Author: Vanyan Gary

Zaman, Turkey
July 3 2004
Yerevan Gives First Signals of Withdrawal
Earlier this week Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Vartan Oskanyan
reportedly hinted that Armenian forces might withdraw from all of the
occupied territories in Azerbaijan except Karabagh.
Oskanyan explained the development during a tripartite meeting with
Turkish Foreign Minster Abdullah Gul and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Ahmet Mehmetyarov at the June 28-29 North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) summit in Istanbul, Turkey.
Gul talked about that meeting during yesterday’s session of the
Justice and Development Party (AKP) Central Executive Decision
Committee (MKYK). Gul indicated that Oskanyan had said, “We can
withdraw from all territories except Karabagh.”
Gul pointed out that the Azerbaijani Minister reacted favorably to
this development. “An important step has been taken towards resolving
the Armenian issue,” declared Gul.
07.03.2004
Omer Sahin

Armenian opposition not to collect signatures to remove president
Arminfo
2 Jul 04

YEREVAN
Today’s session of the political council of the opposition Justice
bloc decided not to organize a campaign to collect signatures for
demanding the resignation of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and
for holding extraordinary presidential elections, the secretary of the
Justice parliamentary faction, Viktor Dallakyan, has told Arminfo news
agency.
The session agreed that the overwhelming majority of the Armenian
population wants Kocharyan’s resignation and hence, there is no point
in wasting efforts and resources to confirm this once
again. “Collecting signatures does not make sense also because
according to the existing laws, the signatures will not be legally
binding.” Dallakyan said.
The Justice bloc will soon conduct a press conference, which will
“draw conclusions on the results of the persecution of opposition
leaders and activists in spring”, he said. “More than 1,000 people
were subjected to administrative persecution between March and June,
and two of them – Edgar Arakelyan and Lavrentiy Kirakosyan – are still
under arrest. The lawyers of the convicts will be present at the press
conference, and a general assessment will be made on political
repression,” he said.

Azeri opposition leader complains to European envoy about rights situation
Turan news agency
30 Jun 04

Baku, 30 June: PACE Secretary-General Bruno Haller, who is paying an
official visit to Azerbaijan, held a meeting today with party leaders
represented in parliament.
The executive secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, Ali
Ahmadov, said that useful cooperation has been established between
Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe. He noted that all parties of
Azerbaijan are unanimous regarding the Karabakh settlement.
Haller voiced his hope that the work [former rapporteur of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and Secretary-General of the Council of
Europe] Terry Davis had started will be continued and a new rapporteur
for the Karabakh problem will submit to the Parliamentary Assembly a
report reflecting reality.
The leader of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party (Reformers), Ali
Karimli, said that the public had pinned great hopes on Azerbaijan’s
admission to the Council of Europe. We expected Strasbourg to render
assistance in solving its commitments. However, the public has been
disappointed with the Council of Europe as most of the 14 obligations,
which should have been fulfilled in 2002-2004, have not yet been
kept. The problem of political prisoners should have been resolved in
the first two years but three and a half years have elapsed and the
problem still exists. Moreover, seven opposition leaders have been
imprisoned. Rallies and pickets are banned in a Council of Europe
member state. Recommendations by the Venice Commission of the Council
of Europe on the development of election legislation have been
ignored. No fight against corruption is being carried out and the
implementation of the law on this issue has been postponed. Karimli
also complained that there are no independent courts in the country.
The Council of Europe is not taking any measures to exert pressure on
the Azerbaijani authorities to make them fulfil its commitments.
“We supposed that Azerbaijan would come closer to the Council of
Europe’s standards, however, this has not happened and, moreover, the
Council of Europe is getting adapted to Azerbaijani standards,”
Karimli said.

EU aid to South Caucasus depends on progress in conflicts settlement – envoy
Mediamax news agency
30 Jun 04

YEREVAN
“My visit to Stepanakert shows that the European Union has not
forgotten about Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagornyy Karabakh and that the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict is important to us,” the special
representative of the EU for the South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie, told
a briefing following his two-day visit to Nagornyy Karabakh, a
Mediamax correspondent has reported from Stepanakert .
Talvitie said that the EU is interested in stability in the region,
the establishment of an atmosphere of confidence and the
implementation of reconstruction programmes. This will very much
depend on the progress in the settlement of conflicts existing in the
region, he added.
“We first supposed to start implementing programmes at the final stage
of the settlement, but now we intend to render assistance to the
region as soon as certain progress is achieved in the peace process,”
Talvitie said.
He said that he last visited Nagornyy Karabakh 10 years ago, and
expressed his satisfaction with the fact that “thanks to your efforts,
you have achieved considerable changes in many spheres”. “This meets
the interests of the European Union and of the conflicting parties and
testifies to stability in the region,” he stressed.
Talvitie met NKR President Arkadiy Gukasyan, National Assembly
Chairman Oleg Yesayan and Prime Minister Anushavan Daniyelyan in
Stepanakert today.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Cihan News, Turkey
June 30 2004
Turkey: NATO Gain New Vision In Istanbul Summit

ISTANBUL (CIHAN) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
on Tuesday NATO has gained new perspective and acceleration with the
Istanbul summit.
Erdogan recalled that Turkey first time successively hosted an NATO
summit in its 52-year old NATO membership.
The leaders of 26 member countries of NATO, its 20 partner countries
and two observer countries came togeter in Istanbul summit during
2-day summit.
Turkish Prime Minister asked forbiddance from the Turkish people who
faced hard time during the summit due to the massive security
measures. “Sure, there were certain difficulties but Turkey has
gained great prestige.” He said that he is not talking about the
organizational success but the hosting important NATO summit that is
on the verge of turning point in function of the NATO.
Stating that Islam culture and democracy culture, the tradition and
modernity, the history and future had met in Istanbul, Erdogan said
that Istanbul Summit witnessed the transformation process of NATO.
Erdogan said that the Istanbul Cooperation initiative which aims to
harmonized cooperation and consultation with the region countries, as
it was foreseen by the G-8 meeting and US-EU summit, has been put
into affect with Istanbul summit.
“NATO has gained new acceleration and perspective with the decision
taken in the Istanbul summit. The transformation of the NATO based on
the new capabilities, new partnerships and new operations areas.”
Turkish Prime Minister said that NATO first time issued an new vision
declaration since the London Summit in 1990.
Meeting in Istanbul on 28 and 29 June, NATO Heads of State and
Government expanded the Alliance`s presence in Afghanistan, agreed to
assist Iraq with training, launched a new partnership initiative and
adopted measures to improve NATO`s operational capabilities.
Erdogan said that the meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai was
historic. “The decision taken was sign of new era beginning. The
allies reached an consensus on Iraq. ”
Referring to the relations between Turkey and Armenia, Erdogan hoped
that the three party meeting between Armenia-Azerbaijan -Turkey would
bring beneficial outcomes in future.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül met with the Azerbaijan Foreign
Minister, Elmar Mamadyarov and the Armenian Foreign Minister, Vardan
Oskaryan within the framework of NATO Summit in Istanbul yesterday.
Gül made a statement after 45-minute talk and he said that the peace
and stability issue in Caucasians drawed attention of the
international community. “EU and NATO is creating a new strategy for
the Southern Caucasian and also a new strategic vision must be
developed.”
The Turkish Prime Minister said that the meeting showed the tolerance
between countries. Erdoðan said that win-win policy should be adopted
to reach a successful results.
Regarding the Turkish hostages in Iraq, Erdogan added that the main
reason of the terrorism is poverty. He said that he could not
understand why militants take the civilian people as hostages in
Iraq. “It is incomprehensible why they kidnap people.”
Three Turkish hostages, who were abducted last week in Iraq, were
released on Tuesday, Qatar based Al Jazeere satellite channel
reported on Tuesday.
Turkish workers who were working at a Turkish air-conditioner
company, were abducted by the militants of the Jama`at al-Tawhid and
Jihad which is linked with Abu Musab Al Zarkavi.
The captors had threatened to behead the Turkish hostages unless
Turkish construction firms operating in Iraq leave the country within
72 hours. The deadline for the hostages had expired today.

PRESS RELEASE
June 30, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected] ;Web:
New USAID Country Director for Armenia Sworn-in, Congratulated by Amb.
Kirakossian
The new US Agency for International Development Country Director for
Armenia, Robin Phillips, was sworn in on June 29, 2004, in a ceremony
attended by USAID Assistant Administrator Kent Hill, the newly-confirmed
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans, Armenian Ambassador to the U.S.,
Dr. Arman Kirakossian, and representatives of the Armenian American
organizations. Director Phillips, who holds advanced degrees in Economics,
Political Studies, and Asian Studies, has held several important positions
at the USAID, most recently serving as Director, Office of Eurasian Affairs,
Bureau for Europe and Eurasia.
Congratulating Mr. Phillips and wishing him success in his new job,
Ambassador Kirakossian referred to century-long U.S. commitment to Armenia,
adding that the newly independent Armenia was proud to be a partner with the
U.S. on such global issues as combating international terrorism and
non-proliferation. He said that the Government of Armenia valued and
appreciated its cooperation with the USAID, other U.S. government agencies
within the framework of U.S. assistance programs. Ambassador Kirakossian
noted that “we may speak different languages, but our nations share similar
values and the same respect for democratic principles, human rights, and the
rule of law.”

Zaman, Turkey
June 29 2004
Erdogan: Kurds Are Not Minority but Part of All
At the Pan Atlantic Youth Summit yesterday organized as part of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit, Prime Minister
Erdogan emphasized that Kurds are not a minority, but one part of a
whole.
Erdogan answered questions posed by the audience at the Summit
attended by approximately 200 students. “Kurds are components
inextricable from the whole. Religious groups can be counted as a
minority. For us, the Kurds do not have minority status,” Erdogan
said in response to a question about the future of the Kurds. He also
pointed out that although he is from Rize, his spouse is from Siirt,
a southeastern city that is densely populated by Kurds. He said, “the
population in Turkey is almost hybrid, there is no minority.”
Erdogan said that NATO and the European Union (EU) have extended east
and Turkey is no longer a geographical wing, but rather the center.
He stressed that Turkey is gaining importance and it will
successfully overcome the difficulties with its historical experience
and the power it took to unify with the west. Erdogan said, “Turkey
is a candidate to be a symbol of 21st century culture and
civilization.” When asked when the Armenian border will be opened, he
reminded the audience that Armenia is an occupier in Azerbaijan. He
added: “Turkey cannot develop its relationship with Armenia and this
stems from Armenia. It is an incompatible country.” Erdogan
criticized Armenia for not attending the NATO summit. “The Armenian
Diaspora wants to keep so-called genocide on the agenda. It is
impossible for Turkey to approve this attitude.” He also replied to a
question about the new Turkish policy in the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by saying: “We put effort forth for the
unification of the island and started peace talks for the fourth
time. We showed we would be always a step ahead of the Greeks. The
side that rejected the Annan plan is in the EU and the situation of
the side who said yes is apparent.”
Next Step: Iraqi Election
All eyes have turned to elections to be held in January of 2005 for
the Iraq National Assembly now that sovereignty has been transferred.
The transfer of power took place yesterday, two days ahead of
schedule.
The new Constitution to be prepared by the Parliament in the fall of
2005 is to be presented for a referendum. The new government that
will be determined through the free general elections in December of
2005 will come to power in January of 2006.
The US forces entering the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on March 9, 2003
formed the Iraqi Temporary Governing Council consisting of 25 Iraqi
members on July 13, 2003. The Council enacted the interim
Constitution on March 8, 2004 and, after electing Ghazi Al-Yawar as
President on June 1, 2004, annulled itself as of June 28, 2004.
06.29.2004
Bahtiyar Kucuk, Servet Yanatma
Istanbul

Ventura County Star
June 28 2004
A life in harmony
Fourteen years after losing her sight, a woman rediscovers her love
of music
By Rosy Banks, [email protected]
June 28, 2004
When Gayane Pogosyan lost her vision in an accident 14 years ago, she
thought she would never be able to play a musical instrument again.
Her viola and violin collected dust.
Then her daughter, Marina, asked her to accompany her in a duet and
recorded the music. For painstaking hours, Pogosyan memorized the
music note by note.

Two years ago, that dedication earned her a part in the Moorpark
Symphony Orchestra. The only blind member among its 75 musicians, the
violist has memorized 115 minutes of music in Beethoven’s Symphony
No. 9, along with two concertos, for a performance. It took almost
five months for her to prepare for a recent concert at the Oxnard
Performing Arts Center.
“All of my body, mind and soul celebrates after that hard work,” said
Pogosyan, who lives in Simi Valley. “We don’t know what we’re capable
of until we only have one way to do it.”
The Armenian-born violist attests to the capabilities that lie in
individuals, regardless of their handicap. She overcame expectations
and spends much of her spare time studying music and preparing for
concerts and performances around the community.
“Its not easy being a blind person in an orchestra because being able
to watch the conductor is a must,” said James J. Song, music director
for the Moorpark Symphony Orchestra. “Gayane is a unique individual.
She joins in when others are playing and has become well acclimated
to the group.”
In 2003, she received the outstanding musician award for her devotion
to the orchestra. But finding time to practice and memorize each
piece isn’t easy for a mother and grandmother of three who works full
time.
Studying music is only one of a long list of daily tasks for
Pogosyan. During the week, she works as a counselor for the state and
helps visually impaired clients cope with loss and use resources to
improve their lifestyles.
“I help them stand up on their feet so they can start a new life, as
I did,” she said.
Graduating summa cum laude from California Lutheran University,
Pogosyan adapted as the only blind student from 1995 to 2000.
Disability, she said, was not going to stop her from pursuing her
dreams.
“Sometimes I think that my blindness came as a blessing,” she said.
“At first it was difficult, but I got through the challenges and it
made my character stronger. Because of my blindness I went back to
school and found God.”
Music provided the fuel for the another passion she said comes
naturally to her — dancing. On Friday nights, Pogosyan swings the
night away with friends or her new dance partner, Dan Cutler.
“I never regard her as having any handicap,” Cutler said. “I forget
lots of times.”
Others do not recognize her blindness immediately, Pogosyan said.
When she encounters people fearful or ignorant of her condition, she
tries to educate them. She remembers many times when people would
start talking slowly and loudly.
“I lost my sight, not my mind,” she would tell them.
Pogosyan thrives on new challenges and her dedication is respected by
orchestra members, friends and for her, above all else, her
grandchildren. Loved ones and music are her top priorities.
On a recent day off, her home echoed with their voices. Her grandson,
8-year-old Jake Brock, has decided to take violin lessons and sought
the guidance of his grandmother as her two other grandchildren sat
petting her retired guide dog. When the children get frustrated or
discouraged, they can look to Pogosyan.
“Sometimes at school I tell people my grandma is blind and I tell
them all the things she does,” said Lauren Reiber, her 13-year-old
granddaughter. “They just say, ‘Wow.’ “

New York Times
June 26 2004
Dithering as Others Die
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

LONG THE SUDAN-CHAD BORDER – The ongoing genocide in Darfur is
finally, fortunately, making us uncomfortable. At this rate, with
only 250,000 more deaths it will achieve the gravitas of the Laci
Peterson case.
Hats off to Colin Powell and Kofi Annan, who are both traveling in
the next few days to Darfur. But the world has dithered for months
already. Unless those trips signal a new resolve, many of the Darfur
children I’ve been writing about over the last few months will have
survived the Janjaweed militia only to die now of hunger or diarrhea.
I’ve had e-mail from readers who are horrified by the slaughter, but
who also feel that Africa is always a mess and that there’s not much
we can do. So let me address the cynics.
Look, I’m sure it’s terrible in Darfur. But lots of places are
horrific, and we can’t help everyone. Why obsess about Sudan?
The U.N. describes Darfur as the No. 1 humanitarian crisis in the
world today. The U.S. Agency for International Development estimates
that at best 320,000 more people will still die of hunger and disease
this year – or significantly more if we continue to do nothing.
Moreover, apart from our obligation to act under the Genocide
Convention, acquiescence only encourages more genocide – hence the
question attributed to Hitler, “Who today remembers the Armenian
extermination?”
Haven’t we invaded enough Muslim countries?
The U.S. is not going to invade Sudan. That’s not a plausible option.
But we can pass a tough U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing
troops, as well as more support for African peacekeepers. If Germany,
France and Spain don’t want to send troops to Iraq, then let them
deploy in Darfur. And we must publicly condemn the genocide.
What good is a speech in the U.N.? Why would Sudan listen?
Governments tend to be embarrassed about exterminating minorities. In
Sudan, a bit of publicity about Darfur coupled with a written
statement from President Bush led Sudan to agree to a cease-fire in
April and to improve access for aid agencies. More publicity prompted
it to promise to disband the Janjaweed raiders.
Sudan lies and wriggles out of its promises, but its genocide is
still calibrated to the international reaction. Likewise, it is still
denying visas and blocking supplies for emergency relief, but
pressure has led it to improve access.
So, Mr. Bush, if a single written statement will do so much good, why
won’t you let the word “Darfur” pass your lips? Why the passivity in
the face of evil? You could save tens of thousands of lives by making
a forceful speech about Darfur. Conversely, your refusal to do so is
costing tens of thousands of lives.
If the Sudanese were notorious pirates of American videotapes, if
they were sheltering Mullah Omar, you’d be all over them. So why not
stand up just as forcefully to genocide?
Mr. Bush seems proud of his “moral clarity,” his willingness to
recognize evil and bluntly describe it as such. Well, Darfur reeks of
evil, and we are allowing it to continue.
What can ordinary Americans do?
Yell! Mr. Bush and John Kerry have been passive about Darfur because
voters are. If citizens contact the White House or their elected
representatives and demand action, our leaders will be happy to
follow.
Readers can also contribute to one of the many aid agencies saving
lives in Darfur. (I’ve listed some at
, Posting 489.)
Be realistic. We don’t have our national interest at stake in Darfur.
But we do. Sudan’s chaos is destabilizing surrounding countries,
especially Chad, which is an increasing source of oil for us.
Moreover, when states collapse into chaos, they become staging
grounds for terrorism and for diseases like ebola and polio (both
have broken out recently in Sudan).
In any case, America is a nation that has values as well as
interests. We betrayed those values when we ignored past genocides,
and we are betraying them again now.
In my last three columns, I wrote about Magboula Muhammad Khattar, a
24-year-old woman struggling to keep her children alive since her
parents and husband were killed by the Janjaweed. Each time I visited
the tree she lives under, she shared with me the only things she had
to offer: a smile and a bowl of brackish water.
Is a cold shoulder all we have to offer in return?

PRESS RELEASE
June 24, 2004
ARMENPAC
421 East Airport Freeway, Suite 201
Irving, Texas 75062
CONTACT: Bryan Ardouny
Phone: (406) 546-5250
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENPAC CO-CHAIR ANNIE TOTAH BRIEFS SENATE LEADERS
Attends historic evening honoring Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Irving, TX — ARMENPAC Co-Chair Annie Totah attended a historic
evening honoring Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Dean of the
U.S. Senate women. During the event, held at the National Aquarium in
Baltimore, Maryland, Senator Mikulski introduced Totah `as one of the
top leaders of the Armenian community. In addition to Senator
Mikulski, Totah also met with Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Maria
Cantwell (D-WA), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein
(D-CA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Patty Murray
(D-WA).
Totah emphasized the importance of strengthening U.S.-Armenia trade
relations and timely passage of S. 1557, which would extend permanent
normal trade relations to Armenia. This important legislation was
introduced by Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and
continues to gain momentum with the support of the Bush Administration
as well as 21 Senators. Totah also urged support of S. Res. 164,
which affirms the Armenian Genocide. Introduced by Senator John Ensign
(R-NV), S. Res. 164 is currently pending further action in the Senate
Judiciary Committee.
“On behalf of the ARMENPAC Board of Directors, I was pleased to attend
this landmark event to honor my home-town Senator,” said ARMENPAC
Co-Chair Annie Totah. “Each and every Senator was receptive to our
issues and I look forward to working with them throughout the
remainder of the 108th Congress and beyond.”
ARMENPAC is an independent, bipartisan political action committee and
was established to shape public policy by raising awareness of and
advocating for Armenian-American issues. ARMENPAC provides financial
support to federal officeholders, candidates, political action
committees and organizations that actively support issues of
importance to Armenian-Americans.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress