asbarez.com news room -08-03-2000

[Guest]

1. Iran Opposes Changes of Border with Armenia

 

TEHRAN (Alik)--During a meeting Tuesday between His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, Iranian foreign minister

Kamal Kharrazi asserted that the Islamic Republic of Iran is opposed to any changes in the historical borders with Armenia.

 

The meeting assessed several topics, including the Iranian-Armenian community, the role of the Lebanese-Armenian community in

Lebanon's domestic life and Armenia-Iran relations.

 

In discussing Armenia-Iran relations, Kharrazi agreed with the Pontiff's comments that bi-lateral relations must be strengthened, adding

that there are forces in the world that are attempting to hinder neighborly relations between Armenia and Iran.

 

In discussing efforts outside of the region to thwart Iran-Armenia relations, Kharrazi said "the Islamic Republic of Iran unequivocally

opposes such actions and will not allow those efforts to succeed."

 

During the discussion on the state of the Iranian-Armenian community, Kharrazi said that the Armenian community in Iran is among the

oldest in the world and its members consider themselves to be Iranians. They peacefully coexist with Muslims and followers of other

divine religions.

 

Kharrazi was quoted as saying that Armenians enjoy their good status in Iran because the country attaches special importance to national

minorities.

 

He said the dialogue among cultures and religions has practically been implemented in Iran. Muslims and Armenians work shoulder to

shoulder in the country, he added.

 

Catholicos Aram I thanked Iran for paying special attention to minorities and solving their problems and said that Armenians consider Iran

as their own land and have offered many martyrs during the Iraq-Iran war, to protect their homeland.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Georgian Foreign Ministry Opposes Artsax Poll

 

STEPANAKERT (Snark)--The Black Sea Press news agency last week reported on a statement issued by Georgian Foreign Ministry

spokesperson Aftandil Napetvaridze, who said that Georgia considers illegal, the parliamentary elections in the Nagorno-Artsax

Republic.

 

In an interview with the Snark news agency, Chairman of the Artsax parliamentary commission on foreign relations, Vahram

Atanesian, commented on the matter, saying, "In spite of all my respect for Georgia and its people, I have to note with regret the

non-constructive statement by the Georgian Foreign Ministry and express my perplexity with the fact that the statement was issued six

weeks following the Nagorno-Artsax Republic parliamentary elections. The statement notes that the parliamentary elections in

Artsax 'hamper the conflict resolution process and do not correspond with the framework of the peace talks between the presidents

of Armenia and Azerbaijan.'"

 

Atanesian also noted that the Bishkek agreement which brought forth the peace-fire agreement in 1994 was signed by the speaker of the

Nagorno-Artsax Republic parliament.

 

Furthermore, the parliamentary leader said that based on that agreement it can be deduced that only direct talks between the leaderships

of Artsax and Azerbaijan can stabilize the situation, and, in the future, lead to a final settlement of the conflict.

 

In this context, Atanesian said, the Artsax Parliament must play a significant role in establishing relations not only with Azerbaijan but

also with other countries in the region, including Georgia.

 

"Regarding the legitimacy of the parliamentary election in Nagorno-Artsax, the Republic has existed independently for more than 10

years and the recent parliamentary elections are the third of a kind. The group of international observers who visited the Republic officially

stated that the elections were, independent and free, held without any apparent violations. I think the lawfully elected Artsax

authorities, which control the domestic situation and adhere to a successive foreign policy, will only promote the resumption of

negotiations with Azerbaijan and stimulate the peacemaking process."

 

 

 

 

 

3. Australian Community Opens Genocide Studies Center

 

SYDNEY--The Armenian Genocide Research Unit (AGRU) of the Center for Comparative Genocide Studies, Macquarie University,

hosted a ****tail evening on Saturday 22 July at the Austral-Armenian Center.

 

Those present included representatives of Armenian community organizations, representatives of the Assyrian community, as well as

members and friends of the AGRU.

 

Following an official welcome from Dr. Armen Gakavian, Coordinator of the AGRU, past students of the Politics of Genocide course

Meher Grigorian, Carineh Grigorian and Ara Margossian discussed, among other things, their experiences as students of the course and

the crucial importance of the work of the AGRU.

 

The Unit's achievements over the past five years include:

 

* Annual Lectures, including high profile international guest speakers Prof. Richard Hovannisian, Prof. Vahakn Dadrian and Baroness

Caroline Cox:

 

* Armenian lectures and materials for the Politics of Genocide course:

 

* The Daniel Varoujan high School essay competition: and

 

* Academic support for the NSW Parliament's Armenian Genocide Resolution and Memorial.

 

Prof. Colin Tatz, Director of the Center for Comparative Genocide Studies, outlined the Center's plans for major restructuring, enabling

work truly into the global arena by undertaking such initiatives as a worldwide on-line course in Armenian community in supporting the

activities of the Center and of its Armenian Genocide Research Unit.

 

During the evening the AGRU raised $14,000.

 

The Unit's goal is to secure a minimum of $50,000 in per annum pledges for the next five years, to finance projects including teaching the

Armenian Genocide in every high school in New South Wales, researching the Australian National Archives for Anzac POW eyewitness

accounts of the Armenian Genocide, the establishment of a part-time position of Coordinator of Armenian Genocide Studies, and a

variety of community courses on the Armenian Genocide.

 

If you would like to sponsor Australia's only institution dedicated to the research and teaching of the Armenian Genocide, please contact

the above address.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Iran Wants 20% Share Of Caspian Resources

 

TEHRAN (Reuters)--Iran said on Tuesday it would accept a division of the energy-rich Caspian Sea's resources between the five littoral

states if Tehran received a 20-percent share.

 

``If countries around the Caspian Sea want to divide (resources), Tehran is ready to accept a complete division with a 20-percent share

for the Islamic republic,'' Iran's news agency IRNA quoted Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi as saying.

 

Iranian officials have in recent months suggested that Iran may accept an equal division of Caspian oil and gas riches, in an apparent

softening of Tehran's long-held stand that the five countries around the sea should decide jointly on the resources.

 

The five states--which also include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan--disagree on how the Caspian should be divided

between them. The dispute potentially puts offshore oil and gas exploration and production projects at risk.

 

``The spirit of the 1920 and 1940 accords (between Iran and the former Soviet Union) on the Caspian Sea suggests equality in exploiting

the sea,'' Kharrazi said.

 

Kharrazi was speaking at a meeting with visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Kalyuzhny, who is Moscow's special envoy to

the Caspian region.

 

``Tehran's first preference is a collective legal regime,'' Kharrazi said.

 

The Caspian, which is believed to have huge hydrocarbon reserves, is the center of several oil and gas projects involving international

majors.

 

Russia last month called on states around the sea to speedily resolve their disputes to adequately develop its resources.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Armenia Pays Last Tribute To General Anatoly Zinovich

 

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--At Yerevan's House of Officers, on August 2, President Robert Kocharian, government officials headed by

Prime Minister Andranik Markarian, high command of the Armenian National Army headed by Minister of Defense Serge Sarkissian,

members of the National Assembly, representatives of the Nagorno Artsax Republic Defense Army and other officials paid their last

tribute to Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia, Lieutenant-General Anatoly Zinevich who died prematurely on August 1.

 

Expressing his deep condolences on the death of General Zinevich, Minister of Defense Serge Sarkissian pointed out the general's great

services in forming the Armenian National Army. "Zinevich's role is in that he had an encyclopedic knowledge which he imparted to us, in

his having been utterly devoted to our common cause and struggle. I am sure, if we had no Zinevich with us, we would not have such an

army," the minister said.

 

The minister's opinion was shared by Chairman of the National Democratic Union Vazgen Manukian, who was the minister of defense in

1992-1993. "Anatoly Zinevich played a great role in organizational matters during the hardest period both for Armenia and for Nagorno

Artsax. We are accustomed to Armenians struggling for their own national values, land and water, and we are always surprised that a

representative of another nation struggles for us with all his heart. Zinevich has shown that an officer must be a hero not only in the

battlefield, but also in his peaceful life," Manukian said.

 

After the ceremony, the body of Anatoly Zinevich is to be transported to the town of Kovrov, Moscow where it will be committed to the

ground.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Armenian To Be Taught At Secondary Schools In Lebanon

 

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—The Council of Ministers of Lebanon have decided to introduce the Armenian language into the curriculum

of secondary schools in the country along with Italian and Spanish. The study of one of these foreign languages is a must.

 

The decision testifies to the favorable attitude of the Lebanese authorities to the republic's Armenian community and the high level of

relations between the two nations.

 

 

 

 

 

7. Armenia Is Active Entity In Energy Charter

 

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—Armenia is among the first countries participating in the Energy Charter that was submitted to the

Secretariat. The submission included a package of reports containing detailed descriptions of both the current state of the energy sector

and dynamics of reforms in the sphere: restructuring, privatization, and commercialization.

 

According to Eduard Nersissian, Armenia's national expert for the Secretariat of the Energy Charter, the package contains the following

reports: "Investment climate in the energy sector", "Restructuring of the energy sector and privatization", and "Energy efficiency in the

energy sector".

 

After some issues are clarified, the reports will be put on the official site of the Energy Charter. Nersissian pointed out that within the

framework of the Energy Charter, Armenia takes an active part in elaborating the necessary documents as well as in the activities of

working groups for the transit of energy sources, investments and trade.

 

Currently, the organization is working on one of the most important documents - the protocol on the transit of energy sources which is to

be prepared before the end of 2000. The protocol is expected to be a legally binding document which will be signed by all the countries

participating in the Energy Charter. Nersissian said that the most important task is to reflect Armenia's interests in the final document.

 

The most important tasks of the Energy Charter, which was established in 1991, is the elaboration of the documents legally binding all the

countries participating in the Energy Charter. The backbone of the process of the Energy Charter is the Agreement for the Energy Charter

signed by 51 European and Asian countries and aimed at promoting trade, enhancing energy efficiency, protecting capital investments in

energy, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

8. Akhalkalak Population Against Withdrawal Of Russian Base

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—The predominant Armenian population of the southern Georgian city of Akhalkalak disagree with the

decision on withdrawal of a Russian military base located there.

 

The citizens are against the withdrawal for one simple reason. About 1,200 of them work at the base with comparatively high wages.

About 15 percent of the city is employed on the base and they believe that the withdrawal will cut off their only income source.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Prime Minister And OSCE Official Discuss Anti-Corruption

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Armenian prime minister Andranik Markarian met with head of the OSCE Yerevan Office ambassador Roy

Reeve, who presented the work done by his office since its opening. He also presented several proposals concerning further cooperation

between the Armenian government and the OSCE.

 

Welcoming the government's transparency and practical style of work, the ambassador referred to the prime minister's recent visit to

Tavush- one of the ten Armenian provinces. Reeve said his office was interested in the results of the visit, especially in the issues related to

economy and nature protection in the region which borders Azerbaijan.

 

The prime minister offered his mediation to solve the problem concerning safe usage of the Jokhaz water reservoir located upon the

border which has a significant importance for several rural communities on either side of the border.

 

According to the prime minister, as a result of an agreement with the OSCE co-chairs, an arrangement was reached about setting up

direct phone communication with the Azerbaijan side, but contrary to Armenia, the Azerbaijani side has not shown any signs to cooperate

so far.

 

Ambassador Reeve promised to help on this issue through active contacts with the recently opened OSCE office in Baku. Ambassador

Reeve said his office has programs concerning human rights and democracy, as well as in working out an anti-corruption program. Reeve

said an international Task Force for anti-corruption work has been created and he suggested that the Armenian government also create a

branch. Reeve said this will raise Armenia's international image and will also allow the use of Armenian anti-corruption experience in other

cases.

 

He also welcomed the government's intention to work out an anti-corruption program, noting that the government's bill on Public Service

is one of the first practical steps in this direction.

 

 

 

 

 

10. Land and Culture Restores War-Torn Villages In Artsax

 

STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)—The Land and Culture organization is promoting the post-war rehabilitation of the Nagorno

Artsax Republic.

 

In particular, the organization is starting different humanitarian programs in the village of Karintak, which suffered greatly during the

military operations. Since 1997, under the auspices of the Land and Culture, groups representing Armenian communities in the US,

France, Canada, and Egypt have come and restored the village's Culture House, made capital repairs on the local school and restored the

village church, whose consecration will take place soon.