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TOP STORIES
12/22/2004
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1) Dutch Parliament Adopts Motion on Armenian Genocide
2) Azeri Press Responds to New ‘US-Drawn Map’ Labeling Karabagh as ‘Arguable
Territory’
3) Armenian Foreign Minister Sums up Progress on Karabagh
4) Ceremony Marks Opening of Aerial Tramway at Tsakhkadzor Resort
5) Melkonian Students Excel in Exams, Defying Closure Threat

1) Dutch Parliament Adopts Motion on Armenian Genocide

THE HAGUE (FAON)–The Dutch Parliament on Wednesday unanimously adopted a
motion on recognition of the Armenian genocide, reported the Federation of the
Armenian Organizations in the Netherlands.
Introduced by the Chairman of Christian Union faction André Rouvoet, the
motion specifically directs Dutch government officials “to bring up
recognition
of the Armenian Genocide continuously and expressly in [their] dialogue with
Turkey.” The motion was backed by all political parties in the Parliament.
It was introduced during a debate on the outcome of last Friday’s summit of
European leaders who decided to begin EU accession talks with Turkey. In that
debate, nearly all Dutch political factions addressed the absence of the
Armenian genocide issue in the EU’s Presidency Conclusions. The Dutch,
ironically, currently hold the EU Presidency.
Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot, nevertheless, assured the Parliament that the
Armenian question has always been brought up in meetings with Turkish
colleagues.
The Armenian community of The Netherlands has consistently pushed the Dutch
Parliament and government to recognize the Armenian genocide–especially in
the
run-up to and during the Dutch presidency of the EU.

2) Azeri Press Responds to New ‘US-Drawn Map’ Labeling Karabagh as ‘Arguable
Territory’

(Azg)–A new US-drawn map, which reportedly labels Karabagh as “arguable
territory,” has caused a stir in two Baku newspapers who responded to the
issue
in their latest editions.
In an article titled “Azerbaijan without Karabagh?” Zerkalo claims that the
map was drawn by the ‘US National Geographic Center.’ Other states which also
bear the label “arguable territory,” according to the paper, are the West bank
of the Jordan River, Northern Cyprus, Abkhazia, and Southern Ossetia.
Zerkalo also reports that Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has urged its embassy
in Washington to inquire about the motivation behind not labeling Karabagh as
an Azeri region.
Another Baku newspaper, Yeni Zaman, alleges that after Armenia, Karabagh is
second in line receiving direct aid from the US. According to the paper,
American annual aid to Karabagh will amount to $3 million by 2005.
The paper also refers to a 1970s CIA top-secret document which “considered
Karabagh a historic Armenian territory, and highlights the fact that “Karabagh
was a semi-independent unit for centuries and was ruled by Armenian rulers
even
in times when other Armenian regions were under Turkish and Persian yoke.”

3) Armenian Foreign Minister Sums up Progress on Karabagh

YEREVAN (A1+, RFE/RL)–Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian on Wednesday
summed up 2004, saying that Armenia had both sudden surges as well as
falls–achievements along with failures.
Speaking about negotiations on the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, he stressed
the importance of maintaining political stability in Armenia in order to
advance that process.
Convinced that certain progress has been registered during negotiations, he
said, “Today, we are at more advantageous position than were in 1997,” but
cautioned that the success of those negotiations is not a forgone conclusion.
“What we are trying to do today, and I see the possibilities of that, is to
get the international community to recognize the Mountainous Karabagh people’s
right to self-determination with an agreement resolving the problem,” he
told a
news conference on Wednesday. “The implementation of that self-determination
may not necessarily be immediate.”
The Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers are expected to resume their
face-to-face meetings in the Czech capital next month.

4) Ceremony Marks Opening of Aerial Tramway at Tsakhkadzor Resort

TSAKHKADZOR (President.am)–President Robert Kocharian participated in the
opening ceremony of the newly renovated aerial tramway at the Tsakhkadzor
resort.
Kocharian hailed the completion, adding that the last section of the tramway
would be ready by next year, meeting all international standards. “The new
aerial tramway is built on a higher level than Tsakhkadzor’s entire
infrastructure. We should encourage businesses and investors to build new
hotels here, introduce services and leisure places to make Tsakhkadzor a true
tourist attraction. Only in that case can we claim that we reached our goal,”
Kocharian stressed.
The 2500 meters long aerial tramway has been renovated by a prominent Swiss
company specializing in assembling aerial tramways and other construction
works. The Tsakhkadzor resort is on the eastern slope of Mount Teghenis and is
famous for its numerous lodges and sport facilities.

5) Melkonian Students Excel in Exams, Defying Closure Threat

NICOSIA (Financial Mirror)–Two Melkonian students were among the 135
recipients of the High Achiever awards given out to students who gained top
international marks at an award ceremony in Nicosia last week.
Together with their schoolmates, they overcame the troubles caused by the New
York based administrators’ announcement on March 16 to shut down the school
and
continued with their external examinations.
Hovhannes Atabekyan, a 2004 graduate of the school, was one of only ten
students in Cyprus to gain straight A’s in five Advanced Level subjects, while
only three other Cypriots gained six A’s. Elizabeth Torossian notched up the
highest Ordinary Level international subject mark in Armenian, an award
achieved in only ten other subjects worldwide.
“These outstanding results cast a shadow over the true intentions of the
school’s administrators to shut down the Melkonian and sell off the land,” the
Melkonian Alumni Association of Cyprus said in an announcement.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IFEX MEMBERS HIGHLIGHT FREE EXPRESSION CONCERNS AMIDST EU TALKS

IFEX, Canada
Dec 22 2004

As Turkey took one step closer toward membership in the European
Union (EU) with the agreement last week to begin formal accession
talks, IFEX members focused attention on the need to continue
pressing the Turkish government on its free expression record.

The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN and the
International Publishers Association (IPA) released a set of
recommendations for bringing Turkey’s new Penal Code in line with
European free expression standards.

The groups say the Code, adopted on 27 September 2004, contains
several provisions that discourage debate on sensitive topics,
including Cyprus and the Armenian genocide. They say the EU must
“take action now to eliminate all remaining obstacles to freedom of
expression under Turkish law.”

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) is also
calling for the new Penal Code to be amended. Under Article 305 of
the Code, opinions and statements about Cyprus or Armenia could be
considered “threats against fundamental national interests,” a
provision the European Parliament has said is incompatible with the
1950 Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms. The Code also contains a provision (Article 127) under
which the crime of insult can be punishable by up to three years in
prison.

RSF says that while Turkey has made genuine progress in reforming its
laws, the climate continues to remain harsh for journalists who are
outspoken. Turkish courts impose prison sentences and exorbitant
fines that encourage self-censorship, while
television and radio stations remain subject to “brazen censorship,”
the organisation notes.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), a regional affiliate of
the International Federation of Journalists, has expressed concerns
that journalists in Turkey do not enjoy the right to collectively
organise within unions. The group warns that a proposed Trade Unions
Law could “deprive journalists of their right to organise
independently in defence of their specific rights.”

Despite these concerns, Human Rights Watch says the EU accession
process has helped bring about significant human rights improvements
in Turkey and strengthened the efforts of reform advocates. The EU’s
decision to start formal accession talks with
Turkey follows an October 2004 evaluation by the European Commission,
which concluded that “Turkey sufficiently fulfils the political
criteria” to begin negotiations.

–Boundary_(ID_n9dV75fuVGb372nIeZUf/w)–

APARTMENTS FOR REFUGEES

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
21 Dec 04

The head of the Agency for Migration, Refugees and Re-settlement under
the NKR government Serge Amirkhanian informed that the 2005 budget
of this sphere was doubled against 2004. This increase is determined
by the fact that the social and housing problems of the refugees
are expected to be solved soon. Next year it is planed to build 40
apartments for refugees of which 30 in Stepanakert. Besides building of
houses the budget also provides for repairs of houses in the villages
resettled since 1994, which need repair and modern conveniences.
According to Serge Amirkhanian, in the coming year 40 houses will be
repaired in four settlements in the republic, and by repairing 30-40
houses a year the problem will be settled in 3-4 years. HOMES FOR
PARENTLESS CHILDREN. According to the NKR minister of social security
Lenston Ghulian, the budget of the social sector for the year of 2005
increased by 316 million drams, which will enable carrying on with the
programs and launching new ones. The new program will involve building
of apartments for parentless children. Next year 7 apartments will
be built for parentless children who are already 18 years old. The
apartments will be built in the places of their residence.

AA.
21-12-2004

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iranian gas pipeline to ensure diverse energy sources for Armenia – minister

Mediamax news agency
22 Dec 04

Yerevan, 22 December: The possible transit of gas by the Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline is “an issue of the future”, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan said in Yerevan today.

Oskanyan told a press conference at the National Press Club that the
main goal in the construction of the gas pipeline is to have diverse
energy sources for Armenia.

Asked if Russia could interfere in this issue, Oskanyan said “Armenia
is always taking into account the interests of the neighbouring
countries, but is acting, first of all, in line with its own
interests”.

Commenting on a project to construct a railway between Iran and
Armenia, Oskanyan said the project requires large funds. However,
he said as the trade between Armenia and Iran is growing day by day,
there is a need for a railway between the two countries.

“This issue needs to be discussed and analysed seriously,” Oskanyan
said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EurasiaNet Organization
Dec 22 2004

PIPELINE PERKS FOR RUSSIA IN ARMENIA-IRAN ENERGY DEAL
Samvel Martirosyan 12/21/04

Iran has moved closer to gaining a strategic foothold in Caucasian
energy markets with the start of work on a gas pipeline to Armenia
that has been heralded by Yerevan as bringing “definite changes in
the region.” The project has the potential to undercut Russia’s
control of Armenia’s energy supply, yet two new gas projects could
act as potential deal sweeteners for this longtime Armenian ally.
Plans were recently announced for an increase in Armenian orders for
Russian gas and a possible role in the Iranian pipeline project for
Russian energy giant Gazprom.

Construction on Armenia’s section of the 142-kilometer gas pipeline
began on November 30, with $30 million in costs for the 42-kilometer
strip from the Armenian border town of Agarak to Kajaran, south of
Yerevan, picked up by the Iranian Export and Development Bank. Upon
completion in late 2006, the pipeline will supply the tiny South
Caucasus state with 36 billion cubic meters of Iranian gas over the
next 20 years. Gas from Turkmenistan is also scheduled to be
delivered to Armenia via the pipeline.

At an official ceremony to mark the project’s debut, Armenian Deputy
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated that the pipeline, in the
works since 1992, would bring economic benefits to Armenia as well as
foster regional stability. “This project has been implemented
throughout Armenia’s political and economic sufferings,” Armenian
media reported Margarian as saying. “In Armenia’s years of hardship,
Iran has stretched out its hand to help us.”

Expanding Armenia’s energy sources is a critical goal for the
administration of President Robert Kocharian – for both economic and
political reasons. Chronic energy shortages contributed to much of
the country’s economic decline after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, and Armenia’s economic woes continue to attract the criticism
of the country’s opposition. Speaking to reporters about Armenia’s
energy deal with Iran, Kocharian commented during a December 2 visit
by Iranian Energy Minister Habibollah Bitaraf that “[w]e are ready to
do everything possible to support the current level of cooperation,”
according to the Russian news agency Interfax.

In exchange for the gas, Armenia will eventually deliver up to 1,000
megawatts of electricity to Iran with the construction of two
high-voltage power lines between the countries. Additional
electricity projects are also in the works. In 2005 or 2006 Armenia
hopes to start construction on two hydropower plants on the banks of
the Arax River between Armenia and Iran, according to Margarian.

Oil could reinforce Tehran’s ties with Yerevan still further. At a
December 4 meeting between Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian
and Iran’s Armenian Ambassador Alirza Hagigian, plans were discussed
for construction of a 60-kilometer oil pipeline from the Iranian town
of Julfa to the Armenian border town of Meghri.

Geopolitics, though, rather than the attractions of the Armenian
energy market, appears to drive much of Iran’s push for partnership.
With American troops stationed in neighboring Afghanistan and Iraq
and Iran’s nuclear energy program under intense international
scrutiny, the country’s ruling clerics have taken steps to assure the
outside world that the Islamic Republic is a force for stability in
the region. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami’s September 2004 visit
to Armenia, a close US ally, reinforced that campaign with a “good
neighbor” message that “Iran is interested in peace and stability in
the South Caucasus.”

But in drawing closer to Iran, Yerevan has risked alienating another
longtime ally – Russia. Though Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris
Alyoshin assured reporters in Yerevan earlier this year that the
pipeline deal with Iran would only provide additional business for
Russian-operated electricity stations in Armenia, the deal has been
scrutinized with some trepidation. The Russian company United Energy
Systems controls 40 percent of Armenia’s electricity generation
facilities, while heavy hitters Gazprom and Itera control 55 percent
of ArmRogazprom, currently Armenia’s sole natural gas supplier.

When the Iranian pipeline is complete, however, Armenia will no
longer need to depend solely on Russia for its natural gas needs. In
Yerevan, Kremlin concerns about the prospect of Armenia providing a
conduit for Iranian gas to Europe, a key Russian market, are widely
believed to have resulted in a reduction of the pipeline’s size to a
width too narrow for exports.

Yet Russian energy companies have not been idle in defending their
interests. The Russian news agency Interfax reported an unidentified
Armenian government source as saying on December 8 that Gazprom may
be invited to build and repair one part of the Armenian-Iranian gas
pipeline, between Kadjaran and Ararat, at a cost of $90 million. As
payment for its work, Gazprom would receive the No. 5 generating unit
at the Razdan power plant, Armenia’s largest heating and power plant,
which supplies 20 percent of the country’s electricity needs.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian had earlier dismissed reports of
such a deal.

Still other sweeteners are in the works. On December 11, ArmRogazprom
CEO and General Director Karen Karapetyan announced plans to increase
gas supplies to Armenia by roughly 31 percent during 2005 to some
1.6-1.7 billion cubic meters. A $27 million expansion of Armenia’s
gas pipeline from Russia is planned to handle the increased flow. “I
am convinced that the problem of Armenia’s energy security will be
solved soon,” the Russian news agency Novosti reported Karapetyan as
saying, “given the forthcoming opening of the alternative
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.”

For now, the government line out of Yerevan is that what benefits
Iran benefits Russia. At a May 13-15 summit in Moscow with Russian
President Vladimir Putin, Kocharian took pains to stress that the
pipeline deal with Iran would not damage Russia’s own energy
interests in Armenia or result in a fall-off in Armenian orders for
Russian gas. Gazprom, Itera and United Energy Systems will all
collect “major dividends from the deal,” Kocharian said, Novosti
reported. “They will benefit, too.”

Editor’s Note: Samvel Martirosyan is a Yerevan-based journalist and
political analyst.

–Boundary_(ID_cQP908hUWPxwrGDaNtBp2g)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
December 22, 2004

Junior Achievement of Armenia
1102 North Brand Blvd. #61
Glendale, CA 91202
Contact: Beth Broussalian Tel/Fax: 858-792-4656
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Ani Darakdjian Named US Director of JAA;
JAA Programs Now Reach 170,000 Youth Annually

Los Angeles, CA – The Board of Directors of Junior Achievement
of Armenia (JAA) has named Ani Darakdjian its US Director, a new
full-time post based in Los Angeles, California.

“The appointment of Ani Darakdjian as US Director marks a significant
development in the history of our organization,” commented Armine
Hovannisian, JAA’s Executive Director. “She is the perfect addition to
the JAA family and comes on board at a time when our growth presents
new and exciting challenges.”

Ms. Darakdjian’s responsibilities cover the entire spectrum of JAA’s
stateside operation, including financial management, collaborating
with JAA’s Armenia-based staff to coordinate and manage all programs
and activities, and actively pursuing new sources of funding for
the organization.

“The establishment of a US Director position is a testament to JAA’s
continued commitment to achieving excellence both in programming
and in organizational operations,” said Jack Berberian, President
of the JAA Board of Directors. “Our program in Armenia is one of
the largest Junior Achievement affiliates in the world, with awards
ranging from innovation to quality. As we reach for the next level, we
are ensuring that Armenia’s youth has every opportunity to receive the
best education possible, to enjoy engaging extracurricular activities,
and to participate in global activities through the programs of Junior
Achievement Worldwide.”

Ms. Darakdjian comes to JAA after an exhaustive nationwide search that
produced many impressive candidates. Her resume stood out among the
dozens received because of her exceptional professional and academic
accomplishments. Her career spans corporate consulting, business
development and international affairs, including experience both in
the US and Europe in economic development and international trade.
She holds an MBA in Finance and Management as well as a Master of
International Affairs, both from Columbia University.

“It’s a privilege to contribute to Armenia’s economic and political
development in this capacity,” said Ms. Darakdjian. “The work of this
organization – instilling in Armenia’s youth the values and principles
of democracy, social responsibility and ethical free enterprise –
is essential to building a strong foundation for the country’s future.”

The hiring of Ms. Darakdjian comes amidst the expansion of JAA’s
vital and much-lauded work in Armenia, which today reaches 170,000
annually through both its economics and civics courses.

In 2005, JAA will sustain and expand its economics courses (currently
in 500 high schools), launch the expansion of civics education and
instruction in Armenia’s Pedagogical Institutes, train future civics
instructors, and continue to offer quality extracurricular activities
that enhance both economics and civics education.

The future of the civics program is secure. JAA has successfully
rolled out its civics program to all of the country’s high schools.
With the conclusion of its current USAID grant in 2005, the Armenian
Ministry of Education and Science will assume the administrative and
financial responsibilities of the program in the 8th, 9th and 10th
grades. JAA will continue to play a critical role in civics education
by providing advanced teacher training, innovative extracurricular
programs, increased access to the Internet, international competitions,
and supplemental civics materials.

To support both economics and civics programs, JAA must actively seek
public and private funding to expand the program.

With JAA’s proven track record, the organization has recently been
selected to partner with the Academy for Educational Development
(AED), one of the world’s foremost organizations dedicated to improving
education, leadership capabilities and economic opportunities around
the world. The goal of this new collaboration is to develop young
leaders as catalysts for change.

Junior Achievement of Armenia was established in 1992 to assist
Armenia’s transition to democratic governance and a free-market
economy. JAA’s mission is to give today’s Armenian youth the necessary
skills and knowledge to compete and succeed in tomorrow’s world.
The mission is accomplished through economics and civics education.
Today, this award-winning program reaches more than 170,000 students in
all 1400 of Armenia’s high schools. By 2005, nearly 20% of the total
population will have taken a course taught by a JAA-trained teacher.
For additional information, please call (818) 753-4997 or visit JAA’s
website at

###

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN FM: STATEMENT BY AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT CONCERNING “OUTPOST” EVIDENCE
OF POOR EXPERIENCE

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21. ARMINFO. The statement by Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev that Armenia is allegedly an “outpost” of Russia
is an evidence of poor political experience of the Azerbaijani
administration, said Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan in
his interview with Armenia TV channel, Tuesday.

In his words, Armenia is a sovereign independent state having fraternal
and partner ties with other states. The minister notes that no one
can dictate anything to Armenia either today or in future. Armenia
is practically the only state in the region to wage an independent
policy, as it wages a complementary policy, and speculations on this
issue “hint me at the approach to this issue in Azerbaijan,” Vardan
Oskanyan states.

It should be noted that earlier, commenting on the statement by
RF Speaker Boris Gryzlkov in Yerevan that Armenia was an outpost
of Russia, Azerbaijani President stated that he though “Armenia an
independent state, while it proved to be an outpost.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

JAN 10 ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN-GEORGIA MEETING TO DISCUSS KAVKAZ-POTI TRAIN FERRY ISSUES

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21. ARMINFO. An Armenian-Russian-Georgian meeting
will be held Jan 10 2005 to discuss the details of the contract to
exploit the Kavkaz-Poti train ferry which will directly connect the
Russian and Georgian railroads, says the spokesperson of Armenia’s
Transport and Communication Ministry Tamara Galechyan.

The sides will specify the schedule and scheme of the ferry
exploitation. The formerly announced date of the ferry operation,
Jan 5, is not true, says Galechyan.

Now the railroad operations Armenia-Georgia-Russia are carried out via
Ukraine who charges 40% of the transportation costs. The Port Kavkaz
train ferry was launched in May 2004 and can carry 500,000 tons of
cargo a year. But it has one serious problem – it can receive only
small ships because of its shallow coast.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

2005 NKR STATE BUDGET REALISTIC AND GROUNDED

STEPANAKERT, December 20 (Noyan Tapan). The preliminary discussions
of NKR state budget in NKR NA standing commissions finished. Major
Danielian, Chairman of the NKR NA standing commission on management
of financial-budget and economic issues, said in his interview to
Noyan Tapan that the draft budget is perfect in terms of structure and
unprecedented in terms of volume (22b drams, about m). He especially
emphasized the fact that the new budget envisages allocation of
unprecedented sums for solution of territorial development issues. In
particular, 350m drams will be allocated for finishing the program of
gasification. M. Danielian said that capital investments in the amount
of 500-600m drams were made in Stepanakert in the previous years while
a state order of capital construction in the amount of 1b, 57m drams
is envisaged in 2005. According to the MP, it’s the first time that a
complete package of capital investments is represented. The package is
divided according to the regions, spheres, constructions and entities
of republican importance. The budget envisages to allocate 800m drams
for the program of assistance to small and medium business.

According to M. Danielian, the dynamics of budget execution, as well as
the economic growth of the country during the previous 2 years permit
to register that the 2005 NKR state budget is realistic and grounded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BONINO: TURCHIA, PAURE INFONDATE E’ UNA GRANDE OCCASIONE ;
INTERVISTA ALLA STAMPA

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
December 20, 2004

ROMA

(ANSA) – ROMA, 20 DIC – “Io dico che e’ interesse
dell’Europa che la Turchia entri nell’Unione”, sostiene
nell’intervista rilasciata alla STAMPA Emma Bonino,
europarlamentare radicale ed ex commissaria europea.

“Cosi’ come non si sono volute dire parole chiare
sull’immigrazione, nessun leader politico italiano spiega cos’e
in ballo per l’Europa con l’allargamento alla Turchia. Perche
si tratta di temi a rischio elettorale. Ma cosi’, vince sempre
chi fa leva sulla paura. Basti vedere come si e’ comportato a
Bruxelles un pezzo della Margherita, votando gli emendamenti a
favore di una partnership speciale con Ankara”.

“In Turchia gira una barzelletta. Per entrare in Europa, si
deve superare un test: alla Romania chiedono qual e’ la capitale
della Francia, all’Ungheria se la Gran Bretagna sia un’isola.
Alla Turchia, di elencare tutti i morti di Hiroshima. (…)
L’identita’ europea – argomenta Emma Bonino – non sta nelle sue
radici. E’ piuttosto memoria di quello che siamo stati, e la
nostra e’ una memoria di guerre terribili, di crociate e
inquisizione, e assieme quello che siamo divenuti. L’identita
europea, oggi, e’ nelle istituzioni, nello stato di diritto,
nelle pre-condizioni dello sviluppo e del benessere. L’Europa
oggi e’ soluzione dei conflitti, come per i padri fondatori e
stata superamento dei nazionalismi. E’ evidente che anche la
Turchia dovra’ fare i conti con la sua storia, col genocidio
degli armeni: hanno gia’ cominciato, aprendo i loro archivi
storici. E gli armeni che vivono in Turchia, oltre quelli della
diaspora, dicono che il loro futuro e’ in Europa”.

“Oggi viviamo in un mondo che non e’ piu’ quello in cui
l’Unione europea e’ nata. E mentre cerchiamo di governare le
sfide attuali, e’ nel nostro interesse che la Turchia sia nel
mondo occidentale. Perche oggi il grande scontro non e’ piu
tra democrazia e comunismo, ma tra democrazia e regimi
oscurantisti, totalitari, fanatici. Molti sono proprio in Medio
Oriente. Poi abbiamo anche capito, oggi, che il terrorismo, il
fondamentalismo, le dittature teocratiche non si sconfiggono
solo con le armi, ma anche con l’isolamento politico. E dunque
sostenendo la democrazia ovunque si manifesta. La Turchia e
gia’ parte della Nato, del Consiglio d’Europa, dell’Osce.
Dobbiamo lavorare perche sia parte dell’Unione europea: e’ solo
un Paese musulmano membro a pieno titolo che puo’ aiutare
l’Europa ad avere un dialogo piu’ rigoroso, serio e fruttuoso”.

“Bossi dice che (tra dieci anni) ci saranno ottanta milioni
di turchi che vorranno tutti venire in Italia. Beh, io credo che
se l’economia turca continua a tirare come tira, sara’ piuttosto
vero l’opposto. Questo allargamento non sara’ come gli altri,
per dirla con le parole di Buttiglione sulla Stampa di ieri, ma
gli argomenti sono proprio gli stessi che si usarono quando si
tratto’ di aprire alla Spagna. Le risulta che siamo stati invasi
dagli immigrati spagnoli?”, conclude Emma Bonino. (ANSA).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress