Author: Kalashian Nyrie

Harrison will have his hands full
DARRYL BROADFOOT
The Herald, UK
June 16 2004
June 16 2004
RISKY Business could not have been a more appropriate billing for
Scott Harrison’s World Boxing Organisation featherweight title
defence against William Abelyan.
The Armenian-American arrived in Glasgow’s east end yesterday to
finalise preparations for what he believes will be the fulfilment of
his destiny at the Braehead Arena on Saturday. The credence given to
such boasts is often diluted when the jive-talking stops and the
jabbing begins.
Yet the undercurrent of trepidation spun by Frank Warren to promote
the fight was accentuated at Morrison’s Gym.
Abelyan, the WBO’s mandatory challenger, made little attempt to
disguise his contempt for Harrison. “I can’t believe his fight with
Medina went 11 rounds,” he said of Harrison’s successful rematch with
the Mexican in November.
“He is an old man. I sparred with him before his IBF fight and
dropped him a couple of times. I am coming here to take the belt
home.”
Don House, Abelyan’s trainer, agrees. “William has fought smaller
names in Mexico who are better this guy,” he said.
The 25-year-old Abelyan, who pulled out of the original date in March
with a shoulder injury and replaced by Walter Estrada, did not falter
when invited to explain his grounds for optimism.
Nor was he willing to accept that a year’s inactivity – he has not
fought since his three-round dismantling of Alejandro Estrada in
three rounds in Los Angeles last June – will put paid to the lofty
ambitions of the Abelyan camp.
“It’s not that I didn’t want to fight; nobody wanted to fight me,” he
said, a claim greeted with scepticism by Harrison’s manager, Frank
Maloney. “Scott is a fighter; I am a boxer. He is like a Mexican, he
will just come straight at me and then I will do my business.”
Maloney hopes the former high school tearaway does not wreak havoc on
Saturday and deny Harrison his shot at the big names. “I’m very
concerned about this guy,” he said. “If he loses this, there is no
rematch clause because it is a mandatory defence.”
Mike Tyson is set to make his latest comeback against Irishman Kevin
McBride on July 30. The finishing touches are being put on a deal
which could have the fight staged in Louisville, birthplace of
Muhammad Ali.

Le Télégramme
15 juin 2004
Contents ou mécontents ils campent sur leurs positions
AUTEUR: Y.M.
A l’origine, le camp du Tour-du-Parc devait accueillir trois
familles.
Deux familles de réfugiés arméniens étaient en effet conviées par la
Ddass à rejoindre ce camp après plusieurs mois passés dans un hôtel
vannetais.
L’une et l’autre ont refusé l’invitation. Une mère de trois enfants
s’est justifiée en invoquant l’éloignement du site des lignes de bus.
On ignore où ces familles ont trouvé refuge.
« Sans ça on serait à la rue »
Autres mécontents, mais qui ont, eux, accepté de rejoindre la
presqu’île, la famille Zumberi. Un couple et leurs trois garçons,
originaires du Kosovo et qui séjournaient depuis neuf mois dans un
hôtel de Vannes. « On nous a amenés ici en voiture et le conducteur
est vite reparti », peste la femme, dans un mélange franco-yougoslave
difficilement compréhensible. Ses gestes laissent cependant deviner
qu’elle n’apprécie guère le site.
« De toute manière, nous sommes ici jusqu’au 28 juin, enchaîne son
mari, nous aurons bientôt un appartement. Vannes, Lorient, Locminé,
Troyes, n’importe où, mais surtout pas Pontivy », glisse-t-il,
portant un doigt sur ses lèvres en signe de silence.
Et puis il y a cette autre famille, en France depuis décembre 2002 et
bien heureuse de trouver un toit. Les Eliachvili, ressortissants
géorgiens en attente d’un asile subsidiaire. « Sans cet endroit, on
serait à la rue. Nous ignorons pour combien de temps nous sommes
installés dans cette caravane, mais nous sommes contents d’être là,
même s’il a fait un peu froid le soir », sourit la maman, bien aidée
dans la traduction par la plus grande de ses filles.
Scolarisée en CP à Vannes, non loin de l’hôtel qui les hébergeait,
cette dernière en a terminé avec l’école vendredi. Jour où leur
départ leur a été signifié. Tout comme sa jeune soeur, en maternelle.
« S’il le faut, elles viendront à l’école chez nous », assure le
maire.
GRAPHIQUE: Photo, Legende: Autres mécontents, mais qui ont, eux,
accepté de rejoindre la presqu”île, la famille Zumberi. Un couple et
leurs trois garçons, originaires du Kosovo et qui séjournaient depuis
neuf mois dans un hôtel de Vannes.

ONLY 10 OUT OF 270 PETROL FILLING STATIONS COMPLY WITH REQUIRED STANDARDS
ArmenPress
June 7 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 7, ARMENPRESS: Only 10 out of 270 petrol filling station
in the capital city of Yerevan comply with standards, set by the
urban construction department of the municipality. Samvel Danielian,
the head of Yerevan municipality architecture and urban construction
department said some 30 petrol filling stations were e dismantled
and another 125 are expected to be dismantled soon.
Currently 105 petrol filling stations are under investigation where
violations of urban construction norms were reported. In response
to a question whether those who had authorized construction of those
petrol filling stations will be brought to justice, the department head
said they are not responsible for that. Their task is to ensure that
petrol filling stations are in accordance with the norms established
by urban construction.

Armenian National Committee of Illinois
1701 North Greenwood
Glenview, IL 60025
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
June 7, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Nishan Mekhdjian
[email protected]
ANC OF ILLINOIS MEETS WITH MELISSA BEAN
— Eighth District Democratic Congressional Candidate Reiterates Support of
Armenian American Issues
GLENVIEW, IL–On May 17, representatives of the Armenian National Committee
(ANC) of Illinois met with Melissa Bean. The meeting, held at the Armenian
Community Center in Glenview, gave the ANC activists an opportunity to
discuss concerns of the Armenian American community with the Eighth District
Democratic Congressional Candidate.
“From our discussion with Melissa Bean–and her response to the ANCA
Congressional Candidate Questionnaire–it is obvious that she is well aware
of the issues that confront Armenian Americans,” stated ANC of Illinois
Chairman Nishan Mekhdjian. “Her support of our community’s concerns is to
be commended.”
“As the November election approaches, we will make sure that Armenian
American constituents in Illinois clearly understand the views of candidates
vying for office. The ANC will also continue to work with candidates
running for local, state, federal offices in an effort to help clarify their
views on Armenian American issues,” concluded Mekhdjian.
During the meeting with Bean, ANC representatives Karine Birazian, Nishan
Mekhdjian, Noubar Sarkissian, and Sevon Torosian provided a brief background
of the Illinois Armenian American community. They further discussed
numerous current issues confronting Armenian Americans, including US
reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide–specifically the Congressional
Genocide Resolutions–US aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and US-Armenia
economic relations, such as extending permanent normal trade relations for
Armenia and negotiating a Social Security Agreement and Tax Treaty.
In April, responding to the ANCA Congressional Candidate Questionnaire, Bean
expressed support for a number of key Armenian American concerns.
The Congressional Questionnaire calls upon candidates to answer nine
questions concerning their views on the Armenian Genocide,
self-determination for Nagorno Karabagh, US aid to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabagh, US-Armenian economic relations, conditions on US aid to
Azerbaijan, the Turkish blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
Bean, currently the president of a consulting firm serving high-tech Fortune
1000 clients internationally, who also ran for Congress in Illinois’ Eighth
District in 2002, answered all nine questions favorably.
Republican Congressman Philip Crane, the incumbent candidate, is running for
his 19th term in office. Illinois’ Eighth Congressional District includes
parts of Lake, Cook, and McHenry counties.
The Armenian National Committee is the largest Armenian American grassroots
political organization in Illinois and nationwide. The ANC actively advances
a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian American community.
####

International group denies Azeri children held in Armenian captivity
Noyan Tapan news agency
3 Jun 04
Yerevan, 3 June: The international working group to release POWs and
hostages and to trace missing persons in the zone of the Karabakh
conflict states with full confidence that information about camps for
Azerbaijani kamikaze children, which is allegedly located in Lacin
[Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani district], is wide of the mark.
The Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo published on 20 May an article by
journalist Lala Nuri headlined “Lacin-Buchenwald for Azerbaijani
children”. The article appeared after the co-chairman of the
international working group for POWs, hostages and missing persons
in the zone of the Karabakh conflict, Paata Zakareishvili, described
as a myth a report by two defectors from Armenia, Roman Teryan and
Artur Apresyan, who had said that Azerbaijani children were being
trained as kamikazes in Armenian captivity. The article reported that a
certain businessman Asaf Alimardanov called the editorial office of the
newspaper and said that an American engineer (?Terry Kagel), who used
to work with him, met Azerbaijani children held by Armenians during
his trip to occupied Lacin in the 1990s. At the request of Zerkalo
newspaper, Alimardanov contacted Kagel again and received, according
to the journalist, more detailed information which confirms that
Azerbaijani children are being held in a special camp in Lacin. The
newspaper reported that the editorial office had Mr Kagel’s office
telephone number. Mrs Nuri suggested that the international working
group find and return the Azerbaijani children to the motherland.
Since one of the forms of the work of the international working group
is to check such information, the group, as its press release says,
immediately started to implement the task set by the newspaper. Having
obtained Terry Kagel’s telephone number from the editorial office, the
members of the group called him and told him about the Zerkalo article
which had mentioned his name. Mr Kagel was extremely surprised and
asked them to send him a translation of the article. The co-chairman
of the international working group, Bernhard Clasen, accepted his
request. In his reply, Kagel flatly denied the facts cited in the
article and suggested calling two people Pastor David Goehring and
volunteer Stan Brown who had repeatedly visited Lacin on a humanitarian
mission under an AGAPE project. Bernhard Clasen held two conversations
with the two employees of AGAPE and received clearer information
saying that they had rendered assistance to a children’s institution
for Armenian children in Lacin.
The international working group decided not to publish this
information, as it had not seen this institution for itself and
had not spoken to AGAPE employees. On 2 June, the co-chairmen of the
international working group, Bernhard Clasen and Svetlana Gannushkina,
visited Lacin and went to a boarding school. It has 28 children from
difficult and incomplete families, and 18 of the children have only
one parent. The boarding school has had only four orphans so far. The
age of the children is between five and 18. These are mainly children
from refugee families. They are looked after very well – the girls
are taught needlework and the boys are dealing with housekeeping. The
AGAPE project has been working in this region since 1994, helping to
supply medical equipment to a hospital and implementing educational
programmes. Its employees were extremely surprised by the supposition
that Azerbaijani children could be held hostage in the boarding school.
The press release has been signed by Svetlana Gannushkina, Bernhard
Clasen and Paata Zakareishvili.

VLADIMIR PRYAKHIN EMPHASIZES NEED FOR ELECTORAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
A1 Plus | 20:56:08 | 04-06-2004 | Official |
With regard to a recent decision of the Yerevan Mayor’s Office to
prohibit rallies by opposition parties on 4 June, the Head of the
OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin said: “We regret
that the right of people to free assembly and expression of their
political views was restricted. We urge the authorities to apply the
new law on Conduct of Public Gatherings, Rallies, Demonstrations and
Marches in a proportionate and justified manner and make efforts to
further improve this essential piece of legislation.”
He stressed that the OSCE Office will continue to closely monitor
the political developments in Armenia and to support the country in
the process of democratization. He emphasized in particular the need
for electoral and constitutional reform.

FRANCE KEEN IN HIGHER DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN
AzerTag
[June 03, 2004, 10:51:18]
As was informed to AzerTAj from the press center of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, on June 2 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
Republic Elmar Mammadyarov has received the ambassador of France in
our country Ms. Chantal Poiret in connection with termination of her
diplomatic mission in our republic.
Having noted, that the relations between Azerbaijan and France have
traditionally friendly character, minister Elmar Mammadyarov has
emphasized necessity of more active participation of France within the
framework of the Minsk Group and in the ongoing processes in region.
Having emphasized importance of settlement of regional conflicts,
in particular the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, for
establishment of stability and safety in the region, the Minister has
especially noted active participation of France in the economic life
of Azerbaijan.
Ambassador Chantal Poiret, having expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijan
side for fruitful cooperation and assistance rendered to her during
work in our country, has emphasized confidence of expansion and
henceforth relations between two states. She has stated that within
3 years of work in Baku was the direct witness of development of
Azerbaijan people and statehood, has expressed hope for the prompt
peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict
due to joint efforts of the international community.
Having noted interest of her country in development of cooperation
with Azerbaijan in oil branch, the Ambassador, speaking about
activity of one of the authoritative oil companies of France –
companies “Totalfinaelf ” – in our Republic, and also necessity of
strengthening of economic relations, informed that the delegation
of businessmen of French province Validuaz in September – October of
the current year will make visit to Baku.
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov wished the ambassador Ms. Chantal Poiret
successes in the further activity.

ARMENIAN PREMIER READY TO NEGOTIATE WITH OPPOSITION
Ayots Ashkhar, Yerevan
27 May 04
Text of Vaan Vardanyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Ayots Ashkhar
on 27 May headlined “Mutual work was a success”
Armenian Premier Andranik Markaryan had a traditional meeting with
journalists yesterday after a meeting between the National Assembly
and the government.
(Correspondent) Mr Markaryan, what is your assessment of the one-year
activity of the National Assembly?
(Markaryan) It is positive. The government and the National Assembly
managed to work together, as the same format operates in both branches
of power in the person of the coalition parties, the United Labour
Party and the People’s Deputy group.
Unfortunately, the opposition boycotted the last session of the
National Assembly. It does not prevent the legislative branch of
power from working. And I think the opposition should be concerned
about this. And its presence at the next session is desirable.
(Correspondent) What is your attitude to the failed dialogue with the
opposition? You have met Aram Sarkisyan (a member of the opposition’s
Justice faction and chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia)
and intended to continue this line. Against the background of the
failed dialogue, what will be the fate of this initiative?
(Markaryan) I thought that the coalition’s meetings with the opposition
would yield certain results, that is why I announced my intention to
meet the leaders of the opposition. But before I returned from abroad,
the opposition put forward new preconditions, which is inadmissible. If
they change their position, I am ready to negotiate with them as the
leader of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and prime minister.
(Correspondent) Are you satisfied with the activity of the coalition
parties last year? When the coalition was just being formed, did you
think that the relations would be the way they are now?
(Markaryan) The formation of a coalition is not a marriage of parties
or a compulsory term. It is a mutual desire of everyone. None of the
coalition parties has attempted to describe the declaration as null
and void so far, and I can state that no such thing will happen in the
future. There are problems discussed inside the coalition. One should
not forget that it is the first attempt to form a coalition. Every
month and at every session, the work of the coalition becomes more
and more improved, especially in the National Assembly. The coalition
representatives have no problems with each other in the government at
all. There are some problems between the coalition parties operating
in the National Assembly, but they are technical and will be settled
in the course of time.
(Correspondent) Did the RPA play any role in changing the restraining
measure against (ex-Defence Minister) Vagarshak Arutyunyan and what
is your opinion of this, on the whole?
(Markaryan) Politics cannot be mixed with criminal cases and no party
can interfere in a criminal case. MPs or political forces can only
propose that the restraining measure be changed. And I can assure
you that RPA has made no such proposal.
(Correspondent) The head of your faction, Galust Saakyan, often states
that the opposition is falling apart little by little. Can one state
that the possibility of a third force appearing is increasing?
(Markaryan) A holy place is never left unoccupied, someone will take
it at last, but I cannot call them a third or a fourth force.
(Correspondent) The Georgian president has reached an agreement with
Turkey on the construction of a new railway. In turn, Iran and Russia
are concluding a similar deal with Azerbaijan. Don’t you think that
Armenia will be sidelined?
(Markaryan) I think that just for this reason, we shall try to
participate in this programme. We are having negotiations both with
Russia and Georgia to open the Abkhaz railway. If it is opened,
it will be less possible to sideline the country. We have our own
problems, other states have their own. We must only take into account
the reality, and how can Armenia influence the solutions to these
problems? We have proposals which seem promising to other parties.

Armenian paper blames BBC Karabakh Internet page for bias
Golos Armenii
27 May 04
The Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii has criticized the BBC Russian
web site on the 10 years of the Karabakh cease-fire, saying that it
reflects only Azerbaijan’s position on the conflict. The web site does
not contain any Armenian view on the Karabakh conflict, excerpt for
“kind human interest stories” about the mood of Karabakh’s Armenian
residents, the newspaper said. Golos Armenii said that the authors
of the Karabakh web page have not presented the facts correctly, and
added that “an open lie” in such a painful issue cannot help start
a dialogue between the conflicting sides. The following is the text
of Marina Grigoryan’s report by Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii on
27 May headlined “‘The Karabakh project’ of the BBC: is everything
allowed?”. Subheadings have been inserted editorially:
The Russian editorial office of the BBC (bbcrussian) has opened
“a Karabakh page” on its Internet web site, which is especially
dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the cease-fire in the conflict
zone. According to its authors, its purpose is “to create opportunities
for contacts between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the conflict
region, as well as in the whole world”. So the site is to promote the
development of “people’s diplomacy” and strengthen the peace process.
“Difficult and thankless task”
Of course, the implementation of such a project is a difficult and
thankless task, taking into account the particular abnormality and
bloodiness of the conflict, which has been going on for about 20 years,
and judging by recent events, its importance has not decreased. And
although the aspiration to help the Armenians and Azerbaijanis to
start a virtual dialogue was declared as its main purpose, it is
clear that such a page on the web site of one of the influential
world mass media will become an opportunity for Internet users to
familiarize themselves with the history and heart of the conflict,
its present state, the attitude to the problem in today’s Yerevan,
Stepanakert and Baku, and to learn the opinion of famous people who
are related to the issue in this or other way.
>>From this point of view, a person who knows the problem very well and
follows the development of the situation has many questions. And more
or less detailed research into the site leads to certain conclusions,
which I think are due to the fact that the BBC is a state corporation
and the Karabakh page on the BBCRUSSIAN Internet web site reflects in
some way the policy and interests of the UK in our region. Although
those who have created the site are trying to keep a veneer of
impartiality, there are many questions for them.
“Evident subjectivity”
Let us start with the most unbiased sector: the chronology of the
conflict. The short lines seem to reflect the historical events in
reality. But in close examination, the subjectivity of those who
have created the “chronology” becomes evident, although it may not
be so evident to people who do not know the history of the conflict
very well.
For instance: everything concerning the Azerbaijani party was conveyed
with a barely perceptible emotional slant which causes sympathy for
the “victims”. It is achieved by means of such expressions as “the
mass banishment of Azeris from Armenia” or “Azeris are running away
from Kafan”. The point is about January and November 1988 – “dozens,
hundreds and thousands” Azeris killed in the course of hostilities. At
the same time, the unprecedented tragedies of “Sumqayit” and “Baku”
are characterized only as “Armenian pogroms”, and there is no word
about the excruciating death of dozens of innocent people and no hint
about hundreds of thousands of Armenians who ran away from medieval
brutality and barbarity and whose influx, as is known, started long
before the “exile of Azeris from Armenia”!
Do you not agree that a poorly-informed reader gets the impression that
in spite of the pogroms, Armenians continued to live in Azerbaijan all
that time and live there even today (one more piece of disinformation
which is actively promoted by the Azerbaijani party), while from
the very beginning the Armenians, “forcibly and on a mass scale”,
deported their neighbours from their own territory?
Then the “Incidents” connected with Armenians are presented in quite a
cunning way. For instance: “18 October. Demonstration in Yerevan as a
protest against incidents with the Armenian population of the Chadakhlu
village, to the north of Karabakh.” Why are the consequences fixed, but
the fact itself is not presented? Why is it not explained what kind of
“incidents” they were that caused demonstrations in Yerevan? Why,
when talking about Operation “Koltso”, the authors of the site
do not talk about the numerous victims of the Armenian civilians,
including hundreds and thousands driven away as hostages and lost
forever? Why in a sector dedicated to Shushi [Susa] is it said that
“Azeris consider that town to be a “cradle of national culture”? As
for the Armenians, this town is only of “strategic significance”,
as it is situated at the height over Karabakh.
By the way, I cannot refuse pleasure and submit a devastating fact:
as proof that Shushi is “a cradle of national culture”, the names
of the famous representatives of national culture are named on the
web site: one republican scale poetess and [Azerbaijani singer and
Minister of Culture] Polad Bulbuloglu. I think they could not find
other names. They could not mention the names of the famous Armenian
Shushi residents, could they? But in all probability, the authors
of the site were not happy to listen to the songs of the “prominent”
singer-functionary, otherwise they would be really surprised by the
“cradle” that gave birth and educated such a “culture”.
“Evidence of bias”
Many such examples can be presented, and it is evidence of the reality:
it is important not only to what to inform but also how to inform. One
more example which is evidence of the bias of those who created the
site directly affects the understanding of the conflict by the visitors
of the site. The referendum conducted on 2 September 1990 in the
Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR] according to the strict international
judicial norms is mentioned as: “Nagornyy Karabakh declared separation
from independent Azerbaijan”. After this one should not be surprised by
the bewildered questions from different countries of the world in the
“Forum” sector: “Why do they not conduct a pan-national democratic
referendum in Karabakh that will define the destiny of the region?”
Let us leave chronology and look into another sector with the
tear-jerking headline “A friend in need is a friend indeed” and a no
less pompous subheading “History knows many examples when interethnic
hostility was powerless against a common misfortune” (where is this
“Sovietism” coming from on the Western radio station?). Everything
would be normal, if they submitted examples of how some Azeris were
saving Armenians – their neighbours and friends during terrible
pogroms.
But tell me please, men from the BBC, why did you touch on the wound
of the Armenian nation – Spitak earthquake on 7 December 1988? Show
me at least one adult Armenian resident who did not remember the
Azerbaijani carriages that arrived in Armenia with humanitarian
aid and inscriptions “Congratulations on the earthquake!” – it is
difficult to imagine more blasphemy and inhumanity. But according to
the Russian editorial office of the BBC, it was a “common misfortune”
and “the Azeris directed to Armenia, which was suffering a disaster,
an aeroplane carrying rescuers – ‘civil defence fighters'”, which
did not arrive in Armenia because of a crash! Sorry, but such crude
and primitive lies do not become the world famous corporation.
“Open lie”
Does it not seem to the authors of the page that an open lie in such a
painful issue cannot help start a “dialogue”? On the contrary, it can
only give rise to distrust in the project, created with pretension
to objectivity, but in many cases coming out of the frames of even
clear disagreements and variant readings. The third moment. There are
two interviews on the site: with an [Azerbaijani] playwright Rustam
Ibrahimbayov and the OSCE Minsk Group diplomat Vladimir Kazimirov. I
do not know the reason for such a choice, but one thing is clear:
there is no Armenian viewpoint on the web site. In this case, the
parity was not even formally kept, because two short reports from
Yerevan and Stepanakert [Xankandi]- are simply kind human interest
stories telling of the mood of today’s Armenian residents and about
a Karabakh girl who is drawing the world. Quite another thing is
an interview with Rustam Ibrahimbayov who calls himself a “world
citizen”. Along with the praiseworthy restraint of his assessments,
the Azerbaijani writer has achieved his goal: “I give both parties
the right to consider Karabakh their land. I do not have a right
to refuse Armenians such a right. But as a world citizen, I think –
is it possible to settle such problems by armed forcible methods? I
categorically say ‘no’! And even if the Armenian party manages to
prove that historically, politically, etc. these lands should be
moved away from Azerbaijan, all the same, I think in the 20th and
21st centuries to settle the problem by means of war – is a crime
against humanity on the whole.” The journalist who puts questions
to the “world citizen” prudently keeps silence that only compatriots
of the famous playwright were the first to apply force, by the way,
not in the course of hostilities, but against civilians – their own
citizens, and then declared a war against the Karabakh residents,
terribly bombing hungry and cold Karabakh for several months – by
the way, there is no word about this on the site.
Then the writer assures the Karabakh residents that it will be more
profitable for them to be within Azerbaijan, because “Azerbaijan means
oil, and Armenians are potential businessmen”. In all probability, for
“the engineer of human souls”, Ibrahimbayov, there is no other high
category than “black oil” and all the “profits” stemming from it. The
articles of independent monitors are also presented on the site, in
particular, of an employee of the institute on peace and war coverage,
the author of the book “Black garden” Tom de Vaal. Certainly, every
person has a right to form an opinion about the conflict and make
their own assessments, and I am not going to condemn and criticize
Mr Vaal’s position. But I would like to ask him only one question:
why does he think that the Armenian nation, through its president,
should apologize to the Azerbaijanis?
As for the Azerbaijani nation and its president, they do not need
to do this, and the latter can kindly call “home his citizens –
Azerbaijanis”. If Mr Vaal, who visited the NKR and did not understand
where the home of a Karabakh resident is, I would like to ask him
– what did he understand about the conflict on the whole? We can
speak about the Karabakh project of the BBC more, but I think it
is enough for its assessment as being subjective in its choice and
interpretation of the facts. The absence of the material where the
position of the Armenian party is presented, as it is done in case
of Azerbaijani Ibrahimbayov, compels us to pricks up our ears. As a
result, we have the feeling that the project is being politicized,
which will unfortunately become an obstacle for achieving its goals –
to stimulate the development of contacts between the public of both
sides. The projects within the framework of “people’s diplomacy”
may bear and are already bearing fruit only if they serve their
direct purpose.
Azerbaijan is more successful in information war
At the same time, we would like to look at the Karabakh project from
another point of view as well. On the whole, it is already for ten
years that a cease-fire has been preserved in the conflict zone. But an
information war has existed even longer. It started with the articles
and TV reports of the Soviet period. And if we look at this site
from that point of view, what has each party managed to achieve in
this most significant component of today’s contradiction? One thing
is evident: the Azerbaijanis have had more success in conveying the
conflict to the world in a way that is advantageous to them. Here it
is irrelevant to speak about the foul means by which they achieved
this goal. But the result is evident, and the Karabakh page of the
BBC is demonstrates it well. In short, it may be formed in two most
important propaganda theses.
First – hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani refugees are actively
presented in all the documents and materials concerning the Karabakh
conflict. The Armenian refugees have been practically ruled out from
the context of the problem.
Second – the efforts Azerbaijan is making on the recognition of
Armenia as an aggressor are gradually achieving their goal – it
has already taken place if not directly, then indirectly, because
the term “occupied territories” is used practically everywhere
and without any reserve. It seems that even in Armenia itself they
have resigned themselves to this, thanks to the “heroic” efforts of
our local diplomats who always find an excuse for their own cruel
failures and who have accustomed us to the country’s defeats in the
world arena. But this is a theme of another conversation, though very
topical, in the context of the new Internet web site of the BBC.
The lack of talent in the Karabakh issue policy, the repeated failures
of the Armenian party at the level of international discussions
on the problem of importance to the country, a number of documents
adopted recently, which unequivocally reflect the position of the
Azerbaijani party – all this and many other things testify to the
following fact: today’s generation of Armenian diplomats and all those
who are responsible for the Karabakh problem are unable to make the
world community understand the TRUTH [capitalization as published]
about Karabakh.
This has made possible the appearance and gradual domination of
LIES about Karabakh in the world’s news sources. And this calls into
question the future fair settlement to the problem. From this point
of view, a dangerous situation is taking shape because of those
politicians we are gradually losing immunity and neutrality on the
lies and misinformation about what happened to us and in our land
10-15 years ago.
Once, when the situation was quite different from today, we could
hardly allow somebody to tell a LIE about us and our motherland.
P.S. By the way, the BBC is flattering Ibrahimbayov, calling him
the author of the “White sun of the desert” film scenario. It is
known that the scenario of the famous film was written by the famous
playwright B. Yezhov, who recently passed away. As for Ibrahimbayov,
he was only an assistant consultant on the east.

“NEW TIMES” SET A DEADLINE TO AUTHORITIES
A1 Plus | 18:23:29 | 26-05-2004 | Politics |
“New Times” Party has today held a youth meeting. The ways to save
Armenia from the destructive future were represented.
In fact , the suggestions party has made today were addressed to
Robert Kocharyan. According to Party Chair Aram Karapetyan, he must
conduct reforms in Armenia.
Mr. Karapetyan expresses discontent that while dealing with Authorities
many of pro-governmental political figures pursue the policy “Don’t
touch me or else I will become Opposition”.
According to “New Times” strategy, if Robert Kocharyan doesn’t
accept the Party suggestions, “New Times” members will take
measures. Authorities were set 3 months to accept and apply the
suggestions.
“The actions will start in the morning and end in the evening. We
aren’t a third power, we are in Opposition”, Aram Karapetyan announces.
What will Authorities do?
“New Times” Party demands to dissolve coalition Government and
Parliament, and to hold special elections. There is nothing said in
the suggestions about distrust to President. Party also demands to
prevent corruption, bureaucracy.
“To establish a State Council affiliated with the Armenian President,
in which former and present Presidents, representatives of both
parliamentary and extraparliamentary influential powers and Diaspora
prevailing lobbyist structures must enroll”, another plank says.