Author: Emil Lazarian

Pan Armenian News

REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN AND IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRIES DISCUSS CONSULAR
AFFAIRS

14.04.2005 07:31

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The first joint sitting of representatives of the Foreign
Ministries of Iran and Armenia opened in Yerevan today. Consular affairs
referring to the citizens of the two countries will be discussed at the
meeting. In the course of the first day of the talks the representatives of
the consular services of the two countries noted the importance of the
regular holding of such meetings, taking into account the good neighborly
relations of Iran and Armenia and the notable movement of the citizens of
the two states. The sittings of the representatives of the diplomatic
departments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Armenia will
last two days.

PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY CANNOT SECURE NA NORMAL WORK, LEADER OF
“PEOPLE’S DEPUTY” FACTION STATES

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Failure of the regular four-day
sessions of the Parliament showed that the political majority cannot
organize work of the National Assembly in proper way. Karen
Karapetian, the leader of the NA “People’s Deputy” MPs’ faction made
such a statement during the April 14 interview with journalists. “This
style of work is unacceptable for us. There is a political majority
which is obliged to secure normal work of the National Assembly. This
is said for many times, and I do not consider superfluous to repeat it
once more,” the leader of the faction mentioned. According to him, it
became clear still on the previous day that the parliamentary majority
would not be able to secure quorum. Concerning the reasonings that MPs
are on missions, then those, according to Karapetian, are fictitious:
“Send as many people to missions as not to damage work of the
Parliament.” Mentioning that political forces occupying opposing or
neutral position also have their part of guilt in the issue of such a
concern to work of the Parliament, Karen Karapetian emphasized once
more that those parties which have taken the responsibility are
obliged to carry out organization of the work. “I consider impossible
to continue in this way. I propose either to call to order everybody
or we do not need such a NA. We give nice promises to people from
election to election, and they must be given power of law. Other
elections will be tomorrow, and we all will turn to electors,” the
leader of the “People’s Deputy” faction mentioned.

Journal of Turkish weekly
April 14 2005

Ankara Sends Letter to Yerevan

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in the Turkish national
parliament Wednesday that Turkish prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had
sent a letter to President Robert Kocharian containing a proposal to
set up a commission that would study the facts of extermination of
ethnic Armenians in 1915.

FM Gul also said Turkey was ready to hold talks with Armenia on the
personalities to work on the commission and the methodology of their
activity. Ankara believes this might help normalize relations between
the two neighboring countries.

JTW with news agenices
14 April 2005

Turkish press
April 13 2005

Turkish Parliament Issues Declaration Against Armenian Claims

ANKARA – Turkish parliament issued on Wednesday a declaration against
the Armenian genocide allegations.

In the declaration, the parliament expressed its belief that it was
for the benefit of Turkey and Armenia to reconcile, end prejudices
and create a climate which would enable the two nations to share a
common future based on tolerance, friendship and cooperation.

Noting that the ruling and main opposition parties of Turkey laid
down a proposal to bring historical realities to daylight, the
declaration said, ”this proposal envisages Turkey and Armenia to
form a common commission comprised of their own historians, search
their national archives without limitations, make public the results
of their searches, and set the working methods of the commission.

The declaration pointed out that Turkish parliament was totally
adopting and supporting this historic proposal, and went on saying,
”but, cooperation of the Armenian government is obligatory to launch
this initiative. Unless Turkey and Armenia look at the history from
the same perspective, they will only leave prejudices, enmity and
revenge to their children and forthcoming generations. What is
reasonable for Turkey and Armenia is to end taboos with a joint
initiative, clarify all sides of what they had experienced, and be
ready to settle old scores with their history. This is the only way
to prevent the past from darkening today and future.”

”If Armenia wants to establish good neighborly relations with Turkey
and enhance its cooperation, it should not hesitate to adopt Turkey’s
proposal to re-assess their common history. Also, the parliament
would like to stress that every good-willed country and statesman
that wants to contribute to world peace and stability, should
consider Turkey’s proposal as positive, leaving aside his/her/its
internal political views. In this context, countries which want
betterment of Turkish-Armenian relations and settlement of peace and
stability in the Caucasus should support this initiative, and refrain
from acts which will harm this initiative,” wrote the declaration.

The declaration noted that countries which made decisions on Armenian
claims at their parliaments had the prior responsibility regarding
this matter, and said that these countries should support Turkish
parliament’s proposal to form a joint history commission if they
wanted improvement of Turkish-Armenian relations.

In its declaration, the parliament condemned the move of the
parliaments to make a decision about this matter for political
purposes.

The declaration of the parliament added that it was impossible for
Turkey to base its history on some one-sided and misleading
assessments.

ARAM KOCHARIAN RELIEVED OF LORI DEPUTY GOVERNOR’S POST AND APPOINTED
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RA SOCIAL INSURANCE STATE FUND

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. According to RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian’s decree, Aram Kocharian was relieved of the post
of Deputy Regional Governor of Lori and by another decree was
appointed Deputy Chairman of RA Social Insurance State Fund. According
to RA government’s Information and Public Relations Department, by the
Prime Minister’s decree Samvel Gyulbekian was appointed Deputy
Regional Governor of of Lori.

DEPUTY MINISTER ON SOCIAL ISSUES: “ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOESN’T AFFECT
POVERTY REDUCTION”

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Economic development doesn’t affect
poverty reduction at all and according to this, effective mechanisms
of distribution are necessary. Ashot Yesayan, RA Deputy Minister of
Labor and Social Issues, declared this during the April 11 discussion
on the subject “RA Social Policy in Local Self-Government System”
organized at the office of Seyran Avagian, Adviser to RA President. A
package concerning prior social problems should be worked out and
mechanisms of their solution should be proposed in each region and
community in order to make the RA government’s “Poverty Reduction
Strategic Program” more effective. According to the Deputy Minister,
the goal of social policy is a fair, prosperous and strong
society. And one of the most important components of social policy is
cadre policy. At the same time, A.Yesayan mentioned, no social
officials are prepared in higher schools at present and lack of
specialists is felt in the sphere.

SOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT, BENEFICIAL FOR ARMENIANS SUPPOSES
EXISTANCE OF DEMOCRACY IN ARMENIA, REPRESENTATIVE OF “ARDARUTIUN” IS
SURE

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Parliamentary hearings on the Karabakh
issue showed that the problem’s solution beneficial for Armenians,
supposes existanee of democracy in Armenia. Stepan Zakarian, a member
of “Ardarutiun” (Justice) faction made such a statement at the
Parliament on April 12. According to him, in 1998, coming to power,
the present administration of Armenia stated about being primary of
the issue of Karakakh status, while at the parliamentary hearings
concerning the Karabakh issue held lately, Defence Minister Serge
Sargsian stated that territories can be ceded to the guarantee of
security.

ZEE News, India
April 13 2005

Pak for more democratic UN without new centres of privilege

Islamabad, Apr 13: Pakistan, which is opposed to India’s bid for a
permanent seat in the UN Security Council, has said the world body
“must be made more democratic and accountable” without creating new
centres of privilege.

This was stated by President Pervez Musharraf during a banquet hosted
in honour of his visiting Azerbaijan counterpart Ilhan Aliyev here
last night.

Pakistan has been advocating against creation of new centres of
privilege at the Security Council, he said.

On Kashmir, Musharraf, who is to visit India on April 16 to watch the
last one-day indo-Pak cricket match in New Delhi the next day, said
Pakistan desired peace in the region through resolution of all
issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

Musharraf said Pakistan greatly valued Azerbaijan’s “consistent
support” to Islamabad’s stand on Kashmir and supported Azerbaijan’s
claim on Nagorno Karabagh. Azerbaijan and Armenia have made a joint
claim on Nagorno Karabagh.

The President expressed the hope that Aliyev’s visit to Pakistan
would further expand bilateral ties, taking them to a higher plane
for cooperation, especially in trade and economic fields.

For his part, Aliyev said Azerbaijan “always supported and will
continue to support Pakistan stand on Kashmir” and thanked the
president for Pakistan’s consistent backing on Nagorno Karabakh.

Aliyev also held talks with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and signed an
MoU on the defence-related issues.

Bureau Report

Square named after Armenian Genocide

13.04.2005 13:41

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Uruguay capital’s city council passed a decision on
March 30 to name a broad strip in the central Montevideo the Square of
the Armenian People’s Genocide.

A motion to name one of Montevideo’s streets “April 24, 1915,” was
introduced to the city council by its member Raffi Hunanian about a
year ago. Under the same decision, a monument to be officially
unveiled on April 24 will also be erected in the square.

Uruguay was the first country to recognize the Armenian Genocide in
1965, on the eve of the Genocide’s 50th anniversary.

Pan Armenian News

RUSSIAN FILMS WEEK OPENED IN YEREVAN

12.04.2005 06:40

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The week of the Russian films has opened in Yerevan. In
the words of Alfael President Levon Abrahamian, “My stepbrother
Frankenstein”, “Ours”, “Driver for Eva”, “Butterflies’ plays”, “Father”, as
well as “The night is bright” film by Roman Balayan will be screened. Being
dedicated to the topic of war of both the past and the present years, these
films have gained the most spectator sympathies, as well as won prizes at
various international film festivals. As noted by Chief of Cinematography
Department of Russia’s Federal Agency for Cinematography Sergey Lazarchuk,
the judgements of people of Russia on the Armenian cinema are more based on
the films of western directors of Armenian origin, e.g. Atom Egoyan. The
Russian cinema figure gave a low evaluation to the state of the
cinematography in Armenia, in contrast to the Russian one called
Renaissance, attributing it to financial difficulties. Mr. Lazarchuk also
added that the Russian party is considering a range of projects presented by
Armenian film directors for getting financing. S. Lazarchuk also added that
touring performances of the Bolshoy and Obraztsov Theatres, as well as the
ITAR-TASS exhibition dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Victory in Great
Patriotic War will be organized within the framework of the Year of Russia
in Armenia, Arminfo news agency reported.