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07/28/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// Corrections: In the article "Commemorating the Spirit of Lisbon Five," which appeared in our July 27 issue, in referring to the members of the Lisbon Five, we inadvertently wrote: "The five members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. . . ". That should have read "The five members of the Armenian Revolutionary Army." In the same article, the second to the last paragraph was incomplete, and should have read: "Praising those Armenian establishments that instilled such national spirit and faith in our youth in the past, the speaker stressed the necessity of maintaining that pure outlook, unfettered nationalism, and noble path." 1) Looking for Commitment in All the Wrong Places 2) Turkey Can Never Be European, German Politician Says 3) US Intends to Help Azerbaijan in Democratic and Economic Reforms 4) Swiss-Turkey Relations Hit New Low 5) UN Nuclear Agency Chief Discusses Medzamor Safety in Armenia 6) Armenian Chess Player Wins Bronze Medal 1) Looking for Commitment in All the Wrong Places European Turk parliamentarians set Prime Minister Erdogan straight ANKARA (Aztagdaily)--During a meeting with Ethnic Turk European parliamentarians, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked for their cooperation in working against recognition of the Armenian genocide in their respective parliaments. Erdogan targeted parliamentarians from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and Sweden during a meeting in Ankara, asking them to counter efforts by diaspora Armenians to pass Genocide-related legislation. The parliamentarians expressed apprehension, stating that given European "predisposition" on the issue of the Armenian genocide, Turkish lobbying efforts would not be successful. 2) Turkey Can Never Be European, German Politician Says (Reuters)--Turkey should never join the European Union because it lies mostly outside Europe geographically, and accession talks should not begin on October 3 unless Ankara first recognizes the sovereignty of Cyprus, according to the vice president of Germany's CDU/CSU party, Wolfang Schauble. Schauble made these remarks in the Polish daily, Rzeczpospolita, on July 25 following Germany's decision last week to push for elections on September 18, which are widely expected to sweep the center-right CDU/CSU group into power. "The EU should not extend beyond the boundary that we call the European continent. Otherwise people will stop identifying with it. And if so, Turkey, the vast part of which lies outside Europe, cannot belong to the union," he proclaimed. Schauble explained that the October 3 membership talks could proceed with Ankara as planned "if by this time Turkey formally recognizes the sovereignty of our European partner Cyprus." However, he added that Ankara should be made aware the negotiations are open-ended and could possibly lead to a privileged partnership status rather than full membership. The vice president in charge of foreign affairs and justice brushed aside worries that blocking Turkish entry might send a hostile message to the Islamic world and aggravate Washington, which has pressed for Turkish accession in recent years. Schauble indicated that Ankara's NATO membership and the fact that 20 million Muslims reside in the EU "is proof that we, Christians and Muslims, can live together sharing the same fundamental values." The vice president also added that "the US will agree that it is us, the Europeans, who know best which institutional form to give to our relations with Turkey." 3) US Intends to Help Azerbaijan in Democratic and Economic Reforms BAKU (Armenpress)--The United States is deeply committed to helping Azerbaijan succeed in democratic and economic reforms, said Under Secretary for Global Affairs of the United States Dr. Paula Dobriansky at a July 27 press conference in Baku. Dobriansky spoke highly of the value of bilateral relations between the United States and Azerbaijan, specifically noting Azerbaijan's contribution to coalition efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the two countries' efforts to make the East-West Energy Corridor a reality. Commenting on Azerbaijan's many challenges in advancing democracy, Dobriansky said, "It is the sincere desire of the United States government that this decree be implemented fully at all levels of government in all regions of Azerbaijan," adding that the US funded exit-poll, conducted by independent, objective organizations, will help deter electoral fraud. Meanwhile, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammedyarov will discuss the regulation of the Karabagh conflict during his upcoming visit to Washington, DC from August 1-5. Mammedyarov, who is traveling to Washington at the invitation of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, will attend meetings at the White House, Pentagon, and several think-tanks. 4) Swiss-Turkey Relations Hit New Low BERN (Armenpress)--Swiss parliamentarian Erwin Jutzet was quoted on July 27 by SwissInfo as saying that Turkey should recognize the Armenian genocide and stop blackmailing Switzerland. Meanwhile, the Swiss ambassador in Ankara has had to defend himself against a barrage of criticism concerning the Swiss investigation of a Turkish politician. "Turkey has to stop reacting so sensitively to such events," Jutzet, the president of the House of Representatives' foreign-policy commission, told the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper on Wednesday. "It would do better to recognize once and for all the genocide of the Armenians." On July 26, Turkey presented a protest note concerning the investigation of a Turkish politician on suspicion of violating Swiss anti-racism laws, to the Swiss ambassador in Ankara and the Swiss foreign ministry in Bern. Dogu Perincek, leader of Turkey's Workers' Party and the subject of two criminal investigations, has twice denied that the killings of Armenians around the time of World War I amounted to genocide. Jutzet stated that it was up to Turkey to make a move "instead of always taking offense and resorting to blackmail." He added that the constant denial of genocide could have ramifications for Turkey's much sought-after entry into the European Union, and "if Switzerland were to turn its back on Turkey, it would be a bad sign for EU entry." 5) UN Nuclear Agency Chief Discusses Medzamor Safety in Armenia YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Mohamed El Baradei, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), praised Armenian authorities for their "good" cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog group as he ended a two-day visit to Yerevan on Thursday. El Baradei said the ongoing efforts to further improve the safety standards at the Medzamor nuclear power station were an "important focus" of his talks with President Robert Kocharian and other Armenian officials. He also said the Armenian leadership plans to keep the Soviet-built facility operational for another decade despite lingering Western concerns about its security. "We identified issues that need to be worked on, particularly in the area of nuclear safety," El Baradei said. "I reviewed with [Armenian officials] the progress we are making in improving safety at Medzamor and the steps that need to be taken to improve it further." "I think the cooperation [between Armenia and IAEA] has been good," he added. "I think there has been a commitment to continue to strengthen safety at Medzamor. We will continue to work with Armenian authorities to improve safety there." Kocharian was likewise quoted by his press office as telling El Baradei that he is "satisfied" with his government's cooperation with the Vienna-based agency. Yerevan continues to pay "special attention" to enhancing the operational safety of Medzamor's sole reactor, he said. IAEA has regularly inspected the reactor, which meets nearly 40 percent of Armenia's electricity needs, ever since its re-activation in 1995 and has so far not reported serious violations of safety standards there. The head of its European department noted "a great deal of understanding" with the Armenian authorities during a visit to Yerevan in October 2002. However, the European Union and the United States continue to press for Medzamor's closure, saying that its light-water reactor is one the most dangerous facilities of its kind in the world. EU and US financial assistance has been key to the nuclear safety measures taken there over the past decade. El Baradei said he did not discuss with Kocharian possible dates for the plant's decommissioning. "I think the Armenian authorities would like to continue to operate the reactor for around ten years," he said. "It is for Armenia to decide when to shut down the reactor. Of course, there is concern about its safety and that is why we are working with them to make sure that safety is improved to an acceptable international level." Deputy Energy Minister Areg Galstian announced late last month that Yerevan is already making preparations for the start of what promises to be a very costly decommissioning process. He said it will be complete by 2016. El Baradei's itinerary in Armenia also included visits to Medzamor and an oncology clinic in Yerevan that has just been supplied by IAEA with modern radio-therapy equipment. The 62-year-old Egyptian, who looks set to run IAEA for a third term despite US opposition, said he also discussed his agency's "active program to protect against illicit trafficking of nuclear material" through Armenia. It was not clear if IAEA views the country as a potential transit route for illegal supplies to neighboring Iran whose controversial nuclear program is facing close international scrutiny. 6) Armenian Chess Player Wins Bronze Medal YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Winning the bronze medal in the World Chess Championship on July 28 in the French city of Belford, Samvel Ter-Sahakian, age 12, defeated his competitor by gaining 8.5 points in the last round. Last year, Ter-Sahakian earned second place in the same category. 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) 2005 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.