ASBAREZ Online [06-14-2005]

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06/14/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Reps. Schiff, Radanovich, Knollenberg, and Pallone Introduce Armenian Genocide Legislation 2) Official Results of Lebanon's Third Round of Parliamentary Elections 3) Erdogan Questions Integrity of New York Times 4) Iran's Armenians Urged to Consider Welfare of Country and Community in upcoming Presidential Elections 5) ARF Movement '88 Urges Karabagh's Citizens to Raise Their Voice 6) Expansion off The Agenda at EU Summit 1) Reps. Schiff, Radanovich, Knollenberg, and Pallone Introduce Armenian Genocide Legislation Resolution Reaffirms US Record on the Armenian genocide WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)--A bipartisan group of over 50 US Representatives joined on Tuesday with lead sponsors Adam Schiff (D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) in introducing the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the House of Representatives. "We join with Armenian Americans across the United States in welcoming the introduction today of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by Congressmen Radanovich, Schiff, Knollenberg, and Pallone," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to working with our Congressional friends, community partners, and the growing genocide-prevention coalition to build bipartisan support for this measure and to help secure its timely adoption by the House of Representatives." The resolution, which will be referred to the House International Relations Committee for consideration, enjoys the support of the ANCA, Armenian Assembly, and the entire Armenian American community. The Radanovich-Schiff-Knollenberg-Pallone Resolution calls on the President "to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide." The resolution includes thirty detailed findings from past US hearings, resolutions and Presidential statements on the Armenian genocide from 1916 through the present, as well as references to statements by international bodies and organizations. After introduction of the measure, Rep. Radanovich noted, "By properly acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, we recognize this atrocity and renew our commitment to prevent other occurrences of man's inhumanity to man. I am proud to have been a leader in this community for the past decade as one voice for a people who were silenced for too long." Members of Congress joining Representatives Schiff, Radanovich, Knollenberg, and Pallone as original cosponsors of the resolution are: Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Charles Bass (R-NH), Howard Berman (D-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), David Dreier (R-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA) , Mark Foley (R-FL), Barney Frank (D-MA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Steve Israel (D-NY), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), James Langevin (D-RI), Sander Levin (D-MI), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James McGovern (D-MA), Buck McKeon (R-CA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Marty Meehan (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Candice Miller (R-MI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Mike Rogers (R-MI), Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Ed Royce (R-CA), Jim Saxton (R-NJ), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), E. Clay Shaw (R-FL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), John Shimkus (R-IL), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Mark Souder (R-IN), John Sweeney (R-NY), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Diane Watson (D-CA), and Anthony Weiner (D-NY). The text of the resolution is similar to one introduced in 1999, during the 106th Congress, again led by Rep. Radanovich, spearheaded along with then House Democratic Whip David Bonior (D-MI) and the Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs. That bill secured the support of over 140 cosponsors and, following extensive hearings, was overwhelmingly adopted by the House International Relations Committee by a vote of 24 to 11, and scheduled for a floor vote. Despite the clear bipartisan support for the measure, it was withdrawn from the House calendar in October of 2000 by the Speaker of the House, under heavy pressure from President Clinton. 2) Official Results of Lebanon's Third Round of Parliamentary Elections BEIRUT (Aztagdaily.com)--Interior Minister Hassan Al Sabaa, on Monday afternoon, announced the official results of Lebanon's third round of Parliamentary elections. Addressing the general atmosphere of the elections in the districts of Mount Lebanon and Bekaa, he said they were positive and conducted democratically. He praised the role of Lebanon's internal security forces and army in ensuring fair elections. "Their presence allowed Lebanese citizens to vote according to their will, without outside pressures. It is, therefore, possible to say that the government has succeeded in maintaining a neutral position, and in organizing free, fair, open, and democratic elections." The minister added that the government is responsible for--and will utilize all security and administrative means at its disposal--to ensure that the fourth round of elections, due to take place in Northern Lebanon, are also transparent and conducted peacefully. Following Sunday's elections, two Armenian Revolutionary Federation candidates, Hagop Pakradouni and Georges Kasarji, were victorious in the Metn and Bekka districts, successively. In the Metn district, the eight vacant seats were filled by the following candidates (votes): Hagop Pakradouni (53,272), Edgar Maalouf (55,017), Ghazan Mkhaiber (56,906), Ibrahim Kaanan (56,840), Selim Salhab (54,776), Nabil Nicola (48,872), Michel Murr (48,662), Pierre Gemayel (29,421). Pakradouni gained 92% of the 10,800 Armenian votes, while opponent Raffi Madeyan 8% (25,043 total votes). In the Zahle district, seven vacant seats were filled by the following candidates (votes): Georges Kasarji (35,065), Elias Skaaf (38,035), Selim Aoun (36,408), Camile Maalouf (34,108), Asem Araji (31,418), Hassan Yacoub (31,920), Nicola Fettoush (31,111). Kasarji gained 93% of the 2,500 Armenian votes, while opponent Antoun Nshanian got 7% (26,900 total votes). 3) Erdogan Questions Integrity of New York Times NEW YORK (Combined Sources)--Following the New York Times's refusal to publish a declaration prepared by 36 Turkish nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) denying the Armenian genocide, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting on June 13 with the paper's Editorial Board. In a rejection letter to the Turkish NGOs, the New York Times advertising department wrote, "We believe that the Armenian genocide took place. Therefore, we do not find it right to publish your advertisement." Erdogan criticized the newspaper for "its paradoxical and erroneous justifications." In that meeting, the New York Times questioned Turkey's postponement of an unprecedented conference on the Armenian genocide that was to be held at Bogazici University in Istanbul, and criticized Justice Minister Cemil Cicek's remarks about the Turkish scholars that were scheduled to participate. Minister Cicek, speaking on the floor of the Turkish Parliament, called the Turkish scholars "traitors" and accused them of "stabbing the Turkish nation in the back." Erdogan said that Cicek's statements represented his personal viewpoint and not that of the Turkish government. "I stated that there is no legal barrier against such an Armenian conference in Istanbul. I support such a conference although I do not agree with the notions that were to be expressed," Erdogan clarified. Reminding the editors of Turkey's "goodwill" as it allowed scholars access to its archives, Erdogan invited the New York Times to visit the country and study the "open archives." Zaman Daily reported that the editors had "difficulty in answering Erdogan's question" and announced that they would state their reply later. The prime minister's spokesman Akif Beki said the editors "merely listened" to Erdogan's remarks. "Then they said that they would study the said advertisement, as well as the refusal by the head of the advertising department, and would inform us of the results of their evaluation." Turkish sources reported that The New York Times editors assured Erdogan that they would "include his statements in upcoming articles." 4) Iran's Armenians Urged to Consider Welfare of Country and Community in upcoming Presidential Elections TEHRAN (Combined Sources)--Armenians were urged to vote their conscience in the upcoming June 17 presidential elections in Iran, in what is the most contested presidential race in the country's history. The chairman of Tehran's Armenian Prelacy's Representative Assembly Dr. L. Tavtian, stressed the importance of voting, stating that what is at stake is the quality of life, the future of children, as well as that of the people and the country. As far as Tehran's Armenians are concerned, he emphasized the importance of choosing a candidate who is familiar "with the issues." "As a religious minority in Iran, we have a general responsibility to vote. We have various activities, as well as corresponding difficulties throughout our communities [in Iran]. So as to overcome them, we must wholeheartedly participate in the electoral process and elect that individual who is more informed than others about our concerns, and will work to remedy them." He urged the Armenian community to keep in mind the country's interests and objectives, as well those of the Armenian community, and "vote for that individual who will realize those goals." It is unlikely that any of the eight candidates vying to replace President Mohammad Khatami--who cannot run for a third term--will win the kind of victory that swept Khatami to office in 1997 and 2001 with hopes of political and social change. Voter apathy is threatening to deliver a low turnout, and recent polls indicate that none of the candidates, which include clerics, generals, a doctor and Tehran's mayor, is likely to garner the 50 percent needed to avoid a run-off. 5) ARF Movement '88 Urges Karabagh's Citizens to Raise Their Voice STEPANAKERT--In a statement released on June 13, concerning the June 19 parliamentary elections in Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation "Movement '88" coalition appealed to all citizens to use their voice to guarantee the dignity of the people of Artsakh. "Once again, our country's future is endangered. Certain servants of our ruling authorities~E now seek to place in parliamentary seats pro-government candidates, and through them, prolong an atmosphere of acquiescence, license, corruption, bribery, power, authority, etc," the statement read. Recalling victory through solidarity, the unbreakable will of the young, and at the price of blood shed by the country's freedom fighters, the coalition urged all to "not be fooled by the empty promises of pro-government candidates," and in order to steadfastly advance the people of Artsakh, "raise our voice resolutely, and give votes to the ARF "Movement '88 coalition, both in general and especially through its candidates, who have gone through the path of war, and who have been forged in the crucible of battle." 6) Expansion off The Agenda at EU Summit (The Guardian)--European leaders will not discuss expansion of the EU to include Turkey or other countries at this week's EU summit, it was confirmed on June 14. Senior officials stressed that previous agreements with Turkey and Croatia were still valid and that earlier EU decisions to expand to Romania and Bulgaria remained on track, but it will be the first time in many years that the issue has been dropped from an EU summit declaration. There will only be a single paragraph saying expansion was "necessary." Analysts said the move was bound to send a negative signal to candidate countries, which have been braced for a backlash following the rejection of the European constitution by France and the Netherlands. Speaking during the weekend, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, brushed the matter aside. "None of this has anything to do with us. Turkey is within the [European] boundary. We have not wasted our years for nothing," he said. European commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, has tried to water down fears over expansion, saying it and the constitution "were not connected," but an increasing number of senior European politicians continue to express public doubts about the issue. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the EU's external affairs commissioner, told the German newspaper Bild that enlargement of the EU should be slowed to give people time to digest the Dutch and French no votes. "We need to give our citizens time to breathe. We must fulfill what we have said, but my idea is to reduce the speed of enlargement." Austrian finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser, said that Turkish membership "would make excessive demands of Europe." He said he saw the constitution's rejection in France and the Netherlands as "a warning shot" in opposition to Turkey's membership. Polls in France and the Netherlands showed that opposition to Turkey's membership was one of the key reasons voters gave for opposing the European constitution. Diplomats in Luxembourg, where EU foreign ministers are meeting, confirmed that several paragraphs on expansion to include Turkey and other candidates were being dropped in the latest draft of the declaration due to be issued at the end of this week's summit in Brussels. At a summit in December last year, EU leaders set a conditional October 3 date to open entry talks with Turkey, if it carried through on commitments to implement economic and political reforms, and if it expanded its customs union to include Cyprus. The Dutch foreign minister, Ben Bot, however, continued to back the EU's official position that entry talks would go ahead as planned. "They are on track. If the Turks are on track then we are on track," he said. In a move aimed at reassuring the Turks and the financial markets that the expansion process had not be derailed, EU foreign ministers approved an agreement today that will adapt its customs union with Turkey. EU foreign ministers endorsed the protocol without discussion, sending it to Turkey for signature. Once it has signed the accord, Ankara will have met all the conditions set by the EU for opening membership talks. Turkey's top EU negotiator, Ali Babacan, has said the country will sign the document as soon as it receives it. The foreign ministers also agreed today to review Croatia's progress towards starting membership talks in mid-July in the light of its cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal on locating a key fugitive suspect. They noted in a statement that the chief war crimes prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, had welcomed some progress by Zagreb but said it was still not fully cooperating with the Hague tribunal on the former Yugoslavia. "There is an agreement that the review will be in July," an official of Luxembourg's EU presidency said, though some states - led by Britain--say Croatia must locate and hand over Ante Gotovina before the EU can start delayed accession talks. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.