Author: Badalian Vardan

PRESS SCAN: HURRIYET
Turkish Press
Oct 9 2006
WHAT YOU`RE DOING WAS DONE BY STALIN AND HITLER
Journalist-writer Kenize Murad, citizen of Turkey and France, objected
to French Parliament`s bringing draft on so-called Armenian genocide
onto agenda again. Murad said that French Parliament`s initiative is an
intellectual terrorism, adding that re-writing history for political
interests was earlier done by Stalin and Hitler, and concluded with
a disaster.
FORGET NUCLEAR TENDER TO FRANCE
Turkish FM Abdullah Gul assessed the tense relations with France
to Hurriyet. Gul told French FM Blazy that if draft on so-called
Armenian genocide is adopted at French Parliament on October 12th,
then France shall forget all important tenders especially the one
for nuclear power plant.

SIMMONS: “I REGRET FOR NO NOTABLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT”
Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 10 2006
Azerbaijani Defense Minister, general-colonel Safar Abiyev received
Robert Simon, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for
the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Safar Abiyev said that Azerbaijan goes on cooperating with NATO and
delay of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict prevents successful development
of this cooperation, APA reports.
The Minister said that one of the main principles of NATO Partnership
for Peace (PP) is to respect territorial integrity of states, stating
that Armenia being the member of this program does not fulfil its
responsibility and UN Security Council four resolutions.
“The international organisations should exert pressure upon Armenia.
If the conflict is not solved peacefully Azerbaijan will restore its
territorial integrity by itself,” the Minister said.
Mr. Simmons said that NATO appreciates the successes of Azerbaijan
in fulfilling of PP, and follows it attentively.
“We regret for no notable improvement in the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict,” he said.
URL:

LET’S TALK ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
>From the desk of James McConalogue
Brussels Journal, Belgium
Oct 7 2006
Why is it that Turkey is still unable to recognise the atrocities
committed against the Armenians? Furthermore, why is it that the EU
is entirely antagonistic towards the idea of Turkey, a predominantly
Muslim country, recognising their genocidal past? Last July, I reported
to The Brussels Journal on the unjust suppression of the freedom of
expression in Turkey. The most high-profile case pertained to the
trial of Turkish novelist, Orhan Pamuk in December 2005 after the
author had claimed in a Swiss newspaper that 30,000 Kurds and one
million Ottoman Armenians were killed in Turkey yet nobody in the
Turkish population would dare talk about it. The trial was dismissed
by the Turkish Ministry of Justice at the beginning of 2006.
Two previous reports had also scrutinised the legal proceedings
against the novelist, Elif Shafak. Shafak, author of Bastard
of Istanbul, faced charges of “insulting Turkishness” under the
primitive legislation. Subsequent to an earlier dismissal, the seventh
High Criminal Court revived the charges made by Kemal Kerincsiz’s
nationalist jurist group, ‘The Unity of Jurists.’ Fortunately, in the
final week of September, Shafak was immediately acquitted although it
is difficult to determine whether the acquittal arose because of EU
pressure (threatening Turkish membership) or because the text truly
did not “insult Turkishness” according to Turkey’s dated legislation.
The suppression of free expression has occurred for authors such as
Shafak and others like her, precisely because of the notorious Article
301 of the Turkish Penal Code, prohibiting “insulting Turkishness”. The
legislation was passed in 2005 as a measure of harmonizing Turkish
law with Copenhagen criteria of the European Union.
Interesting in both the cases of Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak is
how these novelists came to represent such a gigantic insult to
Turkishness. Both novelists had referred to their mass killing –
or genocide – of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire. It is those
references to the Armenian genocide that led charges to be made by
Kemal Kerincsiz’s Unity of Jurists. The Turkish government still
denies the conceptual definition of the Armenian genocide.
However, the acknowledgment of the Armenian genocide has now become
a central issue for the Turkish government. It is so important that
the EU Commission spokesperson, Krisztina Nagy, commented after
the acquittal of Shafak trial that Article 301 “continues to pose a
significant threat to freedom of expression in Turkey and all those
who express a non-violent opinion.” Accordingly, EU member-states have
considered reform of Article 301 as important as the Cyprus issue,
tackling minority rights and social violence, in order for the EU to
properly consider Turkish accession.
However, has the EU’s request for reform of Article 301 missed the
point? After all, the Turkish Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan, has
already hinted at an acceptance to change the legislation. Should
the EU, instead, as a condition of EU entry demand that the Turkish
government acknowledge the Armenian genocide? In both the cases
of Pamuk and Shafak – and eighty or so other authors – many of the
legal proceedings against Turkish writers have arisen as a result of
references to the Armenian genocide. That is the real obstacle for
the Turkish government and frankly, its revisionist approach to the
nation’s history is not at all suited to a future of diplomacy. It
is essentially denying a holocaustal error of its past. Furthermore,
all other national governments across the globe (other than Turkey)
have classified the Armenian events that occurred between 1915 and
1917 as genocide. International authorities recognise the event
as the Armenian genocide, a direct set of policies that led to the
persecution and death of 1.5 million Ottoman Armenians. It cannot
be named something else. It cannot be ignored. Neither can it be
understood from the Turkish historical perspective as a ‘civil war.’
That is why I paid strong attention to the French President, Jacques
Chirac’s words on 30 September. In a visit to Yerevan, the French
President declared to news agencies: “Should Turkey recognize the
genocide of Armenia to join the EU? […] I believe so. Each country
grows by acknowledging the dramas and errors of its past. […] Can
one say that Germany which has deeply acknowledged the holocaust,
has as a result lost credit? It has grown.”
It is certain that Chirac’s desire to enforce the acceptance of
the mass-killings as genocide amongst other EU accession conditions
has not been aligned with that of other European nations. Other EU
member-states seem to be fairly relaxed in letting Turkey off the
hook on the genocide issue. The last MEP interim report on Turkey’s EU
accession removed the request for an acknowledgement of the Armenian
genocide. More worryingly, the MEPs removed the condition of EU
accession out of fears that Turkish nationalists would be incited
into aggression against this.
It is never a good sign that a major political sanction should be
removed from a country simply out of fear of reprisals. Yet, that is
exactly what has happened. In brief, Europeans have decided not to
ask the Turkish to recognise the Armenian genocide simply because it
is scared that the Turks might actually bite. And, if the Turks do
bite? Well that can only be a result of a troubled national Turkish
culture – largely unable to confront significant genocidal errors –
and not because Europe has asked the wrong question. There are rumours
that the French will continue to push the ‘genocide recognition rule’
as a condition of EU entry, but if they are alone on that effort,
then there is very little that can be done to ensure it will be among
the requisites for EU entry. It might also be thought that Chirac
could not afford to push the condition too far, since it may bring
substantial damage to Franco-Turk relations before Turkey has even
begun to attempt its progress towards European harmonization. Whether
the European harmonization process is a good and worthwhile path for
either Turkey or Europe will always remain unclear.

VICE-PRESIDENT OF ALCATEL: ARMENIA HAS GREAT POTENTIAL IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2006
YEREVAN, October 6. /ARKA/. Vice-President of Alcatel company for
CIS countries and Mongolia Johan Vanderplaetse told journalists in
Tbilisi that Armenia had a great potential in software development.
“Recent visit of President of Alcatel Serge Churuka to Armenia
together with the delegation of President of France Jacques Chirac
was conditioned not only by the fact that the company is a supplier,
successfully selling its solutions at Armenian market, but also by
the circumstance that Armenia has a great potential in the sphere of
software development”, Vanderplaetse said.
He said that as early as a year ago after Churuka’s meeting with
President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan it became clear that Armenia
was highly interested in software development.
“We find it a very right decision, since Armenia does not have gas
or oil reserves, but it has a great advantage thanks to its human
resources and high system of education”, Vanderplaetse emphasized.
“We are satisfied that in Armenia on the highest levels people clearly
understand that the development of telecommunication and availability
of internet not only in Yerevan but also across Armenia is a key
target of the country”, he said.
“We have unique offers on ViMax, which we want to promote in Armenia”,
he pointed out, meantime adding that in the country the development
of the internet itself depended on the operators, engaged in
telecommunication software.
Answering to a question about the possibility of opening an enterprise
of ready production of Alcatel company in Armenia, Vanderplaetse
pointed out that at present the software was the main part of
telecommunication software, and “the iron is less and less important”.
“We have a choice – either to invest into production of “slow-witted”
iron, or use brains of Armenian engineers in the sphere of software.
I think that the second is worth counting on”, he said.S.P.-0–

STATE MINISTER TUZMEN IN PARIS FOR TURKISH WEEK IN EUROPE
Turkish Press
Oct 5 2006
PARIS – “Turks have never committed genocide in their thousand years
of history,” said Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen who spoke
at a panel discussion on “Europe’s Global Difficulties and Turkey”
which was held in Paris by Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s
Association (TUSIAD) within the scope of Turkish Week in Europe.
Assessing the draft law envisaging sanction (fee and imprisonment)
on denial of so-called Armenian genocide which will be debated at
French parliament on October 12th upon initiative of Socialist Party,
Tuzmen said, “this issue has started to be used as a domestic policy
tool in some countries, and we regret it. We also have domestic
politics but we don’t mix them with other countries’ matters.”
“We have never committed genocide in our thousand years of history.
We have not had any problems with our Armenian citizens neither in
Turkey nor during Ottoman period,” he added.
Noting that Turkey wants this issue to be examined by historians at
a commission, Tuzmen said that politicians should not make proposals
about history.
Tuzmen stressed, “there were two Armenian ministers in Ottoman cabinet
in 1915. They remained in the cabinet after relocation as well. If
there were really a genocide, these two Armenian ministers could
not have remained in the cabinet. When Russian history is examined,
it can also be seen that a genocide was not committed in that period.”
“Armenians were called ‘loyal community’ in Ottoman period. Many
Armenian diplomats and high-level officials served for Ottoman,”
he added.
Regarding the draft law to be debated at French parliament, Tuzmen
said, “I hope French parliament would act in common sense against this
draft law.” He added, “if this law is adopted, will I be imprisoned
when I deny so-called Armenian genocide in France after October
12th? I think it would be very wrong in this globalizing world.”
-TURKISH ECONOMY-
Regarding Turkish economy, Tuzmen said, “Turkey made more than half of
its foreign trade (which will totally exceed 200 billion USD in 2006)
with Europe this year, and France is very important in this aspect.”
“Our economic performance is better than many EU countries especially
the new EU members. We are the fastest growing country of Europe in
the last three years. We catch the highest speed in export increase
not only in Europe but also in OECD. Turkey’s EU membership will be
for the interest of both our country and the EU,” Tuzmen noted.
He said that Turkey will have important contributions to increase EU
economy’s competitive power as well as dynamism.

PRESIDENCE DE L’UNION EUROPEENNE – RAPPROCHEMENT DE L’UE ET DE L’ARMENIE
NEWS Press
3 octobre 2006
La troïka de l’UE accueille avec satisfaction le resultat positif
des consultations avec l’Armenie sur le Plan d’Action de la Politique
europeenne de voisinage lance au mois de novembre 2005. Dans le cadre
la visite de la delegation de la troïka de l’UE en Armenie, les deux
parties ont annonce le 2 octobre qu’un accord de principe avait ete
atteint sur un texte final relatif au Plan d’action de la Politique
europeenne de voisinage.
Les actions necessaires peuvent desormais etre entreprises afin de
preparer l’adoption formelle du Plan d’action lors du prochain conseil
de cooperation EU-Armenie qui se tiendra le 14 novembre a Bruxelles. Le
Plan d’action de la Politique europeenne de voisinage est une avancee
significative du rapprochement entre l’UE et l’Armenie, il depasse la
cooperation et comprend une integration economique significative et
un approfondissement de la cooperation politique. L’UE et l’Armenie
sont determines a profiter de cette occasion pour ameliorer leurs
relations et promouvoir la prosperite, la stabilite et la securite.
Outre le Plan d’action, la delegation de la troïka de l’UE et Vartan
Oskanian, Ministre des affaires etrangères de l’Armenie, ont aborde
des questions internationales actuelles, dont les relations entre la
Georgie et la Russie, le programme nucleaire iranien et la situation
au Liban. Le conflit au Nagorny-Karabakh figurait egalement a l’ordre
du jour.
–Boundary_(ID_px6EW5Eh+rsmYzZAwbFacA)–

BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER DETECTS DANGEROUS TRENDS THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 4 2006
“Dangerous trends” have emerged in the South Caucasus in the recent
months, EU Commissioner on Enlargement Benita Ferrero-Waldner told
“Turan” agency. “We see no real progress in the settlement of the
frozen conflicts and listen to rhetoric, which is not that favourable
and impacts the public opinion. These are troublesome processes for all
those persons who anticipate peaceful resolution of the conflicts. I
find also that the great expenses on armament in the South Caucasus,
where the poverty level is high even without it, is a negative trend,”
she said.
What can Brussels suggest? In response to the question, the EU
Commissioner noted that the European Union wants settlement through
negotiations. According to her, the aggravation of tension can lead
to unpredictable consequences for the region.
“In case of the Karabakh conflict the European Union stands for
the current talks in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. The
Neighbourhood policy is not a mechanism for prevention or resolution
of conflicts. However, by defending democracy, contacts between
people, regional cooperation, socio-economic development programs,
it is possible to shape a correct atmosphere for settlement,”
Ferrero-Waldner declared.

SOME CRITERIA ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS…
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 3 2006
As we approach the anniversary of October 3rd, taking an account of
“where Turkish-European Union relations have gone in one year” would
be a more appropriate topic for today’s article.
When the crude language and provocations in the EU report are put
together with the French president’s statements made in Yerevan a
few days ago, a trend appears for making additions to the Brussels
Copenhagen Criteria on the first anniversary of October 3rd. Rather
than one year balance sheets, examining this trend in Europe, which
is becoming more apparent every day, has finally become a necessity.
>From 1999 until Turkey’s candidacy in 2004 when a date for opening
negotiations was given, it was promised at all EU summit meetings that
Turkey would be evaluated “equally” with other candidate countries. The
EU violated this promise with its decision on December 17th, the most
discriminating decision ever presented to a candidate country. Those
saying, “You wanted a negotiations date; take it,” added a “catch”
to this decision. The “light recognition” of Cyprus was imposed
on Turkey with the Ankara Protocol. Hoping that the December 17th
decision would soften as the process advanced, we have witnessed
every critique passed becoming more serious in the process.
As if this were not enough, everyone with a voice is attempting to
implement new criteria for Turkey. Everything under the sun can be
found on the list. First, it says, “Turkey has to recognize the Greek
Sector before the end of 2006,” and also that if institutional reforms
are not made, it will be necessary to stop expansion. Of course, we
can’t understand if Commission Chairman Barroso’s words were fully
directed towards Turkey. But which country remains after he said in
regard to the Croatian issue, “As soon as they comply to the criteria,
I want them to become a member,”?
Two days ago French President Jacques Chirac added the most “damning”
condition to the “hormone-fueled” Copenhagen Criteria. When Chirac
said that Turkey should acknowledge the purported genocide for EU
membership, of course it doesn’t immediately become a condition,
but Chirac isn’t the president of Papua New Guinea. Isn’t “genocide,”
which was taken out of the report as a condition at the last minute,
going to come up stronger after Chirac’s speech? Isn’t Chirac, who has
not used the word “genocide” until now and hasn’t made a connection
between Turkey’s future membership and a “genocide” confession,
being terribly two-faced?
Even Eurlings, who indirectly added the “genocide” of Syriac-speaking
Christians and Pontus Greeks to the report, stated, “We didn’t want
something like this from either Poland or the Czech Republic.”
However, while we were glad that “genocide was removed as a
pre-condition,” he put the words, “acknowledgment of genocide is
indispensable for Turkey’s membership” into the report. This English
word, “indispensable,” means “absolutely necessary or required.” In
other words, the report says, “If Turkey doesn’t acknowledge the
genocide, it can’t become a member,” but does so in a softer tone.
Anyway, that’s why the Armenian lobby shared its satisfaction publicly.
Eurlings’ report is far removed from good intention. A report written
for a country that has begun negotiations should not attempt to
portray that country as Afghanistan. After Chirac’s statements it
is probable that the Armenian issue, just like the Cyprus issue,
will appear in EU documents on a broader basis.
Is this a plot to make Turkey slam the door and walk away?!

ERKKI TUOMIOJA: EU-TURKEY TALKS MAY LAST OVER 10 YEARS
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.10.2006 15:56 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The EU welcomes Armenia’s urge to more
democratization and hopes for the coming elections in 2007 and 2008 to
be fair and honest, Erkki Tuomioja, the Foreign Minister of Finland,
which presides the EU currently, stated in Yerevan. In his words,
the ENP provides for EU members and countries cooperating with EU in
some way, be democratic ones.
Speaking of the talks between Turkey and EU, Erkki Tuomioja noted
that the talks may last over 10 years and will be hard. “Turkey has
much to do in reforms to become a European country. EU membership is
voluntary and Turkey made its choice itself. We hope it will be able to
become a country meeting democratic requirements,” the Finnish FM said.

JACQUES CHIRAC: “I WOULD LIKE FRENCH SQUARE TO BE ALSO PEACE SQUARE” FRENCH PRESIDENT JACUES CHIRAC’S SPEECH DURING OPENING OF FRENCH SQUARE IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
President Robert Kocharian and the French President Jacques Chirac
made speeches during the official ceremony of opening French Square
in Yerevan on September 30. Below is President Jacques Chirac’s speech
with some abridgement:
“It is with great excitement that I am familiarizing myself with the
Armenian land.
Excitement caused by the first visit of the French state’s leader to
the places bearing evidence of the birth of the world, these places
where the guardian-giant Mount Ararat is said to become a shelter
for Noah’s Ark at the end of the Deluge.
Excitement about the heroic and full of suffering history of the
Armenian people from time immemorial. From the very first it was a
Christian people true to its identity and faith. A people on whose
fate a genocide will be imprinted for ever, the genocide to which it
fell vicim under conditions of the shocks caused by World War I and
the collapse of empires.
Excitement when I think about those who experienced this tragedy and
were forced to follow the sad path of exile. When I think about all
those who turned with confidence to France as a sister in belief that
it will provide shelter and solace.
Eventually, an excitement when It remember all those who resisted
the Nazi barbarism like Misak Mnushian and his friends. France will
never forget their struggle for our freedom.
… Your national heritage treasures – Urartu antiquities,
masterpieces of Christian Armenia, manuscripts of the Matenadaran,
works of Arshil Gorky and Parajanov will be on display at the most
famous cultural centers of France. They will remind the French about
the power of the Armenian culture, its support for our civilization
and its dissemination throughout the world.
Mister President,
Dear Friends,
Responding to your invitation to pay a state visit, I first of all
want to highlight the unique links between our two peoples. I want
to stress my confidence in Armenia’s future.
Confidence in the ability of the young independent republic of an
ancient nation to build a legal state that guarantees democracy and
social freedoms and shares with us its commitment to human rights.
Confidence in the Armenian youth which has the aspiration for peace
and freedom and strives to use to the full its enthusiasm, its thirst
for justice and its enterprise.
Confidence in the ability of your state to succeed with its economic
development and confidence in its will to become a most favorable
place for investment thanks to those exceptional capabilities that
consist in the talent and cultural power of its youth.
Confidence in its ability to struggle for peace. It is a big challenge,
the most difficult one, which your country should overcome. A challenge
that Armenia can and must overcome because only a fair and lasting
peace will allow your people to realize its hopes.
I believe in peace. It was in the past that conflicts were settled by
force. The time when it was possible to instigate feuds in disregard
of peace and security is over.
It is only the dialog based on dignity and mutual respect that allows
one to look at the future in a long-term perspective.
Today those who achieve peace are the great ones – those capable
of overcoming bellicose legacies in order to open the path of
reconciliation. This is the evidence I want to present to you today
in this French Square which I would like to be a peace square as well.
Dear friends,
For the past ten years France has not spared efforts to find a solution
to the regretful Nagorno Karbakh conflict within the framework of
Minsk Group.
Today I want to believe that the time of peace has come. I want to
believe because I know the price of war. One last step has to be taken
to reach peace. A difficult step in evidence of faith in the future of
humanity. It leads against the false security of the current situation
and allows to choose the path of confident movement. This final step
can and must be taken in Yerevan and Baku because it allows to open
the horizon of light, peace and prosperity.
These are my wishes to all the Caucasian peoples.”