Author: Emil Lazarian

Azerbaijani opposition group denies accusations that leader plotted anti-government acts
By AIDA SULTANOVA
The Associated Press
08/05/05 11:53 EDT
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) – A political youth group whose leader was
arrested on charges of plotting against the government with the help
of Armenian security services denied the accusations Friday, saying
he fell victim to a trap by Azerbaijan’s own security agents.
Ruslan Bashirli, of the opposition youth party Yeni Fikir, was detained
Thursday after a fellow party member accused him of taking part in a
secret meeting with Armenian agents in Georgia in July that focused
on organizing an uprising in Azerbaijan.
Bashirli is also accused of receiving $2,000 (euro1,600) from the
alleged agents, who prosecutors said called for using weapons at an
opposition rally in Azerbaijan in order to spark violence.
Prosecutors contend Bashirli was acting on orders of U.S.-based
National Democratic Institute, which denied the accusations.
Gorik Akopian, the head of Armenian’s National Security Service, called
the claims of Armenian involvement “ridiculous and absolutely wrong.”
Speaking at a news conference, Yeni Fakir deputy head Fikret
Faramazoglu said Bashirli went to Georgia to attend an international
conference on democracy and had no idea he was interacting with
Armenians, as prosecutors claim.
Faramazoglu contended that the Yeni Fakir member who accused Bashirli
served with Azerbaijan’s security forces, and he blamed them with
setting a trap to tarnish the image of an opposition group.
Bashirli’s arrest came amid concern among governments throughout the
former Soviet Union following protest movements that helped bring
opposition leaders to power in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.
Nagorno-Karabakh has been under control of ethnic Armenians since a
six-year war against Azerbaijan ended with a 1994 cease-fire. The war
killed some 30,000 people and drove a million from their homes. The
enclave’s status remains unresolved and both sides regularly exchange
fire along the cease-fire line.
Tensions are high in Azerbaijan ahead of November parliamentary
elections. Opposition parties have rallied almost weekly amid fears
that the government of President Ilham Aliev could try to rig the
voting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN TROOPS FROM SAMTSKHE JAVAKHETIA STARTED
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 5 2005
05.08.2005 07:12
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the withdrawal of the Russian military
equipment from the 62-nd base located in Akhalkalaki, the center of
the Armenian-populated Samtskhe Javakhati region of Georgia started.
The first autocade consisting of 11 staff vehicles and vehicles
of technical support made for the town of Mtskhet situated 300 km
from Tbilisi. Then it will cross the Russian-Georgian state border
through Verkhni Lars checkpoint. However, the autocade cannot cross
the border according to the schedule, as heavy rains have eroded a
30-meter sector of the road. The Georgian authorities forbade traffic
along the Military Georgian highway in the direction of Verkhni Lars
checkpoint, IA Regnum reports.

Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Aug 4 2005
AZERIS AND ARMENIANS BEST OF FRIENDS IN MOSCOW
National conflict is forgotten in a city where both Armenians and
Azerbaijanis feel like strangers.
By Samira Ahmedbeily and Elina Arzumanian in Moscow
“Your nationality doesn’t matter in Moscow,” said Agif Abdullaev, a
33-year-old Azerbaijani. “What matters is whether you are a local or
a visitor. Migrants here share one overriding concern: how to survive
in this giant city.”
Agif, an economics graduate, spent three years looking in vain for a
job at home, so he decided to move to Moscow and join the army of
market traders from the Caucasus. In 1998, he met and went into
business with Levon Arayan, an Armenian, at the Kuzminki market.
Although the two nations have been in conflict with one another over
the disputed territory of Nagorny Karabakh since 1988, Armenians and
Azerbaijanis in Moscow say they get along well with one another – and
often find they have much in common as Caucasians in the Russian
capital.
“I offered him my goods, and we did a deal and started doing business
together,” recalled Levon. “National hatred between our people is no
obstacle to business. We hardly ever talk about politics or Karabakh.
The whole thing was orchestrated by those in power. Regular people
like us have always been good neighbours.”
Levon joked, “What’s the use of that land [Karabakh] to Armenia
anyway? I think we should donate it to Azerbaijan in exchange for an
oilfield.”
“Levon is the only person I know who will always help me out in
emergency,” said Agif. “Once I had to scrape together 4,000 dollars.
He gave me the money, no questions asked. We really trust each other.
It’s hard to find someone you can trust in this day and age.”
His business partner chimed in, “I’ve borrowed large sums from Agif,
too. Our joint business has been very successful. We have recently
started a new project at the Tekstilshchiki market.”
The two men visit each other’s homes frequently – but only in Moscow.
Because of the unresolved Karabakh conflict, Agif cannot invite Levon
to Baku, while Levon thinks it would be too dangerous for Agif to
show up in his native Gyumri in Armenia. “I rarely go back there
myself,” said Levon. “It’s not fit for living in. I only go to see my
family there once a year, for three or four days.” Agif said he
travels to Baku quite often, but never tells his Azerbaijani family
about doing business with an Armenian.
If the 2002 census results are to be believed, there are 96,000
Azerbaijanis and 124,000 Armenians in Moscow, each group accounting
for about one per cent of the city’s population. However, most
observers think this is a gross underestimate.
Muscovites were never especially friendly to visitors from the
Caucasus, even in Soviet times. Now they are lumped together under
the pejorative tag of “persons of Caucasian nationality”. The
conflict in Chechnya has worsened Russians’ attitude towards people
from the region, and harassment and race attacks on southerners have
become commonplace.
This shared experience of xenophobia has brought Armenians and
Azerbaijanis closer together. But in many cases the partnership is of
longer standing, stemming from a shared background in the Azerbaijani
capital, Baku, which once had a large Armenian population of 200,000.
All but a handful of them left Baku between 1988 and 1990.
Edik Mirzoyan and Yashar Huseinov, an Armenian and Azerbaijani
respectively, run a flower stall at the entrance to the University
metro station. The two are childhood friends from Baku and have been
in business together for six years. Yashar trusts his partner more
than anyone else in the world. “Our business is quite recent, but
Edik and I go way back,” he said. “We’re childhood friends. That kind
of bond is stronger than money. We don’t care what goes on in and
around Karabakh,” he said.
“All my family are in Armenia, except my wife,” said Edik. “When she
gave birth, only Yashar’s wife Nargiz was here to help her. I will
never forget that.” The Armenian added, “It’s a pity that for
religious reasons I cannot ask Yashar to be my son’s godfather, even
though he is the closest friend I have in Moscow.”
Artur Shakhramanian and Zemfira Salimova are husband and wife as well
as business partners. They got married in Baku 20 years ago, but
three years later, when their daughter had just turned one,
hostilities broke out between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Baku.
“My husband is a native of Baku. I come from Ganje,” recalled
Zemfira, who is Azerbaijani. “We both went to the Pedagogical
Institute in Baku. We married during our graduation year. Then all
hell broke loose. My husband’s family fled to Armenia and wanted
Artur to come along. My family insisted I get a divorce. We defied
them all and moved to Moscow.”
Artur, Zemfira and their daughter – now 18 – all work at an upmarket
restaurant owned by an Azerbaijani. Zemfira tends the bar, Artur is
the gardener and their daughter manages the office.
“It was tough until the mid-Nineties, but since then we’ve been back
in touch with our families,” said Artur. “We call, and they visit us
from both Armenia and Azerbaijan. I’ve been working here for about
six years, and I’ve never had any problem because of my ethnic
background. I am a good gardener, and that’s all that my boss cares
about.”
Caucasians have traditionally specialised in certain trades in Moscow
– commonly working as market traders and ticket inspectors.
Vardan and Melikabbas, an Armenian and Azerbaijani, used to work in a
market but now have jobs as inspectors on tram route 28.
“Being a ticket inspector is a good job for people like us from the
Caucasus,” admitted Vardan. “Many of the people we catch without a
ticket are our fellow countrymen. For a small fee, we let them go.
For them it’s better than paying a fine, and it’s good for us too.
That way we supplement our meagre salaries.”
And – as if to confirm the prejudices of some Muscovites – the two
nationalities team up in the criminal world as well.
In June, the police arrested an Armenian and an Azerbaijani for armed
robbery in Moscow’s Shchukinsky district. According to police
reports, Alexei Aserian and Hasan Aliev spotted a man in a gambling
hall who had a huge wad of cash in his wallet. The temptation was too
strong to resist – when he left, they followed him and mugged him in
a dark street.
A week later, they were detained at the same gaming venue.
Investigators say this was not the first robbery they had committed,
and are holding them in custody pending trial.
Samira Ahmedbeily is a journalist with Azerros newspaper in Moscow.
Elina Arzumanian is a reporter for Mir TV and radio company

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO URUGUAY: FACT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DOES NOT NEED PROOF
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 4 2005
04.08.2005 03:33
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Foreign Relations Commission of the Uruguayan
Parliament has again organized hearings of the issue of the Armenian
Genocide. This time Armenian Ambassador to Uruguay Ara Ayvazyan was
the main person reporting. In the course of the discussion he stated
that «the fact of the Armenian Genocide does not need proof and the
proposal is very dangerous and may turn a trap to Uruguay, which
is known as the first country that has recognized and condemned the
Armenian Genocide.» The Ambassador suggested that Uruguay join the call
of different countries to Turkey to open the Armenian-Turkish border
and establish diplomatic relations with Armenia. After the discussions
MP Lilian Keshishian noted that the proposal of Armenia produced a
good impression. «There is an arrangement available beforehand on
the content of the statement,» she stated. During the debate the
Uruguayan Parliament unanimously reaffirmed that the massacre of
Armenians is a genocide. Deputy Uruguayan FM Belela Erera confirmed
it at the meeting with the Armenian Ambassador. In the course of the
discussion of the Armenian Genocide issue initiated at the instance of
Turkish Ambassador Shorkru Tufan in the Uruguayan Parliament, Turkish
PM Erdogan’s proposal to form an international commission was spoken
about. Turkey has asked Uruguay to take part in the commission work
and promote «determination of the genocide actuality.» Ara Ayvazyan
said he was concerned over the developments and made a proposal on a
meeting with commission members. As the issue referred to Aremnia,
the Ambassador proposed not making any public statements without
acquaintance with Armenia’s point of view. It should be reminded
that Armenian President R. Kocharian officially turned down Turkish
PM’s proposal on the forming of a joint commission, suggesting to
establish bilateral relations instead, reported RFE/RL.
–Boundary_(ID_44xDmLBFZgL+f4kbEZ/JAA)–

San Diego Union Tribune, CA
Aug 4 2005
System of a Down’s music reflects the times we live in … and if
that includes politics, so be it
By George Varga
UNION-TRIBUNE POP MUSIC CRITIC
August 4, 2005
When is a politically and socially charged rock band not a
politically and socially charged rock band?
ROBERT SEBREE
The members of System of a Down create hard-hitting music that
inspires thought as well as moshing. “When you want your music to be
timeless, you have to make your topics more broad,” says singer Serj
Tankian (second from right).
That’s the conundrum facing System of a Down, the Los Angeles-based
quartet of three Armenian-Americans and one Lebanese-American, who
combine nu-metal ferocity and prog-rock complexity with elements of
punk, goth, Armenian music and more. The uncompromising band has
always followed its muse, creating charged songs that skewer a
variety of timely targets with fire and finesse.
Some of the group’s most memorable numbers take aim at greed,
poverty, racism and decaying public morality. Other songs decry
government corruption, corporate brainwashing, blind consumerism and
the current American administration.
Witness the band’s recent hit, “B.Y.O.B.” (short for “Bring Your Own
Bombs”), which rails against the war in Iraq and features the
impassioned refrain: Why don’t presidents fight the war? / Why do
they always send the poor?
DATEBOOK
System of a Down, with the Mars Volta and Bad Acid Trip
7 p.m. Saturday; ipayOne Center at the Sports Arena, 3500 Sports
Arena Boulevard, Midway area $39.50-$44 (plus service charges); (619)
220-TIXS
Witness, too, System’s 2001 song “Deer Dance,” inspired by the
aggressive police reaction to protesters at the 2000 Democratic
National Convention in Los Angeles. In it, lead singer Serj Tankian
embraces the city’s disenfranchised citizens and laments an American
Dream gone bad, as he intones Beyond the Staples Center you can see
America / With its tired, poor, avenging disgrace / Peaceful, loving
youth against the brutality / Of plastic existence.
And there’s the rub, whether listeners or today’s glut of apolitical
pop-music performers realize it or not.
System isn’t a socially and politically charged rock band. Rather,
it’s a band whose music seems designed to reflect on the world at
large, at a time when modern life has grown increasingly politicized.
“Reflecting the times is exactly what we’re doing,” said Daron
Malakian, the band’s guitarist and main songwriter, from his Los
Angeles home. “Most artists now – and not just in music – have done a
piece here and there about what’s going on in the world. To me,
that’s no different than having a couple of (timely) songs on our
records. It doesn’t limit what we’re all about.”
A lyric sampler
The members of System of a Down are quick to note that not all of
their songs address current or past social and political issues. But
some of the Los Angeles band’s most potent songs, including its
recent radio hit “B.Y.O.B.” (“Bring Your Own Bombs”), leave little
doubt about their subject matter. Here are samples of lyrics from
each of the band’s four albums:
Revolution, the only solution / The armed response of an entire
nation / Revolution, the only solution / We’ve taken all your (abuse)
/ Now it’s time for restitution. – “P.L.U.C.K.,” from 1998’s “System
of a Down”
Minor drug offenders fill your prisons / You don’t even flinch / All
our taxes paying for your wars / Against the new non-rich. – “Prison
Song,” from 2001’s “Toxicity”
Four thousand hungry children leave us per hour / From starvation /
While billions are spent on bombs / Creating death showers / Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom! / Every time you drop the bomb / You kill the god
your child has borne. Boom! – “Boom!”, from 2002’s “Steal This Album”
We’re the regulators that deregulate / We’re the animators that
de-animate / We’re the propagators of all genocide / Burning through
the world’s resources / Then we turn and hide. – “Cigaro,” from
2005’s “Mesmerize”
– GEORGE VARGA
Those sentiments were seconded by Tankian, the band’s energetic
frontman, in a separate phone interview from a tour stop in
Rotterdam, Holland.
“We speak of real life, that’s the point I always make,” said
Tankian, who with Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello co-founded Axis of
Power, a nonprofit, social justice organization. “We speak about many
issues in System, and most of our songs are not political. There are
personal stories and social things and humor. There are some
political things, but that doesn’t make us a political band.
“The Beatles had a lot of songs that dealt with social change and
political issues. But they weren’t tagged as a ‘political band,’ and
we seem to be. And that’s something that’s bothered us for a while.”
That said, Tankian is quick to stress that apathy must be avoided at
all costs, especially in these tumultuous times.
“Politics is not something we can ignore,” he said. “The way the
world is today, everything is kind of tied together; economics is
global and it affects our lives, whether we want to ignore it or
fight it.
“And that’s something most people don’t realize. They say: ‘I’m not
political,’ and I respect that. But politics does change and affect
our lives.”
Tankian and Malakian, who perform Saturday with System at San Diego’s
ipayOne Center, both discussed their band and its music at length.
But they responded very differently to some of the same questions.
Asked what his strongest and weakest points are, Tankian said curtly:
“I don’t know, man. I don’t think that way.”
Malakian, conversely, was eager to respond.
“Regarding my musicianship,” he said, “I can tell you a million
things, although I’ve got to say that the songs I take to System are
pretty good. Are they perfect? There’s no such thing. But if the
emotion comes across, I think that works. “As a musician, I don’t
think I’m the greatest guitar player. I’m a bigger fan of the drums
than I am the guitar; I just happen to play guitar. I play drums
almost every day at my house. I wrote a lot of songs behind the drum
kit, just having the music and vocals in my head, and playing the
rhythm. Music is an emotion and I put it out there.”
The differences between Tankian and Malakian were also visible when
they were asked to name some of their early musical heroes and
influences.
Tankian declined to answer. “I don’t have any heroes,” he said, “and
there are too many influences to name.”
But Malakian cited everyone from Kiss and Def Leppard to such
decidedly non-hard-rocking inspirations as the Partridge Family,
Christopher Cross and Wham!
“The greatest song of all time is Christopher Cross’ (sentimental
1980 ballad) ‘Sailing,’ ” Malakian said with infectious enthusiasm.
“My whole life, I’ve just really loved that song.”
Sentimental ballads are in short supply on System’s potent new album,
“Mesmerize,” which showcases music that is hard-hitting and
thoughtful, challenging yet accessible. It also demonstrates how well
the band – which also features drummer John Dolmayan and bassist
Shavo Odadjian – can use humor to make serious points. On “Cigaro,”
for example, mock, over-the-top operatic vocal flourishes provide
comic counterpoint to the barbed lyrics, which depict the war in Iraq
as a tragic game of one-upmanship by braying political leaders.
ROBERT SEBREE
System of a Down’s new album, “Mesmerize,” entered the national
Billboard album charts at No. 1 in May. Another album, “Hypnotize,”
is due before the end of the year. From left are guitarist Daron
Malakian, drummer John Dolmayan, singer Serj Tankian and bassist
Shavo Odadjian.
“Some people can take ‘Cigaro’ in a very political way, and some can
take it as a joke,” Tankian said. “Both points of view are valid.
“The type of people we are, if we can’t laugh at what we do on a
daily basis, it’s not worth doing. Even in more serious times, you
have to step back and look at things in perspective, and humor plays
an important role in that.”
The angular, ascending guitar lines on “Cigaro” are one example of
how the shared Armenian heritage of the band’s members influences
their work.
Much Armenian music employs a modal style (music based on modes, not
keys), which falls neatly between the modal styles used in Turkish
and Iranian music. The Armenian modal style, present in varying
degrees on previous System albums, also is evident on other
“Mesmerize” songs, most notably “Soldier Side,” “Lost in Hollywood”
and the polka-inflected “Radio/Video.”
“It’s something that has to do with being Armenian, and that goes for
everyone in the band,” Malakian said. “Growing up, I’d hear it at a
wedding or at church, certain church songs that are very old and
traditional for us, and they probably inspired me more than even the
wedding songs. But with my songs I can’t ever put my finger on one
kind of music, and say: ‘This is where it comes from.’ It’s like a
big mutation of all the stuff I grew up with.”
But what if the musical subtleties and lyrical metaphors of System’s
provocative music don’t get through to fans who prefer to just mosh?
“You put the food out,” Tankian said. “And some people eat less, and
some eat slowly and eat everything, and probably benefit more. You
can’t make people eat their food, you just put it on the table.”
Three that fought the power
At its worst, the mix of music and politics can result in simplistic
songs that sound smug and self-righteous. At its best, the same mix
can produce timeless music that inspires and provokes, be it the
stirring civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome” and Bob Dylan’s
gripping “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” or more recent ones like
Eminem’s “Mosh.”
Here are three of the most memorable artists to fuse music and
politics over the past 30 years:
MC5: Their recording career lasted only from 1968 to 1972, but this
Detroit band soared with its blazing proto-punk-rock and incendiary
performances. The group’s high-decibel mantra of sex, drugs and
revolution in the streets led to police raids and FBI wiretaps, but
no matter. The MC5’s legacy lives on in its ferocious music – a key
link between garage-rock, punk and heavy metal.
Key albums: “Kick Out the Jams” (1968); “Back in the U.S.A.” (1970)
Choice cuts: “Starship,” “Ramblin’ Rose,” “Kick Out the Jams” (1968);
“Tonight,” “Looking at You,” “Call Me Animal,” “High School” (1970)
The Clash: With singer-guitarist Joe Strummer at the fore, this
seminal English band made music that seethed with passion and
intensity. The group also boldly expanded punk’s stylistic palette,
embracing reggae, roots-rock and even swing. Commercial success was
fleeting (1980’s “Train in Vain” and 1982’s “Rock the Casbah” are the
band’s sole U.S. radio hits), but Green Day, blink-182 and many more
owe a big debt to the Clash.
Key albums: “The Clash” 1977; “London Calling” (1979)
Choice cuts: “White Riot,” (1977); “White Man In Hammersmith Palais,”
“Tommy Gun” (1978); “London Calling,” “Spanish Bombs” (1979)
Public Enemy: No hip-hop group before or since has rapped with such
ferocity, or produced such raging music. Eschewing empty odes to
bling-bling and booty, P.E. vividly chronicled various political and
social ills. Chuck D., the group’s masterful MC, espoused black
nationalism and took aim at corruption and inequities. Hank Shocklee,
P.E.’s in-house sonic visionary, gave the music a visceral punch that
puts most other hip-hop – then and now – to shame.
Key albums: “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” (1988);
“Fear of a Black Planet” (1990)
Choice cuts: “Bring the Noise,” “Don’t Believe the Hype,” (1988);
“Fight the Power” (1989); “911 Is a Joke” (1990)
– GEORGE VARGA
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM – BASIS FOR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTES IN RA
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 3 2005
03.08.2005 04:51
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “We welcome the assessment of the Venice Commission,
according to which the reviewed draft constitutional amendments
provide for precise reform and can serve as a basis for securing the
activities of the democratic institutes in Armenia, CoE Secretary
General’s Special Representative for Armenia Bojana Urumova stated at
today’s press conference in Yerevan. Basing on the latest resolution
by the Venice Commission, Ms. Urumova noted that no considerable
changes will be introduced during the second reading. “We welcome
the good will of the Armenian leadership”, she noted. The political
majority and opposition parties of Armenia should double efforts for
securing constructive dialogue, Bojana Urumova stated. In her words,
raising of public awareness to lead Armenians to the adoption of the
reviewed Constitution on the way to the European integration will
become the next challenge.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armavia and Pulkovo sign interline agreement
RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
Aug 3 2005
RBC, 03.08.2005, Erevan 09:13:16.Armavia and Pulkovo airlines have
entered into an interline agreement, ARKA, the Armenian news agency
reported. The agreement concerns the system of booking enabling
travelers to use the retail network of one airline for buying tickets
of another one.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THOSE GUILTY IN DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN GRAVES IN KRASNODAR TO BE FOUND
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 1 2005
01.08.2005 08:11
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At their meeting Verkhny Yurt village residents
(Khosta district of the city of Sochi) decided to send official
letters to chiefs of the city administration and law-enforcement
bodies. These are intended to express indignation over the act of
vandalism taken place at the village cemetery, as well as to demand
urgent measures to catch and punish those guilty. The residents
gathered July 31 to discuss the vandalism act of destruction of
29 graves (28 Armenian graves and a Russian one), reported the
Yerkramas newspaper of Armenians of Russia. The meeting was held in
the presence of Khosta region head Igor Seleznyov, representatives
of law-enforcement bodies and leaders of Sevan Armenian community of
the city. As noted by I. Seleznyov, the investigation is under way
and law-enforcement bodies say they have a “hook” that will help to
find those guilty in acts of vandalism at the Armenian cemetery. In
his words, the city budget will compensate the material harm. It
should be reminded that July 29, 2005 reports were received by the
Khosta region section of domestic affairs from residents of Verkhny
Yurt village populated by Armenians that a large number of graves is
demolished in the cemetery 5 km away from the settlement, reported
the Yerkramas newspaper of Armenians of Russia. In the course of
examination of the cemetery 29 demolished graves were discovered
most of them being Armenians’. The word “Schizophrenia” is written
on the headstones of each of the destroyed graves. The graves were
supposedly demolished with a sledgehammer or some other heavy object.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CITIZEN DETAINED FOR SELLING FALSE US CURRENCY
ArmenPress
Aug 1 2005
MOSCOW, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: Moscow officers of the department of
fight against crime at the Internal Affairs Ministry detained two
citizens of the South Caucasian countries 55-year old Levon Petrosian
and 50-year old Vagif Ahmedov while they were trying to sell a large
number of false dollars, reported RIA “Novosti” citing department’s
press service officials.
The officials said the quality of the false US Dollars is very
high. According to them, the criminals wanted to sell 21,000 false US
Dollars for 6,000 real dollars. At present criminal case is opened
against Vagif Ahmedov, the degree of participation of the second
suspect is being clarified.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH INTELLECTUALS ADDRESS OPEN LETTER TO R. KOCHARIAN
ArmenPress
Aug 1 2005
ISTANBUL, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: A group of Turkish intellectuals
addressed an open letter to the Armenian President Robert Kocharian in
which the authors express concern about the fate of Turkish scientist
Ektan Turkilmaz who was arrested in Yerevan while trying to smuggle
out of Armenia tens of books “of historical and cultural value” dating
back to 17 and 20 centuries. In the letter, published in the Turkish
Daily News, the authors say they are sure that Turkilmaz violated
the law unknowingly.
“No one warned him against it,” wrote Turkish intellectuals, calling
on the Armenian authorities not to sharpen the tensed and fragile
relations between Armenia and Turkey. According to the Armenian
national security service, Ektan Turkilmaz, 33, a Turkish citizen
from Istanbul and a student of a US-based Duke University, in North
Carolina, was arrested aboard a plane bound from Yerevan to Istanbul.