Author: Talalian Arpi

FINNISH PRESIDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA SEPTEMBER 26-27

Pan Armenian News
01.09.2005 07:46

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian will
pay an official visit to Strasbourg September 13, reported the
Press Service of the Armenian MFA. After that, September 14-18
V. Oskanian will take part in the work of the 60th session of the
UN General Assembly. September 23-24 the he is scheduled to visit
Venice and Bologna. It should be noted that OSCE Chairman-in-Office,
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is scheduled to visit
Yerevan September 5-6, while Finnish President Tarja Halonen will
visit Armenia September 26-27.

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian General Benevolent Union AGBU
Montreal
805 Manoogian Street
Montreal Quebec
H4N-1Z5
514-748-2428
e-mail [email protected].

Previously banned from the Ottoman Archives: German Historian Returns
to reveal his latest Discoveries

Recently returned from his studies in the Ottoman archives, Professor
Hilmar Kaiser will be delivering a presentation at 8:00 pm this
Thursday, September 1, at the Montreal Armenian Community’s AGBU
Center at 805 Manoogian Street in St-Laurent.

In July 2005, Dr. Hilmar Kaiser, a German historian, visited the
Turkish Prime Minister’s Ottoman Archives in Istanbul, Turkey. He
had worked in these archives between 1991 and 1995. In 1996, he was
banned from the archives by the Turkish authorities for political
reasons. During his research, he had uncovered important archival
material detailing aspects of the Armenian Genocide. For years,
scholars, politicians, and Armenians worldwide had demanded his re-
admission.

Returning after 10 years, Dr. Kaiser was able to conclude some
projects that were left unfinished. He also reviewed new archival
resources and the overall conditions for continued research. Thus,
on the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a critical step
forward in the opening of the Turkish archives has been made.

The Armenian Community of Canada and Montreal supported this study,
but its significance goes far beyond. There is good reason to hope
this step in the right direction will not be the last by the Turkish
government.

The presentation this Thursday will introduce new results and
provide an assessment on the current state of research of the Ottoman
archives relating to the Armenian Genocide. For the first time, Dr.
Kaiser will report on his research trip and discuss perspectives for
future research.

For more information, please contact Armenian General Benevolent Union
AGBU Montreal at 514-748-2428 or e-mail: [email protected].

PREPARATIONS FOR CENSUS

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
29 Aug 05

On August 23 the meeting of the State Commission for Preparations
and Conduct of Census 2005 took place at the NKR Government. The
main issue discussed at the meeting was the preparations. The meeting
was conducted by the vice prime minister of NKR, the chairman of the
commission Ararat Danielian. The chairman of the National Statistics
Service, the mayor of Stepanakert, heads of regional administrations,
persons in charge of census taking had been invited to the meeting. The
vice chairman of the NKR National Statistics Service in charge of
census of the population Sergey Davtian presented the work done so
far. In particular, the maps of the NKR towns and regions have been
drawn, a pilot census has been taken, and the lists of houses in the
towns have been made. According to S. Davtian, currently information
and explanations are extended to the population, recruitment of
agents is carried out, and manuals are prepared. In the result of
the discussion on the well-organized census the commission made a
decision, according to which the City Hall of Stepanakert and the
regional administrations are to attend to the quick supply of signs
with the names of streets and quarters and the numbers of houses,
support the choice of officers, provide the stations with necessary
office equipment.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 25 2005

PRESS SERVICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN REPORTS
[August 25, 2005, 21:14:54]

On 25 August, Secretary of State of the United States Condeleeza Rice
has called to the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev.

The sides expressed pleasure for development of the relations between
Azerbaijan and the United States in numerous fields.

Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice stated that she attaches great
attention to the negotiations between the Presidents of Azerbaijan
and Armenia related to settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno
Karabakh conflict during the Kazan Summit and is hopeful that it will
promote peace settlement of the problem.

President Ilham Aliyev, in turn, marking importance of the talks with
the Armenian president in Kazan, expressed confidence for positive
results.

During the phone talk, also were exchanged views on situation in
Azerbaijan, including the preparation process for the forthcoming
parliament elections.

Head of the Azerbaijan State and the US Secretary of State have also
discussed a number of other questions of mutual interest.

Foreign Minister: Breakthrough in Store if Armenia Accepts All Proposals

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 25 2005

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said that progress will be
achieved in talks on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement if
Armenia accepts the proposals made by Azerbaijan.

“We are ready for talks. The sides have mutual understanding on
certain issues. If Armenia is ready to accept all of our proposals,
there will be a breakthrough in the talks.”

Mammadyarov told local TV channels after an informal meeting with
his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian in Moscow on Tuesday that
the parties exchanged views on the talks between the two presidents
due Saturday.

The Minister continued that the US, Russian and French co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group mediating the conflict resolution have stepped
up their activity and continue to put forth ‘compromise’ proposals.

Touching upon the Karabakh status, the Minister stressed the importance
of discussing the issue strictly within Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. “There are different ways to resolve the issue. Dialogue
on the matter should therefore continue….We approach the conflict
resolution from the conceptual standpoint. The main idea is for us
to find a way for Azeris and Armenians to live peacefully in a small
territory. The sooner we find a way for this, the more rapidly our
states will develop, as the conflict is an obstacle for our countries’
development. We should focus on the processes ongoing around the
world and look to the future.”

AZERI, ARMENIAN FMS DISCUSS KARABAKH CONFLICT IN MOSCOW

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 25 2005

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Armenian counterpart Vardan
Oskanian met in Moscow on Wednesday.

The meeting, attended by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
mediating the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh and
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, was held in preparation for
the August 27 talks of Azeri and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev
and Robert Kocharian in Kazan, Russia.

Lavrov told reporters following the meeting that the two ministers
tried to outline the future directions of talks. “As organizer of the
meeting, we tried to make sure its participants work conveniently”,
he said.

Minister Mammadyarov said that the format of the presidents’ meeting
has already been determined. “I hope the conflict will be finally
settled to bring peace and stability to the South Caucasus region”,
he said.

Armenian Minister Oskanian said that ‘it is too early to discuss
details of the peace accord at this point’.

KOCHARIAN FLIES TO RUSSIAN KAZAN FOR CIS SUMMIT

Armenpress
AUG 25, 2005

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
is flying August 26 to Russian Kazan to attend a regular CIS summit
of heads of states. He will also participate in an extensive range
of events marking the 1000-th anniversary of Kazan foundation, the
capital city of a Russian Republic of Tatarstan. Kocharian’s press
office said the CIS leaders will first meet in narrow circle and then
will be joined by their foreign ministers. CIS reforming will be high
on the summit agenda. The leaders will also discuss their cooperation
in humanitarian area. They are expected to sign a dozen of documents
which are said to expand cooperation among CIS members. On August
27 Kocharian will meet with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev and
later on the day Kocharian and other Armenian officials will fly back.

Lider TV, Baku
24 Aug 05

Ramin Xudaverdiyev, an Azerbaijani warrant officer who was taken
captive by Armenians on 3 August, was released at 1530 [1030 gmt]
today.

Xudaverdiyev was handed over to the Azerbaijani side in the village of
Balacafarli in Qazax District [western Azerbaijan] in the presence of
representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Xudaverdiyev immediately underwent a medical examination, the state
commission for prisoners of war, hostages and missing persons told
Lider TV. His health is said to be satisfactory.

AZG Armenian Daily #148, 23/08/2005

Constitution

ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION IS CHALLENGE FOR ARMENIA

Artur Baghdasarian, chairman of RA National Assembly, and Rene van der
Linden, president of PACE, emphasized the importance of making
constitutional reforms in the course of the joint press conference. Mr. van
der Linden emphasized that PACE is a consulting body and doesn’t define any
penalties. While Armenia has undertaken certain commitments on making
constitutional reforms and if we fail to meet them, it may have negative
impact on the relations between Armenia and PACE, as well as on our
relations with CE. PACE president said that the adoption of the constitution
is a challenge. He added that the authorities and the opposition carry the
responsibility for that, as the constitution is for the whole country and
not for any particular party or the authorities. Mr. van der Linden
emphasized the importance of the awareness, especially in the issue of
adoption the constitution.

Artur Baghdasarian confirmed that they are on the path of democratization in
Armenia. Chairman of RA National Assembly give consent for broadcasting the
August 29 sitting dedicated to constitutional reforms.

Both speakers emphasized that the adoption of constitutional rights is of
great importance for the further development and progress of Armenia, as
well as for its authority.

By Nana Petrosian

The Messenger, Georgia
Aug 22 2005

What will Saakashvili and Kocharian discuss Lake Sevan?

Rezonansi asks this question on the cover story Friday, reporting
that President Mikheil Saakashvili will visit Armenian President
Robert Kocharian Armenia over the weekend. The newspaper reports the
visit is scheduled to be unofficial and allow the two presidents to
relax at the Armenian presidential residence near Lake Sevan.

Rezonansi reports that Russian media is concerned with the
possibility that Georgia is attempting to involve Armenia in a new
alternative to the CIS, an alliance that includes Georgia and
Ukraine. “The unyielding fighter against the Kremlin Mikheil
Saakashvili will spend part of his vacation on Lake Sevan. Kocharian
is betraying Russia,” Rezonansi quotes the Russian Nezavisimaya
Gazeta as writing.

Rezonansi writes that the head of the Russian political and military
analysis department Sergei Markedonov tells Nezavisimaya Gazeta that
Saakashvili might be pushing Armenia toward the West and become an
intermediary between them. “Saakashvili has been claiming that he
wishes more than just being the president of Georgia. That’s why we
are so worried. Armenia is the only Russian ally in the South
Caucasus. The majority of military bases from Georgia will moved and
deployed in Armenia. Besides, Russia has written off several millions
in debts of Armenia and has actively been participating in the
rehabilitation of the Armenian energy system and development of its
economy. Armenia’s closeness to Georgia will mean a heavy blow to
Russia,” Markedonov states.

According to Rezonansi, the press spokesman for Kocharian disregards
Russian alarm over the issue claiming that Georgian-Armenian
relationships are centuries old and do not imply that Georgia’ is
interfering in Russian-Armenian affairs.

Rezonansi reports that Georgian analyst Vakhtang Khmaladze considers
the Saakashvili-Kocharian visit is very crucial since there are
issues that Georgia and Armenia have to discuss like the Abkhaz
railway, Javakheti and questions of their foreign policies. Khmaladze
remarks that Russia’s fear seems like a “super-power” mentality.

Georgian political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze tells the paper that it
is absurd to think about changing Armenian orientation as it is very
closely attached to Russia and even the United States could not
manage that despite the Armenian diaspora in the U.S.