Month: September 2006

EU FAULTS TURKEY ON CYPRUS TRADE, SHOWING ENTRY RISKS
By Jonathan Stearns

Bloomberg
Sept 27 2006

Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) — The European Union criticized Turkey for
the second time in as many days for restricting trade with Cyprus,
underscoring the risk of a breakdown in talks on Turkish entry into
the EU.

The European Parliament today pressed Turkey, which occupies part of
EU member Cyprus, to lift a ban on Cypriot ships and airplanes.

Yesterday, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn urged the Ankara
government to end the embargo as he prepares a Nov. 8 assessment of
Turkey’s bid for membership.

"The restrictions infringe the principle of the free movement of
goods," the Parliament said in a resolution approved in Strasbourg,
France. "A lack of progress in this regard will have serious
implications for the negotiation process and could even bring it to
a halt."

The warnings reflect EU anxieties about letting in Turkey, which would
become the first Muslim member and one of the bloc’s most populous
nations. Turkey’s occupation of the northern tier of Cyprus since a
1974 invasion and its refusal to recognize the Mediterranean island
republic add to the troubles.

The 25-nation EU began decade-long accession talks with Turkey last
October after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government promised
to extend to Cyprus a free-trade accord with other EU members. The
government in Ankara has since linked this step to the end of a
European trade embargo against the Turkish- occupied part of Cyprus.

`No Bargaining’

"I hope Turkey understands that there is no bargaining on this,"
Camiel Eurlings, a Dutch member who steered the resolution through the
EU Parliament, said in an interview. "Turkey must do what it pledged."

Eurlings said he had the impression the Turkish government was heading
"toward a cliff" on this matter and was speeding up instead of trying
to alter its course. "I am very frustrated. I am worried," he said.

Cyprus joined the EU in May 2004 without the northern region because
voters in the Greek-speaking south rejected a United Nations-backed
unification plan. The Turkish-speaking north endorsed the plan,
prompting Ankara to blame the Cypriot government for the island’s
continuing division.

The EU Parliament said Turkey should bolster efforts to unite the
island through an "early withdrawal" from northern Cyprus of Turkish
soldiers numbering about 30,000.

Facilitating Talks

"The withdrawal of Turkish soldiers could facilitate the resumption
of substantive negotiations," the assembly said in its resolution,
which was approved by a vote of 429 to 71 with 125 abstentions.

The Parliament, whose resolution on Turkey is non-binding, acts in
these cases as a barometer of public opinion in the bloc. EU national
governments and the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm in
Brussels, steer membership negotiations.

In February, EU governments approved a 139 million-euro ($176 million)
aid package for northern Cyprus while refusing Turkey’s demand for
an end to the EU embargo against the region.

In a concession to Turkey today, the Parliament scrapped from its
resolution a call to make Turkish "acknowledgement" of the alleged
genocide against Armenians in 1915 a "precondition" for EU membership.

The draft resolution from the Parliament’s foreign-affairs committee in
early September had included this demand, which the Turkish government
criticized at the time as being "far from objective."

EP TO VOTE ON TURKEY REPORT TODAY

Turkish Press
Sept 27 2006

The full European Parliament is due today to vote a Turkey report
prepared by Dutch Christian Democrat Camiel Eurlings. During
yesterday’s session, MEP Louis Michel said that recognizing the
so-called Armenian genocide shouldn’t be a precondition for Turkey’s
accession, adding that it wouldn’t be appropriate to put forth new
criteria. "We have to understand the importance of Turkey," said
Michel. "Turkey plays a key role in the region." Michel added that
the European Union needs Turkey for peace and stability.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S TURKEY REPORT

Turkish Press
Sept 27 2006

Turkish MPs: The Report Is Better Than The Report Prepared By Foreign Affairs Commission

STRASBOURG – Turkish MPs from Justice & Development Party (AKP)
expressed their views on the Turkey report which was approved by the
European Parliament today and said the evaluation report is better
than the report prepared by Foreign Affairs Commission.

AKP Deputy Chairman Saban Disli, Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly (PACE) Turkish delegation leader Murat Mercan and Turkish
Parliament EU Adjustment Commission Chairman Yasar Yakis spoke at a
joint press conference after EP’s decision, on Wednesday.

AKP Deputy Chairman Disli said that they met representatives of EP
in Brussels and Strasbourg prior to EP’s decision. "We relayed them
the message that, it wouldn’t be beneficial to anyone to accept the
report prepared by Foreign Affairs Commission," Disli added.

Disli mentioned that they succeeded on their attempts and the lawmakers
dropped their demand that Turkey must acknowledge the so-called
Armenian genocide before it can join the European Union. He also
expressed his gladness on the refusal of French lawmakers proposal
for Turkey’s privileged partnership to the EU.

Saban Disli said that the report is not worse than the prior reports
and he added "however, there are parts of the report that bothers us.

We expect them to act fairly especially on the Cyprus issue. We hope
them to take a decision that rewards Turkish Cypriots"

Disli stated that for the first time EP documents mentioned that
Turkey’s economy is going well.

Meanwhile, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Turkish
delegation leader Murat Mercan said that the claims on Turkey’s reform
period has slowed down are not true. "It is in our hands to change
this misunderstanding" he added.

4 RUSSIAN OFFICERS ARRESTED FOR SPYING IN GEORGIA

Makfax, Macedonia
Sept 27 2006

Four Russian officers have been arrested on suspicion of spying in
Georgia, Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said.

"Four Russian military intelligence officers and 12 citizens of Georgia
have been suspected of spying in Tbilisi, Batumi and other part of
Georgia. They were arrested in special operations," Merabishvili said.

Hundreds of police vehicles sealed a district in Tbilisi, where the
headquarters of the Russian military bases in Georgia, Azerbaijan
and Armenia are stationed.

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN ADDRESS ISSUE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH IN UN DEBATE

NewsBlaze, CA
Sept 27 2006

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on the fifth day of
its annual high-level debate, the foreign ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan expressed their views on the Nagorno-Karabakh region
of Azerbaijan.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said on Monday that "the
people of Nagorno-Karabakh chose long ago not to be represented by the
Government of Azerbaijan. They were the victims of state violence, they
defended themselves, and succeeded against great odds, only to hear
the State cry foul and claim sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Mr. Oskanian said that last December Azerbaijan destroyed or removed
thousands of hand-sculpted mediaeval Armenian tombstones.

"Such destruction, in an area with no Armenians, at a distance from
Nagorno-Karabakh and any conflict areas, is a callous demonstration
that Azerbaijan’s attitude towards tolerance, human values, cultural
treasures, cooperation or even peace, has not changed."

He added that "one cannot blame us for thinking that Azerbaijan is
not ready or interested in a negotiated peace."

Elmar Mammadyarov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, told the Assembly
that a recent joint environmental operation between the two countries
to tackle major fires inside Nagorno-Karabakh has been "the only
positive development so far."

"The occupying forces have to withdraw from the occupied territories
and necessary conditions have to be in place to allow secure
and dignified return of the Azerbaijani displaced persons to the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and surrounding territories of Azerbaijan,"
he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s status can only be defined "through peaceful,
democratic and legal process with direct participation and consent
of both Azerbaijani and Armenian communities," he said, adding
that the region’s economic development must be strengthened and its
inter-communal relations enhanced.

But "it is difficult to hope for a breakthrough in the negotiations
when Armenia rejects face-to-face meetings and refuses to take a
constructive approach to solve existing problems."

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CRITICISES ARTICLE 301 OF TURKISH PENAL CODE

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Sept 27 2006

The recently passed article of the Penal Code covers the crime of
"insulting Turkish identity".

Guncelleme: 17:30 TSÝ 27 Eylul 2006 CarþambaANKARA – Amnesty
International (AI) has criticised the latest court case opened against
journalist Hrant Dink, chief editor of the Armenian paper Agos,
by Turkish prosecutors.

AI issued a statement Wednesday saying that article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code was targeting journalists using their freedom of expression.

The rights organisation voiced its concerns over the article being
used to stiffle writers expressing their dissident views peacefully.

AI said that article 301 should be abolished and be replaced by an
article that is clear cut and that would not to lead to any arbitrary
practices.

Dink has been charged over a statement he gave to the Reuters news
agency concerning the so-called Armenian genocide. Dink was given a
suspended six months prison term after being found guilty of insulting
Turkish identity earlier this year. In the event Dink is found guilty
in his present case, he would have to serve his previous sentence as
well as any penalty handed down by the court.

–Boundary_(ID_VJcnjce0kfCXgU6uJh1cQA)–

EP PASSES REPORT ON TURKEY

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Sept 27 2006

The report said that Turkey had slowed the pace of putting in place
reforms required for the country’s accession to the European Union.

Guncelleme: 16:52 TSÝ 27 Eylul 2006 CarþambaSTRASBOURG – The European
Parliament on Wednesday approved a report criticising Turkey for not
doing enough to meet the membership criteria of the European Union.

After a lengthy debate, 429 EP deputies voted in favour of adopting the
non-binding report prepared by Dutch parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings,
while 71 voted against. A further 125 parliamentarians abstained.

The report calls on Ankara to increase the pace of reforms especially
those dealing with freedom of expression, religious rights, minority
rights, women’s rights, labour unions, cultural rights and independence
of the jurdiciary.

Turkey was also called on to open its ports and airports to Greek
Cypriot ships and planes, with the report saying that Turkey’s
recognition of all EU countries including Greek Cypriot administration
is a compulsory part of EU negotiation process.

Earlier Wednesday, the EP voted to withdraw a requirement for Turkey
to accept allegations that the Ottoman Empire committed an act of
genocide against its Armenian citizens during World War One as a
pre-condition for membership of the European Union.

Most of the EP’s Socialist, Liberal and Green deputies voted in favour
of an amendment to a report on Turkey’s progress in meeting the EU’s
membership criteria removing the making it a condition of Turkey’s
accession that it recognise the so-called genocide. The motion was
carried by 320 votes in favour to 282.

–Boundary_(ID_vJ53zxL/imA2DYpd1NgPYg)–

OSKANYAN: AZERBAIJAN LOST EVEN MORAL RIGHT TO PROPOSE PROTECTION TO NKR

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2006

YEREVAN, September 26. /ARKA/. Azerbaijan has lost even a moral
right to propose its protection and guaranteed future to the people
of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan stated at the 61st General Assembly of the United Nations
(UN) in New York.

He stressed that Azerbaijan treated the NKR population, citizens of
Azerbaijan, in an immoral and irresponsible way.

Far from the NKR, in public places, Azerbaijan allowed Armenian pogroms
to be committed, shelled Armenians and caused over 300,000 of them
to leave their homes, unleashed a war and, after being defeated and
signing a cease-fire agreement, began obliterating all the signs of
Armenians’ presence in Azerbaijan’s territory, Oskanyan said.

And the fact that, a decade after the cease-fire regime was
established, the Azerbaijani side annihilated Armenian cultural and
historical monuments in Nakhichevan, where no Armenian can be found
now, testifies that Azerbaijan has not changed its policy during this
period, Oskanyan said.

He also stated that no one can accuse the Armenian side of being
biased – Azerbaijan is not ready for interested in the negotiations.

Nevertheless, having turned down two previous proposals for a
compromise made over the last right years, Azerbaijan will not assume
the responsibility for rejecting a peace program on the negotiating
table. This is the reason why they are resorting to any means to
force Armenians into turning this program down. However, Armenian
clearly stated its consent to each of the fundamental principles of
the document on the negotiating table.

"MASS MEDIA AND INTERSTATE RELATIONS IN CAUCASUS" CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA ON SEPTEMBER 29

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2006

YEREVAN, September 27. /ARKA/. Organizational committee of the "Mass
Media and Interstate Relations in Caucasus" conference informed
ARAK News Agency that the conference would be held in Armenia on
September 29.

Armenian Ambassador in Russia Nikolay Pavlov, Alexander Babinsky,
deputy chief editor of RIA Novosti, as well as Rector of
Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) university Armen Darbinyan will make a
speech welcoming the participants of the conference.

During the plenary session the following people will make speeches
as well: namely a member of the Scientific Council of the Moscow
Carnegie Center Alexei Malashenko with a report on the theme of "Media
Community: Overcoming Xenophobia", author and presenter of "Special
File" program on TVC TV-channel Leonid Mlechin – "Russian television:
Formation of National Stereotypes", Director of Russian and Asian
programs of the U.S. Institute of World Security Nikolay Zlobin –
"Caucasus Theme in the Context of the World Politics and Security",
head of scientific projects of the Association of Researchers of
Russian Society Gennady Bordyugo and others.

Representatives of the mass media, political scientists and
conflictologists from Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan will
take part in the conference.

The event is organized by RIA Novosti and Russian-Armenian (Slavonic)
university.

NKR PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF CIS INSTITUTE DISCUSS NK SETTLEMENT

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2006

YEREVAN, September 26. /ARKA/. President of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR) Arkady Ghukasyan held a meeting with the Director
of the Institute of the CIS countries, member of the RF State Duma
Konstantin Zatulin.

The NKR presidential press service reports that the sides discussed
the present stage and prospects of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement
under the OSCE Minsk Group’s auspices.

The sides stressed the necessity of a peaceful settlement and
inadmissibility of propaganda of hatred and intolerance.