Netherlands recognises Turkish Genocide of Armenians
By Our Editor

Het Financieele Dagblad (Dutch newspaper)
December 23, 2004

AMSTERDAM – The Dutch government has recognised the Genocide of 1915 of
the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks. Minister Ben Bot of Foreign Affairs
‘welcomes’ the motion in which the House of Representatives asks the
government “to raise continuously and expressly the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide in the dialogue with Turkey”.

“The minister considers the motion as a support. At each negotiation,
even as we are not President of EU, The Netherlands will bring up
the question. We have always put the subject on the agenda and it
is not for nothing that we raise this question. We want a solution
for this part of the history before Turkey accesses EU. In this way
you can see it as de facto a recognition”, on being asked explains
the spokesman of Bot.

The motion, submitted by the member of parliament André Rouvoet of
Christian Union, has been adopted unanimously on Tuesday evening during
the debate on the outcome of the EU summit in relation with Turkey.
Earlier, in Europe, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Sweden
and Switzerland recognised the Genocide of 1.5 million Armenians.

–Boundary_(ID_V/FbNs5Stw6gf6HfTvYbdw)–

Children’s Bible Now in Turkish

Zenit News Agency, Italy
Dec 24 2004

ROME, DEC. 23, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The Catholic charity Aid to the
Church in Need has published its youngster-friendly Bible, “God Speaks
to His Children,” in Turkish.

The first edition comprises 15,000 copies, 5,000 of which are to be
distributed in Turkey, while the remaining 10,000 are destined for
native Turkish speakers scattered throughout Western Europe.

According to Dominican Father Lorenzo Piretto, an Istanbul-based
priest from Italy, “There are about 100,000 Christians” among the
country’s population of about 68 million.

The majority of Christians in the western Asian country “are
Apostolic Armenians. The Catholics are Latins, Chaldeans, Armenians
and Syrians. There are also Greek and Syrian Orthodox, as well as
various Protestant groups,” Father Piretto stated in a letter.

“The Catechists are very content to have excerpts from the Bible in
Turkish,” he added. “At the entrance of churches, where the books
are displayed, Muslims are free to take” a copy.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEW US EMBASSY COMPOUND TO BE OPERATIONAL BY APRIL 2005

ArmenPress
Dec 23 2004

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: The US embassy in Yerevan told
Armenpress that the construction of the new embassy compound is
scheduled to be completed in March 2005. They Embassy will be fully
operational in April 2005, when the embassy plans to move out of its
current building on Baghramian Street in downtown Yerevan.

The Embassy grounds, located on the right side of Etchmiadzin-Yerevan
highway comprise 9 hectares – in terms of land occupied, this is one
of the largest Embassy compounds in the world.

Besides the main chancery, there are two compound access control
buildings, a two-story annex with offices and technical work areas,
a warehouse, and a Marine Security Guard residence. On the lower
level of the site we hope to eventually build recreation facilities.

All US Government sections and agencies will be co-located at the new
chancery except for Peace Corps and some of our Agriculture program
office. Our staff is not getting larger as a result of the move, but
all of our current employees (70 Americans and more than 400 local
staff) will finally have adequate workspace. The consular section and
public areas will also be much larger so that there is room for all of
our visitors and customers – no more standing in lines on the sidewalk.

The buildings on the compound are designed to be modern,
state-of-the-art, and secure. They are built to meet the highest US
standards and reflect the latest is seismically safe architecture.
The Embassy is intended to be a fine example of US Architecture and
mechanical design, while providing spacious, functional workspace for
all of our employees. The main Chancery building is five stories
tall. All the other buildings are two stories.

Currently there are 796 construction specialists, engineers and
security personnel working at the new embassy site. This includes
644 Armenian craftsman, 84 Turkish and 38 Philippine commercial
construction specialists, with 30 American staff members. Workers
from other countries were brought in for special skills not available
among the local workforce.

Many have worked on other US Embassy projects across the world. As
a part of the project in Yerevan, the Embassy invested more than
a quarter of a million dollars to establish a training program for
Armenian craftsman, teaching them the advanced construction skills
needed for this type of project. One hundred and twenty-six local
construction specialists graduated from the program, providing Armenia
with a new cadre of skilled workers who will help make this sector
of Armenia’s workforce internationally competitive.

Construction began in September 2002 after almost ten years of
planning. In total the project budget is $80 million. Through
employment and direct purchase of materials, much of that sum has
been directly invested in the Armenian Economy.

The new embassy building is testament to the commitment of the U.S. to
stay and work with Armenia for many years to come. “Drawing on the
strength and intelligence of the Armenian people, we are confident
that much can, and will, be accomplished toward building a truly
independent, democratic, and prosperous Armenia.” the embassy said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

JAPANESE EXPERTS TO CARRY OUT ANTI-LANDSLIDE PROJECT

ArmenPress
Dec 23 2004

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: A new team of land-slide experts
from Japan has arrived in Armenia bringing also a batch of modern
equipment to start the second stage of a project that aims to
eliminate landslide dangers, funded by a Japanese government grant.
Deputy urban minister Sos Kocharian told Armenpress the second
stage of the project is supposed to be over next June. He said
Japanese experts will launch pilot programs in three Armenian
regions, suffering from landslides. The project comprises geological
studies, design work and protection measures.
Based on the studies Japanese will prepare a master plan that will
allow the government to seek the assistance of international donor
organizations to carry out large-scale anti-slide measures.
The third phase of the project is expected to follow. Findings of
the first stage of studies revealed that virtually one third of
settlements is located in areas that could be affected by land
slides.

Next round of peace talks due in January

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 24 2004

The next meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers is
due in Prague on January 15, Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group
Yuri Merzlyakov told local ANS television. He also voiced his position
on the recent statement by Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian
that Armenia is ready to show decisiveness with regard to the issue
of Upper Garabagh’s self-determination.

“We are currently working on a specific issue – the January 15
consultations on the Upper Garabagh conflict resolution. The parties
will put forth their positions in Prague and we will try to bring
them closer. It is not necessary to make any statements on the issue
at this point”, Merzlyakov said.*

NEWS FROM ARMENIAN-POPULATED REGION OF GEORGIA

ArmenPress
Dec 23 2004

AKHALKALAK, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Georgian Development Fund has
marked out $40,000 for the repair of the therapy department of a
clinic in Akhalkalak, the administrative center of a region in the
southern Georgia, populated mainly by ethnic Armenians. According to
the clinic’s director, Alexan Torosian, the repair will start next
January.
The clinic is located in a building that once served as a garrison
for the Russian military base. The first and second floors of the
clinic were repaired two years ago on funds released by Georgian
health ministry. The therapy department is located on the third
floor.
Georgia’s Development Fund is the second biggest non-governmental
organization, after the Armenian Relief Union that has been sending
assistance to the clinic. The Armenian Relief Union bought $600,000
worth equipment for it.
The A-Info news agency working in the region, reported that the
2005 draft budget of Georgia has earmarked money for repair of a road
that connects the region with Tbilisi.
In a related news A-Info said Georgia’s state television started
on December 22 regular 30-minute broadcast of news n Armenian.

Azerbaijan to prove Armenia’s policy of settlement in occupied lands – political analyst

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 24 2004

The OSCE fact-finding mission is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan
in January-February 2005 to study the situation in the country’s
occupied lands.

Commenting on the fact that Azerbaijani and Turkish representatives
have not been included in the mission, chairman of the Center for
Political Innovation and Technology Mubariz Ahmadoghlu said Azerbaijan
has enough evidence to ensure that the mission experts conduct an
unbiased monitoring in the occupied territories.

“Not only Armenians but also several international organizations,
including the International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors
Without Borders, are engaged in purposeful settlement of population
in Upper Garabagh and other occupied lands of Azerbaijan.”

The political analyst also said that several families of Armenian
descent, who became victims of an earthquake that hit Armenia in 1988,
were settled in the Lachin District, another Azerbaijani territory
under occupation.

This fact was indirectly confirmed by German, Russian and Armenian
representatives of the international organization on search of
prisoners of war and missing people. They officially announced that
all living conditions were created for mentally retarded Armenians
in the mountainous area of Lachin District.

“Armenians will not be able to hide their large-scale activities
on settling population in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan,” said
Ahmadoghlu.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Radical group advocates for “Garabagh guerillas”

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 24 2004

The Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) protested the court sentence
on the “Garabagh guerillas” in a news conference on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Grave Crimes Court sentenced 5 of 21 young people,
charged with setting up an illegal armed group, to conditional
imprisonment, while the rest received from 3 to 10 years in prison.
Chairman of the organization Akif Naghi called the court verdict,
pronounced by judge Azer Orujov, ‘an order by the authorities’, saying
he is surprised that the court has issued different punishments on
those who committed the same offence.

The GLO chairman said that the committee for the rights of the
“guerillas” will take the case to the Court of Appeals and make every
effort to get them released.

The radical group also plans to involve different layers of the
society in this matter.

Relatives of the defendants termed the court ruling as ‘punishment
pursued by Armenia’s prosecutor’s office’ and said they will appeal
to the Azerbaijani President, calling on him to protect the rights
of his country’s citizens.

Armenians in US threaten Bush

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 24 2004

“If George Bush does not admit to ‘Massacre of Armenians’ in April
2005, on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the ‘massacre’, Armenians
in the United States will resort to severe protest actions against
him, said an article by Harut Sasunian, editor-in-chief of Courier
newspaper published in California, US.

The publication said that non-recognition of the so-called ‘massacre’
may turn out costly for the Bush administration and that this is
explained by the double standard approach to the issue in the world.
It says that the US representative in the United Nations John
Denford allegedly sent a letter to the UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan demanding that the ‘Massacre of Armenians’ be recognized at
the January 24, 2005 UN General Assembly session.

Chairman of the “Organization for recognition of March 31 Massacre
of Azerbaijanis” (1918) has dismissed the statement as groundless. He
said that in reality, the ongoing occupation of Azerbaijani territories
and the Khojaly massacre perpetrated by Armenia against Azeris show
that a double standard is being applied against Azerbaijan.

“With the international community being aware of the truth, the lack
of pressure on Armenia proves that certain countries are turning a
blind eye to all of Armenia’s illegal actions.*

Tehran Wants To Develop Military Cooperation with Baku
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, BAKU

Agence France Presse
Dec 24 2004

Iran wants to develop military cooperation with neighboring Azerbaijan,
Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said after meeting his Azeri
counterpart Safar Abbiyev late Dec. 22.

“There are possibilities of developing our relations in the defense
domain,” he said. “Azerbaijan’s security is our security. Our defense
potential is yours.”

For his part, Abbiyev hoped that Iran, as a friend of Azerbaijan,
would help in finding a solution to the problem of Nagorny-Karabakh,
the disputed enclave that has pitted Baku against Armenia.

The Azeri minister was invited to visit Tehran. The defense ministry
said consultations on military cooperation between the two countries’
would continue.