Opposition accuses Armenia of sidelining Karabakh from conflict settlement
Mediamax news agency
1 Feb 05
YEREVAN
“The Armenian authorities are using authoritarian methods in the
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,” said a statement read
out at the opening of a round table in Yerevan today.
The round table was arranged at the initiative of three opposition
politicians of Armenia – the chairman of the National Democratic Union
(NDU), Vazgen Manukyan; the leader of the Self-Determination
Association, Paruyr Ayrikyan; and the political secretary of the Union
of Socialists Forces and Intelligentsia, Ashot Manucharyan.
“Unsettled relations between the Armenian Republic and Artsakh
(Nagornyy Karabakh), as well as the unclear responsibility of the two
Armenian states for foreign and domestic policies, have not only
sidelined the Artsakh authorities and public but also made domestic
policies of Armenia and Artsakh exposed to mutual interference,” said
the statement read out by Ayrikyan.
The participants in the round table expressed their conviction that
the Armenian and Artsakh public should possess “mechanisms of stable
control over decision-making at government bodies”.

Turkey can support only Karabakh deal approved by Azerbaijan – envoy
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
1 Feb 05
BAKU
“Turkey wants good neighbourly relations with Armenia”, Turkey’s
Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Turan Morali, said on Tuesday 1 February .
Morali, who visited Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, told a press
conference that problems between Turkey and Armenia stemmed from
policies of the current regime (in Armenia) and behaviour of the
Armenian diaspora, and said that good-neighbourly relations could be
established between two countries in case these problems were
solved. “If a friendship and good relationship is to be established,
this should include all the parties. And, this can be achieved by
finding a solution to the controversy between Azerbaijan and Armenia
(Nagornyy Karabakh region of Azerbaijan is under Armenian occupation)
in line with the international laws and in a way acceptable to
Azerbaijan,” said Morali. He noted that Turkey was ready to contribute
to efforts serving this goal.
Morali stressed that Turkey would only back a solution accepted by
Azerbaijan and said: “Turkey can’t accept anything other than this.”
“Establishing good relations with its neighbours, ending its
occupation of Azerbaijani territories and giving up its baseless
claims against Turkey would be in the best interests of Armenia”,
Morali stated.
Morali said that Turkey had always supported Nakhichevan’s efforts to
stand on its own feet, and wanted to further improve its relations
with Nakhichevan.

US ARMENIAN COMMUNITY TO HONOR EAST FOUNDATION AND CONSUL GENERALS
FROM CYPRUS, SYRIA, ETHIOPIA AND URUGUAY FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN
SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1. ARMINFO. The Armenian Assembly of America, along
with the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Western Diocese of
the Armenian Church, announced today that the President of the Near
East Foundation and the consul generals from Cyprus, Syria, Ethiopia
and Uruguay will be among those honored by the Armenian community for
their efforts in supporting the survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
The “International Relief, Refuge, and Recognition Tribute” will take
place on February 24 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles,
California. The event will also recognize those nations, such as
Cyprus and Uruguay, which have officially acknowledged the Armenian
Genocide and serve as a prelude to a series of local, national and
international events that will commemorate and raise awareness of the
90th anniversary of the Genocide. “The governments of these four
countries have long-standing relationships with Armenia and its
people, with all serving as a safe haven for Armenians fleeing the
genocide,”
“Similarly, the Near East Relief is credited with saving hundreds of
thousands of Armenians and making possible productive futures for more
than 130,000 orphans.” Armenian survivors also turned to Syria, by far
the largest recipient of refugees of any Middle Eastern
country. Cyprus, Ethiopia and Uruguay also opened their doors and are
home to well-established Armenian communities.
>From 1919 until 1930, New York-based Near East Relief (now known as
the Near East Foundation) administered $117,000,000 to those in
need. Very early in the relief effort, attention focused on helping
rescued orphans to become self-supporting and contributing members of
the communities that had absorbed them.

PACE RESOLUTION ON NAGORNY KARABAKH REFLECTS PROCESSES INSIDE OSCE
MINSK GROUP: ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MP
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1. ARMINFO. The PACE resolution on Nagorny Karabakh
is an unprecedented document in terms of Armenia’s having been
recognized as a direct party to the Karabakh conflict and an occupant,
says Shavarsh Kocharyan, Armenian delegate to PACE from the Justice
opposition bloc.
No international document except for the resolutions by the
Organization of the Islamic Conference has ever recognized Armenia as
a direct party to the Karabakh conflict. The appointment of a new PACE
rapporteur on Nagorny Karabakh will not change the situation. The new
rapporteur will follow the logic of the PACE resolution.
Shavarsh Kocharyan calls a lie the statements that the resolution will
not affect the OSCE MG peace process. On the contrary the resolution
reflects the processes inside the MG and this unfavorable atmosphere
is the result of Armenia’s ineffective foreign policy.
Shavarsh Kocharyan says that during the resolution discussion the
initiatives of the Azeri delegates were strongly supported by their
Turkish colleagues while the Armenian delegation could hardly expect
the same from any other foreign counterparts. Even Armenia’s
strategical partner Russia was not supportive. For example at PACE
the Russian delegates were first neutral but when it turned out that
the proposals of Armenian MPs were passing some of them began voting
in favor of Azerbaijan.
If Armenia wants European support it should effect democratic
reforms. No coincidence that before 1995 when Armenia held free and
democratic elections the international community sympathized with i
but the situation changed after the electoral fraud of 1996. Of course
Azerbaijan is not a democratic state either but in Azerbaijan there is
oil, says Shavarsh Kocharyan adding that Pres.Aliev is much liked in
the world and the international community is ready to support him
everywhere even in the Karabakh issue just to reinforce his positions
in Azerbaijan and to launch democratic reforms there.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE fact-finding mission visits Karabakh’s Kalbacar District – Armenian TV
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
1 Feb 05

The co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group [that mediates peace talks
between Azerbaijan and Armenia] and members of the OSCE fact-finding
mission have visited the center and several villages of Karvachar
District which is under the control of the Nagornyy Karabakh defence
army. The OSCE representatives met the district’s residents and
inquired about their previous place of residence.
The Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuriy Merzlyakov,
said that their visit to the region was a bit unusual this time, and
naturally, it was different from previous visits. We have arrived here
to check cases of settlement of Armenians in the districts around
Nagornyy Karabakh, he said. The fact-finding mission has planned to
check one district a day. No-one can say what the reaction will
be. One can comment on this only after collecting information.
The head of the OSCE fact-finding mission, Emily Margarethe Haber,
added that they had gathered very interesting information about the
conflict. She said she was confident that this information would help
assess the situation correctly.
The deputy foreign minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic, Masis
Mailyan, is accompanying the OSCE mission.
The members of the OSCE fact-finding mission visited Cabrayil and
Fuzuli districts earlier this morning.

New parties set up in Karabakh
Arminfo, Yerevan
1 Feb 05
STEPANAKERT
The process of creating parties has been speeded up and the domestic
political life in Nagornyy Karabakh has been revived since the law “On
parties” was adopted.
New parties – Our Home Armenia, Movement-88 and Free Motherland – have
joined the traditional Armenian parties in Nagornyy Karabakh, the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun and Armenakan, an
Arminfo correspondent reported from Stepanakert. The Democratic
Artsakh [Karabakh] Union public and political movement has been
transformed into the Democratic Party of Artsakh.
The political field of the republic has become stronger since the
setting up of new parties, Karabakh observers believe.

Azeri official warns OSCE fact-finding mission against breaching agreements
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
1 Feb 05
[Presenter] The first complaints have surfaced in connection with the
OSCE fact-finding mission’s visit to the occupied districts outside
Nagornyy Karabakh. A number of conditions put forward by Baku and
accepted by the parties to the conflict to ensure the mission’s
objectivity are being violated. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has
said that if this information is confirmed, the ministry will ask the
experts for explanation.
[Correspondent over archive footage] Despite statements by the
Azerbaijani authorities and the OSCE [Minsk Group] co-chairmen, the
OSCE fact-finding mission visiting the occupied territories is being
accompanied by the Karabakh Armenians.
According to a report posted on the web site of the Armenian newspaper
Yerkir, the European experts are being accompanied by the deputy
foreign minister of the self-styled Nagornyy Karabakh republic, Masis
Mailyan.
Meanwhile, Baku regards the Armenian report as provocation. Deputy
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has told “Son Xabar” that when the Minsk
Group co-chairmen and members of the fact-finding mission were in
Baku, this issue was broadly discussed. We told them that the
Armenians would try to offer a number of pretexts to stop the experts
going there, by saying that the areas are mined, that roads are
impassable, that the weather is not favourable enough. However, the
OSCE representatives said they would be accompanied by [special
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office] Andrzej Kasprzyk, and
promised not to let this happen, end of quote.
According to Araz Azimov, the Azerbaijani side tends to trust the
sincerity of European experts. At the same time, the deputy minister
said if these reports are confirmed, the Azerbaijani side might ask
the fact-finding mission to provide an explanation of how this could
have happened.
[Passage to end omitted: known background details]

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Studies Program
Armenian Studies Program
California State University, Fresno
5245 N Backer Ave PB4
Fresno, CA 93740-8001
Email: [email protected]
ASP Office: 559-278-2669
Office: 559-278-4930
FAX: 559-278-2129
Armenia Semester Abroad Program- 2005
Armenian Studies Program of California State University, Fresno
Fall 2005 Armenia Semester Abroad Program
Semester begins – September 5, 2005
Experience a semester abroad in Yerevan, Armenia. The Armenian
Studies Program at California State University, Fresno has organized
a one-semester program designed to introduce students to Armenian
language, history, art, and contemporary events. The semester
schedule is composed of five courses: Armenian language (4 units);
Armenian art and architecture (3 units); Armenia today (3 units);
Armenian studies (3 units); Independent study (2 units).
Courses, based on curriculum used by the Armenian Studies Program at
California State University, Fresno, will be taught by faculty from
Yerevan State University.
The academic committee in charge of curriculum is composed of Dr.
Dickran Kouymjian, Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian
Studies and Director of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State,
Dr. Tom Samuelian of Arlex International, and Barlow Der Mugrdechian
of the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State.
Full information on the program is available at the following web
site:
Eligibility: The program is open to all high school graduates, ages
18-32, who have maintained a minimum 2.75 GPA in college.
Fees: Fees for the program are $2,250 per person (for 15 units of
courses) and an additional fee of approximately of $160 for health
insurance. Room and board, air fare, and transportation and any
additional costs are the responsibility of the student. (The Program
will assist in finding living arrangements)
Deadline: Students are required to fill in the following application
form and return it to the Armenian Studies Program by May 1, 2005 for
study abroad in Armenia in the Spring semester 2005.
Minimum class size:
A minimum of 5 students must be successfully admitted to the program
for the Fall 2005 program to take place.
Required information for application: Official college transcript;
One page essay on why you would like to participate in the Armenia
Study Abroad Program, what has prepared you for study in such a
Program, and why you are qualified to participate; One passport sized
color photo; Names and telephone numbers of two references
(non-related). In addition please submit Name, Address, City, State,
Zip, Telephone number, Email address, Date of birth: (Please clearly
print all information and make sure that the telephone number and
email address are current). Send the application form, and all
requested material to: Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Armenian Studies
Program, 5245 N Backer Ave. PB4. Fresno, CA 93740-8001
If you have any questions contact: Barlow Der Mugrdechian office
telephone: 559-278-4930 o email: [email protected]
Travel fellowship: Travel fellowships are available to qualified
applicants who are accepted into the Fresno State Armenia Semester
Abroad Program through BirthRight Armenia/Depi Hayk (BR/DH). (See
below for Eligibility). The travel fellowship covers reimbursement of
roundtrip economy class airfare at the average price for that period
upon successful completion of the program and BR/DH requirements. The
application form is posted on the

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
02/01/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) ARF Youth Delegation Participates in Fifth World Social Forum 2) PACE to Gather Commission on Implementation of Controversial Resolution on Karabagh 3) Judges, Defense Attorneys, and Prosecutors Issue Joint Statement on Constitutional Amendments 4) EU Reminds Turkey of Condition for Talks 5) Renowned Baritone to Dedicate Yerevan Performance to 90th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide 6) Memorial for Professor and Poet Leonardo Alishan 1) ARF Youth Delegation Participates in Fifth World Social Forum PORTO ALEGRE--A delegation of Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Youth Organization (ARF-YO) members joined over 155,000 activists from 135 countries at the fifth World Social Forum held in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. Participants of the five day conference, which convened on January 26 under the slogan of "another world is possible," gathered in Brazil to organize for tolerance, justice, and peace. Established in 2001, the World Social Forum is a meeting place for those who are interested in building a world in which meaningful relationships among humans flourish. As the Forum's charter of principles reads: "The alternatives proposed at the World Social Forum stand in opposition to a process of globalization commanded by the large multinational corporations and by the governments and international institutions at the service of those corporations' interests, with the complicity of national governments. They are designed to ensure that globalization in solidarity will prevail as a new stage in world history. This will respect universal human rights and those of all citizens--men and women--of all nations and the environment and will rest on democratic international systems and institutions at the service of social justice, equality and the sovereignty of peoples." Representing the ARF at the conference were Onnik Tamjian and Khachig Der-Ghougassian of South America's Armenian National Committee, Mkhitar Markarian of Armenia, Anet Armen of the United States and Damian Mnagian, and Juan Botista Karageozian of Argentina, both of whom were instrumental in educating Forum delegates about the genocide committed against the Ottoman-Armenians in 1915. To date, ARF delegations have participated in World Social Forum organized conferences held in Florence (2002), France (2003), London (2004) and the Ecuadorian capital of Quito (2004). Next year, Forum conferences will be held in several locations around the globe, in anticipation of the 2007 conference, which is scheduled to take place in Africa. 2) PACE to Gather Commission on Implementation of Controversial Resolution on Karabagh (Combined Sources)--The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will organize an ad hoc commission to review the implementation of its resolution on Mountainous Karabagh, adopted by the body on January 25. The resolution calls on Azeri authorities to establish contact with Karabagh's leaders--which they have persistently refused to do--and to refrain from any attempts to retake lost territory by force. Adopted early last week, amid protests from the Armenian delegation that described it as biased in Azerbaijan's favor, the controversial resolution describes Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) as a mono-ethnic area "which resemble the terrible concept of ethnic cleansing." The resolution, however, is legally non-binding. Delegation heads of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group member-countries will form the commission, which is to be set up in March 2005. According to Azeri sources, PACE will seek the assistance of Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis, as well as Armenian and Azeri presidents, in order to specify the commission's authorities. Pointing to the biased nature of the report, the deputy chair of the Armenian delegation to PACE Armen Rustamian told the body last week, "Azerbaijan is expecting to use this document as a justification to issue an ultimatum it has been preparing for a long time. Azerbaijan wants to solve the [Karabagh] issue according to its own scenario--that is, through war." A 10-member OSCE fact-finding mission is currently in the Jebrail and Fizuli regions of Karabagh to investigate Azeri allegation that they are being illegally populated with Armenians. The fact-finding team led by a senior German Foreign Ministry official, Emily Habber, and accompanied by the French, Russian, and US co-chairs of the OSCE's Minsk Group visited the Kelbajar district west of Karabagh on Monday, before arriving in Stepanakert to meet with Karabagh President Arkady Ghukasian. Ghukasian denied that the government of MKR is encouraging the resettlement of Armenian families in those areas and said those Armenians who have moved there since the 1994 ceasefire are mostly former refugees from Azerbaijan. Ghukasian also urged the visitors to inspect Azeri-controlled areas of Karabagh that were formerly populated with Armenians. "We have heard many interesting details and I am confident that those details will help us assess the situation correctly," Habber told local journalists. The OSCE mission will spend ten days traveling around the occupied lands and submit a report to the Minsk Group later on. 3) Judges, Defense Attorneys, and Prosecutors Issue Joint Statement on Constitutional Amendments YEREVAN (Armenpress)--In a conference organized by the American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (CEELI) and funded by USAID, Armenian judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys met in Tsakhkadzor on January 28-30 to discuss three packages of constitutional amendments proposed by Armenia's various political groups. They were joined by NGO and Media Representatives. The discussions began by focusing on the section of proposed constitutional amendments related to the judicial system, with each of the groups debating problems and issues of concern. "Legal professionals of Armenia are very enthusiastic about constitutional reforms and want to contribute to the process. During these roundtables judges, advocates, and prosecutors demonstrated their command of the issue," said ABA/CEELI country director Karen Kendrick. On the closing day, a joint session summed up the results and drafted a statement on the judicial section of constitutional reforms, providing recommendations for a transparent and more effective functioning judiciary system. The statement marks the first time the three legal professional groups issue a joint declaration, to demonstrate a common approach and agreement on legal-judicial system reforms. Founded in 1990, the CEELI is a public service project of the American Bar Association. More than 5,000 legal professionals have contributed over $180 million in pro bono legal services to projects in Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union. Targeting Judicial reform in Armenia, CEELI seeks to enhance the independence, competence, and accountability of judges and to develop resources necessary for the transparent administration of justice. 4) EU Reminds Turkey of Condition for Talks BRUSSELS (Reuters)--The European Commission has reminded Turkey that it must sign a document extending its customs union with the EU to cover Cyprus before it can begin membership talks with the bloc as planned on October 3. "If Ankara dragged its feet for political reasons, the negotiations would not open," senior Commission official Jean-Christophe Filori told visiting Turkish journalists on Tuesday. The move is highly sensitive in Turkey because it is seen by diplomats as tantamount to de facto recognition of the internationally backed Greek Cypriot government in Nicosia without a peace deal to reunite the divided island. Turkey, which won its date to start long-delayed EU entry talks at a summit last December, recognizes only a breakaway Turkish Cypriot community in the north of Cyprus. Asked what would happen if Turkey did not sign the protocol, Filori said: "If the delay is a result of political resistance (in Turkey), yes it would be a problem and the negotiations would not start." Filori is a senior aide to EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, responsible for Turkey. Turkish financial markets are acutely sensitive to any suggestion of problems in Turkey's bid to join the EU. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, aware of the high stakes involved, said last week there would be no delay in signing the document, though he gave no date. "We are analyzing the situation with regard to international law and once we have made sure of our position, we will be in touch with the European Commission and we will make an effort to achieve a result as soon as possible," he told reporters in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum. "We would never want to extend the process," Erdogan said. The Greek Cypriot government is viewed by the other 24 members of the EU as the sole legal representative of Cyprus, which joined the EU with nine other states in May 2004. Filori said the EU had no plans to get directly involved in any revived diplomatic drive to reunite Cyprus, saying this would remain the responsibility of the United Nations. A previous UN peace plan was defeated last year when the Greek Cypriots rejected it in a referendum shortly before joining the EU. The Turkish Cypriots had backed the plan. Filori said a framework document establishing the structure for Turkey's accession talks would be ready by June at the latest. He declined to say how long he thought the negotiations would last. "Taking on the acquis communautaire (EU law) is a huge task and takes a huge amount of time," Filori said, referring to the tens of thousands of pages of European law which prospective members must adopt and implement. 5) Renowned Baritone to Dedicate Yerevan Performance to 90th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--One of the most famous world baritones, Renato Bruson, will perform in Armenia on February 5 together with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, at Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall. The concert, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, will mark Bruson's first visit to Armenia. Initiated by the head conductor of the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia Eduard Topchian, negotiations with Bruson began last year, but the agreement was reached recently. Arias and overtures from Giuseppe Verdi's operas will be performed, with the cost of tickets ranging from 3,000 to 10,000 drams ($6-20). "We have established all the conditions for the Armenian spectators to have an opportunity to hear the world-famed baritone," said Topchian. A concert with world-famed tenor Placido Domingo in Yerevan is currently in the works, which will also be dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. The State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia has been negotiating with Domingo's manager for the past several months. Bruson, one of the foremost Verdi and bel canto baritones of his generation, was unable to afford any kind of musical schooling at a young age, but his family encouraged him to sing in the local church choir. After finishing regular school, he auditioned for the Padova Conservatory, and was offered a five-year scholarship, where he studied with Elena Fava Cerati, who trained him thoroughly in the bel canto style and technique. He made his opera debut as the Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore at Spoleto in 1961. He appeared at the Met for the first time in 1969, as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, and made his La Scala debut in Linda di Chamonix in 1972. In 1973, he made his Chicago Lyric Opera debut as Renato in Un Ballo in Maschera, and in 1975 he made his Covent Garden debut in the same role, substituting for an ill Piero Cappuccilli. His Vienna State Opera debut was in 1978, as Verdi's Macbeth. He sang with Riccardo Muti for the first time in 1970, and over the years became an adherent of Muti's insistence on singing come scritto, without singer-interpolated high notes, believing that this focuses attention on the music and drama rather than the singer. He frequently championed the songs of Tosti, and was named an honorary citizen of Cortona, Tosti's home city, in recognition of this. While his Verdi roles are perhaps his best-known, especially Macbeth, Rigoletto, Renato (Un Ballo in Maschera), and Simon Boccanegra, he sang in no fewer than seventeen Donizetti operas during the 1970s and 1980s, just ahead of the crest of a great resurgence of interest in lesser-known nineteenth-century works. With his soft, rich, deep voice he has emerged as the leading romantic baritone of our time, specializing above all in Donizetti and Verdi, but not disregarding eighteenth-century opera. 6) Memorial for Professor and Poet Leonardo Alishan Accomplished former University of Utah professor and poet, Leonardo Paul Alishan, 53, passed away on January 9, 2005 as a result of a horrific house fire. Nardo was born on March 4, 1951 in Tehran, Iran to Armenian parents, Michael and Annette. He married Neli Assadurian on July 19, 1974. Three wonderful children was the result of their union, Michael, Ara, and Eileen. Nardo immigrated to the United States in 1973 and received his doctorate degree in 1978 in comparative literature from the University of Texas at Austin. He moved to Utah and joined the University of Utah's Middle Eastern Studies' department the same year. He enjoyed teaching and spending time with his students, which were his biggest source of inspiration. He left an everlasting impression on everyone who came in contact with him, and made their lives richer and more meaningful. His students admired his knowledge, candidness, humbleness, and warm personality, and rewarded him twice with voting him the most distinguished professor at the university. He also received a faculty award from the University of Utah for the 1994-1995 school year. Nardo was an accomplished researcher and poet, which received numerous awards for his literary body of work. His love for literature benefited Iranian, Armenian, and English literary communities in different capacities. He authored several articles and papers covering traditional and modern Iranian poets and writers, while becoming one of the top authorities in the world on `David and Sassoun,' the Armenian national epic. He was especially proud of his two published poetry books, `Dancing Barefoot on Broken Glass' and `Through a Dewdrop.' Nardo's legacy lives in his oldest son Micheal, who has inherited his wonderful personality, in Ara, who has inherited his gentle soul and artistic inclinations, and in his youngest child Eileen, his ultimate love, which completes the circle. His legacy will always be alive in every student and individual who came to know this wonderful mind and exceptional literary genius. He is survived by his children, Michael, Ara, and Eileen; wife, Neli; Nephew, Damian; Preceded in death by father, Michael; mother, Annette; brother, Sacco. A memorial reception will take place on Saturday, February 5, 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., at Cabrini Villas, 9600 Cabrini Drive, Burbank, CA 91504. For information call (818) 731-3365. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Baghdasarian

THE RUSSIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT COULD BENEFIT ARMENIA
Eurasia Insight
EurasiaNet.org
2/01/05
By Haroutiun Khachatrian
Improving Russian-Turkish ties could benefit Armenia, as many experts
and officials believe Moscow will place additional pressure on Ankara to
lift a trade embargo and normalize relations with Yerevan. The
Russian-Turkish rapprochement comes amid a growing US presence in the
Caucasus, a region where both Russia and Turkey are considered regional
superpowers and where both are eager to maintain their diplomatic and
economic clout.
A visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey in December 2004 –
the first ever by a Russian chief-of-state – intensified the diplomatic
dialogue between the two states, which for decades had been sparring
partners. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reciprocated the
visit with an official trip to Moscow on January 10-12.
A sizeable increase in trade and business ties provided the backdrop for
these summits – Erdogan has forecast that bilateral annual trade is
expected to more than double by 2007 to $25 billion — but the Turkish
press has argued that the true significance of these meetings is
political. “Turkish-Russian ties gain a political dimension”, The
Turkish Daily News wrote recently. During Erdogan’s trip to Moscow,
Putin spoke out in favor of developing economic ties with Turkish
Cypriots, a sensitive foreign policy point for Ankara, and promised to
act as a mediator to resolve disputes between Turkey and Armenia.
“We both agree that it is necessary to strive towards establishing
friendly relations between neighbors,” the Russian news agency Interfax
quoted Putin as saying on January 11. “[Russia] will do everything
possible to settle conflicts in the post-Soviet space . . . acting
exclusively as a mediator and guarantor of future accords.”
Watching from the sidelines, analysts in Yerevan see the improved ties
with Moscow as a sign that Turkey wants to cut its own path in foreign
affairs, independent of the views of Washington, a fellow member of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization and longtime military partner.
Turkey’s relations with both the United States and Israel, a key
American ally, have been strained of late. Turkish leaders are concerned
about the presence of US forces in Iraq, and, last year, expressed
dissatisfaction with Tel Aviv’s treatment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
“We know that our responsibilities are not just internal anymore but in
the Balkans, the Middle East, and the Caucasus and throughout the
world,’ Erdogan said in his 2005 New Year’s speech, the Turkish daily
Zaman reported. `Being conscious of this responsibility, we will carry
Turkey to a more active point.”
Ruben Safrastian, head of the Turkey department at the Armenian National
Academy of Science’s Institute of Oriental Studies, argues that this
`active point’ means regaining influence over countries that were once
part of the Ottoman Empire. That motivation parallels attempts by Russia
to maintain its sway in countries, including Armenia, that were once
part of the Soviet Union, he said. “Moscow is trying to use the
privileges gained from high oil prices not only in the economic sphere,
but also strategically. Thus, the two [regional] superpowers,
dissatisfied with their role in the world, are trying to find a new
place, a new niche,’ Safrastian said in a recent interview with the
Regnum.ru Russian news agency. Among the potential results of such an
alliance: a Turkish partnership with the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, (which includes Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) and joint Turkish-Russian reconstruction
projects in post-war Iraq. It is in the Caucasus that both countries
will put their partnership to the test, observers believe. An Armenian
diplomat, who asked not to be named, commented that US-Turkish relations
started to worsen after Washington began training Georgian troops in
2002. Turkey, formerly Washington’s partner for advancing Western
interests in the region, is becoming a competitor with Washington for
influence, the diplomat said. Although Turkey continues to train
Georgian military officers, and handed over $2 million worth of military
equipment in 2004, its programs pale in comparison with US training
initiatives. Washington has set aside $15 million in 2005 alone for its
ongoing Georgian military training program, and Georgia has responded in
kind with a contribution of over 800 troops to the US Iraqi
reconstruction effort.
Turkey is now looking to engage Russia diplomatically in order to check
the growing US influence in the region, the diplomat said. Safrastian
echoed this view, telling Regnum.ru that `The Caucasus is no longer a
source of discord for Russia and Turkey.’ According to this scenario,
Russia’s increased involvement in the economies of the south Caucasus
countries would be reinforced by expanded trade with Turkey.
While Armenian media and political parties have paid relatively little
attention to these events, the government has been watching closely.
Although no Russia-facilitated breakthrough is in the works for
Armenian-Turkish relations, the topic’s presence on the Putin-Erdogan
summit agendas was nevertheless considered by Armenian officials as
unprecedented.
Accordingly, optimism in Yerevan for a breakthrough is on the increase.
The Armenian diplomat said that the government sees the frequent
meetings in 2004 between Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and
his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul as the basis for an
Armenian-Turkish thaw. “They had very thorough discussions and
discovered that the two countries can cooperate well in many areas,’ he
said. `We believe that Turkey may initiate some steps to overcome the
current deadlock.’
Nonetheless, Yerevan is treading carefully. In a January 25 interview
with the Turkish national daily Zaman, Oskanian said that he does not
believe Russia’s mediation will be decisive in resolving long-standing
disputes between Turkey and Armenia. In this interview, apparently meant
as a message to Turkey’s political leadership following the
Putin-Erdogan summits, Oskanian again dismissed the reasons usually
cited for Ankara’s unwillingness to normalize ties with Yerevan. The
Armenian government, he said, does not insist that Turkey recognize the
slaying of over a million Armenians in 1915 as genocide, nor is it
considering claiming any territories or financial compensation from
Turkey for lands lost after the border between the Soviet Union and
Turkey was finalized in 1921. Oskanian’s stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, the primary reason for Turkey’s decision to close its border
with Armenia in 1993, was more prickly, however.
The conflict, Oskanian said, is not a relevant problem for Turkey.
`Turkey cannot mediate because it is partial. Russia, for instance, has
no preconditions and is neutral. Turkey frequently offers its help as a
mediator, and we hold bilateral meetings. We are not against meetings,
but don’t accept [Turkey’s] mediation.’
Rather, the key to reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia, the
foreign minister said, would be a decision by Ankara to reopen Turkey’s
border with Armenia. `No one can insist that there can be normal
relations between two countries if the border between them is closed. .
. [W]e can’t wait 10-15 years or longer, for Turkey to be accepted into
the EU, for there to be some positive movement. We hope that very soon
Turkey will open the border.’
Editor’s Note: Haroutiun Khachatrian is a Yerevan-based writer
specializing in economic and political affairs.