BAKU: Turkey’s Foreign Ministry Confirms Unofficial Talks With Armen

TURKEY’S FOREIGN MINISTRY CONFIRMS UNOFFICIAL TALKS WITH ARMENIA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 31 2006

“Turkey intends to continue to make efforts to normalize relations
with Armenia,” spokesman of Turkey’s Foreign Ministry Namig Tan stated
(APA).

He said that effectiveness of Turkey’s efforts depends on Armenia’s
ability to objectively assess the processes.

“Turkey intends to have relations with Armenia like between two
neighboring countries. Therefore, we continue making efforts to
normalize the relations with Armenia. We proposed to investigate
the 1915 events with the participation of both Turkish and Armenian
historians by using archives of other states. This proposal was
mentioned in the letter Prime Minister Erdoghan addressed to Armenia’s
President Robert Kocharian last year,” Namig Tan said.

The spokesman also confirmed the fact that Turkish and Armenian
diplomatic circles had unofficial talks. He said these talks are
held between assistants of councilors of Foreign Ministers. The third
phase of these talks is already over.

Russia Lifts Ban On Import Of Armenia’s Vegetables, Fruit

RUSSIA LIFTS BAN ON IMPORT OF ARMENIA’S VEGETABLES, FRUIT

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 31 2006

MOSCOW, May 31 (Itar-Tass) – The Russian veterinary and phytosanitary
watchdog (Rosselkhoznadzor) will lift the ban on the import of
Armenian fruit and vegetables delivered via Georgia in transit,
Rosselkhoznadzor’s head Sergei Dankvert said on Wednesday.

“All details have been coordinated and the relevant memorandum is
expected to be signed later in the day with representatives of the
Armenian phytosanitary service,” he said.

Under this document, “Armenia should send a cargo confirmation letter
to Russia 24 hours before the cargo convoy departs,” Dankvert said.

“This letter should contain the numbers of phytosanitary certificates
and truck number plates,” he said.

“By this we try to ensure maximum phytosanitary control of fruit and
vegetables imported to Russia,” he said.

Rosselkhoznadzor imposed the ban on import of Armenia’s fruit and
vegetables in transit via Georgia in March as most phytosanitary
certificates proved to be forged.

During the joint consultations with Armenia, it was found out that
“these certificates were forged in Georgia,” Dankvert said.

BAKU: New Speaker Election In Armenia Delayed To June 1

NEW SPEAKER ELECTION IN ARMENIA DELAYED TO JUNE 1
Author: À.Mammadov

TREND, Azerbaijan
May 31 2006

(PanARMENIAN.Net) – The election of the new Speaker of the Armenian
National Assembly will be held on Thursday Vice-speaker Tigran
Torosian told reporters today. Besides, the deputies will elect
the chairmen of permanent parliamentary commission on defense, home
affairs and national security and of the commission on social issues,
health and ecology. “The change of the terms is conditioned by the
discussion of some legislative initiatives,” he said. To remind,
May 11 Orinats Yerkir party announced the decision to secede from the
ruling coalition over discrepancies on home and foreign policy. May 29
Artur Baghdassaryan formally left the post of the parliament Speaker,
reports Trend. Head of the permanent parliamentary commission on
defense, home affairs and national security Mher Shahgeldian and
chairman of the commission on social issues, health and ecology Gagik
Mkheyan also handed in resignation.

–Boundary_(ID_Sa5Bk0DhJ5GJB4Vfyfsvw Q)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Day.Az De Facto Recognized NKR

DAY.AZ DE FACTO RECOGNIZED NKR

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 31 2006

Azeri Day.az site de facto recognized the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

One can draw such a conclusion while reading the news referring
to the Nagorno Karabakh, which are, by the way, placed as a rule
in the site under the heading “Armenia’s News”. Moreover, May 31
Day.az quoted the Chairman of the NKR National Assembly Foreign
Relations Commission Vahram Atanesyan and illustrated the material
with the Emblem of the Second Armenian state, where “Nagorno Karabakh
Republic. Artsakh” can be read in Armenian. Those who doubt can go
to

How can the strike at the back of the Baku strategists be
comprehended? While the Azeri state structures, following the command
of the Centre, day and night search for mentioning the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic out of “Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity”,
examine the region’s maps on various web sites, being permanently
“deeply indignant” and send notes of protest to various international
instances, their own journalists strike at them secretly! What is it –
oversight, political shortsightedness or thoroughly considered step
undertaken by the Azeri site? It is hard to understand, especially
taking into consideration that the site’s owner is Milli Majlis deputy,
active supporter of the Aliyev’s clan Anar Mamedhanov. Has the Emblem
been put by the President’s secret direction? Do the members of the
country’s parliament begin to realize that Nagorno Karabakh is an
independent state that has nothing to do with Azerbaijan, expect
the border?

http://www.day.az/news/armenia/49847.html.

30 Racist Murders Committed In Russia This Year – Armenian DiasporaL

30 RACIST MURDERS COMMITTED IN RUSSIA THIS YEAR – ARMENIAN DIASPORA LEADER

MOSNEWS, Russia
May 31 2006

30 murders motivated by ethnic and religious hatred have been committed
in Russia this year, president of the Union of Armenians in Russia Ara
Abramyan said. He added that 390 racially motivated attacks had been
registered in Russia in 2005, and that seven Armenians had been killed
in the country this year alone, Ekho Moskvy radio reported Wednesday.

The Armenian diaspora leader urged Russia to develop a comprehensive
approach to fighting xenophobia and racial hatred crimes and stressed
that society should condemn members of radical nationalist groups,
RIA Novosti quotes Abramyan as saying.

“They must know that they have no place in society,” he said, adding
that society should start an open dialogue with young people on these
sensitive issues.

Extremism and xenophobia in Russia have been in the spotlight following
a wave of race-hate attacks across the country and the publication
of a report by Amnesty International attacking the government for
not doing enough to combat the problem.

Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said on May 17 that some 6,000
young people under the age of 18 were involved in extremist activities
in Russia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Tehran: Loris Tjeknavorian Preparing For 70th Birthday Bash In 2007

LORIS TJEKNAVORIAN PREPARING FOR 70TH BIRTHDAY BASH IN 2007

Mehr News Agency, Iran
May 31 2006

TEHRAN, May 31 (MNA) – Iranian-born Armenian composer and conductor
Loris Tjeknavorian is to celebrate his 70th birthday in 2007, the
Persian service of CHN reported on Wednesday.

He wants to perform all his compositions during a festival for his
birthday celebration.

He has announced that he is currently making plans for the festival,
and expressed hope that he would be able to hold it at Persepolis.

“I must find several sponsors for the festival to cover the costs. I
am also thinking of performing with one of the orchestras from Vienna,
Russia, or Armenia, or even several.”

He went on to say that the Tehran Symphony Orchestra is not in a
good situation, adding, “If sufficient funding is provided for the
orchestra and it can repair its instruments and purchase some new ones,
I will perform several pieces with this orchestra as well.”

“I am currently doing my best to get the higher education license
for my Academy of Music. If the license is obtained, the Tjeknavorian
Cultural Center will be launched in autumn,” he noted.

Loris Tjeknavorian was born in 1937 in Borujerd in the southwestern
Iranian province of Lorestan and was educated in Tehran.

After he studied violin and piano at the Tehran Conservatory of Music,
he studied composition at the Vienna Music Academy, where he graduated
with honors in 1961.

Tjeknavorian has performed throughout the world, having conducted
international orchestras in Austria, Britain, the United States,
Canada, Hungary, Iran, Finland, the former Soviet Union, Armenia,
Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, and Denmark.

His own compositions have been performed by major orchestras, including
the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the
Halle Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the American
Symphony Orchestra in New York, the Tehran Symphony Orchestra,
the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, the Mexico Symphony Orchestra,
the London Percussion Virtuosi, the Strasbourg Percussion Ensemble,
and the English Chamber Orchestra.

TBILISI: Withdrawal Of Bases From Georgia To Armenia Will NotDeterio

WITHDRAWAL OF BASES FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA WILL NOT DETERIORATE SITUATION IN REGION, RUSSIAN DM SAYS

Prime News Agency, Georgia
May 31 2006

Tbilisi. May 31 (Prime-News) – Withdrawal of equipment from the Russian
military bases in Georgia to Armenia will not stir destabilisation
in the region, Sergey Ivanov, Russian Defence Minister says.

Part of equipment is being withdrawn to the military base in Gyumr
and it can not be a reason for destabilisation, especially when
taking into consideration that withdrawal does not violate the
agreement on limits within the frameworks of the European Convention
on Conventional Armament, Sergey Ivanov said at the meeting of the
CIS defence ministers in Baku.

According to him, the main part of equipment is being withdrawn
to Russia. As for the Russian military base in Batumi, it will be
withdrawn to Russia by ships.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkey, Armenia Discuss Normalizing Relations

TURKEY, ARMENIA DISCUSS NORMALIZING RELATIONS
Benjamin Harvey

AP Worldstream
May 31, 2006

Turkish and Armenian officials have been discussing normalizing
relations, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, despite the fact
that Armenians accuse Turks of genocide and the two countries have
no diplomatic ties.

“A negotiation process has started between the two countries to seek
a common ground,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said. “Three
rounds of talks were held so far.”

The talks have apparently led to no breakthroughs, but that the two
countries are even talking might be considered one in itself.

Several informal earlier attempts at dialogue faltered amid disputes
between Turks and Armenians over the massacres of Armenians at the
time of World War I. Armenians say that Ottoman Turks slaughtered
1.5 million Armenians in a planned genocide and have demanded that
Turkey recognize the killings as such.

Turkey vehemently denies that the mass killings were genocide, saying
the death toll is inflated and Armenians were killed in civil unrest
as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.

The talks between Turkish and Armenian foreign ministry officials
started after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a
letter to Armenian Prime Minister Robert Kocharian asking for the
two countries to open a joint historical investigation to research
the killings, Tan said.

Kocharian wrote back, leading to a series of talks, he said.

Tan said the talks would continue, but would provide no substantive
details. He requested that Armenia adopt a more flexible and
constructive approach to regional problems, saying, “Turkey is
intending to pursue efforts to normalize relations with Armenia.”

He added: “Success of Turkey’s efforts to normalize relations depends
on a more flexible approach from Yerevan as well as to the overcoming
of bilateral and regional problems.”

Turkey is under pressure from the European Union to address the
genocide issue as its bid for membership in the EU progresses.

Several European countries have recognized the killings as genocide,
further increasing pressure on Turkey.

The issue is extremely sensitive in Turkey, and Turks have faced
prosecution for saying the killings were genocide.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 during Christian
Armenia’s six-year war with Muslim Azerbaijan. Armenia, a tiny,
landlocked country, says the border closing is devastating its economy.

Withdrawal Of Russian Arms From Georgia Not To Destabilize Situation

WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN ARMS FROM GEORGIA NOT TO DESTABILIZE SITUATION

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
May 31 2006

RBC, 31.05.2006, Baku 16:36:47.The withdrawal of a small portion
of military equipment and assets from the Georgian military base in
Akhalkalaki to the Russian base in Gyumri, Armenia, cannot destabilize
the political-military situation in the region, Vice Minister and
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told a press conference in Baku,
noting that it was not so much equipment, but rather military assets
that were being removed from Georgia. At the same time, he stressed
that this did not go against Russia’s obligations under the Treaty on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), Azeri information agency
Trend reported.

Most of the military hardware will be withdrawn from the Russian
military base in Akhalkalaki through Azerbaijan to Russia, according
to the minister. As for the Russian peacekeeping presence in Georgia,
Moscow has no plans to cancel their 6-month rotation, and will continue
to follow all the procedures in this regard as stipulated in respective
agreements, Ivanov stated.

Turkey: Erdogan-US Congressmen Overview Cyprus Issue

TURKEY: ERDOGAN-US CONGRESSMEN OVERVIEW CYPRUS ISSUE

Reporter, Greece
May 31 2006

16:20 – 31 May 2006 – It is a must to lift unfair isolations and
embargoes imposed on self-declared, so-called “Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus” (TRNC), said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan when he met the members of a US House of Representatives
delegation in Ankara. Erdogan and delegation members focused on
Cyprus and allegations regarding the so-called Armenian genocide,
during the meeting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress