Author: Kalantarian Kevo

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax: +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
December 23th, 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27

COUNCIL OF EUROPE DEFAMES AMENIA AND OFFENDS ARMENIANS

– The Parliamentary Assembly of the Strasburg-based organization is going to
adopt two resolutions, one questioning Artsakh independence, the other
excluding the Armenian genocide from the European remembrance.

– The European Armenian Federation calls upon the European citizens and
organizations to intervene with their representatives.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is going to
examine and vote on Tuesday two resolutions respectively proposed by Mr.
David Atkinson (UK, Democrat Group) and Mr. Mats Einarsson (Sweden, United
Left).

The resolution prepared by Mr. Atkinson deals with “the conflict over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference”. In this
resolution, Mr. Atkinson alleges that “considerable parts of the territory
of Azerbaijan are still occupied by Armenian forces” and that “separatist
forces are still in control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region”.

Without explicitly pointing out one of the conflicting parties, the report
then evokes “large-scale ethnic expulsion” and the creation of mono-ethnic
areas “which resemble the terrible concept of ethnic cleansing”.

Recalling then a reduced set of past resolutions carefully chosen for their
pro-azeri stances, the Atkinson report aims to impose – “if the negotiations
under the auspices of the co-chairs of the Minsk group fail” – the
settlement of the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the framework of
the UN’s International Court of Justice.

“The Atkinson report is the report of Azerbaijan. This country believes that
shifting the institutional framework will turn its crimes into virtues.
Attempts of ethnic cleansing actually occurred but, contrary to Mr. Atkinson
insinuations, it was the policy led by Baku.” declared Laurent Leylekian,
executive director of the European Armenian Federation.

“Without the fight for self-determination led by the Karabakhiots, there
would be no more Armenians on these historically Armenian territories, as it
is the case in Nakhitchevan or in Turkey. By its exactions, Azerbaijan lost
all its rights on the Karabakh and did legitimate the right for
self-determination of the Karabakhiots, in full compliance with the
International Law” Leylekian added.

On the other hand, the Einarsson report supports the “establishment of a
European remembrance center for victims of forced population movements and
ethnic cleansing”.

In its draft recommendation, this report amply mentions the case of
population transfers that followed the Second World War and the forced
movements imposed by the Stalinian regime. It mentions also the genocide
perpetrated by the Nazis against Jews and Roms as well as the genocide of
Ukrainians. However, the draft recommendation deliberately omits to cite the
first genocide of the XXth century, i.e. the Armenian genocide, though
performed by, and on the territory of the member state of the Council of
Europe, Turkey.

“What credibility can we grant to an institution which gives such a biased
lecture of History?” wondered Laurent Leylekian. “The Council of Europe,
commanded by the negationist Turkey is making itself party to a second
symbolic murder of the Armenians of Anatolia and Western Armenia. It’s
pathetic when coming from an institution which claims to be the guardian of
Human Rights in Europe”.

The European Armenian Federation calls upon the European citizens and
organizations to intervene with their representative in the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (list available at
) to
call them :

– to support – for the Atkinson report – amendments recalling that the
problem of the political status of Karabakh is still unresolved, calling
upon Armenia and Azerbaijan to renounce to bellicose declarations and
calling upon Azerbaijan to establish political contacts with the elected
bodies of Karabakh.

– To mention the case of the Armenian genocide in the framework of the
Einarsson report.

#####

FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE
Pour la Justice et la Démocratie
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
22 janvier 2005
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27

LE CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE DIFFAME L’ARMENIE ET OFFENSE LES ARMENIENS

– L’Assemblée parlementaire de l’institution strasbourgeoise s’apprête
à voter deux résolutions, l’une remettant en question l’indépendance
de l’ Artsakh, l’autre excluant le génocide des Arméniens de la
mémoire européenne. – La Fédération Euro-Arménienne appelle les
citoyens européens et les associations européennes à agir auprès de
leurs représentants.

L’Assemblée Parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe examinera et votera
ce mardi deux résolutions, présentées respectivement par M. David
Atkison (Royaume-Uni, Groupe Démocrate) et par M. Mats Einarsson
(Suède, Gauche Unie européenne). La résolution préparée par
M. Atkison porte sur « le conflit du Haut-Karabakh pris en charge par
la Conférence de Minsk de l’OSCE ». Dans cette résolution, M. Atkinson
avance que « des pans considérables du territoire azerbaïdjanais sont
occupés par les forces arméniennes » et que « les forces séparatistes
contrôlent encore la région du Haut-Karabakh ».

Sans nommer explicitement l’une ou l’autre des parties, ce rapport
évoque des « expulsions ethniques à grande échelle » et de la création
de zones mono-ethniques « terriblement similaire au concept de
nettoyage ethnique ».

Citant ensuite un nombre réduit de résolutions soigneusement choisies
pour leur inclination pro-azérie, le rapport Atkinson entend forcer –
« en cas d’ échec des négociations menées sous l’égide du groupe de
Minsk » – l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan à régler leur différend devant la
Cour Internationale de Justice des Nations Unies.

« Le rapport Atkinson, c’est celui de l’Azerbaïdjan qui croit encore
qu’en changeant le cadre institutionnel des négociations, ses crimes
se transformeront en vertus. Oui, il y a bien eu tentative de
nettoyage ethnique mais contrairement à ce qu’insinue M. Atkinson,
c’est Bakou qui s’y est employé. » a déclaré Laurent Leylekian,
directeur exécutif de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne.

« Sans la lutte pour l’autodétermination menée par les Karabakhiotes,
il n’y aurait aujourd’hui plus d’Arméniens sur ces terres
historiquement arméniennes, comme c’est le cas au Nakhitchevan ou en
Turquie. Par ses exactions, l’Azerbaïdjan a perdu tout droit sur le
Karabakh et a légitimé le droit à l’autodétermination des
Karabakhiotes – en toute conformité avec le Droit International.»
a-t-il ajouté.

Le rapport Einarsson, pour sa part, recommande « l’établissement d’un
centre européen de la mémoire pour les victimes des mouvements forcés
de population et des nettoyages ethniques ».

Dans son exposé des motifs, ce rapport cite largement le cas des
transferts de population consécutifs à la seconde guerre mondiale
ainsi que les déplacements forcés imposés par le régime stalinien. Il
cite également le génocide perpétré par les nazis à l’encontre des
Juifs, des Roms ainsi que le génocide des Ukrainiens. Cependant ce
projet de résolution omet délibérément de citer le premier génocide du
XXème siècle, celui des Arméniens pourtant exécuté par, et sur le
territoire, d’un Etat-membre du Conseil de l’Europe, la Turquie.

« Quelle crédibilité accorder à une institution faisant une lecture à
ce point orientée de l’histoire ? » s’est interrogé Laurent
Leylekian. « Le Conseil de l’Europe sur injonction de la Turquie
négationniste se rend complice d’un second meurtre symbolique des
Arméniens d’Anatolie. C’est pathétique de la part d’une institution
qui prétend être le gardien des Droits de l’Homme en Europe »

La Fédération Euro-Arménienne appelle les citoyens européens et les
associations européennes à prendre contact avec leur représentant à l’
Assemblée Parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe (liste disponible sur
le site

) pour leur demander :

– de soutenir – pour le rapport Atkinson – les amendements rappelant
que le problème politique du statut du Karabakh n’est toujours pas
résolu, demandant à l’Arménie et à l’Azerbaïdjan de renoncer aux
déclarations belliqueuses et à l’Azerbaïdjan d’établir des contacts
politiques avec les instances élues du Haut-Karabakh,

– de rajouter la mention au génocide des Arméniens dans le cadre du
rapport Einarsson.

THERE IS CLASH OF TWO INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
IN KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22. ARMINFO. There is a clash of two international
principles of conflict settlement in the Karabakh peace process, US
Ambassador to Armenia John Evans says in an interview to Armenia TV.

They are the principles of territorial integrity and national
self-determination right. This clash is a puzzle for the diplomats
involved. There still is a real prospect for settlement but this
requires flexibility and commitment to compromise. In its position
OSCE gives high importance to the territorial integrity principle but
one should be very careful and dimplomatic here, says Evans.

Associated Press
Jan 22 2005

Nine Armenian charity groups to get $3 million of insurance
settlement

The Associated Press

Nine Armenian charitable groups will receive $3 million over the next
two weeks as part of a $20 million settlement between an insurance
company and descendants of Armenians killed nearly 90 years ago in
the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

Five organizations on the East Coast will each receive checks for
more than $333,000 during a ceremony Wednesday in New York, the Daily
News of Los Angeles reported. The remaining groups will receive
payments at a second event being organized in Los Angeles.

The organizations include New York’s Armenian General Benevolent
Union, New Jersey’s Armenian Missionary Association of America, Inc.,
and the Armenian Education Foundation, based in Glendale.

“As the grandson of two genocide survivors, I’m particularly pleased
to be handing money to these organizations, because these kinds of
organizations helped my grandparents when they first arrived here,”
said Brian Kabateck, an attorney in the lawsuit.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs said they filed the class-action lawsuit
to raise awareness of the deaths as well as to win unpaid life
insurance benefits from New York Life Insurance Co.

They contend that 1.5 million Armenians were killed in an act of
genocide by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Turkey rejects the genocide
claim and maintains that Armenians were killed in civil unrest during
the collapse of the empire.

The legal agreement approved last July by U.S. District Court Judge
Christina A. Snyder is believed to be the first ever in connection
with the disputed event.

At least $11 million was set aside for heirs of some 2,400
policyholders while $4 million was to cover legal fees. Another $3
million was earmarked for charities, with $2 million used for
administrative costs and anything not spent on expenses going to
charities.

Potential heirs of policyholders have until March 15 to file a claim
for a portion of the settlement.

AGREEMENT ON CONSTRUCTION OF THERMOELECTRIC POWER PLANT WITH USE OF
BIOGAS TO BE SIGNED IN YEREVAN BY THE END OF 2005

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21. ARMINFO. A Japanese company Shimizu will sign an
agreement on construction of a 1.5 megawatt thermoelectric power plant
with use of biogas in Yerevan by the end of 2005,> Nature Protection
Minister of Armenia Vardan Ayvazyan told ARMINFO, Friday.

He said that TPP would be built in the territory of Nubarashen dump on
the funds of the Japanese party. The project will cost $4.5 mln. The
Japanese State New Energy and Industrial Technology Organization will
finance the construction of bio-TPP. Tariff for the electricity
received due to use of biogas (marsh-gas) is established at 8 cents
for 1 kW/h by the Commission for Regulation of Public Services Sphere.

The minister thinks that besides production of electricity, the
construction of the plant will contribute to solution to ecological
problems in the capital. This project is favorable for Armenia and the
given technologies have already been successfully used in Japan, the
minister says.

Nubarashen dump in the outskirts of Yerevan started forming in 60s and
some 800-900 cubic meters of garbage are daily accumulated there. The
dump occupies some 60 ha.

Family struggles to keep teen daughters in U.S.

LV girls are in federal custody, face deportation to Armenia

Las Vegas Sun
January 20, 2005

By Timothy Pratt ([email protected])

Speaking from a federal jail cell in Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon,
18-year-old Emma Sarkisian said one way she has kept up her spirits
since being taken into custody Friday by federal agents in Las Vegas was
watching her little sister’s impersonations of “bad ‘American Idol’
singers.”

She laughed. Then she cried, blurting out, “I miss everybody and want to
go home.”

Using a 12-minute calling card to speak to her mother in Henderson at 4
p.m. Wednesday, Emma had just been told by a Department of Homeland
Security official for the second time in five days that she and her
sister, Mariam, had been granted a reprieve from being put on a plane to
the Republic of Armenia — a land that, despite being their birthplace,
is so foreign to both that they don’t even speak its language.

Emma graduated from Palo Verde High School in June. Her sister, who’s
17, is set to do the same in 2006. Their father, Rouben, runs Tropicana
Pizza at Pecos Road and Wigwam Parkway.

The Sarkisian family is now wrapped up in a case that their attorney
Jeremiah Wolf Stuchiner — who worked 26 years for the Immigration and
Naturalization Service before opening a private law practice 23 years
ago — called “absolutely ridiculous.”

Stuchiner compared the case to that of Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy in
2000 who also was taken by armed federal agents from his relatives in
the United States.

And though a small crowd of Armenians and Russians burst into applause
at Tropicana Pizza 3:30 Wednesday afternoon when they heard the news
that the Sarkisian sisters had gained another day on U.S. soil, only
three hours before the flight was scheduled to leave Los Angeles,
Stuchiner said the case was far from over.

The family’s odyssey began in 1991 when Rouben and his wife, Anoush,
came to the United States with their two young daughters on a tourist
visa from Ukraine.

Anoush applied for political asylum as the Soviet Union was about to
break up. The application was denied.

The couple split up after having three more daughters in the United
States in the next three years. Rouben married a U.S. citizen and
thereby became a resident, the step below citizenship.

That marriage also broke apart.

Rouben has lived with his five daughters and shared raising them with
their mother for about five years.

In July, Stuchiner said, Rouben took his two oldest daughters to
immigration officials in Las Vegas to inquire about their status, since
he understood that they also should have become residents.

He was told they should be deported. However, when U.S. authorities
called Armenian authorities, they were told that the sisters had been
born in a country that no longer exists, since the Soviet Republic no
longer existed.

They were Soviet citizens, but not citizens of the Republic of Armenia.
So the Armenian government wouldn’t accept them.

Immigration authorities issued an order of supervision, meaning the
daughters had to visit local federal offices each month.

Meanwhile, Stuchiner waited for an appointment to be granted for their
father’s citizenship exam, but that date never came. Once Rouben becomes
a citizen, the whole issue of his daughters’ status becomes moot, since
he can petition for them to become residents, Stuchiner said.

When the Sarkisians showed up for their monthly visit Jan. 14,
immigration officials told them that Armenia had decided to issue the
daughters passports. They could now be deported.

The girls were sent on a plane to Los Angeles that same day, but not
before a Las Vegas official said to Stuchiner that their flight out
would not be until Tuesday.

On Monday, the attorney got a call from the girls.

“They said, ‘They’re putting us on a plane.’ ” he said. It was 5:45 p.m.
The plane was scheduled to take off at 6:45 p.m.

Stuchiner said he called an official in Los Angeles and got him to
contact the official in Las Vegas who had promised the sisters would
remain in the country until Tuesday.

Ten minutes before the flight left, the girls were taken back to their cell.

On Tuesday, the flight was full, Los Angeles officials told the attorney.

On Wednesday, Stuchiner filed a writ of habeas corpus with attorney Troy
Baker at the George Federal Courthouse.

Again, the flight was scheduled for 6:45 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., the
magistrate handed down a decision to grant the stay.

But Los Angeles officials wouldn’t release the girls Tuesday, a
development Stuchiner saw as “madness.”

“What are they afraid of?” the attorney said. “It’s not like they’re
public enemy No. 1. This is a girl missing high school, for God’s sake.”

Stuchiner will be back in court today to file an emergency order
requesting immediate release of the sisters.

Then he will argue that the federal government should allow Rouben to
obtain his citizenship and petition for his daughters, on humanitarian
grounds.

He also said that members of Nevada’s congressional delegation could
step in and pass what’s known as a private bill, which would also grant
the girls residence.

Stuchiner said the system — a system he knows from the inside — has
become more rigid and entrenched since Sept. 11, 2001.

“(The attacks) have caused the most compassionate nation in the world to
not have compassion with a couple of teenage girls,” he said.

Meanwhile, the youngest of the five Sarkisian girls, Patricia, has
decided to go straight to the top.

The 10-year-old wrote a letter to President Bush Tuesday asking a series
of questions about her sisters.

Why are they in jail? she asks.

“Why can’t they come home?”

“I mean they didn’t do anything wrong like drugs or even smoke.”

“I’m asking you these questions because you are the only person that can
answer these questions.”

She signed the letter, “Just a kid, Patricia Sarkisian.”

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part B (Russia)
January 18, 2005, Tuesday

ELIZABETH JONES: THE UNITED STATES IS NOT A DICTATOR

SOURCE: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, January 18, 2005, pp. 1, 8

by Andre Terekhov

Question: Have you taken into account a forecast made recently by
Morgan Stanley analysts, claiming that Putin will be forced to resign
this year? Are you predicting regime change in some CIS countries?

Elizabeth Jones: First, I don’t think this particular forecast will
come to pass. Secondly, the best way of replacing governments is by
means of elections. Moreover, elections should be free and fair.
Unfortunately, the elections in Georgia and Ukraine were not fair –
much to the disappointment of the citizens of these countries. That
disappointment was precisely what sparked the changes. The United
States and the international community aim to ensure free and fair
elections, and to have the changover of governments be a tranquil
process, as it has been in many countries lately. Romania is a fine
example of that. Elections in Moldova and Kyrgyzstan are expected
later this year. We hope they will be free and fair. And if the free
and fair elections result in new governments, then so be it. The
international community should support that.

Question: What do you think of the controversy over the hypothetical
sale of Russian-made missile systems to Syria? Washington has
threatened Moscow with sanctions.

Elizabeth Jones: It is very important for everyone – including Russia
and any other country – not to take any steps that would promote
instability in the Middle East. We all should be seeking ways to
continue the peace process, of which the United States and Russia
alike are co-sponsors. We count on productive cooperation with Russia
within the framework of the Middle East quartet – particularly now,
after elections in the Palestinian autonomy.

Question: There have been reports that Washington intends to revise
its policy with regard to Moscow. What effect might this have on
bilateral relations?

Elizabeth Jones: As for the “revision,” reporting it as a sensational
piece of news is not entirely correct. The way we work in Washington,
our policy is in a state of constant change. There won’t be any
dramatic revision of policies with regard to Russia or any other
country.

I disagree with the assumption that policy changes should be expected
in the course of President Bush’s second term. The general agenda in
U.S.-Russian relations is quite clear. The global war on terrorism is
a major effort we have undertaken. It is of paramount importance for
all of us, not only for the United States or Russia alone. I know
that both the Russian and American leaders want constructive
cooperation.

Question: Presidents Putin and Bush will meet in Bratislava soon.
Which topics will be raised there?

Elizabeth Jones: Preparations for the summit are under way. We have
established effective cooperation in addressing issues connected with
nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea. Special attention will be
paid to joint efforts in the field of non-proliferation. We also hope
to discuss all sorts of economic matters – like Russia’s application
for membership of the World Trade Organization.

Another group of issues concerns state control, particularly in the
energy sector. For example, the YUKOS affair. We want to know
Russia’s true intentions in this matter and the actual situation. For
the time being, the impression is that tax legislation is being
misused and the rule of law doesn’t apply at all. We would also like
to discuss the process of democratic changes in Russia.

We will also discuss the situation in the territories bordering on
Russia where separatist attitudes are present. We believe that these
trends undermine security, including Russia’s security. There are two
such territories in Georgia and one in Moldova. There are problems
with Nagorno-Karabakh as well. Russia can be instrumental in a
solution to all these problems. It is not in Russia’s own interests
to tolerate a continuation of these criminal activities in
territories located so close to Russia’s borders. It is not in the
interests of the United States or Europe either. None of us would
benefit if these areas turn into arms transit points. We must find a
political solution.

We know that Russia needs to overcome its difficulties with Chechnya.
The United States and Europe are ready to offer assistance in
political resolution and the restoration of Chechnya.

Question: Which aspects of democratic changes in Russia are causing
concern for the United States?

Elizabeth Jones: The United States, and many people in Russia as
well, are concerned about the growing disparity between society and
the authorities. Many are concerned about excessive centralization of
power. It doesn’t seem that there are valid reasons for total
concentration of control in the hands of the state.

Question: Putin recently said that Russia was working on new nuclear
weapons and described Washington’s foreign policy as dictatorial.
What did the United States think of that?

Elizabeth Jones: Putin’s statement about new missiles with nuclear
warheads wasn’t exactly a surprise. The matter has been discussed for
some time now. As for viewing America’s foreign policy as
dictatorial, that is an incorrect assessment, of course. Dictatorial
methods are not what we use. I’m sure Putin is aware of that.

Translated by A. Ignatkin

SHARE OF FLESH COMPANY IN CAPITAL OF ALIANZ INSURANCE COMPANY
INCREASED TO 55%

YEREVAN, JANUARY 18. ARMINFO. In connection with a governmental
decision to increase the minimum size of the authorized capital of
insurance companies, the share of the largest oil trader in Armenia,
Flesh company, in the capital of Alianz Insurance Company has been
increased to 55%. Executive Director of Alianz IC Karen Vahramyan told
ARMINFO.

He said that Flesh has been the promoter of Alianz IC since 1997, with
its share being 25%. Since promoters are provided with a top-priority
right to buy out shares, a decision was made to increase the size of
the authorized capital to the demanded size due to an increase in the
share of the above oil trader company. Vahramyan said that in
connection with redistribution of the participants’ shares, no
cardinal changes are expected in the company’s management and tariff
policy. The company has been just renamed into Alianz Flesh. Vahramyan
noted that the authorized capital will be increased in 2006 at the
expense of undistributed profits. He added that already at the end of
2004, a 100% growth of profits was secured due to an 80% increase in
the volume of insurance premiums and some decrease in the size of
compensations.

By the end of the current year, the volumes of insurance premiums and
profits will also be doubled due to an increase in insurance
operations and maintenance of last year’s level of risk
operations. “We intend to activate transport and property insurance as
well as to participate in the programs of compulsory automobile
liability insurance in case if a relevant law is adopted,” he said.
Vahramyan also pointed out that despite the increase in the share of
Flesh company, Alianz will not insure the imported fuel and
lubricants.

It should be noted that in conformity with the governmental decision,
starting from January of 2005, the minimum size of the authorized
capital of insurance companies was increased to 100 mln AMD. In 2006,
this figure will total 200 mln AMD, in 2007 – 350 mln AMD, and already
in 2008 – 500 mln AMD.

It is noteworthy that as a result of the first half of 2004, the
assets of Alianz IC totaled 113.9 mln AMD, funds – 29.5 mln AMD. At
the same time, the volume of premiums reached 174 mln, compensations –
2 mln AMD. The profits of the company totaled 10.5 mln AMD on June 1.

PanArmenian News
Jan 15 2005

NEW DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA APPOINTED

14.01.2005 17:34

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Gegham Gharibjanian, the Former Armenian Ambassador
in Iran, is appointed Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia by a decree
of Armenian President R. Kocharian.

PRESIDENT OF LEBANON RECEIVES ACTIVISTS OF LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Azg/arm
15 Jan 05

General Emil Lahud Baabday, President of the Republic of Lebanon,
received a group of activists of the Liberal Democratic Party at his
residence on January 11.

Avo Daqesian, Edi Bahadian, chairman Lahud of the LDP, Nar
Khachaturian, Hovsep Emirian, Edi Kostandian and Sevak Panosian were
present at the meeting with the president. They discussed a number of
important and actual issues in the course of the meeting.

Associated Press Worldstream
January 13, 2005 Thursday 7:07 AM Eastern Time

OSCE must build on Ukraine election monitoring success, new chairman
says
by: SUSANNA LOOF; Associated Press Writer

VIENNA, Austria

Terrorism and human trafficking remain priorities for the OSCE, but
the 55-nation trans-Atlantic security group must build on the success
its election monitors achieved in Ukraine, the organization’s new
chairman said Thursday.

In his first address to the Vienna-based Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe’s permanent council since taking office two
weeks ago, Dimitrij Rupel described the OSCE’s vote monitoring
mission to Ukraine as “essential in restoring faith in the integrity
of the democratic system.”

The group’s monitors said the Nov. 21 presidential election did not
meet international standards. The Ukraine Supreme Court ordered a
Dec. 26 rerun, which opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko won.

OSCE monitors said the rerun had made progress in reaching democratic
standards.

“Expectations are high for what comes next,” said Rupel, Slovenia’s
foreign minister.

“I believe that the OSCE and Ukraine have a good opportunity to
strengthen cooperation across a range of issues, including freedom of
the media, national minorities, democratization, the
political-military dimension and regional security. This opportunity
should not be missed,” he said.

Rupel also said the OSCE needs to be reformed to become more
effective, and that its members need to build on common issues to
“prevent political fault lines from reappearing” in the group.

Russia and other former Soviet republics have accused the group of
having “double standards” by focusing too much some former Soviet
republics and the Balkans while ignoring issues such as the plight of
Russian-speaking minorities in the Baltic countries.

Kosovo also could be a major issue for the organization in 2005,
Rupel said, adding the group should be involved in the review of
Kosovo’s progress later this year. The review is expected to lead to
talks on Kosovo’s future.

Rupel also said the OSCE should “redouble its efforts” to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and continue efforts to bring sustainable
peace to the Georgian region of South Ossetia.

“We have no magic solutions, but we feel that targeted and pragmatic
steps can contribute to thawing frozen conflicts, consolidating
peace-building processes and supporting democratization,” he said.

In Central Asia, Rupel said more efforts must be taken to control
migration, promote human rights, strengthen human security, improve
border controls and promote cooperation in de-mining and
anti-trafficking measures.

“I also believe we should deepen our efforts to assist the
governments in Central Asia in their democratization processes,
particularly in relation to elections,” he said.

Iraq has requested that the group monitor its Jan. 30 elections, but
diplomats have said the group is unlikely to send a mission because
it is unlikely that its members – many of whom were opposed to the
Iraq war – would reach a consensus on it.