ARMENIAN HISTORIANS REJECT DIOLAGUE OPPORTUNITY AGAIN

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
March 15 2006

ISTANBUL – A scientific conference devoted to the Armenian Issue
started in Istanbul on 15 April 2006. The Istanbul University initiated
the conference. However all Armenian historians refused to participate
the conference.

According to the Turkish scientists, the conference should “throw
light on some problems referring to the Armenian issue”, Freedom
Radio Station reports.

Historians and experts from Armenia also were invited to the
conference; however, they refused to participate in the action.

“We received an invitation and turned down the proposal. The Armenian
scientists’ stand is the following: any scientific measure that casts
doubt on the fact of the Genocide is far from science, while a number
of the participants of the scientific conference at the Istanbul
University distort the historic realities”, stated Chief of Turkish
Department of the Institute of History of National Academy of Science
Ruben Safrastyan.

Dr. Davut Sahiner told the TW that the Armenian historians were not
historians but believers: “They reject to join any scientific gathering
questining their obsessions. If you accept their claims, so you are
scientific, if you question what they argue, so you are the evil,
you are the deniers. This is not the way we need in the issue”.

Many Turkish and foreign historians and international relations experts
including Dr. Sedat Laciner, head of the ISRO, will make presentation
on Armenians and Armenian issue.

70 ACADEMICS DEBATE ARMENIAN AND TURKISH MASSACRES

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
March 15 2006

ISTANBUL – Some 70 Turkish and foreign academics gathered in Istanbul
on Wednesday for a three-day conference to discuss whether the
controversial massacres of Turks and Armenians during World War I
amounted to genocide or not. More than 520.000 Muslims were massacred
by the armed Armenians and more than 1,5 million Muslims were forced
to immigrated by the Armenians and Russians during the World War I.

In a rare move, the gathering, organized by the state university
Istanbul University (IU), offered the floor to academics of all
convictions.

Turkey has refused the Armenian allegations regarding the 1915
events. Ankara acknowledges that 100.000-200.000 Armenians and more
than 520.000 Turks died in civil strife during the last years of the
Ottoman Empire.

Most of hte Ottoman Armenians had joined the occupying Russian armies
in 1917 and the Istanbul Government took a relocation decision for the
Armenian population near the war theatre. However more than 600.000
Armenians returned to the Anatolian towns after the war.

Armenians claim that up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered
in orchestrated killings. However they provide no written document
or any proof but the memories and propaganda materials.

Books detailing the Armenian claims were also available at the entrance
to the conference hall. Almost all pro-Armenian books are frelly sold
in Turkish bookshops in the recent years. However no pro-Turkish book
or material is legal in Armenia.

In September last year a private Istanbul university hosted a landmark
conference organized by intellectuals disputing Turkish official line
on the issue.

ARMENIANS REJECT TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL ARMENIAN CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
March 15 2006

ISTANBUL – Despite of the invitation to the international
conference on Armenians and Armenian allegations regarding the
Ottoman past which will be conducted in Istanbul on the initiative of
scientists-historians of Turkey, the Armenian historians have refused
participation in the action.

Turkish and international media found the Armenian rejection not
constructive. Turkish prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had invited the
Armenian President to Turkey twice earlier and the Armenian President
Kocharian had strongly rejected the Turkish invitation.

According to director of Institute of History of the Academy of Science
of Armenia Ashot Melkonian, any scientific discussions with Turkish
scientists would be disrespect for the decision of some European
countries, which have recognized “the Armenian genocide claims”. He
has regarded carrying out of the said action as one more off-putting
step undertaken by Ankara for admission to the European Union.

Knowing that scientists of majority of the European states will
take part in work of conference and America, the Armenians assert,
that from these countries the scientists of Latvia, Poland, Slovakia
have no link to the mentioned question, saying they have small number
Diaspora in the these states.

The Armenian scientists also have declared, that work of the
Armenian-Turkish Committee worked in 2001-2003 on reconciliation also
has not brought any results and that the said structure contradicts
interests of the Armenians.

More than 520.000 Turkish people were massacred by the Armenian
separatists during the First World War.

NKR PRESIDENT PRESENTS CURRENT STAGE OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT TO ARTSAKH PARLIAMENTARIANS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 15 2006

STEPANAKERT, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. NKR President
Arkadi Ghukasian touched upon the current stage of Nagorno Karabakh
settlement process at his March 15 meeting with representatives
of the Artsakh Democratic Party and Azat Hayrenik (Free Homeland)
party parliamentary factions. The head of the state also answered
the questions of MPs.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by NKR President’s Acting Spokesperson,
the interlocutors also touched upon the country’s socio-economic
development processes, as well as a number of issues included in NKR
NA coming sitting’s agenda.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PROPOSES INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL MECHANISMS OF CONTROL OVER ECONOMIC ENTITIES WITH BIG LIABILITIES

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to the activities of the
service ensuring the mandatory execution of court acts were discussed
at the March 15 working consultation conducted by the RA President
Robert Kocharian. According to the RA President’s press service,
the RA Justice Minister, the RA Minister of Finance and Economy,
heads of the tax and customs bodies, the RA Prosecutor General and the
Chairman of the RA Cassation Court participated in the consultation.

The consultation participants spoke about the shortcomings and abuses
committed by economic entities in fulfilling their tax and customs
liabilities. It was noted that these shortcomings and abuses result
in improper fulfilement of liabilties towards the state.

R. Kocharian instructed the heads of the appropriate structures to
find solutions for making amendments to the current legislation and
using additional mechanisms of control over economic entities with
big liabilities. He said that the steps to be taken should first of
all be aimed at the fight against shadow economy and prevention of
illegal economic activity.

INCREASE IN CREDIT PORTFOLIOS OF ARMENIAN BANKS REGISTERED IN FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. During the March 15 meeting of the
Armenian President Robert Kocharian and the newly appointed chairman
of the Union of Armenian Banks, Director General of ACBA Bank Stepan
Gishian, the sides attached importance to the necessity to increase the
number of transactions conducted through the banks, in which case it
will be possible to secure the local resources of economic investments
by concentrating the monetary resources available in Armenia.

S. Gishian reminded the Armenian President that an increase in the
credit portfolios of the banks was already registered in the first
quarter of this year, and consistent steps are being taken to attract
more deposits.

According to a press release of the RA President’s press service,
the sides also discussed the decisive steps expected on the mortgage
market this year, which will open new opportunities for the population.

PUNITIVE MEASURES TO BE APPLIED TO BODIES THAT GRANTED CERTIFICATES TO TURKISH GOODS NOT METING REQUIREMENTS OF NORMATIVE DOCUMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. In the period of January-February
2006, the RA Quality Inspection made examinations of 103 samples of 45
Turkish goods taken from 42 economic entities at 6 test laboratories
in Armenia. It was found that 11 types of chocolate bars, 3 types
of chocolate sweets, chewing gums of 5 types made in Turkey, as well
as one type of Turkish wafer, chocolate cream, tinned peas and soap
did not meet the requirements of the normative documents, technical
regulations and the RA Law on Foodstuff Safety. Georgy Gyozalian,
Deputy Head of the State Quality Inspection of the RA Ministry of Trade
and Economic Development, said at the March 15 press conference that
the inspection will send a letter to the RA Accrediting Council with
the request to apply punitive measures to the bodies that certified
the above mentioned goods.

According to G. Gyozalian, the examinations were made after the press
publications about the chocolate bar “Safari” of the Elvan company
being made in Baku. The examinations revealed that the chocolate
“Safari” imported to Armenia was made in Turkey.

Based on the results of the conducted checks, orders were issued to
discontinue and forbid the sale of the above mentioned products not
meeting the requirements of the technical regulations, while Hasmik
Manukian enterprise that conducts wholesale trade at Surmalu Fair and
imports the production of the Elvan company (Turkey) was instructed
to remove the production from circulation, inform consumers about it
and to take these products back from consumers. Administrative fines
in the amount of 2.3 mln drams were imposed on the executives of the
economic entities engaged in the sale of products not in line with
the requirements of technical regulations.

G. Gyozalian said that the inspection also examined the chocolates of
Russian and Ukrainian production sold in Armenia, and no violations
of the normative documents’ requirements were found. Besides, the
tea “Azerchay” made in Azerbaijan was examined, and its sale was
discontinued due to the reason of not meeting the requirements of
normative documents. It was noted that the inspection will complete
checks at the perfume market late next week. The water colors of
Iranian production are now undrergoing tests, which were initiated
after a child was poisoned as a result of using these products.

POLICE GENERAL PROMISES EXPOSE MYSTERY OF VOSKEPAR TRAGEDY

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Events taken place in 1991 in Voskepar
are presented in publicist and poet Ignat Mamian’s “Cry of Wounded
Mountain” documentary book the presentation of which took place on
March 14 at the Writers Union of Armenia (WUA). This isn’t the first
time that the publicist touched upon the tragedy of Voskepar. I.Mamian
presented the heroic battle of the police duty detail boys died at the
Katarka mountain as well as the military-political picture created at
borders of Armenia, particularly in the Noyemberian-Ghazakh, in the
“Tragic Daylight” book as well.

According to WUA Chairman Levon Ananian, though 15 years passed
after the Voskepar events, it has still remained unknown by now how
and by which traitor the murder of the sons of Armenians fighting in
Voskepar was organized. “The heroic event is called the tragedy and
mystery of Voskepar. This history remains a completely not deciphered
one even today,” L.Ananian mentioned.

According to poet, translator Nerses Atabekian, I.Mamian has gathered
“the reality flying to bits in the crossroads of time” for 15 years and
made an attempt to present the heroic deed of the Armenian policemen
both in Artsakh and in bordering regions of the republic. According
to him, a movement started in 1980 which, it’s a pity, is spoken about
only now: this was the police detachment of special significance formed
in 1990. Hundreds of young people joined it. They participated both in
martial shift in the border regions of Armenia and in military actions
going on in Artsakh. According to N.Atabekian, the existence and work
of the police detachments also became an incitement for formation of
the RA National Army.

According to Major General Ararat Mahtesian, the RA Police Chief’s
First Deputy, in epilogue of the book the author presented a number
of questions which must get their answers. “I would attempt to find
answer for some “whys” for those are less in the author’s third book,”
he mentioned.

“ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE” ALL-ARMENIAN SECOND FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON JUNE 23-30

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The “One Nation, One Culture”
all-Armenian second festival will be held in Armenia and Arstakh
on July 23-30 for the purpose of sterngthening and deepening the
Armenia-Diaspora cultural ties. More than 1500 artists from different
communities of Armenia, Artskakh and Diaspora will participate in
the festival. 100 mln drams (about 222 thousand U.S. dollars) were
allocated from the state budget.

As Tamar Poghsosian, the Executive Director of the “One Nation,
One Culture” fund mentioned in the interview with the Noyan Tapan
correspondent, the group regulating the festival works has already
sent official invitations to all the all-Armenian structures, and
conditions of participation in the festival were officially made
public with the help of embassies.

The “One Nation, One Culture” first festival became a national fete
and a new impulse of spiritual uniting of all the Armenians. The
festival gives possibility to present our national culture with joint
efforts and to unite round the idea of one nation, one culture, one
Fatherland,” T.Poghosian mentioned. The Executive Director of the
fund also mentioned that faults existed during the previous festival
were taken into account, and they will attempt to hold it this time
more organized.

The solemn opening ceremony of the festival took place on June 23 at
the Karen Demirchian Sports and Concert Complex. Numerous concerts,
exhibitions, theatrical performances will be organized within the
framework of the festival both in Yerevan and in RA marzes and Artsakh.

The RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues and the “One Nation, One
Culture” fund are the festival organizers, as well as the Armenian
General Benevolent Union and National Armenian Educational and Cultural
Union assist it.

ARMENIAN CEMETERY IN OLD JUGHA TURNED INTO FIRING GROUND BY AZERIS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 15 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. After more than
3500 khachkars (cross-stones) were completely destroyed in the ancient
Armenian cemetery in Old Jugha in December 2005, the number of which
formerly reached 10 thousand, according to eye-witnesses, in early
March this year the Azeri servicemen turned this territory into a
firing ground.

Informing about this, RA Foreign Ministry Press Service also spread
photos making it evident that the cemetery in Old Jugha doesn’t
exist any longer, just like the Pombloz Church, St Saviour Church
and Red Church.