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PUTIN JOKES AT EURASIAN FORUM

RIA Novosti, Russia
June 18 2004

ASTANA, June 18 (RIA Novosti) – President Vladimir Putin joked that it
was “inhuman” to have the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Community
meet so early because of a three hour time difference between Moscow
and Astana.

The Russian President is participating in the international forum,
“Eurasian Integration: Trends of Modern Development and Challenges of
Globalization,” in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, at Lev Gumilyov
Eurasian University.

“We have come here to discuss humanitarian issues but [Kazakhstan’s
president] Nursultan Abishevich [Nazarbayev] is not treating us
humanely – it is 6 a.m. in Moscow now, and I will hardly be able to
deliver as great of a speech as he has,” Mr. Putin said smiling.

Mr. Putin was to speak after Mr. Nazarbayev who spoke about many
aspects of cooperation between member states of the Eurasian Economic
Community (the member states are Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, and Tajikistan) and CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization
(Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan). The
Russian president was apparently in high moods.

“Gumilyov’s ideas captivate people,” he said, “Some experts argue that
almost all people become relatives as 14 or 15 generations pass. I am
not sure about the entire planet, but within the Eurasian boundaries of
the former USSR we are all relatives, and closer than 14 generations,”
he emphasized.

Also smiling, he added that there was a funny thing on the agenda that
caught his eye. He said that while the first issue on the agenda was
speeches by heads of Eurasian Economic Community and CIS Collective
Security Treaty Organization member states, “the second line is
especially for [Armenian President Robert] Kocharyan’s speech,”
the Russian leader remarked.

Other heads of state followed in Vladimir Putin’s cheerful tone.
Giving the floor to the President of Armenia, Mr. Nazarbayev said that
he “would like to correct the mistake Vladimir Putin has noticed.” He
assured Mr. Kocharyan that he had nothing to do with what was written
on the agenda.

Mr. Kocharyan reciprocated by saying, as he took the floor, that “the
status of [the economic community] observer has some advantages. It
is great to be a separate issue on the agenda of the forum,” he said
and added he was “thinking whether one should lose this advantage by
getting membership.”

The hall applauded and Mr. Putin, jokingly irritated, exclaimed:
“What are you applauding at?”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Yo-yo Ma, Silk Road make stop in Seoul
By Warren Lee

THE KOREA HERALD
June 17, 2004, Thursday

A program featuring Armenian folk songs, Romany melodies and a Korean
12-stringed zither or “gayageum” thrown in for good measure may appear
chaotic, but there is a common thread that unites these sounds. All
were heard along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that connected
the people and traditions of Asia and Europe.

For the past six years acclaimed cellist Yo-yo Ma has led the Silk
Road Project on a nomadic concert series devoted to music from lands
along the historic route. Ma has helped unearth and introduce a
diverse range of isolated musical traditions that remain as exotic
to contemporary ears as they were to European travelers like Marco
Polo several hundred years ago.

The Silk Road Project will make its first appearance in Korea at the
Seoul Arts Center on June 24, with Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble
performing music stretching from Azerbaijan to Korea with stops
in between.

Ma originally created the Silk Road Project, which has gone on to
successfully capitalize on the exoticism shrouding the Silk Road’s
historical legacy, as an earnest study of how musical ideas travel
through various geographic and cultural terrains. It has become
more than a mere travelogue in sound and aims to underscore more
similarities than differences among traditions, while integrating
Western classical works with ties to those traditions.

The concert will begin with a pair of Korean artists. Kim Ji-hyun’s
performance of “gayageum byeongchang,” traditional Korean singing
with accompaniment on the gayageum, will contrast with a newly
commissioned work by composer Jacqueline Kim. “Tryst,” written for
the gayageum, oboe and cello, is a love song sung between the famed
scholar and poet Jung Chul and the beautiful courtesan Chin Ok. The
vocal cries are brought to life by the gayageum, with the cello and
oboe mirroring the traditional ensemble functions carried out by the
“piri,” a Korean wind instrument.

The second half of the program features the music of Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Roma arranged for string quartet, performed by Ma, violist
Nicholas Cords and violinists Jonathan Gandelsman and Colin Jacobsen.

In “Mugham-Sajay for String Quartet,” composer Franghiz Ali-Zadeh
mimics the sounds of traditional Azerbaijani and Middle Eastern
instruments, transforming a Western string quartet into a small
Azerbaijani folk band. Her piece evokes the spirit of her native
mugham, a collection of suites that form the backbone of Azerbaijani
classical music. Ali-Zadeh, who received a doctorate in musicology
from Baku Conservatory, exemplifies the Western-trained composer who
straddles two musical worlds. Chinese virtuoso Wu Tong will perform a
traditional work on the sheng, a Chinese mouth organ made of bamboo or
bronze pipes. In “The Prospect of Colored Desert” written for Chinese
lute, violin, cello and sheng, Chinese composer Jia Daquan, a painter
who turned to music when his vision became impaired, imagines a black
ink brush painting a desert.

The Silk Road Project represents another step in Ma’s musical journey
that extends well beyond performance of the classic cello repertory.
Fascinated by how ideas evolve when they travel over geographic and
cultural distances, Ma founded the organization to study the flow of
ideas along the Silk Road. The Silk Road Project is now an umbrella
organization and common resource to a variety of artistic, cultural
and educational projects.

Yo-yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble will perform June 24 at 7:30 at
the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall, located near Nambu Bus Terminal
Station, Subway Line No. 3, Exit 5. Tickets start at 30,000 won. For
more information, contact (02) 720-6633 or visit

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian opposition holds new protest

Associated Press Worldstream
June 16, 2004 Wednesday

YEREVAN, Armenia — Opposition leaders in Armenia held the latest
in a series of anti-government protests on Wednesday and accused the
authorities of trying to fool European human rights representatives
by easing a crackdown against opponents during their visit.

About 5,000 people gathered in the capital for a protest in central
Yerevan, the capital of the former Soviet republic, where speakers
denounced the foreign and economic policies of President Robert
Kocharian and his government.

Opposition leader Stepan Demirchian said the authorities “imitated
democratic reforms” during a recent visit by representatives of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, or PACE.

An opposition party leader was released from jail the day the
envoys arrived in Armenia, and prosecutors dropped a criminal case
against official of the same party the day they left, speakers said.
Wednesday’s protest was the first this year to be held with government
permission.

Opposition leaders in the small, poverty-plagued Caucasus Mountain
country have organized a series of protests this spring aimed at
forcing the resignation of Kocharian, who won a second term last year
in an election they claim was marred by fraud.

Soccer-Euro-Battling Greeks revel in surprise package status
By Karolos Grohmann

PORTO, June 17 (Reuters) – Greece have deservedly earned the title
of surprise team at Euro 2004 after sparkling performances against
two of the tournament favourites.

Their shock victory over hosts Portugal in the opening game and a
battling draw with a talented Spanish side have put Greece top of
Group A, only a point away from their first quarter-finals with one
game to play.

“These matches have shown that we are not a firework, that we did
not come here as tourists,” central defender Michalis Kapsis said.

Playing inspiring football at times, Greeks booked their place at the
tournament by winning six straight qualifiers, including away games
in Spain, Northern Ireland and Armenia.

That was already a major success for the Greeks and few were ready
to bet on them going past the group stage, which also includes Russia.

“Of course we are the outsiders,” said German coach Otto Rehhagel,
who took over the team three years ago. “Look at the football histories
of the three countries in our group. We can’t match that.”

But his players have eclipsed the soccer traditions of their rivals
and are firmly on course for the last eight.

With a mixture of young and old, Rehhagel has sculpted a team capable
of beating the best in Europe.

They have only lost twice in the last 20 internationals and have an
eight-game unbeaten run in competitive games,

But the experienced coach, with an illustruous 30-year Bundesliga
career behind him, is still calling for caution.

“Nothing has been won. Everyone says we are through to the next round
but that is not true,” he said on Thursday.

Few would bet against them now, though.

FIGHTING SPIRIT

It was not too long ago when Greece, following dismal appearances at
the 1980 European Championship and 1994 World Cup, where they conceded
10 goals in three matches, were renowned for quickly throwing in
the towel.

“Greece came to this tournament with a tag reading: this is a strong
defensive team which can only play well if it scores, but crumbles
when it concedes goals,” Kapsis said.

“Against Spain we had team spirit, we fought for 90 minutes and we
showed we can turn round the game after being 1-0 down. This is the
most positive thing to come out of the Spain match.”

Greece battled on against the Spaniards, even after falling 1-0
behind in the first half and managed to grab an equaliser midway
through the second.

“The Spaniards had a better team but we had soul,” striker Demis
Nikolaidis said. “Our secret is that we fight for 90 minutes.”

06/17/04 13:25 ET

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EURASEC Inter-State Council meets in Astana at summit level

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 18 2004

ASTANA, June 18 (Itar-Tass) – A session of the Inter-State Council of
the Eurasian Economic Community (EURASEC) opened here on Friday. The
presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan
are attending it. The president of Armenia, which has observer status,
is also present at the session.

The first meeting of the Council has been held in a narrow format,
without delegation members.

Presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko has told Itar-Tass that the
session’s agenda has about 20 items. These include the coordination
of positions at the negotiations for accession to the World Trade
Organisation, the implementation of the basic orientations of the
earlier approved fundamentals of the EURASEC cross-border (cooperation)
policy, a draft agreement on cooperation on the markets of securities,
and EURASEC interaction in the development of water and energy
resources in the catchment areas of the Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya rivers.

The candidacy of Chairman of the EURASEC Inter-State Council will be
considered separately at the summit, Prikhodko said. Russia suggests
that President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan keep the post. The
leaders will also discuss candidacy of Chairman of the EURASEC
Integration Committee.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A MONKEY TO EACH OFFICIAL?

A1 Plus | 14:34:20 | 17-06-2004 | Social |

The protest action held for defense of the political prisoners
near the General Office of Prosecutor has today ended in the unique
awards. Eleonora Manandyan, Chair of “New Armenia” social organization
introduced 3 statues of monkeys – the prizes set for attitude towards
the political prisoners. {BR}

The statue of the monkey closing its eyes with own hands, “I see
nothing”, was given to Armenian Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan.

The monkey with closed ears, “I hear nothing” was awarded to Pargev
Ohanyan, Judge of the First Instance Court of Kentron-Norq Marash
Communes, for the trial of Edgar Araqelyan.

“I say nothing”, the monkey closing its mouth, was given to Public
TV Company of Armenia. Other representatives of Mass Media as well,
“H2”, “Armenia”, “Arm News”, “Yerevan” TV Companies could win the
latter prize. But Public TV Company was preferred.

“The pickets proved that one can achieve his purposes just by
overcoming the sense of fear. We will keep fighting and will carry
it through”, Manandyan says.

Opposition representatives were present for the award. Albert Bazeyan
thinks a Grand Prix was to be handed to Robert Kocharyan.

All the prizes will be sent to the “winners” after the protest action.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USA does not fund Armenian opposition – envoy

Mediamax news agency
17 Jun 04

Yerevan, 17 June: Neither the US administration, nor the embassy or
any US financial institution fund the opposition or the authorities
in Armenia, the US ambassador to Armenia, John Ordway, told a news
conference in Yerevan today, answering a question about possible US
funding for the Armenian opposition’s actions.

“We are interested in democratic development in Armenia, but
assistance either to the opposition or to the authorities is beyond
our jurisdiction,” the ambassador said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TWO ARMENIAN OFFICERS TO TRAVEL TO BAKU

ArmenPress
June 17 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS: Two senior Armenian army officers will
travel to Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku on June 22 to participate in
a NATO sponsored conference to be held within the frameworks of its
Partnership for Peace program.

Colonel Murad Isakhanian and Aram Hovhanesian from defense ministry’s
department of foreign relations will go to the capital of Georgia,
Tbilisi, to try to get visas from Azerbaijan’s embassy there on
June 21.

Last January, Armenian officers were not allowed to attend a planning
conference for Best Cooperative Effort exercises. Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev has made a commitment to the U.S. not to hinder Armenia’s
participation in the upcoming NATO exercises in Azerbaijan. Also
this week, Azeri officials pledged to provide security to Armenian
participants.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Institute for War and Peace Reporting
June 17 2004

Armenia: Anger at Council of Europe Visit

Opposition disappointed by a monitoring mission they hoped would hold
the authorities to account for April violence.

By Zhanna Alexanian in Yerevan (CRS No. 238, 16-Jun-04)

The Armenian opposition has voiced concern at a Council of Europe
mission to check on the human rights situation, saying it was too
soft on the government.

Polish co-rapporteur Jerzy Jaskiernia from the Monitoring Committee
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, CoE, visited
Armenia between June 11 and 15 to prepare a preliminary report on how
the country is fulfilling demands made in a tough resolution adopted
on April 28, following the violent break-up of demonstrations earlier
in the month.

Opposition activists had hoped Jaskiernia’s visit would follow up on
the resolution and put the government under new pressure ahead of a
CoE Parliamentary Assembly session which President Robert Kocharian
is to address on June 23. The assembly meeting will also discuss
Jaskiernia’s preliminary report.

In the assembly’s April resolution, it warned Yerevan that if it did
not comply with its obligations to the CoE – including the freeing of
opposition activists detained earlier in April and liberalising the
media – the Armenian delegation might be stripped of its credentials
in October.

Armenia joined the 45-member CoE in 2001, and has since moved to
comply with a number of obligations by appointing a human rights
ombudsman and promising to abolish the death penalty.

The resolution was prompted by the brutal break-up of an opposition
demonstration in Yerevan on April 13, which was followed by the
detention of dozens of members of the opposition.

One of the most prominent, former defence minister Vagarshak
Harutiunian, was released from two months’ detention only on the eve
of Jaskiernia’s visit, but could still face a jail sentence of 10-15
years if he is convicted of inciting a coup.

In its resolution, the parliamentary assembly called on the Armenian
authorities to “immediately investigate – in a transparent and credible
manner – the incidents and human rights abuses reported during the
recent events, including assaults on journalists and human rights
activists, and inform the [CoE] assembly of their findings and of
any legal action taken against persons responsible”.

The opposition said the CoE visit was too kind to the authorities.

“Of 23 official meetings, only two were with the opposition,” said
opposition deputy Shavarsh Kocharian. “It’s obvious that what’s
happening is just the pretence of carrying out the resolution. The
clearest confirmation that it’s pretence is the June 10 court decision
against those people who attacked journalists.”

Two policemen were fined around 180 US dollars for attacking
journalists in April.

“If there is merely another act of subjective monitoring it will
just worsen the socio-economic, moral and political crisis in the
country,” said opposition leader Artashes Gegamian, one of the defeated
candidates in last year’s presidential election.

Government and pro-government officials were more pleased by the way
Jaskiernia’s trip had gone.

“The April report relied on various pieces of information, but
the commission was not [then] in Armenia,” said deputy speaker of
parliament Tigran Torosian, who also heads Armenia’s delegation to
the parliamentary assembly. “In these three or four days, with a
large and focused programme, they were able to gather a lot of facts.”

Jaskiernia spent much of his visit hearing different views on a
resolution issued by Armenia’s constitutional court on April 16
immediately following the demonstrations in Yerevan.

The court ruled that, contrary to opposition complaints, President
Robert Kocharian had won the 2003 presidential elections. However, it
proposed that a national referendum be held to within a year to test
people’s confidence in Kocharian. Court chairman Gagik Harutiunian
said that such a poll would be an “effective way of overcoming the
confrontation in society”.

“We are trying to understand how people perceive this [court]
resolution,” said Jaskiernia said. “From a legal point of view, it is
just a suggestion because the constitutional court does not have the
right to call a referendum. There is a legal aspect to the question,
but we are continuing to look at it from a political point of view.”

The three pro-government parties in parliament – Dashnaktsiutiun,
Orinats Yerkir and the Republican Party – have spoken out against a
referendum, but the opposition is insisting that it should take place.

“The last point of the constitutional court’s resolution states that
the decision is final, is not subject to review and must be implemented
after it is published,” said Shavarsh Kocharian.

On the issue of arrests, Jaskiernia said he had heard very divergent
views as to whether those arrested in April were “political prisoners”
or not. He said he would state his own position on the matter only
when he produced his final report.

Tigran Ter-Yesayan, president of Armenia’s International Association
of Lawyers, told IWPR that he had information that 400 people had been
detained and interrogated this year after attending demonstrations –
adding that the real figure was probably much higher.

Last month a 24-year-old opposition activist, Eduard Arakelian, was
given an 18-month jail sentence for hitting a policeman with a plastic
mineral water bottle during the April rally. Arakelian pleaded guilty
but said that he had struck out only after the policeman had hit him
with a truncheon and broken his front teeth.

Once Jaskiernia delivers his preliminary report to the CoE in June,
he will produce a final one in October when the parliamentary assembly
is due to discuss Armenia again.

Zhanna Alexanian is a reporter for Armenia Now,

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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