Author: Kanayan Tamar

60 Million Turks Rushed to the Borders??!
View : Baris Sanli
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Dec 19 2004
The Sundays are generally boring and I am bored. Nevertheless, I have
the rare chance to read Turkey sceptics’ comments and amuse myself.
Today my intention was to write a view as follows:
“Europe’s Turkey sceptics were right. As the accession talks end, 60
million Turks rushed to the borders of Europe, especially France. The
streets of Ankara emptied. Most Turks revealed their real faces,
beards grown down to their feet. As we talked with them they told us:
‘For 500 years, we hide our real identity, we were beating our wives
secretly, we were growing beards yet hiding it under plastic masks, now
we are free. This is our day, we can rush to the borders. Our only aim
in this life is to cook doner & kebaps and serve them to Europeans.’
Some Turks are already started swimming to Greek Islands from Izmir.
They claim, if they can start swimming now, they can reach the Greek
Islands by 3rd October. ”
Through the passage, I could be judging Turks by emphatising with
some of the Telegraph and Daily Mail writers, some Armenians and
some French.
Later on I felt sorry for my nation. The Europeans ain’t seen anything
yet. The only images of the Turks were carefully constructed by
ethnical minorities around Europeans.
We are fine with Greeks now, despite Cypriots. As the borders are
more relaxed now, they see us not as a “Nation that eats Greek”
but rather a “Nation which has two many similarities with Greeks”
In Turkish TVs there are drama series with subjects like “Turkish Girl,
Greek Boy, love, lies and etc. etc.” Like soap operas… This is the same
in Greece. Greek singer Natalie is currently popular, Turkish music
channels view her clips, nearly every 4 hours. But who cares? Turks
are this, Turks are that…. These arguments will never end……
This is Sunday, I need a holiday. I will watch telly and scratch my
belly. So I will finish my argument with a joke that was told by one of
my EuroTurk(parents:Turkish, passport:German) friends. This is for all
the Turkey Sceptics and Turkish nationalists out there.Cheer up mates!
German scientists decided to build a very powerful, super computer
which can answer every question in the whole universe. They designed
it for months, draw schematics, simulated, and the computer was
made ready.
After a few checks, they plugged the computer, turned on the switch.
This giant, groosome computer started with buzzling and tickling
sounds. And the prompt appeared on the screen.
The scientist excited to death. They were curious to test the thing.
One of them jumped and typed the question:
“Who will be the only power on this earth?”
The computer buzzled a bit, and a result came up from the printer,
answer was crap to the Germans:
“Turks”
The German scientists couldn’t believe a word they are reading. They
double checked every circuit on the computer, tested the cables but
nope! They asked the same question again:
“Who will be the only power on this earth?”
The computer again mimiced the same sounds, same answer came out:
“Turks”
Scientists began to talk with each other:
“These Turks are just selling pizzas and kebaps, how come they can
have the power, you know there are us, Americans, Japanese, but why,
why Turks?”
The computer answered:
“Everyone will construct shuttles, spacecrafts and colonise the
space. They will begin to live there, but these *** Turks will not
build a thing other then doner kebap, they will stay on Earth alone,
so they will be the only power on this Earth”
–Boundary_(ID_AaTD/5k8H1QEK8cBGK6sTA)–

Press and Information Office, Occupied Northern Cyprus
Dec 17 2004
Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media – 12/16/2004
[01] The Turkish Prime Minister arrived in Brussels.
[02] The Turkish Foreign Minister left for Brussels.
[03] The European Parliament calls for accession talks with Turkey.
[04] HURRIYET highlights the European Parliament decision on Turkey.
[05] Former Turkish Ambassador and CNN-TURK commentator Yalim Eralp:
“It is possible to establish a provisional solution government”.
[06] Turkish Cypriot newspaper speaks of a possible Cyprus summit in
Brussels in view of Annan´s presence.
[07] Mr Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas will
start contacts with the political party leaders for the “election”
date.
[08] An opinion poll conducted in the occupied areas shows the
Republican Turkish Party in the lead with 31%.
[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
[09] Columnist in STAR newspaper argues that Turkey intends to
exploit possible resumption of Cyprus talks to avoid signing the
protocol it will commit itself to sign during the EU Summit.
——————————————————————————–
[A] NEWS ITEMS
[01] The Turkish Prime Minister arrived in Brussels
Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.12.04) reported that the Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brussels on Wednesday.
He will hold meetings in Brussels prior to EU Summit on December
17th.
Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan,
several bureaucrats and deputies are accompanying Erdogan.
”We are hopeful,” Erdogan said upon arrival regarding the decision
of EU leaders whether to open entry talks with Turkey at their summit
on Friday.
Upon questions of reporters, Erdogan said: “We are pleased with the
recommendatory decision of the European Parliament today. I am
interested in the result not the content. The decision of the
European Parliament is very meaningful.”
When asked what his expectation from French President Jacques Chirac
was, Erdogan said: ‘W will discuss it.”
[02] The Turkish Foreign Minister left for Brussels
Istanbul NTV television (15.12.04) broadcast that Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul made a statement at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport before
leaving for Brussels to attend the EU summit. He reiterated that
Turkey expects the 17 December summit to reach a decision to start
full membership negotiations. Expressing the belief that Turkey
fulfilled its task in this regard, Gul said that Ankara hopes that
the EU leaders, in turn, will remain loyal to the documents they have
already signed and reach a decision to start the accession
negotiations during the course of 2005.
Gul said that the mutual demands and adjustments will continue until
the last minute during the summit. Asked about the conditions that
would compel Turkey to abandon the discussions, Gul said: The full
membership goal should be open and clear, and a date that will not
require another meeting should emerge from the summit.
There are certain matters that run counter to the EU acquis, and
these are not legitimate, Gul noted, and pointed to the permanent
derogations in this context. Gul concluded by expressing the hope
that a final compromise will be reached at the summit.
[03] The European Parliament calls for accession talks with Turkey
Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.12.04) reported from Strasbourg that
the European Parliament on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling for
the start of Turkey´s accession talks ”without undue delay”.
The European Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, France, voted by 407
in favour to 262, against with 29 abstentions to pass the resolution.
This resolution is nonbinding, but important as it reflected the view
of the European Parliament prior to the EU-Brussels summit, which is
of historic importance for Turkey.
Socialist, Liberal, Green parliamentarians and British, Spanish and
Italian parliamentarians of the Christian Democrat group voted in
favour of Turkey.
The report, prepared by Dutch Parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings and a
recommendatory decision, urged for ”giving priority to the
implementation of the political criteria at the beginning of
negotiations.”
The recommendatory decision called on the Turkish parliament to
approve six legal amendments, which the European Commission stated in
the progress report, and proposed ”putting into force the political
dialogue mechanism about the close monitoring process and envisaging
suspension of negotiations by the European Commission when
necessary.”
[04] HURRIYET highlights the European Parliament decision on Turkey
Istanbul HURRIYET (Internet version, 15.12.04) publishes the
following report from Strasbourg under the title: “EP rejects giving
privileged partnership to Turkey”:
“The European Parliament [EP] has rejected motions for Turkey to be
given a special status, for its membership to be rejected, and for
the recognition of Turkey’s “Armenian Genocide”. The EP did adopt a
motion for full membership negotiations to be taken up with Turkey
without delay.
The EP passed the resolution recommending the initiation of full
membership negotiations with Turkey by a vote of 407 in favour and
262 opposed.
The reforms that have been carried out in Turkey were praised in the
advisory resolution, and it was stated that “The negotiations are the
starting point of a lengthy process, which by its nature is
open-ended and does not necessarily entail the result of full
membership.”
“Full membership dependent on mutual efforts”
In the resolution, which noted that full membership depends on the
mutual efforts of both Turkey and the EU, attention was drawn to the
importance of the Turkish and EU publics being provided with
information in an effective manner during the process of Ankara’s
integration.
“Free movement must not disadvantage Turkey”
The resolution, which pointed out that the negotiations process will
be lengthy, called for restrictions on free circulation and
agriculture not to have a negative impact on Turkey’s efforts for
membership.
It was implied in the resolution that it will not be possible for the
full membership negotiations with Turkey to be completed prior to the
goals foreseen in the EU’s budget for the year 2014.
“Restrictions on Greek Cypriot-flagged ships must be lifted”
The resolution, which included a call for Turkey to resolve its
problems with its neighbours in a manner consistent with the UN
Charter, called for the elimination of restrictions on Greek
Cypriot-flagged ships.
“Heybeli Island Theological Seminary must be opened”
The resolution stated that there must be no restrictions on the
activities of minorities in Turkey, and called in this context for
the opening of the [Greek Orthodox] theological seminary on Heybeli
Island.
“Alevi faith must be recognized”
The EP’s resolution included calls for Alevism to be recognized and
protected, including for ‘cemevleri’ [houses of assembly] to be
recognized as religious centers, for religious education to be
voluntary, for effective measures to be taken in combating torture,
and for the Village Guards system in the Southeast to be done away
with.
“Armenian border must be opened”
The advisory resolution, which called for Turkey to open its border
with Armenia, stated that it is necessary that the Turkish and
Armenian governments provide support to a mutual peace process, and
that the bitter experiences of the past be overcome through the
support of independent experts.
“Armenian genocide” motion rejected
In a vote conducted in the General Assembly, an amendment motion
calling for acknowledgement of the so-called Armenian Genocide to be
made a precondition for initiating negotiations was rejected.
Despite this, an amendment motion that made reference to an earlier
advisory resolution of the European Parliament (EP) regarding
recognition of the alleged genocide and another amendment motion
calling for the EU Commission and Council to call upon Turkey to
recognize the alleged genocide were accepted.
“Rejection of privileged partnership proposal”
The EP also rejected an amendment proposal that provided for
“privileged partnership” for Turkey instead of full membership. The
EU resolutions, which are not binding, will be cited in the final
communiqué that will be published at the conclusion of the EU summit.
“Voting in favour of Turkey”
It was observed that, in the vote conducted in the General Assembly,
the Socialist, Liberal, and Green parliamentarians, as well as the
British, Spanish, and Italian members of the Christian Democratic
group, voted in favor of Turkey.
The report drafted by Dutch Christian [Democratic] parliamentarian
Camiel Eurlings, and the advisory resolution based on it, called for
“priority to be given, at the beginning of the negotiations, to the
political criteria being put into implementation.”
The advisory resolution, which called upon the TGNA [Turkish Grand
National Assembly] to approve the six legal changes contained in the
EU Commission’s Progress Report, proposed the “utilization by the EU
Commission of an effective political dialogue, involving a close
monitoring process and providing for a suspension of negotiations if
necessary.”
The deputies who cast their votes in favor of Turkey raised placards
reading ‘evet’ [‘yes’] in Turkish.
“Demonstrations for and against Turkey”
Following the EP’s passage of the advisory resolution which
recommended that the EU initiate full membership negotiations with
Turkey, the city of Strasbourg was the stage of demonstrations both
in favor of and opposing Turkish EU membership.
Supporters of the extreme-right National Front Party in France staged
a demonstration in the center of the city in order to oppose Turkey’s
membership in the EU.
In response to the extreme rightists’ demonstration, a march in favor
of Turkey’s EU membership was staged through the initiative of the
French organization “Justice and Liberty”.
Turkish immigrants in Strasbourg also showed great interest in the
march.
“Eurlings: We want to give Turkey a fair chance”
EP Turkey Rapporteur Camiel Eurlings said that the EU has to give
Turkey a fair chance. Following the voting on the advisory resolution
that the EU take up full membership negotiations with Turkey,
Eurlings and EP Speaker Josep Borrel held a joint press conference.
In the press conference, Eurlings, stating that he was very pleased
with the acceptance of the report and the advisory resolution that he
had drafted, said that priority must be given to the implementation
of the political criteria following the initiation of negotiations.
“Torture and religious minorities”
Eurlings, asserting that “Torture incidents, in particular, must be
prevented”, also stated that “There must be no restrictions on the
worship of religious minorities.”
Eurlings said that “Just as people can easily build mosques in
Europe, it has to be possible for churches to be built in Turkey.”
Noting that the debate on Turkey’s EU membership by both the European
public and the EP has been extremely beneficial, Eurlings said “Not
to discuss this topic in an open way would not be good for Turkey or
for the EU.”
“Borrel: Prejudices regarding Turkey must be abandoned”
As for EP Speaker Josep Borrel, he stated in his remarks that
European public opinion fears Turkey’s membership because it is not
well acquainted with Turkey.
Borrel, stating that there are also prejudices that derive from
history, said that the EP also has responsibilities for making Turkey
known to European public opinion.
Borrel, in response to a question, said that he had decided, in
accordance with the EP by-laws, for the vote to be a secret ballot on
the grounds that requests for this had come from a sufficient number
of parliamentarians.
Representatives of the Socialist, Liberal, and Green groups, who
spoke prior to the vote held in the EP today, had opposed the secret
ballot on grounds of the principle of transparency.
Borrel, noting that Turkey has carried out important reforms, said:
“In my view, Turkey has won the right to begin negotiations with the
EU on full membership.”
“Turkey must recognize the Republic of Cyprus”
Borrel, stating that with the advisory resolution that the EP passed
today, he “reminded Turkey of the reality that the negotiations will
be conducted with the 25 countries of the EU”, said that Turkey also
has to recognize the Republic of Cyprus, because it will be sitting
down to the table with it as well”.
[05] Former Turkish Ambassador and CNN-TURK commentator Yalim Eralp:
“It is possible to establish a provisional solution government”
YENIDUZEN correspondent Sami Ozuslu who went to Brussels to cover the
EU Summit, had a short interview with former Turkish ambassador and
CNN-TURK commentator, Mr Yalim Eralp. Following is the text of the
interview:
Question: Prior to the Brussels Summit if Turkey gets a date what
kind of change could be in Turkey´s Cyprus policy, do you expect any
forward move?
Eralp: I think now others as well will make a forward move. May be Mr
Denktas could propose to Papadopoulos to establish a provisional
solution government.
Question: What would be the system of the provisional government?
Eralp: Of course, the Provisional Government could be a federative
government within the framework of the Annan Plan.
However, searching for the settlement could be envisaged within this
government between Denktas and Papadopoulos.
Question: What do you think about the medium and long-term?
Eralp:This depends on the developments. If Turkey cannot enter into
the EU, then I see a Cyprus settlement very far away.
Question: That is, you do not see any steps to be taken in Cyprus
until Turkey´s accession?
Eralp: I do expect. But if the negotiations are open-ended, then the
settlement in Cyprus should be open ended. It should be bit by bit.
Question: thus, this means putting the Turkish Cypriots and North
Cyprus into the freezer?
Eralp: NO, not to put into the freezer. Slowly, slowly, it should be
integrated, but if Turkey will not be EU member why should it settle
the Cyprus problem then? If it solves, it will be considered stupid.
Aren´t they saying `the Cyprus problem is an obstacle to our EU
membership?” In that case let us turn it upside down and say `why
should I settle the Cyprus problem since I am not a member of EU?”
Question: What do you expect Turkey will get from Brussels? Eralp: I
think Turkey will get a date, however, what is important is the true
nature of the obstacles. That is, your say full membership and you
put such obstacles (Eralp uses the word thorns) that it turns into a
privileged status. One has to pay attention to this”.
[06] Turkish Cypriot newspaper speaks of a possible Cyprus summit in
Brussels in view of Annan´s presence
Turkish Cypriot daily YENIDUZEN newspaper (16.12.04) reports under
banner headlines “One should not be surprised if a Cyprus summit is
held in Brussels” and says that Turkish Industrialists and
Businessmen Association, TUSIAD´s permanent representative at the EU,
Bahadir Kaleagasi has said that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan´s
arrival to Brussels makes possible the holding of a “Cyprus Summit”
there.
In a statement to YENIDUZEN, Kaleagasi said that it is also possible
that immediately after the EU summit, President Papadopoulos, Prime
Minister Erdogan and Kofi Annan could meet in Brussels. He went on
and said that Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat as well could
be invited to Brussels.
Kaleagasi added that Turkey is yet to pen its cards, and that Turkey,
which supported the Annan Plan, will not recognize the Republic of
Cyprus in its present form.
“It is possible that a Cyprus summit could be held with the arrival
of the UN Secretary-General”, he said.
“The whole intention of Papadopoulos is to realize the recognition
and burry the Annan Plan in the annals of history. In order to
preclude this, Turkey should stand firm. We have lost in Helsinki and
Papadopoulos got strong. Now Turkey came face to face with the
Papapdopoulos reality”, Kaleagasi concluded.
[07] Mr Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas will
start contacts with the political party leaders for the “election”
date
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (16/12/04) reports that the
so-called Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, prior to a meeting
yesterday with the so-called Council of Ministers, announced that
they will discuss issues that are in the weekly agenda, adding that
there is nothing extraordinary.
Mr Talat also noted that most probably the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr
Rauf Denktas will start meetings with party leaders on Monday for the
“elections” date.
Commenting on the resolution on Turkey’s progress towards European
Union accession, which was adopted by the European Parliament
yesterday, Mr Talat said that it is an important development.
[08] An opinion poll conducted in the occupied areas shows the
Republican Turkish Party in the lead with 31%
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (16.12.04) publishes an
opinion poll regarding the support that the Turkish Cypriot political
parties receive in occupied Cyprus. The opinion poll was conducted by
the Prologue Consulting Ltd.
According to the poll, the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces
(RTP-UF) of Mehmet Ali Talat comes first with 31%, the National Unity
Party (NUP) of Dervis Eroglu comes second with 15%, the Democratic
Party (DP) of Serdar Denktas comes third with 6%, the Peace and
Democracy Movement (PDM) of Mustafa Akinci comes fourth with 3% and
the Communal Liberation Party (CLP) of Huseyin Angolemli comes fifth
with 2%. In addition, 26% are undecided, 9% will vote to none and 8%
is mixed.
Commenting on the results of the opinion poll, KIBRISLI writes inter
alia that the 6% that the DP receives is evaluated in various ways by
the political observers. According to the paper a big percentage of
the undecided persons comes from the NUP and supports that these
persons may vote for the DP in the “elections”. It also writes that
the 17 December Summit’s result will affect the decision of the
undecided persons.
KIBRISLI also writes that someone who evaluates the results must bare
in mind that the Turkish Cypriot parties have not yet decided about
their “candidates” and have neither started they are “election”
campaign nor declared their political position.
——————————————————————————–
[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
[09] Columnist in STAR newspaper argues that Turkey intends to
exploit possible resumption of Cyprus talks to avoid signing the
protocol it will commit itself to sign during the EU Summit
Istanbul STAR newspaper (15.12.04) publishes the following commentary
by Zeynep Gurcanli under the title: “The Cyprus chess game in
Brussels”:
“The paragraph on Turkey, other than the date the negotiations would
start, has become finalized prior to the 17 December summit. Only one
major problem remains between Ankara and the European capital cities:
Cyprus.
Two days before the summit a diplomatic chess game in its full sense
is being played between Turkey and the EU.
In response to the “requests of solidarity” of the Greek Cypriots,
who put their EU membership in their “pockets”, the EU has brought
the subject of Cyprus to a “condition, which is not a condition” in
order to start the negotiations with Turkey.
Within this framework, the Netherlands, which is carrying out the EU
Term Presidency, worked out a formula.
The formula found is Turkey’s acceptance of a decree similar to the
one that previously included the Greek Cypriots in the Customs Union,
but with a somewhat more extensive scope.
It was established on Turkey’s signing a protocol expanding the
Ankara Agreement in a manner that would also include the countries,
which are new EU members.
The Netherlands did not only constitute this formula. It also made a
“sounding out” in order to be able to understand whether or not
Ankara would consider this favourably.
It put a sentence, which contained the message, “The EU would meet
with pleasure Turkey’s acceptance of signing the protocol, which
would expand the Ankara Agreement in a manner that would also include
the new members of the EU.” Furthermore, this sentence was put in the
Turkey part in the declaration and the subject of Cyprus completely
became a “condition, which is not a condition,” for the negotiations.
Ankara’s reaction against this came from Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul. Minister Gul, in a letter he sent to all of the EU countries,
listed one by one all of the elements that Turkey could not accept in
the first draft prepared by the Netherlands. Within these elements,
he also included putting the Cyprus subject into the Turkey
paragraph. And he made the criticism, “Putting the Cyprus subject
directly into the Turkey paragraph gives the impression that this
problem has been transformed into a condition for starting the
negotiations.”
But Minister Gul did not show any reaction to the part in the draft
text related to the signing of the protocol. And the Netherlands, in
the drafts it prepared later, removed the Cyprus paragraph from the
Turkey section in accordance with the criticisms of Minister Gul and
placed it in the appendix section. But still, it did not change the
expression related to the signing of the protocol.
What is interesting is that Ankara did not direct a criticism to
these expressions in the drafts, which were prepared later. This
silence of Ankara was interpreted in the EU capital cities that
Turkey would accept to sign this protocol before the negotiations
start.
Subtitle: Resuming the Cyprus talks
Putting the expressions related to the signing of the protocol in the
declaration was the move of the EU side in the diplomatic chess game.
Ankara’s first move in response to this was “to remain silent.” That
is, Ankara neither committed itself nor rejected the signing of the
protocol. Actually, the calculations of the next move in the chess
game lie behind this silence.
All of the signs in Brussels prior to the 17 December summit show
that immediately after giving a negotiation date to Turkey, the peace
talks on Cyprus would be resumed.
Ankara, just as it did in the previous talks, aims to continue its
“encouraging” role in the new round of talks as well.
Starting the Cyprus negotiations would have the meaning of preventing
the Greek Cypriots, who corner Ankara at every opportunity, by using
their title of “full EU member” as they want.
If the Cyprus talks conclude positively, then in any case, the
problem would be solved. But if the talks are prolonged or do not
produce a result, then Turkey, “which encouraged peace,” would gain
time. And it would be saved from signing the Cyprus protocol, which
became a de facto “condition” for the starting the negotiations with
the final move of the Netherlands or it would be able to postpone the
signing of it. The majority of the people in Brussels do not expect a
“last minute bad surprise” just before the summit on 17 December.
Even the statements of the French Foreign Minister Barnier, “We will
bring the Armenian tragedy to the negotiations,” is considered as a
domestic political move, which aims to silence the French socialists
in the opposition and not much importance is attached to it.
These days, both the EU and Ankara are considering 17 December “to be
finished” and are making the moves for the diplomatic struggle, which
will be experienced after this and which will be “real” and
“tougher.” ”
–Boundary_(ID_KwRPQxjcOlzwIEW5q8kprA)–

IMF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DOES NOT GIVE POSITIVE ESTIMATION TO SITUATION OF
CUSTOMS AND TAX SPHERES OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18. ARMINFO. During the Dec sitting IMF Executive
Committee did not give positive estimation to the situation in the
tax and customs spheres of Armenia. IMF Resident Representative to
Armenia James McHugh stated in the interview to daily “Republic of
Armenia”. According to him, it seem that the affairs in this sphere
are not so good as they could be.
Mr. McHugh expressed an opinion that in today Armenia the most
anxiety is aroused by the low level of tax collection which creates
problems in the budgetary sphere. He stated that this problem is
directly connected with corruption phenomena. According to him,
IMF has agreed with the government of Armenia for introduction of
new software and systems in tax and customs bodies. They will allow
to estimate the impartiality of amounts of fixed payments. The IMF
initiates elaboration of a code of behavior of an agent of customs
service and a department is established which will carry out a control
after clearance. Another innovation must bring to minimum the direct
contact of freight forwarders and recipients with customs officials.
At the same time James McHugh informed that IMF task group will visit
Armenia in March of the next year, and it will prepare proposals
concerning a new credit program. By this period the fund will form
the list of the so-called preliminary actions whose fulfillment will
prove about the adherence to the government to the selected course
and it will include the arrangements for perfection of the tax and
customs spheres. Nevertheless, IMF executive committee members think
that Armenia has reached significant economic results and is following
correct way. James McHugh noted that Armenia remains in the list of
the state with low income per capita.
It should be noted that at the beginning of Dec IMF allocated the
last tranche to Armenia worth 9 mln SDR under the program PRGF worth a
total of 69 mln SDR. In total, during 10 years of cooperation IMF has
provided a credit assistance to Armenia worth a total of some $300 mln.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

* Darchinyan wins IBF flyweight title with TKO of Pacheco
* Box: Darchinyan becomes Australia’s newest world champ
* Vic hooks a world crown
* ARMENIAN BOXER WINS IBF FLYWEIGHT TITLE
* Darchinyan destroys Pacheco, wins flyweight world title
* Goodnight, Irene: Darchinyan victorious in title bid
* Vic’s a knock-out
* Armenian takes IBF flyweight title
* Darchinyan wins IBF flyweight title with TKO of Pacheco
* Darchinyan stops Pacheco to win IBF flyweight title
***************************************************************************
Darchinyan wins IBF flyweight title with TKO of Pacheco
Jacksonville.com
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Story last updated at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2004
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Vic Darchinyan scored an 11th-round technical knockout of
defending champion Irene Pacheco to win the IBF flyweight title Thursday
night.
Darchinyan, a native of Armenia now living in Australia, controlled the pace
for most of the bout fought outdoors at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and
Casino in Hollywood.
Darchinyan’s gradual dominance began to take its toll on Pacheco in the 10th
round, when Darchinyan sent him to the canvas with a right to the head.
With a weary Pacheco returning to his corner at the end of the round,
Darchinyan didn’t let up his assault at the beginning of the 11th. He
unloaded a series of unanswered shots near the ropes and then dropped
Pacheco a second time with another right to the head.
Pacheco’s cornermen had seen enough, asking referee Jorge Alonso to stop the
fight at 44 seconds of the round.
For Pacheco, of Colombia, it was his first career loss in 31 professional
fights and seventh title defense.
Darchinyan (22-0, 17 KOs) was the busier fighter from the opening round and
didn’t let Pacheco build much of an offense. Pacheco’s frustrations prompted
repeated warnings from Alonso for hitting below the belt.
The low blows eventually cost Pacheco a point deduction in the ninth and
another two points removed in the 10th.
To add to Pacheco’s miseries, he suffered a deep gash to his right eyebrow
after colliding heads with Darchinyan in the fifth.
The fight was delayed seven minutes before the ninth round because of a loud
fireworks display during a festival adjacent to the fight facility.
Darchinyan weighed 111 pounds for the bout, while Pacheco weighed 112.
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved.
***************************************************************************
Box: Darchinyan becomes Australia’s newest world champ
By Adrian Warren
AAP NEWSFEED, Australia
December 17, 2004, Friday 7:30 AM Eastern Time
SYDNEY, Dec 17
Vic Darchinyan turned on the punching pyrotechnics after the real
life fireworks had finished in Florida today, to give Australia
another eastern European-bred boxing world champion.
Darchinyan, who represented his birth country of Armenia at the
Sydney 2000 Olympics, maintained his own unbeaten record and
shattered the one belonging to International Boxing Federation
flyweight champion Irene Pacheco stopping the champ in the eleventh
round of their championship bout at the Hard Rock Casino in
Hollywood.
He moved alongside Australia’s only other currently universally
recognised world champion, IBF super lightweight title holder Kostya
Tszyu, who was born in Russia.
He knocked Pacheco down in the tenth and eleventh rounds before the
out-going champion’s corner stepped in to save their stricken fighter
from further punishment.
Darchinyan won despite an interruption of several minutes caused by
fireworks exploding nearby and numerous low blows from a desperate
Pacheco, who was deducted a point in both the ninth and tenth rounds.
“They had to stop the fight for several minutes and we were going
crazy because we knew Vic was getting on top and when the tenth round
started, Vic just jumped on him,” Darchinyan’s trainer Jeff Fenech
said from Florida.
“He was hitting Vic in the balls because he was getting beaten.”
It was 28-year-old Darchinyan’s 22nd straight win and Pacheco’s first
defeat in 31 bouts.
The victory also gave three-division world champion Fenech his first
fully-fledged world titleholder as a trainer.
“The monkey is finally off my back,” yelled a jubilant Fenech.
The threat of a hurricane moving toward Florida forced the fight to
be delayed three months, but it was Darchinyan’s force of will rather
than a force of nature which terminated Pacheco’s reign.
“I think I destroyed him because I stopped him,” said Darchinyan, who
registered his 17th KO win.
He had vowed before the fight to destroy 33-year-old Pacheco, who had
made six successful defences since 1999 but had not fought for 15
months.
Darchinyan followed the advice offered by Fenech when the fight
resumed following the break, between the eighth and ninth rounds,
ordered by referee Hoge Alonso.
“Jeff asked me to throw more punches and miss his right jab and throw
my straight left and I did exactly what Jeff told me,” Darchinyan
said.
“I started the fight good, but in a few of the middle rounds, I
started waiting for him because I just wanted to catch him with one
big punch and it wasn’t the right way, Jeff reminded me to throw more
punches.
“Jeff started pushing me and reminded me about Nedal Hussein, because
Nedal waited.”
Darchinyan was referring to his stablemate’s unsuccessful challenge
last month for the World Boxing Council super bantamweight world
title when the Sydneysider failed to force the issue and dropped an
unanimous points decision to Mexican Oscar Larios.
Fenech was determined not to see another of his fighters squander a
precious world title opportunity and made it clear in no uncertain
terms what he wanted from Darchinyan.
“After three rounds he was so tired because he’s had such a long
preparation and I was pushing him hard. I got stuck in between a
couple of rounds and said to him if you don’t listen to me, I’m going
to walk out’,” Fenech said.
“There was some close rounds. Vic hit him with many better punches, I
thought Vic was just in front, but I didn’t want to say to him.
“I kept telling him C’mon Vic, we’re behind’. I just wanted him to
finish all over Pacheco because I know what happens in these places.”
Fenech was probably thinking back to his controversial draw with
Azumah Nelson in Las Vegas where many good judges felt he was robbed
of a victory, while some of his other fighters have also suffered
from controversial officiating in overseas fights.
***************************************************************************
Vic hooks a world crown
by Grantlee Kieza
Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia)
December 18, 2004 Saturday
VIC Darchinyan, the mighty atom of Australian boxing, unleashed some
big blows to win the IBF world flyweight title in Hollywood, Florida,
yesterday.
The Sydney Olympian, who stands just 166cm tall, knocked out
Colombia’s previously unbeaten Irene Pacheco in the 11th round before
a stunned crowd at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel.
The 51kg Darchinyan, whose father ran a petrol station in Armenia,
fought as though propelled by rocket fuel, decking the world
titleholder with a left hook in round 10 and finishing him off with a
similar punch in the next round.
The 28-year-old joins interim WBC super-middleweight champ Danny
Green as world titleholders trained by all-time great Jeff Fenech.
The fight had been halted for 10 minutes between rounds eight and
nine because of exploding fireworks near the venue and the bout was a
cracker from round one.
“This is the greatest moment of my life,” said Darchinyan, who had
dreamed of becoming world champion since he started boxing in Armenia
at the age of eight when he still went by his real first name,
Vakhtang.
“I always believed I could beat Pacheco and now I plan to be world
champion for many years.
“My plan is to unify the title and beat the WBC and WBA champions.”
Darchinyan, who became an Australian citizen in July, is unbeaten in
22 fights with 17 knockouts.
Pacheco, 33, the world champion since 1999, lost for the first time
in 31 fights.
***************************************************************************
ARMENIAN BOXER WINS IBF FLYWEIGHT TITLE
ArmenPress
Dec 17 2004
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Vic Darchinyan scored an
11th-round technical knockout of defending champion Irene Pacheco to
win the IBF flyweight title Thursday night. Darchinyan (22-0, 17
KOs), a native of Armenia now living in Australia, controlled the
pace for most of the bout and finally knocked down Pacheco in the
10th round with a right to the head.
Darchinyan didn’t let up in the 11th. He unloaded a series of
unanswered shots near the ropes and then dropped Pacheco a second
time with another right to the head 44 seconds into the round.
Pacheco’s cornermen had seen enough, asking referee Jorge Alonso
to stop the fight. For Pacheco, of Colombia, it was his first career
loss in 31 professional fights and seventh title defense.
***************************************************************************
Darchinyan destroys Pacheco, wins flyweight world title
By Anthony Cocks, DHB Site Editor (December 17, 2004)
Doghouse Boxing, Canada
Dec 18 2004
Vic ‘Raging Bull’ Darchinyan
Australian-based Armenian Vic ‘Raging Bull’ Darchinyan became the
first Jeff Fenech trained fighter to win a world title when he
knocked out long reigning champion Irene ‘Mambaco’ Pacheco in the
11th round to annex the IBF flyweight title on Thursday night at the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
The 33-year-old Columbian southpaw was knocked down twice in the
fight, once in the tenth and again in the fatal eleventh round. Both
times right hooks did the damage. Pacheco was also deducted a point
for a low blow in round nine and another two points in round ten for
the same infraction.
Darchinyan, an accomplished amateur who relocated to Australia after
competing in the Sydney Olympics, took the fight to Pacheco from the
opening bell and never took his foot off the gas.
Pacheco, who was making the 7th defense of the title he won in 1999
with a 9th round stoppage of Luis Cox Coronado, enjoyed some success
with a body attack in the middle rounds but overall had little answer
to the 28-year-old’s relentless pressure.
Referee Jorge Alonso called a halt to the bout at 0:44 of round 11
after Pacheco was knocked down for a second time.
The fight was originally scheduled to take place on September 3 in
Florida before Hurricane Frances scuttled those plans.
The win is of particular significance to former three division
champion and Hall of Famer Fenech, who despite having trained some of
Australia’s best fighters to world title shots has until today been
unable to win the big one.
With the win Darchinyan moves to 22-0 (17) and joins the illustrious
ranks of Jimmy Carruthers, Rocky Mattioli, Lionel Rose, Johnny
Famechon, Lester Ellis, Barry Michael, Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding,
Kostya Tszyu and Anthony Mundine as Australians who have won world
titles.
Pacheco suffers his first loss and falls to 30-1 (23).
Australian fight fans can watch a replay of the fight on Fox Sports 2
on Christmas Eve, 24th December 2004 from 7:30pm AEDT.
***************************************************************************
Goodnight, Irene: Darchinyan victorious in title bid
December 18, 2004
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Dec 18 2004
Vic Darchinyan turned on the pugilistic pyrotechnics after the real
life fireworks had finished to give Australia another eastern
European-bred boxing world champion in Florida on Thursday.
Darchinyan, who represented Armenia at the Sydney Olympics,
maintained his own unbeaten record and shattered the one belonging to
International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Irene Pacheco,
stopping the champion in the 11th round of their championship bout at
the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.
Darchinyan knocked Pacheco down in the 10th and 11th rounds before
the Colombian’s corner stepped in.
The Australian won the encounter despite an interruption of several
minutes caused by fireworks exploding nearby and numerous low blows
from a desperate Pacheco, who was deducted a point in both the ninth
and 10th rounds.
“They had to stop the fight for several minutes and we were going
crazy because we knew Vic was getting on top. And when the 10th round
started, Vic just jumped on him,” Darchinyan’s trainer, Jeff Fenech,
said from Florida. “He was hitting Vic in the balls because he was
getting beaten.”
It was 28-year-old Darchinyan’s 22nd consecutive win and Pacheco’s
first defeat in 31 bouts.
The victory also gave three-division world champion Fenech his first
world titleholder as a trainer. “The monkey is finally off my back,”
yelled a jubilant Fenech.
Darchinyan, who registered his 17th KO win, joins IBF
super-lightweight titleholder Kostya Tszyu as Australia’s only
top-level world champions.
“I think I destroyed him because I stopped him,” said Darchinyan, who
registered his 17th KO win. He had vowed before the fight to destroy
33-year-old Pacheco, who had made six successful defences since 1999
but had not fought for 15 months.
Darchinyan followed the advice of Fenech when the fight resumed
following the break between the eighth and ninth rounds.
“Jeff asked me to throw more punches and miss his right jab and throw
my straight left, and I did exactly what Jeff told me,” Darchinyan
said. “I started the fight good, but in a few of the middle rounds, I
started waiting for him because I just wanted to catch him with one
big punch. It wasn’t the right way. Jeff reminded me to throw more
punches.”
Fenech had made it clear what he wanted from Darchinyan.
“After three rounds he was so tired because he’s had such a long
preparation and I was pushing him hard. I got stuck in between a
couple of rounds and said to him: ‘If you don’t listen to me, I’m
going to walk out’,” Fenech said.
“There was some close rounds. Vic hit him with many better punches, I
thought Vic was just in front, but I didn’t want to say to him. I
kept telling him ‘C’mon Vic, we’re behind’.”
***************************************************************************
Vic’s a knock-out
By GRANTLEE KIEZA
Daily Telegraph, Australia
Dec 18 2004
VIC Darchinyan, the mighty atom of Australian boxing, unleashed some
furious fission to win the IBF world flyweight title in Hollywood,
Florida yesterday.
The Sydney Olympian knocked out Colombia’s previously unbeaten Irene
Pacheco in the 11th round before a stunned crowd at the Seminole Hard
Rock Hotel.
The 51kg Darchinyan, 28, whose father ran a petrol station in
Armenia, fought as though propelled by rocket fuel, decking the world
titleholder with a southpaw left hook in round 10 and then finishing
him off with the same punch in the 11th.
He now joins interim WBC super-middleweight champ Danny Green as two
world titleholders trained by all-time great Jeff Fenech.
The fight had been halted for 10 minutes between rounds eight and
nine because of exploding fireworks near the venue and the bout was a
cracker from round one.
“This is the greatest moment of my life,” said Darchinyan, who had
dreamed of becoming world champion since he started boxing in Armenia
at the age of eight when he still went by his real first name,
Vakhtang.
“I always believed I could beat Pacheco and now I plan to be world
champion for many years.
“My plan is to unify the title and beat the WBC and WBA champions.”
Darchinyan, who became an Australian citizen in July, is now unbeaten
in 22 fights with 17 knockouts. Pacheco, 33, the world champ since
1999, lost for the first time in 31 fights.
Darchinyan started the bout between the two left-handers in whirlwind
style but the lanky Pacheco, enjoying a 5cm height advantage, fought
back in the middle rounds using long-armed body shots.
Referee Jorge Alonso took a point off Pacheco in round nine for a low
blow and penalised him two more points in round 10 for the same
offence.
But Darchinyan had no intention of winning on points.
The bout, postponed from September 3 as Hurricane Frances struck the
Florida coast, will be telecast on Fox Sports on Christmas Eve.
***************************************************************************
Armenian takes IBF flyweight title
ESPN
Dec 17 2004
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Vic Darchinyan scored an 11th-round technical
knockout of defending champion Irene Pacheco to win the IBF flyweight
title Thursday night.
Darchinyan (22-0, 17 KOs), a native of Armenia now living in
Australia, controlled the pace for most of the bout and finally
knocked down Pacheco in the 10th round with a right to the head.
Darchinyan didn’t let up in the 11th. He unloaded a series of
unanswered shots near the ropes and then dropped Pacheco a second
time with another right to the head 44 seconds into the round.
Pacheco’s cornermen had seen enough, asking referee Jorge Alonso to
stop the fight.
For Pacheco, of Colombia, it was his first career loss in 31
professional fights and seventh title defense.
***************************************************************************
Darchinyan wins IBF flyweight title with TKO of Pacheco
Associated Press
Dec 17 2004
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Vic Darchinyan scored an 11th-round technical
knockout of defending champion Irene Pacheco to win the IBF flyweight
title Thursday night.
Darchinyan, a native of Armenia now living in Australia, controlled
the pace for most of the bout fought outdoors at the Seminole Hard
Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood.
Darchinyan’s gradual dominance began to take its toll on Pacheco in
the 10th round, when Darchinyan sent him to the canvas with a right
to the head.
With a weary Pacheco returning to his corner at the end of the round,
Darchinyan didn’t let up his assault at the beginning of the 11th. He
unloaded a series of unanswered shots near the ropes and then dropped
Pacheco a second time with another right to the head.
Pacheco’s cornermen had seen enough, asking referee Jorge Alonso to
stop the fight at 44 seconds of the round.
For Pacheco, of Colombia, it was his first career loss in 31
professional fights and seventh title defense.
Darchinyan (22-0, 17 KOs) was the busier fighter from the opening
round and didn’t let Pacheco build much of an offense. Pacheco’s
frustrations prompted repeated warnings from Alonso for hitting below
the belt.
The low blows eventually cost Pacheco a point deduction in the ninth
and another two points removed in the 10th.
To add to Pacheco’s miseries, he suffered a deep gash to his right
eyebrow after colliding heads with Darchinyan in the fifth.
The fight was delayed seven minutes before the ninth round because of
a loud fireworks display during a festival adjacent to the fight
facility.
Darchinyan weighed 111 pounds for the bout, while Pacheco weighed
112.
***************************************************************************
Darchinyan stops Pacheco to win IBF flyweight title
by Paul Upham:
SecondsOut
Dec 17 2004
Australian based Armenian “Raging Bull” Vic Darchinyan
22-0 (17) won the IBF flyweight title on Thursday night at the Hard
Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, USA with an 11th round
knockout over Colombian Irene Pacheco 30-1 (23). Darchinyan dropped
Pacheco with a left hand in round 10 and again in round 11, before
the corner of 33 year-old Pacheco stopped the fight.
“I am very happy,” Darchinyan told SecondsOut. “Jeff (Fenech) came
into the ring when they stopped the fight and he picked me up. After
much hard work, finally I have become world champion.”
28 year-old Darchinyan first joined Jeff Fenech’s Team Fenech in 2000
after representing his native Armenia at the Sydney Olympic Games.
The three-time world champion and Hall of Famer was very impressed
with what he saw and encouraged him to stay in Australia and turn
professional.
“He went exactly how I thought he would go,” said Fenech. “I thought
that he was going to be a little off. He had been training for so
long. I knew he would go through this tired period and then he just
came back strong as ever.”
The first six rounds of the fight were very close and Fenech reminded
Darchinyan between rounds of what was at stake.
“I thought it was close,” said Fenech. “I thought Vic might have been
in front by one round after nine. It was close and afterwards they
told me that after nine rounds it was even. I had some serious words
to Vic at the end of round eight and nine. I told him a few home
truths and he went out and did the job.”
“It was my fault,” admitted Darchinyan, in describing some slow work
from himself in the middle rounds. “I stopped a bit and Jeff reminded
me to keep punching again.”
In rounds 9 and 10 Pacheco was twice penalised for intentional low
blows. “When he knew that Vic was going to finishing him, he was
punching low on purpose,” said Fenech.
“Pacheco was a good champion,” said Darchinyan. “He had some good
punches to the body. But he was a dirty fighter too. He hit me low
when we were in close.”
After the 9th round, there was an unusual ten-minute delay for safety
reasons due to a large fireworks display next door at the Hard Rock
Hotel.
“It was crazy,” said Fenech. “We weren’t worried about the fireworks.
I told the referee to just let them fight. We were there to win.”
Darchinyan, who arrives back home in Sydney at 8am on Sunday morning,
has no promotional options on him and will not have to make a
mandatory defence until September 2005. Unification bouts with WBC
flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and WBA champion Lorenzo
Parra are a priority.
“I want to stay at flyweight and win the WBC and WBA titles,” said
Darchinyan. “I’ll talk to Jeff and after that, we may move up in
weight.”
If those fights are not possible straight away, Darchinyan has his
eyes fixed on a USA 2000 Olympian.
“I want to fight Brian Viloria,” he said. “I have sparred him before.
I win, no problem.”
***************************************************************************
This compilation was contributed to by:
Sebouh Tashjian
Katia Peltekian
–Boundary_(ID_e1UYdSa7m+2P9t0ydWqZMw)–

Azerbaijan to bar transit cargoes to Armenia across its territory
By Sevindzh Abdullayeva, Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
December 17, 2004 Friday
BAKU, December 17 — Problems on the border between Azerbaijan and
Georgia will be settled when “we are fully certain that not a single
gram of cargoes is transited to Armenia”, said on Friday Azerbaijan
President Ilkham Aliev, speaking in an interview with reporters. He
commented on the situation on the border between the two countries,
where a great number of trains with oil, petroproducts, grain and other
goods congregated over inspections of wagons with transit cargoes.
The head of state noted that as a result of smuggling operations,
falsification and swindling with cargoes, passing across the Azerbaijan
territory to Georgia, “a possibility emerged to sidetrack some of
them to Armenia”. “We have put an end to this and will not permit
such actions at any price,” the president emphasized.
He added that the border with Georgia would open if “a normal regime
of work is established there, otherwise it will remain closed”.
Aliev noted that Azerbaijan’s actions find understanding with the
Georgian leadership. “We understand that this is detrimental to
Azerbaijan and to Georgia to a certain degree, but there is no other
way out,” he stated.
Speaking of relations with Georgia, Aliev said that “there are some
forces, wishing to inflict damage on us”. “We know what these forces
are. They are inside Azerbaijan, but they concentrate mostly outside,”
the Azerbaijan leader continued. “We shall not permit to inflict
damage on the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia
as well as to interfere with our cooperation,” he added.
Azerbaijan started inspecting transit cargoes at the Beyuk-Kyasik rail
station, bordering Georgia, on December 7. According to official data,
this move was prompted by signals that part of cargoes, passing across
Azerbaijan to Georgia, are sidetracked to Armenia.
The multilateral agreement on the development of the transport
Europe-Caucasus-Asia corridor, signed in September 1998, there is
a special reservation of Azerbaijan that its territory should not
be used for transit of goods to Armenia and reception of goods from
that country.

Program gives kids a shot in the arm
Organization hopes to raise $200,000 at fundraising
dinner to vaccinate children in Armenia.
Glendale News-Press
December 15, 2004
By Josh Kleinbaum
PASADENA — Until two years ago, children in Armenia
received one vaccination, paid for by international
aid organization UNICEF. The vaccination only covered
measles, leaving children exposed to a handful of
other diseases, including mumps and congenital
rubella.
Outbreaks of mumps began rippling through the young
population of Armenia, said Kathryn Donovan, a UNICEF
spokeswoman. Adults suffered from rubella, leading to
unhealthy newborns.
“Untreated mumps, while not fatal, can have serious
health consequences,” Donovan said.
A Glendale-based organization is giving the next
generation of Armenians a shot in the arm, quite
literally. The Millennium Armenian Children’s Vaccine
Fund is raising $1.5 million to vaccinate every child
in Armenia for diphtheria, hepatitis B, mumps,
measles, rubella, pertussis, polio, tetanus and
tuberculosis. At 6:30 tonight, the fund will hold a
gala fundraising dinner to try to raise the final
$200,000.
“This is the one sector of aid or health that reaches
every single person who was born in Armenia,” said
Eliza Karagezian, the fund’s director. “All of the
other projects are necessary or important, but none of
them touches every single person the way that our
project does. Starting off a new generation of
children in Armenia on a healthy foot is extremely
important. The first step of a healthy democracy is
having a healthy population.”
Michael Mahdesian, former deputy director, Bureau for
Humanitarian Response United States Agency for
International Development, and Lise Grandé, United
Nations Development Program Resident Representative to
Armenia, will speak at the $200 per person gala at the
Craven’s Estate, 430 Madeline Drive in Pasadena. Actor
Mike Connors will be a special guest.
Organizers hope the fundraiser will complete the $1.5
million two-year fundraising effort, which is expected
to vaccinate 37,000 Armenian children per year for the
next 15 years.
“What I love about this program is fact that a little
bit of effort yields a great good,” said Tamar
Kevonian, publisher of Mosaix, an Armenian lifestyles
magazine, who will serve as master of ceremonies.
“It’s a finite project, not something that people have
to contribute to every year. There’s a lot of other
organizations that provide assistance, but this is on
such a molecular level. If we don’t keep these kids
healthy, they can’t grow up to take advantage of
education benefits, career benefits, anything.”
Karagezian said tickets will be available at the door.
For more information, call 291-6490.
,1,5462749.story
–Boundary_(ID_j3cCImG2P7So4yKap4YqmQ)–

‘Brave Support’ from French President Chirac to Turkey
The Journal of Turkish Weekly
Dec 16 2004
French President Jacques Chirac in an interview to TF1 TV has said
that Turkey could join the European Union – if it complies in full
with entry requirements, and partial membership was not an option.
Chrirac said membership negotiations can be started in 2005.
President Chirac spoke after the European Parliament (EP) voted to
approve the start of accession talks. In their non-binding vote,
passed by 407 votes to 262, MEPs called on EU leaders to open entry
talks with Turkey “without undue delay”.
This week the EU leaders will meet with Turkish counterparts in
Brussels, and they will decide on Friday whether negotiations with
Turkey will start or not.
Mr Chirac stressed that the EU would benefit from having Turkey aboard.
“Does Europe, and particularly France, have an interest in Turkey
joining it?” he asked in a live interview on French TV.
“My answer is… ‘Yes, if Turkey totally meets the conditions we
impose on any candidate for our union’.”
Chirac: “Partial Membership is not an Option”
Mr Chirac suggested that partial membership for Turkey, as suggested
by some of his own supporters in France, was not an option.
“To ask a country like Turkey, a great country with a rich and long
history, to make a considerable effort to reach a risky or partial
result is not reasonable,” he said.
If Ankara met all its accession obligations, he continued, it should
not be turned away at the last moment.
“We will take a very heavy responsibility for history if, faced with a
people who tell us ‘We have adopted all your values, all your rules,
all your objectives’ ,we tell them, ‘Eh, no thanks’,” the French
leader said.
President Chirac’s clear support for Turkey is found brave by the
EU experts: “There is a strong opposition and manipulation against
Turkey in France. Extreme nationalists and religionists with extreme
Armenian and Greek lobbies do anything possible in order to block
Turkey’s membership. Under these curcumstances Chirac gave a vivid
support for Turkey’s EU bid. And this should be appreciated. Simply
a brave decision” said Dr. Selin Akyuz from the ISRO.
‘Meaningful’
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the vote as
“very meaningful” but warned that his country would walk away if
confronted by any “unacceptable conditions”.
‘Red Lines’
Earlier on Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul set out
four “red lines” his country would not cross:
– Negotiations must have Turkey’s complete membership as the final aim
– Turkey must not be forced to extend diplomatic recognition to the
Republic of Cyprus
– The decision to start talks must not be conditional on subsequent
decisions by EU leaders
– There should be no special conditions imposed permanently on Turkey.
–Boundary_(ID_sd2/1rhZJeMLmFp7jx5nZw)–

NEWS Press
14 décembre 2004
LE MEMORIAL PETROSSIAN A CLICHY!
Ville de Clichy
Clichy Echecs 92 ont le plaisir de vous informer que dans le cadre du
Mémorial Petrossian (champion du monde de 1963 à 1969) et avec la
Fédération Arménienne d’Echecs, sera organisé un tournoi sur Internet
regroupant les meilleures nations échiquéennes.
Ainsi, du 18 au 23 Décembre 2004, cette rencontre Internationale
opposera la Russie, la Chine, l’Arménie et la France.
Une conférence de presse sera organisée le samedi 18 décembre à 17h
dans les salons de l’hôtel de l’Europe, 35 rue Morice à
Clichy-la-Garenne.
Pour tout renseignement, contactez Jean-Claude Moingt au
06.03.00.47.79 ou à l’adresse [email protected]
Site:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BBC News
Dec 14 2004
European Press Review
Europe’s Turkish challenge
The French newspaper Le Figaro comments on France’s decision to ask
Ankara to admit that the killing of hundreds of thousands of
Armenians during World War I amounted to genocide.
“The French authorities are trying to give assurances to French
public opinion and the elected representatives … who are hostile to
Turkey joining the European Union.”
Noting that the request will be put to Turkey during membership
talks, the paper says France has “never before established such a
clear link” between the Armenian deaths and talks on Turkey’s
membership of the EU.
The paper recalls that French-Turkish ties were strained in 2001 when
France termed the killings “genocide”.
“By demanding that Ankara recognises the Armenian tragedy of 1915,
Paris risks reopening an old wound,” the paper warns.
Denmark’s Jyllands-Posten is more concerned about Turkey’s neighbour,
Cyprus.
In calling for improved relations on the island at a crucial moment
for Turkey, Cyprus is “obviously attempting to take Turkey hostage in
an attempt to have a Cyprus solution imposed without contributing
anything itself,” the paper believes.
“The precarious situation shows that it was a major mistake to allow
the Republic of Cyprus into the EU as long as the problem of the
divided Mediterranean island had not been solved.”
For Sweden’s Expressen, “old Europe” fears that Turkish membership
will scupper European integration are misplaced.
“The EU is above all a peace project”, it explains.
“Turkey offers an opportunity to tear down the wall of the 21st
Century – the one between the West and the Muslim world”.

Agence France Presse
13 décembre 2004 lundi 12:53 PM GMT
Paris doit composer avec une opinion publique hostile à l’adhésion
turque (PAPIER D’ANGLE)
Par Suzette BLOCH
PARIS 13 déc
Une forte majorité de Français est hostile à l’entrée de la Turquie
dans l’Union Européenne, mettant les autorités françaises, qui y sont
au contraire favorables, dans une position délicate à la veille du
sommet européen des 16 et 17 décembre.
Un sondage publié lundi dans Le Figaro montre que 67% de Français se
déclarent opposés à une Turquie européenne. 39% d’entre eux
expliquent ce refus par le fait que “les droits de l’Homme n’y sont
toujours pas respectés” et 34% parce qu’il “y a trop de différences
religieuses et culturelles”.
Les Français ne sont cependant pas fermés à la discussion puisque 54%
des sondés sont favorables à l’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion.
Cette hostilité contraint le gouvernement à répéter inlassablement
que “négociations d’adhésion” ne veut pas dire “adhésion” et que
toutes les options restent ouvertes.
“Ceux qui prétendent que la Turquie va inévitablement, dès demain
matin, entrer dans l’Union, mentent”, a ainsi déclaré le ministre des
Affaires étrangères Michel Barnier lundi dans Le Parisien.
La France souhaite que le sommet européen qui décidera de l’ouverture
des négociations d’adhésion en fixe la date à fin 2005 ou début 2006
soit après le référendum sur la Constitution européenne. Elle veut
éviter que la question turque ne parasite le débat sur la
Constitution européenne, en apportant des arguments aux partisans de
son rejet.
Pour rassurer son opinion publique et sa classe politique, Paris
souhaite également que soit affirmé dans le texte du sommet européen
qu’il s’agit d’un processus ouvert, dont la conclusion n’est pas
garantie, et que soit mentionnée l’option possible d’un “partenariat”
privilégié UE-Turquie, en cas d’échec.
“La conclusion des négociations qui vont s’ouvrir n’est pas écrite.
C’est un processus dont le résultat n’est pas garanti d’avance: La
France souhaite d’ailleurs que ceci soit spécifié vendredi à
Bruxelles”, a indiqué M. Barnier lundi.
Le président Jacques Chirac a déjà tenu à rassurer les Français en
leur promettant qu’ils seront de toute façon, le temps venu,
consultés par référendum sur l’adhésion de la Turquie.
Outre l’opinion publique, la classe politique est également
majoritairement opposée à l’adhésion de la Turquie, notamment au sein
de la droite qui est divisée sur cette question jusqu’au plus haut
niveau.
Jacques Chirac et Michel Barnier ont toujours défendu l’idée d’une
Turquie européenne, allant à l’encontre de l’UMP (Union pour un
mouvement populaire) qui s’est prononcé contre.
“Notre intérêt est qu’une Turquie intégrée soit, le jour venu, notre
frontière définitive au sud-est de l’Europe”, a encore redit lundi M.
Barnier.
A gauche, le PS est plutôt favorable mais pose comme condition la
reconnaissance par Ankara du génocide arménien de 1915. Seuls les
Verts sont totalement en faveur de l’adhésion turque.
“Si un vote avait lieu actuellement, 80% des parlementaires français
voteraient contre”, affirmait récemment un membre de l’entourage de
Michel Barnier. “Cette opposition est fondamentalement due à des
questions de religion”, estimait-il.
Le président de la Conférence des évêques de France, Mgr Jean-Pierre
Ricard, a annoncé cette semaine avoir envoyé une lettre au président
Chirac pour lui faire part de “l’inquiétude de l’Eglise catholique au
sujet du respect des droits fondamentaux en Turquie”.