Author: Chmshkian Vicken

A1 Plus | 21:38:05 | 30-06-2004 | Politics |
EDGAR ARAKELYAN SENTENCE REMAINS UNCHANGED
The Court of Appeal made a decision on Wednesday to leave unchanged
compliant filed by Edgar Arakelyan, 24, who had been sentenced by the
first instance court to a year and six months in jail for hitting a
policeman with an empty plastic bottle in self-defense while attacked
by the police at one of the opposition-staged rallies.
Many times during the court session the accused stressed he had been
reluctant to resort to self-defense after having been severely beaten
by the police.
Edgar tried to tell how he had been beaten in Prosecutor Office in an
attempt to extract false testimony from him.
The judge Suren Ghazaryan interrupted him saying his story was
irrelevant to the case and has no connection with his appeal.
Sahak Martirossyan, the policeman hit with the bottle, said he hadn’t
been hurt and urged the court to display clemency toward Edgar. But it
was in vain.
Prosecution side voiced alarm at the incident saying it can set a
precedent for future cases and putting special emphasis upon the fact
that not ordinary man but law enforcement officer was hit.

Armenian leader, Russian interior minister note importance of cooperation
Mediamax news agency
2 Jul 04

YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received in Yerevan today Russian
Minister of Internal Affairs Rashid Nurgaliyev who had taken part in a
session of the joint collegium of the Armenian Police and the Russian
Interior Ministry.
Kocharyan said that he attached great importance to cooperation
between the Armenian and Russian law-enforcement bodies, the
president’s press service told Mediamax news agency today. He said he
was certain that joint efforts will make the fight against crime more
effective.
Nurgaliyev told Kocharyan that the session paid special attention to
ensuring the economic security of both countries and to the struggle
against organized crime and drug dealing.

Azeri Foreign Ministry concerned about US aid to Karabakh
Trend news agency
1 Jul 04

Baku, 1 July: Azerbaijan is concerned that funds which the US Congress
has allocated to Nagornyy Karabakh, an integral part of the
Azerbaijani Republic, may encourage aggressive separatism, extremism
and illegal activities on the territory of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry says in a statement.
The statement says that the decision of the Congress can negatively
affect the [Nagornyy Karabakh] conflict settlement. “It cannot be
ruled out that these funds will be spent on the construction of houses
on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan where Armenia is pursuing a
policy of illegal settlement,” the statement says.
“The Azerbaijani side wonders how the USA will ensure that the funds
are used exactly for humanitarian purposes and in line with the
principles and norms of international law,” the statement says.
Following the initiative by the subcommittee on foreign aid, the US
Congress decided several ago to allocate 5m dollars to Nagornyy
Karabakh in 2005.

Christian Science Monitor
July 1 2004
Beware Russia’s pocket empire
By Daniel C. Twining
WASHINGTON – Last weekend, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
visited Moldova, a country where the cold war never ended. His trip
highlighted the threat to Western values and interests posed by
Russia’s ambition to retain control over strategic European enclaves
it once ruled as part of the Soviet empire.
It is a reminder that despite the success of NATO’s Istanbul summit,
the West has not completed its grand geopolitical project of building
a Europe of secure democracies extending to the borders of Russia.
Russia’s nostalgia for its imperial past is evident in the pocket
empire it maintains among neighboring nations. These imperial
aspirations stifle democratic development on Europe’s borders and
repudiate the values necessary for lasting partnership between Moscow
and the West.
Moldova, where a slice of the Soviet Union survives in the
secessionist Transdniestria region, is just such a case. When the
USSR collapsed 13 years ago, Moldova became an independent nation.
But the 14th Soviet Army stayed on in the region, along the border
with Ukraine, to support Transdniestria’s secession from Moldova.
Former apparatchik Igor Smirnov turned his autocratic fiefdom into a
client state of Moscow. Today, Russian forces guard Transdniestria’s
borders, Russian officers command its Army, Russian troops guard an
enormous Soviet arms depot, and Russia provides free energy supplies.
President Smirnov answers to leaders in Moscow, many of whom
allegedly profit from the international criminal network that
operates in the area.
According to Western officials in the region, Transdniestria is a
leading exporter of kidnapped women to Europe, a lucrative transit
territory for illicit drugs, and a key link in the arms-smuggling
network that peddles the Soviet Union’s former military hardware on
the international market. If Al Qaeda has not gone shopping there
yet, it is only a matter of time.
Why does Russia support this illegitimate regime? In negotiations
last fall that nearly resulted in a settlement recognizing the
criminal regime’s claim to federal status within Moldova, Moscow
showed its hand by demanding that Moldova commit to a treaty
legalizing the presence of Russian military forces on its soil until
2020. Thanks to Western pressure and the resistance of Moldovans who
took to the streets in protest, the deal collapsed. Nonetheless,
political reform in Moldova has been frozen by the Transdniestria
crisis, which focuses the West’s attention on conflict resolution
rather than on democratic change.
Russia’s Transdniestria strategy mirrors its approach to the other
“frozen conflicts” sustained by Russian military forces and political
support – two secessionist provinces in Georgia and the disputed
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Moscow’s ambition is to make it seem normal for Russian troops to
guard European borders and serve as outposts of imperial control in
independent nations, without their consent.
In the absence of treaties legitimizing Russia’s illegal military
presence on its neighbors’ territory, Russia will keep these
conflicts “frozen” – ensuring that secessionist leaders who answer to
Moscow remain in control.
As Mr. Rumsfeld said clearly last weekend, Russia’s troop presence
violates the revised Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe and
post-Soviet guarantees Russia made to withdraw military forces from
the territories of its neighbors.
A Western campaign to resolve the frozen conflicts and democratize
Europe’s borderlands could be a new pillar of transatlantic
cooperation. NATO should deepen its Partnership for Peace programs in
this region and put the frozen conflicts on the agenda of the
NATO-Russia Council. The European Union should put meat on the bones
of its “New Neighborhood Policy” by tackling the conflicts and
committing substantial assistance for democratic change in its
backyard.
Together, the United States and Europe should condition deeper
Russian access to Western markets on Moscow’s willingness to
negotiate democratic political solutions to Europe’s frozen
conflicts. The transatlantic democracies should also condition
Russia’s privileged political relationship with Western institutions
like NATO, the EU, and the Group of Seven (the world’s richest
nations) on Moscow’s demonstrated willingness to act responsibly in
its near abroad – including the expeditious and verifiable withdrawal
of Russian military forces from the conflict zones.
As part of any political solution in these countries, the West should
insist on nationwide democratic elections, both because it is right
and to reassure Russia that populations in the secessionist regions
it claims to “protect” have a full voice in their reunified nation’s
future.
Russia must understand that its cold war rules of statecraft do not
apply in an age when it seeks partnership with the West – and when
states on the old Soviet borders aspire to membership in an imperium
centered on Brussels, not Moscow.
Despite Russian opposition to enlargement of NATO and the EU, the
progress of democracy, reform, and security across Central and
Eastern Europe during the past decade has made Russia more secure,
not less. Resolving Europe’s frozen conflicts and building stable
democracies throughout the geostrategic gray zone on Russia’s borders
would have a similar effect. Conversely, acceding to Russia’s desire
for a new sphere of influence in its old imperial stomping grounds
would not make Russia more secure. It would not make an increasingly
authoritarian Russia more susceptible to Western values. It would, in
fact, make the West complicit in their subversion.
– Daniel C. Twining, a former foreign policy adviser to Republican
Sen. John McCain, is a director at the German Marshall Fund of the
US. The views expressed here are his own and are informed by a
fact-finding trip he took to Moldova in May.

Associated Press Worldstream
June 25, 2004 Friday
Top two in world chess tournament in Libya advance to round four
by MAHMOUD KASSEM; Associated Press Writer
TRIPOLI, Libya
The top two seeds at the World Chess Championship advanced to round
four Friday after drawing their games, but the tournament’s
third-strongest player was knocked out.
No. 1 seed Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and No. 2 seed Michael Adams
of England went through, but Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine was defeated
by the lower-ranked Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan.
Topalov ended his streak of five consecutive wins on Thursday night
when he drew with Sergei Movsesian of Slovakia.
Adams drew with Hichem Hamdouchi of Morocco. Playing white, Hamdouchi
began solidly with a Ruy Lopez opening, but black quickly took
control of the ‘a’ file as Adams doubled his rooks and threatened
white’s king with his queen. Hamdouchi ultimately fell foul of the
time limits.
Topalov and Adams, numbers 5 and 8 in the world respectively, beat
their opponents by 1.5 points to half a point.
Topalov and Adams are the only two players from FIDE’s top 10 to play
in the US$1.5 million tournament, which Libya is staging as part of a
campaign to shake off its image as a rogue state accused of
sponsoring terrorism.
In the Ivanchuk-Kasimdzhanov encounter, the players agreed to draw
their first two games Thursday, but Kasimdzhanov defeated his
Ukranian opponent in the first rapid game.
In the most beautiful game Thursday, Croatia’s Zdenko Kozul earned a
place in round four when he showed that advancing pawns and
sacrifices can be as deadly as a full-frontal attack with major
pieces.
Kozul cooly turned the tables on an over-confident queen attack by
Russia’s Sergei Rublevsky, playing a Slav defence game. Sacrificing a
rook and pushing his pawns on the ‘b’ and ‘c’ files relentlessly
forward, Kozul won an extra queen and forced Rublevsky to resign
after 47 moves.
“Kozul sacrificed a rook to create an extremely complicated and
exciting position which had everyone following this game with great
attention,” said FIDE master Geoffrey D. Borg.
The youngest player left in the tournament, 16-year-old Hikaru
Nakamura of the United States, drew his Slav defence game with
Alexander Lastin of Russia, but the result was enough to advance him
to round four following his win Wednesday.
Cuba’s Lenier Dominguez also goes through after a dazzling display.
In a Caro-Kann exchange variation with a Panov-Botvinnic attack,
Dominguez forced France’s Vladislav Tkachiev to resign after only 33
moves.
In arguably the most exciting chess of round three, Armenia’s Levon
Aronian fought against Russia’s Pavol Smirnov into the early hours of
Friday. Both players are roughly of equal strength.
His face showing the stress, Smirnov beat Aronian in the first blitz
game, lost the second, and came back in the third in play so fast
that some of the pieces were accidentally knocked over.
Going by nation, Russia has made the best show in the tournament so
far, having four of the 16 players remaining in the contest.
Round four resumes on Saturday after a rest on Friday.
The FIDE championship began June 19 amid controversy. Libya refused
to allow players from Israel to attend. Many top players decided not
to compete, apparently because they were angry that the world’s
strongest-rated player, Garry Kasparov of Russia, is to be allowed to
play the winner without taking part in the qualifying rounds.

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
June 24, 2003
NO ONE-SIDED CONCESSIONS
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the cease-fire the public
undertaking `Defence of Liberated Territories’ in Yerevan published a
report. The authors of the report think that the negotiations for the
regulation of the Karabakh conflict have reached a deadlock and it is
time to make changes. The report says, `Although the cease-fire was
maintained the diplomatic war goes on.’ The mentioned public
organization informed journalists about this during the seminar on
June 19. `The past years were enough to make it clear that the
international regulation of the Artsakh issue is not its settlement
but the continuation of the war through diplomatic means,’ says the
report. According to the representatives of the public undertaking
`Defence of Liberated Territories’, returning the liberated
territories or part of them is the main problem discussed at the
negotiation, and if it is fulfilled, it will mean serious
reconsideration of the results of the war not in favour of Armenia.
According to the authors of the report, `the current situation has
two solutions: either the liberated territories are fixed in our
consciousness as motherland, populated and made part of the Armenian
state or are merely considered temporarily occupied territories for
the aim of security and estranged sooner or later.’ The settlement of
the Karabakh conflict is related to the problem of telecommunication
and refugees. The authors of the report think that because of the
long-lasting and fruitless negotiations we have appeared in a
deadlock and live under the threat of the imposed one-sided
concession. The director of the undertaking thinks that the policy of
the current government does not differ from the former. The core
principle of the both is willingness for concessions. `The only
difference perhaps is that if the former authorities expressed their
willingness for concessions in plain text, the present government
tries to postpone, not to make that step under different pressuresâ=80¦’
This is, of course, the opinion of the director of the undertaking.
And in order not to mislead the reader, we consider it necessary to
quote one of the representatives of the authorities, vice speaker of
the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Vahan Hovhannissian.
Recently in an interview in answer to the question of the journalist
whether it is possible to make pressure on the government of Armenia
and impose a non-favourable variant in reference to the Karabakh
problem, and under the foreign pressure Armenian will make one-sided
concessions, Mr. Hovhannissian said, `No, because Armenia is an
independent country and it is difficult to whitewash. We also have
eyes abroad.’ Of course, this is not the only argument and more
similar statements of representatives of the present authorities of
Armenia can be enumerated but this is not our task. Our task is to
agree to the healthy idea of the representatives of the public
organization `Defence of Liberated Territories’ that the position of
each conscious Armenian must be that all the liberated regions are an
indivisible part of Armenia and cannot be surrendered to the
strangers or become subject of negotiation bargaining. The speaker of
the National Assembly of NKR Oleg Yessayan said, `For a divided
nation the consistent accomplishment of its integrity must be a law.â=80=9D
And this integrity must not merely be physical but ideological and,
of course, determined, which is more important. With ideological
integrity we may state confidently that we will manage to achieve our
aims. Although as the participants of the seminar mentioned, `Today
Azerbaijan is not ready to admit and sign an agreement recognizing
the right of the Armenians to live free and have self-governance on
the land of Artsakh’, this is a matter of time. And the sooner our
integrity is maintained, the sooner we will manage with the
participation of our as well as a number of European organization
dealing with the Artsakh issue to make our neighbour Azerbaijan
recognize the dominance of Artsakh on the territory which Artsakh
controls de facto as well as recognize that the Republic of Nagorni
Karabakh is a self-governing state and never was and can be part of
independent Azerbaijan.
CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected] Website;
Naira Melkoumian Received at the Canadian Diocese
On Friday June 11, 2004, Mrs. Naira Melkoumian, Executive Director
of the “Armenia” Pan-Armenian Fund (Himnadram) visited the Montreal
headquarters of the Canadian Armenian Diocese. His Eminence Bishop
Bagrat Galstanian, Primate, warmly welcomed the distinguished guest
in the Dikran Karibian Hall.
Attending the formal reception were Very Rev. Fr. Ararat Kaltakdjian,
Vicar General, Very Rev. Fr. Hayrig Hovhannessian, Rev. Fr. Vazken
Boyadjian, Pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Dr. and
Mrs Haroutiun Arzoumanian, vice chairman of the Diocesan Council,
representatives of Montreal Armenian organizations, members of both
Montreal and Laval parish councils, Diocesan Youth Council members
and members of the Executive Committee of Montreal’s “Armenia” Fund.
Rev. Fr. Vazken Boyadjian welcomed the guests and introduced
Mrs. Melkoumian, who has been the Foreign Affairs Minister of
Mountainous Karabakh and permanent representative of Karabakh in
Armenia, before assuming the responsibility of Executive Director
of the “Armenia” Pan-Armenian Fund. Bishop Galstanian addressed
the guests and expressed his joy that this was the first time he
was welcoming a high-ranking official from Armenia. Serpazan said,
“Armenia is the homeland of all Armenians and that the strengthening of
our motherland socially, economically and politically is a sacred call
for all of us. Today, more than ever, we are called upon to preserve
our motherland, where our identity and the nation’s existence lies.”
Mrs. Naira Melkoumian thanked the Primate for the cordial reception
at the Diocesan headquarters. She then extensively talked about the
plans and the projects that the Fund is carrying out in Armenia and
in Artsakh. She asked His Eminence’s blessings and called for all
those present to support the mission of the “Armenia” Fund.
Bishop Galstanian visited Archbishop Andrew Hutchison
On Tuesday June 15, 2004 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian visited
the Anglican Archdiocese of Montreal and personally congratulated
Archbishop Hutchison on his election as Primate of the Anglican Church
of Canada.
“Canadian Armenians are delighted as a close friend of their church
and their motherland Aremenia has been elected Primate of the Anglican
Church,” said Bishop Galstanian, and added, “We certainly look forward
for further cooperation and exchange of views between our respective
churches on many social issues”.
Archbishop Hutchsion briefly presented his plans for the coming
months and expressed his wish to officially visit the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin, the Spiritual Centre of Armenian Christianity. His
Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian promised to convey Archbishop
Hutchison’s wish to His Holiness Karekin II in order to arrange an
official visit.
The Vicar General of Anglican Archdiocese Rev. Peter Hannen invited
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian to attend a farewell reception in honor of
Abp Hucthison where government officials as well as eminent spiritual
leaders will be present. Accompanying the Primate was Deacon Hagop
Arslanian.
Pontifical and Diocesan Awards Bestowment
On Saturday June 12, Bishop Bagrat Galstanmian, Primate of the Armenian
Church Diocese of Canada, bestowed the Pontifical Medal of St Nersess
Shenorhali and the Holy Encyclical (Gontag) by His Holiness Karekin
II, Catholicos of All Armenians, to Mr. Kevork Manoukian, Chairman
of Montreal’s “Hayastan” Pan-Armenian Fund. Siultaneously, the
“Etchmiadzin” Diocesan First Order Medal was bestowed upon Mrs. Nayira
Melkoumian by His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian.
The occasion was the formal banquet held at the AGBU Alex Manougian
Center’s Jirair and Eliz Dervishian Hall, in honor of Mrs. Nayira
Melkoumian, Executive Director of “Hayastan” Pan-Armenia Fund
headquartered in Yerevan, Armenia. Mrs. Melkoumian talked about the
Fund’s projects in Armenia and Artsakh and thanked the Montreal and
Toronto committees as well as the Canadian Armenian community for
their support of the Fund’s reconstruction projects. Bishop Galstanian
praised Mr.George Manoukian’s leadership and services to the Canadian
Armenian community, then asked Rev. Fr Vazgen Boyajyan to read His
Holiness’ Encyclical, and then pinned the Pontifical Medal to the
recipients’s chest. The Primate tgen emphasized the importance
of supporting the “Hayastan” Pan_Armenia Fund, and bestowed the
“Etchmiadzin” Diocesan First Order Medal to Mrs. Nayira Melkoumian
in appreciation of her tireless efforts to serve Armenian and Artsakh.
Attending the banquet were representatives of community churches
organizations. The Diocesan Council was represented by Dr Haroutiun
Arzoumanian, Vice Cahirman.
Divan of the Diocese

Sezer Urges Leaders In Islam Geography To Make A Sincere And Frank Appraisal Without Delay
Anadolu Agency:
6/14/2004
ISTANBUL – Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer urged on Monday that
it has become imperative that the leaders in this geography make
sincere and frank appraisal without delay.
President Sezer addressed the opening of the Thirty-First Session of
the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
In his speech, Sezer pointed out that Istanbul, the venue of our
meeting, was a city that had placed its mark world civilization and
that had left deep traces in the history of Islam. This city, which
has embraced and merged people from different cultures and faiths
throughout history, has ensured the free practice of faith in its
mosques, churches and synagogues standing side by side for centuries,
thus providing an environment of tolerance, he added.
“With such attributes, Istanbul is one of the living symbols of
harmony and tolerance among civilizations” Sezer said, adding that,
“since the inception of the OIC, we are witnessing sweeping changes
in the world. Since the early 1970`s new dynamics have been set in
motion in the international order.”
“We are passing through a period in which dynamics of change are being
felt strongly. Uncertainties which blur our vision affect the lives and
future of our nations profoundly. Whatever the level of its development
and prosperity may be, no country can remain unaffected by the winds
of change. While every region, country, society and individual benefit
from positive changes at varying degrees, they nevertheless face the
risks posed by a variety of negative developments,” Sezer stated.
He said, “the experiences that we have gained in the aftermath of the
Second World War and particularly since the beginning of the 21st
century, has demonstrated that global peace, prosperity, security
and stability can not be achieved only through military means. It
has become apparent that efforts to this end will bear fruit to the
extend that democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and good
governance are also taken into account.”
Sezer emphasized that, “in this age in which trade and economic
relations have been globalized, embracing human rights, the rule of
law, gender equality and religious tolerance on a global scale is
imperative for social development.”
“We observe that recently the attention of the international community
has been directed towards the Islamic world. Discussions that have
intensified over the question `what went wrong?` should not only
be confined to scholars. We have to bear in mind that the answer to
this question concerns the past, as well as the future of the Islamic
world. Therefore, it has become imperative that the leaders in this
geography, in other words, we, make sincere and frank appraisal
without delay,” he stressed.
Sezer said, “the OIC which was founded by 25 countries has enlarged
in terms of membership over two fold in the past thirty five years.
The geographical boundaries of the OIC has expanded from the Balkans to
Africa as well as from the Middle East to Central Asia. Applications
continue to be made for full membership and observer status. Through
its broad representation, the OIC has acquired the necessary capability
of speaking with a common voice and spreading the messages of its
members to the world. The time has come to seek and find the means
to use this capability in an efficient and result-oriented manner.”
President Sezer said, “like all international organizations, the OIC
has arrived at a key turning point in its historical development
process. Currently, the fundamental question which needs to be
answered is how the OIC will be transformed into a significant
and influential political force in the twenty-first century on the
international stage.”
He said, “at this point, I would like to stress that the strength
and efficiency of an international organization comes from its
members. International organizations with powerful members, capable
of resolving problems, especially those in their own geography, and
establishing comprehensive co-operation mechanisms to this end, and
who can keep the pace with the international dynamics and universal
values, naturally gain the ability to have their voices heard strongly
on the international arena.
Sezer emphasized that, “therefore, it is of vital importance that
the members of the OIC demonstrate the clear will to accelerate the
ongoing political, social, and economic reforms in order to catch up
with the contemporary age.”
“Human resources is the basic element in social and economic
development. Education is of vital importance in making the utmost of
this resource. However, upgrading the level of education alone is not
sufficient. Invoking a sense of confidence and hope for the future
is also important. Here lies the fundamental role of democracy. Each
individual acts with hope and confidence to the extend he or she
has a say in their own future and that of their country. We should
not forget that when judging their own societies in retrospect,
generations to come will also take into account the role of today`s
leaders on the reform and democratization,” he stated.
Sezer said, “In the Middle East, the region which lies at the very
center of the OIC geography, we are witnessing a growing demand by
the public for political, social and economic reform. Governments
are taking certain steps to respond to these demands. Naturally,
the pace on reform will be determined by the social conditions in
each country. However, there is an obvious need to agree that reform
is inevitable.”
PRESIDENT SEZER: “WE DO NOT DISREGARD SECURITY CONCERNS OF ISRAEL”
President Sezer said, “we do not disregard the security concerns of
Israel. However, we see the use of excessive force as a big mistake
that does not serve any end other than further escalating tensions
and harming civilians.”
President Sezer said, “we all know that the international community
is willing to extend support to the reform process which the
region requires. However, to bear fruit from steps encouraging
democratic change and reform, it is necessary to adopt a realistic
and case-by-case approach building on the domestic dynamics and the
particularities of each country. I believe that without losing sight
of our own values, we should collectively find the methods which will
enable us not to lag behind and even help shape our world.”
“It is also a shared desire of my country that the Middle East goes
through a transformation in line with contemporary and universal
values, and that the people of this region attain a higher level
of prosperity and development. In fact, although with differing
degrees, this is an ongoing process, and it can neither be halted nor
reversed. The issue before us is not whether democracy can be put
in place in the Middle East, but how the aspirations for democracy
can be addressed and how democracy can be materialized. The leaders
of the region will leave a trace in the annals of their countries,
to the extent that they take the lead for courageous and far-sighted
initiatives. In this process self-criticism is an important aspect,”
he said.
President Sezer noted, “on the other hand, third countries and
international organizations are contributing with good faith to the
development and democratization process of several countries. Even
among the most democratic and developed countries, a multitude
of mechanisms exist that help to safeguard and elevate living
conditions. These most successful examples are the Council of Europe,
the European Union and the Organization of Security and Cooperation
in Europe. On this occasion, I would like to note with pleasure the
interest displayed by these organizations in the recent years to
enter into dialogue with the countries in the OIC region, and the
initiatives of the OIC in this regard. Having cooperated with these
organizations for several years, we believe that, despite certain
difficulties, this is a useful process.”
“At this point I would like to make a call for the establishment of
dialogue and cooperation on the basis of genuine partnership between
the countries in the OIC geography and the West, both at bilateral and
institutional levels. I believe that political will to be demonstrated
in this direction will pave the way for the Organization of the Islamic
Conference to earn its rightful place on the international stage,”
he said.
President Sezer, emphasized, “in order for the ownership of projects
concerning reform, modernization and democratization to be claimed by
the countries in the region, and to ensure that the hand extended by
the international community for assistance bears fruit, it is important
that concrete steps are taken for a just and lasting settlement of
the conflicts in the Middle East region. The Arab-Israeli dispute lies
at the forefront of these conflicts and the question of Palestine in
its center.”
“I would like to reaffirm Turkey`s solidarity with the Palestinian
people at this very difficult time. As a result of the continuing
occupation in the territories of Palestine, and excessive use of
force as well as destruction that have claimed the lives of many
Palestinians, the conflict has escalated to a dangerous level. This
situation seriously impacts efforts aimed at establishing security
and stability in the region,” he said.
Noting that Turkey did not disregard the security concerns of Israel,
President Sezer said, “however, we see the use of excessive force as a
big mistake that does not serve any end other than further escalating
tensions and harming civilians.”
“The ongoing negative developments in the region displays how
important it is for the leaders on both sides to heed the calls of the
international community. The future of Israeli and the Palestinian
peoples are interlinked. A better future in the region can be built
only through wisdom and reconciliation by the two peoples, rather
than building walls and physical barriers. Policies that ignore
international law and the calls of the international community are
doomed to failure,” he said.
President Sezer noted, “it is evident that a viable peace agreement
is the only way to provide a safe future for both parties. And
this can be achieved through the vision of “two States: Israel and
Palestine, living side by side within secure and recognized borders”
in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations
Security Council. In this vein, we believe that the ground laid by
the Road Map should be effectively utilized.”
“In order to achieve progress in the implementation of the Road Map,
high-level engagement of the international community is necessary.
The ongoing contacts with the members of the Quartet by the
OIC Ministerial Delegation, in which Turkey is also represented,
demonstrate the commitment of the international community to a just
and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Likewise,
the confirmation at the Arab League Summit of the validity of the
Arab Peace Plan is important. I would like to reiterate that Turkey
stands ready to fulfil any responsibility that falls on its shoulders
for the resolution of the conflict,” President Sezer added.
PRESIDENT SEZER: “ONGOING VIOLENCE AND INSTABILITY IN IRAQ REMAINS
A CAUSE OF CONCERN FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY”
President Sezer said, “the ongoing violence and instability also
remains a cause of concern for the international community.”
President Sezer said, “in our neighbor Iraq, the ongoing violence and
instability also remains a cause of concern for the international
community. We grieve for the agony and the suffering that the Iraq
people endure.”
President Sezer noted, “as for the political transition process in
Iraq, a new stage is in the making. Recently, the members of Iraq`s new
interim government were appointed. I wish them success. Following the
transfer of sovereignty on June 30, the people of Iraq will continue to
confront the challenging task of building their political future. The
success of the period ahead lies in drawing the necessary lessons from
past experiences. As acknowledged by the international community, the
United Nations is best equipped to assume a key role in strengthening
the basis of legitimacy of the political transition process and in
the creation of democratic structures in Iraq. I call upon the Iraqi
interim government and all segments in Iraq to pursue a close dialogue
with the United Nations and to benefit from their advise.”
“In the long and arduous period ahead, what the Iraqis need most
is to achieve a broad consensus among themselves. Only the Iraqis
themselves can find lasting solutions to the problems of Iraq. In
the end, the key to building a stable and prosperous Iraq which is
at peace with itself and with its neighbors, is only in the hands of
the Iraqi people. I call on them to transcend ethnic and sectarian
considerations and unite their forces,” President Sezer added.
PRESIDENT SEZER: “FURTHER SUFFERING OF TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE WILL
BE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE”
President Sezer said, “following the referenda on April 24, a new
situation has emerged in Cyprus. In light of this fact, which is
also acknowledged by the international community, the Turkish Cypriot
people is willing to integrate with the rest of the world.”
President Sezer stressed, “further suffering of the Turkish Cypriot
people, due to a situation in which they bear no responsibility, would
be totally unacceptable. In fact, in his report of May 28, presented
to the Security Council, the secretary-general of the United Nations
has called upon the members of the United Nations to eliminate all
restrictions and embargoes on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC). Thus, the claim that United Nations resolutions constitute
an obstacle in establishing relations with the Turkish Cypriots has
no relevance.”
“I am confident that the Islamic world will not lag behind the
international community, and will extend its hand of friendship
and assistance to its Muslim Turkish Cypriot brothers,” President
Sezer added.
PRESIDENT SEZER: “CONCRETE STEPS HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN FOR RESOLUTION
OF UPPER KARABAKH DISPUTE”
President Sezer said, “we note with regret that concrete steps have
not been taken for the resolution of the Upper Karabakh dispute.”
President Sezer referred to the issues of Upper Karabakh, Jammu and
Kashmir and Afghanistan.
-UPPER KARABAKH-
President Sezer said, “we note with regret that concrete steps have
not been taken for the resolution of the Upper Karabakh dispute,
which constitutes an obstacle for the creation of an environment of
cooperation. Turkey has already declared that if an agreement emerges
on confidence building measures aimed at facilitation a peaceful
resolution, it will contribute to such an initiative.”
“We believe that confidence-building measures will contribute in
expediting the resolution of the conflict, and thereby crating new
opportunities and strengthening the environment of cooperation for the
countries of the region and the international community,” he stressed.
-JAMMU AND KASHMIR-
Referring to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, President Sezer said, “the
Jammu and Kashmir issue continues to be a source of serious concerns
since 1947. This issue has inflicted suffering to the people of the
region and has been a source of tension in the relations between India
and Pakistan. We support the settlement of this issue on the basis of
international legitimacy and dialogue. In this vein, recent mutual
openings made between Pakistan and India, and the initiation of a
dialogue process has risen hopes for a settlement. The settlement
of the Jammu and Kashmir issue will contribute significantly to the
strengthening of peace and stability in the region.”
-AFGHANISTAN-
President Sezer stressed, “despite all the difficulties, we are
pleased to observe that the Bonn Agreement is being implemented in
Afghanistan. The establishment of peace, security and stability in
Afghanistan is important not only for the Afghan people, but also
for the stability of the entire region.”
“We strongly hope that Afghanistan will accomplish the reconstruction
process swiftly and advance on the path of democracy and development
as a country free from terrorism, violence and radicalism, and that
the brotherly Afghan people will attain prosperity and tranquility
which they long for many years,” he said.
President Sezer added, “the adoption of a new constitution is an
important milestone in establishing stability and a new democratic
political order in this country. Following the September elections,
a new phase will start in Afghanistan. In the ongoing difficult
process, Afghanistan needs the strong support of the international
community. Turkey will continue to extend its support to Afghanistan,
a country that we have traditional ties of friendship.”
SEZER THANKS FOR SUPPORT DISPLAYED TOWARD SITUATION OF TURKISH MUSLIM
MINORITY IN WESTERN THRACE
Sezer said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all
the member states of the OIC for the interest and support they have
displayed towards the situation of the Turkish Muslim minority in
Western Thrace. It is regrettable that the Turkýsh Muslim minority
in Western Thrace is still unable to enjoy all basic individual and
minority rights which are guaranteed by bilateral and multilateral
agreements, to the full extend. The close interest and support of the
OIC for the recognition of the basic minority rights of the Turkish
Muslim minority in Western Thrace is of great importance.”
-COMCEC MEETING-
President Sezer also stressed that, “I would also like touch upon the
work of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial cooperation
of the OIC, COMCEC, which constitutes an important forum in developing
economic and commercial cooperation among our countries.”
“The Framework Agreement for the Trade Preferential System Among the
Member Countries of the OIC, which has come into force last year,
has an important place in the regional trade arrangements which are
expanding in parallel to globalization. The First Meeting of the Trade
Negotiating Committee in the framework of the said Agreement was
successfully held at the beginning of April in Antalya. The second
meeting of the Trade Negotiating Committee is planned to be held in
September in Turkey,” he noted.
Sezer stated that “the success of the first meeting is encouraging for
future endeavors. On this occasion, I would like to invite the Member
countries, who have not yet done so, to sign and ratify the Framework
Agreement and actively participate in the trade negotiations.”
“As you all know, we will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the COMCEC
this year. A special meeting of Ministers of Economy and Trade will
also be organized on the sidelines of the 20th session of COMCEC, to
be held between 23 and 27 November 2004 in Istanbul. Thus, we will
have the opportunity to exchange views on economic and commercial
cooperation and to develop new perspectives for our future work. In
order to attain our goals, I would like to reiterate our expectation
of high level participation of Member States in the COMCEC and in the
Special Ministerial Meeting of Economy and Trade,” Sezer pointed out.
President Sezer said, “with these thoughts in the mind, I would like
to welcome all the participants once again and wish that your work
will yield significant results in our quest for peace and prosperity.”

Azeri campaigner sees hidden agenda in Armenians defectors
Ekho, Baku
5 Jun 04
The two Armenians who fled Azerbaijan during the armed conflict
in Karabakh in 1990 and have returned to Baku asking for refugee
status in order to go to the West and leave Azerbaijan disgraced as
a country dangerous to Armenians, Azerbaijani human rights activist
Eldar Zeynalov writes in the Ekho newspaper. Should Azerbaijan accept
the men, it might urge thousands of Chechens to follow suit and harm
Azerbaijan’s relations with Russia, he said. According to Zeynalov,
the Azerbaijani authorities have a hand in this story seeking to keep
the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Baku under
control. The following is the text of an article headlined “About the
defectors: Who needs them and what for?” by Eldar Zeynalov, director
of the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan, in the Azerbaijani newspaper
Ekho on 5 June 2004. Subheadings have been inserted editorially:
Azerbaijan still dangerous for Armenians?
The press keeps discussing the theme of the two Armenian defectors,
Roman Teryan and Artur Apresyan, time and time again, although less
intensively than two months ago when they turned up in Baku [from
Armenia]. Based on an opinion about me as a “defender of Armenians”,
some newspapers with a reputation for printing scandal have addressed
me on several occasions. I did explain my attitude but the press
never reported my words.
My stance, based on international law on forced migration, could
not be clearer than it is. A refugee is a foreigner who underwent
discrimination in his home land, which posed a threat to his life,
health or property, and who seeks asylum in another country that he
thinks is safer.
Are these Armenians foreigners to us? They argue that they lived
in Baku before the events in Karabakh. If so, they are our former
compatriots and can certainly apply for reinstatement in their
previous citizenship. All the more so that our authorities have been
treating them with overt sympathy. It was really dangerous for them
to live in Baku in 1990. How about today? Floundering in statistics,
the authorities keep saying that some 20,000 or 30,000 Armenians still
live in Baku. Why not let in another two, what is wrong about it? All
the more so that these good Armenians risked their life advocating
Azerbaijan in Armenia.
However, if such loyal returnees from Armenia and our former citizens
cannot live here, a great number of questions arise that need to be
answered before we rush slap-bang to help them move to the better-off
parts of Europe. If a person left Azerbaijan in 1990, was recognized as
a refugee, then came back home but cannot stay here, it is tantamount
to our authorities signing a confession that nothing has changed
since 1990 and it is still dangerous for Armenians (at least males)
to live here.
Returnees’ hidden agenda?
The “defectors” themselves must have been thinking as much, given
that they had asked from the very start for entry into a third state,
seeking asylum abroad before they turned to Azerbaijan. The question
arises how to define a situation with the two Armenians who actually
came to our country to set it up by making it deport themselves
to a third state and thereby prove that Azerbaijan is dangerous
for Armenians to live in and human rights are not observed here?
Strange as it may seem, this fact was disregarded above all by media
outlets normally specializing in exposing real and imaginary Armenian
provocations.
There is another point. Well, assume Azerbaijan and Armenia are
dangerous for them. Why then should they go to Germany or the
Netherlands while hundreds of thousands of Armenians who are afraid
to live in Azerbaijan and do not care about “mother Armenia” have no
problems living in other CIS states, for instance Russia, Ukraine and
even Belarus? Having no language or cultural barrier, living next to
their friends and relatives, what else would they need to be happy?
What they seek is probably a comfortable seat on the back of a Western
state. They have tried to do it on their own but to no avail. Now they
are trying to ride into paradise on another vehicle. The vehicle is our
state which is expected to blemish itself by giving them a paper with
umpteen seals affixed to certify that it is bad here. The organization
that took on the task is a specific state body, the one in charge
of safeguarding the state border that these guys crossed legally,
once they are not in jail. This body sheltered those nice guests in
an “inn” on the top of a building at the head of Parliament Avenue
[National Security Ministry], called a news conference for them and
did a lot more to promote this story.
Interests of national security
Did the state pursue any interest in getting involved in this fishy
business? Taking a closer look, one can see that from the very
outset, both the “defectors” and the state officials, and even the
non-governmental organizations that joined in (not all of them,
by the way) are coming down heavily on the office of the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) like a ton of bricks. If the UNHCR
office refuses to grant the Armenians refugee status, its will prove
to be inefficient; if it does, it will disgrace our country. Public
statements by local UNHCR office staff may give a cue to what all this
rush is about. It is the UN plans to give up its responsibility in
June for establishing the status of those seeking refuge in Azerbaijan.
Indeed, there is a dozen staff sitting at the UNHCR office, with only
a few of them doing the job of interviewing and inquiry. On the other
hand, the government has special services and a whole state committee
for refugees. So it is right up their street, all the more so that
the UNHCR office, the International Organization for Migration and
other international organizations have talked themselves hoarse and
run themselves off their feet coming and training our officials who
must deal with such things as part of their remit.
Fancy 8,000 Chechens turning up at our offices tomorrow to ask for
refugee status based on our very well written law. Should we grant
them the status, we would thereby recognize that the thing going on in
Chechnya is a real war and genocide of Chechens rather than a police
operation. We could also spoil our relations with the mighty northern
neighbour [Russia]. Should we deny the status or deport them, the
Chechens would sue Azerbaijan at the European Court and, I can assure
you, they would win the case (precedents can be found in Georgia).
So let the UNHCR office fiddle around with all that and be the whipping
boy. Ah, they do not care for it? Okay we will play a dirty trick
on them in the form of the Armenian defectors. Tomorrow they [UNHCR
staff] may see hungry Azerbaijani people coming from tents to smash
their windows. The day after tomorrow, a bellicose non-governmental
organization may stage a pogrom and accuse the UNHCR office of
inefficiency in getting our refugees back home and therefore being
Armenian agents. Unsmiling tie-wearing guys from a serious office
would keep watch over the process, throwing in their instructions
once in a while. That would go on until the local UNHCR office “became
reasonable” and came back under the control of our authorities, as it
used to be. It seems that they see no other scenario for the future,
unfortunately. There may be a far cry between the stubborn Ukrainian
and the pliable French.
All this looks very funny viewed from aside, my dear sirs. Would I
take part in this show? No, thanks!

PRESS RELEASE
Project Harmony Armenia
45 Sevastopolyan St
Yerevan, Armenia 375028
(374) 1-26-06-86
Contact: Knarik Nazaryan
[email protected]
Mobile Lab Hits the Road
Yerevan— June 11, 2004— The Mobile Lab, an innovative project that
created a Mobile Internet Computer Center to serve rural communities
in Armenia, will hit the road on June 14, 2004, with a ribbon cutting
ceremony at the border to the Gegharkunik region on the road to Lake
Sevan at 12:00 p.m. and with the official launch to the villages it
will serve from the Vardenis Municipality at 2:00 p.m. The Mobile Lab
is a component of the Armenia School Connectivity Program (ASCP), a
Program of the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational
and Cultural Affairs funded through FREEDOM Support Act and implemented
by Project Harmony.
The Mobile Lab is the first of its kind in Eurasia and will serve 20
remote border communities between the towns of Chambarak and Vardenis
in the Gegharkunik region of Armenia. A vehicle has been transformed
into a learning lab and is equipped with computer workstations
and satellite connection to provide Internet access. But besides
the hardware and Internet connection, the Mobile Lab will provide
free training for students and teachers of the villages, as well as
neighboring village schools. For these remote villages, the Mobile
Lab will offer an expanded worldview and exposure to new information,
and will allow students from rural communities to connect with others
as they never have before.
The Mobile Lab will remain in each of the 20 villages for a set amount
of time and will later return to the communities to provide users
with continued development of skills acquired during the initial
visit. Project Harmony anticipates the Mobile Lab will serve over
12,500 people in the 20 villages, including over 1900 students and
380 teachers, as well as many refugees, persons with disabilities,
and unemployed citizens.
Project Harmony builds strong communities by fostering civic
leadership, harnessing Internet technology and facilitating
cross-cultural experiential learning. Project Harmony was founded
in Vermont in 1985 as a grass-roots exchange organization for
Soviet and American high schools. Today, Project Harmony has 14
offices worldwide. In its 19-year history, Project Harmony has
facilitated educational, professional, cultural, and community-based
programs involving hundreds of families and individuals. Please
visit our web site: The Armenia-specific
web site is: U.S.: and in Armenia:
The Armenia School Connectivity
Program web site is: and the ZANG Armenia Legal
Socialization web site is: For
more information, please contact Project Harmony Outreach Manager
Siranush Vardanyan at [email protected]