THIRD ROUND OF EU-ARMENIA NEGOTIATIONS TO START MAY 3 IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
02.05.2006 16:06

May 3 the third round of negotiations on elaboration of the EU-Armenia
Actions Plan in the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy
will be held in Yerevan.

Representatives of interested agencies of the Republic of Armenia
and the European Commission will participate in the negotiations. RA
delegation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdyan, the
European delegation is leaded by European Commission Director on Issues
of Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia Hugues Mingarelly.

The points not agreed upon during the previous round are going to
be discussed.

‘JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED BY CREATING A UNITED ARMENIA AND BRINGING ALL ARMENIANS TOGETHER’

Yerkir.am
April 28, 2006

Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau representative Hrant
Margarian’s answers to the questions of Panorama.am.

Question: On the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, how close
our nation is to reaching justice in the Hay Dat issue?

Hrant Margarian: Justice will be served by creating a united Armenia
and bringing all Armenians together. Maybe this ideal seems too far
taking into account today’s realities. But tomorrow, it may look
more than realistic, like the Karabakh struggle may have looked an
illusion just 20 years ago.

But as far as the Genocide recognition is concerned, I believe we have
seen successes and this is a victorious time because it is not really
crucial whether Turkey would recognize the Genocide or not. I think
that day is not too far, and it will happen. But that’s not what I see
vital. Raising the Genocide issue as well as its recognition is the
recognition of the rights of the Armenian people and formation of an
international opinion on the Armenian people’s security. Finally, that
is a pressure on Turkey to change its position and strategy in terms of
Armenia’s security. Meaning that this issue is more important because
of its side effects rather than the mere goal of Turkey’s recognition
of the genocide. I believe we are successful today. Our issue is being
considered today, we are an issue in international relations. We are an
issue that is present on the international arena. The Genocide issue
has become as such, and this speaks of success. The final success,
I believe, is not so far. On the condition that we remain united,
decisive and aware of our interests.

Q: In terms of defending and restoring the rights of our nation are
there enough efforts made and what do we have to do that we don’t?

Hrant Margarian: I will never call our efforts “enough.” We could do
much more than we do now. But doesn’t mean we do nothing. I believe by
establishing a statehood, and by maintaining an uncompromising stance
in the Karabakh issue we are making steps toward that direction. Today,
by building a country of fair development, we will move forward in
that direction. But I also believe that the potential of all the
Armenian forces is so big that we have been able to mobilize only a
fraction of that power.

We need to expand our organization and turn our potential power into
an active one. This is the most important issue in the big picture.

As for the question what concrete steps should be made, I believe that
in the nearest future the most important issue – besides building
a fair, independent and powerful country – is to remain firm in
the Karabakh issue and take it to a victorious end. We also have to
raise the issue of ethnic minorities in Turkey, and in that context,
raise the issue of the rights of Armenians who have survived the
Genocide. This is mainly a new topic that would give our struggle
completeness and new breath.

Q: There is a strong emphasize to reach a settlement on Karabakh
this year by all means. Does the ARF have concerns about this? What
developments do you expect?

Hrant Margarian: We have many concerns. Until the de facto situation
has not been recognized de jure by a final victory, until the
Shahumian and Martakert regions have not been liberated, we of course
have concerns. But we too wish that the conflict were settled in the
negotiations. We too would be happy to see the conflict settled this
year. But at the same time, we are not inclined to give up anything
just to have it settled as soon as possible.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY MAY BE REFUSED EU MEMBERSHIP DUE TO ITS DENIAL OF GENOCIDE

Yerkir.am
April 28, 2006

Turkey may be refused EU membership due to its denial of Genocide,
head of the department of Turkey at the Academy of Sciences, Doctor
Ruben Safrastyan stated in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

As for Turkey’s position on the U.S.-Iran opposition, Safrastyan
considers that the Turkish diplomacy has already activated to
derive the maximal benefit from U.S. interest in Turkey. “In case
of hostilities it will render limited assistance to the United
States. However it will happen in case it receives considerable
concessions in exchange” he said.

DAVIS: KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT MEETS INTERESTS OF THE WHOLE WORLD

Yerkir.am
April 28, 2006

CoE Secretary General Terry Davis stated he closely watches everything
what happens over the Nagorno Karabakh problem. “It’s regretful that
the problem resolution takes so much time, since the settlement is in
the interests of Armenia, Azerbaijan and especially Nagorno Karabakh,”
the CoE Sec.Gen. said.

When asked about the possibility of regional cooperation before the
settlement of the conflicts available. Mr. Davis said “cooperation is
always possible however the existence of conflicts limits its volume
and level.” When commenting on the CoE’s engagement in the Nagorno
Karabakh settlement Terry Davis said, “The OSCE Minsk Group plays a
leading role in the process.

I sincerely wish success to the Russian, American and French
Co-chairs. The conflict settlement meets the interests of the whole
world. But as I have already said, the leading role belongs to the
OSCE but not to the Council of Europe,” reported Mediamax.

NEW REVELATIONS WITH NEW CONTRADICTIONS
By Karine Mangasarian

Yerkir.am
April 28, 2006

Almost half of the countries that have recognized the Armenian
Genocide have done so during the rule of the Armenian National
Movement, ANM’s Aram Manukian said during a roundtable discussion
on the Armenian-Turkish relations with Kiro Manoyan, the director of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau’s Office for Political
Affairs.

What’s more, he was the one conducting talks in those countries to
have the Genocide recognized, Manukian said.

Manukian, who criticized the Armenian authorities present policies,
said his party was guided by the policy “There are no eternal friends
or enemies, there are eternal interests.”

Speaking in the context of the Armenian-Turkish relations, he added
that the ANM ruled out the possibility of using third countries
against Turkey, something that the present government has adopted
as its policy when dealing with Turkey. He also said that by keeping
the Armenian Genocide issue on agenda, the Armenian government puts
the country out of all the regional projects that involve Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Turkey.

Kiro Manoyan, in turn, said he was happy to know the ANM was
participating in the Genocide recognition process. “But then what
are their disagreements with the present authorities?”

“What we knew until now was that the Genocide issue was not on the
agenda of the ANM,” Manoyan said.

“Even though Armenia did not raise the Genocide issue then, Turkey’s
position was explicit: it wanted the Armenian authorities to pressure
the Diaspora to end its campaign of the international recognition of
the Armenian Genocide, ” Manoyan added.

“The recognition of the Genocide is a political issue – to maintain
pressure on Turkey,” he said. “Because of our measures, Turkey is
now making mistakes; they are trying to form their Diaspora, stage
protest actions, but fail.

This shows that the present policy is right.”

TURKEY AND ISRAEL TO BUILD FOUR UNDERWATER OIL AND GAS PIPELINES

Yerkir
02.05.2006 14:06

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Turkey and Israel plan to build four underwater
pipelines to transport oil and gas from Russia to Israel, the
Palestinian Autonomy, Jordan, and Lebanon, The Washington Times
inform, stressing that India, which needs additional fuel supply,
expressed its interest in the project too.

According to statements of Turkish and Israeli officials, the project’s
technical and economic assessment (evaluated at $50 millions) is
financed by the European Investment Bank (headquarters in Luxembourg).

According to Israeli National Infrastructure Ministry Spokesman
Gabriel Levi, Israel is to become main beneficiary of the pipeline
system. He forecasts that 40% of Israeli energy resources will be
covered by imported gas by 2010.

Spokesman for the Turkish embassy in Tel-Aviv Mekhmet Kemal Bozay
stated that the matter concerns “long-term project,” which will
finally favor Lebanon, Jordan, and the Palestinian Autonomy. He
stressed that underwater pipeline is environmantally safer than oil
supply by tankers, and pointed out that Turkey is not interested in
flow increase of tankers, passing through Bosporus.

According to the newspaper, Russian Gazprom Company supports
the project too, taking into consideration potential of Israeli
market. Also, the edition points out to recent talks of Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US-ARMENIAN TASK FORCE MEETS IN YEREVAN

Armenpress
May 2 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS: The 12-th meeting of the US-Armenian Task
Force has started today in Yerevan chaired by Armenian economy and
finance minister Vartan Khachatrian and Tom Adams, a US administration
official in charge of Europe and Eurasia affairs.

The meeting will discuss a wide scope of issues of bilateral
interest. On the meeting’s agenda are also issues on measures to
promote Armenian economy development, democratic reforms, issues
pertaining to the Millennium Challenges Account program, reforms
in customs and taxation areas and others. Also discussed will be
agriculture, energy, education, judicial sectors related issues.

The US-Armenian Task Force was founded in 2002 to promote US-Armenian
cooperation. The Task Force holds two annual meetings, one in Armenia
and one in the USA. In the last decade the government of the USA has
carried out $1.6 billion worth various development and humanitarian
projects in Armenia.

PARLIAMENT CHAIRMAN REITERATES THAT ARMENIA’S FUTURE IS WITH EU AND NATO AND NOT RUSSIA

Armenpress
May 2 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS: Armenian parliament chairman Arthur
Baghdasarian has confirmed today his earlier remarks that he sees
Armenia’s future as a member of the European Union and NATO. In a
late April interview to a German Frankfurter Allgemaine newspaper
Baghdasarian had said Armenia’s future was with EU and NATO and that
Russia should not stand on its way towards closer integration with
the West.

Before the opening of a recurrent parliament session today Baghdasarian
was asked by lawmakers to explain his remarks. “My words were about
Armenia’s future, and I believe it is the direction (integration
with Europe) Armenia must follow,” Baghdasarian said adding that he
is well aware of Armenia’s current foreign policy agenda, which does
not embrace Armenia’s joining NATO.

Baghdasarian went on to explain that his words were about Armenia’s
long-range policy, ‘because a country needs from 20 to 30 years to
pass the road of European integration.’ “I see the future of Armenia
with EU and not with Russia-Belarus Union,” Baghdasarian said.

Baghdasarian argued that Armenia’s persistent integration with Europe
does not mean strained relations with Russia. “I am not an advocate
of confronting Russia with western values. If Russia is trying to
deepen its relations with NATO why should Armenia avoid it,” he said.

Baghdasarian’s remarks were retaliated by president Kocharian who said
in an interview with a local newspaper that Armenia’s membership in
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and its military and
technical cooperation with Russia were enough to ensure the country’s
national security. Baghdasarian reminded today of Armenia’s Individual
Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO, describing it as a’ serious
document envisaging institutional and legislative reforms.”

Baghdasarian argued there was no difference between his publicly
expressed ideas and those of other two members of the ruling coalition
and the president, but added his Orinats Yerkir would walk out of
the coalition in the event of serious controversies with coalition
partners.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REQUIEM ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS SERVED AT DER ZOR DESERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.05.2006 19:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the end of April a traditional pilgrimage
was held to Syrian desert of Der Zor, where hundreds of thousand
Armenians were slaughtered during the Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in
1915. Diaspora representatives, descendants of the killed Armenians
took part in the pilgrimage. A requiem was served at the Der Zor
chapel and the message of Berio Armenian Apostolic Church head,
bishop Shahan Sargsyan was read.

A delegation from Armenian lead by Deputy FM, Ambassador to Syria
Levon Sargsyan and Consul General to Aleppo Armen Melkonyan took part
in the pilgrimage, reports the Press Service of the Armenian MFA.

ANOTHER TRIAL AWAITS DINK

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.05.2006 19:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Editor of the Agos Armenian newspaper, ethnic
Armenian Hrant Dink was given a six-month suspended sentence last
October. He had written a newspaper article which addressed the mass
killings of Ottoman Armenians nine decades ago, the BBC reports. This
case is one of several monitored closely by EU officials concerned
about limits on free speech in Turkey.

In February, the chief prosecutor’s office at the Appeals Court
considered Mr Dink’s case and recommended that the remarks were in
no way insulting.

But now, in a surprise development, the court itself has chosen to
ignore that interpretation and ruled that the substance of the charge
still stands. The high-profile newspaper editor, whose publication
Agos appears in Turkish and Armenian, was first found guilty of
insulting Turkishness last year when a court ruled that one of his
articles described Turkish blood as dirty.

European Union officials have expressed serious concern about the
article of law that was used against Hrant Dink and several dozen
other writers here in Turkey. Despite a series of reforms linked to
Turkey’s bid for membership of the EU, it is still illegal to insult
the Turkish identity, the military and the judiciary and the line
between criticism and insult is often blurred.

We note that the next trial on Dink’s case is scheduled in Istanbul
May 16.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress