Month: October 2006

ARMENIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST: IN ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS THERE IS DIRECT EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION WITH THIRD PARTY

Yerevan, October 17. ArmInfo. Today, at a press-conference at the
National press-club, Igor Mouradyan, a famous Armenian political
scientist, said that in the Armenian-Georgian relations there is
direct evidence of collusion, probably, with a third party

He noted that from 1997 till 2003 he actively took up the problems
of the Georgian region Samtskhe-Javakheti, participating in
three EU expert programs. Besides, he has lately returned from
Samtskhe-Javakheti, therefore he knows the situation in the region
from within. According to him, there was a period when public
organizations were actively established in the region and were
controlled by Armenia. They gave diverse information, but because of
the lack of bright leaders they gradually lost their topicality. At
the moment these are just offices with few people. Another thing is
the recently established which unifies about 20 organizations. Its
main body consists of 2-3 thousand of politically competent young men,
mostly from the Youth Center. They have 15-20 representatives in each
village of the region. Igor Mouradyan is convinced that the received no
more than 70% of votes at the recent municipal elections of Georgia,
however Tbilisi could not afford the defeat of the ruling party,
that’s why only 5 representatives remained in the organization in
the rural administrations.

In this connection, Mouradyan noted that the West considers
Samtskhe-Javakheti a kind of , allowing the Georgian authorities to do
anything they like, as the international community is very interested
in the region and considers that the USA-Turkey relations depend on
this region. It resulted in the acknowledgement, though with minor
reservations, of the recent regional municipal elections corresponding
to the European standards by the OSCE mission of observers. Mouradyan
said that the international community considers Georgia not capable
to maintain the security in the region, therefore some international
contingent will certainly be present in Georgia.

However, he emphasized that the recent Georgian-Russian crisis
postponed Georgia’s joining the NATO for several years at least.

As regards the Armenian-Georgian relations, Armenia is evidently
carrying out some obligation, most likely, to the West, in Mouradyan’s
opinion. This may explain Armenia’s non-intervention into the
Javakhk problem, and the recent arrest of Vahagn Chakhalyan,
a activist. Mouradyan said that there are not and cannot be any
documents about such collusion, but this is the most logic explanation
of official Yerevan’s actions. He thinks that, probably, at the
price of such policy of Armenia, the international community will
acknowledge the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH FM: WE ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF THE EU

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 17 2006

(ZAMAN) – After the EU-Turkey Ministerial Troika meeting, Turkish
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and European Commissioner responsible
for enlargement Olli Rehn on Monday held a joint press conference
in Luxembourg. Two mentioned about what Turkey was doing in terms of
adopting the acquits, reports Trend.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stating that they had talked
about what Turkey was doing in terms of adopting the acquits said, We
have explained into details some of our reforms. There are important
developments taking place in Turkey. We are on the other hand aware
of our shortcomings but what is important is that our government has
the will to overcome these shortcomings. This is what we are working
on. We are very much aware of the principles of the EU to which we
would like to accede. Therefore we are working very hard to carry
on with the reforms. We are aware that these political reforms are
also important for Turkish people. Democratization, transparency or
freedom of expression is things that our people want, irrespective
of EU’s accession.

European Commissioner responsible for enlargement Olli Rehn speaking
after Gul said, I highly appreciated the professionalism of the
Turkish negotiating team. The screening meetings were completed
last Friday. It took one year to complete the screening and I am
very glad that we could achieve this result. However, the accession
negotiations are not only a technical exercise but a political
process. Therefore progress in the negotiations depends first and
foremost on the reforms enhancing the rule of law and fundamental
freedom in Turkey. I welcome the fact that the Turkish Assembly is
currently discussing the so-called reform package which included a
number of important laws. I trust that there will be concrete results
before our regular report is published on 8 Nov.

Abdullah Gul mentioning about French bill related to Armenian
genocide said, I would like to express our regret at seeing the
French Parliament make that decision. This has affected negatively
the prestige of France as a country where all thoughts or opinions
can be freely expressed.

We hope that French State will take ht necessary measures and prevent
this legislation from being made into law, that it will not take this
mistake to the end, Gul added.

ARMENIA MADE A PLOT WITH THE WEST

Lragir.am
18 Oct 06

The Armenian government assumed an obligation before the West to
mitigate every manifestation of the problem of Javakheti. The expert
cannot mention the price of this commitment saying that it can be
different, especially that elections in Armenia are drawing nearer.

Igor Muradyan made this almost sensational statement October 17 at the
National Press Club. He said he is acquainted with the situation in
Javakheti, the developments, the international political approaches
towards this region, and he can draw such a conclusion. He says the
West instructs Armenia on this question even on lower levels, such
as the head of the political department of the embassy.

With regard to the problem, Igor Muradyan first presented the
pre-election situation in Javakheti, saying that it was a stage of
active formation of NGOs. According to Igor Muradyan, these NGOs
had close ties with the Armenian government. This guaranteed their
existence. On the other hand, they are turned into marionettes
and a mere source of information. In this context, Igor Muradyan
highlights the emergence of the United Javakheti Alliance, which
represents the young and educated youth of Javakheti, the expert says,
which has a clear idea of the problems of the region and rejects the
cunning proposals of the government. Therefore, Igor Muradyan says
this organization appeared in the focus of attention of the Georgian
government, and does not get support from Armenia. Igor Muradyan says
the Armenian ruling sets tried to talk to them but they were unable to
mislead the youth from their standpoint and their approach does not
fit into the government policy on mitigating the problems connected
with Javakheti conducted by official Yerevan.

"I think decisions are not based on the relation with Georgia but on
the relation with the West. At first this sounds fantastic because
a local issue for the international community is concerned. But in
reality it is not. The United States and NATO are interested in this
region. The state of things in this region determines the success of
the entire Eurasian policy," says Igor Muradyan.

According to him, the international community’s official police is
to prevent this problem from becoming an international problem, and
mitigate possible tensions, "and create an impression that there is
no interest in reality." Igor Muradyan says the Armenian government
fulfills this wish of the West, and when serious forces emerged in
Javakheti, which are capable of raising the issues of the region,
Armenia made efforts to stop them, dissolving these movements. Igor
Muradyan adduces the example that the Armenian government arrested
one of the leaders of United Javakheti Vahagn Chakhalyan on an
absurd charge.

"But I know what international policies are implemented and who are
involved in it. The problem of the South Caucasus has been monopolized,
maximum 6-7 people deal with it. In Europe it is Xavier Solana,
in the United States government it is Daniel Fried. The evaluations
of experts are put under the table. But a year ago it offended the
experts that they do not get public attention, and they published
their conclusions. And it is mentioned that the domestic policy of
Georgia contains elements of fascism. Since 1945 no other country was
described as such, whereas this country is the partner of the West,"
says Igor Muradyan.

According to him, the U.S.-Turkish relation depends on the fate of
Javakheti. According to the expert, Georgia is unable to solve the
problem of security, and he thinks it is possible that in the future
we will witness the U.S. military presence in Javakheti. "It should be
noted for the democratic community of Armenia, if it there is one, that
there is an Armenian-Georgian plot. But it is impossible to explain
the situation by this only. Our people should pursue the recognition
of existence of such a problem now," says Igor Muradyan. He says the
impression that Russia is active in Javakheti is false. Muradyan even
says that unfortunately Russia is doomed to idleness.

"It seems that Russia is active. And what did it do? It did what is on
the surface. It took the steps that every Russian member of parliament
knew," says Igor Muradyan. He is against the claims for administrative
independence of Javakheti. "The salary of state-financed workers
in Javakheti is 1.5 million dollars. The budget of Javakheti will
not be enough because it is about 250 thousand dollars, excluding
foreign transfers," says the expert, mentioning that it is absurd
to put forward territorial claims because there is no possibility to
set down the rights.

"And these young people understand this very well," says Igor Muradyan,
mentioning that it was explained to them through the materials
of European and American experts, which clarify the picture of the
prosect of Javakheti in the context of the international policy. Igor
Muradyan thinks the way out is to release the arrested young man from
United Javakheti, the return of the members of the organization to
the sakrebulo, in other words, the recognition of the outcome of the
local election in Javakheti, although Igor Muradyan thinks that in
reality this outcome was achieved through administrative levers. The
experts emphasizes the resumption of the political process in the
regional sacrebulo which should raise the local issues in turn,
including the issue of the Armenian issue. As to what Armenia should
do, Igor Muradyan says, "Armenia had better do nothing."

PRESENTATION OF ALBUM OF ARMENIAN PALEOGRAPHY IN HOLY SEE
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily
18/10/2006

Press service of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin informs that on Holy
Translators Day (Targmanchats ton) on October 14 the presentation
of "The Album of Armenian Paleography" took place at the Hall of
Ceremonies that was honored by His Holiness Karekin II. The album
co-authored by Michael Stone, Tigran Guyumjian and Henning Lehman
was first published by Danish Aarhus University Press in 2002. Under
the supervision of the Catholicos of All Armenians and sponsored by
Dolores Zohrap Libman Foundation, the Armenian version of the album has
seen the light this year. The book was translated and edited by Azat
Bozoyan, director of "Karekin I" Center for Armenology and Theology,
scholars of Matenadaran, Aram Topchian and Gohar Muradian. The album
was printed at "Tigran Mets" publishing house and is no inferior to
the English version.

The presentation was attended by members of the Supreme Spiritual
Council, album contributors, professors of Gevorgian seminary,
scientists and art workers. Tigran Guyumjian, co-author and head
of the Department of Armenian Studies at the Fresno University,
presented the process of album’s creation in brief emphasizing the
Catholicos’s contribution.

The Chamber Orchestra of Armenia closed the event with the sounds of
Bach, Komitas, Piazzolla and Babajanian.

WE LEARN THE TRUTH FROM OTHERS
James Hakobyan

Lragir.am
18 Oct 06

Unfortunately, it is a fact that very often the Armenian public
learns about events connected with Armenia from the outside rather
than its government, which is allegedly elected in free, fair and
transparent elections. For instance, we learned from the U.S. Embassy
that a package of documents on a case of corruption was delivered to
the government of Armenia. Later, of course, the government stated
that these documents are not enough for calling the minister of
environmental protection to account, nevertheless, if the U.S.

Embassy had not announced, the taxpayers would not have learned about
the accusation against the government living on their expense.

Meanwhile, it seemed that the government should be happy to announce
the first that the accusations of corruption are false.

Similarly, the public learns from foreigners that the Armenian
government is likely to sell a section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
to the Russians. And the more the Armenian officials, including the
prime minister, the minister of defense, the minister of energy
refute this information stating that there is no such decision
on the pipeline, the more Russian officials confirm it. In fact,
they obstinately confirm what the Armenian government obstinately
refutes. And it is at least amazing that the Armenian government
does not demand explanations from Russia and does not make efforts
to prevent attempts at misleading the Armenian public. It means that
the government itself is misleading the public.

And it appears that it is misleading not only the public. And
apparently the consistent efforts to refute information hiding
the sale of the gas pipeline is not determined by the reaction of
the public. The point is that Iran is against the sale of the gas
pipeline. The officials of this country have announced in Yerevan
that they are not likely to include a third part in the pipeline
project. And the Armenian government assures Iran that it takes no
steps at involving a third party. Meanwhile, it appears to be the
contrary, and the Armenian officials are lying not only to their
people but also to Iran. It is difficult to say how long the lie
will last. Maybe until the Russians announce that the gas pipeline
already belongs to them. Of course, it may be only a section and not
the whole of the pipeline. But what difference does it make how many
meters of the pipeline belong to Russia? After all, it is impossible
to transport the gas running through this section of the pipeline
via air. And as soon as Russia gets a section of the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline, it becomes pointless to speak about the diversification of
the energy security of Armenia.

Consequently, it becomes apparent that the government’s commitment
to enhancing energy security is a lie. And all we can do is to ask
Russia when official Yerevan tells the truth and when it hides it. Even
if the Russian government demanded money in return for information,
it would probably be worthwhile to give the money we pay to the state
budget and which is spent on the salaries of the government officials,
who are supposed to be frank with the citizens.

ARMENIA, EU TO LAUNCH "ACTION PLAN" ON CLOSER TIES
By Emil Danielyan

Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Oct 17 2006

Next month the European Union and Armenia will sign a five-year action
plan related to the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) program that
enables EU neighbors to establish preferential relations with the
25-country bloc. The development will be hailed by the authorities
in Yerevan as an important milestone in their intensifying efforts
at European integration. It will also underscore the EU’s apparent
intention to press harder for democratic reforms in the South Caucasus
country.

The ENP, which also covers Azerbaijan and Georgia, is designed to
enable participating nations to build privileged partnership with the
EU in return for sweeping reforms that would bring their political
and economic systems into conformity with European standards and
practices. Although the scheme does not open the door to membership
in the EU, it offers other tangible incentives such as free trade,
substantial economic assistance, and extensive political dialogue
with the expanding union. More importantly, it means a chance to
become part of what EU officials call Europe’s "four freedoms" —
the free movement of people, capital, goods, and services.

The three South Caucasus states were not included in the ENP when
it was launched in 2003, with the EU initially targeting other,
geographically closer former Soviet republics like Ukraine and
Moldova. Georgia’s November 2003 "Rose Revolution" appears to have
been instrumental in the EU’s subsequent decision to extend the scheme,
also known as "Wider Europe," to the volatile region.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia were officially invited to join the
ENP in June 2004 and opened talks with Brussels on their respective
"action plans" shortly afterwards.

The process has been slowed down by a controversy sparked by
Azerbaijan’s decision to establish commercial and air links
with Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus. The divided island’s
internationally recognized Greek government retaliated by freezing
Baku’s participation in the ENP. This led the European Commission to
put on hold its talks with Armenia and Georgia as well. The negotiating
process resumed only late last year. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja
of Finland, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency,
announced its effective completion as he visited the three counties
earlier this month. He said their action plans would be signed in
Brussels on November 14.

"The European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan is a significant step
towards an increasingly close relationship between the EU and Armenia,
going beyond cooperation to involve a significant measure of economic
integration and deepening of political cooperation," Tuomioja and his
Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian said in a joint statement issued
after their talks in Yerevan on October 2. "The European Union and
Armenia are determined to make use of this occasion to enhance their
relations and to promote prosperity, stability, and security."

Officials have said before that the Armenian action plan, which has
not yet been made public, will be based on the recommendations of a
report released by the European Commission in March 2005. The 30-page
document called for democratic elections, the rule of law, respect for
human rights, anti-corruption measures, as well as further economic
reforms in Armenia. EU officials now stress that democratization
of the country’s deeply flawed political system will be a necessary
condition for Yerevan’s participation in the ENP.

Tuomioja specifically warned against a repeat of serious fraud in the
next Armenian parliamentary elections, due early next year. "Armenia
is aware that we all have to live up to our obligations, and if
there are deficiencies [in the conduct of the elections] they will
be noticed and there will be consequences," he told reporters in
the Armenian capital. The EU’s special representative to the South
Caucasus, Peter Semneby, likewise warned in July that the freedom and
fairness of the polls will be "crucially important" for the Armenian
government’s drive to forge closer links with Europe.

The EU has until now avoided active involvement in democracy-building
in Armenia, criticizing its rulers for rigging elections but refraining
from taking any punitive measures against them. The bloc’s external
relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, signaled a change
in this policy during a February visit to Yerevan. Issues related
to political reform and human rights protection were high on the
agenda of her meetings with President Robert Kocharian and other
Armenian officials.

Armenian leaders insist that they are taking the EU warnings seriously,
with Oskanian admitting that another rigged election would jeopardize
his country’s participation in the ENP. They argue that "European
integration" is now an increasingly high priority of Armenian foreign
policy. As if to drive home their point, they set up on September 7 two
new bodies headed by Prime Minister Andranik Markarian and tasked with
helping to deepen political and economic ties with the EU, Armenia’s
number one trading partner. The move followed Kocharian’s recent
instruction to his government to come up with a comprehensive plan
of action that will accelerate Armenia’s integration into European
and Euro-Atlantic structures.

Whether the Armenian leadership, which has failed to hold a single
election recognized as democratic by the West, is prepared to go as
far as to end chronic vote rigging and run the risk of losing power
for the sake of that integration seems doubtful. The EU questioned
its commitment to democracy as recently as last December, in the wake
of a fraudulent referendum on Kocharian’s amendments to Armenia’s
constitution.

(Aravot, October 3; Joint statement by the foreign ministers of
Armenia and Finland, October 2; Azg, September 8; RFE/RL Armenia
Report, July 24, February 17)

JUGHA ERASED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH

ArmRadio.am
18.10.2006 10:18

Tuesday, October 17th, 2006, an international delegation comprised
of representatives of different National Parliaments and a Scottish
history-of-art specialist, were received by Mr. Kotchiro Matsuura,
Director-General of UNESCO, from whom they will be solemnly requesting
an international investigation and open denunciation of the crime
perpetrated on the memorial site of Jugha (Djoulfa/Julfa) by the army
of Azerbaijan.

The delegation was formed at the behest of the Parliamentary Group
Switzerland-Armenia – mainly the Co-Chairmen – the National Councilors
Dominique de Buman (Vice-Chairman of the Christian Democratic-Party)
and Ueli Leuenberger (Vice-Chairman of the Green Party) – with the
support of Mr. Charles Aznavour, Ambassador of Armenia to UNESCO. The
Parliamentarians will submit to the Director-General exhaustive
documentation on the subject, as well as a signed Memorandum in which
five recommendations will be presented to the state of Azerbaijan,
among which, the construction of a Christian memorial on the site of
the old cemetery. If Azerbaijan does not answer these recommendations,
the delegation of the members of Parliament will ask the exclusion
of Azerbaijan of UNESCO with arbitration of the European governments,
Switzerland, Russia and Canada.

PUBLIC DEBATE AND ENLIGHTENMENT
By Ralf Dahrendorf

Project Syndicate
Oct 17 2006

Against The Current

NOT long ago, one might have concluded that, at least in Europe, there
were no taboos left. A process that had begun with the enlightenment
had now reached the point at which "anything goes."

Particularly in the arts, there were no apparent limits to showing what
even a generation ago would have been regarded as highly offensive.

Two generations ago, most countries had censors who not only tried
to prevent younger people from seeing certain films but who actually
banned books. Since the 1960’s, such pros­criptions have weakened
until, in the end, explicit sexuality, violence, blasphemy-while
upsetting to some people-were tolerated as a part of the enlightened
world.

Or were they? Are there really no limits? Outside Europe, the "anything
goes" attitude was never fully accepted. And there were limits in
Europe, too. The historian David Irving is still in detention in
Austria for the crime of Holocaust denial. This is, to be sure, a
special case. The denial of a well-documented truth may lead to new
crimes. But is the answer to the old question, "What is truth?" always
so clear?

What exactly are we doing if we insist on Turkey’s acknowledgement that
the Armenian genocide did take place as a condition of its membership
in the European Union? Are we so sure of Darwin’s theories of evolution
that we should ban alternative notions of genesis from schools?

Those concerned with freedom of speech have always wondered about
its limits. One such limit is the incitement to violence. The man
who gets up in a crowded theater and shouts, "Fire!" when there is
none is guilty of what happens in the resulting stampede. But what
if there actually is a fire?

This is the context in which we may see the invasion of Islamic taboos
into the enlightened, mostly non-Islamic world. From the fatwa on
Salman Rushdie for The Satanic Verses to the killing of a nun in
Somalia in response to Pope Benedict’s Regensburg lecture and the
Berlin Opera’s cancellation of a performance of Mozart’s Idomeneo,
with its severed heads of religious founders, including Muhammad,
we have seen violence and intimidation used to defend a particular
religion’s taboos.

There are questions here that are not easily answered by civilized
defenders of the enlightenment. Toleration and respect for people who
have their own beliefs are right and perhaps necessary to preserve an
enlightened world. But there is the other side to consider. Violent
responses to unwelcome views are never justified and cannot be
accepted. Those who argue that suicide bombers express understandable
grudges have themselves sold out their freedom. Self-censorship is
worse than censorship itself because it sacrifices freedom voluntarily.

This means that we have to defend Salman Rushdie and the Danish
cartoonists and the friends of Idomeneo, whether we like them or not.

If anyone does not like them, there are all the instruments of public
debate and of critical discourse that an enlightened community has at
its disposal. It is also true that we do not have to buy any particular
book or listen to an opera. What a poor world it would be if anything
that might offend any group could no longer be said! A multicultural
society that accepts every taboo of its diverse groups would have
little to talk about.

The kind of reaction we have seen recently to expressions of views that
are offensive to some does not bode well for the future of liberty. It
is as if a new wave of counterenlightenment is sweeping the world,
with the most restrictive views dominating the scene.

Against such reactions, enlightened views must be reasserted
strongly. Defending the right of all people to say things even if
one detests their views is one of the first principles of liberty.

Thus, Idomeneo must be performed, and Salman Rushdie must be
published. Whether an editor publishes cartoons offensive to believers
in Muhammad (or Christ, for that matter) is a matter of judgment,
almost of taste. I might not do it, but I would nevertheless defend the
right of someone who decides otherwise. It is debatable whe­ther recent
incidents of this kind require a "dialogue between religions." Public
debate making clear cases one way or the other seems more appropriate
than conciliation. The gains of enlightened discourse are too precious
to be turned into negotiable values. Defending those gains is the
task that we now face.

–Project Syndicate

–Boundary_(ID_iMJMz2baA6F+EZvlF6raJA)- –

FRENCH SOCIALISTS REACT TO CHIRAC’S APOLOGY TO ERDOGAN
By Anadolu News Agency (aa), Paris

Zaman Online, Turkey
Oct 17 2006

Opposition socialists in France reacted to French President Jacques
Chirac after he apologized to Turkish Prime minister Erdogan for last
Thursday’s Armenian genocide bill.

Socialist Party Deputy Didier Migaud criticized the conversation
between Chirac and Erdogan and said that the president apologizing
for the parliament’s activities was disappointing.

Migaud spoke to Le Parisien newspaper and said Chirac’s discomfort
with this issue was already evident, and added that it was easier to
talk about an Armenian genocide in Armenia than it was in France.

An official from French Foreign Affairs spoke to the same newspaper
and said Chirac listened to Erdogan’s concerns during their telephone
conversation, but did not promise to prevent the bill.

Chirac called Erdogan after the bill was accepted and voiced his
discomfort with its passing in the French parliament. Erdogan wanted
Chirac to prevent the bill becoming law.

TURKISH PARLIAMENT GIVES UP ALGERIAN GENOCIDE LAW
By Fatih Atik, Ankara

Zaman Online, Turkey
Oct 17 2006

It is not clear just what kind of official retaliatory move Turkey will
take after the French National Assembly adopted a bill on Thursday
that would make it a crime to deny that Turks committed an Armenian
genocide during World War I.

The Turkish Parliament Justice Sub-committee launched studies about a
law proposal that would make it a crime to deny that France committed
genocide in Algeria.

Members of the committee listened to Turkish History Society President
Professor Yusuf Halacoglu and officials from the foreign ministry in
their first meeting yesterday.

Professor Halacoglu provided historical information to the committee
about Armenian violence in Turkey.

Halacoglu claimed that Armenians were freer than Turks during Ottoman
times, recalling that Armenian citizens did not have to perform
compulsory military service until 1876.

The commission will reportedly not accept the proposal that would
make it a crime to deny that France committed genocide in Algeria.

Instead of enacting the law, the Turkish Parliament will prepare a
text in which Turkey’s practices in the field of human rights and
freedoms will be explained.

The commission members decided that the Turkish History Society and
the Foreign Ministry should conduct a detailed study on the Armenian
genocide allegations.

The history of countries that officially recognize an Armenian
genocide will also be examined in this context to see whether such
cases occurred in their own past.

The study will explain the circumstances under which Turkey decided
to deport Armenians in 1915.

The commission members will discuss reports to come from the Turkish
History Society and Foreign Ministry in their second meeting.