Category: News

The Boston Globe
November 4, 2004
ARMENIAN OFFICIAL TO SPEAK HERE
A top adviser to the president of Armenia will talk with
Watertown’s Armenian-American community Nov. 12 about the country’s
latest efforts to control corruption. Bagrat Yesayan, who chairs
Armenia’s State Commission on the Monitoring of Anti-Corruption
Strategy Implementation, was appointed in September 2003 to create a
plan to combat corruption, particularly after parliamentary elections
last year. Yesayan is working with the Council of Europe’s Group of
States Against Corruption, which will monitor the campaign’s
effectiveness in January. The free talk will be held at the Armenian
Cultural and Educational Center, 47 Nichols Ave., beginning at 8 p.m.
– Christina Pazzanese

ARKA News Agency
Nov 5 2004
RA President and NATO Secretary general discuss Armenia-NATO
relations
Armenian Deputy Energy Minister Artak Davtyan discharged from post
held
Carlos Petrosian released from the position of the head of RA
National Security Service
Armenian Deputy Culture and Youth Affairs Minister awarded medal for
responsible parental care
Inter-university games `What? Where? When’ to be opened today in
Russian-Armenian University in Yerevan today
Meeting of Heads of Armenian, Georgian and Azeri Parliaments takes
place in Versailles Palace
A new book `Vandalism’ by a famous Kharabakh historian Shahen
Lazarian published recently
16 armenian investigators undergo training courses in Armenia
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT AND NATO SECRETARY GENERAL DISCUSS ARMENIA-NATO
RELATIONS
YEREVAN, November 5. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian and NATO
Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer discussed Armenia-Nato
relations. Kocharian stressed the readiness to deepen relations with
NATO and expressed confidence that given visit will become additional
stimulus for development of bilateral relations. Kocharian said:
`Armenia has representative in NATO and we’ll try to be more active
in the programs’.
The parties also discussed Karabakh settlement. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN DEPUTY ENERGY MINISTER ARTAK DAVTYAN DISCHARGED FROM POST
HELD
YEREVAN, November 5. /ARKA/ By decree of the Armenian PM Andranik
Margarian of November 05 2004, Armenian Deputy Energy Minister Artak
advtyan discharged from the post held, as Armenian Government Public
and Press Relations Departments told ARKA. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
CARLOS PETROSIAN RELEASED FROM THE POSITION OF THE HEAD OF RA
NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE
YEREVAN, November 5. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian signed
decrease on release of Carlos Petrosian from the position of the head
of RA National Security Service, RA President’s press office told
ARKA. Petrosian was released from the position on the base of his own
petition.
Carlos Petrosian was born in 1951 in Gomadzor Village of Sevan Region
of Armenia. Graduated from Faculty of Law on Yerevan State
University. In 1976-1988 has take different positions in the system
of internal affairs. In 1983-1993 – Petrosian was the head of 2nd
investigation department of MIA. In 1996 has taken positions of the
head of 6th and 4th Departments of Ministry of National Security.
Since 1997 he has take the position of the head of Chief
Investigation Department of MIA. In 1999 was appointed the Minister
of Internal Affairs and after reorganization of the ministry to the
National Security Service in 2002 headed it. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN DEPUTY CULTURE AND YOUTH AFFAIRS MINISTER AWARDED MEDAL FOR
RESPONSIBLE PARENTAL CARE
YEREVAN, November 05. /ARKA/. Armenian Deputy Culture and Youth
Affairs Minister Lilit Asatryan was awarded medal `For Responsible
Parental Care’. This medal was delivered to her by Ukrainian Minister
of Family, Children and Youth Affairs Rostislav Darpushko during the
press conference summarizing the 12th meeting of the International
Council of Heads of CIS State Institutions for Youth Affairs.
Drapushko also delivered a medal for `For Active Publuc Activity’ to
his Kyrgyz colleague Bakyt Jekshenov.
The Council was formed on the basis of the agreement between the
Heads of State Structures on Youth Affairs of CIS signed in Moscow on
December 21-23, 1997. Sessions of the Council are held twice a year.
The main directions of the activity of the Council are to implement
joint programs and carry out joint arrangements, develop and
implement short-term and perspective projects, as well as to study
problems and experience jointly, exchange information in the sphere
of youth affairs. Delegations from Russia, the Ukraine, Moldova,
Tajikistan, Belarus and Georgia take part in the current session of
the Council in Yerevan. A.H.–0–
*********************************************************************
INTER-UNIVERSITY GAMES `WHAT? WHERE? WHEN’ TO BE OPENED TODAY IN
RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN UNIVERSITY IN YEREVAN TODAY
YEREVAN, November 05. /ARKA/. Inter-university games `What? Where?
When’ to be opened today in Russian-Armenian (Slavic)University (RAU)
in Yerevan today. As RAU told ARKA, leading universities of Yerevan,
Gyumri, Vanadzor, Ijevan and Gavar will participate in the games.
Also on November 06, the first student brain-ring championship will
be held in the University.
The press release mentions that the organizers have concluded
exclusive agreement with TV company `Igra’. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
MEETING OF HEADS OF ARMENIAN, GEORGIAN AND AZERI PARLIAMENTS TAKES
PLACE IN VERSAILLES PALACE
YEREVAN, November 5. /ARKA/. The meeting of Heads of Armenian,
Georgian and Azeri Parliaments takes place in Versailles Palace –
Arthur Baghdasaryan, Nino Burjanadze and Murtuz Alaskerov. According
to the Public Relations Department of RA NA, the participants
discussed issues of tourism development and assessment of cultural
heritage at the meeting held under the patronage of Christian
Poncelet, the President of French Senate. Opening the meeting,
Poncelet noted the importance of regular meetings of the Presidents
of Parliaments of the three countries from the point of view of
Parliamentary diplomacy development. He confirmed the readiness of
French Senate to assist the discussions and find solutions of the
problems accumulated in South Caucasus.
In his turn, the Speaker of RA Parliament noted the importance of
similar discussions and as a concrete step suggested to establish a
special working group including representatives of the four
countries, which will deal with the mentioned issues and during the
intervals between the meetings of the Speakers of Parliaments.
According to Baghdasaryan, tourism is a priority in economy, and a
concept and state program of development is adopted.
Touching upon the second issue of the agenda, the Head of Armenian
Parliament refuted the accusations of Azeri party concerning the
elimination of cultural monuments on `occupied’ territories and said
that there are thousands of facts, which prove the opposite, in
particular the destruction of Armenian monuments on Turkish and Azeri
territories. He also noted the necessity for ensuring regional
development especially that the South Caucasus region is of both
political and trade and economic interest to the world only as a
single system and political disputes should not hamper the
cooperation in various areas. L.V – 0–
*********************************************************************
A NEW BOOK `VANDALISM’ BY A FAMOUS KHARABAKH HISTORIAN SHAHEN
MKRTCHYAN PUBLISHED RECENTLY
STEPANAKERT, November 5. /ARKA/. A new book `Vandalism’ by a famous
Kharabakh historian Shahen Lazarian has been published recently.
According to ARKA’s reporter in Stepanakert, the book discusses the
acts of vandalism by Azerbaijani side toward over 20 000 Armenian
monuments. The author begins the book from the historiography of 60s
of the last century, when struggle against the policy pursued by Baku
began.
The book will be translated into English. The only goal of the book
is to keep aware the world community about the evils committed on the
part of Azerbaijan. The book was published at the expense of an
Armenian from Argentina Hovsep Hovsepyan and the Institute-Museum for
the Armenian Genocide of RA National Academy of Sciences. A.H. -0–
*********************************************************************
16 ARMENIAN INVESTIGATORS UNDERGO TRAINING COURSES IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, November 5. /ARKA/. 16 Armenian investigators underwent
training courses in Armenian in frames of US assistance to Armenian
law-enforcement bodies. As the US Embassy in Armenia told ARKA
agency, the training, financed by the Office on legal Issues and
International Drug Fighting of US Embassy in Armenia, was organized
by two high-ranking investigators of Glendale police. During the
training, a wide range of issues, connected with police work, in
particular, the guarding and photographing of the locus delicti and
organization of further activities, finding and collection of
evidence, dactyloscopy, investigation of murders and other death
cases.
A day before, the Deputy US Ambassador to Armenia Anthony Godfrin
presented the participants of trainings with certificates on
completion of trainings. L.V. – 0–

Canberra Times (Australia)
November 7, 2004 Sunday Final Edition
Drugs, violence enliven chess tourney
by Lucy Gibson
DRUG scandals, corruption and violence might have tainted the image
of one of the world’s most respected pastimes, but they have made
fascinating reading for followers of The Canberra Times chess
column.Columnist Ian Rogers reported from the 36th Olympiad in Spain
that Canberra chess identity Shaun Press faced a one-year ban from
the game after refusing a drugs test.Press, representing Papua New
Guinea, his country of birth, offered to list to the international
chess federation FIDE, any medications he was taking, but refused to
give a urine sample on the grounds that he had not been presented
with any evidence to say he was suspected of taking an illegal
substance.Testers dismissed Press, but later called him back to read
the regulations to ensure he knew the consequences of his actions.At
a hearing on the final morning of the Olympiad, Press defended his
position, saying the drug tests had been conducted illegally and
thereforehe could not be found guilty of refusing an illegal drug
test.However, it was reported there was no discussion of whether he
was guilty or innocent, rather a debate on what penalty should be
imposed.The plot thickened when it was alleged one of the tribunal
had a personal interest in seeing Press stripped of the points he had
accumulated during the tournament.Surinam’s Dr Dewperkash Gajadin
lost to the lower-rated Press during the Olympiad. If Press had his
points annulled it would mean Dr Gajadin’s team would move ahead of
PNG. Dr Gajadin did not declare his interest and, rather than vote in
favour of a one-year ban, it is believed he cast the decisive vote
which resulted in Press losing all his points and PNG subsequently
dropping12 places in the final standings of the Olympiad.But the saga
didn’t stop there.On the morning of the final round the Israeli team
complained of an Internet betting plunge for Georgia to lose heavily
to medal favourites Armenia in the final round.Then Georgia dropped
its two top players and lost, so Armenia won the bronze medal. A few
moments later the Georgian Grandmaster was arrested and charged with
assault for head-butting a security guard.Bet you won’t miss the
column next week, will you?

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
November 7, 2004
AZERBAIGIAN: LEZIONI DI TOLLERANZA DA PAESE SCIITA / ANSA
DIVERSE RELIGIONI MA UNICO OBIETTIVO: LO SVILUPPO ECONOMICO
BAKU
(dell’inviato Alberto Zanconato).

(ANSA) – BAKU, 7 NOV – Un insolito Ramadan quello che si
celebra in questi giorni in Azerbaigian. Nonostante sia questo
un Paese musulmano – e l’unico oltre all’Iran quasi totalmente
sciita – l’impressione che si ricava da un giro per il centro di
Baku e’ quella di una citta’ laica. Pochissime le donne velate,
ristoranti e bar frequentati anche nelle ore diurne (quelle del
digiuno), vodka, vini georgiani e azeri serviti generosamente.

Eppure, assicurano molti abitanti della capitale, il digiuno
viene osservato da oltre meta’ della popolazione. Ma cio’ senza
ostentazioni, in un Paese dal governo laico dove i musulmani,
che sono il 93 per cento, i Cristiani ortodossi e gli ebrei,
ridotti a poche migliaia, coabitano senza tensioni reciproche.

Lo conferma l’ambasciatore italiano a Baku, Margherita
Costa. “Sono ottime – sottolinea la diplomatica – le relazioni
tra lo sceicco dei musulmani, Allahshukur Pasmazadeh, il
patriarca ortodosso Aleksandr, la guida spirituale degli ebrei
Semion Isiilov e il capo della comunita’ cattolica, il salesiano
Ian Kaplan”.

“E’ vero – dice Nargis, 25 anni, che lavora per l’ufficio
relazioni estere del Museo della Citta’ vecchia della capitale,
un gioiello di architettura medievale – molti giovani oggi si
rivolgono all’Islam, studiando con attenzione le fonti, alla
ricerca di radici che sembravano dimenticate. E forse a
digiunare per il Ramadan sono fino al 65 per cento degli azeri.
Ma questa e’ una libera scelta, non un’imposizione”.

La voglia di riscoprire queste radici sembra giustificata, se
si pensa che proprio dalle regioni azere, nel sedicesimo secolo,
nacque la dinastia dei Safavidi, fondata dallo Shah Ismail,
destinata a convertire alla religione sciita lo stesso Iran.

Ma anziche l’ ‘hejab’ l’abbigliamento islamico obbligatorio
per legge in Iran, alle donne di Baku piace di piu’ sfoggiare
nelle strade vestiti di marche italiane. Intanto la vodka scorre
nei bar del centro, nei negozi i salumi sono esposti in vetrina
con le sole avvertenze di ‘halal’ (permesso dall’Islam, cioe
non di carne suina) o ‘haram’ (proibito) e sulle bancarelle per
i turisti i cimeli dell’era sovietica fanno mostra di se
accanto ai ‘taspi’, rosari musulmani per la preghiera.

L’Azerbaigian e’ terra di antiche tradizioni religiose.
Queste lande, gia’ considerate il sito del biblico Giardino
dell’Eden, sono state meta di parte della diaspora ebraica,
hanno visto il passaggio del profeta Zarathustra e poi la
cristianizzazione, prima appunto dell’affermazione della Shia
islamica. Ma con il regime sovietico hanno anche testimoniato
una tra le piu’ crude repressioni anti-religiose. Negli anni ’30
furono abbattuti alcuni dei monumenti sciiti piu’ sacri, il
mausoleo di Bibi, sorella dell’ottavo Imam, e la cattedrale
Alexander Nevsky di Baku.

La moschea di Bibi e’ stata la prima ad essere ricostruita
nell’intera ex Unione Sovietica, negli anni ’90, e l’allora
presidente Gheidar Aliyev, padre dell’indipendenza e difensore
della laicita’ dello Stato, decise personalmente di finanziare
uno dei minareti.

L’Azerbaigian di oggi, ammesso dal 2001 nel Consiglio
d’Europa con l’obiettivo di entrare un giorno nell’Unione
europea e nella Nato, si presenta come un Paese non toccato
dalle tensioni religiose che si fanno drammaticamente sentire ai
confini caucasici e, a sud, in Iraq e Medio oriente. Anche la
guerra con la cristiana Armenia dei primi anni ’90 per il
Nagorno Karabakh ebbe poco a che fare con la religione. Una
prova ne e’ il fatto che il grande vicino sciita, l’Iran, fu
accusato da Baku di sostenere proprio le truppe di Erevan.
Nonostante le rassicurazioni del presidente iraniano Mohammad
Khatami, il quale visitando quest’anno Baku ha detto che Teheran
considera “la sicurezza dell’Azerbaigian importante tanto
quanto la propria”, le relazioni non sono migliorate di molto.
A renderle ostili e’ la disputa ancora aperta per la spartizione
delle acque del Caspio (e il petrolio sotto il fondo di questo
mare) a 13 anni dalla caduta dell’Urss, oltre ai timori di
Teheran – condivisi dalla Russia – per un possibile arrivo di
truppe americane nel vicino Paese.

Tra le prime preoccupazioni del presidente Ilham Aliyev –
succeduto al padre Gheidar nelle elezioni dell’ottobre 2003 – e
quella di prevenire attriti religiosi che possano mettere a
rischio il rilancio dell’economia resa possibile dal petrolio. E
finora c’e riuscito. Tensioni politiche vi sono. Lo dimostrano
le condanne fino a cinque anni di reclusione inflitte nei giorni
scorsi a sette leader dell’opposizione per la loro
partecipazione, lo scorso anno, a manifestazioni di protesta per
l’elezione del nuovo presidente, che provocarono un morto e
quasi 200 feriti. E cio’ dopo che osservatori occidentali
avevano messo in dubbio la regolarita’ della consultazione.
Ma la religione, almeno per ora, resta fuori da tutto questo.
(ANSA).
From: Baghdasarian

Azeri speaker pleased with results of France meeting with Armenian
counterpart
ANS TV, Baku
7 Nov 04

[Presenter] The heads of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Georgian
parliaments have agreed to set up a working group to study tourism
opportunities and the present situation of historical and cultural
monuments in these countries during their meeting in Versailles
[France].
[Murtuz Alasgarov, chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament] I think
this event is rather important. Overall, our visit was at a very high
level. We stated our position, as we have done it before, that
Azerbaijan’s official stand is that we must liberate our occupied
territories and refugees must return home. Our objective in general
is to protect the territorial integrity of states in accordance with
international norms.
[Correspondent over video presumably of France] This is how Mr
Alasgarov briefly described the negotiations in France. He said that
it was proposed at the meeting of the speakers of all three countries
to set up a working group to boost tourism. The group which will
include five members from each of the three countries will examine
tourism opportunities in the South Caucasus countries and cultural and
historical monuments. The speaker said that the Azerbaijani delegation
supported this proposal because the establishment of the working group
did not contradict Baku’s interests.
[Alasgarov] We also have a lot of monuments in our occupied lands. I
think we will also have our say there [in the working group] as to
where and how many monuments have been destroyed and how many
historical monuments we have. The biggest is Azix Cave in the
territory of Fuzuli District, and its restoration and preservation are
extremely important for us. Generally, the restoration of all
national, cultural and historical monuments in Azerbaijan means the
preservation of our national heritage.
Holiday-making in Nagornyy Karabakh is that [changing tack], oh yes,
meaning Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan – if people travel there, we
will raise the issue of them travelling there with Azerbaijan’s
permission.
[Correspondent] Unlike the Strasbourg meeting of the speakers, this
time no proposal was made to set up a Caucasus parliament.
[Alasgarov] The speaker of the Armenian parliament had made such a
proposal at the meeting in Strasbourg. I said that as long as the
occupied [Azerbaijani] lands are not liberated, there can be no talk
about a Caucasus parliament. Of course, there is a need for a common
parliament of the Caucasus states, the South Caucasus republics, in
the future in order to achieve economic growth in the region and
develop relations. But since our lands are still under occupation,
there can be no talk about that.
[Correspondent] Murtuz Alasgarov said that the date for the next
trilateral meeting is still to be fixed. It was the third time that
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia had held a meeting in this format. One
may wonder that although the Azerbaijani and Armenian speakers are
negotiating at the highest level, Murtuz Alasgarov thinks it necessary
to hold discussions with Armenian parliamentarians, too, within the
framework of the 58th Rose-Roth seminar of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly. Mr Alasgarov explains his position in the following way.
[Alasgarov] I think that there is no need for objecting to the visit
by representatives of the [Armenian] parliament. They are not
servicemen. They are representatives elected by the people. Let them
come and we will have our say here as well. In any case, the purpose
of this seminar and event where NATO representatives and members will
be present is to raise the issue with NATO and see what kind of work
NATO can do to get our occupied lands liberated.
Ayaz Mirzayev and Emil Babaxanov for ANS.

Azeri envoy to India to focus on improving economic ties
ANS TV, Baku
7 Nov 04
[Presenter] Azerbaijan’s newly-appointed ambassador to India, Tamerlan
Qarayev, is expected to submit his credentials to the Indian president
today. Mr Qarayev said before his departure to India that he had
already resolved financial problems pertaining to the opening of the
embassy.
[Correspondent over video of scenes in India] Azerbaijan should
reconsider its relations with India. The reason is that bilateral
economic and commercial relations are at a very low
level. Azerbaijan’s newly-appointed ambassador to India, Tamerlan
Qarayev, says that it is possible to hope for relatively increased
cooperation after the opening of the embassy in that country.
[Tamerlan Qarayev speaking at a news conference] Our economic
relations are still not at the satisfactory level, and one of the main
tasks the [Azerbaijani] president has set us and the embassy is to
expand and deepen economic relations. As for relations, after the
embassy opens and starts operating there, we will try to maintain good
relations.
[Correspondent] Mr Qarayev also said that he had already been to India
once and had conducted consultations about the premises of the
embassy.
[Qarayev] After that, I returned and resolved some financial issues
here. I am now leaving and from now on, there are certain ideas to
rent an office and a residence in the future. Two of my employees have
already started working there. The remaining employees will go there
at the beginning of the next year.
[Correspondent] Unfortunately, Armenia opened its embassy in India
before Azerbaijan: it has had an embassy there for five years now. But
Qarayev thinks that the Azerbaijani lobby will become stronger with
the opening of the embassy there and work will be carried out at least
to make up lost ground.
[Passage omitted: repeating the same ideas]
Ayaz Mirzayev and Emil Babaxanov for ANS.

OBSERVERS CALL ON TO MOBILIZE DIPLOMATIC RESOURCES FOR NEUTRALIZATION
OF AZERBAIJAN’S INITIATIVES IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
YEREVAN, November 5 (Noyan Tapan). The November 5 seminar organized
by the Center for Development and Public Dialogue was dedicated to
discussion of the situation formed in CE in the issue of peace
settlement of Karabakh conflict. Arayik Margarian, Head of the CE
Department of RA Foreign Ministry, briefly represented the history of
discussion of Karabakh issue in CE. He touched upon the report made by
Terry Davis, former PACE reporter on Nagorno Karabakh issue.
Margarian declared that this report once more affirmed the anxiety of
the Armenian side about the fact that high-ranking officials or
organizations who aren’t aware of all the necessary details regarding
the issue aren’t able to make an objective document. As for David
Atkinson, the new PACE reporter, the Foreign Ministry representative
declared that Atkinson was among the few PACE deputies who displayed
interest to Karabakh settlement from the very start. Arayik Margarian
also mentioned that the Armenian side has always strived for making
the discussions on Karabakh issue in CE only of information character
in order that no structure competing with OSCE should be established
within the framework of CE. What, according to him, can’t be said
about Azerbaijan, which has always strived for establishment of
another format besides OSCE for Karabakh peace settlement. According
to Khachik Galstian, expert of the Media Model research center,
experience shows that the more structures are involved into discussion
of this or that problem the less effective the results of the
decisions are. He called on for mobilization of all diplomatic
resources of Armenia for neutralization of Azerbaijan’s initiatives in
international organizations.

Manila Times, Philippines
Nov 8 2004
DOUBLETAKE
Upholding the child’s dignity

By Eric F. Mallonga

TWO years ago, at the UN General Assembly Special Session on
Children, His Serene Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco formally
proposed the recognition of the most serious crimes against children
as crimes against humanity. The proposal had its roots in the
recommendation to the World Association Children’s Friends, or
Association Mondiale des Amis de L’ Enfance (Amade), by its
Philippine chapter. HRH The Princess of Hanover fully supported the
move so that highly organized criminal syndicates exploiting children
for commercial sex, slavery, bonded labor, organ harvesting, military
conscription, armed conflict and targeting children for military
objectives could be held criminally accountable before international
tribunals. With qualification of crimes against humanity, even
monarchs, presidents, and prime ministers cannot invoke sovereign
immunity from accountability for involvement in such abominable
crimes.
At the Makati Shangri-La Hotel colloquium held under joint
sponsorship of Amade-Philippines, Virlanie Foundation, and
Development Academy of the Philippines, UP Law Professor Harry Roque,
a Master of Laws cum laude, specialist in International Humanitarian
Law from the University of London, expounded on the necessity for a
progressive evolution of world humanitarian law. As stressed by
Roque, international crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against
aggression and crimes against humanity evolved because of the need to
proscribe conduct that denies dignity to human beings owing to their
basic humanity. Genocide, torture and slavery are international
crimes because they contravene basic standards by which human beings
should be treated under laws of humanity. The Amade proposal to
qualify the most heinous crimes against children as crimes against
humanity is consistent with the universal pattern that seeks to
uphold the dignity of human beings under all conditions, whether in
times of war or peace.
But simple recognition of these crimes within the international
sphere may remain a principle that eludes enforceability. The UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child may have radically provided for
the recognition of children’s rights but it remains an unenforceable
document because there is no recognized international tribunal
through which the rights of children can be adjudicated and sanctions
can be imposed upon the violators. Thus, the logical progression to
strengthen existing recognition of rights to protection of
defenseless children is the punishment of crimes through
international tribunals. However, the recognition of international
tribunals is a fairly recent initiative.
According to Roque, the League of Nations, at the end of the First
World War, tried to convene an international tribunal to try grave
breaches of the laws and customs of warfare. Nations were aghast over
the use of weapons of mass destruction, which did not distinguish
between civilian and military targets as well as the deaths of more
than one million innocent Armenian civilians, mostly children, at the
hands of invading Turks. This original initiative did not succeed
because of a legal objection interposed by the United States.
Pursuant to their concept of legality, war crimes could only be
prosecuted if there is a domestic penal law defining war crimes.
Consequently, America also argued that such prosecutions could only
be held before domestic judicial tribunals. The same problem arose at
the end of the Second World War. Despite existence of nonderogable
treaties protecting civilians and prohibiting warfare that produce
superfluous injuries or unnecessary sufferings, 10 million civilians,
mostly Jews, died in Europe, and another seven million died
elsewhere, including Asia.
The Philippine Supreme Court, despite the objections of the
Americans, ruled in Yamashita v. Styler that since nonderogable
treaties have been proven grossly insufficient to implement norms of
International Humanitarian Law, the individual should, and could, now
be made criminally accountable for his criminal acts under customary
norms of public international law. The latter was sufficient legal
basis for prohibiting grave breaches thereof. General Yamashita, the
feared Tiger of Asia, was thus convicted for war crimes, including
instances committed in the province of Batangas where the Japanese
Imperial Army specifically targeted children. The Japanese Kempeitai
were known for their atrocious behavior, specifically for hurling
infants into the air and sticking their bayonets into the descending
bodies of the babies.
America, however, has remained recalcitrant. It rejects the Rome
Statute on the International Criminal Court. It refuses to recognize
that crimes against children are crimes against humanity. It rejects
the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It denounces any
submission to the United Nations on vital decisions that aspire only
to establish world peace and prosperity.
With such stance, innocent children in Iraq and Afghanistan will be
murdered with impunity, as thousands of innocent children were
similarly massacred by American troops at Pampanga, Samar, Bud Daho
and Bud Bagsak. With such recalcitrance, children born crippled at
former American military bases in Angeles and Olongapo cities will
continue to suffer and die, with impunity. Sadly, children will
remain collateral damage – without any real recourse for vindication of
their rights – in America’s `moral’ war.

Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 7 2004
Yerevan Mellows about Genocide Claim
It is reported that this year the Armenian government has not
included an article about the so-called genocide in the 2005 budget
draft that has been sent to Parliament.
According to the Armenian Arminfo news agency, the decision to
improve relations with Turkey, Georgia and Iran was included in the
draft of foreign policy priorities of the government. While the news
has not been officially confirmed, Ankara evaluated Armenia’s
omission of the so-called genocide article from the budget draft as a
positive step.
Diplomatic sources said that although this omission was important, it
would not be enough to normalize relations between the two countries.
There remain articles in Armenia’s constitution, which are against
Turkey’s territorial integrity. In the draft sent to the Parliament,
there were some expressions such as providing for the security of the
country, maintaining stability and democracy and providing a peaceful
and fair solution for the Nagharno Karabagh problem.
The Azerbaijani daily Express reported that Turkish and Armenian
diplomats would meet in Istanbul next week to discuss the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and
also how Yerevan’s policy about the so-called genocide would be
handled, but there was no official confirmation of the meeting.
Ankara indicates that Armenia should first take some steps to solve
the Karabagh problem.
In Armenia’s former budget drafts, there was an apparent policy about
the recognition of the so-called genocide by Turkey by other
countries. Commentators claim that the article about the ‘security of
the country’ was related with the genocide claims and that Yerevan
cannot give up its claims about genocide in the short term. In the
11th article of the Declaration of Armenian Independence it states,
‘Armenia will support activities to provide the international
recognition of genocide in Ottoman Turkey and West Armenia (East
Anatolia).’

Tacy Ltd., Israel
Nov 7 2004
ARMENIA CUT DIAMOND OUTPUT FALLS 25%
Armenia produced US$160 million worth of cut diamonds in the first
nine months of 2004, marking a decrease of some 25 percent as
compared to the same period of 2003, according to a spokesman for the
Trade and Economic Development Ministry of Armenia.
Sales of cut diamonds fell to US$157 million, while exports fell to
US$156 million.
The decreases are attributed to a drop in supplies of Russian rough
diamonds. Armenia imported just 100,000 carats of rough diamonds from
Russia in the nine months under an intergovernmental agreement that
provides a quota of 400,000 carats for 2004.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress