Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenpress

CHARLES AZNAVOUR VISITS FRENCH UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS: The famous French Armenian singer Charles
Aznavour was welcomed today by students and professors of the French
University of Armenia together with France’s ambassador in Yerevan Henry
Cuny, the University Rector Paul Russe and other dignitaries.
Aznavour took a stroll in the University and then joined students and
journalists for a group photo. Aznavour arrived in Yerevan yesterday
evening. Today he traveled to the village of Hartavan in Aragatsotn province
to attend the inauguration of a reconstructed drinking water pipeline and
later in the day he will attend the presentation of the Armenian edition of
his latest book, called The Past Days.
The drinking water pipeline reconstruction was implemented within the
frameworks of the Second Credit Program of the World Bank, the Armenian
Social Investments Fund in cooperation with Aznavour pour l’Armenie charity
organization (funding was provided by the World Bank and the French Ministry
of Foreign Affairs).
In the past Hartavan was supplied with drinking water from a spring
called Ambarlu near the village of Kuchak. The pipeline was built in 1960.
With the growing population of Kuchak, the amount of water flowing to
Hartavan had reduced and water to Hartavan was supplied from springs on the
slopes of Tsakhkunyats Mountain. However, the amount of the supplied water
was far from sufficient to meet the villagers’ needs.
A project of the Armenian Social Investments Fund rehabilitated the
deteriorated water catchment basin and built another one. The Fund has also
built a 2-km long new water pipeline, internal networks pipes and hatches.
Under the Second Credit Program funded by the World Bank, the Armenian
Social Investment Fund has already accomplished 224 community programs;
another 86 programs are in the process of construction.
The 81-year-old singer is also expected to join thousands of Armenians
for a May 28 circle dance around Mount Aragats and the next day he will make
a trip to Georgian Akhaltsikhe, the native town of his parents. Also
President Kocharian decorated today the outstanding French-Armenian singer
Charles Aznavour with Armenia’s highest medal-the Medal of Homeland, saying
it was another assurance of Armenians’ love and gratitude.
Aznavour in turn handed to Kocharian an old Armenian manuscript which he
had bought at an auction.
Then Kocharian and Aznavour spoke about Armenia’s economic achievements,
ties between Armenia and its vast Diaspora and cultural issues. Aznavour was
quoted by Kocharian’s press office as saying that he was greatly impressed
by extensive improvements he saw in Yerevan.

Armenian foreign minister slams Turkey, expects EU to pressure Turkey
to open ties, border

AP Worldstream
May 26, 2005

The Armenian foreign minister said Thursday the European Union should
put more pressure on Turkey to open its border with Armenia.

Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan called on the EU to be more assertive
and make Ankara open “the last closed border in Europe.”

“It’s the Turkish side that keeps it closed which we do not understand,
and we expect that the EU be more assertive on this matter, asking
Turkey to open the border with Armenia,” he said during a visit to
Helsinki.

The two countries sharply disagree over the mass killings of Armenians
by Ottoman Turks during World War I, which Armenians say was genocide.

Turkey has indicated the countries might establish political ties if
Armenia agreed to join a joint commission to investigate the killings.

Oskanyan, who met with his Finnish counterpart, Erkki Tuomioja, called
Turkey’s preconditions “unacceptable.”

“We have to follow the example of other European countries _ there are
hardly any two countries in Europe or anywhere else that do not have
differences in the interpretation of their past. But those things do
not stop them from having normal ties and having diplomatic relations,
trade relations, and communication as neighbors,” Oskanyan said.

Armenia has previously insisted Turkey should not become an EU member
until it acknowledges genocide. Turkey is scheduled to start
membership negotiations with the European Union in October.

Edicom, Suisse
25 Mai 2005

Turquie: report d’une conférence sur le génocide arménien après des
pressions gouvernementales

ANKARA (AP) – Trois universités turques ont reporté sine die une
conférence sur le génocide arménien, à la suite de déclarations du
ministre de la justice accusant pratiquement les organisateurs d’être
des traîtres.
Cette réunion, qui devait se tenir de mercredi à vendredi, avait pour
cadre l’Université du Bosphore à Istanbul en association avec deux
autres établissements. Elle devait permettre de débattre de la
position officielle turque selon laquelle il n’y a pas eu de génocide
en 1915 mais seulement des massacres dans le contexte de la première
guerre mondiale, les victimes étant aussi bien arméniennes que
turques.
Mardi devant le Parlement, le ministre de la justice Cemil Cicek
avait critiqué très durement cette initiative en soulignant qu’elle
allait à l’encontre des efforts du gouvernement de contrer la
campagne des Arméniens visant à faire reconnaître ces tueries comme
un génocide. Certains «disent qu’il n’y a pas de liberté; eh bien, il
y a la liberté de poignarder les gens dans le dos et de proférer des
mensonges (…) Nous devons mettre un terme à cette phase de
propagande (…) de trahison», a dit le ministre.
Le massacre des Arméniens aurait fait jusqu’à 1,5 million de morts
entre 1915 et 1923, Ankara avançant le chiffre de 300.000 morts. Ces
événements sont rarement évoqués dans l’enseignement local et il
devait s’agir du premier débat remettant en question la version
officielle de l’histoire turque. Plusieurs centaines de participants,
dont des universitaires venus de l’étranger, étaient attendus à cette
conférence organisée par les universités du Bosphore, de Bilgi et de
Sabanci.
Muge Gocek, professeure de sociologie à l’université du Michigan qui
avait fait le voyage des Etats-Unis pour l’occasion, n’a pas caché sa
«tristesse et (sa) déception»: «Ca aurait été un forum montrant que
la démocratie fonctionnait en Turquie et que des voix différentes
pouvaient être entendues».

Agence France Presse — English
May 25, 2005 Wednesday 10:42 AM GMT

Key East-West oil pipeline launched, breaks Russia grip on Caspian
energy

BAKU

A major new US-backed pipeline to bring oil directly from the Caspian
Sea to Western markets and break Russia’s longtime grip on vast
energy resources from Central Asia to Turkey was formally launched
Wednesday in a ceremony attended by presidents and dignitaries.

“Some did not believe in the realization of this project, some tried
to disrupt it, but the support of the United States and the activity
of BP helped realize the project,” Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said
at the ceremony to inaugurate the four-billion-dollar initiative.

The presidents of Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Kazakhstan were joined
by other VIPs including US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and the
head of British energy giant BP, John Browne, for the formal launch
of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special representative for
international energy cooperation, Igor Yusufov, had been expected to
attend the event. A Kremlin spokesman told AFP in Moscow that he had
been forced to cancel his planned trip to Baku at the last minute due
to illness.

Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a declaration
committing some of his country’s vast Caspian oil reserves to
transport through the pipeline just prior to the ceremony extending
the BTC’s life expectancy past 2010, when Azeri oil production is
expected to slump.

“The East-West energy corridor plays an important security role in
the region and it’s clear that economic growth and stability would
not be possible without the export of oil,” Turkey’s President Ahmet
Necdetsezer said at the opening.

He said the pipeline would take pressure off Turkey’s tanker-clogged
Bosphorus Straits that link the Black Sea to the Mediterranean,
another major maritime transport route for oil.

Georgia’s President Mikhail Saakashvili stressed the geopolitical
changes afoot in the region after the fall of the Soviet Union.

“After the fall of a big empire we want sources of hydrocarbons to be
protected and provide for stability of their transport,” he said.

The 1,770-kilometer-long (1,094-mile-) pipeline will transform the
Caucasus and Turkey into an energy bridge between the Caspian and the
rest of the world and has shifted geo-strategic alliances in the
Caucasus region and Central Asia.

But the presence of senior officials from the United States and other
countries at Wednesday’s ceremonies was tainted by a controversy as
Azeri authorities continued to hold opposition members detained in
connection with the pipeline’s opening.

Police badly beat and arrested scores of people attending a peaceful
rally last Saturday as part of a wider opposition crackdown.
Authorities justified their actions on grounds that the rally was
held too close to the pipeline opening ceremonies, a claim questioned
by Western officials.

Baku was the sight of some of the first industrially developed oil
fields in the world at the beginning of the 20th century.

The British oil giant BP holds a leading 30 percent stake in the
consortium running the pipeline. Other consortium members include
Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, Amerada Hess, ConocoPhillips,
Eni, Inpex, Itochu, Statoil, Total, TPAO and Unocal.

SOCAR president Natik Aliyev called the pipeline, which is expected
to become a major competitor to traditional export routes for Caspian
oil that pass through Russia, the “realization” of a national dream
on Wednesday.

He said it “bridged the nations of the region.”

The Caspian region produces a light crude of high quality but has
suffered from its distance from the world’s major consumers — North
America, Europe, China and Japan.

The pipeline is to ship one million barrels of Caspian oil, roughly
one percent of global oil production, daily to Turkey’s Mediterranean
coast once it is fully up and running by the end of the year.

Turkish professors condemn reaction to conference on Armenian issue

NTV television, Istanbul
25 May 05

Issuing a statement on the postponement of the conference on “Ottoman
Armenians during the collapse of the empire,” the organizing committee
condemned attempts to pinpoint the Bogazici University as a target.

Selim Deringil and Edhem Eldem, who are members of the organizing
committee, held a news conference. Eldem said that the targeting of a
state university with unfair accusations is worrisome, adding that
Turkey will be the side to lose most from this action.

Noting that their aim is to leave aside the bellicose and sterile
style and discuss the issue within a broad historical perspective,
Selim Deringil said, in turn, that the policy of the government or of
the official circles does not bind them, adding that they are not
obliged to be of the same opinion with them.

And a group of Bogazici University students held a protest action on
the campus, asserting that a concerted campaign is being waged against
the independence of the university.

The organizing committee said that the conference organization and
advisory boards will meet to decide the future course.

Armenia calls on its diaspora in France to vote in favor of EU constitution

AP Worldstream
May 25, 2005

Armenia urged its expatriates living in France _ the country’s third
biggest foreign diaspora _ to vote in favor of the European Union
constitution, saying it will strengthen France’s role in European
politics.

“The French “yes” will further strengthen France’s position on the
European arena, which will also be advantageous for us, since France
has always supported an international discussion of Armenian
questions,” Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said at a news
conference.

France is home to an estimated 500,000 Armenians.

France votes on the EU constitution on Sunday, with the latest polls
suggesting a slim majority of voters will reject the new treaty. The
document is meant to simplify how the 25-nation bloc makes decisions
and bolster its role on the world stage. Observers warn however, that
the project is likely to fail if France rejects it.

Oskanian urged Armenians to vote “yes” in the referendum despite fears
by several Armenian groups in France that it may bring Turkey,
Armenia’s longtime foe, closer to EU membership.

“I completely understand the concern shared by many French and
Armenians living in France about Turkey’s possible (EU) membership,”
Oskanian said. “However, we do not see a link between the referendum
on the European Constitution and Turkey’s membership.”

Armenians say some 1.5 million were killed in a campaign of genocide
by the Ottoman Empire authorities at the time of World War I. Turkey
says the death count is inflated, and that the Armenians were killed
or displaced in the civil unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire. Armenia insists Turkey cannot become an EU member until it
acknowledges genocide.

Today, Azerbaijan
May 25 2005

BAKU: Elmira Suleymanova refused to join the measure held in Armenia

24 May 2005 [10:22] – Today.Az

An international conference named “Tolerance, discrimination in the
context of the struggle against international terrorism and the
struggle against xenophobia (Caucasus measure)” under the patronage
of UNESCO in Yerevan yesterday.

The measure was organized by the Human Rights Protection Institute
of Armenia. In the capital of Armenia, who has occupied 20 % of the
Azerbaijani lands resulted in occurring of about 1 million refugees
and internally displaced persons, the main discussion object in the
conference will be to form relations with the counties of the region
in the directions of strengthening piece, forming the mutual
endurance environment, and protecting human rights. About 60
representatives from Armenia, Russia, Georgia and other countries
were invited to the conference.

According to the information of Armenian sources, the representatives
from Azerbaijan were also invited to the measure to last 2 days.
According of the information we own, this invitation was appealed to
the Commissioner on Human Rights Elmira Suleymanova in Azerbaijan.

It was impossible to get ombudsman’s attitude to the problem, we
could define that E.Suleymanova had refused to join the measure held
in the enemy country.

/APA/

URL:

Libération, France
mardi 24 mai 2005

La Turquie est encore loin de l’adhésion, dit Jacques Chirac

PARIS – Jacques Chirac estime que la ratification de la Constitution
européenne rendra “plus long” le processus d’adhésion de la Turquie à
l’Union européenne.

“Elle a encore un long chemin à faire, d’autant plus long que l’Union
européenne se prépare à franchir une étape supplémentaire dans
l’affirmation de ses valeurs”, souligne le chef de l’Etat dans une
lettre transmise lundi au Conseil de coordination des organisations
arméniennes de France (CCAF).

Cette lettre, adressée au président de l’organisation Ara Toranian, a
été rendue publique mardi par le CCAF, qui a sollicité Jacques Chirac
“pour qu’il demande clairement et fermement” le report de l’ouverture
des négociations d’adhésion de la Turquie “tant qu’elle refuse de
reconnaître le génocide arménien” de 1915. Les négociations doivent
commencer début octobre.

“La France a reconnu le génocide arménien de 1915. Elle attend de la
Turquie qu’elle mène à son terme cet impératif devoir de mémoire.
Nous sommes convaincus qu’elle en comprend la nécessité car tel est
l’esprit des critères de Copenhague dont tout candidat doit démontrer
le plein respect”, écrit le président de la République.

“Avec la Constitution européenne, poursuit-il, pour la première fois
dans l’Histoire, les droits et les libertés fondamentales seront
reconnus par l’Union européenne elle-même et garantis à tous les
citoyens européens”.

“Dans dix ans, quinze ans au plus tard, si la Turquie va au bout du
processus engagé, il reviendra, en application de notre Constitution,
à chaque Française et à chaque Français de se prononcer par
référendum avant toute adhésion, et donc de juger du chemin parcouru
par la Turquie pour partager nos valeurs”, rappelle Jacques Chirac.

“La demande de la France et de l’Union européenne est que la Turquie
applique résolument les valeurs et la conception des droits de
l’homme, de la paix et de la démocratie qui sont celles de toute
l’Europe”, souligne-t-il. /SL

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
May 24 2005

MEETING OF PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN’S ILHAM ALIYEV AND TURKEY’S AHMET
NECDET SEZER
[May 24, 2005, 21:01:35]

On May 24 at the Presidential Palace was held a meeting between the
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer.

President Sezer said the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline’s commissioning
ceremony and its participation in that are historical events.
Turkey’s President has congratulated its Azerbaijani counterpart and
noted the pipeline will play an important role in the economic
development of both countries.

Having noted the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline will also
commissioning successfully head of the Turkish state has exclusively
recollected the role of the national leader of Azerbaijani people and
great son of the Turkic world Heydar Aliyev.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has highly estimated the position
of brotherly country and focused on political, economic, cultural
relations between the countries.

During the meeting was stressed that Turkey will support henceforth
the Azerbaijan’s position on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno Karabakh.

The Azerbaijani leader presented to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer a
keepsake gift, which had been specially made on the occasion of the
BTC pipeline commissioning.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 24 2005

MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY OF AZERBAIJAN MEETS WITH DELEGATION OF
GERMAN BUNDESTAG
[May 24, 2005, 16:41:56]

Minister of National Security of Azerbaijan Republic,
general-lieutenant Edlar Mahmudov on 24 May, has met with the
chairman of the budget affairs commission of Bundestag of Germany
Manfred Karstens, chairman of the reliance affairs committee Walter
Scholler, vice-president of the Federal Investigation Service,
brigadier general Varner Scheve and others.

The Minister informed members of German Bundestag on the carried out
reforms in legal and democratic state building, socio-economic
development, as well as the measures taken for strengthening of
stability for realization of world-scale projects.

The visors were told on the role of the ministry of national
security, on the works done for strengthening of its legislation base
in accordance with international standards.

The Minister also informed on measures of fighting terrorism, combat
against organized transnational crimes, on the socio-political
situation in the Republic, the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, the uncontrolled areas occupied by Armenia, illegal
migration and other crucial problems.

Expressing gratitude for provided information, the visitors regretted
on lack of information about all these in the West, and stressed
necessity of carrying our certain works in this direction.

Members of delegation expressed confidence that the visit would be
useful for strengthening of the relations between two countries.

At the meeting also joined by the ambassador of the Federative
Republic of Germany to Azerbaijan Detlef Lingemann, also was
exchanged a number of other issues of mutual interest.