Le Figaro
29 novembre 2004
« Là où on expose le meilleur de l’homme, montrer le pire »;
Sylvia Bourdon
Vianney AUBERT
Dans moins d’un an, au mois d’octobre 2005, pour commémorer les
soixante ans de la découverte des camps de la mort nazis par les
troupes alliées, la Cité des sciences et de l’industrie exposera Les
Ténèbres de l’humanité du peintre allemand Rolf Maria Koller, une
oeuvre monumentale de 42 tableaux et 48 mètres de long qui voyagera
ensuite dans toute l’Europe. A l’origine de ce projet, Sylvia Bourdon
raconte l’histoire de cette entreprise titanesque.
LE FIGARO. Comment vous est venue l’idée d’organiser une exposition
autour de l’oeuvre monumentale de Rolf Maria Koller ?
Sylvia BOURDON. Par hasard. Une vieille tante allemande m’avait
offert le catalogue de l’oeuvre de Koller. Je l’avais regardé
distraitement, et je n’avais pas eu de vrai choc artistique. Plus
tard, quand j’ai pris conscience de la montée de l’antisémitisme en
France, je me suis dit qu’il fallait faire quelque chose, alors je me
suis souvenu de ce fameux catalogue. Je l’ai cherché fébrilement, et
là quand j’ai commencé à le regarder attentivement, j’ai été submergé
par l’émotion. La grande force de Koller est de peindre la souffrance
sans jamais montrer l’acte qui l’engendre.
Les Ténèbres de l’humanité ont-elle déjà été exposées ?
Une fois, dans une grange spécialement aménagée pour la recevoir près
de Cologne. Depuis, elle est conservée, ironie de l’histoire, dans un
entrepôt du groupe Thyssen, au coeur de la puissance sidérurgique
allemande.
N’est-il pas incongru de la présenter à la Cité des sciences et de
l’industrie à la Villette, espace dédié au progrès scientifique ?
On m’a conseillé d’autres endroits plus propices au recueillement
comme le couvent des Récollets, mais je préférais la Cité des
sciences car c’est un endroit de passage pour la jeunesse et c’est à
elle que je veux m’adresser en priorité. Et puis, je crois que là où
on expose ce que l’homme a fait de mieux, il faut aussi montrer ce
qu’il a fait de pire. Car à travers le génocide juif, je veux
commémorer tous les génocides, ceux du Cambodge, d’Arménie et du
Rwanda. Plus qu’une exposition artistique, c’est un message politique
que je veux faire passer car la « Bête immonde » est toujours là,
prête à ressurgir. Il nous faut reconnaître que nous sommes tous
racistes, xénophobes et intolérants, mais nous devons conserver la
capacité de nous indigner contre nous-mêmes.
Un message que vous voulez porter au-delà des frontières.
Il a fallu dix ans à Koller pour peindre cette oeuvre, il faudra dix
ans pour la montrer. L’inauguration mondiale aura lieu à la Cité des
sciences mais nous voulons la faire voyager dans l’ensemble des pays
du Conseil de l’Europe. Après la France, Les Ténèbres de l’humanité
seront exposées en Allemagne et en Pologne, deux pays qui sont
principalement concernés.
Qu’apporte, selon vous, cette peinture par rapport aux films déjà
diffusés sur la Shoah ?
C’est un complément. Tout ce qui a été montré sous la forme de films
est important, il faut continuer d’ailleurs. En revanche, une oeuvre
d’art excite plus l’imagination qu’une photo ou un film. Le film est
destiné à informer, la peinture est destinée à émouvoir profondément.
Je souhaite mettre en scène cette énorme oeuvre de manière dramatique
afin de remuer les consciences. Je veux que la réaction du public
soit forte, dégoûtée, émue, concernée.
Comment ?
La peinture est dramatique, mais il faut encore l’accentuer. Comme
l’art n’est pas aisément accessible à tout le monde, il faut
l’accompagner par la voix et la musique afin de mettre le spectateur
dans un état où jamais il n’oubliera. Nous sommes dans une société du
spectacle, les gens ne comprennent que cela. Il faut utiliser
décemment les ficelles du spectacle comme savent le faire les
Anglo-Saxons. En France, on préfère accompagner les gens mais moi, je
veux les laisser avoir peur, et avancer dans leur peur.
Un des panneaux de l’oeuvre de Koller, Les Ténèbres de l’humanité.
(DR.)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Le Figaro Économie
29 novembre 2004
Un cas kurde kafkaïen…
Baudouin BOLLAERT
« Si la Turquie entre dans l’Union européenne, la frontière
extérieure de l’UE passera au milieu du Kurdistan ! » Kendal Nezan,
président de l’Institut kurde de Paris, chercheur émérite qui a
étudié la physique des particules en France, avant de travailler au
CNRS puis au Collège de France, sait parfaitement que le Kurdistan
n’existe pas de façon officielle. Il n’en soulève pas moins une vraie
question.
L’Union compte deux pays divisés parmi ses vingt-cinq Etats membres :
l’Irlande et Chypre. D’autres comptent de fortes minorités, comme la
Lettonie (avec les Russes) ou la Slovaquie et demain la Roumanie
(avec les Hongrois). Mais le cas du Kurdistan est d’une autre
envergure puisque sa population est de l’ordre de 30 millions
d’habitants et que son territoire revendiqué s’étend sur quatre Etats
: la Turquie, l’Iran, la Syrie et l’Irak…
On recense environ 15 millions de Kurdes en Turquie, 8 millions en
Iran, 4 millions en Irak, un million en Syrie, 500 000 en Arménie et
dans les républiques de l’ex-URSS, 300 000 au Liban, sans oublier la
diaspora européenne : 500 000 Kurdes en Allemagne, 150 000 en France,
100 000 dans les pays du Benelux, 45 000 en Suède, etc. En revanche,
les Kurdes ne sont que 40 000 à 50 000 aux Etats-Unis ce qui, en
terme de lobbying, est un gros handicap.
Qu’est-ce qui les unit ? Moins la langue qui comprend plusieurs
dialectes et la religion il y a 70 % de sunnites et 30 % d’alévis,
une branche du chiisme qu’un sentiment de confrérie, voire de tribu.
« Un Kurde se définit davantage par rapport à l’extérieur qu’à
l’intérieur », résume d’ailleurs Kendal Nezan.
En Turquie, une certitude : la candidature d’Ankara à l’Union
satisfait d’autant plus la population kurde installée dans l’Ouest
industrialisé du pays comme dans son creuset culturel historique du
Sud-Est anatolien que son sort s’est sensiblement amélioré depuis
quelques années grce à la nécessité pour le régime turc de remplir
les critères de Copenhague.
Selon Kendal Nezan, 90 % des Kurdes de Turquie espèrent que les
négociations d’adhésion si le Conseil européen du 17 décembre donne
son feu vert aboutiront. « Les droits dont nous bénéficions
maintenant sont tous à mettre au crédit de l’UE et, quand nous serons
enfin membres, nous espérons que tout va aller mieux », explique
ainsi un commerçant de Diyarbakir interrogé par l’Agence
France-Presse.
Dans sa communication du 6 octobre dernier sur la candidature
d’Ankara, la Commission de Bruxelles précisait à propos de « la
protection des minorités et l’exercice des droits culturels »,que la
Constitution turque avait été « modifiée afin de lever l’interdiction
concernant l’utilisation de la langue kurde et des autres langues
(…). Les mesures adoptées dans le domaine des droits culturels ne
sont qu’un point de départ, ajoutait-elle. Il existe toujours des
restrictions considérables, notamment en ce qui concerne les
émissions de radio et télévision et l’enseignement dans les langues
minoritaires ».
Kendal Nezan ne dit pas autre chose. Il y a des avancées. Mais ces
avancées, constate-t-il, sont « symboliques » pour ne pas dire «
infinitésimales ». Les 45 000 Kurdes qui habitent la Suède, par
exemple, ont à leur disposition 450 professeurs qui leur enseignent
leur langue maternelle. Bien davantage proportionnellement qu’en
Turquie où, en plus, seuls les adultes peuvent suivre les cours ! De
même, en Irak, deux chaînes de télévision privées émettent des
émissions en kurde alors que, côté turc, c’est la chaîne d’Etat qui
s’en charge à dose homéopathique, très tôt le matin, avec des
programmes essentiellement… touristiques !
Mais il faut un début à tout. Le climat s’améliore. Et si deux
rebelles kurdes viennent encore d’être tués, la semaine dernière,
lors d’un accrochage avec les forces de sécurité dans le sud-est de
la Turquie, les affrontements entre les militaires turcs et les
séparatistes de l’ex-Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK),
rebaptisé Kongra-Gel, ont singulièrement baissé d’intensité.
La lutte armée du PKK contre les autorités turques a fait environ 37
000 morts entre 1984 et 1999. Près de 3 500 villages ont été détruits
et 3 à 4 millions de personnes ont été déplacées. En 1999, les
rebelles avaient décrété un cessez-le-feu unilatéral après la capture
au Kenya de leur chef Abdullah Ocalan et sa condamnation à mort
(peine commuée en prison à vie). Certes, cette trêve a été rompue en
juin par le Kongra-Gel, mais ce parti extrémiste est loin de
représenter l’ensemble des Kurdes de Turquie. Si ceux-ci n’ont jamais
cessé de revendiquer leur identité et leur autonomie, s’ils se sont
soulevés à plusieurs reprises contre l’autorité centrale (en 1925 et
1937 notamment), s’ils ont dénoncé devant les instances
internationales compétentes l’ostracisme du régime d’Ankara à leur
égard, ils souhaitent en majorité aujourd’hui le dialogue et
l’apaisement.
L’Union européenne leur semble le meilleur garant de leurs droits et,
si modèle il doit y avoir, c’est le modèle en vigueur en Espagne où
les régions bénéficient d’une large autonomie qui a leur préférence.
Le rêve d’un Kurdistan enfin réuni ne s’est pas complètement dissipé,
mais il n’est pas d’actualité. D’autant que beaucoup de Kurdes
d’origine occupent de hautes fonctions en Turquie : en politique,
dans la haute administration et même dans l’armée.
Il n’empêche : pour les Américains, estime Kendal Nezan, les « bons
Kurdes » sont les Kurdes d’Irak, alors que ceux de Turquie vu les
liens étroits existant entre Washington et les autorités d’Ankara
sont des gêneurs. Et, si le projet de « Grand Moyen-Orient », cher au
président George W. Bush, voyait le jour, les Kurdes d’Irak en
seraient les principaux bénéficiaires avec l’émergence d’un Kurdistan
irakien dans un Irak fédéral. Les autres seraient, poursuit M. Nezan,
écartés des discussions.
Voilà pourquoi l’Union européenne, si elle accueille la Turquie en
son sein dans quelques années, se prépare des lendemains kafkaïens…
D’un côté, une frontière extérieure ô combien délicate à protéger !
avec l’Irak et, de l’autre, une montée inévitable des revendications
kurdes face à un pouvoir turc dont l’esprit d’ouverture atteindra
plus ou moins vite ses limites.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS AWARDED BRILLIANT ARARAT ORDER OF TEKEYAN
CULTURAL UNION
YEREVAN, Novmber 29 (Noyan Tapan). On November 26, Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II received in the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin
members of the Armenian Tekeyan Cultural Union’s Central Department
headed by Ruben Mirzakhanian, the union chairman.
Having congratulated His Holiness on the 5th anniversary of his
accession, R. Mirzakhanian noted his activities dedicated to the
church building and beneficial to the nation and highlighted the the
Armenian Patriarch’s efforts aimed at church building, Christian
education of the young generation, preparation of a new generation of
the clergy able to keep up with the times.
According to the Information System of the Mother See of Holy
Echmiadzin, in appreciation of the national and cultural activities
and the 5-year fruitful activities of Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II R. Mirzakhanian awarded him the highest order of the
Tekeyan cultural union – the brillian “Ararat” order.

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE IN THE NKR
STEPANAKERT, November 29 (Noyan Tapan). In 2005, an international
scientific conference dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of opening
the first school in Artsakh will take place in Nagorno Karabakh, the
Information and Analytical Department of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh reported.
According to Head of the Artsakh State University Hamlet Grigorian,
the conference will be conducted in late May, and scientists from
various countries of the world expressed their wish to take part in
it.
“Today, we have already prepared a great material dedicated to the
history of formation of Artsakh’s educational system from the ancient
times till nowadays. The conference will take place in Stepanakert,
Shoushi and, naturally, on the territory of the ancient cloister of
Amaras, where the first school was opened”, Hamlet Grigorian noted.
The Amaras cloister occupies a special place among the monuments of
Artsakh-Karabakh, as the dissemination of Christianity in the region
and the neighboring Armenian provinces began just here. During the
following centuries, the cloister remained one of the famous centers
of the spiritual and cultural life of Artsakh. It’s well known that
the creator of the Armenian alphabet, Mesrop Mashtots, began teaching
the Armenian written language in the East Armenia in Amaras, where the
first school was founded.

-PRESS RELEASE
-“Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund
-Governmental Building 3, Yerevan, RA
-Contact: Artak Harutyunyan
-Tel: 3741 52 09 40
-Fax: 3741 52 37 95
-E-mail: [email protected]
-Web:
29.11.2004
Telethon results-more than $11 million
On November 25, the “Hayastan” Fund’s annual Telethon was launched in
Los-Angeles. The funds raised during this event will be directed to
the construction of the North-South highway started four years
ago. This year’s Telethon was of great success: promises of more than
$11 million were received. Due to this amount the construction of
the160 km long highway will be continued. Armenians worldwide took
part in this event: our compatriots from Armenia, NKR and Diaspora
lent a hand to this project. It should be mentioned that donations of
1 million and 100 thousand dollars were received from Armenia and
NKR. 800.000 Euros were raised during the Phonethon in France
conducted earlier, and about 15 million drams were received from the
Armenian Phonethon.
Among the big donors were Louise Simone Manoogian, Hrair Hovnanian,
Kevork Hovnanian, Sarkis Hakopian, Eduardo Ernekian, Caroline Mugar,
Gerard Cafesjian, Ara Abrahamyan and others.

PRESS RELEASE
Bible Society of Armenia
6/26 Zakiyan St.
Yerevan 375015, Armenia
Tel: (+374 -1) 58.55.09, 56.49.06
Fax: (+374 – 1) 54.24.39
E-mail: [email protected]
November 24, 2004
BRINGING THE BIBLE TO SCHOOLS, ARAGATSOTN
YEREVAN — Within its two-day trip to Aragatsotn a delegation of Bible
Society Board members and World Vision International Organization
visited the Diocese of Aragatsotn and met with 91 school principals,
teachers and students.
The final part of the project, `Bringing the Bibles to Schools,’
which includes the regions of Tavoush, Shirak and Aragatsotn, was
realized owing to the generous support of World Vision International
Organization.
During November 16-17, 2004, the Bible Society and World Vision
International delegation members visited Talin, Tsaghkahovit and Aparan.
The delegation was always accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Torgom Tonikian,
the Vicar General of the Diocese; Ms. Siramark Ghoukassian, the Head of
the Education, Culture and Sport and her deputy Mr. Parkev
Hambardzoumian. In Talin the delegation was welcomed by Mr. Mnatsakan
Mnatsakanian, the Mayor of the city.
The meetings were usually opened by the Board Secretary who in his
keynote address presented the gathered people with the 200-year history
of United Bible Societies and the 13-year history of the Bible Society
Armenia, its mission in Armenia, and the contents of the six books to be
delivered to schools.
The World Vision International representative Ms. Karine Harutunian
addressed to the gathered students: `Our organization is absolutely
Christian. Our main goal is supporting the Church’s spiritual and
educational mission. Thanks God that The Bible Society of Armenia
exists, because we are able to distribute Bible to our people. By our
participation we express solidarity to our churches, and I believe that
every project must be conducted by the Word of God. Today, I am upset,
because this is the final stage of this project. Unfortunately we did
not take part in this work from the very beginning.’
The sub-region of Tsaghkahovit has mixed population; Armenians, Yezidis
and Kurds. This was one of the unique meetings of the Bible Society
during this project. `Let’s not talk about the differences,’
stated Arshavir Kapoudjian, `But think about the unifying factors: we
are the same Land’s Children, but above all the same God’s sons and
daughters.’
On November 17, 2004, the Governor of the Region Mr Kozalian invited the
delegation for a meeting at the Regional Headquarter and expressed his
joy and thanks for this unique contribution and became acquainted the
activities of both WVI and the BS.
Aparan was the last city in the framework of this project, which has
begun in 2002. Ms. Ghoukassian expressed her gratitude to the Bible
Society and to World Vision International-Armenia for their contribution
and stressed the importance of the Bible, the high quality of its
translation, stating that it was the culmination of the translation art.
The meetings were concluded by the words of Fr. Tonikian, a Board member
of the Bible Society. On behalf of the principals, he expressed his
thanks to the Bible Society and World Vision International-Armenia for
this initiative. `All of us are grateful to you. This project is
absolutely encouraging given our region’s hard climatic conditions and
lack of natural resources. We are not alone. We enjoy the support of
such respected organizations.’
The project `Bringing the Bible to Schools,’ which was launched by
the Bible Society of Armenia two years ago, has now come to the end in
the Republic of Armenia. But every end is a sign for new beginnings, as
bringing the Light and the Word of God is an endless mission. The Bible
Society plans to implement the same project in the Diocese of Artsakh
and in the Javakheti Region.
The Bible Society of Armenia was established in 1991 when the late
Catholicos Vazgen I and representatives of the United Bible Societies
signed a memorandum of understanding, regarding the translation,
publication and dissemination of the Holy Bible in Armenia. The Bible
Society of Armenia is committed to the widest possible meaningful and
effective distribution of the Holy Scriptures in languages and
media which meet the needs of people, at a price they can afford. The
Board of Trustees of The Bible Society of Armenia consists of
representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic
Church and the Union of Armenian Evangelical and Baptist Churches.
For further information on Bible Society of Armenia and its activities,
call (3741) 58-55-09 or 56-49-06; fax (3741) 54-24-39; e-mail
[email protected]
###

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 29 2004
Date for next meeting of Azeri, Armenian foreign ministers not set

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are determining the date for the next
meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Prague,
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov told a news briefing on Friday.
He said that the issues pertaining to the Upper Garabagh conflict
discussed at the Prague meetings by the two countries’ foreign
ministers include liberation of occupied land, return of displaced
persons home, restoration of communication and economic cooperation.
In a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart in Berlin, Germany on
November 18, Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian said Yerevan
was ready to resume the talks.
The fifth Prague meeting, initially scheduled for October 25, was
later postponed after Armenia requested time to analyze the results
of previous meetings.*

New Britain Herald, CT
Nov 29 2004
Athlete of the Week: Jacob Sagherian
Newington High linebacker Jacob Sagherian is one of a handful of
dedicated seniors responsible for the Indians’ transition from CCC
doormats to playoff team.
>From 1994 through 2000, the Indians’ proud tradition was buried deep
beneath a 4-66-2 record.

Thanks in significant part to Sagherian’s effort, Newington is now
preparing to meet Staples-Westport in a Class L semifinal Tuesday
night.
Sagherian helped make that dream a reality Thanksgiving morning by
recording a team-best 11 tackles in a 44-21 defeat of Wethersfield.
In response to his contribution, Jacob Sagherian has been selected as
The Herald Athlete of the Week.
“He’s one of the cornerstones of what we’ve accomplished,”
second-year Newing-ton High football coach Sal Cintorino said of his
defensive captain. “As middle linebacker for two years, he is
certainly the foundation of our defense.”
Sagherian, an All-Herald selection as a junior, leads the Indians
with 113 tackles this season, 46 of them behind the line of
scrimmage. He has also blocked two punts.
His 370 career tackles rank him among the all-time leaders in state
history. He is a two-time All-CCC selection and was an honorable
mention All-Stater last year.
He has achieved honor-roll status throughout his four years at the
school and is a member of the National Honor Society. The leadership
Sagherian exhibits on the field is directly connected to his
activities as a leader among Newington High students and in the
community.
He is also active at his church — the Armenian Church of the Holy
Resurrection in New Britain — where he volunteers for such projects
as selling Christmas trees or serving meals.

The Messenger, Georgia
Nov 29 2004
Fight against corruption continues
By M. Alkhazashvili
A billboard near Rike: “Georgia without corruption”
Soon Georgia wil receive another report by Transparency
International on its performance in fighting coruption
Back in October, NGO Transparency International published its
Corruption Perceptions Index for 2004, in which only seven of the 146
countries ranked were perceived as being more corrupt than Georgia.
The government has sought to eradicate corruption from the top down,
putting many corrupt high ranking officials from the Shevardnadze
administration behind bars, at least until they agreed to pay a
suitable “ransom.”
Although President Saakashvili has stated that in the “high echelons”
of the new administration, there is no corruption, and that he trusts
the new ministers and officials, nevertheless, the fight against the
corruption will continue, and even in the new administration some
officials, judges, and even one MP have been accused of corruption.
At Tuesday’s congress of the National Movement and United Democrats,
President Saakashvili reiterated this telling party members that the
government has been “cleared [of corrupt officials], though the rats
have moved the battlefield to the regions and plan to return to power
from there.”
The government’s anti-corruption measures against the former
authorities are appreciated by the Georgian population, but even so,
the need to fight corruption, and equally importantly, to be seen to
be fighting corruption, is as important now as it was when the Rose
administration came to power. Because, as Transparency
International’s index shows, corruption is still perceived to be a
major problem in the country.
While Georgia has the same rating as Indonesia, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Cote d’Ivoir, the Democratic Republic of Congo and
Angola, neighboring Azerbaijan is perceived as even more corrupt
(140th out of 146) but Armenia (82nd) and Russia (90th) are seen as
less corrupt.
The three Baltic countries Estonia (31st place). Lithuania (44th) and
Latvia (57th) are perceived as the least corrupt post-Soviet
countries, while the seven least corrupt countries are Finland, New
Zealand, Denmark, Island, Singapore, Switzerland and Swiss. In
December, Transparency International will release its Corruption
Barometer and provide a clearer picture of what considers as the
government’s achievements in the past year to improve transparency in
the country.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
25 November 2004
Discussion on the issue of “The situation in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan”
in the UN General Assembly Session
“The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan” issue was
included in the agenda of the regular session of the UN General Assembly on
November 23. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Eldar Mamedyarov introduced the
relevant draft, while the Turkish and Pakistani representatives Altay
Cengizer and Masood Khalid delivered parallel speeches. US representative
Ms. Susan Moore gave a speech on behalf of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen.
The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the UN,
Ambassador H.E. Armen Martirosyan, presented the Armenian position on the
issue. He implicated the propagandist essence of the Azeri proposal by
recalling that from the very beginning the idea of including the issue on
the GA’s agenda did not have the support of most countries. The MG
co-chairmen also declared their opposition, considering it both destructive
and inappropriate.
“Azerbaijan tries to present its resolution from the perspective of human
rights and humanitarian law,” stated A.Martirosyan. “And it is accomplishing
by the country which has violated these laws itself – planned and
systematically carried out massacres of Armenians in Baku, cities of Sumgait
and Kirovabad from 1988 to 1990 during peacetime, tries to cloak its own
actions by selective application of separate points of international
humanitarian law. It limits the application of the return of refugees to
“the area of conflict” and to ethnic Azeris only, conveniently leaving out
the rights of over 400 000 Armenians under the same laws, particularly those
from the immediate conflict zone from Shahumian, Getashen and Northern
Martakert. Their homes today are fully confiscated and populated by ethnic
Azeris,”- stated the Armenian representative.
“With this resolution Azerbaijan tries to dissect the issue of the
so-called “occupied territories” from the whole package of negotiations.
However, it fails to admit that those territories have come under the
control of Nagorno Karabagh Armenians as a result of the war unleashed by
Azerbaijan in an attempt to stifle the peaceful drive of the people of
Nagorno Karabagh for self-determination,” stated A. Martirosyan.
“Today those territories are serving as security belt around Nagorno
Karabagh. Given the efforts for military suppression in the very recent
past, as well as the war-mongering rhetoric of the current Azerbaijani
leadership, the issue of those territories cannot be resolved unless there
is a resolution on the status of Nagorno Karabagh, and security guarantees
are provided,” stressed A. Martirosyan.
In his speech Martirosyan stated again that Nagorno Karabagh has never been
part of independent Azerbaijan. “The people of Nagorno Karabagh have proven
their right to live freely and securely on their own territory both legally
through a referendum conducted in 1991 in full conformity of the existing
Soviet legislation of the time, and by defending this right in the war
unleashed against its population by Azerbaijan,” stated the Armenian
ambassador. He said that the peace should be achieved, first and foremost,
between Nagorno Karabagh and Azerbaijan, which has rejected and walked out
of every single peace proposal made by the OSCE Minsk Group for the last six
years.
“Azerbaijan is not interested in the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno
Karabagh conflict,” stated Martirosyan. “The increased belligerent rhetoric
and incitement of anti-Armenian hatred in Azerbaijan clearly testifies to
the true intentions of its current leadership. The present Azerbaijani
motion aims at torpedoing the negotiations within the OSCE Minsk Group and
diverting the international community’s efforts into parallel processes,
which would allow it to maneuver between them without committing to the
final settlement of the conflict. Azerbaijan tries to use the United Nations
and its General Assembly to do that, Azerbaijan’s initiative to undo the
peace process should not be supported.”
The Assembly was then informed that action on the draft resolution on the
situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan would be taken at a
later date.