Author: Chakrian Hovsep

CALL TO URGE TURKEY TO ACKNOWLEDGE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE CONVEYED TO EU URUGUAYAN OFFICE
Pan Armenian News
03.10.2005 04:32
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Thousands of signatures will be presented to the
Uruguayan EU Office in Montevideo today. The signatories call upon the
European Union to urge Turkey to acknowledge Armenian Genocide. The
action was initiated by Uruguayan MP of Armenian origin Lilian
Keshishian and various Armenian organizations. Vice President of
Uruguay, Ministers and MPs are among those to have signed the appeal,
RFE/RL reported.

We need Turkey
A shared future is the way forward
Leader
Sunday October 2, 2005
The Observer
Tomorrow, as long as European Foreign Ministers can agree a common
negotiating position at an emergency meeting today, the EU will start talks
about admitting Turkey to the inner sanctum. Yet although every EU member
state bar Austria, whose objections prompted today’s meeting, officially
endorses Turkey’s candidature, no single country can muster a majority for
entry in opinion polls. The Continent’s electorates, including our own,
don’t regard Turkey as European.
This does not make it right to block Turkey’s application. As Lord Patten, a
former EU commissioner, warned yesterday, such xenophobia reveals a failure
of leadership which can only seriously damage the West’s relations with
Islam. There is a strong case for entry which governments must now start
making. Europe needs Turkey as a custodian of prosperity and democracy and
an exemplar and anchor for all the countries that surround it; it needs
Turkish labour and the Turkish guarantee of oil and gas from central Asia.
Above all, it needs to send a positive message to the 12 million or so
Muslims who already live within Europe.
During the past decade, Turkey has moved heaven and earth to meet the EU
accession criterions and now presents itself as a democratic state and
market economy governed under the rule of law. True, there remains a culture
war in Turkey between those who incline to secularism and those who incline
to fundamentalism. True, too, that one of Turkey’s leading novelists, Orhan
Pamuk, awaits trial in December for raising the subject of the murder of
Armenians during the First World War. Human-rights abuses are routinely
reported and free discussion remains precarious. Such issues should be on
the table for debate on Monday. But the way forward, for Turkey and Europe,
is to maintain the ambition of a shared future.
,6903,1583000,00.html

A1+
| 20:56:48 | 30-09-2005 | Politics |
5 YEARS OF PATIENCE
The Venice Commission is interested in the change of Constitution in RA.
According to the Venice Commission secretary Gianni Buquicchio, it proceeds
from the interests of Armenia, «We want Armenia to be like the other
countries and to develop like them».
Even in case of this interest Mr. Buquicchio assures that if the
constitutional referendum fails, the CoE and EU experts «will express their
honest opinion». But he also noted that patience is not unlimited
underlining that «the Venice Commission spent lost 5 and Armenia – 7 years»
on the Constitutional reforms.
Today the European experts participated in a round table in the NA in which
there was not a single representative of the Parliamentary opposition. «We
sent invitations to everyone», informed the NA deputy president Tigran
Torosyan. He also said in his speech that by the adopted draft «some dreams
will be realized, others will not».
According to him, this draft not only amends the Constitution, but also
gives the opportunity of Constitutional reforms. And as far as no other
changes can be introduced into the draft adopted by the third hearing, the
round table was organized, according to Tigran Torosyan, «to bring the draft
to life».
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIAN-LATVIAN BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN OCTOBER 7
30.09.2005 05:41
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Latvian Minister of Economy Krisjanis Karins and a
delegation of Latvian entrepreneurs engaged in IT, building, woodworking
industry, telecommunications, education, etc. will accompany President of
Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga during his regional visit to the South Caucasus.
A number of events targeted at expanding cooperation and creation of new
business contacts will be held Yerevan, Tbilisi and Baku. Thus, October 3-4
a Latvia-Azerbaijan business forum organized by the Latvian Agency for
Investment and Development will take place in Baku. The Latvian and
Azerbaijani Presidents are expected to address the conference. Similar
business forum will be held October 5 in Georgia with the participation of
President Saakashvili. The Latvian-Armenian conference with the
participation of RA President Robert Kocharian is scheduled for October 7,
IA Regnum reported.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
MEDIA ADVISORY
September 30, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SYSTEM OF A DOWN RALLY ATTRACTS INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION
— Multi-Platinum Band Calls for Vote
on Armenian Genocide Resolution
— New York Times, BBC, and MTV Join Local ABC, FOX, and WB
stations and Area Newspapers in Covering Event outside the
Batavia, Illinois Office of Speaker Dennis Hastert
WASHINGTON, DC – The pro-Armenian Genocide Resolution rally this
week by System of a Down outside the Batavia, Illinois office of
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) received extensive media
coverage – both internationally and within the Speaker’s local
suburban Chicago media market, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
The September 27th event was organized by the multi-platinum band
System of a Down, along with the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA), Axis of Justice, and the Armenian Youth Federation.
Over two hundred fans, including a large number of Armenian
Americans from Chicago, attended the rally to urge the Speaker to
schedule a vote on legislation pending before Congress that would
recognize the Armenian Genocide. At the rally, the band delivered
a letter asking the Speaker to allow the legislation to move
forward. (see below)
Speaker Hastert pledged to allow the full House to vote on Armenian
Genocide legislation in August of 2000, but retreated from this
promise in October of that year, citing pressure from the White
House. On September 15th of this year, the House International
Relations Committee overwhelmingly approved legislation recognizing
the Armenian Genocide.
The highlights of the media coverage included:
* Over 560,000 households in the Chicago area watched video from
the rally via ABC channel 7 News (Nielsen Audience: 310,980), WGN-
WB (Nielsen Audience: 231,385), and WFLD-FOX (Nielsen Audience:
22,726).
* The New York Times covered the rally, as did three area
newspapers read by Speaker Hastert’s constituents: The Beacon News,
The Daily Herald, and The Kane County Chronicle.
* News of the rally was broadcast on radio internationally via The
World (BBC) and locally by Chicago Public Radio.
* The rally received excellent coverage in the entertainment media
via stories on the websites of MTV (two stories), VH1, Rolling
Stone, and a range of other media outlets.
Links:
* New York Times (September 26, 2005 – Arts Section)
* ABC channel 7 news
l&id=3483619
WLS-ABC CHICAGO, IL
SEP 27 2005 5:00PM CT Nielsen Audience: 310,980
ABC 7 News at 5
* WGN-WB CHICAGO, IL
SEP 27 2005 9:00PM CT Nielsen Audience: 231,385
News at Nine
* WFLD-FOX CHICAGO, IL
SEP 28 2005 5:00AM CT Nielsen Audience: 22,726
Fox News at 5AM
* MTV.com: (Pre-Rally coverage)
* MTV.com: (Post-Rally coverage)
/09282005/system_of_a_down.jhtml
* VHI
28/system_of_a_down.jhtml
* TheWorld.org — (a radio program in done in co-production with
the BBC)
* Rolling Stone:
/7670574/bobice?pageid=rs.Home&pageregion=sing le1
* The Beacon News
/top/batchAU28_HASTERT_S1.htm
* The Daily Herald
ry.asp?id=98941
* Kane County Chronicle:
local/330582937821598.php
* PR Newswire
.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/09-26-2005/00041 31979&EDATE
* Los Angeles Daily News

* Blabbermouth.com:
uth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=4210 1
* Yahoo News
l
In the two weeks since that vote, thousands of System fans have
sent free ANCA WebFaxes urging Speaker Hastert to hold a vote on
the Armenian Genocide Resolution:
#####
==============================================================September 27, 2005
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Hastert,
I am writing to personally ask you to do the right thing by
scheduling a free and fair vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution
this year – the 90th anniversary of this crime against humanity.
In making this request, I want you to know the special and profound
meaning that this issue holds for me. My grandfather, Stepan
Haytayan, is a 97 year-old survivor of the genocide. He’s my only
link to this past. I promised him that I would try to reach you
and explain how important American recognition is to the surviving
children of the first genocide of the 20th century. Historical
truths should never be denied in a democracy – especially one with
such a proud heritage of freedom.
My band, System Of A Down, has held three benefit shows called
“Souls” to raise awareness and much needed funds for the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. We have been encouraged, in
your own home state, by Governor Rod Blagojevich’s recent signature
on a law requiring that the Genocide be taught in the state’s
public schools. To date, thirty-eight U.S. states have officially
recognized the Armenian Genocide, as have Canada, Germany, France,
Italy, Argentina, Belgium, Greece, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland
– as well as the Council of Europe, European Parliament, and the
Vatican. The International Association of Genocide Scholars
unanimously affirmed at their most recent meeting, in June of this
year, that the Armenian Genocide is recognized by “the overwhelming
opinion of scholars who study genocide: hundreds of independent
scholars, who have no affiliations with governments, and whose work
spans many countries and nationalities and the course of decades.”
Along with hundreds of thousands of Armenian Americans and
countless concerned human rights supporters across the United
States, I was encouraged by the House International Relations
Committee’s vote, less than two weeks ago, to overwhelmingly
approve legislation properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide. I
am sure that you would agree that the strong Committee-level
support for this legislation reflects the powerful bipartisan
consensus in the U.S. House of Representatives for decisive action
to properly recognize the first genocide of the 20th Century.
All that you need to do to move this legislation to a vote is to
remain consistent with your own record. As you recall, in 1994 you
spoke on the floor of the U.S. House about the need for Armenian
Genocide remembrance. In 1996 you voted for the Radanovich
Amendment to cut aid to Turkey until it ended its genocide denials.
Most recently, in 2000, you pledged – as Speaker – to bring
Armenian Genocide legislation to a vote of the full U.S. House.
Following your withdrawal of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in
October of 2000, you stressed – in an official statement – your
personal support for this legislation, your belief that the
Resolution enjoyed the support of a bi-partisan Congressional
majority, and your pledge to bring this legislation back to the
House floor.
The time has come – after five years – to honor this promise and to
act in a manner that we all know to be fully consistent with our
values and long-term interests as a nation. Today, the decision
rests in your hands: to schedule a vote, or to effectively defeat
this legislation by refusing to allow the 435 members of the U.S.
House to cast their ballots on this human rights issue.
I am quite aware of the pressures placed upon you by the
Administration, the military-industrial complex, and the special
interest groups that warn about the consequences of angering
Turkey, a NATO ally, over their denial of the Armenian Genocide.
These “friends” of Turkey are wrong; the truth is that, by acting
as apologists for Turkey, they are actually holding back Turkey’s
progress.
By allowing this vote, and allowing the will of Congress to be
freely expressed, you will be doing the right thing morally and, at
the same time, encouraging Turkey to deal honestly with its past
and more openly with its future.
Thank you for your consideration of my concerns.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Serj Tankian

The Hellenic Radio
Sept 30 2005
No Agreement at COREPER Deadlock over Turkey
29 Sep 2005 13:36:00
By Vagelis Theodorou
The EUs Permanent Representatives failed yet again to agree on a
negotiating mandate to open accession talks between Turkey and the
European Union. According to diplomatic sources, Austria stuck to
demands that Turkey be offered an explicit alternative to full
membership. The matter will be discussed anew during an emergency
meeting between the EUs Foreign Misters scheduled for Sunday night in
Luxemburg, since a negotiating framework is necessary for accession
talks to commence on 3 October. In the meantime, in Athens, intense
disputes erupted between the Government and the Opposition during the
National Council for Foreign Policy meeting, which lasted for three
hours and where Turkeys accession prospect was discussed in detail.
Furthermore, the Greek Foreign Ministrys, spokesperson, Giorgos
Koumoutsakos, stressed that the Greek stance can be summed up as,
“full implementation of the criteria, full membership in the EU.” At
the same time, the tension in Ankara continues, especially after the
European Parliaments decision last night, whereby it asked Turkey to
recognise Cyprus and the Armenian genocide. In an announcement, the
Turkish Foreign Ministry voiced its disappointment over the demand to
recognise the Armenian genocide, claiming that the matter has to be
settled by historians. In the meantime, the citizens of Turkey appear
less enthusiastic over the prospect of their country acceding in the
EU. As per a survey conducted by German Marshall Fund, the percentage
of Turks who considered Turkeys accession as a positive development
was 63%, dropping by ten percentile units compared to last year.
Translated by Vicky Ghionis

TALVITIE ARRIVED IN ARMENIA
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 29 2005
On September 28 the European Union special representative for the
South Caucasus Heikkie Talvitie arrived in Armenia.
According to the information De Facto got at the RA MFA press service,
in the course of the visit he is to meet RA President Robert Kocharyan,
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan,
as well as representatives of NGOs.
H. Talvitie is to leave Yerevan on September 30.

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Sept 28 2005
ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF RUSSIA SUPPORTS AMENDMENT TO ARMENIAN
CONSTITUTION ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28. ARMINFO. The Armenian community of Russia
favors the Constitutional amendment lifting the ban on the dual
citizenship, a member of the Board of the World Armenian Congress and
the Union of Armenian of Russia, a well-known Russian specialist in
political studies Andranik Mihranyan told journalists at the Armenian
National Academy of Science, Wednesday.
‘As the co-author of the present Constitution of Russia, I can say
the French experience shows that effective cooperation between the
prime minister and the president is possible enough when the first
one represents the parliamentary majority, the second – another
political force,’ Mihranyan thinks.

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
27 Sep 05
Armenian president denies talks on reinforcing Russian base
YEREVAN
The Russian military base deployed in Armenia “is one of the
components ensuring security of our country”, Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan said in Yerevan today.
Robert Kocharyan said this in reply to the question from a Finnish
journalists at a joint briefing with Finnish President Tarja Halonen.
Sometimes we come across articles in the media that the Russian
military base was “dictated” to Armenia in its time, the Armenian
president said.
“This is absolutely incorrect approach, the base was deployed in
Armenia on the basis of a bilateral agreement and met our interests,”
Robert Kocharyan said.
The Armenian president noted that “we live in the difficult region
and the Russian base is one of the components ensuring our security”.
Armenia is not holding talks with Moscow on reinforcing the Russian
military base, Kocharyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Helsingin Sanomat, Finland
Sept 28 2005
Halonen in Armenia asked for recognition of Turkish massacre
President avoids question by focusing on future

During her visit to Armenia on Tuesday, President Tarja Halonen found
herself in the middle of a discussion on the sensitive issue of the
Turkish massacre of more than a million Armenians during the First
World War and shortly thereafter.
The discussion took place soon after the Finnish President had
laid a wreath at a monument to the victims of the genocide in the
Armenian capital Yerevan.
Armenian journalists asked the Finnish President if she would
publicly recognise the events as a genocide. A number of countries,
including France, have already done so.
Turkey has refused to andmit that a genocide had taken
place,and this refusal is one factor which has helped inflame
relations between Armenia and Turkey; their border is closed off, and
there are no diplomatic ties between the two countries.

President Halonen avoided a direct response to the questions, saying
instead “We are building a common future with Armenia”.
According to the President, Finland is not in the habit of
giving recognition to historical events. She said that every
generation has the right to re-examine history, and every country has
a right to its own history. She added that countries should not
become prisoners of history.
The laying of the wreath at the monument could be seen as a
recognition of sorts. However, many other state visitors to Armenia
do the same.
The protocol also calls for the planting of a tree at the
memorial. Halonen’s silver fir went up near trees planted by Vladimir
Putin and Lech Walesa.

“Where’s the minister?” Halonen asked in the middle of the
tree-planting, calling on the Minister of Trade and Industry Mauri
Pekkarinen to grab the shovel and start digging.
Earlier during the trip Pekkarinen had complained that he had
little to do in the President’s entourage. On Tuesday there was no
such problem, because Halonen kept him busy all day.
For instance, in the middle of a press conference of the
Finnish and Armenian leaders, Halonen unexpectedly asked Pekkarinen
to brief the journalists on prospects for economic cooperation
between the two countries.
Two sectors seen by Pekkarinen as worthy of development were
mining and tourism.

Finnish package tours to Armenia have already begun this year.
Currently, a fifth fairly small group of Finnish tourists are in
Yerevan.
On Tuesday President Halonen held talks with Armenian President
Robert Kochharian and other politicians on trade, Armenian-Turkish
relations, the dispute over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well
as Turkey’s possible membership in the European Union.
The same issues came up when Halonen, who received an honorary
doctorate, spoke to students at Yerevan State University.
The Finnish President defended Turkish EU membership, which
Armenia opposes, because of Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan in the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue. She said that Turkish EU membership would
benefit the whole region, including Armenia.
On the question of Nagorno-Karabakh – an ethnically Armenian
enclave inside Azerbaijan – Halonen offered the autonomous status of
Finland’s Åland Islands as a model. A fiery-eyed student responded:
“Azerbaijan is not Sweden”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress