Asbarez News Room 07-10-2000

[Guest]

1. Oct. 27 Investigation Case To Be Submitted to Court

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--The investigation into the shooting rampage at the Armenian National Assembly building on Oct. 27 will

conclude Tuesday and, according to the law, the finding will be presented to the court for trial, announced the chief military prosecutor

Artak Harutiunian.

 

According to the prosecutor, 91 plaintiffs have been identified during the investigation. Another eight will represent the victims who died

during the assassinations. Among the 91 are members of parliament, government officials, parliament staffers and representatives of the

State Television.

 

Harutiunian announced that the press corps members were not identified as plaintiffs, since they were allowed to leave the parliament

immediately after the shootings began.

 

Individuals representing the assassinated victims are Aram Sargsyan (Vazgen Sargsyan's brother), Samvel Demirchian (Karen

Demirchian's son), Emil Petrossian (Leonard Petrossian's son), Davit Matinian (Armenal Armenakian's uncle), Anahid Bakhshian (Yuri

Bakhshian's wife), Ardavazd Miroyan (Rouben Miroyan's son), Tigran Kotanian (Mikael Kotanian's son) and Mikael Mirijanian (Henrik

Abrahamian's son-in-law).

 

 

 

 

 

2. Green Light Given to Genocide Monument

 

AMSTERDAM (Anatolia)--The city of Assen in the Nethelands gave the green light last week for a memorial monument in memory of

the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

 

The Assen city council had previously agreed to the erection of such a monument in the city cemetery, following a request from an

Armenian resident of the city. Following protests from Turkish residents of the same city, the city council had tabled the decision.

 

The Armenian community later moved the monument to the Armenian church in the city of Almelo.

 

The monument was constructed in Armenia and brought to the Netherlands, and the Armenian community there had opted to unveil the

monument in time for Genocide commemoration activities this past April.

 

The city council, once again, reiterated its original decision and the monument is set to move to the city cemetery in the near future.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Schiff Releases Position Paper on Armenian Issues

 

PASADENA--State Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena) who is vying for the 27th Congressional seat in November's election, released a

position paper detailing his views on issues of concern to the Armenian-American community.

 

The position paper outlines Schiff's views on, among other matters, US aid to Armenia, recognition of the Armenian Genocide and

assistance to Nagorno-Artsax.

 

Below is the entire text of Schiff's position paper:

 

US Aid to Armenia:

 

As a Member of Congress, I will strongly advocate for increased economic assistance and humanitarian relief for Armenia. I will work

toward assuring that Armenia becomes self-sufficient and fully integrated into the global marketplace. Presently, as a State Senator I am

working closely with the California Trade and Commerce Agency in formalizing relations between Armenia and the State of California.

As a first stage, I am working with the Trade and Commerce Secretary to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding between the

Republic of Armenia and the State of California so that a more extensive economic relationship may be established. In Congress, I will be

able to further the work I have done in the State Senate to intensify economic relations between our two countries.

 

US Support for Nagorno Artsax: Aid and Self-Determination:

 

I support the Republic of Nagorno Artsax's right to self-determination within secure borders and continued direct US aid is an integral

part of this process. As a Member of Congress I will be a strong advocate for formulating a US policy that takes into consideration the

history of the region and Armenia's historical rights. Furthermore, I will strongly push for full and equal participation by representatives of

the Nagorno Artsax Republic in the peace process.

 

Ban on US Aid to Azerbaijan:

 

I strongly support the Freedom Support Act provision limiting US aid to Azerbaijan until such time that the Azerbaijani Government takes

meaningful good faith steps toward finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict. As a Member of Congress I will oppose any

efforts to weaken, waive or eliminate Section 907.

 

The Armenian Genocide:

 

The Genocide perpetrated against the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks represents one of the twentieth century's darkest chapters and

the denial of this historic fact constitutes a continuing human rights violation against all Armenians. As a member of Congress I will work

to advance any and all efforts to properly recognize this crime against humanity while vehemently opposing efforts to distort and deny this

international crime. As a member of the California State Senate I worked with then Senate President, current Attorney General Bill

Lockyer, to pass a measure opposing the establishment of Turkish government funded academic chairs at California's universities. Since

the passage of this legislation, lawmakers in three other states, Michigan, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have followed the California

model and initiated similar measures. In addition, I successfully procured over half a million dollars in state funding for the documentation

of the Armenian Genocide, specifically the production of the Witnesses, produced by the Armenian Film Foundation.

 

Restrictions of Arms Sales and US Aid to Turkey:

 

The Republic of Turkey has a human rights record that is both tragic and unacceptable. Any US aid to Turkey must be contingent upon

adherence to internationally accepted norms for human and civil rights. The United States should deny all aid until such time as Turkey

peacefully and in good faith deals with the Kurdish Issue, its illegal occupation of Cypress, its continuing blockade of Armenia and denial

of the Armenian Genocide.

 

Outreach to My Constituents:

 

When elected to the California State Senate in 1996, in consultation with the Armenian National Committee, I hired an Armenian

American community leader to serve on my staff. This appointment has proven invaluable in better understanding the needs and concerns

of my Armenian American constituents. Once elected to Congress, I will continue to initiate efforts and staff my capitol and district offices

in such a manner as to foster even greater communication with the community.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Medieval Church Consecrated by Karekin II

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians presided over a ceremony Sunday to consecrate of

Kecharis Monastery, in Tsaghkadzor, Etchmiadzin press office reported.

 

The famous monastic complex, built between the 11th and 13th centuries, includes the Churches of St. Gregory the Illuminator, Holy

Cathoghike (Universal), Holy Nshan (Cross), and Holy Resurrection, and has been one of the religious and cultural centers of Medieval

Armenia.

 

During the past century, as a result of the earthquake in 1828, the Churches of the Monastic Complex became declined. Although during

the Soviet period the complex was under the control and the auspices of the Monasteries' Protection Committee, its reconstruction and

repair work were slowed down.

 

Two years ago the Monastic Complex came under the ownership of the Mother See and thanks to the zealous work of His Holiness

Karekin I, of blessed memory, and Armenian benefactor Vladimir Harutunian from Vienna, gained its former appearance.

 

Following the consecration the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian, the Primate of the

Armenian Diocese of Austria and Pontifical Legate of Central Europe.

 

Armen Khachatrian, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Samvel Stepanaian, the regional governor of Kotayk, and also

numerous pilgrims attended the ceremony.

 

The same day the ceremony of inauguration of the Kotayk Diocese's Headquarters building took place. The renovation of the building,

that was passed to the Diocese by the state authorities, was realized thanks to the sponsorship of Rev. Fr. Mambre Gouzoyan, from the

Eastern US Diocese.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Balayan Wins By-Election For Vacant Parliamentary Seat.

 

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--In a by-elections held Sunday in Yeravan's Arabkir electoral district, Kim Balayan, a member of the Armenian

Revolutionary Federation was elected to the National Assembly from a single mandate constituency.

 

According to preliminary results released by the regional electoral commission, 6,300 registered voters cast their ballots in Sunday's

election. 2,550 people voted for Kim Balayan, 2,208 for independent candidate Yeghia Shamshian, 1,014 for Vasgen Safarian and 590

for Zenik Sarkissian. A heated contest began last month for the vacant seat of Communist parliament deputy Leonid Hakobian, who was

given a ministerial post in the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Aram Sargsyan.

 

Yeghia Shamshan, an independent candidate was the winner of first round of voting on May 21. But receiving a complaint from his rival

Kim Balayan and after a careful review of voting irregularities reported by him, the local electoral commission annulled the poll results and

scheduled a new ballot.

 

This time Kim Balayan seems to be the clear winner. If elected, Kim Balayan will join the ARF Parliamentary faction which currently

numbers eight deputies.

 

But Yeghia Shamshian and Zenik Sarkissian told our correspondent they have evidence of irregularities and they will certainly file an

official complaint with the electoral commission.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Artsax Parliament Elects Deputy Speaker.

 

STEPANAKERT (RFE/RL)--Armenian Revolutionary Federation Nagorno-Artsax Republic parliamentary bloc members boycotted

the election of Speaker Oleg Yesayan last week in protest against the decision to elect the speaker in an open vote.

 

Artsax parliament members Monday, elected a deputy speaker and chairmen of the six permanent parliamentary commissions.

 

The ARF, which is now the second largest faction in Artsax Parliament after the pro-government ruling faction Democratic Artsakh

Union, agreed to participate in the voting after ruling party changed the electoral procedure, making it a secret ballot.

 

Speaking by phone from Stepanakert, ARF parliament deputy Alyosha Gabrielian told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that there was

only one candidate on the ballot for the post of a deputy speaker. According to the regulation, the Speaker of the Parliament nominates

his candidates. The newly elected speaker Oleg Yesayan decided to nominate only one candidate, and Mushegh Ohanjanian, a member

of ruling Democratic Artsakh Union, was duly elected to that post.

 

The ARF was given control of two parliamentary commissions, including the chairmanship of the parliamentary commission on defense

and security issues. Vahram Atanessian, the former RFE/RL Armenian Service correspondent in Stepanakert who was elected a

parliament deputy, was elected chairman of the Parliamentary commission on foreign relations. .

 

 

 

 

 

7. Prosecutor's Accuse Customs Officials of Irregularities.

 

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--In an interview with RFE/RL, Gevork Danielian, the head of the Office of Protection of State Revenues, a

branch of the prosecutor's office complained that customs officials apply double standards when they judge the value of imports. The

same merchandise entering the country is appraised differently depending on who the importer is.

 

Danielian reiterated that prosecutor's conducting a review of practices by customs officials in 1999 and during the first five months of this

year came across examples of such irregularities. Often shortcomings in legislation are blamed for this and similar inexplicable

discrepancies. But Danielian believes that the law cannot be blamed in this case, when the interests of businessmen can be protected with

sound practices of government officials.

 

Observers believe that discriminatory practices in charging import duties are sometimes the result of connections importers have with

government officials. Well connected businessmen pay less than others, because customs officials can reject the declared value of the

goods and set their own appraisal.

 

The prosecutor's office has discussed these issues with the Minister of State Revenues Gagik Poghosian, who has recently vowed to

combat favoritism.

 

Our correspondent tried to interview Poghosian to find out which importers have paid less import duties and what measures are being

used to reform the system. The minister was not ready yet for an interview.

 

 

 

8. Turkish President's Baku Visit Shows Strong Links

 

BAKU (Reuters)--Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer visits ex-Soviet Azerbaijan on his first official foreign trip on Tuesday,

highlighting Ankara's wish to strengthen already close ties between the two Turkic countries.

 

Iran, Russia and the United States are all vying for political and economic influence in the oil and gas-endowed region.

 

Analysts said on Monday that Sezer was hoping to make Turkey Azerbaijan's main partner and was eager to extend cooperation on oil

and gas transport and to build a pan-Turkic corridor.

 

``It's not surprising that Sezer is coming here first,'' a Western diplomat said by telephone. ``Turkey is the main bulwark for Azerbaijan

and Turkey sees this country as the first stop in their dream of a pan-Turkic corridor.''

 

Sezer visited northern Cyprus recently. But the breakaway northern Cypriot state and its leadership is not recognized by the international

community.

 

Azerbaijan is Turkey's jumping-off point for access to the markets of the energy-rich Caspian states Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and

Uzbekistan.

 

And Azerbaijan is eager to strengthen ties with Turkey through the construction of two multi-billion-dollar pipelines--one to carry oil to

Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan and another to deliver gas to the border.

 

A US-backed oil pipeline will bypass Russia and southern neighbor Iran.

 

Turkey, Azerbaijan and the United States hope the new pipeline will cement Azerbaijan's economic and political independence from

Russia.

 

``There's a sense that Turkey wants to make sure that it doesn't lose out in the Caucasus and Central Asia since Vladimir Putin was

elected president in Russia,'' said Laura Le Cornu, a regional expert.

 

Putin's newly appointed Caspian envoy and Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Kalyuzhny is due in Baku on Wednesday--a sign that Russia

is stepping up its involvement in the area too.

 

In addition to the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline, a second pipeline from a giant offshore field, discovered last year by a BP Amoco-led

consortium, will also be on the agenda. That pipeline is due to carry gas to the Turkish border by the winter of 2002-03.

 

BP Amoco is waiting for Turkey and Azerbaijan to sign a crucial gas sales purchase deal for investment on the $1.3 billion gas pipeline

plan to proceed. Industry sources say that a gas contract could be signed before the end of this year.

 

 

 

9. Turkish Court Begins Trial Of Islamists

 

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters)--Fifteen suspected Islamist guerrillas went on trial in southeastern Turkey on Monday accused of

trying to overthrow the state and of killing more than 150 people.

 

The case is the main trial against leaders of the Hizbullah group who have been linked by authorities to a series of gruesome killings in

which victims were tortured to death, then buried bound and gagged in shallow graves.

 

The shadowy group, which aims to set up an Islamic state in strictly secular Turkey, began to unravel in January this year when police

raided an Istanbul villa, killing Hizbullah leader Huseyin Velioglu and seizing the rebels' archives.

 

Deputy leader Edip Gumus, captured in the raid, was among the defendants in Monday's trial in Diyarbakir, the regional capital of the

mainly Kurdish southeast.

 

He and 12 others face a possible death sentence for ``trying to change the constitutional order by force of arms,'' killing 156 people and

wounding 80 others. Two others face jail sentences of up to 15 years for ``forming an armed gang.''

 

Hizbullah, not believed to be related to the Iranian-backed Hizbollah group in Lebanon, gained notoriety in the early 1990s for killings of

Kurdish rebel sympathizers.

 

That led some Kurds to accuse them of being state-paid ``Contra'' guerrillas, a charge authorities vehemently deny. But with a tactical

change by the armed forces in the fight against Abdullah Ocalan's separatist rebels in the mid-1990s, Hizbullah activities declined and its

leaders began to organize in the cities of western Turkey.

 

Most of its victims were either Kurds, rival Islamists or ex-members of the organization.

 

After the shoot-out at the Istanbul villa, the first time Hizbullah had clashed with security forces, police began a crackdown.