RICHARD HOVHANNISIAN MEETS WITH TEACHERS AND THOSE NEGATING GENOCIDE IN HOUSTON
HOUSTON, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN -ARMENIANS TODAY. Professor Richard
G.Hovhannisian, the Chief of the University Department on Armenian
Educational Institution of the Modern Armenian History, continues
his wide-spread activity on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide. In June, he opened the Forum of the Genocide
Scholars’ International Association which is held once in two years and
which this time took place in the state of Florida, USA. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the International and National Researches Armenian
Center, during the event, the Professor made a direct comparison on
the issue of the Armenian Genocide and stopped on the modern challenges
with which those studying genocide problems and human rights programs
collide face to face. Professor Hovhannisian left for France to
participate in another international forum. The forum was organized
by the Center of the Jews, Armenians and Christians of East. The
theme of the event was: “Typifications of XX Century’s Spacious
Slaughters.” R.Hovhannisian discussed latest findings concerning
planning and organizing the Genocide as well as interpretations about
gradually undergoing changes in it. Richard Hovahannisian also included
in the variety of summer events a number of lectures in Yerevan and in
the city of Houston, Texas, USA. On July 22, in Yerevan, he delivered
a lecture on the occasion of opening of the “Annual National Forum”
and the first lecture, especially for the Diasporan Armenian youth
who arrived in Armenia to participate in this event. Being a member
of the organization commission of the international forum dedicated
to the 1600th anniversary of the Armenian letters, Mr. Hovhannisian
assisted the final stage of preparation works of the meeting to take
place in Yerevan, in September. By the invitation of the Holocaust
Museum, on July 25-26, Richard Hovhannisian visited Houston where he
made a speech at the summer institute organizaed for teachers, then
he delivered a night public lecture. For the first time, an official
performance dedicated to the Armenian Genocide took place at the
Summer Institute after Max Kaplan acting specially for educators. The
performance stressed the importance of ivolvement of the Armenian
experience as a prototype of mass masacres taken place during the
modern era. On July 26, a group of teachers visited from five American
states, as well as from Chile, Uruguay and Romania were informed about
preconditions and alarms of the Genocide, the role of its idelogy,
used technologies, similarities and differences of the Armenian
Genocide and the Jewish Holocaust. According to Christina Vaskez,
teachers passiontly respond this theme, and Professor Hovhannisian’s
report was praised. According to Vaskez, “The lecture dedicated
to the Armenian Genocide and its relation with the Holocaust was
formed rather skillfully in order our participants to be able to use
this information in their classrooms. Twelve points of the examples
of genocide, as well as the difference of the situation in Turkey
(concerning the Armenian Genocide) from one in Germany, which withstood
just its past, were especially impressing. Late on July 26, Professor
Richard Hovhannisian again delivered a public lecture at the hall of
the Holocaust Museum. In his speech, he presented historical, moral and
humane events which are still urgent and decent in our days. He started
the lecture taking into account the circumstance of the presence of
a significant number of members of the Turkish-American Association
of Houston. They presented themselves with literature and materials
negating the Genocide in order to challenge the fact of the Armenian
Genocide. R.Hovhannisian stated that members of the Turkish-American
Association and all other suspicious people should get acquainted
with the facts , the common denominator of the world research better,
and join the the list (being added) of those Turk researches who
now disprove the illogical interpretation given to the events by
their state. He mentioned that one of the sad consequences of the
denial is th at it has hampered a proper recognition of the assistance
shown by Turks and other Moslems in order to save Armenians during
displacings and massacres and paying a tribute of respect to them. The
professor’s skillful control of the situation was favoured with storm
of applauses by the audience. Though, all those who came with a goal
to depreciate the lecture, were not satisfied with it. And most of the
groudless points of the refusal of the Genocide were repeated during
the discussions. But they were responded with calm and argued answers,
and, as a precondition for a final agreement, all parties were called
on to confront their own history sincerely. Richard Hovhannisian
hoped that his respond about the heritage of the Armenian Genocide
will give new filling to the continuous search to reach the truth.

Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait
Aug 18 2005
One Azeri soldier dies in mine blast
MIL-AZERBAIJAN-MINE-BLAST
One Azeri soldier dies in mine blast
BAKU, Aug 17 (KUNA) — An Azeri soldier was killed and another suffered
injuries in a landmine blast in a frontier region with neighboring
Armenia, the defense ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement said the incident occurred in the region of Tirtir,
adding that this region had witnessed a series of identical incidents
in the past, taking lives of troops and Azeri shepherds.
Separately, the ministry reported that Azeri Defense Minister Safar
Abiev, currently on a visit to Latvia, signed an agreement for military
cooperation between the two countries.
The accord stipulates exchange of information, expertise and
habilitation of cadets, in addition to cooperation in the military
technology and sciences. (end) nk.

AZERBAIJAN: A ROAD, IF NOT A REFERENDUM, FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH
Shahin Abbasov 8/17/05
EurasiaNet, NY
Aug 17 2005
Expectations are running high in Baku that an upcoming meeting between
the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia can achieve a breakthrough
in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.
President Ilham Aliyev and President Robert Kocharian of Armenia are
scheduled to hold a summit on August 26 in the Russian city of Kazan,
on the sidelines of a Commonwealth of Independent States gathering.
Some media outlets in Baku have reported that the two could sign
a declaration in Kazan outlining a possible Karabakh settlement.
Officials, however, have refused to confirm these reports. “The
maximum we can expect from the meeting in Kazan is a statement by the
presidents in which they would order their foreign ministers to start
working on the text of a future agreement,” one senior government
official told EurasiaNet, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Not all Baku analysts predict even that degree of progress. Ilgar
Mamedov, an independent political analyst, suggested that both Aliyev
and Kocharian could be posturing in an effort to curry the favor of
Western governments and international organizations. Both presidents
will soon face crucial political tests at home – parliamentary
elections in Azerbaijan and a constitutional referendum in Armenia –
and both leaders don’t want to do anything at this delicate point
that would undermine their respective international standing. [For
additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. International
mediators have pushed hard in recent months to promote a Karabakh
solution. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
“The recent wave of optimism could have been predicted a long time ago
based on previous experience of the connection between elections and
the negotiation process,” said Mamedov. “The so-called ‘Prague process’
will diminish in importance after the forthcoming November elections
in Azerbaijan and referendum in Armenia.” The “Prague process” refers
to the regular meetings between Azerbaijan and Armenia’s foreign
ministers and the co-chairs of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation’s Minsk Group, the tripartite body charged with mediating
a conflict resolution. [For additional information see the Eurasia
Insight archive].
Government officials, however, reject such a view. While saying that
he is “far from euphoric on the chances for reaching peace soon,”
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Tagizade commented that “we can
say that there is real mutual progress on the negotiations.” Recent
charges that Armenian special services participated in a supposed coup
plot against the Aliyev administration, along with the leader of a
pro-opposition Azerbaijani youth group, appear to have done little to
dispel that optimism. Armenian officials have denied any involvement
in a coup plot. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Baku remains insistent on a so-called “step by step” settlement
for the Karabakh conflict, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told
journalists on July 21. Under this approach, Karabakh’s territorial
status would be defined only after Armenian forces withdraw from
seven occupied Azerbaijani regions and communications between the two
counties are restored. [For additional information see the Eurasia
Insight archive]. Demilitarizing the conflict zone, clearing mines, the
return of refugees and the provision of security guarantees are among
other measures that would be implemented. The possible installation
of peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh is seen as the final issue
for agreement, according to Mammadyarov. “And any status is possible
only within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,”
the foreign minister added.
Resolving Karabakh’s future territorial status is possible “freely and
democratically,” only after the successful implementation of all the
above measures, according to one senior government official who spoke
with EurasiaNet on condition of anonymity, “However the implementation
of all the discussed stages could require years,” the official noted.
As part of this “free and democratic” process, the official said,
a referendum on Karabakh’s status could be considered. When a
referendum was proposed during negotiations in Yerevan in mid-July,
the Azerbaijani government reacted negatively. The issue is reportedly
to be finally resolved during the meeting between Aliyev and Kocharian.
Many Azerbaijani experts and media pundits are opposed to a
referendum. Eldar Namazov, a former presidential aide and one of the
leaders of the YeS opposition alliance, argued that agreeing to a
referendum would go against Azerbaijan’s national interests. “There
is no way to conduct a referendum in the occupied territories and
every single attempt to do so is doomed,” Namazov said.
Vafa Guluzade, a retired Azerbaijani diplomat, said Azerbaijan did not
need to agree to a referendum to secure a peace deal. “The Armenians
have already conducted a referendum and no doubt that they will vote
for independence again,” Guluzade told Turan.
A further snag looms just over the horizon. Azerbaijan’s constitution
dictates that any referendum held in the country must be held
nationwide, noted Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov in comments
to reporters. If Azerbaijan sees Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan,
any question on its status must be submitted to Azerbaijanis outside
of the territory as well. Otherwise, in Azimov’s words, a referendum
will be impossible.
One sweetener, however, has already been put on the table. Azerbaijan
has proposed opening a new motorway that would link the Azerbaijani
town of Agdam (located in Armenian-occupied territory) with the
Karabakh capital Stepanakert, and from there, to the Azerbaijani
exclave of Nakhichivan. According to Azerbaijani officials, the road
would ensure reliable links between Armenia and Karabakh, and also
between Azerbaijan and its Nakhichivan exclave.
“This project could make the South Caucasus a united region from the
political point of view and would encourage regional cooperation,”
said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity. If implemented,
Armenia and Azerbaijan would each provide security for their section
of the road.
The security issue was discussed in mid-July in Baku between the Minsk
Group’s co-chairs and leaders of the remaining Azerbaijani community
in Karabakh, Nizami Bakhmanov and Elbrus Takhmazov. One proposal,
supported by Bakhmanov, would see OSCE peacekeepers provide for the
road’s security, with traffic following a pre-determined schedule —
a practice employed in Bosnia in the 1990s.
The catch, however, could lie in Lachin, which contains the road that
connects Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. Azerbaijan remains adamant
that Armenia not retain control of the territory. “Lachin is part of
Azerbaijan and there is no way for the region to stay under Armenian
control,” Azimov said in a July 15 interview with ATV television.
Azerbaijan is calling for the resettlement of the Armenian population
from Lachin. “For the last 100 years, Armenians did not live in Lachin,
so that they have to be resettled,” said Bakhmanov. “But compensation
to these people could be paid,” he added, citing the findings of a
report by an international fact-finding mission earlier this year.
Commenting on the Armenian side’s concerns about the security
of Karabakh’s Armenian population after the return of Azerbaijani
residents, Bakhmanov stated that the return of a “peaceful population
without arms” to Lachin and Shusha, a city strongly tied to Azerbaijani
culture, is “in itself is a guarantee of security.”
In July, the Russian Minsk Group co-chairman Yuri Merzlyakov
lauded Armenia and Azerbaijan for “showing their willingness for
compromise.” Even so, many international observers are restrained in
their expectations for the peace process. A resolution to the conflict
“could be settled by the end of the year, or may not be settled for
100 years,” commented Steven Mann, US co-chair of the Minsk Group,
on July 21. It all depends “on the will of the government and the
people of the two nations.”
Editor’s Note: Shahin Abbasov is a freelance journalist based in Baku.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AMERICAN AVENUE 1
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 46 47 00; 46 47 01; 46 47 02
E-MAIL: [email protected]
August 17, 2005
U.S. Embassy Yerevan Hosts U.S. Department of Energy Workshop
Monday 15 August through Wednesday 17 August, the Embassy of the United
States of America in Yerevan sponsored a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
Commodity Identification Training (CIT) demonstration workshop at the
Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan. This seminar was conducted by a United
States Department of Energy (DoE) training team. The workshop familiarized
officers from the Armenian State Customs Committee and the National Security
Service with the enforcement of export controls for WMD-related materials
and helped train the officers to recognize these controlled commodities.
Richard Talley, Team Leader, noted that, while this is a very complex
subject, the interest and questions asked by the more than 20 participants
indicated an excellent understanding of the importance of this information
to Armenian border security.
Following the workshop, the DoE Training Team will host a two-day Export
Control Technical Exchange in Yerevan for representatives of institutions
responsible for the licensing and enforcement of the Republic of Armenia’s
export control laws and regulations. During the exchange, both sides will
discuss export control and will share experiences and best practices related
to export controls. Representatives of the State Customs Committee, the
National Security Service, the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development,
the Commission on Export Control, and technical experts involved in review
of export licenses have been invited.
This training and technical exchange is sponsored under the United States
Export Control and related Border Security (EXBS) Program, which has been
operating in the Republic of Armenia for almost five years. The EXBS Program
is designed to strengthen the borders of Armenia by providing the latest in
interdiction equipment, and developing the enforcement skills of the
Armenian Border Guards and the Customs Service in the fight against
worldwide terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and chemical and
biological warfare.
The trainer, Dr. Kirsten Laurin-Kovitz from Argonne National Laboratory.
The seminar was conducted by a United States Department of Energy (DoE)
training team
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Commodity Identification Training (CIT)
demonstration workshop at the Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan
From: Baghdasarian

Schussel: I am Pessimistic About Turkey’s Membership
Published: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 Zaman Newspaper
Austrian Prime Minister, Wolfgang Schussel, disclosed he was
pessimistic about Turkey’s European Union (EU) membership due to the
EU’s capacity.
Schussel spoke to the German Frankfurter, Allgemeine Zeitung. He
was asked “Why are you against Turkey’s membership?” “I say, `yes’
to negotiations with Turkey. Turkey’s membership is not impossible in
the long-run. However, due to the maturity level of this country and
the EU’s limited capacity, I believe it is necessary to seek another
alternative instead of full membership,” Schussel replied.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
August 17, 2005
____________________
“DOING OUR PART TO HELP”
IN-KIND DONATIONS AID ARMENIA’S DEVELOPMENT
“After observing an operation at the University Hospital #1 in Yerevan,
my husband Roberto, who is a surgeon, was awed by the great lack of
medical supplies, the extremely outdated equipment, and the huge
difference in conditions under which Armenia’s doctors operate,”
explained Nadia Rodriguez. “For example, we were told that surgeons are
instructed not to use sterile gloves on patients who cannot afford the
extra $5 fee. By American standards, this is unbelievable! We wanted
to help improve the conditions in Armenia’s public hospitals for the
sake of both the patients and the doctors.”
Since February 2005, Mrs. Rodriguez, working with the Fund for Armenian
Relief (FAR), has coordinated with hospitals in the northeast to donate
supplies and equipment to Armenia. These range from such basics as
sterile gloves, blood tubes, and wound closure kits to more complicated
machinery such as fetal heart rate monitors, defibrillators, critical
care monitors and x-ray equipment. Mrs. Rodriguez has secured more than
$170,000 worth of gifts in-kind. “I hope this is only the beginning,”
she states.
“Since we had the contacts, my husband and I wanted to do our part to
help. Jeffrey Welsh, Vice President of resources and materials
management at Meridian Health, has been extremely helpful in offering
equipment for our cause. Through him and others we have been able to
secure equipment that is more modern than the equipment currently in use
by many U.S. hospitals! If only we knew more people that hold similar
positions in other hospitals throughout the US. Our goal is to have a
continuous flow, in bulk, of updated medical supplies to Armenia.”
The gifts in-kind identified by Mrs. Rodriguez complement FAR’s
Continuing Medical Education (CME) program. This program offers
post-graduate training opportunities to Armenia’s doctors in order to
enhance their skills and knowledge in their chosen fields of medicine.
The medical equipment and supplies will be distributed to the hospitals
and clinics where FAR trainees and their mentors practice.
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Gifts in-kind are contributions of material items made by a donor to
help support the operations or services provided by a nonprofit
organization. FAR, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in
New York, accepts all in-kind donations, with the exception of medicine,
that would be needed, useful, and helpful to the people of Armenia and
Karabagh by the container-load.
Gifts in-kind have been particularly bountiful for FAR in 2005.
* Continuing a long tradition, New York’s Jack Torosian donated
valuable science and reference books to FAR for specialized schools and
universities in Armenia.
* More than $100,000 worth of medical equipment and supplies has been
collected by Dr. Raffi Avitisian and Serop Demirjian of Cleveland, OH to
be sent to Armenia for FAR’s CME Program.
* Dr. Dennis Vollman, of the Southgate Radiology & CT, Nuclear Medicine
and Ultrasound in Michigan, donated a CT scanner and an ultrasound unit,
valued at $85,000. This was not the first time Dr. Vollman worked with
FAR. He had sent medical equipment to Armenia through FAR immediately
after the 1988 earthquake.
* New York Presbyterian Hospital sent 800 epidural anesthesia kits,
amounting to close to $10,000, to Armenia’s public hospitals thanks to
the efforts of FAR Board member Dr. Edgar Housepian.
* Harry Minoian persuaded the Niagara Falls Board of Education to
donate approximately $300,000 worth of brand-new textbooks to Armenia
through FAR. The subjects of these books cover history, literature,
U.S. government and foreign languages, including English as a second
language, French and Spanish. FAR will distribute these much-needed
textbooks to its Ounjian School, Catholicos Vasken I School, Mathevosian
School, as well as other public schools with foreign language
specializations.
* Florida’s Lucine Harvey secured enough children’s goods, ranging from
basic necessities, like clothes, shoes, mattresses, pillows, towels,
soaps, and toothpaste, to school supplies to fun items, like toys and
bicycles, to fill three 40-foot containers. These diverse goods, valued
at more than $145,000, will benefit FAR’s Siranoosh summer camp in
Yeghegnadzor, the Yeghegnadzor college, the Dilijan Children’s Health
Center, and the Yerevan Children’s Reception and Orientation Center for
homeless children.
* Hagop Vartevarian of New Jersey contributed new bath towels and bed
sheets, worth more than $3,000, for FAR’s Vanadzor Old Age Home and the
State University Guest House in Yerevan.
* Gregory Manuelian of New York donated a professional digital camera
having a $1,000 market value for FAR’s Press Office in Armenia and
Karabagh.
* Mike Hovesepian, through Pennsylvania’s Global Rubber, Inc., gave
1,600 square feet of rubber mats worth $12,450, for a new playground
built by FAR at the Nork Orphanage in Yerevan.
* AmeriCares has donated 171,600 8-ounce bottles of Ensure, the
nutritional beverage, to FAR via UAF. A 40-foot container filled with
62,400 bottles (20 pallets) is currently on its way to Armenia to help
beneficiaries at FAR’s soup kitchens, the Old Age Homes in Vanadzor and
Gyumri as well as the Hagop S. Touloukian Senior Center in Gyumri. Two
more containers (packed with the remaining 35 pallets) will be sent to
Armenia shortly.
* AmeriCares also gave more than 9,200 bottles of children’s vitamins
(four pallets) to FAR via UAF. These essential supplements were
distributed to needy children through hospitals, polyclinics and youth
institutes.
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served 10
million people through 130+ relief and development programs in Armenia
and Karabagh. It has channeled more than $250 million in humanitarian
assistance by implementing a wide range of projects including emergency
relief, construction, education, medical aid, and economic development.
FAR is dedicated to realizing the dream of a free, democratic,
prosperous, and culturally rich Armenia.
For more information about in-kind donations or to send contributions,
contact the Fund for Armenian Relief at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY
10016; telephone (212) 889-5150, fax (212) 889-4849; ,
[email protected].
— 8/17/05
E-mail photo available upon request.
PHOTO CAPTION1: Dr. Roberto Rodriguez of Boston, MA (right) observed an
operation performed by Dr. Gevorg Yaghjyan (left) in University Hospital
#1 in Yerevan. That experience inspired him and his wife, Nadia, to
fundraise for gifts in-kind with the goal of having a continuous flow,
in bulk, of updated medical supplies to Armenia.
PHOTO CAPTION2: FAR Executive Director Garnik Nanagoulian (far left)
was impressed with the collection of medical gifts in-kind that Dr.
Raffi Avitisian (far right) and Serop Demirjian (second from left) of
Cleveland, OH were able to amass to send to Armenia for FAR’s CME
Program. They began looking for ways to help Armenia’s medical
professionals after mentoring Dr. Mushegh Israelyan (second from right)
from Karabagh.
# # #

Iberian Resources in Armenia JV with Global Gold Corp
RWE Australian Business News
August 16, 2005 Tuesday
Sydney – Tuesday – August 16
(RWE Aust Business News) – Iberian Resourcees Ltd (ASX:IBR) has
entered a joint venture agreement with Global Gold Corp USA to acquire,
finance and develop the Lichkvaz gold project in Armenia.
The company’s shares have been reinstated to quote on the announcement
and last traded at 36 cents.
The Lichkvaz project is a very large, high-grade gold/silver/copper
project that can be quickly brought into production.
The target estimate based on former soviet category estimates is
approximately 3.6 to 4.0 tonnes containing 650,000 to 750,000 ounces
of gold at a grade of 5.5 to 6.0 grams per tonne gold.
In addition to gold the estimates show the above tonnage could hols
silver at grades between 35 and 40 g/t and copper at 0.35 to 0.45pc.
Global Gold Corporation has an option agreement to acquire 100oc of
the Lichkvaz gold project.
On successful completion of due diligence Iberian Resources (80pc)
and Global Gold Corp (20pc) will control a 100pc equity interest in
the Lichkvaz.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH: PEACE ON THE HORIZON?
Haroutiun Khachatrian 8/17/05
EurasiaNet, NY
Aug 17 2005
Armenian leaders are hopeful, but cautious as they approach what could
prove to be pivotal talks concerning the future of the Nagorno-Karabakh
territory.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian will try to break the existing
deadlock in the Karabakh talks when he meets Azerbaijani leader Ilham
Aliyev August 26, amid a summit of Commonwealth of Independent States
member states. As a prelude to those discussions, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov are expected to hold talks in Moscow on August 23.
Hopes for a Karabakh deal have risen markedly since the July 10-16
visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Karabakh by the co-chairmen of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group,
the tri-partite body charged with mediating peace talks. “We have never
been closer to an agreement,” Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov was quoted as saying by various Armenian media outlets after
Minsk Group co-chairmen Steven Mann (USA), Bernard Fassier (France)
and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) left Baku on July 13.
The substance of recent discussions remains a tightly guarded secret.
While cautiously optimistic, Armenian officials and experts believe
the talks can still stumble over several significant obstacles. Most in
Yerevan also are putting the onus on Azerbaijan for the fulfillment of
settlement expectations. In an August 11 editorial, the Golos Armenii
newspaper stated that “Azerbaijan has to demonstrate with real deeds
its commitment to a compromise-based, civilized … solution of the
Karabakh problem.”
Armenian and Karabakh leaders refuse to entertain the possibility of
the breakaway territory remaining under Azerbaijan’s jurisdiction. In
June, Armenian President Robert Kocharian, who served as president of
the breakaway territory from 1994-1997, reaffirmed this point while
speaking with a group of Armenian students in Moscow. “Karabakh’s
independence isn’t liable to bargaining,” he said in a speech aired
by the Armenian public television on June 23.
In recent weeks, some high-profile politicians have hinted that
mediators may be probing for a compromise that could potentially
leave Karabakh outside of Azerbaijan. “Progress has been made in the
. . conflict settlement process. It is most evident in Azerbaijan’s.
position, which is relatively constructive. The status of
Nagorno-Karabakh is the key issue, and Azerbaijan is now discussing it
with the co-chairs,” Arkady Ghukasian, president of the self-declared
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, said in July after Minsk Group officials
visited Stepanakert.
A report distributed by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFERL)
suggested that one compromise under consideration would have Armenia
withdraw from at least five of the seven occupied regions (excluding
the Lachin, and, most likely, Kelbajar regions connecting Karabakh
with Armenia). Armenia would also permit the return of Azerbaijani
residents to the occupied territories and to Nagorno-Karabakh proper.
According to a high-ranking sources cited in the RFERL report,
Azerbaijan would, in turn, agree to recognize Karabakh’s status based
on the results of a referendum to be held among the inhabitants of
the enclave within 10 to 15 years. To build bilateral confidence,
the sides would open a motorway connecting Azerbaijan, Karabakh,
Armenia and the Nakhichivan exclave of Azerbaijan. In addition,
according to the same source, Turkey would open its border with
Armenia as soon as a Karabakh settlement is signed.
Serious distractions could come in the form of Azerbaijan’s November
parliamentary elections and Armenia’s constitutional referendum,
expected to take place at roughly the same time. In addition, the
notion of a Karabakh referendum is already generating considerable
opposition in Azerbaijan.
Some opposition politicians in Armenia and Karabakh are also critical
of the referendum proposal. They point out that the territory already
held a plebiscite in 1991 in which residents voted overwhelmingly
for independence. In a July 13 interview with the daily newspaper
Aravot, Aram G. Sargsian, leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia,
argued that the outcome of a future referendum in the territory could
turn out to be unfavorable for Armenians, as Azerbaijanis, who have
a much higher birth rate, might become a majority in the territory
within 10 years.
Editor’s Note: Haroutiun Khachatrian is a Yerevan-based writer
specializing in economic and political affairs.

2005 Arpa International Film Festival Announces Dates and Highlight Events
Persian Mirror
Aug 17 2005
Los Angeles , CA – The 2005 Arpa International Film Festival will be
held October 3 – 7 at the Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood.
VISIONARIES is theme of the week-long event that will present over 50
features, documentaries, shorts and animated films from 18 countries.
The festival concludes with an awards ceremony at the historic
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Friday, October 7.
Arpa Official Selection includes the works of Caroline Aaron, Shohreh
Aghdashloo, Ed Asner, Catherine Bell, Eric Bogosian, Dan Bucatinsky,
Vikram Chatwal, Erica Christensen, Andy Dick, Finneus Egan, Jenna
Elfman, Dori Fram, Rene Gabri, Isaac Hayes, David Kriegel, Roger
Kupelian, Danica McKellar, Gor Mkhitarian, Tahmineh Milani, Gary
Null, James Oxford, Joanelle Romero, Timilee Romolini, Don Roos,
Peter Rosen, Jane Seymour, Dora Serviarian-Kuhn, Vijay Singh, Diego
Velasco, Sevag Vrej, and Aaron Weisblatt.
ABOUT ARPA
As a resource for international filmmakers, the Arpa Film Festival
celebrates independent thought, artistic vision and cultural
diversity in cinema. Arpa was created as a non-profit organization in
1997 to give Armenian filmmakers a forum to share their vision. Arpa
expanded its scope to include the works of all filmmakers who address
the issues of diaspora, multi-culturalism and global empathy. Now in
its 8th year, Arpa has grown into a dynamic forum for world cinema in
Los Angeles. Hence, this year’s theme: Los Angeles has always
welcomed great VISIONARIES who draw power from the city’s cultural
diversity. Indeed, Los Angeles is a city of unlimited cultural power.
With civic art in mind, Arpa honors those filmmakers who unify the
different cultures and communities of LA, redefining what Los Angeles
stands for as a global city and as a dream.
ARPA 2005 HIGHLIGHTS
Oct. 3, Opening Night : “KHACHATURIAN”: The award-winning documentary
about the renowned classical composer. Directed by Peter Rosen;
narrated by Eric Bogosian.
Oct. 4, International Spotlight Film : “UNWANTED WOMAN”: Iranian
director Tahmineh Milani explores social, political, and cultural
effects on a woman who harbors a criminal.
Oct. 5 American Spotlight Film : “CALL WAITING”: Los Angeles premiere
of the Don Roos-produced, one-woman, two-character film starring
Caroline Aaron.
Oct. 6 Special programs focusing on Armenian, Latin and women
filmmakers; global empathy and war; family animated shorts and
documentaries.
For Sponsorship & Program Ad Book opportunities, please contact Arpa
at (323) 663-1882.
The Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art is a charitable,
non-profit, tax-deductible organization registered as a 501 (c) 3
Corp.

Armenie: un chercheur turc condamne a la prison avec sursis pour contrebande
Agence France Presse
16 août 2005 mardi 3:03 PM GMT
EREVAN 16 août 2005 — Un chercheur turc de 33 ans, etudiant a
l’universite Duke en Californie, a ete condamne mardi par la justice
armenienne a deux ans de prison avec sursis pour contrebande de
livres anciens.
“J’etais et je reste un ami de l’Armenie”, a declare le jeune chercheur
a la sortie du tribunal d’Erevan, qui l’a declare coupable d’avoir
tente de sortir d’Armenie des livres anciens d’une valeur estimee a
plusieurs milliers de dollars.
Yektan Turkyilmaz, originaire d’Istanbul, avait passe deux semaines
dans les bibliothèques d’Erevan a etudier des textes locaux anciens,
avant d’etre arrete a la mi-juin a l’aeroport d’Erevan après la
decouverte dans ses bagages de livres du XVIIe siècle, dont certains
portaient des tampons de bibliothèque.
Le chercheur turc qui risquait cinq ans de prison ou une amende
pouvant atteindre 2.300 dollars, est sorti libre de la salle du
tribunal après deux mois de detention.
Il a annonce son intention de regagner les Etats-Unis pour poursuivre
ses etudes d’anthropologie.
–Boundary_(ID_eeEpRNEhQ0Qm8z9hPBHZlQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress