Author: George Mamian

EU FOLLOWS ACTIVATION OF PROCESS OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11. ARMINFO. At present EU follows the activation
of the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict awaiting its
final resolution. EU Special Representative on the South Caucasus
Heikki Talvitie said at a press conference, Thursday, Azerbaijani
Mass Media reports.
He said that EU attentively followed the negotiation process. He said
despite some lull in the negotiations after the meeting in Astana, the
situation again went right, but there were still some issues subject
to solution. As regards the EU’s role in the Karabakh conflict’s
resolution, Talvitie said that he could just bring the position of
the organization. He pointed out that the staff of OSCE MG mediating
between the conflicting parties was effective being represented
by the USA, France and Russia. he said. He noted that the EU could
contribute to restoration and reconstruction of the territories after
their release.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Independent
January 27, 2005
UNIQUE REMINDER OF INHUMANITY THAT SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
THE SIXTIETH anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz today has a
special sense of dignity. As with the D-Day anniversary last year,
there is inevitably a sense of a passing of the generation who
remembered and were part of it, a thinning of the cord that connects
the past with new generations who must learn about it afresh.
This is reason perhaps to feel a particular solemnity this year, to
stand in sorrow at the loss of so many lives and in appalled
knowledge of what man is capable of doing to man. Only those who
survived, those who witnessed the death camps or who had relations
who died there, can know the full extent of grief that the Holocaust
brought. But it remains in its scale and its full bureaucratic
ruthlessness a crime that had, and must continue to have,
reverberations through all humanity.
Auschwitz itself was not only an extermination camp for Jews, of
course. Tens of thousands of Poles, Russians, gypsies, homosexuals
and others whom the Nazis defined as subhuman, also died there. But
it has come to have a special meaning in the Holocaust, accounting
for up to 1 million of the 6 million Jews who died as victims of the
world’s most horrendous genocide.
Was the Holocaust then a unique event, an “exceptional” act of mass
murder that can only be understood in Jewish historical terms, or was
it part of a wider pattern of brutality, a peculiarly brutal part to
be sure, but one with implications for us all?
The answer must be that it was – and is – both. The anti-Semitism
that encouraged the persecution of Jews throughout Europe in the
Middle Ages and beyond and allowed the Nazis to define them as a
sub-species of mankind to be wiped off their lands has not
disappeared. It did not start with the rise to power of Hitler and it
did not end with his fall. Given that history, Jews have a special
reason for feeling that the Holocaust should be invoked as a constant
rallying cry to stamp out even the most isolated signs of a
resurgence in anti-Semitic propaganda and assault.
But the Holocaust was not alone as an act of genocide in a century
filled with massacres of civilians and ethnic violence. Armenians,
Tutsi, Chechens, Aborigines, Marsh Arabs, Nubian tribesmen – the list
of victims of race or colour is endless, not to mention the millions
of their own countrymen killed or starved by Stalin, Mao Zedong and
Pol Pot. In that sense the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
cannot be just an occasion to remember a uniquely horrifying episode
in history. Within five years millions of Hindus and Muslims were
being killed for their religion in the break-up of India. Half a
century later, Rwanda proved that virtually an entire people could be
slaughtered – and the world would let it happen.
There is reason for optimism as well as gloom. The reaction to the
horrors of Nazism and the World War it unleashed led to the creation
of both the United Nations and then the European Common Market. It is
now impossible to conceive of any resurgence of the national conflict
in Europe that brought with it two world wars. The collapse of the
Soviet Union has also brought with it an opportunity for countries
such as Poland, Hungary and Romania to face up to their past, and
particularly the Holocaust.
But faced with the ethnic violence and civilian massacres in Darfur,
no one could say that the lessons of the last century have been
learnt, or that the international community has yet found a way of
preventing them. Nor, listening to the debate about immigration, can
anyone say that all people have learnt generosity towards their
fellow men. Fear of the foreigner, suspicion of the outsider, lies
close to the surface of every society, ready to break out in calls
for action when pressures seem threatening. One man’s concern about
security all too easily becomes a crowd’s call to imprison or reject
a whole group. We will need to remember Auschwitz long after its last
survivor has gone.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #226, 16/12/2004
Armenia-Azerbaijan
OSKANIAN AND MAMEDIAROV OVERCOME OBSTACLES
Negotiations to Be Held Without Karabakh’s Participation
RA Foreign Minister stated during the December 14 news conference that by the
positive mediation of OSCE Minsk group and cooperating with Azerbaijan it
became possible to remove the obstacles occurred when resuming the negotiation
process. Though the obstacles were removed, Vartan Oskanian is “cautiously
optimistic.”
Recently at one of the conferences Oskanian announced that the fate of the
“Prague process” by 100% depends on whether the UN General Assembly will adopt
“the situation in the occupied Azerbaijani territories” formula put forward by
Azerbaijan or not.
In response to the question posed by Azg Daily whether it meant that Azerbaijan
excluded the issue from the UN General Assembly, Oskanian said:” I said that we
have removed the obstacle (occurred in the settlement process). You will find
out in the future what results it will yield. We are ready to begin the second
stage of the “Prague process.”
The statement adopted by the OSCE Board of Foreign Ministers said that “taking
into account the results of the “Prague process,” the OSCE Minsk group
co-chairs have submitted a negotiation circle that can serve as a ground for
the settlement to the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in September in
Astana.”
Oskanian responded to the question about NKR’s participation in the
negotiations and about its status saying: “The negotiations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in the Prague format are likely to continue till some stage when
NKR’s participation will be necessary. The format of the present moment that
was in the course of the last few years will be preserved.”
A year ago, when Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev met in Geneva for the first
time, Oskanian stated that it is important for Armenia to know whether Aliyev
junior is ready to continue the negotiations from the point on which his father
stopped. Today, when the Prague format is spoken of, can we suppose that the
negotiations are being continued from the point where Kocharian and Aliyev
senior stopped?
“I wouldn’t like definitely to put this question like this. I merely can say
that the position of Armenia remained unchanged. Our approaches remain the same
and today the content of the framework is sufficient for us to continue the
negotiations,” Oskanian said.
RA foreign minister doesn’t pay attention to the way Azerbaijan comments the
discussions around the Nagorno Karabakh settlement to the publicity. “I take as
a ground the things I hear with my own ears and the things I discuss during the
negotiations. I believe that the things we discuss create a common circle for
the continuation of the negotiations. I don’t want to pay attention to the way
Azerbaijan comments all this to the Azeri publicity, taking into account its
home situation or its interests. In fact, two parallel processes are taking
place, i.e. the real negotiations and the things that are told to (the Azeri
publicity),” Oskanian said.
Recently, the first Armenian president said in a half-secret interview given to
the mass media protecting AAM that Armenia will not be able to return the
position it lost in 1997 in Karabakh issue. Oskanian who used to be the head of
the Armenian delegation at the negotiations held within the OSCE Minsk group
framework for many years when Ter-Petrosian was the president, emphasized that
“if the people demand for example, to begin stage-by-stage negotiations, this
issue should be really put forward, the parliament should discuss it and submit
it to the government, as it is done frequently, demanding to begin stage by
stage variant without wasting time.”
Oskanian believes that the issue can arouse constructive discussions in the
press.” Indeed, one of the main complaints of the first presidents was the fact
that there have never been any detailed discussions of Nagorno Karabakh issue,
the discussions were always a political and personalized means to strike the
people and criticize the authorities.”
RA foreign minister believes that “all the versions are just versions, good or
bad.” Oskanian doesn’t follow the slogan:” This variant is a traitorous, while
the second one is a heroic one”. “We should settle the problem, we should work
in that direction… We all are interested to settle the issue in the way it will
not harm our national interests, it will not weaken Armenia, or deprive NKR of
the achievements it has today… It is an issue of approaches that is why we
shouldn’t consider the issues by such categories as traitorous or heroic. We
should see what is in our interests, what is possible or impossible, what we
lose, what we gain and what is the middle.”
It’s worth reminding that Vartan Oskanian said that the Karabakh issue was not
the reason for Levon Ter-Petrosian’s resignation during the meeting with the
students of the Yerevan State University on July the 3rd, there were other
reasons and one can’t say that he resigned because of Karabakh, the foreign
minister pointed out.
By Tatoul Hakobian
–Boundary_(ID_cqaThcvh6g5fdlOGY1MYRA)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USAID Press Release, DC
Dec 14 2004
Lloyd O. Pierson Sworn In As Head of USAID’s Bureau for Africa
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
Press: (202) 712-4320
Public Information: (202) 712-4810
2004-110
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2004
Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Agency for International Development
Administrator Andrew S. Natsios announced the swearing in of Lloyd O.
Pierson as the Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Africa at
the agency. Pierson was confirmed by the Senate on November 21, 2004.
As the head of the Africa bureau, Pierson will provide overall
regional and country expertise, manage USAID programs in the field,
and represent USAID on Africa to the U.S. Congress. He will also be
responsible for communication at the regional and country level with
other international donors and financial organizations.
Prior to joining USAID, Pierson was Chief of Staff and Chief of
Operations for the Peace Corps. Shortly after the inauguration of
President Bush in 2001, Lloyd was named a member of the transition
team at Peace Corps. In September 2001, he was named Acting Deputy
Director with overall agency management responsibilities, including
the Africa Bureau. In his role, he was responsible for the day-to-day
operations of all Peace Corps programs abroad, headquarters staff,
and the 11 domestic Regional Recruiting Offices.
Pierson was previously appointed to senior Administration positions
by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. In November of
2001, he was selected to represent the United States in addressing a
plenary session of the United Nations during the concluding session
of the International Year of the Volunteer.
>From 1984-1991, he was the Country Director in Ghana and Botswana and
served an interim assignment in Swaziland. In addition, he negotiated
bilateral agreements for the Peace Corps in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Pierson was named the first Peace Corps Country Director in Namibia
following that country’s independence from South Africa on March 20,
1990. He subsequently assisted with establishing Peace Corps programs
in Armenia, Bulgaria, and Uzbekistan.
Prior to returning to Peace Corps in 2001, Lloyd was Director of the
Africa Division for the International Republican Institute (IRI), a
Washington, D.C. based non-profit organization that works to advance
democracy and good governance abroad. He has testified before the
United States Congress on Angola, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe and has been
quoted in the media and academic journals on issues related to
Africa. From 1982 to 1984, Pierson was a Staff Associate on the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations.
Pierson is a graduate of the University of Houston and has done
post-graduate studies at the South Texas College of Law and Lamar
University.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iran may export oil products to Armenia via rail
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 7 2004
Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian and Iranian Ambassador to
Armenia Alirza Hagigian discussed construction of a railway connecting
Iran and Armenia last Saturday.
Sarkisian stressed that the project, which envisions exports of
Iranian oil to Armenia, is a vital issue for his country.
Also considered were issues related to regional security, the Upper
Garabagh conflict, construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and
new electricity transmission lines, as well as the planned visit by
Sarkisian to Iran, the Armenian media reported.
The Iranian ambassador said that his country is ready to assist
in teaching the Persian language in the Vazgen military school. He
also underlined that political stability and economic development in
Armenia is very important for Iran.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AMSTERDAM TO HOST THIRTEENTH EURASIAN TRANSPORT FORUM
RIA Novosti, Russia
Nov 22 2004
THE HAGUE, NOVEMBER 22, (RIA Novosti’s Andrei Poskakukhin) – The
thirteenth Eurasian transport forum is to open in Amsterdam November
22, lasting until November 27.
The Eurasian transport forum is the most important event dealing with
the development of European, CIS and Baltic transport sectors. Among
other things, Russian, Kazakh and Armenian transport ministers,
transport-company representatives, those of major seaports and river
ports, investment agencies, auditing and other companies, as well as
state and international organizations, would be expected to attend
this forum.
Forum delegates are to discuss the development of different
transport categories, the expanded European Union’s influence
on Eurasian transport flows, the development of trade and the
international transport-service market after the EU’s expansion,
the safety of Eurasian transport systems, legal support for the
Russian transport infrastructure, the expansion of ports and their
modernization, up-to-date highway-construction concepts, customs
regulations, transit traffic, transport corridors, ambitious
transport-infrastructure projects on CIS territory, as well as EU
transport-project appropriations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 18 2004
CE committee to hear report on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict

British parliament member David Atkinson will deliver a report on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict in a meeting of the Council of Europe
(CE) Political Committee to be held in Paris on Wednesday and
attended by Azerbaijani MPs Samad Seyidov and Asim Mollazada.
Earlier the Azerbaijani side approved the first version of the
report, the major part of which has been prepared by the incumbent CE
Secretary General Terry Davis, while the Armenia termed the version
as a threat to its national interests. *
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian leader feels no “great optimism” about Karabakh talks
Mediamax news agency
15 Nov 04
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan announced in Yerevan today that
“he does not feel great optimism” in connection with the current
situation in the process of settling the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
Mediamax news agency quoted Robert Kocharyan as saying this today at a
joint briefing with Estonian President Arnold Ruutel, who is paying a
three-day -visit to Armenia.
The Armenian president talked about two serious problems which, as he
mentioned, are hindering progress at the talks on the conflict
settlement.
“The first problem is the absence of representatives from the Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic [NKR],” Robert Kocharyan said, noting that official
Baku wishes to hold the talks exclusively with Armenia. The president
said that consequently, he is representing the position not only of
Armenia but also of the NKR at the negotiations. Apart from this,
Robert Kocharyan stressed that this is not a correct negotiation
format to reflect the essence of the conflict.
Mediamax news agency quoted Robert Kocharyan as saying that
Azerbaijan’s unwillingness to start regional cooperation is the second
obstacle. The president recalled that Armenia follows the formula
“through cooperation to the settlement”, but Azerbaijan considers
impossible any form of cooperation with Armenia until the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict is fully solved. Meanwhile, Robert Kocharyan noted
that “we continue to believe that regional cooperation can create a
more favourable atmosphere for the conflict settlement”.
Commenting on the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen,
Robert Kocharyan described the mediation of Russia, the USA and France
as “the best format”. The Armenian president said that ” the OSCE
Minsk Group is doing everything possible for the conflicting sides to
settle the problem”. Therefore “it is now possible to say that that it
is the conflicting sides and not the mediators who are at fault”,
Robert Kocharyan said, recalling that “there were situations when we
were close to settling the conflict”.
The Armenian president recalled that the OSCE Minsk Group “has first
of all the role of a mediator and has no mandate to force the
conflicting sides towards peace”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Nov 10 2004
EUROPEAN UNION DEEPLY INTERESTED IN AZERBAIJAN
[November 10, 2004, 12:24:07]
Political affairs director of the foreign ministry of Germany Michael
Scheffer and his French colleague Stanisilav Lefevr in the frame of
visit to the South Caucasus have been in Baku and met the foreign
minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and other officials, AzerTAj
said. On 9 November, the visitors have held a news conference on
conclusions of negotiations, assessing their visit as the token of
interest of the European Union in Azerbaijan.
Mr. Michael Scheffer noted that Azerbaijan as a part of the South
Caucasus is an important state and stability in Azerbaijan for the
European Union means stability in Europe. At his words, the European
countries will make every effort for settlement of conflict in Nagorny
Karabakh, as well as in Georgia.
Stanislav Lefevr stated that Azerbaijan’s participation at the
“New Neighboring policy” of Europe provides supremacy of law and
development of democracy, Germany and France welcomes the steps made
in this direction.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Mirror-Spectator
9-10-04
Expanded Guide to Armenia, Karabagh
Stresses Ecology, Brims with New Info
By Daphne Abeel
Mirror-Spectator Staff
If you are traveling to Armenia and Karabagh or just want to browse
through an informative description of the region, the new and expanded
Stone Garden Guide to Armenia and Karabagh should be on your reading
list.
Even if you own a copy of Matthew Karanian and Robert Kurkjian’s first
guide, Edge of Time, you’ll want the current edition, which contains
much more information, additional colorful maps and photographs and
important information on Armenia’s ecology.
Karanian and Kurkjian have spent 10 years traveling in Armenia and
Karabagh. As the Foreword notes, `They have traveled, eaten and slept
at virtually every location they recommend, and their individual
educational backgrounds allow them to make excellent and insightful
commentary about the environmental issues within Armenia.’
Ronald Suny’s introductory chapter presents a concise history of
Armenia from 6000 BC, the earliest times, when the country was ruled
by kings, up to the present day, when Armenia exists as an
independent, democratic republic. Readers will also find brief
descriptions of the economy, architecture, politics, population and
religion.
Basic information, such as airlines, national holidays, embassy
locations, public transportation, safety, are covered in the chapter
on `Essentials.’
A special feature of the book is the chapter titled `Ecology,’ which
notes the consequences of independence and development which have
hampered Armenia’s environmental policies. Nevertheless, Armenia has
passed a number of laws to protect its water, air, flora and fauna and
to fight global warming.
Eco-tourists will welcome directions to Armenia’s forests, parks and
birding areas and the list of ecological tours and hiking
expeditions. At the same time, the authors make the point that
Armenia’s resources need more protection.
Diaspora organizations such as the Armenia Tree Project are helping
reforest the country, but, the authors point out, the Armenian
government also needs to champion conservation. There is a helpful
list of ecological organizations in Armenia at the end of the book.
The book is divided into several sections, beginning with Yerevan, and
covering central Armenia, the Lake Sevan area, northeastern Armenia,
northwestern Armenia, southern Armenia and Karabagh. Each section is
packed with up-to-date facts about what to see, how to get there,
restaurants and where to stay.
Whether you want to visit museums and more, you’ll find what you are
looking for here. Every map and brilliant color photograph contributes
to the reader’s knowledge.
Each section of the book contains highlighted paragraphs of
information on commonsensical aspects of Armenia that the reader and
traveler will want to know. For example, bring bottled water on long
trips, and pedestrians should be especially watchful of cars.
Karanian and Kurkjian have turned what was a basic, skeleton guide
into a full-fledged and researched and illustrative volume that is a
must for anyone considering a trip to the region. And it will still
fit into a handbag or coat pocket.
For further information on Armenia, Karabagh, contact Stone Garden
Productions, PO Box 7758, Northridge, Calif. 91327 or email
[email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress