Vafa Guluzade: “Chechens are heroic people!”

Kavkaz Center, Turkey
March 26 2005

The Chechen journalist and legal expert Mairbek Taramov met Vafa
Guluzade, who held a high post of the state adviser at three presidents
of Azerbaijan . He had a long conversation with him, which we bring
to attention of our readers.

He graduated from the Azerbaijan State University ; worked at the
Academy of sciences of the Azerbaijan Republic . Then he entered
the postgraduate study of the Institute of Oriental studies of the
Academy of Sciences of the USSR , where he protected his master’s
thesis. He is a skilled orientalist-foreign-affairs-specialist,
speaks the Arabian, English, Farsi, Turkish and Russian languages.

In 1969 V. Guluzade worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the USSR , then in different Soviet embassies. In breaks between
diplomatic work he worked in the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of Azerbaijan as the head of the department of culture of the
Central Committee, simultaneously taking part in large diplomatic
actions, devoted to regulation of the Arabian-Israeli conflict with
the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR.

In the end of 1990 he returned to Azerbaijan in the post of the adviser
of the embassy of the USSR in Algeria , and since then he worked as
the state adviser at three presidents of the Azerbaijan Republic ,
till 1999.

On the 8 th of October, 1999 V. Guluzade resigned and became engaged in
an active political activity, writing numerous articles in the press,
interview and applications concerning foreign policy, settlement of
the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict.

He headed the delegation of Azerbaijan in the Minsk group of the OSCE
at the negotiations with the Armenian party, and was the personal
representative of President G. Aliev at direct negotiations with the
representative of the President of Armenia. He is also a participant
of numerous summits of the OSCE, and also heads of the states.

Chechenpress

Kyrgyz unrest delays military exercises with Russia, ex-Soviet republics

Turkish Press
March 26 2005

DUSHANBE – Joint military exercises between Russia and several
ex-Soviet republics, which were due to take place in Kyrgyzstan
next week, have been postponed for a week and moved to neighboring
Tajikistan, officials said here Saturday.

The exercises were due to take place on March 29 in Kyrgyzstan
between the members of a collective security cooperation treaty
that was signed in 1992 by Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

“Because of events in Kyrgyzstan, the training will take place on April
2 in Tajikistan,” an official at Tajikistan’s defense ministry said.

The security treaty calls for a united effort by its members in the
fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.

Kyrgyzstan’s veteran Soviet-era regime was toppled on Thursday after
thousands of opposition supporters overran the Central Asian nation’s
main seat of power.

ARKA News Agency
March 25 2005

Armenia to resolve refugee problem in few years: PACE Rapporteur

RA President congratulates Armenia’s workers of theater

Armenian Apostolic Church Leader Garegin II hosts Russian President
Vladimir Putin in his residence in Echmiadzin

Hearings on Karabakh problem to be held in Armenian parliament on
March 29 and 30

Robert Kocharyan, Vladimir Putin open year of Russia in Armenia

No violations of cease-fire regime recorded in monitoring of contact
line between NKR, Azerbaijani armed forces

Special attention should be paid to youth exchange: Vladimir Putin

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan sees great potential in
enlargement of cooperation with Russia

Caucasus-Poti ferry service to open up broad prospects and radically
change situation:Robert Kocharian

Caucasus-Poti ferry service to intensify region’s economic life:
Vladimir Putin

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to visit Moscow on May 8 to
attend festive events connected with celebration of victory in World
War II

Vladimir Putin: Armenian investments in Russian economy to be
welcomed

Vladimir Putin: Armenia and Russia to keep promoting Russian and
Armenian businessmen’s participation in investment and privatization
activities

Russia to contribute to the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Putin: Revolution in Kyrgyzstan “was not a surprise” for Russia

Robert Kocharyan: there is a very high potential for cooperation
between Armenia and Russia

Vladimir Putin: the CIS surely needs preserving, and everybody is
interested in it, irrespective of political adherence of authorities

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ARMENIA TO RESOLVE REFUGEE PROBLEM IN FEW YEARS: PACE RAPPORTEUR

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian legislation on refugees is in
full conformity with international standards, and the existence of
some programs inspires hope that Armenia will resolve the refugee
problem in a few years, Boris Chilevich, PACE Rapporteur for Refugees
and Displaced Persons in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia stated at
his meeting with Speaker of the RA National Assembly Artur
Baghdasaryan. The public relations department, RA National Assembly,
reports that Chichelevich made a positive appraisal of the NA
Speaker-headed Council for Refugee Affairs, which is an important
link in accomplishing legislative and practical tasks.
In his turn, Speaker Baghdasaryan pointed out the priority of solving
the refugee problem, and singled out the provision of refugees with
housing and job. He pointed out that the RA state budget provides for
funds for resolving the refugees’ housing problem, and relevant
programs are being implemented in nine Armenian regions. Baghdasaryan
said that special courses are planned in Armenia’s higher schools for
refugees to improve their professional skills and find jobs.
“Computer centers that are working and opened in Yerevan and in
Armenian regions contribute to the accomplishment of this task,”
Baghdasaryan said. The side also discussed the implementation of a
professional retraining program under PSCE’s auspices. P.T. -0–

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RA PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES ARMENIA’S WORKERS OF THEATER

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan has
congratulated Armenia’s workers of theater on International Day of
Theater. The RA presidential press service reports that in his
message the RA president pointed out the theater’s significant role
in the Armenian people’s life. “It appears to be natural that nobody
enjoys such love and popularity in Armenia as great masters of the
Armenian stage. We attach importance to upholding and developing
their traditions,” Kocharyan said.
According to him, great is the theater’s role in the spiritual and
cultural life of present-day Armenia. In his message he points out
that “the picture of future Armenia depends on our work today, and
especially on cultural establishments’ efficient activities. “I
warmly congratulate all representatives of our stage art on their
holiday, wish them to have new brilliant representatives, inspiration
and success,” the President’s message says. P.T. -0–

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ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH LEADER GAREGIN II HOSTS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT
VLADIMIR PUTIN IN HIS RESIDENCE IN ECHMIADZIN

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian Apostolic Church Leader Garegin
II hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday in his residence in
Echmiadzin. After welcoming the Russian President, Garegin II spoke
about centuries-long cordial relations between the two nations. “This
is a historic visit that will be recorded in St.Echmiadzin books as a
new evidence of long friendship between our nations”, he said.
Armenian Apostolic Church Leader thanked the Russian President for
his care of Armenians living in Russia. Putin, in turn, stressed
spiritual nature of the base of the two nations’ relations. He
expressed satisfaction that relations between Armenian and Russian
Churches remain as cordial as centuries ago. Vladimir Putin
emphasized great contribution made by Garegin II either to
development of the two countries’ relationship or establishing peace
in Caucasus. The meeting was ended in GareginII and Vladimir Putin
visit to Echmiadzin Patriarchy Museum and St Echmiadzin Cathedral,
where Garegin II prayed for further development of friendship between
Armenian and Russian nations.
Russian Presidential Adviser Sergey Prikhodko, Russian Ambassador to
Armenia Anatoly Dryukov, Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen
Smbatyan, Bishop Yeznik Petrosyan, who is in charge of
St.Echmiadzin’s Department for Foreign Church Relations, Vicar of
Armenian Apostolic Church’s Ararat diocese Navasard Kchoyan, the Head
of New-Nakhichevan and Russian dioceses Bishop Yezras Nersisyan and
St. Echmiadzin Office head Bushop Arshak Khachatryan. M.V. -0–

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HEARINGS ON KARABAKH PROBLEM TO BE HELD IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT ON
MARCH 29 AND 30

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian National Assembly’s Standing
Committee on Foreign Relations initiated parliamentary hearings on
Karabakh problem to be held on March 29 and 30. According to the
National Assembly Department for Public Relations, the aim of the
hearings is to specify opportunities and mechanisms of parliamentary
diplomacy, to promote the problem solution and to clarify the role
Armenia plays in Nagorno Karabakh in the process of Karabakh conflict
settlement. After the hearings, the Committee will publish reports
and speeches heard here. To make the hearings more effective, their
initiators ask all interested individuals and juridical entities to
submit their remarks and proposals related to the event to the
Committee.

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ROBERT KOCHARYAN, VLADIMIR PUTIN OPEN YEAR OF RUSSIA IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Today, RA and RF Presidents, Robert
Kocharyan and Vladimir Putin, have opened a Year of the Russian
Federation in the Republic of Armenia. The program envisages 120
joint arrangements in political, economic, scientific and
technological, and interregional spheres. The program envisages the
organization of trade and industrial exhibitions and fairs, expansion
of exchange of economic information, scientific-practical conferences
on various problems of bilateral and regional cooperation. The
cultural part of the program includes the presentation of Russia’s
best creative groups, achievements of the country’s musical,
theatrical and art schools, modern-day art workers, cinema and
television to the Armenian public. Meetings of literary men, workers
of theatre, and cinema are expected as well. Such world-famous
collectives as the ballet troupe of the Bolshoi Theater, RF National
Philharmonic Orchestra, Moscow Anton Chechov Art Theater, S.
Obraztsov Puppet Theater, A. Alexandrov Academic Company of the
Russian Army are to participate in the cultural actions. A week of
Russian cinema, exhibitions of contemporary art and photo exhibitions
are to be held as well.
As regards science and education, arrangements are to be organized
aimed at expanding contacts between higher schools, training and
re-training of personnel, at strengthening the positions of the
Russian language in Armenia. Arrangements at the level of the RA and
RF Academies of Sciences, particularly, forums on priority subjects
of joint research, are to be held as well.
A logical continuation of the Year of Russia in Armenia will be a
Year of Armenia in Russia in 2006. The main idea of the Year is to
pave the way for public and business initiatives, establish direct
human communication, expand information and cultural exchange, deepen
bilateral contacts. P.T. -0–

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NO VIOLATIONS OF CEASE-FIRE REGIME RECORDED IN MONITORING OF CONTACT
LINE BETWEEN NKR, AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES

STEPANAKERT, March 25. /ARKA/. No violations of the cease-fire regime
were recorded during regular monitoring of the contact line between
the NKR and Azerbaijani armed forces at a section to the north of the
village of Talish, Martakert region, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).
The press service of the NKR Foreign Office reports that on the side
of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring was conducted by the filed
assistants to the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Miroslav Vimetal (Czechia), Peter Key (Great
Britain) and Torsen Arsen (Switzerland). The Azerbaijani side did not
take the OSCE representatives to its fronts, which resulted in a
defective visual contact between the OSCE monitoring groups.
On the NKR side the monitoring mission was accompanied by
representatives of the NKER Ministry of Defense and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. P.T. -0–

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SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO YOUTH EXCHANGE: VLADIMIR PUTIN

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Special attention should be paid to youth
exchange and to the involvement of young people in the
Armenian-Russian cooperation, RF President Vladimir Putin told a news
conference held jointly with RA president Robert Kocharyan in
Yerevan. Putin said that the problem of cultural ties between the
people of the Soviet generation and young people really exists and is
the result of restricted contacts during the last few years. “It is
not so much political. Rather, it is accounted for by the decrease of
the volume of cooperation and cultural ties, as people have more
difficulties is moving around the post-Soviet area than they had
within a common state,” Putin said. According to him, these issues
are being constantly discussed, and possibilities and ways of
overcoming these difficulties are being sought. “We hope that today’s
arrangement, the opening of a Year of Russia in Armenia, will
contribute to the accomplishment of these tasks,” the RF President
said.
In his tur, speaking of cultural ties, RA President Robert Kocharyan
pointed out more active use of the potential of modern information
technologies and public communication. “In this aspect, the relaying
of the Culture TV channel in Armenia is most important,” the RA
President said. According to him, the use of some instruments allows
the culture and art situation in the CIS to be properly monitored. He
pointed out that Russian TV companies could have prepared programs
about cultural situation in Armenia and in the other CIS countries.
“We regret to lose what has been created by many generations. All
benefit from mutual enrichment, especially in the aspect of cultural
contacts,” Kocharian said. P.T. -0–

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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARYAN SEES GREAT POTENTIAL IN
ENLARGEMENT OF COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan sees a
great potential in enlargement of cooperation with Russia, the
Armenian President said at joint press conference with Russian
President Vladimir Putin in Yerevan. Speaking on cooperation
prospects in bank area, Kocharyan said “we see active movement
forward”. In his words, Moscow companies run construction in Yerevan.
“There were no such a thing two years ago”, Armenian President said.
According to him, reconstruction of Armenal, which will become one of
leading companies in this area, is under way now.
“There are also serious projects in energy area and we discussed
possibility of their fundamental continuation. We will deal with a
new quality of cooperation – regional cooperation.And there are
serious reserves in the region”, Kocharyan said. M.V. -0–

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CAUCASUS-POTI FERRY SERVICE TO OPEN UP BROAD PROSPECTS AND RADICALLY
CHANGE SITUATION:ROBERT KOCHARIAN

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. The Caucasus-Poti ferry service will open
up broad prospects and radically change the situation, RA President
Robert Kocharian told a news conference held jointly with RF
President Vladimirm Putin in Yerevan. He pointed out that the
operation of the ferry service means the commencement of the solution
to a most serious transport problem, “which has been curbing our
economic cooperation.” “The situation is changing radically here, and
time is required for developing this route, calculating expenses, but
I am sure that prospects will be opened up which have not been spoken
of at least during the last few years and have not been completely
calculated even by us,” Kocharian said. P.T. -0–

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CAUCASUS-POTI FERRY SERVICE TO INTENSIFY REGION’S ECONOMIC LIFE:
VLADIMIR PUTIN

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. The Caucasus-Poti ferry service will
intensify the region’s economic life, RF President Vladimir Putin
told a press conference held jointly with RA President Robert
Kocharian in Yerevan. He pointed out that the first ferry has
transported a grain cargo for Georgia from the Caucasus to Poti. “In
the future, this ferry is expected to be used for transporting goods
to Armenia. We hope that this line will start operating in the
interests of all the countries of the region, private investments
will be attracted, and it can be said a good start in the right
direction,” Putin said. He pointed out that such steps will afford
ample opportunities for business and creation of jobs, as well as
intensify the region’s economic life. “It will also contribute to the
integration and resolution of accumulated problems,” Putin said. P.T.
-0–
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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARYAN TO VISIT MOSCOW ON MAY8 TO ATTEND
FESTIVE EVENTS CONNECTED WITH CELEBRATION OF VICTORY IN WORLD WAR II

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
decided to visit Moscow on May 8 to attend festive events connected
with celebration of victory in World War II, Russian President
Vladimir Putin said Friday speaking at a joint press conference with
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan in Yerevan. “Our nations were
fighting Nazi side by side and this date in our common history we’ll
mark together”, he said. M.V. -0–

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VLADIMIR PUTIN: ARMENIAN INVESTMENTS IN RUSSIAN ECONOMY TO BE
WELCOMED

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenian investments in Russian economy
will be welcomed, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday at his
joint press conference with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan in
Yerevan. In his words, the issue was discussed during bilateral
talks. “I think Armenian investments in Russian economy, especially
in those areas in which Armenia itself is interested, will be
welcomed”, Putin said. In his words, certain growth of Russian
investments in Armenia is visible today. In his words, they are still
not so great but the prospects are obvious. In his opinion, regional
and investment cooperation is an important reserve. Russian President
pointed out the importance of political and economic stability in the
country as key factor for cooperation enlargement. M.V. -0–

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VLADIMIR PUTIN: ARMENIA AND RUSSIA TO KEEP PROMOTING RUSSIAN AND
ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN INVESTMENT AND PRIVATIZATION
ACTIVITIES

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Armenia and Russia will keep promoting
Russian and Armenian businessmen’s participation in investment and
privatization activities, Russian President Vladimir Putin said
Friday at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words, accord on that
is already reached with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan. Putin
also pointed out that there are considerable prospects of cooperation
between the two countries in energy and banking areas. Russian
President called negotiations with his Armenian counterpart very
fruitful and useful considering all aspects of bilateral relations
and also regional and international problems. Putin attached special
significance to the issue related to partnership in the frames of CIS
that he discussed with Armenian President. “We intend to solve common
problems, such as terrorism, transnational criminality and drug and
arms trafficking, by joint efforts. M.V. -0–

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RUSSIA TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. Russia will contribute to the settlement
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as stated RF President Vladimir Putin
at a press conference in Yerevan after the negotiations with RA
President Robert Kocharyan. “We will hope for the regular meeting and
negotiations between presidents of RA and AR”, Putin said. He
emphasized that in the course of the meeting with Kocharyan attention
was paid to regional problems. “Our countries are interested in
stabilizing the situation in Transcaucasia, hence formation of the
atmosphere of trust and relations that would dynamically develop
social and economic area”, he said. A.H.-0–

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PUTIN: REVOLUTION IN KYRGYZSTAN “WAS NOT A SURPRISE” FOR RUSSIA

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. “Development of situation in Kyrgyzstan is
the result of power weakness and accumulated social and economic
problems in the country”, stated the President of the Russian
Federation Vladimir Putin during the press conference upon the
results of talks with the Armenian President in Yerevan. “This was
not a surprise for us”, said the Russian President. “At the same
time, the political issues are once again solved by non-legal means
in one of the countries of post-Soviet territory, accompanied by
havoc and victims. This fact arouses our regret”, said Putin.
At the same time, Vladimir Putin affirmed readiness to receive Askar
Akaev in Russia. “As far as the arrival of Askar Akayevich Akaev is
concerned, we won’t mind, if he decides to come to Russia. I think it
is quite possible”, said the Russian President. L.V.-0–

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ROBERT KOCHARYAN: THERE IS A VERY HIGH POTENTIAL FOR COOPERATION
BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. There is a very high potential for
cooperation between Armenia and Russia, as stated RF President
Vladimir Putin at a press conference in Yerevan after the
negotiations with RA President Robert Kocharyan. According to him,
Armenian-Russian cooperation includes political area as well as
economic field, which has improved for the last 2-3 years, and
military-technical area. According to Kocharyan, both countries now
try to develop the humanitarian component of the cooperation,
emphasizing that holding the Year of Russia in Armenia is a serious
action. “We discussed the possibilities of making the program
satiated, so that during the year citizens of Armenia could have a
full-fledged idea of today’s Russia, its achievements in the area of
culture, business and the whole spectrum of relations “, Kocharyan
said.
According to Kocharyan, in the course of the meeting with V. Putin
issues of interaction in the field of energy were discussed, where
“there are interesting projects, and Russia is represented well
enough”. Also, issues of activating investments policy of Russian
business in Armenia were discussed. “Armenian side greets it, and we
will create all the facilities for efficient work “, he said.
Kocharyan expressed his satisfaction with the atmosphere and results
of the negotiations held. “We also exchanged opinions abut
international issues related to the region, discussed the state of
the bilateral relations”, he said. Kocharyan noted the friendly and
constructive mood, adding that considering the volume of bilateral
relations it’s difficult to be on schedule of the meeting. A.H. -0–

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VLADIMIR PUTIN: THE CIS SURELY NEEDS PRESERVING, AND EVERYBODY IS
INTERESTED IN IT, IRRESPECTIVE OF POLITICAL ADHERENCE OF AUTHORITIES

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. The CIS surely needs preserving, and
everybody is interested in it, irrespective of political adherence of
authorities, as stated RF President Vladimir Putin at a press
conference in Yerevan after the negotiations with the RA President
Robert Kocharyan. According to him, “the CIS is quite a useful club”
for mutual cooperation and integration, including humanitarian and
administrative areas. “We should not lose it, since mutually
advantageous cooperation is very important”, he said. According to
Putin, a lot of relations between states are established in the
framework of the CIS. “This is a field for presidents of many
countries, where they can meet, discuss and solve various problems”,
Putin said. According to him, there are many directions for
cooperation, thousands of problems, in particular, borders,
pensioners, refugees, “the field of the CIS is very convenient for
raising, discussion and solving such problems”.
He added that all disappointments are caused by excessive
expectations in economic, political and military areas, but “nothing
of the kind could happen since the CIS was established for the
civilized collapse of the USSR with the least losses”. According to
Putin, the CIS has completed that task. “If in Europe structures are
established for unification, then the CIS was established for the
civilized parting. All the rest is a political husk”, he said.
According to him, when formation of the CIS there was no goal to
integrate in the area of economy, “since really nobody worked at
it”. He emphasized that opportunities come forth in the framework
of European Asian Economic Cooperation and other structures and
principles for economic integration are formed. “Someone is not ready
yet, someone shows interest, and a new integration community will be
formed on the base of a new voluntary integration”, he said. A.H.-0-

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Political Affairs Magazine, NY
March 26 2005

Iraqi Students Strike in Protest of Religious Extremist Violence
By IFTU

Several iraqi bloggers report that students from Basrah and Shatt
Al-Arab universities in Basra City have been on all-out strike for the
last three days as a reaction to the attack on 15 March by religious
hardliners and Mahdi Army militiamen on students organising a field
trip or a picnic at Al-Andalus park in the Al Makhal area of Basra.

The Kuwaiti arabic newspaper Al-Qabas also reported that hooded men
assaulted the students with rubber cables and truncheons which resulted
in severe injuries to an Armenian Christian girl, Zihoor Ashour who
lost one eye because of being beaten on her head very hard with a
thick stick of wood. Another student (a boy) who came to her rescue
after militiamen had torn off her clothes and were beating her was
shot in the head and died subsequently from his injuries.

One Iraqi email correspondent writes: “It was a tragedy. The students
of all colleges are in what you can say a revolution because of this.
They made many demonstrations against Al-Mahdi army and Al-Sadr
demanding to remove their offices from the universities and also a
group of the students went to Sayid Al-Sistani to make him talk to
Al-Sadr and advise him to be sensible in his actions.”

Students say that their belongings, such as mobile phones, cameras,
stereo players and loudspeakers, were stolen or smashed to pieces
by the militiamen. Girl students not wearing headscarves, most of
them Christian, were severely beaten and at least 20 students were
kidnapped, taken to Sadr’s office in Al-Tuwaisa for ‘interrogation’
and were only released late at night.

Students also say the police and British soldiers were nearby but
did not intervene.

A Sheikh As’ad Al-Basri, one of Sadr’s aides in Basrah, stated that the
“believers” of the Mahdi Army did what they did in an act of “divine
intervention” in order to punish the students for their “immoral and
outrageous behaviour” during the ‘holy month of Muharram, while the
blood of Imam Hussein is yet to dry.” He added that he had sent the
“group of believers” to observe and photograph the students, and on
witnessing them playing loud music, “the kind they play in bars and
discos”, and openly talking to female students, the “believers had
to straighten things out”. Do you subscribe to Political Affairs?
click image to find out how

Thousands of students have been demonstrating in front of the Basrah
Governorate building in Asharr for the last three days, shouting “No
to political Islam”, “No to the new tyranny” and “No to Sadr”. The
police (who are loyal to Da’wa in Basrah) reportedly attacked the
students in order to disperse the demonstrations.

One Iraqi blogger writes: “The Governor of Basrah appeared on Fayhaa
TV on Sunday 20 March claiming that problems with Sadr’s office had
been resolved peacefully. The Governor (who is a member of Da’wa)
apparently met with representatives from Sadr’s office under the
mediation of Shia Islamic parties in Basrah (Da’wa, SCIRI, Fadheela,
Thar Allah) and it appears that Sadr’s aides agreed to ‘punish the
guilty parties under a special religious court that would convene
for this purpose’ and to compensate the students and to return
all stolen items to the students. The Governor claimed to have met
with the family of another Christian girl who was badly injured,
‘generously’ offering her free treatment in any country she chooses.

“No mention of the rule of law here. No involvement of Basrah’s civil
courts at all. The whole incident was mopped up in a tribal-religious
meeting, but this time at the Governorate level. The guilty parties
were sinisterly assigned the job of punishing themselves. A great
lesson in democracy. But then, no one was punished for the executions
and torture at religious courts in Najaf the last time anyway.

“What is even worse, the official statement from Sadr’s office in
Basrah. It asks for the names of the students that were ‘allegedly
mistreated’ in order to compensate them. And listen to this; ‘Sadr’s
office in Basrah offers to provide the universities of Basrah with
groups to protect the students in their future field trips.’ This
following Sheikh As’ad Al-Basri’s fiery statements that the students
had ‘disobeyed his orders, and the stick was for those who disobeyed,’
alasa limen asa. He also alleged that the students had shouted ‘No
to Islam’ in their demonstrations this week, insolently adding that
the students should be punished for their ‘blasphemy’.

“The Governor literally appointed Sadr’s office as judge, witness
and law-enforcer. We might even say that the Sadrists were in fact
rewarded for their vile act…

“The students of Basra have made their demands clear; bringing
the Sadrist militiamen to a public trial in the presence of
representatives from Basrah’s student groups, banning Islamist armed
groups from entering campus or running Islamist student groups, and
the dissolution of the infamous ‘Security Committee’ which operates
in most of Basra’s colleges, and which is reminiscient of the Ba’ath’s
‘University Security’ but taking a Shi’ite Islamic appearance instead
of a fascist nationalistic one.

“Student groups from Baghdad, Arbil and Suleimaniya have sent
statements of support to Basra. Incidentally, four students were
injured in Suleimaniya during demonstrations that have been taking
place for the second week in row against the privatisation of
educational institutions in the Kurdish region.

“Still no condemnation from the the Hawza, when the attack against
the students was done in its name.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman Online, Turkey
March 26 2005

Putin: Let’s Protect CIS
By Mirza Cetinkaya
Published: Saturday 26, 2005
zaman.com

Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that the incidents that
occurred following the revolution in Kyrgyzstan, one of the former
Soviet Republics, did not surprise him.

During his meeting with Robert Kocharyan, the Armenian President who
appears on the “Velvet Revolution” list, the Russian president, Putin
highlighted that the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) must be
protected. Linking the developments in Kyrgyzstan to the poor
administration and socio-economic problems, the Russian Leader said
that “This was not surprising for us,” Putin urged the new Kyrgyz
administration to be careful to avoid any humanitarian disasters and
revealed that if the former president Askar Akayev wishes, he can
come to Russia.

Putin pointed out that the Russian administration wishes to develop
good relations with the new (Kyrgyz) administration and said, “It is
sad to see that a problem in a former Soviet Union country has been
overcome by illegal human rights violations and collective
protestations. We hope the opposition leaders have the situation
under control and can soon improve it.” The “soft” revolutions, which
occurred in the former Soviet Republics following, it is said were
indirectly caused by Moscow’s shortcomings. Also it was said that the
military operation named Rubej 2005, planned to for March 29 by the
CIS Common Security Agreement countries is likely to be postponed.

Putin and his partner in the Southern Caucasus Kocharyan are
discussing an expansion of military technical cooperation, energy
projects, and the improvement of commercial relations. Russia’s
102-numbered military base is in Armenia, one of the poorest
countries in the Caucasus region, to which Russia energy resources.
It is rumored that soldiers and equipment from two Russian military
bases, in neighboring Georgia, in which an evacuation is on the
agenda, will partly be brought to Armenia.

Zaman Online, Turkey
March 26 2005

World Press: Kremlin Loses Another Friend
By Foreign News Desk
Published: Saturday 26, 2005
zaman.com

The Tulip revolution, which resulted in the overthrow of President
Askar Akayev on Friday (March 25) in Kyrgyzstan, was broadcast in
the headlines around the world.

The answer to the question of “Who is next?”, has dominated with
comments suggesting “Moscow is loosing its friends one after the
other.”

Apart from Kyrgyzstan’s neighboring countries, Armenia was mentioned
as next possible stop on velvet revolution trail. The headline of the
French newspaer “Liberation” read, “Putin loses his friends” and wrote,
“the democratic revolution has expanded in the countries of the former
Soviet Union.” Austria’s newpaper “Die Presse” made similar comments
and referred to the event as “Domino effect in their ow back yard.”

The Spanish El Pais pointed out that the incidents in Bishkek are
similar to the ones that occurred in Georgia and the Ukraine and
said it was”a serious warning to Russia.” The British press, on the
other hand, preferred the use of the ‘domino effect” expression. A
commentary in the Times noted the existence of two military bases
just 35 km apart from each other in Kyrgyzstan. The Guardian reported
the event under the headline “One more gap in Putin’s Pro-Soviet
Vision.” The Russian media published news of the events with regard
to Kyrgyzstan and referred to it with, “The Tulip Revolution Reaches
Kyrgyzstan. Who is the next country?”

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 26 2005

AZERBAIJAN, RUSSIA: PRESIDENTS’ EFFORT CAUSE OF EXPANDING OF
RELATIONS
[March 26, 2005, 13:35:39]

Murtuz Alaskarov, chairman of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) received
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federal Assembly’s Council of Federation
Svetlana Orlova, and delegation of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly,
March 25.

Speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament, talking about history of the
relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, said the joint efforts of
the presidents Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin has been a sufficient
impetus to the development of bilateral relations which already were
risen on the level of strategic partnership. The Russian business
representatives have actively been involved to economic life of
Azerbaijan. Today is annually turnover between the countries reached
up $ 1 billion.

Then Murtuz Alaskarov has informed the quest about economic, social
and jural reforms, grave consequences of the Armenian-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He stressed that Russia as the member of
OSCE Minsk group will be more actively involve in a settlement of
the conflict.

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federal Assembly’s Council of Federation
Svetlana Orlova with satisfaction told about his meeting with President
Ilham Aliyev and recalling its meeting with nationwide leader of
the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev said that reciprocal visits
of delegations playing an important role in development of mutual
relations. As noted the quest conducting of the Year of Russia in
Azerbaijan in 2006 would serve strengthening and deepening of the
relations between two countries. Informing the parliament speaker
on the ongoing preparatory work for the 9th St. Petersburg economic
Forum, she said that it is expected joining the event Presidents of
both countries.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
March 26, 2005

The Message of His Holiness Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
on the Occasion of the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, 27 March 2005

“I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10)

Dear Beloved Faithful,

Today, from the Holy Altars of our churches, the good tiding of
the great Divine grace resonates: “Christ is Risen from the dead!
He trampled death through death, and by His resurrection, He granted
us life.”

It was Sunday, three days following the crucifixion, when the miracle
happened – Christ was resurrected from the dead. Together with the
sunrise, the mystery of resurrection and life were revealed to the
world. Faith shone upon the anxious and fearful souls of the disciples
and followers of Jesus, who after placing their crucified Teacher
in the tomb, supposed that everything had ended. They had heard the
life-bearing message of Jesus, had witnessed how the sick were healed,
the dead resurrected and through the clearest sense of their hearts
and souls, they had recognized the Savior in the person of their
Teacher. At that moment, when His tomb was empty, when the angelic
tiding of the resurrection resounded, the significance of the words of
the Lord sparkled in their hopeless souls: “I am the Resurrection and
the Life”, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”.

Resurrected is Christ! Sin has been expiated upon the cross.
Irreversible hopelessness and fear, like the chains of death, have
forever been shattered. Life is emanating from the tomb and the
all-conquering hope of salvation and everlasting life are shining.
God is wondrously glorified and glorified is man, because Christ
submitted Himself to the cross and was resurrected, so that life
stained through human sin be renewed and restored in its aim, in
its true course towards God. Christ came with the love of a peaceful
and just world, for a world reconciled with God, so that all which
man undertakes, which man creates, be for the love of life, would be
good and for the good. Christ brought to man the perfect example of
filial obedience to the Will of the Heavenly Father, declaring that
mankind’s highest aspiration is to choose the providential and saving
Will of God.

Indeed, dear ones, through the choice of the Will of God, mankind will
be able to reject and prevent Der-Zor and Holocaust, reject and prevent
September 11 and Beslan, to see paths free of wars and violence, and
to find the just and luminous fraternal avenues among nations. Hope
is alive upon those roads, the hope of life, progress and the future.
Today and always, the opportunities of man, his choices and decisions,
shall be directed to the care of the world and humanity, just as
the Creator’s Fatherly care is towards His creation. Along with the
crucified and resurrected Savior, we are His collaborators in saving,
through which we have life and have it abundantly.

Glory to the Most High, that alongside many other nations, the
Light of the saving Divine grace was also revealed to our people.
Our people irrevocably believed in the power of the Resurrection of
Christ. Armenian life is saturated with bread and wine, the land of
the Armenians blooms with monastery and stone-cross. Prayer is the
utterance of the Armenian, which has risen to heaven from the deadly
pit of Khor Virap and has become a holy book through the script of
Mashtots; has become the heaven-reaching supplication of the saint
of Narek and the sacred testimony of the martyrs. Holy Etchmiadzin,
established through the shower of light of the Resurrection,
is the soul of all Armenians; the rejuvenated soul of the nation,
surviving destructions and deaths throughout the centuries of history.
Our people have not seen the empty tomb of Christ, but together
with Christ, they have often seen the emptiness of the graves which
had been prepared for them. Together with Christ they wove glorious
crowns of victory. The Armenian cannot deny the Resurrection of the
Christ. Our past and our present are testimony to that Resurrection.
We experienced the Golgotha of the Genocide together with Christ,
turning the most tragic period of our history into a time of victory.
Our people, massacred and bleeding, in heroic struggle, gave birth to
their new statehood. The first Armenian Republic rose from the ashes,
as testimony to the immortal aspiration of our people for the eternal
existence of Armenian statehood.

Resurrected is Christ, resurrected is the Armenian Nation. The Lantern
of the Illuminator lights our path, inextinguishable in faith, shining
through faith, the visible light of faith, which will lead the free,
united and new life of our Homeland and the Diaspora. With the faithful
example of our forefathers, we will overcome the difficulties and
issues facing Armenia, Artsakh and our national-ecclesiastical life.

Dear beloved faithful, when the Risen Christ appeared to His disciples,
He called “blessed” those who believed in His Resurrection without
seeing, and that “blessed” is directed at us. Today is Easter,
the dawn of a new life, the invitation of a life with God. In this
temporal world, it is the invitation to see the providential Love
of God beyond the material things, to believe in the saving mission
and strength of the Resurrected Christ. The message of the Feast of
Easter is faith. Our resurrected life with the Redeemer begins with
faith, and with faith it strengthens and flourishes. With faith,
self-sacrifice becomes natural, and love for a neighbor becomes the
source of joy and happiness. This is the deep and mysterious miracle
of the Resurrection, always aspiring to eternal heights, to truth,
to justice and to the good.

Let our souls today be warmed from the miraculous rays of the Savior’s
Resurrection, gathering more light and becoming stronger in hope and
faith. Let our faith delineate our road to perfection and illuminate
the reborn path of new life for our homeland, our people and our
Church. Beloved Armenians, with the light of your faith turn your life
to glorifying God, so that in all your works, your heartbeat is strong,
your love emanates, and your will for the just, the true and the good
is victorious. Where the Lord is, rivers of living water will flow,
according to the life-giving Will of God and our Lord and Savior.
Through us, let the miraculous Savior Lord heal, reconcile and console,
give life and make it vibrant and life abundant, for our land, and
our dreams and desires for peace, freedom, and justice.

Dear ones in our homeland and in the dispersion, we greet you with the
great holy tiding of the Resurrection, and bless your lives and good
works. May the graces of the Resurrection descend abundantly upon
your souls, reinforce your faith, enlighten your minds, grant more
strength to your arms and more love to your hearts. Love one another,
our Holy Church, and our sacred homeland – Armenia and Artsakh.

We extend our greetings with the joy of the Resurrection to the
hierarchal incumbents of our Apostolic Holy Church: His Holiness Aram
I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Archbishop
Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob Moutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople;
and to the entire ranks of clergy of our Church.

With the love of Christ, we greet the spiritual leaders of our Sister
Churches asking for the abundant graces of the Savior upon their
pious flocks.

We bring our greetings to the President of the Republic of Armenia,
Mr. Robert Kocharian; to the President of the Republic of Nagorno
Karabagh, Mr. Arkady Ghukasian; to all Armenian state officials;
and to the leaders and the representatives of the diplomatic missions
registered in Armenia.

On this sacred morning of Easter, before the Holy Altar of Descent
of our Risen Savior, we offer our prayers asking God to always keep
the land of the Armenians free and peaceful, endowed with goodness
and bounty. We ask the Lord to keep our people in our homeland and
at all corners of the world unified and inseparable, united in love,
in our Holy Faith, with our values and inheritance, and with the
visions of our just desires.

May the Risen Christ protect the entire world under His mercy and
grace, undisturbed and peaceful, keep all nations in brotherhood and
all individuals in love, in hope and in faith. Amen.

Christ is Risen from the dead. Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ.

##

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Box: Darchinyan, Sikali meet for first time

Australian Associated Press
March 25, 2005, Friday

SYDNEY, March 25 — Mzukisi Sikali’s trainer says his charge has the
mind of a chess player and computer.

But whether he has the moves and power will be revealed on Sunday
when he takes on Australia’s world flyweight boxing champion Vic
Darchinyan at Sydney Olympic Park.

Darchinyan and South African Sikali met for the first time at today’s
press conference before the Australian’s first International Boxing
flyweight defence.

“When I can see my opponent, I become much angrier,” Darchinyan said.

The intense Armenian-born boxer took encouragement from the fact Sikali
only intermittently made eye contact with him during the traditional
stare down pose adopted by the two protagonists for the photographers.

“It tells me he is scared of me,” Darchinyan said.

Both trainers today were full of praise for 33-year-old Sikali,
who has logged 29 wins (17 KOs), five losses and two draws.

Darchinyan’s trainer Jeff Fenech labelled the challenger a “complete
fighter”.

“He’s got great coordination and a great eye. He doesn’t use his feet
much, he uses his great upper body movement and makes you miss and
makes you pay,” Fenech said.

Sikali’s trainer Harold Volbrecht compared his fighter’s style to
boxing legends Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard and said his
charge had the mind of a chess player and computer, who never needed
to be told anything more than once.

Darchinyan made it clear he wanted to extend his collection of title
belts well beyond his IBF strap and the lightly regarded International
Boxing Organisation belt the South African will put on the line
on Sunday.

“I want to unify the belts and then maybe I move up to a different
weight, bantamweight,” Darchinyan said.

“After this fight I am looking for a fight for the World Boxing
Association world title against Lorenzo Parra of Venezuela.”

However, Fenech was adopting a more circumspect attitude following
the world title fight loss of his super middleweight Danny Green
earlier this month.

“I don’t like putting the old cart before a horse, because I think I
did that in my last training regime with Danny Green, I was very, very
confident he would win, I don’t want to do that with Vic,” Fenech said.

However, Fenech felt Darchinyan would be primed to produce a better
performance on Sunday than he did in taking the title off the
previously unbeaten former champion Irene Pacheco last December,
because of a superior preparation this time around.

Softly spoken Sikali respected Darchinyan more for his physical
prowess than for his mental aptitude.

“He (Darchinyan) is a strong guy, but the way I see him, he’s not a
clever guy,” Sikali said.

The undercard for Fenech’s first world title promotion will also
include two other world ranked fighters in super bantamweight Nedal
Hussein and junior welterweight Lovemore Ndou.

The Age, Australia
March 26 2005

Darchinyan plans a quick bout
By Brad Walter
March 27, 2005

Vic Darchinyan doesn’t like to make predictions about how long his
fights will last.

“I look to finish as soon as possible,” the International Boxing
Federation world flyweight champion said on the eve of tonight’s
title unification bout against South Africa’s Mzukisi Sikali at
Sydney’s State Sports Centre.

“If I can finish in 10 seconds, I will. My fitness is very good but I
don’t look to be punching long distance. I go to kill.”

Having won 17 of his 22 fights since moving to Sydney from Armenia
after the 2000 Olympics to train under Jeff Fenech, the undefeated
Darchinyan’s record speaks for itself. “He’s so cocky that sometimes
it’s scary,” Fenech says. “He comes back after a round and says, ‘You
want me to knock him (out) now? This round, I finish?’ ”

Fenech says 29-year-old Darchinyan is pound for pound the hardest
puncher in Australia.

Having shed 8.5 kilograms in the past five weeks to get down to 50.8
kg for the fight, he can bench-press more than twice his own weight.
“He’s just so strong, mate,” Fenech said. “If he hits anybody,
they’re gone. That’s it, fight over. He can knock anybody out.”

Advertisement
AdvertisementDarchinyan’s greatest win to date was last December’s
11th-round knockout of unbeaten Irene Pacheco, who was making his
seventh defence of the IBF title.

Darchinyan hopes to unify the belts, then move up to bantamweight.
First, he has to overcome Sikali, the International Boxing
Organisation flyweight champion, who is unbeaten since 1999 and has
defended his title three times.

Fenech said the bout would be Darchinyan’s biggest test so far, but
the southpaw is confident.

“He is a smart boxer, a good mover,” Darchinyan said. “. . . But I
know . . . I am much stronger than him and much smarter. I don’t
think it will go the distance.”