Today, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006
European Union attaches great importance to NK conflict’s settlement

02 June 2006 [13:20] – Today.Az

The European Union (EU) supports OSCE Minsk Group activity in Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement.

Giuseppe Buzzini, EU New Neighborhood Policy Plenipotentiary for
relations with Azerbaijan, has told in his interview to APA that
resolution of Nagorno Karabakh is outside the competence of New
Neighborhood Policy officers.
“It is a long time since OSCE Minsk Group works for the settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. France, the EU member, is a co-chairman
here. Somehow we also have a relation to this question.”
Mr. Buzzini has stressed his opinion on that EU is ready for help to
the rehabilitation of the whole region, as well as renewal of
infrastructure and transport communications.
Andreas Herdina, EU New Neighborhood Policy Sectors’ Coordinator, has
told in his interview that the resolution of conflicts in South
Caucasus, as well as conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, is of great
importance for EU.
“We notice positive steps toward the solution observing Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents’ talks in Rambouillet and expected sitting in
Bucharest.”

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National Assembly of RA, Armenia
June 2 2006
What Can Give Us the Belgian Educational Experience?

On June 1 the Chairwoman of the NA Standing Committee on Science,
Education, Culture and Youth Affairs Hranush Hakobyan met with the
Rector of the University of Antwerp, Belgium Prof. Dr. Francis Van
Loon and Ludo Cuyvers, the Co-Chair of International Management
Department.
Mrs. Hakobyan familiarized Prof. Dr. Francis Van Loon with the
process of Armenian educational reforms and hoped that the Belgian
educational experience can be helpful in the sphere of Euro
integration, mentioning the establishment of business relations
between universities, the exchange of teachers, the students’ visits
and the fulfillment of joint programmes.
Prof. Dr. Francis Van Loon presented the peculiarities of the Belgian
educational system, expressing readiness to assist in the
establishment of relationships between two countries’ high
educational systems and to promote the process of educational reforms
in Armenia.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006
Inauguration on Azerbaijan’s oil reaching Ceyhan terminal to be held
in Ceyhan and Istanbul on 13 July
[ 02 Jun. 2006 12:56 ]
Azerbaijan’s oil delivered to Turkey via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
(BTC) main export oil pipeline has already reached the Ceyhan
terminal and filled into tankers.
Inaugurations will be held in Ceyhan and Istanbul on this occasion on
13 July. Turkey’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Turan Morali told APA that
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev will also be invited to the
inauguration.
The Turkish ambassador also commented on Russian Defense Minister’s
statements regarding dislocation of peacekeepers from countries that
are not CIS and OSCE Minsk Group members in Nagorno Garabagh.
`The parameters of what forces can be stationed are not known. There
are other questions and problems to be solved now. These issues can
be considered after the solution of the current problems,’ Mr.Morali
said.
The Turkish ambassador also reminded that Turkey offered to set up a
joint commission to investigate Armenia’s genocide claim by
historians of both countries in archives.
`We expected a response from Armenia. However, this response came in
the form of directed to other ways,’ Morali said./APA/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Hürriyet, Turkey
June 2 2006
Orhan Pamuk pressed for “political” answers during Moscow press
conference
Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, in Moscow for ceremonies marking the
publishing of his books “Snow” and “Istanbul” in Russian, was pressed
yesterday at a press conference for answers on the Armenian claims of
genocide by Armenian journalists present in the audience.
During a question and answer section of Pamuk’s press conference, an
Armenian reporter asked him “Are you planning on soon visiting
Armenia soon to publicly recognize the Armenian genocide and
apologize to the Armenian people?” In response, Pamuk said “I did not
come to Moscow to engage in politics. Your question is very
political. Not only that, but the subject you are talking about is
one which concerns Turkey and Turkish people. I came to the Russian
capital to help publicize my books.” Following this exchange, the
Russian director in charge of the press conference warned journalists
to keep their questions limited to the topic at hand.

But the politically-charged questions at Pamuk’s press conference did
not end there. Following the Armenian journalist’s question, an Azeri
reporter stood and asked Pamuk “Do you plan on soon writing a book
explaining that the Armenian claims are all lies?” To this, Pamuk
replied “I have been to Azerbayjian. I have spoken there many times
about my books. But I have spoken only about my books, and I have no
intention of telling anyone what my future books are going to be
about.”

Pamuk, who leaves Moscow for further book publicity in Saint
Petersburg, told reports that he was very happy to be taking the
train from the Russian capital to Saint Petersburg, saying “I will
make my journey by night train, like Anna Karenina. I have always
dreamed of doing this. In the end, my dream has come true.”

Zee News, India
June 2 2006
Indian men need big improvement in Chess Olympiad

Turin, June 02: In a make or break situation, the Indian men need to
pull themselves up going in to the final leg of the 37th Chess
Olympiad here.
After a bad start and a recovery, victories for the team led by
Viswanathan Anand have become elusive and what they need now is a
major turnaround in performance if they have to remain in with a
chance of finishing in the medal bracket in the biggest chess event
in the world.
As things stand, the second seeded Indians are currently on joint
ninth spot on 24.5 points and only a few big victories in the last
three rounds after the second rest day can help them recover lost
ground.
The Indian hopes and aspirations will be on display once more when
they take on strong-looking sixth seed Israel.
While Viswanathan Anand will start as a clear favourite against
Israeli top player Boris Gelfand on the top board, the remaining
three Indians will have to be at their best to bring the team back in
contention for honours.
Armenia has proved beyond doubt what a spirited team effort can do.
The major contributor for the team has been Gabriel Sargissian who
has scored a whopping 8.5 points out of his 10 games so far and aided
by some gutsy performances by other members, the Armenians seem to be
running away with the gold this time. They already have 29 points in
their bag and even a 50 percent score from here should be enough for
the team to win the event.
Though China is currently in second place, the Armenians will be more
worried about a rejuvenated Russian team that downed defending
champions Ukraine in the previous round.
However, a comforting feeling for Armenia is that they are currently
2.5 points ahead of the Russians and have already played them. The
Russians are definitely going to come firing on all cylinders in the
rounds to come and will hope to make things difficult for Armenia.
According to Anand, the last few rounds in the chess olympiad are
most important as far as the final standings are concerned as a good
finish can propel the team way up.
But herein, it appears that ‘a good finish’ is not enough, what the
Indians need is a windfall. And only then there is a chance.
Contrary to what was earlier believed, the Indian eves have come up
with far better results thus far and are currently in joint fifth
spot.
Though the race for the title is now only between leaders Ukraine and
top seed Russia, the Indians can still hope to figure amongst the
medals if everything goes right in the last few rounds.
In the 11th round, they take on Romania and an Indian victory can be
expected with grandmaster Koneru Humpy on the first board. However,
the problem with the team is that they have played neither Russia nor
Ukraine and if they are able to win by a good margin against Romania,
chances are they will meet one of these teams in the next round which
will be a tough test for them.
While both men and women players exuded confidence ahead of the last
few rounds, it remains to be seen how far the great Indian dream of
winning a medal in the Chess Olympiad goes.
Meanwhile, today is a big day in the chess olympiad with the fide
elections set to take place. The incumbents led by Kirsan
Illumzhinov, who is also the President of Kalmykian republic, seems
to have an upper hand as yet but, as in any other election, the
pre-poll predictions can go wrong. Later today, 155 countries will
vote for the next fide office.
Illumzhinov’s “chess fidelity” team is up against “right move” team
headed by Dutch businessman Bessel Kok.

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
June 2 2006
Biography of Tigran Torosyan, President of the RA National Assembly

Tigran Souriki Torosyan was born on April 14, 1956 in Yerevan.
In 1973-1978 he studied at the Faculty of Radio-Electronics of
Yerevan Polytechnic (Engineering University) Institute, at the same
time in 1976-1978 – at the faculty of Social Sciences. After
graduating from the Institute he received his degree as an engineer
in electronic technical engineer and technical translator (French
language) and from 1978 he started work in Yerevan Scientific
Research Institute of Mathematical Machines first as an engineer,
then leading engineer. In 1988-1995 he worked as head of subdivision
and leading scientific associate. In 1990 he defended his thesis and
received his degree of Technical Sciences PhD. He holds patents on 10
inventions and has written more than 30 scientific studies.
In 1996-1998 he was a member of the RA Central Electoral Commission,
in 1997-1998 editor-in-chief of the official newspaper of
Hanrapetakan/Republican party Hanrapetakan. He has written more than
two hundred analytical articles, which were published in different
periodicals and collections.
On May 30, 1999 he was elected as a deputy of the RA National
Assembly from Miasnutiun/Unity Alliance electoral roll, which formed
the Republican Party and Zhoghovrdakan/People’s party. In 1999-2003
he was Vice President of the RA National Assembly. In 2001-2003 he
was the Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee on Constitutional Amendments
of the National Assembly.
On May 25, 2003 he was reelected from the proportional list of
Republican Party of Armenia/RPA. And on June 12, 2003 he was elected
Vice President of the NA. From 2003 he is Chairman of the NA Ad-hoc
Committee on Matters of Integration in European Structures, head of
the Armenian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe.
In 2004 he was elected Vice-Chairperson of PACE European Democrat
Group, in 2006 – Vice Chairperson of the Committee on the Honouring
of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of
Europe (Monitoring Committee).
He is a member of RPA faction.
>From 1993 he is a member of RPA and the party board. In 1998-2005 he
is a Deputy Chairman of RPA board, from 2005 – RPA Deputy Chairman.
On June 1, 2006 he was elected President of the National Assembly of
the Republic of Armenia.
He is married and has one daughter.

The Anatolian Times, Turkey
June 2 2006
A Resolution Submitted To British Parliament About Genocide Committed
By Belgium In Congo
ANKARA – A resolution was submitted to the British parliament for
recognition of genocide committed by Belgium in Congo.
The resolution submitted to the parliament upon initiatives of the
British-Turkish Dialogue Committee calls on Belgium to acknowledge
the massacres it committed in today’s Democratic Republic of Congo
(formerly known as Belgian Congo and Zaire) between the years of 1885
and 1908, and to apologize from Congolese people.
Members of the British-Turkish Dialogue Committee held a series of
talks with British MPs after a resolution was submitted to the
Belgian parliament with the aim of punishing individuals who deny the
so-called Armenian genocide.
They also met Andrew Dismore, one of the architects of the resolution
on Armenian claims.
Committee members told Dismore that Turkish-Armenian war tragedy was
a reciprocal tragedy, it could not be defined as a genocide, and
asked his support for a resolution about the massacres committed by
Belgium in Congo.
A detailed study was carried out on basis of the official library
records of the British parliament and Dismore submitted the
resolution to the parliament on May 24th.
A total of 13 British MPs have signed the resolution so far.
Signature of at least 50 MPs is required for the resolution for its
inclusion in the parliamentary agenda.
In 1998, Belgian parliament made a decision, recognizing the
so-called Armenian genocide and calling on Turkey to accept it.
Committee members said that Belgium did not have the right to make
such a call, and should deal with its history first.

The Anatolian Times, Turkey
June 2 2006
Turkish F.M. Asks For Russia’s Support Against Terrorism
ANKARA – Turkish FM Abdullah Gul asked his Russian counterpart Sergey
Lavrov that Russia supports Turkey in its fight against terrorism.
Gul and Lavrov had a dinner in the Turkish Foreign Minister’s
Residence yesterday.
According to diplomats, two foreign ministers exchanged views about
bilateral relations and regional topics, as well as Turkey’s EU
membership bid.
Lavrov welcomed measures Turkey has taken regarding the Caucasus,
while Gul asked Lavrov to extend support to Turkey’s fight against
the terrorist organization PKK. He demanded that Russia take measures
against illegal activities of the terrorist organization on its
territory.
The two ministers also discussed the so-called Armenian genocide
allegations, as well as Armenian-Azerbaijani controversy.
-GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS-
Diplomats quoted Lavrov as saying that ”the Armenian allegations are
not a dominant factor in Turkish-Russian relations; although it is
important for the Armenians”. In the meeting, Lavrov said ”they
(Russians) are against using such historical incidents as a political
tool.”
Supporting Turkey’s suggestion to set up a joint commission composed
of Turkish-Armenian historians to investigate the Armenian claims,
Lavrov said that they are ready to extend necessary support to Turkey
regarding this issue.
Meanwhile, Gul said that unless the controversy between Armenia and
Azerbaijan is not settled before Azerbaijani elections, a solution
may not be reached within next five or ten years. ”Therefore, we
hope Russia will contribute to the settlement of the problem in the
possible shortest time,” he noted.
-CONSULATES IN TURKEY AND RUSSIA-
On the other hand, diplomats said that Russia plans to upgrade its
consulate in southern Turkish city of Antalya to a consulate general,
while Turkey thinks of opening a consulate general in St. Petersburg.
In their meeting, Gul told Lavrov that he is thinking of
participating in ”Paris Charter” meeting to be held in Russia on
July 27th.

The Anatolian Times, Turkey
June 2 2006
Turkey Intends To Pursue Efforts To Normalize Relations With Armenia,
Tan
ANKARA – “Turkey is intending to pursue efforts to normalize
relations with Armenia,“ Turkish MFA Spokesman Namik Tan said on
Wednesday.
Tan told a weekly news conference that Turkey was resolved to
establish peace, tranquility and stability in its region as its
traditional foreign policy principle.
“Success of Turkey`s efforts to normalize relations (with Armenia)
depends on a more flexible and constructive approach from Yerevan as
well as to the overcoming of bilateral and regional problems. It also
depends on Armenia`s willingness of abiding by international law,“
Tan noted.
Giving information to journalists about the process, Tan said Turkey
has asked Armenia to establish a joint commission comprising Turkish
and Armenian experts to investigate the incidents that had occurred
in 1915.
Tan said Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote a letter to Armenian
President Robert Kocharian in April 2005 including this suggestion.
“Upon the response letter of Kocharian to Erdogan, a negotiation
process has started between the two countries to seek a common
ground. Three rounds of talks were held so far,“ Tan indicated.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
June 2 2006
Pamuk Calls For Free Debate Of Armenian Massacres

June 1, 2006 — Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk made a plea today for
freedom of expression in Turkey, particularly in relation to the mass
killings of Armenians carried out under the Ottoman Empire.
The acclaimed Turkish writer was in Moscow to promote the Russian
translation of his book, “Istanbul: Memories And The City.”
Last year, prosecutors charged Pamuk with “public denigration of the
Turkish identity” for remarks on the massacres of Armenians made in
an interview with a Swiss newspaper.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen died in orchestrated
killings during World War I, and describe the events as genocide.
Turkey argues that 300,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks were
killed in civil strife when the Armenians rose up against their
Ottoman rulers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress