Author: Hambardsumian Paul

IRAQI MILITANTS DEMAND $1M FOR ARMENIAN CAPTIVE

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 27 2005

Baku, September 26, AssA-Irada
Iraqi militants demand $1 million for the ethnically-Armenian
businessman they recently captured, Russian ITAR-TASS news agency
reported.

The deadline on the ransom for the release of Karapet Zhan
Jeckerdzhian, a 40-year old citizen of Cyprus and Lebanon engaged in
selling drinks and food in Iraq to order of Jetco company, expires
Monday.

The company suspended its activity in Iraq a week ago on a demand of
the kidnappers.

Reports released last week suggested that the militants demanded $2
million for Jeckerdzhian’s release but lowered the figure to $500,000
later. According to latest reports, the kidnappers are demanding a
$1 million ransom,. *

TRT 2 television, Ankara, in Turkish
24 Sep 05

TURKEY: PROTESTERS AGAINST ARMENIAN CONFERENCE THROW TOMATOES

The controversial conference has started. The venue of the conference
on Armenians, which was going to be Bogazici University, has now
changed to Bilgi University, after the Istanbul Administrative Court
decided yesterday to suspend it. However, the debates are still going
on.

Tight security measures have been taken since early morning at the
Istanbul Bilgi University’s Dolapdere campus because of the
conference on “Ottoman Armenians during the demise of the Empire:
Issues of democracy and scientific responsibility”.

Nobody was allowed to enter the area except participants in the
conference and members of the press. Only members of the press with
special permits could take photographs during the conference.

Protest demonstrations were staged outside the campus as soon as the
conference started. In addition, arguments between speakers and
participants occurred during the conference.

Lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz, member of the Executive Board of the Lawyers’
Association, said that it was unlawful to continue the conference at
a different venue in spite of a court order. Kerincsiz said that
demonstrations protesting against the violation of the court order
were being staged because they did not find anybody to address
themselves to at the Istanbul Governor’s Office or the Istanbul
Security Directorate.

During a briefing for members of the press, eggs and tomatoes were
thrown at journalist Cengiz Candar, one of the participants in the
conference, as a sign of protest.

Azad-Hye, United Arab Emirates
Sept 24 2005

Armenia – UAE relations a raw model for international cooperation

AZAD-HYE (Dubai, 24 September 2005): The Armenian – UAE relations
witnessed a great stride forward owing to the successful 3 days
official visit of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al
Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of the Emirates
of Sharjah to Armenia, during which he inaugurated the Sharjah
Cultural Week (Yerevan, 19-22 September 2005) in the National Art
Gallery of Armenia.

Activities of the cultural week included an exhibition of modern arts
(paintings of 22 UAE artists courtesy of the Sharjah Museum of Arab
Modern Art); exhibition of antiquities excavated in the area
surrounding Sharjah; exhibition of heritage items displaying way of
life in the desert environment (handcraft items, costumes,
traditional medicine), exhibition of award winning samples of Arab
calligraphy. During the opening ceremony a Sharjah folkloric group of
10 performers greeted the guests and the public. The second day of
the exhibition included theatrical performance by the group of
Sharjah National Theatre.

The program of the UAE cultural and official delegations was very
extensive. Besides the official meetings with the head of the State,
the Prime Minister and several Ministers, the delegates visited many
remarkable places, including the Armenian Natural History Museum, the
National Museum, University of Yerevan, National Academy of Sciences,
Saryan Museum, Yerevan Museum, Children’s Art Museum. Members of the
cultural delegation were invited to a morning program on the Armenian
public TV. It is worth mentioning that the Cultural Week is part of a
bilateral protocol that has been signed during the visit of Armenia’s
Minister of Culture and Youth to Sharjah last December.

Before the arrival of Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, the Armenian
Minister of Culture Hovik Hoveyan had the chance to meet with the
General Director of the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information
Abdullah Mohammed Al Oueis, who had arrived Yerevan few days earlier,
in order to arrange for the opening ceremony.

Heading the UAE cultural delegation Al Oueis visited the Marz
(Province) of Armavir, some 50 kilometers away from the capital
Yerevan, where the Mayor welcomed the delegation and expressed
gratitude to the Arab people who supported the Armenians during the
difficult period of 1915-1923 (Armenian Genocide) and he said: “The
Armenian – Arab relations have a history going back thousands of
years. There are many common elements in our cultures, in music,
arts, traditions etc. We have achieved in Armavir splendid relations
with the Arab World and we intend to build on our friendship and to
further develop these ties”. Mr. Al Oueis was given a painting
representing Mount Ararat, the symbolic mount of the Armenians.

In the evening of the same day Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi inaugurated the
Sharjah Cultural Week in Armenia. The program is part of Sharjah’s
plan to establish cultural interaction with peoples of the World,
especially with countries that have long lasting relationship with
the Arab World. The aim of these activities is to reflect the image
of Sharjah as a cultural hub and a capital of the Arab culture.

During the opening ceremony of the Sharjah Cultural Week, Sheikh Dr.
Sultan Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah congratulated the Armenian people
for the Independence Day. He pronounced that it is highly symbolic
that the conduction of the UAE cultural days coincides with this dear
occasion. He expressed the wish that Armenia overcomes the existing
difficulties and takes the path towards full economic development. He
highly appreciated the initiative of the Armenian Government to
organize the Armenian Cultural Days in Sharjah (December 2004), which
resulted in achieving even closer relations between the two sides and
introduced Armenia to the general public in his country. He stressed
that the Sharjah authorities did not want to miss the opportunity of
arranging these cultural days in Yerevan, although parallel
exhibitions are taking place in Germany and Spain, which needed also
some attention. He promised to organize a larger exhibition in the
future and said that the coming months will witness more extensive
cooperation in cultural and other fields between Sharjah and Armenia.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Armenian Deputy Prime
Minister Hovik Abrahamian, Deputy Foreign Minister Kegam Gharibjanian
(former Ambassador of Armenia to Iran and Qatar), Minister of Culture
and Youth Affairs Hovik Hoveyan (who has attended the Armenian
Cultural Week in December 2004 in Sharjah) and a number of UAE
officials and press representatives.

The highlight of the day was the meeting of Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al
Qasimi with President Robert Kocharian. The President decorated the
precious guest with the “Saint Mesrob Mashtots” Order, one of the
highest orders in Armenia, in recognition of his contribution to the
UAE-Armenian relations, in addition to his role in the fields of
education and culture. They discussed ways of promoting bilateral
relations between the two countries.

During the second day of his visit to Armenia, on 20th September
2005, Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi met with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian, who stressed that Sheikh Sultan’s visit to Armenia is a
significant move towards strengthening the bilateral ties. The
meeting was attended by the Chief of the Sheikh’s Office (Isam bin
Saqr Al Qasimi), the Director of the Emiri Court (Rashid Ahmed Al
Sheikh), Director of Sharjah Islamic Endowment Authority / Awqaf
(Jamal Salim Al Taraifi) and UAE non-resident Ambassador to Armenia
(Khalifa Shaheen Al Merri).

In a separate meeting in the Armenian Academy of Sciences, the
President of the Academy Fadey Sarkissian praised Sheikh Dr. Al
Qasimi for his contribution to the development of science and culture
in the UAE and in the Arab World in general. It should be mentioned
that UNSESCO had chosen Sharjah as the Arab Cultural Capital for the
year 1998. Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi was awarded honorary doctorate from
the National Academy of Sciences in Armenia in recognition of his
contributions to the cultural and intellectual activities across the
world. This honorary title has been conferred so far to a limited
number of 60 personalities worldwide. Ambassador of Armenia in the
UAE Dr. Arshak Poladian praised the Sheikh for his efforts to turn
Sharjah into a center of cultural and scientific advancement in the
Arab World. Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi, who is also the Chancellor of the
American University of Sharjah and the Sharjah University, thanked
the Academy and stressed that Sharjah will continue to attract
institutions of higher education and Universities of worldwide fame.

On the same day Yerevan State University awarded its Golden Medal to
Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi. Speaking at the awarding ceremony University’s
Rector Radik Martirosyan said that Sheikh Al Qasimi is a great friend
of the University. Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi granted a seat for Arab
studies in the Faculty of Oriental Studies. He expressed his
happiness that the Department of the Arab Studies within this Faculty
has more than 300 students. (Click Read More)

On the same day he visited the Genocide Monument and planted a tree
of UAE-Arab friendship. He visited the Museum and witnessed the
sorrow and grief that war has cause to the Armenians. He placed
flowers on the monument of the victims and ended his visit to the
museum wishing that love and peace would prevail in the world.

Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi found time to visit also lake Sevan, one
of the highest lakes in the world, from where Hrazdan river is
originated, a main source of irrigation in Armenia. The Mayor of
Tavoush Marz (Province) welcomed the guest and soon after the
official lunch they headed to Dilijan, one of the finest resorts in
Armenia, where some of the houses date to centuries back. He also
visited the Municipality of Dilijan.

Back in Yerevan His Highness attended in the equestrian club of Hovig
Hairapetian a live show of the four horses that he presented as a
gift to the Government of Armenia. He expressed satisfaction that the
horses are in safe hands and under the care of people who adore
horses.

The third day was full of local cultural activities. Sheikh Al Qasimi
did not miss the chance to visit the famous Matenadaran (the
depository of ancient Armenian manuscript). He was impressed by the
huge number of manuscripts in the Matenadaran (total number 17.000
manuscripts, 700 of them in Arabic). The Director of Matenadaran Sen
Arevshatian presented him a book on horse breeding.

During his visit to Matendaran Dr. Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi declared
that a UAE delegation will visit Armenia next week. He stressed that,
issues of deepening bilateral cooperation in economy, science and
culture will be discussed during this upcoming visit of the
delegation.

On Tuesday evening 21st September 2005 Sheikh Al Qasimi returned home
at the end of his official visit to Armenia

A. RUSTAMYAN: ARMENIA – KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY GUARANTOR

Pan Armenian News
22.09.2005 05:37

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The International Relations Commission of the US
House passing two Armenian Genocide Resolutions will play a key role
in solving the issue of international recognition of the Genocide,
Stated Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Issues
Armen Rustamyan. In his words, Turkish society is not ready to
recognize the fact of the Genocide.

This is due to the inactivity of Turkish authorities, who at the
same time distort facts, Rustamyan said. Thereupon, he noted he sees
two options for solving the issue: first, recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by Turkey and opening of the border, second, establishment of
relations with Armenia and international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. Rustamyan also noted that “if Turkey does not recognize
the fact of the Genocide, there are no guarantees the history will
not repeat.” He reminded that there is an article in the Criminal
Code of Turkey, which provides for criminal penalty for statements
on the Armenian Genocide. He noted Armenia has raise the question
at the European Parliament for many times. One of the preconditions
for Turkey’s accession to the EU is withdrawal of the mentioned
article from the Criminal Code or introducing changes in it, the MP
said. Answering a question on the course of talks over settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Rustamyan noted “there are no talks
at the moment, as there can be no negotiations without the direct
participant of the conflict – Nagorno Karabakh.” If Azerbaijan submits
the Karabakh issue for discussion by the UN without participation of NK
representatives, Armenia will not take part in the debate. He stated
Armenia is a guarantor of independence and security of Karabakh. In
his words, the talks should be held over the “Armenian-Azeri”, not
Nagorno Karabakh conflict and should involve three parties. Speaking of
the coming referendum on constitutional reforms in Armenia, Rustamyan
noted the failure of the referendum over constitutional changes will
have a negative impact on further development of Armenia. Thus, in
his words, the issue should not be an apple of discord between the
opposition and authorities.

MAMMADYAROV: “ONLY RETURN OF ALL OCCUPIED TERRITORIES WILL HELP RESTORE OUR TRUST IN ARMENIA”

Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 20 2005

Only the return of all the occupied territories back to Azerbaijan
will help restore our trust and confidence in Armenia and its declared
intentions on the establishment of good neighborly relations with
Azerbaijan.

There should be no place for illusions: Azerbaijan will never
compromise its territorial integrity, Elmar Mammadyarov Minister of
Foreign Affairs, said in his statement to the General Debate of the
60th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on 18 September
2005. Since accession of Azerbaijan to the United Nations, this
Organization has been closely associated in our society with the hopes
for liberation of the territories of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia.

Although the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is
strongly involved in the settlement process, prompt reaction of the
United Nations Security Council in response to the occupation of the
territories of Azerbaijan and adoption of four resolutions 822, 853,
874 and 884 still generates optimism for peaceful settlement of the
conflict in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of
Azerbaijan. The principles unanimously adopted by the Security Council
in those resolutions continue to be the basis for the settlement
of the conflict. Last year consideration by the General Assembly of
the agenda item entitled “The situation in the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan” played a crucial role in attracting attention to the
dangerous practices carried out by Armenia in the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan.

“As for the negotiation process itself, I must admit that we are now at
a critical juncture where the chances for resolution of the conflict
are cautiously optimistic. The Government of Azerbaijan remains
committed to the peaceful settlement of this protracted conflict,
based on the respect for the norms and principles of international
law,the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions
and the OSCE documents and decisions. We expect that the Armenian
side will proceed from the similar constructive approach and will
not miss this window of opportunity,” he stressed.

“Such a step will relieve the Government of Armenia from a label of
aggressor inherited after occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan
and will provide for both parties the opportunities to be brought
by the settlement of the conflict,” he underlined. He reiterated
Azerbaijan’s readiness for providing the security assurances for the
Armenian population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

“As for the status of the region, it is necessary to create favorable
conditions for the secure and dignified return of the expelled
Azerbaijani population to the Nagomo-Karabakh region and other
occupied territories, to establish there normal living conditions
and to provide opportunities for economic development for both
communities,” the Minister emphasized.

Once the agreement is achieved, both for political and legal guarantees
of its implementation we will need the support of the international
community for the deployment of the multinational peacekeeping
forces, demining, restoration of communications, rehabilitation
of lands, as well as the provision of security guarantees for the
population in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, including
the creation of local police forces in the region for both Armenian
and Azerbaijani communities. Last, but not least point on the conflict
resolution. It is the issue of communication of the Armenians living
in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan with Armenia and thatof
the Azerbaijanis living in the Nakhchivan region of Azerbaijan with
the rest of thecountry.

“From this high rostrum, after the recent meeting of the Presidents
of Azerbaijan and Armenia held in Kazan on August 26 2005, I urge
the Armenian not to loose this chance and to advance the negotiation
process with the assistance of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen
in accordance with the mutual understandings reached with in the
Prague process,” Mammadyarov underscored. Mammadyarov is to be back
on Tuesday.

URL:

ORHAN PAMUK IS NO TRAITOR: INFORMED SOURCES

National Post (Canada)
September 16, 2005 Friday
National Edition

source The Spectator

The following editorial appeared in Britain’s Spectator magazine on
Sept. 10.

Over the past years, The Spectator has been a staunch defender of
Turkey and its right to join the European Union, negotiations for which
begin on Oct. 3. We have praised its economy, its founder-membership
of Nato and condemned the many Turkophobes within the EU.

A rarity among nations with Muslim majorities, it holds proper
elections and, for the most part, maintains a legal system that most in
the West would regard as fair. It has 70 million industrious citizens
who want to trade on equal terms.

It would be a tragedy, therefore, if Turkish membership of the
EU were to be jeopardized by Turkey’s ugly treatment of its most
prominent novelist, Orhan Pamuk. Last week, Mr. Pamuk was charged
under Article 301/1 of the Turkish penal code, which makes it an
offence to insult the Republic of Turkey, punishable with between
six months and three years imprisonment — increased by a third if
the offence was committed abroad.

Mr. Pamuk’s crime was to make reference, in an interview with Swiss
newspaper Tagesanzeiger in February, to Turkey’s ethnic cleansing
of Armenians between 1915 and 1917 and to its ill-treatment of Kurds
since 1984. “Thirty thousand Kurds and a million Armenians were killed
in these lands and nobody but me dares to talk about it,” he said.

It goes without saying that jailing people for raising such issues is
unacceptable in a modern democracy. Orhan Pamuk is no traitor. On the
contrary, he is seen in the literary world as a great ambassador for
his homeland, whose work shows a deep love of his country and who has
been able to straddle the gap between East and West. He simply wishes
to be free to discuss a couple of dark episodes in Turkey’s history.

To give it some credit, the Turkish government does not entirely deny
that a large number of Armenians came to a bad end around 1915. The
prime minister, Tayyip Erdogan, recently announced his desire to
establish a commission of historians to judge whether or not genocide
took place. Yet no democracy should seek to legislate in favour of
one official version of history.

Rather, it should tolerate a free market in ideas, knowing that it is
lively debate which best ensures that the truth eventually seeps out.

Orhan Pamuk’s accusations of the scale of Turkish maltreatment of
Armenians and Kurds are supported by eyewitness accounts.

An American diplomat filed a report at the time speaking of Ottoman
soldiers, aided by Kurdish tribesmen, “sweeping the countryside,
massacring men, women and children and burning their homes. Babies were
shot in their mothers’ arms, small children were horribly mutilated,
women were stripped and beaten.” Pamuk’s accusations are supported,
too, by Halil Berktay, a professor at Sabanci University, who puts
the numbers of dead at between 800,000 and one million.

But even if Pamuk’s charges were nonsense, it would be no excuse for
jailing him. A confident nation has no need to suppress free speech,
knowing that anyone who makes false accusations against their country’s
past for political reasons will rapidly be crushed beneath the weight
of counter-evidence.

Admittedly, Turkey’s problem over Armenia and the Kurds is not limited
to the government: 80% of respondents to a recent opinion poll said
they could do without EU membership if it meant having to admit to
past genocide. But if Turkey wants to join the EU, and become a full
member of the wider club of Western democracies, it simply has to
face up to its past, and to its present democratic failings. Article
301/1 of its penal code must go.

NO POLITICAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN ARMENIA, IRAN

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 16 2005

YEREVAN, September 16. /ARKA/. Armenia and Iran have no political
problems, RA Premier Andranik Margaryan stated at his meeting with
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejan in New York, USA. According
to him, the bilataeral economic relations are developing, which is
confirmed by increase in bilateral trade. Margaryan pointed out the
importance of successful implementation of Armenian-Iranian programs,
which will promote the development of bilateral; relations. He stressed
that Iran’s balanced policy played an essential role in the maintenance
of stability in the South Caucasus. He pointed out paramount importance
of this policy being continued. Margaryan expressed gratitude for the
Iranian Government’s attitude to the Armenian community, pointing out
communities’ important role in the development of bilateral relations.

In his turn, the Iranian President pointed out that the development
of friendly relations with its neighbors, particularly, with Armenia,
is in conformity with Iran’s policy. He also pointed out the importance
of consistent implementation of economic programs.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, in January-July
2005, Armenian-Iranian trade turnover totaled $63,335.2ths (exports
$17,884.1ths and imports 45,541.1ths) against $53,689 ths in
the corresponding period of last year ($17,989ths and $35,700ths
respectively). P.t. -0–

A1+

| 17:44:58 | 16-09-2005 | Politics |

OMBUDSMAN WORRIED ABOUT THE REFERENDUM

The RA Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan is going to have meetings with the NA
Standing Committees, fractions and their heads. On her offer they will
discuss the legislative reforms and the process of Constitutional reforms.

The Ombudsman is also worried by the fact that up to now it is not know what
state structure will be responsible for public awareness campaign
organizing.

Taking into account the fact that time is pressing before the referendum,
according to Larissa Alaverdyan, we must start a huge campaign in order to
raise public awareness about the content of the coming Constitutional
reforms. Otherwise, the insufficient activeness of the RA citizens can
affect the results of the referendum negatively.

“ARMENIA EXPO – 2005” INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OPENS IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. About 180 companies from 15
countries including Russia, the Ukraine, Moldova, Iran, Romania,
Czechia, Germany, China and Canada, participate in the “Armenia expo
2005” international commercial-industrial exhibition opened in
Yerevan, on September 14. As Karen Chshmaritian, the Minister of RA
Trade and Economy Development mentioned at the opening of the
exhibition, among the exhibitions held after Armenia’s becoming
independent, “Armenia Expo – 2005” is the largest by the number of
both participants and represented countries. Besides, unlike the
previous exhibition, production and service of the spheres of
construction, information technologies, service are also presented
this time.

According to Arsen Ghazarian, the Chairman of the Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia, “Armenia expo’s” holding for
the fifth time is the evidence of the fact that Armenia became a
center of coordination of regional economic ties.

“Industrial Armenia,” “Build expo,” “Trans expo,” “Comp expo,”
“Polygraph, Publishing, Advertising” and “Food and Drinks” pavilions
act at the exhibition. Within the framework of the “Armenia expo 2005”
exhibition, an Armenian-Russian business-meeting “Cooperation 2005”
will be held as well as days of “business” of the USA and China will
be organized.

The exhibition will be open till September 17.

AZG Armenian Daily #165, 15/09/2005

Russia

SCENARIO OF RESCUING ARMENIAN PILOTS HELPS TO RESCUE RUSSIAN SAILORS

“The Russian foreign minister applied to me with a letter a month ago and a
half ago, asking to help in the case of the Russian sailors imprisoned in
Nigeria, using my international ties,” Ara Abrahamian, chairman of the World
Congress of Armenians, sated in the interview to Azg.

As you know, the Nigerian authorities arrested and imprisoned the crew of
the African “Pride” ship, accusing them of oil smuggling. 15 members of the
crew are Russian citizens. The inquiry opened against them lasts for two
years already.

Ara Abrahamian, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, said that the process he
participated in lasted three months. They created a separate group that
worked in three main directions. At first, they spared no efforts to secure
good living conditions for the sailors, to improve their health and safety
in the Nigerian prison. Soon, the sailors were transferred to a separate
place, where there was a drug store. Ara Abrahamian’s working group also
established relations with the leadership of the prison.

Besides, some of the families of the sailors were rendered financial aid.

Secondly, the working group directed their efforts to achieve positive
results in the court procedure. Ara Abrahamian said that the lawyers hired
for the Russian sailors didn’t defend them properly, so they decided to
change them and hire a new lawyer. He said they hired a local Nigerian
lawyer who proved to be a good one.

At present, the sailors are staying at the Russian Embassy to Nigeria. Ara
Abrahamian’s assistant is staying with them.

Thirdly, Ara Abrahamian’s working group began cooperation negotiations with
the Nigerian authorities. Ara Abrahamian and Nigerian President achieved
certain agreements on cooperation.

In general, the strategy was the same that was elaborated and applied when
rescuing the 6 Armenia pilots from the Equatorial Guinea. Ara Abrahamian
said that the current stage of the works was implemented with the direct
cooperation of Sergey Lavrov, Russian foreign minister.

“I believe that the sailors will return to their motherland till December,
“Ara Abrahamian assured.

The Russian press highly evaluated the efforts of Ara Abrahamian in rescuing
the Russian Sailors.

Having witnessed the results of Ara Abrahamian’s successful negotiations in
the case of the six Armenian pilots, we hope that soon the Russian sailors
will return to their families.

By Aghavni Harutyunian