Pan Armenian News

CDU/CSU ADVOCATE STUDY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT GERMAN SCHOOLS

02.07.2005 05:02

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union
(CDU/CSU) of Germany have sent a letter to the Ministry of Education and
Religion of the German federal lands proposing to include the history of the
Armenian Genocide in the school curriculum, reported Tagesspiegel. `The
Armenian Genocide during World War I directly related to the following
banishment and tragedies in Europe and of course the Holocaust.’ According
to the message, schools not always properly respond to Turkey erroneously
teaching history to children. Two weeks ago the Bundestag adopted a
resolution on the Armenian Genocide. The resolution does not specify the
events of 1915-1917 as `genocide’, however the concept is underlies the very
grounding of the resolution. Meanwhile, Armenia and most of the
international community qualify the events of 1915-1917 as a genocide. From
the point of view of Turkey the matter merely concerns the tragic
consequences of the forced deportation imposed by the war. Meanwhile, the
first federal Land of Brandenburg has included the Armenian Genocide in the
curriculum.

Pan Armenian News

APRIL 24 COMMITTEE URGED DUTCH SENATE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

02.07.2005 03:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 24 Committee for recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, which forms part of the Federation of Armenian Organizations of
the Netherlands, has submitted an application to the Senate on June 28,
which urges the Parliament upper chamber to express attitude to the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the course of World War I. The Dutch
House of Representatives has acknowledged the Armenian Genocide on December
21, 2004. The Government hailed the move as stated by Foreign minister
Bernard Bot. If the Senate adopts a statement on recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, the Government of the Netherlands will have an integrated stand
over the issue. The application also demands censuring Turkey’s denialist
policy. Europe should pay serious attention to the policy along with its
impact on the freedom of speech and national minority rights (as it is
known, these are part of the Copenhagen criteria), which should influence
the date of starting talks over Turkey’s accession to the EU, the document
authors are sure, Regnum news agency reported.

Pan Armenian News

ANOTHER CONGRESSMAN JOINED US CONGRESSIONAL ARMENIAN CAUCUS

02.07.2005 02:53

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) has joined the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, reported the Armenian Assembly of
America. Representative Costa signed on as an original cosponsor of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution (H. Res. 316), which was introduced by
Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ). A long-time supporter of
Armenian-American issues as a member of the California State Assembly, the
first-term Congressman also urged President Bush to properly recognize the
Armenian Genocide in his April 24th commemorative statement. Additionally,
he supported a letter to Foreign Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations
Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY), asking that
Congress maintain significant assistance to Armenia and Karabakh in Fiscal
Year 2006.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News

MAMEDYAROV: KARABAKH STATUS TO BE DECIDED DEMOCRATICALLY

02.07.2005 02:34

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «The settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is
possible only having taken into account the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan,» stated Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov at
a meeting with head of the CE Committee of Ministers Monitoring Group (AGO
Group) Ronald Wegener July 1, reported Trend Azeri news agency. The Azeri FM
noted that «the peace talks held within the framework of various
international organizations should take into account the inviolability of
borders of Azerbaijan.» Touching upon the future status of Karabakh, E.
Mamedyarov remarked the it has to be decided democratically.

A1plus

| 13:41:51 | 02-07-2005 | Politics |

NOT TOO STRICT, NOT TOO FLEXIBLE

There are some items in the Constitution which are not subject to any
changes. These mostly refer to the temporal or democratic regime of the
state, pluralism, etc.

According to the RA representative Armen Harutyunyan, the 1st and 2nd
articles of our Constitution, which say that the Republic of Armenia is a
sovereign, democratic, social, legal state and the power belongs to the
people. `These clauses should remain unchanged and no one can manipulate
with them.’

Constitutions may be strict or flexible, depending on the complexity of the
mechanism of its changing. There are states where the Constitution is
applied by the President or by the President and parliament jointly.

RA President’s representative, doctor of juridical sciences Armen
Harutyunyan considers that in out country the Constitution should not be
very strict. `There should be the possibility of changing it, since in 5
years it may need changes. On the other hand the constitution should not be
too flexible, as it should secure stability first of all. In his opinion,
the mechanism of settling public interrelations legal and political culture
is often more important than normative acts.

Inserting amendments to the constitution is possible only via a referendum.
For this 1/3 of the votes is needed. According to Armen Harutyunyan this
clause is rather strict, however he does not find it expedient to lower the
rate.

To remind, in 2003 the draft submitted by Robert Kocharyan was not adopted
at the referendum due to the absence of 1/3 barrier, though, according to
the official data the majority of the citizens supported the draft.

Diana Markosyan

A1plus

| 12:31:57 | 02-07-2005 | Politics |

ARMENIA CAN TAKE OVER ITALY’S EXPERIENCE

Constitutional reforms are usually carried out by the parliament with the
majority of votes.

In Germany constitutional changes are adopted with the consent of 2/3 of the
deputies of the two houses of the parliament. In some countries a more
complicated order is provided. For example the confirmation of the draft
adopted by the parliament via referendum or confirmation by the parliament
of the next convocation.

To change the US Constitution the reforms should be approved by 2/3 of each
house of Congress and at least 3/4 legislative council of the states. That
is, at least 38 states should support the constitutional reform.

In Italy a series debates should be held in two houses of the parliament and
the break between them should make at least 3 months. During the second
reading the amendments should be passed by overwhelming majority. If not,
they should be put on referendum by demand of 1/5 of the members of each
house, 500 000 voters or at least 5 regional councils.

‘The Armenian Constitution is one of those unique constitutions for changing
which a referendum is to be held. At that the draft is considered to be
adopted with over half of the votes. In the countries of transition period a
more simplified procedure is needed. In part, it would be advisable if the
majority of votes the National Assembly was empowered to make amendments to
the chapters of the constitution referring to the structure of the state,
while the obligatory referendum should be held on issues referring to human
rights and constitutional order with the availability of corresponding
number of signatures. In this view Italy’s experience can be taken over. As
for the constitutional amendments, the number of votes essential for the
referendum should be lowered from 1/3 to 1/4, Vardan Poghosyan says.

To note, the Armenian authorities and the Venice Commission agreed on the
issue on June 25 and it will be included in the draft to be sent to the
Venice Commission till July 7.

Victoria Abrahamyan

A1plus

| 11:11:17 | 02-07-2005 | Politics |

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY OF POLITICAL CONSENSUS CREATED IN ARMENIA

Though various mechanisms of adoption of Constitution are applied in
international practice, Armenia has chosen the variant of referendum.

At that the barrier is very high: for the adoption of the Constitution more
than half of the voters and no less than 1/3 of those who have suffrage
should vote for the draft. There is also another demand stipulated by the
CoE: the new Constitution should not have the fate of the previous draft.
However there exists an opinion that even with strong desire the essential
participation of the voters cannot be secured.

I think people should vote. A unique opportunity of political consensus has
been created in Armenia and I think people should take the occasion’,
deputy, member of Orinats Yerkir party, Mher Shahgeldyan says. The society
would be more active of were informed of the changes in detail. `It was not
easy to do it before, since we were working at the changes with the Venice
Commission. Today, when the coalition political forces of Armenia, the
opposition and the Venice Commission came to agreement on the principal
clauses the draft can be presented to the society. People should know what
document they are going to adopt’, he says.

NA deputy, Justice faction member Grigor Harutyunyan also supports the idea
of adopting the Constitution via referendum. He also supports the strict
demands. `Now specialists and political forces should explain to the society
the fact of the matter’, he says.

It should be also taken into account that a whole package of reforms is
submitted on referendum. They say that 80% or 90% of the proposals of the
European structures were adopted. In states with parliamentary government
system the changed would be presented by items. But our situation is
different. `We have the parliament and the people vote for the whole
document, since various items of the Constitution are interrelated – the
government system, human rights, Ombudsman and the Justice Council, local
self-government and development of democracy. It would be unadvisable to
hold a referendum on each item in a country like Armenia.

Lena Badeyan

A1plus

| 11:10:30 | 02-07-2005 | Politics |

IF MAJORITY DOES NOT WANT TO CHANGE CONSTITUTION, NO NEED TO DO IT

Our interlocutor is Tigran Hakopyan, who was once an official at power and
worked for the Constitution but then was dismissed for abusing the
authority. After exceeding the admissible bounds of propaganda he was
dismissed from the post of chairman of the State Committee on TV and Radio.

Tigran Hakobyan is convinced that the amendments to the Constitution will
change nothing in the republic, since if the operating Constitution is
violated, the reformed one will be violated as well. Nevertheless, the
constitutional reform is approaching its logical end. But in T. Hakobyan’s
opinion, there are no discussions held and the society is not aware what
Armenia will benefit from this or that amendment. `Let’s take the clause on
dual citizenship. Some are for it, others are against. But I have heard
nothing but empty talk on this issue’, he noted. `Should the Mayor of
Yerevan be elected or not? I do not know what is correct, since there is no
debate on the topic. If in future proper officials willing to carry out
reforms come to power, they will appoint a figure to work in team and
implement a part of these reforms. If normal President is elected but mafia
clans decide to advance their candidate, he can upset the reforms, since in
Yerevan resistance of elected Mayor to reforms can be disastrous. Being a RA
citizen I was not explained why it is good or bad’, he said.

Tigran Hakobyan is convinced that sometimes an appointed body functions
better than an elected, because he bears responsibility not to the people
but to those, who appointed him. `Look at our parliament or
local-self-government bodies. Presently in Armenia, when a civic society has
not been formed yet and when votes can be `bought’ elective bodies do not
always work efficiently.

Tigran Hakobyan is concerned over the fact that not lawyers but politicians
are discussing the Constitution. `The preparation for the adoption of the
first Constitution was a brilliant example of juridical debate, since all
the lawyers in Armenia whether pro-governmental or oppositional were
involved in the process. Today only several politicians are discussing the
issue’, he said.

The Constitution will be changed via referendum. Whether this `national
examination’ is correct or was the parliament capable of passing all these
changes? However Tigran Hakobyan is not satisfied either with the mentality
of today’s electorate or the National Assembly.

He also considers the demand, according to which minimum 1/3 of the votes is
enough to pass the referendum to be not strict enough. `If the most
important law is being adopted, people should be interested and take part in
the election. If the majority does not see the necessity of changing the
Constitution, there is not need in it’, he resumed.

Diana Markosyan

Journal of Turkish Weekly
July 2 2005

Armenia Hopes UN will not Discuss Karabakh Conflict

Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers agreed only on one
`element’ at their meeting in Paris, Armenian minister Vardan
Oskanian said.

Commenting on some reports saying that the sides came to terms on two
`elements’, Oskanian said all the existing problems will be solved in
the future.

`There are some insignificant issues causing a difference of opinion.
I am confident that they will be solved, which will create suitable
conditions for solving all the problems’, he told a news conference
on Tuesday.

Oskanian said that the meeting, which lasted 30-40 minutes, was
beneficial. With regard to statements that the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict will be put on the United Nations agenda, the Armenian
minister said the parties concurred on the matter.

`If an OSCE observation group visits Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan
will not make this step. We hope this country keeps its promise.’

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said earlier this week
that the issue on putting the issue on discussions at the UN will
depend on the course of peace talks.

`If we achieve progress in peace talks, the situation will change. In
this case, we will re-work the document.’

Azerbaijan achieved putting the issue of illegal settlement of
Armenians in the occupied Azeri land on the UN General Assembly
agenda last year. The OSCE fact-finding mission, who visited the
region afterwards, confirmed the fact.

20 percent of Azerbaijani territories, including Karabakh, has been
under Armenian occupation. Azerbaijan has been the only European
country whose territories under occupation by another European state.

Armenia does not recognize Turkey’s and Armenia’s territorial
integrity. Armenian terrorists even killed more than 40 Turkish
diplomats during the 1970s and 1980s in order to damage Turkish
interest. Turkey was one of the first states to recognize Armenia’s
independence, however when Armenia occupied Azeri territories, Turkey
ended its diplomatic relations with Yerevan. Ankara says Armenians or
any other nation in the Caucasus should not try to change borders by
force.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 2 2005

PACE REPRESENTATIVES MEET WITH IDPs
[July 02, 2005, 17:18:32]

Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe /PACE/ met on July 1 with the refugees and IDPs, who have been
settling in Sabirabad, Saatli, Imishli, Bilasuvar and Fizuli regions.

The guests familiarized with the living conditions of the refugees,
settled in encampments, forcedly ousted from their native lands by
Armenian Armed Forces.

The IDPs noted that they support the successful policy of the
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in peaceful solution of
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict and expect from PACE
the more fair decision of this problem.