Author: Khondkarian Raffi

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: 4 DEPUTES UMP DEMANDENT LE REEXAMEN DU PROJET DE LOI

Agence France Presse
28 juin 2006 mercredi 5:07 PM GMT

Nanterre

Quatre deputes UMP ont demande mercredi dans un communique que leur
groupe parlementaire inscrive la proposition de loi visant a reprimer
la negation du genocide armenien de 1915 dans une prochaine "niche"
parlementaire, pour qu’elle puisse etre a nouveau examinee par les
deputes.

Une "niche" parlementaire est une seance publique dont l’ordre du
jour est fixe par un groupe politique.

Dans leur communique, les deputes UMP Philippe Pemezec
(Hauts-de-Seine), Patrick Devedjian (Hauts-de-Seine), Nicolas
Dupont-Aignan (Essonne) et Roland Blum (Bouches-du-Rhône) se disent
"indignes" par les "agissements" ayant empeche le vote de cette
proposition de loi le 18 mai dernier.

Ils precisent qu’ils veulent par leur initiative " empecher que ne
soient organisees des manifestations provocatrices incitant a des
heurts sur le territoire national", en reference a une manifestation
a Lyon en mars au cours de laquelle avaient ete releves des slogans
negationnistes pro-turcs.

Le 18 mai, l’examen par l’Assemblee de cette proposition de loi
socialiste avait ete interrompu sans etre acheve et son vote reporte
sine die.

Les deputes UMP et le gouvernement avaient tout fait pour retarder
les debats, au point de rendre impossible le vote de la proposition
inscrite dans une "niche" limitee a 5 heures de debat.

La proposition de loi vise a completer par un volet penal la loi
du 29 janvier 2001 par laquelle la France reconnaît le genocide
armenien. Elle fait de la negation du genocide un delit punissable
d’un an d’emprisonnement et de 45.000 euros d’amende.

–Boundary_(ID_Sz9db5d1MlcSOjACS4quug)- –

SERGE SARGSYAN NEITHER DENIES NOR AFFIRMS

Lragir.am
29 June 06

The minister of defense of Armenia, answering the questions of news
reporters June 29, neither denied nor confirmed the information
about his membership to the Republican Party. Serge Sargsyan said he
would give an answer within the upcoming 7-10 days. "It’s a normal
and usual thing, and it isn’t worthwhile to give so much attention
to it," said Serge Sargsyan.

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TOP STORIES
06/28/2006
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1) Oskanian Reveals More Details of OSCE Plan
2) Erdogan Reacts to Claims of Danish Parliamentarian
3) Oskanian Meets with Georgian Officials
4) Mutafyan Disagrees With Catholicos on Genocide Recognition

1) Oskanian Reveals More Details of OSCE Plan

TBILISI (Armenpress, RFE/RL)Armenia’s foreign minister Vartan Oskanian
announced Wednesday during a press conference that OSCE Minsk Group US
co-chairman Matthew Bryza’s revelations last week of confidential
provisions of
a proposed Nagorno-Karabakh peace plan were incomplete and failed to present
other important principles outlined by the plan, reported the Armenpress news
agency. He stressed that the Armenian foreign ministry’s statements reflect
the
true nature of the OSCE proposed plan.
Security guarantees for the corridor connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh,
as well as the need for a temporary status for Karabakh were two key
principles
that according to Oskanian should have been included in the interview Bryza
gave to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
"One of the key components of peaceful resolution should be guaranteeing the
security of the corridor between Armenia and Karabakh. The second, until a
referendum to decide the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a temporary
status should be determined for the region," said Oskanian in response to
questions during a press conference with his Georgian counterpart Gela
Bezhuashvili.
The foreign minister added that for the first time, the co-chairmen of the
OSCE Minsk Group determined that the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
shall be determined through a referendum of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. He
added that the OSCE peace proposal is balanced and all encompassing, pledging
Armenia’s continuous willingness to negotiate with Azerbaijan within the
framework of the outline proposals.
"The Karabakh issue has its logical elements and we should allow for a
natural
progression of the process and not artificially accelerate it," said Oskanian
in response to questions regarding a possible meeting between Armenian and
Azeri leaders during the upcoming G8 Summit, reported Armenpress.
In a joint statement that was circulated by the U.S. embassy in Yerevan on
Wednesday, the Minsk Group’s American, French and Russian co-chairs said their
hitherto confidential peace plan envisages a self-determination referendum to
be held in Karabakh after the liberation of Armenian-occupied territories in
Azerbaijan, reported RFE/RL Wednesday.
The statement was presented to the OSCE’s decision-making Permanent
Council in
Vienna last Thursday and was not made public until being posted on the U.S.
embassy website almost a week later. Washington’s new top Karabakh negotiator,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, revealed details of the
proposed peace plan to RFE/RL shortly after the Permanent Council meeting.
"These principles include the phased redeployment of Armenian troops from
Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for
Kelbajar and Lachin districts [separating Karabakh from Armenia proper]," said
the co-chairs. "Demilitarization of those territories would follow. A
referendum or population vote would be agreed, at an unspecified future date,
to determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh."
"An international peacekeeping force would be deployed," added the statement.
"A joint commission would be agreed to implement the agreement. International
financial assistance would be made available for demining, reconstruction,
resettlement of internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied
territories and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. The sides would
renounce the use or threat of use of force, and international and bilateral
security guarantees and assurances would be put in place."
The mediators said the sides to the conflict would also have to work out
practical modalities of the Karabakh referendum. "Suitable preconditions for
such a vote would have to be achieved so that the vote would take place in a
non-coercive environment in which well-informed citizens have had ample
opportunity to consider their positions after a vigorous debate in the public
arena."
This peace formula seems largely acceptable to Armenia. Its Foreign Ministry
argued that the mediating powers have thereby recognized the Karabakh
Armenians’ right to self-determination. The ministry said in its statement
that
Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian have agreed to the proposed
referendum but remain divided on other, unspecified issues.
The Azerbaijani side initially responded positively to Bryza’s disclosure of
Minsk Group peace proposals. But in a statement on Tuesday, the Foreign
Ministry in Baku chided the U.S. official for "taking them out of the general
context of the proposed document." It also reiterated that Baku is only ready
to grant Karabakh "the highest status of autonomy" and will never recognize
its
secession from Azerbaijan.
The mediators, meanwhile, warned that failure by the two sides to cut a
framework peace deal before the end of this year would close a rare "window of
opportunity" to eliminate the principal source of instability in the South
Caucasus.
"We see no point right now in continuing intensive shuttle diplomacy we have
engaged in over the past several months," they said. "We also see no point in
initiating further presidential meetings until the sides demonstrate enough
political will to overcome their remaining differences."
Meanwhile in Baku, the Azeri Foreign Ministry of issued a statement
Tuesday in
response to what it termed continuing attempts by Armenia to distort the
essence of the ongoing Karabakh peace talks, reported Armenpress and RFE/RL.
The Azeri statement said that the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh could not be
determined until the territories currently occupied by Armenian forces are
liberated and the entire conflict zone demilitarized.
The statement also affirms Baku’s willingness to grant the NKR the highest
degree of autonomy within Azerbaijan stipulated by the current Azeri
constitution.

2) Erdogan Reacts to Claims of Danish Parliamentarian

STRASBOURG (Combined sources)"You shouldn’t confuse the concepts of insult and
freedom of criticism," said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after
claims of Danish radical left parliamentarian Rune Lund following the meeting
of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg.
Lund claimed that under the freedom of expression he must have the right to
say that "Turks committed genocide on Armenians, occupied Cyprus and outraged
Kurds."
Erdogan, in return, reacted strongly and said, "You should not fail to
distinguish between the concepts of insult and freedom of criticism. The
Danish
parliamentarian claims that there is a Armenian genocide, but his statements
must be based on scientific data."
Enumerating freedom of expression and thought among indispensable common
goals
of humanity, Erdogan said, "All freedoms have a limit under international laws
on human rights. You cannot have unlimited freedoms."
On the other hand, Rene van der Linden, the President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said that PACE extends full support
to the Alliance of Civilizations Initiative launched by Turkey and Spain.
In the session, Linden indicated that the aim of this initiative is to help
people understand each other’s cultures, and avoid fanaticism and extremism.

3) Oskanian Meets with Georgian Officials

TBILISI (Armenpress)Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian arrived in
Georgia June 27 on a two-day official visit. On the first day of his working
visit, Oskanian met with his counterpart Gela Bezhuashvili.
In their welcoming remarks, the two foreign ministers expressed their shared
belief that Armenian-Georgian relations, based on solid historic ties, will
continue to develop in the spirit of friendship and cooperation.
The two ministers discussed bilateral issues in detail. They noted that the
Armenian-Georgian bilateral agenda is a full one and their broad relationship
is reflected in frequent hihg-level meetings and visits.
Oskanian spoke about the economic and political importance of the
operation of
the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway and its contribution to the growth of trade in
the region, equally benefiting all countries.
The Georgian foreign minister affirmed that Georgia is aware of its bridging
role and responsibility in the region and will continue to work for more
favorable transit conditions for Armenia. He explained that Georgia, too, is
interested in ensuring diversified transport routes.
On the topic of Javakhk, Oskanian stressed that the Armenian government
stands
prepared to work with the Georgian government to resolve the socio-economic
problems facing the population.
They addressed issues of border delimitation and confirmed that there exists
the political will on both sides to resolve outstanding issues and reach a
mutually acceptable solution.
Oskanian briefed his colleague on the current state of the Nagorno Karabakh
negotiations. In turn, Minister Bezhuashvili spoke about the negotiations
surrounding Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Oskanian also met with Georgian parliament chairwoman Nino Burjanadze, who
expressed hope that Oskanian’s visit will boost bilateral ties between the two
countries.
Burjanadze said there exists a good legal framework that can support
cooperation between the two countries. She also emphasized Armenia’s clear-cut
position in regard to Georgian-Armenian relations.
"Armenia has stressed many times that it defends Georgia’s territorial
integrity, which is very important issue for us. Both Armenia and Georgia
stress that conflicts must be solved exclusively through peaceful means and
dialogue," Burjanadze said.
"We are happy that the people in Javakhk have proved smarter that some people
predicted and did not prevent the withdrawal of the Russian base from
Akhalkalaki, realizing what is good for Georgia is good for every citizen,
irrespective of their ethnic belonging," she commented.
She also spoke about the Karabakh conflict, emphasizing Georgia’s good
relations with Yerevan and Baku, saying Georgia wants the conflict to be
resolved peacefully.
During his visit, Oskanian also visited the Armenian embassy in Tbilisi and
will deliver a lecture at the Georgian Center for Strategic and International
Studies before returning to Armenia.

4) Mutafyan Disagrees With Catholicos on Genocide Recognition

ISTANBUL (Marmara)The Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Archbishop Mesrob
Mutafyan
told reporters Wednesday that he did not agree with statements made by His
Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians regarding the need for
the
Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Mutafyan proposed that the "1915
issue" be addressed by historians and sociologists in order for the sides to
"understand each other’s sensitivities."
During a pontifical visit to Istanbul, Catholicos Karekin II said the
Genocide
was not a debatable issue for Armenians and it is a fact that Turkey should
recognize. The Turkish press reacted adversely to this statement, with one
newspaperthe Hurriyetcharacterizing the Catholicos’ visit as a protest
demonstration.
Mutafyan said that the Catholicos’ statements were not unexpected and since
his pontifical visit was being covered by the Armenian media and would be seen
by the Diaspora communities, "the Catholicos spoke taking into consideration
Diasporan sensitivities."

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"MTS" PASSES THE QUALIFICATION ROUND OF THE TENDER DECLARED BY OTE

ArmRadio.am
22.06.2006 16:51

Russian cell operator "MTS" has overcome the first round of the tender
to purchase 90 percent of "ArmenTel" shares declared by OTE Company,
Press Secretary of MTS Kirill Alyavdin told MEDIAMAX Agency. At the
same time he noted that "they have not submitted the final application
so far."

Press Secretary of "Vimpelcom" Company Yulya Ostroukhova preferred
not to say whether the "BeeLine" Company has passed the qualification,
saying the information is confidential.

USE SENATE TO CONSIDER CANDIDACY FOR US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 22 2006

YEREVAN, June 21. /ARKA/. On June 28, 2006, the Foreign Relations
Committee, US Senate, is to consider the candidacy of Richard Hoagland
for the post of US Ambassador to Armenia.

Armenian National Committee Of America reports that the Armenian
community is closely following the hearings and possible scenarios
may clarify the US Department of State’s policy toward the issue of
the Armenian Genocide.

US-based Armenians believe that the reason for US Ambassador to
Armenia John Evan’s recall is the fact that during his speeches in
2004-2005 he qualified the Armenian pogroms in Ottoman Empire in 1915
as Genocide. In his further comments he pointed out that it was his
personal viewpoint, but not the USA’s official position.

Since October 16, 2003, Richard Hoagland has been US Ambassador to
Tajikistan.

"ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE" PAN-ARMENIAN FESTIVAL WILL START TOMORROW

ArmRadio.am
22.06.2006 17:19

A folk fair, where the items exhibited are presented, not sold. With
this joint performance of directors Hrachya Ashughyan and Lusine
Martirosyan the pan-Armenian "One Nation, One Culture" festival
will start tomorrow. The organizers say they are doing everything to
arrange a real cultural celebration.

In Hrachya Ashughyan’s words, everything was done not to resemble
the previous festival.

Art Director of the festival Armen Manukyan attaches importance to the
establishment of human and artistic ties between Armenia and Diaspora.

OSCE REGISTERS PROGRESS IN THE INFORMATION FIELD OF ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
21.06.2006 17:39

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti is in
Yerevan on a visit. Having spent several days in Armenia, he collected
first-hand information about the state of media in our country. He
noted that the OSCE has registered progress in the information field
of Armenian in the recent years.

However, the organization will issue the official report in mid-July.

Miklos Haraszti assures that the report will not be based only on
the information gained from the meetings. OSCE members periodically
observe the information field of Armenia, they read, listen and
watch Armenian news programs. " Armenia has registered considerable
progress in improving the legislation on mass media. We should note,
however, that the diversity of opinion of the mass media is somewhat
restricted," he said.

According to the OSCE Representative on the Freedom of Media, the
diversity of opinions is observed in the print media, the same cannot
be said about more powerful media like television. In his opinion it
is important that the State Television has been replaced by a Public
one. The OSCE has registered also that in the recent years the number
of violations against journalists has decreased.

BROCHURE – THE ANNIHILATATION OF JULFA BY AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES

Source
The Armenian National Committee of Cyprus
A Member of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and
Democracy

amp;pID=60&cID=5&s=2
19-06-2006

Abstracts from the Brochure

The centuries-old cultural monuments the Armenian people created
both in Nakhijevan and other territories of Historical Armenia are
of universal value.

At various periods, they were studied by different foreign scholars.

In recent years, Nakhijevan’s Azerbaijani authorities have been
perpetrating the premeditated annihilation of a wide variety of
Armenian monuments which are reminders of the Armenian presence in
the region.

In August 2005, European researcher Stephen Sim became witness to
the barbarities committed against the Armenian monuments in Nakhijevan.

The violence against the memory and history of the Armenian people
reached its climax with the total destruction of the historical
cemetery of Julfa (known as ‘Jugha’ in Armenian) located in Yernjak
District.

Julfa Cemetery used to extend over three hills on the left bank of
the river Arax.

Boasting a special place in the treasury of world heritage, this
extensive depository of spiritual and artistic monuments aroused the
admiration of both Armenian and foreign travellers and art historians
for many centuries.

French traveller Alexandre de Rhodes, who visited the cemetery in 1648,
saw 10,000 standing khachkars and ram-shaped tombstones there.

By 1904, however, their number had been reduced to 5,000.

In the brochure you can find many images of Jufra Cemetery (Past &
Present)

LOOKING FOR GUARANTEES
Aram Abrahamian

Aravot.am
16 June 06

EU and NATO aren’t Siamese twins; we can aspire to the EU but not
to the NATO. It’s another thing that the first organization doesn’t
need in either Armenia or any other former soviet country. But the
second is ready to involve us theoretically but agreeing with at this
moment will mean to find ourselves in strongest economic jeopardy of
Russia /depriving of gas, wheat, nuclear fuel etc./ and jeopardizing
Karabakh as well. If the RA President declares tomorrow that we have
a project for NATO membership, Russia will take revenge on us and
will encourage Azerbaijan’s attack on Karabakh in moral and military
cases. At this moment, it seems there is no guarantee that the West
will give us enough resources for counteracting those two economic
and military dangers.

I think, our aim must be the creation of those guarantees without
strict declarations in Sahakashvili style. Unfortunately our authority
goes just on the opposite way more deepening our dependence to
Russia. Selling the important branches of economy to Russia solves
our internal political problems and not our security, or rather the
problem of keeping the authority. For example selling the sphere of
communication to the Russian operator isn’t an obliged condition for
keeping the security of Armenia.

And our officials are constantly explaining the Western officials
in the outside sphere why we like Russians so much. The Na deputy
chairman Vahan Hovhannisian explained the NATO PA in Yerevan on
14 of June that the collective security agreement led by the RF
"has anti -terrorist character and provides for internal security
but anyway NATO membership means for Armenia to review relations
with that organization, for which Armenia isn’t ready today." The
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said to "Azatutiun" b/s after
progress sitting of the NATO Council in the same day in Brussels;
"It became clear during discussions that everybody positively marked
our complementary policy and steps which we realize in security
problems". It means the West treats with comprehension the fact of
being the "outpost" for Russia.

And it is the truth. Nobody makes us integrate to Europe. We, our
people need in it. But the guarantee for "getting rid of " Russia
is the NK conflict settlement and democracy. But our authorities
don’t need in it.

Kenya

Bling-bling boys from abroad

Jun 15th 2006 | NAIROBI
> > From The Economist print edition

An odd saga with Armenians has mocked the government Reuters

I’m only on safari

"THE last six days have been humiliating for this nation," opined
Kenya’s Standard newspaper this week. "Our sovereignty has been
violated. Our nationhood has been insulted. Our borders have been
encroached by hostile forces."

Earlier this year two men claiming to be Armenian brothers, confusingly
calling themselves Artur Margariyan and Arthur Sargsian, came to
the nation’s attention. They were alleged, said Kenya’s opposition
politicians at the time, to be mercenaries responsible for organising
raids by police commando units on television and newspaper offices. The
raids were supposedly an attempt to muzzle Kenya’s largely free
press by powerful figures in the embattled government appointed by
President Mwai Kibaki-and specifically to stop investigative reporting
on government corruption.

It was the Armenians’ style that caught the eye. They were not
mercenaries, they insisted, but worthy businessmen involved in
property, diamonds and a night club. Their bling-bling image-dark
glasses, gold chains and wads of cash-delighted Nairobi’s hip-hop crowd
and appalled others, particularly those whom the Armenians came up
against. The brothers’ claims to be relatives of Armenia’s president
sounded shaky. Some even doubted whether they were Armenian at all.

They certainly seemed to have protectors high up in Kenya’s
government. But it was only after the two men allegedly pulled
guns on customs officials at Nairobi’s main airport last week that
the extent of their ties was revealed. The police commissioner,
Hussein Ali, had them deported on June 9th and their Nairobi house
and buildings searched. Inside, according to police reports, were
a Mercedes with government licence plates, AK-47 machine guns with
presidential security unit serial numbers, Ceska automatic pistols,
Kenyan passports bearing the photos of the Armenians but with other
names, a document appointing one of the men a Kenyan police detective,
plus masks and jackets similar to those used in commando raids on
the media outlets. Among other items was a security pass granting
the Armenians access to secure areas of the airport; this, along
with the alleged way the men claimed a piece of luggage at gunpoint,
particularly upset diplomats, some of whom reckon that Nairobi and
its airport remain a target for jihadist terrorist plots.

Distancing himself from the Armenians, Mr Kibaki has suspended several
senior policemen and immigration and airport officials. An inquiry
may reveal who the Armenians really were, what they did and whether
they were in the pay of the government. It is unlikely to improve
the government’s reputation or help the forlorn, indecisive Mr Kibaki.