US must take steps in Iraq, Cyprus to improve ties with Turkey – party official

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
24 Mar 05

Washington DC, 24 March: Murat Mercan, the deputy chairman of the
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said on Thursday [24 March]
that Turkey-the United States relations were not as bad as perceived
by public opinion, adding that both parties had the necessary will
to improve the bilateral relations. Holding a news conference after
attending a panel discussion at the American Enterprise Institute
(AEI), Mercan said that he had held a series of talks with US State
Department and National Security Council officials. “Turkey-the United
States relations are not as bad as perceived by public opinion or
as reflected in the media. Both parties have the necessary will to
improve their bilateral relations. I believe that if we can correct
some misunderstandings, our relations will be better,” he said.

Mercan told reporters that he did not get the impression that the
United States would recognize the so-called Armenian genocide this
year. “Any deterioration in our relations will be beneficial neither
for Turkey nor for the United States. Those who take advantage from
it are persons or countries having negative feelings against Turkey.
Anti-Americanism in Turkey is not a rooted tendency, on the contrary,
it is cyclical,” he said. Noting that exaggerated reports both in
Turkish and American press had a great part in such misunderstandings,
Mercan went on saying: “The United States could improve its image
in Turkey by taking more strict measures against the terrorist
organization of PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party], opening a second border
gate in Iraq and taking steps to put an end to international isolation
of Turkish Cypriots. Another area of cooperation between Turkey and
the United States will be the Caucasus. I believe that Turkey can
play a momentous role in efforts to provide democracy in the region.”

Upon a question about Turkish Parliamentary Human Rights Inquiry
Commission Chairman Mehmet Elkatmis’ describing the operation of the
US forces in Fallujah city of Iraq as a “genocide”, Mercan said: “It
was an unfortunate statement. Elkatmis tried to correct his mistake.
We all should be careful while using certain words.” Mercan said
that Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc was planning to pay a
visit to the United States in May. Upon a question, Mercan said that
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan could come to California
in May to attend the graduation ceremony of his daughter. Mercan said
that Turkey was “extremely uneasy” about anti-Semitic statements.
Replying to another question, Mercan said that if the United Nations
Security Council decided to impose sanctions on Iran because of its
possible nuclear activities, Turkey would abide by the decision.

Denying news reports claiming that the United States was planning
to keep its mission in Turkey at the level of the third man for a
long time after resignation of US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman
in June, Mercan said: “These are baseless claims. During my talks
with US National Security Council officials, they told me that the
second man would be sent immediately, and the new ambassador would
be appointed soon.”

Azeri customs confiscate goods bound for Armenia

Space TV, Baku
24 Mar 05

[Presenter] Georgian and US companies have been delivering goods to
Armenia [via Azerbaijan], the first deputy chairman of the Azerbaijani
State Customs Committee, Aydin Aliyev, said today. The goods of these
companies have been confiscated.

[Aliyev] The companies are mainly Georgian. Among them there is a
company registered in the USA. The rest are Georgian companies. The
goods transported there mainly include oil and grain.

As for the fate of the goods, about 2,000 t of oil products, of
them over 400 t of aircraft fuel and diesel fuel, were confiscated
under a court decision. In addition, in connection with the exports
of liquefied gas, a company called (?Modern Partners) has been fined
to the amount of 19,430 dollars.

Turkey to fight genocide claims
>>From correspondents in Ankara, Turkey

Advertiser Adelaide, Australia
Australian, Australia
March 25 2005

TURKEY has enlisted the help of a United States historian today as
part of its campaign to counter damaging, decades-old claims Armenians
suffered genocide at Ottoman Turkish hands during and after World
War I.

Turkey is worried the 90th anniversary of the alleged genocide on
April 24 will trigger a fresh outpouring of sympathy for the Armenians
which could harm Turkey’s image and even derail the planned start of
European Union entry talks in October.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan went on the offensive earlier this month,
calling for an impartial study of the genocide claims and declaring
Turkey’s archives open to all scholars.

Invited to address the Ankara parliament today, Justin McCarthy,
an expert on the Ottoman period, argued a complex historical tragedy
had been manipulated for ideological reasons, becoming a vehicle for
anti-Muslim, anti-Turkish prejudice.

“The Armenian question has from the start been a political
campaign… Yes, many Armenians were killed by Turks at this time and
many Turks were killed by Armenians, but this was war, not genocide,”
Mr McCarthy said.

“Many politicians use the Armenian genocide not so much because
they believe it but because they see it as a means to prevent Turkey
joining the European Union,” said Mr McCarthy.

Armenia says 1.5 million of its people died between 1915 and 1923
on Ottoman territory in a systematic genocide and says the decision
to carry it out was taken by the political party then in power in
Istanbul, popularly known as the Young Turks.

Turkey denies genocide, saying the Armenians were victims of
a partisan war during World War I which claimed even more Turkish
Muslim lives. Turkey accuses Armenians of carrying out massacres
while siding with invading Russian troops.

Mr McCarthy urged Turkey to fund translations from Turkish into English
and other European languages of historical records and books providing
documentary evidence there was no genocide.

Foreign diplomats said Turkey’s support for an impartial study of
the genocide issue, possibly under the aegis of the United Nations,
was a positive development.

But they said inviting an opponent of the genocide claims to address
lawmakers who largely shared his views would merely reconfirm, not
challenge, people’s firmly held views.

It would have been more fruitful to invite people of differing opinions
on the subject to the parliament, said one.

“They are still very timid,” the diplomat said.

Armenia, a tiny ex-Soviet republic which has no diplomatic relations
with Turkey, has rejected Mr Erdogan’s proposal for an impartial
investigation, saying scholars had already established the genocide
as indisputable fact.

The European Parliament and several national assemblies from France to
Canada have also backed the claims in recent years, passing resolutions
urging Turkey to accept its past misdeeds.

Some EU politicians, notably in France, home to Europe’s largest
community in the Armenian diaspora, say Turkey must accept the genocide
claims before it can start talks to join the wealthy bloc.

PanArmenian News
March 24 2005

EXPLOSION IN YEREVAN DUE TO STRUGGLE AGAINST SHADOW ECONOMY, ARMENIA
CUSTOMS COMMITTEE CONSIDER

24.03.2005 05:40

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The explosion that took place next to the building
of the State Customs Committee at the Government of Armenia is related
to the active struggle with shadow economy and the toughening of the
customs administration, Regnum news agency reported referring to the
Press Service of the Customs Committee of Armenia. At that the Press
Service informs that everyone, who “hopes to break the will of the
Committee in struggle with shadow economy by such steps, that the
Committee will be consistent in revealing the customs offences by
toughening administration.” According to the source, the morning
incident again proves that measures to improve and toughen customs
administration are effective.

PanArmenian News
March 24 2005

OSKANIAN: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE INTERNATIONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND
ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS LIE IN TWO DIFFERENT PLANES

24.03.2005 05:07

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «Turkey is trying to take preventive measure to
prevent measures devoted to the 90-th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide in Turkey. However, we will work in the normal regime and we
plan to hold many measures,» Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian stated, the Yerkir newspaper reported. In his words, the
issue has exceeded the limits of merely Armenian circles and having
felt it Turkey opens a wide counteraction front. «However, this front
is not directed against Armenia, but against the international
community, against the humanity,» the Armenian Minister accentuated,
adding that such policy will be futile, as there is one reality and
Turkey has to put up with it. «In any case the issue of the
international acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide and the
Armenian-Turkish relations lie in two different planes and do not
intersect. For us the issue of the Genocide is not a precondition for
normalization of relations with Turkey. We are always ready to
dialogue with the Turkish party, however we will be consistent in the
Genocide issue,» the Armenian Foreign Minister said.

–Boundary_(ID_Z7T7PuhpAbQ35CUqwDMjLA)–

PanArmenian News
March 24 2005

CLASH OF COSSACKS WITH ARMENIANS PROVOKED BY THIRD PARTY NOT TO LET
ARMENIAN DIASPORA MASS ACTIONS APRIL 24

24.03.2005 04:28

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The clashes between Cossacks and Armenians might
have been provoked by a third party not to let the mass actions of
the Armenian Diaspora planned next to the Turkish Consulate General
in Novorossiysk April 24, the Yerkramas newspaper of the Armenians of
Russia reported. Due to the 90-th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide the Kuban Armenian Diaspora plans numerous events. These
include a rally next to the Turkish Consulate General, opened in
Novorossiysk this year. After the occurrence the Novorossiysk
authorities will most probably refuse authorizing the event,
justifying their decision with taking care of the law and order in
the city. It should be reminded that according to various assessments
from 100 to 200 Cossacks have made pogroms in one of the Novorossiysk
districts on 22 March. Ethnic Armenians were attacked, as well as
cars and commercial buildings owned by them. An incident in a café in
the city on night of March 21-22 caused the conflict. At the time
Cossacks headed by city Cossack Society ataman Vladimir Petrushin
approached a group of young people, composed of Armenians and Greeks,
who were celebrating a birthday. The ataman got serious bodily
injures in the course of the subsequent skirmish. He was operated at
the city hospital N1 and it there at present. Physicians assess his
state as stable.

–Boundary_(ID_DYdrBwsDKETq5aceM4OeSg)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russian mediator denies Armenia pursues settlement policy in Karabakh – TV

Lider TV, Baku
24 Mar 05

[Presenter] The so-called leaders of Nagornyy Karabakh have told the
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group that they view the settlement
of Armenians in Lacin [district in western Azerbaijan connecting
Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh] as normal and create conditions for
this settlement. The Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuriy
Merzlyakov, who knew about this before the OSCE sent its fact-finding
mission to the region, has made this statement now. Merzlyakov also
said that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen are not expected to visit
the region soon.

[Correspondent] Before the OSCE fact-finding mission started examining
reports on the illegal settlement of Armenians on the occupied lands
of Azerbaijan, the so-called leaders of Nagornyy Karabakh told the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen that they consider the settlement of
Armenians in Lacin to be acceptable and think that it is normal to
create conditions for that, Yuriy Merzlyakov said.

Merzlyakov also said that the mission has not established that the
settlement of Armenians is the result of a purposeful policy of the
Armenian government. But there are cases when the so-called leadership
of Nagornyy Karabakh facilitated the settlement of Armenians on
those territories. It is noteworthy that the Russian co-chair found
it difficult to establish any link between the Armenian government
and the leadership of the self-styled state in this issue.

The issue of illegal settlement of Armenians cannot be resolved as
long as Azerbaijani territories are under occupation. The conflict
should be resolved soon. Saying that those territories are under not
Azerbaijani but Armenian control, Merzlyakov noted that it will be
simply impossible to evict Armenians settled in Nagornyy Karabakh
before Armenian military units withdraw from those territories.

The Russian co-chairman said that frequent violations of the
cease-fire on the front line only disrupt the negotiation process.
Merzlyakov also said that preparations are under way for the next
round of talks between the conflicting parties. The co-chairmen are
laying the groundwork for the next meeting of the Azerbaijani and
Armenian foreign ministers, Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanyan,
he said. This meeting is to take place shortly, but the venue for
the meeting is still to be confirmed, Merzlyakov said.

However, Vardan Oskanyan does not rule out that the meeting may fail.
There is no need for this meeting since the presidents of the two
countries are expected to meet in May, Oskanyan said.

PanArmenian News
March 24 2005

PACE AZERI DELEGATION MEMBER CALLED OSCE FACT FINDING MISSION REPORT
ON SETTLEMENTS IN KARABAKH-ADJACENT TERRITORIES FALSE

24.03.2005 04:17

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Member of the delegation of Azerbaijan to the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, political scientist
Aidyn Mirzazade has expressed opinion that on the whole the OSCE fact
finding mission report on settlement of the territories adjacent to
Nagorno Karabakh is advantageous to Azerbaijan, as the issue was
raised by the Azeri party, which possesses many facts of locating
population in Karabakh. Mirzazade emphasized that the settlement of
population in those territories «runs counter to international
conventions, noting that first of all it is necessary for provide for
normal living conditions in these territories, and the Armenian party
has not done it ~V on the contrary, it banished the local population,
depriving it of its property.» «Armenia has been trying to fail the
mission work. However, the mission virtually confirmed the facts
provided by our Government over settlement of people, who are not
citizens of Azerbaijan. Each time during the mission work Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh put forward new conditions. First they said that
there are no such cases, then ~V that the work will be continued. This
showed that the Azeri party was right when making statements,» he
noted. The political scientist considered the mission arriving at a
conclusion that the settlement of population is not being carried out
by Armenia as a political statement. In his opinion, «being far from
the reality, this thesis is aimed at keeping Armenia in a relatively
favorable condition. Mirzazade said, «factual proof of Armenia’s
direct participation in the process will be presented along with the
demand of their being studied at the following stages.» In his words,
«other thesis in the mission report, which do not reflect the
reality, in fact cleared up many issues.» «Firstly, it became visible
that Armenians residing outside Armenia are not inclined to living
either in this country or in the occupied Nagorno Karabakh. One
million people are ousted from the occupied lands, hence the same
number should be settled to arrange normal economy. The fact finding
mission stated that some 3 thousand people are settled, thus a
notable human deficit is present. The Armenian Diaspora is not
interested in settling these lands either. The reasons for Armenia,
pursuing a predatory policy remain unknown, taking into account its
population leaving abroad and it cannot benefit from the occupied
lands,» Mirzazade stated.

–Boundary_(ID_o29mRMRXuQ3q9q8ctFNWyQ)–

ARMENIAN NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO IRAN HANDED CREDENTIAL COPIES TO IRANIAN FM

PanArmenian News
March 24 2005

24.03.2005 08:46

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian newly appointed Ambassador to Iran Karen
Nazarian has handed copies of his credentials to Iranian Foreign
Minister Seyyed Kamal Kharrazi. In the course of the meeting the
parties discussed a wide range of issues. The interlocutors
emphasized the high level of the Armenian-Iranian cooperation, which
promotes increase of the commodity turnover volume and realization of
joint programs. Karen Nazarian has expressed readiness to make every
effort to develop cooperation between the two countries.

PanArmenian News
March 24 2005

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO ALLOCATE $300 THOUSAND TO EVENTS OF
90TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

24.03.2005 07:31

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the course of its today’s sitting the Armenian
Government has decided to allocate some 130 million 688 thousand
drams (some $300 thousand) from the reserve fund to events marking
the 90-th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. By another decision,
102 million 935 thousand drams (over $220 thousand) are appropriated
to organize events marking the 1600-th anniversary of the Armenian
written language.