Author: Varosian Antranik

US organization denies conducting opinion poll in Azerbaijan

Turan news agency
9 Sep 05

Baku, 9 September: Chris Stewart, Gallup’s global brand manager, has
denied Azerbaijani media reports alleging that an opinion poll had
been conducted in this country.

Chris Stewart said in a statement forwarded to Turan news agency that
a number of Azerbaijani media outlets reported that Gallup had
allegedly conducted an opinion poll ahead of the election. “There has
been no such opinion poll.

This is not true. Gallup and its sections have not conducted opinion
polls in Azerbaijan. We are not planning to conduct opinion polls
before the election or exit polls on election day,” the statement
said.

[Passage omitted: the conduct of opinion polls requires organizational
work] On 11 May 2005, Azartac state news agency reported that the US
Gallup Organization had conducted opinion polls in Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Armenia to find out the ratings of the leaders of a number of
countries. According to the same source, Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev’s popularity rating is 77 per cent.

TIME OUT IN KARABAKH RESOLUTION

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
08 Sept 05

The CIS summit in Kazan, Russia, and the longed-for meeting of the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan marked the end of the summer
holiday in the diplomatic camp of Armenia. One thing is obvious
today. The opinion of the political scientists who insisted that the
meeting in Kazan would be a turning point in the resolution was, to
put it mildly, exaggerated. However, as the foreign minister of
Armenia states, although the longed-for turning point did not occur,
the meeting was useful to the process. Remaining faithful to the
principle of confidentiality of the process, the foreign minister did
not give any detail of the meeting, mentioning only that there is
always the danger of reaching a deadlock which did not happen in
Kazan: `We are not deadlocked.’ Most probably, the Azerbaijani side
is not discontent with the meeting in Kazan either. Moreover,
according to the foreign minister of Azerbaijan E. Mamedyarov, the
talks in Kazan are a step ahead; however it is early to consider real
progress. By the way, if after the meeting in Kazan the Armenian
foreign minister mentioned that the present stage in the resolution of
the conflict does not allow giving more detail about it to the people
of Armenia and Azerbaijan and though the meeting of Kocharian and
Aliev was not a turning point, the talks were positive, the
Azerbaijani side was of a different opinion. Following the tradition,
the Azerbaijani side again neglected the confidentiality of the talks,
and the Foreign Ministry announced that the parties allegedly
discussed 7 ` 9 elements of the resolution, namely `the liberation of
occupied areas, the return of refugees and restoration of
communication between Azerbaijan and Nakhijevan’ and there is progress
in reference to certain elements too. According to the foreign
minister of Armenia, there was progress for the Armenian side as well,
however, unlike his Azerbaijani colleague, Vartan Oskanian does not
give details except that the concern that the sides may reach a
deadlock rising before each meeting of the presidents, did not come
true. And, most probably, the next meeting of the ministers will take
place no sooner than in a month because Yerevan and Armenia need time
to analyze the results of the meeting in Kazan. Before this the
foreign ministers of the two countries will share their opinions with
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the foreign Minister of Slovenia Dimitrij
Rupel who is visiting Armenia on these days. The department of press
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed that the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office is to meet with the presidents of the Republic of
Armenia and NKR, the prime minister of Armenia, as well as the foreign
minister of Armenia. The results of the meetings are to be summed up
at the press conference on September 6. After the visit of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office to Yerevan and Baku the co-chairmen will prepare
the recurrent meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, which may take place at the end of September or at the
beginning of October.

CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
08-09-2005

AZERI YOUTH ACTIVISTS STOP HUNGER STRIKE

Assa-Irada, Baku
6 Sep 05

Baku, 6 September: Members of the Yeni Fikir [New Thought] youth
movement stopped their hunger strike today, the movement’s deputy
chairman, Said Nuriyev, told Assa-Irada news agency. He explained
the decision with preparations for the opposition’s next rally.

The movement’s [four] members went on hunger strike on 31 August to
demand that their [jailed] leader Ruslan Basirli be released. Basirli
is facing charges of collaborating with Armenian special services.

ARMENIAN HISTORY IN CARVING
By Karen Khasikian

Yerkir/arm
September 02, 2005

In a solemn ceremony on August 30, American Armenian sculptor Tigran
Sargsian presented the Armenian Genocide Museum with his sculpture
entitled “Armenians lived, live and will live.”

Sargsian says he conceived the idea of the sculpture in 2002 after
visiting the Alex Manoogian Treasury in Echmiadzin. “That day I
watched Atom Egoyan’s “Ararat” in Yerevan and then decided to create
a sculpture,” Sargsian says.

The craving depicts historical Armenia with Ararat, Sipan, lakes
Sevan and Van as well as the Armenian rivers. Numerous leaves of
branches emerging from the craving indicate the countries Armenians
have emigrated to. On the top of the sculpture, the branches unite
in a pomegranate and then take a shape of a cross.

On April 24, 2005, Sargsian displayed the sculpture in Glendale during
the events marking the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. And
now, he gave the sculpture to the Armenian Genocide Museum.

Sargsian also mentions he is planning to create a sculpture dedicated
to Sayat Nova and another one to embody the “Sasna Tsrer” epos.

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“Nagorno Karabakh cannot be subject to commerce and this is the idea of
the whole Armenian nation”, said Robert Kocharyan in Stepanakert. He
told the journalists that his opinion is the same as before and that
the past 14 years showed the vitality of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
and that Karabakh is able to have independent statehood.

Robert Kocharyan has mentioned that in several cases the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic can serve an example for the other post-soviet
countries. Commenting on the recent meeting of the Armenian and
Azeri Presidents in Kazan Robert Kocharyan mentioned that his overall
impression of the meeting is positive.

Robert Kocharyan has informed that he always has serious discussions
with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic President about the settlement of
the Karabakh conflict.

The NKR President Arkadi Ghoukasyan did not comment on the settlement
process. “It is not time yet to open the brackets but I think we have
no ground to worry”, he said.

STATE DEPARTMENT TELLS WHAT RICE TALKED WITH ALIYEV AND KOCHARYAN

Azerbaijan News Service
Aug 30 2005

The United States attaches great importance to the upcoming meeting
of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and hopes they will make
the compromises necessary in order to reach a settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. That was the message when Secretary of
State Condoleeza Rice phoned Armenian President Robert Kocharian and
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev August 25, according to the U.S.
State Department, The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs of the
U.S. Department of State announced on Monday.In terms of official
policy, the United States does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as
an independent country and supports the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, maintaining that the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh is a
matter of negotiation between the parties, the statement outlines.The
United States also remains committed to finding a peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the Minsk Group process, which
is co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States. In its statement
on Rice’s discussions with the two leaders, the State Department
said, “Both leaders were upbeat about the prospects for making
progress.” “The Secretary stressed to President Aliyev the importance
of free and fair parliamentary elections this November in Azerbaijan,
and noted his important role in this,” the statement added. The
United States has repeatedly urged Azerbaijan to meet international
standards when it holds its November parliamentary elections and to
implement the recommendations made by an Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observer mission after the 2003
elections.As recently as July 2, U.S. representative Christopher
Smith, co-chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and a Republican
from New Jersey, issued a statement saying he was “very disappointed”
that Azerbaijan’s parliament had passed an election law that does not
incorporate many key changes recommended by international observers,
especially in the composition of election commissions. The United
States has also called on Azerbaijan “to implement fully the May
11 Presidential Decree calling for the conduct of free and fair
elections.”In her phone call to Armenian President Kocharian,
Rice said she “hoped Armenia would make progress toward enacting a
package of constitutional reforms now before the parliament,” the
State Department said. The government of Armenia submitted revised
constitutional reform amendments to the Council of Europe’s Venice
Commission in July, and the United States at that time welcomed the
Venice Commission’s agreement to those amendments. The proposed reforms
would improve separation of powers between branches of government and
increase the independence and freedom of the media. The U.S. State
Department has a fact sheet available summarizing the U.S. position
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

CHAMPION OF FIRST ALL-ARMENIAN BESKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO BECOME KNOWN ON
AUGUST 26

YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the time-table of the
first All-Armenian Basketball Tournament, the women teams held the 1/2
final and men teams the 1/4 final meetings on August 25. Basketball
players from Yerevan and Tehran contending for the 1st-4th places in
the women competitions won their rivals with great advantages. The
sportswomen from Yerevan won those from Gyumri with the score of
107-69, and those from Tehran won those from Tbilisi with score of
86-34. The Yerevan and Tehran teams will contend for the title of
champion, and the Gyumri and Tbilisi basketball players will compete
for the 3rd place on August 26. The 1/4 final meetings of the men
teams were held in a more persistent struggle. The following results
were fixed during them: Glendaile-Marseilles: 70-56, Vally-Gyumri:
105-63, Yerevan-Sochi: 71-50, Tbilisi-Tehran: 105-52. To recap, RA
President Robert Kocharian was present at the last
game. Glendaile-Valley and Yerevan-Tbilisi meetings of the 1/2 final
take place on August 26. Winners of these pairs will contend for the
title of champion at the August 27 final meeting.

THE RA MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS RECEIVES A DELEGATION OF MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS OF THE US CONGRESS

YEREVAN, August 25. /ARKA/. The RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan
Oskanian received a delegation of members of the committee of
International Affairs of the US Congress, according o the RA MFA
Press Service Department. According to the press release, in the
course of the meeting the sides touched upon the issue of Armenia’s
participation in the Millennium Challenge Program. Oskanian
introduced work done by the Armenian side in the framework of the
program and suggestions referring it.
The members of the delegation emphasized that the project of
suggestions offered by the Armenian side is real and well- elaborated
and they told that the project will be approved by the Corporation.
In the course of the meeting the sides expressed their satisfaction
with the level of the Armenian -American relations and came to the
mutual opinion that the bilateral relations will foster development
of relations in all spheres. A.H. –0–

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 24, 2005 Wednesday

Moscow sees hopeful signs in Karabakh settlement

By Ksenia Kaminskaya
MOSCOW

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday “hopeful signs have appeared
in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.”

“This may see further development at the upcoming meeting between
Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Ilkham Aliyev,” a diplomatic source
said.

Wednesday reports said the meeting between the Azerbaijani and
Armenian leaders would take place in Kazan on August 27.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his
colleagues from Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan and his Azerbaijani
counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov held consultations in Moscow which were
attended by international mediators – the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
group /Russia, the United States and France/.

Lavrov underscored Moscow’s intention “to create all the conditions
for achieving progress in settling the Nagorno Karabakh problem.”

He underlined that he could not comment on the negotiations which are
steered by the co-chairpersons of the OSCE Minsk group.

They certainly have ideas, the Russian minister noted.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said Yerevan and Baku can
hopefully find “common denominators” in resolving the Nagorno
Karabakh problem.

“There is hope that we’ll find common denominators; it would bring
peace and stability to southern Caucasus,” Oskanyan said.

Oskanyan said the self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh is the
priority in settling the conflict, which should manifest itself in
the right of its population to take care of their fate on their own.

The remaining issues such as the elimination of the consequences of
the conflict, the territorial problem and the return of refugees stem
from this priority and will follow it, he noted.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov gave a positive
valuation to the Moscow meeting. However, he believes it is premature
to talk about any headway in resolving the conflict.

It is necessary to actively work on the settlement. There is an
opportunity “to arrive at a common denominator for this problem,” he
said.

The negotiations over the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
began on September 23, 1991 and involved Russia, Kazakhstan,
Azerbaijan and Armenia.

In February-May 1992, the OSCE joined the settlement efforts.

The fighting in the conflict zone ceased on May 12, 1994. The
negotiations are held within the framework of the Minsk group,
co-chaired by Russia, the United States and France.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
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08/23/2005
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1) Instanbul Conference on Armenian Genocide Back on Calendar
2) My Killings Are Much Bigger Than Yours…
3) Colorado Congressman Tancredo Extends Support to Constituent Appeals
4) Kick-off Party Officially Announces Pontifical Visit by Aram I
5) Bella Darbinian Dies

1) Instanbul Conference on Armenian Genocide Back on Calendar

Justice Minister Cicek takes `wait and see’ attitude

ISTANBUL (Combined Sources)–A Conference on the Armenian genocide that was
abruptly postponed last May, seems to be back-on, reported the Istanbul-based
Armenian Daily Marmara.
The three-day conference, which was to open on May 25 at Istanbul’s Bogazici
University, but was cancelled under government pressure, has been rescheduled
for September 23-25 at the same university.
The original conference, “Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of the Empire:
Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy,” was organized by a
group of
Turkish historians challenging the official line on the issue.
Turkish academics and intellectuals from throughout the world who dispute
Ankara’s version of the 1915-1917 genocide of Armenians, were to have lectured
at the conference organized by Turkey’s three most prestigious universities.
This time around, organizers are refusing to release any details. Bogazici
University rector Ayse Soysal, through a spokesman, revealed that he simply
does not want to talk about the subject.
Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek had condemned the original initiative as
a blow to government efforts to counter a mounting Armenian campaign to have
the Genocide recognized internationally. “This is a stab in the back to the
Turkish nation… this is irresponsibility,” Cicek told parliament. “We must
put an end to this cycle of treason and insult, of spreading propaganda
against
the [Turkish] nation by people who belong to it”
This time, however, Cicek told journalists, `They did not ask for my input in
either organizing or canceling the original conference. They did not ask
for my
opinion this time either. When the time comes, we will see together just who
will say what.’
The cancellation drew worldwide criticism from scholars, politicians,
organizations, and the media.
Tosun Terzioglu, the President of Sabanci University, one of the
organizers of
the conference, expressed his disapproval through a formal statement that
read,
in part: `Those who oppose these meetings can criticize them in one way or
another. But what is most important is the freedom to be able to hold such
meetings. In addition to being educational institutions, the universities
also
serve as the guarantors of and as an umbrella for free and creative
discussions
on topics that are of interest to the country and the world. In the final
analysis, they can contribute to societal progress by virtue of their members’
total possession of the freedom of research, thought and expression.
It is extremely distressing and dreadful that, in opposition to these
universal values that have also been assimilated in Turkey, the 25-27 May
conference at Bosphorus University was brought, because of prejudices and
serious accusations, to the point of not being actualized. Not only does this
consequence seriously harm the development of the freedom of thought,
democracy
and civil society, but I worry that it will also become, in the future within
the international arena, a significant impediment to Turkey.’

2) My Killings Are Much Bigger Than Yours…

ANKARA–Israel’s Ambassador to Turkey seems to have rediscovered the measuring
stick yet again, saying that it is inappropriate to link the Holocaust of the
Jews and the Armenian genocide.
Turkish Daily News quoted Ambassador Pinhas Avivi as saying in an exclusive
interview to Hurriyet, `It is wrong to draw similarities between the Armenian
genocide and Jewish genocide. The Holocaust was a political decision to
eradicate an entire people from the earth. I really respect the decision of
the
Turkish Government and Turks to leave the issue to the historians. Not the
politicians but the historians should discuss the matter. Turkey opened its
archives and this is vital.’
He also gave assurances that Israel was not acting against Turkey’s interests
in northern Iraq. `If a Kurdish state is established in the North, a Shia
state is also established in the middle, and we do not want to see that. We
want a democratic and united Iraq’ he added.

3) Colorado Congressman Tancredo Extends Support to Constituent Appeals

CASTLE ROCK–In response to constituent requests for support of Armenian
Genocide legislation pending in Congress, Republican Representative Thomas G.
Tancredo (CO-6) has told voters, `I believe that the atrocities committed
against the Armenian people is worthy of the term `genocide.’ It was carried
out the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1916, and large numbers of Armenians were
methodically massacred.’
Colorado Armenian American community leaders and activists began receiving
response letters from the Congressman this month, and expressed their
appreciation for his candid remarks. Among them were long-time ANCA-WR
supporter and community leader, Dr. Garo Chalian, and ANC activist Simon
Maghakyan who said that they were encouraged by the Congressman’s clear and
unambiguous statement.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR) also
praised Tancredo for his firm moral stance. `Congressman Tancredo voted for
passage of the Armenian Genocide resolution in 2000,’ said ANCA-WR Chair
Steven
Dadaian.` Having his support again is critical as he serves on the House
International Relations Committee.’
Last week, ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian thanked
members of
the Representative’s Washington, DC staff and also reviewed pressing foreign
affairs matters that concern Armenian Americans.
The State of Colorado has a growing and vibrant Armenian American community.
Armenians of Colorado, an organization dedicated to advancing understanding of
Armenian history, culture, religion, language, and heritage, has consistently
maintained strong ties with Colorado state officials and its Congressional
delegation. In 2003, the Colorado General Assembly permanently designated
April
24 `Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide’ and urged US
Congress
to likewise act to commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
Two resolutions on the Armenian genocide have been introduced in the 109th
session of the House of Representatives. With strong bi-partisan support (112
and 83 cosponsors, respectively, to date) the resolutions have been
referred to
the House International Relations Committee and are currently pending
markup in
the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations,
on which Rep. Tancredo serves.

4) Kick-off Party Officially Announces Pontifical Visit by Aram I

STUDIO CITY–Hosted by the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, a
Kick-Off Party to officially announce His Holiness Aram I’s visit to the
United
States, drew more than 200 religious brothers, community activists,
benefactors, and devoted sponsors to Bistro Gardens in Studio City, California
on August 21.
The Pontifical visit of the Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia will
begin on October 5, under the theme, `Towards the Light of Knowledge.’
`Inspired and empowered by the caliber of supporters and believers in the
Armenian Apostolic Church, we did not find it necessary to organize a Kick-Off
Party for the Official Banquet in honor of His Holiness Aram I,’ Prelate
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian told supporters. `This Kick-Off was
organized
to thank our life-long supporters as well as officially announce the
Pontifical
Visit of His Holiness.’
The evening’s program began with Banquet Committee Chairman, Shant Haytayan
and Second Chairman, Peklar Pilavjian, welcoming distinguished guests, and
inviting Archbishop Mardirossian to deliver his message.
Archbishop Mardirossian highlighted several key events of the Catholicos’s
Visit, including a pontifical mass at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale on October
9, a youth forum in Fresno on October 10, a major address on `Christianity in
the Middle East’ to be delivered at the World Affairs Council on October 14,
and a symposium on the `Christian Response to Violence’ to be held at the
University of Southern California on October 15.
The Archbishop explained that this Pontifical Visit will coincide with the
1600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet and solemn
programs
marking the 90th commemoration of the Armenian genocide.
The evening concluded with great surprises, including the immediate request
for more than 1000 tickets after guests were told about the October 9 Gala
Banquet to be at the Universal Hilton.
As inspiring and important were the several large donations that were made to
benefit the ongoing work of the Western Prelacy, including the blessing of the
Western Prelacy’s headquarters, and the opening of St. Sarkis Apostolic Church
in Pasadena.
`The Western Prelacy is dedicated to the community as it works diligently to
revitalize the physical, economic, cultural, spiritual, and educational
conditions of its churches and schools,’ said Archbishop Mardirossian. `The
Western Prelacy has and will continue to make a substantial impact on
expanding
its reach to the Armenian-American community as long as it has supporters and
believers as benevolent and dedicated as evidenced at this showcase Kick-Off
celebration.’

5) Bella Darbinian Dies

YEREVAN (Armenpress/Narek.com)–An icon in Armenian popular music for more
than
three decades, Bella Darbinian, who also helped define the genre with a sultry
voice and a style all her own, died on the evening of August 22 in Yerevan,
after a long and debilitating illness.
Classically trained in Yerevan and Moscow, Darbinian gave up opera for a
career that would be more in tune with the pop sensibilities she grew up with
in Armenia’s Lori region. She entered the spot-light in the early 60s when she
became a soloist with the Armenian State Ensemble. Her popularity soared after
joining the Symphonic Ensemble of Armenian Radio and Television in 1966.
For the next 30 years, Darbinian’s numerous recordings and performances to
packed houses introduced a new level of legitimacy to modern Armenian pop
songs. Darbinian also performed in Russian, to gain immense popularity
throughout the states of the former Soviet Union.
Despite a prolonged absence in the 90s, Darbinian was back in 1998, with a
slew of new recordings and tour dates in the works.
As evidenced by her latest works, her resolve and passion for singing were
forever spirited.

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