Author: Emil Lazarian

POLL SHOWS PUBLIC’S SUPPORT FOR EU WANING IN TURKEY
Ethan Mcnern
Scotsman, United Kingdom
Oct 25 2006
FEWER than a third of Turks think their country must enter the European
Union, a poll showed yesterday, as Ankara comes under increasing
pressure to make concessions before it can join.
The survey, published in the newspaper Milliyet, showed 32.2 per cent
thought Turkey “must certainly enter the EU”, a sharp decline on the
57.4 per cent figure last year and 67.5 per cent in 2004.
The poll, which shows a more dramatic decline in EU support than
other recent surveys, comes as Brussels is urging Turkey to step up
reforms and make concessions over the divided island of Cyprus if it
is to avoid a possible freeze in membership talks later this year.
The survey may make it harder for Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister,
who faces elections next year, to push through unpopular measures
demanded by the EU.
Of the 2,408 people polled, 25.6 per cent said Turkey “should certainly
not enter the EU” – only 10.3 per cent felt that way last year.
The survey was carried out in late September, and since then
nationalism and anti-EU feeling have been fuelled further by a law
passed in the French parliament making it a crime to deny – as Ankara
does – that Ottoman Turks carried out genocide against Armenians
in 1915.
The poll also showed that only 7.2 per cent trust the EU. Many Turks,
including the government, complain that Brussels is changing the
rules over Cyprus as it goes along.
The EU is due to present a report on Turkey’s progress on 8 November,
which will probably criticise Ankara for a lack of reform on issues
such as minority and religious rights and freedom of speech –
prosecutors have continued to take journalists and writers to court
over insulting “Turkishness”.
Meanwhile, Turkey still refuses to open its ports and airports to
Greek Cypriot planes and vessels. Ankara supports a breakaway Cyprus
in the north, refusing to recognise the EU-member Cypriot government
in the south.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRENCH AMBASSADOR: TURKEY WILL LOSE ITS CONTROL ON ITS BORDERS
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 24 2006
Henri Cuny, Ambassador of France to Armenia, argued when meeting with
Armenian students in Armenia that once Turkey joins the EU, the issue
of its borders will be decided not by itself but by the central EU
headquarters in Brussels. “This is the order. And entering the EU
suggests open borders. The question is, when this is to happen”,
says Cuny.
Dr. Sedat Laciner from Ankara-based Turkish think tank USAK says Mr.
Cuny’s remarks are not wise. “All countries have their own control
on their own borders. This kind of claims badly affect Turkish public
opinion and undermine the credibility of the EU and France in Turkey.
Most of the people now in Turkey consider France as hostile country and
see the French support for the Armenians as the religious solidarity”
Dr. Laciner added.
Similarly Dr. Mehmet Ozcan, another Turkish expert, told the JTW that
“Turkey sincerely seeks to develop good relations with Armenia and
air borders have been open between Turkey and Armenia.”. According
to Mr. Ozcan Armenia does not want to develop relations with Turkey:
“Armenia aims to increase the tension to get the Western support
against Turkey. They do not recognize Turkey’s national borders and
they do expect open borders. If Turkey does not recognize France’s
national borders and occupies an EU member state, will France keep
its borders with Turkey open?”
Turkey-Armenian borders have been closed since Armenia attacked
and occupied neighboring Azerbaijan’s territories. Armenia does not
recognize Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s national borders and makes great
efforts to undermine Turkey’s national interests everywhere.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FINNISH FM TUOMIOJA: THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT MADE A BAD MISTAKE
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 24 2006
Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja yesterday criticized a bill
criminalizing rejecting of Armenian historical claims passed by the
French Parliament last week, saying that it made a bad mistake and
should quickly rectify the situation.
Saying that all countries had dark chapters in their pasts, Tuomioja
added that these chapters were usually met with silence, amnesia,
and denial.
“I think that ‘genocide’ is an exaggerated term for that time,”
he added.
Turkey has never accepted the Armenian claims of genocide. Turkish
Government says about 2 million Muslim Ottoman citizens were
massacred by the Armenian armed groups during the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire. Armenia does not recognise Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s
national borders.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REACTIONS TO ADOPTION OF DRAFT LAW BY FRANCE
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ANKARA – Adoption of the bill on criminalizing denial of so-called
Armenian genocide by the French national assembly has given rise to
nationwide reactions in Turkey.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Administrator Kemal
Dervis expressed his regret saying, “this bill restricting freedom
of expression is extremely erroneous. But we should not respond to
such a mistake with another mistake.”
Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu also condemned the
decision saying, “France itself will suffer the heaviest economic and
political loss. Western countries called us to annul Article 301 of
the Penal Code on the pretext that it restricts freedom of thought
and expression. Now, they will punish those who express historical
facts. This is nothing but a serious contradiction. If the bill is
enacted, I will go to Paris and shout that Armenian genocide never
took place.”
Another reaction came from True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar.
Releasing a statement, Agar noted, “this decision is a violation
of democracy, human rights and freedom of expression. It will lead
to irrecoverable damage in the bilateral relations between Turkey
and France.”
Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer noted that France,
in fact, stained itself not Turkey.
“Undoubtedly one of the targets of this initiative is to hamper
Turkey’s EU membership process. We should not give up our goal since
any standstill will satisfy those who are trying to exclude Turkey
from the EU,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said,
“it is not possible to mortgage history by making such decisions.
This decision aims at preventing talks over historical facts.”

62 PERCENT OF ARMENIANS THINK THAT THE COUNTRY IS ON THE WRONG TRACK: GALLUP SURVEY
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
62 percent of Armenians think that the country is on the wrong
track, while 31 percent think that the country is going in the right
direction, say the results of a national poll conducted by Gallup
Organization/Baltic Surveys in Armenia.
39 percent of Armenians see improvement in the country’s economy,
while 21 percent think it is declining.
26 percent of Armenians say their household’s financial situation
has improved, while 24 percent say it has declined.
29 percent of Armenians are satisfied with the development of
democracy, while 68 percent are not.
An overall majority of Armenians think that it will take a long time
to improve things in their country.
The poll was commissioned by IRI, was conducted by the Gallup
Organization/Baltic Surveys in coordination with the Armenian
Sociological Association, and was funded by USAID.
It was conducted from July 31 to August 10, 2006 among 1,200 Armenian
residents (voters) aged 18 years and over who were interviewed
face-to-face. The margin of error does not exceed 3 percent.
GALLUP INSTITUTE: MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS IN ARMENIA OPTIMISTIC
ABOUT FUTURE
Majority of respondents in Armenia (57%) are optimistic about
future, say the results of a national poll conducted by Gallup
Organization/Baltic Surveys in Armenia.
In addition, 31% of the polled have a neutral attitude to future,
and only 10% are pessimistic about the future. 5% of respondents feel
themselves insecure and feel fear for future, 4% feel apathy, 27%
do not pin hopes with future, 45% hope that situation will improve
in future. Majority of the Armenian respondents do not think that
the situation improved during the last year. 23% think the situation
worsened, and 18% see progress in the year passed.
The poll was commissioned by IRI, was conducted by the Gallup
Organization/Baltic Surveys in coordination with the Armenian
Sociological Association, and was funded by USAID.
It was conducted from July 31 to August 10, 2006 among 1,200 Armenian
residents (voters) aged 18 years. -M-
GALLUP INSTITUTE: MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS IN ARMENIA CONCERNED OVER
SITUATION WITH UNEMPLOYMENT IN COUNTRY
Majority of respondents (42%) in Armenia are concerned over the
situation with unemployment in the country, say the results of a
national poll conducted by Gallup Organization/Baltic Surveys in
Armenia.
22% of the polled connect their concern with the Nagorny Karabakh
conflict, 32% are concerned over the social-economic situation in
the country. 16% of the polled are concerned over the development of
economy and industry in the country, 10% are anxious at corruption,
10% at democracy and respect for human rights. In addition, 12%
of Armenian residents are concerned over migration problem and 7%
over the foreign political course. Recognition of Armenian Genocide
arises concern of only 3% of respondents in Armenia.
GALLUP INSTITUTE: ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT WILL ATTRACT THE SUPPORT OF
THE MAJORITY OF THE ARMENIAN POPULATION IF IT FULFILLS ITS PROMISE
TO CREATE JOBS
The Armenian government will attract the support of the majority of the
Armenian population if it fulfills its promise to create new jobs, say
the results of a national poll conducted by Gallup Organization/Baltic
Surveys in Armenia.
Thus, 37% of respondents think necessary the creation of jobs, 18% of
the polled are for the rise of wages and pensions, 14% are concerned
over the development of economy, 21% are concerned over the democracy
level, 15% of the polled think necessary fair elections. In addition,
8% of the polled residents of Armenia are concerned over insufficient
measures of fight against corruption, 3% are for the change of the
government, 3% are for assistance to the unsecured sections of the
population. Only 2% of respondents are concerned over attaching
Nagorny Karabakh to Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DID THE PLANE TOOK GOLD AND DRUGS TO SOCHI ONCE IN THREE MONTHS?
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
There is no official statement on the crash of the Armenian A320 May
3 in Sochi, which took 113 lives. According to the initial conclusion
of the Interstate Aviation Committee, the cause of the crash was the
mistake of the pilot. Five months later the Russian media recalled the
plane. In answer to this, the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram
Karapetyan stated some questions October 25 in Yerevan, which he will
extend to the Attorney General on October 26. Aram Karapetyan said he
got the information that gave rise to his questions from the media,
as well as the National Security Service of Armenia and his source
in Armavia. This is the only plane crash in Armenia over the past 20
years, and unfortunately, the government is trying to forget about it,
stated Aram Karapetyan.
Q. 1. In the first telegram Yerevan received after the crash of the
plane it was stated, “the plane disappeared from the display of the
radar.” According to Aram Karapetyan, experts say such telegrams
are sent when the plane explodes. Did the procuracy pay attention to
this circumstance?
Q. 2. Did a criminal group try to get the plane land in Sochi and
not return to Yerevan? Was there a fight? Was the captain of the
liner beaten?
Q. 3. Why did not the plane return to Yerevan when the dispatcher of
Sochi warned that it is impossible to land there? Who in the territory
of Georgia made the plane return to Sochi, and the plane did not get
to its destination?
Q. 5. Did the security service of the airport check all the VIP
passengers? Did these passengers carry weapon, explosives? Were they
checked? Are there records of the checking? We have learned that the
VIP lounge is under 24 hour surveillance. Were these records and the
video tape confiscated and attached to the criminal case?
Q. 6. Is the information in the Russian media true, or is the reality
different but it is presented this way to settle certain political
problems?
Q. 7. Is it true that after deciphering the information of the data
recorders the French party extended information on 6 parameters
instead of the required 40 to the Russian party?
The cause of the crash was not the mistake of the pilots, states the
leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party. Considering that nobody gives
explanation or information to the National Assembly, Aram Karapetyan
stated, “In most cases certain government agencies make no efforts,
and it appears that the National Assembly is neglected. The society
cannot get information.” This leads to emergence of various rumors.
For instance, Aram Karapetyan has heard that this plane took gold
and drugs to Sochi once in three months.
According to Aram Karapetyan, all the documents of the crashed plane
were in another A320 of Armavia which burnt in the hangar in Belgium
after the crash of A320.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS OF ARMENIA SYMPATHIZE WITH GEORGIA
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
The leader of the Christian Democratic Party of Armenia Khosrov
Harutiunyan stated October 25 at the Hayeli Club that in the current
state of Russian and Georgian relations their sympathy is with
Georgia. “Any sovereign country is free to choose its geopolitical
line if this choice, I repeat, does not threaten the security or
strategic interests of the third country or countries. If there is a
threat, it should have been negotiated instead of barring the import
of Borjomi or wines,” says Khosrov Harutiunyan.
He says Georgia does not benefit from this situation and the action
of President Sahakashvili, whereas Russia suffers from the methods of
its reaction, says Khosrov Harutiunyan. According to him, however,
nobody or no country is supposed to judge the actions concerning
the relation of other states, and not judging Georgia and Russia
the leader of the Christian Democratic Party judges Armenia, the
Armenian parliament saying that the parliamentary diplomacy can act
as a mediator because there are restrictions on the activities of
the executive. For instance, Khosrov Harutiunyan says Armenia could
accuse Georgia of creating demarcation lines in the Caucasus by its
policy. “Meanwhile, our parliament didn’t even make a statement on
the existing situation although the new Constitution empowers it,”
says Khosrov Harutiunyan, noting that this shows that the parliament
is a political impotent.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN-TURKISH EXHIBITION OPENED IN “MOSCOW” CINEMA
Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
“Merhabarev” photo-exhibition opened in the “Moscow” cinema today.
The exhibition is the first joint project of Armenian and Turkish
photographers. Coordinator and participant of the program
Ruben Mangasaryan said that during the mutual visits in 2006
photo-correspondents of the Armenian “Patkerphoto” and Turkish “Nar”
agencies had taken the photos of Yerevan and Istanbul, and now 130
photos will be exhibited in Yerevan.
“This exhibition will familiarize the two, which, being immediate
neighbors, have isolated themselves with closed borders,” said Turkish
photographer Osjan Yurdalan, adding that in the photos they tries to
present the everyday reality.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

JAPAN HOPES FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.10.2006 15:23 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 24 newly appointed Japanese Ambassador
to Armenia Yasuo Saito (residence in Moscow) presented copies of
credentials to Deputy FM of Armenia Gegham Gharibjanyan, reports the
Press Office of the American MFA. During the meeting the Japanese
diplomat noted the importance of development of Japanese-Armenian
relations and hoped for strengthening these. He expressed readiness to
contribute to that goal. The parties discussed the matter of opening
Armenian Embassy in Japan and that of Japan in Armenia, as well as
international matters, specifically nuclear tests in North Korea.
Gharibjanyan also briefed the Ambassador on the current situation
with the Karabakh issue.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NANCY PELOSI: IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT US RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.10.2006 17:36 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA),
a longtime supporter of Armenian American issues who is expected to
become Speaker if the Democrats win a majority in the House this
November, pledged today to support Armenian Genocide legislation
next year during in the 110th session of Congress. In a statement
released to Harut Sassounian, Publisher of the California Courier,
Congresswoman Pelosi stated that: “I have supported legislation,
including H.Res.316, that would properly acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide. It is imperative that the United States recognize this
atrocity and move to renew our commitment to eliminate genocide
whenever and wherever it exists. This effort enjoys strong bipartisan
support in the House, and I will continue to support these efforts
in the 110th Congress.”
Congresswoman Pelosi’s statement is consistent with her past record
of energetic and principled support for U.S. recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, dating back nearly 20 years, Harut Sassounian told
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress