Author: Emil Lazarian

INTERNATIONAL BANKING CONGRESS ON MONEY TRANSFER ISSUES TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
11/10/2006
Today, “Money Transfer. Banking Services” third international
interbank congress will take place in Yerevan.GareginTosounian,
Cahirman of the Accosiation of Russian Banks, Aleksey Mamontov,
chairman of Currency Accosiation of the Moscow Banks, Stepan Gishian,
Chairman of the Union of Armenian Banks, and other are expected to
participate and hold speeches at the congress. It is envisaged that
the representatives of a dozen of CIS and Balitic banks, as well as
the experts from “Anelik,” “Arag Post,” “Unistream,” Private Money
and other money transfer systems will take part in the forum.
The arrangement is initiated by “Planeta Diaspor” and “Anelik Money
Transfer” systems.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REHN WARNS OF DANGERS OF PASSING ARMENIAN BILL
The New Anatolian
Oct 10 2006
European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn warned on Monday of
the dangers of the French Parliament passing a bill on the so-called
Armenian genocide, calling on France to act responsibly and seriously.
Speaking to reporters, Rehn said, “I’m calling on French deputies to
consider the consequences of approval of the bill. Our aim is to solve
the problem through serious debate. I believe French parliamentarians
will act responsibly.”
Rehn stated that the bill in question is the problem of France and
French parliamentarians, warning that its possible approval would
also have major consequences in Turkish-European Union relations and
stressing that such a move would damage Ankara’s dialogue with the
Union instead of enhancing it.
Rehn also underlined that French Parliament’s approval of the bill,
that introduces fines and prison terms to those who question the
Armenian genocide claims, would block debates on the controversial
issue and hamper Turkish efforts to abolish obstacles to freedom
of expression.
Touching on his latest contacts in Ankara, the enlargement chief
also said, “Turks think that France, urging Turkey to take steps in
freedom of expression, is itself taking a step to limit that freedom.”
“I’m in favor of an open dialogue with Turkey,” Rehn added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Daily Telegraph (LONDON)
(Filed: 10/10/2006)
Turkey’s EU plans threatened by genocide dispute with the French
By David Rennie, Europe Correspondent
Turkey’s painful progress towards European Union membership has been
plunged into crisis by a dispute with the French over the massacre of
Armenians during and after the 1914-18 war.
A Socialist-backed proposal, which could pass the National Assembly on
Thursday, would make it illegal in France to deny that the killings
amounted to genocide by Turkey.
The legislation, which has gained support from Right-wing assembly
members, would see anyone denying that a genocide took place jailed
for up to five years.
Armenians claim that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were
killed between 1915 and 1923 in an organised campaign to eradicate
them from eastern Turkey.
The Turkish government fiercely denies a genocide, saying that
hundreds of thousands of Turks and Armenians died in a civil war.
Under Turkish law, it is illegal to accuse the state of genocide.
Scores of Turkish writers and intellectuals who have debated the
massacres publicly have faced prosecution under article 301 of the
penal code, outlawing insults to “Turkishness”.
The Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reacted with
indignation to the French proposal, asking: “What would you do if the
Turkish prime minister came to France and denied that the genocide had
taken place? Arrest him?”
In retaliation, the Turkish parliament’s justice committee will on
Wednesday discuss a draft plan to imprison people who deny that France
committed genocide during its colonial rule over Algeria.
Thousands of protesters who marched in Istanbul at the weekend vowed
to mount a trade boycott of French goods.
Mr Erdogan also met representatives from several French multinationals
on Saturday, including the car makers Peugeot and Renault and the
supermarket chain Carrefour, to press home the serious risks to the
multi-billion pound annual trade between Turkey and France.
The draft law has been taken up by the leading French presidential
candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, a long-time opponent of Turkish entry into
Europe.
He revealed yesterday that he had telephoned Mr Erdogan, saying his
party might still drop its proposal for the law if Turkey met three
conditions: dropping the penal law forbidding mention of the genocide;
opening the Turkish-Armenian border; and equal representation on a
joint Turkish-Armenian research committee.
Last week, President Jacques Chirac, publicly a supporter of Turkish
EU membership, suggested that recognition of “genocide” against the
Armenians should be a precondition of EU entry.
Mr Sarkozy raised the stakes by saying in a radio interview that, even
if Turkey admitted genocide, that should not guarantee it EU entry.
The EU enlargement commissioner, Olli Rehn, expressed concerns that
the French law would abruptly shut down the first signs that the
Turkish government would be willing to tolerate some historical
re-examination of the killings.
Supporters of Turkey’s EU entry said France was being “completely unhelpful.”
Andrew Duff, a Liberal Democrat MEP and prominent ally of Turkey in
Brussels, said he spent yesterday meeting senior Turkish MPs, who
asked him: “Why are you asking us to defend freedom of expression in
Turkey, when France is proposing to shut down freedom of expression in
France?”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TWO ARMENIANS KILLED IN MOSCOW
Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 9 2006
Corpses of two Armenians were found in Kartino village in Leninsk
region near Moscow. Rissan mass media report that the killed – a
man aged 33 and a woman aged 22 – were found in one of the private
houses. They had died five hours befor the corpses were found.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN COMMUNISTS CRITICIZE A NUMBER OF ART WORKERS, WHO DISPUTE “RESTORATION” OF SOVIET ARMENIA’S HYMN MUSIC
ARMINFO News Agency
October 9, 2006 Monday
“I am sure the attempt to impose the present state hymn “Our
Motherland”, alien to the Armenian history and traditions, on our
people will have no success”, the first secretary of the Central
Committee of the Armenia’s Communist party, Ruben Tovmassyan,
told ArmInfo.
According to him, one can already unambiguously say about a sabotage
against the most likely winner of the state contest for a new state
hymn of RA on the music of the great Armenian Soviet composer Aram
Khachaturyan. “The public unambiguously trends the music of the Soviet
Armenia’s hymn, written by A. Khachaturyan and it was disgusting
to see the last month’s orgy, arranged by some modern art workers”,
R. Tovmasyan said.
“All this anti-Khachaturyan campaign is inspired by a number of
political forces, which suffer from a morbid of love to the “Song of
the Italian Girl” as to the present hymn of the country”, R.
Tovmassyan added. “I have nothing against Mikael Nalbandyan,
a well-known revolutionary-democrat of 19th century , but he had
devoted this song to Italy and Austria and it has nothing in common
with Armenia”, he said.
To be reminded, upon results of the first round, the Governmental
contest Commission has chosen five versions out of over eighty ones,
which also include the new hymn by A. Khachaturyan’s music. The present
hymn “Our Motherland” has received two voices of the Contest Commission
and did not pass to the second round. According to ArmInfo source data,
the results of the second decisive round of the contest for Armenia’s
hymn will be announced this week to be afterwards submitted for the
RA Parliament’s approval.

EARTHQUAKES IN ARMENIA AND GEORGIA
ARMINFO News Agency
October 9, 2006 Monday
Earthquakes took place in Armenia and Georgia. The National Seismic
Protection Service of Armenia, reported to ArmInfo that an earthquake
in Armenia took place 8 km North-East of Spitak on October 9 at 17:49
(local time). The magnitude made up 2 points and the underground
tremors force make up 3 points.
The earthquake in Georgia took place 12 km North-East of the
Ninotsminda city at 17:49. The magnitude made up 2.7 points and the
underground tremor force made 4 points.

ANKARA MUNICIPALITY SUBMITS RESOLUTION ON FRENCH GENOCIDE IN ALGERIA
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
Oct 9 2006
Ankara, 9 October: Members of (Turkish capital) Ankara Municipality
Assembly submitted a resolution in regard to construction of a monument
representing French genocide in Algeria to Turkish parliament on Monday
[9 October].
Municipality members prepared a resolution regarding construction of
the monument in Paris Street in Ankara.
The resolution is expected to be discussed in the parliament after
the voting on the French bill which criminalize denial of so-called
Armenian genocide in France on 12 October.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH MINISTER: WE EXPECT EU TO TAKE ACTION ON FRENCH BILL ON ARMENIAN CLAIMS
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
Oct 9 2006
Ankara, 9 October: “We expect the EU to take action against the French
bill aiming to criminalize denial of so-called Armenian genocide,”
Turkish Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said
on Monday [9 October].
Replying to questions after the meeting of Council of Ministers, Cicek
indicated that while the EU demanded that there should be improvement
in freedom of expression in Turkey, there have been efforts in France
which restricted this freedom.
Stating that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul briefed ministers about
the bill in the cabinet meeting, Cicek noted: “We have been holding
talks with our interlocutors in regard to the matter. This situation
(in France) conflicts with basic values of the EU.”
“We keep conducting our initiatives. We hope that steps will be taken
against it (the bill), otherwise it will harm basic values (of the EU)
as well as Turkish-French relations,” he stressed.
Replying to a question that Turkey might take up a bill which says
that France committed genocide in Algeria, Cicek said: “Turkish
people have some expectations from the government, parliament and
authorities. We are working to prevent approval of this bill. Turkey
cannot remain silent regarding the matter.”
Asked what sort of measures Turkey would take, if the bill was
approved, Cicek said: “Turkey has been working regarding every kind
of possibility. Everyone should exert efforts on this matter. The
attitude that France has assumed is wrong.”
Turkish troops in Lebanon
Cicek said that National Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul briefed the
cabinet about dispatch of Turkish troops to Lebanon, noting that
Turkish authorities informed the UN on dispatch of one engineering
and construction unit, one frigate and two corvettes to Lebanon. He
stated that the construction troop including 261 personnel and 46
vehicles would probably be deployed near Sur city in Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LA TURQUIE VEUT QUE L’UE DISE NON AU PROJET DE LOI FRANCAIS SUR LE GENOCIDE
Agence France Presse
9 octobre 2006 lundi
La Turquie a demande lundi a l’Union europeenne (UE) de se prononcer
contre une proposition de loi francaise visant a reprimer la
negation du genocide armenien qui, selon elle, limiterait la liberte
d’expression.
“Nous souhaitons que l’UE, qui exige que la Turquie ameliore (ses lois)
sur la liberte d’expression, se prononce contre” la proposition de loi
francaise qui “limite la liberte d’expression”, a declare a la presse
un porte-parole du gouvernement, Cemil Cicek, egalement ministre de
la Justice.
Selon lui, ce texte “contredit les valeurs fondamentales de l’Union
europeenne”.
La proposition deposee par les socialistes doit etre debattue jeudi.
Elle punirait d’une annee de prison et d’une amende de 45.000 euros
(57.000 dollars) toute personne niant que les Armeniens ont ete
victimes d’un genocide en 1915 sous l’empire ottoman.
“Il n’y a pas de logique comprehensible si on a le droit de dire
que quelque chose s’est produit et si c’est un crime de soutenir le
contraire”, a ajoute M. Cicek, affirmant que “l’on a pas le droit de
porter un jugement politique sur des evenements historiques”.
Quelques heures plus tôt, le commissaire europeen a l’Elargissement,
Olli Rehn, avait denonce ce texte, le qualifiant de “contre-productif”
et susceptible d’entraîner de “graves” consequences pour les relations
UE-Turquie.
Le president de la Commission europeenne, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso,
a pour sa part estime qu'”on ne devait pas aujourd’hui ajouter de
nouveaux critères, de nouvelles conditions” a l’adhesion de la Turquie
a l’UE.
Les Armeniens affirment que jusqu’a un million et demi des leurs ont
peri dans un genocide entre 1915 et 1917. Ankara recuse totalement
le terme de genocide et soutient que des massacres ont ete commis de
part et d’autre, faisant de chaque côte environ 300.000 morts.
L’examen de la proposition de loi francaise intervient moins de deux
semaines après un voyage du president francais Jacques Chirac en
Armenie, où il avait pour la première fois fait de la reconnaissance
du genocide par la Turquie un prealable a son entree dans l’Union
europeenne. Il avait cependant juge que la proposition de loi
socialiste relevait “de la polemique”.
–Boundary_(ID_WcziAA2htzsWFDCip YXS+Q)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALGERIE : LA PRESSE RESERVEE SUR LE PROJET TURC DE “GENOCIDE FRANCAIS”
Agence France Presse
9 octobre 2006 lundi
Des journaux algeriens ont exprime lundi des reserves concernant
la menace turque de punir la negation de massacres commis par des
Francais en Algerie si la France votait une loi punissant la negation
du genocide des Armeniens en Turquie en 1915.
“Il y aurait matière a reconnaissance au gouvernement turc si cette
compassion post-coloniale procedait du simple bon sentiment. Mais
l’epreuve du peuple algerien est convoquee comme instrument de pression
diplomatique”, ecrit le quotidien Liberte.
“Tout se passe comme si la souffance des Algeriens, au lieu de meriter
une consideration de principe, se voit engagee dans un affrontement
par ricochet”, ajoute le quotidien.
“C’est pour le moins deplace que la Turquie interpelle la France sur
son passe algerien (traitant ainsi) en mineur un peuple qu’elle a
deja soumis par la force”, ajoute Liberte.
Le quotidien algerien rappelle a ce sujet que “l’Empire ottoman fut
le colon (de l’Algerie) avant la France” et que “la colonisation
ottomane s’est caracterisee par un pillage en règle du pays”.
Pour un autre quotidien, La Tribune, la menace turque represente
“la reponse du berger a la bergère” et est “un peu interessee”.
“S’agissant du genocide algerien, dont la negation doit etre
effectivement penalisee, ce devrait etre d’abord et surtout l’affaire
du peuple algerien et de ses elus”, ajoute le quotidien.
Le chef de la commission judiciaire du Parlement turc Koksal Toptan a
annonce samedi au quotidien Sabah, qu’il avait mis a l’ordre du jour
de mercredi, veille de la discussion devant l’Assemblee nationale
francaisee d’une proposition de loi sur le genocide armenien, une
(contre-)proposition de loi qualifiant de “genocide” des massacres
commis en Algerie du temps de la colonisation francaise.
La proposition de M. Toptan prevoit des peines de prison pour ceux
qui nieraient de tels massacres.
Les Armeniens estiment que jusqu’a 1,5 million des leurs ont peri dans
un genocide perpetre durant les dernières annees de l’Empire ottoman
entre 1915 et 1917. Ankara affirme que des massacres ont ete commis
de part et d’autre et recuse les accusations de genocide.
–Boundary_(ID_16aWqyK82zOojOde8jjDLg)- –
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress