Author: Kalashian Nyrie

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 17, 2004, Friday

RUSSIAN AIR FORCE WILL RUN SEVERAL EXERCISES IN 2005, SOME OF THEM
TOGETHER WITH CIS PARTNERS

Colonel General Boris Chelsov, Air Force Chief-of-Staff, says that
several exercises, some of them together with CIS partners, will be
run in 2005. Units of all branches of the service will be involved in
the maneuvers. Exercises within the framework of the CIS United
Antiaircraft Defense System and a counter-terrorism drill are planned
as well.

Foreign reconnaissance planes patrol Russian borders, and the Russian
Air Force is supposed “to prevent trespassing”. “It has everything it
needs to accomplish that,” Chelsov said.

Lieutenant General Aitech Bizhev, Air Force Second-in-Command for the
CIS United Antiaircraft Defense System, says that Exercise
Rubezh-2005 will be run on the territory of Tajikistan in April 2005.
Another exercise at Ashuluk testing site near Astrakhan will take
place in August. Units from the Russian, Armenian, Belarusian,
Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tajik national armies will participate in the
exercise. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan may join the exercise too, and
Ukraine will send its observers.

Source: Voyenno-Promyshlenny Kurier, No 49, December 15 – 21, 2004,
p. 5

Translated by A. Ignatkin

Anadolu Agency
Dec 17 2004

Erdogan: Maybe We Can Go To Northern Cyprus One Day, And Invite
Papadopoulos

BRUSSELS (AA) – ”Maybe we can go to Northern Cyprus one day, and
invite (Greek Cypriot leader Tassos) Papadopoulos. We can have a
coffee of peace and meal of peace there,” Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
Erdogan, who chatted with representatives of Turkish newspapers
and television channels in Belgian capital of Brussels, said heads of
state and government of European Union (EU) member states had started
to arrive in Brussels.
PM Erdogan said, ”we won’t attend the summit today. 25 member
countries will hold the summit among themselves, and they will have
dinner this evening.”
Noting that some topics would start to be clarified during the
dinner, Erdogan said that deliberations would continue all night.

-ERDOGAN’S MEETINGS WITH LEADERS-

Erdogan said that most of the EU leaders had a positive approach
towards Turkey’s sensitivities, but all matters had not been settled
yet.
”Not only our friends at the Foreign Ministry, but also Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul continue their deliberations on these unsettled
matters with the foreign ministers and prime ministers (of EU member
states). We will meet some prime ministers and heads of state today.
We also get appointment from some others (some other officials). We
will meet Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt some time later, and
have luncheon. He had a luncheon with (French President Jacques)
Chirac yesterday, and we gave them some topics. I met him here last
week. Also, Abdullah Gul met Verhofstadt. We conveyed our demands to
him in written,” Erdogan said.
Noting that he would also meet his Greek counterpart Costas
Caramanlis later today, Erdogan said he talked to Caramanlis by phone
last night (Wednesday night), and noted that Caramanlis suggested
that they should meet after luncheon.
Erdogan stated that he would meet German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder before dinner, and efforts were under way to also meet
Chirac before dinner.
PM Erdogan said that he would also meet British Prime Minister
Tony Blair and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, and stated
that Blair was one of the leaders who could understand Turkey’s
sensitivities.

-THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY ELASTICITY, EVERYTHING SHOULD BE CLEAR-

Pointing out that British Secretary of Foreign & Commonwealth
Affairs Jack Straw had asked to meet him, Erdogan said that Cyprus,
permanent derogation, and how ”open-ended negotiations” were
defined were Turkey’s sensitivities.
”There should not be elasticity, everything should be clear,”
he said.
Erdogan stated that the decision to open full membership
negotiations with Turkey should not be left to a second meeting, and
some other conditions except Copenhagen political criteria, like
Cyprus and border issues, should not be imposed before Turkey’s
membership.
PM Erdogan recalled that he briefed ambassadors of EU member
states on all those matters during their meeting in Ankara, and asked
the ambassadors to inform their leaders about those issues.
”I think developments regarding Cyprus issue can become clear
after my meeting with Caramanlis,” Erdogan said.
Answering a question, Erdogan said that the EU did not exert any
efforts to end isolation of Turkish Cypriots, and noted that Turkey
will assume a positive approach if the United Nations (UN) launches
initiatives to solve the Cyprus problem.
Erdogan went on saying, ”I should frankly say that, maybe we
can go to Northern Cyprus one day, and invite Papadopoulos. We can
have a coffee of peace and meal of peace there. Because, our motto is
to gain friends, not enemies. But, we should also see the same
approach from the other side. We will do anything if we see the same
approach. Progress we have made with the countries in the west,
north, south and east of Turkey, with which we didn’t have contacts
in the past, is a clear evidence of this. And, the progress we have
made with Greece is another open evidence. South Cyprus gained what
it expected on May 1st.”

-WE CAN DO WHAT NORWAY DID-

Noting that negotiations could be cut when the process
continued, Erdogan said, ”if we see that progress we want can’t be
made and if we think they are playing with time, we will stand on our
feet and do what Norway did; that is, we can quit. What we want is to
walk on this road without any discrimination. It seems that there is
one-sided approach here; that is, they say that Turkey will make EU
pay a big price when it joins the Union. Nobody is talking about
possible contributions Turkey will make. Turkey is already
contributing to the Union. Turkey is closing a serious foreign trade
deficit of EU.”
PM Erdogan stated that Turkey would continue to do what was
necessary till it became a full member.

-”ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”-

Answering a question on so-called Armenian genocide, Erdogan
said that he did not see any difference between the expressions
”Armenian genocide” and ”the so-called Armenian genocide”, and
both were expressions which can be maneuvered. Erdogan said that what
happened in the past should be left in the past, and added, ”history
should not incite our hatred. If we are to build a new world, we
should settle this world on peace. This is our main understanding.”

PRESENTATION OF “FATAL TOYS” VIDEO FILM TAKES PLACE IN ETCHMIADZIN

ETCHMIADZIN, December 15 (Noyan Tapan). The “Fatal Toys” video
film was presented in the patriarchate of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin. The film is dedicated to the children who became disabled
because of the mines and other uncontrolled ammunition left after
the war in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and border regions. About 10
children tell what happened to them and speak about their problems in
the 30-minute film. Photographer German Avagian’s works, photographs
and stories of disabled children put down by him were used in the film.

“The war is still going on in Nagorno Karabakh, occupied territories
and other border regions of Armenia,” Tigran Paskevichian, Director
of Shoghakat TV company, the author of the film, said in his opening
speech. He also said that they intend to publish a book representing
the stories of these children and showing the arms crippling them
with their characteristics.

Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II was also present at the
presentation. In his speech he praised the film and thanked its
producers.

The film was produced by the Shoghakat TV company with the grant of
the Internews NGO.

USA plans to provide equal aid package to Azerbaijan, Armenia

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 16 2004

The US Congress intends to provide equal assistance to Azerbaijan and
Armenia next year, the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish told
AssA-Irada on Wednesday.

The aid, to be allocated by foreign institutions, is a part of the
assistance rendered to Azerbaijan in the area of security and fighting
global terrorism, the ambassador noted.

Harnish also underlined that the United States earlier assisted
Azerbaijan in implementing programs concerning the country’s southern
borders and training of peacekeepers.

“We highly appreciate cooperation with Azerbaijan in the area of
security and fighting global terror,” said Harnish, adding that the
US administration plans to continue collaboration in this area in
the future.*

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Dec 15 2004

Ardebil governor meets Armenian officials

TEHRAN (MNA) – Heading an industrial, economic delegation, Ardebil
governor, Javad Negarandeh paid a four-day visit to Yerevan, capital
of Armenia.

In his meeting with Armenian Minister of Agriculture Tavit Lokian,
Negarandeh underlined the establishment of joint workgroups in both
countries, especially for boosting economic and trade relations. The
two sides had met each other this summer in Ardebil. On his part,
Lokian stated that a large exchange market could be established on
the borderline of Armenian Syunic Province and Ardebil Province.

Bahrain Tribune, Bahrain
Dec 14 2004

EU ministers fail to settle Turkish entry details

Brussels: European Union foreign ministers yesterday failed to settle
key details of Turkey’s drive to join the 25-nation bloc, leaving EU
leaders at a summit on December 16 and 17 to decide the date for
opening the talks – and set new conditions for Turkish accession.
The 25 foreign ministers continued to differ on a range of important
issues, including the critical question of whether leaders should
make a reference to a so-called `plan B’ of offering Turkey a special
partnership instead of membership.
Germany remains adamant that the goal is to ensure Turkish accession
to the bloc, not forge special ties with Ankara, German Foreign
Minister Joschka Fischer said.
`There was no discussion of a privileged partnership with Turkey,’
Fischer said.
Conservative politicians in Germany and France have stepped up
demands that EU leaders must offer Ankara a special relationship
rather than full-fledged entry.
But rejecting such a half-measure, Fischer insisted: `Our aim must be
Turkish accession.’ French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, however,
said Paris wanted the summit statement to include a reference to a
fall-back plan.
If negotiations with Turkey failed, EU leaders should make clear that
they were ready to preserve `strong links’ between Turkey and the EU,
Barnier said.
Reflecting a more cautious stance on Turkey being adopted by French
President Jacques Chirac, Barnier insisted that an EU decision to
open negotiations with Turkey did not guarantee that Ankara would
eventually join the bloc.
`Negotiations will be long, difficult and transparent…there will be
no shortcuts,’ he warned.
Negotiations should only open in end-2005, the French Foreign
Minister said, adding that discussions would be subject to constant
monitoring and could be suspended at any time by either side.
France does not want its referendum on the new EU constitution set
for next summer to be complicated by public opposition to Turkish
accession. Barnier cautioned that the question of Turkey’s entry was
a source of great anxiety and unease in many parts of France.
The EU summit is expected to set additional conditions for Turkey,
including demands that Ankara must recognise the government of
(Greek) Cyprus and accept a permanent cap on labour migration.
Barnier said France would also ask Ankara during the negotiations to
recognise the `tragedy’ of the Armenian genocide in the early years
of the last century.
Pointing to the geo-strategic importance of allowing Turkey to join
the EU, Fischer said this was a guarantee for the modernisation and
`Europeanisation’ of the country.
He added that a summit statement on just how and when Turkey must
recognise (Greek) Cyprus was still being worked out by the current
Dutch presidency of the EU.
In separate comments made in Berlin, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter
Balkenende said Turkey must recognise Cyprus in the run-up to this
week’s EU summit.
`Turkey must understand that all member states say relations between
Turkey and Cyprus should change in the future,’ said Balkenende,
after talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
The Turkish government has declined to give diplomatic recognition to
Cyprus which joined the EU earlier this year. Ankara only recognizes
the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Greek Cyprus is now part of the EU while Turkish Cyprus is not.
Balkenende said Turkey should approve a protocol extending its EU
customs union to Cyprus.
Meanwhile, an opinion poll published in France’s Le Figaro newspaper,
said two of three French respondents and 55 per cent of Germans were
opposed to Ankara becoming an E.U. member.
On the other hand, people in Italy (49 per cent for, 24 per cent
against), Britain (41 per cent for, 30 per cent against) and
especially Spain (65 per cent for) said they were in favour of
Turkish EU membership.

Childish disease of political field

Yerkir/arm
December 10, 2004

It is natural and justified, when political initiatives, steps and
processes turn into subject of active discussions. However, it is not
natural, when political activities are discussed on non-political
plains.

And it is even more unnatural, when non-political comments possess
childish coloration. Probably, certain people think politics is a game
like hide-and-seek or other.

And they view political steps not as successful-unsuccessful,
important-unimportant, effective-ineffective but in a format of
`winners-losers.’ When political tensions verged a clash this spring,
but had a narrow escape, some politicians considered it a loss of one
of the parties, instead of realizing that everybody won by escaping
the clash. And now that the Electoral Code is being discussed on the
issue of proportional and majoritarian balance, these politicians
think of it in `loser-winner’ format.

Some of those who consider themselves losers take an offended
position, others oppose in indignation without understanding the
illogical nature of their steps. This works out like a spoilt
telephone damaging any constructive process.

After all, if someone accidentally finds himself in politics, he must
understand that the logic must be fitted to political norms and rules
but not to their preferences.

The Times (London)
December 10, 2004, Friday

EU rules out Ukraine entry

by Anthony Browne Brussels Correspondent

HUNDREDS of thousands of Ukrainians have braved the snows of Kiev for
two weeks to demand their right to join the West. But their country
faces a certain rebuff by the European Union.

Viktor Yushchenko, the pro-Western presidential candidate, said in an
American newspaper interview yesterday that EU membership would be
his top priority if he were elected on December 26.

In Brussels, however, the European Commission said: “Our position has
not changed.

Membership is not on the agenda.” Instead, the commission announced a
partnership plan for greater co-operation with Ukraine to boost ties
with its closest neighbours once it holds free and fair elections.

Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, who takes up the
EU’s rotating presidency next month, said: “I can only warn against
offering Ukraine the prospect of full membership. We need a special
relationship with Ukraine that does justice to its strategic
importance.”

Ukraine’s possible membership is an acutely awkward subject for
European leaders.

“We just try to avoid the question when asked. The fact that Ukraine
never applied has made the decision easier but now it is far more
difficult,” said an EU diplomat. Although keen to support democracy
in the largest country wholly in Europe, EU leaders are concerned
that the bloc’s inability to say no to potential members means that
it is growing too big to control.

The EU has just expanded to 25 members by accepting ten mainly poor
Eastern European countries, among them Poland and Hungary. Bulgaria
and Romania are joining in 2007, and Turkey, almost entirely in Asia,
is already on track to become the biggest, and poorest, member in
about another ten years. The Balkan states, such as Croatia and
Macedonia, have also been accepted as potential members.

Many politicians fear that the EU simply will not be able to cope
with another country as poor, large and chaotic as Ukraine. Allowing
Ukraine in would also open the door for other countries such as
Belarus, Moldova, Georgia (which recently said that it wanted to
join), Azerbaijan and Armenia, bringing the total to nearly 40
countries.

To control its expansion, the EU set an arbitrary official limit that
its eastern border would be the western border of the former USSR,
with the exception of the three Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania
and Estonia. Romano Prodi, the former President of the European
Commission, said that Ukraine was as likely as New Zealand to become
a member. But if Mr Yushchenko wins the election on December 26, the
EU will probably be faced with irresistible pressure to let Ukraine
join.

The new Eastern European states, three of which have a border with
Ukraine, are keen to curb instability on their doorstep by letting
Ukraine in. An East European diplomat said: “We should not cut it
off. People are asking, ‘If Turkey can join, why not Ukraine?’ It is
clearly much closer to Europe.”

The British Government, which has always been a strong supporter of
enlargement and is Turkey’s main backer, is noncommittal on Ukraine.
France, like Luxembourg, is strongly opposed, concerned that it will
just turn the EU into a simple free trade zone.

Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, said: “The
fact that Turkey is joining means it is only a matter of time before
Ukraine becomes a candidate.

“There is no good reason for it not to join. The (commission policy)
opposing Ukraine is simply not credible, and France will have to
follow the majority view on this.”

HOW UKRAINE MEASURES UP

The country’s GDP was £2,800 per capita in 2003, compared with an EU
average of £14,900

Average life expectancy is 68 (78 within the EU)

Ukraine has one of the world’s highest literacy rates: over 99.5 per
cent of the population over 15 rated as literate

Source: World Bank – World Development Indicators database

ARTSAKH PAYS TRIBUTE TO SPITAK EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

STEPANAKERT, December 7 (Noyan Tapan). On December 7, NKR President
Arkady Goukassian visited the Memorial complex in Stepanakert,
where he laid flowers to the monument to the 1988 Spitak earthquake
victims. According to the Head Information Department attached to
the NKR President, NKR NA Chairman Oleg Yesayan, NKR Prime Minister
Anushavan Danielian, members of the Security Council, the heads
of tbe ministries and departments, executives of the presidential
staff, the parliament and the NKR government, staffs of enterprises,
organizations, institutions and educational establishments of Nagorno
Karabakh also laid flowers.

Turkey’s first Armenian museum opens in Istanbul

Agence France Presse
Dec 6 2004

ISTANBUL, Dec 5 (AFP) – Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday
opened the first museum in Turkey dedicated to the country’s Armenian
minority, which he said would help dispel accusations that genocide
was committed against Armenians under Ottoman rule.

“This museum will throw light on history for current and future
generations,” Erdogan said at the opening ceremony of the museum
inside a 175-year-old Armenian hospital in Istanbul.

“Anyone who casts an eye on the pieces in this museum will get a
straight look at our common history,” he said.

Erdogan was referring to Armenian accusations that up to 1.5 million
of their kinsmen were massacred in orchestrated killings nine decades
ago under the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkey.

Turkey categorically rejects claims of genocide and says 300,000
Armenians and thousands of Turks were killed in civil strife as the
Ottoman Empire fell apart, with Armenian rebels siding with invading
Russian troops.

“Instead of allowing (museum) pieces such as this to throw light
on history, facts are being distorted through speculation and
disinformation,” Erdogan said.

The Turkish leader said Turks and Armenians had lived peacefully in
the region for centuries and pledged that his government would watch
over the rights of the Armenian minority.

“As the prime minister of this country, I deem it a duty to protect
the rights of these citizens along with others and to stand by them
in good times and bad”, Erdogan said.

Turkey, an aspiring candidate for membership of the European Union,
is under pressure from the 25-nation bloc to enable its recognized
minorities and the Kurds to fully exercise their rights.

Turkey, basing itself on the terms of the Lausanne Treaty of 1923,
recognizes only non-Muslim Turks — Armenians, Greeks and Jews —
as minorities, but not the more than 13 million Kurds living in
the southeast.