ISTANBUL PROSECUTION OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE ELIF SAFAK
By Cihan News Agency
Zaman Online, Turkey
July 4 2006
Istanbul Beyoglu Prosecution Office has decided to open an
investigation against author Elif Safak for her book “Baba and Pic –
literally Father and the Bastard”.
Ultra-rightwing Turkish Lawyers Association Chairman Kemal Kerincsiz,
infamous for filing charges against journalists and authors, filed
a complaint against author Elif Safak.
Kemal Kerincsiz, who has prosecuted novelist Orhan Pamuk and
ethnic-Armenian writer Hrant Dink, accused Elif Safak of ‘insulting
Turkish character’ – for her inclusion of remarks made by Armenian
characters in her latest book.
The prosecutor decided to investigate the book for certain statements
quoted from the Armenian characters.
“Baba and Pic” describes the relationship between an Armenian and
two Turkish families.
Elif Safak, who also writes for Zaman daily, said that the remarks
of Diaspora Armenians in her book were wrongly attributed to her.

ENERGY SECURITY IS ON FOCUS OF ATTENTION OF NATO – SEC-GEN
Author: R.Abdullayev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
Ensuring the energy security is on the focus of attention of NATO,
and in the near future it is expected to hold one more session of
Alliance on this topic, the deputy secretary general of NATO Jane
Furne told while answering the questions of correspondent of Trend.
According to him, the energy security, especially security of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, were on the focus of attention of
several measures of NATO. “There will be held discussions on what
contributions the North-Atlantic Alliance may make to the provision
of security of energy lines,” told Furje.
Besides, Furje expressed his satisfaction with the policy of official
Baku within the action plan of Individual partnership program of NATO
and Azerbaijan.
Deputy secretary general of NATO noted that Azerbaijan’s entrance to
the alliance is not on the agenda. “This question should be addressed
to the head of Azerbaijan,” told Furje, adding that NATO is interested
in development of the relations with each countries of South Caucasus.
Touching on Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Furje noted
that Alliance is not going to substitute the OSCE Minsk Group in the
negotiations, but supports the rapid settlement of the conflict.

AZERBAIJAN DEMANDED PUNISHMENT OF ARMENIA FOR EXPELLING AZERBAIJANIS FROM ARMENIA
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
During the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE,
we included in the agenda Azerbaijanis’ being expelled from Armenia,
and demanded that Armenia should be punished, Rabiyat Aslanova, the
member of Azerbaijani delegation in PA OSCE and also the chairman of
the permanent commission of Azerbaijan Parliament on human rights,
told Trend.
According Aslanova, meetings were held in three committees of PA OSCE –
on security and political issues, economic issues and human rights.
“The meeting focused on the topic “Strengthening of security of people
in OSCE territory”. The representatives of 56 PA OSCE member-countries
expressed their attitude towards the topic. Because any aggression
was committed against any of the OSCE member-countries or territorial
integrity was broken, it means that the security wasn’t ensured,”
Aslanova told.
Besides, she pointed out that Azerbaijani delegation made proposals
for this topic at three meetings. According to Aslanova, 16 out of
the 36 proposals belonged to the Azerbaijani delegation. At the first
committee reports were delivered by Azerbaijani representatives Bahar
Muradova and Azay Guliyev. “They could put forward their proposals.
And at the second committee reports were delivered by me and deputy
Fazil Mustafayev,” Aslanova emphasized.
According to Aslanova, several question found their reflections
during the discussions. Aslanova delivered a report in relation with
national minorities. “I urged to express attitude towards the destiny
of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia. If Armenia expels national
minorities from its territory, it means that the security hasn’t
been ensured. Therefore, we included this question in the agenda and
demanded that Armenians should be punished for departing people from
the country,” Aslanova added.
At the committee on economic issues, appearances were made by Eldar
Ibrahimov and Fattah Heydarov. They spoke about the huge economic
projects of Azerbaijan. The summer session of PA OSCE held in Brussels
will be completed on July 9.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MONITORING IN KHOJAVAND DISTRICT WAS BROKEN IN RESULT OF FIRE OPENED BY ARMENIAN MILITARY FORCES AT OSCE REPRESENTATIVES
Author: E.Javadova
TREND, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
On July 4, the monitoring scheduled for the north-west of Kuropatkina
village of Khojavand district was broken in result of fire opened
by Armenian military forces at the representatives of OSCE. The
monitoring was stopped according to the order of Andji Kaspishk,
the personal envoy of OSCE chairman, Trend reports with reference to
the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan Republic.
The monitoring from Azerbaijani side should be held by the desert
assistants of the personal envoy of the present OSCE chairman Imre
Palatinus and Yuri Aberli, and from Armenain side by the personal
envoy of the present OSCE chairman Andji Kaspishk and his desert
assistants Gunter Folk and Peter Ky.
And the monitoring held by the same monitoring group on the front
line near Mahrizli village of Agdam district was completed without
incidents.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO TRAVEL TO IRAN FOR TALKS
Jerusalem Post
July 4 2006
Iran’s disputed nuclear program and natural gas supplies will likely
top the agenda when Armenian President Robert Kocharian meets his
Iranian counterpart in Teheran on Wednesday.
Pressure is mounting on Iran to respond positively to an international
package of incentives aimed at defusing the standoff over its nuclear
program. Western nations have threatened to reactivate efforts to
seek punitive UN Security Council sanctions unless it suspends uranium
enrichment and agrees to talks by July 12.
A statement by Kocharian’s press service made no mention of the
issue. Reached by telephone in Teheran, presidential spokesman Viktor
Sogmonian refused to say whether the two leaders would be discussing
the standoff.

FOREIGN MINISTRY ANSWERS TO OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS’ LAST STATEMENT
Today, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
There is nothing new in the statement of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,
the principles enumerated there are known to all of us, Azerbaijani
side for several times held talks about its position and details
discussed.
Our approach is very simple. The settlement of the conflict is of
packet and staged character, within the first stage 8-10 components
should be implemented as well as liberating of occupied territories
around Nagorno Karabakh, withdrawal of Armenian troops from the
occupied territories, demining of the territories, restoration of
infrastructure, returning of refugees, provision of their security
and etc. After the first stage implemented, the second stage might
be matter of talk.
After the ethnic demographic restoration of the population of the
Nagorno Karabakh region as before the time of the conflict, and
provision of two communities’ security, the talk might be held on
legal, constitutional, democratic way that identifies the status of
Nagorno Karabakh.
This only might be possible on the base of Constitution of Azerbaijan
Republic and within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The third
article of the Constitution provides that way; this might be the way
of national referendum. Foreign Ministry Press and Information Policy
Office chief Tahir Taghizade has told in his statement related to
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ statement made yesterday.
As concerns the role of presidents in the statement of co-chairs, the
diplomat reminded the main format of the Prague process to be meetings
of foreign ministers and foreign ministers’ to create possible base
for meeting of Presidents.
“Without this ground the meeting of Presidents will not be efficient
and can not start.” Expressing attitude to the opinion in the
statement “We stand ready to assist the parties to conclude an
agreement if the Presidents indicate they are prepared to do so”
Tahir Taghizade stated that OSCE Minsk Group mandate’s duty is to
solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
“They might be considered the other party, Azerbaijani President
stated for several times the Azerbaijan is ready to peace talks and
diplomatic ways.”
URL:

Saturday, July 01, 2006
*******************************************
Cormac McCarthy, in BLOOD MERIDIAN (New York, 1985): “Do you know what happens with people who cannot govern themselves? Others come in to govern for them.”
*
In whatever I read these days I see references to Armenians even when Armenians are not mentioned.
*
In a textbook on history: “A state controlled system of education aims at indoctrination as much as pragmatic instruction.”
*
Once, many years ago, when I published an interview with a prominent Tashnak intellectual, a Ramgavar intellectual wrote an angry letter to the editor saying everything the Tashnak said was a big lie. The Tashnak replied by saying everything the Ramgavar said was a bigger lie.
*
The choice we confront today is between dead-end contradictions and creative dialectic. You may now guess what we can look forward to.
*
Heine’s definition of aristocrats: “Asses who talk about horses.” Something similar could be said of Armenian partisan intellectuals when they speak about one another.
*
To those who seem to have all the answers, Martin Heidegger has this piece of advice: “Try to reach the point from which the question can one day be asked.”
#
Sunday, July 02, 2006
*****************************************
A wrong answer that makes us feel good will always be more popular than a right answer that makes us feel bad.
*
There are two radically different ways of viewing our genocide: (a) as an unpredictable occurrence, or act of God (or the devil, depending on your credo) like, say, a volcanic eruption, a tsunami, or cancer; and (b) as an inevitable but foreseeable result of actions freely and deliberately undertaken by us, similar to those of a chain smoker who operates on the irrational assumption that he is invulnerable because God, or Right, or justice happens to be on his side. The first school of thought implies that we were innocent victims of satanic forces beyond our control, and the second, that all our actions were symptomatic (see below for a definition) because driven by death wish whose reality we denied or refused to acknowledge.
*
Examples of actions driven by death wish: tribal divisions, defeat, unconditional surrender, centuries of subservience, followed by a naive trust in the verbal support of the West, badly executed and catastrophically timed acts of isolated revolt against a ruthless empire fighting for its own survival.
*
My primary aim here is not to expose our blunders or to cover up the criminal conduct of the perpetrators, but to emphasize the fact that we have been and continue to be a far greater threat to our own survival than our worst enemies.
*
Freud’s definition of symptomatic acts: “Acts which people perform automatically, unconsciously in a moment of distraction; and to which they would like to deny any significance.”
#
Monday, July 03, 2006
*****************************************
THE WISDOM OF PROVERBS
*****************************************
It is not at all unusual for a smart man to behave like a fool. That’s because to pretend to know is easy; to preach easier; but to do the right thing something entirely different.
*
We know, for instance, that “unanimity is the best fortress,” but throughout our millennial history we have allowed tribal leaders (kings, princelings, nakharars, and similar riffraff) to divide us; and they have divided us for one and only one reason, to satisfy their lust for power (“too many chiefs, not a single Indian”). Which amounts to saying, we were taken in by their empty verbiage.
*
We know that what tribalism does to a nation, nationalism does to mankind. We also know that preachers of nationalism are no better than mongrels (if not literally than morally) who speak with a forked tongue. We also know that “a maker of idols is never an idolater.” And yet, we have shed our blood in the name of nationalism and we continue looking up to speechifiers who go on preaching it to us.
*
It is an established fact that most of our nationalist leaders survived the Genocide to write their memoirs, some of which run to more than a thousand pages. We are told, “behind an able man there are always other able men.” Likewise, behind a fool there are always other brown-nosing fools. And when their blunders are exposed, they write memoirs to explain why it was not they who were wrong but the rest of mankind; and as always, they find their share of dupes who are more than willing to be taken in by their regurgitated propaganda.
*
To those who say, “We did not shed our blood for nationalism, but freedom. Our slogan was not ‘Armenia, Armenia ueber alles!” but “Freedom or Death!” Yes, of course, no doubt about that, it goes without saying, I believe you. And what did we do after gaining our freedom, may I ask? We became the slaves of the Kremlin. We refused to convert to Islam to save our lives only to embrace atheism to advance our careers. And why? The answer must be obvious: after centuries of subservience to foreign tyrants, subservience has become part of our character, and “character is destiny” — or, “habits are cobwebs at first, cables at last.”
*
We know that tyrants oppress and liars deceive. The questions to be asked at this point are: Does it make any difference if the tyrant or liar is an odar or one of us? In what way are we better off in the knowledge that the enemy is not on the other side of the wall but among us?
#
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
************************************
Of all blunders, confusing ideology with theology is the most dangerous.
*
Generalizations about fellow human beings belong to the realm of propaganda and as such should be dismissed as lies.
*
A religious leader who says “believers are good and infidels bad,” and a political leader who says “we are among the chosen and our enemies the scum of the earth,” should be tarred, feathered, and driven out of every city, town, and village on the face of the earth. Then and only then we may have peace.
*
One of the most hilarious scenes in American literature takes place in the first chapter of Cormac McCarthy’s BLOOD MERIDIAN (New York, 1985). A total stranger interrupts a sermon in a tent in the middle of nowhere and calls the preacher an impostor, a fraud, a usurper, a fugitive from justice wanted in four states, a child molester, and a man who has been caught “having congress with a goat.” “Hang the turd!” a member of the congregation yells. “Shoot the son of a bitch!” says another. Later, in a saloon, the stranger is seen drinking. When asked, “How did you come to have the goods on that no-account?” he replies: “I never laid eyes on the man before today. Never even heard of him.”
#
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
***********************************
According to a recent best-selling book by an American sociologist, crowds behave more wisely than individuals. If true, how does one explain the fact that throughout history war-makers and propaganda have been more popular than peacemakers and objectivity? How does one explain the fact that in the name of such slogans as “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” “Workers of the World Unite,” “Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles,” and “Allahu akhbar,” crowds have been moved to commit some of the worst crimes against humanity? Closer to home: consider the fate of best-selling books that no one remembers after a year or two.
*
My most popular book (sold over ten thousand copies), THE ARMENIANS: THEIR HISTORY AND CULTURE, is also my least honest book not because it contains lies – it doesn’t: every assertion in it is footnoted – but because it emphasizes the positive and ignores or covers up the negative. Which may suggest that crowds value bias and flattery over honesty and truth.
*
A wise man – it may have been G.B. Shaw – once said there is only one way to end wars and that’s by shooting the war-makers. And yet, consider the fate of war-makers like Alexander the Great and Napoleon (who died natural deaths) and that of peacemakers like Jesus Christ (crucified) and Mahatma Gandhi (assassinated).
#

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/03/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1)ARF Calls for Strengthening Of Armenia's Border Regions 2) Senate Delays Hoagland Confirmation 3) Azerbaijan 'Against Referendum In Karabakh' 4) Catholic Priest Stabbed in Turkey 1) ARF Calls for Strengthening Of Armenia's Border Regions YEREVANThe Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Monday issued an announcement calling on its rank and file, as well as all Armenians to support initiatives to bolster and develop the border regions of Armenia. This announcement comes months before the third Armenia-Diaspora Conference, which will address the development of border regions as its main agenda item. Below is the translated text of the declaration: Dear compatriots, This year all Armenians will celebrate the 15th anniversary of their independent statehood. We will celebrate this jubilee, fully aware of its importance and with the determination to reform, build and strengthen our Armenian Homeland. Independence is the utmost privilege, and it is the duty of each of us to make Armenia a center for justice, democracy and solidarity. Coinciding with the anniversary of our state is the third Armenia-Diaspora conference in Yerevan from September 18-20. It is yet another opportunity to unite our national potential and to direct it in a consciously organized manner toward the political, economic, spiritual and cultural development of the Homeland, as well as the resolution of pan-national issues and toward overcomingwith dignity the challenges facing Armenians and Armenia in the 21st century. On the agenda of this conference, there will be a very specific issue, with a strategic goal: to find resources and solutions in order to develop the border regions specifically, to improve and modernize the infrastructure of villages and to help the population resolve its social issues. On its part, the Bureau of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation calls upon all structures, units, individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora, and first of all its organizational regions and members, to actively participate in the realization of this program and to undertake specific responsibilities. Through this step, we will prove that we are able to have a strong and sovereign Homeland, that we are able to become an influential presence in the large family of nations. Let us mark the anniversary of our state through concrete work and responsibility. Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau July 3, 2006 Yerevan 2) Senate Delays Hoagland Confirmation WASHINGTONIn the wake of this past Wednesday's contentious Senate Foreign Relations Committee nomination hearing for Ambassador to Armenia Designate Richard Hoagland, panel members John Kerry (D-Mass.), Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) have each submitted a series of detailed written questions asking the nominee to explain the guidance he has received from the State Department concerning its policy on the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) also sent a letter of inquiry this week concerning the recall of the current US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans following his statements affirming the Armenian Genocide. During the June 28th nomination hearing, Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), and Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.) pressed the nominee for an explanation of the State Department's guidance regarding the use of the word "genocide" to properly characterize this crime against humanity. Senators Allen and Coleman peppered the nominee with numerous questions and expressed frustration as the Ambassador-Designate avoided giving direct answers to any of the questions, resorting to the use of euphemisms. Ambassador-Designate Hoagland's June 28th appearance before the Foreign Relations Committee was alongside nominees for the US ambassadorships to Ireland and Switzerland, who were subsequently approved by the Committee and then the full Senate on June 29th. In contrast, the Committee deferred action on confirming the proposed new ambassador to Armenia. "Seven of the eighteen members of the Foreign Relations Committeeover one third of this influential panelare already on record raising serious concerns about confirming a new ambassador to Yerevan before receiving a full, open, and official explanation of the circumstances surrounding the recall of our current ambassador, the instructions given to our prospective ambassador, andmore broadlythe exact nature of our government's policy on the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "In light of the seriousness of these issuesand the lack of responsiveness from the Administrationwe were gratified that the Committee has wisely delayed action on the new ambassador to Yerevan until these fundamental questions have been answered." In the days leading up to the confirmation hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Democrat Joseph Biden (D-Del.) asked Secretary Condoleezza Rice for a thorough explanation of the circumstances of the premature recall of US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans over his public comments affirming the Armenian Genocide. In his June 23rd letter to Secretary Rice, Sen. Biden, a potential 2008 Presidential candidate, stated that he would "not be prepared to move forward with any Senate action that would prematurely end his [Amb. Evans'] tenure in Yerevan" until a series of questions concerning Evans' dismissal and the State Department's failure to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide had been answered. Sen. Biden wrote further to Secretary Rice, "Recalling an accomplished American diplomat for speaking truthfully about genocide could feed widespread cynicism about United States' foreign policy. I hope that you will carefully reconsider the long-term implications of this decision on the United States' ability to promote freedom and respect for human life." Senator Kerry submitted a three-page set of detailed questions to the Ambassador-Designate. Among his inquiries was the following: "During your June 28, 2006 confirmation hearing, you stated the following when responding to a question on the State Department's policy on the Armenian Genocide: "I simply studied the policy, I studied the background papers on the policy, I know the policy and my responsibility is to support the president." 1. Please describe, in detail, the source, purpose, content, and conclusions of all "policy" documents, "background papers," and other materials concerning the Armenian Genocide that you reviewed and provide copies of these materials to the Committee for its review. Turkey has consistently denied that it committed genocide against Armenians and in fact has jailed several journalists for stating otherwise, as in the case of Hrant Dink, a Turkish publisher who was convicted for simply writing about the Armenian Genocide. And the criminal law penalizing speech on the Armenian Genocide remains on the books in Turkey. 2. What is the Administration's position on these imprisonments? 3. Do you believe the policy of non-recognition encourages the repressive actions taken by Turkey? Senator Sarbanes, who spoke at Wednesday's confirmation hearing, followed up today with a set of seven additional questions: 1. How many people died, and during what period, in the Armenian Genocide? 2. What were the causes of these deaths? 3. What actions were taken by US diplomats in Turkey at that time to warn and report on the events? 4. What steps were taken to punish perpetrators of the Armenian genocide? 5. How does the US define "genocide"? 6. Does the United Nations consider the atrocities against Armenians to be a "genocide"? 7. Since the Ottoman Empire is long gone, why does Turkey view discussion of the genocide as a reflection on its own government and people? Among the questions asked by Senator Chafee was a request that Ambassador-Designate Hoagland explain "the State Department's policy regarding statements by official US government representatives, such as yourself, about the Armenian Genocide." The Rhode Island legislator also asked if the nominee had "ever been counseled to not refer to the events of 1915 as the Armenian Genocide." Sen. Dodd outlined his concerns in a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, stating that he is "interested to learn more about the circumstances that lead to his [Evans] departure," noting that "an effort, intended to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, clearly constitutes an act of genocide." Last week, House Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsors George Radanovich (R-Calif.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined with Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) in urging Secretary Rice to reconsider replacing Amb. Evans, noting that "allowing John Evans to continue as Ambassador to Armenia sends a strong message on the necessity of Turkish recognition, and will be an important step in establishing the US position on the Armenian Genocide." Over the past several months, scores of Senate and House Members have directed questions to State Department officials, calling for answers surrounding the controversial firing of Amb. Evans, including 60 Representatives who joined Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) in a letter to Secretary Rice, Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) who submitted questions to Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) who submitted questions to Secretary Rice. Massachusetts Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry also asked Secretary Rice for clarification on the Amb. Evans dismissal. The Administration has either failed to provide responses or provided responses, which have been largely perfunctory, citing that Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the President, but giving no clear insight into the State Department's decision to dismiss the career diplomat after 35 years of distinguished service. The State Department, with the blessing of the White House, fired Amb. Evans in response to his February 2005 statements at Armenian American community functions, during which he properly characterized the Armenian Genocide as "genocide." Following his statements, Amb. Evans was forced to issue a statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian Genocide were his personal views and did not represent a change in US policy. He subsequently issued a correction to this statement, replacing a reference to the genocide with the word "tragedy." The American Foreign Service Association, which had decided to honor Amb. Evans with the "Christian A. Herter Award," recognizing creative thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service, reportedly rescinded the award following pressure from the State Department in the days leading up to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Washington, DC to meet with President Bush. Armenian American response to Amb. Evans' dismissal has been widespread with thousands calling on their legislators to take action and demand answers. In a March 8th letter to Secretary Rice, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian noted that "if, in fact, punitive measures are being taken against Ambassador Evans, this would represent a tragic retreat from our nation's core values. It would also represent a new low in our government's shameful complicity in the Turkish government's campaign of denial. Not only does the State Department continue to be publicly silent as Turkey criminally prosecutes its writers and citizens for speaking about the Armenian Genocide, it appears the State Department is following Turkey's lead by muzzling and punishing an American diplomat for his speech and his acknowledgment of a genocide that is extensively documented in the State Department's own archives." In Yerevan, a candle-light vigil was held by hundreds of human rights activists during the June 28th Senate confirmation hearing, as part of the "Yellow Ribbon Campaign" protesting the firing the Amb. Evans. On April 24th, tens of thousands had tied yellow ribbons in solidarity with the US Ambassador, who had stood with the Armenian people in honoring the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide. 3) Azerbaijan 'Against Referendum In Karabakh' BAKU (RFE/RL)A senior Azeri official said on Monday that Azerbaijan has never accepted a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that would culminate in a referendum in Karabakh proper, despite Armenian claims to the contrary. Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov was quoted by the Turan news agency as saying that Baku believes such a vote should instead take place on Azerbaijan's entire internationally recognized territory. "That is reflected in the [Azeri] constitution and the country's leadership does not intend to revise its opinion," he said. In a statement last week, Armenia's Foreign Ministry said at the heart of a peaceful settlement proposed by the American, French and Russian mediators is the idea of enabling Karabakh's predominantly Armenian population to determine its status in a referendum after the liberation of most Armenian-occupied lands in Azerbaijan proper. The ministry asserted that Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian agreed on this formula during their recent face-to-face negotiations. "The area of disagreement between the presidents has to do with the sequence in which the consequences of the military conflict are removed," it said. A separate statement by the mediators made public two days later likewise said that Karabakh's status would be decided in a "referendum or population vote." But it did not specify where that vote would take place and who would be eligible to participate in it. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian insisted on Thursday that the framework peace accord put forward by the mediators makes it clear that the decision on the status is to be made by the "population of Nagorno-Karabakh." Azimov was reported to have denied this, accusing Yerevan of "distorting the content of the talks" and interpreting the referendum idea "in a manner advantageous to them." He also indicated Baku's discontent with the mediators' statement, saying that the French, Russian and US co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group disclosed and "took out of context" only some key points of the proposed peace deal. 4) Catholic Priest Stabbed in Turkey ANKARA (BBC)A French Roman Catholic priest has been stabbed by a knife-carrying attacker in the Turkish Black Sea port of Samsun. The attack on Father Pierre Brunissen, 74, is the third assault on a Catholic priest in Turkey in recent months. Father Brunissen was stabbed in the hip and leg and rushed to hospital, but a church official said his condition was not life-threatening. Police detained an unnamed 47-year-old man who they described as suffering from mental illness. The man had allegedly made complaints about Frather Brunissen trying to convert people to his faith. Reports said he was attacked in a busy street about 1 kilometers from his church. "I hope this has nothing to with Islamic fundamentalism," Monsignor Luigi Padovese, the apostolic vicar for Anatolia, told the Associated Press . "The climate has changed... it is the Catholic priests that are being targeted." Father Andrea Santoro, an Italian, was shot dead in his church in the northern town of Trabizon in February. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the 60-year-old priest's death. Witnesses said the youth yelled "God is great" in Arabic before firing two bullets into Santoro's back. Another priest, a Slovenian, was grabbed by the throat, thrown into a garden and received death threats during an attack in the port of Izmir, the Associated Press reported. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

SMALL COMMUNITY OF ARMENIANS LIVING IN TURKEY ARE THE HOSTAGE OF MODERN TURKEY, INCLUDING ARMENIAN PATRIARCH
Panorama.am
13:55 03/07/06
Mesrop Mutafyan, Patriarch of Konstandnopolis of the Armenian Apostolic
church was interviewed by Turkish Huriet reporter Sefa Kaplan on June
28. Mesrop Mutafyan expressed his disagreement with the statement
of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin B made during his visit to
Istanbul which said that “Turkey must stop denying its policy and
must officially recognize what it had committed.” Patriarch Mesrop,
on the other hand, said “he does not think so.”
This is only an extract from the interview which is doubtful for any
Armenian and in case of Patriarch of Armenian Apostolic Church is
just unacceptable.
Special attention should be paid that Patriarch said that Armenians
and Turks have lived side by side for more than 1000 years whereas
every schoolchild knows that Turks have settled in our region in the
first half of 15th century only which makes only 500-600 years.
The most essential point made is that Mesrop Mutafyan repeats word by
word the Turkish approach which says that genocide should be discussed
by historians and scientists.
Of coarse, the Armenian Patriarch of Kostandnopolis is well aware
of the history and we do not think he says what he means concerning
genocide. The only explanation for the “difference of opinion” of M.
Mutafyan is that the several dozen thousand Armenians are HOSTAGES
in the hands of Turkish state authorities. If they dare to say
anything like any Armenian may say, the world may witness again
what is called Genocide. It’s true, there will be less victims this
time.

IS THE FARMER TO BE BLAMED FOR DROUGHT?
Panorama.am
17:12 03/07/06
“Drought is not dangerous for the land under irrigation,” Mamikon
Gasparyan, land use and melioration department head at the agriculture
ministry told a discussion today. He said the panic is mainly connected
with short supply of water.
Agriculture development and reforms projects implementation office
head Adibek Ghazaryan noted that 15-20% more water is needed in case
of high temperature. In his words, water in rivers is 3 times less
this year. However, he assured that no problems will come about
connected with irrigation during hot summer months and first half
of September. The office head said that farmers made more payment
on water fee against last year since they are concerned that their
harvest will stay without water.
The ministry representative said that loss of water in Ararat valley
is 50%. To cover the loss, USD 1 bln is needed whereas they have got
a credit of only USD 100 mln.
However, the agency representatives also said that drought is
reported in some mountainous areas but they said farmers are to be
blamed because they do not know how to make artificial irrigation. No
estimates have been made on drought damage. They do not know whether
farmers will be compensated, either. “Everything depends on situation,
sizes and reasons,” M. Gasparyan noted.