Author: Boshkezenian Garik

National unity
Yerkir
29 April 05
On April 24, the Armenians all over the world showed a unique national
unity: both in Armenia and in the small and large Armenian communities
throughout the world the Armenians commemorated the 90th anniversary
of the Genocide.
There was one idea that united all of us and it was the idea of
denunciation and reparation. This unique manifestation of national
unity raised a logical and natural question – if we can unite around
pain and demands for restoration of justice, what then prevents us, the
Armenians, from uniting around the goal of creating a strong Armenia?
If we see no division lines on April 24, what prevents us from
ignoring those division lines in the process of creation of a powerful
Armenia? Is it not the strong Armenia that will protect us, the
Armenians from the possible blows of history? Is it not the strong
Armenia that will be the best guarantor for us to commemorate the
innocent victims?

Kirkus Reviews
May 1, 2005
THE PROPHET OF ZONGO STREET;
Stories
Ten lively, polished stories from Ghanian-American writer Ali about
the transformation of Africa from old country to new.
Ali’s tales alternate between a hometown setting of Zongo Street–a
densely populated neighborhood of Ghana’s bustling city of Kumasi,
where the locals toil as small merchants–and the ethnic
neighborhoods of New York City, where young Ghanian immigrants strive
to make modern wages in predominantly white America. First, on Zongo
Street, the 91-year-old Uwargida, one of the four widows of the Hausa
King, shuffles out nightly to regale the neighborhood children with
scary mythological tales, such as the story of the eternal dueling
between the devil boy and the priest in “The Story of Day and Night.”
In “Mallam Sile,” the eponymous bachelor tea-seller on Zongo Street
marries the big, strong lady named Abeeba, whose daunting brawn
intimidates her husband’s customers into settling their bills. “The
Manhood Test” recounts hilariously the poignant events leading up to
a husband’s having to prove his virility to his wife publicly while
the old-lady lafiree judges. In “Man Pass Man,” the local swindler’s
mean tricks on people lead to a terrifying interview with the devil
himself. Transplanted to America, Ghanians have to tread carefully
amid the entrenched racism of whites. In “Rachmaninov,” a young
Ghanian artist hooks up drunkenly with a rich blonde American woman
in the city and spends a terrifying night trying to sober her up
rather than call 911 and risk a racial backlash. A Brooklyn musician
in “The True Aryan” has to endure a tedious lecture in multicultural
empathy by his Armenian cab driver; while the vulnerable domestic
worker in “Live-in,” Shatu, a widow seeking work to support her three
children back in Ghana, undergoes hostility from her elderly Long
Island charge and untoward attention from her employer.
Overall, Ali shows an almost anthropological interest in his
characters, and a keen eye for the humanistic detail: a richly
rewarding cultural study.
Publication Date: 08/01/2005
Publisher: Amistad/HarperCollins
Stage: Adult
Star: 1
ISBN: 0-06-052354-9
Price: $22.95
Author: Ali, Mohammed Naseehu

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
April 30, 2005, Saturday
11:17:39 Central European Time
Campaign saves Indian elephant from Armenian zoo
New Delhi
After a four-month campaign by Indian animal lovers, the government
relented and said it would not gift a baby elephant to Armenia, it
was reported Saturday.
The federal government had promised to send a six-year-old elephant,
named Veda, to join the only male elephant in Armenia’s zoo, the
Hindu newspaper reported.
Veda was born in the Bannerghatta national park outside the southern
Indian city of Bangalore, and locals complained she would not survive
the freezing temperatures of Armenia.
Animal lovers said it would be cruel to separate baby Veda from her
grandmother Suvarna, mother Vanita, brother Gokula and sister Gowri,
as elephants are very social animals.
They wrote letters to Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and held protests outside the park that is
Veda’s home. Their campaign was supported by the Britain-based Born
Free Foundation.
On Friday, the government relented and said Veda could stay with her
family in Bangalore. School children and animal rights activists
celebrated at the park, distributed sweets and offered prayers at a
local temple.
They held banners that said, “Elephantine thanks to the PM” and “Veda
saved from a cruel fate”.
In 1999, Armenian officials asked the Indian government for a female
elephant for their lone male originally from Moscow. In 2003, then
Indian premier Atal Behari Vajpayee promised them an elephant during
his visit to Armenia.
The lone 15-year-old elephant was also from India and very lonely in
the Armenian zoo. “Maybe he should be brought back to India,” said
animal rights activist Suparna Baksi-Ganguly, who led the campaign
for Veda. dpa ar sc

PRESS RELEASE
April 29, 2005
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]
AUA Hosts Human Rights Legal Expert Dr. Alfred de Zayas
Yerevan – On April 22, 2005, AUA’s School of Political Science and
International Affairs hosted a public lecture by Dr. Alfred de Zayas,
historian and prominent expert in international and human rights law,
entitled “International Law and the Armenian Genocide.’
Dr. Alfred de Zayas, who has had a distinguished career spanning 20 years in
the United Nations, and in his most recent position was the Senior Human
Rights Officer at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights from
2000 to 2003, has published an in-depth report on the applicability of the
United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide to the Armenian Genocide.
According to Zayas, a determination of the crime of Genocide by the
International Court of Justice would facilitate the settlement of claims for
restitution, including the identification of cultural and other properties
confiscated and destroyed…that should be returned to their legal owners, the
Armenian people and the Armenian Church.
`A first step is the necessary recognition by Turkey of the historical
reality of the Genocide and of its responsibility as the successor state to
the Ottoman Empire. For as long as Turkey persists in its policy of
negation, it has no place in the community of European States ‘ said Zayas.
`Laws do not get implemented by themselves. You need state organs to
implement them. In the International Court of Justice, those organs are the
European Union, the Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, and
the United Nations.’ Dr. Zayas is currently a visiting professor of law at
universities in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and Spain.
AUA’s Graduate School of Political Science and International Affairs offers
students a variety of courses dealing with the political environment of the
21st Century. The School’s primary focus is to provide analytical, reasoning
and problem solving skills through the study of international, comparative,
and domestic governmental institutions and processes. The Master of
Political Science and International Affairs aims to provide students with
the knowledge and perspectives needed to function effectively in public
service, the private sector and as responsible citizens.
*******************
The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit
Photo: Dr. Alfred de Zayas speaks at AUA.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
| 17:11:06 | 28-04-2005 | Politics |
ARMENIA ALONG WITH ALGERIA
Press in Armenia is not free. Freedom House has issued its annual report, in
which Armenian press is rated as `Not Free’ in 2003-2004.
Freedom House’s annual press freedom survey has tracked trends in media
freedom worldwide since 1980. Now covering 194 countries and territories,
Freedom of the Press: A Global Survey of Media Independence provides
numerical rankings and rates each country’s media as `Free,’ `Partly Free’
or `Not Free.’ This year the organization rated the press of 75 countries as
`Free’, 50 as `Partly Free,’ and 69 as `Not Free’. Out of 27 states of the
former USSR and Central and Eastern Europe (including Armenia) press in not
free in 10 states, free in 8 states and partly free in 9 states. Russia and
Azerbaijan are rated as `Not Free’, Georgia as `Partly Free’. In the Baltic
states press is free.
According to the report, Armenia’s rating makes 64 points. To note, last
year Armenia occupied the 135th position. In 2005 it is one point higher and
shares the 134th with Algeria.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/28/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) April 23rd Turkish Consulate Protest 2) Kansas 38th State to Recognize Armenian Genocide 3) Turkey Says Genocide Campaign Blocks Ties with Armenia 1) April 23rd Turkish Consulate Protest LOS ANGELES--Up to 4,000 demonstrators gathered outside the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles on April 23, demanding Turkey recognize its genocide of Armenians in 1915. "The fact that the majority of the participants was youth shows that the youth is still seeking justice and will continue to seek justice, not only from the Turkish government but from the US government as well," said Director of the 2005 Protest, Tro Tchekidjian. The protest, which has taken place now for close to thirty years, attracts thousands of Armenian-Americans, particularly Armenian youth who converge to demand justice for the Armenian genocide. It was organized by the western region of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), under the auspices of the 90th anniversary Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee. "All of AYF's programs, projects, and events serve this great cause either directly or indirectly," explained Tchekidjian. "The lives and memories of our 1.5 million ancestors can never be replaced," said western region AYF chairman, Shant Baboujian. "However, we will be relentless in pursuit of our just rights--from the international recognition and condemnation of the Genocide, to our lands in Western Armenia, and the proper allocations of reparations to the Armenians," he explained. The Armenian Youth Federation of Western United States strives to serve Armenian American Communities west of the Mississippi through education, athletics, political activism, cultural activities and social settings. To learn more about the Armenian Youth Federation please log on to 2) Kansas 38th State to Recognize Armenian Genocide WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)--Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas has issued a proclamation marking the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, making the Sunflower State the 38th US state to go on record commemorating this crime against humanity. "Armenian Americans very much appreciate Governor Sebelius' leadership in adding Kansas to the list of US states that have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "We are hopeful that the growing pressure on the White House--from state governments and US legislators--will impress upon the President that he should not stand in the way of Congressional legislation marking this crime against humanity." In the proclamation, issued on April 20, Gov. Sebelius proclaims April 24, 2005, "Armenian Remembrance Day." She notes that April 24th marks "the ninetieth anniversary of the genocide and deportations of countless Armenians in Ottoman Turkey; this great sorrow continues to haunt not only Armenians but also their neighbors in Turkey." Governor Sebelius goes on to "salute the modern nation of Armenia, and Armenians everywhere," noting that "Kansas is grateful for the contributions of Armenian Americans who have chosen Kansas as their adopted home. They have employed wisdom, courage and centuries old traditions to enrich the character of our state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the arts." In 2004, Governor Sebelius had issued a proclamation marking June 18, 2004 as "Kansas-Armenia Partnership Day." The measure called attention to the special relationship between the Kansas National Guard and Armenia, which began in 2003 as part of the State's Partnership Program. That program pairs developing nations in Europe, South America and Asia with the National Guard in states and territories to foster mutual interests and establish long-term relationships. During a June 18, 2004 special ceremony held at the State Defense Building in Topeka, State Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. (KS) Tod Bunting noted, "Our Constitution starts 'We, the People of the United States...' Through this program, it is 'We the People' of Kansas who are reaching out in a spirit of cooperation to the people of Armenia to show them who we are and how we live and to learn from them who they are and how they live." 3) Turkey Says Genocide Campaign Blocks Ties with Armenia Yerevan Wants Relations Normalized without Pre-conditions (AFP)--Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday an Armenian campaign to have the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks recognized internationally as genocide is an obstacle to establishing formal relations between the two neighbors. "Before we make a political decision [on normalizing ties], there is a very important issue that should be resolved and this is the problems stemming from history," Erdogan told reporters. He was commenting on a letter from Armenian President Robert Kocharian, who accepted, in principle, a Turkish proposal to create a joint committee to study the genocide, but said that Ankara should first normalize relations with Yerevan without pre-conditions. Turkey demands that Armenia abandon its campaign for the recognition of the World War I massacres as genocide before formal diplomatic relations can be established between the two countries. In 1993, Turkey also shut its border with Armenia in a show of solidarity with its close ally Azerbaijan, which was at war with Armenia. Erdogan stressed Turkey had opened its archives to all historians to study whether the massacres constituted a genocide, and urged Yerevan to follow suit. "Let historians and experts work in the archives. If the outcome of these studies require us to question our history, we will do that," he said. Armenians across the world Sunday marked the 90th anniversary of the beginning of the genocide, which have already been recognized as genocide by a number of countries. Ankara fears that the genocide allegations could fuel anti-Turkish sentiment in international public opinion at a time when it is vying for membership in the European Union. Some EU politicians are also pressing Turkey to address the genocide claims in what Ankara sees a politically-motivated campaign to impede its EU bid. In a related move, the Turkish parliament has unilaterally called off a series of meetings with lawmakers from the Polish parliament next month in protest at the latter's acknowledgment as genocide of the killings of Armenians during World War I, a Turkish source said Wednesday. Turkish parliament speaker Bulent Arinc also sent a letter to his Polish counterpart Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz on Wednesday to denounce the resolution adopted on April 19, which condemned the Armenian genocide between 1915 and 1917. "We learned with great regret and disappointment of the (Polish) resolution," Arinc said in his letter. "The resolution has outraged members of the Turkish parliament. The Turkish people are deeply saddened by a friendly country unilaterally interpreting tragic incidents affecting both peoples," he added. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Southeast European media roundup on EU-related issues 21-27 Apr 05
BBC Monitoring Service – United Kingdom
Apr 28, 2005

For queries and feedback please contact Duty Editor, Europe, on
0186254 (internal) or 0118 948 6254 (external), or email
[email protected]
The following is a round-up of media reports on EU-related issues from
applicant countries in Southeastern Europe on 21-77 Apr 05
BULGARIA
Accession Treaty
Akhmed Dogan, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, a junior
partner in the coalition government, said after the signing of the
Accession Treaty, that many difficulties lay ahead but that the main
task of the future government would be to speed up the increase in the
living standards of Bulgarians.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg-Gotha thanked the European
partners, the governments and parliaments of the member states for
their support and assistance throughout the accession process and
expressed hope that the member states would ratify the treaty of
accession in due time to allow for the actual accession of Bulgaria
and Romania on 1 January 2007.
(Khorizont Radio, Sofia, in Bulgarian 1300 gmt 26 Apr 05; BGNES web
site, Sofia, in Bulgarian 1701 gmt 25 Apr 05; BTA web site, Sofia, in
English 25 Apr 05)
Nuclear plant
Commenting on the issue of the reactors of the Kozloduy nuclear power
plant, two of which are to be closed at the insistence of the EU but
in the face of opposition within Bulgaria, Akhmed Dogan said Bulgaria
would have to do everything possible to keep its place in nuclear
power generation. According to him, raising this issue is linked to
the coming parliamentary elections but it would annoy the European
Council and the European Parliament..
(BGNES web site, Sofia, in Bulgarian 1701 gmt 25 Apr 05)
CROATIA
Croatia/The Hague
Prime Minister Ivo Sanader reiterated that he could not say whether
fugitive Gen Ante Gotovina is in Croatia on the basis of the available
information. Asked in an interview with the BBC Croatian Service what
he would do if he saw Gotovina in the street, he said: “Quite
logically, he would immediately be extradited to The Hague.” At
present he had no information about whether Gotovina was being
protected by the Croatian security and intelligence services, but he
had replaced two heads of the security services due to insufficient
cooperation, he said.
Speaking to journalists after talks with EU leaders in Luxembourg,
Sanader denied that he had had a “show-down” with chief Hague
prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, who had also attended the meeting. Sanader
said he would request information from The Hague indicating that
Gotovina was either in Croatia or Bosnia-Hercegovina, adding that
Zagreb has been in “daily contact” with the tribunal. He said he had
not expected the talks to produce anything new, but that the
information he had conveyed in Luxembourg had been “well-received”.
President Mesic also said he was certain Gotovina was not in Croatia
and he called on him to surrender to the Hague tribunal: “If Kosovo
Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who certainly deserves more credit
for the liberation of Kosovo than Gotovina does in Croatia, could
surrender to the Hague tribunal, Gotovina should do the same”.
Mesic also said after chairing the weekly National Security Council
session that the relevant Croatian authorities were stepping up
efforts to resolve all outstanding issues in connection with General
Gotovina and Croatia’s cooperation with the Hague tribunal, adding: “A
whole network is at work here and that network is being dealt with”.
(HINA news agency, Zagreb, in English 0915 gmt 26 Apr 05; Croatian
Radio, Zagreb, in Croatian 1300 gmt 27 Apr 05; HINA in English 0926
gmt 26 Apr 05; 1513 gmt 23 April)
Croatia/EU/regional cooperation
The first session of the Council of Europe-sponsored Adriatic
Euroregion has been held in the Croatian coastal town of Pula. The
Adriatic Euroregion includes the coastal areas of Italy, Slovenia,
Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Serbia-Montenegro and Albania and is
aimed at establishing networks of cooperation and foundations for
joint EU-funded projects.
(HINA news agency, Zagreb, in English 1150 gmt 22 Apr 05)
Croatia/EU/UK
A commentary in the Globus weekly said that “everybody in the EU
understands that British interests stand behind” the postponement of
EU-Croatia talks, or rather, “the interests of the part of its
leadership that does not want Croatia to enter the EU independently,
without the other republics of the former Yugoslavia, especially
Serbia”.
It says that “the utterly cold attitude of British diplomats,
especially Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Minister for Europe Denis
MacShane” stems from the fact that Serbia has always been “Britain’s
natural ally and a country on which Britain relied, considering it to
be the leader in the West Balkans region”.
The weekly said that Croatia should try to open negotiations on EU
accession before 1 July, when Britain assumes the EU presidency, since
Jack Straw and Denis MacShane “would certainly do everything in their
power to have Croatia enter the EU in about 2012, together with Serbia
and Macedonia”.
“Croatia would be a hostage to Serbia and its millions of unsolved
problems. That is why it is important for talks to begin in June, so
all the problems will be left to Serbians to solve without an innocent
Croatia being blackmailed along with them,” the weekly said.
(Globus, Zagreb, in Croatian 5 Apr 05)
MACEDONIA
Macedonia/EU accession
“Integration of the countries of the region into the Euro-Atlantic
structures is our mutual goal,” Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva said
at a meeting with NATO and EU ambassadors. “Enhanced economic presence
of the EU in the Balkans will speed up the integration processes of
the countries in the region,” she added.
According to Theodor Waigel, Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski’s adviser
for financial and economic issues, European Commissioner for
Enlargement Olli Rehn “intends to visit Macedonia before the European
Commission makes a decision on the country’s candidate status” this
autumn. “If the government and parliament proceed with the necessary
reforms, Macedonia has solid chances to become candidate country for
EU membership,” he added.
The Macedonian government received an additional 189 questions from
the European Commission, referring to incomplete answers mainly
regarding agriculture, labour and social policy, economy, justice,
finance, internal affairs and foreign policy. The European Commission
expects to receive answers to the additional questions by 10 May 2005.
(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1202 gmt 26 Apr 05, 1919 gmt 20
Apr 05, 1242 gmt 22 Apr 05)
Macedonia/The Hague
Justice Minister Meri Mladenovska-Gjorgjievska visited in Scheveningen
the Macedonian nationals Ljube Boskovski and Johan Tarculovski,
indicted by the Hague tribunal for violation of laws of war in
Ljuboten, where seven ethnic Albanian villagers were killed in August
2001. Mladenovska-Gjorgjievska told them the government had decided to
allocate funds for covering part of their defence costs. The
government will also cover the expenses of their families for four
visits to The Hague.
(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1422 gmt 26 Apr 05)
The Hague Prosecution completed the court procedure for four cases
regarding the 2001 conflict in Macedonia and will return them to
Macedonia, Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte said.
The cases on the shutting of the Lipkovo dam, the abuse of Mavrovo
workers, the Neprosteno mass graves and the National Liberation Army
leadership will be returned to Macedonia.
(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1357 gmt 25 Apr 05)
Macedonia/bilateral relations
“Relations with Russia are Macedonia’s priority,” President Branko
Crvenkovski said, adding that the two nations “have been connected by
a deep, historical friendship, and both countries express strong
political will to develop such relations in all spheres”.
(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1447 gmt 25 Apr 05)
President Branko Crvenkovski congratulated Bulgaria and Romania on the
occasion of the two countries signing the EU Accession
Treaty. “Macedonia will continue on its European road and it expects
new quality in relations and an enrichment in its cooperation with the
EU,” the president said. “Bearing in mind joint efforts for a united,
democratic and prosperous Europe, I am convinced that the cooperation
with these two friendly states will not only resume, but will also be
intensified,” he added.
Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov said that “the process of EU
enlargement is irreversible and the Republic of Macedonia must be
included in it”.
(Makfax news agency, Skopje, in Macedonian 1224 27 Apr 05; MIA news
agency, Skopje, in English 1340 gmt 27 Apr 05)
Macedonia welcomes a positive assessment of the Feasibility Study
granted to Serbia-Montenegro, Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski said at a
meeting with Serbia-Montenegro Foreign Minister Vuk
Draskovic. According to Buckovski, Macedonia will keep on supporting
Serbia-Montenegro’s efforts for the start of negotiations on the
Stabilization and Association Agreement.
Asked about Belgrade’s stance on Macedonia’s dispute with Greece over
the name, Draskovic said that Belgrade had no such problem with
Skopje. “No-one in Serbia-Montenegro is questioning the name, the
language and the state,” Draskovic said.
(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1604 gmt 22 Apr 05; Makfax news
agency, Skopje, in English 1106 gmt 22 Apr 05)
President Branko Crvenkovski met Adnan Terzic, chairman of the
Bosnia-Hercegovina Council of Ministers. Terzic told Crvenkovski that
Bosnia-Hercegovina hoped to receive a positive opinion for
negotiations on signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement
with the EU. He pointed out that Macedonia’s experiences will be of
great assistance to Bosnia-Hercegovina.
(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1227 gmt 21 Apr 05)
ROMANIA
EU accession treaty
During the signing ceremony of Romania’s Accession Treaty to the
European Union, President Traian Basescu said that Romania’s goal was
not to become a mere new EU member. “Romania is preparing itself to
play a full part in shaping up a common future and play it
enthusiastically and according to the rules agreed upon. We will
assume our share of responsibility and solidarity. We can contribute
to economic growth, the security and cohesion of the union, because we
are taking seriously our part in increasing security at a large
portion of the EU eastern borders, and because we are sharing the
vital interest of strengthening the Union as a space of freedom,
security and justice,” he said.
(Rompres web site, Bucharest, in English 1740 gmt 25 Apr 05)
Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu said that it was a truly
historic act. “The signing of the Accession Treaty to the European
Union marks the country’s European success, the same as the accession
to NATO meant its Euro-Atlantic success,” Ungureanu said.
European integration Minister Ene Dinga said that Romania had to
successfully finalize its accession process on schedule. “The
following 20 months will be highly difficult. But there is political
resolve as well as technical and financial support for the commitments
to be met according to the schedule and the standards agreed upon,”
Dinga said.
(Rompres news agency, Bucharest, in English 1702 gmt 25 Apr 05)
Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said there were still tasks
ahead of Romania. “… Many reforms are still to be implemented, many
things are still to be done. It won’t be an easy job, but it won’t be
impossible to meet all requirements and all commitments that we have
undertaken. What we should all keep in mind is that we don’t make
reforms for EU’s sake, but Romania’s future. Meeting the European
requirements is the shortest way to modernize Romania and make it
catch up in its development process,” he said.
(Rompres news agency, Bucharest, in English 1140 gmt 25 Apr 05)
Relations with Ukraine
Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu told Ukrainian President Viktor
Yushchenko that Romanian wanted a partnership with Ukraine, in which
Romania could support Ukraine on its path towards EU and NATO
membership. He said Romania could offer training to Ukrainian experts
on issues related to EU accession. He referred to the opportunities EU
funds offer for cross-border and regional development projects.
(Rompres news agency, Bucharest, in English 0638 gmt 22 Apr 05)
Chamber of Deputies’ Deputy Speaker Daniela Popa said that the
Romanian parliament backed Ukraine’s democratization and stability as
well as deeper cooperation and partnership relations on the path to
Euro-Atlantic integration. Popa thanked the Ukrainian president for
its support in Romania’s EU bid. “In the name of the Romanian
parliament and Romanian people we thank you for the remarks on the
progress made by Romania in its EU integration moves. Your pro-Western
attitude is often strongly underscored and it has stirred interest
both in Eastern and Western Europe,” she said. She said Romania had
confidence in the European future of the neighbouring country. “Based
on the experience gained, we wish to offer Ukraine our support on the
way to the European family. We firmly believe that the visit to
Romania will contribute to the further development of the cooperation
and friendship relations between our two countries and peoples,” Popa
said.
(Rompres news agency, Bucharest, in English 1444 gmt 21 Apr 05)
President Traian Basescu and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor
Yushchenko agreed to resolve the issues between the two states at
bilateral level, without taking them to the court in the Hague. A
joint commission will to be set up headed by the two presidents
themselves. The commission will deal with the most difficult issues:
the Dniester region conflict, the issue of the national minorities in
both countries and the divergence concerning the Bystre canal.
The two presidents also supported the Republic of Moldova’s
pro-European orientation and agree that a quick solution to the
Dniester region conflict would lead to the consolidation of the
security in the region and in Europe.
They confirm in their joint statement the interest in enhancing
cooperation actions in multilateral forums and international
organizations in order to strengthen the stability of democracy and
security in Europe, in the Black Sea region and worldwide in
partnership with the EU and NATO.
(Rompres news agency, Bucharest, in English 1359 gmt 21 Apr 05),
(Rompres news agency, Bucharest, in English 1444 gmt 21 Apr 05)
UK/visas
Romanians will be allowed to travel to the UK without visas only after
resolving the illegal migration issue. UK Ambassador in Bucharest
Quinton Quayle said that visas would be lifted before Romania joins
the EU.
(Rompres news agency, Bucharest, in English 1203 gmt 21 Apr 05)
TURKEY
EU criticism
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected allegations that Turkey
started slacking after the 17 December EU summit, at which it got a
date for starting EU entry talks. He also said that Turkey had not
been supported by its European friends on the issue of
counterterrorism.
“There is no question of any slacking on our part. On the contrary, if
there is any slacking at the moment, it is on the other side. We
waited for a return letter from them over the additional protocol
[extending Turkey’s customs union with the EU to cover the new
members, including Cyprus]. We received a let ter about the additional
protocol, to which we sent our response, and now we are waiting for a
return letter,” he said.
The prime minister also criticized Europe for depicting certain
isolated incidents as shortcomings in implementation. “We are very
determined in this regard. If there is negative behaviour on this
subject – and this happens from time to time – we address the matter
immediately. Our Interior Ministry and our Justice Ministry have
always taken this stand and will continue to do so in the future as
well,” he said.
(NTV television, Istanbul, in Turkish 0500 gmt 27 Apr 05)
Luxembourg meeting
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said during Turkey-EU Association
Council meeting in Luxembourg that the Turkish government was
determined to implement reforms comprehensively and
effectively. Diplomatic sources said Gul told EU officials that Turkey
was aware of its deficiency in the reform process and that the
government would remedy these deficiencies.
Gul noted that the government was still assessed the question of
re-opening the Heybeliada Greek Orthodox Seminary, adding that fight
against torture and maltreatment had priority in the agenda of the
government.
Referring to the efforts of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots to resolve the
Cyprus issue, Gul said that Turkey was not the party which should be
encouraged to take further steps for resolution.
Touching on Turkish-Greek relations during the meeting, Gul said
Turkey was determined to resolve differences of opinion on the Aegean
issue on the basis of mutual interests.
(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1828 gmt 26 Apr 05)
Cyprus/customs protocol
The European Union called on Turkey to sign the additional protocol of
the Ankara Agreement to extend the agreement to new members of EU as
soon as possible. A statement titled “Position of the European Union”
was published after the 44th meeting of EU-Turkey Association Council
held in Luxembourg. It was stressed in the statement that “the
signature of the protocol, its ratification and its subsequent
implementation would constitute important steps forward towards
normalization of the relations between Turkey and all EU member
states”, including the Greek Cypriot side. The EU stressed that it
welcomed the exchange of letters with Turkey which confirmed its
approval of signing the additional protocol.
(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1356 gmt 26 Apr 05)
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Turkish side’s
determination in its EU bid should be understood well by European
countries and they should avoid statements which could endanger this
process and hurt the Turkish nation. “Pointing out to some individual
incidents as a lack of implementation is not a fair attitude. What it
does matter is to use legal means to cope with such negative
incidents. All the investigations are being launched in Turkey in such
cases, and nobody can deny that,” Erdogan said.
“We are sorry to see that some of our European friends accuse Turkey
by basing their accusations on the remarks of some circles who
constantly assume ideological approach to incidents, rather than
taking into consideration the official and serious institutions of the
country. I hope our European friends can understand well Turkey’s
determination in its EU bid and avoid from making statements which can
endanger this process,” he added.
(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1154 gmt 26 Apr 05)
Kurdish issue
According to diplomatic sources, EU ambassadors warned the mayor of
Diyarbakir, Osman Baydemir, to avoid the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and
its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan. The ambassadors urged Baydemir to
help bring about permanent peace. “The ambassadors reminded Baydemir
that future tension in the region will receive a huge reaction from
the EU,” a Turkish diplomat said.
(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1134 gmt 22 Apr 05)
Armenian genocide issue
NGOs from eastern Anatolia sent letters about the Armenian genocide
issue to 25 embassies in Ankara, including those of several EU
countries. “It is really sad that the modern world considers the
Ottoman government’s decision to relocate a portion of its Armenian
population as a genocide. The modern world must be aware that those
governments supporting the thesis of a genocide will not be forgiven
by history,” the Erzurum Economic and Social Research and Assistance
Foundation member of the executive board, Vahdet Nafiz Aksu said.
(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0932 gmt 24 Apr 05)
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted to the Polish ambassador’s
statements in which he recognized what had happened to the Armenians
as genocide, saying that he was upset by the remarks and that Poland
should not have done what it did to Turkey.
(NTV television, Istanbul, in Turkish 0600 gmt 24 Apr 05)
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan said that the genocide
allegations were not a vital issue in terms of diplomatic and economic
relations with Turkey, adding that the two issues should be addressed
separately. Markaryan also said that he did not want third countries
to interfere in relations between the two countries. The Armenian
prime minister remarked that third countries were also responsible for
the incidents experienced during World War I. Referring to a letter
from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Markaryan said that it was
not logical for historians from the two sides to discuss this matter.
(NTV television, Istanbul, in Turkish 1300 gmt 21 Apr 05)
Turkish parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc sent a letter to his Polish
counterpart, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, condemning a Polish parliament
resolution recognizing what had happened to the Armenians as genocide
and a planned visit by Polish MPs to the Turkish parliament was
cancelled. “Despite these bona fide initiatives of our country, the
resolution adopted by the Polish parliament has been a very
unfortunate development regarding our bilateral relations. It is not
possible to link this resolution to the long friendly relations
between our nations,” Arinc said. The Turkish parliament also decided
not to send a representative to the “parliamentary marathon and
semi-marathon championships” held in Poland.
(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1317 gmt 27 Apr 05)
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Armenia to open its archives
as Turkey did when commenting on Armenian President Robert Kocharyan’s
letter. Erdogan said that political scientists and historians should
work on this problem, and stressed that Turkey would examine its
history if necessary. “We are taking the political steps. There were
no flights from (Armenian capital of) Yerevan to (Turkish commercial
hub of) Istanbul when I became the prime minister (of Turkey). We
opened an air corridor. And I do not have any problems with our
Armenian citizens. Our Culture and Tourism Ministry is also exerting
necessary efforts regarding cultural heritage, and so we expect the
similar steps from our interlocutors,” Erdogan said.
(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1310 gmt 27 Apr 05)
The Council of Europe extended strong support to Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal to form a joint commission of Turkish and
Armenian historians to examine the Armenian genocide allegations. “We
call on Turkey and Armenia to carry out a joint search on the
incidents which occurred in the Ottoman Empire during the World War I,
using their historical documents in their national archives. Turkish
and Armenian people are interpreting this historical period
differently, and this different interpretation obstructed improvement
of bilateral relations,” said the statement.
(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1219 gmt 27 Apr 05)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #076, 28/04/2005
Neighbors
PACE ‘DEEPLY CONCERNED’ ABOUT POLITICAL SITUATION IN AZERBAIJAN
The Monitoring Committee at PACE expressed “deep concern” about “the current
political situation in Azerbaijan on the eve of the parliamentary elections
in Azerbaijan.”
According to Mediamax, the statement of the PACE Monitoring Committee said
that “there are not some basic preconditions in Azerbaijan, in particular,
the freedom of the speech and the right to hold peaceful rallies, that are
required for holding free and just elections, six months before the
parliamentary elections in that country.”
The PACE Monitoring Committee stated that “in fact, the Azeri opposition has
no opportunity to unfold propaganda of its ideas among the electors.” The
statement emphasized that “in Azerbaijan the independent journalists are
still being prosecuted, while after the murder of Elmar Huseynov, a
well-known journalist, they also fear for their lives.”
“The prospects of huge incomes that will flow into the country after the
construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Jehyan oil pipeline, as well as the atmosphere
of the large-scale corruption increase the risk of defending the power and
the money, sparing no efforts. On this background that can hardly be
compared with the situation in Georgia and Ukraine, the insinuation of the
term “revolution” can cause unprecedented consequences from both sides,” the
statement said.
The PACE Monitoring Committee emphasized that the coming elections in
Azerbaijan “will be a decisive test for democracy, especially on the
background of the violations fixed in the course of the presidential
elections in the October of 2003.”

AZG Armenian Daily #076, 28/04/2005
Armenian Genocide
‘TURKISH SOCIETY HAS LOST ITS MEMORY’
“If I had not come to Germany, I would not probably have become a writer and
would not have written a book with an ending featuring Yerevan, the Memorial
of Armenian Genocide of 1915. And I could not find courage and strength to
stand today before the Ararat and speak”.
“When I came to Germany in 1991, I left behind a country that had more human
rights violations than it has today. There was a civil war between the
Turkish state and Kurds. And there was not even a single book that would not
falsify the Armenian Genocide. I knew that the Turkish society, to whom I
belonged, has lost its memory”.
These are the words of Turkish writer Dogan Aqhanlə who attempts
through his activities and literature to evoke the historic memory of his
nation.
Dogan Aqhanlə is now resident of Cologne and works at Cologne’s Appeal
Against Racial Discrimination organization. After the military coup in
Turkey in 1980, Aqhanlə was thrown to Istanbul jail as a political
prisoner and underwent torture and humiliation. He was expatriate to Germany
in 1991 for his political views. Istanbul’s Belge publishing house put out
his “The Disappeared Seas” trilogy in 1998-99. The first two books are
delineation of the last 3 decades of Turkey’s history and the lost
generation; the third one entitled “The Judges of Doomsday” deals with
Christian minorities of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of sultan Abdul
Hamid II and the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Sevnem Hatun, protagonist of the
book, is a pregnant woman clad in man’s clothes who is a Christian survivor
of Turkish massacres who brings her son up in the spirit of Islam to secure
his future. The latter meets another genocide survivor — Anahit.
Developments of the novel bring them to Yerevan, to the Memorial of Genocide
Victims.
During the meeting at the Writers’ Union on April 25 Dogan Aqhanlə
presented his political views, mainly concerning the Armenian Genocide.
Grigor Janikian told the writer that his ancestors were from Western Armenia
and he is homesick for the forefathers’ land and asked whether the Turkish
writer did not want to return to his birthplace. Dogan Aqhanlə said
that there can be no comparison between Armenians who were extirpated from
their motherland and him who was forced out for his political views. Kurdish
writer Karlen Chachan appreciated that the guest recognizes the fact of the
Armenian Genocide, emphasized that no other nation treated Kurds as
Armenians did and said that today’s Turkey implements anti-Kurdish policy.
Turkish writer accepted that he is a protector of human rights first of all
and finds that the Turkish intelligentsia is in shame cap-a-pie. He
considers important that young Turks that live today in Germany, which has
committed genocide, acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
As a German citizen, Dogan Aqhanlə feels shame that this country has
not so far recognized the Genocide. He says that German archives are open
before every researcher. As regards Turkish archives, they are in chaotic
condition and there is no document containing mitigating circumstances.
“My deeds are not those of a hero, I merely establish the truth. We should
do this earlier and on a wide-scale level. It’s not my business whether the
Turks will recognize or not. I am concerned with working among the younger
generation. Younger classes of Turkish society have something to do for the
Armenians”.
By Melania Badalian

DELEGATION OF ARMENIAN REGION OF ARAGATSOTN ON THREE-DAY VISIT TO
LENINGRAD REGION
YEREVAN, APRIL 27. ARMINFO. Today a delegation of the Aragatsotn
region, Armenia, headed by Governor Gagik Geozalyan has left for
Leningrad region, Russia, on a three-day visit.
The program of the visit provides of a meeting of with Governor
Valeriy Serdyukov, a visit to the local Prosecutor’s Office, and
Leningrad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The delegation also
intends to visit local large enterprises, in particular, the trade
complex “IKEA,” the company “Merlony,” production union “Gatchinskiy
promkombinat.” The delegation consists of Prosecutor of Aragatsotn
region Hmayak Zakoyan and Chairman of the Court of the First Instance
Suren Mnoyan. To note, on November 21 2001 an agreement on principles
of trade and economic cooperation was signed between the government of
RF region of Leningrad and the administration of the RA region of
Aragatsotn. The key directions of cooperation are the sphere of
agriculture tourism,. Culture, legal order and security provision.