Author: Felekian Ara

OSCE CHAIRMAN IN OFFICE ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IN 2006

Yerevan, May 23. ArmInfo. In an interview to RFE/RL OSCE Chairman in
Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht says that he is not
pessimistic but is not excessively optimistic about the possibility
of the Karabakh conflict settlement this year.

He says that the OSCE is doing its best to bring the sides to
agreement. Sometimes the hope is strong sometimes not. De Gucht urges
Armenia and Azerbaijan to do all they can to reach agreement. All
depends on them while the OSCE and Belgium, as OSCE Chairman in Office,
can only help them in the matter.

De Gucht says that often there are some side obstacles to the
resolution of frozen conflicts. One of such obstacles to the Karabakh
peace process is the closed Armenian-Turkish border.

De Gucht is still optimistic in the matter. He says that unless one
is optimist he has nothing to do in the politics.

THE FRIENDLY RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND GREEK NATIONS UNDERLIE COOPERATION

Yerkir.am
May 19, 2006

In October 2005 ARF’s Structure in Ijevan launched an initiative
of cooperation between Ijevan and one of the cities in Greece. The
cooperation would stem from the two cities becoming sister cities.

The Mayor of the Greek city of Nicia Benedatos Stelios appreciates
greatly the role of the Armenian community in Nicia and agreed to
cooperate. The cooperation agreement was reached with support from
ARF’s local structures in Ijevan and Nicia.

Last year the Armenian delegation headed by the Mayor of Ijevan
Varuzhan Nersissian visited Nicia. This year the Mayor of Nicia
visited Ijevan and had a series of meetings. “Didn’t you change your
mind after you saw Ijevan?” someone asked joking.

The Mayor of Nicia answered that he admired the nature of Ijevan
and the warm and kind welcome of the local people and will be back
to Ijevan.

Representative of ARF’s Supreme Body Armen Rustamian and member of
the Supreme Body Hrach Tadevossian met Mayor Benedatos Stelios at
ARF’s Simon Vratsian Center on May 16. Both sides agreed that the
friendly relations between the Armenian and Greek nations underlie
cooperation this cooperation effort.

Deputy Mayor of Nicia, representative of ARF’s Varandian Committee
Zaven Gnuni also attended the meeting. Welcoming the guests in Armenia,
Armen Rustamian stressed the centuries-old friendship between the
Armenian and Greek nations noting that the Greek people are received
in Armenia not as partners but as brothers.

Rustamian believes when such friendly relations were established
between Armenia and countries where there are Aremnian communities no
one believed such ties could work. “Today it seems that a competition
has started,” Rustamian noted adding that Armenia and Greece have
a great potential and the historical connections between the two
countries provide for such a great scope of cooperation that it is
not fully used today.

Through such cooperation initiatives and thanks to Armenians living
in Greece connections between the two countries will yield their
results. Rustamian stressed the importance of cooperation between
the Armenian and Greek political leaders in the European structures.

The Mayor of Nicia shared his impressions of Ijevan and
noted that there is potential for cooperation between the two
cities. “Friendly relations have already been established between
the two municipalities. They should be strengthened not only through
mutual visits but also through joint projects in different spheres,”
the Mayor of Nicia noted stressing the importance of the Armenian
community in his city.

Zaman, Turkey
May 21 2006

Ankara: We Hope Bill will not be Brought up Again
By Zaman, Ankara
Published: Saturday, May 20, 2006
zaman.com

Turkish officials in Ankara welcomed with cautious optimism the news
that the French bill designed to criminalize denial of the s0-called
Armenian genocide was `for the time being’ dropped off the agenda.

A statement from the Foreign Ministry focused attention on the need
to not bring up the bill for discussion a second time in the
parliament. It also appealed for approval from the international
community of a proposal from the Turkish government to `form a joint
commission.’

In Friday’s parliamentary discussions, the French government and
French foreign minister had an oppositional stance to the bill, the
statement read, `Now we expect to see that the bill will not be
brought up for discussion a second time in the French National
Parliament, and that a joint commission of Turkish and Armenian
historians will be allowed to make use of all documents -archived or
not – when they are assigned for an exploration of the 1915 events,
and that the international community, including France, will grant
its approval of a proposal from the Turkish government to share the
results with the whole world.’

France was thrown into discussion over the bill that received
opposition from French historians and public leaders, the statement
said.

Today, Azerbaijan
May 20 2006

Egyptian Presidential Aide: “Official Cairo fully supports
Azerbaijani efforts to publicize invasion fact”

20 May 2006 [13:07] – Today.Az

“The Arab Republic of Egypt has broad knowledge of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and Cairo fully supports Azerbaijan’s efforts to
publicize the occupation fact to the international community,” said
Usae Ilbaz, political aide to Egypt’s President Hosnu Mubarak at a
meeting with Azerbaijani delegation at Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Mr.Ilbaz said that official Cairo is ready to deploy different
delegations to Azerbaijan to promote raising much more awareness in
Egyptian public on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

“Do not feel offended for our parliamentarians lacking broad
information on the conflict during the meeting at Egyptian
parliament. Most of our parliamentarians are interested in the
problems that concern Arab world mainly. We can deploy different
delegations to Baku to familiarize with Azerbaijan’s stance and have
much knowledge of the truths on its problems. Everybody knows that
there is instability in the world, systems are changing and problems
are emerging. After the September 11 events, the international
community has thought of Islam religion as a threat to the world.
This opinion is absolutely wrong,” the presidential aide noted.
Mr.Ilbaz also aid he gained large impressions about our country by
his short-term visit to Baku.

“I have been to Azerbaijan recently, got chance to familiarize with
your country. My 48-hour stay in Baku was enough to get acquainted
with your culture. I was deeply impressed by your rich culture and
hospitability,” Ilbaz stressed.

The presidential aide also reported that Egyptian large delegation
will visit Azerbaijan soon. This visit will be important from the
aspect of drawing up a wide report o Azerbaijan and problems it
faces. Stating that the official Cairo supports the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh, Usame Ilbaz stressed that no conflict has ever
brought dividend to the parties.

“I assure you that no parties to a conflict win anything. Egypt is
ready to take steps in level of international organizations for the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, and supports
Azerbaijan’s efforts in this field,” Mr.Ilbaz concluded.

URL:

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : DEVEDJIAN DENONCE UNE MANOEUVRE

Agence France Presse
19 mai 2006 vendredi

Patrick Devedjian (UMP) a accuse vendredi le gouvernement et le
president de l’Assemblee nationale Jean-Louis Debre d’avoir sabote
le debat sur la proposition de loi socialiste reprimant la negation
du genocide armenien, pour empecher son adoption.

“Le debat aurait dû commencer a 09H30 il a commence a 12H15 et il
a dure trois-quarts d’heure”, a-t-il dit sur Europe 1 en jugeant ce
procede “scandaleux”.

Selon M. Devedjian, qui a des origines armeniennes, “on a suspendu
(la seance) parce qu’il y avait une majorite massive presente dans
l’hemicycle qui aurait vote le texte sur tous les bancs”. “On
a deliberement agi pour que les deputes ne puissent pas voter”,
a-t-il insiste.

Il a ajoute que Jean-Louis Debre, qui presidait la seance et l’a levee
avant la fin du debat et le vote, et le gouvernement “ne souhaitaient
pas que ce texte soit soumis au vote, parce qu’ils savaient qu’il
serait vote”.

Le depute des Hauts-de-Seine, conseiller de Nicolas Sarkozy a l’UMP,
a qualifie de “pur fantasme” de penser que le vote d’un tel texte
allait penaliser les echanges commerciaux avec la Turquie.

La proposition de loi PS vise a completer la loi de 2001 par laquelle
la France reconnaît le genocide armenien. Elle fait de la negation
du genocide un delit punissable d’un an d’emprisonnement et de 45.000
euros d’amende.

–Boundary_(ID_TBtx/a/9hk5ONmdvOaE/ug)- –

ARMENTEL CABLES TOWARDS YEREVAN DAMAGED ON EARLY MAY 18

Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The internet communication was
damaged on May 18 in Yerevan and its neighboring territory. As
Hasmik Chutilian, the head of the ArmenTel Press Service informed
the Noyan Tapan correspondent, the cable of ArmenTel by which the
internet communication of the mentioned territory is provided was
damaged. She informed that both main and reserve cables were damaged
at the same time, correspondingly near the cities of Charentsavan and
Ashtarak. According to the ArmenTel Press Sevice head, at present
works are being done to restore the cable, and one of the cables
will be restored till the afternoon and the internet communication
will be re-established. Chutilian also informed that the ArmenTel
administration considers doubtful that the main and reserve cables were
damaged at the same time and after finishing the restoration works,
is envisaged to address to legal bodies with a demand to start an
investigation concerning the taken place case.

WAC HAS ENOUGH MATERIAL TO TURN TO INTERNAT COURT OVER GENOCIDE
by Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 17, 2006 Wednesday 03:52 PM EST

The World Armenian Congress (WAC) has enough documented material to
turn to the International Court over the Armenian genocide in the
Ottoman empire, Ara Abramyan, the president of the WAC and of the
Union of Armenians of Russia, told a news conference here on Wednesday
evening. He recalled that WAC experts had worked in the archives of
more than 30 countries.

Abramyan said WAC experts must specify Armenia’s stand as to how to
pose the question – whether to demand the compensation for moral,
material or territorial damage from the genocide. “It is necessary
to make it clear what we aim to receive and in what order,” the
president of the congress said. A forum with the participation of
representatives of the Armenian authorities and WAC experts is to be
held next year to formulate the uniform stand on the matter.

Abramyan said the WAC would assist the establishment of the Armenian
chair in a large university in Israel so that alongside lectures
about the Holocaust there should be the presentation of facts about
the Armenian genocide in the Ottooman Turkey in the late 19th –
early 20th centuries.

International recognition and condemnation of the Armenian genocide
is one of the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy.

QUOTE UNQUOTE

The Cairns Post (Australia)
May 15, 2006 Monday

He who speaks the truth must have one foot in the stirrup. – Armenian
proverb.

‘I, CITIZEN OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA, …’
By Gohar Sargsian

AZG Armenian Daily
16/05/2006

These are the first words of the oath of those going to their
death. Artur Sarukhanian was the 5th to read it. He was sure
at that moment that he will go to Artsakh and will return with
victory. Mrs. Elmira is reading her son’s diplomas as though expecting
to find out something new, but in fact she can recite what is written
there. She says she remembers everything. Even things that were
written about Artur in a book of dream interpretations.

Artur was born in a house at the backyard of Khachatur Abovian Museum
in 1971. Upon finishing the 103d secondary school he entered the
polygraphic school. In 1989 he was called up to the Soviet army and
served in the special guard of Kremlin. His sublime appearance and
excellent command of Russian language embarrassed foreigners. Only
his surname would indicate his nationality. Artur had an Azerbaijani
mate in Moscow.

Artur did not trust him. Mrs. Elmira says that even commanders worried
about Artur. He often talked about Artsakh with the Azeri and used
to say that it will be liberated some day.

After the events of 1991, Artur came back home. He said he was leaving
for Artsakh. No one believed him.

His mother knew that her son is unable to kill.

Without telling the folks Artur went to military registration and
enlistment office. He asked there to be sent to Artsakh and was
said that it was impossible for then. That very day he met Vazgen
Sargsian. Then he returned home and said with blazing eyes: “Mom,
can you imagine, I played football with Vazgen.”

Nevertheless, Artur left his home for the front. But returned in a
week. There was no uniform for recruits.

In a couple of days Artur got in a car accident.

Opening his eyes at the rehab ward he said: “Let me go. I have to go
to Karabakh. Where are my parents?

They must be looking for me.” His parents were waiting at the
corridor. At that moment Mrs. Elmira was praising God that his Artur
was ok but today she would prefer he had broken his leg to stay
at home.

It was 5 of September. Having liberated 8 villages “Artsiv-1” squad
appeared in encirclement. When the corridor was open, and the squad
began pulling out, Artur did not move. In a distance of 15 meters
to the enemy his fiend was lying dead. Artur would not allow Azeris
take his friend either dead or alive. He crawled to him and tried to
embrace. At that instance a bullet got him.

Mrs. Elmira says that 2 years ago she did not believe that Artur
is no more. She did not see her son’s body, the tomb was empty for
her. Only 2 years ago Artur’s picture was impressed on a khachkar. Now
she visits the memorial; she goes to her Artur. Years passed, and now
was Vazgen Sargsian’s turn to say: “I played football with ‘handsome
Artur’ from Kanaker.”

At the parliamentary elections one of the candidates promised to name
a street after Artur Sarukhanian but he forgot the promise after
the lections. Soon after a new light beamed for her. When the son
of Artur’s brother was born everybody noticed that he is very like
his uncle. Every time his grandma tries to tell him off he says:
“Grandma, don’t you know that I am your Artur?”

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenian Speaker Did What He Deemed Necessary, Armenian MOD Head
Believes

12.05.2006 20:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «I would not advise anyone searching for some
secret aspects in the retirement of Armenian National Assembly Speaker
Artur Baghdassaryan. He did what he deemed necessary,» Armenian
Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan told journalists. In his words,
differences in Orinats Yerkir party were about to happen long ago and
Artur Baghdassaryan’s move is quite explicable. As of businessmen, who
left Orinats Yerkir, in Sargsyan’s opinion, they joined the party
hoping to gain power leverage. «However, now the party does not
have power and they considered leaving it was a right move. As of
myself, I will repeat again I was never member of Orinats Yerkir –
either in 2000, or in 2001 or later,» S. Sargsyan emphasized.