Author: George Mamian

AZERI FOREIGN MINISTER: ISSUE ON OPENING NAKHICHEVAN-MEGHRI BRANCH
LINE IS DISCUSSED DURING NEGOTIATIONS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
YEREVAN, MAY 26. ARMINFO. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs on Nagorny
Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement will arrive in Baku May 26.
They will meet with Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov. As APA
informs, informed Elmar Mamedyarov.
In his words, results of negotiations conducted hitherto will be
discussed at the meeting. Mamedyarov named groundless a statement
saying that Russian and French representatives are tuned to conduct
negotiations on the base of a specified peaceful plan. He stressed
that specified details of the conflict settlement were discussed at
negotiations within the Prague process framework.
“Solution of a transport and communication problem is one of main
objects to be discussed. Not only the problem of using a Lachin
corridor as a safe transport line is discussed during the negotiation
process. An issue of opening Nakhichevan-Meghri branch line is
discussed, too. It is a biggest regional railway network should be
opened to reestablish the connection of Nakhichevan with country’s
rest territory”, Mamedyarov stated. -r-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Süddeutsche Zeitung
27. Mai 2005
Dolchstoß gegen Demokratie;
Türkischer Minister verhindert Konferenz zu Mord an Armeniern
Selbst die Reporterin des Staatsradios TRT erfuhr die Blamage erst am
Ort. Statt quirliger Konferenzatmosphäre fand sie gähnend leere
Gänge. Bis zum heutigen Freitag wollten in Istanbul 60 türkische
Akademiker auf zehn Podien drei Tage lang zeigen, dass es in ihrem
Land zur Armenier-Frage Ansichten gibt, die von der offiziellen
Staatslinie abweichen. Sie wollten herausfinden, “was die Welt weiß,
wir aber nicht wissen”. Aber die renommierte staatliche
Bosporus-Universität hat die Premiere in letzter Minute auf ungewisse
Zeit “verschoben”. Vorausgegangen war ein beispielloser Auftritt von
Justizminister Cemil Cicek im Parlament.
Cicek, der auch Regierungssprecher ist sagte, manche meinten, in der
Türkei “gebe es keine Freiheit. Doch es gibt die Freiheit, das Volk
von hinten zu erdolchen und Lügen zu erzählen”. Dies war auf die
Konferenz-Macher von drei angesehenen Universitäten (Bosporus, Bilgi,
Sabanci) gemünzt. “Verrat” und “Propaganda gegen die Nation” hielt
Cicek ihnen vor. EU-Diplomaten in Ankara reagierten entsetzt. Einer
meinte, “das war das Schlimmste, was ich in drei Jahren gehört habe”.
Der Literaturwissenschaftler Murat Belge, einer der
Kongress-Initiatoren, sagte der Süddeutschen Zeitung: “Die Türkei
muss sich entscheiden, ob sie die alte bleibt oder sich ändert.
Leider zeigt dies die Kräfte der alten Türkei.”
Erst jüngst hatte Premier Tayyip Erdogan zugesagt, eine international
besetzte Kommission werde die Massenmorde an den Armeniern 1915/16
untersuchen – offenbar ein leeres Versprechen. Die türkische Empörung
immerhin zeigt, dass sich Intellektuelle und Medien auch vom
Justizminister nicht mehr den Mund verbieten lassen. Viele
Professoren verurteilten den “Anschlag” auf die akademische Freiheit.
“Es entsteht der Eindruck, dass die türkische politische Kultur ins
Totalitäre abrutscht”, warnte die Zeitung Sabah. “Die Türkei hat sich
selbst in den Fuß geschossen”, sagte Zaman-Kolumnist Sahin Alpay.
“Null Toleranz für die Freiheit” titelte die liberale Radikal und
verwies dazu auf eine aktuelle Entscheidung des Kassationsgerichts,
das die linke Erziehungsgewerkschaft Egitim Sen schließen will, weil
sie sich für Schulunterricht in Kurdisch ausspricht.
Hrant Dink, ein prominenter türkischer Armenier, hatte zuvor
öffentlich frohlockt, die Konferenz werde “ein unglaublicher Gewinn”
sein, weil sie “der ganzen Welt zeigt, dass es bei uns freie
Historiker gibt”. Enttäuscht sagte Dink nun, “die Türkei ist nicht
demokratisch genug, die armenische Frage zu diskutieren”. Der
türkische Tumult kommt zum unpassenden Zeitpunkt. Am Sonntag
entscheidet Frankreich – wo es eine große armenische Diaspora gibt –
über die EU-Verfassung, wobei Gegner argumentieren, ein Nein könne
einen EU-Beitritt der Türkei aufhalten. Deutschland, bisher stärkster
Befürworter der EU-Verankerung Ankaras, steht vor einer Neuwahl. Die
favorisierten Unionsparteien wollen die Türkei nicht in der EU.
Das gefällt Nationalisten in der Türkei. “Patrioten”-Vereine
protestierten vor der Bosporus-Universität und forderten die
endgültige Absage der geplatzten Konferenz. Mitorganisator Belge hat
noch nicht aufgegeben. “Wir diskutieren, ob sie später stattfindet.”
Das könnte zu einer demokratischen Nagelprobe für Ankara werden.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIANOW.COM SPORTS May 20, 2005
Administration Address: 26 Parpetsi St., No 9
Phone: +(374 1) 532422
Email: [email protected]
Internet:
Technical Assistance: (For technical assistance please contact to Babken Juharyan)
Email: [email protected]
ICQ#: 97152052
SPORT DIGEST: A ROUNDUP OF RESULTS AT HOME AND ABROAD
By Suren Musayelyan, ArmeniaNow Reporter
FOOTBALL
Armenia gets new coach: Dutch specialist Henk Wisman has been appointed
Armenia’s new coach, a month after his French predecessor Bernard
Casoni was fired over a failed start of the World Cup 2006 campaign.
Wisman, 48, coached the Dutch Volendam and Den Bosch sides.
The Football Federation of Armenia announced that it signed a contract
with Wisman for the next 7 months plus 2 years. He is also supposed
to coach Armenia’s champions Pyunik.
Armenia’s next match in the World Cup qualifying campaign is in
Yerevan on June 4, against Macedonia.
PREMIER LEAGUE: In Day 6 of the national championship titleholders
Pyunik took over Premier League leadership in a six-pointer against
Banants on Tuesday.
Eighteen-year-old Edgar Manucharyan scored two crucial goals that
enabled Pyunik to register a 5-2 victory over their main rivals this
season and top the table with 16 points after six matches.
In the other three matches of the sixth round Mika beat Lernayin
Artsakh 3-1, Esteghlal Kotayk drew with Ararat 1-1 and Gyumri’s Shirak
drew with Dynamo Zenit 3-3.
After Day 6 matches Lernayin Artsakh is bottom of the table with only
3 points.
(Based on FFA reports)
Some progress: The international football governing body, FIFA,
has published the list of current rankings of national teams as
of May. Among 205 nations FIFA ranks Armenia 121st, which is some
advancement compared to the 123rd place occupied by Armenia as
of January.
CHESS
In Armenia’s chess championships among women after five rounds the
leader is Lilit Lazarian with 4.5 points.
After four straight wins Lazarian drew against Elina Danielyan
in the fifth game. Danielyan is currently 2nd with 4 points. Three
chess-players share the 3rd spot with 3 points each.
BOXING
Armenian boxers were successful in an international tournament that
ended in Tehran, Iran this week. Eight reached the semifinal stage
securing bronze medals. Three lost their semifinal fights. Two of
the five Armenian boxers who fought in the finals won gold medals.
BASKETBALL
In Armenia’s national championship that began recently 8 teams are
competing for the title divided into two groups. In Group 1 BKMA
(Central Sport Club of the Army) beat first the team of the Slavonic
University 64-59, then the Echmiadzin team 85-33 and then Vanadzor 78-
71. The Slavonic University’s team are now second in Group 1. Group
2 includes the team of the Engineering University, FIMA, teams from
Artsakh and Gyumri. Matches in this Group will begin on May 20 and
will be played in Gyumri.
UNARMED SELF-DEFENSE
Armenia’s youth and junior unarmed self-defense teams have left for
Serbia & Montenegro to participate in a European championship to be
held in that country’s town of Sambore. The teams are led by coach
Hovik Khojoyan. The teams mainly include athletes from the regions,
among whom is also Nor Hachn’s representative Ani Hakobyan (52 kg).
CALISTHENICS
Armenia’s calisthenics championships ended in Yerevan’s Karen
Demirchyan Sport and Concert Hall early this week. Among ten
participating teams the first place was won by the Calisthenics and
Athletics Olympic Successors School, the Kentron community’s team
was second and Kapan’s team was third. (Based on A1+ reports)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

We must reduce time for Georgia pullout to four years – Russian chief of staff
Radio Russia, Moscow
19 May 05
[Presenter] The next meetings of Russian and Georgian experts will
determine the schedule for the withdrawal of Russian military bases
from Georgian territory. Yuriy Baluyevskiy, the chief of General
Staff of the Russian armed forces, has reported this today.
In his words, it is now essential to work on reducing the time for
the withdrawal of the bases from 10 to four years.
[Baluyevskiy] There is [just] one condition. The Russian military
bases must leave to go to territories, to an infrastructure, and not
leave to go to open fields.
The question of “where to” is simple – to the territory of the
Russian Federation.
I do not exclude that part of the armaments, equipment and property
may be taken to the territory of the Republic of Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARYAN MADE STATEMENT IN THE COE SUMMIT
A1plus
| 16:06:26 | 16-05-2005 | Politics | COE SUMMIT |
Robert Kocharyan was the 13th to make speech in the Warsaw summit
excluded the opening speeches. He spoke Russian. The speech started
at 12:20 instead of the 11:57. The previous speakers had violated
the time limit. Kocharyan spoke only for 6 minutes.
According to him, Armenia is on the way of integrating into
Europe. Till the end of the year Armenia will meet the commitments
taken upon in front of the COE. As he said, it is a hard but complete
process which is supported by the Armenian society. Robert Kocharyan
found the program “European Neighbors” extremely important.
According to him, in Armenia people believe in the concept of Europe
without borders – without violations, blockade, and refugees, where
human rights and freedom rights are respected. Referring to the BGK
conflict, Robert Kocharyan mentioned that in this context he already
sees the settlement of the conflict and ways are sought to include
the de-facto created Nagorno Karabakh Republic into the process of
integrating into Europe. According to Kocharyan, today Armenia makes
efforts for the Armenian Genocide the 90th anniversary of which was
celebrated this year to be recognized worldwide.
KOCHARYAN’S STATEMENT IN THE COE SUMMIT
Statement by H.E. Robert KOCHARY AN President of the Republic of
Armenia
III Summit of the Council of Europe 1 st session
Warsaw, May 16,2005
Dear Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
First of all let me thank President Kwasniewski for the wonderful
organization of the summit. I am confident that this meeting of heads
of the Council of Europe member-states is extremely well-timed. Europe
is in the process of transformation and it creates an urgent need
for discussions and adequate measures aimed at reforming the European
structures and institutions.
Those changes are of fundamental character. “Eastern Europe”
and “Western Europe” are not any more political terms; they have
transformed themselves to regular geographic concepts. Meanwhile,
the word “Europe” is not anymore simply a geographical name of a
continent. It is a political term widely perceived as a unique model
of a community of nations. A European is perceived as a member ofthat
community.
In this framework the institutionalization of that process and the
psychological adaptation of the Europeans go hand in hand, most
probably due to the advancement of information technologies. And the
speed of that transformation is so high, that it easily fits within a
lifetime of one generation. I sometimes think that what this process
has its own logic and does not depend much on politicians.
All this offers questions which require consideration and
response. Namely:
Has the European integration geographical and cultural boundaries
and where are they?
How do the ED enlargement and further institutionalization affect the
demand for other organizations, including the Council of Europe? It
is becoming more and more apparent that for ED member-states our club
becomes less and less attractive.
What is the future of Europe’s relations with the rest of the world,
which has other suppositions and traditions?
Are the processes currently underway in Europe going to transform
into a new ideology with the consequences to follow in form of a
global divide?
Answers to these questions very much depend on the European leaders
sitting at this table.

Paula’s cameo on ‘SNL’ drowned out by F-word
By BILL HUTCHINSON
New York Daily News –
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, May 8th, 2005
Heavy Metal Band System of a Down got one over on “Saturday Night Live”
last night.
When the group performed “B.Y.O.B” from their new album “Mezmerize,”
the show repeatedly muted the F-word in the line, “Where the f—
are you?” But it missed guitarist Daron Malakian’s screeched, “F—
yeah!” toward the end of the number. The camera even focused on him
as he said it.
Fans of the group immediately hailed the move on System of a Down’s
Web site, with one noting, “The censors missed at least one ‘f—
you.’ Which was nice.”
The band performed a second number, “Aerials,” from their “Toxicity”
album, without incident.
“SNL” traditionally doesn’t use a tape delay. NBC did not immediately
return a call seeking comment.
The show has a history of controversial performances, from Ashlee
Simpson getting caught lip-synching to Sinead O’Connor’s ripping up
a picture of Pope John Paul II.
Earlier, embattled “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul got the last
laugh when the show spoofed her alleged Fox show sex scandal.
“What you’re about to see is a reenactment of some events of this
week’s biggest news story,” said Abdul as she introduced the NBC
show. “Now, all the facts have been changed to get laughs at my
expense. I hope you enjoy it.”
The cast then did a skit loosely based on ABC’s “Primetime Live”
interview with ousted “Idol” contestant Corey Clark, who claims he
and Abdul had an off-screen fling.
In the spoof, Amy Poehler played Abdul as a sex-starved hussy hitting
on every male contestant from Clark to Justin Guarini.
But always the judge, the real Abdul had some criticism for Poehler’s
portrayal of her.
“Amy, you need to prefect the clap a little more and be a lot more
sexier so that contestants will be willing to sleep with you,”
Abdul said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
| 19:46:57 | 28-04-2005 | Official |
ARMENIA- MEMBER OF UN COMMISSIONS
During the session of the UN Economic and Social Council in New York the
Republic of Armenia was elected member of the UN Commission on crime
prevention and criminal justice as well as was re-elected member of
Committee on Programs and Coordination for 2006-2008.
The UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is the major body
to deal with organized crime, corruption, war on terror and trafficking.
The Committee on Programs and Coordination is the principal subsidiary body
to the UN General Assembly and the UN Economic and Social Council on the
issues of program planning or coordination.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The New Anatolian, Turkey
April 27 2005
Ankara Protocol Dominates Gul’s Meeting with EU Officials
The Turkish-European Union Partnership Council met Tuesday in
Luxembourg. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul represented Turkey
at the meeting.
The main issue discussed during the meeting was the implementation of
the Ankara Protocol to expand Turkey’s EU customs agreement to
include the EU’s 10 new member states, including the Greek Cypriot
administration.
The 25-nation EU is to review Ankara’s progress in enforcing
widespread reforms that it wants completed before Turkey starts its
EU entry talks this October.
EU leaders made the signing of the protocol a precondition for
beginning entry talks, making clear that signing it gives no
guarantee of eventual membership. Besides signing the Ankara
Protocol, reforming the judicial system and implementing minority
rights are the other conditions Ankara must meet before beginning
accession talks.
Turkey and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn have argued that the
protocol does not involve Turkey formally recognizing the Greek
Cypriot administration, but it is simply the extension of a customs
union to the 10 new member states which joined last year. Cyprus
remains divided between the southerly situated Greek Cypriots and the
Turkish Cypriots to the north. Only the Greek Cypriot part of the
island acceded to the EU last year. Greek Cypriots rejected a United
Nations reunification plan in a referendum just before joining the
EU. Turkish Cypriots voted overwhelmingly in favor of it.
Foreign Minister Gul said that the membership of one side of Cyprus
to the EU did not mean the end of the island’s problems. “We could
not forget the Cyprus problem when just one side of the island
entered the EU,” Gul said during a press conference with EU Term
President Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn and EU
Commissioner Rehn. “The center of a solution to the Cyprus problem is
the UN,” Gul added.
Asselborn said that the EU did not want to lead Turkey by the hand
during its membership process, but rather to play the role of an
“instructor.”
Rehn, on the other hand, praised the quick reform process now going
on in Turkey. Underlining the EU’s expectation that the new Turkish
Penal Code (TCK) is put into effect as scheduled on June 1, Rehn said
that they want to see progress also in women’s rights, cultural
rights and judicial reforms.
French surprise for Turkey
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Monday that France
expects a long negotiating process for Turkey’s EU membership, and
reiterated that they would bring up the touchy issue of Turkey’s
recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide during the negotiations.
“We will pose this question and we want a response,” Barnier said.
“The European project is one of reconciliation,” he added.
Earlier this month, the Turkish government called on Armenia to from
a joint research team to study the killings. Armenia accuses Turkey
of genocide in the killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians as part of
a campaign to force them out of eastern Turkey during World War I.
Ankara denies these accusations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Génocide arménien
A savoir
lundi 25 avril 2005 (Liberation – 06:00)
24 avril 1915
Plusieurs centaines de notables arméniens de Constantinople sont arrêtés et
la plupart exécutés. Alors que la guerre fait rage, le gouvernement Jeune-Turc
décide la déportation des Arméniens, surtout de ceux de l’est du pays,
soupçonnés de collusion avec les troupes russes qui avancent.
1915-1917
Les déportations massives vers la Mésopotamie entre 1915 et 1917 se sont
accompagnées de massacres systématiques. Entre un million et un millionet demi
d’Arméniens ont péri sur une communauté estimée à deux millions de personnes.
Les historiens turcs avancent le chiffre de 300 000 à 500 000 morts, affirmant
avoir subi un nombre équivalent de victimes.
Génocide
16 Etats ou institutions ont reconnu ce génocide :
Uruguay (1965), Chypre (1982), Parlement européen (1987), Russie (1995),
Grèce (1996), Liban (1997), Belgique (1998), Suède (2000), France, Conseil de
l’Europe (2001), Suisse, Argentine (2003), Canada, Slovaquie (2004), Pays-Bas,
Pologne (2005).
350 000 à 400 000
C’est le nombre estimé des Arméniens de France, constituant la première
communauté de la diaspora en Europe.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #065, 14/04/2005
Region
ALIYEV PREFERS RUMSFELD RATHER THAN MUSHARRAF
Parliamentarians Condemn Activities of Harnish
Donald Rumsfeld, US Defence Secretary, arrived in Azerbaijan from Iraq on
April 12. The Wall Street Journal wrote that the American are greatly
interested in the Caspian oil and Washington pays special attention to the
regions rich in oil.
“In the course of the coming decade the US is going to spend $100 million on
the Caspian guards, the police network and the special detachments to
repulse the attack on the oil objects,” The Wall Street Journal wrote.
The newspaper noted that the Commanders of the US Air Forces located in the
German Stuttgart city coordinates the efforts of different departments and
trains soldiers that are to protect Baku-Tbilisi-Jehyan oil pipeline.
General Michael Anderson, coordinator of political issues of the US European
Commanders, stated that in 2003 the Baku Commander’s Office will also be
included in the created Caspian guards. The Baku Commanders’ Office will
have radar systems at their disposal that will help them watch the
navigation in the Caspian Sea, as well as trafficking of the drugs and arms.
The details of Rumsfeld’s unexpected visit to Baku are not known. According
to the poor information of the Azeri press, it is envisaged that he will
meet with President Ilham Aliyev, foreign minister Elmar Mamediarov and
defense minister Safar Abiyev. It’s already obvious that Aliyev-Rumsfeld
meeting will not take place, as the Azeri President paid an official visit
to Pakistan to discuss the Azeri-Pakistani relations, as well as the Nagorno
Karabakh and Kashmir issues with Pervez Musharraf.
Azeri reporter of the Moscow Nezavisimaya Gazeta wrote that the location of
the US and NATO forces in Azerbaijan will avert any revolutions in this
South Caucasus republic. “In fact, the Azeri authorities face the
alternative to either giving consent to the location of the US and NATO
forces in Azerbaijan or to deal with another “colorful” revolution in
autumn.”
This is the third visit of Aliyev to Pakistan this year. If the Azeri
political experts as well as the pro-governmental press keep stating that
the main goal of Rumsfeld’s visit to Baku is to call for the Baku
authorities to settle the issue of locating the US forces as soon as
possible, the official Baku continues denying any possibility of the
location of the American forces in the country. The Azeri authorities state
that the regulation of the country’s national security definitely forbids
the location of foreign military bases in the territory of the republic.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta reminded that the Gaballah Radar Station is situated in
Azerbaijan, and, if it was possible to violate the regulation in the case of
Russia, why shouldn’t they do that in case of the US, particularly, if the
American are time after time threatening Baku with another “colorful”
revolution.
525 Gazet noted that Charles Wald, deputy commander of the US forces in
Europe, visited Baku. “The military-political interests of the US are not
the only reason for Rumsfeld’s visit. It is not excluded that he is carrying
out a certain political mission conditioned with the attention to the
strengthening of democracy,” the newspaper wrote, adding that in the issue
of democracy the US is most likely to exercise pressure on Baku, though it
irritates the Azeri authorities.
While Ilham Aliyev evades meeting with Rumsfeld, the Azeri parliamentarians
strictly criticize activities of Rino Harnish, US ambassador to Azerbaijan,
accusing him of interfering with the home affairs of the country. Recently,
Harnish visited the regions of the country and met with the opposition
representatives.
“Azerbaijan is no Iraq for the US, to do whatever they wish there,” Jahid
Oruj, Azeri MP said. Ali Ahmedov, deputy chairman of Yeni Azerbaijan party,
said that the Azeri officials should demand from Harnish to explain his
actions.
The explanation of Murtuz Alekserov, chairman of the Azeri parliament, was
the most interesting. Turan agency informed that he said that the
authorities will allow no power shift. “We will allow no power shift. The
“velvet” revolution took place in Azerbaijan in 1993, when Heydar Aliyev
came to power,” Alekserov said.
By Tatoul Hakobian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress