ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI FMs DISCUSS CURRENT STAGE OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IN PARIS
YEREVAN, June 17. /ARKA/. Armenian and Aze4rbaijani Foreign Ministers,
Vardan Oskanyan and Elmar Mamedyarov, discussed the current stage
of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement in Paris, France. Attending the
meeting were the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. No detailed information
is reported. P.T. -0–
A1plus
| 15:48:12 | 17-06-2005 | Social |
“VERY LIBERAL DRAFT”
According to the RA Justice Minister David Harutyunyan, the RA Draft
Law on “Electronic Communication” is a “very liberal draft”. Today in
hotel “Congress” the draft was discussed with the initiative of the
“Cooperation for Open Society”.
“From the moment when the relations between ArmenTel and the
Government became complicated, we realized that the legislation must
be regulated”, said the Minister. Those who processed the project,
tried to draw a borderline between the functions of the executive and
the regulator. For example, the interference of the legislative bodies
into the work of the regulating ones has been considerably limited.
“I do not think that the new project is ideal. It is very complicated
and many new concepts will be introduced to us”, warned David
Harutyunyan. One of them is “Consuming individual” who uses the
electronic communication services.
Taking into account the Cooperation agreement signed between the RA
and the EU the “new concepts” have been made correspondent to the
EU criteria.
Will the new law change the relations between ArmenTel and the
Government? David Harutyunyan is not sure; moreover, he states
that the majority of the substructures are still under the control
of ArmenTel.
Turkey condemns German resolution on Armenian genocide
Xinhua General News Service
June 16, 2005 Thursday 1:30 PM EST
ANKARA — Turkey condemned on Thursday a German resolution envisaging
commemoration of the so-called Armenian genocide during World War I,
terming the bill ” irresponsible and narrow-minded”.
“The German parliament adopted a resolution about the events of 1915.
We regret and strongly condemn it,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
said in a statement.
The approval of such a resolution by Germany “will play havoc with
our relations,” said the statement.
Turkey’s condemnation came after the German parliament unanimously
adopted the resolution earlier Thursday, which was jointly sponsored
by the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and the Christian
Social Union (CSU).
Turkey has always denied allegations that up to 1.5 million Armenians
were killed in a systemic genocide between 1915 and 1923. It claimed
that although hundreds of thousands of Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks, yet more Turks died when the Ottoman Empire collapsed.
Turkey said it has opened its archives to all researchers including
Germans and Armenians, and it has also proposed to set up a joint
Turkish-Armenian commission to examine bilateral relations during
the era of the Ottoman Empire in the stated period.
Some European Union members, especially France which is home to
Europe’s largest Armenian population, want Turkey to recognize genocide
and improve ties with Armenia as a condition to open EU entry talks
with it.
Azerbaijan News Service
June 16 2005
AZERBAIJANI FA MINISTER MET WITH HIGH CE OFFICIALS
2005-06-16 20:47
Elmar Mammadyarov, FA minister of Azerbaijan met with Terry Davis,
Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bruno Haller, Secretary
General of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, members
of monitoring group of Cabinet of Ministers of the Council of Europe
on Azerbaijan and Armenia in Strasbourg. The sides made exchange of
views on regulation ways of Armenia-Azerbaijan Daqliq Qarabaq
conflict, social-political circumstances in Azerbaijan before
parliamentary elections. Activity of democratic institutions in
Azerbaijan, reports on political prisoners in Azerbaijan that is
included in agenda of the summer session of PACE were discussed at
the meeting as well.
, 1
DIE RESOLUTION DES BUNDESTAGES IST BEREITS WIEDER UBERHOLT
Ohne EU keine Armenien-Debatte
Es gibt viele gute Grunde fur und gegen einen EU-Beitritt der Turkei.
Das Thema Armenien, der Volkermord, der 1915 von den Jungturken an
der armenischen Minderheit verubt wurde, gehort zu jenen, die fur
einen EU-Beitritt sprechen. Die Fortschritte in der Turkei sind zwar
hochst zaghaft. Aber dass das Jahrzehnte währende Sprechverbot
aufweicht, ist ein Ergebnis des Drucks der EU. Druck ist dabei eine
ungenaue Beschreibung: Es ist schlicht klar, dass die Turkei ohne ein
halbwegs aufgeklärtes Verhältnis zu den eigenen Verbrechen nicht
Mitglied der EU wird. Dass kurzlich eine wissenschaftliche
Armenien-Konferenz in der Turkei verboten wurde, ist ein schlechtes
Zeichen – aber kein Dementi der segensreichen Rolle der EU. Solche
Aufklärungsprozesse verlaufen nie geradlinig, sondern stets umwegig.
Die parteiubergreifende Armenien-Resolution, die der Bundestag heute
verabschiedet, wirft nun ein zwiespältiges Licht auf die Lage. Zum
einen ist diese Resolution moderat im Ton und eindeutig in der Sache
– und damit ein Beispiel, wie man ohne moralisches Herrenreitertum
und Besserwisserei Kritik ubt. Das ist auch ein Verdienst der CDU,
die die Debatte nicht als Munition gegen einen turkischen EU-Beitritt
benutzt hat. Gleichzeitig scheint diese Resolution schon heute von
gestern zu sein. Denn seit der Armenien-Debatte im Bundestag vor acht
Wochen hat sich die Welt verändert. Das Nein zur EU-Verfassung hat
die Erweiterungsbefurworter geschwächt. Mit Merkel und Sarkozy sind
in den wichtigsten EU-Staaten entschiedene Gegner des turkischen
Beitritts auf dem Weg zur Macht.
Falls Merkel und Sarkozy den Schalter in den Verhandlungen mit der
Turkei auf “Non” umlegen, durfte auch die Armenien-Debatte erledigt
sein. In der Turkei, weil man sich, nicht zu Unrecht, betrogen fuhlt
– in der EU, weil die Frage aus dem politischen Fokus verschwindet.
Damit droht der faszinierende Prozess, wie Druck von außen und
Selbstaufklärungskräfte im Inneren im Zusammenspiel das Bild einer
Gesellschaft verändern, am Ende zu sein – noch bevor er richtig
begonnen hat. STEFAN REINECKE
taz Nr. 7691 vom 16.6.2005, Seite 11, 46 Zeilen (Kommentar), STEFAN
REINECKE
–Boundary_(ID_ID7nXKBrrOzFY9NUJ+kWuA)–
McCarthy is a professional denier
By Ton Zwaan
de Volkskrant (Dutch newspaper)
Forum
June 14, 2005
Even though the term “genocide” was invented later, the Turkish act
in 1915 against the Armenians was most definitely a genocidal process,
says Ton Zwaan.
Under the tendentious title “Term ‘genocide’ for Turkish act
demonstrably incorrect” (Term ‘genocide’ voor Turks handelen
aantoonbaar onjuist), an article by the American historian Justin
McCarthy was published in de Volkskrant (Forum, June 9).
In a groundless, hazy and disorderly argumentation replete with
half-truths and complete untruths, McCarthy attempts to persuade his
readers that an Armenian genocide never transpired in the Ottoman
empire in 1915 and 1916. For the benefit of your readers, I would
like to point out that in serious circles of scholars, a consensus
has existed for quite some time of the main facts.
In the years involved an estimated one million members of the Armenian
minority in the Ottoman Empire became victim of a meticulously planned
and large-scale persecution, deportation and massacre.
This systematic persecution and destruction transpired with the
initiative and under the leadership of the central government at that
time in Istanbul. Even though the term ‘genocide’ did not exist then
(it was only used for the first time in 1944), there can be no doubt
that this involved a genocidal process.
The space here lacks to extensively examine McCarthy’s argumentation,
but contrary to what he claims, there was not a “terrible war between
Turks and Armenians”, nor a “great rebellion” by Armenians. He also
cites the genocide-convention of the UN incompletely and falsely and
confuses the terms “war” and “genocide”.
His claim on the brilliant and brave Turkish author Orhan Pamuk is
undoubtedly libelous and his remarks on the Turkish denial policy and
their reports in American newspapers are silly and wholly unfounded.
Whoever wants to be informed of the true course of events can read
recently published good studies, such as:
Donaid Bloxham: The Great Game of Genocide. Imperialism, Nationalism
and the Destruction of the Ottoman Armenians (Oxford University
Press, 2005);
Jay Winter (red.): America and the Armenian Genocide of 1915 (Cambridge
University Press, 2003);
H.L. Kieser en D. Schaller (red.): Der Völkermord an den Armeniern
und die Shoah (Chronos, 2003).
For a summary review in Dutch:
‘De vervolging van de Armeniërs in . het Ottomaans-Turkse rijk,
1894-1922’, in: Ton Zwaan, Civilisering en decivilisering (Boom, 2001).
Among bona fide historians McCarthy is known as one of the professional
deniers, subsidized by the Turkish government.
The printing of an article such as that without further comment does
not grace de Volkskrant.
Ton Zwaan is affiliated with the Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies of the NIOD and the University of Amsterdam.
PHOTO: Armenian refugees, crowded in boats, looking for rescue on a
French ship before the Syrian coast, October 1915. FOTO CORBIS
–Boundary_(ID_6JpIBqEON/rmzmKsaMDS/A)–
Chinese foreign minister holds talks with Armenian counterpart
Xinhua news agency domestic service
13 Jun 05
Beijing, 13 June: Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks with visiting
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan on 13 June. They had in-depth
exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.
Li Zhaoxing said: China-Armenia relations have developed smoothly,
the two countries’ political relations have become increasingly close,
and their cooperation in the economic and trade fields has gradually
expanded. The Chinese side appreciated the Armenian side’s adherence
to the one-China policy and thanked Armenia for supporting the Chinese
side on the Taiwan issue. The Chinese side is willing to make joint
efforts with the Armenian side in promoting bilateral relations
towards continuous development.
Oskanyan said: Armenia attaches importance to developing relations
with China, thanks the Chinese side for supporting Armenia’s economic
and social development, and is willing to continuously strengthen the
two countries’ cooperation in the economic, cultural, and educational
fields. As always, the Armenian side will uphold the one-China policy
and support China’s peaceful reunification.
Both sides also exchanged views on isues related to the Outer Caucasus,
the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the UN Security Council
reform.
U.S. State Department Briefing
June 9, 2005
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack briefed the press on
the following issues: Rice/ElBaradei meeting, U.S. cooperation with
IAEA, democracy, Henrietta Holsman Fore/nomination, Iran, North
Korea, Uzbekistan, Serbia, Mexico, Ethiopia.
Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:
(begin transcript)
U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing Index
Thursday, June 9, 2005
1:10 p.m. EDT
Briefer: Sean McCormack, Spokesman
DEPARTMENT
— Secretary Rice’s Meeting with Director General Dr. Mohamed
ElBaradei/Nonproliferation Treaty Compliance/Additional Protocols for
Verification
— U.S. Cooperation with IAEA/Consensus on ElBaradei Continuing as
Director General
— Spread of Democracy/Struggle of a Generation
— Support for Henrietta Holsman Fore as Nominee for Assistant
Secretary of Management
[parts deleted]
QUESTION: Did you see the story about the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
concerning his remarks on genocide in Armenia and the fallout from
that?
MR. MCCORMACK: Is this the Washington Post story?
QUESTION: Yeah.
MR. MCCORMACK: I did see the news story. The story centered on an
award that was going to be given by the American Foreign Service
Association, which is an entity independent of the State Department.
And I understand that, based on their own assessments, their own
evaluation of the facts against the criteria that they used to decide
on granting this award, they decided not to issue the award.
That’s just my reading. That’s my reading of the news stories. I
would refer you over to AFSA for any further description of why they
took the action that they did.
QUESTION: But does the State Department have a position on what
happened in 1915? Did it constitute genocide or not?
MR. MCCORMACK: George, let me put that out for you after the
briefing.
EU using Armenia to sideline Turkey – Armenian opposition leader
Arminfo
10 Jun 05
YEREVAN
The European Union will pay much more attention to Armenia within the
framework of the Wider Europe / New Neighbours programme, but the
president is not ready for making even cosmetic changes, the chairman
of the Democratic Party of Armenia [DPA], Aram G. Sarkisyan, told
journalists today.
The world powers have not developed a common approach towards the
Karabakh problem, however, the Council of Europe [CE] may be expected
to issue strict instructions in six months, he noted.
“Currently, the European community is interested in using Armenia as a
spiral preventing Turkey from entering the EU,” the DPA leader
said. He added that this situation cannot last for ever and Armenia
should give the Europeans new reasons to win their sympathy. He said
this impulse could be democratizing the country, bringing the Armenian
Constitution into conformity with European standards and decreasing
the risks of corruption.
Sarkisyan returned from the Netherlands yesterday, where Armenian,
Azerbaijani and Turkish parliamentarians and diplomats discussed the
problems of trilateral relations with the participation of CE
experts. During the discussions a diplomat from a Turkish embassy
said: “We cannot establish diplomatic relations with Armenia since
part of Turkey is described as Western Armenia in the Armenian
Constitution.”
“Our state is so weak today that they are even trying to deprive us of
our historic memory,” Sarkisyan said.
[Passage omitted: Arminfo reminder that there is no mention of
Turkey’s territory being Western Armenia in the Armenian Constitution]
RA PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER OF THE LITHUANIAN PARLIAMENT DISCUSS
POSSIBILITIES FOR EXPANDING COOPERATION
YEREVAN, June 10. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian and Arthuras
Paulauskas, the Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament discussed today
the possibilities for expanding cooperation between the two
countries. As the Press Service of RA President told ARKA News Agency,
Paulauskas said that the aim of his visit was to get acquainted with
the situation on the spot and incite Parliamentary cooperation. He
also said that the, Baltic countries had gathered a significant
Eurointegration experience and were going to share it with their
Armenian partners. Robert Kocharian emphasized the interest of Armenia
in expanding cooperation with Lithuania and expressed confidence that
the visit of the Lithuanian delegation would be an additional stimulus
for bilateral relations. He also noted the significant success of
Lithuania in Eurointegration and said that both countries have a lot
in common. The parties also discussed the possibilities for economic
cooperation development. At that, the parties attached importance to
intense communication and contacts, exchange of information and
deepening of business relations. L.V.-0–