ASBAREZ Online [10-06-2004]

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10/06/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) European Armenian Federation Delivers Its Report on Turkey to The European Commission 2) Turkey Comes A Step Closer to Fulfilling European Dream 3) Celebration of Nigol Touman in His Native Village 4) Support Growing Among Congressional Candidates For Expanded US-Armenia Trade 1) European Armenian Federation Delivers Its Report on Turkey to The European Commission BRUSSELS--On September 29, the European Armenian Federation provided the European Commission with detailed information about the Turkish Government's strategy in dealing with Armenian concerns. The extensive 32 page report, titled "Turkey and the Armenian Genocide," covers policies adopted and enacted in 2003 with a special 2004 addendum, focusing on Turkey's domestic policies in dealing with its Armenian minority and relations with foreign countries in regard to the Armenian genocide. The document excludes coverage on Turkey's relations with Armenia, as well as its ongoing blockade of the country. The report provides examples of alleged scientific research, administrative measures, manipulation tools, intimidation tactics, and diplomatic measures used by the Turkish government. It outlines Turkey's efforts to destabilize Armenian institutions in Turkey, providing information on so-called reconciliation attempts and threats against other countries.  "European policy-makers often have an incomplete view of Turkey's aggressive policies toward their Armenian minority and Armenian issues in general. Often, only the most egregious tactics are taken into account. With this report, we aim to disclose the actual scale of this strategy, which serves as a fundamental pillar of Turkey's State policy" said Laurent Leylekian, Executive Director of the European Armenian Federation. "We updated this report with the most recent measures undertaken by Ankara, with special focus on the recent adoption of article 306, which criminalizes the affirmation of the Armenian genocide. This attack on liberty clearly contradicts accepted international laws dealing with freedom of speech, specifically articles 10, 11, and 14 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, which will serve as an integral part of the forthcoming European Constitution" added Leylekian. "Based on our findings, we hope that the European Commission's annual report on Turkey will give a more complete account of Turkey's denialist and anti-Armenian policies than previous years--policies which consistently violate the Copenhagen criteria. The absence of these findings would signal the Commission's endorsement of Turkey's racist and discriminatory policies," concluded Leylekian. The report is available on the Federation's website-- 2) Turkey Comes A Step Closer to Fulfilling European Dream BRUSSELS (AFP)--Turkey came a step closer to fulfilling a 40-year-old dream when the European Commission recommended that the EU should begin membership talks with Ankara. But the Commission set a series of tough conditions and warned there was no guarantee of a successful outcome. It set no start date for the talks, leaving it up to EU leaders who must decide at a December summit whether to accept its recommendations and, if so, when to begin negotiations expected to last at least a decade. "The Commission's answer is yes...it is a conditional yes," European Commission President Romano Prodi told the European Parliament, adding that Europe had nothing to fear from Turkish EU membership. The EU executive's proposals--widely leaked over the past week--were approved at a meeting Wednesday despite concerns from some that Turkey is simply too big and too different to join the European club. "A Europe that is sure of itself, has a constitution and strong institutions and policies, is returning to economic growth and is based on a strong model of peace, prosperity, and solidarity has nothing to fear from the integration of Turkey," said Prodi. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul hailed the decision as a "historic step" for both Turkey and the 25-nation EU. Ankara wants the talks to start in the first half of next year. Turkey, an official candidate since 1999, has been waiting to join the European club for four decades but its efforts have stumbled over its civil rights record. Germany, home to Europe's largest Turkish immigrant community, welcomed the report and said Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder would vote in favor of starting membership negotiations at the Brussels summit. A German government spokesman called it a "very balanced report," while Schroeder, speaking during a visit to New Delhi, was confident Turkey would receive the support of most EU leaders. But many Europeans are alarmed at the prospect of the EU taking in a poor, populous, and mostly Muslim state that has 90 percent of its territory in Asia and which borders Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Turkey's population of 71 million is greater than the 10 countries that joined the EU earlier this year combined. The Commission on Wednesday said it "considers that Turkey sufficiently fulfills the political criteria" for membership talks but warned that these could be suspended, or even broken off. "The Commission will recommend the suspension of the negotiations in the case of a serious and persistent breach of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law on which the Union is founded," said the report. It praised the Turkish government for "far-reaching" reforms already carried out to bring the country up to European political and social norms. But more must be done to fight corruption, stamp out torture, improve freedom of expression and of religion, and to boost women's and minority rights, it said. No specific timeline is given for the talks, but the Commission said that "the necessary preparations for accession will last well into the next decade." Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara hopes to start EU negotiations in the first half of next year, leading to membership in a "reasonable period of time." "We hope to bring a long-travelled road to its final lap with the initiation of accession negotiations in the first half of 2005," he said in Strasbourg, France, shortly before the commission signed off on its report. The Commission has also said that Turkish membership could cost the EU, which is currently home to nearly four million Turkish immigrants, between 16.5 and 27.5 billion euros a year by 2025. But although it has an array of caveats, the core message was good news for Ankara. One cloud hanging over the whole project is a pledge by French President Jacques Chirac to hold a referendum on Ankara's EU hopes. In theory, such a vote could simply reject Turkish EU entry, regardless of what happens in the negotiations. The next head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, said Monday he welcomed the idea of referendums in EU member countries. The commission meanwhile confirmed Wednesday that Romania and Bulgaria are on track to join the EU in 2007. 3) Celebration of Nigol Touman in His Native Village STEPANAKERT (ARF Press Office)--In commemoration of the 90th anniversary of Nigol Touman's death, the ARF Aram Manoogian Student Organization held a cultural evening in his native village of Ghshlagh. As a part of the remembrance, middle school students participated in a writing contest to honor Touman, who was a leading revolutionary figure in the Armenian national-liberation movement of the late 19th/early 20th century. The contest theme was "The Revolutionary Leader, My Fellow Villager." Students also performed a dramatic piece depicting activities of one of Touman's groups that fought for liberation, followed by a performance of patriotic songs. The remembrance ended with a dinner and bonfire in the courtyard of the Nigol Touman museum-home located in the Askeran region of the Mountainous Karabagh Republic, on the road to the Gandzasar monastery. Organized by the group National Treasures, the dinner attracted several guests, including the benefactor of the museum-home Jhasik Bouynatian. Touman's home was discovered only about a year-and-a half ago by the ARF Student Organization of Artsakh (Karabagh), and converted into a museum about a year ago. During renovations, workers uncovered caches of swords, Mosin rifles, and various weapons parts hidden in the walls of the home. 4) Support Growing Among Congressional Candidates For Expanded US-Armenia Trade --Responses to 2004 Candidate Questionnaires Reveal Strong Support for PNTR for Armenia WASHINGTON, DC--Congressional candidates from around the nation strongly support legislation aimed at expanding US-Armenia trade relations, according to responses to multi-issue candidate questionnaires circulated this election season by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Challengers and incumbents from both parties have stressed their support for legislation that would grant Armenia Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. This measure, which is being spearheaded in the Senate by Senator Mitch McConnell and in the House by Congressman Joe Knollenberg, may win final approval before the Congress goes out of session this year. "Armenian Americans have been tremendously encouraged by the growing support for PNTR legislation for Armenia and remain hopeful that it will be enacted prior to the end of the Congressional session," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. A sample of response on US-Armenia trade is provided below to offer a sense of the strong bipartisan support for this issue: --Illinois Congressman John Shimkus, representing the southern part of the State, noted in his response to the ANCA Candidate Questionnaire: "I support extending permanent normal trade relations between the United States and Armenia as a means of strengthening the bonds and the commitment between our nations." --Congressman Eric Cantor, the Chief Deputy Majority Whip and a long-time friend of the Richmond Armenian community, explained: "The ascension of Armenia to the World Trade Organization will begin to stabilize trade relations with the United States. It is a step in the right direction because free trade with Armenia will have a positive effect on not only the economy of that country but that of the United States as well. All free trade promotes job creation and economic growth throughout the world; by helping Armenia we are helping the American economy prosper." --First-term Congressman from Michigan, Thaddeus McCotter, who has already emerged as a leading member of the Armenian Caucus, stated: "Our two great nations will only grow stronger by trading together. I signed a letter supporting Armenian PNTR in the House and will continue to work to see it signed into law." --Candidate Robert Neeld, from the Gulf Coast of Florida, who is seeking to fill the seat vacated by new Director of Central Intelligence Porter Goss, wrote: "Favorable trading agreements benefit both countries and would continue to stimulate Armenia's economy." The ANCA Congressional Candidate Questionnaire includes nine different questions on the topics of the Armenian genocide; US support for Armenia and Karabagh; US-Armenia economic relations; self-determination for Karabagh; conditions on US aid to Azerbaijan; the Turkish blockade of Armenia; and the US subsidy of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline bypass of Armenia. "As in past years, we are pleased that candidates for Congress have taken such full advantage of our questionnaires to speak directly to Armenian American voters on issues of special concern to our community," noted Hamparian. For an Adobe PDF version of the ANCA Questionnaire, visit: or 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) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. 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