Month: October 2006

TURKISH RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE NOT A CONDITION FOR EU MEMBERSHIP

Hemscott, UK
Oct 3 2006

ANKARA (AFX) – Turkey’s recognition of the World War I Armenian
massacres as genocide is not a condition for its membership in the
European Union, EU Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn said here.

‘The European Union’s view on the matter is that the recognition of
the Armenian genocide is not a condition of accession to the European
Union,’ Rehn told reporters.

French President Jacques Chirac said during a visit to Armenia at the
weekend that Ankara should recognize the massacres committed under
the Ottoman Empire as genocide if it wants to join the EU.

Some members of the European Parliament have also irked Ankara by
seeking to impose recognition of the genocide label as a condition
for entry into the EU.

Rehn said the EU encouraged ‘an open and rational debate’ on the
killings, which Turks have only recently begun to openly discuss.

‘Only finding the historical truth in the spirit of dialogue can
bring a lasting reconciliation’ between Turkey and Armenia, Rehn said.

He also backed a Turkish proposal to set up a joint committee of
Turkish and Armenian historians to study the massacres, ‘because it’s a
much better way of dealing with this very sensitive historical issue
than sending ultimatums.’

The Turkish foreign ministry, meanwhile, harshly criticised Chirac,
charging that his acknowledgement of the massacres as genocide was
‘unacceptable’.

‘President Chirac’s remarks which give the impression that Armenian
allegations (of a genocide) is among the criteria for our EU accession
have deeply hurt the Turkish people,’ the ministry said in a statement.

Armenians claim up to 1.5 mln of their kin were slaughtered in
orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917 and want the massacres
to be internationally recognized as genocide.

Turkey argues that 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in
civil strife when Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern
Anatolia and sided with Russian troops invading the crumbling Ottoman
Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkey.

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EU INDIVIDUAL ACTION PLAN FOR CO-OPERATION WITH AZERBAIJAN INCLUDES NK CONFLICT – AZERI DEPUTY FM
Author: S.Agayeva

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 3 2006

The individual Action Plan of the European Union (EU) for the
co-operation with Azerbaijan also includes Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Mahmud Mammadguliyev told
journalists, Trend reports.

According to him, this question is one of the sections of the Action
Plan. The Deputy Minister stressed that the document reflects the
position of EU regarding the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

According to Mammadguliyev, the Action Plan fully meets the interests
of Azerbaijan. He emphasized that the documents reflects all directions
of the future co-operation in the spheres such as policy, economy,
human rights, visa and customs affairs.

During the adoption of the Action Plan, Azerbaijan will undertake a
series of obligation, according to which it needs to make a number
of changes he political and economical spheres.

The separate debates with EU will be organized on the visa issues,
Mammadguliyev said. According to him, the sides have reached an
agreement.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPE REACTS TO CHIRAC: GENOCIDE RECOGNITION NOT A PRE-CONDITION

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 3 2006

Remarks made by the French President Jacques Chirac implying that
Turkey needs to recognize the alleged Armenian genocide to become
an EU member were not welcomed in Europe. The EU Commission declared
that recognition of the alleged genocide was not a pre-condition for
full membership.

The Council of Europe criticized Chirac, as Chairman of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van
der Linden said: "It is not new that Jacques Chirac has made such
statements.

The game has already started. You cannot change the rules of the game
while it is on. Like other European states, France signed a document
to start discussions on Turkey’s EU membership. Jacques Chirac has
made a mere political statement. I do not think this position is
right." Linden also noted that those who favor more reforms in Turkey
should be supported.

The EU Commission, despite pressure from the Armenian lobby, refused
to define the 1915 incidents as genocide. The Commission’s 2005 report
cited the incidents as "the tragic events of 1915."

In response to the remarks Chirac made in Yerevan, spokesperson the
EU Commissioner, Krisztina Nagy said that genocide recognition was
not a criterion set for full membership, and also stressed that the EU
attached great importance to the normalization of bilateral relations
between the EU and Turkey.

Recalling that compromise was a fundamental EU value, Nagy further
noted that Turkey was expected to address the issue within the
framework of an open and free public discussion.

The Commission refuses to recognize the 1915 incidents as genocide.

Instead, in the annual report it referred to the incidents as tragic
events.

The Council of Europe also criticized Chirac, who asserted that
Turkey should recognize the alleged Armenian genocide to qualify for
EU membership. Chairman of PACE, Rene van der Linden, in reference
to Chirac’s remarks, said because the membership requirements were
set beforehand, it was not right to create new conditions.

The Chairman, who found Chirac’s statements "political," stressed
that politicians should be discreet and fulfill their promises and
commitments.

In a statement he made in Yerevan on Saturday, French President Jacques
Chirac for the first time asserted that Turkey should recognize the
alleged Armenian genocide to become an EU member. He recalled that
France had recognized the alleged genocide in 2001.

Meanwhile, the French paper, Le Figaro, opined that Chirac’s statements
were more beneficial and profitable for France than having adopted
a bill that penalizes the denial of the alleged Armenian genocide.

Le Figaro headlined Chirac’s statement and the paper’s editorial
also covered the story. The paper also commented that an analogy
between the alleged Armenian genocide and the Nazi Holocaust would
cause serious criticisms, and noted that Jews in particular would
not welcome such a comparison.

Chirac Criterion?

Often silent regarding the atrocities committed by the French troops
in Algeria, Chirac, when suggesting that Turkey should accept the
Armenian allegations for EU membership, stated that countries earn
more respect when they admit their own mistakes and dramas.

FINNISH FOREIGN MINISTER HOPES FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT
Author: S.Agayeva

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 3 2006

The Foreign Minister of Finland Erkki Tuomioya hopes for the peaceful
settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Tuomioya himself briefed
journalists of October 3 in Baku, Trend reports.

The Minister positively assessed the activities of the OSCE Minsk
Group, of which co-chairs demonstrate intensive activities in the
regulation process of the conflict over the recent period. He stressed
that he fully believed it during the recent meeting with the co-chairs
held in Helsinki.

The Finland Foreign Minister considers that the action plan regarding
individual co-operation of the European Union with Azerbaijan is not
a tool to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. He considers that
the conflict may be settled only within the format of the Minsk Group.

In his turn, the EU Commissioner Benito-Ferrero Valdner who is in Baku
on a visit supported his earlier position that increasing the military
expenditures of Azerbaijan may cause the raise of the tension in the
region. EU urges its decrease.

AMBASSADOR OF LATVIA TO ARMENIA IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Oct 3 2006

On October 2 Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly,
received Mr. Aivars Vovers, Ambassador of Latvia to Armenia.

During the meeting the issues related to the Armenian-Latvian
inter-parliamentary ties were discussed. Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President
of the National Assembly, noted that the good inter-parliamentary
relations between the two countries still have unexercised
opportunities for the development. It was noted that Armenia declared
the European integration as a strategic goal, and especially given the
Latvian experience accumulated on the way of accession to the European
Union (EU) will be very productive, taking into account that the Baltic
republics are former Soviet countries in legislative as well as in
institutional aspects. Both parties stressed the cooperation within
international structures during the meeting. The NA President Tigran
Torosyan gave an example of the productive work with the delegations
of the Baltic countries in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE).

Touching upon the New Neighbourhood programme of the European Union
within the framework of which the signing of an agreement with Armenia
is envisaged during these days, Mr. Aivars Vovers, Ambassador of
Latvia to Armenia, noted that it will create new opportunities for the
implementation of the joint programmes. He informed the NA President
about the parliamentary elections, which will be held in Latvia this
week, noting that, according to the opinion polls, great changes are
not expected. The Ambassador assured that after the parliamentary
elections a Parliamentary Friendship Group with Armenia also will be
set up in the Latvian Parliament, which has been an important link
of inter-parliamentary cooperation during these years in the context
of meetings and discussions. He reaffirmed the invitation of the NA
President’s official visit to Latvia.

During the meeting other issues of mutual importance were also
discussed.

OSCE MG U.S. CO-CHAIR CALLS FOR AZERBAIJAN TO BE PATIENT

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 3 2006

Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister, General Colonel Safar Abiyev received
U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza yesterday, the
Ministry told the APA.

Minister Abiyev said the OSCE Minsk Group’s activity on the settlement
of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Garabagh conflict has not yet given
efficient results. The Minister called the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
a main obstacle to the development of relations between Azerbaijan
and U.S. He reminded that Armenia has occupied Azerbaijani lands.

"Official Yerevan should realize that this policy leads Armenia to
the abyss. Armenia stays aside from all economical projects in the
region while Azerbaijan develops its economy and strengthens the
military power. The Nagorno Garabagh conflict should be solved in
the frames of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and international
law norms. If negotiations give no result, Azerbaijan will liberate
its territories by other means," Abiyev said.

Mentioning Azerbaijan’s predominance over Armenia in all spheres
Matthew Bryza called for Azerbaijan to be patient. He said his mission
as OSCE Minsk Group co-chair covers the settlement of other problems
in the region and promotion of relations between Azerbaijan and US.

The co-chair highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s support to the US in
the fight against terrorism and said international community supports
peaceful solutions of the conflict.

SOME CRITERIA ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS…

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 3 2006

As we approach the anniversary of October 3rd, taking an account of
"where Turkish-European Union relations have gone in one year" would
be a more appropriate topic for today’s article.

When the crude language and provocations in the EU report are put
together with the French president’s statements made in Yerevan a
few days ago, a trend appears for making additions to the Brussels
Copenhagen Criteria on the first anniversary of October 3rd. Rather
than one year balance sheets, examining this trend in Europe, which
is becoming more apparent every day, has finally become a necessity.

>From 1999 until Turkey’s candidacy in 2004 when a date for opening
negotiations was given, it was promised at all EU summit meetings that
Turkey would be evaluated "equally" with other candidate countries. The
EU violated this promise with its decision on December 17th, the most
discriminating decision ever presented to a candidate country. Those
saying, "You wanted a negotiations date; take it," added a "catch"
to this decision. The "light recognition" of Cyprus was imposed
on Turkey with the Ankara Protocol. Hoping that the December 17th
decision would soften as the process advanced, we have witnessed
every critique passed becoming more serious in the process.

As if this were not enough, everyone with a voice is attempting to
implement new criteria for Turkey. Everything under the sun can be
found on the list. First, it says, "Turkey has to recognize the Greek
Sector before the end of 2006," and also that if institutional reforms
are not made, it will be necessary to stop expansion. Of course, we
can’t understand if Commission Chairman Barroso’s words were fully
directed towards Turkey. But which country remains after he said in
regard to the Croatian issue, "As soon as they comply to the criteria,
I want them to become a member,"?

Two days ago French President Jacques Chirac added the most "damning"
condition to the "hormone-fueled" Copenhagen Criteria. When Chirac
said that Turkey should acknowledge the purported genocide for EU
membership, of course it doesn’t immediately become a condition,
but Chirac isn’t the president of Papua New Guinea. Isn’t "genocide,"
which was taken out of the report as a condition at the last minute,
going to come up stronger after Chirac’s speech? Isn’t Chirac, who has
not used the word "genocide" until now and hasn’t made a connection
between Turkey’s future membership and a "genocide" confession,
being terribly two-faced?

Even Eurlings, who indirectly added the "genocide" of Syriac-speaking
Christians and Pontus Greeks to the report, stated, "We didn’t want
something like this from either Poland or the Czech Republic."

However, while we were glad that "genocide was removed as a
pre-condition," he put the words, "acknowledgment of genocide is
indispensable for Turkey’s membership" into the report. This English
word, "indispensable," means "absolutely necessary or required." In
other words, the report says, "If Turkey doesn’t acknowledge the
genocide, it can’t become a member," but does so in a softer tone.

Anyway, that’s why the Armenian lobby shared its satisfaction publicly.

Eurlings’ report is far removed from good intention. A report written
for a country that has begun negotiations should not attempt to
portray that country as Afghanistan. After Chirac’s statements it
is probable that the Armenian issue, just like the Cyprus issue,
will appear in EU documents on a broader basis.

Is this a plot to make Turkey slam the door and walk away?!

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER OPPOSES CHIRAC’S ‘GENOCIDE’ CONDITION FOR TURKEY

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Oct 3 2006

A European Commissioner and former Belgian foreign minister late Sunday
opposed the French president’s statements in which he stressed that
recognition of the Armenian genocide claims should be a precondition
to Turkey’s European Union membership.

Commisioner responsible for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis
Michel, stated that no new conditions for Turkey’s membership in the
Union can be brought in.

Michel, one of those to vote on the EU’s progress report on Turkey that
will be announced on Nov. 8, indirectly criticized French President
Jacques Chirac’s remarks on recognition of the genocide claims, saying,
"There are some people who want to change the rules of the game during
the game."

"Turkey’s membership in the EU is very important. It is enough to
look at the intersection points of energy lines to understand it,"
Michel said.

Stressing that the Union needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the EU,
Michel stressed that Turkey has played a key role in world crises in
Iraq, Iran and the Middle East.

Commenting on Chirac’s statements in Yerevan, French daily Le Figaro
described on Monday his remarks as "more useful" than the possible
approval of the Armenian bill, which introduces prison terms and fines
to those who question the genocide claims, by the French Parliament.

The Armenian bill, introducing prison terms of up to one year and
fines of up to 45,000 euros for those who question the Armenian
genocide claims, was brought to the French Parliament floor again
by the Socialist Party (PS) again last week and will be redebated
on Oct. 12. The same bill was previously brought to the Parliament’s
floor in May but due to time constraints debates on it were postponed
indefinitely.

The daily also commented that Chirac’s example, drawing a similarity
between Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian genocide claims and
Germany’s recognition of the Jewish holocaust, would draw criticism.

The daily went on to claim that Chirac made the remarks not to change
the Copenhagen criteria but to define some of the EU’s values.

French President Jacques Chirac, during a strategic visit to Armenia,
called on Turkey on Saturday to "recognize its past" in connection
with the Armenians in the early 20th century and acknowledge the
genocide claims.

"Should Turkey recognize the Armenian ‘genocide’ to join the EU?"

Chirac asked, echoing a question posed by a reporter at a joint news
conference with Armenian President Robert Kocharian. "Honestly,
I believe so. Each country grows by acknowledging its past dramas
and errors."

Chirac continues to flatter Armenians

Following his push for Turkish recognition of the genocide claims,
Chirac again flattered the Armenians on Sunday by claiming that Mt.

Ararat — in Turkey — is in Armenia and was the final resting place
of Noah’s Ark.

Speaking during an opening ceremony for the Square of France in
Yerevan, Chirac said, "With great excitement I familiarize myself
with the Armenian land. I am excited, since this is the first visit
of a French leader to the cradle of civilization. They say Mt. Ararat
became the haven for Noah’s Ark after the deluge. I am excited to
think about the antiquity of the ties that unite us since the time
when King of Jerusalem Boudouin I of Boulogne married Armenian Princess
Ardai after the death of Armenia’s last King Levon VI Lusinian."

Expressing his respect for the fate of Armenian people, who he referred
to as "heroic and tragic," referring to the genocide claims, Chirac
said, "I feel excitement when I think of those who survived this
tragedy and asked for shelter in France being sure that they would
be given asylum and consolation there. I am excited remembering
Misak Manushian, his friends and all those who fought against the
Nazis. France will never forget their struggle for our freedom."

"The roots of half a million of French people are in Armenian land.

They brought bravery, talent and nobleness to France. You wished to
name this square the Square of France as a token of respect. On behalf
of the French people, I express my gratitude to you. The Square of
France will symbolize our friendship, like the 400 events that will
take place throughout France till July 14, 2007 within the framework
of Year of Armenia in France. The treasures of your heritage will
be on show in the most famous cultural centers in France. They will
recall the power of Armenian culture and its contribution to our
civilization," the French president added.

IT’S NOT THE ECONOMY, STUPID
Denis MacShane

The Guardian, UK
Oct 3 2006

European politics is febrile and unhappy – and Britain is unlikely
to be insulated from the dramatic developments taking place.

Austria has followed Sweden in replacing a government that followed
Bill Clinton’s famous injunction "It’s the economy, stupid." The
arrival of a socialist chancellor, Alfred Gusenbauer, in the grandiose
Hapsburg palaces from where the small Austrian state is run, follows
hard on the heels of the replacement of Sweden’s social democratic
government by a new rightwing coalition.

In both cases, the outgoing governments had complacently patted
themselves on the back for enjoying the best records in Europe
for growth, job-creation, inward investment and an overall sense
of competence. But delivering a strong economic record, it seems,
is no longer enough to stay in power.

The new Austrian chancellor, Alfred Gusenbauer, is a solid, not to
say stolid party apparatchik who has been a tortoise to the flashier
hare of the outgoing Austrian leader, Wolfgang Schlussel. Not a single
opinion poll put the Austrian left ahead of their rivals until the
poll itself on Sunday.

Those trilling over David Cameron as a new JFK, as if protecting the
rightist historian Andrew Roberts from a jellyfish sting was on a
par with Kennedy’s heroism in saving his naval comrades after their
boat was sunk in the second world war, should look at the steady,
unflashy progress of the new homespun, barely photogenic leaders in
Austria and Sweden.

The Austrian upheaval fits into a wider picture of political turmoil
and rapid electoral changes all over central and eastern Europe. The
Czech ruling ODS party – chosen by William Hague as the only rightist
party willing to join the Tories in the new nationalist grouping
in the EU – has just lost its majority in parliament. The Polish
government under the Kaczynski twins has seen its majority disappear
as its extreme rightist and anti-semitic allies can no longer stay in
government. The Slovakian government is a regional embarrassment with
governing parties using language about Roma, Jews and the Hungarian
minority straight out of the 1920s. Meanwhile in Hungary, the prime
minister struggles to survive after his obscene outburst about telling
lies to voters.

This could all be written off as folklorist Danubian eccentricity
save that the coalition parties in Germany have seen the biggest ever
slump in their votes in regional and Berlin elections. The big gains
in Austria were made by the extreme right who won 15% of the votes.

France faces an election for a new president next April with many
fearing that the Jew-baiting, EU-hating, xenophobic Jean Marie le Pen
will get enough votes to derail the mainstream political parties. The
French left remains pathetically divided. There will be a Troyskyist,
Communist, Green, Workerist and Anti-Globalisation candidate standing
against the official socialist party candidate, likely to be Segolène
Royal.

In short, European politics is febrile and unhappy. Populist,
immigrant-blaming and protectionist appeals are finding echoes
everywhere. The anti-Americanism of the left meets the anti-Europeanism
of the right and a demagogy of destructive name-calling crowds out
constructive solutions to today’s problems.

The reason for this is the failure to analyse, let alone come up with
any political answers to the impact of globalisation. Never in such
a short period of time – a generation at the most – have so many
people, so much capital, so many ideas, and so many services and
products – moved from nation to nation at such speed and with such
transformatory impact. Almost every fixed relationship – capital and
labour; men and women; parents and children; employers and workers;
nature and industry; the citizen and the state – has been required
to go through monumental change. In the old established democracies
these centrifugal forces can just be accommodated. In central Europe
politics, the economy and civil society is neither mature nor confident
enough to cope with this upheaval.

Britain is unlikely to be insulated from these dramatic developments.

One can sense British politics turning inwards, neither thinking
global, nor acting local. There is just a whiff of Weimar in the air.

Europe is seen as a problem, not a solution. David Cameron calls
Washington "simplistic" and rejects cooperation in Europe. Voltaire’s
heritage is being eroded as communitarian politics buries freedom
of speech in exchange for freedom from being upset. The new Austrian
chancellor was not keen on the European constitution – hooray! shout
the Tories – but also is no friend of Turkey joining the EU – the
one Conservative line that is positive on Europe.

Austria for the Austrians, like English votes for English laws, has
simplicity of appeal but is a denial of contemporary reality in which
national purity is no longer obtainable, and not desirable in any case.

Meanwhile, President Chirac pleases the crowds on his official visit
to Armenia by telling the Turks they have to apologise for the 1915
massacres of Armenians by the Ottomans if Turkey is to join the EU.

Thus a new populist barrier to making Europe work by including the
predominately Muslim Turkey is put in place by Mr Chirac in his last
months in office. Who will blame the Turks if they turn to Iran,
or Russia and stay in perpetual occupation of Cyprus if all they
receive from Europe are such patronising instructions?

Armenia and Austria are thousands of kilometres apart. But the new
populist, introspective, nation-first politics of Europe coming into
shape – actively encouraged by David Cameron and William Hague but
not directly challenged by Labour – bodes ill for the rest of the
century both in Britain and the rest of Europe.

–Boundary_(ID_25IHX1XUTEv4mC7hBlYIhA)–

THE EU WILL PLAY ITS PART IN WORKING FOR PEACE – EU COMMISSAR
Author: A.Mammadova

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 3 2006

Trend’s exclusive interview with the EU commissar on Foreign
Relationships and European Security, Benita Ferrero-Valdner prior to
her tour of the region

Question: Are the arrangements of the EU trio to tour the South
Caucasus region in October confirmed? What is the route and program
of the visit?

Answer: Yes, the itinerary is now confirmed. On 2nd and 3rd October
the troika will travel first to Yerevan, then to Tbilisi, and lastly
to Baku. We will meet political leaders at the highest level, to
discuss progress in the Neighbourhood Policy Action Plans that we are
developing with each country, and the latest political situation in
the region, including the frozen conflicts.

Question: Azerbaijan urges that some items of the Action Plan for the
ENP do not take into account the country’s interests. What items of
the Action Plan are still to be co ordinated with Azerbaijan?

Answer: The EU has been consulting with the Azeri government on an
Action Plan to build on the existing Partnership and Co operation
Agreement. It is a plan that brings tangible benefits to both
partners – offering you a closer relationship with the EU, opening
up new opportunities for you in the huge European market, including
the Energy market, the chance for Azerbaijan to participate in EU
programmes, and a closer partnership on many issues of common interest.

Everything in the plan is there by mutual agreement and I am not aware
of any Azeri interests that have been neglected – quite the contrary.

I hope that the Action Plan can be finalised in time to be endorsed
by the EU Azerbaijan Co operation Council in mid November.

Question: Addressing the "Caspian Outlook 2008" Forum you stated that
the EU will support the reconstruction of important infrastructure
facilities and civil society projects in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and
Nagorno-Karabakh. Does it not mean the EU’s support to a separatist
regime and the non-recognition of the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan and Georgia?

Answer: Not at all: we are completely committed to the territorial
integrity of both countries.

We very much want to see a diplomatic solution to all the conflicts
in the region. That means that right now, cool heads must prevail.

An escalation of tension could reignite conflicts with devastating
consequences for the whole region.

The EU will play its part in working for peace. The Neighbourhood
Policy is not a conflict prevention or settlement mechanism. But, by
promoting democracy and regional co operation, boosting national reform
programmes, and helping to improve socio economic prospects, I believe
we can contribute to creating the right climate for a settlement.

It is in that context that we say we are willing to do what we can in
terms of financial aid to support the reconstruction of the conflict
areas.