Author: Emil Lazarian

NAGORNO-KARABAKH IS ONE OF POINTS OF PROGRESS OF TERRORISM – BSEC DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Author: A.Ismayilova
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 22 2006
MP Asef Hajiyev, the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), stated that the conflict
existing in the Black Sea region has had a negative impact on the
establishment of co-operation between the countries and the development
of economy, Trend reports.
He noted that the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is not only a problem
for Azerbaijan. It is a threat for the whole region and even the
world. This territory is out of control, where terrorism, human
trafficking, and drug trafficking is in progress. Hajiyev added that
the world is fighting against terrorism and that Karabakh is such a
territory we must fight against..
The Azerbaijani MP is also sure that BSEC member states will offer
their opinion in this respect.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA WILL BENEFIT FROM STEPS TAKEN TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS WITH AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY – TURKISH DELEGATE AT BSEC
Author: A.Ismayilova
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 22 2006
Mustafa Bash, the head of the Turkish delegation at the Black Sea
Economic Co-operation (BSEC), stated during talks with journalists
in Baku that the absence of Armenia in a BSEC meeting in Baku is an
internal issue, Trendreports.
He noted that the development of co-operation amongst the countries,
the resolution of problems, the achievement of progress in the
region and the participation of all countries in the region, would
be important, as well as the participation of Armenians at such
meetings would be advantageous once the problems have been resolved,
the Turkish MP stressed.
‘Turkey has voiced its position on the issue and in respect to
Azerbaijan and the European Union. The EU sets a condition for Turkey
on the rehabilitation of relationships with Armenia. However, we urge
that the territorial integrity of all countries should be ensured
and the territory of foreign countries should not be occupied, the
Turkish delegate stated.
Bash said that Armenia is one of 12 countries of the BSEC, but it does
not participate in the meeting because of failure to solve the existing
problems and as a result, is suffering from economic problems. Steps
taken by Armenia to resolve the conflicts with Azerbaijan and Turkey
will be to their benefit, he added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

33 MILLIONS DRAMS STATED TO BE DONATED IN NKR
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
The process of fund-raising targeted at the restoration of the NKR
Hadrut region is going on within the frames of a TV marathon to
be held in Los Angeles. According to the Republic Staff for the TV
Marathon’s organization, 33 millions drams have already been stated
to be donated by the Republic institutions, enterprises, communities
and separate citizens.
The traditional TV marathon is held under the aegis of Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund, which will supply the populated localities of
Hadrut, Mets Tager, Azokh and Drakhtik with water-pipe, repair the
Regional Central Hospital, build schools and implement the programs
on the agricultures development, the NKR MFA Press Centre reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEBANON IN SHOCK AFTER KILLING OF CHRISTIAN POLITICIAN
Ekklesia, UK
Nov 22 2006
The normally jammed-packed streets of Beirut during rush hour were
even more frantic as residents scrambled following the news that
Christian politician Pierre Gemayel had been gunned down and killed
in the streets of a Beirut suburb on Tuesday 21 November 2006 –
reports Ecumenical News International.
Horns blared, sirens screeched and a thick air of apprehension took
hold as people struggled with the news. For a while, mobile phones
were inoperable as hordes of people tried to dial out at once.
Other commentators confirm 34-year-old’s cabinet minister’s killing
was especially jarring for some in the diverse Christian community
here, with fears that the assassination may lead to more violence.
Beirut is one of the most religiously diverse cities in the Middle
East, with Muslims (Sunni and Shi’ite), Christians (Maronite Catholics,
Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholics,
Roman Catholics, Syriacs, Copts and Protestants) and Druze all having
a significant presence.
But tensions are now running high, criss-crossing ethnic, political
and religious demarcations.
The murder of Mr Gemayel comes as a deep political crisis grips the
country following the resignation of six Shi’ite Hezbollah cabinet
members.
Syria itself, which some have immediately accused of involvement,
came out quickly to denounce the assassination, describing it as a
“despicable crime”.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair joined many other world and civic
leaders in strongly deploring the murder of one of Lebanon’s leading
politicians. “We condemn this murder utterly. It is completely without
any justification at all,” he declared.
Matthias Gebauer of the German paper Der Speigel, writing from Beirut,
observed poignantly: “It doesn’t take long to become a martyr in
Lebanon. It is Wednesday morning, ten o’clock. Minister of Industry
Pierre Gemayel hasn’t been dead for 24 hours, but his larger-than-life
picture is already displayed at every street corner in Beirut and
its suburbs.”
“In the picture, the politician – just 34 when he died – is smiling.
It is a product of Lebanon’s ubiquitous cynicism that such an
appearance is usually only accorded to the dead. And Gemayel is only
the most recent Lebanese politician to be murdered in the last couple
of years.”
The assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in
2005 also shook the whole country. The last Syrian troops withdrew
from Beirut in April 2006, but its influence is still powerful. Over
the summer the country was racked by Israeli attacks following a
dispute with Hezabollah and has had little time to recover before
the latest blow.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE YEAR ENDS IN AN OPTIMISTIC MOOD: OSCE MINSK GROUP MEDIATORS
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 22 2006
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair, Russian Ambassador Yuriy Merzlyakov,
stated in Yerevan on 22 November that the meeting of mediators and
the President and Foreign Minister of Armenia was effective, Trend
reports citing Mediamax News Agency.
During his interview with journalists at Zvartnots Airport prior to
his flight to Baku, Mezlyakov stated that Armenia gave its approval
to conduct a meeting with the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
in Minsk on 28 November 2006 within the framework of the CIS Summit.
Merzlyakov said the mediators are awaiting approval from the
Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev in Baku, although earlier the
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister made a statement confirming the same.
Merzlyakov said that the absence of the U.S. Ambassador, Matthew Bryza,
at the mission which is currently touring the conflict region was
linked with the agreement between the co-chairs on the distribution
of duties and he is going to meet with Arkadiy Gukasian [leader of
Karabakh Armenians], who is currently on a visit to the United States.
“In general the year is ending optimistically and if we succeed in
maintaining this attitude we will meet 2007 with a positive outlook.
Nevertheless, the elections have a deterrent impact on the negotiations
and we presume the achievements that we have had this year will
enable the pre-election period to pass easily, the Russian Ambassador
emphasized.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

READY TO TAKE OUR SHARE
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
Kiro Manoyan, ARF, responsible for Hay Dat and political affairs,
stated November 22 at the Pastark Club that over the upcoming 5 or
10 years he does not expect that Turkey will recognize the Armenian
Genocide and at the same time he said he believes the day will come
when not only the Turkish state but at least the Turkish society will
speak about that period in their history more calmly and they will not
punish those who speak. Today “the Turkish state or the government is
to blame. They do not prepare the society, they prevent discussion
of the issue.” Kiro Manoyan did not exclude that over the past 5
or 10 years Turkey will say something formal which will satisfy the
international community.
Kiro Manoyan believes that the pressure of the international community
on Turkey regarding the Armenian Genocide has a positive influence,
however, the pro-Armenian resolutions adopted by one country or
another or any international organization are political values which
do not have legal force. “If Turkey states that these resolutions
do not influence it, these will not have a value as a political
document. However, Turkey becomes nervous after every resolution
recognizing the Armenian genocide. After the bill adopted by the
French Senate and the victory of the Democrats in the U.S.
Congress Turkey is again worried, and Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gyul has stated that the problem of the Armenian genocide is going
to be the prime foreign political issue of Turkey. Of course, Turkey
tries to oppose to pro-Armenian resolutions and refuses to buy French
goods. “But these boycotts end up in restoring economic ties because
these ties were not set up out of love for France but these companies
were lucrative for Turkey.”
Besides breaking economic relations for a short time now Turkey is
trying to raise the question of the Armenian Genocide in different
international organizations, Kiro Manoyan stated, adding that today
Turkey focuses on appealing to the international tribunal although
“the new tactics of Turkey is the same as the former.” And according
to Kiro Manoyan, they can appeal to the international court, which
can only clarify “how many people died during the genocide, how many
were taken to hospital, what the Turks did to the Armenians, and
what the Armenians did.” According to Kiro Manoyan, Armenia should
not argue with Turkey from this rostrum. It simply needs to have a
package of documents, most importantly, the agreement of Sevres and
appeal to international organizations in a corresponding political
atmosphere. Kiro Manoyan thinks that we can use all the means to
exercise pressure on Turkey, economic, military, etc. “But I do not
mean waging a war now. The possible establishment of the Kurdish
state in Iraq worries Turkey. There are rumors that the map of the
Near East will change. It is not necessary to undertake change. We
must be ready to take our share when change takes place.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IT’S NECESSARY TO FORM ARMENIAN-TURKISH INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION FOR SOLUTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE, KIRO MANOYAN FINDS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. After the adoption of the law by
France defining punishment for denial of the Armenian Genocide, a
concerned situation was created in Ankara, and it is not accidental
that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s statement that the
genocide issue will be the most important problem of the foreign policy
of Turkey during the coming ten years. Kiro Manoyan, the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) Office Director,
expressed such an opinion at the November 22 press conference. In his
words, the situation in Turkey became more hard after the democrats’
victory at the Congress elections of the United States of America
as the latters are known for their pro-Armenian posture, and newly
elected Speaker of the Congress, democrat Nancy Pelosi promised to
discuss the resolution on the Armenian Genocide at the plenary sitting
of the Congress.
In K.Manoyan’s words, in the created situation Turkey strives for
using a new strategy, that’s, to address to the international court
and move the issue on the historic field. “The Armenian side must
quickly oppose it and prove that it is necessary to discuss the issue
not at the Court of Arbitration, but at the International Court of
Justice,” K.Manoyan mentioned. In his words, as the two countries’
authorities must solve this issue, “it will be sensible” to create
an intergovernmental commission. Though the authorities of Turkey
state that the country society is not ready for the issue discussion,
they themselves keep the people far from that issue.
Responding the question “Why do the United States of America avoid
using the term “genocide?” K.Manoyan said that the U.S. avoids
that word as “it does not want to offend Turkey,” but not for it
calls the fact of genocide into question. “The only state which is
strictly against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is England,”
K.Manoyan stated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGE SARGSYAN: THERE IS NOTHING STRANGE THAT ARMENIA IS ACCOMPLISHING AN IPAP WITH NATO
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
The safe future of Armenia is possible only in the atmosphere
of international and regional security, RA Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan said before leaving for Minsk.
The Minister said he does not see anything strange in the fact
that being a SCTO member, Armenia is accomplishing an Individual
Partnership Action Plan with NATO. I think it is the proper time to
refuse from the mentality that the military-technical cooperation
between countries should be definitely directed against a certain
state or alliance. In the contemporary world such approach has lost
its properness, Serge Sargsyan considers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE MEETING OF PRESIDENTS WILL ALLOW TO BRING POSITIONS CLOSER, THE MEDIATORS CONSIDER
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov declared
in Yerevan today that the mediators’ meetings with RA President and
Foreign Minister were “productive,” Mediamax agency reports.
Before leaving for Baku, Yurin Merzlyakov informed that “the Armenian
side has confirmed its agreement to the meeting of the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan to be held November 28 in Minsk in the
framework of the CIS summit.
According to the Russian Co-Chair, “we should receive confirmation
from the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, although earlier the
Azeri Foreign Minister came forth with a corresponding statement on
the question.”
Yuri Merzlyakov said the American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza’s absence
was associated with the fact that “the mediators have agreed to share
the responsibilities, and Matthew Bryza should meet with NKR President
Arkady Ghukasyan in the US.”
“In general, we are closing the year on a very optimistic point,
and if we manage to maintain such disposition of the parties, we’ll
step into 2007 with rather good perspectives. Despite the fact that
the elections somehow restrict the negotiation process, we think that
the work carried out this year will allow overcoming the pre-election
period easily” the Russian Co-Chair declared.
French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier declared that “resolving this conflict
is the same as building a peace wall.” He noted that “at this point
this wall is not that stable to allow the parties sign a final treaty.”
“We hope that the meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan will allow to bring the positions of the parties on some
complex issues closer,” the French diplomat noted.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PEACE CORPS ARMENIA HOLDS 8TH ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT FAIR
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
The 8h Annual Peace Corps Armenia Development Fair was held on November
22, 2006 at the AUA Business Center. Peace Corps Volunteers and their
Armenian counterparts were invited to meet representatives of 80
Armenian and international development organizations. The goal of the
event was to promote cooperation and collaboration between Peace Corps
Volunteers and development organizations, particularly in the areas
of English language education, business and community development,
health education and environmental education. Anthony Godfrey, United
States Charge d’Affaires ad interim to the Republic of Armenia,
addressed the participants at the opening of the Development Fair.
Peace Corps Armenia was established in 1992 at the invitation of
the Government of Armenia. Currently, 77 Volunteers work in schools,
universities, NGOs, and health facilities throughout Armenia. During
the last fourteen years, 529 Peace Corps Volunteers have served
in Armenia.
The U S Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by United States President John
F. Kennedy and has three goals: to provide trained assistance to people
of other countries as requested, to promote a better understanding
of Americans by the people of the countries in which they serve,
and to promote a better understanding of other cultures by Americans.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress