Author: Kanayan Tamar

“Génocide arménien”: l’écrivain Orhan Pamuk inculpé pour “insulte” aux Turcs
Agence France Presse
31 août 2005 mercredi 11:07 AM GMT
ISTANBUL 31 août 2005 — L’écrivain turc Orhan Pamuk a été inculpé
par une cour d’Istanbul pour “insulte délibérée à l’identité turque”
dans des propos tenus dans un magazine suisse sur le massacre des
Arméniens en 1915, et son procès doit débuter le 16 décembre, a
indiqué mercredi sa maison d’édition.
L’écrivain traduit en plus de vingt langues risque de six mois à trois
ans de prison aux termes de l’article 301/1 du code pénal réprimant
l'”insulte délibérée à l’indentité turque”, précise un communiqué
des éditions Iletisim à Istanbul.
Dans l’interwiev publié en février dernier, M. Pamuk, qui est
régulièrement la cible des cercles nationalistes pour sa défense des
causes arméniennes et kurdes, a affirmé qu'”un million d’Arméniens
avaient été tués en Turquie”.
Un sous-préfet turc avait réagi par excès de zèle en ordonnant la
saisie et la destruction de ses romans.
Le romancier de 53 ans, auteur de “Neige”, “Le château blanc” ou encore
“Mon nom est rouge” et qui est domicilié à Istanbul, a été le lauréat
du prestigieux Prix de la paix des libraires allemands de 2005.
Très lu en Turquie où il a autant d’admirateurs que de détracteurs,
l’écrivain qui vit quelque peu en reclus, apparaît assez rarement en
public et moins encore sur les écrans.
La question du massacre des Arméniens est ultra-sensible en Turquie.
Les Arméniens affirment que jusqu’à 1,5 million des leurs ont péri
entre 1915 et 1917 lors de massacres orchestrés par l’empire ottoman,
auquel a succédé la République turque.
Ankara soutient que 300.000 Arméniens et au moins autant de Turcs
ont été tués au cours de troubles suscités par le soulèvement des
Arméniens, qui ont fait cause commune avec les armées russes en guerre
contre l’empire ottoman, et lors d’une déportation rendue nécessaire
par cette sédition.
–Boundary_(ID_mLqejCFvU4BOokhp9Vz8cw)–

OSCE CHAIRMAN TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA
Azerbaijan News Service
Sept 1 2005
OSCE Chairman, Slovenian foreign Minister Dimitri Rupel will arrive
in Baki on September 6, and leave for Armenia from there to receive
information on results of negotiations between Azeri and Armenian
presidents-Ilham Aliev and Robert Kocharyan, held in Kazan, Russia.
He will meet with Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliev during the visit.
“Mister Rupel in his meetings in Baki with Azeri officials will also
discuss the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan.” said OSCE
Chairman Office to “Radio Freedom”. Urdur Gunnarsdottir, spokesman
for OSCE Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Bureau said that
the Organization hopes its recommendations given after the previous
elections in Azerbaijan would be satisfied. “OSCE will observe these
elections attentively.”, said the OSCE spokesman. He called the Azeri
Government to receive the recommendation on using election finger ink
while voting. Urdur Gurnarsdottir said that many countries use ink,
and the main reason is to increase people’s belief towards election
process and prevent from repeated voting.

OSCE OFFICE PRESENTS PUBLICATION ON ARMENIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
Armenpress
Aug 31, 2005
YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS: The OSCE Office in Yerevan and the NGO
Environmental Public Advocacy Center (EPAC) presented a publication
on the existing Armenian environmental legislation.
“This publication will contribute to a greater awareness of
legislation amongst the population, which is key for its effective
implementation”, said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE
Office in Yerevan. The book, entitled “Environmental Law of the
Republic of Armenia”, which is a compilation of existing Armenian
environmental legislation, fills the present information gap. It
is primarily intended to serve as a resource book for legislators,
judges, lawyers and government staff — the decision-makers in the
fields of environmental protection and human rights.
The book can also be used by all members of the general public with
an interest in environmental legislation.
Aida Iskoyan, President of EPAC and editor of the book, emphasized
that the publication will contribute to the implementation of the
main principles of the Aarhus Convention in Armenia, such as access
to information, public participation in decision-making and access
to justice in environmental matters. Around 30 representatives from
the National Assembly, Government, Prosecutor’s Office, Constitutional
Court, and civil society participated in the discussion, following the
book presentation and underlined the importance of such a publication
in their daily work.
Implementation of the Aarhus Convention is a priority of the OSCE
Office in Yerevan. One of the immediate steps after ratification by
Armenia in 2001 was to establish a Public Environmental Information
Center (known as the Aarhus Center) in 2002, supported by the OSCE
Office, the Ministry of Nature Protection, civil society and the
international community. The Office intends to open regional Aarhus
Centers in coming months.

TURKISH WRITER FACES CHARGES OVER COMMENTS
Benjamin Harvey
Contra Costa Times, CA
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.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
30-08-2005
Minister Vartan Oskanian receives Kim Traavik, Norwegian State Secretary
August 30, 2005
On August 30, Minister Vartan Oskanian received Kim Traavik, Norwegian
State Secretary.
During the meeting the Minister brought up Armenian-Norwegian
relations, underlining the willingness of the Armenian side to
strengthen and extend bilateral cooperation. In this context both
sides stressed the continued importance of conducting and maintaining
high-level relations between the two countries.
The Norwegian State Secretary stressing his country’s interest in
settling existing conflicts in the South Caucasus region presented
the cooperation projects of Norway and the UNDP, according to which
Norway to invest in the implementation of development programs in South
Caucasus region. The programs would be in the field of management,
energy and the protection of the environment.
In this context, both parties positively evaluated the efficient
relations of Armenia’s authorities and the UNDP office in Armenia
and expressed confidence that the new programs would encourage the
regional cooperation.
Presenting Armenia’s approach towards regional issues, Minister
Oskanian briefed his counter-part on the recent developments of the
Nagorno Karabakh peace process, as well as Turkish-Armenian relations.

THE SITUATION WITH ECONOMIC SECURITY
Editorial
Yerkir/arm
August 26, 2005
The situation with the Armenian economy in the past decade shows that
the majority of the indicators characterizing the country’s economic
security are below the acceptable minimum threshold.
The decrease of the country’s productive potential causes special
concern. Currently, the annual capital investments constitute 14-15%
of the country GDP while according to expert estimates the lowest
acceptable share of GDP used for capital investments is 25%.
A serious problem in terms of economic security is the lack of
innovations in the economy – the share of high tech production in the
economy is lower than 15% of the GDP. In Armenia, high tech production
constitutes about 2-3% of the overall economy. The situation remains
extremely tense from the point of view of economic security in the
sphere of employment and distribution of incomes.
According to international standards, the economic security of
a country is considered to be threatened if the unemployment rate
reaches 6-7%. In Armenia even the official sources indicate that the
unemployment rate is 9% while the estimates of independent experts
indicate that the real unemployment (including hidden employment)
reaches 32-34%.
The monetary sector is also facing some threats in terms of economic
security. The country’s economy is highly dollarized. The national
currency becomes secondary to the almighty dollar.
The economic security is considered to be threatened when the share of
monetization of the economy is lower than 50% of the GDP. In Armenia,
this indicator is 15-17%. The economic and consequently military and
political threats to the country’s security have become so serious
that they have turned into challenges for the very existence of
the statehood.
The situation is critical in terms of per capita income, growth
of productivity, technological modernization and several other
indicators. Immediate and operational measures are necessary to improve
the situation. Along with radical political and legal reforms in the
country, it is necessary to review the existing economic policies
that stipulate that the main priority for transition economies is
macroeconomic stability.
This approach enforced by international financial organizations will
lead Armenia to final deterioration of productivity, destruction of the
strategically important scientific sector and loss of any perspectives
for development. Such developments can by no means contribute to the
emergence of a dynamic and sustainable economy in the country.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTER SUGGESTS EUROPEAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEM
RIA news agency, Moscow
30 Aug 05
Ashuluk testing range (Astrakhan Region), 30 August: It’s for the first
time that a single HQ was in command of a military exercise of the air
defence troops of CIS member countries, Russian Defence Minister Sergey
Ivanov said after the war games of the air defence troops of Russia,
Belarus, Armenia and Tajikistan ended at the Ashuluk testing range,
Astrakhan Region.
“These exercises have one distinguishing feature. Whereas before,
in 2001 and 2003, each state brought its own command post, now for
the first time a single HQ ran the exercise,” Ivanov said. “This is
a prototype of a unified group of CIS countries which can create a
single anti-aircraft system in any region,” the defence minister said.
The head of the Russian military department assessed positively the
exercise that had been held. “This is yet another stage of combat
preparations for a CIS single anti-aircraft system,” Ivanov said.
[ITAR-TASS at 0923gmt in Russian quoted Sergey Ivanov as saying that
Russia supported the creation of a European non-strategic antimissile
defence system. “If a political decision on this issue is taken, it
[Russia] is ready to make a great contribution to the creation of
this system, for instance by using its technologies”, Sergey Ivanov
said today after the Ashuluk exercise ended]

ORRAN STARTS ONE-MONTH EVENT FOR DESTITUTE CHILDREN AND ELDERLY POPULATION
Armenpress
Aug 29, 2005
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS: Orran, a benevolent non-governmental
organization said in a press release that September 1, 2005 will mark the
beginning of a one-month event at the Armenia Mariott Hotel in Yerevan aimed
at raising awareness about and funds for Armenia’s destitute children and
elderly population.
In the month of September, the Armenia Marriott will give its guests the
opportunity to interact with and contribute to the future of the children
and elderly of Orran, a benevolent non-governmental organization formed five
years ago in Yerevan by Raffi and Armine K. Hovhanesian. In that time, Orran
has taken more than 100 children off the streets, providing them with food,
clothing, psychological services, tutoring, and an avenue for success. It
has embraced also 140 elderly.
The partnership of Orran and the Armenia Marriott Hotel in September will
be a unique attempt at intensifying the fight against destitution and
begging on Yerevan’s streets. On Wednesdays at 5pm, the children of Orran
will perform traditional Armenian songs and dances at the entrance of the
hotel. At this venue, the hotel guests will be able to interact with the
children and elderly, as well as purchase various arts and crafts the
children have made themselves. When paying for the check at the hotel’s Cafe
or restaurants, or checking out of the hotel, the guests will also be
afforded the opportunity to contribute. Their contributions will be
generously matched by Orran’s principal benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Krikor and
Anna Krikorian.
In a non-intrusive yet compelling approach, the Armenia Marriott and
Orran hope to succeed in this powerful collaboration of business and
benevolence. The Armenia Marriott Hotel general manager Katrin Hentszel
says, “This is not merely a duty but also a privilege for our hotel. The
problem of children and elderly begging on the street-and the more basic
problem of poverty-is something that needs to be solved. The Armenia
Marriott is happy to be working with the professional staff and truly
delightful beneficiaries of Orran to come one step closer to the solution.”
Orran’s founder Armine K. Hovhanesian notes, “The group effort that the
Armenia Marriott and Orran are displaying here has dual importance. In
itself, it means raising real awareness about and making real contributions
toward the future of Armenia’s children and elderly. As a symbol, it
represents the power and possibilities of collective action and goodwill.”

GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE?
A1+
| 13:46:58 | 29-08-2005 | Social |
“ArmenTel” intends to change several norms as a result of which the
service of the company will become more expensive. Hasmik Chutilyan,
the representative of the company, did not confirm, neither refute
the information about the possible raising of costs of the telephone
service of ArmenTel.
According to the press speaker of ArmenTel, the change of the norms
is conditioned by the demands of the contract according to which on
the first Monday of every September ArmenTel represents an offer of
future activity to the Government.
By now, according to the speaker, the director board works on the
processing of the draft offer. “It is not clear whether the offer to
raise costs will be included in it or not”, said Hasmik Chutilyan.

New deal to make Russia visits easier for Tajiks
Tajik Television first channel, Dushanbe
27 Aug 05
It was earlier reported that Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov had
attended festivities devoted to the 1,000th anniversary of the city of
Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan.
The Tajik president, together with other heads of CIS state, attended
a ceremony held at the Musa Dzhalil State Opera and Ballet Theatre in
Tatarstan in the evening on 26 August. As part of the festivities,
Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov met the head of Muslim people in the
city of Kazan today. Then the Tajik president met representatives of
the Tajik diaspora in Tatarstan.
During the meeting Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov said that in line
with agreements reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin, centres
for issuing foreign passports to Tajik citizens would be opened in all
big cities in Russia from 1 September 2005.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov also met Russian President Vladimir
Putin, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Uzbek President Islom
Karimov and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko as part of the
festivities devoted to the 1,000th anniversary of the city of
Kazan. The sides discussed the most important aspects of bilateral
cooperation during the meeting.