PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN THINKS CONTINUATION OF PRAGUE PROCESS A VERY
POSITIVE FACTOR

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17. ARMINFO. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
thinks the continuation of the Prague Process a very positive factor.
Speaking at a sitting on army construction at the Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry, the president called a positive fact the visits of OSCE
Minsk Group to the region, negotiations as well as new approaches. At
the same time he expressed hope for continuation of the Prague
Process. “As I have repeatedly stated, Prague Process means a
stage-by-stage settlement. That is, the international community and
OSCE, as well as the Minsk Group present their position on the issue,”
the president said.
However, the problem remains unresolved. So, it is natural that
Azerbaijan raises its budget, which will exceed 3 bln 500 mln USD next
year, the president said. He added that the military budget of
Azerbaijan will reach 600 mln USD in 2006. He promised to reach the
military budget of Azerbaijan to the state budget of Armenia.
As regards the concern over the increase of military expenses in
Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in his turn, expressed concern about the
replenishment of the Russian military base in Gyumri with the armament
withdrawn from Georgia and the joint Armenian-Russian exercises. He
explained the main reason of the increase in the military budget of
Azerbaijan with “the fact that in 1990 Russia illegally transported 1
bln USD armament to Armenia.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FROM 2006 ICRC TO INTENSIFY WORK ON SEARCH OF THE MISSINGS IN ARMENIA,
NKR AND AZERBAIJAN
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17. ARMINFO. From 2006, the International Committee
of Red Cross (ICRC) is to enlarge the activity on collection of
life-time information about missing citizens of Armenia, Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
The ICRC Armenian mission delegate Catherine Patronoff informed
ARMINFO’s reporter that the intensifying may help in identifying the
remains of bodies of the deceased during a conflict. The information
collection will be conducted in close cooperation with the State
committees on POWs, hostages and the missings affairs, as well as with
the Armenian Red Cross Association, Patronoff noted.
To remind, the renewed list of the missings transferred by the ICRC to
Armenia’s, NKR and Azeri authorities in Feb 2004 includes 3165 names,
419 of them are Armenians. In Jan 2005, the ICRC transferred the
parties a Memorandum appealing to clear up the fate of the
missings. The document supposes a number of methods necessary for
giving the required information, as well for conducting exhumation and
identification procedures of remains, and rendering assistance to the
missings families, she noted.
Patronoff also noted that 652 Armenian and Azeri POWs and civil
persons have been released at the ICRC mediation since the beginning
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. According to its mandate, the ICRC since
1992 have assisted to Armenia’s, NKR and Azeri authorities in
organizing the return of POWs to their motherland.

Editorial: Ambivalent Turkey
EU bid entangled in Armenian dispute
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, September 16, 2005
A nearly century-old debate over what some call the “Armenian
genocide” and most Turks call a human tragedy brought on by the chaos
of World War I has become enmeshed in Turkey’s faltering effort to
join the European Union. How the conflict turns out is important – for
Turkish-Armenian relations and for the future of Turkey, a country
that straddles Europe and the Middle East.
Turkish officialdom has always denied that forces of the collapsing
Ottoman Empire sought to exterminate Turkish Armenians starting in
1915, when ethnic Armenians say the Turks killed as many as 1 million
Armenians over eight years. Turkish officials agree that hundreds of
thousands of Armenians died, but say that disease, famine and exposure
as well as fighting caused by Armenian guerrilla raids against
retreating Turkish troops were the primary causes.
There matters stood until last spring, when Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited foreign scholars to study Ottoman
archives to determine what really happened.
That encouraging gesture has had little hopeful result. Scholars have
run afoul of Turkish officials and military leaders, who forced
cancellation of a conference. An ethnic Armenian publisher has been
accused of defaming Turkey by calling himself “an Armenian of Turkey,”
and a prominent novelist faces a similar charge for saying in an
interview that Turks killed 1 million Armenians and, more recently,
30,000 Turkish Kurds in a guerrilla war, and that “no one but me dares
to talk about it.”
The timing of these charges – just weeks before negotiations are to
begin on Turkey’s application to join the EU – has raised suspicion,
and charges that some nationalist elements, already angered by growing
European opposition to Turkish EU membership, are trying to sabotage
the process. The criminal charges fly in the face of extensive changes
in Turkish law, including abolition of the death penalty and ending a
ban on speaking Kurdish, to satisfy EU requirements for
membership. France opposes Turkey joining, and if the Christian
Democrats win Germany’s election, another prominent negative voice
would be added.
What’s at stake goes well beyond the Armenian issue, coming as
millions of Europeans – even in such liberal bastions as the
Netherlands – are rethinking their traditional welcome to
immigrants. And Muslims rank highest in this reassessment.
Turkey, with an overwhelmingly Muslim population but a staunchly
secular political system, is seen by many as a bridge between the
Christian West and the Muslim East. But as Europe’s welcome mat is
pulled away, many Turks resent what they see as rising European
religious and cultural bigotry. Although it’s hard to envision
Turkey’s secular leaders rejecting the West and embracing Islamic
tradition, the roadblocks in the path of Armenian-Turkish
reconciliation raise again the question of whether Turkey and Europe
can ever share a common home.
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U.S. administration disavowed two Armenian resolutions

WASHINGTON (AP) – President George W. Bush’s administration disavowed
two resolutions passed by a Congressional committee that urge the
United States and Turkey to acknowledge that Turkey’s former Ottoman
rulers committed genocide against Armenia during and after World War
I.
The House International Relations Committee approved the resolutions
Thursday. Both would have the United States classify the 1915-1923
killings as genocide, and one would endorse diplomatic or political
action against Turkey until it acknowledges the culpability of its
predecessor state, the Ottoman Empire.
“As far as the State Department and the administration goes, our
position remains what it has always been, and that is, this is not a
matter that should be politicized,” department spokesman Adam Ereli
said Friday.
“This is a matter that needs to be discussed seriously and honestly
and in the spirit of analysis by those involved, or those with a
direct connection to it.”
Armenians contend that 1.5 million of their ancestors were killed as
Turkey forced Armenians from their traditional homes in eastern
Turkey. Armenian activists have campaigned for years to force Turkey
to declare the episode genocide.
Ereli cited a statement by Bush on April 24, the 90th anniversary of
the day Armenians say Ottoman Turks began rounding up intellectuals,
diplomats and other influential Armenians in Istanbul, Turkey.
“On Armenian Remembrance Day, we remember the forced exile and mass
killings of as many as 1.5 million Armenians during the last days of
the Ottoman Empire,” Bush said in his statement. “I join my fellow
Americans and Armenian people around the world in expressing my
deepest condolences for this horrible loss of life.”
He urged Turks and Armenians to continue “to examine the historical
events of the early 20th century with honesty and sensitivity
… toward reconciliation.”
One of the new resolutions, designed as an expression of the feeling
of both houses of Congress, urges sanctions against Turkey as severe
as withholding U.S. support of Turkey’s acceptance by the European
Union until it admits Ottoman genocide.
“The administration did not support the vote to pass House Resolution
195 and 316,” Ereli told a questioner at his daily news
briefing. “I’ve given you our view. I think that view has been
communicated to members of Congress. They are in no doubt about it.”
Even if passed by the full House for one resolution and by the House
and Senate for the other, the documents would have no force of law but
would throw the weight of the Congress behind their recommendations.
In Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed sadness that the
resolutions were passed and said in a statement that Turkey’s
government strongly hopes “the resolutions will stay in the committee
and not be carried to the floor.”
The future of the resolutions remained unclear Friday.
House sources said neither resolution has a timetable for introduction
in the House.
09/16/05 18:46 EDT

ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN: PARTICIPATION OF PARLIAMENT IN SETTLEMENT OF
GLOBAL PROBLEMS IS IMPERATIVE NEED OF TIME

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Participation of
the Parliament in settlement of global problems is the imperative need
of time. Artur Baghdasarian, the Chairman of the National Assembly
stated about this at the Parliament Chairmen’s Second World Conference
which took place in New York receintly.
The RA NA Chairman attached importance to parliaments’ role in the
contex of general democratization and spreading democracy for a number
of reasons: first, democracy is the shortest and the most effective
way for bearing challenges of the century: terrorism, war, violations
of the human rights, hunger and poverty. The Parliament, being a
representative body, is the closest state institution for the
people. To have an open Parliament means to be led by the principle of
transparency, to be upmost accessible and reachable for electors and
be ready for cooperation on the international arena. In this sense,
it’s necessary to develop interparliamentary cooperation as one of the
best ways of spreading democracy.
“We are ready for cooperation and are open for any democratic
initiative. It’s a pity, our Azeri partners use all possible stages
of international instances only to repreach and criticize Armenia,
instead of speaking about regional problems, development of democracy,
widening cooperation and possibilities and prospects of establishing
good relations with neighbors, Artur Baghdasarian stated.
The NA Chairman emphasized that “the Karabakh conflict was the
Karabakh people’s struggle for self-determination and right of liberty
which they managed to get by a war started just by the Azerbaijani
party.” He expressed confidence that the ten-year peace which the
international community supported actively, creates good opportunities
for reaching a just and continuous solution of the Karabakh issue.
Armenia always stands for the regional cooperation as a mean of
creating confidence. “In this contex, any destructive policy which is
aimed to isolate one of the countries of the region, is inacceptable
and will danger the stability of the region. He means the
Turkish-Azerbaijani efforts directed to building a new railway instead
of putting into action the Gyumri-Kars ready railway. Its aim is to
isolate Armenia. Such way of acting does not support the regional
cooperation. It’s the reason that we emphasize that present problems
should be solved by a constructive dialogue, but not by agressive
claims which has already said us nothing for a long time, which should
stay in the past as for us the cooperation for future is much more
important. This future supposes a peaceful Caucasus, a region
anchoring based on cooperation and dialogue, a region, which
expressing itself as a united and political area, should see its
future in the united European family,” Artur Baghdasarian stated.
Mentioning in this context the active dialogues promoted in in the
region by Armenia, the NA Chairman particularly mentioned creation of
the South Caucasian Parliamentary Assembly, expressing confidence that
it will greatly support solution of problems in the South Caucasus,
avoiding conflicts and having a democratic region.
The text of the RA NA Chairman’s speech was spread by the NA Public
Relations Department.

ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN: ARMENIA IS AT RESPONSIBLE STAGE OF REFORMS TODAY

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The process of
democratization is one of inner challenges of Armenia as only a
democratic country can create a progressive society willing to secure
principles of justice, equality and freedom. Artur Baghdasarian, the
Chairman of the RA National Assembly stated about this in his speech
at the Second World Conference of Parliament Speakers taken place in
New York receintly. The text was submitted to Noyan Tapan by the NA
Public Relations Department.
“We realize the importance of this process in the social and political
life of our country and can say that the National Assembly undertook
important steps in that direction adopting the new Electoral Code and
starting implementation of the constitutional reforms which will
suppose decentralization of the power, independent and responsible
judicial system, free market, effective guarantees for protection
human and citizen’s rights and freedoms, strong local self-governance
as well as just, transparent and democratic rights,” the NA Chairman
emphasized. According to him, just free and transparent elections can
become a basis for increase of confidence towards the country and
enlarging of investments.
“A legislation meeting international standards and a political will
for reviving it: those are improtant priorities. Today Armenia is at
an interesting and responsible stage of reforms, and our present and
coming few years are of important significance to make them
irreversible,” he stated.
“I’m sure that our democracy is still young but to be young doesn’t
mean to be dilettante. We should present ourselves to the world
community with our approaches and appropriate valuable experience of
other countries. A state with strong democratic traditions,
competitive and organized is just the vision that should push us
ahead,” Artur Baghdasarian emphasized.

RA PRESIDENT AND US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA DISCUSS PROCESS OF
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS AND COURSE OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA President
Robert Kocharian received John Evans, the Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the US to the Republic of Armenia, on September 15.
The Ambassador thanked the Government and people of Armenia for
assistance and sympathy displayed towards those suffered from the
hurricane Katrina.
They touched upom the process of the Constitutional reforms, on the
occasion of what John Evans mentioned that reforms will open new
possibilities for the development of Armenia.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press Office, the
sides discussed the process of settlement of the Karabakh problem as
well.

UN REFORMS BENEFICIAL FOR ARMENIA

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The discussion which took place at
the Yerevan Office of the UN Public Information Department on
September 15, was dedicated to the UN reforms. The discussion in which
a number of Armenian governmental organizations and representatives of
mass media participated, was organized on the occasion of the UN 60th
anniverary.
As Karine Danielian, the Chairwoman of the association “For Human
Stable Development” mentioned, all issues touched upon in the reforms
related to Armenia. According to her, those principles according to
which small countries, ones having no way to sea or in transit
dependance from neighboring countries must be payed attention to, are
upmost beneficial for Armenia. According to K.Danielian, problems of
transitional countries are not separated in the reforms, what,
according to her, is a result of non-active participation of countries
at transitional stage.
Reforms being proposed relate to human social problems, anti-terrorism
struggle and freedom for honourable life.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROAD PROBLEM RO BE SOLVED IN TAVUSH MARZ IN NEXT 2-3 YEARS

IJEVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The problem of roads will get a
full solution in Tavush marz within the next 2-3 years. The Armenian
President Robert Kocharian told reporters about this during his
working visit to the marz on September 16. He noted the
Berd-Chambarak, Chambarak-Dilijan and Dilijan-Shorzha roads are in
urgent need of repair. R. Kocharian familiarized himself with the
construction process of the Paravakar-Vazashen-Aygehovit road, visited
the newly built secondary school in the village of Kayan-Avan and took
part in the opening ceremony of the Karart stone working plant. The RA
President will also attend the ceremony of opening a square in the
city of Dilijan.

Senior EU lawmaker wants EU delegation to monitor Pamuk trial in
Turkey
.c The Associated Press
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) – A senior EU lawmaker wants the European
Parliament to monitor the Turkish trial of author Orhan Pamuk, who has
been charged with insulting the country’s national character and could
face up to three years in prison.
Joost Lagendijk, the head of the EU parliament’s committee on Turkey,
has asked Parliament President Josep Borrell to send a group of
observers to Istanbul for the trial that starts Dec. 16.
“The charges against Pamuk constitute an infringement of the author’s
right to freedom of expression and contravene both U.N. and EU
conventions on human rights,” said Lagendijk, a Dutch Green deputy.
“When we consider that the implementation of a new penal code this
summer was one of the main conditions for opening accession
negotiations with Turkey, it is essential that a small delegation of
observers attends the trial and determines if the code is compatible
with the charges that have been brought against Pamuk.”
Lagendijk’s call came hours before European Union ambassadors were to
resume talks on adopting a joint position for Turkey’s EU membership
negotiations, which are due to start Oct. 3. Earlier this week, the
ambassadors could not agree on a common response to Ankara’s refusal
to recognize EU member Cyprus.
Pamuk, Turkey’s best-selling and widely translated author, could face
prison for his comments on Turkey’s killing of Armenians and Kurds in
a case that senior EU officials say violates the European Convention
of Human Rights.
In an interview with a Swiss newspaper magazine in February, Pamuk
said “30,000 Kurds and 1 million Armenians were killed in these lands
and nobody but me dares to talk about it.”
The reference to Armenians relates to killings by Ottoman Turks around
the time of World War I, which Armenians and several other nations
recognize as the first genocide of the 20th century.
Turkey vehemently denies that a genocide took place, saying the death
toll is inflated and Armenians were killed in a civil war as the
Ottoman Empire collapsed, eventually giving way to the Turkish
Republic in 1923.
Turkey, which has been trying to improve its human rights record as it
vies for EU membership, is extremely sensitive about both the Armenian
and Kurdish issues, and the new Turkish penal code makes it a crime to
denigrate Turkey’s national identity.
The code – adopted at the EU’s insistence – was debated earlier this
year and freedom of speech advocates said the clause on national
identity was too vague and could lead to the imprisonment of artists,
scholars and journalists.
Earlier this week, Olli Rehn, the EU official in charge of the bloc’s
expansion, said it was a “provocation” that Turkey chose Dec. 16 to
open the trial.
Dec. 16 is the first anniversary of the EU’s agreement to start
membership talks with Turkey on Oct. 3, and the date clashes with an
EU summit in Brussels.
09/16/05 04:48 EDT