Author: Emil Lazarian

PETER SEMNEBY ARRIVING IN ARMENIA OCTOBER 2
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.09.2006 12:51 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ EU Envoy for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby
will pay a call to Armenia October 2, Mr Semneby personally told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.
The EU Envoy is arriving in Yerevan with the EU Troika. He also
informed that he will possibly visit Armenia late October or early
November 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“HALF THE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD TODAY WOULD NOT EXIST”
A1+
[01:27 pm] 25 September, 2006
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian participated in the 10th Bertelsmann
Forum, held in Berlin, Germany, on September 22, 23.
The one and a half day conference convened on Saturday afternoon with
opening remarks by Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, French Prime
Minister Dominique de Villepin, EU Commission President Jose Manuel
Barroso and Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. The audience of
100+ political leaders, which included former German Foreign Minister
Hans-Dietrich Genscher and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger,
heard perspectives on Europe’s Strategic Responses, as the conference
is entitled.
Following the opening session, Minister Oskanian participated in a
panel on The Balkans and the Black Sea – a Litmus Test for Europe. The
panel also included the presidents of Bulgaria, Romania and Azerbaijan,
and the Prime Minister of Montenegro.
Throughout the discussion, Oskanian affirmed that the region’s litmus
test for Europe would be an effective European Neighborhood Policy,
the functionality and integrity of the Black Sea region, and practical
approaches to conflicts.
During a lively discussion on Kosovo, Minister Oskanian cautioned
against denying peoples their right to self-determination, simply
out of political expediency. If the world were guided by a fear of
setting precedents, he said, half the countries in the world today
would not exist. But there has to be strict criteria, he said, and
the chief principle should be whether the state can claim the moral
authority to rule.
The Bertelsmann Foundation is sponsored by the Bertelsmann Group,
the world’s largest publishing company.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BABKUKHANYAN PROHIBITS TO NAME HRANT KHACHATRYAN NEXT TO OLIGARCHIC-CRIMINAL SYSTEM
Panorama.am
16:36 23/09/06
“I do not allow to name Hrant Khachatryan next to oligarchic-criminal
system. That person with his 18 years of political record has proved
that he is the enemy of such oligarchic system,” Haik Babukhanyan,
acting Constitutional Right Union (CRU) chairman said.
He said some one and two ex-members of CRU supporting the authorities
have said that Iravunk newspaper must get rid of Haik Babukhanyan’s
presence. Among such he mentioned the name of Karen Vardanyan who
was supposedly a member of Hrant Khacahtryan’s “team” and blamed
Babukhanyan in misapropriation of funds.
Babukhanyan said Vardanyan is expeled from the party after the
Supervision Committee of the party checked the his claims.
Babukhanyan repeatedly said, “The problem was not between me and Hrant
Khachatryan. The problem was between CRU and Iravunk newspaper on one
hand and the criminal-oligarchic system, on the other hand.” He said
the authorities variously prosecuted Iravunk newspaper. “In 1996 the
office of the newspaper was closed. In 1999 I was arrested on unclear
claims. An attempt of assisnation against me was made in 2003.
After that they tried so to say “bribe” Iravunk newspaper. They also
tried to discredit and impose economic pressures on the newspaper. A
phase of terror started against me and reporters followed. And finally,
after my open letters, one and two ex-members say that Iravunk
newspaper should be freed from my presence,” Babukhanyan continues.
The CRU acting chairman also said the oligarchic-criminal system
launched when Serzh Sargsyan joined Armenian Republican Party (HHK).
Babukhanyan said his party is ready to cooperate even with Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun) on a condition that the
latter withdraws from the ruling coalition. Among possible allies,
CRU acting chairman mentioned the names of Alliance party, Orinats
Yerkir, National Unity and Justice Block.
However, he said there are problems with the “passive” disposition
of Justice Block. The only person with who Haik Babukhanyan sees not
borders of cooperation is Serzh Sargsyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

T. SARGSYAN: HSBC PRESENCE IN ARMENIA HAS SPURRED ARMENIAN BANKS’ DEVELOPMENT
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 25 2006
YEREVAN, September 25. /ARKA/. For a decade of its activity in Armenia,
HSBC Bank Armenia has proved that there is favorable ground in the
country for successful banking business, Tigran Sargsyan, chairman of
the Central Bank of Armenia, said Saturday at the ceremony of marking
10th anniversary of HSBC Bank Armenia activity in the republic.
Sargsyan pointed out that the bank started functioning here in
the years of turmoil and suffering. “Courage was needed to start
negotiating with the government and make this step believing in the
country’s future”, he said.
In his words, in 90s, Armenian banks feared that they would fail to
stand competition and the offshore bank would humble national banking
system. Contrary to their anticipations, HSBC presence in Armenia
has laid favorable ground for national banks’ activities and spurred
their development.
There are 21 commercial banks in Armenia with their AMD 465.2 billion
aggregate assets and AMD 102.3 billion total capital. Their net profit
for the first half of 2006 was AMD 8.2 billion.
HSBC Bank Armenia, whose parent bank is HSBC Bank plc, was registered
on September 25, 1995.
HSBC Bank plc, a branch of HSBC Holdings plc, possesses 70% of HSBC
Bank Armenia shares, and 30% belong to overseas Armenian investors.
Balance profit of HSBC Bank Armenia totaled AMD 4.6 billion by June
30, 2006 and profit for Jan-June 2006 made 1.5 billion. The bank’s
statutory fund is AMD 2.4, assets are AMD 71.5 billion and total
capital is AMD 7.3 billion. Aggregate credit portfolio of HSBC Bank
Armenia was AMD 22.9 billion by June 30, 2006.
HSBC Bank Armenia is the country’s leading bank on many indices. His
share in commercial banks’ aggregate assets is 15%, in credit
investments is more than 10%, investments in securities is more than
21%. Over 23% of individuals’ and legal entities’ aggregate deposits
in Armenian banks are in HSBC Bank Armenia. ($1 – AMD 384.03).

EU STEPS UP PRESSURE FOR TURKISH PENAL-CODE REFORM
EurActiv
Sept 25 2006
The EU welcomed the decision to clear a writer of charges, but insists
that Turkey changes its laws to allow greater freedom of expression.
Background:
Cases brought against writers in Turkey gave cause for international
concern about the so-called Turkishness trials. Turkey had dropped
charges against the writer Orhan Pamuk earlier this year, following
strong pressure from the EU. The Commission has asked Turkey to
remove article 301 of the penal code, which served as a basis for
the trials. Issues:
Author Elif Shafak was acquitted of charges on 21 September 2006. The
court said there was no evidence that she insulted “Turkishness”
in her novel. Shafak’s book menioned the mass killing of Armenians
during the Ottoman Empire.
Similar cases of trials have raised concerns over the state of freedom
of speech in Turkey. Shafak stated that the law was used against
people to silence them. The Commission has urged that unjustified
claims be dismissed and to acquit those accused.
Commission spokesperson Krisztina Nagy said that the situation would
be reflected in the regular progress report on Turkey’s EU accession,
to be published on 8 November 2006.
European Parliament sources say that the delay of the report was due to
the unresolved Cyprus issue. The EU Presidency is currently holding
intensive talks with Turkey, Cyprus, Greece and other interested
parties to try to unblock an EU deal to open direct trade with the
Turkish Cypriots and convince Turkey to open its ports and airports
to traffic from Cyprus. Positions:
Commission spokesperson Krisztina Nagy said that “the Commission
welcomes this recent judgement. This is obviously good news.”
However, she insisted that article 301 “continues to pose a significant
threat to freedom of expression in Turkey and to all those who express
a non-violent opinion”.
Dutch MEP Joost Lagendijk said on the issue concerning article 301
“the Turkish government has a majority in parliament. This is an issue
where they could act. If they don’t, it makes it much harder to find
a compromise on Cyprus as well, so this has an influence much wider
than only freedom of speech. It can influence the negotiation process
positively if something happens, and negatively if nothing does.”
British MEP Richard Howitt said that “there are 80 such cases going
on at the moment. Most are opened for political reasons. As long
as the law remains unchanged, these people will be able to carry on
causing mayhem.”
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan made clear that he was ready
to consider amending a controversial article of the penal code:”Let’s
sit down and discuss this. We have to forge a consensus.”
Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the government would
first monitor the implementation of the controversial article 301
before considering changing it. Latest & next steps:
The European Parliament is to debate and vote the Eurlings report
on Turkey’s accession at the next plenary session in Strasbourg
on 26-27 September 2006. The report imposes tough conditions on
Turkey. It emphasises outstanding issues, such as the Cyprus issue,
the controversial article 301, as well as insufficient progress in
the areas of freedom of expression, minority rights, corruption and
violence against women.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EURLINGS HOPEFUL FOR CHANGES TO EP TURKEY REPORT
ABHaber, Belgium
EU-Turkey News Network
Sept 25 2006
European Parliament Rapporteur on Turkey and Dutch MEP Camiel Eurlings
expressed hope over the weekend that a highly criticized move to
include recognition of claims of Armenian genocide as a precondition
to Turkey’s EU membership in the draft report will be withdrawn.
The European Parliament will discuss this week the key report on
Turkey’s European Union accession together with around a hundred
proposals for amendments on contentious issues like the claims of
Armenian genocide, the Cyprus problem and the pope’s recent remark on
Islam. The report is expected to be voted on in the General Assembly
on Wednesday.
A group of Christian Democrat deputies made a last-minute attempt
late Friday to insert a paragraph to the report condemning angry
Muslim reaction to the pope’s remarks, but Eurlings intervened to
avoid a bigger reaction from the Turkish side, which has already
raised several objections to the elements in the draft report.
Eurlings and two other deputies, Italian MEP Antonio Tajani and British
MEP Charles Tannock, suggested an amendment saying that the EP “hopes
the forthcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Turkey will contribute
to strengthening interreligious and intercultural dialogue between
the Christian and Muslim worlds.”
In an interview with Brussels-based web news portal ABHaber.com,
Eurlings expressed regret for the draft report’s misinterpretation
in Turkey and his being perceived as an enemy of Turkey. Eurlings
said that he is hopeful that the last-minute insertion of the claims
of the Armenian genocide claims in the report as a precondition for
Turkey’s EU membership will be taken out.
A considerable number of deputies from the EP’s Socialists and Greens
also raised objection to inclusion of the controversial issue and
demanded change in the wording.
In the interview, Eurlings underlined his firm support to Turkey’s
EU accession and said the draft report also included a perspective
of full membership, not special partnership.
The EP’s draft report levels strong criticisms in a number of issues,
including a slower pace of political reforms, the continuing role of
military in politics, problems faced by non-religious minorities,
Turkey’s reservations to opening its ports to Greek Cypriots, and
demands that Ankara to recognize claims of Armenian genocide and
officially recognize the Greek Cypriot administration.
Turkish officials, in a written memo, briefed MEPs about Turkey’s
efforts in the EU process and raised objections to various elements
mentioned in the report.
Below are excerpts of the draft EP report and objections from the
Turkish side on the two most controversial issues: claims of an
Armenian genocide, and the Cyprus problem.
Claims of Armenian ‘genocide’
– EP report:
Article 50: [The EP] takes note of the proposal by Turkey to
establish a bilateral committee of experts in order to overcome the
tragic experience of the past, and the position of Armenia regarding
that proposal; urges both the Turkish government and the Armenian
government to continue their process of reconciliation leading to a
mutually acceptable proposal; welcomes that, with the recent debates
in Turkey, at least a start has been made with the discussion on the
painful history with Armenia; stresses that, although the recognition
of the [so-called] Armenian genocide as such is formally not one of
the Copenhagen criteria, it is indispensable for a country on the
road to membership to come to terms with and recognize its past;
calls in this respect on the Turkish authorities to facilitate the
work of researchers, intellectuals and academics working on this
question, ensuring them the access to the historical archives and
providing them with all the relevant documents; urges Turkey to
take the necessary steps, without any preconditions, to establish
diplomatic and good neighborly relations with Armenia, to withdraw
the economic blockade and to open the land border at an early date,
in accordance with the resolutions adopted by Parliament between 1987
and 2005, thereby fulfilling the Accession Partnership priorities and
the requirements of the Negotiation Framework on “peaceful settlement
on border disputes” which are both mandatory for EU accession; a
similar position should be adopted for the cases of other minorities
(e.g. the Greeks of Pontos and the Assyrians).
– Turkey’s objection:
Turkey’s foreign policy rests on an overarching principle of developing
good neighborly relations with its neighbors. Armenia does not
represent an exception to this policy. It is, in fact, noteworthy that
Turkey was only second to Lithuania in officially recognizing Armenia’s
independence. (…) Direct flight connections are established between
Istanbul and Yerevan, and seasonally between Antalya and Yerevan,
with a view to facilitate travels of Armenian nationals.
Armenian nationals are welcome to visit Turkey without restrictions.
They are accorded visas valid for 30 days upon their arrival in
Turkey. Over 40,000 Armenian nationals are estimated to reside
in Turkey at any given time, often overstaying their visas, to
seek employment. (..) With an aim to provide fresh impetus for a
rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia, and to help develop an
atmosphere of understanding on a controversial period of our common
history, Turkey has proposed establishing a joint commission of
historians to study the events that took place in 1915. (…) However,
the proceedings geared to boost this proposal have so far not yielded
tangible results due to Armenia’s reluctance to engage with the
process. (…) It is clear that the EP could carry out this moral
undertaking through its leverage to positively influence Armenia. The
European Neighborhood Policy could be employed towards this end.
Cyprus problem
– EP Report:
Article 52: [The EP] expresses its disappointment over the fact that,
in spite of its contractual obligations, Turkey continues to maintain
restrictions against vessels flying the [Greek] Cypriot flag and
vessels approaching from harbors in the [Greek] Republic of Cyprus,
denying them access to Turkish ports, and against [Greek] Cypriot
aircraft, denying them flying rights over Turkey and landing rights
at Turkish airports; reminds Turkey that this practice constitutes
a breach by Turkey of the Association Agreement, the related Customs
Union and the Additional Protocol, as the restrictions infringe the
principle of the free movement of goods; seeks to work with the Turkish
authorities to enable them to comply in full with their obligations in
this respect without seeking to exacerbate domestic political tensions
contrary to the interest of long-term reconciliation for Cyprus;
regrets that Turkey maintains its veto against the participation of
the [Greek] Republic of Cyprus in international organizations and in
multilateral agreements;
– Turkey’s objection:
According to the relevant Turkish legislation, there is no impediment
for the free circulation of products from all EU member states
within the framework of the Turkey-EC Customs Union Agreement. Our
foreign trade figures confirm this fact. There exists a difference of
interpretation between Turkey and the EU as far as the implementation
of the Customs Union is concerned.
At the same time, it should be kept in mind that there exists a
political problem regarding Cyprus, which has been on the agenda of
the UN Security Council for decades. Until this issue is satisfactorily
settled under the UN, we will all have to live with these difficulties
that are actually related to the very problem itself.
Therefore, we believe that Turkey should not be expected to meet
certain deadlines to which it has not bound itself through any mutual
understanding. (…) Turkey has already completed courageous openings
towards the Greek Cypriots. For example, they can freely travel
to Turkey by obtaining entry visas at the border. Bilateral trade
exists. The borders on the island were opened for crossings in 2003.
More unilateral steps will amount to rewarding the “policy of
rejection” of the Greek Cypriot leadership and will help strengthen
the position of the “No” camp in south Cyprus. Is this what the Union
really wants?
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HSBC BANKING GROUP INTENDS TO ENLARGE ITS ACTIVITIES IN ARMENIA
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Sept 25 2006
YEREVAN, September 25. /ARKA/. HSBC banking group intends to enlarge
its activities in Armenia, Stephen Green, the group chief executive,
said Saturday as he met Armenian President Robert Kocharyan in Yerevan,
the president’s press office reports.
The presidential press office also quoted Kocharyan as saying that
HSBC’s credit portfolio started playing a major part in Armenia’s
economy.
HSBC activities were discussed at the meeting as well as prospects
for the bank involvement in Armenia’s insurance market.
HSBC Bank Armenia, whose parent bank is HSBC Bank plc, was registered
on September 25, 1995.
HSBC Bank plc, a branch of HSBC Holdings plc, possesses 70% of HSBC
Bank Armenia shares, and 30% belong to overseas Armenian investors.
Balance profit of HSBC Bank Armenia totaled AMD 4.6 billion by June
30, 2006 and profit for Jan-June 2006 made 1.5 billion. The bank’s
statutory fund is AMD 2.4, assets are AMD 71.5 billion and total
capital is AMD 7.3 billion. Aggregate credit portfolio of HSBC Bank
Armenia was AMD 22.9 billion by June 30, 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

[Zoryan note: The following article was translated from Turkish by the
Zoryan Institute, which does not necessarily agree with nor endorse
the contents of the article.]
“LET US MEET WITH THE ZORYAN INSTITUTE”
by Özdemir Ince
Hurriyet, September 24, 2006
They all want to make me puke – Article 301 of the Penal Code, the trial of
Elif Shafak, the defense, the prosecutor, the people who express opinions on
the trial, all of them.
My poor Turkey, my poor bleeding country!
How come the Justice Ministry of this government does not prepare an
Implementation Guideline for Article 301, even though they do everything in
order to paralyze the Revolutionary Laws?
How come the EU and the mouthpieces of the European Parliament do not want
an Implementation Guide for Article 301 but insist on the outright abolition
of this Article? And our government keeps on insisting that they won’t
abolish it. I think there is a pre-meditated cooperation here.
The ones that really make me puke are our human rights defenders, democracy
apostles and their followers… This group, which neglects criticizing the
current AKP government but instead targets the Republic when it comes to
Article 301, labels as Fascist and Kemalist all supporters of the Republic
and its reforms.
There is also the group that really went to extremes like the SS as court
reporters in the name of nationalism and patriotism. They are also the
natural actors in this carnival!
When I was thinking and getting distressed about all this, I learned from
Ruhat Mengi’s editorial (Vatan newspaper, 20.09.06) that Article 301
defendant Elif Shafak had said: “When I went to the US, the Zoryan Institute
educated me, and I solved the Genocide problem.” I had read something about
this elsewhere, but I had forgotten. I always get stressed when I see the
name of the instigator Zoryan Institute. Since this institute showed the
true path to Elif Shafak, let me give you some facts about it:
The Zoryan Institute (the Zoryan Institute for Contemporary Research and
Documentation) was founded in 1982 in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the US.
There is also a Canadian Zoryan Institute (The Zoryan Institute of Canada),
founded in 1984.
These two institutes form an academic centre to do research, archive and
distribute information and documents about the recent history of the
Armenians.
The activities of the Zoryan Institute are grouped into three areas:
Genocide project, Diaspora project, Armenia project. To this end, the
Institute supports multi-disciplinary academic research, documentation,
conferences and publications. This is what it is in appearance…
As a first service, in 1984 the Zoryan Institute contributed as a sponsor of
the Armenian Genocide Court, which was known by the term “Permanent
Peoples.”
According to its internet website, the Zoryan Institute prepared a
convincing report in 1999 about the Armenian Genocide as requested by the
Canadian Parliamentary sub-committee. As you know, the Canadian Parliament
accepted the Armenian genocide, based on this report.
Again in 1999, the US House of Representatives requested the Zoryan
Institute to prepare a report deflating the statements of the Turkish
Ambassador in Washington, who had denied the Armenian genocide.
Taner Akçam’s books spewing hatred toward Turkey are among the most
important publications of the Institute. As I had written before, aren’t
there other publishers who would publish Taner Akçam? And this is the kind
of organization that trains Elif Shafak on how to write novels.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of Australia
259 Penshurst Street
Willoughby, NSW 2068
Contact: Mr. Varant Meguerditchian
Tel: 612 9419 8264
Fax: 612 9411 8898
Email: [email protected]
Web:
MEDIA RELEASE: ANC of Australia Opposes Sending of Turkish Troops to
Lebanon
September 20th, 2006
Representatives of Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC of
Australia) recently met with Lebanon’s Consul General in Sydney, His
Excellency Mazen Kabbara, to discuss the Australian-Armenian community’s
anxiety and concern in regard to the participation of Turkish troops in
the UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon.
Mr Panos Manjian, Mr Vicken Kalloghlian and Mr Varant Meguerditchian,
members of the ANC of Australia handed Mr. Kabbara a letter opposing the
inclusion of the Turkish forces in the UN peacekeeping mission between
Lebanon and Israel.
The ANC of Australia representatives emphasised to the Consul General,
that Turkey was unfit to take part in such a peace keeping mission
because of its history of human rights violations, as perpetrators of
the Armenian Genocide, illegal occupiers of Northern Cyprus and brutal
former colonisers of Lebanon.
During the colonisation of Lebanon, Turkey perpetrated massacres and
mass hangings in the Martyrs Square in downtown Beirut and implemented a
deliberate policy of starvation of the Christian population of Mount
Lebanon.
The Lebanese ambassador was attentive to the concerns and position of
ANC OF Australia and promised that he would transmit the committee’s
letter and the concerns of the Australian-Armenian community to the
Lebanese government.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkey: Parliament to resume debates on controversial bill
Monday, September 25, 2006
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
Parliament will resume debates on Tuesday over a controversial bill on
private schools that the opposition insists would allow the reopening of a
Greek Orthodox seminary near Istanbul and violate provisions of the 1923
Lausanne Treaty.
Debates over the bill, part of a European Union-inspired reform package
supported by the government, were put on ice last week after the government
presented a last-minute proposal to change the definition of minority
schools in the bill — replacing the restricted description of minority as
Greek, Armenian and Jewish with the more general one of non-Muslim — and
allow foreign students to attend them.
The opposition blasted the proposal, saying it contradicts the definition
of minorities provided in the Lausanne Treaty, one of the founding documents
of the Republic of Turkey, and would pave the way for reopening of the
Heybeliada, or Halki, Seminary on an island near Istanbul — closed since
1971.
The CHP said the school was closed due to lack of students but that the
bill would allow it to reopen since it would permit students from Greece and
Greek Cyprus to attend it.
The EU and the United States are asking Turkey to reopen the seminary, and
the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate says it would help Turkey’s Greek Orthodox
minority to train new clerics.
Parliament is expected to resume debates on the original version of the
bill on Tuesday, since Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun announced last
week that the government had decided to withdraw the proposal.
On Wednesday Parliament is expected to go ahead with the reform package by
holding debates on a law establishing an ombudsman. The law was earlier
vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
On Thursday it will debate a bill aimed at introducing new standards to
improve productivity and quality in agricultural products.
In the Justice Commission lawmakers will continue debates on a
controversial bill on minority foundations, which CHP claims also violates
the Lausanne Treaty. The Planning and Budget Commission will continue with
debates on a bill on the Supreme Court of Public Accounts.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress