Month: October 2006

CHIRAC SAYS SORRY TO TURKEY FOR ARMENIAN BILL

Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand
Oct 16 2006

ANKARA: French leader Jacques Chirac has told Turkish Prime Minister
Tayyip Erdogan he is sorry French lawmakers approved a bill making
it a crime to deny Armenians were victims of genocide at the hands
of Ottoman Turks.

"Chirac called me and told me he was sorry and he said that he is
listening to our statements and he thinks we are right and he will
do what he can in the upcoming process," he told his AK Party, in
broadcast comments, during a dinner on Saturday (local time).

France is home to Europe’s largest Armenian diaspora.

Turkey denies any genocide, saying the Armenians were victims of
a partisan war that also claimed many Muslim Turkish lives. Turkey
accuses Armenians of carrying out massacres while siding with invading
Russian troops during World War 1.

The French president’s office did not comment when contacted about
Chirac’s call to Erdogan on Saturday morning.

Erdogan, facing a rise in nationalism ahead of next year’s
parliamentary elections, warned on Friday that Ankara was considering
retaliatory measures against France.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul repeated the government’s call for
France to scrap the bill, which has complicated Turkey’s European
Union accession bid.

AdvertisementAdvertisement"We are worried. Turkish-French relations
have been very deeply wounded. I hope that French politicians and
statesmen will see this and will take the necessary measure to prevent
further damage to France’s credibility," Gul told reporters.

FEAR BACKLASH

French businesses fear the bill will have repercussions for their
business in Turkey, a fast-growing market which imported 4.7 billion
euros’ worth of French goods in 2005.

About 100 people protested outside the French consulate in Istanbul
on Sunday, throwing eggs at the building.

Immediately after Thursday’s vote, the French Foreign Ministry said
it did not support the lower house bill, calling it "unnecessary and
untimely" and indicating it might never become law as it still needed
to be ratified by both the upper house Senate and French president.

France is believed to be home to the largest Armenian immigrant
community in western Europe, with up to half a million people of
Armenian descent living there.

They make up a powerful political lobby which cannot be overlooked
just seven months ahead of a presidential election.

However, some Turks think French politicians have a broader agenda
and are using the bill to try to block Ankara’s EU bid.

Chirac and the two leading candidates to replace him in polls due
next May – Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal – all say Ankara must
accept the genocide before joining the bloc.

The European Commission has said that recognition of the genocide
was not a precondition for Turkey entering the EU.

CHIRAC REGRETS BILL

7DAYS, United Arab Emirates
Oct 16 2006

French President Jacques Chirac expressed his regret to Turkey’s prime
minister over a French bill that insists the World War I massacres
of Armenians were genocide, Turkish media reported yesterday. "Mr
Chirac expressed to me this morning (Saturday) his regrets" and said
he understood the fierce reaction in Turkey to Thursday’s approval
of the bill by France’s lower house, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.

The bill, launched by MPs of France’s opposition Socialist party but
opposed by Chirac’s government, would make it an offence punishable
by jail to deny that the massacres carried out under Ottoman rule
constituted genocide. Armenians claim up to 1.5 million of their people
were slaughtered, but Turkey rejects the use of the term "genocide",
saying some 300,000 Armenians died when the Ottoman Empire fell apart,
but at least as many Turks did too.

Speaking in Erdine, northwestern Turkey, Erdogan said Chirac had
promised to "do everything he could in the following process"
of readings through which the bill must pass before becoming law
in France.

rets-bill.html?comment_add=1

AZERI RESEARCHER REVEALS NEW EVIDENCE CONDEMNING CHIRAC

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 17 2006

The French National Assembly’s approval on Thursday of a bill that
envisions prosecution for denying the "genocide of Armenians" that
allegedly happened in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 is related to certain
historical developments, an Azeri analyst told a news conference
on Friday.

The National Academy of Sciences Human Rights Institute director,
Rovshan Mustafayev, cited facts derived exclusively from foreign
sources to back up his statement, saying that in 1982, the French
government signed a cooperation agreement with Armenian terror
organization ASALA.

"The document envisioned mutual assistance and jointly striving for
the recognition of the fake genocide of Armenians on the international
scale."

Mustafayev said the adoption of the unfair bill was largely influenced
both by French President Jacques Chirac and MP of Armenian descent,
Patrick Davachian, who prepared the bill.

"Davachian is a lawyer for Jacques Chirac’s family and most of their
secrets have been confided in him. Therefore, it was under Davachian’s
influence that Chirac supported the measure. Moreover, Armenians are
now saying that Chirac’s last name is actually of Armenian descent,"
the Institute director said.

Mustafayev presented at the news conference excerpts from Washington
Post, Armenian Reporter and Le Monde newspapers as well as copies of
the minutes from the US Senate hearings providing his findings.

The researcher added that by passing the "genocide" bill, the French
parliament violated a provision of the European Convention on Human
Rights.

THE KURDISH PEN CENTRE CONGRATULATES THE TURKISH WRITER ORHAN PAMUK

Kurdish Media, UK
Oct 17 2006

The Kurdish PEN Centre congratulates the Turkish Writer Orhan Pamuk
with his Nobel Prize Award for Literature

Bremen, Homburg and Cologne (Germany) and London (UK)
15th October, 2006

The Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk draws cultures together and underlines
their humane foundation. Therefore, the Kurdish PEN Centre welcomes
the Nobel Committee decision of 2006 for awarding him for his literary
works. We are especially delighted to state that several works of
Orhan Pamuk have been translated into Kurdish becoming available to
Kurdish readers.

Obviously Orhan Pamuk’s daring to portrait the life of Turks, Kurds
and Armenians is en evidence of the Turkish intellectuals’ readiness
to help their people to overcome fear and misunderstandings. The
Kurdish PEN Centre is certain that Orhan Pamuk’s Nobel Prize award
will contribute to a better attention world-wide to the Near Eastern
literatures, cultures and popular hopes. In this case the name and
fame of Orhan Pamuk will strengthen the high principles of Peace,
Democracy, Equality and Freedom of Opinion.

The Kurdish PEN Centre

The Kurdish Centre of INTERNATIONAL P E N – A World Association of
Writers NAVENDA PEN A KURD Kurdisches PEN – Zentrum e.V.

"UNITED JAVAKHK" FACTION CHAIRMANSHIP MEMBER ARRESTED

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Vahagn Chakhalian,
a member of the "United Javakhk" ("Miasnakan Javakhk") democratic
faction chairmanship was arrested on October 11 by employees of the
RA National Security Service. "United Javakhk" informed about it in
the October 13 statement. Presenting themselves as police employees,
they invited V.Chakhalian to the police department as a victim,
but take him to the Special Security Service isolator.

As it is mentioned in the statement, V.Chakhalian was presented
"accusation for illegally crossing the RA state border." Based on the
accusation mentioned on October 13, the Court of First Instance of
the Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan made a decision
to use arrest as a prevention mean towards V.Chakhalian.

"Especially the circumstance causes indignation that instead of
examining and revealing dangerous criminals committed the act of
violence against V.Chakhalian, subjected to hooligan attack and got
serious bodily injuries, the latter’s family as well as faction
member Gurgen Shirinian, the victim is being pursued with false
accusations. The mentioned circumstance obviously proves presence of
direct tie between the act of violence committed against V.Chakhalian
and arrest followed it and some forces’ order," the statement authors
mention.

"United Javakhk" is anxious that future events may bring to dangerious
and unforeseen developments. "Vahagn’s absence and the successive
attempts to liguidate the faction with firm means strike heavy blows
to the present system securing stability in Javakhk, in which "United
Javakhk" has a decisive role owing to the population’s all-embracing
assistance," is said in the statement.

"Famous margin forces and criminal clans strive for keeping monopoly
of presenting himself on behalf of Armenians of Javakhk and with
their not responsible actions they create serious threat for the
regional stablity," faction members mention, expressing hope that
all the interested forces, particularly, the authorities of Armenia
"will foster more clever attitude towards the mentioned forces’
activity which may bring to destroying the regional stablity system
and most seriously damage the Armenian-Georgian interstate relations."

DECLINE IN ARMENIA’S EXPORT IS A RESULT OF DEVELOPMENTS ON INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, RA MINISTER OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SAYS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the RA Minister of
Trade and Economic Development Karen Chshmaritian, a 3.6% deline in
export in January-August 2006 on the same months of last year happened
as a result of the fact that the Armenian economy integrated into
international markets, and the developments taking place in those
markets affect Armenia’s export. The minister stated this during
hearings on the dram’s appreciation in the RA National Assembly on
October 16.

According to him, during the indicated period, the prices of
feromolybdenum, one of export products, declined by 60-65% on
international stock exchanges. Export of alcoholic drinks from Armenia
to Russia decreased by 13% as a result of some imperfect amendments
made to the RF legislation about circulation of such drinks. The
decline in jewelry export is also related to some continuous declines
on the international market.

The minister explained the 20% import growth in January-August 2006
on the same months of 2005 by an increase in equipment and technology
import.

ACCORDING TO ROBERT KOCHARIAN, ARMENIA HAS MUCH POTENTIAL FOR EXPORTING ORGANIC FOOD STUFFS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia has much potential for
production, procession and export of ecologically pure organic
foodstuffs, and the state should create favorable conditions for using
this potential. The Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated this
at the October 14 press conference on results of his working visit
to Ararat marz.

In a response to a question of NT correspondent, he said that several
programs on organic food production already started in Armenia. R.

Kocharian indicated the program implemented by Argentinian Armenian
businessman Eduardo Ernekian in Armavir marz as the most successful
of these programs.

"We are ready to create favorable conditions, we are asssiting with the
process to produce good results: then farmers should decide themselves
which is more beneficial – to produce less but 5 times as expensive
production than now," he said.

According to him, the Armenian economy is undergoing a dynamic
development, and "innovations may have quite an efficient and favorable
effect in terms of developing the country’s economy."

ON OCTOBER 18, ART-LOVERS TO BID LAST FAREWELL TO SINGER VARDUHI VARDANIAN

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. 30-year-old well-known singer,
laureate of a number of international competitions, Varduhi Vardanian
died on October 15, in a car accident on the Sevan-Martuni-Getap road.

In 1993 the singer finished the music school of Armenian Chorus
Company, in 1994 Yerevan State Institute of Foreign Languages after
V.Brusov and in 2003 Yerevan State Conservatory after Komitas. In 1994
V.Vardanian took part in the international competition in Sverdlovsk
with the Jazz Pop ensemble and received Grand Prix. Since 1995 she
had been working at the Armenian State Theater of Song. In 1996 the
singer participated in the Yalta-Moscow-Transit international contest
of young singers where she received a special prize for the best
performance. In 1999 V.Vardanian was recognized the best singer of the
year. In the same year she participated in the Zolotoy Shlyager contest
in Belarus and gained the second prize. In 2000 she received Grand
Prix and Spectator’s Sympathy special prize at the Discovery Bulgarian
contest. V.Vardanian also received Grand Prix at the competition held
in Macedonia in the same year. In 2002 she took part in the Slavyanski
Bazar international competition and received the second prize.

The art-lovers will bid their last farewell to the singer on October
18, at the Aram Khachatrian concert hall.

CE COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERS FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA AS POSSIBILITY TO CONTINUE DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENTS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On October 14,
RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian received Council of
Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Tommas Hammarberg.

According to the report submitted to Noyan Tapan from RA NA Public
Relations Department, NA Speaker informed the guest about the
parliament’s work. It was mentioned that the reforms of the Electoral
Code will be completed by the end of the year, which will become a
good legislative basis for holding the forthcoming state elections
in accordance with democratic standards. In this respect tolerance
of political forces towards one another and their cooperation was
mentioned as especially important, as the elections are not only a
way of forming the power, but also are an indicator of the state of
democracy and a possibility of its further deepening.

In addition to another issues, the meeting participants also touched
upon the possibilities for human rights protection, reforms in court
and legal and local self-government systems, creation of reserving
mechanisms and counter-balances among state government wings created
as a result of the constitutional reform.

The sides mutually attached importance to reforms in the court and
legal system in the respect of weakening of political influence and
prevention of corruption.

Touching upon the forthcoming elections, Mr Hammarberg considered
them as a possibility to continue democratic developments. He attached
importance to full fledging of ombudsman’s institution, civil society
and freedom of media in the country for the latters to be able to be
unbiassed when covering the events.

Boyana Urumova, Special Representative of CE Secretary General,
and Ambassador Christian Der-Stepanian, Resident Representative of
Armenia to PACE, also took part in the meeting.

ZAVEN ANDRIASIAN WINS TITLE OF WORLD CHAMPION

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Chess World Youth Championship ended
on October 16 in Yerevan. 17-year-old Zaven Andriasian (Armenia) gained
9.5 out of 13 possible points and won the title of world champion
in competition among 83 boys. The following 2 places were taken by
Nikita Vityugov (Russia) and Yuri Krivoruchko (Ukraine), respectively.

Delegates from China Shen Yang, Hau Hi Fan and representative of
Georgia Salome Melia gained 9 points each and took the first three
places in accordance with their coefficients at the tournament with
participation of 57 ladies. The best of Armenian lady chess-players
was Siranush Andriasian who was the 19th with 7 points.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress