Agence France Presse
Aug 10 2004

Armenian-claimed enclave conducts military exercises

AGDAM, Azerbaijan (AFP) Aug 10, 2004

The armed forces of the self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh
Tuesday ended a military exercise on the borders of Azerbaijan that
Armenian Defense Minister Serj Sarkissian said was aimed at keeping
the peace.
Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave in the heart of
Azerbaijan, was the scene of a civil war in the 1990s that ended with
a ceasefire in 1994 that left the enclave in Armenian hands. The war
displaced a million civilians and left some 35,000 people dead.

Azerbaijan still claims the territory.

Sarkissian, who watched the maneuvers, said “these exercises are
aimed at keeping the peace.” He added it was important to keep a
regional power balance.

“The armed forces of Armenia are the guarantors of the security of
Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said. “It is nobody’s secret that the army of
Nagorno-Karabakh cannot assure the defense of the territory on its
own.”

The Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces mustered some 2,000 men and a few
helicopters and artillery pieces for the week-long exercise.

“The threat of war exists as long as the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh
is not resolved,” said Armenian army chief of staff Mikael
Arutiunian.

The exercises followed a statement by President Ilham Aliyev of
Azerbaijan that his country would make no compromises with Armenia
over the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

The statement appeared to mark a hardening of Azerbaijan’s stance
over the conflict.

“We cannot react positively to calls on us to make compromises. On
questions of our territorial integrity we will never make any
compromises,” Aliyev said last month.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Aug 10 2004

Third Volume Of Armenian-french Relations In Ottoman Documents
Published

ANKARA – The Prime Ministry Directorate General of State Archives
published the third volume of the book entitled ”Armenian-French
Relations in Ottoman Documents”.

The book includes a number of documents proving collaboration of
Armenian people with France against Turks between 1920 and 1922.

Prime Ministry State Archives Director General Yusuf Sarinay
undertook project management of the book.

The book also includes a number of documents both in French and
Ottoman languages proving extreme maltreatment committed by Armenians
who were among French soldiers against civilians in the places
occupied by French soldiers.

Among the documents, there is an urgent telegraph about killing of
two Muslim woodcutters by Armenian soldiers in southern province of
Maras.

The book also gives place to several documents saying that Armenian
soldiers attacked Muslim civilians in southern provinces of Antep,
Urfa and Maras.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 10 2004

CSTO WILL NOT JOIN PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN SOUTH OSSETIA

MOSCOW, August 10 (RIA Novosti) – The Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan) adopted a concept for peacekeeping activities, CSTO
Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha told a press conference in
Moscow.

“We have adopted a concept for the CSTO’s peacekeeping activities,”
he said, “which stipulates the formation of peacekeeping potential by
common consent of CSTO member states.”

He said that the concept permitted peacekeeping contingents to be
trained according to a single system and for roles to be distributed.
“We plan to use this peacekeeping potential under the UN aegis in
CSTO territory and worldwide at the UN request,” he noted.

He stressed that the organization must not join the peacekeeping
operation in South Ossetia now. “Previous decisions must be
implemented to settle the conflict,” he added.

Mr. Bordyuzha said that the Georgian president’s statements were
“very contradictory.” “It is impossible to put them together to see
his [the Georgian president’s] position,” he said and added that
today, nobody wanted a repetition of when the Caucasus was hit by
Georgian-Abkhaz, Georgian-Ossetian, and Armenian-Azeri interethnic
conflicts ten years ago. “New politicians lack our experience but
they should understand that if a conflict is unleashed there is no
way back,” he emphasized.

Summing up the results of the recent exercises of the CSTO’s joint
rapid deployment forces in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the secretary
general said that his organization was concerned about the
developments in Afghanistan. “Presidential elections will be held in
Afghanistan on October 9 and,” he noted, “therefore, the remaining
Talibs and Al Qaeda terrorists have become active.”

“As for the situation in Central Asia, I am not concerned about it,”
he added.

Mr. Bordyuzha said that the strength of the joint rapid deployment
forces met the present-day tasks and that the forces were ready for
an operative response to regional developments.

According to him, the 11 battalions are perfectly trained and can
fulfill all tasks set by the CSTO leadership.

Presently, the CSTO command is ready to give a proper and rapid
response to the possible aggravation of the situation, Mr. Bordyuzha
said.

“We need 1.5-2 hours to make a decision on the use of force in case
of local aggravations,” he said. “Servicemen can be deployed in this
area in several hours.”

In his words, a plan of the joint rapid deployment forces’
development until 2010 has been worked out and stipulates common
equipment and armament for the armed forces and their transfer to the
contractual basis, the secretary general reported.

“In my opinion, the best way is to form a single brigade of rapid
deployment forces under single command. We hope to accomplish this
goal in the future,” he concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zerkalo, Azerbaijan
Aug 10 2004

ANTI-ARMENIAN RHETORICAL `COMPETITION` CONTINUES IN BAKU

BAKU, 10.08.04. Azeri officials continue their barrage of threats,
demands and complaints directed at Armenia and NKR. Just in the last
week, spokesman for the Azeri Defense Ministry Ramiz Melikov promised
to do away with the Armenian state in `25 to 30 years` and
incorporate its territory into Azerbaijan. `This people has been a
nuisance for its neighbors and has no right to live in this region,`
Melikov said.

The Defense Ministry spokesman predicted that the `world Armenian
cabal` would face certain ruin. Not just yet, however, as the senior
official in the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Ali Ahmedov dismissed the
human rights criticism of the New York-based Human Rights Watch,
alleging that it was under Armenian influence.

Also last week, the Azeri government, which continually threatens to
unleash a new war in Karabakh, protested the holding of annual
maneuvers of the Karabakh Army. The Azeri Central Election
Commission, widely chastised for rubber-stamping the dynastic power
transfer in Azerbaijan last year, protested the holding of a
competitive municipal election in Karabakh. The state-controlled and
scandal-plagued Football Federation of Azerbaijan, in its turn
complained about the plans for holding a soccer competition in
Karabakh.

With aggressive rhetoric continuing unabated, a public opinion poll
conducted in 2003 and published last month found strong public
support for peace in both Azerbaijan and Armenia. 97 percent of
Armenians and 93 percent of Azeris surveyed said they desired peace,
while 74 percent of Armenians and 46 percent of Azeris want
inter-ethnic relations re-established. Significantly, there is
greater support for reconciliation among the Azeris displaced by the
war (80 percent) than the general population. The American University
in Washington, DC funded the study.

Noyan Tapan, Armenia
Aug 10 2004

HAMLET GASPARIAN: `MILITANT APPEALS OF AZERBAIJAN ONLY DEEPEN

YEREVAN, 10.08.04. RA Foreign Ministry considers inadmissible
Azerbaijan`s last attempt to disguise its non-constructive position
in achievement of a long peace. Hamlet Gasparian, the Spokesman of RA
Foreign Ministry, emphasized this in the August 6 press release while
commenting upon the statement spread on August 4 by the Foreign
Ministry of Azerbaijan in connection with the military exercises held
in Nagorno Karabakh. `Azerbaijan`s militant statements, doscontent
with peace, legal, democratic elections of the Nagorno Karabakh
people or disdainful statements regarding fulfilment of the right of
self-determination by it only deepen the atmosphere of mistrust and
cynicism,` the press release said. The Spokesman of RA Foreign
Ministry mentioned that despite of unsuccessful comment of the Azeri
side, Armenia is always ready to participate in the efforts of the
international organizations is the region, in particular, in the
forthcoming exercises within the framework of the `Best Joint Effort
– 2004` program of NATO, as well as to continue being involved into
the negotiation process on peace settlement of the conflict.

Noyan Tapan, Armenia
Aug 10 2004

NKR LEADERSHIP EXPRESSES PERPLEXITY ON OCCASION OF STATEMENT OF CE

STEPANAKERT, 10.08.04. `The NKR leadership thinks that the election
of the government bodies of all the levels on the basis of the
principles of democracy is an important step on the way to the
construction of the free democratic society.` It is mentioned in
comments of the press service of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in connection with the statement of Secretary General of the Council
of Euorpe Walter Schwimmer on the inadmissibility of the holding of
the NKR local elections. Reminding that W. Schwimmer comes up not for
the first time with such statements, in which the holding of the
elections in Nagorno Karabakh is condemned, the comments express
perplexity in connection with the fact that it is not clear how the
elections may negatively influence the process of the settlement of
the Karabakh conflict, because it is obvious that only the legitimate
power may bear the responsibility for the entrusted territories and
has necessary authorities for carrying on peaceful negotiations on
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. `The NKR for over 10
years has lived as a sovereign state, which bears no relation to
Azerbaijan and independently organizes its life in the territory that
historically belongs to the Armenians of Karabakh. An impression has
grown up in us that all the international structures that come up
with such statements render political support to the regime, which
unleashed the large-scale war against Nagorno Karabakh and doesn`t
refuse from the attempts to aply force against the NKR. Meanwhile,
according to many independent experts, Nagorno Karabakh takes the
lead over Azerbajan on the level of its democracy,` reads the
comments of the press service of the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

ArmenPress
Aug 10 2004

FM PRESS SECRETARY SAYS AZERBAIJAN SHOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN PEACE

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign ministry press
secretary Hamlet Gasparian commented on Mamediaor’v recent statement
saying that Azerbaiajan will consider its determination to be
involved in negotiation process unless OSCE Minks Group comes up with
a statement condemning Armenian actions (in relation to August 8
municipality elections and military exercises in Nagorno Karabakh).
Gasparian said Azerbaijan is trying to make a trick out of its
involvement in negotiation process and uses it as a means to make
pressures on international community, particularly OSCE Minsk Group.
This does not speak about Azerbaijan’s seriousness in its efforts to
reach peace.
Imagine that Armenia also rises issues as a precondition for its
continued involvement in negotiation process, for example, demanding
that the mediators greet the elections in Nagorno Karabakh, Gasparian
continued. After all, not only Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh but
Azerbaijan should also be interested in peace. Otherwise, fruitless
are negotiations with a partner who serves them as a means for
blackmail and manipulations, Gasparian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Aug 10 2004

PAKISTAN SUPPORTS AZERBAIJAN IN KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION

BAKU, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: Pakistani defense ministry military
staff joint committee chairman, General Muhamed Aziz Khan in his
meeting with Azeri defense minister Safar Abiev informed yesterday
about the military political developments in South Asia and expressed
gratitude to Azerbaijan for its disposition in Kashmir issue.
“Pakistani nation has supported and will continue to support
Azerbaijan in Karabakh conflict,” the General said.
Abiev detailed the situation in South Caucasus saying that
channels for dialogue in Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict are not used
up yet. “Up to now we have prefered to solve the issue through
negotiations. When we feel that such opportunities are exhausted we
will liberate our lands. Azerbaijan will not surrender a single cm of
land, ” he said.

ArmenPress
Aug 10 2004

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN EDUCATION HELD

ANTELIAS, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: Initiated by His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I and organized by the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia an International Conference on Armenian education was held in
the Armenian Theological Seminary, in Bikfaya, Lebanon from 5-7
August 2004. The theme of the Conference was “The Armenian Education
in the Diaspora”. About one hundred people from different parts of
the world, from communities living in different political, cultural
and religious contexts came together to focus their attention on
issues pertaining to the Armenian-Christian formation today in a new
world setting.
In his opening address His Holiness Aram I identified the concerns
and challenges facing the Armenian Christian education in the context
of pluralistic societies. He addressed a number of critical issues,
and then posed two questions. What does it mean to be Armenian
Christian? How should we form the Armenian Christian for tomorrow?
His Holiness underscored the crucial importance of re-evaluating and
renewing our educational methodologies, strategies and programs by
making them more relevant and reliable. At the end of his address His
Holiness proposed that Armenia and Diaspora together engage in a
process of developing a Pan-Armenian educational policy with
particular emphasis on the worldwide Armenian Diaspora.
The agenda of the conference included the following topics: The
actual state of education in different continents where Armenian
communities live; the implications of globalization to education; the
role of the church in Armenian Christian formation; the family as an
important educational instrument; the impact of pluralistic societies
on Armenian Education; the use and misuse of technology in education;
the role of the textbooks and the extra curricula activities; human
resources: formation and training; the contribution of the Saturday
schools, Sunday schools and children’s camps to education; the
importance of new community schools for the Armenian communities
established in the West.
The conference addressed these and a number of related matters
through papers, panel discussions and hearings. The active
participation of young educators and women provided new perspectives
and dynamism to the discussion. They challenged the traditional views
and approaches and constantly reminded that in a new world context a
renewed perception and vision of education are imperative. They
echoed the challenge of His Holiness that in the present world of
globalization and communication and in a context of new societies,
our education must become more responsive and attractive.
His Holiness personally attended all the sessions and at the end
of each session he highlighted the emerging concerns and views.
The conference, which was an unprecedented event in the
contemporary Armenian history, summarized its findings in a
declaration where a particular emphasis was laid on the importance of
translating the Conference’s reflection into action.
In his closing remarks His Holiness Aram I identified three words
which should occupy a central place in our educational work:
“relevance, coherence and integrity”. He said “We are living in
different contexts. We must, therefore, develop different educational
procedures and strategies. We are citizens of different countries,
yet we are Armenians and part of the globalized world. We have our
own convictions, values and norms, but we are living in a new
environment. Hence, it is vitally important that we develop the kind
of educational policy that provides integrity, relevance and
coherence to our educational work, at the same time preserving our
distinct Armenian Christian identity. This is a great challenge
before us and we must take it seriously and responsibly”, said His
Holiness.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 9 2004

Opposition party to continue protests

Baku, August 9, AssA-Irada
The Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (WAPFP) will continue
protests against the participation of Armenian officers in NATO
training to be held in Baku this September.
The party plans to picket the Defense Ministry on Wednesday as well
as the US and French embassies in Baku – on Thursday and on Friday
respectively.
The WAPFP intends to hold ten protest actions outside some of the
ministries and the embassies of NATO member states by September. The
police prevented the party’s August 2 picket held outside the Foreign
Ministry 2.
The Mayoral Office of Baku has not sanctioned the WAPFP’s protest
actions.*