ARMENIA AGAINST TURKEY’S MEDIATION

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27. ARMINFO. Turkey has an erroneous idea of Nagorny
Karabakh and Armenian-Azeri relations, Armenia’s FM Vardan Oskanyan
says in an interview to Zaman (Turkey).

Ankara dos not or does not want to perceive the gist of the
problem. The Karabakh conflict is not a territorial dispute between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Karabakh Armenians are struggling for
their independence. They do not want to be citizens of Azerbaijan and
part of that country. Presently they are building up their own
independent state. Before the Karabakh conflict no single Azeri
territory was controlled by the Armenians. All this is the result of
the conflict.

Oskanyan says that Armenia cannot accept Turkey’s intermediation as
Ankara is Baku’s ally and supports it everywhere. Asked about the
possibility of withdrawal of troops from the controlled territories
Oskanyan says that Nagorny Karabakh has always been an Armenian
land. As for the other controlled districts this issue should be
settled by Nagorny Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

WE HOPE THAT VERY SOON TURKEY WILL OPEN BORDER WITH ARMENIA: ARMENIA’S FM

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27. ARMINFO. In an interview to Zaman Armenia’s FM
Vardan Oskanyan said that there is no reference to territories or
compensation on the Armenian foreign policy agenda.

Our foreign policy goal is international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, together with recognition by Turkey. What happened in 1915
is quite obviously Genocide. Turks have differing opinions about
that. Let’s let people openly discuss this issue. We are democratic
societies. There is no need to become concerned that Armenia is trying
to place this issue on other countries’ agendas. Turks, too, can lobby
in different countries, work with them. However, Armenia absolutely
does not view this as a precondition for the improvement of relations
with Turkey. We have never said that Turkey first acknowledges the
Genocide. We could have resolved the matter through dialogue, had
there been diplomatic relations between the two countries. How are we
to resolve this issue? Since we’re not able to resolve it at the
governmental level, then there are efforts to seek solutions at other
levels, through other channels.

Asked if Turkey’s entry into the EU will facilitate this claim
Oskanyan said that today, there are two important problems between
Armenia and Turkey: opening the border, and Genocide. For the
improvement of relations, Genocide recognition is not a precondition
but open borders automatically are. No one can insist that there can
be normal relations between two countries if the border between them
is closed. However, even without Genocide recognition, it is possible
to normalize relations. The Genocide is a moral, broader issue. The
EU, too, would like for Turkey to recognize the Genocide at some stage
in the process. We hope that these matters will be included in the
agenda for negotiations between Turkey and the EU to begin later this
year. But on the border issue, we can’t wait 10-15 years or longer,
for Turkey to be accepted into the EU, for there to be some positive
movement. We hope that very soon, Turkey will open the border.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Defence Ministry denies “heavy clash” on Karabakh front line

Assa-Irada, Baku
27 Jan 05

BAKU

Armenia has once again violated the cease-fire, ANS TV reported today.

Passage omitted: details of ANS report

An Azerbaijani army soldier, Aqil Mammadov, born in 1986, was killed
in a fight.

Passage omitted: more details

The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry has partly denied the report. In a
report provided to Assa-Irada news agency, the ministry’s press
service said that there had been no heavy clash and that an
Azerbaijani soldier had been killed by Armenian fire in a cease-fire
violation.

AZERBAIJAN, IRAN SET TO COOPERATE IN NATIONAL SECURITY, ANTITERROR FIGHT

Turan news agency
27 Jan 05

BAKU

“The Azerbaijani Republic and the Islamic Republic of Iran will make
effort to make the Caspian a region of peace, stability, good
neighbourhood and cooperation,” says a joint statement for the press
on the results of the official visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev signed by the presidents of the two countries in Tehran
yesterday (26 January).

The document notes: “The sides stressed the importance of continuing
constructive dialogue to coordinate the convention on the legal status
of the Caspian based on consensus among the Caspian littoral states
and expressed in this connection their wish to boost efforts of the
special working group comprising deputy foreign ministers of the
Caspian states.”

In addition, the statement stresses that it is important that the
framework convention on protection of the marine environment of the
Caspian signed by all the Caspian states in Tehran in 2003 is ratified
and comes into force as soon as possible.

The sides intend to continue close bilateral and multilateral
cooperation “with the aim of strengthening the international
political, economic and legal order based on sovereign equality and
territorial integrity of all countries, non-interference in their
domestic affairs” and other accepted international legal norms.

Baku and Tehran confirm their readiness to continue cooperation within
the framework of the UN and its bodies, the Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC) and other world and regional international
organizations.

The sides noted with satisfaction that the current contractual basis
serves as a reliable ground that ensures the comprehensive development
of relations between the two countries.

Azerbaijan and Iran also intend to cooperate in the fight against new
global threats such as international terrorism, illegal trade in
drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, transnational organized
crime, human trafficking and illegal arms trade.

The sides once again stressed that the UN and OIC resolutions on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict have to be implemented and this problem
should be resolved “based on sovereignty, territorial integrity and
inviolability of the borders of the Azerbaijani Republic”.

The statement also stresses the sides’ intentions “to cooperate in the
field of national security and in accordance with individual
agreements, to facilitate ties between corresponding structures of the
two countries”.

COOPERATION OF ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN ICHTHYOLOGISTS

Azg/arm
28 Jan 05

The Inner Hydrosystems’ Research Institute of the Russian Academy of
Sciences will conduct a five-year research of the Sevan Lake in
cooperation with Armenian hydroecologists and ichthyologists. The
Armenian hydroecologists are going to participate at the research
program of Russia’s lakes and reservoirs. A ship designed for research
has arrived from Russia to help the research. The ship ‘s equipment
enables to pursue researches in deep waters.

The Russian scientists will bring to Armenia Ekholot, a sonograph that
will provide information on the lake’s bottom’s relief, fishâ=80=99s
number and locations.

The Armenian and Russian scientists will supplement each other as both
sides have specialists that the other side lacks.

By Karine Danielian

GEORGIAN MONASTERIES IN ARMENIAN-POPULATED REGION

Azg/arm
28 Jan 05

“This was the way that St Nino passed while going inland, to
Mtskhet. For that reason the monastery of St Nino was built at the
shore of Parvana Lakein 1989”, said father Antony from the monastery.

The monastery is located by Poga village in largely Armenian-populated
Ninotsminda region. The monks, solely Georgians, spend their time here
in prayers. The local Armenians are in friendly relations with the
residents of the monastery, 5 monks as yet.

“Only in 1989 it became possible to built the monastery as the region
was a closed zone and one had to have an ID to pass through here”
Antony explained. It was built by Georgian Patriarch’s order.

Father Antony says that the main reason for building the monastery was
to bring people to God. “We live here, baptize children and explain to
curious people what the Orthodoxy and the Georgian Church are”.

The vegetable garden and the cattle are the only source of their
food. “We do everything ourselves and people help occasionally. People
come here from everywhere, mainly the capital”, father Antony said.

Mother Shushanik is the supervisor of the woman’s cloister which was
built 3 years later, in 1992. “We were four at first but today there
nine of us”, mother Shushanik said.

Telling why they chose Ninotsminda region for their cloister, mother
Shushanik said: “This is a holy place for Georgia as St Nino,
illuminator of Georgia, passed through here on her way to Georgia from
Armenia”.

Mother Shushanik said that there is a Sunday school at the cloister
where they have not only Georgian but also Armenian pupils learning
Georgian and English.

The inhabitants of two monasteries celebrate the day of St Nino on
January the 1st in an open church at the Parvana Lake after which the
Georgian clergy that is participating at the celebrations goes to
Mtskhet by the route thatSt Nino passed in 4th century.

Speaking of the future mother Shushanik said: “We make no plans here,
we simply live carrying out our daily jobs praying and serving the
Lord”.

By Aghavni Harutyunian in Poga

ARMENIAN AND FRENCH MPs PROTEST AGAINST INSINUATIONS OF THEIR TURKISH
COLLEAGUE

YEREVAN, JANUARY 27. ARMINFO. Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE,
Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosyan and a member
of the French delegation to PACE Fransua Roshlua have sent letters of
protest to CE Secretary General Terry Davis in connection with the
behavior of Presiding Chairman of the PACE Political Committee,
representative of the Turkish delegation Abdul Gyadir Atesh.

During PACE session dedicated to discussion of the draft resolution on
Nagorny Karabakh, the latter misled European MPs stating that a day
before the Political Committee had allegedly rejected the proposal of
the Armenian party on replacement of the formulation “separatist
forces” into “forces aspiring for indepedence.” In the meantime,
before the session, the Political Committee accepted the new
formulation proposed by the Armenian party by majority of votes.
Earlier, Torosyan in his interview to the Armenian Public Television
stated that it was insinuations of the Turkish MP who had misled PACE
deputies that the amendment was not included into the final version of
the resolution on Nagorny Karabakh.

SENTENCE ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EXCLUDED FROM BOOKS ON HISTORY IN GERMANY

Azg/arm
28 Jan 05

Armenialiberty website informed that under Turkey’s pressure the
statement on the Armenian Genocide was excluded from the school
manuals on history in Germany. Die Welt magazine informed that a
Turkish diplomat sent a letter of protest to Matthias Plazek, head of
Brandenburg region. As a result, the sentence “for example, the
genocide of the Armenian population of Anatolia” was excluded from the
book on history for 9-10 grades. Plazek explained this by the
following excuse: “The genocide is an extremely important issue to be
touched upon in half a sentence.”

The newspaper stated that in Germany the massacre of the Armenians is
mentioned in the books only in the region of Brandenburg. Shavarsh
Hovsepian, chairman of the Central Committee of the Armenian
Organization, told the newspaper that that was a scandal. “it is a
pity that they decide what kind of text-books to have in Brandenburg
under the dictate of Ankara,” he said. The head of this region is a
member of the Social-Democratic Party that is for Turkeyâ=80=99s
membership to EU. At present, almost 2 million Turks are dwelling in
Germany, the Turkish community is the biggest in this country.

By Ruzan Poghosian

PACE REPORT COULD NEVER BE FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIANS

Azg/arm
28 Jan 05

But, Armenian Delegation Is Still to Be Hold Responsible

The formula adopted at the PACE on January 25 could not be favorable
for the Armenians for the simple reason that the Karabakh side won the
war. Thus, in this case, the PACE has fixed the situation. Certainly,
the formula includes many mistakes and statements unfavorable for us.

Atkinson was the first PACE MP to visit Nagorno Karabakh in 1992. He
reminded of that in his January 25 speech: “I will never forget the
Azeri bombs falling on Stepanakert, the capital.”

In 1992, the delegation led by Atkinson fixed the following: “The
latest attacks of the Azeris totally ruined villages, killed peaceful
residents, children became victims of violence in Nagorno Karabakh. We
have the impression that few weeks are left before the fall of
Karabakh, if not less time. It is obvious that genocide and exile will
follow the current events.”

Yes, these statements could be included in the PACE formula, if the
Armenian side lost the war. On the other hand, one can never approve
the activities the Armenian delegation unfolded at PACE. Our
delegation was not only split, they also used the PACE session for
their personal or party interests. Moreover, they are deprived of
mental, lingual, diplomatic and lobbyist abilities, in general.

Tigran Torosian doesn’t speak any foreign language, while the speeches
of Armen Roustamian included the idea of the Armenian Cause more than
diplomacy. The English speaking Shavarsh Kocharian was more concerned
about the human rights issues, while Karen Karapetian, “the democratic
deputy,” could not be more than a brother of an entrepreneur.

The delegation has also the second staff, including Gurgen Arsenian,
Grigor Margarian, Artashes Geghamian and Hermine Naghdalian. This
group of our delegates can be proud of the success they made in
business but they still have to work hard to achieve any success in
diplomacy. It’s worth mentioning that all the eight members of our
delegation always leave for Strasbourg, as all the expenses of their
stay are paid from the state budget.

Armenia is likely to have strategic allies, but the deputies of these
countries are mainly supporting Azerbaijan during the voting. At least
50 of the 315 PACE delegates represent the countries that are
Armenia’s strategicallies. But, on January 25 only 23 and 25
delegates voted for the two suggestions the Armenian delegation made
for Atkinson’s report.

Chairman of RA National Assembly is traveling in the capitals of
Europe for days. He and his party members highly emphasize the
importance of parliamentary diplomacy. Artur Baghdasarian managed to
be in a number of important European capitals namely Rome, Paris,
Moscow, etc. Meanwhile, the colleagues of Grizlov who considers
Armenia Russia’s outpost voted against Armenia. There are 18 Russian
delegates at PACE. Italy and France that are supposed to be Armenia’s
friends have 18 delegates each, while Greece has 7 and Cyprus 3 MPs at
PACE.

In fact, also thanks to the passiveness of RA National Assembly,
Armenia was called an aggressor, while Nagorno Karabakh was called
separatist in the PACE formula. Armenia was called an aggressor at the
NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Venice on November 12-16, 2004 (in
“The Stability in Three South Caucasus States. 10 Years after the
Independence. The Progress and the Challenges” report).

It’s worth mentioning that Mher Shahgeldian, head of the Armenian
delegation at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, tried to hide this
report from the public, but failed. Instead, the Armenian Ambassador
to Italy appeared in an extremely unpleasant situation thanks to the
efforts to this representativeof Orinats Yerkir party. Shahgeldian was
again emphasizing the importance of parliamentary diplomacy over TV
few days ago.

By Tatoul Hakobian

Armenian president off to Italy

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
27 Jan 05

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has left for Italy on an official
visit. Robert Kocharyan will meet the Italian leadership in Rome.

During the meeting, a joint declaration of the two countries
presidents’ and an agreement on small and medium enterprises and
cooperation and mutual assistance between the customs authorities will
be signed.

In Vatican, Robert Kocharyan will be hosted by Pope John Paul II and
Vatican State Secretary Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

A delegation led by the Armenian president will also visit Venice,
where he will meet the mayor of Venice and representatives of the
Armenian Diaspora. The president will visit Murad Rafaelian School and
the Mkhitarian Brotherhood on St Lazar Island.

The president’s visit to Italy is aimed at deepening the
Italian-Armenian political dialogue, exchanging views on political
issues of mutual interest and exploring possibilities on cooperation
in international organizations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress