Zaman, Turkey
July 19 2004
Erdogan Goes to Paris with EU Agenda
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go to France today
on an official visit. On the first day of his three day visit,
Erdogan will meet with French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
Afterward, he will greet Turks living in France.
On the second day, after French President Jacques Chirac receives
him, Erdogan will convene with French Parliamentary Foreign Affairs
Commission President, Edouard Balladur, and other commission members.
Additionally, he will see political party leaders including Alaine
Juppe, the People’s Union Movement President, an opponent of Turkey’s
membership to the European Union (EU).
Armenian associations in France are preparing to protest Erdogan’s
visit. The French Armenian Committee called Armenians to join rallies
in Paris and Marseilles. On posters prepared by the Committee,
statements such as, “Erdogan comes to Paris for France to say ‘yes,’
we will be there to say ‘no’ to Turkey for Turkey’s acceptance of
Armenian genocide,” attract the attention. Another noteworthy
anti-Turk statement consists of photographs depicting hanged people
next to a Turkish flag.
07.19.2004
Ali Ýhsan Aydýn
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
July 19 2004
Erdogan heading to France

The Prime Minister’s visit is likely to be the target of
demonstrations by members of France’s Armenian community.

July 19 – Turkey’s Prime Minister is heading to France Monday as part
of Ankara’s campaign to boost its chances of being granted a date to
begin accession talks with the European Union.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be in France for three
days, during which he will meet with his French opposite number
Jean-Pierre Raffarin soon after his arrival Monday. On Tuesday, he
will meet with French President Jaques Chirac and deliver an address
entitled Turkey -France: New Perspective for Affective Partnership at
a conference.
Erdogan’s visit comes at a time when Paris is only lukewarm on
Ankara’s EU membership bid, having thrown out strong hints that
Turkey is not yet ready to open accession negotiations as yet.
The visit of the Turkish Prime Minister is likely to be met
with a number of protests, with Armenian groups announcing that they
would stage demonstrations against Erdogan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUbusiness, UK
July 19 2004
Turkish PM’s visit to France re-opens debate on EU membership

A three-day visit to France by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan starting Monday re-opened the debate as to whether Turkey, a
secular country with nearly 70 million Muslims, should be admitted
into the European Union.
Most French newspapers dedicated significant coverage to the visit
and examined the question, which has divided the political class.
President Jacques Chirac’s ruling conservative Union for a Popular
Movement (UMP) has come out against the idea, even though Chirac
himself favours Turkey eventually joining the EU but does not see it
as ready yet. The opposition Socialists are backing Ankara’s bid.
Erdogan’s visit is seen as a key opportunity to persuade an EU
heavyweight to back the accession bid before the European Commission
released in October a report on Turkey’s democratisation progress.
That report is to form the basis of a decision EU leaders will make
in December on whether to formally open membership talks with Turkey.
In a sign of the issue’s sensitivity, Chirac will not receive Erdogan
until Tuesday.
French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin will play host by greeting
Erdogan at his official offices after his arrival late Monday.
During his time in Paris, the Turkish leader will meet other
political leaders, business chiefs and representatives of France’s
Turkish community.
Liberation, a left-leaning daily, firmly planted the Turkish flag in
the EU in an editorial, saying that, while Turkey was historically
separate from Europe, its common adherence to secularity meant it
ought to join European institutions.
“There is no convincing reason to think that Islam is not by its
essence incompatible with democracy and secularity,” it said.
The right-leaning Le Figaro, however, listed reasons to doubt
Turkey’s readiness, among them cultural differences, “the reality of
the genocide of the Armenians” in 1915 during the disintegration of
the Ottoman Empire and the continuing “military occupation in the
north of Cyprus”.
It tempered that position a little by printing an essay by a
political science professor, Dominique Reynie, who noted that Turkey
was a member of NATO and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation
and Development, had a separation of religion and state, and allowed
women to vote.
“All of democratic Turkey has placed its hopes in an opening of
negotiations,” he wrote.
But a companion essay by a UMP deputy, Jacques Myard, warned of a
“utopian” vision of a vast “federal Europe” encompassing Turkey which
would fail because of “the clash of cultures and national realities”.
Chirac has taken a cautious stance on Turkey, at the risk of being
seen as blowing hot and cold.
In April, he said he wanted to Turkey eventually admitted, but —
just days before the bloc expanded to 25 states by taking in mainly
former Communist central European countries — he said conditions for
entry were still some way off.
Then last month, US President George W. Bush raised European hackles
by putting his weight behind Turkey’s bid in the hopes that it would
become an example for other Muslim states to follow.
“I will remind the people of this good country that you ought to be
given a date by the EU for your eventual acceptance into the EU,”
Bush said in Ankara on June 27 before attending a NATO summit in
Istanbul.
Chirac, who has maintained prickly relations with Bush since the
run-up to the US invasion of Iraq, shot back that the US leader had
gone too far.
“It would be like me telling the United States how to run its affairs
with Mexico,” he said.

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
July 19 2004
Alasgarov: Some Countries Use Double Standard Regarding Upper
Karabakh Issue
BAKU – Murtuz Alasgarov, the Chairman of the National Assembly of
Azerbaijan, said on Monday that some countries and international
organizations were using double standard regarding the Upper Karabakh
issue.
Meeting Turkish parliamentary delegation headed by Haluk Ipek, the
Chairman of Turkish-Azerbaijani Interparliamentary Friendship Group,
Alasgarov said that Armenia, who occupied a part of Azerbaijani
territory, should be qualified as ”aggressive”.
Recalling that co-chairmen of Minsk Group of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who had undertaken the
role of mediation in settlement of Upper Karabakh issue, completed
their visit to the region a few days ago, Alasgarov said, ”they are
making meaningless speeches. We are not pleased with the position of
the co-chairmen.”
Alasgarov stated that the co-chairmen did not tried to find a
realistic solution to the issue and stood unjustly beside Armenia.
Defining this attitude as a double standard, the Azerbaijani National
Assembly Chairman said that his country would fight for justice
whatever it costs.
Noting that his nation lost its patience and demand that Azerbaijani
territory should be gained back by other means, Alasgarov said, ”we
will do this if UN doesn’t adopt serious measures to find a
solution.”
Alasgarov defined bilateral relations between Turkish and Azerbaijani
parliaments as perfect, but said that they were working to further
improve these relations.
Haluk Ipek, in his part, said, ”Upper Karabakh is always on Turkey’s
list of topics” and noted that according to international law Upper
Karabakh was Azerbaijani territory.
Ipek said, ”This is a globally accepted fact. Today’s situation is
temporary.”

U.S. Newswire (press release), DC
July 19 2004
Helsinki Commission Briefing Reviews Religious Freedom in the
Caucasus; Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia Examined by Expert Panel
To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor
Contact: Dorothy Douglas Taft of the Helsinki Commission,
202-225-1901, Web:
News Advisory:
The United States Helsinki Commission will hold a briefing on the
current state of religious freedom in the Caucasus due to recent
events in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia.
Religious Freedom in the Caucasus
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
340 Cannon House Office Building
Panelists:
— Eric Rassbach, counsel, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty,
represents Azerbaijani Imam Ilgar Ibrahimoglu and the Juma Mosque
Community before the European Court of Human Rights
— Andre Carbonneau, attorney, Jehovah’s Witnesses, represents
Armenian and Georgian Jehovah’s Witnesses before the European Court
of Human Rights
— Dr. Paul Crego, senior cataloging specialist, Library of Congress,
is responsible for materials in Georgian and Armenian and recently
traveled to Georgia
On June 30, Azerbaijani authorities forcibly seized the independent
Juma Mosque, with police reportedly expelling worshipers before
taking control of the place of worship. The authorities imposed a new
imam appointed by the Muslim Board of the Caucasus, a Soviet-era
Muftiate backed by the government, to replace the community’s leader,
Imam Ilgar Ibrahimoglu. Other unregistered religious communities,
such as Adventists and Baptists, have also experienced repeated
harassment from authorities.
Armenian policy toward religious freedom also conflicts with the
government’s commitments to respect human rights. Government
registration restrictions make it more difficult for religious groups
to rent property, publish newspapers or magazines, or officially
sponsor visas of visitors. The approval system has proven extremely
problematic, as on June 17 when the government again refused to
recognize the Jehovah’s Witnesses as an official religion because of
their proselytizing activities. Other small religious groups,
including Hare Krishnas and many Baptist communities, are frequently
unable to attain the minimum number of members required by the
government and are barred from applying for registration. Armenia has
currently imprisoned 20 Jehovah’s Witnesses for their conscientious
refusal of military service — a principle of their religious
beliefs.
The situation for religious freedom in Georgia improved substantially
with the long overdue arrest on March 12 of renegade Orthodox priest
and mob leader, Basili Mkalavishvili, who instigated violent assaults
against religious minorities. But, Georgian authorities need to
investigate and prosecute others known to have perpetrated similar
criminal acts. Legal problems also persist, as some minority
religious communities are unable to obtain legal entity status or to
build new worship facilities. In addition, a concordat with the state
granted the Georgian Orthodox Church special privileges to the
detriment of other confessions.
An un-official transcript will be available on the Helsinki
Commission’s Internet Web site at within 24 hours
of the briefing.
The United States Helsinki Commission, an independent federal agency,
by law monitors and encourages progress in implementing provisions of
the Helsinki Accords. The Commission, created in 1976, is composed of
nine Senators, nine Representatives and one official each from the
Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.

Malaysia Kini, Malaysia
July 19 2004
Sharapova an Asian hero
Tony Law
The success of Maria Sharapova as a lesson for all youngsters who
work hard for their success has been nicely written in KS Paul’s
article. Allow me to add a different dimension to the story.
I declare Maria as an Asian hero, for my children and all youngsters
of Asia to emulate, not unlike Datuk Jimmy Choo, Datuk Michelle Yeoh,
Tan Sri P Ramlee, Andre Agassi (he is Armenian) and Tiger Woods (he
is Thai).
Maria hails from Russia, an Asian nation, just as Chow Yun Fatt and
Jackie Chan hail from another Asian nation, China. We Southeast and
East Asians seldom consider Russia as an Asian nation because many a
time we are guilty of seeing `Asian-ness’ from our own East Asian
lenses.
This is not unlike the West (I mean the Britons) viewing Asia from
their own warped lenses. Russians are Asians because they are Asians.
In the olden days, Russia was always considered Asian, until former
president Leonid Brezhnev decided to be part of Europe.
Here are some Asian heroes our kids should do well to emulate, though
they are seldom seen as Asians:
Freddie Mercury (Firdun Bulsara), the late Indian-British pop star.
Edward W Said, the late Palestinian American academic and freedom
fighter for Palestine.
Sir Peter Ustinov, the late Russian British producer and actor.
Dr Harold Abrahams, Lithuanian (USSR) British Olympic 100m champion
who was the subject of the film Chariots of Fire.
Ismail Merchant, Iranian British film maker.
Tony Shalloub, Lebanese Arab-American actor famous for the TV series
Monk.
Ralph Nader, Lebanese Arab-American consumer activist and third-party
presidential candidate.
Cherilyn Sarkassian (Cher), Armenian American film star and producer.
Sir Charles (Charlie) Chaplin, famous British producer, comedian and
actor. His grandmother was northern Indian.
Engelbert Humperdinck (Arnold Doorsey), Indian British pop star.

United Press International/Washington Times
July 19 2004
Second Moscow editor killed in 10 days
Moscow, Russia, Jul. 19 (UPI) — Moscow police are investigating the
beating and stabbing death of the second magazine editor to be killed
in 10 days, the Moscow Times said Monday.
The body of Paila Peloyan, the Armenian editor of the
Russian-language monthly, Armenian Lane, was found dead with knife
wounds to the chest and severe trauma to the head, dumped by the side
of the city’s outer ring road Saturday morning.
Investigators are not ruling out the possibility Peloyan was killed
because of his professional activity.
His death came 10 days after the shooting death of Paul Klebnikov,
the U.S. editor of the Russian version of Forbes magazine. Nobody has
been arrested for his slaying.
While the dead U.S. journalist made waves by publicizing the names of
Russia’s wealthiest people and delving into their financial affairs,
Peloyan’s magazine was an arts publication that carried features
about literature, the arts and history and included prose and poetry
from Armenian writers.
Peloyan is the 16th journalist to be killed in Russia since 2000 when
Vladimir Putin assumed the presidency, The Independent said.

Turkish Press
July 19 2004
Pushing EU Entry, Turkish PM Starts French Visit
AFP: 7/19/2004

by Hugh Schofield
PARIS, July 19 (AFP) – Turkey`s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
held talks in Paris with his French counterpart Jean-Pierre Raffarin
Monday at the start of a three-day visit to push Turkish entry into
the European Union.
Speaking to reporters at Ankara airport, Erdogan said that in his
meetings with French leaders he would “explain what steps we have
taken in order to align ourselves with the EU and where we are in
terms of implementation (of reforms).”
The prime minister, whose Justice and Development Party (AKP) has
Islamist origins, was to lunch with President Jacques Chirac Tuesday
after a meeting with business leaders. He will also see the heads of
the three main political parties before leaving Wednesday.
A crucial period is approaching for Turkey`s application bid, with
the European Commission due to give its opinion in October on a
possible opening of negotiations, followed by a decision in December
by European leaders on whether enough progress has been made towards
the EU`s reform demands.
Erdogan was expected to use the French visit to build up support in
the European country which has seen probably the most heated public
debate over the suitability for the EU of a predominantly Muslim and
Asian nation.
While Chirac has indicated in recent speeches that he now regards
Ankara`s progress to EU membership as “irreversible” and spoken of
its “historic and very ancient European vocation,” many in his own
government are deeply opposed to its accession.
In addition opinion polls indicate that a majority of the population
is against Turkey`s admission to the 25-nation body.
“The opposition comes in various forms: fear of Islam and immigrants
at one end, fear of seeing Europe dissolve into a vast free-trade
zone for others,” said Eddy Fougier of French Institute for
International Relations (IFRI).
France also has a large Armenian community of some 450,000 people,
whose pressure in 2001 secured the official recognition by the French
parliament of the Armenian genocide. This remains a highly
contentious issue between Ankara and Paris.
The opposition Socialist party said Monday it supports Turkish entry
“as long as the accession criteria are respected,” but both Chirac`s
ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and its junior partner the
Union for French Democracy (UDF) are sceptical.
“Europe`s historical identity is indissolubly linked — not with the
religious convictions of Europeans today — but with a cultural and
political model fashioned by 15 centuries of Christianity… Turkey
is a stranger to this history,” said UDF Euro-deputy Jean-Louis
Bourlanges.
The left-wing daily Liberation said in an editorial that the
“sticking-point between Europe and Turkey is not Islam or
Christianity, but the secular basis for social ties and institutions.
Turkey will have its own place in Europe … once it has given up
Sunni Islam as the de facto state religion.”
But it went on in more encouraging vein: “There is no convincing
reason to think that Islam is not in its essence compatible with
democracy and secularism. Helping Turkey to prove this should be an
uplifting challenge for Europeans.”

Back Stage, NY
July 19 2004
Ethnic Ambiguity
More Roles, But Still a Mixed Bag
By Simi Horwitz

With the high visibility of such cultural icons as baseball player
Derek Jeter, singer Mariah Carey, and action hero Vin Diesel, it’s
not really a big surprise to learn that talent agents, casting
directors, and talent management firms are now receiving requests for
actors who are “ethnically ambiguous,” of “mixed ethnicity,” or have
a “global look,” especially for commercials, films, and television
shows.
“Within the past three or four years, it has become a growing trend
across the board,” says Jessica Schoenholtz, a talent manager with
the New York City-based J. Mitchell Management. “In theatre, the
casting still tends to be a little more traditional, although the
ethnically ambiguous actor may be cast when directors or producers
want to do nontraditional casting.
“I believe producers, but especially advertisers — in fashion,
phones, and fast food, for example — are getting wise to the fact
that the world is changing,” she continues. “It’s a smaller place,
with lots of intermarriage, and the diversity is only going to
increase. A network like Nickelodeon often looks for ethnically
ambiguous actors. Ensemble casting routinely includes the ethnically
ambiguous.”
Carole Russo of New York’s Agents for the Arts agrees, adding, “There
is more opportunity for actors who are ethnically mixed than ever
before. I often get requests for actors who are biracial. Sometimes
it’s very specific, like African-American and Caucasian; other times,
the request for biracial is broadly nonspecific, leaving it wide
open. The breakdowns for many musicals now include ‘all ethnicities,
unless otherwise noted.’ ”
Back Stage talked with several actors who are indeed ethnically mixed
for their spin on the new opportunities available to them and the
concomitant obstacles. Most acknowledge more accessibility to roles.
Joanne HartsHorne, who is biracial (African-American and Caucasian),
says, “I don’t like labels. But being ethnically ambiguous has helped
me. I certainly get a lot of calls, so I’ve come to accept terms like
‘ethnically ambiguous.’ I sometimes think the term means almost
anything other than all white, which is also another way of saying
there’s a lot of competition for those roles.”
She adds that she is often cast as a Latino. In fact, HartsHorne has
had a recurring role as a woman of Brazilian descent on “As the World
Turns” for more than a year. “They specifically asked for a
light-skinned African-American to play a character who was half
Brazilian.”
Actress Alexea Lawson, who is of African-American, Native American,
Hispanic, and British heritage, has had similar experiences. “I’m
multiracial and have very little Spanish blood, but producers see a
Spanish girl when they look at me. They also continue to have
stereotypical notions of what an African-American looks like. They
don’t seem to accept the idea that a black person can have blue eyes
or blond hair. But if the casting notice says ‘ethnic,’ that changes
the picture. I then become ‘culturally unique’ and that character
description has opened doors for me in casting.”
However, within the parameters of “ethnic ambiguity,” she hones her
image depending on the specifics of the role. “If they want ‘ethnic
and funky,’ I’ll wear my hair curly. If they want ‘ethnic and
preppy,’ I’ll straighten it.”
By contrast, HartsHorne refuses to “second-guess what producers are
looking for, although they seem to have clear ideas of what a young
black girl looks or sounds like. I just go to an audition as me. But
when the character is African-American, I’ve been asked more than
once, ‘Can’t you look and sound more street?’ ”
Filipino performers have traditionally faced casting problems in
mainstream theatre, observes actress Ching Valdez-Aran. “We are of
mixed blood — part Hispanic, part Asian — and when I started in the
theatre in 1983, producers had no idea how to cast us. Many producers
thought of Asians as being Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. I don’t look
like any of these and I don’t look Hispanic either. I have never
heard the term ‘ethnically ambiguous’ or the ‘global look,’ but I
think it’s great. And I do think there are more casting opportunities
today.”
South Asian actors Back Stage has interviewed in the past echo the
viewpoint [See Back Stage, May 14, “The South Asians Are Coming…In
Fact, They’re Already Here”]. Undoubtedly, there are more roles today
for South Asians: Consider “Bombay Dreams.” But they are also being
cast as characters from the Middle East. Actress Sarita Choudhury
enjoyed a featured role in Betty Shamieh’s “Roar,” a play about
Palestinians. Similarly, Bombay-born actor Aasif Mandvi took on the
featured role of Ali Hakim, a Persian peddler, in Trevor Nunn’s 2002
production of “Oklahoma!”
This was a groundbreaking bit of casting. For starters, Mandvi was
among the first East Indians to be cast in a major part in a Broadway
musical. But equally relevant, until this production Ali had been
played as a Jewish vendor pretending to be Persian — feeding into
notions of Mideastern exoticism — and speaking with a generic
Mideastern accent. It was a Borsht Belt interpretation. Clearly, Nunn
was dead set against that vision, determined to present in its stead
a realistic portrayal of a Persian peddler, admittedly within a comic
framework. Still, a Persian was not cast in the role but rather a
South Asian who could “pass” for an Arab.
Interestingly, while producers and directors have become very
concerned with accuracy in language, dialect, and accent, they may be
a little less stringent in their casting. Stereotypes persist.
Actor Josh Levin-Soler — part Caucasian Jew, part Hispanic — says,
“I have European features, but I’m olive-skinned with dark hair. I’m
not exactly Latino looking, but I’m certainly not all-American
looking either. I could probably be cast as an Italian-American,
although so far I haven’t.
“Recently I got cast in a TV ad for AT&T Wireless,” Levin-Soler
continues. “They were looking for four Hispanics, three from Latin
America and one from Spain. [The latter] was me. I probably got that
role because people from Spain may be more European looking than
those from Latin America. I like the idea of ethnically ambiguous
casting. I’m sure for some actors it has opened up opportunities. For
me, it has been more limiting.”
Nora Armani, a performer of Armenian-Egyptian-American heritage, has
not been restricted by her mixed ethnicity, at least not for the most
part. Still, she recounts one stunning episode: “A movie
writer-director who wrote a character in a script based on me would
not cast me in the role because, he said, ‘You are not ethnic looking
enough.’ He wanted a more stereotypic Armenian look than I have. I’ve
lived abroad and speak with a British accent, but I look Eastern
European or Mediterranean.”
Armani also talks about the intangible influences of milieu and
culture. “I somehow look and sound different depending on where I am.
When I’m in Hollywood, I become more California. When I’m in Europe,
I’m more ethnic. I think that’s because it’s valued there. New York
is the best place for me. I can be who I am and accepted for it.”
In the byzantine world of casting, Armani feels that great strides
have been made and she is optimistic about the future, as she is
about the evolution of the species.
“There are so many mixes and matches today that we are now creating a
new breed. I foresee a time when many white actors will not really be
white.”

Turkish Press
July 19 2004
Turkish P.M. Hopes For Continued French Backing For E.U. Bid
AFP: 7/19/2004
PARIS, July 19 (AFP) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said Monday that his country wanted France to continue to back its
bid to become a member of the European Union, an ambition that will
enter a critical phase at the end of this year.
“In this area of course we want all the backing that France has
brought to us, and in particular through President (Jacques) Chirac,
to continue in the future,” he told reporters after meeting his
French counterpart Jean-Pierre Raffarin at the start of a three-day
visit to France.
A crucial period is approaching for Turkey’s application bid, with
the European Commission due to give its opinion in October on a
possible opening of negotiations, followed by a decision in December
by European leaders on whether enough progress has been made towards
the EU’s reform demands.
“On European questions, the Turkish Prime Minister outlined to me all
the reform efforts undertaken by his country to meet the … criteria
laid down by the EU,” Raffarin said.
“We shall study with the greatest attention the report of the
Commission this autumn and we want the European Council to take a
decision in December on this important issue,” he added.
“We have a large number of common points of view on international
matters.”
Other subjects discussed included cultural links between the two
countries. About 400,000 Turks live in France who, in Erdogan’s view,
“should be a bridge between the two nations.” About the same number
of French tourists visited Turkey last year and the total is expected
to rise to 600,000 this year.
Industrial cooperation was also discussed.
The prime minister, whose Justice and Development Party (AKP) has
Islamist origins, is due to lunch with Chirac Tuesday after a meeting
with business leaders. He will also see the heads of the three main
political parties before leaving Wednesday.
Erdogan is expected to use the French visit to build up support in
the European country which has seen probably the most heated public
debate over the suitability for the EU of a predominantly Muslim,
albeit secular nation.
While Chirac has indicated in recent speeches that he now regards
Ankara’s progress to EU membership as “irreversible” and spoken of
its “historic and very ancient European vocation”, many in his own
government are deeply opposed to its accession.
In addition opinion polls indicate that a majority of the population
is against Turkey’s admission to the 25-nation body.
“The opposition comes in various forms: fear of Islam and immigrants
at one end, fear of seeing Europe dissolve into a vast free-trade
zone for others,” said Eddy Fougier of French Institute for
International Relations (IFRI).
France also has a large Armenian community of some 450,000 people,
whose pressure in 2001 secured the official recognition by the French
parliament of the Armenian genocide. This remains a highly
contentious issue between Ankara and Paris.
The opposition Socialist party said Monday it supports Turkish entry
“as long as the accession criteria are respected,” but both Chirac’s
ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and its junior partner the
Union for French Democracy (UDF) are sceptical.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress