Author: Khondkarian Raffi

ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES BREACHED CEASE-FIRE
Azerbaijan News Service
April 20 2005
2005-04-20 18:08
On April 20 Armenian armed forces shelled from their positions
located in occupied Shikhlar village of Aghdam region at positions of
Azerbaijani army located in Orta Qishlaq village and the village from
10 p.m. The shooting lasted for 30 minutes. The enemy was responded
with adequate fire. Meanwhile, Armenian military forces opened
machine and submachine gun fire from their positions located to the
north of occupied Seysulan village of Terter region to positions of
Azerbaijani army in the same village from 1:50 a.m. for 10 minutes
and from their positions in Chayli village in Terter region to
positions of Azerbaijani military forces from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.
No casualties are reported.

European Weightlifting Championships Results
AP Worldstream
Apr 19, 2005
Results Tuesday from the European Weightlifting Championships at the
Universiada Hall:
Men
56 Kg
1. Sedat Artuc, Turkey, 275 kilograms (125 snatch; 150
clean-and-jerk).
2. Erol Bilgin, Turkey, 265 (120; 145).
3. Vitaly Derbeniev, Belarus, 260 (117.5; 142.5).
4. Arsen Tamrazyan, Armenia, 250 (110; 140).
5. Eric Bonnel, France, 247.5 (107.5; 140).
6. Igor Grabucia, Moldova, 245 (110; 135).
___
Women
48 Kg
1. Svetlana Ulyanova, Russia, 177.5 (77.5; 100).
2. Rebeca Sires, Spain, 175 (80; 95).
3. Donka Mincheva, Bulgaria, 165 (72.5; 92.5).
4. Genny Caterina Pagliaro, Italy, 162.5 (77.5; 85).
5. Marta Kleszczynska, Poland, 157.5 (70; 87.5).
6. Sibel Ozkan, Turkey, 157.5 (70; 87.5).
53 Kg
1. Anastassia Novikova, Belarus, 195 (85; 110).
2. Marioara Munteanu, Romania, 192.5 (87.5; 105).
3. Nataliya Trotsenko, Ukraine, 187.5 (82.5; 105).
4. Estefania Juan Tello, Spain, 185 (85; 100).
5. Shade Okotie-Eboh, Britain, 180 (80; 100).
6. Virgine Lachaume, France, 177.5 (77.5; 100).
7. Heidi Neubacher, Austria, 165 (72.5; 92.5).
8. Bediha Tunadagi, Turkey, 165 (75; 90).

Azeri opposition leader optimistic about results of US visit
Yeni Musavat, Baku
17 Apr 05

Excerpt from an F. Mammadov report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni
Musavat on 17 April headlined “Isa Qambar finished his visit to the
USA” and subheaded “The visit was very successful”
The Musavat party leader, Isa Qambar, who had been visiting the USA
since 11 April holding numerous meetings at well-known research and
political centres, completed his visit yesterday. We phoned Isa bay
[mode of address] yesterday to get his comments on the results of his
meetings.
[Correspondent] Isa bay, what could you tell us about the meeting you
had at the State Department? What did you discuss at that meeting?
[Qambar] We had quite an interesting meeting with Under Secretary of
State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and other senior officials
and discussed complex issues. We broadly discussed the situation in
Azerbaijan, the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, the upcoming elections,
etc.
[Correspondent] What do you think about the results of your meetings?
[Qambar] I have already spoken about main goals of my visit. One of
the goals was to introduce the new coalition of Azerbaijan’s
democratic forces to America’s political circles and public. I can say
that this goal was achieved.
As you know, the leader of the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Rasul
Quliyev, was also in Washington during my visit. He attended most of
the meetings, including the meeting at the State Department, which was
an impressive achievement. US political circles attached great
importance to the establishment of the coalition of three high-profile
opposition parties. I think this will also have an impact in the
future.
[Correspondent] What do the political circles of the USA think about
Azerbaijan’s parliamentary elections to be held in November?
[Qambar] They attach great importance to these elections. Their
current approach to [the situation in Azerbaijan] is absolutely
different from their previous attitude.
[Correspondent] Did you also discuss the processes and the wave of
revolutions in the post-Soviet countries?
[Qambar] We discussed these issues at our meetings. At most of our
meetings, they asked us if Azerbaijan was going to be the next country
to have a revolution. We also expressed our views about the processes
going on in the post-Soviet countries.
[Passage omitted: Qambar will also pay a two-day visit to London]

Armenian opposition party elects new chairman
Noyan Tapan news agency
16 Apr 05
YEREVAN
Aram Sarkisyan, former prime minister of Armenia and brother of
Armenian ex-Prime Minister Vazgen Sarkisyan, who was killed in the 27
October 1999 terrorist act, was elected chairman of the political
council of the Republic Party during its 4th congress on 15 April.
[Passage omitted: details]
Speaking to his companions, Sarkisyan said that being chairman of the
Republic Party is a greater honour for him than being Armenian
president. He thanked Albert Bazeyan [member of the party], noting
that he is a friend and companion of his brother.
Hinting that his party is initiating a national movement, Sarkisyan
said that “the revolution will be a surprise”. He also said that he
knows more but cannot say anything.
[Passage omitted: About changes in the regulations of the party]

The Gloucester Citizen, UK
April 15, 2005
Armenian tale of new -found love
The tale of an elderly widow who finds love and friendship in a
graveyard is coming to the Forest’s Third Screen on Monday. Vodka
Lemon (PG), will be shown at the Studio Cinema at Coleford thanks to
funding from Forest of Dean District Council, Gloucestershire County
Arts, Libraries and Museums and South West Screen.
Set in the harsh winter of post Soviet Armenia, this is the touching
tale of an elderly widower who finds love and friendship with a widow
he meets at the local graveyard.
An inspiring tale, with plenty of dry humour, Vodka Lemon won the San
Marco Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The unusual love story is in a programme of films to be shown at the
Third Screen, which takes place at the cinema every first and third
Monday in the month.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Press
April 15 2005
Erdogan’s Letter To Armenian President Kocharian

ANKARA – Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to
Armenian President Robert Kocharian officially proposing the
formation of a joint commission to undertake researches about the
developments and incidents that took place in 1915.
A Foreign Ministry statement noted on Thursday that Prime Minister
Erdogan said in his letter that the Turkish and Armenian peoples who
shared a common history and geography in a critical region of the
world lived together for long years, but there were differences
between them in their interpretations and evaluations of a part of
their common history.
Erdogan said in his letter that those differences which left painful
memories to both peoples didn’t facilitate the improvement of the
relations, noting that main opposition party leader Deniz Baykal also
shared that view.
Prime Minister Erdogan proposed in his letter (as the common proposal
of the Turkish ruling and opposition parties) the formation of a
group to be composed of both Turkish and Armenian historians and
experts who would investigate the developments and incidents of 1915
by using not only Turkish and Armenian archives, but also all
archives found in third countries and to announce their findings to
the international public opinion.
Foreign Ministry said that Erdogan stressed in his letter that such
an attempt would both enlighten the history and serve normalisation
of the relations between Turkey and Armenia, expressing his hope that
Armenia would accept it. ”If Armenia accepts Turkey’s proposal,
Turkey is ready to discuss the details of the proposal,” Erdogan
added in his letter.

Turkish Press
April 14 2005
Yakis: Turkish – German Relations Will Be Negatively Affected If
Armenian Bill Passes From German Parliament

BERLIN – ”Turkish-German relations will be negatively affected if
the bill prepared by German Union Parties’ (CDU/CSU) parliamentary
group defending Armenian claims of genocide passes from the German
Parliament,” Yasar Yakis, chairman of the Turkish parliamentary
commission for EU adjustment, said on Thursday.
Yakis, speaking at a press conference staged to give information
about his meetings with the German officials, said they conveyed the
uneasiness felt over the bill.
Yakis stated that CDU politicians told him that the bill was prepared
to contribute to Turkish-Armenian relations. ”We have told them that
Turkish-Armenian relations in fact would be damaged from the bill,”
Yakis noted.
Yakis said the bill was used as a tool for domestic policy by some
parties, and reiterated that the bill was full of mistakes.
Yakis and the other group members later left for Istanbul.

El Pais, Montevideo – Uruguay
Miércoles 13 de abril de 2005
EDITORIAL
Se cumplen 90 años

DENTRO de unos días se cumplirán nueve décadas del genocidio de los
armenios, una masacre planeada, ordenada y cometida por las fuerzas
del Imperio Otomano, que comenzó el 24 de abril de 1915 mientras en
Europa se libraba el segundo año de operaciones de la primera guerra
mundial. Ese conflicto bélico de gran alcance – en el que los otomanos
figuraban como aliados de los imperios centrales, Alemania y Austria –
puede haber funcionado como deliberada cortina de humo aprovechada
por los turcos para que la masacre de armenios pasara inadvertida,
pero de todas maneras luego del horrible episodio, que se prolongó
largamente a través de la ruta de huida de los armenios desde las
montañas de Anatolia hacia el Mediterráneo, las autoridades otomanas
sólo reconocerían unos pocos miles de muertos, cuando la contabilidad
más creíble sobre esa carnicería hace subir el total de víctimas a
1:500.000 personas.
SEGUN se ha dicho, el genocidio armenio fue “el primer plan de
exterminio sistemático de un grupo humano en el siglo XX” dato que
podría retocarse si se incluye en esa categoría la matanza colosal de
los pobladores del Congo por parte del rey Leopoldo II de Bélgica,
que cubrió desde fines del siglo XIX hasta 1905, por lo menos, y
liquidó a millones de personas bajo el empuje de un insaciable
espíritu de lucro y tomó finalmente una notoriedad internacional que
obligó al monarca belga a detener el método y pasar el Congo – que
hasta entonces era una suerte de feudo personal – a la administración
colonial de su país. Desoladoramente, el caso del Congo y luego el
espanto de la masacre de los armenios no cerrarían el capítulo
genocida en la historia reciente, porque serían continuados por la
mortandad provocada en la Unión Soviética con la colectivización
forzada del agro y el desplazamiento masivo de comunidades bajo
Stalin, luego de lo cual vendría el holocausto de millones de judíos
europeos durante el gobierno nazi, así como la muerte de decenas de
millones de chinos bajo el Gran Salto Adelante (y después la
Revolución Cultural) ordenados por Mao.
No todo terminó allí, en materia de genocidio, ya que después vendría
el exterminio de camboyanos en la década del 70 bajo el régimen de
los Khmer Rouges (que ultimó a la mitad de la población de ese país
indochino) y finalmente la masacre de la comunidad tutsi por orden de
sus rivales hutu en Ruanda durante los años 90, donde murieron
800.000 personas en unos pocos meses. Tanto espanto no debe
condicionar la memoria, empero, de manera que al cumplirse noventa
años de la persecución de los armenios el hecho debe recuperar todo
el horror que le corresponde, como si hubiera ocurrido ayer. En la
perspectiva del cruento siglo que pasó, es uno de los picos de muerte
que ningún inventario de las crueldades humanas debe saltear.
UNA de las lecciones duraderas que pueden dejar al hombre de hoy esos
episodios de ayer, es el de un convencimiento colectivo: el de que no
deben repetirse jamás.
Mientras sigue en ejercicio la Corte Penal Internacional instalada en
La Haya desde julio de 2002, y funcionan asimismo dos tribunales
penales especiales para la guerra de la ex Yugoslavia y la mencionada
matanza de Ruanda, puede razonarse que esas instancias judiciales
marcan una ventaja con respecto al mundo del pasado reciente: hoy ya
no es posible que alguien cometa crímenes de guerra o crímenes contra
la humanidad y pretenda quedar impune, porque esas cortes penales
sabrán echarle el guante, como ocurrió con Milosevic, sin ir más
lejos. Es notoria la zozobra con que se mueve hoy Henry Kissinger
luego de ser requerido por la Justicia francesa para hacer frente a
alguna de las múltiples acusaciones que pesan sobre él por las cosas
que permitió hacer a otros (en Chile, en Timor o en Vietnam, por
ejemplo) mientras se desempeñaba como secretario de Estado.
YA no será posible que esas cortes juzguen a los culpables de otros
hechos más remotos: la muerte natural o el suicidio los ha salvado de
enfrentar a un tribunal. El genocidio de los armenios ha quedado muy
atrás, pero lo que sigue vivo es el recuerdo del horror, junto a la
necesidad de no perder el recuerdo de ciertas manchas que han
oscurecido la historia contemporánea.
Reivindicación
En tiempos de reivindicaciones históricas, es importante recordar un
hecho que marcó el futuro de este país. El 11 de abril de 1831 el
gobierno de la flamante república del Plata decidió utilizar a su
ejército para hallar una solución definitiva y terminante al tema
“charrúa”. No fue una batalla frontal ni un enfrentamiento honorable
entre guerreros y soldados, sino una emboscada, una masacre o matanza
– como se desee llamar – , pergeñada recurriendo al engaño y a un cierto
nivel de confianza que aún existía entre líderes de ambos bandos, que
habían peleado juntos contra los invasores extranjeros de este
territorio.
La masacre de Salsipuedes significó un punto de inflexión en nuestra
historia, porque terminó con lo que quedaba de una unidad cultural y
étnica de los pobladores originales de estas tierras.
Nuestros aborígenes nómades, que vivían en la edad de piedra y que
nunca aceptaron asimilarse a esa nueva sociedad, poseían un estilo de
vida antagónico con el de la sociedad criolla. Como nunca se les
reconoció derecho alguno sobre su suelo, el paso del tiempo no hizo
más que agravar el conflicto de intereses existente entre ellos. Han
transcurrido 174 años desde aquel luctuoso día.
Lo que sigue pendiente en el seno de la sociedad uruguaya es la
reivindicación de ese colectivo, especialmente en lo que tiene que
ver con su consideración y presencia en la historia oficial de este
país.

Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Deutschland
13 April 2005
Turkey wants Armenian Genocide be examined by a commission of historians
Türkei will Massaker an Armeniern untersuchen lassen
Gemeinsame Historiker-Kommission
Die Türkei hat dem verfeindeten Nachbarn Armenien die Einrichtung
einer gemeinsamen Historikerkommission vorgeschlagen. Sie soll den
Vorwurf des türkischen Völkermords an den Armeniern untersuchen. Dies
forderte das Parlament am Mittwochabend in einer Entschliessung.

Aussenminister Gül vor dem Parlament
(Bild ap)
(sda/afp) Der türkische Ministerpräsident Erdogan habe in einem
Brief dem armenischen Präsidenten Robert Kotscharian die Bildung
einer Historiker-Kommission vorgeschlagen, sagte Aussenminister
Abdullah Gül vor dem Parlament in Ankara. Die Regierung sei zu
Gesprächen mit Armenien über die Zusammensetzung und Arbeit dieser
Kommission bereit. Dies könne ein Schritt zur Normalisierung der
Beziehungen sein, sagte Gül weiter.
Aussöhnung als Ziel
Die Kommission soll «unbegrenzt» in den nationalen Archiven
recherchieren und ihr Ergebnis der internationalen Öffentlichkeit
bekannt geben. Hierfür sei die Kooperationsbereitschaft der
armenischen Regierung «Bedingung». Alle Länder, die eine Aussöhnung
zwischen Armenien und der Türkei wünschten, sollten diesen Vorschlag
unterstützen.
Völkermord wird bisher bestritten
Die Beziehungen zwischen der Türkei und Armenien werden vor allem vom
Streit über die Massaker von 1915 belastet. Armenien spricht von
einem gezielten Völkermord der damaligen osmanischen Behörden, dem im
Osten der heutigen Türkei mehr als eine Million Menschen zum Opfer
fielen. Die Türkei räumt zwar ein, dass bei Zwangsumsiedlungen und
Massakern mehrere hunderttausend Menschen starben, weist den Vorwurf
des Völkermords aber zurück. Die beiden Nachbarländer unterhalten
keine diplomatischen Beziehungen.

A1plus
| 14:58:24 | 13-04-2005 | Politics |
GOD HELP US
`If the Armenian authorities ask me, I can do something to free the Armenian
pilots arrested in Guinea’, Ara Abrahamyan, head of the Union if Armenians
of Russia had announced recently.
Today answering a question from a journalist how Vardan Oskanyan refers to
the fact that Ara Abrahamyan will free the pilots till June the latter
answered, `God help him’.
But when he noticed that his words caused laughter in the hall, he said that
he is completely serious and will be very thankful to Ara Abrahamyan if he
manages to do what he has said.