Category: News

Russian foreign minister to discuss Karabakh conflict in Azerbaijan
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
30 Jan 05
MOSCOW
The problems of settling the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict will be one of
the main topics of discussion during Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov’s official visit to Baku on 1-2 February.
According to official Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr
Yakovenko, “Russia welcomes the continuation of the dialogue between
Azerbaijan and Armenia on various different levels and first and
foremost between the presidents of the two countries.” Moscow believes
that “the participants in the conflict must themselves find a mutually
acceptable solution to the conflict”. “Russia is ready to offer them
its most active assistance in this matter, both on a bilateral basis
and in its role as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, and to act as a
guarantor for the agreement that is reached,” the diplomat said.
During the talks in Baku particular attention will be paid “to
agreeing future steps for increasing the effectiveness of cooperation
in combating terrorism”. The main item on the agenda will be
“increasing the level of economic cooperation in the fuel and energy
sector”. The ministers will touch upon the problems of the Caspian Sea
and exchange opinions on “the potential for holding a second Caspian
summit”.
Also under discussion will be “issues linked to the development of the
regional and international situation, strengthening the central role
played by the UN, increasing cooperation within the CIS and ways to
increase cooperation between the Russian and Azeri foreign ministries
in the Caucasus and on the world stage and the coordination of their
activities within international organizations”.
“In recent years relations with Azerbaijan have taken on the
characteristics of a strategic partnership and have shown positive
trends,” Yakovenko said. “It is symbolic,” he noted, “that Sergey
Lavrov’s first official visit to Baku is taking place at the start of
2005, which has been declared the Year of Azerbaijan in Russia.”

CIS REPRESENTATIVES WILL HOLD COLLECTIVE DISCUSSION OF REFORMS IN
ORGANIZATION
YEREVAN, JANUARY 29. ARMINFO. The first collective discussion of
possible parameters of reforming the CIS will be held on Jan 31 in
Moscow. Press Secretary of Byelorussian Foreign Ministry Andrey
Savinikh said at a briefing in Moscow, Russian Mass Media
reports. Savinikh says that discussion will be held at a multilateral
meeting of deputy ministers of the Commonwealth. The stages of
elaboration of proposals on the reforms are supposed to ne determine
at experts’ level. After the work is completed, projects of relevant
documents will be submitted for consideration of the Council of
Foreign Minister at March 18 session in Minsk.
In particular, the meeting-participants will discuss formation of
permanently operating Coordination Conference of the Heads of CIS Law
Enforcement Departments attached to the Council of CIS Leaders as part
of the Coordination Council of Prosecutor Generals, the Council of
Interior Ministers, the Council of the Head of Security Bodies and
Special Services, the Council of Frontier troop Commanders, the
Coordination Council of Taxation Services, the Council of Customs
Services. To increase the counter-terrorist and anti-drug potential of
CIS signatories, coordination and complementarity of measures taken by
anti-terrorist structures of CIS with other regional organizations. A
proposal on establishment on an Information Forecasting Center on the
basis of International Statistical Committee will be considered.
The meeting-participants are supposed to consider inventory of CIS
branch cooperation bodies (over 80) as well as CIS contractual basis
to cancel the agreements and treaties which are no longer urgent. They
will exchange opinions on possibilities of activation of CIS
cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, in particular, though signing
of versatile agreement on establishment of a single humanitarian
space. In this aspect, proposals on establishment of a Council for
Humanitarian Cooperation through amalgamation of the existing Council
on Culture, Science, Education, Public Health etc.., as well as
proposal on foundation of the Forum of Creative Intelligence.

TURKISH GENERAL’S WORDS PROVE TURKEY’S BELLIGERENT STANCE
Azg/arm
29 Jan 05
Turkish Genera’s statement that Turkish troops in Cyprus will not be
withdrawn until a final settlement is found to the island’s division
has caused another setback to any peace effort this year.
Land Forces commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, the No 2 in Turkey’s
military powerful Genera! Staff, made the remarks during a meeting
with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.
“Without a definite and permanent agreement, not a single soldier will
leave from here Buyukanit said. Denktash expressed full satisfaction
with the General’s stand.
As Reuter points out, pulling back some of the 35.000 troops Turkey
keeps in the northern third of Cyprus is seen as a goodwill gesture to
revive a UN peace process to reunite the island before Turkey begins
European Union accession talks in October.
The Associated Press notes that Turkey is under increasing pressure to
end the island’s partition as it advances its own bid to loin the EU.
The Turkish military commander added during a troop inspection “We
desired that a lasting peace should be achieved, but what Kind of
permanency is also very important. What looks permanent today could
change tomorrow”.
The Cyprus government reacted immediately. Spokesman Kypros
Chrysostomides said the views expressed by the top Turkish General
confirmed, once again Ankara’s intransigent stand, and its Insistence
on occupying illegal part of Cyprus, now European territory.
“The General’s statement is a provocative answer to all those who have
suggested, either in private or publicly, that Turkey should make
goodwill gestures in order to promote the search for a Cyprus
settlement. These suggestions usually referred to the withdrawal of
troops, something that would facilitate a Cyprus settlement”, the
spokesman said.
The statement showed how wrong ware all those who believed that there
has been a change in Turkish policy, he noted.
Defense minister Koulis Mawomcolas said Buyukanit’s remarks showed
Turkey’s real intensions, He said Turkey’s military establishment
remained defiant of political moves to put the country in the EU and
handled matters concerning neighboring countries in an absurd,
third-world manner that did not promotegood neighborly relations.
Chrysostomides said the Cyprus government had taken “a series of
practical moves” to help the creation of a good climate of
understanding and cooperation leading to the resumption of peace
talks.
These Included the agreement to grant EU funds to the Turkish
Cypriots, the green line trade regulations and, perhaps more
importantly, President Papadopoulos’ decision not to veto the opening
of accession talks between the BU and Turkey.
Some reports from Ankara suggest that General Buyukanit’s statement
reflected a sharp divergence of views between the military
establishment and Prime minister Tayyip Erdogan. Some hard-line
Turkish diplomats also side with the military,
Erdogan and his team are keen to undertake a new diplomatic campaign
in order to promote a Cyprus settlement, anxious, to avoid a possible
Cyprus veto to the start of EU accession negotiations.
The same reports say the Greek Cypriot side will insist on a Turkish
troop pullout, before agreeing to a new round of peace talks.
The EU agreed in December to start entry talks with Turkey on October
3, but Greek Cypriots have the right to veto such negotiations if no
settlement is reached.
Brussels expects Turkey to expand its protocol on customs union with
the EU to include the ten new members, thus giving tacit recognition
to Cyprus. Erdogan’s pro-EU government has promised to work for a
settlement this year, but no concrete steps have been taken and Ankara
still refuses to recognize the Cyprus Republic.

DELEGATION HEADED BY AGHVAN VARDANIAN VISITS “ALIK” ESTABLISHMENT OF
TEHRAN
YEREVAN, January 27 (Noyan Tapan). The tax bodies provided tax
revenues of 142 bln drams (about 2 bln, 858 mln dollars) instead of
expected 138.4 bln drams. According to the press service of the State
Tax Service attached to the RA government, 9.4 bln drams have already
been collected out of expected 10.7 bln drams as of January 26. It was
mentioned that the planned index will be completely fulfilled till the
end of the year. In 2005, the State Tax Service should provide tax
revenues of 167 bln drams, and it is expected they will be provided
due to the toughening of the administration and the reduction of the
shadow sector of the economy.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 28 2005
PACE to mull execution of its resolution on Garabagh

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Political
Committee will mull the mechanism for executing its January 25
resolution on Upper Garabagh on Friday.
The PACE rapporteur on the Garabagh conflict David Atkinson says the
Committee should request Azerbaijan to start negotiating with the
communities of Upper Garabagh. He said that since the PACE resolution
was passed, Baku will now intensify its relations with these
communities and that relevant meetings may be held in Strasbourg.
The rapporteur said he was not aware of any dates of such meetings
but pointed out that the dialogue should begin with no
pre-conditions.*

OSCE MISSION TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN TODAY
YEREVAN, JANUARY 29. ARMINFO. The OSCE mission for investigating into
the facts of territorial settlement are arriving in Yerevan today.
The Finnish, Italian, Swedish and German experts led by German FM
official Emilia Margaret Haber are to visit 7 districts around Nagorny
Karabakh. No Azeris will accompany the mission during their 8-10 day
trip. The experts are to make a report and to present it to the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs. If need be the latter will make a statement on
the facts revealed. Sunday the mission are going to Stepanakert to
start their trip therefrom.

Karabakh leader backs package option for conflict settlement
Arminfo
28 Jan 05
YEREVAN
No issue can be resolved without the people and authorities of
Nagornyy Karabakh, the president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic,
Arkadiy Gukasyan, has told journalists in Yerevan.
Asked about different options for the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict, the president recalled that the NKR authorities have
repeatedly made statements that the stage-by-stage approach is
illogical since “it is not clear what awaits us in the future”. “We
have always supported the package option, although we do not rule out
that some issues can be resolved stage by stage – but only some
issues,” the president pointed out.
As for the initiative on “the stage-by-stage package”, Gukasyan
stressed that this is a very abstract idea and “it is at the
negotiating table that we must find out what it means”. “We should not
rule anything out beforehand, but we must understand that if there are
decisions that contradict our interests, they will be unacceptable to
us,” the president pointed out.
Asked whether it is possible that this initiative implies first of all
the clarification of Nagornyy Karabakh’s status, the president pointed
out that this would be the most logical approach.
Gukasyan stressed that it is necessary to start from the causes, not
the consequences of the conflict, since the conflict occurred when
there were neither refugees, nor “occupied territories”, he
recalled. “Having solved the issue of the status, we will have
simplified the settlement of the remaining issues”, the president
pointed out.
The president also pointed out that Azerbaijan’s position has lately
become tougher and more illogical. The reason is that the new
Azerbaijani leader probably thinks that one can get everything with
smaller concessions or without any concessions at all, the president
pointed out. This is Azerbaijan’s approach – to get everything without
ceding anything, Gukasyan pointed out.
As for the reports of the Azerbaijani side about shootouts, the
president said that unfortunately, the shootouts are frequent
enough. “As a rule, it is the Azerbaijani side that violates the
cease-fire agreement. But the talk is about local shootouts. There are
no active hostilities, no heavy artillery is being used and nothing
serious is happening on the border,” Gukasyan stressed.

Azerbaijan to adhere to independent policy if USA attacks Iran – aide
Ekspress, Baku
29 Jan 05
Azerbaijan will adhere to its independent policy if the USA invades
Iran, Azerbaijani presidential aide Novruz Mammadov has said. In his
interview with Ekspress newspaper, Mammadov said that Azerbaijan gives
priority to neighbourly relations with Iran. Azerbaijan and Iran have
historic religious and cultural relations, Iran supports Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and economic cooperation with Iran is of benefit
to Azerbaijan, he said. Given the situation of the Azerbaijani exclave
of Naxcivan, cooperation with Iran is very important to us, Mammadov
added, praising the Azerbaijani president’s recent visit to Tehran.
The following is an excerpt from Alakbar Raufoglu’s report by
Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on 29 January headlined “If the USA
invades Iran” and subheaded “Novruz Mammadov: ‘Azerbaijan will give
priority to neighbourly relations'”. Subheadings have been inserted
editorially:
“If the USA takes action against Iran, Azerbaijan will adhere to its
independent policy,” the head of the foreign relations department of
the Azerbaijani Presidential Executive Staff, Novruz Mammadov, told
Ekspress newspaper yesterday. Baku’s approach to relations with Tehran
is based only on neighbourliness, and any ideological or other
elements are ruled out, he said.
Relations with Iran beneficial
Mammadov A number of factors determine the high-level development of
Azerbaijan’s relations with Iran. First, there are ancient historical,
religious, cultural and other links between our states and peoples.
Second, Iran has always supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,
demonstrating its unequivocal position on the Karabakh conflict.
Third, our relations are beneficial economically, i.e. Iran and
Azerbaijan are close to each other and there is no need to bring
equipment from afar or engage in any other activities. In addition,
given the situation of the Naxcivan Autonomous Republic Azerbaijani
exclave , Iranian aid is very important for us.
Finally, we maintain relations with Iran simply as two states because
we are their neighbours, have a very long border and there are no
ideological or other elements in our relations. At the same time, we
have to use Iran’s opportunities for Azerbaijan’s state and national
interests in a positive sense. From this viewpoint, one can speak
highly about the Azerbaijani president’s recent visit to Iran. The
main issue that characterizes our relations is that documents which we
have signed are implemented in a short time. The attitude to the
Azerbaijani president both in Tehran and Tabriz demonstrates that this
country is very interested in expanding and intensifying its relations
with us, and we realize this. In addition, we have an interest of this
kind, too.
Visa regime
Correspondent Tehran proposes repealing the visa regime between the
two countries. How is this issue being resolved?
Mammadov All issues are first examined by experts to learn their
positive and negative sides both for Iran and Azerbaijan. The visa
regime is about to be examined now. We have to bear in mind that
Azerbaijan is a young state and its geopolitical and geographic
situation is complicated. Our decisions have to be appropriate to
this. Speaking about the complicated situation, I mean the border
because at different times there have been various circles that used
Azerbaijan as a transit route. Given this, the aforesaid issue should
be thoroughly examined to make a correct decision.
A simplified visa regime between the countries is currently operating
within 45 km on both sides of the border and this is normal because
Azerbaijan’s territory is not very large. Those who want to travel
beyond these 45 km can apply for a visa and there are no restrictions
in this regard. Our general consulate has already opened in Tabriz and
it is not very difficult to get a visa.
Defence minister’s visit linked to border problems
Correspondent During his recent visit to Baku, Iranian Minister of
Defence and Armed Forces Logistics Ali Shamkhani invited Azerbaijani
Defence Minister Safar Abiyev to Tehran. Is any agreement expected
between Iran and Azerbaijan in this strategic sphere in the near
future?
Mammadov In fact, visits of this kind are mainly connected with
security issues between the two countries, i.e. guaranteeing the
security of our borders means guaranteeing the security of our
country. The issues discussed in the talks with Shamkhani are mostly
of this nature.
Correspondent The US leadership announced again its plans with regard
to Tehran in the run-up to the Azerbaijani president’s visit to
Iran. Some people describe this as Washington’s specific attitude to
Baku-Tehran relations.
Mammadov This is not a correct position. In any case, the US
president, the Department of State and the National Security Council
are very well aware of Azerbaijan’s location and its neighbours. The
establishment of good relations with the neighbouring states is a
priority in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Second, if this is viewed as
a message, in the run-up to the Azerbaijani president’s visit to Iran,
President Bush sent a message on the occasion of Id al-Adha and
stressed his interest in developing friendly relations with
Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is a member of the anti-terror coalition
Correspondent Generally speaking, has Azerbaijan signed any agreement
on the use of Azerbaijan’s air space, territorial waters and territory
within the framework of the anti-terror coalition?
Mammadov There is no such official agreement even between the USA and
Britain. We are simply a member of the anti-terror coalition and have
declared this ourselves. We had a verbal agreement on the Afghanistan
issue.
Passage omitted: about Azerbaijan’s involvement in the fight on terror
in Afghanistan
Correspondent In any case, there was a verbal agreement. If the USA
starts military operations against Iran, which it has described as
part of the “axis of evil”, what position will Azerbaijan take?
Mammadov First, no US invasion of Iran, as was the case with Iraq, is
on the agenda at the moment. For our part, we give priority to
neighbourly relations in such cases, i.e. we adhere to our independent
policy during operations of this kind.
Passage omitted: about Iran’s policy on Armenia; talks on the Karabakh
conflict

Saturday, January 29, 2005
Las Vegas Review-Journal
FREED FROM IMMIGRATION CUSTODY: `I’m still in shock’
Federal agents quietly bring home two Henderson teens who faced deportation
By LISA KIM BACH
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Emma Sarkisian cries as she talks on the phone Friday while sisters Mariam
and Patricia hug at the family’s Tropicana Pizza parlor in Henderson. U.S.
immigration officials returned Emma and Mariam to Southern Nevada from a Los
Angeles detention facility.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.
Goar Sarkisian kisses her niece Emma as family members celebrate the return
of Emma and sister Mariam on Friday in Henderson.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.
Immigration officials handled the Friday release of two Las Vegas teenagers
reprieved from deportation to the Republic of Armenia as a stealth
operation.
While attorneys for Emma Sarkisian, 18, and Mariam Sarkisian, 17, waited for
the girls at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services building at noon,
detention officers secretly dropped them off behind the family’s Tropicana
Pizza parlor in Henderson, where they were left alone.
Attorney Troy Baker said it was an attempt to avoid more publicity on a case
that’s garnered broad-based community and media attention.
The manner of their release didn’t trouble the girls, who said they’ve been
desperate to come home ever since they were taken into federal custody two
weeks ago and sent to a Los Angeles detention center to wait out the
deportation process.
“You have no idea what it was like,” said Emma, who was surrounded by a
welcoming family soon after she called to tell them where she was. “Every
day, it just got harder. If I hadn’t gotten out, I would have had a nervous
breakdown.”
The two girls, born in Armenia when it was part of the former Soviet Union
and raised in the United States, discovered in July that they were illegal
after trying to obtain documentation for their licenses to drive.
Until then, they were under the mistaken belief that they, like their
father, had successfully obtained legal residency status. The girls’
residency applications had been received and accepted by the U.S. Department
of Justice in 1997, but were voided when Rouben Sarkisian divorced his
American wife. The three emigrated from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Sarkisian, who is legal and is pursuing U.S. citizenship, said immigration
officials did not inform him of his daughters’ change in status. When the
error was discovered, the girls were placed on a fast track to deportation,
headed for a country where they don’t speak the language and have no
resources for support. They would have left behind their father and three
U.S.-born younger sisters.
That process came to an abrupt halt Thursday night, after Secretary of
Homeland Security Tom Ridge intervened at the request of U.S. Sen. Harry
Reid, D-Nev., and deferred action on the case against the girls.
“Senator Reid is thrilled that the girls got to go home,” said Reid’s
spokeswoman Tessa Hafen. “We hope this works out for the best for them.”
Rouben Sarkisian opened the pizza parlor early Friday and staged a
homecoming party for his girls, complete with singing, balloons, flowers and
their favorite kinds of pizza. Emma, the younger sisters said, favors
pineapple and ham. Mariam, they laughed, eats everything. Sarkisian bustled
proudly among his children, repeatedly laying a hand on Emma’s arm or
touching Mariam’s hair as he passed by them, partly to reassure himself that
they were really home.
“It’s wonderful,” Sarkisian said, laying his hand on his heart. “I am so
happy.”
Mariam Sarkisian, a senior at Palo Verde High School, joyfully hugged her
sisters and clowned around with them, doing her best imitation of “American
Idol” stars, a routine that won her an audience among the Los Angeles
detention officers. Emma, who was overtaken with bouts of tears as she
watched, said her sister’s zany performances helped break the ice while they
were among strangers in Los Angeles.
“We went from being detainees to being Emma and Mariam,” Emma said. “One
officer, who was Armenian, asked me if she was like this all the time. I had
to tell him yes.”
Both girls said they believe they were treated fairly while imprisoned, but
painted a dismal picture of life in a detention center. Guards woke them at
6:30 a.m., when they were taken out of lockdown in a hotel room to the
detention center cells. They spent 11 to 13 hours a day sitting on metal
benches or standing around with other women and children detainees.
“I’m still in shock,” Mariam said. “It’s like it was all a nightmare, and I
just woke up.”
The worst part, Emma said, was the lack of access to any kind of
information. They woke up each day not knowing if they would be deported.
Often, guards would tell them they were being deported that day. Twice,
authorities tried to place them on a plane, only to be stopped by the
intervention of defense lawyers.
“Nobody will tell you anything,” Emma said. “We couldn’t find out anything.
You just had to try not to think about it.”
The sisters said they clung to each other, becoming so dependent that when
Emma was taken briefly to see a doctor, Mariam nearly lost it.
“When I came back, she was talking on the phone to nobody,” Emma said.
The comfort they derived from each other was something U.S. Magistrate Judge
Robert Johnston sought to preserve on Thursday, when he had to rule against
an order of release that would have freed the girls until their status is
resolved.
Johnston directed immigration attorneys to make sure the girls were kept
together as much as possible and directed them to ensure the family had
access to the girls. Rouben Sarkisian was not told for more than week where
his daughters were detained.
Johnston’s ruling was a mental blow to both girls, and they realize that
they would still be in detention if some of the nation’s most highly placed
government officials hadn’t come to their aid.
Both Mariam and Emma said they will express their thanks to Reid as soon as
they’re eligible to vote. And they said they were surprised and grateful to
all the people who championed their cause.
“I was shocked that people would come together to help me, someone they
don’t even know,” Mariam said. “It’s amazing.”
The girls are still technically illegal, and will have to regularly check in
with immigration officials. But the deferment means that the father will be
given time to obtain citizenship. Once he has that, he can sponsor both his
daughters for legal residency.
“I’m going to help him study,” Emma said. “I don’t want to ever go through
this again.”

News-Star.com
Story last updated at 1:48 a.m. Saturday, January 29, 2005
Emmanuel to observe service of Candlemas
On Wednesday evening, Emmanuel Episcopal Church will celebrate Candlemas, a
worship experience that also will honor the feast day of Saint Blaise. The
service begins at 6 p.m. at the church, Broadway and Highland in Shawnee,
and a light meal will be served at 5:30 p.m.
Candlemas will feature the Order for Evening with Holy Eucharist, and it is
a candlelight service marking the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple.
The story is from Luke 2, where light is an important theme because Jesus is
acknowledged as the light that will enlighten the Gentiles. The Feast of the
Presentation relates to a requirement of Jewish law that a firstborn child
had to be “bought back” from God, to whom it automatically belongs as
firstborn. In the temple, St. Simeon and St. Anna the Prophetess encounter
Jesus and Mary and bless them, acknowledge Jesus as Messiah, and warn Mary
that Jesus will be a sign of contradiction for humanity and that a sword
will pierce her Sacred Heart.
Wednesday’s service also will mark the Feb. 3 feast day of Saint Blaise, who
is considered the patron saint of throats for saving someone from choking.
The Blessing of the Throats will conclude the service with a prayer of
health for each person. Blaise was the bishop of the diocese of Sebaste in
Armenia, and is said to have miraculously saved the life of a young child
who was choking on a fish bone. Hence, his intercessions have been sought
for the sick, especially those with throat trouble. He is one of the 14
Auxiliary Saints (commonly called the Fourteen Holy Helpers) who were
venerated for the efficacy of their prayers on behalf of human necessities.
Blaise was martyred in the fourth century C.E.
Visitors are always welcome at Emmanuel. For more information about the
church’s services and activities, call the office at 273-1374 or go online
to
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress