NATIONAL FINAL FOR ARMENIA
esctoday.com, Netherlands
Oct 25 2006
Officials at ARMTV, the national broadcaster of Armenia, have told
esctoday.com that they plan to hold a national final to select their
Eurovision Song Contest entry for 2007. The process will consist
of two semifinals and a national final. They are now in the final
process of deciding the rules and the format, and an announcement
will be made next week.
Armenia will be competing at the Eurovision Song Contest for the second
time in 2007 after a successful debut this year. They finished sixth
in the semifinal and eighth in the final in Athens with Without your
love sung by Andre.
Speaking to esctoday.com this morning, ARMTV said “We hope to hold
a national final this time. We are finalising the plans now and we
will announce the details next week. We hope to have a three phase
selection, with two semifinals and a final. This is our second time
at the competition and interest will be higher now. We really want
to make a national final with information about the lives of the
participants. We want to do this for the viewers, to get them involved
in selecting their song”.
If the plans go ahead, the selection will take place in December. It
is likely that this year’s first Eurovision Song Contest entry to be
selected will be from Armenia, and not as expected, from Albania.
The shows will not be broadcast on the Internet due to technological
issues. We were told “We want all shows to be broadcast live, but
they will not be available on the Internet. We hope that maybe for
2008 it will be possible”.
Under current rules, Armenia are assured of a place in the final of
the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 after finishing in sixth place
in Athens.

“ZERKALO”: “PUNISHMENT FOR GENOCIDE” – EXPENSIVE PLEASURE
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006
Turkish Government established sanctions to be applied against
France in connection with the law providing for punishment for denial
“Armenian genocide” adopted by the Parliament of France. According to
APA, official Ankara decided to freeze all bilateral relations with
the official Paris, first of all, political and military relations.
Within the decision French companies will be deprived of the right
of the involvement in defence and energy projects in Turkey.
First of all, French companies won’t be involved in projects relating
construction of atomic power stations. Furthermore, it is decided to
keep away French companies from the mentioned tenders declared by the
General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces: – “Eurocopter” French company
made a proposal relating purchase of 12 helicopters for gendarmerie
in the tender. This proposal won’t be reviewed.
– French company won’t be allowed to tender which to be held in
connection with the purchase of 54 helicopters considered for various
purposes of Turkish armed forces.
– The project relating purchase of modern submarines for naval forces
won’t take into consideration French companies’ proposal.
– The proposal of GIAT, French company involved in the tender for
the purchase of tanks for land forces will be rejected.
vis.pl?s=001&p=0056&n=001045&g=
–Bou ndary_(ID_HdlYZuHsuty94U1c3LXKJA)–

FRENCH AMBASSADOR’S STATEMENT CRITICIZED IN TURKEY
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006
“Ambassador of France to Armenia Henri Cuny’s remarks on the issue
of Turkish borders are not wise,” Dr. Sedat Lachiner, Director of
Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization, stated,
APA ‘s Turkey reports.
He said all countries have their own control on their own borders.
This kind of claims badly affects Turkish public opinion and undermine
the credibility of the EU and France in Turkey.
“Most of the people now in Turkey consider France as hostile country
and see the French support for the Armenians as the religious
solidarity” Dr. Laciner added. Similarly Dr. Mehmet Ozcan, another
Turkish expert, said that Turkey sincerely seeks to develop good
relations with Armenia and air borders have been open between Turkey
and Armenia. But no improvement was seen in relations because of
Armenia. According to Mr. Ozcan, Armenia does not want to develop
relations with Turkey.
“Armenia aims to increase the tension to get the Western support
against Turkey. They do not recognize Turkey’s national borders and
they do expect open borders. If Turkey does not recognize France’s
national borders and occupies an EU member state, will France keep
its borders with Turkey open?” he said.
Henri Cuny, Ambassador of France to Armenia, said when meeting with
Armenian students in Armenia that once Turkey joins the EU, the issue
of its borders will be decided not by itself but by the central EU
headquarters in Brussels.
“This is the order. And entering the EU suggests open borders. The
question is, when this is to happen”, said Cuny.

ARMENIAN POLITOLOGIST: MEDIATORS’ PRINCIPAL GOAL – TO PREVENT FROM RESUMPTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
The Karabakh conflict cannot be settled without the Nagorno-Karabakh’s
participation in the settlement process, an independent politologist
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan stated at a press conference at the Pastark
Club October 25.
According to Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan, sooner or later the
Azeri party will have to sit at the negotiating tale with the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s leadership, like in 1993 – 1995. In the
politologist’s opinion, the OSCE Minsk group, Europe and super-powers
are obviously more interested in the conflict’s conservation and
not its solution. “The conflict should not be resumed – that is the
mediators’ first goal”, the politologist believes. “The NKR’s status
is of no peculiar interest to the mediators”. In his opinion, the
Europe’s economy is not ready to rebuff a new blow: the resumption
of the hostilities in the Karabakh conflict zone will result in rise
of the fuel prices.
While commenting on the idea of the conduct of a repeated referendum
on the determination of the NKR’s status, Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan
noted in case the Armenian party agreed to the proposal it would
unintentionally cast doubts on a referendum held in Karabakh December
10, 1991. In the politologist’s words, the proposal may be acceptable
for the Armenian party only in case it is held on the territory of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic without taking into consideration
Azerbaijan’s Constitution. “We all know the answer given by the
Artsakh people”, Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan noted.
Answering a question why discussing the options of the mutual
compromises on the Karabakh conflict’s settlement the matter, as
a rule, concerns the liberated territories, the issue of the North
Artsakh being ignored, Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan regretfully mentioned
the community unions’ passiveness.

PELOSI PLEDGES TO SUPPORT CONGRESSIONAL ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a longtime supporter of
Armenian American issues who is expected to become Speaker if the
Democrats win a majority in the House this November, pledged today
to support Armenian Genocide legislation next year during the 110th
session of Congress.
According to the information DE FACTO received at the ANCA, in a
statement released to Harut Sassounian, Publisher of the California
Courier, Congresswoman Pelosi stated that: “I have supported
legislation, including H.Res.316, which would properly acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide. It is imperative that the United States recognize
this atrocity and move to renew our commitment to eliminate genocide
whenever and wherever it exists”.
Sassounian’s weekly column appears internationally in more than a
dozen newspapers, as well as in the widely read Huffington Post.
“Nancy Pelosi’s powerful words and principled actions underscore
the stark difference between her and Dennis Hastert, who, during his
tenure as Speaker has consistently prevented a bipartisan majority
from voting in favor of U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,”
said ANCA (Ho. He. Dashnaktsutyan Washington-ee Hai Tahd-ee Krasenyag)
Executive Director Aram Hamparian).
Congresswoman Pelosi’s statement is consistent with her past record of
energetic and principled support for U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, dating back nearly 20 years. Since her election to the House
in 1986, she has worked closely with the Bay Area Armenian National
Committee, enjoying warm relations with the Armenian American community
in the greater Bay Area.
“The principled stand of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi comes
as no surprise, and we’re proud that she confirmed it again today,”
said Bay Area ANC Chairwoman Roxanne Makasdjian.
Speaking at a Capitol Hill observance in April of 2005, the
California Congresswoman countered those who have cited Turkey’s
strategic position as reason to oppose Armenian Genocide legislation,
stressing that: “First at the time of the Iron Curtain, [they cited]
the strategic location of Turkey, after that it was the Gulf War and
Turkey’s strategic location . . . Turkey’s strategic location is not
a license to kill.”
In May of 2001, during her remarks at the ANCA’s annual Capitol Hill
Armenian Genocide observance, Congresswoman Pelosi noted that: “The
sad thing about that tragedy is that it is a tragedy twice. Once in
the course of the Genocide and secondly in the fact that we cannot get
the United States to pass a resolution memorializing and acknowledging
the terrible things that happened then . . . This Armenian Genocide
is a challenge to the conscience of our country and the conscience
of the world. We will not rest until we have recognition of it.”
Speaking on the House floor in April of 2001, she reminded her
colleagues that: “Our alliance with Turkey should not deter us from
learning the lessons of past mistakes. If we ignore the lessons of the
Armenian Genocide, we are destined to repeat those same mistakes. The
horrible conflicts in Sudan, Sierra Leone and East Timor remind us
that we must do more to prevent the systematic slaughter of innocent
people. We must learn from the past and never forget the victims of
the Armenian genocide.”
In April of 1999, in a statement on the House floor, the Congresswoman
stressed: “As we enter the Third Millennium of the Christian Era,
it behooves us to remember. If we ignore the lessons of the Armenian
Genocide, then we are destined to continue our stumblings through
the long, dark tunnel of endless ethnic-cleansings, genocides,
and holocausts.
Let us, then, remember to remember.”
In remarks marking the Armenian Genocide on the House floor in April
of 1998, she explained that: “On April 24, 1915, the rulers of the
Ottoman Empire set out to annihilate the Armenian minority. Over the
course of the next eight years, the Turkish government systematically
murdered 1.5 million Armenians and deported 500,000. By the end of
1923, the entire Armenian population of Anatolia and Western Armenia
was either murdered or deported . . . While a growing number of
Americans come to understand the horror of this episode in history,
the perpetrators continue their denial.”
In his most recent column, Sassounian criticized the current
Speaker as someone who “not only has broken his pledge repeatedly,
but has actively blocked the Armenian Genocide resolution from being
brought to a floor vote.” He stressed that, “On Nov. 7, members of
the Armenian American community should vote for all those [House]
candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, who are supportive
of Armenian issues. In the case of equally supportive candidates in
a particular race, the preference should be given to the one who is a
Democrat in order to secure a Democratic majority in the House, helping
make Congresswoman Pelosi the next Speaker, which will enable her to
schedule a long overdue vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution.”

ABDULVAHABOV: “I INFORMED AZERBAIJAN AND USSR KGB ABOUT ARMENIANS PLAN”
Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006
Court of Grave Crimes today continued the trial of the gang led by
Haji Mammadov, former high ranking official of the Interior Ministry
Crime Investigation Department.
26 members of the gang stand trial presided by Judge Ali Seyfaliyev.
Defendant Ibrahim Bagirov answered lawyer Adil Ismayilov’s questions
on the murder of criminalist Rovshan Aliyev.
He said that he planned to meet with Haji Mammadov that day, but they
could not meet, APA reports.
Then Agil Huseynov, deputy chairman of International Bank Sebayel
branch gave free testimony and found himself innocent. He said that
he gave a credit illegally by Elchin Aliyev’s order.
The third defendant Hussain Abdulvahabov gave testimony about his
visit to Azerbaijani.
“I brought my family to Azerbaijan because of the war in Chechnya. My
brother Sidek Abdulvahabov also lived here. I wanted to go back to
Chechnya, but the border was closed. I always wanted to work in favour
of Azerbaijan. I informed USSR and Azerbaijan KGB (State Security
Committee) about Armenian’s plan to occupy Nagorno Karabakh a year
before the war,” he said.
Abdulvahabov accused the court of a loyal attitude to Haji Mammadov.
“Haji blames me in his testimonies. But the court does not let me to
clarify the accusations,” he said.
The trial will continue with Abdulvahabov’s testimony in the second
half of the day.
URL:

“ECHO”: ARMENIA INVOLVES UNESCO WITH SCANDAL
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006
How will Paris respond to Yerevan’s demands?
Unique experience of cultural development of Azerbaijan as crossroad
of cultures and civilizations gains world’s recognition. Festival on
“Azerbaijan: crossroad of civilizations and cultures” was held in
Paris. And as UNESCO chief, Koitoro Mazura, declared during the event,
UNESCO highly values contribution of Azerbaijan in preservation of
world cultural heritage.
“Trend” informs referring to ITAR-TASS, head of international
organization stressed reforms carried out in the country in the field
of education, work on restoration of Great Silk Way, creation of World
Mugam Center. “I’m totally satisfied with the way of development of
our relationship”, Koitoro Mazura said. – It is a good example of
cooperation. He emphasized that he intends to visit Baku again.
Azerbaijani projects concerning humanitarian field was presented
by UNESCO Good Will Ambassador, Mekhriban Aliyeva. She told about
program on defense of children, support of refugees, instilling of
tolerance in society. “Our country shares unique values, – first lady
of Azerbaijan underlined. – We know where we are going”.
Within the frames of festival gala concert, photo exhibition, many
other events were held. However, against the background of this event
Armenia attempted to involve UNESCO with “cemetery scandal”, which
Yerevan strongly supports. Accordingly to “Azg” newspaper, delegation
of parliament members of different countries, formed on initiative
of Ambassador of Armenia to UNESCO, Charles Aznavour, met with Mr.
Koitoro Mazura and transmitted request to carry out international
investigations in “Old Juga”, that is, Julfa, where allegedly Armenian
historical cultural monuments were destroyed. We don’t know the
attitude of UNESCO to such request, however, following mass media,
Azerbaijan is preparing well-grounded respond accordingly to which
there was no “khachkar” on Azerbaijani territories.
But Armenia continues to make efforts concerning its initiative with
further plans.
Members of “Aznavour’s initiative group” handed to Mr. Mazura signed
memorandum with recommendations for Azerbaijan. Particularly,
authors of document demand…to build …Christian monument on
the place of “Armenian cemetery”. Now it reminds imitation of
“international concern”, but in Paris everything ran seriously. And
to all appearances Yerevan is convinced that if Lower chamber of
French parliament adopted scandal law “on genocide of Armenians”,
then international organizations headquarters of which are situated
in Paris are obliged to do likewise.
–Boundary_(ID_C0qEUwzSvWjhuFGPiZcefQ)- –

REPORT REGARDING NAGORNO-KARABAKH DELIVERED IN NATO PA ROUZ ROUT SEMINAR
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006
The delegation of Azerbaijan delivered a report regarding the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the 64th Seminar Rouz Rout held within
the framework of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, a member of the
Azerbaijani delegation in NATO PA, MP Zahid Oruj told Trend.
Azerbaijan was represented at the seminar by the deputies of the
Azerbaijani Parliament Zahid Oruj and Elman Mammadov. The seminar
focused on the role of the international community in settling the
conflict in Pridnestrov, reforms with regard to defense in Moldavia
and other issues.
Oruj stressed that the report had been prepared on the basis of the
speculation of Armenia regarding human rights and democracy to bring
its independency into legal frameworks. “After the speech of the OSCE
representative, Elman Mammadov delivered a report. He spoke about
the inactive position of OSCE in this process and stressed that it
helps the aggressive policy,” Oruj stated.
In addition, he pointed out that no documents have been adopted in such
seminars. Such seminars serve the study of the positions and implement
the function of brain center. “Necessary opinions are collected, the
speeches are systematized and on the base of it, NATO forms its policy
from these regions,” the Deputy said. Furthermore he underlined that
the Armenian delegation did not participate at the seminar. Only the
French Ambassador to Moldavia, Armenian by origin, attended the event.
Oruj stressed that such seminars take place in various venues.
Previously such a seminar was held in Crimea. “It is planned to
hold such a seminar in Georgia. But the date of the seminar is not
confirmed as yet,” he emphasized.
It should be mentioned that the 64th Rouz Rout Seminar took place in
Kishinev from 19 – 23 October.

FRANCE WRITHING IN PAIN
By Etyen Mahcupyan
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 25 2006
The bill that criminalizes the denial of the so-called “Armenian
genocide,” which was adopted despite the low attendance in the French
Parliament, a fact that gives a clue to the background of the entire
issue, first encountered fierce reactions in France itself. Almost
everybody agrees that the bill contradicts the freedom of thought
and expression. Apparently, the basic fact that making somebody agree
with an idea is possible only if others are allowed to express what
they think has not been fully comprehended yet. If your objective is
not to impose an idea by means of coercion, then, you need reciprocal
conversation, which requires listening to the ideas or arguments of
others, no matter how absurd and falsified they may be.
Hence, the French bill has too many defects, holes and ambiguities
not only in terms of the freedom of thought but also in terms of
the simplest socio-psychological knowledge. Based on this fact, we
can say that the gist and objective of this bill is not the Turks
accepting the so-called “Armenian genocide”… What is more, the
objective is not even to make the “Turks” adopt a more constructive
policy vis-a-vis today’s Armenians. Because, this stance does nothing
other than sabotage the dynamics and resurgence that guide both sides
to reevaluate, understand each other, and express the outcomes gained
through this experience.
If France had aimed at Turkey accepting the 1915 massacre as
“genocide,” it should have refrained from taking steps that could
possibly hinder the normalization process in Turkey. Furthermore, what
we are witnessing right now is not an approach based on humanitarian
concerns which support the afflicted.
In other words, this bill does not serve Armenia’s interests. French
authorities reported that the Armenian President [Robert] Kocharian
had stated his opposition to the bill during [President Jacques]
Chirac’s visit to Yerevan; and this report was extensively covered in
the media. This is because Armenia is aware that its future depends
on Turkey and does not approve of any action that could harm its
relations with Ankara. Finally, this bill contravenes not only the
legal criteria set by the European Parliament for member states,
but also the EU criteria. If the EU is a peace project, perhaps what
is expected of France is to pursue a policy that would foster peace
among EU members and their partner countries.
However, France could not have done this… At first sight, it seems as
if the votes of the Armenian community in the upcoming elections had
a determinative effect over adopting the bill. No doubt about it, the
Armenian lobby in France has no inherent power and political leverage
to do this on its own. The lobby perception in Turkey is nothing more
than an exaggeration that helps us conceal our weaknesses. However,
when it comes to vote-hunting, it was already crystal clear that no
party would refrain from populism. So, why was this bill brought
to parliament and why was it adopted? The reason is that France’s
self-isolation suggests a new EU project implying Turkey’s exclusion is
under way. The bill on the denial of the so-called “Armenian genocide”
is essentially a direct message to the EU, not Turkey. That is why
EU authorities immediately realized the situation, and labeled the
French move as “stupid.”
What is behind all this is the inability of this country to adapt
itself to changing conditions and circumstances. France is a country
that sees itself on the zenith of modernity, thinks it is aware of
universal truths and has solved all its social problems, and possesses
a mood of psychological arrogance as inherent identity.
However, this is mere illusion… But the French have not fully
understood this yet. They have only recently begun to understand
that they are in fact adherents of an authoritarian mentality, which
thinks positivist secularism is liberty, confuses homogenization with
equality, and finds solidarity and brotherhood only in assimilation.
It is painful for societies which have abandoned critical thinking
for a while to resume it. Just like us…

CO-CHAIRS ADOPTED COMMUNIQUE ON RESULTS OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS’ MEETING
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan –
Oct 25 2006
A communique was adopted on the results of Azerbaijani and Armenian
Foreign Ministers’ meeting held with the participation of Minsk Group
co-chairs and OSCE Secretary General’s Personal Representative Andrey
Kasprzyk in the France Foreign Ministry, APA European bureau reports.
The communique says: “It was a constructive and sincere meeting. It
will help the conflicting sides to continue the discussions of Main
Principles document. The ministers looked through the additional
elements of principles suggested by the coordinators on October 6. The
ministers agreed to meet on November 14 in Brussels.”
The communique also says that the co-chairs will visit the region in
late October. The aim of the visit is to discuss the possibility of
organizing the third meeting of the presidents within 2006.