Marblehead Reporter, MA
April 20 2006
Holocaust commemoration set for April 24
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Many local organizations, temples, churches and colleges are
joining with the Holocaust Center, Boston North to sponsor this
year’s Community Interfaith Commemoration of the Holocaust, Monday,
April 24, 7 p.m., with an art exhibit at 6 p.m. at Peabody Veterans
Memorial High.
“It is vital to remember the Holocaust as a warning of what can happen
when people and nations become indifferent bystanders,” said Holocaust
survivor Sonia Weitz. “To forget the victims would be forgetting that
they ever lived. Most died without leaving anyone behind to remember,
to recite the traditional memorial prayers. To forget would be a
victory for the perpetrators.”
Harvard Law School professor Martha Minow will give the keynote
presentation entitled “Lessons and Parallels, from the Holocaust
to Darfur.” She will be the recipient of the Holocaust Center’s
Service Award.
The program includes the traditional Survivors’ Candle lighting
ceremony, the presentation of the flag by area veterans, a performance
by the Gordon College women’s choir, an interfaith service with
Rev. Thomas Buckley of Andover, Rev. Dr. Susan Jarek-Glidden of Quincy,
Rabbi Myron Geller of Gloucester and Cantor Sam Pessaroff of Peabody.
Doors open at 6 p.m. In addition to student art, there will be an
exhibit on the Armenian genocide presented by Peabody resident Apo
Torosyan. The Social Action Committee and Youth Group from Temple
Ner Tamid will have postcards available to encourage our government
to stop the genocide in Darfur. The video “Present Memories” will be
shown from 6-7 p.m.
Co-sponsoring the commemoration this year are: Temples Ahavath Achim,
B’nai Abraham, Beth Shalom, Congregation Sons of Israel, Emanuel,
Ner Tamid, Shalom, Shiryat Hayam and Sinai; Cohen-Hillel Academy,
Community Covenant Church, Danvers Diversity Committee, Facing History
& Ourselves, Gordon College, Jewish Federation of the North Shore,
office of District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett, Peabody’s No Place
For Hate, Peabody Veterans’ Council, Peter Torigian Life Center and
Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation.
The community is welcome. There is no charge. For information,
call the Holocaust Center, Boston North Inc., 978-531-8288 or visit
holocaustcenterbn.org.

Murder Case Judgement Reverberates Around Caucasus
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
April 20 2006
Armenia welcomes life imprisonment for Azeri military officer who
killed Armenian – but Azerbaijan seeks appeal.
By Marina Grigorian in Budapest and Yerevan and Rauf Orujev in Baku
(CRS No. 336, 20-Apr-06)
At the end of a case that has transfixed the two warring countries
in the Caucasus, a Budapest court handed down a life sentence last
week to an Azerbaijani military officer found guilty of murdering a
colleague from Armenia attending the same English course.
Ramil Safarov was given a life sentence without right of appeal for
30 years, for the murder of Gurgen Margarian with an axe in February
2004. Both men, who were aged 26 at the time, were attending a NATO
English-language seminar in Hungary.
The case has become a cause celebre in both countries, divided by
conflict for more than 18 years, with groups forming in Azerbaijan to
champion Safarov and Margarian being honoured as a martyr in Armenia.
The murder was committed on the night of February 18-19 in the military
academy in Budapest where the two men were staying. Safarov came into
Margarian’s room and killed him. A post-mortem established that he
delivered 16 axe-blows and almost severed Margarian’s head.
Having killed Margarian, Safarov then went down the corridor and tried
to break into the room of the second Armenian officer on the course,
Haik Makuchian, but his door was fortunately locked.
The judge Andras Vaskuti explained the severity of the sentence by
saying that the murder had been premeditated and brutal and that
Safarov had shown no signs of remorse.
Safarov’s lawyers made a case that their client was suffering from
post-traumatic stress, as he comes from Jabrail, one of the regions
of Azerbaijan outside Nagorny Karabakh taken by the Armenians during
the conflict in 1993 and now under Armenian control.
There were several examinations of Safarov’s mental health, with one
coming to the conclusion that he was not entirely sane. However, in
the end, the judge cited the last assessment, which concluded that
Safarov was of sound mind when he committed the crime.
Safarov’s father Sahib Safarov told IWPR that his family were the
victims of Armenian aggression.
“Two of his cousins died from the bullets of Armenian aggressors –
Ildirim Khudiev and Jabbar Yusifov,” he told IWPR, giving details
of atrocities committed by Armenian forces in Jabrail against his
family. “What kind of attitude do you have to that?”
In an interview published in Ekho newspaper in January, the senior
Azerbaijani psychiatrist Professor Agabek Sultanov – present at the
mental health examination of Safarov, which deduced that he was not
entirely sane – said that he had reached the conclusion that Safarov
suffered from mental trauma.
Safarov later told the court that he was at home in August 1993
when Armenian forces attacked his home region at the height of the
Nagorny Karabakh war – although this version of events is disputed,
with Safarov saying at another point that he was studying in Baku
and Turkey between 1992 and 1996.
Sultanov also said that Safarov had told him that he and his
Azerbaijani colleague had been taunted and sworn at by their Armenian
counterparts on the NATO course. In one incident Safarov came to
a birthday party of a Hungarian colleague and gave him a wristband
depicting the Azerbaijani flag. Margarian reportedly came later and
told the Hungarian that the red strip in the flag was “their blood,
which we shed, we should rip out all their guts”.
This apparently is the origin of the account in the Azerbaijani media
that Margarian had insulted the Azerbaijani flag.
However, no witnesses were produced by the defence to confirm these
incidents of harassment in court and prosecution lawyers strongly
disputed that they had taken place. They also accused Sultanov of
bias, saying he had exceeded his responsibilities by taking part in
a medical examination of Safarov in contravention of Hungarian law.
“For two years the Azerbaijani side has created a whole industry
of lies around this case and not a single assertion has received
confirmation in the course of the trial,” said Haik Demoyan, who
represented the Armenian defence ministry at the trial.
In his last words to the court on April 13, the accused asked them
to take into account his psychological state, but did not say he was
sorry for what he had done.
Handing down a life sentence, the judge emphasised that “the murder
of a sleeping man in peace time is always a crime and cannot be an
act of heroism”.
Newspapers and broadcasters in both countries took a passionate
interest in the case with the Armenian media widely reporting that
an ultra-nationalist Azerbaijani newspaper had called Safarov “Man of
the Year”, while the Azerbaijani media gave prominence to a statement
by an Armenian nationalist that he would pay 125,000 dollars for the
assassination of Safarov.
In Armenia, the sentence was warmly welcomed. In Azerbaijan there
were mixed views of Safarov himself, but there was near-universal
agreement that the sentence was too harsh.
Haik Demoyan told a press conference, “The sentence for Safarov was
also a verdict on the anti-Armenian policies of Azerbaijan.”
Levon Mkrtchian, head of the nationalist Dashnaktsutiun group in the
Armenian parliament, said, “The decision has a moral and political
meaning for us.”
Narine Abrahamian, a lawyer, said, “I am sorry for Safarov, he is
still young and has already committed such a grave crime. I think such
a harsh sentence was required to prevent the repetition of similar
brutal crimes wherever Armenians and Azerbaijanis live together.”
Anna Hakobjanova, from the Azerbaijani town of Sumgait where many
Armenians died in pogroms in 1988, said, “It is hard to even imagine
what would happen if everyone who had suffered from war starts to
seek vengeance. Whole families died during the Armenian pogroms in
Sumgait and Baku. So should we all go and arm ourselves with axes
and go and kill Azerbaijanis.”
A public organisation Defence of the Interests of Gurgen Margarian
has been formed in Yerevan by his friends and colleagues. His parents
have been allocated a plot of land for the construction of a house.
They have never publicly commented on the case of the murder of
their son.
In Azerbaijan human rights ombudsman Elmira Suleimanova called the
sentence “unjust” and said she hoped that Safarov could be extradited
to Azerbaijan. She had earlier praised Safarov as a “model of
patriotism for Azerbaijani youth”.
Eldar Zeinalov, head of the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan, also
said the life term was “unjustifiably harsh,” arguing that the court
should have taken into account the youth of Safarov, the fact that
this was his first offence and positive character references about him.
Three days after the murder Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliev called
on the media “not to inflate this matter”. But campaign groups swiftly
formed to call Safarov a hero.
One of Safarov’s main defenders, Akif Nagi, who also heads the
Karabakh Liberation Organisation which leads calls for a military
re-conquest of Nagorny Karabakh, said the court had “unequivocally
supported the Armenian side” and insisted that Safarov should have
been tried by a military tribunal since the murder had taken place
during a NATO seminar.
The Karabakh Liberation Organisation organised a rally on April 17
in the centre of Baku in which hundreds of students chanted “Freedom
for Ramil Safarov”. The march was broken up by police and dozens of
protesters, including Nagi, were detained.
Azerbaijani housewife Fatma Mamedova is one of those who voiced
support for Safarov as someone who was expressing the frustration of
Azerbaijanis who lost their homes to the Armenians.
“Ramil put up with it for a long time but in the end he couldn’t bear
it,” she said. “And I think he did the right thing. One way or another
he paid for the death of his nearest and dearest at the hands of the
Armenians and for the fact that his home is under occupation.”
Fuad Agayev, a respected Azerbaijani lawyer, agreed that the sentence
was too harsh, but blamed “certain public organisations functioning
in Azerbaijan” for making things worse for Safarov.
“They should not have used this unfortunate man and his act for their
own purposes,” Agayev told IWPR. “We have to urgently stop this current
campaign to raise Safarov to the rank of national hero. He is no hero.”
Safarov’s lawyers said in Budapest that they would try and get his
sentence reduced to one of 10-15 years and that if they had no success
they would apply to the European Court of Human Rights.
Marina Grigorian is editor-in-chief of De Facto news agency in
Yerevan. Rauf Orujev is a correspondent with Ekho newspaper in Baku.

Armenian ex-foreign minister: War with Azerbaijan can start again
Regnum, Russia
April 20 2006
“Results of the talks of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in
Rambouillet are not just failure of the process of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement, but of the OSCE Minsk Group effort as well,”
former Armenia foreign minister Alexander Arzumanyan has announced
at a news conference in Yerevan.
A REGNUM correspondent quotes him as saying that the process of
settlement has been delayed not only by the conflicting parties,
but by the West and the USA. “In the beginning of 2006, the
European Union appointed Peter Semneby as its new representative
for South Caucasus, who, undoubtedly, needs time to adjust. Then,
the USA replaced their ambassador in Azerbaijan, soon, probably,
the ambassador in Armenia will be replaced too; all this is done to
drag the process out by the end of 2006, and then, as it is known,
the time starts for election races – the time, when the settlement
process will be given a place far from the leading one,” Alexander
Arzumanyan thinks. It is worth mentioning that in 2007 parliamentary
elections will be held in Armenia, in 2008, presidential elections
will be held both in Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Assessing the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group negatively at the
talks in Rambouillet, the ex-minister, however, noted that the
mediator format was “the most successful one for the whole time of
the negotiation process.” “I do not expect any fundamental changes
in the settlement process, however, taking into consideration recent
statements made by Azerbaijan after the meeting in Rambouillet, it
is not ruled out that a war with this country can resume,” believes
the former foreign minister.

US GOVERNMENT CONSIDER CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR PLANT IN ARMENIA – ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF EXTERIOR
Author: Z.Ibrahimli
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 19 2006
Vardan Oskanyan, Minister of Exterior of Armenia, reportedly said
‘today Americans are almost eager to build a new nuclear plant in
Armenia’. Trend reports with reference to Mediamaz agency, in his
interview published today in Armenian Aykakan Zhamanak Oskanyan said
‘there was a time when they (Americans) didn’t even want to hear of
it.’ ‘The USA is concerned in this issue, the US government discusses
it and, I suggest, we have a chance to replace our old nuclear plant
with a new one’, – Armenian diplomat said.
“As far as I know, the USA are going to solve regional problems through
constructing this new plant and thus are seriously thinking it over”,
– Oskanyan added.

POLITICAL RESEARCHES INSTITUTE ATTACHED TO RA PRESIDENT FOUNDED
Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The Political Researches Institute
about what was much spoken in press, has been founded. Garnik
Isagulian, the RA President’s Advisor on National Security Issues,
the Chairman of the “National Security” party informed about this at
the April 19 press-conference. According to Isagulian, still two years
ago the RA Government made a decision on creation of the institute,
but if there was not direct assistance of the country’s President,
it is unknown when the institute would be founded. Isagulian informed
that the Politican Researches Institute attached to the RA President
got a good financing. 60 mln drams (about 130 thousand U.S. dollars)
was allocated from the President’s fund to the institution a year ago,
and it’s envisaged by the 2006 budget to allocate 107 mln drams to
the institution. RA President’s Assistant Vigen Sargsian and Deputy
Director of the institute Levon Andreasian are also involved in the
staff of the coordinating council of the institute headed by Garnik
Isagulian. The Director is Hovik Asrian, who in the past headed the
Committee on Human Rights attached to the President of the country, and
then was the President’s referent. The Political Researches Institute
which was first allocated 3 rooms at the presidential residence, is now
given 6 rooms in the building of the National Academy of Sciences of
Armenia. The main place of settlement of the institute will be the
5-stories building on the Arshakunyats avenue which is at present
being restored. The institute staff consists of about 70 people the
inner level of salaries of who starts from 150 thousand drams. As
Garnik Isagulian mentioned, experts of great fame are involved in
works of the institute. The most part of them works according to
contractual principles. According to Isagulian, at present experts
of the institute are on a mission in 5 countries: the U.S., Great
Britain, Russia, Georgia and the Middle Asian region. The institute
has 7 departments which make researches connected with different issues
of Armenia, NKR and the region. According to Isagulian, this analyses
are first of all made by the country President’s order. He mentioned
that besides the President, the Government, Ministries of Defence
and Foreign Affairs may order free analyses to the institute. The
institute is ready to make paid researches for other ministries
as well as for foreign clients. Garnik Isagulian assured that the
activity of the Political Researches Institute will be transparent
and open for the press. He called on mass media representatives
to address their questions to the administration of the institute,
avoiding information got from “well-informed” sources.”

DELEGATION OF EU TROYKA TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 20
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 20, the
delegation of the European Union Troyka led by State Secretary of
Austrian Foreign Ministry Hans Winkler will arrive in Yerevan within
the framework of the regional visit. As Noyan Tapan was informed from
RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, Ambassadors of
Austria and Finland to Armenia, EU Special Representative to the South
Caucasus, representatives of the European Commission and EU Council
are included in the delegation as its members. During the stay in
Armenia the EU Troyka will meet with RA President, National Assembly
Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Court. The delegation’s
meeting with RA Foreign Minister V.Oskanian will take place in the
morning of April 20. Immediately after the meeting the joint press
conference of RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and State Secretary
of Austrian Foreign Ministry Hans Winkler will be held at RA Foreign
Ministry press hall.

MEMBERS OF PACE COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MEN IN PARLIAMENT
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 19 2006
On April 17 Tigran Torosyan, Head of NA delegation in PACE, NA Vice
President, received Vera Oskina, Rapporteur of the Committee on Equal
Opportunities for Women and Men and Jannick Devaux, PACE Secretariat
officer, who were on an official visit in Yerevan.
Mrs. Oskina noted that she is preparing a report on the women’s
state in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. She was interested in the
women’s role in the political life of Armenia, involvement in the
local self-governance, the issues of trafficking and family violence
and demography in these spheres.
Mr. Torosyan noted that the trafficking and family violence are
extraordinary phenomena contradicting Armenian traditions and are
of little percentage. Touching upon the women’s involvement in the
political processes, the NA Vice President noted that the women
of Armenia prefer to be more involved in public than in political
activity: about 99% of women are heads of public organizations.
Regarding the allocation of 25% to the women in the electoral lists,
in Mr. Torosyan’s opinion, “the positive” discrimination is also
unacceptable, and we should not promote the women’s political
involvement with unnatural steps.
During the meeting other issues of bilateral interest were discussed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DUMA DELEGATION OF ALTAI TERRITORY IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 19 2006
On April 17 Vahan Hovhannisyan, RA NA Vice President received the
Duma delegation of Altai territory headed by Vladimir Pekarsky,
who is also the Chairman of Entrepreneurship Committee.
The meeting, in which a group of entrepreneurs were participating,
was organized within the framework of the Armenian-Russian
inter-parliamentary cooperation committee activity to elaborate joint
business programmes. Similar meetings will also take place in Altai.
During the meeting an agreement was reached to make more competitive
the agricultural products of Armenia in the Russian market, find
new consumer markets. Both sides also discussed the possibilities of
decreasing the import prices of the Russian goods to Armenia.

RA PRESIDENT AND RF DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS ISSUES REGARDING ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 19, RA President Robert
Kocharian received RF Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin
who is in Armenia on a regional visit. RF Deputy Foreign Minister
informed that he is in Yerevan for the purpose of holding a regional
consultation with Ambassadors of Russia in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan
and Turkey. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA President’s Press
Service, the interlocutors discussed issues regarding Armenian-Russian
bilateral relations, developments in the South Caucasus, in particular,
issues concerning ways of settlement of existing conflicts, as well
as exchanged thoughts around a number of urgent international issues.

DELEGATION OF ARMENIA-EU PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMITTEE RECEIVED BY RA FOREIGN MINISTER
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 19,
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received the delegation led by
Marie-Anne Isler Beguin, European Co-chairwoman of the Armenia-EU
Parliamentary Cooperation Committee. As Noyan Tapan was informed
from RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, the
participants of the meeting exchanged thoughts about cooperation
between the European Union and South Caucasian countries positively
estimating the growth of interest of EU in the region in the recent
years, as well as the European Parliament’s positive role in the issue
of including the three regional countries within the framework of the
European Neighborhood policy. Then RA Foreign Minister presented the
last developments in the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh peaceful
settlement and Armenia’s approaches towards issues of energy security
and regional cooperation.