Author: Kanayan Tamar

OSCE PRESS FREEDOM WATCHDOG URGES FRENCH SENATE TO REJECT ARMENIA GENOCIDE BILL
Associated Press Worldstream
October 17, 2006 Tuesday 5:46 PM GMT
The press freedom watchdog at a key European security organization
on Tuesday urged the French Senate to reject a bill that would make
it a crime to deny that mass killings of Armenians in Turkey in the
World War I-era amounted to genocide, a statement said.
Miklos Haraszti, media freedom representative at the Vienna-based
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, made his plea in
a letter sent to Christian Poncelet, president of the French Senate,
according to the statement.
“I acknowledge the humanitarian intentions of those members of
the Assembly who support this proposal. However, the adoption of
the amendment raises serious concerns with regard to international
standards of freedom of expression,” Haraszti wrote.
The bill was approved by lawmakers in France’s lower house last week,
but still needs approval by the French Senate and President Jacques
Chirac to become law. Turkey has said the decision has badly damaged
relations with France.
“Both the fact of criminalization of statements, and the severity
of the sanctions would infringe upon editorial freedom in France,”
Haraszti wrote. “The adoption of the amendment by France, a nation
with a long-standing tradition of freedom of expression, could set
a dangerous precedent for other nations of the OSCE.”
The Armenia genocide issue has become intertwined with ongoing debate
in France and across Europe about whether to admit mostly Muslim Turkey
into the European Union. France is home to hundreds of thousands of
people whose families came from Armenia.

Armenian Prelacy Eastern USA
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 689-7810
Fax: (212) 689-7168
Press Release
For Immediate Release ~ October 17, 2006 – (212) 689-7810
A gathering with His Holiness Aram I, December 1-3 in Dearborn, MI
New York, NY – Young adults ages 18-30 should mark their calendars
for Armenian Church 2006: Your Church. Your Future. Engage. – an
unprecedented gathering with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia, scheduled to take place December 1-3 in
Dearborn, MI.
According to Program Committee co-chair Nayiri Baljian, the event is
intended to “provide an opportunity for American- and
Canadian-Armenians to learn about their heritage of faith and to
experience some of the best of what the Armenian Church has to
offer.” A variety of media, including live speakers, film, music,
and liturgy will attempt to answer the questions: Where have we come
from? Where are we going? How far can we go?
Armenian Church 2006 will begin with an optional Hrashapar Service,
Friday, December 1, 7:00 pm at St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn, MI. The
main program will begin on Saturday, December 2 at 3:00 pm and
conclude on Sunday, December 3 at 2:00 pm. The two-day gathering
will also feature a dinner with Vehapar and a concert by renowned
Christian vocalist Salpi Keleshian. Anyone who is interested may
attend a Hrashapar service on Friday evening currently scheduled for
7:00 pm at St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Dearborn, MI.
Armenian Church 2006 will take place at the Hyatt Regency in
Detroit. Aram Hovagimian said on behalf of the Steering Committee,
“We encourage participants to sign up early and make their travel
arrangements soon.” A special hotel rate of $99 per night has been
negotiated. A $40 registration fee will include dinner on Saturday
evening and lunch on Sunday afternoon. Further details about the
program as well as a registration form are available at
Armenian Church 2006 is being sponsored by the Prelacies of the
Eastern and Western United States and the Prelacy of Canada.

TURKISH SUPERMARKET CHAINS BOYCOTT FRENCH GOODS
FreshPlaza, Netherlands
Oct 17 2006
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan declared that he did not support
any boycott against the French goods, yet some Turkish supermarket
chains started economic boycott against the French goods.
The passing of the controversial Armenian genocide denial bill in the
French parliament has prompted strong reactions in Turkish business
circles. Kiler and Afra, two big Turkish market chains, yesterday
declared that they will never sell French goods. Many French products
were removed from these market shelves.
Carrefour, French-Turkish market company, has also been one of the
boycott targets after the French Armenian bill. The number of customers
visited Carrefour has radically decreased in last two days.
The parking areas of the market mostly empty yesterday.
Some of the Turkish political parties list the names of the
French products not to buy. Turkish Labour Party (Isci Partisi),
leftist-nationalist, called all Turks inside and abroad not to buy
French goods and services.
Some of the Turkish citizens, who were in holiday in Paris, cut short
their holidays to protest France’s attitude in Armenian issue. Gulben
Ergen, Turkish famous singer, was one of these protesters. Ergen
arrived Istanbul yesterday and said that the reason is the French
Armenian bill. Many more Turkish tourists postponed their France
visits.

ARMENIA NOT IN DANGER OF FINANCIAL COLLAPSE
Panorama.am
19:52 16/10/06
Financial collapse may happen in Armenia only if the national currency
is fixed, Tigran Sargsyan, head of Central bank, told a parliament
hearing today referring to the example of Latin America.
In his words, the national currency was fixed in these countries
under the conditions of liberal economy.
“Power authorities did not allow the market to formulate the exchange
rate and that brought to financial collapse in those country,”
Sargsyan said.
After studying this experience, the Armenia authorities decided that
fixing currency exchange is not preferable for Armenia. “That is
why we are conducting a policy of freely floating exchange rate,”
Sargsyan mentioned.

CE COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERS FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA AS POSSIBILITY TO CONTINUE DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENTS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On October 14,
RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian received Council of
Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Tommas Hammarberg.
According to the report submitted to Noyan Tapan from RA NA Public
Relations Department, NA Speaker informed the guest about the
parliament’s work. It was mentioned that the reforms of the Electoral
Code will be completed by the end of the year, which will become a
good legislative basis for holding the forthcoming state elections
in accordance with democratic standards. In this respect tolerance
of political forces towards one another and their cooperation was
mentioned as especially important, as the elections are not only a
way of forming the power, but also are an indicator of the state of
democracy and a possibility of its further deepening.
In addition to another issues, the meeting participants also touched
upon the possibilities for human rights protection, reforms in court
and legal and local self-government systems, creation of reserving
mechanisms and counter-balances among state government wings created
as a result of the constitutional reform.
The sides mutually attached importance to reforms in the court and
legal system in the respect of weakening of political influence and
prevention of corruption.
Touching upon the forthcoming elections, Mr Hammarberg considered
them as a possibility to continue democratic developments. He attached
importance to full fledging of ombudsman’s institution, civil society
and freedom of media in the country for the latters to be able to be
unbiassed when covering the events.
Boyana Urumova, Special Representative of CE Secretary General,
and Ambassador Christian Der-Stepanian, Resident Representative of
Armenia to PACE, also took part in the meeting.

POLITICS LOOMS IN PAMUK’S NOBEL SPEECH
Agence France Presse — English
October 15, 2006 Sunday
Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish author who has won this year’s Nobel prize
for literature, plans to use his acceptance speech to explain his
views on several subjects, German magazine Der Spiegel said on Sunday.
Pamuk told the news weekly he was preparing “a thought piece in the
good European tradition” for delivery when he accepts the award from
Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm on December 10.
“For the moment I am thinking of making it in the form of an essay,”
he said.
“I plan to use the opportunity to put across my point of view on
several issues,” he added, but declined to reveal the content of
the speech.
Pamuk, 54, on Thursday became the first Turkish writer to win the
prestigious prize.
The politically outspoken author, whose books focus on Turkey’s
struggle between Islam and secularism and its ties to Europe, has
clashed frequently with the Turkish establishment.
Pamuk was put on trial after telling a Swiss newspaper last year that
30,000 Kurds and one million Armenians had been killed during World
War I under the Ottoman Turks.
But the case was dropped after it drew widespread international
protest.

FRANCE’S ATTITUDE CHANGING COPENHAGEN POLITICAL CRITERIA
By Suleyman Kurt
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 16 2006
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has criticized France for its Armenian
genocide denial bill, claiming that France’s attitude has changed
the Copenhagen political criteria.
Minister Gul arrived in Luxembourg yesterday to attend the “Turkey-EU
troika” meeting, where Turkey’s reform process and additional protocol
will be discussed.
Gul will mention his views on the Armenian genocide bill, while the
EU side is expected to reiterate its request for Turkey to fulfill
the additional protocol.
Current EU term president Finland’s Cyprus plan will also be on the
agenda. The Turkish side will most likely stipulate improving Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus access to the outside world, as well as
modifications to some points regarding the start of negotiations to
open ports.
Asked if Turkey had changed its stance regarding Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code, Gul said that as long as the opinions expressed
do not advocate violence, people could freely express their thoughts
in Turkey.
Before leaving for Luxembourg, Gul told reporters that he would remind
the EU side that France’s current attitude had changed the Copenhagen
political criteria.
“Turkey is not a full member of the EU and it is aware of what it is
lacking. …. We are a country that is exerting extreme efforts to
eliminate such shortcomings,” Gul said.
Gul informed reporters that he had communicated the concerns of Turkish
Prime Minister Reccep Tayyip Erdogan to French President Jacques Chirac
in a telephone conversation, emphasizing that both the international
community and the EU has criticized the recent developments in France.
Turkish-French relations have suffered a great blow and France’s
prestige has been damaged, Gul said, expressing optimism that French
politicians would realize the severity of the situation and take
appropriate measures.
In regards to Finland’s Cyprus proposal, Gul recalled that there were
two sides on the island, Turkish Cyprus and Greek Cyprus, and added
that a solution approved by both sides would be favored.

FRENCH TRY TO END TURKS’ EU BID
By Kerstin Gehmlich
Gulf Times, Qatar
Oct 15 2006
PARIS: French deputies hailed a vote to make denial of the Armenian
genocide a crime as a triumph for human rights, but analysts said
Thursday’s vote had more to do with fears of Turkey’s EU entry and
an election next year.
Despite harsh criticism from Ankara and business fears of a Turkish
backlash, the lower house of parliament passed a law imposing prison
terms on anyone who denies Armenians suffered genocide in 1915 at
the hands of Ottoman Turks.
Parliamentarians celebrated the Socialist-sponsored bill, which
still needs Senate approval, as “immense progress…for the cause of
humanity” and a “proposal for civil peace”.
But analysts said the impulse for the initiative was more prosaic,
coming barely six months before parliamentary and presidential
elections and amid a climate of strong French voter opposition to
Turkey’s European Union entry.
“There is a very strong Armenian minority (in France) but there also
is the issue of bringing Turkey into the EU,” said Hall Gardner from
the American University of Paris.
“(The law) is meant to block Turkey’s entry into the EU. That’s the
strategy of some people,” he said.
Conservative presidential frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy has spoken out
strongly against Turkey’s EU entry.
Segolene Royal, his likely Socialist rival has not yet stated her
position on Turkey’s membership but said on Wednesday Ankara needed
to recognise the Armenia genocide to confirm its candidacy.
A recent survey showed some 60% of French opposed to Ankara entering
the bloc. Critics say Turkey is too big, too poor and too culturally
different to become a fully integrated member of the EU.
Concerns about Turkey’s possible EU membership was blamed in part
for French voters’ rejection of the EU constitution in a referendum
last year.
Turkey denies accusations of a genocide of some 1.5mn Armenians during
the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, arguing that
Armenian deaths were a part of general partisan fighting in which
both sides suffered.
France’s Armenian community, which is up to 500,000-strong and one
of the largest in Europe, had pushed hard for the bill and found
cross-party support in parliament.
“Several deputies with strong Armenian communities in their districts
told themselves to ensure re-election, they are standing by those
who demand punishment for denial of the genocide,” said political
scientist Didier Billion.
Turkey was quick to condemn the vote and its Foreign Ministry said it
had dealt a severe blow to French-Turkish ties. Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan this week told France to examine its own colonial past rather
than preach to Turkey.
Some French critics asked whether their own country had learnt anything
from its empire having ended in bloody wars in Indochina and Algeria.
A French law urging teachers to stress the “positive role” of the
French overseas presence sparked a heated national debate and large
protests earlier this year, forcing President Jacques Chirac to order
its repeal.
Analysts said the controversy over France’s colonial past made the
human rights rhetoric behind the Armenia bill less credible.
“For some deputies, there is a moral duty to say France, as the home
of human rights, must take a position on these issues,” said Billion
of the IRIS institute.
“But … rather than being proud about our universal message on human
rights, we have to address some problems linked to our own history,”
he said.

The Calgary Herald (Alberta)
October 13, 2006 Friday
Early Edition
French genocide bill angers Turks
by: David Rennie, The Telegraph
The French parliament has triggered a new crisis in Turkey’s
relations with Europe by approving a bill that would make it a crime
to deny that Armenians suffered a genocide at the hands of Ottoman
Turks.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Thursday’s vote in the French
national assembly had dealt “a heavy blow” to bilateral relations.
Turkey denies that massacres of Armenians between 1915 and 1923
amounted to genocide, saying large numbers of Turks and Armenians
died in civil war.
Ali Babacan, Turkey’s economics minister, said it was too soon to
know whether the Turkish public would heed calls from nationalist
groups to boycott French goods.
“As the government, we are not encouraging that, but this is the
people’s decision,” he said.
The Socialist-backed law was widely criticized in Turkey as another
attempt by European politicians to place obstacles in the path of
Ankara’s painful progress toward membership in the European Union.
Polls have shown that 60 per cent of the French public is opposed to
Turkish entry into the EU.
France would impose a one-year prison term and a fine of more than
$200,000 Cdn for anyone denying the Armenian genocide, following the
lead of an earlier law on denying the Nazi Holocaust.
The vote came months ahead of French presidential and parliamentary
elections, in which the 400,000-member Armenian community in France
will form a formidable voter bloc.
The bill doesn’t have government support and seems likely to fall in
the Senate.
Both President Jacques Chirac, and Segolene Royal, the Socialist
presidential front-runner, say that Turkey must acknowledge the
genocide of the Armenians before joining the EU. Nicolas Sarkozy, the
conservative front-runner, is opposed to Turkey’s EU entry under any
conditions.
Meanwhile, the Turkish parliament scrapped plans for a tit-for-tat
law that would have made it illegal to deny that French colonialists
committed genocide against the Algerians in their war for
independence.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told MPs: “You don’t clean up
dirt with more dirt.”
He repeated calls to Armenia jointly to research the killings by
opening the historical archives of both countries to historians.

Agence France Presse — English
October 13, 2006 Friday
France’s ‘genocide’ bill a ‘booby trap’ against Turkey’s EU bid: press
France has blackened its name as a country of freedom by voting a
controversial bill Thursday on the World War I massacres of
Armenians, Turkish newspapers said Friday, denouncing the draft as a
bid to block Turkey’s struggling bid to join the European Union.
“Genocide of thought,” the mass-circulation Hurriyet said on its
front page, one day after the French National Assembly adopted a bill
— by 106 votes to 19 in the 577-seat house — making it a jailable
offence to deny that Armenians were the victims of genocide by
Ottoman Turks betwen 1915-17.
“106 stupid men,” the popular daily Vatan blared, describing the
lawmakers who voted for the bill as “Les Miserables”, after French
author Victor Hugo’s classic novel.
The mass-circulation Sabah ran, in French, the headline “J’accuse” —
after the title of another French author’s, Emile Zola’s, landmark
1898 article in favor of human rights — and described the bill as
“an unjustified decision that has hurt all Turks”.
“France has guillotined democracy,” the popular Aksam newspaper said.
Many commentators said the bill aimed to thwart Ankara’s membership
talks with the European Union, which began last year amid widespread
scepticim on whether this mainly Muslim country has a place in
Europe.
“The bill aims to booby trap Turkey’s path to EU membership rather
than touch our sore spot concerning the allegations of Armenian
genocide,” a commentator in Sabah said.
“Turkey’s opponents… will now watch from the sidelines to see if we
fall for the trap and, if we do, they will create pandemonium,
arguing that Turkey has failed to adapt to European culture,” he
wrote.
“Arrogant France does not want to become equals in the EU with the
Turks it despises,” wrote the popular Vatan. “It is trying with this
unjust act to anger Turkey and make it feel insecure in order to sap
its will and determination” to join the EU.
A commentator in the liberal Radikal described the bill as a “blow
below the belt” to discourage Turkey from EU membership, an
alternative to coming up with concrete reasons to oppose Ankara’s
European aspirations.
Milliyet, another liberal daily, said the bill could result in a drop
of already waning public support in Turkey for EU membership.
It said the EU too should oppose the bill, which it described as
“indefensible anywhere in the world.”
“This (bill) is a legal freak that the EU should oppose as firmly as
Ankara,” it said. “The EU should remind France of the Copenhagen
criteria,” the bloc’s basic tenets on human rights and freedoms.
Turkey has threatened retaliatory measures for the bill, which must
be approved by the French Senate and the president before it becomes
law, including barring French companies from potentially lucrative
projects.
Civic groups have said they are considering calling for a public
boycott of French goods.
But many commentators argued that Ankara should think twice before
going down that road and opt for legal action rather than economic
sanctions, which could have a bruising effect on Turkey.
“What we need to do is take steps that will deliver the biggest blow
to France without inflaming the public,” a commentator in Sabah said.
“I hope we handle this well, because irrational xenophobia is the
last thing a country financing a… 30 billion dollar current
accounts deficit with foreign investment needs.”