Author: Virabian Jhanna

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 4 2005

MILITARY PROSECUTOR OFFICE RESUMES PROBE INTO ACTS OF MASSACRE
COMMITTED BY ARMENIAN MILITARY FORCES IN OCCUPIED NAGORNO-KARABAKH
TERRITORY AND BORDERING AZERBAIJANI REGIONS
[August 04, 2005, 18:08:26]

The office of Azerbaijan’s military prosecutor told AzerTAj that
it has resumed a criminal investigation into the killing of dozens
of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians by Armenian forces during the
Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Since 1988 by the Armenian military forces and the Armenian terror
organizations were killed and wounded thousands of Azerbaijanis,
our country has fallen as victim of Armenian terror attacks, were
destroyed and sacked towns and villages of Azerbaijan. Over 600
criminal cases were opened by law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan
in connection with these barbarian actions of Armenians.

Azerbaijan’s military prosecutor says 339 residents of Khojali, a
predominantly Azerbaijani town of Karabakh, were killed in February
1992 soon after the poorly defended area fell into Armenian hands.

By the Azerbaijani military prosecutor’s office was also opened
a criminal investigation into the February 1992 killing of nearly
50 residents of Garadaghli, an ethnic Azerbaijani village of the
predominantly ethnic Armenian separatist enclave. Unfortunately this
criminal case was also suspended in December 1992.

Moreover, criminal investigation on the Khojali determined there were
3 thousand people in the town at the time of Armenian military forces’
attack by support of 366th regiment of the Soviet troops. As most part
of the population had to leave town during 4 months blockade. Hundreds
of residents were killed, 1000 peaceful people of different age became
invalid during Khojali genocide. Amongst the victims of the Khojali
genocide are 106 women, 63 children, and 70 old men. 8 families were
completely annihilated, 130 children lost one parents, while 25 both
of them. 1275 peace residents were taken hostages, the fate of 150
of them is still unknown. Therefore the Armenian murderers should be
charged in accordance with the United Nations Convention on genocide.

The military prosecutor noted the Armenian military forces have ignored
also the Geneva Convention’s relative to the Treatment of Prisoners
of War that says persons taking no active part in the hostilities,
including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and
those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any
other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without
any adverse distinction founded on race, color, religion or faith,
sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.

In connection with all these criminals of Armenian military forces
the military prosecutor office has been commenced a criminal case
on July 14, 2005. About the criminal investigation’s progressing the
public will be informed regularly, said the military prosecutor.

RUBEN HAYRAPETIAN WON YOUTH CHESS TOURNAMENT IN ESTONIA

PanArmenian News Network
Aug 3 2005

03.08.2005 02:35

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A youth chess tournament was held in Parnu, Estonia
July 29-31. 61 young chess players from 11 youth chess clubs of the
country took part in the competition. Pupil of Shakh and Garde club,
10-year-old Ruben Hayrapetian (youngest age group) again distinguished
himself as the best player. He has won 6 of the 7 games and played one
in a draw thus winning the first place with 6.5 points, Yerkramas,
the newspaper of Armenians of Russia reports. Ruben’s 7-th victory
this year is a record for Estonia. Before this one he has won all
the republican tournaments. Ruben has practiced chess since he was 5
years old. Since the age of 6 he has taken part not only in all the
youth age groups but also among adults. Presently he is 10 and is a
candidate for master of sports. In 2005 he won the 4-th place in the
Estonian tournament in the age group under 10 and also shared the 2-nd
and 5-th horizontals in the age group under 12. He gained the right
to represent Estonia at the European youth championship to be held mid
September in Serbia and Montenegro. As Yerkramas reporter came to know
from the republican public union of Baltic Armenian House, Ruben has a
dream. He has never been to Armenia and wishes to participate in the
Armenian tournaments. His club fellows, double champion of Estonia
among girls Yana Hayrapetian and bronze medallist of the Estonian
championship under the age of 18 Vitaliy Khalapian have the same dream.

14 ARMENIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS FLEW TO RUSSIA FOR REST AT ONE OF
COMFORTABLE CHILD HEALTH RESORT IN MOSCOW DOWNTOWN

ARKA News Agency
Aug 2 2005

YEREVAN, August 2. /ARKA/. 14 Armenian school students flew to
Russia for rest at one of comfortable child health resort in Moscow
downtown. According to Russian Embassy in Armenia, the children
will stay there 24 days with children of the same age from Baltic
countries and the CIS member countries. Another 40 Armenian school
students will leave for St. Petersburg.

The Embassy’s press release says 30 graduates of Armenian schools
will fly to Russia by the beginning of the academic year for obtaining
free higher education in 28 specialties in 12 cities, including Moscow
and Saint Petersburg.

The majority of them are going to come back to their homeland and
work here.

It should be noted that Armenian schoolchildren have take their
all-expenses-paid trips to Russia throughout several years. The
expenses are borne by Russian Government as part of a special program
focused on strengthening friendship between Armenian and Russian
people. M.V. -0—

PanArmenian News Network
July 30 3005

EARTHQUAKE OF 5 POINTS TOOK PLACE IN YEREVAN JULY 30 MORNING

30.07.2005 02:50

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An earthquake measuring 3.1, which is equal to 5 on
the 12-point scale, shook Yerevan July 30 morning at 2:10 am local
time. The earthquake epicenter was in Parakyar region that is 7 km
away from Yerevan. Chief of the National Seismic Protection Service
Alvaro Antonyan stated it to a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. Tremor
repeated in 8 minutes after the first one and measured 1.1 – equal to
2 on the 12-point scale. This meant a decrease of seismic activity.
In Antonyan’s words, such seismic activity does not exceed the normal
one and repeats each 4-5 years. At that it is determined that the
tremor power does not exceed 5 on the 12-point scale. There is no
danger at the moment.

‘WE STRIVE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS AND PEACE’

Azg/arm
29 July 05

Georgian Ambassador to Armenia, Prof. Revaz Gachechiladze, Answers
Daily Azg’s Questions

– Mr. Ambassador, you were present at celebration of Jivani’s Day in
Kartsakh village of Akhalkalak region. What was that, a diplomatic
mission or tribute to poetry?

– It was a diplomatic mission first of all, as I am unable to
appreciate Jivani’s poetry in Armenian though I know several hundreds
Armenian words. Diplomatically, the ambassador of Georgia has to be
acquainted with the state of Armenians of Georgia, as I am often
obliged to answer questions about this issue.

– What’s your evaluation of today’s situation in Samtskhe-Javakhetia
region?

– Things are balanced in the region today. But there is indeed a bunch
of unsolved socio-economic problems. I want to emphasize that
situation in all mountainous regions of Georgia is very much the same
as in Javakhetia; underdeveloped production, outdated infrastructures
and low level of life stemming out from here. Javakhetia has one
important privilege that other Georgian regions lack: it has flat
areas that can be used for agricultural purposes.

– What kind of economic projects have been elaborated for this region?

– In its projects of Javakhetia development the Georgian government
accentuates development of productive forces. The road network is the
first to be restored. I don’t want to say that the roads are in
“tragic” state, as I know the condition of roads in Racha-Lechkhumi or
Svanetia regions especially after the floods in spring.

The Georgian government has to care for the whole country not only for
a particular region. Yet, the government has allocated and will
continue to allocate money for reconstruction of the roads. The
president’s fund has assigned 1 million Lari ($500.000) for
reconstruction of only Akhalkalak’s inner road network.

I think that the railway is the only factor for this region’s
development. Regretfully, the Marabda-Akhalkalak railway was robbed
and sold as non-ferrous metal in early 1990s. It’s obvious that this
route demands reconstruction. The fact that the railroad stretches up
to the Turkish border will make it possible to turn the region into a
transit zone with economic benefits. Only fancy that Tbilisi-Vienna
train will stop in Akhalkalak. It also means improvement of regional
infrastructures.

The railway passing through Javakhetia will by no means hamper
reopening of Gyumri-Kars railway once Armenian-Turkish relations
improve. We are for the soonest reopening of Gyumri-Kars railway. It
should be no obstacle for reconstruction of an international railway
through Javakhetia.

– The Russian military base of Akhalkalak is to be withdrawn by
2008. What will fill the gap?

– The withdrawal of Russian bases from Georgia is first of all in the
interests of Russia. President Putin declared recently that those
bases play no defensive role. What’s the meaning of keeping its bases
in a foreign country at the expense of Russian taxpayers?

As far as I know, the base in Akhalkalak will be replaced by a
Georgian military unite. The leadership of my country has declared for
several times that no foreign base will occupy the place of Russian
ones.

It’s often talked about the Russian base as an economic factor in the
region. But the real number of employees is very small. The Georgian
government has already taken steps to improve social conditions of
locals.

President Saakashvili, as you know, gave instructions to supply
Georgian armed forces with agricultural goods of Javakhetia only. That
will add momentum to agricultural development of the region and will
considerably improve social conditions there.

– Majority of population in Samtskhe-Javakhetia, particularly the
regions of Akhalkalak and Ninotsminda are Armenians. Doesn’t this fact
require special approach as regards political and economic aspects?

– Georgia is a multinational country. There are very few monoethnic
countries in the world. Besides Armenia, which turned into a
monoethnic state in the last years, there are Japan, both Koreas and
post-war Poland. Georgia goes in the footsteps of Europe in creating
favorable conditions for minorities. We will spur cultural and
economic development in those areas where national minorities live. It
concerns Javakhetia and Qvemo Qartli (the Azeri population here
exceeds the Armenian in Javakhetia twice) and other regions populated
by Abkhazians, Ossetians and others. Georgia displays “special
approach” to all of them. But our primary goal is to make every
citizen of Georgia, regardless his/her nationality, feel comfortable
in their only homeland, in Georgia.

In Javakhetia, for instance, the schools need repair. Reconstruction
is already under way. The only school that is being repaired on money
from the president’s fund is the school of Gandza in
Ninotsminda. Sensitivity to social problems of Javakhetia will not die
away henceforth, too.

– Mr. Ambassador we know that you are a scientist, a professor. You
also show interest in literature. Is literature a hobby for you?

– My father, Givi Gachechiladze, was a writer, a translator of poetry
(particularly from English). He translated the works of Byron, Shelly
and numerous tragedies of Shakespeare and all of his sonnets into
Georgian. I grew up in an atmosphere of literature that’s why I highly
appreciate good literature, especially poetry. As a young man I used
to write too, but never published anything. I took up science,
history of the Middle East and geography of the Middle East and
Georgia. These are humanitarian sciences, and when one writes articles
on history or geography he cannot avoid literary quotations.

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
July 27 2005

U.S. Hopes For Breakthrough At Armenian-Azeri Summit

By Emil Danielyan

Next month’s meeting in Russia between the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan could mark a `turning point’ in the long-running
international efforts to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a
high-ranking U.S. official said on Wednesday.

`There will be a meeting in August of both presidents and it can
potentially be a turning point,’ U.S. Undersecretary of State for
Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky told reporters in Baku. `We certainly
would want to hope and see it go in a positive direction that does
lay a foundation for resolution.’

U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-chairing the Minsk Group of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe expressed similar
hopes and expectations as they wrapped up their last tour of the
conflict zone on July 15. They confirmed reports of substantial
progress made by the conflicting parties in recent months, saying
that a peace deal could be cut by the end of this year.

`I understand that the discussions that have taken place thus far
have moved in a very constructive and positive direction,’ Dobriansky
said. `Our interlocutors who are directly involved with this issue …
have indicated that they are cautiously optimistic.’

The U.S. official was speaking during a visit to Baku shortly before
meeting with President Ilham Aliev. Azerbaijan’s official Azertac
news agency did not mention Karabakh among the issues which it said
were discussed by Aliev and Dobriansky.

Aliev and his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian are scheduled to
meet in the Russian city of Kazan on August 29 on the sidelines of a
summit of ex-Soviet states. Their encounter will be preceded by a
meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers.

Details of the peace accord currently discussed at the peace talks
have still not been officially made public. Some Armenian officials
have said privately that at the heart of it is the idea of a
referendum on Karabakh’s status that would take place after the
liberation of Armenian-occupied territories in Azerbaijan proper. But
Azerbaijani officials implicitly deny this.

PLAY BY DIASPORA ARMENIAN STAGED AT YEREVAN CHAMBER THEATRE

Azg/arm
27 July 05

The Yerevan Chamber Theatre represented a new performance staged on
“Beetle” play by Ara Artsruni, honored artist of RA.

The play was staged by Armen Mehrabian and included the best actors of
the theatre. “Artsruni is an Armenian author from Beirut. I don’t know
where he lives now. He used to be in France. I don’t think he knows
that we staged his play. I wish he learnt about that and came,”
A. Mehrabian said.

The play is written for the theatre of absurd. But the critics said
that the author made everything to make it acceptable for the local
spectators. “The play is about all of us. One day we can be kings
while on the other day we can be as tiny as a beetle is,” A. Mehrabian
said. He also thanked RA Culture and Youth Affairs Ministry for their
assistance in staging the play.

Norayr Adalian, writer, playwright, stated that Mehrabian made quite
an interesting work as a director. “He is one of the best directors of
our days. I believe that he would make a great contribution to the
development of the Armenian theatre if he had a theatre of his own,”
N. Adalian said.

By Vanik Santrian

SwissInfo, Suisse
Lundi 25 juillet 2005

Détention d’un négationniste: Ankara se fche

Doðu Perinçek a réitéré ses propos négationnistes à l’occasion du 82e
anniversaire du Traité de Lausanne. (Keystone)
Le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères critique la Suisse pour
avoir détenu et interrogé un nationaliste turc soupçonné d’avoir
violé la loi contre le racisme.

Doðu Perinçek, le chef du Parti turc des travailleurs, fait l’objet
de deux enquêtes pour négationnisme du génocide arménien dans le
cadre de rassemblements en Suisse.

SUR LE MÊME SUJET

Nouvelles vagues entre la Suisse et la Turquie
L’Arménie au centre du débat turco-suisse
Le Conseil national reconnaît le génocide arménien

Dimanche, le nationaliste turc Doðu Perinçek a réitéré ses propos sur
le «soi-disant génocide arménien» lors des célébrations du 82e
anniversaire du Traité de Lausanne qui ont réuni quelque 2000 Turcs,
d’une part, et 300 Kurdes, d’autre part, dans la cité vaudoise.

Interrogé par l’agence de presse suisse ATS, Doðu Perinçek a une
nouvelle fois fustigé dimanche «le mensonge international» à propos
du génocide arménien. En Suisse, l’intéressé est déjà sous le coup de
deux enquêtes pour violation de la norme pénale contre le racisme.

Entendu par la justice

La justice vaudoise a ouvert une enquête après le dépôt d’une plainte
de l’Association Suisse-Arménie concernant un discours tenu en mai à
Lausanne.

Ce week-end, le Ministère public du canton de Zurich a fait de même
pour des propos tenus lors d’une conférence de presse vendredi
dernier à Glattburg. Samedi, le politicien a été entendu durant plus
de deux heures par le juge d’instruction de Winterthour.

Inacceptable, estime Ankara

Cette audition a été jugée «inacceptable» et «absolument contraire au
principe de la liberté d’opinion» par le ministre turc des Affaires
étrangères Abdullah Gül, cité par l’agence de presse dpa.

«Nous ne pouvons accepter un tel comportement envers un leader
politique turc, a-t-il encore déclaré dans le quotidien turc
Hürriyet. De telles actions sont-elles envisageables pour un pays
comme la Suisse?» En juin, le ministre turc de l’Economie avait
annulé son voyage en Suisse déjà en raison de tensions autour du
génocide arménien.

Lundi, le ministère suisse des Affaires étrangères (DFAE) a pris note
des différentes déclarations parues dans les médias, a indiqué son
porte-parole Ivo Sieber qui n’a pas voulu faire de commentaire: «Nous
appliquons la séparation des pouvoirs».

Mandat de comparution

Dans un communiqué, le député écologiste Ueli Leuenberger demande
pour sa part au gouvernement «d’intervenir fermement auprès des
autorités turques» en les invitant à faire cesser de tels actes de
provocations en Suisse.

La justice vaudoise aurait souhaité profiter de la présence de Doðu
Perinçek sur sol vaudois pour l’entendre. Elle a émis un mandat de
comparution à son encontre, mais il a répondu que son emploi du temps
ne le lui permettait pas de se libérer ce jour-là. Il sera entendu
ultérieurement, a indiqué Gislaine Carron, porte-parole de la police
lausannoise.

Traité de Lausanne

Ces démêlés judiciaires n’ont pas troublé la manifestation turque
organisée dimanche près de l’hôtel Beau-Rivage où se sont tenues à
l’époque les négociations du Traité de Lausanne.

De leur côté, les Kurdes s’étaient réunis devant le Palais de Rumine
où fut signé le Traité de Lausanne le 24 juillet 1923. Les orateurs
se sont succédés à la tribune pour dénoncer un traité qui a «bafoué
l’espoir de liberté» des minorités de Turquie.

Ces célébrations avaient pour toile de fond les négociations
d’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union européenne qui doivent commencer
début octobre. Les Kurdes espèrent voir leurs droits nationaux mieux
reconnus. Certains nationalistes turcs, eux, craignent qu’Ankara ne
fasse trop de concessions sur la question des minorités.

Les deux manifestations se sont déroulées sans incident, a indiqué la
police lausannoise. Pour éviter des débordements, la municipalité
avait interdit aux deux groupes de défiler en ville.

Civil Georgia, Georgia
July 25 2005

Tbilisi, Moscow Discuss Routes of Bases’ Withdrawal

Officials from Georgian and Russian Foreign Ministries will meet in
Moscow on July 25-26 to discuss route of withdrawal of the Russian
military armament and hardware from two military bases in Georgia.

`During these talks we will discuss the issues, which remain
unsolved, including issues related with the routes of withdrawal and
means of withdrawal,’ , RIA Novosti news agency quoted Lev Mironov,
the Russian Foreign Ministry’s special envoy, as saying.

Russia wants to redeploy part of its military hardware from Georgia
into Armenia.

The Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministers agreed on May 30 that
Russia will pull out its military bases from Batumi and Akhalkalaki
in the course of 2008.

Eurasia Daily Monitor
The Jamestown Foundation
July 25 2005

ARMS RACE IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS: A TIME BOMB?

By Taleh Ziyadov, Alman Mir – Ismail

Locked in a decade-old conflict over Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan
have been increasing their military expenditures over the last few
years. Lately this trend seems to have accelerated dramatically. The
competition has launched an informal arms race in the South Caucasus
that could easily lead to the further militarization of the entire
region.

Previous estimates predicted that Azerbaijan’s military expenditures
in 2009 would reach $350 million — seven times more than Georgia
($50 million) and almost three times more than Armenia ($120
million). However, Azerbaijan’s defense budget is expected to reach
$300 million this year, while Armenia’s military expenditures are
already well above $120 million. In fact, the military gap between
Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia in the coming years will be even
more dramatic.

The unannounced arms race in the Caucasus started in 1994, when
Armenia and Azerbaijan reached a cease-fire in their war over the
Karabakh region. Despite the fact that both states have signed the
Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, which set certain
limitations on the number of troops and weapons stationed in Armenia
and Azerbaijan, they have both occasionally violated the treaty’s
terms. Both states have purchased new military hardware and increased
the size of their troop strength. In 1996-97 Russia supplied Armenia
with over $1 billion in weaponry. In addition, Armenia transferred
some of its military hardware to the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan, in order to bypass its quota under the CFE treaty.

In 2002, Armenia spent more on defense in GDP terms than the rest of
the Commonwealth of Independent States member countries. According
data by the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London,
the Armenian government allocated $162 million, 6.4% of Armenia’s
GDP, for its military needs. In 2001, this number was around $135
million. Azerbaijan and Georgia spent 3.3% and 1.7% respectively.

Last year, the Armenian parliament proposed increasing Armenia’s
official military expenditures by another 12% ($106 million) in 2005,
meaning a 13% share of the state budget. Subsequently, Azerbaijan’s
President Ilham Aliev announced that Azerbaijan is planning to boost
its defense spending by 25-30 percent in 2005. In 2004, Azerbaijan’s
military budget was estimated at around $150 million.

Several factors have intensified the arms race between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in recent months. The opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline, which Azerbaijan views as a major source of future
income, has seriously threatened the position of official Yerevan.

For Azerbaijan, more oil exports mean more revenues and that, in
turn, means more spending on the military. President Aliev has
repeatedly stated that Azerbaijan will use its economic potential to
solve “all its problems,” including the Karabakh conflict. Starting
from last year, Azerbaijani defense officials have begun attending
military exhibitions in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar with plans
to purchase foreign military hardware in the future.

Another issue is the recent transfer of Russian military hardware
from Russian bases in Georgia to Armenia. Armenian Defense Minister
Serge Sarkisian has spoken out in favor of redeployment and said that
Armenia is “in favor of strengthening the Russian military bases in
Armenia and increasing their weapon reserves.”

On June 25, speaking at the graduation ceremony for Azerbaijan’s
military school, Aliev announced a 70% increase in military spending
— expanding the budget to $300 million this year, up from $175
million in 2004. Aliev particularly mentioned concerns over the
planned relocation of Russian military hardware from Georgia to
Armenia.

With the promise of oil money and with half of its population still
young, Azerbaijan’s chances of becoming a strong military power in
the South Caucasus seem great. Within several years, Azerbaijan’s
military budget could be equal to the entire budget of Armenia, and
official Yerevan realizes this danger.

In May, referring to Azerbaijan’s growing budget and increasing
military expenditures, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
stated, “[Armenia] will draw the appropriate conclusions and will
increase expenditures for defense accordingly.” However, he also
added that an increase in the Armenian military budget would be
implemented as far as Armenia’s financial capabilities and
possibilities allow it.

It is not clear how long the arms race between Armenia and Azerbaijan
could last. Yet, there is no doubt that, with the unresolved Karabakh
conflict and the increasing presence of Russian troops in Armenia,
the arms race will intensify even more.