Author: Tadevosian Garnik

Boston Globe, MA
Dec 3 2004

Audience gets an earful at BSO rehearsals; soprano heroine to be
honored

By Richard Dyer, Globe Staff | December 3, 2004

The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Open Rehearsals under James Levine
are finding a new rhythm. Some people who attended the new music
director’s first such event a couple of weeks ago objected to the
fact that he used most of the time to rehearse detail in Elliott
Carter’s “Symphonia” and created a glass wall between stage and
audience.

Yesterday, Levine shattered the wall and addressed the audience. I
missed Levine’s comments because of bad parking karma, but neighbors
reported that he said he understood that some members of the public
aren’t happy when he needs to stop. He explained that in the final
rehearsal, the day of the concert, there are some things that he and
the orchestra need to do, and some things that they cannot do. He
thanked the audience and gave it a thumbs-up.

Levine did stop occasionally yesterday morning to adjust details and
balances in Berlioz’s “Romeo et Juliette.” But he also went through
several movements without interruption. After the grand climax at the
very end of the work, the audience burst into applause, which Levine
acknowledged, asking the orchestra to rise. But then most in the
audience began to leave, quite noisily and rudely, although the music
director and orchestra were still onstage with work to do. Ultimately
Levine had to whistle for silence, and cried out in mock-agony the
dying words of the villainous police chief Scarpia in Puccini’s
“Tosca” after he has been stabbed. “Aiuto, soccorso!” (“Help me! Come
to my aid.”) More freely translated: “Give me a break.” It would be
fun to hear Scarpia sing that someday.

Those who left missed some fascinating work on the famous “Queen Mab”
Scherzo — and a moment of Levine humor. He was urging the orchestra
for more lightness, to keep the music “up in the air.” “When I want
weight in Wagner, I have the body language to ask for it,” Levine
said. “It’s a little harder for me to get lightness.”

A tribute to a heroine: Soprano Elvira Ouzounian will be honored
Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Armenian Cultural Foundation (441 Mystic St.,
Arlington). Her career spanned four decades in the former Soviet
Union and especially in Georgia and in Armenia, where she was a
national heroine. She sang most of the standard coloratura roles in
Italian operas and many roles in Russian and Armenian operas. She now
lives in Belmont, where she founded an organization to assist young
Armenian singers and musicians, Help Young Talent. The event will
feature musical tributes by tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan and mezzo
Victoria Avetissian; and author Diana Der-Hovanessian. There will
also be souvenirs on video of Ouzounian in performance.

One of a kind: One of Janice Weber’s six books is titled “Hot
Ticket.” It is not an autobiography but a novel, although a hot
ticket is exactly what the pianist and writer is. There’s nobody like
her.

Weber’s annual recital in the Piano Masters Series at the Boston
Conservatory on Tuesday night brought both rarely-heard works and
some old favorites. William Bolcom’s “Dance Portraits” are full of
rhythmic and pianistic ingenuity. The 4th Sonata by the eccentric
Russian-American composer Leo Ornstein (1893-2002), a work Weber has
performed before and recorded for Naxos, is in the style of golden
age Hollywood film scores in Orientalist style.

In virtuoso music like this, Weber’s a complete natural; the music
flows out of her body and across the keyboard. In a way, she sells
herself short by not dramatizing her feats the way showoffs like Lang
Lang do; only the ear is there to tell you she has brought off some
incredible bit of derring-do.

The Martin Preludes brought out other facets of her talent. Weber
played these post-World War II works with sensitivity and
imagination. At the end, she moved directly from the strange
wanderings of No. 6 into a waltz by Johann Strauss Jr., “Roses from
the South,” in a transcription by the Austrian pianist Hubert Giesen
that will appear on her next CD. This was a drop-dead demonstration
of prestidigitation, fingers magically pulling cascades of
glittering, dancing notes out of the keyboard. Applause and floral
deliveries followed, so Weber obliged with an encore, a transcription
of Saint-Saens’s “The Swan” by Leopold Godowsky whose musical
imagination gave us not only the swan’s aching melody, but the ripple
of the water through which the bird was swimming and, it seemed, the
reflection of the swan in the water. Knowing Godowsky, it was
probably upside down, too.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Dec 2 2004

FOREIGN DRUGS THREATEN RUSSIA

MOSCOW, (RIA Novosti commentator Vyacheslav Lashkul)

The Russian Federal Service for Drug Control recently announced that
the Moscow region’s law enforcers had broken up 38 organized crime
gangs involved in drug trafficking in the last six months. Experts
have estimated that ten metric tons of heroin a year are sold in the
Moscow region. Most of the narcotics come from abroad. What are the
major drug-trafficking channels? Our correspondent started an
interview with the head of the Russian Federal Service for Drug
Control, Viktor Cherkesov, with this question.

Answer: We are particularly concerned about Central Asia. This year,
we tightened control over the Armenian-Georgian, Armenian-Iranian and
Belarussian sectors of the border. The latter is a major conduit for
synthetic drugs from Europe.

Question: You have mentioned on numerous occasions that if we erect
the barriers to drug trafficking further away from our borders, then
we will have to make fewer efforts to combat the drug threat inside
the country. In essence, this means “preventive strikes.”

A: In our opinion, a preventive strike means strong operational
positions on remote approaches to our borders. So far, we have been
more successful in combating drug trafficking inside the country than
on the perimeter of Russia’s borders. This stretches our forces too
thin. We cannot detain every drug dealer in Russia, although we
normally seize major shipments of illicit drugs.

Q: When you say “remote approaches,” you are, of course, referring to
Afghanistan, above all. As early as this spring, you announced that
your service would open an office in Kabul…

A: Russia has worked out all the procedures…We deal directly with
the Afghan Foreign Ministry, the Security Council of Afghanistan and
receive their full understanding. I believe that a representative
office in Kabul will be opened very soon. Everything depends now on
diplomatic procedures. Time will show how quick they willbe. It makes
sense to open a large bureau in a location that allows us to
establish stable communications with our colleagues from local law
enforcement bodies around the country and so receive constant
operational information to use it immediately for our purposes.
Unfortunately, the current situation in Afghanistan means we cannot
establish this kind of network throughout the country. So far, we are
limited to Kabul.

Q: The US-led coalition forces do not seem to have been very
successful in combating the narcotics threat from Afghanistan?

A: Until last year, the countries involved in the counter-terrorist
operation in Afghanistan basically ignored our concerns about the
constant growth of drugs production in the country. Moreover, if in
the past Afghanistan largely produced raw opium, today local drug
dealers are manufacturing high-quality heroin. Recently, there was a
case of massive heroin poisoning involving young people in the town
of Rubtsovsk in the Altai territory. Twelve have already died and
dozens of other are still in hospital. Our colleagues from Kazakhstan
report that at approximately the same time 20 people in the republic
died from heroin overdoses. Investigators believe both cases might
have originated from the same heroin shipment from Afghanistan.

Q: So, you are saying that Russia has been left to fight the Afghan
drug threat on its own?

A: No, this is not the case. Law enforcement structures from the
member-nations of the Collective Security Treaty – Russia, Belarus,
Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – recently conducted a
joint counter-narcotics operation called “Channel-2004.” It showed
that no matter how great the scope of one country’s capabilities
might be in the fight against drugs, it cannot fight this evil alone.
In addition, we recently saw some positive developments in this
sphere. For example, the United Nations and several countries under
its aegis were included in the agenda of serious talks. In thesummer,
the UN conducted a series of high-level expert discussions, which
helped to draft joint tactics in combating drug trafficking at the
regional level. As a result, we have a model of an “anti-drugs
security belt.” At present, all the countries bordering on
Afghanistan have signed a political declaration on their readiness to
create a tight security ring around that country. It is extremely
important because we cannot count on drastic changes in the internal
situation in Afghanistan. The central authorities have virtually no
control over the situation in the provinces. Meanwhile, the majority
of Afghans are involved in drug production one way or another. It
seems that the coalition members only now are starting to realize the
potential threat of an Afghan economy based solely on narcotics
production. At least, there have been some recent cases when
coalition forces destroyed heroin production labs. A year ago, this
did not happen.

Q: Do you think it is possible to conduct joint anti-drugs operations
with coalition forces in the future?

A: We do not have the right to operate in Afghanistan. However, we
can exchange useful operational information about the activities of
certain criminal gangs in Afghanistan and identify new
drug-trafficking channels.

Q: What is the level of drug trafficking to Russia through the North
Caucasus?

A: I cannot give you exact figures. Everything is calculated using
expert estimates. I will try to give you a general idea. Narcotics
arrive in this region through territories around the Caspian Sea. The
worst situation is in Chechnya and neighboring regions. In the first
half of September alone, federal forces broke up two large criminal
gangs involved in the illicit drug trade. Officers seized several
kilograms of heroin and an entire arsenal of weapons. The result of
the operation serves as further proof that drug money is used to
finance terrorists.

Q: When your agency was established, you stated that one of its major
tasks was to undermine the financial foundations of the drug
business. Are you succeeding in accomplishing this task?

A: Today, we have a different outlook on the problem of identifying
the channels of drug money laundering as compared with a year ago. It
is true that we have never had a $10-20 million case, but this year
alone we filed over a hundred criminal cases involving dirty money
laundering. Half of them have already reached the courts.

Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 30 2004

US Pressures Turkey with ‘Armenian Genocide Bill’

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has criticized the US for using
the “Armenian Genocide” Bill to pressure Turkey into withholding its
condemnation of the US operation in Felluce (Fallujah). Gul said the
US is implying that if Turkey refers to the events in Fallujah as
genocide, they will approve the Armenian bill. “This would be
blackmail,” said Gul and such things are not even the issue.

At a reception for Gul’s Hungarian counterpart, Ferenc Somogyi, in
Ankara yesterday, Gul discussed reports that the US is using the
‘Armenian Genocide’ Bill against Turkey to suppress its criticism of
the Fallujah operation. Gul said: “Of course, everything should be
evaluated in context. Using excessive force there [in Fallujah] and
disregarding civilians are a separate issue. Turkey’s attitude
concerning the developments is very clear and the reaction of the
public is also clear. Turkey is not the only one to react; the entire
world has reacted. There are even demonstrations in Morocco for the
first time. These are the requirements of open society, but saying
‘if you call it genocide, we will do this’ becomes extortion. Such
things are unacceptable, and genocide is a completely separate issue,
the legal definition is different.” The Minister also sent a message
to the opposition regarding its reaction to the issue. He said when
the operation in Fallujah first fell apart, there was no reaction
from the opposition party or the politicians; however, they are the
first to react and criticize now particularly about him.

Dealing with Turkey’s expectations on December 17 European Union (EU)
summit, The Foreign Minister has been busy setting Turkey’s
expectations for the European Union Summit on December 17th and says
there is no alternative but for the EU to open full membership
negotiations with Turkey, adding that everyone knows it. He also
clarified that there was no reason for a negative attitude about the
decision to be made at the December 17th EU Summit. Furthermore, Gul
said that if Turkey satisfies the full membership obligations and its
responsibilities, it will become a full member of the EU at the
proper time.

In response to a question about the appointment of the anti-Turkey
French Finance and Economy Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, to lead the
Union of Public Movement (UMP) currently in office, Gul emphasized
that French President Jacques Chirac has the power in foreign policy
issues. The Turkish Foreign Minister urged EU leaders to honor its
pact and mentioned that Turkey already has special status within the
EU and more.

World’s First Public Health Treaty To Take Effect: Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control Set to Become International Law Despite
Years of Intense Lobbying by Tobacco Giants

Corporate Accountability International (formerly Infact) Applauds
Countries That Stood Up to Tobacco Industry; Urges US to Reverse
Direction and Ratify

Quickly

BOSTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ — The Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control (FCTC), the world’s first public health and corporate
accountability treaty, has been ratified by 40 countries and is now
set to take effect. According to its implementing provisions, the
treaty becomes binding international law after the 40th country
ratifies. The landmark was reached when Peru ratified the treaty
today.

“This is a tremendous victory for corporate accountability and public
health that will undoubtedly save millions of lives,” says Kathryn
Mulvey, Executive Director of the US-based Corporate Accountability
International. “This treaty demonstrates that working together, the
nations of the world and their NGO allies can limit the influence of
giant corporations. Attempts by Philip Morris/Altria and the rest of
the tobacco industry to prevent an effective treaty from entering into
force have proved futile.”

In May 2004, the US government signed the FCTC, a move that was met
with skepticism. Throughout the FCTC negotiating process, the US
government consistently took positions to weaken the treaty at the
expense of people’s lives in the US and around the world. To date the
US has not ratified the FCTC, not surprising treaty advocates who
point out that the US has signed but not ratified the following
treaties: the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on
Biological Diversity, the Kyoto Protocol, the International Criminal
Court, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women.

“At this historic moment, Corporate Accountability International is
calling on the US government to reverse direction and ratify the
global tobacco treaty,” says Mulvey. Senator Richard Lugar (IN) is
Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, the only Congressional
committee with the responsibility to review treaties.

The FCTC bans tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and
protects public health policy from tobacco industry interference. It
also sets precedents for international regulation of other industries
that threaten health, the environment and human rights.

Corporate Accountability International and other members of the
Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) continue
to urge governments to keep the tobacco industry out of the ongoing
FCTC ratification process and the treaty’s subsequent implementation,
to ensure participation of NGOs, and to provide full funding of the
FCTC. Earlier this month, the Consumer Information Network, a NATT
member in Kenya, helped expose British America Tobacco’s (BAT)
sponsorship of a beach holiday for members of Parliament. BAT lobbied
the parliamentarians to oppose the Tobacco Control Bill currently
under consideration in Kenya, which has ratified the FCTC.

“This is a historic moment in the movement challenging irresponsible
and dangerous corporate actions around the world. Now that this global
treaty has become international law, it is no longer business as usual
for Big Tobacco. With millions of lives at stake, we urge countries
that have not yet ratified to do so without delay, particularly those
that took the lead during treaty negotiations,” says Akinbode
Oluwafemi of Environmental Rights Action, Nigeria.

Since FCTC negotiations began, global tobacco corporations have
attempted to water down and delay the treaty from the beginning of the
process. According to Philip Morris/Altria’s internal documents, the
tobacco giant received advice from the notorious public relations firm
Mongoven, Biscoe and Duchin that “a comprehensive strategy to
influence the … UN/WHO policies would be enhanced significantly by
establishing an NGO … ” Documents show Philip Morris/Altria
profiled regions to determine those countries that would support the
Convention, and also be susceptible to industry influence. Philip
Morris/Altria also opposed central provisions of the treaty, including
the ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

The 40 countries that ratified the FCTC are: Armenia, Australia,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cook Islands, Fiji,
France, Ghana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,
Madagascar, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar,
Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Peru, Qatar, San
Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. More ratifications are
expected to follow in the next few weeks.

Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a
membership organization that protects people by waging and winning
campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions
around the world. Through bold campaigns and a commitment to win,
Corporate Accountability International and its members have scored
major victories that protect people and save lives. For over 25
years, we’ve forced corporations-like Nestli, General Electric and
Philip Morris/Altria-to stop abusive actions. For more information
visit

Contacts:

Adrian Zupp/Corporate Accountability International

617-695-2525

David Lerner/Riptide Communications

212-260-5000

SOURCE Corporate Accountability International

CO: Corporate Accountability International

ST: Massachusetts

SU:

Web site:

11/30/2004 12:51 EST

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 30 2004

Azeri officer on trial in Hungary may be handed over to Azerbaijan

The Hungarian parliament Ombudsman Barnabas Lenkovich, addressing the
third international conference of Ombudsmen, which started in Baku on
Monday, said workers of the entity he leads often visit the
Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov in detention.
Safarov is on trial in Hungary for killing an Armenian serviceman.
`There are no problems with the trial of Ramil Safarov. He will make
the statements he made in English before in Azerbaijani language
again. A translator has been therefore provided’, Lenkovich said.
He said that Safarov is satisfied with his treatment in detention and
is awaiting the court sentence. The Ombudsman said that Safarov’s
extradition to Azerbaijan is possible after the court issues a
ruling, but stressed the importance of signing a relevant treaty by
the two countries.
`The Hungarian legislation allows for such an agreement’, he said.
Lenkovich plans to meet with Safarov’s parents as well.*

The Hindu, India
November 29, 2004

WORLD STILL LOOKING FOR UNDISPUTED KING

by Stan Rayan

Chess will have a new junior World champion in a couple of days in
Kochi. And a few of the stars here, like India’s P. Harikrishna, a
strong favourite for the boys World title, and the aggressive
Armenian Tigran Petrosian, could threaten the big guns in the men’s
World in a few years time.

But unfortunately, while the junior scene appears very promising, the
world of men’s champions is ridden with chaos.

The sport does not even have a proper men’s World champion, a king
who could be accepted by everybody. While Uzbekistan’s Rustam
Kashimdzhanov is the FIDE World champion, Russian Vladimir Kramnik
was crowned as the non-FIDE World champion a few weeks ago.

Attempts to unify the World title, to produce an undisputed champion,
also look absurd.

For the unification match, which has the backing of the world chess
federation FIDE and which is likely to be held in Dubai some time
next year, will have the planet’s No.1 player Garry Kasparov playing
Kasimdzhanov, who is currently ranked No. 47 in the latest FIDE list.

Sadly, since the series will be without some of the sport’s biggest
stars, like Indian Viswanathan Anand and Kramnik, the World number
two and three respectively, the disputes are likely to continue,
throwing the sport into a bigger chaos.

But the world chess federation is keen on going ahead with the
Kasparov-Kasimdzhanov match, said the FIDE vice-president P.T. Ummer
Koya.

“The issue was discussed at the recent FIDE general assembly held
during the Olympiad in Calvia (in Spain). Dubai will be the venue of
the match and there is no change. But we have not finalised the new
dates,” said Mr Koya.

After retaining his classical chess World title recently in
Switzerland, Kramnik came up with a proposal to unite the crown.

“Instead of the Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov match, we could hold a
tournament with the participation of Kasparov, Kasimdzhanov, Anand
and Ruslan Ponomariov with the winner playing against me for the
world title,” said Kramnik in a recent interview.

Both Anand and Ponomariov are former FIDE world champions.

“Kramnik’s proposal sounds good. Unfortunately, such a thing working
out is very remote,” said Mr Koya. “And FIDE did not discuss
Kramnik’s proposal at the Calvia general assembly,” he said.

The non-FIDE title came into existence when Kasparov, the then World
champion, broke from FIDE in 1993 to create the now defunct
Professional Chess Association (PCA).

Kasparov beat Nigel Short of England in 1993 and Viswanathan Anand of
India in 1995, before losing to Kramnik in 2000.

The recent match Switzerland with Hungarian Peter Leko was Kramnik’s
first defense of the title.

Kramnik’s proposal has a strong supporter in Poland’s Radoslaw
Wojtaszek, the lone current world champion at the Kochi Junior Worlds
that resumes on Monday after today’s rest day.

“The title will have value only if the world’s top four or five
players figure in it. And Anand is currently the world’s best player.
He’s just fantastic,” said Wojtaszek who won the under-18 World title
a few days in Greece.

“But we should not give in to the players,” asserts Koya.

“If the association does not assert its supremacy, the game suffers,”
he said.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Nov 27 2004

SPEAKER OF MILLI MAJLIS RECEIVES OSCE PA SPECIAL ENVOY
[November 27, 2004, 20:51:21]

Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament Murtuz Alaskarov on 27 November has
received OSCE Parliamentary Assembly special envoy on the Nagorny
Karabakh conflict Goran Lennmarker, AzerTAj reported.

Chairman of parliament has noted that Azerbaijan waits for much
from activity of OSCE as it is the organization directly engaged
in settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
Unfortunately, the conflict is strongly delayed, and specific proposals
on its settlement are not present. We count, that OSCE, its special
representative on the Nagorny Karabakh conflict should act resolutely
in this question.

Murtuz Alaskarov has reminded that the report of the Council of Europe
in connection with the conflict is available, and the Parliamentary
Assembly will start its discussion. In other word, its position is
clear, this authoritative organization confirms the fact of occupation
of the Azerbaijan lands, condemns the aggressor. The conflict was
also focused at the 58th Rose–Rîth seminar of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly. The question on situation in Nagorny Karabakh is included in
the agenda of session of General Assembly of the United Nations. Delay
of problem results in serious consequences. It is found out that on
the occupied Azerbaijan lands the Armenians moved from other places
are settled.

Chairman of Parliament has once again reminded position of the
Azerbaijan side in connection with the conflict, has expressed
confidence that the envoy’s report would be objective and prepared
in view of norms of international law.

Mr. Goran Lennmarker has emphasized that he also shares the stated
opinion on the prompt solution of the question in the peace way on the
basis of norms of international law. People want to return to their
native lands, and therefore, the role of the OSCE Minsk Group should
become more concrete. The special representative also has suggested
establishing dialogue between parliaments of two countries.

–Boundary_(ID_l1NBv6clnc+Uvh91fijgbA)–

Kazakh, Armenia presidents congratulate Yanukovich on victory

ITAR-TASS News Agency
November 25, 2004 Thursday 1:04 PM Eastern Time

KIEV, November 25 — The presidents of Kazakhstan and Armenia,
Nursultan Nazarbayev and Robert Kocharyan, congratulated Viktor
Yanukovich on winning the presidential election in Ukraine, the press
service of the incumbent prime minister reports.

Nazarbayev’s congratulatory message says: “My cordial congratulations
upon your election to the supreme post in Ukraine. Your victory
bespeaks of the choice of the Ukrainian people in favour of the
nation’s unity, the democratic path of development and the economic
progress. People in Kazakhstan attach particular importance to the
further development of many-faceted ties with fraternal Ukraine and
the strengthening of cooperation in all areas of mutual interest”.

Kazakhstan’s president expressed the confidence that “the relations
of mutual understanding and confidence between our countries will be
developed further” during Yanukovich’s presidency.

The Armenian president in his congratulatory message expressed the
confidence that “friendship and mutual understanding between Armenia
and Ukraine will continue developing successfully and deepening to the
benefit of our states and peoples”. Kocharyan wished health and success
to Yanukovich and well-being and prosperity to the Ukrainian people.

AZERBAIJAN FAILS AT UN

Azg/arm
26 Nov 04

This Is No Victory for Armenia and Karabakh

During discussions of the issue of “condition on Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys
conquered territories” at the UN General Assembly, foreign minister of
Azerbaijan singled out the situation in Lachin region, which as he put,
“was inhabited by the Azeris before the war and 13 thousand Armenians
were settled there recently”. “750 thousand Azeris were forced out from
the conquered territories of Azerbaijan”, Mamediarov said. He noted
that the Armenians are renaming Azeri towns and that the Armenian
armed forces had a hand in creation of two new settlements in Qelbajar.

Suzan Moor, US representative at the UN, opposed on behalf of the
OSCE Minsk group co-chairmanship to Bakuâ~@~Ys initiative thus proving
that the Minsk group does not approve of transmitting Nagorno Karabakh
issue to the UN.

It is still uncertain when the formula will be put to the vote. Minsk
group co-chairs were supposed to meet Mamediarov on November 24. Last
time Karabakh issue was discussed at the UN was in 1993 during torrid
battles in Karabakh. UN Security Council adopted 4 formulae.

Permanent representative of Armenia to UN, Armen Martirosian, addressed
the Assembly reminding that it was Azerbaijan who began pogroms of
Armenians in Baku, Sumgait and Kirovabad in 1988-1990 and made 400
thousand Armenians flee their homes particularly in the regions of
Shahumian, Getashen and Northern Martakert.

Martirosian stated in his speech that Nagorno Karabakh had never
been in the structure of independent Azerbaijan, Armenian population
of Karabakh won its right of freedom in a legitimate way through a
referendum in 1991. He also noted that first and foremost issue is
to reconcile Karabakh and Azerbaijan but Baku has been turning down
Minsk groups suggestions since 1998.

Since Aliyev seniorâ~@~Ys presidency Azerbaijan has been constantly
attempting, sometimes successfully, to make diverse institutions
adopt formulae on Karabakh that are not desired for Armenia and
Karabakh. So, the European Parliament adopted a formula on Karabakh
issue in January of 2004, the PACE Commission on Political Issues
and NATOâ~@~Ys Parliamentary Assembly adopted formulae too.

The Karabakh war of 1992-1994 is not included in all those formulae
thus distorting the essence of the issue. Armenian diplomacy failed
to make the world community understand that the Karabakh issue emerged
in Azerbaijan as a result of Karabakh peopleâ~@~Ys legal wish to gain
independence, it also keeps silent of the fact that Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys
Supreme Council took a decision on November 26, 1991, to clear Nagorno
Karabakh off Armenian population and secure Azeris.

Azerbaijan succeeded in convincing the world community that it is the
victim of aggression, has lost 20 percent of its territory and has
more than 1 million refugees. Most of the territories controlled by
Armenian forces were once presented to Azerbaijan by Moscow. In 1923,
when Stalin created “Red Kurdistan” (breaking overland connection
between Armenia and Karabakh) newly formed unit included Armenian
Qashunik (Kubatlu), Qarvachar (Qelbajar), Qashatakh (Lachin) regions
that were populated by Turkish-speaking Kurds.

It is very important that the UN General Assembly voted
Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys initiative down. Such sentences of the formula as
“continues occupation of Azeri lands”, “condition in the occupied
territories” were unacceptable for Armenia. Though Azerbaijan failed
in UN that can be no relief to Armenia and Karabakh.

By Tatoul Hakobian

–Boundary_(ID_Gj5carxjR6swCZ22qnWQaA)–

Azeri leader, Turkish gendarmerie chief discuss military ties

MPA news agency
25 Nov 04

Baku, 25 November: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has received
Turkish Gendarmerie Commander Gen Fevzi Turkeri. The head of state
expressed his satisfaction with the fact that Gen Fevzi Turkeri held
a number of important meetings in Azerbaijan, stressing that further
cooperation between the Turkish Gendarmerie and the Azerbaijani
Interior Troops represents special importance.

President Aliyev spoke highly about military cooperation with Turkey
and added that Ankara’s assistance was helping the development of
the Azerbaijani army.

The president believes that the strengthening of the army serves
the interests of peace and stability in the region and strengthens
Azerbaijan’s positions in the negotiations to resolve the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict.

Gen Fevzi Turkeri said the Azerbaijani-Turkish relations were
expanding in all areas, including the armed forces. The visitor
expressed his satisfaction with the level of cooperation between the
Turkish Gendarmerie and the Azerbaijani Interior Troops.

“The high level of the Azerbaijani armed forces serves peace
and stability in the South Caucasus. I am confident that the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh will soon be
resolved,” he said.

–Boundary_(ID_bStGecRLz+tM6o9QdL1Gbg)–