Author: Chavushian

Opposition leader warns Armenia not to let US peacekeepers into Karabakh

Regnum, Moscow
9 Mar 06

9 March: The future development of events in the South Caucasus region
will depend on the further progress of the situation around Iran’s
nuclear programme, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia
[DPA], MP Aram Sarkisyan, has told a news conference at the National
Press Club.

If the UN Security Council takes a decision to apply sanctions against
Iran, the regional countries may turn into a military firing range, he
said.

The Armenian politician believes that the USA will not need Armenian
territory to launch hostilities against Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia
can do this. “It cannot be ruled out that Azerbaijan will agree to
provide its territory in exchange for pledges that the Nagornyy
Karabakh issue will be settled in its favour,” Aram Sarkisyan said.

“Everyone understands that in the context of a possible war against
Iran, the USA will need to station its peacekeeping contingent in the
zone of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. If Armenia agrees to the
deployment of peacekeepers in the conflict zone, it will be its
biggest mistake. This will not lead to a new Kosovo but will further
complicate the situation,” Sarkisyan said.

He believes that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have
promised the superpowers that they will sign an accord on a settlement
to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict which also stipulates the deployment
of NATO peacekeepers. “Nothing was signed at the presidents’
Rambouillet talks, which certainly disappointed the superpowers. It is
not by chance that the USA is recalling its ambassador to Armenia,
John Evans. This means that the country is altering its policy,” Aram
Sarkisyan said.

He also stressed that Ambassador John Danilovich, chief executive
officer for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, had invited Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan to Washington.

“The president will either be suggested a new option for the Karabakh
settlement or obliged to sign the already existing option,” the DPA
leader said. He added that “the existing option is unacceptable for
Armenia”. “It cannot be ruled out that Robert Kocharyan will resign,”
the MP said.

Japanese, Azeri premiers agree on economic, energy cooperation

Kyodo News Service
10 Mar 06

Tokyo, 10 March: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and
visiting Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev agreed Friday [10 March] to
deepen their countries’ economic ties through trade, investment,
energy projects and other exchanges.

In a joint press conference after their talks at the premier’s
official residence in Tokyo, Koizumi called for “further improving
Azerbaijan’s trade and investment climate,” saying Japanese businesses
are interested in the country.

The Japanese leader also expressed thanks for Baku’s support of
Tokyo’s bid to get permanent membership on the UN Security Council,
and voiced hope Azerbaijan will peacefully resolve its regional
conflict with Armenia.

Aliyev said his country has well-funded economic development plans and
needs “good partners – companies with advanced technology, knowledge,
expertise” possibly from Japan which he said is a world leader in this
area.

According to a joint statement the two leaders signed before speaking
to the press, the Azerbaijani side stated its intention to continue
efforts to improve its trade and investment environment through
deregulation plus tax and legal reforms.

Both sides expressed intention to further develop cooperation in the
field of energy, praising two projects in Azerbaijan to develop an oil
field and build an oil pipeline that are joined by Japanese concerns.

Visiting Japan for the first time, Aliyev arrived Tuesday for a
four-day stay.

On Thursday, he met with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and agreed
to foster bilateral ties through cooperation in the development of oil
and natural gas exploration in the Caucasus state.

MAP DRAWING PROCEEDS WITH SERIOUS OMISSIONS IN NOYEMBERIAN

NOYEMBERIAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The Council of Aldermen of the
city of Noyemberian made a decision to apply to the State Committee of
the Real Estate Cadastre with a proposal for extending for at least
5-6 months the term of recognizing the community’s right of property
of agricultural significance land and term of the map drawing. NT
correspondent was informed in Noyemberian that the reason for taking
such a decision is that the cartography data is almost completely
wrong. According to Noyemberian mayor Seryozha Amirkhanian, the map of
a 2,350-ha land was drawn, including 428 ha in border areas. Although
not all land plots have been checked by the mayor’s office, 298
mistakes have been revealed. For example, the map of the area
bordering Azerbaijan was drawn with mistalkes – there was no
landowners and cartoghraphers there because of this area being
dangerous and laid with mines. In 1991, 141 ha was privatized by 301
farms in the border area of the marz, and now the map of 230 ha
belonging to 983 farms was drawn. Such a growth in the indices is
conditioned by the fact that the cartographers are paid by the number
of land plots whose maps were drawn.

LEVON ARONIAN WINS LINARES CHESS TOURNAMENT

Armenpress
Mar 13 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian grandmaster Levon
Aronian won the elite tournament in Linares, Spain, on Saturday,
after Hungary’s Peter Leko faltered and lost the last two games.

The final standings in Linares: Aronian 8 1/2 points in 14 games,
Veselin Topalov and Teimur Radjabov 8 points, Leko 7 1/2 points, Peter
Svidler and Vassily Ivanchuk 6 1/2 points, Etienne Bacrot 6 points,
Francisco Vallejo Pons 5 points. Aronian will now travel to Monaco
to participate in a big new event, the 5th Amber Rapid and Blindfold
Chess Tournament at the Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel from March 18-30.

AZERBAIJAN SIGNALS EASTWARD TILT WITH PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO JAPAN
By Fariz Ismailzade

Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
March 13 2006

President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Japan on March 8 marks
another milestone in Azerbaijan’s slow re-orientation toward Asia.

During the visit, he met with Japanese Emperor Akihito, Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, and the head of the
Japanese International Development Agency (ANS TV, March 8).

Aliyev and Koizumi signed several agreements to expand bilateral
cooperation.

Aliyev delivered a keynote speech at the Japanese Institute for
International Relations and attended a business forum that hosted
more than 150 businessmen from both countries (Echo, March 8).

Hosting business forums in conjunction with President Aliyev’s visits
abroad has become a regular event, which shows his strong commitment
to developing economic ties with foreign countries and attracting
new investment to Azerbaijan.

The business agenda for Aliyev’s visit is particularly noteworthy. It
included presidential meetings with the heads of several large Japanese
companies, including Itochu and Inpex, as well as with members of
the Japanese-Azerbaijani Parliamentary Friendship Society.

The growing Japanese demand for energy makes Tokyo a reliable and
eager partner of Azerbaijan, which is increasing its oil production
year-by-year. At the same time, the development of infrastructure in
Azerbaijan requires technical assistance from abroad. During the visit,
Azerbaijan and Japan signed an agreement on the provision of technical
assistance to Azerbaijan by the Japanese government (Trend, March 7).

One of the key goals of President Aliyev’s visit was to draw more
Japanese investments into the Azerbaijani economy, particularly
sectors other than oil. Speaking at the Business Forum in Tokyo,
Aliyev said, “We have a very good investment climate. Azerbaijan
highly values direct foreign investments. We have received a great
deal of assistance from Japan in the past. But now, the time for
real, active cooperation has come” (Xalq Qazeti, March 12). During
his meeting with President Aliyev, Prime Minister Koizumi also noted
the friendly nature of bilateral relations and stressed that Japan
was looking for reliable a partner in the region (Sherg, March 11).

Japanese businesses have already invested more than $844 million
in Azerbaijan, primarily in the oil sector. Mitsui and Mitsubishi
provided Azerbaijan with loans up to $274 million for construction of
the “Severnaya” power generation plant in the vicinity of Azerbaijan’s
capital, Baku. The plant came online in early 2003.

Altogether, Japan’s overall assistance to Azerbaijan through various
organizations has reached $694 million, including $74 million in grants
(Turan, March 6).

Japan has been particularly keen on funding the construction and
repair of new public schools in Azerbaijan and providing educational
opportunities for the country’s youth. For his efforts to promote
education in Azerbaijan, former Japanese ambassador to Azerbaijan
Toshiyuki Fujiwara was awarded with the highest state prize ever given
to a foreign ambassador, the Order of Honor, and ANS Media Group
named him “Man of the Year.” Azerbaijan has opened a department of
Japanese language at Baku State University, where more than 40 students
currently study. Aliyev also hopes to draw the Japanese government’s
attention to the plight of internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan,
a population that receives less and less humanitarian assistance each
year. Japan is traditionally one of the largest humanitarian donors
around the world.

With Western countries and organizations pressing Aliyev regarding
democratization, the Azerbaijani president feels much more comfortable
with the less-demanding Eastern partners. Thus, the development of
relations with the Middle Eastern countries as well as with China,
Japan, and Pakistan are seen as priorities. Although Azerbaijani
foreign policy officials continue to claim that the country is pursuing
a balanced foreign policy, a strong bias toward Asia is evident.

Azerbaijan also hopes that Japan will support its case regarding
the ongoing Karabakh conflict with Armenia. Baku is prepared to
support Japan’s nomination to the UN Security Council in exchange
for help with Karabakh. Lider TV reported on March 8 that President
Aliyev had devoted much of his speech at the Japanese Institute for
International Relations to the Karabakh conflict. Koizumi confirmed
Japan’s recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity during his
private talks with Aliyev (Sherg, March 11).

Ties between Japan and Azerbaijan are increasing markedly. First
established in 1992, bilateral relations skyrocketed following former
president Heydar Aliyev’s visit to Japan in 1998. Baku subsequently
negotiated with Japanese companies to secure their involvement in
the Ateshgeh, Mugandeniz, and Yanan Tava Caspian oil fields (Zerkalo,
March 8). Azerbaijan recently opened a new embassy in Tokyo.

At the moment, Azerbaijani-Japanese trade is nearly $70.6 million, yet
much of it ($52.3 million) comes from imports of Japanese products into
Azerbaijan, such as steel pipes, electric appliances, transmissions,
spare parts, and telecommunication materials.

Azerbaijan exports alcohol, carpets, plastic, and textiles.

The visit should open new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

Novruz Mammadov, head of the International Relations Department within
Aliyev’s office, told Trend News Agency on March 7, “The visit carries
a very important nature, both from the side of inter-governmental
and also inter-parliamentary relations. The purpose of the visit is
to deepen these relations in all spheres.”

OSCE OFFICE HELPS OPEN AARHUS CENTER IN TAVUSH

Armenpress
Mar 14 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, ARMENPRESS: The OSCE Office in Yerevan has supported
the opening of an Aarhus public environmental information Center in
the capital of Armenia’s Tavush province, Ijevan.

“The Center will promote public access to information, participation
in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters —
the three main pillars of the Aarhus Convention ratified by Armenia
in 2001,” said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE
Office. “Serving as a unique link between governmental authorities
and non-governmental organizations in the field of environmental
policy-making and awareness raising, the Center will help create a
climate of transparency in environmental affairs and contribute to
the democratization and good governance in the region.”

The OSCE Office in Yerevan supports the establishment of a network
of Aarhus Centers in Armenia to promote the principles and values of
the international Aarhus Convention and to address security related
environmental issues.

TURKEY`S IMAGE PROBLEM

Netpano.com, Turkey
March 14 2006

When Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appeared on Capitol Hill
last week to rally support for the 2007 budget, Rep. Dave Weldon
asked her about the controversial Turkish film “The Valley of the
Wolves.” “[I]t depicts American GIs murdering people at a wedding.

And it`s very anti-Semitic also; it has some gruesome visuals of Jews
mistreating Muslims,” he said. “It would seem to me that we may be
winning on the fronts of Afghanistan and in all these other places
where we`re fighting, in Iraq. But for the hearts and minds of the
people we are not doing very well at all. We may actually be heading
in the wrong direction.”

In response, Miss Rice talked about Karen Hughes, the undersecretary
of public diplomacy, who is working to counter anti-U.S. propaganda in
the Muslim world. She included Turkey in her first foreign travel and
heard plenty from critics of the war in Iraq. “Valley of the Wolves”
screenwriter Bahadir Ozdener insists that he is also trying to make
an antiwar statement, not an anti-American or anti-Semitic one, with
his movie. “We are speaking out against the war, the occupation and
the human rights violations,” he said.

I haven`t seen the film, but it`s difficult to believe that Mr.

Ozdener is conveying solely an “antiwar” message. However, it does
advise viewers that it is a work of “fiction.” When asked about
it, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said,
“[T]here`s no reason to comment on fiction.” He`s right; it is just
a movie. But in reality, is a movie ever “just” a movie?

A Seattle Post?Intelligencer article asked in 2004, “In the history
of cinema, has any film done more to blacken a nation`s reputation
among travelers than `Midnight Express`? A quarter of a century after
its release, people still cite it as a reason for steering clear of
Turkey.” “Midnight Express” declares in its opening credits that
it is based on a true story of a young American, Billy Hayes, who
was caught trying to smuggle drugs out of Turkey in 1970. The film
details his experiences until he escaped from prison. Two decades
after the film was released, Mr. Hayes said in a newspaper interview,
“There`s no doubt it changed the whole face of Turkish tourism…

It`s not fair. The burden fell on people who weren`t to blame.”

Indeed. When I was in Cleveland recently, a taxi driver heard me
talking to my mother in a foreign language, and asked where we were
from. When I answered, “Turkey,” he said, “Oh, I have seen Istanbul.”

I asked when he was there, and he answered, “No. I did not go. I saw
it in `Midnight Express.` ” I listened to his review without comment,
changed the subject and resumed my conversation with my mother.

Mr. Hayes has said, “The message of `Midnight Express` isn`t
`Don`t go to Turkey.` It`s `Don`t be an idiot like I was, and try
to smuggle drugs.` ” But the fact is, “Midnight Express” seriously
damaged Turkey`s image in the United States. There is truth in the
movie, but even Mr. Hayes admitted there is a lot of exaggeration
as well. The similarities of the “Valley of the Wolves” and the
“Midnight Express” begin and end with both being movies. In terms of
effectiveness, Holywood wins. And “Valley of the Wolves” — regardless
of its subject — is the first Turkish movie to challenge Holywood.

Since Turkey denied the United States a northern front to invade
Iraq in March 2003, TV screenwriters also have gotten inspired. The
Assembly of Turkish American Associations cites two episodes — one
from Fox`s “24” and the other from NBC`s “The West Wing” — in which
they say Turkey and Turkish people are unfairly maligned. In the “24”
episode, Turks are depicted as terrorists and given Arab names. In the
“West Wing” episode, the Turkish government adopts Islamic laws under
the leadership of the AKP, and convicts and orders the execution by
beheading of a woman for having sex with her fiancee.

Both shows offended many Turks. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul mentioned them to Miss Rice when she visited Ankara, and her
response was that America is a free country, and the government does
not control the movies.

Finally, PBS is airing a documentary next month called “Armenian
Genocide.” Turks disagree that what happened to the Armenians was not
“genocide,” and note that the Armenians also killed many Anatolian
Muslims. PBS refuses, however, to show the documentary “Armenian
Revolt,” which depicts the massacre of the Anatolian Muslims. PBS has
also refused to hold a suggested panel discussion among historians
after airing “Armenian Genocide.” I am not looking to open a debate
on the nature of what happened, but if we support freedom of speech,
we have to allow all opinions to be heard.

It`s important that any film, documentary or feature, be put in
context. Since when do governments make decisions or take action
against other countries because of a movie? These are movies, and
they should be treated as such in the larger debate.

State Department spokes-man Sean McCormack was asked recently about
“Valley of the Wolves” and he summed it up exactly right: “I don`t
do movie reviews.”

ORHAN PAMUK: I DID NOT USE TERM “GENOCIDE”

Pan Armenian
17.10.2005 23:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk abandoned his statements
characterizing the carnages of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in
1915 as Genocide. Pamuk said his words were wrongly interpreted. “I
did not use term “genocide” and I announced the number of victims
spontaneously,” he stated.

To note, the court session on Orhan Pamuk’s case is to be held
late this year. To remind, February 2005 during an interview with
a Swiss newspaper Pamuk stated that “1 million Armenians and 30
thousand Kurds were slaughtered in Turkey.” Then he was threatened
with persecution and even savage punishment. It should be also noted
that the Istanbul court recently sentenced editor-in-Chief of Akos
newspaper Hrant Dink to 6 months of conditional imprisonment for
“outraging national identity of Turks.” Last year Dink called upon
Armenians not to poison their blood with hatred towards Turks. In
Dink’s opinion, the court interpreted his words as “poisonous blood
of Turks”. Dink is going to appeal the verdict and in case of failure
to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, reported IA Regnum.

ARMENIAN PICTURE GALLERY TO HOST A UNIQUE FRENCH EXHIBITION

Armenpress
Oct 17 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS: The French Embassy in Yerevan said
Ambassador Henry Cuny will open the exhibition of photographs by Yann
Arthus-Bertrand, one of the most well known aerial photographers,
at Armenian National Picture Gallery on October 21 at 6 pm.

The exhibition, called Earth from Air is the result of a five-year
airborne odyssey across five continents and more than a hundred of
countries, presenting the most revealing and spectacular portrait of
our world ever created. From a heart-shaped mangrove forest in New
Caledonia to a flock of red ibises in Venezuela, from a caravan of
camels in Mauritania to Mt. Everest and Mammoth Hot Springs, Yann
Arthus-Bertrand presents tens of striking color images that put our
home planet in a whole new perspective and are a unique documentary
record of its fragile ecosystems at the dawn of the new millennium.

He undertook this project in 1995 that had long been close to his
heart -to produce, on the eve of the 21st century, a real photographic
inventory of the planet -from an altitude of between 5 and 2,000
meters. His photographs were published in many books and were printed
in 24 languages.

The earth from Air was shown in 30 countries and 50 million people
have already enjoyed his art.

Wishing to share his photographic views with blind people Yann
Arthus-Bertrand asked Alain Miklin, a French Armenian and the founder
of an eye-glass factory, to prepare dactyloscopic prints of the
photographs to give a chance to people with eyesight problems to
communicate with his stunning pictures.

AXA AGREES SETTLEMENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CASE

Insurance Business Review
Oct 14 2005

The French insurance giant Axa has completed a settlement for
a long-running case over compensation to relatives of Armenians
massacred by forces from the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

13 Oct 2005, 17:40 GMT – Under the terms of the agreement, Axa will set
up a fund to compensate descendants of victims of the 1915 genocide who
had life insurance provided by companies that today form part of Axa.

The relatives brought the case against Axa on the grounds that it had
not paid the due premiums on the life policies taken out by Armenians
prior to the massacres. The outcome of the class action law suit,
which was filed in California, will see Axa pay a total of $17 million
to the victims’ fund and Armenian charitable groups.

The suit is the second of its kind. Class counsel Vartkes Yeghiayan,
Brian Kabateck and Mark Geragos – all of Armenian descent – are
representing Armenian descendants in similar cases. Earlier this year
in another class action, New York Life agreed to pay $20 million to
descendants of Armenian policyholders killed during the genocide.

“This is an example where dead men can’t speak but they can file
lawsuits,” said Mr Yeghiayan. “It writes another chapter about
persistence and hope. The resolution of the case helps the healing
process.”

Axa has yet to comment on the settlement.