Author: Tigranian Ani

AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER SAID KILLED NEAR DISPUTED REGION

Agence France Presse — English
October 21, 2006 Saturday 6:04 PM GMT

An Azerbaijani soldier has been killed by fire from ethnic Armenian
forces near the disputed Nagorno Karabakh region, the defense ministry
in Baku said Saturday.

The 26-year-old, Arif Aliyev, died on the Azerbaijani side of a
ceasefire line that has been in place since a temporary accord was
reached between Baku and Yerevan over the disputed region in 1994.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six-year war over the Armenian-majority
enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, which said it was seceding from Soviet
Azerbaijan in the early 1980s.

The conflict claimed 25,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands
of people, ending in the 1994 ceasefire.

Tensions have remained high and incidents occur regularly, with the
status of the Armenian-controlled region still unresolved.

NATIONAL FOUNDATION OF SCIENCE AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IMPLEMENTS
PROGRAMS OF 4 MLN DOLLARS IN 8 YEARS

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Starting 1997, the National
Foundation of Science and Advanced Technologies (NFSAT) has implemented
various programs of over 4 mln USD, the foundation’s chairman Harutyun
Karapetian told NT correspondent. According to him, 55 research
grants of 1.3 mln USD have been provided within the framework of the
Armenian-US Program on Bilateral Research Grants. 42 of these grant
programs have been completed, and 80% of their total amount was sent
to Armenian scientific groups. Under the grant programs completed,
more than 500 articles and reports have been published. H. Karapetian
said that by the US-South Caucasian Four-Sided Research Grant Program,
over 300 thousand USD was allocated, 28% of which was envisaged for
the Armenian side.

According to him, the RA Ministry of Education and Science and the US
Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) jointly launched
a 300 thousand-dollar program "Fundamental Research at Armenian
Universities". It is envisaged to establish a research center by
the project of one of the following universities – grant tender
participants: Yerevan State University, State Engineering University
of Armenia and Yerevan State Medical University. It will modernize the
research potential and create conditions for the purpose of improving
research skills of students, organizing courses and developing
cooperation with local and foreign organizations. NFSAT will allocate
150 thousand USD of the grant, the RA Ministry of Education and
Science – 90 thousand USD and the beneficiary university 60 thousand
USD. It was mentioned that NFSAT also organizes courses on development
of research grant projects, on principles of grant management and
commercionalization of research results, assists Armenian scientists
with participation in conferences and making business trips abroad and
with organization of scientific conferences in Armenia. The NFSAT also
plans to start a contest program "Commercionalization of Technologies"
in the near future.

All stick and no carrot

The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 20 2006

Russia still insists the mass deportations of Georgians are just
what any western country would do: expel illegal immigrants. However,
as Russian newspaper Kommersant pointed out, when western countries
deport illegal immigrants they make sure that they are given the
proper care, and don’t let them die on the way to the plane.

The latest crisis amply demonstrates failure of Russian policy on
Georgia. Russia has pushed Georgia away probably for ever by its
actions, and now seems intent on just destabilising the country. This
short-sighted policy is all the more stupid when considering that
if they really do manage to push Georgia over the edge then Russia’s
North Caucasus will fall of the map with it.

Not even the most optimistic Kremlin apparatchik can be under the
illusion that a pro-Moscow force will ever come to power in Georgia
now. That might have been a possibility once, Moscow could have offered
to help return the separatist territories, and in return Georgia would
have been eternally grateful, but that time has long since passed.

Yesterday US Assistant Secretary of State for Eurasian affairs Dan
Fried said that a stable Georgia is in Russia’s interests. Though
that is patently obvious, it seems that no one in the Kremlin is
willing to accept the fact. Russia can only benefit from a peaceful,
predictable Georgia, and that means a democratic and united Georgia.
It is clear that any formal recognition of Abkhazia or South Ossetia
would compel the Georgian leadership to go to war, however disastrous
that would be. It is equally clear that the current status quo makes
it all but impossible for Russia and Georgia to have normal relations.

Russia has legitimate security interests of course, including not
wanting to see Georgia in NATO, or at the very least not in NATO and
with US bases on its soil, but there is more than one way to skin a
cat: deals can be struck. Georgia would almost certainly agree to most
Russian demands if Abkhazia was on the table, the all-stick-no-carrot
approach pays no dividends. Georgia bashing just makes Georgia ever
more determined to join NATO, as every time Russia lashes out it
proves that Georgia is in need of protection.

The situation as it stands could develop in two possible ways,
Russia could make good on the statements of some of its more
radical politicians and turn Georgia into a failed state. This
would be catastrophic for Georgia, but also for Russia. With
barely contained tensions in North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and
Kabardino-Balkaria-all on Georgia’s border-any chaos in Georgia would
snowball. There is also the possibility that a freefalling Georgia
would bring Azerbaijan and Armenia with it, which would really be
a disaster.

The other scenario is the Baltic one, Russia’s isolation of Georgia
forces the latter to find new markets, democratise and westernise
quickly and pay global prices for energy, and eventually, begrudgingly,
Russia is compelled to treat Georgia as an equal partner. Whether
Georgia meets with triumph or disaster is now largely down to the
sanity of Russian decision makers. In the latest crisis, Russia has
as much to lose as Georgia does.

Armenian Patriarch Seeks Private Education Law Veto

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 19 2006

zaman.com

Turkey’s Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II is reported to have asked
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to veto the Private Education
Institutions Bill.

In his letter to Sezer, the patriarch expressed his concerns about the
bill within the context of reciprocity related to the minority schools
and asked the president to veto a clause in Article 5 of the bill.

Sezer, however, ignored the Patriarch’s demand.

US attacks France over EU-Turkey ‘polemics’

EUPolitix.com, Belgium
Oct 20 2006

The US has criticised the French decision to criminalise denial of
the Armenian genocide.

Speaking in Brussels on Friday, the US assistant secretary of state for
European affairs Daniel Fried hit out at French polemics on the issue.

"The US shares that view that legislation criminalising discussion
of an issue does not make sense," Fried told reporters.

"The US has spoken out about terrible events of Ottoman empire but
we have not used the term genocide."

Calling on Turkey to carefully consider its history, the Washington
official said every country has "parts in its history that it is not
proud of."

Last week the French lower house approved a bill making it a crime
to deny Armenians suffered genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks.

The move sparked outrage in Ankara where officials fear ties between
the Nato allies will be badly affected.

"This will be an unforgettable shame on France," said Turkish foreign
minister Abdullah Gul.

"France can never describe itself as a country of freedoms again."

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, October 20, 2006

As French President Visits Armenia, Armenians in France Set Out to
Celebrate AGBU Centennial

September 29, 2006 marked an important milestone in the history of
the Republic of Armenia and the friendship between the French and
Armenian people, as President Jacques Chirac of France became the
first Western head of state to visit Armenia since its independence
in 1991. This unprecedented gesture of outreach and goodwill on the
part of the French President is of particular significance to Armenia
because France is a member state of Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk Group that has been mediating
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Accompanying the President were
several ministers and French members of congress, including the
former minister Patrick Devedjian. The delegation also included
French entrepreneurs of Armenian descent, including Serge Tchuruk,
Alain Mikli, Alain Manoukian, and Armen Petrossian, and delegations
from two Armenians organizations: AGBU France District, headed by
Chairman Denis Ketchedjian, and "Croie Bleue."

The highlights of the visit included a state dinner given at the
residence of the President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, in honor of
President Chirac, a visit to the "Tsitsernakaberd" Genocide Memorial,
the inauguration of the "Place de France" square in central Yerevan,
and a visit to Etchmiadzin on the invitation of his His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

In his speech, President Chirac paid a touching tribute to the French
Armenian community, 500,000 strong. He acknowledged the courage of
the Armenian Genocide survivors that found refuge in France and who
succeeded in rebuilding a new life on French soil, integrating into
society and making their mark with their achievements, while always
remaining loyal to their origins.

The President’s tribute holds a special significance for AGBU France,
which has for over 80 years preserved the Armenian identity in
France. AGBU France serves as a crucial link in the friendship between
the French and Armenian people, fostering cultural and political ties
through its tireless work. Founded in September of 1910, AGBU France
has since opened chapters in all regions of France. AGBU has given
the French Armenians many important institutions, such as the Alex
Manoogian Cultural Center, the Marie Nubar "Maison de l’Arménie,"
part of the international university student campus in Paris, the
"Tebrotzassere" school, and the Nubarian Library.

This year, AGBU France joins other chapters around the world to
celebrate AGBU’s Centennial. Ahead of the 84th General Assembly and
Centennial festivities scheduled in Paris in December, AGBU Valence
(established May 1931) celebrated the centenary as well as the 75th
anniversary of the Chapter with a Centennial Ball. The event gathered
several generations of AGBU members, city officials, and five former
AGBU Chapter Chairmen. The celebrations will continue throughout the
fall in other regional chapters.

AGBU France District is dedicated to preserving and promoting the
Armenian heritage and culture through humanitarian, educational,
and cultural programs in France and Armenia. For more information,
please contact AGBU France District by visiting its newly launched
website , e-mailing [email protected], or calling (33)
(1) 45-20-03-18.

For more information on AGBU and its worldwide chapters, please visit
and click on Global AGBU.

–Boundary_(ID_Q50tzpfCVlnXw1lDij4Llw)–

ARMENIA MUST GRANT CITIZENSHIP TO THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE GENOCIDE

A1+
[04:07 pm] 20 October, 2006

The owners of Armenia are ordinary people

84-year-old Samvel Lazarian who is citizen of the USA is searching the
villages of Armenia for the sons and grandsons of his father’s uncle
who came to Armenia at the beginning of the previous century. Artin
of Mko’s house (that was the name of the uncle) is the pride of the
Lazarians from Sasoun who survived the Genocide. They say Artin
was so brave that even the Kurds of the village were afraid of him.

One day, as Samvel’s father told him, Gevorg Chaush came to their
house and took Artin away as a soldier. This is the only accurate
piece information they have; the rest are gossips that reached the
relatives of Artin and passed on to the other generations.

Samvel Lazarian was born in Tigranakert, and as he says with pride,
"I was born in historical Armenia". Although he was born seven years
after the 1915 Genocide, he suffered the same feelings. He has been
to Syria, Lebanon, and has spent the last 17 years in the USA. He is
84 years old, but unusually hale and hearty for his age which is the
result of having played football for many years.

This is the first time 84-year-old Armenian writer Samvel Lazarian
has ever been to Armenia. "I have written exceptional articles about
the previous regime of the country", he explained the reasons of his
not coming to Armenia during the Soviet years and opens the brackets,
"The structure which sponsored me knew that it was dangerous for me
to come here". And the structure was the ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

During the 15 days spent in Armenia Samvel has realized that the ARF
is stronger abroad than in Armenia. Meeting different people he also
realized that it is not easy to live in Armenia.

"I have spoken to many people, learned different opinions, and
felt what they feel. That is why I can say that the first step the
Government has to take is to take care of the poor", the 84-year-old
Armenian says. He is convinced that the owners of Armenia are the
ordinary people and not those who have power.

PUSHKIN PARK TO HAVE ARMENIAN AND JAPANESE ELEMENTS

Panorama.am
17:15 18/10/06

Alber Poghosyan, chairman of Rober Poghosyan and Friends Fund
and member of board of directors of All Armenia Fund, decided to
reconstruct Pushkin park on USD 600,000 donation. Naira Melkumyan,
the executive director of All Armenia Fund, said Kentron community
administration and Kentron green company have agreed to rent the
park to Rober Poghosyan foundation for 21 years. Melkumyan said,
water pools, a theater, public toilets, cafes, security posts and
children swimming pool will be built in the park. She said it is a
unique way of promoting tourism in Armenia also saying the park will
have Armenian and Japanese elements.

TURKISH PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS FRENCH GENOCIDE BILL

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
October 17, 2006 Tuesday 4:31 PM EST

DPA POLITICS Turkey Diplomacy France Turkish parliament condemns French
genocide bill Ankara The Turkish Parliament on Tuesday condemned a
bill passed last week by the lower house of the French Parliament that
would make it a crime to deny that massacres of Armenians during the

First World War constituted a genocide, the Anadolu news agency
reported.

In a statement supported by all parties, the parliament condemned
the move as a blow to freedom of speech and warned it would hurt
French-Turkish bilateral relations.

"By passing this bill the French parliament has clearly damaged
political, economic and military relations between Turkey and France,"
the statement said.

While Turkey admits that massacres took place, it vehemently denies
that the deaths of Armenians during the war were part of a planned
genocide.

French political observers believe the bill will fail to become law
thanks to a strong government majority in the French upper house.

The French government has come out against the bill.

No official sanctions have been announced by the Turkish Government
but public campaigns have already begun to call for a boycott of
French goods.

TURKISH SPEAKER DOUBTS "CHIRAC’S APOLOGY GENUINE"

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2006 14:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Bulent Arinc, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament,
has said that he does not think French President Jacques Chirac’s
apologetic phone call to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the
wake of the French Parliament’s acceptance of the bill criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian Genocide was "genuine." "He was not
genuine," Arinc underscored, writes Turkish Hurriyet.