Baku to provide security guarantees to Karabakh Armenians – Azeri official

Turan news agency
18 Apr 05

Baku, 18 April: The Karabakh talks held in London on 15 April were
the continuation of the Prague process, Huseyn Huseynov, a member
of the Azerbaijani delegation at the talks, told a news conference
today commenting on the results of meetings of the Azerbaijani and
Armenian foreign ministers with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Asked why the co-chairs met the ministers separately, Huseynov said
that “[Armenian Foreign Minister] Vardan Oskanyan does not want to
meet [Azerbaijani Foreign Minister] Elmar Mammadyarov for reasons
that are not clear”.

As for the co-chairs’ calls on the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples
to get prepared for compromises, Huseynov said Azerbaijan is ready
to recognize the Karabakh Armenians as its citizens and provide them
with all rights.

“Nagornyy Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan. So, the
Azerbaijani public has to recognize the Armenian population of this
region as its citizens,” Huseynov said. He added that one should work
with the Karabakh Armenians, ensure their security and improve the
economy of the region in order to reintegrate them into Azerbaijani
society.

Huseynov said the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan cannot be
a topic for discussions and compromises. So, under compromises,
one should understand preparing the public for coexistence with the
Armenian population after a peace deal is signed, he said.

Huseynov also said another round of talks within the Prague process
would be held in Frankfurt on 27 April. But he avoided questions about
the format of the meeting. Huseynov did not answer either whether
the leaders of the two counties were going to meet in mid-May. He
only said that the presidents would decide on that themselves.

Norwegian Refugee Council spends 10m dollars in Azerbaijan over 10 years

Assa-Irada, Baku
18 Apr 05

Baku, 18 April: The Baku office of the Norwegian Refugee Council
(NRC) reported on its activities over the past 10 years at a press
conference today.

Berit Olsen, NRC representative in Azerbaijan, (Yens Myaqobel?), head
of the international relations department at the NRC Baku office,
Norwegian ambassador to Azerbaijan Steinar Gil and four Norwegian
journalists attended the press conference.

Olsen said 10m dollars have been allocated to the NRC for the
implementation of projects over the past 10 years.

Speaking on future plans, Olsen said eight public buildings and
eight schools will be renovated and the living conditions of 2,500
internally displaced people will be improved in 2005. He also said
15 houses will be rebuilt in villages in Gadabay District bordering
Armenia, after which people will go back to their homes.

[Passage omitted: background of the NRC]

Absurd discussion in Turkish parliament

Yerkir/arm
April 15, 2005

The Armenian Genocide issue was once again on the Turkish Parliament’s
agenda last Wednesday.

Unlike a similar discussion held a few days earlier with the
participation of three Istanbul Armenians, this left an impression
that its participants were playing their parts of a script.

Foreign Minister Gul, who was starring in this absurd theater,
announced that Turkey has nothing in its history to be ashamed of.
Before that, the Turkish foreign minister was talking about the
800-year-long Armenian-Turkish friendship and that whatever he would
say has nothing to do with the Armenians living in Turkey.

Speaking of the Armenian Genocide, he noted that the 1915 Law on
Deportation was due to the war and with a concern to cope with the
“great internal and external threats.” According to the minister’s
distorted view, when facing such threats, all countries resort to
similar measures.

Appallingly Gul said that 1,400 Armenians were arrested after they
raised arms against their compatriots (i.e. Turks). According to the
Turkish diplomat, everything is vice versa: it was the Armenians who
attacked the Turks killing them. The minister — who had troubles
reading the text before him — indicated that Armenians, used by the
French command, organized massacres of Turks in Cilicia.

Citing the UN Genocide Convention, Gul said that what Armenians were
subjugated to in the Ottoman Empire has nothing to do with genocide,
so no genocide had taken place. He added that the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide has negative impact on the Armenia-Turkey
relations. Turkey was among the first countries to recognize Armenia’s
independence in 1991 while Armenians are pressing for the Genocide
recognitions, Gul said.

Armenia’s inclusion in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization
was a an expression of a “good will,” since Armenia has no access to
the Black Sea, according to Gul, who is forgetting that Turkey has
invited Armenia to join BSEC in its own interest, and that Azerbaijan,
another BSEC member, has no access to the Black Sea either. Gul
did not forget, however, to speak of the Artsakh issue, as well as
“hundreds of thousands of refugees,” noting that the relations with
Armenia will improve only after Armenia complies with the demands
Turkey had voiced earlier.

Only one conclusion can drawn from the Turkish prime minister’s speech:
the policy of denial remains unchanged. Turks, however, are trying
to replace the older mechanisms of denial with new ones and buy time
with “parliamentary hearings. For denial, means justify the ends.

Azeri Speaker, EU reps discuss Karabakh settlement

ANS TV, Baku
18 Apr 05

[Presenter] Azerbaijan will make no compromises in the Nagornyy
Karabakh issue, Azerbaijani Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov has told a
meeting with EU representatives.

[Correspondent over video of the meeting] The meeting between the
delegation of the EU-Azerbaijan parliamentary cooperation committee and
Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov focused on the ways of settling the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict. The speaker drew the European guests’ attention
to the fact that 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territories had been
occupied and over 1m people had became refugees as a result of Armenian
aggression. He complained about the inactivity of the OSCE Minsk Group
which had undertaken to mediate a settlement to the conflict. He said
that there had been no fair and objective approach to the conflict so
far. Alasgarov once again put forward the Baku government’s position
and ruled out any compromises on the part of Azerbaijan.

[Alasgarov, speaking to delegation members] Azerbaijan can ensure the
security of the Armenian population of Karabakh. They can be granted
higher autonomy. This is the only compromise that we can make. No
other compromises can be the subject of discussions.

[Correspondent over video] The head of the EU-Azerbaijan parliamentary
cooperation committee, (?Maria Ashler Bequin), stressed the need for
focusing permanently on the regional conflict and for electing a EU
envoy for the region.

We have familiarized ourselves with the living conditions of refugees
settled in numerous districts of Azerbaijan. We are concerned about
their difficult situation and the fruitlessness of the talks which
have been held so far, end of quote.

[Bequin, speaking in French with Azeri voice-over] We partially share
the OSCE Minsk Group’s responsibility. The Minsk Group should fully use
its potential. We hope that the conflict will be settled peacefully.

[Correspondent, over video of meeting with EU delegation] The sixth
meeting held by the EU representatives in Baku also focused on the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

[Azeri MP Gulcohra Mammadova] The EU should express its position
on the Karabakh conflict. The EU should not have the same attitude
towards the country subjected to aggression and the aggressor country.

[Correspondent] [Sentence indistinct] Meetings with the EU
representatives will continue tomorrow.

Armenian president, Russian regional leader discuss cooperation

Noyan Tapan news agency
18 Apr 05

Yerevan, 18 April: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received
a delegation led by the governor of Russia’s Perm Region, Oleg
Chirkunov, on 18 April. The two exchanged views on possible directions
of cooperation between Armenia and Perm Region.

Kocharyan welcomed the initiative of the government to create
conditions for active business contacts between Armenia and Perm
Region. The experience of cooperation with several regions of
Russia shows that this initiative may be successfully continued,
the president noted.

Chirkunov said that the powerful and respected Armenian community in
Perm can become a good guarantor for establishing partnership with
Armenia, a source in the press service of the Armenian president told
Noyan Tapan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Unity

Yerkir/arm
April 15, 2005

To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a joint
exclusive issue by Aztag, the official ARF publication in Beirut, and
Yerkir, ARF Armenia Supreme Body’s official publication in Yerevan,
will be delivered to their readers soon.

The issue will contain over forty articles, studies and analyses by
authors from Armenia and Diaspora. This joint endeavor comes to prove
again that the Homeland and the

Diaspora are united in their quest of commemorating the innocent
victims and restoring the historic truth as well as their aspiration
to build a free and fair Armenia, a homeland to all Armenians.

Recognition without restoration of rights is equal to denial
By Khazhak Mkrtchian Hayrenik, Boston

Yerkir/arm
April 15, 2005

Recently, especially in these days when the 90th anniversary is being
remembered, it is apparent that there is an unprecedented flow of
statements regarding the Armenian Genocide.

The flow could be attributed in part to the Armenian Genocide
Remembrance Day, but it would be naïve to explain it solely by
that. During those ninety years, there were the 50th and the 70th
anniversaries but no such massive flow took place then.

Never before, there has been such flow on the Turkish and international
levels either. It is true that Armenians have been working more
efficiently to pursuit the Armenian Cause, and the international
interest has been growing.

It is also true that Armenia’s independence and the fact that the
Armenian Genocide has become an issue of the Armenian government’s
foreign policy in the recent years have also contributed, but it is
equally true that the Armenian Genocide has become a playing card
in the inter-state relations in the new international and regional
line-up. Something that should not be viewed as necessarily negative
as long as the restoration of the Armenian people’s rights could be
turned into a belief in the crossroads of international relations.

The political side of the Armenian Genocide issue sticks out especially
in the US-Europe-Turkey triangle. Turkey indeed is a significant
power in the Middle Eastern and Caucasus policies of both the US
and Europe. Europe, however, is more tied to Turkey because of the
latter’s aspiration to join the EU.

Both the US and the EU have adopted policies of direct and indirect
pressure upon Turkey in their relations with this country, and the
Armenian Genocide issue is often raised during that process. What is
noticeable, however, is that those pressures are not strong enough
to demand from Turkey the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
reparations, and restoration of the Armenian people’s rights.

Turkey too realizes this. In its political relations, Turkey is
feeling the weight of the Armenian Genocide and is trying to get rid
of it. This is where the US and Turkish approaches encounter under
the silent principle of “Recognition without reparation.”

It is obvious that the US political circles are not only speaking
of this formula but are also pushing it by any means they can,
and unfortunately are trying to convince the Armenians to accept
it. It should be noted that this idea triggers more than one concern
in Turkey. The first concern is that recognition would logically
lead to reparation demands by Armenians because anyone realizes that
recognition without reparation and restoration of the Armenian people’s
rights means nothing.

Turks also know that the process of international pressuring is
endless, so the foreign powers would only raise the level of pressuring
after Turkey recognizes the Genocide, and this time they would raise
the issue of reparation This chain of concerns has no limits. .
Therefore, Turkey is simply buying time, hoping that eventually it
could make the “Recognition without reparation” acceptable. This is
where the role of the Armenians and their political organizations
becomes crucial. Armenians should attach equal importance to both
the recognition and reparation.

–Boundary_(ID_kyn5dBr8j77JRlT1uwMEWA)–

PRESS RELEASE

FEDERATION OF ARMENIAN ORGANISATIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS (FAON)
24 April Committee
Weesperstraat 91
NL – 2574 VS The Hague
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
Tel. 070 4490209
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

Press Release

90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

Exhibition on Armenian Genocide opened in Leiden, the Netherlands

An exhibition on the Armenian Genocide and entitled “Deportation,
Persecution, Annihilation” and “Reaction of Dutch media, public and politics
on Armenian Genocide” was opened in Pieterskerk Church in Leiden, The
Netherlands on the 17 April 2005. Prof. The armenologist professor Dr. Jos
Weitenberg inaugurated the exhibition with a speech on the importance of
this exhibition. The exhibition will last till 21 April 2005.

Apart from the photo material coming from the Information and Documentation
Centre Armenia (IDZA) of Berlin prepared by Dr. Tessa Hoffman and Gerayer
Koutcharian, a section of recently found Dutch documents from period
1910-1918 is added to it. The Dutch section of the exhibition is prepared by
a working group of 24 April Committee of the Federation of Armenian
Organisations of the Netherlands (FAON).

The exhibition with extended Dutch explanation is organised by 24 April
Committee of FAON with the support of Armenian Embassy in Brussels and in
co-operation with Dr. Tessa Hoffman.

–Boundary_(ID_snJDw6XB9Mr17DIjYX5lYQ)–

THE MOST DIFFICULT PART IS THE REALIZATION OF THE PROGRAM

A1plus

| 15:49:15 | 18-04-2005 | Social |

The Millennium development fund intends to realize a program of 175
million dollars in Armenia. 118 million of the sum will be spent to
solve the problems of the irrigation system, and 57 million ~V to
solve those of the reconstruction of the community roads. The program
will probably start in 2006 and will last 4 years.

According to the Tigran Khachatryan, deputy Minister of Finance and
Economy, «Investigations show that the index of overall economical
development does not have any positive impact on the reduction of
rural poverty».

Why were the irrigation and community roads chosen for the program? Mr.
Khachatryan noted that in Armenia and area 135 thousand hectares in
efficiently irrigated. The raise of the efficiency of irrigation will
greatly contribute to the raise of the profits in the agricultural
area.

This is the reason why the problems of the irrigation system
reconstruction are in the first place in the Government decisions. As
for the roads, the reconstruction of the community roads and those
connecting 308 dwelling places with the main highways is envisaged.

Roger Robinson, head of the World Bank Yerevan office, also expressed
his opinion about this program, «If the program is confirmed and
the details are cleared out, only the most difficult part ~V the
realization will be left».

–Boundary_(ID_G9CcIz2YqN36+lXvHCir3g)–

A1plus

| 13:35:30 | 18-04-2005 | Politics |

MUST TURKEY COMPENSATE?

According to Ashot Melqonyan, head of the RA Science National Academy
History Institute, the Armenian Genocide must be transferred from the
scientific field into the political. He thinks that in the international
level the term «Turkey’s responsibility» must be used alongside with
«Recognition and Condemnation of Armenian Genocide».

Today during the conference devoted to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide Mr. Melqonyan expressed opinion that moral compensation is not
enough. According to him, compensation can be both material and territorial.
«For example, the issue of Ani ruins is not connected with territorial
compensation as the area of 44 square kilometers can be compensated only
materially».

Let us remind you that in an interview given to a Turkish journalist Robert
Kocharyan has said that the confirmation of historical fairness does not
presuppose material compensation or territorial demands.

And according to Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, the Armenian nation has
already answered for the 1915 Genocide. «We have an independent country and
our national will is so strong that we will always remember that crime», he
announced today.

By the way, Turkish journalists were present at the conference.

–Boundary_(ID_2vIj8c5KpLPX3ZhhDX0Yyw)–