recent murder of an opposition journalist unleashed a wave of
protests in the capital.

Observers say it could be ripe for a revolution, fed in part by the
fact that half the population lives below the poverty line despite
the country’s wealth of natural resources. Demonstrations that flared
after the younger Aliyev’s election were put down by riot police and
left at least two people dead, dozens injured and nearly 200
arrested.

BELARUS
Parliamentary: fall 2008
Presidential: 2006 (exact date yet to be determined)

The small agricultural republic of 10 million sandwiched between
Russia, the Baltics, Ukraine and Poland has been ruled by Alexader
Lukashenko since 1994. His hardline policies have earned him the
moniker of being Europe’s last dictator and have seen the United
States and much of western Europe refuse him entry over his poor
human rights effort.

The nation has a lively, albeit underground opposition, including the
Zubr youth movement. Lukashenko has repeatedly warned that he would
harshly react to any attempts at revolution.

TAJIKISTAN
Parliamentary: February 2010
Presidential: November 2006

The impoverished mountainous Central Asian nation of seven million on
the northern border of Afghanistan has been headed by Emomali
Rakhmonov since 1992.

The opposition has a tiny representation in parliament and the
nation’s remaining opposition newspapers were closed down last year
for tax infractions.

Any revolutionary fervor in the nation is held in check by memories
of a brutal civil war that raged in the country between 1992 and
1997, which resulted in up to 150,000 deaths.

KAZAKHSTAN
Parliamentary: October 2009
Presidential: December 2006

The oil-rich nation of 15 million on the northeastern edge of the
Caspian Sea has been ruled by Nursultan Nazarbayev since 1991.

Nazarbayev has governed his large steppe nation with a strong hand.
Many opposition media have been closed down and opposition figures
jailed.

Although the Nazarbayev family has faced criticism over its
disproporational influence in the economy, overall the nation is
better off than Azerbaijan, a fellow oil-rich country across the
Caspian Sea, with 26 percent of the population living below the
poverty line.

UZBEKISTAN
Parliamentary: December 2009
Presidential: January 2007

The landlocked nation of 26 million on the northern border of
Afghanistan has been ruled with an iron fist by Islam Karimov since
1990.

Karimov’s relentless campaign against radical Islamists has landed
many practicing Muslims in jail, feeding discontent with his rule
along with the nation’s poverty.

The regime has been accused of massive human rights violations,
including widespread torture by police and in prisons. Karimov is
likely to move harshly against any revolutionary attempts at his
rule.

RUSSIA
Parliamentary: December 2007
Presidential: March 2008

The former superpower of 150 million people has been ruled by an
ex-KGB colonel since New Year’s Eve 1999-2000, when Russia’s first
post-Soviet leader Boris Yeltsin resigned abruptly, leaving his
relatively obscure prime minister Vladimir Putin in charge.

Putin, who was elected to his first term three months later and won
reelection to a second and final mandate in March 2004, has turned
increasingly more authoritarian during his years in power, moving
against independent television and critical political opponents.

Observers say any revolutionary attempt in Russia would be met by
fierce resistance by members of security services, both acting and
alumni, who have come to positions of power under Putin’s watch.

ARMENIA
Parliamentary: 2007 (exact date to be announced)
Presidential: 2008 (exact date to be announced)

The poor country of three million has been ruled by Robert Kocharian
since 1998.

It has traditionally enjoyed strong ties with Moscow, which it sees
as partly a security guarantee against its regional rival Azerbaijan
to the east (with which it fought a war over the contested
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave after the Soviet collapse) and Turkey to the
west.

TURKMENISTAN
Parliamentary: 2009
Presidential: —

The gas-rich nation of nearly five million on the eastern edge of the
Caspian Sea has been dominated by authoritarian Saparmurat Niyazov
since 1985, with his first election to the post of president coming
in 1990.

The flamboyant Niyazov has had himself announced president for life,
though he has voiced plans to hold a presidential election in 2007,
and refers to himself as Turkmenbashi (father of all Turkmens).
Statues to himself dot most cities and villages, the biggest cult of
personality on former Soviet soil since Josef Stalin died in 1053.

The country has no public opposition and no independent press.

POST-REVOLUTION

Elections in the countries that have undergone their revolutions will
be the first tests for the regimes who replaced the Moscow-friendly
authorities.

KYRGYZSTAN
Parliamentary: date to be determined
Presidential: June 26 2006

The small mountainous nation of five million on China’s western edge
will choose its next leader in June, after veteran president Askar
Akayev, who had ruled the nation since 1990, fled the country on
March 24 after protestors overran the main seat of government in the
capital.

Akayev was considered the most liberal of rulers in ex-Soviet Central
Asia. The former opposition chiefs who have assumed interim power
have vowed to continue his Russia-friendly policies.

UKRAINE
Parliamentary: November 2005
Presidential: October 2008

The nation of 48 million people on Russia’s eastern border swept out
a Moscow-friendly regime in favor of a pro-Western leader, Viktor
Yushchenko, during last year’s “orange revolution,” the peaceful
protests after a presidential election.

As part of a compromise that ended the tense standoff between the
then opposition and the regime, Ukraine’s constitution was changed,
transferring many presidential powers to parliament.

Thus next year’s parliamentary elections will be a crucial test for
the “orange revolution.” Yushchenko won the presidency during
subsequent elections held on December 26 with 52 percent of the vote.

GEORGIA
Parliamentary: 2008
Presidential: 2009

The poor nation of nearly five million people on the eastern coast of
the Black Sea peace swept out a Soviet-era regime of Eduard
Shevardnadze during the “rose revolution,” peaceful protests sparked
by a parliamentary poll in November 2003.

Mikhail Saakashvili was elected in a landslide with nearly 97 percent
of the vote

MOLDOVA
Parliamentary: 2009
Presidential: elected by parliament

The nation of nearly five million sandwiched between Ukraine and
Romania is considered Europe’s most impoverished country and has been
ruled by Vladimir Voronin since 2001.

In the months ahead of this year’s parliamentary elections the ruling
Communist party abandoned its Moscow-friendly platform and preached a
pro-Western course, leading to quips that the revolution in Moldova
occurred imperceptibly.

Kyrgyz unrest delays military exercises with Russia, ex-Soviet republics

Turkish Press
March 26 2005

DUSHANBE – Joint military exercises between Russia and several
ex-Soviet republics, which were due to take place in Kyrgyzstan
next week, have been postponed for a week and moved to neighboring
Tajikistan, officials said here Saturday.

The exercises were due to take place on March 29 in Kyrgyzstan
between the members of a collective security cooperation treaty
that was signed in 1992 by Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

“Because of events in Kyrgyzstan, the training will take place on April
2 in Tajikistan,” an official at Tajikistan’s defense ministry said.

The security treaty calls for a united effort by its members in the
fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.

Kyrgyzstan’s veteran Soviet-era regime was toppled on Thursday after
thousands of opposition supporters overran the Central Asian nation’s
main seat of power.

PRESS RELEASE
March 24, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:

Farewell Reception for Ambassador Arman Kirakossian Held at the
Embassy of Armenia

Hundreds of well-wishers came to the Embassy of Armenia from as
far away as Massachusetts, Michigan, and Indiana to bid farewell
to Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Arman Kirakossian
at a special reception on March 18, 2005. Ambassador Kirakossian’s
more than 5-years-long tenure as Armenia’s top envoy in Washington,
DC has come to an end, and he will soon depart for Yerevan to continue
his diplomatic service at the Foreign Ministry.

Among the guests were Ambassador’s senior counterparts from U.S. State
Department and other U.S. government agencies, including Chief of
Protocol Ambassador Donald Ensenat and State Department’s Special
Coordinator for NIS Assistance, Co-Chair of U.S.-Armenia Task Force
Thomas Adams, Ambassador Kirakossian’s personal friends among the
Chiefs of Missions and other representatives of Washington-based
foreign diplomatic corps, prominent Armenian-Americans, including
Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Diocesan Legate Bishop Vicken
Aykazian, Connecticut State Representative John C. Geragosian,
Majority Caucus Chair of the Connecticut General Assembly,
representatives of the Armenian-American political, cultural, and
educational organizations, and members of the Armenian community of
Greater Washington.

Putin speaks in Yerevan on importance of multilateral contacts

RTR Russia TV, Moscow
25 Mar 05

[Presenter] We have just received footage from Yerevan, where Vladimir
Putin is on a visit. In the morning, the Russian president arrived at
the Armenian president’s official residence. He was met at the entrance
personally by Robert Kocharyan. After that, the two leaders proceeded
to the Golden Hall in the presidential palace. At this moment, the
presidents are having one-to-one talks. Opening the meeting, Kocharyan
stated that a visit by head of the Russian state had always been a
significant event in the life of Armenia. Putin noted positive trends
in the development of relations between our countries in political,
as well as economic spheres and stressed the special significance of
the launch of the Year of Russia in Armenia.

[Putin] I am pleased to note that we maintain regular contacts – not
only at the state level, but also between our experts and specialists,
as well as businessmen. The development of economic cooperation is also
progressing at a good pace. Today’s event is also extremely important,
because practice shows that the events of this kind organized with
our other partners bring very positive results as a rule. This affects
not only the humanitarian sphere, but also sets good foundations for
cooperation in the sphere of economy and creates a suitable atmosphere
for the development of political relations as well. We are counting
very much on this to happen in this case too.

VIKTOR DALLAKIAN: “FORCES SUPPORTING ROBERT KOCHARIAN SHOULD LEAVE
TOGETHER WITH HIM”

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The coalition supporting Robert
Kocharian from political point of view assumed the responsibility
for all the crimes and failures committed in Armenia after the power
shift in 1998, Viktor Dallakian, Secretary of the Ardarutiun (Justice)
faction, declared on March 22 in NA. According to him, supporting
Kocharian and being against power shift for self-interested reasons the
ruling coalition is to some extent responsible for the October 27 1999
terrorist act and 22 non-disclosed political murders, coming to power
through falsifications, robbery of population’s property in the form
of privatization, general corruption and bribery, existence of clan
economic and political system, unification of criminal authorities
and criminal world, violence in relation to the peaceful action early
in the April 13 morning, foreign political failures and international
pressure around Nagorno Karabakh. “Those assisting Robert Kocharian try
to isolate themselves from the criminal regime for different purposes
and on different occasions realizing that the moment of retribution
will come,” the speaker declared. Considering such attempts immoral
Dallakian said that “those running away from the ship, which is going
down, should realize that they will drown together with their captain.”

“FORCIBLE ATTITUDE TO AUTHORITIES APPEARED ON SEEDS SOWN BY
AUTHORITIES THEMSELVES,” ASHOT MANUCHARIAN COMMENTS ON SITUATION IN
KYRGHYZSTAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, NOYAN TAPAN. “I appreciate the courage of those
who realize the will of their people,” Ashot Manucharian, Political
Secretary of the Union of Socialist Forces and Intelligentsia of
Armenia, gave such an estimation to the actions of Kyrghyzian
opposition. Characterizing the complicated post-electoral situation
formed in Kyrghyzstan at present, A.Manucharian said that the level
of general culture of the people of post-Soviet countries and first
of all the educational qualification isn’t in no way retarded and
sometimes is even higher than the same level in many countries of
America and Europe. “So, the attempts to establish medieval feudal
orders by pro-governmental criminal groups in these countries are
doomed to failure. It’s senseless to try to stop the wheel of
historic development and all those trying to do this are doomed to
failure in spite of all their force, political power and control over
the economic levers.” According to him, the attempt of establishment
of a medieval system of government calls forth reciprocal actions
among the peoples of post-Soviet states. The ultimate goal of the
actions is to liquidate the inacceptable orders thrusted upon them As
for conflicts between the people who rose against the authorities and
p=. ower representatives in Kyrghyzstan, Ashot Manucharian declared:
“The cruele= r actions the authorities carry out the crueler the
reciprocal actions of pe= ople become. When we face a forcible
attitude to the authorities we shouldn’= t ask about the reason of
such actions, these are the sprouts that appeared=20= on the seeds
sown by the authorities themselves.”

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/22/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) ARF Representatives Meet with Georgian Envoy
2) Ambassador Resigns as US-Turkey Relations Sour
3) Azeri President Warns of War if Peaceful Negotiations Stalemate
4) Tbilisi Church Dispute Clouds Georgian-Armenian Ties
5) US Doesn’t Consider Turkey a Strategic Ally

1) ARF Representatives Meet with Georgian Envoy

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Armenian Revolutionary Revolution (ARF) representatives met
on Tuesday with Revaz Gochechiladze, the newly appointed Georgian
Ambassador to
Armenia, reported the ARF press service.
ARF Armenia Supreme Body representative Armen Rustamian and the
organization’s
National Assembly faction leader Levon Mkrtchian voiced concern about
statements by Giorgi Gachechiladze, purportedly an advisor to the Georgian
president. In an interview to the Georgian newspaper Rao-Rao, Gachechiladze
made preposterous statements about Javakhk Armenians, the Armenian genocide,
and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
The ARF representatives reiterated the party’s position to assist Georgian
authorities in resolving the socio-economic, educational, and political issues
of Javakhk Armenians. They also expressed concern about attempts to turn
Armenian churches in Georgia into Georgian ones.
Ambassador Gochechiladze stressed that Gachechiladze’s statements do not
represent those of the Georgian government, and are partly a result of his
ignorance. He stressed that ARF’s views and concerns have already been
conveyed
to Georgian officials.
Gachechiladze accused the ARF of pursuing the “break up” of Georgia.
In a powerful response to Gachechiladze, the ARF released a statement last
Friday that read, in part: “The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is pursuing
the protection of the rights of the Armenians of Javakhk within Georgia…
Statements such as those made by the Georgian president’s advisor may only
foment disturbance in the Caucasus.”

2) Ambassador Resigns as US-Turkey Relations Sour

ISN SECURITY WATCH–The US ambassador to Turkey, Erik Edelman, has resigned
from his position at a time when a series of incidents have led to a
souring of
US-Turkish relations.
In a statement to the press, Edelman said his resignation was not related to
the current problems facing US-Turkish relations, saying that his move was
prompted by private reasons. But Turkish media had been stepping up their
criticism of Edelman for months.
During a visit to Turkey in February, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
reportedly instructed Edelman to do more to calm perceived anti-Americanism in
the Turkish media. She was greeted with massive anti-US demonstrations.
Many Turks are deeply suspicious over US intentions in northern Iraq, where
Kurds control an autonomous area. Turkey fears that Iraqi Kurds could push for
independence, which could inspire Kurds in Turkey to step up their own
separatist activities. Kurdish rebels have been battling the Turkish army
since
1984. Some 37,000 have been killed in the conflict.
Edelman had come under serious criticism from major Turkish newspapers, and
one Turkish website claimed to have collected 5,000 signatures calling for him
to be expelled from the country. Edelman arrived in Turkey in August 2003,
only
months after the US-led invasion of Iraq.
In March 2003, the Turkish parliament had rejected a US request to stage
troops in Turkey for a second front against Iraq, straining relations between
the two countries. Relations continued to sour when the US military detained
Turkish special forces troops in northern Iran in July that year, accusing
them
of plotting to assassinate a Kurdish official in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk.
Relations were further undermined at the weekend by comments from US
Secretary
of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who said that Turkey had allowed the insurgency in
Iraq to “flourish” by blocking US efforts to get into Iraq from the north in
2003.
The issue of Syria’s occupation of Lebanon has also led to further rifts
between the NATO allies. Washington expressed dissatisfaction over Turkey’s
failure to urge a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, as other US allies had done.
US diplomats led by Edelman also criticized Turkish President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer’s announcement that he would visit Damascus in an official capacity in
April.
Edelman had urged Turkey to join the international community’s call for Syria
to quit Lebanon, but said in the end the decision was Turkey’s alone. Local
media jumped on his remarks, describing them as interfering in the country’s
internal affairs and prompting some politicians to label him a persona non
grata.
Still, some Turkish media have suggested that Edelman’s resignation had
nothing to do with souring US-Turkish relations, saying instead that the US
ambassador had resigned to assume a high-ranking post at the US Defense
Department or the National Security Council.
Regardless of the reasons behind Edelman’s resignation, his departure
comes at
a time when the US is losing footing with its NATO ally and when the Turkish
public is becoming increasingly disillusioned with US foreign policy. In a
public poll conducted by the International Strategic Research
Organization’s in
February, less then 1 per cent of 1’200 Turkish citizens questioned said they
supported US President George Bush’s foreign policy, while 91 per cent said
they disapproved.

3) Azeri President Warns of War if Peaceful Negotiations Stalemate

BAKU (RIA Novosti)–Speaking to a crowd during the Azeri National Holiday
Novruz on March 22, President Ilham Aliyev warned that an Azeri-Armenian war
may start any day.
“A war can break off any instant as there is no peace agreement between us.
There is only a ceasefire, and ceasefire is a very delicate matter. There are
violations of the arrangement. They run counter to our interests~Eas you all
know, the achievements we have made do not force us to break the ceasefire.”
President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan is anxious to see the Karabagh
conflict peacefully settled. “Azerbaijan’s cause is just. We want to restore
our territorial integrity on the basis of principles of international law and
we shall achieve it. Let nobody has doubt of it. Simply, we want to solve
it in
the peaceful way, by negotiations. We hope that this way of negotiations will
lead to settlement of the question. It cannot be otherwise.”
Reiterating that the potential of peace talks has not run low yet, Aliyev
said
he does not doubt that a fair solution will be achieved and that “territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan will be restored and more than one million of our
refugees will return to their homelands.”
Aliyev concluded, “Norms of international law should be main principles for
each country. Azerbaijan did not occupy the lands of any other country. We do
not want lands of others countries. However, we shall not give to anybody our
lands. If we cannot achieve it in the peace way, a new position will be
created, and in this case Azerbaijan will resort to other variants.”

4) Tbilisi Church Dispute Clouds Georgian-Armenian Ties

(RFE/RL)–Senior clerics from the Armenian Apostolic Church will travel to
Tbilisi early next month to try to resolve an increasingly bitter dispute over
the ownership of a local 15th century church which threatens to sour
Georgian-Armenian relations.
The delegation, headed by Archbishop Pargev Martirosian of Mountainous
Karabagh Republic, will meet with the leadership of the Georgian Orthodox
Church over its alleged attempts to take over one of Tbilisi’s oldest Armenian
churches known as Norashen. The dispute, already discussed by the governments
of the two neighboring countries, comes amid what the Armenian clergy sees
as a
systematic destruction of Armenian monuments in Georgia.
The Armenian Church’s diocese in Georgia has been crying foul since “fake
tombstones” with Georgian inscriptions were placed in Norashen’s courtyard in
central Tbilisi at the orders of a Georgian priest late last year. Although
the
Georgian Church disavowed the priest’s actions, the diocese leaders fear that
it is preparing ground for Norashen’s takeover.
“The Armenian Diocese in Georgia hopes that the upcoming negotiations will
settle the outstanding problems, including the one connected to Norashen, the
appropriation of which continues as of now,” read its statement released on
Tuesday.
Tbilisi has for centuries had a large Armenian community. Its economic and
political heyday was during the final decades of the Russian Empire when the
city had mostly Armenian mayors and was considered the cultural center of the
Caucasian Armenians.
“At the end of the 19th century, Tbilisi counted 29 active Armenian Churches,
today a mere two are left,” said the statement. “Eight Armenian Churches have
undergone appropriation efforts and were turned into Georgian ones. In
addition, frescos, khachkars (traditional Armenian stone crosses) and all
Armenian references have systematically been destroyed. The fate of five
churches, including Norashen, currently lies in the hands of the Georgian
patriarchate.”
“The destruction and appropriation process of the Armenian spiritual and
ecclesiastical heritage continues throughout Georgia. Many historians already
refer to it as a genocide of the Armenian cultural heritage in Georgia,” the
diocese charged.
Armenian officials raised the issue with Georgia’s Prime Minister Zurab
Noghaideli during his recent visit to Yerevan. Noghaideli said after the talks
that the two sides agreed to let the two churches try to sort out the dispute
before deciding whether they should intervene.
The two governments could also be forced to deal with fresh tension mounting
in Georgia’s Armenian-populated Javakhk region. Thousands of local residents
took to the streets last week to protest against Tbilisi’s latest demands for
the withdrawal of Russian troops based in the regional town of Akhalkalak.
Georgia’s Imedi TV reported that another rally is scheduled in Akhalkalak for
March 31.
The Russian military base is the single largest employer in the economically
depressed area and the Javakhk Armenians say the Georgian government must
create alternative jobs before demanding its closure. Many Georgians, however,
feel that the local population is manipulated by Russia which is reluctant to
end its military presence in Georgia.

5) US Doesn’t Consider Turkey a Strategic Ally

ISTANBUL (Marmara/CSM)The United States no longer considers Turkey a strategic
ally, according to a report released recently by the “Eurasia Group,” which
was
publicized by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during a television
appearance.
Rumsfeld justified the war in Iraq, but added that several obstacles were
created due to Turkey’s refusal to cooperate with the US. The defense
secretary
said if Turkey allowed American troops to enter Iraq from the north, the
situation would have been much different, holding Turkey directly responsible
for a series of failures in the Iraq operations.
In just a little over a weekend, the relations between the US and one of its
major allies in the Middle East region have gone from bad to worse.
On Friday, the Turkish government said it supported the plans of the Turkish
president to visit Syria in early April, despite the US warning that he should
not go. On Saturday, the US ambassador to Turkey resigned, following a
tumultuous two-year appointment. And on Sunday, US Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld said that by “blocking” US efforts to get into Iraq from the north
two
years ago, Turkey had allowed the insurgency there to “flourish.”
Earlier in the week, US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman called on Turkey to
“join an international coalition concerning Syria.” But Mr. Edelman’s comments
were not well-received in the Turkish press, which opined that he was
trying to
force Sezer not to go, and “meddling in Turkish domestic politics.” One
columnist accused him of acting “more like a colonial governor than an
ambassador.” A well-known Turkish newspaper reportedly collected several
thousand signatures calling for Edelman to be expelled from the country.

All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.

ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.