Author: Hambardsumian Paul

Armenian Speaker discusses property-for-debt agreement in Moscow
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
13 Apr 05
[Presenter] The speaker of the Armenian National Assembly, Artur
Bagdasaryan, met the co-chairman of the Armenian-Russian
interparliamentary commission, [Russian Transport Minister] Igor
Levitin, today. During the meeting the sides discussed the work of the
Kavkaz-Poti ferry link and the need to reconstruct the Abkhaz railway.
Igor Levin assured the speaker of the National Assembly that the legal
side of the issues has been settled and only technical and economic
problems have to be resolved. They also discussed the easing of the
visa regime for Armenians living in Russia, which will allow them to
stay in Russia for 90 days without visas. At the moment, Armenians can
stay in Russia without entry visas for only three days.
[Correspondent Susan Badalyan from Moscow by telephone] Armenian
National Assembly Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan’s Moscow meetings are
continuing.
During a meeting with the chairman of [Russia’s] State Duma committee
for CIS affairs and relations with compatriots, Andrey Kokoshin, Artur
Bagdasaryan talked about visas for the Armenians residing in Russia.
Speaking about the Property-for-Debt Agreement, Artur Bagdasaryan told
Kokoshin and participants in the meeting that the handover of
enterprises to Russia to cover Armenia’s state debt was not an
economic but a political issue and that these five enterprises were
not functioning.
Russian MPs asked for the Armenian speaker’s opinion about the
Armenian peacekeepers in Iraq. Artur Bagdasaryan said that Armenia had
joined the antiterrorist coalition and sent its specialists to Iraq on
a humanitarian mission.
The Armenian speaker also met Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin
today. Levitin said that they were faithful to all their promises and
that they were working on the commissioning of the fifth unit of the
Razdan power plant [one of the enterprises handed over to
Russia]. Speaking about the work of the Kavkaz-Poti ferry link,
Levitin said that he would be meeting experts to discuss this problem
in Krasnodar on 15 April.
The National Assembly speaker’s two-day visit to Moscow has
ended. Tomorrow he is leaving for St Petersburg to attend the 25th
plenary session of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and an
international scientific forum dedicated to the 60th anniversary of
the Victory in Europe Day.

A1plus
| 15:59:54 | 13-04-2005 | Official |
KOCHARYAN TO ELIMINATE THE SUPPORT TO BUSINESS
Today Robert Kocharyan has had a working meeting with the members of the
newly elected government of the Union of Industrialists and Businessmen.
They have represented to problems recorded in the latest session expecting
support to solve them.
Issues about securing equal competition in the business field, supporting
the local industrialists, import of producing equipment, and the
possibilities of the soothing the negative impact of the currency changes
have been discussed.
Robert Kocharyan has mentioned that steps are taken to eliminate support to
business and to secure equal competition in the business field.

CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN PROPOSES HOLDING LOCAL
SELF-GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN YEREVAN IN SEPTEMBER, IN REGIONS IN
OCTOBER
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The Central Electoral Committee has
begun carring out certain work with regional governors aimed at
organization of local self-government elections starting from the
previous year. Garegin Azarian, Chairman of RA Central Electoral
Committee, declared this during the April 12 consultation at RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian’s office. According to RA government’s
Press Service, the Central Electoral Committee Chairman, in
particular, emphasized the importance of formation of district
electoral commissions, specification of electoral rolls with the
assistance of regional governors. G.Azarian proposed starting local
self-government elections from Yerevan holding them in September and
in regions in October. In connection with preparation for the local
self-government elections A.Margarian attached importance to provision
of equal start conditions for all candidates irrespective of their
party membership in accordance with the spirit and letter of the law

PROBLEMS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES OF ARMENIA DISCUSSED ON INITIATIVE OF
“NOR ZHAMANAKNER” PARTY
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. “Nor Zhamanakner” (New Times) party
held discussions concerning problems of ethnic minorities in Armenia
on April 12. At the discussion leaders of national communities and
representatives of public organizations represented problems of ethnic
minorities of Armenia, especially separating educational and cultural
problems. Participants of the discussion emphasized that no
antisemitism has ever been in Armenia. At the same time, according to
the participants of the meeting, national communities are left
insupported by the state, and there are problems that must be solved
by state only. According to a representative of the Kurdish community,
each community must have one representative at the National Assembly
which will become possible in the case of making corresponding
amendments to the Electoral Code.

Turkish official against German parliament’s Armenia bill
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
13 Apr 05

Text of report in English by Turkish news agency Anatolia; suheadings
inserted editorially
Berlin, 13 April: Yasar Yakis, the chairman of the Parliamentary
Commission for EU Adjustment, said on Wednesday [13 April] that the
Armenian bill which was brought to the agenda of the German federal
parliament by the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) would not be
beneficial.
Yakis and the members of the Turkish parliamentary commission who are
in Berlin met with the representatives of Turkish nongovernmental
organizations the same day.
Speaking in the meeting about the bill prepared by CDU defending
Armenian claims of genocide, Yakis said that “certainly we can’t
interfere with the things wanted to be done by the political parties
in Germany. But we try to explain the fact that the Armenian bill will
not be useful either for Turkish-German/Turkish-Armenian relations or
CDU party.”
“I read the bill which is full of misinformation. In my opinion
historians should come together to discuss the issue and Turkey is
ready to share its documents… [news agency ellipsis] If this bill is
not withdrawn, there will be difficulties in Turkey’s adjustment to
EU,” Yakis said.
Noting that the flights between Yerevan and Istanbul started and there
were also plans to start flights between Antalya and Yerevan, Yakis
said that Turkey couldn’t see such positive steps from Armenia.
“Armenia should give up its claims on Turkish territory”
“Now Armenia asks us to open our borders unilaterally; we are not also
against it, but they describe eastern cities of Van, Kars and Erzurum
as ‘Western Armenia’. First of all, Armenia should give up its claims
on Turkish territory,” said Yakis.
Stressing that the incidents that took place in 1915 could not be
described as genocide, Yakis said that “if this was true, the
Armenians living in Istanbul would have been killed. We are ready to
face our history, but we can’t accept baseless claims.”
Yakis remarked that the Turkish parliamentary commission both aimed to
improve cooperation with German parties and institutions and also
overcome the worries of the CDU politicians who were against Turkey’s
EU membership. “We all see German politicians as friends of Turkey,”
he said.
Ocalan retrial
When asked what he thought about retrial of Abdullah Ocalan, the head
of the terrorist organization PKK, Yakis commented that “we are not
against his retrial, he has such a right, but as the evidence has not
changed, he will get the same punishment again.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Today, Azerbaijan
April 13 2005
Agenda of the meeting of Azerbaijan and Armenia presidents determined

13 April 2005 [15:43] – Today.Az

The agenda of the meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
has been determined. According to the information given to APA from
diplomatic sources, state leaders will have talks in Moscow and
Warsaw first of all for eliminating the results of the war.

The main topics for discussion will be the establishment of security
zone, mutual guarantees and the returning of the refugees back to
their homes. If compromise variants achieved on these problems, then
the sides will discuss the matter within the future status of Nagorno
Karabakh.
According to the source, the agenda of the meeting will be determined
once again during the talks of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan and Armenia to be held on 15 April in London.
It must be mentioned that, in his report yesterday president of
Armenia Robert Kocharyan stated that there was no any alternative for
the regulation of the conflict on the bases of mutual compromises.
URL:

Pan Armenian News
FACT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MAY HAMPER TURKEY ACCESSION TO EU
12.04.2005 06:13
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In case Turkey refuses to acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 – a crime committed 90
years ago, it can become an obstacle for accession of that country to the
European Union, Euronews TV channel reported. It was also noted that the
Cyprus and Kurdish problems may become serious obstacles on Ankara’s way to
Europe.

Turkish official condemns German bill on Armenian allegations
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
12 Apr 05
BERLIN
Parliamentary Commission for Adjustment to the European Union (EU)
Chairman Yasar Yakis said on Monday [11 April] that the Armenian bill
submitted by German union parties (CDU/CSU) to federal German
parliament was full of misinformation. The Turkish parliamentary
delegation, including members of the Commission for Adjustment to the
EU and the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission met Greens
Parliamentary Group Foreign Policy Spokesperson Fritz Kuhn.
Speaking after the meeting Yakis said the bill which the CDU/CSU
presented to federal German parliament on Armenians and the bill about
the excessive force used by Turkish police on individuals were
discussed at the meeting. Yakis said that there is not one single
sentence which does not contain wrong information in the bill
presented by CDU/CSU on Armenian demands and allegations, noting: “We
expressed our concern that Turkish-German relations can be damaged in
case the mistakes are included in the bill. We told them that this
bill was not beneficial either to CDU, Turkish-German relations or
Turkish-Armenian relations, but on the contrary, it would be very
harmful.”
Yakis said Kuhn told him that they were also preparing a bill on
Armenian issue and he offered cooperation in preparation of this
bill. “This cooperation does not mean ‘listen to us alone. Listen also
to us. We will not stand on the archives of only the Ottomans. We can
present you with the documents from German archives as well. You may
also take documents from the Armenian side. Then, write whatever you
will.”
Yakis said he told Kuhn that the problem of excessive use of force by
police was also seen in other countries, and noted: “I also told Kuhn
that the country should be accused if the government fails to carry
out necessary procedures on the police.” Yakis said Kuhn told him that
such scenes should not often be seen in a country which is a candidate
to the EU. Yakis said: “We also discussed what kind of cooperation
could be made between Turkey and Germany for Turkey’s progress on the
way to become an EU member. As you know, Greens expend the most
powerful and stable support to Turkey’s EU membership.”
The Turkish parliamentary delegation will meet representatives of
various parties and Turkish community during their visit till
Thursday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman, Turkey
April 12 2005
Ankara Ships 11 Countries Blue Book Disclaimer Against So-Called
Genocide Allegations
By Omer Sahin, Servet Yanatma
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has informed about the delivery
of a letter to 11 countries. The letter comprised of the fundamentals
of the so-called Armenian genocide, confirmed by the Turkish
parliament that takes the Blue Book as a reference.
Erdogan said, “If one says genocide to an emigration, then, all
developed countries have done it.” Erdogan, who met yesterday with
Turkish citizens in the Oslo Military Museum Meeting Hall in Norway,
said in response to a citizen’s question on the government’s policies
about the so-called Armenian genocide, that they have undertaken
important tasks on this issue.
Reminded that the Armenian problem will be discussed in parliament on
April 13 the Prime Minister said, “The declaration, to be signed by
our 550 deputies will be sent to London, the Lords and the House of
Commons and to the parliaments of other countries. The world cannot
be established on a foundation of grudges and aversions. There cannot
be such a political foundation. We have already opened air corridor
with Armenia.”
Erdogan noted that Turkey has challenged this issue and is ready to
face up to its history and these same tasks must also undertaken by
the Armenians. The Blue Book is the main resource and record of the
so-called Armenian genocide allegations. Viscount James Brandy and
historian Arnold Tonybee, who were appointed in 1916 to document the
practices and procedures performed against the Armenians, by the
Ottoman administration in 1915-1916, wrote it.
However, it had been revealed that the British propaganda office at
Welling House, who was asked by the US to take their side during
World War I, had attuned the Blue Book.
Meanwhile, Armenian President Robert Kocharian, who yesterday issued
a statement, said that his country works to gain recognition of the
so-called genocide; however, they have never demanded any territory
from Turkey.
Kocharian said, “Recognizing the Armenian genocide in the
international arena is on our agenda, today. Armenian leaders and
politicians decide on what they are able to perform legally in the
future.”
Noting in his speech in Oslo that it is extremely unfair to decide on
Turkey according to the evaluations issued by marginal groups in
Western countries, the Turkish Prime Minister said, “Of course, we do
not allow terrorist organization to wave their flags. It is
impossible to accept terror as a human right. However, when those who
are violated by terror, they say ‘ah, uh’. Excuse me. We have to
realize what is required.”

Pan Armenian News
CE JUSTICE MINISTERS TO MEET IN ARMENIA IN 2006
09.04.2005 05:14
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recurrent meeting of the Ministers of Justice of the
Council of Europe member states will be held in Armenia in 2006. The
decision on that was made in the course of a meeting of the ministers held
in Helsinki yesterday, Rengum news agency reported. In the course of the
sitting the ministers said they wish to continue struggle against terrorism
and money laundering. The resolution passed specifically says, «during the
struggle against terrorism human rights should be fully observed.» It should
be noted that Armenian Minister of Justice David Harutyunian took part in
the Helsinki meeting.
–Boundary_(ID_azClHA5NiS8O8X4O9A9uIQ)–