Author: Vanyan Gary

MOSCOW CANNOT RECOGNIZE NAGORNO-GARABAGH
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
May 23 2006
The official Moscow, concerned with serious steps taken by South
Caucasus countries for integration to NATO, is trying to exert upon
them pressure. Reinforced pressure upon Ukraine and Georgia due to
enlargement of their cooperation with NATO the official Moscow is
dissatisfied with Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation.
Recently one of political scientists of Russia stated that if
Azerbaijan becomes a Member of NATO, Russia will recognize so-called
“Nagorno-Garabagh Republic”. Such statements made by Russia can be
regarded just as bluff, as membership to NATO has not any attitude
to settlement of Nagorno-Garabagh conflict. In turn, experts inform
that this statement concerns mainly Armenia, but not Azerbaijan.
Mubariz Ahmedoghlu, Chairman of Political Technologies & Innovations
Center, notes that this statement is directed to Armenian community.
According to him, Armenian public opinion is predisposed to Russia and
for further existing of this factor Caucasus Institute of Democracy
brings the distinguished scholars from Moscow monthly.
Political expert notes that the statement concerning recognition of
“NGR” by Russia if Azerbaijan to accede to NATO, was made by one of
these scholars. In general, the official Moscow maintains very careful
position on this point. Russia does not recognize Nagorno-Garabagh
as Azerbaijan can accede to NATO, says M.Ahmedoghlu.
Talking of NATO-Russia relationship M.Ahmedoghlu noted the fact that
Russia has unfavorable attitude to NATO’s endeavor to collaborate
with the countries of East. According to him, Russia is concerned
with that in NATO autumn session Georgia and Ukraine will sign an
official agreement on accession. In addition, in due time Russia
opposed accession of Baltic States to NATO. “I heard such statements
when the countries of Eastern Europe acceded to NATO, but I do not
remind that Russia has taken any concrete steps. I think that Russia
will oppose accession of Georgia and Ukraine to NATO, but I do not
believe its determination. As the experience proves, when Russia
speaks, NATO acts”.
Regarding Azerbaijan’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures M.
Ahmedoghlu reminded that our country is cooperating with NATO within
the framework of Partnership for Peace Programme. He informed that he
does not expect that the official Baku will apply for accession to
NATO: “Azerbaijan’s foreign policy is well-balanced. Azerbaijan can
think about membership to NATO when it meets all standards of this
organization. If Azerbaijan is not yet ready to take such a step,
there is no need to create problems in relationship with Russia. Our
country desires to collaborate with West as well as with Russia. Our
policy is the integration into the western countries but this process
implies a number of various versions. For instance, Georgia has chosen
such version albeit is obliged to be at enmity with Russia.
Azerbaijan won’t do it in order to keep the friendliest relations
with Russia. From point of this view, Azerbaijan does not hasten to
accede to NATO”.
–Boundary_(ID_hZKSRIrMs3l8MRosBjNBzQ)–

Hellenic News of America
May 20 2006
AHI Statement on the Commemoration of the 92nd Anniversary of the
Greek Pontian Genocide by Turkey
AHI Statement on the Commemoration of the 92nd Anniversary of the
Greek Pontian Genocide by Turkey
We support the Pontian Greek American community?s efforts to secure
full recognition, proper commemoration, and a just resolution of the
Greek Pontian Genocide of 1914-23.
On May 19, 2006, the Pontic communities around the world commemorate
the 92nd anniversary of the Genocide of the Pontic Greeks. Their
outright slaughter and expulsion by long death marches to exile
between 1914-23, was first ordered by the Young Turk regime and then
completed by Mustafa Kemal, later known as Atat?rk. These genocidal
policies caused the death of 353,000 Pontic Greeks, more than half
their population, and brought a tragic and catastrophic end to their
three-thousand year presence on the southern shores and mountains of
the Black Sea region of Asia Minor, today?s Turkey.
We call on the President to address this tragedy by properly
recognizing the Pontian Genocide as a clear instance of genocide, as
defined by the United Nations Genocide Convention. We ask the
administration to end its silence on Turkey?s denial of this crime of
genocide.
The U.S. Congress should adopt legislation recognizing the Pontian
Genocide as part and parcel of the genocide against the Armenians,
Assyrians and the other Greeks of Asia Minor? a genocide which took
the lives of 3 million of Turkey?s Christian population. The U.S.
Congress should also urge the American people to apply the lessons of
this great tragedy to the cause of preventing future genocides.
Finally, Turkey must be pressured to acknowledge its genocidal crime
against these historic Christians, to come to terms with this chapter
in its history and, consistent with the Genocide Convention and other
relevant international legal instruments, to make full reparations to
the Pontic people.
We refer readers to Thea Halo?s book Not Even My Name, a remarkable
memoir of her Pontic Greek mother?s life, which recounts her ancient
way of life in the Pontic mountains, her 10-month long death march to
exile at the age of 10, ordered by Mustafa Kemal, which took the
lives of her family and neighbors, and left her bereft, even of her
name. Sano?s story continues with her life in America. Thea Halo
includes in this extraordinary memoir an historical synopsis of the
politics and intrigues of the great powers of the time.

AKHALTSIKHE LIBERATION BRIGADE AGAIN THREATENS ARMENIANS OF JAVAKHETI
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.05.2006 14:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ May 16 threatening leaflets in Russian were
disseminated in Akhalkalaki, the center of Samtskhe-Javakheti region
of Georgia mostly populated by Armenians. The leaflets that have
images of a crescent and star and are signed by so-called Akhaltsikhe
Liberation Brigade, literally say, “Time has come to pay for our
humiliation. Recall 1915.
Gevorgyan croaked, Rastakyan is the next.” We remind that Gevorgyan
was the surname of a young man, killed in Tsalka this March, while
Rastakyan is the distorted surname of co-chair of Virk unregistered
party David Rstakyan.
In this regard a representative of the Council of NGOs
of Samtskhe-Javakheti Khachatur Stepanyan reminded that similar
leaflets were disseminated in Akhalkalaki past October. In his words,
a representative of the National Security Service of Georgia in
Akhalkalaki “promised to find who is threatening the population as
soon as possible,” however, nothing is done up to now.
On his part David Rstakyan stated, “If the Minister of Interior and
National Security states regarding the withdrawal of the Russian
military base that he is sure he has control over the situation in
Javakheti, he has to identify those, who disseminate those leaflets,”
reports A-Info agency.
We remind that last December an anonymous source provided
PanARMENIAN.Net with a video file with “the last warning” of the
Akhaltsikhe Liberation Brigade.
Four members of the Brigade against a background of Turkish flag read
an address to the Armenians and Russians residing in the town of
Akhaltsikhe of the Armenian-populated Samtskhe Javakheti region of
Georgia. The address maintains the demand to Armenians and Russians
to leave Akhaltsikhe immediately and go to Armenia, Russia or America
otherwise the brigade members will eliminate the Armenian population
of the region. “All who stand in our way will die. We will not allow
mentioning of you here. The land of Akhaltsikhe will become ours
soon. All who don’t hear us now will regret they were born. Leave
your property for us and run. You and your ancestors should remember
the year of 1915 (the Armenian Genocide). Russians will not help
you. Their time is up on our land. We have warned you, this is our
last warning. Go and live or stay and die,” the address says. After
reading the address, the brigade members, shouting out Allah Akbar,
burnt the flags of Armenia, Russia and the U.S.

DISCUSSION OF ARMENIAN BILL POSTPONED AT FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DUE TO LACK OF QUORUM
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
PARIS, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The discussion of the bill criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian Genocide planned for the May 18 session of
French National Assembly was postponed due to lack of quorum. According
to Noyan Tapan’s reliable sources, the Armenian bill will not be
included in the agenda of French National Assembly until October
2006. Speaking at the parliament Philippe Douste-Blazy, French Foreign
Minister, declared that the issue of the Armenian Genocide “should be
left to the historians” and Turkey should itself establish peace with
its own history. To recap, the author of the bill criminalizing the
denial of the Armenian Genocide is the opposition Socialist Party at
the French parliament. According to the bill, minimum imprisonment
of 1 year and a fine amounting to 57 thousand USD is set for those
denying the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

TURKEY EXPECTS FRENCH PARLIAMENT NOT TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL AGAIN
Anatolia news agency
18 May 06
Ankara, 18 May: Turkey expects that French draft law which proposes
that “any denial of Armenian genocide shall be considered a crime”
will not be brought again to French National Assembly during next
legislation term and hopes that its proposal on establishment of
a joint commission to investigate the incidents in 1915 will be
supported.
Turkish Foreign Ministry released on Thursday [15 May] a statement
after French National Assembly ended its session on the mentioned
draft law without bringing it to voting today.
The statement recalled that draft law caused several discussions
in France, noting that prominent French historians reacted to the
draft law in principle, so did French Foreign Minister (Philippe
Douste-Blazy) during discussions over the bill at French National
Assembly.
“Turkey expects that the international community including France will
support the proposal it made to Armenia last year regarding creation
of a joint commission comprised of Turkish and Armenian historians
to investigate historical facts regarding 1915 incidents in detail
and disclosure of the results of this research to the world public
opinion,” it added.

ZATULIN: RUSSIA IS NOT INTERESTED IN SOMEBODY TRAINING IN SOUTH CAUCASUS LIKE IN IRAQ
Regnum, Russia
May 17 2006
Among South Caucasian countries only Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh are
interest in maintaining the status quo in the region, Member of the
Russian State Duma, Head of the CIS Countries’ Institute Konstantin
Zatulin has declared at the international conference called “Caucasus
without Conflicts and Terrorism. Dialog of Civilizations at Caucasian
Crossroad.”
According to him, Azerbaijan is not interested in maintaining the
current situation, as its interests concerning its territorial
integrity are infringed. “Today, elites of nations criticize the
Soviet rule, but they take from the past what is profitable for them,
in particular, Georgia and Azerbaijan like the borders they had under
the Soviets,” the MP noted. According to Zatulin, Georgia is not
interested in maintaining the status quo either: “it is interested in
soonest settlement of Abkhazian and Ossetian conflicts in its favor.”
According to Zatulin, Armenia has no internal problems that could bring
about collapse of the country, which cannot be said about Georgia and
Azerbaijan. “In Georgia, apart from Ossetian and Abkhazian conflicts,
there is a problem of Samtskhe-Javakheti (Armenian-populated region
in Georgia – REGNUM), there is a problem in Marneuli District, where
Azerbaijani population lives, there is a problem with Megrels and
Adjarians. And in Azerbaijan, apart from Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
there is a problem with Talysh and Lezgin population,” noted the
Russian MP.
“Distance from Russia to Caucasus is less than from the USA, and Russia
is most of all interested in maintaining peace, even with unrecognized
republics. Our priority is peace in the region,” Konstantin Zatulin
noted adding that Russia is not interested in somebody training in
South Caucasus like in Iraq.

KAZIMIROV: NK’S PARTICIPATION IN NEGOTIATION PROCESS NECESSARY
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 17 2006
The process of the Nagorno Karabakh delegation’s exclusion from the
negotiation process on the settlement began immediately after the
OSCE summit in Budapest in December 1994, Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement in 1992-1996
Ambassador Vladimir Kazimirov told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. According
to him, the exclusion of NKR was initiated by Azerbaijan.
“At that time official Baku stated if Karabakh was engaged in the
talks, it should be presented by the Azeri community as well.
However, the proposal was rejected both by the Armenian party and
the Co-Chairs. Then Baku insisted on the exclusion of the Armenian
delegation of Karabakh. Nevertheless I believe the NKR representatives’
participation is necessary,” Kazimirov stressed.
As for the current stage of the negotiation process, Vladimir
Kazimirov said the responsibility should be shared by the RA and AR
FMs and Presidents. In his opinion, NGOs should be also involved in
the process.

ARMENIA’S POLICY TARGETED AT STABILITY
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.05.2006 15:52 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s policy in the region is targeted at
transforming it into a region of stability, cooperation and development
of the states on the basis of democracy and human rights observance,
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian stated at the
international scientific conference titled “Caucasus without conflicts
and terror: dialogue of civilizations on the Caucasian crossroad”
held in Yerevan today. In his words, this way it would be possible
to counteract the challenges and international terrorism. The Deputy
Minister remarked that the dialogue between civilizations was initiated
by former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami several years ago.
“The Iran-Armenia relations can serve as an ideal model of relations
for the South Caucasian states.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the relations between
Armenia and Turkey. The Armenian-Turkish relations can be settled
if Turkey acknowledges the Armenian Genocide, opens the borders and
assumes a neutral position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement,
Gegham Gharibjanian underscored.

RISK OF ESCALATION OF FROZEN CONFLICTS ALWAYS EXISTS, EU ENVOY CONSIDERS
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.05.2006 14:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Union supposes that the frozen conflicts
in the South Caucasus cannot be settled without laborious work for
creating the atmosphere of trust between the communities, majorities
and minorities in the region, EU Envoy for the South Caucasus Peter
Semneby stated. In his words, the atmosphere of trust should be
created between the states of the region and with the big neighbors
as well. “This is impossible without precise political and economic
outlook. All including the European Union and Russia as well as the
states of the region and all the interested parties should work for
it,” Mr. Semneby remarked adding that the escalation cannot be ruled
out until the conflicts are settled.
When commenting on the possibility of deploying EU and NATO
peacekeepers in the region, the EU Envoy said, “I am not empowered
to speak of NATO. As for the European Union, it’s possible. However
it will be one of many possibilities. Everything depends on the will
of the parties,” reported Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
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ARMENIAN BANKS PROVIDE CREDITS OF ABOUT 260 BLN DRAMS AS OF LATE MARCH 2006
Noyan Tapan
May 15 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. As of March 31, 2006, the Armenian
commercial banks provided credits of the total amount of 206 bln
944 mln drams (about 460 mln USD), 97.83% of which were credit
investments, 1.70% – deferred credits of the banks, and 0.47% –
overdue credits. According to the RA National Statistical Service,
the balance of the population’s deposits with the banks increased by
30% on the same day of last year and made 103 bln 418 mln drams. In
January-March 2006, the expenditures related to the sale and purchase
of foreign currency in the RA banking system exceeded the revenues
by 29 bln 733.8 mln drams and made 69 bln 150 mln drams and 39 bln
416.2 mln drams respectively.