Author: Chilingarian Babken

RIA Novosti, Russia
April 23 2004

RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES FRENCH SENATORS

MOSCOW, April 23 (RIA Novosti) – Vyacheslav Trubnikov, Russia’s First
Deputy Foreign Minister, received, Friday, a visiting delegation of
the French Senate’s foreign affairs and defence commission.

The agenda of the meeting was dominated by issues related to
cooperation within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS),
which is a priority direction in Russia’s foreign policy, reported
the foreign ministry.

The delegates were updated on the efforts Russia has been making to
promote economic ties with the CIS countries, step up integration
processes in different areas, and Russia’s bilateral relations with a
series of CIS nations.

The conferees also discussed the situation in Central Asia and
Transcaucasia, the Nagorny Karabakh and the Dniester region
settlement efforts. They also discussed further developments in
Afghanistan, particularly in terms of the fight against drug
trafficking. Apart from that, the conferees addressed the problem of
the Caspian Sea’s status.

Daily News Tribune, MA
April 23 2004

Armenian-Americans celebrate, live on
By Mark Benson / Tribune Correspondent
Friday, April 23, 2004

WALTHAM — In her 70s, Alice Der Parseghian created the first of
hundreds of high-quality, hand-crafted dolls dressed in clothing
native to the Armenian villages she fled in 1913 to escape a Turkish
campaign to exterminate her race.

This year, Rebecca Boujicanian, 93, penned more than 50 pages of
a memoir celebrating her 43 years with her husband, a musician who
likewise emigrated from his native Armenia to avoid annihilation by
Turkish authorities.

Today, state representatives Peter Koutoujian, D-Waltham, and
Rachel Kaprelian, D-Watertown, are honoring Der Parseghian,
Boujicanian, and Waltham residents Zabel Assadoorian and Paul
Jelanian at a State House ceremony for survivors of the Armenian
genocide.

Each year, April 24 is a solemn day of mourning in the world
community. On that day in 1915, the Turkish government systematically
killed 300 leading Armenians, then slaughtered another 5,000 in the
streets and homes in Constantinople, the prelude to the murder of 1.5
million Armenians from 1915-1921.

This year, Koutoujian successfully sponsored legislation to
designate April 2004 as Armenian-American Heritage month, and, the
ceremony for Der Parseghian, Boujicanian and all Armenians will add
to our understanding of the history of this race.

“Making April in Massachusetts Armenian-American Heritage month
was very important, because this April, we are not just mourning
losses from the genocide, we are celebrating the contributions of
Armenians,” said Koutoujian, actively involved in archival,
historical and legal efforts connected with the Armenian genocide at
the Armenian Assembly and National Committee.

“My grandparents, Abraham and Zarouhi, fled Armenia but they
were split up — my grandfather went to the United States, my
grandmother to an orphanage in Syria. The American Red Cross helped
my grandfather find my grandmother — he sent for her, and they
created a life in America,” said Kotoujian, whose grandfather and
Uncle Jack co-owned a Moody Street store, near where the Jack
Koutoujian Memorial Playground is today.

“I have fond memories of that store, and my grandfather giving
us candies and raisins when I was about five years old,” Koutoujian
added.

A swatch of stitchery is prominently displayed in Koutoujian’s
Boston office — it is a pattern unique to the Armenian village of
Marash, home to Koutoujian’s grandparents.

Those are the types of authentic Armenian stitches Der
Parseghian replicated in the hems of the dresses and other garments
she created for her homemade dolls.

“There I was in my mid-70s, living in Florida, lonely, and I got
an idea — why don’t I leave a legacy to my family. I loved making
paper dolls when I was young, so, I decided to make a doll for every
region in Armenia,” Der Parseghian said yesterday from her apartment
at Waltham Crossings.

“The bride doll here — I made that based on my Armenian
granddaughter’s wedding dress,” said Der Parseghian. “Then I made all
the dolls for an authentic wedding.

“After that, my husband asked me to make a Vartan doll, part of
blessing the sword and dagger before going to war to fight for our
people,” Der Parseghian said. “The hair for Vartan, we couldn’t get
that right, so I asked my daughter to send me a lock of her black
hair — we used that for Vartan’s hair.”

Der Parseghian’s granddaughter lives in Washington, where most
of Der Parseghian’s dolls are in a home display. In 1983, Der
Parseghian held an exhibit of her dolls in Washington, and, in the
mid-1990s, conservators at the Smithsonian Institute asked if they
could have her dolls for keeps.

Watching Der Parseghian look at her favorite Cinderella doll in
her Waltham apartment, it is clear that the dolls bring her great joy
right where they are.

“In the 1930s, I staged Cinderella, the play, in Armenian, and
added an Armenian prayer to the scene where Cinderella prays to her
fairy godmother for a prince to take her to the ball,” Der Parseghian
said. “That is my favorite scene — the fairy godmother’s wand brings
a prince and Cinderella’s clothes transform to a silver gown.”

Favorite memories fill the 50-plus pages of Boujicanian’s
memoir.

“Many people in my husband’s family were musical,” said
Boujicanian, who also received a letter from Koutoujian and Kaprelian
about today’s ceremony.

“My husband was 16 when he left — he was self-taught,
well-read, a violinist. Our children had those same talents in music.

“I went to a girl’s high school in Boston — I was at the top of
my class of 500 students,” Boujicanian added. “I decided recently,
why not write, why not write about my Armenian husband and our life
together? Many happy memories came back, thank goodness.”

And Boujicanian has created many more — with help from
Koutoujian and Kaprelian, there are more positive examples of
Armenian culture to commemorate.

For those interested in reading more about Armenians, Koutoujian
recommends “The Road to Home,” the 2003 autobiography of Vartan
Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Foundation, who describes his
childhood in a poor Armenian Christian enclave in Iraq.

For details about the Armenian genocide, Koutoujian cites two
books by Peter Balakian — “The Black Dog of Fate” and “The Burning
Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response.”

Another local resource is in Kaprelian’s hometown of Watertown
— The Armenian Library and Museum of America, 65 Main St.,
Watertown.

ARKA News Agency
April 21 2004

Regular meeting of united opposition starts today at the square of
Freedom in the center of Yerevan

RA Prime Minister and Estonian Ambassador in Armenia note the
necessity of stimulation economic relations between two countries

RA President meets the US Ambassador in Armenia and USAID Mission
Director

An exhibition devoted to historical and cultural monuments of North
Artsakh organised in Stepanakert

*********************************************************************

REGULAR MEETING OF UNITED OPPOSITION STARTS TODAY AT THE SQUARE OF
FREEDOM IN THE CENTER OF YEREVAN

YEREVAN, April 21. /ARKA/. Regular meeting of united opposition
started today at the square of Freedom in the center of Yerevan. The
organizers of the meeting are Justice bloc, National Unity Party and
Communist Party of Armenia. ARKA correspondent reports from the
meeting that about 5 thousand people take part in the rally. The
meeting was opened by the Chairman of National Democratic Party, RA
NA Deputy Shavarsh Kocharian, who stated that authorities try to make
it seem that opposition tries to get to power by force, which does
not correspond to reality. `Till now opposition acted in the frames
of Constitution, which is a guarantee of our victory’, Kocharian
said. He said that Kocharian is sentenced to failure and statements
of international organizations testify to that. He stressed that the
idea of fight is much deeper than personal political interests of
opposition.
Leader of Justice Bloc Stepan Demirchian stated that authorities that
use any power are doomed. `Armenia must develop by democratic way and
those who prevent this process must go away’, Demirchian said. L.D.
–0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRIME MINISTER AND ESTONIAN AMBASSADOR IN ARMENIA NOTE THE
NECESSITY OF STIMULATION ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES

YEREVAN, April 21. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and
Estonian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Armenia
Andreas Unga noted the necessity of stimulation economic relations
between two countries. According to RA President’s Press Service and
Public Relations Department, in the course of the meeting the parties
attached importance to bilateral co-operation in various fields of
economy, in particular, in industry, agriculture, health care,
tourism, science and culture. Taking into consideration the
importance of IT development for Armenia, Margaryan emphasized the
importance for co-operation exactly in that field and spread of
Estonian Electronic Administration Academy experience in Armenia.
According to the press release, Margaryan and Unga also discussed
issues connected with holding business forums, organization of
visits, and establishing close co-operation between certain
Ministries and Trade Industry Chambers of RA and Estonia for
stimulation of bilateral trade turnover.
In the course of the meeting, Margaryan congratulated Unga on
Estonia’s entrance into EU and expressed hope that Estonia will
become Armenia’s reliable partner, which will contribute to Armenia’s
integration into the EU. Also, Margaryan congratulated Unga on
Estonia’s full membership in NATO, noting that Armenia will keep to
its policy of consistent development of co-operation with that
organization in the framework of Partnership for Peace program.
In his turn, Estonian Ambassador noted that Estonia as a new member
of EU encourages New Neighborhood program , due to which the counties
of the South Caucasus, including Armenia, will have the chance to
become members of European family. A.H – 0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT MEETS THE US AMBASSADOR IN ARMENIA AND USAID MISSION
DIRECTOR

YEREVAN, April 21. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan has met John
Ordway, the US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in
Armenia, and Robin Phillips, USAID Mission Director. According to the
RA President’s Press Service Department, issues regarding the
programs on humanitarian aid provision to Armenia by the US
Government were discussed in the course of the meeting. Besides, the
issues of Armenia’s participation in Millennium Challenges Fund
program was touched. A.H.–0–

*********************************************************************

AN EXHIBITION DEVOTED TO HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS OF NORTH
ARTSAKH ORGANISED IN STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, April 21. /ARKA/. In connection with International Day
of monuments and historic places, Haiki Serund (Haik’s generation)
youth organisation, acting in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR),
organised an exhibition devoted to historical and cultural monuments
of North Artsakh. According to ARKA’s reporter in Stepanakert, the
photos of a famous ethnographer Samuel Karapetyan exhibited reflect
cultural and everyday life of ancient villages of North Artsakh
(Shahumyan, Shamkhor, Khanlar, and Dashkensk regions), where
historical and cultural monuments preserved.
According to specialists, the Azerbaijani side destroyed thousands of
historic monuments on the territory of Karabakh. 167 churches, 8
monastery complexes and 123 historical Armenian cemeteries were
destroyed when Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan, and during the period
of war aggression on the part of Azerbaijan against NKR. A.H. –0–

Canada’s Digital Collections
ALBERTANS

Maria Chrzanowska: Polish Education Takes Root in Edmonton

by Andrzej M. Kobos

Maria Chrzanowska (née Agopsowicz, of a polonized Armenian family)
was born in 1913 in Kuty, near Stanislawów, in Galicia. In 1932 she
graduated with honours from the Teachers’ College in Lwów and
taught at a school near Kuty. In 1938 she married Jan Chrzanowski,
also a teacher. In September 1939, when the Second World War broke
out, Jan, who was a reserve officer, was called to active duty. After
Poland’s defeat by the Germans and the Soviets, through Romania and
France he reached Britain where he served in the Polish Army.

When the Soviets occupied the town of Kuty in 1939, Maria’s parents
were deported to a remote area of the Soviet Union where they
perished. She and her infant son were miraculously spared from being
deported because the outbreak of the German-Soviet war in June 1941
prevented the new wave of Soviet deportations. Maria and her small
son lived in Kuty throughout the war, until they were transferred to
western Poland in 1945. A year later, she managed to escape to the
West to join her husband in Scotland. In 1948, the Chrzanowski family
immigrated to Canada and settled permanently in Edmonton, where Jan’s
brother, Czeslaw, had lived since 1927. Their son, Zbigniew, became a
physician and their daughter, Teresa, a nurse. Jan was active in
several Polish organizations including the Canadian Polish Congress
whose Treasurer he was for many years. Maria became the driving force
in Polish education in the city.

After a few abortive efforts to teach Polish children in Edmonton
before, during, and after the Second World War – notably in 1947 by
Józef Kaczmarek and Wladyslaw Zientarski1 – a permanent Polish
school was established in Edmonton in 1954 by Rev. Dr. Tadeusz
Nagengast, Wanda Buska, Zofia Hedinger, Janina Jankowska-Zygiel,
Mieczyslaw Janusz, Zygmunt Majkowski and Jan Sowa. The school was
named after Henryk Sienkiewicz, the 1905 Polish Nobel Prize winner in
literature. Since its inception, the school has had support from the
Polish community. Mieczyslaw Janusz organized many fundraising social
events.

In 1956, Maria Chrzanowska began teaching at the Henryk Sienkiewicz
School. She has always had a passion for teaching. In 1964 she became
the school’s principal, a post she retained until her retirement in
1987. During those years she reorganized the school, which soon became
one of the best Polish schools in Canada and a model for bilingual
ethnic schools. Maria found appropriate accommodation for the school
which operated on Saturdays. She engaged a dedicated and professional
teaching staff, among them several Polish priests and nuns, who have
played a very important spiritual role at the school, and a former
flying instructor, who was an invaluable asset in teaching young
boys. She arranged for a fruitful collaboration with the parents’
committee. She was instrumental in securing government grants for the
school from the Multiculturalism programs. The 1980s brought a large
influx of Polish immigrants related to the “Solidarity”
movement. These were mainly young families and as a result the
enrollment at the Henryk Sienkiewicz School increased
considerably. (In 1987 there were 240 students.) Maria Chrzanowska
managed to find new, well-trained staff members among the new
immigrants. Apart from teaching, Maria Chrzanowska was the key person
organizing extracurricular activities for the students, such as
amateur theatre with Polish repertoire, choir and dance assemblies,
and exhibitions of Polish art and children’s art work. Children’s
activities crossed the school boundaries, e.g. they frequently
performed in Polish folk costumes at different Polish and
multicultural festivals and celebrations, always to great
applause. Her students competed successfully with several thousand
Polish ethnic school students in Canada.

Over the years, about 3,000 children of Polish immigrants have passed
through this school where they were taught Polish language, history,
and culture. Years later they still joyfully remember the school and
“Pani Maria,” their teacher and principal. They also gratefully
acknowledge that this fine school and Pani Maria were crucial to their
maintaining the Polish language and customs. As Maria put it: “Knowing
more than just the local language and retaining one’s heritage gives
life a treasured richness.” Maria once wondered: “Will all that we
wish to pass on to our students – our beautiful language, the basic
knowledge about Poland, that is, her l,000-year-old history, and
culture – will all these strengthen their pride in belonging to the
great Polish nation?” Clearly, Maria’s dream to uphold Polishness
among Polish children has been fulfilled and it was appropriate to
recognize Maria Chrzanowska’s inspiration, dedication, and lasting
contribution to maintaining the Polish heritage by naming the second
Polish school in Edmonton, which opened in November 1991, “The Maria
Chrzanowska Polish School.”

Maria Chrzanowska was also active in the Alberta Ethnic Language
Teachers’ Association (later named the Northern Alberta Heritage
Language Association) and in its Board of Directors. Within this
organization she shared her experience with other teachers and helped
them with their problems. For all her years of service, Maria
Chrzanowska, The First Lady of Polish Education in Edmonton, received
the Alberta Achievement Award from the Alberta government in 1974, and
the Heritage Language Development Award in 1986, for her service in
preserving and developing language education. In 1990, she was
presented with a Special Recognition from the Northern Alberta
Heritage Language Association.

Since 1956, Maria Chrzanowska has participated in several Polish
organizations in Edmonton. Maria was also an active member of the
Polish Scouting movement in Edmonton. For a long time she was
responsible for youths’ affairs in the Canadian Polish Congress,
Alberta Branch. From 1961 to 1995, Maria Chrzanowska directed the
Polish radio program at Edmonton’s CKUA.2
=.=passage omitted =.=.=.

Sources

Information provided by Maria Chrzanowska; Maria Chrzanowska; ,
“Nieznana karta z dziejów polskiej szkoly,” in Towarzystwo
Polsko-Kanadyjskie (Edmonton) 1927-1987 [Polish-Canadian Society,
1927-1987], Maria Carlton ed. (Edmonton: TPK, 1987); Maria Chrzanowska
“Wspólpraca parafii Matki Boskiej Rózancowej ze szkola polska
im. H. Sienkiewicza,” in History of the Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonton
1913-1988, ed. John Huculak (Edmonton: Holy Rosary Parish, 1988);
Maria Chrzanowska, “Zakonczenie roku szkolnego w szkole im. Henryka
Sienkiewicza,” Dialogi, no. 8, Edmonton 1986.

Reprinted from Polonia in Alberta 1895 -1995: The Polish Centennial in
Alberta (Edmonton: Polish Centennial Society, 1995) eds. Andrzej
M. Kobos and Jolanta T. Pekacz, with permission of the Canadian Polish
Congress Alberta Branch.
Note: there is a considerable number of AGOPSOWICZ and AGOPYANS now
accross Canada

In the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide
Film depicts a fragile history after tragedy
Information Minister Samaha said more such documentaries should be
made on the history of Lebanon’s various communities

By Nada Raad
Daily Star staff
Tuesday, April 20, 2004

A documentary on the Armenian community in Lebanon that airs this
Friday evening on the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) will
shed light on the history of their presence here, which, according to
the producer Carmen Labaki, began well before the 1915 Genocide.

The documentary, “Armenians in Lebanon” was filmed in Armenia, Turkey,
Syria, and Lebanon in an attempt to illustrate the Armenian history
and show their “dispersal” following the 1915 Genocide, which left
more than a million dead.

Co-produced by the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International
(LBCI), the 85-minute documentary will be broadcast on LBC on Friday
after the 8 p.m. news report, and one day ahead of the Armenian
Genocide Remembrance Day on April 24.

Labaki, who spent one year working on the film, said that she decided
to shoot the documentary after realizing that Armenian history is
unknown by many here, including some Armenians. Labaki, who previously
produced two documentaries – “Brazil in Lebanon,” released in 1997,
and “France in Lebanon,” released in 2001 – said that the scene which
most touched her concerns the shooting of the Bedouin Armenians living
in the Syrian Desert.

“Every Bedouin Armenian living in Syria has a story to tell about his
parents’ plight,” Labaki said during the documentary’s release on
Monday atthe Haigazian University in Beirut. “But the story told by
this second generation does not have the same impact as if it were
told by the generation who lived the genocide,” she added.

The documentary presents Armenian nationals who were uprooted from
their country, their culture and their families and friends, but who
can still list the names of family members. In Syria, many Armenians
are now Muslim Bedouins and have Arab names because they were adopted
by Syrian families.

The documentary shows locations where Armenians were killed and
tortured by the Turks. During the Genocide some were killed in Armenia
while others were killed during a march from Turkey to Syria. On April
24, 1915, after the Armenians in the army were disarmed and then
killed, the political and intellectual leaders meet the same fate.

After this event, the remaining Armenians were told they would be
relocated by marching them to concentration camps in the desert
between Jerablus and Deir ez-Zor where they were left without food and
water to starve under the sun.

In a technique common to many documentaries, the producer used
contrasting footage, with scenes of real footage in black and white
abutting contemporary shots of the genocide march.

“We went to Marqadeh in Deir ez-Zor to shoot the documentary. When I
dug in the sand I found bones … from the genocide,” Labaki said.

The documentary was also shot in Shadadeh, an area located in Deir
ez-Zor, where around 300,000 Armenians were put in a cave and burned.

In Syria, many Armenians live in Aleppo, while others left to come to
Lebanon. According to the documentary, the Armenian presence in
Lebanon dates from 1741, when the Armenian Patriarchy was established
in Bzemmar. Following the Genocide, Armenians arrived from Syria and
Turkey in Anjar where some died from cold and illness.

Currently, the Armenian community is concentrated in Bourj Hammoud and
they are well-known for their professionalism in commerce, jewelry
design, carpet making, and crafts.

In 1934, the Armenian community was allowed to vote, and in 1966 some
members assumed ministerial posts.

Currently, the Armenian community is active through three political
parties: the Tashnak Party, the Ramgavar Party, and the Hentchak
Party. In Beirut, four MPs out of the 18 elected members are from the
Armenian community.

The documentary shows that before 1975, members of the Armenian
community here considered themselves as “Armenians living in Lebanon,”
while today they say, “We are Lebanese from an Armenian origin.”
Nonetheless, many members of the Armenian community are currently
returning to their homeland. “Mount Araratis waiting for them,” the
documentary said.

“We need memory in this country,” Information Minister Michel Samaha
said at the opening. He added that such a documentary should be done
on all the ethnic groups in the country to allow the Lebanese to learn
more about each other.

Turkish minister denies EU pressure to open Armenian border – Azeri TV

ANS TV, Baku
15 Apr 04

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has dismissed reports about EU
pressure on Turkey to open its border with Armenia. The border will
not be opened unless there is a breakthrough in the Nagornyy Karabakh
talks, Gul said in an interview with Azerbaijan’s commercial ANS
TV. The presenter concluded by saying that the Azerbaijani president’s
visit to Ankara had dispelled concern in Azerbaijan regarding the
Turkish-Armenian relationship. The following is an excerpt from report
by Azerbaijani TV station ANS on 15 April; subheadings inserted
editorially:

[Presenter] Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has expressed his
opinion on arguably the most important aspects of the relationship
between Turkey and Azerbaijan. We will now broadcast the interview for
you.

Azerbaijani-Turkish ties to improve further

[Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, in his office, in Turkish]
Relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan have a long history. Everyone
in the government before us did their best, and the government before
that too vested a lot of effort into cultivating this
relationship. Hence, friendship with Azerbaijan is something above the
governments.

There has been a lot of important meetings. The late president Heydar
Aliyev has frequently visited Turkey, and we paid visits to Azerbaijan
regularly. Many agreements have been signed, and our political
relations are quite good. However, this does not mean that they
cannot be improved.

We must further improve our relationship and make it stronger. For
that, many economic agreements have to be signed, and many economic
projects have to be implemented. Both the Turkish and Azerbaijani
governments have the will, intention and desire to do so. From this
view, we deem such visits very important.

We are not going to just seat next to each other and have a nice
time. We are having meetings, signing agreements. That is, we are
striving to make our relationship stronger, to take it further. From
this view, I am very hopeful and I believe that we will accomplish
much more.

[Correspondent Qanira Pasayeva] One of the meetings – an expanded
meeting, and you took part in it – has been completed. Which topics
were top of the agenda, and which proved to be the most debatable?

[Gul] There are two issues which we reckon are the most important at
this juncture. One of them is political, including naturally relations
between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the invasion of Nagornyy Karabakh and
ways to end that occupation. Second, there are economic topics,
concerning the ways to further develop our economic ties and realize
new economic projects. Undoubtedly, democratization and further
integration of our countries into Europe are also on the agenda of the
talks, but those two issues are at the top of the current agenda.

Trilateral meetings on Nagornyy Karabakh

[Correspondent] You said that there were talks on Nagornyy
Karabakh. When you came to office, it seemed that you will spend more
effort trying to resolve the conflict. You even suggested holding
trilateral meetings between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Why did
those meetings not take off and do you think they could be fruitful?

[Gul] No, they did take place and they are continuing. We are indeed
placing great importance on the talks, not only in appearance but also
in essence.

On behalf of our government, I spend a lot of effort on this
issue. When trying to resolve other problems in the world, we cannot
leave this conflict in a frozen condition. We cannot say – let us put
it in a refrigerator and leave it there. We must try hard to resolve
it and for that I paid two visits to Azerbaijan and had three meetings
with Armenian Foreign Minister [Vardan Oskanyan] over this period. I
will continue to have those meetings.

As you put it, let us have a trilateral meeting and Turkey will play
the role of a catalyst. Because resolving this issue peacefully will
benefit everyone.

We are not neglecting this issue.

[Correspondent] But ex-Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, too, tried hard to
do that and he did not succeed. They only had a few meetings and then
there was a statement saying that there was a standstill this
way. What is your opinion?

[Gul] Difficult issues are not resolved by one single meeting. To
resolve difficult and complicated issues, one has to spend a lot of
effort. We must try very hard.

[Correspondent] You have had three meetings with Oskanyan. What is
their standpoint on Nagornyy Karabakh? Did you sense any give and take
attitude?

[Gul] Certainly, everyone has his own viewpoint. Some common ground, a
compromise, has to be reached in this regard. And that has to be a
just solution. >From this view, everyone may have their own
positions, but we must hold meetings and discuss this, not leave the
issue on its own.

[Correspondent] Were you satisfied by meetings with Oskanyan? Did he
have a position suitable for reaching such a common ground?

[Gul] From his view, he also wants the conflict to be resolved. But
naturally based on his standpoint.

[Correspondent] How does he propose to resolve it? Make Nagornyy
Karabakh independent?

[Gul] There are topics that we discuss in private because if we want
to try to resolve the issue, we have to keep something
confidential. But we must be determined and strive to resolve the
conflict.

Take Cyprus, for instance, where an important breakthrough has been
made. Why would that be impossible in this case?

EU stance on Nagornyy Karabakh

[Correspondent] You are also conducting talks with the European
Union. What is their stance on these problems?

[Gul] They are rather aloof from this issue, but we seek to involve
them closer. Because they, too, are members of the OSCE Minsk Group
and the Council of Europe – Azerbaijan and Armenia are there as
well. Therefore, the Caucasus already seems to be part of Europe, and
we must try to turn their attention in this direction.

[Correspondent] The EU is putting pressure on Turkey to open the
border with Armenia. This issue has come into the limelight lately.

[Gul] There is no such thing. To be frank, I lament those reports. All
journalists from Azerbaijan pose us this question whenever we
meet. This makes us a bit uncomfortable because there is no such
thing.

[Correspondent] And it cannot enter the agenda soon?

[Gul] No. There is no such problem.

[Correspondent] What are the conditions under which Turkey could open
its border with Armenia?

[Gul] If this issue is resolved.

[Correspondent] So, only after the Karabakh [conflict is resolved]?

[Gul] When this issue is resolved, when there are breakthroughs in
this regard, when there are mutually acceptable approaches.

Armenian claims

[Correspondent] You have meetings with Oskanyan and discuss not only
Azerbaijan. I mean, the Armenian Constitution contains territorial
claims to Turkey and the Armenian lobby, as well as the Armenian
government, also makes claims about genocide. What do you think about
this?

[Gul] Those issues are all just fictions. While Armenia is grappling
with its own problems, it is only laughable that it might lay a
territorial claim to part of Turkey.

[Correspondent] What about genocide claims?

[Gul] As for the genocide claims, they belong to the Armenian
diaspora, some rich Armenians residing in America. I tell them: then
go and leave in Armenia, if you love it that much. Do not just seat
there and stir things up. I tell them this. I hope that they will see
and realize this themselves.

There have been certain events at the time, but many Turkish lives
were lost as well. Under conditions of war, there can be casualties on
both sides but the Turks have never systematically killed people. Nor
does our history contain anything like that or our religion allows us
to do that. Massacre of civilians, genocide against them – such things
have never occurred in our history. The Turks, the Muslims, have never
done anything like that.

Hence, there may be some slander. We are always ready to reply to
those claims.

[Passage omitted: Turkey sent its envoy to USA to resolve this issue]

[Correspondent] Turkey is also a member of the OSCE Minsk Group. Why
does it not discuss the reasons for the Minsk Group’s failure to
resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh issue by now?

[Gul] Indeed, this issue has to be raised and I am spending a lot of
effort in this regard. During my visits abroad, I tell heads of state
that they are not paying as much attention to this issue as to other
conflicts. This conflict cannot be left in a frozen condition. They
have to pay attention to it and this conflict has to be resolved. We
are trying hard, but of course Azerbaijan has to try hard as well. It
is Azerbaijan’s lands which have been invaded.

On the other hand, Azerbaijan has to become stronger in every sense:
economically, militarily, democratically. To become stronger, the
country not only needs to reinforce its army, it also has to boost its
democracy and its economy. Then it will be better positioned to
defend its rights and interests.

Caucasus policy

[Correspondent] Some of your opponents are heavily criticizing
you. The EU is the priority for the incumbent government, and the
Caucasus policy is too weak, they say.

[Gul] Who are they?

[Correspondent] From the CHP [Republican People’s Party] and
others. Do you think Turkey’s current Caucasus policy is on the
necessary level?

[Gul] Certainly, it is. We place much importance on our Caucasus
policy. Turkey tries to resolve not only the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem, which we have discussed, but also some issues in Georgia. We
are closely watching the developments and are being effective. The
Caucasus is very important for us and the statements from the
opposition are engendered by envy.

[Correspondent] You have visited Georgia. The northeastern part of
Turkey is now well-off and there is a plan to build a railway between
Tbilisi and Kars. It would also connect Turkey and Azerbaijan. It was
talked about for a year but nothing happened.

[Gul] Large resources are needed for that. Not everything can be done
immediately. We also want to do that but we are unable so far to raise
enough funds. But it will be implemented.

[Passage omitted: Speculation on results of the referendum on
reunification in Cyprus]

[Presenter] Prior to Azerbaijani President [Ilham Aliyev’s] visit to
Turkey, there were some points in the Turkish-Armenian relationship
that caused concern in Azerbaijan. Now, those concerns can be
dismissed. It can be said that the positions of Turkey and Azerbaijan
on all issues concur.

Russian, Armenian leaders discuss Yerevan disturbances over phone

ITAR-TASS news agency
14 Apr 04

MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed confidence that “the
leadership of friendly Armenia will succeed in utilizing the country’s
substantial potential for democratic reform to maintain stability and
legality”.

During a telephone conversation today Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan, at the request of Vladimir Putin, shared his assessments of
the recent events in Yerevan, caused by an outbreak of internal
political tension, the Russian head of state’s press service stated.

The two heads of state discussed topical issues in bilateral
relations, as well as plans for future Russian-Armenian contacts at
various levels, including summit level.

A1 Plus | 13:46:37 | 14-04-2004 | Politics |

ARMENIA: JOURNALISTS BEATEN AT AN OPPOSITION RALLY

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns attack on several
Armenian journalists who were covering an opposition rally in the country’s
capital, Yerevan.

“CPJ calls on Armenian authorities to investigate these attacks against our
colleagues and bring those responsible to justice,” said CPJ Executive
Director Ann Cooper. “We also urge officials to ensure that journalists in
Armenia are able to do their jobs freely and safely”.

A1 Plus | 16:58:11 | 13-04-2004 | Official |

ROBERT KOCHARYAN RECEIVES VLADIMIR PRYAKHIN

President Kocharyan received the head of the OSCE Yerevan’s Office Vladimir
Pryakhin.

Projects being implemented in Armenia were discussed at the meeting.
Political situation in the republic was discussed as well. Mr. Pryakhin
expressed his concern over growing political tension and said constitutional
law should be maintained in Armenia.

A1 Plus | 16:10:43 | 13-04-2004 | Politics |

NATIONAL PRESS CLUB CONDEMNS JOURNALISTS PERSECUTION

National Press Club reacted angrily to the last night violence by issuing a
statement.

The club members protest mass arrests and brutality. National Assembly
members were arrested, foreign and local journalists were brutally beaten
and their cameras were snatched in a bid to prevent them from highlighting
the events, the statement says.

“We once again called on Robert Kocharyan and ruling coalition parties to
stop violence and respect opposite opinions”, National Press Club’s members
said in their statement.

They also urged all those appreciating freedom to unite in order to protect
democracy in Armenia.