Author: Chaltikian Arsine

UNPO, Netherlands
May 30 2006

Circassia: Minority Asserts its Identity

Long considered Turkey’s most integrated and harmonious ethnic
minority, the Circassians have recently started claiming more
community rights including own language schools and want the
international community to pressure Russia into recognising what they
say was a “genocide” carried out by Czarist troops in the mid 1860s.
The move coincides with the start of Turkey’s membership talks with
the European Union which has enshrined minority rights in many of its
policies.
According to estimates, some 120,000 Circassians live in Jordan,
45,000 in Syria, and 4,000 in Israel, but the bulk of the diaspora –
3.5 million – live in Turkey. This figure is four times more than the
population living in the Circassians’ traditional homeland in the
North Caucasus, a mountaneous region north of Georgia and Azerbaijan
consisting of several semi-autonomous republics in the Russian
Federation.

Circassians, who are mostly Sunni Muslim, annually commemorate May 21
in rememberance of the mass deportation of their compatriots
beginning on that day in 1864 following the end of the
Russian-Circassian War.

The war ended with the fall of Circassia and was followed by the
forced removal of between 1.2 and 1.5 million Circassians from their
lands. Up to 500,000 died of hunger and illness during the forced
exodus, a deathtoll that Circassian activists say formed part of a
genocidal plan by the Czarist troops to obliterate their nation.

“May 21” commemoration activities have steadily increased in recent
years in different parts of Turkey. The main event this year was an
international conference held in Istanbul last week and attended by
Circassian and Russian intellectuals to discuss the mass
deportations. Titled the International Caucasus Conference, the
gathering was organised by the Caucasus Foundation. Another major
event was a meeting in Kefken a town on the Black Sea coas where the
first Circassians, landed in Turkey after being deported. That
gathering was organised by the Caucasus Federation representing 51
Circassian associations

The recent upsurge in Circassian activism have led some observers to
associate it with attempts by Kurds in Turkey to assert their
autonomy and by Armenian lobbying the international community to
force Turkey to acknowledge as “genocide” the mass deaths of
Armenians during Ottoman rule between 1915-20.

“Circassians have begun realising their identity and painful history
in recent years. There were no such events five years ago,” says
Mehdi Nuzhet Cetinbas, honorary president of the Caucasus Foundation,
in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

“We are discussing some possible initiatives on the recognition of
the Circassian ‘genocide’ by parliaments around the world. The
Turkish parliament hesitates recognising the Circassian genocide
because of Western pressure on [Ankara to] recognise the Armenian
‘genocide’.

“When the Duma (the lower house of Russia’s parliament) accepted a
proposal about Armenians last year, some Turkish deputies [by way of
retort] suggested recognising the Circassian genocide in return last
year, but it was impossible because of Turkey’s warm economic
relations with Russia,” Cetinbas told AKI.

Last year the Circassian Congress, a nongovernmental organisation
based in Maikop, capital of Adygea Republic (a north Caucasus
traditional home of Circassians), applied to the Duma and the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to
recognise the Circassian genocide. The Russian parliament has to date
given no response so far.

Fehim Tastekin, the founder editor of the Agency Caucasus, a news
agency based in Russia’s Caucasus region, says that Moscow is
increasing the pressure on Circassian’s living in ethnic group’s
traditional regions.

“Russia has recently abolished local constitutions in Circassian
regions such as Adygea, Karachay-Cherkes and Kabardino-Balkaria.
According to new Russia legislation, if Circassians returning home
apply for citizenship, they will only be able to have Russian
citizenship and not Circassian. They will need to speak Russian and
show they have lived in Russian territory for at least five years.

“Also Circassian regions are losing their autonomy rights. Now they
can’t choose their president directly. The Kremlin appoints local
leaders in accordance with the new law,” Tastekin told AKI.

Asked whether Circassians living abroad are seeking land compensation
from Russia, Cetinbas replied: “For now this is not on our agenda. We
know Russia will not help on this point and international communities
will not give their support. But if parliaments recognise that the
genocide took place, this will mark a start that will allow us to
talk about more tangible means of compensation.”

“The Circassian diaspora wants to return home. The young generations
do not speak our language. To change this it is crucial that the
Turkish government supports the opening of Circassian language
schools. It is not enough to give permission for private language
courses to be held. We want positive discrimination because
Circassians see Turkey like their own homeland, and are co-founders
of the modern republic,” Cetinbas said.

While current diplomatic barriers continue to frustate Circassian
attempts for international recognition, Cetinbas remains confident
that circumstances will change in the future. “I hope all nations
will know about the Circassian’s tragedy,” he said.

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FIRST REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATED IN KRASNODAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.05.2006 13:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Day of the First Republic or the day of
restoration of the Armenian state system was celebrated in the Russian
town of Krasnodar, reported the Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians
of Russia.

The festivities were held in the yard of the Armenian Church of
Surb Hovhannes Avetaranich. Creative groups of the center of the
Armenian culture and education “Narek” and of the Armenian community
of Krasnodar gave performance despite the rain.

To remind, May 28 Armenians throughout the globe mark the national
holiday, the Day of the First Republic that was formed in 1918. In
1918-1920 Armenia was ruled by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun, one of the oldest Armenian parties, which serves on
the ruling coalition to date.

Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
May 26, 2006 Friday
Final Edition

BOOKS AT A GLANCE

by Peter Mergendahl, Jane Dickinson, Mark Graham & Jennifer Miller,
Special to the News

THRILLERS
Hardscrabble Road
By Jane Haddam (St. Martin’s, $24.95). Grade: A-

After 20 books featuring the Armenian-American FBI agent Gregor
Demarkian, one would suspect that Jane Haddam would have her craft
and character down pat. No surprise, then, when this latest Demarkian
tale is spot-on. Like John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee, there’s no
slowing this sleuth down. Demarkian, though retired from the FBI,
just can’t stay away from the hunt, even as he tries to convince
himself he wants to.

He has quite a hunt on his hands here. A charismatic, power-hungry,
right-wing-ranter-of-a-radio-host named Drew Harrigan has been caught
with handfuls of prescription painkillers and has disappeared into a
closed-door rehabilitation center. Sound familiar? Before
disappearing into therapy, Harrigan had pointed a finger at an
alcoholic, homeless man named Sherman Markey as his source for the
drugs.

With the help of a legal advocacy group, Markey sues Harrigan for
slander and libel and then disappears back into the streets of
Philadelphia. Now Markey’s court appearance is looming, and the group
representing him turns to Demarkian for help in locating him.

What he first assumes will be a one- or two-day task soon takes on
darker tones. There are a great many people, it seems, who have
reasons for Markey to disappear permanently, including a left-wing,
Nobel-prize-winning professor; a Carmelite nun; and a Philadelphia
mayoral candidate. Oh, and of course there is murder to bloody the
pot.

Rife with political insights, subtle humor at all her characters’
expense and a keen eye for telling a story from multiple characters’
diverse perspectives, Hardscrabble Road is as deep as it is wide. A
few minor squabbles include a slight over-indulgence in esoteric
academic outlooks and the author’s assumption that readers will wait
– through 60 pages of elliptical and sometimes confusing plot setups
– before a word from the main character.. All in all, this is a
thriller for the thoughtful, though Rush Limbaugh fans may want to
give it a wide berth.

REGULAR SESSION OF NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY STARTS IN PARIS

PARIS, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The regular session of
the NATO Parliamentary Assembly starts on May 26 at the Congress Hall
of Paris where the Armenian delegation is headed by Mher Shahgeldian,
the already former Chairman of the NA Standing Committy on Defence,
National Security and Internal Affairs, the Deputy Chairman of the
“Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law) party left the coalition. According
to Radio Liberty, Alexan Karapetian from the “Azgayin Miabanutiun”
(National Unity) faction and Artur Petrosian, a deputy of the “MAK”
(“United Labour Party”) faction are in the staff of the delegation.

Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan also got invitations to
participate in the session. If Ilham Aliyev received the invitation
and even, according to the information placed in the NATO official
site, will make a speech, then Robert Kocharian did not leave
Paris. President’s Spokesperson Victor Soghomonian explained it with
“load of agenda” of the Armenian President. “OSCE Minsk Group
Ch-Chairmen’s visit to Yerevan is expected during those days,
celebrations of the Republic holiday are on May 28,” Victor
Soghomonian said the last week.

ARF AND REPUBLICAN SUPPORT TIGRAN TOROSYAN

Lragir.am
26 May 06

Galust Sahakyan is going to nominate speaker of the National
Assembly. He told this to the news reporter of Lragir.am on May
26. Galust Sahakyan endorses the candidacy of Tigran Torosyan and
denied that he would be nominated too.

In the meantime, others are likely to nominate Galust Sahakyan, namely
Member of Parliament Hakob Hakobyan, Peoples Deputy Group, from
Echmiadzin. `They did not strengthen my position inside the party, by
this wish they were trying to do me a favor. There cannot be such a
question because for the Republican Party a post is not an end in
itself,’ says Galust Sahakyan, commenting on Hakob Hakobyan’s
initiative. Of course, he says his position was not weakened either.

`I have my duties which are very important for me, and over these
years there were cases when I bore greater responsibility. I
personally think that our debates will be focused on this direction,
and in the plenary meeting I will prove that the election of Tigran
Torosyan is the right choice,’ says Galust Sahakyan.

He did not deny that after the election of Tigran Torosyan to the post
of speaker the vacant post of the deputy speaker will be given to the
newly established Businessman Group. Member of Parliament Hrair
Karapetyan, ARF,also endorsed Tigran Torosyan. He said they are
faithful to their arrangement, and the ARF will give their 12 votes to
Tigran Torosyan. Galust Sahakyan does not doubt that Tigran Torosyan
will be elected in the first round. The only concern of the Republican
leader is the number of votes Tigran Torosyan will get.

NO CEASE-FIRE REGIME VIOLATIONS FIXED DURING PLANNED MONITORING OF NKR
AND AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES’ CONTACT LINE

STEPANAKERT, MAY 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On May 23, in
accordance with the agreement achieved beforehand with the NKR
authorities, the OSCE Mission held a planned monitoring of the Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces’ contact-line to the north-east
of the settlement of Kuropatkino of the NKR Martouni region. From the
positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring mission was led by
Coordinator of the OSCE Office, Lieutenant Colonel Imre Palatinus
(Hungary) and Field Assistant of the OSCE PR C-i-O Irzhi Aberle
(Czechia). As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NKR Foreign Ministry’s
Information-Analytical Department, the monitoring passed in accordance
with the planned schedule; no violations of the cease-fire regime were
fixed. From the Karabakh party, representatives of the NKR Ministries
of Foreign Affairs and Defense accompanied the OSCE monitoring
mission.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CONSULTATIONS TO BE HELD IN BAKU

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 24 2006

BAKU, May 24 (Itar-Tass) – The Russian, French and US co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuri Merzlyakov, Bernard Fassier and Stephen
Mann, will discuss in the course of political consultations with
the Azerbaijani leadership here on Wednesday issues related to the
Karabakh conflict settlement.

According to diplomatic sources in Baku, the delegations of the
countries mediators in the conflict settlement are headed by
Russian deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, French Foreign
Ministry’s Ambassador at Large Pierre Morel and US Deputy Secretary
of State Daniel Freed. The same sources claim that the international
negotiators’ higher status can be explained by the discussion of
“new ideas” of the co-chairmen of the Minsk Group for settling the
Karabakh problem.

Official Baku, adhering to the confidentially principle, has not
commented so far on the nature of ideas that will be brought to
the region by the mediators. It is not ruled out here that they
will discuss during consultations with Azerbaijani President Ilkham
Aliyev and afterwards with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan the
possibilities and dates of talks between the two countries’ leaders.

Last time Aliyev and Kocharyan met in Rambouillet, a Paris suburb,
in February 2006, but failed to reach specific agreements on the
settlement principles.

The Karabakh conflict is believed to be in Azerbaijan “the greatest
obstacle on the way of the political and economic development of the
country and region in general. The country’s top leadership has not
once stressed this.

THE VISIT OF HEAD OF THE PACE MISSION FOR STUDY OF CULTURAL LEGACY POSTPONED

ArmRadio.am
24.05.2006 14:25

The visit of head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) Mission for Study of Cultural Legacy, British MP Edward
O’Hara to the region, scheduled May 28, has been postponed.

The exact date of the visit is not determined yet. The aim of the visit
of the PACE missioner is to study the cultural heritage of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia.

CARGO TRANSPORTATION GROWS 25.1% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-MARCH 2006 ON SAME MONTHS OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-March 2006, the volume
of cargo transportation by general use transport grew by 25.1% in
Armenia compared with the same period of last year and made 1,729.5
thousand tons. According to the RA National Statistical Service,
cargo transportation by motor transport increased 1.9fold to 954
thousand tons. Cargo transportation by railway declined by 22.9% to
381.9 thousand tons. Cargo transportation by air transport remained
unchanged – 1.9 thousand tons. The volume of gas imports into Armenia
by the pipeline grew by 0.1% to 391.7 thousand tons.

ARMENIA SUCCESSFULLY STARTS IMPLEMENTATION OF IPAP, ROBERT SIMMONS SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 23 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The May 23 joint press
conference of Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosian and
Special Representative of NATO Secretary General of South Caucasian
Issues Robert Simmons was dedicated to issues of cooperation between
Armenia and NATO within the framework of the Individual Partnership
Actions Plan (IPAP) and the Partnership for Peace program. Both of the
speakers expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between
Armenian and NATO within the framework of IPAP and Partnership for
Peace. According to A.Kirakosian, IPAP can be considered as one of the
components of Armenia’s integration to European structures. Robert
Simmons in his turn declared that Armenia successfully started the
implementation of IPAP. According to him, cooperation within the
framework of IPAP is long-lasting and it cannot be finished until
2015. The program accentuates the reform in the sphere of defence. In
particular, it is planned to direct NATO’s resources to the improvement
of the work of the frontier and other services.

In R.Simmons’ opinion, the reforming of the Armenian army will be
beneficial both for Armenia itself and for NATO, which is interested
in partners that will take part in peacekeeping missions: “We are for
having more partners. We have mutual interests.” He pointed to the
wish and interest of NATO in development of relations of partnership
with Armenia. According to him, the Armenian government also treats
development of these relations positively: “The relations between
NATO and Armenia do not contradict our relations with the other
countries. NATO does not make Armenia join the alliance and does not
want Armenia to break off its good relations with other countries. We
have no problems in the respect of your interrelations with Russia,”
Robert Simmons declared. As for the difference in the position of NATO
in the issue of presence of the Russian military bases in the territory
of Georgia and Armenia, the Special Representative of NATO Secretary
General declared: “The issue about the bases should be decided by
the receiving side: Armenia is not against presence of the Russian
base in its territory, quite a different thing is Georgia, which is
against this.” In connection with the Nagorno Karabakh problem Robert
Simmons mentioned that NATO supports the OSCE Minsk Group’s efforts
in the process of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
hopes that the sides of the conflict will reach a mutually acceptable
solution. As for the possibility of quartering NATO troops in the
Karabakh conflict zone, Robert Simmons declared that the sides of
the conflict first should reach an agreement and only then decide
what troops should be quartered in the conflict zone.