Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

ENVOY SAYS CONFLICTS AFFECT EU ENLARGEMENT

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
May 18 2006

The European Union “big three” (Germany, Britain and France) has
analyzed the results of its representatives’ recent visit to the South
Caucasus and issued specific recommendations to all regional states,
the EU special envoy in Azerbaijan, Alan Adams, said.

Adams called on both Azerbaijan and Armenia to step up efforts to
resolve the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict. He added that the EU
was in favor of concessions in line with the Geneva Convention on
territorial integrity. With regard to the impact of the long-standing
dispute, the ambassador said its unresolved status was affecting the
process of the EU enlargement.

He said only after the existing conflicts have been resolved will
it be possible to speak of effective regional cooperation. “From
this standpoint, solution to the Garabagh conflict represents special
importance to the EU,” Adams told journalists. Adams said the National
Action Plan being prepared by Azerbaijan and the European Union as
part of the European New Neighborhood Policy will be approved in the
coming two months. The diplomat said the plan would identify specific
areas of cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.

“This will open up a new area of political and economic cooperation.”

Adams said the 25-member union intends to implement a number of
projects in the S. Caucasus. The projects will serve the enforcement
of assumed commitments, while those scheduled for 2006 mainly cover
regional development, social and economic reforms, he added.

ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL LEGAL NORMS, FORCIBLE DISPLACEMENT OF ARMENIAN POPULATION OF AZERBAIJANI SSR WAS ETHNIC CLEANSING

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 17 2006

STEPANAKERT, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “18 years
ago tragic events took place in Shoushi that played a big
role in strengthening of confrontation and resumption of the
Azerbaijani-Artsakh conflict. On May 16-17 1988, the leadership of
Azerbaijani SSR by means of its agents and Azerbaijani authorities
of Shoushi region of Nagorno Karabakh began forcible displacement
of the Armenian population of the town of Shoushi,” NKR Foreign
Ministry May 16 statement read. The NKR foreign political department
is convinced that these actions that became possible as a result of
impunity of the Armenian massacres in the town of Sumgayit in February
of the same year had a goal to exterminate the Armenian element in
Nagorno Karabakh. According to the document, the circumstance that
these actions considered to be ethnic cleansings according to the
international legal norms did not receive an adequate estimation by
the leadership of the USSR, enabled the authorities of Azerbaijani
SSR to implement massacres and displacement of the Armenian population
(Khanlar, Kutkashen, Vardashen, Shamkhor regions, town of Mingechaur,
etc. – November-December 1988, town of Kirovabad – November 1989, Baku
– January 1990, “Ring” operation – April-June 1991), which created
preconditions for the beginning of a large-scale aggression against
Nagorno Karabakh Republic. NKR Foreign Ministry draws the attention
of the international community to the fact that the militaristic
propaganda and deepening of xenophobia in the Azerbaijani society are
the continuation of the policy of Azerbaijani authorities. The document
contains an appeal to give the respective estimation to these actions
and to recognize the international legal responsibility of Azerbaijani
Republic for mass violations of basic rights of the Armenian population
of the former Azerbaijani SSR and for aggressive war against Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, which “will have great importance in strengthening
of security and peace in the region and final settlement of the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict”.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DECLINES BY 3.3% IN GEGHARKUNIK MARZ IN 2005

Noyan Tapan
May 17 2006

GAVAR, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the reports of industrial
enterprises of Gegharkunik marz, as well as based on the assessment
of operation of the small enterprises not included in the monthly
statistical monitoring, industrial production of 14,832.2 mln drams was
manufactured in current prices in Gegharkunik marz in 2005. Sales made
8,919 mln drams, including sales in CIS countries – 113.5 mln drams,
in other countries – 0.2 mln drams (about 444 USD). According to Hakob
Badalian, Head of the Regional Agency of the RA National Statistical
Service, a 3.3% decline in industrial production was registered in
the marz in 2005 compared with the previous year.

Congressional Record: May 16, 2006 (Senate)
[Page S4617-S4619]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr16my06-136]
S. 2461

At the request of Mr. Santorum, the name of the Senator from Colorado
(Mr. Allard) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2461, a bill to prohibit
United States assistance to develop or promote any rail connections or
railway-related connections that traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan,
Tbilisi, Georgia, and Kars, Turkey, and that specifically exclude
cities in Armenia.
S. RES. 320

At the request of Mr. Ensign, the name of the Senator from
Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) was added as a cosponsor of S. Res. 320, a
resolution calling for the President to ensure that the foreign policy
of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the United States record relating to the
Armenian Genocide.

SERGO YERITSIAN DOES NOT IMAGINE HIS FURTHER POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN OPPOSITION FIELD

Noyan Tapan
May 15 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. “I do not imagine my further political
activity in the opposition field,” founder-member and Vice-Chairman
of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) Party Sergo Yeritsian gave
such a commentary upon his leaving the Orinats Yerkir Party. In
response to Noyan Tapan correspondent’s question, whether he will
receive a new post in the future, Yeritsian said: “We will live
and we will see”. To recap, according to the information in press,
S.Yeritsian will receive the post of Adviser to RA President. Sergo
Yeritsian took the office of RA Minister of Education and Science
in the coalition government. At the end of the last week the Orinats
Yerkir Party officially declared about its leaving the coalition and
the party Chairman Artur Baghdasarian informed that he is going to
submit his resignation from the post of RA NA Speaker at the NA 4-day
session to start on May 22 and state officials representing OYP will
also resign. He declared that henceforth the Orinats Yerkir becomes
an opposition.

RAGIP ZARAKOLU, A MAN OF VISION
By Sofia Kontogeorge Kostos

Greek News, New York
May 15 2006

Ragip Zarakolu, the Turkish publisher and writer wrote, “We have
to learn from history and avoid denying the past tragedies, which
should cause shame in us. Otherwise, history is bound to repeat
itself.” He believes that the fight for freedom of expression can only
be accomplished from within Turkish borders and not from the outside.

For thirty years, Ragip Zarakolu owner of the Belge Publishing House
has been translating and printing into Turkish, books that break
the barriers of silence instilled by the Turkish Government-the
perpetrators of the Genocides of the Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians
of Turkey.

In spite of perpetual harassments Zarakolu perseveres in his struggle,
for freedom of expression. With unwavering conviction he says, “….Not
for the Armenians or any others – but for citizens of Turkey.” He adds,
“We must face these realities to become a real democratic country. We
are giving a struggle for this, to give light to the dark pages of
our history.”

Over the years:

1. His presses and his publications offices were fire bombed and
demolished.

2. He and his late wife were collectively imprisoned for 5 years.

3. Their books were confiscated and banned.

4. He is repeatedly fined and tried.

5. On June 21st, 2006, he faces his eighth trial-with one exception,
he must appear in court with a historian whose name remains undisclosed
at this time.

If Ragip Zarakolu is found guilty, he faces 13.5 years imprisonment
for printing and distributing the Turkish translation of the following
two books:

1: Prof. Dr. Dora Sakayan’s book is a compilation of her Grandfather’s
meticulous journals of the heart pounding accounts of the destruction
of Smyrna and his ensuing escape starting from August 28th 1922
and ending in Salonika on June 1st 1923. Dora Sakayan’s book, “An
Armenian Doctor in Turkey: Garabed Hatcherian: My Smyrna Ordeal in
1922,” is both informative and compelling. It has been translated
into nine languages that include Greek and Turkish.

2: In George Jerjian’s “The Truth Will Set Us Free,” he brilliantly
and convincingly offers ideas on how Turkey can break out of its
straightjacket of denials in order to create a better future. He
includes a surprising and heartwarming introduction by former Sen.
Bob Dole.

In addition to the 39 books regarding the Genocides of the Greeks,
Mr. Zarakolu has published books on the Genocides of the Armenians,
Kurds, and of the Massacre of the Jews in Russia. Indeed Ragip Zarakolu
is man of vision and a giant amongst us.

me=News&file=article&sid=4915

NO INTERNAL POLITICAL CRISIS

Panorama.am
18:40 15/05/06

According to Defense Minister Serj Sargsyan, internal political crisis
did not happen in the political field followed by recent steps taken
by Orinats Yerkir. “No program can be a dogma. Any program is subject
to change. We will try to adapt those program to the Armenia reality,”
S. Sargsyan said.

OSCE Secretary General visits rocket fuel disposal site in Armenia

ArmRadio.am
13.05.2006 11:55

OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, who is on a two-day
visit to Armenia, applauded the imminent start of the recycling of 872
tons of mélange rocket fuel.

“The mélange project in Armenia is an outstanding example of what
practical co-operation between the OSCE and a participating State can
achieve and could well serve as a model throughout the OSCE region,”
he said during a visit to the disposal site in Kaltakhchi, a village
in Armenia’s northern Lori province.

`Thanks to the OSCE’s support, we were able to start this initiative
that will improve environmental safety and thereby the security of
Armenia’s population,’ added the Armenian Defence Minister, Serge
Sargsyan.

AZERBAIJAN DENIES ARMENIAN PROPOSAL TO HOLD FOOTBALL FIXTURES IN YEREVAN AND BAKU

Armenpress
May 11 2006

BAKU, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS: Fuad Asadov, the secretary general of
the Football Federation of Azerbaijan, questioned the ability and
willingness of Armenian authorities to ensure security of Azeri
football-players if they play their qualification match for Europe’s
championship in Yerevan.

Asadov’s remarks were quoted by Trend news agency just a day before
football chiefs of Armenia and Azerbaijan are to meet with UEFA
officials on May 12 to decide the fate of the games after the two
rival nations were drawn into the same Group A of the qualifying
competition for the 2008 European football championship. Earlier this
year Ruben Hayrapetian, the chief of Armenian Football Federation,
said Armenia was ready to host the game with Azerbaijan and guarantee
the security of its players. He also said that Armenians were ready
to travel to Azerbaijan and play there.

Hayrapetian’s assurances were backed by Armenian foreign minister
Vartan Oskanian who told a Russian daily that Yerevan was willing
and able to guarantee the security of the Azerbaijani national squad.

However, Asadov was quoted by Trend as describing the Armenian offer
as ‘not serious.” He said the UEFA will help the sides to choose a
third country to face each other. The two fixtures are scheduled for
September 2007.

RA PRESIDENT AND AMBASSADOR OF UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES OF WIDENING TWO COUNTRIES’ COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
May 11 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian received
on May 11 Khalifa Shahin Al-Mrrin, the Ambassador of the United
Arab Emirates (residence in Tehran). The President of the republic
expressed satisfaction relating to dinamically developing relations
between the two countries and mentioned that mutual visits and contacts
of different level have activized during the recent years. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the President’s Press Office, possibilities
of widening bilateral programs and mutual cooperation being already
in process were touched upon. Robert Kocharian attached importance
to implementation of investment programs in parallel to development
of commercial ties. The President of the republic estimated those
successes that the United Arab Emirates have reached during a rather
short period of time, as very impressing ones.