Baku Today
Extraordinary frontline monitoring due Thursday
AssA-Irada 16/03/2005 12:25
The OSCE will hold extraordinary monitoring of the contact line of the
Azerbaijani and Armenian military units on Thursday due to frequent
ceasefire breaches over the past month, according to the spokesman for the
Ministry of Defense Ramiz Malikov.
Commenting on the frequent ceasefire violations, Malikov said that Armenia,
which does not follow the ceasefire agreement, relies on Russia.
Journal of Turkish Weekly
2005-03-16 10:40:59
Turkey Vows to Implement Reforms for EU Membership
LONDON (JTW) Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Tuesday rejected
criticism his government had failed to fulfill reform pledges and said
preparations for membership negotiations with the EU were on track.
Abdullah Gul, in an interview with the Financial Times, also said a
controversial draft law on regional subsidies would be revised to enable the
International Monetary Fund to approve a $10 billion stand-by program by
early April.
“We know that implementation (of the reforms) is most important,” said Gul,
referring to criticism by Brussels there had been a lack of implementation
on several rights reforms Turkey passed last year to win a date for EU
accession talks.
“We will continue. There is no way to stop this,” he said.
‘WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE WITH TURKEY’
European Union Commission Turkey Representative Hansjorg Kretschmer has said
he has forgotten the remarks made by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
about him and wanted to look forward to a future with Turkey. Indicating
that the European Union (EU) train covered distance very quickly, Kretschmer
emphasized that a political crisis would make the negotiation process
difficult. Saying Turkey’s image was stained due to the pictures of police
hitting a woman at an International Women’s Day demonstration, Kretschmer
explained: “There is a historical process ahead us. If we can achieve this,
we will achieve something that will not only affect the EU and Turkey but
also the entire world. I personally want this to be achieved.”
Kretschmer gave his first interview since Minister Gul’s provacative
statement, ‘Who is Krestchmer?’ to Zaman. Evaluating the current process,
the EU ambassador wants to ‘look to the future’. Explaining that some
Europeans wanted to stop the process due to the events in Istanbul,
Kretschmer told: “They were individual acts; however, Turkey’s image was
stained. It is necessary not to let these kinds of cases occur again in
order not to discourage Turkey’s supporters in the EU. The faster the reform
process, the faster the negotiations progress. If a slowdown occurs, the
completion of the process will be delayed.”
`ARMENIAN CLAIMS ARE NOT EU CRITERIA”
On the other hand, Armenian allegations on the agenda in France have raised
questions about how it will affect Turkey’s European Union (EU) ambitions.
European Union Commission Turkey Representative Hansjorg Kretschmer thinks
that the Armenian issue will not become a political criterion before Turkey.
Giving a brief statement about the political criteria, Kretschmer said,
“With the December 17 decision, it was accepted that Ankara had
‘sufficiently’ fulfilled the political criteria. Of course, it cannot be
said they were totally fulfilled. Government officials also think in this
way.”
Priorities according to Kretschmer: Some advice was given to the goverment
about 103 legal issues. Judicial reform should be made to ensure harmony
with the EU. Religious freedom of non-Muslim minorities should be provided.
The laws for foundations should be reviewed. Women’s rights should be made a
priority. Defects in the implementation of freedom of expression and the Law
of Association should be immediately eliminated.
Many in the EU remain deeply uneasy about admitting Turkey, a large,
overwhelmingly Muslim country of more than 70 million people, even though
negotiations could last a decade. Many extreme groups in the EU argue that
there is no room in Europe for Muslims because they think European Union is
a Christian civilization. There are many Muslim states, including Turkey,
Bosnia, Albania, Azerbaijan and Turkish Cypriot State, in Europe but none of
them is EU member.
Compiled by JTW Staff from Zaman, NTV and news agencies. 16 March 2005
Turkey-EU
2005-03-16 10:40:59
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee – Lebanon
Arax Street, Bourj Hammoud, Metn 1203 2050
Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon, Lebanon
Contact: Hovig Hovhannesian
Tel: 01/258300
Cel: 03/043727
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
12/2004
No. 3
Various Lebanese-Armenian intellectuals, artists and other leading
personalities of the community were invited to the meeting held by the
AGCC in the AGBU `Demirjian’ Center on the 13th of December 2004. The
objective of the meeting was to discuss about the most appropriate way
to organize the numerous events fot the 90th commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide, so that we ensure the participation of our
community members and we make our voice heard to external parties.
The large number of delegates, who attended the meeting, presented
their ideas and viewpoints, thus, giving valuable and helpful insight
into the preparation and finalization of the Committee’s plans.
These plans, including political, cultural, publishing,
documentation, education, awareness and other areas, are going to take
into consideration the viewpoints expressed during the meeting. The
final programs will be presented to the public as soon as they are
ready.
We should like to gladly mention that many of those who were present
in the meeting expressed their unlimited support and willingness to
provide financial and moral assistance for the success of our
objectives.
The members of the AGCC are.
Khedeshian Seta
Mardirosian Hampig
Jebejian Hrayr
Minasian Arakel
Bechakjian Peniamin
Taslakian Hovhannes
Gergerian Hagop
Keoshkerian Alexan
Manougian Krikor
Topjian Bedros
Santourian Kevork
PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee – Lebanon
Arax Street, Bourj Hammoud, Metn 1203 2050
Armenian Prelacy of Lebanon, Lebanon
Contact: Hovig Hovhannesian
Tel: 01/258300
Cel: 03/043727
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
No.1
2005 is the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and of the
deportation of the Armenian people from their homeland. The Armenians
in Lebanon and around the world are preparing the commemoration of
this tragedy.
This anniversary will serve as an opportunity to unite our means and
efforts, and to work in a more effective and determined way toward
achieving the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and
the reinstatement of our rights in our historical lands of western
Armenia.
A committee representing all the Armenian religious denominations,
political parties and organizations, has been formed. This committee
will take initiatives in order to achieve the revival of our sense of
national belonging and identity, as well as to insure the
international remeberanceof this historical tragedy and secure new
supporters for our just cause.
The committee’s objective is to make our community members involved
in its activities and initiatives. Thus, through its press releases
the committee will keep the Lebanese Armenian community informed of
its plans, which will take place throughout the year.
Maritime Administration Announces the Successful
Removal of High Priority Ships from the James River
Ten `High-Priority’ Ships Safely Removed In Less Than
10 Months
MARAD 07-05
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Contact: Wes Irvin
Tel.: (202) 366-5807
Acting Maritime Administrator John Jamian today announced that the
U.S. Maritime Administration delivered on its promise to remove all
ten `high-priority’ ships from the James River Reserve Fleet.
`In less than 10 months we followed through on our commitment to
getting these ships out of here,’ said Acting Administrator John
Jamian. `With the safe removal of these ships, we will now turn our
attention to a new group of aging vessels as we work to dispose of
these ships as quickly and safely as possible.’
The recent departures of the Lauderdale and the Mormacmoon to the
North American Ship Recycling facility at Sparrows Point, Maryland
follows through on the promise of the Administration to move the worst
ships in the aging fleet out of the river and on to qualified
shipyards to be dismantled. Additionally, since 2001 this
Administration has successfully removed 35 ships from the James River
Reserve fleet, Jamian said.
There are three remaining `high-priority’ ships that were not
available for disposal as they are on congressional hold or undergoing
a historical review process. These ships are the Saugatuck, Hoist and
Sphinx.
The James River Reserve Fleet is one of three National Defense Reserve
Fleet anchorage sites. The NDRF is maintained by MARAD for the
maintenance of readiness assets, including vessels owned or acquired
by the United States Government that are determined to be of value for
national defense purposes. When vessels are no longer considered
militarily useful, MARAD arranges for their responsible disposal or
disposition.
-END-
Novosti
2005-03-16 07:19
MARCH 16 MORNING PREVIEW
YEREVAN
* Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Ryazanov will meet with Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan. They are to discuss Russian-Armenian projects in the gas
sphere, in particular, Gazprom’s participation in the construction of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and the reconstruction of the Abovyan underground
gas storage.
Daily Times – Pakistan
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Almatay conference to focus trade with CA
ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan will chair the
maiden Envoys Conference beginning in Almatay, Kazakhstan on Tuesday
The meeting would be a good step towards improved trade relations as the
present trade policy of the country, specifically focuses on two regions
i.e. Central Asian Republics (CARs) and Africa, which remained neglected
earlier, according to an official hand out issued on Tuesday.
One of the initiatives in the Trade Policy 2004-05 is to hold Regional
Conferences of Envoys and Commercial Officers in CARs, Africa, East Europe,
Latin America, Middle East and Far East countries. The objective of these
conferences is to develop a comprehensive strategy for increasing and
diversifying Pakistan exports to these countries. The geo-strategic and
geo-economic importance of Central Asia cannot be under mined because of its
position between Europe and the Asian heartland as well as the tremendous
energy resources of the region that would gain increasing importance in
future.
The first Conference of CARs is being held at Almaty, Kazakhstan from
15-16th March. In-depth consultations will be held to assess Pakistan’s
export potential in each of these countries. The restraining factors like
import tariffs, non-tariff barriers, payment problems and visa restrictions
will be identified. The Conference would also examine the existing regional
trading arrangements. In this Conference, Kazakh-tan, Uzbekistan,
Kyrghistan, Turk-menistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Armenia will be
covered. – Staff Report
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
ap-cs-03-15-05 2204est
Immigrants nabbed at NY hotel, charged with plot to smuggle missiles
By Michael Weissenstein
Associated Press
03/15/2005
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors charged Tuesday that a 26-year-old
Armenian immigrant led a plot to sell military weapons to an FBI informant
posing as a middleman for terrorists.
Other law enforcement officials, however, cast doubt on the danger posed by
Artur Solomonyan and his associates, who allegedly claimed to be able to
deliver rocket-propelled grenades, shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles
and other arms from the former Soviet Union.
“It’s unclear if they were ever able to deliver on their promise on bringing
weapons of war into the United States,” said one law enforcement official
familiar with the case, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They were
earnest about trying to get them. They just never succeeded, and there was
no indication they would be able to succeed.”
U.S. Attorney David Kelley said in an interview Tuesday that Solomonyan, his
South African partner, Christiaan Dewet Spies, and their associates were
serious threats who demonstrated a clear ability and intent to sell military
weaponry to the FBI informant.
The informant, a South African living in Texas, told the defendants he had
ties to al-Qaida, officials said.
“No one’s saying they’re the biggest arms dealers, but they demonstrated an
ability to obtain military weaponry and destructive devices, and we followed
that investigative lead,” Kelley said. “We’ve taken some very bad people off
the street.”
At least 17 people were arrested in the Los Angeles area, Florida and New
York in connection with the case.
Solomonyan, Spies and seven other defendants were ordered held without bail
Tuesday for allegedly conspiring to transport destructive devices, among
other charges.
Solomonyan’s attorney, Louis Fasulo, said: “He’s planning a vigorous
defense.”
Spies’ attorney declined to comment as he left federal court in Manhattan.
The informant contacted federal investigators last year after Spies offered
to obtain explosives and machine guns from his contacts in Russian organized
crime, according to a criminal complaint.
The gang of Armenians, Georgians, Russians and Americans arranged the sale
of eight assault weapons during the investigation, the complaint said.
They also gave the informant access to a password-protected Web site with
pictures of military weaponry that included the anti-aircraft missiles,
rocket-propelled grenades, a mortar launcher and recoilless anti-tank guns,
the complaint alleges.
Investigators said Solomonyan was recorded on wiretaps talking with
associates in the United States and the former Soviet Union about obtaining
the military weapons.
Solomonyan claimed he could obtain enriched uranium that “could be used in
the subway system,” the complaint alleges. Kelley said he did not believe
Solomonyan could get uranium.
Solomonyan and Spies, 33, were arrested at a Manhattan hotel Monday night as
they met with the FBI informant, who had said he was bringing green cards so
the suspects, who are illegal aliens, could travel to obtain the weapons
overseas, officials said.
Solomonyan entered the United States six years ago on a cultural exchange
visa claiming he was a religious worker for the Church of Scientology,
according to law enforcement officials, also speaking on condition of
anonymity. He was living on the proceeds of Medicare fraud and other scams
as he carried out the weapons scheme, the officials said.
——
Associated Press Writers Pat Milton and Larry Neumeister contributed to this
report.
ap-cs-03-15-05 2204est
fibre2fashion.com
March 16, 2005
Kazakhstan : Envoys conference in Almaty begins – focus on trade and
commerce in CAR & Africa regions
15th March 2005
Trade Policy will be the key initiative to come up for discussion at the two
day Envoys Conference started today in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Major objective of this conference is to develop a comprehensive strategy
for increasing and diversifying Pakistan exports to these countries.
The conference will be chaired by Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce Humayun
Akhtar Khan.
Two hitherto neglected regions i.e. Central Asian Republics (CARs) and
Africa will be put under the due emphasis for their geographical proximity
with Europe and the Asian heartland as well as for their huge energy
resources, according them gain increasing importance in future.
Constraints like import tariffs, non-tariff barriers, payment problems and
visa restrictions will be identified. Also, the existing regional trading
arrangements will be extensively covered.
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrghistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and
Armenia will also be participating in the conference.
Area for trade cooperation like textiles & textile machinery, leather &
leather goods, pharmaceuticals, rice, food and its products through
participation of respective trade delegation will also be attending this
Conference and identify potential areas of exports of specific products to
these countries.
Besides, first hand information of the local tariffs, local taxes and trade
laws will also be understood during the conference.
The highlevel delegation of Commercial Counselors and Envoys of CARs would
definitely strengthen the efforts of Ministry of Commerce to enhance exports
to Central Asian Republics through fruitful interaction in groups at the
fora.
BETWEEN EXISTENCE AND ELIMINATION
A1+
15-03-2005
`The most part of the last century we lived under a regime, which
existed due to the absence of human rights. Before it our the first
genocide of the 20th century befell our people, since the end of the
century will have been struggling for establishing the rights of the
Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh’, Armenian FM Vardan Oskanyan stated
when delivering a speech at the 61-th session of the UN Commission on
Human Rights.
He also stated that the protection and preservation of human rights in
Armenia is not an abstract principle. `It is the difference betweenthe
existence and elimination.’