Agence France Presse
Oct 20 2004

Azerbaijan wants UN to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh
AFP: 10/20/2004

BAKU, Oct 20 (AFP) – The former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan will
take up the issue of the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is controlled by neighboring Armenia, at the UN general
assembly, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

“Azerbaijan will propose that (the UN) discuss the situation
concerning Azerbaijan’s occupied territories…this cannot be
acceptable for the entire international community,” the ministry said
in a press release.

Azerbaijan fought a bloody war with its rival Armenia in 1990 over
the Nagorno-Karabakh ethnic Armenian enclave that left 35,000 people
dead and a million civilians displaced.

The conflict ended with a ceasefire in 1994.

The enclave was left in Armenian hands, but Azerbaijan still claims
the territory, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan claims the territory is a breeding ground for separatist
extremists. Critics say this is a tactic to rally international
support for Baku.

“Azerbaijan counts on the support of the UN and the whole
international community,” the ministry said.

Turkish Press review
Oct 20 2004

ARMENIANS BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)

Columnist Oktay Eksi comments on Turkish-Armenian relations. A
summary of his column is as follows:

`Our efforts to become a member of the European Union have caused
some confusion. For example, everybody knows that the concept of
`minority’ comes from the Treaty of Lausanne. This is true not only
for us, but also for Greece, which signed the treaty as well.
Meanwhile, those who think it’s time to benefit from Turkey while
hindering our EU bid are hard at work. The most important such
initiative is the push to make Turkey recognize the so-called
Armenian genocide. Former Foreign Minister Ilter Turkmen wrote
yesterday in Hurriyet, `Of course it’s out of the question for Turkey
to accept the claims of Armenian genocide.’ However, he also
suggested that we should normalize our relations with Armenia so we
can solve the problem. Actually Armenia’s deputy foreign minister
said a few days ago that it was ready to meet unconditionally with
Ankara in order to normalize relations. We’re against neither
Turkmen’s view nor efforts to improve relations with Armenia. We also
support the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) push to
normalize our relations with neighboring countries. However, this
can’t happen with the efforts and good will coming from one side
only. For example, Armenia wants to normalize relations but it also
supports cruel and unfair campaigns by the Armenian diaspora. In
addition, hostility against Turkey is still enshrined in Armenia’s
founding state papers, and Armenian President Robert Kocaryan doesn’t
seem to have given up his promise to US Armenian lobbying groups that
it would work hard for recognition of the genocide.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Cyprus News Agency
Oct 20 2004

Cyprus and Armenian House Speakers reassure common views

by Maria Fili

Yerevan, Oct 19 (CNA) — Cyprus House of Representatives President
Demetris Christofias and Armenia’s National Assembly President Arthur
Baghdasaryan said they have reassured during their talks here the
common views Cyprus and Armenia share on issues of common interest
and full understanding of each side’s positions.

Christofias and Baghdasaryan were addressing a banquet hosted by the
latter in Christofia’s honour on the occasion of his official visit
to Armenia, at the head of a parliamentary delegation.

Baghdasaryan said relations between Cyprus and Armenia have to be
developed further, expressing certainty that with his personality and
political prestige Christofias will contribute significantly towards
this direction.

He reiterated his country’s support to Cyprus’ struggle for a
settlement to its political problem, wishing for a speedy solution.

Christofias noted the similarity of the history of the people of
Cyprus and the people of Armenia, noting that ”we are two victimized
people that through their struggle to survive have developed a high
sense of solidarity and love for the individual and of justice.”

He noted his talks in Armenia were fruitful and were a follow-up of
the talks that took place during Baghdasaryan’s visit to Cyprus.

He stressed that agreements between the two countries must bear fruit
and pledged he will make every effort in this direction.

ArmenPress
Oct 20 2004

KOCHARIAN TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO TBILISI ON OCTOBER 22

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian will
pay an official three-day visit to the neighboring Georgia on October
22. Kocharian’s press service said the welcoming ceremony will be
held at Bagratashen village on the Armenian-Georgian border. In the
capital city Tbilisi Kocharian will have a conversation with his
counterpart Mikhail Saakashvili, which will be followed by enlarged
talks between the two countries’ delegations. The two presidents will
also meet with journalists.
Kocharian will also meet with parliament chairwoman Nino
Burjanadze, prime minister Zurab Zhvania and will also be welcomed by
the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia
II. Kocharian will lay a wreath at the monument to fighters for
united Georgia and participate in Tbilisoba- a festival dedicated to
Tbilisi. He is also scheduled to meet with members of the local
Armenian community. Kocharian will come back to Yerevan on October
24.
According to 2002 census, Georgia’s population was 4 mln 371,000
people, 250,000 of whom were Armenian. However, according to
unofficial figures, some 400,000 Armenians live in Georgia. They are
mainly concentrated in Tbilisi, Javakhk, Tsalka and Marneuli regions,
as well as in Ajaria and Abkhazia. Georgian Armenians take an active
part in social, political and cultural life of the country.
According to Armenian president press services, Armenian language
newspaper Vrastan (Georgia) has been published since 1920. In 1991,
it was published as the official newspaper of the Georgian
parliament, in 1992 it was given the status of an independent
newspaper, though it receives some funds from the state budget. The
number of copies during the Soviet times reached 45,000. At present,
it is a weekly with 2,500-3,000 print-run.
Once in a month, Paros, Arshaluis and Aghbiur newspapers publish
in Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda regions as well as Ajaria. Under the
aegis of the Armenian Youth Union in Georgia another newspaper, New
Generation, publishes.
The Armenian government continues shipment of textbooks to some
154 Armenian-language schools in Tbilisi, Javakhk, Batumi, Kvemo
Kartli and Tsalka which have 28,000 students. The Sunday school in
Rustavi supported by the Armenian embassy in Georgia also receives
textbooks.
The reconstruction of the Armenian Drama Theater after Petros
Adamian in Tbilisi has finished recently. Georgian Armenian play an
important role in Armenian-Georgian cultural cooperation. They
organize theatre tours, concerts and exhibitions between the two
countries.
There are 13 Armenian acting churches in Georgia, particularly St
George and St Etchmiadzin churches in Tbilisi, St. Saver in Ajaria,
St. Sargis in Bogdanovka village of Ninotsminda and others.
There are several non-governmental organizations in Georgia,
including Union of Georgian Armenians, Armenian Youth Union, Union of
Tbilisi Armenians, Sayat-Nova cultural and educational union, Union
of Ajaria Armenians, Charles Anznavour union, Javakhk and some
others.

ArmenPress
Oct 20 2004

DEPUTY PARLIAMENT SPEAKER DENIES KOCHARIAN’S ASPIRATION FOR THIRD
TERM

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Deputy parliament chairman Tigran
Torosian warned today against pushing for radical changes in the
existing Election Law, saying a drastic reduction in the number of
seats contested under majoritarian system would result in
unpredictable consequences.
Under the existing law, 75 members of the parliament are chosen
under the system of proportional representation, while the remaining
56 parliament seats are distributed in single-mandate constituencies
across the country. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation, one of the
three members of the ruling coalition, pushes for a 100 percent
proportional representation system and another coalition member,
Orinats Yerkir is for a drastic reduction in the number of
majoritarian seats, while the Republican Party of Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, which has the biggest parliament faction, is
opposed to that.
Last week the Armenian parliament approved in the first reading
amendments to the electoral legislation which leave the ratio as it
is, saying they will refer to it before putting the bill on the
second reading.
Torosian argued today that even the ARF and other politicians
advocating a 100 percent proportional representation realize that
their arguments are weak to root out election fraud. “Some people say
that money-bags usually win elections in majoritarian constituencies,
but all parties also include rich men with no experience of
legislative work in their slates ,” Torosian said, adding also that
Armenian political parties still have a long road to go to be
established as real political force.
The opposition that continues the boycott of parliament work,
argues that the proposed amendments would not have any effect in
terms of eliminating election fraud practices, saying that the
authorities can hold free and fair elections even with the existing
legislation, however it is going to put forward its own amendments,
which also call for abolishment of single-mandate constituencies and
give more rights to the proxies of election candidates.
Torosian denied also today allegations that a package of
constitutional reforms to be put on a nation-wide referendum would
include a clause lifting the current ban for a third term for
president. “We hope that political process in Armenia will be in line
with its Council of Europe obligations,’ he said.

ArmenPress
Oct 20 2004

ARMENIAN YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS UNITE TO FIGHT BACK RELIGIOUS SECTS

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: The youth wing of the ruling
Republican Party announced today that all those who will face an
aggressive behavior from members of the recently registered Jehovah’s
Witnesses organization may call 56- 42- 97 or 53- 72- 98 to report
the incidents.
Armen Ashotian, the head of the youth wing, said another 40 youth
organizations, “concerned with the danger to the nation’s spiritual
and cultural values,” have joined the struggle against religious
sects in order to foil attempts jeopardizing the nation’s security.
“We deem proselytizing as a social evil and will keep in the
limelight all illegal activity of the religious sects,” he said,
adding that the organizations will ask the education ministry to
introduce compulsory teaching of Armenian Church History in all
universities curricula. Ashotian said the organizations will stage
authorized rallies and hold public discussions to fight against the
sects.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 20 2004

European Azeris protest Armenian congress’s convention

About one thousand Azerbaijani and Turkish Turks residing in the
Netherlands and Belgium marched from the Luxembourg Square of
Brussels to the building of the European Parliament on Tuesday.
Papers on Armenian atrocities were distributed among residents of
Brussels during the protest action, the European Azerbaijanis
Congress told AssA-Irada.
The march came as a protest against European Armenians’ intention to
put pressure on international organizations with a view to achieving
determination of the status of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh
Republic and its recognition at the congress held in the Belgium
capital on the same day.
The international congress of European Armenians discussed the issue
of opening the Turkish-Armenian borders as well.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 20 2004

MPs attend UN-organized hearings on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict

An Azerbaijani parliament delegation led by Ziyafat Asgarov, Vice
Speaker of the Milli Majlis (parliament), left for New York on Monday
to attend the UN-organized inter-parliamentary hearings on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, a parliamentary source told AssA-Irada.
The hearings will last till Saturday.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 20 2004

Opposition pickets US embassy

Some 50 members of the Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (WAPFP)
held an unsanctioned picket outside the US embassy in Baku on Tuesday
in protest against the Armenian parliament members’ planned
participation in the 58th `Rose Roth’ seminar of the NATO
parliamentary Assembly due in Baku.
Despite interference by the police, the protesters showed placards
`Respect the Azerbaijani people’, `End to double standards’, `Don’t
bring enemies to Azerbaijan!’, `Down with Armenian invaders’ and
`Freedom to Garabagh’ and forwarded a resolution to the embassy. No
protesters were detained during the picket.
WAPFP plans to hold similar actions outside the embassies of other
NATO member states accredited in Baku. The party will picket the
Turkish embassy on October 26.
WAPFP attempted to hold an unsanctioned protest action outside the
Milli Majlis (parliament) on October 12.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 20 2004

Moscow welcomes Azerbaijani-Armenian dialogue

Russia is ready to guarantee for possible agreement between
Azerbaijan and Armenia over the settlement of the Upper Garabagh
conflict, spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander
Yakovenko has stated.
Moscow welcomes the talks of all level between the conflicting sides,
Yakovenko said. `We think that the conflicting sides themselves must
reach common agreement on the issue,’ he noted.
Yakovenko added that his country is ready to assist Yerevan and Baku
in solving the conflict as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and
guarantee for agreement to be reached between the conflicting sides.*