ANKARA: Armenian FM Oskanyan Calls on Turkey to ‘Open Borders’

Armenian FM Oskanyan Calls on Turkey to ‘Open Borders’

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
June 15 2005

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan once again called on the
Turkey to lift ‘the blockade of Armenia’ at a news conference at the
national press club in Washington a few days ago.

Oskanyan argued that the opening of the border will positively impact
the situation in the region. However he did not say anything about
the Armenian occupation. Armenian forces have occupied the 20 percent
of Azerbaijani territories. About 1 million Azerbaijanis have been
refugees for more than a decade. Armenia does not recognize Turkey’s
and Azerbaijan’s national borders.

The Armenian foreign minister repeated the position of the official
Yerevan and its readiness to normalize relations with Ankara without
preconditions. However Oskanyan had rejected Turkish PM Erdogan’s call
to establish a joint commission to discuss the historical disputes.

Armenian citizens can visit Turkey by plane only. More than 50,000
Armenians illegally work in Istanbul.

The Armenian foreign minister Oskanyan called on the White House to
influence Turkey ‘effectively’ in its relations with Armenia. However
Turkey and Azerbaijan with Georgia are among the most strategic allies
of the US in the region while Armenia is the only Russian partner in
the Caucasus. Armenia furthermore develops close relations with Iran.

Davut Sahiner, Caucasus expert, says “the Armenian politicians are
not aware full about the balance of the power in the region”. Sahiner
says Armenia needs Turkey, not Turkey needs Armenia:

“75 million-Turkey is strong enough and does not need Armenia while
Armenia has been isolated in the region. Armenia has been become a
Russian military base. Georgia and Azerbaijan has developed good
relations with the West, Israel and Turkey. Armenian economy and
political life has been getting worse and worse. The population has
declared from 3 million to 2 million. And they are still talking about
preconditions. They are still speaking about the events of a century
ago. The Armenian ‘leaders’ miss today, they abuse the problems. They
do not want to solve anything. They go to Washington or to Brussels and
try manipulate or provocate the Western leaders against Turkey. The
Armenian politicians have always forgotten that they live with the
Turks not with the Western peoples. They have to respect the peoples
in the region. Otherwise they can never find respect.”

Larisa Alaverdian’s letter to Ara Abrahamian

LARISA ALAVERDIAN’S LETTER TO ARA ABRAHAMIAN

AZG Armenian Daily #109, 15/06/2005

Letter

Various organizations and officials welcomed the release of the six
Armenian pilots from the prison of the Equatorial Guinea. Larisa
Alaverdian, RA ombudswoman, send a letter of gratitude to Ara
Abrahamian, chairman of World Armenian Congress and the Union of the
Armenians of Russia, on the occasion of the return of the Armenian
pilots to their motherland.

Mrs. Alaverdian emphasized in the letter that she was very glad
to hear that the Armenian pilots are released. RA ombudswoman also
emphasized the importance of the efforts Ara Abrahamian made, stating
that his deed will be highly appreciated. “Such a step taken by a
representative of Armenian Diaspora evidences real patriotism and love
to his own people, true benevolence and humanity have no borders,”
the letter said.

Larisa Alaverdian expressed her deepest gratitude to the World Armenian
Congress and wished success in their further activities for their
people and Armenia.

Gathering discusses preparations for Year of Armenia in France

Gathering discusses preparations for Year of Armenia in France

13.06.2005 17:13

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Over 40 leaders of French Armenian organizations
operating in Lyon and Ron Alps regions of France gathered in Lyon on
June 10 to discuss the preparation of the Year of Armenia in France,
Armenpress reported.

According to the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Armenian
ambassador to France Edvard Nalbandian briefed those gathered on the
main directions and plans of the events to be held. It was also pointed
out that the Year of Armenia in France poses a great opportunity to
present the Armenian culture in that country and Europe.

Winning A Peace From Global Perspectives

Pressbox.co.uk (press release), UK
June 10 2005

Winning A Peace From Global Perspectives

By Kamala Sarup

I see the many recent wars in many countries around the globe as the
inevitable clash between the different political cultures and
ideologies. Radical terrorists are attempting to preserve their
culture from contamination by the non-radical cultures, but the
pervasiveness of worldwide media make this objective impossible, in
my opinion.

It is a case of the rich, irreverent, profane, and materialistic
versus the poor, devotional, fervent, ascetic, and theocratic.
Ultimately, it must be resolved, as are all past wars, but it will
likely take many years because of the large populations involved.

But the majority people in favor on Peace, and they want technology.
I believe the technology will prevail, ultimately, to preserve the
economic interests too. In my opinion, the U.S. and its coalition
partners temporarily will quiet Iraq and then leave, but I have
little confidence that there will be continued peace there and in
Afghanistan because of the many internal ethnic, religious, and clan
differences.

Suffering of civilians in war is increases substantially during any
kind of war. Because of the bloody war, many countries are strewn
with landmines, which kill thousands of people every year. Most of
the abuses against children, including sexual assaults on girls, take
place. Children often suffer alone, afraid of speaking out or being
punished.

The cold war ended with the collapse of communism, but on the other
hand, radical forces bent on spreading fundamentalist ideologies have
arisen. In the past several years, the fighting for power has
continued not only in Nepal but in Sierra Leone, Burundi, Angola,
Nigeria, Sudan, Liberia, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Congo. Several years after
mass killings in Bosnia, Somalia, and Rwanda, there are at least six
major cases of genocide. The mass killings of Armenians by Turks,
Jews by Hitler, Cambodians by the Khamer Rouge, Kurds of the northern
Iraq by Saddam Hussein, Tutsi of Rwanda by the Hutu and of Croats,
Muslims and the Albanians of Kosovo by the Serbs.

Recently, UN Secretary-General Annan has also said a number of
countries underscored proliferation as a grave danger, while others
argued that existing nuclear arsenals imperil us. He also points out
that since the review conference last met in 2000, North Korea has
announced its withdrawal from the treaty and declared itself in
possession of nuclear weapons. Libya has admitted that it worked for
years on a clandestine nuclear weapons program. And the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found undeclared uranium enrichment
activity in Iran.

The 1972 BTWC prohibits the development, production; stockpiling,
retention or acquisition of biological weapons is a unique class of
weapons. Today, 143 States are parties to the Convention. Security
Council Resolution 1325, adopted in October 2000, specifically
mentions the need to consider the different needs of ex-combatants
and their dependents in DDR (disarmament, demobilization and
rehabilitation).

Even this year had been a significant year in disarmament and arms
control. The Moscow Treaty was a major bilateral achievement. A group
of countries, the G-8, also took an important initiative to prevent
the proliferation of sensitive technology and material related to
weapons of mass destruction and reduction of conventional weapons.

Recently, the secretary-general issued the report of his Policy
Working Group on the United Nations, which contained 31
recommendations for action against this global threat, including
several relating to disarmament. Recommendation 18, for example,
urges the consideration of the establishment of a mechanism in the
Department for Disarmament.

As a general principle, all disarmament obligations should indeed be
rigorously enforced – compliance is an absolutely vital issue for the
effectiveness and credibility of disarmament activities.
non-governmental organizations, media organizations and peace and
human rights organizations could play in promoting and implementing
missile control and disarmament.

So, there are plenty of problems and plenty of reasons why any
governments, and International organizations, have an enormous role
to play. Any International organizations and governments of the war
torn countries must help to bringing peace. So toward eliminating the
condition that sustain terrorism and violence, International
organizations should work between the government and rebels and
support a negotiated settlement.

It is not easy to bring peace in the conflict areas. International
organizations and governments must expand its role and program in the
troubled countries including Nepal.

It is Universal truth, People want peace. “Having to fight, having to
pay the costs of wars from their own resources, having painfully to
repair the devastation war leaves behind, and, to fill up the measure
of evils, load themselves with a heavy national debt that would
embitter peace itself and that can never be liquidated on account of
constant wars in the future”. Immanuel Kant said. To promote peace
promotes a deeper and more durable peace because it promotes a social
field, cross-pressures, and political responsibility; it promotes
pluralism, diversity, and groups that have a stake in peace.

Kamala Sarup is editor of )

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0506/S00070.htm
http://peacejournalism.com/

Ambassador’s remarks stir row:-

Webindia123, India
June 10 2005

Ambassador’s remarks stir row:-
WASHINGTON | June 10, 2005 12:11:26 AM IST

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans’ remarks criticizing the
Ottoman Empire for genocide in 1915 apparently cost him a prestigious
foreign service award.

Evans was in line for the American Foreign Service Association’s
Christian A. Herter Award for constructive dissent. But his remarks
characterizing the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide
stirred such a diplomatic dust-up, he was forced to retract his
remarks — and then clarify his retraction.

Association President John M. Limbert told the Washington Post he
couldn’t remember an award being withdrawn before.

Evans made his controversial remarks during an appearance before an
Armenian group in California. Armenians hailed the remarks while
Turkey condemned them.

Will Genocide issue enter Bundestag for hearings?

AZG Armenian Daily #104, 08/06/2005

Armenian Genocide

WILL GENOCIDE ISSUE ENTER BUNDESTAG FOR HEARINGS?

The German Tagesspiegel newspaper wrote yesterday that the document on
Armenian Genocide worked out by Christian Democrat, Social Democrat and the
Green Party of Germany before the parliamentary elections again omitted the
word “genocide”. In order not to oppose Turkey’s interests and not to spoil
relations with Turks, the parties used the word “massacres” instead of
“genocide”. The document will be soon submitted to other parties for
discussion and afterwards it will enter the parliament to be discussed.
Allegedly, arguments over the document will get hot as the official and
scientific are diametrically opposite.

If Bundestag fails to adopt a resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide
once again, the issue will be put off till the next parliamentary election.

Armenian barbecue becomes very ‘Estonian’

AZG Armenian Daily #104, 08/06/2005

Diaspora

ARMENIAN BARBECUE BECOMES VERY ‘ESTONIAN’

The expert chose the best 31 products during the tasting organized at the
Estonian Agriculture and Trade House on May 25. The Armenian khorovats
(barbecue) was announced the “Product well Accepted in Estonia” prize in the
“Best Product of 2005” nomination.

The Armenian dish appeared in Estonia in May 2000. The initiator of
producing this dish was Pilavsky Meat Factory, established by “Todas” JSC in
1998. One of the owners of the company is Spartak Hakobjanian, an Armenian
entrepreneur.

Before 2000 the factory was producing different summer grills but in 2000,
the market exports of the factory advised to produce new meat dish, i.e.
Armenian khorovats.

Armenian cook Ara Karapetian, great master of khorovats, helped to make this
dish popular with the Estonian consumers. He masters all the ways of making
khorovats.

The demand for khorovats grew for three times for the last few years. The
Estonians lost their hearts to the Armenian dish.

Gagik Saroyan, who sent an e-mail to daily Azg, also informed that from this
year the factory will enlarge the assortment of khorovats.

By Ruzan Poghosian

Armenian-Turkish Relns & NK issue to top Oskanian-Rice agenda

AZG Armenian Daily #104, 08/06/2005

Visit

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE TO TOP OSKANIAN-RICE
MEETING AGENDA

On the sidelines of his visit to the US capital of Washington on June 9-10
RA foreign minister Vartan Oskanian will meet US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, adviser on security affairs Steven Hedley, other
representatives of the US administration and the members of the Congress.

Mediamax informs referring to a source in Washington that the sides will
discuss issues of bilateral relations as well as the process of Nagorno
Karabakh regulation and the Armenian-Turkish relations.

Ukraine needs Turkey

ForUm, Ukraine
June 7 2005

Ukraine needs Turkey

Ukraine is interested in participating of Turkey in GUAM as an
observer, Ukrainian president, Viktor Yushchenko, stated after the
negotiations in Ankara.

Yesterday Viktor Yushchenko has come to Turkey with official
three-day visit in order to conduct the negotiations with Turkish
president, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, “UNIAN” reported.

Yushchenko also mentioned that in the next years the development of
energy projects in Caspian and Black seas and the solution for
Transdniestrian and Nagorny Karabakh conflicts will be the forefront
of GUAM.

EBRD lends $1m to microbusiness in Armenia

Harold Doan and Associates (press release), CA
June 7 2005

EBRD lends $1m to microbusiness in Armenia

Press Release – European Bank For Reconstruction And Development

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is lending $1
million to Armenia’s InecoBank to help it provide finance for local
entrepreneurs planning to develop small businesses.

Mike Davey, the EBRD’s country director for the Caucasus, Moldova and
Belarus, said: `The EBRD is delighted to be able to provide this loan
to InecoBank. The loan will help Armenian entrepreneurs get
much-needed access to finance to grow their businesses, and also
contribute to the strengthening of the Armenian financial sector.’

Fast-growing InecoBank, founded in 1992 to provide financial services
to micro- and small enterprises (MSE), is the fourth bank in Armenia
to benefit from a loan from the EBRD under the $10 million Armenia
Multi-Bank Framework Facility. This loan replicates previous
successful small business initiatives, now operating in 19 of the
Bank’s 27 countries of operation from Central Europe to Central Asia.

InecoBank will provide micro loans of up to $10,000 (or the
equivalent in Armenian dram) with a maturity of up to two years and
small loans of up to $60,000 (or the equivalent in Armenian dram)
with a maturity of up to three years.

Avetis Baloyan, chairman of InecoBank, said: `InecoBank is committed
to servicing the dynamic MSE sector in Armenia, and we look forward
to providing finance to this niche market with the help of the EBRD.
The EBRD loan will increase InecoBank’s funding for MSE lending and
trigger further growth in the loan portfolio as well as increase
access to finance for micro and small entrepreneurs’. Michael
Weinstein, recently appointed head of the EBRD’s Resident Office in
Yerevan, said that micro and small businesses were a very important
driver of economic development in Armenia and welcomed InecoBank’s
contribution as a provider of finance to MSEs.

InecoBank is one of the most profitable banks in Armenia. ShoreCap
International, a US-based investor with a focus on SME finance,
recently took a 15 per cent stake in the bank. InecoBank also has
access to EBRD’s Trade Facilitation Programme, which enables the bank
to service its existing client base and attract new clients by
offering guarantees without cash backing.