Author: Basmajian Ani

A1plus

| 18:15:14 | 20-06-2005 | Politics |

DEMOCRATIC KARABAKH CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE OF ITS PEOPLE

`Armenia welcomes the usual elections held in Nagorno Karabakh. With this
the people of Nagorno Karabakh express once more their political will to
form a government on their own, which will be responsible for Nagorno
Karabakh and its people’, announced RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
during today’s press conference.

According to him, the authorities elected by means of democratic elections
contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as
well as to the settlement of internal social problems. Minister Oskanyan
also found the evaluation of the observers which is mainly positive,
extremely important.

Le Figaro
20 juin 2005

Le Haut-Karabakh élit son Parlement ;
CAUCASE-DU-SUD

Les habitants de la république autoproclamée du Haut-Karabakh, une
enclave arménienne en Azerbaïdjan, votaient hier pour élire leur
quatrième Parlement.

Les autorités de Bakou ont dénoncé une tentative de « légaliser
l’occupation » arménienne. Le Parlement de ce petit « pays » de 150
000 habitants, en grande majorité Arméniens, est élu pour cinq ans.
Le Nagorny Karabakh a proclamé son indépendance en 1991 et l’a
défendue armes à la main avec le soutien de l’Arménie jusqu’à un
cessez-le-feu conclu en 1994.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
June 20, 2005 Monday

Russia to urge for balanced PACE resolution – Kosachyov

By Yuri Ulyanovsky

STRASBOURG

There is nothing extraordinary in the discussion of Russia’s meeting
its obligations to the Council of Europe at the summer session of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said
Konstantin Kosachyov, chief of the committee for international
affairs of Russian parliament’s lower house.

The PACE prepares every three years reports on ten out of 46 state
members of the Council of Europe, Kosachyov said in an interview with
Itar-Tass on Monday.

The full text of PACE’s record-large report has been circulated at
the session for discussion of a draft resolution and recommendations.

The resolution contains several valid critical remarks, in particular
on Russia’s not ratifying several important provisions of the Council
of Europe, Kosachyov said.

“But the resolution has remarks that have a subjective and biased
character, and we shall insist on making amendments to it. The very
report, on the basis of which the resolution has been prepared is, in
our view, unbalanced in many provisions; it rests on unchecked and
sometimes simply absurd information,” Kosachyov said.

For example, the passport system of Russia is described as “racialism
brought to a rank of state policy and discrimination on the part of
the state”, he explained.

The Russian delegation to the PACE session will take part in the
discussion of the situation in the Central Asian countries and in
Kosovo, of a forthcoming referendum on the constitutional reform in
Armenia, democratic institutions in Azerbaijan and results of the
third summit of the Council of Europe in Warsaw.

Kosachyov said the PACE increasingly frequently trusted the Russians
to make reports at its sessions.

This time the chairman of the committee for international affairs of
Russian parliament’s upper house, Mikhail Margelov, will present a
report on the situation in the Middle East, and member of parliament
Lyudmila Pirozhkova will speak on the contribution of the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development to economic development of
Central and Eastern European Countries.

A1plus

| 12:01:26 | 20-06-2005 | Politics |

THE FIRST NEGATIVE OPINION

After midnight the preliminary conclusions of the working group consisting
of 11 observers from Greece, Croatia, and Czech Republic were announced. The
ideas were different: the representatives of Croatia and Greece evaluated
the elections positive mentioning several unimportant violations, whereas
the representative of Czech Republic was of a completely different opinion.

The representative of the Czech Republic, chief editor of the newspaper
`Czech Republic’, independent lawyer Milan Stefanec announced that he cannot
make an idea about the fairness of the elections on the whole territory of
Karabakh, but if what he has seen took place in the majority of the
electoral areas, `it will be very difficult to call the elections democratic
and fair’.

The lawyer, who has also been in the OSCE Observers Mission to Azerbaijan
and Belarus, substantiated his opinion with the following facts, `Before
throwing the ballots into the boxes, the electors in Askeran showed whom
they had votes for. The empowered person of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation wanted to complain, but the Committee head refused to admit it
saying that nothing of the kind had happened’.

Milan Stefanec also mentioned other violations, «In an electoral area in
Martakert the validity or invalidity of the documents was decided not by the
Committee head, but by the Military Commander». He added that the members of
the Electoral Committee had no idea of the Electoral Code, «When we asked
them who forms the Electoral Committee, they could no answer. They did not
know who had appointed them. These things are menace for democratic
elections».

When the journalists asked how the diversity of the opinions of the
observers is accounted for, they answered that they have realized the
observation is different electoral areas, and besides, their different
evaluations are the testimony to their independence from one another.

Let us also mention that the Central Electoral Committee did not announce
the preliminary results of the elections in due time. The reason for that
was the delay of the protocols from the electoral areas.

ANNA ISRAYELYAN

Correspondent of `Aravot’ especially for `A1+’

Pan Armenian News

ISRAEL DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO PRESERVE UNIQUENESS OF
HOLOCAUST

18.06.2005 07:35

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `There are two main factors that have made the state of
Israel not to recognize the Armenian Genocide so far, and a large part of
the Jewish lobby in the USA to take the same position’, Kiro Manoyan,
Director of Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau’s Hay Dat and
Political Affairs Office stated during online interview initiated by
OpenArmenia.com and PanARMENIAN.Net. `One factor is the approach that some
segments of Jewish society have regarding the uniqueness of the Holocaust. I
would say this is a traumatized victim’s approach, that its suffering is
unique. In essence, every genocide is unique. The second factor is that
Israel and Turkey are strategic partners, so the State of Israel and a large
part of the Jewish lobby in the USA have taken upon themselves to
shamelessly serve the denialist cause of Turkey. Having said that, we should
not accuse the whole Jewish people of this position. Because, a great number
of Jews, and recently Jewish organizations, including political parties, do
not agree with this denialist policy of Israel. A great number of Jews were
not only witnesses (Ambassador Morgenthau), propagators (Werfel, Lemkin) of
the Armenian genocide, but are also active supporters of the efforts today
to have it internationally recognized. For example, recently in Belgium,
almost the whole Jewish community, including the Bnai Brith, organized a
demonstration supporting the inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in the law
that makes denying such crimes a criminal offence’, he said.

“RADIO ARMENIA” OF URUGUAY CELEBRATES ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY

MONTEVIDEO, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. “Radio Armenia” of Uruguay, the
first Armenian radio program in the Diaspora, celebrated its 70th
anniversary on June 16. Harutiun Rubenian, born in the town of Aintap,
who saw the Armenian Genocide, in 1935 founded in Uruguay a radio
program, so that the Armenians could communicate with each other and
keep the ties with the Armenian culture and Mother land. Afterwards he
became the owner of the radio station “Indipendentia” for the purpose
of creating more secure conditions for the “Radio Armenia”. After
the founder’s death, the management of the “Radio Armenia” passed
to Araksi Roubenian, his wife. Today the “Radio Armenia” is already
online, at 21:00-23:00 Yerevan time one can listen to the Armenian news
in English and Spanish, cultural programs and Armenian music. News,
announcements about the life of the Armenian community in Uruguay are
broadcast as well. According to Diego Karamanoukian, director of the
“Radio Armenia”, RA President Robert Kocharian sent his congratulation
message concerning the anniversary. The online address of the “Radio
Armenia” is

Azeri election body condemns parliamentary polls in separatist Karabakh

ANS TV, Baku
18 Jun 05

[Presenter] The Central Electoral Commission [CEC] today made a
statement in connection with the parliamentary elections to be held
by the so-called Nagornyy Karabakh regime. The statement reads that
the new election game in Azerbaijan’s occupied territories is contrary
to the norms of international law and the Azerbaijani constitution.

[CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov] In general, elections in occupied
territories in any place of the world are illegal. Time after time,
Nagornyy Karabakh, which has proclaimed itself as a republic and
which has not been recognized by any country, carries out this kind
of measure in this territory.

I think the Azerbaijani public understands correctly that these kinds
of measures are only aimed at irritating the Azerbaijani side. The UN,
Council of Europe and the world’s great powers should finally make
some changes to their position on this issue.

U.S. AMBASSADOR JOHN EVANS EXPRESSES HIS SUPPORT FOR THE OFFICE OF
THE OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JUNE 17. ARMINFO. On June 16, 2005 U.S. Ambassador John
Evans met with Larisa Alaverdyan, Human Rights Ombudsman of the
Republic of Armenia. Ambassador Evans expressed his support for the
Office of the Ombudsman and the democratic principles for which it
stands. The press-service of the U.S. Embassy informs ARMINFO that as
an expression of this support, Ambassador Evans presented the office
with a computer to aid in its important work. The rights of women,
children, refugees, and other vulnerable groups is an important
priority for the U.S. Embassy. It should be noted that in connection
with detention of an employee of Ombudsman’s staff when taking a
bribe by the National Security Service, the processor of his computer
was confiscated at the end of May. The processor contained data on
those complaining to the Ombudsman Office. In this connection, Larisa
Alaverdyan made a statement accusing the National Security Service of
wrong acts and called it an unprecedented violation of guarantees of
independence of Ombudsman Institute. Moreover, she thinks such acts do
not contribute to formation of positive international image of Armenia.

Poland launches task force to aid Turkey, Ukraine E.U. entry

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
June 17, 2005, Friday

Warsaw

European Union newcomer Poland has set up a special task force focused
on the future enlargement of the 25 member E.U. to include Turkey
and Ukraine, Polands Rzeczpospolita daily reported Friday.

“We will support Ankara,” Polands Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr
Switalski declared, adding it would be “very difficult to accept
Turkey and reject Ukraine.”

With Poland having played a pivotal role in the success of Ukraines
recent pro-democracy “Orange Revolution”, it is now viewed as the
principle advocate of Ukraines new pro-Western orientation and drive
for E.U. access.

While the E.U. has moved to forge closer ties with Ukraine, the idea
of the near 48-million strong states future entry to the bloc remains
a divisive issue with older members such as France and Germany voicing
little enthusiasm.

Analysts note that the recent failure of public referendums on the
bloc’s first-ever constitution in France and The Netherlands were
to some degree also protests against the bloc’s further eastward
enlargement.

A Polish foreign ministry official quoted by Rzeczpospolita admitted
that despite Polands continued support for Turkey’s E.U. bid,
relations with Ankara soured after the Polish parliament passed
a resolution honouring some 1.2-1.5 million ethnic Armenians who
perished in 1915-23 under Ottoman Turk rule as victims of genocide.

Turkey has repeatedly denied the deaths constitute crimes against
humanity and vehemently criticised Poland and other European states
that passed similar resolutions.

It also insists the events are being used as a black mark against its
bid for E.U. entry. Ankara is to begin membership negotiations with
the bloc in October. E.U. officials, however, warn accession talks
for the near 70 million-strong country could last well over a decade.

Poland with its population of nearly 39 million was the largest of 10
mostly ex-communist states that joined the E.U. in May 2004. Bulgaria
and Romania are next in line for membership in a second round of
eastward enlargement in 2007. dpa sib pmc

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
June 17 2005

FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS STRASBOURG
[June 17, 2005, 12:59:07]

Visiting Strasbourg Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov
met here with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Tarry Davis,
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
(PACE) Bruno Haller, Director General of the PACE Secretariat Mateo
Sorinas and members of the AGO Group of Committee of Ministers on
Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The meetings reportedly focused on a wide range of issues including
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh,
existing situation in Azerbaijan on the eve of the November
parliamentary elections in the country, setting up and future activity
of a Task Force comprising representatives of Government, Parliament
and non-governmental organizations to investigate the cases presumed
“political prisoners” , latest steps on democratization and others.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov informed about work under way in
above-mentioned fields and position of the Azerbaijan Government on
the concrete issues.