Author: Chmshkian Vicken

VAZGEN MANUKIAN, PARUIR HAYRIKIAN AND ASHOT MANUCHARIAN TO LEAVE FOR MOSCOW
YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 23 Vazgen Manukian, the
Chairman of the National Democratic Union, Paruir Hayrikian, the
Chairman of “National Self-Determination” union and Ashot Manucharian,
the Political Secretary of Armenian Socialist Powers and Intellectuals’
Union, leave for Moscow. According to reliable sources informing
Noyan Tapan correspondent about it, the goal of the visit is to
move Armenian-Russian relations “to the natural field”. During the
three-day visit the politicians will have meetings with high-ranking
authorities and political parties of Russia.

TURKISH FM DEMANDS EXPLANATION FROM STATES WHICH RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanArmenian News
March 23 2005
23.03.2005 05:12
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ When addressing the countries, which have already
recognized the Armenian Genocide, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul stated, “Prove your statements”. In his words, the Turkish and
Armenian people “have lived side by side for thousand of years and
supplemented each other’s culture and security”. “The statements on
Genocide are fabulous”, he stressed adding that the “countries speaking
out with such statements against Turkey must prove their verity.” He
also said that as Turkey has opened all her archives, “the archives
of Leningrad, England, Paris and Armenia must be as well opened”.

PanArmenian News
March 23 2005
ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO DISCUSS IN GEORGIA PROBLEMS REGARDING
ELIMINATION OF ARMENIAN CHURCH AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
23.03.2005 03:35
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Early April Armenian delegation composed of head
of the Karabakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Pargev
Martirosian, member of the spiritual council, professor Rafael
Papian and Bishop Yeznik Papian will visit Georgia to discuss problems
regarding the elimination of the Armenian church and cultural heritage,
the press release of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia reported, Yerkir
newspaper writes. The delegation members are also going to discuss the
issues referring to the status of the Armenian Diocese of Georgia. The
Armenian delegation anchors big hopes with the upcoming negotiations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
March 22 2005
The recent years Armenia establishes active trade-economic
cooperation with 25 administrative units of Russia
RF President to visit Armenia on March 24-25
RF, RA Presidents exchange messages
*********************************************************************
THE RECENT YEARS ARMENIA ESTABLISHES ACTIVE TRADE-ECONOMIC
COOPERATION WITH 25 ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS OF RUSSIA
YEREVAN, March 22. /ARKA/. For the recent years Armenia established
active trade-economic cooperation with 25 administrative units of
Russia. According to RA Government~Rs Press Service, RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan stated about it at the meeting with the Governor
of Sverdlovsk region Eduard Rossel. According to him, rich
contractual ~Vlegal base between RA and RF, including over 160
intergovernmental and interstate documents, allows developing
cooperation in various areas. Margaryan added that corresponding
agreements were signed with Saint-Petersburg, Saratov, Astrakhan,
Kirovsk region, Krasnodar, and the authorities of Moscow.
Corresponding protocols are signed between Samara, Ararat and
Gegharkunik regions. ~STrade turnover between our states grows year by
year, and this is due to strengthening relations between
administrative subjects~T, he said.
In his turn the Governor of Sverdlovsk recorded a new progress in
bilateral cooperation. Rossel suggested that Armenian Center be
established in Sverdlovsk region to develop cooperation with the
Armenian side in various directions, organize exhibition of Armenian
goods, and establish joint ventures. He suggested that a working
group be formed from representatives of corresponding Ministries and
Departments aimed at preparing a large-scaled cooperation. In
particular he supported the idea of forming a working group for
preparing an intergovernmental agreement providing for certain
measures and programs of cooperation in the areas of economy, trade,
science, education, culture and other regions and noted that after
signing agreement also the capacity of trade-commerce chambers of
Armenia and Russia, Armenian-Russian Association of Business
Cooperation, Union of Entrepreneurs may be used. After meeting of
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan with Governor of Sverdlovsk region,
they signed a protocol on results of the visit of official delegation
of Sverdlovsk region of RF in RA. Main directions of cooperation in
trade-economic, industrial and humanitarian areas are stipulated in
the protocol. Necessity of signing an intergovernmental agreement to
carry out the goals was noted. A.H. ~V0–
*********************************************************************
RF PRESIDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA ON MARCH 24-25
YEREVAN, March 22. /ARKA/. RF President Vladimir Putin is to visit
Armenia on March 24-25, 2005, the RF presidential press service
reports. During his visit, the Russian leader is to hold a meeting
with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian. President Putin is
scheduled to take part in the ceremonial opening of a Year of the
Russian Federation in Armenia, which is to be inaugurated by a gala
concert with participation of outstanding Russian art workers. An
orchestra under the baton of Vladimir Spivakov is to give a concert
as well. The Bolshoi Theater, Moscow Artistic Academy Theater, Perm
drama and other troupes are to take part in the arrangements.
2005 is declared a Year of Russia in Armenia and 2006 a Year of
Armenia in Russia. P.T. ~V0–
*********************************************************************
RF, RA PRESIDENTS EXCHANGE MESSAGES
YEREVAN, March 21. /ARKA/. RF President Vladimir Putin and RA
President Robert Kocharian exchanged messages on the occasion of the
opening of a Year of Russia in Armenia. The RF presidential press
service reports that in his message President Putin said: ~SRussia has
consistently attached paramount importance to the strengthening of
friendly relations with Armenia, its reliable ally and strategic
partner. I am sure that the holding of a Year of Russia will
contribute to closer relations between the two countries, development
of friendship and direct dialogue between our peoples.~T The
press-release says that the arrangements on the occasion of the 60th
anniversary of the Great Victory will have a special place in the
celebrations. In turn, in his message the RA President pointed out
that ~Sthe decision on declaration of 2005 a year of the Russian
Federation in Armenia affords ample opportunities for further
development of the Armenian-Russia ties.~T ~SThis initiative will
certainly contribute to full materialization of potential for
political, economic and cultural cooperation between our fraternal
peoples. I would like to express confidence that holding a Year of
Russia in Armenia will add new ideas and projects to the agenda on
Armenian-Russian cooperation,~T the RA President~Rs message says. P.T.
~V0–
*********************************************************************

GEORGIA GIVES HIGH IMPORTANCE TO FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA:
GEORGIAN PRESIDENT PRESS SERVICE
TBILISI, MARCH 19. ARMINFO. Georgia gives high importance to friendly
relations with Armenia, says the press service of the Georgian
president commenting on the ARF Dashnaktsoutyun party’s disproving the
facts given by the Georgian president’s foreign relations advisor
Valery Gachechiladze in his Mar 14 interview to Rao (Georgia).
The ARMINFO correspondent in Tbilisi reports that in the above
interview Gachechiladze says that Armenians settled in Georgia after
the tragic events in Turkey in 1915 when they became “a blind tool in
others’ hands.” And so he excludes the possibility of social explosion
in Samtskhe Javakheti (mostly Armenian region of Georgia) in case of
the withdrawal of the Russian military base from the regional center
Akhalkalaki. “Even though ARF Dashnaktsoutyun planned to destroy
Georgia the Armenians have not forgotten that it was Georgia who gave
them refuge after the above tragic events,” says Gachechiladze.
Disproving his statements ARFD says that it was not planning Georgia’s
breakdown by means of the North Caucasus. It’s goal is to protect the
rights of the Javakheti Armenians. Moreover ARFD condemns
Gachechiladze for calling Armenians “a blind tool in others’ hands”
thereby repeating Turkey’s official position on the Armenian Genocide.
In conclusion ARFD says that it is ready to assist the Georgian
authorities in their measures to help the Javakheti Armenians socially
and economically. “Discrimination against them will have no good
consequences for Georgia,” says ARFD.
Meanwhile the press service of the Georgian president says that
Gachechiladze is not presidential advisor for region relations and
that it does not agree with his statements on Samtskhe Javakheti. “We
are convinced that no provocative words or actions will be able to
bring tensions to the Georgians’ centuries old brotherly relations
with the Javakheti Armenians,” says the press service.

PanArmenian News
March 17 2005
ARMENIAN AND AZERI MPs TO MEET IN BRUSSELS MARCH 17-18
17.03.2005 03:08
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ March 17-18 Members of Parliaments of Armenia and
Azerbaijan will have a meeting in Brussels, in the course of which
the draft report drawn by OSCE Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur on
Nagorno Karabakh Goran Lenmarker will be discussed, Regnum news
agency reported. The Armenian party will be represented at the
meeting by Head of the OSCE PA delegation, Vice-Speaker Vahan
Hovhannisian and delegation member Samvel Nikoyan. Goran Lenmarker’s
report is expected to be presented in the course of the OSCE PA
summer session in Washington. In an earlier interview with Trend
Azeri agency Goran Lenmarker stated that `the OSCE PA report aims at
attraction of the attention of the international community.’ In his
opinion, the protraction of the solution of the problem `is due to
the international community not having sufficient information over
the conflict and low interest towards it.’ However, the rapporteur
supposed that the final settlement of the problem depends on the
parties themselves. `I hope for the discussion of the issue at the
OSCE PA to speed up the conflict solution.’ Simultaneously Lenmarker
noted that his mission does not lie in interfering with the OSCE
Minsk Group work. `Both in the PACE and the OSCE PA the report on
Karabakh will be of familiarization nature and it will note the
causes of the conflict, the current situation and prospects of its
settlement,’ he noted.

Azerbaijan News Service
March 16 2005
MONITORING ON FRONTLINE DUE TO TOMORROW
2005-03-16 10:14
An extraplanned monitoring on contact line of Armenian and
Azerbaijani military forces will be held today. The monitoring is to
be conducted in regard with recent regular breaks in cease-fire,
Anjey Kasprshik, special representative of OSCE told ANS.
Fact-finding mission of OSCE, which investigated illegal settlement
of Armenians in occupied territories of Azerbaijan, will make report
in Vienna today. The mission held monitoring in seven regions of
Azerbaijan regarding illegal settlement of Armenians in the first
week of February. OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen and special
representative of OSCE Anjey Kasprshik will participate in the
hearing.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee – Lebanon
Arax Street, Bourj Hammoud, Metn 1203 2050
Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon, Lebanon
Contact: Hovig Hovhannesian
Tel: 01/258300
Cel: 03/043727
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
No.1
2005 is the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and of the
deportation of the Armenian people from their homeland. The Armenians
in Lebanon and around the world are preparing the commemoration of
this tragedy.
This anniversary will serve as an opportunity to unite our means and
efforts, and to work in a more effective and determined way toward
achieving the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and
the reinstatement of our rights in our historical lands of western
Armenia.
A committee representing all the Armenian religious denominations,
political parties and organizations, has been formed. This committee
will take initiatives in order to achieve the revival of our sense of
national belonging and identity, as well as to insure the
international remeberanceof this historical tragedy and secure new
supporters for our just cause.
The committee’s objective is to make our community members involved
in its activities and initiatives. Thus, through its press releases
the committee will keep the Lebanese Armenian community informed of
its plans, which will take place throughout the year.

Azerbaijan says no compromising over Karabakh
By Sevindzh Abdullayeva and Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 12, 2005
BAKU, March 12 — Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev said there
could be no compromising over Nagorno-Karabakh.
“It was a wrong approach from the very beginning. It was proposed by
someone and used for some time. I believe there can be no compromises
on our side,” Aliyev told journalists on Saturday.
“Azerbaijan did not seize other countries’ territories to return them
now,” he added.
The president believes that the only step Azerbaijan could take is
“give security guarantees to Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azeris
who return there”.
Aliyev thinks this may become a topic for negotiations. He said he
would no object to meeting Armenian President Robert Kocharyan but
said there would have to be a topic to discuss.
“We have already met several times, and we can say that all issues
have been discussed and all positions stated,” he said.
The president stressed, “There are no and can be no changes in the
position of Azerbaijan.”
In his view, the groundwork for his meeting with Kocharyan should
be laid by “the negotiations between the foreign ministers of the
two countries”.
“If these negotiations produce results, and the Armenian side assumes
a constructive position and understands that the problem can be
resolved only on the basis of international law, then a meeting of
the presidents may take place,” he said.
Aliyev said, “Azerbaijan can take part in the negotiations as long as
there is at least a 5 percent probability that the Karabakh conflict
can be resolved peacefully”.
“If there are no results, we will withdraw from the negotiations and
solve the problem in other ways,” the president warned.
He also said ceasefire violations in the conflict zone that have become
more frequent recently had a negative impact on the negotiations. “This
does not benefit us. This is a provocation from the Armenian side,”
Aliyev said, adding that Azerbaijan was “ready to give a proper
response to any attacks”.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 12 2005
Azerbaijan, Georgia in border delimitation dispute
AssA-Irada 12/03/2005 17:37
Azerbaijan is currently in a border delimitation dispute with Georgia
and only the division of 20% of the border has been agreed upon with
this country, says Garib Mammadov, Land and Mapping Committee chairman.
The 480-km-long Azeri-Georgian border is divided into 5 territories
and 24 sub-territories, and only 5 sub-teritories have been agreed
upon thus far, he said.
“We have a certain misunderstanding with Georgia and our positions
do not coincide due to their groundless claims.” Mammadov said that
the map, approved by the Georgian parliament in 1963 (Soviet Union
times), was prepared by not Azerbaijanis, but Georgians, Armenians
and Russians, and therefore, does not meet Azerbaijan’s interests.
Prior to this, a different map was used. An Azeri delegation will
leave for Tbilisi to continue talks late in March, he said. Mammadov
continued that Azerbaijan shares a 390.3-km border with Russia
and only a 55-km section (15%) has yet to be agreed upon with this
country. Only the territories bordering on the Balakan, Gusar and
Khachmaz Districts of Azerbaijan have yet to be agreed upon, he said.
Mammadov added that Azerbaijan faces no disputes with Iran and Turkey
over border delimitation.