“NO” TO THE CONSTITUTION
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| 16:04:43 | 05-09-2005 | Politics |
Following the process of discussions of the Constitutional reforms
in the NA for 4 days, the party “New Times” has decided to express
their opinion about the Constitutional reforms with an announcement.
The party informs, that “they are sure that the Constitutional
referendum to be organized is an unsuccessful attempt of the present
powers to prolong their authorizations.
The party calls the people to say “No” to the Constitutional during
the referendum. It looks upon the “No” of the people as a vote of
non-confidence to the powers which must be followed but the change
of authorities.
The party offers all the powers in Armenia to join together to carry
out the change of authorities. It is sure that after the change
as a result of pan-national discussions a full Constitution will
be adopted”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN LEAVES FOR AUSTRIA
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 5 2005
Foreign minister of the Azerbaijan Republic Elmar Mammadyarov on
September 5 has left for Austria, AzerTAc reported.
Minister Mammadyarov will be reporting on the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno Karabakh conflict at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna. He
is expected also to meet with OSCE Secretary General and members of
the Council.
Official visit of Elmar Mammadyarov will begin on 7 September. The
Minister will meet with the president of Austria Heinz Fischer,
foreign minister Ursula Palssnik, and carry out talks at the UN
Vienna sections.
The visit ends on 8 September.

OSCE ACTING CHAIRMAN, FOREIGN MINISTER OF SLOVENIA DIMITRIJ RUPEL MEETS SPEAKER OF AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 5 2005
OSCE Acting Chairman, Foreign Minister of Slovenia Dimitrij Rupel
received Chairman of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijan Parliament) of the
Azerbaijan Republic Murtuz Alaskarov, September 5.
Touching upon the history of Azerbaijan-Slovenia relations, Speaker
of Azerbaijan Parliament said a group of friendship with Slovenia
was set up at the Milli Majlis. The forthcoming November elections
to the Azerbaijan Parliament will pass in free, transparent and
democratic atmosphere, Mr. Alaskarov underlined. He informed on
the Executive Order of Azerbaijan President on improvement of the
election practice, the Election Code, registration of more than 2000
candidates to election. We believe that the international observers
will be objective on the results of the elections, he stressed.
Then, Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament updated the guest on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict and its sequences. He
also reminded the UN Resolutions, the decision of the Council of
Europe and expressed hope that the OSCE would increase its efforts
for settlement of this problem in peace way and in the frame of
international legal principles.
Expressing gratitude for provided information, Mr. Dimitrij Rupel
stated he was pleased of the meetings and information he received.
The major aspect is democracy and transparency in the elections,
but not who will win, he emphasized.
As to the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Mr. Rupel
said OSCE regards the problem attentively and makes every possible
effort to quickly resolve the conflict.
In the meeting, also exchanged were views on other questions of
mutual interest.

EU MUST HONOUR ITS PROMISE TO TURKEY
FT
September 5 2005 03:00
Amid predictable jostle and dissent, the European Union still looks
likely to agree to start accession negotiations with Turkey in a
month’s time. Even though the EU is now paralysed by the French and
Dutch rejection of the constitutional treaty this summer, most member
states appear to understand that to welch on the commitment made to
Turkey at last December’s summit would further damage the Union.
That commitment is conditional on Turkey meeting the Copenhagen
criteria on human, democratic and minority rights reforms – a charter
that has already gone far to transform Turkish political and civic
life. But this exercise is about a great deal more than carrying out
a sort of moral inventory on a prospective new family member.
France, Germany, Austria and Cyprus have all raised objections to
Turkish entry, some of which they could turn into roadblocks.
For some, especially Christian Democrat politicians in the heart
of what was once the Austro-Hungarian empire, the Turks are, as it
were, still at the gates of Vienna. Beyond the challenges of the EU
embracing a poor and populous country, for them the point is that
Turkey is Muslim and not really European. That is the nub of German
and Austrian objections.
In France, Dominique de Villepin, prime minister, has said it is
inconceivable that the EU can start talks with Turkey until Ankara
recognises Cyprus – the Greek Cypriot state granted entry to the
Union last year despite rejecting a United Nations compromise over
the divided island that Turkish Cypriots endorsed.
But things are not quite as bad as they look. Mr de Villepin’s
opportunist remarks are aimed at stealing a march on his rival,
the openly rejectionist Nicolas Sarkozy. But the man they both want
to succeed, Jacques Chirac, the president, looks set to assent to
accession talks. Germany, which will be in the process of forming a
new government, will probably follow suit, and Austria, still intent
on offering a “privileged partnership” rather than membership to
Turkey, would probably hold fire if the EU put Croatia on the path
to membership. The Greek Cypriots are unpredictable but may not want
to risk isolation. The real battles over Turkey, in other words,
will take place down the long road of negotiations that could last
more than a decade.
But by then, Turkey will need to have demonstrated not just that
it can implement the EU’s economic legislation. It must show it has
overcome its authoritarian political instincts.
It is, to say the least, unfortunate that in the run-up to this
historic decision Istanbul prosecutors have brought charges of
denigrating the Turkish state against Orhan Pamuk, the world-renowned
novelist. His “crime” was to complain about the conspiracy of silence
about the mass murder of the Ottoman empire’s Armenians during and
after the first world war.
In the real world, it is inconceivable that Turkey will ever enter
the EU if it cannot face up to this blood-sodden chapter of its
history. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the neo-Islamist prime minister,
has gone further than his predecessors in calling on international
scholars to establish the facts, and offering them access to the
Ottoman archives. Yet a conference to discuss the issue was cancelled
this spring after pressure from the justice ministry.
It is not just that Turkey must eventually settle this account with
history. There could hardly be anything more basic to EU rules than
free speech.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PREMIER OF AZERBAIJAN MEETS OSCE DELEGATION
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 5 2005
On September 5, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade has met
delegation of OSCE headed by Acting Chairman of this international
organization, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia
Dimitrij Rupel.
The head of the Azerbaijan government has expressed hope that visit
of OSCE delegation to region would bring certain contribution to
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Dimitrij Rupel, speaking about the purpose of the visit to Azerbaijan,
has emphasized, that priority questions of negotiations spent in the
Baku meetings are questions of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict and acquaintance with the course of preparation for the
forthcoming parliamentary elections.
During exchange of views taken place at the meeting concerning ways
of the settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the
Prime Minister has emphasized, that for the decision-making satisfying
both sides, it is necessary to start with the realities existing in
1988 when began the conflict. He also has noted that Azerbaijan is
obliged to strengthen its defense and with this purpose in the state
budget of the next year, the appropriate means would be increase in
2 times.
Speaking about forthcoming elections to Milli Majlis, the head of
the government of Azerbaijan has assured the OSCE Acting Chairman
that they would pass at the highest level and become one more stage
on the way of development of democracy in the country.
At the reception, also was attending the personal envoy of the OSCE
Acting Chairman Andzei Kaspshik.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER ESTABLISHES LINKS OF COOPERATION WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN USA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5. ARMINFO. Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Arthur
Baghdasaryan, who is on an official visit to the USA, held a number
of meetings with representatives of international organizations in
the sphere of development of democracy, combating corruption and
human rights protection.
The Armenian Parliamentary press-service informs ARMINFO that
the speaker, in particular, met with the heads of transparency
International, Freedom House, ABA-CEELI, National Institute of
Democracy Development of the USA and the US Peace Corps. In the
course of the meetings, issues of reforming the election legislation
and the Constitution of Armenia, struggle against corruption, human
rights protection, contribution to establishment of independent
Mass Media and joint struggle against international terrorism were
discussed. The parties reached specific agreements in the aspect of
further cooperation.
It should be noted that within the framework of his visit to the
USA starting from August 31 to September 9, Armenian Parliamentary
Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan will participate in the World Assembly of
Parliamentary Chairmen in New York. The visit is sponsored by the US
Department of State. During the visit, many meetings are expected
at the US Congress, the Department of State, White House. Artur
Baghdasaryan is expected to given an interview to US Mass Media.

OSCE ACTING CHAIRMAN CONCERNED WITH BREACH OF CEASEFIRE
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 5 2005
On September 5, foreign minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met
with the delegation headed by the Acting Chairman, foreign minister
of Slovenia Dimitrij Rupel.
Noting the importance of the ongoing negotiations carried out in the
frame of the Prague process for settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Minister Mammadyarov stressed the necessity
of settlement of the problem in the frame of the principle of
territorial integrity and strengthening of efforts in this direction.
Mr. Rupel highly appreciated the alterations in Azerbaijan and stressed
necessity of continuing the negotiations, and also expressed concern
with breach of ceasefire in the front line. Speaking of the democratic
state building process in the country, the Acting Chairman said he
looks at Azerbaijan as a leading regional country and as a model state.
Mr. Rupel also stressed importance of the expected visit of the
Azerbaijan President to Slovenia.
In the meeting, also were focused issues connected to pre-election
situation in the country, other questions of mutual interest.
Then, Elmar Mammadyarov and Dimitrij Rupel briefed for the media
representatives.
***
On the same day, the OSCE Acting Chairman met with the head of the
Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh Nizami Bahmanov.

TODAY IS 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN-GREEK POGROMS IN ISTANBUL
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6. ARMINFO. Sept 6 1955 a mob of Turks went to
Istanbul’s central square with anti-Greek slogans. This followed the
Sept 6 explosion of the house where Turkish leader Ataturk was born.
The investigation by the Greek authorities found out that the explosion
was committed by the guard of the consulate, a Turk, who got the
bombs in Istanbul. Besides the consul and other officials were not
in the building at the moment of the explosion.
The special international commission of the World Council of Churches
investigating the consequences of the programs found out that 29 of
80 Orthodox Greek churches had been burned down, 4,000 stores and
2,000 houses destroyed. Also destroyed were many Roman Catholic and
Armenian churches.
US Senator Homer Capeheart confirmed in the United States News And
World Report newspaper that there were pogroms in Istanbul, Ankara
and Izmir. Crowds of Turks burned down and robbed 4,000 Armenians and
Greek stores, 80 churches and 700 houses with the damages amounting
to $300 mln.
3,183 people were arrested in Istanbul, 424 in Izmir, 171 in Ankara
with most of them released later. The remaining were brought to
court but as the Halk Turkish newspaper wrote: “Believed to be guilty
these young people have been acquitted. It is very good. But who then
masterminded these actions?”
The above events caused a new wave of Greek and Armenian emigration
from Turkey.

MOST OF COMPLAINTS TO OMBUDSMAN CONCERN POLICE
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6. ARMINFO. In Jan-Aug 2005 Armenia’s Ombudsman
received 1,840 complaints with 410 ones considered, 135 sent to
relevant instances, 421 declined.
675 complaints were from Yerevan with only 14 ones received from
Aragatsotn region. 148 cases concerned the police, 125 labor ministry,
116 courts, 92 Yerevan municipality, 95 local administrations.

ARMENTEL PAYS $400,000 FINE
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5. ARMINFO. The ArmenTel telecom company has paid
to the state budget 157.6 mln AMD (almost $400,000) as a fine.
The press service of the State Commission for Economic Competition
Protection says that the relevant document was submitted to the
commission today.
To remind, Aug 1 2005 the Armenian Government fined ArmenTel for 1%
of its turnover of 2004 ($400,000) for monopoly abuse and low quality
mobile service.