Author: Nalbandian Albert

NOT A SINGLE COMPROMISE TO AZERBAIJAN

A1+
18-03-2005

`The Azerbaijani President has accustomed to his role so much that I’m
afraid he will not be able to leave it`, Aram Sargsyan, head of
theDemocratic Party of Armenia announced today about the military
announcements of the Azerbaijani President. Aram Sargsyan presided
over the discussion organizedby the Committee `Defending Nagorno
Karabakh’.

Aram Sargsyan, son of Gaspar, thinks that in case of launching war
there will be no winning or losing sides, as in that case there must
be a capitulation, and in this case simply the two countries will
weaken, and the big countries will do what they want with the region.

According to him, the essence of the Karabakh conflict has been
perverted in the international field. It is represented as a land
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to Aram Sargsyan, the independence of Karabakh has grounds
and proceeds from the USSR legislation. And as far as it became
independent before Azerbaijan, it could no how hinder its territorial
integrity.

Aram, Karapetyan, head of the party `New Times’ was also present at
the meeting. He said that they have been discussing this problem for
the last 10 years, but there are no results, and announced that as
long as the present authorities remain, we have no resources to solve
the Karabakh conflict, sowe must think about the mechanisms to not
allow them to make ungrounded compromisesin the Karabakh conflict. He
said it and left the hall together with his retinue.

NA delegates Vladimir Badalyan, Levon Khachatryan, ARF representative
Hrant Margaryan and others were present at the meeting. At the end the
participants reconfirmed their position of not making any compromises
to Azerbaijan.

GROUND ABOUT TO SLIP FROM UNDER ARMENIA’S FEET: AZERI DM SPOKESMAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 17. ARMINFO. The ground is about to slip from under
Armenia’s feet, says Azeri Defence Ministry Spokesman Ramiz MElikov in
an interview to 525th newspaper (Baku).

The distribution of forces on the international arena is beginning to
play into Azerbaijan’s hands. Meanwhile the negotiating potential is
not over. “The moment we feel that there is no hope left we will start
a war,” says Melikov. Once again accusing Armenia of violating the
cease fire regime he says that Azerbaijan’s achievements in the
Karabakh peace process are vexing the Armenians. They are trying to
show some strength and to somehow influence the negotiating process.

The second reason is the forthcoming 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. “Every year this time they grow hysterical and are attacked
by medically known and peculiarly their ‘Armenian disease’.” “The
Armenians seek to show their force to the Azeris and Azerbaijan. But
this has no sense,” says Melikov.

Referring to some experts he says that the Armenians are active near
Agdam and Terter because these sections are close to Stepanakert.
“They are fearing some threat there and so they are firing at the
Azeri troops to retain their strategic positions,” says Melikov
regretting that these positions are in the Armenians’ hands.

Armenian president, Italian envoy upbeat on future cooperation

Arminfo
15 Mar 05

YEREVAN

Armenian Security Council Secretary and Defence Minister Serzh
Sarkisyan today held a meeting with the Italian ambassador to Armenia,
Marco Clemente, in connection with the introduction of Italy’s
military and air force attache to Armenia, Brigadier Gen (?Mauro
Skach) and his assistant Col (?Cucu Giangavino) of the air force, the
press secretary of the Armenian Defence Ministry, Col Seyran
Shakhsuvaryan, has reported.

“A new page has opened in Armenian-Italian relations since the visit
to Italy by Armenian President Robert Kocharyan. Our government has a
new view of Armenia. I am confident that we can also achieve success
in the military sphere,” the ambassador pointed out during the
meeting.

Sarkisyan stressed that relations between our countries have made
certain progress in the political and economic spheres. “I want to
stress again the role of Rome and Italy in our history. I am convinced
that Armenian arts are also developing in Italy today. We should
develop military cooperation against this positive background. I think
that we will definitely achieve success,” the minister pointed out.

For his part, Skach stated that during his tenure, he promises to
demonstrate will and make efforts to help close cooperation between
Armenia and Italy in the military sphere.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 15 2005

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES MEMBER OF PACE COMMITTEE
ON LEGAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS MALCOLM BRUCE
[March 15, 2005, 21:14:35]

President of the republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received at the
Presidential Palace member of PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and
Human Rights Malcolm Bruce, March 15.

Noting that Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the Council of Europe
continues to develop successfully, the Head of State described the
recent debates over the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
at Parliamentary Assembly as very positive step forward. The
President expressed confidence that the documents adopted as a result
would play an important role in the problem’s resolution. He
stressed, however, the importance of more active involvement – along
with the OSCE Minsk Group – of other international organizations
including the Council of Europe in the peace process. The Azerbaijani
leader noted that Azerbaijan honors in full measure its commitments
and obligations to the Council of Europe that, according to him,
fosters democratization process in the country and its closer
integration into the European structures.

Member of PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights Mr.
Malcolm Bruce, for his part, described the final report on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as objective, noting that President Ilham
Aliyev’s speech at the Parliamentary Assembly had played an important
role for adoption of the document. Honoring by Azerbaijan of its
commitments and obligations to the Councils of Europe, as well as the
country’s stance with respect to resolution of the conflict,
according to him, were highly appreciated by the European
parliamentarians.

Mr. Bruce also highly valued the devotion of the Azerbaijani people
to the principles of tolerance. He especially emphasized that
cooperation between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan is very
useful for both the Organization and the country.

Issues related to political prisoners were also discussed during the
meeting.

Pyunic – Armenian Association for the Disabled
6606 Cantaloupe Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91405
818.785.3468

NEWS RELEASE

March 11, 2005

Contact: Sarkis Ghazarian
818.785.3468

DISABLED ARMENIAN ATHLETE COMPLETES LA MARATHON

Glendale, CA (March 11) – Pyunic, the Armenian Association for the
Disabled, is proud to announce that Greta Khandzrtyan, an above the
knee double amputee from Armenia, completed the 26-mile wheelchair
division of the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, March 6, 2005 in 3
hours and 19 minutes.

`I am thrilled to have finished my second Los Angeles Marathon and
proud to be able to show that a person can accomplish any goal
regardless of their physical disabilities,’ said Khandzrtyan, 18.

Khandzrtyan’s determination was put to the test upon passing the
5-mile marker. She fell out of her racing wheelchair when her waist
strap came apart. After recovering from the fall, she was assisted
back into her wheelchair by spectators. However, Khandzrtyan was not
able to race at full speed as part of her chair’s wheel frame had
bent.

At the 22nd mile mark, Lorig Sivazlian, a Pyunic-LA member, briefly
joined the race. Upon seeing Khandzrtyan approach, Sivazlian moved
from the sidewalk and ran alongside the racer shouting words of
encouragement. `I received an extra burst of energy by seeing Lorig
and the three other Pyunic supporters,’ add Khandzrtyan.

Founded in 1989 to help the disabled children of the 1988 earthquake
in Armenia, Pyunic is the leading non-governmental organization
shaping public awareness for the disabled. Pyunic provides
humanitarian aid, social services, career training and summer/winter
teaching camps. Pyunic athletes have competed in numerous worldwide
athletic competitions, including the Los Angeles Marathon and both
summer and winter Paralympics since 1994.

For more information about Pyunic, please contact Sarkis Ghazarian at
818.785.3468 or visit

Pyunic, the Armenian Association for the Disabled, is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization dedicated to assisting, supporting and shaping
public awareness for the disabled in the Republic of Armenia.

###

ATLANTIS PROGRAM TO BE INTRODUCED IN ARMENIAN PRISONS

   YEREVAN, MARCH 10, ARMENPRESS: An alcohol addict treatment
program, known as Atlantis, based on Minnesota Model, will be
introduced in Armenia’s penitentiary system. The purpose of this
program, in operation since 1996, is to co-operate and exchange
experience with specialists and organizations from Central and
Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the field of fighting addictions.
It provides a variety of forms of training specialists in the field
of prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug addiction, as well as
of educating families of the addicted.
   Justice minister David Harutunian said the program should be
started at prisons as they offer a set of “positive preconditions” to
properly organize the treatment, meaning addicts’ isolation and the
inaccessibility to strong alcoholic drinks.
   He was speaking at a seminar in Yerevan organized by Armenian
justice ministry and polish Stefan Batory foundation, titled Drug
Addiction and Treatment and Prevention of Alcoholism. For the past 11
years the program has been running with great success in Polish
prisons. According to official figures, there are 35 drug addicts in
Armenian prisons, however, the real number is thought to be by far
higher.

–Boundary_(ID_wTSi2Hre5wodh94hlaiStA)–

NEW WORKSHOP OF CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY ON 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Azg/arm
11 March 05

The chair of Modern Armenian History at the California University in
association with the Center for Middle East, European and Eurasian
Studies will organize “Nine Decades Later: Eternal Heritage of the
Armenian Genocide” workshop on April 1-3. The AGBU Manukian Center in
Pasadena will host the first day of the workshop with the participation
of 4 specialists from Yerevan, Damascus, and Wesleyan who will share
with their researches and analysis in Armenian. The workshop will move
to the California University next two days, and around 30 specialists
will lecture in English.

The workshop will host participants from Armenia, Lebanon, France,
USA, Syria and Columbia. Armenian Genocide issue being central in the
workshop will not be the only one (“The Assyrian Genocide in 19-20
centuries”, Anahit Ghosroyan, “The Greek Tragedy in Asia Minor and
Pontos”, Speros Vrionis).

This is the 17th workshop on Genocide organized by the chair
of Modern Armenian History and 4th organized by Prof. Richard
Hovhannisian. Previous 3 workshops by Prof. Hovhannisian were assembled
into 3 volumes.

By Nana Petrosian

KARABAGH ARMY FOILS AZERI ATTEMPTS TO GAIN THEIR REAR

   STEPANAKERT, MARCH 9, ARMENPRESS: Nagorno Karabagh defense
ministry said its army units thwarted an attempt by an Azerbaijani
sabotage-reconnaissance group to cross the line of contact near
village of Seisulan in Karabagh Martuni region on March 7 and to gain
the rear of the Karabagh armed forces.
   The defense ministry said Karabagh forces had to take measures to
prevent the group’s advance. It said Azeris had to retreat after an
exchange of fire. It also said Karabagh troops suffered no
casualties.
   The ministry’s statement accused the Azeri side of trying to
destabilize the situation on the line of contact. The ministry warned
it will take definite measures to foil any such attempt in future and
called on the Azeri side to observe cease-fire.
   Azeri sources said one soldier was killed and another wounded
during a clash with Armenians.

–Boundary_(ID_qZL04AcruDlaHxXNNPdWLw)–

Turkey develops strategy against Armenian genocide charges

Anatolia news agency
9 Mar 05

Ankara, 9 March: Turkish Foreign Ministry will develop a strategy
against Armenian genocide allegations, Namik Tan, the spokesman of
the ministry, said on Wednesday [9 March].

Tan told a weekly press conference that the ministry was taking
measures against those increasing allegations but did not elaborate.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Deniz Baykal, the
leader of the (main opposition) Republican People’s Party (CHP)
held a meeting yesterday (Tuesday) in which they had agreed on a
joint stance against Armenian genocide allegations.

Canadian oil firm sparks Azeri anger
By ALAN FREEMAN

The Globe and Mail

TODAY’S PAPER

Wednesday, March 9, 2005 – Page A11

The decision by a small Alberta oil-exploration firm represented
by former prime minister Jean Chrétien to pursue exploration of
a disputed Caspian Sea oil field has prompted retaliation against
Canada by Azerbaijan’s parliament.

The Azeri National Assembly refused last week to pass a law that
would enforce a treaty signed last year between Canada and Azerbaijan,
aimed at avoiding double taxation and preventing tax evasion.

Reports from Azerbaijan say the legislators were protesting against
the actions of Buried Hill Energy of Calgary. The company was recently
granted rights to explore the Serdar oil field in the Caspian Sea by
the government of Turkmenistan.

Like Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan became independent in 1991 after the
breakup of the former Soviet Union. It is one of the world’s most
repressive countries.

Buried Hill, founded by Calgary oilman Roger Haines, was granted the
concession after a visit to Turkmenistan by Mr. Chrétien. He was
representing the firm in his role as counsel to the Calgary law firm
of Bennett Jones.

An official of the Azeri embassy in Ottawa said legislators from both
the ruling party and the opposition were upset by the involvement of
Buried Hill in a part of the inland sea that is disputed territory.

The official said they were also angry about the activities of a
Yukon-registered gold-mining firm, Sterlite Gold Ltd. in another
contested region, this one claimed by both Azerbaijan and Armenia.

“The MPs decided to delay consideration of the legislation. . . . The
perception in Azerbaijan is that the Canadian government should do
more to stop Buried Hill,” the Azeri official said. He added that
Canadian officials have told him they cannot control the activities
of a private Canadian firm.

Efforts to reach officials of Buried Hill were unsuccessful. An
official of a Toronto law firm representing Sterlite said the company
has no employees in Canada and that its top executives are based
in Armenia.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Affairs Department in Ottawa said the
Canadian embassy in Ankara, which handles diplomatic relations with
Azerbaijan, had been asked to look into the matter.

The spokeswoman sought to distance the Canadian government from
activities of Buried Hill, insisting that Canada had not been asked to
support its activities and had advised the Calgary firm of the dispute
involving the oil concession. She said Canada takes no position on
the border disagreement involving Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

Canada has tax treaties with 92 countries. The pact with Azerbaijan
would limit the rate of withholding tax on dividends, interest and
royalties and is designed to encourage business between the two
countries by avoiding double taxation and evasion.

Oil exploration and production, involving substantial foreign
investment, has driven economic growth to levels near 10 per cent
a year.

–Boundary_(ID_WN47W4RPW7vdu9khvvWK6w)–