Armenian defence minister denies intending to become president

Mediamax news agency
1 Jul 05

YEREVAN

Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan today described rumours
about his intention to become president as a result of “palace
intrigues” as “tawdry attempts to drive in a wedge between me and the
president”.

The Armenian defence minister said that “[President] Robert Kocharyan
will perform his duties under the constitution by the end of his
tenure”, Mediamax reports.

Commenting on the proposal of the Progressive Youth Party of Armenia
to support Sarkisyan’s candidacy in the next presidential elections,
the defence minister said: “If you think this party’s statement has
enhanced my authority, then this is your right.”

“There are still three years till the next presidential elections, so
it is too early to speak about this. We should not hurry,” the
Armenian defence minister said.

Armenian minister, Lebanese leader praise cooperation

Arminfo
1 Jul 05

YEREVAN

Armenia followed events of the recent months with alarm in friendly
Lebanon and is happy to see that stability has been restored in this
country thanks to Lebanese President Gen Emile Lahhud, Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, who is on a three-day visit to
Beirut, said at a meeting with Lebanese President Gen Emile Lahhud.

Speaking about interstate relations between Armenia and Lebanon,
Oskanyan pointed out that businessmen of the two countries also have
mutual interest in cooperation. The current cooperation between the
countries has been at a high political level over the past years,
thanks to which the amount of Lebanon’s investment increased in some
spheres, especially in small and medium-size business.

The sides exchanged their views on a number of regional and
international problems of mutual interest. Oskanyan briefed the
Lebanese president on the current stage of the peaceful settlement
process of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and possible developments as
well as on Armenian-Turkish relations and Armenia’s approach to these
problems.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: <;

PRESS RELEASE
July 2, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA WELCOMES REJECTION BY OSCE PARLIAMENTARY
ASSEMBLY OF DIVISIVE NAGORNO KARABAGH RESOLUTION

— Meeting in Washington, DC, Parliamentarians
from 55-Member States Defeat Azerbaijani Effort

WASHINGTON, DC – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA), meeting last night in
Washington, DC, voted overwhelmingly to defeat a controversial
measure on Nagorno Karabagh authored by Azerbaijani Parliamentarian
Sattar Safarov, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

The vote took place during a meeting of the OSCE PA’s Heads of
Delegation, as part of the opening session of the four-day meeting
for members of Parliament from the 55 member states of the OSCE.
The Safarov resolution, which was widely viewed as a biased and
divisive measure, received only token support, with nearly all the
Heads of Delegation voting, by a show of hands, to keep the measure
off of the OSCE PA agenda.

The OSCE PA proceedings are being presided over by Congressman
Alcee Hastings (D-FL), the first U.S. legislator to ever serve in
this capacity. Other members of Congress participating in the
Assembly include: Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), who is heading the
U.S. delegation, Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), and
Representatives Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD),
Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D-NY), Robert
B. Aderholt (R-AL), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA),
Mike Pence (R-IN), and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

The Armenian delegation is being headed by Vahan Hovhannisian, the
Deputy Speaker of Armenia’s Parliament. Other members of the
delegation are Artashes Geghamyan, MP and Samvel Nikoyan, MP. The
ANCA worked closely with the Armenian delegation and the Armenian
Embassy in Washington, DC, as well as with Armenian National
Committee affiliates in Canada and throughout Europe, in sharing
with OSCE PA members the dangers of the Safarov resolution.

“We would like to thank Congressman Hastings for his leadership in
the Assembly’s proceedings, and to express our appreciation to all
those who voted against the Safarov resolution for their
responsible stewardship of the OSCE’s efforts to facilitate a
negotiated settlement to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict,” said Aram
Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.

The defeat of the Safarov resolution set the stage for the standard
consideration by the Assembly of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict.
This discussion is being led by Swedish Member of Parliament Goran
Lennmarker, who has served since June of 2002 as the OSCE PA
special representative on this issue. In preparation for the OSCE
PA meeting, Lennmarker presented a report, entitled “A Golden
Opportunity: Some Ideas on Nagorno Karabakh Conflict,” to the Heads
of Delegations to the OSCE PA.

In this report, Lennmarker stressed that there is now a golden
opportunity, through the OSCE Minsk Peace-process, for a peaceful
solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, based on a “win-win”
concept where both Armenia and Azerbaijan come out better. In his
remarks, Lennmarker noted that “the conflict is not frozen,” adding
that “there is no alternative to a peaceful solution – in fact
there is an urgent need to solve the conflict in order to end the
personal, economic, and social suffering on both sides of this
conflict.” He proposed basing a solution on experiences from
Europe, where democracy and integration are fundamental components
in securing a lasting peace, and added that strong European and
international institutions stand ready to support Armenia and
Azerbaijan.

In the weeks leading up to the convening of this meeting, the ANCA,
through grassroots outreach, stressed to the U.S. members of
Congress serving in the OSCE PA that Armenian Americans attach
tremendous importance to Nagorno Karabagh’s rights to freedom,
democracy and self-determination. The Armenian American community,
the ANCA stressed, has invested considerable hope in the OSCE Minsk
Group process and is firmly opposed to any efforts to derail this
effort.

In a June 24th letter sent to Congressman Hastings and to the
others in the U.S. delegation, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian warned
of the dangers presented by the Safarov resolution, describing it
as a “one-sided approach to a complex issue,” that “neither fairly
characterizes the conflict nor presents any practical steps toward
its resolution. In sum, it is a destructive measure that will, if
adopted, ultimately threaten the progress of the OSCE Minsk Group
peace talks.” Hachikian specifically called on the U.S. members of
the Assembly to vote against the Safarov resolution and “to
strongly oppose any and all efforts to use the Assembly’s meeting
as a forum for one-sided efforts to derail progress toward peace in
Nagorno Karabagh.”

The OSCE PA is the parliamentary dimension of the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe, whose 55 participating States
span the geographical area from Vancouver to Vladivostok. The
primary task of the 317-member Assembly is to facilitate inter-
parliamentary dialogue, an important aspect of the overall effort
to meet the challenges of democracy throughout the OSCE area.
Recognized as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the
United Nations Charter, the OSCE is a primary instrument for early
warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict
rehabilitation in its area. The Parliamentary Assembly, originally
established by the 1990 Paris Summit to promote greater involvement
in the OSCE by national parliaments, has grown into a very active
and esteemed member of the OSCE family.

To learn more about the OSCE PA, visit:

ARMENTEL INTENDS TO TAKE ALL POSSIBLE MEASURES, INCLUDING LEGAL ONES,
FOR PROTECTION OF ITS CELLULAR SERVICE NETWORK

YEREVAN, JULY 2. ARMINFO. The company ArmenTel intends to take all
the possible measures, including legal ones, for protection of its
network of cellular service. Executive General Director of the company
Vasilios Fetsis stated during the news conference Saturday, commenting
on the situation in the system of cellular service of Armenia Friday.

According to him, inexplicable errors occurred in the cellular service
system of ArmenTel on July 1, which were continued for a long
time. Basing on commercial and technical researches one should say
that the errors took place without equipment malfunction, Fetsis
said. Presenting apologies to the consumers, he stressed that the
company will attract the best experts to elicit the reasons for the
errors in the overloaded network. The company has also informed the
Commission for public service regulation about the incident, said the
executive general director of ArmenTel cjsc.

He said that the company welcomes appearance of the second operator of
cellular service in the internal market of the republic and is not
afraid of competition. The consumers also benefit by it, they already
feel the advantage of the competition receiving more acceptable
tariffs and more qualitative service irrespective of the fact, the
services of which company they use. For its part the ArmenTel intends
to do its best for improvement of the communication quality.

AMERICAN CONDUCTOR WILL PERFORM WITH ARMENIAN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
IN YEREVAN IN HONOR OF US INDEPENDENT DAY

YEREVAN, JULY 2. ARMINFO. On July 3 U.S. Conductor Alexander Treger
will join the Armenian Philharmonic orchestra as guest conductor at a
special concert honoring U.S. Independence Day. U.S. Ambassador John
Evans will provide opening remarks and welcome Mr.Treger , who is
coming to Armenia with the support of the U.S. Embassy. In addition to
other international pieces, Mr.Treger will conduct John Philip Sousa’s
“The Stars and Stripes Forever” in honor of the Fourth of July
holiday.

In response to journalists’ question, Alexander Treger in particular
said that due to his close Armenian friend violinist Eduard
Tadevosyan, he visited Armenia for the second time. Together with
Tadevosyan hey lived in the same room student’s dormitory of Moscow
Conservatory. Feeling love and thirst of the Armenian public to music,
I will visit Armenia again and again. From the Armenian composers,
Mr.Treger emphasized Arma Khachatryan adding that Armenian should be
proud of the acknowledged composer.

At the same time he did not know any of the modern Armenian composers
as well as the Armenian wind instrument duduk and Jivan Gasparyan
virtuously playing it. He answered that he would undoubtedly take an
interests in this instrument.

Alexander Treger, a native of Russia who has lived in the United State
since 1973, is a noted violinist, accomplished conductor, and gifted
educator. He is currently serving as the Music Director of the
acclaimed American Youth Symphony, one of the nation’s top
pre-professional orchestras. Mr.Treger has dedicated his career to
giving the gift of music to others, especially to children.

96TH CONGRESSMAN JIM COSTA JOINS CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON ARMENIAN
ISSUES

YEREVAN, JULY 2. ARMINFO. Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny
and Congressional Relations Director Rob Mosher met with
Representative Jim Costa (D-CA) on June 30 to thank him for signing 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), and for joining the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues. 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. The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3)
tax-exempt membership organization.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AUSTRIAN PROFESSOR DREW HIS INFORMATIONS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT FROM
FALSE RESOURCES

YEREVAN, JULY 2. ARMINFO. Austrian “scientist” Erich Fygle intends to
come out with a report at the centre of Congress in Germany’s town of
Karlsru on the historical roots of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In
his report the so-called professor intends to inform about “historical
materials on acts of genocide inflicted by Armenians against the
Azerbaijani people”. Moreover, the sciolist intends to draw the
attention of the participants of the Congress the results of
“scientific researches” on “anti-propaganda methods, attempts of
falsification of the history, to which Armenians resorted to hide from
the world community the policy of genocide and deportation committed
by Armenians against Azerbaijanis”. As Azerbaijani mass media inform,
Fygle has prepared his report on the basis of investigations carried
out in Turkish archives by him.

Zenit News Agency, Italy
July 2 2005

Military Conflicts Losing Steam

New Report Gives Some Grounds for Optimism

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, JULY 2, 2005 (Zenit.org).- In spite of fears
about global insecurity, the number of armed conflicts continues to
decline. An overview of the world situation was published June 1 by
the University of Maryland’s Center for International Development and
Conflict Management.

Authored by Monty Marshall and Ted Robert Gurr, the report, “Peace
and Conflict 2005: A Global Survey of Armed Conflicts,
Self-Determination Movements, and Democracy,” notes a number of
positive trends. Among them:

— A decline in the global magnitude of armed conflict, following a
peak in the early 1990s. Major wars are down from 12 at the end of
2002 to eight in early 2005. And, according to the report’s
calculations, the general magnitude of global warfare has decreased
by more than 60% since peaking in the mid-1980s, falling by the end
of 2004 to its lowest level since the late 1950s. In early 2005 there
were 18 countries with ongoing major armed conflicts, and in two of
these there were two ongoing wars, for a total of 20 major armed
conflicts in the world.

— Most democratic regimes established during the 1980s and 1990s
have endured despite political and economic crises. Moreover, there
has been an increase in action by popular forces, such as Bolivia,
Georgia, the Philippines and Ukraine, to promote democratic
principles and hold leaders accountable.

— In the Middle East, democracies in Afghanistan and Iraq have
gained support, and small steps have been taken toward political
reform in other Arab autocracies.

— Ethnic-based wars for independence, a significant threat to civil
peace in the 1990s, have continued to decline to their lowest level
since 1960. In the 2001-2004 period, 13 major self-determination
conflicts were settled or contained, offset by a half-dozen new or
renewed campaigns.

— Repression and political discrimination against ethnic minorities
have declined significantly, coinciding with the dramatic decline in
autocratic regimes since the late 1980s. Since 1950, the number of
minorities benefiting from policies aimed at remedying past political
discrimination has increased fivefold.

The report warned: “These positive trends are no warrant for
unqualified optimism about the future of world peace.” For example,
there is no guarantee that the strategies that have brought about the
recent improvements will work in the future, the report said.
Moreover, there are difficulties in achieving the level of
international cooperation needed to overcome the challenges to peace.

Regional trends

The report uses a system of red and yellow flags to draw attention to
areas of potential conflict. The 2005 edition gives a red flag to 31
out of 161 countries surveyed, down from 34 in the 2003 report.
Seventeen African countries draw a red flag. Other danger spots are
Armenia, Cambodia, Haiti, Iran, Lebanon and Pakistan.

Another 51 countries are yellow-flagged, of which 19 are in Africa
south of the Sahara, 10 in North Africa and the Middle East, and 12
in the Asia-Pacific region. In short, the report observes, “half the
world’s countries have serious weaknesses that call for international
scrutiny and engagement.”

One region that is particularly worrying is Africa. “African
countries have generally low capacity for conflict management and
continue to face serious and complex challenges to peace and
stability in 2005,” the report said. Yet, it noted that progress has
been made in increasing regional cooperation. As well, there are
important differences within the region.

Moreover, the one thing distinguishing Africa from other regions of
the world is the newness of its state system, the report said. All
but four of the 50 African countries gained their independence in the
latter half of the 20th century. “State building is no simple task,”
the report observed, “and the building of modern, viable states has
everywhere, and in all times, been fraught with enormous
difficulties.”

Muslim countries, meanwhile, were seen as having a profile comparable
to that of the African countries, with a large number marked out as
sources of potential conflict. Unlike in Africa, however, armed
conflict in Muslim regions has declined by more than 60% since 1991,
a trend similar to the overall global reduction.

Asia is also a trouble spot. Along with Africa it accounts for most
of the world’s major armed conflicts since the end of the Cold War.

In South America, several countries have been rocked by economic and
financial crises leading to mass demonstrations and the resignations
of elected leaders. In a change with the past, this time the military
forces have generally stood aside, the report noted.

Terrorism

The report noted that terrorism, though it receives a lot of media
attention, causes relatively few deaths compared to other conflicts.
There have been 10 incidents in the last seven years that have caused
more than 100 deaths. During the 1990s there were about 300 deaths
per year by international terrorism and 3,000 deaths per annum by
acts of local terrorism.

In contrast, there were more than 300,000 deaths per annum in warfare
in the 1990s. Most of the victims were noncombatants. The report does
acknowledge the potential for danger if terrorists obtain weapons of
mass destruction, but the probability of this happening remains hard
to evaluate.

Overall, the report concluded, even though terrorism causes much
fear, “our greatest fears can be realized when the state becomes the
terrorist, or when the powerful weapons created by the state fall
into the hands of the evildoer.”

Challenges ahead

The report also outlined a number of challenges that lie ahead. These
include:

— the legacy of wounded societies and failing states as they emerge
from years of destructive conflict.

– the unleashed surplus of war personnel and materiel that is
flooding the global market. This not only fuels organized crime, but
in general creates security problems.

— the ghettoization of large areas of the world where deepening
poverty and deteriorating social conditions marginalize entire
populations and severely limit their access to the benefits of the
global economy.

— the severe inequality in the distribution of wealth and resources
that contributes to the maintenance of autocratic regimes and the
rise of terrorism and insurgencies throughout the Muslim world.

— the accountability and transparency of postwar regimes and the
implementation of peace accords and integration of disenfranchised
populations.

Benedict XVI, in his address May 12 to the diplomatic corps
accredited to the Holy See, noted his own origins in having lived in
a country burdened by war. He stated: “I am particularly sensitive to
dialogue between all human beings in order to overcome every kind of
conflict and tension and to make our earth an earth of peace and
brotherhood.”

He urged Christians and political leaders to combine their efforts
“to achieve a peaceful society, to overcome the temptation of
confrontation between cultures, races and worlds that are different.”

The Pope noted that the Church continues to proclaim and to defend
fundamental human rights, which too often continue to be violated in
many regions. And he pledged: “Rest assured that the Catholic Church
will continue to offer to cooperate, in her own province and with her
own means, to safeguard the dignity of every person and to serve the
common good.”

Zaman, Turkey
July 2 2005

Gul’s Address at OIC Meeting in Yemen

Published: Sunday July 03, 2005
zaman.com

Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Secretary General,
Distinguished Colleagues,

32nd ICFM in Sanaa is taking place at a very interesting juncture of
political and social transformation in the world.

OIC is at a cross-roads where its ability to effectively respond to
the growing requirements of its member states will be tested.

In recent years, a consensus has been reached among our Heads of
State on the need to reform the OIC. Turkish Government fully
supports the process of reform and renewal within OIC and its
Secretariat. The reform exercise must be carried out in full
transparency and with a solid consensus on the part of the member
states.

Subsequently, the reform process must include elements such as the
conduct of an objective review of OIC’s Charter, streamlining and
strengthening of its resources, and creation of a number of forward
looking, effective units which will operate in cooperation with UN
and other prominent international organizations.

We are looking forward to hearing the views and proposals of the
member states on the report and the recommendations of the Eminent
Persons Group.

We also welcome Secretary General’s initiatives and stand ready to
support them in every possible way we can in the process to enhance
further the Organization’s effectiveness.

Dear Colleagues,

International organizations capable of contributing to resolution of
conflicts and keeping the pace with the universal dynamics have a
stronger voice in today’s world.

Therefore, it is of vital importance that the Organization of the
Islamic Conference clearly demonstrates its ability and willingness
of establishing or contributing to peace making, conflict prevention
and confidence building mechanisms. Such a mission is an urgent need
in our geography where inner conflicts tend to be chronicle and
international unless they are diagnosed and cured locally or
regionally.

Challenges from terrorism to weapons of mass destruction also need to
be faced collectively.

The Organization should, on the other hand monitor and contribute to
political, social and economic progress in the member countries.

It is with this understanding that Turkey proposed a draft resolution
on the reform efforts in the Muslim world.

On this occasion, I should recall certain principles which should not
be ignored in this regard.

First, the reforms must come from within and not imposed from
outside.

Second, the reforms should be genuine and should be based on legal
frameworks to provide sustainability especially in the economic
field.

Third, they should be based on common and universal values, such as
the protection of fundamental rights including gender equality and
ensuring of accountability, transparency and rule of law.

Fourth, the process must be flexible enough to allow progress,

Fifth, the reforms must be designed taking into consideration the
nature and requirements of every society,

Sixth, they must be implemented gradually.

It is with these thoughts that we believe it is high time for the OIC
to take the initiative and serve as a platform to share ideas,
experiences and become a forward-looking global partner.

Our civil societies can also contribute to this process targeting
good governance and rational use of resources.

Another challenge we should tackle collectively is the serious rise
of prejudices and attitudes against certain races, cultures and
creeds including Islam in some parts of the world.

A meaningful political and cultural dialogue and action will be some
of the effective ways of countering anti-Islamic campaigns and
Islamophobia.

In this context, in concert with Turkey’s initiatives, this year
Council of Europe recognized Islamophobia as a “dangerous inclination
that has to be fought against” and appealed to encourage
inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue. This has been an
important step forward.

Also worth reporting to you has been, OSCE Chairman’s designation of
a Turkish diplomat, as his “Personal Representative on Combating
Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims”.

Distinguished Delegates,

If you allow me, I shall briefly express my views on a number of
salient issues that will occupy the OIC agenda in the forseable
future.

In the Middle East, there seems to emerge a clearer international
consensus on what a negotiated settlement would look like. The key
elements will include an end to occupation and violence, leading to a
viable state of Palestine on its own territories, secure and
respected within recognized borders, as set out in UN Security
Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

We welcome the resumption of high level contacts between the parties,
the ceasefire declared at the Sharm el Sheikh Summit and the ensuing
steps taken. We hope the understanding to implement the disengagement
plan in coordination with the Palestinian side is maintained
throughout the process and it leads to the revival of the
negotiations on the basis of the Road Map.

Turkey is favorably disposed to play a constructive role to
complement efforts in this direction. Currently Turkey maintains its
contribution to the “Temporary International Presence in Hebron
(TIPH).” and gradually upgrades its assistance to the process.

Recently my Government donated 25.000 police uniforms to the
Palestinians, pledged 5 million Dollars to be used as project
assistance and opened, in Ramallah, an office of the Turkish
International Cooperation Agency. Our contributions will continue.

We continue to strongly advise the parties that terror and violence
should not be allowed to derail the tentative process this time. As a
demonstration of our general understanding and policy, both myself
and the Turkish Prime Minister visited the region that Turkey stands
ready to contribute more actively to the process.

We applaud the OIC Secretary General’s first ever visit to Palestine
on 23-25 May 2005 as a remarkable initiative of extending political
and moral support to the Palestinian people.

Despite continuing anguish and suffering of the Iraqi people, Iraq
has entered into a crucial phase of her history.

I can say that whatever the outcome of the transition in Iraq, it
will have a major impact throughout the OIC region and beyond.

During the constitution drafting process that the Iraqis are now
embarking on, the Iraqis will have to achieve broad participation and
consensus among themselves especially on issues of national
character.

Turkey is committed to a politically united, democratic, and stable
Iraq with her territorial integrity intact. Iraq should be at peace
with its own people and neighbors and should be free from terrorism
of all kind. This position has been happily shared by all parties at
the recent meeting of Iraq’s neighbors in Istanbul, and during the
Brussels international conference of last week.

We are pleased to observe that the Bonn process regarding the
political reconstruction of Afghanistan is moving forward despite
hurdles and difficulties.

Turkey having commanded ISAF two terms since the inception of the
Bonn process remains fully committed to lasting peace and rule of law
in Afghanistan and we shall continue supporting our Afghan brothers
in their long, but proud journey towards peace and stability.

Turkey, within the context of its “Policy of Opening Up to Africa”
has declared 2005 as the “Year of Africa”. Subsequently we promote
several UN regional peace initiatives and similarly welcome the New
Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development. Undoubtedly, African
solutions to Africa’s problems should be supported and nurtured. At
this time the world’s neglect and abandonment of Africa needs to be
reversed.

We remain concerned by the ongoing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
People there have already suffered greatly. This question continues
to undermine the stability of the whole region. We look forward to a
peaceful solution through dialogue, on the basis of international
legitimacy.

The human rights of the Kashmiri people should be fully respected and
their will honored as mandated by the relevant UN Security Council
resolutions.

Recent moves made by both Pakistan and India; and the process of
“composite dialogue” have increased our hopes. We commend Pakistan
for its continued efforts to sustain this dialogue. We wish to see
that these efforts are crowned with success this time.

The Azeri-Armenian conflict which is a result of occupation of Azeri
territories by Armenia, still stands as one of the principal
obstacles to regional stability, prosperity and cooperation in
Southern Caucasus. The time has come to find a peaceful solution to
this conflict within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Turkey
is actively encouraging the recent efforts towards a settlement of
this conflict.

Despite Turkish Cypriots’ strong bid for a peaceful solution and
Turkey’s forthcoming constructive diplomacy, the Cyprus question
remains unsettled due to Greek Cypriot rejection of the international
efforts.

Moreover, Greek Cypriot leadership ignores repeated calls of the UN
Secretary General, the decision of the EU Council, as well as the OIC
resolutions on lifting of the embargoes on and the isolation of the
Turkish Cypriot people.

We appreciate the steps taken by some countries towards the Turkish
Cypriots. However, Islamic countries need to do more in this
direction, since continuing isolation will only deepen the sense of
resentment and distrust of the Turkish Cypriots.

An end to the unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots seems to be the
only way that could direct all the parties for a comprehensive
settlement which Turkey advocates for years.

Turkey will maintain its positive posture towards finding a solution
to the Cyprus problem. We will continue to cooperate with the UN
Secretary-General and support his efforts. Our current meeting is one
that would suit best for the Islamic World to extend support to their
Turkish Cypriot brothers so as to put an end to their isolation.

The Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace continues to face
restrictions and impediments mainly in the fields of religious
rights, charitable foundations, recognition of ethnic identity, and
freedom of association in contravention to Greece’s “Treaty
Obligations”.

For many years, the OIC has been monitoring the conditions of the
Turkish Muslim minority in Western Thrace. Under the present
circumstances it would only be appropriate to maintain the focus on
the situation and continue urging Greece to fulfill its treaty
obligations.

Dear Colleagues,

Turkey became a candidate for one of the non-permanent seats at the
United Nations Security Council for the term 2009-2010. We are
thankful to those member states who have already expressed their
support to our candidacy and look forward to the favorable attitude
of the others.

As an important part of the agenda and work of the OIC, development
of economic cooperation, trade and tourism promotion stand out among
highest priorities within our organization.

Throughout the last 20 years as the permanent Chairman of the COMCEC
Turkey contributed to the creation of important mechanisms and the
preparation of the OIC Plan of Action for Economic and Commercial
Cooperation.

I am glad to announce today that the first round of negotiations
regarding the Establishment of a Trade Preferential System among OIC
Member States has been successfully completed in Antalya in April
this year.

Trade Negotiation Committee prepared a Draft Protocol and this
document has been circulated to the member governments for
consideration. Currently we are looking forward to finalizing and
concluding this protocol.

On the other hand, the two OIC bodies that Turkey hosts namely IRCICA
and SESTRIC have continued with their successful work.

We also hope to host the headquarters of the OIC Youth Forum for
Dialogue and Cooperation in Istanbul.

Dear Colleagues,

Turkey has been among the leading countries to provide assistance to
tsunami victims and affected countries. In my capacity as the
Chairman of the ICFM, I circulated a letter to the Foreign Ministers
of the member states inviting them to take action to provide
emergency humanitarian assistance.

Subsequently the “OIC Alliance to Safeguard Children Victims of the
Tsunami” project has been launched. In response to Secretary
General’s appeal for this campaign it is with great pleasure that I
will present to the Secretary General Turkey’s 1 million Dollars to
this important OIC project.

Before departing Turkey for Yemen, the Director of the World Health
Organization approached us to convey to the Secretary General and the
member states the appeal of the WHO for cooperation. WHO is concerned
about the difficulties faced in the fight against polio in some of
the OIC countries. We believe that OIC can and should adopt a more
active stance in combating this dangerous epidemic.

In conclusion, I would like to thank you all once again, and
reiterate our gratitude to the Government and the people of the
Republic of Yemen.

Speech by H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gul, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister of the Republic of Turkey

Azerbaijan News Service
July 2 2005

OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY DENIES AZERI DELEGATION’S DRAFT
RESOLUTION
2005-07-02 17:42

As the Armenians didn’t possess any resolution draft, they said that
one-sided discussion of the issue is not proper.’ said Head of Azeri
Delegation to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Sattar Safarov. Qoran
Lenmarker in his Draft Resolution, called `An Elusive Opportunities,
some Concerns on the Daqliq Qarabaq Conflict’, didn’t consider the
problem to be frozen. Because, till now, both sides give losses in
the front-line, refugees and IDP suffer from the Conflict. Apart
praising the continuation of peace efforts made within the framework
of OSCE Minsk Group, Council of Europe and other international
organizations, Qoran Lenmarker called the conflict sides and
mediators to be active. At the Draft Resolution it was also told that
as in the Caucasus lots of minorities live, it is dangerous to divide
into minor independent states, and than could not be an alternative
to the Conflict Settlement. All these are details, the Azeri
Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is satisfied by. The
main provisions of the Draft Resolution, presented by the Azeri side
mainly consist of the followings: `A Draft Resolution by the Council
of Europe recognizes Armenia as the aggressor. The Daqliq Qarabaq is
under the occupation of separatist forces. Currently, the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan are out of control. In the Draft Resolution
these provisions are made clear, and the Resolutions made by UN
against the Armenian occupation and maintaining of practical issues
for their realization is recommended.’ According to Sattar Safarov,
despite the Draft Resolution of Azerbaijan was not accepted, the
Azeri Delegation is planning to make clear its position at the
Plenary Session, where parliamentarians of 56 countries to take part.
`We want the World Community, including OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
to accept that the Armenia is an aggressor, and economic and
political sanctions against Armenia should be maintained. The main
aspects of our attempts directed to this. We propose the discussion
of OSCE Minsk Group activities towards the settlement of the conflict
at the Parliamentary Assembly’ said Sattar Safarov. He added that
Azeri Delegation to OSCE Parliamentary Assembly coincides its
activities on the Upper Qarabakh Conflict with its counterparts in
the Council of Europe. Natavan Babayeva. ANS.