Author: Tambiyan Samvel

Azeri leader receives credentials of Iraqi, Japanese, Ukrainian envoys
ANS TV, Baku
2 Dec 04
Presenter Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev today received the
credentials of the newly-appointed ambassadors to Azerbaijan from
Iraq, Japan and Ukraine.
Correspondent, over video of the ceremony The president first met
Japanese ambassador Tadahiro Abe. The Japanese ambassador spoke about
friendly relations between the two countries and the history of
bilateral ties. He conveyed his emperor’s greetings to Ilham
Aliyev. President Aliyev spoke about cooperation with the Japanese
government within the framework of international organizations. The
Japanese government has allocated major loans to Azerbaijan so far and
major projects are being implemented due to those loans, he said.
President Aliyev thanked the ambassador and his government for
cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and for schools built in
Azerbaijan on the funds allocated by the Japanese government.
Then Aliyev received the credentials of Ukrainian ambassador Anatoliy
Yurchenko. The ambassador said that he had arrived in Azerbaijan at a
difficult time for his country. However, he hoped that his activity
would give an impetus for the development of relations between the two
countries. He said that Azerbaijan and Ukraine were successfully
developing cooperation within the framework of the CIS, the Council of
Europe and the GUUAM Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and
Moldova countries.
President Aliyev said that Ukraine always supported Azerbaijan in the
Karabakh settlement.
The Karabakh conflict was a focus of attention when the president
received the credentials of Iraqi ambassador Umar Isma’il. The
president recalled that the Azerbaijani lands had been occupied by
Armenians and said that the Iraqi people was also living through hard
times. He hoped that peace will be restored in this Middle East
country soon.
Leyla Hasanova, Ali Ahmadov, Ibrahim Telmanoglu for ANS.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHAIRMAN OF TURKEY’S PARLIAMENT REGRETS FOR “TRAGEDY OF THE BEGINNING
OF THE CENTURY” BUT CONSIDERS INADMISSIBLE ITS “SPECULATION”
YEREVAN, December 1 (Noyan Tapan). The members of RA NA delegation who
participated in the 24th plenary session of Parliamentary Assembly of
Black Sea Economic Cooperation held on November 23-25 in Antalia had a
meeting with journalists on December 1. 2 of 4 members of Armenian
delegation hadn’t left for Antalia for valid reasons.
Mekhak Mkhitarian (Orinats Yerkir) and Vladimir Badalian (National
Deputy MP group) who participated in the session told the journalists
that about 20 issues were included into the agenda. In particular,
issues regarding simplification of border admission of people and
goods, economic results and perspectives, preservation of regional
stability and security, role of the parliament in struggle against
corruption, preservation of cultural heritage were discussed. The
2005 budget of the organization was also approved. The number of 11
member-states of the organizations increased by 1, Serbia also became
a member of the organization. The Ukraine assumed the chairmanship of
PA for the next 6 months. The next plenary session will be held in
July 2005 in Kiev.
It was also mentioned that Vladimir Badalian was elected Deputy
Chairman of one of 3 standing commissions of PA, commission on
cultural and social issues. The MP drew special attention to the sad
condition of 916 Armenian historic-cultural monuments in Turkey’s
territory, especially to the sad condition of Ani and proposed that
they should be restored jointly with Armenia. But, according to him,
the proposal was ignored.
The Parliamentary Assembly discussed and declined Georgia’s proposal
“to stop cooperation with the countries with separatist regimes”. The
proposal received 3 for and 3 against votes, 4 MPs abstained from
voting. Besides Armenia, RF and Turkey were also against the proposal.
The Armenian MPs were especially impressed by the meeting with Bulent
Arnj, Chairman of Turkey’s Parliament, and the “warm atmosphere.” The
perspectives of Armenian-Turkish relations, Turkey’s possible
membership in EU, issues of Nagorno Karabakh settlement were discussed
during the meeting lasting half an hour. In particular, the Turkish
high-ranking official called in question the efficiency of activity of
OSCE Minsk Group and expressed bewilderment in connection with the
fact that Armenia declined Turkey’s readiness of mediation in Karabakh
issue. He mentioned that the steps aimed at recognition of Armenian
Genocide and especially the activity of Turkish Armenians in this
issue hamper establishment of friendly relations between Armenia and
Turkey. Not using the “genocide” word Arnj said in private
conversation that he regrets for the tragedy of the beginning of the
century but considers inadmissible the speculation of the issue. The
Armenian MPs didn’t agree to Arnj’s viewpoint and, in particular,
expressed an opinion that Turkey should display equal approaches both
to the other countries of the region and to Armenia.

Interfax
Dec 1 2004
Armenia introduces second power line to Iran
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia introduced a second power transmission
line to double electricity supplies to and from Iran, the Armenian
government’s press office told Interfax.
The 82-kilometer, 200-megawatt 220-kilovolt line was built with an
Iranian credit of $8.4 million in accordance with a memorandum signed
by the two countries in July 2002.
Armenia will pay the credit off with electricity supplies.
Armenia and Iran plan to sign a memorandum on a third line in Yerevan
on December 1.
Armenia supplies electricity to Iran for five months during the
summer and receives electricity from Iran in the winter.

YVES TERNON: TURKISH HISTORIANS ARE NOT HONEST TODAY EITHER
Azg/arm
01 Dec 04
The French Le Mond newspaper published noted French scholar Yves
Ternon’s interview after the Venice scientific conference late in
October. Below we present the interview.
– How did it happen that Yves Ternon, the surgeon, became a noted
historian studying genocides?
– This is an extensive process that has been continuing for 40 years
now. As a surgeon I was worried over the heinous experiments of nazi
doctors during the WW II. I found out that they were totally connected
with the Jewish Holocaust. I began reviewing into the matter together
with my friend Dr. Socrat Hellmann and after having worked for 10
years I switched to the Armenian Cause. I say “Armenian Cause” as I
was not sure at the time that I deal with genocide. I could not
suppose that I will face the phenomenon of negation that gradually
enlarges resulting today in nonsensical situations. Getting deeper
into the issue of Armenian Genocide I could not overlook the fact any
more. Later onI tried to include the issue of genocide definition into
the context of 20-century atrocities. It is obvious that the two
mentioned cases (with Armenians and Jews) as well as the actions
against Tutsis in Rwanda are undoubtedly described as
genocide. Concerning the atrocities committed by Red Khmers in
Cambodia and the famine of 1932-33 in Ukraine, I can only say that
they need to be investigated. I think that professionalism comes out
in tough spheres. Thatis the reason why I will limit my comparative
analysis’ circle with only the three mentioned genocides that will
give us the chance for a better understandingof genocides.
– Did not your profession of surgeon enable you do suchlike
researches?
– Not at all. By the way, that was due to my friends that I became
doctor of history, not out of vanity but wishing to be a reliable
specialist.
– Could you please tell about Venice scientific conference that took
place at the end of October? Where did the initiative come?
– The conference was held on October 28-30. Father Zekiyan, former
member of Mkhitarian Congregation, and Prof. Rigoy of Chini Foundation
were the initiators. There were 20 scientists participating. We were
hosted in San Giorno Majore Island. The aim of the meeting was to
discuss the history of Armenian-Turkish relations. There were
participants from Armenia, USA (Ruben Adalian), Canada (Prof. Frank
Cholt), Israel (Prof. Charney), France (Ramón Gevorgian and me).
There were scientists from Italy as well. Everything would be fine but
for few braggart and provoking Turks. I don’t mean Mr. Zaraqolu and
Taner Akcam, of course, they are independent historians, but I mean
those scientists from Ankara and Istanbul. Hence, Prof. Bektay made a
challenging speech saying that the principle of Armenian Genocide is
not a subject of discussion. He said that Turkey is not ready to
recognize Armenian Genocide, and that only progressive minds in Turkey
speak about the Genocide. He said that Turkey needs to become EN
member firstly and only then bring up such issues. That was simply a
trap. It ‘s known that anyone mentioning the Armenian Genocide in
Turkey is to get 10 years of imprisonment according to the 305 article
of the constitution. In my speech I spoke about state negationism
comparing Armenian Genocide with the Holocaust and the genocide of
Tutsis in Rwanda. Bektay became blush. He showed few documents
evidently abridged saying that he does not deny the fact of the
Genocide. Whereas, it is banned to talk of Genocide in Turkey’s
universities. German Prof. Geunz defended pastor Lepsius’ position. I
told one ofthe professors from Ankara that he does not comprehend the
essence of the Genocide. There may be no compromising, either you
recognize the Genocide or you do not. I urged Prof. Bektay to inform
his masters that denial is not the best way.
We learnt during the conference that there are two positions in
Turkey, both governmental. First one is more hard-handed and prohibits
any recognition, the second one tends to bury the hatchet but gains
time till December 17 when the EU is to publish its report on starting
accession talks with Turkey. Such a speculation is very worrying. Many
traps have been set.
Despite all these the conference was on a high level. Speeches will be
published soon.
– So the conference did not turn into political debate?
– No, our work was intellectual in essence. But there were still two
opinions. Firstly, any time we raise the issue of the Armenian
Genocide we find ourselves in politics and face hard-edged and dirty
negation. Secondly, dialogue with Turkish intelligentsia from Turkey,
i.e. people depending on the authorities, became impossible. It’s hard
to believe, alas, that there are honest scientists among the Turkish
intelligentsia today.

PRESS RELEASE
November 30, 2004
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]
AUA PAPAZIAN LIBRARY ESTABLISHES INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ELECTION
SYSTEMS (IFES) CORNER
Yerevan – On Monday, November 29, 2004, the American University of Armenia
Papazian Library (AUAPL) held official opening ceremonies of the
International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) Corner. IFES’s Armenia
branch donated various library materials and furniture to the Papazian
Library to establish the IFES Corner, which includes 2,720 print, video and
electronic, international and local material in English, Armenian and
Russian.
The IFES collection is displayed in the AUA Papazian Library main reading
room and provides information on human rights, elections, gender issues,
mass media, democracy, civic education, corruption, and similar topics.
IFES-Armenia implemented a 4-year democracy and social reform project to
empower the citizens of Armenia. The project, funded by the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID), encouraged a more informed and
active civil society by building the grass root capacity of communities to
communicate with their elected representatives.
AUA members along with library officials from Armenia’s National Library,
National Academy of Sciences Fundamental Library, the Parliamentary Library,
and representatives from international and US agencies, expressed their
appreciation for IFES-Armenia’s generous contribution of its collection to
AUA. Satenik Avagian, AUA Papazian Library Director, stated, `The
IFES-Armenia collection will significantly contribute to the intellectual
enrichment of our readers. AUA’s Papazian Library serves not only the AUA
community, but also the general population of Armenia, and we are happy to
provide public access to this valuable collection of information.’
AUA’s Papazian Library is a member of the Armenian Library Association and
participates in interlibrary lending with libraries throughout Armenia. It
benefits from a formal agreement with the Florida Atlantic University, which
allows AUA access to FAU Libraries holdings. The AUA Papazian Library
continues to serve as a model library for Armenia and the region, utilizing
advances in information technologies and collaborating with partners to
share resources and information.
—————————————-
The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit

Georgia plays down stoppage of transit cargo in Azerbaijan
Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
29 Nov 04
[Presenter] Let’s turn to the events in Georgia. Azerbaijan’s
representatives in Georgia have made their first comments about the
stoppage of Georgia-bound cargo.
Tomorrow employees of the two countries’ customs departments will
start inspecting railway wagons heading for Georgia. The Georgians
will have to prove that the neighbouring state’s produce is not being
forwarded to Armenia. A total of 712 Georgia-bound wagons are sitting
idle at the stations in Azerbaijan. [Passage omitted]
[Correspondent] Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Georgia, who had a meeting
at the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning, has said
that the agreements should not be violated. He was referring to the
agreement prohibiting the forwarding of transit cargo to third
countries if this harms national interests of either country.
[Ramiz Hasanov, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Georgia, interviewed] Every
country has its own interests. Would we be infringing Georgia’s
national interests if we were supplying diesel or other produce to
Abkhazia or [South] Ossetia? I think that we would.
[Mikheil Ukleba, deputy foreign minister] Not all cargo is being
blocked. Two hundred and seventy four tank wagons, as well as
grain-loaded trains, have left for Georgia. He [presumably Hasanov]
has stressed that not a single Georgia-bound shipment will be
stopped. [Passage omitted]
[Correspondent] The Georgian Customs Department has said that Georgia,
not Armenia, is the consumer of the products made in Azerbaijan.
[Levan Jgharkava, captioned as head of directorate of the customs
control] Goods made in Azerbaijan have not been going to Azerbaijan
[should be Armenia] via Georgia because there is a separate agreement
on this. While this agreement speaks about the produce of other
countries, i.e. Turkmenistan, passing through Azerbaijan and
Georgia. [sentence as heard]
A delegation of Azerbaijan’s customs department will arrive in Georgia
tomorrow. Together with the Georgians, they will study the information
about the shipments suspended in Azerbaijan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

L’Express , France
29 novembre 2004
HK comme humour
par Médioni Gilles
Alexis HK, avec ses chansons pleines de gags, mêle rire à retardement
et talent
Alexis HK est un chanteur comique triste qui adore le cinéma, surtout
Fantômas “sans le son” et les nanars des années 1970. Son premier
album, Belle Ville (2003), se nourrissait de “l’absurde merveilleux”
du quotidien. “Le point de départ de mes chansons est toujours très
simple, dit-il. Je m’inspire de mes propres aventures ou d’anecdotes
lues ici ou là, puis je les fantasme. J’invente des personnages, un
humour, une fiction. Très vite, tout se complique.” Et pas qu’un peu.
Il a chanté, par exemple, les mésaventures de Jean Lefebvre enfermé
dans un placard (le vaudeville), le saut dans le vide mélo-drôlatique
de Gaspard le nain volant et les dérives de Bradonna, le fils caché
de Brassens et de Madonna…
Avec L’Homme du moment, son nouveau disque, il s’attaque à
l’intersyndicale des chaises longues, au coming out d’un travesti de
la gare Saint-Lazare – qui avoue son adhésion à l’UMP – ou à la
libération des “chiens de vieille”. “Ce sont des chansons gags, des
tartes à la crème, des textes pleins d’humour à retardement, analyse
Alexis, goguenard. Mais j’écris aussi des titres plus romantiques,
naïfs, kitsch, premier degré.”
D’une enfance passée dans l’Ouest parisien, ce long jeune homme de 29
ans a retenu “une culture pavillonnaire, les films du dimanche soir à
la télé, des parents qui s’occupent bien de leurs enfants, des
origines arméniennes par mon père…”. Avant de s’appeler HK, Alexis
Djoshkounian épelait généralement son nom jusqu’au milieu: d, j, o,
s, h, k. “On m’arrêtait toujours à k. J’ai résumé l’histoire en deux
lettres.” Etudiant en philosophie “par snobisme de jeunesse”, il
rencontre sur les bancs de la fac de Nanterre Olaf Hund, manager du
label de disques Musiques hybrides, avec lequel il bricole des
morceaux en studio… Quelques concerts plus tard, Alexis enregistre
C’que t’es belle (quand j’ai bu), ballade éthylique, et Phobie,
chanson sur “un névrosé terrorisé à l’idée de se faire sodomiser par
surprise”. C’est peu dire qu’il se fait remarquer… En quelques
années, Alexis HK est devenu l’un des piliers des chanteurs
humoristiques. Ses fameux concerts donnés en cardigan, sous influence
déjantée de Georges Brassens, font date. Plusieurs de ses chansons
dressent d’ailleurs des hommages clairs au chanteur sétois. “Je
l’écoute encore et encore.”
Enfant de la télé, il a toujours un livre ouvert, “car mon ignorance
est une terre infinie”, ment-il. Les dernières élections américaines
l’ont ramené vers “les politiques” d’Aristote, “apprendre à manipuler
pour gouverner. J’en tirerai sûrement une chanson. Désormais, j’ai
décidé d’être sérieux”. Dans Juste une fois, le morceau qui clôt son
disque, il se rêve en cochonnet de liège au beau milieu de six boules
de fer. “Pour interloquer. Pour consterner une dernière fois.” Un
ultime pied de nez.

USA, France, Russia thwart Azerbaijan-proposed Karabakh resolution in UN – TV
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
24 Nov 04
Presenter Namiq Aliyev Voting on the draft resolution on the situation
on Azerbaijan’s occupied territories submitted to the UN General
Assembly has been postponed for the time being. This occurred because
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs – the USA, France and Russia – were
against this document.
Correspondent, over archive footage of the UN The UN General Assembly
postponed indefinitely voting on the situation on Azerbaijan’s
occupied territories due to the protest of the USA, France and
Russia. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov submitted the
draft resolution to the UN General Assembly yesterday 23 November .
Passage omitted: reported details

US telethon raises 11m dollars for separatist Karabakh highway
Arminfo, Yerevan
26 Nov 04
Los Angeles, 26 November: A total of 11m dollars have been raised as
a result of a telethon in the USA to raise funds for the construction
of the North-South highway in Nagornyy Karabakh.
Expressing his gratitude to those who contributed to the fund-raising,
the Nagornyy Karabakh president, Arkadiy Gukasyan, said in a live
broadcast that the biggest contribution was made by well-known
American entrepreneurs of Armenian descent – Louis Simon Manoukian,
Gerard Cafesjian and Hrair Hovnanian, as well as by Eduardo Eurnekian
from Argentina.
In parallel with the USA, a fund-raising action was held in Nagornyy
Karabakh where over 150,000 dollars were raised. The donations
were made by both enterprises and institutions of the republic and
individual citizens. So far, a total of 7.2m drams (14,400 dollars)
have already arrived at Artsakhbank accounts. The biggest contribution
was made by legal and physical entities of Mardakert [Agdara] District
of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic – to the tune of 1.8m drams [about
3,600 dollars].
We should recall that to complete the construction of the highway,
a project valued at 25m dollars, a total of 12.5m dollars remained
to be raised in the telethon, of which 11m dollars were raised on 25
November 2004.

Equatorial Guinea court to rule in coup plot case
By Estelle Shirbon
Reuters, UK
Nov 26 2004
MALABO (Reuters) – An Equatorial Guinea court is due to give its
verdict on 14 suspected foreign mercenaries accused of plotting a coup
in the tiny country, sub-Saharan Africa’s third biggest oil producer.
Prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for Nick Du Toit, a
South African accused of leading an advance party of mercenaries
bent on ousting President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. The verdict
was originally expected at 9 a.m. British time on Friday but court
officials said it would now be announced 1 p.m.
Obiang has ruled Equatorial Guinea, split between volcanic islands
and a mountainous jungle mainland in central Africa, since 1979 when
he seized power in a coup against his uncle.
Many foreign critics say Obiang and his allies have pocketed much of
the country’s recently acquired oil wealth, and human rights groups
say abuses are rife — charges Obiang dismisses.
Du Toit at first admitted he had taken part in a coup plot, but later
retracted his confession in court, saying it had been extracted by
torture. Several of the men on trial with him also said they were
tortured.
State prosecutor Jose Olo Obono denied their allegations, saying all
their rights had been respected.
Obono has named a group of foreigners as financial backers of the
planned putsch, including Mark Thatcher, son of former Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher.
Thatcher, who denies any involvement, was arrested in South Africa
on August 25 on charges related to the alleged plot. A court there
on Thursday delayed his trial until April.
Thatcher had also been due to answer questions about the case from
Equatorial Guinea in South Africa on Friday but a Cape Town magistrate
postponed that hearing until February 18.
The prosecutor says the plot aimed to replace Obiang with exiled
opposition politician Severo Moto, with backing from an international
web of financiers lured by Equatorial Guinea’s lucrative offshore
oil deposits.
PLOT ALLEGATIONS DENIED
Moto, who lives in Spain, denies all involvement in the plot. The
prosecutor has asked for him to be sentenced to death in absentia
and has called for 102-year jail terms for eight members of Moto’s
self-proclaimed government in exile.
Besides Thatcher, the prosecutor named several other British or
London-based people as alleged financiers of the coup plan.
Malabo last week said it wanted an explanation from London after
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the British government had first
heard about the plan in late January — more than a month before it
was foiled.
The Malabo trial has been under international scrutiny, with diplomats,
foreign journalists and observers from Amnesty International and the
International Bar Association following every court session.
Seven other South Africans and six Armenians, all arrested at the same
time as Du Toit, are on trial with him. The South Africans could face
86-year prison terms while the Armenians could be jailed for 26 years.
Five Equatorial Guineans are also defendants in the same trial. The
prosecutor has requested jail terms for two of them, and has dropped
charges against the other three.
All of the accused told the court they were innocent.