Author: Hambardsumian Paul

AKI, Italy
May 27 2005
TURKEY: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CONFERENCE IS POSTPONED

Istanbul, 27 May (AKI) – A conference questioning Turkey’s official
policy that the 1915-21 mass killing of Armenians under Ottoman rule
never took place has been postponed following pressure from the
government. The conference, initially slated to be held at the
Bhosphorus University on Wednesday, provoked outrage among
nationalists, after participants said they would challenge the
commonly held view in Turkey that the deaths of an estimated 1.5
million Armenians was due to the epidemics and other hardships
suffered during deportations after separatist Armenian militants
joined sides with Turkey’s World War I enemy Russia and started
killing Turkish civillians.
`How can this be a scientific conference? Some of the participants
are even not historians’ wrote Ruhat Mengi in the daily Vatan,
apparently refering to one of the conference organisers, Prof. Murat
Belge, Head of the Literature Department at Bilgi University, the
only Turk who has joined the 90th anniversary commemorations of the
genocide in the Armenian capital Yerevan on 24 April.
But the strongest criticism came from the Turkish justice minister
and government spokesman, Cemil Cicek.
`The conference would be tantamount to stabbing Turkey in the back,’
he said.
After Cicek’s remarks the Bosphorus University announced that the
conference had been postponed.
The decision was welcomed by officials and others who refuse to even
consider the Armenian allegations, but liberal columnists, conference
participants and pro-democracy activists slammed the government’s
reaction.
“I am very sad and disappointed. It would have been a forum that
showed that democracy worked in Turkey and that different voices can
be heard” said Muge Gocek, a Turkish professor of sociology at
Michigan University who traveled to Istanbul for the conference.
`The biggest mistake is criticising the conference as being
one-sided. People like Cicek think that they have the authority to
decide what is in the `national interest’ and they shape the society
according to their decisions’, Belge wrote in his column in the
Radikal daily on Friday.
The liberal paper’s headline on Thursday read: `Zero tolerance on
thought’
The Human Rights Association (IHD) was also critical of Cicek.
“We strongly condemn the politicians and especially the justice
minister who prevented the Armenian conference from taking place
through pressure, threats and statements that make [organisers]
targets” the IHD said in a statement on Wednesday.
Hans Jorg Kretschmer, the European Union Commission’s representative
to Turkey said that the government’s did not fit in with ideas of
democracy.
Organisers have said they intend to hold the conference, however a
date has yet to be specified.

ANRY CUNY: ARMENIA IS ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURE
YEREVAN, MAY 25. ARMINFO. France’s Ambassador to Armenia Anry Cuny
took part in the opening of the first exhibition National
Architectural Wealth of France of the 20th century.
As the ambassador mentioned, the culture and architecture play
significant role in the Armenian-French cooperation. Stressing the
importance of the cooperation in the sphere of architecture, the
ambassador informed that now only the diploma of State Architectural
University of Armenia from the Armenian diplomas is accepted in
France. “Armenia is an original architectural structure”, the French
ambassador expressed in Armenian.
The exhibition is held at the National museum-institute of
architecture in Yerevan. The French architecture will be exhibited
till June 18.

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIA MAY BECOME CONNECTING LINK BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA
24.05.2005 08:43
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Artur Baghdasarian met with
Brussels Mayor Freddy Thielemans in the city, reported the Press Service of
the National Assembly of Armenia. The parties discussed matters of
realization of joint social programs, as well as agreement over problems of
integration of disabled persons into the society, retraining nurses and
other questions was reached. In the course of his visit to Brussels Artur
Baghdasarian also met with Belgian State Minister Francois-Xavier De Donnea,
with whom he discussed questions of providing ambulance cars and buses, as
well as health and tourism cooperation.

Libération, France
mardi 24 mai 2005
Lycos va chercher à reclasser en Arménie
Le portail Internet supprime 75 postes sur 109 en France.
Par Frédérique ROUSSEL

a cure d’amaigrissement engagée depuis l’année dernière se poursuit à
Lycos Europe. Aux réductions de postes s’ajoute une proposition de
reclassement inédite faite à 34 développeurs informatiques :
s’installer à Erevan, la capitale de l’Arménie, pour travailler dans
une filiale de l’entreprise. Si le portail multifonctions (moteur de
recherche, contenus, hébergement de pages perso) a diminué son
déficit au premier trimestre 2005, il atteint encore 8,1 millions
d’euros contre 11,9 en 2004. Comme révélé par France Info hier matin,
le portail Internet envisage de supprimer 75 emplois sur les 109 en
France (200 au total en Europe). Objectif : parvenir à l’équilibre en
2006.
Reclassement. Le projet a été présenté en comité d’entreprise le 4
mai. «Nous allons transférer la gestion européenne des services de
mail et d’hébergement vers l’Allemagne à Guterslow, et l’Arménie à
Erevan, explique Olivier Soussan, directeur du marketing et de la
communication, en étant soucieux des droits des salariés et de la
législation en vigueur.» Quelle est l’alternative pour les employés ?
«Des offres d’emploi valides en France et des mesures de reclassement
interne au sein du groupe.» Autrement dit, certains devront plier
bagage pour aller respirer l’air outre-Rhin ou découvrir la vie de la
petite République située entre la Turquie et l’Azerbaïdjan.
Contrées. «J’imagine que la vie est moins chère là-bas, avance le
secrétaire du comité d’entreprise, Jean-Michel Chereau (non
syndiqué). Dans les mesures d’application, il y a une aide au
logement et au transport. Mais au bout de huit mois, vous vous
retrouvez avec un salaire entre 300 et 500 euros selon votre grade.
Si vous voulez revenir en France, vous ne pouvez pas.» D’autant que
la proposition de reclassement concerne des développeurs «capables de
créer un programme» et qui gagnent en France «entre 2 000 et 3 500
euros par mois». L’offre est décidément alléchante… Lycos a ouvert
une filiale à Erevan en 2002, en rachetant une entreprise «qui,
jusqu’à présent, faisait du petit développement pour la société,
comme la maintenance ou le développement de petites applications,
alors qu’en France, on développait des solutions mails».
Ce nouveau projet survient après une renégociation sur les RTT. «Il y
a un an et demi, la direction a demandé à renégocier les 35 heures,
précise Jean-Michel Chereau. On a perdu 11 jours de RTT sur 23. On
pensait être tranquilles. Et au bout de six mois, on supprime des
postes.» Voici donc venu le temps des délocalisations des sociétés
Internet. Vers des contrées moins onéreuses, comme la Roumanie par
exemple, où certains fournisseurs d’accès ont déjà jeté leur dévolu.
Les fonctions qui ne demandent pas un contact direct avec le client,
comme la programmation ou la gestion des mails, peuvent fort bien
s’exercer ailleurs.

DAY OF BULGARIAN CULTURE AND SLAVONIC WRITTEN LANGUAGE WAS SOLEMNLY
CELEBRATED IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, MAY 23. ARMINFO. Armenia and Bulgaria will sign a document
shortly contributed to both the integration process to Europe and the
strengthening of European security mechanisms, stated Armenia’s Deputy
Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdyan at a briefing in Yerevan on the
occasion of the Day of Slavonic written language, Bulgarian culture,
and Saints Kirill and Methodius.
Bulgarian Ambassador to Armenia Stephan Dimitrov noted that the
official holiday of Bulgarian Republic is celebrated on May 24 during
a century. In Armenia this holiday is celebrated during the last 46
years on the initiative of “Armenia-Bulgaria” association.
Dimitrov also informed that Armenia’s Minister for Science and
Education Sergo Yeritsyan will leave for Bulgaria June 2 with an
official visit. Process of reforms in the educational systems in both
countries will be discussed at a meeting with Bulgaria’s Minister for
Education Igor Demyanov. The parties will discuss details on
fulfilling a cooperation program in culture and education spheres for
2003-2006, within the framework of which the project on exchange of
students is being fulfilled.
The US and French Ambassadors to Armenia John Evans and Henry Cuny, as
well as representatives of diplomatic mission accredited in Armenia
participated at the action. -r-

RUSSIAN MP: NO BAKU PERMIT NECESSARY FOR VISITING KARABAKH
Pan Armenian News
21.05.2005 04:48
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “A visit to Nagorno Karabakh means that I visited
it and nothing more,” stated Russian State Duma Deputy Konstantin
Zatulin when answering a question of Echo Baku newspaper whether this
act is recognition of the independence of Nagorno Karabakh by the
Russian MP. “As of the “recognition” of the unrecognized republic,
the word “unrecognized” refers to the relations of other countries of
the world with Nagorno Karabakh,” Zatulin continued. In his words,
he is not a state and his actions should be considered as those of
a private person. “I went to Nagorno Karabakh and I do not think
one has to ask for a permission of Azerbaijan. I flatly disagree
with the opinion I should not go there.” Answering the remark that
he accomplished his visit via Armenia, “which can per se mean loyal
attitude towards the occupation,” he answered, “Try to visit Nagorno
Karabakh via Azerbaijan and then tell me how you managed to do it.” In
his words, it is his 9th visit to Karabakh. “I suppose the topic of
“How one should visit Nagorno Karabakh” can endlessly be discussed,
however I am convinced that it is necessary to visit Nagorno Karabakh,
as well as engage in other affairs, which maybe do not keep within the
formal rhetoric of the parties,” he accentuated. As Zatulin noted,
it is necessary to hold talks continuously. The latest meeting of
the Armenian and Azeri Presidents in Warsaw turn out constructive
according to the reports of both parties. Simultaneously he noted
that proceeding from the first model of behavior of Ilham Aliyev,
the meeting would not take place. However, in his words, Aliyev
displayed responsibility and met with his Armenian counterpart,
which should further be done without any conditions. “If we proceed
from this approach to the affair, the Azeri newspaper will become
less interested in the formal side of the questions why someone went
somewhere and will be more interested in impressions of those, who
went there and their own positions,” he underscored.

Bush creates democratic spetsnaz
by Ivan Groshkov
RusData Dialine – Russian Press Digest
May 20, 2005 Friday
SOURCE: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 98, p.6
Washington to focus of “velvet revolutions”
U.S. President George W. Bush predicted more democratic changes across
the Caucasus and Central Asia – areas that were once part of the Soviet
Union – and pledged Washington would help new democratic governments.
Speaking at a Washington dinner on Wednesday evening given by the
International Republican Institute, Bush recalled the arrival of
democratic governments in the former Soviet republics of Georgia,
Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan as well as in Iraq and Lebanon in the last 18
months and said more countries would follow.
“These are just the beginnings,” Bush said, according to a transcript
of his speech published on the White House’s web site. “Across the
Caucasus and Central Asia, hope is stirring at the prospect of change –
and change will come.”
The comments appeared aimed at the former Soviet republics of Armenia
and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,
Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in Central Asia.
Bush also announced a plan to create an Active Response Corps within
the State Department by 2006 that would be on call to quickly deploy
staff to crisis situations in countries that overthrow “tyranny”
and elect pro- Western governments.
The U.S. federal budget for 2006 will request $24 million for this
office and $100 million for a new Conflict Response Fund, Bush said.
Nezavisimaya Gazeta presumes that George W. Bush has finally understood
– velvet revolutions are much more cost-efficient than military
operations in order to overthrow undemocratic regimes. They are not
only cheaper, but they also help to preserve the state administration
structures that get destroyed during military conflicts.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Anar Mammedkhanov: “Firstly Aghdam and Fizuli, then Jabrail, Zengilan
and Gubadli will be liberated”
18 May 2005 [22:12] – Today.Az
“Our occupied territories will be liberated part by part. I have
talked with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammedyarov on the resolution of
the problem .As far as I know; first Aghdam and Fizuli then Jabrail,
Zengilan and Gubadli will be liberated.
On the next stage, liberation of Kalbajar and Lachin and the solution
of the status of the Nagorno Karabakh are considered”.
The journalists were told by Azeri Parliament member Anar Mammedkhanov.
The deputy stated that, Armenia intends to take control of the Nagorno
Karabakh instead of the liberation of 7 regions but Azerbaijan will
never consent to this: “The resolution of the problem is held in the
frame of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in all talks”.

RESTART OF MARS – POLITICAL ISSUE
A1plus
| 20:29:38 | 17-05-2005 | Politics |
The 9th sitting of the Commission on interparliamentary Cooperation
was held today. The agenda included issues referring to the restart
of Armenian enterprises, conveyed to Russia within the Property for
Debt agreement as well as the economic cooperation of Russian regions,
specifically the Southern Federal Region with Armenia.
Commission Co-Chair Nikolay Ryzhkov stated that the discontent is
mostly connected with the institutes and only the Mars plant and the
Hrazdan Hydro power plant work in some way.
Vice Speaker Vahan Hovhanissyan informed that the production volume as
well as the number of employees has decrease, there are no investments
and orders are received from Armenian companies only. He note In the
course of the final press conference N. Ryzhkov noted that harsh
discussion was held over the fate of the Armenian enterprises,
especially Mars plant and the three research institutes. Mutual
pretensions were expressed. In his words, the issue is a political
one. The parties stated there are some legal issues that have to be
solved by respective Russian ministries. In the words of the Armenian
Co-Chair Vahan Hovhannisian, in the course of the session it turned
out that Russian businessmen have serious comprehension over the
degree of liberty and monopoly in the Armenian economy, which forms
certain risks for investing and the presence of Russian business
at the Armenian market. The Armenian party promised to inform the
Russian party on the state of affairs at the local market, having
secured the information of the Anti-Monopoly Commission of Armenia.
Besides, in V. Hovhannisian’s words, the Armenian party has proposed to
consider the option of passing part of the shares of these enterprises
to private companies if the Russian state is not able to secure orders
and investments to these. At the same time, as noted by Hovhannisian,
these events mainly refer to the military industrial complex and
the Russian legislation does not provide for sending orders of that
kind to enterprises outside Russia. Within the context of economic
cooperation of subjects of the Russian Federation with Armenia the
parties touched upon communication problems, specifically the ferry
and railway communication. d that the restart of the enterprises is
rather a political than economic issue.
In his turn chairman of the Association of the Armenian-Russian
Business Cooperation (ARADES) Grigory Kharchenko noted that the
Russian businessmen seriously concern over relations with Armenia
fearing for unfree competition.

‘HERO CITIES’ FESTIVAL OVER
By Gohar Gevorgian
AZG Armenian Daily #088, 18/05/2005
Culture
The republican school festival “Hero Cities” dedicated to the 60th
anniversary of the victory over fascism organized by the Armenian
Center for Russian Language Development was closed yesterday at the
small hall of Aram Khachatrian Music Hall. 15 secondary schools from
Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor and Verin Dvin took part at this arrangement
dedicated to the Soviet cities recognized as heroes during the Great
Patriotic War.
Participants of the festival received yesterday presents and awards
from the representatives of Russian, Ukrainian and Byelorussian
embassies in Yerevan as well as those from Center for Russian Language
Development and Education Ministry. Russian ambassador’s advisor,
Genady Barishnikov congratulated once again on the Great Victory
and said, “Such arrangements prove that people in Armenia remember
history and know what war means”.