Category: News

OIC ministers back steps to end “occupation in Iraq”
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
17 Jun 04
subheadings as received
Istanbul, 16 June: Islamic countries have decided to assist each other
in their progress and reforms and announced that they would take steps
in putting an end to the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.
Istanbul declaration was issued at the end of the 31st Session of
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.
The declaration said: “We, as the OIC members, will assist each other
in our progress and reform, which should come from within.” Stating
that OIC members were sovereign nations who worked for political,
economic, social and cultural progress, the declaration noted that
they valued their freedom and the equality of their citizens. “We
all aim to strengthen the representative character and the democratic
practices of our governments,” it stated.
“The OIC, as an institution, will also develop ways and means for
supporting progress in a collective framework. In this context, we
welcome the concept of enlightened moderation,” Istanbul declaration
said.
It stressed that Islam countries were all determined to provide
contemporary education to our new generation.
CYPRUS
The declaration noted: “We commend the Turkish Cypriot people for
overwhelmingly endorsing the United Nations Settlement Plan, on
the unification of the island, based on a new bizonal partnership
of the two politically equal constituent states. We welcome and
support the report of the United Nations secretary-general of 28
May 2004, as well as the conclusions and recommendations contained
therein. We also support the good offices mission of the United
Nations secretary-general.”
“In view of the fundamentally changed circumstances in Cyprus following
the 24 April 2004 referenda, we decided to take steps in putting an
end to the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. In the same vein,
we look forward to similar action by the international community and
bodies,” it stated.
Meanwhile, it has been decided that the Second Meeting of the OIC-EU
Joint Forum would convene in Istanbul between 4 and 5 October 2004.
ARAB-ISRAEL CONFLICT
It stressed that OIC members were resolved to pursue the peaceful
settlement of all international issues and spend efforts to persuade
all parties concerned to act accordingly and noted, “we can on
all concerned to address the question of Palestine and the wider
Arab-Israeli conflict as a matter of urgent priority. The objective
is to achieve full statehood for Palestine living side by side with
Israel within secure and recognized boundaries.”
OIC members said that the settlement could only be the outcome of
direct negotiations between the two parties and noted that equally,
the Syrian and Lebanese tracks must be brought to their successful
conclusion on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.
“We have thus decided to support and closely monitor efforts towards
comprehensive peace and to declare that the successful outcome of these
efforts will be fully embraced by the OIC,” the declaration noted.
IRAQ
OIC members said that they supported the steps towards ending the
occupation in Iraq and they equally supported the process in which
the Iraqis would assume their sovereignty and stated: “We state
that this assumption of authority must be full. Also the political
transition towards the formation of an elected government must be
totally inclusive and transparent.”
“We welcome in this respect the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1546
by the United Nations Security Council which sets the framework for
this transition,” it stated.
OIC members condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to redouble
their efforts in fighting this international scourge.
“We will continue to support Afghanistan’s rebuilding process,” it
noted and said that the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir
should be fully respected and their will honoured in accordance with
international legitimacy.
The declaration stated that OIC members likewise supported the
resolution of the Azeri-Armenian conflict within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.

OIC foreign ministers’ meeting in Turkey issues joint communique
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
17 Jun 04
subheadings inserted editorially
Cyprus
Istanbul, 16 June: A decision was made at the 31st session of
the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers that [self-declared]
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would be represented
at the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) under the name of
“Turkish Cypriot State” as it was envisaged in the United Nations
Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan.
The joint communique of the 31st session of the Islamic Conference
of the Foreign Ministers, said: “The member countries decide that
the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus should continue to participate
in the work, activities and meetings of all OIC organs under the name
envisaged by the United Nations secretary-general’s settlement plan.”
“We acknowledge that a new situation has emerged in Cyprus following
the referenda on 24 April 2004 which necessitates a fresh and
comprehensive assessment of the Cyprus issue. We reaffirm the full
equality of the two parties in Cyprus as the principle enabling them
to live side-by-side in security, peace and harmony without the one
having the ability to govern, exploit, oppress or threaten the other,”
it said.
The joint communique noted: “We welcome the statement and calls made
by the United Nations secretary-general, international organization
and states, as well as decisions taken by various international
organizations for ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots;
and call upon the international community to take immediate concrete
steps to that end.”
“We urge the member states to strengthen effective solidarity with
the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus closely associating with them,
and with a view to helping them materially and politically to overcome
the inhuman isolation which has been imposed upon them, to increase
and expand their relations in all fields and in particular direct
transport, trade, tourism, culture, information, investment and sports
contacts,” it said.
The joint communique stressed: “We decide to actively support,
until the Cyprus problem in solved, the rightful claim of the Turkish
Muslim people of Cyprus for the right to be heard and represented in
all international fora on the basis of equality of the two parties
in Cyprus. We request the United Nations secretary-general to carry
out the necessary contacts with the Islamic Development Bank with
a view to seeking the ways and means of the latter’s assistance for
the development projects of the Turkish Cypriot side.”
The joint communique noted: “We decide to remain seized of the request
of the Turkish Cypriot side of Cyprus for full membership of the
OIC. We request the secretary-general to take all necessary measures
for the implementation of this resolution and to report thereon to
the 32nd session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.”
Greek Muslim rights
Referring to recent developments in Western Thrace, the joint
communique noted: “We condemn the judicial harassment of the elected
muftis of Xanthi Komotini, Mehmet Emin Aga, and Mr Ibrahim Serif. We
urge Greece to take all measures to respect the rights of the Turkish
Muslim Minority in Western Thrace and urgently recognize the elected
muftis of Xanthi and Komotini as the official muftis.”
Israel/Palestinians
The Islamic countries held Israel fully responsible for destroying
the Middle East peace process.
The joint communique of the 31st session of the Islamic Conference
of the Foreign Ministers in Istanbul, said: “We express our strong
condemnation of Israel’s persistent and mounting aggressions against
the holy places in the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the other
Palestinian cities, desecration of the holy places and violation of the
hall of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and aggressing people performing
prayer there. We also strongly condemn Israel’s illegal measures and
practices in the city of Al Quds Al-Sharif carried out in contradiction
with international resolution and laws with the purpose of Judaizing
the holy city and eradicating its Arab and Islamic character.”
“We reject the declaration made by US President George Bush during
the joint conference with the Israeli prime minister on 14 April
2004, and the US letter of guarantees to Israel which contained
dangerous concessions to Israel concerning the final settlement and
the mechanism of agreement thereon, which jeopardizes the national
rights of the Palestinian people,” it said.
The joint communique said: “We emphasize that the Israeli policies,
practices and expansionist designs threaten not only Arab states
and the peace process, but also the Islamic countries at large and
jeopardize international peace and security.”
“We hail the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their valiant
‘intifada’ (uprising) aimed at recovering their inalienable national
rights,” it stressed.
The OIC noted that it called for immediate lifting of the siege on
the Palestinian people and President Yasir Arafat of Palestine.
“We stress the need to implement the declaration adopted by the
Conference of the Contracting States Parties to the Geneva Convention
of 1949 adopted on 5 December 2001,” it said.
Condemning Israel for building the segregation wall, the OIC
called upon the Quartet to intensify efforts to achieve a just and
comprehensive peace in the Middle East in accordance with the road
map and the relevant agreements and resolutions.
“We strongly condemn Israel for its assassination of the symbols of
Palestinian national action, particularly the founder of the Islamic
Resistance Movement (Hamas) Shaykh Ahmad Yasin and Dr Rantisi,”
it said.
Emphasizing that the Islamic countries held Israel fully responsible
for destroying the Middle East peace process, the joint communique
stressed that Israel acted against the principle of the “land for
peace” and Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council 242
and 338.
Iraq
Member states of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) welcomed
establishment of an Interim Government in Iraq.
The joint communique issued after the 31st session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul strongly condemned the
inhuman practices committed against the Iraqi prisoners and detainees
in Abu Ghurayb prison and demanded that those responsible be put
on trial.
The joint communique welcomed the appointment of the president and
prime minister of the Republic of Iraq and the establishment of an
Interim Government as a beginning for sustained and urgent action to
end occupation and to establish a fully sovereign, free and democratic
Iraq and to define its political future and national options without
any interference whatsoever.
The joint communique demanded occupation forces in Iraq to comply
with International Humanitarian Law particularly the 1949 Geneva
Convention and stressed the need for the occupation forces to respect
the civil and religious liberties of the Iraqi people and preserve
their cultural, religious and historical heritage.
The communique condemned the terrorist acts perpetrated against
the Iraqi people, their places of worship, religious sites,
police stations and official institutions, including the health,
public utility institutions, diplomatic institutions and diplomats,
diplomatic personnel and premises, and stressed the responsibility of
the occupation forces for protecting the civil and religious rights
of the Iraqi people and preserving state institutions.
The joint communique strongly condemned the kidnapping and
assassination acts committed against Iraqis and others, especially
those committed against religious leaders, university professors,
doctors and intellectuals.
The communique reaffirmed its condemnation of the collective
assassinations, revealed by the discovery of mass graves, committed
by the previous regime in Iraq, against innocents Iraqi, Kuwaiti and
other peoples as a crime against humanity, and requests that those
responsible for such crimes to be put on trial.
The joint communique appealed to member states and the international
community not to grant safe havens to former officials of the defunct
regime and those accused of crimes against the Iraqi and other peoples
in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1483.
The communique welcomed the announcement made by the Interim Government
to establish good relations between Iraq and neighbouring states
based on mutual respect and the principle of non interference in
their internal affairs, as well as to abide by the existing treaties
and agreements, particularly those relevant to internationally
recognized borders and invites Iraq and neighbouring countries to
actively cooperate to promote peace and stability in the region, in
line with the statements issued in the meetings of the neighbouring
countries of Iraq.
OIC countries appealed all states to contribute to the alleviation
of the financial burden on Iraq by writing off Iraqi debts as an
expression of their support and as a contribution to the reconstruction
of the country.
The joint communique of the 31st session of the Islamic Conference
of the Foreign Ministers in Istanbul, said that the Organization
of Islamic Conference (OIC) Convention on Combating International
Terrorism was ratified, and called on member states to follow up the
convention and expedite their signing.
Stressing that the Islam was innocent of all forms of terrorism which
involved the murder of innocent people, the joint communique said,
“we reject any attempts to link Islam and Muslims to terrorism because
the latter has no relation whatsoever with religions, civilizations
or nationalities.”
Terrorism
“We strongly condemn the perpetrators of these heinous terrorist
crimes, who pretended to act in the name of Islam or under any
other pretext. We call upon all states not to grant asylum to these
terrorists, and to take all necessary measures to help bring them to
justice,” it said.
Affirming the determination of member states to coordinate
their efforts to combat all forms and manifestation of terrorism,
including state terrorism, directed against all states and peoples,
the joint communique said: “We reaffirm that the struggle of peoples
under colonialist domination or under foreign occupation, for their
national liberation or to regain their right to self-determination,
does not constitute an act of terrorism.”
The joint communique said: “We call upon member states to follow up
the OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism and expedite
their signing and/or ratification of the convention.”
“We invite member states to stress the need for convening an
international conference to define the meaning of terrorism and
to distinguish it from people’s struggle for national liberation,”
it added.
UN Security Council
Islam countries decided to support Turkey’s membership to UN Security
Council.
The decision taken in the joint communique issued after the 31st
session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul
said: “Having considered the candidacies presented by member states in
this regard; decides to support the following candidacies: Candidacy
of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the membership in the United
Nations Security Council for the period 2009-2010, at the elections
that will be held during the 63rd UN General Assembly in New York in
2008. Candidacy of the Republic of Turkey for nonpermanent membership
in the United Nations Security Council for the period 2009-2010, at
the elections that will be held during the 63rd UN General Assembly
in New York in 2008.”
Azerbaijan/Armenia
In the joint communique, the aggression of the Republic of Armenia
against the Republic of Azerbaijan was strongly condemned. The
joint communique called on the UN Security Council to recognize
the existence of aggression against the Republic of Azerbaijan and
strongly demanded the strict implementation of the United Nations
Security Council resolutions related to the issue, and the immediate
unconditional and complete withdrawal of Armenian forces from all
occupied Azerbaijani territories including Nagornyy Karabakh region
and strongly urges Armenia to respect the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The joint communique called upon member states, as well as other
members of the international community to use such effective political
and economic measures as required in order to put an end to Armenian
aggression and to occupation of the Azerbaijani territories.
Member countries decided to instruct the Permanent Representatives
of Member States at the United Nations in New York, while voting at
the UN General Assembly, to give absolute support to the issue of
territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
OSCE
Islamic countries also decided to make constructive contribution to
the OSCE peace process ongoing for the solution of the problem.
Islamic sports/broadcasting
The joint communique approved the future activities which the Islamic
Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) decided to undertake in 2005 at
the top of which the first edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games.
The joint communique recommended that the Islamic Broadcasting
Organization and the International Islamic News Agency coordinate
with the Islamic Solidarity Sports Foundation to cover the coming
activities of the Foundation, in particular, the Islamic Solidarity
Games to be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2005.
Nuclear energy/Iran
Islamic countries, which supported Iran to develop nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes, wanted the United States to revise its decision
on imposing economic sanctions on Syria.
Joint communique, which was released after the 31st session of Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers, reaffirmed the inalienable rights of
member states without discrimination to develop nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes and noted that Iran has continued its cooperation
with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Noting that Iran adopted the necessary measures to resolve the problem,
Islamic countries welcomed Iran’s signing the Additional Protocol to
the IAEA Safeguard Agreements.
The communique expressed concern that certain circles are putting
pressure against Iran to renounce its alienable right to develop
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and expressed its support and
solidarity with that country.
Syria/Libya/sanctions
Islamic countries expressed concern that the United States started
to impose economic sanctions on Syria. Islamic countries requested
the United States to reconsider its decision which is against
international principles and laws and they also welcomed UN Security
Council resolution lifting sanctions imposed against Libya.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan waging front-line war of attrition – Armenian paper
Golos Armenii, Yerevan
15 Jun 04
Azerbaijan is waging a localized war on the contact line dividing
Armenian and Azeri troops, according to an Armenian newspaper
article. The war, which takes the form of fire-fights and armed
sorties into Armenian territory, has the aim of wearing down the
morale of Armenian forces, the article said. It advocated pursuing
the enemy “right up to Azerbaijani positions”. The fire-fights and
sorties have noticeably increased since Ilham Aliyev became Azeri
president, according to the newspaper. The following is the text of
Aris Kazinyan’s report in Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii on 15
June headlined “Exhausting tactics: new form of war”; subheadings
inserted editorially:
Cross border fire-fights increasing since Ilham Aliyev became Azeri
president
The situation on the contact line has worsened in full accordance with
the pronouncements of the Azerbaijani authorities about the possibility
and even the expediency of settling the Karabakh issue by war. Two
days after Armenian military units stopped sorties by enemy groups
in the Tavush and Fizuli [Fuzuli] areas, on 10 June the Azerbaijani
side opened fire on the village of Movses in the same Tavush Region
[Armenia]. The firing came from the Kohanabi heights in Tovuz District
of the Azerbaijani Republic. It is interesting that since Ilham Aliyev
came to power the cease-fire regime has been broken more often and,
as a rule, this has coincided with the known dates for regular OSCE
monitoring of the border.
Since May 1994 the cease-fire regime has been broken hundreds of
times, as a result of which not only has agricultural work been
frozen, but many of our compatriots have died. By the way, while
on the Armenian side it is mainly civilians, peasants, who have
died, on the Azerbaijani side servicemen have predominated. It
is not difficult to guess the logic of these official statistics:
Armenian arable farmers and stockbreeders have become the victims
of Azeri diversionary sorties and the fact that the [Armenian]
army stops these sorties has led to such lamentable results for the
rank-and-file soldiers in the enemy’s army. The fact that all these
years Azerbaijan has been the initiator of cross-border exchanges
of fire stems from this statistical material: it is Baku alone, not
Yerevan or Stepanakert, that constantly talks about resuming the war,
as it is Azerbaijan that is displeased with today’s disposition of
forces and the de facto positioning of the borders.
Azerbaijan waging “localized” war
In this regard it should be emphasized that the increasingly frequent
cases of cross-border fire are also the result of the inappropriate
reaction of international structures to what is taking place, their
unwillingness to call a spade a spade and evident aspiration to
“please” all the parties of the conflict simultaneously. The Azeri
authorities have never been “called to order” for their stubborn
and persistent use of military rhetoric in their speeches and for
propagation of the idea of the possible settlement of the Karabakh
issue by means of a new, major war. Judging from the realities of
the last 18 months, there is every reason to say that, unlike the
previous, often disorganized and spontaneous, cross-border exchanges
of fire, Azerbaijan has already begun to carry out a plan to conduct
a localized war.
Special diversionary groups are already operating within the structure
of the enemy army, which is now being reformed. They specialize
in mimicking a partisan war by means of sorties to capture new
heights. The diversion on 8 June not far from the Armenian village
of Berkaber, as well as others, had this objective as well. It is
evident that these violations of the cease-fire are organized and
coordinated directly by official Baku.
Azerbaijan hoping to destroy Armenian troop morale
But we should note that the main objective of the strategy of
“diversionary partisan” war is not to reach new boundaries, but to
damage the spirit, resolve and confidence of the Armenian border
guards. The authors of this strategy think that the “desired result”
will be achieved by similar actions along the whole length of the
contact line. Today, avoiding open battles (by the way, only because
of their weaker level of combat readiness) and starting the tactics
of “exhausting the enemy both physically and morally”, Azerbaijan
hopes soon to demoralize the Armenian soldiers and officers, whose
spirit, organization and principle played a decisive role in the
1989-94 war. In this regard we should seriously think not only
about defending civilians in the border areas from these sorties,
but also about pursuing the transgressor right up to Azerbaijani
positions. This may not only calm the enemy, but also make him back
off from the tactics used today.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the political component of the
“diversionary” war. In spite of the danger inherent in the tactic, it
nevertheless ends up advocating the preservation of the “security line”
which Azerbaijan hates so much. The vast majority of border violations,
accompanied by attempts at diversion, take place in the areas where the
contact line is narrowest: 70 per cent of the sorties and exchanges of
fire take place in Tavush Region, where the main commanding heights,
starting from Barekamavan and Koti, are controlled by the Azerbaijani
army. In the regions with a stronger and wider “security line” the
number and “quality” of such actions is minimal. We think that the
Armenian side should certainly use this condition in its well-founded
explanations of the vital necessity to preserve the “security line”.

Armenian authorities have informants within opposition – presidential adviser
Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
15 Jun 04
Text of Naira Zograbyan interview with Garnik Isagulyan, presidential
adviser on national security, by Armenian newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak
on 15 June headlined “Moles are not moles”
[Correspondent] Who was behind the advice to [Armenian President]
Robert Kocharyan to appoint you adviser on national security issues?
[Garnik Isagulyan] Generally the president himself forms his team
and any appointment is, first of all, his choice.
[Correspondent] There are rumours that you have managed to leave
Kocharyan’s first assistant, Armen Gevorkyan, in the shadows, and to
occupy the place of Kocharyan’s favourite.
[Isagulyan] All this kind of information is not realistic. Everybody
in this building [president’s office] has their own function. As for
my relations with Armen Gevorkyan, we work together very well and
there is no disagreement between us.
[Correspondent] What kind of advice have you given to Robert Kocharyan
on national security during the past two months to justify your
appointment?
[Isagulyan] The most important is that a political research institute
attached to the president will be set up soon, which will deal with
internal as well as external and regional problems. Moreover, work
has been started to develop a national security concept.
[Correspondent] Mr Isagulyan, there are rumours that moles exist
amongst the opposition, with whom you cooperate, and who give
information to the authorities from time to time.
[Isagulyan] What does it mean to cooperate? There are no moles,
simply there are people who think soberly and today are trying to
have contact with the authorities and submit their viewpoint.
[Correspondent] If they share information with the authorities,
why do none of them publicly declare this?
[Isagulyan] You know, each of them is frightened of being called a
“mole”. They are frightened that their colleagues will not understand
them correctly, because there are people in the opposition who see
their death if they cooperate with the authorities, because these
people as politicians have no value.
[Correspondent] Mr Isagulyan, will you name some people from the
opposition who share information with the authorities?
[Isagulyan] I have no problem and would name them, but unfortunately
these people ask us not to mention their names, as they are frightened
of their so-called friends. They do not want to find themselves in
the tabloid press and do not want to see the failure of their work.
[Correspondent] Are their opposition friends aware of their service
to the authorities?
[Isagulyan] They are not serving the authorities, they are serving
our state, our nation.
[Correspondent] During your recent meeting with journalists you said
that the next president will be from Karabakh as well.
[Isagulyan] It was not so. A journalist asked me why the Armenian
president is of Karabakh origin, and I told him not to be in a hurry,
because it is not ruled out that the next president won’t be of
Karabakh origin as well. And this not a tragedy.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY RAISES HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE AT TURKEY-EU SEMINAR
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly Tuesday raised the question of human
rights in Turkey and specifically issues regarding reported calls for
introducing laws to allow the removal of the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul
at a panel discussion on Turkey’s EU Prospects and Europe’s Domestic
Policies.
Debating the pros and cons of Turkey’s membership in the European Union were
Turkish and American journalists and policy experts invited by the Western
Policy Center to evaluate where Europe and Turkey stood on the thorny
question of whether Turkey should be allowed to become a full member of the
European family of nations.
Among the panelists, Soner Cagaptay, coordinator of the Turkish Research
Program at The Washington Institute, was the most vocal supporter of full
Turkish membership. Cagaptay was also critical of European nations who, he
said, were using double standards in their approach to Turkey.
“For some European nations the cup is half empty and not half full when it
comes to Turkey. We have fulfilled all their demands, and yet, we are
treated differently. In some and even most cases we are not worse than
several East European countries,” he said.
Repeating often stated remarks by Turkish government officials that Turkey
had introduced and implemented laws to safeguard human rights as underlined
by the “Copenhagen criteria” of the European Union, Cagaptay said:
“We are in full compliance on issues involving respect of minority rights
and separation of church and state and many other key points.”
While several members of the audience raised questions involving economic
integration, demographic changes and cultural issues, Armenian Assembly
Director of Public Affairs David Zenian asked Cagapray for his views on
recent Turkish newspaper reports involving the Armenian Patriarchate of
Istanbul.
“We read in a recent report published by the Turkish newspaper Cumhurriyet
that the Turkish Interior Ministry is pressing for the passage of laws which
will allow more control over the election process of the Armenian Patriarch
including a clause giving the government authority to depose the head of the
Armenian church.
“Imagine the Italian government enacting laws which not only dictates that
the Pope be an Italian citizen – the Turkish government already demands that
the Patriarch be a Turkish citizen – but also giving itself the right to
depose the Pope if it regards the election to be irregular or flawed?”
Zenian asked.
Cagaptay had no comment. Instead he returned to his earlier grievances,
repeating his allegation of European double standards.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-054
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Ottawa June 16, 2004
Office of Sarkis Assadourian M.P.
120 Confederation
House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada
Contact: Daniel Kennedy
Tel: 613 995 4843
M.P. Sarkis Assadourian To Attend
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Will Also Travel to California
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Lib.): is scheduled to attend
the Meeting of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at the OECD,
Strasbourg June 21-25, 2004.
The Parliamentarians will meet to discuss a vast array of diverse
issues including human rights, electronic media and trans-boundary
water basins. A special highlight for Armenians will be the address
by Mr. Robert Kocharyan, President of Armenia.
-0-
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Lib.): and his wife Zaza
will travel to California from July 7-14 to visit with their many
friends in the area. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the
Armenian Apostolic Church in California will be hosting a reception
to welcome the first Canadian Parliamentarian of Armenian origin and
his wife to Los Angeles on Monday July 12, 2004.
-30-
For further information contact: Daniel Kennedy 613-995-4843

Israel Insider, Israel
June 16 2004
Palestinian girls pull out of joint beauty contest with Israel due to
threats
By Ellis Shuman June 16, 2004
A beauty contest organized to show that peaceful neighborly relations
are possible between residents of Jerusalem’s Gilo neighborhood
and the nearby Palestinian town of Beit Jala was marred when
all the Palestinian girls dropped out due to threats on their
lives. “Maybe because the contest was being held on our side, they
felt ‘appropriated,'” said Ortal Balilti, 17, who was crowned Miss
Seam Line last night.
Eight Bethlehem area girls, all of them Christians, were to participate
in the contest, named after the line that separates Israel from the
West Bank. Contest organizer Adi Nagar invited girls from Beit Jala and
Gilo to participate with the hope of fostering understanding between
them. The two communities, now separated by the security barrier,
were the flashpoint of heavy fighting at the offset of the Intifada.
Nagar said the Arab contestants “eventually all renounced the contest
because of political pressures.” Just hours before the pageant, Nagar
asked the last Palestinian girl, Dina Makhriz, to stay home after
her family received threats on their lives from fellow Palestinians.
“I prefer to have a happy, pretty girl than a frightened beauty queen,
not to mention a dead one,” Nagar said.
One of Makhriz’s relatives said it was “ill-advised” for Dina to take
part in a pageant being held in Gilo, a neighborhood annexed by Israel
after the 1967 Six Day War.
“Gilo used to be Palestinian. It would not be politically correct
for her to be there,” the relative told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Arpy Krikorian, a 21-year-old Armenian Christian from east Jerusalem
and the contest’s sole non-Jewish participant, said she understood
Makhriz’s reasons for withdrawing.
“I sat an hour with her yesterday and she was very uncomfortable. The
girls here may not understand but I do. She shouldn’t take any chance,”
Krikorian said. Krikorian said she had heard rumors that Makhriz’s
life had been threatened.
“I think the other girls are relieved because she would have won. She
was by far the prettiest of us all,” she added.
The contest’s sixteen participants wore evening gowns and bathing
suits at the pageant, which was staged in Gilo. Krikorian, who was
described by Maariv as an Audrey Hepburn look-alike, was chosen as
third runner-up.
“If there is anyone who is not guilty for the situation in which
we are living, it is us, the children,” Balilti declared after she
was crowned Miss Seam Line. “I think that the contest can’t change
the situation, but the fact that it was staged proved that [Israelis
and Palestinians] can live together and get along, and that there is
still hope for peace.”
Nagar, who is hopeful that Palestinian girls will participate in next
year’s contest, vowed “never to give up on peace.”
“I hope to organize a summer camp next year with youths from Beit
Jala and Gilo,” he said.

Great Valley to up Armenian cognac sales
Interfax
June 16 2004
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenian-Cypriot wine company Great Valley
plans to sell 5.3 million bottles of Armenian cognac in 2004, up 18%
from last year, the company told the press.
Great Valley sells 70% of its cognac in 0.5-liter bottles and the
rest in 0.7-liter bottles.
Great Valley sold 4.5 million bottles of Armenian cognac in 2003. The
company exports 98% of its output. Some 90% is sold in Russia,
and the rest is exported to the United States, Britain, Japan and
other countries.

WILLIAM READY TO CONQUER HARRISON
SkySports, UK
June 16 2004
William Abelyan insists he will be ready for action when he faces
Scott Harrison this Saturday, despite not fighting for over a year.
The Armenian – who is based in America – is finally fit to fight
after forcing the bout to be postponed from its’ original date due
to a shoulder injury.
Now the 25-year-old is raring to return to the ring and does not
believe his lack of action will cause him a problem as he looks to
gain the WBO featherweight crown from the Scot.
“I didn’t want to take the fight when I was injured but my shoulder
is feeling good now and I feel a lot stronger,” he said.
“It’s not a problem that I’ve been out for so long, I couldn’t get
a fight. Boxers didn’t want to fight me because I knock people out.
“I like Scott, he’s a decent fighter and I respect all fighters and
respect all world champions. But, I’d like to thank him for holding
on to the belt that we came here to get.”
Promoter Frank Maloney is also well aware of the danger opponent
Abelyan could pose Harrison this weekend and is predicting a classic
fight at the Braehead Arena.
“This will be one of the best fights the Scottish public will ever
see – I really believe that,” he stated.
“But I’m very concerned. It’s not a fight that I would have taken if
is had not been mandatory.
“Scott knows there are a lot of big names out there and big pay days
ahead but Abelyan hasn’t come over here just to pick up the pay cheque
– he fancies it big time.”
Maloney added: “Scott needs to rip the heart out of Abelyan like a
lion. He can’t take a backward step during the fight and he has to
wear him down.”

Scott Harrison: “Make no mistake there’s only ONE Harrison in British boxing and that’s me”
EastsideBoxing.com
June 16 2004
16.06.04 – WBO World Featherweight Champion SCOTT HARRISON has
promised boxing fans that they will know who the ‘Real Harrison’ is
on Saturday 19 June.
The tough Scotsman makes the second defence of his title, in his
second reign as World champion, against the dangerous mandatory
challenger from Armenia, WILLIAM ABELYAN, and will be roared on by
5,000 passionate fans at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow in what is a
real fight.
On the same night his namesake South of the border, heavyweight
Audley Harrison, takes on the latest handpicked opponent – Pole
Tomasz Bonin – at the Alexandra Palace defending his Mickey Mouse WBF
title..
The similarity between the two ends at their name.
Whilst the Scottish hero has beaten four former World champions in
Tom Johnson, Tracy Harris Patterson, Steve Robinson and Wayne
McCullough and became the first Scot ever to regain a World title,
Fraudley has still yet to face a ‘live’ opponent after 16 fights and
over three years in the pro ranks.
The fiery 126lb fighter from Cambuslang stormed, “Make no mistake
there’s only ONE Harrison in British boxing and that’s me – The Real
Harrison,”
He continued, “The fans aren’t stupid, they know a real fighter and
they know that I am value for money. The difference is I will fight
anyone who is put in front of me and I don’t handpick my opponents,”
Audinary even tried to gatecrash Glasgow in October 2001 with his
fight against hapless Pole Piotr Jurczyk in attempt to steal the
thunder from the Scottish hero but he couldn’t fool the fans.
“He tried to tread on my home turf but he didn’t get the crowd or the
reception he was expecting and has never come back,” added Harrison.
“Everytime I’ve fought in Glasgow the place has been rocking and it
will be the same this Saturday night against Abelyan. I’m expecting
to have a war where I will have to get in the trenches and grit my
teeth to come through the winner – something Audley will never have
to do if he continues facing the level of opponent he’s been facing.”
Finished Harrison.
Promoter Frank Warren said, “The only Harrison I’m focused on at the
moment is Scott who is involved in real World title fight which the
fans recognise. Scott’s only too happy to accept a pay cheque from
me!”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress