ASBAREZ Online [09-27-2005]

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09/27/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Hundreds Gather at System Of A Down, ANC, AYF Rally Demanding Genocide Vote 2) Austria on EU Collision Course over Turkey Talks 3) Finland's President Visits Armenia 4) Armenian Conference at Istanbul University in March 2006 5) Armenia Fund Continues Tradition of Thanksgiving Day Telethon 6) US-Armenia Agriculture Heads Discuss Cooperation 1) Hundreds Gather at System Of A Down, ANC, AYF Rally Demanding Genocide Vote BATAVIA--System Of A Down singer Serj Tankian, leaders of the Armenian National Committee (ANC), and the Armenian Youth Federation headed up a rally in front of Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert's district office in Batavia, IL, urging the Speaker to `Do the right thing' and schedule a vote on Armenian Genocide legislation currently before the House of Representatives. With the street in front of Hastert's office blocked off by a police cordon, hundreds of people of all ages listened to Tankian and John Dolmayan and Armenian National Committee representatives Aram Hamparian and Greg Bedian address the crowd, thanking them for their support and urging them to continue to build momentum for the legislation. System Of A Down's four band members--Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan--are of Armenian descent and have made awareness of the Genocide, and genocides around the world, a central message of the band. All lost family members in the Armenian genocide. Tankian and Armenian American community representatives passed on to Hastert's aides a letter urging the Speaker to move the legislation forward and presented hundreds of letters from community members calling for a vote. In a personal letter delivered to Speaker Hastert's office, Tankian stated `My grandfather, Stepan Haytayan, is a 97 year-old survivor of the genocide. He's my only link to this past. I promised him that I would try to reach you and explain how important American recognition is to the surviving children of the first genocide of the 20th century.' Greg Bedian, Chair of the ANC of Illinois, told the crowd, `You've taken the time to stand up for justice about Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide, the precursor to the Holocaust and many other instances of mass slaughter. The US government today must set its record straight by reaffirming the fact that Turkey committed genocide when it exterminated 1.5 million Armenians. America must send the message to governments around the world that the crime of genocide will neither be forgotten nor treated with impunity.' The rally was organized by the popular rock band, along with Axis of Justice, the Armenian National Committee of America, and the Armenian Youth Federation. In addition to members of the Armenian-American community of Greater Chicago, attendees traveled from Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, California, and Washington, DC to take part in the event. The numbers of Armenian Americans were buoyed by the participation of throngs of fans of System Of A Down and supporters of Axis of Justice. Demonstrators from the Armenian National Committee of Illinois had picketed Speaker Hastert's `Mobile Office Tour 2005' on Wednesday, July 20, demanding that he honor his five-year-old pledge to move the Armenian Genocide Resolution forward in the House of Representatives. Hastert made the pledge to have the full House vote on Armenian Genocide legislation in August of 2000, but reneged in October of 2000 citing pressure from then President Clinton. He also prevented a similar resolution from reaching the floor in 2004. Staffers committed to provide the Speaker's feedback to the constituents very soon regarding the current bill. 2) Austria on EU Collision Course over Turkey Talks BRUSSELS (EUPolitix/Reuters)--Austria appears to be on a collision course with its European Union partners over the terms for starting accession talks with Turkey next week, raising the risk of a last-minute cliffhanger unless Vienna backs down. With 80 percent of his electorate opposed to Turkish entry, Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel is holding out for a face-saving formula in the EU negotiating mandate spelling out the prospect of less than full membership, diplomats said. `Austria is insisting on an alternative to membership,' a senior EU diplomat said. Turkey says it would walk away if the EU mentioned the `privileged partnership' sought by Vienna. The Austrians seem isolated after Cyprus, Greece, and France accepted a deal last week on the other key issue that had clouded the planned October 3 start of accession negotiations--Turkey's refusal to recognize Cyprus. Unless Vienna backs down at a meeting of ambassadors of the 25-nation bloc on Thursday, EU president Britain will call an emergency foreign ministers' session in Luxembourg on Sunday evening to seek agreement, hours before Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is due to arrive and start the negotiations. `We could end up with Gul sitting with his suitcase at Ankara Airport waiting for word on the final language of the negotiating mandate. That would be very humiliating for the Turks and get the talks off to the worst possible start,' another EU diplomat said. Turkey has insisted that it will walk away from any negotiations proposing privileged partnership. Turkish foreign minister Ali Babacan, said Europe must not move the goal posts at the last minute. European Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn has dismissed the privileged partnership option, insisting that talks must aim for full membership. `Whatever that [privileged partnership] could mean I'm willing to listen, but I have not yet heard very convincing answers,' he said. Complicating matters, Austria has informally linked its acceptance of the start of Turkey talks to the start of negotiations with Croatia. Speaking earlier this month, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said, `I would find it grotesque if we begin negotiations with Turkey and leave Croatia outside the door to starve.' Austria's stance reflects growing public opposition in much of Western Europe to admitting the vast, poor, overwhelmingly Muslim country on the edge of Europe and the Middle East. 3) Finland's President Visits Armenia YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--Finland's President Tarja Halonen ended a two-day official visit to Yerevan on Tuesday, pledging support for Armenia's efforts to forge closer links with the European Union and stressing the importance of its democratization. `We have discussed how Finland can help Armenia within the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy,' she said after talks with President Robert Kocharian. `I am happy to see that Armenia has a serious approach to European integration and think my counterpart too realizes that it creates many opportunities for his country but requires a great deal of efforts.' Halonen was referring to Armenia's inclusion last year in the program designed to promote privileged partnership between the EU countries and their immediate neighbors. Kocharian and Prime Minister Andranik Markarian expressed hope that Finland will help Armenia benefit from the scheme and contribute to its broader European integration when it assumes the EU's rotating presidency next year. Halonen also visited the genocide memorial to 1.5 million Armenians killed by the government of Turkey in 1915-1923, and planted a tree in their memory. Halonen's visit is the first by a Finnish head of state to Caucuses Region since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, and marks the first time a woman president visits Armenia. 4) Armenian Conference at Istanbul University in March 2006 ISTANBUL--Istanbul University (IU) sources revealed on Tuesday that yet another conference dealing with the Armenian genocide is scheduled to take place in Turkey, in March 2006. After two cancellations, an unprecedented conference on the genocide of Armenians was held last Saturday at Istanbul's Bilgi University. Last May, Turkey's justice minister said the conference was a `stab in the Turkish nation's back,' prompting it to be postponed, and tapping into hard-line elements. It was again cancelled after a Turkish court ruling banning the meeting, following complaints by nationalists. The IU Rector's office said the upcoming conference would be held at IU, with `wide international participation and on basis of international criteria.' `The participants, including lawyers, scholars and politicians, of countries who have adopted resolutions accepting and remembering the so-called Armenian genocide will be invited,' stated a press release. Istanbul University said the `matter' would be studied not only historically and objectively, but also from legal, political and sociological perspectives. 5) Armenia Fund Continues Tradition of Thanksgiving Day Telethon NEW YORKA yearly tradition returns on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, when Armenia Fund Telethon 2005 will be broadcast to raise funds for `Rebirth of Artsakh,' a three-year, three-phase major regional development program for Mountainous Karabagh Republic. Since 1996, when the Telethon was first organized, millions of dollars have been raised to implement vital projects that have affected thousands of lives. The `Rebirth of Artsakh' regional development program includeds the building of schools, houses, clinics, and access roads, as well as drinking water programs and agricultural initiatives for three major regions of Mountainous Karabagh. Armenia Fund USA will spearhead the Agricultural Initiative component of the Program, aimed at providing long term sustainable economic development for the region. This year's Telethon will raise funds for the Mardakert agricultural initiative, which requires $2.5 million to assist 20,000 inhabitants. Plans are to establish six Agricultural Development Associations in order to help transition groups of subsistence farmers to becoming field crop, swine, and cattle production units. Armenia Fund is the US affiliate of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, and is a non-profit, non-governmental, nonsectarian organization; the Fund represents all Armenian constituents. 6) US-Armenia Agriculture Heads Discuss Cooperation WASHINGTON, DC--Armenia's agricultural minister David Lokian met with US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johans, in Washington on Monday, to review US-Armenia collaboration in the sector. In order to expand ties and establish joint projects, they discussed introduction of state-of-the technology to ensure food safety in Armenia. The US Department of Agriculture has expressed readiness to assist Armenia, including technical assistance to train specialists. Minister Lokian is in the US for a meeting of the US-Armenia Task Force that meets every 6 months to review the progress and objectives of US assistance to Armenia. The bilateral commission was established in 2000. Senior US officials from the State Department, Agriculture, Finance and Trade departments, as well as USAID and Millennium Challenge Account program, attended a reception at the Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC, for Task Force members. 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. 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