Vazgen Manukyan assesses the latest suggestions of the mediator incomparably
better
ArmRadio.am
18.07.2006 17:35
“The last document connected with the settlement of the Karabakh
issue, which is more or less spoken about, is inconsiderably better,”
declared NA Deputy, President of the of the National Democratic Union
Vazgen Manukyan.
In his words, although he does not agree with the new suggestions,
but he assesses these positive as compared with the previous ones.
“None of the existing documents can suggest the resolution of the
issue,” Vazgen Manukyan assured.
In his words, the parties may make concessions in regard to
territories, refuges, economy, communications, etc., but the core of
the conflict is Nagorno Karabakh.
Therefore, if there is no agreement over this core issue, the question
cannot be resolved via signing a document. Vazgen Manukyan reminded
that the world history knows one similar case, when a territory was
taken from one party and transferred to another one, despite there
was no such will.
According to the speaker, the talks should continue, and it is useful
for Azerbaijan. According to Vazgen Manukyan, the group engaged in
the negotiations is carrying out its obligations with a great skill.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgy Petrosyan: Achievement of solutions possible only with participation of NKR authorities
ArmRadio.am
18.07.2006 17:45
Commenting upon the statements of made during the summit of the Group
of Eight countries in Saint Petersburg, NKR Foreign Minister Georgy
Petrosyan said in particular, “One may only welcome a statement of the
G8 countries on maintenance of the intermediary efforts of the OSCE
Minsk Group and on necessity of co-ordination of the core principles
of the conflict’s peaceful resolution.
Nagorno Karabakh has always come out in favor of peaceful resolution of
the problem and is ready to exert every effort to achieve the agreement
on establishing long-term peace in the region. Unfortunately, not
everything depends on the mediators. Considering Azerbaijan’s extremely
destructive position and its unwillingness to be in any contact with
Nagorno Karabakh it is very difficult to find an acceptable and
correct solution to date. The President of the Russian Federation
has fairly noted that Russia is not going to impose any solutions on
the parties to the conflict and that the compromise must be reached
by people. Taking into account the Russian Federation’s readiness
to become a guarantor of the agreements’ fulfillment, we remind once
again that the achievement of solutions directly concerning the future
of our country and our people is possible only with participation of
representatives of legally elected authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, the main and the most suffered party to the conflict”.

ARMENIA ALREADY NEEDS A DEFENSE MINISTER
By HAKOB BADALYAN
Lragir.am
18 July 06
The internal political situation in Armenia is entering a rather
interesting stage, for the period of orientation of the minister of
defense is ending. On July 22 it will be over, and we will learn what
position Serge Sargsyan will have in the Republican Party. Then the
activity of all the spheres of life of Armenia may normalize because
people will stop taking interest in the plans of the defense minister
and will mind their own duties.
But if Serge Sargsyan’s membership to the Republican Party may help
restore the normal schedule of work, it will hardly be possible
to say the same about the sphere led by Serge Sargsyan. It is
possible that the defense minister will occupy a rather high post
in the Republican Party. So high that he will not be inferior to
Andranik Margaryan. They even say it is going to be the post of the
co-leader of the party. What is the point of his membership if he is
not going to have an influential lever in the party? It is true that
a post is not essential to having levers, especially in the case of
Serge Sargsyan, for in the post of defense minister he had almost
presidential power. At least, everyone in the public and political
sphere thought him to have. The same can be inside the Republican
Party. Now the situation is different, however.
Serge Sargsyan has already adopted a policy of formal
powers. Therefore, he acquired posts in the spheres of economy,
education and even sport. In other words, the defense minister
either formalized his powers or simply tried his best to acquire
these powers because if one or two years ago he could nourish the
myth about his almightiness because he was the most reliable person
for Robert Kocharyan, now everything is different. It is obvious that
Serge Sargsyan is not the only reliable person for Robert Kocharyan,
let alone the most reliable one. There is a lot of evidence to
this. The most recent evidence is Vardan Oskanyan’s speech on July
14, when the foreign minister made a speech on home policies, in
fact. And it is more notable that it happened on the day when Serge
Sargsyan announced that he submitted an application for membership to
the Republican Party. Obviously, stopping to be Robert Kocharyan’s
“favorite son” (though he may have never been such), Serge Sargsyan
had no other way out but to gain as much formal levers as possible,
which he will need for his political plans, because he cannot go on
to rely on Robert Kocharyan’s levers any longer.
The administrative-criminal resource too, reliant on the defense
minister, has already started accepting “cash” only, and wants to
make sure that the “boss” really has power, he is the formal bearer
of power. In this case, a leading post in the Republican Party is
not just a caprice or a matter of choice for Serge Sargsyan. It is
a vital necessity. In fact, it is evident that it takes the defense
minister five minutes to become a public political-party figure. And
he kickstarted the activity on July 14.
For the first time the defense minister said “why not” for the
possibility that he will be president. In other words, Serge
Sargsyan announced for the first time that he is considering
presidency. Formerly, he had not stated that he did not think about
it, of course, but now he shows that he is thinking about it.
Here it is worthwhile to recall an episode from the recent visit of
the Russian defense minister Sergey Ivanov to Armenia. When Ivanov was
answering questions of news reporters sitting beside Serge Sargsyan,
he was asked if he might be the next president of Russia.
Sergey Ivanov said he is a defense minister, and if he starts thinking
about becoming president, he would perform his duties of defense
minister badly. Serge Sargsyan probably did not hear these words
though he was sitting the closest to him.
In this respect, it might be necessary to remind this episode,
which would be useful for normal activities of the sphere of defense,
essential to the country’s security. It’s a pity the president has gone
on holiday because at the moment learning or recalling Ivanov’s words
is much more important for him. If the defense or whatever minister
starts thinking about presidency and taking definite steps in this
direction, real danger occurs that the official will start thinking
less about his or her own duties. In this very case, the sphere of
defense is concerned.
Meanwhile, it is notable that over the past few weeks the head of
the defense ministry of Armenia has attended to everything except
defense. At least, very few of his recent public speeches referred to
defense. These were mostly speeches about chess, energy, gas pipelines,
parliamentary elections, education, encouragement to businessman and
now parliamentary and presidential success of the Republican Party.
Apparently Armenia needs a new defense minister for the country to
mind its own business and Serge Sargsyan to mind his own political
business. In this sense it might be even good that the president has
gone on holiday, for Robert Kocharyan will have time to consider naming
a new minister not to waste too much time on the protocol. It is also
possible that the defense minister has already thought about his fate,
and maybe he will submit his resignation. At least the National Unity
Party, widely known to everyone, says this is a possible thing. The
supporters of Unity say a resignation would bring points of political
honesty to Serge Sargsyan. In other words, the defense minister
will retire as a hero. It is also possible that he will declare the
conflict over Karabakh as the cause of his resignation, announcing
that he is against returning lands, rather than his activity in the
party and his reluctance to politicize the army.
Hence, here is a situation, which the minister of defense can use for
his interests, publicly countering Robert Kocharyan and presenting
the president as someone who “returns the territories”.
Indeed, this step needs to be estimated deeply to find out what is more
important, the lever of the army or political dividends. After all,
it is not clear what resource the defense minister will be using to
become president: political, which is on the zero point, or military
criminal, which passed the test of time.
By the way, the army is also waiting for him to make a decision.
After all, it is equally important for the army to learn what the
defense minister will eventually be doing. Perhaps, however, we will
not be mistaken to say that it is even more important for the army
to know what the commander-in-chief is doing. Can you imagine if he
also failed to think about the country’s defense capacity? What would
the citizens of the country think about him?
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BUSINESSMEN-IN-LAW
By James Hakobyan
Lragir.am
18 July 06
The defense minister had just uttered his speech of encouragement
to businessmen when the reply of Dashnaktsutiun followed right
away. If on July 14 Serge Sargsyan conveyed to big businessmen
relying on him that what they did was not bad, on the next day the ARF
(Dashnaktsutiun) rounded up small and medium-sized business owners and
related them to Dashnaktsutiun without waiting until they would rely
on Dashnaktsutiun. On July 15 the ARF leaders set up an organization
named Ajas, including small and medium-sized businesses.
On the eve, during and after political events in Armenia the economic
resource has always been one of the main factors. This is typical of
the entire world. But there is an essential difference. In the world
or in so-called established countries the economic resource acts as
a participant and underlies the process. In Armenia it is different.
For instance, in a normal country the defense minister would rely
on the backing of businessmen rather than the businessmen would rely
on the defense minister. A defense minister has nothing to give them
except a notice. So, if he encourages their reliance on him, it means
he is going to justify their expectations by abusing his powers. In
fact, the defense minister gives this hope for the future, that he
would become a president and in the new post he would have to deal
with businessmen and would justify their hopes.
What guarantees does Serge Sargsyan have that he will become president
if he hints to big business owners that it is not bad to rely on
him? No guarantees are seen. A president is usually elected.
So, either Serge Sargsyan already knows the outcome of the election
or he misleads the businessmen for his personal aims. Every speech
calling business for reliance on one person or another rather than
the law is a misleading statement, independent from who this person
or political force is.
Frankly speaking, it is not so important whether the small
and medium-sized business owners had invited the leaders of
Dashnaktsutiun to the conference of the organization Ajas, or the
leaders had organized this conference, not openly, of course. It
is interesting why the entrepreneurs had invited only the leaders
of Dashnaktsutiun. Why didn’t they invite other political forces as
well? And most importantly, why did they invite representatives of
a political force at all?
Why does the business community of Armenia, small or big, tend to
rely on one figure or another, on one political force or another,
failing to realize their own force? Even the fact that political
forces and figures try their best to get hold of business did not make
them realize the force they represent. Whereas, having such force but
relying on some people is capitulation in one’s homeland. Force is not
skinheads or gangs of criminals, defending businessmen God knows from
what. Especially that they defend authorities rather than businessmen,
turning a businessman into a foe of the public. And the reason is
that for years on the same businessmen relied on persons rather than
the public. When they were promised bright future, avoiding taxes,
businessmen failed to realize that their future would be marred. They
did not realize that the government encouraged tax avoidance to
introduce a bill to the government later providing for prosecution
for tax avoidance.
The businessmen did not realize that their power is the law, and
the government is their servant. They did not realize this and they
served the government and some of them relied on Serge Sargsyan,
the other on Dashnaktsutiun, the third on the Republican Party, the
fourth on the opposition, the fifth on their common past, and nobody
relied on the law. Strange though it may seem, this circumstance may
also be positive, because it enables businessmen to become free from
captivity. They only need to overcome themselves and start working
under the law. In this case, they will not have to worry what will
happen to Serge Sargsyan or how many swords Dashnaktsutiun has.

Power Monopoly Strikes Oligarchs First
Lragir.am
18 July 06
“Let them return, let them advance, but let there not be monopoly in
power,” stated Vazgen Manukyan, the leader of the National Democratic
Union July 18 at the Pastark Club, answering the question on growing
activity and advance of rightists which is the same as the All-Armenian
Movement. Vazgen Manukyan says elimination of monopoly in power must
be the prime concern of businesses rather than ordinary farmers.
“After all, an ordinary farmer, who is wise enough, knows everything,
wants them to create favorable conditions for him to be able to support
his family. But the power monopoly strikes serious businesses, serious
businessmen. It strikes the oligarchs. Well, they have earned some
money in certain ways; power monopoly means that they can take away
everything from them at any moment, as it happened to Khodorkovsky,”
says Vazgen Manukyan. According to him, there is already a class of
serious businessmen, who are interested in sustainable development
of their country not to lose what they have.
“For instance, I am also against that the property be taken away
from these people. I mean something else. Communication, transports,
etc. there are questions to be revised in connection with copper
mining, there can even be a question of nationalization. In other
places, conditions need to be created immediately, new people will
emerge who will set off at the bottom and reach great outcome,”
says Vazgen Manukyan. He assures that all the oligarchs would be
reluctant to lose their property in case power changes, but the
government should operate normally, legally.
“Their income will decline a little but they will be guaranteed.
This is dangerous for them as well but they have to be in this game,
this is my impression from their words and actions,” says Vazgen
Manukyan.

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN – VAZGEN MANUKYAN CIVIL MOVEMENT
Lragir.am
18 July 06
The leaders of the National Democratic Union and Heritage Party
Vazgen Manukyan and Raffi Hovannisian initiate a non-partisan and
non-political movement, intended to return power in Armenia to people,
stated the leader of the NDU July 18 at the Pastark Club. He said
soon there will be more details about this initiative. They have
met once at Tekeyan Center, there were representatives of other
political parties as well. No press. Not because the meeting was
confidential. Simply in order to avoid political manipulations and
political conjecture. Vazgen Manukyan says the civil movement has
nothing to do with the election 2007; the authors of the initiative
want people to regain their role in ruling the country. Otherwise,
according to Vazgen Manukyan, an election may replace one party by
another without changing the situation.

PRESS RELEASE
July 14, 2006
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Ambassador Markarian Hosts a Reception for Official Delegation From Karabakh
On June 28, 2006, Ambassador Tatoul Markarian hosted a reception at
the Embassy of Armenia in honor of Speaker Ashot Ghulian and Foreign
Minister Georgi Petrosian of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Speaker
Ghulian and Minister Petrosian visited the Washington on June
26 -28, following successful meetings in Boston and New York
earlier. In Washington, Speaker Ghulian and Minister Petrosian met
with U.S. mediator on the Nagorno Karabakh peace process, Members of
Congress, Washington-based policy and regional experts, and leaders of
the Armenian-American organizations. They held a public discussion of
prospects for Nagorno Karabakh settlement at a seminar organized by
U.S. Institute of Peace and the German Marshall Fund of the United
States.
During his welcoming remarks at the Embassy reception, Ambassador
Markarian stressed the importance of the visit by Speaker Ghulian
and Minister Petrosian, providing an opportunity to the elected
representatives of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to present their
position on the Nagorno Karabakh peace process. In their remarks,
Speaker Ghulian and Minister Petrosian noted the significant progress
in democratic and economic reforms in Nagorno Karabakh and stressed
the firm determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to live in
a free, independent, and democratic state.
The reception brought together foreign diplomats, media, think tank
experts on the region, representatives of the Armenian-American
organizations and members of Washington’s Armenian community.
Earlier, on June 27, Ambassador Markarian co-hosted a reception on
the Capitol Hill honoring the Karabakh delegation, together with
the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues, NKR
Representative in the United States, the Armenian Assembly of America
and the Armenian National Committee of America.

PRESS RELEASE
July 17, 2006
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Armenia’s Independence Day to Be Celebrated in Washington With a
Special Event
The fifteenth anniversary of Armenia’s independence will be celebrated
later this year. This important milestone will be celebrated not
only in Armenia but also by the Armenian Embassies in foreign
countries. The main celebration on September 21 will coincide with
the Armenia-Diaspora Conference in Yerevan, which will draw large
attendance from the Armenian Diaspora.
On October 20, 2006, a special event, Celebrating Fifteen Years of
Independence, will be hosted in Washington, D.C. by Ambassador Tatoul
Markarian. Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian will be the keynote
speaker at this special celebration. The details and final program
of the event will be provided by the Embassy of Armenia.

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

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