Author: Karakhanian Suren

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| 19:31:29 | 06-06-2005 | Economy |

IN CASE OF RESTARTING THE KARABAKH WAR THE BLACK SEA BANK WILL GO BANKRUPT

Mustafa Kyurtin, President of the Black Sea Commerce and Development Bank,
held a press conference today together with RA Finance and Economy Minister
Vardan Khachatryan. Let us mention that the Bank is the body realizing the
financial programs of the Black Sea Economic cooperation political
structure. 11 states are members of the Bank, including Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Russia, Georgia and Turkey.

Bank President Mustafa Kyurtin made an interesting announcement during the
press conference, `If there is war between the member countries of the Bank,
the result will be bankrupt’.

Before that, Central Bank President Tigran Sargsyan and Finance Minister
Tigran Khachatryan had managed to express the vice versa opinion. In the
concluding session of the annual meeting Tigran Sargsyan said, `Supporting
the close economic cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia, the
Bank contributes to the economic and political integration of the
countries’.

And Vardan Khachatryan said, `These economic programs will contribute to the
elimination of the atmosphere of hostility and distrust, as the Bank was
created with that purpose’.

The economic programs mean investments in the small and medium business of
the member countries of the Bank, and Azerbaijan who is neighbor of Armenia
in the hostility and distrust atmosphere, had not represented the annual
report of the bank without giving grounds for its absence.

The Finance Minister claimed that they had done everything to persuade
Azerbaijan that their security in Armenia is guaranteed. The nest annual
meeting of the member countries will take place in Azerbaijan, in which the
Finance Minister will participate only in case the neighboring country gives
him a visa.

Capital News 9, NY
June 6 2005

St. Peter’s Armenian Church holds festival
6/5/2005 5:40 PM
By: Capital News 9 web staff

A local church shared its culture with the community this weekend.

St. Peter’s Armenian Church in Watervliet held its annual festival
Sunday afternoon.

There were plenty of ways to experience the sights, sounds and tastes
of Armenian culture. There was plenty of traditional food, like lamb
and chicken kebabs, along with cultural dances and games for the kids.

Rafi Topalian said, “A lot of people worked hard to prepare this,
and we lucked out with the good weather, and everyone’s having an
awesome time.”

The festival was held to raise money for the church.

Zaman Online, Turkey
June 4 2005

Babacan: Look with the Eyes of Public
By Ercan Baysal
Published: Saturday 04, 2005
zaman.com

Discussion over Quranic study courses occurred in an association
advisory council meeting for The Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen
Association (TUSIAD) Friday, June 3.

TUSIAD President Omer Sabanci claimed that tolerating the illegal
courses will fuel rumors in Europe that Turkish secularism is
weakening.

TUSIAD Representatives criticized the government fiercely regarding the
EU process in the Istanbul meeting . Sabanci opposed the restriction
of freedoms in the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK), police brutality in
demonstrations, and harassing academics who discussed the Armenian
Issue. TUSIAD, as a business association, does not accept any
alternative but full EU membership.

Newly appointed Top Negotiator for European Union (EU) talks State
Minister Ali Babacan replied to critisizms in his speech. He said
Turkey in 10-20 years will be a country closer to the union than ever
and a country that cleaned its whole system from A to Z. Turkey has
become a stable country in terms of economics and politicals. The
recent economic success, Babacan claimed, is due to Turkey’s focus
on the EU. The country achieved the reforms set by the Copenhagen
Political Criteria of December 17, and completed the critical political
reforms, Babacan emphasized. Reform will continue and three out of
four of the talks to start on October 3 will be about economic issues.

As for the criticizm on Quranic study courses, the Minister said
the sensitivities of the public should definitely be taken into
consideration. “We are a government that has come from the people. We
know the difficulties and problems of Turkey very well. We know what
our people are uncomfortable with. We have grown up with a lack
of human rights and freedom in many areas. For this reason while
evaluating some issues we should not look at the issue only from our
point of view, we have to learn to evaluate them with the eyes of
the public.”

AZG Armenian Daily #102, 04/06/2005

Diaspora

GRADUATION CEREMONY AT MELKONIAN INSTITUTION

>>From Our Own Correspondent

On Thursday 19th of May a Memo was posted at the Melkonian, inviting
staff (Teachers, Supervisors, etc) to this years “Graduation Ceremony
and Dinner” to be held the Hilton Park Hotel!

Staff was told that employees were all invited, along with their
spouses to the dinner at the 5 star hotel.

Each graduating student would also be allowed to invite up to 4 guests.

The majority of the teachers along with the students were absolutely
livid on reading this, final insult to them, with much murmurings of
boycotting the ceremony.

The 7th formers were then asked to a meeting with the “Principal”,
to discuss the ceremony.

They were told that the move was due to concerns about security, that
it was a fait accompli, the hotel being already booked and paid for;
that the decision is final.

In other words, the usual tactics employed by Gordon and his
entourage. The students’ argument for having the ceremony at the
school as in past years fell on deaf ears, with all attempts by the
7th formers to make them see logic and reconsider being dismissed
out of hand.

Thus we are faced with a graduation, the last graduation, without
the powerful presence of the Melkonian brothers’ caring stare.

Who would have thought that a maniac, driven by Bush-style paranoia
about terrorism, would do this to a group of young adults, a group
whose only wish is to be allowed to graduate with dignity and following
years of tradition.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
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06/01/2005
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1) Southern California Armenians Celebrate Armenian Independence
2) Armenian Independence Day Picnic Festival Attracts 3000
3) Armenia Savors Famous First
4) Russian Arms Transfer to Armenia Probable, Though Unofficial

1) Southern California Armenians Celebrate Armenian Independence

LOS ANGELES–Last Sunday, the Southern California Armenian community
celebrated
the May 28, 1918 independence of Armenia, at a gathering organized by the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Western Region.
Joining the public to honor the unbending spirit of Armenians which led to
that independence, were Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Haroutioun
Kojoian of
the Armenian Consulate in Los Angeles, Bishop Dajad Yardemian representing
Prelate Hovnan Derderian, representatives of the ARF Central Committee, and
affiliate organizations.
Held at Ferrahian School~Rs Avedissian Hall, the event opened with a video
presentation on events leading to and after Armenia~Rs first independence.
After delivering opening remarks, Myrna Douzjian of the La Crescenta
~SZartonk~T
AYF chapter invited Haroutioun Kojoian to convey Consul General Gagik
Kirakossian~Rs message. In his message, the Consul General wrote: ~SFor
Armenians, the Republic~Rs holiday is especially significant and precious
because it embodies hundreds of years of struggle, and ultimate victory. The
last century has taught us that in order to have an independent Republic, [a
people] must not only carry out a struggle that is political in nature, but
also economic and cultural.~T
Kojoian added that our national struggle remains a free, independent, and
united Armenia. ~SMay 28 is the exemplary model of national unity… some
criticize the ARF for that short-lived independence; they forget, however,
that
these were historically very difficult times–and that first independence
brought with it a flag, laws, as well as a coat of arms.~T
Conveying the Armenian Youth Federation~Rs message, Shant Baboujian assured
that the youth organization would preserve the Armenian language and culture.
~SI congratulate [our people] and guarantee that our future will be bright.~T
Delivering his remarks in English, Keynote speaker Aram Hamparian, the
executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, spoke about
the one unchanging fact in Armenia~Rs history. ~SEach generation has had to
sacrifice to survive,~T he said. Recalling milestone battles of the
past–including the Battle of Avarayr in 451, the war in Karabagh fifteen
years
ago, and the battle at Sardarabad 87 years ago–Hamparian affirmed, ~SWe all
look back with pride~Emore importantly, we look back with the awareness that
their struggle, their sacrifice was the difference between our survival and
our
destruction.~T
Quoting the great American writer William Faulkner, who once wrote, ~SThe past
is not dead, it~Rs not even in the past,~T Hamparian said, ~SHe may have well
been
Armenian, because his words speak to the heart of our struggle.~T Pointing to
the critical transition on the Genocide question, he articulated the necessity
for careful and clear thinking on the issue.
Hamparian also noted the importance of continuous effort–from Armenian
worldwide–to break the back of Turkey~Rs campaign of denial. ~SWe do not
seek an
apology, although we are owed one. We do not seek recognition, we already know
our history. We seek justice, not simply for the sake of justice. But justice
for the protection of Armenia and the survival of the Armenian nation,~T he
stressed. ~SArmenia cannot be safe bordered by Turkey, an unrepentant
perpetrator of genocide.~T
~SWe will do what we must to maintain Armenia~Rs viability,~T expressed
Hamparian. ~SOver the short-term by supporting the strengthening of Armenia and
Karabagh~Eand over the long-term by restoring to Armenia what is rightfully
ours.~T
The second keynote speaker, Dr. Vicken Yacoubian, principal of Rose and Alex
Pilibos Armenian School, speaking in Armenian, noted two approaches to
celebrating May 28 independence.
~SThe first is the traditional, which highlights the victories of the people
and heroic chapters in history. The second is a critical examination that
assumes the transfer of the spirit of May 28 to generations so as to
persevere.~T
Pointing to the unacceptable conviction of some who believe that the Genocide
was somehow brought about due to the disobedience of the Armenian people, Dr.
Yacoubian described this as giving birth to a ghetto mentality. He instead
characterized the 1918 independence as a ~Srejection of enslavement.~T ~SIt was
also the rejection, once and for all, of the orders of the slayer, of a
submissive march toward death~Rs clutches,~T Yacoubian said, stressing that 1918
independence liberated the free will of the Armenian people. ~SWe were
liberated
for a few short years from the ghettos; for a few years, we rejected
succumbing
to conditions void of all norms for self-respect… Yes, for a few years, it
was the spirit of the Armenian people that was liberated.~T
Explaining the significance of May 28, Yacoubian said, ~SThe message of that
independence resounds today, whether in Yerevan, Mountainous Karabagh, or
elsewhere. Only those who refuse to hand their fate to others–even to God~Rs
will–are worthy of liberation.~T
Liberation, he explained, comes from struggle for greater justice and from
rejection of a mentality that assumes the struggles of the small and the weak
are in vain in the face of greater forces. ~SPerhaps we are small, even
surrounded by great enemies. We, however, are neither powerless nor incapable
of defiance.~T
Several musicians joined in the celebrations, including Rouben Hakhverdian,
singers Alexander and Arax Garabedian, and Hovig Krikorian accompanied by
Mourad Jambazian. The Hamazkayin Valley chapter~Rs ~SNayiri~T dance group,
directed by Katherine Hairabedian, also performed.

2) Armenian Independence Day Picnic Festival Attracts 3000

LOS ANGELES–The Armenian community of Southern California concluded its
Armenian Independence Day celebrations with a picnic-festival held at Glendale
High School on May 30. Organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, the event
celebrated the significance of Armenia’s victories in establishing an
independent Armenia on May 28, 1918.
Featuring well-known singers and performers including Nersik Ispirian, Joseph
Krikorian, Paul Baghdadlian, Armenchik, Ara Shahbazian, Ararat, Vatche
Hagopian, Sako, and Antoine Bezjian–all accompanied by the Knar Band–the
mixed crowd of over 3,000 enjoyed cultural and patriotic songs.
“We are honored to provide our community a vibrant venue through which they
can celebrate our first independence,” said Garo Kiledjian, director of the
organizing committee. “While celebrating the victories of 1918, we must always
continue our work to overcome the many challenges our nation faces today,” he
said.
Community organizations including the Armenian Relief Society, Shant Student
Association, Homenetmen, and the ANCA, were on hand to distribute
organizational information to the crowd. The picnic concluded at 6pm with
“Aryunod Trosh,” performed by Nersig Ispirian.

3) Armenia Savors Famous First

(UEFA)–Armenia reached the finals of an international tournament for the
first
time in devastating fashion as four goals from Edgar Manucharyan earned a 5-1
success against Elite round Group 4 hosts and a place in the UEFA European
Under-19 Championship final round in Northern Ireland.
Coach Samvel Petrosyan’s side went into the final round of matches level with
Italy on four points and needing to better the Italians’ result on Tuesday,
May
31, to progress to this summer’s tournament in Northern Ireland. In the event,
Belgium’s 2-0 victory against the Italians gave Armenia the chance to
progress,
and they duly seized the opportunity at the ZTE stadium in Zalaegerszeg,
Hungary.
AFC Ajax striker Manucharyan opened the scoring in the 12th minute, and
doubled his side’s lead with a second goal midway through the first half.
Although Péter Nemeth halved the deficit in the 29th minute, Manucharyan
restored Armenia’s two-goal advantage two minutes later, completing his
hat-trick in the process.
Despite the advantage, Armenian nerves were not truly settled until 19
minutes
from time, when Manucharyan scored his and Armenia’s fourth, and Artak
Oseyan’s
fifth six minutes from time added gloss to an already memorable day for his
country.

4) Russian Arms Transfer to Armenia Probable, Though Unofficial

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Though Armenia has not confirmed reports that Russia has
begun relocating equipment from one of its two military bases in Georgia to
Armenia, Russian news agencies reported that a trainload of Russian military
hardware and equipment left the Georgian city of Batumi late on Tuesday and
was
due to arrive in Armenia the next morning. The bases are scheduled to close
within the next four years.
“The train was composed of 15 carriages and platforms carrying ammunition and
vehicles,” Colonel Vladimir Kuparadze, deputy commander of Russian troops in
the South Caucasus, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
Armenian officials refused to comment on the information. Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian told Reuters news agency on May 25, that there has been no
discussion on the issue. “At this moment there is no such decision. At this
moment nothing is moving from Georgia to Armenia.”
“But if such a decision is taken, it will be a prerogative of Russia and
Armenia,” he added.
The reported relocation began the day after the announcement of a
Russian-Georgian agreement on a timetable for the closure of the Russian bases
stationed in Batumi and the Armenian-populated town of Akhalkalak in southern
Georgia. Under that agreement, the Russians will start withdrawing from them
next year and complete the process in the course of 2008.
Russia’s armed forces chief of staff General Yuri Baluyevsky said earlier
that
Moscow might have to move some of their armor to its military base in
Armenia.
Baluyevsky’s statement drew strong protests from Azerbaijan, which claims
that
the military hardware will end up in the hands of the Armenian military and
disrupt the balance of forces in the Karabagh conflict. The Azeri Foreign
Ministry sent a protest note to Moscow late last month. “We are awaiting a
response,” the Baku daily “Zerkalo” quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov
as saying on Wednesday.

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The ‘Christian Barometer’ and the Middle East
by Leon Hadar

The Globalist
June 1 2005

Even those who have celebrated the recent election in Iraq are
concerned that it could give birth to a government dominated by Shi’ite
fundamentalist parties that have little respect for the rights of
women and minorities.

But even those observers worried about the outcome in Iraq take some
comfort in the prospect that the liberalization of state-controlled
economies and the adoption of free-market reforms signals positive
change by Middle Eastern governments.

That hope is primarily rooted in the East Asian experience, where
economic liberalization has helped expand the middle class and empower
its members to press for political reforms.

But as China’s experience demonstrates, there could be a long delay
between the launching of free-market reforms and the creation of
democratic institutions in the Middle East.

Thinking Outside the Box

N o matter how one approaches the issue, assessing movement toward
reform in the Middle East by considering just free elections, market
reforms, or even the adoption of constitutions and bills of rights
does not provide a full picture. After all, these steps amount mostly
to political and legal arrangements – and could be swiftly reversed
by a new government.

So here is my idea: Why don’t we measure progress toward freedom in
the Middle East focusing on the status of an integral element of the
region’s political and social-demographic environment – its large
Christian minorities?

The Christian Litmus Test

M ost of these people are highly educated and multilingual, and have
studied and worked in Europe and North America – where they also have
a large diaspora. The Christians of the Middle East also tend to be
more secular and liberal than the surrounding Muslim majority.

To put it differently, common sense – backed by statistical and
anecdotal evidence – provides you with this surprising but dependable
rule of thumb.

As the Middle East becomes more free and prosperous, linked to the West
and hospitable to minorities and women, the higher the probability
that the Christians will continue to live in and even return from
abroad to countries like Lebanon, Egypt, or Syria.

And vice versa, if the Christians sense that things are getting worse,
that the Arab countries they live in are losing their commitment
to political, economic, and religious freedom, they would tend to
emigrate from the Middle East.

Improving Accuracy

C all it the Middle East’s “Christian barometer,” which provides the
world with a more accurate measurement of the political temperature
in the Middle East than even the most sophisticated social scientific
model.

Although no precise figures are available, most experts estimate that
Christians make up between 7 and 10 percent of the total population
of the Arab world, which translates to between 21 and 30 million
Christians living there.

Persecution and Exodus

S ome of the numerically significant Christian minority groups include
the Copts of Egypt, the Maronites of Lebanon, the Assyrians of Iraq,
the Greek Orthodox and diaspora Armenians of Syria, and the tribal
members of southern Sudan.

The Maronites have been the leading force in the rise of a Lebanese
identity, and individual Christians have played an important role in
the secular Arab nationalist movement and in Arab cultural life.

But the Copts and the Assyrians have declined into politically
marginal minorities as the Muslim-dominated government in Khartoum,
Sudan’s capital, has been trying to assimilate the Christian (and
animist) South.

At the same time, since the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the condition
of the more than 1 million Christians in that country – Chaldeans,
Syrian, Latin, and Armenian Catholics – has deteriorated. Churches
in Iraq have burned, while scores of Christians have been killed.
According to press reports, 200,000 Iraqi Christians have left for
Syria – and perhaps as many have left the region.

Radicalism on the Rise

T rue enough, Saddam Hussein tried to suppress the religious identity
of the Christians as part of the effort to create a secular Iraqi
identity.

But now, in the aftermath of the American invasion, the Christians
sense the rise of radical Islamic tendencies in both the ruling
Shi’ite majority and the Sunni minority.

Region-Wide Trends

S o the Christians in Iraq are trying to leave the country – as
opposed to taking part in building a new liberal democracy. Joining
them in emigrating from the Middle East are the Christians in the
Holy Land. Many Western-educated Palestinian Christian professionals
had actually returned to the West Bank during the Oslo peace process.

But after the start of the Second Intifada, and with signs that Islamic
radicals are strengthening their power, they are moving back to North
and South America, Europe, and Australia.

Even in Lebanon, which was established by the French to provide
autonomy to the Maronites, the number of Christians has been dwindling.

No census has been conducted among the population in that country, but
the best guess is that the Maronites constitute around 25 percent,
including many who hold dual citizenship and spend most of the
year abroad.

A Bleak Outlook

A ll which is only adding to a very depressing picture as the number
of Christians in the Middle East continues to shrink. The Arab world
is losing some of its best and brightest who could have played a
major role in an authentic – not choreographed – reform process in
the region.

So pay attention to the “Christian barometer.” Only if and when the
Christians in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and elsewhere become more
bullish can we be confident that the region is becoming more open,
free, pluralistic, and prosperous.

Zaman, Turkey
May 31 2005

Ankara Expects Steps from Yerevan
By Suleyman Kurt
Published: Tuesday 31, 2005
zaman.com

The letter exchange process between Turkey and Armenia after the
debates over the so-called Armenian genocide allegations became heated
has been endangered by the Yerevan administration for not showing an
expected approach.

Ankara will not write a response letter to Armenian President Robert
Kocharian if the present conditions continue.

Kocharian responded with, “Firstly, let’s establish a diplomatic
relationship and then an inter-governmental commission to handle the
issues” to a letter from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offering
“Let a group, comprised of historians and other experts, to research
the events in 1915” and Kocharian’s response even though it does
not fully meet the expectations of Ankara, it was considered in a
positive perspective.

However, the expected approach has not shown by the Yerevan
administration over the last month. Since Erdogan and Kocharian did
not meet in Warsaw and Kocharian’s harsh attitude at the European
Council summit have complicated the answer to the letter.

Diplomatic sources have drawn attention to the steps Turkey has taken
and that this could be interpreted, as “trust building” in recent
times are not truly transferred to the Armenian public opinion.

Sources say, “Yerevan-Turkey flights continue. Those vehicles,
carrying goods between the two countries, can come and go through
Georgia. Thousands of Armenian citizens can work in Turkey, including
Ankara. However, those facts are not explained to the Armenian public
by their government.”

On the other side, the single positive piece of news to reach Ankara
from Yerevan lately is that the Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian’s former statement related to the “Kars Treaty” that said,
“As being inherent of the Soviet Union, all of those treaties signed
by the Soviet Union are assumed to be approved unless the opposite
is stated” has been published on the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s
web site. However, Ankara expects to receive this statement through
“official” channels.

Armenia welcomes Russian military pulling out from Georgia

Channel 3 TV, Moscow
28 May 05

[Adding “female” in the last phrase; corrected version follows:]

[Presenter] The new location of the Russian military bases currently
stationed in Georgia is already known. Some personnel and military
hardware will go to Russia, other – to Armenia, to protect Russia’s
southern borders. The Azeri authorities are voicing concern over
possible Russian military presence in neighbouring Armenia.

The main cause of their anxiety are missile units from Russian military
base No 102 [in Gyumri]. Protecting the approaches to Russian airspace,
they automatically provide an air defence shield to Armenia. Petr
Kosenko reports.

[Correspondent] Plans for relocating a [Russian] military base to
Armenia generate quite opposite feelings in Baku and Yerevan. Armenia
says it is ready to admit Russian troops to its territory at any
time. Azerbaijan believes that this would destabilize the situation
in the region, having in mind the Karabakh problem.

[Serzh Sarkisyan, captioned as Armenian defence minister, speaking to
camera] Azerbaijan is permanently trying to prove that the Russian
military base and Russian military personnel are involved in the
conflict and are even ready to engage in combat, that they encroach
upon Azerbaijan’s interests. All that has nothing to do with reality.

[Correspondent] For their part, the Russian military repeatedly
say that their task is to defend Russia’s national interests in the
Transcaucasus and not to interfere in local conflicts.

[Col Vladimir Menshikov, captioned as commander of military base
No 102, speaking to camera] Defending the host country is not our
task. Any involvement in conflict with Azerbaijan is ruled out.

[Correspondent] [Russian anti-aircraft] missile systems Buk, designed
back in 1968, as well as modern S-300 missile launchers, are on
combat duty in Armenia. The Buk is 40 years old, but the Yugoslavs,
who used it in 1999, managed to shoot down a US Stealth aircraft.

[Aleksandr Surinkin, captioned as commander of an anti-aircraft
regiment] If they are afraid, it means that the weapon is
efficient. They are monitoring our shooting exercises and see that
it is efficient.

[Passage omitted to end: life story of senior lieutenant Olga
Kaluzhenina who is the sole female S-300 battery commander in the
Russian armed forces.]

Die Welt
Do 26. Mai 2005

“Nie hatte ein Volk reinere Hände als das türkische”

Armenienkonferenz nach Drohungen abgesagt

von Boris Kalnoky

Istanbul – Eigentlich sollte gestern in Istanbul eine
Historiker-Konferenz zur armenischen Tragödie in der Türkei 1915-16
stattfinden. Sie wäre bemerkenswert gewesen. Drei angesehene
staatliche Universitäten (Bogazici, Bilgi und Sabanci) waren die
Organisatoren, und trotz dieser staatlichen Dimension ging es nicht
darum, einmal mehr laut zu rufen, daß es nie einen Genozid gegeben
habe.

Vielmehr war die Konferenz dem Thema “wissenschaftliche Verantwortung
und Demokratie” gewidmet und versuchte damit die Gratwanderung
zwischen den beiden extremen Positionen der türkischen Regierung und
der armenischen Diaspora, um irgendwo in der Mitte der Wahrheit
näherzukommen. Die türkische Position lautet, 300 000 Armenier kamen
bei einer Verkettung unglücklicher Umstände ums Leben, beabsichtigt
war das nicht, und Behauptungen eines Genozids sind
verantwortungslose Attacken gegen den türkischen Staat. Die Armenier
behaupten, 1,5 Millionen ihrer Landsleute wurden absichtlich
massakriert, um das armenische Volk in der Türkei auszulöschen.

Gerne hätte man einmal etwas Vernünftiges zu dem Thema gehört, aber
die Konferenz findet nicht statt. Einer der Organisatoren, Halil
Berktay, nannte dieser Zeitung als Grund eine “schreckliche Rede” von
Justizminister Cicek. Der hatte laut Medienberichten im Vorfeld der
Konferenz vor dem Parlament gesagt, die Teilnehmer seien allesamt
armenisch gesinnt und würden “der Türkei das Messer in den Rücken
stoßen”. Was hat es zu bedeuten, fragte der Minister, wenn das Land,
mit der Regierung und der Opposition, Staat und Volk gemeinsam
versuchen, die Behauptung vom angeblichen Armeniergenozid zu
widerlegen, und dann die Universität Bogayici dann diesen Bemühungen
in den Rücken fällt? “Wie können wir so ein bestimmtes Parlament
überzeugen? Sie werden sagen, geht und überzeugt die Unviversität
Bogazici”, sagte Cicek. Und fügte hinzu, nie habe ein Volk reinere
Hände und ein reineres Gewissen gehabt als das türkische.

Ob es stimmt, daß ein Abgeordneter der Regierungspartei AKP gar das
Volk aufrief, “die Hand zu erheben” gegen solch verräterische
Umtriebe, tut kaum noch etwas zur Sache. Jedenfalls sahen sich die
Organisatoren einer solchen Welle einschüchternder Deklarationen
ausgesetzt, daß das Rektorat der Universität Bogazici folgende
Erklärung veröffentlichte: “Wir sind besorgt darüber, daß die
pauschalen Urteile über eine Konferenz, die noch nicht stattgefunden
hat, der wissenschaftlichen Freiheit einer staatlichen Universität
schaden werden.”

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 25 2005

PROGRESS IN RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN TALKS ON BASES PULLOUT
19:10

MOSCOW, May 25 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian and Georgian delegations
negotiating the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia
achieved certain progress, the press and information department of
the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The May 23-24 talks in Tbilisi
focused on the terms, order of functioning and withdrawal of the
Russian military bases from Georgia’s territory and the current
support for Russian servicemen.

Other Russian-Georgian issues were on the agenda.

“The sides managed to draft mutually acceptable versions of a
possible bilateral statement by the Russian and Georgian presidents.
The remaining issues will be settled through further political
dialogue,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The Russian and Georgian delegations were headed by Russian Foreign
Ministry Special Envoy for Relations with the CIS Countries and
Ambassador at Large Igor Savolsky and Georgian Deputy Foreign
Minister Merab Antadze.

There are two Russian military bases in Georgia, in Akhalkalaki (near
the Armenian border) and Batumi (Adzharia). A decision on the
withdrawal of these bases was made at the OSCE summit in Istanbul in
1999. The withdrawal terms became a stumbling block in bilateral
relations. The Russian Defense Ministry said that the troops could be
withdrawn no sooner than in 3-4 years. The Georgian side insisted on
the pullout by January 1, 2008.