ASBAREZ Online [06-28-2004]

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06/28/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1- Armenian Patriarch Meets US President 2- Oskanian, Gul Meet in Istanbul 3- Congress Best Bet for US Recognition of Genocide 4- Chirac Slams Bush for Interfering in Turkey's EU Bid 5- Armenia Marks Tenth Anniversary of Military Academy 1- Armenian Patriarch Meets US President ISTANBUL (Haybad/Zaman)--While the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit may be headlining US President George W. Bush's trip to Istanbul, Turkey, he took time out on Sunday to meet with various religious leaders. Bush met with President of Religious Affairs Ali Bardakoglu, Istanbul Mufti Mustafa Cagrici, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos, Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan, Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yusuf Cetin. In his opening remarks, Bush welcomed the religious leaders, and referred to Turkey "with its mosaic of faiths and cultures," as a good model of secular democracy--in spite of its predominantly Muslim population. When a journalist asked at the end of the meeting if the participants had any particular message, Bush said that he came together with important personalities from different religions and faiths and had "an excellent meeting." Bush added that the religious leaders represented the best side of Turkey. Patriarch Mutafyan had an opportunity to speak to Bush about the situation of Turkey's non-Muslim population, and stressed that for minorities to exist in Turkey--or for any ethnic or national minority to exist anywhere--three institutions must be guaranteed: First, places of worship to preserve religious heritage and to nourish the spiritual life of the community; second, schools to teach language and culture; and third, foundations to fund religious and educational activities and the necessary personnel to keep them active. The minorities in Turkey, he stressed, are attempting to maintain those institutions for the future and well-being of their communities. The Patriarch also stressed that though religious leaders attempt to stick to spiritual edification, and stay out of politics, certain instances call for, if not political involvement, at least a moral response. Mutafyan told the press that the religious leaders conveyed their concerns to Bush about the violent incidents they witness every time the turn on the television. Bush reportedly responded, "Believe me, these do not reflect our real face. Justice will deal with some of the incidents you see on television, particularly those in the prison in Baghdad." Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos indicated that they discussed the role of religion and Turkey's religious mosaic. "President Bush said that the religious mosaic was very important for Turkey and that it is an asset to the country. In order to maintain this, all the religions need to raise their own religious leaders. Otherwise, the mosaic will disappear," recalled Bartholomeos. White House National Security Adviser Condolezza Rice, Secretary of State Colin Powell and the US Ankara Ambassador Eric Edelman also attended Bush's meeting with religious leaders. Before leaving, Patriarch Mutafyan presented the following letter to President Bush: "Dear Mr. President, It is with great pleasure that we welcome your visit to our country on the occasion of the NATO summit here in Istanbul. The Armenians of Turkey, constituting by far the largest Christian community in this country, have long cherished, with affection and amity, the United States of America, which, besides having a historic friendship and alliance with Turkey, also has welcomed to its shores many of our kinsmen since the second half of the 19th century. It is because of these warm sentiments, that I feel able to express the uneasiness we feel at the escalating level of violence which has been spreading across the globe and which is especially pressing in the Middle East region, where we also live. I personally believe that you, Mr. Bush, as the president of a great country that leads the world, have the authority to affect the course of events, and this is why I would like to voice my anxiety. War, terror, torture, embargo, marginalization, defamation or condescension...Whatever form violence takes, it always leads to consequences which are not in accord with human dignity. Instead it leaves indelible scars in memories and generates lasting enmities between peoples. Throughout history, there has never been an act of violence or retaliation which has not harmed the innocent. Sadly, the consequence is usually that violence begets more violence. This is why, even when seeking to serve legitimate, higher ideals such as establishing peace, upholding democracy or preventing terror, the resort to violence, merely culminates in more pain and suffering to the innocent, especially children. Throughout history, when governments have resorted to force when challenged by violence or even civil unrest, it often effectively became collective punishments of whole nations or peoples. What has happened recently in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sudan are clear examples. This cannot be a portrayal of sublime sentiments and indeed, to many it is viewed as revenge, a sentiment which cannot coexist with civilization. I believe that the United States of America and her President, have the ability to preserve the values they struggle for without resorting to violence in all its terrible diversity. It is sufficient to maintain their trust in God, in their sense of vocation and ultimate potential for good. Whenever we embrace violence we are already diminished and the high moral and religious ideals to which we aspire are betrayed. Mr. President, I can imagine to a certain extent the pressures that you must be undergoing at present and therefore please be assured of my prayerful support. May God be in all visions for world peace and may He protect us all from losing our faith. With my sincere good wishes, MESROB II Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey 2- Oskanian, Gul Meet in Istanbul ISTANBUL (AFP/Armenpress/RFE/RL)--Under pressure by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU), Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey pledged on Monday to seek to resolve their tangled disputes through trilateral meetings. The foreign ministers of the three troubled neighbors, Vartan Oskanian of Armenia, Elmar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, and Abdullah Gul of Turkey met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Istanbul. "The dialogue was quite good," Oskanian told reporters after the meeting. "I have nothing concrete to state at this point, but the meeting was quite positive. . . This was a meeting between the three equal sides which have interests and benefits in the region" Referring to the enlargement of the EU and NATO, Oskanian said, "We need to shape a new strategic vision for the Caucasus so that we can keep pace with the developments around us." Emphasizing that both NATO and the EU were anxious to stabilize the conflict-torn Caucasian region, Gul told reporters after the meeting that they had discussed "ways and means of cooperating to achieve stability through constructive means." He said he and his counterparts had agreed to hold further trilateral meetings later in the year. Mamedyarov added: "We will try to do our best to bring peace and stability to the region." Armenia and Azerbaijan are divided by a long-standing dispute Mountainous Karabagh. A close ally of Azerbaijan, Turkey has declined to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia and remains bitter at Yerevan's efforts to secure international recognition of the Armenian genocide by Ottoman Turkey. Ankara is under pressure by the EU (which it seeks to join) to re-open its border with Armenia, which it closed in 1993 in a show of solidarity with Baku. Oskanian told reporters he had discussed the issue with Gul in a bilateral meeting earlier in the day, but it would be premature to expect an immediate re-opening of the border. Oskanian used his participation in the NATO summit, marred by violent clashes between Turkish police and left-wing protesters, to meet with Patriarch Mesrob Mutafian, the spiritual leader of Turkey's small Armenian community. He also delivered a speech to a group of Istanbul Armenians. 3- Congress Best Bet for US Recognition of Genocide YEREVAN (YERKIR)As Turkey remains a key ally of the United States and is a member of NATO, the US administration's position on the Genocide issue is not likely to change, Armenia's ambassador to the US Arman Kirakossian, told Armenpress, responding to whether the US would change its policy [on Armenian genocide recognition] if Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry were to win the November election. Ambassador Kirakossian noted that both former president Bill Clinton and the incumbent George W. Bush promised to recognize the Armenian genocide but did not stick to their promises. "A shift in this policy can be expected only by working with US Congress," Kirakossian noted. 4- Chirac Slams Bush for Interfering in Turkey's EU Bid (AFP)--French President Jacques Chirac bluntly criticized George W. Bush on Monday for supporting Turkey's bid to join the European Union, saying the US President had "gone too far". On Sunday, Bush publicly endorsed Turkey's bid, telling Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara: "I will remind the people of this good country that you ought to be given a date by the EU for your eventual acceptance into the EU." Chirac told a news conference on the sidelines on the NATO summit here: "Not only did he go too far, he ventured into territory which is not his concern." The French president, who is among the EU leaders most firmly opposed to Turkish membership of the EU, added: "It would be like me telling the United States how to run its affairs with Mexico." 5- Armenia Marks Tenth Anniversary of Military Academy YEREVAN (NoyanTapan)--During a June 27 ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of Armenia's Vazgen Sargisian Military Institute, 270 graduates received their diplomas and military shoulder-straps in the presence of President Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Antranig Margarian, Defense Minister Serge Sargisian, parliamentarians, government officials and high-ranking military personnel. The prime minister said that the institute, established during arduous times for the newly independent Armenia, has succeeded in preparing experienced and skilled military personnel. "If Azerbaijan had the slightest doubt about the Armenian Army's military power, they would have surely restarted the war by now," said the Defense Ministry's Chief of Staff and Defense Minister Colonel General Mikhael Harutyunian. 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) 2004 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.