Author: Chavushian

AZERBAIJAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER ELMAR MAMMADYAROV MET US SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZA RICE
[August 03, 2005, 14:14:56]

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 3 2005

Visiting USA Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov has
met on August 2 with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, reports
AzerTAj’s Washington-based correspondent.

Before that, Mr. Tom Casey, Acting Spokesman of the United States
Department of State at the briefing said the US “certainly were going
to thank the Government of Azerbaijan for its assistance in the global
war on terror. Understand that Azerbaijan does have military forces in
Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo. We are also going to stress and talk
about the importance, as we always do in our conversations with the
Azeri Government, of the parliamentary elections in November and the
importance of those elections meeting international standards. And we
certainly expected the subject of Nagorno-Karabak to come up as well.”

Minister Mammdyarov in his part told journalists after the meeting
who has appreciated talks with Condoleeza Rice as useful. In his
opinion the United States as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group promised
to make more active its efforts on the peaceful settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In regards to the
United States’ position on the conflict’s settlement on the territorial
integrity principle, Mr. Mammadyarov said that it’s unchangeable.

Elmar Mammadyarov said the meeting has focused also on the improving
of democracy in Azerbaijan. The United States is concerned
with more progress in this sphere. From this point of view the
parliamentary elections in November were stressed as an important
moment. We have also talks about economic projects. The parties have
expressed satisfaction with realization of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects. Ms. Rice has noted the Azerbaijan’s
leadership in realization of global projects. Elmar Mammdyarov has also
emphasized importance of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railroad
for Azerbaijan. A prospect of cooperation between the United States
and Azerbaijan within the international organizations was discussed
during the meeting.

Foreign Minister Mammadyarov has met on the same day with the OSCE
Minsk Group’s co-chair from the United States Steven Mann. They
have a talks on the negotiations for peaceful settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC’S VICE-PREMIER MEETS NGO’S REPRESENTATIVES

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 1 2005

STEPANAKERT, August 1. /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s Vice-Premier
Ararat Danielyan met NGO’s representatives on Friday. According to
NKR Government’s Press Service, Danielyan said at the meeting that
the country’s leadership and the President personally attach great
importance to NGO’s activity and make all possible efforts to support
them. He pointed out the fact that there were only 15 NGOs in NKR in
2000, while now – 65. In his words, financial assistance being given
to them from state budget is increasingly becoming greater. Danielyan
said the Government allotted AMD 36mln to the republic’s NGOs and
newspapers. Besides, the Government has worked out a project of public
agreement that, in fact, will become a written accord between executive
governing bodies and NGOs. Mutual rights and obligations of the sides
will be specified in the agreement, Danielyan said. M.V. -0–

Report: Turkey may block Swiss politician’s planned visit

.c The Associated Press

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) – Turkey may block a planned visit of
Switzerland’s economics minister, a Swiss newspaper reported Sunday,
the latest episode in a long-running diplomatic dispute between the
two governments.

The Turkish ambassador to Switzerland, Alev Kilic, told NZZ am Sonntag
he couldn’t rule out that Joseph Deiss’ September trip would be
canceled.

At the core of the dispute are Turkey’s killings of Armenians around
the time of World War I, considered by the Swiss and some other
governments to have amounted to genocide – something Ankara fiercely
denies.

Ankara was angered two weeks ago when Swiss authorities launched an
investigation into a visiting Turkish politician, Dogu Perincek, who
said the killings weren’t genocide.

Under Switzerland’s anti-racism laws, denying genocide is a crime, and
Perincek was briefly detained after his speech.

Last week, Turkey called the Swiss ambassador to the Foreign Ministry
to protest Perincek’s detention and investigation.

In the NZZ am Sonntag interview, Kilic said the investigation was an
attempt to squelch free speech and sent a “grave signal” to Turks
living in Switzerland to “keep their mouths shut.”

Meanwhile, Perincek reiterated his earlier comments in an interview
with another Swiss newspaper on Sunday.

“There has never been a genocide, that is an international historic
lie,” he told SonntagsBlick.

Similar disputes have erupted in the past between Turkey and
Switzerland.

In June, a Turkish Cabinet minister postponed a visit to Switzerland
to protest an investigation of a Turkish historian who denied the
killings were a genocide.

The Swiss foreign minister had been scheduled to travel to Turkey in
2003, but Turkey withdrew its invitation after the parliament of a
western Swiss canton (state) approved a motion calling the killings a
genocide.

07/31/05 08:58 EDT

European Cups Draw List

.c The Associated Press

NYON, Switzerland (AP) – Draw Friday for the third qualifying round of
the European Champions League and the second qualifying round of the
UEFA Cup soccer tournament (home teams for first leg listed first):

Champions League

Third qualifying round

(First leg Aug. 9-10, second leg Aug. 23-24

Anderlecht (Belgium)-Neftchi (Azerbaijan) winner vs. Slavia Prague
(Czech Republic)

Anorthosis (Cyprus)-Trabzonspor (Turkey) winner vs. Glasgow Rangers
(Scotland)

Artmedia Bratislava (Slovakia)-Glasgow Celtic (Scotland) winner
vs. Partizan Belgrade (Serbia-Montenegro)-Sheriff (Moldova) winner

Basel (Switzerland) vs. Werder Bremen (Germany)

Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia)-Brondby IF (Denmark) winner vs. Ajax
Amsterdam (Netherlands)

F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg)-Rapid Vienna (Austria) winner
vs. Rabotnicki Skopje (Macedonia)- Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia) winner

Everton (England) vs. Villarreal (Spain)

FBK Kaunas (Lithuania)-Liverpool (England) winner vs. KF Tirana
(Albania)-CSKA Sofia (Bulgaria) winner

Malmo FF (Sweden)-Maccabi Haifa (Israel) winner vs. Dynamo Kiev
(Ukraine)-FC Thun (Switzerland) winner

Manchester United (England) vs. Debrecen (Hungary)-Hajduk Split
(Croatia) winner

Real Betis (Spain) vs. AS Monaco (France)

Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) vs. Internazionale of Milan (Italy)

Shelbourne (Ireland)-Steaua Bucharest (Romania) winner vs. Rosenborg
(Norway)

Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) vs. Udinese (Italy)

Valerenga (Norway)-FC Haka (Finland) winner vs. Club Brugge (Belgium)

Wisla Krakow (Poland) vs. Panathinaikos (Greece)

UEFA Cup

Second qualifying round

(First leg Aug. 11, second leg Aug. 25)

APOEL (Cyprus) vs. Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Israel)

Austria Vienna (Austria) vs. MSK Zilina (Slovakia)

FC Banants (Armenia) vs. Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine)

Baskimi (Macedonia) vs. Maccabi Petach-Tikva (Israel)

SK Brann (Norway) vs. Allianssi (Finland)

Camarthen (Wales) vs. FC Copenhagen (Denmark)

Dinamo Bucharest (Romania) vs. AC Omonia (Cyprus)

Domzale (Slovenia) vs. Ashdod (Israel)

Djurgarden (Sweden) vs. Cork City (Ireland)

Esbjerg (Denmark) vs. Tromso (Norway)

Groclin Grodzisk (Poland) vs. Dukla Banska Bystrica (Slovakia)

Halmstads BK (Sweden) vs. Linfield (Northern Ireland)

Inter Zapresic (Croatia) vs. Red Star Belgrade (Serbia-Montenegro)

Krylya Sovetov (Russia) vs. BATE Borisov (Belarus)

Legia Warsaw (Poland) vs. FC Zurich (Switzerland)

Litex Lovech (Bulgaria) vs. HNK Rijeka (Croatia)

Lokomotiv Plovdiv (Bulgaria) vs. OFK Belgrade (Serbia-Montenegro)

MTZ-RIPO (Belarus) vs. Teplice (Czech Republic)

Mainz 05 (Germany) vs. Keflavik (Iceland)

Matav Sopron (Hungary) vs. Metalurh Donetsk (Ukraine)

Metalurgs (Latvia) vs. Genk (Belgium)

FC Midtjylland (Denmark) vs. B36 Torshavn (Faeroe Islands)

Myllykosken Pallo-47 (Finland) vs. Dundee United (Scotland)

NK Publikum (Slovenia) vs. Levski Sofia (Bulgaria)

Nistru (Moldova) vs. Grazer AK (Austria)

Pasching (Austria) vs. Zenit St. Petersburg (Russia)

Vaduz (Liechtenstein) vs. Besiktas (Turkey)

FK Vardar (Macedonia) vs. Rapid Bucharest (Romania)

Viking FK (Norway) vs. Rhyl (Wales)

Wisla Plock (Poland) vs. Grasshoppers (Switzerland)

Zeta (Serbia-Montenegro) vs. Siroki Brijeg (Bosnia)

07/29/05 10:30 EDT

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x137
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Friday, July 29, 2005

AGBU FRANCE DISTRICT HONORS SERGE TCHURUK ON THE OCCASION OF THE 95TH
ANNIVERSARY OF MARSEILLES CHAPTER

Paris, France – On July 2, 2005, AGBU France District honored Serge
Tchuruk, Chairman and CEO of the multinational corporation Alcatel and
one of the world’s most prominent business leaders of Armenian
descent, on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Marseilles
Chapter. Over 250 AGBU supporters and friends from Belgium, France,
Lebanon, Russia, Syria and the United States attended the gala dinner
at the Prefecture of Marseilles in the presence of Mr. Tchuruk, local
political dignitaries and AGBU representatives.

In attendance were AGBU President Berge Setrakian and wife Vera; AGBU
Vice President Sarkis Demirdjian and wife Seta; AGBU Central Board
Members Karnig Yacoubian and wife Ani, Sam Simonian and wife Sylva,
Carol Aslanian, Michael Ansour and Aris Atamian; AGBU France District
Committee Chairperson Denis Ketchedjian with District Committee
Members Sona Attamian, Meliné Caumon, Mihran Chakardjian, Nadia
Gortzounian and Michel Sabbagh; AGBU Marseilles Chairperson Bernard
Besoian; and AGBU Chapter Chairpersons from Lyon, Saint-Etienne,
Valence and Vienne.

After welcoming remarks by Christian Fremond, Prefect of the
Provence-Côte D’Azur region, and Bernard Besoian, keynote speaker
Denis Ketchedjian said that, since the founding of AGBU in 1906 and
the local Marseilles Chapter in 1910, the organization has remained
committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian identity and
heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs for
the benefit of all Armenians. AGBU has faithfully upheld its long-term
mission, while adapting to the current state of affairs; today, a new
generation of Armenians is emerging – 90 years after the Armenian
Genocide and emigration – who are well integrated and able to join the
top echelons of society, while remaining loyal to their ancestry.

An excellent model of his generation, Serge Tchuruk was a son of
Armenian immigrants from Marseilles, France, steadfastly involved in
AGBU and a graduate of the best French schools in Marseilles and
Paris, including École Polytechnique, one of the most prestigious
French Grandes Écoles. He has had an illustrious professional career
in multinational corporations, including Mobil and Total, and since
1995, has held the position of Chairman and CEO of Alcatel.

Ketchedjian added that it would only be fitting that AGBU honor a
child of the Marseilles Armenian community, whose mother had served
for years as the Treasurer of the AGBU Marseilles Chapter, and who is
a source of pride for all Armenians of his generation and an
outstanding model for the new generation of young Armenians.

Prior to decorating Tchuruk with AGBU Honor Membership and receiving
the mark of distinction of the Armenian Church on behalf of His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, Berge Setrakian
commended AGBU France District for celebrating the success of Serge
Tchuruk and holding him up as an example to the younger generation of
the level of excellence Armenians are capable of when offered the
opportunity.

After remarks of goodwill by former French Cabinet Minister, Patrick
Devedjian, who was honored by AGBU France District in November 2003 in
Paris, a very moved Tchuruk thanked AGBU and reiterated his pride in
belonging to a martyred nation whose children and grandchildren have
kept the culture alive in the Diaspora.

Throughout the entire evening, a film on the life of Serge Tchuruk and
the accomplishments of AGBU in Armenia and the Diaspora was
screened. Thanks to the support of AGBU France District and the
remarkable work of the Organizing Committee, notably Sona Attamian and
Lucie Kouyoumdjian, along with Master of Ceremonies Jacky Nercessian –
a French actor of Armenian descent who starred in Henri Verneuil’s
film “Mayrig” and was raised in Marseilles’ Armenian community – the
celebration was an extraordinary success.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City with
an annual budget of $26 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural, and
humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 34
countries.

For more information on AGBU France District, please email
[email protected] or visit

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Service de base français
28 juillet 2005

Développement Négation du génocide arménien: L’ambassadeur de Turquie
reçu jeudi à Berne

Lausanne f

Berne (ats) L’ambassadeur de Turquie en Suisse devait être reçu jeudi
à Berne au lendemain d’une convocation de l’ambassadeur suisse à
Ankara. La Turquie proteste contre les enquêtes ouvertes par la
justice suisse contre deux de ses ressortissants pour négation du
génocide arménien.

Le chef de la division politique I du Département fédéral des
affaires étrangères (DFAE) Jean-Jacques de Dardel devait s’entretenir
avec l’ambassadeur Alev Kiliç. Interrogée par l’ats, la porte-parole
du DFAE Carine Carey n’a pas souhaité préciser à quelle heure devait
se dérouler l’entretien.

Mercredi, le ministère turc des affaires étrangères a convoqué
l’ambassadeur de Suisse à Ankara. Il a vivement protesté contre les
enquêtes ouvertes par le Ministère public de Winterthour et la
justice vaudoise contre l’historien Yusuf Halacoglu et le responsable
du Parti des travailleurs turcs Dogu Perincek pour des propos
négationnistes sur le génocide arménien de 1915.

La Suisse, “un exemple pour la Turquie”

Les critiques suisses contre la Turquie ont souvent provoqué des
réactions agacées d’Ankara. La question arménienne touche à un tabou
central de l’histoire turque, a déclaré l’historien zurichois
Hans-Likas Kieser dans une interview publiée jeudi par le quotidien
alémanique “Berner Zeitung”.

Les reproches des autorités helvétiques ont “beaucoup plus de poids
que s’ils venaient du Venezuela, qui a récemment reconnu le
génocide”. Selon M. Kieser, la Suisse a “longtemps été un grand
exemple pour la Turquie”. Elle est “le berceau du nationalisme turc”,
en raison du Traité de Lausanne, à l’origine de la création de l’Etat
turc en 1923.

Fixer un for unique

Du côté de la justice suisse, le juge d’instruction cantonal vaudois
Jacques Antenen a pris contact avec les autorités zurichoises afin de
fixer un for unique pour la poursuite des infractions commises par
Dogu Perincek. Il n’y a pas de raison que l’intéressé soit poursuivi
dans deux endroits différents pour un même contexte de faits, a-t-il
déclaré jeudi.

La police doit encore confirmer si M. Perincek a réitéré son discours
négationniste en public dimanche dans la capitale vaudoise, lors
l’anniversaire du Traité de Lausanne. Si tel est le cas, l’enquête
sera étendue à ces propos, a ajouté M. Antenen.

Azeri TV accuses US Congress of Armenian bias

Lider TV, Baku
24 Jul 05

You are probably aware of how it has been found out that the man who
threw a grenade at [US President George] Bush [in Tbilisi] is an
Armenian, Vladimir Arutyunyan. This was done with the help of pictures
taken by a US satellite.

Having heard this, every single Azerbaijani may wonder – how come that
US satellites can identify someone with a grenade in his hand among
hundreds of thousands of people, but cannot take pictures of Armenian
occupation of our lands? Is it that difficult for those satellites to
see and take pictures of thousands of Armenians resettled on the
occupied lands? Why does this country not describe Armenia as an
aggressor and tell it to withdraw from the lands that do not belong to
it?

This week, the US Congress adopted a resolution on democratic and fair
elections in Azerbaijan with 416 votes for and one vote against. Good.
This is how the election should be held. We will probably benefit from
this more than anybody else will. But why do those congressmen,
including those who propose to bomb Mecca, not adopt a similar
resolution on the withdrawal of the Armenian aggressors from our
lands? This is happening despite the fact that according to the
results of a survey conducted last month among 1,200 people by the
USA’s International Republican Institute, precisely 93 per cent of the
Azerbaijanis believe that the country’s major problem is the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict.

After Nagornyy Karabakh, they are mostly concerned about unemployment
and inflation. Other very topical issues that worry the population are
also connected exclusively with their economic situation. Democratic
elections and freedom of speech are, from this point of view, on the
last, i.e. the 10th position. If so, why should a resolution be
adopted on the issue that is on the 10th position and not on the issue
that is on the first position?

Certainly, Azerbaijanis are not illiterate. Thank God, at least in
terms of education we are not lagging behind the Americans
yet. Precisely these double standards eventually lead to the fact that
while the majority of the forces in the country, including the
government, see Azerbaijan’s future in integration into the West, the
results of the opinion poll conducted by the International Republican
Institute show that the Azerbaijani population gives more preference
to relations with Russia in the country’s foreign policy. These
constitute 39 per cent of the respondents. The total number of the
respondents who give preference to the USA and the EU is three per
cent lower, i.e. 36 per cent.

Should it be like this? Certainly, not. This reality, frankly
speaking, meets neither our national nor US state interests.

Christian fundamentalists like Congressman [Tom] Tancredo and other
congressmen who make their decisions under pressure from the Armenian
lobby are to blame. As a result of their activities, this week the USA
made a decision to allocate twice as much assistance to Armenia than
to Azerbaijan next year. However, both the incident that involved
Arutyunyan and dozens of other facts demonstrate that it is precisely
the Armenians who hamper the USA’s efforts to strengthen its positions
in the South Caucasus. [Passage omitted: Yerevan denied Arutyunyan’s
grenade produced in Armenia; on activity of Armenian lobby in Georgia]

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

SIAMANTO ACADEMY GRADUATION

NEW YORK, NY-The graduation ceremony for three Siamanto Academy students,
Emma Biramian, Mardo Piranian and Berj Tenguerian, took place on Saturday,
June 25, 2005, at the St. Illuminator’s Day School in Woodside, New York.
Family, faculty, ANEC and ARS representatives and guests attended the
year-end celebration that highlighted the 1600th anniversary of the Armenian
Alphabet.
A musical interlude and recitations by the students preceded the
official bestowing of the diplomas and gifts.
Emma Biramian recited “Khosk Im Vortoun” by Silva Gaboudikian; Antranig
and Arshag Haidotsian performed a Toccata by Bach and a segment of the 1st
concert by Mendelssohn on the piano; Arpi Shetilian played “Perpetum Mobile”
by Novacheck; Mardo Piranian recited Moushegh Ishkhan’s “Hye Lezoon Doonen
eh Hyoon” and Berj Tenguerian read a popular segment from Khatchadour
Apovian’s “Lezoon.” The graduates then read their heartfelt farewell
messages to the attendees.
In his opening remarks, Dn. Krikor Lakissian gave an overview of the
programs the students were involved in the last academic year. He commended
all those involved in the success of the program from the students to the
parents, the administration, teachers and guest lecturers.
Mrs. Nayiri Balanian, chairperson of the Armenian National Education
Committee (ANEC) spoke about the importance of the Siamanto Academy mission
in preparing well-rounded citizens well equipped to serve their communities
and commended the ANEC Executive Director as the driving force behind ANEC’s
progress. Mrs. Anais Tcholakian, the representative from the “Mayr” chapter
of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) emphasized the Christian and Armenian
values imparted at the Academy and urged the graduates to translate these
into a life of service and dedication to their community.
At the conclusion of her remarks about the individual graduates and the
three year curriculum they completed, the Executive Director of ANEC, Ms
Gilda B. Kupelian reiterated the unique nature of the education they
received at the Academy and the diploma they were about to receive and the
necessity to maintain and share their culture. She commended the faculty,
especially Mr. Lakissian and Mrs. Hera Atamian, and the guest lecturers such
as Dn. Shant Kazanjian. She had special words of praise for the parents and
singled out an “ABC” parent (Armenian By Choice), Mrs. Gine Tenguerian,
whose dedicated service to the Siamanto Academy was deeply appreciated and
recognized in a plaque that was given to her. Mrs. Tenguerian was happy to
uphold her husband’s culture and help transmit it to their children. She
thanked everyone and urged all parents to send their children to the
Siamanto Academy for the enriching program it offered. The treasurer of
Siamanto Academy, Mr. Zaven Varjabedian, was also recognized, in absentia,
for his many years of volunteer service to the Academy.
The program concluded with closing remarks by Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian,
who represented the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Fr. Shetilian
underscored the dual nature and importance of the Armenian American identity
and encouraged the graduates to strive for the best, following in the
footsteps of all those Armenians who left their mark.

One World Net, UK
July 26 2005

Senior Programme Officer – Civil Society Strand Coordinator

International Alert
Salary – £29,911 p.a. (more for exceptional candidates) + excellent
benefits

You will lead IA’s Civil Society Strand work within the Consortium
Initiative, by supporting civil society partners in Armenia and
Azerbaijan including Nagorny Karabakh to engage in constructive
initiatives that support the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Additionally, you will strengthen synergies and cooperation with the
other Consortium Initiative strands and act as a liaison for the
broader consortium.

An ideal candidate will be well versed in the issues relating to the
conflict over Nagorny Karabakh. Apart from meeting the relevant
educational requirements, you will also need to have had at least 3
years field experience working in an area impacted by conflict,
coupled with a track record in strengthening local partners. Strong
interpersonal and diplomatic skills are also essential.

Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
July 26 2005

Jerusalem city planners approve construction of Jewish neighbourhood
in Muslim Quarter

JERUSALEM – Jerusalem planners have approved the construction of a
new Jewish neighbourhood in the city’s Muslim Quarter, officials said
on Tuesday, confirming a decision that could further inflame tensions
between Israelis and Palestinians in the city claimed by both as a
capital.

The plan to build 21 apartments for Jews in the walled Old City’s
Muslim Quarter was approved 5-2 by a local planning board late on
Monday, said Yosef Alalu, a dovish city council member who is on the
committee. The plan has to go through several more bureaucratic
stages before final approval.

The plan was presented to the planning board by the Housing Ministry,
a city spokesman said.

Palestinian officials accused Israel of creating facts on the ground
ahead of a peace deal that would determine the fate of Jerusalem. `It
will be like adding fuel to the fire, and we urge US intervention to
block this decision,’ said Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian
negotiator.

Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed it
into its capital, a decision not recognized internationally.
Palestinians want the east Jerusalem, including the walled Old City,
as the capital of a future state.

Israeli moves to settle Arab neighbourhoods of the city have sparked
violence in the past.

The current plan could be even more incendiary because it does not
involve private property transactions, but is backed by the
government. Alalu said the municipality would have to rezone a
`green’ area to build the apartments. `It is clear that when the
first tractor puts down the first stone it will lead to the next
uprising and could have international impact,’ Alalu said.

The Old City consists of four quarters Muslim, Christian, Jewish and
Armenian. Today, just a handful of Jewish families live in the Muslim
Quarter, in fortified complexes.

About a dozen properties are owned by Jews, including Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon, who bought an apartment there in 1987. For several
years, Sharon used the apartment to hold political meetings, but
today rarely visits the heavily guarded compound.

The plan approved on Monday which has been in the works for several
years would violate a city ban on building within 10 meters of the
Old City wall, Alalu said.

The city engineer, Uri Shetrit, initially opposed the plan, which
called for the construction of 30 housing units, Alalu said. Due to
the engineer’s concerns, the committee approved a smaller plan for 21
homes, but recommended that the regional planning board the next stop
in the authorization process approve the larger plan, Alalu said.

The municipality said Shetrit is not permitted to speak to reporters.

It will take years for the plan to move from paper to actual
construction, Alalu said, because several more approval stages
remain. In the past, the Housing Ministry and other government
agencies have halted the project in the planning stages, he said.

Israeli human rights activist Danny Seidemann said Sharon’s goal is
to strengthen the hold on Jerusalem while the world’s attention is
focused on his upcoming Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Earlier this month, the Sharon government decided on the route of its
separation barrier intended as a defense against suicide bombers that
will cut off six Arab neighbourhoods of Jerusalem from the city.
Palestinian officials have accused Israel of drawing the barrier to
reduce the Palestinian population of the city.

The approval of the Jewish neighbourhood in the Muslim Quarter `is
yet another example that Mr. Sharon is using the withdrawal from Gaza
to consolidate an Israeli stranglehold over east Jerusalem in a way
that no government, including his own, has ever, ever dared to do in
the past,’ said Seidemann, an attorney who heads Ir Amim, a Jerusalem
settlement watchdog group.