Author: Tvankchian Parkev

PanARMENIAN.Net

ANCA Welcomes Los Angeles Times Position on Armenian
Genocide Issue

25.03.2006 00:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America applauded
the Los Angeles Times for publishing an editorial calling on the US
Government to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. The
editorial entitled `It was genocide’ appeared in the March 22nd
edition of the Los Angeles Times and highlighted reports that the US
Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, faced early termination of
his post due to comments he made affirming the Armenian Genocide. The
editorial explained that while the Armenian Genocide is a textbook
example of genocide, the US Government has shied away from using the
term genocide in describing the annihilation of Armenians by Ottoman
Turkey due to its current-day political relations with the Turkish
Government. The Los Angeles Times went on to praise countries that
have passed resolutions acknowledging the genocide and expressed hope
that the US Government would one day act in kind.

`We commend the LA Times for taking a principled stance on the
Armenian Genocide, which is a crime against all humanity,’ commented
Zanku Armenian, a member of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors. `The
editorial position of the LA Times joins a growing list of prominent
newspapers around the country that have taken similar positions
including the New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune and many
others. This serves as a major blow to Turkey’s genocide denial
campaign and sends a clear message that it is time for the US
Government to reaffirm the facts of the Armenian Genocide rather than
persecute those who dare speak the truth.’

War veterans in Karabakh demand Armenian minister’s resignation

Arminfo
23 Mar 06

Yerevan, 23 March: A group of Karabakh officers, home guards and
veterans of the Karabakh war adopted a statement today demanding the
resignation of the Armenian defence minister and an end to talks on
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

The statement said that the reason for the political demand was
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan’s remarks at an operational
meeting of the army command: “We did not liberate any land during the
war, all we have done is destroy weapon emplacements. What liberated
territories are we talking about?

Armenians had not lived there for the last 100 years. Which of you can
prove that Agdam was an Armenian town. The deployment of peacekeeping
troops is favourable to us”.

The statement said that at the time of the anti-Armenian hysteria in
Azerbaijan, statements such as the one made by the Armenian defence
minister, could undermine the army’s combativeness and sow a defeatist
attitude and panic among servicemen. They explained Sarkisyan’s
position by his presidential ambitions and said that “people who have
usurped the power have no right to represent the Armenian people or
Armenia and their further stay in power is fraught with fatal
consequences”.

“We will not allow anyone to sacrifice for their own political
ambitions our motherland for the liberation of which the best sons of
Armenia had shed their blood in the war imposed by Azerbaijan,” the
Karabakh war veterans said.

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
March 23 2006

`Hnchak Party Should not Be Immigrant’

On March 23 RA NA President Artur Baghdasarayn received Sedrak
Achemyan, Chairman of the Central Board of Social-Democratic Hnchak
Party (SDHP), Matsak Poladyan, Board member and Lyudmila Sargsyan,
SDHP Armenian representative.

Mr. Poladyan informed NA President about the decisions of the SDHP
Congress held recently, noting that the party having structures in 14
countries made a united decision on changing its strategy and
returning to Armenia if possible, in order to have activity in the
motherland. It was highlighted to have its offices in European
capitals, particularly in Brussels, for the lobbyist activity in the
aspect of contributing to the Euro-Integration processes.

Welcoming the entrance of the party to Armenia, at the guests’
request Artur Baghdasaryan touched upon the political-legislative
processes in Armenia: amendments in Electoral Code, the draft on dual
citizenship. The elaboration and fulfillment of the concept of
immigration policy was highlighted.

During the meeting the possibilities of the development of
inter-party relations were also discussed.

GERMAN COMPANY TO PLAN ROADS IN SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI

Lragir/am
21 March 06

Akhalkalaki, March 20, A-INFO. The Georgian office of the Millennium
Challenge Corporation issued a press release on the repair of the roads
of Samtskhe-Javakheti on the grant of the U.S. government to Georgia.

On February 10, 2006 a contract was signed with the German company
Kocks Consult GmbH, which will plan the construction of the roads. The
preparations will cost 3.196 million dollars, which will be allocated
from the 4.1 million dollars to be granted to the Georgian government
by the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

The majority of the roads to be repaired pass across the regions of
Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo Kartli. The construction of 245 km of
roads will begin in 2007, and is foreseen to finish in 2010.

102.2 million dollars was provided for the roads of Samtskhe-Javakheti,
which is the biggest share of the project, costing 295.3 million
dollars.

The construction of the roads will be put out to an open, competitive,
international tender.

CURRENT AND LONG-TERM PROJECTS IN THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION
Srbuhi Vanian

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
19 March 2006

Territorial management and development of infrastructures is one of
the broa d spheres of government’s activity. We tried to find out what
problems there are in this sphere and what efforts the government makes
to solve them during our interview with Armo Tsaturian, Minister of
territorial management and development of infrastructures. ENERGY. Armo
Tsaturian said this year 250 million drams is foreseen for the energy
sector. 40 million will be allocated to Stepanakert, 23 million to
Askeran region, 28 million to Martakert, 29 million to Martuni, 26
million to Hadrut, 6 million to Shushi and 54 million to Shahumian
regions. The rest will be spent on the reconstruction of the 35
kW substation of Maghavuz. With regard to specific programmes to be
implemented on this money, the minister said in Karabakh there are only
several communities in the regions of Kashatagh and Shahumian which do
no thave supply of electricity, therefore this sum will mainly be spent
on the reconstruction of substations. “In the post-war years there were
shortcomings in the operation of substations due to a lack of money,
and now these gaps need to be filled,” said Armo Tsaturian. According
to him, there is a lot of work to do at the substation of Sarsang,
as well as it is necessary to replace transmission lines and towers,
which often cause fires and accidents. The minister thinks that the
money provided from the state budget is not enough for the whole
work (by his estimate 800 million drams is required). Last year the
money spent on the energy sector was more, 400 million drams, and the
minister said the expenditure was targeted. On the whole, the minister
assessed the work of Artsakhenergo as positive. Armo Tsaturian said
the losses in the grid were reduced thanks to the measures taken by
the company, the collection of payments for electricity increased as
well. GASIFICATION. The government has adopted a 2001 – 2010 policy of
gasification. The gasifying of the country is planned to be finished
in 2010. This year the government will allocate 400 million drams for
gasifying. 150 million will be provided for the regions of Martuni
and Hadrut each.

Less money is foreseen for Stepanakert, Shushi and Askeran. Armo
Tsaturian, Minister of Territorial Management and Development of
Infrastructures, said the town of Berdzor, Kashatagh region was
included in the gasification program.

The government will provide 50 million drams for Kashatagh. This
year less money was provided for gasifying compared to the previous
year. In 2005 455 million drams was invested in the energy sector,
332.2 million was provided from the state budget, the rest was
invested by Artsakhgas. Last year the amount of consumed gas totaled
16.2 million cubic meters, increasing by 21.8 per cent since the year
2004. There are no final figures for this year. TRANSPORT.

The state of transport is serious. The minister of territorial
management and development of infrastructures Armo Tsaturian said
the problems are many.

The routes have not been regulated duly. In Stepanakert certain routes
are overloaded, whereas in the suburbs people often have to wait for
an hour for their only or a pair of minibuses. Safe transportation of
passengers is another issue. The minister said in August the minibus
routes will be put out to tender. Armo Tsaturian said with regard
to this there will occur problems because in accordance with the law
the cars aged 15 and more cannot participate in the tender. Besides,
the companies that participate in the tender must own 60 per cent of
the car pool. Such companies will hardly be found in the republic.

This has caused anxiety among companies because their car pools are
old. We have information that a complaint was lodged with the National
Assembly, signed by 70 drivers. Minister Armo Tsaturian mentioned
that they had not received such a letter of complaint but they are
ready to study and discuss the issue with the parliament. In answer
to our anxiety that people’s security is concerned and any concession
may harm their security, the minister said it is impossible to give
a hasty answer to such an urgent issue. Armo Tsaturian said there
will hopefully be interesting proposals during the debates at the
National Assembly. He said the distribution of the minibus routes
will be carried out by the City Hall. “The relevant department of
the Ministry cooperates with the City Hall to settle this issue,”
he said. The coach routes are also a problem. According to Armo
Tsaturian, despite the lack of money, the government tries to provide
every community with transport. Since the government has a program of
development of tourism, which would be greatly promoted by airlines,
we wondered if the government takes any steps to provide this type
of communication. Armo Tsaturian says this question has a political
context rather than an economic one, and he thinks that its solution
is related with the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, for our plane
would have to cross the airspace of Azerbaijan, which is not safe. The
minister said, however, that certain companies are already interested
in this, although the minister thinks it is early to consider the
ways of solving this question. TOURISM. This year for the first time
the government adopted a programme of development of tourism, which
supposes the establishment of an information and promotion system,
provides for the participation of NKR in different expositions,
and cooperation.

The government has allocated 2 million drams for this purpose. The
Artsakh Development Agency participated in Armenian Expo 2005
in Yerevan and presented the opportunities of tourism in Nagorno
Karabakh Republic. Recently the Ministry of Territorial Management
of Development of Infrastructures has started cooperating with
the Agency on Development of Tourism in Armenia. They arranged to
include information about the opportunities of tourism in Artsakh
in their programmes and to promote them outside Armenia. Besides,
Artsakh Development Agency is working out an information base, one
of the directions of which will be the opportunities of tourism
in NKR. TELECOM. Karabakh Telecom and establishment of cellular
communication in NKR marked the beginning of fundamental reforms in
the sphere of telecommunication. Although, according to the minister
of territorial management and development of infrastructures said,
recently the quality of cellular communication, as well as the
fixed-line telephone has gone down. Armo Tsaturian said soon the
digitalization of the fixed-line telephone in Stepanakert will
start. Negotiations with Karabakh Telecom began last year. The
renovation of the fixed-line telephone network in the country will
cost 4.5 million dollars. As to cellular communication, Armo Tsaturian
said 2-2.5 million dollars will be invested in this sphere. Last year
Karabakh Telecom invested 60 million drams. The number of cellular
base stations reached 17 from 14. This year another 7 base stations
will be placed. Armo Tsaturian said the availability of the Public TV
channels of Armenia and Artsakh grew from 80 to 90-95 per cent. The
minister said the government intends to involve private companies
to carry out reforms in this sphere. The aim of the programme is to
enable people watch more and higher quality programmes.

Pleite fur Demo zu Armenier-Volkermord

Die TagesZeitung
.1/text

Vor einem Protestmarsch gegen die Verurteilung des Volkermords an
Armeniern seilen sich immer mehr Turken ab BERLIN taz “Nimm deine
Fahne, komm nach Berlin” – mit diesem Schlachtruf fordert die turkische
Bewegung “Großes Projekt 2006 – Die Luge zum Volkermord an Armeniern”
dazu auf, Schluss zu machen mit der “armenischen Genozid-Luge”
und “die Periode der Demut” zu beenden. Doch nun nehmen immer mehr
Organisatoren Abstand zu der Veranstaltung.

1915/1916 ermordeten turkische Soldaten bis zu eine Millionen
Armenier. Bis heute erkennt die Turkei die Tat nicht als Volkermord
an. “Großes Projekt 2006” will am Samstag gegen die internationale
Verurteilung des Massakers protestieren und zugleich an den Tod Talat
Paschas vor 85 Jahren erinnern.

Er gehorte als turkischer Innenminister zu den Organisatoren des
Massakers und wurde 1921 von einem Armenier in Berlin erschossen.

Die Turkische Gemeinde zu Berlin, die die Demonstration ursprunglich
beantragt hatte, distanzierte sich jetzt von der Veranstaltung. Obwohl
Celal Altun, Generalsekretar der Gemeinde, viele Ansichten der
Organisatoren teilt. “Der Vorwurf des Volkermordes wird von der
armenischen Diaspora in die Welt gesetzt, um Propaganda gegen die
Turkei zu machen”, sagt Altun. Der angebliche Genozid sei bis heute
nicht bewiesen. “Wir wollen keine ideologische Diskussion, sondern
eine sachliche Auseinandersetzung.”

Zu den Organisatoren gehort neben dem “Verband der Vereine zur
Forderung der Ideen Ataturks” auch die nationalistische turkische
Arbeiterpartei. Deren Vorsitzender drohte den Europaern, sie sollten
aufhoren, die Turkei des Genozids zu bezichtigen, “wenn sie nicht
wollen, dass ihre Stadte in Flammen stehen”.

Wegen dieser Hetze seilten sich nach und nach weitere Vereine
ab. Mahmut Askar von der Union der Turkisch-Islamischen Kulturvereine
in Europa (Atib), wird ebenfalls nicht mitmarschieren. “Wir befurchten,
dass die Veranstaltung instrumentalisiert wird”, sagt er. Denn die
turkischen Nationalisten fordern, dass die Turkei nicht mehr des
Volkermords an den Armeniern bezichtigt wird.

Der Atib sind eigenen Angaben zufolge uber 120 Vereine
angeschlossen. Der Dachverband ist wegen seines turkischen
Nationalismus bekannt, daher ist es umso verwunderlicher, dass er
sich von der Demonstration lossagt. “Wir wissen, dass es damals zu
menschlichen Verlusten kam”, sagt Askar. “Aber auch auf turkischer
Seite gab es Tote.”

Die Forderung nach der Rucknahme einer Bundestags-Resolution
unterstutzt Askar. Im letzten Jahr hatte der Bundestag die Turkei
zum offenen Dialog uber die Massaker an den Armeniern aufgefordert.

Dem von der Berliner Polizei geforderten Verbot der Demonstration gab
gestern das Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin nicht statt. Allerdings
durfen die Nationalisten nur mit Einschrankungen demonstrieren:
Weder auf Transparenten oder anderen Wort- oder Schriftbeitragen
durfen sie den Volkermord an den Armeniern eine Luge nennen.

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TURKISH HISTORIANS ARE GOING TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, MARCH 17. ARMINFO. During the current Istanbul international
symposium “New Approaches to Armenian-Turkish Relations” British
historian of Armenian nationality Ara Safaryan and Director of the
Institute of Turkish History Yusuf Galacoglu, who denies the Armenian
Genocide, have decided to develop a joint project to find out what
actually took place in Ottoman Turkey in early XX.

Milliyet (Turkey) reports Safaryan to say that there are irrefutable
proves that there was a genocide in Ottoman Turkey in early XX. One
proof is the words of then US ambassador to Turkey, who describes the
horrible events. In response, Garacoglu proposed developing a joint
project to examine the mass burial places and the massacre scenes.

Safaryn accepted the proposal.

The most sensational speech was made Thursday by professor of Israeli
University Yair Oron, who said that the events were certainly a
genocide. His statement is based on thorough research. He says that
despite Turkey’s efforts the Armenian Genocide is mentioned in the
world press, particularly, in Palestinian newspapers.

Armenian Marxists on Karabakh problem’s solution: “all or nothing”

Regnum, Russia
March 17 2006

“Forthcoming meeting of co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement, to be held in Istanbul on March 20,
gives new negotiating possibilities, and it is unworthy to expect
anything else,” stated Chairman of Armenian Christian-Democratic Union,
ex-Speaker Khosrov Arutyunyan at a news conference.

As a REGNUM correspondent informs, according to him,” results of
negotiations in Rambouillet, better to say – their absence, confirmed
fact, that anybody of parties was not ready to compromise.

Negotiation’s mediators were ready for such result.” “Despite fact,
that Azerbaijan announced more then once inadmissibility of concessions
from his side, continuation of the long-drawn process is possible
only through compromises. We have even to exclude idea on possible
military solution of the problem,” stated Arutyunyan. At the same
time, he stressed, that official Yerevan, “convincing international
community of readiness to compromise, must not forget to remind to
it, that the readiness is caused not by fear of war, but by wish to
settle question peacefully.” “Rejection of talks is proclaiming of war
against international community. However, status quo is now dangerous
for both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. If one has been considering
events since 1994, so 2006 is most favorable to settle Nagorno Karabakh
problem. And we have to use the chance,” added Khosrov Arutyunyan.

Mentioning integration of Nagorno Karabakh into negotiating process
on conflict settlement, Khosrov Arutyunyan pointed out, that NK
for international community is not intermediate link of the chain,
but practically a main one – “it an undisputable question. Without
acceptance of right of Nagorno Karabakh people on self-determination
no decisions and agreements may be taken.” Mentioning some countries,
interested in Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, the ex-speaker
in particular stated:” USA diplomatically request to settle Karabakh
conflict, and Russia wish decently to help.”

In his turn, Chairman of the Armenian Marxist Party David Akopyan
stated, that all possible compromises are exhausted within the
framework of conflict settlement. “At present, one has to act
according to everything or nothing principle,” stated he. According
to his prognosis, “pan-American hegemony” will end and “Russia will
join the conflict” in 2007. Also, he stated that no documents on
Karabakh conflict settlement will be signed in 2006, and question
of Nagorno Karabakh status will be solved only by next Armenian
president. “Present authorities are unable to achieve such solution,”
believes David Akopyan. Mentioning forthcoming meeting of co-Chairs of
OSCE Minsk Group, to be held in Istanbul on March 20, chief Armenian
Marxist proclaimed: “Hope for the best, be prepared for the worst!”

Armenian Defense Minister criticized for statements regarding Karabakh settlement

Regnum, Russia
March 17 2006

Armenian volunteers, who participated in Karabakh war called
“treacherous and immoral” statements of Armenian National Security
Secretary and Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan. He said that
“during the war, Armenia destroyed the enemy, and not liberated the
territories,” and used the term “security zone” instead of “liberated
territories.” Position of Armenian veterans was announce on March
16, during a round table conference in Yerevan, informed Assistant
coordinator of the public initiative “In defense of liberated
technologies” Armen Yegyan.

He said that Sarkisyan’s statements made at a meeting with army command
“demoralize officers, and presume return of liberated territories to
Azerbaijan.” According to ex-commander of Special Forces battalion
Girar Sefilyan “Sarkisyan must be dismissed by political means, using
opposition forces,” because “with such government, Armenia will not
be capable to conduct warfare,” thinks Sefilyan.

According to ex-Prime Minister MP Vazgen Manukyan, Sarkisyan “had no
authority to make such statements”. He said that the statements are
“directed to the West, and aims only to preserve power”, and noted,
that “return of liberated territories is impossible, because it can
happen only after the recognition of Nagorno Karabakh independence,
that is unacceptable to Azerbaijan”. He said that warfare can
recommence only if Azerbaijan feels stronger, and Armenia – weaker,
but in next 3-4 years it will not take place. “Armenian authorities
simply threaten the people with possibility of warfare recommence,
to prevent it we must compromise”, said Manukyan.

According to ex-Minister of Defense Vagarshak Arutyunyan, “if the
return of occupied territories is Armenian concession, than Azerbaijan
must return Artsvashen to Armenia and several occupied regions
to Nagorno Karabakh, and because of this, the question was never
raised at the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement,”
said Arutyunyan.

UEFA CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN APRIL 3

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2006 00:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 3-5 UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson
will visit Armenia, the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) told
PanARMENIAN.Net. The visit to Armenia will be held on the invitation of
FFA President Ruben Hayrapetyan. In Armenia Lars-Christer Olsson will
meet with republic leaders, FFA president, members of FFA Executive
Committee and Administration, will visit stadiums and some historical
and cultural sights of Armenia.