ANALYSTS BLAME KARABAKH STALEMATE ON PEACE BROKERS
Armenpress
Sept 12 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian political analyst blamed
today the stalemated efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
on the revised stance of the OSCE Minsk group cochairmen who, he said,
are pressurizing Armenia and Azerbaijan to take appropriate steps.
Sergey Shakariants, an expert with Kovkas think-tank, argued during
a news conference that the cochairmen are well aware that none
of the sides to the conflict is able to take the drastic steps
they demand, key to coming out of the deadlock and making a real
breakthrough. “Therefore, it is obvious that the conflict resolution
process is being delayed by the cochairmen. This is an outside
dictate…. Neither Armenia, nor Karabakh and nor Azerbaijan want
the unresolved conflict to drag on and on,” he said.
Shakariants then argued that the cochairmen are beginning to revise
their approaches to each of the sides through separate meetings with
Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers. He said the process
is being delayed because of disagreements between the cochairmen
from France, Russia and the USA and because of the Iran problem. The
analysts went on to argue that judging by the cochairmen’s statements
the USA is not going to apply the Kosovo model to the Karabakh issue,
while France and Russia demand that the principle of people’s right
to self-determination be applied.
“If an alien nation is allowed to create a state in Kosovo then
the world has to recognize the indigenous nations’ right to build
their state on their native land,’ he said. According to him, the USA
wants to populate some Azeris in Nagorno-Karabakh and create there a
two-community society and ‘to apply the so-called Cyprus model.” He
said given this clashes between the sides would become unavoidable
giving the USA an opportunity for a military intervention and a ground
to carry out anti-Iranian operations.

YEAR OF ARMENIA IN FRANCE EVIDENCE OF EXCLUSIVE RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.09.2006 14:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 12 Armenian and French FMs Vartan Oskanian
and Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Cultures of the two countries
Hasmik Poghosyan and Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres held a news conference
at the French MFA, devoted to the Year of Armenia in France. During
the news conference the Armenian FM thanked French authorities
for organizing the Year of Armenia. He said the event evidences
exclusive relations between the two countries. For the first time
Armenia is presenting its history, culture and contribution to the
world civilization in a large scale,” Vartan Oskanian remarked.
During a private meeting the FMs discussed matters of development of
cooperation, regional issues, situation in the Middle East, relations
of Armenia with neighboring countries and talks over settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SPEAKER: IRAN TO TRANSFER GAS TO ARMENIA SOON
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Sept 12 2006
Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel said on Tuesday that the first
gas pipeline to transfer gas from Iran to Armenia is scheduled to
become operational in the coming months.
A report released by Majlis Media Department said that the speaker
made the remark while speaking to reporters at a joint press conference
with his Armenian counterpart Tigran Torossian.
Addressing reporters, Haddad-Adel said that the progress of the gas
project is supervised by the presidents of Iran and Armenia.
Haddad-Adel said that feasibility studies on the second gas pipeline
is currently underway.
He referred to projects on transfer of energy, development and port of
industrial machinery as strategies aiming to boost trade exchanges
between the two states and urged that tourism and investment by
private sector should also be facilitated.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the speaker said that establishment of
relations with the Central Asian states and Caucasia has been on the
agenda of Iran’s foreign policy over the past 15 years.
“Meanwhile, Iran-Armenia ties have been quite favorable on account of
the good bonds between Iranian Muslims and Armenian minority,” he said.
Turning to the history of the presence of Armenians in Iran, he said
that they contribute to the construction and development of Iran
along with their Muslim countrymen.
For his part, the chairman of Armenia’s National Assembly pointed to
Iran’s nuclear issue and the relevant developments in the region and
said, “All countries should benefit from equal conditions to access
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. No country should abuse its
facilities to restrict other states.”
Torossian stated that the terms and conditions of international
treaties should be implemented equally for all world countries.
Besides, he referred to Iran-Armenia commonalties and called for
expansion of cooperation between the two states.

E-PRIME EXERCISES TO BE HELD IN GEORGIA WITHIN NATO PFP PROGRAM
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.09.2006 15:28 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Two-day exercises within the NATO Partnership for
Peace (PfP) Program, dedicated to e-PRIME Exchange and Management
System of Current Information opens in Simpatia hotel in Tbilisi
September 13. As reported by the Defense Ministry of Georgia, the
exercises are organized by the NATO and the Swiss party. The aim of
the exercises is to acquaint users with opportunities of the system.
Representatives of various ministries of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia
and Moldova take part in the exercises, reports Novosti-Gruzia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITEM ON CONFLICTS, PROPOSED BY GUAM, NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN UN GA AGENDA
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.09.2006 15:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The General Committee of the 61st session of the UN
General Assembly has decided not to include document titled Protracted
conflicts in GUAM region and their consequences for international
peace, security and development in the GA agenda. During the Committee
meeting as GUAM member Ukraine and Moldova voted for involving the
document in the UN GA agenda, while Russia and Armenia were against. As
none of the Committee countries supported the initiative, the Committee
decided not to include the GUAM proposal in the GA agenda without
a vote.

EU-TURKEY: HE WHO SOWS WIND REAPS A HURRICANE
By Cem Oguz
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 12 2006
The Turkish proverb in the title, which cautions people to be moderate
in their actions, is indeed worth pondering nowadays.
It came to mind as I was reading news stories concerning the European
Parliament’s report urging Ankara to recognize the alleged genocide
of Armenians, Pontic Greeks and Assyrians at the hands of the Ottoman
Empire. With this type of mentality, the genocide of the Eskimos,
as I wrote about last January, is obviously to come soon …
I won’t question the substance of the report. Indeed, some elements
in the report, as precisely and politely expressed by Foreign
Ministry spokesman Namik Tan, “are written with political motives
and without realism and are not in accordance with the European
Parliament’s credibility and seriousness.” In contrast to what its
authors initially expected, it will do much to help Turkey strengthen
its so far clearly affirmed standpoint. Their relentless strategy is
destined to backfire. In the days to come they will certainly better
grasp how brilliantly they managed to score a home goal.
What I think we should look at more closely, however, is what is
going on in the bleachers rather than on the pitch.
At present, the European team on the field consists of two main
outspoken groups: Attackers, like the Greeks or the Greek Cypriots
who naively see in Turkey’s negotiation process the opportunity to
elicit from Ankara as many key concessions as they can; and defenders,
such as the French or Austrians who, being ardent Turkey skeptics
within the European Union, are zealously trying to daunt Turkey by
proposing even more unacceptable provisions with each passing day. In
fact, the latter’s approach is more worrying. A couple of days ago,
Nicholas Sarkozy, for instance, the French politician who is expected
by many to become the next president of France, is reported to have
argued that the EU “should, for many reasons, deepen relations with
[Turkey] but without going as far as full membership.” He then astutely
concluded that they have to decide “who is European and who isn’t.”
In the current state of play, the way the Turkish government team
chooses to strike back in this unfolding match, in which their options
have been limited by means other than fair football, has already lost
its significance. Henceforth, the Turkish people’s perceptions will be
the only decisive factor. The prospects in this regard, nevertheless,
don’t look promising.
For more than a year I have been constantly and persistently warning
that the Turkish people are profoundly sliding away from the West.
The last indication of this phenomenon was the German Marshall
Fond’s recent survey. What I find increasingly worrying thus is
how the Turkish spectators on the bleachers will respond in the
days to come to the way the game is being played. When I say the
Turkish spectators I don’t mean the diehard fans, or the hooligans,
but rather the wider masses, who continue to watch the game silently,
but with a rocketing level of disgust.
What indeed will be their response to attempts to change the rules
of the game?
Just recently, I read the Brussels-based Friends of Europe’s report
prepared by Kirsty Hughes and entitled “Turkey and the EU. Four
Scenarios: From Train Crash to Full Steam Ahead.” It is one of the
most balanced studies on Turkish-EU relations I have read so far.
At one point in the said report, Hughes questions how those member
states that are more keen to see a shift to a “privileged partnership”
instead of full membership as the basis for EU-Turkish relations
“would intend to repair relations with Turkey in the event of a major
train crash and ensure that Turkey remained well-disposed towards the
Union and fully anchored in European structures.” She then argues that
no one “gains from an outcome where EU-Turkey relations are seriously
damaged, even if not completely ruptured — apart from nationalists
on all sides.”
The enigma is indeed that simple.
As I always repeat, for any country (Turkey included) which
is aspiring to become a member of the EU, the basic and, more
importantly, universal principles the Union is founded on are,
of course, undisputable. Given this prerequisite, you have every
right to criticize the slow pace and/or uneven implementation of
reforms in Turkey. You may rightly ask, for instance, that Article
301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) be changed. But if you frequently
persist in giving the impression that your demands are politically
motivated and biased, as indicated by your latest request (or should
I say imposition) concerning the recognition of the alleged Armenian,
Pontic Greek and Assyrian genocides, the Turkish people will continue
to regard you as being unpersuasive and insincere. You will pass from
this life to the next while waiting for Godot.
As a sincere and heartfelt supporter of my country’s EU membership,
I humbly feel obliged to warn once more that the sensible Turkish
spectators on the bleachers are increasingly leaving the stadium. At
a time when the rival’s own players are nothing more than hooligans,
there is an urgent need for the reserve players to take a responsible
role. In doing so, however, they should not use pretexts like that of
Joost Lagendijk or Cem Ozdemir, saying “[The European Parliament’s
report] is totally counter-productive because it weakens those in
Turkey who are fighting for reforms.” Such an approach is neither
convincing nor seems to have taken into account who their real
audience is.
Let me underline it boldly again: There is an urgent need to behave
responsibly and with common sense!
Otherwise, more and more hooligans will be gathering in front of the
stadium gates and it won’t only be those who sowed the wind who reap
the hurricane, but rather we will all be affected.

TURKISH AUTHOR SAYS TRIAL WILL TEST FICTION~AFS ROLE
Reuters, UK
Sept 12 2006
EU closely watching case against novelist in freedom of speech fight
Turkish author Elif Shafak goes on trial the week of Sept. 21 on
charges of “insulting Turkishness” in her novel that deals with the
waning years of the Ottoman Empire.
Updated: 10:53 a.m. ET Sept 12, 2006 ISTANBUL, Turkey – Leading Turkish
novelist Elif Shafak goes on trial next week in a case she views as a
milestone for freedom of speech in Turkey because for the first time
the words of fictional characters are being judged.
Shafak, a cosmopolitan feminist who writes in English and Turkish,
is accused of ~Aginsulting Turkishness~Ah in her new novel ~AgThe
Bastard of Istanbul,~Ah under controversial Article 301 of Turkey~Afs
revised penal code.
Several journalists and writers, including best-selling Orhan Pamuk,
have been tried under the article, in cases closely followed by
the European Union, which says Turkey must permit more freedom of
expression before it can join the bloc.
~AgBut to date (it) has never been used against fictional characters.
In that sense this is a new step and it~Afs quite surprising and
upsetting because if they keep doing this no one can write novels in
this country anymore, no one can make movies even. So this is a new
stage,~Ah she told Reuters by telephone.
Slaughter of Armenians at issue In the novel, her Armenian characters
make disparaging comments about Turks and refer to a genocide of
Armenians in the last years of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey denies allegations that 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a
systematic genocide. It says both Christian Armenians and Muslim Turks
were killed in a partisan conflict that raged on Ottoman territory
during World War I.
Shafak~Afs case is also unusual because the 34-year-old is due to
give birth in the same week as the Sept. 21 start of the trial. Her
attempts to postpone the trial, which could bring a jail sentence of
up to three years, have failed.
For Shafak, the motives of the man behind the case, Kemal Kerincsiz
who leads a group of nationalist lawyers, are clear.
~AgI think the people they target … it~Afs a very calculated thing.
They are just using us as tools to damage further the EU (entry)
process,~Ah she said.
Bad timing European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has urged
Ankara to amend 301, often used by nationalist prosecutors or lawyers
to launch cases against intellectuals over issues such as Kurdish
rights and the killings of Armenians under Ottoman rule.
The timing is also bad as it comes ahead of Brussels~Af Oct. 24 annual
report on Turkey~Afs progress in reforms to bring the largely Muslim
but secular country into line with EU laws. The European Commission
is expected to criticize Ankara~Afs political record, including on
freedom of expression, in the report.
Ankara has said it is ready to amend the law if court appeals end in
rulings that show freedom of expression is indeed being restricted.
But the government has not reacted to a top court decision in July
upholding a six-month suspended jail sentence for Armenian-Turkish
editor Hrant Dink.
~AgBehind closed doors I know some members of the government are
sincerely embarrassed by what~Afs going on,~Ah Shafak said.
~AgBut that~Afs not important. The important thing is they should
make public statements and they should take the initiative to abolish
Article 301.~Ah
Critics say the government fears that amending the law will give
nationalist parties ammunition ahead of elections in 2007.
Shafak, whose influences range from Russian literature to Sufism,
says she was surprised to go on trial for a book which has been a
best-seller in Turkish and will be published next year in English,
the language in which it was written.
But she sees these cases as a sign of progress.
~AgThe trials which are taking place right now, this uproar coming
from the nationalists, is happening not because nothing is changing
in Turkey but I think precisely because things are changing in the
right direction … I see this nationalist reaction as a backlash to
a social transformation.~Ah

TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO LEBANON: IRFAN ACAR ON TURKISH PARTICIPATION IN LEBANON PEACEKEEPING
Monday Morning, Lebanon
Sept 11 2006
Session of the Turkish Parliament
Voting for participation
The Turkish parliament last week voted after fierce debate at an
extraordinary session to authorize the government to send troops to
the UN force in Lebanon. A government motion to contribute troops
to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was backed by 340 of
the 533 lawmakers present in the 550-seat house, while 192 voted
against and one abstained. Under the motion, Turkey will send a
naval force to patrol the Eastern Mediterranean, deploy troops, help
train the Lebanese Army and support allied countries in naval and air
transport. The motion foresees a one-year deployment, but it is not
yet clear how many troops will be sent, nor when and where. Foreign
Minister Abdallah Gul has said the number of soldiers is not likely to
exceed 1,000. Details of the deployment were expected to become clearer
after talks between Turkish leaders and visiting UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan, who arrived in Ankara hours before the vote as part of
a regional tour to win support for the Lebanon mission.
The government argues that participation in UNIFIL is an historic
duty to contribute to regional stability, to help strengthen Ankara’s
influence in the Middle East and boost its bid to join the European
Union. “Stability in the Eastern Mediterranean is important for
Turkey. The conflict [in the region] may affect us tomorrow, if
not today”, Gul told the house. “Providing stability in the Eastern
Mediterranean is the duty not only of Italy and France, but also of
Turkey. We cannot remain indifferent. “Our decision is also compatible
with our argument that Turkey’s entry will turn the EU into a global
force”. The government says the mission has minimal risk since the
Turkish contingent will not be a combat force and will not be tasked
with disarming Hezballah.
The debate saw unsuccessful opposition attempts to block the motion
on procedural grounds and hostile exchanges between rival MPs.
Opposition MPs charged that the UN force would serve to protect only
Israel and advance American and Israeli interests in the Middle East.
Some warned the deployment would pitch Turkish soldiers against
fellow-Muslims.
Even though about 20 members of the ruling Justice and Development
Party were reported to be against the deployment, the motion was
easily adopted thanks to the party’s absolute parliamentary majority.
The government’s willingness to deploy troops has sparked strong public
opposition on grounds that Turkish soldiers could face hostile fire
or engage in fighting with Muslims.
In a bid to calm fears, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
earlier that Ankara would withdraw its troops from Lebanon if they
were asked to disarm Hezballah.
In Lebanon, meanwhile, members of the country’s Armenian community
have expressed opposition to the presence of the Turkish contingent.
Turkey’s Ambassador Irfan Acar stressed in an interview his country’s
humanitarian contribution to the people of Lebanon’s devastated
regions and its support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial
integrity of Lebanon.
What are the latest figures on Turkish humanitarian aid to Lebanon?
Turkey has been one of the biggest contributors of humanitarian aid
to Lebanon. Since the early days of hostilities, the Turkish state
and NGOs have been among the first to send humanitarian aid to the
Lebanese people. So far, more than 12 million dollars’ worth of aid
has been delivered to Lebanon, via two military and two civilians
ships, one military aircraft and over 100 trucks. This amounts to
more than 2,000 tons of food, medicine, clothing and blankets. Of
the 12 million dollars, one million is in state aid, four million
from the Red Crescent, and the rest from numerous NGOs.
Turkey has also provided medical aid to kidney patients, including
children. The Lebanese authorities, approached our relevant departments
with a request for hemodialysis equipment, as there had been an urgent
need for this treatment throughout Lebanon. We have delivered several
thousand units of hemodialysis material by two ships.
Would there be a possible contribution of Turkey to the reconstruction
efforts?
Turkey is prepared to help Lebanon in any way it can following the
recent events. As was the case with our humanitarian aid efforts,
Turkey is willing and ready to contribute to the reconstruction
efforts. Thus, we participated in the Stockholm conference and pledged
10 million dollars.
The extent of damage to the infrastructure of Lebanon, such as
residential units, roads, bridges and other facilities, is extensive.
Repair of these facilities will require billion of dollars, according
to the Lebanese authorities.
Already a number of Turkish NGOs following inquiries in Beirut and
South Lebanon, are working on certain projects aimed at repairing
facilities, establishing food distribution centers and other projects
in coordination with the relevant Lebanese institutions. Turkey will
continue to contribute to the reconstruction projects as much as it
can in cooperation with the Lebanese authorities.
The Lebanese government requested Turkey’s participation in UNIFIL.
What are the latest developments in this regard?
Turkey attaches great importance to the unity, territorial integrity
and independence of Lebanon. Preservation of peace and stability in
Lebanon and in our regions is of the utmost importance.
The Turkish government has taken a decision of principle to contribute
to UNIFIL. Subsequently, the Parliament approved the government’s
decision on September 5. Our relevant authorities are working on the
details of the Turkish contribution within the context of the decision
of Parliament.
UNIFIL is a force of multinational character. Many countries from
Europe, members of Organization of the Islamic Conference and others
throughout the world will take part in it.
Upon the request of the Lebanese government, Turkey, as a country of
the region, decided to take part in the force for the maintenance
of peace. It has always expressed its solidarity with Lebanon and
devoted all its efforts to contribute to the stability of Lebanon
and the well-being of its people, and it will continue to do so.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY FOREWARNED EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Zaman Online, Turkey
Sept 11 2006
Turkey communicated its views to the European Parliament before open
discussions over the report adopted by the European Parliament (EP)
Foreign Affairs Committee last week.
In the 22-page document, Turkish foreign ministry officials provided
a detailed response to criticisms set out in the report prepared by
Dutch Christian Democrat Camiel Eurlings.
The document, sent to EP members who supported Turkey in the Foreign
Affairs Committee’s session held on Sept. 4 as well as the Turkey
coordinators of political groups represented in the Parliament,
informs the parliamentarians about a number of issues.
Underlining that Turkey will not accept any alternative to full
membership, and that thorny political issues should not be brought
to the table during the membership negotiations between Turkey and
the E.U., the document stresses that in the case of any interruption
to negotiations, the E.U. too will suffer.
It further urges that such an unfavorable situation would be
unacceptable in terms of the global expectations from the E.U.
Referring to the 2006 and 2007 reform programs; it also states that
Turkey has been working on a number of unresolved and unreformed
political and economic issues.
The document also notes that Turkey will await the formation of a
case regarding Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code rather than
amending it.
Noting that the E.U. stance vis-a-vis the Cyprus issue is
“incomprehensible,” the document extensively covers the Cyprus and
Armenian issues as well as the Diyarbakir incidents.
The document underlines: Turkey is the second country that recognized
the independence of Armenia, and its trade volume with Armenia has
increased to $120 million.
Forty thousand Armenian citizens live and work in Turkey. Despite
those positive indicators, Armenia’s attitude is disappointing.
It has not yet responded to Turkey’s proposal to form a joint
commission of historians; the EP could encourage it to accept that
proposal. Turkey keeps its borders with Armenia closed because of the
Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, and its failure to recognize
its border with Turkey.
The ongoing terror in Southeastern Turkey is a clear attempt by the
PKK to halt the reform process. The E.U. should immediately call on
the PKK to disarm, abandon terrorism, and dissolve itself.
Diyarbakir Gun TV, Diyarbakir Soz TV, and Urfa Medya FM have been
broadcasting in Kurdish since March 26. The time limitation on movies
and music shows was set for June 12.
The ninth reform package addressing the Law of Endowed Charities will
be discussed at the parliament soon after its inauguration.
The Turkish government is seeking ways consistent with the Constitution
and the secular educational system to resume education at Heybeliada
Priests School.
The relevant court has ruled on the Semdinli incident; because the
judiciary is dealing with it, no further comment should be made on
this matter.
Restrictions contained in articles 216, 277, 285, 288, 301, 305 and
318 of Turkish Penal Code are within the limits of the derogations
recognized under international law. The prosecutions made in connection
with those articles do not violate freedom of expression.
Similar provisions could be found in the penal codes of some E.U.
members. It should also be noted that most lawsuits filed based on
those articles have been dismissed by the relevant courts.
Any further compromise by Turkey regarding the Cyprus issue would
equal a reward for those who declined a viable resolution.

SPEAKER: BULLYING POWERS FRIGHTEN NATIONS BY PRESENTING AN UGLY IMAGE OF IRAN
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Sept 11 2006
Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel said on Tuesday that the world
bullying powers constantly present an ugly and unreal image of Iran
and try to frighten other nations by raising unfair charges against
the Iranian nation.
A report released by Majlis Media Department said that the speaker
made the remark while speaking at the University of Armenia.
“The Iranian nation managed to rid itself of the hegemony of foreign
powers through a religious revolution launched by masses of people
without politically relying either on the West or on the East. Thus
through establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran a new and
independent path was selected,” he said.
“The propaganda against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program is the clear
sign of such animosity, which is associated with our nation’s will
to protect its cultural and political identity.
“Besides, Iran’s foreign policy based on friendly ties with other
countries and mutual respect in relations with world nations aiming
to further promote global peace, tranquility and welfare is another
cause for the enemies’ hostile approach,” he added.
He referred to the friendly ties between Iranians and Armenians and
compared such friendship to a tree with a deep historical root whose
trunk, branches and leaves are today manifested before our eyes in
solid grandeur.
“Several centuries before the advent of Islam, Armenians considered
Iran as a safe residence and religious difference of ideas have never
created any gap between Muslims and Armenians neither in pre-Islam
nor post-Islam eras.
“They have always lived a comfortable life in Iran and have protected
their rituals and churches. They have had friendly relationships and
close cooperation with their Iranian countrymen,” he added.
Turning to multifaceted bilateral relations, Haddad-Adel said that
Iran and Armenia cooperate in various political, cultural and economic
fields.
The speaker said that both sides are determined to expand mutual ties
by making optimum use of each other’s actual potentials and facilities.
He pointed to the life lived by Iranian and Armenian along with each
other in the course of history as the most superior and laudable
example of peaceful coexistence between followers of various religions
in the world.
Underlining that scientific and university interconnection is one
of the options of such relations, he stated, “Fortunately, given the
good potentials of Yerevan State University with a 90-year history,
both sides will benefit from exchange of university instructors,
students and scientific achievements.”
Putting the number of Iranian students at 2.5 million, he pointed to
Iran’s trend of growth in various scientific branches and declared
readiness for cooperation with Armenia in the sector.
“Iranology as well as Persian language and literature have long been
taught in Yerevan State University. Iranologists and professors of
Persian language attach great value to such an ancient tradition.
“Armenia is one of the most reputed hubs of Iranology in Caucasia
and Central Asia. After the disintegration of the ex-Soviet Union,
the trend continued more freely and even was strengthened,” he said.
The official said that the Armenians’ Interest in Persian language and
literature as well as their attraction to outstanding Iranian poets,
in particular Ferdowsi, is considered as one of the factors for the
spiritual bonds between the two sides.
“University instructors who are bound to promote science and knowledge
in their own countries, have a heavy burden on their shoulders,”
he said.
Haddad-Adel said that such a task is not restricted to advancement of
science and technology in the community rather keeping the nations
updated on the real developments of the world of today is more
significant.
“The facts which were once revealed, will not only result in the
vigilance of nations, but will make them realize the truth and revise
their false ideas formed under the impact of wrong propaganda of the
world tyrannical powers,” he concluded.
Haddad-Adel arrived in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, Monday on the
first leg of a two-nation visit to the region.
His official visit takes place in response to the invitation of his
Armenian counterpart.
The speaker is accompanied by a number of executive officials and
Majlis deputies.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress