Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Paris Link, France
Oct 6 2006
Chirac the Kingmaker
Fri, 06 Oct 2006 19:15:00
Gareth Cartman
Chirac loyalists are making noises – they do not seem to want Nicolas
Sarkozy in the Elysee. Should Jacques Chirac decide not to stand next
year for a third term, he finds himself in the position of Kingmaker.
Just like the socialists, his leitmotif is “Anyone But Sarkozy”.
There is no Chirac building yet in Paris. There is no Bibliothèque
Chirac, no Centre Chirac, not even a Roissy-Jacques-Chirac. Two terms
in office, and apart from the quai Branly museum, there is little to
remember Jacques Chirac by. However, he is refusing to go quietly –
if he does go at all – and his desire to stop Nicolas Sarkozy getting
into the Elysee could see one last swipe from this political monster.
Sarkozy used to be a Chirac protege. The young Sarkozy was often seen
at the side of Chirac, but that all stopped with the ‘betrayal’ of
Edouard Balladur in 1995 and Sarkozy’s defection to Balladur’s camp.
The ambitious Interior Minister’s plans for ‘la rupture’ have been
met with distaste by Chirac and the chiraquiens, who are planning
ahead to stop Sarkozy.
First of all, Chirac’s rehabilitation has been swift. A visit
this week to an Agriculture salon pitched Chirac right back in his
element. Chirac never hides the fact that his favourite period during
his political lifetime was at the Agriculture Ministry. He has racked
up airmiles like never before, travelling the world to make speeches –
controversial or otherwise. He pushed Turkey to recognise the genocide
of the Armenians recently, and back home reformed the pensions scheme
for war veterans of immigrant origin.
Many suspect that this is the first part of one of the many Chirac
‘revivals’. Considered politically dead before both Presidential
elections, Chirac kept on coming back to win. If he feels that he
will not be able to complete his comeback this time, expect Chirac
to place an ally on the way to the Elysee.
Current favourite seems to be Michelle Alliot-Marie. The Defense
Minister already has the backing of at least 50 MPs and has set up
her own association, la Chene (the Oak Tree) on the same road as
Chirac’s former RPR party. A chiraquienne at heart, Alliot-Marie has
been manoeuvring for the nomination for several weeks already. She
is likely to run against Sarkozy, and would have the full support of
Chirac should he not run.
A few weeks ago, it appeared that all faith had been lost in Dominique
de Villepin. Still the golden boy of the chiraquiens, de Villepin
has done everything within his capacity to distance himself from
Sarkozy. Where Sarkozy says “fire”, de Villepin says “hold your
fire”. Notably effective in the resolution of the Cachan crisis,
de Villepin has steadily climbed in popularity and could represent
an option should Alliot-Marie fail.
Should Chirac be re-elected, he will more than likely use his third
term to promote a chiraquien to succeed him, much as he has been trying
to do with Dominique de Villepin. The favourite for this proposal would
be Alain Juppe, who is expected to walk back into his position as Mayor
of Bordeaux. Juppe, who took the rap for corruption charges, went into
exile for two years, and Chirac feels he owes his favourite protege.
Juppe is a born fonctionnaire. A devout believer in the power of
the state, and in the power of those chosen to execute the state’s
decisions, Juppe simply could not believe how he had been treated
when charged with corruption. He remains a wholehearted chiraquien,
with the 2012 Presidential elections his true target.
This trio represent the best chances of Chirac leaving a lasting legacy
at the Elysee. As Sarkozy rejects Gaullism, the chiraquiens preach
it. Whether it is Chirac himself or one of his proteges running against
Nicolas Sarkozy, the big man in the palace will have the ultimate say
in who wins next year’s election. Indeed, he would probably even choose
Segolène Royal over Sarkozy, such is the rift between the two men.
CLE/1233/2006-10-06.html
–Boundary_(ID_1NxHRgRoQ fno2A1xS0V8LQ)–
From: Baghdasarian

DE TURQUIE, CHRISTOPH BLOCHER SèME LA COLèRE
Le Temps, Suisse
5 octobre 2006
GENOCIDE. En visite a Ankara, le ministre de la Justice remet en
cause l’application de la norme antiraciste. Vague de desapprobation.
Les “maux de ventre” de Christoph Blocher donnent des maux de tete au
monde politique suisse. Venu celebrer a Ankara le 80e anniversaire de
l’adoption du Code civil suisse par la Turquie, le chef du Departement
federal de justice et police (DFJP) a lance un veritable pave dans
la mare hier en abordant la question très sensible de la penalisation
de la negation des genocides. L’article 261 bis du Code penal suisse
lui donne des “maux de ventre”, a-t-il declare.
“Modifier la loi est une possibilite”, a-t-il ajoute devant la presse
a l’issue de sa rencontre “très amicale” avec son homologue turc,
Cemil Cicek.
Tout en defendant la position officielle a propos de la question
armenienne – le ministre UDC a rappele que le Conseil federal ne
reconnaissait pas le “genocide des Armeniens” et que, s’agissant
des poursuites penales contre deux intellectuels turcs, la Suisse
respectait une stricte separation des pouvoirs -, il a ainsi critique
ouvertement la norme penale antiraciste.
Scandale et perplexite
Sa declaration a immediatement provoque des reactions en Suisse. Elle a
suscite une certaine perplexite au Departement federal des affaires
etrangères (DFAE), qui a dû gerer plusieurs episodes houleux
entre Berne et Ankara. Ils feront très certainement l’objet d’une
discussion au sein du Conseil federal, soulignent des proches du
dossier. Le president du PDC, Christophe Darbellay, est scandalise:
“C’est precisement pour que l’Holocauste et d’autres genocides ne
passent pas pour des details de l’histoire et pour lutter contre
l’extreme droite que la norme antiraciste existe!”
Mais, plus encore que l’interpretation de cette norme, ce sont
les propos de Christoph Blocher qui provoquent l’ire de nombreux
parlementaires. Qu’il s’immisce directement dans une procedure penale
est “scandaleux”, jugent des elus de tous bords. Qu’il le fasse de
surcroît a l’etranger est percu comme un coup de poignard dans le
dos des autres membres du gouvernement et du peuple suisse.
Voulue par le peuple
“Le ministre ne connaît-il pas la separation des pouvoirs?” s’insurge
Christophe Darbellay. Didier Burkhalter (PRD/NE) souligne: “Une
nouvelle fois, il depasse les bornes! Lui qui s’erige toujours
en defenseur de la volonte populaire en vient a la bafouer. Car,
faut-il le rappeler, la loi antiraciste a ete voulue et avalisee par
le peuple!” La gauche enfonce le clou: “Après avoir remis en cause
la Commission federale de recours en matière d’asile, traite deux
ressortissants albanais de criminels en se substituant aux tribunaux,
ce nouveau pas est grave et consternant”, tranche le secretaire general
du Parti socialiste, Thomas Christen. Comme les Verts, il en conclut:
“Cela prouve une nouvelle fois que Christoph Blocher est indigne du
Conseil federal.” De son côte, l’UDC boit du petit-lait.
Elle n’a jamais ete partisane de la loi antiraciste, sous pretexte
qu’elle limitait la liberte d’expression et pouvait remettre en cause
la neutralite de la Suisse. Pour Andre Bugnon, il ne s’agit pas de nier
le genocide des Armeniens. Mais cette loi “doit tout au plus valoir
pour des phenomènes d’actualite. Pas pour des evenements historiques.”
Cet article 261 bis du Code penal empoisonne de manière très directe
les relations entre Berne et Ankara. Adopte en 1994, il punit tout
propos tendant a nier, minimiser ou justifier un genocide ou d’autres
crimes contre l’humanite. Initialement vote dans le but de punir les
negationnistes de l’Holocauste, il a depuis ete utilise a l’encontre
de deux Turcs, l’historien Yusuf Halacoglu et le leader du Parti des
travailleurs, Dogu Perincek. Tous deux, lors de conferences tenues en
Suisse en 2005, avaient ouvertement nie le genocide de 1915 durant
lequel entre 1,2 et 1,5 million d’Armeniens auraient ete tues. Dogu
Perincek avait meme ete interroge durant deux heures a la suite de
cet incident, soulevant la colère d’Ankara, qui rejette encore la
thèse du genocide mais reconnaît le massacre de 300000 Armeniens.
Ankara s’oppose donc au Grand Conseil vaudois et au Conseil national,
qui ont officiellement reconnu en 2003 la realite de ce genocide.
Aux yeux de Christoph Blocher, les poursuites engagees a l’encontre
de ces deux citoyens turcs par la justice suisse portent un coup a la
liberte d’expression. “La situation est actuellement très differente
de celle des annees 90, a-t-il explique. A l’epoque, personne n’aurait
pense que cet article [261 bis du Code penal] traînerait en justice
un eminent historien turc.” Avant d’ajouter que “ce n’est pas aux
hommes politiques suisses de juger l’histoire d’un pays tiers” et
d’approuver l’idee de creer une commission internationale d’historiens
sur le sujet.
L’autre dossier sensible aborde très “ouvertement” hier entre
les deux ministres concerne la lutte contre le terrorisme. Cemil
Cicek a reitere a “son ami” l’attente de la Turquie concernant
une cooperation internationale et a vertement critique l’attitude
de certains terroristes qui “essaient de se rendre en Europe en
profitant des vides juridiques de certains pays et y demandent
l’asile”. Allusion claire a la Suisse qui refuse de qualifier le
Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) d’organisation terroriste,
contrairement aux Etats-Unis et a l’Union europeenne.
Encadre: Il se moque du peuple et des institutions
Commentaire.
Par Bernard Wuthrich
Très attache, en d’autres circonstances, au respect de la volonte
populaire, Christoph Blocher ne s’est pas gene, mercredi a Ankara,
pour remettre en question une norme penale pourtant approuvee par le
peuple en 1994.
Non seulement il montre ainsi sa conception très volatile du respect
des decisions populaires, mais, en plus, il devait s’abstenir de
faire ce genre de commentaire dans ce contexte precis.
Il n’est pas le premier a mettre en doute l’application de la norme
penale antiraciste a des cas tels que ceux des deux personnalites
turques poursuivies par la justice suisse. On peut se poser des
questions a ce sujet, mais un ministre n’a pas a se livrer a un tel
exercice alors qu’il est en visite a l’etranger.
Il n’a pas non plus a annoncer dans ce cadre-la qu’on pourrait
envisager une revision legislative. Qu’il le pense, c’est son droit.
Qu’il l’exprime lors des seances du Conseil federal, cela fait partie
de sa fonction. Qu’il le dise lors de debats politiques en Suisse,
on peut encore l’admettre.
On ne peut en revanche accepter qu’un membre du gouvernement aille
dire a ses interlocuteurs turcs que cet article du Code penal lui
“fait mal au ventre”. C’est d’autant moins acceptable qu’il le fait
alors qu’une procedure penale est en cours.
Il ne lui suffit pas de rappeler, comme il l’a fait, la position du
Conseil federal face a la question armenienne et l’attachement de la
Suisse a la separation des pouvoirs pour se permettre un tel abus.
–Boundary_(ID_hrJ2nc8EEMuAn49E06kNpQ)–
From: Baghdasarian

YEREVAN TO HOST E-SUMMIT
Armenpress
Oct 04 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Ninety representatives from 35
countries have arrived in Armenia for a world e-Summit that will be
hosted by capital city Yerevan from October 5 to October 7. They will
be joined by about 300 Armenian businessmen, chief business executives
and IT experts.
The Armenian Information Technology Foundation is one of its
organizers. Its head Garegin Chukaszian told a news conference
today that the decision to choose Yerevan as the venue of the summit
was prompted by Armenia’s achievements in the previous summits, and
especially in the 2005 Tunisia summit. The Armenian summit is divided
into two separate parts. On October 5 and 6 the Council of Europe and
Armenian foreign ministry will hold Human Rights in the Information
Society: Pan-European Forum on “Empowering children and young people”
forum that will be attended by representatives of Council of Europe
member states, civil society, the private sector, academia and the
media, and other interested organizations.
The forum will stress that filtering and labeling Internet content
is not enough to ensure that children and young people can surf the
web safely – in the exercise of their rights and freedoms, including
the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information
and ideas. On October 6-7 the prize awarding committee of the summit
and the Foundation will hold a forum on development of cultural and
language diversity Internet content.
In a related development prime minister Andranik Margarian received
today Sarbuland Khan, executive coordinator of the UN Global Alliance
for Information and Communication Technologies and Development.
Launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 19 June, the Alliance promotes
action to utilize new information and communication technologies to
fight poverty and promote development.
Margarian was quoted by government press office as saying that Armenia
is prepared to take active part in Alliance’s actions. Margarian
invited Khan to participate in Digitech international fair that opens
in Yerevan on October 6. Khan has accepted the invitation.
Khan was said to convey to Margarian UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan’s greetings.
From: Baghdasarian

M. CHIRAC LIE L’ADHESION TURQUE A L’UE A LA RECONNAISSANCE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Natalie Nougayrède
Le Monde, France
3 octobre 2006 mardi
” Faut-il que la Turquie reconnaisse le genocide armenien pour entrer
dans l’Union ? Honnetement, je le crois “, a declare a Erevan le
president francais
Jacques Chirac lie l’entree de la Turquie dans l’Union europeenne (UE)
a sa reconnaissance du genocide armenien de 1915, chose a laquelle
Ankara se refuse. Il l’a dit avec force, samedi 30 septembre, a Erevan,
alors qu’il effectuait la première visite d’un president francais
en Armenie.
” Faut-il que la Turquie reconnaisse le genocide armenien pour entrer
dans l’Union ? Honnetement, je le crois “, a declare M. Chirac lors
d’une conference de presse tenue aux côtes de son homologue armenien,
Robert Kotcharian. Dans la matinee, M. Chirac avait depose une gerbe
au monument du genocide qui domine la capitale armenienne, inscrivant
les mots ” souviens-toi ” dans le livre d’or.
Jacques Chirac a voulu souligner l’importance du travail de memoire,
dans le contexte europeen, en dressant un parallèle avec l’Allemagne.
” Tout pays se grandit en reconnaissant ses drames et ses erreurs,
a-t-il dit devant la presse. Peut-on dire que l’Allemagne,
qui a profondement reconnu la Shoah, a perdu son credit ? Elle
s’est grandie. On pourrait le dire pour la France, dans d’autres
circonstances, et pour beaucoup d’autres pays. ”
EXPLICATION NECESSAIRE
Soulignant que l’Europe est ” un ensemble qui revendique l’appartenance
a une meme societe, et la croyance en de memes valeurs “, M. Chirac
a estime que ” la Turquie serait bien inspiree, au regard de son
histoire, de sa tradition profonde et de sa culture, qui est aussi
une culture humaniste, d’en tirer les consequences ” si elle veut
etre integree.
Par ces propos dont la portee symbolique prenait, en ces lieux,
une ampleur particulière, M. Chirac, qui s’est toujours dit partisan
de l’entree de la Turquie dans l’Union, a marque une inflexion. La
reconnaissance du genocide ne figure pas parmi les critères (dits ”
critères de Copenhague “, fixes en 1993) imposes par l’UE a la Turquie.
Après des annees d’hesitation, l’UE a ouvert, en octobre 2005,
des negociations d’adhesion de la Turquie. La perspective, meme
lointaine, de cet elargissement est toutefois source d’importantes
divisions, que ce soit au sein de la classe politique francaise ou
entre dirigeants europeens. La chancelière allemande, Angela Merkel,
prône un ” partenariat privilegie ” avec la Turquie. Le Royaume-Uni
est favorable a l’integration.
A la demande de la France, l’UE a introduit deux conditions, en
2004 et en 2005, pour l’adhesion turque : la prise en compte de la
” capacite d’absorption ” de l’Union, et la reconnaissance de Chypre
par Ankara. En France, le ” non “, au referendum de mai 2005 sur la
Constitution europeenne a ete analyse comme un rejet de la Turquie
par l’opinion.
M. Chirac, assurait-on dans son entourage, n’a pas change d’avis sur
le fond. Il reste convaincu de la vocation europeenne de la Turquie.
L’appreciation du president francais, precisait l’un de ses
conseillers, se situe sur un plan ” politique, et non juridique “.
Cette source ajoutait qu’un ” travail d’explication ” serait sans
doute necessaire auprès d’Ankara.
–Boundary_(ID_A6EGIT+WJfBPjWMOlsjC1A)- –
From: Baghdasarian

CYPRUS CLAUSES IN EU REPORT DISAPPOINTING, MERCAN SAYS
Fulya Ozerkan
Turkish Daily News
Oct 1 2006
Cyprus-related provisions of the document refrain from recalling
Turkey’s steps for a settlement of the decades-old dispute and echo top
EU officials urging Ankara to normalize its relations with EU-member
Greek Cyprus and allow in its ships and airplanes
Cyprus clauses in the strongly worded European Parliament document
on Turkey’s progress toward eventual European Union membership seem
to be in the shadow of calls from European parliamentarians and EU
officials urging Ankara to reinvigorate the reform process.
In a non-binding report adopted last week, the European Parliament
chided Turkey for its failure to meet EU requirements and demanded
that Ankara fulfill its obligation to open up its sea and air ports
to Greek Cypriot vessels and planes under a customs union protocol.
“I was disappointed mostly by Cyprus passages in the report,” a senior
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy, Murat Mercan,
told the Turkish Daily News.
“It could have been more balanced,” he added.
Cyprus-related provisions of the document refrain from recalling
Turkey’s steps for a settlement of the decades-old dispute and echo top
EU officials urging Ankara to normalize its relations with EU-member
Greek Cyprus and allow in its ships and airplanes.
Turkey, however, says it will maintain its stance unless the 25-nation
bloc makes good on a pledge to end the economic isolation of northern
Cyprus. Brussels rejects any linkage between the ports issue and the
lifting of sanctions on Turkish Cypriots and has warned Turkey that
failure to fulfill its obligations could cause a setback in its EU
accession negotiations, which opened last October.
Similarly, the European Parliament’s report warned that the “lack
of progress in this regard will have serious implications for the
negotiation process and could even bring it to a halt.
“I would expect the report to encompass more encouraging clauses that
acknowledge Turkish steps on Cyprus,” Mercan added.
Greek Cypriots, however, welcomed the European Parliament’s Turkey
report, with the Greek Cypriot press describing the document as a
“slap [in the face] for Ankara.”
Pros and cons:
European parliamentarians mostly focused on reform pace in their
report, warning Ankara that it must accelerate far-reaching reforms
if it wanted to become a member of the EU.
They also noted Turkey had shown “insufficient progress” in the
areas of freedom of expression, religious and minority rights,
women’s rights and the rule of law since the opening of entry talks.
The report’s author, Dutch parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings, who
admitted that the report was “tough” but “fair,” urged Ankara to see
it as a “motivation to speed up reforms.”
But despite the presence of controversial articles, European
parliamentarians voted certain clauses favorable to Ankara, which
expressed dissatisfaction with the report but appreciated European
parliamentarians’ efforts to prevent further damages to Turkish-EU
ties.
“This report is more positive than another document adopted by the
European Parliament in 2005,” said Mercan, who was one of the Turkish
lawmakers lobbying European parliamentarians in Brussels and Strasbourg
in a bid to change the critical report, which was tougher when it was
first adopted at the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee
earlier last month.
He cited an emphasis on market economy, condemnation of terrorism
by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and extending of
solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism as positive
elements in the European Parliament document.
To the content of Ankara, the European Parliament deleted a
controversial clause that would have sought to make recognition by
Turkey of an alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of the late
Ottoman Empire a pre-condition for full membership.
But the report still called on Turkey to “acknowledge the Armenian
genocide” before it can join the EU, with European parliamentarians
saying it was “indispensable” for Turkey to “come to terms with and
recognize its past.”
Ankara is now awaiting a progress report from the EU’s executive arm,
the commission. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn is to travel
to Turkey on Monday before the release of the key report.
Parliament has been considering an EU-inspired reform package designed
to meet EU requirements, and Rehn earlier said he expected legal
changes to be approved in October. Last-minute legal reforms could
help Turkey’s case in the progress report on reforms but EU officials
have said they will wait and see if the contents include real progress
on key issues.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DOCUMENTARY WILL NOT BE FEATURED IN TURKEY
Sabah, Turkey
Sept 30 2006
Authorities decided not to feature a documentary called “I hate
dogs” which is about the so-called Armenian genocide in Istanbul
film festival.
Ban for Armenian documentary
A documentary called “I hate dogs” which is about the so-called
Armenian genocide has been excluded from the International 1001
Documentary Movie Festival which will be held in Istanbul this year.
Swedish production documentary is based on a real story told by
Garbis Hagopyan; an Armenian man who claimed himself a survivor of
1915 events. Director Suzanne Khardalian told that they have notified
about the exclusion just one day before the festival. Khardalian said:
“This morning we have received an e-mail which was informing us about
the exclusion. Then festival committee president Nurdan Arca called
my partner Pea Holmquist and notified him. She told us we are still
invited to the festival as the directors but they can not guarantee
safety of our lives during the festival. She also told us that the
reason behind this changed schedule was the Ministry of Culture’s
pressures against the festival committee.”
From: Baghdasarian

CHIRAC URGES TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE 1915 GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS
Interfax Russia
Sept 30 2006
YEREVAN. Sept 30 (Interfax) – Turkey should admit the errors of
the past, including the 1915 genocide of Armenians, if it wants to
accede to the European Union, French President Jacques Chirac said
at a press conference during a state visit to Armenia on Saturday.
“I believe that any country, as long as it develops, also confesses
to mistakes it made in the past, and I think Turkey should seriously
think about this issue,” Chirac said.
Chirac referred to the example of Germany, which has not lost its
greatness by admitting the Holocaust but, on the contrary, other
nations have started to trust it more.
From: Baghdasarian

HISTORICAL WARNINGS FROM TUSIAD
By Turhan Bozkurt, Abdulhamit Yildiz, Istanbul
Zaman, Turkey
Sept 30 2006
Sabanci: While negotiations continue, there are concerns about
compliance in some industries. They are the minority, but their voices
are louder.
Kaslowski: The EU agenda shouldn’t change. While we are lobbying,
there should be no blunders inside. We want stability.
Omer Sabanci, president of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen
Association (TUSIAD), said that after negotiations began with
the European Union, Turkey’s position had become attractive to
international markets for investment. Indicating that in order for
the trend toward investment and employment to continue, determination
toward EU accession should not be compromised, Sabanci said. “With
the situation like this, we have no choice but to remain cool-headed
and reasonable regarding short-term stalemates in the EU process.
Let’s stop tripping over ourselves.” Referring to Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code as “the most striking example of stalemate,”
Sabanci said: “The new formulation of Article 301 was aimed at
making a breakthrough in the area of freedom of speech, but it didn’t
happen. Cases of speech violations and the tableau created by those
who want to use these cases as a stage for political shows have
once again given material amenable to exploitation into the hands of
anti-Turkish lobbies.”
Sabanci continued, “Has the EU topic been abandoned to its own
destiny? We want to know the truth.” According to him, it was not
right for the government to leave the EU agenda this empty during
such a time.
Sabanci explained why some want to use warnings from Brussels in a
different way: “While negotiations are continuing with the European
Union on the one hand, a fear of compliance can be seen in some
places. Negative dialectics and steps coming from the EU front and
aimed at short-range internal political gains lead to powerful waves
of reaction. This environment gives courage to EU opponents and,
although they are in the minority, it makes their voices louder.”
Sabanci gave important messages to the meeting on “the Turkish
Economy and EU Process,” organized by the Silivri Industrialists and
Businessmen Association. Sabanci wants all articles of the Turkish
Penal Law related to freedom of speech, particularly Article 301, to be
developed in accordance with the goal of democratization. He pointed
out, “We have to immediately eliminate our image as a democratically
immature country, an image I believe we don’t deserve.”
Great responsibilities fell to the opposition as well as to the
administration to remove obstacles in front of individual rights and
freedoms, Sabanci said, alluding to the Republican Peoples Party.
“The opposition should abandon political maneuvers it has undertaken
for the sake of weakening the government. We follow with dismay the
statements made by a social democrat party regarding changing Article
301. In our country where individual and regional income distributions
are significantly unbalanced, where there are still many deficiencies
in the area of democracy, and where the fight against poverty and
social development is not advancing at a desirable speed, it is the
right of all of us to expect a political approach to Western standards
from a social democrat party.”
We Fought Tooth and Nail to get to the Point of Beginning Negotiations
Omer Sabanci said that Turkey would be better able to explain
to the world that, although Turkey has fulfilled its membership
criteria fully, the European Union has used a double-standard on some
subjects. However, emphasizing those current discussions have led to
different concerns, the TUSIAD president said: “Has the subject of
the European Union been abandoned to its own destiny? We want to know
the truth. Our government doesn’t want to accept that not much has
been done on the EU subject during this period. It doesn’t do much of
anything in the name of informing the public.” Indicating that Turkey
was passing through a period in which the economy had made certain
improvements and in which stability was predominant, he indicated that
the same thing could be said for relations with the European Union.
Sabanci stated, “We have fought tooth and nail to get to the point of
beginning negotiations; there’s no turning back.” Mentioning debates
on elections, he pointed out that elections are the biggest risk for
the economy. “If an election year economy is implemented, balanced
budgets that have successfully continued during recent years will
be destroyed and the cost will be very heavy for the economy.” He
underscored that careless approaches to the economy’s supply side must
be ended. Indicating that the struggle against the informal economy was
inadequate, Sabanci summarized, “Shouldn’t a government that claims
at every opportunity to support entrepreneurs show favoritism toward
unfair competition? Isn’t it necessary to more effectively monitor
individuals and companies that work under the table as opposed to
large and small, domestic and foreign investors who operate with
respect toward the laws?”
International President of TUSIAD Aldo Kaslowski said: “There should
be no blunders inside while we’re lobbying. The EU agenda shouldn’t
change. We want stability. There has been prosperity for the last
four years; EU membership will come, also. Let’s not fear individual
rights. This is not supporting terror.”
Discussions about Turkey’s failure to complete its homework on the road
to EU membership and an increase in attempts to interrupt stability
have upset the business world.
Kaslowski, international president of ITUSIAD or “the Bosses’ club,”
indicated that 20 years worth of reforms had been made during the past
four years. He emphasized that Turkey needed to attain EU standards
without changing its agenda. Referring to statements and discussions
that gave the European Union secondary importance, Kaslowski said,
“We are holding promotional activities in Europe.
However, blunders are made from the inside, and the country doesn’t
have this luxury. In situations like this, the hands of those in the
European Union supporting Turkey are weakened.”
In addition, Kaslowski gave Zaman many important views on subjects
ranging from presidential elections to the government’s EU performance
and from political and economic stability to Article 301.
Qualifying the European Union as “our vital goal,” Kaslowski indicated
that some topics taking prominence in recent days could prevent this
goal from being attained. He reiterated that Turkey had not reached its
EU goal for 37 years due to deviating from the agenda. Explaining that
discussions at this time of who was going to enter the Cankaya Kiosk
not only hurt the government, but all institutions, Kaslowski said:
“Why debate this issue so early on?
When the time comes, the election will be held anyway. We believe
the most appropriate person will be elected. Speculation wears down
those involved and our people.”
Underscoring reforms should continue for the sake of the Turkish
nation, not out of consideration for the European Union, Kaslowski
emphasized that stability should not be interrupted. He summarized the
reasons as follows: “Forget about three or five year plans; businessmen
previously had difficulty even making daily decisions. We couldn’t
see in front of our noses. The stability we’ve seen for the last four
years has brought prosperity. While the EU economy was stagnant,
Turkey grew continuously. Why don’t we continue? What’s the reason
for changing the agenda? Is it the head cover? Is this our goal? Or
is it the European Union and the economy? There are weak leaders at
the head of countries that don’t appear in the league of developed
countries. We need courageous action. We have been caught up by a
beneficial wind; let’s not abandon it.”
Stating that TUSIAD had formed a delegation under the chairmanship
of Umit Boyner for promotion of the country, Kaslowski indicated that
they would organize publicity activities in Brussels, Paris and Berlin
October 3-5. Pointing out the importance of cultural activities,
Kaslowski stated, “While we are making such good programs, a wrong
step is taken, and all of our work goes for nothing.” Saying that in
the past four or five years wonderful results that were previously
unseen had been realized by working hand-in-hand, Kaslowski continued:
“We have not made any kind of bend; we’re continuing. We want to
continue without waiting. These pauses make us uncomfortable. If we
continue on the right path and don’t give the opposition ammunition,
we will be right about some sticky issues.” Pointing out that
the steps Turkey took on Cyprus have left the Greeks in a bind,
the TUSIAD international president said that with a similar attack,
the Armenian border could be opened.
Kaslowski remarked that in this way the trump cards could be taken from
the hands of the Armenian Diaspora. According to him, the neighbors
have an effect on the country’s image being tarnished outside. “We have
to improve our relations with them a little. Let’s open the doors and
begin a dialogue with Armenia. Anyway, everything they eat comes from
us. From now there’s no wanting something like land. Europe wouldn’t
even want it, so a little courage is needed,” he said. Regarding
the Cyprus issue, he said the European Union regretted accepting
the Greek side as a member. Kaslowski made the following evaluation:
“Cyprus hasn’t been resolved for this many years; will it be resolved
today? Yes, it should be resolved. Let me explain. We can say, ‘We’ll
resolve it while being a member, and if the embargo is lifted, the
ports can open.’ We have to be this strong. We can’t just beg. You put
this on the scales and say, ‘I’m giving this, so you give this.’ From
now on, things will be like this.”
In the Social Council, the Private Sector is just a Showpiece
Noting that social and economic consensus was formed in countries
that previously entered the European Union, Kaslowski continued:
“In environments where this is not the case, the regime’s name is
different. We don’t want that.” He said that there were between
100-200 councils in European countries, depending on their size. He
continued: “Ninety percent are civil and ten percent are public. With
us, however, 99 percent are public and one percent is TUSIAD. And
that is participating at the invitation of the Turkish Chambers and
Stock Exchanges Union. This shouldn’t be. If voices don’t come from
all industries, things won’t work.” Pointing out that politicians were
afraid such groups would weaken their hands, Kaslowski added: “Actually
the strength of non-governmental organizations strengthens the hands
of the government. Civil groups put into words what politicians fail
to say, thus supporting them.” Pointing out that it was necessary for
different segments of society to make their voices heard, Kaslowski
said: “However, everyone can’t make his voice heard.
TUSIAD is successful in this due to its powerful structure and it
influences public opinion. If only there were 100 TUSIADs; then Turkey
would be at a very different point.”
Voluntary “EU” Ambassador
Aldo Kaslowski is the president and founder of the Organic Companies
Group, the most important producer of high-tech chemical material
in Turkey and our region. The most important areas of activity for
the Organic Companies Group are domestic and foreign production,
distribution, research and development of industrial products, such as
polymer, silicone, pigment, leather, textiles, paint, tape, detergent,
cosmetics, chemicals, and medicine. Acting as vice-president of the
Supreme Advisory Board of TUSIAD, Kaslowski is a member of the board of
directors of EU’s Sacepo (EU Patent Organization) based in Munich. He
was also on the board of the Sabanci Holding Inc., a prominent holding
in Turkey’s industrial and financial fields. In addition, he was
also active in the headquarters of the Italian Chamber of Commerce
in Istanbul as founder of the Turkish branch of the Young President
Organization (YPO) and in Europe and Africa as vice-president of the
organization. Kaslowski was on active duty in Turkey’s EU Customs
Union and the EU membership process in Helsinki and Copenhagen. In
addition to being recognized for his contribution to Turkey’s EU
journey, his outspokenness, and his convictions, Kaslowski is also
known as an effective “Volunteer Ambassador to Europe.”
The Government Raced Forward for Reforms
Indicating that there was some truth in statements from European MPs
regarding the slowdown of Turkish reforms, Kaslowski said: “There
should be absolutely no slowdown. The government raced forward to
make reforms and partially implement them. Now we don’t make any sense
out of pausing along the way. The only reason could be the proximity
of elections.” He stated that the European Union was not a card that
would bring a premium to politicians before the elections.
He added that Turkey didn’t have that luxury, because as reforms that
have been awaited for years will be delayed, the economy will not be
straightened out either. The reforms were not only going to broaden
rights and freedoms, at the same time they would increase the level of
prosperity parallel to developing the economy. According to Kaslowski,
the government that achieves this will gain no matter what.
301 is Still in Force; I can be tried, too
Wanting to cooperate with the European Union in fighting terror,
Kaslowski said: “It’s not known where and when terror will
occur. To resolve it we definitely need the support of Western
countries.” He stated that in spite of steps taken, personal freedoms
were insufficient. According to this, opening the way to individual
rights and freedom of thought didn’t mean supporting terror. Kaslowski
remarked: “We have been using the current system for half a century.
If this method were correct, the problem should have been solved. It
means there’s something missing.” Pointing out that in spite of
journalist Elif Shafak’s acquittal, Article 301 was still in effect,
the TUSIAD international president said: “Elif Shafak went but
another can come or I can go because of what I’m saying now. If we
don’t correct this, they’ll hit us over the head. It’s necessary to
immediately straighten out these trouble spots one by one.”
From: Baghdasarian

Paris-Normandie
27 septembre 2006 mercredi
Une visite présidentielle fortement symbolique
par Bouchet Anne
Jacques Chirac enchaîne à partir d’aujourd’hui deux visites
officielles, en Roumanie et en Arménie, entrecoupées par sa
participation au Sommet de la francophonie à Bucarest.
De vendredi soir à dimanche, le président français effectue, en
Arménie, un déplacement qui aura une très forte portée symbolique et
constituera pour les centaines de milliers de Français d’origine
arménienne l’occasion de découvrir l’Arménie moderne, selon l’Elysée.
M.Chirac, qui qualifie l’Arménie de jeune république indépendante
d’une vieille nation, lancera à Erevan l’année de l’Arménie en
France, Arménie mon amie, inaugurera une place de France dans la
capitale arménienne et assistera aux côtés de milliers d’Arméniens à
un concert exceptionnel de Charles Aznavour.
Le chef de l’Etat rendra également hommage aux victimes du génocide
arménien de 1915, la France ayant reconnu l’existence de ce génocide
par la loi du 29janvier 2001.
From: Baghdasarian

The Daily Telegraph (LONDON)
September 28, 2006 Thursday
Turkey must face up to past, says EU
David Rennie in Strasbourg
THE European Parliament voted yesterday to tell Turkey it must “face
up to its past”, in the context of the alleged genocide of Armenians
during the First World War, if it wanted EU membership.
MEPs meeting in Strasbourg also agreed to warn Ankara that talks on
EU membership could be frozen unless it opens its ports to Cypriot
ships.
Armenians say that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were
killed in a campaign by Ottoman Turks. Turkey disputes the figure by
1.2 million, and says a combination of war, disease, famine and
ethnic conflict were responsible.
The report “stresses that although the recognition of the Armenian
genocide as such is formally not one of the Copenhagen criteria
[setting out conditions for EU membership] it is indispensable for a
country on the road to membership to come to terms with and recognise
its past”.
“Lack of progress” on Turkey opening its ports would have “serious
implications concerning the negotiation process and could even stop
it,” the report said.
The report’s author, Camiel Eurlings, a centre-Right Dutch MEP, said
the Turkish government was heading “toward a cliff”.
The report was immediately rejected by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the
Turkish prime minister, who said it was “unacceptable” for any extra
conditions to be attached to Turkey’s EU entry.
“You cannot change the rules halfway through the match,” Mr Erdogan
said. “The game has started and the rules are there.”
Earlier this week there was an angry reaction in Turkey to comments
from José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, saying
that further enlargement of the EU should wait until member states
agreed to revive major changes to the internal power structures of
the EU, originally contained in the now defunct EU constitution.
From: Baghdasarian