Author: Zakarian Garnik

Eurasia Daily Monitor

Monday, November 20, 2006 — Volume 3, Issue 215

MOSCOW WELCOMES THREE EMBOLDENED SECESSIONIST LEADERS

by Vladimir Socor

Sergei Bagapsh, Eduard Kokoiti, and Igor Smirnov, Russian-installed
leaders respectively of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria, conferred
with Russian government officials in Moscow on November 16-18, held a joint
news conference, and were featured extensively on Russian state television
channels.

All three made it clear that by seeking the `independence’ of their
territories they meant their ultimate affiliation to the Russian Federation
(NTV Mir Television, November 19, as monitored by the BBC, November 20).

In a sign of growing confidence, the trio advertised themselves as
`proud to be citizens of Russia’ and made unusually open statements of
loyalty to Russia, partly based on Soviet nostalgia: `Moscow remains our
capital just as it was in Soviet times. For us, this is our capital whether
one likes this fact or not,’ Bagapsh declared (Interfax, November 17).
Kokoiti pronounced Georgia guilty of separatism because it withdrew from the
Soviet Union, thus losing any title to territorial integrity, in his view
(Russian Television Channel One, November 16). Smirnov elliptically but
pointedly remarked, `I’ve been in Russia ever since birth’ (Interfax,
November 17) — a double allusion to his Khabarovsk origins and to the
Tiraspol authorities’ view of Transnistria as a part of Greater Russia. This
acknowledgment will undoubtedly embarrass those OSCE officials who still
advocate power-sharing between Chisinau and the Tiraspol leaders supposedly
representing left-bank Moldova, even though most of that group are
non-natives on mission from Russia.

The trio announced their respective preconditions to a resumption of
negotiations with Tbilisi and Chisinau. Thus, Bagapsh ruled out any
negotiations until all Georgian `troops’ [by which the Abkhaz mean Georgian
police] and Georgian administration withdraw from the upper Kodori Valley.
Moreover, `Any envoy who goes to upper Kodori will not be received in
Abkhazia, irrespective of the country he represents’ — a warning perhaps
immediately intended for U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza
who was holding talks in Tbilisi and en route to Sukhumi. The restoration of
Georgian control in upper Kodori `has buried the process of negotiations,’
Bagapsh declared (Interfax, November 16-18), reflecting Sukhumi’s greater
intransigence in the wake of the UN Security Council’s Western-approved
resolution in October that criticized Georgia’s Kodori move (see EDM,
October 17).

Smirnov demanded the signing of an agreement in the 5+2 framework,
recognizing Transnistria’s `right’ to conduct its own foreign trade as a
precondition to resuming negotiations. This Moscow-backed demand is known to
be unacceptable to the European Union and the United States as well as to
Chisinau. For his part, Kokoiti named his precondition to a proposed meeting
with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili: the signing of an agreement on
the mutual renunciation of force. Tskhinvali wants such an agreement in the
form of a treaty-type document that would imply Georgia’s recognition of
South Ossetia — a tactic that Sukhumi also uses vis-à-vis Tbilisi.

Kokoiti and Smirnov accused Georgia and Moldova, respectively, of
practicing or intending `fascism’ and `genocide;’ and Bagapsh added the
unsubstantiated Russian charge of `militarization’ regarding Georgia, an
excuse for the actual militarization of Abkhazia.

Russian State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigory
Karasin received Kokoiti for `congratulations with the convincing victory’
in the November 12 referendum on `independence’ and the `presidential’
election, noting `unanimous support’ in South Ossetia for Kokoiti and
independence. The Russian MFA’s communiqué curtly dismissed the `so-called
alternative voting’ (see EDM, November 15, 17) and insisted on maintaining
`the existing format’ for any future negotiations. In tune with the hosts,
Kokoiti insisted that Russian `peacekeeping’ troops will remain in South
Ossetia `until the full resolution of the conflict’ — that is, a
self-perpetuating presence.

The trio declared in unison that they did not need a Kosovo precedent
or model to justify their respective secessions. Indeed they took pains to
distance themselves from the Kosovo case, arguing that their own cases had
greater validity. Smirnov dismissed the Kosovo case as `academic
talk….Recognition or non-recognition of Kosovo bears no relation to our
state.’ Bagapsh would `not in the least compare our movement toward
independence with the case of Kosovo,’ particularly since the
[Moscow-encouraged] Serbian referendum recently decided for Serbia’s
territorial integrity. Likewise, Kokoiti is `not counting on [a precedent
in] Kosovo, we have stronger legal and political grounds for recognition
than Kosovo does’ (RIA Novosti, Interfax, November 17, 18).

Their political preconditions and accompanying propaganda line, as
well as their insouciance about Kosovo, indicate that the secessionist
leaderships now behave more confidently than at any time in the past. By the
same token they indicate that Moscow has decided to impose a deep freeze on
all the three sets of negotiations until further notice while acting
unilaterally in the post-Soviet conflicts and "multilaterally" on Kosovo.

–Vladimir Socor

RAMIL SAFAROV SENTENCED TO EIGHT MONTHS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 18 2006

The trial on the case of Ramil Safarov, sentenced to life imprisonment
for the murder of Armenian Army officer Gurgen Margaryan, for the
claim raised by jailers was held yesterday in Budapesht.

Azeri embassy in Hungary told APA that the officers of the Embassy
participated at the court. Hungarian lawyer Clara Fisher defended
his rights on the case.

He got 8-month suspended sentence under Article 229 of the Criminal
Code (resistance to officers).

While being kept in Hungarian prison in 2004, jailers asked Ramil for
a telephone card. But Ramil could not understand Hungarian which led
to an incident between them. Eight jailers tied his hands and used
force. Though lawyers for the Azerbaijani lieutenant appealed to
court related to this matter, the court dismissed the appeal saying
there was no evidence. Then the opposite side raised counterclaim.

Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
E-mail:[email protected]

FO R IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 16, 06
Contact: Kevor Manguelian

Tel. (613) 235-2622

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay Reaffirms Canadian Government’s
Recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Ottawa-Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay reaffirmed the Canadian
government’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide, during a round
table discussion with the National Ethnic Press and Media Council
(NEPMCC) on Nov. 8. The minister also clarified his position on the
Turkish Government’s proposal to create a historians’ commission to
study the Armenian Genocide.

Minister Mackey assured the Canadian-Armenian community that the
Canadian Government’s policy on the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide has "not changed. Nothing has changed in that regard,"
stressed Mr. MacKay.

In response to a question from Aris Babikian, Horizon Weekly
representative to NEPMCC and the executive director of the Armenian
National Committee of Canada (ANCC), Mr. MacKay stated: "Canada would
support a joint study that would involve participation from academics
from both countries with the inclusion, perhaps, a neutral country
that would be acceptable to both. So a dialogue around what is clearly
incredibly sensitive and loaded issue could lead to greater meeting of
minds plus an opening of a dialogue on other important issues-trade,
travel, greater communication, the blockade of Armenia-is useful
exercise that might bring about some greater healing."

In response to studies by more than 450 historians and international
organizations confirming the uncontested historical reality of the
Armenian Genocide, Mr. MacKay said: "I am not disputing what you
[Babikian] said in terms of the amount of study that has accrued
already."

In a related story, Robert Kocharian, president of Armenia, replied
to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal to form
a historians’ commission by saying: "A suggestion to address the
past cannot be effective if it deflects from addressing the present
and the future. In order to engage in a useful dialogue, we need to
create the appropriate and conducive political environment. It is the
responsibility of governments to develop bilateral relations and we do
not have the right to delegate that responsibility to historians. That
is why we have proposed and propose again that, without pre-conditions,
we establish normal relations between our two countries."

"Minister MacKay’s clarifications are greatly appreciated by the
ANCC and the Canadian-Armenian Community. To build neighbourly and
friendly relations Armenia and Turkey must talk and establish joint
intergovernmental commissions to discuses all outstanding issues
between the two countries," said Babikian. "After all Armenia and
Turkey are bound to coexist and prosper next to each other."

#

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range
of issues.

Regional Chapters

Montreal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St.

Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT STARTS THREE-DAY VISIT TO GERMANY

Public Television, Armenia
Nov 15 2006

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan left for Germany on a three-day
working visit today.

President Kocharyan will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the
president of the Bundestag and the mayor of Berlin.

Robert Kocharyan and the president of the Bundestag will take part
in the official opening ceremony of a new building of the Armenian
embassy.

ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS CONDEMN KILLINGS OF ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA

Armenpress
Nov 15 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Levon Ananian, the chairman of the
Union of Armenian Writers said today murders of Armenians in Russia
were either induced by racial hate or were a political order. He said
protests of Armenia were ignored by Russian law-enforcement agencies
and the bulk of hate crimes committed against Armenians in Russia
remained undisclosed.

"We have to register that Armenians in the modern world are being
killed only in Russia and Azerbaijan," he said. He was speaking at a
gathering that was prompted by another brutal murder of an Armenian
boy in the Moscow region on November 11. Narek Kocharian, a native
of Armenia, was stabbed to death on a railway platform.

The majority of speakers argued that murders of ethnic Armenians in
Russia were a political order.

‘The Russian government is capable of controlling its skinheads. When
such crimes are committed against Azeris or Tajiks the perpetrators
are revealed hours later," one of the speakers alleged. An art critic,
Henrik Igitian, spoke against calls urging to cut friendly relations
with Russia saying it would be followed by the pullout of Russian
military base from Armenia which many Armenians perceive as the
strongest guarantee of their national security. Igitian argued that
Armenia must press for a broad coverage of such murders by Russian
media and demand that Russian media condemn hate crimes.

Mrs. Hranush Kharatian, head of a government division in charge of
religious and national minorities issues, said Russian officials are
well aware of the hate crimes against Armenians but they are also
aware of Armenians’ impotence and dependence on Russia. She said this
question must be raised officially within the CIS agreements. At the
end of their conference intellectuals suggested writing a letter to
Russia’s president Vladimir Putin urging him to take swift action to
stop hate crimes in Russia.

In a related development Russian interior minister Rashid Nurgaliyev
was quoted by RIA news agency as saying they were seriously concerned
over the fast rise in extremism-related crime, driven by racial
intolerance. He said his ministry was currently monitoring 150
extremist groups across Russia, mainly race-hate groups, which have
a total membership of around 10,000.

Human rights groups have raised concerns over a surge in
racially-motivated violence Russia in recent months, and cite
widespread xenophobic attitudes in the country. About 80% of the
extremist groups’ members are under 30, and most are based in Moscow,
St. Petersburg, and the Samara and Voronezh regions, according to
Russian ministry data. Eight of these organizations pose a real threat
to public security, Nurgaliyev said.

The minister earlier said that youth extremist groups have become
more aggressive and better organized, and that some are influenced
by criminal organizations.

Ella Pamfilova, the head of the presidential council on civil society
institutions and human rights, said laws should be toughened to
eliminate legal loopholes, through which race-hate crimes are
registered as ‘hooliganism’, or no criminal cases are opened at all.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE INTER-RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE CONCLUDES IN ANTELIAS CALLING
ON HIS HOLINESS TO PURSUE THE PROCESS HE INITIATED

The participants of the inter-religious conference, organized in Antelias by
the Catholicosate of Cilicia, thanked His Holiness Aram I for organizing the
initiative and called on him to continue the process of inter-religious
dialogue and cooperation among all the religions of the Middle East and
Asia.

The final part of the conference included a special session, which focused
on the essential role of moral values in the life of societies. His Holiness
Souami Parmeshananda (a Hindu delegate from India) and Father Fadi Daou (a
Christian delegate from Lebanon) presented speeches on this topic. Rev.
Haroutioun Selimian from Syria chaired the session.

The participants broke up into small groups and discussed the importance of
moral values and their place in people’s lives. In the plenary session,
which followed, they presented their conclusions to the rest of the
participants. In these presentations, members of the groups analyzed the
various issues taken up by the conference and delineated the similarities
and differences in the approaches to these issues taken by the different
religions.

The conference was officially concluded with a special session on the
evening of November 14. Dr. Joan Campbell, Former General Secretary of the
United States Council of Churches, chaired the event.

The closing session provided a platform for the participants to evaluate the
various aspects and achievements of the conference. The delegates all agreed
on the importance of such an initiative for Asia and the Middle East. The
representatives of the Buddhist and Hindu religions, in particular;
expressed gratitude for this first-ever opportunity to interact with
Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders from the Middle East. Expressing
their gratitude to His Holiness Aram I, they asked him to pursue the process
he initiated.

The conference report was then read and adopted.

His Holiness Aram I delivered the concluding remarks of the conference,
during which he emphasized the following issues:
He thanked all the participants for accepting the invitation of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia and coming to Antelias. In this respect, he
particularly praised the efforts of Dina Myriam from the United States and
Teni Simonian from Geneva for organizing the conference.

Secondly, His Holiness stressed that humanity today faces various
difficulties in a world that has grown smaller over time. He pointed out
that it is essential for religions to cooperate as much as possible, and
concluded that the differences between religions should be respected and
should not lead to polarization and isolation. Religions should approach
each other for cooperation and look together for common grounds.
Thirdly, His Holiness stated that religions should seek to become a moral
force and an authority in today’s societies, by practicing moral values and
working to spread them.

A delegation of the participants had the opportunity to meet the spiritual
leader of the Shiite Community in Lebanon, Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan.

All the participants visited the Birds’ Nest in Byblos, where they had
lunch.

A number of spiritual leaders from both regions sent letters to the
conference. These included addresses by His Holiness Matta Amirtanandamayi,
head of an important Hindu organization, Ayatollah Taskiri, head of the
inter-religious department of the Republic of Iran and Prince Hasan Bin
Talal, head of the Christian-Muslim dialogue committee of Jordan.

##
View the photos here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

&quot ;WE WILL SURVIVE AND STRUGGLE THROUGH
THE ARMENIAN SCHOOL AND OUR CULTURE"

SAYS HIS HOLINESS DURING A SERMON IN ANTELIAS

His Holiness Aram I delivered a Pontifical Sermon in the St. Gregory the
Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias on November 12, focusing on three main
areas: the Armenian school, the Armenian book and inter-religious dialogue
in light of the ongoing international ecumenical conference in Antelias.

Speaking from the Cathedral’s altar, the Catholicos first and foremost
stressed the importance of the Armenian school as the basis of the Armenian
nation’s struggle for survival.

"To agonize over the Armenian school, means to struggle for our survival.

God Help those for whom the Armenian school is not is a concern, a daily
agony and a holy commitment. What we are and what we will yet be as a nation
we owe to the Armenian school," said His Holiness.

The Armenian spiritual leader then spoke about the grand donation of 4.5
million dollars by philanthropist Kirk Kirkorian’s "Lincy" foundation to the
Armenian schools of Lebanon. He highly commended the donation made to the
most important community in the Diaspora and the heart of preserving
Armenian identity. He also praised the Vice Chairman of the foundation,
Harut Sassounian, a former Lebanese-Armenian, who came to Lebanon to
personally deliver the donation to the various schools.

On the occasion of the 28th Armenian Book Fair in Antelias, His Holiness
talked about the preservation and flourishing of Armenian culture in the
second part of his Pontifical message. Referring to the tens of new Armenian
publications, he said they give a new and fresh breath to the history of
Armenian culture.

The Catholicos praised Armenian book writers and publishers alike,
highlighting particularly the role of the Gulbenkian Foundation and its
director of the Armenian Department, Dr. Zaven Yegavian, whose cooperation
with the Catholicosate of Cilicia has resulted in the publication of many
books by Antelias. Finally, he commended those who are nurtured by Armenian
books, because their connectedness to the Armenian book will keep them
attached to the family of the Armenian nation, church and fatherland.

In the third and final part of his sermon, the Pontiff talked about the
international ecumenical conference to be launched in Antelias that same
afternoon. About 60 people from various religions from the Middle East and
Asia will participate in this conference, highlighting the areas of
cooperation between religions and the possibilities of overcoming the
challenges to humanity together.

"The full existence of religions in today’s world is guaranteed by dialogue
and united struggle. All religions exist for humankind and should therefore
fight for its spiritual, intellectual and physical safety. That struggle
becomes more effective if all religions, with their moral values as shared
traits, fight together against evil and its driving force of world
destruction." He said.

His Holiness then emphasized that cooperation rather than comparison between
religions is the path to adopt: "Emphasizing our differences drifts us
further away from finding the truth. We should avoid contradictions and
search for the truth through the similarities found in religions. And the
source of truth is God himself. On the way to recognizing God, justice,
peace and love between nations are the most rightful paths leading to God."

After the Holy Mass, the Catholicos headed a procession of Cilician
Brotherhood members and Seminary students outside where the opening of the
28th Armenian Book Fair was held.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

KARABAKH ALONE CANNOT RESETTLE LACHIN

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 14 2006

Nobody knows the exact number of people living in Lachin, says
Arman Melikyan, adviser to the NKR president, former NKR minister of
foreign affairs. He thinks that the reason for this uncertainty is
the constant migration to Armenia and back. Arman Melikyan says this
is very bad because there must be a permanent population in Lachin,
but Karabakh is unable to resolve this problem alone, says the adviser
to the NKR president.

"We must realize that Karabakh alone cannot provide conditions for
the fast resettlement and prosperity of this territory. This is the
problem of both Armenia and the Diaspora, and also the problem of our
potential allies, who must be interested in having the Armenians live
there," says Arman Melikyan.

HAMAZKAYIN PRESENTS ‘FOR YOU, LEBANON’

Yerkir, Armenia
Nov 13 2006

A concert with this title and organized by the Hamazkayin Educational
and Cultural Union and the Public TV of Armenia will be staged at
the National Opera and Ballet Theater on November 17.

The concert’s aim is to extend the moral support of the Armenian
culture figures to the Lebanese Armenians and the Lebanese people
in general.

During the past 15 years, the Hamazkayin has sponsored visits of scores
of Armenian artists to Lebanon. Now they obligated to fellow-Armenians
living in Lebanon.

Lebanon is the home to the most important Diaspora community, and
Beirut has for decades been considered the unofficial capital city
of the Armenian Diaspora. The concert will be aired live on local TV
channels and will be watched by Armenians and non-Armenians as well.

The State Dance Ensemble of Armenia, the Chamber Choir, the groups
"Kadans," "Arevik," "Sayat Nova," singers Ruben Matevosian, Shushan
Petrosian, Leyla Saribekian, Hamlet Gevorgian, Arto Tunjboyajian,
Arsen Grigorian and others will perform at the concert.

The concert will be attended by National Assembly Vice-speaker Vahan
Hovhannisian as well as Member of Lebanese Parliament Hakob Bagratuni
and Lebanese Ambassador to Armenia Jibrail Jiara.

"Who should support morally Lebanon and its people if not Armenia
that has seen a war and has done everything for independence," says
Lilit Galstian, the director of the Hamazkayin’s Armenia office.

NEWLY APPOINTED JUDGES PLEDGE TO FOLLOW RA CONSTITUTION AND LAWS

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 13 2006

According to RA President Robert Kocharyan’s decree of 20 October,
Armen Khachatryan was appointed Judge of the First Instance Court
of Ararat marz. Armen Khachatryan and Rafik Melkonayn were appointed
Judges of the First Instance Court of Tavush marz. The oath ceremony
was held today at the sitting of the Justice Council, featuring the
President of the Republic. Taking the high position of Judges, they
pledged to follow only the Constitution and laws, be unbiased and
principled, fair and humane.

Congratulating the newly appointed Judges, the President said he
anticipates true, fair and principled work.