Zaman, Turkey
Feb 3 2005

Debre: Armenian Issue is not Our Problem
By Zaman
Published: Thursday 03, 2005
zaman.com

Speaker of the French National Parliament Jean-Louis Debre discussed
Turkey’s European Union (EU) membership bid just before his Turkey
visit begins today. Debre responded to a question about whether the
Armenian issue was a problem in the development of Turkey-France
relations: “Let’s be honest. First of all, the Armenian problem is
not an issue concerning Turkey-France relations. It is rather about
Turkey-Armenia relations and Turkey’s own history in particular.”

The EU that Turkey wants to join was the built by confronting public
and state history, Debre said, and they believe that Turkey would
understand this and its part of the European project. The French
Speaker also added that it is about “overcoming the conflicts to
build a peaceful unity, respecting human rights, paying attention to
the responsibility to remember, and making peace with one’s own
history.” Meanwhile, the French Parliament approved the so-called
genocide bill in 2001, which led to a long break in Turkey-France
relations.

The French delegation will hold meetings in Istanbul and Ankara
during their visit which was realized with the support of French
President Jacques Chirac. The delegation will meet with Turkish
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Bulent Arinc and Chief of the
General Stuff Hilmi Ozkok. The parliamentary delegation will also
meet with representatives of the Turkey Industrialists and
Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) and visit Galatasaray University in
Istanbul on Saturday (February 5).

Armenian paper blames OSCE factfinding mission for pro-Azeri stance

Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
2 Feb 05

Text of unattributed report by Armenian newspaper Hayots Ashkharh on 2
February headlined “Double standards of the OSCE”

The OSCE monitoring mission’s visit to Nagornyy Karabakh and the
monitoring of the liberated territories give the impression at fight
sight that it is a technical measure. The members of the mission also
confirm that their task is to complete their monitoring and prepare a
relevant report. For this reason, they will not express any political
position or make any statement.

But it is more than strange that the purpose of the OSCE monitoring
mission is only to monitor the territories controlled by the Armenian
forces. In fact, the desire of the Armenian party to have the
territories of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR] controlled by
Azerbaijan examined was ignored.

And the problem is not that this mission should undoubtedly pay
attention to the fact that Shaumyan District [Azerbaijan’s Goranboy
District] and the Armenian villages in the northeastern part of
Mardakert District [Agdara District] are inhabited by Azerbaijanis. It
is not the position of the monitors on Karabakh, but the political
position of the OSCE that causes bewilderment.

The “ideology” of this monitoring mission is not clear, as it
obviously goes against the principles of the OSCE.

The OSCE ignores the fact that the subject of the conflict, i.e. the
territories controlled by the Armenian forces, or according to the
Azerbaijani party, the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, have the
same status as Shaumyan District and Getashen [the village of Caykand
in Azerbaijan’s Xanlar District] or the northern part of Mardakert
District in terms of their possible settlement. They have the same
status, as according to all international norms, including the OSCE
standards, the recognition of the sovereign right of any state is not
the same as the right to the forcible settlement of a region.

That’s to say, irrespective of the legal status the OSCE gives to
Karvachar (Kalbacar) or Shaumyan, the Azerbaijanis expelled from
Kalbacar and the Armenians expelled from Shaumyan following the war
have the same right to return to their former places of
residence. Thus, the following double standards that contradict the
OSCE principles have been used:

a) Azerbaijan’s accusation that Armenians are settling in the
territories controlled by the Armenian forces is seen as a violation
of the sovereign right of the state to these territories;

b) The OSCE is not interested in the possible resettlement of the
Armenian villages and the NKR territories controlled by the
Azerbaijani forces, whereby they recognize the sovereign right of
Azerbaijan to expel the Armenians living there.

Refusing to monitor Getashen or Shaumyan, which are already populated
by Azerbaijanis, the OSCE de facto recognizes the sovereign right of
Azerbaijan to carry out ethnic cleansing, which is a gross violation
of all the norms of this organization. We think that by demonstrating
a selective approach towards the current Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute
about the possible settlement of the territories controlled as a
result of the war, the OSCE broke its own main principles. That’s to
say, the OSCE took as a basis not the right of the Azerbaijanis and
Armenians to return to their former places of residence, but the
principle under which Armenians who are citizens of Azerbaijan are not
allowed to settle in the territory of Azerbaijan.

So the report of the OSCE monitoring mission cannot be
impartial. Moreover, it cannot serve as a basis for any serious
political conclusion if the monitoring group does not visit the
northeastern villages of Shaumyan, Getashen and Mardakert Districts
before accomplishing its mission.

MP urges better lobbying of Armenia’s interests in Karabakh

Mediamax news agency
3 Feb 05

YEREVAN

Armenia needs serious and purposeful international lobbying of its
interests in the Karabakh issue, the head of the faction of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun [ARFD], Levon
Lazarian, said in Yerevan today.

Levon Lazarian noted that in the last few years, the perception of
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem has begun to change, Mediamax news
agency reports.

“We need to make every effort and remind the world community that the
Nagornyy Karabakh problem is an issue related to the implementation of
nations’ internationally-recognized right to self-determination”.

“We have to let it be known that this issue is as topical for us today
as it was in 1988,” the Armenian MP stated.

Levon Lazarian expressed his confidence that the Armenian side can
counter Azerbaijani propaganda and foil attempts to misinform
international structures.

Azeri paper plays down “no problem” assessment of ties with Russia

Zerkalo, Baku
3 Feb 05

Excerpt from R. Mirqadirov’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo
on 3 February headlined “No problem”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was received by Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev yesterday [2 February].

[Passage omitted: reported details of Lavrov’s meetings with President
Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov]

So, another visit by a high-ranking official from the neighbouring
superpower has finished. Judging by official statements, the journey
has been a success and bilateral relations keep on developing. It
might seem that there is no reason to be displeased.

However, something alarming is noticeable against the backdrop of all
these optimistic statements. And it boils down to the fact that our
relations with close neighbours are often seen through rose-tinted
glasses and every time “no problems” statements are being made. This
assessment has been used when talking about Azerbaijan’s relations
with Georgia, Iran and Russia.

And then after the assessment the railway communication with Georgia
was closed and law enforcers of this country fired on ethnic
Azerbaijanis at point-blank range.

Meanwhile, Russia cut off natural gas supplies in the middle of
winter, leaving 40 Azerbaijani districts without heat and
electricity. At the same time, the chairman of the Russian State Duma
described Armenia as Russia’s outpost in the South Caucasus. If we
were to follow the same logic, it would appear that there were no
“serious problems” also between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which would
mean that we were surrounded only by friends.

Azeri diplomats urge British Foreign Office to explain travel warning

ANS TV, Baku
2 Feb 05

[Presenter] The British ambassador has been summoned to the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry to discuss the description of Nagornyy
Karabakh and the occupied territories as a disputed area between
Azerbaijan and Armenia and also reports characterizing Azerbaijan as a
dangerous country posted on the web site of the British Foreign
Office. Baku hopes that the British Foreign Office will correct its
mistake soon.

[Correspondent over video of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry] British
ambassador to Azerbaijan Lawrence Bristow was summoned to the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The ambassador was asked to give an
explanation of the British Foreign Office’s appeal posted on its web
site to British citizens over a potential threat of terror in
Azerbaijan.

The head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s press service, Matin
Mirza, said that the ambassador assured Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister Vaqif Sadixov that the issue will be clarified. Deputy
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov and British ambassador Bristow also
discussed the issue. Azimov said that the ambassador himself was
surprised at the warning.

[Azimov, speaking to journalists] He told me that it is
unfounded. Perhaps the issue will be looked into. This simply happened
as a result of someone’s inaccuracy or provocation.

[Correspondent] The deputy foreign minister said that Britain and
Azerbaijan have no problems and he is convinced that British citizens
living in Azerbaijan will reject the warning on the web site of the
British Foreign Office. Azimov is sure that the British Foreign
Office will correct its mistake soon.

[Passage omitted: reported details]

Baxtiyar Salimov, Ramin Yaqubov, ANS.

Analyst says Russia wants military presence in Azerbaijan

Yeni Musavat, Baku
2 Feb 05

Excerpt from Elsad report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 2
February headlined “Lavrov’s visit has begun” and subheaded “Vafa
Quluzada: ‘ In Azerbaijan, Russia intends to make up for its losses in
Ukraine'”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will begin his meetings in Baku
today [on 2 February].

[Passage omitted: Lavrov’s schedule in Baku]

Political analyst Vafa Quluzada believes that the visit should be
closely watched. In his view, the visit of the Russian foreign
minister to Azerbaijan is by no means a routine event. “Before this,
Yevgeniy Primakov once came to Baku in his capacity as Russian foreign
minister. True, there was a motive of personal friendship with [the
late Azerbaijani President] Heydar Aliyev in Primakov’s
visit. However, it became clear then that the objective behind
Primakov’s visit to Baku was to induce Azerbaijan to engage in direct
talks with Nagornyy Karabakh.”

In Quluzada’s opinion, Lavrov’s objectives are broader than those of
Primakov. “Because then there was no talk of a Nagornyy Karabakh peace
accord based on compromise. Instead, there was talk of Azerbaijan’s
position, territorial integrity and the withdrawal of the occupying
forces on the basis of UN resolutions, and giving the Armenians the
autonomous status. This is why Russia wanted its troops to receive the
status of peacekeepers at the Budapest summit [of the OSCE].”

In Quluzada’s view, Russia is trying to restore its military presence
in Azerbaijan and seeks to turn the country into a member of the
Collective Security Treaty.

Commenting on reports that Russia could become a guarantor on
Karabakh, Quluzada said: “Russia’s guarantee means that Armenia
withdraws its troops from certain districts and Russia occupies them
to prevent clashes between the two sides. This signifies that Russia
will establish complete control over Azerbaijan, like it did with
Armenia.”

Quluzada did not rule out that all these issues could be discussed
but, in his opinion, there is nothing else for Lavrov to do in
Azerbaijan.

Quluzada thinks that Moscow has drawn a complex plan regarding
Azerbaijan. “Lavrov’s visit could be the first step. Next,
[Azerbaijani President Ilham] I. Aliyev is expected to visit Russia
in February and will meet [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. Russia
wants to use the Nagornyy Karabakh issue to return its armed forces to
Azerbaijan. In a nutshell, Russia intends to compensate its failure in
Ukraine by success in Azerbaijan.”

BBC News
Jan 3 2005

Burning body suspect due in court

One man has already been charged with murdering Mr Amirian

A man is due to appear before magistrates charged with the murder of
a man whose burning body was found on the Cambs/Northants border.
Armenian Havhannes Amirian’s remains were found at Upton in December
2002. Misha Chatsjatrjan, from Oldenzaal in the Netherlands, was
arrested by Dutch police on 12 January.

He is due before Peterborough Magistrates’ Court. Police worked on
the case for more than a year before identifying the dead man as Mr
Amirian.

‘Unknown male’

At one stage it was feared the body, which was found in a wood, might
never be identified.

It led to Peterborough coroner Gordon Ryall taking the unusual step
of allowing the man to be buried in a grave marked “Unknown Male”.

However after the police made a breakthrough in the case the inquest
was briefly resumed for Mr Amirian’s identity to be announced, more
than a year after his death.

The inquest heard that Mr Amirian was born in Armenia and had family
connections in the Ukraine. However, most recently he had lived in
Belgium and England.

For photo:

Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK
Jan 3 2005

COURT: Second man is charged in Upton murder case

A SECOND suspect has been charged with the murder of a man who was
shot, stabbed and set on fire.

Misha Chatsjatrjan (43) was extradited from Holland to be quizzed by
Peterborough detectives.

He was due to appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Nishan Bakunts (27), from Great Yarmouth, has already been charged
with murder, while 23-year-old Arpine Karapetian, also from the
Norfolk town, is accused of attempting to pervert the course of
justice.

The body of Armenian Hovhannes Amirian (43) was found in a field
between Upton and Wansford, near Peterborough, by a passing cyclist,
in the early hours of December 21, 2002.

Police carried out an exhaustive investigation following the
discovery of the body, including appearing on Crimewatch UK, and the
German equivalent, Aktenzeichen XY.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 16:28:00 | 03-02-2005 | Official |

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER CONDOLE ON ZURAB ZHVANIA’S DEATH

In view of Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania’s death Armenian
Premier Andranik Margaryan expressed his sympathy in a letter to the
Georgian government.

`The Armenian government offers deepest condolences on the tragic
death of Zurab Zhvania. It is painful to learn of unexpected decease
of the unique man, talented political and public figure, who was
pivotal in the formation of independent and democratic Georgia and
made a great contribution to the development of friendship and
cooperation between the two countries.”

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan also send a condolence telegram to
Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili. The telegram says in part, “‘We
learned with sadness of the Prime Minister’s tragic death. We share
the bitterness of the loss with you.’

PanArmenian News
Feb 1 2005

OSCE SPECIAL MISSION MEMBERS PUT ON CANDLES IN ANCIENT ARMENIAN
CHURCH IN KARVACHAR

01.02.2005 17:23

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azg newspaper reports the details of yesterday’s
visit of the OSCE fact-finding mission in the security belt
territories around Nagorno Karabakh. As reported by the newspaper, on
they way back in the evening the group members visited the medieval
Armenian Monastery of Dadivank, situated in the territory of
Karvachar (Kelbajar is one of the territories of the security belt),
where they put on candles. The Dadivank Monastery, where according to
the legend, relics of St. apostle Thaddeus are kept, is one of the
numerous monuments of the Christian culture, which are situated
within the territories of the security belt and preserve the memory
of the Armenian civilization, which had once prospered here and fell
into decay after these lands being inhabited by Muslim
cattle-breeding tribes. According to the newspaper correspondent’s
impression, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, who were also present at
the work of the commission do not display special enthusiasm on the
mission main goal, considering that those steps will hardly bring to
the solution of the conflict.