Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

RIA Novosti, Russia
Oct 13 2006
Russia may use Air Force to protect its peacekeepers in Georgia
15:52 | 13/ 10/ 2006

MOSCOW, October 13 (RIA Novosti) – Russia may use its Air Force in
the event of a Georgian attack on Russian peacekeepers stationed in
the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the
Russian Air Force commander said Friday.
Commenting on recent tensions between Russia and Georgia last Sunday,
Sergei Ivanov, the Russian defense minister and a deputy prime
minister, said Russia would not remain indifferent in the event
Georgia attacked Russian peacekeepers or citizens, either in South
Ossetia or in Abkhazia.
“If the minister said that we [Russia] would certainly take adequate
measures, than he probably meant the use of air, naval and land
forces,” Vladimir Mikhailov said.
South Ossetia and Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia
following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, unleashing bloody
conflicts in the region. Russia mediated ceasefire agreements between
the sides, and Russian peacekeepers have been deployed in the
conflict zones ever since.
On Friday, Russia asked the UN Security Council to draft a resolution
on Georgia demanding an extension of the mandate for its peacekeepers
in Abkhazia until April 15, 2007.
Since President Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in Georgia on the
back of the 2003 “Rose Revolution,” both the government and
parliament have sought to remove Russian peacekeepers from the
conflict zones of the two self-proclaimed republics, and to force the
withdrawal of Russian troops from two Soviet-era bases that are due
to close in 2008.
Mikhailov also said Russia could also use military transport aviation
for the withdrawal of military hardware and personnel from its two
bases in Georgia.
“If necessary, we will use military transport planes, which could
land in Adler [a Russian city on the Black Sea] or in other airports
to get the job done,” Mikhailov said.
Part of the military equipment being removed from Russian bases in
Georgia will be transferred to the Gyumri base when Russia completes
its withdrawal from Akhalkalaki and Batumi by the end of 2008.
The Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri, about 120 kilometers (75
miles) from the Armenian capital Yerevan, is part of a joint air
defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which was
deployed in Armenia in 1995.
Authorities in Georgia charged four Russian officers with spying last
Wednesday, but released them Monday to defuse what was becoming a
mounting crisis. An enraged Moscow responded by suspending all
transportation and mail links with Georgia, while police targeted
illegal immigrants and businesses suspected of maintaining links with
the Georgian criminal underworld.

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2006
Baku calls on French Senate Not To Adopt Legislation Make Denial of
So-called `Armenian Genocide’ Illegal in France

Source: Trend
Author: E.Huseynov

13.10.2006

`It is with great surprise and concern that we followed the
development of the French Parliament’s lower house and the ensuing
vote regarding the legislation to make denial of the so-called
`Armenian genocide’ illegal in France,’ a statement issued by the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reads.
Unfortunately, Armenia and its Diaspora continue to play a very
destructive role in the ongoing developments in the region, instead
of contributing to peace and stability With full understanding that
this initiative needs to be yet ratified by the Senate, we urge the
French Parliament to apply a more careful, impartial, and balanced
approach, the document states.
Taking note of the French Government’s position of disagreement with
this legislative act, we are hopeful that the French Senate will
obstruct this negative development in full compliance with
international community’s proclaimed interest in re-establishment of
security, stability and mutual confidence climate in this
strategically important region of Europe, the statement stressed.

PanARMENIAN.Net
EU Not Going to Interfere in Russian-Georgian Conflict
13.10.2006 18:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Union `does not wish to interfere in
the conflict between Russia and Georgia,’ EU Envoy for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby said in the Belgian capital city. According to
him, the EU fears that the conflict may `spread throughout the
region.’ Mr Semneby also criticized the Georgian leadership `for
failing to come to consent with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and making
inciting statements,’ reports ITAR-TASS.

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2006
Azeri NGOs Require to Debar France from Co-chairmanship in OSCE Minsk
Group

Source: Trend
Author: S.Ilhamgizi

13.10.2006

The French Parliament’s adoption of the law penalizing the denial of
the so-called `Armenian genocide’ once again testifies how France is
not in line with the principles of objectiveness and justice with
regards to Turkey, Trend reports with reference to the statement of
the National Forum of Non-governmental Organizations of Azerbaijan
(NFNGOA) disseminated on October 12.

It is stated in the NFNGOA document, which brings together 400 NGOs,
that France, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, once again openly
demonstrated its support for Armenia.
Adoption of this law by the French Parliament has brought serious
problems to all democratic values, free ideas and free speech and has
broken the security and co-operation in Europe.

`We consider that France, as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, is
losing its confidence, and the country has no moral right to continue
its mission as mediator in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. From this point of view, Azerbaijan should abandon the
mediation mission of France and ensure the removal of this Country
from the Minsk Group’, the statement read.

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER BELIEVES TURKEY IS A DANGER TO EUROPEAN VALUES
Panorama.am
17:20 10/10/06
Asked if France will go for the Turkish blackmail refusing to adopt
a law which proposes punishment for denial of the Armenian genocide,
speaker of parliament, Vahan Hovhannisyan said, “Turkish blackmail
is very active in European countries.”
In his words, Turkey variously tries to convince European states
that they are more needed than Armenians. However, Turkey is a
danger to Europe and European values, Hovhannisyan said. Moreover,
he believes Turkey will distort European values when it becomes a
member of European Union.
Hovhannisyan said France has proposed three preconditions for
refusal to adopt a law on punishment for denial of genocide. First,
a Turkish-Armenian joint committee should be set up. Second,
Turkish-Armenian border should be opened. Thirds, Turkey must
reconsider article 301 of its Criminal Code. Hovhannisyan said
these preconditions “open a way for Turkey.” He also said they are
expressed by French minister Nikolas Sarkozi who has high reputation
among the French public. He believes Sarkozi has uttered France’s
disposition.

DELEGATION OF THE PROVANCE ALP COTE D’AZUR TO ARIVE IN ARMENIA
Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 7 2006
The delegation headed by governor of the French State of Provance Alp
Cote d’Azur Michael Vozel will arrive in Armenia today. The delegation
will comprise businessmen, culture figures, as well as representatives
of the Armenian community of the state.
The roots of Armenia’s cooperation with the State of Provance Alp
Cote d’Azur date back to the 1988 earthquake. In 2003 the state’s
delegation visited RA Lori marz.
The visit of the delegation will confer new dynamics to the development
of bilateral cooperation in the spheres of culture and economy.
During the three-day stay in Armenia the delegation of Provance Alp
Cote d’Azur will visit Echmiadzin and Tsitsernakaberd. Meetings with
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian,
Education and Science Minister Levon Lazarian and Minister of Culture
and Youth Affairs Hasmik Poghosyan.
The visit will be concluded with a press conference.

Armenian Genocide Bill “Headache” for Swiss Justice Minister
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 16:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Swiss draft bill, which would penalize those, who
deny the existence of the Armenian Genocide poses a predicament to
freedom of speech,” said Swiss Justice Minister Christoph Blocher
to his Turkish counterpart Cemil Cicek in the Turkish capital
of Ankara. “There is a dilemma between this law and freedom of
speech. This law is giving us headache too,” said Christoph Blocher
to Mr. Cicek regarding the Armenian Genocide bill in his country,
reports the Zaman.

October 6, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
PROF. HANS FEULNER LECTURES ON THE ARMENIAN DIVINE LITURGY HOLY
COMMUNION IS THE SYMBOL OF OUR UNITY WITH GOD CONCLUDED THE PRELATE
A lecture on the Armenia Divine Liturgy took place on Wednesday,
October 4, at 7:30 p.m., at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale, under the
auspices of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate.
The event was organized by the Western Prelacy Christian Education
Department and featured Prof. Dr. Hans-Juergen Feulner from the
University of Vienna, Austria.
Welcoming remarks were made by Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian who gave
a historical background on the rites of the Armenian Church, stressing
that the Armenian Divine Liturgy is a gem that has inspired and
captured the attention of Armenian as well as non-Armenian scholars.
He then introduced Prof. Feulner, describing him as a close friend of
the Armenian people and a professor who has thoroughly researched the
Armenian Divine Liturgy and written his graduate thesis on the subject.
In his lecture, Prof. Feulner spoke of how the Armenian Divine Liturgy
is a beautiful expression of the Armenian language and culture, and
a testament to the Armenian Christian faith. He also spoke on the
influences of the rites of various churches on the Armenian Divine
Liturgy throughout the years, stressing that regardless of these
influences, the rites of the Armenian Church have remained distinctive.
In his closing remarks, the Prelate highly commended Prof. Feulner and
his deep affection towards the Armenian people and specifically the
rites of the Armenian Church. He also commended the Prelacy Christian
Education Department for organizing their second event dedicated to
the Armenian Divine Liturgy, the first being a book presentation for
“The Innocent Convict, Badarak” by Jacques Hagopian. The Prelate
described this event as a spiritual enlightenment, an opportunity
for the faithful to reflect on the Divine Liturgy, through which we
become united with God and with each other.
The program concluded with the “Bahbanich” prayer and the collective
singing of “Hayr Mer”, following which the guests enjoyed a reception.

DIGITEC 2006 INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND HIGH-TECH EXPO TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 5 2006
DigiTec 2006 information, communications and high-tech expo will take
place in Sport Complex after Karen Demirchyan October 6-8.
“Technologies of the Future Today” conference on ICT and high-tech
strategy issues in Armenia will be organized in the framework of
the event.
During the Conference, perspectives of Armenian ICT sector development
and strategic ways to achieve them will be discussed.
Particularly, the following issues will be also addressed: the role
of Armenian ICT sector in the context of international development
perspectives, mutually beneficial integration perspectives, events
focused at information society development in Armenia and their
effectiveness, as well as issues related to competitive workforce
formation, education and development.

‘ARMEENSE GENOCIDE LIJKT NU WEL KLOPJACHT OP TURKEN’
Antti Liukku
AD/Rotterdams Dagblad
29 September 2006 Friday 5:00 AM (Central European Time)
Rotterdam
Integratie-wethouder Orhan Kaya ergert zich mateloos aan de discussie
over de ‘Armeense genocide’ die op het moment wordt gevoerd.
CDA en PvdA hebben drie kandidaat-Tweede Kamerleden van de lijst
gehaald, omdat zij de erkende volkerenmoord uit 1915 ontkennen.
Een rondgang van deze krant leerde gisteren dat ook Turks-Rotterdamse
politici de moord op tenminste 800.000 Armeniërs weigeren als
‘genocide’ te bestempelen. ~DWat is dit toch een vervelende vraag,”
aldus Kaya. ~DHet lijkt wel op een klopjacht op Turkse raadsleden.
Iedereen moet plots kleur bekennen, en dan nog wel over zo’n gevoelig
onderwerp als genocide. Dit is enorm beladen, daar kan je toch niet
even 1-2-3 antwoord op geven?”
Kaya, zelf van Koerdische afkomst, zegt geen zin te hebben in deze
discussie. ~DAls historici het als genocide bestempelen, geloof
ik dat. Maar dit zijn echt niet de belangrijkste problemen die
Rotterdammers op het moment bezighouden. Hier kom ik geen stap mee
verder. Deze zaak hoort thuis in het Europees parlement.”
Wel begrijpt de GroenLinks-wethouder dat landelijke politieke partijen
Turken van de kieslijst halen als ze ‘openlijk en uit eigen beweging’
de Armeense genocide ontkennen.
Volgens westerse historici is de moord op de christelijke Armeniërs in
de nadagen van Ottomaanse Rijk een bewuste zuiveringspolitiek geweest
van de Turkse overheersers. In Turkije is het daarentegen strafbaar
om over genocide te spreken.
PvdA-wethouder Hamit Karakus pleitte, net als partijgenoot Nebahat
Albayrak, voor een ‘grondig en objectief’ onderzoek’ naar de
gebeurtenissen.
–Boundary_(ID_3Y1jDVjyStxIKOi UTvszgw)–