Author: Emil Lazarian

It is Turkey’s turn to recognize
Yerkir/arm
May 06, 2005

Recently, Poland’s parliament — the Sejm — recognized the 1915
Armenian Genocide, adding to the list of the European Union countries
to recognize the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire: Poland
followed those Cyprus, Greece, France, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Sweden, Italy and Slovakia.
Presently, the Hungarian and German parliaments are discussing the
issue of the Armenian Genocide, and in case, the White House calls the
Armenian killings genocide, the Turkish policy of denial would
register its final failure.
However, instead of getting on the path of reviewing its history,
Ankara organizes parliamentary hearings, and the state-controlled
television station TRT1 devotes its prime time to the distortion and
denial of the Armenian Genocide.
The crime of genocide has been accompanying the humankind throughout
its entire history: ancient and medieval conquerors would boast
massive massacres and victims in the territories they conquered.
The Ottoman Empire was not an exception, which, according to Turkish
scholar Ismail Metin, for centuries maintained its authority “by
threatening nations and carrying out extensive killings.” In the late
19th century and the early 20th century, along with the development of
the international humanitarian law, states began to attempt to hide
the crimes against humanity they were committing.
The development of the international humanitarian law, establishment
of the principles of the human rights and freedoms put the states in
the position of losing sovereignty before their own citizens,
according to the late medieval founder of the international
humanitarian law Hugo Grocius. In this context, the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, including the recognition by
Turkey itself, is just a matter of time. Today, Turkey has found
itself in a difficult situation in terms of foreign policy.
The claims of the analytical centers serving that country’s foreign
ministry that the Turkish government has succeeded in establishing a
“peaceful co-existence” zone with the neighboring countries except for
Armenia have actually evaporated. The policy of buying time through
establishment of various commissions is merely symptoms of
nervousness.

DIE WELT
6. Mai 2005
Erdogan kommt Schröder keinen Millimeter entgegen;
Kanzler vermeidet offene Kritik an türkischen Reformdefiziten und
hofft auf einen “Mentalitätswandel”
Von Nikolaus Blome
Ankara/Istanbul – Als der Rektorder Istanbuler Marmara-Universität
den frischgekürten EhrendoktorGerhard Schröder für seine Jahre als
“Ministerpräsident vonNordrhein-Westfalen” lobt und für seine
Bedeutung als “internationalherausragender Rechtsgelehrter”, da
grinsen nur die Deutschen im Saal.Der Bundeskanzler ist beides nie
gewesen, beim besten Willen nicht.”Typisch türkisch” konnte man
denken: In großer Herzlichkeit, sorührend wie unbeholfen, wird da
Deutschland und einem Kanzler gedankt,der den Türken das Tor zur
Europäischen Union weiter aufgestoßen hatals irgend jemand vor ihm in
über 40 Jahren.
Wenn da nicht, kaum sechs Stunden zuvor, die Pressekonferenz
desKanzlers mit Ministerpräsident Tayyip Erdogan gewesen wäre: Der
Türkekam dem Deutschen politisch keinen Millimeter bei den heiklen
Punktenentgegen; viele Fragen der türkischen Journalisten strotzten
vorNationalismus, und der Kanzler schließlich reduzierte die Massaker
anArmeniern vor 90 Jahren auf das Wort von “Vorgängen, die
seinerzeitstattgefunden haben”. Doch nicht einmal dafür bedankte sich
ein eisigerErdogan mit einem Lächeln. Typisch türkisch?
Es war ein schwieriges Terrain, auf das sich Gerhard Schröder
amMittwoch für einen Tag lang begab; zu gewinnen gab es nicht viel,
zuverlieren schon. In der Europäischen Union wächst die Skepsis
ganzallgemein, besonders aber gegen einen Beitritt der Türkei, die ab
dem3. Oktober mit Brüssel offiziell verhandeln soll. Auch durch die
Türkeigeht eine Welle von Abneigung gegen die Auflagen und Vorgaben
der EU,dazu kommen Ausbrüche von Nationalismus und Polizeibrutalität
alterSchule.
Doch der Kanzler blieb bei dem Motto: Krise, welche Krise? “Ich
binnicht zur Kontrolle hier”, sagte er an die Adresse Erdogans,
“sondernals Freund.” Wegen ein paar schlechter Umfragen dürfe eine
Entscheidungvon derart historischer und geostrategischer Bedeutung
nicht in Fragegestellt werden, so der Kanzler. Natürlich werde es
Probleme geben,”sogar Rückschläge”, auf dem Weg der Türkei nach
Europa. Das neueDenken, die Reformen Erdogans müßten erst das ganze
Land durchtränken.Man werde also viel Geduld brauchen, sagte
Schröder, der viel von einem”Mentalitätswandel” sprach – für den es
im türkischen Wortschatzallerdings eine gebräuchliche Übersetzung
nicht gibt.
Und so übte der Kanzler Geduld und nahm Rücksicht: am wenigsten
nochauf die Hartleibigkeit Ankaras, den orthodoxen Christen wieder
einautonom geführtes Priesterseminar zu gestatten. Schröder
besuchtedemonstrativ deren Oberhaupt, Bartholomaios I., und sprach
“die volleFreiheit der Religionsausübung” mehrfach an. Weniger
deutlich blieb derKanzler in Sachen Armenien. Er erklärte zwar, daß
jede Nation gut darantue, sich der eigenen Vergangenheit mitsamt
ihren dunklen Punkten zustellen. Doch wurde aus dem “schrecklichen
Schicksal HunderttausenderArmenier” im vorab verteilten Redetext dann
in der tatsächlichvorgetragenen Rede an der Marmara-Universität “das
schrecklicheSchicksal vieler Menschen aus Armenien”. Kleinigkeiten
sind das nur,aber es war nun einmal ein vorab derart aufgeladener
Besuch, daßKleinigkeiten zählten.
Letztlich ja auch für den Kanzler: Der türkische Ministerpräsidenthat
in den Gesprächen eingewilligt, daß eine international
besetzteHistorikerkommission das Schicksal von über einer Million
Armeniern neuuntersuchen soll – was die Armenier nun ungefähr so
berührt, wie esPolen berühren würde, wenn eine deutsche Regierung
vorschlüge, nocheinmal der Frage nachzugehen, wie eigentlich genau
der Zweite Weltkriegbegann. Trotzdem forderte Gerhard Schröder die
armenische Regierung zurZustimmung auf und lobte seinen türkischen
Amtskollegen mehrfach.Erdogan steht innenpolitisch erheblich unter
Druck, und Schröder wollteihn erkennbar stärken. Wenn der
Ministerpräsident nämlich die Reformenweitertreiben will, wie der
Kanzler sicher glaubt, dann sieht er sichwachsendem Widerstand im
eigenen Land gegenüber.
Das hängt nicht zuletzt an der Saumseligkeit der EU auf
Zypern.Während Ankara hier tatsächlich alle Vorleistungen wohl
erbracht hat,werden der türkischen Nordhälfte der Insel die
zugesagten 259 MillionenEuro EU-Wirtschaftshilfe weiterhin versagt;
blockiert in Brüssel vonden Griechen und der griechischen Südhälfte,
die ganz Zypern alsEU-Mitglied vertritt. “Typisch griechisch”, raunte
dazu ein Berater desKanzlers. Der Weg der Türken dürfte holperig
bleiben, selbst mitGerhard Schröder an ihrer Seite.
Gerhard Schröder wurde in der Marmara-Universität in Istanbul
dieEhrendoktorwürde verliehen
–Boundary_(ID_nByOGjPs48ePJsbJL7LZgQ)–

Opening Of Armenia – Turkey Border Crossing
Turkish Press
May 7 2005
ANKARA (AA) – Prof. Dr. Nizami Caferov, the chairman of Ataturk Center
in Azerbaijan, said that the only issue in which Armenia was interested
actually is the opening of border pass between Turkey and Armenia,
adding that Azerbaijan opposed to the opening of the border gate.
An international symposium was held in Ankara to discuss “allegations
on the so-called Armenian genocide and the Realities of Azerbaijan”.
Delivering a speech at the symposium, Caferov noted that if the border
gate between Turkey and Armenia was opened, Armenia would not expend
any efforts to solve the Upper Karabakh problem.
Caferov indicated, “Azerbaijan should solve this problem on its
own. However, if Turkey opens the border gate, it cannot.”

The (Un)Associated Student Union
Valley Star , CA (The Los Angeles Valley College)
May 7 2005
The Associated Student Union announced the results of its election last
week, revealing that all but two of the nine winners are Armenian. Not
soon after the election, some students said that this year’s winners
benefited because students voted along ethnic lines.
This issue was also raised at last year’s ASU presidential election.
Levon Bagramian earned the most votes but was not the candidate favored
by the sitting ASU officers. Bagramian brought his own flaws to office,
part of the reason the ASU Executive Board recalled him last month,
but ASU members said he only won the election because he was Armenian.
Not a great way to start a relationship among the president and his
fellow officers.
And so what if every Armenian on campus voted for Bagramian last
year or voted for this year’s ASU officers. Maybe those accusing the
Armenians of voting along ethnic lines should take a lesson from them
on organization. In addition, many of this year’s Armenian candidates
ran unopposed. Should they be charged with finding candidates to run
against themselves?
The problems with the ASU elections are not students voting along
ethnic lines, it’s the voting process. Candidates are relatively
unknown to the 18,000 students on this campus, a fact highlighted by
the less than 500 students who voted in this year’s election.
What was missing from this campaign is a campaign. Students weren’t
given the opportunity to “know” their candidates and what they
stand for.
Where is the exposure? Where were the debates that would have not
only familiarize the students with the candidates but would also
generate enough interest among them to possibly decrease the apathy
at the polls?
Without candidate information, all that students have left to
base their opinion on is their already existing information of the
candidates. And it’s not surprising that they are more likely to know
more about the candidate of their ethnicity, being a part of the same
community and all.
But unfortunately, ASU has been so caught up in their petty arguments
that the needs of the Valley students have taken a back seat to the
internal conflicts within the ASU.
ASU should instead busy themselves with increasing the student turnout
at the polls, which would result in a more balanced ethnic voting body,
minimizing the ability of one community to dominate the election.
So if the Armenian community takes it upon themselves to go out and
vote as an organized body…more power to them. There is nothing wrong
with exercising your democratic rights, even if it doesn’t fit with
someone else’s agenda.

The Guide: Radio: Friday 13 May
WILL HODGKINSON
The Guardian – United Kingdom
May 07, 2005
The miracle of the Holy Fire has, it is claimed by Orthodox Christians,
been occurring in Jerusalem’s The Church Of The Resurrection on the
first Sunday after the Jewish Passover for the last 1,000 years. A
fire is said to emerge from the stone where Jesus rose from the dead,
but since the miracle occurs behind locked doors in front of only one
witness (an Orthodox patriarch) we’ll have to take his word for it. On
The Holy Fire ( 11am, R4 ) Stewart Henderson travels to Jerusalem
to talk to devout pilgrims, sceptics, and the Israeli police that
ensure the security of the ceremony, where tempers have been known to
fray. In 2002 a Greek Orthodox patriarch and an Armenian priest came
to blows over who should be overseeing the ritual. A shoe was lost.

ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF AZERBAIJAN ON 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY OVER FASCISM
AzerTag
[May 07, 2005, 17:34:45]
Dear country-fellows,
Esteemed war veterans,
This year, 60 years have elapsed since the victory over fascism in
the World War II. This war, for its scale, number of the involved
states and troops, for the caused material damage and human loss has
been the greatest and most terrible of the wars in the history of
mankind. The militarist forces claiming to rule the Earth, first of
all, the fascist Germany unleashed the WW II. Unleashed in September
1939, the war in short time has enveloped the entire Europe, then,
extending to other continents, has lasted six years. On 22 June 1941,
the fascist Germany attacked against the Soviet Union, of which,
Azerbaijan was a part at that time, and the sanguinary war known as
the Great Patriotic war commenced.
In the course of war, the aggressors have massacred millions of
people, erased cities and villages, destroyed production enterprises
and cultural monuments. Disastrous crimes of the fascists against
humanity could not but last long. As a result of joint efforts
of the anti-Hitler coalition formed during the war, in 1945, the
fascist Germany and its allies were defeated, and the Word War II
ended. Victory in this war was the triumph of the progressive forces
over the aggressors, of the civilization over barbarity, of humanism
over the inhuman ideology.
And the people of Azerbaijan have made its worthy contribution to
the victory over fascism. IN liberation of Russia, Ukraine, Moldova,
Belarus, the Baltic, as well as the Eastern European countries,
in success of the Resistance Movement in the Western Europe, our
compatriots have played important role. In 1941-1945s, 700 thousand
of our country-fellows were sent to forefront, and they courageously
fought against the cruel enemy. Half of them died at the battlefields.
Along with courage and heroism at the forefronts, the Azerbaijanis
also demonstrated unprecedented selflessness and in the back areas,
provided the fighting troops with fuel, arms, food and cloths. Unlike
the previous wars, the World War II was not the war of cavalry and
infantry, but, first of all, of motor-tanks, fighter-bombers, and
other battle machines. Without oil and oil products, the troops would
not be able to steer the techniques and overcome the enemy. During the
years of war, the Azerbaijani oilmen, despite all difficulties, have
demonstrated unprecedented fortitude and selflessness and provided the
armed forces with sufficient fuel. Today, every Azerbaijani is proud
that at that time 70 percent of the oil produced then in the Soviet
Union fell on share of Azerbaijan. In those years, the Azerbaijani
oilmen not only provide the forefront with oil, but also developed
new oil deposits, which later in the history of oil industry was
called as the “Second Baku”.
History of the WW II, too, shows that the policy and ideology basing on
force, aggression and occupation, hate for other peoples and enmity,
finally, doom to defeat and collapse. Our people, who witnessed the
hardships and deprivations of war, and nowadays facing its miseries,
are decisively against new sanguinary wars and conflicts. We have
been for over teen years stated our adherence of settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which was unleashed as a result of the
Armenian territorial claims and military aggressions, peacefully
and by negotiations. And today, we use every chance given by the
international law and diplomacy for liberation of our lands from the
Armenian occupation.
The leadership of Azerbaijan believes in complete restoration of the
sovereign rights and territorial integrity of our country, trusts
in triumph of justice and truth. Our powerful National Army, active
attacks of the Azerbaijan diplomacy in all fronts and the growing
economic potential of our country ensure success in our fair cause.
On this day, we pay tribute and respect to memory of all our sons
and daughters who gave their lives in the name of achievement of
victory over fascism and victims in fights for territorial integrity
and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, let Allah rest their souls in peace. I
cordially congratulate the veterans of war who fought at the forefront,
and also those who demonstrated selflessness in rear, all citizens
of Azerbaijan on this significant event – the 60th Anniversary of
the Victory, I wish our nation peace, tranquility and welfare.
Ilham Aliyev,
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, 6 May 2005

Murder Of Turkish Consul General Gunduz By Armenians To Be Announced To World
Turkish Press
May 7 2005
IZMIR (AA) – Friends of Turkish Honorary Consul General in Boston Orhan
Gunduz, who was murdered by members of an Armenian terror organization
in the United States on May 4th, 1982, started an initiative to remind
this murder to the whole world.
Prof. Dr. Sedat Isci of Aegean University American Culture & Literature
Department said, “friends of Gunduz who are prominent scientists in
various universities in Turkey and the United States are determined
not to forget this murder.”
“Armenian terrorists killed many Turkish diplomats and personnel in the
past. However, murder of Gunduz has a different meaning because it was
committed at the headquarters of Armenian Tasnaksutyun organization,
and terrorists had close connections with that organization,” he added.
Isci said, “friends of Gunduz gave me an archive comprising of many
photos and documents. I will publish this archive and not allow people
to forget the murder of Gunduz.”
Gunduz was murdered by Armenian terrorists in Cambridge, USA, on May
4th, 1982.
Attacks started on January 27th, 1973 with the murders of Turkish
Consul General in Los Angeles Mehmet Baydar and Turkish diplomat
Bahadir Demir by an Armenian. As of 1975, 34 Turkish diplomats and
their relatives were killed and nearly 100 Turks and foreigners were
injured. Thus, attacks turned to be organized crime. Armenian people
and organizations having connection with Tasnaksutyun staged armed
and bomb attacks in 38 cities of 21 countries during that years.

IN THE NAME OF REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
A1plus
| 13:09:47 | 07-05-2005 | Politics |
Deputy representing the ARFD in the Armenian National Assembly Vostanik
Marukhyan considers that the clauses on court formation have undergone
long discussions and do not conflict with the international norms.
The coalition’s draft notes that the Constitutional Court, the Courts
of Common Law and First Instance, the Court of Appeal, the Court of
Cassations as well as other specialized courts provided by the law
are functioning in Armenia. The creation of extraordinary courts
like military tribunal is forbidden. The Administrative Court in
Marukhyan’s opinion can be referred to the category of “other courts”
and its formation can be determined by the law.
The independence of the courts is guaranteed by the Constitution and
laws, the authority of the court, the order of their formation and
activities are determined by the Constitution and laws as well. The
coalition’s draft as a matter of fact does not include the item on a
judge’s withdrawal. It is possible only in case the judge is charged
of a crime. “The norms of the withdrawal can be fixed in the law but
not in the Constitution”, Vostanik Marukhyan says.
In Arshak Sadoyans’ opinion not only the order of the court
formation but also the formation of the Council of Justice is very
important. “The composition of the Council and the independence of this
body are very important. In our draft the Council is independent while
the coalition makes it dependent. Nevertheless Arshak Sadoyan considers
that the Council should be appointed by Council of Judges. “The
council elects 9 judges and the NA -3. As for the present three-step
juridical system, in his opinion it should be preserved and in future
other courts can be formed”, he says.
According to the ULP as the President is the head of the state he
should be empowered to appoint and dismiss the judges. The ULP draft
also bans the formation of extraordinary courts.
Diana Markosyan
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USD SHARP FLUCTUATIONS IN ARMENIA CAUSED BY CONFLICT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS: ARMENIAN MPs
YEREVAN, MAY 6. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Parliament is concerned over the
sharp fluctuations of USD in the country.
Many MPs believe this to be the result of conflicting economic
interests. ARFD MP Levon Lazarian says that this may be due to
financial speculations but as well to the current processes in the
world economy. Some experts believe that the government is able to
control the fluctuations, says Lazarian noting that the most negative
consequence of this situation is that the people is losing confidence
in the government.
Republican Party MP Galust Saakyan calls the situation strange and
sees no convincing explanation to it. MP from People’s Deputy group
Mkrtich Minassyan says that unless the current USD machinations are
stopped his group will raise this issue in the parliament.
MP from State of Law party Mher Shahgeldyan supports this initiative
noting that Parliament wants to know if the situation is natural or
artificial. He says that fluctuating USD is having a negative impact
on Armenia’s economy and exports while opposition MP Viktor Dallakyan
notes that this process has gained “some influential entities” over
$290 mln in the last year alone.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STUDENTS-ARCHITECTS FROM FRANCE NOTE CONTRAST OF YEREVAN ARCHITECTURE
YEREVAN, MAY 6. ARMINFO. Demonstration of work projects of students
of both architectural school of Klermon-Feran (France) and Yerevan
State University of Architecture and Construction (YSUAC) took place
today in Yerevan.
12 projects were presented there, 6 of which were elaborated by 18
French students on the base of Yerevan photos. The other 6 projects
were elaborated by Armenian and French students in Yerevan. As deputy
dean of the YSUAC architecture department Nune Chilingaryan informed
ARMINFO, 18 Armenian students will be sent to Klermon-Feran in 2006.
French students noted that Armenian architecture is very differ from
French. They mainly could see ancient churches in country’s regions.
They also noted that the architecture of Yerevan is very contrast.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress