Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE TO LEAVE FOR KOSOVO
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 13 2006
The sixth relief of the Armenian peacekeeping force is leaving for
Kosovo. The ceremony of seeing off the Armenian contingent will take
place November 14 at the regiment of the capital, reports ARKA.
The memorandum on participation in Kosovo peacekeeping as part of
the Greek contingent was signed September 3, 2003.

Turkey and Europe
Pulling the rug out from under?
Nov 9th 2006 | ANKARA AND ISTANBUL
>From The Economist print edition
Another European Commission report, another crisis in the European Union’s
relations with Turkey
“THE reform demands of the great powers never end.” So wrote Abulhamid II, a
sultan who ruled the Ottoman empire in its dying days. This belief, shared
by millions of citizens of modern Turkey, will have been strengthened by the
European Commission’s latest progress report on Turkey’s membership,
unveiled in Brussels on November 8th.
The document may not lead instantly to a “train wreck”, the term coined by
the European Union’s enlargement commissioner, Olli Rehn, for a decision to
suspend EU membership talks with Turkey. But it leaves the threat on the
table unless Turkey meets EU demands to open its ports and airports to
Greek-Cypriot ships and aircraft by mid-December, when European leaders hold
a summit in Brussels.
Scrambling to avert a complete breach, Turkey’s moderate Islamist prime
minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, hinted on November 6th that he might amend
(but not scrap) the infamous article 301 of the penal code that has allowed
the prosecution of scores of Turkish academics and writers on charges of
“insulting Turkishess”. The law was harshly criticised in the commission’s
report, as was continued repression of non-Muslim minorities and Kurds, and
inadequate civilian control over meddlesome generals. Indeed, praise for
Turkey’s broader reforms was noticeable chiefly by its absence.
Despite the looming crunch in December there are few signs that Mr Erdogan
will budge on Cyprus. Even as the report was being published, he repeated
that, so long as the economic isolation of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus
continues, there can be no change in Turkish policy. He added that a
solution to Cyprus could be reached only through United Nations mediation.
This seems to brush aside last-ditch attempts by Finland, which currently
holds the EU presidency, to forge a compromise deal before the summit.
Such a hardline stance provides fodder for Turkey’s detractors. Chief among
these is France, whose foreign minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy, told the
French parliament this week that the timetable for Turkey’s membership talks
should be “rethought” unless it recognised Cyprus by the end of the year.
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, also declared that, if Turkey refused
to shift on Cyprus, the situation would be “very, very serious”.
So are Turkey’s hopes of becoming the EU’s first mainly Muslim member buried
for good? Turkish and European officials have long acknowledged that the
negotiations may never lead to actual membership. But both sides have
stressed the importance of maintaining the process, as the best way of
fortifying Turkey’s wobbly democracy, keeping it on the path of reform and
anchoring it firmly to the West.
Yet these goals are starting to look shaky. Some pundits say that the
membership talks, launched a year ago, have in effect ground to a halt
already. Only one of the 33 “chapters” that Turkey must negotiate with the
EU (on science and technology) has been closed. Turkish intransigence over
Cyprus could prompt the Greek-Cypriots to wield their veto at any moment to
block talks on other chapters.
Some diplomats in Ankara blithely play down the latest crisis as a mere
“time out” that may help European leaders to win over domestic public
opinion, which is hostile to Turkish membership, and also let Mr Erdogan
court nationalist votes ahead of a parliamentary election next November.
Once the election is out of the way, the argument runs, a new government
will pick up the EU baton once again. Yet this is a risky strategy.
The prickly nationalism that has engulfed Turkey has sapped support for EU
membership. One poll suggests that it is down to a low of 32%, compared with
67% two years ago. At the same time, damping the hopes of 14m Turkish Kurds
for a better deal as citizens of an EU member might lead some to shift their
gaze longingly over the south-eastern border. There, under American
protection, the Iraqi Kurds have achieved near-independence, much to the
annoyance of Turkey. A pause in the EU process might also tempt Turkey’s
generals to try to reclaim the power they have lost in a wave of EU-inspired
reforms. And it could threaten the economic growth of recent years.
So long as Mr Erdogan displays the right kind of leadership, such doomsday
scenarios can still be avoided. Encouragingly, he declared this week that,
despite the ructions over Cyprus, his government remained committed to full
membership of the EU. But he is also considering his own future, and
especially whether to run for president when the incumbent, Ahmet Necdet
Sezer, retires in May. The lure of the country’s top post may prove
irresistible to a man whose first job as a teenager was selling stale buns
to help his family get by.
General Yasar Buyukanit, the hawkish chief of the general staff, and most
pro-secularists among Turkey’s business elite think this is a dreadful idea.
For them the presidency is the last secular check on Mr Erdogan and his
fellow Islamists in the ruling AK party. Upsetting this delicate balance
could, they fear, spell an end to Ataturk’s secular republic.
Such fears are surely exaggerated. But even some of Mr Erdogan’s closest
allies agree that the country would be better served by a more neutral
figure, whose spouse does not wear the Islamic headscarf. This would allow
the AK party to win re-election in November, keep the generals at bay and
let Mr Erdogan press ahead with his reforms. He would also need to avoid
pre-electoral populism and stick with the IMF’s austerity programme.
Speculation that, if spurned by Europe, Turkey would embrace the likes of
Iran and Russia is so far proving wrong. Indeed, Mr Erdogan and the top
brass are competing to repair Turkey’s strategic relationship with its
strongest ally, America. General Buyukanit is expected to travel to
Washington in February, where he will press the Americans to act against
separatist PKK Kurdish guerrillas based in northern Iraq. America’s refusal
to drive out the rebels, who have been fighting the Turkish army for more
than two decades, is the biggest source of anti-American feeling in Turkey.
It remains unclear whether the Bush administration can respond positively to
such demands, though it may be easier with a new defence secretary in place
of Donald Rumsfeld. What is certain is that America will continue to lobby
for Turkey’s EU membership. American pressure has played a crucial role in
keeping Turkey’s EU aspirations on track. It may prove just as necessary in
future.

Panorama.am
18:16 11/11/06

NATIONAL SECURITY SUPREME BOARD SECRETARY OF IRAN TO VISIT ARMENIA
Serzh Sargsyan, secretary of national security board
affiliated to the Armenian president and defense
minister of Armenia, received today Iranian ambassador
Alireza Hadighian. The parties discussed the upcoming
visit of Ali Larijani, national security supreme board
secretary of Iran, to Armenia. They also discussed
other bilateral issues./Panorama.am/

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Nov 11 2006
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DOES NOT HAVE GREAT EXPECTATIONS
The foreign minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanian will leave for
Brussels `without great expectations’ but with `certain interest’ to
meet with the Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammedyarov, reports
the Panarmenian.net. `There are questions on the table of
negotiations to discuss, and I am leaving for Brussels without great
expectations but, nevertheless, with certain interest, always hoping
that we will bring our approaches closer and create preconditions for
the meeting of the presidents this year,’ stated Vardan Oskanian in
an interview with Radio Liberty. The meeting of the foreign ministers
of Armenia and Azerbaijan is on November 14.

SCIENTIFIC FORUM ON “ARMENIAN-FRENCH HISTORIC CONTACTS” HELD IN YEREVAN
Public Radio. Armenia
Nov 9 2006
An international scientific forum on “Armenian-French Historic
Contacts” was held today in the Yerevan State University. The newly
appointed Ambassador of France to Armenia Serge Smessov, who was
participating in the event, noted that during his previous office he
addressed issues related to the CIS region, particularly Armenia.
“I still have to discover many things in Armenia for myself,” said
the Ambassador, adding that he was particularly impressed by Armenian
hospitality and reception. He expressed hope that the close cooperation
between Armenia and France will continue deepening during his tenure
in office.
During the conference a number of reports connected with a Armenian
and French history were presented.

IRAN’S CONSTRUCTION EXHIBITION OPENS IN YEREVAN
Asia Pulse, Hong Kong
November 8, 2006 Wednesday 3:32 PM EST
Iran opened its 7th Solo Exhibition on Construction Materials in
Yerevan, the Armenian capital, on Monday, a daily wrote on Tuesday.
According to the English-language ‘Tehran Times’, the exhibition,
running for a week, is displaying construction materials and urban
development equipment presented by over 20 Iranian firms.
At the inaugural ceremony of the exhibition, Iran ambassador to
Armenia, Alireza Haqiqian said that Tehran and Yerevan have managed
to expand trade ties, thanks to efforts by economic activists.
He added that Iranian and Armenian private sectors and owners of
industries play crucial role in expansion of bilateral ties while
enjoying the support of their respective governments.
Also addressing the ceremony, Armenian Energy Minister, Armen
Movsesian, said bilateral economic ties have significantly grown
during the previous year.
Movsesian, who is also the chairman of Iran-Armenia Economic
Cooperation Commission, noted that the commission intends to facilitate
bilateral cooperation and help develop trade and economic ties between
the two countries.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
FORME R PRIME MINISTER SELIM HOSS
VISITS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
“LEBANON’S SOVEREIGNTY AND UNITY REMAIN ABOVE ALL INTERESTS” SAYS THE PONTIFF
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Selim Hoss visited His Holiness Aram I on
November 6 in Antelias. The Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham
Khatcherian, chairman of the Catholicosate Central Committee, Mr. Andre
Tabourian and its secretary, Mr. Tsolag Tutelian, attended the meeting
between the Catholicos and the former Lebanese official.
Hoss presented to His Holiness a document outlining the commitment of former
Lebanese prime ministers to resolve the country’s internal problems.
Discussions focused on the current difficulties Lebanon faces, the post-war
reconstruction activities in the country, the strengthening of internal
unity, the need for mutual understanding and concessions between various
players in the political scene and the economic problems the country faces.
The former Prime Minister expressed his viewpoints on resolving the
difficult situation in Lebanon through the establishment of harmony between
the various Lebanese sides.
His Holiness Aram I also expressed his opinion in this respect, stressing
the importance of strengthening Lebanon’s unity and sovereignty, which can
be accomplished only by considering the interests of Lebanon above all
considerations.
##
View photos here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

EU WELCOMES TURKEY’S REFORM MOVE
Peninsula On-line, Qatar
Nov 7 2006
BRUSSELS ~U The European Union sought yesterday to defuse a looming
crisis with Turkey over Cyprus and lagging reforms, welcoming a pledge
to amend a key law on freedom of expression in line with EU standards.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced the policy shift on Sunday,
three days before a European Commission report expected to sharply
criticise Turkey, saying he was ready to change a law used to prosecute
writers for “insulting Turkishness”.
“The stated intention by Prime Minister Recep (Tayyip) Erdogan to bring
Turkish legislation on freedom of expression into line with European
standards is a welcome initiative,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli
Rehn said in a statement.
“It shows that the Turkish prime minister is personally committed to
free speech and EU accession,” Rehn said.
The EU executive is to issue a progress report on Wednesday criticising
a slowdown in reforms in the year since Turkey began EU membership
talks and noting Ankara’s failure to meet a requirement to open its
ports to shipping from Cyprus.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that Turkey’s EU bid will
be in serious trouble if Ankara does not open its ports and airports
to Cyprus.
Diplomats say the negative findings could prompt EU leaders to suspend,
at least partially, accession negotiations with Turkey when they hold
a summit on enlargement in mid-December.
But German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country
takes over the EU’s rotating presidency in January, warned against
any premature move to break off the talks.
“I would strongly urge that in our interests and in the interests of
Turkey, we should not be overly hasty in our conclusions. We ought to
leave scope … for a political compromise between Turkish interests
and the interests of the Cypriots,” he told a conference of the Party
of European Socialists in Berlin.
That appeared to contradict Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said in
an interview with Monday’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily that Turkey’s
EU accession talks would be in serious trouble unless Ankara lifted
trade restrictions against Cyprus.
The Commission has repeatedly urged Turkey to amend article 301 of
the penal code used to prosecute journalists and intellectuals such
as Nobel literature prize winner Orhan Pamuk over comments on the
killing of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey.
Only last week, Erdogan appeared to rule out any change, with an eye
on nationalist voters ahead of elections next year. But in a timely
move to show goodwill, he said on Sunday:
“We are ready for proposals to make the article 301 more concrete if
there are problems stemming from it being vague.”
“We are studying several options for how we can handle article 301
in harmony with the spirit of the (EU-oriented) reforms,” he said,
without elaborating.
Rehn sounded a note of caution, saying Brussels wanted to see practical
action. “We expect this stated intention to be followed by concrete
deeds and we are thus waiting for concrete decisions,” he said.
Rehn said pressure for a change in the penal code also reflected the
growing strength of Turkish civil society.
Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot told Reuters in Ankara Turkey needed
to send a “political signal” to the EU that it was doing all it can
to push through reforms, including plans to ease property rights for
religious minorities.

FREEDOM HOUSE URGES MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE NOT TO PROVIDE AID TO ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.11.2006 14:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A leading U.S. human rights organization urged
the U.S. Administration on Friday to withhold promised economic
assistance to Armenia and six other developing countries which it
believes fail to meet “reasonable standards” for democracy and civil
liberties. “November 8 the Board of Directors of the Millennium
Challenge Corporation has to choose governments of those countries,
which can appeal for assistance in 2007,” the Freedom House remarks
and urges to leave out countries, which have low marks in political
rights and civil liberties. These include Armenia, Bhutan, Egypt,
Jordan, Maldives, Tunisia and Vietnam, says a Freedom House statement
released November 3.
This September the Millennium Challenge Account was officially
launched in Armenia. According to it the US will provide $236 million
to Armenia within 5 years – basically for agriculture. “The Freedom
House urges the Corporation to follow countries like Armenia, with
which agreements are signed but which do not ensure promised indicators
in democratic government. Armenia is the major one, as it was among
the first countries to sign the agreement this year. However, Armenia
registered regress in implementation of the reforms,” concludes the
Freedom House, reports RFE/RL.

Armenian, Turkish communities battle in textbook lawsuit
Both groups want their historical accounts heard.
By Michael Doyle
Fresno Bee
Bee Washington Bureau
11/04/06
WASHINGTON – A textbook battle is pitting Americans of Armenian
and Turkish descent against one another in a federal courtroom.
The winner will write history.
And though the fight may seem far away, it’s captivating California’s
politically vocal Armenian-American community.
“Most people who are interested in Armenian politics know about
it,” said Hygo Ohannessian, chairwoman of the Fresno-based Central
California chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America.
Ohannessian and her allies are waiting on U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf
in Boston. For the past year, Wolf has overseen a lawsuit challenging
the way Massachusetts high school study guides handle the horrific
events of 1915-23.
Genocide, Armenians and many historians call it. By some counts, upward
of 1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Turks
and Armenians have disputed how to characterize the tragic events.
“If the Turks win this, they are going to challenge textbooks in
other states,” predicted Ohannes Boghossian, chairman of the Armenian
National Committee’s Sacramento chapter.
But in its lawsuit filed last October, the Assembly of Turkish American
Associations claims Massachusetts capitulated to Armenian-American
pressure and “purged” the state’s study guides of any material
challenging Armenian claims.
“This case is not about whether there was or was not an Armenian
genocide,” attorney Harvey Silverglate said in an interview this
week, “but rather, about whether teachers and students are going to
be able to study and discuss the question without undue political
interference.”
Undeniably, Armenian-Americans wield political clout, particularly
in areas such as the San Joaquin Valley, with large ethnic populations.
The leading Republican author of a commemorative Armenian genocide
resolution offered this Congress is Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa.
But Turkey, too, flexes political muscle. While Radanovich’s
current Armenian genocide resolution has 159 House co-sponsors,
similar resolutions have been consistently blocked by presidents of
both parties.
With lifetime tenure and 21 years on the federal bench, Wolf is
shielded from overt pressure. Still, his next decision remains closely
watched, as he considers whether to dismiss the lawsuit filed by
Silverglate on behalf of the Turkish American associations.
In 1999, an initial version of the Massachusetts study guide cited
reference materials that reflected Turkish views challenging the
genocide argument. These were optional references, not required to
be taught.
“These viewpoints contend … that the fate of the Ottoman Armenians
was the result of a number of factors, including the Ottoman
government’s response to an Armenian revolt in alliance with Russia,
a tragically flawed deportation policy and mutual wartime massacres,
which brought great suffering and death to both Ottoman Armenians
and Muslims,” the lawsuit argues.
But after a Massachusetts state senator complained and the
Armenian-American community mobilized, the state’s education
commissioner changed course. The state subsequently deleted study
guide references to Turkish sites, including Georgetown University’s
Institute of Turkish Studies.
“It’s fine for governments to help make history, but not to write
it,” Silverglate said. “The First Amendment is meant to provide a
free marketplace of ideas to determine truth, and history.”
The Armenian National Committee and the Los Angeles-based Armenian
Bar Association have both urged Wolf in an amicus brief to toss out
the case. They argue that Massachusetts acted reasonably in omitting
the Turkish perspective.
“It would be like having the Nazi Party coming in and forcing its
views of the Holocaust,” Ohannessian said Tuesday.
The Armenian-Americans have strong U.S. Supreme Court precedent on
their side, which may fatally undercut Silverglate’s lawsuit. The court
has ruled repeatedly, as the Armenian groups put it, that “the First
Amendment places no restraints” on the messages a government conveys
“Courts,” Massachusetts added in its own legal filing, “have no
authority either to control government speech or to second-guess
curriculum decisions made by the responsible public officials.”
Armenian-Americans cite, as well, the 37 states – including California
– whose legislatures have recognized the Armenian genocide. The study
guide, the groups say, should be appreciated “in the context of this
widespread official acknowledgment” of the tragedy.
In California, Ohannessian noted, textbooks refer to the Armenian
genocide – but she and other Armenian-American activists enhance
this with yearly seminars offered to Fresno and Clovis high school
students seeking extra credit.
The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (202)
383-0006.
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