Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

Russian deputy speaker apologizes for Karabakh remarks – Azeri paper

Ekspress, Baku
18 Feb 05

Text of Alakbar Raufoglu report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress
on 18 February headlined “Zhirinovskiy has apologized” and subheaded
“‘I have been misunderstood,’ the deputy speaker of the Russian State
Duma says in a letter to Ekspress”

The deputy speaker of the Russian State Duma and the leader of the
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Vladimir Zhirinovskiy, is sorry
for the remarks he made several days ago about Nagornyy Karabakh,
which caused a strong reaction in Azerbaijan, he said in his letter
to Ekspress yesterday.

“My remarks were misunderstood and deliberately taken out of
context. I am surprised and regretful about such a situation. I
apologize to the people of Azerbaijan and my Azerbaijani friends for
this misunderstanding,” Zhirinovskiy said.

The deputy speaker of the Russian State Duma said at a news conference
in Moscow several days ago that it is necessary to incorporate
[Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of] Nagornyy Karabakh into the CIS. He
said Karabakh is an Armenian territory and “the real name of the
region is Artsakh”.

Of course, Zhirinovskiy’s statement caused great dissatisfaction
in Azerbaijan. Ekspress asked Zhirinovskiy last week to clarify his
statement on Karabakh. Although in his reply, he dissociated himself
from the remarks that Karabakh is an Armenian territory, he still
believes that it is necessary to incorporate the separatist entity
into the CIS.

“I have said and repeat again that in order to resolve the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict, it is necessary to incorporate the region into
the CIS first and then into Azerbaijan. I was simply misunderstood
and my remarks were taken out of context,” Zhirinovskiy said.

“My remarks do not mean that Karabakh should be recognized as an
independent state. On the contrary, I believe that it is necessary
to increase efforts to resolve the problem and include it into the
format of the CIS.”

In Zhirinovskiy’s opinion, “the Russian government and people have
the same stance on Karabakh” – the settlement of the problem should
meet the interests of both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani diaspora is not happy with the position of the Russian
State Duma’s deputy speaker. Members of the World Azerbaijani Congress
[WAC] appealed to the State Duma yesterday in protest at Zhirinovskiy’s
recent anti-Azerbaijani statements. Our countrymen are demanding in
their letter that Russian parliamentarians express their official
attitude to the deputy speaker’s statement on Karabakh.

“We believe that for the sake of Russia’s integrity, it is unacceptable
for a member of parliament who regards himself as a patriot to
support the separatists, which is an affront to the Russian people,”
the message reads.

According to some reports, Azerbaijanis living in Moscow have
postponed next week’s protest action against Zhirinovskiy in front
of the State Duma.

A member of the WAC leadership, Eldar Zeynalov, told Ekspress that
the reason is that the Russian MP intends to meet his voters in the
near future.

The WAC also believes that the protest might turn into an action
promoting Zhirinovskiy.

PRESS RELEASE

U.C. Berkeley Armenian Studies Program
Contact: Prof. Stephan H. Astourian
Tel: (510) 643-8872
Email: [email protected]

*AMBASSADOR JOHN EVANS TO SPEAK AT U.C. BERKELEY, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19.*

UC Berkeley—The Honorable John M. Evans, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic
of Armenia, will speak in the Toll Room of the Alumni House at U.C.
Berkeley on Saturday, February 19, 2005, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Ambassador
Evans was confirmed by the Senate on June 25, 2004 and was sworn in as
the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia on August 11, 2004. He presented his
credentials to President Kocharian on September 4, 2004

This event is organized by Professor Stephan Astourian, Executive
Director of the Armenian Studies Program at UC Berkeley. Ambassador
Evans will give a speech entitled “Report from Armenia: 2004-2005,”
present a video about the work of the Embassy and of the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) in Armenia, and engage in
an open conversation with the faculty, students, and community members
attending this forum.

A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Mr. Evans studied Russian history at
Yale (B.A., 1970) and Columbia, where he began a Ph.D. before joining
the Foreign Service. In the first part of his career, he served in
Tehran (1972-74), in Prague (1975-78), in the Executive Secretariat and
Office of the Secretary of State (1978-80), in Moscow (1981-83), at the
U.S. Mission to NATO (1983-86), and as Deputy Director of the Soviet
Desk (1986-89). His role in coordinating the American response to the
Armenian earthquake of 1988 earned him a medal and statement of
appreciation from the Armenian government of that time.

Mr. Evans also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Prague (1991-94),
and as Consul General in St. Petersburg (1994-97). He was then chosen to
lead the OSCE Mission to Moldova, an international mediation and
peace-keeping effort (1997-99). On his return to Washington in 1999, Mr.
Evans assumed the direction of the State Department’s Office of Analysis
for Russia and Eurasia, winning a Meritorious Honor Award and the CIA
Director’s Exceptional Performance Award. From May 2002 until his
appointment to Yerevan, he directed the Office of Russian Affairs at the
State Department.

Ambassador Evans will be accompanied by Mrs. Donna Evans, former
President of the World Affairs Council of Washington D.C.; Mr. Robin
Phillips, Mission Director in Armenia for USAID; and Mr. Aaron
Sherinian, the Embassy’s Political Officer and Assistance Coordinator in
Yerevan

The best public parking for this event is the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Student Union Garage located on Bancroft Way (left turn from Telegraph
Avenue). More information about all available parking lots can be found
at

For traveling directions to the campus, please go to the following URL:

A large campus map is available at
. The Alumni House is in
the D3 square.

–Boundary_(ID_uQilASddDUNX4qf0dosVJw)–

Kyrgyz FM urges further military cooperation with Russia

Kabar news agency, Bishkek
16 Feb 05

Bishkek, 16 February: The task of further strengthening cooperation
in the military and political and military and technical spheres
under the Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO; members
are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia]
is a pressing one, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aytmatov has told
a meeting at the ministry.

He said that cooperation should be stepped up “primarily with Russia
by implementing agreements under the CSTO and strengthening the
contractual and legal base aimed at further strengthening collective
security system in Central Asia”.

The foreign minister said that Kyrgyzstan also attached
great significance to membership of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization [SCO; members are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia], which, along with the CSTO, is also
considered to be a key component in ensuring national security of
the countries. Aytmatov said that these organizations also play an
important role in ensuring regional security.

“On the whole Kyrgyzstan’s participation in multilateral agreements
within the CIS, the CSTO, the Eurasian Economic Community [EAEC],
the Central Asian Cooperation Organization [CACO] and the SCO should
be flexible and carried out in close cooperation with partners on a
bilateral basis,” Aytmatov said.

Near East Foundation To Be Honored at Armenian Genocide Tribute

Reuters Alert, UK
Feb 17 2005

Source: NGO latest

By 1930, Near East Relief had raised more than $110 million for this
humanitarian work, fed more than twelve million people, gave medical
aid to six million, cared for and educated over 135,000 orphans,
and saved at least a million lives.

Rabih Yazbeck, Near East Foundation

Ryan LaHurd, president of the Near East Foundation, and the consul
generals from Cyprus, Syria, Ethiopia and Uruguay will be among those
honored by the Armenian community for their efforts in supporting
survivors of the Armenian Genocide at the “International Relief,
Refuge, and Recognition Tribute.”

The tribute, to be held February 24 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in
Los Angeles, is one of a series of local, national and international
events commemorating and raising awareness of the 90th anniversary
of the Armenian genocide. Founded in response to the genocide,
the Near East Foundation also celebrates its 90th anniversary in
2005. The Armenian event is being organized by the Armenian Assembly,
the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church.

>>From 1915 until 1930, Near East Relief (the Near East Foundation’s
original name) administered $117,000,000 to those in need. Very early
in the relief effort, attention focused on helping rescued orphans
to become self-supporting and contributing members of the communities
that absorbed them. Cyprus, Syria, Ethiopia and Uruguay opened their
doors and now are home to well-established Armenian communities.

Commented Western Office Chairman Richard Mushegain, “Near East Relief
is credited with saving hundreds of thousands of Armenians and making
possible productive futures for more than 130,000 orphans.”

Last October the Near East Foundation received the 2004 Freedom Award
from the Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region–their
most prestigious “for your organization’s longstanding history of
aiding the Armenian people and others in their darkest hours.”

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and
not of Reuters. ]

Pan Armenian Network

ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS OF KRASNODAR PREPARING FOR MEASURES DEDICATED TO
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 90-TH ANNIVERSARY

14.02.2005 17:16

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A number of Armenian organization acting in the Russian
city of Krasnodar have united in a new public structure named the
Coordination Council of Armenian Organization of Krasnodar, IA Regnum
reports. The new structure aims at coordination of efforts in holding joint
measures and cooperation on other issues. In 2005 the Council plans a series
of measures dedicated to the 90-th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in
Ottoman Turkey. A cinema festival, publication and presentation of books on
Armenian themes, an exhibition of works of Armenian artists of Krasnodar,
scientific conference on Genocide and other mass measures are to be held.

US AID TO AZERBAIJAN FOR 2006 TO MAKE $20 LESS THAN TO ARMENIA

PanArmenian News
Feb 11 2005

11.02.2005 13:25

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the draft budget of the US foreign aid
for fiscal year 2006, Armenia will receive $55 million, Azerbaijan –
$35 million and Georgia – $67 million. Besides Armenia and Azerbaijan
are to be allocated $5 million as military aid and $750 thousand for
the realization of the program of military education and trainings.
Nagorno Karabakh will also receive $5 million as humanitarian aid.

Armenian opposition bloc predicts premier’s resignation

Arminfo
10 Feb 05

Yerevan, 10 February: The work of the Armenian National Assembly has
been paralysed, the secretary of the opposition Justice bloc, Viktor
Dallakyan, told a news conference at the National Assembly today.

He said the existence of a parliamentary crisis was confirmed by the
lack of a quorum over the past three days and by the MPs’ inability
to adopt the National Assembly’s agenda, which has happened for the
first time in the history of the Armenian parliament.

Dallakyan said the parliamentary crisis could trigger a shift in
the balance of political forces in the National Assembly. And that,
he stressed, could cause the new parliamentary majority to pass a
no-confidence vote in the prime minister.

“If the developments unfold in this direction, Prime Minister Andranik
Markaryan will have to tender his resignation. He will be replaced by
Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan who will then succeed the Armenian
president,” Viktor Dallakyan said.

At the same time, he did not rule out that the parliament could be
dissolved by a presidential decree.

“The dissolution of the parliament will give Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan the opportunity to divert the international community’s
attention from the Nagornyy Karabakh problem to the issue of early
parliamentary elections, which will eventually put off the adoption
of an unfavourable Karabakh settlement plan,” the MP said.

Dallakyan said the Justice bloc would soon issue a new harshly-worded
statement on Nagornyy Karabakh. He said the best way out of the
current situation was the resignation of Robert Kocharyan and early
presidential and parliamentary elections.

Dallakyan promised that the opposition would do its best to turn
the forthcoming constitutional referendum into the referendum of no
confidence in Armenian President Kocharyan.

Turkish foreign minister: Karabakh solution will establish regional peace

TRT 1 television, Ankara
10 Feb 05

[Announcer] Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, reacting to views that the
Turkish-Armenian border should be opened in the EU accession process,
stated: The people of Azerbaijan should not worry. For peace, the
occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh should come to an end.

Gul met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who is
currently visiting Ankara. In a joint news conference, Gul declared
that the termination of the occupation in Nagorno-Karabakh is a
prerequisite for the establishment of peace in the region.

[Gul] We hope that these peace talks will be fruitful, and a peaceful
conclusion will be reached in this regard. We hope that the occupation
will end. Only then all the relations will be normalized. This is
what I have to say on this subject. Turkey’s theses on this issue
are evident. I encountered such questions when I visited Azerbaijan
as well. The people of Azerbaijan should not worry. Turkey’s policy
is very clear.

[Announcer] Mammadyarov, in turn, said that the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum
natural gas line can become operational in 2006 or 2007, adding that
this natural gas can be delivered to Europe via Turkey.

The Cyprus issue was also discussed at the meeting. Gul stated that a
step to be taken by Azerbaijan towards the removal of the isolation
imposed on the [self-declared] Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
will serve as an example for other countries. Mammadyarov said that
his country is exploring the possibilities for cooperation, and it
will encourage Azerbaijani firms to invest in north Cyprus.

President meets EU envoy on South Caucasus

Assa-Irada
Feb 10 2005

Baku, February 9, AssA-Irada
The Upper Garabagh conflict was in focus at a meeting of President
Ilham Aliyev
with the European Union special envoy on South Caucasus, Heikki
Talvitie, on Wednesday.
“Azerbaijan’s position on the Upper Garabagh conflict settlement is
based on the principles of territorial integrity and inviolability of
borders”, President Ilham Aliyev said. He emphasized that the
conflicts in the former Soviet Union, accompanied by aggression and
separatism, are a serious obstacle for peace and security in regions.
>>From this standpoint, the unbiased position of the Council of Europe
and other international organizations, which condemn Armenian
separatism and this country’s aggression against Azerbaijan,
expressed in their documents, is of great importance, Aliyev said.
Talvitie gave a high assessment to the level of current relations
between the EU and Azerbaijan and voiced confidence that they will
continue to strengthen.*

–Boundary_(ID_wc4xK50pGsgL4yjUZl4Dtw)–

OSCE FACT-FINDING MISSION TO SEVEN REGIONS UNDER CONTROL OF NKR DEFENSE ARMY OVER

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 7. ARMINFO. OSCE mission on ascertaining the
facts of settlement of the 7 regions under control of NKR Defense
Army has completed its work.

According to ARMINfo’s special correspondent to Stepanakert, the
experts of the group examined the above territories and interrogated
the residents to ascertain how much assertions of Azerbaijan about
mass settlement of these territories by Armenian people are proved.

On February 6, OSCE monitoring group met the residents of Stepanakert
and Shushi deported from Azerbaijan. To remind, Emili Margaret Haber,
Director of the OSCE German Department, heads the expert group. The
group consists of experts of Finland, Italy, Sweden and Germany.

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs were also in the region. Steven Mann
returned to Washington on the third day of the monitoring.

Emili Margaret Haber said the monitoring was of technical nature.
OSCE Misnk Group will make the political assessment of the situation on
the basis of the report of the group. In his turn, NKR Foreign Minister
Arman Melikyan expressed hope that the mission would be satisfied
with the result of its work. He said that the contribution to the
mission made by the local authorities <is a display of good will with
respect to the peaceful efforts of the international community>. The
minister called the level of cooperation of the NKR authorities and
the monitoring group satisfactory and allowing a solution to all the
issues. A report for the OSCE Minsk Group will be prepared as a result
of monitoring within 1-2 months.