Author: Madatian Greg

AZERI DELEGATES INTEND TO PORTRAY ARMENIANS AS TERRORISTS

A1Plus
04-10-2004

Two Armenian lawmakers – Shavarsh Kocharyan and Hermine Naghdaryan –
attended Monday PACE Liberal fraction meeting as members of the
fraction.

It became clear at the meeting that Azeri delegates intend to accuse
Armenians of terrorism during Karabakh problem likely discussion at
the PACE winter session, Shavarsh Kocharyan said in an interview with
our correspondent.

`I was concerned about that yet before departure from Yerevan. That’s
why I applied from Yerevan to be put on waiting list for making speech
at the session ‘, Kocharyan said.

In his words, Azeri lawmakers are going to accuse Armenians of
terrorism also on Wednesday, when Terror Challenges topic will be
discussed at the PACE session on Russian delegation initiative.

FOUR ARMENIAN HOSPITALS TO BE INCLUDED IN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF
ITALIAN HOSPITALS

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign affairs ministry
said Armenian and Italian officials signed on September 27 in Rome a
cooperation agreement for 2004 whereby the Italian health ministry
will help Armenian hospitals to increase their information
opportunities.

The ministry said the Italian government has released to that end
30,560 euros, a sum that is enough for 4 Armenian hospitals to be
included in the international networks of Italian hospitals, ensuring
distance health consulting and diagnosis.

government has released to that end 30,560 euros, a sum that is enough
for 4 Armenian h.

Azeri ruling party official urges world bodies to ignore Karabakh youth forum

Ekho, Baku
30 Sep 04

Text of E. Quliyev report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 30 September
headlined “Boycott the Karabakh visit” and subheaded “Members of the
New Azerbaijan Party urge youth organizations of the world”

“The invitations to visit Karabakh sent out to representatives of
youth organizations of different countries are a political action
masterminded by the Armenian leadership,” the deputy chairwoman of
the New Azerbaijan Party, Bahar Muradova, has told Ekho.

Let’s recall that on its web site the Pan-Armenian international
youth forum has posted an address to all youth organizations of
the world, inviting them to take part in a fact-finding visit to
Karabakh and assess the situation in the area of youth policy, human
rights and democracy in conflict-stricken areas. The visit will lay
the foundation for an international youth conference in the “NKR”
[Nagornyy Karabakh Republic]. The web site also says that applications
can be submitted to Armenian embassies before 4 October, while the
trip itself is scheduled to begin on 15 November. It is said further
that Armenian embassies, with the consent of the “NKR government”,
will be issuing visas to those interested. In conclusion, the web site
says that the Armenian government guarantees an uninhibited visit to
Nagornyy Karabakh.

Muradova believes that this is all a further illustration of the fact
that Armenia, in defiance of all laws, freely disposes of Azerbaijani
lands and illegally invites representatives of international
organizations to our territories.

“Obviously a youth organization cannot finance such a major project
on its own, it is probably financed by the Armenian government or
diaspora,” she said.

She added that participation of different international
organizations could undermine Azerbaijan’s relations with the
countries they represent. The ruling party representative stressed
that among the invitees there might be organizations unaware of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

“We would like to inform them that the NKR is an illegal and
unrecognized separatist formation, while a visit there without the
consent of the Azerbaijani authorities represents support for the
occupation of our lands,” she said.

Muradova said further that a round table on Pan-Armenian’s attempt
to organize a fact-finding visit to Karabakh had been held at
the New Azerbaijan Party’s headquarters earlier this week. The
participants discussed possible measures of the Azerbaijani side,
namely youth organizations, to thwart such activities on the occupied
territories. Representatives of youth organizations adopted an address
to the world youth urging them not to yield to the Armenian provocation
and boycott the trip. Muradova added that the address would be sent
to those who had been invited by Pan-Armenian. Another address has
been sent to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

A1 Plus | 17:53:04 | 23-09-2004 | Social |

CRIMINAL CASE FOUND

The criminal case instituted on the facts of violence committed
towards Anna Israelyan, correspondent of “Aravot” Newspaper and
“Photolur” photographer Mkhitar Khachatryan, was found.

The legal proceedings will take place in the First Instance Court of
Kotayq District. The first day of the trial will be set next
week. Gagik Stepanyan is the case defendant.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 22 2004

Azerbaijan’s stance on settlement of Garabagh conflict remains
unchanged, President says

Baku, September 21, AssA-Irada
On Tuesday, President Ilham Aliyev received Philip Dimitrov, the OSCE
chairman’s special envoy on Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Upper
Garabagh was the topic of discussions.
Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh and
Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan, President Aliyev noted that
the conflict creates great obstacles for ensuring peace and stability
in the entire region.
Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan’s position towards the conflict
remains unchanged. The problem should be settled within international
legal norms and principles of the territorial integrity and
inviolability of borders, he said.
The Azerbaijani President noted that the conflict will never be
solved if there is another approach to the issue. Peace and security
will be ensured in the region and the country’s economy rapidly
developed if the Upper Garabagh conflict is solved, he stressed.
President Aliyev underscored that international organizations are
more interested in peaceful settlement of the conflict. Expressing
his disappointment with the failure of the OSCE Minsk Group to solve
the conflict so far, Aliyev voiced a hope that the Minsk Group will
step up its efforts in this respect.
Dimitrov, in his turn, underlined that the meetings of Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents play a great role in the peaceful resolution
of the Upper Garabagh conflict. He voiced a hope that the conflicting
sides will step up their efforts to settle the conflict.*

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 16 2004

MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AND THE PRESIDENT
OF ARMENIA ROBERT KOCHARYAN WITH PARTICIPATION OF CO-CHAIRS OF THE
MINSK GROUP
[September 15, 2004, 16:32:27]

On September 15, the meeting of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev and the President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has taken place
in Astana with participation of co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group,
AzerTAj correspondent reports.

During the conversation, underlined was importance of carrying out of
such meetings for peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh conflict, activation of all efforts with a view of the
solution of the conflict. Co-chairmen of the Minsk Group Yury
Merzlyakov (Russia), Steven Mann (USA) and Henry Jacolin (France)
informed the Presidents on the work done recently and the carried out
negotiations.

At the meeting, the negotiators had comprehensive exchange of views
in connection with settlement of the conflict proceeding already long
years.

After the meeting, Yuri Merzlyakov informed journalists that the
discussions of Presidents included the questions discussed on the
Prague negotiations. One of the put forward offers concerns clearing
of the regions adjoining to Nagorny Karabakh, returning of the IDPs
to their homelands and warranting of their safety. The Azerbaijan and
Armenian sides have discussed the ideas on negotiations. After
negotiations in Astana, official Baku and Yerevan will present to
co-chairs the offers on the basis of which the Minsk Group will carry
out its activity. The held negotiations and all ideas focused in the
discussion of presidents were within the framework of territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. Many moments arising during negotiations,
also are connected to the reasons and consequences of the conflict.

Azer News, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2004

Azerbaijan, Armenia to hold ‘Make-or-break’ talks

Talks next week between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan could
make or break the fragile peace process between the two countries,
President Ilham Aliyev said Saturday.

Aliyev is scheduled to meet face-to-face with his Armenian
counterpart Robert Kocharian within a CIS summit due to commence on
September 15 in Astana, Kazakhstan. President Aliyev said the meeting
could be a breakthrough after a decade of unsuccessful negotiations
which followed a war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the early
1990s over Upper Garabagh. “A lot depends on the meeting in Astana,”
Aliyev said during his visit to Barda, north-western Azerbaijan.

“It could bring clarity to the question of where we are, whether we
are getting closer to an agreement or whether we are going in the
opposite direction.” “Now there is a chance to determine the road map
for achieving an agreement. This is the main thing: real, fundamental
negotiations will start only after that.” Aliyev added: “First of all
we must agree on the principles. If we achieve that, afterwards the
detailed negotiations can get underway.” Defense Minister Safar
Abiyev, in a meeting with the outgoing Russian Ambassador Nikolay
Ryabov, said the Azeri people expect the upcoming meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents to yield results in settling the
Upper Garabagh conflict. Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a five-year
war over Upper Garabagh. Some 35,000 people were killed and about one
million civilians displaced by the fighting. The conflict ended with
Armenian forces in control of Upper Garabagh, which is
internationally recognized as a part of Azerbaijan. Though a fragile
ceasefire is in force, the two sides are still officially in a state
of war. Azerbaijan has threatened to renew hostilities unless peace
talks produce results soon.

Gracefully bridging cultural differences through dance
By JOYCE RUDOLPH

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Sept 11 2004

GLENDALE – Anna Djanbazian wants to share the beauty of her Armenian
culture with others, especially young people, in hopes that it brings
harmony to the whole community.

That’s the purpose of her newly formed Djanbazian Foundation, which
is sponsoring the Los Angeles premiere of her contemporary ballet
based on the life of Armenian musical figure Komitas, who lived from
1869 to 1935.

He was a priest as well as a composer, conductor and teacher,
Djanbazian said. He collected and notated more than 4,000 traditional
songs and instrumental works. Following the Armenian Genocide in 1915,
he suffered a mental breakdown and stopped archiving his work and
few examples of it remain, she added.

Djanbazian has choreo- graphed dances to 20 of his works. The ballet,
in two acts with three scenes in each, will be performed by more than
25 of her company’s dancers. Two other guest artists performing are
Arsen Serobian, who will portray Komitas, and David Hovhannisyan,
who will dance several other parts in the ballet.

In the dances, Djanbazian is portraying the artist as a human being,
she said.

“Everybody knows he was a priest, he was a very saintly man, [but]
at same time, he was a human being and artist, who tried to separate
foreign melodies from the basic Armenian music,” she said.

In some scenes, Djanbazian shows the artist as he was creating the
melodies and the melodies are dancing around him.

“Komitas lived for his people,” she said. “So, in the second act,
you see more of what happened to his people and how he was affected
by the (tragic things) that happened to these people.”

Following the genocide, she said, Komitas separated himself from his
real life and was committed to an asylum for many years.

“But, people got stronger and stood on their feet because of his work,”
she added.

Djanbazian believes that by presenting history through dance and music,
it will help break down the barriers between the different cultures
in Glendale, especially among the youth.

“We are all living together everyday, why not get involved in each
other’s culture,” she said. “We will respect each other and live
together calmer and with respect.”

Djanbazian is continuing the 62-year dance academy tradition started
by her father Sarkis Djanbazian who was a ballet master in Russia.
She came to the United States from Iran in 1984 and began the
Djanbazian Dance Company in 2002.

“Komitas – Krung Bnaver (Banished – but not forgotten),” continues
at 8 tonight and 5 p.m. Sunday at the Glendale Community College
Theatre, 1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale. Artist and historian Arto
Tchakmakchian will present an optional pre-show lecture on Komitas’
life at 7:15 tonight and 4:15 p.m. Sunday. Tickets range from $20 to
$40. For reservations, call 580-2170.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL COOPERATION
[September 14, 2004, 23:18:35]

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 14 2004

Close cooperation has been established between the International
Association of Public Prosecutors, one of the authoritative legal
organizations of the world, and the Republic of Azerbaijan, The
Republic is represented in the Executive Committee, supervising body
of the said structure.

Recently, in the capital of South Korea, Seoul, the annual conference
and general meeting of Association have taken place. Also participating
were the executives of bodies of Public Prosecutor, justice, judicial
and other law-enforcement services of about 100 states. Also was held
session of Executive Committee of the Organization. Azerbaijan on these
actions was represented by delegation headed by member of Executive
Committee of Association, Minister of Justice Fikrat Mammadov.

Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan, speaking in English, as the basic
lecturer at the conference devoted to problems of realization of
justice and criminal prosecution in the states with various legal
systems and other pressing questions, using, thus, modern technical
visual aids, has presented the detailed information on cardinal
democratic reforms and progressive changes which have been carried
out in legal system of our country under the direction of national
leader Heydar Aliyev, on purposeful measures in the field of reliable
maintenance of human rights, has answered questions of participants.
His report aroused deep interest and was distributed to participants
of action and, was included in official documents of the Conference,
distributed among law-enforcement structures of world.

On general meeting of the Association, were held elections to directing
bodies of the Organization. Minister of Justice of Azerbaijan, in
view of his fruitful activity in work of the Organization again has
been elected member of the Executive Committee, and the information
on the contribution of Azerbaijan in development of Association, has
been included in the official final document and distributed among
participants of the action. Azerbaijan alongside with the advanced
states of the world is represented in supervising body of this
authoritative organization, what, strengthening the international
connections of the Republic, expands opportunities of cooperation
with law-enforcement structures of the foreign states in rendering
legal aid.

Within the framework of visit, were held meetings with heads
of law-enforcement services of the various states, prospects
of cooperation discussed, and presented information on the
Azerbaijan realities, in particular, attracted attention to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The general public
prosecutor of Laos, showing big interest to cooperation with
Azerbaijan, has with satisfaction emphasized, that the Laotians
graduated from the higher educational institutions of Azerbaijan, hold
high posts in this country, and also are represented in the government.

During the visit, the participants familiarized with the
law-enforcement system of South Korea, useful exchange of experience
and views has been carried out at meetings with Minister of Justice
and the general public prosecutor of the country.

WILL ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS GO TO IRAQ?

RIA Novosti, Russia
Sept 14 2004

YEREVAN, September 14 (RIA Novosti’s Gamlet Matevosyan) – Armenian
parliament will soon discuss sending Armenian peacekeepers to Iraq,
chairman of the Armenian National Assembly Artur Bagdasaryan told
journalists.

According to him, the point at issue is a limited contingent of
servicemen rather than a big military formation.

On September 6 president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and president
of Poland Alexander Kwasniewski signed an agreement on cooperation in
the sphere of security between the two countries, within the framework
of which 50 Armenian servicemen will be sent to Iraq where they will
join the coalition forces under the Polish command.

Armenian defense minister lieutenant-general Yuri Khachaturov
ambiguously assessed the decision of the country’s leadership to
send Armenian peacekeepers to Iraq. According to him, the Armenian
community and Armenians as a whole can face problems connected with
ensuring security of Armenian officers.

At the same time Khachaturov pointed out that the final decision will
be made by parliament. “”Possibly, the parliament will not confirm
the decision, but we will fulfil any order given to us,” he said.

The Democratic Party of Armenia represented in Parliament by
one deputy, circulated a statement on September 14 in which it
characterized this step of the authorities as ill-advised and
dangerous.

The party members are of the opinion that such a decision contradicts
the national interests of Armenia, the interests of state security,
and creates threat, above all, to the peaceful existence of the
25,000-strong Armenian community in Iraq and also those Armenians
who live in Moslem countries.

The democrats condemn the Armenian authorities’ intention to send a
military contingent to Iraq and call on MPs to come out against the
ratification of this agreement, says the statement of the Democratic
Party of Armenia.