ASBAREZ ONLINE [12-06-2004]

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12/06/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Californians Unite to Commemorate 90th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide 2) Armenian Museum in Istanbul 3) Russian President Talks Trade, Terrorism in Former Foe Turkey 4) Presidential Candidates Strike Deal in Abkhazia 5) Animal Diseases Hamper Turkey's EU Bid 6) BRIEFS 1) Californians Unite to Commemorate 90th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide The year 2005 marks the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. The Armenian people, both in Armenia and the diaspora, will commemorate the most solemn event of our modern history, the genocide of Armenians on April 24, 1915. Ninety years have passed since this crime against Armenians, and all of humanity was committed, and mankind has entered a new century. For the Armenian people, however, that tragic event in history has not been resolved and cannot be forgotten. Almost 2 million Armenians became victims of a premeditated crime perpetrated by the Turkish Government. For decades on--even in the face of blatant denial of the genocide by the same government--successive Armenian generations have kept alive the memory of our martyrs, preserving their timeless message. And today, Turkey continues its attempt to revise history with its massive campaign against international recognition of that unforgettable event. The 90th milestone of the Armenian genocide, will therefore, not only be dedicated to the memory of our martyrs, but will also serve as an opportunity to internationally boost our public relations efforts. As such, religious, political, national, cultural, benevolent, youth, and other organizations operating in California have united to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. This move comes on the initiative of the three Armenian political parties, and under the auspices of the three Prelates of Western USA. We have already begun to outline and integrate the various observances and events that will take place in the coming year. The United Body to Commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian genocide will keep the public informed of planned activities, with the conviction that our public will bring their active participation. Armenian Church of North America Western Diocese Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church Armenian Catholic Exarchate Armenian Evangelical Community Armenian General Benevolent Union Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western Region Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar) Western Region Social Democrat Hunchak Party Western Region Armenian Relief Society Western Region Knights of Vartan Tekeyan Cultural Association Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Society Nor Serount Cultural Association Armenian Society (Iranahay Miutiun) of Los Angeles Armenian Assembly Western Region American Armenian Council Western Region Hai Tad Council Western Region Armenian National Committee Western Region AGBU Young Professionals Armenagan Youth Movement Armenian Youth Federation Gaydz Youth Organization United Armenian Youth United Armenian Students 2) Armenian Museum in Istanbul ISTANBUL (AP/Andadolu)--Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially opened an Armenian museum in Istanbul on Sunday, saying he was committed to protecting the rights of minority Armenians. Turkey, which recognizes Armenians as an official minority, is under pressure to improve rights for minorities as part of its efforts to join the European Union. Turkey hopes that EU leaders will agree to open membership talks at a Dec. 17 summit. Erdogan joined Mesrob II, the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul, and other leaders of Turkey's Armenian Christian minority of 65,000 for the opening of the museum at the Sourp Pergich Armenian Hospital in Bolis. "Armenian citizens are an indispensable part of [Turkey]. Every artifact in this museum shows a past lived together,'' Erdogan said. "We are now protecting each other's rights, aware of our citizenship, and it will be like this forever.'' Housed in a 172 year-old Armenian hospital, the museum includes religious artifacts, antique medical equipment and an Ottoman decree that established the hospital in 1832. 3) Russian President Talks Trade, Terrorism in Former Foe Turkey ANKARA (AP)--Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Turkey on Monday on a rare visit meant to boost trade and counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries, which have been rivals since the time of the czars and sultans. Putin arrived late Sunday on the first-ever official bilateral visit by a Russian leader--a record that reflects the troubled history between the nations. "We are here to take courageous decisions," Putin said at a dinner with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Sunday. "The visit will give the opportunity for both economic and trade relations between Russia and Turkey to open up to new horizons." On Monday, Putin met with Sezer after visiting Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's mausoleum, a shrine honoring the father of the modern Turkish Republic. He was also scheduled to meet with Turkey's prime minister and attend a business forum intended to increase trade between resource-rich Russia and Turkey, a key route for delivering oil and gas to Western markets. The two-day visit is expected to produce six cooperation agreements on issues including defense, finance, and energy--and a largely symbolic friendship and partnership declaration. Repeated wars between the Ottoman Empire and Czarist Russia gave way to a cold peace after the collapse of both empires, with Turkey looming as NATO's easternmost Soviet-era outpost. The nations later fought for influence in Turkic states that gained independence in the 1991 Soviet collapse. Today, both governments are playing up the promise of economic cooperation. Compared with the first half of 2003, bilateral trade rose by 60 percent in the first half of 2004, reaching $4.6 billion, according to Russia. It may exceed $10 billion for the year. A recently built pipeline carries Russian natural gas beneath the Black Sea to Turkey, which relies on Russia for some two-thirds of its gas. Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom is interested in projects for gas storage and more extensive distribution in Turkey. Turkish companies are active in Russia's booming construction, retail, and brewing industries, while its Mediterranean resorts are a favorite among richer Russians, whose visits have fostered familiarity between the traditional foes. But Turkey's control over the Bosporus--the water route that connects the Black Sea and the Mediterranean--has been a sore point. Turkey says increasing Russian oil tanker traffic through the strait is hazardous, while Russia says delays cost its exporters hundreds of millions of dollars a year. The touchy subject of terrorism was also likely to be high on the agenda. Russia has urged Turkey to crack down on charities it claims channel money and weapons to Chechen rebels. It also says numerous Turks have fought alongside the militants. Many Turks trace their ancestry to Chechnya or elsewhere in what's now Russia's North Caucasus region, and many sympathize with fellow Muslims in Chechnya, where civilians have suffered gravely in nearly a decade of war pitting Russian forces against rebels. About a dozen members of a pro-Chechen group laid a black wreath at the entrance of the Russian embassy Monday, shouting "Murderer Putin! Get out of Turkey!" Similar protests were held in Istanbul on Sunday. But in an apparent gesture to Putin, who says Russia is battling international terrorism, Turkish authorities apprehended nine suspected Chechen militants and three pro-Chechen Turks last week. The Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday that police had linked them to al-Qaeda. At Sunday's dinner, Sezer said Turkey is determined to cooperate with Russia in the fight against terrorism. 4) Presidential Candidates Strike Deal in Abkhazia (Eurasianet.org)--A last-minute deal between opposition leader Sergei Bagapsh and former Prime Minister Raul Khajimba appears to have ended a two-month stalemate over the outcome of Abkhazia's presidential elections. Yet the pact's consequences for Abkhazia's relations with Georgia remain unknown. While mutual congratulations have flowed from Sukhumi and Moscow, Tbilisi has maintained a tight-lipped silence about the compromise. Under the terms of the December 5 agreement, brokered by Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Vladimir Kolesnikov and Abkhaz Prime Minister Nodar Khazhba, Bagapsh and Khajimba will be running mates in a second presidential election to be held at an as yet undecided date. Plans for Bagapsh's inauguration, originally scheduled for December 6, were canceled following announcement of the pact. Since the October 3 presidential elections in which Bagapsh claimed victory, Abkhazia has teetered on the brink of all-out civil conflict. Bagapsh's and Khajimba's armed supporters both hold government buildings throughout the Abkhaz capital, Sukhumi, while Bagapsh's militias have taken control of broadcast facilities. Commenting on the compromise to Russian television, Khajimba stated that the deal should bring the violence to an end. "We have agreed that we will take all the necessary measures . . . in order to defuse the situation," Khajimba said. Bagapsh told the Russian news agency Interfax that a "cabinet of national unity" would be formed after the second round of elections and that additional legislation would be drafted to expand the powers of the Abkhazian vice-president. Unlike the disputed presidential election in Ukraine, Russia's intervention in Abkhazia appears to have played a major role in tipping the scales in favor of its preferred candidate, Khajimba. On December 1, with Bagapsh's inauguration just five days away, Russian presidential advisor Gennady Bukayev announced plans to suspend railway traffic with Abkhazia, terming the move necessary to end "instability" in the breakaway region. Already, border passage with Abkhazia had been restricted and agricultural imports from the sub-tropical region halted--a potentially fatal blow to the many Abkhaz farmers who depend on mandarin exports to Russia for their livelihoods. Since de facto independence from Georgia in 1993, Abkhazia has been largely dependent economically and politically on Russia for its survival. While Bagapsh had vowed to withstand pressure from Moscow, the pact, according to one independent political analyst in Tbilisi, "shows that Russia still has a tremendous amount of influence [in the region] and that even Bagapsh can't stand up against them." 5) Animal Diseases Hamper Turkey's EU Bid AMSTERDAM (Reuters)--Strengthening Turkey's porous south and eastern borders to prevent animal diseases from spreading to Europe is a key challenge in preparing the country's agriculture for EU membership, a report said on Friday. The report, prepared by an international group of agriculture economists, is based on the assumption that Turkey would join the EU in 2015, but says the country will need more time to attain food safety standards that would allow it to be part of a single market for animal products. The risk of disease outbreaks in the EU may increase and food safety and quality may become diluted by embracing a country with a poor record in these areas, unless effective border controls were in place from the moment of accession, the report said. "Some highly infectious animal diseases that have been virtually eradicated in western and northern Europe remain endemic in Turkey," said the report presented by the Dutch Wageningen University, which was the lead researcher. "The situation is complicated by the fragmentation of the livestock sector, Turkey's geographical location and its porous borders to the south and east," said the report, which focuses on the impact of Turkish EU membership on agriculture. Turkey, which borders Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Armenia to the south and the east, hopes EU leaders will agree at a summit on Dec. 17 to open entry talks in 2005 and eventually join the current 25-member bloc. The EU has said that agriculture, accounting for half Turkey's territory and employing a third of its workforce, will be a key issue in its preparations for accession. Friday's report said highly infectious diseases including foot-and-mouth and sheep and goat pox had occurred in Turkey virtually each year since 1996. The country was also prone to outbreaks of anthrax and brucellosis, it said. Economic and political turmoil in the Middle East over the past decade has caused an extension of animal disease epidemics in the region, posing threats to Europe. The report said Ankara had shown progress in harmonizing veterinary legislation with EU standards but added the infrastructure, administrative capacity and commitment needed for effective law enforcement and border control remained weak. "Even with effective implementation of the acquis (EU's set of laws), it will be many years before Turkey reaches full disease-free status for all the most infectious diseases," the report concluded. "The greatest challenge for Turkey does not, however, concern policies. It is in fact to develop... effective control of external borders by the time of accession." It estimated that EU budget payments to Turkey under structural policies, including agriculture, would be between 9.5 billion and 16.6 billion euros in 2015, while Turkey's budget contribution would be 5.4 billion euros. Turkey, which would add more than 80 million consumers to the EU-25's total of 452 million, has been seeking membership since 1963. 6) BRIEFS Armenia Blasts African 'Rogue State' over Jailed Pilots YEREVAN (RFE-RL)--Armenia lashed out at Equatorial Guinea on Monday for convicting six Armenian nationals of dubious coup charges, with a senior Foreign Ministry official describing the country as a hostage-taking "rogue state." In its most vocal condemnation yet of lengthy prison sentences given to the aircrew of an Armenian transport plane, official Yerevan held out little hope for the verdict's repeal by the west African nation's Supreme Court and pledged to concentrate on other possible ways of their liberation. According to Ambassador Sergey Manaserian, the options include amnesty, extradition to Armenia, and acquittal by an international court of justice. Doctors against Government Decision to Widen Medical Draft YEREVAN (RFE-RL)--The Armenian Medical Association, Armenia's leading medical body, criticized the government on Monday for scrapping exemptions from military service enjoyed until now by physicians with doctoral degrees. The government announced the decision on November 19, citing a lack of medical personnel in the Armenian Armed Forces. It expects to draft an additional 70 doctors for two-year service in military hospitals. They will swell the ranks of dozens of other medical university graduates that did not continue their studies at the post-graduate level and have to serve in the army. The Association said the decision is unacceptable and counterproductive. Women's Role Discussed at Simon Vratsian Center YEREVAN (Yerkir)--A seminar focusing on women's rights opened on Monday at the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Simon Vratsian Center in Yerevan. Titled "Women Can, " the three day seminar's goal is to advance the role of women both in the ARF and in the political arena of the country, said Chairwoman of the ARF Supreme Body's Committee for Women Maria Titizian. Sonia Local, representative of the Central and Eastern European Gender Cooperation, which operates in 21 countries, including Armenia, is presiding over the seminar. EP President Discusses Reopening of Armenian Border YEREVAN (Yerkir)--President of the European Parliament (EP) Josep Borrell discussed Turkey's accession to the European Union with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Borell stressed that if Turkey wishes to start full membership negotiations with the European Union, it must recognize the Greek Cypriot Administration. The reopening of the Armenian border was also discussed, with Erdogan remarking that Yerevan does not recognize the 1921 Kars agreement, which asserted the Turkish annexation of Armenian lands. Georgia's First Lady Meets with Students of Yerevan State University YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--On December 3, Georgia's first lady Sandra Roelofs met with the students of Yerevan State University during her 4-day visit to Armenia. During the question and answer session, the first lady promised the implementation of economic programs in Javakhk. She noted that President Mikhail Sahakashvili's promise to fight corruption in the political sphere will become a reality, though at a gradual pace. Commending Yerevan State University's centralized system of entrance exams, in use for the past 13 years, Roelofs said the system was just introduced to Tbilisi State University this year. Rossini Festival to Begin YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Yerevan kicked off a music festival dedicated to prominent Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini on December 4. Rossini occupied an unrivaled position in the Italian musical world of his time, winning considerable success relatively early in his career. Of Rossini's three dozen or so operas, Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) is probably the best known. The festival began with The Barber of Seville, performed by the students of Yerevan Conservatory. Italian ambassador to Armenia Marco Clemente described the festival as "an exceptional" event, sponsored by the government of Italy, as well as Italian and Armenian businessmen. Police to Probe Bomb Attack on Editor's Car YEREVAN (RFE-RL)--Armenian prosecutors announced on Friday the launch of a criminal investigation into the November 22 explosion that destroyed a car belonging to Nikol Pashinian's, editor of the "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily. Pashinian blamed the attack on Gagik Tsarukian, a business tycoon and parliament deputy, in retaliation for the paper's critical coverage of his economic and public activities. Tsarukian has dismissed the allegations as untrue. Armenia's Office of Prosecutor-General said in a statement that a forensic examination conducted at the scene has found that the car was burned down by "a source of open fire." The statement said this gave the Yerevan police grounds to open a criminal case into a possible "deliberate destruction of private property." Mayors Vow to Boost Moscow-Yerevan Trade YEREVAN (RFE-RL)--Moscow's longtime Mayor Yuri Luzhkov ended a two-day visit to Yerevan on Friday, signing economic agreements which he said will dramatically boost commercial ties between the two capitals. Luzhkov and Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharian agreed to ensure more than $100 million in mutual investments in real estate development and business infrastructure within the next three years. 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. 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.