Month: October 2006

THE OBSERVER: GENOCIDE BILL ADOPTION MADE FRANCE ENEMY OF FREEDOM

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2006 19:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ British daily The Observer commented on Sunday
that making denial of the Armenian Genocide a criminal offense is
"wrong and bad," describing the French move as an "enemy of free
speech." The daily underlined that quite apart from limiting free
speech, and therefore legitimizing a desirable debate on historical
questions, the French are "surely obliged to remember more distinctly,
and more publicly, the collaboration of so many of their own people
with the Nazi transport of Jews before starting on the business of
criminalizing remoter cases of denial." The Observer also stated that
the Armenian bill was designed to complicate Turkey’s application to
join the EU. "It is a bewildering reality that France sees Turkey’s
refusal to acknowledge what happened to the Armenians as an obstacle
to membership, while at the same time continuing to regard its own
wartime behavior as somehow irreproachable," it was added.

CIS LEADERS TO MEET FOR SUMMIT IN LATE NOVEMBER

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2006 13:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ CIS leaders will meet for a summit in late November,
Russian FM Sergey Lavrov stated in Minsk after the session of the
Commonwealth Council of FMs. "The time of holding the summit is being
specified," he remarked. "A rich exchange of views was held in Minsk,
which reaffirmed the CIS inclination to enhance effectiveness in
compliance with the commissions of the CIS Presidents," the Russian
FM said. Lavrov also reported that "a report on the course of work of
the high level group on enhancing CIS effectiveness was also heard,"
reports ITAR-TASS.

DUTCH UNIVERSITY AWARDS HONORARY DEGREE TO PAMUK

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2006 13:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Tilburg University in the Netherlands has decided
to award Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish Nobel prize winning novelist, with
an honorary degree. The university council approved the request made
by the philosophy, culture, communication and theology faculties. The
university released a statement about its decision that read: "Orhan
Pamuk has been awarded an honorary degree for his pioneering analysis
of traditionalism and modernism along the East-West, Christianity-Islam
axes. In his novels, Pamuk not only deals with issues from a historical
point of view, but he handles them as a theologist, philosopher and
a man of culture," the Zaman writes.

The Nobel prize winner on literature in 2006 was lately criticized
by Turkish nationalists, who accused the Nobel committee in bias and
political partiality.

Orhan Pamuk was indicted on article 301 of the Turkish Criminal
Code for "insulting Turkishness" as he mentioned the Armenian
Genocide. Under the pressure of the international community the
accusations were withdrawn.

TURKISH SPEAKER DOUBTS "CHIRAC’S APOLOGY GENUINE"

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2006 14:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Bulent Arinc, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament,
has said that he does not think French President Jacques Chirac’s
apologetic phone call to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the
wake of the French Parliament’s acceptance of the bill criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian Genocide was "genuine." "He was not
genuine," Arinc underscored, writes Turkish Hurriyet.

CYPRUS ISSUE MAY BE SERIOUS OBSTACLE ON TURKEY’S WAY TO EU

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.10.2006 14:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Claims are being made that the Cyprus problem could
derail Turkey’s admission as a member of the EU by the end of the
year. The Financial Times newspaper warned that the ensuing risks
would be huge. "In Turkey, it could halt the country’s cultural march
westward, which began 80 years ago under the rule of Kemal Ataturk,
and instead empower Islamist and nationalist political forces." The
Financial Times published a commentary by Vicent Bonland and Kerin Hope
on the Cyprus problem and Turkey’s EU negotiation process. Reserving
a page for the issue, the newspaper reported that the Cyprus problem
could be set as a precondition for Turkey to take further steps towards
integration. "While a row between the Turkish and French last week
over recognition of the Armenian Genocide has put another formidable
obstacle in the way of Turkey joining the EU, Cyprus poses a much more
immediate difficulty. It is possible that, by the end of this year,
the problem will derail the admission of Turkey as an EU member,"
the newspaper wrote.

The Financial Times also wrote that many EU diplomats now admit that
it was a mistake to accept Greek Cypriot membership into the EU, as
Turkey accuses the Union of reneging on promises to end the isolation
of Turkish Cyprus. According to diplomats, the Turkish government,
which will hold a general election next year, is stuck between refusing
to make further compromises on Cyprus and keeping its EU negotiations
on track.

TURKEY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO WAGE AN ECONOMIC WAR AGAINST FRANCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.10.2006 GMT+04:00

The present anti french wave in Turkey reminds of 2001, when French
Senate officially recognized the Armenian Genocide.

However, the French parliamentarians approved the bill concerning the
criminal responsibility for Armenian Genocide denial, regardless the
open threats directed from Ankara. In Turkey and, virtually, in the
whole world there exists no more any politician or any mass media
system that has not commented on the approval of the bill. In that
connection the chorus of the voices turned out to be well coordinated,
it seems as if an experienced conductor directed them.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey and the Turkish commonage in Europe play the
conductor’s role, and by fair means or foul they strive that there will
not be even a mention of the Armenian Genocide. How much they suceed
in doing it is quite a different question, since in today’s Europe
the fact of 1915 Armenian Genocide recognition does not pose from the
historical point of view, it has a political hidden motive. According
to the representative’s words of Armenian Federation of Europe (EAFJD),
Hilda Choboyan, the membership of Turkey into EU depends on the fact
how much attention the European countries attract to this question."

Turkey should be presented with a fact that without a political
solution to that question it cannot become a full member of European
Union. Turkey is not ready for Europe, it strives to insist on its
conditions, for it to come out as if it is not EU that admits Turkey,
but vice versa, Europe gets included into Turkey,- thinks Choboyan.

By the way, the present antifrench hysterics in Turkey mostly remind
of 2001, when French Senate officially recognized the Armenian
Genocide. At that time there again existed threats from Ankara
concerning the application of economic sanctions. Everything was
over in a few months, most likely this time it will again be the
same. Turkey just does not have enough money to wage an economic
war against France, as well as any other European country. By the
end of 2006 the Turkish foreign debt will have exceeded the sum of
200 milliard dollars and it has nothing to pay off the debts; Radjep
Erdhoghan’s, Vice President’s assurance of economic growth bears no
real basis. Turkey is not Azerbaijan at all, it does not have oil,
and the whole hope is the agriculture- MB and IMF. In spite of the
active Turkish lobby in France, most probably Senate will ratify the
bill. Otherwise, everything will just look illogical- lower chamber
looks like a bigger humanitarian than Senate is and even more, than
the president of the country, Jacques Chirac is. There is one more
thing-the denial of the Holocaust in France since 1990 is subject to
criminal sanction; the first year deprivation of liberty and fine at
the rate of 45 thousand euros. So the French legislators were right to
decide that there existed no difference between the Armenian Genocide
and the Holocaust. And for some reason Germany did not give way to
hysterics in 1990.

Most probably Turkey avoids the chain reaction, that follows after
the approval of the bill. The next are Holland, Denmark, Belgium,
and maybe even Germany. All they crave to see Turkey admitted into EU,
and such a bill, as everobody has already understood, is a wonderful
trancheon. The number of Turkish migrants in Europe is reaching
10 millions, and it is constantly increasing. Exactly the danger
of Europe conversion from a Christian into a Muslem one makes the
European people remember about the Armenian Genocide. As nobody will
vouch that in an endless amount of years the turks will not recall
their "glorious" past and go back to the old. Maybe this is a sort
of fantasy but we should not absolutely exclude the desire of Turkey
to settle one more matter persuant to the experienced method -"no
Armenian, no Armenian Case". 600 years of the Ottoman Empire glory
will still excite the mind of the Turkish nation for a long time,
who in no way can get rid of " imperial thinking". But does it want
to get rid of it -here is the question? Judging by the statements
and the deeds of the Turkish politicians-not that much.

GRAPE PROCUREMENT 20,000 TONS UP FROM A YEAR AGO

Armenpress
Oct 17 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Armenian agricultural ministry said
29 local wineries have already procured 104,000 metric tons of grapes,
up from 85,000 tons from a year ago.

The ministry said the French-owned Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC)
remains the biggest buyer of grape. It has bought already almost
25,000 tons of grape, the Yerevan Wine plant has bought 15,000 tons.

The ministry said 28 canneries have bought almost 64,000 tons of
fruits and vegetables. Almost 60,000 tons were tomatoes.

25 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN LEAVE CHILDREN HOMES EVERY YEAR

Armenpress
Oct 17 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian government has earmarked
325 million drams this year for purchase of apartments for young
men and women who leave children homes and other institutionalized
establishments.

According to Armenian labor and social affairs ministry, which
supervises these establishments, every year about 25 young men and
women leave children homes. This year alone 53 such young men and
women will be given apartments. This program of assisting graduates
of institutionalized children establishments was adopted in 2003. A
2004 study found that 220 graduates needed apartments.

Apart from providing apartments the program also envisages various
training programs for these graduates. They are also eligible to
legal and medical assistance.

>From its inception the program has already provided apartments to 100
people. The draft 2007 budget will raise subsidies to social sector
from this year’s 56 billion drams to 64 billion drams.

THEY MAKE MONEY OUT OF CAUDRON

A1+
[12:25 pm] 17 October, 2006

45-year-old Vitally, resident of Yerevan, hands over the caudrons
of his house to buy everyday bread. One can meet him twice a week in
one of the back-streets of Mashtots Avenue handing over pans in the
metal taking spot.

"If I remain hungry, can a pan feed me? I only hand over the things
of my house. It is rather difficult to sell them. Who will give money
for second-hand pans?"

claims Vitally. He doesn’t work as in his words he cannot find a
job. The only person that works in their three-member family is his
wife but she is hardly able to make both ends meet. 1000 – 2000AMD
taken from the pan handing is a great assistance to the family. By
the way, they give 1500 AMD per a kilo of copper and 370 AMD per a
kilo of aluminum.

Vitally is not the only person who earns money in this way. One can
meet both well-looking people and people in worn out clothes in the
metal taking spots.

48-year-old Gegham, living in Abovyan, works with construction
companies from time to time. But he prefers collecting metal and
handing it over to manual work. "When I worked I had to wait for my
salary for ages. It is more profitable to take metal out of garbage
and to hand it over as you know that at least you won’t die of hunger."

None of the metal taking spots is interested in the source of
metal. And what do the owners of metal taking spots do with the
metal? They refrained answering our question. According to some
sources, the metal is then exported to Iran.

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY

A1+
[01:46 pm] 17 October, 2006

The Council of Europe’s strategy for combating poverty is aimed at
strengthening social cohesion in Europe, and preventing and combating
social exclusion.

The Council of Europe has a number of legal instruments chief among
them the European Convention on Human Rights which establishes
rights and fundamental freedoms, and the European Social Charter
which establishes social rights, including the right to protection
against poverty and the right to housing.

Each year, the Council of Europe takes part in the celebration of
the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and organises a
ceremony in front of a replica of the Commemorative Stone, symbolising
the refusal of extreme poverty, which was laid in 1993 on the Palais
de l’Europe forecourt. The day officially recognised by the United
Nations in 1992. The day was first celebrated in 1987 by thousands
of participants at the Human Rights Plaza in Paris, France. On 17
October 1987, 100,000 defenders of human rights gathered together on
the Trocadero Plaza in Paris to honour victims of hunger, violence,
and ignorance, to express their refusal of extreme poverty.
From: Baghdasarian