Author: Karagyozian Lena

PanARMENIAN.Net

Mediation should aim at cementing ceasefire
24.05.2008 17:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A treaty on armistice was signed by
3 parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in 1994.
Presently, the ceasefire should be cemented via
conclusion of an agreement where the three sides
rejected resolution of the conflict by use of force,
former OSCE MG Russian Co-chair, Ambassador Vladimir
Kazimirov said during Stepanakert-hosted international
conference dedicated to 20th anniversary of the
Karabakh movement.

-Azerbaijan keeps on threatening with hostilities,
what allows Armenia to justify the seizure of
territories around former NKAO,- Kazimirov said.

Azerbaijan refusal to use force can lead to withdrawal
of Armenian troops from territories, according to him.

As a guarantee of fulfillment of obligations, Amb.
Kazimirov hinted on presence of international forces
[Russian peacekeepers].

-After the incident at the contact line in early
March, Azerbaijan neglected Karabakh’s proposal to
sign an agreement on refusal from military operation.
Now, it’s the OSCE MG’s turn to make a similar
proposal. And if any of the sides rejects the
initiative, the international community’s attitude to
conflict may change. If done earlier, Azerbaijan would
have failed to pass a resolution in the UN,- he said.

-Currently, the mediators proceed from inadmissibility
pf resumption of hostilities. However, oral statements
are not enough. Incidents at the border should be
condemned; sanctions should be applied against the
side which fails to meet commitments,- Kazimirov
concluded, KarabakhOpen reports.

RUSSIAN EXPERT ALAN KASAYEV: "MOSCOW SHOULD HELP ARMENIA RESTORE RELATIONS WITH ITS NEIGHBOR COUNTRIES"

Today.Az
/politics/45196.html
May 23 2008
Azerbaijan

Moscow should help Armenia restore normal relations with neighbor
countries, said Alan Kasayev, chief of the head board of the CIS
and Baltic states of the Russian agency of international information
RIA-Novosti.

"Moscow’s task for Armenia is to encourage this process without
putting pressure on the loyal ally in Yerevan or reliable partners in
Baku and Ankara", said Kasayev on May 23 in Yerevan during a report
"The Caucasus conflicts and Kosovo precedent" at the Caucasus-2007
conference.

At the same time, Kasayev noted that prospects of Armenia’s development
do not depent either on Russia, "as anti-Armenian policy of Moscow
is impossible to image even theoretically" or the internal reserves
of the country and the people.

According to Kasayev, Russia has defined new subgroups of the
post-Soviet countries and developed a new methodology, which should
lay foundation of the new Russian external policy in the near
abroad. "Armenia and Georgia add to the list of the third subgroup
of countries and they were given time to define", said Kasayev.

As for Georgia, the expert noted that its anti-Russian rhetorics and
actions of the leadership were no positive for Tbilisi, but Russia
also did not gain anything by "undertaking response, unfortunately,
not adequate or symmetric actions".

"The sides have realized this zero balance and seem to overcome it",
said Kasayev.

PARANOIA OR REALITY: GENOCIDE
By Azad Aslan

Kurdish Globe
sp?id=4007D07D194DC5396C6DEC627B4B659B
May 22 2008
Iraq

A protester make a victory sign with his hand in front of a Kurdish
flag during a demonstration in Berlin January 26, 2008, against
cross-border operations in northern Iraq by Turkey. REUTERS

Professor Gregory Stanton, president of Genocide Watch, was in Erbil,
the capital of Kurdistan Region, and delivered a seminar on the issue
of genocide committed against the Kurds.

. His comments with regards to the Kurds in north Kurdistan (southeast
Turkey) is indeed very serious. He said: "I am afraid Turkey could
carry out genocide against Kurds since in the past Turkey committed
genocide against Armenians, yet they [Turks] deny that now. Still,
there is no punishment for them, and they also deny the existence of
Kurds in Turkey."

Coming from a distinguished scholar, this observation must be
taken very seriously and analyzed in a historical and political
context. There is real potential that Turkey may resort to genocide
against the Kurds. For some people, in this age of globalization
and interactive world-over communication, committing genocide
is unthinkable, particularly for a country such as Turkey that
is endeavoring to join the EU. Giving developments a closer look,
however, indicates a grim picture that such claim is not far-fetched.

Since its formation, the Turkish Republic has carried on a cultural
genocide against the Kurdish nation. The Kurdish language was banned
and those who spoke it were punished. The very national identity of
Kurds was classified as "mountain Turks." Kurdish names or titles of
geographical places of Kurdistan were renamed in Turkish. Millions
of Kurds in Turkey were denied education in their mother tongue. The
national identity of Kurds has not been recognized and is at most
classified in Turkish political discourse as a "sub-identity."

Despite such forceful assimilation, the Kurds proved to be resilient
and preserved their distinct cultural and national identity. Turkey,
on the other hand, has yet to make serious steps toward becoming a real
democratic country. Democratization of Turkey is undeniably problematic
and closely related to the Kurdish national question. The political
formation of the Turkish regime since 1923 has been anti-democratic and
totalitarian. At the root of this anti-democratic political formation
of the Turkish regime lies the construction of an artificial Turkish
nation upon the ruins of a multi-ethnic and multi-religious Ottoman
Empire.

The main objective of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) was to
secure the Ottoman state and make it 99% Muslim. The Turkish Republic,
which was established by Kemalists, themselves a continuation of CUP,
embarked upon a new Turkish state that was, as A. Roshwald argued,
"built on a legacy of genocide and ethnic cleansing and propagated
by a dictatorial regime with little patience for the niceties of
pluralistic policies." The main tenet of Kemalism was and still is
to make Turkey 99% Turk. This explains a grim reality that expecting
democratization of the Turkish political establishment, which grew
and evolved throughout the 20th century with a mentality of exclusive
Turkish identity, would be illusionary and misleading.

I am afraid Turkey could carry out genocide against Kurds since in
the past Turkey committed genocide against Armenians, yet they [Turks]
deny that now. Still, there is no punishment for them, and they also
deny the existence of Kurds in Turkey.

Despite EU pressures, Turkey still resists even granting the Kurds
minority status let alone recognizing Kurdish national identity. The
fact that the Kurds dispersed among four states in the Middle
East makes the Kurdish national question a regional and indeed an
international question. The relative freedom and political status of
the Kurds in south Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan) and its international
recognition makes the Kurdish national question in Turkey even
more serious. The fact is that Turkey can no longer sustain its
current Kurdish policy with the existence of a legally established
Kurdistan Regional Government. Realizing that diminishing the KRG
is now an impossible task, Turkey must find a way to deal with its
own Kurds. Recognizing Kurdish national identity would shatter the
foundation of the Republic and its artificial construction of a Turkish
nation. In that sense, the Kurdish national question for Turkey is
not solely a democratic issue but a grave issue for its very existence.

The question here is whether Turkey would shift its cultural genocide
policy toward an ethnical one. This is surely not a hypothetical
but a very real question. CUP exploited World War I conditions to
eliminate the Armenians and they succeeded in that. Turkey, which is
built on the CUP legacy, may commit the same sin against the Kurds,
only within a regional context. In other words, Turkey may exploit
the chaotic political and military condition in case the Middle
East moves further into bloody conflict and regional war. The KRG’s
position with regards to Turkish policy against the Kurds would also
be detrimental in any potential Turkish move. The destiny of Iraqi
Kurdistan is closely interconnected with the Kurds in the north.

It is imperative for the Kurdish political actors throughout Kurdistan
not to take lightly Professor Stanton’s remarks. Indulging solely in
the belief that in this age of globalization democracy and human rights
would reign, the Kurds may blind themselves to the real politics of
the Middle East and face the same destiny as that of the Armenians
a century ago.

PALACE NATAVAN WILL BE RESTORED

KarabakhOpen
20-05-2008 13:03:38

In January Rebirth of Shushi Foundation organized a telebridge
Shushi-Bethlehem during which 5.7 million dollars was raised.

The Foundation sustains an Info Travel Center which is in the building
of the former coach station. Soon the ceremony of pan-Armenian awards
Golden Ladle will be held there. The Foundation set up a printing
house which will employ ten people.

What projects will be carried out on the funds raised during the
telebridge?

This question interests our readers, which we asked to the
representative of the foundation in Shushi Arthur Hambardzumyan.

According to the representative of the Foundation, about 3.4 to 4
million dollars have been directed at the reconstruction of the Palace
of Natavan which will accommodate a hotel. It is also foreseen to
reconstruct the historical Adamyan Street and the old houses on this
street. Arthur Hambardzumyan assured that the historical appearance
of the town will not be distorted.

One more project is aimed to improve water supply of the town. The
old water pipeline will be repaired which had been laid out in 1896
by Tadevos Tamiryan.

According to Arthur Hambardzumyan, by the end of the year the old
Eastern Bath will be repaired. In summer the roof of the Lyceum of
Young Ladies will be repaired, and next year the ministry of culture
and youth will move into this building.

The Green Pharmacy which is not far from the museum is also under
repair.

After repair it will be a pharmacy.

PARLIAMENT OF ARMENIA PASSES AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW ‘ON THE PROCEDURE OF ASSEMBLIES, AND DEMONSTRATIONS’ IN FIRST READING

arminfo
2008-05-20 13:06:00

ArmInfo. Parliament of Armenia passed the amendments to the Law ‘On
the order of assemblies and demonstrations’ in the first reading by
92 votes ‘for’, 6 votes ‘against’ and one ‘abstention’ Tuesday.

In his speech, the author of the bill, Speaker of the Armenian
Parliament Tigran Torosyan said the bill was drafted on the basis
of notifications and recommendation of CE Venice Commission. In
particular, it provides for the procedure of presenting reliable data
on prepared events. The organizers of assemblies, demonstrations
and processions are to inform local authorities at least 5 days
beforehand. Basing on the recommendations of the responsible agencies
regarding the danger of the planned events, the authorities have a
right to reject the application. In their turn, the organizers have
a right to appeal against the rejection. The court is to study the
appeal within 24 hours.

The bill contains a new provision on the voluntary conduct of
mass rallies, demonstrations and processions. The speaker said the
public has a right to express opinion on vital issues. Nevertheless,
voluntary assemblies with participation of over 100 people must not
be termless. For this purpose, the term of such actions is limited –
6 hours. The speaker said the bill meets international standards and
aims to boost democracy in Armenia.

EXPRESS YOUR OPINION

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 15, 2008
Armenia

Congressman Jim Costa asked Mari Jovanovich, the nominated US
Ambassador to Armenia, to express her opinion regarding the Genocide
of Armenians.

"It is very important for the USA to fill the vacancy of the US
Ambassador to Armenia, but before the Senate confirms her candidacy,
it is very important for me and my voters to know what she thinks about
the first genocide of the 20th century, the Genocide of Armenians,"
the democratic congressman elected from Fresno announced.

RA CEC REGISTERS RPA MEMBER SUKIAS AVETISIAN AS NA DEPUTY

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 13, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Sukias Avetisian from the electoral
roll of the Republican Party of Armenia was registered a deputy of the
RA National Assembly at the RA Central Electoral Commission’s May 13
sitting. The decision’s basis was stopping of the deputy authorities
of Armen Danielian appointed RA Deputy Prosecutor General, as well as
applications of withdrawal of Karine Petrosian and Alina Haroutiunian
from the RPA electoral roll.

It should be mentioned that 49-year-old S. Avetisian was a deputy of
NA of previous three convocations (1995-1999, 1999-2003, 2003-2007).

DINNER PARTY TO BE ORGANIZED IN HONOR OF AYA FOOTBALL TEAM BY FORMER AYA PLAYER CYPRIAN-ARMENIAN MP VARTKES MAHDESSIAN

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 13, 2008

LARNACA, MAY 13, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The AYA football
team arrived from London to Larnaca on 10 May. A welcoming reception
was held for football players of AYA and AYMA teams. There was open
participation to all members of the community. On May 11 the visit of
football players to Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church and Melkonian Institute
was envisaged. On 12 May a football match took place and a farewell
dinner party will be organized on May 17.

Armenian MP in the Cyprus Parliament Vartkes Mahdessian – a former
player with AYA – will be throwing a dinner party for the AYA team
on May 14 evening at his residence.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II PRAISED TURKEY’S ROLE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN WEST AND ISLAMIC WORLD

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.05.2008 14:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Queen Elizabeth II praised Turkey’s role as a bridge
between the West and the Islamic world on Tuesday during her first
visit to the predominantly Muslim country in 37 years.

"For us, Turkey is as important now as it has ever been," the British
monarch said at a state banquet.

"Turkey is uniquely positioned as a bridge between East and West at
a crucial time for the European Union and the world in general."

Wearing a tiara and dressed in a white gown decorated with beads,
the queen said Turkey is "playing a key role in promoting peace,
political stability and economic development in some of the world’s
most unsettled areas."

She referred to the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, a UN-backed
project – cosponsored by Turkey and Spain – aiming to increase dialogue
between Western and non-Western cultures and to address the causes
of conflict between them, the AP reports.

2-4 ARMENIAN MPS WILL BE ELECTED TO GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT, SHIRAK TOROSYAN PREDICTS

armradio.am
13.05.2008 17:25

Probably 2-4 Armenian Deputies will be elected to the Georgian
Parliament, Armenian MP, President of the "Javakhk" compatriotic union
Shirak Torosyan told a press conference today. According to him, having
more Deputies in the Georgian Parliament is now different because,
according o the new law, even the majoritarian candidates should be
nominated by some party. "In these conditions people concerned about
socio-economic issues of Javakh Armenians could not present their
candidacies because no political force agreed to nominate them,"
he said.

Shirak Torosyan also turned to the recent statement of the Georgian
Envoy in Armenia, characterizing it as non-diplomatic. According to
him, not going into details, the Georgian diplomat simply urges or,
to be more exact, demands from Armenia to vote for the document
Georgia presented at the UN, in which it demands to recognize the
territorial integrity of Georgia.

However, as the MP noted, just several days ago Georgia voted for a
similar resolution presented at the UN by Azerbaijan. Shirak Torosyan
hopes that those responsible for the foreign policy of Armenia will
make correct decisions and will vote deriving from Armenia’s interests.