Author: Navasardian Karapet

TEN ARRESTED OVER MURDERS AT CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING HOUSE IN TURKEY

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany
April 19, 2007 Thursday 8:37 AM EST

DPA x Turkey Crime Media Ten arrested over murders at Christian
publishing house in Turkey Ankara Ten people have been arrested in
connection with the stabbing murders on Wednesday of three people at
a Christian publishing house in the Turkish town of Malatya.

Around five attackers raided the third floor office of Zirve Publishing
House on Wednesday afternoon binding the three victims, a German and
two Turks, by hand and foot and slashing their throats.

Two of the victims were declared dead at the scene, the third died
in hospital.

The three dead were named as Necati Aydin, 35, Ugur Yuksel, 32, and
German national Tilmann Geske, 43. Yuksel’s body was handed over to
relatives Wednesday night and was buried in his home town of Elazig
on Thursday.

A fourth man was being treated in a local hospital for injuries
sustained after either jumping out of a window or being thrown out.

Maltaya Governor Halil Ibrahim Dasoz told reporters on Thursday that
a large-scale police operation was underway but refused to speculate
whether the 10 arrested were members of any organized group.

Dasoz also refused to comment on speculation that the person who
fell from the window may in fact have been one of the attackers,
saying police had not had a chance to interview the man because he
was still receiving treatment in hospital. Dasoz said the 10 people
in custody had been arrested at various places around the city.

The stabbings are the latest in a string of attacks on Christians in
Turkey. In February 2006 a teenager shot dead an Italian priest in

the Black Sea city of Trabzon and earlier this year Turkish
nationalists killed the Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

Isa Karatas, the speaker for the Union of Turkish Churches who knew
one of the victims, Necati Aydin, said it was very clear they were
killed for their beliefs.

"Of course they had been receiving threats," Karatas told the Turkish
Daily News. "Is it possible to evangelize in Turkey and not get
threatened? Their only guilt was believing in Jesus and being open
about it. They died for their faith."

ISSUE OF COMPETITION PLACE FOR MEETINGS OF NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAMS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN BY EURO-2008 PROGRAM POSTPONED

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2007

CARDIFF, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Football Union (UEFA)
congress took place in the city of Cardiff, on April 18. It was
expected that the competition place for meetings of the national
teams of Armenia and Azerbaijan by the Euro-2008 elimination stage
program will be decided. But, the UEFA decided to touch upon this
issue in June.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
April 19, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

STATE DEPARTMENT REVISES MISSTATEMENT
REGARDING NAGORNO KARABAGH

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of State has revised the
mistaken assertion, within the Armenia section of its recently
released annual human rights report, that, "Armenia continues to
occupy the Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabagh and seven
surrounding Azerbaijani territories," reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

The amended language, released this week, has been posted on the
Department’s website. It reads as follows: "Armenian forces
occupy large portions of Azerbaijan territory adjacent to Nagorno-
Karabakh. Armenian officials maintain that they do not ‘occupy’
Nagorno-Karabakh itself." The Azerbaijan section, which included
nearly identical language, has yet to be revised.

"We take note of the fact that the State Department has responded
to our concern that the report’s mischaracterization of Nagorno
Karabagh’s status would be detrimental to the U.S. government’s
role as an impartial mediator of the Minsk Group negotiations,"
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We remain concerned
that the amended text continues to fall short of accurately
describing the situation, as well as by the fact that the
Azerbaijan section of the report continues to make incorrect
assertions, thus making its text inconsistent with the State
Department’s own revision of the Armenia section."

ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, in an April 3, 2007 letter to
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, expressed the Armenian
American community’s profound concern that, "such statements
fundamentally misrepresent the well-documented reality in the
region, contradict the Department’s previous human rights reports,
and undermine the credibility of the United States as an impartial
arbiter destined to a leadership role in the OSCE Minsk Group peace
process." He added that, "These unprecedented assertions are both
factually inaccurate and counter-productive to our government’s aim
of reaching a durable resolution to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict.
To say that Nagorno Karabagh is an Azerbaijani territory and that
Armenia occupies Nagorno Karabagh and other territories is to
ignore the very fundamentals of this conflict. These statements
only serve to send the wrong message to the Azerbaijani side and
further complicate the peace negotiations."

The Armenia report can be viewed online at:
9.htm

The Azerbaijan report can be viewed online at:
1.htm

The full text of the ANCA letter is provided below.

#####

Text of ANCA letter to Secretary Rice

April 3, 2007

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Rice:

I am writing to share with you our profound concern that serious
misstatements, portraying Armenia as an occupier of Azerbaijani
territory, have made their way into the Armenia and Azerbaijan
sections of the 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,
recently released by the Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy,
Human Rights, and Labor. Such statements fundamentally
misrepresent the well-documented reality in the region, contradict
the Department’s previous human rights reports, and undermine the
credibility of the United States as an impartial arbiter destined
to a leadership role in the OSCE Minsk Group peace process.

I refer specifically to the following sentence in the Armenia
section (Respect for Human Rights; Section 1: Respect for the
Integrity of the Person; Section A: Arbitrary or Unlawful
Deprivation of Life): "Armenia continues to occupy the Azerbaijani
territory of Nagorno-Karabagh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani
territories." I also refer to the equivalent sentence in the
Azerbaijan section (Respect for Human Rights; Section 1: Respect
for the Integrity of the Person; Section A: Arbitrary or Unlawful
Deprivation of Life): "Armenia continued to occupy the Azerbaijani
territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani
territories."

These unprecedented assertions are both factually inaccurate and
counter-productive to our government’s aim of reaching a durable
resolution to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict. To say that Nagorno
Karabagh is an Azerbaijani territory and that Armenia occupies
Nagorno Karabagh and other territories is to ignore the very
fundamentals of this conflict. These statements only serve to send
the wrong message to the Azerbaijani side and further complicate
the peace negotiations.

To the Department’s credit, it does appear that, in the weeks since
the initial release of the 2006 Report, there has been an effort,
albeit an awkward and insufficient one, to recognize this fact by
adding an asterisk modifying the word "Armenia" with the phrase
"Armenian forces." Unfortunately, rather than clarifying the
situation, this modification has only added to the confusion
surrounding this issue.

In the interest of truth and for the sake of an effective
peacemaking role by the United States, it is imperative that these
sentences be struck in their entirety from both the Armenia and
Azerbaijan sections, thus reaffirming U.S. policy on the side of
fairness and lasting peace.

I look forward to learning of your prompt action on this matter and
would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this
issue in greater detail.

Sincerely yours,

[signed]
Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman

cc: Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global
Affairs

Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs

Barry Lowenkron, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy,
Human Rights and Labor

Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs

RA FM: THE LAST CLOSED BORDER OF EUROPE NEEDS TO BE OPEN

Yerkir
19.04.2007 19:03

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – "For about ten years after the cease-fire,
Azerbaijan, and its ally Turkey, expected Armenia to collapse under
the weight of poverty, economic stagnation and despair.

This hasn’t happened and it will not happen. But no lessons are
being learned from this experience. The blockade continues," Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated speaking in the OSCE Permanent
Council’s session.

He said, in the issue to normalize relations with Turkey the Armenian
side does not put any preconditions and expects that Turkey, too,
won’t have preconditions. "This is the last closed border in Europe,
and it needs to open, so that Turkey can engage in the region more
positively, and bring its positive contribution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict," the RA FM underlined.

Vartan Oskanian also said, the blockade continues. "And with new
efforts: the evidence is the recent signing of a deal to begin
construction of a new railroad that will circumvent Armenia.

We never expected that new initiatives, Baku-Ceyhan for example,
would go through Armenia, but it’s amazing to even contemplate that
one might consider spending $700 mil to $1 billion to build a new
railroad where there is an existing rail that will perform the same
function, just to bypass Armenia," Oskanian stressed.

The RA Foreign Minister noted Armenia has offered Turkey and Azerbaijan
to use the existing one – the Kars-Gyumri railroad.

"Armenia would be willing not to be a beneficiary of the running of the
railroad, we won’t transport our goods on that railroad, we won’t even
charge transit fees, just use it, instead of spending $700 million,"
Oskanian said.

According to him unfortunately Turkey and Azerbaijan have not met
Armenia halfway on this issue. "Armenia will not be isolated, but we
can be alienated. A new railroad will not make us succumb, it will
not do more harm than the existing closed border.

It’s the political environment that will suffer, that’s what we
regret, not the economic benefits," Mr. Oskanian said. "We will
continue to advocate that the existing rail line be opened. And we
will go further, and ask that T urkey open the border and establish
normal ties with Armenia," the Armenian Foreign Minister underscored.

ARMENIA, RUSSIA MAKE GREAT PROGRESS IN BILATERAL RELATIONS OVER LAST 15 YEARS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 18 2007

YEREVAN, April 18. /ARKA-Novosti-Armenia/. Armenia and Russia have
made great progress in their political, economic and humanitarian
cooperation over the last 15 years, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham
Gharibjanyan stated at the opening ceremony for the photo exhibition
"Russia and Armenia: 15 years of diplomatic relations" organized by
the RIA Novosti.

He pointed out that the bilateral diplomatic r5elations are evidence of
Armenian-Russian centuries-old friendship, cooperation and partnership.

Gharibjanyan also pointed out that the two nations have deepened their
mutual respect over the last 15 years. In this context, he stressed
that no exhibition can cover the scope of bilateral relations.

"It is a happy fact that all the stages of Armenian-Russian cooperation
are being displayed at the exhibition," he said.

"We attach high importance to relations with Russia. We are strategic
partners, and the last 15 years have shown that Armenia and Russia
are not deviating from the course of cooperation they chose,"
Gharibjanyan said.

The exhibition has been organized by the Russian Agency of
International Information "RIA Novosti" on the occasion of the 15th
anniversary of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia. The
exhibition will be open at the Moscow Palace in Yerevan until April
25. About 60 best works of photographers of the "RIA Novosti" Agency
of all generations are being displayed at the exhibition.

The Russian Agency of International Information "RIA Novosti" is
one of the largest journalist structures in Russia. The news agency
provides information to both domestic and foreign markets.

ACTIVITIES OF AN AMERICAN COMPANY IN AN ANCIENT AZERBAIJANI TOWN TO BE DISCUSSED BY AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
April 18 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr E. Huseynli / Mubariz Gurbanoghli, a
Member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly
(PA) of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) has said that on
18 April that the participation of an American company in illegal
drawing of a so-called "major" plan of the ancient Azerbaijani City
of Shusha occupied by the Armenians would be discussed during the
forthcoming meeting of the PA BSEC.

The meeting will be held on 24-25 April. The Azerbaijani delegation
will raise the issues concerning Armenia’s occupation policy and the
non-constructive position this country keep on sticking to.

Notably, Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani territories
(Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 bordering regions) in 1992. These
Azerbaijani lands are still under occupation. A cease-fire agreement
was signed between the two conflict countries in 1994.

–Boundary_(ID_47TzxFBwHeqLX+q9egxxeA)–

ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMS WILL TRY TO REACH CONSENSUS, BAKU SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.04.2007 15:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The next meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign
Ministers scheduled for 19 April in Belgrade will focus on ways of
reaching an agreement on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement on
the basis of a consensus. If the sides fail to come to a conclusion,
the negotiation process will continue," the Foreign Minister of
Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, briefed the media in Baku.

According to him, the negotiations are a continuation of the Prague
process and will take place during the meeting of the Council of
Foreign Ministers of Black Sea Economic Cooperation the FMs will
participate in, Trend reports.

Middle East News Agency, Egypt
April 14 2007

ARMENIA PRESIDENT STRESSES SUPPORT TO ARAB CAUSES

Cairo, 14 April: Armenia will keep supporting the Arab issues at the
regional and international gatherings, said Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan.

He told MENA on Saturday that Armenia has been a supporter for Arab
causes at the international organizations.

Earlier in the day, the visiting Armenian president held talks with
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa.

The talks tackled means of boosting bilateral ties as well as
exchanging views about a draft of important issues, Kocharyan said.

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya
April 14 2006

Release the Kiruki report on Artur brothers, urges Koigi.

Written By:Daniel Langat , Posted: Sat, Apr 14, 2007

Caption: The Commission was appointed to investigate the activities
of the two Armenian brothers.

Assistant Minister for Information and Communication Koigi Wa Mwere
is urging the Government to release the Kiruki Commission report on
the Artur Brothers to the public.

Koigi says the matter is of national concern and Kenyans need to know
the findings of the Commission, which was set up by the Government to
investigate the activities of the two Armenian brothers.

He said the release of the report would clear the air since every
time issues concerning them were raised Kenyans become alarmed.

Koigi was speaking to Kenya News Agency after attending a two-day
workshop in Nanyuki said.

Several opposition leaders have also voiced their concern and asked
the government to release the findings of the commission.

The government has since denied allegations that the deported
brothers are back in the country.

FIRST GAMES OF ARMENIAN MEN VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TAKE PLACE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian Men Volleyball Championship
started on April 11 at Yerevan’s Kilikia training ground. Six teams
will take part in the championship. Four of them represent Yerevan,
one team Vanadzor and one Yeghegnadzor.

The following results were registered in championship’s first tour:
Kilikia – Arabkir 3 to 0, PPV-Dinamo – Vanadzor 3 to 0 and Yeghegnadzor
– FIMA 0 to 3.

Games of second tour will take place on April 12.