Author: Vanyan Gary

Pan Armenian News
NO PROPOSAL TO FORM ARMENIAN-TURKISH EXPERT COMMISSION FOR STUDY OF FACTS ON
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECEIVED BY KOCHARIAN ADMINISTRATION
14.04.2005 02:32
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Administration of President of Armenia Robert
Kocharian did not receive a letter from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, proposing to form a bilateral expert commission for study of facts
on the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915, stated Victor
Soghomonian, the Press Secretary of the Armenian leader. Meanwhile, as
reported by AFP agency, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stated in the
Parliament Wednesday that Erdogan has sent a letter to Kocharian proposing
to form the aforementioned commission. According to the sources, Turkey is
ready to hold talks with Armenia over the composition and the work of the
Commission. It could have become a step toward the normalization of the
relations between Armenia and Turkey, the report says.

RA AMBASSADOR TO GREECE DELIVERS LECTURE AT UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
OF ATHENS
ATHENS, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Vahram Kazhoyan, the RA Ambassador to
Greece represented a lecture at the University of Indianapolis of
Athens on April 7. The theme was “Role of Armenia in International
Relations in 21th Century.” As Noyan Tapan was informed from the RA
Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, representatives
of the lecturers’ staff of the University, students of the
International Relations Department, other listeners were present at
the lecture. During the lecture, the Ambassador represented internal
political and economic situation of Armenia during the years of
independence, fostered foreign policy, relations with countries of the
region and other states as well as cooperation with international
organizations. During the lecture, Ambassador Vahram Kazhoyan
specially represented problems of recognition of the Armenian Genocide
and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, answered questions of those
present. The Ambassadors of USA, India, Japan, China delivered
lectures at the University of Indianapolis during the current academic
year.

AFP World News
International, Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Turkey goes on the offensive against Armenian genocide campaign
Sibel Utku Bila
ANKARA – Turkey urged Armenia Wednesday to agree to a joint study of the
massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire and appealed for
international support for the proposal in a bid to blunt a damaging
international campaign to have the killings recognized as genocide.
Turkey fears that the 90th anniversary of the beginning of the alleged
genocide on April 24 could trigger an outpouring of sympathy for the
Armenians and cloud its image at a time when it is bidding to join the
European Union.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul disclosed at a special parliamentary session
that Ankara had formally proposed to Armenia the creation of a joint
commission to study the genocide allegations as a first step towards
normalizing relations between the two estranged neighbors.
The proposal was outlined in a recent letter by Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Gul said.
“We informed them that if our proposal is accepted, we are ready to
negotiate with Armenia on how the commission will be established and how it
will work and that such an initiative will serve to normalize relations
between the two countries.
“I repeat this appeal once again… Turkey is ready to face its history,
Turkey has no problem with its history,” Gul said.
Ankara has refused to establish diplomatic relations with Yerevan since the
former Soviet republic gained independence in 1991 because of Armenian
efforts to secure international condemnation of the World War I massacres
as genocide.
In 1993, Turkey shut its border with Armenia in a show of solidarity with
its close ally Azerbaijan, which was at war with Armenia over the
Nagorny-Karabakh enclave, dealing a heavy economic blow on the impoverished
nation.
Gul urged the international community to press Yerevan to accept Turkey’s
proposal.
The mass killings and deportations of Armenians during World War I is one
of the most controversial episodes in Turkish history.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen perished in orchestrated
killings between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of
modern Turkey, was falling apart.
Ankara argues that 300,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks were killed in
what was civil strife during World War I when the Armenians rose against
their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.
The killings have already been acknowledged as genocide by a number of
countries, including France, Canada and Switzerland.
Some EU politicans are also pressing Turkey to address the genocide claims
in what Ankara sees a politically-motivated campaign to impede its EU
membership bid.
The Turkish parliament Wednesday lent support to the government’s proposal
for a joint study of the allegations by Turkish and Armenian historians in
a declaration read out amid applause.
“This proposal should be considered an initiative for peace,” the
declaration said. “Nations who sincerely want Turkish-Armenian relations to
improve are expected to support this proposal.”
MPs also signed a letter to the British parliament urging it to publicly
concede that a popular book on the Armenian massacres, written upon the
request of British war propaganda agencies during World War I, was part of
British “disinformation campaign” against the Ottomans at the time.
The book, titled “Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1915-1916”
and known as “The Blue Book,” still serves as a major source for genocide
allegations despite the fact that even one of its authors later admitted it
was part of war propaganda, the letter said.
© 2005 AFP. All rights reserved.

BY 2015 ARMENIA TO HAVE ARMY ABLE TO FACE ANY CHALLENGES
YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. By 2015 Armenia will have an army meeting
all the requirements of the 21st century and capable of facing new
challenges and ensuring its country’s security, Deputy Defence
Minister of Armenia Artur Agabekyan said during today’s workshop on
the individual partnership plan with NATO.
Being the guarantor of state security DM should take into account the
present military-political situation. Priority should be given to
reforms. Agabekyan says that this is a realistic project requiring
flexible policy, deep analysis and democratic approach.
US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans said that the region’s conflicts
should be overcome to pave the way for regional partnership.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
RUSAL ATTRACTED 46.6 MILLION EURO EXPORT CREDIT FOR MODERNIZATION OF ARMENAL
FOIL PLANT
11.04.2005 03:44
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RUSAL, one of the world’s leaders in producing primary
aluminum has attracted a 46.6 million euro credit from Bayerische
Landesbank. The credit is provided with the guarantee of EULER HERMES, the
German Agency of Export Crediting and is destined for financing a
large-scale program of modernization of ARMENAL foil plant, Firm Secret
project reports. The modernization program at RUSAL’s ARMENAL foil mill
facility in Armenia, started in October’2004 is aimed both at improving the
quality of its foil products and boosting the plant’s profitability – in
helping the mill to become one of the world leading foil producers. German
engineering firm Achenbach was selected to execute the program scheduled for
completion in 18 months at an investment cost of US $70 million. The credit
will completely cover the cost of equipment and services essential for the
program implementation and will be provided via two tranches. The first 6.99
million euro commercial tranche will be provided by BayernLB with term of
3.5 years, while the second one will make 39.61 and will be allocated with
the guarantee of the German Agency of Export Crediting with the term of 8.5
years. Vladislav Soloviov, Chief Financial Officer noted, `The credit
attracted by RUSAL will not only contribute to the development of company’s
activities in the region but will also play a key role for the Armenian
economy. BayernLB is a pioneer to have credited business in the republic and
we hope that other representatives of international association will follow
its example.’ Minister of Trade and Economic Development of Armenia Karen
Chshmaritian said, `The modernization of ARMENAL has become the one of the
major investment programs to be carried out in the Armenian economy. Thanks
to RUSAL Armenia will have a super modern foil plant and the BayernLB’s
credit received with the assistance of the Russian company will considerably
improve the investment climate in the republic.’ The first stage of the
modernization program is to be finished in autumn 2005. The modernization
program, which will also provide for a major upgrade in foil rolling
equipment and also the establishment of a full production cycle, will lift
the plant capacity by 25,000 tons of foil per year, including 18,000 tons of
highly profitable thin foil in 6-9 micron gauge.

Pan Armenian News
AAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: KARABAKH ARMENIANS MADE THEIR CHOICE FOR FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY
08.04.2005 04:44
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The international community concurs that Armenian
Karabakh can never again be governed by Azerbaijan, Executive Director
of the Armenian Assembly of America stated in a letter addressed to
an American newspaper. The letter was the response to the article
by head of the Caspian Energy Consulting Rob Sobhani. Mr. Vartian
stated that Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh have made their choice for
freedom and democracy while defending their adherence to the legal
norms in thew war imposed by Azerbaijan 10 years ago. Besides, in
his article Mr. Sobhani claims that Armenian authorities are unable
to manage their armed forces and armaments. However just two weeks
ago the FBI praised “the professionalism and active cooperation of
the Armenian authorities” in a sting operation in which would-be
smugglers were nabbed before they attempted to move the weapons
into the United States. In fact, Washington has praised Armenia’s
military cooperation, calling the country a “key partner” in the
war on terror. When commenting on Sobhani’s statement regarding
non-parity of US foreign aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ross Vartian
noted that the US assistance to Armenia would not be so critical
if Turkish and Azeri blockades were not strangling its eastern and
western borders. “Mr. Sobhani was right to mention that Armenian
President Robert Kocharian supports a peaceful resolution to the
Karabakh conflict while his Azeri counterpart does not. President
Ilham Aliyev has declared repeatedly that he is “not in a hurry”
to settle the conflict and would start a new war at the time of his
choosing”, the letter says.

AZG Armenian Daily #063, 09/04/2005
Karabakh issue
ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN: TODAY’S REGIME CONTINUES DEFEATIST POLICY OF THE PREVIOUS
ONE
Defense of Liberated Territories public initiative (DLT) warns once
again that the Karabakh policy of today’s regime in Armenia is the
continuation of former ones and is as defeatist. DLT coordinator
Zhirayr Sefilian criticized Karabakh policy of the authorities at
Azdak club on April 7.
Sefilian reminded defense minister Serge Sargsian’s speech at the
March 29-30 parliament hearings over Nagorno Karabakh issue to have
said that “till in 90s when he was convincing the soldiers to take
over the vantage points outside Karabakh he used to tell them that
we take them but will have to return”.
DLT coordinator called Sargsian’s statement an outright lie and said
that no officer would dare not only tell something of the kind to the
soldiers but even think of that as the author of such words would be
soon killed.
Sefilian was a battalion commander in Shushi in 1992. His battalion
that fought in many battles including the battle for Shushi liberation
had 56 killed, 3 missing and 157 wounded.
Sefilian warned the authorities that “this process of territorial
concession is a treason”. He claimed that “those people cannot
represent the Armenian people”. On behalf of all freedom fighters as
well as the perished ones, Sefilian stated that the authorities will
be punished if they do not change their stance in Karabakh issue.
Referring to OSCE Minsk group Russian co-chair (who said that “the
co-chairs have prepared a new package to be put before Armenian and
Azeri presidents in London”, “the society is not ready for compromise”,
“co-chairs always considered that the public opinion in both countries
need to be molded”) Sefilian said that the parliamentary hearings
aimed at settling these issues.
“In presence of many ambassadors, the coalitional parties, opposition
representatives, RA and NKR foreign ministers and especially RA
defense minister tried hard to display the “unity” and “resolution”
of Armenia’s politics to accept co-chairs’ suggestions”, a press
release by DLT read.
Organizers of the hearings, according to DLT, displayed the Armenian
society their resolution to defend territories of former Nagorno
Karabakh Autonomous Republic and the Lachin corridor and from the other
side, their belief and readiness to hand the liberated territories
to Azerbaijan.
“The expression ‘liberated territories’ was a taboo for everyone. They
used, instead, words revealing their Azeri-mindedness. We have the
impression that the purpose of the hearings was to deprive expression
“liberated territories” of its meaning”, the release says.
Zhirayr Sefilian and his adherents are sure that “the Armenian nation
will never put up with the idea of relinquishing any part of its
homeland and with contracts that opposing to its national interests”.
By Tatoul Hakobian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Tajikistan: CIS military exercises rehearse “suppression of revolution”
Kommersant, Moscow
4 Apr 05
Text of report by Ivan Safronov: “Bishkek as in the Days of Frunze.
CIS Military Training in Counterrevolutionary Struggle, Using the
Example of Kyrgyzstan”, published by the Russian newspaper Kommersant
on 4 April:
The active phase of the Rubezh-2005 [Border] Collective Security
Treaty Organization command-staff exercises starts in Tajikistan
today. Originally it was planned to hold these manoeuvres in
Kyrgyzstan, but because of the events we all know about they were
switched to Tajikistan. The scenario for the exercises was also
changed. Effectively Rubezh-2005 is a rehearsal for the possible
suppression of a revolution in the CIS, bearing in mind events
in Bishkek.
Following the events in Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation
Defence Ministry had intended to postpone holding the Rubezh-2005
command-staff exercises, but a week ago Vladimir Putin ordered that
the exercises should not be put back (they are going ahead from 2
through 6 April). The scenario for the manoeuvres has combat actions
unfolding in a mountain location between “Reds” and “Blues.” The
former will comprise army subunits from the Collective Security
Treaty Organization countries, and they will be opposed by armed
international terrorist formations.
Kommersant has discovered that the manoeuvres will play out one
possible scenario for developing events reminiscent of what happened
recently in Kyrgyzstan: The “Blues” will take advantage of popular
discontent over the results of a recent election to try to seize
power, while the “Reds” plan to “work through issues relating to a
decision to use force and collective security resources to defend the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Tajikistan, the planning
and preparation of the joint operation, and the organization of
collaboration, comprehensive provisioning, and control.” Meanwhile
ITAR-TASS had reported back on 28 March, citing the Russian Federation
Defence Ministry Information and Public Liaison Directorate, that “the
Rubezh-2005 manoeuvres are in no way connected with the situation
in Kyrgyzstan and were planned in advance in accordance with the
Collective Security Treaty Organization collective rapid deployment
forces training plan.”
Kommersant’s information is that subunits from the armed forces of
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan totalling around 3,000
men in all (the entire collective rapid deployment forces, which are
headquartered in Bishkek, incidentally, number 4,000 servicemen),
which form part of the collective rapid deployment forces, will be
brought into action. The command of the forces will be in the hands
of Tajikistan’s defence minister, Col-Gen Sherali Khayrulloyev. The
Armenian and Belarusian military have been involved only in planning
the exercises, and they will act as observers hereafter.
The exercises will conclude on 6 April with combat firing on the
Eshakmaydan [name as transliterated] range in southern Tajikistan.
According to an ITAR-TASS report, Russian Federation Defence
Minister Sergey Ivanov and the heads of the other Collective Security
Treaty Organization countries’ military departments will be coming
to Tajikistan to observe the concluding phase of the manoeuvres.
Meanwhile today, according to Kommersant’s information, the subunits
involved in the exercises will stage a dress rehearsal for the “battle”
planned for 6 April, which will be attended by General of the Army
Vladimir Boldyrev, commander of the Volga-Urals Military District
and responsible for the Central Asian strategic area at the Defence
Ministry, who has come to Tajikistan from Yekaterinburg.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO HOLD ARMENIA-TURKEY DISCUSSIONS
   STRASBOURG, APRIL 5, ARMENPRESS: The European Parliament will hold
discussions on Aril 12 in Strasbourg, titled “The Future of the Past:
Armenians in Turkey” and “Ankara-Yerevan Relationships.” Discussions,
according to Turkish ANT, are organized by The Greens/ European Free
Alliance in the European Parliament and will be moderated by Jem
Ozdemir, a Turkish member of the European Parliament from Germany.
   According to ANT, Taner Akcam, a Turkish professor at Minnesota
University will take part in the discussions. He will present a
report called “The Ottoman archives as witness to the past: A new
understanding and re-evaluation of official Turkish history”.
   Also Etjen Mahcupian, a Turkish Armenian columnist from Zaman
daily and Hrant Dink, editor of an Armenian weekly Agos, published in
Istanbul, will partake in the discussions along with members of the
European Parliament and representatives of Armenian Diaspora
organizations.
   NTV reminded that the European parliament adopted a resolution in
1987 recognizing the Armenian genocide and by another resolution in
2004, December 15 it demanded that Turkey must recognize it.
   A press release by The Greens | European Free Alliance in the
European Parliament said the current situation of the Armenian
minority in Turkey as well as the Turkish discussion of its own
history with respect to the Armenians remains one of the largest
remaining taboos. Many in the Armenian Diaspora demand that Turkey
accepts responsibility for its crimes of 1915 as a precondition for
its EU membership. The official Turkish position, on the other hand,
has difficulty recognizing Armenian suffering.
   “By planning an event at the European Parliament, we seek to bring
a larger European dimension to the Armenian discussion and give
constructive opposing voices a fair debate forum. Any discussion
about Turkey’s future includes confrontation of the past based on
collective respect and empathy. Our goal is to contribute to this
process of understanding. More broadly, it is our goal to better the
future cohabitation of different cultures and ethnicities in Turkey,”
the press release said.
–Boundary_(ID_3CaimjF8PGpifGnYEX4b3w)–

PRESS RELEASE
April 4, 2005
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 Appoints Harvard Grad, Renee Richer to Lead Environment Program
A faculty search committee chaired by American University of Armenia
(AUA)’s Vice-President for Research and Development, Dr. Kenell
Touryan, announces the selection of Dr. Renee Richer to direct
AUA’s Environmental Research and Conservation (ECRC) Center and her
appointment as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Richer received her Ph.D. in
June 2004 from Harvard University in Biology and her Bachelor’s Degree
from the University of Chicago. She recently received the Derek Bok
teaching award given by Harvard students for excellence in all areas
of instruction.
Dr. Renee Richer’s graduate research took place over a 3 and
1/2 year period in the rural forests of Zimbabwe. Her thesis work
required procuring nearly $300,000 of funding and leading a team of
15 multinational assistants in rural Zimbabwe and in the laboratory.
She worked closely with the University of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe
Forestry Commission, in addition to leading an American and Zimbabwean
exchange project with local Zimbabwean and American primary schools
to facilitate cultural exchange and encourage environmental awareness
and participation in science.
“We welcome Dr. Richer to AUA and are confident that her international
research experience in developing countries, commitment to
environmental conservation, and strong record of independent funding,
will serve our programs and Armenia well,” stated VP Kenell Touryan.
Established in 1992, the Environmental Conservation and Research
Center conducts research into conservation, ecology, environmental
contamination, and sustainable development in the Republic of Armenia,
and serves the community through education outreach programs and
collaboration with local scientists and organizations. ECRC is funded
by the generous support of Mr. Sarkis Acopian.
*********
AUA 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 or
For more information about the AUA Environmental
Conservation and Research Center visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress