‘Russia Too Active’

The Moscow Times
Monday, December 20, 2004. Page 4.

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Russia is taking too active a role in
the negotiations over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh enclave, whose
unresolved status remains a source of tension for Azerbaijan and
Armenia, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said Friday.

Aliyev was reacting to comments by State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov,
who said Wednesday that Armenia was Russia’s outpost in the Caucasus
region.

“We are confused: We have always considered Armenia a state, but now
it turns out that it is an outpost,” Aliyev told reporters Friday. “So
whom should we negotiate with now — the outpost or the master of
the outpost?”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SPIEGEL ONLINE – 17. Dezember 2004, 17:43

URL: ,1518,33331 5,00.html

DEBATTE

“Hrt auf, den Vlkermord an den Armeniern zu leugnen”

Von Henryk M. Broder

Die einzige Bedingung, welche die EU den Trken fur eine Aufnahme in die
Gemeinschaft stellen sollte, ist die Anerkennung des Vlkermordes an den
Armeniern. Aber genau dies wird die EU nicht tun.

Berlin – Jetzt wird alles gut. Nachstes Jahr werden die Verhandlungen uber
einen EU-Beitritt der Turkei beginnen, sie werden nicht “ergebnisoffen”,
sondern “zielorientiert” sein, und dann wird es nur zehn bis zwanzig Jahre
dauern, bis die Turken werden sagen knnen: “Wir sind auch Europaer!”

Alle sind zufrieden, vermutlich auch CDU-Chefin Angela Merkel, die bis zum
Schluss wie ein Kerl gegen eine solche Regelung gekampft und den Turken
eine “privilegierte Partnerschaft” angeboten hatte, wohl wissend, dass es
diese bereits gibt und dass man auf der Ebene von Staaten nicht das
praktizieren kann, was bei Randgruppen moglich ist: eine Art von “Ehe
light”, mit einem “Vertrag” statt einem Trauschein. Denn Merkel wusste
auch, dass sie verlieren wrde, und da konnte sie sich risikolos als
Verteidigerin von Werten inszenieren, die bei uns immer dann beschworen
werden, wenn eine fremde Gefahr abgewehrt werden muss.

[Picture: Trkei um 1915: Hinrichtung armenischer Mnner in Alep. AFP]

Sogar Altbundeskanzler Helmut Kohl, “ein Freund der Turkei” und
Schwiegervater einer Turkin, schaltete sich in die Debatte ein und
erklarte, er sei immer dafur eingetreten, “die Turkei so nah wie moglich
unterhalb der Schwelle der Mitgliedschaft an die EU heranzufhren”.

Das klang so, als wurde ein Pfarrer Petting im Autokino statt richtigen
Sex im Bett empfehlen, um eine kritische “Schwelle” nicht zu berschreiten.

Bisher war uns vieles an der Turkei recht

Was haben wir uberhaupt im Laufe der Debatte fr irre Argumente gehrt. Die
Turkei sei “so gross” und “so unterentwickelt” und so “ganz anders” als
wir, sie passe nicht zu uns. Abgesehen davon, dass die Verhaltnisse in
Sudanatolien sich nicht allzu sehr von den Verhaltnissen in Ostpolen
unterscheiden durften, waren das alles recht spate Einsichten.

Bis jetzt sind wir sehr gerne in die Turkei gefahren – vier Personen, vier
Wochen, vierhundert Euro, all inclusive – und haben schamlos das
Lohngefalle zu unseren Gunsten ausgenutzt. Umgekehrt waren Turken als
Mullmanner, Bauarbeiter und Reservisten auf dem Arbeitsmarkt herzlich
willkommen, die man bei Bedarf einberufen und wieder nach Hause schicken
konnte.

Auch dass die Turkei innerhalb der Nato die Ostflanke bewachte, war uns
sehr recht. Und als in Istanbul Terror-Bomben losgingen, da haben wir
Beileidstelegramme geschickt und waren erleichtert, dass die Turken etwas
abbekamen, was eigentlich uns gegolten hatte. Wir sind fr einen “Wandel
durch Dialog” mit den Mullahs in Iran, haben grosste Muhe, eine sakulare
Ordnung bei uns zu etablieren, wissen aber nicht, ob wir der Turkei trauen
konnen, der einzigen muslimischen Demokratie, die zwar nicht vollkommen
ist, aber grosse Anstrengungen unternimmt, die Voraussetzungen fr eine
“Europaisierung” zu erfullen.

Die Turken haben die Todesstrafe und die Folter abgeschafft, es gibt freie
Wahlen, eine funktionierende Gewaltenteilung und Eliten, die auf Bildung,
Erziehung und Mobilitat setzen. Naturlich gibt es auch ein kulturelles
Gefalle zwischen den Milieus in den Stadten und auf dem Lande,
Parallelgesellschaften sozusagen, aber die gibt es in Spanien, Portugal
und Griechenland ebenso.

Turken fuhlen sich verschaukelt

Die einzige Frage, auf die es ankommt, ist die, ob sich langfristig die
Sakularisten in den Stadten oder die Traditionalisten auf dem Lande
durchsetzen werden. Und da konnte man in der Tat den Sakularisten helfen,
aber nicht, indem man ihnen sagt: “Kinder, Ihr seid noch nicht so weit!”

Kein Wunder, dass sich die Turken verschaukelt fuhlen und auf schrage
Gedanken kommen. Konnte es sein, dass die christlichen Europaer unter sich
bleiben wollen, wie fruher die feine Gesellschaft, die ihren Dienstboten
eine “privilegierte Partnerschaft” im Stall und am Kuchentisch anbot?

Konnte es sein, dass der einzige gravierende Fehler, den die Trken nicht
beheben konnen, um den Europaern entgegen zu kommen, der ist, dass sie
Muslime sind?

Der Witz dabei ist, dass wir uns mit den Muslimen umso schwerer tun, je
liberaler und sakularer sie sind. Die SPD organisiert ein Seminar mit der
Hisbollah in Beirut, weil die Genossen gerne wissen mochten, wie die
Radikalen ticken. Unser Aussenminister legt am Grab des Terroristen Arafat
einen Kranz nieder und wurdigt dessen historische Rolle. Ein
Nobelpreistrager mochte eine Kirche in eine Moschee verwandeln und ein
gruner Fundi einen islamischen Feiertag in der Bundesrepublik einfuhren.

Nur gegenuber der Turkei, die keine Terroristen produziert und im Begriffe
ist, einen sakularen Islam zu entwickeln, sind wir kritisch bis
misstrauisch: Die meinen es nicht, die tun nur so!

Nein, wir sind es, die es nicht so meinen, wir tun nur so als ob.

Einzige Bedingung: Anerkennung des Genozids

Es gibt allerdings eine Bedingung fur den Beitritt der Turkei in die EU,
die wir nicht stellen wollen und die in den Debatten so gut wie nie
genannt wird: die Anerkennung des turkischen Volkermords an den Armeniern.

Es war der zweite Volkermord des 20. Jahrhunderts, nach den Massakern der
Deutschen an den Hereros in Deutsch-Sudwest.

Wie viele Armenier bei der ethnischen Sauberung der Turkei von 1894 bis
1923 getotet wurden, weiss man bis heute nicht genau, die Schatzungen
reichen von 600.000 bis 1,5 Millionen ermordeten Menschen. Aber nicht auf
die Zahl kommt es an, sondern darauf, dass die Turken bis heute behaupten,
es habe keinen Volkermord gegeben, die Armenier seien im “Zuge von
Kriegshandlungen ums Leben” gekommen, wie der Pressesprecher der
turkischen Botschaft behauptet, nachdem sie “mit den Russen und den
Franzosen paktiert” hatten. Es habe damals “viele Massaker gegeben”, auch
an Turken, begangen von Armeniern. Das ist reine Geschichtsklitterung.

Schlimmer noch: Es ist die offizielle Position einer Regierung, die auch
von der turkischen offentlichkeit ubernommen wurde. Turken, die von der
amtlichen Linie abweichen, wie der Grunen-EU-Parlamentarier Cem ozdemir,
gelten als Nestbeschmutzer und Verrater.

Es habe keinen Massen- und keinen Volkermord gegeben. Alle Berichte uber
das Massaker vom 24./25. April 1915, bei dem die Fuhrung der Armenier
ausgerottet wurde, uber die Todesmarsche in die Wuste, bei denen
Hunderttausende von Menschen starben, sind Erfindungen und antiturkische
Propaganda.

Sogar Franz Werfel, der mit seinem Roman “Die 40 Tage des Musa Dagh” den
Armeniern ein Denkmal gesetzt hat, habe spater bedauert, dass er auf
“falsche Dokumente” reingefallen ist – sagt der Pressesprecher der
turkischen Botschaft in Berlin. Und geht davon aus, dass sein Wort uber
jeden Zweifel erhaben ist.

Deswegen sollte die EU den Turken sagen: “Alles, woruber wir verhandeln,
sind technische Details. Es gibt nur eine Forderung, die Ihr vor der
Aufnahme der Verhandlungen erfullen musst. Hort mit dem Leugnen des
Genozids an den Armeniern auf, bittet die Armenier um Vergebung, sagt:
“Wir waren es!”

Aber genau das wird die EU nicht machen. Nicht weil sie es vermeiden
mochte, die Turken zu kranken, sie in eine peinliche Situation zu bringen,
sondern weil ihr ein paar Hunderttausend Armenier, die seit 80 Jahren tot
sind, wurscht sind. So wie ihr ein paar Millionen tote Ruander, Sudanesen
und Kongolesen wurscht sind. So wie ihr alles wurscht ist, was die
gemeinsame Handelsbilanz und die Stabilitat des Euro nicht tangiert.

Comforting his comrades
By David A. Maurer / Daily Progress staff writer
December 19, 2004

Charlottesville Daily Progress, VA
Dec 19 2004

ARLINGTON – The wounds range from angry red scars on furrowed flesh
to invisible brain trauma injuries that manifest themselves in blank,
sometimes confused stares.

These consequences of war were as evident as the sweet scent of maple
syrup on a recent Sunday morning at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
3150 in Arlington. Since October the post has been hosting brunches
on the second and fourth Sundays of the month for wounded soldiers
from nearby Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Beginning shortly after 9 a.m. more than 100 hungry warriors will limp,
shuffle and stroll into the small, cozy building that’s just big enough
for a bar, kitchen and small dining area. Efficient and enthusiastic
volunteers will continue to serve them until 2 p.m., longer if need be.

The troops are picked up at the hospital and shuttled back and forth
to the wood structure that’s been tucked away in the residential
neighborhood for 70 years. The current members feel they’re now
providing some of their most important services to their fellow
veterans.

“The VFW has a motto that we remember the dead by helping the
living,” said J. Gary Wagner, past commander of the post and current
adjutant. “A lot of guys who came back from Vietnam got mixed welcomes.

“So the Vietnam-era guys especially want to make sure that’s not
repeated. We go out of our way to make sure these vets are welcomed
home appropriately.

“The wounded are very appreciative and really enjoy these brunches.
It gets them out of the hospital for a couple of hours, and I think
it helps give them a sense of a return to reality.”

The first wave

Sgt. Paul Shelmerdine was in the first wave of walking wounded to
arrive for breakfast. He has been at Walter Reed since July 17,
and expects to be there for some time.

Shelmerdine was seriously wounded in Iraq when a car bomb went off
in front of the vehicle he was in. His right side was riddled by
shrapnel, some of it tearing through his right forearm that now has
a steel rod in it from wrist to elbow.

Despite having to deal with painful wounds, and being a long way from
his two children and pregnant wife in Warren, Maine, Shelmerdine was
in an upbeat mood.

“There’s been a great outpouring of support and caring for us and this
[brunch] is amazing,” Shelmerdine said after finishing his meal.

“I can remember when my uncle came back from Vietnam. He never talked
about his experiences, and the Vietnam veterans were kind of looked
down on. That’s not the feeling now. People might not like some of
the decisions the higher-ups have made, but they are very supportive
of the troops and it shows.

“This brunch is a good experience for us, because a lot of time when
people first get to the hospital they’re kind of focused on themselves
and shrunk into a little ball. Being able to go out and talk to people
and share experiences helps them to open up.

“The more you can talk about your injuries or experiences the better
it’s going to make that individual. An experience like this helps
you get better.”

During the brunch cheery volunteer waiters circled the dining area
taking orders, serving food, refilling coffee cups, dispensing hugs
and chatting with the troops. Their expressions of warmth and caring
made the atmosphere seem like a family gathering.

One of the volunteers who helped mastermind the Sunday brunches for the
wounded is Greene County resident John “Big John” Miska. Helping make
it happen is just one of the things the Vietnam veteran has done during
the past two years to provide aid and comfort to his wounded comrades.

“My involvement started when my friend Jamie Villafane was wounded
and I went up to Walter Reed to see him,” said Miska, minutes before
taking a group of soldiers back to the hospital. “I asked him if he
needed anything, and he said he was pretty much all dialed in, but his
gunner in the next bed, Sergeant Charles Horgan, didn’t have anything.

“It’s not that the Army doesn’t give them everything they need, but
it’s a throw-away razor, a lace-up-the-back hospital gown, hospital
booties. There’s something to be said for having your own underwear.

“I asked Charles what he needed and got him telephone cards and some
other things. Then Jamie went home and they moved another guy in who
didn’t have anything so I helped him out. It sort of grew one guy
after another.”

Lending a hand

After shuttling troops back and forth to the brunch, Miska spent
the remainder of the day handing out comfort items and visiting
with wounded soldiers at the hospital. He and other volunteers like
Ray Miller, Joe Dudley and Ray Durand, who are members of veteran’s
groups in the Charlottesville area, never make the trip north without
filling their vehicles with items to hand out to the wounded.

Miska, a disabled veteran who was wounded in Vietnam and spent time
at Walter Reed, knows firsthand what the injured are going through.
His personal experiences have made him determined to make sure this
generation of troops get everything they want and need.

“When I got out of the service and joined the veteran organizations,
there was reticence on the part of the older veterans toward us
younger vets,” Miska said. “There wasn’t a welcome.

“Nobody really cared, and I think that was probably societal in
nature. I want to make sure these guys know we won’t abandon them.

“By the grace of God I was from Virginia, so when I was at Walter Reed
my family could bring me everything I needed. But I still think back
to those days and remember there were a lot of guys who had nobody
and nothing.”

Volunteers like Miska have done such a good job that not one soldier
who attended the brunch could think of anything they needed. Staff
Sgt. Larry Gill from Mobile, Ala., said the one thing he wanted was
to see Miska get his own parking space at Walter Reed.

“They should give Big John a parking space, because he’s up there
that much,” said Gill, who was seriously wounded by a grenade blast
while serving in Iraq. “He’s constantly bringing gifts and has even
taken soldiers shopping.

“The support we’ve gotten has been just awesome, there’s no other
word for it. It’s unfortunate that the Vietnam veterans didn’t get
this. I guess it was just one of those times in our history that it
just wasn’t clinking like it should have.

“The Vietnam vets have been fighting for everything they’ve got for
30-plus years. They know the problems and what needs attention.
They’ve gone out of their way to make sure the soldiers from the
conflicts now don’t run into those same problems.”

Although the troops couldn’t think of anything they lacked, Miska
could. He said with cold weather upon us, items such as coats, boots,
gloves and hats are needed.

“All items need to be new and sizes tend to be more large and extra
large than small or medium,” said Miska, a member of VFW Post 8208
in Greene. “We also need nice, zippered toiletry kits.

“Through the good graces of the VFW’s state headquarters, we’ve gotten
an entire pallet of Mach 3 razors. We have shaving cream and all that
sort of thing, but we want to make up toiletry kits so when guys come
in we can just hand them out.

“Phone cards are always helpful, but at this time donations for those
can be sent to Operation Uplink. We provide the brunch for the troops
free of charge, so if people would like to help with the cost of that
they can send donations to the Adopt A Soldier program or they can
donate directly to the post here because they have a fund set aside
for this.”

Greg Moscater, commander of Post 3150, said he and his fellow veterans
are ecstatic that they can provide a respite from the hospital setting
for the injured soldiers. He knows it helps more than hunger pangs.

“There was a wounded Army colonel who came to one of the first Sunday
brunches,” Moscater recalled. “He seemed pretty depressed and was
really quiet and kept to himself.

“About three weeks ago we were visiting the troops at Walter Reed and
I saw the colonel. He told me how much he was interested in coming
back to have breakfast with us.

“I saw a real improvement in him. I think coming here helped pick up
his spirits.”

Sgt. James D. Wilson and his wife, Heidi, need all the picker-uppers
they can get these days. The 23-year-old soldier from Daytona Beach,
Fla., was serving with a U.S. Army Special Forces unit in Iraq when
he suffered head injuries as a result of an explosion.

Recalling war

Wilson remembers little of the ambush that landed him in the hospital
several weeks ago.

“We went into this area to get some wounded Marines and on the way
back we got ambushed pretty bad,” Wilson said as a heaping plate of
eggs, sausage and fried potatoes arrived.

“I remember shooting my fifty [50-caliber machine gun] and then I
woke up in the hospital in Germany. Three IEDs (improvised explosive
devices) went off under our convoy and car bombs came from the sides.

“The explosions slammed my head down hard. I don’t remember anything
after that.”

Wilson apologized for not being able to arrange his thoughts more
clearly. He struggled to articulate how much the brunch means to him.

“This cheers me up,” Wilson said. “I’m not feeling well right now,
but I feel a little better coming out.”

Heidi Wilson nodded her head in agreement. She doesn’t plan to
return to their Florida home until her husband can come with her. The
outpouring of support she has received from veterans’ groups such as
Post 3150 is making her ordeal easier to manage.

“This is such a nice feeling that we have this,” Heidi Wilson said
of the brunch. “It’s very helpful. They even take us on tours and
things like that, which keeps us busy. ”

Army Specialist Randall Clunen said he spends a lot of time alone in
his hospital room. He said he greatly appreciates the brunch because it
gives him a chance to get out and be around other people and veterans
who don’t stare at his injuries.

Clunen was serving with the 101st Airborne Division north of Mosul,
Iraq, on Dec. 8, 2003, when he was hit in the face by shrapnel. The
day he almost died happened to be his 19th birthday.

“The shrapnel came from a suicide car bomb that exploded about 30
feet from where I was,” said the young soldier from Salem, Ohio. “I
remember the explosion and getting up and walking over to the aid
station on my own.

“After that it’s a complete blur. The shrapnel shattered my teeth,
jaw bone and cheek bone. I have a titanium plate in my face now.

“When I went back home people stared and pointed at me, but they
wouldn’t come up and say anything. The past year has been rough,
but at the same time I’m engaged now, and I just want to get out as
quick as I can and get back home to my family.

“This brunch means a lot to me. I’ve become a lifetime member of
the VFW.”

As soon as the airplanes bringing in the wounded land at Andrews Air
Force Base in Maryland, the injured are welcomed home. At least three
times a week Tanya Cobb makes the trip from her Alexandria home to
the base to greet the incoming wounded.

The irony of this is not lost on the former lieutenant who served with
distinction in a special forces unit with the Army of the Russian
Federation. During her seven years of service she was wounded five
times in the Nagorny Karabakh conflict in Azerbaijan.

“Being a wife of a Vietnam veteran and a foreign veteran myself, I
call the returning wounded our American heroes,” said Cobb, who was
invited to join the elite Russian unit by its commander after he saw
her in action.

“We greet them and welcome them home as well as bring them donated
items on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart ladies’
auxiliary and VFW Post 3150. We’re just trying to make sure everybody
feels welcome and there’s no generation, especially after the Vietnam
War, that comes home without getting a hug and a smile.

“After we thank them for everything they’ve done, we ask them what
we can do to help.”

Many ways to help

Cobb said help may take the form of giving break-away sweatpants and
sweatshirts to people with casts on their arms or legs. Sometimes it
just might be holding someone’s hand through a long, scary night.

“I met a girl who was in a medical unit taking care of Marines in
Iraq,” Cobb said. “She was wounded emotionally. Until I met her she
hadn’t been able to sleep for more then five or ten minutes at a time
in weeks.

“I spent almost the whole night with her after she arrived. When I
returned to the base to welcome home another group, she had left me
a note.

“She thanked me and said that was the first night of sleep she had
gotten in weeks. She said if she had difficulty sleeping again she
promised to pick up the phone and call me like I told her to do.”

As hungry troops keep filing in, Eric Anderson works the grill like a
pro. The Vietnam vet has been up since 5 a.m., but doesn’t mind a bit.

“It’s just real nice having them here,” Anderson said as he nodded
his head toward the soldiers in the dining area. “The only thing I’d
like to say to them is, God bless you, thanks for your service and
you’re always welcome here at VFW Post 3150.”

Those wanting to help can send donations to Virginia Organizing
Project, 703 Concord Ave., Charlottesville, VA 22903-5208. Put
“AdoptaSoldier” in the memo notation space on checks. Donations to
help defray the cost of the brunch can also be sent to VFW Post 3150,
2116 N. 19th St., Arlington, VA 22201. Write “troop’s brunch” in the
memo section of the check. Donations to purchase phone cards can be
sent to Uplink VFW Foundation National Headquarters, 406 W. 34th St.,
Kansas City, MO 64111. Those interested in helping Miska with his
ongoing efforts can reach him at (434) 760-1940.

ARKA News Agency
Dec 16 2004

200 million amd directed in Armenia for celebration of victory in
Great Patriotic War

Baku tries to keep Karabakh from the participation in negotiations as
a full party

RA President meets the Governor of Armavir region of Armenia

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

200 MILLION AMD DIRECTED IN ARMENIA FOR CELEBRATION OF VICTORY IN
GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. 200 million AMD directed in Armenia for
celebration of victory in Great Patriotic War in 1941-1945, RA
Government press office told ARKA. L.D. –0–

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

BAKU TRIES TO KEEP KARABAKH FROM THE PARTICIPATION IN NEGOTIATIONS AS
A FULL PARTY

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. Baku tries to keep Karabakh from the
participation in negotiations as a full party, as NKR President
Arkadi Ghukasyan stated during the republican session. According to
ARKA’s reporter in Stepanakert, Ghukasyan stated that the efforts of
the NKR government target at establishing dialogue with Azerbaijan
around the final peace settlement of the conflict as NKR people wish.
“The position of Azerbaijani authorities led the negotiations process
to blind alley, the way out of which is impossible to be found
without full participation of NKR representatives. The Karabakh side
has always adhered to peaceful settlement of the conflict, and
contributes to the work of the co-Chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group, the
mediating potential of which is not exhausted. NKR is ready to start
direct dialogue with Azerbaijan and to discuss all the problems
regarding the perspective of future relations. However, the
authorities of Baku hinder it and do not contact the Karabakh side”,
Ghukasyan said.
The Karabakh conflict started in 1988, when Nagorno Karabakh
predominantly populated with Armenians declared its independence from
Azerbaijan. The peak of military conflict fell to 1992-1993. Military
actions ceased after Armenia and Azerbaijan signed armistice on May
12 1994. The cease-fire regime has been observed up to date. Today,
negotiations are carried out to settle the conflict through
international mediation. OSCE Minsk Group with the chairmanship of
the USA, France and Russia is involved in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement.
UN General Assembly supported the inclusion of the issue Situation in
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the agenda of November 59th
session. This corresponding appeal of Azerbaijan was supported by 42
delegations, 2 voted against and 99 states, including Russia
abstained from voting. A.H. –0—

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

RA PRESIDENT MEETS THE GOVERNOR OF ARMAVIR REGION OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/ RA President Robert Kocharyan had a
working meeting with the Governor of Armavir region Albert Geroyan.
According to RA President’s Press Service Department, during the
meeting Geroyan introduced the situation in the agrarian sector of
the region to the President.
Issues regarding the sale of land lots by auction were discussed. The
financial means gained from it will go into covering needs of the
region, i.e. of repair of roads, schools, cultural and sport
institutions of the region.
In 2004, about 500 thsd. Tones of vegetables, 80 thsd tones of
grapes, including 40 thsd tones of technical grape, 75 thsd tones of
wheat, 120 thsd tones of melons and gourds were grown in Armavir
region of Armenia.
For 10 months of 2004 communities of the region were given 14 thsd.
hectares of land, and 1 thsd hectares of land lots were sold by
auction and about $23 mln is expected to be received from the sale.
A.H.–0—

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

–Boundary_(ID_iF+iS9+3CSUh0O69Y1BQ6A)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

President says Russia-Armenia co-op negatively affects conflict settlement

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 18 2004

President Ilham Aliyev has stated that the close cooperation between
Russia and Armenia is impeding the process of the Upper Garabagh
conflict settlement.

“Speaker of Russian State Duma (parliament) said during his visit to
Armenia that this country is Russia’s forepost in South Caucasus. We
always considered Armenia a country. It turns out that it is a
forepost”, Aliyev told journalists on Friday.

“And who do we negotiate now –the forepost itself or the forepost
owner? If Armenia clarifies this issue, more favorable conditions
will be created to hold talks.”

–Boundary_(ID_gDz6fcr5F+U3Tzc/vd7WFQ)–

ARKA News Agency
Dec 14 2004

V.Oskanian: broad discussions of Karabakh issue should be started

The RA commission on securities is to become a member of an
International organization of Commissions on Securities in 2005

Armenian Finance and Economy Minister hospitalized because of heart
attack

Speaker of State Duma of Russia to arrive in Armenia today

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

V.OSKANIAN: BROAD DISCUSSIONS OF KARABAKH ISSUE SHOULD BE STARTED

YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. Broad discussions of Karabakh issue
should be started now, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian stated
today at the briefing. According to him, discussions should include
not only parliamentarians, but publicity and press. “First President
of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosian also considered it necessary to
conduct such discussions, unfortunately they never started”, Oskanian
said. “We want the soonest settlement of the conflict, without
violation of anyone’s national interests”, he said. L.D. –0–

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

THE RA COMMISSION ON SECURITIES IS TO BECOME A MEMBER OF AN
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF COMMISSIONS ON SECURITIES IN 2005

YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. The RA commission on securities is
going to become a member of an International organization of
Commissions on Securities in 2005. According to RA President’s Press
Service Department, the Chairman of the RA Commission on Securities
Edward Muradyan stated about it during a work meeting with RA
President Robert Kocharyan. He introduced to the President initial
results of the activity of the commission in 2004, as well as the
main programs that are planned to be implemented next year.
In the course of the meeting issues of development and regulation of
the securities market were discussed as well as international
cooperation in that field. A.H. –0–

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

ARMENIAN FINANCE AND ECONOMY MINISTER HOSPITALIZED BECAUSE OF HEART
ATTACK

YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. Armenian Finance and Economy Minister
Vardan Khachatryan was hospitalized because of heart attack. As
Armenian mass media reports, we was transported to the Clinic on
Friday evening right from his office, then he was sent to Nork Marash
Medical Center. In words of Director of the Center Lida Muradyan, his
health situation at the moment is quite satisfactory. According to
his forecasts, he will leave the hospital in 1-2 weeks, after which
he will be able to resume his work and participate in the discussions
of the budget for the year 2005 in the Armenian Parliament. T.M. –0–

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

SPEAKER OF STATE DUMA OF RUSSIA TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA TODAY

YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. By invitation of the Speaker of the
Armenian National Assembly Arthur Baghdasaryan, the Speaker of the
State Duma of Russian Federation Boris Gryzlov is arriving in Armenia
today. As the Armenian Parliament Public and Relations Department
told ARKA, in the frames of his visit he will meet the Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Arthur
Baghdasaryan, Chairmen of the Standing Committees of the Parliament,
Heads of the parliament Factions and Groups, Armenian PM Andranik
Margarian, Catholicos of All Armenian His Holiness Garegin II. T.M.
–0–

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–Boundary_(ID_gOTTBE7pXY3Ajg3Q0mandQ)–

Azeri committee calls for international help in search for captives

Assa-Irada, Baku
18 Dec 04

The state commission on captives, hostages and missing persons held its
first meeting in a new composition at the National Security Ministry
on Saturday 18 December. The commission’s chairman and minister,
Eldar Mahmudov, stated that the commission, in its new format, will
be even more active in conveying to the Azerbaijani and international
community the facts about violation of international norms by Armenia,
which perpetrated ethnic cleansing, massacre and vandalism against
Azerbaijanis and holds them in captivity.

Members of the commission said that international organizations are not
providing the necessary assistance in searching for the Azerbaijani
captives and hostages and pointed to the importance of seeking other
ways of resolving the problem.

The speakers also reaffirmed that up till 1 December 2004, 4,852
Azerbaijanis had gone missing in the conflict zone, including 54
children, 323 women, and 410 elderly people. In 1998-2004, 1,360
Azerbaijanis were released from Armenian captivity, including 166
children, 335 women and 286 elderly people.

The undisputed facts show that at least 783 Azeri citizens, including
18 children, 46 women and 69 elderly people, were taken captive and
hostage by Armenia. However, this was concealed from international
organizations, including from the International Committee of the Red
Cross. The list of these people has been compiled based on witness
testimony by the Azerbaijanis released from captivity and from other
sources.

Most of these people were killed while in Armenian captivity, died
of either torture or disease, while some of them are still being held
in Armenia and the occupied Azerbaijani territories and used as slaves.

After the discussions, the commission approved the plan of activities
for 2005.

ARKA News Agency
Dec 17 2004

President of Producer Center Alfael elected the chairman of
Federation of Bicycle sport in Armenia

CBA and RA Government develop strategy on decrease of shadow economy

Russian military base in Armenia represents dangerous feeling to
Turkey

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PRESIDENT OF PRODUCER CENTER ALFAEL ELECTED THE CHAIRMAN OF
FEDERATION OF BICYCLE SPORT IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, December 17. /ARKA/. President of Producer Center Alfael
Levon Abaramian elected the chairman of Federation of Bicycle Sport
in Armenia, FBS told ARKA. L.D. –0–

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

CBA AND RA GOVERNMENT DEVELOP STRATEGY ON DECREASE OF SHADOW ECONOMY

YEREVAN, December 17. /ARKA/. CBA and RA Government develop strategy
on decrease of shadow economy, CBA Chairman Tigran Sargsian stated at
the meeting of CBA Council members with the members of Union of
Foreign Exchange Dealers of Armenia and representatives of exchange
stations. Sargsian said that the result of new strategy will be big
decrease of volumes of cash operations and big deals of exchange
stations will be strictly registered. Commenting the results of
inspections of exchange stations, Sargsian stated that similar
inspections will continue not only in the streets of Tigran Mets and
Kasian, but on other addresses as well.
Sargsian also said that at present new legal acts regulating activity
of foreign exchange dealers and exchange stations are being developed
at the moment. He offered the participants of the meeting to take
part in development of these documents and represent their offers.
L.D. –0—

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

RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA REPRESENTS DANGEROUS FEELING TO
TURKEY

YEREVAN, December 17. /ARKA/. Russian military base in Armenia
represents dangerous feeling to Turkey, Armenian Political Scientist
Agasi Yenokian stated at the seminar “Influence of Armenian-Russian
military cooperation on the region and international security
systems”, organized by Armenian All National Movement. According to
him, in result Turkey gathers its military potential in the region
and develops certain military plans directed against Armenia. At
this, he thinks, for Russia, military base in Armenia is extremely
important in the view of security, because removes threat from own
borders thousand kilometers south. He also said that military
presence of Russia plays negative role in Armenian-Georgian
relations.
In the frames of interstate agreement 102nd Russian military base
located in Gyumri (Armenia). L.D. –0–

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

–Boundary_(ID_lwLVfMlCI6tMLYxmS4oTqg)–

Matsakis launches scathing attack against Papadopoulos
By Jean Christou

Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
Dec 19 2004

CYPRIOT MEP Marios Mataskis was one of the first to let fly over the
outcome of the EU summit yesterday, calling it a catastrophe that had
resulted in Cyprus becoming a non-entity within Europe. He accused
Britain of being Cyprus’ number one enemy for its role in the summit
deliberations.

“In effect yesterday the solution of the Cyprus problem was signed,”
Matsakis told the Cyprus Mail. He said the results of the summit
essentially meant that Cyprus had lost its leverage and now would have
to endure the return of the Annan plan with very minor alterations
“and we will be blackmailed into accepting it”.

“I don’t understand. I want to hear explanations. The government is
responsible. President Papadopoulos must explain to the people of
Cyprus what went wrong yesterday. We had high hopes. We had the upper
hand. Why did we give in? We gave everything and we took nothing,
nothing,” he said.

Matsakis said the decision meant that Turkey was under no obligation
to recognise the Republic of Cyprus. “No recognition of Cyprus. No
withdrawal of Turkish troops. No recognition of the Armenian
genocide. Turkey gave absolutely nothing and they got everything.
These were extremely bad results.

“President Papadopoulos yesterday signed our non-recognition. We are
not part of the European Union. We are not a recognised state. We
are nothing.”

Matsakis, known for his animosity against the British bases in Cyprus,
saved some of his most scathing remarks for the British government
for its unquestioning support of Turkey and its tactics at the summit.

“Britain’s role was undermining as they always do,” he said. “Britain
has always been our number one enemy.”

Matsakis said the Greek Cypriot side was in a deep hole that it could
not get out of, “like someone whose house is burned down and who was
trying to find the remnants”.

“I don’t think we realise the catastrophe that has happened. It’s a
complete catastrophe.

What we fought for for years, and the sacrifices that people made. A
division now would be a blessing. We are heading towards a far worse
solution that a complete division.”

Matsakis said the first mistake made by the government was to accept
the Annan plan as a basis for negotiations. The Greek Cypriot ‘no’
in the referendum was not a mistake, he said but the government’s
actions in Brussels on Friday had destroyed that ‘no’.

“We don’t exist as far as Europe is concerned after yesterday’s
decision. We are a nonentity. We are like gypsies. We have no
government, nothing.”

Matsakis said Papadopoulos must be called to account for what happened
and that parliament should meet to discuss what had gone wrong and
how things could be put right.

“We have to see who is responsible and see who is governing
this country, this so-called country, because it seems like AKEL
is governing,” he said. The President needs to give convincing
explanations and he needs to be put through an interrogation with
the press.

We fought very strenuously and we achieved a very good motion of
resolution for Cyprus at the European Parliament and our government
gave it all away yesterday,” he added.

“Of course, I can imagine how much pressure there was but this is where
true statesmen and governments show their worth. We were led to believe
they were up to it and able to withstand the pressure, but it seems
they were not and we need to know why. I feel very angry about it.”

GRYZLOV DID ARMENIA DISSERVICE

PanArmenian News
Dec 17 2004

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Head of the Russian State Duma, representative of
“Unity” faction Boris Gryzlov did Armenia a disservice by calling
the independent state an outpost. However, for Armenia being Russia’s
ally does not mean being Russia’s outpost. An alliance can be formed
with an independent state on the basis of mutual interests but never
with an outpost. We do not call Russia an Armenian outpost only
because it is Armenia’s ally and do not think Russians would like
such an interpretation. Armenia is an independent state with its own
interests and is no one’s outpost or vanguard. We have maintained
our independence. Preserving allied relations with Russia we do not
forget whose army together with the Azeri OMON deported the Armenian
population of Karabakh in 1991 and even intruded into the territory
of Armenia (village of Voskepat, Noemberian region of Armenia).
However it was Azerbaijani President but not Armenian officials, who
reacted to Gryzlov’s statement. “We thought Armenia is a state but not
an outpost”, he said today. Really, Armenia is by no means an outpost,
but there are still some people in the capital of the former USSR,
who have not realized yet that the USSR collapsed 13 years ago and
nowadays Russia needs Armenia no less that Armenia needs Russia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress