Author: Emil Lazarian

DEAD BODY WILL BE TAKEN TO YEREVAN
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[07:20 pm] 04 October, 2006
Today the rescuers took out the dead body of M. Poghosyan (b. 1979)
from a pit under rocks, near the St. Varvara chapel on Mount Ara. Let
us remind you that the young teacher was lost on September 30 when
she went hiking together with a number of pupils.
The search for the girl started on that very day. The reasons for
her death will become known after forensic examination.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEUTRALITY HAS ITS PRICE
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[10:21 pm] 04 October, 2006
Today the Parliamentarians were interested in the possible losses
of Armenia due to the tension in the relations between Armenia and
Georgia. Politician Hmayak Hovhannisyan blamed the Government for
not doing everything possible for the interests of our country.
“We are too kind towards our Southern neighbor. We are member of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization where the responsibilities of
the countries are clearly mentioned. In particular, when Azerbaijan
threatened Armenia to launch war, Russian Defense Minister announced
that in that case Russia will carry out its responsibilities within the
framework of the treaty. Today we can remain undecided long… we must
make up our mind”, Hmayak Hovhannisyan said and added that everything
has its price in politics.
“If Georgia expects us to remain neutral, our neutrality must have its
price. Isn’t it high time to ask Georgia to renounce the construction
of the railway Kars-Akhalqalaq? ” Asked this question, the Prime
Minister said that he will pass it on to the Government which means
that it will be answered no sooner than in a month.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBER KESHISHYAN: ARMENIA IS DEVELOPING AND IS A COUNTRY WITH POTENTIAL
Panorama.am
13:59 04/10/06
Rober Keshishyan, renowned French producer of Armenian decent,
is in Armenia for the fourth time. He is shooting a documentary,
Reviving Armenia, ordered by several French film producers. The film
is expected to be shown in January-February, 2007. Keshishyan said
he does not speak about the genocide in the film, as he does not want
to make a correlation between Armenians-Armenia-genocide in the minds
of French people. “I want to show the West that Armenia is developing
and is a country with potential,” the producer says.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PARTY LEADER REFUTES CHARGES AGAINST HIM
Panorama.am
15:42 04/10/06
Today, New Times Party (Nor Jamanakner) headed by Aram Karapetyan
responded to yesterday’s statement-accusations made by Tigran
Urikhanyan, chairman of Progressive Party.
On October 3, a young chairman of a party who thinks he is a “man”
has suggested to public officials in a press conference to check
tax documents of Aram Karapetyan, Nor Jamanakner Party leader,
investigate his apartment and make a blood test on him performing
the political order of Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan and
Armenian National Security Services Head Gorik Hakobyan. The special
services will unveil that Aram Karapetyan avoids tax obligations,
keeps illegal arms and is simply a drug addict.
Nor Jamanakner is going to apply to the Armenian Prosecutor’s Office
requiring to check the information. When the evident libel (which
we do not suspect) will become clear, the leader of Nor Jamanakner
Party is going to call the chairman of the Progressive Party for
responsibility based on point 1, 2, 3 of article 135 of the Armenian
Criminal Code which proposes punishment for libel, Nor Jamanakner
announced.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COMMENT: FRANCE, ARMENIA AND THE UNBEARABLE ATTRACTION OF TURCOPHOBIC POLITICS
Suat Kýnýklýoðlu
ABHaber, Belgium
EU-Turkey News Network
Oct 4 2006
This week a good number of media outlets will cover in great detail
the visit of French President Jacques Chirac to Armenia. They are
right to do so. Chirac’s visit to Armenia signifies a new level of
French willingness to escalate tensions between France and Turkey.
Before getting into the details, motivations and outcome of this visit,
however, let me underline in no uncertain terms that those who think
they can get away with such irresponsible political behavior are
mistaken. And let me emphasize that I am not referring to immature
calls for boycotting French products or small demonstrations in front
of the French Embassy. I am also not referring to a senseless barrage
of insults against the French Republic and its crimes committed in
Algeria. In fact, I am referring to a much deeper phenomenon.
Although many of our European colleagues may think otherwise, since
Turkey’s EU drive accelerated in 2003, the Turkish elite have been
able to acutely register the ups and downs of the intra-European
debate on Turkey.
Not only the Turkish intelligentsia but also ordinary Turks are
very well aware of which countries, political leaders and parties
are obstructing Turkey’s EU aspirations. They also take notice of
what’s happening on the Armenian issue. It is increasingly becoming
clear that French, Austrian, Danish and Dutch opposition to Turkey’s
EU membership is based not only on pure political interests. There
is a much deeper process at work. We are dealing with a new version
of Turcophobia. I am referring to a non-clinical situation, a very
peculiarly negative attitude or a compilation of prejudices against
Turkey. French Turcophobia has a particularly wide base and goes
well beyond President Chirac or his entourage. For example, Nicholas
Sarkozy’s recent comments that Turkey had no place in the European
Union were a clear sign that the next French election will highlight
Turcophobic issues in the approaching presidential election.
So what does Chirac’s visit to Armenia serve, then? Let me explain.
It serves four things. First, it extends crucial political support
to Armenia that is run by a small nationalist clan which suppresses
democracy and has hijacked Armenia’s foreign policy debate. Thanks
to the Kocharian clan, Armenian foreign policy now rests on Turkey’s
recognition of “genocide;” something that is not going to happen but
will help prolong Kocharian’s oligarchic rule. Second, it provides
political support to a country that occupies 20 percent of Azerbaijani
territory, including seven regions outside of Nagorno-Karabakh and
thus rewards intransigent political behavior.
Third, it cripples the precarious progress made in the Turkish domestic
debate on the Armenian issue. Fourth, by linking the Armenian issue
to Turkey’s EU accession it invites a serious deterioration in
French-Turkish relations with a potential impact on economic interests.
I have been to Armenia three times in the last three years. In all
three of my visits I met young, enthusiastic and talented Armenians
who wanted normal relations with Turkey. They wanted an open border
and to live in a normal country that was not run by Kocharian’s
oligarchs. They agree that the road to normalization with Turkey should
not start with how we describe the events of 1915. Young Armenians
want a future in Europe, believe in Western ways and aspire to be
part of the European family.
Chirac’s visit only served to silence these progressive Armenians and
emboldened those who rule Armenia with an iron fist and will eventually
isolate Armenia from the rest of the world.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline has already bypassed Armenia. Turkey
has repeatedly told Yerevan that it risks being isolated further
if it does not act responsibly in the Karabakh negotiations. The
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway project is well under way and
unfortunately will even further isolate Armenia from the rest of the
region and the world. This is exactly what the Kocharian clan wants, as
“genocide” recognition is a recipe for impasse. This impasse allows
them to rule Armenia, sell its infrastructure to Russia and run a
small, oligarchic and impoverished country.
In the final analysis, Chirac’s visit to Armenia may provide a photo
opportunity for Kocharian, a couple of days of media attention and
political satisfaction for the diaspora. But what real good is in it
for Armenia? What does such a provocative visit accomplish in terms
of the resolution of the Karabakh conflict or the increasingly doomed
isolation of Armenia? What does French support to Armenia offer in
terms of alleviating Armenian poverty or the lingering democracy
deficit in Armenia?
Also, I am amazed at the level of French naivete, which rests on
the belief that the price for angering Turkey and/or excluding
Turkey from the EU is manageable. Kindness is the key word when
there is a need for troops in Lebanon or the issue is European energy
diversification. Thoughtfulness dominates when Turkey is asked to play
a moderating role upon its citizens in a variety of European countries
as immigration/integration issues become extremely important. Yet
France has no qualms about opening old wounds and provoking a country
over a very sensitive historic issue.
What does France hope to achieve from sowing the seeds of antagonism
and provoking Turkey in an increasingly shrinking world that has
brought civilizational discord to the doorstep of Europe? This is
unclear. What is clear though is that France has become the leading
Turcophobic state in Europe.
–Boundary_(ID_nyalAXjLvceYMYn3xXFcGQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH BUSINESS PUSHES THE CASE FOR EU ACCESSION
EurActiv, Belgium
Oct 4 2006
In Short:
The Turkey-Europe-week launched on 3 October 2006 is set out to
revive the debate about Turkish EU membership.
Background:
Accession negotiations were officially launched in October 2005.
Nevertheless, EU-Turkey relations have cooled down recently with the
main stumbling blocks on the road to accession being the Cyprus issue
and freedom of speech.
The European parliament on 27 September 2006 voted on a critical
report urging Turkey to improve its record of freedom of speech,
freedom of religion and to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.
Issues:
On the occasion of the Turkey-week, launched on 3 October 2006,
Turkish industry sought to charm EU institutions and business with
economic arguments for Turkey’s accession.
Omer Sabanci, President of Turkish Industrialists’ and Business
Association (TUSIAD) said: “What is important now is that we continue
to convince our European counterparts that they have a vested interest
in Turkey’s EU membership.” He added: “Even though politicians at
present are seeing many hurdles to Turkey’s accession, business is
seeing the opportunities. Its vibrant economy, with a GDP of 300
billion euro and a growth rate of 6%, will be a great asset to the EU.”
Answering a question from EurActiv on the economic integration aspect,
Sabanci emphasised the importance of economic ties, stating that
commerce between the EU and Turkey represented 80 billion euro.
Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener suggested that since the customs
union between the EU and Turkey had already been completed in 1996,
his country had to make a greater effort to be an attractive economic
partner for the EU, in order to reach further integration.
Positions:
Omer Sabaci of TUSIAD said he was disappointed with the EU penalising
Turkey, despite their efforts, but acknowledged that there was “no
magic formula to break the gridlock”. He thinks that Turkey with
its young and educated population could be “a great economic hub
for Europe”.
Social Democrat MEP Emine Bozkurt hopes the Turkey-week might help
to revive the debate on Turkey’s EU accession. She said it was
important to acknowledge the important benefits that Turkey could
bring to the EU in economic and geo-strategic terms, but also in the
area of energy policy. Bozkurt would like to see the EU and Turkey
resolve their issues, notably over Cyprus, so as to avoid a halt of
negotiations. She said: “Once the train stops, it will be difficult
to get back on track.”
Green MEP Joost Lagendijk acknowledged that the EU-Turkey relations
seem to be heading for a crisis, but that it was in the interest of
both the EU and Turkey to continue the negotiations. He is confident
that there will be progress on the Cyprus issue, “either in form of
a resolution or a compromise”.
He also warned that a law penalising the denial of the Armenian
genocide, currently discussed in the French parliament, might be
counterproductive and create a nationalist backlash in Turkey.
Latest & next steps:
The Commission’s progress report on Turkey is due on 8 November
2006, along with the Commission paper on the topic of “enlargement
capacity”. The Council will vote on this report in December 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS DENIED THEIR STATEMENTS IN YEREVAN
Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 4 2006
OSCE Minsk group co-chairs met with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan yesterday.
They agreed on Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers meeting in
Moscow on October 6, OSCE MG Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov said
in press conference in Yerevan, APA reports.
French co-chair Bernar Fasie said the meeting of the presidents is
possible only after the Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
Armenian mass media claims the co-chairs denied their statements made
in Azerbaijan. While in Azerbaijan, Bernar Fasie said that the format
of the negotiations cannot be changed. In Yerevan he said he made no
statement on Nagorno Karabakh negotiations in Baku.
The co-chairs did not make public the details of the negotiations in
Yerevan. French co-chair said the principles of the negotiations have
not been changed in past two years.
Commenting on Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s statements they
said military solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is impossible.
“Azerbaijan President can say anything he wants. We will not comment
on his statement.”
The co-chairs said the solution plan was approved by G8 summit in
Washington, Paris and Moscow, but Azerbaijanis and Armenians are not
ready to live together.
Bernar Fasie said the solution of the conflict is out of the question
if the two nations are not ready to live together in peace. The
co-chairs will hold meeting in Khankendi today.
URL:

TURKEY SHOULD RESUME ITS REFORM PROCESS, REHN
Turkish Press
Oct 4 2006
ANKARA – Turkey should resume its reform process with determination,
said European Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn.
Holding a joint press conference with Salih Kilic, the chairman of
Turk-Is (Confederation of Turkish Employees’ Trade Unions) in capital
Ankara, Rehn stated that he is visiting Turkey for three reasons, and
listed them as ensuring cooperation among social partners and showing
the importance they attach to the NGOs; marking the first anniversary
of start of Turkey-EU entry talks. “And, thirdly I am here because
I don’t want this first anniversary to be the last one,” he said.
Rehn pointed out that Turkey should fulfil its liabilities,
particularly those stemming from additional protocol to the Customs
Union.
On the recent initiative launched by EU Acting President Finland
regarding Cyprus, Rehn said that this initiative has not been rejected
by any parties so far, and noted that all parties are trying to find
a solution as they have seen the seriousness of this matter.
Rehn refrained from detailing this initiative, but he said, “I don’t
want to be so much optimistic but this is an encouraging situation.”
-GEN. BUYUKANIT’S REMARKS-
On Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit’s remarks about
fundamentalist threat and asked if he sees such a threat, Rehn said
that they have great respect to the professionalism of the Turkish
Armed Forces, but underlined importance of reforms for democratization
of civilian-military relations.
“The army is under civilian control in European democracies,” he said.
-ARTICLE 301 OF TCK-
Commenting on the Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, Rehn noted
that the freedom of expression is defined as a fundamental freedom
in the European Convention on Human Rights.
Rehn said, “you see that there is not any concept like insulting
Britishness or insulting Finnishness. So, there is no approach in EU
countries like the approach in Article 301 (insulting Turkishness).”
Rehn pointed out that the number of cases filed under this article
has risen, pointing out that more than 60 people have been tried
under Article 301.
Most of the cases ended up with acquittal, he said. “Turkey is a strong
country, why does it need such an article. It is not an article in
line with EU standards,” he noted.
Rehn said that there should not be any violence when expressing
thoughts.
“If any thought incites violence, this is another thing. In this case,
it cannot be considered within the scope of freedom of expression,”
he added.
Rehn emphasized that it will be for the best interest of Turkish
people if Turkey fully ensures freedom of expression, and said
this will also be important for not only social change, democratic
progress and Turkey’s modernization, but also it is related with the
negotiation process.
-SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS-
Stressing that recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide
allegations is not a precondition before Turkey’s membership, Rehn
said that such historical issues should be solved within Turkey,
and underlined importance of discussion of this matter by Turkey
and Armenia.
Rehn said that the EU is supporting all types of dialogue aiming to
resolve this matter, and welcomed Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
proposal to set up a joint commission of historians.
Reiterating resumption of Turkey’s reform process, Rehn said that the
ninth reform package should be adopted as a first step, then freedom
of expression, rights of Non-Muslims and religious minorities should
be taken up.
“We may prevent a train crash by taking necessary decisions,” he added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WEB TO LINK TEACHER WITH ARMENIANS
Orlando Sentinel, FL
Oct 4 2006
Education Schools In Brief
New Dimensions High School teacher Nicolle Boujaber has been chosen
as one of 25 educators nationwide to participate in the 2006 Armenia
School Connectivity Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of
State and administered by the nonprofit Project Harmony. Boujaber
and her students will engage in online discussions with high-school
students in Armenia on topics such as globalization, economics,
environment, culture and democracy. Boujaber will attend a conference
in Burlington, Vt., this month where she will join other educators
to discuss the project. Her students are also raising money for needy
Armenians. Details: projectharmony.org.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN AND BAKU AGREED TO CONTINUE DIRECT CONSULTATIONS
Gayane Movsesyan
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006
According to the international mediators, the main obstacle to the
settlement is the lack of confidence between the parties.
The central goal of the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs’ visit to the
Karabakh conflict region has been achieved: an arrangement on the
resumption of the direct consultations between Armenia and Azerbaijan
on the principal issues of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
has been reached. The RA and AR FMs’ current meeting will be held
in Moscow October 6. After that, in 7 – 10 days, the two countries’
FMs may hold another round of consultations with the mediators’
participation. Only after that the mediators may put forward a
proposal on the organization of a meeting of the Presidents Robert
Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev, the OSCE MG Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov
(Russia), Matthew Bryza (the U. S.) and Bernard Fassier (France)
stated yesterday in the course of a press conference held in Yerevan
on the outcomes of a meeting with RA President Robert Kocharyan,
with whom they had discussed the issues referring to the present
stage of the Karabakh talks. The OSCE Chair-in-Office’s Personal
Representative Andrzey Kasprzyk>>> also participated in the meeting.
At the press conference the Minsk group Russian Co-Chair Yuri
Merzlyakov stated an addition had been written to a basic
principle presented by the mediators to the conflict parties this
May. Y. Merzlyakov refused to go into detail, alluding to the
negotiation process’s confidentiality.
In the U. S. Co-Chair Mathew Bryza’s words, “the basic principles is
the best thing the mediators could offer, however, it does not mean
they are agreements”.
The Co-Chairs underscored they had elaborated a common view on the
necessity to activate efforts to achieve the conflict’s settlement,
as they have been convinced of the readiness of Yerevan and Baku
to search for the ways of advance. Yet the mediators noted great
breakthrough could hardly be achieved in the near future. There are
some difficulties, and the principal one is the lack of confidence
between the conflict parties.
In this connection the OSCE Chair-in-Office’s Personal Representative
Andrzey Kasprzyk pointed out frequent cease-fire violations in
the conflict zone that resulted in victims from both parties. “The
cease-fire should be strengthened”, A. Kasprzyk stated. Answering
the journalists’ questions, the French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier
categorically refuted the Azeri mass media’s information that being in
Baku the day before he had allegedly spoken against Nagorno Karabakh’s
return to the negotiating table. Matthew Bryza also refuted some
publications in the Baku mass media. In part, he allegedly said
the GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) countries’
initiative to discuss the issue on the protracted conflicts on the
countries’ territory at the U. N. would be useful for the process
of the Karabakh conflict settlement. However, Bryza actually said,
“the GUAM countries are not represented at the OSCE MG and the MG
co-chair countries hope the proposals they have offered are aimed at
the achievement of the conflicts’ just settlement”.
Today the Co-Chairs will leave for Stepanakert to hold consultations
with the NKR President Arkady Ghoukasyan and other authorities of
the Republic.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress