AZG Armenian Daily #157, 03/09/2005
Today
LIVE WEBCAST OF AGBU BUENOS AIRES FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 3
On Saturday, September 3, 2005, AGBU Buenos Aires () will be
airing a live webcast of its artistic and cultural festival, “Armenia, One
People, One Nation, One Culture,” the proceeds of which will benefit the
city’s Doctor Pedro de Eiizalde Children’s Hospital ().
About 500 musicians and dancers will take part in the mega-event at the
city’s Exhibition Center. The evening will be hosted under the auspices of
the City of Buenos Aires and the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia.
Streaming video of the live webcast can be viewed by visiting the AGBU
Buenos Aires webcast homepage () on the day of the event and
clicking on a banner that will launch the viewing portal. Up-to-minute
information about broadcast times and system requirements will be available
on the viewing portal as well. The six-hour live broadcast will begin
Saturday 5:00 PM (18:00) in Buenos Aires [Sunday 1:00 AM (01:00) in Yerevan;
Saturday 11:0O PM (23:00) in Beirut; Saturday 10:00 PM (22:00) In Paris?
Saturday 4:00 PM O6:00) in Mew York; Saturday 1:00 PM (7 3:00) in Los
Angeles; and Sunday 6:00 AM (06:00) in Sydney].
This is the first AGBU event to be broadcast live to the public on the
Internet, international viewers are invited to send comments and good wishes
before and during the event via email to: [email protected]. In
addition to fundraising for the Pedro de Elizalde Hospital, the evening is a
pre-event in honor of next year’s AGBU Centennial.
The webcast will begin with a 90-minute program devoted to Buenos Aires
Armenian schools, followed by performances by a wide array of choirs and
dance troupes concluding with gala festivities that will include speeches
and music.
Participating music and dance ensembles are:
– “Alakiaz” Choir from the Mekhitarian School of Buenos Aires,
– AGBU Cordoba “Ararat” Dance Ensemble,
– “Arax” Choir of Buenos Aires,
– “Arevakal” Choir from the Vicente Lopez Armenian School of Buenos Aires
– “Erevan 50” Orchestra of Montevideo, Uruguay
– “Gayane 11 Dance Ensemble from the Armenian National Center of Uruguay
– “Gomidas” Choir of Buenos Aires
– “Grung” Choir of from UGAB of Montevideo, Uruguay
– “Haiastan” Orchestra of Buenos Aires
– “Kaiane” Dance Ensemble from the Armenian Cultural Union of Buenos Aires
– “Krikor Naregatsi” Choir from the Santa Cruz de Varak Church of Buenos
Aires
– “Kusan” Orchestra of Cordoba
– “Masis” Dance Ensemble from the Archbishopric of Buenos Aires
– “Nairi” Dance Ensemble from Hamazkain of San Fernando Valley, United
States
– “Nairi” Dance Ensemble from HOM of Buenos Aires
– AGBU Buenos Aires “Nerses Shnorhalli” Choir
– “Nor Arax” Orchestra of Buenos Aires
– “San Gregorio el Iluminador” Choir from the Sourp Kevork Church of Buenos
Aires
– “Sasun” Dance Ensemble from HOM of Cordoba
– “Shiraz” Dance Ensemble from Hamazkain of Montevideo, Uruguay
Participating local schools will be:
– Arzruni School
– Mekhitarista School
– Armenian School of Vicente Lopez
– Isaac Backchellian School
– Khrimian Armenian Cultural School
– AGBU Marie Manoogian Institute
– San Gregorio El Iluminador Educational institute.
Established in 7 971, AGBU Buenos Aires is dedicated to preserving and
promoting the Armenian heritage and culture through educational, cultural
and humanitarian programs. For more information and to watch the live
Saturday, September 3 webcast, please visit

AZG Armenian Daily #157, 03/09/2005
Independence Day
A VICTORY AT A PRICE
On August 30 of 1991, the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopted its
independence declaration based on territorial wholeness of Democratic
Republic of Azerbaijan of 1918-1920. Three days later, on September 2,
the Councils of Autonomous Region of Nagorno Karabakh and Shahumian
region called a joint sitting declaring the independent Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh. On December 10 of the same year, a referendum
was held all over Karabakh besides Azeri-populated regions. The
overwhelming majority of participants said “yes” to the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh.
Legally and historically the right of Nagorno Karabakh for an
independent state is indisputable. Azerbaijan declared its independence
within the borders of Musafat Azerbaijan of 1918-1920, of which Nagorno
Karabakh never was a part. The League of Nations did not rejected
Azerbaijan’s membership as the latter pretended to join the most
influential organization of its time with “disputable territories”
behind. On November 30 of 1920, the Revolutionary Committee of
Azerbaijan accepted the epistle to Armenia’s Revolutionary Committee
that said: “From now on, the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan
is to be considered non-existing. Nagorno Karabakh, Zangezur and
Nakhichevan are recognized as part of Soviet Socialist Republic
of Armenia”. But Narimanov (chairman of the Council of People~Rs
Commissars of Azerbaijan) edited the letter of December 2 presenting it
this way: “The provinces of Zangezur and Nakhichevan are inseparable
part of Soviet Armenia but the workers of Nagorno Karabakh get the
right of self-determination”.
By formation of the Soviet Union Nagorno Karabakh was forced into
the structure of Azerbaijan and remained there for 7 decades on
terms of an autonomous region. The collapse of the Soviet Union
gave birth to two independent states, Nagorno Karabakh Republic and
Azerbaijan, on the territory of Soviet Azerbaijan. The latter was
immediately recognized by the world community whereas Karabakh is
still unrecognized, deprived of international support and suffering
the consequences of Azeri blockade.
Azerbaijan’s response to the September 2 decision was the war. Despite
success in the first half of the war, Azerbaijan was defeated in the
war that it provoked and agreed to a cease-fire only in 1994 averting
additional territorial loss. The victory of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh was tearful. The Armenian people, Armenians of Artsakh first
of all, paid incredibly great price for Karabakh’s liberation.
Each September 2, officials of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, part of
whom are former freedom fighters, take part in regular celebration of
birthday of Nagorno Karabakh Republic and lay flowers to the graves
of the perished. Only a life of dignity in free though unrecognized
republic may offer relief to the mothers, wives and children of
thousands of young Armenians who put their lives on the altar of
freedom.
By Tatoul Hakobian

AZG Armenian Daily #157, 03/09/2005
Turkey
‘DESERTION OF AZERBAIJAN IS A MORE IMPORTANT ISSUE THAN KARABAKH’
Turkish Paper Writes
On 1 September, Istanbul-based Armenian online
newspaper posted an article titled “Desertion of Azerbaijan is a more
important issue than Karabakh” extracting it from Turkish Star paper
where it was published August 31. Though mentioning the source of
the article, the paper forgot to jot down its author’s name.
Yet, the author displays an unwonted approach to the Nagorno Karabakh
issue that Turkey is not accustomed to. Responding to the same paper’s
cries, he meanwhile replies to those circles of Armenian Diaspora
which, compelled to darken Armenia’s future, exaggerate the number
of Armenians leaving their fatherland. President Robert Kocharian
is portrayed responsible for immigration in order to cast slurs on
Kocharian along with the country he heads.
In case of slander, Kocharian’s administration will become incomparably
vulnerable, losing its power to stand against outer pressure and it
will make compromises to international forces harmful for Armenia
in order to keep the power in its hands. In that way, the aforesaid
circles will justify the hopes of those forces and their services.
All these impart importance to the article in Star paper that we
present without abridgements below:
“Aside from talks about the motherland, I do everything to give
truthful coverage of events in Turkish-speaking states of former
Soviet Union.
“Azerbaijan is the one that interests us from every aspect. Accepting
hard-solving Karabakh issue as a starting point, let us turn to the
ethnographic wrinkle that demands very serious approach.
“On the second day of the CIS summit in Kazan, August 27, Ilham Aliyev
and Robert Kocharian met.
“The two state leaders met last in Warsaw May 16. As always, the
approaching meeting stimulated rumors about the soonest regulation. The
same thing happened before the Kazan meeting. But it was vain, as no
concrete step was taken.
“On April of 1993, the UN Security Council initiated an agreement
of freeing Qelbajar and deadline was set. It was envisaged that
the Armenian forces will leave the region on July 15. But when the
revolt toppled Abulfaz Elchibey, they stayed there. The first thing
the new Azeri government did was calling back the soldiers of the
People’s Front and dismissing them. Heydar Aliyev said on those days:
“Our army does not fight”. From July to October of the same year,
the Armenians occupied 5 more regions – Aghdam, Jebrail, Fizuli,
Zangelan, Kubatlu – to add to Karabakh, Qelbajar and Lachin.
“A truce was signed in Bishkek in 1994, creating thus a situation of
uncertainty. Did Azerbaijan capitulate, lose or win?
“Aliyev senior had 22 face-to-face meetings with Kocharian. They
reached no results. Aliyev’s statement “Armenia occupied Azerbaijan”
at the Lisbon summit of OSCE accounted for the veto of this European
organization’s decision, presenting it as a heroic deed.
“This case was presented in such light that several newborns in Baku
were named Lisbon. Moreover, the head of Gyanja’s administration said
at a meeting, “Our president performed an exploit in summit town of
Lisbon”, thus becoming a cartoon hero.
“In a refugee camp Heydar Aliyev even underscored that Armenians
abroad are very powerful that’s why we cannot fight against them
(2002). Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian embraced the chance
put before Azerbaijan unacceptable conditions and turned Turkey’s
mediation down.
At then two-day session of the Armenian parliament (April 18-19
2005) defense minister Serge Sargsian stated, “We’ll do everything
to strengthen the second Armenian state and will not allow that our
enemy, Turkey, mediate”.
At the Warsaw summit of the Council of Europe on May 15-17,
the two presidents ordered foreign ministers to carry on with the
meetings. Azeri president’s special representative on Karabakh issue,
Araz Azimov, stated, “The agreement can be reached in August”. Before
the Kazan meeting, the two foreign ministers met in Moscow. As always,
they milled the wind.
To put it in nutshell, the regulation process carried on off the
reel. Yet, no result was achieved. Armenia turned to be powerful in
this issue. Russia never ceased backing Armenia. Now let us turn to the
main issue. Media constantly informs that Armenia’s population reduced
to 2 million. Yet, the coin has an opposite side as well. Azerbaijan
is also getting deserted. From 1993 till today, 3 million people
left for Russia. Even in Sweden Azeri refugees outnumber all other
refugees. There are more than 2.000 Azeris in that country. 200.000
Azeris live in Europe as refugees. Another 200.000 live in Turkey,
300.000 in Ukraine and 100.000 in Iran.
That means that Azerbaijan’s 8 million strong population diminished
to its half. Meanwhile elections are at the threshold and we’ll have
our say on that regard”.
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily #157, 03/09/2005
Armenia-Turkey
YEREVAN POSITIVELY EVALUATES RUSSIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
In the context of the Armenian-Russian strategic cooperation,
the official Yerevan positively evaluates both the Russian-Turkish
relations and the personal relations between Vladimir Putin and Recep
Tayyip Erdogan. Victor Soghomonian, Press Secretary of RA President,
said at the press conference. He said that the further development
of the Russian-Turkish relations, may serve as certain “resources for
mediator’s” in overcoming the contradictions in the Armenian-Turkish
relations. Besides, Yerevan positively accepts both Russian-Turkish
and Russian-Azeri cooperation.
Mr. Soghomonian confirmed Yerevan’s position to establish diplomatic
relations with Ankara without any pre-conditions. In response to
the question whether the demand to include the issue of the Armenian
genocide in the agenda of the foreign policy, Mr. Soghomonian cited an
extract from Robert Kocharian’s speech at the international scientific
conference dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
held in Yerevan. “We remember the past with pain, but without any
hatred,” Robert Kocharian said. Mr. Soghomonian added that such a
position explains Armenia’s readiness to unfold dialogue with Turkey,
but without forgetting the memory of the victims and calling events
of 1915 a genocide.
Mr. Soghomonian said that Mr. Kocharian is treating the current
stage of Nagorno Karabakh settlement with “careful optimism.” He
didn’t comment on the statements of the Azeri side, saying that Baku
usually denies them with the official statements of their own Azeri
officials. As for the recent anti -Armenian statements that appeared
in the Russian press, Mr. Soghomonian promised to treat them as an
attitude of a separate newspaper or an author.
Mr. Soghomonian also announced the schedule of Robert Kocharian’s
visits envisaged for the rest of 2005. Mr. President is going to
visit Slovenia, Belgium and Greece.
By Tatoul Hakobian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #157, 03/09/2005
Armenia-OSCE
ARMENIAN TRANSLATION OF THE HELSINKI FINAL ACT PRESENTED BY OSCE YEREVAN
OFFICE AND THE ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
YEREVAN, 2 September 2005 – The Armenian translation of the Helsinki
Final Act, the first comprehensive document addressing European
security, was introduced today to the public in Yerevan on the occasion
of the 30th anniversary of its adoption.
Some 150 representatives of the Government, the National Assembly,
civil society, international community and the media participated in
the event.
The publication is a joint initiative of the OSCE Office in Yerevan
and the Armenian Foreign Ministry.
“We hope that this translation will help the Armenian people better
understand OSCE principles, values and commitments,” said Ambassador
Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office.
He also praised the active role that Armenia has played in the
community of OSCE States and the good working relationship between
the Armenian authorities and the Office in Yerevan, as well as other
OSCE institutions.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian underlined the uniqueness
of the Helsinki Final Act, saying it remains relevant within the
ongoing reform of Organization.
“The Helsinki Final Act created a platform for dialogue, where the
voice of every participating State had a right to be heard, every
opinion taken into account and interest articulated, no matter what
its military or economic weight,” he said.
The OSCE Office in Yerevan was established in February 2000 to promote
the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments, as well as
to encourage co-operation between the Republic of Armenia and the
Organization in all dimensions of security.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN CALLS FANS TO PROMOTE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION ADOPTION
Pan Armenian News
02.09.2005 05:48
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ System of a Down continues to deliver its message
of justice for the Armenian Genocide, educating fans at its Summer
2005 concert series about this crime against humanity, and urging
them to work for the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports. The ANCA, at
the invitation of the band, has worked alongside Amnesty International
and Axis of Justice at activist tables at concerts to distribute
educational materials, secure signatures on petitions, field questions,
and promote discussion about the Turkish government’s ongoing denial
of the Armenian Genocide. The ANCA, in coordination with its regional
offices and with the help of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF),
has already worked shows in San Diego, Miami, Atlanta, Houston and
Philadelphia. In May of this year, Mezmerize, the first half of the
band’s two-part album Mezmerize/Hypnotize, debuted as the number-one
selling CD in the United States. On April 24th of this year, System
held a sold-out “Souls” benefit concert for the ANCA and other groups
working to prevent genocide and counter genocide denial. The band has
sold nearly 10 million CDs worldwide. A Google search for “System of a
Down” returns over 1.6 million hits. “We are tremendously encouraged by
the overwhelming response to System’s creative and powerful outreach
to their growing fan-base,” ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian
said. “The band has educated literally millions about the Armenian
Genocide, increasing awareness of this crime and helping generate
the political will we will need to defeat Turkey’s campaign to deny
justice to the Armenian people.”

TURKISH WRITER THREATENED WITH IMPRISONMENT FOR STATEMENTS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Pan Armenian News
02.09.2005 04:09
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Well-known writer Orhan Pamuk can be sentenced
to three years of imprisonment for the statements on the Armenian
Genocide. The Turkish authorities initiated the investigation against
Pamuk in February 2005 when during an interview with Tas Magazin Swiss
edition he said, “30 thousand of Kurds and a million of Armenians
were killed in Ottoman Turkey and no one except me dares to say
that.” Pamuk’s statements aroused stormy negative reaction among the
Turkish nationalists. Orhan Pamuk’s trial is scheduled for December
16. The writer’s words can be rated as “offence of the Turkish national
self-consciousness”. Neither the writer nor the representatives of the
Turkish Office of Prosecutor General have commented on the accusations
yet, Reuters agency reports.

NORWAY FOR OPENING ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER
Pan Armenian News
02.09.2005 03:24
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Norway speaks out for the opening the
Armenian-Turkish border, Norway’s State Secretary at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs Kim Traavik stated during his visit to Baku. In
his words the opening of the border will become an impulse for the
development of the whole region, however the final decision should be
made by Ankara and Yerevan. “We hope that the border will be opened in
the near future”, Mr. Traavik said. When commenting on the meetings
of the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders the Norwegian diplomat said,
“We were interested to find out the position Azerbaijan has taken
on the Karabakh conflict settlement.” He also added that during
the meetings with the Azeri MFA officials the outcomes of the Kazan
meeting were discussed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WASHINGTON TO CONTINUE SUPPORT TO DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN ARMENIA
Pan Armenian News
02.09.2005 05:34
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Parliament Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan,
who in on visit to the U.S., met with Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael Kozak,
RA NA press service reported. The parties discussed the democratic
reform in Armenia and the developments in the region. Mr. Kozak
noted the importance of the constitutional reform and transparent
elections adding that these issues are in the limelight of the
U.S. The interlocutors also touched upon the establishment of the
Armenian-Turkish dialogue, peace and stability in the South Caucasian
states and peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflicts. The RA
NA chairman also met with Jim Watson, Caucasus Team Leader within
USAID’s Europe & Eurasia Bureau, David Atwood, Senior Foreign Service
Officer and Director of the Office of Democracy, Governance and Social
Transition in USAID’s Europe & Eurasia Bureau and some other USAID
top officials. During the meeting the parties discussed the process of
constitutional reform, struggle against corruption, relations with the
neighbor states, regional cooperation, Karabakh conflict settlement
and further development of democracy. Artur Baghdassaryan thanked
the USAID officials for the implementation of efficient programs in
Armenia. The parties also achieved agreement on new proposals and
programs. To note, Artur Baghdassaryan is in Washington to take part
in the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament and to meet with
representatives of legislative and executive power of the United
States. The visit will be completed on September 9.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA’S POSITION ON KARABAKH UNCHANGED
Pan Armenian News
02.09.2005 04:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “I have never given occasion to think that our
position on the Karabakh issue underwent changes”, Armenian President
Robert Kocharian stated in Stepanakert today. Our position remains
the same and the developments of recent 14 years proved that Nagorno
Karabakh is able to have independent state system”, he said noting that
in a number of issues Nagorno Karabakh can serve as an example to other
post soviet countries. “Karabakh cannot be a subject of speculation
and the Armenian people know that”, the RA President stated. When
commenting on the Kazan meeting Robert Kocharian noted that it showed
some positive tendencies. He also noted that though indirectly Karabakh
participates in the negotiation process and discussions are being held
with the NKR President. In his turn Arkady Ghukasian refrained from
commenting on the settlement process alleging its secrecy. “I think
it is not time to open the brackets yet. However the process proceeds
well and Nagorno Karabakh has no reason for concern”, he said. To note,
Robert Kocharian is in Karabakh to take part in the events dedicated
to the 14-th anniversary of the declaration of the republic.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress