Author: Karagyozian Lena

UGAB (France)
AGBU (New York)
11, square Alboni
Aline Ekmekji
75016 Paris
Tel. : ++ 12 12 319 6383
Tel. : ++ 33 1 45 20 03 18
extension 132 ou par email
Fax : ++ 33 1 40 50 88 09
[email protected]
Email : [email protected]
BULLETIN DE LIAISON DE L’UGAB-FRANCE / Décembre 2004

Stages d’été de New York : les candidatures sont ouvertes
L ‘UGAB annonce que les candidatures à ses stages d’été
de New York (New York Summer Internship Programme, ou NYSIP) sont
maintenant ouvertes. Les dossiers de candidatures sont disponibles en
ligne ou sur demande. Les stages d’été de New York ont
été conçus pour fournir une opportunité aux
étudiants des collèges et universités, d’où qu’ils
viennent, d’acquérir une expérience professionnelle dans les
meilleures conditions.
Depuis sa création en 1987, le programme a constitué un point
de départ de carrière solide et enrichissant, dans des
entreprises d’excellente réputation.
L’édition 2004 des stages d’été a rassemblé 34
étudiants de 7 pays (d’Europe, d’Amérique du Sud et des USA)
aux profils divers. Le programme éducatif et culturel qui
accompagnait les stages a couvert des sujets divers, allant de
séminaires de formation à la rédaction de CV, à la
préparation à l’entretien d’embauche ou au développement
des capacités de direction d’une équipe, en passant par des
conférences sur les effets psychologiques du génocide, avec
Anie Kaladjian, ou une introduction à la littérature
arménienne, avec Arthur Nersesian et Nancy Kricorian, et des
occasions de participer à la vie de la cité par des actions
bénévoles.
600 stagiaires ont déjà bénéficié du programme
depuis sa création. Le processus de sélection est assez
exigeant, mais permet à ceux qui ont été
sélectionnés de travailler au sein d’entreprises et
d’institutions de premier plan comme les Nations unies, Merril Lynch,
NY1 News, l’Hôpital de l’Université de Columbia, New Line
Cinema, et bien d’autres.
Les Stages d’été de Paris
En parallèle aux stages de New York, l’UGAB France organise des
stages d’été à Paris. Les candidatures pour ces stages
sont ouvertes depuis le 1 octobre 2004.
Organisé dans un esprit analogue à celui des stages de New
York, le programme donne aux étudiants (deux années
réussies à l’Université au moins) une occasion unique
d’accéder à des stages de qualité, de vivre une
expérience inoubliable dans la Ville Lumière en compagnie
d’autres jeunes arméniens d’Europe et d’ailleurs, et enfin
d’apprendre et de se divertir grâce à un programme social
fourni.

Les Stages de New York et de Paris : Infos pratiques
Stage de Paris*
Stage de New York**
27 juin – 13 août (7 semaines)

Juin – août (8 semaines)
Date limite de soumission des candidatures
31 janvier 2005

14 janvier 2005
Précisions sur les programmes proposés

Choisir downloadable forms
Contacts
UGAB (France)
AGBU (New York)
11, square Alboni
Aline Ekmekji
75016 Paris
Tél. : ++ 12 12 319 6383
Tél. : ++ 33 1 45 20 03 18
extension 132 ou par email
Fax : ++ 33 1 40 50 88 09
[email protected]
Email : [email protected]
*A partir de la deuxième année d’étude
réussie
** Etre inscrit à l’université
De nouvelles orientations pour l’UGAB
Papiers d’Arménie, Le Dauphiné Libéré, du dimanche
31 octobre 2004
Par Iskouhi Abattu. Article reproduit avec la permission du journal
A l’aube de son centième anniversaire, l’organisation
philanthropique entend relever les défis du XXIe siècle, tout
en conservant ses valeurs fondatrices.
L’Union générale arménienne de bienfaisance (Ugab) vient
d’officialiser la passation de pouvoirs entre les présidents de
Valence. L’événement a eu lieu au cours d’un dîner auquel
assistaient plus de 100 personnes et en présence du président
national Denis Ketchedjian. De retour d’Arménie où il
assistait à l’assemblée générale de l’association,
celui-ci s’est exprimé longuement sur la mission et les objectifs
de l’UGAB et ses nouvelles orientations.
Représentant les autorités civiles, religieuses ou
associatives, de nombreuses personnalités avaient répondu
à l’invitation : l’église apostolique était
représentée par le révérend père Antranik
Maldjian. Marlène Mourier députée suppléante,
représentait Patrick Labaune, député de la Drôme.
Noubar Kéchichian, adjoint au développement
socio-éducatif, Annie-Romy Koulaksézian,
déléguée au projet du centre du patrimoine, et Paul
Bagdassarian représentaient Lena Balsan, maire de Valence. Parmi
les associations étaient notamment représentées l’amicale
de Malatia, le Fonds arménien de France, Idjeval [association
chargée de promouvoir les relations entre Valence et la ville
d’Idjevan, avec laquelle elle est jumelée, NLDR], Arménia, La
Maison de la culture arménienne, la Croix Bleue, l’Ucfaf, etc.
Accueillis par le nouveau président Philippe Panossian- qui
succède à Varoujean Varvarian- les convives ont partagé
un dîner émaillé de prestations musicales et de
discussions. Ainsi, Ã en croire l’intervention de Nicolas Tavitian
sur les projets européens, et de Denis Ketchedjian, président
national, de grandes choses devraient se réaliser bientôt.
Afin de relever ces nouveaux défis et satisfaire aux besoins du
XXIe siècle des jeunes gens multi-culturels sont encouragés
à s’engager sur les grandes voies européennes. C’est le cas de
Nicolas Tavitian, originaire de Bruxelles, qui a parlé des nouveaux
projets et des objectifs de développement envisageables au niveau
européen. De nombreuses conférences sont d’ailleurs inscrites
au programme des prochaines semaines.
Respect pour l’héritage
Denis Ketchedjian a retracé les principales missions accomplies par
l’UGAB, qui poursuit ainsi l’Å`uvre colossale entreprise depuis sa
création en 1906. L’organisation construit dispensaires et
orphelinats, elle continue de gérer des externats où sont
inscrits près de 8000 élèves, des écoles du samedi
en Amérique, en Europe, au Moyen-Orient et en Australie. Grâce
à l’association, plus de 6500 élèves ont une meilleure
approche de leur identité. Outre ses propres écoles, des
dizaines d’autres ont été aidées sur le plan financier.
Depuis l’indépendance [de l’Arménie] en 1991, elle a joué
un rôle de plus en plus important entre la Diaspora et le pays.
Elle s’est employée à moderniser ses programmes afin de
répondre aux besoins en évolution permanente. Des écoles,
des centres, des bourses en passant par les stages d’entreprise Ã
New York, des soupes populaires aux activités culturelles ou
sportives, elle rassemble, motive et réunit chacun sous la
même identité. A l’aube de son centième anniversaire elle
se fixe de nouveaux objectifs, encore plus ambitieux.
Le nouveau Comité de l’UGAB-Valence est présidé par Me
Philippe Panossian.
L’UGAB Ã Valence : 6, rue Faventines.
Tél. : 04 75 43 50 48
Ecole de Vienne : Reprise des cours
Les élèves de l’Ecole de l’UGAB à Vienne ont repris les
cours à la mi-octobre cette année.
Une vingtaine d’enfants de 8 à 13 ans se sont retrouvés ainsi
dans un climat de réel enchantement. Les cours de langue et de
chant arméniens y sont dispensés les mercredis de 14h00
jusqu’Ã I7h00.
Pour tous renseignements, contacter Monsieur Charles Paltobedrossian.
Tél. : 04 74 85 20 48. Email : [email protected].
Dates à retenir :
2004
– =8F 3 Décembre, à Bruxelles : `
L’Arménie et l’Europe au XXIe siècle. ‘
Conférence sur les perspectives et le potentiel économique de
l’Arménie organisée en partenariat entre
l’UGAB et le Think-Tank Armenia 2020.
2005
Paris
Р=8F 31 Janvier : Cl̫ture des candidatures aux stages
d’été de l’UGAB à Paris.
– =8F Lundi 7 Février à 20h (salle Cortot) : Premier
concert ` Jeune Talent d’Arménie ‘, avec Suzi
Yeritisan au violon, accompagnée de sa pianiste.
Р=8F 14 Avril, Paris : Conf̩rence au M̩morial de la Shoah
à l’occasion du 90e anniversaire du génocide
arménien.
– =8F Mercredi 20 Avril à 20h (Salle Cortot) : Concert de
commémoration à l’occasion du 90e anniversaire du
génocide arménien, avec Gérard Gasparian au piano.
– =8F Vendredi 15 Mai à 20h (salle Cortot) : Deuxième
concert ` Jeune Talent d’Arménie ‘, avec
Saténik Khourdoyan au violon et Vartouhi Yeritzian au piano.
– =8F 20 Juin au 13 Août : stages d’été
à Paris.
MARSEILLE
– =8F 2 Juillet, à Marseille : Célébration du 95e
anniversaire de l’UGAB à Marseille en présence des
présidents de l’UGAB France et de l’UGAB
Internationale.
– =8F Les Colonies de l’UGAB
-ª 20 au 27 Février, à Ancelle : Séjour de ski
pour les jeunes.
-ª 4 au 25 Juillet, Ã Ancelle : Colonie de vacances de
l’UGAB pour les jeunes de 7 Ã 14 ans.
Contact : [email protected]
ou tél. 06 76 48 58 73
A l’étranger
– =8F 27-29 Janvier, à Barcelone : Conférence `Les
Diasporas d’Europe et la Citoyenneté Européenne
‘.
Une conférence sur l’avenir des diasporas d’Europe
dans le contexte de l’intégration européenne.
Р=8F 14 Janvier : Cl̫ture du d̩p̫t des candidatures
aux Stages d’Eté de New York.

Les Echos, France
30 novembre 2004
Garbis Devar ouvre une maison de couture avenue Montaigne
MARIE-ANNICK DEPAGNEUX
Spécialiste de la peausserie de grand luxe, le lyonnais Garbis
Devar,dont la société, qui compte 20 personnes, a réalisé 6 millions
d’euros de chiffre d’affaires l’an dernier, ouvrira fin novembre une
boutique avenue Montaigne à Paris. « Nous avons voulu nous rapprocher
des têtes couronnées, familles princières et vedettes du show-biz,
qui, pour la plupart, séjournent dans l’hôtel Plaza Athénée sur le
même trottoir. Ce lieu a été conçu comme une maison de couture dédiée
uniquement à la fabrication de vêtements sur mesure », raconte le
styliste, qui a créé son entreprise en 1985. Le magasin historique de
Lyon, rue Gaspard-André dans la presqu’île, sera réorienté dans le
prêt-à-porter haut de gamme. A Paris, l’espace de 210 mètres carrés
représente un investissement de 1,5 million d’euros. Les aménagements
ont été confiés exclusivement à des artisans lyonnais. « Cette
implantation va nous permettre de franchir une étape importante en
termes de notoriété internationale », se réjouit ce créateur
autodidacte de trente-neuf ans, Arménien né en Turquie, dont les
parents étaient déjà un peu du métier. Son père était en effet
bottier et sa mère couturière. « J’ai toujours aimé les belles
choses, et comme je ne pouvais pas me les payer, je les fabriquais »,
raconte l’homme, qui a commencé par vendre des croquis, le temps
d’avoir un peu d’argent pour créer ses premiers habits. Le chanteur
Bernard Lavilliers a été un des ses premiers clients.
Dans ses quatre ateliers, deux à Lyon, dont un consacré aux
prototypes et deux à Paris, les peaux et fourrures viennent du monde
entier mais les tannages sont effectués en France. La société Garbis
Devar ne travaille que les matières les plus nobles : agneau et cerf
pour les lignes classiques, alligator, crocodile, python, autruche et
raie pour les collections exotiques. Une de ses fiertés est un long
manteau en alligator vendu 300.000 euros à un roi. « La nature nous
fournit des merveilles. J’aime l’histoire, et c’est en voyant des
cotes de maille dans les livres que j’ai eu l’idée d’utiliser la peau
d’iguane », souligne le PDG, qui réalise aussi des pièces pour des
grands noms comme Smalto, dans le cadre d’une collaboration régulière
datant de 1996, Hermès et Vuitton. Ses vêtements sont également
vendus dans une dizaine de points de vente multimarques sur la Côte
d’Azur, à Monaco et à Genève.

Ethnic Kurds in Armenia mark party anniversary
Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
29 Nov 04
YEREVAN
A ceremony to mark the 27th anniversary of the Kurdistan Workers’
Party [former PKK, now People’s Congress of Kurdistan] was held at the
Youth Palace in Yerevan on 27 November. About 100 people took part in
the ceremony, including representatives of the so-called Kurdistan
committee, Kurds from different parts of Armenia, popular Kurdish
singer (?Jomard) who lives in Germany, etc.
A representative of the Caucasus branch of the PKK, (?Bagr Zagros),
made a speech in Kurdish. The chairman of the Kurdistan committee and
editor-in-chief of the Mezopotamia newspaper published in Yerevan,
(?Chakraye Mstoyan), said this ceremony was part of the struggle for
the release of the PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Mstoyan told a Noyan
Tapan correspondent that the problem of Kurdish people attracts
international attention and that the European Court of Human Rights is
expected to make a decision on Ocalan’s release.
Mstoyan is convinced that the demand of the 40m-strong Kurdish people
that Ocalan be released will sooner or later be satisfied.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan, Georgia in talks over blocking of railway traffic
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
29 Nov 04
[Presenter] The Azerbaijani ambassador to Georgia, Ramiz Hasanov, has
been invited to the Georgian Foreign Ministry over the detention of
over 900 railway wagons at the Boyuk Kasik station on the
Azerbaijani-Georgian border. While Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
Zhvania has said that the situation will not affect bilateral
relations, the Georgian Foreign Ministry has expressed its concern. In
the meantime, the release of the wagons is still in question.
[Correspondent over video of freight trains] The number of wagons
being kept on the Azerbaijani-Georgian border has already reached 975,
the deputy head of the freight processing department under the
Azerbaijani State Railway Department, Teymur Mammadov, has told
ATV. Of these, 450 wagons are loaded with diesel fuel, 396 with grain,
69 with flour, 50 with fuel oil and 12 with LPG [liquefied petroleum
gas].
The issue was discussed during meetings of the visiting representative
from the Georgian Railways Department, (?Ramaz Giorgadze), at the
State Customs Committee. Tomorrow, Azerbaijani customs officials will
leave for Georgia for negotiations, the Azerbaijani ambassador to
Georgia, Ramiz Hasanov, said.
The Azerbaijani diplomat was invited to the Georgian Foreign Ministry
today to discuss the current crisis. Answering journalists’ questions
after the meeting, the ambassador said that Baku insists on the
implementation of the agreement signed during Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Tbilisi. The agreement stipulates that it is
unacceptable to transport by railway cargo that does not meet
Azerbaijan’s and Georgia’s interests.
[Hasanov, over phone] Under that agreement, we have the right to stop
such cargo on suspicion. And this cargo has caused
suspicion. Therefore, we have detained it to conduct an inquiry. Of
course, cargo cannot go through our territory and through the
territory of Georgia to Armenia. We suspect that this cargo might be
bound for Armenia, so we have stopped it.
[Passage omitted: Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania says the
problem should not be blown out of proportion and that some of the
cargo has already crossed the border]

“EUROPE, TURKEY AND ARMENIAN CAUSE” DISCUSSIONS AT TOURSKY THEATRE IN
MARSEILLES
Azg/arm
27 Nov 04
More than 1000 Armenian and French citizens gathered at the hall of
Toursky Theater in Marseilles on November 24 “rehearsing” for a rally
against Turkey’s accession to EU scheduled on December 17 in Brussels.
The protest action was organized by Regional Committee for Defense
of the Armenian Cause that unites Liberal Democratic Party, Armenian
Revolutionary Party, CCAF and CRAAM.
Speakers of the day, Mr. Jijikan (Paris Kurdish Institute),
Mr. Davityan (lawyer), Mr. Alexy Gyovjian (LDP), expressed views
not only on Turkeys anti-Armenia lobby in Europe but also on Jacques
Chirac’s recent pro-Turkish statements that disagree with the will
of French people who resists Turkey’s accession as a country that
refuses to acknowledge Armenian Genocide.
Mr. Maui, eminent leader of President Chirac’s UMP party, Guy
Desien president of Defense Committee of the National Assembly, Rudy
Sales deputy chairman of the National Assembly, deputies Frederick
Dudua, Henry Jibreel, Kristof Mass, Karo Hovsepian, Sylvie Medrion,
Jean-Pierre Berberian made brilliant pro-Armenian speeches. They
all spoke against the Turkey which implements nationalistic policy,
violates human rights and neglects Armenian Genocide, and mentioned
that its accession will bring new flows of unemployed emigrants to
Western Europe.
Deputies representing the most influential parties of France
expressed readiness to take part at the rally launching December 17
in Brussels. A train will be waiting to transport thousand of people
to Brussels from Marseilles.
By Hamo Moskofian in Marseilles

Armenian president to hold “major” presser on Karabakh soon – agency
Mediamax news agency
26 Nov 04
Yerevan, 26 November: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said in
Yerevan today that “the positions of Armenia’s first and second
presidents on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict have not changed over
the past seven years and each of them sticks to his own opinion”.
Robert Kocharyan said this while commenting on former Armenian
President Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s statements for journalists. As far as
the former president’s communication with the press is concerned,
Kocharyan said he considers it “natural after so many years of
silence”.
The Armenian president also promised journalists that he would hold a
“major news conference” on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict before the
end of this year.
[Passage omitted: reported details of Ter-Petrosyan’s interview]

Desperately seeking investment
Another key business forum on horizon in Tbilisi
By M. Alkhazashvili
The Messenger, Georgia
Nov 25 2004
Central to the administration’s economic policy is the attraction
of foreign investments to the country. To attract investment, the
government is straining to improve the investment climate as quickly
as possible, as well as to push forward its privatization program.
The new, more liberal tax code, which will come into force from next
year is intended to create not only the conditions for local business
to develop, but also the right conditions for investment from abroad.
According to the official statistics, between 1996-2004 foreign
investments amounted in total to USD 1.7 billion, the equivalent of
USD 386 per citizen. This is far from impressive: in 2003 alone,
Sakartvelos Respublika reports, foreign investment in Azerbaijan
equaled USD 410 per resident. Investment in Georgia is even less when
the two pipelines (BTC and Baku-Supsa) are taken out of the equation.
In 2003, as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the Rose
Revolution, foreign investment in the country decreased further,
but since coming to power the Saakashvili administration has made
increasing investment a priority. Some economists predict that next
year Georgia foreign investments will amount to USD 150 million. If
these investments are profitable, this will have a knock-on effect,
increasing investment in Georgia in the future.
Minister of Economy Kakha Bendukidze’s privatization program should
contribute towards increased foreign investment, though so far his
and the government’s attempts to arouse interest in state assets to
be privatized have produced little.
Local businessmen and economists complain that the privatization
process is not transparent, citing as an example the direct sale of
aviation manufacturer Tbilaviansheni to its current management in
a deal worth USD 67 million, which representatives of the Economy
Ministry describe, according to Akhali Versia, as one of the most
important sales of the year.
Deputy Minister of Economy Natia Turnava says that Georgian Telecom,
Rustavi Azoti (chemicals) and Elmavalmashenebeli (locomotive
construction factory) will be sold in the near future, while
the ministry is also currently preparing to put Elektrokavshiri
(state-owned telecommunications) and Poti and Batumi ports up for sale.
An encouraging step is the series of business conferences where
senior government officials have promoted investment in the country.
Already meetings have been held with U.S., Russian, British, Israeli,
Armenian and Azerbaijani businesses.
On November 29-20, the government will continue the effort with
the Italy-Georgia Business Forum at the Courtyard Marriott. Prime
Minister Zurab Zhvania is on tap to give the keynote address and the
government’s economic team is participating in most panel discussions.

What is this minority issue?
Turkish Daily News
23 November 2004
The European Commission Progress report on Turkey and the minority
report prepared in the name of the Prime Ministry have started a
debate that will be very hard to end. The language of the minority
report, which was far from sensitive and even approached fantasizing,
resulted in a crisis.
Additionally, a report purported to be about minority rights,
including concepts like supra-national or sub-national identities,
with no legal definition, confused all.
The naivety of believing an imaginary concept of “citizen of Turkey”
being the answer to a problem that is fundamentally a political
sovereignty and independence issue, prevented the debates to progress
towards the right path.
We cannot understand the concept of minority while ignoring our
recent past. In the century between the 1821 Greek uprising and the
1922 Independence War, five million Muslims and Turks were killed
and a another five million were forced to migrate to Anatolia, the
Balkans and the Caucasus.
In this context, the purpose of the wars against the Ottomans went
beyond the strategic and political interests. The goal was to “cleanse”
Europe from Turks and Turkish rule. The Christian communities that
“rid themselves” of the Muslim and Turkish population this way, were
able to establish their nation states. No one in the “civilized world”
defended the right to return of these Turkish and Muslim migrants. No
one thought of calling those remaining behind to be among the founders
of the new states. Most did not even receive minority rights.
Armenians being forced to migrate during the World War I and the
exchange of population between Greeks and Turks after the Independence
War was just a part of this break-up process of the Ottomans.
The Turks and Muslims, whose very existence in Anatolia were in danger
due to the Serve Treaty, initiated the Independence War and established
their new state. The empire was beaten by the nation states of Europe
and new nation states arose out of the ashes of the Ottomans. That’s
why the only way for the new republic to protect its own independence
was to accept the model of a nation state.
Those who support minority rights now appear to suggest that the
majority Turks established the republic and tried to assimilate the
Kurds, Circasians, Albanians, Bosnians and even the Alewis with the
dominant Sunni/Turkish ethnic identity. Don’t they realize that the
new state was established to protect all these communities? Why do
they forget how much the leading members and the intellectuals of
the Kurdish, Circasian and other groups worked to build a common
supra-national Turkish identity and to overcome the universal
“scientific” obstacles of the time that were based on race. Don’t
they realize that once this identity was established, the people
stood united around its state and the nation?
Don’t those who try to suggest that the members of these ethnic groups
still describing themselves as Turks as an effort to be accepted as
part of the dominant group to further one’s interests, in truth show
their “racist” outlook on identity?
Turkishness definitely includes ethnicity. However, those who even have
a slender knowledge about recent history know that the republic uses
the word “Turk” beyond the bounds imposed by ethnicity. If an ethnic
group starts an uprising 1.5 years after the founding of the republic
with the open incitement of foreign powers, claiming the religion
was in danger of being lost, there will definitely be some who will
try to emphasize the ethnic nature of the concept of Turkishness.
Those who constantly claim that the republic is mistreating its
non-Muslim minorities should keep in mind how Europe destroyed the
only minority it failed to assimilate, the Jews, in the Holocaust,
and how Turkey was forced to react after seeing how Turks left behind,
including in Cyprus, were treated.
Some, with a feeling of desperation, argue that Turkey will be forced
to accept the minority rights by greater powers and also the European
Union. They seem to be using others to take their revenge. If they
think Turkey is not strong enough to do what France has done, they are
mistaken. The solution lies with the Turkish supra-national identity
and cultural rights. Let everyone resolve their own sub-national
identity crisis within themselves.
NOTE: This article appears in daily Radikal and, after being translated
by the Turkish Daily News staff, in the Turkish Daily News on the
same day.
[email protected]

REPORT ON AZERBAIJAN NOT DISCUSSED AT SESSION OF PACE COMMITTEE
[November 20, 2004, 12:46:53]
Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Nov 20 2004
As the correspondent of AzerTAj informs, the Legal Issues and Human
Rights Committee of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
has held regular sitting in Paris, on 19 November.
At the session, expected was discussion of the question connected
to Azerbaijan, member of delegation of parliament of Azerbaijan at
PACE Rafael Huseynov told AzerTAj correspondent. Because of absence
at session of the reporter, the deputy from England Malcolm Bruce,
to members of the Committee has been represented the message –
memorandum on the resolution (#1359) prepared by him. The given
document, within the framework of the report “Activity of democratic
institutes in Azerbaijan”, deals with the condition of the work done
in the Country in connection with problem of prisoners.
New and former variants of this document discussed at the autumn
session, have not undergone serious changes. M. Bruce has supplemented
the report with new data connected to events, occurred for last
period. In the report, the high estimation has been given to the
measures, which have been carried out in Azerbaijan in connection
with the solution of this problem, decrees of the President of the
country about the pardon, effective cooperation of Azerbaijan and the
Council of Europe in the cause of solution of the question separately.
During the sitting, dialogue between R. Huseynov and Secretariat
concerning the text of the report has taken place.
At the sitting of the Committee, the new document prepared by R.
Huseynov for the first time has been considered. Some members of
Committee have signed the document titled “On the responsibility of
the Armenian state connected to compensation of material and moral
damage, as a result of occupation of territories of Azerbaijan»,
and they have stated that approve substantive provisions of the text.
It is expected that at the forthcoming winter session the document
will be submitted in Secretariat of the Council of Europe, issued
and again discussed.
–Boundary_(ID_33AoDUpJTJUBMogph12DOw)–

New Zealand Herald, New Zealand
Nov 19 2004
Armenian president urges Turkey to open border
BERLIN – Armenian President Robert Kocharyan urged Turkey to abandon
its 11-year blockade of the southern Caucasus country, a German paper
reported on Thursday.
Turkey shut its border with the tiny ex-Soviet republic in 1993 to
show solidarity with oil-rich Azerbaijan, which is in a long and
bitter territorial dispute with Armenia.
“Turkey is blockading Armenia, one can only call that harassment,”
the Berlin-based daily Die Welt quoted Kocharyan as saying in an
interview to be published on Friday.
Relations between Armenia and Turkey have long been strained because
Armenia says some 1.5 million of their people were slaughtered by
Ottoman Turks between 1915 and 1923. Turkey denies accusations of
genocide.
Kocharyan told the paper Armenia would not insist Turkey admit to
genocide for talks on normalising relations to proceed.
“For us, the recognition of the genocide of Armenians in 1915 by
Turks is certainly very important, but it will never be a condition
for the development of bilateral relations,” Die Welt quoted him as
saying.
“If Ankara recognised this fact, it would be a significant step
forward in the direction of normalising relations,” he told the
paper.
Armenia does not recognise the 1921 Kars treaty which fixed its
border with Turkey and some Armenian nationalists refer to parts of
eastern Turkey as “western Armenia”.