Author: Basmajian Ani

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| 18:14:09 | 06-06-2005 | Official |

THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEPANAKERT TURNED TO
UNESCO

The participants of the international conference which took place in the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic and was dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of the
creation of the Armenian written language and foundation of the first school
in Nagorno Karabakh, sent a message to the Secretary-General of UNESCO,
which read:

`Taking into consideration the great role of UNESCO in the development of
culture, science and education as well as the issue of friendship and
cooperation between peoples, we turn to You with an appeal to take the
Amaras educational complex founded in far 405 in Nagorno Karabakh which is a
unique architectural construction, under the care of UNESCO for creating a
regional-educational centre here. We are confident that the creation of such
a centre will become not only a powerful factor for the improvement of the
educational system in accordance with the demands of the 21st century, but
will also contribute to the solution of the problem which developed in the
region connected with peace ensuring and settlement of ethnic conflicts’.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
June 6 2005

SPEAKER OF LITHUANIAN SEYM MEETS WITH AZERBAIJANI COUNTERPART
[June 06, 2005, 16:57:36]

Visiting Baku delegation of the Lithuanian Seym led by Speaker
Arturas Paulauskas met with Chairman of the Milli Majlis (Parliament)
of Azerbaijan Murtuz Alasgarov on June 6.

Speaker M. Alasgarov noted that since Azerbaijan re-gained
independence, it has chosen the way of integration into Europe, and
has established very friendly relations with the countries of the
continent and Lithuania, in particular.

Having expressed hope for this visit’s contribution to development of
cooperation between the two countries, the MM Chairman emphasized
that the antiparliamentary friendship groups could have played an
important role in deepening of bilateral ties.

He told the guest of the achievements the Republic had gained in
economic development and work done for poverty reduction in the
country. The Speaker added however that these positive processes face
serious obstacles posed by the country’s most painful problem, the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. He updated the
guest on the roots and aftermath of the problem.

Speaker of Lithuanian Seym Arturas Paulauskas mentioned deep roots of
the relationship between the two countries, noting his one in very
interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan. He said the goal of his
visit was to give a new impetus to development of the bilateral
relations, and that as NATO as EU member, Lithuania can provide any
support to Azerbaijan. As for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mr.
Paulauskas ex[pressed opinion that international community should
intensify efforts to peacefully solve the problem as soon as
possible.

The parties have also discussed a number of other issues of mutual
interest.

ARMECONOMBANK TO IMPLEMENT NEW CREDIT PROGRAM WITH EBRD IN JULY

YEREVAN, JUNE 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Armeconombank envisages to start
implementing a new credit program with the European Bank of
Reconstruction and Developoment (EBRD) from July. Executive Director
of the bank Ashot Osipian stated at the June 3 press conference the
bank expects about 5 mln USD to be provided by EBRD, with most of
funds to be used for crediting small and medium business. A. Osipian
noted that a 0.5 mln-dollar EBRD-funded technical assistance program
will also be implemented this year in the bank. By this program,
Armeconombank’s activities will be brought into line with international
stasndards. Structural reforms will also be conducted, as well as
a new system of risk management introduced in the bank. To recap,
EBRD has a stock of 25%+1 share in the capital of Armeconombank.

P U B L I C A F F A I R S O F F I C E NEWS RELEASE

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AMERICAN AVENUE 1
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 46 47 00; 46 47 01; 46 47 02
E-MAIL: [email protected]
June 1, 2005

U.S. EMBASSY INSTALLS BOILER AT ARABKIR KINDERGARTEN AS PART OF
“COMMUNITY SELF-HELP FUND” PROJECT

On June 1, the U.S. Embassy inaugurated the new boiler house of the
Kindergarten in Arabkir, Yerevan. A grant of $12,000 from the U.S.

Government and contributions from the local community funded the
procurement of two heavy-duty boilers and installation of piping in
the kindergarten building which had been capitally renovated with
the contributions from the local government and community leaders
earlier this year.

This project is one of a series of U.S. Government “Community Self-Help
Fund” initiatives in Armenia. At a formal grant ceremony on November
9, 2004, the U.S. Embassy announced the second round of Community
Self-Help Fund projects, including the Kindergarten in Arabkir. The
second round of projects awarded grants to ten communities in eight
marzes.

The Community Self-Help Fund assists local communities to
implement small, grassroots projects that address their most urgent
needs. Communities themselves help decide which projects deserve
attention from the donor community and must garner the support of
local businesses and communities if a project is to be considered
for a grant. In the case of the Kindergarten, members of the Arabkir
District of Yerevan contributed significant time and resources in
order to ensure the success of this project. The U.S. Embassy would
like to thank the community of the Arabkir District as well as the
Yerevan Mayor’s office for their commitment and partnership toward
this project. This project has proved once more that only through
strong cooperation between community members, local government and
donors it is possible to achieve sustainable results that will benefit
Armenia in the long-term.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) manages
the project through their implementing partner, Save the Children. For
further information about the program, please contact Save the Children
(tel. 56-23-35, or on the web at ).

Children at Arabkir Kindergarten perform during a ceremony celebrating
the installation of two boilers and the renovation of the kindergarten.

Two boilers that were procured with the help of a U.S. Government
grant.

David Letteney, Economic Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan,
speaks about the U.S. Government’s “Community Self-Help Fund”.

Upper Garabagh’s turning into drug-growing area confirmed

Baku, June 1, AssA-Irada

The uncontrolled Upper Garabagh territory has turned into an area
with widespread corruption and drug trafficking, which has drawn
attention from the international community. The utterances made by
a member of the 055 drug trafficking group Haji Barzain sentenced
to imprisonment by the New York court prove Azerbaijan’s previous
statements in this respect.

141 hectares of land is used to grow narcotics in Zangilan, 210
in Gubadly and 176 hectares in the Fuzuli districts of Azerbaijan
occupied by Armenia, according to Russian investigation sources and
US Department of Justice drug enforcement department.

Commenting on the issue, political analyst Rovshan Novruzoghlu told
local Lider TV channel that the investigation being carried out
by the US Department shows that drugs continue to be sown in the
mentioned territories.

The court materials show that drug trafficker Barzain operates
extensive drug plantations in Upper Garabagh and is involved in
transporting drugs to other countries, together with members of
Al-Qaeda terrorist cell.

23 people were detained on charges of drug trafficking in Upper
Garabagh in 2002, 34 in 2003 and 39 in 2004. Armenian individuals
charged with drug trafficking and believed to have close ties to
Upper Garabagh are currently on trial in Tehran, Iran.

The US State Department reports show Azerbaijan’s south as an area used
for the transit of narcotic substances. However, they also indicate
that Azerbaijani frontier guards are actively involved in fighting
drug trafficking in these territories.*

Azeri ministry reports on FBI cooperation in probing outspoken editor’s murder

Xalq Qazeti, Baku
2 Jun 05

Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Xalq Qazeti
on 2 June headlined “From the National Security Ministry and the
Prosecutor-General’s Office of the Azerbaijani Republic”

Investigation and operative search continues into the criminal
case overseen by the National Security Ministry – the murder of
the editor-in-chief of Monitor magazine, Elmar Huseynov Sabit oglu,
who was killed with a firearm.

All the incoming reports are being meticulously and comprehensively
analysed, working hypotheses are being prepared, and the discovered
material evidence and objects are being examined.

As reported earlier, a knitted hat was found during a search in
the areas close to the scene of the crime. It was submitted to a
representative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] of the
USA, (?Brian Paarman), for forensic and biological examination on 8
March 2005.

An FBI agent, (?Mark Kirby), presented to the investigation team the
preliminary results of the examination of the hat on 30 March 2005. He
also presented a model of the stairway and of the entrance to the
building where Elmar Huseynov lived which makes it possible to picture
the scene of the crime. The results said that the evidence examination
department of the Federal Bureau of Investigation had studied the hat
and found hair which belong to a person of Caucasian origin, as well
as textile threads of various type and colour. The material evidence
has been deemed fit for a comparative examination. Once the person
who may have worn this hat while committing the crime is arrested,
appropriate comparative examination will be held. In addition, studies
continue to identify the killer on the basis of the material evidence
and a DNA analysis.

During a meeting with (?Mark Kirby), the investigation team submitted
to him pillowcases found in an apartment which the suspects had rented
and hair-like fibres found on these pillowcases, as well as samples
of hair of other three people who are thought to have been connected
with the killing.

Intensive investigative work continues to study circumstances and
emerging details of the case, and to unmask and detain all the
participants in the crime. Additional information on the course of
the investigation will be imparted to the public.

ARMENIA SUITABLE MARKET FOR EASTERN AZERBAIJAN PRODUCE

Pan Armenian News
02.06.2005 05:01

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Curator of Customs Bodies of the province
of Eastern Azerbaijan Reza Kaviani said that the province has a
share of 75% of the Iranian export to Armenia. E.g. last year the
Iranian export totaled $156 million, while the province share made
some $117.6 million and import from Armenia was $23.3 million. The
nomenclature of Eastern Azerbaijan export to Armenia includes fruit,
food oils, clothes, glass crockery and plastic ware, while second
hand machinery equipment, scrap metal, cast iron and aluminum are
imported. Kaviani noted that Armenia is a suitable market for selling
the Eastern Azerbaijan produce. At that insufficient attention is
pain to export of engineering services, though it may be important
and beneficial item of Iranian export to Armenia, Irna reported.

Time Magazine Distributes CDs On Turkish-Armenian Relations To Its Subscribers

Turkish Press
June 1 2005

ANKARA (AA) – The Time Magazine, one of the leading news magazines
in the United States, distributed CDs of Turkish documentary about
Turkish-Armenian relations to its 494 thousand subscribers in Europe.

Holding a news conference on Wednesday, Ankara Chamber of Commerce
(ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygun said, “with the sponsorship of ATO, a
documentary film was shot about Turkish-Armenian relations in the
past. CDs of the documentary ‘Blonde Bride’ was distributed by the
Time Magazine to 494 thousand people in Europe.”

“The project’s target is not to reply to allegations of Armenians but
to give appropriate information about both history of Turkish-Armenian
relations and the Armenian issue. We aim to prevent distortion of
historical events,” he said.

Noting that the CDs are prepared in Turkish, Russian, English, German,
French, Spanish and Arabic languages, Aygun added that the CDs also
included information about Istanbul, Turkey and regions in Turkey
and backstage of documentary.

86% OF ARMENIA’S CITIZENS CONSIDER RUSSIA FRIENDLY COUNTRY

YEREVAN, June 1. /ARKA/. According to the results of an interview
conducted in Armenia as part of the project “Armenia and Azerbaijan
at `neither peace nor war’ crossroads: overcoming stereotypes”,
86% of Armenia’s citizens consider Russia a friendly country. Among
five friendly countries are also France (55.4%), Iran (30.5%), CIS
countries (26.3%) and the USA (22.4%). On the other hand, the first
five unfriendly countries are: Azerbaijan (89.2%), (turkey 84.8%),
Georgia (34.1%), the USA (12.1%) and Great Britain (10.2%). Although
most of the respondents consider Russia a friendly country, 19 of
1,000 respondents (1.9%) consider that country unfriendly. Ten of
them included Russia among the most unfriendly countries.

According to the results, 86.2% of the respondents believe that
economic cooperation should first of all be maintained with Russia,
with Iran (50.9%), with the other CIS countries (32.8%), with Georgia
(28.2%), with France (18.3%). Turkey ranks sixth (8.8%). Also,
1.8% of the respondents said that Armenia is interested in economic
cooperation with Azerbaijan.

According to the results, 87.8% of the respondents ranked Russia
first among the countries with which Armenia’s military cooperation
meets its national interests. The USA ranks second (39.8%) and is
followed by the other CIS countries (17.8%), Iran (15%), Georgia
(9.7%). As to which country Armenia should develop its military
cooperation, Azerbaijan was mentioned 20 times by respondents. Also,
43.6% of the respondents consider the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
a threat to Armenia. This problem ranks fourth among the threats
to Armenia preceded by corruption (63.3%), political instability
(56.8%), economic problems (49.4%). The interview was conducted last
October-December, and involved 1,000 citizens of Armenia (500 Yerevan
residents and 100 residents from each of the regions of Ararat, Lori,
Tavush, Chambarak, Meghri).

The project “Armenia and Azerbaijan at `neither peace nor war’
crossroads: overcoming stereotypes” was implemented by the “Region”
research center of investigatory journalism (Armenia) and the Institute
of Peace and Democracy (Azerbaijan), with the sponsorship of the
European Commission delegation to Georgia and Armenia. P.T. -0–
See more…

Armenian Diaspora is Egoist
View: Sedat LACINER

Journal of Turkish Weekly
June 1 2005

Armenian people is one of the ancient tribes. They created a great
civilization and contributed to the humanity and other civilizations
a lot. They established kingdoms and states as well. However as they
settled mainly on the crossroads of the civilizations, religions,
sects, races and great kingdoms, they could not maintain their
independence. As a result they have generally lived under the other
nations’ sovereignty. Iranian Empire, Byzantium Empire, Russian
Empire, Arab Kingdoms, Seljuk and Ottoman Empires and Soviet
‘Empire’. They enjoyed great freedom under Seljuk and Ottoman Empires
however many Armenians were tortured and deported by the Byzantium
Emperors dueto the religious disputes. Most of the time, they could
not become soldiers or governors. In short the main problem for the
Armenian peoples was lack of a state. When the French Revolution
triggered the nationalist movements in the world, the Armenians were
not ready for such a radical change:

The Ottoman Armenians were enjoying a great religious freedom and
they were among the most wealthiest class in the empire. Many
Armenian bankers, businessmen, doctors and intellectuals were very
close to the Palace. The Ottoman Armenians in the towns and rural
areas were mostly bankers, businessman or craftsmen. The Armenians
with the Ottoman Greeks dominated the Ottoman export and import.
Moreover the Ottoman Armenian population was not majority in any
region. About 1 million Armenians were scattered around the huge
Ottoman territories. In another word the Ottoman Armenians were not
ready for a separatist nationalist revolt. They were actually happy
with the existing system. The Church in particular had great
privileges before the Ottoman State and a great power over the
Armenian citizens.

Under these circumstances, the Armenian nationalism was developed in
diaspora: In Switzerland and Georgia. Tashnak and Hnchak ‘parties’
were established in Tbilisi and Geneva. The leading Armenians were
very young and inexperienced in politics. They had no enough power
and financial support to struggle against the Empires. Apart from
these, the young Armenian idealists set a formidable task for the
Armenian nationalism:

To unite all Armenians in the Ottoman, Russian, Iranian Empires and
other Armenians in the region under a separate Armenian State. So,
they needed foreign assistance, and the great imperial powers were
very eager to ‘undermine’ the Ottoman Empire.

The British, French and Russian Empires gave a great encouragement to
the Tashnaks (ultra-nationalist Armenians) and other Armenian groups.
However they did not fully keep their promises and when they reached
agreements with the Istanbul Government the Armenian nationalists
failed. Furthermore the Armenian nationalists were encouraged but not
fully supported when needed. Another problem was that the Ottoman
Armenians did not strongly join the Armenian nationalists. Many
Armenians in the Ottoman towns were against the Armenian militants.
Therefore the first target to be destroyed was seen as the Ottoman
Armenian leaders. Many Armenian leaders were murdered by the Tashnak
and other Armenian militants. They accused all Armenian opposition of
being traitor. The Armenian terrorism killed more Armenians than the
Muslims in the beginning of the 20th Century. The Armenian
businessmen were threatened and forced to give ‘tax’ to the illegal
Armenian groups. The Tashnak militants transferred a huge amount of
weapons, provided by Russia and Britain, to the Ottoman towns. They
were preparing a war and revolt against the Istanbul Government. They
organized many terrorist attacks against the politicians and
institutions. In 1876 the Armenian militants attacked the Ottoman
Bank and exploded bombs before the bank. They further organized an
assassination against the Sultan (Head of State) II. Abdulhamid.

When the First World War erupted, the Armenian extremists saw the war
as an opportunity and the co-operation between the Armenians and
Allied States increased. The Russian, British and French Empires who
were in war against the Ottoman Empire, Germany and Austrian Empire,
considered the Christian minorities as a tool against the Ottomans.
Thus the Armenian nationalists were encouraged for more terrorist
attacks, revolts and weapon transfers to Anatolia. The Van Revolt was
one of the most vivid examples for the Armenian Revolts. The Tashnaks
in the Van Revolt aimed to ‘clean the region from the Muslims’.
Thousands of Muslims were killed or forced to leave the region. At
the end the Armenians declared their independence in Van province and
then handled the city to the Russian occupying forces.

The Armenian nationalist ‘adventure’ ended with a disaster and a
tragedy which cost 500.000 Muslim and more than 110.000 Armenian
lives. Most of the Armenians in the Eastern and Central Anatolia were
relocated, and many Armenians died due to the war circumstances.

The Armenians had rioted against the Government in many towns and
attacked their Muslim neighbors with the French, Russian and British
encouragement. However the occupiers did not keep their promises and
with the end of the war the Armenians could not return their homes.
Many immigrated to the European and North American states. The cost
of the revolt was very high for the Armenian nationalism.
Nevertheless they could establish a tiny state in Caucasus under the
Tashnak rule. It is unfortunate that the Tashnaks could not learn
anything from the Ottoman Armenian experience and they started a
‘revenge campaign’ (NEMESIS) against the newly-established Turkish
State. As a matter of fact that the last thing Independent Armenia
needed was a ‘revenge conflict’ with the Turks. Armenia was a
‘country of dead’ at that time. Armenian population was suffering
from famine and epidemic diseases, and more than 200.000 Armenians
died under these circumstances in the Tashnaks’ Independent Armenia.
However the Armenian ‘leaders’ did not focus on the economic
development, social and cultural problems and political relations
with the neighboring countries while the newly Turkey’s Government
sole dealt with the political and economic problems. The Armenian
terrorists killed many former Ottoman ministers. But the Tashnak
attacks not only killed the Turkish targets but also ended the
independence of Armenia. Armenia lost its independence and became a
Soviet Republic under Moscow rule.

Armenians once more had to immigrate to the West (Second
Relocation).They suffered a lot from lack of an independent state.
They had no reasonable leader who could lead them under the realistic
and pragmatic principles instead of purely naïve emotional
motivations.

Under the lack of leadership, Armenians were exposed the great powers
national interests and extremist Armenians unrealistic radicalism.
Moscow, Washington, Paris and London with the radical Armenian
irredentists abused the Armenian issue.

Armenia gained its independence in 1991 after the decades when the
Soviet Empire collapsed. It is unfortunate that the Diaspora
Armenians and Tashnaks just focused on their own interests instead of
saving the newly-established Armenia. Tashnaks played a crucial role
in declaring war against the Azerbaijanis.

The Diaspora encouraged more wars to capture the so-called ‘lost
territories’ in Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan. While the other
former republics tried to decrease their dependency on Russia,
Armenia more and more became a ‘Russian orbit’ in the region. When
Russia lost its military bases in Azerbaijan and Georgia, Armenians
invited the Russians to their country.

The new Armenian nationalists and Diaspora saw Turkey the most deadly
enemy, though Turkey was one of the first states who recognized
Armenian independence. Actually Turkey considered Armenian State as
an opportunity to normalize the Turkish-Armenian relations. However
Armenian Diaspora seriously reluctant in normalizing the relations
because it established the Armenian identity on anti-Turkishness. The
1915 Legacy and anti-Turkish accusations have been the only uniting
factor in the diaspora. They feared that if Turkey and Armenia
normalized the relations, the assimilation of the Armenians in the
West could be accelerated. The Church and the political parties used
the Turkish-Armenian problems in cementing the non-homogenous
Armenian society. Moreover anti-Turkish Armenian Case was financial
and prestige source for many Armenians and Diaspora institutions. In
another word the Diaspora Armenian abused the problem with Turks for
their personal and institutional interest at the cost of Armenia.
Their priority was not State of Armenia but the Diaspora. They knew
that the land-locked and relatively poor Armenia had to solve its
disputes with Turkey in order to survive. However they sacrificed
Armenian state once again as they did in 1918.

To conclude, the foremost priority for the whole Armenians must to
protect and survive the young Armenia, instead of strengthening the
Armenian diaspora. Armenia should not be part of the adventurous
games of its Diaspora and Russia.

Revised edition
———————————————–
Dr. Sedat LACINER: Director, International Strategic Research
Organization (ISRO)

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