Author: Chmshkian Vicken

AZERBAIJAN LEADER STAYING OUT OF IRAN FRAY
By Barry Schweid

Washington Post
April 26 2006

WASHINGTON — President Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan opened a three-day
visit to the United States on Wednesday by saying he would not
allow his country to be used by the U.S. for any operations against
neighboring Iran.

Aliev, scheduled to meet with President Bush on Friday, cited a
“very clear” agreement with Iran that the two countries would not
permit their territory to be used for operations against the other.

His visit comes at a time of rising U.S. tensions with Iran over its
nuclear program, and Aliev said he would remain at arms’ length from
that conflict.

“Azerbaijan will not be engaged in any kind of potential operation
against Iran,” he said in remarks at the private Council on Foreign
Relations.

The Caspian nation, which shares a border with Iran and Russia, is
strategically important to the U.S. because of its location and its
role in supplying the West with oil.

Azerbaijan wants to remain an “island of stability” in the region,
Aliev said. At the same time, he said Azerbaijan had sent troops
to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, and would “do its best to stand
shoulder-to-shoulder” with the United States on security.

The president, who took office in October 2003, has the potential to
be an intermediary between the Bush administration and Iran. Iranian
Defense Minister Mustafa Mohammad Najjar, on a visit to Baku last
week, said Aliev could use his talks in Washington to “explain”
Iran’s views to the United States.

Aliev said he did not think Iran would be a “major aspect” of his
talks in Washington, which are due to include a meeting with Vice
President Dick Cheney. But he said “if the question of regional
security arises we will discuss it.”

Azerbaijan is committed to peace in the region, he said. “We need to
try to provide peace and stability.”

“At this time,” he said, “it is best to concentrate on a peaceful
resolution” of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programs, which the
United States and European allies say seek development of a nuclear
bomb.

On another issue, Aliev conceded there was need for political reform
in his country, a former Soviet republic that became independent 16
years ago. Referring to Azerbaijan’s energy boom, Aliev said “economic
reform without political reform will lead to severe problems.” He
said his country was moving forward on both fronts.

Human rights groups have criticized the nation for restricting
political and human rights and questioned whether U.S. criticism
would be muted due to Azerbaijan’s role in supplying the West with oil.

Freedom House on Tuesday said Azerbaijan restricts political and human
rights and is among the lowest-ranked countries in the private rights
group’s annual surveys.

“President Bush has made democracy promotion a priority of his
presidency,” Freedom House executive director Jennifer Windsor said
in a statement. “His upcoming meeting with President Aliev presents
an important opportunity for him to discuss Azerbaijan’s democracy
deficit.”

Aliev, in response to questions Wednesday, rejected the description
of his government as a “regime” and said, “We have all the major
freedoms.”

In his remarks, Aliev spoke most about a dispute with Armenia over the
Nagorno-Karabakh enclave of Azerbaijian. Ethnic Armenian forces occupy
the region, in what Aliev called an occupation. He said Azerbaijan’s
recovery of the territory was not subject to negotiations.

Photo: Azerbaijani President, then Prime Minister, Ilham Aliev,
speaks to the media in Baku, Azerbaijan, in this Monday, Oct. 13,
2003 file photo. As the starting point for a pipeline that will pump
1 million barrels of oil a day to Western markets, the former Soviet
republic Azerbaijan has long ranked as a strategic foothold for the
United States in the Caspian Sea region. But it’s the shared border
with Iran, where up to 30 million ethnic Azeris live, that has earned
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev an invitation to the White House
this week, analysts say. Aliev leaves Tuesday for a three-day visit on
the invitation of President George W. Bush. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky,
File) (Efrem Lukatsky – AP).

EBRD TO IMPLEMENT MORTGAGE CREDITING PROGRAM JOINTLY WITH ARMECONOMBANK

Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) will allocate funds for Armeconombank to
implement mortgage crediting. NT correspondent was informed at
Armeconombank that negotiations on the program’s implementation are
underway. It is envisaged that the two banks will sign a respective
agreement in late May.

TURKEY DISAGREES WITH SOME OF BUSH STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN ANNIVERSARY

Anatolia news agency
25 Apr 06

Ankara, 25 April: “It is not possible for Turkey to share some
expressions of US President George Bush in his statement released
on 24 April. On the other hand, the reference to creation of joint
commissions is positive,” said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman
Namik Tan on Tuesday [25 April].

Replying a question about President Bush’s statement on so-called
Armenian genocide anniversary, Tan said: “President Bush displayed
his regular attitude of releasing a written statement on ‘Armenian
remembrance day’ on 24 April this year as well. It is not possible
for Turkey to share some assessments in the statement.”

“History can only be written and assessed on the basis of official
documents. The resource is the archives,” he noted.

“Controversial part of Turkish-Armenian joint history can only be
researched on scientific aspect, and the assessments can be made
under the results of these researches,” he added.

Tan said: “Thus, Turkey’s proposal (to Armenia) to investigate
incidents before and after 1915 by a joint history commission (and to
share results with people) can enlighten this period of history and
normalize the relations between the two countries, and this initiative
should be supported.”

US President George Bush said in his statement (released on 24 April):
“Today, we remember one of the horrible tragedies of the 20th century
– the mass killings and forced exile of as many as 1.5m Armenians
in the final days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915. This was a tragedy
for all humanity and one that we and the world must never forget. We
mourn this terrible chapter of history and recognize that it remains
a source of pain for people in Armenia and for all those who believe
in freedom, tolerance, and the dignity and value of every human
life. We encourage dialogues, including through joint commissions,
that strive for a shared understanding of these tragic events and
move Armenia and Turkey towards normalized relations.”

TERRY DAVIS: I SEE NO SERIOUS PROBLEM IN ARMENIA-COUNCIL OF EUROPE RELATIONS

ArmRadio.am
26.04.2006 14:10

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis declared in
his interview to MEDIAMAX Agency that he does not see any problem in
Armenia-Council of Europe relations.

“Sometimes I’m surprised with the fact that we are constantly searching
for problems. Sure, there are certain phenomena in Armenia, which
we would like to see changed. We call on Armenia to do everything
possible to “reach” the rest of Europe. From time to time we have to
tell our friends from Armenia that we still expect accomplishment of
this or that obligation. It is useful.

Therefore, I see no serious problem in Armenia-Council of Europe
relations,” Terry Davis declared.

REMEMBERBING THE ARMENIANS
Amy Lee / The Detroit News

Detroit News, MI
April 24, 2006

Service marks 1915-23 genocide

Photo: The Rev. Daron Stepanian prepares to enter the ceremony,
which was attended by 600 people. The genocide claimed more than 1.5
million lives. See full image

Photo: Allan Foord of Garden City attends the service to learn more
about the genocide. See full image

Photo: Souren Aprahamian, from left, Simon Tashjian, Sarkis Demirjian
and Olive Mooradian are some of the 10 survivors of the Armenian
genocide in Metro Detroit at the Sunday ceremony at St. John’s Armenian
Church Hall in Southfield.

Spiritual reflection mixed with calls for recognition during a
somber ceremony marked the 91st anniversary of Armenian genocide,
an eight-year campaign by Turkey’s Ottoman Empire that killed 1.5
million people of Armenian descent.

On today’s date 91 years ago, members of the Ottoman Turkish
government arrested and executed 200 Armenian community leaders in
Constantinople, marking the beginning of an extermination program
that eventually claimed more than 1.5 million lives between 1915 and
1923. The Turkish government denies that the mass murders were part
of a government-backed campaign.

About 600 people, including 10 survivors who live in Metro Detroit,
reflected with prayers and by singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and
“Mer Hayrenik,” the national anthem of Armenia, during a service at
St. John’s Armenian Church Hall in Southfield on Sunday.

U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Township, was the keynote
speaker; Knollenberg co-chairs the Armenian Congressional Caucus.

There are about 40,000 people of Armenian descent in Michigan and
1 million nationwide, according to a study issued last year by the
Armenian Research Center/University of Michigan-Dearborn.

The group mourned the victims and underscored the need to educate
the world about the genocide and its aftermath.

“Historically, there hasn’t been enough recognition that it really
happened, so they’re very dependent on the oral history from people
who were actually there,” said Gloria Baykian, whose mother, Rose,
fled Armenia as a child in 1909 when the clampdown on Armenians was
picking up steam.

Baykian and 26 others were honored on a list of survivors at St.

John’s. The 10 survivors at the ceremony received a standing ovation
from the congregation during the commemoration, said Christopher
Korkoian, co-master of the ceremony.

The present-day Republic of Turkey denies that a genocide took place,
and the United States has thus far refused to recognize the actions
as a genocide. France, Argentina, Greece and Russia, however, have
officially recognized the campaign against Armenians.

“This is one of the most important days for our culture and our
history. They were martyrs,” Korkoian said. “Our ancestors fought for
survival, but their numbers are getting smaller as time passes. Now
we’re fighting to make sure no one forgets or denies that anything
even happened. It’s something we are never going to forget.”

icle?AID=/20060424/METRO/604240311/1003

TODAY IS A DAY TO REMEMBER, THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ABC 7, CA
April 24, 2006

An estimated 1.5 million Armenians died between 1915 and 1923 in the
waning days of Turkey’s Ottoman Empire

Flags will fly at half staff in West Hollywood today to honor Armenian
victims of genocide.

An estimated 1.5 million Armenians died between 1915 and 1923 in the
waning days of Turkey’s Ottoman Empire.

Today is the 91st anniversary of what many Armenians consider the
start of the genocide, when Turkish authorities arrested two hundred
Armenian community leaders.

The Turkish government says allegations of genocide have never
been proven.

Turkish Ambassador Nabi Sensoy, in response to the Public Broadcasting
Service documentary “Armenian Genocide,” said last week that
“Armenian allegations of genocide have never been historically or
legally substantiated.”

The West Hollywood City Council has passed a resolution “condemning
the human rights violations of the Turkish government,” according to
City Councilman Jeffrey Prang’s office. The resolution was introduced
by Prang and Councilwoman Abbe Land.

ARMENIAN PM DENOUNCES GENOCIDE MASTERMINDED BY OTTOMAN TURKEY TOP OFFICIALS AS CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 24 2006

YEREVAN, April 24. /ARKA/. The Genocide masterminded by Ottoman Turkey
top officials, in essence, is a crime against humanity, Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said in his national address on
91st anniversary of Armenian Genocide.

Armenian Government press service told ARKA News Agency the premier
said in his address that every year on this day Armenians worldwide
remember and honor thousands of innocent victims.

Margaryan pointed out that this fact has been left unrecognized and
uncondemned long years laying favorable ground for new genocides.

The PM said Armenia considers genocide prevention by displaying
international political will a top-priority issue and welcomes many
countries joint efforts to resist such crimes.

The premier said Turkey remains adamant in denying facts and
suppressing the truth. He thinks this stance taken by Turkey not
only hampers good relations in the region and is leaving room for
new crimes in atmosphere of impunity.

“Marking 15th anniversary of declaration of Armenia’s independence
this year, we realize very clearly that international community’s
efforts are not enough to prevent such a thing in the future”,
Margaryan said. He finds it necessary to unite the whole national
capacity to strengthen Armenia state system with its democratic values.

The 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide orchestrated by Ottoman Turkey’s
leadership is the first genocide of XX century. Half a million
Armenians were slain in Western Armenia, which was a part of Turkey
then.

The fact of Armenian Genocide has been officially admitted by
Uruguay, Russia, France, Lower House of Italian Parliament, many of
the U.S.A. states, parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium,
Wales, Switzerland’s National Committee Canadian Parliament’s Community
Chamber and Polish Seim.

PRESS RELEASE
April 23, 2006

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th Street, NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
Email: [email protected]
Web:

For more information:
Maral Habeshian
ANCA Telethon Office

ANCA Telethon Launches Web Site

Nationwide Phonathon and Internet Campaign Kicks Off Fundraising Effort

(Washington, DC – April 23, 2006) – The Armenian National Committee of
America Telethon today announced the launch of the web site devoted to
the telethon at (click on Telethon logo) where supporters
of the Armenian Cause can make online donations in advance of the May
21 st nationwide telethon broadcast. In addition, a nationwide
inbound and outbound telephone campaign has been launched to
personally reach out to thousands of Armenian households across the
country during the weeks preceding the telethon. The purpose of the
telethon is to raise financial resources that will propel the advocacy
for the Armenian Cause to a new level of sophistication and reach.
Proceeds will be used to broaden the ANCA’s advocacy and educational
programs on Armenian issues within the halls of Congress, the White
House, state and local governments and the media.

“The campaign leading up to the Telethon broadcast is meant to rally
into action everyone who believes in the Armenian Cause and use the
latest technological tools to unite us as a powerful force regardless
of geography, ” said Steve Artinian, member of the ANCA Telethon’s
outreach team. “There is an amazing pool of professional talent who
have come together to ensure the Telethon reaches as many households
as possible. We are pulling out the stops on this effort and intend
to raise the stakes for the Cause substantially in the process.”

The ANCA Telethon reflects the next stage for the many issues
confronting the community. For example, the ANCA’s media relations
efforts during the last year alone are driving increased media
coverage of the Armenian Genocide. The results are a rapidly
expanding public awareness of the issue and exposure of the shameful
position of the government of Turkey and the U.S. State Department
both of whom continue to deny the Genocide. The most recent example
of the ANCA’s anti-defamation efforts with the media has been
confronting PBS for attempting to broadcast their insulting panel
discussion that featured academics who have been paid by the Turkish
government to deny and distort the Genocide’s historical facts.
However, spurring increased media coverage across the country requires
greater vigilance in anti-defamation efforts to make sure the coverage
is accurate and repels the Turkish government’s denial campaign.
This stage has led to an increased need for professional resources and
media experts in order to continue winning in the court of public
opinion.

The ANCA Telethon will feature the ANCA’s many interesting and
successful programs asking for financial support. As a run up to the
broadcast, the online Internet campaign and phonathon will allow
people to show their support in advance of the broadcast. To make a
donation in advance, people can call 1-866-402-2622 (ANCA) or go to
and click on the Telethon logo to make a donation online.

L’affaire des Pilatus boycottes par Ankara embarrasse Berne;

Le Temps, Suisse
21 avril 2006

TENSIONS. Si les autorites federales prefèrent ne pas faire de lien
avec le genocide armenien, des fonctionnaires du Ministère turc des
affaires etrangères le font. Dans la presse turque.

Pilatus peine toujours a comprendre la decision du Ministère turc de
la defense de l’exclure d’un appel d’offres pour de nouveaux avions
d’entraînement. La societe, qui s’etait preparee depuis plus de quatre
ans a la possibilite de vendre des PC-21 a la Turquie, a ete ecartee
en tant qu’entreprise suisse. Ce qui laisse penser qu’Ankara aurait
pu agir ainsi dans la seule intention d’exprimer son mecontentement a
propos de l’attitude de la Suisse face au genocide armenien de 1915. Le
Conseil federal ne le reconnaît pas officiellement, mais le Conseil
national a accepte en 2003 un postulat en ce sens. Et le Grand Conseil
vaudois a, la meme annee, egalement reconnu le genocide des Armeniens.

Pour ne pas fragiliser davantage les relations entre la Suisse et
la Turquie, le Departement federal des affaires etrangères (DFAE)
prefère pour l’instant ne pas faire de lien entre les deux affaires.

Du moins, pas officiellement. Mais il a demande des explications aux
autorites turques. De son côte, Joseph Deiss, patron du departement qui
chapeaute le Secretariat d’Etat a l’economie (Seco) charge du contrôle
des exportations, a promis a Pilatus de faire la lumière sur cette
affaire lors de sa prochaine visite en Turquie. Le conseiller federal
attend toujours l’invitation d’Ankara. Son voyage turc prevu en automne
2005 avait ete annule en raison de deux enquetes penales ouvertes en
Suisse contre des intellectuels turcs pour negation du genocide.

De nouveau sur la liste noire?

Les autorites federales font profil bas mais sont bien conscientes
qu’il sera difficile de faire revenir Ankara sur sa decision.

Contrairement a Berne, le Turkish Daily News n’hesite pas a faire
le rapprochement avec la delicate question du genocide armenien. Le
journal a cite, le 28 mars dernier, un fonctionnaire du Ministère
turc des affaires etrangères qui qualifie d’irrealiste le fait de
penser qu’une societe suisse puisse participer a un programme de
defense turc. “Surtout a un moment où la dispute bilaterale a propos
du genocide armenien a profondement affecte les relations entre Berne
et Ankara”, precise le fonctionnaire sous le sceau de l’anonymat.

La Turquie dispose d’une “liste noire” de pays a partir desquels
elle refuse d’importer du materiel militaire. La Suisse y figurait
encore jusqu’en avril 2005. Un mois plus tôt, le Conseil federal
avait normalise les procedures d’exportation d’armes vers la Turquie,
se basant sur les progrès d’Ankara en matière de democratie. Aucune
exportation n’avait ete autorisee depuis 1992. L’affaire des Pilatus
laisse aujourd’hui penser que la Suisse figure a nouveau sur la fameuse
liste noire turque. Mais personne n’est en mesure de le confirmer.

Un expert militaire base a Ankara cite par le Turkish Daily News
juge “parfaitement normal” que la Suisse ait ete ecartee de l’appel
d’offres puisque quand il s’est avere que des Pilatus, en l’occurrence
des PC-7, avaient ete utilises durant la guerre Iran-Irak, l’affaire
avait provoque une polemique en Suisse.

Generalement consideres comme des avions civils, les Pilatus ne
tombent pas sous le coup de la loi sur l’exportation du materiel
de guerre. Ils peuvent en revanche etre equipes de bombes ou de
roquettes. Des Pilatus avaient ainsi defraye la chronique pour avoir
servi a bombarder des populations indigènes au Guatemala, en Angola ou
encore en Birmanie. L’expert turc insinue que le gouvernement suisse
pourrait craindre que les Pilatus puissent a nouveau etre utilises
a autre chose qu’a des fins d’entraînement, par exemple contre les
combattants du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK).

Toujours selon l’expert, la decision d’Ankara pourrait s’expliquer par
le fait que le Ministère turc de la defense n’ait pas voulu courir le
risque que la Suisse, hesitante, puisse au dernier moment decider de
stopper la livraison de ses PC-21. Ce scenario ne trouve aucun echo
au sein de la Berne federale.

La Suisse ecartee, les Forces aeriennes turques pourraient faire leur
choix entre Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), la societe bresilienne
Embraer et l’americaine Raytheon. Comme candidate a l’adhesion a
l’UE, il y a fort a parier que la Turquie n’aurait pas ose exclure
un avionneur europeen de son appel d’offres comme elle l’a fait
avec Pilatus.

Encadre: “Oui, nous sommes otages d’une affaire politique”

Par Valerie de Graffenried

Oscar Schwenk, patron de l’avionneur nidwaldien Pilatus, s’exprime
prudemment sur le boycott d’Ankara. Pour sa societe, decrocher le
contrat des forces aeriennes turques permettrait d’empocher près
d’un demi-milliard de francs. Le Temps: Vous considerez la decision
turque comme une mesure de retorsion suite a la polemique entre Berne
et Ankara concernant le genocide armenien. Vous sentez-vous donc
“otages” d’une affaire strictement politique? Oscar Schwenk: Oui.

Pilatus n’a jamais ete touche par une telle affaire auparavant. –
Qu’attendez-vous maintenant des departements de Joseph Deiss et
de Micheline Calmy-Rey? – Le conseiller federal Joseph Deiss, le
Secretariat d’Etat a l’economie (Seco) et l’ambassade (de Suisse
a Ankara, ndlr) sont deja actifs depuis plusieurs mois dans cette
affaire.

– Que representait pour vous ce contrat de 500 millions de francs?-
Chaque appel d’offres des forces aeriennes d’un pays pour des avions
d’entraînement suscite une forte concurrence entre les differentes
societes en mesure de repondre a l’offre. Le fait qu’il ne nous soit,
dans ce cas, pas permis de deposer une offre est discutable. Il
semble que la Turquie, extremement fâchee de l’attitude politique de
la Suisse, ait choisi une mesure de retorsion qui, comme entreprise
suisse, nous frappe lourdement.

– Pilatus a par le passe dû faire face a plusieurs polemiques.

Comment auriez-vous pu garantir, en cas de contrat avec la Turquie,
que vos avions ne soient pas utilises a des fins militaires, contre la
minorite kurde par exemple? – Lorsque nous exportons nos produits,
nous tenons compte de l’ordonnance et de la loi federale sur le
contrôle des biens. La Turquie fait partie des Etats mentionnes dans
l’annexe 4 de l’ordonnance sur le contrôle des biens qui prevoit que
des avions d’entrainement peuvent etre livres a la Turquie.

–Boundary_(ID_t0lpGeBJWYliwy7c1PlekA)–

Libération , France
22 Avril 2006

Une loi punitive dans les cartons des parlementaires

Si le génocide arménien est reconnu en France depuis 2001, aucun
texte ne punit le négationnisme.

par Amaria TLEMSANI
QUOTIDIEN : samedi 22 avril 2006

«La France reconnaît publiquement le génocide arménien de 1915.»
C’est par cet unique, et laconique, article de loi que l’Assemblée
nationale a voté à l’unanimité, le 29 janvier 2001, la reconnaissance
du génocide du peuple arménien. «Les travées étaient
exceptionnellement pleines, et le public ému a applaudi au moment du
vote», témoigne Vartan Arzoumanian, responsable du Comité de défense
de la cause arménienne (CDCA).

En effet, cette nouvelle loi ne permet pas de condamner la négation
du génocide arménien. La loi Gayssot du 13 juillet 1990 non plus, qui
pénalise uniquement le négationnisme de la Shoah. Depuis 1995,
plusieurs amendements successifs avaient été déposés à l’Assemblée
nationale visant l’extension de la loi Gayssot au génocide arménien.
En 2003, Dominique Perben, alors garde des Sceaux, avait rejeté
l’intégration d’un tel amendement dans son vaste projet de réforme
dit «Perben 2». Il considérait «la loi de 2001 comme suffisante».
Pour Pascal Clément, alors député rapporteur de la loi, actuel garde
des Sceaux, une telle disposition aurait eu pour effet «de banaliser
la Shoah», ce qui aurait été «ni opportun ni stratégique».

Cette étrange comparaison a scandalisé la communauté arménienne, qui
remonte aujourd’hui au créneau, soutenue par une partie des députés
socialistes qui préparent un nouveau projet de loi. Pour ces
parlementaires, dont Jean-Marc Ayrault, François Hollande ou
Jean-Yves Le Bouillonec, le futur texte viendra compléter la loi du
29 janvier 2001. Il s’agit ni plus ni moins «de tirer au plan pénal
les conséquences de l’entrée en vigueur de la loi reconnaissant le
génocide arménien». Les députés proposent de soumettre au même régime
répressif la négation du génocide arménien et celle de la Shoah.

Si au sein de la communauté arménienne tous défendent ce projet, des
voix s’élèvent, notamment chez les historiens. Ainsi, pour Stéphane
de Tapia, chercheur au CNRS, «la loi de 2001 votée par une poignée de
députés est une erreur. Ce n’est pas au Parlement d’écrire
l’histoire». Et d’ajouter «il ne peut y avoir une loi spécifique à
propos d’un peuple en particulier.» Le CDCA reste confiant «Chaque
groupe parlementaire a dans ses tiroirs un projet de loi sur la
question, il existe donc un vrai consensus.» Réponse le 18 mai, date
d’examen de la proposition de loi.

–Boundary_(ID_ehbe1Alw4206jxKrtO8ZtQ)–