Author: Antonian Lara

Appeal

DECLARATION OF BENEVOLENT CULTURAL UNION OF IRAQI ARMENIANS

Azg/am
13 Oct 04

The Benevolent Cultural Union of Iraqi Armenians expresses its worry to
the authorities of the Armenian Republic for the decision of sending
a group of 50 Armenians to Iraq and notes:

1. This is a late initiative as today many coalition member states
are rushing out of the country.

2. The intention of squad sending may hinder the initiative of foreign
minister as regards Armenia’s willingness to be an observer in the
Arab League. The League is also against Armenia’s involvement in Iraq.

3. This intention may hinder some Arabian states’ pro-Armenian stance
in Karabakh issue.

4. Armenian squad’s presence in Iraq may endanger lives of Armenians
all over the Arabian states and especially Iraq.

5. The possibility of terrorist acts and kidnapping should not be
excluded.

Considering all these, the Benevolent Cultural Union of Iraqi Armenians
hopes that the Armenian authorities will review the intention. We
hope that the reason will win.

Administration of BCUIA

Turkey insist EU objections based on religion

Daily Star, Lebanon
Oct 12 2004

AFP.Turkey’s ambassador to France said in an interview published on
Monday that his country’s would have “no problem” joining the European
Union if it were Christian and that its Muslim heritage is the real
issue behind the current debate.

“The real motive for this reticence, especially in France, is
religion,” Uluc Ozulker told the daily Le Parisien. “If Turkey were
Christian, there would be no problem. But, voila, we are a Muslim
country.”

The ambassador noted that Turkey is a secular state and has been for
more than eight decades since the nation’s founding father, Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk, instituted reforms.

Ozulker spoke as debate rose in France over Turkey’s eventual
membership in the European Union, which currently counts 25 members.

President Jacques Chirac reiterated on Sunday that “it is the French
people who will have the last word,” a reference to his plan for
France to hold a referendum on the subject. That could be a potentially
fatal blow to Turkey’s aspirations since EU members must unanimously
approve any nation’s application for membership.

Chirac supports Turkey’s membership but thinks it will take up to 15
years for it to join.

The French Parliament is to debate the issue before the EU summit
Dec. 17 when leaders are to finalize an initial approval of membership
talks.

Ozulker said that Europe “is not a Christian enclave” and that
Turkey’s joining the EU “will not denature Europe” despite its some
70 million-strong population.

“We share the same democratic values as the 25,” he said, adding that
Turkey is already part of the customs union.

Asked if Turkey would recognize the Armenian genocide, the ambassador
said that it has yet to be proven.

“It’s up to international and impartial historians to meet and decide,”
Ozulker said. “We will accept the results of their work.”

Meanwhile, Germany’s conservative opposition kept up efforts to keep
Turkey out of the European Union, proposing to start a signature
campaign against opening the way to full EU membership.

US Dept of State
07 October 2004
Freedom of Thought, Religion in Trouble in Some OSCE States
Dorthy Taft addresses OSCE human rights meeting in Warsaw

Freedom of thought and religion are fundamental rights that are
“inconsistently applied, and often violated, by many states across the OSCE
[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] region,” said Dorthy
Taft, a member of the U.S. Delegation to the Human Dimension Implementation
Meeting in Warsaw, Poland, October 6.

Taft cited examples of problems and/or progress in a number of states,
including Turkey, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia,
Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, France and Germany.

Noting the success of the recent Brussels OSCE Conference on Racism,
Xenophobia and Discrimination, Taft said the United States would welcome the
convening of a Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting in Central Asia “to
discuss the nexus of protecting religious freedom while combating
terrorism.”

The October 4-15 meeting in Warsaw is being held to review the
implementation of OSCE commitments in the fields of human rights and
democracy — the ?~human dimension” — by participating states.
Following is the text of Taft’s prepared statement:

United States Mission to the OSCE
Warsaw, Poland
October 6, 2004

STATEMENT ON FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, CONSCIENCE, RELIGION OR BELIEF

As delivered by Dorthy Taft, Member, U.S. Delegation to the Human Dimension
Implementation Meeting

Mr. Chairman, the United States is deeply committed to guaranteeing the
freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief. We were pleased that the
Maastricht Ministerial built upon the considerable body of OSCE commitments
by recognizing the importance of facilitating individual and communal
religious freedom through “transparent and non-discriminatory laws,
regulations, practices and policies.” However, we note with concern that
this fundamental right is inconsistently applied, and often violated, by
many States across the OSCE region.

The U.S. regards as a success the Brussels OSCE Conference on Racism,
Xenophobia and Discrimination, which discussed facilitating freedom of
religion or belief through non-discriminatory laws, regulations, policies
and procedures. The conference also included a side event on promoting
tolerance toward Muslims. In order to learn more about the activities of the
OSCE/ODIHR Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion of Belief, we hope that
government representatives and NGOs will attend the Panel’s side event after
this session. The United States would also welcome the convening of a
Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting in Central Asia to discuss the nexus
of protecting religious freedom while combating terrorism.

The United States applauds the efforts by Turkey to bring its legal system
into conformity with OSCE commitments. While reforms now allow non-Muslim
religious communities to build churches and buy property, authorities have
actively sought to close meetings outside “official” locations under the
pretext of zoning laws. We urge the Government of Turkey to explicitly allow
religious meetings in rented facilities or private homes. Turkey’s system of
regulating religious groups remains problematic, as the government’s strict
control of Islamic teaching and practice, its ban on headscarves in public
institutions, and its failure to reach an agreement on the re-opening of the
Halki Seminary all contravene Turkey’s OSCE commitments. We also urge Turkey
to adopt a new law allowing minority foundations to reclaim properties
expropriated by the state. We hope to see the government continue its good
work and to continue to open the religious liberty sphere in Turkey by
addressing these issues.

The United States remains greatly concerned by continuous violations of
religious liberty by the Government of Uzbekistan. Approximately 5,500
individuals remain jailed in Uzbekistan on charges of religious extremism,
despite repeated calls by the international community and NGOs for their
release. Even before the bombings this year, which the United States
unconditionally condemns, there have been reports of observant Muslims being
arrested on falsified evidence as alleged members of Hizb ut-Tahrir.
Limitations on religious freedom also include bans on proselytizing or
unauthorized teaching of religion and burdensome registration requirements
that prevent legitimate activity. The United States is also disappointed
that neither the Uzbeks nor the ODIHR has followed up on the July 2003 Panel
of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief’s recommendations concerning the
Uzbek religion law. Considering the recent bombings, we believe an
ODIHR-sponsored meeting to discuss implementing the recommendations is
needed now more than ever, for we fear the government’s policy is leading to
that which the Uzbek government is trying to avoid: support for violent
extremism.

In Turkmenistan, we note the relaxation of the registration process for
religious communities, the removal of criminal penalties for unregistered
religious groups, the recent registration of four religious groups, the
release of some conscientious objectors, and the significant reduction in
harassment of religious groups. The United States encourages Turkmen
authorities to register all applicant groups and to respect the rights of
all believers to profess and practice their faith. My delegation is
concerned by recent police raids of registered religious communities. We
urge the Government to communicate the new policies to all local security
officials to ensure that they are followed. Lastly, we reiterate Congress’
call for the unconditional release of the former Grand Mufti, Nasrullah ibn
Ibadullah, as well as Jehovah’s Witnesses Mansur Masharipov and Vepa
Tuvakov.

The situation for religious freedom in Azerbaijan has deteriorated since the
2003 HDIM. Not only have authorities forcibly seized the Juma Mosque, they
also imposed new leadership and prevented the peaceful community from
worshiping elsewhere. We urge the Azerbaijani Government to cease harassment
of mosque leaders and return full control of the mosque to the community. In
Georgia, we welcome the arrest of mob leaders who had instigated violence
against religious minorities; we urge the government to vigorously prosecute
all individuals involved in such assaults. We strongly encourage Tbilisi to
amend the civil code to ensure all religious groups can obtain legal entity
status and build new worship facilities. In Armenia, we welcome the new
alternative military service law that allows conscientious objectors to
fulfill their national service, but urge the government to fulfill its
pledge to release all remaining conscientious objectors. We also encourage
the government to permit Jehovah’s Witnesses to be recognized and registered
as a religious community.

Kazakhstan has earned a positive reputation on religious liberty and
tolerance. Nevertheless, the draft law and amendments on combating extremist
activity could be misused against unpopular religious groups. Current Kazakh
law allows for prosecuting criminal acts, so we see no need for these new
provisions. In fact, the United States recommends the removal of Article 375
of the Administrative Code, which requires the registration of religious
groups. Since its promulgation, we have received consistent reports of
unregistered groups being penalized for legitimate activities through civil
and criminal sanctions.

In Russia, the international community was disappointed by a court decision
banning the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow. The United States is concerned
with the Moscow ban, as well as the implicit endorsement of intolerance it
sends to local officials elsewhere in Russia. Some religious faiths continue
to be harassed by local officials, without appropriate action by the federal
government to ensure the enjoyment of religious freedom as stipulated by
both OSCE standards and the Russian Constitution.

We also renew concern regarding Belarus, as the end of the registration
period under the problematic 2002 religion law ends in November. As a member
of OSCE, the government of Belarus is bound by an OSCE commitment to ensure
that groups may operate freely without registration, even though Belarus law
does not yet recognize this right.

The United States also notes disturbing developments in Bulgaria. The
problematic 2002 Law on Religions was used in July 2004 by Bulgarian
authorities to justify the seizure of properties used by the alternative
Bulgarian Orthodox synod. Unfortunately, the government abandoned neutrality
and wrongly attempted to grant discriminatory favor to the Synod of
Patriarch Maxim. Bulgarian authorities should immediately reinstate to the
alternative synod full control of the seized properties until the courts
settle the dispute.

Grave problems with freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief exist
in many OSCE participating States — but not only those countries located to
the “East of Vienna.” The United States wishes to highlight concerns about
the ban on religious apparel in French public schools. We believe the ban
violates OSCE commitments and is counterproductive, as it will only further
marginalize the very people the government wishes to integrate.

Additionally, efforts by several German Laender to prohibit the wearing of
the Muslim headscarves by teachers, is discriminatory. The ability to
express one’s religious beliefs through word or deed is a fundamental right
under OSCE commitments, and must be protected.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

Baku Today

Politics

Pressure Group Says It Will Again Prevent Armenians’ Visit to Baku

AssA-Irada 06/10/2004 15:54

The Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) will hold actions in protest
against Armenian MPs’ planned visit to Baku to attend the 58th Rose-Roth
seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Chairman of the pressure group Akif Naghi told a new conference on Tuesday
that Armenians should not be allowed to visit Baku.

`Establishment of official or unofficial relations between the two countries
serves Armenia’s policy, as Azerbaijan’s lands are still under the Armenian
occupation,’ he said.

The KLO chairman said the organization will try to prevent Armenian
parliamentarians’ visit to Baku by all means.

ARMENIA THIS WEEK October 4, 2004

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DEFENDS IRAQ DEPLOYMENT DECISION
Senior Armenian officials last week defended the government’s plan to send
Armenian servicemen to Iraq later this year, as political and public
opposition to the move appeared to be mounting. In a recent message to
Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian, President George W. Bush stressed that
he was “look[ing] forward to seeing [Armenian] troops on the ground soon.”
Most opponents are concerned that should Armenia join the U.S.-led
coalition, members of the Armenian Diaspora communities in Iraq and
elsewhere in the Middle East, numbering hundreds of thousands, might be hit
by a wave of violence.

Interviewed on Public Television last week Defense Minister Serge Sargsian
said that while he shared these concerns, Armenia was obliged to assist the
U.S.-led effort. Armenia cannot be a beneficiary of stability accorded by
stronger states, he said, and expect not to contribute even in modest ways.
Sargsian admitted that some Defense officials were not enthusiastic about
the mission since the Armenian Army’s overarching purpose is defense of the
country rather than peacekeeping abroad. Both Sargsian and Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian stressed the largely “humanitarian” nature of Armenia’s
50-person task force, made up of military drivers, engineers and medics.
They are expected to serve under Polish command in South Central Iraq that
has seen much fighting recently, with at least 13 Polish, eight Ukrainian,
six Bulgarian and one Salvadoran soldiers dead.

Leaders of the Iraqi Armenian community, including Bishop Avak Asadurian,
appealed to the Armenian government to call off the deployment. Some Iraqi
Armenians report that public attitudes toward them have worsened since
Armenia’s decision was made public. Opposition politicians railed against
the government, accusing it of disregarding the Armenian community’s safety
and exposing Armenia itself to new threats. Civic groups appealed to
Parliament not to approve the move. A public opinion poll conducted by the
opposition-leaning Vox Populi group found that some 60 percent of 664
Yerevan residents opposed Armenia’s involvement, with only 6 percent in
favor and the rest undecided.

There are also doubts within the ruling parliamentary majority made up of
the Republicans (HHK), Country of Law (OYeK) and the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (HHD) with, respectively, 40, 20 and 11 out of the 131 total
seats. Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, who heads the HHK, said that
sending the troops was in Armenia’s interest. But Parliament Vice Speaker
Vahan Hovannisian (HHD) argued that in addition to concerns over Armenians’
safety, Armenia could not ignore the views of Armenia’s ally Russia, as well
as those of France and Germany, countries that remain reluctant to support
the U.S. in Iraq. Chairman of the Parliament’s Defense and Security
Committee Mher Shahgeldian (OYeK), who had earlier backed the move, said
last week that the mandatory vote on whether or not to send the troops to
Iraq has not yet been scheduled.

Armenians and other Christian minorities that number some 800,000 people in
Iraq have already been targeted by Islamic radicals, and media reports that
upwards of 50,000 of them have fled the country in recent months. Violent
attacks have ranged from church bombings to kidnappings to destruction of
businesses owned by Christians. Armenian officials have said they were ready
to host Armenians who are forced out of Iraq and several hundred families
are said to be already in Armenia. Meanwhile, a Lebanese-Armenian, Aram
Nalbandian, was last week reported to be among dozens of foreign workers
currently held hostage in Iraq. (Sources: AIM 3-19-03; Armenia This Week
9-20; The White House 9-21; Arminfo 9-24, 28, 29, 30; RFE/RL Armenia Report
9-24, 28; Ekho 9-30; RFE/RL 9-30; Azg 10-1; Washington Post 10-1)

RUSSIAN BORDER CLOSURE IMPACTS ARMENIA
Russia’s efforts to crack down on Chechen rebel groups reportedly supplied
via Georgia and Azerbaijan are interfering with Armenia’s commerce, media
reports say. Businessman Arsen Ghazarian estimated that as many as 200
trucks bound from or to Armenia have been stuck at the Lars checkpoint on
the Russian-Georgian border. Prime Minister Andranik Margarian said that
Armenia had appealed to Russia over the problem, but to no avail. Russia
tightened its border controls since the bloody school hostage taking by
Chechen rebels a month ago.

Meanwhile, Armenian and Azeri trucks are said to be using Georgia’s
breakaway South Ossetia region to cross into and from Russia, a part of the
border that is reportedly open. The region has seen a return to calm since
Georgian forces withdrew in August after two months of fighting. Although
Georgia’s President Mikhail Saakashvili promises a peaceful solution to his
country’s conflicts, some analysts believe that a new Georgian offensive is
imminent. (Sources: Armenia This Week 8-30, 9-13; Civil.ge 9-21, 30; Noyan
Tapan 9-21, 22; RFE/RL 9-23, 10-1; Arminfo 9-29; Reuters 9-29)

*****************************************************************
A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA 122 C
Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 393-3434 FAX (202)
638-4904
E-Mail [email protected] WEB
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STATEMENT By H.E. Mr. Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Armenia at the 59th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL
ASSEMBLY New York, September 29, 2004

Mr. President, […]
This year we wish to especially note the critical need to end the tragedy in
Darfur. Armenians, victims of the 20th century’s first genocide, know well
the long-lasting effects of victimization and homelessness. This is no way
to begin a new millennium. The benefits of globalization should be utilized
to defeat this newest global crisis.

We comprehend all too well that peace and security abroad and at home are
clearly correlated with social and economic dignity today, or, faith in
their possibility tomorrow. Neither self-satisfied smugness on the one hand,
nor self-righteous violence on the other, are solutions to the great
inequalities around the world, and within each of our countries, even those
most developed. Terrorism, in all its manifestations, affects security,
political and economic stability in our neighborhoods and on our planet.
Terrorism from Madrid to Beslan, in all its manifestations, is inexcusable
and unacceptable.

Cognizant that the success of counter-terrorism efforts is conditional on
collective measures, Armenia has readily joined the global fight against
international terrorism. This fight must go beyond effective regional and
international cooperation. It must include the very goals of the Millennium
Declaration – replacing deprivation, poverty and injustice by a universal
respect for human rights and democracy, economic development, equality and
social justice. […]

In these short years, we have done away with the false proposition that we
must choose between East and West, between the old world and the new. We
have done away with the myth that our neighbors can control the pace of our
economic growth and shape its direction. Now, we want to do away with the
dangerous suggestion that yesterday’s adversary is an enemy forever.

Armenia is ready to compromise and collaborate with neighbors who are ready
to join us in making history, not rewriting it. We want to work with an
Azerbaijan that understands its place in a rule-based international order,
not one whose policies, practices and statements threaten the fragile peace
and stability of our region.

Azerbaijan was first in introducing ethnic cleansing to the Soviet space,
first in engaging mercenaries and international terrorists in its own
defense, first in discarding the rules of engagement in international
organizations.

Let me explain. The Armenian presence in this region has been long and
extensive. Denying or revising this history requires systematic planning,
energy and resources. Unfortunately, the government of Azerbaijan has not
spared such resources. Azerbaijan succeeded in eliminating the Armenians of
Nakhichevan who comprised more than half the population. There are none
there today. In Baku and Sumgait, and throughout Azerbaijan, there were over
400,000 Armenians in the Soviet years. There are none there today. The
Azerbaijani experiment in ethnic cleansing worked.

A decade ago, Azerbaijan retained the services of some of our region’s most
notorious mercenaries and international terrorists — the same names which
you hear again and again – to fight against the Armenian men and women who
were defending their lands and their lives against aerial bombings and
proximate shelling. The terrorists lost, Armenians won.

Finally, Azerbaijan’s leadership dismisses the opportunities offered by
membership in international organizations to build bridges and seek
solutions. Azerbaijan rejects mediation by those who wish to help halt drug
trafficking through its territory. Azerbaijan also dismisses efforts by
Council of Europe and other monitoring groups to come to the region to see
first hand the destruction of thousands of irreplaceable historic and
cultural markers. It crows about its desire for NATO membership even as it
repeatedly prohibits an alliance partner’s participation in NATO exercises.
Worse, Azerbaijan not only does not rebuke, it champions the Azeri military
officer who decapitated a fellow Armenian officer in a NATO training course
in Budapest. It maligns the Minsk Group of the OSCE in order to hide its own
refusal to consider proposals that have grown from the discussions and
negotiations in which its own leadership has participated. For more than
half a decade, it has rejected every proposal placed before it from the
Common State Proposal in 1998 to the Key West document of 2000.

Mr. President,
Armenians prevailed in the military confrontation unleashed by Azerbaijan as
a response to the peaceful demands of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh for
self-determination. Contrary to the assertion of Azerbaijan’s president,
Armenians have occupied those lands for over 2000 years, and not just in the
last 10. Today, Nagorno Karabakh has reversed the injustice of the Stalin
years and is free and democratic, tolerant of minorities. Nagorno Karabakh
holds regular elections, has state and security structures, complete control
over its territory, and a growing economy. If in the last century, Armenians
and Azeris were forcibly linked together, in this next century, where we
have earned the right to our own destinies, we can determine to live
together peaceably. If we are serious about becoming full, deserving
residents of the European neighborhood, where borders don’t matter, but
intentions and tolerance do, we will have to come to terms with our past,
with our history, with the realities that have gripped our region. Thank
you.

[AAA Note: This is an excerpt of the statement. For the complete text visit
]

Mount St. Helens a Volcanic ‘Ring of Fire’
WILLIAM McCALL

Posted on Fri, Oct. 01, 2004
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. – Three or four times every minute, Mount St. Helens
shivers. Sometimes the majestic peak even shudders, the trembling
beneath reaching a crescendo, a magnitude of 3.3.

The earthquakes that started a week ago Thursday – almost certainly
precursors to an eruption – are a reminder that the 8,364-foot
sleeping giant is but a part of a volcanic “ring of fire” so vast that
it encircles the Pacific Ocean.

Indeed, the other 12 major volcanoes in the Cascade Range of northern
California, Oregon and Washington state lie within this geological
phenomenon as well.

The entire ring – from the tip of South America up through Alaska,
Japan and the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia, down through the
Philippines and Indonesia into New Zealand – includes about
three-fourths of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes, scientists
say.

Most of the activity is related to shifting in the vast sections of
the Earth’s surface known as tectonic plates, continent-size chunks of
crust that float atop the planet’s molten core.

Mount St. Helens and the Cascades lie near the edge of the Juan de
Fuca plate, which is diving under the North American plate to create a
700-mile long “subduction zone” along the ocean floor that triggers
earthquakes and pushes molten rock upwards.

Called magma underground and lava when it surfaces, the molten rock is
forced up through fissures and weak spots in the crust.

Mount St. Helens lies along a particularly weak area of the crust,
causing it to be the most active volcano in the Northwest over the
centuries, said Jon Major, a U.S. Geological Survey researcher in
Vancouver, Wash. Its most spectacular showing was in May 1980, with an
eruption that blew the top 1,400 feet off the mountain.

“It sits near the St. Helens seismic zone, an area where the crust is
pulled apart a little bit,” Major said. “That lets magma push up and
explains why it’s so active and others are not so active.”

For example, Mount Adams lies only about 50 miles east of Mount
St. Helens but has not erupted in thousands of years, Major said.

Mount Jefferson, which lies between Mount Hood and the Three Sisters
in the Oregon stretch of the Cascades, appears to have been dormant
since the last Ice Age despite relatively recent eruptions on
neighboring peaks, he said.

In the rest of the Cascade Range, which stretches from Canada to
Northern California, two of the tallest peaks – Mount Rainier in
Washington state and Mount Shasta in California – both have erupted at
least once in the past 200 years and have had several more over the
last 2,000 years. Most were considered minor, according to USGS
figures.

The Northwest, in turn, has been relatively quiet compared to other
areas of the ring, according to Jim Luhr, director of the global
volcanism program at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The Aleutian Island chain in Alaska, Central America, Japan and
Indonesia have all been more active recently, Luhr said.

“The Aleutians are one of the most vigorous volcanic parts of North
America,” he said.

But he noted that other parts of the world have plenty of dormant
volcanoes, including France and Germany.

Luhr recently returned from a trip to Armenia where ancient
petroglyphs show evidence of eruptions.

“There are relatively young volcanoes all over Armenia,” he
said. “None have erupted in the last 4,000 years, but clearly ancient
peoples have seen them.”

There is a chance that other Northwest volcanoes could erupt. But like
Mount St. Helens, it will probably be mostly rock and ash that spew
forth, not the dramatic, fiery rivers of lava that accompany eruptions
in Hawaii, scientists say.

The Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 killed 57 people, but other
volcanoes have taken a deadlier toll.

In January 2002, lava rolled down the slopes of the African volcano
Mount Nyiragongo and flooded the streets of Goma, Congo, killing at
least 75 people.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
09/30/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Minister Oskanian Delivers Strong Message to UN General Assembly
2) Defense Minister Sargsian Advises Baku to Steer Clear of War
3) Kokoity Confirms Intentions to Integrate with Russia
4) Armenian Man Kidnapped in Iraq
5) Bush Administration Disappoints Ethnic Voters

1) Minister Oskanian Delivers Strong Message to UN General Assembly

NEW YORK–Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian delivered Armenia’s annual message
at the United Nations on Wednesday, speaking to the 59th Session of the
General
Assembly on such issues as UN reform, Millennium Development Goals, and the
fight against terrorism. At the same time, he addressed the Mountainous
Karabagh conflict, and Armenia’s position on prospects for its resolution.
He said that Armenia is ready to “compromise and collaborate” with neighbors
only if they are ready to make history, not rewrite it. “We want to work with
an Azerbaijan that understands its place in a rule-based international order,
not one whose policies, practices and statements threaten the fragile peace
and
stability of our region.”
Azerbaijan maligns the OSCE Minsk Group, stressed Oskanian, in order to mask
its refusal to consider proposals.
“For more than half a decade, it has rejected every proposal placed before it
from the Common State Proposal in 1998 to the Key West document of 2001,”
revealing that the same proposals emerged from discussions and negotiations
that included the participation of Azerbaijan’s leadership.
He concluded saying that though Armenians and Azeris were forcibly linked
together during the last century, they have, nevertheless, earned the right to
determine, in the coming century, whether they will live in peace.
“If we are serious about becoming full, deserving residents of the European
neighborhood, where borders don’t matter, but intentions and tolerance do, we
will have to come to terms with our past, with our history, with the realities
that have gripped our region.”
Local students and representatives of Armenian organizations were present to
hear the statement, and later participated in a short question-and-answer
period with the Minister.
The speech came at the conclusion of a three-day visit during which Oskanian
met with various UN officials, as well as foreign ministers. On Wednesday, the
Minister met with the Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, with
whom he discussed various UN issues, as well as matters related to Armenia-UN
cooperation. At the Secretary General’s request, the Minister briefed Annan on
the Mountainous Karabagh peace process.
Earlier in the day, Oskanian also met with the Secretary General’s Special
Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Juan Mendez. Minister Oskanian held a
short meeting with the Secretary General of the League of Arab States Amre
Moussa, where the two welcomed Armenia’s inclusion in the Arab League with
observer status. Within the margins of the UN, Minister Oskanian conferred
with
the foreign ministers of China, Turkey, Egypt, and Lebanon. He also met with
the US Undersecretary of State Mark Grossman, the US Co-chair of the Minsk
Group Ambassador Steven Mann, and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Italy.

2) Defense Minister Sargsian Advises Baku to Steer Clear of War

YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net)–The consequences of renewed hostilities in the
Mountainous Karabagh region would be extremely grave both for Armenia and
Azerbaijan, warned Armenia’s Minister Serge Sargsian, who is also the
Secretary
of the President’s Defense Council.
Speaking on Armenian Public TV on Wednesday, Sargsian emphasized Armenia’s
resoluteness to steer clear of war. “The outcome of any possible war–even the
most favorable for Armenia, means casualties; we have no desire to be involved
in military operations.”
It would even be no consolation, said Sargsian, that odds would be in
Armenia’s favor, as was the case in 1992-1994. “There are, after all, huge
prices to pay for war–delays settling social problems, limitation on
freedoms.
. . ”
Sargsian said that Armenia would be forced to pursue war, only if Azerbaijan
advances the attack.
“In this case, I assure, we will respond adequately, and the response will be
one that will, for many years–crush Azerbaijan’s desire to fight.”

3) Kokoity Confirms Intentions to Integrate with Russia

MOSCOW (Interfax)–At a ceremony marking the dispatch of humanitarian aid from
Moscow to the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali on Wednesday, president of
the breakaway republic Eduard Kokoity, stressed the need for unity between
north and south Ossetia.
“It’s time to forget the words ‘southern’ and ‘northern.’ There is one
Ossetia, which will be part of Russia,” Kokoity said, adding that nearly
98% of
residents of South Ossetia are Russian citizens.
“We are aware of our responsibility before our compatriots in Russia, since
geographically it is in a place where the future of the Caucasus is being
decided,” he said.
A united Ossetian people would “do everything possible to rebuff the forces
that are trying to oust Russia from the Caucasus,” he said.
“We shall work on several economic projects to integrate South Ossetia with
Russia,” he said.
South Ossetia is legally a province of Georgia, but a conflict in the 1990s
led to its de-facto independence. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has
stepped up efforts to restore control over South Ossetia. North Ossetia is a
constituent territory of the Russian Federation.
Meanwhile, South Ossetian Interior Minister Robert Guliyev told Interfax by
phone on Thursday that Georgia has set up two army groups on the border with
South Ossetia as part of its plans to launch strikes at the republic from the
direction of Znauri and Tskhinvali.
“By concentrating their forces in two directions–Tskhinvali and Znauri–the
Georgian authorities are entrusting the task of surrounding Tskhinvali and
closing the Trans-Caucasus highway to traffic traveling to [Russia’s republic
of] North Ossetia to these army groups. This will become possible as a result
of two parallel strikes,” Guliyev said.
“An intelligence report suggests that up to ten T-72 tanks, some of which
Tbilisi purchased in Romania and some other tanks that were repaired in
Ukraine, have been deployed in Georgia’s Kareli district alone. These tanks
are
expected to take part in an invasion of South Ossetia’s Znauri district,” he
said.

4) Armenian Man Kidnapped in Iraq

BAGHDAD–The Sydney Morning Herald reported that among three Lebanese travel
agency workers kidnapped in Iraq on September 17, is Armenian Aram Nalbandian.
The three men and their Iraqi driver were abducted by gunmen on the
Baghdad-Fallujah highway, a Lebanese Foreign Ministry official told The
Associated Press
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the three Lebanese
worked for a travel agency that has a branch in Baghdad.
The motive for the kidnapping was not immediately clear.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Jean Obeid has instructed the Lebanese charge
d’affaires in Iraq, Hassan Hejazi, to contact Iraqi authorities to secure the
release of the three Lebanese, the official said.

5) Bush Administration Disappoints Ethnic Voters

–Visit

–Multi-Ethnic Review Reveals Deep-Rooted Frustration Across Diverse
Communities

WASHINGTON, DC–Community leaders representing millions of ethnic Americans
are
fed up with George W. Bush’s neglect, opposition, and–all too often–outright
assault on the issues and values they care about, according to a review
released recently by the National Democratic Ethnic Leadership Council
(NDELC).
“Each of the community leaders reached out to in this survey represents a
different element of our nation’s great ethnic diversity, but what they all
have in common is a profound disappointment with how the Bush Administration
has misled their communities and mismanaged issues–both domestic and
international–that hold the most meaning for the ethnic voters they
represent,” said AADLC representative Tsoghig Margossian.
“Over the past four years, Armenian Americans have suffered setback after
setback under the Bush Administration’s attack on the issues we care about
as a
community,” added Margossian. “As the NDELC review makes clear, we aren’t
alone
in our frustration over these disastrous policies, nor do we stand alone in
our
efforts to bring about real change this November.”
The National Democratic Ethnic Leadership Council (NDELC) is an ethnic
constituency based organization encompassing the community of immigrants and
descendants of immigrants who primarily trace their heritage from Europe and
the Mediterranean. The groups include, but are not limited to Albanian, Arab,
Armenian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, German, Finnish, French Canadian, Greek,
Hungarian, Iranian, Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese,
Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovene, Swedish, and Ukrainian Americans.
The purpose of NDELC is to continue the work of the 1990s to redefine how the
Democratic Party communicates with ethnic Americans and to ensure that ethnic
Democrats continue to be players in American politics.
For more information about “Armenians for Kerry” and Senator Kerry’s
record on
Armenian American issues, visit
“Armenians for Kerry” works in partnership with the Armenian American
Democratic Leadership Council (AADLC), a long-standing ethnic council of the
Democratic National Committee’s National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating
Committee. The AADLC actively fosters support within the Armenian American
community for the Democratic Party and national Democratic office holders,
while promoting the election of Armenian American Democrats to political
office
and encouraging participation by Armenian American Democrats at all levels of
the public policy process.
The text of the NDELC review is provided below. For more information about
the
role that ethnic Americans are playing this election season, visit:

George W. Bush is Wrong for Ethnic Americans*

IRISH AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 44 million Irish Americans by failing to
engage in the Northern Ireland peace process and standing by while a top
advisor made reckless comparisons to the war on Al Qaeda.”
–Stella O’Leary, Irish American Democrats

POLISH AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 10 million Polish Americans by relying on
Poland’s sacrifice in Iraq but continuing to impose burdensome and costly visa
requirements on Poles coming to the US and by not facilitating bidding by
Polish firms on post-war contracts in Iraq.”
–Nicholas Rey, Ambassador to Poland 1993-1997

ARMENIAN AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 1.5 million Armenian Americans by breaking
his pledge to recognize the Armenian genocide.”
–Aram Hamparian, Armenian National Committee of America

ARAB AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 3.5 million Arab Americans by tolerating
anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bigotry from members of his Administration and
allowing an unfettered John Ashcroft to run roughshod over the civil liberties
of Arab
immigrants, creating fear and mistrust.”
–Dr. Jim Zogby, Arab American Institute

GREEK AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 3 million Greek Americans by failing to
show the required leadership, diplomacy and commitment in resolving the Cyprus
conflict to help bring peace and stability to the region.”
–Clay Constantinou, former Ambassador, Dean of Whitehead School of Diplomacy
and International Relation

UKRAINIAN AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 1.5 million Ukrainian Americans by
blocking
legislation condemning Stalin’s Famine-Genocide against the Ukrainian nation.”
–Julian Kulas, Ukrainian Americans for Kerry-Edwards

MUSLIM AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 7 million Muslim Americans by speaking of
inclusion while creating an atmosphere where law-abiding Muslim Americans are
afraid of a government they thought was supposed to protect them, not harass
them.” –Isi Siddiqui, Undersecretary of Agriculture during Clinton
Administration

ROMANIAN AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 2 million Romanian Americans by seeking to
cut foreign aid, and failing to engage pro-democracy, anti-corruption
forces in
Romania.” –Prof. Radu Florescu, Romanian American community leader

ALBANIAN AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 1 million Albanian Americans by abdicating
America’s traditional leadership role in resolving Kosovo’s final status and
securing stability in the Balkans.”
–Ilir Zherka, Clinton-Gore ’96 Ethnic Outreach Coordinator

SERBIAN AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 2 million Serbian Americans by abandoning
US efforts to promote regional stability in the Balkans and support for
democratic forces within Serbia.”
–Obrad Kesic, Serbian American community leader

HUNGARIAN AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 2 million Hungarian Americans by ignoring
the human, civil, and religious rights of Hungarian minorities throughout
Central Europe.”
–Peter Ujvagi, State Representative, Ohio District 47

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 5 million Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian,
Czech, and Slovak Americans by failing to continue America’s traditional
engagement with pro-democracy forces.”
–Mark Brzezinski, former director Southeast European Affairs, National
Security Council

BALTIC AMERICANS:

“George W. Bush turned his back on 1 million Latvian, Lithuanian, and
Estonian
Americans by eliminating VOA and RFE radio broadcasts to the Baltic states.”
–Asta Banionis, Lithuanian American community leader

*Organizational affiliations are for identification purposes only.

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Azeri leader, UN secretary-general discuss Karabakh settlement

Trend news agency
25 Sep 04

Baku

Trend correspondent E. Huseynov: The borders recognized by the UN are
unchangeable, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting
with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 24 September in New York. He
said he hoped that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict would be settled
through negotiations.

Aliyev said that the protracted Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict stands
in the way of the development not only of Azerbaijan, but also of the
whole of the South Caucasus and remains a major threat to peace and
stability in the region.

Pointing out Azerbaijan’s aspiration to a peaceful settlement to the
problem, the president noted the importance of the UN’s active role in
this issue. “Aggressive Armenia ignores the well-known UN Security
Council resolutions on this conflict. We believe that this
authoritative international organization should not remain inactive in
implementing its resolutions. Azerbaijan will never put up with the
occupation of its land.”

Passage omitted: Aliyev urged the UN not to be indifferent to 1m
refugees

They exchanged their views on relations between the UN and Azerbaijan.

Armenian election body approves by-election results

Arminfo
23 Sep 04

YEREVAN

The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia today summarized the final
results of the parliamentary by-elections in the 44th constituency and
approved the parliamentary mandate of the member of the Orinats Yerkir
Party [Law-Governed Country Party] and the head of the Sas group
company, Artak Sarkisyan.

We should note that Artak Sarkisyan gained 13,970 votes, while his
main opponent – the member of the Nik Aparan Union and the owner of a
chain of pharmacies and the Lavanda dry cleaners gained 5,578
votes. The remaining three candidates gained less than 2,000 votes.

[Passage omitted: Details]

m

Mon fils sera Arménien

This powerful NFB documentary depicts filmmaker Hagop Goudsouzian’s
journey back to Armenia, where 1.5 million of his ancestors who were
massacred by the Turkish between 1915 and 1923. This isn’t as well
known as it should because many countries still don’t recognize this
genocide. Goudsouzian takes a group of Montrealers of Armenian descent
to the land of their forebears in search of genocide survivors, whose
numbers diminishes each year. They are all over 90-years-old today,
but they still feel the pain of fleeing Turkish assassins as kids, and
so does the viewer while watching this. (KL)