Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

“RAMIL SAFAROV IS A PATRIOT, HIS FRIENDS SAY”
Azg/arm
8 March 05
Online Interview With Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys Ombudswoman
Elmira Suleymanova, Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys ombudswoman, says that Ramil
Safarov who hacked to death his Armenian colleague last year in
Budapest is a disciplined and intelligent fellow, according to his
friends.
The Caucasus Journalist Network ()
interview Elmira Suleymanova on Friday, March 4. Bakuâ~@~Ys Zerkalo
newspaper cited Suleymanova in one of its last yearâ~@~Ys issues
saying: “Ramil Safarov has to become an example for the Azeri youth”.
Answering an Armenian journalists question whether she still believes
what she said, Suleymanova answered: “If you mean murder as
expression of patriotism then you confuse me with the Karabakh
liberation organization”.
“I donâ~@~Yt have the interview text right now but I may have said
those words while getting acquainted with the criminal case, in
correspondence with my Hungarian counterpart and relations with
Safarovâ~@~Ys family and friends. His colleagues in the army think
that he is very disciplined and is a skillful specialist, a patriotic
young man”, she said adding that “psychological stress” is the reason
of his crime.
Suleymanova was trying to link her each answer with Karabakh. She
said that will not cooperate with her Armenian counterpart as far as
“Armenia does not recognize international laws and does not fulfill
UN resolutions. Justice is on our side, and we will force Armenia to
keep to the peaceful resolution no matter that terrorists from
Armenian Revolutionary Party hinder”.
Suleymanova was also asked about terrorism. One of Georgian
journalists quoted Azeri human rights protector, Arzu Abdulayev, who
said that Elmar Huseynovâ~@~Ys assassination is a terror against the
media. The Azeri ombudswoman thinks that “contrary to our neighbors
who took hold a part of our territory”, the idea of terrorism is
alien to Azeri mentality.
By Tatoul Hakobian
–Boundary_(ID_opC1VzeitqcSSMPmajDUcg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
March 7 2005
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATED WOMEN WITH MARCH 8
07.03.2005 05:43
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the occasion of the International Women~Rs Day
celebrated on March 8 Armenian President Robert Kocharian addressed
the women with a message of congratulation, which says in part, ~SDear
women! I congratulate you with the International Women~Rs Day. The
8-th of March is a wonderful occasion to express our warmest
attitude, gratitude and love towards our mothers, sisters and wives.
Armenian women have made a great contribution to the formation of our
country. Presently the frames of their public and state activities
are expanding. Equally with this, you, dear women, keep the family
hearth and remain attractive. I congratulate you with this beautiful
holiday and wish you family warmth, charm and high spirits.~T

The Journal of Turkish Weekly
2005-03-01 09:23:10
France Cannot Question Turkish History without Recognizing ‘The Algerian Genocide’
Jan Soykok – ANKARA
The first sitting of the EU-Turkey Interparliamentary Committee was held in
Strasbourg on February 23. The representatives of the European Committee and the
CE were present at the sitting.
Jacques Toubot, French parliamentarian, demanded to include in the agenda the
Armenian issue. Toubot argued that Turkey had to recognize Armenian allegations.
He claimed that the recognisition of Armenian arguments is a pre-condition for
full-membership.
The French parliamentarian Toubot further demanded that Turkey should recognize
accept the Treaty of Sevres, too. The Treaty of Sevres was signed by the Ottoman
representatives after the First World War, however it was never ratified. Turkey
and the allied states signed Lausanne Peace Treaty instead of Sevres in 1923.
Lausanne Peace Agreement was signed and recognized by France, Greece and Russian
Federation too. However the radical and militant Armenians do not recognize
Turkey’s national borders. Strangely the same people ask Turkey to set
diplomatic relations with Armenia.
Marios Matsakis, parliamentarian from Greek Cyprus, took the floor and stated:
“Turkey carried out genocide against the Armenians, the Greeks and the Kurds.”
Turkish MP Sukru Elekdag strictly criticized Matsakis and called his approach
“rough, full of hatred and behavior unbecoming of the EU.” Eleqdag said that
Toubot’s statements were groundless, adding that the issue should be studied by
the historians and not by the political figures. Afterwards, he suggested to
establish with the assistance of UNESCO a Committee for Studying the Issue of
the Armenian Allegations, including Turkish and Armenian specialists in that.
The demand to recognize the Treaty of Sevres was declined by Oghuz Demirlap,
Turkey’s Permanent Representative to the EU, saying that “such demands are
unacceptable.”
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan said the French politics become ‘ugly’ after 17 December EU
Summit. In the Summit the EU leaders declare that Turkey is a serious EU
candidate and they took decision to start full-membership negotiations.
Dr. Gulcan further continued:
“There is a strong Armenian lobby in France, and many politicians abuse the
issue in order to prevent Turkey’s EU membership or to increase their votes in
elections. Pro-Armenian French politicians accuse Turkey of committing genocide
against Armenians in 1915, however none of the French politicians speak about
the massacred 500.000 Azerbaijanis between 1918-1921 and more than 510.000
Turkish and Kurdish people killed by the Armenian gangs during the Ottoman
period. The Armenians armed militants killed thousands during the Karabakh war
and tortured many civilians in Khojally. Similarly the French MPs do not
question the French period in Algeria. About 1 million Algerians were tortured
and killed by the French soldiers. However France does not accept ‘Algerian
Genocide’. Thousands of Jewish were also sent to the Nazi Germany by the French
authorities during the Second World War. Most of these Jews were tortured and
killed by the Nazis. Turkey was one of the exceptional states which refused the
Nazi demands. I mean the French past is not perfect and the French politicians
cannot question Turkish history. They do see the Armenian torture and occupation
against Azerbaijan but they can talk about the so-called events happened almost
a century ago. It is strange. The strange role of the France in Turkey’s EU
membership has become uglier. The anti-Turkish and anti-Muslim groups could do
anything possible to halt Turkey’s membership. However they also undermine their
states as well. The anti-Turkish policies encourage the racist movements in
France and Germany. Secondly France prefer 2,5 million Armenia to 75 million
Turkey. It is strange. But it is not surprising. The French did the same mistake
many times.”
1 March 2005

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT STARTS ITS TODAY’S SESSION BY STANDING UP IN MEMORY OF
SUMQAYIT TRAGEDY
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28. ARMINFO. Today is the 17th anniversary of the
Sumqayit tragedy.
Armenian pogroms were held by government-supported hooligans in
Sumqayit, Azerbaijan, Feb 26-28 1988 with 32 Armenians killed
as a result among them women and children. The Sumqayit tragedy
marked the beginning of Armenian massacres all over Azerbaijan in
1988-1990. Several hundreds of Armenians were killed during the
period with 300,000 Armenian fleeing to Armenia leaving their homes
and property.
The Armenian Parliament started its today’s session by standing up in
memory of those killed in the tragedy. Many thousand people gathered
today in the center of Yerevan to commemorate this tragic event.

Financial Times – Deutschland
28. Februar 2005
Union löst mit Armenien-Antrag heftige Kritik der Türkei aus
CDU/CSU erinnern an Verschleppungen vor 90 Jahren
Ein von der Union in den Bundestag eingebrachter Antrag zum 90.
Jahrestag der Vertreibung von Armeniern im damaligen Osmanischen
Reich hat eine heftige Reaktion der Türkei ausgelöst. In einer am
Sonntag in Berlin veröffentlichten Erklärung warf der türkische
Botschafter Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik der CDU/CSU-Fraktion vor, “sich zum
Sprecher des fanatischen armenischen Nationalismus” zu machen, der
sich gegen die territoriale Integrität der Türkei richte und auf der
ganzen Welt von organisiertem Terror Gebrauch mache.
In dem Antrag der Union vom 22. Februar heißt es, am 24. April 1915
“wurde auf Befehl der das Osmanische Reich lenkenden jungtürkischen
Bewegung die armenische politische und kulturelle Elite Istanbuls
verhaftet und ins Landesinnere verschleppt, wo deren größter Teil
ermordet wurde”. Den Deportationen seien 1,2 bis 1,5 Millionen
Armenier zum Opfer gefallen. Die Republik Türkei als
Rechtsnachfolgerin des Osmanischen Reichs bestreite bis heute, dass
diese Vorgänge geplant und die verübten Massaker gewollt gewesen
seien. “Diese ablehnende Haltung steht im Widerspruch zu der Idee der
Versöhnung, die die Wertegemeinschaft der Europäischen Union leitet,
deren Mitgliedschaft die Türkei anstrebt.” Die Union hatte bereits
Verstimmung in Ankara ausgelöst, als sie sich gegen
Beitrittsverhandlungen der EU mit der Türkei ausgesprochen hatte.
Der türkische Botschafter kritisierte die Darstellung der Union als
einseitig. “Wir möchten nicht hoffen, dass unsere Freunde in den
Unionsparteien durch die plumpe Verleumdung der türkischen Geschichte
beabsichtigen, insbesondere unsere hier lebenden Bürger zu beleidigen
und auf diese Weise den vielfältigen Beziehungen zwischen der Türkei
und Deutschland Schaden zuzufügen.” Die Erörterung der Geschichte und
deren Beurteilung sollte Historikern überlassen werden. Für
erklärungsbedürftig hielt er, dass die Union das Thema jetzt angehe,
obwohl sie sich früher gegen ähnliche Initiativen gestellt habe.
Das heutige Armenien ist eine kleine Republik im südlichen Kaukasus.
Das Verhältnis zum westlichen Nachbarn Türkei gilt als schwierig. Ein
Kernproblem ist der Konflikt um Berg-Karabach. Die Türkei hat
deswegen die Beziehungen zu Armenien abgebrochen.
dpa
Zitat:
“Sie machen sich zu Sprechern des fanatischen armenischen
Nationalismus” – Türkischer Botschafter
–Boundary_(ID_VlpSosx0YUvUg/Q0w3RS+g)–

RESULTS OF OSCE MONITORING OVER TERRITORIES UNDER ARMENIA’S CONTROL TO
BE EXAMINES IN VIENNA ON FEB 28
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26. ARMINFO. On Feb 28, in Vienna experts of OSCE
Mission on examination of the situation in the districts, controlled
by the Armenian side, will discuss the results of the monitoring over
these territories.
The cochairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as Special
Representative of OSCE Chairman for Nagorny Karabakh Adrzej Kasprzyk
will take part in the discussions. After the summing up of the results
of the meeting the ministers of foreign affairs of Armenia and
Azerbaijan will be acquainted with the final results of the
discussions. According to Azerbaijani mass media, in connection with
the cases of violation of the cease-fire regime A.Kasprzyk intends to
propose to increase the number of OSCE monitorings on the contact line
of the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia. According to the
resource, regarding this issue Kasprzyk has sent a letter to the
foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, OSCE chairman and
cochairmen of OSCE MG.
It should be noted that recently the French Cochairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group Bernar Fassier, who was taking part in the mission of the
OSCE expert group in the territories controlled by the Armenian side,
stated that the Armenian party is not conducted planned state policy
of re-settlement of the districts under its control. “If Armenians
live in these territories, they are mainly refugees from Azerbaijan”,
the French cochairman mentioned.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Association for Disaster and Mass Trauma Studies
139 Cedar Street
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
Contact: Dr. Anie Kalayjian
Tel: 201-941-2266
Fax: 201-941-2266
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
New York, NY: The terrible earthquake and tsunami on December 2004
that struck 11 countries, from Indonesia to Somalia has had a
tremendous impact on the world. After seeing the devastation left by
the tsunami on the news, Dr. Kalayjian sent an application to mental
health practitioners to volunteer both time and money. Based on her 15
year experience in post disaster mental health outreach, Dr. Kalayjian
realized that psychological aide needed to start immediately after the
physical needs were met. This thought was supported by Ambassador
Bernard Goonatilleke, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the
United Nations. The Association for Disaster and Mass Trauma Studies &
the Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress and Genocide
spearheaded by Dr. Anie Kalayjian organized a Mental Health Outreach
Program (MHOP) to Sri Lanka.
MHOP was implemented successfully post 1988 earthquake in Armenia and
the 1999 earthquake in Turkey. MHOP expands on the nursing process
from its five phases into eight phases. The eight phases of the MHOP
include: Preassessment, Assessment, Analysis, Community diagnosis,
Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, and Remodification (Kalayjian,
2003).
The program is designed to address the needs of all those whose lives
have been directly or indirectly impacted by the Tsunami, and places
emphasis on discussing traumatic memories and experiences, and finding
positive meaning in their lives. Special consideration will be given
to the impact of religion on coping, culture specific forms of
communication, willingness to share feelings with strangers, impact of
political upheaval as well as varied views on causality.
Teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals and parents will be trained in
the Six-Step Bio-Psychosocial and Spiritual Model. Dr. Kalayjian’s
Six-Step Bio-Psychosocial and Spiritual – Model is comprised of the
following six steps:
1.. Assess levels of distress
2.. Encourage discovery of memories & expression of feelings
3.. Provide empathy and validation
4.. Encourage discovery and expression of positive meaning
5.. Provide didactic information
6.. Provide instructions for diaphragmatic breathing and physical
relief (Safety Science, 2001, 39 pp. 71-81).
MHOP is collaborating with UNITED SIKHS, a worldwide humanitarian
organization. UNITED SIKHS is securing shelter for the volunteers.
Additionally, MHOP is collaborating with Columbia University’s School
of Public Health, Center for Disaster Preparedness. The MHOP team will
be going to Sri Lanka, Colombo first and then to the fields and the
refugee camps. Each team will have 3-5 people. The first team will be
leaving on February 9th and the second team will meet them around
February 20th to receive an orientation and a progress report.
Subsequent teams will follow this same structure. Each team will work
in the field for three weeks.
A research component will be integrated in this outreach. Levels of
PTSD, resiliency and physiological symptoms will be explored.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian opposition leader set to go to European court over corruption
A1+ web site
23 Feb 05
The leader of the Human Rights and Democracy Party, Ruben Torosyan,
announced today that corruption is ingrained in the ruling coalition
in Armenia. He has even invented an appropriate term “kleptocracy” for
that.
In Torosyan’s opinion the three-party coalition formed with the
president’s [Robert Kocharyan] help is the embodiment of corruption.
“The parties which backed Kocharyan in the elections were given the
ministries,” Torosyan told the news conference today. Torosyan was
indignant that his own and other citizens’ rights were violated. He
said that at least 85 MPs of the National Assembly, which are not part
of the ruling coalition [Justice bloc, the National Unity Party, and
the United Labour Party], are not taking part in the work of the
government.
“The rights of those citizens who voted for the Justice bloc, the
National Unity Party and the United Labour Party and also for the
deputies on the majority lists are thus being violated,” Ruben
Torosyan clarified. He thinks that it is pointless to appeal to the
Armenian judicial system and is going to appeal to the European Court
on Human Rights instead.
By the way, the Human Rights and Democracy Party today published a
booklet entitled “Coalition+Corruption equals Kleptocracy”.

Gulf News, United Arab Emirates
February 21, 2005
AGASSI KEEN ON JOURNEY TO ROOTS
Alaric Gomes, Staff Reporter
–>After a quick tour of Dubai, American legend Andre Agassi
admitted that he wouldn’t mind risking a trip to neighbouring Iran in
an attempt to trace his roots.
“If I have more time here, then I don’t mind making a quick trip to
Tehran and seeing things for myself,” Agassi told reporters at the
Dubai Tennis Stadium yesterday.
Born in Armenia, Agassi’s father Mike Agassian was a boxer with the
national team that went to the 1952 Olympic Games. After he moved to
the US, however, Mike dropped the final two letters in Agassian to
became Agassi.
“Logistically and culturally I have seen how Dubai would compare with
Tehran from the stories I have heard from my father,” Agassi said.
“Most of what I’ve heard about life in this region, and Iran in
particular, is from my father,” he added.
“If I have more time, then it would be possible to go and see things
for myself.”
However, with Patrick McEnroe asking Agassi to step into the US Davis
Cup team this year, such a trip would not seem feasible.
“It would have been really interesting to see all this first hand.
But I have to go to the Davis Cup,” Agassi said.
The American star, however, has seen a lot of potential for this
region, Dubai in particular. “I do have a lot of business interests.
But most of these are confined inside the lines (of the tennis
court),” Agassi said in response to a query.
However, he did agree that eight of his friends have come along with
him on this trip to the region. “I hope such a trip is not once in a
lifetime. I get the feel how much it is to have a holiday,” he
stated.
Agassi felt that most often players do not get the chance of taking a
closer look at the places they visit while on the Tour.
“It’s a tease sort of situation where we really do not get a chance
to enjoy the cultural variety of a place,” Agassi admitted.
“But, it’s been quite different here and I’ve been really getting a
good insight of this place.”
“Logistically and culturally I have seen how Dubai would compare with
Tehran from the stories I have heard from my father,” Agassi said.
“Most of what I’ve heard about life in this region, and Iran in
particular, is from my father.”

REMAINING FAITHFUL TO IDEAS OF 1988
Azg/arm
22 Feb 05
The National Assembly of Nagorno Karabakh made a statement on occasion
of the Day Artsakh’s Revival (Feb. 20) reaffirming the resolution of
building a democratic state on the bases of Nagorno Karabakh people’s
right of self-determination and sticking to the track of the OSCE
Minsk group peace talks.
The statement appeals to the Azerbaijani authorities to give up the
myopic policy of confrontation and to make efforts to establish peace,
stability, trust and tolerance in the region. Meanwhile, believing
that the world community will appreciate Artsakh people’s efforts to
build a jural state andcivil society, the statement calls for
parliaments of all countries to support Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s
recognition.
The Day of Artsakh’s Revival was celebrated in Stepanakert with young
people and school children rallying on the Victory Square. “To
Complete Victory in Elders’ Footsteps” was the youth’s
slogan. Participants of historic events, rector of Artsakh State
University Hamlet Grigorian, poet Hrachya Beglarian, held speech
before people calling for the youth to keep to the ideas of national
self-determination aroused in 1988.
Soon after the multitude headed for the Stepanakert Memorial of
freedom fighters to pay tribute. The arrangements of the day continued
as the Officer’s Home aired films on Artsakh movement. A concert at
the Youth’s Cultural Home closed the day.
The national liberation movement set off as the Regional Council took
its historic decision on the 20th special session of Autonomic Region
of Nagorno Karabakh on February 20 of 1988. The people of Artsakh
proved its right of existence having underwent numerous trails. That
very Council leads today’s generation to the complete fulfillment of
their dreams.
By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert