Author: Ekmekjian Janet

US Fed News
October 11, 2007 Thursday 1:19 AM EST

REP. COSTA PRESS AVAILABILITY THURSDAY, OCT. 11TH

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif. (20th CD), issued the following news
release:

On Thursday October 11th, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) will be
available to the press to discuss recent Congressional action House
Resolution 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution, which passed
through the House Foreign Affairs Committee today by a vote of 27 to
21. Costa will also discuss the Farm Bill.

Below is the statement given by Costa in today’s hearing.

WHO: Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno

WHAT: Media Availability

WHEN: Thursday, October 11th, 2007, anytime after 6pm

WHERE: Petroleum Club

5060 California Ave # 12th Floor

Bakersfield, CA 93309

"Thank you Mr. Chairman Lantos for bringing such an important
resolution before the Foreign Affairs Committee for mark-up, and the
profiles in courage you as our Chairman and our Speaker are
demonstrating today that this measure should be heard in the House of
Representatives.

"The importance of Turkey as an ally to the United States, both as a
supporter of the War on Terrorism and our efforts in Afghanistan and
Iraq and obviously have been well stated should not be taken for
granted and I certainly don’t. I do support this resolution. Much has
been said about the potential impact on our national security in the
current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. But I would heed my
colleagues who have that concern to note that in fact when Russia
recognized the Armenian genocide in 1995 their trade with Turkey
increased by 351 %. When Greece recognized the genocide – who have
had tensions over the past few decades with Turkey – in 1997, trade
increased by 266 %. And yes, the European Parliament passed last year
a set of economic conditions and social conditions prior to the entry
of Turkey into the European Union; one of those conditions was the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Nation states at the end of the
day, ultimately, notwithstanding their own internal politics, do what
is in their best interest. Because of the assistance and all the
important relationships that we have with Turkey, I believe that in
fact if we pass this resolution, Turkey will not like it, but they
certainly will do what is in their best interest and that will be to
continue to have a relationship with between our great nations.

"But for me, as I suspect it is for others on the Committee, this
resolution involves the issue – the simple issue of man’s injustice
to mankind… as it has occurred in Rwanda, Cambodia, Bosnia, the
Holocaust, and in this instance, this resolution is about the
Armenian Genocide.

"In May 2006, I went on a Codel to Iraq, Turkey and Greece with my
colleague Mr. Pence. As we traveled through Turkey, we had a meeting
with President Abdulla G?l – who was then Foreign Minister – who is
President today. And I’d like to relay a story to the members of this
Committee. I talked about the positive relationship with Turkey and
America and our long standing relations. That modern day Turkey
stands for a successful, secular democracy, a responsible
nation-state on the world stage.

"But I also told him that all nations in the world have periods of
their history that they’d soon forget. I explained that slavery in
early America is one of our chapters that many would soon overlook…
And even our beloved Founding Fathers held slaves. Slavery created
turmoil in our nation for decades, and was one of the many causes the
Civil War. The issues of civil rights in America continued for 100
years following the Civil War, resulting in a Civil Rights Act passed
by Congress in the 1960s. And despite this monumental legislation, we
still have problems today in our country, but we acknowledge and we
confront them just as modern day Turkey should.

"The purpose of the resolution today is not to belittle the
accomplishments of Turkey; but rather to acknowledge an event that
occurred in the early 20th century… involving a plan to remove
people from their homes and lands, and sadly, evolved into one of the
first genocides in the modern world. Modern day Turkey was not
responsible for that genocide but they should acknowledge it and they
should move on. It is important we acknowledge this fact, in an
effort to heal the wounds and build new relations among Turkey,
Armenia, and the world communities.

"One can debate specific incidents, but growing up in Fresno,
California, the land of William Saroyan, I can tell you I heard
stories as a kid from grandparents of my friends – the Kezerian,
Koligian and Abramhian families about being forced to leave their
homes, the stories of the long marches, the massacres and murders
that occurred to women and children. Clearly, they believed there was
a systematic approach to eliminate the Armenian communities in places
that had been their homes and farms for centuries. My Armenian
friends believe that what happened between1915-1923 was a systematic
approach, and was among the first genocides of the 20th century, and
so do I.

"This resolution is not meant to reopen the wounds or degenerate the
importance of our relationship with the Turkish people or their
government… and an important ally. But my vote in favor of this
resolution is to accurately reflect history. It is important that we
support this measure, and move on. I urge an ‘Aye’ vote."

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 12 2007

Social house program implemented in Yerevan, Armenia

YEREVAN, October 12. /ARKA/. A Social House is to be put into service
at the Kanaker-Zeitun community in Yerevan late in 2007.

Chairwoman of the Mission Armenia benevolent organization Hripsime
Kirakosyan reported that the Social House program worth $1mln was
launched in 2005.

She said that 70% of the funds are provided by the Armenian office of
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, with the rest 30%
being provided by Mission Armenia.

Kirakosyan said the Social House is designed for 34 socially
vulnerable people, particularly old people and refugees.
She said that all the necessary conditions have been created for the
residents – a canteen, laundry, gymnasium, and other services.

Kirakosyan pointed out that Mission Armenian intends to mobilize all
the financial and in-kind assistance from governmental and private
sources to ensure high-quality services to the residents.

Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan stressed that the Yerevan
Municipality will render all possible assistance to the residents of
the Social House.

`The establishment of this complex is a happy fact for us, and we are
ready to render assistance I the creation of necessary conditions for
the residents of the Social House,’ he said.

The Mission Armenia benevolent organization was founded in 1993. It
has around 15,000 beneficiaries, with 8,000 of them being single old
people, 7,000 refugees residing in hostels.-0–

ArmRadio – Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 13 2007

The film `Screamers’ will be screened in the European Parliament in
tribute to Hrant Dink
13.10.2007 11:42

The Euro-Armenian Federation announces that 29 countries will be
represented in the Second Convention of European Armenians which is
due to be held soon. The participants – mainly leading members of the
Armenian Diaspora of Europe – and other personalities with
responsibilities in the political and associative domains are
interested in the Armenian Question and will be attending from the
European Union Countries – Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, the Czech
Republic and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, participants will
travel from Armenia, Canada, the United States, Georgia, Iran,
Lebanon, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and Syria.

`The capacity of the convention to mobilise demonstrates the extent
to which the Armenian issues constitute a focal point of interest for
a number of important European citizens and also for many
international observers’ commented Laurent Leylekian, the executive
director of the Euro-Armenian Federation.

In addition, the Federation announces that the film `Screamers’, an
exceptional documentary co-produced by the BBC, which by analysing
the workings of denials of genocides demonstrates their similarities,
will be screened in the European Parliament after the first session,
from 6:30pm to 8:00pm and in the presence of the film’s director,
Carla Garapedian who is a winner of the prestigious Emmy Award.

`With this unique venue, we will be able to show to those European
political personalities who often continue to ignore the perverse
speeches of denial and the abjectness of denying. At this hour, when
the European Parliament appears to give in and surrender its weapons
to the denials of Turkey, we hope that this screening will be able to
remobilise the consciences in face of an ideology which has proven to
be dangerous’ concluded Laurent Leylekian.

The screening of `Screamers’ will honour the memory of Hrant Dink,
Armenian journalist in Turkey, who in January 2007 was assassinated
in Istanbul because he advocated for his country’s recognition of the
Armenian genocide. The current court case against the assassin and
his associates highlighted the direct responsibility of the Turkish
official ideology – racial and denialist – on the motives of the
murder as well as the collusion between the state apparatus and the
killers.

Reuters, UK
Oct 12 2007

Armenian-American clout buys genocide breakthrough

Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:21pm EDT
By Mary Milliken

GLENDALE, California (Reuters) – At 93, Armenian American filmmaker
Michael Hagopian may finally see his community’s clout pay off if the
U.S. Congress recognizes the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks as genocide.

"U.S. representatives in Congress and state governments now realize
the Armenian community has a lot of political power and they can make
contributions to political causes and various parties," said
Hagopian, best known for his film "The Forgotten Genocide".

This week, the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee
approved a resolution branding the massacre of an estimated 1.5
million Armenians from 1915 to 1923 as genocide, brushing aside
President George W. Bush’s warnings that it would harm relations with
Turkey, a key ally.

Rep. Adam Schiff, whose district around the city of Los Angeles
includes a large Armenian American community, was one of several
lawmakers who pushed for the resolution after heavy lobbying by
constituents.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who also represents many Armenian
Americans, seems determined to bring the non-binding resolution to a
vote in the full House probably next month. It is unclear if and when
the Senate will follow suit.

Turkey argues that both Turks and Armenians were killed in the years
of violence and warfare that accompanied the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire.

It is a crime in Turkey to portray the killings as "genocide" and
Ankara recalled its ambassador to Washington after Wednesday’s vote
to express its anger.

There are an estimated 1.5 million to 2 million Americans with
Armenian forefathers and many grew up hearing horrific stories of the
massacres. After years of lobbying, they are surprised and pleased to
see their cause making headlines around the world.

"The community is surprised but also rather happy that an issue that
is close to their hearts is playing out in a prominent way in
mainstream American media," said Ara Khachatourian, editor of the
daily newspaper Asbarez published in the city of Glendale.

Nowhere is Armenian influence more visible than in Glendale, a city
of 200,000 near downtown Los Angeles, where 40 percent of the
population is Armenian.

The community’s wealth is on display in the plethora of restaurants,
bakeries and banquet halls and the parking lots overflowing with
luxury cars. Elders meet in shopping centers and city parks, chatting
in Armenian and playing table games.

Khachatourian’s newspaper has played a major role in getting this
increasingly wealthy and organized community behind the cause,
encouraging readers to write e-mails and make phone calls to
congressional offices.

"You can talk to any Armenian and you can see they have had a
survivor or victim of genocide in their family," said Khachatourian,
39, who was born in Iran.

But Armenian Americans stress that this genocide resolution goes far
beyond their own community.

"Genocides are still happening — the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda,"
said Jerry Papazian, a third generation Armenian American.

"Some argue that if there had been more of an outcry after 1915 maybe
the Holocaust would not have occurred."

TURKEY ACCUSED U.S. LAWMAKERS OF "IRRESPONSIBILITY"

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.1 0.2007 14:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The irresponsible resolution, voted by the
House Foreign Affairs Committee, is likely to endanger bilateral
relations. We still hope that the House of Representatives will
have enough good sense not to take this resolution further," said a
statement issued by the Turkish government.

To do so, it added, would jeopardize a strategic partnership with an
ally and friend and would be an "irresponsible attitude."

"It is unacceptable that the Turkish nation should be accused of a
crime that it never committed in its history. Many historians assessed
the Ottoman government’s decision to deport Armenians as a security
measure," it said.

"The House of Representatives is not charged with a task to distort
and rewrite history. Meanwhile, our proposal on formation of a joint
commission of historians remains valid. In response to our sincere
proposal Armenia, at first secretly and then openly, supported the
draft resolution," the statement said.

The document said that there is hope for "rational conduct of the
House members" and that the historical responsibility is laid on
Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The Turkish government said it will do its utmost to block passage
of the resolution in the House of Representatives, APA reports.

October 10, with a vote of 27 to 21, the influential panel of
the U.S. House of Representatives took a major step toward ending
U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide, adopting
H.Res.106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, despite an intense
campaign of threats and intimidation by the Turkish government and
its lobbyists in Washington.

MSNBC
LIVE VOTE

/

Should the United States formally recognize the World War I-era
killing of Armenians as genocide?
Yes. Many scholars agree that the Ottoman Turks
systematically killed up to 1.5 million Armenians. Other countries
have recognized this as genocide. The U.S. should do the same.
No. Historians continue to debate whether the deaths
were genocide. Besides, Turkey is too important an ally to alienate
when the U.S. has troops in the Middle East.
I’m not sure.
VOTE

HOUSE PANEL RAISES FUROR ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By Steven Lee Myers And Carl Hulse

New york Times, NY
Oct 11 2007

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 – A House committee voted on Wednesday to condemn
the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey in World War I as an act
of genocide, rebuffing an intense campaign by the White House and
warnings from Turkey’s government that the vote would gravely strain
its relations with the United States.

The vote by the House Foreign Relations Committee was nonbinding
and so largely symbolic, but its consequences could reach far beyond
bilateral relations and spill into the war in Iraq.

Turkish officials and lawmakers warned that if the resolution was
approved by the full House, they would reconsider supporting the
American war effort, which includes permission to ship essential
supplies through Turkey and northern Iraq.

President Bush appeared on the South Lawn of the White House before
the vote and implored the House not to take up the issue, only to
have a majority of the committee disregard his warning at the end of
the day, by a vote of 27 to 21.

"We all deeply regret the tragic suffering of the Armenian people that
began in 1915," Mr. Bush said in remarks that, reflecting official
American policy, carefully avoided the use of the word genocide. "This
resolution is not the right response to these historic mass killings,
and its passage would do great harm to our relations with a key ally
in NATO and in the global war on terror."

The resolution, which was introduced early in the current session
of Congress and which has quietly moved forward over the last few
weeks, provoked a fierce lobbying fight that pitted the politically
influential Armenian-American population against the Turkish
government, which hired equally influential former lawmakers like
Robert L. Livingston, Republican of Louisiana, and Richard A.

Gephardt, the former Democratic House majority leader who backed a
similar resolution when he was in Congress.

Backers of the resolution said Congressional action was overdue.

"Despite President George Bush twisting arms and making deals,
justice prevailed," said Representative Brad Sherman, a Democrat of
California and a sponsor of the resolution. "For if we hope to stop
future genocides we need to admit to those horrific acts of the past."

The issue of the Armenian genocide, beginning in 1915, has perennially
transfixed Congress and bedeviled presidents of both parties. Ronald
Reagan was the only president publicly to call the killings genocide,
but his successors have avoided the term. When the issue last arose in
2000, a similar resolution also won approval by a House committee, but
President Clinton then succeeded in persuading a Republican speaker,
J. Dennis Hastert, to withdraw the measure before the full House could
vote. That time, too, Turkey had warned of canceling arms deals and
withdrawing support for American air forces then patrolling northern
Iraq under the auspices of the United Nations.

The new speaker, Nancy Pelosi, faced pressure from Democrats –
especially colleagues in California, New Jersey and Michigan, with
their large Armenian populations – to revive the resolution again
after her party gained control of the House and Senate this year.

There is Democratic support for the resolution in the Senate, but
it is unlikely to move in the months ahead because of Republican
opposition and a shortage of time. Still, the Turkish government has
made it clear that it would regard House passage alone as a harsh
American indictment.

The sharply worded Turkish warnings against the resolution, especially
the threats to cut off support for the American war in Iraq, seemed
to embolden some of the resolution’s supporters. "If they use this
to destabilize our solders in Iraq, well, then shame on them," said
Representative Joseph Crowley, a Democrat from New York who voted
for it.

The Democratic leadership, however, appeared divided. Representative
Rahm Emanuel, the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House, who worked
in the Clinton White House when the issue came up in 2000, opposes
the resolution.

In what appeared to be an effort to temper the anger caused by the
issue, Democrats said they were considering a parallel resolution
that would praise Turkey’s close relations with the United States
even as the full House prepares to consider a resolution that blames
the forerunner of modern Turkey for one of the worst crimes in history.

"Neither of these resolutions is necessary," a White House spokesman,
Gordon D. Johndroe, said Wednesday evening. He said that Mr. Bush was
"very disappointed" with the vote.

A total of 1.5 million Armenians were killed beginning in 1915 in a
systematic campaign by the fraying Ottoman Empire to drive Armenians
out of eastern Turkey. Turks acknowledge that hundreds of thousands of
Armenians died but contend that the deaths, along with thousands of
others, resulted from the war that ended with the creation of modern
Turkey in 1923.

Mr. Bush discussed the issue in the White House on Wednesday with his
senior national security aides. Speaking by secure video from Baghdad,
the senior American officials in Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus and
Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, raised the resolution and warned that
its passage could harm the war effort in Iraq, senior Bush aides said.

Appearing outside the West Wing after that meeting, Defense Secretary
Robert M. Gates noted that about 70 percent of all air cargo sent to
Iraq passed through or came from Turkey, as did 30 percent of fuel
and virtually all the new armored vehicles designed to withstand
mines and bombs.

"They believe clearly that access to airfields and to the roads and so
on in Turkey would be very much put at risk if this resolution passes
and the Turks react as strongly as we believe they will," Mr. Gates
said, referring to the remarks of General Petraeus and Mr. Crocker.

Turkey severed military ties with France after its Parliament voted
in 2006 to make the denial of the Armenian genocide a crime.

As the committee prepared to vote Wednesday, Mr. Bush, the American
ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, and other officials cajoled
lawmakers by phone.

Representative Mike Pence, a conservative Republican from Indiana
who has backed the resolution in the past, said Mr. Bush persuaded
him to change his position and vote no. He described the decision as
gut-wrenching, underscoring the emotions stirred in American politics
by a 92-year-old question.

"While this is still the right position," Mr. Pence said, referring
to the use of the term genocide, "it is not the right time."

The House Democratic leadership met Wednesday morning with Turkey’s
ambassador to Washington, Nabi Sensoy, and other Turkish officials,
who argued against moving ahead with a vote. But Representative
Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, who now holds Mr. Gephardt’s old job as
majority leader, said he and Ms. Pelosi would bring the resolution
to the floor before Congress adjourned this year.

In Turkey, a fresh wave of violence raised the specter of a Turkish
raid into northern Iraq, something the United States is strongly
urging against. A policeman was killed and six others were wounded
in a bomb attack in the Kurdish city of Diyarbakir in southeastern
Turkey on Wednesday, the state-run Anatolian News Agency reported.

The Associated Press reported from the town of Sirnak that Turkish
warplanes and helicopters were attacking positions along the southern
border with Iraq that are suspected of belonging to Kurdish rebels
who have been fighting Turkish forces for years.

The Turkish government continued to prepare to request Parliament’s
permission for an offensive into Iraq, with Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan suggesting that a vote could be held after the end
of Ramadan. Parliamentary approval would bring Turkey the closest it
has been since 2003 to a full-scale military offensive into Iraq.

Sedat Laciner, from the International Strategic Research Institution,
said that the Turkish public felt betrayed by what was perceived as
a lack of American support for Turkey in its battle against the Kurds.

"American officials could think that Turkish people would ultimately
forget about the lack of U.S. support in this struggle," Mr. Laciner
said, using words that could apply equally to views about the Armenian
genocide. "Memories of Turks, however, are not that easy to erase
once it hits sensitive spots."

Sebnem Arsu contributed reporting from Istanbul, and Sabrina Tavernise
from Baghdad.

PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:

October 10, 2007

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN AT NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

Reykjavik, Iceland–Raffi K. Hovannisian, leader of the Heritage Party and
Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the 53rd annual
session of NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly here between October 5 and 9.

Hovannisian took the floor several times, speaking at the Plenary Session
and at meetings of the Assembly’s Political Committee, the Defense and
Security Committee, and the Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security.
His topics included Armenia and its role in the new era; Mountainous
Karabagh and its quest for liberty and decolonization; Turkey, Armenia, and
the future of NATO based on contemporary standards of democracy and a full
assumption of history; NATO-Iran relations and the need for a pacific
resolution of disputes; Azerbaijan’s obligations under the Conventional
Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty; and gender-based challenges in security and
conflict situations. He also responded to distortions of the historical
record by certain delegates from Azerbaijan.

In the framework of the conclave, Raffi Hovannisian met separately with
President Jose Lello of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly; NATO Secretary
General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer; Speaker Sturla Bodvarsson of the Icelandic
Parliament; Icelandic Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir;
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha; representatives of the US Congress and
the Russian State Duma; and heads and members of several parliamentary
delegations.

The Armenian delegation was led by General Artur Aghabekyan of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, who addressed the Defense and Security Committee
on NATO-Armenia cooperation, and included Karen Avagyan of the Republican
Party of Armenia.

Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the land. Its
central office is located at 31 Moscovian Street, Yerevan 0002, Armenia,
with telephone contact at (374-10) 536.913, fax at (374-10) 532.697, email
at [email protected] or [email protected], and website at

TURKEY: IF ARMENIANS WIN IN CONGRESS, THE U.S. MAY LOSE; CARDS TURKEY CAN PLAY

Source: CNN-Turk TV and all Turkish dailies, October 8, 2007
MEMRI, DC
Oct 9 2007

Most Turkish dailies published a CNN-Turk TV report that lists Turkey’s
trump cards that it might use to deter the Congress from passing the
Armenian Genocide resolution based on historical allegations that
Turkey categorically rejects.

According to the report last March Pentagon’s Deputy Under-Secretary
Dan Fata had also presented a similar list to the House Committee
of Foreign Relations, of what Turkey might do in case the resolution
was adopted.

Turkey may cut or restrict the logistical support to U.S. military
in Iraq. 60% of all supplies to U.S. units in Iraq go from Incirlik
airbase.

25% of the fuel used in Iraq by coalition forces goes through the
Habur border gate in Turkey.

U.S. fighter planes that are based in Incirlik airbase also train in
Turkish airspace.

16 U.S. fleet ships that participated in the war in Iraq, refueled
in Turkish seaports.

American economy may lose billions of dollars in arms sales if Turkey
changes its suppliers.

Turkey committed to buy 106 of the new generation F-35s. There are
also plans to purchase 30 F-16s for 1.65 billion dollars.

200 F-16s are to be modernized by the U.S. for 1.6 billion dollars.

There is an upcoming tender for the purchase of air defense systems
with the U.S. Patriot system being preferred – despite Russia’s
eager competition.

U.S. makers are the top players in the tender for the purchase of
training helicopters, valued at 50 million dollars.

Turkey plays an important role, at the request of the U.S., among
NATO and U.N forces stationed at different places in the world.

Turkish military commanded the peace forces in Afghanistan for two
terms; and is on duty in Lebanon and Kosovo.

Turkey is being considered by U.S. as a safe route for withdrawal
of its troops from Iraq – which may all be jeopardized if Armenian
resolution passes.

Turkish parliamentary delegation that will conduct meetings in
Washington this week, might bring up all of the above issues.

KIRO MANOYAN: AGHDAM IS PART OF ARTSAKH

Lragir
Oct 8 2007
Armenia

Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan has stated in Moscow the Karabakh issue
will be solved if Azerbaijan recognizes the right of Karabakh for
self-determination and Armenia recognizes the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. The reporters asked Kiro Manoyan, in charge of Hay
Dat and Political Affairs of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau, hosted
at the Hayatsk club on October 8, to comment on the prime minister’s
statement on the recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

"We know that Artsakh is not part of the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. We are not occupying any territory. We have liberated
territories. The territories are Artsakh. Mountainous Karabakh and
the Lowlands are all Artsakh. Artsakh is not part of the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. And the legal grounds are that the borders
of Azerbaijan have not been defined. The administrative borders of an
empire are not sufficient ground for the recognition of the territorial
integrity of a state. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan had
been discussed by the Nations League which did not recognize because
it has a territorial dispute, the Karabakh issue.

We think Artsakh is not part of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,"
Kiro Manoyan says.

Even the international organizations which say to recognize
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity do not recognize it saying that
there is a dispute over Karabakh, Kiro Manoyan says. "If they said
not to recognize the territorial integrity, it would mean that they
recognize the independence of Karabakh. Armenia is not saying that
we recognize the territorial integrity and there is no Karabakh issue.

The Karabakh issue is the core issue," says the ARF Bureau member in
charge of Hay Dat and Political Affairs.

According to him, what is not under Armenian control is ours, as well
as the Armenian regions, part of Martakert, Shahumyan, Getashen, which
are now occupied by Azerbaijan. Kiro Manoyan considers Aghdam as part
of Artsakh as well. Although Kiro Manoyan has heard about statements
by Vardan Oskanyan and Serge Sargsyan on returning the territories,
he says we won’t let them return the lands. "The resolution of the
issue of Artsakh should be based on a referendum among the people of
Armenia," Kiro Manoyan says, adding that the referendum in Karabakh
is not enough. He thinks that no president of Armenia would return
those territories if people did not back him.

"We have stated that our statements do not compare to, are not adequate
to Azerbaijan’s militaristic statements. And it seems that we have
already given it away, without getting anything in return.

Therefore, we have nothing else to give away except for peace,"
Kiro Manoyan says.