Author: Jilavian Emma

PRESS RELEASE
UCLA AEF Chair in Armenian History
Contact: Prof. Richard Hovannisian
Tel: 310-825-3375
Email: [email protected]

CALL FOR PAPERS

International Conference on the Armenian Communities of Asia Minor

University of California, Los Angeles, Saturday-Sunday, March 19-20, 2010

Sponsored by the UCLA Armenian Educational Chair in Modern Armenian History

The 18th in the AEF Chair series on Historic Armenian Cities and
Provinces will focus on the Armenian Communities of Asia Minor
(Anatolia) from ancient times to the present. The area covered will
be from the Asiatic shores of the Sea of Marmara to the borders of
Caesarea (Kaiseria; Kayseri) and along the Black and Mediterranean
seas to Sinope and Cilicia. There were significant active Armenian
communities in Kastamuni, Izmid, Bursa, Banderma, Adabazar,
Bardizag, Eskishehir, Kutahia, Konia, Yozgat, and elsewhere in Asia
Minor. Abstracts are invited that cover aspects of the social,
economic, art and architectural, educational, musical, religious,
administrative, and political history of any single community or the
region as a whole. Caesarea (Kesaria/Kayseri), Smyrna/Izmir,
Constantinople, and Cilicia are not included as they have been the
subject of previous conferences. In case of need, there will be
funding for partial air fare and accommodations.

Please submit an abstract of 300 to 500 words by September 1, 2009,
together with the following information: (1) Your full name and
title; (2) Academic affiliation;
(3) mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number.

In the first instance, please inform me of your intent to submit an
abstract so that I may determine if there are sufficient materials
and interest to organize such a conference

Please respond to [email protected]

and send your abstract by Word attachment to the same address.

Richard Hovannisian,
AEF Chair in Modern Armenian History,
University of California, Los Angeles

KAZAKHSTAN: BUSINESS CLIMATE GROWS GLOOMY AMID ARBITRARY ARREST CONTROVERSY
Joanna Lillis

Eurasianet

June 10, 2009

Foreign investors and Kazakhstan’s business elite have been shaken
by the arrest of one of the country’s most respected and successful
entrepreneurs. As investors look on nervously and some of the country’s
top executives protest openly, a probe of all state companies has been
ordered. So great has been the controversy stirred by the arrest of
Mukhtar Dzhakishev, former head of the state nuclear agency, that
President Nursultan Nazarbayev felt compelled to intervene.

Dzhakishev was fired as head of Kazatomprom on May 21 and officially
arrested four days later on suspicion of stealing state property. (His
wife insists he was actually arrested on May 21).

According to the National Security Committee (NSC), he is accused of
appropriating as his personal property 60 percent of Kazakhstan’s
uranium deposits worth tens of billions of dollars. The NSC says
Dzhakishev committed the alleged crimes in collusion with fugitive
banker Mukhtar Ablyazov, his longtime associate. Separately, Ablyazov
is accused of running an organized crime ring at BTA Bank, which he
owned until the financial institution was forcibly nationalized in
February. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

On June 1, the NSC showed journalists a video of three former
Kazatomprom vice presidents, Malkhaz Tsotsoria, Askar Kasabekov and
Dmitriy Parfenov, relating how offshore companies and joint ventures
were allegedly set up to misappropriate vast uranium deposits,
including those at Akdala, Southern Inkay, Central Mynkuduk and the
Khorasan mines. The three vice presidents are now state witnesses in
the case rather than suspects, the Kazakhstan’s National Security
Committee says. A fourth vice president, former NSC chairman and
Nazarbayev associate Nartay Dutbayev, is not under investigation.

More arrests are possible: the NSC officer leading the investigation,
Vladimir Petrovsky, said "famous" names have been implicated. He also
denied allegations by relatives of the accused that the investigation
was tainted by irregularities, including suspects’ lack of access to
legal counsel.

One foreign investor affected by the case is the Canadian-based Uranium
One Inc. Investigators are examining the sale of a 30 percent stake in
the Khorasan mine, the country’s largest, seeking to determine whether
it was disposed of for a supposedly token price of 15.6 million tenge,
now worth some $104,000. Officials have not named Uranium One as
a target of the investigation, and the company is cooperating with
the Kazakhstani probe. It asserts that its 30 percent stake in the
mine was acquired via a fair-market-value purchase of $75 million. A
Japanese consortium owns 40 percent, and Kazatomprom owns the remaining
share. News of the investigation sent Uranium One shares plunging on
the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Dzhakishev, a well-respected figure in Kazakhstan’s business circles,
has steadily built up the uranium sector in the country: Kazakhstan
is pitching to become the world’s largest uranium exporter, aiming
to produce 12,826 tons this year. His arrest prompted rare public
comments from some of the country’s top executives, who assert that
their colleague is the victim of an arbitrary manipulation of the law.

"Mukhtar Dzhakishev is known as an honest and talented top manager,
who in 10 years has put the Kazatomprom company among the world’s
nuclear industry leaders. . . . Mukhtar Dzhakishev has never been
involved in corruption scandals, and his reputation is untainted," said
an open letter to Nazarbayev, signed by 22 high-profile executives,
including Nurlan Smagulov, head of the Astana Motors; Kazkommertsbank’s
board chairman Nurzhan Sukhanberdin; former finance minister Zeynulla
Kakimzhanov; and Armanzhan Baytasov, who heads the Nur Media group
that operates outlets for Nazarbayev’s Nur Otan party.

The open letter went on to state that Dzhakishev’s arrest was having
a detrimental impact on Kazakhstan’s business climate. "Kazakhstani
entrepreneurs no longer feel protected by the law," the letter
stated. It also accused state agencies of launching "a large-scale
offensive against business, killing the free spirit of entrepreneurship
and persecuting the best representatives of business."

The fact that business leaders publicly protested is
significant. Entrepreneurs have kept their heads down since a group of
prominent businessmen and officials banded together in the Democratic
Choice of Kazakhstan movement in 2001 to urge reform. This sparked
a power struggle that ended with Ablyazov serving a prison sentence,
from which he gained early release in 2003. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive].

The Kazatomprom controversy sparked an unusual public intervention from
Nazarbayev, who ordered Prosecutor General Kayrat Mami on June 3 to
ensure the case is pursued in line with the law. The NSC, meanwhile,
has denied allegations that the case is politically motivated. "The
NSC resolutely denies any political reason behind this criminal case,"
press secretary Kenzhebulat Beknazarov told an Astana news conference
in remarks carried on the Zonakz.net website. There have also been
suggestions that Dzhakishev’s arrest was sparked by someone’s desire
for a slice of the lucrative nuclear industry pie as the financial
crisis sparks a re-division of spoils among Kazakhstan’s elite. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The investigation into Kazatomprom’s practices echoes the experience
of BTA Bank, which officials now say was run for years by an organized
crime ring, and also that of Rakhat Aliyev, the president’s former
son-in-law, who was found guilty in absentia of plotting a coup and
running an organized criminal group. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].

The case is providing Kazakhstan with some unwanted international
publicity as the country gears up to chair the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive]. It also is raising questions about how
large-scale crimes could be carried out for so long in a top state
company without anyone noticing.

In the wake of the Kazatomprom investigation, the Samruk-Kazyna state
assets management fund ordered a probe of deals at all companies
under its control, starting with the KazMunayGaz energy firm and the
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy railroad company.

The June 1 announcement of the probe — which will investigate possible
irregularities in the setting up of joint ventures and asset transfers
— rattled investors. Meanwhile, Nazarbayev was enthusiastically
talking up the economy at a meeting on anti-crisis measures on June
8. "Economic rates are not getting worse, but getting better. There is
a possibility for the economy to level off according to the results
of the first half of the year and [for us] not to permit a fall in
our country’s economic growth rates," he said in remarks quoted by
the Kazakhstan Today news agency.

However, even as Nazarbayev seeks to reassure investors about
Kazakhstan’s economy, the storm over Dzhakishev’s arrest risks
tarnishing the country’s image as having a reliable investment climate.

Editor’s Note: Joanna Lillis is a freelance writer who specializes
in Central Asia.

ICRC YEREVAN DELEGATION HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT TWO CONSCRIPTS HAVING FOUNDED THEMSELVES AT THE AZERBAIJANI SIDE

Arminfo
2009-06-10 18:38:00

Arminfo. ICRC Yerevan delegation had no information about the
two conscripts having founded themselves at the Azerbaijani side,
press-secretary of the delegation Ashot Astabatsyan told ArmInfo
correspondent.

He also added that according to the Geneva conventions, such
persons should be protected from wide public attention and different
speculations in the press. To recall, two conscripts of the NKR Defence
Army, Ohan Harutyunyan and Gevorg Tovmasyan found themselves at the
Azerbaijani side on 31 May of the current year and were taken captive.

IRAN HAS NO RIGHT TO TEACH ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY LESSON TO AZERBAIJAN: MP

Trend News Agency
June 9 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani member of parliament protests against statements by Iranian
officials condemning Israeli president’s upcoming visit to Azerbaijan.

"Iran has no right to teach Islamic solidarity lesson to
Azerbaijan. Because Azerbaijan has done its utmost for Islamic
solidarity. But Azerbaijani people will never Iran’s stance when our
lands were occupied by Armenia," member of parliament Ganira Pashayeva
said at a parliamentary meeting.

Iranian officials have made statements condemning Israeli President
Shimon Peres’ visit to Azerbaijan to take place in late June.

She said Iranian media seeks to downgrade Azerbaijan. So, Azerbaijani
parliament must provide a serious feedback to this issue.

Pashayeva said Azerbaijan respects internal affairs of other states
including neighbors.

"Of course, neighbors must respect Azerbaijan’s internal affairs,
with what countries it builds relations and invitation to which heads
of government to visit country," she said.

She said Iran which advocates Islam solidarity, has not closed borders
with Armenia and Iranian officials make frequent trips to the enemy
country. "Iran seeks to eliminate Armenia’s blockade by providing
economic assistance to it. We are very sorry about it. Therefore,
Iranian officials have no right to interfere with Azerbaijan’s internal
affairs," Pashayeva said.

RA CEC DISMISSES APPLICATION OF ANC AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE WITH MOTIVATION OF LACK OF BASES OF INVALIDATING YEREVAN COUNCILOF ELDERS ELECTIONS

NOYAN TAPAN
JUNE 8, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Central Electoral Commission,
at the June 6 special sitting, by a decision made with 6 votes
"for" and 2 "against" dismissed the application of Armenian National
Congress bloc’s authorized representative Patvakan Hovakimian, "as
the application and the correspondence attached to it have no bases of
invalidating the May 31 Yerevan Council of Elders elections." Hamlet
Abrahamian and Zoya Tadevosian representing ARFD and Zharangutiun
(Heritage), respectively, voted against.

According to co-reporter, CEC Chairman Garegin Azarian, the
study of the application consisting of 370 pages and of materials
attached to it shows that "the goal of presenting them is to create
a large-scale correspondence." It was mentioned that there are
materials on polling stations, where voting results have been already
invalidated by district electoral commissions or have been studied by
the RA Prosecutor’s Office within the framework of a criminal case, a
recounting has been done. "However, applications containing anonymous,
not signed applications and protocols, those having no addressee,
no date of issue, repeated, not coherent and containing emotional
thoughts and making no demand" are also attached to the application.

The decision made also recorded that RA CEC does not deny that
violations were also committed on May 31, meanwhile mentioning that
their considerable part was liquidated on the very voting day, through
efficient measures undertaken by electoral commissions. Chairmen of
all 13 district electoral commissions present at the sitting refuted
ANC authorized representative’s assertions that district electoral
commissions mainly had refused to give proxies extracts from registers
or to register their application-complaints.

ARMENIAN FOOTBALL YOUTH TEAM DEFEATED

15:17 06/06/2009
Source: Panorama.am

On 5 June Armenian football youth team held a match with Swiss youth
team in the frameworks of the electoral matches of 2011 Europe Youth
Championship. The match took place in Vile `Bergholts’ stadium.

The hosts were active enough and had two goals kicked after 20
minutes. Our team managed to take the initiative but they did not
manage to cut the score in the first half. The second round was
successful for our sportsmen and in the 83rd minute Henrikh Mkhitaryan
cut the score. In the end the match finished 2:1 for Swiss team.

Zawya, UAE
June 6 2009

Railroad With Armenia Strategic

06 June 2009

Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Ali Saghaeian said the construction of
Iran-Armenia railroad is important for the two countries and the whole
region of South Caucasus.

Saghaeian told Armenian Armenpress News Agency that the railroad would
help promotion of transportation in South Caucasus, Iribnews.ir
reported.

Pointing to the Iranian experts’ visit to Armenia for investigating
the most appropriate way to implement the project, he predicted that
investors consider this project of strategic importance.

He added that Russia has called to participate in the Iran-Armenia
railroad project.

He noted the railroad deal was signed by the two countries’ presidents
during the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to Tehran adding
that the experts are reviewing technical issues of the project.

The project will cost $2 billion. The World Bank and Asia Development
Bank have announced their readiness to give loan for the project.

Iran-Armenia railroad is to extend 470 kilometers, 60 kilometers in
Iran and 410 kilometers in Armenia.

Meanwhile, Iran’s nationwide railroad network has been stretched to
the southern city of Shiraz.

This came as a 506-kilometer railroad linking Shiraz in Fars province
to Isfahan, central Iran, was inaugurated. The maiden trip of the
railroad, 600 passengers were taken to the capital Tehran.

The project has absorbed over $650 million of finances in seven
years. The railroad has the capacity to transport up to 4 million
passengers and 7 million tons of cargo each year.

© Iran Daily 2009

606063318/Iran:%20Railroad%20With%20Armenia%20Stra tegic%20

TURKISH PRESIDENT SAYS THE US AND WESTERN COUNTRIES SHOULD BE AWARE

Syrian Arab News Agency
June 4 2009
Syria

Ankara,(SANA)-Turkish President Abdullah Gul has underlined the
necessity for the United States and the Western countries to be aware
of the important Syrian stance and role in the region and dealing
with these realities, pointing out to the conviction of many in the
west that Syria is main key for the overall issues in the region
and nobody can ignore her significant role, calling for responding
to Syria’s policy vis-Ã -vis the problems in the region to promote
dialogue with her.

President Gul, in an interview given to SANA published today in
Ankara, said that "through our relations with the United States and
the European countries we know that these countries do no understand
the reality of Syria’s stance vis-Ã -vis the situation in the region."

He added that Turkey sought right from the beginning to convey
the true image to the officials in the west, always telling them
that Syria is honest in her stances, and calling them on to respond
positively to her calls for dialogue on the issues of the region, and
stressing to them that you are wrong and the day will come when you
see by yourselves that we are right, and they at last were convinced
with the righteousness of the Syrian position regarding the issues
of the region.

We have been aware of the seriousness and credibility of President
al-Asad

On the Turkish motives behind adopting the Syrian stance at regional
and international forums, President Gul said : "We have been aware
of the seriousness and credibility of President al-Asad regarding the
overall issues that concern the region, and on this basis we proceed
in our relations with other countries to explain the reality of Syria’s
efficient stances towards all the filed that concern the region."

Turkish-Syrian relations have become an ideal example

On bilateral relations and the level of development they have reached
so far, the Turkish President said, the Turkish-Syrian relations have
become due to what they have achieved in the past short period an
ideal example to follow by other countries and that can be attributed
to the mutual trust, reciprocal credibility, good intentions, and the
standing brotherly relations between President, Bashar al-Assad and
the Turkish leadership, have been behind the positive results that
have been achieved in both countries.

He indicated that the relations between the two countries are not ideal
in the bilateral sense only, but they are also important regional
where there is coordination, cooperation and solidarity with regard
to the overall issues of the two countries concern.

He expressed satisfaction over the level to which these relations
have reached, particularly if the reflections of these relations on
international relations ar e remembered. He added :"Since we have
started off with such honest intentions on both sides, the issues
have gone positively and developed quickly and have reached where we
are now on he level of development of bilateral relations, because
when there is mutual trust, honest intentions, and positiveness,
everything will be positive and difficulties can be overcome easily.

Syrian-Turkish dialogue conducted within fraternal atmospheres

"When we discuss any matter between the two countries, we conduct
the dialogue within a fraternal atmosphere, and this paves the way
for new cooperation in the field of economy and trade… and this
helps achieve progress and prosperity not only in Syria and Turkey,
but in the whole region," the Turkish President said.

He added "we agreed with Syria to take more practical steps to boost
those relations through the joint borders, so we deiced to defuse
all mines planted along the Syrian-Turkish borders and exploit these
lands in the agrarian field."

President Gul considered that the mutual confidence is the basis in
the Syrian-Turkish ties, saying "the confidence is the key and secret
of international relations."

Syrian-Turkish relations had important impacts on the situation
in region

On the reflections of the Syrian-Turkish relations on regional issues,
President Gul said "undoubtedly, the Syrian-Turkish relations had
important impacts on the situation in Iraq which has witnessed
occupation and war.. Iraq concerns Syria and turkey more than any
other country, Lebanon also was one of the issues that concern the
Syria-Turkish relations because we know the importance of Lebanon
for Syria."

On how Turkey looks at the future of the peace process in the region
in light of the stances of the Israeli government which is opposed
to peace, President Gul said, "Israeli inhumane aggression on Gaza
blew up all what we achieved through the Turkish mediation of the
indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel."

"Now there is a new Israeli government, and everybody is waiting for
it to declare its explicit stance on peace," President Gul added,
wondering why everybody in the West had asked Hamas to acknowledge
the road map and to be committed to it, while at the same time those
themselves don not say anything to the Israeli officials."

Israeli officials should change their former attitudes

He stressed that the Israeli officials should change their former
attitudes and adopt positive and serious stances on the peace process.

The Turkish President called on the friends of the Israeli government
in USA and Europe to play an effective role to bring the Israeli
officials to make this change and take the required attitudes towards
the issue of peace.

He added, "After all this, if Israelis said they are ready for peace
with Syria, then we would consider if we go back to the mediation
or not. This is of course after we are convinced and certain of the
credibility and seriousness of the Israeli officials, where Syria
has always proved to the whole world its credibility towards the
peace process."

The Turkish President said that the international circumstances and
the new US and European policies that undertake the peace issues may
affect the Israeli government’s stance. Concerning the Palestinian
issue Gul said, "There has been a direct coordination and cooperation
with Syria with regard to the Palestinian situation as a whole."

He also said, "Right from the beginning, President al-Assad expressed
confidence in the Turkish role not only in the Palestinian cause,
but also regarding the Turkish mediation of indirect talks between
Syria and Israel, adding that "The Arab-Israeli conflict is a matter of
concern for Palestine, Syria and Lebanon as well, and that without the
Syrian-Lebanese tracks there will not be a real peace in the region. "

President Gul indicated that Turkey is waiting to see what Israel
will do regarding the issue of peace, and accordingly "We will build
our steps in light of the Israeli policies concerning relations with
us and peace with the people of Palestine, Syria and Lebanon."

The Turkish President said, "Everybody should adopt establishing the
Palestinian state with all its elements on the Palestinian land and
working to achieve this goal. Palestinians must put an end to their
disputes and unify their ranks to realize the national interests
of the Palestinian people. All Palestinian sides should take their
national and human responsibilities."

President Gul expressed regret that the West and others have not given
Hamas movement or its leadership enough opportunity to demonstrate
its views and confirm its credibility in the issue of peace.

Turkey understands Hamas’ stances on the Palestinian cause

He added, "From the beginning, Turkey has had positive understanding
of Hamas’s stances on the Palestinian cause. We have confirmed that we
did not have any special interests in any relation with any Palestinian
or Arab party, and peace and stability for everyone has always been
our goal."

On Arab-Turkish relations, President Gul said, "We had some problems
in the past, but we overcame them. I, as a President, a PM and a
Foreign Minister, visited the Arab League and signed a cooperation
agreement. Turkish-Arab relations had important outcomes, some of
which was electing Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu as Secretary General of the
Organization of Islamic Conference with an Arab support, as well as
electing Turkey as a member at the International

Security Council.

In a response to a question, Turkish President said that "Turkey
is an important Islamic country and that President Obama’s visit
to Turkey comes in the framework of the importance he gives to the
Islamic world, where he raised the motto for change on the level of
both internal and external policies."

He added that he discussed with US President the overall of the
regional issues, at the top of which were the Palestinian-Israeli peace
talks, in addition to issues of Iraq, Syria, Iran and Afghanistan,
indicating that President Obama listened carefully and said that he
will make use of our points of view in dealing with the those issues.

Concerning international changes and their impacts on the region,
Turkish President expressed hope towards America’s new policies under
Obama’s administration indicating that Arab countries should shoulder
their responsibilities and unify their attitude before demanding
anything from the U.S.A. and work together for common interests of
Arab Nation.

He then questioned Arab countries’ dependency on the USA. at the time
when they have to pose their viewpoint on Americans and Europeans
confirming that if they were able to do so, then they would be heard
in Washington and European capitals.

Ending occupation in Iraq and returning s overeignty to it is very
important On the developments in Iraq and Turkey’s vision of its future
after American withdrawal, President Gul said," Iraq is an important
country in the region and we always feel pain for Iraqi suffering",
stressing that ending occupation and returning the sovereignty to
Iraqi people is very important indicating that according to the
schedule of withdrawal,announced by American President Obama, things
will proceed positively.

He added that what is important here is that Iraqi officials should
shoulder responsibility, work together for Iraq and agree on a
national programme that unify them and solve all of their political
and economic problems meanwhile countries in the region should help
Iraqi people to survive after the American withdrawal.

Iran is very important country in the region

On Turkish attitude towards Iranian nuclear file, President Gul
pointed out

that Iran is an important country in the region and we, in our talks
with all parties, try to clarify the image for all, to facilitate
and to encourage these parties to continue their talks.

"We are not mediators in the exact meaning; we just encourage dialogue
between Iran and Americans on one side and Europeans on the other
one concerning this issue." He said. About the future of Turkish
-Armenian relations, he said that openness

towards Armenia is very important in terms of the future of Turkish
-Armenian relations and then of Azerbaijan -Armenian relations and so
on security and stability in Caucasus region adding that they try to
remove obstacles because they don’t want any problems with neighbours
or the others.

On Turkish -European dialogue about turkey joining the European Union,
president Gul indicated that Turkey will go on exerting efforts
to join the EU since it is much more important geographically and
economically than the ten countries which have joined the EU recently
adding that Turkey is still working on democratic reforms since they
benefit turkey and meet the EU’s requirements.

President Gul pointed out to the development has been achieved since
2002 under the leadership of Justice and Development Party drawing
attention to the fact that the Turkish experience has become a
pattern to be followed in fields of economy, policy and international
relations.

MORE THAN 7 MILLION ARMENIANS

A1+
08:08 pm | June 04, 2009

Society

According to statistics of the International Organization for
Migration, there are more than 7 million Armenians living outside
of Armenia.

These are the statistics in 2003, which means that this number has
increased by 7,000 compared to 1988.

The recent report states that nearly 800,000 Armenians left Armenia
in the 1990s.

Nearly 75% of Armenian migrants of the past decade migrated from
former Soviet republics, primarily Russia.

Fifteen percent moved to European countries, while 10 percent emigrated
to the United States.

RA DIASPORA MINISTRY EXPECTS ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF FRANCE TO INTENSIFY ACTIVITIES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 22:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Minister of Diaspora Affairs Hranush
Hakobyan met Tuesday in Yerevan with representative of Marseilles
city administration and Armenian-French youth union to discuss
implementation of various programs.

Minister Hakobyan voiced readiness to assist organization of "Araks
and Sasoun" dancing group both in Armenia and abroad. She also said
she expects the Armenian community of France to intensify activities,
reported the press office of the RA Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.