Month: October 2006

France votes on ‘Armenian genocide’

Al-Ahram Weekly, Egypt
Oct 19-25 2006

Last week’s vote aiming to make it an offence in France to question
the Armenian genocide has met with some formidable opposition,
reports David Tresilian in Paris

French MPs last week passed a bill aiming to make it an offence in
France "to question the Armenian genocide", being the massacres carried
out against the Armenian population of Anatolia in the dying days of
the Ottoman Empire during the First World War in which hundreds of
thousands of Armenians are believed to have died.

The bill, introduced into the lower house of the French parliament by
the socialists with the support of members of France’s ruling centre-
right parties but not of the government itself, was passed by 106
votes for and 19 against, with only 125 of the parliament’s 577 MPs
turning out to vote.

The bill, which will not become law until it is passed by the
parliament’s upper house and signed by the president, would make it a
criminal offence in France to question the "existence of the Armenian
genocide", those doing so risking up to five years in prison and a
45,000 Euro fine.

France has already legislated on other historical issues, the so-called
"Gayssot law" of July 1990 making it an offence in France to deny the
extermination carried out by the Hitler regime against Europe’s Jews,
and another law of January 2001 "publicly recognising the Armenian
genocide" but not making it an offence in France to deny it.

Response to the vote was immediate both in France and in Turkey, with
French commentators expressing reservations at the apparent use of
legislation to decide historical questions and thereby threatening
important freedoms, and the Turkish government protesting against
what it said was French interference in Turkey’s domestic affairs.

According to an editorial in the left-of-centre newspaper Liberation,
the proposed law was "ill- considered" since it would prevent freedom
of historical research, and the vote was an "abuse of intellectual
authority" on the part of the French parliament. According to an
editorial in the establishment newspaper Le Monde, "history is an
affair for historians" not for the French state, and politicians should
not try to set up a "ministry of truth" to decide historical questions.

The Liberty for History group, which brings together famous names
from the French historical profession including Marc Ferro, Jacques
Julliard, Pierre Nora and Mona Ozouf, also declared its opposition
to the proposed law. While expressing its "profound sentiment of
solidarity" for the "victims of history", the group deplored the
movement in France to "establish an official version of the past",
which "threatened freedom of thought and expression."

However, comment in the French press has focused at least as much on
the electoral advantages of the proposed law and its meaning in the
context of French politics as it has on the question of historical
truth.

France has a sizeable Armenian minority, and with only months to go
before the French presidential elections in April 2007, candidates
from both the socialist and centre-right parties have been looking
for support, with the centre-right frontrunner, Nicolas Sarkozy, and
the socialist favourite, Segolène Royale, both reportedly in favour
of the proposed law.

The vote is also being seen as part of a campaign in France to
frustrate Turkish accession to the European Union, not only by
insisting that the Armenian massacres constitute genocide, but also
by making recognition of Armenian genocide a precondition for Turkish
membership of the EU, the Turkish Republic being the successor state
to the Ottoman Empire.

Opinion polls in France have consistently indicated that a majority
of French citizens oppose Turkish membership of the EU, and since it
is believed that the Turkish government will not be able to agree to
recognition of the Armenian genocide, insisting on such a condition
would help to scupper Turkish membership.

For foreign observers, the French vote has come as an example of the
country’s susceptibility to grandstanding legislation on issues that
are usually considered to be matters for historical research, deciding
by legal means questions that elsewhere are seen as matters for debate.

Under the 1948 UN Convention that defines the crime of genocide in
international law, the term refers to "acts committed with intent
to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or
religious group, as such", and it is not clear that there was such
an intention on the part of those carrying out the Armenian massacres.

According to a spokesman for the European Commission in Brussels,
should the proposed French legislation come into effect, it would
"prevent the dialogue and debate necessary for reconciliation" and
would have a "disastrous effect" on freedom of expression in Turkey,
where "it would only oppose one official version of the truth to
another."

For its part, the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul commented that
"the French, who have already placed various obstacles in the way of
Turkey’s joining the European Union, have now struck a serious blow to
the already limited dialogue between Turkey and Armenia… one that
will only play into the hands of extreme nationalists and racists in
both Turkish and Armenian societies."

–Boundary_(ID_hx1iz6AZAzAaTqjhr jgbjA)–

Is it Victor Hugo’s turn?

Sabah, Turkey
Oct 19-25 2006

RTUK (Radio and Television Supreme Council) has issued a statement:
"do not watch French movies or series; and do not listen to French
music," as a response to the Armenian bill approved by the French
parliament.

RTUK (Radio and Television Supreme Council) member ªaban Sevinc
stated: "The market share of French products in the media is 10%.

Most of these are movie, series, music and cartoons. Our radio
stations and television channels should not broadcast products
originating in France."

Ban on Victor Hugo and Jacques Brel with the recommendation of RTUK

The RTUK (Radio and Television Supreme Council) has advised against
broadcasting any French media products, including French music.

The RTUK (Radio and Television Supreme Council) has advised a ban on
French media products. The RTUK (Radio and Television Supreme
Council) recommended radios and televisions not broadcast any French
media products including French music. So, the works of Victor Hugo,
"Les Miserables" which is among the world’s classics and the song,
"Ne me quitte pas" by Jacques Brel will not be broadcasted.

–Boundary_(ID_ygtr6fhf6ThTo7LcNzcgj g)–

International Korfball Federation, Belgium
Oct 19-25 2006

The day of Yerevan
Thursday, 19 October 2006

October 14 holds a special place in the hearts of all Armenian
people. It is the day that signifies the foundation of the capital
of Armenia, Yerevan. This year the Armenian capital will celebrate
its 2788th birthday.

Korfball played its part in the celebrations with the City Hall of
Yerevan organising a demonstration game in the park near City Hall.

The demonstration game was contested by Armenia’s emerging korfball
talent (10-12 years). With korfball holding centre stage many people of
all ages were given the opportunity to view the game in action for the
first time. The fact that the game was contested by Armenia’s youth
further captivated those spectators fortunate enough to watch the
game. This is the third such occasion that City Hall has organised
a demonstration of the sport of korfball during the celebration of
Yerevan Day, providing Armenian Korfball with invaluable exposure to
develop the sport in the country.

The following day the Hall of Engineering University played host to
contenders vying for the Super Cup of Yerevan. The result could not
have been more appropriate with club Yerevan adding the Super Cup to
its trophy cabinet for the first time.

In 2008 Yerevan will celebrate its 2790th birthday and the KFA hopes
that with help of City Hall an open international tournament can be
held to mark yet another milestone for the capital city.

Source: Korfball Federation of Armenia (KFA)

ARMENIA-EU COOPERATION COMMITTEE TO CONVENE ITS REGULAR SESSION ON
OCTOBER 25 IN BRUSSELS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 19 2006

YEREVAN, October 19. /ARKA/.Armenia-EU Cooperation Committee is to
convene its regular session on October 25 in Brussels, Armenian Trade
and Economic Development Minister Karen Chshmarityan said on Thursday.

"As co-chair of the committee, I intend to discuss first-priority
areas of cooperation, further work and schedule and presentation of
further programs", he said.

Chshmarityan also said that Armenian President Robert Kocharyan gave
task to all ministers to submit own programs as part of EU’s New
Neighborhood policy. M.V.-0–

Armenian Patriarch Seeks Private Education Law Veto

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 19 2006

zaman.com

Turkey’s Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II is reported to have asked
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to veto the Private Education
Institutions Bill.

In his letter to Sezer, the patriarch expressed his concerns about the
bill within the context of reciprocity related to the minority schools
and asked the president to veto a clause in Article 5 of the bill.

Sezer, however, ignored the Patriarch’s demand.

Ex-Armenian premier: Aggravation of relations with Georgia may lead
to deportation of Javakh Armenians

Regnum, Russia
Oct 20 2006

"Requests of some Russian politicians, who persuade Armenia to
aggravate its relations with Georgia are inexpedient;" head of
National-Democratic Union, ex-Armenian premier Vazgen Manukyan is
quoted by a REGNUM correspondent as stating to a news conference on
October 19.

According to him, Armenia does not have access to sea; Azerbaijan and
Turkey have blocked its borders; its Iranian border is unstable, too,
because of complicated Iranian-US relations. In this connection,
Manukyan believes it to be inexpedient to request from Armenia
to aggravate its relations with Georgia. Moreover, aggravation
of relations with the country may lead to oppressions against or
deportation of Armenians of Javakh (Armenian-populated Georgian
region – REGNUM). Complications of Javakh Armenians’ situation are
already evident now, he mentioned. "Situation around knifing and
arrests, happened in Javakh is absolutely incomprehensible for me,"
he stated, adding that such question was to be discussed more detailed
by politicians on October 19.

Speaking about Russian-Georgian relations, the ex-Armenian premier
stressed that even during armed conflict Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
were not so tensed as current Russian-Georgian relations are now. Such
situation is consequence of unresolved Abkhazian and Ossetian issues,
Manukyan believes. "Armenian relation to the abovementioned issues
should be adequate one, i.e. if we say that the NKR has right on
self-determination, we may strip neither Abkhazia nor Ossetia of the
right," he stated. At the same time, Vazgen Manukyan stressed that
every conflict is to be settled individually; if Abkhazia agrees to
join Georgia on principle of confederation or federation, Armenia
may only welcome it. "Pendency of the abovementioned conflicts is
unfavorable for Armenia, too, because it contributes to its blockade;
as for pressure towards ethnic minorities, carried out in Russia,
it concerns both Georgians and Armenians," he concluded.

Armavia has no information on showdown on Airbus A320 board

Regnum, Russia
Oct 20 2006

Armavia Armenian Airlines has no information on a shootout allegedly
taken place on board of the Airbus A320 flying from Yerevan to Sochi
on May 3, 2006 and resulting in its crash near Sochi coast. The
announcement is made by spokeswoman for the airlines Jasmen Vilyan
while she was commenting on a statement by former pilot of the airlines
Vladimir Pogosyan, who claimed that the A320 crashed in a result of
a showdown onboard.

As Jasmen Vilyan said, "if they have such information, they should
go to the Prosecutor General’s Office to investigate the facts
provided." If the statements do not correspond with the reality,
Armavia can claim for instituting a criminal procedure on the
statements.

In its turn, Armenia’s General Department of Civil Aviation does not
either confirm or deny statements of certain persons concerning the
Yerevan-Sochi flight crash. They in the department stress that the
opinion of the institution remains the same and was presented by its
head Artyom Movsisyan. "The cause of the crash of the Armenian Airbus
A320 flying from Yerevan to Sochi on 3 May was lack of coordination
between actions of the crew in the last 17 seconds of the flight,"
Movsisyan is quoted as saying at a news conference on July 28.

BÝA, Turkey
Oct 20 2006

Chomsky’s Publishers On Trial

Publishers of the translation of Chomsky’s "Role of Mass Media:
Manufacturing of Consent" tell court it shouldn’t be them facing the
bench. Publisher Tas, translator Abadoglu, editor Tosun and Kurhan
face up to six years in jail, if found guilty.

BIA News Center
19/10/2006 Erol ONDEROGLU

BÝA (Istanbul) – Four people have been charged this week for
involvement in the publishing of a Turkish language translation of
American linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky ‘s "Role of Mass
Media: Manufacturing of Consent" facing 1.5 to 6 years imprisonment
if found guilty.

Aram Publishing House executive Fatih Tas, the book’s translator
Ender Abadoglu, editor Lutfi Taylan Tosun and Omer Faruk Kurhan, one
of the redactors of the book, turned up for the first hearing of the
case at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance flanked by
their lawyers on Wednesday.

All suspects are accused under articles 216 and 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code for "publicly denigrating Turkishness, the Republic and
the Parliament" and "inciting hatred and enmity among the people".

The first trial saw presiding judge Sevim Efendiler agreeing with
public prosecutor Kadir Nazmi Yelkenci’s opinion and rejecting
attorney Ozcan Kilic’s request for the case file to be postponed as
"criminal liability" outlined in article 11/4 of the Press Law was
contrary to the Constitution and the European Convention on Human
Rights.

Addressing the court at the start of the hearing, translator Abadoglu
explained, "The opinions in the book are opinions of the author. I
believe the translator cannot be held responsible for these
opinions".

Abadoglu referred to the recent ordeal of the Armenian genocide bill
in the French Parliament and said that although opinions in favor of
an Armenian genocide having taken place were translated into Turkish
press reports non of the translators had been prosecuted.

"It is wrong to put publishers and translators on trial"

In his statement to the court, Tosun said his function was that of
ensuring the book was properly translated from its original and
expressed in good Turkish.

"As far as I checked it," he said, "there was no problem in the
translation". Tosun added "I did not see any factors of offence in
the work".

Publisher Tas said he saw it inappropriate that he and the
translators were being put on trial for a book whose author was will
arrive and defended that the book itself was an analysis of the media
wit
h international importance.

The last defendant to address the court was Kurhan who said he had
noticed no statement in the book that could be charged under article
216 on "inciting hated and enmity" and argued that the very sole of
controversial article 301 served to protect the immunity of the state
and was open to interpretations and mistakes.

After the defendants made their statements, attorney Inan Yilmaz
referred to author Noam Chomsky saying "If we are putting an author,
linguist and a professor of philosophy with international importance
on trial, we should give these individuals the right to defend
themselves in the courts of the land".

"My client before you has translated the work of this writer who we
cannot pt on trial. Unfortunately with such cases we are living in
the shadows" he said.

Defendants to give written defense

Stressing that none of the four suspects on trial were being charged
for their own opinions, attorney Ugur Demirci denied the allegations
and informed the court it would be receiving a written defense.

Of the defense lawyers, Ozcan Kilic said the book targeted the United
States and added "US operations, massacres and coups throughout the
world are being explained. The way these reflect in the media are
being revealed. In this context it is a strange situation that four
people are on trial under articles 216 and 301".

Having heard the initial defense arguments, judge Efendiler agreed to
give time for written statements to be prepared and adjourned the
court to December 20.

John Tirman’s case continues

This week’s case against Aram Publishing House comes in the footsteps
of another trial involving a Turkish translation of an American
author’s work.

In September, the same court heard charges against translators Lutfi
Taylan Tosun and Aysel Yildirim alongside Aram Publishing House owner
Fatih Tas for the Turkish language copy of John Tirman’s book "Spoils
of War: The Human Cost of America’s Arms Trade".

If found guilty on the charges of "publicly denigrating the armed
forces" and "insulting [modern Turkey’s founder] Ataturk" through
content originally written by Tirman himself, each of those
defendants face up to 6.5 years imprisonment.

Both translators in Tirman’s book case also rejected the accusations
while Tas’s attorney Ozcan Kilic rejected the trial of the publisher
on grounds that the author of the work was known and there was no
reason to put a publisher on trial just because the author lived
abroad.

The investigation into the Turkish language copy of "Spoils of War:
The Human Cost of America’s Arms Trade" started in November 2005. It
covers various excerpts in Tirman’s work that focuses on criticism of
US policy in the Middle East – arguing that dollars earned through
the arms trade led to support of militarization in the region while
holding back essential democratic reforms.

Subject to the Istanbul charges are sections of the book relating to
severe human rights violations allegedly committed by security forces
in the 1990s inclusive of claims of "white genocide", assimilation,
censorship and denial of cultural rights.

The Tirman case will continue in Istanbul on November 29.
(EO/II/YE/EU)

–Boundary_(ID_AwYwuTD7dEFzluBH nPqxbw)–

Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 19 2006

Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents’ meeting depends on Foreign
ministers’ talks

19 October 2006 [22:00] – Today.Az

Azerbaijani Foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign
minister Vartan Oskanian’s next talks in the frame of Prague Process
will be held on October 24, said Yuri Merzlyakov, Russian co-chair
of OSCE Minsk group and coordinator on Karabakh conflict.

The talks will be the continuation of the meeting held on October 6
in Moscow, the ministers will discuss the uncoordinated parts of the
main principles of Nagorno Garabagh conflict regulations. Co-chairs
Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fasier (France), Matthew Bryza
(USA) and Andrzey Kasprzyk, OCSE Personal Representative will have
consulting a day before the meeting.

Merzlyakov told the APA co-chairs did not plan meetings with the
ministers. "Only one meeting will be held with the participation of
ministers and coordinators," he said.

Answering the question "Will you discuss the next meeting of the
presidents in the meetings of ministers?" the Russian diplomat said
that they have already suggested it.

"But the meeting of presidents depends on ministers’ talks. If the
ministers need high level meeting, we will begin to the preparations,"
Merzlyakov said.

Merzlyakov also said that if the presidents agree to meet, we will
decide where and when to organize it. "We do not know the presidents’
schedules. In a case of agreement we will find an appropriate time
and place," Merzlyakov stated.

Russian co-chair did not rule out the fact that the meeting of the
presidents can take place in the summit of CIS countries’ heads in
Minsk in late November.

URL:

ARMENIAN ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY DOCTORS PROPOSES TO ENSURE BY
LEGISLATION INSTITUTION OF FAMILY DOCTOR IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 19 2006

YEREVAN, October 19. /ARKA/. On Thursday at the second clinical
conference on Modern Issues of Family Medicine Chairman of the Armenian
Association of Family Doctors Samvel Hovhannisyan told journalists
that the Armenian Association of Family Doctors proposed to ensure
by legislation the institution of family doctors in the country.

"We propose either to include a special chapter about the family
doctors in the Law On Healthcare, being discussed today, or adopt a
separate Law On Family Medicine, particularly for regulation of such
issues as organization and financing of the system of family medicine",
Hovhannisyan said.

Speaking of nowadays issues of the family medicine development in
Armenia, Hovhannisyan emphasized that there existed problems of
introduction of that institution in cities.

He said that in villages those functions had always been performed
by district doctors.

"However there is a great outpatient system with great staff of narrow
specialists and district doctors in cities, and those functions should
be divided", Hovhannisyan said.

He pointed out that at present the population of the republic was
passive in the selection of a family doctor, nevertheless expressing
belief that in January 2007, people would turn to services of family
medicine more actively.

He informed journalists that this year the government had adopted
an order, determining mechanisms of free selection of doctors by the
population. S.P.–0–