Author: Kanayan Tamar

Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Mittwoch 27 Juli 2005

Scharfer Protest der Türkei
Schweizer Botschafter ins Aussenministerium in Ankara zitiert

Die Türkei hat am Mittwoch den Schweizer Botschafter ins
Aussenministerium in Ankara einbestellt. Sie protestierte bei ihm
scharf gegen die Schweizer Ermittlungen gegen zwei prominente Türken
wegen Genozid-Leugnung.

Wie das türkische Aussenministerium in Ankara mitteilte, brachte
Staatssekretär Nabi Sensoy in dem Gespräch mit dem Schweizer
Botschafter Walter Gyger «die Verstimmung der türkischen Regierung
und Öffentlichkeit in scharfer Form zum Ausdruck».

Der Botschafter sei von der Auffassung der türkischen Regierung
unterrichtet worden, dass die Vorermittlungen der Justiz in
Winterthur gegen den türkischen Historiker Yusuf Halacoglu und den
Politiker Dogu Perinçek gegen internationales Recht verstossen,
teilte das Aussenministerium mit.

«Verstoss» gegen Meinungsfreiheit
In Abwesenheit eines internationalen Gerichtsurteil zu der
Armenierfrage sei die Schweizer Justiz dazu nicht berechtigt. Die
türkische Regierung erwarte, dass diese Vorermittlungen sofort
eingestellt würden, erklärte das Aussenministerium. Alles andere
werde als eklatanter Verstoss gegen die Meinungsfreiheit bewertet.
Eine solche Behandlung türkischer Staatsbürger würde «den Beziehungen
zwischen den beiden Ländern unausweichlich schweren Schaden» zufügen,
wurde dem Schweizer Botschafter nach Angaben des Ministeriums
erklärt.

EDA widerspricht türkischer Darstellung
Die Sprecherin des Eidgenössischen Departements für auswärtige
Angelegenheiten (EDA) widersprach auf Anfrage den türkischen Angaben,
wonach der Schweizer Botschafter «bestellt» worden sei. Das Gespräch
habe auf Anfrage Gygers stattgefunden. Dies habe beiden Seiten
Gelegenheit gegeben, ihre Positionen darzulegen.

Am Donnerstag kommt es auf Wunsch des türkischen Botschafters in der
Schweiz in Bern zu einem weiteren Treffen Schweiz-Türkei. Der
Botschafter wird beim EDA vom Chef der Politischen Abteilung I,
Jean-Jacques de Dardel, empfangen werden, wie EDA-Sprecherin Carey
weiter ausführte.

Neue Zürcher Zeitung
25. Juli 2005

Armenien-Resolution und umstrittenes Hitler-Zitat

Reinhard Markner (Berlin)

Der Deutsche Bundestag hat kürzlich eine Resolution verabschiedet,
die vorgeblich “zur Versöhnung zwischen Türken und Armeniern
beitragen soll”. Die Resolution wurde mit Stimmen aller Parteien
angenommen, und das hat sich in Deutschland auch in einer sehr
unkritischen Berichterstattung niedergeschlagen. So ist von niemandem
bemerkt worden, dass der angeblich am 22. August 1939 gefallene
Ausruf Hitlers: “Wer redet heute noch von der Vernichtung der
Armenier?”, diesem möglicherweise nur untergeschoben worden ist. In
der Debatte wurde das Zitat gleich von zwei Rednern als Beleg dafür
gebraucht, dass das Schweigen über den Völkermord an den Armeniern
Hitler als Argument zur Rechtfertigung seines Vernichtungskrieges im
Osten gedient habe. Ein Abgeordneter behauptete, das Zitat sei “in
den Akten des Auswärtigen Amtes dokumentiert”.

Das ist unzutreffend. Der notorische Satz entstammt einer
Niederschrift, die dem amerikanischen Journalisten Louis P. Lochner
in Berlin zugespielt wurde. Darin wird zuletzt behauptet, dass Göring
im Anschluss an Hitlers Geheimrede vor den versammelten
Wehrmachtsgenerälen auf dem Tisch getanzt habe – eine schlechterdings
undenkbare Vorstellung. In anderen Aufzeichnungen derselben Ansprache
ist weder davon noch von den Armeniern die Rede. Die Nürnberger
Anklage verzichtete vernünftigerweise auf die Verwendung des
Dokuments, dessen Urheber sie nicht feststellen konnte. Die andere
Quelle, auf die in diesem Kontext ersatzweise verwiesen wird, sind
die Gespräche, die Hitler angeblich schon 1931 mit dem Leipziger
Chefredaktor Richard Breiting geführt haben soll.

Der endgültige Wortlaut der Bundestags-Entschliessung enthält nun
zwar nicht das vermeintliche Hitler-Zitat, dafür aber die
Aufforderung, “das Werk des Dr. Johannes Lepsius” dem Vergessen zu
entreissen. Erinnerungswürdig ist gewiss, wie der Potsdamer Pfarrer
in Berlin und Konstantinopel für die Rechte der Armenier kämpfte. Zu
seinem Werk gehört allerdings auch, nach Ende des Ersten Weltkriegs
eine gefälschte, die Gleichgültigkeit der deutschen Regierung
angesichts der Berichte von den Deportationen und Massakern
verschleiernde Aktenpublikation herausgegeben zu haben. Das hat
Wolfgang Gust in seiner kürzlich erschienenen Edition “Der Völkermord
an den Armeniern” detailliert nachgewiesen. Wie schon aus dem Titel
hervorgeht, ist Gust nicht verdächtig, die offizielle türkische
Position stützen zu wollen.

Insgesamt scheint es weder die Aufgabe des Deutschen Bundestages noch
die des Schweizer Nationalrats (der ebenfalls schon eine
Armenien-Resolution verabschiedete), die Geschichte entfernter
Nationen zu schreiben.

ArmenPress
July 25 2005

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER DOWNPLAYS AZERBAIJANI WAR RHETORIC

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS: Armenian defense minister Serzh
Sarkisian downplayed last Saturday Azerbaijan’s war rhetoric saying
it would have tried to win Karabakh back by using force long ago had
it been sure of its military build-up. Addressing a youth jamboree at
Armenia’s resort town of Tsakhkadzor Sarkisian said Azerbaijani
presidents have been saying for years they are able to solve the
problem through a war, “but if they are sure of their military
capacity why they have not done this ?’ he asked.
Sarkisian also dismissed a sharp increase in Azerbaijan’s defense
spending as an “imprudent ” trick designed to bully the Armenians
into making more concessions on Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliyev said last June that his country’s military
budget will increase from $175 million in 2004 to $300 million this
year in response to the recent redeployment of Russian weapons from
Georgia to Armenia and claimed that the Azerbaijani military has
already gained superiority over its Armenian adversary.
Sarkisian also spoke about domestic issues, brushing aside talks
about the possibility of what is dubbed as ‘color revolutions,’
saying Armenia had already seen this scenario back in 1990. Sarkisian
said revolutions took place in those post-Soviet republics which were
ruled by former Soviet leaders. He also argued that these
‘revolutions’ were in fact coups, as no systematic changes followed.
Serzh Sarkisian also denied that Vladimir Harutunian, a Georgian
citizen of Armenian descent, accused of making an attempt on the life
of U.S. President George W. Bush in Tbilisi on May 10, has anything
to do with Armenia or Armenians. “Detained Vladimir Harutunian is a
national of Georgia and has no ties with Armenia or Armenians. And
the assumptions made by some media are absolutely incomprehensible
and inappropriate,” he told a youth jamboree in Armenia’s resort town
of Tsakhkadzor on July 23.
Armenian defense minister quoted Georgia’s chief prosecutor who
said earlier last week that `Harutunian is a Georgian citizen, the
incident took place in Georgia and naturally it has no relation with
Armenia. We are looking for all evidence and information in Georgia.
They are here and nowhere else.

Armenian defence minister says compromise needed to solve Karabakh’s status

Arminfo
25 Jul 05

YEREVAN

“If it is possible to solve the issue of Nagornyy Karabakh’s status at
all, then we have to make concessions,” Armenian Defence Minister
Serzh Sarkisyan told a meeting with participants of the third
Pan-Armenian Youth Forum today.

He said he had outlined his position to that effect during the latest
hearings at the Armenian National Assembly.

“I developed my opinion long ago and I am sure that the issue of
Nagornyy Karabakh’s status can be solved only on the basis of mutual
concessions,” the minister said and added that no conflicts in the
world could be solved without concessions and would eventually turn
into a dispute between winners and losers.

The minister spoke against the return of [Azerbaijani] territories,
Armenian public radio reports. He added that if Azerbaijan accepts the
conditions put forward by the Karabakh side (i.e. if Baku agrees that
Nagornyy Karabakh cannot be subordinated to Azerbaijan, that the NKR
[Nagornyy Karabakh Republic] cannot exist as an enclave, that Karabakh
should participate in progressive tendencies and enjoy security
guarantees), then it might be worth speaking about setting up a
security zone, he said.

Manucharyan’s burning ambition
Saturday, 23 July 2005
By Andrew Haslam in Belfast

Edgar Manucharyan believes Armenia’s first-ever point
in a finals tournament, won in the UEFA European
Under-19 Championship against England on Wednesday,
gives his country something to build on, both in this
tournament and for the future.

Armenian sensation
Carl Lombe’s late leveller earned Armenia an
unexpected 1-1 draw against England and a fighting
chance of reaching the last four in Northern Ireland.
Although Samuel Petrosyan’s team are bottom of Group
B, victory against leaders France together with a
positive result in Saturday’s other match between
Norway and England, will send Armenia through. Their
captain, 18-year-old Manucharyan, is optimistic,
telling uefa.com: “It is sensational to see Armenia in
the final tournament, but we came here to compete, not
just participate. We have one game left and we’ll give
our all to win that and, hopefully, qualify for the
semi-finals.”

First success
The striker insists that his side’s success signals an
improvement in fortunes for his country: “This is our
first finals and it’s so important for Armenia and
Armenian football. This tournament is crucial for
Armenia in all respects. It’s our first footballing
success since we gained independence, and gives us
something to build on for the future so that we can
compete with the big nations. Everyone back home is
very interested in us, there is lots of coverage in
the press.

‘New generation’
“In Armenia, we have a new, talented generation who
can perhaps have success in the future,” continued
Manucharyan, who scored eight qualifying goals
including four in the decisive Elite round encounter
with Hungary. “The Football Federation of Armenia has
worked hard over the past couple of years, so we hope
to achieve something significant in the near future.
In two or three years we’ll have a very good senior
squad.”

‘Dream come true’
Having joined AFC Ajax from FC Pyunik on 1 July,
Manucharyan – who is already a full international and
scored against F.Y.R. Macedonia in a FIFA World Cup
qualifier in June – is probably his country’s most
famous current player, which is a source of great
pride. “This is a dream come true for me,” he said. “I
began my career at a very young age – I was playing
for the U17 national side when I was 15, so I was
exposed to attention early and have learnt to cope
with it. The pressure does not bother me.”

Ajax acclimatisation
The 2004 Armenian Player of the Year broke a bone in
his right foot while on trial with Ajax last December,
but never lost faith. “Ajax had been watching me for
two years, since I scored against the Netherlands in a
European U17 Championship qualifier, so I knew they
wanted me,” he said. “I’m settling in quickly, there’s
a very good atmosphere in the team. It’s new for me,
but I’m enjoying it very much. Ajax are a big club –
Pyunik are regularly champions of Armenia but there’s
a big difference between the two.

Every player must go forward and wants new challenges,
especially at a club as big as Ajax

Edgar Manucharyan

Time to move on
“With Pyunik, I won three league titles, two Armenian
Cups and the Armenian Super Cup, so I feel that
everything is done in Armenia,” Manucharyan added.
“Every player must go forward and wants new
challenges, especially at a club as big as Ajax. I
must train and work hard to succeed. I believe every
one of my team-mates at the U19s is capable of playing
at a high level in Europe, and I would be glad if some
of them follow me. It will be very good for the
progress of Armenian football, and that is what’s
important.”

NEW APPROACHES FOR IDENTIFICATION AND PREVENTION OF CANCER PRESENTED

ArmenPress
July 19 2005

YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Health Ministry’s Oncology
Center and the Academy for Educational Development (AED) with funding
of the United States Agency for International Development organized
today “Cancer Prevention and Control at the Primary Level in Armenia”
seminar-meeting to present to family doctors and specialists delivering
primary health services cancer epidemiology, risk factors and new
approaches for early identification and prevention of the disease.

Armenian Deputy Health Minister Tatul Hakobian greeted the organization
of the forum and presented Health Minister Norayr Davidian’s message to
the participants in which he calls on health establishments to have the
issues on cancer prevention and control under their limelight. Tatul
Hakobian said the efforts which they have undertaken to make people
go to policlinics for examination were justified and at present
more people visit doctors and now there is a necessity to implement
practical steps in identifying the disease in its initial state.

USAID Armenian Mission Director Robin Phillips told it is necessary
to develop an anti-cancer national program in Armenia.

According to him, many countries adopt national policy for fighting
against the disease. During the meeting he welcomed the five-year long
cooperation between the Armenian Health Ministry and USAID which have
joint aim to develop the health primary control circle.

According to him, the events organized for cancer prevention will
first of all be useful for family doctors.

“It is necessary to display political will, combine abilities and
increase the level of public awareness for fighting against the
disease,” said Phillips. Hranush Hakobian, head of the Science,
Education, Culture and Youth Affairs Permanent Commission, also
underscored the necessity of developing a state program and releasing
funds from the state budget for fighting against the disease. “It
is necessary to fight against the disease by all means. It is also
necessary to implement such amendments, according to which a person
who has cancer will be treated by state released funds.”

Head of the Armenian Ontology Center Hayrapet Galstian said fight
against the cancer is not only health issue but also a national,
state and public one. During the recent years Armenian medical
facilities have been fulfilled with modern devices which promoted
the early identification of the disease. The cases of identification
of the disease have increased by 6% which results in decrease of
expenditures. Galstian said the early identification is not the issue
of oncologist but of the primary sector and family doctor. From this
point of view he considered the creation of Family Doctor Institute
in Armenia as a very effective step.

He said that at present there are 30,000 registered people with cancer
who have been treated for 10 years. According to him, practically
they are healthy people and have returned to their families and
society. According to the information possessed by the Ontology Center,
in 2004 6,174 people with cancerous growths were registered in Armenia,
48.7% of which were women. For comparison, the number of new cancer
cases in 1995 was 4,705, in 2000 – 5,413.

Increase is registered in the number of new cancer cases among female
reproductive organs. Beast cancer has the second leading place in the
cancer epidemiology in the country after lung cancer. The disease is
also spread among men who are often getting cancer in lungs, prostate
and in colo-rectal system.

PanArmenian News Network
July 19 2005

INTRACOM SIGNED [email protected] CONTRACT WITH VIVACELL

19.07.2005 04:53

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ INTRACOM has signed a new contract, amounting to
[email protected] in its first phase, with VivaCell, the trademark of K-Telecom,
which is second largest mobile operator in Armenia, for the
deployment of a mobile network. INTRACOM Company Press Service stated
to .am edition of PanARMENIAN.Net. According to the source, the aim
of the project, which INTRACOM undertook in cooperation with ALCATEL,
is to enable VivaCell to become a strong mobile operator in Armenia
that will provide the most advanced high-quality services to the
Armenian end-users. In particular, within the framework of the
contract, the project provides for the deployment of a complete
“turn-key” mobile network covering the entire territory of Armenia.
It should be noted that INTRACOM Company headquartered in Greece is
one of the main providers of ArmenTel telephone company, which has
concluded a $37-million contract of with INTRACOM in 1999. However,
the Interdepartmental Commission, formed by the Armenian Government
in 2001, has discovered misuse of the financial flows of common
activities of ArmenTel and INTRACOM. It should also be mentioned that
INTRACOM Company was founded by social immigrant Sokratis Kokalis,
who is observed to be in close cooperation with German State Security
Committee. Bundestag respective bodies are dealing with the
wheeler-dealer finance of Sokratis Kokalis and his company. Detailed
information is available in the Library section.

Alcatel’s Earnings Exceed Expectations, Shares Gain

Bloomberg.com
July 12, 2005

Alcatel SA, the world’s biggest broadband equipment supplier, said sales
and earnings rose more than the company expected in the second quarter,
lifted by demand for Internet-related and wireless phone products.

Sales rose 8 percent to 3.14 billion euros ($3.8 billion), instead of
the predicted 2 percent to 3 percent increase, the Paris-based company
said in a faxed statement today. Operating profit was about 251 million
euros, or more than 8 percent of sales, Alcatel said. The shares climbed
6.5 percent, the biggest gain in more than eight months.

“For once we have a good surprise from Alcatel, which isn’t doing as
badly as we thought,” said Andre Chassagnol, head of research at
Paresco Futures in Paris.

The gain in profitability brings Alcatel, under Chief Executive Serge
Tchuruk, closer to its goal of 10 percent operating margin for the full
year. The company disappointed investors in the first quarter with an
operating margin of 4.1 percent. Tchuruk, facing competition from
companies including Cisco Systems Inc., has sold units and cut more than
40,000 jobs, returning Alcatel to profit in 2004 after three years of
losses.

Shares of Alcatel rose 60 cents to 9.80 euros in Paris, the biggest gain
since Oct. 21. Still, Alcatel stock has declined 13.8 percent this year,
compared with a 12.9 percent increase in France’s CAC 40 index. Since
the beginning of 2000, the stock is down 78 percent, compared with a 25
percent drop in the CAC 40.

Shares of Cisco, the world’s biggest maker of computer networking
equipment, have gained 1.9 percent this year, compared with a 0.5
percent increase in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

Increasing Margin

Second-quarter earnings totaled about 13 euro cents per share, lifted by
a tax gain and a “one time capital gain” linked to the sale of an
unspecified investment in central Europe, Finance Director Jean-Pascal
Beaufret said on a conference call. More details of second-quarter
earnings will be provided in a full presentation July 28, he said.

Beaufret said the 8 percent margin in the second-quarter was a “little
bit higher” than expected and the margin would rise in the second half,
boosted particularly in the fourth quarter.

“The results are at the top end of what Alcatel was forecasting for the
year as a whole,” said Franck Hennin, who helps manage $2.2 billion in
assets at Richelieu Finance in Paris. “Its business is quite cyclical
and the second half is better for margins,” he said.

Margin Targin

The company said April 28 that profitability had been hurt by costs of
marketing new mobile-network equipment and the expense of currency
hedges. Alcatel today reiterated its goal of a 10 percent operating
margin for the full year.

Alcatel’s first-quarter operating income rose 27 percent to 107 million
euros from 84 million euros a year earlier. Revenue rose 3.7 percent in
the first quarter to 2.61 billion euros from 2.52 billion a year earlier.

First-quarter net income fell 55 percent to 124 million euros, or 9
cents a share, from 278 million euros, or 20 cents, a year earlier. Last
year’s first-quarter net income included the effect of the sale of
battery maker Saft. Alcatel sold the unit in January 2004 to Doughty
Hanson & Co. for 390 million euros.

Tchuruk, 67, trimmed Alcatel’s workforce by 8 percent last year to about
56,000 at the end of 2004.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Benedikt Kammel in Berlin at [email protected]
or
Simon Packard in Paris [email protected]

;sid=aXA3.zOHDboc

HUMORISTS FROM MILLI MEJLIS

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
14 July 05

The election to the Azerbaijani Milli Mejlis (the parliament) is in
November. The struggle for seats in the parliament has flared up. It
looks like the opposition have made up their minds to teach a lesson
to the authorities and win the majority of seats in the
parliament. And, by the way, they look quite confident int heir
victory. This confidence, first of all, emanates from the standpoint
of the West and first of all the United States which unambiguously let
them understand that it will support the opposition. It is enough to
consider the statement of the US ambassador to Azerbaijan during his
trip to Gyandja at the end of the last month. He particularly said
that the US government seeks to cooperate with democratic countries;
therefore, the US will support Azerbaijan in holding the election in
autumn. The ambassador is hopeful that the election will be fair. The
Karabakh proverb says they tell the complete word to the ass. However,
we are concerned about another thing; will the new parliament be as
amusing as the former? Do the Americans and other representatives of
the West, being so far from the Oriental colourful humour, who are
going to supervise the upcoming election, think about this peculiarity
of the Azerbaijani parliament? If not, its a pity. Because in Baku
they joke that there are two theatres of comedy in the capital of
Azerbaijan. One of them is the theatre of musical comedy, the other is
the Milly Mejlis of Azerbaijan. Moreover, it is generally accepted
that the actors of the theatre of musical comedy cannot compare to
their “colleagues” in Milli Mejlis by their professional skills, where
Speaker Murtus Aleskerov himself plays the role of the “fool”. Its a
pity that no tickets for the “performances” of the Azerbaijani
parliament are sold otherwise the inhabitants of Baku known for their
delicate taste for humour would book the tickets beforehand. This is
not exaggerated. Which parliament of the world would complain of the
symbol of justice Themis, more exactly the band around her eyes? What
is more, the meeting when the complaint was lodged was conducted by a
doctor of law. The answer is the Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan. Four
years ago, discussing the bill on the official symbol of the court of
justice, Member of Parliament Hasan Mirzoyev from the ruling political
party Yeni Azerbaijan stated with a practical air that the eyes and
ears of judges should be wide open in order for them to be objective
in considering the case. In answer to this Member of Parliament
Aliovsat Aghalarov noticed that the eyes of the judges can be open but
their pockets should be buttoned. In this meeting they could not do
without “anti-Armenianism” either. One of the parliamentary
“humorists” did not like the scales in the hand of Themis, which
allegedly resembles the Armenian cross. It was even proposed to
replace the scales with the yataghan of Khatayi Shah. After long
disputes presided by Murtus Aleskerov, who is, as you have already
guessed, the abovementioned doctor of law, the members of parliament
suggested a compromise. They decided that the scales should be left as
it is but at least one of the eyes of the goddess should be
opened. Hopefully, common sense prevailed as it does at the end of all
the comedies. Or in which parliament would the members of parliament
propose to “behead” this or that politician? Again the answer is the
Azerbaijani. A year ago Member of Parliament Jalal Aliev made this
proposal for the leader of Musavat, Isa Ghambar. One more question. In
which parliament of the world can the physical features become a
category for evaluating a politician? The answer again is the
Azerbaijani. At the meeting of the Milli Mejlis the member of
parliament representing the ruling political party Yeni Azarbaijan
Musa Musayev angrily swore at the chairman of the oppositionist
political party of National Independence Etibar Mamedov because the
latter had dared to criticize Ilham Aliev. “Even when sitting Ilham
Aliev is taller than Etibar Mamedov. How can Etibar Mamedov with his
stature ever criticize Ilham Aliev,” shouted Musa Musayev. There is no
end to the oddities of the humorists of the Azerbaijani
parliament. Either they decide on adopting laws on protection of
national moral values and on extremism only because “the Azerbaijani
oppositionists are immoral, ruin the system of national moral values
and are engaged in extremist activities”, or advise their colleagues
to have the mental doctor examine them and even accuse the members of
parliament of being homosexuals And last year the vice speaker of the
Milli Mejlis Ziyafet Askerov made “an epoch-making discovery” for the
Azerbaijani political establishment. He discovered that the leaders of
the Azerbaijani opposition “feel pathological hatred against one
another”. Ziyafet Askerov came to this conclusion after studying their
photos taken during the meeting of the coordinating board. “In the
photos one can see that their smiles are forced, and they hate one
another,” stated the vice speaker with a profound sense of duty. The
present mejlismen were not dignified (but instead they were faithful
to their humorist spirit) when they expressed their opinion on the
activities of the European organizations, particularly the OSCE,
although the official Baku did not join the statement of the CIS
countries criticizing the OSCE. At one of the meetings of the
parliament the members of parliament representing the political party
Yeni Azarbaijan were quite frank saying that the OSCE intended to
stage a coup in Azerbaijan and bring the local opposition to
power. They could not do without blaming the Armenians either. For
example, a mejlisman decided to open the eyes of the Azerbaijanis and
Armenians. “I knew that the OSCE is the “godfather” of the Armenians,
and now I have come to understand that the OSCE is also the
“godfather” of the Azerbaijani opposition,” announced Mr. Know-All. It
turns out that there are close “ties of kinship” between the Armenians
and Azerbaijanis, whereas the naive Armenians could not even imagine
this would be possible However, as it could be expected, Murtus
Aleskerov is full of hatred for European organizations. He openly
announced that the task of the head of the Baku office of the OSCE is
to make enquiries about the disputes taking place in the Milli Mejlis
and inform the Americans. This exotic accusation against the European
diplomat aroused the ironic laughter of the leader of the reformist
Popular Front Ali Kerimli. In the presence of the Baku mass media the
irritated speaker told Ali Kerimli to behave himself (A.G.) and went
on with this statement, “I personally appeal to you, Ali Kerimli. Keep
in your mind that with such oppositionists like you no power will be
ever shared.” Not without success did the performance of the mejlismen
pass after the cancellation of the NATO exercise Cooperative Best
Effort 2004 to have been held in Azerbaijan last September. The
training was cancelled because the Azerbaijani side refused to receive
the Armenian military men. This scandalous fact in the history of NATO
was presented by Member of Parliament Gudrat Hasanguliev as “the great
achievement of the Azerbaijani diplomacy”. And his colleague Ibrahim
Isayev hurried to congratulate the Azerbaijani people on the “historic
victory”. The “cast” of the Milli Mejlis was, as a rule, supported by
the former advisor on foreign affairs Vafa Guluzadeh. The rate of his
anti-Armenian activities is simply impressive. Apparently the former
advisor to Heidar Aliev wants to atone for his sin of close friendship
with the Armenians (in the Soviet times). According to Vafa Guluzadeh,
the legacies in Baku give the governments of their countries wrong
information about the genuine attitude of the Azerbaijanis towards
Armenians, which is outrageous hatred. Bravo, Vafa! Let there be more
similar statements addressed to the European organizations. Let them
understand at last why the Armenians of Karabakh do not want to be
subject to such statesmen as the tragedian Vafa Guluzadeg and the
“clowns” of the Milli Mejlis. Now quite seriously. Every performance
comes to its end. Soon the present “actors” of Milli Mejlis will leave
the stage of the theatre of absurd. We are hopeful that instead of new
“clowns” and Armenophobs they will be replaced by serious people of
sound judgement who will think for the fate of their
people. Otherwise, as the journalist E. Orudjev predicts, the
Azerbaijani people may come to a complete moral decay. God forbid.

ALEXANDER GRIGORIAN.
14-07-2005

AZG Armenian Daily #128, 13/07/2005

Neighbors

AZERBAIJAN MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM EU NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM

Referring to diplomatic sources, the Baku based Zerkalo stated
recently that Azerbaijan may be excluded from the EU neighborhood
program, if the November 6 parliamentary elections do not keep in line
with the international criteria. Heikki Talvittie, EU Special
Representative, recently visited Baku, met with the Azeri authorities,
the opposition and the representatives of NGOs. The Finn diplomat said
that he will pay two other visits to Baku before the elections.