‘TREASON OR PLOT?’
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily
16/03/2006

Halil Berktay Allegedly Requested Financial Aid from Diasporan
Armenians.

This was the title of an article in Turkish Vatan newspaper on
March 13 that dealt with an email allegedly sent by professor of
Sabanci University, Halil Berktay, to history professor at Minnesota
University, Stephan Weinstein.

In March 10 and 11 issues of Vatan, columnist Ruhat Mengi without
checking authenticity of the email commented on it meanwhile demanding
that Berktay reveal other Turkish scientists who receive money form
the Armenians. By doing so he arose uproar and allowed to suspect
Berktay in treason.

Why? Because Berktay, according to Mengi, defined deportation
of Armenians in 1915 as genocide, called the Armenian Genocide an
undisputed fact, called a renowned scientists as Bernard Luis Justin
McCarty a hired scholar of Turkey, dubbed Turkish scholars backing
official thesis “fascists concealing the truth” as well as established
close ties with the Armenian Diaspora.

As to the email, Prof. Berktay urged Weinstein to ban the participation
of Yusuf Halacoglu, head of Turkish History Foundation, and Gyunduz
Aktan in the panel of PBS TV and added that “scientists backing our
views on Genocide should be invited. We should discover them and give
chance to voice their opinion. We need to secure necessary financial
means for that.”

Berktay refuted the allegations calling them clear slander and then
he said: “First of all Stephen Weinstein is an American Jew and
does not accept the fact of the Armenian genocide. He criticized in
an article those opposing the participation of Halacoglu and Aktan
in the TV show. I turned to Weinstein via the Internet to back his
approach. I do not know him personally and I have never been to the
University of Minnesota nor have I made a speech there. I believe
this issue goes deeper than just questioning ‘was the deportation
of 1915 a genocide or not?’ I opposed to those blocking discussions
on the matter. As to financial support, it is an incredible lie that
has hurt my self-esteem and I am going to sue.”

The American historian confirmed Berktay’s words. He said the email
is a fiction and that he knows neither Aktan nor Halacoglu and has
never met Berktay.

Stephen Weinstein’s words well answer the question posed in the title
of the article underscoring that Berktay is a victim of a plot.

Prof. Halil Berktay is one of those Turkish scholars who recognize
the Armenian Genocide. In the created situation when the freedom
of speech is gaining momentum in Turkey, some circles strive not to
limit the freedom of thought of scientists but rather to force them
give up their views by various means.

It’s over doubt that any scientist facing an accusation of treason
will prefer to keep his mouth shut on Genocide issues than playing
with fire.
From: Baghdasarian

KENYA: EX-MINISTER RECORDS STATEMENT WITH POLICE OVER ALLEGED MERCENARIES

Easy FM, Nairobi
15 Mar 06

[Presenter] Former environment minister and ODM [opposition Orange
Democratic Movement] luminary, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, is at this
very hour recording a statement with police over his involvement with
the alleged Armenian mercenaries.

Kalonzo was directed to report at Kilimani Police Station [Nairobi]
moments after he arrived in the country from a trip in Ethiopia. On
arrival, Kalonzo held a brief discussion with his bodyguards and MP
Kiema Kilonzo at the airport before being led by CID officials to
Kilimani Police Station. Kalonzo who appeared calm told Easy FM that
he would comply with the order requiring him to state what he knows
about the mercenaries saga.

[Musyoka] We have just arrived from Addis Ababa. I gather I’m required
to record a police statement and I am prepared. In fact from here I
want to proceed straight to police HQ.

[Presenter] Meanwhile, Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo and his Westlands
counterpart Fred Gumo today stormed the residence of the two Armenian
nationals accused by Langata MP Raila Odinga of being mercenaries.

The two have given government an ultimatum to explain the presence
in the country of the two foreigners failure to which they have
threatened to mobilize 1,000 youths to flush the alleged mercenaries
out of their Runda residence and have them deported.

However, police were nowhere to be seen when the MPs stormed the
residence.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPEAN UNION’S NEW CAUCASUS SAYS CONFLICT RESOLUTION TOPS HIS LIST

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan
15 Mar 06

The new EU envoy for the South Caucasus has said that the resolution of
“frozen” conflicts will be his priority. In a wide-ranging “exclusive”
interview to Mediamax, Peter Semneby said: “My top priority…is the
resolution of frozen conflicts in the region” and in particular the
one over the disputed region of Nagornyy Karabakh.

He called on countries of the region to cooperate closer which he
said would help them resolve their disputes. The following is an
excerpt from report by the Armenian news agency Mediamax headlined
“Contribution to the conflicts resolution will be my top priority”;
Subheadings have been inserted editorially:

An exclusive interview with Peter Semneby, the EU special
representative for the South Caucasus, to Mediamax news agency

On 1 March, Peter Semneby assumed his responsibilities as the new
European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus.

His first interview in this post Peter Semneby gave to Armenia’s
Mediamax news agency. Mediamax’s special correspondent met Mr Semneby
in Berlin on 12 March.

[Passage omitted: Semneby worked in Croatia, Latvia and the Swedish
embassies in Germany, Ukraine and the USSR]

Ambassador Semneby has had an opportunity to work and travel in the
South Caucasus region on many occasions throughout his career. He
participated in the relief effort immediately following the earthquake
in Armenia in 1988 and was a member of the OSCE Mission in Georgia
when it was first established in 1992.

[Passage omitted: Semneby speaks several languages]

Conflict resolution – “top” priority

[Correspondent] Your mandate includes a number of objectives. Which
one do you consider to be the most important one?

[Semneby] My top priority will be to contribute to the resolution of
frozen conflicts in the region. I am aware of the existing expectations
that the European Union will play a big role after the settlement is
achieved, and this is also something that needs to be prepared. The
conflicts are taking so much political attention, they are consuming
financial resources and they hamper normal development of the countries
in the region.

There are a number of other important issues as well. In particular,
we should continue with the assistance to state building in the three
countries of the South Caucasus, to ensure normal relationships between
the countries of the region, to foster the regional cooperation at
a larger framework than the narrow framework between three countries.

OSCE Minsk Group

[Correspondent] According to your mandate, you have to support the
activities of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen. How do you see your
role in this process?

[Semneby] I have only been 10 days in office and hadn’t enough time
to have a formal meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen. I
will, of course, have very close contacts with them to make sure
that whatever initiatives are taken, whatever messages are given,
they are clearly coordinated.

Perhaps, more important is to prepare the ground for what will
happen after the settlement is reached and this can also be used as
an incentive for the parties to come to a settlement.

Karabakh talks

[Correspondent] There were a lot of expectations ahead of the meeting
between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in France last month,
and a lot of disappointment after the talks. Do you still believe it
is possible to resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict in 2006?

[Semneby] For sure, I have hopes. I can’t say now whether they are
realistic or not taking into account the fact that the expectations
were dashed at the most recent meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents. For having a better understanding I need to make my
first visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan and to talk to the Minsk
Group co-chairmen. But I definitely maintain a high degree of hope,
otherwise I should not have accepted this job.

[Correspondent] Heikki Talvitie, your predecessor in this post, paid
a lot of attention to the improvement of Turkish-Armenian relations.

Are you going to continue these efforts?

Energy security

[Semneby] Essentially, there are two difficult relationships with
neighbours in the region: it’s Armenia-Turkey and Georgia-Russia.

Both of them will be among my priorities.

[Correspondent] Energy security is becoming an important issue on
the agenda of Armenia-EU relations. Will you deal with this issue?

[Semneby] My mandate is broad enough to include the issue of energy
security. Given the developments that have taken place both in the
region and beyond it in last several months, I think there is a
reason to take a more active interest in this issue. Energy security
is definitely much more on the agenda that it used to be.

[Correspondent] Despite numerous efforts and funding provided by the
EU for the development of regional cooperation in the South Caucasus,
little has been achieved. Do you think such cooperation is possible
before the resolution of existing conflicts?

Regional cooperation key to conflict resolution

[Semneby] Efforts to establish regional cooperation should be developed
in parallel with the efforts to resolve the conflicts.

Probably, it should involve a broader context than just the countries
of the South Caucasus.

[Correspondent] What is your opinion about the prospects for further
democratic transformation in Armenia?

[Semneby] Democratic standards are always at the forefront of the
interests of the EU. I have experience from my previous jobs as
head of the OSCE missions in Latvia and then in Croatia, where I
monitored similar issues and gave support in overcoming obstacles
related to democratic institutions, electoral systems, etc. Of
course, these issues are not easy, they are also problems in many
mature democracies. But as long as there is a mutual commitment and
willingness to resolve the existing difficulties, I am confident that
the issues related to the development of democratic institutions will
not be a major obstacle.

[Correspondent] We know that you have visited Armenia after the 1988
earthquake. Could you tell us more about this experience?

[Semneby] That was really one of the most defining moments in my
life. I spent a week in Leninakan [Gyumri] immediately after the
earthquake. I was working at the embassy of Sweden in the USSR and came
to Leninakan two days after the earthquake together with the Swedish
rescue team. We were searching through the ruins after the survivors.

It was a heartbreaking experience, but at the same time I felt huge
respect for the dignity and the resilience of the people who were so
severely affected by the earthquake. I am very much looking forward
to go back to this area and see what the situation there is now.

COMUNISTS OF VANADZOR CONVENE NO PRESS CONFERENCE FOR ONE YEAR, BUT THEY DON’T THINK THEY ARE PASSIVE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 14 2006

VANADZOR, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Vanadzor City
Committee of the Communist Party of Armenia convened a press-conference
on March 14, after a year of silence. City Committee First Secretary
Andranik Ghukasian criticized the rise of the gas price accusing in
this issue not Russia but “Hayrusgasard” which, according to him,
pursues a superprofit. On the occasion of the regular rise of the
food prices, Ghukasian made such a statement: “Does fish also come
from Russia: it costs 600 drams in the market.”

Responding the Noyan Tapan correspondent’s question by what the
one-year passivity of the Vanadzor communist party was provided,
the City Committee First Secretary mentioned that it’s right,
they haven’t convened press-conferences for a year, but have had
correspondence relating to the social-economic problems of the marz
with the Governor of the marz of Lori. Responding the next question,
that the Governor of Lori mentioned in the TV interview that no
party presented proposals relating to the conception concerning the
prospects of social-economic development of the marz worked out
by the regional administration, one of the communist gave a cue:
“The Governor tells a lie.” On that occasion A.Ghukasian presented
to media a document consisting of 5 points addressed to the Governor.

Among the other proposals, decrease of the electricity price during
the winter months was also proposed in it. The communists of Vanadzor
also criticized the fact of regular creation of new parties. The City
Committee First Secretary proposed that parties unite according to
the ideology, and repeating the idea of Ruben Tovmasian, the First
Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Armenia,
stated, that the only political party in Armenia is the commmunist
party.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GRANT COMPETITION FOR NGOS PROMOTING ACTIVITY IN YOUTH SPHERE ANNOUNCED

Noyan Tapan
Mar 14 2006

VANADZOR, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The Lori regional library’s
reading-room receives more than 2 dozens of republican, Moscow and
Vanadzor newspapers and magazines. Thanks to this the attendance of
readers to the reading-room doesn’t decrease even in winter months
when the library heating is bad. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was
informed by the library press service, sometimes the newspapers
subscription is organized with the efforts of the local authorities
though the library is within the jurisdiction of RA Ministry of
Culture and Youth Affairs. At the same time, it was mentioned that
the library book fund is seldom replenished with new books, at best
foreign literature is received within the framework of the grant
program. The library doesn’t receive the books of Armenian prosaists
published in recent years: sometimes only Vanadzor prosaists donate
several samples of their books to the library.

U.S. VIEWS ON AZERI-ARMENIAN DISPUTE

United Press International
March 15 2006

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 15 (UPI) — The U.S. co-chair of the mediating
OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann visited the Azeri capital Baku Tuesday.

Ambassador Mann, the State Department’s senior advisor for Eurasia,
and State Department Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian
Affairs Daniel Fried met Azerbaijani officials to discuss the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the AssA-Irada news agency said.

AssA-Irada said that during a press conference Mann urged both nations
to seek a negotiated settlement despite the lack of concrete results
of during February talks between Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders in
Rambouillet, France.

Following the collapse of those discussions, a number of Azerbaijani
politicians threatened to use the country’s surging oil revenues
to acquire more military hardware and re-launch a war to resolve
the dispute.

Mann told journalists “There are issues of concern for both parties
that are reflected in their positions. But the resumption of
hostilities would be a tragedy for both countries. No war will lead
to a solution either now or in 20 years.

“At the same time, in considering the military option, Azerbaijan
should take into account other factors, such as the importance of
energy projects that will bring profits to the country. America is
cooperating with Azerbaijan and Armenia and deems both as friendly
nations,” he said.

In one of its first foreign policy initiatives after coming to power
five years ago, the Bush administration attempted in April 2001 to
mediate a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The two
countries fought a three-year war over Nagorno-Karabakh, which ended
with a 1994 cease-fire, leaving Armenia occupying the traditionally
Armenian enclave.

FARHAT, TJEKNAVORIAN TO RECORD ANOTHER SYMPHONY IN ARMENIA

Mehr News Agency, Iran
March 15 2006

TEHRAN, Mar. 15 (MNA) — Once again, Iranian musicians Shahin Farhat
and Loris Tjeknavorian will travel to Yerevan in May to record a new
symphony with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.

The symphony, which was composed by Farhat, is entitled “Martyrs”.

Farhat’s “Iranian Lady Symphony”, “Damavand Symphony”, and “Persian
Gulf Symphony” were also recorded in Armenia.

“Martyrs” has been composed in four movements. The first movement has
an epic theme, and the second movement is dominated by calm melodies
borrowed from the folk music of central and southern Iran.

The third movement shifts to the stirring rhythm of war, and the
fourth inspires one with the joy of triumph.

Iran’s Sorush Institute is to release the Persian Gulf Symphony during
the Noruz (Iranian New Year) holidays, which begin on March 21. Last
month, Farhat said that if Sorush continued delaying the release of the
symphony, he would release it without lyrics through another company.

A strong sense of patriotism permeates all of Farhat’s works.

PACE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NAGORNO GARABAGH MIGHT CHANGE ITS STATUS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 15 2006

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Bureau today discussed
the report submitted by chairman of PACE Subcommittee on Nagorno
Garabagh Lord Russell-Johnston (APA).

The head of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE Samad Seyidov said the
report was approved and submitted to the sitting of the Subcommittee to
be held in Strasbourg on April 13-14. According to Mr.Seyidov, though
the Council of Europe does not play a decisive role in settlement of
the Nagorno Garabagh conflict, it has an impulsive force regarding
this issue.

“Therefore, the Azerbaijani side takes serious the activity of the
Subcommittee. The documents adopted by the subcommittee can be a
basis for resolutions in favour of Azerbaijan,” Seyidov said.

Armenian sources reported today that, the future status of the
subcommittee was discussed at the sitting. According to the head of
the Armenian delegation to PACE Tigran Torosian, the Subcommittee
will continue its activities under the aegis of the Bureau.

Concluding his speech Lord Russell-Johnston spoke for the preservation
of the status by the Committee.

Mr. Russell-Johnston stressed that the Subcommittee’s main goal
will be the preparation of the two peoples for the settlement of the
conflict.

SEYIDOV: “PACE BUREAU WILL TAKE CONTROL OVER THE AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON NK”

Today, Azerbaijan
March 15 2006

MP holds a press conference.

“Ad-hoc committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) on Nagorno Karabakh will now continue its work under
the direct control of organization’s Bureau, the head of Azerbaijani
parliamentary delegation to PACE,” said Samed Seyidov at the press
conference on the results of his visit to PACE committee in Paris.

Commenting on the speech of the committee head, Lord Russell-Johnston,
Seyidov underlined that the content of this speech was known
beforehand, as it was included in the Council of Europe’s agenda
during the January session of the committee.

“We hold similar evaluation. Following the resolution adopted at the
Council of Europe’s conference, Lord Johnston continues to reflect on
the realities of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict and the interests
of Azerbaijan,” Seyidov said. “The date of a meeting of the Ad Hoc
Committee will be defined at a meeting of PACE in April.”

Seyidov stated that together with PACE Azerbaijan will have to appoint
a representative of the mission to participate in talks. “But our
delegation has not been completely formed, we are waiting for the
results of the re-run parliamentary elections in May,” Seyidov
emphasized.

He also said that another meeting of the CE representatives will take
place on March 16 in Istanbul, though no issue on Azerbaijan was not
included in the agenda.

URL:

USA WISH QUICK RETURNING OF AZERBAIJANIS TO NATIVE LANDS

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 15 2006

The United States wish quick returning of Azerbaijanis to their
native lands, stated the visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried at press conference
on March 14 in Baku.

D. Fried has emphasized, that on the meetings he held in
Baku, discussed were negotiations on peace settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and also results of
the meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in February in
France. He has told: “The delegation of Azerbaijan during negotiations
very persistently and resolutely protects the national interests. At
the same time, they are ready to research of constructive ways of
the settlement’.

The Assistant Secretary of State, having informed also about the
carried out exchange of opinions concerning strategic relations of
the USA and Azerbaijan, has told: “Between the USA and the government
and people of Azerbaijan, there are strong friendly connections. We
wish to see Azerbaijan on the Euro-Atlantic space as a country living
in peace conditions, independent and economically developing. This
condition is the important stimulus for the further development of
our relations with Azerbaijan”.

Having informed that at meetings discussed were basically regional
questions, successes of Azerbaijan in power sphere, and also democratic
development in the country, the diplomat has emphasized, that the
United States support development of democracy in Azerbaijan.

Having noted, that cooperation of the USA with Azerbaijan in military
sphere and in sphere of safety constantly becomes stronger, D. Fried
has highly estimated the contribution of military cooperation to
development of relations.