Author: Hakobian Adrine

AZERI SPEAKER URGED RUSSIA TO MULTIPLY EFFORTS IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

07.04.2005 04:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia as one of the countries co-chairing the
OSCE Minsk Group should multiply its efforts for attaining a peaceful
settlement in the Nagorno Karabakh process, Azeri Milli Mejlis Speaker
Murtuz Aleskerov stated it when receiving CIS Executive Secretary
Vladimir Rushaylo. The Speaker said that the OSCE MG Co-Chairs should
not give the negotiations to the parties to conflict, who cannot come
to terms, Murtuz Aleskerov supposes. Aleskerov said Azerbaijan was
deeply concerned over «Armenian party daily breaking the cease-fire
regime, as well as turning Nagorno Karabakh into a center of drug
business and terrorism.» In his words, the Azeri party comes for
peaceful settlement of the conflict «however, not based on compromise
over the restoration of the territorial integrity and withdrawal of
the Armenian troops from the occupied territories.» Rushaylo said
that Moscow is for just settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

–Boundary_(ID_BmXGh4hkhzAQSjdfYAv9oA)–

Press Scan

Turkish Press.com
Published: 4/5/2005

ANKARA – These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in
Turkish press on April 5th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. SEVEN HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS DETAINED

HURRIYET- High school students, who were playing football in the
garden of Abdurrahman Gazi High School in eastern city of Erzurum,
lowered the Turkish flag and tore it with a knife.

The seven high school students also attempted to burn the mask of
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of the Modern Turkish Republic,
which was at the entrance of the school.

Police detained seven high school students in line with the
testimonies of the eye witnesses.

TRNC RETOUCHING TO NSC HISTORY

HURRIYET- Regular meeting of the National Security Council (NSC),
which was planned to take place on April 25th, was later decided to
take place on April 18th.

It was reported that time of the meeting changed because of the busy
schedule of the board members.

Basing on the idea that a new period would start in TRNC after the
elections, Ankara will try to determine the policy it would carry out
with the TRNC leadership in the new process.

STEPS FROM ARMY TOWARDS CHINA

MILLIYET- Turkish Air Forces Commander Gen. Firtina, who is visiting
China, said, “we are interested in medium range defense missiles of
China.”

TURKISH PM TO GO TO ITALY FOR FUNERAL

MILLIYET- The obligation to wear tail coat during the funeral for
Pope Jean Paul II was lifted. So, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan will attend the funeral.

WHO ARE THESE JOURNALISTS?

MILLIYET- Journalists’ associations showed reaction after Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there were journalists
who asked to get unjust benefits from him (prime minister) but did
not announce their names. Erdogan was asked to announce these names
to do what was necessary. Oktay Eksi, the Chairman of the Press
Council, said that Erdogan should announce the names of such
journalists if he did no more want to see them. On the other hand,
Orhan Erinc, the Chairman of Turkish Journalists’ Association, said
that Erdogan should leave aside abstract accusations and clarify his
claims.

MILITARY SERVICE TO BE SHORTENED

SABAH- Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said that
efforts were under way to shorten the military service by 2-3 months.

6 KURUS OF INCREASE IN OIL PRICES

SABAH- The price of oil outflow from the refinery has been increased
by 9.7 percent as of today.

NINE TERRORISTS KILLED

SABAH- Nine terrorists were killed in southeastern city of Sirnak.
One security officer died in the clashes.

PKK TERRORISM AGAIN

CUMHURIYET- Terrorist PKK organization, which changed its name to
KADEK and later to KONGRA GEL with a decision taken three years ago,
was reported to be “founded again” at Ocalan’s birthday.

Sirnak Governor’s Office said nine terrorists were killed at the
clashes which erupted in Cudi Mountain between March 31st and April
4th.

Mustafa Civelek, a sergeant died during the clashes.

AKP WANTS SEZER TO ATTEND POPE’S FUNERAL

CUMHURIYET- Justice and Development Party (AKP) ruling wants
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul
in Vatican.

Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said level of Turkey’s attendance to
the meeting depended on the reply of Sezer.

INFLATION ROSE

RADIKAL- High oil prices and the rise in currency raised the
inflation rate in March. The consumer prices increased by 0.26
percent, while the rise in producer prices rose by 11.33 percent in
March. Thus, the annual inflation was 7.94 percent in consumer
prices, and it was 11.33 percent in producer prices.

ARMENIAN CHURCH TO BE RESTORED

RADIKAL- Turkish Culture & Tourism Ministry allocated 2,400,000 New
Turkish Liras (YTL) to restore Akdamar Church in eastern city of Van.
The church is one of the leading religious places of the Armenians.

SOCIAL INSURANCE FOR EVERYONE

RADIKAL- The draft law on social security reform has been presented
to the parliament. The Social Security Agency (SSK), Pension Fund and
the Social Security Agency for the Self-Employed (Bag-Kur) will be
united under a single umbrella. Everybody will have general health
insurance.

GUL GETS OIC’S PROMISE TO EXTEND SUPPORT

TURKIYE- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul met Prof. Dr.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference (OIC), as a part of his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Gul donated 1 million USD to the organization. Gul said that OIC was
taking some steps to lift economic, political and cultural embargoes
imposed on TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus).

SERDAR DENKTAS’ NEW MODEL: TAIWAN MODEL

TURKIYE- FM Serdar Denktas of TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus) said that Taiwan model could be valid for TRNC if a solution
could not be found to the Cyprus problem.

WAYS FOR ENERGY TO BE OPENED IF LOBBIES DO NOT OBSTRUCT

ZAMAN- The bill, encouraging production of electricity production
from renewable energy resources like wind and sun will be presented
to the parliament tomorrow (Wednesday).

The bill, which was withdrawn nine months ago upon the pressures of
the natural gas lobby, will save Turkey from being dependent on
foreign countries if the law takes effect.

IMF DELEGATION STARTS MEETINGS

ZAMAN- International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, headed by IMF
Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam, and Lorenzo Giorginanni, who will
replace him, arrived in Turkey on Monday.

The delegation proceeded to Ankara after holding several meetings in
Istanbul.

The delegation will hold technical meetings on updating draft letter
of intent within the scope of new stand-by deal.

Officials will take up progress in arrangements on restructuring of
banking, social security and income administration issues. They will
also discuss 2005 targets which will be revised according to definite
macro-economic accounts as well as developments which are expected in
the last quarter of 2004, and in 2005.

NEW COMMISSION TO TCK

YENI SAFAK- Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, replying to questions of
reporters, said a new commission was set regarding the new Turkish
Penal Code (TCK). He said there was a person in the commission
representing the press.

Cicek said they were in continuos contact with the press
organizations, noting that articles, which should be amended, are
determined one by one.

ONE MILLION USD TO OIC

YENI SAFAK- Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, while donating one million
USD to Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said,
“resolving the problems in the Islam world is one of our primary
responsibilities.”

Gul met OIC Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu within the
scope of his visit to Saudi Arabia and donated one million USD.

PRESS RELEASE
April 4, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:

Newly Appointed Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Arrives in Washington, DC

Ambassador Tatoul Markarian, the newly-appointed Armenian Ambassador to the
United States, arrived in Washington, and assumed the duties of his office
on March 31, 2005. Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Markarian served as
Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia.

Ambassador Markarian brings to his position a wealth of experience in
U.S.-Armenian relations. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission and
Minister-Counselor at the Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC in 1994-1998,
and was the Armenian coordinator for U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue in his
capacity as Deputy Foreign Minister. He was the Special Representative of
the President of Armenia for Nagorno Karabakh negotiations in 2002 – 2003.

Mr. Tatoul Markarian was appointed Armenian Ambassador to the United States
by President Robert Kocharian on March 19, 2005. Ambassador Markarian is
expected to present his credentials to President George W. Bush shortly.

(see official bio below)
*********************
H.E. Tatoul Markarian

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of
Armenia to the United States of America

Mr. Tatoul Markarian was appointed Armenian Ambassador to the United
States on March 19, 2005 by President Robert Kocharian. He holds
the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

Prior to assuming this position, Ambassador Markarian served as
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia since June 2000. In
that capacity, he was the Armenian coordinator for the U.S.-Armenia
Strategic Dialogue as well as the NATO-Armenia Political-Military
Dialogue. In 2002-2003, Ambassador Markarian was Special Representative
of the President of Armenia for Nagorno Karabakh negotiations.

Previous diplomatic assignments of Ambassador Tatoul Markarian included
a term as Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister-Counselor at the
Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC from December 1994 to January 1999.

Before joining the Armenian Foreign Service, Ambassador Markarian
served in newly- independent Armenia’s legislative and executive
branches. He was Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Armenian
Parliament from 1990 to 1991, and Assistant and then Adviser to the
Vice President of Armenia from 1991 to 1994, also serving as Acting
Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Armenia from 1991 to 1992.

Ambassador Markarian was born on April 16, 1964, in Kapan,
Armenia. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations
degree from the School of Advanced International Studies at the
Johns Hopkins University, and is a Doctoral candidate at the London
School of Economics and Political Science. He graduated from the
Yerevan University of National Economy in 1985, and completed a PhD
in Economics at the same University in 1988.

In addition to his native Armenian, Ambassador Markarian is fluent
in English and Russian. He is married and has one son.

ARMRUSGASPROM INCREASES ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO GEORGIA

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. ArmRusgasprom has signed an agreement
which envisages to continue electricity supply to the Georgian United
Electricity Distribution Company. According to the ArmRusgasprom’s
press service, under the agreement the company will export 900 thousand
kw/h of power each day until late June. To recap, prior to the signing
of this agreement, the daily amount exported made 500-600 thousand
kw/h. The previous agreement on electricity exports to the Georgian
company expired on March 31. ArmRusgasprom has been supplying power
to Georgia since October 16, 2004.

Peninsula On-line, Qatar

Syria marks anniversary of Armenian killings

Web posted at: 4/3/2005 1:51:58

Source ::: AFP

YEREVAN: Mukhamed Al Razzaka heard all about the killings of Armenians
during 1915-1917 when he grew up half a century ago in what today is
northern Syria amidst those who escaped the massacres.

`Armenians who grew up with us under our roof told us about the genocide,’
the 61-year-old told reporters in Yerevan earlier this week, where he had
come with 11 other tribal leaders from northern Syria as part of ceremonies
marking the 90th anniversary of what Armenians and much of the world calls a
genocide.

`We came to Armenia in order to honor the memory of thousands of innocent
people,’ Razzaka said after laying flowers at a memorial for the genocide
victims in the Armenian capital early in the week.

`Humanity should not forget the evil of the Ottoman Empire,’ he said. `Our
fathers and grandfathers not only helped them survive but also taught them
to farm since most of the refugees were craftsmen.

`We are proud that we helped thousands of innocent people survive and live
through this tragedy,’ he said, dressed in the traditional black robe and
wearing a white and black turban on his head. The massacres of Armenians
during World War I is one of the most controversial episodes in Turkish
history.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen were massacred in
orchestrated killings nine decades ago during the last years of the Ottoman
Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkey.

Turkey categorically denies the genocide allegations, arguing that 300,000
Armenians and thousands of Turks were killed in what was civil strife during
World War I when the Armenians rose against their Ottoman rulers.

Tuesday’s visit was one of a series of seminars, visits and ceremonies that
authorities in Armenia planned to mark the 90th anniversary of the start of
the killings, leading up to the official genocide remembrance day on April
24.

During the controversial period, Armenians were uprooted from their homes
and many fled to what today is Syria.

`My grandfather used to tell me how in those far away years, thousands of
Armenians crossed the… desert without food and water,’ said Nauf Rakhip Al
Pashir, who was among the delegation visiting Yerevan on Tuesday.

`There were so many killed and injured that one village was called
`margate,’ which means a collection of corpses, and `shatate,’ which means
genocide,’ he said.

IN 2004, ARMENIA MAKES INVESTMENTS OF 135.9 MLN USD IN FOREIGN
COUNTRIES

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The amount of foreign investments made
in Armenia in 2004 grew 17.9% compared with 2003 and made 467.8 mln
dollars. According to the National Statistical Service, the direct
investments made 235.2 mln USD (a 49.6% growth), portfolio invetments
– 1.4 mln USD (a 6.6% growth), other investments – 231.2 mln USD (a
11.1% decline).

Last year, the outflow of financial resources from Armenia made 135.9
mln USD, including 91.7 mln USD as cash and deposits. In 2004, the
foreign investments in the real sector of Armenia’s economy (excluding
those received through the banking system and the state governance)
made 305 mln 550.8 thousand USD (a 33.1% growth compared with 2003
index), with direct investments making 226 mln 723.4 thousand USD (a
47.7% growth).

The main investments in the real sector were done by Greece ($75 mln
70 thousand), Russia ($67 mln 204.6 mln), France ($32 mln 180.5
thousand), Germany ($38 mln 705.9 thousand), Argentina ($30 mln 401
thousand) and the US ($24 mln 97.5 thousand).

US EUROPEAN COMMAND DEPUTY COMMANDER NOTED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN
US-ARMENIAN MILITARY RELATIONS

31.03.2005 06:39

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of the National Security Council at the
Armenian President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian has met with
Deputy Commander, Headquarters US European Command Charles F. Wald,
the Press Service of the Defense Ministry reported. `I am very pleased
your calls to Armenia have become traditional and each your visit is
another step towards the development of the Armenian-American military
cooperation,’ Serge Sargsian noted. In his turn, Charles Wald noted
the significant progress in bilateral military relations. `When
strengthening bilateral relations the emphasis should first of all be
laid on the common issue of fight against international terror,’ the
interlocutors noted.

Xinhua, China
March 28 2005

Turkish documents refute allegations of Armenian genocide: official

ANKARA, March 28 (Xinhuanet) — Turkish Prime Ministry State
Archives Director General Yusuf Sarinay said on Monday that tens of
thousands of documents in state archives refuted the Armenian
genocide allegations.

More than 1 million documents were related with Armenians
directly and indirectly in Turkish archives from 1870s to
1922,Sarinay said.

“When we read those documents, we see that the Ottoman Empire
decided to relocate Armenians to suppress a de facto uprising and put
an end to Armenian’s collaboration with Russian army, not to prevent
a likely rebellion,” Sarinay said.

He blamed that Armenians have been making propaganda against
Turkey for a long time.

April 24 was declared as “day of genocide” by Armenians. Turkey
has always denied that the Armenians were subject to genocide between
1915 and 1923. While Armenians claim up to 1.5million Armenians died
in the period as a result of systematic genocide.

ARFD ELABORATES DRAFT OF NATIONAL CONCEPT ON EXPORT GROWTH FACILITY

YEREVAN, MARCH 25. ARMINFO. The draft of National concept on export
growth facility, elaborated by the party ARF Dashnaktsutiun, will
be made public 10-15 days later. Head of the faction of ARFD Levon
Mkrtchian informed during the briefing at the National Assembly
of Armenia.

He stressed that adoption of this document will assist consolidation of
the potential of the whole Armenian people for ensuring the economic
development of Armenia. Levon Mkrtchian mentioned that jointly with
experts-economists have jointly worked over elaboration of this
document. He informed that in the nearest future the document will be
submitted for consideration of state structures and nongovernmental
organizations, after which it will be made public.

It should be noted, according to National Statistical Service of
Armenia, in 2004 the exports totaled $715 mln, and the imports –
$1.350 bln.

Vafa Guluzade: “Chechens are heroic people!”

Kavkaz Center, Turkey
March 26 2005

The Chechen journalist and legal expert Mairbek Taramov met Vafa
Guluzade, who held a high post of the state adviser at three presidents
of Azerbaijan . He had a long conversation with him, which we bring
to attention of our readers.

He graduated from the Azerbaijan State University ; worked at the
Academy of sciences of the Azerbaijan Republic . Then he entered
the postgraduate study of the Institute of Oriental studies of the
Academy of Sciences of the USSR , where he protected his master’s
thesis. He is a skilled orientalist-foreign-affairs-specialist,
speaks the Arabian, English, Farsi, Turkish and Russian languages.

In 1969 V. Guluzade worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the USSR , then in different Soviet embassies. In breaks between
diplomatic work he worked in the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of Azerbaijan as the head of the department of culture of the
Central Committee, simultaneously taking part in large diplomatic
actions, devoted to regulation of the Arabian-Israeli conflict with
the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR.

In the end of 1990 he returned to Azerbaijan in the post of the adviser
of the embassy of the USSR in Algeria , and since then he worked as
the state adviser at three presidents of the Azerbaijan Republic ,
till 1999.

On the 8 th of October, 1999 V. Guluzade resigned and became engaged in
an active political activity, writing numerous articles in the press,
interview and applications concerning foreign policy, settlement of
the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict.

He headed the delegation of Azerbaijan in the Minsk group of the OSCE
at the negotiations with the Armenian party, and was the personal
representative of President G. Aliev at direct negotiations with the
representative of the President of Armenia. He is also a participant
of numerous summits of the OSCE, and also heads of the states.

Chechenpress