Author: Hunanian Jack

Associated Press Worldstream
December 30, 2004 Thursday 10:13 AM Eastern Time
Christian rebirth in southeastern Turkey amid calm, EU bid
by JAMES C. HELICKE; Associated Press Writer
HABERLI, Turkey
Nine-year-old Ninua Saliba played hide-and-seek outside a stone,
seventh century village church as men drank tea and chatted in an
ancient tongue similar to the one spoken by Jesus Christ.
These Assyrian Christians, a tiny minority in Muslim Turkey, were
waiting for the local Turkish governor who was making Christmas
visits. Such visits would have been inconceivable just a few years
ago, when the Christian community in southeastern Turkey was caught
in the middle of fighting between Turkish security forces and
autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels.
But now a sharp decrease in the fighting, and Turkey’s bid to join
the European Union are giving one of the world’s most ancient
Christian communities more hope that it can preserve its traditions
in a region long considered its spiritual center.
Turkey, which faces EU pressure to grant greater rights to
minorities, is encouraging thousands of Assyrians who left the
impoverished region to return and rebuild a community that has shrunk
to just a few thousand. Dozens have returned so far, Assyrians say.
Gov. Osman Gunes, the top government official in the region, paid a
Christmas visit to Assyrian towns and monasteries this year and
welcomed those who had come back.
“If there hadn’t been peace, we wouldn’t have returned,” said Ninua’s
father, Erden, who spent his first Christmas in Haberli since he and
his wife left the village to work in Switzerland more than two
decades ago. “We’re here to live in solidarity with the other
villagers.”
Saliba’s wife, Sara, offered guests Swiss angel-shaped Christmas
cookies as they sat in front of a Christmas tree in their new, stone
three-story home, which towers over the other houses in the village
of some 140 people.
Erden Saliba said the family of five easily secured Turkish
permission to return, but described other difficulties facing
Assyrians in the village. Besides such nuisances as frequent power
cuts and lack of public sewerage facilities, Saliba said there was no
suitable school for Ninua and her two older brothers, who cannot
speak Turkish.
Unlike such officially recognized religious minorities as Jews and
Greek Orthodox Christians, Assyrians are not permitted to run schools
in their language, Syriac, a modern version of Aramaic, the language
of Jesus.
Government-paid Kurdish militiamen stand guard at the road leading to
the village. In another reminder of the conflict with Kurdish
separatists, a sign outside a Turkish paramilitary police outpost at
the village’s entrance proclaims: “The motherland is a whole and
cannot be divided.”
Saliba said that 30 years ago, around 75 families lived in the
village, a rural farming community filled with stone houses, ancient
ruins, and carved churches. Now only 20 or so families remain. Most
have left for work abroad or to avoid the strife.
The neighboring village, Sarikoy, suffered more. The military
evacuated residents from there during the fighting, villagers say.
Fikri Turan returned from Germany to Sarikoy to find his house
reduced to rubble and the village occupied by Kurdish militiamen who
refused to leave until the governor intervened.
Human rights groups say soldiers forcibly emptied thousands of
villages throughout the region in a move aimed at depriving Kurdish
rebels of local support.
Turan spent Christmas at the 4th century Mor Gabriel monastery, one
of the world’s oldest, where visitors from Europe attended morning
services.
For Assyrians, the clashes of the 1980s and 1990s were only the most
recent in a series of challenges to a community that traces its
origins to the ancient Assyrian Empire, which peaked between the 9th
and 7th centuries B.C.
According to tradition, Assyrians began adopting Christianity in the
first century A.D., 600 years before the region was conquered by Arab
Muslim armies. The area remains important for Assyrian Christians,
and the nearby Deyr-ul Zaferan monastery served as home to the
Assyrian patriarchate until 1933.
Assyrians say the community here once numbered hundreds of thousands,
but that many of them, like Armenians, were victims of mass killings
during World War I that the two communities have labeled genocide.
Turkish officials say the killings resulted from civil unrest and
that the death count – which some Assyrian groups put at hundreds of
thousands – is inflated.
Mass migration abroad and, finally, the fighting in the southeast
reduced the number of Christians in the region to an estimated 2,000
to 4,000. Many Assyrians left for Europe, North America, or Istanbul,
and other communities remain in Iraq, Syria and Iran.
Fighting fell sharply after the 1999 capture of Kurdish guerrilla
leader Abdullah Ocalan, although rebel attacks against security
forces have picked up in recent months.
The EU, too, noted disapprovingly in an October report that “very
few” Assyrians have returned because of harassment from Kurdish
militiamen and paramilitary police.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 29 2004
PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AWARDED A GROUP OF TOP OFFICERS
AND LAW-ENFORCERS
[December 29, 2004, 21:04:05]
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-In-Chief
of the Armed Forces on December 29 has awarded a group of high rank
officers and staff members of law-enforcement bodies with the Order
of the `Flag Of Azerbaijan’.
Greeting the participants, President Ilham Aliyev congratulated them
on the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and New Year.
Reminding attention and care of the nationwide leader of Azerbaijan
Heydar Aliyev to the Army and army building, Head of State said the
Armed Forces of Azerbaijan are strengthening day by day and it has a
strong material-technical base.
The goal of State is to make stronger the Armed Forces and this
process depends on development of economy, in the whole, he
underlined. Strong economy will promote success of talks in the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict. And, as a Supreme
Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, this question is constantly
in my focus and is supported by people’.
Head of State called on the officers to serve strengthening of
socio-political, military potential of the Republic.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
12/29/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) DECLARATION: ARF Artsakh Central Committee 2) Balkan Pipeline Would Serve as Alternative to Turkish Ports 3) Greece No Longer Considered Top Threat to Turkey 4) Possible EU Condition on Turkey Ruffles Azeris 5) 2004 HyeRock LA Festival to Feature Charity Concert 1) DECLARATION: ARF Artsakh Central Committee Dear Compatriots, A politically motivated appointment is among the cabinet changes recently made by the president of Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR). Viewing the move as a troublesome precedent, the ARF Artsakh Central Committee finds it necessary to present the facts and its stance to the public. On December 16, 2004, during an address to top state officials, MKR President Arkady Ghukasian expressed disappointment with his government, accusing it of ongoing corruption and proposing to counter it with structural and cabinet changes. Astonishingly, days after his address, Ghukasian met with Minister of Education, Culture, and Sport Armen Sargsyan, who is also a member of the ARF, and despite praising his job performance, relieved him of his duties and instead offered the minister the position of presidential advisor. The official explanation for the president's action is that, within the context of the 2005 parliamentary elections, Sargsyan's inclusion in the cabinet as a member of an independent political party represents a conflict of interest. The president seeks to create the impression that Sargsyan's termination is part of his fight against corruption. In fact, Ghukasian is perturbed by the successes of the ARF and other democratic entities in past local elections, and fears similar results in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The offer to appoint Sargsyan as presidential advisor has been refused by the ARF Artsakh Central Committee. In recent years, there has been cooperation between the presidency of MKR and the ARF Artsakh Central Committee. Sometimes the ARF has disagreed with Ghukasian's domestic policies, but has, nonetheless, supported the president in the foremost interests of the people of newly independent Artsakh. The ARF Artsakh Central Committee has believed that it can be of benefit to the republic's government, and sometimes help the president to reconsider certain hastily taken decisions. It is painful to note that at this critical juncture, the person at the helm of MKR has failed to grasp the significance of his mission, and not stoop to petty politicking. The president has failed to become a symbol of unity and harmony. With his recent action, Ghukasian has clearly impelled the ARF, the progressive force of Artsakh, to oppose him. The president's action also indicates a failure to understand the local and international importance of free, legal, and democratic elections in Artsakh. Once again stating its stance on the issues of international recognition of Artsakh's self-determination, stability, the strengthening of its governance, and economic prosperity, the ARF Artsakh Central Committee has resolved the following: 1) In response to the politically motivated step taken by the president of MKR against the ARF, to recall ARF representatives serving in top levels of government executive. 2) In view of the fact that a complete break would be counterproductive at the moment, to continue to have ARF representation in the president's Security Council. In the latter instance, the ARF's decision is not self-serving and, for understandable reasons, we consider maintaining our representation in the Security Council as entirely rightful. In the event of worsening future relations, the responsibility falls on MKR president Arkady Ghukasian. ARF Artsakh Central Committee Stepanakert December 29, 2004 2) Balkan Pipeline Would Serve as Alternative to Turkish Ports Nano, Saxe-Coburg, and Macedonia's Vlado Buckovski shaking on the deal Tuesday. SOFIA (AP/Balkanalysis)--Bulgaria, Albania, and Macedonia gave political support on Tuesday to a $1.2 billion private trans-Balkan oil pipeline project that aims to allow alternative ports for the shipping of Russian and Caspian oil, which normally goes through Turkish ports. Representatives from the three small Balkan states signed a declaration giving the green light to the US-registered Albanian Macedonian Bulgarian Oil Corp., AMBO, to launch the 912-kilometer pipeline between Bulgaria's Black Sea port of Burgas and Vlore, on Albania's Adriatic coast. "This is one of the most important infrastructure projects for regional, EU, and Euro-Atlantic integration for the western Balkans," Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano told reporters. Tankers ferrying oil to the Mediterranean and further west are currently subject to frequent and costly delays as they travel through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. The long-delayed underground line, expected to begin operation in early 2008, will be able to move up to 750,000 barrels of oil per day. The first obstacle was the preoccupation of relevant parties during the Clinton Administration with the massive Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in Anatolia. Then came the wars in Kosovo and Macedonia in 1999 and 2001, which left investors jittery. Now that the situation seems to have stabilized, however, the future looks bright for AMBO. AMBO said it had already secured some $900 million from the US government development agency Overseas Private Investment Corp., US Eximbank, and through a syndicated loan arranged by Credit Suisse First Boston. The remaining 25 percent of the funding will be raised by attracting private equity investors and a new company, which will operate the pipeline on behalf of the shareholders in one year's time, said AMBO President Ted Ferguson. Oil giants operating in the Caspian region like ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, and BP, have long sought alternative routes to the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. The pipeline was first discussed in 1994, but was delayed due to a lack of political backing by the countries involved. The construction of the pipeline, expected to start in a year, will not preclude another pipeline to carry Russian oil from Burgas to the northeastern Greek port of Alexandroupolis which is now under discussion. "We all know that Bosporus will sooner or later reach a point of saturation, so any bypass will be welcome," Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg said. That pipeline, a 256-kilometer route with capacity of 700,000 bpd, should be built and run jointly by Bulgaria, Russia, and Greece, but so far the three countries have failed to reach agreement on how to structure the 700 million euro ($954.7 million) project. 3) Greece No Longer Considered Top Threat to Turkey Diaspora population considered fundamental problem with Armenians ANKARA--According to Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper, a secret National Security Council memo cites that Greece no longer poses the top security concern to Turkey. Iran has instead moved into that position with its powerful Shahab-3 ballistic missile that reportedly has a range between 1,300 and 1,500 kilometers. The change, according to the document that addresses Turkey's security matters, is based on recent political analyses and reviews, and incidentally results in Greece's removal from that top position it has held for the past 82 years; the document, nevertheless, maintains that "there exists the probability of conflict with Greece." On Armenia, Turkish National Security Council experts agree that, in fact, there exist no fundamental issues with the neighboring country, but that the problem lies with its diaspora Armenians. According the Turks, the borders with Armenia remain closed because of Armenia's policy on Azerbaijan. The memo stresses the necessity to not only strengthen ties with Russia, but also step-up its influence on developing countries so as not to see a continuation of the discord that was created in the past with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The Hurriyet article points out that there is not mention of Turkish religious minorities or sects in the memo. 4) Possible EU Conditions on Turkey Ruffles Azeris According to the Turkish Zaman newspaper, talk of a possible opening of Turkey's border with Armenia--in the wake of the European Union's (EU) decision to begin accession talks with Turkey--has become a big issue in Azerbaijan. While a public opinion poll reveals that the majority of Azeris oppose any concession by Turkey on the issue, politicians have also been vocal. "As long as Armenians do not withdraw from Azerbaijani territories, the Turkey-Armenian borders should not be opened," said a spokesman for Azerbaijan's parliament Murtiz Alesgerov, adding that if negotiations do not resolve the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, then Azeris would regain their territory through military means. Addressing the border issue, Azeri parliament president Aleskerov told a group of Turkish journalists, "Armenians are Armenians and the enemy is the enemy; there can't be anything else...If Armenians do not withdraw from the occupied territories, Turkey will not open the borders towards that country. This issue shapes Turkey's main policy. Turkey will be loyal to this issue." 5) 2004 HyeRock LA Festival to Feature Charity Concert Artists for Kids Foundation Gathers Hot Local Bands for December 30 Benefit By Jenny Kiljian After more than ten years of working together in an unofficial capacity, a dynamic team of visual and musical artists decided to form a non-profit organization in order to better serve the international Armenian artistic community, and children who have an interest or talent in the arts. The Artists for Kids Foundation began with the collective vision of architect Aram Alajajian, graphic designer and publisher Tom Hovespian, and musician Arthur Meschian. Together with their families and friends, the group had organized and sponsored many notable art exhibits and concerts, including a sold-out performance by Rupen Hakhverdian at the Beyond the Stars Palace in Glendale, California. By early 2004, the organizing committee had grown to include Gohar Karahagopian, Hagop Parseghian, Harry Vorperian, Anna Hovsepian, Nvart Alajajian, Anjik Parseghian, Marina Hakopyan, Sahag Ekshian, and Jirayr Habeshian. According to its mission statement, the Artists for Kids Foundation was created to build a cultural bridge between living generations by introducing the public to exceptional artists in music and fine arts. Those involved with the Artists for Kids Foundation believe that through the preservation and promotion of artistic values, a kinder society will be fostered. It's with this goal in mind that the Artists for Kids Foundation is hosting the 2004 Annual HyeRock Festival, taking place on December 30 at the Henry Fonda Music Box Theater in Hollywood. Organizers tapped In Progress. . . , Red Snow, Aviatic, the Gor Band, and Non-Eye, to take center stage that night. Each band caters to different age groups and musical inclinations. Jirayr Habeshian, charged with producing the concert, forecasts a monumental evening of music. "We're bringing some of today's youth to the concert and having them see first-hand both the up-and-coming performers and the more veteran rock musicians with Armenian backgrounds," he said. Habeshian, formerly the drummer of Red Snow, and currently working with the Gor Band, says it was an organization such as the Artists for Kids Foundation that was missing in his development as an artist. "I think the only thing lacking for me, growing up as a rock musician was support. Within the Armenan community, in general, there's been a narrow vision of what the culture is in respect to the arts, and I feel it's much more broad," said Habeshian, a real estate agent, who has been involved in Homenetmen and Pyunic. "We have a lot of talented artists in all genres--music, scultpure, painting, the motion picture industry, architecture--yet only a handful of Armenians know of the existence of these people." The 2004 HyeRock Festival, according to Habeshian, is intended to introduce the younger generations to the Artists for Kids Foundation and "to let them know that alongside some of the existing organizations, there's one with the specific mission statement for youth who want to pursue the arts." 2005 will also be a busy year for the Artists for Kids Foundation. Slated for February is "Free Concert for Kids," a two-night event featuring Rupen Hakhverdian, which will coincide with the release of the renowned musician's new children's album. A concert similar to the HyeRock Festival will take place in Armenia during the summer. The organization also promises assorted smaller concerts throughout the year and, of course, the Annual HyeRock Festival. HyeRock Festival 2004 at Henry Fonda Music Box Theater in Hollywood December 30--7 p.m. To reserve tickets call 818-523-9995 or 818-240-1515. Featured Bands: NON-EYE Non-Eye was formed in mid-2004, with Hayk on vocals and guitar, Chris on drums, and Narek on bass. The influence of the Armenian culture is apparent in Non-Eye's music, and the band cites Aram Khachaturian as one of its influences along with System Of A Down, TOOL, and Rush. "This is a great opportunity given to us by the Artists for Kids Foundation, for our music to be heard on a greater stage so early in our development," said Hayk. "We hope to bring our music to a more diverse audience and continue our progress as band." IN PROGRESS. . . In Progress. . . has been working together since 2002. The acoustic folk rock band comprises Mher Ajamian on percussion, Ara Dabandjian on lead guitar and keyboards, Shant Mahserejian on violin, and Jeremy Millado on bass, while Saro Koujakian (rythm guitar) and Gars Sherbejian share vocal duties. "We feel honored to be a part of this show, as it will feature some of the best local Armenian bands and we're ecstatic to be considered in such talented company," said Mher Ajamian. "We're also very excited about the variety of musical styles that will be on display. It's for a great cause and produced by a first-class organization." THE GOR BAND This is Gor Mkhitarian's second collaboration with the Artists for Kids Foundation. Mkhitarian will be performing with his new band, which is Ara Dabanjian on accordion, Vahe Terteryan on bass, and Jirayr Habeshian on drums. Also with the Gor Band at the HyeRock Festival will be Jay Dean on guitar. "It's very exciting, but difficult at the same time because ours is the only [Armenian] folk band. We're not sure how that contrast will play out," says Mkhitarian. "No matter what, we're glad to be doing something for the kids." AVIATIC When their former bands parted ways, the members of Aviatic saw a tremendous opportunity ahead of them. The band, with Sebu Simonian on vocals and keyboards, Barrett Yeretsian on drums, Ryan Welker on guitars, and Clint Feddersen on bass, has been working diligently to produce its first album. "We're very excited to play the HyeRock Festival and encouraged by any effort to promote rock music in the local community, especially when there's a such a good cause attached to it," says Simonian. "We're looking forward to taking the stage at the glorious Henry Fonda Theater. It's a beautiful piece of architecture in the heart of historic Hollywood, and boasts one of the best sound systems in all of Southern California. I can't wait to blast our music through it." RED SNOW The intensity of Red Snow's performances has been creating a flurry in the Los Angeles music scene. The band, which recently released its album Showtime Motel, is LaLa Avedis on vocals, Vahe Marzbetuny on guitars, Shant Sarkissian on drums, Jack Kurdian on keyboards, and Zareh Marzbetuny on bass. "We would like to express our gratitude for the opportunity to participate in such a worthwhile event. An event like this is a dream come true, and will showcase the talents of Armenian rock," said Vahe Marzbetuny. "We're confident we can motivate the youth to embrace rock music and support such a worthy cause such as the Artists for Kids Foundation. We're looking forward to seeing all our fellow Hye brothers and sisters at the show." All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iran’s defence minister felicitates counterparts on Christmas, “peace
harbinger”
IRNA web site
28 Dec 04
Tehran, 28 December: Defence Minister Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani sent
a message to his counterparts on Tuesday [28 December] felicitating
them on the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ and the coming new year
– 2005.
In his message, Shamkhani said that Jesus Christ was the harbinger of
peace, justice and freedom.
He was optimistic that peace and security would be established in the
world and bilateral ties with other countries would be bolstered with
the guidelines of the prophets.
Shamkhani’s message was sent to the defence ministers of Russia,
Ukraine, Spain, France, Italy, Brazil, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Cuba,
Venezuela, Armenia, South Africa, North Korea, Nigeria, India,
Kazakhstan, South Korea, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Zimbabwe.

Putin praises relations with Armenia
ITAR-TASS News Agency
December 23, 2004 Thursday
MOSCOW, December 23 — Russian President Vladimir Putin said
“Armenia for us is a strategic partner,” in some spheres of bilateral
cooperation “we have advanced so far as we have not advanced with
our other colleagues.”
Putin, who was speaking at a news conference in the Kremlin on
Thursday, said he was hoping for further development of relations
with that country along similar lines.
“I have already recalled that we have a rather large military base
in Armenia; it functions successfully, hopefully, cooperation in this
field will be developing,” Putin said.
Russia would like to have such relations developing with all the
parties within the scope of the Collective Security Treaty, as well
as more signatories to this accord, including among the countries of
the Caucasus, he added.
“With joint work at one table at such organizations, there could
be more points of contact between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as would
between our other partners and colleagues,” Putin said.
“I repeat, our relations with Armenia are at a very high level, and
we’ll be striving to ensure their further development,” the Russian
president said.

PROVISIONS OF AGREEMENT FOR MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND POLAND
MEET CONSTITUTION OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23. ARMINFO. The provisions of the Agreement on
military cooperation between Armenia and Poland meet the Constitution
of Armenia. Constitutional Court of Armenia made a decision Thursday.
Secretary of Council of national security attached to the president
of Armenia, Defence Minister Serge Sargsian, who was representing
the interests of the president in the sitting hall, said that the
document was signed on Sept 6, 2004 in Warsaw. The agreement is
the first document on development of Armenian-Polish cooperation in
the sphere of defence. According to the document, the cooperation
between Armenia and Poland may develop in the sphere of exchange
of experience, the participation in NATO’s program “Partnership for
Peace”, joint implementation of peacekeeping and humanitarian actions
within the framework of international organizations, fight against
terrorism. The cooperation will also be implemented by joint contacts,
military-political consultations and meetings between the ministers
of defence, commanders of General Headquarters and other high-ranking
military officials, Serge Sargsian informed.
For the document’s coming into force it must be ratified by National
Assembly of Armenia.

CLASSES OVER
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
23 Dec 04
This year winter holidays in secondary schools started earlier. Classes
were stopped because of influenza currently spread in the republic. The
head of the education department of the City Hall of Stepanakert Karlen
Margarian informed that the winter vacation will last till January
10. According to him, this is not because of the frost as the schools
of the capital are heated normally. The central heating of the schools
of the capital was stopped, and after the vacation the schools will
have central heating till March 15. According to the director of the
“Central Heating” (“Jermayin Tntesutyun”) State CJSC Armen Shabanian,
central heating at schools will be provided longer except for the
school of physics and mathematics where classes are not over yet.
LAURA GRIGORIAN.
23-12-2004

BONINO: TURCHIA, PAURE INFONDATE E’ UNA GRANDE OCCASIONE ;
INTERVISTA ALLA STAMPA
ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
December 20, 2004
ROMA
(ANSA) – ROMA, 20 DIC – “Io dico che e’ interesse
dell’Europa che la Turchia entri nell’Unione”, sostiene
nell’intervista rilasciata alla STAMPA Emma Bonino,
europarlamentare radicale ed ex commissaria europea.
“Cosi’ come non si sono volute dire parole chiare
sull’immigrazione, nessun leader politico italiano spiega cos’e
in ballo per l’Europa con l’allargamento alla Turchia. Perche
si tratta di temi a rischio elettorale. Ma cosi’, vince sempre
chi fa leva sulla paura. Basti vedere come si e’ comportato a
Bruxelles un pezzo della Margherita, votando gli emendamenti a
favore di una partnership speciale con Ankara”.
“In Turchia gira una barzelletta. Per entrare in Europa, si
deve superare un test: alla Romania chiedono qual e’ la capitale
della Francia, all’Ungheria se la Gran Bretagna sia un’isola.
Alla Turchia, di elencare tutti i morti di Hiroshima. (…)
L’identita’ europea – argomenta Emma Bonino – non sta nelle sue
radici. E’ piuttosto memoria di quello che siamo stati, e la
nostra e’ una memoria di guerre terribili, di crociate e
inquisizione, e assieme quello che siamo divenuti. L’identita
europea, oggi, e’ nelle istituzioni, nello stato di diritto,
nelle pre-condizioni dello sviluppo e del benessere. L’Europa
oggi e’ soluzione dei conflitti, come per i padri fondatori e
stata superamento dei nazionalismi. E’ evidente che anche la
Turchia dovra’ fare i conti con la sua storia, col genocidio
degli armeni: hanno gia’ cominciato, aprendo i loro archivi
storici. E gli armeni che vivono in Turchia, oltre quelli della
diaspora, dicono che il loro futuro e’ in Europa”.
“Oggi viviamo in un mondo che non e’ piu’ quello in cui
l’Unione europea e’ nata. E mentre cerchiamo di governare le
sfide attuali, e’ nel nostro interesse che la Turchia sia nel
mondo occidentale. Perche oggi il grande scontro non e’ piu
tra democrazia e comunismo, ma tra democrazia e regimi
oscurantisti, totalitari, fanatici. Molti sono proprio in Medio
Oriente. Poi abbiamo anche capito, oggi, che il terrorismo, il
fondamentalismo, le dittature teocratiche non si sconfiggono
solo con le armi, ma anche con l’isolamento politico. E dunque
sostenendo la democrazia ovunque si manifesta. La Turchia e
gia’ parte della Nato, del Consiglio d’Europa, dell’Osce.
Dobbiamo lavorare perche sia parte dell’Unione europea: e’ solo
un Paese musulmano membro a pieno titolo che puo’ aiutare
l’Europa ad avere un dialogo piu’ rigoroso, serio e fruttuoso”.
“Bossi dice che (tra dieci anni) ci saranno ottanta milioni
di turchi che vorranno tutti venire in Italia. Beh, io credo che
se l’economia turca continua a tirare come tira, sara’ piuttosto
vero l’opposto. Questo allargamento non sara’ come gli altri,
per dirla con le parole di Buttiglione sulla Stampa di ieri, ma
gli argomenti sono proprio gli stessi che si usarono quando si
tratto’ di aprire alla Spagna. Le risulta che siamo stati invasi
dagli immigrati spagnoli?”, conclude Emma Bonino. (ANSA).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turquie: Michel Barnier invoque «sa loyauté» à Jacques Chirac
Edicom, Suisse
20 décembre 2004
PARIS (AP) – Le ministre des Affaires étrangères Michel Barnier a
exprimé lundi sa «loyauté» à Jacques Chirac sur l’adhésion de la
Turquie face à la position du président de l’UMP.
Nicolas Sarkozy, favorable à un partenariat privilégié avec Ankara,
«exprime avec ses mots et comme il l’entend son sentiment, sa
conviction. Ma conviction correspond à ma loyauté», a lancé sur RTL
Michel Barnier. «Je suis fier, pas seulement comme ministre mais
aussi comme militant de l’UMP et d’abord comme citoyen, de travailler
aux côtés d’un homme, Jacques Chirac».
Ce dernier «a cette vision et a le courage politique d’exprimer,
comme c’est son rôle, la parole de la France, une parole qui
s’inscrit dans une longue histoire celle qui a commencé en 1963», a
rappelé le chef de la diplomatie française. Cette parole «a commencé
par une autre parole que je rappelle à toutes fins utiles à mes
compagnons et amis de l’UMP, celle du général de Gaulle» qui »disait
qu’il y avait une vocation, une perspective européenne pour la
Turquie».
Pour Michel Barnier, «l’adhésion de la Turquie n’est pas pour demain
ni après-demain matin». «Il ne s’agit aujourd’hui que d’engager des
négociations d’adhésion qui vont être très longues et très
difficiles, durant lesquelles nous poserons toutes les questions, y
compris celle du génocide arménien», a-t-il assuré.
»Nous avons le temps de réfléchir à cette question puisqu’elle sera
tranchée dans 10 à 15 ans, par le peuple français», a souligné le
ministre des Affaires étrangères. «Ce parcours est ouvert, sa
conclusion n’est pas écrite d’avance. Il n’y aura pas de
complaisance, pas de raccourcis».
Interrogé sur le rôle des députés, Michel Barnier «souhaite un débat
permanent» même si «c’est le gouvernement qui négocie un futur
traité». «Il faut respecter les institutions de notre République».
»Il y aura des débats et le Parlement s’exprimera», a conclu le
ministre des Affaires étrangères à la veille d’une discussion
parlementaire sur le sujet.
–Boundary_(ID_TRtozSVe4Z2D2Vzbt62g5g)–

With million refugees worldwide threatened by hunger, UN appeals for urgent aid
UN News Centre
Dec 21 2004
21 December 2004 – With more than a million refugees worldwide
threatened with hunger and malnutrition in the New Year due to
food shortages, the United Nations today launched an urgent appeal
for international aid, especially for Africa where some woman have
resorted to prostitution to feed their children.
Several hundred thousand refugees are already struggling to survive
on drastically reduced food rations, the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) said.
“In this holiday season, we want to draw attention to their plight,
which will only worsen unless the [UN] World Food Programme (WFP),
UNHCR’s partner agency, urgently receives the funding it is seeking,”
agency spokesman Ron Redmond told a news briefing in Geneva. “We
urgently appeal to donor countries worldwide to come to their help
by generously supporting WFP’s appeals.”
He voiced particular concern over Africa. In Zambia, distribution of
lentils and cereals, two essential food products, has been halved
in the past two months. Overall food rations will soon have to be
cut by half, putting 87,000 of Zambia’s 191,000 refugees at risk
of malnutrition.
“Already, we are hearing reports of refugee women resorting to
prostitution to support themselves and their children,” Mr. Redmond
said. Field offices also report there has been a marked increase in
children dropping out of school, presumably to help their families
find food.
In Tanzania, daily rations of lentils and of maize, the most important
staple in the refugees’ diet, were reduced by 25 per cent in 13 camps
in October. A joint UNHCR-WFP mission in November found that the rate
of malnutrition among some 400,000 Burundian and Congolese refugees
in Tanzanian camps is on the rise.
Malnutrition also threatens some 118,000 refugees in Ethiopia, and
another 224,000 in Kenya. Both countries face imminent cuts unless
there are immediate donations of cash or food commodities. In the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), WFP says it will need to
make 30 per cent cuts in food rations from January, with adverse
consequences for thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs)
and refugees.
Africa is not the only continent facing a breakdown in the food
pipeline. IDPs in Azerbaijan face a complete cut in food aid in
the New Year. Rations for 140,000 Azerbaijanis displaced by the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia more than a decade ago were
halved last month, but food stocks are so low that more drastic
measures will be needed soon.
And the WFP yesterday launched a $1.2 million appeal to cover the
immediate needs of 350,000 IDPs in Colombia, civilian victims of
decades of military strife. To date, the agency’s current 18-month
relief operation, which started in October 2003, has received $14.3
million and needs the additional funds to tide it over through March.
In a related development the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
and the European Commission today announced a new €15 million (euro)
partnership programme to improve the ability of decision makers to
target food insecure and vulnerable people and take effective action
to reduce hunger.
The three-year project covers 20 countries representing three very
different food insecurity situations. Some, such as Eritrea and
the DRC, are in the grip of protracted crisis or conflict. Others,
such as Laos and Malawi, suffer chronic, structural food insecurity,
while the third group, such as Tajikistan and Georgia, are making the
difficult transition from a centrally planned to a free market economy.
–Boundary_(ID_54H6lWJPPORs4qm+qCIR1w)–