Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

Turkish press 25 Mar 05
BBC Monitoring Service – United Kingdom;
Mar 25, 2005
The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and commentaries
published in 25 March editions of Turkish newspapers available to
BBC Monitoring
Kyrgyzstan
Zaman [moderate, pro-Islamic] “The civil revolutions taking place
against leaders who do not give up power through elections in
countries with a Soviet infrastructure are nearly identical to each
other… Activities start immediately after the elections [in all of
them]… The possibility of the spread of these velvet revolutions
to Central Asian states, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia and even Russia
is increasingly strengthened. Elections, which are the source of the
revolutions, should be closely watched.” (Commentary by Erhan Basyurt)
Yeni Safak [liberal, pro-Islamic] “…[Kyrgyzstan] is the only
country to have Russian and American military bases simultaneously…
The Russian-American alliance might want to enjoy a democratic (!)
victory. But I do not believe that they would risk chaos in such
a strategic country on the Chinese frontier – especially when the
dispersed and indecisive behaviour of the [Kyrgyz] opposition is so
obvious.” (Commentary by Akif Emre)
Milliyet [centrist, second largest circulation] “Will the people’s
movement that started in Georgia and Ukraine end in Kyrgyzstan? Will
not this process affect the other Central Asian regimes, especially
Uzbekistan which is in a critical position?” (Commentary by Taha Akyol)
“Although Kyrgyzstan’s political, ethnic, geographic and economic
structure is different from Georgia or Ukraine which underwent
political revolutions, we hope that the ‘soft transition’ to a better
future in Bishkek will be similar to those in Tbilisi and Kiev.”
(Commentary by Sami Kohen)
Kurdish parties
Hurriyet [centre-right, largest circulation] “`We are Turkey’s
party’. First HADEP, then DEHAP [Kurdish political parties in Turkey]
underlined this point. They tried to move away from the image that
they were only parties for Kurds, as they knew that they could
not continue as a racist political movement… and they focused on
supporting Turkish intellectuals. But they could not achieve this.
This is because they could not escape from the legacy of the PKK
[Kurdish organization].” (Commentary by Ferai Tinc)
EU/Ocalan
Tercuman [conservative] “We know that there are some in the EU who see
[former leader of the PKK, Abdullah] Ocalan as a `political figure’
and want a political amnesty for him. But this has never been the EU’s
official view. The reality is that the EU cannot make such a demand
without risking the breaking off of all ties with Turkey… Actually,
if Europe takes such a decision, this will be an indication of its
decision not to take us into the Union.” (Commentary by Gulay Gokturk)
US “pressure”
Radikal [centre-left] “What is the reason for this pressure on Turkey
regarding two of its neighbours [Syria and Iran]? Isn’t Turkey giving
advice, just like all the West is, to Iran on `nuclear issues’, and
Syria on `the withdrawal from Lebanon’? Or does the US want to exert
pressure on [Turkish] political elites on other and sensitive issues,
using Turkey’s relations with its two neighbours as an excuse?”
(Commentary by M. Ali Kislali)
Cyprus
Yeni Safak [liberal, pro-Islamic] “Rauf Denktas [president of the
self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] is probably one
of the most experienced Turkish politicians. Certainly he is the
most experienced figure when it comes to foreign policy. While this
has been a great advantage for Turkey and Cyprus for a long time,
recently it has started to have an adverse effect. His intelligence
and experience were insufficient when it came to this great politician
keeping up with change.” (Commentary by Mustafa Karaalioglu)

PanArmenian News
March 23 2005
SERGE SARGSIAN: WEAPON DEPOTS IN ARMENIA AND KARABAKH ALWAYS KEPT
UNDER STRICT CONTROL
23.03.2005 08:08
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The accusations brought against the Armenian
citizen, who was wanted by the police, are based on the fact that he
was trying to sell arms in the US. Meanwhile the investigation showed
that no single weapon was exported from Armenia, Secretary of the
Security Council, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian stated today, IA
Regnum reports. In his words, the weapon depots in Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh were always kept under strict control. ~SNo thefts
have been ever registered~T, the Minister stated. To remind, Armenian
citizen Artur Solomonian and his brother Levon Solomonian were
detained on suspicion of arms traffic in the US. They were both
wanted by the law enforcers for avoiding the obligatory military
service. According to the investigators, the Armenian citizen headed
the gang composed of the citizens of Armenia, Georgia and the US.

NKR AUTHORITIES REPORTED TO SUPPORT SETTLERS IN SOME REGIONS
CONTROLLED BY NKR ARMY
YEREVAN, MARCH 18. ARMINFO. The OSCE Minsk Group Fact-Finding Mission
(FFM) to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan surrounding Nagorno
Karabakh (NK) says that it has found evidence of the presence of
settlers in the above territories and the NK authorities are the
primary responsible party in questions regarding support of settlement
activity.
The mission did not determine that such settlement resulted from a
deliberate policy by the Government of Armenia. There was evidence of
various degrees of support by the authorities of NK to settlers in
some regions.
The co-chairs have not assessed the degree to which there is
coordination between the NK authorities and the government of
Armenia. The NK authorities stated to the co-chairs at the outset of
the mission that they did indeed encourage settlements in Lachin, The
co-chairs note that Lachin has been treated as a separate case in
previous negotiations.
The FFM notes that it was not a census-taking team and its
observations cannot be seen as an exhaustive and statistically
accurate picture of the current situation in the occupied
territories., However the co-chairs believe that the FFM’s findings
closely reflect the situation in these areas.
The conclusions are as follows: the mission was a positive achievement
made possible by the compromise agreed by the parties to the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.
There is little disagreement between the sides on the number of
settlers in the occupied territories and the nature of the
settlements. The FFM’s findings are broadly consistent with
information provided by the sides. The areas of disagreement between
the sides are the question of government sponsorship and the places
from which the settlers come.
The areas in question have undergone complete destruction. Therefore
all settlers arriving in these areas have had to construct basic
shelter, there being virtually no undamaged structures surviving the
conflict and its consequences.
It is apparent that any settlement allowing the return of internally
displaced persons and refugees must be preceded and accompanied by
substantial international assistance for construction of shelter and
infrastructures such as water supply and sanitation, electricity and
agricultural irrigation as well as demining in specific areas and
restoration of transportation links including the completely
dismantled railway in the south formerly connecting Baku, Nakhichevan
and Yerevan.

Armenian, Georgian ministers discuss development of ties
A1+ web site
18 Mar 05
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has received Georgian
Finance Minister Valeri Chechelashvili who is in Armenia on an
official visit. The meeting was held in a warm and friendly
atmosphere, the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry
reported.
The ministers have known each other since Chechelashvili was
secretary-general of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.
The meeting discussed issues of Armenian-Georgian relations and
prospects for the development of the South Caucasus. They also noted
the need for joint actions in various international programmes.

NEW ACHIEVEMENT MAY OCCUR IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS, THAT IS,
ORGANIZATION OF A 155 KM LIVE CHAIN
YEREVAN, MARCH 17. ARMINFO. A new achievement may occur in the
Guinness Book of Records, that is, organization of a 155 km live
chain. In particular, on May 28 2005 160,000 Armenians from the whole
world will sing and dance in a ring at the foot of Mountain Aragats in
Armenia as a sign of unification of the nation. The round dance is
organized by the Charity Non-Governmental Organization of Countrymen
“Nig-Aparan” of Armenia.
Talking to ARMINFO, a member of the organization Ofelia Petrosyan says
that the unprecedented action to be registered by the representatives
of the Guinness Book of Records and recorded by CNN will last 15
minutes. Each person linking the alive chain is to occupy a bit less
than 1 meter territory, and by one tree “of love to Motherland” will
be planted on each meter in the foot of Aragats Mountain after the
round dance. Each participant will have an apricot cap on him hereby
symbolizing one of the colors of the Armenian flag and the color of
the sunset behind Aragats Mountain. “The round dance is timed to the
90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire, and
to the 1,600th anniversary of creation of Armenian alphabet and Bash
Aparan victory over Turkish troops in 1918,” she says. A day before
the action, the youth of Armenia will gather at the foot of the
mountain wherein festivals are expected. Fairs presenting the products
of native enterprises of food branch will be held. Petrosyan says
that representatives of the Armenian Diaspora from many states which
will not participate in the event for some reasons, will organize
similar round dances at foreign cultural and religious centers the
same day at the same time (14:00 Yerevan time).
Big businessmen, public and community organizations of the country
will secure transportation of the participants to the place without
compensation. To participate in the action, applications are received
by the headquarters on organization works in the following address: 7,
Agatangeghosi Street,Yerevan. For additional information call (374 1)
58 00 34 and (374 1) 54 00 12.

Kommersant, Russia
March 14 2005
Armenian Georgians Rebuff Russian Base Withdrawal
Rallies of many thousands were held in Georgian Akhalkalaki to
protest against the pullout of Russian military bases. The rallies
were triggered by the last week’s ultimatum of the Georgian
parliament, calling for Russia to determine by May 15 the exact dates
for withdrawal of its military bases from Akhalkalaki and Batumi.
One of the military bases to be pulled out under the parliamentary
ultimatum is located in Akhalkalaki, the Javakheti region, where the
borders of Georgia, Armenia and Turkey are meeting. It is a region
with nearly 100 percent of Armenian population. In Akhalkalaki base,
the local Armenians serve under military contracts or work as
civilian employees. Despite the continuous pledges of the Georgian
executives to make up for the loss of employment, establish new
working places and transfer the base infrastructure to the local
authorities, Akhalkalaki residents rebuff withdrawal of Russia’s
motor rifle division. Javakhk organization, which is advocating
Javakheti autonomy within Georgian, is the usual leader.
This time was not an exception. Javakheti has responded to the March
10 resolution of the Georgian parliament, in which the latter
recommended authorities to start forcing Russian troops out of
Georgia after May 15. From 5,000 to 6,000 people took part in the
rallies staged past weekend in Akhalkalaki. The protesters were
calling for the base blockade if Russia has to start withdrawal,
intending to resort to the actions taken in Pridnestrovie. `We won’t
allow withdrawal of Russian troops. We will stand in the way and
hinder pullout, even if the process starts,’ one of the Javakhk
leaders told Kommersant.
At the meetings, the protestors were saying that a Turkish base will
replace the Russian one in Akhalkalaki. Georgia denies the rumors.

The Salt Lake Tribune
FRIDAY
March 11, 2005
Huntsman Sr.’s exploits earn him ‘Giant’ award
Jon Huntsman listens to his wife Karen during an interview in his office in
Salt Lake City. (Steve Griffin/The Salt Lake Tribune)
Jon Huntsman Sr. built the world’s largest privately held petrochemical
and plastics business with 121 locations in 44 countries. He donated
$225 million toward the establishment of the Huntsman Cancer Institute
at the University of Utah and has received Armenia’s highest award –
the Medal of Honor – after contributing to the reconstruction of
that country following a devastating 1988 earthquake. For those
accomplishments and philanthropic endeavors, Huntsman was honored
Wednesday as a “Giant in Our City” by the Salt Lake Chamber. “Jon
Huntsman is the epitome of everything the ‘Giant in our City’ award
is about,” said Chamber President Lane Beattie. “He is a giant in
his industry. He is a giant in our community – supporting countless
charitable causes. He also is a giant where it matters most – in
his family,” Beattie said. Huntsman and his wife, Karen, are the
parents of nine, including son Jon Jr., Utah’s governor. They have 52
grandchildren. A native of Blackfoot, Idaho and a former U.S. Navy
gunnery officer, Huntsman has received a dozen honorary doctorates
and is chairman of the Board of Overseers at the University of
Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, the country’s highest-rated
business school. He is on the American Red Cross board of governors
and two years ago received the “Humanitarian of the Year” award from
CNN’s Larry King. Previous “Giant in Our City” honorees include LDS
Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, Questar executives R.D. “Don”
Cash and D.N. “Nick” Rose, former Salt Lake Organizing Committee
leader Mitt Romney, banker Spence Eccles, former chamber leader Fred
Ball and retired Utah Power executive Verl Topham. – Mike Gorrell

Georgian parliament set to debate future of Russian bases
By MISHA DZHINDZHIKHASHVILI
AP Worldstream
Mar 09, 2005
Georgia’s parliamentary speaker on Wednesday urged lawmakers to
postpone discussing an ultimatum threatening to blockade Russia’s two
remaining military bases in the country, but legislators insisted on
debating the politically explosive issue.
The Soviet-era bases at Batumi and Akhalkalaki are the focus of
increasing tension between Western-leaning Georgia and its neighbor.
Russia has said it could take as much as a dozen years to close down
the bases, which Georgia says is unacceptable.
Speaker Nino Burdzhanadze said Russia had agreed to examine the issue
by May 1.
“We need to wait for results and then make a decision,” Burdzhanadze
said, calling on the legislature to return the draft legislation
proposing the blockade to the defense committee.
President Mikhail Saakashvili told reporters Tuesday that his
government’s position was unchanged: “The Russian bases must be
withdrawn from Georgia.”
But like Burdzhanadze, he expressed hope that Georgia and Russia
could reach an agreement within six weeks.
“In spite of the fact that my hopes have not been justified in the
past, maybe this time we will achieve progress in the negotiations
with Russia,” he said. “No one has the right to have their military
bases on our territory.”
The proposed legislation under discussion calls for Russia to set a
“reasonable period” for closing the bases by May 1.
Parliamentary defense committee chairman Givi Targamadze said that
if no agreement is reached, authorities should plan “to prevent any
movement on Georgian territory by Russian servicemen except for that
which is connected to withdrawal from the territory of our country.”
In spite of Georgian leaders’ strong stand on the bases, they are
worried about possible unrest among the population, especially the
Armenian-minority residents in the city of Akhalkalaki. Many of them
work at the Russian base and have sharply protested its possible
closure, which would lead to massive unemployment _ already a chronic
problem elsewhere in impoverished Georgia.

DECREE ON RECOVERY OF SAVINGS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
06 March 05
In accordance with the decree on preliminary recovery of the savings
of the citizens of the Republic of Nagorni Karabakh issued by the
president of NKR Arkady Ghukassian on June 20, 1998 Arkady Ghukassian
signed a decree on the recovery of the lost savings devalued in 1993.
According to the decree, the government of the republic will begin
the recovery of the savings of persons born before 1944, as well as
the army servicemen killed at the defence of the Republic of Nagorni
Karabakh and the first degree disabled of the war. Recovery of lost
savings will be carried out on the sums provided by the State Budget
2005 of the Republic of Nagorni Karabakh.
AA.
06-03-2005

PanArmenian News
March 5 2005
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MET WITH SYRIAN TEMPORARY CHARGE
D’AFFAIRES IN ARMENIA
05.03.2005 15:40
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Artur
Baghdasarian has met with Temporary Charge d’Affaires of Syria in
Armenia Hassan Raslan, who is completing his diplomatic mission in
the republic, the Press Service of the Armenian National Assembly
reported. The Syrian diplomat noted the progress in the
Armenian-Syrian relations: inter-state agreements were signed,
cooperation fields were defined. In his turn Artur Baghdasarian said
he was sure that the activities of the next Ambassador will have an
effective impact on the bilateral relations. The parties also noted
the importance of the Armenian community of Syria, as well as the
friendly attitude of the Syrian authorities to the Armenian
community.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress