Author: Chmshkian Vicken

Associated Press Worldstream
Oct 7 2005
Armenian-Turkish journalist convicted, sentenced for remarks
insulting Turks

An Istanbul court on Friday convicted an Armenian-Turkish journalist
of making remarks insulting to Turks in an article he wrote last
year, the journalist said.
Hrant Dink, a Turkish citizen and editor of the bilingual
Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, was convicted under a clause in the
Turkish penal code that makes it a crime to insult the Turkish
national character.
Dink said he was given a six-month suspended sentence, which means he
will not serve prison time unless he repeats the offense.
In a series of articles written in 2004, Dink urged Armenians in the
diaspora to get rid of the “poisoning effect” of their history in
Turkey and focus on the welfare of Armenia, said Karin Karakasli, an
editor at the newspaper. She said the court took the article out of
context, saying it meant that Turkish blood is poison.
The European Union has asked Turkey to change its law making it a
crime to insult the national identity or risk endangering its EU bid.
Turkey officially opened EU membership negotiations early Tuesday,
but its bid is opposed by a majority of Europeans.

HEAD OF TURKISH DELEGATION IN PACE: DISCUSSION OF A FRAME DOCUMENT ON DOESN’T IMPLY ANY LIABILITIES BY TURKEY TO ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2005
YEREVAN, October 5. /ARKA/. Discussion of a frame document on
(membership of Turkey in the EU -ARKA) doesn’t imply any liabilities
by Turkey to Armenia, the Head of Turkish delegation in PACE Murad
Merjan stated in his interview to TREND. In his words, Turkey is also
willing to establish relations with its neighbors, but on some terms.
“To open the Turkish -Armenian border it’s necessary that official
Yerevan established normal relations with its neighbors, and refuses
from territorial claims”, he said, noting that “if it doesn’t happen,
then one cannot expect normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations”.
According to him, Turkey is the first Turk and Islamic state, which
began negotiations with the EU on its membership in it. “I hope that
in the end of the discussions Turkey will become a full member of
the EU. This process is important for the whole world”, he said. A.H.

HAMSHEN AND HAMSHEN ARMENIANS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN SOCHI
Pan Armenian
04.10.2005 10:19
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hamshen and Hamshen Armenians international
scientific conference will be held in Sochi October 13-15, reported
the Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia. The conference
will be organized under the auspices of the Institute of History
of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia with active
support being provided by Sevan Armenian Cultural Society of Sochi. The
conference comprises scholars from Armenia, Russia, the US, Germany,
Iran. Hamshen: a historical and geographic outline, Hamshen Armenians,
Pont and Armenia in 1914-1921, Genocide of Hamshen Armenians in
1915-1923, Abkhazian Armenians on the threshold of 21st century,
Pont legacy in culture of Hamshen Armenians and Hemshils, Armenian
ethnic and religious element in Anatolia (1991-2005), Important
evidence of 1786 about Armenian Muslims of Hamshen and other reports
will be presented at the event. At the end of the conference ethnic
groups of Hamshen Armenians of the Black Sea coast of Kuban will give
a performance.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT REPLIES TO PRO-ARMENIAN CONGRESSMEN
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Oct 4 2005
A group of Congressmen addressing President Bush appealed to him to
recognize the so-called “Nagorno Karabakh Republic”, correspondent
of AzerTAc reports. The letter runs: “The United States has rendered
direct humanitarian assistance to Nagorno Karabakh to restore the
war-torn economy”. The Congressmen ask George bush to increase
this aid and uphold the “Nagorno Karabakh residents’ rights for
self-determination”. The most surprised is that according to the
Congressmen, “Nagorno Karabakh made significant contribution to peace
and stability in the strategically important South Caucasus region”.
The Department of State has replied to these pro-Armenian members
of Congress. Spokesman of the State Department Mr. Mccormack in his
daily briefing has stated that there is no change in the policy over
Nagorno Karabakh “We support the work that the OSCE Minsk Group as
well as any efforts by Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve the conflict
there is no change in our policy”.
It has to be mentioned that in February current year the United States
had disseminated its official position over the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the fact list titled “United States and
Nagorno Karabakh”. At that time it was noted “the United States does
not recognize Nagorno Karabakh as independent state, its authorities
are neither recognized by the international community, nor the
US. The United States supports territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
and considers that the future status of Nagorno Karabakh should be
specified through negotiations between the sides”.

Sweet and sour climax to Turkey’s long march
– Austria backs down but leaves bad taste for talks
– Deal reached after day of diplomatic brinkmanship
Nicholas Watt in Luxembourg and Helena Smith in Istanbul
Tuesday October 4, 2005
The Guardian
European leaders last night hailed the start of historic EU membership talks
with Turkey, though Ankara’s allies warned of a sour atmosphere after a
failed attempt by Austria to downgrade the negotiations.
Javier Solana, the EU’s putative foreign minister, declared that Europe and
the world would benefit from binding a country of 70 million Muslims into
the union. “It is a good day,” Mr Solana said. “I have no doubt that [the
negotiations] will be beneficial for everyone. Everyone is a winner. Turkey
is in a strategic region and in our neighbourhood.”
His remarks were echoed by Olli Rehn, Europe’s enlargement commissioner, who
played a crucial role in the talks. Mr Rehn, who told Austria in blunt terms
that it could not downgrade Turkey’s membership negotiations, said: “Europe
will get a stable and prosperous Turkey.”
After a marathon two-day negotiating session, there was relief among
Turkey’s supporters that Britain had managed to clinch a deal. But there was
strong criticism of Austria, which nearly threatened Turkey’s 40-year EU
dream by calling – unsuccessfully – for the EU to spell out “alternatives”
to full membership.
Richard Howitt, Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman in the European
parliament, who sits on a joint committee with the Turkish parliament, said:
“I am delighted that Austria has been beaten into submission … But I
greatly sympathise with Turkish friends who, having met the conditions set
last December, watch as Austria reneged and convened eleventh-hour
negotiations that were never justified.”
Angered by Austria’s hard stance, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime
minister, took his time to agree to the EU invitation. He presided over a
lengthy meeting of the ruling AK party before sending Abdullah Gul, his
foreign minister, to Luxembourg for a signing ceremony in the early hours.
“I am happy to say that common sense prevailed,” Mr Erdogan said yesterday,
but there had been some “dishonest” and “ugly” moments. “A common decision
was taken in favour of the alliance of civilisations. Turkey has taken
another giant step that is in line with its historic walk,” he said. “This
is Turkey’s success: it is everyone’s success.”
At least 30 senior cadres from Mr Erdogan’s neo-Islamist Justice and
Development party were said to be have attended the meeting as he attempted
to achieve as much domestic consensus as possible. Mr Erdogan has staked his
political career on Turkey joining the EU.
Turkey and the EU finally launched the membership talks after gruelling
negotiations which were called after Austria vetoed the proposed ground
rules last week. At the start of the day officials from Britain, which is
Turkey’s greatest champions in the EU and which chaired the talks as EU
president, were gloomy.
With scores of Armenians demonstrating against Turkey outside the conference
centre, Ursula Plassnik, Austria’s foreign minister, stuck to her demand
that the EU should drop its commitment to a “shared objective” that the
talks would lead to full membership. She also wanted an explicit reference
from the outset to a “alternatives” to full EU membership. This would have
turned the talks on their head, because EU leaders agreed last year that
this would be offered at the end if the talks failed. Vienna also wanted a
stronger reference to the EU’s “absorption capacity” – the declaration that
the European commission will have to make at the end of the talks about
whether it can fit Turkey in.
“Austria was asking us to rewrite last December’s agreement, signed by all
EU leaders, and that was out of the question,” one EU diplomat said.
As the morning wore on, a deal started to take shape. A number of EU
countries said they could offer Austria tougher language on “absorption
capacity” on the grounds that the commission makes a ruling on this for
every country that wants to join the European Union.
As Vienna worked out its tactics, another factor came into play. As one of
the most fervent supporters of Croatia, Austria was privately trying to
arrange a deal whereby it would say yes to Turkey if Zagreb was given a
starting date for membership talks. Britain, which chaired yesterday’s talks
in its role as EU president, insisted that no such deal would be done.
Then Carla del Ponte, the chief prosecutor of the international war crimes
tribunal, entered the fray. She gave private briefings to the Austrians on
her trip to Croatia last week, which led her to conclude that the former
Yugoslav republic was offering her full cooperation in trying to track down
the indicted Croatian war criminal General Ante Gotovina.
With Croatia now on track to start its EU talks, Austria told Britain that
it would agree a deal. But Turkey raised objections when Britain presented
it with the agreed EU ground rules. The main bone of contention lay in
paragraph five of the draft text which required Turkey to abide by “common”
EU policies.
Turkey said this would force it to allow divided Cyprus, which it does not
recognise, to join Nato. This was denied by Britain and by the US secretary
of state, Condoleezza Rice, who telephoned Mr Erdogan to appease him.
Turkey will face 10 to 15 years of grinding negotiations which may well end
in failure. “The talks are really tough – it’s like having someone going
through your knicker drawer,” one EU diplomat said.
Turkish voices
Ayhan Demetgul, 45. Tourism official, Istanbul
“Europe is getting older and Turkey can provide it with necessary manpower
… Those countries that oppose Turkey’s membership don’t have any vision”
Serap Yildirim, 20. Student, Istanbul
“There does seem to be a misunderstanding, it’s not us who will benefit as
much from the EU, as Europe will from Turkey. Our country is very big and
will automatically become a giant bazaar for European companies and exports”
Havva Can, 55. Housewife, Cerkezkoy, Thrace
“I don’t follow politics too closely but it will be much better for Turks if
we don’t join … European culture is too open and not good for our society
… I don’t want to remove my headscarf. If we join they’ll make me get rid
of it”
Huseyin Unlu, 55. Retired labourer, Izmir
“If Europe lets us in as we are now then I support joining it. Too many
conditions have been placed on us; next they’ll be demanding I shave my
moustache”
Helena Smith
,7369,1584305,00.html

Cyprus News Agency, Cyprus
Sept 30 2005
1,928 registered to vote for Armenian House Representative
CNA – NICOSIA-Cyprus – 30/9/2005 17:27
Nicosia, Sep 30 (CNA) — Individuals registered in the special voting
list of the Armenians Religious Group, with the right to vote in the
by-election of the Armenian Representative at the Cyprus House of
Representatives, to take place on October 9, are up to 1,928, a press
release issued by the competent authority said.
The release said that Armenians voters are 1,218 in Nicosia, 305 in
Limassol, 404 in Larnaca and one in Paphos.

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
FOCUS on TURKEY – NEWS from COMPASS DIRECT
Global News from the Frontlines

Summary:
ISTANBUL, September 30 (Compass) – More than 100 residents of the Turkish
village of Karsu last month vandalized a Christian Orthodox quarter of
Altinozu after receiving reports that Christians had attacked two Muslims.
The Muslim mob descended on Altinosu’s Greek Orthodox neighborhood of
Sarilar shortly before 11 p.m. on August 3, chanting “there is no room for
infidels here.” The vandals damaged 10 houses and injured five people,
including the wife of parish leader Spir Bayrakcioglu. Cousins Mitri and
Engin Keseroglu, Greek Orthodox Christians from the Sarilar neighborhood,
have been charged with using razors to slash two Karsu youths in a fight
earlier that evening that triggered the outbreak of violence. One of the two
Muslim youths from Karsu also brandished a knife, but he was not arrested.
**********
Muslim Horde Vandalizes Orthodox Village in Turkey
Street fight over an insult triggers ethnic/religious passions, mob
violence.
by Peter Lamprecht

ISTANBUL, September 30 (Compass) – The unchecked passions of two young Greek
Orthodox Christians in rural Turkey last month showed how a single misstep
can result in the persecution of the larger community.
More than 100 residents of the Turkish village of Karsu vandalized the Greek
Orthodox quarter of Altinozu last month after receiving reports that
Christians had attacked Muslims. A street fight had erupted when two young
cousins allowed themselves to be provoked by a Muslim insult of Christian
women.
The Muslim mob descended on Altinozu’s Greek Orthodox neighborhood of
Sarilar shortly before 11 p.m. on August 3, chanting “there is no room for
infidels here.”
Gendarmerie reinforced local police and helped halt the violence, but not
before the vandals had damaged 10 houses and injured five people ranging in
age from 12 to 62, including the wife of parish leader Spir Bayrakcioglu.
Cousins Mitri and Engin Keseroglu, Orthodox Christians from the Sarilar
neighborhood, have been charged with using razors to slash two Karsu youth
in a fight earlier that evening that triggered the outbreak of violence. A
knife-wielding Muslim in the altercation, 19-year-old Bahadir Arslanoglu,
was not arrested.
According to Karsu village headman Kenan Yildirim, most of Karsu’s residents
were gathered at the town’s monthly business meeting when they received a
telephone call saying that Christians were attacking Muslims. In his
comments to the local Ozyurt newspaper, the mayor claimed that he tried to
stop the ensuing revenge attack, and that he even received several blows in
the process.
No One from Karsu Arrested
Tractors and minibuses transported approximately 100 Karsu residents three
kilometers (1.8 miles) to the entrance of Sarilar neighborhood in Altinozu,
where they regrouped before proceeding on foot.
As they made their way unopposed through the Orthodox neighborhood, they
reportedly chanted “get out of here, you have no business here, this land is
ours,” while using sticks and stones to break windows and attack the
ethnically Arab Turkish citizens.
One resident, who requested his name be withheld, told Compass that upon
hearing a commotion he rushed outside and saw a large crowd. “Behind them
were five or six policemen watching the event, because they were too few in
number to intervene.”
Shortly after 11 p.m., gendarmerie arrived to reinforce the police and
dispersed the crowd by firing shots in the air.
Police did not detain anyone from Karsu in relation to the vandalism.
Later that night, police arrested Sarilar Orthodox Christians Mitri
Keseroglu, 18, in his home, while 21-year-old Engin Keseroglu was taken into
custody the following morning around 8 a.m.
The Keseroglu cousins were charged with “the use of a sharp object to
intentionally injure.” They were released on September 1 after nearly a
month in prison. According to their lawyer, Mustafa Dikce, the trial date
has not yet been set.
In official statements made to the police, the Keserogluses denied using
weapons in their scuffle with 19-year-old Bahadir Arslanoglu and 18-year-old
Mehmet Sozer, both Muslims. The cousins claimed that the two Karsu youths
had attacked them first as they were on their way home.
Though Arslanoglu denied any involvement in instigating the fight, the
Ozyurt newspaper reported, and local sources confirmed, that the brawl with
the Keserogluses had started because of rude remarks Arslanoglu had made
about Christian women.
Simmering Tensions
Engin Keseroglu reported that after an initial scuffle ended and he had
continued home with only minor injuries, “I realized that I no longer had my
cell phone.”
Returning to the fight scene accompanied by Mitri Keseroglu and another
17-year-old cousin, he found that Arslanoglu and Sozer had also come back
with four more friends. According to Mitri Keseroglu, Arslanoglu pulled out
a knife, and the fight resumed until bystanders managed to pull the two
groups apart.
Arslanoglu and Sozer went to the hospital, where they received stitches for
long slices on the cheek and forehead. According to an August 10 doctor’s
report, the scars were permanent and require plastic surgery.
Many residents of both villages claimed that the Karsu attack on Sarilar
later that night was nothing more than a brawl between the Christian and
Muslim young men that got out of hand.
Two days after the violence, Karsu headman Yildirim was quoted by Ozyurt as
apologizing, “We’re very sorry that this event was provoked.”
“This whole thing was started because of rude remarks made to women,” parish
leader Bayrakcioglu explained in the same article. “It grieves me that the
issue got so big.”
Sarilar carpenter Selim Bayrakcioglu told Compass that the roots of the
fight went back to April, when the Christian quarter held its annual Easter
celebration of games and folk dancing. “Young men from other [Muslim]
villages come because they can be in the same place as young women,” many of
whom, he said, were European visitors who did not dress in a way that was
culturally sensitive to Turkish standards of modesty.
Bayrakcioglu said that while anyone who came with family was welcome, the
Christians did restrict the participation of single males “who were often
there to bother women. I think those young men [Arslanoglu and Sozer] were
not let in to the festivities, and that’s how this thing began.”
The area has traditionally been a rare example of inter-faith peace in a
part of the world where religious wars like the Crusades have left their
mark. During Turkey’s War of Independence following World War I, Turks
protected Altinozu’s ethnically Arab Christians, who belong to the Greek
Orthodox Church.
The region’s reputation is one reason it was chosen to host last weekend’s
“Meeting of Civilizations,” attended by Armenian Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish,
and Greek Orthodox leaders.
Muslim Lawyer Mustafa Dikce explained to Compass that he took the
Keserogluses’ case because he wanted to defend good relations between
religions. “Here, for years we have been living as brothers with these
people, Muslim, Christian, Alevi, and Sunni,” he said. “Altinozu is such a
great place, but there can be people who want to destroy it.”
But not everyone from this ethnically diverse region painted a rosy picture
of Muslim-Christian relations.
Bayrakcioglu, the Sarilar carpenter, agreed that relations with neighboring
Muslims have “always been good,” but pointed to a deeper problem of identity
that the Orthodox of Sarilar must face.
“We [Greek Orthodox] have never been seen by this mother country as true
children,” he said, pointing out that no one had been held responsible for
the late-night vandalism. “The fact that they got enraged over a very simple
thing and appeared to be ready to rub us out goes to show that things aren’t
quite as friendly as they appear.”
Yet Bayrakcioglu is not one to hold a grudge. The morning after the attack,
he shocked his wife when he gave nails, free of charge, to Karsu residents
who came to his hardware store.
The carpenter said that he hopes things will get better. “I’m not a
second-class citizen here. I’m not a stepchild. This is our mother country.
My grandfather served in the military here, my father served in the
military, and I served in the military. We need to understand this, and we
need the people around us to understand this. But it looks like its going to
take a long time.”
END
**********
Copyright 2005 Compass Direct
Compass Direct Focus News is distributed as available to raise awareness of
Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith. Articles may be
reprinted by active subscribers only.
For subscription information, contact:
Compass Direct
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<;

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 315-3339
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:
PRESS RELEASE
September 30, 2005
NAGORNO KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE MARKED ON CAPITOL HILL
Baroness Caroline Cox, Members of Congress, Armenian-American
Community Mark Fourteen Years of Freedom, Democracy and Economic
Development in NKR
WASHINGTON, DC – Members of Congress and leading human rights
activist, British House of Lords Vice-Speaker Baroness Caroline Cox,
joined together on Capitol Hill September 28 to mark the 14th
anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s (NKR/Artsakh)
independence. Over 100 Armenian-Americans, Congressional staff
members and human rights advocates attended this unprecedented
event, hosted by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the
USA, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, the Armenian Assembly
of America (AAA) and the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) in cooperation with the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues.
During the two-hour event entitled `14 years of Nagorno Karabakh’s
Independence: Progress Toward Freedom, Democracy and Economic
Development,’ participants highlighted the great strides the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic has made since shaking off foreign oppression.
`Fourteen years have passed since the day when the people of
Karabakh said a firm NO to continued foreign oppression,’ said NKR
Representative to the United States Vardan Barseghian in his opening
remarks.
`Fourteen years of ongoing struggle to survive and prosper against
overwhelming odds. Fourteen years of serious achievements.
Fourteen years of success. Many formally recognized countries would
wish to be able to say this about their recent history, but only a
few can.’
Making the case for international recognition of NKR independence,
Barseghian stressed that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic now meets all
of the traditional, internationally acceptable requirements for
statehood, such as control over a defined territory, a permanent
population, democratically elected government, capable armed forces,
and the capacity to conduct international relations, including
participation in peace negotiations and functioning representative
offices in Moscow, Paris, Washington, DC and elsewhere.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Rep. Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) stressed the progress Nagorno Karabakh has made since
declaring its independence in 1991, and the pivotal role of U.S.
humanitarian assistance in the region. `Progress is the key word
here,’ stated Rep. Knollenberg. `The people of NK continue to make
progress despite the challenges they face. I think in the future
they will continue to make progress with the support of the U.S.
Congress and from the United States.’ He emphasized that in
Karabakh `the economy is working, the democracy is functioning and
they continue to have successful elections, which are more open and
free than [those in] some countries in the region.’ Knollenberg also
commended the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the USA and
its staff for keeping Members of Congress abreast of ongoing
developments in NKR.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.
(D-NJ) reminded participants that `often times when Karabakh is
mentioned in the media, they forget to mention that it became
independent legally under international law and under Soviet law… We
need to keep stressing that this truly is a democracy that has an
elected president and does so in a very transparent way.’ Rep.
Pallone also pledged continued Armenian Caucus support for Nagorno
Karabakh’s democratic aspirations. `We will continue to urge the
Bush Administration, or any other administration, and State
Department that they need to be more supportive to Karabakh,’ he
said.
Representative George Radanovich (R-CA) stressed the important role
the Armenian-American community plays in educating Congressional
leaders about the vital concerns in Nagorno Karabakh. `Your
presence here [on the Hill] helps us to better the relationship
between [our] two countries,’ explained Rep. Radanovich, as he
congratulated Nagorno Karabakh’s 14 years of independence.
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) concurred, stating `I want to express my
admiration for the Armenian-American community which has been a
wonderful example to the other Americans about how you take
democracy seriously . . . and how you do it for the moral principle.
Thank you for insisting we take this principle of
self-determination, that we so fiercely defend in America, and apply
it elsewhere.’ Rep. Frank went on to remark about Azerbaijan’s
continued attempts to deny Nagorno Karabakh freedom. `I don’t
understand . . . and this is directed to the government of
Azerbaijan: Governing when people are willing to be [governed] can
be difficult; I can’t imagine why anyone would want to go through
the aggravation of governing people against their will. It really
just is a dumb thing to do. . . I do not understand why any
government anywhere would want to hold people against their will.’
California Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff noted that he supports
`independence for NKR because it is both consistent with American
values and because it makes practical political sense.’ He praised
the growing democracy in the region, stating that `even though they
have been politically and militarily challenged by Azerbaijan and
its powerful ally Turkey, the people of Karabakh have continued to
build all the requisites of statehood.’
The final Congressional speaker of the evening, Rep. Maurice Hinchey
(D-NY), summed up the sentiments of previous speakers, stating `the
people of Nagorno Karabakh have the right to assert their
independence and freedom; they have that right and they should be
provided the opportunity to do so. . . I am very proud to be with
you to assert my unity with you and your enterprise.’
Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Dr. Tatoul Markarian noted,
`self-determination for Nagorno Karabakh is the key to achieving
real freedom and to bringing long-term peace and prosperity in the
region. NK conflict’s distinction from other conflicts in Eurasia
is acknowledged by the international community. We understand that
settlement of the conflict requires serious compromise from all
parties. Meanwhile, I am convinced, and it is widely shared, that
any solution to the conflict will be based on the fact and the right
to self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, which the
core and the final settlement must take into account.’
World-renowned human rights activist and an outspoken champion of
Karabakh’s right to self-determination, Baroness Caroline Cox gave
the keynote address. Baroness Cox, who recently returned from her
60th trip to the region, provided an eye-witness account of
Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing campaign, pogroms and outright war
against the people of Nagorno Karabakh and spoke passionately about
the incredible progress – both democratic and economic – Karabakh
has made since the 1994 cease-fire accord. Through a powerful slide
presentation, the Baroness gave Members of Congress, staffers and
attendees a first-hand view of reconstruction and rehabilitation
efforts throughout the country.
Lady Cox concluded her remarks by urging the international community
to respect the rights to freedom, justice, and democracy of the
people of Nagorno Karabakh.
`It is high time for the international community to address the
challenges raised by the conflict of the principles of
self-determination and territorial integrity. Surely, there must be
some recognition of the rights of a vulnerable minority, threatened
by a repressive state with attempted ethnic cleansing or genocide,
to have the right to claim their independence in order to survive …
The time for recognition of the rights of the people of Karabakh for
self-determination is NOW – for the sake of justice, peace and, in
due course, the economic prosperity and stability for all who live
in the region.’
`If any people in the world today deserve the right to
self-determination and the recognition of independence, it is the
people of Nagorno Karabakh,’ said Baroness Cox.
Among speakers at the program were ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian and AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. Hamparian
stressed the significance of NKR achievements and thanked Members of
Congress for their ongoing support of Artsakh’s freedom, democracy
and economic development. Ardouny concurred by saying: `We have
heard this evening about the importance of freedom, liberty and
democracy – fundamental principles that guide us today just as they
did over 200 years ago during the founding of the U.S.
Constitution.’
`Nagorno Karabakh – is a geographical fact. It is a political and
moral fact – [Karabakhtsis] are the first people of the former
Soviet Union to launch a freedom movement and set out in principle
to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human
equality as is evidenced today,’ said Ardouny, drawing a parallel
with what American statesman Adlai Stevenson once said about the
U.S.
Providing first-hand knowledge of the most recent election held in
Nagorno Karabakh was Dr. Aleyda Kasten, who traveled to NKR last
June as one of six members of the American Independent Monitoring
Delegation. Dr. Kasten, who also observed presidential elections in
the United States and last year’s presidential election in the
Ukraine, testified that over 75% of eligible citizens of Karabakh
turned out to elect the Republic’s Fourth Parliament since
independence. `This was a tightly contested ballot that left no
single party in majority control of the legislature. We, as a group,
did not observe irregularities during voting or vote count. We were
struck by the people’s determination to democratically decide their
future. We can honestly say that from our observations the elections
were carried out freely and transparently,’ said Kasten.
NKR Representative Barseghian closed the event by saying that
`during its 14 years of independence NKR has shown demonstrable
progress toward freedom, democracy and economic development —
values championed by the United States and shared by the people of
Karabakh. As the United States supports and promotes freedom and
democracy for all peoples around the globe, we call on the U.S. to
also continue to support the aspirations of the Karabakh people to
live in freedom, security and prosperity.’
On behalf of the people of Artsakh, Barseghian thanked the
Government of the United States and the American people for their
ongoing aid to rehabilitate Nagorno Karabakh’s war-torn economy and
the shattered lives of its citizens and called on the U.S. to play a
greater role in its conflict mediation efforts by encouraging the
government of Azerbaijan to negotiate directly with the leaders of
Nagorno Karabakh and to respect the will of the people of Karabakh
to live in freedom.
`This event would not have been possible without the strong support
of the two Co-Chairs of the Armenian Caucus, Representatives Pallone
and Knollenberg, Ambassador Markarian, the Armenian Assembly and the
Armenian National Committee,’ said Barseghian. He also thanked Tim
Delmonico from Rep. Pallone’s office and Craig Albright, legislative
director for Rep. Knollenberg, for their invaluable input.
`The Nagorno Karabakh Republic is strong and successful because it
has committed friends like you,’ concluded Barseghian.
The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia
and the public representing the official policies and interests of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
* * *
To request photos for publishing with the press release, send an
email to [email protected]
This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the USA on behalf of the Government of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S.
Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional
information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington,
D.C.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 30 2005

Baku, Yerevan should step up progress in conflict settlement –
Armenian FM

Armenian foreign minister has said that the parties to the Upper
Garabagh conflict – Azerbaijan and Armenia – should step up progress
achieved in the conflict settlement. `A very suitable moment has come
about from the standpoint of resolving the Garabagh conflict’, Vardan
Oskanian told a press conference on Thursday.
`There are positive processes and achievements and we should use them
in order to continue the negotiating process and deepen the
accomplishments after the parliament elections in Azerbaijan.’
Legislative poll is due in the country on November 6.
The European Union special envoy on South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie
said that `dynamics’ is indeed discerned in the conflict settlement
and the process depends on whether or not the conflicting sides will
seize the opportunity. The conflict resolution will also assist in
establishing regional cooperation, he added.*

Jakarta Post, Indonesia
Sept 30 2005
The 9/30 tragedy
Something horrible happened 40 years ago that changed the course of
Indonesia’s history, unfortunately for the worse. But while the
circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and murder of six Army
generals on the night of Sept. 30, 1965, remain shrouded in mystery,
the effects of this tragic event are unequivocal: it was a case of
one tragedy leading to another, and another, and another.
Whoever was responsible for the kidnappings and killings, and
whatever their motives — both questions remain contentious to this
day among historians — the events of that night, which lasted until
the early hours of Oct. 1, unleashed a killing spree that went on for
months, with the main targets, though by far not the only targets,
being suspected members and supporters of the Indonesian Communist
Party (PKI), which was blamed for the murder of the generals.
If that was not enough of a tragedy, the nation saw the young Army
general Soeharto seize the presidency the following year, ushering in
an era of repression, brutality and corruption that would last for
the next three decades.
Soeharto was easily one of the most ruthless rulers of the 20th
century, and his human rights record matches those of other dictators
of his era: the jailing of tens of thousands of people without trial,
the invasion of East Timor and the ensuing brutal rule of the
territory, the silencing of politicians, clerics and students who
disagreed with his policies, his brutal policies in Aceh and Papua,
to name but a few. Last week, more than seven years after his removal
from office, the National Commission on Human Rights announced that
14 government critics who went missing during Soeharto’s rule had
been murdered.
Soeharto’s legacy goes beyond the atrocities he and his regime
committed. The militaristic and often brutal nature of our political
culture today, from the intolerance to the use of violence to settle
differences, is deeply rooted in Soeharto’s New Order, and it will
likely require one or two generations to undo this unfortunate legacy
as the nation struggles to transform itself into a democracy.
But the biggest tragedy for the nation is our own denial that 9/30
was a tragedy of horrific proportions. Soeharto used the event to
sanctify Pancasila, effectively turning the state ideology into an
instrument he could wield to justify his brutal policies.
Officially, at least during the Soeharto years, the event was marked
on Oct. 1, thus confining the tragedy solely to the killing of the
six generals and, at least according to military historians, to the
abortive coup by the PKI. What happened afterward was justified as a
necessary evil, even a historical necessity, although the killing
spree was not openly recognized.
There was no mention in the military-dictated official history books
of the ensuing bloodshed, which according to international human
rights organizations left at least half a million people dead. The
precise figure will never be known precisely because we as a nation
pretend it never happened.
C. L. Sulzberger, writing in The New York Times from Jakarta on April
13, 1966, compared the Indonesian killings with other slaughters of
the 20th century, including the Armenian massacres, Stalin’s
starvation of the Kulaks, Hitler’s Jewish genocide, the Muslim-Hindu
killings following India’s partition and the purges following China’s
turn to communism.
“Indonesia’s bloody persecution of its communist rivals these
terrible events in both scale and savagery,” Sulzberger wrote.
Four decades later the nation has not fully come to terms with the
reality of these events. We barely know the truth. We only have the
truth Soeharto’s military wanted us to have. The worst part is that
most of us do not seem to want to know what happened. We would rather
bury this ugly past and forget it entirely.
But here is the bad news: We can never bury the past. This dark page
in our history will continue to haunt us for as long as we fail to
get to the truth. As they say, only the truth shall set us free.
More than seven years since Soeharto left the political stage, surely
the time has come for the nation to rewrite the history of what
happened on the night of Sept. 30, 1965. History is always written
from the perspective of the victors. Soeharto was the winner of the
power struggle in the mid-1960s, thus he had his day.
But as his legacy shows, there are no real winners here. The entire
nation suffered, and continues to suffer to this day. There are only
losers.