Author: Emil Lazarian

PATRONISING TURKEY IS A DANGEROUS GAME FOR EUROPE
By Denis MacShane
Financial Times, UK
Oct 11 2006
Europe is doing its level best to tell Turkey it is no longer wanted
as part of the European Union. It is a high-risk game with little to
gain and a great deal to lose. How much longer will this sec-ular,
democratic, Muslim country look westwards to a European future,
instead of turning east?
Take the proclamation by Jacques Chirac, president of France, on
a recent visit to Armenia. Indulging his hosts and delighting the
politically active Armenian diaspora in France, Mr Chirac said Turkey
should recognise the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Armenians
in the turmoil of the first world war as “genocide”. In doing so,
he unilaterally created a new condition of EU membership for Turkey.
This is rather like Tony Blair popping up in Madagascar or Algeria
and telling France to apologise for the postwar massacres undertaken
by French soldiers as they put down uprisings.
ADVERTISEMENT The Armenian massacres are a dreadful scar in the
memory of that proud people, torn apart by the many wars and foreign
interventions of the 20th century. But it was the decaying elements
of the Ottoman Empire that killed the Armenians, not the modern
Turkish Republic. If the EU is to demand apologies for historic
misdeeds from its existing members, let alone potential members,
then it may as well dissolve itself.
After Mr Chirac’s statement, Olli Rehn, EU enlargement commissioner,
reiterated that recognition of a genocide is not an official
precondition of membership. It was a welcome correction. But how do you
explain away the European Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso,
saying that the era of EU enlargement is over?
This problem goes beyond the bluster of bureaucrats in Brussels or
an elderly French president on his way out of office. In April 2004,
European foreign ministers solemnly agreed to open trade links with
northern Cyprus. They have broken that promise. I took part in that
negotiation, and I find it shameful that powerful European states
are unable to enforce their own decisions.
Turkey wakes up almost every month to find a new hurdle on its path to
Europe. The mishandling of “the Turkish question” would seem laugh-able
were it not so important. The implicit repudiation of its European
ambitions is already fuelling support for radical groups in Turkish
domestic politics who argue that Europe is reneging on its pledge to
negotiate seriously. This matters because Turkey is pivotal to Britain
and other European states realising their interests overseas. Today,
scores of thousands of Europe’s best soldiers are fighting the
anti-democratic forces of jihadist terror networks from the shores
of Lebanon to the frontier mountains of Pakistan. If Europe wants to
promote democracy in the region, Turkey is an indispensable ally.
Turkey, of course, does much to drive its friends in the west quite
mad. The trials of writers and journalists are an insult to any
notion of democracy. The occupation of northern Cyprus and refusal
to normalise relations with Nicosia is intolerable – but is likely to
last forever if Europe continues to patronise the Turks. However, the
enormous progress in rule of law, freedom of intellectual activity
and the defence of the secular state against illiberal religious
fundamentalism remains an important advance in the struggle to defend
democracy.
Europe cannot rely on its loyalty because Turkey has alternatives. It
can create a Black Sea alliance with Vladimir Putin’s increasingly
authoritarian Russia. It could even forge a coalition with a
nuclear-armed Iran; the neighbours have rarely threatened each other in
the past. There are energy-rich republics to Turkey’s east that share
its language and culture. Islamists in Turkey have long advocated a
rapprochement with Pakistan to create a crescent of influence and power
linking a series of Islamic states governed by strong semi-military
regimes. An independent Turkey, free of ties to the EU, could also
clash with European foreign policy goals by aggressively pursuing
its interests in the Mediterranean or the Middle East.
Turkey’s friends need to lead a diplomatic offensive to ensure the EU
honours its obligations. Leaving Turkey turning on the spit of European
debate – roasted by condescension, ignorance and hostility – will
transform one of Europe’s greatest assets into a source of conflict
and tension. For good or ill Europe is now intervening in a region
full of problems in Iran, Iraq and Israel-Palestine. Making an enemy
of Turkey will make solving any of these problems far more difficult.
Should Turkey’s friends to rally round and prevent it being shut out
of the EU? Denis MacShane will answer your questions in a live Q&A
on Thursday from 11am BST. Post a question now
The writer is Labour MP for Rotherham. He was Britain’s Europe minister
between 2002 and 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE URGES AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTRY TO RESUME DIRECT TALKS WITH YEREVAN
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 11 2006
Today OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen Matthew Bryza (U.S.), Yurii
Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fasye (France) have held talks with
administration of Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry.
“We had a very useful and interesting conversation with Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamedyarov and his Deputy Araz Azimov. We spoke about
resumption of direct contacts between the sides in the near future,”
said Russian co-chairman Merzlyakov after the meeting.
Merzlyakov told Turan news agency that “some additional elements
could be regarded as new ones.” “There are such elements, we have
discussed them and will continue work on them,” added diplomat.
Questioned when Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers will hold
a meeting, Merzlyakov said “in the near future.” Speaking about
perspectives of the meeting between the two presidents at the CIS
summit in Minsk, Merzlyakov said “we need to wait until the summit
first.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CLEMENTE WANTS NO SLIP-UPS FROM SERBIA AGAINST ARMENIA
The Guardian, UK
Oct 10 2006
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Serbia’s Spanish coach Javier Clemente
warned his team they must take unheralded Armenia seriously in their
Euro 2008 Group A qualifier on Wednesday.
“The Armenians have improved a lot over the past five years and
narrowed the gap in quality between them and stronger European teams.
The players must not think for a minute that it’s going to be easy,”
he told reporters.
“Armenia play defensively with the aim of not conceding too many
goals and the players will get anxious if we don’t open them up with
an early goal,” said the 56-year-old Basque.
“But there is no doubt that we are the favourites and I expect the
difference in quality to show on Wednesday.”
The Serbians are top of the group with two wins and a draw from their
opening three matches, having registered 1-0 wins over Belgium and
Azerbaijan and a 1-1 draw with Poland.
Armenia lost their opening match 1-0 to Belgium last month and drew
0-0 with Finland on Saturday and are seventh in the eight-team group.
Captain Dejan Stankovic said he would be quite happy with another
win by the odd goal that would leave Serbia in the driving seat
of a tight group also including World Cup semi-finalists Portugal,
Finland and Kazakhstan.
“There is no shame in winning any match 1-0. There is still room for
improvement in our game but as the coach said, we are coming together
as a unit rapidly and I am very optimistic.”
Defensive midfielder Igor Duljaj will fill in for suspended right
back Marjan Markovic while Galatasaray forward Sasa Ilic may get a
rare start in a deeper role behind the two strikers.
“He is a quality player but the line-up depends on the rival’s
formation. Ilic may not be a regular starter for Serbia but he is
still a very important player in our squad.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERBIA VS ARMENIA
AsianHandicap.com, UK
Oct 11 2006
Serbia is leading the Group A after three games winning against
Belgium at home and earning an important point away in Poland, one
of their main rivals in the race to qalify for the Euro 2008.
With Portugal on the third place with a game in hand the situation is
not very clear yet in this group as five teams are having good chances
to move further. The strong display from Finland is an extra reason
of concern as they were not among the favourites in this group yet
the scandinavian team is on the second place just two points behind
the leaders.
On the other hand we have Armenia a team with no chances to qualify,
but a formation that managed so far not to be thrashed by the better
teams drawing at home with Finland and loosing by 1-0 to Belgium.
Perhaps the only objective reachable for them is to play the best
fotbal they can and in the end secure the sixth position, just for
the records.
The trip to Serbia is going to be the real test so far for Armenia
as they will be under pressure the enitre games as the host will
look forward to widen the gap between them and the runner-ups. With
Finland having to travel to Kazahstan for a game more difficult that
the odds show and with Portugal involved in today’s derby against
Poland things are looking good for the serbians.
Armenia will defend and a draw would be a great result is they will
be able to reach it, and although I am not sure they are going to
earn a point tonight I am confident that they are not going to allow
many goals. If Serbia will win they are not going to do it by more
than 2 goals for sure.
Date: 2006-10-11 League: Euro 2008 Qualifying Match: Serbia v Armenia
Page=TipsterPicks&Match=928600
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY CANDIDATES DID NOT WIN LOCAL ELECTION IN BELGIUM
PanARMENIAN.Net
11.10.2006 13:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As reported earlier, ethnic Armenian candidates were
included in election lists of various parties at regional elections in
Belgium. In Jette Brussels district, where Armenians compactly live,
Melik Melikyan was nominated from the Liberal Party, while Krikor
Kaspar represented socialists. As the Armenian community of Brussels
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, none of Armenian candidates won
the elections. As for ethnic Turk candidates, they won in regions,
where the Turkish population forms the majority.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MECHANISM TO DISCUSS GENOCIDE BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA NEEDED
PanARMENIAN.Net
11.10.2006 13:59 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “There should be initiatives to boost mutual
understanding and dialogue,” Armenian Patriarch in Turkey Mesrob II
said in regard to French bill which aims to criminalize denial of
the Armenian Genocide that will be voted in the French parliament
on October 12th. Releasing a statement, Mesrob II underlined that
all countries, especially Turkey and Armenia, should make necessary
arrangements to discuss and examine the matter of the Armenian
Genocide.
Indicating that all efforts hampering freedom of expression would harm
the process of dialogue between Turkish and Armenian communities,
Mesrob II stressed: “initiatives to boost mutual understanding,
dialogue and empathy should be undertaken without wasting time,”
Turkishpress writes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALMOST 400 GEORGIAN CITIZENS EXPELLED FROM RUSSIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
11.10.2006 14:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within past few days Moscow courts passed 380
decisions on expelling Georgian citizens from Russia owing to breaking
the migration legislation. October 5 and 6 courts considered 327
cases and decided to administratively expel 305 persons. Another 70
decisions on deportation were taken within the following days.
Owing to deportation of illegal migrants, detaining criminal
authorities and closing of gambling houses, the Georgian party accused
Russian authorities in xenophobia and nationalism. Along with that
Georgian President M. Saakashvili urged all compatriots on October
9 to return to the fatherland from Russia, irrespective of their
citizenship, reports Lenta.ru.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEW QUALIFYING EXAMS FOR ADVOCATES
A1+
[04:44 pm] 11 October, 2006
After an interval of five years licensing exams were held for advocates
in Armenia. 75 points of the overall 100 was considered the passing
threshold. The pretenders took written and oral exams. Of all the
310 applicants only 207 passed the threshold of the qualifying exams.
As for who will get license, chairman of the Chamber of Advocates
Ruben Sahakyan and President of the qualifying committee Yenoq Azaryan
found it difficult to say. They represented the course of the exams
in every detail and claimed that everything was extremely fair and
transparent. The procedure excluded any possibility of promptings
or supporting the applicants. The tests were made by computer,
enveloped immediately after printing without even reading and sealed
with two seals.
By the way, Mrs. Catharine Matis, the chairman of the US Chamber of
Advocates, also arrived in Armenia in order to follow the course of
the exams. She was on the whole content with the organization of the
exams and claimed that the US Court system has gained its independence
thanks to the institute of advocates.
Ruben Sahakyan thinks that advocates can make a revolution in Armenia
too in case they are more active, “We lived 70 years in the USSR
and another 16 years in independent Armenia. The court system of the
United States was formed during 230 years. I’m sure that in about 100
years we will have an independent court system too”, Mr. Sahakyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Writers Association Of California
c/o 410 E. Fairview Ave, #3
Glendale, CA 91207 USA
Tel: 818-500-1532
Email: [email protected]
LITERARY EVENING

Monthly literary meeting of the Armenian Writers Association of
California (AWAOC), sponsored by Glendale Public Library, took place
at 7-9 PM, on Thursday, October 5 2006, at the Auditorium, of the
library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale, CA 91205. The month of
October is culture month in the Armenian tradition; therefore, like
the past years, the meeting was open podium for writers and poets to
read their literary works. Grish Davtian, President of AWAOC,
initiated the meeting; he introduced the following newly published
books by the members of AWAOC: “AFRICAN SYMPHONY” short stories in
English, by novelist Poghos Raymond Gubelian. “SMILE MY DEAR”, poems
in English, by poet Termine Manukian. “ADAGIO”, poems in Armenian, by
Termine Manukian. “OJAKH” (Hearth), poems in Armenian, by Astghik
Topcnian. “SRTI AGHBYUR” (Spring of Heart), poems in Armenian, by
Gusan Aper.

Poet Nerses Ter-Mesropian presented the historic beginning of the
Culture Day in Armenian national calendar. The following writers read
their works: Samvel Shahbazian, poems; Vazgen Abovian, a discourse on
the sources of Armenian national epos; Ester Davtian, poems; Victoria
Sanasarian, short story; Kima Kirakosian, short story; Rubik
Keshishian, short story; Albert Grkiasharian, poems; Garush Haryants,
poems.

After the meeting, Mr. A. Vanetsyan of Radio Free Europe / Radio
Liberty interviewed Mr. Grish Davtian. The interview was broadcast on
Sunday, October 8, in their program.

AWAOC
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 N. Jackson St. Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 818-243-6222
Fax: 818-243-7222
PRESS RELEASE
Contact ~ Sarkis Kotanjian
[email protected]
Armenia Fund Completes Yerevan’s Nork-Marash Hospital Reconstruction
YEREVAN, ARMENIA – Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region is pleased to
announce that on September 19 its Brazilian affiliate – Fundo Armenia do
Brazil – unveiled the newly-reconstructed Nork-Marash Infectious
Diseases Hospital. Since November 2005, Armenia Fund has been
coordinating and implementing the vital reconstruction of this
specialized healthcare facility. The project was financed by the
Brazilian-Armenian community in Sao Paulo, through Armenia Fund.
Her Excellency Renate Stille, the newly appointed Ambassador of Brazil
to Armenia, Mrs. Naira Melkoumian, Executive Director of Armenia Fund
International, Mr. Ochin Leon Mosditchian, Chairman of Fundo Armenia do
Brazil as well as several community leaders and heads of organizations
from Sao Paulo and Yerevan were present at the opening ceremony.
The Soviet era hospital, which was built in 1956, has not seen any major
renovation. The hospital is unique in its kind since it is the only
medical facility specializing in infectious diseases in Armenia. Due to
years of neglect and lack of proper maintenance, the hospital seriously
fell below healthcare protocols, in terms of proper sanitation and
sterilization. This hazardous environment posed a serious challenge for
healthcare personnel as well as critically ill patients.
Thanks to the Brazilian affiliate of Armenia Fund, the reconstruction
project included the complete repair of the first and second floors,
including the isolation ward, patient rooms, and administrative offices.
After the complete reconstruction of each floor, the roof and windows
were also replaced. This weatherization phase will prevent heat loss
from the building, especially in areas where the room temperature is
critical to the patient’s health.
Armenia Fund and its 19 affiliates around the world continue to provide
vital infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh. While much of the focus is on rebuilding the war torn republic
of Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia Fund continues to implement large scale
projects, such as schools, irrigation networks, healthcare facilites,
and sports complexes, among others in the Republic of Armenia.
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and
infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of `Hayastan’
All-Armenian Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress