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ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/26/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <http://www.asbarez.com/>HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM
1) Karekin II Insists on Genocide Recognition in Turkey
2) NKR Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
3) Abkhazia Leader Sergei Bagapsh: Abkhazia Building Independent State
4) Karabakh Officials Continue Official Visit in US
1) Karekin II Insists on Genocide Recognition in Turkey
ISTANBUL (Armenpress)Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, who is on a
week-long Pontifical visit to Turkey, stated in Istanbul that the Armenian
genocide, that was planned and executed by the Turkish government during World
War I, is an undeniable historical fact and not subject to debate.
"The genocide of Armenians is a crime that had happened and which must be
acknowledged. The issue of the Armenian genocide has been explored by
researchers for 90 years," he was quoted saying by the Turkish Dogan news
agency.
A report by the Associated Press said Karekin II's remarks will complicate
the
end of his visit, which has already been marked by protests by nationalistic
organizations.
Karekin II said he was not impressed by the protests. "They are not able to
break my spirit and have no impact on my visit, but if such protests continue
they will prove that we still have a lot to do in order to have the two
nations
live in peace."
Karekin II is visiting Turkey upon the joint invitation of His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and His All
Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
During this first Pontifical visit the Catholicos visited Armenian churches
and holy shrines, extended his pontifical blessings to the Armenian community
of Istanbul, and met with Armenian intellectuals and young men and women. On
Sunday, June 25, His Holiness celebrated a Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the
Armenian Patriarchate's Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God.
Also planned is a meeting between the Pontiff of All Armenians and the
Governor of Istanbul.
2) NKR Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"Taking into account the statement the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
presented to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on June 22, the interview
new
US co-chair Matt Bryza gave, and the recent desperate calls by Azerbaijan
for a
military solution and autonomy for Nagorno Karabakh, we would like to make
several observations:
1. The co-chairs have partially revealed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
resolution principles; they have left out references to a corridor linking
Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, and issues relating to Nagorno Karabakh's status
until a referendum;
2. The co-chairs have, for the first time, affirmed that the people of Nagorno
Karabakh shall determine their own future status through a referendum;
3. Those items over which the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to
disagree does not include a referendum; that concept has been agreed to by the
presidents; The area of disagreement between the presidents has to do with the
sequence in which the consequences of the military conflict are removed;
4. In an attempt to resolve this remaining area of disagreement, a proposal
was
made by the co-chairs after Rambouillet. This proposal was accepted by Armenia
in Bucharest. Azerbaijan rejected it.
5. Armenia finds that the basic principles, overall, on the table today remain
a serious basis for continuing negotiations; Armenia is prepared to
continue on
that basis to continue to negotiate with Azerbaijan;
6. Armenia believes that Azerbaijan's wavering on these principles is a
serious
obstacle to progress in the negotiations. If this policy continues, Armenia
will insist that Azerbaijan conduct direct negotiations with Nagorno
Karabakh.
7. Finally, we would remind Azerbaijan once again that regardless of the size
of their military budget, they cannot force the people of Nagorno Karabakh to
renounce freedom and the right to self-determination. "
3) Abkhazia Leader Sergei Bagapsh: Abkhazia Building Independent State
SUKHUMI (Itar-Tass)Abkhazia leader Sergei Bagapsh stated on Monday that the
position of his republic is unshakable: "We are building an independent state,
and will be going along this path to the end." He underlined it at a news
conference for Russian journalists.
Bagapsh noted that Sukhumi, as of today, does not think that Abkhazia's
joining Russia is possible, because the referendum of 1999 showed that our
people came out as an independent state and we'll be building it regardless of
whether someone likes it or not.
"We are ready to launch good neighborly relations with Georgia and live next
to each other as two equal states," the head of Abkhazia said, expressing
readiness to discuss any issues with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
"However, it is counterproductive to hold a meeting for the sake of
meeting. A
serious document on settling the conflict should be the basis of a meeting
between the presidents," he said.
"One can discuss many issues with Mikhail Saakashvili, including
non-resumption of hostilities, the lifting of the blockade of Abkhazia, and
the
opening of air, sea and railway communication. We are not rejecting a meeting,
but we are for its being productive," the Abkhazian leader added.
"If Georgia raises the issue of pulling out the peacekeeping forces from
Abkhazia, we reserve the right to take the place of the peacekeepers, but in
that case the attitude toward the border will be different. It will be a real
border, with all the ensuing consequences," he warned.
"But it's a last resort. We insist on Russian peacekeepers staying in the
zone
of the conflict until its full settlement," Bagapsh said.
4) Karabakh Officials Continue Official Visit in US
STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)Nagorno Karabakh Republic National Assembly Speaker
Ashot Ghulian and Foreign Minister Georgi Petrosian have already visited
Boston, New York and Washington, DC as part of their visit to the USA for a
series of political and economic discussions aimed at garnering stronger
support for NKR and highlighting Karabakh's progress.
On June 23 in Boston, Karabakh Speaker Ghulian and Foreign Minister Petrosian
met with Massachusetts State Assembly representative Rachel Kaprielian and an
aide to the speaker in health affairs Kris Hager.
Nagorno Karabakh foreign ministry press service informed Armenpress that
during the meeting the sides discussed issues on cooperation in education,
culture and health spheres.
The Karabakh delegation also met with the members of "Boston Globe"
newspaper's editorial staff. During the meeting they presented the current
pace
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict regulation and social-economic condition of
Karabakh.
The speaker and minister also met with the representatives of
Armenian-American organizations and members of the Armenian-American
community.
The NKR senior officials will be in Washington DC to discuss issues
related to
the settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan and increased humanitarian and
development assistance.
All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.
ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.
TOP STORIES
06/26/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <http://www.asbarez.com/>HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM
1) Karekin II Insists on Genocide Recognition in Turkey
2) NKR Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
3) Abkhazia Leader Sergei Bagapsh: Abkhazia Building Independent State
4) Karabakh Officials Continue Official Visit in US
1) Karekin II Insists on Genocide Recognition in Turkey
ISTANBUL (Armenpress)Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, who is on a
week-long Pontifical visit to Turkey, stated in Istanbul that the Armenian
genocide, that was planned and executed by the Turkish government during World
War I, is an undeniable historical fact and not subject to debate.
"The genocide of Armenians is a crime that had happened and which must be
acknowledged. The issue of the Armenian genocide has been explored by
researchers for 90 years," he was quoted saying by the Turkish Dogan news
agency.
A report by the Associated Press said Karekin II's remarks will complicate
the
end of his visit, which has already been marked by protests by nationalistic
organizations.
Karekin II said he was not impressed by the protests. "They are not able to
break my spirit and have no impact on my visit, but if such protests continue
they will prove that we still have a lot to do in order to have the two
nations
live in peace."
Karekin II is visiting Turkey upon the joint invitation of His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and His All
Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
During this first Pontifical visit the Catholicos visited Armenian churches
and holy shrines, extended his pontifical blessings to the Armenian community
of Istanbul, and met with Armenian intellectuals and young men and women. On
Sunday, June 25, His Holiness celebrated a Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the
Armenian Patriarchate's Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God.
Also planned is a meeting between the Pontiff of All Armenians and the
Governor of Istanbul.
2) NKR Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"Taking into account the statement the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
presented to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on June 22, the interview
new
US co-chair Matt Bryza gave, and the recent desperate calls by Azerbaijan
for a
military solution and autonomy for Nagorno Karabakh, we would like to make
several observations:
1. The co-chairs have partially revealed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
resolution principles; they have left out references to a corridor linking
Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, and issues relating to Nagorno Karabakh's status
until a referendum;
2. The co-chairs have, for the first time, affirmed that the people of Nagorno
Karabakh shall determine their own future status through a referendum;
3. Those items over which the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to
disagree does not include a referendum; that concept has been agreed to by the
presidents; The area of disagreement between the presidents has to do with the
sequence in which the consequences of the military conflict are removed;
4. In an attempt to resolve this remaining area of disagreement, a proposal
was
made by the co-chairs after Rambouillet. This proposal was accepted by Armenia
in Bucharest. Azerbaijan rejected it.
5. Armenia finds that the basic principles, overall, on the table today remain
a serious basis for continuing negotiations; Armenia is prepared to
continue on
that basis to continue to negotiate with Azerbaijan;
6. Armenia believes that Azerbaijan's wavering on these principles is a
serious
obstacle to progress in the negotiations. If this policy continues, Armenia
will insist that Azerbaijan conduct direct negotiations with Nagorno
Karabakh.
7. Finally, we would remind Azerbaijan once again that regardless of the size
of their military budget, they cannot force the people of Nagorno Karabakh to
renounce freedom and the right to self-determination. "
3) Abkhazia Leader Sergei Bagapsh: Abkhazia Building Independent State
SUKHUMI (Itar-Tass)Abkhazia leader Sergei Bagapsh stated on Monday that the
position of his republic is unshakable: "We are building an independent state,
and will be going along this path to the end." He underlined it at a news
conference for Russian journalists.
Bagapsh noted that Sukhumi, as of today, does not think that Abkhazia's
joining Russia is possible, because the referendum of 1999 showed that our
people came out as an independent state and we'll be building it regardless of
whether someone likes it or not.
"We are ready to launch good neighborly relations with Georgia and live next
to each other as two equal states," the head of Abkhazia said, expressing
readiness to discuss any issues with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
"However, it is counterproductive to hold a meeting for the sake of
meeting. A
serious document on settling the conflict should be the basis of a meeting
between the presidents," he said.
"One can discuss many issues with Mikhail Saakashvili, including
non-resumption of hostilities, the lifting of the blockade of Abkhazia, and
the
opening of air, sea and railway communication. We are not rejecting a meeting,
but we are for its being productive," the Abkhazian leader added.
"If Georgia raises the issue of pulling out the peacekeeping forces from
Abkhazia, we reserve the right to take the place of the peacekeepers, but in
that case the attitude toward the border will be different. It will be a real
border, with all the ensuing consequences," he warned.
"But it's a last resort. We insist on Russian peacekeepers staying in the
zone
of the conflict until its full settlement," Bagapsh said.
4) Karabakh Officials Continue Official Visit in US
STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)Nagorno Karabakh Republic National Assembly Speaker
Ashot Ghulian and Foreign Minister Georgi Petrosian have already visited
Boston, New York and Washington, DC as part of their visit to the USA for a
series of political and economic discussions aimed at garnering stronger
support for NKR and highlighting Karabakh's progress.
On June 23 in Boston, Karabakh Speaker Ghulian and Foreign Minister Petrosian
met with Massachusetts State Assembly representative Rachel Kaprielian and an
aide to the speaker in health affairs Kris Hager.
Nagorno Karabakh foreign ministry press service informed Armenpress that
during the meeting the sides discussed issues on cooperation in education,
culture and health spheres.
The Karabakh delegation also met with the members of "Boston Globe"
newspaper's editorial staff. During the meeting they presented the current
pace
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict regulation and social-economic condition of
Karabakh.
The speaker and minister also met with the representatives of
Armenian-American organizations and members of the Armenian-American
community.
The NKR senior officials will be in Washington DC to discuss issues
related to
the settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan and increased humanitarian and
development assistance.
All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.
ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.