Author: Emil Lazarian

Associated Press Worldstream
March 2, 2005 Wednesday 12:14 PM Eastern Time
Seven Russian officers detained in Armenia on robbery charges
YEREVAN, Armenia
Officials have detained seven Russian servicemen stationed at
Russia’s military base in Armenia on suspicion of theft and robbery,
police said Wednesday.
The servicemen are believed to have committed numerous acts of
robbery and theft, including stealing cars, in the past several
months, a police spokesman said. He said police were preparing to
deliver the case to military prosecutors.
The officers were stationed at a Russian military base near the
northern Armenian city of Gyumri. Russia and Armenia have close
relations, and the base has been there since the Soviet era.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Does Turkey Belong In the European Union?
By Antero Leitzinger
The Journal of Turkish weekly
2 February 2005.
Turkey applied for membership in the EEC as early as in 1970s, when she had
been indisputably and for a long time a democratic market economy, one of
the founding members of the Council of Europe, and a country with a decent
record on human rights, compared with the military dictatorships of Greece,
Spain and Portugal, let alone the countries of Eastern Europe. The upheavals
of Southern Europe in the mid-1970s, the intensified internal political
situation of Turkey, and the military regime of early 1980s, as well as the
surprising membership of Greece in the Western European community sidelined
Turkey for two extra decades to wait for acceptance.
Finally during Finland’s chairman period in 1999, Turkey was finally
accepted as an applicant country for the European Union. This encouraged
Turkey to make legal reforms, which have been carried out for three years
now, despite the hard economic crisis. Guerrilla war in the Kurdish
districts is past now, and on 30th Nov. 2002, even the last province was
officially returned to normalcy. The PKK has abolished itself, and the death
penalty of the PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan has been changed into life
imprisonment. Turkey’s prisons have been reformed according to the EU norms,
lots of inmates have been amnestied, and previously used parts of the
criminal law have been overruled. In allowing media and school teaching in
Kurdish languages, Turkey has exceeded France and Sweden in the progression
of her minority policy.
However, Turkey has traditionally had dedicated enemies in Europe. As early
as in 1800s, conservative Christian and idealist liberal civil movements,
acting on behalf of the Christian minorities of the Balkans, were organising
lecture and newspaper campaigns and demonstrations against Turkey. The
ancient Greece was adored under the banners of philhellenism (1821), and
medieval myths were revived by telling horror stories of the “Bulgarian
atrocities” (1876). The propaganda war culminated in the after-play of the
First World War in 1920s, but was again revived from 1965 onwards, on the
initiative of third generation Armenian emigrants of France and America, who
were inspired and directed by Soviet Armenia.
Nowadays it is hard to believe that Turkey could anyhow get released from
the constant criticism by human rights organisations, since criticising
Turkey has become the lifeline of many of them. For many international human
rights organisations, regular campaigns against Turkey have become the most
successful kind of activity, and Turkish illegal immigrants willingly
participate them in order to base their asylum applications. International
organisations, researchers and media outlets are using Turkish extremist
groups as their sources, but the credibility and relevance of the
information they provide is very low. For this reason, the criticism against
Turkey often repeats echoes from years away. In its latest issue, Der
Spiegel (50/9th Dec. 2002) added to its article on Turkey a picture of a
Kurdish demonstration from 1992.
Turkish asylum seekers still refer to the destruction and evacuation of
frontier villages in mid-1990s. Although repatriation of these villages has
been started, the Human Rights Watch report predicts the return to fail,
because it would be too late without EU support (i.e. many who have moved to
cities, are reluctant to return to the periphery).
Neue Zürcher Zeitung (28th Nov. 2002) tells that torture became more common
in Turkey during the short military reign of 1980s. After that the
government tried to get rid of the phenomenon by sending the cruel policemen
from cities to the countryside, which, however, spread the problem
especially to the Kurdish districts. Accusing the policemen was made
difficult by a law that demanded acceptance of the superior to rise a court
case. The fact that many trials were taking more than five years caused that
many accusations became obsolete. The new government has suggested a legal
reform that would correct these problems, and enable overruling existing
verdicts on political crimes.
Against this background we have to understand the interest of the Turks in
the question, whether they are Europeans in the others’ eyes, or if they
fall outside Europe already in principle. When the Westernisation that has
prevailed in Turkey for 80 years becomes questioned by other Europeans, the
nationalist and pan-Islamic alternatives become stronger. Same kind of
development was experienced already in early 1900s, when the originally
liberal Young Turks changed into ferocious nationalists and rushed into the
First World War. In today’s Turkey, many people think that if the EU will
turn her back to Turkey, Turkey must turn towards Arab countries, Iran, the
Caucasus, and Central Asia. In co-operation with Pakistan, Turkey could
develop her own nuclear weapon. The successful military co-operation between
Turkey and Israel would be endangered. The 300-year rivalry between Turkey
and Russia over the borderlands would intensify.
Turkey is a bit poorer than Romania, when the GNP per capita is compared,
but the reason is the very rapid growth of Turkish population. It is
estimated that after 10 years there will be 90 million inhabitants in
Turkey, more than in Germany. In one way or another, that will compensate
the shrinking population of Europe and Russia. Chronic inflation plagues the
Turkish economy, but economic growth has been strong for a long time, and
there is plenty of potential. Unemployment (8,5 %) is lower than in most of
the countries of Eastern Europe, and industrialisation is more developed
than in Bulgaria and Romania. (Der Spiegel, 50/9th Dec. 2002)
Political Islamisation of Turkey would influence Europe especially through
the 2,5 million Turkish-originating immigrants residing in Germany. It is
hard to imagine how the EU could isolate herself from Turkey and the Middle
East. The EU can, however, choose, whether she will passively surrender to
be a side theatre of the problems of the Middle East and the whole Islamic
world, or whether it takes an active initiative to support moderate Muslims
and Turkey in her relations to her neighbours.
It is expected that the attitude towards Turkey, the Turks, Muslims and
foreigners in general, will become a hot election issue in the election of
the German state of Hessen in February. Both radical right and radical left
oppose the EU membership of Turkey. The present red-green government has
tried to balance between the views and the former Bundeskanzler Helmut Kohl
had a Turkish daughter-in-law. Compared to these, future seems more
controversial. Already half million of the German Turks have German
citizenship, and their votes for the left and for the Greens was decisive in
favour of the present government in last national election.
Antero Leitzinger is a political historian and a researcher for the Finnish
Directorate of Immigration. He wrote several books on Turkey, the Middle
East and the Caucasus.
Source: Global Politician, 2 February 2005.
–Boundary_(ID_tLINLbk2/Mdr1FRBq8CJig)–

Ambassador’s statement irresponsible – US Department of State
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 1 2005
Baku, February 28, AssA-Irada
The US ambassador to Armenia John Evans’s statement that “Upper
Garabagh can’t be returned to Azerbaijan”, made during his informal
meeting with the Armenian Diaspora representatives at a California
university on February 25, has sparked different responses from
Azerbaijan and the United States.
Steve Tike, a spokesman for the US Department of State, regarded
Evans’s utterance as ‘an irresponsible statement’, which reflects only
his personal views. “Evans’s statement doesn’t reflect Washington’s
position. The US stance on the Upper Garabagh remains unchanged”,
he said.
The United States has repeatedly stated that it does not recognize
Upper Garabagh as an independent state and supports Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity, the spokesman added.
The Azerbaijani ambassador to USA Hafiz Pashayev has discussed the
matter with US officials, including the US Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Laura Kennedy.
During the discussions, Pashayev said that Azerbaijani and American
officials are displeased with Evans’s statement. “Evans’s undiplomatic
and irresponsible statement on the eve of the next meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Prague is unacceptable,”
Pashayev said.
Ambassador Evans told a Monday news conference in Yerevan that his
statement on Upper Garabagh was misinterpreted. “I stated in the
meeting that the United States recognizes the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan and that the Upper Garabagh status issue may be resolved
by Armenia and Azerbaijan through talks,” he said.
Washginton continues its efforts at settling the conflict within the
OSCE Minsk Group and considers the meetings held so far by the two
countries’ foreign ministers reassuring, he added.*

World postal body declares separatist Karabakh stamps “void” – Azeri TV
ANS TV, Baku
28 Feb 05
The Universal Postal Union has ruled that forged postage stamps with
the depiction of a Karabakh horse produced by the Nagornyy Karabakh
separatists are void.
Azartac news agency quoted the head of the Azarmarka [Azerbaijani
stamp] company, Intiqam Bagirli, as saying that Azerbaijan had produced
postage stamps with the picture of the horse in 1993 and those stamps
were currently being used.

AZG Armenian Daily #036, 01/03/2005
Exhibition
PHOTO-JOURNALISM 2004 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION IN ARMENIA
On March 4-27 the Amsterdam Annual Exhibition of Photo-Journalism 2004 will
be brought to Armenia by the invitation the Caucasian Mass Media
Institution. The exhibition will be held in “Moscow” cinema.
The 47th annual exhibition was held in Amsterdam, on February 13. According
to the principle of the exhibition 2003 photos were submitted for it in
2004.
4176 photographers from 124 countries submitted 63093 photos for the
international competition of photojournalism. There have been 10 nominations
set up for 62 photographers from 23 countries, including Australia, Belgium,
Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, etc.
Jean Mark Bojoune, French journalist–photographer from the Associated Press,
won the competition. His photo depicts an Iraqi prisoner that tries to
comfort his 4 years old son.
>>From April 26 to June 20 the exhibition was held in Netherlands, then it
began its world tour in over 80 countries of the world.
By Gohar Gevorgian
–Boundary_(ID_fj8A48E+g9ZJnA9At1KkaQ)–

Glendale News Press
28 Feb2005
Helping the disabled in Armenia
Nearly $10,000 was raised during event for Pyunic, an organization that
promotes rights of disabled in Armenia.
By Robert Chacon, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE — The Armenian earthquake of 1988 destroyed the use of
Greta Khndzrtsyan’s legs, but it did not destroy her desire to achieve.
The double amputee was two years old when the earthquake struck —
rescue workers found her in the arms of her deceased mother under
piles of rubble — and is one of the disabled athletes from Armenia
competing in the upcoming Los Angeles Marathon wheelchair race that
was honored Sunday at a luncheon fundraiser by Pyunic, an association
that promotes the rights of the disabled in Armenia.
Close to $10,000 was raised during the event at Brandview Collection
through ticket sales, donations and a silent auction. The money will
fund a variety of programs to help disabled people in Armenia.
“In Armenia, it’s not like in the U.S.,” Pyunic board member Lori
Sivazlian said. “The country does not have critical ways of assisting
them. Disabled babies in Armenia are usually placed in orphanages.”
Disabled-person access to things such as public transportation,
high-rise buildings, homes and sidewalks is virtually nonexistent,
she said, though her group is working to change that.
Pyunic was formed after the earthquake that killed 25,000 people,
and left hundreds of thousands homeless, injured or disabled. It
helps raise funds for equipments and advocacy work.
“Every time I see a person in a wheelchair enter a bus here in the
U.S., it reminds me of what we want to achieve,” Pyunic President
Sarkis Ghazarian said.
There are 130,000 disabled people in Armenia, Ghazarian said, adding
that the country is years behind in assistance for disabled people.
For Khndzrtsyan, representing Armenia in the Los Angeles Marathon on
March 6 is a source of pride, she said. This is the second time she
has traveled from Armenia to compete in the marathon.
“The last time, my arms and hands were all bloody from the competition,
but I still completed the race,” she said about the race two years ago.
Marine Hakobyan also made the trip from Armenia and is competing for
the first time in the wheelchair race. She was left paralyzed from
the waste down after the earthquake.
“I have never done this, but I have trained enough and feel good,”
she said.
Some of the roughly 200 people who attended the luncheon walked away
with paintings, jewelry, rugs and arts and crafts made in Armenia.
“I came her to support Pyunic in their efforts,” said Glendale
resident Angele Eskandari, who acquired a silver necklace during the
auction. “People are not as aware in Armenia about disabled issues
as they are here in the U.S.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
Feb 28 2005
CIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HEAD VLADIMIR RUSHAYLO TO VISIT ARMENIA MARCH
2-4
28.02.2005 18:31
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Head of the CIS Executive Committee Vladimir
Rushaylo will visit Armenia on March 2-4. In the course of the visit
Vladimir Rushaylo is to meet with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Defense Minister Serge
Sargsian and Foreign Minister Deputy Gegham Gharibjanian to discuss
the issues regarding CIS reforming as well as the events dedicated to
the 60-th anniversary of the victory in the World War II. He is also
expected to meet with the veterans of the World War II.

The Times of India
Govt promises to back ‘good’ films
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2005 02:09:28 AM ]
BANGALORE: Amid squeaky seats, not-so-good lighting and poor screen
quality, an international children’s film festival started on
Friday. While the fare of films being presented is of international
standard, the festival per se, with no government support, smacks of
apathy.
However, chief minister Dharam Singh, who inaugurated the three-day
festival at Bal Bhavan, said the government was ready to give all its
support to producers and directors of good films.
When the organisers, Children’s India, pressed for funds, deputy chief
minister Siddaramaiah assured that if quality films were produced, the
government would announce Rs 25 lakh for children’s cinema.
Some 35 films from across the world – Finland, Korea, China, Iran,
Armenia – and films from Indian languages will be screened during the
course of the festival.
Says the president of Children’s India, N.R. Nanjunde Gowda, `The
purpose is to expose children to films from other countries. They
should see other cultures instead of seeing only Tamil, Kannada,
Telugu movies.”
Actor Vishnuvardhan, who greeted the idea of films from across
boundaries and cultures, said films should be education-oriented and
children shouldn’t forget their identity. Organisers said seating is
on first-come-first serve basis. Call 51324898, 51224477.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US envoy describes 1915 massacre of Armenian as “genocide”
Mediamax news agency
25 Feb 05
YEREVAN
The US ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, has described as “genocide”
the mass extermination of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 90 years
ago, Mediamax news agency has quoted the Armenian National Committee
of San Francisco as saying.
Speaking at a meeting on 19 February with representatives of the
Armenian community of San Francisco, John Evans stated: “Today I shall
call this Armenian genocide,” the organization told Mediamax news
agency.
The US ambassador told the participants in the meeting that he had
read many books on the Armenian genocide.
“I think that we, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens, a
more straightforward and honest discussion of this problem. I can tell
you as a person who has studied this problem – I have no doubts about
what happened,” John Evans said. The diplomat noted that he had
consulted a lawyer from the US State Department who confirmed that the
1915 events were “genocide by definition”.
John Evans noted that although representatives of the US
administration have avoided using the term “genocide”, “none of them
has denied it”.
At the same time, the ambassador said ,”I think that it is
inappropriate for us, the Americans, to play with words in this
case”. “I believe that we must call a spade a spade,” John Evans
said. He also pointed out that the USA’s official position has not
changed.
“The Armenian genocide was the first genocide of the 20th century,”
John Evans said, noting that “we made a lot of mistakes after the
First World War”.

AssA-Irada 26/02/2005 12:40
Ceasefire breach reported in Agdam
Armenian military units fired from their positions in the occupied Shikhlar
village of Aghdam District at the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces
located in the Orta Gishlag village of the same district with submachine and
machine guns on Friday afternoon, the ATV reported.
The ceasefire has been breached by Armenia in Aghdam District seven times
this month.
Another local TV channel, Lider, reported that ceasefire was also breached
in the Tovuz District.