Author: Hambardsumian Paul

MEDIATORS IN VIENNA MEETING OF MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA

Azerbaijan News Service
Oct 4 2005

Mediators in Vienna meeting of OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen are
expected to visit Azerbaijan and Armenia, informed Elmar Mammadyarov,
foreign affairs minister of Azerbaijan. Mr. Mammadyarov also noted
structure of next phase of talks on settlement of Armenia- Azerbaijan
Daqliq Qarabaq conflict has already been determined. Noting that
the talks will be held within the frames of Prague talks process,
Azerbaijani FA minister said agreements on three points still stay
in force. The topic of the talks include such questions as release
of occupied Azerbaijani lands, ensuring of safe return of refugees
to their homeland, arrival of peacekeeping forces in the region,
perspectives of economic relations. Mr. Mammadyarov considers there is
still chance for peaceful settlement of the conflict. And official Baku
is firm in its position that is the highest autonomy to Daqliq Qarabaq
within the frames of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan Republic.

OPINION : WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE WITH THE EFFORT WASTED TO PERSUADE AUSTRIA?
Baris Sanli , JTW Columnist

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 3 2005

After long hours of meetings and news, now I am heading back to my
home. The two days and the stress caused by Austria to my psychology
has been destructive on me. I do not expect an official apology from
Austria, but they literally wasted my time with their five star,
gold medalist stubbornness. Now everyone is happy, as usual except me.

But how about the time, diplomacy and the effort given to persuade
Austria? It could have been used for more important causes. Now
what is different, for two days they just tested the nerves of
European Foreign Ministers and most importantly me. For what? Just
to turn a historic chance to a political circus. Some may say this
is how diplomacy works, but I will call it “this is how diplomacy is
wasted”. After all, the situation is no different than 1st October.

So I decided to write a list of things to be done with the resources
wasted to persuade Austria. Here is my list as a product of my ruined
psychology, enjoy it:

– I could have written annoying articles to annoy Armenians.

– My Armenian readers could have written more annoying emails to me
to annoy me.

– I could have been treated from my mental problems.

– Even North Korea can start the accession talks with EU with this
much of effort – I would like to add Antarctica to previous article.

– and Zimbabwe – Bush could be teached to find the Iraq on the
world map.

– Blair could be persuaded to leave his place to Gordon Brown.

– Sarkozy can be sent to space.(For peaceful purposes like the first
French president to be to enjoy space) – Austrians can be informed
about the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

– Greek Cyprus could be persuaded to UN talks.

– Karen Hughes can win the hearts of Turkish women. (I have never
ever achieved such a thing) – Washington Times could be converted
into democratic and open minded newspaper.

– Usame Bin Laden could be persuaded that killing innocents is not
a way to deal with problems.

– Serbians could be teached that Bosnian Muslims are not bad –
Poverty problem could have been solved.

– Third world could have been transformed into a bunch of Silicon
valleys.

– The whole world could be informed that Turkey is not a desert and
is not a place where people use camels for transportation and Turks
are not barbarians, it was Conan the Barbarian.

– And I could have been persuaded not to write any more articles in
this aggressive tone.

PROTESTERS RAIL AGAINST ‘TOO MANY ‘CONCESSIONS’
By Amberin Zaman in Ankara

The Daily Telegraph
Oct 3 2005

Tens of thousands of Turkish nationalists staged a huge show of
strength yesterday to protest at what they see as Christian Europe’s
efforts to shut its doors to Muslim Turkey.

Demonstrators flooded the streets of Ankara, the capital, to denounce
the campaign by the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to placate
the country’s critics in the EU.

“The concessions that you have made to the EU are dragging Turkey
toward darkness,” Devlet Bahceli, head of the Nationalist Action Party,
told flag-waving crowds, addressing Mr Erdogan.

“Don’t allow them [the EU] to impose more heavy conditions on
us…Reject those [membership] talks,” Mr Bahceli said.

The high turnout of protesters was a further sign of the wave of
nationalist sentiment sweeping Turkey on the eve of its scheduled
talks on EU membership.

Many Turks question whether Turkey should launch more reforms amid
receding hopes that it will ever become a full member.

The EU’s seemingly endless list of demands are perceived as a plot
to weaken, then dismember Turkey. The proof that such a policy is
Europe’s goal is supposedly demonstrated by its demands that Turkey
grant greater rights to Kurds, acknowledge the 1915 Armenian genocide
and make more concessions on Cyprus.

“The Europeans are playing games with us. Their real ambition is
to weaken Turkey, to make it their slave,” said Mehmet Korkmaz,
an electrician. The irony that tiny Austria, the most vociferous of
Turkey’s opponents, may yet extinguish Turkey’s long cherished EU
dream has been seized on by many. It was the defeat of the Ottoman
Turks at the gates of Vienna in 1683 that marked the beginning of
the decline of their once mighty empire.

But for every Eurosceptic Turk opinion polls show there are twice as
many who are in favour of the EU. Many value the process of integrating
into the EU, with its emphasis on human rights and the rule of law,
over actual membership itself.

Even Mr Bahceli stopped short yesterday of opposing EU membership,
focusing his wrath on the conditions of membership instead.

In the five years that have elapsed since EU leaders officially
anointed Turkey as a candidate for membership, improvements in the
country’s wobbly democracy have been huge.

The Kurds can now publish and broadcast in their previously banned
tongue. The share of education in the national budget has surpassed
that of the military. Capital punishment has been abolished and
marital rape is counted a criminal offence.

Although Turkey has been ruled by a group of former Islamists for
the past three years, there are few signs that it is sliding into
Shar’iah rule. After decades of crisis, the economy is booming.

Given the choice between swallowing their pride and negotiating with
the EU – even without the promise of full membership – or walking
away into an uncertain future, most Turks are still opting for Europe.

San Bernardino Sun, CA
Los Angeles Daily News
Oct 2 2005

Development of Armenian alphabet focus of new exhibition

Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer

GLENDALE – The Armenian alphabet was created 1,600 years ago by
Mesrop Mashtots, a monk, theologian and linguist who was interested
in translating the Bible into native tongue.
The alphabet strengthened Armenia’s church and its kingdom and
started a national literature that continues today.

The Glendale Central Library opened Saturday a monthlong display on
the development of the Armenian alphabet, one of several planned for
this month in the Glendale area.

“What it’s made me realize is the significance of the book and the
significance of writing to the Armenian culture,” said Nancy
Hunt-Coffey, Glendale’s director of libraries.

“Writing and the manuscripts are valued in the same way that we value
priceless works of art. The writing is sort of inextricably tied to
(Armenian) cultural development in the same way that the great
artists are tied to western development.”

The display features dozens of books and more than 50 pieces of art,
including prints, sculptures and pottery. Material for the display
comes from the Matenadaran book depository in Armenia.

Armenian alphabet expert Nona Manoukian from the Glendale Public
Library visited Matenadaran recently and brought back the material.

The display, which runs through Oct. 31, also highlights the Glendale
Public Library’s acquisition nearly a year ago of 12,500 Armenian
books donated by the now defunct American Armenian International
College in La Verne.

Librarians are still going through the collection and have begun
putting some of the books on shelves. Some of the more academic books
will go to local universities. The library had 4,000 Armenian books
before the donation.

“It’s a tremendous infusion of resources that are in high demand,”
Hunt-Coffey said.

Today, the Alex Theatre will host a celebration of the 1,600th
anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet.

The free program is presented by the Hamazkayin Educational &
Cultural Society, and it will feature keynote speakers from UCLA and
UC Berkeley and performances by dancers and musicians.

On Oct. 6, His Holiness Aram I, the Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church, will visit the Homenetmen
Glendale Ararat Chapter for the opening of its exhibition on the
Armenian alphabet.

The exhibition will be open to the public from Oct. 7-9.

“Since its creation, the letters were never changed or reformed,
making the Armenian language one of the most extremely precise
languages,” said Armond Gorgorian, executive director of the
Homenetmen chapter.

Homenetmen is an an international Armenian youth organization.

IF YOU GO

A display of Armenian arts and culture runs through Oct. 31 at the
Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St.

The Hamazkayin Educational & Cultural Society will present a
Celebration of the 1,600th Anniversary of the Armenian Alphabet, 6
p.m. today at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Free.

The Homenetmen art exhibition on the Armenian alphabet will open to
the public Oct. 7-9 at Homenetmen’s Ararat Chapter, 3347 N. San
Fernando Road, Los Angeles. His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia, will mark the opening of the exhibit at an
invitation-only ceremony at 7 p.m. Oct. 6.

GYUMRI TO BE CLEANED OF RUBBISH

A1+
| 13:35:45 | 29-09-2005 | Regions |

Japan, the Armenian government and the Gyumri city administration
joined efforts to eliminate household rubbish by means of processing. A
Japanese delegation arrived in Gyumri for the purpose.

Armenia joint the Kyoto Protocol in 2004 and the first programs were
implemented in Nubarasgen community of Yerevan.

Similar program has been already launched in Gyumri. “Within the
protocol framework measures targeted at reduction of toxic agents in
the atmosphere will be undertaken”, member of the Japanese delegation
said.

In the opinion of specialists, the rubbish processing will give a
positive ecological result and can be also used as an energy source.

The implementation of the Gyumri program in will be initially financed
by Japan, then by the local self-government. The works will be carried
out jointly by the Armenian and Japanese specialists.

The initial stage of the program, which implies the investigation
of the area, has already started, Tsayg TV company reported. Later
assembly and construction works will be launched.

NATO PA COMMITTEE APPROVES REPORT ON GARABAGH CONFLICT

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 29 2005

NATO Parliamentary Assembly committee on the civil dimension of
security has approved a report on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
Garabagh conflict.

All the recommendations made by Azerbaijan were included in the first
draft of the document, prepared by German parliamentarian Von Heden.

The report also indicates that Azerbaijan’s territories have been
occupied by Armenia, parliament vice-speaker and head of the Azeri
delegation at NATO PA Ziyafat Asgarov said.

Asgarov told journalists that the Azerbaijani party was earlier
discontent with the first draft, which erroneously said that not 20%,
but 16% of Azeri land is under occupation and that more Armenians
than Azerbaijanis used to live in the conflict zone. “The Azerbaijani
delegation aims to achieve approval of the report by NATO PA as well.

I have discussed this with the Assembly leadership. We stressed that
NATO PA should act the same way the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) did,” the vice-speaker said. PACE passed
a resolution late in January confirming that Armenia occupies Azeri
territories.

NEXT YEAR’S BUDGET TO PROMISE HIGHER SALARIES
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily #174
29/09/2005

Economy

Pavel Safarian, deputy economy and finances minister, presented
yesterday the draft RA budget of 2006 that the Armenian government
passed on September 28. The GDP is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent
next year raising the GDP to 2.4 trillion dram. Inflation is expected
not to exceed 3 per cent.

The planned revenue for 2006 will amount to 380 billion dram against
last year’s 347 billion. The government will spend 450 billion
next year.

Budgeted deficit will be 69.9 billion part of which is supposed to
be filled by inner sources.

The relation of GDP-taxes will hopefully be reduced to 15.1 per
cent. Asked what is the GDP-tax correlation and is there a difference
compared to previous years, Pavel Safarian said that this index does
not differ much from the revenue index.

Deputy minister informed that the budget of 2006 will increase the
salaries of teachers and workers of the educational sphere by 10.000
dram. The money for education will surpass last year’s budget by 8
billion and by 6.7 billion for healthcare. The employees of hospitals
and outpatients will also receive higher salaries. As for the workers
of the cultural sphere they will mark 19 per cent increase in their
monthly earnings.

The average family relief payments will boost from 12.000 to
15.000. The average pension will grow by 1.500 drams. The minimal
salary in the republic will rise from 13.000 to 15.000.

Armenia’s military expenditure for the next year will rise by 13
billion.

The deputy minister considered it natural that the government assigns
more money for the military sphere. Asked what is the overall allotment
to the military sector and whether it is not worrying that Azerbaijan
increases its military expenditure year by year, Safarian said that
the army will get $150 million. In regard to neighboring country’s
intensions, deputy minister gave a rather neutral answer saying that
every state strives to increase allotments for its security.

EUROPEAN SOCIALISTS ACCUSE RIGHT-WING OPPONENTS OF NOT WANTING MUSLIM TURKEY IN EU

IRNA< Iran
Sept 28 2005

Brussels, IRNA

The Socialist Group (PES) in the European Parliament accused Wednesday
the right-wing European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and
European Democrats (EPP-ED) of being against Turkey’s EU membership
because it was a Muslim country.

“You don’t want to have Turkey because it is Islamic and far away.

Croatia is closer and is Catholic. That is the truth of your message.

Let us not beat about the bush. We must apply the same standards to
all countries,” PES leader Martin Schulz told EPP leader Hans-Gert
Poettering during a heated debate on Turkey’s EU membership in the
EP in Strasbourg.

The leader of the 219-strong Socialist Group, the second-largest in
the EP, said “the EPP does not want Turkey. We want to give Turkey
a chance.”

On his part, the leader of EPP – which with 267 MEPs in the 732-member
EP is the largest group – said if EU membership was not achieved
at the end of the process, then the alternative result must be a
privileged partnership for Turkey.

He said Christians’ “legitimate rights” in Turkey had to be recognised
and implemented in the same way that “Moslem citizens’ rights were
recognised in European Union countries.”

Poettering urgently called on the British Presidency of the EU to
apply the same criteria to Croatia as that of Turkey.

“Everyone has shut their eyes on the human rights issue in Turkey
while Croatia was to be refused the start of negotiations because a
single general – one who was plainly not even in Croatia – had not
yet been delivered up to the Hague Tribunal,” he said.

The EU has postponed talks on Croatia’s membership because of Zagreb’s
failure to arrest a war crimes suspect Gen Ante Gotovina.

But EU states like Austria and Hungary want Croatia to start talks
at the same time as Turkey on October 3.

The co-president of the Green/EFA (European Free Alliance), Daniel
Cohn-Bendit, also criticized the EPP saying “some of the opponents
of Turkey’s accession are surfing on a wave of cultural and racist
prejudices.”

“This is a dangerous game,” he said adding that “the question of
European Islam exists with or without Turkey. There are already more
Muslims in the EU than there are Belgians.”

The EP Wednesday voted in favour of starting talks on Turkish accession
on October 3, but insisted on a number of conditions before it is
allowed entry.

MEPs insisted that Turkey recognise the killings of thousands of
Armenians in 1915 as genocide.

The EP also postponed a vote on ratifying Turkey’s customs arrangements
with the EU because of its refusal to recognise the Greek Cypriot
government.

At the request of the EPP-ED group, EP voted 311 votes in favour,
285 against and 63 abstentions to postpone the vote

Office of The President of Finland
27.9.2005

Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at Yerevan
State University on 27 September 2005

It is a great honour and pleasure for me to speak to all of you today after
having received an honorary doctorate from Yerevan State University.

I am especially glad to be here for several reasons. Firstly, this is my
second visit to Armenia. The first was in 1996, when I was Minister for
Foreign Affairs. That visit was linked to negotiations conducted by the
co-chairs of the Minsk Group seeking a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict – Finland and Russia – with leaders in the region. On that occasion
I had the opportunity to visit Yerevan and Baku and to meet Southern
Caucasian political leadership.

Unfortunately the Minsk Group still faces a tough job to settle the
conflict, under the leadership of France, Russia and the United States. I
talked about this today with President Kocharian and hoped that the parties
would continue bilateral contacts and talks within the framework of the
Minsk Group in order to make swift progress. This is important for the
region’s residents and refugees, who have not been able to return to their
homes. Resolving this problem is also important for the stability of the
entire region, to attract new investments to the region and help building
new prosperity for it.

The second reason I am glad is that I am happy to be here as a President.
This is the very first official visit by the President of the Republic of
Finland to the three independent republics in the southern Caucasus. This is
part of the stepped-up exchange of visits in recent years, I noted this
already when Foreign Minister Oskanyan came to Finland last May. Cooperation
between Armenian and Finnish churches and in the cultural field has also
intensified in recent years. It is in Finland’s interests to nurture and
develop commercial, scientific and cultural cooperation between our nations.

I hope also that my visit will encourage you to continue your efforts to
promote democracy and human rights. The equality between men and women is
typical for Nordic countries. It has been fair for citizens and strengthened
us in the competition of the globalized world.

The autonomous status of the Swedish speaking Åland Islands as part of
Finland has often attracted foreign observers’ interest as an example of the
successful resolution of a dispute between two neighbouring countries. Only
a couple of weeks ago I sent greetings to a project arranged at the Åland
Islands Peace Institute that included non-governmental organizations,
journalists and researchers from the countries in the southern Caucasus. I
hope that their experiences can influence the settling of the Abkhazia,
South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts. Finland does not want to force
any model on anyone but hopes that regional leaders will accept new ideas
with an open mind and apply them creatively and constructively within the
framework of local conditions.

Speaking at this university recalls the significance of scientific research
as part of a national success strategy. In today’s world the success of a
nation depends on different types of resources – economic, environmental,
human and social – and the connection between them. Increasing resources in
all these areas creates the preconditions for prosperity.

In developed societies raw materials are no longer the only important factor
in economic growth, but the essential thing is what is built on top of them.
Finland’s development from a supplier of pulp and other basic forest
products, to become a leading producer of mobile phones and other products
of modern hich tech as well took place as a result of decades of investment
in science and research. Finland’s experience can also have significance for
a country like Armenia, where higher education has long traditions and the
population is well educated.

The Lisbon Strategy which aims at making the European Union the most
competitive area in the world, strongly recognizes education as a promoter
of economic and social development. The EU has adopted a detailed work
programme known as “Education and Training 2010”, which is aimed at making
Europe a world leader in terms of the quality of its education and training
by 2010.

Finns are used to the idea that our country can only succeed in the world
through its expertise. I am happy to say that the Finnish education system
has also ranked high in many respects in international surveys.

As a member of the EU, Finland has been involved in actively developing the
Union’s contacts with the republics of the southern Caucasus in recent
years. This is especially topical and important because Finland will hold
the presidency of the EU during the second half of next year.

In the past two years the EU’s Special Representative, Ambassador Heikki
Talvitie, has also become a well-known name in Yerevan. I am glad that the
expertise and experience of a retired Finnish diplomat has been put to use
in developing a dialogue between the Union and the southern Caucasus.
Resolving regional conflicts is vitally important for the EU. This work is
promoted by the Special Representative’s activities and the Union’s broad
aid and technical cooperation.

Another key objective in the EU’s southern Caucasus policy is to promote
regional cooperation. When I was Minister for Foreign Affairs I also chaired
the first meeting of the EU-Armenia Cooperation Council in 1999. At that
time we made promoting regional cooperation in the southern Caucasus a key
theme. I am glad that the practice of holding cooperation meetings among the
three countries in the region has become an annual tradition. I hope that
these will not remain routine meetings but will lead to practical
cooperation.

As a result of enlargement the European Union has had to consider ways to
prevent the formation of new dividing lines in Europe. For this purpose the
EU last year began implementing the European Neighbourhood Policy. The goal
of this policy is to promote stability, security and well-being in
neighbouring countries. In the future these countries will have an
opportunity to participate as privileged partners in Union programmes
through political, security, economic and cultural cooperation.

I hope that negotiations between the EU and Armenia for an action plan under
the European Neighbourhood Policy can start as soon as possible. The EU has
prepared its own proposal and Armenia has published its priorities. These
documents form a good basis on which to proceed.

I hope that through my visit bilateral relations between Finland and Armenia
will receive a new boost, since the possibilities for cooperation are
extensive. We must work together to turn new ideas into feasible projects.

ANOTHER HEARING ON AZERI OFFICER’S CASE

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 28 2005

Another hearing on the case of Azerbaijani officer charged with
murdering an Armenian serviceman was held in Budapest on Tuesday.

Employees of the Azeri embassy and prosecutor’s office came to court,
along with witnesses who testified at the hearing.

Ramil Safarov is charged with killing Armenian officer Gurgen Markarian
after the latter insulted his dignity and Azerbaijan’s national flag.

The court considered coming to a compromise over the results of
the forensic expertise, which was conducted twice. According to the
second expertise, the Azerbaijani officer committed the crime in a
state of affect.

The trial will continue on December 15 due to the differences in the
testimonies of witnesses.

Hungarian lawyers earlier termed the expertise held to determine
Safarov’s psychological condition as unacceptable and demanded
to conduct another one. The second expertise was held with the
permission of the Hungarian Supreme Court and involved representatives
of Azerbaijan.

According to a reliable source, the first expertise determined that
the Azeri officer was in psychologically healthy condition. The
second one, however, indicated that he was relatively unstable, i.e.
under serious stress, when he committed the murder.