Author: Karagyozian Lena

‘Erdogan-Kocharyan meeting not certain’

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
May 6 2005

Armenian’s Foreign Minister has played down suggestions that the
Armenian head of state Robter Kocharyan and Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold an informal meeting in the near future.

May 6- No official proposals have been made, Oskanyan said. Commenting
on suggestions from Ankara that a meeting might take place in Poland,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said late Thursday that
nothing had been confirmed on the matter.

Reports in the media on a meeting between the Turkish premier
and Kocharyan were based on an indirect proposal from Ankara and
presumptions made by the journalists, Oskanyan said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul raised the possibility of a
meeting between Erdogan and Kocharyan on Thursday, saying there was
nothing planned but that it was possible informal talks could take
place in Warsaw.

Russia govt submits to State Duma agreements with Armenia, Yemen

ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 5, 2005 Thursday 9:34 AM Eastern Time

MOSCOW, May 5 — The Russian government has endorsed and submitted
for the ratification to the State Duma lower house of parliament the
agreements with the governments of Armenia and Yemen on encouraging
and mutual protection of capital investments, the government press
service reported on Thursday, says PRIME-Tass.

Russia’s agreement with Armenia was signed in Yerevan on September
15, 2001. The agreement with Yemen was signed in Moscow on December
17, 2002.

According to the April 29 resolutions, Maxim Medvedkov, the director
of the trade negotiations department of the Ministry of Economic
Development and Trade, was appointed the official representative of
the Russian government at the discussion of the ratification of both
agreements by the houses of the Federal Assembly.

HAMSHEN” MEMBERS IN ARMENIA ASKED ASSISTANCE OF RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

Pan Armenian News
05.05.2005 08:17

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Council of Hamshen philanthropic non-governmental
organization of the Republic of Armenia has appealed to Russian
Ambassador to Armenia N. Pavlov, asking for assistance to register
Hemshins cultural association in Krasnodar Territory, reported the
Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia. In its letter the
Hamshen organization Council expresses serious concern over the
situation in Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation over a
Hemshin NGO (Islamized Armenians) – a subethnoconfessional group of
the Armenian people. Hemshin representatives are denied registration
of their society – the cultural association of Hemshin – for the fourth
time. The concern of the Armenian organization is conditioned with the
fact that the constant refusals to register the cultural association
far-fetched. Thus, the latest refusal was due to the sole reason –
the application for registration did not mention the proper name
of the registering body. At that the official refusal, conveyed
to Hemshin representatives May 3, was dated May 4. The message to
the Russian Ambassador further said: “When registering any other
organization it is not a basis for refusal – the applicant is given
an opportunity to make corrections and again apply to the registering
body. It did not take place in the Hemshin case, however the state
duty of 2000 rubles was duly levied four times. Thus, the actions
of the representatives of the Central Administrative Board of the
Federal Registration Service of Krasnodar Territory form a precedent
for the appearance of another people leaving Russia as political
refugees. It is not a secret that representatives of the International
Organization of Migration, who realize a project on resettlement of
Turk-Meskhetians from Krasnodar Territory to the US, already arrange
similar projects to resettle Kurd-Kurmanji people that also live in
Kuban and the Hemshins. We cannot stay indifferent toward the fate
of Hemshins, as Hamshen Armenians and Hemshins are one people. Due
to the mass forced imposition of Islam upon the Armenian population
of the Hamshen district in Western Armenia (now Turkey’s territory)
in the 18-th century and ethnoconfessional group with pronounced
self-consciousness was formed and it called itself Homshetsi and
spoke the Hamshen dialect of the Amrenian language. A small group
of Hemshins lived in Ajaria – in the 20-es it was composed of 600
members. In 1944 Hemshins of Ajaria along with Turk Meskhetians and
Kurd-Kurmanjis were deported to Kirgizia and Kazakhstan. In 70-es
part of the Hemshins moved to Krasnodar Territory and today they
live in the Apsheron, Belorechensk and other regions (some 1000
persons). The problem of determination of the ethnic belonging of
the group in question is linked with political aspects. Hemshins of
Turkey perceive their ethnic and linguistic difference from Turks,
however the policy of the Turkish state suppresses their urge to
forming of an ethnic self-consciousness. Hemshins living in Russia
acknowledge their kinship with the Hamshen Armenian community.”

SPECIAL SESSION IN THE NA. “EUROPE MUST GET READY FOR WASHING”

A1plus

| 13:36:55 | 06-05-2005 | Politics |

«Where is Arshak Sadoyan? », the NA special session started with this
question of the NA President with a delay of an hour. It was convened
to discuss the three draft constitutions. At 10:00 a.m. only 54
delegates were registered instead of the 66 necessary to secure quorum.

The United Labor Party fraction did not register although there were
in the hall. «We are boycotting», announced head of the fraction
Gourgen Arsenyan without any explanation. Nevertheless, at 11:00 the
United Labor Party was registered too. The session started with the
representation of the Arshak Sadoyan’s draft constitution articles
on Local Governing bodies and referendum. Yesterday Arshak Sadoyan
had not had enough time to finish his speech.

“Today in Armenia there is no real system of local governing”,
announced Sadoyan. He offered to divide Armenia into 25 parts where
local self-governing will be realized in two levels – community and
regional. That is – not only the heads of the communities but also
the regional governors will be elected. Sadoyan offers two variants
of elections of the latter.

The first variant is that each community aldermen elects a
representative who will form the regional aldermen, and choose one
as regional governor. The second is that the regional governor is
chosen by means of direct election. In Yerevan too both the community
heads and the mayor are elected.

Arshak Sadoyan invited attention on the chapter about referendum. “Not
only the constitutional amendments but also the issues of national
importance must be put to referendum”, said Sadoyan. The President,
the Government and the Constitutional Court can take the initiative
of organizing such referendums. In case of collecting 250 thousand
signatures the referendum can be organized by civil initiative.

By the way, Arshak Sadoyan warned that if the above mentioned point is
not stipulated in the Constitution, he will have to “wash our dirty
linen in Europe”. “The Armenian nation must decide himself whether,
for example, to give the nuclear power station to Chubays or not”,
commented the delegate.

Delegate Mekhak Mkhitaryan asked Sadoyan why he was not against when
the present division of regions was being admitted, as he was in the
Supreme Council Local Governing Bodies Committee. Arshak Sadoyan
said that in any case everyone must feel guilt for it, including
himself. But at those times Levon Ter-Petrosyan wanted to make the
regional governors appointed.

–Boundary_(ID_g6/9YpuWKqKB7fvZNL4vLw)–

Today, Azerbaijan
May 5 2005

Yuri Merzlyakov: “After the meeting of the presidents negotiations
will be continued previous format”

04 May 2005 [16:28] – Today.Az

Co-chairmen of Minsk Group of OSCE are not preparing for the meeting
of Azerbaijan and Armenia presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharyan
to be held during the measures dedicated to the 60-ty anniversary of
the victory over fascism on May 9″.

This information was given to APA exclusively by the Russian
co-chairman of the Minsk Group of OSCE Yuri Merzlyakov. He called
the negotiations conducted with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar
Mammadyarov on April 27 in Frankfurt, very advantageous and efficient.

Yuri Merzlyakov saying “We have worked well” noted that at present
the co-chairmen tackled with organizing of the meeting with the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan. According
to his words, they work on the variants of planning the place and
time of the meeting to be held: “The meeting could either be spent
in Moscow or in Warsaw 2 days before the summit of Council of Europe,
or in one of the cities of Europe”. After the meeting with Oskanyan,
he didn’t exclude conducting the next meeting between Azerbaijan and
Armenia presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharyan about regulating
the Upper Garabagh conflict on May 16-17 in the frame of the summit
of state heads of Council of Europe.

“After the meeting of the presidents we will return to the previous
format – to the format of negotiations carried out between both the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs” -Yuri Merzlyakov stressed.

Yuri Merzlyakov stating his relation to forming the Committee according
to Upper Garabagh at the Assembly of Parliament of Council of Europe
recently he didn’t agree with the opinion of identity of this committee
and the Minsk Group: “Forming of such committee was put forward in
the report of David Atkinson. The secretary general of Council of
Europe declared that this committee cannot replace the Minsk Group,
and its main task is connected with human rights”.

He also stated that the co-chairmen aren’t going to visit the region
recently.

URL:

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ISSUES AN ENCYCLICAL ON THE OCCASION OF
THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEMINARY’S ESTABLISHMENT

His Holiness Aram I’s Encyclical dedicated to the 75th anniversary
of the establishment of the Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
was read out in the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral on May 1. Fr
Bartev Gulumian, the Dean of the Seminary, read the encyclical during
the holy mass.

His Holiness focuses in the encyclical on the history of the Seminary’s
establishment and through it on all those, including catholicoi and
teachers, who have contributed to the material, intellectual and
spiritual formation of the seminary. The encyclical combines the
views of each Cilician Catholicos towards the institution and their
visions for its future.

The encyclical addresses all the former students of the seminary,
who have passed through this spirit-building institution, all
the benefactors, who have believed and continue to believe in the
Seminary’s irreplaceable mission, the Seminary’s current students,
calling upon them to consciously evaluate their years at the
institution, and all the Armenians, calling upon them to support
the Seminary.

The encyclical was read out in all the dioceses under the jurisdiction
of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Commemorations and celebrations will
be held throughout the year in Lebanon and all the dioceses on the
occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Seminary’s establishment.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
Cilician Seminary, you may refer to the web page of the Catholicosate,
The Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative
center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

‘HAYASTAN’ FUND TO LAUNCH PROGRAM OF ARTSAKH DEVELOPMENT

AZG Armenian Daily #081, 05/05/2005

Diaspora-Armenia

The Board of Trustees of “Hayastan” Pan-Armenian Fund called its
14th session on May 2. 19 representatives and 7 trustees of overall
27 took part in the session.

Last year the Fund raised an incredibly huge sum – $18 million. $11
million was raised during the telethon. This sum helped to launch
more than a hundred programs.

The construction of North-South highway in Nagorno Karabakh continued
last year. 57.3 km of 160-km-long highway is already built. Many
schools and water pipelines have been built, too. But there are still
more than 50 villages that do not have schools, and those standing
need repairs.

The Fund allocated money for a new clinic in Stepanakert that will
match highest international standards. The Internet will enable
American doctors to provide treatment to patients in Karabakh.

A new program, “Resurgence of Artsakh”, will launch in the current
year aiming at reconstructing Artsakh’s territories. Reconstruction
will start from the most suffered region of Martakert. The region will
have new schools, water pipelines and clinics. In the summer of 1992
Martakert went under Azeri occupation and was shelled to ruins. The
Fund decided to restore Martakert’s reputation of Soviet times as
most prosperous and developed.

“Martakert is a region of great economic potential and its development
may change whole economic situation in Artsakh”, Naira Melqumian,
executive director of the Fund, said.

“We need perhaps 5-6 years to finish works here, as there is much
to do”, NKR President Arkady Ghukasian says, “if the Karabakh issue
were settled it would be easier to solve socio-economic issues. But
today’s situation also is no obstacle for that”.

Last year the Fund established cooperation with NGOs, realizing grant
projects with them. 100 NGOs have already submitted their applications.

“The Fund will probably increase its income by 20 percent in 2005 and
we will have more projects”, Petros Terzian, president of the French
branch said.

“We encounter difficulties but I am sure that our cooperation will
strengthen every day”, representative of US eastern community, Gevorg
Tonoyan, said.

By Karine Danielian

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS ARRIVING IN ARMENIA TODAY

Pan Armenian News
04.05.2005 03:30

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus,
Ambassador Heikki Talvitie is arriving in Armenia today. During the
visit Mr. Talvitie is scheduled to meet with the Armenian President,
Parliament Speaker, Foreign Minister as well as the Ambassadors of
the UK and US in Armenia, temporary charge d’affaires of Russia in
Armenia and leaders of some public organizations. The EU Special
Representative is to depart from Armenia on May 6.

SPECIAL RAPPORTEURS ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ISSUE JOINT STATEMENT ON PRESS FREEDOM DAY

A1plus

| 16:08:22 | 03-05-2005 | Politics |

On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, marked 3 May,
the international community’s four special rapporteurs on freedom
of expression issued a joint statement, paying tribute to the
courage and professionalism of the numerous journalists and other
media professionals either killed or wounded on account of their
professional activities.

They also addressed such issues as decriminalization of libel, the
importance of access to information and the role of all forms of
media in society.

The Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Mr. Miklos Haraszti, the
Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and
expression, Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo, and the Special Rapporteur for freedom
of expression of the Organization of American States, Mr. Eduardo
Bertoni were for the first time joined by the Special Rapporteur on
Freedom of Expression of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’
Rights, Mr. Andrew Chigovera.

Turkish Press
April 29 2005

Kocharian’s Letter And The So-called Genocide

BY MUSTAFA KARAALIOGLU

YENI SAFAK- No problem can be resolved by ignoring it. All foreign
policy problems have a shelf life. Just as a resolution is now
inevitable on Cyprus after 30 years of deadlock, Turkey will also
have to face up to the Armenians sooner or later.

Facing up doesn’t necessarily mean accepting, approving or submitting
to the other side’s demands. In this case, facing up refers to
finding a solution to a problem which could block Turkey’s way to the
European Union.

Let’s take a glance at the thorny issues between the two countries:
Yerevan’s so-called genocide allegations, and Armenia’s occupation of
Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Official contacts between Ankara and Yerevan are so few that the
recent correspondence between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
Armenian President Robert Kocharian might be seen as diplomatic
sparring. Kocharian responded to Erdogan’s letter, which offered to
establish a joint commission to debate Armenia’s so-called genocide
allegations.

In brief, Kocharian proposed establishing relations between the two
countries without any preconditions. However, his letter said nothing
about the genocide allegations.

To Yerevan, establishing diplomatic relations with Ankara and opening
its border gate are very important. Turkey is a profitable getaway
for this isolated country. So, Armenia’s demand for trade with Turkey
can be used as a trump card during possible negotiations on the
so-called genocide claims. However, this can’t be as useful as we
hope. As a matter of fact, the Armenian public relations campaign has
superiority in the international community. In other words, they have
managed to convince nearly all countries that there was a `genocide.’
Therefore, they can’t and won’t retreat from this position.
Accordingly, for Yerevan, it wouldn’t be reasonable to discuss the
issue with historians.

To Ankara, establishing relations with Armenia wouldn’t be as easy as
it hopes because this issue is directly related to the cost of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project. We’ll be in trouble if we
establish contact with Yerevan despite the fact that Azerbaijan’s
territories are occupied by Armenia.

Nonetheless, if Turkey manages to improve its relations with Armenia,
this would of course blunt the impact of the Armenian anti-Turkish
propaganda, paving the way for a more advantageous EU platform.
However, the first step that Yerevan must take is to withdraw its
troops from Nagorno-Karabakh. In other words, Armenian should make
the first move if it really wants to boost its relations with Turkey.
And the only country that could force Yerevan to make this move is
the United States, not the European Union or any other bloc.