HEARINGS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT

YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. Two-day public hearings on the theme of
“Nagorny Karabakh Conflict: Ways of the Settlement” organized by the
Permanent Commission on Foreign Affairs of Armenia’s National Assembly
continue.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, Defence Minister Serje
Sargsyan, representatives of Armenian President’s staff and
parliamentary and non-parliamentary forces, NKR Foreign Minister Arman
Melikyan, members of NKR Parliament, heads of diplomatic missions in
Armenia, representatives of international organizations, scientists,
as well as Armenian and Russian experts participate at the hearings.

All the speakers stressed the significance of public and large-scale
hearings in such an enlarged format and noted that the action is
organized by the state structure for the first time within the last 13
years. Speaker of Armenia’s NA Artur Baghdasaryan noted that the role
of the parliamentary diplomacy rises every day as three international
inter-parliamentary structure – the OSCE, NATO and PACE discuss the
Karabakh problem now. He appealed country’s political forces to stand
higher that their narrow party interests and to be consolidated round
the solution of the Karabakh conflict.

Head of Armenia’s NA Commission on Foreign Relations Armen Rustamyan
noted that the hearings will allow to specify mechanisms of the
parliamentary diplomacy for achieving the speedy solution of
conflict’s settlement, to summarize the position of Armenian party in
this issue, to specify the place and position of Nagorny Karabakh in
negotiation process. Rustamyan also informed that the organizational
issues on holding the hearings were discussed with Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan.

The opposition representatives demanded participation of Kocharyan at
the hearings. A representative of Justice bloc Shavarsh Kocharyan
noted that it is necessary to elaborate the national concept based on
the issue of NKR’s independence. As regards the reimbursement of
territories controlled by the Armenian party, the issue should be
solved by Karabakh itself. Democratization of Armenia and Nagorny
Karabakh is the guarantee of conflict’s fair solution.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia
Henry Cyuny especially noted the importance of such discussions and
stated that the solution of Karabakh’s conflict is the prerogative of
only its participants. He stressed the necessity of conflict’s speedy
settlement to provide the economic development and integration of
Armenia into the international process. -r-

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

National Council of Churches USA, NY
March 29 2005

Special NCC Report on Faith Communions’ Resources
For Observing the September 11 Anniversary

Faith groups and their congregations across the United States will be
observing the first anniversary of the September 11 terrorist
incidents in a variety of ways. This brief survey samples some of
the plans of the 36 member communions of the National Council of
Churches, plus non-member denominations that participate in various
activities of the Council. Where available, links to more details
are shown.

You will also want to see “Eleven Days in September,” a web
collection prepared by The Shalom Center, where an extensive survey
of interfaith observances has been collected, in partnership with the
NCC.

American Baptist Churches
The ABC-USA website features many of the denomination’s terrorism
responses and resources, including the Relief Fund for Victims of
Terrorist Attack . . . Shalom Response at National Ministries Online
. . . Song “United We Stand” . . . Resources for discipling children
at Educational Ministries . . . Litany by Garth House . . . Judson
Press publications . . .Caring statements from around the world . . .
and a link to the Pastoral resources Web site developed through NCC
and its partners.

Armenian Church of America
and Oriental Orthodox Churches
The Church Remembers the Victims and Survivors of September 11 with a
special Memorial Service on Sunday, September 8 in New York City.
The service begins at Ground Zero at 3:00 pm and continues with a
requiem service at St. Vartan Cathedral. A reception follows in the
Kavookjian Auditorium. For more information, contact
[email protected]. This memorial service is sponsored by the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and the Oriental
Orthodox Churches. Clergy of many of the Oriental Orthodox Churches
will be participating. All Faiths are welcome.

Christian Church-Disciples of Christ
The Disciples website carries a special section that suggests a daily
response to commemorate the terrorist events: “In soup kitchens, In
neighborhood centers, In schools, shelters and hospitals.With service
groups that can tell us what needs to be done, right now. AND with
our brothers and sisters of all shades, faiths, and cultures working
beside us. God is calling us to Ground Zero…and it’s right here, in
our own community.”

Episcopal Church
Presiding Bishop The Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold has written his
monthly column with a focus on the commemoration of the September 11
events, and the following prayer that could be used in observances of
the anniversary: “God the compassionate one, whose loving care
extends to all the world, we remember this day your children of many
nations and many faiths whose lives were cut short by the fierce
flames of anger and hatred. Console those who continue to suffer and
grieve, and give them comfort and hope as they look to the future.
Out of what we have endured, give us the grace to examine our
relationships with those who perceive us as the enemy, and show our
leaders the way to use our power to serve the good of all for the
healing of the nations. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord
who, in reconciling love, was lifted up from the earth that he might
draw all things to himself. Amen.”

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
In a special web section, the ELCA provides its congregations with
resources in worship, prayer and action, highlighting printed and
spoken resources through The Lutheran magazine and Lutheran Vespers.
A litany and a photo album are among the materials on the website. A
Joint ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Declaration of
September 8 as a day of commemoration is also included.

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
“In Memory, In Faith, In Hope -The Church’s Response to Tragedy” is
the theme of a web-based summary of the Greek Orthodox connections to
the September 11 events and their aftermath, including the rebuilding
plans for the only church destroyed in the attacks — St. Nicholas
Greek Orthodox Church, which was located opposite the World Trade
Center.

Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
The LCMS website carries a lengthy index of worship resources for
commemorating the 9/11 anniversary, including hymns, choral settings,
scripture references, responsive readings and other instrumental
arrangements suitable for downloading. The LCMS has long been a
participant in the NCC Communication Commission.

Mennonite Church USA
The church’s website offers extensive material on observing the
anniversary of 9/11/01. In addition, the Mennonite Central Committee
website carries additional resources for Mennonite and Brethren in
Christ congregations in both the U.S. and Canada. The Mennonite
Church is an active partner in the work of the NCC Communication
Commission.

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
A summary of statements and actions from the tragedy, plus resources
for “those laboring with issues of our peace process” are offered on
the PYM website.

Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Presbyterian Church’s website offers numerous resources,
including the outline of a service of prayer and remembrance and a
message from the moderator, The Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel . . . a forum
on PresbyNet for discussing issues in the aftermath of terrorism and
another for sharing worship aids . . . an extensive initiative in
peacemaking — the Interfaith Listening Project . . .and an extensive
array of suggestions for commemorating the anniversary from the
editors of Ideas! For Church Leaders magazine.

Reformed Church in America
The RCA website offers many helps for commemorating the tragic day of
terrorism, including an Order of Worship . . . a litany of
remembrance, healing, and hope, and a litany for the church. . . and
suggestions for age-graded studies on topics such as death, violence,
tolerance . . . a primer on Islam . . and an online forum for
discussing the issues surrounding the events.

Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada
The church’s website has an extensive index of resources for
commemorating the first anniversary of the September 11 events,
including statements by church officials, a background paper on
terrorism, a prayer for peace, and other articles of interest.

Seventh Day Adventist Church
This partner in the work of the NCC’s Communication Commission is
featuring a complete index to its responses to 9/11 on its website.
Included are reproductions of the church’s advertisements in the New
York Times and Washington Post.

Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch
A summary of activities in the aftermath of the tragedies, mostly
from fall 2001, is carried on the church’s website.

Ukranian Orthodox Church of the USA
The Council of Bishops’ statement on the anniversary of the September
11 events is carried on the church’s website.

United Church of Christ
The focus of the UCC’s website resources for the terrorism
anniversary is on worship, with suggestions for liturgy, Bible study
and music. You may also want to use the website’s “search” function
to locate many other resources — simply type the word terrorism in
the search box and hit enter; a recent such search yielded 84 items
of interest.

United Methodist Church
The largest of the NCC’s member denominations is co-sponsoring with
the Council an electronic billboard at the entrance to New York’s
Holland Tunnel bearing words of hope and encouragement to commuters
headed to lower Manhattan during the month of September . . . the UMC
website carries an extensive series of articles focused on
Remembering 9/11: One Year Later . . . The church’s Igniting
Ministry program of outreach and renewal has also prepared special
September initiatives which are on their website.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The publishing arm of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops has posted to its website a comprehensive resource titled
Nine Days to 9/11, presenting visitors with a day-by-day spiritual
response to the observance of the anniversary of the terrorist
attacks. The USCCB is a long-time partner with the NCC in the work
of the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission, which produces faith-based
network TV programming.

Sportinglife.com, UK
March 29 2005

ENGLAND BEAT AZERIS BUT WALES LOSE

James Milner was the inspiration for England, who remain on course to
qualify for the 2006 UEFA Under-21 Championship finals after a
comfortable 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan at Middlesbrough’s Riverside
Stadium.

First half goals from Liverpool midfielder John Welsh and Norwich
striker Dean Ashton were sufficient to settle the issue in favour of
Peter Taylor’s side.

Taylor will be able to look back with satisfaction at his first
campaign back at the helm after replacing David Platt last summer.

A haul of 14 points from six matches leaves England three points
clear of Germany, who have a match in hand, heading into next
autumn’s conclusion of their qualifying group.

In the same group Wales had Craig Morgan sent off but still emerged
with their pride intact despite a 2-0 defeat to Austria.

Wrexham centre-back Morgan can consider himself unlucky to have been
shown a red card for an aerial challenge with Alex Pollhuber, referee
Ararat Tchagharyan stunned the Wales camp with the speed of his red
card.

Unfortunately for the Welsh, the Armenian official was not as quick
to punish two fouls on the impressive Craig Davies – both of which
warranted penalties.

Austria were ahead early on through Roman Kienast and grabbed a
second through Jurgen Samuel 10 minutes from time, when Wales’ 10 men
were tiring.

But in between the goals Wales were the better, neater side and were
unlucky to leave without something to show for their efforts.

V.OSKANYAN: SETTLEMENT OF TERRITORIES ADJOINING KARABAKH WITHIN
AUTHORITY OF KARABAKH

YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. Armenia has never been involved in any
process on settlement of the territories nearing Karabakh, this issue
has always been within the frameworks of Karabakh’s authority,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan says today in the course of
parliamentary hearings on settlement of Karabakh conflict.

Moreover, the minister says that Karabakh side has never hidden that
it wages and will wage a special policy in future with respect to
Lachin corridor as it is a key of security of the whole Karabakh.
Oskanyan says that issue of Shahumyan region, northern and eastern
parts of Mardakert region of Karabakh occupied by Azerbaijan are on
the agenda at present. This issue has become very urgent after the
monitoring of the territories under our control initiated by
Azerbaijan, the greatest part of the population in these territories
are refugees from Karabakh regions occupied by Azerbaijan, the
minister says.

VARDAN OSKANYAN: WAR BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN WILL BE THE THIRD
AND MAYBE THE LAST MISTAKE OF AZERBAIJAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. The negotiation process for peaceful
settlement of Karabakh conflict is at rather complicated stage – on
the one hand, Azerbaijan confirms its readiness to continue the
negotiation process, on the other hand, it speculates with it at
international structures and advances its positions on the
contact-line of the Armenian and Azerbaijani armies. Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan says today in the course of parliamentary
hearings on settlement of Karabakh conflict.

We are concerned over the behavior of the Azerbaijani party, but we
are not afraid of it as we are ready to respond to Azerbaijan’s
probable initiative of unleashing a new war, which will be its third
and maybe the last mistake, Oskanyan says. In his words, the Armenian
party has shared its concern with the Minsk Group mediators and this
issue will be discussed during their next meeting. Oskanyan says that
despite some common approaches, the sides are far in their positions
on settlement of the conflict and the mediators are unlikely to make
their positions closer in the course of their forthcoming meeting.
One should hope for the Azerbaijani party will come to the meeting in
a constructive mood, the minister says. Commenting on the stage by
stage settlement-scheme (return of the territories outside Nagorny
Karabakh to Azerbaijan with further negotiations for status of
Karabakh), he says that if Ilham Aliyev is awakened at 3 o’clock at
night, he will sign this document. This settlement-scheme can be
discussed and implemented at any time, Oskanyan says. In response to
the question on possible compromises the minister says that he cannot
calculate them all. He only notes that the Armenian side cannot yield
Karabakh to Azerbaijan, it cannot allow that Karabakh becomes an
enclave as well as it cannot endanger the security of the people
residing in Karabakh.

SwissInfo, Switzerland
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
March 29 2005

Armenia features high in Swiss-Turkish talks

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey in Turkey has held talks
centring on the Armenian question with her Turkish counterpart,
Abdullah Gül.

They recognised their differences of opinion on the issue but agreed
on the need for historians to research it.

“I talked to Mrs Calm-Rey at length about our point of view on the
Armenian question and the historical evolution of this problem,” Gül
told a news conference after the discussions.

“The positions of Switzerland and Turkey are different,” he added.

Gül commented that the decision by the cantonal parliamant of Vaud to
recognise the 1915 slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Armenians as
genocide – which put paid to a previously scheduled visit by
Calmy-Rey – was “unreasonable”.

Condemnation

In December 2003, a similar vote in the Swiss House of
Representatives reached the same conclusion, drawing renewed
condemnation from Turkey.

Gül also said on Tuesday he believed that the version of facts put
forward by the Armenian diaspora was the cause of misunderstandings
on the issue.

Armenians say that about 1.8 million people were killed in 1915,
while Turkey disputes this, putting the figure closer to 200,000.

“Switzerland believes it is up to each country to go back over its
history and come to terms with it,” Calmy-Rey commented.

She welcomed Gül’s willingness to set up an international commission
of historians to throw more light on what was a “difficult subject of
history”.

Ankara wanted Switzerland to send experts to take part in the
commission’s work, according to Camly-Rey’s diplomatic adviser
Roberto Balzaretti.

But he added: “It is too early to talk about that”.

Human rights

The two ministers also discussed human rights, with Calmy-Rey
congratulating Gül for the “reforms and efforts that had been made”.

But in a reference to last week’s demonstrations in Istanbul that
were violently put down by the authorities, she said she wished that
“the political will could be translated on the ground”.

The talks also featured economic ties, which Calmy-Rey said, “could
be improved”. In particular, she mentioned the possibility of an
agreement between the two countries on the double taxation of goods.

Gül recalled that trade between the two countries had reached $4
billion (SFr4.81 billion) a year, while Swiss investments in Turkey
totalled $2 billion.

He also thanked Switzerland for playing host to United Nations talks
on Cyprus last year at the Bürgenstock resort in canton Nidwalden.

Courtesy call

Earlier on Tuesday Calmy-Rey paid a courtesy call on the country’s
president Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

She also laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk,
founder of the Turkish republic and its first president.

On the second day of her visit Calmy-Rey is due in the city of
Diyarbakir in the mainly Kurdish southeast of the country, where she
is expected to meet local representatives and non-governmental
organisations.

This section of the trip was viewed in poor light by Ankara in 2003.
Shortly after the invitation was withdrawn, the Turkish authorities
accused Calmy-Rey of meeting a member of a banned Kurdish
organisation in Lausanne.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office later launched an investigation to
find out whether the Swiss foreign minister had been spied on by
Turkey’s secret service.

On the final day of her trip, Calmy-Rey is due to give an address to
the Swiss and Turkish business leaders in Istanbul.

“Turkey is Switzerland’s most important business partner in the
Middle East. Around 40 Swiss firms move there every year,” said
Balzaretti.

swissinfo with agencies

VARDAN OSKANYAN: ISSUE ON NAKHIJEVAN MIGHT PREVENT KARABAKH PROCESS

YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. An issue of Nakhijevan occupied by
Azerbaijan from Armenia early 20th century is the separate task to be
discussed, stated Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan at today’s
parliamentary hearings.

In his words, there are various opinions concerning this issue, but it
is not on the agenda of the Armenian side. “It is a matter for the
separate and serious discussion and is no purpose to mix it together
with the Karabakh issue. It might prevent positive solution of the
Karabakh process”, Oskanyan noted. -r-

ISSUE OF KARABAKH’S STATUS MUST BE SOLVED TO FINALLY SETTLE THE
CONFLICT AND NOT RESUME IT: ARMEN ROUSTAMYAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. Head of the Armenian Parliamentary Foreign
Relations Commission Armen Roustamyan thinks it necessary to establish
a consultative body at the parliament at the level of the heads of
parliamentary delegations for elaboration of a consolidated position
on Karabakh issue at international structures.

Speaking at the hearings of Karabakh problem at the Armenian
parliament, Roustmayan has proposed general features of the concept on
Nagorny Karabakh. The future document must be based on the people’s
right to self-determination in international documents and fulfillment
of this principle in the own territory. The document is to fix a
position ruling out recognition o the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan with inclusion of NKR in it. The document is also to fix
that the juridical force of “the illegal decision of the
Transcaucasian Bureau of the USSR was exhausted, it was effective in
the Soviet period of time.” Besides, the document is to fix that in
the period of Karabakh’s being part of Soviet Azerbaijan, its
territory was cut. The results expected from adoption of such concept
are people’s right to self-determination, adoption of a trilateral
agreement on the status of NKR, provision of security to it, fixing of
Armenia’s status as a guarantor of security of NKR and then solution
to the problem of refugees and territories, Roustamyan says.

He says that implementation of all the points must secure either full
independence of NKR or its joining Armenia, but never a status of
autonomy as part of Azerbaijan. The concept is to fix that Armenia
represents and protects the interests of NKR at international
structures, but its has no right to sign documents instead of it. The
document is to say that the conflict differs from all the others and
requires a differentiated approach.

Roustamyan says that the issue of the status must be solved to finally
settle the conflict and not resume it, however, Azerbaijan’s
aspiration to provide a status of autonomy to Karabakh leads to the
second version. He says that Armenia insists on international
recognition of NKR’s status and a relevant agreement on this basis.
As regards the “issue of territories,” it must be solved taking into
account the position of the three parties. Azerbaijan’s statements
that in the territorial aspect only it suffered losses do not
correspond to reality, one should not forget about Getashen, Shahumyan
and other Armenian territories under control of Azerbaijan. He calls
wrong Azerbaijan’s position that return of the territories is not a
compromise, only the issue of the status can be a compromise. While,
Armenia’s tough or compromise policy must proceed from the policy of
Azerbaijan. He says that the package settlement-scheme can be
implemented stage by stage. Simultaneously with settlement of the
conflict, regional cooperation should be developed, Roustamyan
says. He emphasizes NKR’s participation in the neogtiaitons.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AND AZERI PRESIDENTS SHOULD DISCUSS CEASE FIRE VIOLATION
REPORTS DURING THEIR NEXT MEETING

YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. OSCE Minsk Group has not yet responded to
the Armenian side’s demand for including the issue of cease fire
violations in the agenda of the next meeting of the Armenian and Azeri
presidents, says Armenia’s FM Vardan Oskanyan.

He says that the Armenian side is concerned over the Azeri positions’
having come very close to the Armenian ones in the last half year.
“We are not complaining we are just stating that Azerbaijan is
advancing its positions within its territory but all the same this is
worrisome,” says Oskanyan noting that the presidents should discuss
the situation until it becomes too dangerous. “It is hard to say yet
what exactly Azerbaijan is planning by such actions but it seems to be
trying either to torpedo the negotiating process or to resume the
military actions,” says Oskanyan noting that the Armenian side is
ready for rebuff at any moment.

The Armenian and Azeri FMs have already done all they could and now it
is for the presidents to continue. But if Azerbaijan wants one more FM
meeting this should be coordinated with OSCE MG. As to the
presidential meeting it very important as it is able to shed light on
many issues, says Oskanyan.

KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS TO PROGRESS ONLY WHEN INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTS
CONFIRM KARABAKH PEOPLE’S SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT

YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. There will be progress in the Karabakh
peace process only when international documents and Azerbaijan confirm
the Karabakh people’s self-determination right, says Armenia’s FM
Vardan Oskanyan.

Only then one will be able to speak about resolving the consequences
of the conflict. This is not maximalism – this is the least the
Armenian side can expect. “We just want recognized the Karabakh
people’s right to self-determination,” says Oskanyan noting that
Karabakh can be involved in the talks only after the Armenian and
Azeri presidents have agreed on the matters of principle and just need
to consider details – which is not the case for the time being.

Commenting on President Putin’s statement that Russia is ready to
actively promote the Karabakh peace process Oskanyan says that this is
good wish only. “We also have such wishes but the process should not
be accelerated artificially. This would lead to complications.” To
make the talks effective Azerbaijan should stop calling for war and
violating the cease fire regime.

As to the OSCE FFM report Oskanyan says that if Azerbaijan stops
speculating on the territories settlement issue after the report is
made public this will mean that it was concerned but now these
concerns have been dispersed but if Baku persists this will mean that
it is following political ends.