Author: Madatian Greg

Pan Armenian News

SERGE SARGSIAN MET NEWLY APPOINTED RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

25.05.2005 08:30

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Secretary of the Security Council under the RA
President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian met with newly appointed Russian
Ambassador to Armenia Nikolay Pavlov, Defense Ministry’s press service
reported. During the meeting Serge Sargsian noted that the Armenian-Russian
relations are on a high level and pointed out to their great potential. The
Defense Minister expressed hope that during Nikolay Pavlov’s period of
office these relations will develop and strengthen. In his turn the Russian
diplomat assured he will do his best to contribute to the lasting
development of multilateral cooperation between the two states. The
interlocutors also discussed the problems and prospects of the
Armenian-Russian military relations and exchanged opinions on the latest
international and regional events.

Radikal
25 May 2005
page 7

`Armenian Conference Cancelled’

The Bosphorus University Presidency [office of the rector] deferred the
`Alternate Armenian Conference’ because of the strong reaction of the
deputies and the Minister of Justice Cicek. The rectorate stated that
`prejudiced reactions harm freedom.’

ANKARA/ISTANBUL. The conference entitled `Ottoman Armenians during the
Era of Imperial Decline: Academic Responsibility and Issues of
Democracy’ that had been planned to take place at Bosphorus University
during 25-27 May has been deferred due to the strong reactions of the
government and the parties in opposition and in rule. Following
Minister of Justice Cemil Cicek’s evaluation of the conference as
`treason against Turkey,’ the Bosphorus University Presidency announced
the deferral of the conference last night. Associate Professor Halil
Berktay who is on the organizing committee said `it is understood that
the conference has been cancelled because of the horrible talk the
Minister of Justice made at the parliament.’

The conference which had aimed to bring together alternative thoughts to
the official Armenian policy created a vast debate even before it
occurred. As the differing points of view regarding the Turkish and
Armenian theses transformed among academics into critiques of `following
the line of the Diaspora’ and `defending the official thesis,’ the topic
also made it to the agenda of the General Assembly of the Turkish
National Assembly. Sukru Elekdag of the Republican People’s Party
(CHP), at the talk he gave outside of the set agenda, reminded everyone
that the official theses would be interrogated at the conference and
said `at the conference, actually the propaganda of the Armenian thesis
would be conducted under the pretense of practicing science. What is
sad is that Bosphorus University has been used by this treacherous
project.’

Ramazan Toprak of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) too claimed
that the conference was an operation, that the conference agenda was set
in accordance with the content the Armenians wanted, and that Bosphorus
University remained a spectator (to all this). Toprak registered the
following: `If there had been a conference organized in Armenia
defending the Turkish theses, it (the participants) would end up in
jail. The Higher Council of Education (YOK) [this is the council which
oversees the affairs of the universities that are legally independent of
the Ministry of Education- MG] does not even budge (i.e., take action).
If a conclusion is reached [at the conference] that condemns the
official thesis, I call all the organizations of the judiciary and the
political organizations, the entire Turkish populace to [perform their]
duty. I want this conference which reflects the mentality of those who
defended mandatory rule [in 1919 when the Ottoman Empire was under
occupation by the Allied Forces, MG] to be closely scrutinized. The
Turkish nation will never forgive those who hurl lies at its own
history.’

The reaction of Minister of Justice who spoke on behalf of the
government reacted very strongly as well. Cicek noted that the deputies
gave voice to the `feelings of the people’ and stated the following:
`There is no other nation whose conscience and hands are as clean and
whose head is as pure as the Turkish nation. While the government, the
opposition, the state and the nation work together to get rid of the
claims of the alleged Armenian genocide, what does it mean to put a
dagger into these attempts from behind? Given this state of affairs,
how could you convince the parliamentarians of various countries? They
will say to us, `you better first go and convince Bosphorus University
that says these things while gazing onto the Bosphorus.’ With this
movement, they have thrust a dagger into our backs. Universities are
independent but independence does not mean being irresponsible. This is
[a case of] great irresponsibility and lack of seriousness. Some of our
organizations, associations say `there is no freedom.’ There is freedom
in Turkey to slander the Turkish nation, to thrust a dagger into its
back. I wish that I, as the Minister of Justice, had not turned over my
authority to prosecute. I am now very curious about what Bosphorus
University and the Council of Higher Education (YOK) are going to do.
We have to bring this era of irresponsibility, lack of seriousness, of
conducting propaganda against this nation while carrying its identity
cards to an end.’

Following these words of Cicek, Bosphorus University sent out a notice
that the conference it was going to host was deferred. The declaration
of the university contained the following expressions: `We are worried
that the academic freedom of a state university is harmed by the passing
of judgments in advance regarding the contents of a conference that has
not yet taken place. We want to notify the Turkish public opinion that
under these conditions and in consideration of the consequences that may
occur by the actualization of the conference, we found it more
appropriate to defer the meeting.’

Associate Professor Halil Berktay of Sabanci University who is a member
of the conference organizing committee expressed his reaction to the
decision to defer as follows: `According to the information conveyed to
me by the Bosphorus University presidency, the conference has been
deferred. I do not know the reasons [given] for deferral since I have
not seen the explanatory text of the [university] presidency. Yet it is
understood that the conference is cancelled at the face of the horrible
talk the Minister of Justice made at the Parliament. I do not want to
say anything in relation to this talk; I will make a declaration
tomorrow (today).’

In relation to the deferral decision, Yusuf Halacoglu, the president of
the Turkish Historical Society (TTK), made the following evaluation to
Radikal: `It would have been beneficial if there had been more
participants to this conference. If they gather together as [those
belonging to the] one side [of the issue], this means that the diaspora
is coming together in Istanbul. Don’t they get together in a one-sided
manner as well? If they want to present something that is
scientifically correct, then it [the conference] ought to have multiple
participants. Then things could have been discussed from both sides,
documents could have been presented, and a more productive result would
have been reached. My personal opinion is that the government would not
have said anything against the conference if there was multiplicity of
participation.’

Translated from Turkish

A1plus

| 18:47:48 | 24-05-2005 | Official |

EUROPEAN BUDGET PROVIDES FOR ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA

Today Armenian NA Speaker Arthur Baghadasaryan met in Brussels with European
Commission Director General for Enlargement Eneko Landaburu. Mr. Landaburu
noted that presently the Eurocommission is working out a program of new EU
neighborhood referring first of all to the South Caucasus and the Balkan
states.

It was noted that for the integration into the European family the states
should settle regional conflicts and work out programs covering the fields
of education, energy, transport, democratic and legislative changes. Armenia
is aspired for active cooperation and is ready to establish normal relations
with all the neighbors including Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Mr. Landaburu expressed readiness to contribute to the reforms carried out
in Armenia in the home and foreign policy.

He also noted that the budget for 2006-2013 is being worked out and programs
referring to Armenia will also be included in it.

The London News Review, UK
May 24 2005

European constitution: why I am too stupid to vote ‘yes’
May 25, 2005

The most peculiar thing about this whole European constitution in-out
referendum yes-no-maybe business is how supremely ignorant most
people are as to what any of it actually means. And I speak as one of
the ignorant. I’m shamefully unaware of what the constitution
contains, implies, commits us to – but I suspect the blame can’t all
be laid at my door.

Because while I may be a thicko when it comes to the European
constitution, in the general scheme of things I’m a) relatively
un-thick; and b) reasonably up to speed with what’s in the news. For
the last 4 weeks or so a large part of my job has been to read the
newspapers, I fairly often watch the news on TV, I sometimes catch
Newsnight and Question Time – and yet I still don’t really know what
the hell the European constitution actually IS.

And I may be flattering my stupid (and lazy) self, but if I don’t
really know what it’s all about, there must be a wopping great wedge
of Britain that knows as little or less than I do. And we’re talking
about a referendum here. A referendum which is meant to gauge my
opinion. But my opinion on what?

And I don’t think I’m learning a whole lot from the debate itself.
Just witness the way the matter is thrashed out on TV: with
pro-consitution and anti-constitution lobby groups trying to convince
the public that their interpretation of the constitution is the
correct one. `No, the constitution means this’ – `on the contrary, it
means the opposite’ – so am I meant to make up my mind based upon
someone else’s interpretation of something I don’t understand myself?

It’s not like the fox-hunting debate. At least with that you knew
roughly what the deal is: you either think it’s an okay thing for
grown men and women to chase animals to their death in the name of
entertainment and ‘tradition’, or you don’t.Obviously I’m being a bit
flippant there… but my point is this: you can listen to the
arguments of pro-hunt and anti-hunt activists, and at least know what
it is, at some fundamental level, that they’re banging on about.

Not so with the constitution. If someone said to me: `all European
countries have to have the same flag’ at least I’d know what I was
meant to have an opinion about. As it is, I feel like I’m meant to
have an opinion about a bunch of other people’s opinions.

And I don’t want to be told what to think. I want to be told what to
think about.

It all smacks of a rushed job. I feel like I’m being hustled. It’s a
bit too much like the New Labour anti-terror laws, which skidded
through parliament on a slick of ignorance. A bit like the
anti-hunting laws, come to think of it…

What’s needed is a discussion of specifics. Actual graspable issues.
An example that springs to mind is the issue of Turkey joining
Europe. In France, the small matter of the Armenian genocide has been
brought up within the referendum debate:

The Armenian community in France, some 400,000-strong, has been
expected to lean towards a ‘no’ vote as a means to stop Turkey’s
accession. Community leaders have insisted that France urge Turkey to
acknowledge the 1915 genocide which left an estimated 1 – 1.5 million
Armenians dead, as part of the accession talks.
Obviously that’s a massively emotive issue, but at least it is
understandable. The Armenians are still pissed off at the Turks for
slaughtering them in their hundreds of thousands. Okay – so let’s
talk about it, see if we can’t find a solution. Find one. And move
on.

This is the level at which the consitution debate has to be
conducted: at the level of the particular. We need to address
particular fears, particular hopes, particular wants, and particular
problems. Only then can there be any kind of intelligent and
transparent progress.

In the meantime, vote NO. Unless you happen to know what the hell
this is all about, and think the consitution is a good thing, in
which case vote YES. And if that’s the case, perhaps you could
explain it to me. Because I’m stumped.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS VISITS THE INTER-FAITH AND CULTURAL COMMUNICATION CENTER
OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

His Holiness Aram I together with Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian,
primate of the Diocese of Tehran and Armenian parliamentarians in
Iran, visited the Inter-faith dialogue and Cultural Communication
Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran on May 17.

A high level reception was organized by Ayatollah Mohammed Iraki, the head
of the center. Senior officials of the center, specialists of
Christian-Muslim dialogue and university professors attended the reception.
The founder of the center and its former president, Ayatollah Taskhiri also
attended the reception to welcome his personal friend, Aram I.

In welcoming His Holiness Aram I in the center Ayatollah Iraki highlighted
the important contribution of the Catholicos to the field of inter-faith
dialogue.

His Holiness Aram I underlined the importance of the coexistence of
religions, mutual recognition, tolerance and cooperation. He said that
religions must promote common moral values, combat violence in all its forms
and expressions, and must be involved in peace-building efforts.

The meeting, which lasted almost two hours, turned into a session on
Christian-Muslim dialogue, with a variety of issues related to the two
religions’ social, moral and theological principles being discussed. The two
Muslim leaders praised the positive role His Holiness plays on the
international arena for the development of Christian-Muslim dialogue.

The first of the above mentioned conferences organized jointly by the
Catholicosate of Cilicia and the Islamic Republic of Iran was held in
Tehran, the second took place in Antelias and the third will be held in
Tehran again in the future.

##

Picture here:

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

LEGAL STATE SHOULD BE FORMED

A1plus
| 13:13:59 | 21-05-2005 | Politics |

The formation of a Chamber of Lawyers is a very positive step
especially for the formation of advocacy. It may seem that the
existence of two unions can cause competition, which would secure a
new level. However when the strengths are consolidated and a united
staff working the activity of lawyers becomes more efficient and
useful for each member of the chamber.

United Chamber is a unity of great power. Its purpose is to form a
legal state. Armenia will become a legal state even of “bad” laws
function. In this case the authority of the Chamber of Lawyers will
grow. The authority of a lawyer will grow only in case the judges
become independent. The implementation of laws will be distorted if
the juridical system is not independent. In this case a lawyer will
not make progress despite his knowledge or capabilities. That is
to say, the formation of the advocacy corps first of all means the
independence of courts and skills of the lawyers.

I think that the united Chamber of Lawyers will really become a united
force with the objective to defend the interests of people.

Robert Grigoryan

Member of the Council of Chamber of Lawyers

Elchin Ismaylov captures gold at European Championships

AP Worldstream
May 20, 2005

Elchin Ismaylov of Azerbaijan beat Miklos Ungvari of Hungary to
win the gold medal Friday in the men’s 66-kilogram category at the
European Judo Championships.

Ismaylov, last year’s runner-up, beat the Hungarian with an ippon
with 2 minutes, 55 seconds remaining.

France’s Benjamin Darbelet and Aliaksandr Shlyk of Belarus both
survived in the repechage for the bronze medal.

Also, Armen Nazaryan of Armenia routed defending champion Ludwig
Paischer of Austria to take the 60kg gold with an ippon with 3:08 left.

In the women’s competition, Alina Alexandra Dumitru of Romania won
her second consecutive European gold medal under 48kg. Ilse Heijlen
of Belgium won the gold at 52kg and Olga Sonina of Russia took the
title at 57kg.

MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIA
AND RUSSIA POSSESSES SIGNIFICANT UNUSED POTENTIAL

YEREVAN, May 20. /ARKA/. Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan received
today the RF Minister of Regional Development Vladimir Yakovlev.
According to the Public Relations and Press Department of RA
Government, Margaryan and Yakovlev spoke about the perspectives of
mutual cooperation between Armenia and Russia and emphasized the
issues of further development of trade-economic and inter-regional
contacts in areas of certain achievements in the last two years. In
particular, according to the Armenian Premier, the economic and
trade cooperation had considerably increased with Perm and Sevrdlovsk
entailed by the visits of the Governors of these regions to Armenia in
the beginning of this year. Contacts are also actively developing with
Moscow. However, according to the participants of the meeting, there
still exists a significant unused potential for mutually beneficial
trade and economic cooperation between the countries, including
intensification of contacts between the business circles between
certain administrative subjects of RF and Armenian regions, growth
of mutual investments, establishment of joint enterprises. The sides
also mentioned establishment of transport communication for further
development of bilateral cooperation. The participants also touched
upon the issues of tourism, education, science, culture in the context
of cooperation and noted that a considerable role may have the Armenian
community of Russia. The Minister of Regional development of Russia is
in Armenia to participate in XXI session of Intergovernmental Council
on Cooperation and Construction Activities of CIS countries. L.V.–0-

Azeri, Armenian leaders give the go-ahead to Prague format for Karabakh talks

ANS TV, Baku
16 May 05

Following a meeting in Warsaw between the presidents of Azerbaijan
and Armenia, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that
although their talks “did not make a significant breakthrough” they
had agreed for the respective foreign ministers to continue the talks
in the presence of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. In a news conference
after the talks Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev noted that his
meeting with the Armenian president “lasted about three hours”. The
following is the text of the report by Azerbaijani TV station ANS on
16 May. The subheadings have been inserted editorially:

[Presenter] The presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and
Robert Kocharyan, discussed in Warsaw the tension on the front-line,
the prospects for resolving the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and the
regional situation. Aliyev also held a meeting with Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The meeting between Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharyan was also
attended by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen as well as Russian and
French Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Michel Barnier.

No significant breakthrough

The meeting was first held in an expanded format [with all delegates
present] and then the president had two-hour tete-a-tete talks.
The talks started at about 2300 [1800 gmt] Baku time and ended at 0100
[2100 gmt]. The presidents did not make statements for the press.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told ANS TV that the
talks did not produce a significant breakthrough. The presidents
gave the go-ahead to the Prague format of the talks [talks in Prague
between Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in the presence
of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs].

News conference

After a meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Azerbaijani president
and Turkish prime minister answered reporters’ questions.

[Aliyev] Today I had a meeting with the esteemed [Turkish] prime
minister. We meet at almost every international forum. We have in-depth
debates on bilateral issues. Regional processes and the maintenance
of regional security were the focus of our meeting. At the same time,
today I had a meeting with the Armenian president.

The meeting lasted about three hours. I filled the esteemed prime
minister in on the issues discussed at the meeting. Our relations
are developing well. Turkey and Azerbaijan are strengthening their
positions in the region. We shall soon inaugurate the major energy
project – the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. This project unites
us and will be conducive to a new stage in our relations. I hope that
the two friendly and fraternal states will further support each other
and our peoples will be together for ever. Thank you.

[Erdogan] I thank the esteemed president. We had a chance to assess
the state of relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan before the
start of the third summit of the Council of Europe. In the meantime,
I thank the president for briefing me on the meeting with the Armenian
president. We, as two fraternal and friendly countries, always discuss
such issues and never remain indifferent to them. We remain keenly
interested in resolving the current problem and steps being taken
for the resolution of the conflict. We want this problem be resolved
as soon as possible in order for peace be restored in our region. I
thank you and wish fruitful work to the third summit of the Council
of Europe.

[Aliyev] You know that our positions are clear. This issue has been
discussed for many years and the sides have their own positions and we
reviewed them again today. You know that our foreign ministers often
meet and discuss different issues. We shall not issue a statement for
the press today as it is early yet. I hope that the negotiations will
produce results and the issues between us will be resolved.

SECURITY BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF PRESIDENTS AND MINISTERS

A1plus

| 20:12:12 | 16-05-2005 | Politics | COE SUMMIT |

All the roads leading to the Warsaw Royal Palace have been closed for
the last three days. People can get to the center of the old city
on foot only. Because of the COE Summit policemen are standing
everywhere. Some of them do not even allow people to approach
them saying, “It is forbidden”. Others answer the questions of the
passers-by. And some of the policemen turn their head saying they
are not from Warsaw and cannot show this or that building or street.

Generally the residents of Warsaw themselves find it difficult to
answer questions about the localities. On the way to the Royal Palace
there are 15 police cars one after the other. The security regime
has been enhanced. Warsaw is responsible for high-ranked delegates
of about 46 countries.

It turns out, however, that the security measures do not really
surprise the Warsaw residents. One of them said that for the last two
years the security service has been enhanced. “Now it is safer to walk
in the streets than several years ago”, he said. By the way, in Warsaw
the policemen wear not only black, but also green and orange clothing.