SADOYAN APPEALS TO OSCE AND COE MISSIONS TO ARMENIA AND NATIVE BUSINESSMEN FOR FINANCING
ARMINFO News Agency
October 11, 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11. ARMINFO. Armenian parliamentarian representing
the opposition bloc “Justice,” Arshak Sadoyan, has appealed to the
international organizations in Armenia (OSCE, CE) and local businessmen
for financial assistance.
Speaking at today’s press-conference at the office of his party,
“Bloc of National Democrats,” Arshak Sadoyan has levered harsh
criticism at oppositionists for passivity and indifference to the
national referendum of November 27. He thinks it necessary that all
the 17-20 parties which are against the Constitutional reforms be
represented at all the 1,865 polling stations. It will be an “army of
35-40,000 people.” As 90% of the population will either neglect the
voting or vote “against” the draft, the authority will have to stuff
the ballot-boxes. Only the opposition can control over the voting.
However, it requires funds. For this purpose, the party intends to
open a special account with one of the native banks.
Asked why the well-off oppositionists do not fund the campaign,
Sadoyan said : “to avoid ambitions.” ” We cannot agree who will
head the counter-agitation campaign, each opposition party acts
independently,” Sadoyan complained. He also criticized Secretary of
Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio who “once stated that being on
leave, he could not read the draft, then he stated that he has read
the draft and agreed with it. Later he stressed some progress of the
draft Constitution. Then he said that the draft fully meets European
standards and the omissions can be filled through evolution.” Sadoyan
accused the parliamentary majority for not inviting him to the meeting
of G. Buquicchio with Armenian parliamentarians.

ARMENIAN DM DOESN’T THINK STRANGE RE-ELECTION OF MAYOR CHARGED WITH MURDER
ARMINFO News Agency
October 11, 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11. ARMINFO. Armenian Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan does not think it strange that the incumbent Mayor of the
town Nor-Hachn swept the election to the local self-government. To
note, Nor-Hachn Mayor Armen Keshishyan is charged with murder.
Talking to journalists Tuesday, Minister Sargsyan said the residents
of Nor- Hachn were well-aware that a person charged with murder
cannot occupy the post. So, they voted for A.Keshishyan in order that
additional election is announced in the town, the minister explained.

INTERNATIONAL WATCHDOG SUGGESTS REFERENDUM ON AZERI BREAKAWAY REGION’S STATUS
Mediamax News Agency
Oct 11 2005
Yerevan, 11 October: The International Crisis Group (ICG) has published
a new report on the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,
which suggests determining the final status of Nagornyy Karabakh in
a referendum on self-determination.
The ICG proposes that the referendum should be held “after the return
of displaced Azerbaijanis to the districts of Nagornyy Karabakh where
they used to be in the majority and after an international conference
establishes that Nagornyy Karabakh meets international criteria of
statehood, including the appropriate protection of the rights of the
minority,” Mediamax news agency reports.
Meanwhile, the ICG suggests that such an assessment be given five
years after the signing of the peace agreement.
The ICG suggests that all the participants in the referendum should be
given an opportunity to “choose among an adequate range of possible
solutions, including merger with Azerbaijan or secession from it,”
Mediamax reports.
The International Crisis Group considers that “the referendum should be
held with the compulsory participation of Armenians and Azerbaijanis
from Karabakh, on conditions determined in negotiations under the
leadership of the OCSE and under the principle that the results of
the referendum should be recognized by all sides”.
The International Crisis Group suggests that Nagornyy Karabakh remain
part of Azerbaijan until the referendum, “although in practice it will
be self-governing and enjoy internationally-recognized transitional
status”.

LES TROIS FAMILLES MENACEES D’EXPULSION REFUSENT DE PARTIR
par Isabelle Le Malefan
Le Telegramme , France
11 octobre 2005
Le coordinateur du dispositif Scohda-Aftam*, Michel Chapin, est venu
constater, hier, le refus des trois familles menacees d’expulsion de
quitter leur logement suite a une ” invitation a quitter le territoire
“.
” Michel Chapin, coordinateur du dispositif Scohda-Aftam, a demande
aux familles si elles voulaient quitter leur logement. Elles ont
refuse. Aucune n’a rendu les clefs de son appartement “, a annonce
Philippe Coulau, president de la section paimpolaise de la Ligue
des Droits de l’Homme, aux personnes mobilisees en soutien aux trois
familles dont deux armeniennes et une georgienne, menacees d’expulsion
de leur logement suite a une ” invitation a quitter le territoire “,
recue en septembre dernier.
Demandes d’asile rejetees
” Le prefet nous a indique que nous n’avions pas la competence pour
accueillir des personnes qui ne sont pas demandeurs d’asile. Ces
familles ont ete deboutees de leur demande le 18 mai dernier. Je suis
venu constater si elles acceptaient ou non de quitter leur logement
“, a explique Michel Chapin.
” J’ai fait une demande d’asile pour ma famille. Elle a ete rejetee
et je ne sais meme pas pourquoi. J’ai deja habite dans trois pays
differents : l’Azerbaïdjan, la Russie et la France. Aujourd’hui,
on n’est plus rien, on n’a pas de papiers “, confie Armen Sarkisian,
menace d’expulsion avec sa famille.
Ce père de famille a demande, fin septembre, le statut d'” a-patrie
“. S’il l’obtient, il pourra, avec sa famille, sejourner en France.
” On ne quitte jamais son pays par gaiete de coeur. Si ces familles
quittent leur logement, où iront-elles ?, s’inquiète Philippe Coulau.
C’est la regularisation de leurs papiers qui reglera le problème. ”
” Avec ma famille, nous sommes partis en mai 2004 d’Armenie. Avec la
guerre entre l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan, nous ne pouvions plus rester
dans le pays car ma femme est azerbaïdjanaise. Nous vivons a Lannion
depuis plus d’un an avec nos deux enfants “, explique Armen Gevorgyan.
” Solidarite financière ”
Depuis que ces familles ont recu leur invitation a quitter le
territoire, les aides financières apportees par le service de
coordination, d’orientation et d’hebergement des demandeurs d’asile
(Scohda) se sont arretees. ” Nous sommes en train d’organiser une
solidarite financière pour permettre a ces familles de vivre “,
a explique Philippe Coulau.
Une manifestation de soutien se deroulera samedi. Le rendez-vous est
fixe a 14 h 30 devant la mairie. A la meme heure, une mobilisation
se tiendra egalement a la prefecture de Saint-Brieuc.
* Scohda-Aftam : service de coordination, d’orientation et
d’hebergement des demandeurs d’asile – association accueil formation
des travailleurs apatrides et migrants. L’association accueil –
formation dite Aftam dispose d’un service d’accueil et d’orientation de
personnes nouvellement arrivees sur le territoire et qui souhaiteraient
faire une demande d’asile.
–Boundary_(ID_AylpS7Vij9saL+RQ+5PBlA)–

KARABAKH NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN AZERI ELECTION – SEPARATIST SPEAKER
Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Oct 11 2005
Yerevan, 11 October: The speaker of the National Assembly of the
Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR], Ashot Gulyan, today described as
“absurd” the appeal of the Azerbaijani Central Electoral Committee
to NKR citizens to participate in the parliamentary election in
Azerbaijan.
“It is clear that there will be no participation because we conduct
our own elections,” Gulyan said.
Commenting on the domestic political situation in Azerbaijan in the
run-up to the election, Gulyan pointed out that “it totally coincides
with our predictions”, Mediamax reports. He said that “we were sure
that the election campaign will be accompanied by violations, illegal
rallies, pressure on the opposition and dispersal of demonstrators”.
The speaker of the NKR parliament said that the situation in
Azerbaijan will worsen even more as the election approaches. “I
think international observers will have the opportunity to assess the
situation in the run-up to the election in Azerbaijan and compare it
with the situation in the run-up to the election in Nagornyy Karabakh,”
said Ashot Gulyan.
Touching on the Karabakh conflict settlement, Ashot Gulyan pointed
out that it is impossible to achieve a solution to the problem when
there is no trust between the conflicting sides and when Azerbaijan
is torpedoing any contacts between representatives of the two nations.
The speaker said that the position of the Karabakh side based on the
will of the NKR people, who have spoken out in favour of independent
statehood, remains unchanged.

DEFENCE OFFICIAL SAYS ARMENIA INTERESTED IN BUYING BELARUSIAN ARMS
Belapan news agency, Minsk
Oct 11 2005
Minsk, 10 October: A top Armenian defence official has said that the
country’s army is interested in buying certain types of weaponry
in service with Belarusian units and Belarusian-designed military
hardware.
While talking to reporters in Minsk on Monday [10 October], Armenia’s
deputy defence minister, Col-Gen Mikayel Arutyunyan, said that his
country’s government is examining the price and performance of the
equipment.
The official arrived in Belarus on a three-day visit earlier in
the day.
General Arutyunyan noted that his talks with Syarhey Hurulyow, the
Belarusian army’s chief of general staff, focused on the situation
inside the Collective Security Treaty Organization of which both
countries are members.
The Armenian official stressed that his country is interested in
studying Belarusian army training practices and command principles,
military reform and weapons modernization projects.
Preparations for a visit by Belarusian Defence Minister Leanid Maltsaw
to Armenia later this year were also discussed.
While in Belarus the Armenian delegation is to visit the Military
Academy and the 120th Guards Detached Mechanized Brigade.

NOBEL JUDGES REPORTEDLY TORN
>>From a Times staff writer
Los Angeles Times
October 11, 2005 Tuesday
Home Edition
QUICK TAKES
The decision of who will be given the Nobel Prize for literature has
been delayed by a split among the judges, the Guardian newspaper of
London reports.
The announcement of the winner was supposed to come last week but
now is scheduled Thursday.
The Guardian reported that the Nobel judges are split over honoring
the controversial Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, author of the novels
“My Name Is Red” and “Snow.” He faces trial later this year for having
said in an interview that Turkey was guilty of a 20th century genocide
against Armenians and Kurds, the newspaper said.

AZERI PUNDITS DOWNPLAY EU WARNING OVER TIES WITH TURKISH CYPRUS
by R. Azar
Zerkalo, Azerbaijan
Oct 7 2005
Another ultimatum from the European Union
If Azerbaijan does not change its position on Cyprus, the EU will
only accept Armenia and Georgia
Relations with Northern Cyprus may prolong Azerbaijan’s joining the
European Union’s [EU] New Neighbourhood Policy, the Trend news agency
has quoted EU Commissioner for foreign relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner
as telling the Radio Liberty.
“The EU only recognizes the independence of the Republic of Cyprus.
But this republic is protesting against Baku’s contacts with Lefkosa
and flights from Azerbaijan to Northern Cyprus,” she said.
Addressing the foreign relations committee of the European Parliament
in Brussels, Ferrero-Waldner said she had informed Azerbaijan that
if the country did not change its position, the EU would only accept
Armenia and Georgia. She expressed her hope that Azerbaijan would
resolve this issue. “But this will take a few weeks,” she said.
The head of the information department of the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry, Tahir Tagizada, said that Baku’s policy is directed at
preventing the crisis in both the Turkish and Greek communities of
Cyprus. Tagizada said that he had not received any official information
concerning cooperation with the EU within the framework of the New
Neighbourhood Policy.
“Azerbaijan is ready to take steps under the approved action plan. As
for the flights, this is a commercial initiative and has nothing to
do with the government’s foreign policy,” Tagizada said.
Political pundit Vafa Quluzada said that Azerbaijan pursued a right
policy towards the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC]. He
added that Azerbaijan had established bilateral relations with Finland,
Great Britain, France and other EU member states although it was not
a member of the union.
“The EU has closed the door on the TRNC and does not want other
countries to cooperate with it. Baku is on the right track. The EU
can never influence Azerbaijan in this issue,” Quluzada said.
Another political pundit Zardust Alizada said that on the one hand,
Azerbaijan wants to be accepted to the EU and on the other hand,
it goes against the principles of this organization.
“However, despite the statement of the EU official, I do not think that
the EU will take any dangerous step against Azerbaijan,” Alizada said.
Western analysts believe that Azerbaijan, as part of the South
Caucasus, is of great importance to the EU. Therefore, stability in
Azerbaijan, which goes through a democratic election, means stability
in Europe. Azerbaijan’s participation in the EU’s policy ensures
the supremacy of the law and the development of democracy. From this
viewpoint, our laws should be brought into conformity with European
standards.
But further development of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU
will largely depend on the course of the forthcoming parliamentary
election in our country. The EU calls on Baku to make a concerted
effort to ensure that the election is in line with international
norms. Brussels believes that the EU’s tough position may put an end
to the views that democracy has several varieties in the West and
these varieties must be the way it wants.

V. HOVHANNISIAN: 1915 GENOCIDE WASN’T TURKEY’S ONLY CRIME AGAINST ARMENIANS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 11 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s letter to President of Armenia
Robert Kocharian was an attempt cleverly to cheat the international
community. Vahan Hovhannisian, the Vice Speaker of the RA National
Assembly, a member of the ARF Bureau, characterized in this way
the proposal of the Turkish party to create a joint commission of
historians to study the Armenian cause in his speech at the NATO
“Rose Roth” seminar held in Yerevan.
According to him, besides the 1915 genocide of Armenians living on the
territory of Ottaman Turkey, Turkey conducted another crime as well,
this time against the independent Republic of Armenia.
According to him, in 1919 the Republic of Armenia had a territory of
70 thousand square meters, but as a result of Turkey’s agression which
the Russian Bolshevics also supported, Armenia lost the marzes of Kars,
Ardahan, Surmalu as well as a considerable part of their inhabitants.
According to Vahan Hovahannisian, this crime was already an agression
against another state as a result of what the most part of those
problems arose which have caused an instability in the South
Caucasus today. All issues connected with the Armenian-Azerbaijani
and Armenian-Turkish relations were among those problems.
That’s why, according to the rapporteur, the mutual proposal of
Robert Kocharian, the President of Armenia, to create an interstate
commission instead of a commission of historians was more correct.
According to the NA Deputy Speaker, the interstate commission’s work
can have more practical result: “I think that’s why the proposal
remained without answer.”
According to Vahan Hovhannisian, ideas of penance and confession
which are in the basis of European values aren’t accepted by the
Turkish society. “Turkey which today attempts to become a member of
the European Union, should be ready for this from inside, the Turkish
society should still change itself.”
Welcoming Turk historian Halil Berktay’s position concerning the
Armenian cause, according to what, the 1915 events are qualified as a
genocide, Hovhannisian mentioned: “I think that it will be useful to
listen to his speech for those Armenian figures who, like the Turkish
state historiography, consider that the Armenian Genocide took place
as a result of the activity of the Dashnaktsitiun (Federation).
Touching upon Berktay’s idea that the Turkish society should be
supported in the issue of accepting the real historic truth, Vahan
Hovhannisian mentioned: “I think that the propaganda led by the Hai
Dat offices all over the world serves first for that purpose and
shouldn’t make nervous those Turk figures who themselves consider
that this way should be passed.”

ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO PAKISTAN, INDIA
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 11 2005
YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin
II has addressed a message of condolences to President of Pakistan
Pervez Musharaf and to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Sinkkh on a
devastating earthquake in Kashmir, which claimed numerous lives. On
behalf of the Armenian people and on his own behalf Garegin II wished
India and Pakistan to overcome the consequences of the earthquake as
soon as possible.