Month: October 2006

HOLLANDE ET DEVEDJIAN D’ACCORD SUR LE TEXTE SUR LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN

Agence France Presse
9 octobre 2006 lundi

Patrick Devedjian, depute UMP et proche conseiller de Nicolas
Sarkozy, est tombe d’accord dimanche soir avec Francois Hollande,
premier secretaire du parti socialiste, sur la necessite de voter la
proposition de loi socialiste sur le genocide armenien.

Le texte, qui vient jeudi en discussion a l’Assemblee, impose des
sanctions a quiconque nierait le genocide armenien de 1915.

Presente deja en mai a l’assemblee, son examen avait ete suspendu
avant d’etre vote.

"La majorite avait alors fait une procedure de report, nous revenons
avec ce texte", a note Francois Hollande dans France Europe express
(France 3 et France-infos).

M. Devedjian a fait valoir que les lecons de la Turquie n’etaient
"pas très bien venues", puisqu’il y avait un article du code penal
turc qui "interdit d’affirmer l’existence du genocide".

Il a indique qu’il soutenait cette proposition de loi, "avec un
amendement tendant a la rendre raisonnable", qui ferait echapper aux
poursuites tout travail a caractère scientifique.

Nous devons le faire "dans un esprit d’interet general", a-t-il ajoute.

–Boundary_(ID_bcclGJ5cb6dy7zVZ89jzEg)–

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : LA FRANCE CONSPUEE A ISTANBUL
Par Patrick BÈle (Avec AFP)

Le Figaro, France
09 octobre 2006

" FRANCE, STOP, le boycott arrive " , " Le genocide est un mensonge "
: hier a Istanbul, une manifestation etait organisee pour protester
contre la proposition de loi du Parti socialiste francais sur
le genocide armenien, qui doit etre discutee jeudi a l’Assemblee
nationale. Le texte prevoit cinq ans de prison et une forte amende
pour toute personne qui nierait que les Armeniens aient ete victimes
d’un genocide sous l’Empire ottoman. Son examen au Parlement francais
avait commence le 18 mai.

Mais la discussion avait ete interrompue faute de temps, deputes
UMP et gouvernement ayant use d’artifices de procedure pour retarder
les debats. À gauche comme a droite, les partis sont divises sur ce
texte. Certains, comme Eric Raoult (UMP, auteur d’une proposition
similaire), ont l’intention de se prononcer en faveur du texte. La
communaute armenienne, estimee a 500 000 personnes, represente un
electorat non negligeable a quelques mois des elections de 2007. La
France a deja reconnu le genocide armenien par une loi du 29 janvier
2001, mais sa negation n’est pas penalisee. Le " critère Chirac "
" Que ferez-vous lorsqu’un premier ministre de Turquie se rendra en
France et dira qu’il n’y a pas eu de genocide armenien ? Vous le
mettrez en prison ? ", s’est interroge le premier ministre turc,
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ce dernier a recu, samedi, une importante
delegation d’entreprises francaises, dont les representants de
Peugeot, Renault, Danone, Lafarge et Carrefour. Le message est clair
: toutes ont d’importantes activites dans le pays. Le ministre
des Affaires etrangères, Abdullah Gul, s’est montre encore plus
explicite : il a indique, hier, avoir averti son homologue francais,
Philippe Douste-Blazy, que si la proposition de loi etait votee,
la participation de la France a d’importants projets economiques en
Turquie serait compromise. Les echanges commerciaux entre les deux pays
ont approche les 10 milliards de dollars en 2005. Ankara s’etait deja
emu des propos de Jacques Chirac, lors de sa visite d’Etat en Armenie,
mardi dernier. Le president francais avait exhorte Ankara a assumer
ce volet de son histoire. " Faut-il que la Turquie reconnaisse le
genocide armenien pour entrer dans l’Union ?

Honnetement je le crois… Tout pays se grandit en reconnaissant
(…) ses erreurs " , a declare le chef de l’Etat francais. Les propos
avaient surpris, car Jacques Chirac est considere comme un partisan
de l’entree de la Turquie dans l’Union europeenne. La romancière
turque Mine G. Kirikkanat ecrivait samedi dans Liberation que les
Turcs ont du mal a comprendre qu’aux critères de Copenhague s’ajoute "
un critère Chirac ". La question du genocide armenien, si elle n’est
pas une condition fixee par Bruxelles a l’adhesion de la Turquie,
est presente dans le processus lance il y a un an.

–Boundary_(ID_8FXvsCIoVomtRAkHSIwovw)–

KARABAKH PROBLEM NOT ACTUAL FOR NETHERLANDS

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2006 15:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nagorno Karabakh has not been the issue of concern
for Netherlands for a long time, chairman of the Federation of the
Federation of Armenian organizations of Netherlands Mato Hakhverdyan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. According to him, Leo Platvoet, the
Dutch Senate member, is most of all engaged in the Nagorno Karabakh
issue. "Rene van der Linden, as the President of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe, and other Dutch parliamentarians in
the PACE show interest in the problem. "These people are active in the
Council of Europe circles and that is probably their only involvement
with Karabakh. In the Netherlands itself, in our parliament, it is
not a real issue," Hakhverdyan said.

TURKEY GOING TO ADOPT BILL SAYING "FRANCE COMMITTED GENOCIDE IN ALGERIA"

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2006 15:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A rally with a slogan "Stop, France!
Armenian Genocide is a lie" was held in Turkey.

Although the rally in front of the French Consulate General in Istanbul
was authorized, policemen did not let the protesters come up to the
Consulate. Labor Party Chairman Dogu Perincek accused Prime Minister
Erdogan of deploying Turkish policemen on "French barricades." "France
lost 5 thousand soldiers when fighting against us. If the bill on
Genocide is passed by the French parliament October 12 the selling of
French products will be boycotted from October 13," he said. Yesterday
Prime Minister Erdogan said that France’s involvement in the Genocide
issue will be harmful for it and extreme measures will be taken
in case the bill is adopted. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
during a phone conversation with his French counterpart stated that
the adoption of the bill will badly damage the relations between the
two states. Abdullah Gul said that French companies will be forbidden
to participate in all international tenders scheduled in Turkey for
the construction of a nuclear power plant and helicopters selling.

The justice committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly October
11 will discuss a bill condemning the killing of 250 thousand peaceful
Muslims during a military operation conducted by France in 1960-ies
as genocide. If the French parliament passes the bill on the Armenian
Genocide, the Turkish parliament will officially approve the bill
on genocide committed by France against Algerians. According to the
bill, anyone who denies that the French committed genocide against
the Algerians could be put in jail for 3 years.

AKHTAMAR CHURCH TO OPEN NOVEMBER 4

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2006 16:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The opening of the church on Akhtamar island
will most likely take place November 4. According to supervisor of
the restoration works, architect Zakhid Certanly, the works were
started in May 2005 and finished August 30, 2006. "600 000 Liras
was spent for the restoration carried out under the supervision of
5 experts. Bas-reliefs on the walls were cleaned, the foundation was
fastened, roof and floor were repaired and windows glassed. Presently
the workers put in order the surrounding territory, repair the roads,
build a quay, a booking office, a hotel, a cafe and a gift shop,"
the Turkish architect said. He also remarked that he restored the
church in Bitlis which is now used for social needs.

"As for Akhtamar, we always kept in contact with Armenian architects in
order to maintain its Armenian originality," Certnaly said emphasizing
that Turkish Prime Minister Racep Tayyip Erdogan attaches importance to
the restoration of the church, which can contribute to the development
of the Armenian-Turkish relations and become an example for the
whole world.

"Erdogan will to all appearance be present at the opening ceremony,"
he said. The Turkish architect also reminded that the Church of
Saint Apostles was built in the 10th century by King Gagik Artsruni,
reports Yerkir with a reference to Marmara newspaper.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIA INTRODUCED ‘SPECIAL CONTROL’ OVER TRANSIT OF MILITARY CARGO THROUGH ITS TERRITORY TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2006 17:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Some changes were introduced into the order of
transit of military cargo and personnel to the 102nd Russian base in
Armenia. In accordance with the treaty "On organization of transit
of military cargo and personnel through the Georgian territory",
the Russian Defense Ministry should appeal to the Georgian Defense
Ministry for a permission to transport its cargo. Unfortunately,
Tbilisi is going to use these amendments for organization of
new provocations. According Georgian Defense Minister Irakly
Okruashvili, Georgia is just establishing a ‘special control’ over
the transportation of cargo through Georgia to Armenia.

The decision of the Georgian Defense Ministry refers to the transit
to the 102nd Russian base to Armenia not only of the military staff
but also the accompanying persons and families.

FRANCE: PUNISHMENT FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL SHOULDN’T BE APPLIED TO HISTORIANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2006 17:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A leading figure from the ruling People’s
Majority Unity Party, French Armenian Patrick Devedjian proposed an
amendment to the bill penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial. The
single-sentenced proposal reads "These regulations do not apply
to academic and scientific researches and studies." To remind, the
draft submitted by the opposition Socialist Party stipulates those
who deny the Armenian Genocide be imprisoned up to five years and
fined 45,000 euros. In a statement annexed to the amendment proposal,
Devedjian, in reference to Turkey, noted that the bill should prevent
any provocations and political demonstrations organized by a foreign
country, reported zaman.com.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MG: OSKANIAN-MAMMADYAROV TALKS WERE RICH

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2006 17:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The talks held with the Azerbaijani and Armenian
Foreign Ministers on October 6 in Moscow were very useful and
rich, Russian Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov
said. According to him, both Ministers positively assessed the
consultations. "I think that the Co-chairs share their opinion,"
Merzlyakov stated. The diplomat pointed out that after getting a
response from both parties as to the presentation of the proposals
regarding "fundamental principles" of the settlement, the mediators
continued talks. During the Moscow meeting, the Minsk Group Co-chairs
were unanimous in their opinion with regards to the elements of
several principles having differences, Merzlyakov said, adding,
"We hope to achieve mutual understanding in the talks that will
continue on 24 October in Paris."

The diplomat emphasized that during the Moscow meeting, debates on
the organization of the next meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
Presidents were not conducted. This question will be discussed in
Paris. In addition, Merzlyakov refuted the previous statement that
the meeting of the leaders of the conflict parties may take place
at the CIS Summit on 17 October in Minsk. As a matter of fact, the
diplomat said, the CIS Summit is scheduled for November, reported
Trend news agency.

SOUTH CAUCASIAN STATES STAND NO CHANCE FOR EU MEMBERSHIP YET

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2006 17:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The PACE commission for political affairs has
considered Adrian Severin’s report on the Pact of stability in the
South Caucasus, Armenian National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian
said at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words, some amendments
referring to the situation in the South Caucasus will be introduced
in the report with the consent of the rapporteur. "In part, the
report said that the South Caucasian states have no outlook for EU
membership," Torosian remarked.

"Word ‘yet’ was added to the sentence. The draft resolution is
acceptable for Armenia in the whole but the Azeri delegates voiced
discontent with the initiative citing the unsettlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh problem. The initiative provides for cooperation
and integration in the South Caucasus, full use of communications,
establishment of trust," the RA NA Speaker said.

He underscored that the position of the Azeri parliamentarians did not
have power, since a similar Pact on Stability was adopted for Balkans,
where the unsettled Kosovo problem is available.

A process which aims at establishment of a mini EU model in the
South Caucasus will be started with the assistance of the EU and CoE
within the New Neighborhood program. "This initiative purposes good
objectives but its implementation depends first of all on the states
of the region," Torosian said, reported newsarmenia.ru.

IRANIAN EXPERT: TEHRAN AS REGIONAL POWER SHOULD HELP KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.10.2006 17:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iranian expert Daryush Safarnejat says no serious
improvements are observed in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, because Karabakh does not take part in peace making process.

In his article titled "Iran’s potential of mediating in Nagorno
Karabakh conflict" Daryush Safarnejat noted that "Nagorno Karabakh
forces seized some adjacent regions to Karabakh in 1992-1993." "Iran as
a border country with three countries, namely Azerbaijan, Armenia, and
Karabakh, has established neighborly relations with all of the," the
expert said. "Although Iran does not recognize Karabakh as independent
political unit, but being the regional power can help it, reported APA.