Author: Emil Lazarian

WINNERS OF EIF AND CRDF GRANT TENDER ASNNOUNCED
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. At the venture conference of the US
Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) and its Armenian
partner Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) in Yerevan on October 24,
the scientific research organizations – winners of the grant tender
held by CRDF and EIF – were announced. The tender was held under the
CRDF Science and Technologies Entrepreneurship Program (STEP). For
their developments with Armenian production enterpise-partners,
5 thousand dollars will be given to the Institute of Mathematics
(for design and creation of prototype of a new piston pump), to
the scientific group led by Ruben Vardanian of State Engineering
University of Armenia (SEUA) (for development of new cost-effective
photovoltaic solar energy concentrator system), and the group led
by Gagik Aivazian (SEUA) (for design, fabrication and marketing of
photovoltaic systems based on silicon vertical multi-junction solar
cells). The scientific group led by N. Vardanian, laboratory head of
the Institute of Microbiology, will receive a grant for developing a
new integrated biometallurgical process for gold production, the same
institute’s group led by Hrachia Hovhannisian – for intensification
of probiotics production by means of burdock’s raw inulin, while
the group headed by Mikael Hovhannisian of the Institute of Botany
– for TPS technology used in elite seed-potato production. During
the conference, another four reports on applied developments were
made. EIF Director Bagrat Yengibarian said that the work on assistance
of their authors will continue separately. Natalia Pipia, Manager
of SRDF Industrial Programs, underlined the importance of the fact
that the scientific groups – tender participants found production
enterprises as partners. Jim Butterworth, jury member, expressed a
high opinion about the applied developments presented by 10 Armenian
scientific groups. The jury was also composed of Hovhannes Avoyan,
Director of Sorsio company (Armenia), Chairman of the Union of IT
Enterprises, Ara Hamazaspian, Director of the Izmirlian Foundation,
and Hayk Papian, Director of Venture Management Advisors company.
B. Yengibarian reminded that the above mentioned 10 developments
were selected out of 30 bids. According to him, it is envisaged to
spend 20 thousand dollars to assist the scientific groups which won
the tender. He expressed a hope that such a tender will be held in
2007 as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI DIASPORA IN TURKEY MADE STATEMENT AGAINST FRANCE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006
Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations in Turkey made statement against
France, State Committee for Azerbaijanis Abroad told the APA.
Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations in Izmit, Izmir, Mughla, Antalya,
Balikesir, Ankara, Manisa, Edirne, Adana and Istanbul held press
conference and objected to France Parliament National Assembly
decision, which will punish those who deny false Armenian genocide.
Their statement says that Armenians occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan
territories and perpetrated genocide in Khojali in the result of which
hundreds of Azerbaijanis were killed, over thousand were missing and
became invalids and about one million became refugees.
They also said that the decision of France Parliament is groundless
and was not proved historically.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA HAS NOT CONFIRMED JACQUES CHIRAC’S PLANS TO VISIT KARABAKH
Regnum, Russia
Oct 25 2006
The matter may not concern economical development without peace;
on October 24, French Ambassador to Armenia Henry Cuny stated at a
news conference ending his diplomatic mission in Armenia. According
to him, at present, fact should be clearly recognized that Nagorno
Karabakh settlement starts from the both parties’ interests.
As a REGNUM correspondent informs, the diplomat stressed that Armenia
may not be considered as separate market now, in particular, because of
its insolvency and population’s fewness. “At the same time, Armenia’s
geographic location is rather attractive for business because it
‘opens doors to the Middle East and Central Asia; that is why, play
might be quite different, if there were no closed borders,” Cuny said,
adding that it is necessary to remember both Azerbaijan and Armenia
have not been included into the EU New Neighborhood Policy. “In this
connection, conflict’s pendency leads the program’s realization into
a dead end. In such case, situation arises when two countries included
into the program have closed borders; moreover, there are no diplomatic
relations, i.e. the program will not function per se,” he pointed out.
Responding to question of journalists to what extent publications
of Azerbaijani mass media concerning French president’s visit to
Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh are truthful, he informed that he did
not have such information. At that, the French diplomat added that
being an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, France has no right on one-sided
demonstrations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ONLY THIRD OF TURKS SAY EU A MUST
CNN International
Oct 25 2006
ANKARA, Turkey (Reuters) — Less than a third of Turks think Turkey
must enter the European Union, a poll showed, the latest sign of
waning support for membership as Ankara faces increasing pressure
from Brussels.
The survey, carried out by pollsters A&G and published in newspaper
Milliyet, showed 32.2 percent thought Turkey “must certainly enter
the EU”, a sharp decline on last year’s 57.4 percent and 67.5 percent
in 2004.
The poll, which shows a more dramatic decline in EU support than other
recent surveys, comes as Brussels urges Turkey to step up reforms and
make concessions over the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus if
it is to avoid a possible freeze in membership talks later this year.
The poll results could make it harder for Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan, who faces a general election in November 2007, to push
through unpopular measures demanded by the EU.
Of the 2,408 people polled, 25.6 percent said Turkey “should certainly
not enter the EU”, more than twice the 10.3 percent who felt that
way last year, when Turkey began entry talks.
The survey was carried out in late September, and since then
nationalism and anti-EU feeling has 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 a genocide against Armenians
in 1915.
The poll also showed that 76.5 percent of Turks expect tougher
conditions to be imposed on them in the future and only 7.2 percent
trust the EU. Many Turks, including the government, complain that
Brussels is changing the rules as it goes along over Cyprus.
The EU is due to present a report on Turkey’s progress on Nov. 8,
which will likely criticize Ankara for a lack of reform on issues
such as minority and religious rights, and freedom of speech after
nationalist prosecutors have continued to take journalists and writers
to court over insulting “Turkishness”.
Meanwhile conflict over Cyprus still threatens talks as Turkey
continues to refuse to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot
planes and vessels, without concessions from Brussels.
Ankara supports a breakaway Cyprus in the north, refusing to recognize
the EU-member Cypriot government in the south.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’S IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE
The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 25 2006
Visiting Yerevan last week, Vice-Speaker of the Russian Duma, Sergei
Baburin, delivered a stark message to Armenia. Clearly incensed by
complaints that the Russian sanctions on Georgia are hurting totally
innocent Armenia, he declared that Yerevan must choose between Moscow
and Tbilisi, or suffer in silence.
In so saying the nationalist leader, who reportedly counts Jean
Marie le Pen and Radovan Karad~^ic among his personal friends, not
only demonstrably thumbed his nose at ever reliable Armenia, he also
unwittingly pointed to a central reality of what it means to count
Russia as a strategic partner: it means nothing to count Russia as
a strategic partner.
Russia and Armenia are, on paper, strong allies. Armenian foreign
policy is consistently in line with Russia’s, Gazprom can buy whatever
they like and there is no unpleasant talk about wanting to join
NATO. In return Russia sides with Yerevan over Nagorno-Karabakh,
supplies cheap gas and hosts a huge number of Armenian workers,
whose remittances keep the country afloat financially.
But recently, Russia seems to be ignoring the interests of its only
friend in the region. Armenia’s only link with its fair weather
patron is through Georgia, the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh meaning
the Turkish and Azeri borders are thoroughly closed. Armenia is still
technically at war with Azerbaijan, so the road north is actually a
vital lifeline. Yet Russia, in its haste to punish Georgia, totally
sets aside the interests Armenia time and time again. When the only
legally functioning border checkpoint between Russia and Georgia
was closed this summer, the Armenians were even more surprised-and
harmed-than the Georgians. Georgian goods and people could at least go
through Azerbaijan, but Armenia was left with only expensive flights
or ferries.
The fact that Russia did not even bother to inform its supposedly
strategic partner must have stung, but worse was to follow. With the
closure of maritime links Armenian goods now have to go to Georgia,
then on to Ukraine, Bulgaria or Romania and then on to Russia, making
them more expensive and less competitive. The anti-Georgian hornets’
nest the Kremlin has stirred up in Russia itself is hardly going
to benefit the Armenians, even if they aren’t going to be forcibly
deported for trumped up violations anyone with a tan is now at risk
in Russia.
If, as seems exceedingly likely, gas prices shoot up for Russian gas
for Georgia, Tbilisi is sure to try to recoup some of those losses by
upping the transit costs to Armenia, which receives its gas through
the same pipes as Georgia (indeed, the ‘mystery explosions’ on the
pipeline in North Ossetia last year would have been disastrous for
Armenia too, had it not been for their nuclear power station), yet
again hurting Armenia, which has totally stayed out of the duispute.
So quite why Armenia should ‘choose Russia’ is becoming increasingly
unclear. Yerevan clearly can’t do without its strong ally, but it
certainly can’t do without Georgia either. A hostile Georgia would
make Armenia an island in a sea of enemies, and its already shaky
security would become untenably weakened.
Baburin’s ‘choice’ also poses questions for the rest of Russia’s
neigbours, if Russia treats its loyal allies with such disdain,
ignoring their interests in order to pursue vengeful, xenophobic
policies towards states it considers ‘its turf’, then what is the
benefit of loyalty? Belarus’ autocrat Alexander Lukashenka has started
to question the benefit of his alliance, which is paying fewer and
fewer dividends as time goes by. Even the separatists in Abkhazia
and South Ossetia must be worrying that, if it serves a short term
objective, Russia might just sell them down the river.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEXT MEETING OF AZERI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS DUE IN BRUSSELS
Author: A.Ismayilova
TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006
The Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian announced that the
next meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers will
be held in Brussels on 14 November, Trend reports citing Radio Liberty.
He noted that at present there is no reason for the Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia to meet. “The meeting with the Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister in Brussels on 14 November will decide whether a
meeting by the Presidents will be necessary.”
Oskanian described the Paris meeting as “normal and constructive”. “I
cannot say that there were any specific points of discussion, but
we covered topics of mutual interest and new principles that were
proposed during the Moscow meeting,” Oskanian stated.
He also underlined that the principles were discussed during a visit
to Nagorno-Karabakh, where they succeeded in reaching common ground
on certain principles.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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.”