Month: November 2006

DUTCH LABOR PARTY REGRETS EXCLUDING TURKS FROM LIST
By Basri Dogan, Ali Cimen, The Hague
Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 8 2006
Wouter Bos, leader of the Dutch Labor Party, issued a statement
shortly before the early parliamentary vote on Nov. 22 in a bid to
ease the Turkish reaction against his past decision to exclude some
Turks from party lists because they had refused to acknowledge an
Armenian genocide.
Bos said he was sorry for his offhand use of ‘genocide’ as a word.
“There is too much confusion about our views. We’re solely responsible
for this. I’m so sorry for lackadaisical use of genocide as a word,”
Bos told a news conference.
Dutch Labor Party Chairman Michiel van Hulten, Nebahat Albayrak and
other Turkish members of parliament who managed to remain on the list
were also by Bos’ side when he apologized.
“So many people, both Turkish and Armenian, lost their lives in a
war in the early 20th century,” said Bos in an attempt to clarify
his party’s view on the Armenian question.
The question calls for historical and legal examination, said Bos,
adding his hopes that Armenians will match Turks in their attempts
to reach a settlement over the question.
Bos admitted to his lack of knowledge in this area of history.
Bos expressed his feelings of disappointment for excluding Erdinc
Sacan from the party list as a candidate for a place at the parliament,
but he defended that Sacan was not totally excluded from politics.
Turkish-origin members of Dutch society will take a cautious approach
to such statements from Bos, as they were made prior to the upcoming
elections.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR CONDEMNS GENOCIDE DENIAL BILL
By Cihan News Agency, Hatay
Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 8 2006
French Ambassador to Ankara Jean Paul Poudade spoke out against the
French parliament’s decision pass the law draft penalizing the denial
of the so-called Armenian genocide.
Poudade termed the law as an “unnecessary and polemical decision.”
Paying a visit to Hatay Governor Ahmet Kayhan, Poudade stated the
French government did not support the decision and defended his views
that this is not binding for all of France.
Recalling the 2007 presidential elections in his country, the
ambassador said: “There are more important issues to discuss and this
decision will soon be off the agenda. Everyone should face their own
history. We are faced with our history from slavery to World War II.”
The ambassador noted that relations between the two countries were
continuing at the highest level and added, “I do not think this
decision will affect bilateral relations.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU REPORT CONTAINS STINGING CRITICISM OF TURKEY
Financial Mirror, Cyprus
Nov 8 2006
Freedom of speech in Turkey is not guaranteed, the military still plays
a “significant” political role and non-Muslim religious communities
face discrimination, the European Commission is set to say in a report
due out Wednesday, according to a report by EUobserver.
Just over a year after Turkey started membership negotiations with the
EU in October 2005, the European Commission will on Wednesday release
both a specific progress report on Turkey and a general enlargement
report which also deals with Ankara’s EU accession bid.
Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn will present the enlargement
strategy paper and progress reports for candidate countries, including
Turkey, in Brussels at 12.00 local time (1100 GMT).
A draft version of the general report says that “Turkey has continued
to make progress in reforms,” but adds that “the pace of reforms
has slowed.”
“In 2007, it will be important to undertake determined efforts to
broaden the reform momentum throughout Turkey,” the document says.
The draft progress report – detailing specific policy areas – kicks
off with a chapter on Turkey’s compliance with the EU’s political
and human rights standards which according to the commission leaves
a lot to be desired.
“The armed forces have continued to exercise significant political
influence. Senior members of the armed forces have expressed
their opinion on domestic and foreign policy issues,” the draft
says referring to generals interfering in issues such as Cyprus,
secularism and the Kurdish issue.
Further highlighting the uncontrolled role of Turkey’s army, the draft
continues by stating that “no further progress has been achieved
in terms of strengthening parliamentary overseeing of the military
budget and expenditure.”
The report is highly critical of restrictions on freedom of speech
in the EU candidate country – targeting in particular the notorious
article 301 of Turkey’s recently adopted penal code, which penalises
insults against “Turkishness”.
“The prosecutions and convictions for the expression of non-violent
opinion under certain provisions of the new Penal Code are a cause
for serious concern and may contribute to a climate of self-censorship
in the country.”
“Freedom of expression in line with European standards is not yet
guaranteed in the present legal framework,” Brussels concludes in the
draft, which was however prepared before Turkish leader Recep Tayyip
Erdogan over the weekend indicated he is ready to revise article 301.
The European Commission on Monday welcomed Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s pledge to revise a key article of the Turkish penal
code which is widely viewed as a serious breach of freedom of speech.
The commission insisted, however, that Erodogan’s promise must be
followed by quick action to change the code’s disputed article 301,
that makes it illegal to dispute the national policy, including
the denial of discussing, let alone adopting, views related to the
Armenian genocide and the persecution of Kurds.
Under the code a number of journalists and authors have been charged
for ‘insulting Turkishness,’ including Nobel Literature laureate
Orhan Pamuk.
Brussels in the report welcomes a “downward trend” in the number
of cases of torture and ill-treatment but notes at the same time
that torture cases are “still being reported, in particular outside
detention centres.”
The report further says that non-Muslim religious communities
“continued to face restricted property rights” while “full respect
of women’s rights remains a critical problem, particularly in the
poorest areas of the country.”
Two local TV stations have been allowed to air in the Kurdish language
– but they are not allowed to show educational programmes in Kurdish.
— No progress on Cyprus
As expected, Brussels has condemned Turkey’s continued blocking of
trade from EU member state Cyprus.
“Turkey has continued to deny access to its ports to vessels flying
the Republic of Cyprus flag or where the last port of call is Cyprus,”
Brussels notes, adding Ankara’s restrictions “infringe the customs
union agreement” it signed with the EU.
A passage added to the report after the weekend and cited by
the Financial Times said however that Brussels will postpone
a recommendation on whether or not to suspend the accession talks
because of Turkey’s stance on Cyprus – until a later date before an
EU leaders’ summit in December.
— Some positive notes
Despite the generally critical tone of the report – with “limited”
or “no” progress reported also in the areas of agriculture, the
environment and in many internal market-related areas – the commission
also has some praise for Turkey.
“Turkey’s overall alignment with EU common foreign and security policy
has continued,” the document says referring to the country’s positive
role in the Middle East.
As for education and culture, “alignment is nearly complete and overall
Turkey is well prepared for accession in this area,” according to
the draft.
“Education and culture” is among the next negotiating chapters waiting
in line to be opened as part of the accession talks – but Cyprus has
said it will veto the opening of any new chapter unless Turkey gives
in on opening its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic before the
end of the year.

TURKISH LOCAL GOVERNOR ACCUSES EUROPE OF IGNORING ARMENIAN CRIMES IN AZERBAIJAN
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006
France ambassador to Turkey Paul Poudade has been to Isgenderun city
of Hatay region, APA reports.
The head of municipality Mete Aslan criticized the ambassador. Paul
Poudade said that Turkey has lots of home tasks to do and this process
will be too difficult for them to be admitted to EU membership and
it infuriated Mete Aslan.
“I want Turkey not to be admitted to EU and the last signals coming
from EU are signs for it,” Mete Aslan said.
Afterwards he touched upon the question of false Armenian genocide.
“Turkey did not commit genocide to Armenians. Europe new about
Armenian’s massacres in Azerbaijan, but did not take measurers. EU
observes Turkmen’s genocide while defending Kurds in Iraq,” he added.
After these words the ambassador asked the journalists to leave the
room and they had closed talks. After the meeting Aslan said Europe
wants to separate Turkey. He stressed that the monument to Turkish
genocide committed by Armenians will be erected in Isgenderun.

EU REPORT SHARPLY CRITICIZES TURKEY’S REFORM RECORD
Yigal Schleifer
EurasiaNet, NY
Nov 8 2006
Turkey’s accession negotiations with the European Union are entering
a critical period after an EU report, released November 8, sharply
criticized Ankara’s reform performance.
European Union diplomats have been warning for months that a slowdown
in the Turkish reform process, the large number of free-speech court
cases and the closure of Turkish ports and airports to EU-member Cyprus
were undermining Ankara’s EU accession aspirations. The EU progress
report provided the most definitive evidence yet that EU membership
for Turkey is not a sure thing. [For additional information see the
Eurasia Insight archive].
“There will be a crisis from now until [the upcoming EU summit
in] December, that is clear,” says Joost Lagendijk, who heads the
European Parliament delegation to the joint EU-Turkey parliamentary
committee. The November 8 report is likely to form the basis of
discussions when leaders of the 25-member EU ponder whether or not
to freeze accession negotiations with Turkey.
“The report represents a very important point, politically, as the
trains are heading towards a crash,” says Kirsty Hughes, a London-based
European affairs analyst. “The [report] will be pointing towards
a crash, but how bad it is depends on how the EU member countries
follow up on it. There’s going to be a big fight between the member
countries after it comes out over what to do.”
The European Commission appeared to set a moderate tone on November 8,
recommending against a suspension of accession talks.
Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a stern warning,
telling a German newspaper that if Ankara refuses to open up its
ports to Cypriot trade – something it has promised to do as part of
the deal to begin the negotiations – “the EU accession talks cannot
continue in this fashion.”
Diplomats and analysts in Turkey are downbeat about the prospects of
Ankara regaining reform momentum anytime soon. A wave of anti-Western
nationalism has been washing over Turkey, fueled by a perception that
the EU has been one-sided on the Cyprus issue. Recent European moves on
the Armenian issue have also antagonized Ankara, in particular a recent
law passed by the lower house of the French parliament making it a
crime to deny that the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks
constitutes genocide. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Turkey will hold parliamentary elections next November, and observers
in Turkey believe that little progress will happen on the EU front,
as political parties are expected to emphasize their nationalist
credentials and distance themselves from the currently unpopular
accession negotiations.
According to a June poll by the Pew Research Center, Turkish support
for the EU has fallen to 35 percent, down from almost 80 percent three
years ago (support for the United States was a dismal 12 percent,
according to the same poll).
“I don’t think joining the EU would be a good thing for Turkey. They
are pushing us too hard. They always want something more,” says Faruk
Yilmaz, who works in a small kiosk that sells snack food in Istanbul’s
historic Beyoglu neighborhood. “Turkey has wanted to be a member for
such a long time. We are always walking towards them and they send
us back to the start.
Suat Kiniklioglu, executive director of the German Marshall Fund’s
Turkey office, says that while EU membership was once supported by
a majority of Turks, today it is a divisive issue. “Certainly the
military and the secularists have turned against the EU and for them
a negative [EU progress] report would be welcomed, since it would
mean a slowdown in the negotiations,” he said.
“I am afraid that the people who believe that Turkey belongs in Europe
are becoming a minority,” he continued.
But if not in Europe, then where does Turkey belong? There have been
suggestions that the country’s government, run by the Islamic-rooted
Justice and Development Party, might lead Turkey towards a closer
alliance with the Islamic world. But Ioannis Grigoriadis, a professor
of political science at Istanbul’s Isik University, says that rather
than eastward, Turkey’s growing nationalism is looking inward.
“It could end up with a Turkey that is very introverted and
self-reliant,” he says.
A distancing from the EU, says Grigoriadis, could ultimately hurt the
process of democratization in Turkey, since “the EU acts as both an
anchor and as a trigger, on the one hand pushing for change from the
outside, but also protecting the steps already made.”
Despite the criticism from Brussels, as well as the nationalist mood
in Turkey, there are indications that both sides are working to reach
a compromise before the EU summit in December. Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently expressed a willingness to amend article
301, a controversial law limiting free speech, while there are also
efforts to work out an interim deal on the Cyprus issue.
“I think all parties will try until the last moment way to prevent
this train crash,” says Lagendijk, the European parliamentarian.
Some are also suggesting that beyond compromise what may also be needed
is a change in the way the EU approaches Turkey. Kemal Dervis, Turkey’s
former economy minister and the current head of the United Nations
Development Program, recently said that the EU’s constant pressure
for reform will only continue to alienate Turks. Isik University’s
Grigoriadis say that if the EU wants to keep Turkey within its orbit,
it has to reel the country in slowly. “You can’t pull the line too
tight, or it will break,” he says.
Editor’s Note: Yigal Schleifer is a freelance journalist based in
Istanbul.

ASKING FOR EXAMPLES
Naira Mamikonian
Aravot, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
Serge Sargsian asks for certain examples when the Russian party
manages to use its economic levers for political purposes.
Serge Sargsian, the RA Defense Minister and the cochairman of
Armenian-Russian economic intergovernmental commission in answer to
the question that “taking into consideration that the Russian party
manages to use its economic levers for political purposes, doesn’t he
have any apprehension that the share of Russian capital is added and
important strategic objects become Russian?” said; “I don’t consider
it dangerous. Because I haven’t seen yet how the Russian party uses
its economic levers. Give me an example, when the Russian capital
in Armenia has made pressure on us”. In answer to S. Sargsian’s this
question, it isn’t difficult to give a lot of examples, such as the
fact of rise in gas price. Russia announced about its intention to
raise the gas price from $56 to $110 at the beginning of last winter.
It isn’t secret any more that it was the answer to the RA authorities
attempt for diversification of risks in power sphere. The point is
that the RA government has given its privilege to Iranian “MAR”
and “Sanir” companies after long negotiations in two contests of
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction and project of modernization of
the5th Thermal Power Plant in Hrazdan. But suddenly Russian “Gasprom”
state company appeared and wanted to participate in the contest with
a joint consortium. Russians simply blackmailed the RA authorities,
imposing certain conditions. They bought the 5 th Thermal Power Plant
by $250 million, at the expense of which the RA authorities will
manage to subsidize the expenses of gas users in case of rising in
gas price. As a result, the Russians didn’t only owned the 5th Thermal
Power Plant but were subsidized at our expense and strengthened their
position in the power market of Armenia. The blackmail wasn’t obvious,
that’s why the Armenian officials kept silence.
Vahagn Khachatrian, the RA first President’s advisor in economic
issues and NA former deputy gave another example. The latter reminded
that the Russian supply of energy for the atomic station was stopped
for the accumulated debts. We should remind that the RA authorities
had to give the Russians Sevan-Hrazdan cascade. “He knows very well,
that economic levers are the best way of political blackmail”, – Mr.
Khachatrian said alluding to Serge Sargsian. “That threat will always
be a danger for us”, – V. Khachatrian assured.
Economist Eduard Aghajanov gave one more example, reminding “Estate
instead of debt” agreement. “Russian entered its strategic partner’s
land, our home, and demanded our strategic objects instead of $97
million debt. While Russia ignored other debts to other countries,
$40million to Turkey, Syria etc.”, – Aghajanov said.
Stepan Grigorian noticed, “the Russians have taken our objects and
neither operate them nor make investments, what means those factories
have simply been conserved. It isn’t important for me the reasons
are political or economic. Why should I believe that The Russian
will act in the same way in case of selling the Armenian Railways,
Armenian-Iranian gas pipeline or “ArmenTel” or they will be operated
more effectively? And in general, what a way of answer it is “give
examples” when it is spoken about the security of Armenia,”- Mr.
Grigorian said.

2007 DRAFT STATE BUDGET DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006
The discussion of 2007 Draft State Budget continued in Parliament
today, APA reports.
Parliamentarian Jemil Hassanli said there is a monopoly in the country
and worries about the fees of agriculture commodities and unused
fields. Hassanli stressed that it is necessary to raise the salaries
of education staff. Ali Mesimov said strategy of expenditures should be
worked out. Ali Ahmadov also touched upon the state budget for the next
year and said Azerbaijan is on a new level of development. Ali Ahmadov
offered to take measures on strengthening struggle for inflation,
raise the salaries of education staff and solve young people’s flat
problem. Azer Emiraslanov said that Azerbaijan rates 64th for budget
growth. Guler Ahmadova complain that the ideological propaganda for
Garabagh is weak in Azerbaijan.
Seyavush Novruzov said conformation of Azerbaijani Army to NATO
standards will end next year. Ali Huseynov stressed Azerbaijan made
progress in the struggle for corruption. Yagub Mammadov also touched
upon the salary problems of education staff.
The discussion will be continued.

POLES HAVE FEELING OF SPIRITUAL CONTACT AND HISTORICAL SIMILARITY WITH ARMENIAN PEOPLE, SENATE MARSHAL CONSIDERS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
ETCHMIADZIN, NOVEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II expressed gratitude to the authorities of the Republic of
Poland for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 2005 in the Polish
Seimas, as well as for honest and kind attitude constantly shown
towards the Armenian community. Receiving the official delegation
led by Polish Senate Marshal Bodgan Borusevich, accompanied by
representatives of RA NA and the Ambassadors of the two countries on
November 7 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, his Holiness the
Patriarch congratulated B.Borusevich on the occasion of Poland’s
Independence Day to be marked November 11 wishing peaceful and
prosperous life to the godly Polish people.
“Such visits come to contribute to deepening of relations between our
two peoples and countries,” His Holiness emphasized touching upon
the ancient-old friendship between the two peoples and cooperation
formed between the two peoples.
B.Borusevich speaking about Polish-Armenian centuries-old relations,
mentioned the important contribution of Armenians to Poland’s
history. “True, currently our relations are not so close as in the
past, but sympathy towards Armenia and Armenians preserves… We feel
spiritual contact with the Armenian people, we also have a feeling
of historical similarity,” the Senate Marshal said.
During the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians touched upon the
issue of organization of the spiritual and church life of the Armenian
community in Poland. B.Borusevich said that soon the Polish authorities
will officially register the Armenian Apostolic Church and community.
They also spoke about the important mission of the church in the life
of the two peoples.

TURK YOUNG MAN RUINS PICTURES OF ARMENIAN EXHIBITION
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
ROME, NOVEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A Turk young man, who
had done great damage during the exhibition presenting the Armenian
Genocide, was arrested in Italy. The exhibition was organized by
Piedro Kuchukian.
According to Marmara, the Turk young man visited the exhibition and
kicking the pictures, ruined them.

ORINATS YERKIR APPEALED TO PROCURACY
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
Members of parliament Mher Shahgeldyan and Heghineh Bisharyan, Orinats
Yerkir stated November 7 that the political party has turned to the
Office of the Attorney General asking to find out the organizers
of the black PR against the political party. Mher Shahgeldyan says
their statement that the organizers are Serge Sargsyan and Andranik
Margaryan is the political aspect of the problem. “We made a statement,
now let the law enforcers make their statement.” For her part, Heghineh
Bisharyan added that if the government is not involved in this plot
against Orinats Yerkir Party, it is amazing that the government is
unaware of what is going on in the country.
The representatives of the Orinats Yerkir Party said they got the
information about Serge Sargsyan and Andranik Margaryan from the
TV companies, which broadcast denigrating reports, and the latter
promised to tell the same to the law enforcement agencies.
The political party first tried to avoid a scandal and settle the
problem quietly, and offered the members of the Republican Party
to stop if they are the organizers, or state that they are not the
organizers. The Republican Party did not reply, meanwhile Andranik
Margaryan and Serge Sargsyan stated that they are not involved in
this campaign against the political party.
The Orinats Yerkir Party did not report separate persons to the
procuracy. The representatives of Orinats Yerkir also said that
they had spoken about the unequal conditions of the pro-government
forces and the opposition before the Referendum on Constitution in
2005 and now they do not wish to appear as the most oppositionist and
chazed force. “We respect and we want to be respected. Our criticism
was realistic. There was a lot of criticizing because the negative
phenomena in the country are very many.” “We live in a small country
and everyone knows who has what, uses what, which are the sources,
and where the opportunities arise,” stated Heghineh Bisharyan. Mher
Shahgeldyan added that they have never resorted to black PR and will
never do. A news reporter asked to comment on the statement in the
official newspaper of the Orinats Yerkir Party that the international
organizations fear Arthur Baghdasaryan. Mher Shahgeldyan characterized
it as “the reporter’s blunder, which cannot express a standpoint
or approach.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress