Author: Jidarian Alex

Massis Weekly Vol. 25 No. 23
Http://
June 18, 2005

– Aram Sarkisian Holds Confidential Discussions In The U.S.

– Authorities Criticized For Unwillingness To Espouse Proposals On
Constitutional Reform

– Adam Schiff Introduces Genocide Bill

– Poll Shows Armenians Mostly Dissatisfied With Their Situation

– His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos Of All Armenians In The Western Diocese

– AUA Helps Establish Regional Ophthalmic Unit in Sevan

————————-

– Aram Sarkisian Holds Confidential Discussions In The U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC — Aram Sarkisian leader of Hanrapetutyun party and a
prominent Armenian opposition figure has held a series of meetings with
U.S. Department of State and White House officials over the past week.
Sarkisian has been in the United States for about a week at the
invitation of the Social Democrat Hunchakian party, first visiting
Washington D.C. and then traveling to Los Angeles.
Sarkisian~Rs stay in Washington coincided with a working visit by
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian to the U.S. capital. But in a
phone conversation with RFE/RL on June 13, Sarkisian said that he didn~Rt
meet Oskanian in Washington even though they stayed in the same hotel.
Sarkisian, the brother of Prime Minister Vazgen Sarkisian who was killed
in the attack on the Armenian parliament chamber on October 27, 1999,
had meetings with senior political members of the U.S. Department of
State and the White House, but added that he could not disclose details
because of what he called confidentiality.
The White House meeting was with the National Security Council Caucasus
Director. Speaking about this meeting Aram Sarkisian said he was
impressed by this U.S. official and his knowledge of Armenia.
~TThe U.S. is a country that has its own interests in the region and
considers these interests to be strategic. The U.S. wants to have
friendly, allied relations with Armenia and also be a strategic
partner,~T Sarkisian told RFE/RL. ~TWe mainly discussed issues related to
the future of Armenia and my approaches to this future both in terms of
foreign and domestic policies,~T Sarkisian added without elaborating. ~SI
think the time to say more will come after completing the work.~T
But he mentioned that during his official meetings they also discussed
issues related to the Karabakh settlement and Armenian-Turkish
relations. Sarkisian also met with two members of US Congress, Adam
Schiff (DCA) and Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ).
Besides official
meetings, Sarkisian also met with representatives of the local Armenian
community.
He stated at a public meeting in Glendale, California: ~SArmenians, I
have come to take you home.~T According to Sarkisian himself, there were
many who said they wanted to go back to Armenia.

– Authorities Criticized For Unwillingness To Espouse Proposals On
Constitutional Reform

YEREVAN — Vahagn Khachatrian, who was an advisor to former President
Levon Ter-Petrosian, thinks there is little hope that the Armenian
authorities will embrace the Council of Europe~Rs proposals regarding
constitutional amendments before June 23, when the revised amendments
are to be submitted to the Council of Europe.
Speaking at a seminar in Yerevan on June 15 to discuss the advisability
of constitutional amendments, Khachatrian said:~SEven in these conditions
Robert Kocharian does not want to yield in the face of huge pressure.
The authorities do not want to retreat in any way, realizing well that
any nationwide event, be it a referendum or elections, creates an
additional problem for them as they will have to
develop a rigging mechanism and [select] those in charge of these riggings.~T
In Khachatrian~Rs opinion, ~Sno matter what constitution we have, it will
never be a problem for the current authorities to bypass or violate it.~T
Meanwhile, Progressive-Liberal Party Chairman Hovannes Hovannisian
slammed Kocharian for allegedly attempting to dupe the West, while in
real fact, Hovannisian thinks, the authorities are not
ready for serious reforms and ~Swill rig the outcome of the referendum~T
this fall in which voters will be asked to approve or reject the final
version of the constitutional amendments.
Another reason, according to Hovannisian, is that Kocharian ~Scherishes
hopes that the new Constitution will enable him to be nominated [for
president] for a third time in conditions of a certain
situation,~T or alternatively that Kocharian ~Swants to give a gift – a
new constitution – to his successor to make him a much stronger leader
who would act as a guarantor for him [Kocharian] and his entourage in
their future.~T
Speaking at the seminar, political analyst Aghasi Yenokian expressed the
opinion that it is much more important that the proposed package of
amendments should limit the powers of the executive body.
Leading legal experts from the Council of Europe were in Yerevan earlier
this month to discuss with Armenian officials their serious concerns
regarding the draft constitutional amendments.
Their statement criticized the Armenian authorities for failing to
embrace key Venice Commission recommendations that would give more
powers to the Armenian parliament, limit Kocharian~Rs authority to
appoint judges, and make the mayor of Yerevan an elected official. The
statement warned that failure to accept those recommendations would
seriously hamper Yerevan~Rs efforts at European integration.

– Adam Schiff Introduces Genocide Bill

GLENDALE (The Leader ) — Rep. Adam Schiff introduced a resolution to
Congress on Tuesday, with bipartisan support from more than 50
congressmen, that would require the government to recognize the Armenian
genocide.
~SI hope this year we can make the recognition happen,~T Schiff said. ~SIt
has been 90 years. If not now, when?~T For two years, Schiff has fought
for U.S. recognition of the genocide, in which more than 1.5 million
Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1916. The
resolution would also require the U.S. president to acknowledge the
genocide each year on the date of its anniversary.
The bill was cosponsored by representatives George Radanovich
(R-Mariposa), Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.).
Introducing the new resolution is the second step Schiff has taken in as
many weeks, and underlines his efforts during the past two years
regarding the issue. Last week, Schiff announced that a forthcoming bill
requiring the government to acknowledge the genocide was guaranteed a
hearing by House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde,
increasing the its chances at becoming law.
He is still working on the language to that bill, which he will
introduce to the House of Representatives in the near future, Schiff said.
Tuesday~Rs introduction received substantial bipartisan support. More
than 50 members of Congress, democrats and republicans, joined to
support the resolution, including Rep. David Dreier.

– Poll Shows Armenians Mostly Dissatisfied With Their Situation

A poll conducted by a Russian research center shows that 46 percent of
citizens of Armenia ~Scan hardly make their both ends meet~T, while only
33 percent can actually ~Ssatisfy their essential needs~T.
Russia~Rs ~SROMIRO Monitoring~T center conducted a poll among residents of
five CIS countries, including Russia, Armenia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and
Moldova, as well as in Bulgaria and China.
The ~SNovoye Vremya~T magazine writes that Armenians and Bulgarians have
the worst opinion about their own situation and their countries~R economies.
Ninety-one percent of citizens polled in Armenia thinks that the
country~Rs economic situation is ~Spoor~T or ~Saverage~T.
Answering the question of who will be the world~Rs most powerful nation
in 20 years~R time, 34 percent of questioned Armenia~Rs citizens said it
will be the United States, 25 percent spoke in favor of Russia
and 19 percent mentioned the European Union.
Twenty-one percent of respondents in Russia see their country as the
world~Rs leader in two decades, while the same percentage of Russians are
convinced that the U.S. will preserve its world dominance.

– His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos Of All Armenians In The Western Diocese

Symposium/Dialogue On Globalization And The Armenian Church At USC
On Friday, June 10 a symposium took place entitled Globalization and the
Armenian Church in the Davidson Conference Center at the University of
Southern California, presided by His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and sponsored by the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies,
and the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture.
Professor Donald Miller, USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture,
spoke on ~SThe Dynamics of Globalization: Patters and Processes~T.
Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsesian, Pastor of St. Peter Armenian Church Youth
Center in Glendale, spoke on the theme of ~SThe Impact of Globalization
on the Armenian Church: An Assessment.~T The topic of ~SA New Agenda for
the Armenian Church: Taking the Offensive~T was presented by Prof. Hrair
Dekmejian, Department of Political Science and Director of the USC
Institute of Armenian Studies.~T
A Panel discussion followed conducted by Prof. Donald Miller, with the
participation of students and guests in attendance.
In Conclusion His Holiness Karekin II spoke on the topic of ~SShepherding
St. Gregory~Rs Progeny in a Globalized World.~T His Holiness emphasized
that Globalization is not a new concept, and that in the 5th Century the
Armenian people were in the danger of assimilation, however, with the
help of God and through the efforts of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Mashdots
the Armenian alphabet was created (the 1600th anniversary of which will
be celebrated this year). With the translation of the Holy Bible,
religious, liturgical, philosophical and other works, our culture, the
Armenian Church, and the Armenian people were enriched and were given a
national identity which distinguished us from other people.
Globalization, which became more of an issue at the end of the 20th
century undoubtedly leaves its mark also on our people and the church.
However, we are certain that thanks to our unshakable faith and love
towards our Motherland, we will be able to remain unaffected by foreign
pressures. We will lead our people and necessarily the youth towards the
~SFountain of Light~T, towards Christ, with his
teachings of the Holy Gospel and the mission of creating a motherland.
The Symposium came to a close with the Benediction by His Holiness
Karekin II. The Students then approached the Catholicos to receive his
blessings. At 7:00 p.m. on June 10 His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos
of All Armenians blessed the Altar Cross Stone and four icons of the new
edifice of St. Gregory Armenian Church, in Pasadena. Following the
ceremony a Banquet took place in the Agajanian Hall of the Church.
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, departed for
Fresno on Saturday Morning, June 11, 2005 after having completed his
Pontifical visitation in the Greater Los Angeles Area. His Holiness,
accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, and
his entourage,
were greeted at the Fresno airport by the clergy of the region, as well
as representatives of the Parish Councils, Ladies~R Societies and ACYO.
In honor of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
marking his official entrance into the San Joaquin Valley a ~SHrashapar~T
service took place at St. Paul Armenian church.
Following the prayer service His Eminence Archbishop Derderian made his
remarks welcoming the Catholicos of All Armenians into the Western
Diocese and emphasizing that the Pontifical visit of His Holiness is a
Renaissance of Faith for the entire Diocese. His Eminence informed the
faithful of the activities and accomplishments of the Catholicos,
particularly in the area of construction and renovation within Armenia.
He then introduced His Holiness and invited his to provide the faithful
with his message. His Holiness praised God for the opportunity for a
second visit to the Western Diocese. He spoke of the difficulties facing
the Armenian Church and conveyed his optimism that our combined efforts
will make it possible to overcome our difficulties.
~SDarkness will be followed by dawn and lack of faith, by the Christian
Faith.~T His Holiness commended the faith and dedication of the faithful
of Fresno and urged them to continue to remain connected to the Armenian
Apostolic Church, the Christian Faith and our cultural heritage.
Following the ~SHrashapar~T Service a Press Conference took place at St.
Paul Armenian Chruch during which His Holiness was interviewed by local
media and press.
On Sunday, June 12, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All
Armenians, celebrated Pontifical Divine Liturgy at St. Paul Armenian
Church with the participation of the clergy and parishes of Central
California. His Holiness was assisted by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian and His Eminence Archbishop Nerses Bozabalyan.
In his sermon the Pontiff of All Armenians blessed those in attendance,
and urged them to remain loyal to the Armenian Church and the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin. ~SWe pray for the strengthening of the Diaspora,~T
said the Catholicos. ~SThe Armenian people found in Christ the hope for
their life and Motherland.~T
He referred to human and national values, including the 1600th
anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet, the fruit of which
was the reinforcement of Christian faith in Jesus and the Armenian
Apostolic Church. Since that day the Armenian people have not been
downtrodden by persecutions and the problems of life. Today that same
Armenian Church and the Motherland of the Armenians live free, and the
church has already begun to flourish once more and is undergoing a new
renaissance of faith. His Holiness emphasized that ~SSoon all
difficulties will be defeated.~T He urged the faithful to protect all
values and to never forget the birthplace of their spirit, the Armenian
Church and Armenia. He then made plea to all to live with love and peace
in our host country.
On this occasion His Holiness presented to the Primate His Eminence
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian a beautiful container in which to keep Holy
Muron, and to the Catholic Bishop he presented a cross bearing the
Armenian style to be worn around his neck. Bishop Steinbeck, removing
his own cross, gave it to His Holiness in return for his gesture. The
exchange of gifts symbolized the spirit of love and brotherhood.
A large number of faithful received Holy Communion form the Catholicos.
Following the Pontifical Divine Liturgy, the official Banquet took
place in honor of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
in the Fresno Convention Center, with the participation of benefactors,
faithful, as well as high ranking religious and political guests and
representatives. Following dinner the attendees viewed a video
presentation regarding the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the
Kevorkian Seminary, as well as the accomplishments of His Holiness. In
his message the Primate mentioned the activities of His Holiness and the
projects which he has implemented, wishing him health, well being and
increased strength. He congratulated the meticulous work of the
Reception Committee and invited His Holiness to deliver his message. His
Holiness Karekin II conveyed his hopefulness that the Armenians of the
region will remain firm in their faith and identity. He urged the clergy
to dedicate themselves with greater consciousness to their faithful, the
church and her mission, in order to ensure the prosperity of the
community. The Pontiff drew attention to various issues, ecclesiastical
and religious, facing the church, at the same time identifying new hopes
for the Armenian Apostolic Church.

– AUA Helps Establish Regional Ophthalmic Unit in Sevan

YEREVAN — The Ararat-1 Lions Club and the Garo Meghrigian Eye Institute
for Preventive Ophthalmology (GMEIPO) of the Center for Health Services
Research and Development, American University of Armenia, in conjunction
with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, hosted the
opening of the Lions Regional Ophthalmic Unit in Sevan on June 11, 2005.
The Lions Regional Ophthalmic Unit is part of an integrated project
supported by the Lions Club International Foundation SightFirst grant to
strengthen ophthalmologic services throughout the region and to serve as
a model for sustainable, community-based primary eye care and a
blindness prevention system.
The Unit was renovated and equipped according to World Health
Organization (WHO) standards and the core staff, including one
ophthalmologist and two ophthalmic nurses, was trained on new methods
of diagnostics and treatment at the Lions Aravind Institute for
Community Ophthalmology in India. The Lions Regional Ophthalmic Unit
will focus on cataract surgery, the main blinding condition in Armenia,
according to the GMEIPO~Rs population- based survey and Armenia~Rs
Ministry of Health statistics.
In support of the Unit, 10 village examination centers were established
in village ambulatories in the Gegharkunik region. The centers will
provide primary eye care and screening services by nurses that
completed a training session conducted by the GMEIPO, with support from
the Jinishian Memorial Fund. Within 2 years, approximately 20,000 people
aged 50 and over from the Gegharkunik region will receive free
ophthalmic examinations.
An estimated 1,000-1,500 cataract surgeries will be conducted, many for
free or at substantially reduced prices. ~SThis project is the outcome of
a partnership that has been forged to provide needed eye care services
to the poor people of the Gegharkunik region. It is a unique event and I
have every confidence that it will be a great success,~T said Dr. Para,
WHO/Geneva Consultant Ophthalmologist.

MassisWeekly.com – Massis Weekly Online – Organ Of the Social Democrat
Hunchak Party – Western USA – All rights reserved. Republication and
redistribution of Massis Weekly Online content is expressly prohibited
without the prior written consent of Massis Weekly Online. Massis Weekly
Online shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or
for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Der Tagesspiegel
18 juni 2005

Erdogan nennt Schroder ruckgratlos
Turkischer Premier hält den Armenienbeschluss des Bundestages fur
~Dfalsch und hässlich” / Berlin: Unverständlich

Von Matthias Meisner, Hans Monath und Thomas Seibert

Berlin/Istanbul – Mit einer scharfen personlichen Attacke auf Kanzler
Gerhard Schroder hat der turkische Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan auf
den Bundestagsbeschluss zu den Massakern 1915/16 an den Armeniern
reagiert. Ihm seien Politiker mit Ruckgrat lieber, sagte Erdogan in
Bezug auf Schroder, nachdem der Bundestag der im Osmanischen Reich
getoteten Armenier gedacht hatte. Noch Anfang Mai habe Schroder bei
seinem Besuch in der Turkei betont, er stimme mit der turkischen
Sicht der Dinge uberein, sagte Erdogan. Doch dann habe der Kanzler
nichts unternommen, um den Bundestagsbeschluss zu verhindern.

~DSehr falsch und sehr hässlich” sei der Bundestagsbeschluss gewesen,
sagte Erdogan. Der Bundestag sei Opfer armenischer Lobbyisten
geworden. Dass im Antrag selbst nicht von ~DVolkermord” die Rede ist
und der Begriff nur in der Begrundung auftaucht, sei kein Trost. ~DIch
mag eher Politiker mit Ruckgrat, mit starken Knochen”, sagte Erdogan
uber Schroder. Die Turkei behauptet bis heute, es habe sich nur um
kriegsbedingte Zwangsumsiedlungen gehandelt. Welche Konsequenzen
Erdogans Wutausbruch haben wird, war zunächst unklar. Die turkische
Regierung bestritt, dass in Ankara erwogen wird, den turkischen
Botschafter in Deutschland, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, zu Konsultationen
in die turkische Hauptstadt zuruckzurufen. Vor der deutschen
Botschaft in Ankara demonstrierten am Freitag nationalistische
Gewerkschafter, legten einen schwarzen Kranz nieder und riefen
Parolen wie ~DHitlers Bastarde”.

Die Bundesregierung wies die Kritik Erdogans zuruck. Dessen
Behauptung, der Beschluss sei ~Dfalsch und hässlich”, sei
~Dunzutreffend”, sagte Vizeregierungssprecher Thomas Steg dem
Tagesspiegel: ~DEs ist eine ausgewogene Resolution.” Steg bestritt
auch, dass sich Schroder der turkischen Haltung in der Armenierfrage
angeschlossen habe. ~DDer Bundeskanzler hat immer seine eigene
Position deutlich gemacht”, sagte er: ~DInsofern ist die Enttäuschung
uber diese Resolution unverständlich.” Gerade die Deutschen wussten,
dass die Aufarbeitung historischer Schuld und die Bereitschaft zur
Versohnung und zum Verzeihen unverzichtbar seien, ~Dum eine gute und
friedliche Zukunft der Volker zu gestalten”.

Bei einer vom Zentralrat der Armenier organisierten Podiumsdiskussion
am Donnerstagabend in Berlin kritisierten Wissenschaftler den
Bundestagsbeschluss als inkonsequent. Der Hamburger Juraprofessor
Otto Luchterhandt sprach von ~DSchizophrenie”. Fur den ~DHausgebrauch”
in Deutschland werde der Begriff Volkermord benutzt, gegenuber der
Turkei aber vermieden. Der Bundestag sei zuruckgewichen hinter einem
~Daggressivem turkischen Nationalismus”, habe die Turkei ~Dzu schonend
angepackt”. Mihran Dabag vom Institut fur Genozidforschung in Bochum
sagte, gegenuber der Leugnung des Volkermords hätte das deutsche
Parlament eine ~Dganz klare Haltung” einnehmen mussen. Der
SPD-Außenpolitiker Markus Meckel sagte, mehr sei nicht moglich
gewesen. Der CDU-Abgeordnete Christoph Bergner meinte, es gehe darum,
ein ~DUmdenken in der Turkei” zu erreichen. Bergner will sich
gemeinsam mit der CDU-Bildungspolitikerin Katherina Reiche an die
Kultusministerien der unionsregierten Länder wenden, damit die
Vernichtung der Armenier moglichst in allen Ländern im
Schulunterricht behandelt wird. Bisher steht das Thema nur in
Brandenburg auf dem Lehrplan.

–Boundary_(ID_Xy0NK+EL/s50ITG6YG2WYQ)–

ELECTION COMMISSION FORMATION CONFLICTS WITH CONSTITUTION

A1plus

| 12:32:59 | 18-06-2005 | Politics |

The amendments to the Electoral Code did not solve the principal
problem – providing of balance in the election commissions.

“In Armenia the outcome of the election is determined by the
composition of the election commission, since the lion’s share of
the falsifications was committed with the immediate participation of
the election commissions”, chairman of Democracy public organization
Vardan Poghosyan says. In his opinion, with the absence of impartial
and independent election commission it is useless to speak of fair
elections. “The fact that the European structures assisted the Armenian
authorities causes concern. Earlier three members appointed by the
President. Henceforth, according to the amendments one member will
appointed by the President, one – by the Court of Cassations and one –
by People’s deputy faction”, he notes.

The Venice Commission and OSCE Bureau on Human Rights and
Democracy rated the clause according to which judges take part in
the formation of the election commissions as progressive. Vardan
Poghosyan reminded that in 2004 in its intermediate report on the
constitutional amendments the Venice Commission noted, “The fixation of
constitutional guarantees for establishment and activity of independent
and impartial juridical system in Armenia is one of the key problems
of constitutional reform in Armenia.” In V. Poghosyan’s opinion,
it means that that Armenia still lacks independent and impartial
juridical system

According to him, current balance of forces (6+3) remains
unchanged. “When assessing the Azerbaijani Electoral Code the
Venice Commission and the OSCE Bureau on Human Rights and Democracy
pointed out to two circumstances – the commission should be formed
without giving advantage to the power-oriented political forces;
the decisions of the election commissions should be taken by 2/3
votes”, he noted. Contrary to Azerbaijan no demands of the kind
were made for Armenia. In its conclusion the Venice Commission
gave a negative estimate to the amendment according to which the
President of the republic forms all the election commissions. “The
amended Electoral Code does not state clearly whether the President
can decline the appointment of a candidate nominated by apposition
political party. Only this fact is enough not to consider the new
Code to be progressive”, Vardan Poghosyan resumed.

Victoria Abrahamyan

BUNDESTAG’S DECISION ENNOBLES GERMAN PEOPLE, HEAD OF EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION SAYS

BRUSSELS, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The decision on the
Armenian genocide made by the German Bundestag on June 16 emphasizes
Turkey’s policy of denial. This step taken in the name of truth and
remembrance ennobles the German people and represents an important
step forward in terms of the full recognition of the Armenian
genocide by Germany. Head of the European Armenian Federation (EAF)
Hilda Choboyan stated this. “If Germany is responsible for not taking
actions to prevent the annihilation of Armenians, today’s Turkey –
the direct legal successor of the criminal regime – must accept full
responsibility for the Genocide,” Hilda Choboyan underlined. The
EAF takes the view that Germany’s experience in the recognition and
compensation of the genocide of Jews and Gypsies should set an example
for all the states that have commited genocides to follow. Hilda
Choboyan deems the resolution of Bundestag to be a political step that
reaffirms the European citizens’ demand for including the Armenian
genocide recognition issue on the agenda of the negotiations for
Turkrey’s joining the EU.

US, Russia plan to discuss “frozen conflicts” in Transcaucasia
By Pavel Vanichkin

ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 17, 2005 Friday 3:07 AM Eastern Time

WASHINGTON, June 17 — U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans
to discuss the situation in Transcaucasia at a meeting with Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the G-8 foreign
ministers’ meeting in London next week.

Rice told a press conference on Thursday she would discuss with Lavrov
the so-called “frozen conflicts,” including the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The U.S. Secretary of State said solving such conflicts would improve
the region’s economy. She said a number of positive changes had taken
place in Transcaucasia recently, among which she named the Moscow and
Tbilisi agreement on the withdrawal of Russian troops and military
hardware from Georgia by the end of 2008.

Armenian foreign minister in Brussels to submit NATO, EU cooperation documents

Public Television of Armenia
16 Jun 05

Yerevan, 16 June: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is in
Brussels. He has taken two important documents there. He submitted
the Individual Partnership Action Plan between Armenia and NATO to
the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic alliance.

On the same day, he submitted Armenia’s preliminary proposals within
the framework of the Expanded Europe: New Neighbourhood programme to
officials of the European Union [EU].

[Oskanyan] We have already submitted the Individual Partnership Action
Plan between Armenia and NATO to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. It
shows the high level of relations between Armenia and NATO and gives a
new impetus to our relations. The plan covers mainly three directions:
first, political consultations, second, reforms in Armenia’s defence
sphere, and third, participation in peacekeeping operations under
the aegis of NATO.

Today I also submitted to the EU a package of Armenia’s preliminary
proposals related to Armenia’s action plan under the Expanded Europe:
New Neighbourhood programme. The final package will be drawn up on
its basis.

I met NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and we discussed
relations between Armenia and NATO, as well as issues of settling
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and relations with Turkey. I also
met EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and EU External Relations
Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

German Bundestag’s Armenian Resolution Strains Turkey-Germany Relations

Journal of Turkish weekly
June 17 2005

BERLIN, JTW (Jan SOYKOK) – The German Bundestag parliament adopted a
resolution on Thursday condemning the so-called massacre of up to 1.5
million ethnic Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 90 years ago. Turkish
experts find the timing strange. Turkish politicians similarly argued
that the Germans took a resolution without any discussion. Turkish
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan Straining relations with Turkey German
Prime Minister Schroeder for not making anything to prevent the
resolution. Turkey’s foreign minister Abdullah Gul denounced the
resolution as “irresponsible, appalling and injurious” to relations
between the two countries.

“IRRESPONSIBLE AND NARROW-MINDED”

The Bundestag resolution criticized the current government of Turkey
for “neglecting to address the issue” in a forthright manner.

“We note this decision with regret and we strongly condemn it,” said a
statement released by Turkish foreign ministry. The statement accused
the resolution of being rooted in “domestic politics” and called it
“irresponsible and narrow-minded”.

Turkey acknowledges the tragedy of hundreds of thousands of deaths
during 1915-17 but does not accept that there was a state-sponsored
extermination plan. Turkish documents also prove that more than
520,000 Turkish people were massacred by the Armenian armed groups
during the Armenian riot. The Armenian nationalists aimed to set up an
independent Armenian state in eastern provinces of the Ottoman Empire,
yet they failed.

Armenia argues that Turkey should no be accepted as full-member to
the EU before it officially recognize the Armenian claims as truth.

Some Europen politicians give support to the Armenians including
German CDU leader Merkel. Thus the Armenian issue has complicated
Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union, though Armenia is not
a EU member. Dr. Sedat Laciner from the Ankara-based think tank ISRO
says “there is no link between Armenian issue and Turkey’s EU bid.

The Armenian issue has been used to prevent Turkey’s EU membership
by the anti-Turkish circles in the EU”. According to Dr. Laciner,
“Merkel or any other German politicians really care Armenians, they
simple try to stop the Turks in”.

“German, French, Dutch and many other parliaments suddenly remembered
the events happened almost a century ago. The 1915 Relocation Campaign
strangely became one of the ‘most vital’ issue of EU’s foreign
relations. On the other hand 20 percent of Azerbaijan has been under
Armenian occupation, no German or French MP remembers it.

More than 1 million Azerbaijanis have been refugees and no human rights
organizations in Europe makes any help to them. The only problem is
the events happened a century ago. The French MPs refuse to accept the
Algerian Genocide, though the Algerian President urged France has to
accept the genocide. The French President says the ‘Armenian genocide’
issue should be left to the historians. However the French Parliament
and the President himself do not leave the historical problems between
Turkey and Armenians to the historians. I do not find the EU leaders
sincere in Armenian issue”

The Armenians rioted during the First World War and attacked Turkish
and Kurdish villages. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims were massacred
and many more were forced to emigrate to the Western provinces of
the Ottoman State. The Armenian bandits further attacked the Ottoman
troops from the back when they involved hot clashes against the
Russian occupying troops. Therefore, the Istanbul Government decided to
relocate the Armenians from Eastern provinces to the southern provinces
of the State Starvation, disease, attacks by Kurdish bandits resulted
in mass fatalities. According to the official documents more than
100,000 Armenians died in this campaign. The Armenian politicians
argue the figure is more than 1 million (some says 1,5, some other
Armenians argue the figure is 2,5 million). The figure is debatable
and the Armenian historians never use an archive document to prove
their arguments.

TURKEY CONDEMNS THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT

Turkey has strongly condemned approval of the resolution by the
German parliament.

Releasing a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
said “The German parliament adopted a resolution about the events
of 1915. We regret and strongly condemn it. Turkey explained its
views to German authorities on numerous occasions. We pointed out
to unilateral content of the decision, serious mistakes in the text,
and lack of information. We stressed that approval of such a decision
by Germany which we always considered one of our friendly and allied
countries, will play havoc with our relations.”

“However, we regret to see that the German government did not take
into consideration all our warnings. It is evident that the initiative
stemmed from domestic political purposes. Use of such a sensitive
issue for political purposes is nothing but irresponsibility and
narrow-mindedness. The decision includes totally baseless allegations
that almost all Armenians in Anatolia were destroyed. The decision
recommending the German government to include ‘relocation and
destruction of Armenians’ in state education policies, includes
extremely dangerous and provocative proposals that could led enmity
among German young people against Turks.”

“Turkey advocates that historical events should be discussed by
historians and scientists instead of politicians and parliaments.

Therefore, we have opened our archives to all researchers including
Germans and Armenians. Also, Turkey proposed Armenia to set up a
joint commission to examine Turkish-Armenian relations during the
era of the Ottoman Empire.”

“Turkey is in reconciliation with its past. Turkey does not need
decisions of foreign parliaments to deal with any part of its
history. If the German parliaments needs to reconcile with its own
history, it should handle it under its own historical responsibilities
instead of putting forward such baseless allegations against Turkey”.

Earlier in the day, the German parliament unanimously adopted a
resolution envisaging commemoration of so-called Armenian genocide.

The resolution was brought onto the parliamentary agenda by
[opposition] CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social
Union).

GERMANS LOOK FOR A FRIEND IN GENOCIDE

Dr. Davut Sahiner on the other hand accuses the German MPs of looking
for a partner in genocide. Sahiner said “Germans do not want to be
the only nation who committed genocide”:

“Germans know that the Ottoman Empire did not commit genocide against
any nation. Turks and Germans were allies during the First World War.

When the Armenians attacked the Ottoman troops during the
Ottoman-Russian Conflicts, the Germans urged the Ottomans to relocate
or to destroy the Armenians. However the Turkish statesmen refused
to implement the German plans and decided resettle the Eastern
Armenians to the southern provinces. They did not touch the Armenians
of Istanbul and those in Western provinces. During the same conflicts
the Russians destroyed or forced to immigration thousands of Muslims
in the Caucasus. More than half million of Muslims were massacred
by the Armenians. Even the Russians were horrified by the Armenian
massacres. Not only during the First World War, even after the War the
Armenians massacred more Muslims with the occupying French troops till
the Turkish victory. When Turkey established independent Republic of
Turkey, Mustafa Kemal called the Armenian to return their homes in
Anatolia. Yet most of them had immigrated to the Western Europe and
the Northern America. And very little returned.

Nevertheless about 100,000 Armenians still live in Istanbul and in
other Turkish cities. More than 50,000 Armenians from Armenia also
work in Istanbul.”

THE US AMBASSADOR SUPPORTING THE OMBUDSMAN

A1plus

| 13:04:28 | 17-06-2005 | Official |

On June 16 RA Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan received the US Ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary John Evans on the initiative of
the latter.

The main theme of the conversation was the Annual Report of the
Ombudsman which was evaluated by the Ambassador as the beginning and an
important step in the realization of the Ombudsman’s Institute. Evans
congratulated L. Alaverdyan on the first Annual Report and expressed
his readiness to support the Ombudsman’ Institute underlining that
the issues of human rights have always been one of the priorities of
the US policy.

He also got acquainted with the Ombudsman office and the working
conditions there are as material expression of the support John Evans
presented the Ombudsman’s working group with a computer.

ONLY AFTER SETTLING THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

A1plus

| 16:15:50 | 17-06-2005 | Politics |

Yesterday in Tbilisi the Georgian Parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze,
RA NA deputy speaker Tigran Torosyan and Azeri Milli Mejlis delegation
head Siyavoush Novrusov signed a memorandum creating Southern Caucasus
countries Parliamentary Assembly.

According to day.az, after the signing Nino Burjanadze said that
“despite the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the two countries
can sit around the negotiation table and start a dialogue”.

RA NA deputy speaker Tigran Torosyan mentioned that “the three
countries are trying to integrate into the European structures,
and the issue will be solved more easily if they unite their efforts”.

And Azeri Milli Mejlis delegation head Siyavoush Novrusov announced
that after the settlement of the Karabakh conflict the Southern
Caucasian countries can create both political and economical
substructures. “But for that purpose the NKR conflict must be settled
first”.

Today, Azerbaijan
June 16 2005

Azeri speaker: “International organisations will not recognize
parliamentary elections in “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic”

15 June 2005 [10:13] – Today.Az

None of the international organizations will recognize the
parliamentary elections to be held in the so-called “Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic” on 19 June 2005, Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov said to a meeting
of the Milli Majlis (parliament), Trend reports.

Armenians addressed to some international organizations with request
to observe “parliamentary elections”, but their appeal was rejected.

“The Armenians’ address to the Council of Europe (CE) to dispatch
representatives to Khankandi in connection with elections did not
yield results. The CE will not dispatch its representatives, as the
organization does not recognize such ‘republic’. The decisive position
of such authoritative organization as the EC is very important and
satisfactory for Azerbaijan,”- Murtuz Alasgarov stressed.

URL: