Author: Emil Lazarian

Eurocommission Disappointed by Turkish Justice
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.07.2006 16:47 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Commission is disappointed by
the verdict regarding Olli Rehn, the European Union’s Enlargement
Commissioner, said. In his words the prison sentence imposed on writer
Hrant Dink is not just a restriction of freedom of expression but
may also set a binding case law for similar cases. Rehn described
Dink’s prison sentence for insulting Turkishness, which was recently
finalized by a Court of Appeals ruling, as “disappointing.” “That
judgment is the first final one by the highest jurisdiction in
Turkey about interpretation of Article 301 of the revised Turkish
Penal Code. In this sense, it establishes a binding case law that
will set the trend for lower jurisdictions to follow when applying
Article 301 in the future,” he said.
He also highlighted his worry that Turkish courts are not interpreting
existing legislation in line with the relevant EU criteria. “I’d
therefore urge the Turkish authorities to amend Article 301 and other
vaguely formulated articles in order to guarantee freedom of expression
in Turkey. I’d also like to recall that freedom of expression is a key
principle under the Copenhagen political criteria and constitutes the
core of democracy. In any case, the European Commission will review
the situation in light of the Copenhagen criteria in its upcoming
progress report, expected in the autumn,” Olli Rehn said, the New
Anatolian writes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Margaryan Thanked Lebanon for Armenian Genocide Recognition
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.07.2006 13:58 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan met
yesterday with Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, reported the
RA government’s press office. During the meeting Amdranik Margaryan
said Armenia is grateful to Lebanon for the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by the parliament of the state and appreciates
highly the warm attitude of the Lebanese people to the Genocide
survivors. The parties underscored that the Armenian community of
Lebanon makes a big contribution to the development of the state
and promotes strengthening of the Armenian-Lebanese relations. Fawzi
Salloukh added that with recognizing the Armenian Genocide Lebanon
once again confirmed that it stands against violence and terrorism
that claim thousands of lives every day.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALVARD PETROSYAN IS SORRY FOR ALL-ARMENIAN MOVEMENT
Lragir.am
12 July 06
Member of Parliament Alvard Petrosyan, Armenian Revolutionary Faction,
commenting on the home political situation, confesses that they
are also to blame for the frustration of the society. The political
figure representing former opposition and present government, in a
retrospective look at the 1990s, emphasizes that at that time not
only these frustrated people were active but also the opposition
with its ideology. Alvard Petrosyan, who is for political debates,
regrets that the All-Armenian Movement is not at the same table of
debate when her political party is government. At the same time, she
says they need to repent first to come on the political stage again.
In the meantime, the member of parliament thinks the political forces
are in an ideological stagnation unlike their activities. Although
Alvard Petrosyan believes that people never like the government,
“it is easier to be opposition than non opposition”. Alvard Petrosyan
continues the logic of her words, “it is easier to say no, whereas
one needs to account for a yes.” Appearing in a difficult situation,
she accuses people who do not offer demands.
“You do not offer demands, we do not do anything,” excuses herself
the member of the ARF. And with this easy mode of work the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation is hopefult to appear in the parliament
again in 2007. “ARF has all-Armenian demand.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Frank Mermoud visits Armenia
ArmRadio.am
12.07.2006 14:57
Frank Mermoud, US Special Representative for Commercial and Business
Affairs at the US Department of State is visiting Armenia July
11-13. During his visit, Mr. Mermoud met with representatives of the
American Chamber of Commerce in Armenia, other business representatives
and Armenian government officials.
Mr. Mermoud discussed ways to further increase US investments in
Armenia and emphasized the positive cooperation between the United
States and Armenia in the economic sector. He also encouraged all
Armenians to continue to fight against corruption and to work to
increase transparency as a means of promoting economic growth.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mikhail Saakashvili: Armenia suffered more than Georgia because of closing
Upper Lars checkpoint
ArmRadio.am
12.07.2006 15:30
“Armenia suffered more than Georgia because of the prohibition of
the transportation of people and cargos through Kazbek – Upper Lars
checkpoint at the Russian-Georgian border,” Georgian President Mikhail
Saakashvili declared yesterday during a news conference in Tbilisi.
“Closing of Upper Lars checkpoint did not cause particular damage
to the Georgian economy, since the Georgian export does not go this
way. But for ordinary people, who travel from one country to another,
it is bad. It is especially bad for Armenia, which imports most of
the goods through Upper Lars,” said Saakashvili, noting that all the
same import of Georgian goods was not allowed this way.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman, Turkey
July 12 2006
Rep. Perplexed by Fall in Turkish Support for EU
By Cihan News Agency
Published: Wednesday, July 12, 2006
zaman.com
Hans Jorg Kretschmer, head of the European Commission Delegatino to
Turkey, said on Wednesday that he was perplexed over the fall in
Turkish public support for joining the European Union.
The Eurobarometer poll, which was carried out in April and based on
1000 responses, found that only 43 percent of Turks had a positive
image of the EU. The recent figure showed that there had been a
plunge in Turkish support for the EU from 60 percent over a six-month
period.
Kretschmer, whose four-year tenure will end in October, said at a
press conference that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
had initiated a historical transformation process in Turkey. “I
personally believe that this prime minister and this government could
succeed in the EU membership process. There is no other alternative.”
Representative Kretschmer said that Turkey should not get stuck on
the issue of ports and harbors, recommending that the country open
its ports to Greek Cypriot traffic. “The EU has kept its pledge, now
it is time for Turkey.”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has blamed some European leaders for
the plunge in Turkish public support for the EU.
Most Turkish people are unhappy with the EU stance on Cyprus, PKK
terrorism, the so-called Armenian Genocide issue and the Greek
Orthodox Patriarchy. High numbers of Turks believe that the EU
intends to divide up Turkey.
The EU demands from the Turkish government and increasing pressure
over Cyprus are seen as the main reasons why Turkish people have
begun to turn their backs on the EU. Apparently, the more EU leaders
criticize Turkey, the more nationalist sentiment has gained ground in
Turkey.
Turkey commenced its de facto accession talks with the EU in
mid-June, following an eight-month screening process.
Turkey’s EU accession process is expected to be long, arduous and
susceptible to crises, especially on the Cyprus issue. Optimistic
analysts predict that Turkey, with its large population, could enter
the wealthy bloc by 2014 at the earliest.

INVESTIGATION IN A320 ARMENIAN LINER CRASH TO BE OVER BY LATE JULY
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 12 2006
YEREVAN, July 12. /ARKA/. Investigation in A320 Armenian liner crash
is to be completed by late July, Interstate Aviation Committee Chair
Tatyan Anodina told journalists on Wednesday in Yerevan.
She said the investigation possesses a great deal of evidence necessary
for finding out the crash cases and preparing a final report on
Russian, Armenian and French specialists’ inferences.
“The cause will be worded clearly”, Anodina said.
In her words, after decoding the voice and parameter recorders of black
boxes the investigators found it necessary to reproduce the model of
the crew actions simulation and decide to simulate the flight in a
special center in Toulouse.
Anodina said the simulation results processing would take a week and
the report would be sent to international organizations.
She added that technical commission finds out only the cause of the
crash and gives recommendations, and guilt will be established by
appropriate national bodies.
Anodina also said there had been no problems with inferences and
recommendations at today’s meeting with President Kocharyan. In her
words, the head of state sees his key objective in finding real causes
of the crash. M.V.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE MG American co-chair Matthew Bryza: “Talks still have not run out of potential”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 12 2006
[ 12 Jul. 2006 20:04 ]
“OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are looking forward to initiative of the
conflicting sides,” OSCE MG American co-chair Matthew Bryza exclusively
told APA correspondent in Turkey.
He said that he didn’t publicize the elements of negotiations by not
agreeing with the conflicting side on his own initiative.
“It was the decision of co-chairs”.
He said he presented to public discussion only some of the elements:
” We expect the reaction of the Presidents. But I state that Talks
still have not run out of potential.
We expect directions from the Presidents, they should show us in
what direction we should work.”American co-chair did not exclude
the discussion of Azerbaijan-Armenia, Nagorno Garabagh problem in
the summit of G-8 to be held in Sankt Petersburg. he stressed that
the time of Azerbaijani and Armenia Presidents meeting has not been
defined yet./APA/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Interstate Aviation Committee: Investigation of Airbus A320 crash close to end
Regnum, Russia
July 12 2006
Investigation of the Airbus A320 crash above the Black Sea is coming
to an end. “We are now at the final stage. We have all necessary data
for determining the true causes of the tragedy. By the end of July,
all the materials will be published and the work will be completed,”
Head of the Interstate Aviation Committee Tatyana Anodina is quoted
as saying at a news conference in Yerevan.
As a REGNUM correspondent reports, according to her, communications
of the Airbus A320 crew will not be made public, as it is what the
international regulations require. Speaking on the transcript of the
crew communications recordings published in the press, Tatyana Anodina
expressed her bewilderment on how the documents could be obtained by
the press, and she noted “it was incorrect information.”
“We have thoroughly examined all the documents, analyzed communications
of the pilots. The cause will be certainly found, as we have all
necessary materials” she stressed. Speaking on the actions of air
traffic controllers, Tatyana Anodina is quoted as saying that, under
existing regulations, if weather changes (and the actual weather went
below minimums for Runway 06 at Sochi Airport during the approach),
the controller shall provide the crew with its full details . At the
same time she did not deny the fact that the controller instructed
the pilot to stop descent. It is worth mentioning that the official
statement of the Interstate Aviation Committee concerning the May
3 crash of the Airbus A320 belonging to Armenian Airlines during
a Yerevan-Sochi flight said: “After correcting the deviation the
aircraft started descent in accordance with the approach chart. At
22:10:45 p.m. the pilot reported wheels down and ready to land, and
the controller replied that their distance from the runway was 10 km,
cloud base 190 meters and visibility 4000 meters, and cleared them
for the approach. However, in 30 seconds, the controller informed
the pilot that base of cloud became 100 m and instructed him to stop
descent, turn right, execute a missed approach procedure, climb to
height 600 m and contact the Radar controller.”
“We do not establish somebody’s guilt, national agencies in charge
do it,” Tatyana Anodina said.

ABHAber, Belgium
EU-Turkey News Network
July 12 2006
EP postpones talks on highly-critical Turkey report
The European Parliament on Tuesday postponed debates on a draft
report entitled “Turkey’s Progress Towards Accession” which includes
a variety of criticisms of Turkey, until early September.
Debates on the report, prepared by EP Committee on Foreign Affairs
Rapporteur and MEP Camiel Eurlings, are now set for an EP session
Sept. 4 to 7.
The decision to postpone talks comes after some 400 proposals for
amendments to the draft report were submitted. Moreover at Tuesday’s
session of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee, some members stated that
translation of the amendment requests will take a long time. However
European diplomats stated that there are many conflicting views
surrounding the proposed amendments.
While Eurlings said that more debates about Turkey are necessary,
other MEPs recalled the latest developments on Cyprus as well as
Turkey’s plans to implement certain reforms on women’s rights,
obligatory religious lessons and religious minorities and requested
the inclusion of these developments in the report. Other MEPs noted
that the European Commission will also announce a progress report on
Turkey and underlined the importance of back-to-back issuing of the
two reports.
The draft report criticized a number of issues, including Cyprus, a
slowdown in the EU reform process, the situation in the southeast,
problems with religious minorities, cultural rights and
civil-military relations. It raised particular concerns about the
Semdinli incident, during which a bookshop in the southeast was
allegedly bombed by members of the security forces, and called for an
impartial and objective investigation into the incident.
Turkey’s reservations to open its airports and harbors to the Greek
Cypriots will have serious implications for the EU process and could
even bring it to a halt, warned the draft report. The highly critical
report also called on Turkey to take steps towards the recognition of
the Greek Cypriot administration during the accession process and
raises the idea of an early withdrawal of forces from the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It also calls on the European
Council to renew efforts to implement trade regulations with Northern
Cyprus.
The EP report severely condemned the killing of Council of State
Judge Mustafa Yucel Ozbilgin, expressing concern over the low-level
of security offered to judges by the police despite clear and public
threats, and called on the government to rectify the situation. The
EP also condemned a resurgence of violence in the southeast by the
terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and stressed that there can
never be an excuse for violence against Turkish citizens in any part
of the country. The report also expressed solidarity with Turkey in
fighting terrorism.
On the Armenian issue, the EP took note of a Turkish proposal to set
up a bilateral committee of experts to deal with the tragic
experiences of the past and of Armenia’s position on the proposal. It
also urged the Turkish and Armenian governments to continue their
process of reconciliation leading to a mutually acceptable proposal
and asked Turkey to take the necessary steps, without any
preconditions, to establish diplomatic and good neighborly relations
with Armenia and open the land border as soon as possible.
ABHaber 12.07.2006
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress