EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ON SOUTH CAUCASUS APPRECIATES MEETINGS OF
ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS IN KAZAN
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16. ARMINFO. European Union Special Representative
for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie appreciated the meeting of
Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, Robert Kocharyan and Ilham
Aliyev, in Kazan.
Speaking at a press conference in Baku, Thursday, Heikki Talvitie
thinks the conflicting parties should use this chance. European Union
attaches a great importance to the forthcoming elections in
Azerbaijan, Talvitie said promising to visit that country before and
after the elections. He welcomed the opposition-government dialogue
mediated by the OSCE. At the same time, he thinks the great interest
in the forthcoming elections must not neglect the Karabakh conflict.

Pan Armenian News
MINISTERS OF CULTURE OF SOUTH CAUCASIAN STATES SIT IN KYEV
16.09.2005 04:18
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 5-th colloquium of the Ministers of Culture of the
South Caucasian states started today in Kyev within the framework of STAGE
project targeted at cultural exchange between Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia and support of democratic processes. When delivering a speech at the
opening ceremony Maud de Boer Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the
Council of Europe stated that the implementation of the project will
strengthen the cultural dialogue contributing to tolerance, mutual
understanding and stability in the South Caucasus. Upon completion of the
colloquium on September 18 a declaration will be adopted, IA Regnum
reported.

AZG Armenian Daily #167, 17/09/2005
Armenian Genocide
TURKEY VERY CAREFUL IN REPULSING WASHINGTON’S DECISION
The two resolutions on Armenian Genocide commemoration and acknowledgment of
the Ottoman Turkey’s role in it passed by the US International Relations
Committee of the House of Representatives last night presumed that Turkey
would fight back fiercely. The Turkish Zaman daily newspaper conditioned
endorsement of the two resolutions with “Turkey’s refusal of the March 1
motion to allow US troops to open a northern front before the Iraqi war”.
In the article titled “US House Takes Revenge of March 1 Motion by the
Armenian Draft”, Zaman quoted the International Relations Committee’s senior
co-chair Tom Lantos as saying that more US soldiers were lost in Iraq today
because the March 1 motion was not approved in the Turkish Parliament”.
According to another paper, Milliyet, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff who
submitted the draft “Commemoration Decision of the Armenian Genocide between
1915 and 1923” also spoke of the March 1 decision of the Turkish Parliament.
He spoke not to argue the resolutions on the Genocide but to reply to the
message sent to Chair House Judiciary Committee, Henry Hyde, saying that the
resolutions may damage Turkish-US relations. Milliyet writes that Schiff
underscored Turkey’s importance for the US and said: “The March 1 decision
of the Turkish Parliament did not result in spoiled Turkish-American
relations. Therefore the resolutions should not harm these relations”.
Hyde came to add to Schiff’s words saying: “I don’t believe that endorsement
of the resolutions will harm relations between the two states. Yet, denial
of the fact of genocide cannot be justified. In the meantime I want to point
out that Turkey is not responsible for that crime”.
The paper writes that the committee members occasionally mentioned of
Germany’s responsibility for the Holocaust and warned Turkey that filling
lawsuits against Turks who recognize Armenian Genocide (as in case of Orhan
Pamuk) will result in nothing good.
The absence of resistance in Turkey towards the resolutions of the House
International Relations Committee is a sign of watchfulness but not a sign
of impotence. Simply Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is still on his
American visit and will return today, Sept. 17. It’s out of doubt that
Erdogan takes appropriate steps in this direction, and opposition will
follow once he is back in Ankara.
By Hakob Chakrian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #167, 17/09/2005
Meeting
MARGARIAN-AHMADINEJAD MEETING IN NEW YORK
On the sidelines of 60th Session of the UN General Assembly Armenian Prime
Minister met yesterday President of Iran. According to sources close to the
RA government, PM Andranik Margarian told the Iranian President that Iran’s
balanced policy played a significant role in maintaining stability in the
South Caucasus and expressed hope that Tehran will continue this policy.
President Ahmud Ahmadinejad stated that Iran’s policy is to deepen
Armenian-Iranian relations. The sides emphasized the importance of
implementation of mutual economic projects.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #167, 17/09/2005
Karabakh issue
MAMEDIAROV: WE ARE CLOSE TO A BREAKTHROUGH
In an interview to Associated Press in New York the Azerbaijani foreign
minister stated that in order to get Nagorno Karabakh conflict settled the
president of Armenia and Azerbaijan “must act as state figures but not as
politicians who go after national interests”. According to Mediamax agency,
minister Elmar Mamediarov said that the Kazan meeting prepared ground for
the negotiation process. “I would like to say that we are close to a
breakthrough but problems still persist”, he said.
On his part, Heikki Talvitie, EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus, declared in Baku that “the Kazan meeting between Aliyev and
Kocharian allows to state that historic opportunity to resolve the Karabakh
conflict was created and it should be grasped”.

AZG Armenian Daily #167, 17/09/2005
Russia
ANTI-KARABAKHI STATEMENTS OF MOSCOW CAUSE ANTI-RUSSIAN ATTITUDE IN ARMENIA
AND KARABAKH
Pyotr Burdikin, temporary representative of Russia in Azerbaijan, advised
mass media of Baku not to pay serious attention to the conference held in
Moscow. He said that the delegations of internationally unacknowledged
states participated in the conference.
“Parallel CIS. Abkhazia, Transdniestria, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh
as Post Soviet Reality” conference was held in Moscow, on September 13-16.
It was organized by the state universities of the unrecognized republics and
Konstatin Zatulin, chairman of CIS Affairs Committee at RF State Duma,
Chairman of CIS Affairs Institute.
The Russian diplomat stated in Baku that the conference aimed at informing
the Russian political figures about the current situation in the
unacknowledged territories. “The attention paid to the conference in
Azerbaijan contributes to the PR of the arrangement. The conference has
nothing common with the unacknowledged republics,” Pyotr Burdikin said.
Various Russian officials have been making complex and offensive statements
about Karabakh and Armenia. Very often Yerevan paid no attention to them,
probably, taking into account the size of our country and other factors.
Recently, anti-Armenian statements became frequent in the Kremlin circles.
Few months ago, RF Foreign Ministry condemned the parliamentary elections in
Nagorno Karabakh that were much more independent and fair than the Russian
presidential elections.
The abovementioned anti-Armenian statements create anti-Russian attitude in
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and make harm to the Russian-Armenian
relations. As a result, one may suppose that pro-American and Euro-Atlantic
influence will grow both in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Unlikely our
strategic partner Russia, who merely “kills” Armenia for $1 million of debt,
the US renders more and more aid both to Armenia and NKR.
Russia managed to purchase a number of Armenian companies of strategic
importance against the debt amounting to $100 million. Yet, Moscow annulled
$ 4 billion of debt of Syria, which is no strategic partner for Russia.
Yerevan and Stepanakert should respond to the unfriendly actions of Moscow.
Certainly, we don’t mean diplomatic war. For example, Stepanakert refuse
participating in the conference organized by Zatulin, and in many others to
come.
Kremlin keeps stating that they recognize the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, doesn’t accept NKR de facto leadership, but can’t help
supporting Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria and obviously
interfering with the local elections and inner political processes.
The international community stated in many revues that NKR and Nagorno
Karabakh conflict greatly differ from the three others in the post Soviet
area. That’s why, taking into account this very factor, Stepanakert should
avoid participating in arrangements dedicated to these three unrecognized
republics. The international press has very frequently stated that
“secessionist regimes” rule Sukhumi, Tskhinvali and Tiraspole.
We should keep away from Abkhazia and Ossetia, especially for the sake of
Armenian-Georgian relations. Although Georgia isn’t considered our strategic
partner but taking into account the current situation, as well as
geographical position of our country, Tbilisi is of no less importance than
Moscow for us.
It’s worth mentioning that Stepanakert policy of keeping aside from Abkhazia
and South Ossetia is appreciated in Tbilisi. Georgia made no comments on the
latest elections of local self-governing bodies, as well as the
parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabakh.
By Tatoul Hakobian

Pan Armenian news
A. BAGHDASSARYAN MET ACTING SYRIAN CHARGE D’AFFAIRS IN ARMENIA
16.09.2005 07:10
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian NA Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan met with
acting Syrian Charge d’Affairs in Armenia Mihlis Faraun, RA NA press service
reported. The parties discussed the Armenian-Syrian cooperation and Syria’s
participation in opening of the Center of Armenian Culture in Yerevan. The
Armenian parliament head thanked the Syrian government for good attitude
towards Armenians. By the guest’s request A. Baghdassaryan presented the
process of constitutional reform in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN MOVEMENT TO OPEN IN ARMENIA
16.09.2005 06:55
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly Artur
Baghdassaryan met with Secretary General of the International European
Movement Henrik H. Kroner, RA NA press service reported. To note, the
European Movement is an association contributing to the establishment of a
unified, federal Europe, founded on respect for human rights and democratic
principles, by informing and mobilizing citizens and influencing
decision-makers at all European Society levels. One of the major
achievements of the European Movement was contribution to the creation of
the European Union and the European Parliament. During the meeting the
interlocutors discussed the possibility of opening EM Office in Armenia. Mr.
Kroner offered the RA NA Speaker to become a member of the Movement.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIA SIGNED INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM
16.09.2005 06:07
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On September 15 during a special event titled `Focus 2005
– response to global challenges’ dedicated to international treaties and
held within the framework of the 60-th Session UN General Assembly Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan signed the International Convention on
Elimination of Nuclear Terrorism. Proceeding from the principles of peace
and security, friendly relations between the states and development of
cooperation, acknowledging the right of states to use nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes and being concerned of the boom of terrorism the
member-states solemnly condemned terrorism of any kind.

Pan Armenian News
U.S. AND ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN LITTLE INFORMED OF EACH OTHER
16.09.2005 04:36
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the presentation of U.S. international program
titled `Regional Cooperation’ was held in Yerevan today within the framework
of Armenia EXPO 2005. The program was presented by Elizabeth Pelletreau,
head of the department of economic affairs at the U.S. Embassy. In her words
the commodity turnover between Armenia and the United States in not big.
Presently the volume of the U.S. export to Armenia makes $100 thousand; at
that the figure twice exceeds Armenia’s export to the U.S. The fact is that
the Armenian and American businessmen are possess poor information about
each other. Thus the purpose of the program is to raise the awareness of the
businessmen. Ms. Pelletreau noted the Armenian textile industry and touched
upon CARD program launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Stressing
the necessity of stimulating the Armenian-American ties she also informed
that a conference titled `Competition’ will be held in Yerevan October
15-16. Its participants will discuss regional cooperation and healthy
competition.