Turquia no tiene quien le alpauda

El Periódico de Catalunya
12 dic. 2004
TURQUÍA NO TIENE QUIEN LE APLAUDA

CARLOS Elordi
A medida que se acerca la cumbre que habrá de fijar posiciones, el
debate en torno a la entrada de Turquía en la Unión Europea ocupa
cada vez más espacio en las secciones de opinión de los diarios y
semanarios serios de nuestro continente. Y si algo se deduce de unas
y otras aportaciones es que son pocos, aunque a la cabeza de ellos
figuren nada menos que Chirac y Schröder, los partidarios firmes, sin
ambages, del sí. Muchos otros ponen pegas, matizan, proponen
retrasos. Y unos cuantos se oponen abiertamente a la idea.
Rudolph Scharping, exministro y expresidente del partido
socialdemócrata alemán, lo ha dicho muy claro en LE FIGARO: “No hay
duda alguna de que en el actual estado de cosas, Turquía no está en
condiciones de convertirse en miembro de la UE. Aunque ese país haya
llevado a cabo progresos sorprendentes y en plazos muy cortos, aún
sigue muy lejos del objetivo: la sociedad civil dista mucho de ser
estable; Turquía no asume la totalidad de su historia, y
concretamente el genocidio armenio. No están garantizados los
derechos de la mujer. Los ciudadanos turcos siguen siendo el mayor
colectivo de refugiados políticos en Alemania. Habrá que esperar
muchos años y algunos conflictos para ver si el control civil sobre
los militares y la prohibición de la tortura son pilares reales y
aceptados de una democracia fundada en un verdadero estado de
derecho”.
En un debate que ha publicado LE NOUVEL OBSERVATEUR, Daniel Cohn
Bendit, actual portaestandarte del europeísmo más entusiasta, ha
defendido una postura (más o menos la de “veamos que ocurre y
decidamos luego”) que, si no fuera porque se argumenta con
reflexiones fundadas, podría ser calificada de frívola. “Yo estoy por
la apertura de negociaciones, sin que por ello sepa cómo van a
terminar. En el actual estadio de nuestra historia debemos intentar
el milagro del Bósforo sin saber si se producirá. Al final del
periodo de prueba, no será la adecuación de las legislaciones lo que
nos permitirá confirmar que existe una comunidad de valores y que
podemos llevar a cabo la ampliación, sino la evolución global del
nivel de vida, la actitud hacia la religión, la laicidad, la
condición de la mujer. …”. Concluye con pragmatismo: En definitiva,
si dentro de diez años Turquía se convierte en ‘La Meca de la
democracia’, con un Islam secularizado de forma democrática, la
integración no sólo sería posible, sino deseable. Negarse a esa
perspectiva sería hacer el juego a los islamistas radicales”.
A más corto plazo, parece que Europa no tendrá más remedio que
resolver el contencioso que él éxito de ventas de los aviones Airbus
ha generado con los Estados Unidos. Porque si hasta LOS ANGELES
TIMES, tal vez el más anti-Bush de los grandes diarios
norteamericanos, se ha desmelenado en sus ataques a Bruselas con tal
motivo, hay que suponer que el ambiente está que arde en aquel lado
del océano: “Las relaciones transatlánticas, actualmente deterioradas
por el conflicto e Irak, pueden empeorar significativamente si EEUU y
la UE no resuelven su más importante disputa comercial. Los altos
subsidios con los que los gobiernos europeos apoyan al Airbus en su
competición con Boeing violan las leyes comerciales internacionales.
El gobierno Bush hace bien presionando a los europeos”, ha escrito el
gran diario californiano.

Foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia meet in Brussels

Kazinform, Kazakhstan
Dec 10 2004
Foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia meet in Brussels
Baku. December 10. KAZINFORM. On the eve of the Euro Atlantic
Partnership Council /EAPC/ session in Brussels, Foreign Ministers of
Azerbaijan and Armenia met in presence of the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs to discuss on the base of the so-called “Prague process”
the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
announced, AzerTaj reports. Addressing the EAPC session participants,
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov expressed the need
to further develop political dialogue with NATO allies and partners
to strengthen security in the region.
“Security Cooperation between NATO and Partners in the South Caucasus
will enhance the prospects for tackling the complex problems of the
region”, he said.
He also touched the illegal settling of ethnic Armenians in the
occupied territories saying “transfer of settlers into the occupied
territories runs counter to sincere and serious negotiations,”
Speaking of the successful cooperation of Azerbaijan with the
Northern Atlantic Alliance, Minister Mammadyarov focused on
Azerbaijan’s active involvement in the peacemaking operations in
Kosovo and Afghanistan, as well as the international coalition in
Iraq.
“There has been very good progress on cooperation not only in the
military sphere.
Border security, science, environment, civil emergency and public
affairs represent new developing areas of partnership between
Azerbaijan and NATO,” he continued.
In Brussels, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov also met with Foreign
Minister of France Michel Barnier, European Union Foreign Policy
Chief Javier Solana and EU Special Representative on South Caucasus
Heike Talvitie.

Azerbaijan will strengthen its armed forces

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 10, 2004, Friday
AZERBAIJAN WILL STRENGTHEN ITS ARMED FORCES
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is not the topic of negotiations –
it must be restored, and the invaders must leave the republic’s
territory. Only after that the issue of the peace treaty can be
raised. (…) This statement was made by President Ilham Aliyev of
Azerbaijan at a government meeting on December 7. (…)
Azerbaijan will focus on military construction. (…) Aliyev stated:
“The defense budget will increase by 30% next year. Later on we will
be able to increase it by 50%, 100% and 200%. Azerbaijan’s economic
potential makes this task realistic. Armenia cannot compete with us.
Armenia’s budget amounts to only $500 million. Azerbaijan spends $250
million on its army.”
Source: Turan information agency (Baku), December 8, 2004
Translated by Alexander Dubovoi

DM has not Thought of participation in presidential 2008 elections

PanArmenian News
Dec 9 2004
ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER HAS NOT “THOUGHT OF POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION
IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2008”
09.12.2004 14:29
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsian stated in
an interview with the Golos Armenii newspaper that speaking about his
possible participation in the presidential election in 2008 “is too
early”. Of course one can understand people’s interest towards the
matter, however, I have not even thought about it yet, S. Sargsian
said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian Students Earn High Marks in AP 2004 Awards

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone 212.319.6383 x.118
Fax 212.319.6507
Email [email protected]
Website
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, December 9, 2004
AGBU MANOOGIAN-DEMIRDJIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS EARN HIGH MARKS IN AP
SCHOLAR AWARDS 2004: SELECTED FROM OVER ONE MILLION STUDENTS
New York, NY – Thirty-nine students at AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian
School have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board
in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level
Advanced Placement Program (AP®) Exams.
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the
opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in
high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or
both for successful performance on the AP Exams.
About 17 percent of the more than one million high school students in
almost 15,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP Exams performed
at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP
Scholar. At AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School, 39 percent of all
students who took AP Exams in May 2004 have earned AP Scholar Awards.
The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on
student performance on AP exams. At AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian, three
students qualified for the National AP Scholar Award, eleven students
qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, five students
qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award, and twenty students
qualified for the AP Scholar Award.
Most American colleges and universities award credit, advanced
placement, or both based on successful performance on the AP
Exams. More than 1,400 institutions award a full year’s credit
(sophomore standing) to students presenting a sufficient number of
qualifying grades.
The College Board’s mission is to connect high school students to
college success and opportunity. The College Board is committed to the
principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied
in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns.
Established in 1976, AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian () is
one of AGBU’s largest Armenian schools in the Diaspora and continues
to serve Southern California’s growing Armenian community.
For more information on AGBU and its programs around the world, please
visit,

www.agbu.org
www.agbumds.org
www.agbu.org.

BAKU: PACE to hear report on deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armeni

PACE to hear report on deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 8 2004
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Committee on
refugees, internally displaced persons and population heard a report
on deportation of more than 100,000 Azerbaijanis from Armenia from
1947 to 1953 in its meeting held in Paris on Monday on a request of
the Azerbaijani side.
According to Bakhtiyar Aliyev, the member of the Azerbaijani
delegation at PACE, the report, which provides evidence on genocide
and deportation of the Azerbaijani people perpetrated by Armenians
for centuries, has been included in a draft resolution.*

BAKU: Daily says Russia aims to ruin Georgian-Azeri relations

Daily says Russia aims to ruin Georgian-Azeri relations
Yeni Musavat, Baku
6 Dec 04
Excerpt from Elsad Pasasoy report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat
on 6 December headlined “Tension continues in Borcali” and subheaded
“Five Georgians have been arrested for shooting at ethnic Azeris. The
village of Qullar has been cordoned off”
The situation remains tense in the villages of Qullar and (?Qirixli)
in Georgia’s Marneuli District.
[Passage omitted: Recap of a land dispute which resulted in the
killing of one and wounding several ethnic Azeris, and the arrest of
five Georgians]
Zumrud Qurbanov [Qurbanli], one of the leaders of the Qeyrat movement,
has said that the developments at the Boyuk Kasik station [where
Azerbaijan has stopped wagons allegedly heading for Armenia via
Georgia] may have been connected with the events in Georgia. “Any
tension between the two countries is bound to affect the ethnic Azeris
in Georgia.”
The Azeri villages where the events took place are still cordoned
off by the police. Although the Georgian law-enforcement bodies
try to describe this as a security measure, the Azeris reckon that
the authorities are trying to break their resistance because the
neighbouring villages are all Azeri-populated and there is no need
for a cordon.
One of the most common explanations for the events in Georgia and the
general rise in tension on the border between the two countries is that
Russia has a hand in that. It is a serious issue that in the space
of a week following the tension at the Boyuk Kasik station, weapons
were used against ethnic Azeris in Borcali [Borchalo in Georgian;
administrative unit – uyezd – in Tsarist Russia since 1880, included
parts of what currently is Bolnisi, Dmanisi, Marneuli, Tetri-Tsqaro,
and Tsalka districts of Georgia].
Russia has skilfully managed to turn Armenia and Azerbaijan into
enemies and it is perfectly possible that now Russia seeks to create
a similar relationship between Azerbaijan and Georgia. Regrettably,
the Azerbaijani leadership has yet to voice its stance on these events,
at least at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His Holiness Karekin II Assigns New Priests

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
December 7, 2004
His Holiness Karekin II Assigns New Priests
By the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, nineteen newly-ordained priests
have been appointed to serve in the dioceses and programs of the Holy
Armenian Apostolic Church.
All of the new priests, the first twelve graduates of the Accelerated
Academic Course for the Priesthood and seven graduates of the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary were anointed and ordained into the
Holy Order of Priesthood in October of this year by His Grace Bishop
Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Following their ordinations, the new priests completed the traditional
40-day seclusion period of fasting, mediation and prayer. On Sunday,
November 21, the new priests celebrated their inaugural Divine
Liturgies at different churches throughout Armenia.
The order of His Holiness assigns the priests as follows:
Rev. Fr. Norayr Simonian is appointed as a chaplain in the Armenian
Armed Forces. The Armed Forces Chaplaincy program currently has 25
priests and deacons who provide spiritual care and leadership to the
Armenian soldiers.
The Araratian Pontifical Diocese, the largest diocese in the world,
will receive four new priests: Rev. Fr. Ghazar Petrossian is assigned
to the town of Byureghavan, Rev. Fr. Babgen Hayrapetian in Noubarashen,
Rev. Fr. Tovmas Andreasian to the village of Dalar, and Rev. Fr. Husik
Nurijanian is assigned to the Monastery of Khor Virap.
The Dioceses of Shirak will receive two new priests: Rev. Fr. Yeznik
Galsdian in Akhurian, and Rev. Fr. Pavstos Sargisian in Artik.
Rev. Fr. Moushé Vahanian and Rev. Fr. Manuel Mkrtchian have been
appointed to serve in the Diocese of Aragatsotn, in Chk’nagh and
Ashtarak respectively. Within the Diocese of Gougark, Rev. Fr. Simeon
Arakelian will serve in the city of Ijevan and Rev. Fr. Vrtanes
Baghalian will be in the city of Vanadzor. Rev. Fr. Nerses
Shahnazarian will serve in Chambarak, in the Diocese of Gegharkunik.
Completing the dioceses within Armenia, Rev. Fr. Mashtots Babayan
is assigned to the city of Abovian and Rev. Fr. Smbat Sargisian will
serve in Arindj, both in the Diocese of Kotayk.
His Holiness has appointed three priests to bring their service to the
Diocese of Artsakh (Republic of Nagorno Karabagh): Rev. Fr. Arakel
Ghazarian, Rev. Fr. Gyut Ghahramanian and Rev. Fr. Matteos Dravants.
Finally, the Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhijevan will receive
two new priests. Rev. Fr. Anania Babayan will serve in the city of
Rostov and Rev. Fr. Aristakes Hovhanissian has been assigned to Moscow.
##
–Boundary_(ID_l1fPYGHqkHszX+iNCx0KIA)–

BAKU: Azeri, Armenian FMs to continue talks in Brussels

Azeri, Armenian FMs to continue talks in Brussels
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 7 2004
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan
Oskanian are expected to continue their Prague talks in Brussels
on December 9. This was agreed upon by the two ministers in Sofia
on Monday.
The meeting held within the 12th annual session of the OSCE foreign
ministers council focused on prospects for peace settlement of the
Upper Garabagh conflict and ways of increasing efficiency in this area.
Afterwards, Armenia’s unlawful policy of settlement in the
occupied lands of Azerbaijan was discussed on Minister Mammadyarov’s
initiative. Also discussed was sending an expert group to the region
to conduct monitoring.
Minister Mammadyarov and his deputy Araz Azimov are scheduled to
leave Sofia for Brussels to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of
the North Atlantic Partnership Council on December 9-10.*
–Boundary_(ID_WBUafod6mty4qSQFRJb2Ng)–

CSTO to expand cooperation with other intl organisations

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
November 30, 2004 Tuesday
CSTO to expand cooperation with other intl organisations
By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN
The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) will not only work
to raise the effectiveness of its structures, but will also widen
cooperation with other international organisations, Secretary of the
Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov said on Tuesday.
He spoke at a meeting of the committee of Security Council
secretaries of CSTO member states held in the Armenian capital.
According to Ivanov, these organisations will include first of all
the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), NATO and
the European Union.
The Russian Security Council chief also said the meeting participants
discussed the plan of action on priority fields of activity of the
CSTO – fighting against international terrorism, drug trafficking,
illegal migration and various types of extremism.
“These are the problems the CSTO member states and the entire
international community are concerned about,” Ivanov said.
Summarising the meeting results, its participants stressed the
organisation has made a transition from political declarations to
concrete work in quite a number of spheres.
For example, in the sphere of military cooperation, military
personnel training and combating drug addiction.
“The CSTO is confidently taking to its feet. It is a serious
organisation, which has won international recognition. We are
positive that its further development meets our common interests,”
Ivanov emphasised.