VARTAN OSKANIAN: DETAILS STYMIE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Azg/arm
14 Jan 05

Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign minister, discussed his Prague meeting
with his Azeri counterpart.

Oskanian stated that the resumption of the negotiations after some
break was a positive step and some progress had been fixed. The
Ministers cleared out that there is similarity in comprehension of
some issues, but only in deep issues. “When you go into details, it
turns out that the common points are not that close to discuss them in
details,” RA foreign minister said.

In response to the question put by daily Azg whether they discussed
the probability of solving the Nagorno Karabakh issue through
referendums in two countries, Oskanian said: “Spare me of answering
this question. All the questions connected with Karabakh are being
discussed thoroughly. We will see in future how these issues will
develop. A rather complicated process is expected, but we expect some
prospects.”

Two foreign Ministers agreed to be careful in making statements not to
hinder the settlement of the issue. The negotiation process has
entered a more serious stage and one should be more cautious.

Oskanian didn’t specify about the details of the negotiations for this
very reason. He stated that it is early to speak of the probability of
applying any of the step-by-step versions. That period has passed
already and the general principles are being discussed now.

Though the general circle of the issues exists already but it was
obvious that “before going into details, we should consolidate those
issues.”

As for the aspects and events of the last year, Oskanian emphasized
the importance of imparting the economic element to the country’s
foreign policy and the processes of the integration into Europe.

Oskanian stated that “in the aspect of multilateral diplomacy Armenia
was rather active and widely involved in the international and
regional processes and deepened its relations with its traditional
friends in 2004. The intensive diplomacy will continue in 2005, as
well.

As for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the last year yielded
good results. Argentina, Uruguay, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Canada
joined the countries that recognized the Armenian genocide. As for the
European Parliament, it made its stance over the Armenian Genocide
more concrete, demanding from Turkey to recognize the crime committed
against the Armenians and to open the borders with Armenia. This year,
when Armenia is going to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, it’s the most appropriate time to raise this issue
in the international instances again, as today this issue is still
actual for many countries of the world.

CONCERT CONDUCTED BY BRITISH MAESTRO TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13. ARMINFO. A concert of Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra, headed by British Conductor Paul MacAlindin, will be held
at the concert hall after Aram Khachaturian in Yerevan on Jan 14.

Paul MacAlindin has arrived in Armenia by the invitation of the
British Council in Armenia and Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra. According to MacAlindin, the staff of the Armenian
Philharmonic Orchestra is notable for talented musicians.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 13 2005

Parliament speaker criticizes OSCE MG activity

The Milli Majlis (parliament) speaker Murtuz Alasgarov has criticized
the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group in a Wednesday meeting with a
group of advisers to US senators and congressmen visiting Baku
through the Marshall Foundation. Alasgarov expressed a hope that the
United States, as a co-chair of the Minsk Group, will step up its
activity to settle the Upper Garabagh conflict soon.
The US delegates met with opposition leaders at the ISR Plaza Hotel
on the same day. The present-day socio-political situation in
Azerbaijan was discussed and views exchanged on taking the needed
steps to hold democratic parliament elections in the country this
year.
The visitors assured that they will inform the US Congress of the
opposition leaders’ proposals.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 13 2005

US Congress to hold forum on Upper Garabagh conflict

The US Congress will hold a two-day forum on the Upper Garabagh
conflict in February as part of the US Senate’s forthcoming
discussions on the South Caucasus conflicts.
The event will be organized by the American Turkish Assembly jointly
with the America-Turkey friendship group represented at the US
Congress.*

KARABAKH LEADER APPROVES NEW GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

Arminfo, Yerevan
13 Jan 05

Stepanakert 13 January: The new structure of the Nagornyy Karabakh
government has been approved. The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic (NKR), Arkadiy Gukasyan, yesterday signed a decree approving
the new structure of the NKR government. According to the decree, the
structure of the government includes:

1. Ministry of Health;
2. Ministry of Justice;
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
4. Ministry of Agriculture;
5. Minister – head of the government administration;
6. Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports;
7. Ministry of Defence;
8. Ministry of Social Security;
9. Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development of Production
Infrastructure;
10. Ministry of Town Planning;
11. Ministry of Finances and Economy.

AZERI OFFICIAL POINTS TO “SERIOUS DIFFERENCES” WITH ARMENIA OVER KARABAKH

Trend news agency
13 Jan 05

BAKU

“The negotiations to resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between
Azerbaijan and Armenia are progressing very slowly. The situation is
very difficult. I can’t say that concrete results have been achieved,
but I hope they will be achieved,” Trend has quoted Azerbaijani Deputy
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov as telling a news conference at the
Foreign Ministry today.

The news conference was devoted to the results of the 11 January
meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers in Prague.

Azimov said there were very many differences in the sides’
positions. He added that some interest on the part of Armenia to step
up the process of negotiations was in evidence of late. In Azimov’s
view, this interest could have something to do with Armenia’s desire
to gain time or with Yerevan’s genuine intention to resolve the
Karabakh problem.

The diplomat stressed that Azerbaijan was still in favour of a
negotiated solution to the problem based on international principles,
including respect for the country’s territorial integrity. However,
the deputy minister said the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity would not mean an immediate solution to all problems. There
is also a problem of peaceful co-existence between the Azerbaijani and
Armenian communities of Nagornyy Karabakh in the future.

Touching on the issue of compromises, Azimov said Azerbaijan was ready
to reopen communications with Armenia provided the latter vacates the
occupied territories. He said the sides were sharing their views on
some issues, but pointed to serious differences on others.

Azimov believes that the next round of the negotiations will be held
in late February.

He also denied reports that an agreement had been reached to conduct a
referendum in Nagornyy Karabakh and to hand it over for administration
(as published).
From: Baghdasarian

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone 212.319.6383 x.118
Fax 212.319.6507
Email [email protected]
Website

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, January 13, 2004

AGBU-SUPPORTED KARABAKH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA PERFORMS FIRST OFFICIAL
CONCERT

New York, NY – Last month, the AGBU-funded Karabakh Chamber Orchestra
(KCO) presented its first official concert in Stepanakert, the capital
of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. Performing along with the State
Choir of Karabakh, the December 10, 2004 event was a landmark occasion
for the three-month old orchestra.

Gevork Muradian, Artistic Director and Conductor of KCO, traveled to
Stepanakert with a dozen musicians from Yerevan in September 2004 to
form the ensemble. Including several graduates of the Karabakh music
college among their ranks, the KCO began rehearsals on September 10th.

“After a month’s rehearsals the first performance took place on
October 8 in Stepanakert on the occasion of the 83rd General Assembly
of AGBU. Karabakh President and high-ranking officials attended the
concert. We were very warmly and enthusiastically received by the
people of Karabakh, which means that classical music has its audience
in Karabakh. Moreover, people were approaching our musicians after the
concert asking them to listen to their children’s musical abilities
and teach them. Two violinists and one violist already teach in the
music school of Shushi. New classes of viola and cello will be opened
in the Stepanakert musical college next year,” Muradian explained to
Armenia’s Aravot daily in a December 3rd interview.

Muradian elaborated that, in addition to AGBU funds, KCO receives
support from the Karabakh government. In the spring, KCO will travel
to Yerevan to perform in the Armenian capital and later to various
regions of Armenia for additional concerts.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the largest Armenian
non-profit organization in the world and has been at the forefront of
promoting and preserving the Armenian heritage around the world. In
addition to the KCO, AGBU also financially supports the Armenian
Philharmonic Orchestra.

NEWS RELEASE
St James Armenian Church
816 Clark Street Evanston IL 60201
TEL: 847-864-6263 email: [email protected]
Program contact: Gevik Anbarchian at (773) 878-0215 or [email protected].

ST JAMES ARMENIAN CHURCH
Film-Discussion Series: “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS”
FRIDAYS AT 7:30PM: FEB 18; MAR 18; APR 15; MAY 20; JUN 3
FREE admission

Saint James Armenian Church (Evanston IL) announces its Winter into
Spring film discussion series. This year we will be screening the
highly-acclaimed The Decalogue by the Polish filmmaker Krzysztof
Kieslowski. The Decalogue (The Ten Commandments) is a series of ten
hour-long films written and directed by Kieslowski for Polish
television in 1988. Each episode looks specifically at the relevance
of one of the Ten Commandments in the context of contemporary life
circumstances, and explores larger issues of morality, ethics and
justice in both religious and secular/humanistic terms. The Decalogue
is the recipient of numerous international film prizes including the
Cannes Special Jury Prize and Chicago Film Critics, Best Foreign
Language Film. The films are in Polish with English subtitles.

Film screenings will be held on Friday evenings in the main hall of
St. James Church beginning promptly at 7:30 with dinner and the film,
and discussion to follow from 8:30 until 10:00. Guests are encouraged
to bring a small dish and/or drinks to share with others.

____________________________________________________________________________

Friday, February 18 at 7:30pm: Decalogue I-I am the Lord thy God.Thou
shalt have no other Gods before me.

A university professor trusts in the infallibility of the computer and
instructs his young son in its use. Anxious to try out a new pair of
ice skates, the two consult the computer to calculate the safety of
the thickness of the ice on a nearby pond. A freak thaw results in
unforeseen and tragic consequences. (53 minutes)

Friday, March 18 at 7:30pm: Decalogue V-Thou shalt not kill. Jacek, a
disaffected youth, randomly and brutally murders a taxi driver.
Arrested, he is given Piotr, a young lawyer, to defend him. Jacek is
put on trial, found guilty and executed by hanging. Is an eye for an
eye just and does the legal system, in the name of the people and
sanctioned by the government, have the right to kill? (57 minutes)

Friday, April 15 at 7:30pm: Decalogue II-Thou shalt not take the name
of the Lord thy God in vain.

Dorota visits her dying husband in the hospital. She is pregnant by
another man. She asks the doctor for her husband’s
progress-considering abortion should he live, choosing life for the
fetus if her husband dies. By predicting the fate of the husband, is
the doctor determining life or death of the unborn child? (57 minutes)

Friday, May 20 at 7:30pm: Decalogue X-Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor’s goods.

In this black comedy, two financially strapped brothers, Jerzy and
Artur, unexpectedly inherit a small fortune when their father wills
them the most valuable stamp collection in Poland. (57 minutes)

Friday, June 3 at 7:30pm: Decalogue VII-Thou shalt not steal.
Six-year-old Ania is being brought up by Ewa in the belief that Majka,
Ewa’s daughter, is her sister, whereas Majka is really her
mother. Tired and saddened by the deception and desperate to have Ania
love her as a mother, Majka “kidnaps” Ania and runs away from her
parents. (55 minutes)

ST JAMES ARMENIAN CHURCH 816 CLARK STREET EVANSTON IL 60201 TEL:
847-964-6263

email: [email protected]

Divine Liturgy 10:30am every Sunday followed by fellowship.
Park FREE on Sundays in the Maple St garage one block west of the Church.
St James Armenian Church is conveniently located 2 blocks north of the Davis St CTA & Metra/UP North trains.

*************

Krzysztof Kieslowski (1941-1996)

Probably the best known Polish film Director of the last two decades, Krzysztof Kieslowski began his film career at Lodz State Theatrical and Film College. His first films were documentaries that concentrated on aspects of Polish life, culture, and politics under the then Communist Party. Indeed it was these conditions which helped spark the Solidarity movement which ultimately forced the Party to relinquish power by way of new general elections.

Starting with short black and white 16mm documentaries, Kieslowski began to develop a style that would become characteristic of his work. Emphasis on seemingly insignificant moments such as feet walking, or background characters helped to bring a natural clarity to his cinematography. The audience becomes a genuine third party, observing the natural flow of the subjects within his field of vision imposed by the camera. Realism was what Kieslowski concentrated on, and indeed his films, especially the features, have a documentary feel to them.

Earlier films reflected a social commentary on Polish martial law and the way in which ordinary people maintained their lives inside a restrictive social environment. His award-winning 1979 feature, CAMERA BUFF, a slyly humorous, satirical look at life in a corrupt provincial factory, may have had personal dimensions for Kieslowski as it depicts a filmmaker who exposes himself to both attention and criticism when he progresses from home movies to committed social documentaries.

Kieslowski learned firsthand that censorship may ride on the coattails of exposure with BLIND CHANCE (1981), which considered three possibilities for Poland’s political future as it explored three different outcomes springing from the premise of a student trying to catch a train. BLIND CHANCE was unable to include a fourth story in which Poland throws out the Communist Party entirely, and the remaining film, still quite impressive, was banned for over five years before finally being released in 1987. While the outcome of one BLIND CHANCE story was a blithely apolitical world (the student misses the train, and instead meets a sexy woman with whom he becomes involved), Kieslowski’s subsequent NO END (1984), while not forsaking wit entirely, nonetheless refused to be glibly satirical. The film’s hero, a
lawyer who represented many Poles oppressed by martial law, is dead at the film’s opening.

Kieslowski’s films always featured philosophical journeys into the human spirit and a concern for the moral and ethical implications of human action. Fittingly, he confirmed his status as a major contemporary director with DECALOGUE (1988), an ambitious series of ten hour-long films funded by Polish TV, telling stories “based” on the Ten Commandments. (In DECALOGUE 10, for instance, two brothers, an accountant and a punk rocker, both covet the stamp collection they have inherited from their father.) In the same year, Kieslowski expanded segments five and six into two features, A SHORT FILM ABOUT KILLING and A SHORT FILM ABOUT LOVE. Partially set, like the rest of the series, on a Warsaw housing estate, A SHORT FILM ABOUT KILLING is a grim and powerful tale drawing formal parallels between the act of murder
and the workings of the criminal justice system.

His first major international film, THE DOUBLE LIFE OF VERONIQUE (1991) explored human emotion in a very delicate often ironic way. Indeed as he put it, “…a sensitive film for sensitive people…” “Veronique” explores the simultaneous lives of two women, one Polish and the other French who are each other’s double, and who both feel a strange link to each other’s lives.

His magnum opus and fittingly enough, his last film project was a trilogy series entitled THREE COLOURS: BLUE (1993), RED (1994) and WHITE (1994).
Based on the three colours of the French Revolution, each film examines one thread of each theme. BLUE examines freedom, as portrayed by a woman who loses her family in an automobile accident, and the way in which she discovers a new direction to her life. WHITE looks at one man’s struggle for equality in his marriage in an aura of black humor, and finally RED concentrates on fraternity by highlighting the development of a relationship between a young model and an elderly man.

Krzysztof Kieslowski was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1941 and passed away in a Warsaw hospital in March 1996 due to heart complications but not before announcing tentative plans for another trilogy rumoured to be based upon the concepts of heaven, hell and purgatory.

———————————
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EurasiaNet Organization
Jan 13 2005

TURKEY, RUSSIA CELEBRATE TRADE TIES WHILE PROBING AN EXPANSION OF
GEOPOLITICAL CONTACTS
Mevlut Katik 1/12/05

Turkey and Russia celebrated rapidly expanding bilateral trade during
a visit by a massive Turkish trade delegation January 10-12 to
Moscow. The visit also generated several significant political
developments, including an announcement that Turkey would explore
cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and a Russian
commitment to consider the lifting of an embargo against Turkish
Cypriots.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan led the Turkish
delegation, comprising 52 MPs and 600 business executives. The size
of contingent underscored the fact that Russia has emerged as
Turkey’s second largest trade partner after Germany, in part because
of Turkish imports of Russian natural gas via the Blue Stream
pipeline. Bilateral trade volume in 2004 was estimated at $10
billion. The figure could skyrocket to $25 billion by 2007, Erdogan
said. The centerpiece of the visit was the opening of a Turkish Trade
Center in central Moscow.

Erdogan’s press office hyped the visit as “probably the busiest …
made by one our [Turkey’s] leaders.” The January 12 statement went on
to say that Turkey’s “economic ties with Russia are ripe for growth,”
adding that Ankara expected “an influx of Russian capital.” Russian
President Vladimir Putin reciprocated the enthusiasm expressed by
Turkish leaders. Putin met with Erdogan at least four times during
the three-day visit, including a private dinner at the presidential
residence outside Moscow.

Only sketchy details have emerged on trade talks conducted during the
visit. Turkish officials let it be known in advance that they would
seek a discount on the price of Russian natural gas supplies. Russia
currently provides about two-thirds of Turkey’s natural gas needs.
According to the Interfax news agency, Russia agreed to expand gas
exports to Turkey, but provided no details. There was likewise no
information on the price that Turkey would pay.

Russia, at the same time, expressed interest in other Turkish energy
spheres, especially electricity. “The Russians are interested in
power stations that work with natural gas, coal and hydropower,” said
Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler. The minister added that Russian
companies were interested in participating in energy-related
privatization tenders, and were ready to explore the feasibility of
laying down cables on the Black Sea floor to export electricity.

In addition to energy, Turkish and Russian officials confirmed that
talked about developing military-technological ties. They did not go
into specifics, and no agreements were announced.

Beyond the trade talks, several statements by both Turkish and
Russian officials could have a profound impact on regional
geopolitics. While in Kazakhstan on a one-day visit January 12, Putin
welcomed Turkey’s interest in establishing trade relations with the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which included Russia,
China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Putin
described Turkey’s interest as “unexpected,” Interfax reported.

Meanwhile, Putin indicated that Russian policy may soon shift on the
Cyprus issue, which has served as an obstacle in Turkey’s path toward
European Union membership. The Russian president said he would start
advocating for the lifting of an international embargo on the
Turkish-controlled sector of the divided island. “We do not think
that the political isolation of Northern Cypriots is fair,” Putin
said.

Erdogan and Putin also reportedly probed for an understanding on
Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive]. The normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations would potentially hasten Turkey’s European Union accession
process. Russia, as Armenia’s strategic ally, could be in position to
facilitate a rapprochement. The normalization issue, in turn, is
connected to the long search for a lasting Karabakh settlement, as
Turkey has long supported Azerbaijan in the peace process.

Political observers suggested that existing geopolitical conditions
were exerting considerable force on Turkey and Russia to expand their
political and economic ties. For Turkey, Russia potentially could
help remove several obstacles still standing in Ankara’s European
Union membership drive, namely the Cyprus and Armenia questions. In
addition, in the wake of the diplomatic row between the United States
and Turkey over Iraq, the Turkish government apparently welcomes the
diversification of its foreign policy – mainly for economic purposes.
Even though, Ankara has worked hard to repair its relationship with
Washington, there appears to be some lingering concern over whether
the United States will address Turkish security concerns in Iraq.
[For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. During
a January 11 visit to Turkey, a top US military leader, Gen. John
Abizaid, offered assurances that Washington would address the issue
of Kurdish militant activity in northern Iraq, without offering a
specific action blueprint. [For additional information see the
Eurasia Insight archive].

For Russia, closer relations with Turkey could potentially help
Moscow slow the steady erosion of its influence in the Black Sea
Basin. Over the past year-plus, Russia has seen pro-Western
governments come to power in Georgia and Ukraine. [For background see
the Eurasia Insight archive].

Many pundits gave Erdogan high marks for his recent performance. Over
the last month, Erdogan’s government has finessed the European Union
into agreeing on the accession issue, taken steps to restore the US
relationship, and now opened new channels of commercial and political
communication with Russia. “Turkey’s foreign relations have always
been very pragmatic and mostly rational, especially with its eastern
neighbour Russia,” said Firdevs Robinson, the editor of the British
Broadcasting Corp.’s Central Asia and Caucasus Service. “Erdogan is
continuing this tradition with an important additional element. He is
using Turkey’s economic potential as well as his personal charm. He
is seen as `a leader that keeps his word.'”

Editor’s Note: Mevlut Katik is a London-based journalist and analyst.
He is a former BBC correspondent and also worked for The Economist
group.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian minister praises ties with Arab countries

Arminfo
12 Jan 05

YEREVAN

The tense atmosphere that emerged in the region as a result of the
Iraqi war in 2004 had a negative effect on Armenia’s cooperation with
Arab countries, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told a news
conference today while reporting on the results of 2004.

The minister noted that the situation in Iraq caused Armenia’s concern
due to the presence of an Armenian community in this
country. Therefore, Armenia decided to take part in restoration
programmes in Iraq, sending a peacekeeping contingent there. At the
same time, the minister noted that Armenia’s relations with Arab
countries and Israel were dynamic.

Thus, in 2004 agreement was reached on granting Armenia observer
status in the Arab League. The minister noted that apart from Saudi
Arabia, which is abstaining from establishing diplomatic relations
with Armenia as before, Armenia’s relations with Lebanon, Egypt and
Syria are developing more dynamically.

Vardan Oskanyan also noted that the United Arab Emirates’ interest in
Armenia had increased recently. Vardan Oskanyan said that in 2004
Armenia successfully cooperated with Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Sudan
in international organizations. Certain progress was also achieved in
Armenian-Israeli relations.