Author: Torgomian Varazdat

ARIS BABIKIAN: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD HOLD TURKEY ACCOUNTABLE

ArmRadio.am
26.06.2007 12:13

"We call on the Canadian Government and the international community to
declare Turkey a pariah nation and to take serious measures to force
Turkey to acknowledge its predecessors’ crimes against humanity," said
Aris Babikian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee
of Canada (ANCC). "Canada, the United Nations, the European Union,
and other international organizations and fora should stop treating
Turkey with kid gloves and should hold Turkey accountable."

The cause of discontent of the Canadian Armenian community was
the criminal case launched against Arat Dink, the son of the slain
editor-in-chief of the Agos Daily Hrant Dink. The Istanbul prosecutor
office charges the Agos staff for publishing, on July 2006, an
interview with the Reuters news agency, in which the late Hrant Dink
had referred to the 1915 Armenian Genocide. The Dink’s family lawyer,
Erdal Dogal, has also been charged.

"Article 301 is an impediment to freedom of expression. It is intended
to silence dissidents who dare to challenge the official line of the
Turkish Government on the Armenian Genocide. The civilized world
can not become an accomplice to Genocide denial and in fomenting
intolerance, hatred and xenophobia," said Babikian, Armenian National
Committee of Canada informs.

The ANCC executive director concluded his comments by drawing to the
attention of politicians, the media and the public that the charges
against Agos journalists are a "clear manifestation that the Turkish
Government is not sincere in its so-called offers of dialogue and
reconciliation with the Armenian people. These political maneuverings
are nothing more than public relations stunts and diversions to avoid
addressing the real issue between the two nations."

It should be noted also that the Reporters Without Borders has also
condemned the decision to prosecute Dink and his colleagues. "Once
again we have to denounce the use of article 301 of the criminal
code, which is a threat to freedom of expression," said Reporters
Without Borders.

ARMENIA WANTS STABLE TURKEY IRRESPECTIVE OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION OUTCOMES

Yerkir
25.06.2007 16:47

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – "If the Turkish General Staff allows holding a
fair parliamentary election, Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party
(AKP) will win," Kiro Manoyan, director of the ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat
and Political Affairs Office, told a news conference in Yerevan.

"Armenia wants a stable Turkey, irrespective of the outcomes, let
the winners be Islamists or Kemalists. Proceeding from national
interests, the AKP demonstrates a better attitude towards national
minorities. The incumbent government has chosen the way of European
integration. Although, I have to repeat, everything depends on the
military," Mr Manoyan underscored.

A1+

TERRY DEVIS TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA
[08:58 pm] 22 June, 2007

On June 25, in Strasbourg, Leo Platvoet (Netherlands) will make a
report on the Armenian parliamentary elections at the PACE summer
session.

The correspondent of A1+ tried to find out CoE General Secretary Terry
Devis’s opinion on the RA parliamentary elections.

I am planning to visit Armenia as soon as possible. I have got
invitations from the Armenian Foreign Ministry and from the Ambassador
of Strasbourg. And I am going to accept these invitations soon. I am
hoping to visit Armenia during next 6 months if I can. And a lot of
things I shall do, I shall assess the state of affairs in Armenia. But
the fact is that at present the situation in Armenia is better than
before. Many things have changed during the past twenty years. If we
look through the election report we can see great improvements. Big
changes are noticed. If I am in Armenia I will try my qualifications
perhaps in a different way, I would discuss on what I would do in
domestic affairs. For both Armenia and Azerbaijan the most important
is the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh which is, of course, very important
but it isn’t your whole life. There are other things in life. If I
were a citizen of Armenia of my age, I would be much concerned about
the future of grandchildren. I am a grandfather. And if I were
younger, I would think about the future of my
children. Nagorno-Karabakh is not the only political issue in the
South Caucasus.

When and how will the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict be settled in you
opinion?

In my opinion, the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh must be solved between
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and not by force. As for the
Minsk group, I have always supported the work of Minsk group. I share
the impressions of a lot of people in South Caucasus who say that the
Minsk group is taking a long period to find a solution. I really share
their impressions. The reason is that I am impatient on behalf of the
people in Armenia and Azerbaijan. The quicker the conflict is settled,
the quicker they will pass to other basic issues of schools,
hospitals, income, wages, clothes, housing, etc.

Will the international community recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh
presidential election outcome

I don’t think these elections will be recognized anywhere else in
Europe except in Armenia.

And when do you foresee the recognition of the election – after the
Karabakh conflict resolution?

Yes, after the conflict settlement. I mean the fact is that legally
Nagorno-Karabakh is seen as an occupied territory. Legally it is part
of Azerbaijan. I support the territorial integrity of all the member
countries Caspian Cooperation, Armenia, as well as Azerbaijan.
Nagorno-Karabakh is not part of Armenia. Georgia may be of Armenian
origin but that does not mean to recognize it as part of
Armenia. Serbia has majority of Albanians and it does not mean they
are part of Serbia. Cyprus has Turkish population and that does not
mean that they are part of Cyprus. I support territorial integrity of
all member countries, that includes Cyprus, that includes Georgia,
that includes Russia, that includes Moldova, that includes
Azerbaijan. I exclude the people of Armenia. But I am telling the
truth. That is what people outside Armenia think of it.

Who is to protect human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh?

Azerbaijan is clearly not able to exercise its authority in
Nagorno-Karabakh. So people who are in control in NK must protect
human rights, not only the rights of Armenians living in Karabakh, but
also the rights of Azeris living in the territory. I mean all people –
men, women and children. I am not interested in their ethnic origin,
the color of their skin and religious beliefs. People are different
but they are all equal despite everything. They are all to be
protected by the same laws, by the authorities.

Do you think the Karabakh conflict resolution is possible taking into
consideration the strained relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

Of course, it is always possible. And I would like to see the
settlement urgently. And I see a lot of people in Armenia as well as
in Azerbaijan who are very impatient to see the issue settled. And I
agree with them. It is taking far too long. Meanwhile, money is being
spent on weapon instead of improving life standards in Armenia and in
Azerbaijan. I have never seen money spent on schools and hospitals and
on housing. And I hope it will be used in future.

Karine Asatryan

Stockholm/ Sigtuna

MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI VISITED JAVAKHK

ArmRadio.am
22.06.2007 13:00

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili visited Javakhk to participate
in the opening of the newly constructed sport complexes in Akhalkalak
and Ninotsminda regions.

Javakhk-Info reports that the President’s visit remained unnoticed
for the citizens of Javakhk. The opening ceremonies in Akhalkalak
and Ninotsminda lasted 10 minutes, the main roads were closed, phone
communication was disconnected.

In his greeting speech during the ceremony of opening of the sport
complex in Akhalkalak Mr. Saakashvili promised to allocate places in
the state higher educational establishments of Georgia and to sponsor
the former "Abul" football team of Akhalkalak.

OLD AGED PEOPLE GET COMPENSATED FOR SOVIET ERA DEPOSITS

Panorama.am
17:21 19/06/2007

Haykhnaybank has paid 3900-4000 citizens as compensation for their
Soviet era deposits this year.

Total of 7000 citizens have been compensated so far, Armen Margaryan,
methodology assistance department head at the ministry of employment
and social affairs, said. In his words, the state budget has released
1 billion 400 million for deposit payments. At the moment, disabled
persons above 70 are getting compensated. The department head said
people are getting compensated according to government-defined
timeline.

TIGRAN TOROSYAN SAYS AZERBAIJANI AUTHORITIES NOT READY TO SETTLE KARABAKH CONFLICT

Panorama.am
14:12 16/06/2007

The chairman of the National Assembly, Tigran Torosyan, received
Peter Semneby, special representative of the European Union on South
Caucasus, on June 15. Haike Paich, German ambassador to Armenia, was
also present at the meeting. Torosyan told his guests that Armenia is
determined to conduct presidential elections according to democratic
standards.

Peter Semneby praised the parliamentary elections in Armenia saying
"they were the best and unprecedented."

He rendered his hope that positive trends will continue.

Speaking about Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Mr. Semneby said
the continuation of negotiations is positive despite of no results from
St. Petersburg talks. Torosyan reiterated Armenia’s stance on Karabakh
conflict settlement saying it is a combination of the principles
of territorial integrity and right for self-determination. He also
said the same postulate is followed in OSCE documents. Torosyan
considered unacceptable the statements made by Azerbaijan saying
territorial integrity principle is primary. He also said Azerbaijan
rudely violates the principle of self-determination by interpreting
it as autonomous region within Azerbaijan. Torosyan also criticized
militaristic statements by Azerbaijan and said that the Azerbaijani
authorities are not ready to settle the conflict, in fact.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE MESKHETIAN TURKS?
By M. Alkhazashvili
Translated by Diana Dundua

The Messenger, Georgia
June 15 2007

The ruling party has drafted yet another bill to take up the issue
of the repatriation of the Meskhetian Turks. In 1999, in order to be
accepted into the Council of Europe, they developed a 12-year program
to repatriate the group including promises to have a law on the books
by 2001.

A bill has been considered at various times in the past including in
2003 under Shevardnadze’s presidency, but it appears there just might
be the political will to pass one this time with the incentive of NATO
membership driving the process. The co-author of the bill MP Pavle
Kublashvili, told Civil Georgia on June 13 that Georgia’s NATO bid
"has become a reason to accelerate the process".

In November 1944, Stalin rounded up and deported approximately 120 000
‘minorities’ in the Samtskhe-Javakheti province, mostly Meskhetian
Turks (but also ethnic Kurds and Muslim Armenians known as Khemshils)
and shipped them to Central Asia. About 15 000 reportedly died of
starvation and cold along the way. Some analysts speculate he didn’t
trust the group despite the fact that about 27 000 Meskhetian Turks
died in the Red Army fighting the Nazi regime. Many were uprooted
again in 1989, when violence erupted in Uzbekistan; this time they
spread throughout Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Why Georgia is dragging its feet in their repatriation has also
been a topic of debate. The government itself has claimed that with
200 000 IDPs from Abkhazia and South Ossetia, they’re not in a good
position to handle another group of refugees. Some officials claim
that their return could also further destabilize Georgia’s territorial
integrity. In fact, the Conservative Party’s criticism is that the
group will pose a "separatist threat".

But others have claimed that the hesitancy stems from latent
‘Turkophobia’. Azeri historian and NGO activist Arif Yunusov who has
written extensively on the Meskhetian question says, "There is an
idea in Georgia that once they open the doors, the country will be
overrun with Turks."

There is also debate about whether Meskhetian Turks are really
ethnic Georgians or not. Some say they are ethnic Georgians who
simply converted to Islam; others say they entered the scene with
the expansion of the Ottoman Empire.

Though the draft law appears to be a positive development, there are
some problems. Those who wish to return to Georgia must provide Soviet
documentation that they were deported in 1944; the bill allows the
interior and justice ministries to be involved with the veto of any
applicants based on undetermined criteria; the law doesn’t establish
any criteria for eligibility at all; and there is no financial
assistance being offered to the returnees.

There is also concern about where the IDPs would be re-located with
some insisting they should return to the Samtskhe-Javakheti province
from which they came while others claim there isn’t enough room there
and they should be distributed throughout Georgia. Some analysts
think the real reason the government wants broader distribution is
because the return of the Meskhetian Turks to the predominantly
ethnic-Armenian populated area would cause more tensions in this
already sensitive relationship.

More than likely, the bill will pass so Georgia can check one more
thing off their list of commitments to the Council of Europe and
NATO. But with no help financially, and upon return being located to
different areas throughout the country and faced with limited economic
opportunities (if they manage to pass through the bureaucratic red
tape and apparent subjectivity of the whole process) why would the
group want to return to Georgia?

RA MOD DEPARTED FOR BRUSSELS TO PARTICIPATE IN EAPC DEFENSE MINISTERS’ SESSION

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.06.2007 16:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the delegation at the head of Armenian Defense
Minister Michael Haroutounyan departed for Brussels, Spokesman for
the RA Ministry of Defense colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan told the
PanARMENIAN.Net. In the Belgium capital the Armenian delegation will
participate in the session of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council’s
(EAPC) defense ministers. The delegation will return Yerevan June 15.

SAMIR MAMEDOV ASKS ARMENIAN PRESIDENT FOR REFUGE

ArmInfo
2007-06-12 22:00:00

An Azerbaijani soldier who deserted to the Armenian party on December
24 2006 has asked refuge from the President of Armenia.

Head of the Working Group of the Armenian Commission of State Armen
Kaprielyan told ArmInfo that Samir Mamedov made an application to
President Robert Kocharyan on May 3 for a status of refugee. The
soldier explains his escape with violent treatment in the Azerbaijan
army.

NEXT ECHELON WITH RUSSIAN MILITARY ARMS SENT FROM GEORGIA

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 7 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend E.Huseynov / On the 7th of June the
next echelon with the Russian military arms was sent from Georgia to
Russia via the territory of Azerbaijan. It is already the fifth echelon
which has been sent from Georgia to Russia since May. The echelon
comprised of 35 platforms and carriages – property of Russian Troops
in Caucasus (GRTC), which is withdrawn from Georgia. The carriages
comprised of 5 tanks, 44 units of armor equipment and spare parts
of material-technical property, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Georgia
informed by telephone.

An agreement on the transportation of echelons to Russia through the
rail links of Azerbaijan was reached last year at Inter-Governmental
level. By the end of the year, 14 Russian echelons will be withdrawn
from Georgia. Five echelons will be sent to Armenia to the 102nd
Russian military base in Gurmy city. According to the information
provided by the Defence Ministry of Russia, the 62nd Russian military
base in Akhalkalaki should be closed by the end of 2007 and the 12th
Russian military base in Batumi within 2008.

Earlier the Deputy Defense Minister of Russia, Vladimir Isakov ,
said that transporting the Russian military equipment via Azerbaijan
will provide an opportunity to simplify the withdrawal of the Russian
troops and decrease the expenses of the Russian Defense Ministry.