Author: Emil Lazarian

TURKEY CONTINUES TO DENY ARMENIAN MASSACRE
By Andrew Borowiec
The Washington Times
World Peace Herald, DC
May 16 2006
NICOSIA, Cyprus — Turkey remains adamant in rejecting foreign pressure
to admit guilt for the 90-year-old massacres of Armenians, at the
same time intensifying its military buildup on its border with Iraq.
After a tense period of what some analysts describe as “rejectionist
diplomacy,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his
government’s unswerving opposition to a proposed French law that would
make denial of the World War I massacres of 1.5 million Armenians a
criminal offense.
The French draft bill is “like a virus,” Mr. Erdogan said after
ordering the withdrawal of a Turkish component from NATO military
maneuvers in Canada because Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
described the massacres as genocide.
Some analysts say Turkey has painted itself into a “diplomatic corner”
at a time when it needs support in its negotiations for membership
in the European Union, in which France is a key member.
On Thursday, the French National Assembly is to open debate on the
bill, which calls for punishment of one year in prison and a $57,000
fine for anyone who denies the massacre of Turkish-Armenians.
Turkish officials have asked several French businessmen in Turkey to
pressure lawmakers to block the bill, whose drafting was influenced
by the Armenian diaspora. France was threatened with a boycott of
goods even though it is the biggest foreign investor in Turkey.
Diplomats say the campaign could degenerate into a trade war and
hamper Turkey’s EU aspirations. The Erdogan government has staked
its prestige on EU membership.
For years, the denial of the deaths of the Armenians during a forced
“resettlement march” in 1915 has marred Turkey’s relations with
several European countries, tarnishing its human rights record.
The political and diplomatic skirmishing over the issue has been
accompanied by a systematic military buildup along Turkey’s border
with northern Iraq, where diplomats estimate about 200,000 troops
and paramilitary forces have been massed.
During her visit to Ankara in April, Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice warned Turkey to keep out of Iraq regardless of its assertion
that northern Iraq harbors bases of separatist guerrillas of the
Kurdistan Workers Party.
Washington and some of its allies worry that a Turkish incursion
into Iraq would represent yet another destabilizing factor in the
troubled country.
Turkey says its forces in the area are a “shield” to prevent rebel
infiltrations in a war with Turkish Kurds that since 1984 has claimed
more than 37,000 lives and devastated hundreds of villages.
“If the conditions arise,” Gen. Bekir Kalyoncu has said, “Turkey will
use its right as any sovereign country.” Turkish officials have said
the United Nations charter, which authorizes “the right to self-defense
in case of attack,” justifies the right to “hot pursuit.”

KRONER: TURKEY WILL NEVER BE EU MEMBER UNLESS IT ACCEPTS ITS PAST
Yerkir
16.05.2006 15:56
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Secretary Genereal of the International European
Movement Henrik H. Kroner visited Armenian Genocide Memorial on
Tuesday to pay homage to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Mr. Kroner was accompanied by Victor Yengibarian, head of the
organization’s mission to Armenia, and Kiro Manoyan, director of the
ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office.
In the book of the Genocide Musem Kroner inscribed: “Let’s hope no
such genocide will take place again in Europe and world. And the
European values are the guarantees of our unification.”
Speaking to journalists Kroner said it is a shame this crime has not
been recognized thus far. “The Euoropean Union has been established to
avoid such tragedies in the future. I think Turkey will never become
a EU member unless it admits its past. The process has just begun
and will take long years. Ankara will have to admit it in the end,”
Kroner said.
Kiro Manoyan, director of the ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political
Affairs Office, said deserves a thank-you to an extent because it
was due to its denialist policy that the Armenian Genocide issue was
raised and Turkey came under criticism.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Kroner met with ARF Supreme Body of Armenia
representative Armen Rustamian at the Simon Vratsian Center in
Yerevan. The parties discussed the International European Movement’s
programs regarding Armenia’s integration in Europe.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NA PRESIDENT ARTUR BAGHDASARYAN AWARDED THE PRIZE “THE BEST EUROPEAN OF THE YEAR”
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
May 16 2006
On May 11-18 within the framework of the celebrations dedicated to
the day of Europe in Armenia a prize-giving ceremony was held in
“Armenia-Marriott” hotel, which organized the European Movement of
Armenia. Representatives of the National Assembly, foreign diplomatic
missions, international organizations, NGOs and others attended
the ceremony.
Traditionally, the prizes of the European Movement are given to
the public-political figures or organizations distinguished by their
investment or European way of working as part of general trend towards
following European practice in their states.
NA President Artur Baghdasaryan was awarded the prize “The Best
European of the Year,” and the prizes “The Best European Investment”
in the cultural and economic spheres received the JSC “Kanaka,” “Ayas”
Nautical Research Club and “Parisian Surch” (Paris Coffee) company.
Victor Yengibaryan, Chairman of the European Movement of Armenia
ensured in his opening speech that the strengthening of the relations
with the European Union emanates from the interests of our state,
and it’s the path of the perspective developments of Armenia without
alternative.
NA President Artur Baghdasaryan, congratulating those awarded, noted
that the European integration is a political perspective having no
alternative for Armenia. “Whoever wants to live with that system of
values, should fight for it,” ensured Mr. Baghdasaryan. Welcoming
the initiative of the European Movement of Armenia, the Parliament
President underscored that we should fight for democracy, freedom,
friendship and cooperation, which will lead our country to progress
and development.
Alexis Loiber, representative of the European Commission underscored
that Europe aims at developing the economy and spread European values:
rule of law and human rights. Mr. Loyber highlighted the consolidation
of the European Neighbourhood programme.
Henrik Kroner, General Secretary of the International European
Movement noted that the European values are united around the free
and autonomous governments and people of free will.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OWNER OF ARMAVIA EXPECTS THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION OF THE A-320 CRASH TO BE PUBLISHED IN 3 DAYS
Yerevan, May 16. ArmInfo.Mika Baghdasarov, owner of “ArmAvia” company,
denied the rumors of a supposed quarrel on the board of the crashed
A-320 airbus. He said that it was impossible to take weapons on the
board of the plane. Besides, no excitement was fixed in the record of
the pilot’s voice by the air traffic controller. And these factors
testify to the fact that stable and peaceful situation was on the
board of the plane. As for the harm that the air crash made to the
image of the company, Mr. Baghdasarov said that there have been many
cases of such tragedies in the history of aviation. He emphasized
that though an awful tragedy took place and many people died, the
life goes on and people need to live and work.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI EMBASSY CHALLENGES GARABAGH PART IN MOSCOW TOURISM SHOW
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
May 16 2006
The Azeri embassy in Moscow has sent a diplomatic note to the Russian
Foreign Ministry expressing protest at the invitation of an Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh delegation to a tourism exhibition in Moscow on
May 11-14. There has been no reply from the ministry yet.
Earlier the embassy sent a protest note to the organizer of the show,
the Moscow City Tourism Committee, describing as a fake the exponents
presented as being of Armenian origin. The committee left the letter
unheeded.
On Saturday, the day of official opening, a group of young ethnic
Azeris living in Russia came to the exhibition venue draped in the
Azerbaijan national flags and encircled the exhibition pavilions in
protest. The young people said the exhibits described as Armenian
were actually Azerbaijani.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPERATION TO LIFT A-320 AIRBUS FLIGHT RECORDERS STARTED IN SOCHI
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2006 12:49 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Vessel Navigator having a robot aboard arrived from
Sochi at the location, where A-320 airplane fell. By means of the
robot rescuers hope to lift airborne recorders of the liner from the
Black Sea bottom. They are at the depth of some 500 meters and they
will help determine the cause of the catastrophe. Several days may be
spent on search for the flight recorders – it depends on the weather.
Today the visibility is enough and the deep-water device will work
round the clock.
On the night of May 3 a Yerevan-Sochi plane of Armavia Armenian air
company crashed in the Black Sea 6 km away from Adler airport. All
113 passengers, including 6 children and 8 members of the crew, died
as a result. Among them were 26 Russian citizens, one Ukrainian and
one Georgian citizen, while the rest were Armenian citizens.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU MAY POSTPONE APPROVAL OF ACTION PLANS OF ARMENIA, GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2006 14:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The EU may postpone approval of Action Plans of
South Caucasian states, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita
Ferrero-Waldner said.
Not ruling out the opportunity to work out a new phase of talks with
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. “There will be another round of
talks. These will be held after we see again that these countries are
ready to that. I hope we will reach agreement,” the EU Commissioner
said, reports RFE/RL.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: TURKEY THREATENS FRANCE WITH SANCTIONS
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2006 14:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated official
Ankara may apply trade and other sanctions against France, if the
French Parliament adopts a law, providing for penalty for denial of
the Armenian Genocide. Erdogan noted France’s bill to criminalize
denial of the Armenian Genocide is related to its domestic political
issues. Erdogan said he met with representatives of French companies
operating in Turkey and added that they are also worried over the
current situation. Emphasizing that French President Jacques Chirac
also voiced his discomfort over the bill during their conversation
in Vienna, Erdogan said: “Chirac wants that the bill be decided by
the lower wing and should not be carried to Parliament. He said the
agenda of the French Parliament was already too busy.”
“Our patience continues up to a certain point. We want to reach an
agreement and we will continue to act with patience, but I don’t know
what will happen if this process in France continues. We are not in
the position of hostility; however, we can apply our own sanctions,”
Erdogan said. He said that a country that has considerable investments
in Turkey will of course be negatively affected with this kind of a
situation, reports the Zaman newspaper.
Discussion of the bill, which provides for a fine of 45 thousand
euros or imprisonment of 5 years for denial of the Armenian Genocide,
is planned May 18.

KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT “DEPENDS ON ENSURING DEMOCRACY IN ENTIRE OSCE SPACE”
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2006 15:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Austrian FM Ursula Plassnik stated that peaceful
settlement of frozen conflicts in Transnistria, Nagorno Karabakh and
South Ossetia “depends on ensuring democracy in entire OSCE space.”
The FM of Austria, which presides the EU, states it after a meeting
of the OSCE Troika led by organization Chairman-in-Office Karel de
Gucht. “Strengthening democracy is a basic precondition for lasting
peace,” Ursula Plassnik said, reports Mediamax.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY MAY RECOGNIZE “GENOCIDE COMMITTED BY FRANCE IN ALGERIA”
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.05.2006 15:00 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In response to debates in the French Parliament on
a new bill for prosecution of persons openly denying the Armenian
Genocide, Turkey is seriously considering the possibility of
recognition of “a genocide committed by France in Algeria.” Among
scheduled steps is erection of a monument in one of districts
of Istanbul “in memory of victims of the genocide of peaceful
population in Algeria committed in the years of struggle for national
independence,” Trend reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress