Month: October 2006

PM MARGARIAN: GEORGIA’S BLOCKADE BY RUUSIA HAS NOT YET AFFECTED ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The transport blockade of Georgia by
Russia has not yet affected the Armenian economy, RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian stated in the RA National Assembly on October 4.

According to him, the crossing points on the Georgian border were
already closed prior to that, and since June Armenia has been deprived
of the opportunity to transport goods in vehicles through Lars.

The prime minister said that in accordance with the agreement reached
with the Georgian side, goods are transported by Batumi and Poti
ports. "We have no additional problems that would make us reach new
agreements with the Russian or Georgian side," he said.

Responding to deputy Victor Dallakian’s question about whether the
government is ready to act as a mediator in the Russian-Georgian
relations, the prime minister said that so far no such proposal has
been made. "If the Russian or Georgian side makes such a proposal,
the Armenian government will discuss it," A. Margarian noted.

ARMENIAN PM: GLOBAL ALLIANCE MAY PROMOITE IT SECTOR OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The UN Global Alliance for ICT
Development created after the Tunisian stage of the World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS) may promote the Armenian IT sector.

The Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated this at
the October 4 meeting with the organization’s executive director
Sarbuland Khan. He expressed the Armenian government’s willingness
to take an active part in measures undertaken by the organization,
anticipating its assistance to ensure Armenia’s efficient involvement
in this process.

Noting that the Armenian government attaches great importance to IT
development, considering it as one of top priorities of the country’s
economic development, A. Margarian said that one evidence of this
is IT Month being held in Armenia in September and October of this
year, as well as various events organized during IT Month, including
International Digitec Exhibition on October 6.

S. Khan underlined that the sustainable economic growth registered
in Armenia in recent years has created good preconditions for rapid
development of information technologies. He indicated the availability
of qualified specialits, the Armenian government’s proclamation
and conducting of the appropriate policy, as well as young people’s
involvement in the ongoing process as one of the most important factors
conducive to the sector’s development. He expressed his satisfaction
at the fact that all these three factors exist in Armenia, and,
in his words, if active efforts in this direction continue, Armenia
will be able to become a IT industry leader not only in the region
but also outside it.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department,
A. Margarian noted that Global Alliance’s programs are consistent
the programs and objectives in the Armenian IT sector. He expressed
Armenia’s willingness to do everything for further extension of
cooperation aimed at the development of IT sector.

ROMANIAN PRESIDENT BASESCU ARRIVES IN YEREVAN ON OFFICIAL VISIT

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 4, Romanian President
Traian Basescu arrived in Armenia on an official visit, at the
invitation of RA President Robert Kocharian. Andranik Manukian,
RA Minister of Transport and Communication, Co-chairman of Mixed
Commission on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation
between Armenia and Romania, met the Romanian President at Zvartnots
airport of Yerevan.

The same day official meeting ceremony of Romanian President will
take place at RA President’s residence, which will be followed by
R.Kocharian’s and T.Basescu’s tete-a-tete talk.

Ceremony of signing documents between the two countries’ governments
on cooperation in different spheres will take place after the meeting
of the official delegations by an extended staff. The Armenian and
Romanian Presidents will hold a joint press conference.

Today T.Basescu will also visit the Genocide Memorial Complex, will
lay a wreath to the memorial to Genocide victims, will visit the
Genocide Museum, will plant a tree in the Memory Park.

On October 5, the Romanian President will meet with Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, will be received by Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II. The same day T.Basescu will have a meeting with lecturers
and students of Yerevan State University.

The same day the delegation led by the Romanian President will leave
Yerevan.

OSCE ECOLOGICAL MONITORING POSTPONED AT REQUEST OF NKR

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. "We regret that the OSCE has
not created the necessary conditions for the participation of NKR
representatives in the preparation of OSCE mission for assessment of
the ecological situation in the areas afflicted by fires. But it does
not prevent Karabakh experts from participating in this monitoring,
especially as the implementation of the mission has been postponed
for a day based on the necessity of NKR representatives’ joining the
mission." The NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian stated this in
response to a question of the Regnum news agency about actions of
official Stepanakert in connection with the visit of a OSCE expert
group from Baku to the sites of fire.

G. Petrosian said that the NKR MFA sent a note to the OSCE, in which
the position of the NKR leadership on the issue of NKR experts’
participation in the monitoring is epressed clearly. "Part of
territories where assessment is to be made is under the jurisdiction
of the NKR, which is already a serious ground for our participation in
the mission implemented on the opposite side," the minister underlined.

According to the NKR MFA, the NKR authorities were informed that an
alarming ecological situation has formed in the Karabakh territories
occupied by Azerbaijan: a large-scale deforestation is going on in
the Shaumian region, and the ecological balance of the western part
of the Martuni region has been upset, with serious damage being done
to the soil and microflora.

By late October 4, it was only known that the OSCE expert group "went
to the territories where fires occured," which the Trend news agency
reported citing the Azerbaijani MFA.

MATTHEW BRYZA: ARMENIA SHOULD NOT BE LEFT OUT OF REGIONAL COOPERATION PROGRAMS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues of regional cooperation in the
energy sector, Armenia’s energy security problems, and the necessity
to increase the country’s involvement in regional programs were
discussed at the October 4 meeting of the Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian and the US Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group
Matthew Bryza. M. Bryza, who as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs deals with Armenia-related problems,
stated that the position of the US on this issue is definite: Armenia
should not be left out of yhe regional cooperation programs.

According to him, during quite an efficient cooperation with the
former US ambassador to Armenia, considerable work has been done in
order to develop versions of possible US assistance for Armenia’s
economic development and strengthening of its security, democracy and
stability. In the words of M. Bryza, it is hard to succeed in these
issues without a close cooperation with the Armenian government.

A. Margarian in his turn noted that the Armenian government is prepared
to cooperate and support any proposal proceeding from the interests of
Armenia: the matter concerns democratization, the holding of national
elections in line with international standards, maintaining political
stability, and developing the Armenian economy.

The interlocutors also spoke about Armenia’s efficient cooperation with
the Millennium Challenge Corporation. M. Bryza noted with satisfaction
that Armenia was the first country to immediately set about its work
after signing the agreement. He wished success to the program.

REFUSAL TO SHOW FILM ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ARISES SPLIT AMONG ORGANIZERS OF ISTANBUL FESTIVAL

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

ISTANBUL, OCTOBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The administration
of the festival of documentary films organized in Istanbul refused at
the last moment to show the film entitled "I Hate Dogs" which tells
about the Armenian Genocide. It was accepted beforehand but at the
last moment the organizers informed film producer and author Suzanne
Khardalian that the participation application was refused.

As Marmara informs the decision on refusal arose split among members
of the festival organization body, in the consequence of what Necati
Sonmez, the deputy chairman of the board resigned his post, as a
token of complaint against the decision to refuse participation of
the film in the festival.

The festival board had to comment upon this fact on October 2 and
protect the viewpoint that at present we want imperatives of peace,
knowing each other and cleaning the surroundings from the feeling
of hate, so it would not be correct to show such a film in similar
conditions. We may meet face to face with our past just in such a
peace, the board speaker said.

Netaci Sonmez, however, stated that he considered an insult towards
both people and board and film producers at the last moment to take
out of the list a film accepted beforehand. "The Armenian cause
is not only the state’s taboo any longer, it became a monster of
self-censorship stamped in mind of each of us: what we may do if fear
started tormenting many people’s souls," Sonmez said.

To recap, the film entitled "I Hate Dogs" tells about 99- year old
Hakobian’s evidences about the 1915 Genocide. He saw how dogs wanted
to eat the dead body of his father killed before his eyes.

Film producer Suzanne Khardalian and her partner Pea Holmquist
officially protested against the festival organizers and demanded to
review this decision made against their film.

COMMENT: FRANCE, ARMENIA AND THE UNBEARABLE ATTRACTION OF TURCOPHOBIC POLITICS
Suat Kýnýklýoðlu

ABHaber, Belgium
EU-Turkey News Network
Oct 4 2006

This week a good number of media outlets will cover in great detail
the visit of French President Jacques Chirac to Armenia. They are
right to do so. Chirac’s visit to Armenia signifies a new level of
French willingness to escalate tensions between France and Turkey.

Before getting into the details, motivations and outcome of this visit,
however, let me underline in no uncertain terms that those who think
they can get away with such irresponsible political behavior are
mistaken. And let me emphasize that I am not referring to immature
calls for boycotting French products or small demonstrations in front
of the French Embassy. I am also not referring to a senseless barrage
of insults against the French Republic and its crimes committed in
Algeria. In fact, I am referring to a much deeper phenomenon.

Although many of our European colleagues may think otherwise, since
Turkey’s EU drive accelerated in 2003, the Turkish elite have been
able to acutely register the ups and downs of the intra-European
debate on Turkey.

Not only the Turkish intelligentsia but also ordinary Turks are
very well aware of which countries, political leaders and parties
are obstructing Turkey’s EU aspirations. They also take notice of
what’s happening on the Armenian issue. It is increasingly becoming
clear that French, Austrian, Danish and Dutch opposition to Turkey’s
EU membership is based not only on pure political interests. There
is a much deeper process at work. We are dealing with a new version
of Turcophobia. I am referring to a non-clinical situation, a very
peculiarly negative attitude or a compilation of prejudices against
Turkey. French Turcophobia has a particularly wide base and goes
well beyond President Chirac or his entourage. For example, Nicholas
Sarkozy’s recent comments that Turkey had no place in the European
Union were a clear sign that the next French election will highlight
Turcophobic issues in the approaching presidential election.

So what does Chirac’s visit to Armenia serve, then? Let me explain.

It serves four things. First, it extends crucial political support
to Armenia that is run by a small nationalist clan which suppresses
democracy and has hijacked Armenia’s foreign policy debate. Thanks
to the Kocharian clan, Armenian foreign policy now rests on Turkey’s
recognition of "genocide;" something that is not going to happen but
will help prolong Kocharian’s oligarchic rule. Second, it provides
political support to a country that occupies 20 percent of Azerbaijani
territory, including seven regions outside of Nagorno-Karabakh and
thus rewards intransigent political behavior.

Third, it cripples the precarious progress made in the Turkish domestic
debate on the Armenian issue. Fourth, by linking the Armenian issue
to Turkey’s EU accession it invites a serious deterioration in
French-Turkish relations with a potential impact on economic interests.

I have been to Armenia three times in the last three years. In all
three of my visits I met young, enthusiastic and talented Armenians
who wanted normal relations with Turkey. They wanted an open border
and to live in a normal country that was not run by Kocharian’s
oligarchs. They agree that the road to normalization with Turkey should
not start with how we describe the events of 1915. Young Armenians
want a future in Europe, believe in Western ways and aspire to be
part of the European family.

Chirac’s visit only served to silence these progressive Armenians and

emboldened those who rule Armenia with an iron fist and will eventually
isolate Armenia from the rest of the world.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline has already bypassed Armenia. Turkey
has repeatedly told Yerevan that it risks being isolated further
if it does not act responsibly in the Karabakh negotiations. The
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway project is well under way and
unfortunately will even further isolate Armenia from the rest of the
region and the world. This is exactly what the Kocharian clan wants, as
"genocide" recognition is a recipe for impasse. This impasse allows
them to rule Armenia, sell its infrastructure to Russia and run a
small, oligarchic and impoverished country.

In the final analysis, Chirac’s visit to Armenia may provide a photo
opportunity for Kocharian, a couple of days of media attention and
political satisfaction for the diaspora. But what real good is in it
for Armenia? What does such a provocative visit accomplish in terms
of the resolution of the Karabakh conflict or the increasingly doomed
isolation of Armenia? What does French support to Armenia offer in
terms of alleviating Armenian poverty or the lingering democracy
deficit in Armenia?

Also, I am amazed at the level of French naivete, which rests on
the belief that the price for angering Turkey and/or excluding
Turkey from the EU is manageable. Kindness is the key word when
there is a need for troops in Lebanon or the issue is European energy
diversification. Thoughtfulness dominates when Turkey is asked to play
a moderating role upon its citizens in a variety of European countries
as immigration/integration issues become extremely important. Yet
France has no qualms about opening old wounds and provoking a country
over a very sensitive historic issue.

What does France hope to achieve from sowing the seeds of antagonism
and provoking Turkey in an increasingly shrinking world that has
brought civilizational discord to the doorstep of Europe? This is
unclear. What is clear though is that France has become the leading
Turcophobic state in Europe.

–Boundary_(ID_nyalAXjLvceYMYn3xXFcGQ)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘HOTEL RWANDA’ HERO: WORLD’S ‘BEEN CRYING,’ BUT NO ONE’S LISTENING
By Rob Seman

Daily Record, NJ
Oct 4 2006

Man who saved more than 1,200 speaks in Hanover

HANOVER — There are a few questions that Paul Rusesabagina expected
to be asked of him.

The most common is whether he was ever scared — not an unreasonable
query for the former hotel manager who saved more than 1,200 refugees
from the genocide carried out by militias during 100 days in 1994
in Rwanda.

He may not have as much Hollywood clout as Don Cheadle, the actor
who portrayed him in the movie "Hotel Rwanda," but hundreds of Morris
County residents sat in rapt attention Tuesday as he answered their
questions at the Birchwood Manor during the first installment of this
year’s Town Hall of Morris lecture series.

He began by saying he was scared plenty of times.

"But the most scary time in my life was when I woke up and everything
around me was upside down," Rusesabagina said. "When my neighbors
were wearing military uniforms and carrying guns."

"How hard was it to keep your composure?" asked one audience member.

Keeping the refugees alive and fed with nothing more than dry beans
and corn made it easy, Rusesabagina said.

"When you are in circumstances where you are busy 24 hours a day,
there is no time to think of any other thing," Rusesabagina said.

"I never had time to think about other things, to think about myself,"
he said.

Rusesabagina said that he eventually found that the only way to deal
with the chaos around him was to face it. He did so when soldiers
came to the door of the hotel and instead of barring it, he opened it.

"Sometimes when we face such characters, the best way to deal with
them is to open a window of dialogue," Rusesabagina said.

He relearned that lesson when another soldier pointed a gun to his
head, then told him he would be spared, but also offered him a gun to
partake in the fighting. Rusesabagina refused, and tried to reason
with the man. After two hours, he and his family were released and
allowed to return to the hotel.

"I was scared, but I learned one of the most important lessons of my
life," Rusesabagina said. "How to deal with people.

‘Power of words’

"In my life, I believe in one thing — the power of words,"Rusesabagina
said. "Words are the best weapons a human being can have in an arsenal,
and can also be the worst, depending on what you want to achieve."

Rusesabagina was the first speaker in the lecture series that will
include authors Teresa Riordan, Judy Collins, Donna Woolfork Cross
and Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s grandson, David B. Roosevelt.

Rusesabagina sheltered 1,268 refugees in the Hotel Des Mille Collines
in Rwanda during the 100 days of genocide in 1994, when Hutu militias
slaughtered up to 800,000 of the roughly 7 million people who lived
in the nation at the time. Most of the victims were Tutsis and
moderate Hutus.

Rusesabagina, who will speak to students at Morristown High School
today, said that he had initially turned down book and television deals
before allowing his story to be depicted by "Hotel Rwanda,"director
Terry George and actor Don Cheadle.

Reaching youth

Though he is now promoting his autobiography, "An Ordinary Man,"
the movie, he said, seemed to be a better way to get through to
young people.

"They are the ones who can shift the world," Rusesabagina said.

The crowd that came to hear Rusesabagina numbered about 600 people,
most of whom were retirement-age, and were treated to a lunch of
chicken breast in rosemary cream sauce, as well as salad, side dishes
and dessert.

However, some local student groups also attended the lecture.

Rusesabagina’s words left a great impression on Montville High
School senior Stephanie Schey, a member of the school’s International
Concerns Club.

Schey had watched "Hotel Rwanda," when it was in theaters and looked
forward to meeting the man behind the true story.

"I wanted to hear his story because I’m sure the movie taints it,"
Schey said.

Schey said that she has taken up the cause of raising awareness about
humanitarian atrocities in Africa, such as Darfur and Rwanda.

"I think this whole pattern of genocide keeps happening,"Schey said.

"And we keep saying, ‘never again.’"

Those are the two most abused words, Rusesabagina said in his lecture,
referring to promises by the international community after acts of
genocide to no longer tolerate such atrocities.

Pattern of ignorance

Rusesabagina said that he believes the same pattern of international
ignorance to genocide is happening again with the Darfur region of
Sudan, where government-sponsored militias known as the janjaweed have
destroyed villages and killed members of various tribes since 2003.

"My friends, the world outside has been crying, and we have been
pretending to not be listening," Rusesabagina said.

Jody Rosenberg, who teaches a class about genocide and holocausts at
Montville High School, plans to have her students at least study the
Rwandan genocide as well as other similar events, such as the Jewish
Holocaust of World War II, Darfur and the Armenian Holocaust.

"I think so many high school students are closed in their own world,"
Rosenberg said. "The best thing we can do is expose them to it."

Rosenberg said she plans to show "Hotel Rwanda" in class. Tina
Chirnomas and her husband, Rabbi Gerald Chirnomas, of Boonton, said
they would be renting the movie, after Rusesabagina’s lecture.

"I think it was very interesting," Mrs. Chirnomas said.

Bernice Elliott, of Rockaway Township, and Marge Kleiner, of Denville,
said they frequently attend the lecture series, and even if they
don’t like the speaker, they say they usually leave with food for
thought. Tuesday was no different, and this time, Rusesabagina’s
speech left new questions.

"What can we do in Darfur?"Kleiner asked.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS DENIED THEIR STATEMENTS IN YEREVAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 4 2006

OSCE Minsk group co-chairs met with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan yesterday.

They agreed on Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers meeting in
Moscow on October 6, OSCE MG Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov said
in press conference in Yerevan, APA reports. French co-chair Bernar
Fasie said the meeting of the presidents is possible only after the
Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

Armenian mass media claims the co-chairs denied their statements made
in Azerbaijan. While in Azerbaijan, Bernar Fasie said that the format
of the negotiations cannot be changed. In Yerevan he said he made no
statement on Nagorno Garabagh negotiations in Baku.

The co-chairs did not make public the details of the negotiations in
Yerevan. French co-chair said the principles of the negotiations have
not been changed in past two years.

Commenting on Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s statements they
said military solution of Nagorno Garabagh conflict is impossible.

"Azerbaijan President can say anything he wants. We will not comment
on his statement The co-chairs said the solution plan was approved
by G8 summit in Washington, Paris and Moscow, but Azerbaijanis and
Armenians are not ready to live together.

Bernar Fasie said the solution of the conflict is out of the question
if the two nations are not ready to live together in peace.

The co-chairs will hold meeting in Khankendi today.

TURKS’ INTEREST IN EU FADES
By Paul de Bendern

Doha Time
Gulf Times, Qatar
Oct 4 2006

ISTANBUL: The European Union information office in Istanbul has a
fresh coat of paint, the furniture is new and a row of computers is
on offer to tempt passers-by to discover more about the wealthy bloc
that Turkey hopes to join.

But the receptionist is staring at an empty room – a reflection of
a big drop in Turkish support for membership.

One recent opinion poll showed support for joining the EU had dropped
as low as 43% compared with over 70% a year ago when Turkey began
its long-delayed entry talks.

"EU support has dropped very fast… because of EU messages that
have been transmitted and interpreted as humiliating," said Huseyin
Bagci, an expert in international relations at Ankara’s Middle East
Technical University.

"Turks also see the EU taking concessions from Turkey without giving
anything in return," he told Reuters.

European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn visited Turkey yesterday
with a carrot-and-stick message underlining the benefits of the
accession process, but also pressing Ankara to deliver on reforms
and on Cyprus.

But in a year a lot has changed in this large, relatively poor
and overwhelmingly Muslim country. Europeans are also increasingly
questioning whether they want Turkey in the Union.

Turks, sensitive on national issues, feel offended by a stream of EU
criticism on issues ranging from the role of the revered military to
the massacres of Armenians in World War I.

This has made it harder for the centre-right reformist AK Party
government to push through controversial reforms, especially ahead
of parliamentary elections due in 2007.

The European Commission is threatening a setback in talks unless
Turkey opens its ports and airports to vessels from EU member Cyprus,
whose internationally recognised Greek Cypriot administration is not
accepted by Ankara.

Turkey, which must appease rising nationalism at home, says the EU
must first honour pledges to end trade sanctions against breakaway
Turkish Cypriots in northern Cyprus backed by Ankara.

The European Parliament has also irked Turks by demanding Turkey
accept 1.5mn Armenians died in a "genocide" allegedly committed by
Ottoman forces in World War I. Ankara denies genocide, saying large
numbers of both Christian Armenians and Muslim Turks died during a
partisan conflict.

French President Jacques Chirac said on Saturday Turkey would need
to acknowledge the 1915 massacre to join the EU.

EU diplomats and Turkish politicans say the ruling AK Party, which
has roots in political Islam, knows it is falling short on reforms
but is prioritising domestic issues as polls approach.

"It’s simple window-dressing. The government is trying to buy time
as elections approach," said a senior EU diplomat in Ankara. "It’s a
strategy that is very risky as those opposed to Turkey in the EU will
use it to stop the talks." Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan insists his
government remains fully committed to carrying out reforms.

The Turkish parliament is now debating a reform package but it
falls short of EU demands on free speech and the rights of religious
minorities. It also does not address Cyprus.

Turks are also less focused on Europe as Turkey experiences an economic
boom and enjoys political stability.

"The EU is a Christian club, they don’t want to accept Muslim Turks,"
said Levent Hocheli, a 32-year-old manager of an electronics and
music store in Istanbul’s financial district. "In 20 years’ time I
still don’t think we’ll be members, but it’s OK. We are growing fast
economically." Many Turks doubt the European Commission will suspend
membership talks. Turkey, which has Nato’s second-largest army,
is seen as helping to boost Europe’s long-term security.

"I’ve seen so many ups and downs in Turkey’s quest for EU membership
over the past 40 years. I’ve heard 10 times it’s over," said Mehmet
Ali Birand, a leading commentator.

"The EU cannot suspend talks just over ports, that would be too much,
it would be like using a nuclear bomb to find Osama bin Laden,"
he said.