ROBERT GETIKIAN’S NEW FILM TO BE SHOWN IN JUNE
By Petros Keshishian
AZG Armenian Daily
19/05/2006
“Van” news group of French Armenians informed that from June 28
Robert Getikian’s last film will be shown at the movie theatres
of France. The film is entitled “A Journey in Armenia.” It depicts
contemporary Armenia, as well as the hard striving of the Armenian
Diaspora representatives to find their national identity. Arian
Ascarid, Gerard Melian, Shoghik Grigorian, Roman Avinian, Simon
Abgarian, Serge Avetikian, Christine Hovakimian and Madlen Getikian
are starring in the film.
The film is quite realistic and its very exciting plot will not leave
the spectators indifferent. The film is shot in one of the villages
of Vayots Dzor with the participation of the village residents.

ANDRE IN THE FINALS
A1+
[12:01 pm] 19 May, 2006
Singer Andre who represents Armenia in the annual music competition
“Eurovision-2006” reached the finals. According to the regulations
of the competition, the finalists are elected by the TV viewers of
the participant countries with the exception of the home country of
the singer.
After the semi finals by the voting of the TV viewers Andre reached
the finals which means that on May 20 he will represent Armenia once
again in Athens.

PROVOCATION FROM TBILISI
By Edmond Y. Azadian; The Armenian Mirror Spectator, Boston
AZG Armenian Daily
19/05/2006
Armenian-Georgian relations can at best be defined in love-hate
terms. During the Soviet period inter-ethnic tensions were muted down
and even the people living in the Caucasus were forced to claim to
be brothers. But deep down animosities simmered and with the collapse
of the Soviet Union they became full-blown hatred.
Even under the Soviet rule the Azeris carried a purely chauvinistic
policy by depopulating Nakhijevan and oppressing Armenians in
Karabakh, The Georgians, co-religionists of the Armenians, did not
fare any better than their Azeri counterparts in their treatment
of Armenians. That is why today the Javakhk region, predominantly
Armenian populated area of Georgia, remains economically most
depressed province.
During the last two centuries there was no love lost between the
two neighbors, who also fought a territorial dispute during first
independence and Soviet take over of the two republics.
The capital city of Georgia, Tbilisi, which was the most sophisticated
and cultured metropolis before the Soviet era, was built by Armenians,
who constituted the majority of its population. Even the mayors of
the capital city were at one time mostly Armenians.
Predominance of Armenian presence in Tbilisi had always fueled the
jealousy of the local Georgians who had been looking for an opportunity
to get rid of the Armenians.
Professor Ronald Suny proposes a very interesting theory about
Georgian-Armenian relations in his book entitled “The Making of the
Georgian Nation”.
Throughout the Caucasus the triumph of the Soviet regime was hailed as
the victory of the proletariat over the bourgeoisie. But in Georgia
that class warfare was but a fig leaf for Georgian nationalists
disguised as Communists to fight Armenians. Over the years they
gradually destroyed the infrastructure of the Armenian community in
that country by taking over churches, closing down schools, theaters
and newspapers.
The desperate situation in the Javakhk region is endemic to the
relationship of the two ethnic groups.
Since the fall of the Soviet empire Georgia fought three
ethnic wars, if we discount the clashes between nationalists
and ultra-nationalists. The root cause of those conflicts was
the jingoistic treatment of minorities, which fragmented the
country. Edward Shevardnadze continued the Soviet legacy during
independence, only to be replaced by Gamsakhourdia, a zealot who
further destroyed the ethnic fabric of his country to be ousted
eventually by Shevardnadze forces. It was most ironic that he would
take refuge in Armenia before his subsequent exile and assassination.
Since Georgia’s independence Ajaria, a Moslem region, enjoyed
semi-independent status, under Asian Abashidze, who always defied the
central government in Tbilisi, with impunity until he was escorted out
by the Russians, who expected to gain favors from Mikhail Saakashvilli,
who took over the government through his “revolution of roses”.
The two other flash points still remain unresolved; Abkhazia has
declared its independence. During the Abkhaz-Georgian war, Armenians
were caught in the crossfire, and suffered from both sides, since
the two conflicting sides blamed Armenians for siding with the enemy
camp. Before the conflict Armenians presented the largest minority. But
since the war their number and influence have dwindled considerably.
Another factor that complicates further the issue is that the majority
of the Abkhazian population has taken Russian citizenship in recent
years to give Moscow an excuse to defend “its citizens” any time
in danger.
In Georgia’s North, the region of Southern Ossetia has declared
independence and the skirmishes and saber rattling continue across
the border.
Saakashvilli came to power on the crutches of US policy in the region
and the removal of Abashidze in Ajaria had whetted his appetite for
the resolution of the two other raging conflicts.
The US support has emboldened Saakashvilli to the point of defying
his neighbor in the North, namely Russia.
Georgia’s problems are created by the xenophobia of its leaders and,
unfortunately, also its people.
Armenian presence in Georgia needs to be viewed within the context
of this very complicated political landscape.
Javakhk, unlike Karabakh in the Soviet era, borders Armenia. Through
all the succeeding regimes, a deliberate policy of the central
government has kept the area underdeveloped. No roads have been built
or repaired for a long time, no public services provided, no jobs, no
economic projects. The only way Armenians have survived is through the
existence of Russian military base, which provides jobs and above all,
physical security in a hostile region, where conflicts and unresolved
crimes are many.
The Russian military base is a bone of contention between Russia and
Georgia. The government in Tbilisi wants the Russian base out, and
in return promises economic aid, jobs and security to the Armenians.
Promises, which have not been fulfilled and looks like they will
never be fulfilled any time soon. Only Russian military base would
have guaranteed security and economic viability for the Armenians.
On the other hand a country that claims to have achieved democracy,
uses ethnic tensions and threat of ethnic cleansing as a tool for
its political ends.
Indeed, Tbilisi appoints Georgian satraps by the central government
to rule this predominantly Armenia region. Armenians are denied
jobs and government positions for their lack of proficiency in the
Georgian language, whereas it seems to be perfectly normal to have
an unelected Georgian to govern Armenians without bothering to learn
the local language.
In addition to these pressures, the central government hangs over the
head of the Armenians, the return of Moslem Metskhets of Turkic origin,
who were deported by Stalin to Central Asia and other regions of the
Soviet Union, during World War II.
This policy of relocating indigenous people has the resonance of
human rights to the international community, but in fact it is no
different than the fig leaf of class warfare Georgians waged earlier
against the Armenians. For all intents and purposes this policy aims
at depopulating Javakhk of its Armenian population.
In recent months the interior minister and foreign minister of Georgia
visited Armenia, and after all the sweet talk of brotherly love
and refusal to enter into political deals, which would compromise
Armenia’s interests, the official and unofficial harassment of the
Armenians in Georgia continues.
Georgia helped Turkey and Azerbaijan to bypass Armenia in building
the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline. There is talk that they intend to resume
railroad service again isolating Armenia.
Saakashvilli government is well aware that Armenia is in a bind and it
faces the same historic dilemma it faced during the first republic;
that is it cannot afford a second front while the Karabakh conflict
remains unresolved-Armenia is expected to calm down the tensions in
Javakhk while Georgians continue failing in their end of the deal.
Georgian leaders are convinced that the only way to restore the
territorial integrity of the country is to adopt a federal system to
lure back breakaway Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia to their fold. And
this process provides a golden opportunity for Javakhk Armenians to
claim the same level of autonomy as the other regions.
They have been agitating and demanding that autonomy, which the
official Yerevan cannot publicly support to avoid aggravating
Georgian-Armenian relations, which superficially remain calm.
US policy with regards to these issues remains singularly myopic and
one-dimensional. There is one thrust to that policy: to drive Russian
military bases out of Georgia regardless of the consequences to the
local groups. Rather than analyzing and solving the local problems
equitably, the US administration, very much in a Cold War mind set,
has been pursuing a blanket global policy of containing Russia.
As if all these problems were not enough, Georgian Orthodox Church
has launched a new provocation, certainly not without the knowledge
and blessing of the Tbilisi government, adding a new and alarming
twist to the relation of the two neighboring nations.
Georgian Orthodox Church has been confiscating Armenian churches on
the Georgian territory. Calls, appeals and protests by the Armenian
Church and government authorities have thus far been to no avail.
Pushing the envelope further, the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox
Church has appointed a special commission to claim six churches in
the Northern region of Armenia, in Tavoush and Lori, as their own,
not withstanding the fact that no Georgians live in the area.
This new initiative seems to be designed to raise tensions between
the two nations, knowing full well that Armenia can ill afford to
handle another crisis at this time.
The announcement of the “Special Commission” was preceded by another
provocation: The Supreme Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church decided
lo establish an eparchy (Diocese) of the Georgian Orthodox Church
in Armenia, without bothering to inform either the leadership of the
Armenian Church or the government.
The Georgian Church leaders claim that their decision intends
“to restore historical existence of the eparchy of Agarak-Tashir,
Dmanisi See”.
There is certainly a hidden agenda, which the Georgian authorities
are pursuing by this decision, because:
a) There are no Georgians to attend the presumed churches, nor are
there any religious structures.
b) The second issue is more suspicious than the first one, since that
region was included in the map of 1918, which the Georgian Mensheviks
claimed as their own.
Georgians living in Yerevan enjoy having their own church, courtesy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church, whereas the Armenian Church does
not have a defined status in Georgia, because there is separation of
church and state in Georgia, which becomes very handy to the Georgians
to keep Armenians in limbo and allow the opportunity to the Georgian
Orthodox Church to confiscate Armenian churches.
Georgian hidden agenda seems to counter the Armenian claims in Javakhk
and also the protest of Armenian Church leaders in the other parts
of Georgia.
The Dashnag party has been organizing and agitating Armenians in
Javakhk. Some people criticize this policy, which will raise tensions
in the area.
It is time for Armenia to resort to very delicate diplomacy. Any
retaliation in kind may rock the boat and trigger another crisis,
which may render life unbearable in Javakhk and overtax the resources
in Armenia. But on the other hand, Armenia cannot allow Georgia to
pursue its arrogant policy.
It looks like the wise course would be to carry a carrot and stick
until stability is restored in the region.

NEW WAVE OF ANTI-ARMENIAN MOODS IN AKHALKALAK
AZG Armenian Daily
19/05/2006
Three days ago leaflets with anti-Armenian content signed “brigade of
Akhalkalak liberation” were disseminated in Akhalkalak. The leaflets
featuring half moon and star read: “The time of revenge for our
humiliation has come. Remember the 1915. Gevorgian has croaked;
Rstakian is the next,” A1+ reports referring to A-Info agency of
Javakhk.
Davit Rstakian mentioned in the leaflet is the co-chairman of Virq
Party. “If on occasion of the Russian base’s withdrawal Georgia’s
defense and national security minister states that he keeps the
situation under control, then he has to disclose those behind the
leaflets,” he said.
The next name mentioned in the leaflet is Gevorg Gevorgian who was
murdered in Tsalka this March.
Georgian law enforcers have done nothing so far to disclose the crime.
Suchlike leaflets were also disseminated last October.
Georgian national security service is also to take action. “Now we can
raise the issue of security of Javakhk Armenians at the international
structures,” said Khachatur Stepanian of the board of Samtskhe-Javakhk
Armenian NGOs.

ALIYEV MILITANT RHETORIC SUPPRESSES AZERI YOUTH MINDS
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.05.2006 14:58 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Heydar Aliyev was a realist. When he raised the
issue of Karabakh, he meant only 7 regions without NK. Return of the
regions was a priority to him, Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE MG for
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in 1992-1996, Ambassador
Vladimir Kazimirov stated in an interview with a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. In his words, Ilham Aliyev concentrated too much just on
the NKR. “When he speaks of inviolability of borders of Azerbaijan,
he does not fully understand what he stands up for,” he noted.
The diplomat underscored that all principles fixed in the UN
Declaration of 1948 and confirmed by the Helsinki Agreement are of
equal value – this also refers to people’s right to self-determination
and inviolability of borders. “It should not be forgotten that those
principles were adopted after WWII, when any territorial change
could result in a large-scale war. This principle does not work at
present. Aliyev believes those principles as a dogma and thus finds
himself in a deadlock. To say nothing of his militant rhetoric cripples
moral foundations of the society, suppresses the minds of the young
generation,” the OSCE MG former Co-Chair said.

COMMISSION OF RUSSIA’S PUBLIC CHAMBER CONDEMNS VANDALISM IN NAKHIJEVAN
AZG Armenian Daily
19/05/2006
On May 17, the commission on culture and spiritual heritage of
Russia’s Public Chamber headed by Metropolit Kliment discussed the
alarming issue of annihilation of Armenian monuments in Nakhijevan,
Azerbaijan, that was raised at a recent roundtable in Moscow. Despite
UNESCO’s efforts, Azerbaijani vandals destroyed the remaining 4.000
khachkars (stone crosses) in New Jugha.
According to Yerkramas newspaper, 27.000 Armenian monuments – churches,
monasteries and chapels – dated 7-19 century were destroyed during the
years of Azerbaijani rule in Nakhijevan. The state-backed vandalism
is aimed at wiping away the Armenian trace in Nakhijevan.
The commission unanimously condemned the vandalism in New Jugha
as well as expressed willingness jointly with other commissions of
the Public Chamber to inquire after the state of foreign cultural
monuments in Azerbaijan.

COMMON POINT OF KOSOVO AND KARABAKH CONFLICTS – COLLAPSE OF UNIFIED STATE
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.05.2006 15:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It is possible to draw parallels between conflicts,
especially those of Kosovo and Karabakh, Russian Co-Chair of
the OSCE MG for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in
1992-1996, Ambassador Vladimir Kazimirov stated in an interview with a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, there are two polar points of
view in the politics. “The first says that here is a common concept
for settlement of all conflicts, the second – that each conflict is
unique. The truth lies in the middle, as usual. There are solutions
that can partially be used both here and there,” Vladimir Kazimirov
noted.
In the Russian diplomat’s opinion, there is a common point of Kosovo
and Karabakh conflicts, i.e. collapse of a unified state, in this case
the USSR and Yugoslavia; the desire of autonomies to live on their
own. “However, there are many different points between these conflicts,
which cannot be left out when passing any agreements,” he said.

FIRST MOTORCADE WITH RUSSIAN MATERIEL ARRIVED IN ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.05.2006 13:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The first motorcade with materiel of the 62nd Russian
military base in Akhalkalaki crossed the border and arrived in Armenia,
reported Assistant Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces of the Russian
Defense Ministry, colonel Igor Konoshenkov. “This is the first out
of 13 motorcades with materiel, being withdrawn from Georgia to be
provided as additional equipment for 102nd Russian military base in
Gyumri, Aremnia. The motorcade is composed of 10 cars,” he stated. In
his words, there were no problems with advancement of the motorcade
in Batumi. “In the Georgian territory the motorcade was accompanied
with representatives of the criminal and military police of Georgia,
as well as Russian servicemen,” Konoshenkov explained. Another 11
motorcades of motor equipment and 20 echelons of heavy machinery are
to be withdrawn this year. As reported earlier, the Russian-Georgian
Agreement on the terms, order of temporary functioning and withdrawal
of Russian military bases and other military objects of the Group
of Russian Troops in Transcaucasia from Georgia was signed March 31,
2006, reports RIA Novosti.

CANADIAN PM CONGRATULATES ANCC ON OPENING OFFICE IN OTTAWA
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.05.2006 16:45 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, has
sent a congratulatory message to the Armenian National Committee of
Canada (ANCC) on the occasion of the opening of its national office
in Ottawa. As the ANCC told PanARMENIAN.Net, the message specifically
says, “The Armenian-Canadian community has made a profound contribution
to Canada in many domains. Your new permanent office in the nation’s
capital will ensure that Parliament and the Government of Canada are
aware of the concerns and aspirations of Armenian-Canadians.” Over 30
MPs and Senators attended ANCC’s national office opening on April 25.
The Prime Minister’s heartfelt sentiments and initiative are greatly
appreciated by tens of thousand members and supporters of ANCC,
said Aris Babikian, the Executive Director of the Armenian National
Committee of Canada. “We are proud and honored with our association
and cooperation with the Prime Minister. It is a great pleasure to
see a government and a Prime Minister with such a compassionate and
principled feelings towards Canadians and their concerns.”
From: Baghdasarian

WEATHER ABRUPT WORSENING HAMPERS SEARCH FOR A-320 FLIGHT RECORDERS
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.05.2006 17:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The weather worsened abruptly at the location,
where A-320 liner’s flight recorders are sought for. It rains and the
sea is heavy, reported the operative staff of technical support to the
operation. “The wind was strong at night – 20m/s. It is extremely hard
to search at the sea bottom, however attempts are made,” the source
said. According to data available, the flight recorders are at the
depth of 496 meters and the distance between them makes 5 meters.
A-320 airbus of Armavia air company (Armenia) fell in the Black Sea
on the night of May 3 when coming in the land at Sochi airport. 113
persons died. Attempts to lift the flight recorders of the crashed
airplane resumed late at night, when the wind dropped.
Navigator vessel having a deep-water device aboard remains in the
location of the search for flight recorders, reported the operative
staff of technical support to the operation, reports Itar-Tass.