Author: Kalashian Nyrie

Hürriyetim
20.05.2005
Remembrance ceremony in Greece for the ‘Pontus genocide’
Greek Foreign Minister Assistant Panayotis Skandalakis
A remembrance ceremony and march took place in Thessaloniki, Greece
yesterday evening for the victims of the so-called Greek ‘Pontus
genocide.’ A group of people gathered in one of the city’s central
squares shouting anti-Turkish slogans, and then marched to the Turkish
Consulate in Thessaloniki. The marchers then left a written notice
of protest in front of the Consulate.
Nikos Chiarchionis, Greek Minister representing Macendonia and
Thrace, spoke at the gathering, saying “the Potus genocide should
be remembered by the world on the same level as the Armenian and
Jewish genocides.” Mayor of Thessaloniki, Vasilis Papayorgopulos,
announced at the meeting that the local parliament had decided
that a monument would be built in Thessaloniki to the victims of
the so-called ‘Pontus genocide.’ A message from Foreign Minister
Assistant Panayotis Skandalakis read at the meeting explained that
for Greeks, May 19 was an historical turning point, and that the
day was “to remember those who were expelled from their homelands,
and the struggles which followed.”
Greek government spokesman Teodoros Rusopulos said that Greek Prime
Minister Kostas Karamanlis had sent a supportive message regarding
the May 19 so-called Greek ‘Pontus genocide’ to the Pontus Greek
Organization.
–Boundary_(ID_86kvH3znr/5o3TjFzIC0uA)–

NO OTHER WAY FOR ADVOCACY DEVELOPMENT
A1plus
| 15:01:41 | 21-05-2005 | Politics |
Yenok Azaryan, who elected chairman of the Chamber of Lawyers but has
not assumed the office yet considers that the problem lies is the fact
that the time for the formation of the chamber was chosen incorrectly.
He considers that not the unions but the lawyers should compete
with each other. Consequently, the existence of one structure,
moreover in a state where the lawyers have plenty of problems with
the juridical system and law enforcement bodies, is necessary. “One
united chamber will defend the violated rights of it members as well”,
he assures. Today violence is applies against the lawyers. Thus, if
consolidated they would be able to defend the rights of the lawyers
and achieve justice
Yenok Azaryan informed that according to the new law “On Advocacy” the
licenses are issued by a certifying commission composed of scientists,
judges and lawyers. To note, earlier the commission was appointed by
the Justice Ministry. Y. Azaryan assures they will try to exclude
the principle of subjectivity when issuing licenses not to cast
a shadow at the legal activities in future. “We are interested in
skilled staff and we will also organize training for those who once
tried to discredit the activities of the institute”, he said
“Will the body be so independent that its authority will be in your
hand?” we asked. “I understand the implication of your question,
but I am speaking of the formed chamber. Yes, there are discrepancies
and there are persons, who want to deprive us of independence because
it is profitable to have this body guided. However there is no other
way for the development of advocacy”, he resumed.
Diana Markosyan

TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN DISCUSSED THE DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY COOPERATION IN BAKU
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
May 20, 2005, Friday
General of the Army Ilker Bashbug, Turkish Deputy Chief of the
General Staff, arrived in Azerbaijan on May 17. He discussed the
prospects of military cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan with
Defense Minister, Safar Abiyev. The delegations shared opinions about
the military-political situation in the Southern Caucasus and the
progress of settling of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Turkish general confirmed Turkey’s position regarding Nagorny
Karabakh, which boils down to Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
(…)

MEDAL TO THE BENEFACTOR
A1plus
| 17:51:57 | 20-05-2005 | Official |
Today Robert Kocharyan has received Kirk Kirkoryan, the Armenian
businessman and benefactor from America.
During the meeting the present economic state of Armenia and the
course of reforms in the country have been discussed. A reference
has also been made to the perspectives of the economic development
of the country.
Robert Kocharyan has presented the Fatherland Medal to Kirk Kirkoryan.

ARMENIAN MFA CONFIRMED OSKANIAN-MAMEDYAROV MEETING
Pan Armenian News
20.05.2005 06:30
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recurrent meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
Foreign Ministers Elmar Mamedyarov and Vartan Oskanian will be held
in June, OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov stated,
“I cannot name the exact date and place of the meeting. It is a rather
difficult task to bring the FMs to mutual consent, as all have their
schedules”. According to Merzlyakov, the meeting will proceed in
the initial format – with the participation of the OSCE Minsk Group,
APA Azeri news agency reports. In a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Press Secretary Hamlet Gasparian
confirmed the information on the upcoming meeting. In his words, the
Co-Chairs have already coached the FMs for the recurrent meeting,
however the terms and place have not been determined yet. At the
same time he noted that upon completion of the Warsaw the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan have ordered the FMs to continue the
negotiations on the Karabakh conflict settlement.

REGULAR MONITORING WAS HELD
Pan Armenian News
20.05.2005 08:40
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 20, the OSCE Mission held a planned
monitoring of the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces’
contact-line on the south-eastern section, near the village of
Horadiz. From the positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring
group comprised of Field Assistants of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office’s
Personal Representative Miroslav Vimetal (Czechia) and Alexander
Samarsky (Ukraine), as well as the Representative of the OSCE High
Level Planning Group, Colonel Andrey Gordiyenko (Russia). From the
Azerbaijan’s territory the monitoring group was led by the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office’s Personal Representative, Ambassador Andrzej
Kasprzyk. Before the beginning of the monitoring, the representatives
of the NKR Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, accompanying the
OSCE mission, fixed two shots, which sounded from the Azerbaijan’s
party. The monitoring went on after the parties got the guarantees
of security. The monitoring passed according to the planned schedule.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

218 PEOPLE DISMISSED FROM DEPARTMENT FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
A1plus
| 18:39:23 | 19-05-2005 | Politics |
Today the government approved the bill on a new department to deal
with emergency situations. Head of the department Edik Barseghyan
informed of some new clauses of the bill during today’s briefing.
The department for the emergency situations will be conveyed under
the competence of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and
will be reformed in a special rescue service. The rescuers will have
no social benefits and their minimal salary will make 35 thousand
drams. Totally about 218 employees were dismissed.
Edik Barseghyan also reported that 40 000 euros necessary for the
transportation of fire engines from France has been already transferred
and the vehicles will arrive in Armenia in the near future.

MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS POSITIVELY ESTIMATE WARSAW NEGOTIATIONS
A1plus
| 15:02:24 | 19-05-2005 | Politics |
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs give a positive estimate to the
recurrent round of the immediate negotiations between the Armenian
and Azerbaijani Presidents that took place in Warsaw May 15, Day.az
reports.
“In our opinion the meeting transmitted a political impulse to the
further talks. It is very important. We will follow the direction the
Presidents outlined and there is a strong hope that we will succeed”,
MG Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov stated.
When commenting on Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian’s refusal to make
a statement upon completion of the meeting Yuri Merzlyakov said, “It
is their right”. “It does not mean that they have nothing to sat. On
the contrary, they have but decided to not to say anything”, he added.
When touching upon the recent statement by Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar
Mamedyarov about Armenia’s readiness to abandon 7 Azeri territories the
Co-Chair said, “Judging from the facts available and the Minister’s
words it was a journalist interpretation. What does it mean that
Armenia is ready? The withdrawal of troops is being considered and
this principle is not questioned by the Armenian party. However there
is no final agreement”.
According to the diplomat the withdrawal of troops is not the “issue
of tomorrow or the day after tomorrow”.

Armenian official surprised at Azeri press reports on leaders’ “secret” meeting
Arminfo
18 May 05
Yerevan, 18 May: “I think the two [Armenian and Azerbaijani] presidents
have discussed different issues in their talks [in Warsaw on 15 May],
but as far as I know, they are kept secret. I am very surprised that
this level of detail has emerged in the Azerbaijani press,” Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan has said commenting on
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s statement that the
two countries had allegedly reached an agreement on the handover of
seven districts to Azerbaijan in exchange for unblocking the railway
communication.
Arman Kirakosyan stressed that the region’s problem, as well as
Armenia’s relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, continue to be in
Yerevan’s focus and that the Armenian administration is cooperating
with the US government in developing political dialogue.

OPEN-DOORS DAY IN CE YEREVAN OFFICE
Pan Armenian News
16.05.2005 05:46
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the occasion of the Third Council of Europe
Summit held in Warsaw May 16-17 the Council of Europe Information
Office in Armenia organizes open-doors day for the public at large
and for students and representatives of mass media in particular. As
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter came to know from the CE Yerevan Office,
this initiative will give the visitors the possibility to follow
online the full live webcast of the Summit; to receive a comprehensive
information pack of materials in English and Armenian covering the aims
and expectations of the Third Summit, as well as general information on
the Council of Europe; to watch video materials on the establishment
and development of the Council of Europe; the two previous summits of
the organization as well as watch interviews with Council of Europe
leaders pertaining to the Warsaw Summit.