Turkey says it “strongly hopes” U.S. Armenian genocide resolution
does not go to full vote
.c The Associated Press
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) – Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said Friday it
“greeted with sadness” the passage by a U.S. congressional committee
of two resolutions that denounce the deaths of Armenians early last
century as genocide, and hoped U.S. legislators would not allow the
resolutions out of committee.
“In the period ahead, we believe that members of the U.S. Congress
will act with a responsibility befitting the Turkish-American
relationship, and strongly hope that the resolutions will stay in the
committee and not be carried to the floor,” the statement said.
Turkey vehemently denies that the killings of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks around the time of World War I was genocide, and the Turkish
government has made it a policy to fight recognition of an Armenian
genocide.
Armenians and several nations around the world recognize the killings
as the first genocide of the 20th century.
In 2000, under direct pressure from then-U.S. President Bill Clinton,
a resolution on the Armenian genocide was shelved hours before it was
to go to vote before the full U.S. House of Representatives.
It is not clear if or when the current resolutions will be brought
before the full House.
09/16/05 13:43 EDT

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| 17:33:38 | 17-09-2005 | Politics |
THEY WILL ACTIVELY AGITATE
The coalition does not enjoy support of the nation. Consequently, they will
not achieve the desired results without resorting to electoral fraud. This
the opinion of those people who do not anchor big hopes with the
constitutional amendments. The coalition in its turn is trying to convince
the citizens that the constitutional amendments proceed from the interests
of the nation.
According to leader of the Republican Party of Armenia Galust Sahakyan,
people should realize that the amendments adopted will solve their social
problems.
In the opinion of ARFD Chairman Levon Balasanyan the operating and reviewed
Constitutions and point out to the difference between them. On comprehending
it the people will say `yes’ to the amendments.
To note, the coalition leaders believe that they will enlist the trust of
the people by means of propaganda. Galust Sahakyan, for example binds his
hopes with the deputies elected by the majority system and community heads.
He said he will personally take part in the agitation process.
Orinats Yerkir party member Samvel Balasanyan stated that the party will
propagandize the constitutional amendments with all possible means.
The coalition will also have to settle some technical issues such as
coordination of the propaganda activities, organization of meetings, visits
of the region, etc. The process has already started in Gyumri. The ARFD
stresses the importance of fair conduction of the referendum. `Electoral
fraud is pregnant with grave consequences’, Levon Mikrtchyan noted.
To note, Galust Sahakyan considers that the RA President will do his best to
make the constitutional amendments understandable for the people. It should
be also noted that Robert Kocharyan has only once touched upon the topic so
far.
Diana Markosyan

A1+
| 14:25:31 | 17-09-2005 | Politics |
WORK WILL BE SHARED, RESPONSIBILITY – WON’T
`In the course of years the United Labor Party of Armenia exerted every
effort for the reformation of the draft constitutional amendments’, party
member Grigor Honjeyan noted.
The party will take part in the referendum and say `yes’ to the
constitutional amendments because the model underwent considerable changes.
However it is not going to share the responsibility in `3+1′ format. In
Honjeyan’s opinion two types of responsibility should be acknowledged.
First, when the amendments are not acceptable for the people (in this case
the authors of the draft should bear the responsibility). Second, if the
amendments are incorrectly presented and as result people show no interest
in them and boycott the referendum (in this case the agitators should assume
the responsibility).
`By the way, the coalition is lucky, since this agitation period coincided
with the process of party construction of the ULP. We will visit regions and
explain to the people the necessity of adopting the constitutional reform’,
G. Honjeyan said.
Another parliamentary force – People’s Deputy party – stated that it will
not share the responsibility with the coalition despite the fact that
chairman of the permanent commission for state issues Rafik Petrosyan took
active part in the elaboration of the draft. `We did not undertake the
responsibility. But since the matter concern the main law of the country we
cannot remain indifferent’, party member Mkrtich Minasyan said.
He informed that their positive participation in the voting proves that the
group is preparing to launch propaganda and will manage to bring the
necessity of adopting the constitutional amendments to the notion of the
citizens.

A1+
| 12:56:12 | 17-09-2005 | Politics |
IT MAY BE TOO LATE
Majority of extraparliamentary parties are not in a hurry to decide whether
they will take part in the agitation process or in the referendum itself.
National Self-Determination Union headed by Paruyr Hayrikyan will
participate in the process as the initiators of constitutional amendments.
How he is going to do it will be clear on September 21. On the Independence
Day an administrative sitting will be convoked to decide the way the party
will appeal to the citizens. `Our position will be precise’, Paruyr
Hayrikyan said.
Leader of Christian Democratic party Khosrov Harutyunyan does not want to
run before the hounds either. He considers it would be more correct to
outline the position of the party after the adoption of the constitutional
amendments in the third reading. Like the Venice Commission he hold the
opinion that `certain progress has been achieved’. `On the whole we support
the amendments but there are some clauses that can cause tension and
problems. In this view we have issued a package of proposals consisting of
6-7 items’, Khosrov Harutyunyan said.
The Liberal Democratic Party of Armenia also prefers not to reveal its
further plans yet. `We calmly watch this `squabble’. Each leadership wishes
to create its constitution. This is a tradition that originated in the
soviet period. At Stalin, for example, we also had human and perfect laws.
But were they implemented?’ Kh. Harutynyan noted. In his opinion it is
senseless now to give any assessment to the constitutional amendments at
present.

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| 11:44:06 | 17-09-2005 | Politics |
IT’S IMPORTANT TO COMPREHEND MISSION OF CONSTITUTION
For implementing any law including the Constitution political will is
essential, human rights activist Vardan Haruryunyan considers.
He is convinced that after the adoption of the constitutional amendments
there will be no fair election or independent media in Armenia; people will
not be protected. `I do not bound the recovery of our society with the
constitutional amendments, moreover at the incumbent leadership and
parliament’, he said.
Though the Constitution is written not only for political forces some
politicians express opinion being even not acquainted with the draft. We
wondered whether V. Harutyunyan is familiarized with the draft adopted in
the second reading by the NA. `I have nit only read it also watched the
discussions in the NA. I am not a lawyer and do not wish to state which
clause is bad or good. As a human rights activist I can say that the
operating Constitution is a working one and the necessity to change it
appeared not as result of the development of the society but as result of
the pressure exerted from outside and the commitments we undertook. Today
the process of adoption of the constitutional amendments is artificial and
consequently their adoption cannot be rated as a positive phenomenon’, V.
Harutyunyan noted.
He will not take part in the discussions but is going to take part in the
referendum and say `no’ to the constitutional amendments.
When commenting on the possible failure of the referendum V. Harutyunyan
said that independently of the number of the voters and their opinion the
incumbents leadership will declare that the referendum was a success.
Chairman of `Free tribune for civic initiatives’ public organization Gayane
Markosyan contrary to V. Harutyunyan welcomes the constitutional amendments
and is discontent with the fact that public organizations do not take active
part in the process. `We think that one should not raise the question about
`yes’ or `no’. The problem is much more serious. We have many times violated
the operating Constitutions and there is no guarantee that the reviewed
Constitution will not be violated’, she noted.
‘Our main problem is the establishment of constitutional order in our
country. Today in Armenia the Constitution is violated both by ordinary
citizens and high rank officials’, she resumed.
Victoria Abrahamyan

Pan Armenian News
US ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT SUPPORT CONGRESS PASSING GENOCIDE RESOLUTIONS
17.09.2005 03:47
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US State Department official representative Adam Ereli
stated that the US decision over «the forced deportation and slaughter of
1.5 million Armenians» has not changed. He stated it when commenting on the
House International Relations Committee passing two Armenian Genocide
resolutions. «The US policy concerning the issue has not changed. The US
President has clearly announced it in his annual statement April 24 by
saying that the US mourns the forced deportation and slaughter of 1.5
million of Armenians in the last years of existence of the Ottoman Empire,
considering these events one of the greatest tragedies in human history. The
US actively contribute to the discussion of the issue by scholars, civil
society representatives and diplomats aiming at assisting the parties to
coming to a common opinion over these horrible events. The US Administration
does not support the House vote over the resolutions and we keep stating it.
Our position is the same as it has always been,» A. Ereli stated, reported
Mediamax.

Pan Armenian News
KARABAKH MAJOR POLITICAL TASK – INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF NKR
16.09.2005 07:54
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Our major political task is international recognition of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), and the issue cannot be subject to
discussion. If Azerbaijan expresses its positive attitude to the issue, then
we can quietly speak of the rest of the settlement issues,’ NK FM Arman
Melikyan stated. At that he emphasized that equivalency principle should be
observed in the refugee issue. `A huge shortcoming of the talks being held
today is mentioning Armenian refugees from Shahumyan or Getashen
simultaneous to speaking of Azeri refugees. The matter has never concerned
the numerous Armenians, who had to leave Azerbaijan as an outcome of
persecution by Azeri authorities and ethnic cleansing in 1988-90. This is
one of the largest gaps at the talks. Equivalency principle should be
observed in this issue. Equivalency principle should become a basic one at
the talks. Based on equivalency, many issues can be discussed,’ A. Melikyan
said, reported IA Regnum.

Pan Armenian News
MUCH TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPREHENSIVE SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH ISSUE
16.09.2005 07:51
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `It is already that various structures have recognized the
fact that without a direct participation of the NKR even finding ways to
solve the conflict is problematic,’ NKR FM Arman Melikyan stated at a
meeting with local and accredited journalists in Stepanakert. The Minister
said he is sure that `Nagorno Karabakh will be internationally recognized –
at that in the future that is not so far.’ In his opinion, much time is
necessary for comprehensive settlement of the problem. `The legislative
activities are one of most important components from the point of view of
international recognition. We have done much in this respect: the other day
the Parliament passed a number of major acts referring to foreign policy,
including the NKR law on international agreements. Our legislation has
certain shortcomings in this respect, these should be eliminated, then we
will be able to join international conventions. I am sure that before the
end of the year we will realize what we have planned,» A. Melikyan said.
When commenting on the scientific conference with participation of
representatives of unrecognized republics, A. Melikyan called it a good
opportunity for presenting the NK issue from a serious rostrum and to get
acquainted with others’ problems. «I would like for similar conferences to
be organized in Strasbourg, New York and other centers of international
significance,» the NKR FM remarked, reported IA Regnum.

Pan Armenian News
NKR MFA: ICG REPORT WILL HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
16.09.2005 07:47
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Nagorno Karabakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
will soon express its position over the International Crisis Group (ICG)
report over Karabakh settlement, NKR FM Arman Melikyan said in the course of
a meeting with journalists September 16. `We now discuss the report, there
are certain approaches already formed. The matter lies not in to which
extent the Armenian or Azeri positions are presented in the report. We
should first of all understand the importance of the report to its authors
and the goals it should serve in the future. Obviously, the report is drawn
to assist the talks and may be used by the OSCE Minsk Group mediators and
other structures. Undoubtedly, the report includes provisions that we
consider unbiased and expedient. There are also provisions, which are in
conflict with our positions. However, undoubtedly, the report authors are
skilled professionals and they understand very well which work they do and
to what end. Having studied the report in detail we will prepare our written
comment, which I suppose to be very voluminous,’ A. Melikyan said. In the
opinion of the NKR FM, the ICG report will have a positive impact, as it
notes rather clearly that Armenia has not occupied any of Azerbaijan’s
territories and the armed forces situated in the territory of NKR are in
fact subordinated to the NKR authorities, IA Regnum reported.

Pan Armenian News
OSKANIAN HELD BILATERAL MEETINGS IN NEW YORK
17.09.2005 05:18
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During his visit to New York aiming to take part in the UN
GA 60th session, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian held a number of bilateral
meetings September 16, reported the Armenian MFA Press Service. The FM
specifically met with his Afghan counterpart Abdullah Abdullah, Croatian FM
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Lithuanian FM Antanas Valionis, Bosnia and
Herzegovina FM Mladen Ivanic and East Timor FM Jose Ramos Horta. In the
course of the meeting bilateral relations, regional development and the UN
reform were discussed.