HEAD OF GUARD AND DRIVER OF “NEW TIMES” OPPOSITIONAL PARTY LEADER
TAKEN TO ARMENIA’S NSS
Yerevan, April 21. ArmInfo. The Head of the guard and the driver of
the “New Times” oppositional party leader Aram Karapetyan were taken
today to the National Security Service of Armenia in handcuffs.
As Aram Karapetyan told ArmInfo, today at 12:55 PM, 12 masked people
by three cars of “VAZ-2106” mark blocked the path of the “New Times”
party’s two cars of “GAZ-3110” mark near the Erebuni Community’s
Police department. According to Karapetyan, the people in masks aimed
their submachine guns at him and his assistants, then with shouts “we
shall shoot, go out of cars”, they roughly pulled the driver and the
Head of Karapetyan’s personal guard out of car, beat them on heads and
laid them on the asphalt by face down. The driver harmed his leg. Then
they took off their gas guns, “put into handcuffs”, made them change
their cars and drove away in an unknown direction. Several people sat
down in both “GAZ-3110” cars of the “New Times” party and also drove
away. According to Karapetyan, he reached his office by taxi. He told
that he had immediately contacted the deputy Head of the RA Police,
lieutenant-general Hovhannes Varyan, who allowed Karapetyan’s officers
to hold gas guns, but he informed that the Police bears no relation to
today’s action. Later, Karapetyan clarified that his driver and the
Head of the Guard are taken to the Armenia’s National Security
Service.
The Head of the Armenian NSS’s press-office Artsvin Baghramyan
confirmed in the talk with the ArmInfo correspondent that the
apprehendede persons are in the NSS. According to him, the officers of
the NSS acted according to the law, thus, responding the incoming
signals, according to which “the “NT” party members walk about the
city with guns”. “We shall clarify where the arms are from. If their
documents are OK, the apprehended persons will be surely set free”,
Baghramyan said.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Karabakh Is a Milestone Of International Law
KARABAKH IS A MILESTONE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Lragir.am
21 April 06

On April 21 Stepanakert kicked off parliamentary hearings on the topic
`The Karabakh Issue: Prospects of Settlement.’ The parliamentary
delegation of Armenia, headed by MP Armen Rustamyan, Chair of the
Committee of External Relations, arrived in Karabakh.
NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan is not taking part in the hearings. In
response to the question of Member of Parliament Gegham Baghdasaryan
why Arkady Ghukasyan was not participating in the hearing, Chair of
the Committee of External Relations of the National Assembly of NKR
Vahram Atanesyan said the president was at the final conference of the
military exercise. Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan’s
schedule was tight, and knowing this, they had not invited him.
Speaker Ashot Ghulyan said parliamentary debates on the Karabakh issue
are becoming more active. The first success in similar debates was
reported in Bishkek. He mentioned that all the political forces have
the same opinion.
Addressing the participants, NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan
commended the first parliamentary hearing on the Karabakh issue and
mentioned that the NKR parliament must develop a definite standpoint
on the issue that is directly related to its own future. He emphasized
that the essence of the conflict over Karabakh is that human rights
are not respected. Azerbaijan has constantly attempted to move this
essence to other planes which give rise to conflicts. `If in a
conflict human rights are neglected, it leads to a clash of
interests,’ said the foreign minister. Georgy Petrosyan thinks the
core reason of the present state of things is the following: the
international community, fearing war, refused to recognize the results
of the referendum on the independence of NKR. `It bolstered up the
intention of Azerbaijan to settle an issue of rights through military
means,’ said Georgy Petrosyan. The NKR foreign minister said Karabakh
must blame the international community for such an immoral
approach. It is necessary, for presently proposals are offered at
negotiations which consider the consequences of the war and not
rights, and are restoring the situation to a former status
quo. Instead, guided by their own standards of democracy, the West
should have considered the right of the people of NKR. The West
refuses to recognize the results of the referendum, speaks about a
humanitarian disaster, economic decline in the region, threats of war
voiced by Azerbaijan. As an attempt to overcome this situation, the
foreign minister thinks the mediators should propose the parties to
reassert their commitment to maintaining peace. `At that time it will
become known who uses what arguments,’ he said.
Assessing the present situation, the minister mentioned that Armenia
had to or was forced to become engaged in the talks. The international
community forces Armenia to make concessions, because Azerbaijan is
threatening to wage a war. `The standpoint of Karabakh is clear. We
would not adopt a decision that would contradict to the common will of
people. Every decision must solve all the problems of people who
suffered from the war. Azerbaijan must be recognized as an aggressor,
also against its own people.’ As to the NKR-Armenia relations, the
foreign minister thinks we are two brotherly sovereign states which
can act independently.
In response to Member of Parliament Hmayak Hovanisyan, Georgy
Petrosyan said the president of Armenia informs NKR president Arkady
Ghukasyan about the details of the talks, and for his part, Arkady
Ghukasyan informs the NKR foreign minister. `It does not mean that we
agree to everything, this has an advisory nature,’ said Georgy
Petrosyan. Besides, he also disclosed a secret ` the negotiations are
no longer confidential. `What they are now publishing is true,’ said
Georgy Petrosyan.

JOHN EVANS WILL STAY UNTIL HE LEAVES

Lragir.am
21 April 06
On April 21 the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans again had to
elucidate his rumored recall. Several days ago The Californian Courier
again informed about the decision of the U.S. State Department on
recalling John Evans and this time removing him from politics. He
asserted that he serves the president of the United States. John Evans
said he does not know how long his work in Armenia will continue. With
regard to his recall he stated that he will continue to implement the
American policy in Armenia as long as he stays in Armenia.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Karabakh Political Forces Are Against Every Proposal
KARABAKH POLITICAL FORCES ARE AGAINST EVERY PROPOSAL
Lragir.am
22 April 06

During the parliamentary hearing in Stepanakert the NKR political
forces expressed their standpoint on the principles of settlement of
the Karabakh conflict. The co-chair of the Azat Hayrenik Party
(“Free Homeland”) Arthur Tovmasyan, considering
the present situation, offered the Minsk Group to suspend the talks
for a while and attempt at the establishment of an atmosphere of
confidence between the two parties. He emphasized the importance of
promotion of democracy in the settlement of the issue.
Vahram Atanesyan, the leader of the Democratic faction, asserted that
the resolution must be based on the self-determination of the Karabakh
people and their right to build a state in their
homeland. “NKR must proclaim its territorial integrity
within the borders that the NKR people will decide,” he
said. The majority party in NKR is against mixing the question of
recognition of NKR with the question of Karabakh-Azerbaijan
border. Vahram Atanesyan said the question of borders must be settled
by an agreement between Azerbaijan and Karabakh. In this context he
emphasized the importance of engagement of Stepanakert in the talks.
Armen Sargsyan, a representative of the opposition alliance
ARF-Movement 88, also emphasized the engagement of NKR in the
talks. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation suggests dominance of NKR
on the liberated territories. For the deployment of peacemaking
forces, Armen Sargsyan thinks these forces are stationed to either
intervene in military actions or to maintain an agreement. These two
conditions cannot be found in the area of conflict over
Karabakh. Armen Sargsyan mentioned that the return of refugees and
territories will cause a misbalance in the region.
Despite their core idea of internationalism, Hrant Melkumyan, First
Secretary of the Communist Party, is absolutely against the return of
refugees and territories. He mentioned that the Communist Party would
endorse good relations between the peoples of Karabakh and Armenia but
each in their country.
Listening to all these speeches, Member of Parliament of the National
Assembly of Armenia Hmayak Hovanisyan said it turns out the political
forces of Armenia reject the current agenda of talks between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.

CHRONICLE OF RECOGNITION OF THE GENOCIDE

Lragir.am
22 April 06
Within 91 years that followed the genocide of Armenians in 1915, 19
countries and the European Union recognized and condemned the
crime. The parliament Uruguay recognized the Armenian genocide by a
resolution in 1965 and by a law in 2004. Cyprus recognized it in 1982
by a resolution of the parliament, in 1987, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and
2005 the European Union adopted resolutions, recognizing and
condemning the genocide of Armenians.
The parliament of Argentina adopted resolutions in 1993 and 2005, in
2004 it adopted a law, recognizing the genocide. The Russian Duma
adopted a resolution in 1995. The parliament of Canada adopted
resolutions in 1996, 2002, 2004, condemning the genocide of
Armenia. The parliament of Greece adopted a resolution in
1996. Lebanon recognized the genocide by similar resolutions in 1997
and 2000. The parliament of Belgium adopted a resolution in 1998. The
French parliament adopted resolutions in 1998 and 2000, and in 2001 it
adopted a law, recognizing and condemning the genocide. In the same
year Vatican and Italy recognized the genocide. Switzerland adopted a
special resolution in 2003, Slovakia and Holland in 2004. Germany,
Lithuania and Poland recognized the genocide of Armenians in 2005.
Five countries of G8 have recognized the genocide. The United States
of America did not recognize the Armenian genocide. The United States
of America has not recognized the Armenian genocide. However,
Washington D.C. and 28 states have recognized the genocide. These
states are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Montana, and
Washington D.C.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Indicator Of A Missing Society
INDICATOR OF A MISSING SOCIETY

Lragir.am
22 April 06

The Indian and Arab students protesting in Yerevan for the death of
their friends were a topic for the people of Yerevan, as well as most
of my colleagues who had arrived there for news coverage, to joke that
if something is ever done in Armenia, the Indian and Arab students
will do. However, the protest of the Indian students would hardly give
rise to jokes. The protest even caused controversial feelings. They
had lost their 22-year-old friend, and the tears were hold back by
their fury against the leadership of the Medical University, the
Police, and the emergency. The students believe that their friend
would not die if the ambulance arrived on time. If the abovementioned
institutions worked properly, as they are supposed to. The Medical
University should have cared about their student, listened to the
protest of their students instead of forcing them to go out to the
streets, where the protest could undergo any provocation. The police
should have been careful towards a dying, as well as a dead citizen,
independent of his or her ethnic identity and nationality. After all,
congratulating the holidays of his subjects several days ago, the
first policeman of the Republic Haik Harutiunyan was advising them to
be guided by this principle. Let alone the emergency doctors. Not only
should they hurry not to let a person die, but they should also hurry
to save a dying person. After all they take an oath.
Everything is logical, however; if law is a trivial thing, what does
an oath mean at all? The doctors who `hurried’ to save a dying person,
are the alumni of a university which is part of the educational system
where a rector is elected on the preferences of the ruling elite,
where rectors are elected, who despite their sex can `fuck off’
students who ask them for help. As soon as one imagines this circle,
it is not a surprise that the student lay helpless under the window
for an hour. The opposite is surprising that he lay helpless for an
hour only. The context of the protest of the foreign students is that
their friend was left without aid because he was a foreigner.
I am not sure, however. The same might happen to an Armenian student
as well. In Armenia ethnic identity no longer determines attitude.
Presently, only the social status of a person dictates the manner and
degree of the society’s attitude towards a person. In those countries
where people”s actions are not guided by the rights and are
not dictated by the duties that are set down in the law, students
living in dormitories are left lying under the window.
The investigation will reveal how the accident of the Indian student
happened, if he fell or was thrown through the window, or if it was a
suicide. It has nothing to do with the subsequent developments that
became known thanks to the protesting foreign students. If it has
nothing to do, it cannot be an excuse or explanation for indifferent
deans, rectors, policemen and doctors. Whereas they have to give an
explanation why they failed to fulfill their duties. A policemen’s
duty is not just enclosing several dozens of protesting young people
in a circle of berets. And if the first policemen of Yerevan had
visited the place of accident, he might not have had to be in
Baghramyan Street.
No matter how discouraging this street is for policemen.
And for street passers-by the protest of the foreign students was
simply a topic for jokes, an exotic happening, the mini model of a
revolution that did not take place. In fact, an indicator of a missing
society. It would be logical if the passers-by, learning about the
protest, instead of leaving the place happy with their jokes, joined
the Indian and Arab young people. It would be real heroism if the
various youth wings of Armenian political parties, student councils
and organizations joined the foreign students. After all, the problem
is important for everyone. An Indian student said if his friend was
left lying helpless in the street, the same may happen to himself.
Therefore, all the Indian and Arab students stood up for their
rights. There was nothing heroic, nothing of a superman. What happened
was humane, for the sake of human dignity. What are our citizens are
thinking about? Or maybe all our society can do is to gather in one
place to get the autograph of Charles Aznavour or to go to the
memorial to the victims of the genocide only.
HAKOB BADALYAN

From: [email protected]
Subject: US concerned over Russia’s growing presence in the So Caucasus – Az
`The US is concerned over Russia’s growing presence in the South
Caucasus’: Azeri press digest
16:46 04/21/2006
Mamed Suleymanov
The country that tries to solve the Karabakh problem by force will be
expelled from the Council of Europe, Azeri Press reports PACE
President Rene van der Linden as saying. Van der Linden does not
consider the CE membership possible for the country that would use
armed force to resolve the conflict, if a new war breaks out in
Nagorno Karabakh. In this case PACE will have to discuss the
possibility of that country’s further membership in the CE. Van der
Linden urges the parties to the Karabakh conflict to stop their
bellicose statements and to realize that the conflict can be resolved
only by peaceful measures. Van der Linden also says that if Azerbaijan
holds non-democratic elections, the mandate of its PACE delegation
will be reviewed.
In his turn, head of the public and political department of the Azeri
president staff Ali Gasanov says: `If they in the Council of Europe
want to freeze the powers of our delegation, let them do that. But
nobody has the right to threaten us.’ `Azerbaijan is an independent
state and has its own state interests. And nobody, including PACE
President Rene van der Linden, has the right to threaten us,’ says
Gasanov. (Echo)
The two radar stations built in Azerbaijan with the US’ support are
intended for strengthening the frontier control, Trend reports Azeri
Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov as saying in Washington. He says
that `those stations are part of our program to protect Azerbaijan’s
state frontier.’ Mamedyarov explains that the problem of frontier
control arose after the collapse of the Soviet Union. `Now we are an
independent state and must do it by ourselves, particularly, protect
our sector of the Caspian Sea. And here we certainly cooperate with
the US.’ Mamedyarov confirms that in the framework of this cooperation
Washington provides Baku with special equipment. `All this equipment
will go into Azerbaijan’s property.’ He notes that the project to
build radar stations has no direct relation to the security of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and the energy projects in the
republic. `We do cooperate to ensure the security of the BTC, we have
several programs. But they are parts of the general measures to fight
terrorism and to protect oil platforms, as most of our oil comes from
the sea. We are interested in the US’ experience, and the Americans
share it with us,’ says Mamedyarov. He says that the Azeri-US military
cooperation is `quite good in principle.’ `The US helps us to reform
our army so that we can face the present risks and challenges in the
region.’ `In this context our cooperation is quite active,’ says
Mamedyarov.
The US is concerned over Russia’s growing presence in the South
Caucasus, US congressman, chairman of the sub-committee on foreign
assignments Jim Kolbe said at a news conference in Baku on April
13. One of the first questions was about Section 907 (Adopted in Oct
1992 and cancelled by the Senate in 2001, Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act forbade the US government to provide direct assistance to
Azerbaijan because of that country’s blockading Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh ‘ REGNUM).
The author of the question called Kolbe the architect of the
section. Kolbe said right away that he is not. He said that now that
the Karabakh agreement is not far off, one can well take time with the
full abrogation of the section. But the next moment he said that after
the peace agreement the US Congress may provide financial assistance
for the recovery of the territories devastated by the conflict, says
Zerkalo.
The daily continues: `Explaining why Azerbaijan has not been involved
in the Millennium Challenge program, Kolbe said that the JCC criteria
were the quality of government and the rate of corruption in the
applicant countries. At the same time, he noted that Azerbaijan has
made certain progress in the above criteria. Concerning the
authoritarian growth of Russia’s presence in the South Caucasus, Kolbe
said that the US is actually concerned over Russia’s growing presence
in the region. But this growth is due to not only military but also
economic motives, and Russia, certainly, has ones in the region. In
conclusion, Kolbe said that the US supports the independence of the
region’s countries and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline are the factors that will strengthen
their independence.’ (Zerkalo)
Zerkalo concludes: `We must finally stop just declaring reforms. Only
by fully renouncing `National Declarativism’ and by going from words
to actions in the democracy and market economy building, will
Azerbaijan be able to qualify for a full value role in the
Euro-Atlantic space. Only true reforms will make us real partners to
the US, who will help us to free Shusha from the Russian-Armenian
captivity¦’
The split in the Azeri opposition is the evidence of its weakness, the
head of the OCE office in Baku Maurizio Pavesi says on April 14. He
says that the OSCE is not going to arrange a dialogue between the
Azeri authorities and opposition. This process will be resumed
later. Concerning the Mar 13 parliamentary reelections in Azerbaijan,
Pavesi says that an OSCE mission, led by Ambassador Irens, will
monitor this process. (Trend)
`The authorities are enlarging the list of means that can be used in
dispersing rallies,’ reports Real Azerbaijan. The objective of the
bill submitted by the presidential administration to the parliament is
to enlarge the list of means allowed for dispersing rallies and
pickets. The authors of the bill want to add to rubber clubs,
tear-gas, water-jets and dogs ` electric shock, rangers and rubber
bullets. They also propose allowing interior troops to take part in
the dispersal of illegal actions. The opposition MPs said that the
bill will, in fact, allow the authorities to legalize the measures
they have already used for dispersing rallies. For example, the
interior troops have already been used in such measures even though
the law says nothing about that. The oppositionists noted that such
measures might be good for riots in penitentiaries, but never for
peaceful rallies. After such criticism by the opposition, the
parliament decided to send the bill back to the authors for revision.
On April 13, the Azeri Committee against Tortures published its report
for 2005. The chairman of the committee Elchin Behbudov says that
80,000 people ` including political prisoners ‘ were tortured in Azeri
remand cells in 2005. Three persons died as a result: former candidate
for deputy Etibar Asadov, serviceman from Ganca Elnur Bagirov and
resident of Sumqayit Nadir Veliyev. 29 people arrested during the May
21, 2005 opposition rally were beaten in custody. The report also
gives the names of those who applied violence against citizens: the
investigator of the Baku municipal prosecutor’s office Maherram
Azizbekov, the head of the 30th police department of Surahan district
Fuad Mamedov, deputy head of the police department of Zaqatali
district Javanshir Babayev, the employee of the Jalilabad district
police department Ibrahim Ibishev, the deputy head of the Saliani
district police department Mirzaga Gafarov, the employee of the Agdash
district police department Mehman Pashayev and the former warrant
officer of the N military unit of Terter district Altay Bayramov. The
ACAT’s report gives a generally negative assessment of the custody
conditions in the Azeri jails. (Real Azerbaijan)
Azerbaijan-PACE
Bulgarian MP Alexander Arbajiyev has reported to PACE on the human
rights situation in the army. He says that human rights are violated
in many CE armies. He says that 5,000 Azeri soldiers have died of
various diseases and malnutrition. (Azeri Press)
Azeri delegate to PACE Elmira Akhundova says that the 5,000 toll in
the report is not true. This is unverified statistics by NGOs. She
admits that Azeri soldiers die on a daily basis but not of ailments or
hunger but from Armenian bullets. Akhundova advises to be careful with
some of the report’s recommendations and objects to the proposal to
allow soldiers to join political parties. She says that in some
countries the call-up of women is undesirable due to local mentality
and historical traditions. (Echo)
Excerpts from the interview of military expert, former political
prisoner Janmirza Mirzoyev to Day.Az:
`Bulgarian MP Alexander Arbajiyev has verbally reported to PACE on the
human rights situation in the army. The section on Azerbaijan says
that 5,000 soldiers have died of various diseases and malnutrition in
the Azeri army. Is this figure true?’
Honestly, I have no such figure. I can just say that 800 dystrophic
youths were called up in 1996-2000. I am very careful with figures. In
my opinion, Arbajiyev’s figure is very much.
And did anybody of those 800 youths die?
I have no precise figures. I just can say what I know. I know that 4
people died in the night of Nov 10-11 1998 ` reportedly of alimentary
dystrophy ` that is, of hunger. Later `alimentary dystrophy’ was
replaced by `frostbite.’ But there is an original document by
pathologist. Besides, a person suffering from alimentary dystrophy can
well die of cold, high temperature and also of frostbite¦”
`In the last 5 years I have visited Azerbaijan 25 times. I will not
take part in the parliamentary reelections because I am not satisfied
with the results of the past elections. There should have been
reelection in, at least, 50 districts. My long silence and absence
from Azerbaijan were due to this very fact. Sometimes, such composure
also takes strength,’ the co-rapporteur of the PACE monitoring
committee on Azerbaijan Andreas Gross says in an interview to Azeri
Press. Asked if he is going to quit as co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan,
Gross reminds APA that some time ago he was declared almost persona
non grata by the Azeri authorities: `Then I observed the
referendum. They tried to turn me out as early as Aug 2002. The Azeri
government has long been appealing to the CE for stopping my
activities as co-rapporteur. But my mission can be stopped by me or my
colleagues. I will continue my work because I work, first of all, for
the benefit of the Azeri people.’
The statements on the necessity to defend the rights of national
minorities are used by some states as a tool of aggression against
other states, which is a form of Fascism, Trend reports Aydin
Mirzazadeh, member of parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan to PACE,
as saying at the Assembly’s session on preventing the dissemination of
the Fascism ideology. `Fascism is widely spreading in the world
today,’ Mirzazadeh said.
`For instance, Armenia, covering its true intentions by the wish to
protect the rights of the Armenians living in Azerbaijan, has occupied
part of the country’s territory and has expatriated over million of
people just because they were Azeris.’ Mirzazadeh also mentioned the
devastation of numerous historical and cultural monuments by
Armenians. `They destroyed even monuments to well-known Azeri poets.’
Mirzazadeh urged the PACE MPs to come to Baku and to see with their
own eyes the shelled monuments. Mirzazadeh meant the fragments of the
statues of three Azeri dramatists, which were brought from Shusha and
mounted in front of the presidential residence. “The tolerance of such
steps by Armenia may become a precedent for the recurrence of such a
form of `Fascism,’ Mirzazadeh said.
Azerbaijan-US
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev will meet with US President George Bush
in the White House Apr 28. While announcing the meeting in a
traditional morning briefing then-White House Press Secretary Scott
McClellan called Azerbaijan the US’ `key ally’ in a strategically
important region of the world and `a valuable partner on Iraq.’
(AzerTag)
Commenting on Aliyev’s visit to the US, Real Azerbaijan says: `In late
April the neo-monarchic regime of Azerbaijan will finally `discover
America.’ Unlike the former Azeri president, whom the White House gave
a vote of confidence and a wing of protection at once, the present one
faced paradoxical ambiguity from the very beginning. On the one hand,
the US authorities did their best to ensure succession of power in
Azerbaijan and have actively supported Ilham Aliyev’s non-democratic
regime from the very first day of his `enthronement’ (one example is
the last parliamentary elections), but, on the other hand, they have
demonstratively kept him away from the White House and have
permanently slated him in public for conducting policies that strongly
compromised the attractive inauguration calls of the US president.’
`The unexpected news about the forthcoming visit has been snatched by
all media and has inspired analysts into theorizing about why Aliyev
was invited to the US and why he was boycotted by Washington for so
long. This is the first official visit of the new Azeri president to
the leading world power. For several days the Azeri propaganda kept
hinting that the US experts have realized the importance of Aliyev’s
visit. The ruling elite were just happy that the Bush team had finally
allowed the new Azeri president to visit the White House. This story
has `a strange prehistory,’ where the Bush team was openly reluctant
to disavow `its complicity’ in the enforcement and legitimization of
neo-monarchy. The point is that October 2003, the end of the
`scandalous’ presidential election was, in fact, the birth of the
first post-Soviet neo-monarchy. Since then `to get an official
invitation from President Bush’ has been a kind of `idee fixe’ for
President Aliyev. Every year his team played the `supposed US visit’
game, but every time their wish to pass the desirable for reality came
to grief: for over two years the Azeri president failed to find the
key to the gate of the White House,’ says Real Azerbaijan.
`The key question we should find an answer to is: why has Washington
ignored the reality of Aliyev’s presidency for so long and why does it
want to meet with him now, after one more electoral disgrace?
Probably, after the fiasco of the Paris peacemaking initiative, Bush’s
experts have got ambitious to show their imperial will for actually
resolving the Armenian-Azeri conflict. Lately the US experts have kept
saying that the problem can and even must be solved this year. Quite
naturally. With the launch of the strategic Baku-Ceyhan and
Baku-Erzerum pipelines in the offing, the US is hurrying to bring the
Karabakh conflict under its control and to enforce its peaceful
resolution for reducing the risks of the global energy projects. The
White House’s `Karabakh initiative’ is also due to the US’
`anti-Tehran plans’: before its possible war with Iran, the Bush
administration wants to settle or freeze all the other conflicts along
the Iranian border so as to minimize other threats and to avoid
unnecessary surprises. The media are already rumoring about some
`special peacemaking project,’ a plan by the Americans to force the
conflicting parties into mutual concessions. And so, they interpret
Aliyev’s forthcoming visit to the US as an indirect proof of that. The
`Iranian version’ is also convincing. This version says that Bush
wants to force his satellite into implicit obedience in his
blitzkrieg. Moreover, the very fact that Aliyev was invited to
Washington (that he is no longer an `unwanted guest’) is interpreted
by many as a proof that Baku has accepted Washington’s terms on Iran
(and possibly on Karabakh too).’
“Some Azeri analysts say that the invitation is due to the US’ wish to
stop Azerbaijan’s re-Sovetization and the constantly growing Russian
influence on the country. The US experts may well be worried lest
Azerbaijan might follow Uzbekistan’s example of geo-political
transformation and may just want to show the whole world that our
country is still the US’ strategic partner and that this partnership
cannot be replaced by the neo-Soviet friendship between Putin and
Aliyev. The `offended’ regime is getting increasingly neo-Soviet,
reactionary and corrupt and sometimes even shows some dangerous
`geo-political flirt’ with Moscow and Tehran. So, the White House may
have revised its strategy on Aliyev: it may have decided to temper
justice with mercy and to keep the Azeri neo-monarchy on as short a
leash as possible so as to provide against any possible `geo-political
betrayal¦’ (Real Azerbaijan)
Azerbaijan-Armenia. Karabakh problem
`The Azeri authorities will give the green-light to the mission of the
European Parliament’s 10-experts, sent to Armenia to investigate the
alleged destruction of an Armenian cemetery in Naxcivan, only if a
two-sided investigation is held,’ says the head of the public and
political department of the Azeri president staff Ali Gasanov. He says
that the proposal to send a mission to Naxcivan was made by a British
MP: `Azerbaijan is open for all. We want the whole world to know what
atrocities Armenians committed in Azerbaijan and what Azeris did in
Armenia. But this must be done on a mutual basis. Why are the European
Parliament experts checking the places of alleged destruction of
Armenian monuments but are closing their eyes on the destruction of
our cultural pearls in Shusha and elsewhere? We suggest setting up an
EP fact-finding mission for examining the occupied and not occupied
territories of Azerbaijan and the territory of Armenia. But we will
object if they hold such an investigation only in Naxcivan.’ (Echo)
`We can’t decide for your two countries. These will be very difficult
decisions to make, as no peace agreement can be 100% good for both
sides. But I can say that there is a solution that can justify the
hopes of both sides by more than 50% and even by 80%. But the final
decision is up to your presidents and governments,’ the French
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier says at a news
conference in Baku on April 11. On behalf of the MG, he regrets that
the meeting in France has given no results. `2005 was very hard, we
held many meetings and talks to resolve the Karabakh conflict. As a
result, we determined the key principles of the peace agreement. The
presidents were supposed to agree on the remaining principles. But
unfortunately they didn’t.’ (Zerkalo)
During the PACE spring session the chairman of the PACE ad hoc
committee on Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Lord Russell-Johnston
expressed his concern over the possibility of a new war in the
Karabakh conflict zone. He noted that the formation of the PACE
committee on Karabakh does not mean that PACE is going to become a
full mediator in the peace process. He said that the OSCE MG has
professionally mediated in the process for already 10 years and the CE
can hardly replace it therein. `Our task is to provide the OSCE MG
co-chairs with any necessary assistance,’ Johnston said. (Azeri Press)
The Halotrust organization, registered in the US and the UK, is
engaged in illegal activities in the occupied Azeri lands under the
guise of mine clearance, says the first secretary of the Embassy of
Azerbaijan in Belgium Fuad Gumbatov. He says that by its statements
and official activities The Halotrust questions the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan: `We know for sure that The Halotrust has been
founded by retired officers and that representatives of that
organization hold military trainings with Armenians in Karabakh.’
Gumbatov urges `all patriots of Azerbaijan’ to come out against the
activities of that organization. (Azeri Press)
Azerbaijan and Armenia have undertaken similar commitments to resolve
the Karabakh conflict by peace, CE Secretary General Terry Davis says
in an interview to Azeri Press. He says that if Azerbaijan tries to
solve the problem by war, it will grossly violate the commitments it
undertook when joining the CE. Davis is sure that Azerbaijan will
honor its commitments. Otherwise, it will face big difficulties.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Historic graveyard is victim of war
Historic graveyard is victim of war

The Times
April 21, 2006
By Jeremy Page in Moscow
Azerbaijan is being blamed for the destruction of a unique cemetery.

A MEDIEVAL cemetery regarded as one of the wonders of the Caucasus has
been erased from the Earth in an act of cultural vandalism likened to
the Taleban blowing up the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan in 2001.
The Jugha cemetery was a unique collection of several thousand carved
stone crosses on Azerbaijan’s southern border with Iran. But after 18
years of conflict between Azerbaijan and its western neighbour,
Armenia, it has been confirmed that the cemetery has vanished.

The Institute for War and Peace Reporting, a London-based
non-governmental organisation that supports independent journalism,
said that one of its staff had recently been to the highly restricted
site.

Where once stood between 2,700 and 10,000 intricately carved
headstones ‘ khachkars ‘ dating from the 9th to the 16th centuries,
there was only a dry patch of earth, said the institute
(). It was the first independent confirmation of what
Armenia has long alleged ‘ that Azerbaijani authorities have razed the
cemetery since the two former Soviet republics began a bloody border
war in 1988.

The war ended in a ceasefire in 1994, with 30,000 dead and a million
displaced, but still simmers over the disputed region of
Nagorno-Karabakh, which is held by Armenia but internationally
recognised as Azerbaijan. Foreign organisations had been unable to
visit the cemetery because it is in Nakhichevan, a tiny enclave of
Azerbaijan cut off by Armenia and Iran and accessible only by air.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly dismissed Armenia’s allegations as
scaremongering and in turn accused Armenia of destroying hundreds of
Muslim sites. President Aliyev of Azerbaijan angrily dismissed reports
about the cemetery’s destruction as `a lie and a provocation’ last
week.

The institute’s revelation now threatens to embarrass him and further
cloud the prospects for a lasting peace with Armenia.

Vartan Oskanian, the Armenian Foreign Minister, welcomed the
report. `The irony is that this destruction has taken place not during
a time of war but at a time of peace,’ he told The Times. There has
been clear intent by the Azerbaijanis to eliminate all evidence of
Armenian presence on those lands. To do that, unspeakable,
irreversible destruction has been wrought and 10,000 tombstones which
hold immense religious and artistic significance are simply gone.’

Tahir Tagizade, a spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, said
that there had never been an Armenian cemetery or any other Armenian
cultural relics in the area visited by the institute. `As a multi-
ethnic society, we are proud of our diverse cultural heritage,’ he
said. `I don’t see any reason for destroying Armenian property, even
though we are at war with the Armenians.’

The report comes as a European Parliament delegation is visiting both
countries to look into allegations of attacks on cultural sites. It
had hoped to visit the Jugha site, but has yet to be granted
permission.Unesco said that it was also ready to send a fact-finding
mission but needed permission from the Azeri and Armenian
governments. The institute said that there was now a village of about
500 people by the cemetery site. Some of those there said it had been
destroyed much earlier, while others disputed that it was Armenian.

The report quoted two witnesses as saying that the cemetery had been
deliberately destroyed between 1989 and 2002. Argam Aivazian, the
leading expert on Armenian monuments in Nakhichevan, said that Jugha
had been the largest Armenian cemetery in existence, and a unique
example of medieval art. `On the entire territory of Nakhichevan there
existed 27,000 monasteries, churches, khachkars, tombstones and other
Armenian monuments,’ he said.

They were mostly intact when he visited in 1987. `Today they have all
been destroyed.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

enocide_docs_ataturk.htm
Kemal Ataturk Admits Reality
of the Armenian Genocide
in a 1926 Interview
In June 1926 a group of disgruntled Turks, headed by a certain Ziya
Hurshid, planned to assassinate the “father of the Turkish Republic,”
Mustapha Kemal. In mid_June, Kemal was scheduled to visit Izmir after
an extended tour of the country. The plotters secretly assembled in
that city and finalized their plan to the minutest detail. The plot
was given away by one of the conspirators, and almost all of them were
arrested, tried and punished. Kemal arrived in Izmir and personally
took charge of the arrests. He himself interrogated a few of the
prisoners, who were his former friends. The infamous Independence
Tribunal was summoned from Ankara, and at the conclusion of the mock
trial, fifteen conspirators were sentenced to death. Those who
belonged to the former Union and Progress (Ittihad ve Terakki) Party
of the Young Turks, were later tried in Ankara, found guilty and
executed.
In July of the same year, a Swiss journalist, Emile Hilderbrand,
interviewed Kemal, who openly blamed the Young Turks for the massacre
of “millions of our Christian subjects.” The interview originally
appeared in the August 1, 1926 issue of the Los Angeles Examiner. This
newspaper interview is an important document, since, in the ninth
paragraph, Kemal Ataturk admits the reality of the Armenian Genocide.
The text below is corrected and reprinted from the Armenian
Mirror-Spectator, March 16, 1985.
Kemal Promises More Hangings of Political Antagonists in Turkey
I shall not stop until every guilty person, no matter how high his
rank, has been hung from the gallows as a grim warning to all
incipient plotters against the security of the Turkish Republic. Since
the very hour of its reincarnation in the rejuvenated body of the
Republic, our nation has endured travails no other nation has ever
experienced.
When we were fighting external enemies, or enemies whom we were
certain were sympathetic with foreign intriguers, nearly all of the
rank and file of our population were enthusiastically, even
fanatically, united to deliver the nation from the multiple foreign
yokes. But no sooner had the nation proved its worth to its foreign
detractors than certain elements, bred in the old school of political
intrigue, began to show their claws. We were face to face with a
menace to the life of the republic from two elements.
One was the group who combined religious fanaticism and ignorance with
political imbecility and who, in the past, under different Sultans had
come to believe that the state was an organism to be exploited through
debauchery, corruption and brazen bribery for personal ends. I put the
ax in the dual root of this sinister and reprehensible theory of
government by destroying the Khalif and the Sultan. I sent into exile
the persons in whom this theory was personified. Large numbers,
adherents of this school of politics, attempted to interpret any act
as atheistic, and, under the aegis of religion, began to intrigue
against the life of the republic.
Sixty Leaders Hang at Dawn
In several instances in the past when, in Kurdistan and other interior
regions of Anatolia, they showed a disposition to challenge the will
of the republic, I crushed them with an iron hand, and for example,
had over sixty of their leaders hanged at dawn.
That element had its lesson and will not again attempt to measure
swords with ‘me.
The second element, I am now about to deal with ruthlessly, is the
group of men who in the pre_republic days were known in the world as
the Committee of the Union of the Young Turks. The ranks of this
element were recruited from a questionable assortment of political
adventurers, half_educated progressives and men of dissolute habits.
In the days when we were battling against foes from within and
without, this element joined us and fought in our ranks. Yet from the
early days I had misgivings as to their motives. But I wished, hoped
and then prayed that once our country was redeemed from the foreign
yoke, this element would mend its methods and become infused with the
seal of patriotism. I soon began to realize that my hopes were doomed
to be disillusioned and my prayers were [not] to be answered. I
patiently waited, keeping a sharp eye on their movements.
Seditious Movements Cloaked
They formed themselves into a political opposition. I do not pretend
to be a dictator, bent to suppress sincere and honest political
opposition, because a republic is a misnomer when it ceases to brook
criticism. But when a group of dissolute, corrupt and unscrupulous
political adventurers begin to organize seditious movements under the
cloak of political opposition, it becomes the sacred duty of those who
are in charge of the machinery of the government to suppress it and
suppress it with an exemplary ruthlessness that will prevent the
eventual shedding of rivers of blood.
I am about to show these plotters that the Republic of Turkey cannot
be overthrown by murderers or through their murderous designs…
These left_overs from the former Young Turk Party, who should have
been made to account for the lives of millions of our Christian
subjects who were ruthlessly driven en masse, from their homes and
massacred, have been restive under the republican rule. They have
hitherto lived on plunder, robbery and bribery and become inimical to
any idea, or suggestion to enlist in useful labor and earn their
living by the honest sweat of their brow.
Under the cloak of the opposition party, this element, who forced our
country into the Great
War against the will of the people, who caused the shedding of rivers
of blood of the Turkish
youth to satisfy the criminal ambition of Enver Pasha, has, in a
cowardly fashion, intrigued against my life, as well as the lives of
the members of my cabinet.
I would have more respect for them had they planned an armed
revolution, taking the field in a manly fashion, to overthrow my
government. But being conscious of the fact that they could
not muster out even one regiment to give battle to the zealous
adherents to, and upholders of, the glorious republic, they have
resorted to beastial methods of assassination. They have hired
murderers and even debauched women to commit their murderous acts.
In the middle of June last I had planned to make a tour of the
country. My itinerary was published. A group of these assassins,
placed on the route of procession, were to “rain” hand grenades at the
automobiles which were to carry me and my staff.
They went even further and seduced a woman who had been for years
identified with my cause and who had been my loyal political friend
and on occasion, even adviser. They induced this woman to accept the
reprehensible assignment to present me with a bouquet which concealed
a bomb that would, on my receiving it, explode and obliterate everyone
in sight. This ill_advised woman deserves pity, for she was made to
believe that she would thus sacrifice her own life for the good of the
fatherland. I was the enemy of the nation. She will be forgiven for
her part in the plot, for she conscience_stricken, confessed to the
proper authorities in time for me to cancel my intended tour.

From: [email protected]
Subject: The Sooner Victor Makes Up His Mind The Better
THE SOONER VICTOR MAKES UP HIS MIND THE BETTER

Lragir.am
22 April 06

Victor Dallakyan, Secretary of the Ardarutiun Alliance (Justice), one
of the key figures of the opposition, might close the door of the
alliance behind him, for he is likely to open the door of the
Bargavach Hayastan Party (Prosperous Armenia). Victor Dallakyan is not
in a hurry to officially refute this information, which is touched
upon increasinly often, and in personal talks he even confirms his
decision to change `justice’ with `prosperity.’ Instead of Dallakyan
his boss in the alliance Stepan Demirchyan refutes this information,
who elucidated Dallakyan’s plans for news reporters on April 22. `If
someone has to make up their mind, the sooner they do the better,’
stated Stepan Demirchyan, the leader of Ardarutiun, on April 22 in
response to news reporters.
`There can be different talks, however no one has announced
about leaving the alliance yet. But I have to repeat again, of course,
that if there are people or political forces which have a problem of
orientation, the sooner they decide the better.’ The leader
of Ardarutiun said there is not a mechanism of removing a member of
parliament from the faction, and Victor Dallakyan fulfills his
functions, the job of the secretary of the alliance.
Nevertheless, it is surprising that Stepan Demirchyan did not want to
enquire directly from Victor Dallakyan about the reason or occasion
that gave rise to such intensive rumors.
From: Baghdasarian