GREATEST THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY OF ARMENIA – DEPRAVED SYSTEM OF
VALUES: LEADER OF SOCIAL FORCES

YEREVAN, JULY 27. ARMINFO. Within the last 10 years the system of
values has radically changed in Armenia: self-affirmation through
wealth is appreciated today instead of wisdom, intellect, creative
abilities. Secretary of the Political Council of the Union of
Socialist Forces Ashot Manucharyan made this statement at a seminar
“External and internal threats to the national security of Armenia”
today.

The persons responsible for observation of the law and defensive
capacity start thinking of wealth more than of their obligations. As a
result, the state apparatus bring new challenges instead of
counteracting them, Manuchyaran thinks. The social-economic problems
will be solved immediately after Armenian people return to its “real”
system of values. He brought the example of Israel which has been
fighting for 50 years, but keeps prospering. “T here is only one
phenomenon in Armenia which Israel lacks, i.e. thieving and hence all
the other differences,” Manucharyan said.

He intends to solve Karabakh problem through moral revival. In case of
more perfect system of values of the ruling elite and mobilized
public, the task number one of Armenia will become protection of the
infringed rights of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan who have a right
to settle the fate of the lands nearing Karabakh to compensate their
apartments in Armenikend in Baku with new housing in Aghdam.

To support his viewpoint, he brought the events of 1988 in Armenia
which, in his opinion, were spiritual revolution and return to the
real system of values. It explains the fact that Armenia is the only
post-Soviet republic having no territorial losses, Manucharyan thinks.

Azeri official says US under secretary’s visit was not just about polls

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
28 Jul 05

[Presenter] The head of the foreign relations department of the
Azerbaijani presidential administration, Novruz Mammadov, has said the
US Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky’s visit to Baku was not
just about the [November parliamentary] election. Issues of
cooperation in several areas between the two countries were also
discussed at a meeting with her. He noted that similar topics will be
discussed during Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s visit to the
USA.

[Novruz Mammadov, captioned, shown speaking to ATV] All the press said
that Dobriansky was visiting only because of the election. But in
reality, Dobriansky and the president discussed the whole spectrum of
bilateral relations, especially the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagornyy Karabakh, as well as Azerbaijan’s integration into
Euroatlantic organizations and democratic reforms. In other words,
they discussed other issues too.

It is natural, because a high-level delegation usually seeks to
develop all areas of relations, not just aiming for a single goal. The
visit of the Azerbaijani foreign minister to the USA will have similar
agenda. I repeat that the whole spectrum of bilateral relations will
be discussed during his visit to the USA.

Azeri interior minister says radicals plan to use force during polls

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
27 Jul 05

[Presenter Namiq Aliyev] Interior Minister Ramil Usubov has said that
with the aim of carrying out an armed provocation, the radical
opposition is already trying to form a false opinion that the
[November 2005 parliamentary] election will not be held
democratically. In this connection, the law-enforcement bodies are
taking measures against those who intend to smuggle weapons into
Azerbaijan,.

[Correspondent] The radical opposition wishes to disrupt the stability
in Azerbaijan in the run-up to the election and there are operative
reports that the opposition is drawing up a special plan, Interior
Minister Ramil Usubov said. He added that the radical opposition is
already trying to form a public opinion that the election will not be
held democratically.

[Usubov interviewed by journalists, captioned] According to reports we
received – although these reports are not precise, they are
operational reports – some radical opposition bodies are planning to
use violence against the state and the state bodies during or after
the election, and to claim that human rights violations. We have such
reports and we are working on them.

[Correspondent] However, the minister said that the radical opposition
will not be allowed to acquire weapons illegally. He said the State
Border Service, National Security Ministry and Ministry of Internal
Affairs are continuing efforts to prevent the smuggling of weapons
into Azerbaijan.

[Passage omitted: Usubov comments on the exodus of Azeris from Armenia
in the late 1980s saying they did not have a good leader then]

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 28 2005

US official: Presidents’ meeting may bring important changes in
conflict resolution

Baku, July 27, AssA-Irada
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents’ meeting to take place in Kazan,
Russia late in August may bring about important changes in the
settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict, US Under Secretary of
State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky has said.
Dobriansky told journalists following the talks held in Baku on
Wednesday that she has been informed that the conflicting sides have
held very constructive negotiations over the recent period. The US
mediator in the talks also hopes that the process will end
successfully, she said.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 28 2005

Armenian vice-speaker claims Turkey will open border prior to EU
membership

Baku, July 27, AssA-Irada

Turkey will have to open its border with Armenia sooner or later.
This country will benefit from the measure more than Armenia,
Armenian parliament vice-speaker Vaan Ovanesian has said. He said in
a recent meeting with representatives of youth organizations that
Turkey will definitely open the border as it `has great aspirations
to European Union membership’. Armenia, in turn, should achieve
raising the border issue prior to Turkey’s accession, he said.
`Armenia has nothing to concede in exchange for unblocking the
frontier. We cannot accept Turkey’s demands, in particular, those on
withdrawing our armed forces from Upper Garabagh and relinquishing
efforts at international recognition of the genocide of Armenians.’*

Angus Reid Global Scan, Canada
July 28 2005

Lukashenko is Best Friend for Russians

CREDIT: UN/DPI Photo

Aleksandr Lukashenko

(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Many adults in Russia have a positive
opinion of the current Belarusian president, according to a poll by
the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 52 per cent of
respondents believe Aleksandr Lukashenko is friendly towards Russia.

Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev is second on the list of amicable
heads of state with 49 per cent, followed by Ilham Aliyev of
Azerbaijan with 36 per cent, Robert Kocharian of Armenia with 25 per
cent, Emomali Rakhmonov of Tajikistan with 20 per cent, Saparmurat
Niyazov of Turkmenistan with 19 per cent, and recently-elected
Kurmanbek Bakiyev of Kyrgyzstan with 17 per cent. Russians gave the
lowest “friendship” numbers to Ukraine’s Viktor Yushchenko, Moldova’s
Vladimir Voronin and Georgia’s Mikhail Saakashvili.

On Jul. 26, Russian president Vladimir Putin voiced his support for a
proposed economic unification of Russia and Belarus, saying, “Russia
needs the union. We need it in a geopolitical sense and most
important of all, we are a single nation on the whole. (…) In a
broad sense, we are a single nation and we will only benefit if we
unite, having gained advantages in relations with other countries.”

Putin and Lukashenko signed a bilateral treaty in late 1999, where
the two nations agreed to eventually merge their tax systems and
currencies. An actual constitution for the proposed union has not
been drafted.

Belarusian voters renewed their House of Representatives in October
2004. A report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) stated that the “democratic principles were largely
disregarded by the authorities. Many candidates were actively
excluded from registering or were deregistered, which limited the
choice of voters.”

In May, United States president George W. Bush referred to Belarus as
“the last remaining dictatorship in Europe,” adding, “When the
elections come, make sure the elections are free, and have monitors
and international observers. As you know, that made a big difference
in the Ukraine.”

Polling Data

Would you say the following presidents are friendly or unfriendly
toward Russia?

Friendly (F) Unfriendly (UF) Not sure (NS)

Aleksandr Lukashenko (Belarus)
52% 22% 26%

Nursultan Nazarbayev (Kazakhstan)
49% 15% 35%

Ilham Aliyev (Azerbaijan)
36% 19% 45%

Robert Kocharian (Armenia)
25% 24% 49%

Emomali Rakhmonov (Tajikistan)
20% 24% 56%

Saparmurat Niyazov (Turkmenistan)
19% 24% 57%

Kurmanbek Bakiyev (Kyrgyzstan)
17% 24% 58%

Viktor Yushchenko (Ukraine)
15% 53% 32%

Vladimir Voronin (Moldova)
11% 38% 51%

Mikhail Saakashvili (Georgia)
10% 55% 34%

Source: All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center
Methodology: Interviews to 1,600 Russian adults, conducted on Jul. 16
and Jul. 17, 2005. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.

Anarkismo.net
July 28 2005

Anarchism in Turkey
by Unknown Thursday, Jul 28 2005, 4:54am

A short history of Anarchism in Turkey

A short but good history of anarchism in Turkey involving
revolutionaries form other nationalities as well.
In 1876, Christo Botev, `the first Bulgarian anarchist and national
hero… perished for the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish power’.

In 1878, after leaving Beirut, Errico Malatesta’s ship docks in
Smyrna (Izmir), where the local authorities demand that Malatesta be
handed over to them. Fortunately, the Captain of `La Provence’
refuses the order and the ship continues on to Italy, France and
Switzerland.

The earliest formations of socialist activity in Turkey come from the
ethnic minorities of Bulgarians, Macedonians, Greeks and Jews. The
focus of their activity is in Thessoloniki. In these early formations
there is a split between the orthodox Marxists and a faction of
Bulgarian and Jewish `anarcho-liberals’. The two factions try to form
a mutual organization with the marxist Nicola Rusev as secretary. But
a split soon occurs with the marxists decrying the activities of
anarchist Pavel Deliradev whose associates include Angel Tomov and
Nikola Harlakov as well as people from Abraham Benaroya’s Sephardic
Circle of Socialist Studies.

The Bulgarian Macedonian Edirne Revolutionary Committee form in
Thessaloniki 1893. This group is to evolve into the major Macedonian
indepence group against the Ottoman Empire, IMRO (Internal Macedonian
Revolutionary Organization). The spokeperson of IMRO’s left wing is
Goce Delcev. He favors sabotage and attentats rather than the
nationalist’s call for a general uprising, which, it is believed
would be quickly crushed by the Ottoman authorities.

Bulgarian and Macedonian students in Switzerland frequent Russian
immigrant circles and discover the ideas of Bakunin. In 1898, these
students form the Macedonian Secret Revolutionary Committee and
publish `Otmustenie’ (`Revenge’). `Otmustenie’ declares war on the
nationalisms of the individual ethnic minorities of Ottoman Turkey,
but rather makes a call to unite with the Muslim people against the
Sultan’s government.

In 1896 Abraham Frumkin, a young man, came from Constantinople
(Istanbul) to London. He became a friend of Rudolf Rocker. He born in
1872 in Jerusalem. He spent a year in Jaffa as a teacher of Arabic.
In 1891 he went to Constantinople to study Law but he didn’t manage
it because of lack of money. In 1893 he went to New York and came in
contact with anarchist ideas for the first time. In 1894 he returned
to Constantinople with lots of anarchist books and propaganda
material. In the house of Moses Schapiro from South Russia and his
wife Nastia, which was at that time a place for young active people,
he found open ears and minds.

Schapiro, who had to flee from Russia because of his revolutionary
activities, quickly was inflamed by the new ideas and went together
with Frumkin to Paris and London. From there he took all books he
could get about anarchism (Kropotkin, Reclus, Grave, Malato etc.)
back home. From London the Yiddish anarchist paper `Arbeiterfraind’
was sent to Constantinople where the Jewish community around Shapiro
welcomed it happily. From now on Frumkin wrote for that paper. Then
in 1896 they decided to go to London to open a print shop for Yiddish
anarchist booklets. Many years later he wrote a book about this time
`From the spring period of Jewish socialism’. Shapiro had to return
to Constantinople in 1897. He left his print shop to Frumkin, who
decided to publish an own little paper `Der Propagandist’ (11
issues). After a while in Liverpool and Leeds in 1998 Frumkin went to
Paris to stay for a year. Then he went again to America in 1899.
Shapiro was later engaged in the Russian Revolution and was a
co-founder 1922-23 of the IWA in Berlin. He went to the US where he
died in 1946.

The Armenian, Alexandre Atabekian attempts on several occasions to
distribute anarchist pamphlets in Istanbul and Izmir.

The Italian anarchist, Amilcare Cipriani, much to the chagrin of
Malatesta, volunteers to fight in Crete’s 1897 revolt against Turkish
occupation. He records his impressions in the `Almanach de la
Questione Sociale’ published in Paris by the Greek anarchist Paul
Argyriades.

In 1903, the anarchist group `Gemidzii’ makes contact with Goce
Delcev. In April of 1903, the group carry out bombings on their own
initiative in Thessaloniki against a French Passenger liner and
Banque Ottomane Imperiale.

In May 1912, in London, Errico Malatesta is charged with being a
Turkish spy. The accusation comes from the Italian patriot (and
supposedly one-time anarchist) Bellelli who is offended by
Malatesta’s outspoken opposition to Italy’s adventures in Libya.

Albert Meltzer’s pamphlet `International Revolutionary Solidarity
Movement’ includes documents by the Spanish anarchist `First of May
Group’. This pamphlet makes numerous references to the activities of
Turkish anarchists in the late 1960s. (However his remarks have been
questioned).

The contemporary Turkish anarchist movement begins in the 1980s with
some former Marxists publishing in Turkish the pamphlet `Kronstadt
1920′ by Ida Mett.

In the late 1980s, two anarchist journals appear in Istanbul, `Kara’
and `Efendisiz’.

Interfax
July 28 2005

Russia transferring material from Georgian base to Armenia

MOSCOW. July 28 (Interfax) – A convoy of vehicles belonging to the
Russian 62nd military base stationed in the Georgian community of
Akhalkalaki has been transferred to the Russian 102nd military base
in Armenia’s Gyumri, deputy commander of the Russian military
contingent in the South Caucasus Col. Vladimir Kuparadze told
Interfax.

“This is not the beginning of the withdrawal of Russian military
bases from Georgia, as some in the media have prematurely reported,”
Kuparadze said.

“It is an excess of material that has been transferred from
Akhalkalaki to Gyumri, we started to clear our bases in Georgia long
before the Russian and Georgian foreign ministers concluded an
agreement on the timeline for withdrawing the Russian bases,” he
said.

Civil Georgia, Georgia
July 28 2005

Russian Military Convoy Released after Solving ‘Misunderstanding’

A convoy of four Russian military trucks and four armored vehicles
were released by the Georgian border guard service after the Russian
side submitted necessary documentation authorizing them to transport
arms.

The convoy, which was en route from Akhalkalaki military base to
Armenia, was shortly detained after the Georgian border guards found
five machine guns in vehicles, which were not listed in the papers,
which the Russian side provided Georgian border guards in advance.

Deputy Commander of the Headquarters of Group of Russian Troops in
Trans Caucasus, Col. Vladimir Kuparadze said that the incident was
just misunderstanding which has already been solved.

Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
The Jamestown Foundation
July 28 2005

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CONSIDERS SUPPORTING CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

By Emil Danielyan

Thursday, July 28, 2005

The Armenian authorities have been given a major boost in their
standoff with the opposition with the Council of Europe’s effective
endorsement of their draft amendments to Armenia’s controversial
post-Soviet constitution. Experts from the Venice Commission have
declared that the amendments’ passage at a referendum expected this
November would contribute significantly to the country’s
democratization and advance its European integration.

The move created a serious dilemma for the Armenian opposition, which
had hoped to use the vote for another attempt to depose President
Robert Kocharian. It also caused a rift between moderate and more
radical opposition groups — another welcome development for the
ruling regime.

Reform of the constitution, criticized for giving the president of
the republic disproportionate powers, was one of the conditions for
Armenia’s accession to the Council of Europe in January 2001.
Kocharian’s first attempt to expedite it ended in failure when his
package of amendments did not win sufficient popular support at a
referendum in May 2003. Kocharian and his three-party governing
coalition have since been revising that package to make it more
acceptable to the domestic public and the Council of Europe.

They avoided making major changes in the constitutional draft until
facing strong criticism and warnings from the Venice Commission as
well as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Strasbourg-based
pan-European body in June. Armenian officials pledged to further
curtail the sweeping presidential powers before sending a revised
draft to Strasbourg on July 7. The Venice Commission said in a July
22 report that Yerevan has honored those commitments, concluding that
the final version of the proposed constitutional changes constitutes
“a good basis for ensuring the compliance of the Armenian
Constitution with the European standards in the fields of respect for
human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.” The commission
expressed hope that the opposition will be “mature” enough to help
the authorities enact those changes.

But Armenia’s largest opposition group, the Artarutiun (Justice)
alliance, is clearly unhappy with the latest draft and is demanding
additional changes. The first and foremost of them relates to the
formation of the government. The authorities have agreed to strip the
Armenian president of his discretionary right to sack the prime
minister and his cabinet. Only the parliament would have such
authority in the future. But opposition leaders say this change would
be nullified by another draft amendment that empowers the president
to dissolve the National Assembly if it twice rejects his prime
ministerial nominees.

Artarutiun also wants serious limitations on the presidential
authority to appoint and sack virtually all judges as well as a
constitutional provision mandating direct elections of Yerevan’s
mayor, who is currently named by Kocharian. The latter is only
prepared to allow the mayor’s appointment by an elected municipal
council.

The opposition demands have already been dismissed as “ridiculous” by
Tigran Torosian, the deputy parliament speaker and a senior
representative of the ruling coalition. Torosian warned on July 22
that Artarutiun will commit “political suicide” if it campaigns
against the reform. Indeed, the opposition bloc now risks finding
itself at loggerheads with the Council of Europe and perhaps major
European governments that hold sway in the organization.

Hanrapetutiun (Republic), the most radical of nine parties aligned in
Artarutiun, has made it clear that it will not support the reform
under any circumstances.. The party, led by the firebrand former
prime minister Aram Sarkisian, has publicly attacked its opposition
allies for taking a more conciliatory approach.

There is clearly little the opposition can gain in return from
endorsing the reform and somehow legitimizing a regime repeatedly
criticized by the West for falsifying elections and abusing human
rights. An amended constitution is unlikely to have any bearing on
the root cause of Armenia’s problems: chronic vote rigging. The
Council of Europe, however, continues to put the emphasis on the
passage of new laws rather than the enforcement of the existing ones
that already provide for free and fair elections. No wonder that
Armenia is now hardly more democratic than it was before joining the
organization.

Opposition support is essential for the success of the constitutional
reform. To pass, the constitutional amendments have to be approved by
a majority of referendum participants that make up at least one-third
of Armenia’s 2.4 million eligible voters. Clearing that threshold
requires a high degree of political consensus that is currently
absent. Besides, many Armenians seem apathetic to the issue. A recent
opinion poll found that less than one-third of Yerevan residents
would likely take part in the constitutional referendum if it were
held now.

Some local observers believe that the only way for the authorities to
ensure a desired outcome of the referendum is to falsify its results.
And this is what opposition leaders seem to be banking on as they
prepare for another bid to bring the recent wave of ex-Soviet
revolutions to Armenia. Their previous campaign of anti-Kocharian
demonstrations last year failed to attract strong public support and
was easily suppressed by security forces.

Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian, Kocharian’s most likely successor,
indicated on July 24 that the regime is ready to go as far as to
order troops into the streets of Yerevan to hold off another
opposition challenge. “Who is their Hercules who will come and crack
my head and sit in my chair?” he asked members of a pro-government
youth organization. “How do they imagine cracking Kocharian’s head
and occupying his post?”

(Report by a Venice Commission working group on Armenia, July 22;
Haykakan Zhamanak, July 26; Aravot, July 26; RFE/RL Armenia Report,
July 4, 22)