Author: Vardanian Garo

Financial Times, UK
June 9 2005

Turkey pulls plug on ‘traitorous’ genocide debate
By Vincent Boland

Published: June 9 2005 03:00 | Last updated: June 9 2005 03:00

While French and Dutch voters were rejecting the European Union
constitution – with opposition to enlargement in the forefront of
their minds – Turkey was handing its army of critics another reason
to object to its membership credentials.

Amid allegations of treason and following an extraordinary
intervention by a senior minister, Bosphorus University in Istanbul
postponed a conference of Turkish historians which was to discuss the
fate of the Ottoman Empire’s Armenian inhabitants in 1915 and 1916.

The university’s decision caused an outcry in Turkey and dismayed
diplomats in Ankara, who say the suppression of the views expected to
be aired at the conference raises questions about Turkey’s commitment
to academic freedom and open debate on Turkish history.

The views would have deviated from the official Turkish position on
Armenian claims of genocide during the first world war but would not
necessarily have endorsed those claims, say participating historians.

Armenia claims that in a deliberate act of genocide Ottoman soldiers
killed up to 1.5m Armenian inhabitants of the disintegrating empire.

Turkey denies genocide. It counters that the Armenian death toll was
about 600,000, most of them as a result of civil war, hunger and
deportation, and that the controversy ignores the deaths of hundreds
of thousands of Turks at the same time.

Although the issue has not arisen in its negotiations to join the EU,
scheduled to begin in earnest in October, Turkey will have to address
the controversy, if only because Brussels demands that Turkey
normalise ties with Armenia, with which it has no diplomatic
relations.

France, home to a large part of the Armenian diaspora, has repeatedly
called on Turkey to “reflect” on its historical record.

The EU believes better Turkish-Armenian ties would improve security
in the region and help defuse the dispute over the enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Turkey’s “brother
nation”.

But Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, which believes its oil riches will
eventually give it the muscle to win the territory back, insists that
Turkey keep Armenia isolated.

Opponents of the conference, led by senior officials in the
opposition People’s Republican party (CHP) and at the Turkish
Historical Society and supported by the ruling Justice and
Development party (AKP), had two main objections. One, that it would
not have a speaker to deliver the official Turkish version of the
Armenian controversy; the other, that since Bosphorus University is a
state institution, its decision to host the conference was a betrayal
of the state.

The university buckled when Cemil Cicek, justice minister, attacked
the conference and criticised “traitors . . . preparing to stab
Turkey in the back”.

Mr Cicek, who was red-faced and banged his fist on the podium as he
spoke, stood by his statement. But other ministers, rattled by the
controversy, said he was speaking personally, even though he is the
government spokesman and delivered his comments in the parliament.

A European diplomat said Mr Cicek’s speech was “the worst statement I
have heard in my years here in Turkey”.

Diplomats say the forced postponement of a conference on an issue
that Turkey has struggled to come to terms with may yet cost it
support in the EU, and among Turkish liberals, who may not even be
sensitive to the Armenian case.

“This is a really sad incident,” says Ayhan Aktar, professor of
sociology at Marmara University. “It will make Turkish diplomacy pay
a heavy price.”

The pressure to cancel or postpone the conference was “intolerable”,
he says, after Mr Cicek’s remarks and the prospect that hundreds of
nationalist students from other universities, mobilised by its
opponents, would converge on Bosphorus University to disrupt
proceedings.

Prof Aktar says those who shut the conference down misunderstood, or
perhaps misrepresented, its agenda. “They tried to brand this
conference as one that would support the genocide allegation, which
was absolutely not the case.” Additional reporting by Daniel Dombey
in Brussels

* US President George W. Bush yesterday praised Turkey as an example
of democracy after talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime
minister, that covered the rule of law, terrorism and Cyprus,
Bloomberg reports from Washington.

“Turkey’s democracy is an important example for the people in the
broader Middle East,” Mr Bush said.

Zaman Online, Turkey
June 8 2005

‘Love Tree’ Planted into the World’s Heart
By Zaman
Published: Wednesday 08, 2005
zaman.com

The Dialogue Eurasia Platform has planted a “Tree of Love” at its
opening ceremony in Moscow to a global presence that included 14
spiritual leaders and religious representatives from around the
world.

Students assisted the clerics in planting and watering the symbolic
olive tree. Russian students carried banners that read, “Love and
Tolerance for World Peace”. Turkey Armenians Deputy Patriarch Priest
Shahak Mashalian evaluated the meeting to Zaman saying, “There was
nothing like the symbol of this tree 10-15 years ago. We will see the
fruits of the dialogue a few years later just as we will see the
fruits on the tree. Symbols are very important in religion.” The
Azerbaijan Ataturk Center President added, “Sending the
inter-religious dialogue message from the Koloniy Zal saloon, where
once there was not any concept except that of official Communist
ideology, gives us hope for the future.” Those participating in the
international forum include Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan, Indonesia, India, US, Germany and Belgium.

CBA CHAIRMAN: CENTRAL BANKS SHOULD ENSURE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM

YEREVAN, June 6. /ARKA/. The sphere of activity of central banks
should be enlarged to ensure financial stability, and moreover,
financial security of the national financial system, as stated the CBA
Chairman Tigran Sargsyan at the 14th International Bank Congress in
Saint-Petersburg. According to him, the policy of CBA should be
independent, clear and predictable aiming at stabilizing prices. Other
parameters should form under the influence of market mechanisms.
“Central banks should be active introducers of reforms in the
financial sector, have constitutional and legislative basis of
independence”, he said. He emphasized that central banks should
function beyond the frames of political cycles and current political
processes. “Superiority of political powers over CB should be
excluded”, Sargsyan said. According to him, the openness of the
policy, perspicuity of the logic of activities of CB guarantees market
discipline, ensures clearness and predictability of the events,
forming the expectations of subjects in the market, in the base of
which is the factor of stability and predictability. “This increases
trust in CB facilitating balance”, he said.

Sargsyan participated in the work of the XIV International Bank
Congress in Saint Petersburg on June 1-5, 2005. The subject of the
congress was “Banks, Regulation, Economy”. Sargsyan introduced his
report on Monetary Policy, Currency Regulation and Bank Control in the
Conditions of Appreciation of National Currency. A.H. -0–

AZERBAIJANI FM SEES NO PROBLEMS IN WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN BASES FROM
GEORGIA TO ARMENIA FROM POINT OF VIEW OF LEGALITY

YEREVAN, JUNE 7. ARMINFO. There are no problems in withdrawal of the
Russian bases from Georgia to Armenia from the point of view of
legality. Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov told
journalists today, RIA “Novosti” reports.

The bases are not dislocated to Armenia, but on the Russian bases in
Armenia. This process is carried out by Russia and Armenia and there
are no problems with legality, he thinks. At the same time, he said
that the Azerbaijani party is for demilitarization of the region, on
the whole. He also said that negotiations between Georgia and Russia
for withdrawal of the Russian bases are in process. <We shall discuss
this issue, analyze it and take our steps when they arrive at an
agreement,> he said.

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
June 6 2005

Police seeking Armenian recruits

By Naush Boghossian, Staff Writer

GLENDALE — The city has the largest Armenian population outside of
Armenia itself, but Glendale’s police are struggling to add Armenians
to their ranks to better reflect the community’s makeup.
The search recently led officials to Jackpot, Nev., where not only
did they find and hire an Armenian records clerk, but they’re also
considering hiring her husband as a mechanic helper at the
department’s garage. And the couple’s two children are now cadets.

“We have a heightened sensitivity in not only hiring but recruiting
potential Armenian employees, so when a golden opportunity like this
presented itself, we jumped all over it,” said Lt. Bruce Fox of the
department’s professional standards bureau.

“To get the department to be representative of the community is a
pretty large task, but we’re going to keep heading toward that goal.”

About 35 percent of Glendale’s population of 200,000 is estimated to
be of Armenian descent. But just 5 percent — or 13 — of the
department’s 257 sworn officers are Armenian.

Officials — also struggling with hiring amid a general nationwide
shortage of qualified officers — said the department has scant
applications from Armenians, stemming mainly from a negative cultural
perception of the profession: It’s dangerous and it doesn’t pay well.

In an effort to dispel such perceptions, the Police Department has
begun actively reaching out to the Armenian community and local youth
organizations.

Starting June 26, officers will set up recruitment booths once a
month at Sidewalk Cafe on Glenoaks Boulevard, with officers and
information to engage youths and teach them about law enforcement
careers.

“I just want to convey to the youth that this is a respectable career
that a family can be proud of — that a career in law enforcement
means good pay, a three-day workweek and good benefits,” said Sgt.
Scott Johnstone, supervisor in charge of recruitments and
backgrounds. “We have to break the barrier right now where police and
fire careers are last on the list of professions for these kids. It’s
a fantastic career and something to be proud of.”

Glendale police will emphasize financial security, including benefits
and retirement plans. The Glendale Police Department offers a
starting salary between $4,881 and $6,376 a month.

Neighboring Burbank — which has three Armenian officers out of 159
sworn personnel — said its focus is overall hiring for its leanly
staffed department.

An estimated 8 percent of Burbank’s 100,000 population is of Armenian
descent.

“At this point, we’re low on officers and we’re looking for the best
candidates,” said Officer Vee Jones of the Burbank Police Department.
“Obviously, we do want the department to reflect the community, and
we make every effort to do that, but now we’re just targeting
qualified candidates.”

Detective Petros Kmbikyan, 28, who was born in Armenia and moved to
the United States when he was 13, said his parents had reservations
about his career choice, but they eventually understood.

“It’s going to be a hard process to recruit Armenians, but also a
rewarding one at the end if they find qualified applicants,” Kmbikyan
said. “There are a lot of Armenians in Glendale so it makes it easier
to interact with them and there’s an understanding of the community
and the culture.”

Officer David Lerian, 39, has been with the Glendale Police
Department for nearly seven years and frequently is called upon by
other officers to translate.

“They’re always needing translators and there aren’t always Armenian
officers available, so it would benefit the department,” he said.

And members of the Armenian community are convinced that changes are
on the horizon.

“The first 10 will be very difficult but after that you’ll get this
huge rush because the community will feel comfortable with the idea,”
said Michael Issakhanian, owner of Sidewalk Cafe. “It’s just a matter
of time that they see law enforcement as an acceptable career.”

PRESS RELEASE
Cafesjian Museum Foundation
3 Tamanian Street, Suite 31
Yerevan, Armenia
Contact: Madlene Minassian
Tel: 374-10-56-72-62
Fax: 374-10-5615-89
E-mail: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])
Web: _www.cmf.am_ ()

YEREVAN, ARMENIA
June 1, 2005

Cafesjian Museum Foundation Launches Construction
Seven New Sculptures Unveiled

The Cafesjian Museum Foundation launched the construction of the
Gerard L.

Cafesjian Museum of Art and unveiled seven new pieces from the
Cafesjian Collection at a reception on May 31st in Yerevan,
Armenia. Gerard L. Cafesjian and the Trustees of the Cafesjian Museum
Foundation welcomed President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, President
of Nagorno Karabagh Arkadi Ghukasyan, United States Senator Norm
Coleman, United States Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, renowned
artist Jaroslava Brychtova and over five hundred guests for the
celebration.

The event was held at the Monument Platform at the top of the
Cascade. Upon arrival to the event, guests were greeted by the `Roman
Warrior’, a sculpture by Fernando Botero. The 1986 bronze sculpture
with a brown patina stands proudly over 12 feet tall and is the second
Botero piece to adorn Yerevan.The well known Columbian artist also
created the Cat, which sits at the base of the Gerard L. Cafesjian
Center for the Arts.

The ceremony began with a blessing by His Grace Bishop Paren Avetikian
of The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. He read a special address from
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. The letter
emphasized the great hope the church has for the project undertaken by
Mr. Cafesjian.

The audience then turned their attention to the unveiling of the six
sculptures placed at the Monument Terrace. The first three pieces
unveiledwere by British sculptor Lynn Chadwick, one of the giants of
20th century art. The three sculptures: “Stairs”, “Two Watchers” and
“Sitting Forms”, are a testament to Chadwick’s distinctive vocabulary
of form and his extraordinary imagination.

The next two sculptures, titled ; “Acrobats”, and “Hare on Bell”, were
prepared by Welsh sculptor Barry Flanagan. Flanagan is best known for
hisdynamic and often monumental bronze hares.

The last peice unveiled was `Open Window’. It is the first sculpture
by Libensky and Brychtova to be exhibited in Armenia. The
collaboration of Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova for more
than forty years took the studio glass movement into the realm of fine
art. The legacy of Stanislav Libensky is, in a very real sense,
present in this work here today. Libensky passed in 2002 but the
Cafesjian Museum Foundation was especially pleased to have Jaroslava
Brychtova present for the unveiling of the piece.

After the unveiling ceremony the guests were treated to a reception
and entertainment including Astor Piazzolla, performed by the Cadence
Ensembleand a spectacular fireworks and music show by the Armenian
Jazz Band.

The evening ended with great anticipation for the completion of the
museum, which is scheduled to open in the year 2007. A model and
animation of the museum were presented to the public for the first
time. The design treats the principal Museum building as an extension
of the Cascade, completing an animated pathway linking Tamanyan Park
to the Monument Terrace by exterior stairways and interior escalators.

UNITED STATES EUROPEAN COMMAND SATISFIES WITH SERVICE OF AZERBAIJAN’S SOLDIER
[June 02, 2005, 11:34:21]

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 2 2005

Chairman of the Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijan Republic Murtuz
Alaskarov received on June 1 the delegation led by deputy commander
of the United States European Command General Charles Wald, now
visiting the country. Greeting the visitors, Speaker of the Azerbaijan
Parliament dwelt on existent relations between Azerbaijan and US, and
highly assessed the role of the heads of state in development of these
ties. The nationwide leader of the Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev
since 1994 has for many times been visiting the United States, held
numerous meetings, signed a number of contracts. The Congressmen of
the United States and Azerbaijani parliamentarians have made mutual
visits to widen bilateral relations. The Memo signed between the
Congress and Milli Majlis provides creation of working groups and
their useful cooperation.

It is pleased that in many international questions the positions of
two countries coincide, Mr. Alaskarov underscored.

Speaker Alaskarov highlighted on the recently passed Yalta gathering
of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly, and also noted necessity of
settlement of the existent conflicts in region.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Mr.
Murtuz Alaskarov said the aggressor – as is known Armenia has been
recognized as an aggressor state – should be forced to observe
international law and without condition abandon the occupied
Azerbaijani territories. The aggressor should be imposed serious
sanctions, he emphasized. Only in this way, Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity would be restored.

Speaking on behalf of the House of Representatives and Congress
members, Senator Charles Hagel said the goal of the visit is to thank
President of Azerbaijan, the Governments and people of Azerbaijan
for support of the United States, also negotiate on perspectives of
cooperation in mutually interested issues in the region.

At the meeting, also were speaking ambassador of the United States to
Azerbaijan Reno Harnish, deputy commander of the United States European
Command General Charles Wald, who expressed consent with current
level of relations between two countries, and the latter thanked
for exemplary service of the Azerbaijani soldiers in peacemaking
operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq.

Mr. Charles Hagel said the United States would further support the
fair position of Azerbaijan.

The sides also had comprehensive exchange of views on a range of
questions of mutual interest.

Armenia doesn’t plan to join NATO
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 1, 2005 Wednesday 2:25 PM Eastern Time

YEREVAN, June 1 — Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, who is
also the Secretary of the National Security Council, said on Wednesday
that the question of NATO membership was not in Armenia’s foreign
policy agenda.

“Nevertheless, we consider cooperation with NATO and the United States
to be an aspect of the country’s national security,” the minister
told Senator Norm Coleman at a meeting on Wednesday.

Sarkisyan described Armenia’s relations with the United States as good
and dynamic. “Military cooperation with the United States started three
years ago, the agreements, which we have signed, create favourable soil
for effective growth of reciprocal ties,” Sarkisyan went on to say.

The Armenian defence minister recalled that Yerevan was simultaneously
developing relations with European countries, including both NATO and
non-NATO members. Armenia cooperates with Russia and other members of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the military sphere,
Sarkisyan said. The most important thing is that these relations are
void of contradictions, the Armenian defence minister added.

Reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan is the key to Caucasus stability
18:04

RIA Novosti, Russia
June 1 2005

MOSCOW (Sergei Markedonov for RIA Novosti) – Nagorno-Karabakh was the
first ethnic conflict that shook the foundations of the political
power “vertical” of the Soviet Union and became the detonator that
exploded it.

It enriched our active political vocabulary with such terms as
“ethnic cleansing” and “cleansing of the territory.” As a result of
the Armenian-Azeri conflict over Karabakh, about 500,000 Armenians
had to leave Azerbaijan, and about 200,000 Azerbaijanis had to leave
Armenia. Both states (particularly Armenia) have essentially become
homogenous mono-ethnic entities. During the armed clashes over
Karabakh, Azerbaijan lost 13% of its original territory.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was not simply the largest regional
conflict to affect the former Soviet Union. First, it became
an example for Georgians, Ossetians, Abkhasians, Moldavians and
residents of the Dnestr region (Russians and Ukrainians). Secondly,
it caused the “karabakhization” of the political life in Armenia and
Azerbaijan. The Karabakh problem became a reference point for both
Caucasus republics. Any event in the political life of both states
is tested by the Karabakh factor.

However, the Karabakh problem is also a problem for Russia. This
thesis is not a tribute to nostalgia for the former Soviet Union
or to imperial ambitions. Russia has the world’s largest Armenian
diaspora. Data recorded as part of the 2002 Russia census, suggest that
1,130,000 Armenians live in Russia, while various expert estimates put
the current figure at about 2 million people. The Armenian migration
to Russia increased largely due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In 2002, the official Azerbaijani population of Russia numbered 621,500
people (the 13th place among ethnic groups in Russia). The Azerbaijanis
reside in 55 Federation members, with the Azeri communities in
Moscow, St. Petersburg, Volgograd, and the Tver region. The diaspora
is an important economic factor for the development of Azerbaijan
itself. According to R.S. Grinberg, the head of the Institute for
International Economic and Political Studies of the Russian Academy
of Sciences, money transfers alone to Azerbaijan are worth $1.8-2.4
billion.

These Caucasian diasporas are two of the ten largest in Russia,
which means “karabakhization” became a factor in Russian as well.

Russia is a Caucasus power. The territory of its Caucasus subjects
is twice as large as the three independent countries in the Southern
Caucasus put together. In addition, the border, which passes over
mountain ridges, makes the four neighboring countries a system of
“communicating vessels.”

Russia’s role in any future resolution of the conflict should be based
on the potential of the diasporas and the ties between Armenian and
Azerbaijani residents of Russia and their native lands. Initially,
Russia should attempt to establish interaction between the two ethnic
groups, which regard one another cautiously, if not with animosity.

At present, it would be sensible to avoid two problems in the
settlement for the time being, as the sides cannot find acceptable
compromises. Azerbaijan demands the “liberation” of the regions
allegedly occupied by the Armenians and the return of Azerbaijani
refugees. Armenia (Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh) demands a solution
to the problem of the political and legal status of Nagorny Karabakh.
It is obvious that the situation demands compromises, which would at
least point to some progress in the conflict’s resolution.

Russian diplomacy could certainly provide such solutions. “The
liberation” of seven districts occupied by Armenian forces could be
separated from the issue of returning refugees, which the Armenians
regard as a security threat. It would eliminate both the “Armenian
occupation” (a political trauma for Azerbaijan) and the security
threat, which is a complicated issue for Armenia. International
peacekeeping forces (led by Russia) could be deployed in the seven
districts that would become a buffer zone between the conflicting
sides, and the Azerbaijani refugees could receive serious material
compensation from global financial structures for the loss of
property and moral damages. Real progress toward a compromise and
signs of certain positive developments in the process (even if they
are palliative) could evidently be beneficial both for Russia and
for the conflict’s resolution, even though the final solution is a
long way off.

Russia needs Armenia, a traditional ally, and Azerbaijan, which
aside from its geopolitical importance is notable for its public’s
pro-Russian views. Success in the process of reconciliation between
Armenia and Azerbaijan would mean there was no alternative to
Russian-Georgian dialogue. Therefore, the key to stability in the
entire Caucasus region is the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement with
proactive support from Russia, if it demonstrates the political will.

Sergei Markedonov is the head of the ethnic relations department at
the Institute for Political and Military Analysis

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and
may not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board.

A NEW PROGRAM OF SUPPORTING THE GEORGIAN LANGUAGE IN JAVAKHQ

A1plus

| 13:03:19 | 01-06-2005 | Social |

The Georgian Ministry of Education, with the support of the OSCE
National Minorities Committee Representative in Georgia, is realizing
a program of supporting the studying of the Georgian language in
Javakhq in the local non-Georgian schools.

The program will train 20 teachers-trainers who will later train the
teachers of Georgian of the non-Georgian schools. A competition of
trainers is being held now in which 60 people will participate.

The aim of the program is to train more than 200 teachers who can
contribute to the more effective studying of Georgian in Javakhq.

The information is provided by the agency “A-Info”.