No truce violations observed on Azeri-Armenian border
Mediamax news agency
6 Jul 04
Yerevan, 6 July: The OSCE mission held a planned monitoring on the contact
line between Nagornyy Karabakh [NKR] and the Azerbaijani armed forces east of
the village of Talysh in NKR’s Mardakert Region today.
The monitoring was held in accordance with the planned schedule, a Mediamax
correspondent reports from Stepanakert. No violations of truce were observed.
Armen Press
July 2, 2004
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES RUSSIAN INTERIOR MINISTER
YEREVAN, JULY 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
received today Russian interior minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, who has
arrived in Armenia for a meeting of the governing boards of the Russian
Interior Ministry and the Armenian police force that discussed today
prospects for cooperation in fighting organized crime and cleansing the
Russian and Armenian economies of criminality.
Kocharian was quoted by his press office as saying that interaction
in the struggle against organized criminal groups will be more
effective. The Russian minister was said to brief the president on the
meeting results that dwelt also on fighting drug trafficking and
suppressing trade in people.
GIBRAHAYER e-newsletter
[email protected]
http://gibraha yer.cyprusnewsletter.com
THE GODS OF MODERN GREECE MAKE IT TO THE FINALS OF EURO 2004
Friday July 2, 00:15 a.m. (Gibrahayer)
The National soccer team of Greece defied all odds by reaching the finals of
Euro 2004. After downing host nations Portugal 2-0, drawing with giants
Spain and knocking out 1998 World and 2000 Euro Champions France 1-0, Greece
stopped the winning streak of the Czech Republic in the semi finals by the
silver goal of Traianos Dellas seconds before the end of the first quarter
of extra time.
Cyprus was silent for more than two hours while the entire population
watched the game. Moments after the Greek goal the entire population went
into delirious celebrations.
The Greek national team will play host nations Portugal on Sunday, the team
they beat in the opening match of Euro 2004.
NEW PROPOSAL ON KARABAKH BASED ON CYPRUS BLUEPRINT
Ayna, Baku – 29 Jun 04 – The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Turkey met on 28 June on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Istanbul. The
gathering was held behind closed doors.
The ministers told journalists after the meeting that they had discussed the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict but did not disclose the details. In their brief
speeches the ministers said that both Azerbaijan and Armenia support a
greater involvement of Turkey in resolving the conflict. The mechanism for
this will be ready in one or two months, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov said.
In turn, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said that the sides also
discussed the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border. Resolving this issue
may take some time, Oskanyan said. The foremost objective of the talks was
to work out a new approach to resolving the problem.
According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Armenia received a new formula to
settle the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict during the trilateral meeting. The
formula is similar to the blueprint for resolving the Cyprus problem. In
essence, the new proposal is to pay greater attention to the interests of
both the Armenian and Azeri communities in Nagornyy Karabakh.
Before the trilateral meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
received Oskanyan. The Turkish mass media reported that this meeting
discussed the Nagornyy Karabakh problem and relations between Turkey and
Armenia. The two countries have yet to establish diplomatic relations.
TURKISH, FRENCH PRESIDENTS DISCUSS EU, CYPRUS AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Anatolia news agency, Ankara: Istanbul, 28 June: Turkish President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer met on Monday [28 June] with French President Jacques Chirac,
who is currently in Istanbul for the NATO summit.
Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and French
Foreign Minister Michel Barnier also attended the meeting. Following the
meeting, President Sezer’s Foreign Policy Chief Adviser Sermet Atacanli told
reporters that Sezer focused on Turkey’s European Union (EU) membership in
his meeting with Chirac.
Atacanli said that Sezer explained once again that Turkey expected France,
which was one of leading countries in the EU, to support Turkey’s EU
membership. Atacanli quoted Sezer as saying that Turkey fulfilled all
political criteria of EU, noting that Turkey expected to be treated as other
countries which fulfilled those criteria. Stating that Sezer said in the
meeting that he expected the report on Turkey that would be announced by EU
Commission in October to be positive, Atacanli quoted President Sezer as
saying that EU should set a date for Turkey in December to start its
membership negotiations with the union.
Noting that Sezer also focused on Cyprus issue in his meeting with Chirac,
Atacanli quoted Sezer as saying that new developments took place after
referenda held in Cyprus on 24 April and Turkish Cypriot side showed its
determination for solution in referendum. Atacanli said that Sezer noted in
the meeting that Greek Cypriot side did not put forth good will on that
issue.
Atacanli stated that Sezer stressed that embargoes imposed on the
[self-declared] Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be lifted
immediately.
When asked what were the views of Chirac about Cyprus issue, Atacanli said:
“Both Chirac and French For eign Minister, who also attended the meeting,
said that they are aware of developments in Cyprus and welcomed the attitude
of Turkish side and they noted this. Mr Chirac said regarding the EU issue,
‘you know my stance about EU issue. And
you also know that my stance is positive.’ Mr Chirac said that Turkey has
started its EU trip 40 years ago and the EU has a 40 year of commitment and
this commitment concerns a vision related with the future of Europe.”
Atacanli said that Chirac also noted that the commission report which would
be presented in October was important.
When asked whether Armenian problem was brought onto agenda during the
meeting, Atacanli said that President Sezer stressed Turkey’s sensitivity
over the so-called Armenian genocide which is occasionally brought onto
agenda of the French Parliament.
Atacanli said that Sezer earlier invited Chirac to Turkey and he repeated
this invitation during the meeting. Atacanli added that this invitation was
acce pted and the date would be cleared later.
MELKONIAN ADMISSION TESTS CONCLUDED LAST WEEK
Nicosia July 2, 2004 – Gibrahayer: On Friday, June 25th MEI gave admissions
testing to 5 potential students. Their applications and test results were
sent to AGBU’s office in New York for evaluation. The parents will be
notified as soon as the evaluation is completed.
MEI’s annual Summer School program began today (Thursday July 1st) and will
run though out the month. Enrollment is limited, but there are few openings
in selected weeks. Parents interested in enrolling their child should
contact Ms. Freda Georgiou at (22) 422-195 or (99) 570-897.
The Graduation Ceremony of the 2003-2004 Class of Melkonian took place on
Saturday June 12, 2004 during which 3 2 students from ten countries
graduated.
ARMENIAN PATRIARCH MEETS U.S. PRESIDENT IN BOLIS
Lraper Church Bulletin – Bolis – On 27 June 2004, Sunday afternoon,
President George W. Bush of the United States of America had a meeting with
the religious leaders of Turkey.
His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey,
accompanied by the Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan, attended the meeting held at the
Hilton Hotel in Istanbul at the U.S. Embassy’s invitation.
Also present were His Excellency Ali Bardakoglu, Director of the Office
of Islamic Religious Affairs in Ankara; His Holiness Bartholomew I, Greek
Orthodox (Ecumenical) Patriarch of Istanbul; His Excellency Rav Itshak
Haleva, Chief Rabbi of Turkey; His Grace Philixinos, Metropolitan of the
Syriac Orthodox Church in Istanbul; His Excellency Mustafa Cagrici, Gran d
Mufti of Istanbul; Mr. Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State; Mr. Eric
Edelman, U.S. Ambassador to Ankara; Dr. Condoleezza Rice, the President’s
National Security Advisor, and others.
The meeting was cordial and began with President Bush welcoming each
guest personally. The President, in his opening remarks, spoke of his
appreciation of Turkey’s being a mosaic of faiths and cultures, and how she
presents a good model for a country which is a secular democracy, though
predominantly Muslim.
In his exchange with the Armenian Patriarch, the President indicated his
awareness that His Beatitude had studied in the United States. In response,
Patriarch Mesrob said that he considers the United States his second home
after Istanbul, and therefore the visit of the President of the U.S. gave
him great pleasure.
The Patriarch also referred to America’s hospitality over t he years
since the second half of the 19th century to hundreds of thousands of
Armenians, who had settled on the friendly shores of the New World. The
President fondly said that he thinks highly of the American Armenian
community and made a special reference to Mr. George Deukmejian, the 35th
Governor of California.
Speaking of the minority situation in Turkey, Patriarch Mesrob said that
any of the non-Muslim minorities in Turkey, or for that matter, for any
ethnic or national minority to exist anywhere, three types of institutions
are essential: First, places of worship to preserve religious heritage and
to nourish the spiritual life of the community, secondly, schools to teach
language and culture, and thirdly, foundations to fund religious and
educational activities and the personnel who enliven them. The minorities in
Turkey are attempting to maintain those institutions for the future and
well-being of their communities.
Patriarch Mesrob expressed his satisfaction that there was an on-going
inter-faith dialogue between the different religious establishments in
Turkey, and also a neighbourly dialogue of life among peoples of various
confessional communities. Another subject Patriarch Mesrob touched on was
the intermediary roles of the minorities. He said that the communities have
sometimes been in the past, are ready today and will be so in the future to
act as catalysts in any peace undertaking in the region between Turkey and
neighbouring countries.
And finally the Patriarch said that being ministers of religion engaged
in spiritual edification, religious leaders try not to interfere or engage
in politics. However, certain occurrences call for, if not political
involvement, at least a moral response to particular situations. Fully
supporting the initiative of the World Council of Churches call ed “the
Decade to Overcome Violence,” Patriarch Mesrob voiced the sadness and
disquiet of many believers of various faiths in Turkey who are daily
bombarded with terrible scenes of violence via the media. Such images come
daily from Palestine, the Sudan, Afghanistan and Iraq and other places in
the world. The Patriarch said he was deeply concerned with this because he
is worried that such occurrences may cause lasting differences between
various faiths and cultures.
Patriarch Mesrob presented the President with an album of the Armenian
churches in Turkey. The President gave the Patriarch a Steuben crystal bowl
with his insignia engraved on it.
Vartan Oskanian meets Gul, Mamedyarov and visits Armenian Patriarchate of
Bolis
The foreign ministers of the three troubled neighbors, Vartan Oskanian of
Armenia, Elmar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, and Abdullah Gul of Turkey met on
the sidelines of the NATO summit in Istanbul. Oskanian said he and his
counterparts had agreed to hold further trilateral meetings later in the
year.
A close ally of Azerbaijan, Turkey has declined to establish diplomatic
ties with Armenia and remains bitter at Yerevan’s efforts to secure
international recognition of the Armenian genocide by Ottoman Turkey. Ankara
is under pressure by the EU to re-open its border with Armenia, which it
closed in 1993 in a show of solidarity with Baku.
Oskanian told reporters he had discussed the issue with Gul in a
bilateral meeting earlier in the day, but it would be premature to expect an
immediate re-opening of the border. Oskanian used his participation in the
NATO summit, marred by violent clashes between Turkish police and left- wing
protesters, to meet with Patriarch Mesrob Mutafian, the spiritual leader of
Turkey’s small Armenian community. He also delivered a speech to a group of
Istanbul Armenians.
BUSH LAMBASTED OVER TURKEY COMMENTS
” he went into territory that isn’t his ” – Chirac
EU Observer Andrew Beatty – 30 June 2004 – French president Jacques
Chriac has strongly criticised George W Bush for interfering in the EUs
relations with Turkey. During a NATO summit in Istanbul, Mr Chirac rebuked
the US President for his comments earlier this week, when he said that
Turkey should start EU talks late this year.
“He has nothing to say on this subject. It is as if I were to tell the
United States how it should conduct its relations with Mexico”, Mr Chirac
said. “If President Bush really said that in the way that I read, then not
only did he go too far, but he went into territory that isn’t his”, he
continued. The EU will decide later this year if Turkey has met the
conditions for EU membership.
External Relations Commission Chris Patten earlier played down Mr Bushs
comments acknowledging Washingtons legitimate interest in seeing democracy
in a Muslim state consolidated.
At the recent EU-US summit Mr Patten said he would be surprised if a US
president whose next stop is Turkey did not make such comments. But for
France the issue is a sensitive one.
Aside from general mistrust between the France and the US, Paris holds
some deep reservations about Turkish entry into the EU. Turkey will be among
the EUs largest members if it entered, shattering the current balance of
power in the EU which sees France and Germany take a lead role. And it is
not the first time Washington has been judged to have overstepped the mark.
In autumn 2002, the US ruffled feathers by taking part in an aggressive
campaign for Turkey to get potential member status, which they later
received.
That campaign led to Turkey being heavily chastised by the EU and
agreement between Brussels and Ankara that there would be no repeat of the
campaigning seen in the run up to the Copenhagen summit in 2002.
This winter Turkey is widely expected to receive the go ahead to start
accession talks.
——————————————-
RECOMMENDED WEB SITES
osi.jsp?i=EeAN mLJu4ZtGrC8gTogether with the Parikian brothers Misak and
Edmond – back to Cyprus from Australia after 30 years – we visited Morphou
area last Saturday. Enclosed you will find more than 60 pictures from our
expedition to Turkish occupied north-west.
Images include the Cathedral of Ayios Mammas, Ayia Paraskevi, Panayia
Chryseleousa Church, Xeros Bay, CMC Mine, Limnitis Bay, Morphou Mitropolis,
Potamos tou Kampou and the Monument dedicated to the first shot down pilot
of the Turkish Republic Captain Cengiz Topel whose F-100 was downed by the
National Guard in the summer of 1964.
Click on the link under the Mosque.
If any of you are visiting occupied Cyprus the following town and village
name guide might come in handy in recognising our towns and villages:
Morphou – Guzelyurt, Potamos tou Kampou – Yedidalga, Xeros – Geni Konaj,
Pantaya – Yesilyurt.
———————————————
NEWS IN BRIEF
On Sunday 27 June 2004 the 9th Anniversary of the election and consecration
of His Holiness Aram I was celebrated in all Armenian dioceses and churches
all over the world under the jurisdiction of the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia.
– on June 21 an Azerbaijani sniper shot and killed and Armenian soldier
Radik Avetisyan. On June 14 platoon leader Lieutenant Samvel Vshtunts was
also killed in the same area. In a separate incident on Monday an
Azerbaijani soldier was killed by gunfire that appeared to come from
Armenian-held positions.
– Armenia reaffirmed on Thursday its plans to take part in the NATO-led
military exercise in Azerbaijan this September, but appeared to have scaled
back its participation, strongly opposed by many Azerbaijanis.
– The charitable organi zation “Shen,” which has been active in both Armenia
and Karabagh, has announced its plans to supply 400 computers to the schools
of Karabagh. To date, the program has been implemented in the Askeran and
Shoushi regions of the country.
– During a June 23 session of the UN Economic and Social Council (known as
ECOSOC) Armenia was elected unanimously to ECOSOC commission on population
and development, receiving the accord of the East European countries.
Armenia will be member of the commission from 2005 to 2007.
– The United Armenian Fund’s 129th airlift arrived in Yerevan on June 26,
delivering $1 million of humanitarian assistance. The UAF itself collected
$262,000 of medicines and medical supplies for this flight, most of which
were donated by AmeriCares ($138,000) and the Catholic Medical Mission Board
($123,000).
———————————-
g i b r a h a y c a l e n d a r
The Armenian Club of Larnaca invites all friends to a Garden Party on
Saturday July 3, at 8:00 p.m. Enjoy the delicious food and good company in
our Open air Garden for only #4 per person (drinks not included) Children
#2. For reservations please contact Avedis Avedissian 99-445784, Vartoog
Karaguelian 99-880226.
Pan-European Games Party, between July 2nd to July 4th, Armenian teams
from Germany, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and England will compete
in the Pan-European Games in our own back yard. HYE is proud to announce
that we are throwing the party to end this fantastic sports tournament…
come down and party with the Euro-Armos on their last night. when: Sunday
4th July 2004 @ 8:30pm – 1:00a.m. where: Marriott Hotel Windsor/Slough,
Ditton Road, Langley, Berkshire, SL3 8PT. For map and directions to hotel go
to:
ons.mi?marshaCode=LHRSL
music: Resident DJ Josey Kray with hip hop & RnB and DJ Devil with the funky
armo and middle eastern entrance: #5 contact: John on 07961 166 969 Alenoosh
on 07932 597 089 [email protected] THIS IS NOT A BURUHUNTES THIS IS A HYE
PARTY!
POSTPONED The Annual General Meeting of The Hamazkayin Cultural and
Educational Association “Oshakan” Cyprus Chapter has been postponed for
Tuesday September 14, 2004.
Khanasor and Lisbon 5 Expeditions commemoration at Troodos Picnic site of
“Kampos tou Livadhiou” on Sunday July 25, 2004, organised by AYMA,
Dashnaktsoutiun Cyprus Committee, The Armenian National Committee of Cyprus,
AYF, Larnaca and Limassol Armenian Clubs, Hamazkayin and ARS (HOM) Cyprus
Chapters. Hayer hishek nviragan ayn ore, Houlis amsoun ksanhinkin gadaretsek
mer done. Commemorative Programme begins at 12:00 noon.
AYMA 66th Annual General Meeting, on Thursday July 8, 2004 at 8:00 p.m.
The Armenian Youth Federation is organising its Annual Summer Camp at the
Camp Site of Morphou Prelature from 9-15 August 2004. To receive more
information or to r egister please contact the following: Nareg Tavitian,
Nora Sarian or Simon Aynedjian.
THE TEKEYAN YOUTH MOVEMENT OF CYPRUS is organizing a unique excursion to
Armenia, 7-14 August. Participants will exclusively be Armenian youth (ages
13 to 35) from all over the world. The one-week programme is specially
organized to include an optimum amount of sightseeing, led by expert guides.
Trips to Shushi, Stepanakert, Noravank, Gladzor, Lake Sevan, Dilidjan, Barz
Lidj, Khor Virab, St. Etchmiadzin, Zvartnots, Sartarabad, Garni, Keghart,
Dzidzernagapert are included in the meticulously prepared programme. Lodging
will be at the “Lousakert” Hotel, 20 kilometres North of Yerevan, ideally
situated in an orchard. The hotel rooms are fully equipped with all the
necessary facilities. The price of the WHOLE PACKAGE, including FULL BOARD,
all the excursions, transfers from and to the airport, return air fare from
Cyprus and visa to Armenia is only 335 Cyprus pounds. Those interested
should immediately call 99747798 or 99929343, as availability is very
limited.
A Tour to Armenia is being organised by the Central Executive of
Hamazkayin from August 20-September 3, 2004 with the participation of
members and friends from Armenian diaspora communities. Trips to Karabagh
are also scheduled. To receive more info and to apply for the trip please
contact the Cyprus Hamazkayin committee members immediately.
HAMAZKAYIN FORUM 2004 The 10th Forum, Lebanon:From July 12-18 (Optional)
Armenia: From July 19-31, 2004. Thought provoking lectures, trips to
historic and amazing destinations, and nights of dancing and entertainment
are only some of the Forum highlights. For many Armenian students across the
globe, the Hamazkayin Summer Forum is one of the most anticipated events of
the year. Those interested should visit the website for more details on how
to apply.
The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus announces that the next permit for the
Armenian Cemetery visitation at Ayios Dhometios on the Green line, is
scheduled for Sunday 11 July, 2004.
The Armenian Youth Federation has organised three events for Armenian
Cypriot youth for the month of July as follows: Limassol outing on Monday
July 12. Weekend in Ayia Napa on 17-18 July and Beach Party on Saturday July
31. Details to follow from the pages of Gibrahayer e-newsletter.
———————–
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disseminating news & posting upcoming events about the Armenian community of
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Zenit News Agency, Italy
June 30 2004
Why Water With Wine
And More on “And Also With You”
ROME, JUNE 29, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara,
professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University.
Q: I would want to know the reason why the priest pours water into
wine during the preparation of the gifts. — J.B., Bo, Sierra Leone
A: The brief rite of pouring water into the wine used for
consecration is very ancient. Indeed, it is believed that Our Lord
himself used wine tempered with water at the Last Supper as this was
the common practice among the Jews and in Mediterranean culture in
general.
Some form of this is found in practically every rite of the Church
both Western and Eastern, except for a group of Armenian
Monophysites.
Although the water is not essential for the validity of the
sacrament, the Church holds it in great importance and it must never
be omitted. The Council of Trent even went so far as to excommunicate
whoever denied the need for this mixture (see Canon 9, Session XXII).
Historically, St. Justin Martyr already mentions this practice in his
Apology around the year 150. About a century later St. Cyprian wrote
on this theme in an epistle against a splinter group that used only
water in their celebrations, and this has become the accepted
interpretation:
“For because Christ bore us all, in that He also bore our sins, we
see that in the water is understood the people, but in the wine is
showed the blood of Christ. But when the water is mingled in the cup
with wine, the people [are] made one with Christ, and the assembly of
believers is associated and conjoined with Him on whom it believes;
which association and conjunction of water and wine is so mingled in
the Lord’s cup, that that mixture cannot any more be separated.
“Whence, moreover, nothing can separate the Church — that is, the
people established in the Church, faithfully and firmly persevering
in that which they have believed — from Christ, in such a way as to
prevent their undivided love from always abiding and adhering. Thus,
therefore, in consecrating the cup of the Lord, water alone cannot be
offered, even as wine alone cannot be offered. For if any one offer
wine only, the blood of Christ is dissociated from us; but if the
water be alone, the people are dissociated from Christ; but when both
are mingled, and are joined with one another by a close union, there
is completed a spiritual and heavenly sacrament.
“Thus the cup of the Lord is not indeed water alone, nor wine alone,
unless each be mingled with the other; just as, on the other hand,
the body of the Lord cannot be flour alone or water alone, unless
both should be united and joined together and compacted in the mass
of one bread; in which very sacrament our people are shown to be made
one, so that in like manner as many grains, collected, and ground,
and mixed together into one mass, make one bread; so in Christ, who
is the heavenly bread, we may know that there is one body, with which
our number is joined and united” (“On the Sacrament of the Cup of the
Lord,” No 13).
Another important symbolic explanation for this rite is given in St.
Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologiae, III pars q 74, 6-8:
“Water ought to be mingled with the wine which is offered in this
sacrament.
“First of all, on account of its institution: for it is believed with
probability that our Lord instituted this sacrament in wine tempered
with water according to the custom of that country: hence it is
written (Proverbs 9:5): ‘Drink the wine which I have mixed for you.’
“Secondly, because it harmonizes with the representation of our
Lord’s Passion: hence Pope Alexander I says (Ep. 1 ad omnes orth.):
‘In the Lord’s chalice neither wine only nor water only ought to be
offered, but both mixed because we read that both flowed from His
side in the Passion.’
“Thirdly, because this is adapted for signifying the effect of this
sacrament, since as Pope Julius says (Concil. Bracarens iii, Can. 1):
‘We see that the people are signified by the water, but Christ’s
blood by the wine. Therefore when water is mixed with the wine in the
chalice, the people [are] made one with Christ.’
“Fourthly, because this is appropriate to the fourth effect of this
sacrament, which is the entering into everlasting life: hence Ambrose
says (De Sacram. v): ‘The water flows into the chalice, and springs
forth unto everlasting life.'”
These different explanations form the basis for the Church’s
understanding of the importance of this rite. This understanding is
at the root of the sentiment expressed by the prayer which the priest
recites in a low voice as he pours the water into the chalice:
“By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the
divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”
No Azeri diesel on sale in Armenia – ministry
Arminfo
25 Jun 04
YEREVAN
The Armenian Ministry of Transport and Communications has denied that
Azerbaijani-made diesel oil is being imported from Azerbaijan to be
sold on Armenia’s domestic market, Gagik Grigoryan, head of the
ministry’s foreign relations department, has told an Arminfo
correspondent.
He said that information provided by an expert of the Flash Ltd
company, Musheg Elchyan, that Azerbaijani-made diesel oil was being
transported to Armenia via Georgia was not true.
[Passage omitted: details]
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 25, 2004, Friday
TERRITORIES IN RETURN FOR LIFTING THE SIEGE
SOURCE: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, June 23, 2004, p. 5
by Rauf Mirkadyrov
INITIATIVE IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT SEIZED BY WASHINGTON
Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Vardan Oskanjan and Elmar
Mamedjarov met in Prague last Monday. The meeting was arranged by
chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Stephen
Mann (USA), Henry Jacolen (France), and Andrzej Kasprishka, personal
envoy of OSCE chairman.
Official reports on the meeting were reduced to the traditional vague
phrases like “foreign ministers discussed various aspects and
prospects of Karabakh conflict settlement.” Some observers suspect
that there is more to the settlement process than meets the eye.
Both sides made statements on the eve of the meeting in Prague, and
the statements may be viewed as sensational. “The Karabakh conflict
will be settled soon in accordance with the international law and
with territorial integrity of Azerbaijan honored,” President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said addressing servicemen of some unit
quartered in Gyandzh. Aliyev pointed out, however, that the
negotiations with Armenia “have failed to result in anything so far.”
Needless to say, Azerbaijan “stands for a peaceful settlement of the
conflict but the patience of the people has its limits too.”
“Azerbaijan will never put up with occupation of its lands. It will
liberate them regardless of what it takes,” Aliyev said. “No
compromises are possible where territories are concerned. The sooner
Armenia understands it, the better.”
US Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway announced at his press
conference in Yerevan that the following year Washington intended to
take some “serious steps to accomplish progress in the Karabakh
conflict settlement.” To quote the American diplomat, “a military
solution to the problem is not acceptable for the United States.”
Said Defense Minister of Armenia Serzh Sarkisjan, “If Aliyev wants to
begin everything from scratch, he will have to pass again through the
phases we have already negotiated… Moreover, the Armenian army is
much stronger now than it was then, and nobody can safely ignore
these facts of life much less turn history back. I’m surprised that
somebody is still trying to talk to Armenia in the language of force
after this decade.”
It is necessary to say a few words on Aliyev’s optimism concerning
Karabakh settlement “in accordance with the international law”. The
OSCE Minsk Group, for example, is much more cautious with words.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Merzlyakov said only recently that
the Karabakh talks entered what he called a cul-de-sac. In fact,
Moscow is not precisely active in this sphere nowadays. It seems that
the initiative is being seized by Washington.
When Mann was appointed one of the chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Mann is US presidential envoy for the Caspian problems), this
newspaper surmised that the experienced American diplomat would
probably try to settle the conflict beyond the OSCE Minsk Group
format, using shuttle diplomacy. It seems that we were correct. It
was announced at the meeting of leaders of Justice (opposition bloc
in Armenia) recently that on his visit to Yerevan not long ago Man
had asked the authorities of Armenia to return three occupied
districts to Azerbaijan. According to the Armenian opposition, this
was but the first attempt and attempts are being made now to have the
same idea aired by Karabakh authorities.
Mann made his trip to Yerevan right after the oil and gas conference
in Baku and his negotiations with Azerbaijani leaders. It goes
without saying that Karabakh settlement was discussed there.
Observers do not rule out the possibility that the events will take
the turn already suggested by the European Union once – that official
Baku will be told to release transport arteries, life the siege, and
make it possible for Armenia to participate in regional economic
projects.
Translated by A. Ignatkin
ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/23/2004
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1. Opposition, Reforms, and Karabagh, All in A Day’s Address to PACE
2. KLO Activists Face Criminal Charges
3. Armenia Won’t Abandon Cooperation with NATO
4. European Court Condemns Turkey
5. Azeri Sniper Kills Armenian Soldier
6. Council of Europe Ends Monitoring of Turkey
1. Opposition, Reforms, and Karabagh, All in A Day’s Address to PACE
STRASBOURG (RFE/RL)–In his speech to the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE) on Wednesday, President Robert Kocharian said that the
Strasbourg-based body should not have had to discuss the political
confrontation in Armenia last April, and defended his administration’s
response
to the opposition calls for resignation.
“I regret that some of our deputies drew the PACE into that discussion,” he
said. “I am convinced that the Council of Europe is not the best place to
settle scores between the government and the opposition. All of that must be
done in our own parliament.”
Kocharian described the Armenian opposition’s push for power as an awkward
attempt to replicate neighboring Georgia’s November “Rose Revolution” that was
welcomed in the West. “The Armenian opposition failed to take into account the
fact that Armenia’s economy, unlike Georgia’s, is developing dynamically; its
government is quite efficient and its democratic achievements are propped
up by
institutional structures, including police, which are able to maintain public
order,” he said.
In its April 28 resolution on Armenia, PACE said that the Kocharian
government’s reaction to the opposition protests was “contrary to the letter
and the spirit” of its values, and threatened to impose sanctions unless
reforms were undertaken by the September PACE session.
The Armenian leader, making his second appearance at the Council of Europe
since Armenia joined it in January 2001 emphasized the opposition’s rejection
of calls for political dialogue by the parties of the governing coalition.
“Those proposals remain in force, but they must be discussed in parliament,
not
in the street,” he said.
The Armenian authorities’ compliance with the resolution was discussed
earlier
this week by the PACE’s Monitoring Committee. Its rapporteur on Armenia Jerzy
Jaskiernia, is due to submit a final report on that in time for the assembly’s
next session in September. The committee has also been monitoring the
fulfillment of Armenia’s broader membership commitments to the Council of
Europe.
“Armenia has already fulfilled the vast majority of obligations assumed in
connection with its accession to the Council of Europe,” Kocharian declared,
adding that the remaining ones will be honored “by the end of this year.”
Armenia is going through “an active process of the formation of civil
society,”
he said.
The 20-minute speech was followed by a question-and-answer session. The two
PACE parliamentarians representing the Armenian opposition boycotted the
speech
and were not on hand to pose questions. Azeri and Turkish lawmakers, however,
grilled the president.
Asked by one of the Azeri parliamentarian whether he had any role in the war
over Mountainous Karabagh, Kocharian replied, “Yes, I took part in the war. My
children were hiding in a basement for three years and had no childhood. I am
proud of my participation in the war.”
Kocharian told another Azeri that his country would have regained most of its
territories around Karabagh had it accepted two international peace plans put
forward in 1998 and 2001, and stressed that Karabagh has never been apart
of an
independent Azerbaijan state and should remain outside of Baku’s control.
2. KLO Activists Face Criminal Charges
BAKU (ANS/Baku Today)Azeri law-enforcement authorities have charged five
members of the Karabagh Liberation Organization (KLO) with hooliganism after
their arrest on Tuesday for disrupting a NATO planning conference being
held in
Baku. The group was protesting the participation of Armenian officers Colonel
Murad Isakhanian and Senior Lieutenant Aram Hovannisian.
KLO leader Akif Naghi is reportedly among those arrested after the group
slipped away from police guarding the conference site, and succeeding in
smashing a glass wall of the conference hall.
KLO deputy chairman Barat Imani told the Turan news agency its protests were
not limited to the above disruption, but that a KLO member succeeded in
entering the conference site after the NATO session was in progress, and
announced: “You are sharing this hall with Armenian officers–aggressors,
terrorists, and occupiers. The participation of representatives of
aggressor-states in a NATO event conflicts with NATO policies. No one had the
right to invite them to Baku, and if they have dignity, they must leave
Azerbaijan.”
KLO had warned authorities earlier that they would take drastic measures if
the Armenian officers were allowed to attend the meeting to discuss the
NATO-led military exercise to be held in Azerbaijan this September.
Azerbaijan’s foreign affairs ministry meanwhile dismissed a statement by
parliamentary speaker Murtuz Aleskerov, that the Armenian officers had arrived
in Baku secretly.
A statement by foreign ministry said the arrival of Armenian officers had
been
officially announced by deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov.
3. Armenia Won’t Abandon Cooperation with NATO
YEREVAN (AFP/Armenpress)–Responding to whether Tuesday’s attack by the
Karabagh Liberation Organization, in protest of Armenia’s participation at a
NATO planning conference Baku, affects Armenia’s participation in upcoming
NATO
events, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hamlet Gasparian said that
though the act justly caused concern, Armenia will participate in the June 28
NATO summit in Istanbul.
Gasparian stressed the incident was the logical consequence of the Azeri
leadership’s position and policy [on Armenians], that affects all facets of
Azeri society and hinders Armenian-Azeri dialogue.
“Despite these obstacles, Armenia is resolute to continue its cooperation
with
NATO and participate in NATO-organized joint military exercises and other
events–including the Istanbul Summit.”
Meanwhile, Turkey is on high alert to ward off any threat to next week’s NATO
summit in the country’s biggest city that has long been a playground for
Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militants, far-left guerrillas, and armed Kurdish
rebels.
Massive security measures are in place for the June 28-29 summit and Turkish
authorities say they have received no serious threat of a terrorist attack
against the meeting which will be attended by US President George W. Bush and
other Western leaders.
There have been a number of small bomb attacks in Istanbul in recent weeks,
and other cities, similar to those carried out in the past by left-wing
militants.
In the run-up to the NATO summit, Turkish security forces have detained
dozens
in security sweeps against several outlawed groups.
4. European Court Condemns Turkey
(VOA NEWS)The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Turkey for its
treatment of two men detained in 1995 for their alleged ties to a Kurdish
rebel
group. The court announced its decision in the case of Abdulrezzak Aydin and
Abdullah Yunus on Tuesday.
Doctors found the two men were physically abused while in Turkish police
custody after a police raid against the Kurdistan Workers Party.
The European court ruled that Turkey had failed to fulfill its obligation to
protect individuals while in the custody of police officers. It awarded
each of
the men approximately 27,000 dollars for damages and legal fees.
5. Azeri Sniper Kills Armenian Soldier
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–A forty-seven-year-old Colonel from Armenia’s armed
forces Radik Avetissian was shot and killed by sniper fire in Armenia’s
northeastern Tavush region that borders the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Breaches of the cease-fire agreement are registered periodically in the area,
which is a contact line between Armenian and Azeri armed forces. An escalation
of tensions on the border was discussed at the recent Prague meeting between
the foreign ministers of the two countries.
6. Council of Europe Ends Monitoring of Turkey
STRASBOURG (ARMENPRESS)The Parliamentary Assembly decided on June 22 to end
the
monitoring of Turkey, declaring that the country had “achieved more reform
in a
little over two years than in the previous decade,” and had clearly
demonstrated its commitment and ability to fulfill its statutory
obligations as
a member state of the Council of Europe.
However, the Assembly resolved to continue “post-monitoring dialogue” with
the
authorities on a twelve-point list of outstanding issues. In a resolution
adopted by 141 votes to 8, the parliamentarians welcomed the adoption of
important changes to the Constitution in October 2001 and May 2004, as well as
abolition of the death penalty, “zero tolerance” towards torture and impunity,
the lifting of many restrictions on freedom of expression, association and
religion, the abolition of the state security courts, and the granting of
certain cultural rights to Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin.
Presenting the report, co-rapporteur Mady Delvaux-Stehres said, “This
decision
is a mark of our trust in the Turkish authorities that they will continue to
make progress. It is also a mark of trust in Turkey itself.”
In a separate vote, the Assembly also welcomed the “significant progress”
made
by Turkey in implementing decisions of the European Court of Human Rights,
including payment in the Loizidou case, but cautioned that some of the cases
outstanding were still not settled or only partly so. In its resolution, the
Assembly urged Turkey to take eight further steps to help prevent fresh
violations of the European Convention on Human Rights.
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Emissions market attracts plant engineers
The Nikkei Weekly (Japan)
June 21, 2004
The Kyoto Protocol is inspiring plant engineering firms and general
contractors, although they emit only limited amounts of greenhouse
gases, to launch operations aimed at trading carbon dioxide emission
rights as a new source of revenue.
Japan is expected to find it difficult to achieve its CO2 reduction
target under the Kyoto pact – a 6% cut in overall emissions in fiscal
2008-2012 from 1990 levels. That will likely force companies that emit
large amounts of the greenhouse gas, such as electric power companies,
oil refiners and steelmakers, to obtain emission rights by working
on overseas projects that help to cut emissions abroad. That will
provide a business opportunity for other firms.
JGC Corp. plans to launch operations in China’s Henan Province as
early as 2006 to collect and break down dinitrogen monoxide, which
has 310 times the global warming effect of CO2. The firm has begun
studying business feasibility with the support of New Energy and
Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). It expects to
invest 1-2 billion yen in the operations.
By collecting N2O, a byproduct of nylon materials production, JGC
expects to obtain 2-3 million metric tons of CO2 emission rights
annually, equal to about 0.4% to 0.6% of annual CO2 emissions by
Japan’s industrial sector. The company is also studying operations
to collect CO2 emissions from natural gas fields.
Similarly, Toyo Engineering Corp. plans to launch operations in
Kazakhstan as early as 2005 to collect methane from coal mines to use
for fuel in power generation. The firm expects to secure about 120,000
tons of emission rights annually from the operations. Methane has a
global warming impact 21 times that of CO2. Toyo Engineering plans
to solicit investors for the project, which is expected to cost a
total of about 500 million yen.
General contractors are also considering operations to collect
methane from waste disposal facilities for use as fuel. Shimizu Corp.
plans to launch such operations in Armenia in 2005 and Ukraine in
2008. The company will also pursue these operations in China as soon
as it obtains permission from the government.
Kajima Corp. and Obayashi Corp. are investigating the feasibility of
such operations in Malaysia and Thailand, respectively.
The move by plant engineering firms and general contractors to enter
greenhouse gas emission rights operations underscores how these firms
see global warming as a business opportunity and not solely as an
environmental risk.
JGC and Toyo Engineering established companywide teams about a year
ago to look at potential projects that follow the Kyoto mechanism
allowing industrialized nations to obtain emission rights by helping
developing nations cut their emission volumes.
Because plant engineering firms and general contractors do not operate
factories, their carbon dioxide emission volumes are much lower than
those of electric power companies, oil firms and steelmakers. So
these firms plan to sell the emission rights obtained through overseas
projects to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In turn, the extra
revenue will help boost the profitability of their overseas operations.
The companies are also aiming to get a head start on South Korean and
Chinese rivals by pursuing plant construction projects in developing
countries and former communist bloc nations. This is because under
the Kyoto mechanism, both South Korea and China are categorized as
developing nations, and thus are ineligible to obtain emission rights
by working on projects outside their borders.
Japanese engineering firms and general contractors will focus on
reducing emissions, such as methane and chlorofluorocarbon gas, which
have a much higher global warming impact than CO2. So even if the
firms’ investments are relatively small, they may be able to obtain
a large amount of emission rights when calculated in CO2 equivalents.
Nazarbayev notes growing threat to CSTO stability, security
By Mikhail Petrov
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 18, 2004 Friday 12:22 AM Eastern Time
ASTANA, June 18 – President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev
has pointed to the “increased threat to stability and security” to
member-countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
Speaking at an enlarged meeting of the CSTO summit in the Kazakh
capital Astana on Friday he urged to “reduce to minimum the doubling
of functions within the framework of the organisation, concentrate
on the military-political component and intensify cooperation against
challenges and threats of today.”
Addressing the presidents of Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Russia
and Tajikistan the Kazakh leader noted that the CSTO member states
have considerable prospects for military-technical cooperation.
“At today’s meeting we should consider priorities of our activities
for the near-term prospect,” Nazarbayev said.
The Astana summit opened with a discussion in private held behind
closed doors. Russian president’s aide Sergei Prikhodko said
earlier that the main subjects for discussion could be divided into
three parts: the actual coordination of the foreign policy within
international organisations framework, set-up of real functioning of
structures of the CSTO itself and joint operations of its anti-aircraft
defence systems.
The Collective security Treaty (CST) was signed in Tashkent in 1992
by heads of six CIS countries – Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Azerbaijan, Georgia and Belarus
joined the treaty in 1993.
The treaty came into force for all the nine countries in April 1994
for a term of five years. However, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Uzbekistan
decided not to sign a protocol on the treaty’s prolongation in
April 1999.
In 2002 the CST was reorganized into a full-fledged international
organisation – the CSTO.
Under the CSTO charter, its member states take joint measures to
form within the framework of the organisation a viable system of
collective security and create regional groups of troops, coordinate
their efforts in the fight against international terrorism, drug
trafficking, weapons smuggling, organised crime, illegal migration
and other menaces to their security.
MUNICIPALITY IS IN INACTIVITY
A1 Plus | 18:14:55 | 09-06-2004 | Politics |
“I accept that we have replied to the application of the “Association
of Investigating Journalists” with delay but I can’t say why”, Karine
Danielyan, chief specialist of Juridical Department of Yerevan
Municipality, announced in the First Instance Court of Center,
Norq-Marash Communes.
Edik Baghdasaryan, Chair of “Association of Investigating Journalists”,
appealed to Yerevan Mayor Ervand Zakharyan on 02.10.2003 asking to
look through the decisions ex Mayor made regarding the cafes in the
territory near National Opera and Ballet Theatre to research articles.
Instead of answering, the Municipality staff head Suren Koshecyan
informed 40 days later: “It is necessary to make more accurate what
information exactly you expect to get from Yerevan Municipality”.
After waiting for Municipality reply for 7 months Edik Baghdasaryan
appealed to Court, stating that the Municipality’s response runs
counter to the Armenian Constitution, some laws and the Convention
on Human Rights and Basic Freedoms.
Today the “Association of Investigating Journalists” demanded that
the Court call Yerevan Municipality to account for it’s inactivity
and to oblige it to give information about the property near the
Opera and their owners.
Municipality representative Karine Danielyan agreed to give information
and asked Court for some time. Mrs. Danielyan asked Edik Baghdasaryan
to name the cafes he was interested in.
“The properties Karlos Petrosyan, Levon Khachatryan, Bellagio Grish
etc own are in that territory”, Baghdasaryan said. To ease the work
of Municipality Edik Baghdasaryan promised to assume the costs for
copying the documents.
Court set Yerevan Municipality time to perform its duties till June
21, 3:00 PM.