Author: Chalian Meline

French PM Raffarin Uses ‘Genocide’ Term in Turkey-EU Debates
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Dec 22 2004
French Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin has followed the lead of
his Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier, in using the expression
“Armenian Genocide” publicly.
At a session organized at the French Parliament to discuss the
opening of membership negotiations between the European Union (EU)
and Turkey, Raffarin disclosed that they have prepared a law on
“Armenian Genocide” at the parliament and that the Armenian and
Kurdish issues will be raised with Turkey.
Raffarin pointed out that Turkey’s EU perspective was assigned in
1963 and that no French administrations have considered Turkey’s EU
membership as a subject worth discussing since then.
He emphasized that nothing can keep Turkey out of Europe once Turkey
fulfills all the requirements and it will become an EU member.
There is a strong Armenian diaspora in France and the radical
Armenian lobbying groups make pressure on the French Government.
Turkey does not recognise the Armenian ‘genocide allegations’ and
condemns France for its attitude on the Armenian issue.
Turkish officials argue that it is not understable French Government
gives more importance to the events claimed happened about 100 years
ago than the current hot issues, like the Armenian occupation of the
20 per cent of Azerbaijani territories. Gulcan from ISRO saida “it is
strange, for the French politicians the only problem with Turkey’s EU
bid is the 1915 events. French Government just focuses on the
Armenian allegations instead of cultural dialogue, minority problems
in France, French-Turkish economic and political relations etc. If
France considers 3 million Armenia is more important than 75 million
Turkey, so, there is no problem then. Today’s France simply igonres
Turkish reality. Theye are talking about history, but if they
continue to lose time, cultural harmonization and European security
will be history”.
22 December 2004
JTW

Turkey faces bitter divide on EU entry
by Gareth Jenkins in Istanbul and Matthew Campbell in Paris
Sunday Times (London)
December 19, 2004, Sunday
FIXING a date for starting accession talks with the European Union
next year was hard enough but the toughest task for Turkey has yet
to come. Pressure was growing yesterday on the government of Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, not just to win hearts and minds in Europe, but to
convince his own people that he has struck a good deal.
He returned to Ankara yesterday to a hero’s welcome from 2,000
supporters waving Turkish and EU flags.
Yet the agreement reached in Brussels on Friday after hours of
ill-tempered wrangling fell short of Erdogan’s hopes and fuelled
unrest among nationalists and hardline Islamists in his Justice and
Development party.
One newspaper yesterday said Erdogan had “dishonoured” the country
with what EU diplomats saw as his tacit agreement to recognise the
divided island of Cyprus, which joined the EU in May.
Mehmet Agar, leader of the opposition True Path party, said: “The
government does not have the right to give away at the negotiating
table what the Turkish people won by sacrificing their lives.”
Erdogan, whose government has bent over backwards to accommodate
Brussels’ conditions, said the country would not sit back now the date
for the start of accession talks had been fixed as October 3, 2005.
“This result will not spoil us, will not relax us,” he told the crowd
at the airport. “We will work harder until October 3.” It still might
not be enough.
Some member states strongly oppose the idea of predominantly Muslim
Turkey entering the European fold: effectively, each EU country can
scupper Turkish membership by voting “no” in a referendum. The French
and Austrian leaders have promised their electorates a chance to do
so and others may follow suit.
President Jacques Chirac appeared to shift the goalposts after
Friday’s agreement by announcing that Ankara would have to recognise
massacres of Armenians in the early 20th century if it wanted French
support. “The French people will have the last word,” he said.
That spells a problem for Turkey. So does Austria, where a heated
public debate about letting in the Turks has included allusions to
the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683.
The British, meanwhile, were not alone in expressing anxiety about
an influx of migrants competing for jobs. There are also concerns
across the EU about the cost of Turkish accession.
Turkish nationalists say the government has already made too many
concessions.
Erdogan’s promise to expand Turkey’s customs union agreement to include
Cyprus and nine other EU members, although not constituting a legal
commitment, could prove the last straw for disenchanted supporters.
Erdogan’s entourage includes figures fervently opposed to recognition
of the Greek-Cypriot government and they were growing restless even
before the Brussels summit.
They were exasperated at Erdogan’s failure to reform the secular
tradition established by Mustafa Kemal, or Ataturk, the founder of
modern Turkey.
Some had been privately discussing jumping ship to the True Path
party in frustration at delays in implementing reforms that would
ease restrictions on Islamic schools and lift a ban on women wearing
headscarves in public institutions.
But tinkering with the secular code runs the risk of triggering a
reaction from the Turkish military, which forced the previous Islamic
government out of office in 1997 to safeguard Ataturk’s vision.
Just as troublesome will be the question of the Kurds. The scheduling
of accession talks marks the beginning of a process of intense EU
scrutiny.
Erdogan’s statement that Turkey was committed to EU values coincided
with one by his police chief at a press conference in Ankara: an
investigation had been launched into a group of Kurdish intellectuals
whose “crime” was to place an advert in a newspaper asking for
more rights.
Since Britain will hold the EU presidency in the second half of next
year, Tony Blair will chair the first talks. The prime minister has
championed Turkey’s efforts to join the EU and hailed the agreement as
“an immensely significant day”.
The agreement had almost fallen through as Erdogan haggled. On
top of being pressured on Cyprus, he was forced to accept that the
negotiations did not guarantee that Turkey would win full membership.
And even if Turkey joins the EU, it must accept restrictions on
migration of its citizens to other member states.
It will be hard for Erdogan to convince some Turks that this is not
an offer of membership in an EU “second division”, a formula favoured
by French politicians.
He may feel like a mountaineer: he has climbed one summit, only to
see a new range of peaks rising before him.
Additional reporting:
Nicola Smith, Brussels
Beastly reasons to welcome Turks, Rod Liddle, page 14

Darchinyan wants a taste of Punch
December 20, 2004
Sydney Morning Herald , Australia
Dec 20 2004
Australia’s new flyweight world boxing champion Vic Darchinyan may
well go from receiving a pittance to a big payday for a proposed
first title defence against highly touted Brian Viloria in Hawaii.
Darchinyan, who moved to Australia and took out citizenship after
representing Armenia at the 2000 Olympics, returned to Sydney yesterday
from Florida where he took the International Boxing Federation title
with an 11th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Colombian Irene
Pacheco.
“I always believed I could become world champion,” said Darchinyan,
who described himself as “an Armenian Australian”.
His trainer, Jeff Fenech, suggested economics would probably result
in Darchinyan’s first title occurring overseas.
Fenech revealed the 28-year-old fighter would probably finish up with
less than $20,000 from last week’s fight.
He said Darchinyan, and super-middleweight Danny Green, who
also received a small amount for his fight against Markus Beyer
in Germany last year, accepted small purses just to get a title
shot. However, Fenech indicated Darchinyan would make considerably
more for fighting Viloria, who has won all 16 of his professional
fights since representing the United States in the light-flyweight
division at the Sydney Olympics.
Advertisement AdvertisementFenech said a Florida-based promoter
who staged last Thursday’s fight wanted to match Darchinyan with
24-year-old Viloria, nicknamed the “Hawaiian Punch”, in a bout which
would be sure to attract the interest of American television.
“They [the promoter] are already talking about fighting in March in
Hawaii against Brian Viloria,” Fenech said. “They’ve made us an offer,
but now Viloria has to say yes.”
Fenech was confident about Darchinyan’s prospects against Viloria,
having seen his man spar the Hawaiian in his lead-up to the fight
against Pacheco. “We’d have no problem with Viloria but a fight is
different to sparring,” Fenech said.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
THE DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION IN ANTELIAS
Antelias, Lebanon – His Grace Robert Stern, the director of the Catholic
Near East Welfare Association, visited His Holiness Aram I. He was
accompanied by the Middle Eastern director of the same organization and his
assistant. Located in New York, the Association serves the humanitarian
needs of Christian communities the countries of the Near East.
The meeting with His Holiness was an opportunity to have a general
discussion on the ongoing activities of the Association.
His Holiness Aram I appreciated the work of the Association particularly
emphasizing the going collaboration with the churches. His Holiness
considered helping the Christian communities of the Middle East of crucial
importance to strengthen the Christian presence and witness in the region.
##
View picture here:
*******
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Dec 15 2004
DUMA SPEAKER: RUSSIA BACKED NONE OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
YEREVAN, December 15 (RIA Novosti’s Gamlet Matevosyan) – At the
presidential election in Ukraine Russia gave no backing to any
candidate, Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the State Duma, told journalists
on Wednesday. He is now in Armenia on a visit.
“During the presidential election in Ukraine, Russia gave no
protection to any candidate. It is my official statement,” Mr.
Gryzlov emphasized.
He stressed that the Supreme Court of Ukraine exceeded powers passing
an unprecedented verdict and nullifying the runoff election. He said
that, under the current legislation, only the Ukrainian Central
Election Commission could take such a decision.
Mr. Gryzlov believes that the runoff was clearly under the force
pressure of one side.
He also noted that only the talks between Viktor Yushchenko and
Viktor Yanukovich had helped in preventing bloodshed in Ukraine.
What happened in Ukraine has produced an effect on the entire
Commonwealth of Independent States, Mr. Gryzlov said.
The State Duma speaker also said that that Russia will cooperate with
any elected president of Ukraine no matter what his name will be.

December 15, 2004
Turkey to Get Date for Open – Ended EU Entry Talks
By REUTERS

Filed at 8:40 a.m. ET
STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) – Turkey was on course on Wednesday to
get a date to start open-ended negotiations on European Union
membership as final elements of a compromise package came together on
the eve of a landmark EU summit.
Despite last-minute rhetoric from Ankara and EU politicians most
skeptical about its fitness to join the 25-nation bloc, diplomats said
leaders would agree on Friday to open talks in October or November
2005 with the clear aim of membership.
“It is now time for the European Council to honor its commitment to
Turkey and announce the opening of accession negotiations. A clear
date should be indicated,” EU Commission President Jose Manuel
Barroso told the European Parliament.
“We accept that the accession process is open-ended and its outcome
cannot be guaranteed beforehand,” Barroso said.
His comments foreshadowed the expected wording of a summit statement,
framed to assuage opponents of membership for the poor and mostly
Muslim state of 70 million.
The directly elected assembly adopted by 407 votes to 262 a
non-binding resolution urging EU leaders to open talks with Turkey
“without undue delay” and rejected decisively amendments offering a
“special partnership” or refusing full membership.
Lawmakers urged Ankara to continue human rights reforms, negotiate
with Kurdish separatists who renounced violence and recognize mass
killings of Armenians between 1915 and 1923 as “genocide,” something
Turkey adamantly rejects.
“FIRM ANCHORING”
After a 41-year wait to start talks, Turkey could not join the bloc
until 2015 at the earliest. The negotiations will require a
transformation of its economy and society far beyond the political and
human rights reforms already enacted.
Diplomats said the summit statement would add that whatever the
outcome, the EU would keep the strongest possible bond with Turkey,
implying there could be another outcome if it failed to meet EU
standards or chose to go another way.
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, one of the strongest skeptics
on Turkish accession, signaled on Wednesday that such wording would
enable him to agree to opening negotiations.
“It has to be in there that the result will come from an open
process, and that this result cannot be guaranteed in advance,”
Schuessel told reporters.
Turkish financial markets, buoyed by Tuesday’s deal with the
International Monetary Fund, have soared in anticipation of a “yes.”
The main Istanbul share index was up 0.47 percent at 23,528.70 in
mid-afternoon trade, near a historic high. The Turkish lira currency
was also firmer, at around 1,412,500 against dollar, after closing at
1,419,000 on Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that Turkey would not
recognize EU member Cyprus “directly or indirectly” as long as there
was no final agreement on reuniting the island.
However, a senior Dutch presidency source said Turkey would have to
commit itself on Friday to extend its association agreement with the
EU to cover the 10 new member states, seen as de facto recognition of
Cyprus, although it would not be asked to sign that protocol during
the summit.
Barroso said Turkey would have to recognize Cyprus. “If you want to
become a member of a club, isn’t it normal that you recognize the
other members of that club?”
Turkey recognizes only the breakaway Turkish Cypriot enclave in
northern Cyprus. But for the EU and the rest of the world, the Greek
Cypriot government in the south is the sole legitimate representative
of the whole island.
FRENCH, AUSTRIAN SCEPTICISM
Brussels diplomats said Ankara was clearly on board for the deal being
crafted by Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, whose government
holds the EU presidency.
Balkenende told the Dutch parliament he expected a “yes” on Friday
but the negotiations would be a long haul.
Turkey’s supporters, led by Britain and Germany, see a chance to
bridge the divide between Europe and the Islamic world by
incorporating a vibrant Muslim democracy on the hinge of southeast
Europe and the Middle East.
Opponents say the sprawling, largely agrarian state would be too hard
to integrate and the EU would risk “enlarging itself to death” by
extending its borders to Iran, Iraq and Syria.
Erdogan and Gul were due in Brussels on Wednesday for last minute
lobbying before the summit starts on Thursday evening. The official
decision is expected early on Friday afternoon.
French President Jacques Chirac, facing domestic opposition to Turkish
entry, was to go on television on Wednesday night to defend his belief
in Turkey’s long-term European vocation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE
pour la Justice et la Démocratie
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
15 décembre 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27
LE PARLEMENT EUROPEEN EXIGE DE LA TURQUIE LA RECONNAISSANCE EXPLICITE DU
GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS
Strasbourg, France – Le Parlement européen a amendé et adopté ce jour la
résolution de Camiel Eurlings (PPE / Pays-Bas) sur la demande d’adhésion de
la Turquie, par 407 voix contre 262.
En particulier, il a adopté le paragraphe 55 insistant « sur le fait que
l’ouverture des négociations sera le point de départ d’un processus de
longue haleine, qui […] ne conduit pas a priori automatiquement à l’adhésion
». L’amendement proposé par M. Toubon (PPE / France) et évoquant la solution
du « partenariat privilégié » a été rejeté après un vote à bulletin secret.
Dans sa résolution, le Parlement européen évoque les thématiques
arméniennes, et en particulier la question du génocide, dans pas moins de 8
paragraphes. Des amendements allant dans ce sens avaient été déposés par des
parlementaires de cinq groupes politiques (PPE, PSE, ALDE, GUE, IND/DEM)
respectivement à l’instigation de M. Toubon (PPE / France), de M. Poignant
(PSE / France) et Mme Carlotti (PSE / France), de Mme De Sarnez (ALDE /
France), de M. Wurtz (GUE / France) et de M. Belder (IND/DEM / Pays-Bas).
Au final, le Parlement européen invite la Turquie à se réconcilier avec le
peuple arménien en reconnaissant le génocide et fait appel au Conseil
européen et à la Commission d’exiger de ce pays la « reconnaissance formelle
de la réalité historique » de ce génocide.
La Fédération considère que cette résolution du Parlement européen est d’une
importance capitale pour l’avenir de l’Europe. « A la veille du sommet
européen, les chefs d’Etat doivent enfin prendre en compte cette leçon de
démocratie pour notre avenir » a déclaré Hilda Tchoboian, la Présidente de
la Fédération Euro-Arménienne. « C’est une victoire éclatante pour tous les
Européens qui veulent préserver les valeurs de l’Europe face à l’Etat
négationniste que demeure la Turquie » a-t-elle continué.
Depuis sa résolution de 1987 qui mettait la reconnaissance du génocide des
Arméniens comme un préalable incontournable à l’adhésion de la Turquie à
l’Europe, le Parlement européen a constamment reformulé cette demande dans
ses rapports successifs.
« L’appel du Ministre français des Affaires Etrangères et cette résolution
du Parlement européen livrent un même message : la Turquie ne peut pas
adhérer à l’Europe sans renoncer à sa politique nationaliste et agressive
envers l’Arménie. Les Arméniens d’Europe en appellent au prochain sommet
européen afin d’agir dans ce sens », a conclu la Présidente de la Fédération
Euro-Arménienne.
#####
ANNEXE :
AMENDEMENTS ADDITIONNELS ADOPTES EN SESSION PLENIERE
* Amendement 80 – Bernard Poignant, Pierre Moscovici, Marie-Arlette
Carlotti, Harlem Désir, Martine Roure et autres, adopté par 470 voix contre
198
EE bis. considérant que les autorités turques n’ont également
toujours pas satisfait aux demandes concernant les autres questions
arméniennes telles qu’exprimées par le Parlement européen dans sa résolution
du 18 juin 1987,
* Amendement 18 – Francis Wurtz et Dimitrios Papadimoulis, adopté par 395
voix contre 273
34 bis invite la Turquie à promouvoir le processus de
réconciliation avec le peuple arménien en reconnaissant le génocide commis
contre les Arméniens comme le demandaient ses résolutions antérieures
concernant le statut de candidat de la Turquie (du 18 juin 1987 au 1er avril
2004);
* Amendement 83 – Jacques Toubon et autres adopté par 332 voix contre 325
35 bis. appelle la Commission et le Conseil à exiger des autorités
turques la reconnaissance formelle de la réalité historique du génocide des
Arméniens en 1915 et l’ouverture dans un délai rapide de la frontière entre
la Turquie et l’Arménie, conformément aux résolutions adoptées par le
Parlement européen de 1987 à 2004;
ARTICLES DU RAPPORT PROVISOIRE CONCERNANT LES QUESTIONS ARMENIENNES
* EE. considérant que les autorités turques n’ont toujours pas rouvert la
frontière entre la Turquie et l’Arménie et qu’elles ont perdu une occasion
de promouvoir de bonnes relations de voisinage avec l’Arménie,
* 7. se félicite en particulier de la réforme de la procédure pénale qui
renforce les droits de la défense; considère toutefois que l’article 305 du
nouveau code pénal turc, qui réprime de supposées “menaces à l’encontre des
intérêts nationaux fondamentaux” et dont un commentaire cible explicitement
la liberté d’expression, notamment sur les questions concernant Chypre ou
l’Arménie, est incompatible avec la Convention de sauvegarde des droits de
l’homme et des libertés fondamentales de 1950; demande donc son abrogation
immédiate;
* 35. estime que les gouvernements turc et arménien doivent poursuivre
leur processus de réconciliation, éventuellement avec l’assistance d’un
comité bilatéral d’experts indépendants, afin de surmonter de manière
explicite les expériences tragiques du passé, et demande au gouvernement
turc de rouvrir le plus rapidement possible les frontières avec l’Arménie;

Azeri leader calls for international involvement in Karabakh resolution
MPA news agency, Baku
14 Dec 04
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has urged international
organizations to get involved in the resolution of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict, MPA news agency reported on Tuesday 14 December.
Speaking at a meeting in Chatham House in London on 13 December, the
president said: “We have mediators in the persons of the OSCE and its
Minsk Group. However, this is not enough. Other international
organizations – the European Union, the Council of Europe and the UN –
can and should play a more active role.”
The agency quoted Ilham Aliyev as saying that the issue should be put
on the “permanent” agenda of international organizations as this will
help establish peace in the region.
The agency added that the president called for “a unified approach” to
ethnic conflicts in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Dniestr and Nagornyy
Karabakh since all these conflicts are very similar.

FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE
pour la Justice et la Démocratie
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
13 décembre 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27
LA FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE INTERPELLE LE CONSEIL EUROPEEN
Bruxelles, Belgique – Dans la perspective du sommet européen qui se tiendra
les 16 et 17 décembre prochain, la Fédération Euro-Arménienne vient
d’adresser un courrier au Secrétaire Général du Conseil de l’Union
européenne, M. Javier Solana et à l’ensemble des chefs d’Etat et de
gouvernement des 25 pays de l’Union.
Dans cette lettre, la Fédération Euro-Arménienne demande « solennellement
que soit instamment mise en avant la nécessaire reconnaissance du génocide
des Arméniens par la Turquie et la levée du blocus de l’Arménie par ce pays
».
Ce courrier fait suite à l’appel lancé par la Convention des Arméniens
d’Europe, réunie au Parlement européen à Bruxelles les 18-19 octobre
derniers, aux 25 chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernements des pays membres de
l’Union européenne.
L’appel de la Convention des Arméniens d’Europe considérait comme
inadmissibles que:
1. Les Critères de Copenhague n’incluent pas la reconnaissance par
l’Etat turc du génocide des Arméniens, ainsi que la levée du blocus que la
Turquie impose à l’Arménie depuis plus de 10 ans
2. la Turquie mette en danger la sécurité et l’équilibre régional du
Sud du Caucase en opposant des conditions préalables à l’établissement des
relations avec l’Arménie et en s’immisçant dans le processus des
négociations de l’OSCE sur le conflit du Haut Karabagh.
3. l’Europe n’ait pas instamment et explicitement demandé à l’Etat turc
de cesser toute forme d’expressions négationnistes.
La Fédération informe également que plusieurs cabinets gouvernementaux ont
répondu à l’appel de la Convention.
« Les récentes propositions concernant la solution du partenariat privilégié
avec la Turquie, ainsi que les recommandations relatives à la nécessaire
reconnaissance préalable de Chypre et la résolution du litige de la mer
Egée, l’évocation inédite d’une possibilité d’interruption des négociations
de même que le questionnaire envoyé par la présidence néerlandaise aux
exécutifs européens ouvrent un espace de conditions politiques où nos
revendications doivent être entendues » a-t-elle poursuivi.
« Nous avons demandé au Conseil européen de ne pas dénaturer le projet des
pères de l’Europe en intégrant un pays négationniste, qui met en danger la
sécurité aux frontières de l’Europe » a conclu la présidente de la
Fédération Euro-Arménienne.

Derya Sazak Milliyet, Turkey, December 10
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Dec 13, 2004

“The European parliament will convene on December 14 in Strasbourg,
just three days before the December 17 EU summit, to approve a
decision to start membership talks with Turkey. The importance of this
decision in terms of the leaders’ summit is symbolic . . . not
binding. However, a majority of votes favouring Turkey might sway
European public opinion . . . However, if there’s disagreement among
the leaders concerning the nature of Turkey’s membership or a date for
talks, the problem will likely be left to the European
commission. Ankara wouldn’t want EU leaders to push the buck to the
commission. This is a worst-case scenario, and Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan would freeze the EU process . . .
“Obviously everything won’t end with the beginning of our talks. In
Brussels we might face shocks: demands to de facto recognise the
‘Cyprus Republic’, to find a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue,
and to improve relations with Armenia. Everybody in the European
parliament is saying different things.”