Author: Emil Lazarian

TURKISH WRITER FACING CHARGES OVER GENOCIDE CLAIMS
CTV, Canada
Sept 1 2005
ISTANBUL, Turkey – A Turkish novelist has been charged with insulting
his country’s national character and could face prison, his publisher
said Wednesday.
Orhan Pamuk is scheduled to go on trial on Dec. 16 and could face up
to three years in prison for comments on Turkey’s killing of Armenians
and Kurds, publisher Tugrul Pasaoglu said.
Turkish court officials were not immediately available to comment.
“Thirty-thousand Kurds and one million Armenians were killed in these
lands and nobody but me dares to talk about it,” Pamuk was quoted as
saying in an interview with a Swiss newspaper magazine in February.
Armenians claim the the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks around
the time of World War I was the first genocide of the 20th century.
Turkey vehemently denies an Armenian genocide took place, saying the
death toll is inflated and Armenians were killed in a civil war as
the Ottoman Empire collapsed, eventually giving way to the Turkish
Republic in 1923.
The “thirty thousand Kurds” mentioned by Pamuk refers to those killed
since 1984 as Turkey fought a war against armed Kurdish separatists.
The fighting ended in 1999 after a cease-fire was called by the rebels,
but has resumed since then.
Turkey, along with the United States and the European Union, considers
members of the main rebel group – the Kurdistan Workers’ Party or
PKK – terrorists.
Turkey, which has been trying to improve its human rights record as
it vies for membership in the European Union, is extremely sensitive
about both the Armenian and Kurdish issues, and the new Turkish penal
code makes it a crime to denigrate Turkey’s national identity.
Pamuk’s books include the internationally acclaimed “Snow” and “My
Name is Red” and have been translated into more than 20 languages.
Pamuk has not shied away from dealing with Turkey’s more controversial
historical issues, drawing criticism for his statements.

NOVELIST IN TURKEY SAID TO BE CHARGED WITH INSULTING NATION
By Amberin Zaman, Los Angeles Times | September 1, 2005
Boston Globe, MA
Sept 1 2005
ANKARA, Turkey — Orhan Pamuk, one of Turkey’s best-known novelists,
has been charged with insulting the nation and its people by speaking
out against the mass deaths of Armenians during and after World War
I and the more recent killings of Kurds, his publisher said yesterday.
Pamuk will go on trial in December and could face three years in prison
under the country’s revised penal code, which deems denigrating Turks
and Turkey a punishable offense, the Iletisim Publishing House said
in its written statement.
Turkish officials declined to comment on the charges. Another law
prohibits Pamuk from commenting on his case while it is still pending.
Pamuk drew nationalist ire here and received anonymous death threats
after he told the Swiss daily Tagesanzeiger in an interview published
Feb. 6 that “30,000 Kurds and 1 million Armenians were killed . . .
and nobody but me dares to talk about it.”
Turkey has long denied that more than 1 million members of its
once thriving Armenian community were the victims of systematic
annihilation, a campaign that Armenians and many others have labeled
genocide. The government position is that several hundred thousand died
as a result of exposure, famine, and disease as they journeyed to Syria
after being deported for collaborating with invading Russian forces.
Pamuk’s most recent best-selling novel, “Snow,” explores tensions
between Turkey’s secular elite and religious conservatives.
News of Pamuk’s case came a day before European Union foreign ministers
were to meet in Wales, primarily to discuss Turkey. The EU has long
cited Turkey’s checkered record on human rights as the chief obstacle
to its membership in the 25-nation bloc.
Turkey won a date to open membership talks after its parliament passed
numerous reforms that, among other steps, eased restrictions on the
language spoken by the country’s large Kurdish minority. The talks
are scheduled to begin Oct. 3. Several countries, including France,
are seeking to block Turkey’s entry amid mounting public opposition
to the inclusion of a large, poor, and predominantly Muslim country.
Other critics charge that Turkey’s new penal code, which came into
force in June, still falls short of EU standards by proscribing free
debate of the Armenian tragedy and criticism of Turkey’s 1974 invasion
of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SINGLE HEADQUARTERS CONTROLLED JOINT CIS AIR DEFENSE EXERCISE
RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 30 2005
ASHULUK FIRING RANGE (Astrakhan region), August 30 (RIA Novosti)
– For the first time ever, a single headquarters controlled the
joint Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Air Defense exercise,
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Tuesday.
Air defense forces from Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Tajikistan
took part in the military exercise at the Ashuluk firing range in
the Astrakhan region of southern Russia.
“This was a special exercise since for the first time ever it was
commanded from a single headquarters, whereas in 2001 and 2003 each
participating state brought its own command post,” Ivanov said.
This was a prototype of a joint CIS group that would be able to deploy
a single air defense system in any region, the minister said, giving
a positive appraisal of the exercise.
“Combat launches were carried out by Armenian, Tajik, Belarusian,
and Russian combat crews. The mission was accomplished,” Ivanov said.
Another military exercise with Russian, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz armed
forces will be held in Sary-Shagan, Kazakhstan in September.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARYAN IGNORES UN
A1+
| 19:10:41 | 30-08-2005 | Politics |
Robert Kocharyan is continually avoiding participation in the
UN General Assembly. As it became known, this year the Armenian
delegation to the 60th UN General Assembly Session will be headed
by Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian explains it by the fact that the presence of the Premier is
more expedient.
Today the RA FM rendered a press conference to comment on the upcoming
events and meetings. In his words, the year end promises to be rich in
events. Lithuanian and Finn Presidents are expected to visit Armenia
while Robert Kocharyan will pay a call to Brussels.

IRAN PAYS ATTENTION TO CENTERS OF OTHER RELIGIONS
IranMania News, Iran
Aug 30 2005
LONDON, August 30 (IranMania) – Head of Armenia’s State Agency of
Monument Preservation Artyom Gregorian said that no other country
rivals Iran in paying so much attention to holy centers of various
religions, including that of the Christian faith Speaking at a meeting
with the governor of the provincial town of Khoy, Mohammad-Amin
Rezazadeh, he referred to Iran as a country making effort to preserve
its religious centers, IRNA reported.
He lauded the fact that so much attention is paid to other faiths
by Islam.
Currently visiting Iran at the head of an Armenian delegation,
Gregorian noted, “Prior to advent of Christianity and Islam, the
people of Iran and Armenia lived together. Given the close relations
between the two religions, sowing the seed of discord between them
is out of question.”
For his part, Rezazadeh pointed to the amicable bilateral relationship
and hoped that it will continue in the future.
“We do our best to preserve churches and holy centers of the Christian
faith, similar to mosques and our own historical monuments.
“Special focus has been placed in recent years on reconstruction and
repair of ancient relics to attract tourists,” he added.
During its stay in West Azarbaijan province in northwestern Iran, the
16-member Armenian delegation toured a few of the provincial churches
including Qara-Kelisa and the mausoleum of Sadreddin in Siah-Cheshmeh.
The visiting delegation mainly aims to exchange the latest technical
developments in preserving and safeguarding archaic monuments and
their restoration.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

On this day – August 31
Advertiser Adelaide, Australia
The Mercury, Australia
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia
Aug 31 2005
1990 – About 250 militant Armenian nationalists give up their weapons
after the republic’s parliament declares a state of emergency.
1290 – Jews are exiled from England by proclamation of King Edward I.
1422 – King Henry V of England dies of dysentery in France and is
succeeded by his nine-month-old son, Henry VI. 1688 – Death in
London of John Bunyan, English author of The Pilgrim’s Progress.
1704 – Forces of Russia’s Tsar Peter the Great take Narva in Russia.
1823 – French forces storm the Trocadero and enter Cadiz in Spain.
1846 – Committee is established in Sydney to organise appeal
for Irish famine. 1871 – Basutoland is united with Cape Colony,
South Africa. 1876 – Turkey’s Sultan Murad V is deposed on plea
of insanity and is succeeded by Abdul Hamid II. 1887 – US inventor
Thomas A Edison receives a patent for his Kinetoscope, a device which
produces moving pictures. 1888 – Body of Mary Ann “Polly” Nichols,
first victim of murderer “Jack the Ripper”, is found in London.
1900 – British forces under Frederick Roberts occupy Johannesburg.
1907 – Anglo-Russian Convention is signed in St Petersburg, settling
differences between the two over Persia, Afghanistan and Tibet.
1918 – Bolshevik troops attack British embassy in Petrograd, Russia.
1920 – First ever news program is broadcast by the radio station 8MK
in Detroit, Michigan. 1922 – Czech-Serb-Croat Alliance is signed at
Marienbad. 1923 – Italy occupies Corfu in Greece. 1939 – Attempts
by French Premier Daladier and British Prime Minister Chamberlain to
negotiate with Adolf Hitler of Germany fail. 1942 – German General
Irwin Rommel renews offensive against British at Alam Halfa in North
Africa in World War II but is driven back to original lines. 1950 –
Contingent of 80 men from First Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment,
leaves for the Korean War. 1957 – Malaya becomes an independent
member of the British Commonwealth. 1962 – Trinidad and Tobago becomes
independent nation within the British Commonwealth. 1967 – Diplomatic
relations between Indonesia and Malaysia are re-established, following
Indonesia’s opposition to the formation of the Malaya federation.
1968 – West Indian Garfield Sobers becomes the first cricketer to
score six sixes off one over in first-class cricket, in England.
1969 – Rocky Marciano, former world heavyweight boxing champion, is
killed in an air crash in Iowa. 1973 – Death of John Ford, US film
director. 1977 – Ian Smith wins the Rhodesian general election with
80 per cent of the overwhelmingly white electorate’s vote. 1980 –
Polish labour leaders sign agreements with Communist government,
establishing for first time in a Soviet-bloc nation the rights to
strike and to establish free trade unions. 1983 – Murdered opposition
leader Benigno Aquino is buried in Manila, with over a million
mourners being addressed by his widow Cory. 1986 – Soviet passenger
ship Admiral Nakhimov collides with a merchant vessel in the Black
Sea, causing both vessels to sink; 448 die. 1986 – Moscow’s secret
police hold US correspondent Nicholas Daniloff on spying allegations.
1987 – Government and opposition officials in South Korea agree on
revising Constitution to clear way for direct presidential elections
and other reforms. 1989 – Princess Anne and her husband Captain Mark
Phillips separate after 16 years of marriage. 1990 – East and West
Germany sign a treaty to harmonise their legal and political systems
after merging on October 3. 1990 – About 250 militant Armenian
nationalists give up their weapons after the republic’s parliament
declares a state of emergency. 1991 – Uzbekistan and Kirgyzstan
become ninth and tenth Soviet republics to declare independence.
1992 – Palestinian Arabs dismiss Israel’s self-rule proposals as
unacceptable and say peace negotiations are at an impasse. 1994 –
IRA declares an open-ended ceasefire in its 24-year campaign against
British rule of Northern Ireland. 1995 – Bomb-laden car explodes
in a crowded square outside Algeria’s national police headquarters,
killing 10 and injuring 15. 1996 – Iraq captures Irbil in northern
Iraq, a key city inside the Kurdish “safe haven” protected by US-led
forces, in Saddam Hussein’s largest military action since the end
of the Gulf War in 1991. 1997 – Princess Diana and her millionaire
companion Dodi Al Fayed are killed in a Paris car crash. 1998 – North
Korea launches a new, more powerful long-range ballistic missile that
crosses over Japan’s main island and crashes into the Pacific Ocean.
1999 – Opposition lawmakers in Venezuela pledge to defy a decision
by supporters of President Hugo Chavez to shut down the legislature,
worsening the country’s constitutional crisis. 2000 – The United
States decides to boycott several meetings in Japan dealing with
science and the environment in a protest of the expansion of Japanese
whaling. 2001 – Delegates from more than 160 countries attend the
weeklong United Nations-sponsored World Conference Against Racism in
Durban, South Africa. 2002 – A Russian Mi-24 assault helicopter is
shot down by a missile in Chechnya. Both of the gunship’s pilots are
killed. Chechen rebels claim responsibility. 2002 – Lionel Hampton,
one of America’s jazz legends, dies. He was 94. 2003 – Kenya lifts
a ban on the Mau Mau movement, which spearheaded an uprising against
British colonialists in the 1950s. 2004 – Militants in Iraq kill
12 Nepalese contract workers, in a gruesome video discovered on an
Islamic web site, showing one of them beheaded and the 11 others
shot in a methodical series of execution-style slayings. 2004 – The
US Republican Party nominates President George W Bush for a second
four-year term in the White House.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: REFORMATION OF ARMENIA’S CONSTITUTION OPENS BROAD PROSPECTS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29. ARMINFO. The reformation of Armenia’s Constitution
opens broad prospects for further development of the country. Tigran
Torosian, Vice Speaker of National Assembly of Armenia, Head of
interim parliamentary commission for Eurointegration, stated during
the discussions of the draft amendments to the Constitution.
According to Torosian, fundamental changes are offered by the draft
int he sphere of formation of the government. If according to the
acting Constitution the president only consulted with parliamentary
factions and appointed or dismissed the premier, then after adoption
of the changes, he, first of all, does not have the right to dismiss
the premier at his discretion, and secondly he is obliged to consult
with factions and make clear which candidate enjoys the support of
the parliamentary majority and only then to nominate his candidature.
Tigran Torosian called important also the provisions of the draft
of the reforms concerning formation and activities of the Council of
Justice of the Republic of Armenia.
Speaking about the part of the draft concerning the activities of mass
media, the vice speaker mentioned that the matter concerned creation
of one body, which coordinates the activities of mass media.
He also reminded about the proposed amendments to the Constitution
concerning the activities of the Supervisory chamber of the
parliament. The presence of independent Supervisory chamber and
constitutional guarantees of its independence give possibility of that
proposals of Supervisory chamber will not be set aside, though many
provisions of this part of the bill need regulation by a law, which
will be done, the vice speaker said. “Serious changes made in the
draft amendments to the Constitution open wide prospects of further
development of Armenia, that’s why the commission proposes to the
parliament to adopt the document in the second reading”, Torosian said.
He also proposed that during the discussions the deputies spoke about
the problems of the country, and forming their position regarding one
or another issue demonstrated how the draft solves these problems in
order simple citizens of the country had clear idea on the essence
of the bill. He stressed that the most important bill for the whole
period of the activities of the parliament of the current convocation
is being discussed today.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 27 2005
PRESIDENTS ILHAM ALIYEV OF AZERBAIJAN AND ROBERT KOCHARYAN OF ARMENIA
MEET IN KAZAN
[August 27, 2005, 20:20:48]
On August 27, visiting Tatarstan capital Kazan, President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with his Armenian counterpart Robert
Kocharyan in the presence of the OSCE Minsk group Co-chairs.
The parties widely discussed the ways of peaceful settlement of
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Afterwards, the Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Robert
Kocharyan of Armenia continued the talks in private.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Aug 28 2005
France Left Algerian Genocide to Historians Again
PARIS – France, which at every occasion demands Turkey to reconsider
its stance concerning the Armenian issue, said such questions
remained within the range of historians when it came to the Algerian
Genocide.
French Foreign Ministry responded to Algerian President Abdulaziz
Bouteflika’s call to France to repent for what France perpetrated in
Algeria during the colonial period, by relegating such historical
inquiries to historians’.
French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jean-Baptist Mattei refraining
from commenting on Bouteflika’s call, said the matter would be
settled in one way or another. Mattei maintained historians and
researchers had to study that subject in an independent way.
In a speech he delivered at Setif on Thursday, Bouteflika called on
France to recognize the fact that it tortured, killed and destroyed
Algerian people between the years of 1830-1962 to eradicate their
Algerian, Muslim, Arab and Berber identities, and their culture,
history and language. France, which does not respond to Algeria’s
calls, manifested a politically biased attitude in 2001 despite
Turkey’s warning, and legislated a law that ruled the 1915 incidents
as genocide.
Dr. David M. Arayan accused France of having double-standard:
`There are many genocides and massacres committed by the French in
the past. Algerian Genocide is one of them. They massacred thousands
of Algerian civilians with no mercy. And now they are talking about
other nations’ so-called crimes. They abuse the past. The French
politicians ignore their responsibilities now and in the past, and
instead of taking responsibilities they choose the easiest way: To
accuse the others. They discuss the 1915 events for hours and hours
yet they cannot accept the real genocide they committed just couple
of decades ago.’

USA backs constitutional reform in Armenia – envoy
Arminfo
27 Aug 05
YEREVAN
The USA supports the efforts of all participants in the process of
making amendments to the Armenian constitution and calls on all sides
to take part in responsible and constructive discussions of this
issue, the US ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, said yesterday.
He said that the constitution is the basic law of any country and
forms a “basis” that ensures the supremacy of the law. The Americans
needed 13 years to create the first version of the US
constitution. Since then, the US constitution has been amended 27
times and this last happened in the early 1990s.
Today in Iraq, creating or amending a constitution is a lengthy and
difficult process that requires a high level of responsibility from
all participants in order for the final document to express the will
of the people and secure the current balance between different
branches of power, the US ambassador said.
[Passage omitted: Expanding on the importance of the constitution] The
international community, including the USA, has always consistently
supported the efforts of the Council of Europe which helps Armenia
create a package of reforms. Today’s constitutional package is a
significant step forward, although its adoption is the prerogative of
the Republic of Armenia, of course, the US ambassador believes. He
expressed the hope that all important measures will be taken to
increase the civil consciousness of society in order for the
well-informed population to be able to express its will in the
forthcoming referendum in November.
“In the run-up to parliamentary discussions set for 29 August, I hope
that members of the National Assembly will realize their level of
responsibility to their compatriots for adopting constitutional
amendments for the good of the Republic of Armenia.” The debates which
will be held on 29 August, as well as the entire subsequent process
will become an indicator of the level of Armenia’s political
development, the US ambassador pointed out.