Author: Tigranian Ani

TURKEY AND RUSSIA STRUGGLE FOR SOUTH CAUCASIAN REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.04.2007 14:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Turkey and Russia lead an active struggle for the
South Caucasian region, and we should confess that currently Turkey
has a little outdistanced Russia," Director of RA NAS Institute for
Oriental Studies doctor Ruben Safrastian stated to a press conference
in Yerevan. He said, Georgia and Azerbaijan are moving towards West,
which means collapse of Russian diplomacy in the region. "However,
we must underline that a more global opposition is on the way between
Sunnis and Shias. With the help of the United States Sunnis are trying
to form a union of Sunni states. Most recently the first meeting
was held in Pakistan with participation of Turkey, Egypt, Saudi
Arabia and Pakistan. But soon after it representatives of Iran and
Saudi Arabia organized a meeting in order to stop the process. Iran
outweighs Turkey and Azerbaijan in regional policy, which proceeds
from Armenia’s interests," Safrastian stressed, adding that the
U.S. unnecessarily politicizes opposition between Shias and Sunnis.

He also noted formation of a one more alliance is on the way
between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia aimed against Armenia
and Russia. "However, Russia will always be present in the South
Caucasian region and the Middle East supporting Iran," doctor
Safrastian underscored.

THERE IS NO SPLIT IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA

Arminfo
2007-04-03 16:42:00

There is no split in the Republican Party of Armenia, and the party is
not divided into old and new wings as it is reported by the mass media,
RPA press-secretary, Eduard Sharmazanov, said at a press-conference,
Tuesday.

According to him, the party follows RPA leader and Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan’s precept and goes on working cohesively,
decisively and purposefully. "A.Margaryan proved with his life
that politics and morality are compatible concepts," E.Sharmazanov
said. He emphasized that after A.Margaryan’s death the RPA tactics will
change because A.Margaryan, as the RPA leader, implemented the main
function. But the strategy and ideology of the party will not change.

To note, 56 year old A.Margaryan died of infarction on March 25. After
his death, the RPA leader’s duties were assumed by Serzh Sargsyan,
Chairman of the RPA Council and Defense Minister, who was nominated
for prime minister yesterday evening.

LAVROV AGAINST USING FORCE IN IRAN, TALKS KOSOVO, KARABAKH

RIA Novosti, Russia
April 3 2007

YEREVAN, April 3 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is totally against using force
in international conflicts, including the Iranian nuclear problem, and
advocates diplomacy in Kosovo and a breakaway region in the Caucasus,
the foreign minister said Tuesday.

The UN Security Council passed a new resolution on Iran March 24
toughening economic sanctions against the country suspected of a
covert nuclear program. Russia, which is building a $1-billion nuclear
power plant in Iran, has resisted any strict sanctions against the
Islamic Republic.

"The UN Security Council has set an international legal framework for
influencing Iran, and it excludes the use of force. We call on those
who have such ideas to keep within international law," Sergei Lavrov,
who is in Armenia for a two-day visit, said in an apparent reference
to recent media reports about possible U.S. strikes against Iran.

The U.S. Administration sees Iran as a "rogue state" and is determined
to stop the Islamic Republic, diplomatically or otherwise, from
obtaining nuclear weapons. Washington now plans to deploy a missile
defense shield in Central Europe allegedly to protect itself from
potential missile strikes from Iran or North Korea.

In comments on another international problem, the status of the
breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo, the Russian minister said a
unilateral approach to the issue was unacceptable.

"Russia will only support a resolution that meets the interests of
both Belgrade and Pristina," Lavrov said.

The UN Security Council will consider a plan of Martti Ahtisaari,
a special envoy for talks on Kosovo, outlining the future status of
the province April 3. Ahtisaari pushes for Kosovo’s internationally
supervised sovereignty. Serbian authorities strongly oppose the plan
as a threat to their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As a veto-wielding member in the 15-nation UN Security Council and
a traditional ally of Serbia, Russia has insisted that a decision on
Kosovo satisfy both Kosovar and Serbian authorities, and that it must
be reached through negotiations.

The Russian foreign minister said the UN Security Council decision on
Kosovo would affect other territorial conflicts and set a precedent for
other self-proclaimed regions, including the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh
province in Azerbaijan.

The breakaway province, which was plunged into bloodshed in the early
1990s, has been a bone of contention between Azerbaijan and Armenia
ever since. Moscow has been more supportive of Armenia’s position in
the conflict.

"We hope an agreement will soon be reached on Nagorno-Karabakh,"
Lavrov said.

The minister said the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict where the Minsk Group
of mediators – France, the U.S. and Russia – were working under the
auspices of Europe’s largest security organization, the OSCE, was
unique because the interests of Russia, the European Union and the
U.S. did not contradict each other and those of the conflicting sides.

But Lavrov added the leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan would have
the final say in the issue.

"We appreciate the efforts of Yerevan and Baku to promote the
negotiations, above all, between the presidents and foreign ministers,"
he said.

YUSUF HALACOGLU: ERDOGAN SHOULD DEMAND 19 COUNTRIES TO GROUND THEIR RECOGNITION OF ‘ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 2 2007

"Prime Minister Rajab Tayyib Erdogan should immediately appeal to 19
countries, which recognized the events happened in 1915 as genocide.

These countries should be demanded to ground their decisions to
recognize these events as genocide.

The Prime Minister should note if these countries can not give proofs,
we will break all relations with them," chief of Turkish Historical
Society, Professor Yusuf Halacoglu told the APA’s Turkey bureau.

"I am sure that none of these countries will be able to reply to us
within a month. Then the Prime Minister should hold press conference
and clarify Turkey’s relations with these countries," he said.

The professor suspects that some documents in Armenian archives
have disappeared.

"We will soon find out whether our doubts are groundless or not.

Foreign scientists want to investigate mass graveyards in Turkey,
and the government has already given positive answer. Such a mass
graveyard will be opened in Hatay on April 24. Unlike Armenians,
we announced that our archives are open. Turkey is ready to pay for
opening dashnak (Armenian) archives in Boston," he said.

Chief of Turkish Historical Society also spoke of the necessity of
united struggle against claims on ‘Armenians genocide’.

"Armenia does not recognize Turkey’s borders regulated by Kars treaty
of 1921. Why does Armenia demand opening of the neighboring country’s
borders which it does not recognize? Border is the main means to exert
pressure on Armenia – when 20% of Azerbaijani territories are under
occupation. No government in Turkey can bring the issue on opening
of borders with Armenia," he stressed.

VICTIMS OF "GENOCIDE" COMMEMORATED IN AZERBAIJAN

AZG Armenian Daily
31/03/2007

Official Baku alleges that genocide of the people of Azerbaijan was
committed by Armenians on March 31, 1918. "Armed units of the Armenian
"Dashnaks" (members of "Dashnaktsutiun" – Armenian Revolutionary Union
party members) had committed massacres of the Azerbaijani population
in Baku," Azerbaijani historical science says.

In a speech dedicated to the "event" President of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev noted that this date is related to the robberies and massacres
of Armenian armed units against Azerbaijanis in March, 1918 and
have a broad chronology. "Within nearly 200 years, Armenians carried
out military, political, ideological campaigns aimed to oppress the
Azeris and remove from their native lands, to occupy new lands and to
build "great Armenian state." Removal of great number of Armenians to
Karabakh and Zangezur from Iran and the Ottoman Empire in early 19th
century, mass massacres and robberies committed by Armenian forces in
different parts of South Caucasus in 1905 and 1918, deportation of our
compatriots from their native lands in Armenian territory during 1948
-1953, the large-scale war for occupying the Nagorno Karabakh province
of Azerbaijan, which started in 1988 and its, and the Khojaly genocide
in 1992 are the bloody pages of a planned genocide policy committed
by Armenian aggressors against Azerbaijani people. At present 20%
of Azerbaijani territory is under Armenian occupation," Azerbaijani
president declared.

Aliev President has expressed his confidence that Azerbaijan will
achieve restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty and
exposure of the ones who carried out genocide policy against the
Azeri people.

MESROB MUTAFYAN DEMANDS TO PLACE A CROSS ATOP HOLY CROSS CHURCH IN AKHTAMAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.03.2007 15:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Constantinople Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic
Church Mesrob Mutafyan turned to the Turkish government demanding to
return the cross to its original place on the renovated Holy Cross
Church on Akhtamar island. Turkish Daily News reports that Patriarch’s
letter was sent to the Turkish MFA three days ago. Patriarch Mutafyan
in his letter also says that the church must function not as a museum,
but as a working temple. Nevertheless, the priest; stated that he is
happy for the opening of Holy Cross.

"I congratulate everyone who realized this project," the Turkish
newspaper reports.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Levent Bilman confirmed the request
in his weekly press conference, and said the ministry will report
its view to the Ministry of Culture, but it would take some time. The
newspaper reminds that Armenian Deputy Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjian
will represent his country in today’s inauguration, who is leading to
an Armenian delegation composed of experts, architects. The publication
underlines that the Armenian delegation made the entry to Turkey from
Georgia since the border between Turkey and Armenia has been closed
since 1993.

"However, having been under strong pressure because of a resolution
proposed to the U.S. House of Representatives that calls on the
United States to accept that a genocide occurred during World War I,
Turkey is aiming to gain the sympathy of Armenians using the opening
ceremony of Akhtamar," Turkish Daily News underscores.

In its part Zaman newspaper notes along with his letter Patriarch
Mesrob has sent old photographs of the Holy Cross Church, where clearly
is visible the metal cross atop the dome of the church. Levent Bilman
said this issue will be thoroughly examined.

AKHALKALAK REGIONAL ASSEMBLY CHAIRMAN SENDS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO
ANDRANIK MARGARIAN’S RELATIVES

AKHALKALAK, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Akhalkalak
Regional Assembly Chairman Khachik Ayvazian, on behalf of the Regional
Assembly and personally himself, expressed condolence to Prime
Minister of Armenia, Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia
Andranik Margarian’s family and relatives on the occasion of his
premature death. As Javakhk-Info states, Kh. Ayvazian will
participate in Andranik Margarian’s funeral on March 28.

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
March 27, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA AND GENOCIDE INTERVENTION NETWORK TAKE TO
CAPITOL HILL TO END THE CYCLE OF GENOCIDE

— Over 100 Anti-Genocide Advocates from 25 States
Visit all 535 Congressional offices

— Urge Passage of Armenian Genocide Resolution
and Darfur Divestment Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Anti-Genocide advocates from across the United
States converged on Capitol Hill on March 22nd and 23rd to urge
Members of Congress to pass Armenian Genocide legislation
(H.Res.106/S.Res.106), support targeted Sudan Divestment
legislation (S.831) and ensure proper funding for peacekeepers to
help stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

Over 100 activists from 25 states participated in the advocacy
days, titled "End the Cycle of Genocide: Grassroots Capitol
Campaign." The program was organized by the ANCA and the Genocide
Intervention Network (GI-Net). By the end of the whirlwind two-day
campaign, activists had visited all 100 Senate and 435 House of
Representatives offices, meeting with Members of Congress, their
staff and dropping off information regarding pending Armenian and
Darfur genocide legislation.

"I think this [ANCA / GI-Net] partnership is huge in the fact that
we are combining the need to recognize past genocides to help stop
current genocides," explained GI-Net Executive Director Mark
Hannis. "These advocacy days are critical because, as all the
experts show, it is political will that is the fundamental issue at
failing to prevent and stop genocide. So that is where it is key
that we pressure public officials, we meet with them as we have
done over the past two days to let them know that they need to
recognize past genocides and stop the ones happening right now."

The advocacy days began at 8:00am on March 22nd with briefings by
the ANCA and Genocide Intervention Network teams on the current
status of Armenian Genocide and Darfur Genocide legislation
followed by a brief primer on advocacy tactics, helpful for many
who had traveled to the nation’s capitol for the first time. The
participants, young and old, then split into groups committed to
reaching out to every member of the Senate and House, attending
meetings set up with the assistance of ANCA regional and local
chapters.

"This two day visit to Washington, DC could not come at a more
critical time," commented Andrew Kzirian, Executive Director of the
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region. "With
the support of over 180 cosponsors for H. Res. 106 and the recent
introduction of S. Res. 106, activists everywhere must realize that
we must demonstrate our grassroots power both locally in our
districts across the nation, and nationally in Washington, DC – I
am extremely pleased to see over 100 anti-genocide advocates here
on Capitol Hill working to raise awareness regarding Darfur
divestment and the Armenian Genocide," added Kzirian.

"The diversity of Grassroots Capitol Campaign participants was most
inspiring," explained ANCA Eastern Region Director Karine Birazian.
"From former Congressional staff to students raising their voices
for the first time in support of this key human rights issue – it
is clear that the anti-genocide constituency in the United States
is growing and becoming increasingly effective."

On Thursday evening, participants joined with anti-genocide
advocates from the Greater Washington DC area to share their
stories at the "End the Cycle of Genocide" Capitol Hill observance.
Members of Congress participating in the observance included
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ),
Armenian Genocide Resolution author Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad
Sherman (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), David Dreier (R-CA), Donald Payne
(D-NJ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), John Sarbanes
(D-MD), and Jean Schmidt (R-OH).

Reps Pallone and Schiff emphasized the importance of holding
advocacy days to call attention to anti-genocide legislation.
"Grassroots… is really what it is all about," explained Rep.
Pallone. "You come down here and you talk to Members of Congress
and when you go home you talk to them and other elected officials
and other community groups and create this type of coalition. It
is crucial for any success in ending the cycle of genocide."

Rep. Schiff explained that the assault on the Armenian Genocide
resolution is greater this year than ever before. "Throughout the
years that I have worked on this here, and Frank [Pallone] long
before I got here, there has always been vigorous opposition to the
Genocide Resolution. But I have never seen it of this order of
magnitude. And the pushback from the Turkish lobby and its allies
is extraordinary. And that means that all of you, and all of your
friends and family and colleagues have to redouble our efforts not
only to win new supporters of the resolution but to make sure that
we keep the supporters that we have steadfast. Because they are
working not only to prevent the growth of support for the
resolution, but to peel people off of it."

The anti-genocide advocates focused on Armenian Genocide
legislation (S.Res.106/H.Res.106) which reaffirms the U.S. record
on the Armenian Genocide and urges the President to properly
characterize the Armenian Genocide as "genocide" in his yearly
April 24th statement. The House version was introduced this
January by Representatives Schiff, George Radanovich (R-CA),
Pallone and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) along with Representatives
Sherman and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee. This measure currently has 182 cosponsors. The Senate
resolution, introduced by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and John
Ensign (R-NV) currently has 26 cosponsors.

Activists stressed the urgent need for action to stop the ongoing
genocide in Darfur. They urged support for the Sudan Divestment
Authorization Act (SDAA – S.831) in the Senate, also introduced by
Sen. Durbin, which authorizes states to divest from companies
helping to fund genocide in Darfur, Sudan. In the House, activists
called for increased funding for peacekeeping troops stationed in
Darfur, in an effort to curb ongoing violence against innocent
civilians. Since February, 2003, the Sudanese government in
Khartoum and the Janjaweed militia have used rape, displacement,
organized starvation and mass murder to kill more than 400,000 and
displace 2.5 million, with numbers growing every day.

The anti-genocide advocacy team included individuals of all ages –
from high school students to seasoned veterans of Capitol Hill
outreach. Among them were the twenty-students from the New
Jersey’s Pascack Valley High School Advanced Placement (AP)
Government class, led by teacher Ken Sarajian. All participants
called on legislators to take decisive action to properly
commemorate past genocides, stop the current genocide in Darfur and
recommit the American people and government to preventing genocides
in the 21th century.

#####

ARMENPRESS

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN DECLARES MARCH 28 DAY OF MOURNING
FOR PRIME MINISTER ANDRANIK MARGARIAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, ARMENPRESS: President Robert
Kocharian has ordered today to declare March 28 a day
of mourning for prime minister Margarian who died of a
heart attack on Sunday.
Kocharian’s press office said all Armenian
government agencies in Armenia and embassies aboard
will lower Armenia’s flag on March 28.
The official Yerevan continues receiving messages
of condolences from foreign leaders and Diaspora
Armenian organizations and prominent individuals on
the occasion of the sudden death of prime minister
Andranik Margarian.
Mike Kharatian, the chairman of the central office
of the Ramkavar Azatakan (Democratic Liberal) party,
sent a message of condolences to president Robert
Kocharian saying they were shocked by prime minister’s
death whose devotion to his country and people was
displayed through his services to his homeland.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
March 23 2007

Azerbaijan is Counting of EU Support for Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Settlement

Belgium, Brussels / corr. Trend R.Emilli / The Deputy Foreign
Minister of Azerbaijan, Araz Azimov, said at the press conference in
Brussels that Azerbaijan should become closer to a new stage of
relations with EU as partners and as partners integrated as a whole,
Trend Special Correspondent reports.

` Azerbaijan and other partner nations could build up mutually
effective and beneficial relations, probably serving the goal of
development and progress in the South Caucasus,’ he said. According
to him, within his visit to Brussels, he also reported on the
policies of Azerbaijan, regional concerns and risks. `We have
concluded a memorandum on energy partnership between the EU and
Azerbaijan in November last year. Today we are implementing this
memorandum which will take Azerbaijan to a better place in terms of
development of internal infrastructures as well as energy saving
policies and the search for alternative energy sources as well as to
develop democratic majors in energy market inside,’ Azimov said.

`Relations with neighboring countries and that is to be said that we
are concerned with the developments on the south. And we hope that
issues will be solved peacefully. We are concerned with the situation
in our conflict zone and we hope that we can count on the support of
the EU and for which I was pledged by the way, in terms of political
settlement. A settlement that will bring Azerbaijan and Armenia
together as one region of Karabakh within the territorially
integrally Azerbaijan provided with self rule states and making
outreach economically and culturally to international community.
Guarantees for that will be provided by international community
jointly including by EU. Azerbaijan is ready to contribute. There is
no war solution to the conflict. But probably Azerbaijan will
continue to stand of the principled position. Any territorial
secession will not be accepted. There is only one chance to build
peace. That is within the territorial framework of Azerbaijan. That
should clearly be explained and understood by the Armenian side. I
hope that there shall be pluralism in Armenia about solutions of the
conflict and I hope that at least a few people there will speak in
favour of peace with Azerbaijan and in favour of a settlement on the
basis of principles,’ Azimov said.