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

ON THE EVE OF SCHOOL YEAR ARDSHININVESTBANK ORGANIZES FESTIVE ACTION AT “ZATIK” CHILDREN’s HOME
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. The staff of “Ardshininvestbank”
organized today a true holiday for 130 inmates of “Zatik” Children’s
Home (Yerevan) on the eve of a school year.
They presented clothes, shoes, stationery, as well as two computers.
Ardshininvestbank allotted more than 2 mln AMD for organizing the
action with gifts. Deputy Chairman of Board of Ardshininvestbank Sergey
Virabyan informed journalists that despite the fact that about 50
mln AMD is being allotted annually from their budget for both charity
and sponsorship, it is their first benevolent action intended exactly
for inmates. The bank also established scholarships for students of
some country’s universities. “Perhaps, such scholarships also will
be established for graduates of the Children’s Home entering to
universities”, Virabyan noted.
Director of “Zatik” Ashot Mnatsakanyan, in his turn, noted that
12 inmates submitted applications for entering universities and
specialized secondary educational institutions this year. He also
informed that they spend their summer holidays at Hankavan and Sevan
resorts every year. 1.900 AMD are allotted monthly from the state
budget for each inmate (higher by 600 AMD than in 2004). Mnatsakanyan
informed that “Karagezyan” Benevolent Foundation financed the repair
of corridors and water-pipe of the home in 2005.
To note, 990 children live in Armenia’s Children’s Homes and only
5% of them are orphans, 45% have one parent, and the rest 50% have
two parents.

CENN – August 25, Daily Digest
Table of Contents:
1. Future of African Lion under scrutiny
2. Air Pollution: Its Damaging Effect
3. Oil pollution costs Birmingham father and son over £7,000
4. Our Ecological Rights Are Equal to common Values
5. Avoid Costly Fines for Environmental Non-compliance
6. Animal Testing Backed by 500 UK Scientists
1. Future of African Lion under scrutiny
Source: IUCN – The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland, 23 August 2005
Africa is the primary range of the lion Panthera leo, yet living
closely to lions poses hardship for many African communities. The
lion is a major predator on domestic livestock which leads to strong
conflicts with local herders, but also on human life in some areas such
as the Southeast of Tanzania. However, the lion is not only a source
of personal and economic damage and danger, but also of benefits,
as a primary attraction for tourism as one of Africa’s “Big Five”
trophy animals.
While the lion is feared, its kingly status among the other wild
animals is also celebrated in African traditions. The lion is a
sacred animal, widely talked about but, as with most kings in African
folklore, rarely encountered in public. News of the King’s ill health
is cause for community concern, and investigation. It is no wonder
therefore, that up to today, there is still a lot to be learnt about
the king of the jungle – and much worry about its future.
Prior to the 13th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on
International Trade Endangered Species (CITES), Kenya circulated
a proposal among lion range states to change the listing of the
African lion from CITES Appendix II (not necessarily threatened with
extinction but may become so unless trade is closely controlled),
to Appendix I (most endangered, are threatened with extinction
and CITES generally prohibits commercial international trade in
specimens of these species). The Kenyan proposal argued that the
African lion met the population decline requirements for Appendix I
because of the estimated recent decline in the continental population,
the endangered status of the West African regional population, and
because the African lion was potentially threatened by trade.
That is cause for concern, the Kenyans argued. Two recent attempts to
estimate the size of the African lion population came up with roughly
20,000-40,000 lions. Scientists used a population model to estimate
that there may have been almost 80,000 lions back in 1980, although the
actual population size at this time is not known for certain. The 2004
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies the lion as “vulnerable”
due to an estimated decline in the African population of between 30-49%
over the last twenty years, and well documented on
The Kenyan proposal received mixed views. While there is uncertainty
over the magnitude of recent declines in the African lion population,
there is general agreement that the primary threats to the lion’s
future include lion-human conflict, loss of wild prey, and small
population sizes, particularly in West Africa. Trade is not considered
to have caused the decline, and trophy hunting is an important tool
for governments to manage lion populations and problem animals.
Faced with disagreement among the range states on the lion trade
issue at the Bangkok CITES meeting, Kenya withdrew their proposal.
But consensus was achieved among all that the next step should bring
the range states, lion specialists, and other stakeholders together
to discuss lion threats and develop conservation recommendations.
IUCN -The World Conservation Union was asked to hold a series of
regional workshops. Together with the IUCN Species Survival 1
Commission, its Cat Specialist Group, the Wildlife Conservation
Society, and the Africa Resources Trust, amongst others, this
initiative will lead to the development of regional as well as an
Africa-wide lion management strategy, and establish closer cooperation
amongst Africans in the conservation of the species.
There will be two regional lion conservation workshops: one for West
and Central Africa, and one for East and Southern Africa. At the
workshop technical sessions organized and supported by the Wildlife
Conservation Society, lion populations will be estimated, mapped
and prioritized. This information will be used in strategic planning
sessions, attended by lion managers from governments all over Africa,
to develop regional and continental conservation strategies. The
strategies are expected to include identification of objectives for
lion management in the four regions of Africa (West, Central, East and
Southern), as well as a continental overview. The strategies will be
developed at multi-stakeholder strategic planning workshops aimed at
promoting inter-regional cooperation. At the same time, the regional
strategies will build on and help guide improvement of national and
sub-national lion management policies.
These workshop outputs are anticipated to serve as a catalyst for
African lion conservation. They will provide the best assessment of
the current status of the African lion, with populations prioritised
from the perspective of conservation biology. They will help develop
a GIS-based database, which can be continually updated to monitor lion
status. They will set regional priorities for African lion management,
promoting greater cooperation among range states, and also guide
range states in developing and improving their own policies. They will
provide the larger conservation community with a continental action
plan to help ensure that investment in lion conservation addresses
the primary threats to lions in Africa.
That will be the mission of many committed conservationists,
practitioners, scientists and policy makers – mostly from West and
Central Africa – when they gather for the first of these meetings,
scheduled for Douala, Cameroon in October of 2005. The second meeting
will bring together a similar profile of people from East and Southern
Africa in January 2005 in South Africa. The challenge for the workshops
will be to chart the course for a future where Africa’s ancient lion
king can live peacefully amongst the people of a modern continent.
2. Air Pollution: Its Damaging Effect
Source: Eco-portal, August 23, 2005
The inhabitants of Accra city are constantly being exposed to toxic
chemicals. The source of these toxins is namely cars. The consequences
of inhaling these toxins may be fatal.
Cars emit poisonous chemicals such as Sulpher Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen
Monoxide (NO), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and un-burnt hydrocarbons every
time the engine is run. It has been scientifically proven, that
inhaling these compounds causes damage to human health.
Breathing car exhaust gases is just as damaging as breathing in
cigarette smoke. The majority of Ghanaians are aware of the dangers
associated with smoking, and should apply these concerns to the
inhalation of car exhaust gases.
At first, the patient may suffer from a mild irritation, a tickly
cough for example, watery eyes. Over time, this may develop into
something much more sinister like lung cancer, a life-threatening
disease. Children may develop asthma, a condition, which causes
breathing difficulties.
Not only are these pollutants damaging to individual health, but also
to the environment. Sulpher Dioxide is responsible for acid rain,
rainfall that can cause substantial damage to crops and vegetation.
As well as the poisonous compounds produced by car engines,
non-poisonous Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is produced. CO2 is the root cause
of climate change, which is of global concern.
Carbon Dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas, and forms a “blanket”
layer in the earth’s atmosphere, thus preventing the sun’s heat
from leaving it. Since the heat is being trapped, the atmosphere
is gradually heating up, an effect known as the greenhouse effect,
which causes the phenomenon known as global warming.
If global warming is allowed to continue, then we will witness more
freak weather conditions, such as draughts and floods and eventually
the polar ice caps will melt, causing sea levels to rise and low
lying countries to disappear.
To protect our own health, and the environment for generations to come,
we must act now to reduce the amount of pollutants in the city air.
Strict guidelines need to be put in place, which do not permit cars
that emit large quantities of pollutants, on the roads.
The MOT testing must be reinstated and made compulsory for all
vehicles. New vehicles must be tested annually for their emission
levels, and older cars twice annually. If the car is found to be
producing too many pollutants, then they should be taken off the road.
Drivers failing to take their cars to be tested should incur a fine.
However, the best method of reducing pollution levels stills remains
the most traditional: walk. Try and leave your car at home for making
short journeys. This way, the environment benefits, as a little bit
of exercise could do for you too.
3. Oil pollution costs Birmingham father and son over £7,000
Source: Environmental Agency, August 23, 2005
On Friday, 19 August 2005, Harry Fellows Jnr, of Bartley Green,
Birmingham, and his son Harry Fellows, of Weoley Castle, Birmingam,
trading as Selly Oak Car Care, were each fined £3,000 after they
pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates to charges relating to
polluting the Worcester and Birmingham Canal with engine oil.
The Environment Agency brought the charges under Section 85 of the
Water Resources Act 1991. Harry Fellows Jnr was charged with causing
pollution and Harry Fellows, his son, was charged with knowingly
permitting the incident. The men were ordered to pay a total amount
of £1667.92 in costs.
Speaking after the case, Gary Hankinson, an Environment Agency officer
involved in the investigation, said: ‘Companies have a responsibility
to do all they can to prevent polluting materials entering watercourses
from their premises. Selly Oak Car Care failed to do so, resulting
in harm to the environment and local wildlife. We take incidents
such as these very seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute
where appropriate.’
For the Environment Agency, Kiran Cassini told the court that Harry
Fellows owns Selly Oak Car Care and Harry Fellows Jnr, his father,
works for the company, which services and valets cars.
On 19 May 2004, an Environment Agency officer attended the Birmingham
and Worcester canal in response to a report from a member of the public
about oil on the surface of the canal. A large iridescent, slick of
oil with heavy black patches had been seen affecting approximately
2km of the canal. The oil contaminated waterfowl on the canal and
affected vegetation. Investigations indicated the source of the oil
was a pipe near Selly Wharf, Selly Oak. On 24 May 2004, oil could
still be seen discharging into the canal.
On 26 May 2004, Environment Agency officers saw a black liquid
discharging from the pipe into the canal. There was also a strong
odour of engine oil. Analysis of the liquid showed it to be oil. The
Environment Agency officers traced the pipe to Selly Oak Car Care.
Used engine oil had entered a manhole chamber at the rear of the
premises. The spout of a container of waste oil was seen to be feeding
directly into the manhole chamber, which connected to the pipe which
discharged to the canal.
In mitigation, Mr Dollery from Glaisyers, told the court that this
was an isolated incident and that both defendants were sorry for
their actions.
The defendants were given credit for their early guilty pleas.
However, the Court stated that the offences showed a deliberate intent
to dispose of engine oil. It was a serious incident, which affected
birds and flora in the area.
4. OUR ECOLOGICAL RIGHTS ARE EQUAL TO COMMON VALUES
Source: AZG Armenian Daily #148, August 23, 2005
Seminar of Youth Club’s Federation Launches
The Federation of Youth’s Clubs organizes “Ecological Rights Are
Equal to Common Rights” youth’s seminar with the assistance of
“Youth. Environment.
Europe” international organization and “Alert” foundation from
Netherlands, on the shore of the lake Sevan, on August 19-24. The
seminar is dedicated to preservation of environment, negative impact
of people on nature, stability of atmosphere, harmony between the
human beings and nature and a number of other important issues.
The representatives of about 25 various organizations from Armenia
discussed ecological issues, issues concerning cooperation and
ecological rights. The peculiarity of the program is that the
initiators envisaged holding the arrangements on the shore of the
lake, communicating with the campers on the shore. The Youth’s Clubs’
Foundation published leaflets for the special seminars that contain
information on the national park of Sevan, some piece of advice. The
booklets will be delivered among the campers. In other words, such
arrangements teach the citizens how to rest in the nature without
making harm to it.
5. AVOID COSTLY FINES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL NON-COMPLIANCE
Source: (ENS) World News, August 24, 2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) was formed to protect public
health, safety and the environment from chemical hazards.
EPCRA covers more than 650 toxic chemicals and chemical categories
within numerous business sectors, including most manufacturing
industries. Since this system was designed to protect the community,
organizations that do not follow the reporting requirements can be
penalized up to $27,500 per violation, per day.
In 2000 and 2001, the EPA’s data indicates that over 600 facilities,
collectively, accounted for the late reporting of more than a billion
pounds of toxic chemicals. In fiscal years 2002 through 2003, one
EPA region settled over 60 late reporter cases for penalties totaling
more than $500,000. To implement this act, a State Emergency Response
Commission (SERC) was put into place in every state.
Under EPCRA, many companies are required to send annual reports
to the EPA and SERC detailing their chemical inventories for the
previous year.
To understand the numerous complex components under EPCRA, attend
Georgia Tech Research Institute’s upcoming course on Managing
Environmental Compliance, October 12-14, 2005 at the Global Learning
and Conference Center on Georgia Tech’s campus in Atlanta, GA.
Sign up today and help your company avoid costly fines for
non-compliance, network with other professionals involved in
environmental compliance and keep up-to-date on new and changing
environmental regulations. Call 404-385-3500 to register or visit
(keyword search: EST 6000).
Attendants for this course will earn CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
and AIA, HSW Learning Units. This course can also be used for elective
credits for Georgia Tech’s Hazmat or OSH Training Certificate Program.
Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit applied
research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA.
Our approximately 1,200 employees perform or support more than $100
million in research yearly for more than 200 clients in industry
and government.
6. Animal Testing Backed by 500 UK Scientists
SOURCE: PLANET ARK, AUGUST 25, 2005
More than 500 leading British scientists and doctors gave their
backing to animal testing on Wednesday, a day after a farm targeted by
activists said it would stop breeding guinea pigs for medical research.
The declaration, drawn up by the Research Defence Society (RDS),
said a small but vital part of work into new medicines involved the
use of animals.
Signatories included three Nobel laureates, 190 Fellows of the Royal
Society and the Medical Royal Colleges, and more than 250 academic
professors.
“It shows the strength and depth of support for humane animal research
in this country,” said RDS Executive Director Simon Festing.
Animal research is a highly emotive topic in Britain, which is home
to a vocal and at times violent animal rights lobby.
Violent actions have provoked warnings by the pharmaceutical industry
that the hostile environment could undermine investment in research
and development in the UK.
The Darley Oaks Farm in Staffordshire, central England, which breeds
guinea pigs for use in laboratories, has been the subject of one of
the most sustained harassment campaigns.
The family owners said on Tuesday they would cease work following
a long and violent campaign by rights protesters which included the
desecration of a family grave.
The RDS declaration comes 15 years after a similar pledge supporting
animal research by the British Association for the Advancement
of Science.
CENN INFO Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 75 19 03/04
Fax: ++995 32 75 19 05
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:
–Boundary_(ID_quW9rhZ7VZi4Pu+XKx9Tjg)–

A SOCIETY IGNORANT IN JUDICATURE
By Susanna Margarian
AZG Armenian Daily #150
25/08/2005
Concern
“Most of the citizens applying to courts are illiterate and are
unaware of their rights and obligations”, Razmik Tovmasian, first
instance judge in Malatia-Sebastia borough of Yerevan, says. This
fact, he argues, immensely complicates the procedure, as neither
plaintiff nor respondent are able to convey their thoughts. “Though
we have convenient compound and good working conditions, the citizens’
ignorance of judicature throws us into despair”, says the judge adding
that citizens having applied to the court often get sidetracked,
going into unimportant details, even absurdities.
The judge cites evil tongues saying that there are even ignorant judges
in Armenia and asks: if this is the case, what should we expect from
common people? The reason our society is so ignorant in legal matters
is in its low standard of life, my interlocutor says with concern in
his voice. Most of the civil cases that Mr. Tovmasian investigates deal
with arguable issues connected with debts, apartment and land deals,
alimony payment, divorce etc. Most of criminal cases are minor theft
and drug taking.
It’s not hard to guess that most of Armenian citizens do not turn
to private lawyers to help them understand their interests and
laws. Though various international organizations try to promote basic
literacy in judicature, their work is reminiscent of spooning out
water from the sea.

CONSTRUCTION AT YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY
By Tamar Minasian
AZG Armenian Daily #150
25/08/2005
Education
New Building of University to Be Built Soon
The construction of the Yerevan State University~Rs new compound
will be completed in less than two months. Sargis Shahazizian,
pro-rector of the Yerevan State University, said in the interview to
Azg. At present, the interior works are being done in the building,
the auditoriums are being renovated. Afterwards, the yard, as well
as the auxiliary buildings will be renovated.
The new compound is situated in Abovian Street and is near the oldest
building of the university built in 1922. Mr. Shahazizian said that
the new building is built on the place of the old sports complex
and the auxiliary buildings. The new building keeps in line with all
modern criteria. It is being built thanks to the financial assistance
rendered by the U.S. Union of Yerevan State University~Rs Friends, RA
Government and the University. The construction works cost about $1,5
million and the bigger part of the financial sources were allocated
by the Yerevan State University. The new building has three stories,
about 70 rooms, chairs and deans’ offices. It is envisaged for 1500
students. The faculties of philosophy, psychology and philology will
be moved to this new building. “We want to decrease the congestion of
the buildings. There are buildings that aren~Rt capable of standing
the large number of students,” Mr. Shahazizian stated.
They need to renovate only the physics and chemists faculties in the
main building of the Yerevan State University that is in Alek Manukian
Street. Thus, the construction works of the university launched in
the course of the latest two years will be completed. The biology
faculty also needs to be renovated. Mr. Shahazizian added that the
students should also take care for the buildings they are studying in.
The Yerevan State University envisages to renovate its resorts
in Dilijan. In autumn the graduate students of the university will
gather and the administration of the university plans to accumulate
the required sum and replace the old cottages of the resort with new
ones as soon as possible.

FIRST VISIT OF ARMENIA’S SUPREME PATRIARCH TO JAVAKHK IN LAST 110 YEARS
AZG Armenian Daily #150
25/08/2005
Visit
On October 1, Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, will arrive
in Armenian-populated region of Javakhk, Georgia, A-Info agency of
Akhalkalak informs. The Supreme Patriarch of Armenia will take part in
the opening ceremony of representative office of Armenian Apostolic
Church in the region, in re-consecration of an Armenian church in
village of Aragvi and will meet the Armenian flock.
A-Info reminds that the last Armenian Catholicos to visit Javakhk
was Khrimean Hayrik in 1986.

TURKS TRY TO INTIMIDATE THIS WRITER BY THREATENING HIM WITH LAWSUIT
By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier
AZG Armenian Daily #150
25/08/2005
Armenian Genocide
While Turkish leaders are desperately trying to convince the world
that their country is civilized enough to join the European Union,
they are actually proving the exact opposite with every passing day.
Despite the fact that the Turkish leaders are supposed be on their best
behavior in order to impress the Europeans, they have yet to grant
equal rights to Turkey~Rs many religious and ethnic minorities. They
also refuse to return to Greek and Armenian charitable foundations
in Turkey their properties confiscated by the Turkish government
decades earlier.
In an attempt to fool the international community, on the one hand
Turkish officials have advocated the setting up of a joint commission
with Armenians ostensibly to study the facts of the Armenian Genocide,
while on the other hand, they have forced the cancellation of a
symposium organized by three leading universities in Turkey, thereby
preventing the discussion of this issue even among Turkish scholars.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has boldly announced that
his government is ready to admit the Armenian Genocide if sufficient
proof is presented, while Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is bragging
that Turkey has inundated journalists, scholars, universities,
libraries and parliamentarians worldwide with revisionist books on
the Armenian Genocide.
As the human rights of millions of Turkish citizens are violated on
a regular basis, it comes as no surprise that the Turkish government
is prosecuting Hrant Dink, an Armenian journalist in Turkey, for
allegedly insulting Turks in an article he wrote in his newspaper,
AGOS. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to a 1-6 year jail term.
Turkish officials and their agents are so used to silencing,
intimidating and jailing anyone who disagrees with them that they
dare to bully also their opponents overseas who are beyond their
reach. No dissent is tolerated!
This writer is quite familiar with the Turkish practice of suppressing
free speech. As the author of a weekly column that is very critical of
Turkish denialist and oppressive policies, I receive a lot of abusive
e-mails from Turks from around the world. Most of these Turks forget
that the despotic methods they practice at home to bully people or
force them into silence do not work in Western countries where freedom
of expression is basic right.
Last week, when a young Armenian lady, Maral Der Ohanesian, sent
a couple of e-mails to Dr. Sedat Laciner, editor of the Journal
of Turkish Weekly in Ankara, an on-line Turkish propaganda site,
complaining about the distortions in one of its articles, he
shamelessly accused her of “fabricating” arguments.
The JTW had cleverly edited an Swiss info wire story by including
revisionist statements on the Armenian Genocide and deleting criticism
of the Turkish position, thereby giving the false impression that
Peter Briner, the President of the Senate foreign affairs committee
of Switzerland, had made statements which he had not.
When Maral forwarded to me her exchange of e-mails, I sent a strongly
worded private e-mail to JTW, castigating the staff for accusing
Maral of fabrication when they themselves had distorted the original
news item beyond recognition. Within hours of my letter, the JTW
published on its front page a “press release” with the following
sensational title: “JTW Condemns The California Courier Publisher
Harut Sassounian.” Not happy with my criticism, the JTW resorted to
calling me an extremist Armenian and threatened that “the JTW will
start a legal action in California” against me. The JTW also posted
my e-mail on its web site.
I received dozens of e-mails and phone calls from around the world,
from both Armenians and non-Armenians alike, among them several
attorneys and judges, who assured me that there was nothing illegal
in what I had written to the JTW. Criticizing a publication is not
against the law in civilized countries. That, apparently, is not the
case in Turkey.
A reader from Canada wrote: “The prospect of a lawsuit against you
by the JTW in California must be extremely encouraging. They silenced
their own in Turkey. They try to silence foreign parliaments and now
they~Rre trying to silence an American journalist. It~Rs wonderful
the way they are keeping the issue alive. A lawsuit would provide
a superb opportunity for a US court to pronounce itself definitely
on the Armenian Genocide.” Another reader from Armenia wrote:
“Congratulations on being vilified by the Turkish press! It~Rs an
achievement, and I consider it a badge of courage. Keep on pissing
them off.” A fellow publisher wrote in his newspaper: “Turks have
unwittingly made [this writer] an even bigger hero.”
The real issue is not these empty Turkish threats. As we do not
live in Turkey, no one in this country is scared or intimidated by
such tactics.
What~Rs more important is that these Turkish propagandists had
apparently started celebrating a little prematurely. The JTW, quoting
Peter Briner, had gleefully reported that the Armenian Genocide
issue would “never” be taken up by the Swiss Senate. Dogu Perincek,
the leader of the Turkish Labor Party, who had been interrogated
by Swiss prosecutors last month for denying the Armenian Genocide,
also claimed credit for this false report. He gave a press conference
to announce that his outspoken statements on this issue as well his
testimony in Switzerland had influenced the Swiss Senate to withdraw
a pending resolution on the Armenian Genocide. Perincek called his
antics “a great success.”
Here is a more accurate report of what really transpired: To begin
with, Perincek~Rs bombastic statements not only got him in legal
trouble in Switzerland, but helped generate great publicity for
the issue of the Armenian Genocide in Switzerland and throughout
Europe on the eve of a decision by the Europeans to consider starting
negotiations for Turkey~Rs membership in the EU. Turkey then decided to
deliver a note of protest to Switzerland and cancelled the scheduled
visit of the Swiss Economics Minister Joseph Deiss to Turkey. These
foolhardy Turkish actions made the genocide issue even more newsworthy
throughout the world.
Erwin Jutzet, the President of the Foreign Affairs Commission of Swiss
Parliament reacted sharply to the Turkish bullying tactics by stating:
“Turkey has to stop reacting so sensitively to such events. It
would be better to recognize once and for all the genocide of the
Armenians.” Jutzet said it was up to Turkey to make a positive move
rather than “always taking offense and resorting to blackmail. If
Switzerland were to turn its back on Turkey, it would be a bad sign
for EU entry.”
More bad news surfaced for the cocky Turkish propagandists, when
Sen. Peter Briner denied having said that the Armenian Genocide would
“never” be debated in the Swiss Senate. He countered that these false
reports were “based on either a misquote or a misunderstanding.” He
added: “I can never be sure what will be on the Senate~Rs agenda, of
course, but right now the postponement of Economics Minister Joseph
Deiss~R invitation to Turkey will certainly be discussed” during the
Foreign Affairs Committee~Rs next meeting on August 23. At that time,
any member of the Committee could raise the issue of the Armenian
Genocide. Should that happen, the self-declared premature Turkish
victory could end up being a defeat, thanks to the boastful behavior
of Mr. Perincek and his band of incompetent propagandists.
Even worse for Turkey, the Swiss government declared that its law
against denial of genocide also applies to the Armenian Genocide. The
Swiss Foreign Ministry (DFA) issued a formal statement following a
meeting between Ambassador Jean-Jacques de Dardel, the head of the
Political Affairs Division of the Foreign Ministry, and the Ambassador
of Turkey in Switzerland, in connection with the proceedings against
Perincek. The Foreign Ministry stated:
“During the meeting, the DFA underlined the applicability of Swiss law
in this matter and recalled that article 261 bis of the Swiss Penal
Code stipulates that any person who denies, minimizes or justifies a
genocide or other crimes against humanity is liable to prosecution. It
is the task of the Swiss judicial instances to decide on the modalities
of the application of the legal provisions of our country.”
Despite the boastful and threatening statements emanating from various
Turkish propagandists, the fact remains that ever fewer countries
are going along with Ankara~Rs denials of the Armenian Genocide. The
Turkish officials have less than six weeks to come to their senses and
realize that they have to make a bold move on the Armenian Genocide
issue if they have any hope of salvaging their sinking prospects for
the start of EU negotiations on October 3.

THREAT OF REVOLUTION AND KARABAKH ISSUE MAKE ALIYEV TURN TO MOSCOW
By Tatoul Hakobian
AZG Armenian Daily #150
25/08/2005
Karabakh issue
Vartan Oskanian, foreign affairs minister of Armenia, and his Azeri
counterpart, Elmar Mammediarov, held yesterday a meeting in Moscow,
which was witnessed by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen. “Within the
frameworks of the Prague Process, the ministers discussed all elements
of peaceful settlement of the conflict, some of which are supposed to
top the agenda of Kazan meeting between Armenian and Azeri presidents
this weekend. Discussions, already informal, continued at lunch
with the participation of Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov”,
press service of RA Foreign Ministry informs.
Oskanian and Mammediarov had another informal meeting on August 23.
According to Regnum agency, positions of the sides essentially
disagree. Mammediarov said particularly after the meeting that
“Karabakh has to remain within the structure of Azerbaijan”, adding
that the sides try to come to some kind of agreement over these
issues. The Azeri minister, who labeled the idea of a referendum to
decide the status of Nagorno Karabakh a provocation against Azerbaijan
only a few weeks ago, stated in Moscow that the sides discuss the
possibility of holding a referendum. “It’s quite another matter how
we will hold it”, Mammediarov said.
Elmar Mammediarov also stated several days ago that Armenian and Azeri
sides disagree over 7-9 issues. Ever since the mediators visited region
in July, Baku has been skeptical over the expected “breakthrough” as
the Kazan meeting approaches. In this regard, Russia is also doubtful,
contrary to the US co-chair who is still moderately optimistic. It
may happen that the Russian side is not interested in comprehensive
and final regulation, as that will even more undermine its positions
in South Caucasus.
This is, perhaps, the reason of noticeable thaw in Russian-Azeri
relations. Ilham Aliyev, whose perception was one of a pro-Western
only 1.5 year ago, has turned to the Moscow. Two factors the least –
the Karabakh issue and the threat of a velvet revolution – made the
Azeri President reconsider his foreign policy priorities. This is,
certainly, for the time being, as Ilham Aliyev sees the place of
Azerbaijan in Euro-Atlantic structures, beside the USA.
In an interview to British Sky News, Aliyev stated that they are not
planning to locate US military bases in Azerbaijan, nor they negotiate
on this issue. He called such information rumors that often come about
on purpose. Earlier, in an interview to News Week, Aliyev declared
that Azerbaijan is no outpost to any state.
Suchlike statement may well aim to make the Americans understand
that Baku is not satisfied with Washington’s policy in Karabakh
issue. In his statements to Sky News Aliyev complained in effect
of the international community, which urges Azerbaijan to keep back
from “forcible liberation of territories that are under Armenian’s
occupation for over 10 years”. Aliyev cannot be also satisfied with the
statements of American officials about parliamentary election November
6. The US and European organizations threaten the Azeri President
that another rigged election can turn into a real trial for Azerbaijan.
Only 2 years ago Azeri officials used to declare of their wish to
join NATO but their voices have subsided recently. Saying Azerbaijan
is no outpost Baku apparently means no outpost for the NATO or
US forces. While paying a working visit to the US capital in early
August, Elmar Mammediarov never spoke of Azerbaijan joining NATO. A
few months ago when Donald Rumsfeld visited Baku, the Azeri President
avoided to meet him and left for Pakistan.
>>From the point of view of tactics, Moscow’s stance in Karabakh
issue is more acceptable for Aliyev today; President Putin describes
it in the following way: there should be no winners and losers,
Russia will exert no pressure on the sides. Positions of Russians and
Azeris coincide in the issue of velvet revolutions either. Moscow’s
response is edgy to West-supported revolutions in post-soviet terrain,
traditionally considered zone of Russian influence.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA TO SELL CEMENT AND WINES TO RUSSIAN PROVINCE
Armenpress
August 24, 2005
YEKATERINBURG, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: Under an agreement signed today
in Russian Yekaterinburg by its governor Eduard Rossel and the governor
of Armenian Ararat province the Armenian province will sell cement,
wines and brandy to the Russian region.
Rossel was quoted by Itar-Tass as saying that during the visit of the
Armenian delegation, headed by Ararat governor Alik Sarkisian, the
two regions signed several agreements. Rossel said that the Armenian
province has a plant producing high quality cement and its wines are
also known for their quality.
The trade between the Russian province and Armenia in the first half
of this year amounted to $1.5 million, a 3.7 percent higher from a
year ago.
The Russian province sells to Armenia machines, food and
metals. Armenia sells there machines and food.