ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN:THE MORE PEOPLE LIKE ME LIVE IN ARMENIA, THE MORE
DEVELOPED ARMENIA WILL BE
Yerevan, May 25. ArmInfo.Even being among the authorities, “Orinats
Yerkir” party didn’t stop criticizing negative phenomenon existing in
the country and spared no efforts to annihilate them. Artur
Baghdasarian, leader of “Orinats Yerkir” party said this in the course
of the debates with Artashes Geghamian, leader of “National Unity”
party, over “Shant” TV.
Baghdasarian emphasized that his party accumulated great deal of
complaints from RA citizens and sent them to RA General Prosecutor’s
Office. “Being among the authorities, we could enjoy the power like
other parties and take advantage of the situation, but we didn’t do
that,” Baghdasarian said, asking what the “National Unity” party and
Artashes Geghamian did being among the opposition.
In response, Geghamian said that Baghdasarian’s duty of the second
official person of Armenia wasn’t mere criticizing the negative
phenomenon, but their annihilation. “I am no longer the second
official person of Armenia, I have resigned,” Baghdasarian said. “As
far as I know, when being the second official person, you were living
in prosperity,” Geghamian said. “At present, I also live in
prosperity,” Baghdasarian answered. “Beware, you may get rotten,”
Geghamian warned.

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
May 26 2006
Meeting with Andre Who Represented Armenia in Eurovision 2006

On May 25 Andre who took part in Eurovision-2006 Song Contest and the
creative group were hosted by the NA Standing Committee on Science,
Education, Culture and Youth. The representatives of NA staff, MPs
and journalists also participated at the meeting with Andre.
As Hranush Hakobyan, Chairwoman of the Standing Committee assessed
though Armenia first time ever participates in the Eurovision Song
Contest this year, but the creative group could compose a good song,
select the right singer and come out from that experience with honour
during this short period of time. `We won two victories. First, Andre
could reach the final, second, he took the tenth place in the final,
providing the right for Armenia to take part in the final of
Eurovision 2007, which will take place in Finland next year,’ noted
Mrs. Hakobyan. As the MP observed, the importance of this Contest is
that it once more showed the Armenians’ unity all over the world. She
gave Andre as a present a watch engraved with the name of the
National Assembly on the occasion of his victory.
According to Andre, the most important thing in Eurovision-2006 Song
Contest was to appear in an appropriate manner. He noted that
everyone became better familiarized with the small country called
Armenia after this Contest. He also told about his impressions of
Eurovision-2006 Song Contest and answered the questions of those
present.

IRAVUNK NEWSPAPER ASKS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE TO INSTITUTE
CRIMINAL ACTION AGAINST BROTHER OF DEFENCE MINISTER
Yerevan, May 25. ArmInfo. The Iravunk newspaper has asked the Public
Prosecutor’s Office, the Police and the National Security Service to
institute a criminal action against the brother of the Defence
Minister, MP Alexander Sargsyan.
The newspaper demands ensuring the safety of its correspondent Tagui
Tovmassyan, whom Sargsyan threatened in public a few days ago.
To remind, a few days ago Sargsyan attacked Tovmassyan in the corridor
of the Armenian parliament demanding the source of her information
otherwise she would face problems. However, asked if he threatens her,
Sargsyan said that he just warns. The correspondent proposed the
parliamentarian to refute the information in the newspaper or to apply
to the Court against her, In response, Sargsyan called the newspaper
nothingness and its correspondents complete nonentities, stating that
he will not “stoop to” write a refutation. In response to another
journalist’s attempt to support Tovmassyan, Sargsyan called him too
young to speak.

LEADERS OF “ORINATS YERKIR” AND “NATIONAL UNITY” PARTIES BLAME EACH
OTHER FOR RELATIONS WITH SERGE SARGSIAN
Yerevan, May 25.ArmInfo. In the course of the debates over “Shant” TV,
Artur Baghdasarian, leader of “Orinats Yerkir” party, again blamed
Artashes Geghamian, leader of “National Unity” party, saying that he
is carrying out the political orders of Serge Sargsian.
In response, Geghamian suggested Baghdasarian to apply to the court,
blaming him for taking money from Serge Sargsian. Baghdasarian said
that he won’t do that, as only God can judge. He grounded his
accusation in cooperation of Geghamian with Sargsian by the fact that
in the elections for prefect of Yerevan’s Center community Geghamian
supported the candidate nominated by Sargsian.
Besides, Baghdasarian said that Gagik Kostandian, member of “NU”
party, is the supplier of RA Defense Ministry. He emphasized that, in
the presence of Mher Shahgeldian, Kostandian turned to Mr. Sargsian
with the question whether he has any instructions or not. Baghdasarian
conditioned the behavior of Geghamian and his party members by the
atmosphere of fear ruling in Armenia.
In response, Geghamian said that Kostandian carried out the orders of
RA Defense Ministry, as all the rest of the entrepreneurs refused
to. “Often, he worked with loses, only to secure his employees with
jobs,” he said. At the same time, he said that he can’t help sharing
the critical viewpoint of Baghdasarian addressed against Serge
Sargsian, who created a clan structure. As for the support of “NU”
party to Gagik Beglarian, head of “Kentron” Yerevan community,
Geghamian said that his party appreciates the quality of the work
more, than this or than official or the persons supporting the
candidate. In response, Baghdasarian continued blaming Geghamian,
saying that “NU” party acts according to the public statements of
Sargsian. “I can’t remember any case, when “NU” party supported the
opposition in critical moments,” Baghdasarian said.
In response, Geghamian reminded about the April 12 night, 2004, when
the policemen broke up the opposition rally, while Baghdasarian was
watching them out of the window of his cabinet. Baghdasarian answered
that he protected Geghamian and other opposition figures, when the
authorities tried to arrest them.
Afterwards, Baghdasarian said that anyway, he respects some of
Geghamian’s allies, as they are normal people. “Just fancy what a
normal person I am, if all of my allies merely adore me,” Geghamian
reflected the attack. Baghdasarian said that he didn’t mean that
Geghamian is fully insane. “Sometimes You merely fall into agony,”
Baghdasarian explained. In the end of the debates, both political
figures began convincing the TV viewers that they don’t have any
unofficial relations with Serge Sargsian. “I had only working
relations with Sargsian,” Baghdasarian said. While Geghamian stated
that he had never had any relations with Sargsian. “Though, as
Mr. Baghdasarian said, Sargsian pays me for criticizing him. It’s not
quite a normal behavior for a normal person,” Geghamian said.
Afterwards, Geghamian remembered that his mother celebrates her 85th
anniversary and congratulated her, adding that he kept his promise by
communicating with Mr. Baghdasarian as with his young brother. In the
end, the political figures shacked each others’ hands and bade
farewell to each other.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Nagorno Karabakh President on Montenegro referendum: The precedent is
important’
26.05.2006 12:50
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – If the international community is really ready to
recognize Montenegro and Kosovo’s independence, I believe it will be
very difficult to explain to them, why they are not ready to recognize
Nagorno Karabakh’s independence; Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady
Gukasyan, who attended the third Congress of Russia’s Armenians Union
on May 25, stated, speaking to a REGNUM correspondent.
`I believe that every question has its specificity, but, nevertheless,
there are some common positions, typical for all unrecognized states
and such conflicts ` in this aspect, I believe that precedent is
important,’ Gukasyan stressed, commenting on the referendum outcomes
concerning Montenegro independence.
At the same time, the NK president stressed that `Karabakh has much
more grounds ` historical, legal, and geographic ones ‘ to reckon on
independence.’
`Let us not forget that Nagorno Karabakh people defended their
independence with weapons in hands; they held out in war imposed on it
by Azerbaijan, and they are building their state now at the cost of
their best sons’ lives.
I believe that we have every reason to reckon on recognition of our
independence by the international community. In any case, I do not see
any alternative for it. Nagorno Karabakh is independent; Nagorno
Karabakh will be independent, and it does not depend on Azerbaijan’s
will.
This process may not be stopped and I am sure, the international
community will recognize Artsakh sooner or later. The sooner it will
do it, the more chances there will be for prevailing of peace, order
in region, and establishment of mutual understanding between its
peoples,’ Arkady Gukasyan believes.

Baku ‘Doesn’t Rule Out Karabakh Having Constitution’
26.05.2006 17:09
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – `Azerbaijan adheres to the peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, however we should understand that 20%
of territories are seized and sooner or later we will do the utmost to
return them,’
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told reporters on May
25. He remarked that the OSCE MG Co-chairs comprehended Azerbaijan’s
position and voiced hope that this position will be spelled out to
Yerevan.
`The matter concerns not new proposals but new ideas of the OSCE Minsk
Group. Azerbaijan can agree with some of them and disagree with the
others. However diplomacy implies the method of compromises and we
are awaiting the outcomes of the Yerevan talks,’ Elmar Mammadyarov
said.
He also noted that Nagorno Karabakh `is a constituent of Azerbaijan
and any variant of the conflict settlement should proceed from the
postulates of the Azeri Constitution. At that he did not rule out that
Karabakh may have its Constitution. `Nakhichevan autonomous republic,
Tatarstan and Bashkortostan have their Constitution, for example,’ he
said.
In his words, Montenegro’s secession from Serbia is a not precedent
for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. `We understand that Karabakh’s
status should be determined sooner or later, but not Armenians should
do it. First, Azeris should return to their homes and then the issue
will be put on the agenda,’ Mammadyarov said. The Azeri FM advised not
to hurry with conclusions on the outcomes of the OSCE Minsk Group’s
visit and wait for a formal statement.

Unlock the door to history’s atrocities

Financial Times; May 26, 2006
By David Scheffer
In spite of the relentless march of modernity, war atrocities and
other human rights abuses of decades or even centuries ago continue to
stoke anger and conflict across the globe. Remarkably, this often
occurs among societies sharing common values and embracing
globalisation. Collective memory of atrocities holds a historical
death grip on so many peoples today that we desperately need a new
means to help victims and perpetrators understand the past.
Consider Serbia’s sad example, in which self-censorship in politics
and schoolbooks about atrocities continues to isolate the country. The
recent death of Slobodan Milosevic, former Serbian leader – before the
international court trying him could render a verdict – and Belgrade’s
subsequent failure to arrest Ratko Mladic, the indicted war criminal –
fuelled both anger and memories.
Is it any wonder that political reconciliation in the Balkans remains
fragile or that Bosnia still seeks validation of Serbian-inspired
genocide before the International Court of Justice?
Remarkably, this anger often occurs among societies sharing common
values and embracing globalisation. Consider Turkey. Kurdish riots
threaten to reignite a civil conflict plagued by too many denials of
past atrocities and present realities. Turkish officials have long
contested labelling the forced marches and mass killings of Armenians
by Ottoman authorities almost 100 years ago as “genocide”. Some
European nations demand that Ankara acknowledge genocide before
approving Turkey’s accession to the European Union. The recent defeat
of French legislation criminalising denial of an “Armenian genocide”
has intensified tensions. Turkey pulled out of Nato military
exercises after Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, publicly
described those events in Armenian history as “genocide”. Pride and
political agendas still divide Armenians, Turks and the western
alliance. Japan, meanwhile, although a trading empire, is at
loggerheads with South Korea and China (neither sporting clean human
rights records) over how to explain and acknowledge aggressive
criminal conduct before and during the second world war. Japanese
school textbooks have reached new levels of revisionism about past
atrocities. Officials dodge the truth. Junichiro Koizumi, prime
minister, annually visits the Yasukuni shrine honouring Japanese war
criminals, despite foreign protests. South Korea declassified
documents that purportedly demonstrate Japan’s culpability for crimes
against humanity committed during its years as an occupier. Seoul
insists that Tokyo assume responsibility.
Relations between Poland and Russia are strained, too, partly because
of the “reciprocal silence” underpinning memories of atrocities.
Baltic states are revisiting, with rising anger, the killings and
disappearances they endured under Soviet rule and in the second world
war. Latin American societies remain burdened with past human rights
outrages. Seeds have been planted to inspire decades of hatred and
tension between the Islamic world and the US. Bush administration
officials have seemed increasingly oblivious to allegations of torture
and abuse within foreign detention facilities since September 11 2001,
as well as to their own credibility gap on the invasion and occupation
of Iraq.
Civilian deaths under US firepower in Iraq and Afghanistan leave far
too many questions unanswered. In contrast, Washington occasionally
faces up to atrocity crimes committed long ago against its native and
ethnic populations, but redemptive acts havenot fully overcome
societal divisions.
Robert Zoellick, US deputy secretary of state, noting Sino-Japanese
tensions over the history of Japan’s colonial rule in Taiwan, said:
“One way to defuse some of the tension on both sides is to have what
is called in diplomatic parlance a ‘track two’ effort, perhaps have
historians of China and Japan, perhaps the US, too, examine the
historical situation in world war two and perhaps other periods as
well.”
Efforts similar to this have been attempted in various countries to
address post-atrocity tensions plaguing society. Scholars convene
conferences and truth commissions and accomplish much good work, but
their efforts are insufficient. Records established by the
international criminal tribunals remain remote and partial at best.
The internet with its global reach offers a powerful way to educate
people and compete with political demagoguery about atrocities. A
consortium of leading independent scholars across the globe should
collaborate to develop in cyberspace credible accounts of the facts
about atrocities, drawing on solid research but striving to avoid
intellectual gridlock. Each such historical account should be easily
readable and printed in relevant languages so that ordinary people,
particularly students, can learn from a trusted source, free of
distortion. Other sources on atrocities and contested views must not
be ignored, although it is important to remember that too much
information in too many places on the web means most people remain
ill-informed.
Japanese, Turkish and Serbian schoolchildren – among many others –
could use such a website to overcome their textbooks’ shortcomings.
Africans, as they gain internet access, could retrieve objective
accounts of the atrocities that have plagued their continent.
Competing websites and government efforts to block access would
challenge the endeavour. But the existence of a reputable website
might help ease tensions and discipline public officials by helping
understanding of precisely what happened in the dark past.
The writer, a former US ambassador at large for war crimes issues, is
a law professor and director of the Centerfor International Human
Rights at Northwestern University

Turkish premier in Berlin, meets Turkish citizens living in Germany
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
25 May 06
Text of report in English by Turkish news agency Anatolia; subheadings
inserted editorially
Berlin, 25 May: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met
Turkish citizens living in Germany at Urania Hall in Berlin on
Thursday [26 May].
Touching on importance of economy, Erdogan said, “today, especially in
developed countries, economy directs politics. Economy shapes politics
in the countries which have strong economies. Turkey aims to be among
top 10 countries in terms of national income in 2012.”
“Today there is stability and confidence in Turkish economy. In
previous periods, only 1 billion dollars of foreign capital was
flowing into Turkey, but this amount rose to 9 billion dollars last
year. We have made important privatization within 1.5 years, which
were not fulfilled in 20 years. We have repaid an important part of
our debt to IMF. Now our debt to IMF is 11.5 billion dollars. Also we
attach great importance to education, and we allocated the largest
part of the budget to education.”
Turks in Europe, EU issue
Regarding the condition of Turkish citizens living in Europe, Erdogan
said: “Turkish citizens in Europe should use their right to vote and
be elected in the best way. They should use citizenship
rights. Turkish government will give necessary support to
them. Currently 2.7m Turks are living in Germany, and 700.000 of them
are citizens of Germany. Turkey’s EU process is still
continuing. Screening process is under way. We hope it will be
completed this year.
Turks in Europe should lobby for Turkey in this process.”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met representatives of
Turkish non-governmental organizations in Germany on Thursday.
Erdogan said that he will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel
tomorrow and discuss regional issues as well as EU related matters.
Erdogan recalled that first meeting of Turkish-German Economy Congress
had been held in Turkey, adding that they would like to hold the
second meeting in Germany and to speed up the process.
Noting that Turkey hopes to complete screening process within the
scope of EU talks by the end of this year, Erdogan said that meetings
on this issue have been pursued successfully so far.
Islamophobia, “alliance of civilizations”
When a representative said Islamphobia has spread in Germany, Erdogan
said, “we declared anti-Semitism as a humanity crime, and asked
officials to declare Islamphobia as a humanity crime too. You cannot
use the words Islam and terrorism together. The word Islam means
peace. You cannot reconcile such a religion with terrorism.”
“The last summit of Alliance of Civilizations will be held in
Istanbul, and a report will be prepared, and it will be submitted to
other countries.
Alliance of Civilizations is very important. Establishment of
communication between peoples is very important. We should improve the
communication. We should introduce Turkish people in Germany in the
best way,” Erdogan added.
Armenian issue
When a participant said Armenian issue is a problem for them too,
Erdogan said, “500,000 Armenians in France cause chaos. But we feel
comfortable with the issue. We do not have any doubt about our
ancestors. We have opened our archives. Scientists shall prepare a
report, and then we discuss the issue. One million documents are open
in Turkey (about Armenian issue), and anyone can read them.”

Armenian politicians comment on OSCE mediators’ visit to region
Mediamax news agency
26 May 06

Yerevan, 26 May: Leaders of political parties represented in the
Armenian National Assembly have commented on the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairmen’s visits to Baku and Yerevan on 24-25 May.
The head of the parliamentary faction of the [pro-government]
Republican Party of Armenia, Galust Saakyan, described today as
“positive” the participation of high-ranking diplomats from Russia,
the USA and France in the talks.
Meanwhile, he expressed his confidence that the final resolution of
the Karabakh conflict would not be reached in 2006.
The leader of the opposition Justice bloc, Stepan Demirchyan, believes
that the visit of the high-ranking diplomats testified to the
existence of a “task to speed up the negotiation process”.
The head of the [pro-government Armenian Revolutionary Federation]
Dashnaktsutyun faction, Grayr Karapetyan, said that he “sees nothing
extraordinary” in the mediators’ visit. He said that the decision on
the settlement of the conflict should be made by the parties to the
conflict and that it cannot be imposed on them from the outside.

OSCE co-chairs urge Armenians, Azeris to prepare for peace
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
25 May 06
[Presenter] The representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair
countries made an official joint statement following the Yerevan talks
few hours ago.
The Russian deputy foreign minister, the US Assistant Secretary of
State and the French Foreign Ministry’s adviser in their joint
statements expressed confidence that the sides can achieve a mutually
acceptable agreement at this stage [of the peace negotiations]. They
described their talks in Baku and Yerevan as constructive.
[Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, in Russian with
Armenian voice-over] We, the representatives at the deputy minister
level of the Russian Federation, the United States and France,
together with the co-chairmen and the personal representative of the
OSCE chairman-in-office, have arrived [in Yerevan] with this joint
diplomatic mission to promote the peaceful settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict and because now it is time for the sides to achieve
agreement on the basic principles of the conflict settlement.
[US Deputy State Secretary Daniel Freed, in English with Armenian
voice-over] As we did yesterday in Baku, we have discussed important
aspects of a future settlement. We worked to create conditions for a
meeting of the two presidents [Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev] in
the near future. We stressed the belief of the international community
that the conflict can be resolved only by peaceful means. Both
countries should prepare their people for peace, not war.
[French Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador at Large Pierre Morel, in French
with Armenian voice-over] A joint mission as this one is a special
event. It must be taken as a sign of seriousness with which we
approach the issue and, in particular, of our belief that we are at
the point when mutually beneficial agreement is achievable. It is up
to Armenia and Azerbaijan to let it happen. We are leaving with hopes
and expectations of progress. We are pleased to be in Yerevan and want
to express our gratitude to President Kocharyan and the people of
Armenia for receiving us.