Taylor column receives praise
Welland Tribune (Ontario)
July 22, 2006 Saturday
Scott Taylor’s Osprey column in the Saturday, July 15, Tribune.
Thank you very much for your article “Where’s Canada on this crisis?”
Niagara Falls Review.
The Azerbaijani Women’s Support Centre appreciates your effort to stand
for the truth and highlight this tense issue in the Canadian press.
We hope that this article will bring the truth into the limelight of
Canadian politics and the Canadian government will leave the double
standards policy towards the genocide.
They will defend the UN resolutions which demand the Armenian
government to withdraw its forces from the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan and be among the states which condemn the genocide in
Garabagh and ethnic cleansing of the Azeri Turks in the whole region.
Thank you again for your article.
Nazila Isgandarova Chair of the Azerbaijani Women’s SUpport Centre
this letter appears also in
Sarnia Observer (Ontario) July 21, 2006 Friday Bringing truth to light
Chatham Daily News (Ontario) July 21, 2006 Friday Article raises
crucial issues

Stubbornness Leads To Strife
Chatham Daily News (Ontario)
July 21, 2006 Friday
Editor’s Note: This letter is addressed to Osprey Writer’s Group
member Scott Taylor, responding to his July 17 column in The Chatham
Daily News, “Focus on present issues.”
SIR: This is to provide you with additional information concerning
the Nagorno-Karapagh conflict that might have prevented you from
comparing the injustice towards the Azerbaijanis with the Armenian
Genocide in your article on July 17.
After the Armenians were removed from their homeland by the Ottoman
Empire (Eastern Turkey, which was the Armenians’ homeland for over
2,000 years is now empty of Armenians), the Armenians managed to form
a republic in the Russian portion of historical Armenia (Armenia
was divided between the Persian, Ottoman, and Russian Empires). It
is noteworthy that the greatest gift that Armenia has given to the
world is itself, as it has sacrificed itself so many times over its
long history, continually being subjected to attacks and occupations
from different empires.
The newly formed republic was forced to join the U.S.S.R. to protect
itself from attacks from the Turks, which was now run by Mustapha
Kemal Ataturk (known in the west as a modernizer). Under Stalin,
two areas – Nakhichevan and Nagorno-Karapagh – were removed from the
Armenian S.S.R. and transferred to the Azerbaijani S.S.R. Nakhichevan
was removed of its Armenian population, whereas Nagorno- Karapagh
continued to have an Armenian majority (both regions had had a long
Armenian presence).
Before the U.S.S.R. collapsed, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karapagh
Autonomous Region requested a unification with the Armenian
S.S.R., but that was rejected. However, when the U.S.S.R. collapsed,
Nagorno-Karapagh declared independence after a referendum (it was legal
for an autonomous region in the U.S.S.R. to declare independence).
The Azerbaijani government reacted to this by attacking the unprotected
people of the newly formed Nagorno-Karapagh Republic. Seeing that the
people of Nagorno-Karapagh needed assistance, the Republic of Armenia
(and Armenians from elsewhere, fearing a repetition of the 1915 events)
sent its forces to protect the neighbouring country’s land, and it did,
as you mentioned, also occupy land outside the NKR as a buffer zone.
Please note that even with its legitimacy, the NKR has not been
recognized by any country, including Armenia, so as not to cause
problems in the on-going conflict/negotiation process.
The United Nations did adopt resolutions regarding the conflict, and it
is of course regrettable whenever force must be used. However, just as
in the Second World War, sometimes evil is necessary for the protection
of the right of self-determination and to ensure future peace.
The best solution is that the NKR be recognized, all of the Azeri
refugees be returned to their homes, and all of the appropriate
conditions be provided for continual peace in the region. The NKR
has proven that it can govern itself, being more democratic than both
the Armenian and Azerbaijani republics.
It is of course clear to you now that the problem started and continues
to exist because of the stubbornness of the Azerbaijani government in
not wanting to recognize the NKR. The Armenian republic is prepared
to withdraw forces from Azerbaijan only when the latter recognizes
the NKR. Otherwise it is pointless, because the occupation was meant
to protect the weaker NKR, and it is still necessary as evidence by
Azerbaijan’s attacks after the ceasefire.
There is no doubt that there is injustice here, but its source and
solution depend on the Azerbaijani side committing to peace and
accepting that the NKR has a right to exist, so that the refugees
can at last return to their lands.
I am a descendent of victims of the Armenian genocide studying at
the University of Toronto. I appreciate your patience in reading my
opinion about the situation, and thank you for your interest in the
situation in Nagorno-Karapagh.
Zafin Menkechian Toronto
This letter also appears in
Sarnia Observer (Ontario) July 21, 2006 Friday Answer lies in
recognizing disputed region
Timmins Daily Press (Ontario) July 21, 2006 Friday Best solution is
for NKR to be recognized

Refusal to accept responsibility
The Toronto Star
July 21, 2006 Friday
A mother’s hope turns to anguish
July 20.
Lately, we have been inundated with stories about the Lebanese
evacuations, and in particular, complaints from evacuees. Your latest
story about Lara Tcholakian fit this pattern.
Tcholakian and her husband work for U.S.-based firms and live
year-round in Armenia. They went to Beirut to visit her husband’s
family at a time when the U.S. and Canada were warning its citizens
not to travel there. Suddenly, having put themselves in harm’s way,
Tcholakian discovers her Canadian roots and demands immediate service
from the Canadian government (not the Armenian government, nor the
U.S. government).
Her mother is blaming the government and Stephen Harper for her
daughter’s dilemma. It seems that if anything goes wrong with any
Canadian citizen, the government and, by extension, the Prime Minister
are responsible.
What has happened to our society, where we complain about and make
demands of our government whenever we get ourselves into trouble? We
have turned into a bunch of crybabies, refusing to take responsibility
for our own welfare.
Sigmund Roseth, Mississauga

GIBRAHAYER
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Circulates every Wednesday
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FROM THE WAR ZONE BACK TO CYPRUS
Gibrahayer – More than 250 Cypriots were successfully flown back to
Cyprus from Lebanon, in an joint operation staged by the Foreign
Ministries of Cyprus and Greece.
The war in Lebanon and the fear of escalation prompted
Cypriots who had gone to Lebanon to contact the Cyprus Embassy and
seek their advice on alternative methods of leaving the country.
In seven separate groups the Cyprus Embassy arranged the
evacuation during last week. In the group of evacuees that left on
Thursday night, was the Office Administrator of Armenian MP Vartkes
Mahdessian, Nayiri Mouradian and her two sons – Vahakn and Varak –
who had gone to Lebanon a week earlier.
Nayiri Mouradian – originally from Lebanon, married in Cyprus
for two decades – talked to Gibrahayer on the day she arrived. “We
were contacted by the Cypriot Consul who arranged for us to gather at
the Greek Embassy on Thursday evening at 7:15 pm” she said. “From
then on it was a long drive to the Syrian border and everyone was
scared because Israeli bombing had not stopped since Wednesday”.
The “Thursday convoy” of two buses, draped in Greek flags
first arrived in Tripoli at 8:30 pm, then to Tartoos and at 11:00 pm
they were at the Syrian border which they crossed from 11:00 – 1:00
am.
Ten hours later they were on the Damascus – Larnaca – Athens
flight and at noon they arrived at Larnaca airport and greeted by
family and press.
“For people who have not gone through this kind of experience
it was very scary. My sons did not stop asking questions throughout
the journey. They were frightened but relieved on arrival. As for me
I had lived these frightful experiences before and relived them
again” concluded Nayiri Mouradian to members of the Cyprus press at
Larnaca airport.
Armenian representative in the Cyprus Parliament Vartkes
Mahdessian took an active involvement in the assistance and
evacuation of Armenian Cypriots from Lebanon and in close
co-operation with the Cyprus Ambassador in Lebanon Kyriacos Kouros,
helped evacuees reach their destinations safely.
Meanwhile in Armenia, 100 Armenian citizens arrived in Armenia
last night with a direct Aleppo-Yerevan flight. Armenian authorities
also announced that Armenians from Lebanon would receive a status of
‘temporarily protected
persons’ if they arrived in Yerevan and asked for it.
Thousands of foreign nationals have been using Cypriot ports
and airports to flee the war zone, while a number of Lebanese
citizens – who had left their country a few weeks ago – used our exit
points as entry points back to Lebanon to reunite with their
families.
HAMAZKAYIN SEVAN DANCE ENSEMBLE STRANDED IN BEIRUT EVENTUALLY LEAVE
VIA JORDAN
AAP correspondents in Beirut – Members of the Australian
“Hamazkayin Sevan Dance Ensemble” stranded in Lebanon have
been eventually evacuated through Jordan. 45 young performers and 36
parents and supervisors travelling with them remained bunkered down
in their Beirut hotel as the Israeli military continued its attacks
on the Lebanese capital.
They eventually crossed the border on buses and travelled to
Jordan where accommodation arrangements have been made for a short
wait before flying to Sydney. The hush-hush evacuation took place at
around 2.00pm Australia time and the buses crossed the border around
4.30pm on Monday.
Cyprus was one of two possible destinations for the Dance
Ensemble and on Monday, Cyprus Hamazkayin Chairman Arto Tavitian
contacted the Central Executive Offices of Hamazkayin in Beirut to
offer the services of the Cyprus Oshagan Branch, if the need arises.
Eventually, between the ferry trip to Cyprus, the road option
to Syria and the exodus through Jordan was taken by the Group.
Foreign Minister of Australia Alexander Downer said it was
hoped to bus a number of Australians across the border into Syria,
and then on to Jordan. A representative of the Dance Ensemble Ms
Iskenderian, said that while everyone was in good health the group
remain frightened by the bombing and wanted to return home.
for the latest in the War in Lebanon click here , or visit the
constantly updated pages of the largest circulation Armenian Daily
Aztag’s online version. (English and Armenian)
Finally, the Cyprus Branch of the Hnchakian Party called upon the
AGBU to open up the gates of Melkonian to Armenian Children of
worn-torn Middle East. Should the same appeal not have been directed
to the Cyprus AGBU leadership as well?”.
tatiana’s corner by Tatiana Ferahian
Turkish proverb of the week
“Tırnagın varısa – kaÅ~_ı baÅ~_ını.”
Phoneti cally: Turnayun varusa – kashu bashunu.
Literally: If you have fingernails – scratch your head.
Idiomatically: If you have the resources you can meet your needs.
COULD THESE 5-DAY STATS BE TRUE?
250 innocent civilians dead, 650 wounded
500,000 refugees fleeing the south
25 bridges destroyed
all airports and sea ports bombed
no electricity
no fuel
complete Air and Sea blockade and partial Land blockade
losses estimated to 4 billions dollars (infrastructure, economy,
tourism)
ARMENIAN EDITOR COULD FACE NEW PROSECUTION FOR REFERRING TO ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE
(Reporters without borders for press freedom – 19 July, 2006) The
Istanbul public prosecutor yesterday opened a new investigation
against Hrant Dink, the managing editor of the Armenian-language
weekly Agos, this time for referring to the massacre of Armenians in
1915 as genocide.
Dink used the term in a 14 July interview for the British news
agency Reuters about his suspended sentence of six months in prison
for “insulting Turkish identity.” He could face up to three
years in prison if convicted on the new charge.
Related LA Times editorial sent by Vartkes Sinanian. click here
DIRECT FLIGHTS TO ARMENIA BEGIN NEXT WEEK
(Gibrahayer 17 July, 2006) Karian Travel have announced that as of
July 31, 2006, they will begin chartered flights to Yerevan which
will be brought to us by ArmAvia Airlines and Sputnik Travel Agency.
For more information you can contact the following numbers in
Limassol, Nicosia and Larnaca: 25316849, 25318949, 22765760,
24643360.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT POSTPONES TALKS ON TURKEY REPORT
(Source: ABHaber) The European Parliament on Tuesday postponed
debates on a draft report entitled “Turkey’s Progress Towards
Accession” which includes a variety of criticisms of Turkey, until
early September.
Debates on the report, prepared by EP Committee on Foreign
Affairs Rapporteur and MEP Camiel Eurlings, are now set for an EP
session Sept. 4 to 7.
The decision to postpone talks comes after some 400 proposals
for amendments to the draft report were submitted. Moreover at
Tuesday’s session of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee, some members
stated that translation of the amendment requests will take a long
time. However European diplomats stated that there are many
conflicting views surrounding the proposed amendments.
While Eurlings said that more debates about Turkey are
necessary, other MEPs recalled the latest developments on Cyprus as
well as Turkey’s plans to implement certain reforms on women’s
rights, obligatory religious lessons and religious minorities and
requested the inclusion of these developments in the report. Other
MEPs noted that the European Commission will also announce a progress
report on Turkey and underlined the importance of back-to-back
issuing of the two reports.
The draft report criticised a number of issues, including
Cyprus, a slowdown in the EU reform process, the situation in the
southeast, problems with religious minorities, cultural rights and
civil-military relations. It raised particular concerns about the
Semdinli incident, during which a bookshop in the southeast was
allegedly bombed by members of the security forces, and called for an
impartial and objective investigation into the incident.
Turkey’s reservations to open its airports and harbours to
the Greek Cypriots will have serious implications for the EU process
and could even bring it to a halt, warned the draft report. The
highly critical report also called on Turkey to take steps towards
the recognition of the Greek Cypriot administration during the
accession process and raises the idea of an early withdrawal of
forces from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It also
calls on the European Council to renew efforts to implement trade
regulations with Northern Cyprus.
The EP report severely condemned the killing of Council of
State Judge Mustafa Yucel Ozbilgin, expressing concern over the
low-level of security offered to judges by the police despite clear
and public threats, and called on the government to rectify the
situation. The EP also condemned a resurgence of violence in the
southeast by the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and
stressed that there can never be an excuse for violence against
Turkish citizens in any part of the country. The report also
expressed solidarity with Turkey in fighting terrorism.
On the Armenian issue, the EP took note of a Turkish proposal
to set up a bilateral committee of experts to deal with the tragic
experiences of the past and of Armenia’s position on the proposal. It
also urged the Turkish and Armenian governments to continue their
process of reconciliation leading to a mutually acceptable proposal
and asked Turkey to take the necessary steps, without any
preconditions, to establish diplomatic and good neighbourly relations
with Armenia and open the land border as soon as possible.
Armenians in China
Armenians lived in China long before the twentieth century,
but because the twentieth century brought us the first Genocide,
followed by the Russian revolution, our people fled their respective
homes in Turkey and Russian Armenia. The only available road was via
Trans-Siberian railroad all the way to Manchuria, the northern
province of China.
These Armenians have survived the genocide, the world
depression of 1930s, the Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1932 and
the takeover of the country by the Chinese communist army -The
Paludiun, i.e. the Eighth Army, headed by Mao-Tse-Tung.
These Armenians rebuilt their lives, formed families, had
children, and built a church in the city of Harbin in 1927. They
worked hard and gave their children a good education so that the new
generation would go ahead and lead productive lives and always keep
their identity through their faith, their church and their nation.
click here for the complete article at the website of the Armenian
Studies program of the California State University.
news in brief
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (12.07.06) reports that a
big fire broke out in occupied Pentadakylos (Sourp Magar Monastery
area) and helicopters from Adana and Mersin assisted on extinguishing
the fire. The fire destroyed 45 donums of land with pine, cypress,
carob and olive trees. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Azerbaijan’s President Heydar Aliyev fired his FM Hasan Hasanov for
his involvement in a crooked real estate deal. Hasanov was accused of
converting a Turkish financed Foreign Ministry residence into a
hotel-casino in Baku. This was linked to a 1996 Turkish scandal that
involved collusion among Turkish government figures, mafia bosses,
drug lords and corrupt police according to an official Turkish
investigative report.
sports
Marcos Baghdatis heads the line-up of players for 11 Zonal ties in
the 2006 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas this weekend on 21-23 July. The
world No. 10, who has already played 27 ties for Cyprus since making
his debut at the age of 14 in 2000, travels to Cairo for the Davis
Cup Play-offs against Egypt to help Cyprus avoid relegation.
Zaruhi Harutyunyan results. Click here
Zaruhi Harutyunyan
VICTORY IN SCOTLAND !
(Gibrahayer Monday July 17) Armenia’s hope in world tennis, Zaruhi
Harutyunyan of Armenia bagged her fourth title of 2006 in Scotland,
demolishing in the final Anastasia Nebojanko 6-1, 6-2 who in the semi
finals had eliminated tournament number one Alexa Guarachi of the
United States.
However, Harutyunyan’s true determination and champion
characteristics in the Scottish Championships emerged in the semi
finals – when she fought off all odds – against Caitlin Smith,
7-6(4), 6-7(6),7-5.
A position in the top 200 is now well in her grasp and if she
continues this winning tempo her chase for a Grand Slam participation
may come much sooner than we all anticipate.
For Zaruhi Harutyunyan’s activity in 2006 – click here
CONTRIBUTE TO ZARUHI’S WORLD TOUR
Laiki Bank Strovolos Industrial Area, Stavrou 96 I, 2034, Strovolos:
Account No. 101-08-037631 for Zaruhi Harutyunyan under Simon
Aynedjian
International transfers at IBAN CY30 0030 0101 0000 0101 0803 7631
Swift Code address LIKICY2N
gibrahayer calendar
Wednesday July 19, 2006 – Commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of
the Turkish invasion to Cyprus at the Presidential Palace Garden.
Main Speaker President Tassos Papadopoulos. Concert by George
Dalaras.
Sunday July 23 – Annual traditional Khanasori Arshavank celebrations
organised by ARF Dashnaktsoutiun Cyprus Committee, and affiliate
organisations. Venue: Last year’s picnic site at “Loumada ton Aeton.”
Sunday 16-30 July – Hamazkayin Forum – Yerevan – Armenia. Visit the
Hamazkayin Forum site at:
12 – 30 July – Khalkidiki Summer Camp organised by the ARS of Greece
for 12 – 16 year old Armenians. Sosse Chapter of ARS (HOM) Sosse
Cyprus announce that 18 Armenian youth from Cyprus are participating.
–Boundary_(ID_domHV6uEQ/xhox+ce3R 4lQ)–

Bulgarian nationalist chief ordered to cease discriminatory remarks
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
July 21, 2006 Friday 4:53 PM EST
DPA x Bulgaria Justice Bulgarian nationalist chief ordered to cease
discriminatory remarks Sofia A local court in Sofia ordered Friday
Volen Siderov, the chairman of the Bulgarian nationalist party Ataka
(Attack), to cease making discriminatory remarks.
Siderov’s remarks had exceeded “the measure of freedom of speech,”
the court said. The case, brought by an Armenian women, was based on
remarks made by Siderov about minorities.
Presently, Siderov faces seven other lawsuits for inciting
discrimination towards ethnic and sexual minorities.

Group of former Soviet states in crisis as leaders fail to show
Agence France Presse — English
July 21, 2006 Friday 4:46 PM GMT
by Nick Coleman
Georgia and Ukraine pulled out of a summit of former Soviet states
on Friday, underscoring rising tensions 15 years after the collapse
of the Soviet Union.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been embroiled in a row
with the Kremlin over the Georgian separatist region of South Ossetia,
said he had cancelled his attendance due to a cabinet reshuffle.
“The president is busy with important questions linked to his cabinet,”
the head of the presidential administration, Giorgi Arveladze, said.
Saakashvili’s non-attendance was one of a string of no-shows by
leaders of the 12-member Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS),
set up after the break-up of the Soviet Union to try to maintain
economic and political ties.
Other presidents who failed to turn up included Robert Kocharian of
Armenia, Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine and Saparmurat Niyazov of
Turkmenistan.
Yushchenko’s office blamed the “political situation” in Ukraine, where
rival parties have been struggling to form a coalition government,
while Kocharian, who has close ties with Moscow, was said by his
office to have a “respiratory illness”.
The Kremlin has sought to make CIS summits less formal affairs as
rivalries between leaders threatened to spill into the open at earlier
set-piece press conferences.
This time the leaders met at a riverside restaurant on Friday and
were due to hold brief formal talks on Saturday before attending a
horse-racing event, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper said.
Commentators said the friendship symbolised by the CIS looked
increasingly threadbare.
“Whether to get rid of the CIS or keep it will be decided today,”
the Vedomosti business daily said.
The CIS formally includes all the former Soviet republics except the
three Baltic states, but the meetings have been patchily attended,
with Turkmen leader Niyazov almost never showing up in recent years.
Vedomosti noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin himself has
said that the CIS might have a limited lifespan.
Another paper, Kommersant, said that relations between Georgia and
Russia had “never before been so fraught” and had even reached the
stage where threats of force were being made.
Georgia’s parliament this week demanded the withdrawal of Russian
peacekeepers from the separatist region of South Ossetia, the third
such demand it has made in a year.
Saakashvili, who came to power in 2004 in a “rose revolution”, has
promised to reunite his fractured country and integrate it with the
West, in particular the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Some observers saw the cabinet reshuffle as a conveniently timed
pretext for not coming to Moscow, where Saakashvili had hoped to
talk to Putin about South Ossetia and a Georgian demand for Russia
to withdraw peacekeepers from the territory.
“It is possible that the change of ministers is linked to the fact
that Saakashvili felt there was nothing to be gained from Moscow,”
said Soso Sinsadze, an analyst with the Institute for International
Relations in Tblisi.
Russia has been holding military exercises on its border with South
Ossetia, a move seen by some analysts as a warning to Tbilisi not
to eject the peacekeepers, who have been there since South Ossetia
fought for independence in the early 1990s.
Among the leaders who did attend Friday’s summit, the president of
Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, signalled tough talks ahead over Russia’s
support for the breakaway region of Transdnestr, which has scheduled
a referendum for September on leaving Moldova and “freely uniting”
with Russia.
“An informal summit without a strict agenda doesn’t mean there won’t
be discussion of the hottest, most unpleasant questions,” he told
Echo Moscow radio station.

Armenian, Ukrainian presidents cancel Moscow visit
Agence France Presse — English
July 21, 2006 Friday 11:01 AM GMT
The presidents of Armenia and Ukraine cancelled scheduled visits to
Moscow on Friday for a meeting of leaders of ex-Soviet republics.
“We’re not going,” said Irina Gerashchenko, a spokeswoman for Ukrainian
President Viktor Yushchenko, blaming “the political situation” back
home — where the main parties are locked in a power struggle —
for the cancellation, Interfax news agency reported.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian will also not be able to attend
because “he has a respiratory illness,” an official from Kocharian’s
press office said.
The presidents were due to attend an informal summit of leaders of
the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) group of 12 ex-Soviet
republics.
The announcements came after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s
office said he could not attend because he was busy with a cabinet
reshuffle. Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov was also not expected
to attend.
The CIS members are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and
Uzbekistan. bur-dt/njc

Airing Differences
by Florence Mardirossian
21 July 2006
Transitions of Line, Czech Republic
July 21, 2006
Officials and activists from all sides of the issue are at least
talking about how to ease discontent among Armenians in Georgia’s
Javakheti region. From EurasiaNet.
Officials, academics, and non-governmental organization representatives
are pondering ways to defuse a potential crisis in the Georgian region
of Samtskhe-Javakheti, where discontent is brewing among the area’s
Armenian community.
Some local leaders and civic activists warn of socio-political
trouble if no action is taken to address the demands of the local
Armenian community for expanded language rights and other cultural
privileges. Discontent has already reached the point where one local
Armenian cultural organization, United Javakhk, reportedly adopted a
statement in early July calling on the Georgian government to grant
the region autonomy status.
The language issue is intertwined with other issues, namely
a lack of economic opportunity in the region. Most Armenians
in Samtskhe-Javakheti don’t speak Georgian, and they say the
Georgian government should do more to protect their cultural
traditions. Georgian officials, meanwhile, want Armenians living in
the region to learn Georgian. Some quietly question the sincerity of
the Armenian community’s desire to integrate.
The compulsory use of the Georgian language for education is the chief
source of discontent among Armenians in Samtskhe-Javakheti. Ethnic
Armenian demands also include an acknowledgment of the Armenian
genocide of 1915, a removal of the ban on teaching Armenian history,
the adoption of new laws covering minority rights, and self-governance.
A recent roundtable discussion, held in the regional center of
Akhalkalaki, sought to bring all sides together to discuss problems and
explore possible solutions. Participants, including local politicians,
experts and NGO representatives from Georgia and Armenia, generally
agreed that giving the region autonomous status was not a viable
option, especially given Tbilisi’s experience with separatism in
Abkhazia, Ajaria, and South Ossetia over the past 15 years.
At the same time, attendees suggested that Tbilisi couldn’t ignore the
complaints of local Armenians. One of the event’s chief organizers,
Sevak Artsruni, head of [Yerkir,] the Armenian Union of NGOs for
Repatriation and Settlement, cautioned that cultural issues, left
unaddressed, could develop into a major headache for Tbilisi.
Samtskhe-Javakheti sits along a trade corridor that is growing in
geopolitical importance. In particular, the recently inaugurated
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline runs through the territory. As a
result, international development funds have been earmarked for
local infrastructure improvement, including over $100 million in
U.S. assistance made available under the Millennium Challenge program
for local road construction and renovation. The region also figures
prominently in plans to build a rail link connecting the Turkish city
of Kars and the Azeri capital of Baku.
“Socio-economic projects cold bring stability if the cultural and
linguistic rights of the Armenian minority were respected,” Artsruni
said. “But if ethnic Armenians do not take part in these projects, the
cultural problem could turn political and Javakheti could definitely
[encounter] a crisis.”
Meanwhile, another conference participant, Georgian political scientist
Ghia Nodia, said tension in Samtskhe-Javakheti is a reflection of poor
local governance in Georgia. “Many people are calling for autonomy
because local democracy … is weak or does not work,” Nodia said.
Mutual suspicion mars relations between ethnic Armenians and
Tbilisi. Last March, tension boiled over and resulted in a prolonged
period of rioting, ignited by the killing of an ethnic Armenian in
a brawl.
The political atmosphere became charged following the Rose Revolution
in November 2003 and was been exacerbated by the decision to withdraw
Russian troops from a permanent base in Akhalkalaki by the end of 2007.
The base was a major source of employment for the Armenian community,
providing well-paying jobs for roughly 10,000 civilians. The Georgian
government has promised to implement programs that diminish the
economic impact of the Russians’ departure, but Armenians remain
skeptical. Many view President Mikheil Saakashvili’s administration
as focused mainly on nationalist concerns, namely reestablishing
Tbilisi’s authority over Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Speaking at the Akhalkalaki roundtable in early June, Meka
Elbakidze, an analyst with the Caucasus Institute for Peace,
Development and Democracy (CIPDD), provided a road map for a Georgian
conflict-prevention strategy. Tbilisi should focus on the linguistic
issue and ethic Armenians’ disenfranchisement from local and national
politics, he suggested.
Georgian officials seem interested in exploring solutions to Javakheti
dilemmas. During a mid-July meeting, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
Noghaideli discussed with his Armenian counterpart Andranik Markarian
the feasibility of opening an Armenian-Georgian university in Tbilisi,
according to news accounts of the meeting. In addition, Markarian
said the Armenian government was prepared to assist in efforts to
improve Samtskhe-Javakheti’s infrastructure.

Caucasus Reporting Service
Nagorny Karabakh Woos Tourists
The Karabakh Armenians aim to overcome security fears by trumpeting the
region’s ancient monasteries and beautiful scenery.
By Ashot Beglarian in Stepanakert (CRS No. 349, 20-July-06)
Twelve years after war ended in Nagorny Karabakh, the unrecognised
republic is seeking to attract greater numbers of tourists to enjoy
its unspoilt scenery and medieval churches.
Large sums have been invested in the tourism sector, especially by
businessmen from the Armenian diaspora. The Swiss firm Sirkap Armenia
has built several hotels at a cost of more than 1.5 million US dollars.
There’s been a big increase in the number of hotels, as memories of
war recede. There are now more than 20 in Nagorny Karabakh, half of
them in the capital Stepanakert. Two new ones, with about 100 rooms
between them, are being built in the town’s central square.
The old capital of Shushi (known by the Azerbaijanis as Shusha), which
was heavily destroyed in the war in 1992, is also being re-developed. A
Soviet-era 11-storey hotel is being rebuilt and is expected to open
its doors again within the next two years. In addition, there are
plans to reopen the sanatoria that attracted thousands of summer
visitors in former times.
Karabakh’s foreign ministry says that the number of tourists is
increasing by 30-40 per cent every year and that last year there were
5,000 from more than 60 countries. The majority – around 70 per cent –
were ethnic Armenians from around the world.
For many people, Karabakh is still a war-zone and most western
governments advise their citizens against travelling there on grounds
of safety. It is still part of the internationally recognised territory
of Azerbaijan.
This is enough to deter curious visitors. Nic Keulemans, a tourist
from Belgium, said he was overwhelmed by the scenery in Karabakh,
although he was still a little worried about the problem of mines.
“The monasteries are also interesting,” he said. “I visited Gandzasar
and the church in Shushi. On the whole my impressions were good. I
didn’t like the fact that because of the war there was limited access
to certain territories. I think mines and unexploded ordnance still
present a certain danger. They can be on fields, hills and remote
mountain paths. And that gets in the way of organising a real holiday.”
Sergei Shakhverdian, head of both the Aspar tourist firm and the
recently created Agency for Tourism Development, sees one of his
roles as reassuring foreign visitors.
“The main thing is to convince people that it is safe in Karabakh
and that is what we are consistently doing,” he said.
Karabakhis point out that their home region is packed with attractions
that are all the more attractive for being virtually unknown to the
outside world. They include 1,700 architectural monuments, including
600 monasteries and 500 churches, ruined palaces, castles and forts.
Shakhverdian said that the mass of medieval religious sites also made
Karabakh a very special place for Christian pilgrims. He pointed out
that the region contains the grave of the early Christian saint Elisei;
that the 13th century Gandzasar monastery claims to have the head of
John the Baptist; and the ancient Amaras monastery has the mausoleum
of St Grigoris.
The tourism industry is still very much in its infancy in Karabakh. The
government budget allocated for the sector for this year is just
4,000 dollars.
Although the scenery is a major attraction, visitors say that there
is very little infrastructure for staying outside the main two towns,
as there are no campsites and no car rental available. The tourist
agents say they dream of developing Karabakh as a ski resort, but
that would need huge amounts of investment.
The ministry of territorial management has begun a partnership with
the tourist development agency of Armenia, which provides the only
route into Karabakh for visitors – a road from Yerevan to Stepanakert,
which is 360 kilometres long.
The minister, Armo Tsaturian said, “The development of tourism in
Nagorny Karabakh would receive a significant boost if there was
an air-link.”
In order to attract new visitors, the Karabakh government is publishing
a new guidebook. It is also promoting Karabakh at tourist exhibitions.
In May, the government here rented a pavilion at the big tourist
exhibition in Moscow, where they handed out promotional material and
offered visitors Karabakh wine to taste.
The opening of the display turned into an angry confrontation,
when a group of Azerbaijani students sitting in the hall protested
loudly. But Shakhverdian denied reports that the pavilion had closed
after the protests.
“Information that the Nagorny Karabakh display in Moscow had
been shut down came from the Azerbaijani embassy in Russia,” said
Shakhverdian. “Right from the start of the exhibition, the embassy of
Azerbaijan reacted very strongly to our presence and tried to persuade
the organisers to close the display, but when they understood that it
wouldn’t work they demanded that at the very least the name of our
display was changed from the Nagorny Karabakh Republic to Nagorny
Karabakh.
“However, to its credit, the Moscow government did not give in
to blackmail and the exhibition passed off normally, according to
our plans.”
Shakhverdian said that the furore surrounding the event had actually
attracted more visitors to the Nagorny Karabakh pavilion, curious to
know what had caused all the fuss. He hoped some of those visitors
would make their way to Karabakh itself.
IWPR’s Baku office contacted Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry spokesman,
Tahir Tagizade, for an official reaction to the campaign to attract
tourists to Karabakh.
Tagizade said that Azerbaijan was “not in principle against advertising
the tourist attractions of Nagorny Karabakh because Nagorny Karabakh is
part of Azerbaijan and soon after the restoration of the jurisdiction
of Azerbaijan this advertising will be beneficial to the region”.
However, Tagizade warned foreigners visiting Nagorny Karabakh without
official permission from Baku that they risked being barred from
Azerbaijan.
Ashot Beglarian is a freelance journalist based in
Stepanakert. Azerbaijan editor Shahin Rzayev in Baku contributed to
this report.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Matthew Bryza to visit Stepanakert
ArmRadio.am
22.07.2006 12:43
In the framework of the regional visit, US Co-Chair of teh OSCE Misnk
Group Matthew Bryza will visit also Stepanakert. Mr. Bryza will arrive
in Stepanakert on July 29 on a two-day working visit, Press Service
of NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs referring to the Office
of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. The
American mediator will be received by NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress