ARMENIAN CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL CANCELLED IN MAY FIXED FOR SEPTEMBER 23
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO.
The “Armenian Conference” in Turkey cancelled in May 2005 will be
held on September 23, at Bosfor University of Istanbul with the same
agenda and n the same staff, CNNTurk reports.
It should be noted that on May 25-27 in Istanbul a scientific forum
on the topic “Armenians in the period of collapse of the Ottoman
Empire” was planned. However, the forum was postponed because of
hot counteraction by Turkish nationalists. The forum participants
and its organizers – Bosfor University, several pro-governmental and
opposition figures were announced “betrayers” and on may 24 the forum
was postponed for indefinite period of time. The well-known statement
by Justice Minister of Turkey Cemil Cicer played a leading role
in the forum’s failing. He stated that the “forum of oppositionist
intellectuals is a stab in the back of the Turkish people.” At the
same time, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated in this
connection: “Let them speak, we’ll see what they will say.”

HEAD OF UNION OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA TO PARTICIPATE IN PROCESS OF RELEASE OF RUSSIAN SAILORS ARRESTED IN NIGERIA
MOSCOW, AUGUST 24. ARMINFO.
Head of the Union of Armenians of Russia, UN Good Will Ambassador
Ara Abrahamyan will participate in the process of release of Russian
sailors arrested in Nigeria. According to Gazeta.ru, today Ara
Abrahamyan leaves for Nigeria on a special mission.
According to the source, it is expected that his personal ties and
the previous experience of dealing with African governments will help
achieving release of 11 Russian sailors from custody. The sailors
of African Pride vessel have been kept at an African prison for two
years already charged with contraband. On August 5 the Nigerian court
made a decision that the Russians can be released under pledge and
warranty of the Russian Embassy. The source does not rule out that
the tactics used when releasing the Armenian pilots from the prison
in Equatorial Guinea will be used.
The Armenian pilots working in that country on AH12 plane registered
in Armenia were imprisoned charged with attempted state coup and
espionage. Malabo Court sentenced the crew commander to 24 and
the pilots to 14 years of imprisonment. They were kept in the
prison one year and then were granted amnesty by the president of
that country. Before release of the pilots Ara Abrahamyan visited
Equatorial Guinea. According to some data, he was empowered by
the Armenian Government to undertake some social and economic and
financial commitments to that country. After the commitments were
fulfilled, the Armenian pilots were released. What was the cost of
their released remained unknown, Gazeta.ru writes.

PACE CHAIRMAN SATISFIED WITH PROCESS OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO.
PACE Chairman Rene van der Linden expressed satisfaction with the steps
taken in direction of peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict. He made
this statement during his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, APA reports referring to the press-service of Azerbaijani
President.
According to the source, PACE Chairman pointed out that resolution
of the conflict is the most important issue for Azerbaijan. He stated
that while in Yerevan he discussed the given issue with the leadership
of Armenia. PACE Chairman expressed hope for the conflict resolution
within the nearest future. – M-

ARMENIA’S GYMNASTICS FEDERATION REFUTES INFORMATION ON REMOVAL OF ARMENIA FROM IGF
August 23, 2005
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. The International Gymnastics Federation
(IGF) did not decided to punish Armenia and deprive of its membership
in the IGF because of non-payment of membership fees, stated Albert
Azaryan, Head of Armenia’s GF, famous gymnast, twice champion of the
World and Olympic Games, champion of Europe.
Commenting on information of some Azeri mass-media with refer to the
press-service of the GF of Azerbaijan on that the IGF supposedly
punished Armenia, Azaryan noted that they have already paid $550
membership fees for the participation of Armenian sportsmen in the
European Championship. As regards $800 fees for participation in the
World Championship, the Armenian side has already informed the IGF
leadership that the fees will be paid on the spot in November 2005.

DUTCH STUDENTS INTEND TO PRESENT REAL SITUATION IN NAGORNY KARABAKH TO EUROPE UNDER PROJECT “STORIES FROM ABROAD”
STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO.
Under a project “Stories from Abroad” and under the aegis of the Dutch
Peacemaking Movement supported by the World Interchurch Council,
a student of Oriental-European Department of Amsterdam University
G.Tolbo is in Nagorny Karabakh. In his interview to the Karabakh public
newspaper Demo, the student stated that the project is implemented
to arise interest of the Dutch in the problems of the South Caucasus,
including political, cultural and other aspects. G.Tolbo will stay in
the region for 3 months. Several weeks after, he will visit Yerevan
and then Baku.
The student admits that he has got a pleasant and some unexpected
impression of Karabakh. He thinks the atmosphere very good. He admits
that before arriving in Karabakh he had some prejudices, but he
thinks open meetings and talks with politicians, religious leaders,
public workers, the youth and ordinary citizens will bring light to
the situation and he will be able to present the real situation to
the Dutch public.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPEAN OFFICIAL CALLS AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA FOR PEACEFUL KARABAKH SOLUTION
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
23 Aug 05
[Presenter] The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe [PACE], Rene van der Linden, has ended his visit
to Azerbaijan. At a news conference he gave on the results of his
meetings, the PACE president said that Baku and Yerevan should resolve
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem peacefully if they wanted to continue
the course of integration into Europe.
[Linden at news conference, speaking in English with Azeri voice-over]
As newly-elected president of PACE, I visited countries which have
recently become members of the body [as heard]. I discussed the
Nagornyy Karabakh problem in Armenia and Azerbaijan. The conflict
might be solved only in a peaceful manner. If Azerbaijan wants to
join the European Union, then it must solve the conflict, but only
peacefully. I am convinced that this is important to the region’s
future. Only in this way the region will become a stable part of Europe
in the future. I am very pleased at the fact the presidents of the two
countries base their positions on this principle alone. Moreover,
a peaceful solution to the conflict is important to Armenia as
well. Because it is currently in isolation in the region. It should
have economic cooperation with neighbouring countries.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
[Linden] There are difficult times ahead for the two countries. A
referendum and a parliamentary election will be held in Armenia and
Azerbaijan respectively. I think that the two countries have to carry
out these events as transparently as possible which will give a then
a good chance of showing the development of democracy.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CRITICAL OF OPPOSITION’S ATTITUDE TO CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
24 Aug 05
[Presenter] Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today expressed his
opinion in connection with constitutional reforms in the country.
Kocharyan stressed that the reformed version of the constitution
is an impartial document which has been highly rated by the best
European experts and everybody, including the opposition which has
distanced itself from the process without waiting for the results of
the constitutional reforms, will gain from this.
[Correspondent] What do you expect from the process of constitutional
reforms and the forthcoming extraordinary session of parliament when
the opposition has issued a statement that they refuse to accept the
package of constitutional reforms?
[Kocharyan] First of all, I want speak about the draft constitutional
amendments which are being discussed now. I am confident that this
is a document of high quality which has been drawn up together
with the best European experts and the [Council of Europe] Venice
Commission. We should not accept the constitutional reforms as a
compulsory document. First of all, it is necessary for our people
and our country.
When they say that an official of the Council of Europe points out
that if the document is not accepted, you will have problems and so on,
this also is an important issue. First of all, it will be our basic law
and we need it. This is an important way of integrating into Europe.
Now I want to speak about the opposition’s attitude. The opposition
refused to cooperate with the coalition on reforming the constitution
from the first day. I think that they thought the authorities would
not take radical steps that would bring our constitution completely
into line with European standards. They believed that the authorities
would have problems with the Council of Europe Venice Commission and
the opposition would use this situation in order to solve domestic
political tasks.
In fact, we see eye-to-eye with the Council of Europe and the
opposition has found itself offside and created a situation when the
positive results of the reforms will look like the authorities’ victory
and the opposition’s defeat. This is a more dangerous situation. I
am confident that the constitutional reforms should not be looked at
from such a point of view. This cannot be the authorities’ victory
or the opposition’s defeat. This can be only the victory of our people.

AZERI ELECTION BODY ASKS OSCE TO HELP GET LIST OF VOTERS IN KARABAKH
Lider TV, Baku
24 Aug 05
The Central Electoral Commission [CEC] has appealed to the OSCE for
assistance in acquiring a list of voters – Azerbaijani citizens of
Armenian origin – in Xankandi constituency No 122, Rovzat Qasimli,
head of the CEC’s international relations department, has told APA.
Qasimli said the CEC stressed the importance of receiving the list
for holding the election in the aforesaid constituency.
During a meeting with Maurizio Pavesi, head of the OSCE office in Baku,
CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov also told him about this.
Qasimli said the CEC would make similar appeals to the OSCE Minsk
Group, the Council of Europe and other international organizations
as well. He said the process of making a list of Azerbaijani voters
in the constituency was continuing, adding that the voters would get
voter’s cards after the process ends.

AZERI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS NOT TO SIGN ANY DOCUMENTS IN KAZAN – MINISTER
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
24 Aug 05
[Presenter] Talks between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers on the Nagornyy Karabakh problem are now coming to an
end. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen are attending the talks. The
ministers mainly focused on preparations for a meeting in Kazan between
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart,
Robert Kocharyan.
[Correspondent over video of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov] The Moscow-hosted meeting between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani foreign ministers discussed the agenda of the Kazan
talks. Before the meeting today, the ministers and the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairmen expressed the hope that the sides will soften
their positions.
Foreign Minister Mammadyarov stated once again that Baku’s position
on the Nagornyy Karabakh problem remains unchanged. He said that the
status of Karabakh can only be resolved with respect for Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. The minister added that the sides are trying
to achieve some agreement on this issue.
Mammadyarov said this is the first time the talks also discussed a
referendum on the status of Nagornyy Karabakh, Armenian [as heard,
actually Russian] news agency Regnum said. The shape or form of the
referendum was another topic of the discussion.
The minister expressed the hope that the talks would continue within
the framework of the Prague process and stressed that it is not
worth expecting a sensational result from the presidents’ meeting
in Kazan. He said that no document would be signed as a result of
the meeting.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MAY SUPPORT CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES – MP
Mediamax news agency
24 Aug 05
Yerevan, 24 August: The [opposition] Justice bloc believes that the
updated package of constitutional changes proposed by the ruling
Armenian coalition “is incomplete and does not meet the opposition’s
demands”, [MP] Shavarsh Kocharyan, a member of the parliamentary
faction of the Justice bloc, said in Yerevan today.
But it does not mean that the Justice bloc has already made a final
decision to say no to the constitutional changes, Kocharyan said. He
made it clear that the opposition may support the draft constitution
if the authorities meet some of the demands of the bloc.
Kocharyan called for the punishment of those responsible for
irregularities in the presidential and parliamentary elections in
2003 and urged criminal proceedings into those irregularities. He
described Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, who headed the campaign
headquarters of [Armenian President] Robert Kocharyan during the
presidential election, as “the main falsifier of the election”.
Shavarsh Kocharyan also said that it is necessary to update the lists
of voters and ensure the independence of the media, specifically to
resume the broadcasts of the A1+ TV channel ahead of the constitutional
referendum in late November. The opposition also suggests ensuring by
the same time the balance in the compositions of electoral commissions,
in which the opposition has no decisive votes, he said.
The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
Rene van der Linden, who recently visited Armenia as part of his tour
of the South Caucasus region, backs the opposition on these issues,
Kocharyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress