Month: November 2006

KYO PLANNING ‘ARMCHAIR’ CONCERT
Peterborough Examiner (Ontario)
November 16, 2006 Thursday
The Kawartha Youth Orchestra performs Nov. 26 at The Market Hall.
“The musicians of the Kawartha Youth Orchestra and their conductor
Michael Newnham invite you to join them in a musical excursion for
the ears, and no passport is required,” states a press release.
The armchair trip takes place at 3 p.m. “On this voyage you will
not only experience the impressive musicality of this group of young
talented musicians, but also discover a number of genres of music as
witnessed in the composers’ motivation.”
Composer Franz Schubert wrote his Rosamund Overture as a commission
for a well-heeled client, as incidental music to accompany an
ill-fated opera of the same name. The impetus for Aram Khatchaturian’s
composition Masquerade Suite came not only from Lermontov’s dramatic
saga of a couple’s jealousy and mistrust, but also from the troubled
history of his Armenian homeland.
Claude Debussy’s composition Petite Suite evokes, in part, the sense
of floating in a small boat on a stream. From a musical excerpt in
Jacques Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffman written to illuminate a young
university student’s stories of his three greatest loves as recounted
to his drinking buddies, to Johann Sebastian Bach’s cantata Jesu Joy
of Man’s Desiring drawn from a larger hymn meant to be played during
a church service, you the listener are in for a varied experience!
In a single afternoon’s concert the audience will travel musically
from Bach’s Germany of the 17th century, through Debussy’s France of
the late 1880s to Katchaturian’s adopted home of Russia in the mid
20th century.
Advance tickets are $10, available at Happenstance Books and Yarn
in Lakefield, Titles Bookstore in Peterborough or by calling 705
740-9018. Tickets will also be available at the door for $12.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH ARMY SUSPENDS RELATIONS WITH FRANCE OVER ARMENIAN QUESTION
Agence France Presse — English
November 16, 2006 Thursday 1:03 AM GMT
The Turkish army has suspended its military relations with France
in retaliation for a French parliamentary bill which would make it a
crime to deny that the World War I massacre of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks constituted genocide, the army chief said late Wednesday.
No high-level visits had taken place between the two countries for
that reason, General Ilker Basbug was quoted as telling journalists
at a reception here by the semi-official Anatolia news agency.
Turkey has warned that bilateral ties will suffer a great blow if
France adopts the bill, which foresees one year in jail for anyone
who denies that Armenians were the victims of genocide by Ottoman
Turks between 1915-17.
The bill was approved by the lower house of the French parliament last
month but still needs the approval of the Senate and the president
to take effect.
Armenians claim up to 1.5 million of their people were slaughtered
in orchestrated killings during the last years of the Ottoman Empire,
modern Turkey’s predecessor.
But Turkey rejects the use of the term “genocide”, saying some 300,000
Armenians died when the Ottoman Empire fell apart, but at least as
many Turks did too.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRANCE DOWNPLAYS TURKISH SUSPENSION OF MILITARY TIES
By Jenny Barchfield, Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
November 16, 2006 Thursday 5:34 PM GMT
France’s Defense Ministry said Thursday there was no immediate impact
from Turkey’s announced suspension of military ties in a dispute over
the mass killing of Armenians in the early 20th century.
Turkey’s land forces commander, Gen. Ilker Basbug, announced the
cut Wednesday amid a debate over whether 1915 killings of Armenians
constitutes genocide. France’s lower house of parliament has passed
a bill outlawing denials that genocide occurred, angering Turkey.
Defense Ministry spokesman Jean-Francois Bureau noted that the
suspension came from a military commander, not from Turkey’s civilian
government, and that French authorities had not received official word
from Turkey on delays or cancelations in joint military operations.
France believes that existing cooperation with Turkey will continue.
Specifically, Bureau mentioned operations in the Balkans and in
Afghanistan.
“There is a relationship of work and cooperation in these operational
commitments with Turkey that are extremely important and which,
in our eyes, will continue,” he said.
Bureau said Turkey could retract permission for French military
ships to dock in its waters and make it more difficult for France to
obtain permission to fly through Turkish airspace, but that had not
yet happened.
“Until now, the announcement has not had any practical and concrete
effects,” he said, although he added that they could come in the
future.
He described military cooperation between both countries, which include
joint exercises and training as well as peacekeeping operations, as
“constant” and “continuous.”
Turkey is scheduled to take over command of a NATO peacekeeping
operation in Kabul, Afghanistan, from France in April 2007, Bureau
said. He added that any Turkish decision to pull out of its engagements
in Afghanistan would hurt NATO more than France.
Turkey vehemently denies it committed genocide against Armenians,
although many nations have classified the killings as such and say
some 1.5 million Armenians were killed.
Turkey acknowledges that large numbers of Armenians died in mass
expulsions and fighting, but says the number is exaggerated and
that most were killed in interethnic battles as the Ottoman Empire
collapsed.
In France, which has a large Armenian community, the lower house
of parliament infuriated Turkey in October by approving a bill that
would make it a crime to deny that Turks committed genocide against
Armenians. But the bill is not expected to become law because President
Jacques Chirac does not approve of it.
The Armenian issue is one of the most divisive and emotional in
Turkey. Those who classify the killings as genocide are often accused
of treason.
The European Union has criticized the French bill, saying it does
not respect the principle of free expression and does not promote
dialogue with Turkey, a hopeful EU candidate.
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei highlighted
the extent of cooperation between the two counties, saying their
armed forces work together “very closely in several theaters.”
“In Afghanistan, our troops, like those from Turkey and Italy, are
stationed at the same base in Kabul,” said Mattei.
“Our troops are also engaged side by side in Lebanon, Bosnia, Kosovo
and in Congo,” he said, “so there is close cooperation and great
mutual respect between the French and Turkish armed forces.”

TURKISH GENERAL SAYS MILITARY TIES WITH FRANCE “SUSPENDED”
Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 15 2006
Ankara, 15 November: “Our military relations with France have been
suspended after the French national assembly approved the bill on
so-called Armenian genocide,” said Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen.
Ilker Basbug on Wednesday [15 November].
Tamer Gazioglu, Ambassador of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) to Turkey, hosted a reception in Ankara on the occasion of
the 23rd anniversary of foundation of the TRNC.
Replying to questions of journalists during the reception, Gen.
Basbug said: “Our military relations with France have been suspended
after the French national assembly approved the bill on so-called
Armenian genocide. Also, high-level visits do not take place between
the two countries.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul
said in his part: “Recent economic developments in the TRNC are quite
pleasing. Those, who are interested in the Cyprus issue, need to talk
to President Mehmet Ali Talat of the TRNC now. We hope that the best
solution proposals will be made by taking into consideration the
facts on the island.”

TURKISH BUSINESS OFFICIAL SLAMS FRENCH BILL ON “GENOCIDE”
Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 16 2006
Paris, 16 November: “The bill approved by the French National
Assembly over the so-called Armenian genocide, is contrary to freedom
of expression,” said Pekin Baran, deputy chairman of the Turkish
Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD), on Thursday
[16 November].
The conference hosted by Paris-based Montaigne Institute on “Europe:
Which values, which borders?” became stage of an ardent argument
between Baran and Patrik Deveciyan, French MP of Armenian origin.
During the conference, Deveciyan claimed that Turkey could not be a
member of the EU since the EU did not approve nationalist feelings.
He said that the bill was submitted to the French national assembly
to prevent demonstrations like the one against Armenian monument in
Lyon in the past.
In response, Baran stressed that the freedom of expression was one of
the most important values of the Union, but France seriously violated
that value by approving such a bill.
Pointing out to political and economic contributions of Turkey to the
EU in future, Baran stressed: “Turkey’s EU membership is essential
for a powerful Europe in the globalizing world.”

TURKISH ASSOCIATION HEAD ACCUSES ARMENIAN DIASPORA OF AIDING KURD REBELS
Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 16 2006
Erzurum, 16 November: “Armenian Diaspora supported and expended
large amounts of financial assistance to terrorist PKK [Kurdistan
Workers’ Party] to weaken and fragment Turkey,” Associate Professor
Savas Egilmez, the Chairman of Association on Fight Against Baseless
Allegations of Genocide, said on Thursday [16 November].
In an exclusive interview with the A.A correspondent, Egilmez said:
“We have been carrying out intensive efforts in the national and
international platforms to explain that so-called allegations of
Armenian genocide is a lie.”
“Despite the affirmative responses, we started to get negative
reactions recently. We have assessed that supporters of the terrorist
organization is the source of the reactions that were sent through
e-mail,” he noted.
Egilmez indicated that Armenian-PKK relationship was once again
revealed with the reactions, noting that “upon the reactions in the
world in 1980’s, the Armenian terrorist organizations changed tactics
and cooperated with the PKK terrorist organization”.
Egilmez said terrorist PKK organization in 1980 proclaimed 21-28
April the week of “Red Week” and remembered 24 April as the so-called
genocide day of the Armenians.
“Another remarkable example regarding Armenian-PKK relationship is
the meeting in Beirut between 6 and 9 January1993. Lebanese Armenian
Orthodox Archbishop, Armenian party executives and 150 youngsters
attended the meetings that were held in two separate churches. At
the meeting, the archbishop underlined that the Armenian society
was growing gradually and strengthened in economic means. He said
so-called genocide was started to be known better in the world thanks
to the propaganda activities,” Egilmez said.
“The Archbishop unveiled their real faces by saying, ‘Armenian state
was established and broadens its territories day by day. The support
to PKK activities in Turkey rises. Thanks to this support, Turkish
economy will drop to zero, the country will be dragged into chaos,
and Turkey will enter fragmentation process. Turkish territories will
be in the hands of Armenia tomorrow’,” Egilmez said.
PKK-Armenian agreement
Egilmez said the Armenian diaspora in Lebanon made an agreement with
the terrorist organization in 1987.
“A decision was made in the agreement that Armenians would get training
in PKK. It was also decided that Armenians would pay 5,000 dollars
to PKK for each person,” he said.
Egilmez said: “It was also decided in the agreement that Armenians
would make the intelligence in the activities against security forces
in Turkey. It was even stated in this agreement that the territory
that would be seized after fragmentation of Turkey would be shared
equally. Armenians also pledged to meet 75 per cent of the costs of
camps of the terrorist organization.”
US and others
Underlining that the United States and the European countries accepted
PKK as terrorist organization, Egilmez said: “The US and European
countries know about the relations of the Armenians with PKK. Those
who want to accuse Turkey should not forget this fact.”

RUSSIA’S VIMPELCOM CLOSES DEAL TO BUY 90% IN ARMENIA’S ARMENTEL
Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
November 16, 2006 Thursday 7:22 PM EET
Russia’s second largest mobile operator VimpelCom has completed a deal
to buy a 90% stake in Armenia’s incumbent telecom operator ArmenTel
for a total of 381.9 million euros, an official with VimpelCom told
Prime-Tass Thursday.
VimpelCom in early November agreed to buy the stake from Greece’s
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA (OTE) for 341.9 million
euros plus assuming ArmenTel’s debt of about 40 million euros.
The Armenian government holds the remaining 10% stake in ArmenTel
and said earlier this month that it may sell the stake to VimpelCom.
ArmenTel is a fixed-line and mobile operator in Armenia with licenses
in the GSM 900 and CDMA standards. ArmenTel’s subscriber base
includes approximately 600,000 fixed-line subscribers and 400,000
GSM subscribers. Armenia’s population is about 3.2 million people.
VimpelCom operates in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan and plans to launch services in Georgia soon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DJ VIMPELCOM CEO: ARMENIA, GEORGIA CAPEX IN LINE WITH STRATEGY
Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
November 16, 2006 Thursday 7:22 PM EET
Capital expenditure plans for Georgia and Armenia will generally
follow OAO Vimpel Communications’ pattern of investment in second-tier
countries, Chief Executive Officer Alexander Izosimov told Dow Jones
Newswires on Wednesday.
That is to say $100 per subscriber, Izosimov said. He added that the
company could reach one million subscribers – and $100 million in
expenditures – in both countries in about 36 months.
Izosimov said he couldn’t disclose more specific numbers or timeframes
at the moment.
In the case of Armenia, the deal in that country has just won approval
from the Armenian government and it is too early to talk about set
numbers, Izosimov said.
“We are very happy to see the Armenian government give its blessings,”
he said. “We have yet to finalize a capex plan.”
VimpelCom last week bought 90% of Armenian operator Armentel from
Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA or OTE, for
EUR341.9 million in cash and EUR40 million in debt. The deal met
official approval last week.
Izosimov was in New York to celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary
of listing in the New York Stock Exchange. VimpelCom, as it is more
commonly known, is Russia’s No. 2 mobile phone provider after OAO
Mobile TeleSystems, or MTS.
“We already entered key markets” outside Russia, such as Ukraine,
he said. “We’re now going through the second-tier (countries)” and
Armenia and Georgia are important for the company’s strategy in the
Caucasus region, Izosimov said.
In terms of measuring its growth, the company is now focusing on
“real, quality subscribers” rather than raw subscriber numbers based
on phone card sales.
Real subscribers are people who not only buy mobile phone cards but
also use them in a chargeable transaction in three months’ time,
he said.
“Our aspiration is leadership,” Izosimov said. “We are very close,
we are a stone’s throw from closing the gap.”
Izosimov said relations between Russia and Georgia aren’t interfering
with company’s business in Georgia.
Relations between the two countries have become strained, with Georgia
recently vowing to reduce its dependence on Russian gas and in an
apparent effort to counteract pressure from its neighbor.
“It has not affected at all. We enjoy great support from the (Georgian)
government,” he said.
In September, VimpelCom posted a 23% rise in second-quarter net
profit, driven by price increases and tight cost controls. Net profit
increased to $194.9 million from $158.8 million a year earlier,
and revenue rose 46% to $1.12 billion from $769.8 million.
Shares of VimpelCom in New York were down 0.2% at $66.50 in early
afternoon trade Wednesday, when most Russian American Depositary
Receipts were seeing red.

ARMENIA PLANS TO MAINTAIN SMALL IRAQ PRESENCE
Agence France Presse — English
November 15, 2006 Wednesday 11:21 PM GMT
Armenia intends to extend the stay of its tiny contingent of 46
peacekeeping personnel serving under the US-led coalition in Iraq, the
country’s defense minister said Wednesday following a trip to Baghdad.
“We have appealed to the national assembly of Armenia with a request to
extend the term of our contingent in Iraq, and we hope that parliament
will give its assent,” Serzh Sarkisian told journalists at Yerevan’s
airport.
“We can’t just be consumers of security, we need to take part in the
process,” he said.
During his trip Sarkisian met Iraq’s defense minister Abdul Qadr and
the leadership of coalition forces and discussed the security of the
country’s 20,000 strong Armenian Diaspora as well as the coalition’s
long-term plans, a spokesman for Armenia’s defense ministry said.
Armenia’s forces in Iraq include 30 drivers, 10 sappers, three doctors
and three officers.

ARMENIAN, BUNDESTAG PRESIDENTS DISCUSS RELATIONS
Public Television, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
[Presenter] The Armenian and Bundestag presidents took part in the
opening ceremony of the new building of the Armenian embassy in
Berlin’s Charlottenburg district.
President Robert Kocharyan and President of the Bundestag Norbert
Lammert held a meeting at the new Armenian new embassy in Germany
and discussed the development of Armenian-German relations.
[Correspondent reporting from Berlin] The new building of the Armenian
embassy in Germany was opened in Berlin’s Charlottenburg district.
President Robert Kocharyan’s meeting with President of the Bundestag
Norbert Lammert at the embassy was symbolic. The Armenian president
said that the opening of the embassy building reflects the development
of Armenian-German relations, which has been noticeable in the last
few years. Robert Kocharyan noted that bilateral economic and political
relations are deepening and assistance programmes are acquiring a new
quantitative nature. The Armenian president said that there were no
relations a few years ago. Today Armenia seriously intends to develop
relations with Germany.
Germany’s forthcoming presidency of the European Union [EU] will
have a positive influence on these relations. Germany attaches
great importance to the integration of the South Caucasus within the
framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
The president of the Bundestag described as symbolic the opening of
the new building of the Armenian embassy in Germany two days after
the signing of Armenia’s Action Plan in Brussels. Armenia opens the
embassy in Germany which will chair the EU from 1 January 2007.
After the meeting, Robert Kocharyan and Norbert Lammert took part in
the opening ceremony of the embassy.
[Norbert Lammert, speaking in German with an Armenian voice-over]
The opening of the embassy symbolizes the level of Armenian-German
relations. These relations have been developing between the
governments. But it is necessary to develop interparliamentary
relations as well.
[Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan] Armenia deserves to have
an embassy building in Germany. Every time we open an Armenian embassy
abroad, we confirm our presence and Armenia’s independence.
In 15 years of independence, Armenia has opened embassies in more that
35 countries and this is the best manifestation of our independence.
[Correspondent] Representatives of Germany’s Armenian community,
diplomats, members of the Armenian and German governments took part
in the opening ceremony.