MosJan Posted February 21, 2001 Report Share Posted February 21, 2001 Turkey Proposes Armenian-Azeri Peace Talks ANKARA (combined sources)--At the conference of the Turkish Economic and Social Foundation on Saturday February 17 the Armenian Foreign Ministry gave the cold shoulder to a proposal by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to hold a meeting with Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno-Artsax conflict. "I think that a meeting of officials from Armenia and Azerbaijan with Turkey would be a serious contribution to a solution," Cem said, without indicating whether Turkey sought to mediate between the former Soviet states. The minister's remarks appear to be the first steps in the Turkish plan to normalize ties with Armenia in order to halt charges of genocide against them. The proposal appeared to be a move by Turkey to approach Armenia, but it received a cool response by a senior Armenian diplomat participating in the conference. Samuel Mkrtchian of Armenia's Foreign Ministry balked at the proposal. "For the time being, I don't see a chance for this. Maybe the first step should be taken in bilateral relations, and then we can look into the possibility of such a meeting," said Mkrtchian, who was present at the meeting. "We are desperately in need of establishing diplomatic ties with Turkey, because it is to the well-being of the whole region. Turkey's position on Nagorno-Artsax has always been one-sided, in favor of Azerbaijan, and before holding trilateral talks we should first establish diplomatic ties," he said. Mkrtchian also pointed out that a trilateral platform will exclude the so-called Minsk group, appointed by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to oversee Nagorno-Artsax peace talks. The mere presence of Mkrtchian at the conference of the Turkish Economic and Social Foundation was seen as a sign of warming in ties between the two neighbors. Yigit Alpogan, who is in charge of the Caucasus at Turkey's Foreign Ministry, highlighted the significance of such a meeting. "This proposal is something very remarkable in view that Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations,'' Alpogan said. Carey Cavanaugh, the US State Department's negotiator for the Nagorno-Artsax dispute, welcomed the possibility of a three-way meeting and of improved relations between Turkey and Armenia. ''The lack of relationship between Turkey and Armenia is not natural,'' the US diplomat said. Cavanaugh noted that there had been progress in the peace process, sponsored by the Minsk group which includes the United States, France and Russia. The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents met in Paris last month to discuss prospects of a peace deal. Azeri President Heydar Aliyev and Armenian President Robert Kocharian met in Paris in January in the latest bid to end the conflict over Nagorno-Artsax. Cem said that there are great opportunities for the Caucasian peoples in the beginning of the 21st century. Noting that the Caucasus provides great economic, political and strategic opportunities, Cem said that the two important aims of Turkey in the beginning of 21st century is to become a full member of EU and be a determining country in Eurasia. He added that the Caucasus has to use its sources and opportunities, and that requires peace, stability and security. Cem indicated that the Caucasus Stability Pact has been submitted to the concerned countries as a proposal. In a related development, a senior government source in Yerevan confirmed that Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Heydar Aliyev, are likely to meet again in Paris early next month to continue their direct talks on a Artsax peace deal. The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the idea to hold another Armenian-Azerbaijani summit was suggested by French President Jacques Chirac during Kocharian's state visit to France last week. The most recent Kocharian-Aliyev meeting, held in Paris last month, was also arranged by the French leader. Aliyev's decision to fly to Paris in the wake of France's official recognition of the Armenian genocide was criticized by Ankara. 2) Pope Remembers Armenian Martyrdom on Anniversary VATICAN CITY (combined sources)--Pope John Paul paid homage to the Armenian Church's history of martyrdom on its 1,700th anniversary on February 17. The pontiff presided at an Armenian rite service at St. Peter's Basilica with the Armenian Catholic Patriarch, Nerses Bedros XIX. The liturgy was slow and solemn, including choirs and ancient chant. "The whole Armenian culture and spirituality has been pervaded by boldness characterized by the supreme sign of giving one's life in martyrdom," the pope wrote in an apostolic letter to mark the anniversary. After the Mass, he spoke of the 1915 killings of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey, calling it "martyrdom" a "constant element" of Armenian history. "It is a memory which must not be forgotten," the 80-year-old Pontiff said, although he stopped short of mentioning Turkey or using the word "genocide." Indeed, before his farewell to the Armenian pilgrims and the 20,000 faithful who gathered in St. Peter's Square at the end of the Mass, the Holy Father said: "Martyrdom is a constant element in the history" of the Armenian people. "Seventeen centuries ago, the word of Christ resounded in Armenia," the Pope said. "It was an alliance that did not need rethinking, despite the fact that fidelity cost blood, and exile was the price for refusing to renounce it." In his homily, the Pope addressed the contemporary challenges Armenians face. "In experiencing increasingly the influence of secularization in the modern world, at times it is difficult to continue to maintain firmly this spiritual legacy, which has made Armenia a 'Christian' nation," the Holy Father said. "At times faith is considered only a personal gift and quest, forgetting that it is the common property of a people." The Pontiff explained the challenge now faced by Christianity with a question: "How is it possible for the social conquests of modernity not to lose the richness of the continuity of a people and their faith?" The Armenian Catholic patriarch received from the Pope the gift of a relic of St. Gregory the Illuminator, something the Pope had offered Karekin, saying: "Let us not divide the relics; rather, let us work and pray that those who receive them will unite." The Holy Father ended his words expressing two profound hopes: to visit Armenia and to promote unity among Christians. "Now I anxiously await the day in which, God willing, I will finally be able to kiss your beloved land, sprinkled with the blood of so many martyrs; visit monasteries where men and women were spiritually immolated to follow the Paschal Lamb; meet Armenians of today, who are determined to find dignity, stability and security of life again. Rome and the Armenian Church maintain good relations and the Pope has been invited to visit Armenia later this year by Catholicos Karekin II. 3) EU Delegation Visits Armenia YEREVAN (Armenpress)--President Robert Kocharian received a European Union delegation headed by Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Christopher Patten and Javier Solana in Yerevan on February 20th. The EU representatives announced that Europe is interested in a peaceful resolution of the Artsax conflict. Kocharian in turn stated that Armenia upholds European values and its foundation is based on these common values. The EU officials also met with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Anna Lindh said she was assured by the Armenian authorities that the Artsax conflict can only be resolved through peaceful means. She added that the European Union is prepared to assist in the resolution of the conflict, as well as assist the region's economic and political sectors. The Swedish minister said a quick resolution of the conflict would allow the EU to engage in more cooperation in the Caucasus. "With the enlargement of the EU, the countries of the Caucasus will become neighbors of the EU, and it is important to further our relations with our direct neighbors," said Lindh. Commissioner Patten announced the EU will continue to provide monetary assistance to help Armenia develop. President Kocharian told the visiting EU delegation that Armenia considers itself a part of Europe. The President presented the officials with Armenia's position in the Artsax peace process, adding that he and his Azerbaijani counterpart are working toward a plan that would ensure permanent peace and stability in the region. Kocharian credits the increasing dialogue between Aliyev and him for bringing about more understanding between the two sides. According to Kocharian the resolution of the conflict will establish economic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is currently opposed by Aliyev. The EU delegation will also visit Georgia and Azerbaijan on this trip. 4) Central Executive Council of Cilician Catholicosate Holds Plenary Sessions ANTELIAS--The Central Executive Council of the Cilician Catholicosate held religious, political, and joint religious-political plenary sessions February 14-19 in Antelias, Lebanon. The main issues discussed during the religious meetings were theological-religious education, inter-church relations, "Tbrevank", Kayianian Sisters Congregation, preparation of religious textbooks, the blessing of Muron, publication and distribution of the Bible, and the student association of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The political meetings dealt with property and administrative issues, the Catholicosate's structures such as "Trchnots Pooyn," the National Home for the Elderly and Blind, the National Sanatorium, the "Khacher Kalousdian" pedagogical center, and political work related to the Armenian Cause. The Central Executive Council also held joint religious-political meetings. Cooperation between Echmiatzin and Antelias was discussed, along with the festivities planned for the 1700 anniversary of the adoption of Christianity by Armenia. The religious and political sessions were chaired by the Catholicos. 5) Russia's Putin To Visit Armenia YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Armenia during the second half of May 2001, to attend a summit of the CIS Collective Security Council. Putin is scheduled to pay an official visit to Yerevan in autumn. He first visited Yerevan when he headed the Russian government. In October 1999 he attended the ceremony to pay last respects to Armenia's statesmen who had died as a result of the terrorist act in the conference hall of the republic's parliament. The presidents of Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, and Poland are also expected to visit Yerevan in the course of this year, according to Armenia's press office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted February 21, 2001 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2001 KOCHARIAN'S VISIT TO KIEV WILL GIVE A NEW IMPULSE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL RELATIONS21.02.2001 YEREVAN, February 21. /Mediamax/. President of Armenia Robert Kocharian and the co-chairman of the Armenian-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation issues, Vladimir Novitsky stressed at today's meeting in Yerevan that the visit of the Armenian President to Kiev will give a new impulse to the development of bilateral relations. As Mediamax was informed in the presidential press office, V. Novitsky presented to the Armenian President the results of the work of the second meeting of the Armenian-Ukrainian intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation, held in Yerevan on Feb. 20-21. The interlocutors singled out energy, industry, tourism and agricultural products processing as prior directions of the bilateral cooperation. Novitsky informed the President that the commission approved at the session the whole packet of documents, to be signed by the Armenian and Ukrainian leaders during the official visit of Robert Kocharian to Kiev on March 1-2. --0-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted February 21, 2001 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2001 EUROPEAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ORTHODOX ASSEMBLY HAS PROVED ITS VITALITY, SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT THINKS21.02.2001 YEREVAN, February 21. /Mediamax/. The chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Armen Khachatrian, speaking at the international conference entitled "The church, state, society and crisis of liberal doctrine of world reconstruction", which began today in Yerevan, stated that the European Inter-parliamentary Orthodox Assembly has proved its urgency and vitality in the course of years of its activity. The speaker of the Armenian parliament noted in his greeting speech that the European Inter-parliamentary Orthodox Assembly "has become a guarantor of consolidation of common spiritual, political and economic space of coreligionist people and sovereign states, historically developing within the frames of oriental-Christian traditional heritage". The organizers of this international conference are the National Assembly of Armenia, the European Inter-parliamentary Orthodox Assembly and the International fund of orthodox people's union. The European Inter-parliamentary Orthodox Assembly was established at the constituent assembly in the Athens in 1993 on the initiative of Russia and Greece. The full members of the organization are Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Yugoslavia, Greece, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldavia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Czech and Finland. --0-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted February 21, 2001 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2001 TURKEY "ASTONISHED" AT ARMENIA'S REJECTION OF ARMENIAN-AZERI-TURKISH TALKS21.02.2001 YEREVAN, February 21. /Mediamax/. Ankara is "astonished" at Armenia's negative reaction to Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's proposal to hold a trilateral Armenian-Azeri-Turkish meeting on Artsax issue settlement. As the Turkish NTV reported, the Foreign Ministry of Turkey believes that either Armenia misunderstood Cem's proposal or it is doing this to force Turkey to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia. Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Dzyunik Aghajanian, commenting on Cem's proposal, told Mediamax on Feb. 17 that considering the absence of diplomatic ties between Armenia and Turkey, as well as Turkey's biased position in the Artsax peace process, Ankara cannot be a mediator in this process. --0-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted February 21, 2001 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2001 WINNERS OF THE TENDER FOR PRIVATIZATION OF DISTRIBUTIVE POWER NETWORKS OF ARMENIA WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH21.02.2001 YEREVAN, February 21. /Mediamax/. Armenian Energy Minister Karen Galustian told today the journalists that the winners of the international tender for privatization of 4 distributive power networks of Armenia will be announced by the end of this month. The Minister said in the near future the legal advisers will submit the final variant of the contract to the tender commission, after which the document will be presented to the participants of the tender - the American AES Silk Road company, the Spanish Union Fenosa and the Swiss-Swedish ABB concern. Karen Galustian said the Energy Law, which is discussed today in the National Assembly, will promote the process of the networks privatization and will become a legislative basis for the formation of a civilized energy market. --0-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted February 21, 2001 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2001 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ENTITLED "CHURCH, STATE, SOCIETY AND CRISIS OF LIBERAL DOCTRINE OF WORLD RECONSTRUCTION" TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN TODAY21.02.2001 YEREVAN, February 21. /Mediamax/. International conference, entitled "The church, state, society and crisis of liberal doctrine of world reconstruction", will begin its work today in the National Assembly of Armenia. The conference is organized by the National Assembly of Armenia, the European inter-parliamentary orthodox assembly and the International fund of union of orthodox people. The speaker of the Armenian parliament Armen Khachatrian and the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II will speak at the conference. The messages of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexiy II and of the speaker of Russian State Duma, Gennady Seleznov will also be read out. The European inter-parliamentary orthodox assembly was established at the Constituent Assembly in the Athens in 1993 on the initiative of Russia and Greece. The full members of the organization are Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Yugoslavia, Greece, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldavia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Czech and Finland. --0-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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