Month: October 2006

Federation of Armenian organisations in the Netherlands (FAON)
Address: Weesperstreet 91, The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
Website:
E-mail: [email protected]

Press Release

ARMENIAN FEDERATION WELCOMES FRENCH LAW

The Hague – The Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands
(FAON) is glad that the French National Assembly in large majority has
adopted a bill, which makes denial of the Armenian Genocide a crime. Denying
the holocaust has been a crime in France since 1990.

The Federation believes that with such a provision a dam is raised against
denial propaganda of the Turkish government, which is painful for the
Armenians.

Also in the Netherlands such denial material is spread, on internet sites,
in writings and also in the public debate. For victims and their surviving
descendants it is cause for problems each time. On basis of the
discrimination prohibition in the Criminal Code such remarks are in
principle already a crime. It would be a major improvement if the Dutch
legislation would make it explicitly clear that public expressions, where
genocides are systematically denied with the intention to hurt or
discriminate people, will be impossible in The Netherlands. The Federation
hopes, therefore, that the initiative bill submitted by Mrs.
Huizinga-Heringa, Member of Parliament of Christian Union faction, which
foresees the punishment of the genocide denial, will be adopted by the House
of Representatives.

The Federation emphasises for sake of completeness that this Dutch bill is
not directed to the denial in itself, as it is suggested sometimes in the
media, but to the offending or discriminating aspects of genocide denials.
Such denials stand in any case never in itself, but have always link with
discriminating or heinously treat of populations. We must not tolerate such
expressions in The Netherlands.

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
12 Oct 06

TURKISH MINISTER, EU’S FRATTINI DISCUSS CONCERNS OVER ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE LAW

Brussels, 12 October: Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for
EU talks Ali Babacan met European Commission Vice-President Franco
Frattini for Justice, Freedom and Security in Brussels on Thursday
[12 October].

Speaking to Turkish reporters, Babacan said that French parliament’s
decision on adoption of a bill on criminalizing denial of so-called
Armenian genocide was a concerning development regarding the future
of the EU, noting that this decision would make a negative impact on
(Turkish people’s) senses on EU.

"It is not reasonable to respond to France’s mistakes by making
mistakes. We will keep fulfilling reforms," Babacan stressed.

Replying to questions on Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK),
Babacan noted that technical works on this matter were under way. "We
will monitor its implementation. There can be amendments on any law.
However developments in France will make difficult initiatives on the
matter," he said.

Responding to a question on Turkey’s attitude in regard to the
decision of France, Babacan said that the government has not made a
decision on the matter yet, underlining that this issue would be
discussed in the first meeting of the Council of Ministers.

Noting that European Commission’s reaction to the decision of France
was a very important development, he stressed: "We consider the
commission’s attitude positive and sound."

"We are continuing legal arrangements on EU adjustment laws. Turkish
Parliamentary General Assembly will debate the law on foundations
next week," Babacan said upon a question. He noted: "Now Turkey aims
to be a full member of the EU."

Stating that he held very fruitful meetings in Brussels, Babacan
indicated that there could be progress regarding visa procedure for
Turkish businessmen, students and academicians.

In regard to prominent Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, who won the 2006
Nobel Prize for literature, Babacan stated: "It is a very important
development."

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
12 Oct 06

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER CRITICIZES ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LAW
BY FRANCE

Ankara, 12 October: "France will live with this shame," said Turkish
FM Abdullah Gul when commenting on the resolution on the so-called
Armenian genocide adopted by the French parliament today.

Gul and Afghan FM Rangin Dadfar Spanta held a joint press conference
after their meeting at the Foreign Ministry residence in Ankara.

FM Gul stated that France cannot define itself as "the homeland of
freedoms" from now on.

Noting that Turkey will not underestimate this development, Gul said
that Turkey will take every type of measure.

"I hope that France will take a backward step from this dead end," he
added.

On the other hand, Gul said: "We are very pleased that a Turk has won
such a prize" when referring to prominent Turkish novelist Orhan
Pamuk, who won the 2006 Nobel Prize for literature.

"This is an important development for Turkey’s promotion," he added.

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
12 Oct 06

TURKEY SAYS FRANCE’S ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LAW AGAINST DEMOCRACY

Ankara, 12 October: "The reliability of the states depends on their
standing by the values they advocate," the Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Thursday [12 October] after French
national assembly adopted a bill on criminalizing denial of so-called
Armenian genocide.

Releasing a statement, the MFA said: "Although enactment of the bill
depends on a long process including approvals of the Senate and the
President, it has caused a profound disappointment in Turkey. We will
maintain our initiatives in all levels within this process."

"Recent strong criticisms against the bill have already unveiled that
even France was not fully satisfied with it and that such an
unfortunate initiative did not receive support of all public opinion.
However, it does not diminish the seriousness of the event," MFA
said.

"This bill means a violation of French constitutional order regarding
freedom of expression as superior over all other constitutional
rights, and the relevant European Convention. It also contradicts the
spirit of France which inspired the whole world by defending the
concepts of freedom, equality and brotherhood," it said.

The MFA noted: "When it comes to dealing with France’s own history,
French parliamentarians advocate that it is the responsibility of
historians. However, they consider themselves the authority that
makes a decision on the history of another country. This is nothing
but a contradiction. This bill has also revealed the double-standard
attitude of France in a period when Turkey has been encouraged to
take additional steps on freedom of expression despite all recent
reforms aiming at further improving fundamental rights and freedoms."

"This bill contradicts democratic regime since it prevents freedom of
thought and expression. It has caused a profound sorrow among Turkish
people including our Armenian citizens. 70m Turkish nation rejects
such a restriction on freedom of thought and expression on basis of
totally baseless allegations. Unfortunately, by adopting the bill,
France has lost its privileged position within Turkish nation’s point
of view," the Ministry added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
12 Oct 06

TURKISH PREMIER, ARMENIAN PATRIARCH CONDEMN ADOPTION OF GENOCIDE LAW

Ankara, 12 October: "We regret and condemn adoption of the resolution
that makes denial of baseless Armenian genocide allegations a crime
by the French parliament," announced Turkish Prime Ministry Press
Centre.

Releasing a statement, the Prime Ministry Press Centre qualified this
decision as a "historical inconsistency", and indicated that this
decision is a big shame when respect to scientific facts and freedom
of thought and expression are taken into consideration.

"Narrow-minded politicians, who have made France live with this
shame, should think about what will happen from now on. Because the
French parliament has contradicted its own allegations regarding the
French history, and trampled the fundamental values it is defending.
Even though this parliament decision is not enough for legalization
of the resolution, this is a grave and historic mistake. There is a
big reaction against this resolution in France, and history will
naturally try those who close their eyes to these reactions and
insist on this wrong step," it noted.

"Unfortunately, it won’t be possible to control all the results of
this irresponsible attitude of some French politicians. We will
neither accept nor tolerate such an unjust decision. Our public,
including our Armenian citizens with whom we are living together for
centuries, are upset. Mr Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) is
calling on our public, politicians and business circles to behave
with common sense when showing necessary reactions to this decision,"
the statement added.

Armenian Patriarch

On the other hand, Mesrob II, the Patriarch of the Armenians in
Turkey, said that the resolution will strengthen the hands of not
only Turkish but also Armenian extreme nationalist and racist groups.

"The French, who have put several obstacles before Turkey on its road
to the EU, have hit a serious stroke on the very limited dialogue
between Turkey and Armenia. I think that this resolution, adopted by
the French parliament, is anti-democratic because it limits personal
freedom of expression," he stated.

Mesrob II added that the Armenians in Turkey are monitoring the
developments with concern.

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
12 Oct 06

TURKEY "MORE EUROPEAN" THAN FRANCE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE –
MINISTER

Brussels, 12 October: "The attitude Turkey has assumed against
so-called Armenian genocide allegations is more European than the
attitude of France," Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for
EU talks Ali Babacan who spoke at round-table meeting organized by
think-tank institution "Friends of Europe" in Brussels said on
Thursday [12 October].

Regarding EU’s enlargement process and Turkey’s EU process, Babacan
said that Turkey is ready to cooperate in every type of projects to
eliminate misunderstandings in EU as well as in Turkish public.
Babacan wanted EU to assess Turkey’s membership in long-term by
taking into consideration the economic and social transformation. He
added that Turkey’s EU membership should be based on logic and
realities, not emotions.

"When the issue is considered from EU’s point of view, Turkey’s
membership will strengthen EU’s global actor role. If EU wants to be
a big actor in global level, it can achieve it easily through
Turkey’s membership. Turkey can have important contributions to
extension of peace and prosperity in Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia
and Middle East," Babacan noted.

Babacan said: "Democratic institutions in Turkey are functioning
better than those in several EU member countries. Also in economic
aspect, Turkey is important with its location as a bridge between
Asia and Europe as well as being a natural road between Europe and
oil rich Iraq, Iran, Caspian basin and Central Asia. Turkey will have
contributions to EU with its young, qualified and educated
population."

Regarding adoption the draft law criminalizing denial of so-called
Armenian genocide by French parliament, Babacan said that Turkey’s
attitude towards the issue is more European than the attitude of
France. "Parliaments are not responsible of making decisions about
history. We proposed establishment of a commission to research the
allegations. We opened all documents and military archives and wanted
the same thing (from Armenia) but we did not receive a positive
response," he added.

Babacan noted: "Turkey, by leaving the history to historians, assumed
a more European attitude. French draft law contradicts freedom of
expression which is one of the most basic values of EU."

Ayna, Baku
12 Oct 06 pp 1, 2

WAR ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE PROTRACTED KARABAKH CONFLICT – AZERI DAILY

An Azerbaijani newspaper has said that the only possible way to
achieve a breakthrough in the peace talks to resolve the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia is to start military
operations in Karabakh. "Now it is considered more acceptable for
Azerbaijan to carry out a military operation in Karabakh. It is
possible to achieve progress only in this way," the paper said. The
following is the excerpt from Casur Sumarinli’s report by Azerbaijani
newspaper Ayna on 12 October headlined "An alarm on the front line"
and subheaded "It has been ordered to upgrade the military hardware
in the front line units of the Azerbaijani army". Subheadings are as
published.

A secret alarm was sent to most of the Azerbaijani military units
along the front line yesterday [11 October] and they were put on high
alert. Ayna obtained information saying that the alarm was mainly
intended for military units in Tartar and Agdam districts. It is not
known yet if the alarm was given by the Defence Ministry or the corps
command. We could not confirm the information since it was the end of
the day, but the source of the information insisted that the
country’s leadership had given the instruction to put the troops on
high alert to check the level of their preparedness.

Ayna has learnt that President Ilham Aliyev has given special
instructions to upgrade the weapons and military hardware in the
units on the front line. It is also reported that the process of
replacing military hardware has already started. Some reports say
that it is also on the agenda to increase the number of troops on the
front line.

Will there be war?

Independent experts are saying that the relations between Azerbaijan
and Armenia are tense. It is not ruled out either that these
relations may end up with war at any time. It is true that the peace
talks between the sides resumed at the level of foreign ministers
after several months’ break. But experts believe that these talks are
"contacts for the sake of contacts". The sides are clearly confident
that they will not make any serious progress in the talks. But the
existing situation cannot last long like this. Therefore, it is
necessary to take certain extraordinary steps.

Observations show that an extraordinary incident should necessarily
happen on the front line. Only after this incident the sides can
intensify their efforts and wish to resolve the conflict as soon as
possible.

Political analysts believe that it will be inevitable to write a new
scenario for the next round of talks if Azerbaijan fully proves its
rightness in the Karabakh peace talks, insists on the liberation of
the occupied territories and convinces the international community,
especially the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group of its efforts. The
talk is about "an extraordinary incident" that would enable the
liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Observations show that the Armenians are far from making any
concessions at this point of time, taking advantage of their
victorious position. This challenges the success of the peace talks
on the settlement of the conflict. That is why such an incident
should happen that the Armenians have to sit at a negotiating table
and accept what Azerbaijan dictates. Experts think that the two
principles, that the parties are divided on, can also be resolved in
this case.

Based on the international experience experts say that "certain
incidents" are required to change the situation that has been
existing in a conflict zone for a long time. For example, Azerbaijan
may have started small-scale military operations in Karabakh under
the pretext of fires. Then, it would have been interesting for us to
find out what the international community thinks about it.

For all these reasons now it is considered more acceptable for
Azerbaijan to carry out a military operation in Karabakh. It is
possible to achieve progress only in this way.

Azeri community in Karabakh made official

The Azerbaijani community of Nagornyy Karabakh has become an entity
with official registration, as the Justice Ministry registered the
community as a public association called the Community of
Azerbaijanis of Nagornyy Karabakh.

Observers say that registering this community aims to add a new
"colour" to the peace talks on the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict because representatives of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
communities [of Nagornyy Karabakh] may be involved in the talks.

La Stampa website, Turin,
8 Oct 06

ARMENIAN QUESTION ADDS TENSION TO POPE’S TURKEY VISIT – ITALIAN DAILY

"Genocide of Armenians is Turkish trap for Pope"
by Giacomo Galeazzi

Vatican City: [Pope] Benedict XVI has "reopened" the Armenian
question, in defence of the freedom of religious minorities. Vatican
diplomats are reassuring the Turkish authorities, and are frantically
working to avert the risks of a new diplomatic incident with a
country which has a Muslim majority. "The trip to Turkey is a great
opportunity to cool down tensions by means of talks," officials in
the Vatican have said, damping down tensions, while signs of concern
are coming in from Turkey’s episcopate, in light of the serious
misunderstandings and the row which followed the Pope’s references to
Islam in Bavaria.

On the afternoon of 30 November, in Istanbul, the Pope is to meet
with the Armenian apostolic patriarch, Mesrop II. "It is an important
step towards the unity of Christians, and it must in no way be
interpreted as a hostile action with regard to the government in
Ankara," explained the archbishop at the papal court, Francesco
Gioia, who is in the front line in inter-religious dialogue. However,
the wounds caused by the ethnic and religious genocide of the
Armenian people, for which Turkey has never wanted to acknowledge
responsibility, are still open. The Secretary of State’s office is
trying to avert and attenuate the possible negative repercussions.
Sources at the third loggia of the Apostolic Palace [as received]
have highlighted the fact that the European Parliament has just
decided to eliminate acknowledgment of the Armenian genocide from the
list of preconditions for Ankara’s membership of the European Union
(unlike the terms of the first version of the text), whilst still
underlining the fact that it is "indispensable" for Turkey to deal
with the question. "The invitation to the Pontiff is a brave decision
by the Turkish Government, and the constructive intention in it
should be appreciated – Gioia specified – As well as the Armenian
apostolic patriarch, Benedict XVI will also meet in Turkey with the
spiritual leaders of the other minorities: the Syrian Orthodox
archbishop, the representatives of the evangelical churches, and the
Greek Orthodox patriarch."

A decision which is "a determined one, which will lift the veil on a
very severe situation," to the extent of making Joseph Ratzinger
[Pope Benedict XVI] the spokesman of the claims of all Christians, as
the theologist Don Gianni Baget Bozzo underlined. "Although he will
not make an explicit mention of the extermination of a million and a
half Armenians, which was carried out in 1915 by the Young Turks –
argues Baget Bozzo – by meeting in Istanbul with Patriarch Mesrop II,
the Holy Father is turning the spotlight on the lack of respect for
religious freedom, and on the denial of the rights of worshippers."
All the more so given that Benedict XVI has always spoken very clear
words of condemnation of genocide. "Embracing the patriarch will be a
testimony of truth with regard to the sacrifice and the suffering of
the Armenian community – said Luigi Amicone, a member of CL
[right-wing religious movement Communion and Liberation], who is the
editor-in-chief of the theo-con weekly Tempi.

As already happened in the case of the speech in Regensburg on
Mohammed, the Pontiff is showing that he is not scared of
exploitation for political purposes, which will also be targeted at
this historic gesture on his part." Card Pio Laghi observed that the
Pope’s thoughts will be directed at the suffering which the Armenian
people has endured in the name of the Christian faith, "in the years
of the terrible persecution which remains in history under the sadly
meaningful name of ‘Metz Yeghern,’ the great evil."

So it will be a meeting which, at the same time, is "a sign of
gratitude and a concrete intervention" for the Armenians and the
other Christians who, in the land of Islam, "continue to bear
witness, still today, to their faithfulness to the Gospel." Genocide,
sources at the papal court remarked, represents one of the darkest
and most forgotten chapters of the last century. Joseph Ratzinger
intends to re-read it not so as to condemn Turkey, but in order to
pay tribute to those who, under the Ottoman Empire, sacrificed their
lives to their faith in Christ, and so as to lay claim to the rights
which are denied to today’s believers. He is inspired by the memory
of the denunciation by [Pope] Leo XIII of the general silence over
the Armenian tragedy, and Benedict XV’s cry of pain over the "very
wretched people of Armenia." This closeness, and this solidarity will
be the guidelines at the meeting in Istanbul. "But his gesture also
has an ‘internal’ significance, inasmuch as it serves to call for
greater efforts to reconstitute unity between Christians," Laghi made
clear.

Mediamax, Armenia
Oct 12 2006

NATO ENVOY PRAISES ARMENIA’S ACHIEVEMENTS

Yerevan, 12 October: "NATO is satisfied with the process and pace of
the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan [IPAP]
between Armenia and the alliance," the special representative of the
NATO secretary-general for the South Caucasus, Robert Simmons, said
in Yerevan today.

Simmons said this at a joint news conference with Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan.

He noted that "Armenia succeeded in achieving progress in the
implementation of the key directions of the IPAP".

Simmons said that NATO would attentively follow the 2007
parliamentary elections in Armenia and added the conduct of free and
fair elections was one of the commitments under the IPAP.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said that the NATO
information centre, which was opened in Yerevan on 11 October, would
play a significant role in the process of informing the Armenian
public about NATO and Armenia-NATO relations.

Xinhua News Agency , China
October 13, 2006 Friday 2:00 PM EST

Turkish president expresses sadness over France’s Armenian genocide
bill

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer expressed sadness over a French
bill that would make it a crime to deny Turks committed genocide
against Armenians, the semi- official Anatolia news agency reported
on Friday.

The president felt deeply sad over the French national assembly ‘s
approval of the bill on Thursday, Sermet Atacanli, a senior advisor
to President Sezer was quoted as saying.

"Mr. President hopes that the bill would be received with logic in
the next legislative level and hopes that the bill would not become
an actual law in France," Atacanli said.

The advisor noted that Sezer wishes the Turkish-French relations
would not get hurt and basic rights of freedom of expression would
not be negatively affected by the bill.

In addition, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also
condemned the approval of the controversial bill, saying, "France has
stained its own history and democracy by adopting the bill about
so-called Armenian genocide."

Meanwhile, Erdogan called on people to be calm over boycotting
French-made products.

"Some groups call on people to boycott French-made products. Will it
be really effective? Actually, we should be calm and take steps
consciously," said Erdogan.

"There are nearly 500,000 Turks living in France. They should be as
influential as Armenians," he stressed.

Despite warnings from Ankara that it would hurt the bilateral
relations between Turkey and France, French lawmakers on Thursday
voted 106 against 19 for the bill, which calls for up to a year in
prison and fines of up to 56,000 U.S. dollars for anyone who denies
the Armenian genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turk during World War
I.

The bill must be passed by the Senate and signed by French President
Jacques Chirac.

Turkey has always denied that up to 1.5 million Armenians were
subject to genocide in the period between 1915 and 1923.

However, it does acknowledge that up to 300,000 Armenians died during
fighting and efforts to relocate populations away from the war zone
in eastern Turkey.

According to the Zaman daily, Turkey is the fifth largest customer of
French goods outside the European Union. France’s export to Turkey
values at 5.9 billion dollars while its import from Turkey remains at
3.8 billion dollars.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress