Author: Tigranian Ani

ISTANBUL BAR: IF FRENCH PARLIAMENT APPROVES THE DRAFT ABOUT GENOCIDE, IT WILL DESTROY FREEDOM OF THOUGHT

Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 18 2006

ISTANBUL – Istanbul Bar has reacted strongly to the draft law which
will be debated by the French parliament on May 18th and bring forth
punishments such as imprisonment terms and fine for those who deny
so-called Armenian genocide.

Releasing a written statement on Wednesday, Istanbul Bar said,
“Turkish nation was defending its homeland between the years of 1919
and 1922. During that warfare, both Turkish and Armenian people died.

Such a tragedy cannot be described as genocide. Hovhannes Katchaznouni,
the first Prime Minister of Armenia, acknowledged this historical fact
saying that Turks acted with the instinct of defending themselves,
and that Armenian people were used by Russia and British and French
imperialism.”

“If the French parliament approves the draft law about so-called
Armenian genocide, it will destroy freedom of thought which was gained
as a result centuries-long struggles. I will also prove France’s
returning to a totalitarian understanding,” it said.

Istanbul Bar called on French MPs to think once again before casting
their votes since the draft would have a serious impact on the friendly
relations between the two countries.

TEXTE SUR GENOCIDE ARMENIEN, “UN GESTE INAMICAL” POUR LA TURQUIE (DOUSTE-BLAZY)

Agence France Presse
18 mai 2006 jeudi

Le ministre des Affaires etrangères Philippe Douste-Blazy s’est eleve
jeudi a l’Assemblee nationale contre la proposition de loi PS visant
a sanctionner la negation du genocide armenien, la qualifiant de
“geste inamical” pour la Turquie.

Ce texte, “s’il etait adopte, serait considere comme un geste inamical
par la très grande majorite du peuple turc, cela ne pourrait manquer
d’avoir des consequences politiques serieuses et d’affaiblir notre
influence non pas seulement en Turquie mais aussi dans l’ensemble de
la region”, a declare le ministre sous les huees des deputes de gauche.

“La Turquie est un partenaire economique et commercial de premier
plan (…) Nous ne pouvons accepter cette proposition de loi”,
a-t-il ajoute.

Le chef de la diplomatie francaise a cependant assure que “la cause
armenienne etait juste” et devait “etre defendue et respectee”.

“La France est l’amie fidèle et loyale de l’Armenie, mais la France
est aussi l’amie de la Turquie”, a-t-il observe. “Face a cette
double amitie, alors que le souvenir du genocide armenien continue
de nous hanter, la France doit conduire une politique de paix et de
reconciliation”, a-t-il ajoute.

Se felicitant de “la nouvelle dynamique” du dialogue entre l’Armenie
et la Turquie, il a estime qu’il fallait l’encourager. Pour lui, ce
dialogue reste “fragile”. “Gardons-nous d’agir de facon unilaterale
quelle que soit la grandeur de la cause que l’on defend”, a insiste
le ministre.

–Boundary_(ID_EHFkWE58SwONYi/QyLpwHQ)- –

KOCHARYAN APPOINTS S. MNATSAKANYAN CHAIRMAN OF RA NATIONAL STATISTIC SERVICE

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 15 2006

YEREVAN, May 15. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan again appointed
Stepan Mnatsakanyan the Chairman of the RA National Statistic Service.

According to the Press Service of the RA President, Kocharyan signed
this decree on May 12, 2006.

Mnatsakanyan has been the Minister of State Register Statistics and
Analysis since 1998, which has been renamed RA National Statistic
Service in 2000.

USA REPORTEDLY PERSUADES ARMENIAN LEADER TO SIGN KARABAKH ACCORD

Iravunk, Yerevan
16 May 06

Text of report by Armenian newspaper Iravunk on 16 May headlined
“Americans ask to wait a little”

According to a source close to US diplomatic circles, over the
recent two months US diplomats have met the so-called pro-Western
representatives of Armenia several times. During those meetings the
Americans asked Armenian opposition leaders not to carry out intensive
work against the government till the end of June.

The Americans explained their position by their hope that a document
on the Karabakh issue would be signed between [Armenian President
Robert] Kocharyan and [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev before that
time. They told the leaders of the opposition that they had carried
out serious work to make the signing of the document possible and
that there were all grounds to believe that Kocharyan would fulfil his
promise given to Americans. Therefore, Americans think that possible
anti-Kocharyan work of the opposition may become a serious obstacle
to implementing the US plans.

IRAN HAMPERS ADVANCE OF RUSSIA-ARMENIA COOPERATION, MOSCOW PROFESSOR SUPPOSES

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2006 17:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Presence fo observers at elections is compulsory,
however it should be systematic, Chair of the Department of Comparative
Political Science of Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Mikhail Ilyin said, when answering a question on differences of
assessment of the elections in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan by
CIS and OSCE observer missions. In his words, the role of observers
lies in providing equal assessment of elections in any country. “An
absolutely impartial assessment by experts is impossible. However,
this does not mean that observers are not necessary. As of standards,
they are present always – dual, triple, as interested parties often
assume the role of experts,” Ilyin noted.

As of Russian policy in the South Caucasus, Ilyin said, “in case of
Armenia there are far less problems, than with Azerbaijan, to say
nothing of Georgia. A major issue form advancement of relations and
cooperation with Armenia is absence of a common border, as well as
Iran. However, I believe there is a good potential for expanding
cooperation between the two countries.”

In his words, there are more problems with Azerbaijan and these relate
to oil and gas sector, as well as that country’s relations with Iran.

“Worsening of Russian-Georgian relations is linked with many factors,
most important of these being not constructive policy of the Georgian
authorities.

However, I hope Russia will not interfere with Georgia’s internal
affairs, especially in settlement of the Ossetian conflict,” the
professor said.

AZERI EMBASSY IN MOSCOW SENT PROTEST NOTE TO RUSSIAN MFA

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2006 14:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow has sent a note of
protest to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The note was
issued in connection with the participation of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic (NKR) in an international tourist exhibition which opened
in Moscow. The Embassy said that they had not received an answer to
the note up to 15 May evening. A group of Azerbaijani students held
a protest action during the exhibition to hinder the participation
of the Nagorno-Karabakh republic in the event, Trend reports.

FIRST TRAIN WITH MILITARY HARDWARE FROM AKHALKALAKI LEAVES GEORGIA

ITAR-TASS, Azerbaijan
May 15 2006

TBILISI, May 15 (Itar-Tass) – The first train with military hardware
and munitions from the Russian military base deployed in Akhalkalaki,
southern Georgia, has left the district of Tsalka, 50 kilometers away
from Akhalkalaki, for Russia, an official at the Russian army group
in the Caucasus told Itar-Tass on Monday.

The Georgian Railways-owned 19-carriage train will bring to Russia
seven T-72 tanks, eight reconnaissance vehicles, four infantry combat
vehicles, four communication vans and 340 boxes with rockets for
GRAD launchers.

A group of Georgian military will accompany the train to the
Azerbaijani border.

Under the agreements reached between Russia and Georgia, the withdrawal
of Russian bases from Akhalkalaki should be completed in 2007.

This year, 19 trainloads are expected to bring back to Russia all
hardware. The departures of other trains are scheduled for May 23,
25 and 30.

Part of the hardware and munitions will be redeployed to the Russian
base of Gyumri, in Armenia. The first truck convoy will leave for
Gyumri on May 18.

When all personnel, munitions and material supplies have been pulled
out of Akhalkalaki by late 2007, the base will be closed.

12 YEARS SINCE SIGNING OF AZERI-ARMENIAN CEASEFIRE

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
May 14 2006

Baku, May 12, AssA-Irada
12 years have passed since Azerbaijan and Armenia signed ceasefire
on the conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.

With the signing of the Bishkek protocol in 1994, the two countries
reached a ceasefire accord after large-scale hostilities that were
launched by Armenia without a declaration. Nonetheless, only Azerbaijan
has honored the agreement over the past years, while Armenia has been
regularly breaching ceasefire on the frontline.

In January-March 2006 alone, Armenian armed forces subjected Azeri
positions to shooting 75 times, killing and wounding military men
and civilians.

Upper Garabagh, which is internationally recognized as part of
Azerbaijan, has both Azeri and ethnic Armenian population. It
was occupied by Armenia in early 1990s, along with seven other
Azerbaijani districts, after hostilities that killed up to 30,000
people and forced about a million Azeris out of their homes. Despite
the ceasefire accord, peace talks have been fruitless so far and
refugees remain stranded.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected]
Website; _www.armenianchurch.ca_ ()
May 12, 2006
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Prime Minister Harper thanks Bishop Galstanian

Last Thursday, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian received a letter
of appreciation from the Right Honorable Stephen Harper, Prime
Minister of Canada. This was in response to the Primate’s
congratulation and acknowledgment letters of February 7 and March
28. In his letter Prime Minister Harper says `I am pleased to have
this opportunity to extend my personal thanks for your kind words’.

Referring to the March 21, 2006 meeting with the Primate and the
Diocesan Council members Mr. Harper continues `I enjoyed our meeting
and look forward to your continued input as we work to fulfill the
mandate given to us by Canadians. Once again, thank you for your
encouragement and support’ concludes the Prime Minister.

The Diocesan office of the Armenian Church in Canada maintains
contacts within the Harper government and the Prime Minister’s Office
(PMO).

MESKHETI TURKS WILL SETTLE IN TSALKA

Lragir.am
12 May 06

AKHALKALAKI, 12 MAY, A-INFO. Debates on settlement of Meskheti Turks
in Georgia continue. It is especially interesting to know in what
regions of Georgia the Turks will settle. The Ministry of Refugees and
Re-Settlement will present a proposal, containing the final solution
of the problem.

Temur Lomsadzeh, the advisor to the minister of conflict settlement on
return of Meskhs thinks that the region of Tsalka may be chosen, where
it is possible to purchase the houses of the Greeks, who migrated from
this region, at a low price.