Asbarez.com News Room 08-22-2000

[Guest]

1. Kocharian-Aliyev Reiterate Commitment To Peace

2. Aram I Condemns Election Disinformation

3. Charlotte and Dikran Sassounian Donate $20,000 to Armenology Center

4. Turks Send 380,000 Signatures to Assen

5. Armenia Supports Palestinian Statehood

6. Georgian Delegation Visits Armenia

7. Sweden Says More Should be Done in Turkey

8. Genocide Commemoration In Slovakia Angers Turkish Diplomat

9. New Commander Of Russian Military Base Introduced

10. Lawyer Warns Organization Against Meddling In October 27 Case

11. Problem Of Missing Soldiers In The Focus Of Attention

12. Gumri-2000 Modern Art Festival Takes Place

13. Lawyers Do Not Approve Supervision of Oct. 27 Case

14. One Dies In Mine Explosion

 

 

 

1. Kocharian-Aliyev Reiterate Commitment To Peace

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenian President Robert Kocharian took part in the first non-official CIS summit of the heads of state in

Yalta on August 18, and met with Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma.

 

According to Kocharian's press office, the meeting was primarily focused on economic issues. Both bilateral Armenian-Ukraine relations

as well as those within the CIS framework were discussed. In this respect, Armenian prime minister's visit to Ukraine that is scheduled in

autumn was emphasized which, according to both presidents, "will help to specify separate directions of cooperation."

 

During the second half of the day, president Kocharian met with his Azeri counterpart Heydar Aliyev.

 

Speaking to reporters after the closed door meeting, Kocharian and Aliyev said they had agreed to continue the dialogue to try to

hammer a final peace settlement to the long-lasting Artsax conflict.

 

They said their next one-on-one meeting would take place in New York at the United Nations General Assembly Millennium session.

They repeatedly reiterated that they should settle the conflict peacefully through mutual compromises.

 

Responding to an Azeri reporter's question as to why he was putting stress on economic co-operation, president Kocharian said, "it

would help to develop a peace formula much more easily." Kocharian added that "the common economic interests tying the two countries

will help avoid extra suspicions and will create a favorable climate for the regulation of the conflict."

 

 

 

 

 

2. Aram I Condemns Election Disinformation

 

ANTELIAS, Lebanon (Aztag)--The Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia issued an announcement Saturday, condemning recent

Lebanese television and press reports regarding His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy Cilicia's posturing regarding the upcoming

Lebanese parliamentary elections.

 

Recently one television channel and certain candidates during their campaign speeches have criticized the United Armenian Bloc slate of

candidates, and have also targeted His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia by saying that the pontiff is "keeping equal

distance from all Armenian candidates."

 

The Catholicosate said that troubled election campaigns do not justify the skewing of facts, especially condemning the disinformation

relayed regarding Aram I's position, after his meeting and endorsement of the United Armenian Bloc slate.

 

The United Armenian Bloc is a slate of Armenian candidates put forth by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Social

Democratic Hunchakian Party, in cooperation with all religious and organizational leaders in Lebanon. The introduction of this slate has

caused discord within the Hunchakian party and the Armenia Democratic League (Ramkavar party), with the latter opting to not take part

in a slate representing the entire community.

 

The announcement took issue with the atmosphere created during the parliamentary election campaign, during which the announcement

pointed out "moral principles and norms are ignored."

 

Election campaign rhetoric, the Catholicosate announcement said, has taken on a tone that is deemed foreign to national values and

understandings, and "opens the door to internal tensions and schisms."

 

"Several days ago, the Catholicos urged the executive bodies of the three political parties to stay away from the dangerous atmosphere

created by the election campaign, and, once and for all, to cease the tone which could create inter-party discord long after the elections,

thus undermining the internal unity, collective will and active participation in the Lebanese political life," informed the announcement.

 

The Catholicosate warned that recent campaign efforts by some candidates, as well as media reports are misrepresenting the statements

of the Catholicos and are attributing untruths to the pontiff, through their analyses of the Aram I's patriarchal suggestions to the

community.

 

"This dangerous situation is unacceptable. This and other efforts are aimed at creating schisms within the Armenian community," warned

the announcement.

 

In conclusion the announcement urged the Lebanese-Armenian community to stay away from attempts to undermine the unity and

collectivity of the community and to rally behind the complete interests and rights, putting aside all personal and narrow interests.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Charlotte and Dikran Sassounian Donate $20,000 to Armenology Center

 

BEIRUT--Charlotte and Dikran Sassounian recently donated $20,000 to the Hamazkayine Armenology Institute, as a show of support

and commendation to the institute's mission, as well as its effective educational and academic endeavors.

 

Charlotte and Dikran are the children of the Los Angeles area community activists Manuel and Josephine Sassounian.

 

The Sassounian family recently traveled to Lebanon, where the Armenology Center is headquartered.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Turks Send 380,000 Signatures to Assen

 

Amsterdam (Armenpress)--Turks from around the world have, reportedly sent 380,000 signatures opposing the erection of an Armenian

Genocide memorial monument in the Dutch city of Assen, reported Radio Liberty.

 

According to Dutch press reports, the authorities in Assen have announced that their decision regarding the monument will be made after

reviewing public opinion.

 

Thus, reportedly 200,000 Turks living in the Netherlands and 180,000 more Turks living in Austria have registered their complaints to

Asses officials.

 

Assen city officials announced that appeals from Turks and Armenians will be reviewed at a special city council meeting, following which

a decision will be rendered regarding the Genocide memorial monument.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Armenia Supports Palestinian Statehood

 

YEREVAN (Snark)--"Armenia welcomes the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and its right to statehood. As the timetable

for declaring an independent Palestinian state is linked to many factors, the Palestinian people and other countries in the region should find

a suitable moment for declaring a Palestinian state," Armenian Foreign Ministry press secretary Ara Papyan told a Snark correspondent.

 

A number of observers believe that the opinion of the Armenian Foreign Ministry on this issue is particularly topical given that the

Armenian Diaspora in the countries of the Arab world numbers about one million.

 

 

 

 

 

6. Georgian Delegation Visits Armenia

 

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--A Georgian delegation including First Deputy Chairman of the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Relations

Committee, Deputy Givi Shugarov, Deputy from the Ninotsmind region Enzel Mkoyan and Head of the Administration of the Akhaltsikh

region Artiusha Hambartsumian were on a working visit to Yerevan on from August 18-19.

 

Along with Georgia's Ambassador to Armenia Nikoloz Nikolozishvili, the delegation members held meetings with Armenia's Parliament

Speaker Khachatrian, Minister of Defense Sargssian, Minister of Education and Science Ghazarian, Deputy Foreign Minister Mkrtchian,

First Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Beglarian, Deputy Energy Ministers Sargssian and Galustian, as well as

President of the International Center of Human Development non-governmental organization Darbinian.

 

The Georgian Embassy in Yerevan reported that during the meeting, the sides discussed ways of further strengthening Armenian-Georgian

Interparliamentary ties, prospects of developing regional and integration processes and good-neighborly relations between Georgia and

Armenia both politically and economically. They also discussed ways of assisting Armenian schools in Georgia.

 

 

 

 

 

7. Sweden Says More Should be Done in Turkey

 

STOCKHOLM (Reuters)--Sweden said on Saturday it welcomed Turkey's signing of two UN conventions as a step in the right

direction towards improving its human rights record.

 

But Ankara has much to do in this regard before it can realize its wish to join the European Union, Foreign Minister Anna Lindh said.

 

``Signing is the start, but Turkey now has to change its laws in accordance with the conventions and actually apply them,'' said Lindh, a

consistent critic of Turkey's rights record particularly towards its ethnic Kurds.

 

Last week Volkan Vural, Turkish Ambassador to the United Nations, signed the 1966 UN convention on economic, social and cultural

rights and another on civil and political rights--the two pillars of the world body's human rights regime.

 

The move was seen as a breakthrough towards ending the suppression of the languages and culture of Kurdish and other minority ethnic

groups.

 

Sweden, which wants to broaden membership of the EU when it takes over the rotating presidency in January, says that Turkey must

make substantial and visible progress on human rights before it is taken seriously as a candidate.

 

Pierre Schori, Swedish Ambassador to the UN, said signing the conventions was a belated but encouraging step by Turkey.

 

``Turkey has had 34 years to sign the conventions on human rights and this shows they have a serious wish to conform with EU standards

by signing them now,'' Schori said.

 

 

 

 

 

8. Genocide Commemoration In Slovakia Angers Turkish Diplomat

 

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—A concert of the leading soloist of the Bratislava Opera House Gurgen Hovsepian was held in the Mirbakh

Palace of Bratislava on August 1. Members of the Slovakian Government, prominent politicians and artists had been invited to attend the

concert. The event was held in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and was widely covered by local press media.

 

It was for the first time that the Turkish ambassador to Slovakia expressed his dissatisfaction with the series of events commemorating the

Armenian Genocide and celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia. The Turkish

diplomat warned officials in Bratislava that any further event would be followed by the Turkish Embassy's note of protest and attempt to

get it banned.

 

Noyan Tapan's correspondent reported from Bratislava that on September 7, 2000, the Armes company president and the mayor of

Bratislava will organize a concert at the Mirror Hall of the Primacial Palace of the Slovakian capital in honor of visiting city officials from

Yerevan. The concert will commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire early this

century and the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity by Armenia. Politicians and representatives of all diplomatic missions,

including Turkish, will be invited to attend the concert. This initiative is believed to pave the way for the affirmation of the Armenian

Genocide by Slovakia's parliament. It is likely to elicit a negative reaction of the Turkish diplomatic corps.

 

 

 

 

 

9. New Commander Of Russian Military Base Introduced

 

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—Minister of Defense Serge Sargssian held a meeting on August 21 with representatives of the Russian

military group in Armenia. The sides discussed the issues of the presence of Russian military base No. 102 in Armenia. Commander of

the military management group, Colonel Stanislav Shevchenko introduced the new commander of the Russian base to Sargssian, Colonel

Alexander Titov.

 

Minister Sargssian promised his assistance to the command of military base No. 102 in solving all the problems of the base.

 

 

 

 

 

10. Lawyer Warns Organization Against Meddling In October 27 Case

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—A well-known lawyer, Ruben Sahakian, recently warned the set up Armenian House public organization

against meddling in the affairs concerning the investigation and upcoming trial of the defendants of October 27 case.

 

The organization had announced earlier that it had set up a commission to supervise the process of the trial and "to ensure its

transparency".

 

"What is the aim of the organization- to reveal the truth or to misinterpret the law," Sahakian asked the chairman of the organization

Vartan Petrosian advising him not to interfere in the case as he is a dilettante".

 

 

 

 

 

11. Problem Of Missing Soldiers In The Focus Of Attention

 

STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)—Artsax Foreign Minister Naira Melkoumian met with the Chairperson of the Union of Relatives of

the Missing Soldiers of Armenia Rimma Arakelian and the leader of the same organization of Nagorno-Artsax Vera Grigorian.

 

During the course of the meeting, issues related to the realization of plans designed by the Unions were discussed. Naira Melkoumian

noted that the problem of the missing soldiers was in the focus of attention of the foreign ministry and expressed readiness for further

mutual cooperation. The participants of the meeting commented on the necessity of activating the search of the missing soldiers.

 

 

 

 

 

12. Gumri-2000 Modern Art Festival Takes Place

 

GUMRI (Armenpress)—A ceremony devoted to the opening of the second international biennial was held in Gumri. This time the festival

had gathered 100 artists from 20 different countries.

 

For a duration of a month, private and group exhibitions of modern artists will open in the galleries of the city, scientific conferences and

other events will be held. The organizers of the festival, the Gumri Modern Art Center, Gumri Development Fund, Human Development

Center and the City Hall of Gumri signed a memorandum to make the festival traditional.

 

Guests from Yerevan, ambassadors accredited in Armenia, and well-known artists were present at the ceremony. The participants were

greeted by the parliament chairman Armen Khachatrian, who thanked the organizers who tend to maintain the renaissance of the "soul

and spirit."

 

"It's something new in our culture, and we must respect the great efforts of those who organized the festival", he said.

 

 

 

 

 

13. Lawyers Do Not Approve Supervision of Oct. 27 Case

 

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—"Deputy director of the Armenian National TV Harutiun Harutunian and pollster Nairi Badalian, both former

suspects in October 27 case, who were later cleared of charges because of "lack of evidence," have made several announcements in the

press that they were subjected to physical and psychological pressure by the investigative team while being kept in custody," a

well-known lawyer Ruben Rshtuni told a news conference, organized by the newly set up Armenian House public organization. Last

week, the Armenian House announced about setting up a public commission "to supervise the process of the trial of the defendants of

October 27 case to secure its transparency."

 

Rshtuni, who was Harutunian's counselor for defense, said that the official investigation into the reported cases of mistreatment had not

been yet launched by the prosecutor's office.

 

At the same time, he disapproved Armenian House's initiative to supervise the process of the trial, saying that it would be a move directed

against president Kocharian and "some forces are trying to use the new organization for the selfish end."

 

He said his client was arrested on the basis of the testimony given by Nairi Hunanian, the leader of the gang that rushed into the parliament

chamber killing eight senior officials, but later the lie detector proved that Harutunian was not guilty.

 

He also said he did not believe there were other forces behind the terrorists.

 

 

 

 

 

14. One Dies In Mine Explosion

 

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—Artem Safarian, a 63-year-old resident of the village of Voskevan in Armenia's Tavush region, got killed

as a result of an anti-personnel mine explosion on Sunday.

 

A similar incident occurred about two weeks ago on the borderland area of Noyemberian where a soldier was injured and had to have

his leg amputated.