Author: Antonian Lara

Turkish Press
May 7 2005
Press Scan
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
—————–
MEETING PLAN WITH KOCHARIAN
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President Robert
Kocharian who have been exchanging letters may meet during Council
of Europe Summit in Warsaw. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
also confirmed such a meeting. He said, “they can meet but there is
no scheduled meeting.”

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATION ON VICTORY DAY
Pan Armenian News
07.05.2005 06:25
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian today addressed
the Armenian people a congratulation message on the Victory Day in the
Great Patriotic War. The message specifically notes, Dear Compatriots,
I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the Victory and Peace Day. We
mark a glorious jubilee – the 60-th anniversary of the Victory in the
Great Patriotic War. This victory and peace conditioned the further
development of Armenia. In the ranks of the Soviet Army Armenians
were an exclusive example of self-sacrifice and courage. Armenians
have made a large contribution within the armies of the allies,
the guerilla bands and resistance movement, and in the rear. With
special cordiality I congratulate veterans who passed the ordeal with
dignity and defended the country from fascism. In 1992 a new victory
joined the historical May victories – the liberation of Shushi town.
In the war imposed on us we again proved that we are always ready to
protect our people’s right for peaceful life. Again congratulating all
of us on the great date I wish peace. Our devotion to the fatherland
should be displayed in the raising of the new generation and the
building of a new state.

REPRESENTATIVES OF AZERBAIJANI DIASPORA OF HUNGARY INTEND TO START
LOBBYING “INNOCENCE” OF THEIR COMPATRIOT RAMIL SAFAROV
YEREVAN, MAY 4. ARMINFO. Representatives of the Azerbaijani Diaspora of
Hungary intend to start lobbying the “innocence” of their compatriot
Ramil Safarov in connection with resumption of the trial at the
Court of Budapest fixed on May 10, wherein Safarov operates in
rather unsightly situation. To note Safarov is known to have killed
his Armenian colleague Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest on Feb 19 2004.
Safarov is charged with the Article No. 166.2 of the Hungarian CC
(first-degree murder and attempt on more than 1 person). Safarov is
facing 10-15 or even life in prison.
Acording to the Azerbaijani newspaper Echo, the Azerbaijani party has
addressed numerous messages to the editorial officers of Hungarian
newspaper “explaining” the act of the killer. There were even attempts
to carry out some work at judicial instances and relevant structures
of judicial proceedings in Hungary. At the forthcoming trial, the
results of the judicial and medical examination of Ramil Safarov
will be announced. Although the first examination proved Safarov
responsible, the Azerbaijani party insisted on a repeated examination.
As it was report earlier, chairing the trial will be the judge
Andrash Vaskuti, the state prosecutor Margarite Chohayn will support
the prosecution. The previous trials were on Nov 23 2004 and Feb
8 2005. At the request of the Azerbaijani party, Representative of
Hungarian Ombudsman will attend the trial as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Schroeder urges Turkey to press forward with reforms demanded by EU
By JAMES C. HELICKE
AP Worldstream
May 04, 2005
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Wednesday urged Turkey to push
ahead with reforms demanded by the European Union amid concerns about
the country’s progress in meeting the bloc’s membership requirements.
The German leader also said the EU must do its part and emphasized
that momentum for Turkey’s EU accession shouldn’t depend on “changing
opinion polls.”
EU officials have recently expressed concern that Turkish reform
efforts slowed after the bloc agreed in December to start membership
talks with Turkey on October.
Schroeder, one of Turkey’s staunchest allies in the EU, urged Turkey to
take steps required before the talks can begin _ including recognizing
Cyprus’ Greek Cypriot-led government. Still, he expressed confidence
the accession talks would proceed as scheduled.
“What’s important is that the prime minister’s government make clear
that ‘We are not hesitating’ and that ‘We will continue decisively
on this path,” Schroeder said at a news conference in Ankara with
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Schroeder added that the EU must also do its part, by guaranteeing the
“punctual” beginning of talks on Oct. 3.
For the talks to begin, “a few things are necessary. The reforms must
be realized, the Ankara protocol must be signed,” he said. “I have
good hope it will work out.”
The protocol expands a customs agreement with the EU to the group’s
10 new members, including Cyprus _ a move the EU says would amount
to de facto recognition.
Schroeder said it was important for the bloc to start talks with
Turkey, saying the accession carried “strategic” significance.
The United States has also long backed Turkish accession saying that
admitting the overwhelmingly Muslim, but staunchly secular state
would promote stability in the region and serve as a symbol to many
Muslims that their future was with the West.
Many Europeans, however, have expressed concerned about admitting
the relatively poor, mainly Muslim country, saying the Muslim country
isn’t European and its accession could overwhelm the bloc.
“One cannot make such an important, strategic decision of such
immense historical meaning dependent on changing opinion polls,”
Schroeder said.
Erdogan said the two leaders also discussed Cyprus, the Middle East,
and Turkish concerns about a German opposition push for Turkey to
examine its role in the massacre of Armenians at the time of World
War I.
Schroeder praised recent calls by Erdogan to establish a joint
Turkish-Armenian commission to study the killings, considered a
genocide by Armenians. He said he hoped the Armenian government would
recognize the “sensibility of the proposal.” Turkey denies a genocide
was committed and says Armenians exaggerate the number of those killed.
Erdogan later met with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Schroeder was later expected in Istanbul, where he was scheduled to
meet with the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox
Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

AMSHEN ARMENIAN ORGANIZATION CONCERNED OVER FATE OF KHEMSHINS OF KRASNODAR REGION
Pan Armenian News
04.05.2005 04:14
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Amshen Armenian friendly association is deeply
concerned over the fate of Khemshins (Armenians whose ancestors
were converted to Islam), Yerkramas, newspaper of Armenians of
Russia reports. According to chairman of the public organization
Ivan Krbashian, the Khemshins were for the fourth time refused in
registration. In Ivan Krbashian’s opinion, the main reason for the
rejection is the religious affiliation of Khemshins. With activities
of the kind the representatives of the Chief Department of the Federal
Registration Service on the Krasnodar region cause the appearance
of one more nation leaving Russia as political refugees. It is not
a secret that the International Migration Organizations engaged in
resettlement of Turks-Meskhetians from the Kransodar region to the
US are preparing analogous projects on migration of Kurds-Kurmanjis
and Khemshins. To note, after forced islamization of the Armenian
population of Amshen in Western Armenia (now territory of Turkey)
in the middle of the 17-th century an ethnic group of people, who
came to call themselves as Khemshins, appeared. Presently about 1000
reside in the Krasnodar region of Russia. The problem of determination
of the ethnic affiliation of the Khemshins is mostly connected
with their domicile. The Khemshins of Turkey realize the ethnic and
language difference from Turks, however the Turkish policy suppresses
their aspiration for the formation of ethnic self-consciousness.
Khemshins of Russia comprehend their kinship with Armenians.

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Servizio di base in Italiano
Mag 2, 2005
RIEPILOGO / Svizzera-Turchia: nuova tensione per inchiesta contro
storico negazionista genocidio armeno
ISTANBUL, 2 mag
Un’inchiesta preliminare avviata dalla magistratura di Winterthur
contro lo storico turco Yusuf Halacoglu per presunta negazione del
genocidio armeno ha creato irritazione ad Ankara e nuova tensione
nei rapporti con Berna. Il ministero degli esteri turco ha convocato
l’ambasciatore svizzero, mentre l’ambasciatore turco a Berna ha
protestato presso il Consiglio federale. Le assicurazioni elvetiche
sembrano aver calmato le acque.
Andrej Gnehm, il procuratore di Winterthur responsabile del caso, ha
detto all’ats di aver avviato l’indagine in seguito a una relazione
tenuta da Halacoglu il 2 maggio 2004 nella vecchia caserma cittadina
davanti a un’associazione turca. Gnehm ha aggiunto che disconoscere,
minimizzare o giustificare un genocidio e’ un reato perseguibile
d’ufficio, ragione per cui ha dovuto promuovere un’indagine. Dopo
aver chiesto informazioni su Halacoglu, Gnehm vorrebbe interrogarlo,
direttamente o per iscritto, in modo che possa prendere posizione.
Solo in seguito decidera’ se formalizzare il procediemento per
discriminazione razziale (articolo 261 bis del codice penale) o
archiviare il caso.
Il ministro degli esteri turco Abdullah Guel, come pure storici
e personalita’ di spicco della comunita’ armena in Turchia, hanno
manifestato via stampa la loro disapprovazione. “Protestiamo”, “(le
autorita’ elvetiche) stanno facendo un grave errore”, ha detto il
ministro degli esteri turco Abdullah Guel al quotidiano “Huerriyet”,
accusando la Svizzera di violare, con questo mancato rispetto dalla
liberta’ di opinione, i valori fondamentali europei.
Anche il noto giornalista turco-armeno Hrant Dink ha deplorato
l’azione giudiziaria elvetica. Lo stesso hanno fatto altri giornalisti
e storici che si sono occupati dei massacri commessi dai turchi contro
gli armeni durante la Prima guerra mondiale.
Interpellata dall’ats, l’ambasciata svizzera ad Ankara ha smentito
le notizie apparse sulla stampa turca secondo cui la magistratura
elvetica avrebbe spiccato un mandato di cattura internazionale contro
Halacoglu. Secondo la missione diplomatica, la procura di Winterthur
ha semplicemente chiesto via Interpol maggiori informazioni sullo
storico, uno dei piu’ noti sostenitori delle tesi turche sui massacri
del 1915, per i quali Ankara rifiuta la qualifica di “genocidio”.
L’informazione e’ stata confermata a Berna da Folco Galli, portavoce
dell’Ufficio federale di giustizia.
A sua volta interpellato, il ministero degli esteri turco ha indicato
di aver convocato gia’ la settimana scorsa l’ambasciatore elvetico
Walter Gyger mentre l’omologo turco e’ intervenuto a Berna presso il
governo svizzero. Le autorita’ elvetiche si sono mostrate pienamente
disposte a cooperare, ha detto un portavoce del ministero ad Ankara.
Il governo turco – ha aggiunto il portavoce – si e’ tranquillizzato
dopo le spiegazioni svizzere sulla semplice inchiesta preliminare e
sull’assenza di un mandato di cattura internazionale contro Halacoglu,
di modo che lo studioso, presidente della Societa’ turca di storia,
rimane libero di viaggiare all’estero. Sugli sviluppi del caso e per
“risolvere il problema” e’ stata decisa una stretta cooperazione tra
i due paesi, ha aggiunto il portavoce.
Halacoglu e’ uno dei piu’ illustri difensori delle tesi turche sui
fatti del 1915. A lui ha fatto capo il governo di Ankara recentemente
in un dibattito parlamentare sulla questione. Secondo lo storico non
c’e’ stato genocidio degli armeni, ma soltanto deportazioni, che a
loro volta sono state una reazione delle autorita’ alla ribellione
di questo popolo durante la Prima guerra mondiale. Causa principale
di morte fra gli armeni, a suo avviso, sarebbe stata la precaria
situazione dei rifornimenti durante il conflitto. Lo storico sostiene
d’altro canto che ci furono anche molti musulmani uccisi da armeni
(di religione cristiana).

Azerbaijan News Service
April 29, 2005
ANOTHER SESSION OF PARLIAMENT HELD
2005-04-29 19:00
Record volume of oil will be produced in Azerbaijan in 2005, as Natig
Aliyev, president of State Oil Company, told during discussions held
in Milli Majlis. Natig Aliyev, president of State Oil Company: More
than 20 million ton oil will be produced in Azerbaijan this year,
which is a record. Natig Aliyev also stressed willingness of foreign
investors to make joint investments in carbon-hydrogen fields of
Azerbaijan. Parliament members drew attention to other problem. For
instance, lack of law on oil in legislation of Azerbaijan up to date,
lack of information about origin of foreign companies involved in
operation of oil fields. Parliamentarians claimed that absence of
last name of foreign company representative in contracts is
disturbing fact. These representatives might be related to Armenians.
They also criticized contentment of Azerbaijan with 25 percent as a
stakeholder. Violation of rights of Azerbaijan citizens who work in
foreign companies was also subject to discussions.

CNN
SHOW: CNN WOLF BLITZER REPORTS 5:00 PM EST
April 29, 2005 Friday
Insurgents Set Off Numerous Bombs in Iraq; Remembering the Armenians
Killed by Ottomans; Thirty Years After the Fall of Saigon
by Judy Woodruff, Ryan Chilcote, Dana Bash, Carlos Watson, Miles
O’Brien, Atika Shubert, Brian Todd, Lou Dobbs, Jason Carroll
[parts omitted]
A painful past, a present controversy. Why millions of people and
some powerful nations are still embroiled in a dispute over what
happened to the Armenians almost a century ago. That’s coming up.
WOODRUFF: This week, Armenians around the world mark the 90
anniversary of a nightmare. They and many others call it genocide,
but some powerful governments do not. Please note, the following
story contains some pictures that may be disturbing to some viewers.
CNN’s Brian Todd looks at this long ago event that continues to stir
deep emotion and deep controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We shudder at images from
Darfur, Sudan. Wince at memories of Rwanda. Look at grainy pictures
of the Holocaust and say, never again. Almost forgotten is a brutal
campaign nearly a century ago that historians say may not have been a
model for those genocides, but certainly provided a rationale.
CHARLES KING, AUTHOR “THE BLACK SEA: A HISTORY”: The fact that a
state could, in fact, carry this out under the eyes of the
international community and get away with it became, in fact, a
hallmark of what the 20th century, the tragic 20th century really was
all about.
TODD: Adolf Hitler himself was reported to have made a reference to
it in 1939 as he prepared to invade Poland. Quoted as saying “Who
after all speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”
April, 1915, the Ottoman Empire, covering the general area of what is
now Turkey, is battling on two front in World War I, and is
disintegrating in the process. Armenians, long part of that empire,
are restless for independence and get encouragement from Russia. The
Ottoman Turks, fearful of a Russian invasion on their eastern front,
see the Russian/Armenian alliance as a huge threat and target the
Armenian population inside their borders.
HARUT SASSOUNIAN, EDITOR, “THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”: They embark on a
submission plan by deporting the entire population closer to a little
under 2 million Armenians in the empire into the deserts and by
killing and starvation and disease.
TODD: Between 1915 and 1923 Armenian leaders are rounded up in cities
and executed. Villagers are uprooted en masse, driven south towards
the deserts of what are now Syria and Iraq. Many shot or butchered
outright by Turkish forces, but most die in forced marches. The
numbers to this day still hotly in dispute. Armenians say 1.5 million
were killed. The Turkish government says not more than 300,000
perished, and the Armenians shouldn’t count themselves as the only
victims.
SASSOUNIAN: In these few years, both sides suffered — lost
incredible number of people to war, to famine, to harsh climate.
TODD: Objective historians say the Armenian death toll is likely
between 600,000 and a million.
(on camera): The fight is not only over numbers, but words. One word
in particular. Neither the Turkish Government nor any American
president, except Ronald Reagan, has ever called this event genocide.
Harut Sassounian is the grandson of survivors.
SASSOUNIAN: It’s described as a deep wound and in the psyche of every
Armenian that is not healing, is not going away. Because it’s like an
open wound as long as the denial is there.
TODD: The U.S. Government says between 60,000 and 146,000 people have
died in Darfur, Sudan over the past two years. And former Secretary
of State Colin Powell called that a genocide. Historian Charles King
believes what happened to the Armenians was genocide by any
definition but…
KING: Labeling it a genocide among politicians has a very severe
political ramifications, particularly in terms of the U.S.
relationship with Turkey, an important strategic partner in southeast
Europe and the wider Middle East.
TODD: As Armenians mark the 90th anniversary of their darkest days,
many say all they want is acknowledgement. The Turks say they’re
willing to set up a commission to examine the historical record. Two
countries with a closed border and no formal relations inching
closer. A super power caught in the middle — all haunted by a
distant tragedy that we somehow never managed to learn from.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: Thank you, Brian. By the way, the Turkish government says
close to a million Turks died in that region during World War I. As
for current relations, Turkish officials tell CNN, although the
border is closed, there are daily flights between Turkey and Armenia.
And tens of thousands of Armenians, they say currently live and work
inside Turkey.
Coming up at the top of the hour, LOU DOBBS TONIGHT. Lou is standing
by in New York with a preview. Hi there.
LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Judy. Thank you.

Armenia Agribusiness Update
BISNIS
April 28, 2005
This update contains 2 new trade leads in the agribusiness and food
processing sector.
Trade leads:
1. Company: AAFPC
Country: Armenia
This Armenian company would like to purchase a long-cut pasta production
line with a capacity of 150-250 kg/hr of product.
For more information see:
************************************************************************
2. Company: Telman Nersisyan
Country: Armenia
This Armenian company is seeking to purchase used winery equipment for a
small winery (capacity of 50 tons of grapes per annum).
For details see:
********** Sent by: *********************************
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U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel: 202/482-2022, Fax: 202/482-2293
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WAIS Document Retrieval
[Congressional Record: April 27, 2005 (Extensions)]
[Page E777]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr27ap05-9]

90TH COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
______

speech of
HON. JOHN SHIMKUS
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide and to place in the Record a portion of an opinion
article written by Lee Enokian.
Armenian Genocide Victims Are Not Forgotten
(By Lee Enokian)
Today is the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Between 1915 and 1923, more than 1.5 million Armenians were
murdered or forcibly exiled because they were the wrong
religion and ethnicity. The world community memorializes the
anniversary annually as Armenian Martyrs Day.
Thousands of Armenians were offered their lives in exchange
for their conversion to Islam. They refused and died as a
result. Their steadfast faithfulness to the Christian faith
is not surprising. Armenia was the first Christian nation and
remains the only Christian nation in the Middle East.
Various Turkish people invaded southwest Asia during the
Middle Ages and carved an empire for themselves from lands
occupied by the indigenous Semitic and Indo-European
inhabitants.
Turkish nationalism grew relentlessly during the following
centuries. In the years preceding World War I, they actively
sought to Turkify the Ottoman Empire and strengthen their
rule by eliminating fractious ethnic minorities.
The western two-thirds of Anatolia was once inhabited by
Greeks and other Indo-European peoples. It is now primarily
occupied by Turks.
The eastern third of modern Turkey was once Armenian with
an Assyrian minority, but is now populated by Turks and
Kurds.
Modern Armenia survived only because it was the single
province controlled, and protected, by the Russian Empire.
The rest of the territory within its historical borders is
almost wholly devoid of ethnic Armenians.
The organized depopulation of Christians and non-Turks from
Anatolia by the Ottoman Empire is one of the worst incidents
of racism and religious intolerance documented in the world.
The Genocide was master-minded by the ultra-nationalist
“Young Turk” government of Ottoman Turkey. Mehmet Talaat
Pasha was the Minister of the Interior and architect of the
Armenian Genocide. He was rewarded by being elevated to the
position of Grand Vizier in 1917. Pasha fled to Germany as
his empire collapsed in 1918. He was convicted of capital
crimes, including massacring the Armenians. The post-war
Ottoman government sentenced him to death in absentia.
Just-minded federal, state and local governments throughout
the world continue to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
Illinois is no different. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has
continued the practice of his predecessors by remembering the
plight of the Armenian people. Part of his annual
proclamation reads: “The Armenian community, as well as the
global community, remembers the Armenian Genocide, which
occurred 90 years ago; and during this tragic historical
period between the years of 1915 and 1923, Armenians were
forced to witness the genocide of their loved ones, and the
loss of their ancestral homelands; and this extermination and
forced relocation of over 1.5 million Armenians by the
Ottoman Turks is recognized every year.”
Sadly, the modern state of Turkey denies the Genocide ever
occurred. It restricts the ability of ethnic Armenians, Kurds
and Assyrians to enter and travel within the country. In
fact, Turkey has done its best to remove every trace of the
Armenian people from their ancestral homeland. These efforts
still don’t change history.
Blagojevich concluded his proclamation with the fact that
we must remember hateful events like the Genocide to help
prevent their future institution.
“Both recognition and education concerning past atrocities
such as the Armenian Genocide is crucial in the prevention of
future crimes against humanity.”
Evil wins when good men turn a blind eye.