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07/18/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1. ANCA Urges Senate to Block Hoagland Nomination 2. Lebanon ARF Condemns Israeli Attacks, Call for Community Unity 3. House Members Disturbed by State Department Non-Response to on Evans Firing 4. Karabakh Welcomes G8 Calls on Peace 5. US Warns Turkey Against Iraq Incursion, Erdogan Decries 'Double Standards' 1. ANCA Urges Senate to Block Hoagland Nomination WASHINGTON--Citing US Ambassador-designate Richard Hoagland's denial of the Armenian Genocide and his contradictory responses to Senate inquiries - both against the background of the continued failure of the Administration to offer a meaningful and forthright explanation of its reasons for firing the current US Ambassador, John Evans - the Armenian National Committee of America Tuesday issued a statement formally opposing Hoagland's nomination to serve as the next US Ambassador to Armenia. A July 16 policy editorial published by the Los Angeles Times called on the US Senate to block Ambassador-designate Hoagland's nomination until he properly recognizes the Armenian Genocide. The strongly worded piece urged the Bush administration to "explain forthrightly - not just to Armenian Americans but to all Americans who believe in calling evil by its proper name - why US policy is being dictated by Ankara nationalists." "Ambassador-designate Richard Hoagland has disqualified himself as a candidate to serve as our nation's ambassador to the Republic of Armenia," said the ANCA statement. During the course of his Senate confirmation process, Ambassador-designate Richard Hoagland has taken a number of actions that demonstrate that he cannot effectively represent US interests and American values, among them: 1. Asserting that the Armenian Genocide does not qualify as an instance of genocide 2. Providing contradictory statements or failing to respond to US Senate inquiries 3. Abandoning America's leadership on genocide prevention The complete text of the announcement can be found on asbarez.com. 1. Asserting that the Armenian Genocide does not qualify as an instance of genocide Ambassador-designate Hoagland has disqualified himself as the next US Ambassador to Armenia by engaging in denial of the Armenian Genocide. Consistent with the denials issued by the Turkish government, Ambassador Hoagland argues that the Armenian Genocide does not qualify as an instance of genocide because of the absence, on the part of the perpetrator, of a "specific intent to destroy, in whole or in substantial part," the victim group. In a July 14th response to a written question from Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) concerning why the US does not consider the Armenian Genocide an instance of genocide, Ambassador-designate Hoagland selectively cited one of the five "understandings" expressed by the US at the time of the US ratification of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, namely that, "genocidal intent meant a 'specific intent to destroy, in whole or in substantial part,' the group as such." Additionally, in a dramatic retreat to the more blatant forms of denial typical of the State Department's opposition to Armenian Genocide recognition during the 1980s, Ambassador-designate Hoagland referred to statements on the Armenian Genocide as allegations. In a response to a written inquiry from Senator John Kerry (D-MA) concerning Turkey's criminal prosecution of journalists for writing about the Armenian Genocide, Ambassador-designate Hoagland characterized their factual affirmations of the Armenian Genocide as simply allegations. As Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) stated during Ambassador-designate Hoagland's confirmation hearing, "I am not sure how we can continue to have Ambassadors to Armenia who can be effective, unless they give recognition to the Genocide." Sadly, Ambassador-designate Hoagland has gone far beyond the traditional Administration practice of failing to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. He has, instead, placed himself firmly into the camp of the Turkish government by publicly denying the genocidal nature of this crime. His nomination, if confirmed, would represent a dramatic escalation in US complicity in Turkey's campaign of denial. 2. Providing contradictory statements or failing to respond to US Senate inquiries Ambassador-designate Hoagland has disqualified himself as the next US Ambassador to Armenia by making contradictory and inconsistent statements to the US Senate regarding his views on the Armenian Genocide. In many instances, he did not respond to specific Senate inquiries. In responses to questions submitted by Senators Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) and John Kerry (D-MA), he denied that he had been counseled not to refer to the events of 1915 as the Armenian Genocide. Yet, in the course of responding to questioning at his confirmation hearing and to several dozen written inquiries, he went to extreme lengths to avoid using this term. Either he has misled Senators regarding the guidance he has received, or he has chosen to avoid using the term genocide on his own accord - both profoundly troubling developments that disqualify him from serving as the US envoy in Yerevan. More broadly, Ambassador-designate Hoagland's July 14th claim that the Armenian Genocide does not meet the US government's definition of genocide stands in stark contrast to his repeated assertions to US Senators that the Administration does not deny the events of 1915: * In response to a question about US policy on the Armenian Genocide from Senator Allen (R-VA) during the June 28th confirmation hearing, Ambassador-designate Hoagland asserted that, "No one in this administration has ever denied the events beginning in the 20th century at the end of the Ottoman Empire that befell the Armenian nation and people." * In response to a question from Senator Coleman (R-MN) regarding whether Ambassador-designate Hoagland agreed with then-Governor Bush's statements affirming the Armenian Genocide, he stated: "I fully agree that the events that occurred on 1915 and following were of historic proportion. As I said well-documented, horrific and horrifying and as we heard from Senator Sarbanes in his statement early on -- hundreds of valleys devastated no family untouched. It was historic. It was a tragedy. Everyone agrees with that." * In response to a written inquiry from Senator John Kerry (D-MA) asking if he disputed a series of nine facts about the Armenian Genocide, Ambassador-designate Hoagland did not dispute that: "The atrocities conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 ... resulted in the elimination of the more than 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historic homeland." * In response to subsequent questions from Senator Kerry asking about the Administration's denial of the Armenian Genocide and the consequences of its non-recognition, Ambassador-designate Hoagland stated that, "the Administration does not deny the tragic events that occurred in the final years of the Ottoman Empire," and that: "the Administration does recognize the massacre or forced exile of as many as 1.5 million Armenians in the final years of the Ottoman Empire." 3. Abandoning America's leadership on genocide prevention Ambassador-designate Hoagland has additionally disqualified himself as the next US Ambassador to Armenia by failing to grasp the fundamental need for US moral leadership in condemning and preventing genocide. In response to a question from Senator Kerry, Ambassador-designate Hoagland stated that, "The US believes that the question of how to characterize these horrific events is of such enormous human significance that it should not be determined on the basis of politics, but through heartfelt introspection among academics, civic leaders, and societies." Ambassador-designate Hoagland's formulation could not be more deeply flawed. It is precisely because of the enormity of the Armenian Genocide that the US should address this crime with absolute moral and historical clarity. By delegating the characterization of the Armenian Genocide to a dialogue between the unrepentant perpetrators of Genocide and the survivors and descendants of those who perished, the Ambassador-designate argues for effectively reducing our nation's response to genocide to the level acceptable to the Turkish government. Our nation's human rights policy should never be held hostage by a foreign country--particularly one that is regularly cited as among the world's worst human rights abusers. For these reasons, we respectfully request that the US Senate not move forward with Ambassador Hoagland's nomination. 2. Lebanon ARF Condemns Israeli Attacks, Call for Community Unity BEIRUT, YEREVAN (Aztag, Armenpress)--The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of Lebanon issued an announcement Monday condemning the Israeli bombing of Lebanon and "infringing on Lebanon's sovereignty," reported the Beirut-based Aztag daily newspaper. The announcement called on "the international community and humanitarian organizations to immediately intervene in order to suppress Israel's attacks against Lebanon." The Lebanon ARF Central Committee concluded by announcing that its affiliate relief, social service and humanitarian organizations were prepared to take in all Lebanese refugees who have been displaced by the bombings. In Yerevan, some 160 Armenian nationals and dozens of other residents of Lebanon have been evacuated to Armenia since the start of Israel's devastating strikes against the war-torn nation, officials there said on Tuesday, reported Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, just over a hundred of them were airlifted to Yerevan from the Syrian city of Aleppo on board an Armenian passenger jet early in the morning. "The Armenian consulate in Aleppo was directly involved in the effort, accompanying this group of people from the Lebanese border to Aleppo yesterday," a ministry spokesman, Vladimir Karapetian, told RFE/RL. "Then the group headed to Armenia by air." Karapetian said most of these evacuees are Lebanese citizens, many of them of Armenian descent, as well as other foreigners. Less than half of them are citizens of Armenia, he added. The Foreign Ministry estimates that there were approximately 1,200 Armenian nationals residing in Lebanon at least before the start of the Israeli military campaign a week ago. Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan on Thursday held an emergency meeting with high-ranking government officials to discuss ways of organizing their repatriation. A government statement quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian as saying at the meeting that two Armenian diplomats have already been sent to Lebanon and Syria to assist in the effort. The head of the Armenian government's civil aviation department, Artyom Movsesian, suggested that the Armavia national airline will have to carry out additional flights to Aleppo and Damascus to cope with a "large number of those willing to arrive in Armenia." Markarian agreed, saying that the government is ready to partly subsidize the extra flights, according to the statement. "I wouldn't say there is a widespread desire [to escape to Armenia] at the moment," said Karapetian. "Nonetheless, our embassy there does receive such requests." 3. House Members Disturbed by State Department Non-Response to on Evans Firing WASHINGTON--Members of the US House of Representatives have expressed disappointment at the Administration's repeated failure to provide a clear and straightforward explanation for the dismissal of US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, even as the State Department issued yet another letter sidestepping the issue, reported the Armenian National Committee of America. In their response to the May 22 letter spearheaded by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) and cosigned by 60 House members, Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Jeffrey Bergner failed, once again, to address reports that Amb. Evans' was being recalled for his statements on the Armenian Genocide.  The letter began with the well-worn refrain that "All Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the President and as advocates of the President's policies."  He went on to argue that, "allegations that the US is removing Ambassador Evans under pressure from the Government of Turkey are simply untrue," despite the fact that numerous Turkish press accounts in March of 2005 reported  that then Turkish Ambassador to the US Faruk Logoglu did indeed protest Amb. Evans' remarks to State Department officials. The State Department's letter, sent to House Members on July 11th, went on to state that "The United States has never denied the tragic events of 1915 . . .  We believe this tragedy is of such enormous human significance that its characterization should be determined through heartfelt dialogue, not through diplomatic or political proclamations." Several House Members immediately reacted to the response, expressing concern that the State Department has, yet again, avoided providing a clear reasoning for the Amb. Evans firing. "The Bush Administration has once again failed to answer the question of whether or not the early departure of US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans is related to comments he made about the Armenian Genocide. Moreover, the Bush Administration continues to duck when given the opportunity to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide," explained Rep. Markey.  "The time has long since passed for President Bush to follow through on his campaign promises and properly recognize the Armenian Genocide.  Only after President Bush accurately refers to the mass killings of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide can we finally tear down the last walls of denial." Similarly, Congressional Armenian Genocide resolution lead sponsor George Radanovich (R-CA), lamented that "This response was, unfortunately, what we have come to expect from the Administration and those before it  respectfully acknowledging the mass killing of 1.5 million Armenians, but refusing to properly call it genocide.  It is simply incomprehensible to me how anyone can recognize the tragic events of 1915, then turn around and implicitly deny that genocide occurred by refusing to call it such for political reasons.  I just don't understand that." Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) wrote a letter back objecting to the State Department's response and calling the President's actions on Armenian Genocide recognition "woefully inadequate."  Rep. Levin stated, "I did have a strong negative reaction to your comments about 1915.  I urge the President to do more than 'call on all concerned parties to engage in thoughtful introspection' which is woefully inadequate in the face of the Administration's repeated failure to call a genocide a genocide." Again responding to the State Departments July 11 letter, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) noted that, "The State Department's non-response on the issue of Ambassador Evan's departure confirms what we all know -- the Ambassador was pushed out the door for telling the truth about the Armenian Genocide. This marks a sad day for the State Department when it compounds an unwillingness to acknowledge one of the great crimes in human history and more, disciplines those who do." Rep. Schiff also commented on the State Department's lack of response to a series of questions submitted during a House International Relations Committee hearing with Secretary Rice in February 16, 2006.  "Secretary of State Rice's failure to adequately respond to questions I posed to her on this issue at a hearing months ago, is a further indication of the Department's illicit motive for Evan's hasty removal." Similarly, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) noted that "The belated response from the State Department regarding our inquiry into the removal of Ambassador Evans is yet another statement without a real explanation. Reports suggest that Evans is being unjustly penalized for speaking the truth.  It is unacceptable for the Bush administration to punish Evans for his comments. What he did was courageous and should be viewed as such." In their letter to the State Department, Rep. Markey and fellow Congressional cosigners expressed special concern about the destructive precedent of recalling a US diplomat for speaking truthfully on matters of historical record. They wrote that, "we must not allow the perception to linger that he [Amb. Evans] is being required to vacate his position early for accurately labeling the cataclysmic events of 1915 as genocide." The Representatives, noting President Ronald Reagan's references to the Armenian Genocide, reminded Secretary Rice that Amb. Evans "did nothing more than succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by those before him." The Congressional signatories also expressed concern about the role of the Government of Turkey in the impending removal of Amb. Evans from his posting. "Were the United States to allow the views or beliefs of a third country to interfere with our diplomatic postings to the Republic of Armenia," wrote the House members, "it would establish a dangerous precedent and be injurious to the long-standing relationship built on trust and friendship between the two countries." 4. Karabakh Welcomes G8 Calls on Peace STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)--Nagorno-Karabakh Republic authorities Tuesday welcomed a statement by G8 leaders issued  in St. Petersburg  calling over the weekend calling on Armenia and Azerbaijan "to demonstrate the political will, reach agreement and prepare their publics for peace and not for war." "We confirmed that the Group of Eight supports the mediation efforts of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and stressed the need for agreeing on the basic principles of a peaceful settlement of the conflict as early as in 2006," the G-8 statement said. "One may only welcome the  G8 statement on maintaining the mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and on the necessity for coordinating the core principles of the conflict's peaceful resolution,"  Nagorno-Karabakh foreign minister Georgi Petrossian said Tuesday in an statement issued by the ministry. "The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has always been in favor of a peaceful resolution to the conflict and is prepared to exert every effort to achieve an agreement on establishing long-term peace in the region. Unfortunately, not everything hinges on the efforts of the mediators. Azerbaijan's extremely negative position and its unwillingness to be in any contact with Nagorno-Karabakh has made finding an acceptable and proper solution very difficult to date," added Petrossian "The Russian president has fairly suggested that it would not impose any solutions on the parties to the conflict and that the compromise must be reached by the people. Taking into account the Russia's readiness to become a guarantor of the agreement's provisions, once again, we reiterate that resolutions directly concerning the future of our country and our people only would be possible with participation of representatives of legally elected authorities of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic--the main party to the conflict," he said. In an interview with the Itar-Tass news agency, Azeri foreign ministry spokesperson Tayir Taghizadeh also welcomed the G8 statement on the Karabakh conflict resolution process. "This is very positive for Azerbaijan. We have always called on the world community and its leaders to accelerate their efforts toward the resolution of the conflict," Taghizade said. The foreign ministry official characterized Azerbaijan as a "victim of Armenian aggression," and questioned a portion of the G8 announcement, which calls on both Armenia and Azerbaijan to make equal concessions in the conflict resolution process. "Azerbaijan supports the peaceful resolution of the conflict," Taghizade said, adding that the OSCE Minsk Group efforts were the necessary factor for the successful continuation of the peaceful negotiations. "At the same time we cannot conduct negotiations just for the sake of negotiations. In case the diplomatic efforts produce no results, our country has the sovereign right to restore its territorial integrity," the spokesperson said. 5. US Warns Turkey Against Iraq Incursion, Erdogan Decries 'Double Standards' ANKARA (AFP) --The United States has warned Turkey that a cross-border operation against Kurdish bases in northern Iraq would be "unwise," drawing angry accusations from Ankara that Washington is using double standards in the region. "We have repeatedly said that we believe that unilateral military action across the border with Iraq would be unwise," the US amabassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, said in an interview with the NTV news channel. He was speaking after Ankara on Monday urged Washington and Baghdad to act against the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), whose militants have enjoyed safe haven in the mountains of northern Iraq, signaling that it is ready to take cross-border action if they fail to do so. Ankara says the PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European union, uses bases in northern Iraq as a springboard to launch attacks in adjoining southeast Turkey. It has made clear that its patience is running out after rebel attacks claimed the lives of 15 security force members over the past week. "The PKK is not a just a northern Iraq problem -- it's a problem in Europe and it's a problem in Turkey," Wilson said. "Going to deal with the PKK in northern Iraq will not solve the problem," he said. "It will not lead to what we or Iraq or Turkey want to see, which is the termination of these terrorist activities and the termination of the death and suffering that the people of Turkey have faced." Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan quickly hit back, highlighting Washington's support for Israeli military offensives against militants in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. "Terrorism is terrorism everywhere," Erdogan said in Istanbul. "It is not possible to agree with a mentality that tolerates country A and displays a different attitude when it comes to country B." Dismissing the ambassador's warning, Erdogan reiterated that Turkey would be prepared to conduct cross-border military operations in northern Iraq and hinted that contingency plans were already being drawn up. "At the end of the day, we know how to take care of our problems," he said. "The competent authorities are working accordingly... We keep ourselves ready against possible developments." The United States' failure to crack down on the PKK has often poisoned its ties with Turkey, a key Muslim ally in the Middle East, and has been blamed as a prime reason for growing anti-US sentiment among Turks. At least 87 PKK members and 51 members of the security forces have died this year in southeast Turkey, according to an AFP count. Kurdish militants also claimed responsibility for 11 bomb attacks in urban centers, in which nine people were killed and nearly 140 injured. Wilson said Washington had achieved "some success" in disrupting the flow of funds financing the PKK's armed campaign and pledged continued support. The United States, he said, is discussing both with the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan regional authorities in the north "the need to take action to curb PKK activities and their apparent freedom to maneuver and operate." Washington is ready "to continue and make more effective US-Turkish collaboration in Iraq to cut off funding, apprehend PKK leaders who are operating there and shut down PKK front groups," Wilson said. Washington has been unwilling to take action against the PKK in northern Iraq, arguing that Iraqi and coalition forces are swamped with violence in other parts of the country and that military operations could upset the relative stability of the Kurdish-populated region. 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. --Boundary_(ID_+OiAgTFwtfiF69HelEoC/A)-- From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA CHALLENGES REP. BURTON’S ATTACK ON NAGORNO KARABAGH
— Distributes Fact Sheets Addressing Factual Inaccuracies
and Anti-Democratic Bias in his Speech on House floor
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
responded today to a July 17th speech on the House floor by Congressman
Dan Burton (R-IN) that seriously misrepresented Nagorno Karabagh’s
history, status, and right to self-determination.
The Indiana legislator took to the House floor yesterday in an
apparent attempt to undermine the growing Congressional support
for Nagorno Karabagh – as demonstrated by the successful recent
Washington, DC visit and U.S. Capitol reception for the Parliamentary
Speaker and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh.
Commenting on what he perceived as a pro-Nagorno Karabagh tilt among
U.S. legislators, Rep. Burton stressed that: “Any outside influence,
any shift in neutrality can only result in a false peace. That is
why I am deeply concerned when I hear some of my colleagues throwing
barbs at the Azeris and attempting to lay all the blame for this
complicated issue at their doorstep.”
In a factually incorrect statement, he sought to call into question
Nagorno Karabagh’s right to self-determination, asserting that:
“So far as I know, the Nagorno-Karabakh region has never been a part
of Armenia. To suggest otherwise, and to suggest that the problems
in Nagorno-Karabakh are caused solely by Azerbaijan seems to me to
distort the facts and potentially undermine our good faith efforts
to see this conflict resolved; and to see peace and prosperity come
to the people of both Azerbaijan and Armenia.”
In a three-page fact sheet sent to every Congressional office, the
ANCA challenged Congressman Burton’s inaccurate description of the
Nagorno Karabagh issue as well as the biased and counter-productive
advice he offered to his House colleagues. The key points addressed
in the ANCA document included:
1) Nagorno Karabagh’s commitment to peace
2) Azerbaijan’s threat to regional stability
3) Nagorno Karabagh’s economic growth
4) Nagorno Karabagh’s right to self-determination
5) Nagorno Karabagh’s commitment to democracy
6) Nagorno Karabagh’s pivotal role in ending the Soviet
threat to America
In addition, the ANCA provided a one-page update on Azerbaijan’s
post-Soviet evolution into an increasingly corrupt and autocratic
petro-state, characterized by leaders who seek to bridge the growing
gap with their own population by demonizing their Armenian neighbors.
To view a copy of the ANCA fact sheets, visit:
R.pdf
rbaijan.pdf
#####

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
INFORM ATION FOR JOURNALISTS
17-07-2006
Minister Oskanian to Visit Bosnia and Herzegovina
On June 17, Minister Oskanian will depart for Sarajevo, where he will
meet with his counterpart Mladen Ivanic. A joint press conference will
follow the meeting. Later the same day, Minister Oskanian will leave
for Banja Luka to participate in the opening ceremony of the Davis
Cup Tennis Tournament where the Armenian national team will be playing.
On June 20, Minister Oskanian’s visit to the Common Institutions of
Bosnia and Herzegovina is scheduled, as well as meetings with Adnan
Terzic, Chairman of the Council of Ministers, representatives of the
Parliamentary Assembly, and the members of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Presidency.

AZERBAIJAN: VERDICT AGAINST YOUTH ACTIVISTS RAISES INTERNATIONAL CONCERN
By Shahin Abbasov and Khadija Ismailova 7/17/06
EurasiaNet, NY
July 17 2006
International organizations and foreign governments are criticizing a
recent Azerbaijani court verdict, in which leaders of the Yeni Fikir
(New Idea) youth organization were found guilty of plotting a coup
and sentenced to as many as seven-years in prison.
A Baku court found Ruslan Bashirli, the former head of Yeni Fikir,
and his deputies, Ramin Tagiyev and Said Nuri, guilty of trying to
overthrow President Ilham Aliyev’s administration under the terms of
article 278 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. The sentences were
handed down July 12 during an unscheduled court sitting not attended
by defense lawyers, media representatives or the families of the
accused. Bashirli received the lengthiest prison term – seven years.
Tagiyev was given a four-year sentence and Nuri received a suspended
sentence of five years.
During the trial, the prosecution accused the Norwegian Embassy, the
National Democratic Institute, a US non-governmental organization
(NGO), and former US presidential advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski of
instructing Yeni Fikir members on subversive political tactics.
Nelson C. Ledsky, NDI’s regional director for Eurasia, characterized
the accusation as “false,” adding that the NGO had “no involvement”
with Bashirli.
The youth activists were arrested during the run-up to Azerbaijan’s
November 2005 parliamentary elections. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive]. Opposition parties portrayed the cases against
the youth activists as a government attempt to silence criticism
and to prevent possible mass protests. Youth groups in Georgia and
Ukraine played key roles in organizing demonstrations in 2003 and 2004
respectively that forced the incumbent governments in both states from
power. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Yeni Fikir
is loosely associated with the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan,
one of the country’s largest opposition parties.
Bashirli was arrested last August 3 after a video was handed over
to prosecutors that depicted the youth activist taking $ 2,000 “for
the development of democracy” from a person later identified by the
prosecutor’s office as an alleged agent of the Armenian security
services. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. A fellow
Yeni Fikir member, who traveled with Bashirli to Tbilisi where the
meeting occurred, served as prosecutors’ chief source for the alleged
connection with the Armenia.
In comments to EurasiaNet, Osman Kazimov, the Yeni Fikir group’s
defense lawyer, argued that prosecutors never proved their case,
and that the government staged the trial to discredit the Azerbaijani
opposition by linking them with the Armenian special services.
On July 13, the Baku mission of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) issued a statement that expressed
“concern” over the conduct of the trial. “Notwithstanding the
extreme severity of [the] sentences which were handed down with
inadequate notice and in the absence of [the] defendants’ advocates,
the process leading to their arraignment and the proceedings at trial
fell short of international standards in upholding the rule of law,”
the statement read.
The OSCE mission called on the government “to take urgent and
appropriate steps to fully ensure the rights of the individual during
proceedings that are conducted in accordance with the rule of law.”
The British and US embassies echoed those concerns. In a July 13
statement, the US embassy noted that “indicators existed that the
defendants’ rights to equal protection before the law, presumption of
innocence and an impartial hearing were not respected.” The British
embassy stressed the importance of ensuring that any appeal is
conducted according to due process, and noted that it would continue
to follow the Yeni Fikir case “closely.”
Prosecutors insist that the trial was conducted in accordance with
international and national laws, noting that the accused were given
defense lawyers and that, while initial sittings of the court were
closed for “national security concerns,” later sessions had been
open. “Bashirli and his deputies have been convicted because their
crimes have been proved. If they do not agree with the court’s
decision, they can use their right to appeal to a higher court,”
said Vugar Aliyev, spokesperson for the Azerbaijan Chief Prosecutor’s
Office.
Those close to the defendants, however, believe there is virtually
no chance that the verdicts against the trio can be reversed on appeal.
“The court sentenced him now, but the government did it from the very
beginning,” said Bashirli’s fiancee, who asked only to be identified
by her first name, Vusala. Reporters from state television and the
pro-government Leader TV encouraged Vusala to announce that she had
ended her relationship with Bashirli, she claimed. She continues to
defend Bashirli, however, asserting that the youth activist “loves
Azerbaijan and would never betray the motherland.”
Bashirli’s mother, who has not seen her son since his arrest, also
defended her son. “They tortured him, and did not even provide him with
medical treatment unless international organizations protested his bad
treatment. They beat him to get testimony against [opposition leader]
Ali Kerimli and his Popular Front Party. Ruslan refused to do so,”
Zemfira Bashirli said. “This is not a country to live in. Ruslan wanted
to improve things in the country and fell victim to his struggle.”
Representatives of the Popular Front Party, which has continued
to support Yeni Fikir, argue that the trial was intended to scare
Azerbaijani youth out of becoming politically active. Ramin Hasanov,
head of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan Party’s youth organization, denied
that the trial was politically motivated. In a July 12 interview with
the Voice of America, Hasanov maintained that “the court just gave
its assessment of the crime.”
Editor’s Note: Khadija Ismayilova is an analyst based in Washington.
Shain Abbasov is a freelance journalist based in Baku.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iran, Armenia to break ground for Aras power station in early ’07
MehrNews.com, Iran
July 17 2006
TEHRAN, July 17 (MNA) – Iran and Armenia have agreed to kick off
the construction of Aras Hydroelectric Power Station in early 2007,
Iran Energy Minister Parviz Fattah announced here on Monday.
The statement came after the minister’s meeting with a parliamentary
delegation from Armenia, the Persian service of ISNA quoted the
minister as saying.
Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the ongoing joint
projects, emphasizing that the third electricity transfer deal already
inked by heads of the states should be implemented within 36 months
as planned before.
“Following the completion of the line, the total electricity swap
between the two countries will increase to 1,000 megawatts,” the
minister added.
Armenia is expected to boost electricity export to Iran to 400MW as
agreed in the recent meeting between the two energy ministers.
Armenia Sunday supplied Iran with 190MW.

LAST ACCOMPLICE IN THEFT IN ARDSHINVESTBANK DETAINED IN ARMENIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 17 2006
YEREVAN, July 17. /ARKA/. The police detained the accomplice in the
theft of Ardshininvestbank A. Khanoyan. The General Prosecutor’s office
reported that Khanoyan was detained at the Bagratashen checkpoint
while attempting to cross the Armenian-Georgian border.
Khanoyan had golden ware in 1kg, $13,260, AMD 100,000, RUR 15,000
and GBP 50 with him.
As a result of the investigation, the police seized about 10kg of
golden ware, found and seized from Khanoyan’s father-in-law Gerashenko.
Besides this, 5.4kg of golden ware and AMD 4.4mln were found at the
car service point, owned by Khanoyan’s friend Gevonjyan.
On July 3, a theft of a big amount of money (AMD 41mln, $56503,
EUR 2690 and RUR 44,700) and also pawned golden ware was committed
in Ardshinvestbank’s “Malatia” branch. R.O. –0–

PERU UPHOLDS SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT IN THE FRAMES OF
THE PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
[July 17, 2006, 21:13:46]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 17 2006
FM of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met on July 17 with the ambassador
of the Republic of Peru accredited in Azerbaijan Umberto Umeres.
First was signed the protocol on cooperation between the Foreign
Ministries of both countries.
Noting that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation
with the Latin American states, including Peru, the Minister said
the signed protocol opens large opportunities for development of
bilateral relations.
In the meeting, the sides had comprehensive exchange of views on
strengthening of cooperation in the frames of United Nations, also
stressed necessity of increasing the efficiency of reforms in this
international structure.
Noting that 20 percent of the country’s lands have been occupied and
in these areas pursued ethnic cleanse policy by Armenia, Mr.
Mammadyarov said despite four resolutions of the United States on
immediate withdrawal of the Armenian summed forces from the occupied
territories, the aggressor ignores these resolutions. The Minister
said Peru is the member of the UN Security Council, and its position
is of great importance for Azerbaijan.
Mr. Umberto Umeres said Peru supports territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be solved in the
frames of norms and principles of international law. Peru has also
faced the ethnic cleanse policy, the Ambassador underlined.
FM of Azerbaijan expressed gratitude for kind and fair position,
stressing inadmissibility of forced change of borders in the XXI
century.
In the meeting, also discussed were the accomplishments Azerbaijan
gained in the economic field, informed on the history of oil industry
in the country, expansion of cooperation between two countries in
the political, economic, scientific, education and other fields.

G8 DISCUSSED THE ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN, NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT
[July 17, 2006, 21:11:16]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 17 2006
The problem of settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict was discussed in the frames of the Summit of heads the
“Great Eight” passed on July 15-17 in St. Petersburg. For the first
time Russia presided over the Summit.
As the press service of the Kremlin said, in the Statement of Chairman
of the Summit is noted, that during the meeting the question on
situation around Nagorno Karabakh has been lifted. In the Statement,
it has been confirmed, that “the group of eight” supports intermediary
efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, USA, France) and necessity
of the quick coordination of main principles of peace settlement of
the conflict in 2006. The Statement says: “We call Azerbaijan and
Armenia to show political will, to reach the agreement and prepare
their peoples for peace”.
In opinion of experts, discussion of the question on settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict at the summit of the
“group of eight” where the three of the countries of co-chairmen of the
OSCE Minsk Group, testifies to attention of the world community to this
problem and aspiration to render political influence on its solution.
In opinion of observers, inauguration of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline also erects this question in frameworks priority as
full-scale realization of the “Contract of the Century” assumes
long-term and predicted safety of the country which is impossible
without the settlement of disputable territorial questions.
Analysts also assume, that representatives of OSCE MG stir up the
activity in search of mutually acceptable decisions for the quick
coordination of main principles of peace settlement and try to do it
this year.

Putin says G8 leaders agree to promote energy security
Today, Azerbaijan
July 17 2006
17 July 2006 [20:40] – Today.Az
The Group of Eight (G8) leaders agreed on joint efforts to ensure
global energy security at their summit held on July 15-17, Russian
President Vladimir Putin said at a news conference following the
summit.
“Our strategy is based on a common understanding of the fact that
humankind has a common energy future,” Putin said. “A future for
which we all share responsibility.”
The G8 has agreed on joint efforts to make energy infrastructure
more reliable, to diversify the production and supplies of energy
resources, to increase energy efficiency and to develop alternative
energy sources, he said.
Putin said Monday in his statement on the summit’s results that G8
leaders had agreed to reduce barriers to energy investment, making
it possible for energy producers and consumers to acquire upstream
and downstream energy assets in other countries.
Earlier this year Russia’s natural gas monopoly Gazprom unveiled
ambitious plans to acquire energy companies in Europe and swapped
some of its assets for ones owned by German companies BASF and E.ON,
triggering Europeans’ concerns about their dependence on Russian
energy. For its part, the European Union has sought to get access
to Russian pipelines and oil and gas deposits, while Russia has been
reluctant to provide it.
The group has also emphasized nuclear energy’s contribution to global
energy security, Putin said.
The G8 has also decided to cooperate in the promotion of education
to meet the challenges of a modern knowledge-based economy, Putin said.
Additionally, the group has announced that it will seek to fight
infectious diseases, including avian flu, AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria
and polio, he said.
The G8 leaders have said that they would seek to complete the Doha
Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) talks, which is mostly
focused on the reduction of agricultural subsidies, by the end of
this year. Other issues in the Doha Round include combating piracy and
counterfeiting, fighting corruption and promoting poverty alleviation
and peacekeeping programs in Africa.
The countries of the G8 have also agreed to fight the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and in particular agreed to submit
the issue of Iran’s nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council
and urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program and stop
missile launches, Putin said.
In general the summit was uneventful in terms of major policy
announcements and was to a large extent focused on growing violence
in the Middle East and failed to deliver a long-awaited agreement
between the U.S. and Russia on the latter’s accession to the World
Trade Organization.
The G8 has announced their intention to combat terrorism and
its threats including nuclear terrorism, increase cooperation in
post-conflict stabilization, prevent violations of arms embargoes, put
an end to Israel’s current conflict with Lebanon and the Palestinian
National Authority, find a compromise between Serbia and Kosovo on
the issue of Kosovo’s independence and stabilize the situation in
Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan’s Darfur region and Azerbaijan’s breakaway
republic of Nagorno Karabakh.
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Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture, Switzerland
July 17 2006
Azerbaijan: Sentencing of Mr. Bashirli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Tagiyev
Case AZE 250805.8 – Follow up to Cases AZE 250805 /.1 /.2 /.3 /.4 /.5
/.6 /.7
Sentencing
Geneva, 17 July 2006
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against
Torture (OMCT) has received new information about the following
situation in Azerbaijan.
New Information
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Human
Rights Centre of Azerbaijan, a member of the OMCT network, that on 12
July 2006 the Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Mr. Ruslan Bashirli,
chairman of the Youth Movement “Yeni Fikir” (New Idea) to seven years
in prison, Mr. Ramin Tagiyev, vice-chairman of Yeni Fikir to four
years and Mr. Said Nuri to five years. According to the information
received, judge Tofiq Pasheyev read out the sentence and ordered a
three year probation for Mr. Said Nuri, considering his illness, with
the remaining two years in reformatory.
According to the information received, they were charged with
attempting to overthrow the government with the aid of the Armenian
secret service. Furthermore, the charge of illegal entrepreneurship
has been dropped on the suggestion of the prosecution. The defense
lawyers asked the court to acquit the defendants. It is reported that
none of the two lawyers, representing the Yeni Fikir members, was
present at this hearing. One of them was informed about the hearing
only half an hour before and the second lawyer was not informed at
all.
It is reported that Mr. Said Nuri said that representatives of Yeni
Fikir will appeal the verdict and are willing to take the case as far
as the European Court.
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned that the
defendants’ right to a jury trial -provided for by the Azerbaijani
Code of Criminal Procedure – has not been respected. Moreover, the
lawyers of Mr. Bashirli, Mr.Tagiyev and Mr. Nuri, were not present
during the court session on 10 July 2006 in which the indictment was
read out by the court. These grave violations of their procedural
rights call into question the fairness of their trial.
The International Secretariat of OMCT also expresses its grave
concern over the independence of the judiciary.
>Brief reminder of the situation
According to the information received, Mr. Ruslan Bashirli was
arrested on August 3, 2005, on charges of “plotting to overthrow the
Azerbaijani leadership at the instigation of Armenian intelligence
agents”, with whom he allegedly met in Tbilisi on July 28 and 29,
2005. A criminal case under clause 278 of the Criminal Code of the
Republic of Azerbaijan (“actions directed to seizing or keeping the
power by force”) was brought against him by the Prosecutor’s Office
of the Republic of Azerbaijan. If found guilty, he could face life
imprisonment. Moreover, he was accused of “illegal entrepreneurship”
(Art.192 of the Criminal Code). According to the article, the running
of a business (entrepreneurship) without registration or license is
punished by fine, limitation of liberty up to 3 years, or
imprisonment up to 5 years. However, this should not apply to a
non-profit organisation. Furthermore, Mr. Ruslan Bashirli’s family
has been subjected to harassment. Mr. Ruslan Bashirli’s father, Mr.
Djalil Bashirli, was forced to leave his position as a schoolteacher.
Moreover, his house, located in Zardob, was attacked by a mob that
threw stones at his house. Mr. Ruslan Bashirli’s uncle, Mr. Fuzuli
Qasimov, senior tax inspector in the region of Goychay, was dismissed
on August 8, 2005. Mr. Ruslan Bashirli was allegedly tortured which
resulted in the deterioration of his health. Therefore he was
transferred to the medical unit of the Bayil Prison, Baku city.
However, according to his lawyer, the conditions of the medical unit
did not permit adequate medical treatment.
On 12 September 2005, police arrested Mr. Said Nuri. He was
temporarily detained in confinement at the Narimanov District Police
Administration, where he was reportedly accused of “preparation of a
coup d’etat and getting financial support from interested forces”.
The “evidence” was his participation in a seminar in Poland organised
by the Institute of European Democracy. On the day after his arrest,
Mr. Nuri was hospitalised because of a poor health condition
(talassemia, and problems with his internal organs) in the City
Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Baku. On 14 September 2005, it was
reported that Mr. Nuri had received necessary treatment and was
released. However, the next day, he was rearrested on his way to
work, although the Prosecutor’s Office stated that he was “invited”
by the investigator. On 14 November 2005, Mr. Said Nuri was released
from hospital where he had been since 15 September 2005, and was
placed under house arrest. At that time, the charges against him had
not been dropped.
On 16 September 2005, the Nasimi district court of Baku approved the
preliminary arrest of Mr. Ramin Tagiyev. He was detained in Bayil
Prison (Investigation Isolator #1 of the Ministry of Justice), on
suspicion of preparing the forced seizure of power under the same
case as Mr. Ruslan Bashirli’s. Mr. Bashirli’s lawyer would have
reported that he was kept in a very cold cell in isolation.
The trials for Mr. Bashirli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Tagiyev started on 31
March 2006 in the Court of Grave Crimes under chairmanship of judge
Tofiq Pasheyev. The bill of accusations against the three men
included Articles 278, 192.2.1 and 192.2.2 Criminal Code of the
Republic of Azerbaijan (attempt of illegal seizure of power and
illegal entrepreneurship). Following the decision of this judge that
the hearings would take place behind closed doors, Mr. Bashirli and
Mr. Tagiyev started a hunger strike on 2 April 2006. Moreover, on 7
April 2006 Mr. Bashirli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Tagiyev refused themselves
lawyers, asserting that they do not consider their services useful if
the process is not transparent. Following this, the judge forcibly
appointed new lawyers, who are paid by the government, because the
Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Azerbaijan states that
a defendant who is tried under Article 278 is obligated to have a
defender. Moreover, as conviction under Article 278 can lead to life
imprisonment, in such cases Azerbaijani legislation requires, since 1
September 2000, that the case is to be tried by a jury. However, for
unknown reasons, the establishment of a jury is still pending.
Therefore ordinary courts now give all the verdicts, including
life-long sentences.
Furthermore, during the above-mentioned hearing on 7 April 2006, the
defendants were removed from the court hall for disruption of order
because they actively protested and ‘shouted various slogans’. Also,
Mr. Said Nuri, who was placed under house arrest was threatened to be
arrested if he continued to inform the media about the content of the
closed hearings.
Action requested
Please continue to write to the authorities in Azerbaijan urging them
to:
i. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and
psychological integrity of Mr. Bashirli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Tagiyev;
ii. Ensure that, should Mr. Bashirli, Mr. Nuri and Mr. Tagiyev
appeal, all their procedural rights will be respected;
iii. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental
freedoms throughout the country in accordance with international
human rights standards.
Addresses
Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Office of
the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 19 Istiqlaliyyat St.,
Baku AZ1066, Azerbaijan, Fax: +994 12 492 06 25, +994 412 92 28 68,
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Prosecutor’s Office, 7 Nigar Rafibeyli St., Baku, Azerbaijan, Fax:
+994 12 492 06 82, +994 12 492 26 63, E-mail: [email protected]
Minister of Internal Affairs of the Azerbaijani Republic, Lt.-Gen.
Ramil Usubov, Fax: + 994 12 492 45 90
S.E. l’Ambassadeur H.E. Ambassador, Mr. Elchin Amirbayov, Rue de
Lausanne 67, CH-1202, Genève, Suisse, e-mail :
[email protected], fax: +4122 901 18 44
Minister of Justice in Azerbaijan, Mr. Fikret Mamedov, Prospekt
Stroitelej, 1 Baku Azerbaijan, e-mail: [email protected], Tel
(99412) 430 01 16, Fax (99412) 430 09 81
Azerbaijani Embassy in Brussels, Mr. Mamedov, Avenue Moliere, 464,
1050 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: +32 2 345 26 60, Fax: +32 2 345 91 85
Please also write to the embassy of Azerbaijan in your respective
country.
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