Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 17 2004

FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS NEW AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE
[June 17, 2004, 11:48:02]

As was informed to AzerTAj from the press center of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, on June 16, minister Elmar Mammadyarov has met the
newly appointed ambassador of France to Azerbaijan Roland Blatman.

Having congratulated the ambassador with new assignment, Minister of
Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov has emphasized, that highly
estimates expansion of relations between Azerbaijan and France. The
Minister has expressed confidence that the ambassador would actively
use on this post the wide experience in the field of diplomatic
service for development of bilateral links.

The Minister in detail informed the ambassador on the political
situation in Azerbaijan, carried out reforms, protection of human
rights, the work done in the field of settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

Ambassador Rolland Blatman, having emphasized, that during the
diplomatic activity will use the best efforts for the further
strengthening and expansion of links between our countries, has
expressed hope for the fair and peaceful settlement of the Nagorny
Karabakh conflict due to joint efforts of the international
community.

Upon termination of the meeting the ambassador has handed over
minister Elmar Mammadyarov a copy of the accrediting letter.

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
June 17 2004

US expanding military co-op with ‘regional leader’

The visits by Deputy Commander of the Headquarters of the U.S.
European Command, General Charles Wald and NATO Under Secretary
General, chairman of the Science Committee, Jan Furne to Baku have
drawn much attention in the region. Azerbaijan and Georgia appreciate
these visits, but Iran and

Russia, as well as their ally Armenia, are envious of them. In
particular, General Wald’s friendly meeting with President Aliyev and
his high assessment of Azerbaijan and its incumbent authorities
sparked differing opinions not only in the region but also in
Azerbaijan, especially among the opposition. On Thursday, President
Aliyev received a US delegation headed by General Charles Wald.
President Aliyev said that there has been great progress in the
development of US-Azerbaijani relations.

Regarding his talks at NATO as an important event in Azerbaijan’s
integration into NATO, Aliyev expressed his confidence that future
cooperation with the Alliance would be successful. “Mr. President, I
congratulate you on your successful leadership in the region,” said
General Wald, stressing that the US European Command is eager to
continue cooperation with Azerbaijan in the future. He underlined
that Azerbaijan is a leading and very important country in the
region. Speaking about the particular importance of joint programs,
General Wald said that joint measures are being taken by the two
countries in order to ensure security in the Caspian basin. He noted
that the security of oil pipelines is still on the agenda and that
military exercises and training with the participation of special
groups set up in Washington will be continued for the purpose. This
is the third visit by General Wald, who last came to Baku in April.
The US General said that the aim of his visit was to discuss the
issues related to the security of the Caspian basin and the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. According to some observers, Wald came
to Baku to discuss the stationing of US mobile forces and a military
base in Azerbaijan and observe the pace of the construction of a
military post here.

Strategic interests

Defense Minister, Colonel-General Safar Abiyev, in a meeting with
General Wald said the situation in the South Caucasus is tense and
that part of Azerbaijan’s territory remains under Armenian
occupation.

“The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Upper Garabagh cannot remain
frozen”, Abiyev said and pointed out the importance of recognizing
Armenia as an aggressor. Expressing his adherence to Abiyev’s
opinions, General Wald said: “We are well aware of the developments
ongoing in the region.” he said. Regarding the “Cooperative Best
Effort-2004” training to be held in Azerbaijan as an important event,
the US General stressed that this would bring the country closer to
NATO. He termed Azerbaijan as an influential country in the region
and pointed out the coinciding strategic interests of the US and
Azerbaijan.

US military bases

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan were indicated in the “Pentagon’s new map”
published by Harvard University as the countries where the United
States is going to station its military bases.Commenting on the
issue, political analyst Vafa Guluzada said that the Pentagon intends
to set up a chain of military bases in the territory of the former
Soviet Union. According to Guluzada, with this infrastructure the
United States wants to turn both the former Soviet Union and the
Middle East into an integrated area. Underlining that the Pentagon
attaches great importance to Azerbaijan, the political analyst said
Georgia has also established military cooperation with the United
States. Guluzada noted that, however, Azerbaijan is a more important
country in the region for its oil and gas resources. ” Taking into
account all the existing factors, one can conclude that the United
States will station its military bases in Azerbaijan at the
appropriate time,” he added.

NATO week starts

NATO week, which started in Baku on June 13, will last through June
19. A delegation headed by NATO Under-Secretary General, chairman of
the Science Committee, Jan Furne arrived in Baku on Sunday for the
event. The delegation includes representatives from twenty-six
countries. Summer classes on “NATO in the changing world” started in
Baku on Monday with the assistance of the Youth Euro-Atlantic
Organization and the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan. The purpose of
the event, attended by some 50 Azerbaijanis and foreign nationals, is
to hold discussions among young researchers of the NATO and
Euro-Atlantic security, government officials and foreigners. The
upcoming summit in Istanbul, new prospects, trans-Atlantic relations,
NATO’s eastward expansion, and the situation in the South Caucasus
will be discussed. Seminars, “Scientific research and security
challenges” and “Terrorism and nuclear security” will be held at Baku
State University (BSU) and the Academy of Sciences (AS) respectively.
The AZRENA public Internet center, set up within the AS Information
Technologies Institute under the “Virtual Silk Road” project, will be
inaugurated, followed by a training session for the participants of
the summer classes.

Political questions avoided

NATO Under-Secretary Jan Furne and President of the Academy of
Sciences Mahmud Karimov held a joint news briefing on Monday. Furne
said that although NATO is not engaged in science, it finances a
number of new undertakings in this area. He said the parties will not
work on any specific projects during the NATO event in Baku, but will
exchange experience in the area of chemistry and ways of preventing
catastrophes. Furne avoided all political questions. Karimov said
Azerbaijan attaches a particular importance to developing information
technologies and environmental protection of the Caspian Sea within
its cooperation with the NATO Science Committee. “Besides,
Azerbaijan, as a country subject to terror by Armenia, is working
with NATO on scientific answers to terrorism threats, he said.

Summer classes to promote NATO-Azeri relations

In a meeting with NATO Under-Secretary, science committee chairman
Jan Furne on Sunday, Defense Minister, Colonel-General Safar Abiyev
said that over 300 events are held in Azerbaijan every year under the
auspices of NATO. He said extensive preparations have been carried
out in the country for the upcoming Cooperative Best Effort-2004
training sessions and the Istanbul summit. Furne leading a delegation
of representatives from 26 countries, said the fact that the “Summer
school” week is being held in Baku promotes the multi-faceted
relations between NATO and Azerbaijan. Pointing out the importance of
President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Brussels, he emphasized that
Azerbaijan is one of the only countries to have submitted to NATO the
“Individual Partnership Activity Plan”. Touching upon the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh, Abiyev said that
Armenia has failed to comply with 4 UN resolutions on the immediate
and unconditional withdrawal from Azerbaijani territories adopted
since 1993. “By joining the NATO Partnership for Peace program,
Armenia assumed a commitment to honor the territorial integrity of
all partners and NATO, in turn, should demand it do so. We are
concerned with the fact that Armenia has not been recognized as an
aggressor country by the international community, which is a double
standard”, Abiyev said. Furne replied said that NATO is well aware of
this position and is seeking new ways to improve relations with
Azerbaijan. The parties also exchanged views on the military and
political situation in the region, the extensive economic reforms
underway in Azerbaijan and security issues.

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
June 17 2004

Congratulations from near and far for grads

Hoover High’s class of 2004 graduates during ceremony on school’s
football field, drawing well-wishes from around the world.

By Gary Moskowitz, News-Press

NORTHWEST GLENDALE — The night before her graduation from Hoover High
School, Chanel Leyva got a long distance call from her boyfriend, who
is stationed with the Marines in Iraq.

Her boyfriend, Joe Martinez, called at 4:30 a.m. in Iraq to
congratulate her and apologize for not being there Wednesday at
Hoover’s 2004 graduation ceremony.

Leyva was among 551 seniors to wear a purple or white cap and gown
and graduate from Hoover this year, officials said.

“My boyfriend is one of the main people I wanted to be here, but he
called from Iraq to say he misses me and that he’s proud of me,”
Leyva said. “Graduating from high school is exciting. There were
struggles here and there, but you have to put yourself into it to get
it done.”

At the ceremony, school officials announced that Glenn Kim was this
year’s valedictorian. Alina Hunanyan, Karineh Parsanian and Anna
Schnitger were the school’s salutatorians.

During her graduation speech, Annis Khani encouraged students to
remember what they learned from their time at Hoover.

“Remain true to who you are,” Annis said. “Don’t measure your worth
by what you have, but by what you have given to others.”

Charisse Brown-Aintablian watched eagerly from the sideline of the
school’s football field to see her son, Samuel Aintablian, receive
his high school diploma.

“This is a very, very proud moment for us,” Brown-Aintablian said.
“My son is from an interracial marriage, Armenian and black, and
that’s a big thing to handle. And I think with so many kids not
graduating at all, all of these kids here graduating are setting a
good example for all the younger kids in the audience. It’s a big
accomplishment to get through high school.”

Jee Kim will head East this fall to attend New York University. He
plans to study aerospace engineering.

“It feels like we are all adults today,” said Kim, 18. “After high
school, it’s like the real world, and nobody’s there to watch over
you anymore. I’ll miss my friends the most.”

Kerkorian takes casino crown
By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY

USA Today
June 17 2004

Las Vegas has always had its share of dreamers and big shots, but
never one quite like Kirk Kerkorian. As majority stockholder of
MGM Mirage, he would have had every reason to publicly join in the
hoopla Wednesday about Mandalay Resort Group’s acceptance of MGM’s
$4.8 billion cash buyout offer.

The deal makes Kerkorian the mogul among moguls: He’ll control more
Las Vegas hotel rooms than Howard Hughes or Stephen Wynn could ever
assemble. If the deal passes regulatory muster, MGM will become the
world’s largest gaming company. It will lord over 11 casino resorts on
the famed Las Vegas Strip alone, including jewels such as Bellagio,
Mandalay Bay and Luxor along the hottest stretch. Kerkorian’s empire
would extend to 17 other gambling halls in Nevada, elsewhere in the
USA and Australia.

“This is the king of all deals in the gaming business,” says Rod
Petrik, gaming analyst with Legg Mason. “He will be the No. 1 operator
on the Strip, with the best properties.”

Even in triumph, Kerkorian, 87, characteristically stayed out of the
limelight. At an age when most people are retired, Kerkorian struck
his biggest casino deal and declined to be interviewed about it.
That’s in contrast to the flamboyance that has marked Strip tycoons
such as gangster Bugsy Siegel, who opened the Flamingo as the Strip’s
first flashy casino in 1946.

Mandalay’s board approved the deal Tuesday night amid antitrust
concerns. MGM Mirage CEO Terrence Lanni said in an interview that his
board is “very comfortable” with lawyers’ assurances that antitrust
issues won’t be a problem.

MGM is paying $71 a share cash, in a deal that, along with
convertible securities and assumption of debt, is valued at $7.9
billion. Wednesday, MGM shares fell 62 cents to $48.88. Mandalay
dropped 8 cents to $67.80, short of the $71 acquisition price, in
recognition of the year it could take for the deal to close and the
chance that regulators could interfere.

Besides the potential to own half the 75,000 rooms on the Strip,
MGM would acquire about 2 million square feet of meeting space
in the nation’s largest convention city. MGM would also become
better positioned at the high and low ends of the gambling market,
better able to attract $500-a-hand blackjack players and nickel-slot
aficionados alike. That helps spread the risk as Wynn is about to
open a megaresort on the north end of the Strip next year, which
could siphon the most profitable high rollers.

“I’m very excited,” Lanni says. Mandalay “has wonderful properties
and great brands.”

The consolidation comes as greater Las Vegas, one of the nation’s
fastest-growing metropolises, continues to attract new visitors.

The Mandalay acquisition is Kerkorian’s second big casino deal in
four years. In 2000, MGM acquired Wynn’s Mirage Resorts for $4.4
billion. Then, as now, Kerkorian stayed behind the curtain.

He is publicity-shy but not reclusive. The Southern Californian plays a
mean game of tennis, buys a ticket and stands in line for movies and is
known to frequent plush but unflashy restaurants. Like Howard Hughes,
he’s a former pilot who dallied in the movie business. Unlike Hughes,
he hasn’t locked himself in a hotel casino penthouse, grown a long
scraggily beard and shunned all but his closest cronies.

Chasing deals

For him, the elixir of life is love of the deal. The bigger, the
better. Among the builders of modern Las Vegas, “Kerkorian is one
of the most enigmatic and interesting figures,” says Hal Rothman,
a history professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. “He is
uncanny in his ability to read the market.”

While others ignored Las Vegas as a garish, sweltering pool of
excess, Kerkorian saw how both the masses and the elite would come to
embrace it. In the course of amassing a $6 billion empire, Kerkorian
has constructed the world’s largest hotel on three occasions: the
International, which later became the Las Vegas Hilton, in 1969;
the MGM Grand, now Bally’s, in 1973; and the present MGM Grand in 1993.

“He’s the smartest man I know,” says Alex Yemenidjian, CEO of Kerkorian
film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. “It takes three minutes for him to
figure out something that takes me three days.”

Yemenidjian, who speaks to Kerkorian by phone daily and plays tennis
with him most weekends, adds: “I don’t know anybody else who has
created more jobs in Las Vegas or been more charitable.”

Kerkorian, No. 65 on Forbes list of billionaires, has, without fanfare,
donated at least $150 million, often to his ancestral homeland
of Armenia.

Through his Tracinda holding company, named after his daughters Tracy
and Linda, he owns 57% of MGM Mirage. He also has large holdings
in DaimlerChrysler, which he is suing for $1 billion for allegedly
defrauding investors in the 1998 merger between the giant automakers.
A verdict is expected in the fall.

He keeps residences in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. He’s involved in
his businesses but doesn’t dabble in details. He’s “a very big-picture
person,” Lanni says.

Kerkorian came to know Las Vegas the way most first see it: as a
gambler. The Fresno-born son of an Armenian immigrant, Kerkorian was
a scrappy boxer as a youth and later ferried bombers from Canada to
England during World War II for the Royal Air Force.

In 1947, the year Siegel was shot and the Flamingo started showing
a profit, Kerkorian paid $60,000 for a plane to shuttle movie stars
and high rollers. He built it into a $104 million charter business
that was sold to Transamerica in 1966. He used the profits to build
the International and buy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio. He would
buy and sell it three times.

As Kerkorian was about to emerge as a force in Las Vegas, Hughes
was king. Hughes bought some of the biggest casinos of the time,
including the Desert Inn, Sands, Landmark, Frontier, Silver Slipper
and the Castaways. All were puny compared with the room counts of
today’s giants.

Fire dealt setback

Kerkorian had setbacks. The hotel then called the MGM Grand,
predecessor to the one by that name further south on the Strip,
caught fire in 1980, and 81 people died. “After the fire, he …
stayed underground,” says John L. Smith, who has written several
books about Las Vegas and is a columnist for the Las Vegas
Review-Journal. “It is something that bothered him for a long time.”

Kerkorian eventually re-emerged. His new MGM Grand remains Las Vegas’
largest resort, with 5,034 rooms. It was built with a concert hall
and an amusement park for the town’s family-friendly era.

When adding Wynn’s former Mirage Resorts properties, including
Bellagio, Mirage and Treasure Island, MGM made sure the properties
kept their own personalities. In Mandalay Bay, for instance, Kerkorian
is getting a property known for its hipness.

Kerkorian’s power play comes as Sin City is enjoying a resurgence. It
had more than 12.5 million visitors through April this year, up
7.5% from the first four months of 2003, the Las Vegas Convention
and Visitors Authority says. “If there’s any place to double down,
Nevada is the place to do it,” says analyst Eric Hausler at Susquehanna
Financial.

The Mandalay purchase, like any gamble, has risks. Riverboat
and American Indian gaming are growing, particularly in the key
California market that feeds gamblers to Las Vegas by bus and car.
The number of people arriving by air rose about 15% in the first four
months of 2004, vs. the same period in 2003. Another terrorist attack
could leave MGM/Mandalay dangerously exposed if there’s a plunge in
visitors. “This will be a huge concentration of properties betting
on Las Vegas,” says Dan Ahrens, portfolio manager of the Vice fund,
which is 28% invested in gaming stocks.

Few would bet against Kerkorian even if he’s out of sight. “Kerkorian
is still at the helm here,” says author Smith. “The lion never sleeps.”

Contributing: Matt Krantz, Thor Valdmanis and Darryl Haralson

OIC ministers back steps to end “occupation in Iraq”

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
17 Jun 04

subheadings as received

Istanbul, 16 June: Islamic countries have decided to assist each other
in their progress and reforms and announced that they would take steps
in putting an end to the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

Istanbul declaration was issued at the end of the 31st Session of
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.

The declaration said: “We, as the OIC members, will assist each other
in our progress and reform, which should come from within.” Stating
that OIC members were sovereign nations who worked for political,
economic, social and cultural progress, the declaration noted that
they valued their freedom and the equality of their citizens. “We
all aim to strengthen the representative character and the democratic
practices of our governments,” it stated.

“The OIC, as an institution, will also develop ways and means for
supporting progress in a collective framework. In this context, we
welcome the concept of enlightened moderation,” Istanbul declaration
said.

It stressed that Islam countries were all determined to provide
contemporary education to our new generation.

CYPRUS

The declaration noted: “We commend the Turkish Cypriot people for
overwhelmingly endorsing the United Nations Settlement Plan, on
the unification of the island, based on a new bizonal partnership
of the two politically equal constituent states. We welcome and
support the report of the United Nations secretary-general of 28
May 2004, as well as the conclusions and recommendations contained
therein. We also support the good offices mission of the United
Nations secretary-general.”

“In view of the fundamentally changed circumstances in Cyprus following
the 24 April 2004 referenda, we decided to take steps in putting an
end to the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. In the same vein,
we look forward to similar action by the international community and
bodies,” it stated.

Meanwhile, it has been decided that the Second Meeting of the OIC-EU
Joint Forum would convene in Istanbul between 4 and 5 October 2004.

ARAB-ISRAEL CONFLICT

It stressed that OIC members were resolved to pursue the peaceful
settlement of all international issues and spend efforts to persuade
all parties concerned to act accordingly and noted, “we can on
all concerned to address the question of Palestine and the wider
Arab-Israeli conflict as a matter of urgent priority. The objective
is to achieve full statehood for Palestine living side by side with
Israel within secure and recognized boundaries.”

OIC members said that the settlement could only be the outcome of
direct negotiations between the two parties and noted that equally,
the Syrian and Lebanese tracks must be brought to their successful
conclusion on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.

“We have thus decided to support and closely monitor efforts towards
comprehensive peace and to declare that the successful outcome of these
efforts will be fully embraced by the OIC,” the declaration noted.

IRAQ

OIC members said that they supported the steps towards ending the
occupation in Iraq and they equally supported the process in which
the Iraqis would assume their sovereignty and stated: “We state
that this assumption of authority must be full. Also the political
transition towards the formation of an elected government must be
totally inclusive and transparent.”

“We welcome in this respect the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1546
by the United Nations Security Council which sets the framework for
this transition,” it stated.

OIC members condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to redouble
their efforts in fighting this international scourge.

“We will continue to support Afghanistan’s rebuilding process,” it
noted and said that the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir
should be fully respected and their will honoured in accordance with
international legitimacy.

The declaration stated that OIC members likewise supported the
resolution of the Azeri-Armenian conflict within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.

OIC foreign ministers’ meeting in Turkey issues joint communique

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
17 Jun 04

subheadings inserted editorially

Cyprus

Istanbul, 16 June: A decision was made at the 31st session of
the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers that [self-declared]
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would be represented
at the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) under the name of
“Turkish Cypriot State” as it was envisaged in the United Nations
Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan.

The joint communique of the 31st session of the Islamic Conference
of the Foreign Ministers, said: “The member countries decide that
the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus should continue to participate
in the work, activities and meetings of all OIC organs under the name
envisaged by the United Nations secretary-general’s settlement plan.”

“We acknowledge that a new situation has emerged in Cyprus following
the referenda on 24 April 2004 which necessitates a fresh and
comprehensive assessment of the Cyprus issue. We reaffirm the full
equality of the two parties in Cyprus as the principle enabling them
to live side-by-side in security, peace and harmony without the one
having the ability to govern, exploit, oppress or threaten the other,”
it said.

The joint communique noted: “We welcome the statement and calls made
by the United Nations secretary-general, international organization
and states, as well as decisions taken by various international
organizations for ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots;
and call upon the international community to take immediate concrete
steps to that end.”

“We urge the member states to strengthen effective solidarity with
the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus closely associating with them,
and with a view to helping them materially and politically to overcome
the inhuman isolation which has been imposed upon them, to increase
and expand their relations in all fields and in particular direct
transport, trade, tourism, culture, information, investment and sports
contacts,” it said.

The joint communique stressed: “We decide to actively support,
until the Cyprus problem in solved, the rightful claim of the Turkish
Muslim people of Cyprus for the right to be heard and represented in
all international fora on the basis of equality of the two parties
in Cyprus. We request the United Nations secretary-general to carry
out the necessary contacts with the Islamic Development Bank with
a view to seeking the ways and means of the latter’s assistance for
the development projects of the Turkish Cypriot side.”

The joint communique noted: “We decide to remain seized of the request
of the Turkish Cypriot side of Cyprus for full membership of the
OIC. We request the secretary-general to take all necessary measures
for the implementation of this resolution and to report thereon to
the 32nd session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.”

Greek Muslim rights

Referring to recent developments in Western Thrace, the joint
communique noted: “We condemn the judicial harassment of the elected
muftis of Xanthi Komotini, Mehmet Emin Aga, and Mr Ibrahim Serif. We
urge Greece to take all measures to respect the rights of the Turkish
Muslim Minority in Western Thrace and urgently recognize the elected
muftis of Xanthi and Komotini as the official muftis.”

Israel/Palestinians

The Islamic countries held Israel fully responsible for destroying
the Middle East peace process.

The joint communique of the 31st session of the Islamic Conference
of the Foreign Ministers in Istanbul, said: “We express our strong
condemnation of Israel’s persistent and mounting aggressions against
the holy places in the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the other
Palestinian cities, desecration of the holy places and violation of the
hall of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and aggressing people performing
prayer there. We also strongly condemn Israel’s illegal measures and
practices in the city of Al Quds Al-Sharif carried out in contradiction
with international resolution and laws with the purpose of Judaizing
the holy city and eradicating its Arab and Islamic character.”

“We reject the declaration made by US President George Bush during
the joint conference with the Israeli prime minister on 14 April
2004, and the US letter of guarantees to Israel which contained
dangerous concessions to Israel concerning the final settlement and
the mechanism of agreement thereon, which jeopardizes the national
rights of the Palestinian people,” it said.

The joint communique said: “We emphasize that the Israeli policies,
practices and expansionist designs threaten not only Arab states
and the peace process, but also the Islamic countries at large and
jeopardize international peace and security.”

“We hail the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their valiant
‘intifada’ (uprising) aimed at recovering their inalienable national
rights,” it stressed.

The OIC noted that it called for immediate lifting of the siege on
the Palestinian people and President Yasir Arafat of Palestine.

“We stress the need to implement the declaration adopted by the
Conference of the Contracting States Parties to the Geneva Convention
of 1949 adopted on 5 December 2001,” it said.

Condemning Israel for building the segregation wall, the OIC
called upon the Quartet to intensify efforts to achieve a just and
comprehensive peace in the Middle East in accordance with the road
map and the relevant agreements and resolutions.

“We strongly condemn Israel for its assassination of the symbols of
Palestinian national action, particularly the founder of the Islamic
Resistance Movement (Hamas) Shaykh Ahmad Yasin and Dr Rantisi,”
it said.

Emphasizing that the Islamic countries held Israel fully responsible
for destroying the Middle East peace process, the joint communique
stressed that Israel acted against the principle of the “land for
peace” and Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council 242
and 338.

Iraq

Member states of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) welcomed
establishment of an Interim Government in Iraq.

The joint communique issued after the 31st session of the Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul strongly condemned the
inhuman practices committed against the Iraqi prisoners and detainees
in Abu Ghurayb prison and demanded that those responsible be put
on trial.

The joint communique welcomed the appointment of the president and
prime minister of the Republic of Iraq and the establishment of an
Interim Government as a beginning for sustained and urgent action to
end occupation and to establish a fully sovereign, free and democratic
Iraq and to define its political future and national options without
any interference whatsoever.

The joint communique demanded occupation forces in Iraq to comply
with International Humanitarian Law particularly the 1949 Geneva
Convention and stressed the need for the occupation forces to respect
the civil and religious liberties of the Iraqi people and preserve
their cultural, religious and historical heritage.

The communique condemned the terrorist acts perpetrated against
the Iraqi people, their places of worship, religious sites,
police stations and official institutions, including the health,
public utility institutions, diplomatic institutions and diplomats,
diplomatic personnel and premises, and stressed the responsibility of
the occupation forces for protecting the civil and religious rights
of the Iraqi people and preserving state institutions.

The joint communique strongly condemned the kidnapping and
assassination acts committed against Iraqis and others, especially
those committed against religious leaders, university professors,
doctors and intellectuals.

The communique reaffirmed its condemnation of the collective
assassinations, revealed by the discovery of mass graves, committed
by the previous regime in Iraq, against innocents Iraqi, Kuwaiti and
other peoples as a crime against humanity, and requests that those
responsible for such crimes to be put on trial.

The joint communique appealed to member states and the international
community not to grant safe havens to former officials of the defunct
regime and those accused of crimes against the Iraqi and other peoples
in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1483.

The communique welcomed the announcement made by the Interim Government
to establish good relations between Iraq and neighbouring states
based on mutual respect and the principle of non interference in
their internal affairs, as well as to abide by the existing treaties
and agreements, particularly those relevant to internationally
recognized borders and invites Iraq and neighbouring countries to
actively cooperate to promote peace and stability in the region, in
line with the statements issued in the meetings of the neighbouring
countries of Iraq.

OIC countries appealed all states to contribute to the alleviation
of the financial burden on Iraq by writing off Iraqi debts as an
expression of their support and as a contribution to the reconstruction
of the country.

The joint communique of the 31st session of the Islamic Conference
of the Foreign Ministers in Istanbul, said that the Organization
of Islamic Conference (OIC) Convention on Combating International
Terrorism was ratified, and called on member states to follow up the
convention and expedite their signing.

Stressing that the Islam was innocent of all forms of terrorism which
involved the murder of innocent people, the joint communique said,
“we reject any attempts to link Islam and Muslims to terrorism because
the latter has no relation whatsoever with religions, civilizations
or nationalities.”

Terrorism

“We strongly condemn the perpetrators of these heinous terrorist
crimes, who pretended to act in the name of Islam or under any
other pretext. We call upon all states not to grant asylum to these
terrorists, and to take all necessary measures to help bring them to
justice,” it said.

Affirming the determination of member states to coordinate
their efforts to combat all forms and manifestation of terrorism,
including state terrorism, directed against all states and peoples,
the joint communique said: “We reaffirm that the struggle of peoples
under colonialist domination or under foreign occupation, for their
national liberation or to regain their right to self-determination,
does not constitute an act of terrorism.”

The joint communique said: “We call upon member states to follow up
the OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism and expedite
their signing and/or ratification of the convention.”

“We invite member states to stress the need for convening an
international conference to define the meaning of terrorism and
to distinguish it from people’s struggle for national liberation,”
it added.

UN Security Council

Islam countries decided to support Turkey’s membership to UN Security
Council.

The decision taken in the joint communique issued after the 31st
session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul
said: “Having considered the candidacies presented by member states in
this regard; decides to support the following candidacies: Candidacy
of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the membership in the United
Nations Security Council for the period 2009-2010, at the elections
that will be held during the 63rd UN General Assembly in New York in
2008. Candidacy of the Republic of Turkey for nonpermanent membership
in the United Nations Security Council for the period 2009-2010, at
the elections that will be held during the 63rd UN General Assembly
in New York in 2008.”

Azerbaijan/Armenia

In the joint communique, the aggression of the Republic of Armenia
against the Republic of Azerbaijan was strongly condemned. The
joint communique called on the UN Security Council to recognize
the existence of aggression against the Republic of Azerbaijan and
strongly demanded the strict implementation of the United Nations
Security Council resolutions related to the issue, and the immediate
unconditional and complete withdrawal of Armenian forces from all
occupied Azerbaijani territories including Nagornyy Karabakh region
and strongly urges Armenia to respect the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The joint communique called upon member states, as well as other
members of the international community to use such effective political
and economic measures as required in order to put an end to Armenian
aggression and to occupation of the Azerbaijani territories.

Member countries decided to instruct the Permanent Representatives
of Member States at the United Nations in New York, while voting at
the UN General Assembly, to give absolute support to the issue of
territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

OSCE

Islamic countries also decided to make constructive contribution to
the OSCE peace process ongoing for the solution of the problem.

Islamic sports/broadcasting

The joint communique approved the future activities which the Islamic
Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) decided to undertake in 2005 at
the top of which the first edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games.

The joint communique recommended that the Islamic Broadcasting
Organization and the International Islamic News Agency coordinate
with the Islamic Solidarity Sports Foundation to cover the coming
activities of the Foundation, in particular, the Islamic Solidarity
Games to be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2005.

Nuclear energy/Iran

Islamic countries, which supported Iran to develop nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes, wanted the United States to revise its decision
on imposing economic sanctions on Syria.

Joint communique, which was released after the 31st session of Islamic
Conference of Foreign Ministers, reaffirmed the inalienable rights of
member states without discrimination to develop nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes and noted that Iran has continued its cooperation
with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Noting that Iran adopted the necessary measures to resolve the problem,
Islamic countries welcomed Iran’s signing the Additional Protocol to
the IAEA Safeguard Agreements.

The communique expressed concern that certain circles are putting
pressure against Iran to renounce its alienable right to develop
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and expressed its support and
solidarity with that country.

Syria/Libya/sanctions

Islamic countries expressed concern that the United States started
to impose economic sanctions on Syria. Islamic countries requested
the United States to reconsider its decision which is against
international principles and laws and they also welcomed UN Security
Council resolution lifting sanctions imposed against Libya.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan waging front-line war of attrition – Armenian paper

Golos Armenii, Yerevan
15 Jun 04

Azerbaijan is waging a localized war on the contact line dividing
Armenian and Azeri troops, according to an Armenian newspaper
article. The war, which takes the form of fire-fights and armed
sorties into Armenian territory, has the aim of wearing down the
morale of Armenian forces, the article said. It advocated pursuing
the enemy “right up to Azerbaijani positions”. The fire-fights and
sorties have noticeably increased since Ilham Aliyev became Azeri
president, according to the newspaper. The following is the text of
Aris Kazinyan’s report in Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii on 15
June headlined “Exhausting tactics: new form of war”; subheadings
inserted editorially:

Cross border fire-fights increasing since Ilham Aliyev became Azeri
president

The situation on the contact line has worsened in full accordance with
the pronouncements of the Azerbaijani authorities about the possibility
and even the expediency of settling the Karabakh issue by war. Two
days after Armenian military units stopped sorties by enemy groups
in the Tavush and Fizuli [Fuzuli] areas, on 10 June the Azerbaijani
side opened fire on the village of Movses in the same Tavush Region
[Armenia]. The firing came from the Kohanabi heights in Tovuz District
of the Azerbaijani Republic. It is interesting that since Ilham Aliyev
came to power the cease-fire regime has been broken more often and,
as a rule, this has coincided with the known dates for regular OSCE
monitoring of the border.

Since May 1994 the cease-fire regime has been broken hundreds of
times, as a result of which not only has agricultural work been
frozen, but many of our compatriots have died. By the way, while
on the Armenian side it is mainly civilians, peasants, who have
died, on the Azerbaijani side servicemen have predominated. It
is not difficult to guess the logic of these official statistics:
Armenian arable farmers and stockbreeders have become the victims
of Azeri diversionary sorties and the fact that the [Armenian]
army stops these sorties has led to such lamentable results for the
rank-and-file soldiers in the enemy’s army. The fact that all these
years Azerbaijan has been the initiator of cross-border exchanges
of fire stems from this statistical material: it is Baku alone, not
Yerevan or Stepanakert, that constantly talks about resuming the war,
as it is Azerbaijan that is displeased with today’s disposition of
forces and the de facto positioning of the borders.

Azerbaijan waging “localized” war

In this regard it should be emphasized that the increasingly frequent
cases of cross-border fire are also the result of the inappropriate
reaction of international structures to what is taking place, their
unwillingness to call a spade a spade and evident aspiration to
“please” all the parties of the conflict simultaneously. The Azeri
authorities have never been “called to order” for their stubborn
and persistent use of military rhetoric in their speeches and for
propagation of the idea of the possible settlement of the Karabakh
issue by means of a new, major war. Judging from the realities of
the last 18 months, there is every reason to say that, unlike the
previous, often disorganized and spontaneous, cross-border exchanges
of fire, Azerbaijan has already begun to carry out a plan to conduct
a localized war.

Special diversionary groups are already operating within the structure
of the enemy army, which is now being reformed. They specialize
in mimicking a partisan war by means of sorties to capture new
heights. The diversion on 8 June not far from the Armenian village
of Berkaber, as well as others, had this objective as well. It is
evident that these violations of the cease-fire are organized and
coordinated directly by official Baku.

Azerbaijan hoping to destroy Armenian troop morale

But we should note that the main objective of the strategy of
“diversionary partisan” war is not to reach new boundaries, but to
damage the spirit, resolve and confidence of the Armenian border
guards. The authors of this strategy think that the “desired result”
will be achieved by similar actions along the whole length of the
contact line. Today, avoiding open battles (by the way, only because
of their weaker level of combat readiness) and starting the tactics
of “exhausting the enemy both physically and morally”, Azerbaijan
hopes soon to demoralize the Armenian soldiers and officers, whose
spirit, organization and principle played a decisive role in the
1989-94 war. In this regard we should seriously think not only
about defending civilians in the border areas from these sorties,
but also about pursuing the transgressor right up to Azerbaijani
positions. This may not only calm the enemy, but also make him back
off from the tactics used today.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the political component of the
“diversionary” war. In spite of the danger inherent in the tactic, it
nevertheless ends up advocating the preservation of the “security line”
which Azerbaijan hates so much. The vast majority of border violations,
accompanied by attempts at diversion, take place in the areas where the
contact line is narrowest: 70 per cent of the sorties and exchanges of
fire take place in Tavush Region, where the main commanding heights,
starting from Barekamavan and Koti, are controlled by the Azerbaijani
army. In the regions with a stronger and wider “security line” the
number and “quality” of such actions is minimal. We think that the
Armenian side should certainly use this condition in its well-founded
explanations of the vital necessity to preserve the “security line”.

Armenian authorities have informants within opposition – presidential adviser

Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
15 Jun 04

Text of Naira Zograbyan interview with Garnik Isagulyan, presidential
adviser on national security, by Armenian newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak
on 15 June headlined “Moles are not moles”

[Correspondent] Who was behind the advice to [Armenian President]
Robert Kocharyan to appoint you adviser on national security issues?

[Garnik Isagulyan] Generally the president himself forms his team
and any appointment is, first of all, his choice.

[Correspondent] There are rumours that you have managed to leave
Kocharyan’s first assistant, Armen Gevorkyan, in the shadows, and to
occupy the place of Kocharyan’s favourite.

[Isagulyan] All this kind of information is not realistic. Everybody
in this building [president’s office] has their own function. As for
my relations with Armen Gevorkyan, we work together very well and
there is no disagreement between us.

[Correspondent] What kind of advice have you given to Robert Kocharyan
on national security during the past two months to justify your
appointment?

[Isagulyan] The most important is that a political research institute
attached to the president will be set up soon, which will deal with
internal as well as external and regional problems. Moreover, work
has been started to develop a national security concept.

[Correspondent] Mr Isagulyan, there are rumours that moles exist
amongst the opposition, with whom you cooperate, and who give
information to the authorities from time to time.

[Isagulyan] What does it mean to cooperate? There are no moles,
simply there are people who think soberly and today are trying to
have contact with the authorities and submit their viewpoint.

[Correspondent] If they share information with the authorities,
why do none of them publicly declare this?

[Isagulyan] You know, each of them is frightened of being called a
“mole”. They are frightened that their colleagues will not understand
them correctly, because there are people in the opposition who see
their death if they cooperate with the authorities, because these
people as politicians have no value.

[Correspondent] Mr Isagulyan, will you name some people from the
opposition who share information with the authorities?

[Isagulyan] I have no problem and would name them, but unfortunately
these people ask us not to mention their names, as they are frightened
of their so-called friends. They do not want to find themselves in
the tabloid press and do not want to see the failure of their work.

[Correspondent] Are their opposition friends aware of their service
to the authorities?

[Isagulyan] They are not serving the authorities, they are serving
our state, our nation.

[Correspondent] During your recent meeting with journalists you said
that the next president will be from Karabakh as well.

[Isagulyan] It was not so. A journalist asked me why the Armenian
president is of Karabakh origin, and I told him not to be in a hurry,
because it is not ruled out that the next president won’t be of
Karabakh origin as well. And this not a tragedy.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY RAISES HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE AT TURKEY-EU SEMINAR

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly Tuesday raised the question of human
rights in Turkey and specifically issues regarding reported calls for
introducing laws to allow the removal of the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul
at a panel discussion on Turkey’s EU Prospects and Europe’s Domestic
Policies.

Debating the pros and cons of Turkey’s membership in the European Union were
Turkish and American journalists and policy experts invited by the Western
Policy Center to evaluate where Europe and Turkey stood on the thorny
question of whether Turkey should be allowed to become a full member of the
European family of nations.

Among the panelists, Soner Cagaptay, coordinator of the Turkish Research
Program at The Washington Institute, was the most vocal supporter of full
Turkish membership. Cagaptay was also critical of European nations who, he
said, were using double standards in their approach to Turkey.

“For some European nations the cup is half empty and not half full when it
comes to Turkey. We have fulfilled all their demands, and yet, we are
treated differently. In some and even most cases we are not worse than
several East European countries,” he said.

Repeating often stated remarks by Turkish government officials that Turkey
had introduced and implemented laws to safeguard human rights as underlined
by the “Copenhagen criteria” of the European Union, Cagaptay said:

“We are in full compliance on issues involving respect of minority rights
and separation of church and state and many other key points.”

While several members of the audience raised questions involving economic
integration, demographic changes and cultural issues, Armenian Assembly
Director of Public Affairs David Zenian asked Cagapray for his views on
recent Turkish newspaper reports involving the Armenian Patriarchate of
Istanbul.

“We read in a recent report published by the Turkish newspaper Cumhurriyet
that the Turkish Interior Ministry is pressing for the passage of laws which
will allow more control over the election process of the Armenian Patriarch
including a clause giving the government authority to depose the head of the
Armenian church.

“Imagine the Italian government enacting laws which not only dictates that
the Pope be an Italian citizen – the Turkish government already demands that
the Patriarch be a Turkish citizen – but also giving itself the right to
depose the Pope if it regards the election to be irregular or flawed?”
Zenian asked.

Cagaptay had no comment. Instead he returned to his earlier grievances,
repeating his allegation of European double standards.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

NR#2004-054

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Ottawa June 16, 2004
Office of Sarkis Assadourian M.P.
120 Confederation
House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada
Contact: Daniel Kennedy
Tel: 613 995 4843

M.P. Sarkis Assadourian To Attend
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Will Also Travel to California

Mr. Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Lib.): is scheduled to attend
the Meeting of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at the OECD,
Strasbourg June 21-25, 2004.

The Parliamentarians will meet to discuss a vast array of diverse
issues including human rights, electronic media and trans-boundary
water basins. A special highlight for Armenians will be the address
by Mr. Robert Kocharyan, President of Armenia.

-0-

Mr. Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Lib.): and his wife Zaza
will travel to California from July 7-14 to visit with their many
friends in the area. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the
Armenian Apostolic Church in California will be hosting a reception
to welcome the first Canadian Parliamentarian of Armenian origin and
his wife to Los Angeles on Monday July 12, 2004.

-30-
For further information contact: Daniel Kennedy 613-995-4843