Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

EDITORIAL
It’s time for Europe to judge Turkey
munique0001016e.html
ADL
9/6/05
The term “ethnic cleansing” may be a recent expression, but the
practice is an old one, and the Turks have proven to be masters of
that practice, during the Ottoman period, as well as during the rules
of Young Turks and Kemalists.
Whatever the Ottoman Sultans had begun – especially Sultan Abdul
Hamid, who perpetrated the massacres of 1895/96 – the Young Turks
continued by exterminating another 1.5 million Armenians, and Kemal
Ataturk completed the task by expelling the remnants of Armenians from
Cilicia and burning the city of Smyrna (1922), to drive the Greek
community out to the sea.
Ever since, Turkey has been enjoying ethnic homogeneity, if we don’t
factor in sporadic Kurdish uprisings, despite their common Moslem
faith.
However, the successive Turkish governments have never ceased to
harass, intimidate and dispossess decimated ethnic minorities, namely,
Armenians, Greeks and Jews.
In violation of the Lausanne Treaty of 1923, whereby the Turkish
government committed itself to respect minority rights, the ethnic
groups have been continually oppressed through the Wealth Tax of the
1940s, through the organized riots of September 6 (1955), and through
the confiscation of schools, churches, and income properties of the
ethnic minorities, which were supposedly protected by the Treaty of
Lausanne.
Except for being intimidated and ridiculed at the Turkish courts, the
emasculated minorities never dared to appeal to the international
community for help. On the contrary, they were coerced “to confess”
that they enjoyed equal rights under the law, like other citizens,
when questioned by the international human rights groups.
However, the landscape changed dramatically in recent years, when
Greek Cypriots successfully sued the Turkish government in the
European courts for loss of property as a consequence of Turkish army
aggression against the island in 1974 and as a consequence of Turkey’s
application to the European Union, to become a full member. The latter
case stipulated that Turkey had to adopt European standards of law and
abandon its medieval practices.
In recent years Turkey was forced to abolish the death penalty and
introduce a series of reforms in its constitution, guaranteeing human
rights, respect for minority cultures and eliminating torture in its
penal system.
However, those changes have proven that there is still a gaping
distance between the laws on paper and actual practice; indeed,
contrary to UN resolutions and worldwide condemnations, Turkey
continues to occupy 38% of Cypriot territory, it continues to blockade
Armenia and bullies Kurds in Iraq.
Internally the confiscation of minority properties continues with an
inexorable gusto.
In response to continued oppression of minorities the Greek Patriarch
has finally ventured to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
The Armenian Patriarch in Istamboul – who thus far has been fond of
practicing ostrich policy – has finally decided to follow suit and
take the community’s case to the same court.
The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg by the
Council of Europe Member States in 1959 to deal with alleged
violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights.
On September 20, 2005 the seven-judge court will hear the cases of
Greek and Armenian communities, whose properties have been confiscated
by the Turkish government. Both applicants are foundations (wakif)
under Turkish law that was established during the Ottoman period. The
Wakif of the Greek Boys’ Lyceum in Fener was established to provide
secondary education to Greek students.
The Sourp Pirgic (Holy Savior) Armenian Hospital Foundation of
Yedikule was established to provide health care to the Armenian
community. In recent years the majority of patients receiving quality
care at the facility are ethnic Turks.
In 1952 the Greek Foundation of Fener was the beneficiary of a
property gift; it received one section of a building in Istamboul. The
Foundation purchased the remaining part of the said building in
1958. The Yedikule Sourp Pirgic Foundation had received as gifts two
pieces of real estate in 1943 and 1967, respectively, in Beyoglu and
Kadikoy.
In 1992 the Treasury Department applied to the Turkish courts to
delete the names of corresponding communities from the property deeds
and turn over the properties to its custody. In three separate
verdicts the Istamboul High Court satisfied the Treasury’s request and
expropriated the Greek and Armenian communities.
The irony in these confiscatory verdicts is in the fact that the
minorities believe their rights are enshrined in the Lausanne Treaty,
while the Turkish courts have just the opposite
interpretation. Indeed, the Higher Court in Istamboul based its case
on the May 8, 1974 decision of the Appellate Court, which held that
the foundations, whose membership was made of the religious
minorities, as defined by Lausanne Treaty, and whose constitutive
documentsdid not contain statutes that they are entitled to acquire
real estate; therefore, they were precluded from purchasing or
accepting as gift such property.
When the Turkish Constitution was amended to respect minority rights
=80` among other democratic measures – the ethnic minorities were
elated and they experienced a moment of euphoria. They were led to
believe that the new laws would put an end to arbitrary confiscation;
moreover, the government would compensate the respective communities
for the past expropriations or returnthe properties to the
communities.
The euphoria did not last very long and disappointment ensued, because
all the hopes were dashed and the government provided its own
interpretation of those laws. The upshot was that the government would
continue expropriating the minorities, this time only using more
sophisticated deceptive tactics.
It is most ironic that while the Greek Patriarch Bartolomew goes to
court to claim properties confiscated in the past, at the same period
the Turkish government confiscates a new piece of real estate; indeed,
like the Armenian community, the Greek Patriarchate owns a summer camp
on the island of Kenali: since no Greek children were sent this summer
to the camp, the Administration of Charity Foundations (Wakif) has
requested the Patriarchate to turn overthe camp to its ownership as
“abandoned property”. The Greek Patriarch is irate.
He has appealed to the government to reverse its unfair decision. He
has sent thirty letters to Ankara and none of them has been
answered. Says the Patriarch, “Our Seminary in Heybeli was shut down,
our properties were confiscated and our appeals have been
ignored. Lately I had a chance to meet Turkey’s Ambassador, Mr. Umid
Pamir, in Brussels and I asked him whether the government would
initiate a dialog with us. The camp property belongs to us, and we
will never sign a document to cede the building to the government. And
since it is impossible for us to defend our properties in this
country, we have no alternative but to resort to the European Court
for Human Rights. There is certainly bad faith here. The Greek
community was 120,000 strong, we have trickled down to 2,000. Do the
people abandon their homes and businesses and quit the country for no
good reason?”
Indeed, over the last eight decades government persecution,
expropriation of churches, cemeteries, schools and income properties
have decimated the ethnic minorities. Methods change, laws are passed,
but the goal remains the same: to drive out or to assimilate the
minorities. Europe has to judge for itself if it needs a racist state
as a member. It is not a matter of religion, nor is it Turkey’s
abominable past, but its future, its medieval mentality and the burden
of dismal cultural values.
The Greek Patriarch has further stated that “If Turkey wishes to
become an equal member of the European Union, it has to demonstrate
some respect towards European values”.
One would wish that the Armenian Patriarch had the same guts to stand
up to the Turks and defend community rights. Instead he was dispatched
by the Turkish government on a political mission to the European
capitals to lobby for Turkish admission in the EU, vouching that
finally Turkey had become a civilized nation. Upon his return he was
hoping that Ankara would reward his efforts by solving outstanding
community issues. After giving him the runaround from one office to
the other, no community problem was solved; on the contrary, new
problems were added deliberately.
No matter what would be the decision of the Strasbourg Court, it is
worth it for Europeans to have a closer look into Turkey’s domestic
policies and decide if they think it is desirable to add a bully to
the family of civilized nations.
Historically, Armenians are painfully aware of Turkish conduct,
discriminatory policies and values.
It is a shame that President Bush had to reward Turkey for having
practiced 150 years of democracy towards its minorities. It looks like
people have different interpretations of the concept of
“democracy”. If the Turks have practiced democracy for that long, then
we need to find another term to define mass murderers.
Now it is time for Europe to have an intimate knowledge of those
values and judge Turkey.

Pan Armenian News
RA FM HELD SEVERAL BILATERAL MEETINGS IN NEW YORK
16.09.2005 02:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian held several bilateral
meetings on his first working day in New York, where he is accompanying
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan to the 60th anniversary of the UN General
Assembly. On Thursday, the Foreign Minister met with Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
European Union Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood
Policy. They spoke about the ENP. The Minister briefed the Commissioner on
the current state of negotiations regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Minister Oskanian also met with George Iacovou, Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Cyprus. They discussed regional issues as well as cooperation in
international organizations. Later, Minister Oskanian met with Ahmed Aboul
Gheit, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt. Minister Oskanian presented to
Minister Aboul Gheit President Kocharian¹s letter of congratulations to
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The two discussed developments in the
Middle East, and in the Caucasus. Minister Oskanian spoke with Pierre
Chevalier, Belgium¹s special envoy to the OSCE. The Minister explained
Armenia¹s cooperation with the OSCE at various levels, expressing Armenia¹s
appreciation for OSCE support in various areas, including democratic
development, regional development. The Minister briefed Ambassador Chevalier
on the ongoing Karabakh talks and prospects for a resolution. In the margins
of the UN General Assembly, the Francophonie Association held a high level
meeting. Minister Oskanian participated in the meeting which focused on ways
the developed world can help the developing world to alleviate poverty. The
Minister also held a working meeting with OSCE Minsk Group US co-chair
Ambassador Steven Mann. Prime Minister Margaryan will address the General
Assembly on Friday, September 16, and Foreign Minister Oskanian will do so
on Sunday, September 18.

THREE-YEAR PROGRAM ON COOPERATION BETWEEN YEREVAN AND SAINT PETERSBURG
TO BE DEVELOPED

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. A joint working group of Yerevan
and Saint Petersburg Mayor’s Offices will be set up with the aim of
developing a program on cooperation between the two cities in the next
three years. An agreement on this was reached between Saint Petersburg
Governor Valentina Matviyenko and Yerevan Mayor Ervand Zakharian at
the September 14 meeting in Yerevan.
According to V. Matviyenko, not only a historical basis but also an
economic potential and mutual interest exist for extending the
cooperation between Russia and Armenia, as well as Yerevan and Saint
Petersburg. She said that first of all, the volumes of commodity
turnover between Armenia and Saint Petersburg should
increase. Although this index grew by 15% in 2004 over the previous
year and made around 9 mln USD, it is still quite low. V. Matviyenko
also stated that they have achieved an agreement with E. Zakharian to
build a Saint Petersburg House in Yerevan and a Yerevan House in Saint
Petersburg.
During the one-day visit, the businessmen included in the Russian
delegation will meet with Armenian businessmen to discuss
opportunities for making investments and founding joint ventures.

A1+
| 18:35:56 | 15-09-2005 | Politics |
PACKAGE SETTLEMENT STEP BY STEP
During today’s press conference dedicated to the sitting of the PACE
Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh Shavarsh Kocharyan noted that certain
progress is observed in the settlement process.
In part, the model proposed during the discussions can be rated as positive
since it says that the issue can be resolved by the OSCE Minsk Group only.
Besides, the MG Co-Chairs and other rapporteurs were impartial enough in
their assessments. They noted that the conflict cannot be settled at
present, since one of the parties follows the principle of territorial
integrity and the other – the principle of self-determination.
According to Shavarsh Kocharyan, it was also noted that Karabakh cannot be
an enclave and should be connected with Armenia. When the Azeri party
reminded about Nakhichevan the Armenian delegates stressed that Armenia was
always offered to restore the railway communication and provide connection
with Azerbaijan.
When commenting on the statement by Andrzej Kasprzyk, who pointed out to the
necessity of forces at the contact lines, the Armenian deputy said it
maintains some danger, since it can be rated as a package settlement.
According to it, territories are retuned first and then a referendum is held
after an uncertain period.
`This would be a perfect variant if we had to deal with democratic
Azerbaijan’, the Armenian delegates said reminding of the constant military
statements by official Baku, doubled military expenses as well as the call
of the Azeri Ombudsman to take a pattern by murderer Ramil Safarov.
To note, representatives of the Council of Europe stated that Azerbaijan
will be expelled from the organization in case it wishes to settle the issue
by force. In response Shavarsh Kocharyan said, `When Turkey occupied the
territory of Cyprus, which was the CoE member, it was not expelled.’
According to him we should not lose time since every lost day jeopardizes
our national interests.

Turkish Press / Anatolian Times – Turkey
Sept 14 2005
Initiatives Taken Against Armenian Resolutions In U.S.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Retired General Brent Scowcroft, who was the former
national security adviser of US Presidents George Bush and Henry
Ford, wrote a letter to US House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert asking him
to foreclose the submission of two resolutions demanding that the US
House of Representatives acknowledge the so-called Armenian genocide,
it was reported on Tuesday.
Scowcroft, who is also the Chairman of American-Turkish Council
(ATC), wrote in his later dated Sept. 12th, that the mentioned
resolutions would appear on the agenda of the International Relations
Committee of the US House of Representatives on Sept. 15th.
Sources in D.C. think that the resolutions could be adopted. The
resolutions can be debated at the House, if House Speaker Hastert
decides to include them into the agenda.
”I, with the members of ATC, strongly oppose these resolutions which
contradict with the US interests. The adoption of these resolutions
can also have serious consequences,” Scowcroft said.
Referring to one-billion dollar loss of France –because of contract
cancellations and business opportunities lost in Turkey– after the
adoption of a similar resolution by the French Senate, Scowcroft said
that the use of ”genocide discourse” by the US Congress would
negatively affect US strategic and business interests in Turkey and
in the region, and it would also encourage those who try to take
Turkey away from the West.
Scowcroft said that it was up to historians, not to politicians, to
find an answer to such kind of issues, adding that the issue was
still debated by academicians, historians and experts.
Also praising the letter which Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan sent to Armenian President Robert Kocharian dated April 10th,
2005, Scowcroft said that Kocharian should positively respond to
Erdogan.
Meanwhile Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA) has also
started a campaign asking the US Congress members to oppose the
resolutions.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
September 15, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE OVERWHELMINGLY ADOPTS
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION
— International Relations Committee Chairman and Ranking Democrat
Lead Strong Bipartisan Majority in Approving H.Res.316 and
H.Con.Res.195
— Passage Comes Despite the Strident Opposition from Turkish
Embassy, The Livingston Group, and American Turkish Council
WASHINGTON, DC – Following almost three hours of remarks by a
bipartisan group of 24 Members of Congress, the House International
Relations Committee, today, voted in favor of two measures calling
for proper U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide and urging
Turkey to end its decades long denial of this crime against
humanity, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA). The votes clear yet another hurdle toward full House
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
“We are very gratified by the House International Relations
Committee’s broad bipartisan support for today’s action towards
U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” stated ANCA Chairman
Ken Hachikian. “The Armenian American community deeply appreciates
the leadership of Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam
Schiff (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and
the support of all our friends on the panel. As we work to build
on the Committee’s favorable action, we look to Speaker Hastert to
honor his pledge and to schedule a full floor vote on Armenian
Genocide legislation at the earliest opportunity.”
Rep. Adam Schiff, a lead cosponsor of H.Res.316 and author of
H.Con.Res.195 opened the Committee’s discourse on both resolutions.
Commenting on Turkey’s ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide,
Rep. Schiff stated, “Ankara’s behavior is as inexplicable as it is
shameful. Turkey bears responsibility for its decades of denial and
for compounding the suffering of the Armenian people by attempting
to blame the victims for the crime.” Rep. Schiff also recognized
three Armenian Genocide survivors — Mrs. Rose Baboyan, Yeretzgeen
Sirarpi Khoyan and Mrs. Lusazine Tatarian — whose presence at the
hearing was arranged by the ANC Washington DC chapter.
In his concluding remarks, Chairman Hyde responded to arguments
that passage of the Genocide resolutions could potentially harm
U.S. – Turkey relations. While noting that, “I very much believe
the [U.S.-Turkey] relationship is of great importance to us,” Rep.
Hyde stated, “I don’t believe that these resolutions will harm that
relationship. They merely recognize the fact that the authorities
of the Ottoman Empire deliberately slaughtered the majority of the
Armenian community in that Empire.” Rep. Hyde went on to note that
“denial of that fact cannot be justified on the basis of expediency
or fear that speaking the truth will do us harm.”
In all, twenty-four Members of the International Relations
Committee spoke on the measures, with twenty-one voicing support
for Congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide and three
speaking against. The speakers represented a broad bi-partisan
spectrum of the Committee, with 15 democrats and 9 Republicans
voicing their positions on the issue. Both H.Res.316 and
H.Con.Res.195 were adopted by overwhelming margins of 40 to 7 and
35 to 11, respectively. The complete vote tallies will be provided
on the Armenian National Committee of America website —
Following passage of the measures, Representatives Radanovich,
Schiff, Pallone and Knollenberg hailed the Committee’s overwhelming
approval of the legislation. Rep. Radanovich noted, “The U.S.
National Archives is replete with thousands of pages documenting
the premeditated extermination of the Armenian people. As the
Armenian Genocide was being committed, the United States launched
an unprecedented diplomatic, political, and humanitarian struggle
to end the carnage and protect the survivors.” Rep. Radanovich
continued, noting that “I appreciate the bipartisan support for
this resolution [H.Res.316], which properly acknowledges the
Armenian Genocide, reaffirms the proud and groundbreaking chapter
in U.S. history to halt the Genocide, and renews our commitment to
preventing other occurrences of man’s inhumanity to man.”
“This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,”
stated Rep. Schiff. “We are working to ensure our country
recognizes this terrible tragedy while some of the victims are
still alive, including the three brave survivors here today.”
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone stated “Today
the House International Relations Committee moved this Congress one
step closer to finally recognizing the atrocious acts inflicted by
the Ottoman Turks on the Armenian people. It is now up to Speaker
Hastert to realize the importance of this legislation, and finally
allow a floor vote. I continue to believe that if the entire House
has an opportunity to vote on recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
the truth will win out and American recognition will finally
occur.”
Rep. Knollenberg echoed these remarks, noting that, “this
legislation will show the world that America is not going to forget
this horrible crime. The victims of the Genocide and their
families deserve to have the crime recognized for the atrocity that
it was. The committee’s action today – and hopefully the approval
of the full House soon – will help make sure that this terrible
offense is never forgotten.”
H.Res.316, which was introduced by Representatives George
Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),
calls upon the President to ensure U.S. foreign policy reflects
appropriate understanding of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution
includes thirty detailed findings from past U.S. hearings,
resolutions and Presidential statements, as well as references to
statements by international bodies and organizations. As of today,
a bipartisan group of over 140 Representatives have already pledged
their support for the measure.
H.Con.Res.195, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff and cosponsored by
over eighty Representatives, was offered following direct
negotiations with House International Relations Committee Chairman
Henry Hyde (R-IL). The Chairman agreed to Committee-level
consideration of Armenian Genocide legislation in return for Rep.
Schiff tabling a planned June 8th Armenian Genocide amendment to
the House Foreign Relations Authorization bill. The agreement
addressed serious concerns on the part of the Administration and
Congressional leaders that the Schiff Amendment – which had strong
prospects of passing – would overshadow the White House meeting,
held that same day, between President Bush and Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan. This measure calls on Turkey to abandon its
ongoing campaign of Armenian Genocide denial and to work with
Armenia to come to terms with its tragic history.
TURKISH GOVERNMENT/STATE DEPARTMENT OPPOSITION MOUNTS IN DAYS
LEADING UP TO COMMITTEE VOTE
The Turkish Ambassador Faruk Logoglu and his lobbyists – including
the Livingston Group – actively made the rounds to members of the
International Relations Committee, seeking to block any action on
U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide. As part of this
effort, the Livingston Group distributed a four-page genocide-
denial document to Congressional offices. During the mark up,
former Congressmen Livingston and Stephen Solarz and their team of
lobbyists, were actively seeking to defeat these measures.
Earlier this week, American Turkish Council Chairman, former
National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft warned Speaker Dennis
Hastert that even the discussion of the Armenian Genocide on the
floor of the U.S. House would be “counter-productive to the
interests of the United States.” In his September 12th letter,
Scowcroft, speaking on behalf of the corporate members of the ATC,
accused Congressional supporters of Armenian Genocide legislation
(H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195) of trying to “pull Turkey away from
the West.” He stressed that: “The careless use of genocide language
provides and excuse to do so, delivering a direct blow to American
interests in the region.”
The Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) also urged
Committee members to oppose the measures, arguing that, “disputes
over history, such as the Ottoman Armenian Tragedy, should be
resolved by open and rigorous historical and legal scholarship, not
political resolutions.” In an unusual development, the ATAA urged
their supporters to actually use the ANCA website and its powerful
WebFax capabilities to attempt the defeat of the measures. The
ANCA blocked all efforts along these lines.
Both the ATC and ATAA have come under scrutiny in recent weeks as
the result of a 10-page story in Vanity Fair detailing FBI
whistleblower Sibel Edmond’s reports that it’s officials were
involved in illegal efforts to defeat Armenian Genocide legislation
in the fall of 2000. According to the article by contributing
editor David Rose, Edmonds claimed FBI wiretaps – including those
of the Turkish Embassy and Turkish groups such as the American
Turkish Council (ATC) and the Assembly of Turkish American
Associations (ATAA) – reveal that the Turkish government and its
allies boasted of bribing members of Congress as part of an alleged
deal to stop consideration of the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
During the mark-up, lead opponent to the measure, Indiana
Republican Dan Burton, called attention to a September 15th letter
to Committee Chairman Hyde, expressing the State Department’s
opposition to the measures. The letter noted that, “House floor
debate on an Armenia resolution could damage U.S.-Turkish relations
and could undermine progress by Ankara and Yerevan as they begin
quiet talks to address the issue and look to the future.”
#####

ARMENIA TO SHOWCASE ITS PRODUCTS AT RUSSIAN EXHIBITIONS
Armenpress
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov will open
an open-air fair of Armenian products in a downtown Moscow square on
September 24. The two-day event is being organized by the Armenian
Development Agency (ADA) with the support of the Armenian government,
Armenian embassy in Moscow and Moscow government.
Vahagn Movsisian, head of ADA, said sixty Armenian companies will sell
their products and information booklets about another 100 Armenian
companies will be disseminated to visitors. Armenia will also showcase
its achievements in high technology, tourism and hotel businesses at
another exhibition in the southern Russian city of Rostov on Don on
November 17.

URGENT ISSUES, URGENT DISCUSSION
Karo Armenian
Yerkir/arm
September 09, 2005
Presently, the possibilities for development of the independent
Armenian state are in close interrelation with the issues of the
entire Caucasus region and Armenians all over the world, and as such,
they are in focus of our intellectuals. The time is complicated,
the correlation of the forces acting in the region is ever-changing
and our state is facing challenges in all areas.
Between August 26 and 28, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
Bureau held a a special seminar to discuss the strategic issues of
Armenia. A group of ARF members from around the globe took part in
the seminar.
The agenda of the seminar included issues like the interaction and
collision of chauvinistic interests in the region, exploitation of
the natural resources of the region and the present alternatives of
the South Caucasus countries in regional bargaining.
Discussions took place for all the above-mentioned issues. It should be
emphasized that the changing times require a scrupulous, comprehensive
and everlasting reevaluation. The formation of our national strategy
could be carried out only based on these standards.
The Armenian political thought should summarize the contradicting
factors of the current world order to understand what the reliable
factors for the Armenian statehood are.
In this respect, this and other audiences alike are to lead to
crystallization of new vital solutions.

Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 9 2005
Prosecutor General ordered Interior Ministry to arrest Ayaz
Mutellibov

07 September 2005 [11:45] – Today.Az

The Ministry of Interior Affairs was charged with execution of the
court decision on arresting Ayaz Mutellibov.
APA was informed from the press service of the Interior Ministry.
According o the information given to APA from the Prosecutors’
Office, Ayaz Mutellibov committed a number of crimes while he worked
as chairman of the Ministerial Council and as President and after he
resigned from these positions. He provided conditions for dislocation
of Soviet Army in Baku on 19 January, 1990, happening of the tragedy
`Bloody January gave way to attacks of Armenian armed groupings in
Upper Garabagh to the villages of Azerbaijan in 1991-92, provided
condition for the massacre in Khojali not taking necessary measures
to rescue Azerbaijan from blockade. After resigning from the post of
the president on March 6, 1992 he could achieve organizing of pickets
and rallies, convening an extraordinary session by means of exerting
pressure upon the parliamentarians, and abolishment of the decision
on his resigning and misappropriated the authorities of the
president, and was the organizer of the terror action against the
state head Heydar Aliyev early in 1996. Besides it, he conducted
preparation works in the direction of seizing the power by force in
Azerbaijan in September-October months of 2001.
The actions of A.Mutallibov were substantiated with the 17, 15, 59
(preparation and participation in committing a terror action), 2nd
and 3rd parts of the 70.2 clause (aggravating cases of formation of
armed unions or groups not intended in the legislation), 167.2
(aggravating cases of abusing of the authority or official post),
169th clause (carelessness), 183.3 (organization of actions causing
violation of the public order or active participation in such
actions), 192.1 (willfully introducing himself as an official figure
or misappropriation of the powers of the official person) of the
Criminal Code remaining in force till 2000 and with the 28th, 278th
clauses of the existing Criminal Code which is in force at the
present time and a sentence on his being recognized as an accused
person was delivered on May 19 2003. Because of hiding from the
investigation, he was announced to be in search being charged with
sentence by the Court of Nasimi region.
On September 5 in Baku #17 Yasamal 3rd Election Constituency,
candidacy of Ayaz Mutellibov was officially registered in connection
with the parliamentary elections to Milly Majlis. By the award of the
prosecutor general September 6, 2005 candidates registered to
deputies according to articles 70 and 151 of Election Code, as all
the inviolability provision was not referred to the deeds of Ayaz
Mutallibov commited by him before, the Ministry of Internal Affairs
was given a respective instruction on ensuring execution of the
sentence of the Nasimi region court on choosing the arrest measure on
him.
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #161, 09/09/2005
Region
EU LIKELY TO FINANCE KARS-AKHALKALAK RAILWAY
Francois Lamoureux, European Commission Energy and Transport
Directorate-General, stated that EU is interested in construction of
Kars-Akhalkalak railway during his visit to Baku on November 15. “We have
thoroughly studied that project in order to be able to finance that in
future. But, besides, the EU sources, we shall look for other sources as
well,” Lamoureux said.
The representatives of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on
the construction of Kars-Akhalkalak railway in Tbilisi on December 28.
Presidents Sezer, Saakashvili and Aliyev stated about “the railway corridor”
that connects the their countries, on May 25 2005.
The official Yerevan expressed concern about the construction of the railway
on May 31. Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign minister, applied to Jacques Barrot,
deputy-chairman of the European Commission, coordinator of transport
affairs, to consider Armenia’s position.
“Being informed that at present, you are discussing the possibility to
construct a new railway from Turkey to Georgia, I introduce to you the
position of Armenia. As you know, there is a functioning railway link that
connects Kars with Tbilisi through Gyumri. This is an indispensable corridor
financed within the framework of EU TRASECA program. It hasn’t been utilized
because of Turkey’s political decision to impose a blockade on Armenia. The
current decision to build a new railway will require big financial sources.
Still worse, it goes hand in hand with Turkey’s policy of blockade that
lasts for decades. The Armenian-Turkish border is the only blocked one in
Europe. Armenia finds such a decision irrational and unacceptable. If
Armenia is a problem for Turkey, we are ready to keep from utilizing
Kars-Gyumri railway line. If Europe really wants cooperation in South
Caucasus, the reopening of this railway line will contribute to that process
in the best way. The decision not to utilize that corridor will create
obstacles for successful implementation of the European neighborhood
policy,” Oskanian said in his letter.
Armenia can’t hinder the construction of Kars-Akhalkalak railway, especially
when Europe renders political and financial assistance for that project.
There are still some expectations circulating in the diplomatic circles of
Yerevan that the issue of opening the borders with Armenia will be discussed
in the agenda of the negotiations over Turkey’s membership to EU on October
3. Though, Ankara is unlikely to give in. The Turkish authorities even
refuse to recognize the independence of Cyprus that is a EU member country.
In such conditions, the Europeans will probably gamble on the fact of the
Armenian Genocide, which will hurt both Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.
An official of RA foreign ministry said in the interview to Azg that Yerevan
observes Kars-Akhalkalak project as a political act that hinders the
regional cooperation, while the construction of the new railway contributes
to Armenia’s isolation, which is quite artificial. The diplomat believes
that Kars-Akhalkalak means nothing but an attempt to stop utilization of
Kars-Gyumri. “While, in case of financially supporting Kars-Akhalkalak, EU
contradicts the very principle it announced. They are going to finance a
project that is aimed to isolate Armenia,” the diplomat said.
By Tatoul Hakobian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress