Author: Nahapetian Samvel

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| 22:05:22 | 23-06-2005 | Politics | PACE SUMMER SESSION |

VENICE COMMISSION WORKING GROUP SITTING TO CONTINUE TOMORROW

Today the sitting of the working group of the Venice Commission with the
participation of the working group on constitutional reforms in Armenia,
members of coalition Tigran Torosyan, Mher Shahgeldyan, Vostanik Marukhyan,
Justice Minister David Harutyunyan, RA President’s representative Armen
Harutyunyan and constitutional right specialist Vardan Poghosyan has started
today. The sitting will be continued tomorrow.

Gianni Buquicchio, Aivars Endzins and Simona Granata-Menghini expressed
their opinion on the issue. The purpose of the sitting is to discussion of
the draft constitutional amendments. The discussion also focused on clauses
referring to Human Rights Defender, independence and pluralism of mass
media, formation of government. Then a final memorandum will be signed.

Pan Armenian News

AZERBAIJAN INTENDS TO ESTABLISH FRONTIER CONTROL WITH ARMENIA

23.06.2005 07:29

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan intends to establish frontier control with
Armenia, with whom it is in a state of war, reported Deputy Commander of the
State Frontier Service (SFS) of Azerbaijan Ilham Mehtiyev at an
international seminar on threats to frontier security in the South Caucasus
opened in Baku with the support of the NATO Thursday. `Due to the military
confrontation with Armenia we have not managed to form frontier
infrastructures yet, while this is the longest part of the state frontier
(1007 km),’ Mehtiyev said. `Today we already carry out preliminary works to
form the material basis for establishing control over the segment of the
state frontier. I should remark that is a work of a huge scale and it will
be hard for us to do it on our own without the support of international
structures,’ he underscored. Mr. Mehtiyev also stated `occupation of Azeri
territories by Armenia is a factor that has a negative impact on the
development of the region.’ He also highlighted cooperation in strengthening
the frontier security within the organization of GUAM, whose members are
Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova. `Our interaction in securing
frontiers is one of the pivotal aspects of regional cooperation between our
states and has real prospects. This is a key task we have to solve within
the next 5-10 years,’ he said, the Trud newspaper reported.

Turkish Press
June 23 2005

Press Review

TURKIYE

ARINC CONDEMNS GERMAN PARLIAMENT’S DECISION

Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc yesterday sent a letter to his German
counterpart Wolfgang Thierse condemning the approval of an Armenian
resolution last week in the German Federal Parliament. Stressing that
the decision had caused anger among Turkish parliamentarians, Arinc
said that both government officials and parliamentarians visiting
Germany over the last three months had expressed Turkish views on the
matter and warned of possible anger among Turks if such a decision
was made. This one-sided decision made by a friendly allied country
deeply wounded some 3 million Turks living in Germany, said Arinc.
/Turkiye/

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/21/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Debate Arises Between Armenian, Azeri Delegations at IUSY Meeting
2) Turkey Working to Release Scholar Arrested for Stealing Historic Armenian
Books
3) President Kocharian on His Way to CSTO Collective Security Council Meeting
4) Gasparian Explains Rules of Negotiating to Azeris

1) Debate Arises Between Armenian, Azeri Delegations at IUSY Meeting

ISTANBUL (ARF Youth Office)–A heated argument erupted between an Armenian and
Azeri delegate at the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) conference
in Istanbul, Turkey, which took place June 16-19. Among the many issues
addressed were the conditions and rights of minorities in various countries.
Referring to Armenians as one-time minorities in Azerbaijan until the
Karabagh
war, the Azeri delegate drew a quick response from the Armenian delegate,
Armenian Youth Federation’s representative Zinavor Meghryan, who pointed to
Mountainous Karabagh Republic’s (MKR) independent status, and explained the
long struggle towards independence.
He stressed Karabagh’s status as an independent state that sought liberation
through democratic means, but as a consequence of Azerbaijan’s aggression, was
compelled to defend itself.
The Azeri delegate shot back claiming that the Karabagh movement was
driven by
Armenia’s desire to occupy territory and that MKR is not officially recognized
by the international community.
Meghryan then suggested the Azeri review history to learn about how Karabagh
was historically forced to become part of Azerbaijan. The Armenians living in
Karabagh, he explained, were simply expressing their right to freedom and
self-determination, and could never be considered a part of Azerbaijan’s
minority.
As the debate intensified, the meeting’s president announced a coffee break,
and suggested the two continue their impassioned exchange during the next
day’s
session.
After the break, the Kurdish delegation from Turkey raised the issue of human
rights violations towards Kurds in Turkey. Once again, a heated discussion
ensued, this time between the Turks and the Kurds.
Finally, the meeting’s president IUSY General Secretary Enzo Amentolan,
attempted to end the back and forth banter with his own presentation, calling
for open discussion on the abuse of Kurdish rights and possible resolution
through dialogue. Yet another coffee break was announced.
The IUSY is a fraternal organization of the Socialist International. IUSY
membership includes 143 socialist, social-democratic, labor youth and student
unions from 100 countries.
The AYF is a full-fledged IUSY member. Additional information on IUSY and the
Black Sea Area Cooperation conference is available at
<;

2) Turkey Working to Release Scholar Arrested for Stealing Historic Armenian
Books

ANKARA (Combined Sources)–Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Ministry is working to
release a Turkish student who was arrested on June 17 on charges of attempting
to smuggle historic Armenian books out of the country. According to
Turkish-based newspaper Milliyet, Turkey is arranging for the release of
Yeftan
Turkyilmaz through its Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Turkyilmaz, who became last month the first Turkish historian who sought and
was given access to the Armenian National Archive, was arrested at Yerevan’s
Zvartnots Airport as he was about to board a plane bound for Istanbul.
According to the National Security Service (NSS), he carried undeclared
Armenian-language books about history, religion, and geography published from
the 17th to 19th centuries.
The security agency described them as “literature of high historical and
cultural value.” Under Armenian law, such items can not be taken out of the
country without permission from the Ministry of Culture.
Turkyilmaz, who spent more than one month in Armenia, was charged under an
article of the Armenian Criminal Code that carries heavy fines and up to five
years in prison.
A doctoral student at the Duke University in North Carolina, Turkyilmaz said
he is working with documents relating to activities of Turkish, Kurdish, and
Armenian nationalist parties during the final decades of the Ottoman Empire.
It is unclear how the scholar obtained the old books. He was said to be
experiencing financial difficulties and enjoyed discount fees for accessing
archival materials. National Archive director Amatuni Virabian, said he
believes Turkyilmaz did not deliberately break Armenian laws or regulations.
“He showed interest in books and I gave him a few [recently published]
books,”
Virabian said. “But I didn’t know that he bought old books. You can transport
anything except arms and drugs out of Turkey. I guess the guy thought things
are the same here.”

3) President Kocharian on His Way to CSTO Collective Security Council Meeting

MOSCOW (Combined Sources)–Heads of states of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) will be meeting in Moscow on June 23 to discuss priority
trends, international security and security cooperation with other
international organizations, and the abilities of the CSTO to rapidly react to
new challenges and threats.
The CSTO includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and
Tajikistan. The heads of member countries, including Armenian President Robert
Kocharian will also hold a plenary session with the foreign and defense
ministers and the state secretaries of the security councils.
The session will draft and sign a number of documents establishing the legal
basis political and military cooperation between member countries.
Also on the agenda is the adoption of the document, “Collective Rapid
Deployment Forces of the Central Asian Region,” which would create mechanisms
to coordinate CSTO activities in countering new challenges and threats.

4) Gasparian Explains Rules of Negotiating to Azeris

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesman Hamlet
Gasparian
shot down claims that the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
discussed
the opening of roads connecting crucial roads.
According to the Azeri Press, Armenian Foreign ministers Vartan Oskanian and
Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov discussed last Friday, the possible
opening
of roads connecting Nakhichevan with Azerbaijan through the Syunik region, and
the Lachin highway connecting Armenia with Karabagh.
Denying those reports, Gasparian explained what the negotiation process
entails. “When one side introduces or talks about a topic, any topic, that
does
not mean that it is automatically on the agenda, nor that there is even a
preliminary agreement on that topic.”
“Armenia’s position on these matters is very clear. The primary matter is the
status of Mountainous Karabagh Republic and until there is clarity and
agreement on that matter, it is premature to speak about any other issue,”
said
Gasparian.
Oskanian, meanwhile, described the talks mediated by US, Russian, and French
negotiators as “positive” and “constructive.” He told reporters “Common ground
is in sight.”

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| 20:01:46 | 21-06-2005 | Culture |

`JEWS, CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS: PEACE … TODAY’, EXHIBITION AT THE COUNCIL OF
EUROPE

The exhibition `Jews, Christians, Muslims: Peace … today’ opened at 2.30 pm
today in the entrance hall of the Palais de l’Europe.

This exhibition of 20 paintings and a sculpture on the theme of peace by 21
artists (7 of each faith) was organised by the association Accord et Fugue
(Chord and Fugue). The works were inspired by religious texts – the Torah,
the Bible and the Koran.

Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, René van der
Linden, President of the Parliamentary Assembly, and pastor Michel Hoeffel,
President of Accord et Fugue, will take part in the opening ceremony.

The exhibition coincides with the arrival of a group of young people
representing the French Judeo-Muslim Friendship Association (AJMF) led by
rabbi Michel Serfaty, Co-President of the AJMF. They are on a friendship
tour of France, starting at Ris-Orangis, to foster dialogue. They will end
their tour in Paris, bringing up the rear of the 2005 Tour de France and
marking the end of the race.

ACCORDING TO UNOFFICIAL DATA, KARABAKH WING OF ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN
PARTY LOST THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN NKR ON JUNE 19

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 20. ARMINFO. According to unofficial data, Karabakh
wing of ARF Dashnaktsutyun party lost the parliamentary elections in
NKR on June 19.

Referring to unofficial sources close to the electoral structures, the
special correspondent of ARMINFO reports that Democratic Party of
Artsakh headed by Prime Minister Ashot Ghulyan is in the lead,
receiving 18 seats in the parliament. The party Free Motherland
receives 8 seats, independent MPs – 4 seats and ARFD – Movement 88 – 3
seats, which is less than in the parliament of the previous
convocation. It is notable that Dashnaks received no single-mandate
seats, though these are unofficial data. Official ones are expected
later.

Representative of the British Helsinki Group for Human Rights Mark
Albond says democratic bases in NKR are developing and in this aspect
NKR could be an example for many unrecognized states.

It should be noted that 73.6% of electors from 89,925 potential or
66,197 citizens participated in June 19 elections. The largest
attendance was 95%, the smallest 55%, the special correspondent of
ARMINFO reports.

Pan Armenian News

BAKU FEARS KARABAKH MAY `TURN INTO KOSOVO’

20.06.2005 06:08

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A large article published on the front page of the
Baku-based newspaper Zerkalo and entitled “Will Karabakh become Kosovo”,
says that Armenia is copying the steps of the Kosovo Albanians, Yerkir
Online reported. The author of the article says that Armenians have proposed
a transitional period for Karabakh during which the international community
would decide whether Nagorno Karabakh is implementing democratic reforms and
based on the findings would decide whether or not grant an independence to
the republic. It is the same thing the Kosovo Albanians are currently doing,
the article goes on saying, and this may seriously hurt Azerbaijan’s
positions.

,1564,1618556,0 0.html

Berg-Karabach wünscht sich völkerrechtliche Anerkennung

Die armenische Regierung unter Präsident Kocharian unterstützt Karabach
politisch und finanziell

In der Armenier-Enklave Berg-Karabach finden am Sonntag (19.6.)
Parlamentswahlen statt.

Viel mehr als einen Wahlsieg wünschen sich Politiker jedoch die Anerkennung
als unabhängiger Staat.

In Berg-Karabach Politiker zu sein, hat etwas Tragisches. Seit Wochen kämpfen
die Kandidaten nun schon um die Gunst der Wähler. Doch egal wer bei den
Parlamentswahlen am kommenden Sonntag (19.6.) die Mehrheit gewinnt – ein
wirklicher Sieg wird es nicht. Außenminister Arman Melikian beschreibt, was sich sowohl
die Politiker als auch die Bürger von Berg-Karabach viel dringlicher
wünschen: “Berg-Karabach muss von der internationalen Gemeinschaft als unabhängiger
Staat anerkannt werden.”

Umstrittener Status

Im Dezember 1991 fand in Berg-Karabach ein Referendum statt. Die Bevölkerung
entschied sich mehrheitlich für die Unabhängigkeit ihres Staates.Dennoch ist
der Status von Berg-Karabach bis heute umstritten. Denn die rund 12.000
Quadratkilometer kleine Kaukasusregion wird zwar seit je her überwiegend von
Armeniern bewohnt. Aber sie liegt als Enklave umschlossen vom Staatsgebiet
Aserbaidschans. Während der Sowjetunion war das Gebiet auch als autonome Region
offiziell Aserbaidschan untergeordnet. Genau das ist der Grund, warum Aserbaidschan
Berg-Karabach bis heute als Teil seines Territoriums beansprucht. Und weil die
Region in der Tat niemals ein eigenständiges Staatsgebilde darstellte,weder in
der Sowjetunion noch davor, erkennt auch die internationale Gemeinschaft die
Unabhängigkeit Berg-Karabachs nicht an. Doch damit wollen sich die
Berg-Karabacher nicht abfinden. Außenminister Melikian betont: “Wir haben unsere Wahl
1991 getroffen. Wir hatten ein Referendum. Wir wählten die Unabhängigkeit. Und da
machen wir weiter. Wir bauen unser Land auf, wir bauen unseren Staat auf.”

Nie wieder Enklave

Trotz der Weigerung Aserbaidschans, die Eigenständigkeit anzuerkennen,
bestimmt in Berg-Karabach die von der armenischen Mehrheit gebildete, eigenständige
Regierung die Politik. Und das hat militärische Gründe. 1988 kam es in
Aserbaidschan zu pogromartigen Ausschreitungen gegen Armenier. Kurze Zeit später
sogar zum Krieg. Die Armenier gewannen den Krieg und halten Berg-Karabach und die
angrenzenden Gebiete seither besetzt. Der stellvertretende Außenminister Masis
Mailian erklärt: “Seit 1988 sind wir de facto unabhängig von Aserbaidschan.
Und wir werden nie wieder zu einer Enklave werden. Nach den Ereignissen von
1988 wissen wir, was es bedeutet, eine Enklave zu sein. Wir wurden von allen
Seiten blockiert. Es war Krieg. Bomben fielen. Wir hatten nichts zu essen, kein
Wasser, keine Elektrizität. Viele Leute wurden umgebracht. Auch heute noch hören
wir von Aserbaidschan, dass sie uns bekämpfen wollen, wenn wir nicht
nachgeben. Wie können die da glauben, dass wir Aserbaidschans Staatsbürger werden
wollen?”

Abhängigkeit von Armenien

Dennoch fehlt der Regierung bis heute die völkerrechtliche Legitimität. Mit
der Anerkennung der internationalen Gemeinschaft würde sich dies ändern. Und es
gibt noch einen weiteren Grund, warum die Armenier Berg-Karabach endlich als
einen eigenständigen Staat akzeptiert sehen wollen. Die Region lebt derzeit
wirtschaftlich und politisch vollkommen von der Unterstützung des Mutterlandes
Armenien. Armenien gewährt dem nicht anerkannten Staat regelmäßig Kredite.
Darüber hinaus übernimmt die armenische Regierung die diplomatische Vertretung
Berg-Karabachs im Ausland. Sie stellt den Bürgern der Region beispielsweise die
Pässe aus, die sie für Reisen benötigen. Bei den Verhandlungen mit
Aserbaidschan bezüglich der Konfliktregion sind die Vertreter Berg-Karabachs ebenfalls
nicht anwesend. Der armenische Außenminister Vartan Oskanian: “Armenien ist nur
an den Verhandlungen beteiligt, weil die aserbaidschanische Regierung es
ablehnt, dass Berg-Karabach beteiligt ist. Ansonsten hätte Armenien damit nichts zu
tun. Wir können Teil des Prozess sein, um zu helfen. Aber es ist klar,dass
irgendwann die Regierung von Berg-Karabach den Vereinbarungen zustimmen muss. Je
früher sie an den Gesprächen beteiligt wird, desto besser.”

Die Unterstützung hat für Armenien Folgen. Aserbaidschan betrachtet jeden,
der der Regierung von Berg-Karabach hilft, als Feind und versucht Armenien daher
seit Jahren zu isolieren. Die Türkei, die sich als aserbaidschanische
Brudernation sieht, ist dem Aufruf zum Boykott gefolgt. Sie hat den Grenzübergang
zwischen Armenien und der Türkei gesperrt.

Armenien: Karabach muss mitreden können

Armenien will sich dem Druck Aserbaidschans und der Türkei nicht beugen.
Dennoch wäre die Regierung mittlerweile froh, das Problem Berg-Karabach mit dem
Rest der Welt zu teilen. Außenminister Wartan Oskanian: “Armenien wird die
Gespräche weiterführen. Aber wenn eine Vereinbarung näher rückt, müssen die
Karabacher mitreden können. Denn wenn sie nicht von Anfang bei dem Prozess beteiligt
sind, sondern zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt dazu kommen, dann wird es
problematischer. Eine friedliche Lösung muss auf Kompromissen basieren. Es gibt
verschiedene Meinungen darüber, was diese Kompromisse sein könnten. Und je früher sie
bei dieser Kompromissfindung einbezogen werden, desto besser ist es. ”

Barbara Minderjahn

DW-RADIO, 16.6.2005, Fokus Ost-Südost

Karabakh speaker appointed securities commission head in Armenia

Arminfo
18 Jun 05

Yerevan, 18 June: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree
on 17 June appointing Oleg Yesayan to the post of chairman of the
Armenian Securities Commission. The presidential press service has
confirmed the report.

Oleg Yesayan used to be speaker of the Nagornyy Karabakh parliament.

By another decree, President Kocharyan appointed Yesayan’s predecessor
in this post, Eduard Muradyan, to the post of chairman of the Armenian
Economic Court.

Human rights violations “still very frequent” in Georgia – ombudsman

Kavkasia-Press news agency
17 Jun 05

Tbilisi, 17 June: “Human rights are violated in Georgia,” human
rights ombudsman Sozar Subari said today at the seminar entitled
“Problems and prospects of national human rights institutions in the
South Caucasus”, held at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

He also said that last year was the worst as far as human rights
are concerned as the public had expected the new authorities
to dramatically improve the situation in this respect after the
revolution. “Human rights were violated in the private sector; there
were illegal arrests, torture and violence on the part of the police,”
he said.

According to Subari, there have been no documented cases of torture
this year, but several detainees have been beaten up and several
prisoners have been left with injury marks on their bodies. “We have
already reacted to these cases,” he said, adding that unfortunately
gross violation of human rights still is a very frequent phenomenon
in Georgia.

Subari said that this year the office of the human rights ombudsman
has received four times as many complaints as last year.

The seminar, organized by the Swedish Raoul Wallenberg Institute of
Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the UNDP, will end on 21 June.

The human rights ombudsman has said that he has friendly relations with
his Armenian and Azerbaijani colleagues and wishes to establish similar
relations with his Turkish colleagues. “We need good relations with the
human rights ombudsmen of these countries. Our citizens often go there
on visits and we should be able to count on their help,” said Subari.