ARMENIAN MOD HEAD: ELECTION IN AZERBAIJAN NOT TO AFFECT DOMESTIC SITUATION IN ARMENIA
Pan Armenian
18.10.2005 21:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “If opposition wins the election in Azerbaijan,
we will have to start the talks over the Karabakh issue from the
beginning,” Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan stated in
a conversation with journalists. In the Minister’s words, if the
incumbent authorities win, the talks will continue. At that the
election in Azerbaijan cannot affect the domestic situation in Armenia,
S. Sargsyan remarked.

FIRST POPULATION CENSUS IN NKR HISTORY STARTS TODAY
Pan Armenian
18.10.2005 21:35 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasyan has
addressed a message to NKR society over the population census in
2005. The statement specifically says, “October 18 the first population
census starts in our Republic to be held till October 27. As it is
known, according to international standards, the census is held once
every 10 years. The latest census was held in NK during the Soviet
regime in 1989. Unfortunately, the war imposed upon us by Azerbaijan
and the following complex military and political situation, social,
economic, and democratic situation, as well as the need to restore the
undermined economy, provide at least minimal living conditions for
the population and absence of means conditioned by all this did not
allow conducting the recurrent population census in time. We clearly
understand the importance of the census in securing further social and
economic growth. This will provide an opportunity to realistically
plan our actions aimed at strengthening independent statehood of
Artsakh, enhancement of the development and the defensive potential
of the country.
Satisfying legal and normative basis is formed for the holding of the
census. The NKR Law on Population Census had been passed in 2002. Based
on it the terms of preparation and holding of a population census
was determined. To conduct the census the NKR National Statistical
Service, a state plenipotentiary body, is appointed. All personnel,
technical, methodical problems are solved, specialists are trained
(there are some 600). Besides, the state and self-government bodies are
commissioned to assist holding the census. In short, all preconditions
are available for holding a population census.
Addressing you I consider it my duty to remind you the population
census is compulsory for everyone. Thus, I urge everybody – NKR
citizens, temporary or permanent residents – to respect the census
officers, assist them in fulfilling their duties and provide full
and true answers to their questions. I expect our population to
display understanding and responsibility towards the successful
holding of the census, realizing that it should mark another real
step to self-government and international recognition of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic.”

IMAM REZA SHRINE RECEIVES BELGIAN TOURISTS
Iranian Cultural Heritage News Agency, Iran
Oct 18 2005
A group of Belgian tourists will visit Imam Reza and Hazrat-e Masumeh
Mausoleums during January holidays.
Tehran, 18 October 2005 (CHN) — European tourists leave on holiday
trips around the world every January. This coming January a group
of Belgian and Luxembourgians will make a 14-day visit to historical
cities of Iran, visiting two holy shrines of Shiites.
The group is going to visit Kerman, Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd, Qom, and
Mashhad, spending the New Year Eve in the shrine of Imam Reza, the
8th Imam of Shiite Muslims, in Mashhad city in the eastern province of
Khorasan-e Razavi, and Hazrat-e Masumeh, Imam Reza’s sister, in Qom,
near Capital Tehran.
“Last year we arranged for our European tourists to participate in
the New Year ceremony of Armenians of Iran. This year, with the
coordination of the international office of the shrines, we have
arranged for bringing European tourists to the religious ceremonies of
Muslims and to give them the chance to have a talk with the clerics
of the shrines,” says Mehdi Yavar Negoon, manager of Shideh travel
agency in Shiraz which is in charge of bringing in the tourists.
According to Yavar Negoon, since Europeans are the most adve6nturous
tourists of the world, who are always interested in experiencing new
things, “one of the various programs which can be proposed to them
is participating in Muslim religious ceremonies which will be a new
experience for them.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IF ABKHAZ RAIL IS LAUNCHED PROGRESS IN OPENING ARMENIAN BORDER POSSIBLE
Pan Armenian
18.10.2005 20:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of the National Security Council at the
President of Armenia, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan has answered
affirmatively to a question on possible progress in lifting the
blockade of the Armenian-Turkish border and launching traffic via
Kars-Gyumri route in case of resumption of the functioning of the
Abkhaz part of the Transcaucasian railway. Being asked whether the
Armenian and Turkish parties could make use of the same model,
which is worked over to restore the rail communication through
Abkhazia, S. Sargsyan said, “if Armenia and Turkey had formed an
intergovernmental commission, these issues would be possible to
solve. Unless there is a structure like that I find it hard to speak
about it.” It should be noted that a tripartite group of specialists
from Abkhazia, Georgia and Russia works over restoration of the
Abkhaz railway.
The parties have agreed not to link the issue of restoration of
communications with complex political issues, including the return
of refugees, reported IA Regnum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS TO MEET IN WASHINGTON
Pan Armenian
18.10.2005 19:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group are expected to
meet in Washington this weekend or early next week, reported OSCE MG
Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov. In his words, the US, French and
Russian Ambassadors need to hold consultations and discuss the current
stage of the Nagorno Karabakh peace process. Merzlyakov has denied
the opportunity for the Co-Chairs to visit the region in October. The
arrangement of the MG Co-Chairs’ meeting with Azeri and Armenian FMs
in Ljubljana has not been finally adjusted yet, he also remarked. Only
after the Ljubljana meeting of the diplomats the further plans and
actions of the OSCE MG may be spoken about, reported IA Regnum.

ARMENIAN FM TO MEET WITH NATO SEC. GEN. AND EU TOP OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS
Pan Armenian
18.10.2005 19:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 19 Armenian President Robert Kocharian will
leave for Belgium on a working visit. There he will have meetings with
representatives of European structures, reported the Press Service
of the Armenian leader. The delegation will include Parliament
Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosyan, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian,
Minister of Trade and Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan, the
Armenian Ambassador to Belgium and other officials. R. Kocharian will
meet with Belgian Premier Guy Verhofstadt, Senate head Anne-Marie
Lizin and Parliament President German de Croo.
Besides, the President is scheduled to meet with European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, EU High Representative
for EU Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, European
Parliament President Josep Borrell Fontelles, EU Energy Commissioner
Andris Piebalgs, as well as NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer. Robert Kocharian and Belgian Senate head Anne-Marie
Lizin will lay a wreath to the memorial of victims of the Armenian
Genocide. The Armenian President will take part in the opening ceremony
of the Armenian Embassy in Belgium will meet with representatives
of the local Armenian community. He will also visit Made in Belgium
exhibition. The Armenian delegation headed by the President will
return to Yerevan October 22.

AZERIS OF EUROPE AGAINST ARMENIAN PRESIDENT VISIT TO BELGIUM
Pan Armenian
18.10.2005 19:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Benelux” Coordination Council of Azeri Organizations
has released a statement protesting against Armenian President
Robert Kocharian’s visit to Belgium October 19. “We – the former
citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who now live in Europe:
Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Talishs, Russians, Jews and representatives
of other nationalities – address the UN, EU, International
Criminal Court (Hague), European judicial structures and all
international organizations demanding to put an end to the double
standards policy,” the Council document says. It further urges
the aforementioned international organizations to provide a legal
and political evaluation of the “crimes” of the Armenian military,
who are responsible for “their crimes against humanity in Azerbaijan
and call them to account.” It should be reminded that an Armenian
delegation lead by President Kocharian is arriving in Brussels on a
three-day working visit to commence October 19. The delegation will
meet with Belgian leaders, EU top officials and the NATO SecGen.

OSKANIAN INFORMED LITHUANIAN LEADER ON ARMENIA COOPERATION WITH EU AND NATO
Pan Armenian
18.10.2005 18:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian yesterday met with
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, reported the Press Service of
the MFA of Armenia.
In the course of the meeting the parties underscored the need
for further development of bilateral relations. The Armenian FM
highlighted Lithuania’s support to provide for Armenia’s greater
involvement in European Neighborhood Policy, as well as Lithuania’s
experience of European integration. The parties agreed to continue
cooperation between Armenia and Lithuania within international
organizations. V. Oskanian appreciated Lithuania’s role in establishing
cooperation between the Baltic states and the Caucasus. The Minister
also presented the programs being implemented within the framework
of Armenia’s cooperation with the European Union and NATO, as well
as questions referring to Armenia-Turkey relations. The parties
also discussed regional issues, specifically ways of settlements
of conflicts available. V. Oskanian acquainted the Lithuanian
leader with the current stage of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Last evening the Armenian FM met with representatives of
the Armenian community of Lithuania. Today Vartan Oskanian will meet
with Lithuanian FM Antanas Valionis, will visit Lithuanian Genocide
Museum and will make a statement at the Institute of International
Relations and Political Science of Vilnius.

SHAHGELDYAN: WE AIM AT MAKING IMPORTANCE OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS COMPREHENSIBLE TO SOCIETY
Pan Armenian
17.10.2005 23:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Coordinator of the Coordination Council for arranging
for the referendum on constitutional changes Mher Shahgeldyan stated
the propaganda campaign aims at presenting the need for constitutional
changes to the society in a manner that is easy to understand. “Our
goal is to inform the society on the changes, present the importance
of those changes for further development of our country in a simple
and easy-to-understand manner, while making efforts to hold a fair and
transparent referendum,” he stated. Working groups are formed within
the Coordination Council: propaganda, press and technical ones. As of
political positions, constitutional changes are necessary to Armenia to
strengthen democracy and develop the political structure, Shahgeldyan
remarked. In his words, the international community – the Council of
Europe, OSCE, EU and US – have positively assessed these changes.
“Today Armenia needs to come to a common consensus. Over 20 political
parties, 100 NGOs, intelligentsia have expressed positive opinions over
the draft changes,” Shahgeldyan reported. When answering a question,
whether the opportunities for cooperation with the opposition are used
up and whether the Council is ready to opposition anti-propaganda,
Mr. Shahgeldyan said the work of the Coordination Council is aimed
at the positive outcome of the referendum and not against a political
force. Just owing to that any political force can have its political
stand over the draft constitutional changes and present the its stance
to the society.

ORHAN PAMUK: I DID NOT USE TERM “GENOCIDE”
Pan Armenian
17.10.2005 23:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk abandoned his statements
characterizing the carnages of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in
1915 as Genocide. Pamuk said his words were wrongly interpreted. “I
did not use term “genocide” and I announced the number of victims
spontaneously,” he stated.
To note, the court session on Orhan Pamuk’s case is to be held
late this year. To remind, February 2005 during an interview with
a Swiss newspaper Pamuk stated that “1 million Armenians and 30
thousand Kurds were slaughtered in Turkey.” Then he was threatened
with persecution and even savage punishment. It should be also noted
that the Istanbul court recently sentenced editor-in-Chief of Akos
newspaper Hrant Dink to 6 months of conditional imprisonment for
“outraging national identity of Turks.” Last year Dink called upon
Armenians not to poison their blood with hatred towards Turks. In
Dink’s opinion, the court interpreted his words as “poisonous blood
of Turks”. Dink is going to appeal the verdict and in case of failure
to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, reported IA Regnum.