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

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DISCUSSED WITHIN EU-TURKEY NEGOTIATION FRAMEWORK
Pan Armenian News
02.09.2005 06:23
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot stated that the
Armenian Genocide is being discussed within the EU-Turkey negotiation
framework. He reminded of the obligation to maintain friendly relations
with the neighbors and undertake steps for the peaceful settlement of
the disputes over the borders, what is included on the negotiation
agenda. When asked whether the aforesaid means that Turkey will
have to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide as a part of its history,
Mr. Bot said “yes”. “It is a common European approach and Turkey is
aware of it”, he said, Mediamax reports.

CENTRAL BANK OPENS EXHIBITION IN STEPANAKERT
Armenpress
September 2, 2005
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s Central Bank opened
today an exhibition in Nagorno-Karabakh capital Stepanakert telling
about the relatively short history of the national currency-dram,
timed with festivities marking the 14-th anniversary of Karabakh’s
independence from Azerbaijan.
Armenian president Robert Kocharian, Karabakh leaders and other
top officials were present at the opening ceremony. Central Bank
chairman Tigran Sarkisian said the exhibition has on display also a
rich collection of old Armenian coins and banknotes.

ITALIAN ARCHITECT GETS INVOLVED IN HOLY CROSS ARMENIAN CHURCH RESTORATION IN TURKEY
Armenpress
September 2, 2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: An Italian architect, invited by
Turkish culture ministry to help restore the Armenian Holy Cross
Church on Akhtamar Island Van in Turkey, is on the ground, Haraj
Armenian newspaper in Paris reported.
It identified the Italian as Paolo Panei, who is also a UNESCO expert.
Panei is said to define what kind of chemical substances should be
used to clean the church’s walls. Haraj also quoted a Turkish Armenian
architect involved in the restoration works as saying that it will
take a long time.
The Church of Holy Cross was built by architect Manuel between 915
and 921 AD. The restoration project was developed in 2003 by Turkish
culture ministry in cooperation with the Conflict Resolution and Peace
Establishment Foundation of the Washington-based American University.
Haraj also reported that a Turkish Eapa publisher’s has released a
book that contains interesting facts about an Armenian orphanage in
Turkish Urfa.
Titled ‘The Armenian Orphanage of Urfa’ it was written in 1919 by an
American, Mary Caroline Holmes, who responded to calls to help Armenian
orphans in Turkey in the aftermath of the 1915 genocide, leaving her
native New York for eastern Anatolia and was appointed head of the
orphanage. She writes when she arrived the Armenian population of
Urfa had been either killed or driven out and the plight of remaining
Armenian children was horrible.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARTAN OSKANIAN: OUR TASK IS TO SPREAD EUROPEAN VALUES AMONG POPULATION
Pan Armenian News
02.09.2005 06:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Helsinki Final Act is one of the principal
international documents, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
stated today at the presentation of the Armenian translation of
the Helsinki Final Act. In his words, though the Act was adopted
in 1975 it has not lost its value and importance. “Our task is to
spread these values in Armenia and prove that we abide by them,”
he said. When asked whether the principle of territorial integrity
fixed in the document conflicts with the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh issue, the Minister said that the Act maintains both the
principle of territorial integrity and the principle of right of a
nation for self-determination.