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01/25/2005
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1) PACE Adopts Controversial Resolution Mountainous Karabagh Presented by
Atkinson
2) $100,000 Raised in Support of Youth Centers in Armenia
3) Tension between Turkey and Vatican on Inclusion of Armenian Genocide
4) Khatami, Aliyev Optimistic about Enhancing Cooperation
5) PACE Sets Firm Deadline for Georgian Reforms of Minority Rights
1) PACE Adopts Controversial Resolution Mountainous Karabagh Presented by
Atkinson
BRUSSELS (EAFJD/RFE-RL)–The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) approved on Tuesday a controversial resolution on Mountainous Karabagh,
amid protests from the Armenian delegation, which described the draft
resolution and its appending report biased in Azerbaijan’s favor.
Prepared by David Atkinson (Democrat) from the United Kingdom, the resolution
notes that “considerable parts of the territory of Azerbaijan are still
occupied by Armenian forces” and that “separatist forces are still in control
of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.” The resolution also describes Mountainous
Karabagh Republic as a mono-ethnic area “which resemble the terrible
concept of
ethnic cleansing.”
“The Atkinson report is the report of Azerbaijan. This country believes that
shifting the institutional framework will turn its crimes into virtues.
Attempts of ethnic cleansing actually occurred but, contrary to Mr. Atkinson
insinuations, it was the policy led by Baku,” the executive director of the
European Armenian Federation (EAFJD) Laurent Leylekian explained prior to the
vote. “Without the fight for self-determination led by the people of Karabagh,
theses historically Armenian territories would no longer house Armenians,
as is
the case today in the region of Nakhichevan or throughout the areas of Eastern
Turkey,” he added.
The majority of PACE delegates on Tuesday supported a demand made by
Bulgarian
parliamentarian Evgeni Kirilov that Azerbaijan be free of any occupying
troops.
“There cannot be territories occupied by force, or there cannot be any
prospect
of joining any territories by force to [any] country,” he said.
The resolution calls on Azeri authorities to establish contacts with
Karabagh’s leaders–which they have persistently refused to do–and to refrain
from any attempts to retake lost territory by force.
Pointing to the biased nature of the report, the deputy chair of the Armenian
delegation to PACE, and a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armen
Rustamian, said he believes Atkinson’s resolution will not only hinder the
peace process, but will also serve as an incentive for Azerbaijan to
forcefully
restore its territorial integrity.
“Azerbaijan is expecting to use this document as a justification to issue an
ultimatum it has been preparing for a long time. Azerbaijan wants to solve the
[Karabagh] issue according to its own scenario–that is, through war,” he
said,
addressing the Assembly in French.
French parliamentarian Francois Rochebloine publicly questioned the
impartiality of Atkinson’s report: “It seems to me that, for the sake of
objectivity, this report should have given a more balanced view of the
position
of the Armenian side and its readiness to negotiate.”
The Armenian government has so far not reacted to the Atkinson report.
2) $100,000 Raised in Support of Youth Centers in Armenia
LOS ANGELES–Over $100,000 was raised in support of ARF youth centers in
Armenia during a banquet held at the Alcazar restaurant on Thursday,
January 20
in the San Fernando Valley. Organized by the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Western Region, the banquet featured guest speaker Hrant Margarian
of the ARF Bureau, who was on an official visit to the region.
Following the opening remarks of ARF Western-Region Central Committee
representative Hovig Saliba, Margarian spoke to the group of ARF supporters
and
representatives present at the event about the importance of properly
educating
youth in Armenia and the significance of youth centers within the endeavor.
On the night of the event, a notable contribution of $10,000 was made by Mr.
and Mrs. Khachig and Elo Mouradian, who only a few days before had already
donated $10,000. The couple added another $10,000 on Saturday night during the
ARF anniversary celebration in Glendale, California, raising the total amount
to $30,000.
3) Tension between Turkey and Vatican on Inclusion of Armenian Genocide
ANKARA (Sabah)–Turkey’s Sabah daily newspaper reports that the inclusion of
the Armenian genocide in the book, “The Church’s Guidelines on Social
Education,” distributed by the Vatican, has caused friction between the
Turkish
government and the papal authority.
Sabah reports that Turkey’s foreign ministry has approached and warned the
Vatican on the issue, insisting that the section on the Armenian genocide be
removed.
The Genocide is included in the book’s “Seeking Worldwide Peace and Justice”
section, along with the genocides of Ukrainians, Cambodians, and the African
people.
4) Khatami, Aliyev Optimistic about Enhancing Cooperation
LONDON (IranMania)–Immediately after the formal welcoming ceremony for Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev to Iran, the presidents of both countries expressed
their desire to expand Tehran-Baku relations. President Mohammad Khatami,
accompanied by Aliyev, told reporters at Sadabad Complex that Iran is keen on
furthering relations with Azerbaijan.
Responding to an Azeri reporter’s inquiry about what Iran will do to help
resolve the Karabagh crisis, President Khatami said that his country is among
the few which support Azerbaijan’s national sovereignty and territorial
integrity. “Iran believes that the Karabagh crisis could be resolved through
logic and understanding between the two parties without resorting to force. I
believe that the Karabagh conflict will be resolved if the two sides seriously
decide to do so,” he said.
Khatami noted that Iran has friendly relations with both Azerbaijan and
Armenia and is ready to serve as a mediator between the two countries.
Asked whether he sees a similarity between the occupation of Arab lands by
Israel and the situation in Karabagh, Khatami said Iran condemns occupation
and
use of force by any country. “Of course, there is a difference. I believe
Israel has occupied all of Palestine and established an illegitimate
existence,
but Armenia is a country itself. But at the same time, occupation and seizure
of an inch of territory is condemned and the international community should
help end the occupation,” Khatami said.
President Aliyev told reporters that his visit to Iran is aimed at developing
relations in all fields, including the economy.
He pointed to the accords President Khatami signed during his visit to Baku
and said Azerbaijan looks forward to implementation of the agreements.
Aliyev further said Tehran-Baku relations are developing rapidly and
political
and economic cooperation is excellent.
“The exchange of visits by presidents of the two countries indicates the
extent of relations enjoyed between the two,” he said.
5) PACE Sets Firm Deadline for Georgian Reforms of Minority Rights
BRUSSELS (Combined Sources)–The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) adopted a report on Tuesday, setting the final deadlines for
Georgia to honor its obligations and commitments as a member state of the
Council of Europe.
While acknowledging that Georgian authorities “continue to demonstrate an
unyielding resolve to carry out far-reaching political, legal, social, and
economic reforms,” the adopted text of that report seeks full compliance with
membership obligations, including challenges Georgia faces in protecting human
rights and rights of minorities.
While not mentioning Georgia’s mostly Armenian population of Javakhk, these
requirements are expected to directly impact Javakhk’s Armenians whose social
and human rights are effectively neglected by the Government of Georgia.
The report stipulates that, prior to September 2005, Georgia must sign and
ratify the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages and the
European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation, and must ratify the
Revised European Social Charter and the Framework Convention for the
Protection
of National Minorities.
In October 2004, the Council of Armenian Non-governmental Organization of
Javakhk appealed to the OSCE, seeking adoption and implementation of the these
points, saying they would “contribute greatly to the improvement of the grave
situation” in Javakhk.
The report also stipulates that no subsequent negotiations will take place,
and deadlines to fulfill obligations will not be extended. “The Assembly
expects the Georgian Government to honor their promises fully and in time,” it
stresses.
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