CHAIRMAN OF THE PARLIAMENT OF AZERBAIJAN CONGRATULATED HIS ARMENIAN COUNTERPART ON APPOINTMENT
ArmRadio.am
08.06.2006 16:10
The plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) came to an end in Yerevan, and presidency
over PABSEC was transferred from Armenia to Azerbaijan.
Chairman of RA National Assembly Tigran Torosyan handed the symbol
of presidency – the wooden hammer – to member of the Azerbaijani
Parliament Asaf Hajiev.
The next plenary session of PABSEC will be held November 22-23 in
Baku, and the Armenian side has already received an invitation from
Azerbaijan
Today Asaf Hajiev read out the address of the Speaker of the
Azerbaijani Parliament Oktay Asadov to participants of the PABSEC
sitting in Yerevan. The Chairman of the Parliament of Azerbaijan
congratulated his Armenian counterpart Tigran Torosyan on appointment
and wished him success, MEDIAMAX Agency informs.

VARDAN OSKANYAN: THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY ALWAYS EXISTED
ArmRadio.am
08.06.2006 16:35
“The dialogue between Armenia and Turkey always existed,” declared
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan in response to the question about
Turkish media reports on secret talks between Armenia and Turkey.
According to the Foreign Minister, there have always been ties between
the two countries, there have been meetings on different levels,
even on the level of Foreign Ministers.
“There is no secret here,” Minister Oskanyan said. At the same time
he refuted that the contacts started after the correspondence between
the Prime Minister of Turkey and RA President.
“The meetings are not linked to these letters. Ties have always
existed and will probably exist in the future also. At this point,
however, there are no novelties in Armenian-Turkish relations,”
the Minister noted.

CAN YOU SUE CHARACTERS IN A NOVEL?
Nazlan Ertan
The New Anatolian, Turkey
June 8 2006
The case faced by Turkey’s bright new writer Elif Safak will
demonstrate not only a judicial but a philosophical question: “Can
you sue characters in a novel?”
According to Kemal Kerincsiz, an Istanbul-based lawyer and a member of
the Jurists Union Association who had his 15 minutes of fame when he
sued the organizers of the Armenian Conference in Istanbul and European
Parliament Deputy Joost Lagendijk for “insulting Turkishness,” yes. If
a fictional character cannot be sued, then the author who created it
certainly can be.
He has, after all, filed a complaint against Safak and her
publisher for remarks made by of several characters in Safak’s latest
best-seller, “Baba ve Pic” (Father and Bastard). Kerincsiz says that
certain remarks made by fictitious characters violate Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the infamous article about “insulting
Turkishness.”
The characters are “aunts” in the novel that tells the story of two
families, a Turkish-Muslim one and an Armenian one, over a period
of 90 years. In this book, men die and women stay alive. So do their
strong opinions, prejudices and memories.
The phrase accused of insulting the Turkishness is precisely such
a memory. “I am the grandchild of a family whose children were
slaughtered by the Turkish butchers,” or “I was brought up having to
deny my roots and say that genocide did not exist,” are the challenged
sentences from the mouth of the characters.
Safak went to court to testify on Tuesday, claiming that she didn’t
believe that taking certain parts or sentences from a novel could
either be legal or accurately portray the story.
“If a character in a book describes a murder or commits one, does that
mean that the writer approves of it?” asked Safak when she testified
with her publisher, Semih Somken of Metis Publishing House.
More where this came from
Safak’s somewhat surrealistic case comes during a week when freedom
of the press and freedom of _expression cases are high on Turkey’s
agenda, including a case against Perihan Magden, possibly Turkey’s
best writer of the post-Orhan Pamuk generation.
Radikal columnist Professor Murat Belge will appear in court today for
“trying to influence the judiciary” by criticizing an administrative
court decision that postponed last year’s Armenian conference in
Istanbul. His article entitled “A Court Verdict” falls under the scope
of Article 288 of the TCK. Radikal newspaper reporter Ismail Saymaz
is also accused under the same article for his news report entitled
“Torture allegation involving an 11-year-old child.”
Also today, sociologist Pinar Selek, known for her research into
children outcast from society and the Kurdish problem, will face
charges that she is responsible for a bomb explosion at Istanbul’s
historic Spice Market. She has been charged under Article 125 of the
TCK and, if found guilty, could be given a life sentence.
The Beyoglu Second Criminal Court of First Instance will hear the case
against jurist Hasip Kaplan, who is on trial for remarks he made on
Flash TV’s program “Alternatif.” He is accused of inciting hatred.
Another publishing house owner, Ahmet Onal, sentenced last week
in relation to another book will be tried this Friday in the Fatih
Second Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of insulting modern
Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk by publishing the book “Being
an Alawite in Dersim.” The book, authored by Munzur Cem and Huseyin
Baysulun, is only one of 27 charges leveled against the publisher.
Many find that the political elite’s attitude toward the Turkish
intellectuals, whether writers, caricaturists or journalists, lies
at the heart of the judicial stance. Prime Minister Erdogan, who has
sued several journalists and columnists, including Musa Kart who drew
him as a cat tangled in yarn, has lost most of his cases.
Shoe on the other foot
But there are those who strike back: Professor Yalcin Kucuk has
sued Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a large spectrum of
issues ranging from corruption to providing unfair advantage to
family members.
Kucuk, known for his inexhaustible knowledge of history and sharp
wit, accused the premier of giving his family members “free rides”
on the official prime ministerial plane. He said that costs that they
accumulate during official visits should be repaid unless Erdogan’s
family was officially invited by the host.
Kucuk also accused the premier of usurping funds and abuse of
authority.

AZERI MINISTRY TO CLARIFY REPORTS ON RECEPTION OF FM OF NK REGION BY LEBANON PRESIDENT
Author: E.Huseynova
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 8 2006
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry is clarifying the information on
reception of the Foreign Minister of the so-called ‘Nagorno-Karabakh’
region by the Lebanon President, Tahir Tagizade, the head of the
Press and Information Department of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry,
told Trend. He was commenting on the news article placed the websote
of the President of Lebanon.
President Lahoud is reported to have a meeting with a delegation
of the Armenian Tashnak Party headed by its secretary general Hovik
Makhtarian.
The meeting was also attended by a delegation of the Armenian ‘Nagorno
Karabakh’ region chaired by Georgi Pedrossian, former minister
Sebouh Hofnanian, Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Serge Amerkhanian,
and Benjamin Butchakajian.

ARMENIA CONCERNED WITH THE FACTS OF MURDER OF ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA
ArmRadio.am
08.06.2006 17:01
Armenia is concerned with the facts of murder of Armenians in
Russia. In RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan’s words, the issue is
on the agenda and is being raised on all levels when there is such
opportunity. Armenia expresses concern and suggests its assistance
to jointly fight and exclude similar phenomena.
“We want to believe that these are individual cases and not a special
policy against Armenians by a group of people. But the phenomenon
exists and first of all the Russian authorities should be concerned,”
the Minister said.
According to Vardan Oskanyan, it can be inferred from the reaction
of Russia that the country is also worried and promises to prevent
similar cases if possible.
To remind, on May 25 ethnic Armenian Arthur Sardaryan was killed near
Klyazma station in Moscow, in a few days another Armenian young man
was killed in Saint Petersburg.

ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMS TO MEET IN NEAR FUTURE
Yerkir
08.06.2006 16:45
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Armenian party is not going to provide
assessment of the past talks and the meeting in Bucharest, Armenian
FM Vartan Oskanian stated at a news conference in Yerevan.
In his words, he may soon meet with his Azeri counterpart
E. Mammadyarov. As of the outcomes of the two Presidents’ meeting in
Bucharest, Oskanian reminded Kocharian’s words before that meeting
that he has “modest expectations from the talks.”
“This was the case. As of further talks, Armenian and Azeri FMs will
meet soon. I should note that it seems after any talks that dialogue
opportunities are exhausted. This is not so. I should again underscore
there is no military solution to the Nagorno Karabakh issue,” the
Armenian FM said.
At that he said that the talks have their own logic. ”It lies in
every party thinking each time that it is worth meeting and some
agreement can be reached in a way. It does not turn out each time
as the parties want. However, this does not mean talks should be
stopped,” Oskanian underscored.
–Boundary_(ID_GZbvq1biy+YOuN8Zc+HYJ g)–

OSKANIAN: NOTHING SECRET IN MEETINGS OF ARMENIAN AND TURK DIPLOMATS
Yerkir
08.06.2006 16:49
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Armenian authorities do not disregard events in
Russia, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated at a news conference in
Yerevan. In his words, everything possible is being done for murders
on the national ground not to repeat. “However, it is the business
of the Russian party, not ours,” Oskanian underscored.
As of Turkish press reports on meetings between Armenian and Turk
diplomats, Oskanian remarked there is nothing secret in these. “We
always meet, hold talks. Of course the Armenian party would like
those talks to be productive,” the Armenian FM said.

VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN: PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN IS NOT READY FOR CONCESSIONS
ArmRadio.am
08.06.2006 18:06
“We have seen many times that the President of Azerbaijan is not
ready for concessions, and this can be explained with the public
opinion in Azerbaijan.
We should not forget, however, that the public opinion was formed
mostly with the influence of the aggressive statements of the Azeri
President,” NA Deputy Speaker Vahan Hovhannisyan said.
The Deputy Speaker considers it is irrefutable that the oil factor
has a certain role in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. He
does not think, however, that Baku can use this as a guarantee that
no pressure will be exerted over it in any case.
“In reality, it is not that difficult to match the positions
of the parties, only Azerbaijan should recognize the right of
self-determination of people of Nagorno-Karabakh. International
experience shous that it is an applicable mechanism,” Vahan
Hovhannisyan said, turning to possible developments of further
development.
The current world processes, in Vahan Hovhannisyan’s opinion, will
at last make Azerbaijan realize the necessity of a more tolerating
approach.

DEMOGRAPHIC INDICES FOR 2006
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 June 2006
In the months of January-May 2006 793 children were born in Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, which is down by 37 or 4.5 percent compared with the
same months in 2005. The death rate totaled 547 over the past months of
2006, and is down by 39 or 6.7 percent, compared with the same period
in 2005. Hence, the natural growth of the population totaled 246 over
the past five months of 2006, and is up by 0.8 percent, compared
with January-May 2005. Over the past months 309 people arrived in
NKR and 212 people left. In this period 241 marriages were reported,
increasing by 13 or 5.7 percent compared with January-May 2005.
The rate of divorce totaled 49 and is up by 4.3 percent.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTITUTIONAL TASK FORCE MET JUNE 5
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 June 2006
On June 5 NKR President Arkady Ghukassian conducted the meeting of
the NKR Task Force for the Constitution. Arkady Ghukassian highly
appreciated the work done in drafting the main law of the country,
stressing that it has already received positive opinions from
experts. Then the head of the Task Force Armen Zalinian presented
a report on the work of the Task Force. The representatives of the
political forces, government and the National Assembly expressed
their opinions on the draft. Summing up the opinions and approaches,
Arkady Ghukassian decided to introduce the draft constitution to the
National Assembly. At the same time, the head of state instructed
the Task Force to go on to study the proposals on the draft.