Azeris protest at “pro-Armenian” Dutch documentary
Bilik Dunyasi news agency, Baku
12 Jan 05
BAKU
A short-length documentary by Dutch filmmaker (?Susan Kroeger), “Hope
dies last”, has caused serious discontent of Azerbaijani diaspora
organizations in the Netherlands.
The press service of the state committee for Azerbaijanis living
abroad said that the documentary tells a story of three Armenian and
two Azerbaijani soldiers who went missing in the Karabakh war during
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. After its presentation in
Amsterdam, over 100 members of the Dutch-Azerbaijani society and
Azerbaijani diaspora organizations exchanged views on the developments
in the documentary with representatives of the Dutch Council of
Churches and the Dutch Red Cross Society. Members of Armenian diaspora
organizations also joined the debates. Our compatriots strongly
protested at the facts that the narration and the end of the
documentary are related to Armenia and 21 minutes of the documentary
are about Armenia and only eight minutes about Azerbaijan.
Other causes of discontent were the choice of music, a sharp
disproportion in the presentation of the parents of the missing
soldiers, the video of Armenian and Azerbaijani cities and reference
to towns and villages in Karabakh using Armenian names.
During the debates, the Azerbaijanis strongly condemned the film and
said that its content was inaccurate and pro-Armenian. They stressed
that it was inadmissible to demonstrate such a film. Dutch experts
also supported our compatriots.
From: Baghdasarian

European bank invests in Armenian private construction company
Arminfo
12 Jan 05
YEREVAN
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has
allocated 850,000 euros to buy 28 per cent of shares of the Armenian
closed joint-stock construction concern Shen Concern, the deputy
director of the concern, Ara Asratyan, told our correspondent today.
He said that it was the first time the EBRD invested in a private
production enterprise in Armenia. He pointed out that the bank’s
investment had been channelled into the production of concrete
products and other construction materials, which are chiefly sold in
the republic. Asratyan added that the European bank had been
monitoring the operations of the company for the last two years and
made a decision to establish long-term cooperation with the
enterprise.
The contract has been concluded with the EBRD for five years and
envisages more investment in the production of construction materials
in Armenia. It is expected that after making fresh investment in April
2005, the European bank will own over 36 per cent of Shen Concern
shares. The deputy director pointed out that Shen Concern’s revenue
amounted to 1.5bn drams (3m dollars) in 2004.
The current investment portfolio of the European bank in Armenia
totals 60m euros. Armenia became a member of the EBRD in 1992.

Russia remained top priority in Armenian foreign policy in 2004, ministry
says
Arminfo
12 Jan 05
YEREVAN
The development and expansion of relations with the Russian Federation
continued to be the highest priority in Armenia’s foreign policy in
2004, says the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s report on the results of
last year.
The document says that Armenian-Russian cooperation developed and
expanded in the military-political, trade, economic and humanitarian
spheres last year, and within the CIS and the Collective Security
Treaty Organization.
Top-level meetings were held as part of three working visits of the
Armenian president to Russia, an official visit of Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Markaryan, and visits to Armenia by the chairmen of
both houses of the Russian parliament, Sergey Mironov and Boris
Gryzlov. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan paid an official
visit to Moscow in July. During the negotiations held the sides spoke
about bilateral cooperation at the international level and ways of
resolving the Nagornyy Karabakh problem.
Issues of economic partnership were discussed at a meeting of the
Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission at the end of the
year. In an effort to expand the economic partnership between legal
entities and individuals of the two countries, an Armenian-Russian
association of business cooperation was set up and over 100 companies
from both countries have already joined it.
A wide range of military and military-economic issues was discussed
during a visit to Armenia by Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov
and during the first meeting of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental
commission for military and technical cooperation in September.
As part of a cooperation programme between the two countries’ culture
ministries, days of Russian culture were held in Armenia in April
2004, while a week of Armenian films was held in Moscow in March. The
agreement was reached to declare 2005 the year of Russia in Armenia
and 2006 the year of Armenia in Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’S LOCATION MOST UNFAVORABLE AMONGE OTHER 37 LANDLOCKED COUNTIRES
Azg/arm
13 Jan 05
Out of 191 UN states 37 are landlocked, that is have no outlet to the
sea. Most of those states though have favorable geographical position
with navigable rivers and have no serious conflict with neighbors or
else is a EU member and have no problem with goods importing and
exporting.
Armenia is a classic example of a landlocked country. Armenia’s border
stretches 1254 kilometers, 566 of which fall on Azerbaijan, 221 on
Nakhijevan (that was conjoined to Azerbaijan in 1921), 268 on Turkey,
164 on Georgia and 35 on Iran. Today, only 199 kilometers or 16
percent of the border is not under blockade.
An outlet to the sea is not the only guarantee for a prosperous
country, of course. But in case of Armenia, its landlocked position
together with corruption and foul rivalry in economy is the main
factor of countryâ=80=99s underdevelopment.
We put the unsolved Nagorno Karabakh issue aside because, as foreign
minister Vartan Oskanian said, it has no price.
It’s hard to imagine that Azerbaijan will quit the blockade before the
Karabakh issue is settled. It must be noted that Azerbaijan had
blocked the railroads to Armenia before the war. Azerbaijan has also
cut off Armenia-Iran railway communication as the Yerevan-Julfa-Tavriz
railroad is passing through Nakhijevan. Ijevan-Baku railroad also does
not work thus cutting Armenia off Georgia.
The Armenian-Turkish border, stretching 268 km., has been under
blocked for 10 years now. Turkey suggests Armenia to give up Armenian
Genocide claims, declare that it has no territorial claims and
withdraw its forces from Nagorno Karabakh and only then Turkey will
open Alijan-Margara and Aqyaqa-Aghurik border-gates and the
Kars-Gyumri railway.
The Armenian-Iranian border, stretching 35 km., was the most stable
and reliable one for Armenia during the last decade. Though
Agarak-Norduz border-gate is working uninterruptedly, it is not
reliable either as, firstly, the road section passing through Qajaran
becomes impassable and dangerous in winter and, secondly, Armenia pays
far more money for its export from Russia and other states coming via
Iran.
All for 3 border-gates on Armenia-Georgia 164 km border and
Yerevan-Gyumri-Tbilisi railroad are also working uninterruptedly. But
the latter cannot be considered a road connecting Armenia with the
outer world as far as Georgia maintains blockade on the Abkhazian
railway. Nevertheless, Georgia today isthe key state connecting
Armenia with the world. The Poti and Batumi harbors receive Armenian
import and export.
Armenia’s extremely unfavorable geographical location was a headache
for every Armenian government. Russia’s blockade of Georgia-North
Ossetia border-gate and Novorosiysk-Poti sea route was enough to seal
off Armenia late last year.
By Tatoul Hakobian

QARVATCHAR INHABITANTS: THEY LEFT HOMES AT THE OTHER SIDE OF MRAV MOUNTAIN
Azg/arm
13 Jan 05
Ashghen Safarian, 82, has left 7 decades of her life together with a
newly built house and an orchard at Getashen. If it were possible she
would go toher house this summer, she misses it very much.
“The Turks (Azeris) entered the village on May 6 of 1991 and forced
all of us out. Turks now live in my two-storied house. I left
everything and fled with a bag. I want to go to my home this
summer. What can a Turk do to me”, Mrs. Ashghen says.
The Soviet army and the Azeri militia scattered the population of the
Armenian village in few days. Yeghish Markosian, 67, led his fellow
villagers out through woods and hills at the risk of being killed. He
was wounded twice.
“People of Getashen scattered as the sheep scatter when a wolf appears
amid them. There is no other village like ours in Karabakh. I cannot
forget it a second”, uncle Yeghish says.
Now this man of hoarse voice is planting trees in Qarvatchar with his
sons and 40 other families from Getashen. He says that he came here to
guard the border.
“I came out Getashen with my three sons and settled in Karmir. But we
couldn’ t make living there. Samvel Babayan (former defense minister
of Karabakh) heard that 40 families from Getashen want to come to
Karabakh and sent a man to call us. We came and liked it here. I
brought 10 other families with me, they settled in one of the
neighboring villages of Qarvatchar and renamed it into Nor (new)
Getashen”, Yeghish says.
Inhabitants of Qarvatchar
Vasili Nalbandian is the head of Shahumian region administration in
Karabakh. He says that his ancestors and his home were from the other
side of Omar and Mrav mountains. There are more than hundred families
who left their homes in Azerbaijan or in the north of Karabakh.
“Former residents of Shahumian, Getashen, Gardman (Northern Artsakh),
Baku and Sumgait are those who live today in Shahumian region. The
region of Qarvatchar was renamed into Shahumian because its first
residents were those from Shahumian”, Nalbandian says.
Tigran Gevorgian lost his home in Buzlugh and now lives in Nor Brajur
village of Shahumian region with his family. “I left my native Buzlugh
at the age of 8. I don’t remember much of our village”, Tigran says.
Brajur was one of tens of Armenian villages Ghanlar region. Armenians
of the village were also forced out from their homes. Having settled
in Qarvatchar, they founded the village of Nor Brajur. “We were 5 in
our family on coming here. Now there are two more members; my brother
got married and his child was born here”, Tigran says.
Almost all villages of Qarvatchar bear the names of Armenian villages
of Shahumian, Ghanlar and Getashen regions that were cleared off
Armenian population. Despite all difficulties, people are slowly
getting used to the conditions. What unites 82-year-old Mrs. Ashghen,
uncle Yeghish and Tigran is the fact that they all left homes and
orchards on the other side of Mrav and Omar mountains.
Heydar Aliyev inhabited Azeris at the houses taken from the Armenians
The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) expressed concern over the
fact that “the Azeri refugees and inner resellers take over
possessions belonging to Armenians and other ethnic minorities”.
“The Council advises Azerbaijan to take appropriate measures and to
compensate or to provide the Armenians and other minorities, whose
possessions were illegally taken over, with alternative lodging”, the
November 26 UN ECOSOC report reads.
Azerbaijan implements state policy of inhabiting the occupied Armenian
villages. In September of 2002 the late Azeri president, Heydar
Aliyev, took part in a ceremony of inhabiting 1000 Azeri families in
Shahumian and Upper Shen Armenian villages. The villages were renamed
after the ceremony. Bakuâ=80=99s Ekho newspaper wrote about this event
on September 10 and 14 of 2002.
Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund allocated $18 million for the inhabitation
expenses in 2001.
Nagorno Karabakh authorities control Qarvatchar
Qarvatchar is being populated spontaneously. The claims of official
Yerevan and Stepanakert that there is no state policy of inhabiting
the liberated territories unfortunately correspond to the reality. If
Azerbaijan has already inhabited 80 thousand houses with its citizens
then Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh do not hasten to inhabit Qarvatchar
and other regions.
If there were only few hundreds of families inhabited in Qarvatchar
during last 5 years, then Heydar Aliyev inhabited 1000 families in a
day.
To say that the authorities have formed a new region Shahumian by name
will mean to praise them. Karabakh authorities have only maintained
post factum supervision over Qarvatchar to avoid possible undesirable
situation.
to be continued
By Tatoul Hakobian

MILITARY COOPERATION OF ISRAEL AND USA WITH TURKEY MAKE THEM
CO-PARTICIPANTS IN CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY
YEREVAN, JANUARY 12. ARMINFO. It is tragic that part of the
understanding between Israel and Turkey was that Israel would continue
to deny the Armenian Genocide and would not comment on Turkey’s human
rights violations against Turkey’s 20% Kurdish minority. Furthermore,
Israel’s military cooperation with Turkey makes Israel an accessory to
Turkey’s ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and genocide
against its 15- 20 million Kurdish minority. It should also be noted
that the U.S. military and economic assistance to Turkey these past
decades has made the U.S. the prime accessory to Turkey-s massive
human rights violations against the Kurds. Israel-s failure to
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide mirrors those nations and
individuals who do not acknowledge the Jewish Holocaust.
Unfortunately, Israel does not stand alone in this regard: the U.S.
Executive Branch has also failed to acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide. The U.S. and Israel also need to acknowledge the genocide by
Turkey between 1914-1923 of 350,000 Greeks of the Pontos, Black Sea
region.
The attempts to deny the Jewish Holocaust have been vigorously
denounced and rightly so by Israel and the U.S., in books, articles,
speeches and in the media. Yet where is the outcry against Turkey’s
and Israel-s denial of the Armenian Genocide? And where is the outcry
against Turkey’s horrendous crimes against its Kurdish minority? It is
imperative that the U.S. change its policy towards Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HEAD OF ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PACE REFUTES INFORMATION OF AZERBAIJANI
MASS MEDIA SAYING THAT ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT HAS APPEALED TO CE
LEADERSHIP TO MAKE CORRECTIONS IN REPORT REGARDING NAGORNY KARABAKH
YEREVAN, JANUARY 12. ARMINFO. Tigran Torosian, Head of Armenian
delegation to PACE, Vice Speaker of National Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia, refuted the information of Azerbaijani mass media saying
that the parliament of Armenia has sent a letter to CE Secretary
General and PACE Chairman, requiring to make corrections in the report
of David Atkinson concerning Nagorny Karabakh.
As Tigran Torosian told ARMINFO, such an information is not only
false, but it is also an absurd. Head of the parliamentary commission
for foreign affairs Armen Rustamian had declared that the Armenian
delegation is elaborating a strategy and proposals for making
amendments to the report of David Atkinson on Nagorny Karabakh.

Wednesday, January 12, 2005
t-boston-byline.html
Young Philanthropist Contributes to ARS Sponsor-A-Child Program
by Jenny Kiljian
WATERTOWN, Mass. – For sixteen-year-old Sarah Varadian, humanitarian work has
become something of an extra-curricular activity. In her ongoing efforts to
help children in developing countries, Varadian recently donated $300 to the
Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Sponsor-A-Child Program. The money will be used
to provide Christmas gifts and a party for the children living in the orphanage
in Gyumri, Armenia.
Her commitment to service began when President Bush asked the children in the
United States to help the children in Afghanistan by each contributing one
dollar to the America’s Fund for Afghan Children, supervised by the American
Red Cross. Varadian, then 13, organized a children’s fair in the front yard of
her family’s home in Norwood, Mass., and raised over $800 for the fund.
The experience fostered a continued interest in the Afghan children, especially
the girls who, at that time, were not permitted to attend school. In her
freshman year at the Ursuline Academy, a Catholic girls’ school in Dedham,
Mass., Varadian started an independent project called `Wee Care’ Bears.
It was no easy task. She enlisted her mother in teaching her how to sew and
gathered the necessary materials to make the tiny, bear-sized pleated skirts
that mirror the school’s uniform. The two dressed more than 100 stuffed bears
and sold them for $10 each at the school’s Mission Day Fair.
Varadian made her first contribution to CARE, an international organization that
fights global poverty. She learned that one could help open a girl’s school in
Afghanistan for $450. Her efforts raised enough money to open not one, but two
girls’ schools in the war-torn country. Varadian was invited to meet CARE
president Peter Bell and she personally presented him with one of her bears and
a check for the schools’ opening.
In 2004, sales from `Wee Care’ Bears totaled more than $1000, which was divided
among several organizations, including the ARS Sponsor-A-Child Program. `As I
was helping the Afghan children, I realized the people of my own culture were
suffering, too, and it brings me joy to know that I’m helping them,’ said
Varadian, now in her junior year at the Ursuline Academy. `This is the first
time I’ve helped the Armenian Relief Society, and I’m definitely going to
continue these efforts.’
The ARS was impressed and touched by Varadian’s commitment to the community.
`Beyond the monetary value of her donation, we appreciate Sarah’s youthful
exuberance in giving of her time to the needs of those who may be overcome by
misfortune,’ said ARS Central Executive Board Chairperson Maro Minassian. `With
youngsters like this, the future of humanitarian endeavor is bright, indeed.’
Although CARE is no longer opening new schools in Afghanistan, Varadian donated
$250 that will be used to support the schools she opened in 2003. She also gave
$500 to Science With a Mission, Inc., a non-profit organization that gives
developing countries the tools to properly diagnose diseases. Thousands of
people die each year in these countries from treatable diseases such as malaria
and typhus because doctors are unable to diagnose patients. The donation will
enable an entire village to be screened and diagnosed, likely saving many
lives.
Armenie Varadian credits her daughter’s inspiration to the principles taught by
her school, whose motto is `Serviam,’ Latin for `I will serve.’
`They are encouraged to learn and to become all that God has created them to
be,’ says Armenie Varadian. `This moved her to more action.’
Thus far, the school has allowed Sarah Varadian to research and choose the
causes for which she raises funds. Varadian intends to work on the project
during her senior year. Her work has motivated many of her classmates, and she
will be training younger students to continue `Wee Care’ Bears even after she
graduates.
For more information about `Wee Care’ Bears, or to contribute to the project,
contact Sarah Varadian at 781-762-0029.

Azeri experts wary about Armenia’s consent to stage-by-stage Karabakh plan
Ekho, Baku
11 Jan 05
Excerpt from R. Orucov’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 11
January headlined “Has the process started?”
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan left for Prague on 10
January. The department of information and press of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry reports that Oskanyan is expected to meet Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on 11 January to hold talks on the
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. The negotiations will be
held in the presence of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen.
The Russian co-chairman of the Minsk Group, Yuriy Merzlyakov, has said
recently that the Armenians have given their consent to the
stage-by-stage settlement of the Karabakh conflict. He said “if the
forthcoming meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers
produces tangible results, the dialogue may be continued in the near
future”.
Meanwhile, an Azerbaijani political analyst, Zardust Alizada, thinks
“the Armenians are unlikely to agree to the stage-by-stage settlement,
while the package alternative suggested by the Armenian side is
unacceptable. The stage-by-stage settlement does not mean a solution
either, because each stage involves its own obstacles.”
[Passage omitted: reported statement by Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev]
“It is naive to present Armenia’s willingness to discuss the
stage-by-stage plan as a major achievement of the Azerbaijani
diplomacy. In principle, I am opposed to bringing the issue down to
which settlement option – package or stage-by-stage – the sides have
chosen for negotiations. It is the essence of the issue that matters.
Even under the stage-by-stage plan it is possible to accept a
suggestion that can lead to the complete loss of Karabakh,” says the
head of the Centre of peace and conflict settlement, Elxan Mehdiyev.
He believes the Armenians wanted to solve the status issue for
Nagornyy Karabakh, which is why they insisted that all the issues be
covered by one and the same agreement. “But this, of course, is
impossible, at least because of the enmity between the sides,” he
said.
Mehdiyev also recalled Oskanyan’s latest statement about the
continuation of “the Prague process”.
“According to the minister, even though Armenia has agreed to the
stage-by-stage plan, all the aspects of the negotiations that meet the
Armenian interests will be explored. So, in their view, the sides can
agree all the issues of interest and then start implementing them on a
stage-by-stage basis. The Armenians are not and have never been
against this. They simply don’t want to start discussing other issues,
leaving the issue of status for Nagornyy Karabakh for the very last
stage of the settlement plan. If Azerbaijan agrees to provide Nagornyy
Karabakh and other occupied territories with a status, the Armenians
will go for a stage-by-stage solution. They won’t accept anything
else,” Mehdiyev said.
[Passage omitted: reported comments by another Azerbaijani expert]

Agency reports staff changes in Armenian government
Arminfo
12 Jan 05
YEREVAN
Under a decision of Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan,
Meruzhan Mikaelyan has been relieved of the post of deputy minister of
finance and economy, the press service of the Armenian government has
informed Arminfo news agency.
According to the source, under another decision of the prime minister,
Anatoliy Avakyan has been relieved of the post of deputy justice
minister and Karine Akopyan of the post of deputy minister of labour
and social security.