Author: Kanayan Tamar

EU Gives Turkey Green Light
EU’s Historical Step Pleases Turkey
Verheugen Saves Turkey Report
Heated Debates Center around Turkey Report
World Talks about Turkey, Supports Progress Report
Busy Day for EU Sees Croatia Get Date, Turkey Recommended Date
[News Analysis]
Final Decision to be Made on December 17
Commission Foresees Different Procedures for Turkey
Turkey Prepares for Tough Talks with EU
Gul: EU Rejection of Turkey would Insult Islamic World
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EU Gives Turkey Green Light
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 2 2004
The European Union (EU) Commission yesterday released its Progress
Report on Turkey. In addition to praising the reforms Turkey
undertook in the five years since it obtained the status of candidate
country in 1999,
the report also gives Turkey the green light to start membership
negotiations. However, the green light comes with strings attached.
EU Commission President Romano Prodi said that the decision is a
“qualified yes”. However, he warned that Turkey needs to improve in
the area of human rights, and added that the start of negotiations
does not necessarily guarantee membership.
The report itself clearly states that if Turkey backtracks on reforms
or if political unrest occurs, the Commission could recommend that EU
leaders suspend the talks. Suspension of the negotiations would
require approval of a majority of EU members.
Because several of the EU member countries are still distant to
Turkey’s membership, discussions stretched on for hours yesterday.
Political groups in the European Parliament voiced their views on the
results of the report.
Commission officials emphasized that the negotiations are a process
and that reforms as well as their implementation should be
maintained; otherwise, the negotiations will be suspended.
On the other hand, there was confusion over the inclusion of a few
articles in the report. Some experts assessed the EU’s addition of
measures such as suspending negotiations, restricting free movement,
and holding open-ended talks as amounting to a double-standard for
Turkey. Others defended that such measures were included in order to
tame the opposition against Turkey.
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen put
forward that Ankara should not be concerned about the restriction on
free travel.
“We don’t start negotiations with three options. Our only goal is to
sign the accession agreement with Turkey,” explained the
Commissioner.
In an exclusive interview, Verheugen said that the condition to
suspend negotiations is just a precaution. He indicated it would only
be employed in case of a military coup, religious revolt, or the
revival of the death penalty.
“Turkey is no longer in the category of the countries that do not
respect human rights,” added Verhugen.
Even though the report praises Turkey progress, many parts of the
report constantly remind the country of the need to implement
reforms.
The report credits Turkey’s current Justice and Development Party
(AKP) government with realizing the bulk of the reforms undertaken
since the 1999 Helsinki summit. However, it notes that torture and
bureaucratic resistance to reforms are areas that Turkey still needs
to work on.
The report also encourages Turkey to take a harder look at
implementing reforms related to freedoms of thought and religion and
the rights of women and minorities.
While the Commission did not mention any date regarding when the
negotiations would begin, Ankara reminded that the EU previously
decided “to start negotiations immediately if the report is
positive.”
The report also does not hint when the negotiations might be
completed.
***************************************************************************
EU’s Historical Step Pleases Turkey
10.07.2004
Brussels, Zaman
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the
Progress Report released by the European Union (EU) Commission is
“generally balanced”.
Erdogan, holding a press meeting at the European Council yesterday in
Strasbourg, added that he believes the Commission report will be
approved in its current form at the December 17 EU summit.
“Since the report is affirmative, negotiations should officially
start within the first few months of 2005,” said Erdogan.
When reminded that Commission President Romano Prodi announced the
report with a “conditional yes”, the Prime Minister responded: “There
is no such thing. I think there is a miscommunication.”
“Today, we have reached the first target. We were given the first
green light, and we completed the first lap in the flag race,”
indicated Erdogan. He also emphasized that Turkey does not want any
special privileges during the membership process.
The Prime Minister then underlined the fact that by fulfilling some
of the criteria, Turkey was already ahead of some current EU member
countries. “We demand what is just for Turkey, nothing else.”
Regarding the suspension of negotiations if deemed necessary, Erdogan
said, “This could be disrespectful to a country that sped up the
democratization process. If there is civil insurrection in a country
then [the negotiations] should be suspended.”
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul assessed the report
for the press in Ankara. He said that the Commission took a
historical step both in terms of Turkey and the EU.
Gul however expressed his disturbance at the fact that the report
contains criteria and precautions for Turkey that fall outside of the
Helsinki resolutions. Gul objected to the idea of “open-ended”
negotiations. He said that “full membership” could be the only result
of the talks.
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Verheugen Saves Turkey Report
10.07.2004
Ali Ihsan Aydin, Cemil Kartal, Suleyman Kurt
Strasbourg, Ankara
The release of yesterday’s Progress Report on Turkey caused heated
debates in the European Union (EU) Commission.
The attempts by Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration to
include a clause requiring Turkey to recognize the Greek Cypriot
administration in the report almost brought the meeting to a halt.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen emphasized that Turkey
supported the Annan Plan for a solution in Cyprus and therefore met
its responsibility in the issue.
In addition, EU Commissioner for External Affairs Chris Patten
stressed that such a condition cannot be put forward for Turkey since
it did as much as it could regarding the issue.
On the other side, several more commissioners announced their support
for the position of the Greek side. French commissioners Pascal Lamy
and Jacques Barrot, Spanish commissioner Loyola de Palacio, and
Slovak commissioner Jan Figel all acknowledged that they supported
the Greek attempt.
As the heated discussions continued, Verheugen said that if the
Greeks insist on their argument, he would withdraw the report. Patten
fully supported Verheugen, saying it would be proper to withdraw the
report. The duo’s firm stance made the Greeks step back.
The Greek side had wanted to append the phrase “all parties should
recognize each other” to a paragraph on the 9th page of the report
that reads, “Negotiations will be conducted with the participation of
EU members within the framework of an intergovernmental conference
requiring a unanimous vote.”
In the end, the sentence was included in an indirect form that
reminds Turkey the Greeks will be at the negotiation table.
***************************************************************************
Heated Debates Center around Turkey Report
10.07.2004
Foreign News Services
Istanbul
The European Union (EU) Commission’s Progress Report on Turkey caused
heated debates yesterday among the political groups in the European
Parliament.
“I think this is the biggest nonsense I heard in 2004,” said Europe
People’s Party leader Hans-Gert Poettering when the Commission
announced that there was no evidence of systematic torture in Turkey.
Socialist leader Martin Schulz said: “We want big security plans to
be made in order to preserve the peace in the 21st century. I think
we have a better chance for this with Turkey than without Turkey.”
Liberal group leader Graham Watson said, “The EU’s openness to Turkey
should contribute to the harmonization of the three monotheist
religions.”
Daniel Cohn-Bendit of the Greens, which reacted against the
anti-Turkey groups, signaled his support for start of negotiations.
“I absolutely believe that this will contribute to peace. At the same
time, it will increase Europe’s strategic importance in a dangerous
world.”
***************************************************************************
World Talks about Turkey, Supports Progress Report
10.07.2004
Cihan
Brussels
Media institutions the world over provided ample coverage of the
release of the European Union (EU) Commission’s Progress Report on
Turkey and the ensuing reactions.
EU Term President the Netherlands informed, “The impartial decision
that will be made at the December summit will be based upon the
findings of this report.”
The Netherlands added that the reason no date was given for the start
of negotiations was because Turkey still had some deficiencies that
needed to be addressed.
The US administration meanwhile disclosed that it was satisfied with
the report.
German Chancellor Gerhard Shröeder repeated his support for a date to
begin negotiations, and said he found the report “fine and serious”.
Elsewhere, French President Jacques Chirac insisted that Turkey’s
accession could take at least 10-15 years if EU members reach a
consensus to start the negotiations. He also repeated his view on
conducting a referendum on Turkey’s full membership.
On the other side, British Prime Minister Tony Blair gave strong
support to Ankara. British Foreign Affairs Minister Jack Straw added
that the “EU should keep its promise now.”
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen found the report
“deliberate but positive”.
The Italian government signified that the report would ease the
process of giving a negotiation date. “The Italian government will
continue to implement its duty on the issue.”
Greece, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Slovenia also strongly supported
Ankara’s membership.
Austrian Prime Minister Wolfgang Schuessel warned Europe not to close
its doors to Turkey.
***************************************************************************
Busy Day for EU Sees Croatia Get Date, Turkey Recommended Date
10.07.2004
Foreign News Services
Istanbul
The European Union (EU) Commission advised that membership
negotiations with Croatia should begin in early 2005.
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen said yesterday in
his speech at the European Parliament, “The Commission provides a
basis to start negotiations with Croatia next year.”
The recommendation of the Commission will be decided on at the EU
Leaders Summit on December 17. The EU Commission also advised the
membership of Bulgaria and Romania to the Union in 2007.
Meanwhile, opponents of Turkey in the European Council tried to
append conditions to the report on Turkey just prior to the report’s
release. Suggested conditions ranged from acceptance of the
[so-called] Armenian genocide to a privileged partnership; however,
none of the conditions were added.
A few commissioners suggested that Turkey had not met the required
criteria. They therefore argued against the recommendation of a
negotiation date.
On the other hand, a large majority of the commissioners supported
the start of the negotiations, assuming Turkey fulfilled some
provisions.
No voting session was held in the Commission, and the decision was
taken by consensus rather than unanimity.
***************************************************************************
[News Analysis]
Final Decision to be Made on December 17
10.07.2004
Zaman
Brussels

The long-awaited Progress Report on Turkey was finally released
yesterday. The report did not declare an “exact yes”; however, at the
same time there were no heavy conditions that Turkey would be unable
to handle. The important thing was whether or not the Commission,
after a 45-year struggle, would advise an unconditional start to
negotiations. It has been achieved; however, strings have been
attached to the actual negotiation process.
We should agree on this: the European Union (EU) will conduct the
membership negotiations with Turkey in a different way. Like EU
Commissioner for Agriculture Franz Fischler, an opponent of Turkey’s
membership, said yesterday, the negotiation with Turkey would not be
the same as the ones held for the other countries.
It has been predicted that Ankara will easily digest conditions such
as open-ended negotiations and the EU’s ability to suspend
negotiations if Turkey backtracks on reforms. It is true that these
conditions are valid for other countries in word, but they were
handed to Ankara in writing.
Yet, the “permanent restriction” on one of the EU’s four basic
liberties, freedom of movement, indicates that the attitudes towards
Ankara are different.
Though the expression about the permanent restriction in the
recommendation is not binding, it matters in two aspects: The first
is that these arguments will constantly be brought up during the
negotiations, which could last 10-15 years; Second, an appropriate
circumstance will be created so as to allow EU leaders to make
ambiguous decisions at the December 17th EU summit.
At the December 2002 Copenhagen Summit EU leaders said that they
would decide according to the progress and recommendation report;
they pledged to start negotiations immediately if the results were
positive. What is expected from the EU leaders on December 17 is a
decision to start negotiations in February or March of next year.
Turkey, which has had the negotiation decision in its pocket, both
decisively carries on the reform process and reminds the EU to keep
its promise.
Brussels advises the opening of negotiations based on the assumption
that reforms such as the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and Appellate
Courts law will be completed by December. Ankara should not let
opponents create excuses.
It is advantageous to stay on guard until December 17 by considering
the possibility that the leaders will dilute the report’s
recommendation. That is the very time we will understand how
seriously the EU takes the report.
***************************************************************************
Commission Foresees Different Procedures for Turkey
10.07.2004
Selcuk Gultasli
Brussels
The European Union (EU)’s Progress Report on Turkey, which will be
released tomorrow by the European Commission for Enlargement, will
recommend that Turkey follows a different schedule for accession
negotiations – a schedule, the Commission tells Ankara, that previous
countries were subject to, albeit indirectly.
The Commission’s change in timeline attends to the anxieties of
Turkey’s opponents, while its defense reassures Ankara that it is
receiving equal treatment. Many of the recommendations that were not
given to previous countries are not new the Commission said, and are
merely solidified for Turkey.
Below are some of the reports conclusions.
– The 9-page report will recommend the start of negotiations.
– The start of negotiations will not depend on one condition, and its
continuity will be indexed to many conditions.
– The discussion process does not promise automatic membership. The
process is therefore open ended.
– Rules that were negligible, and not mentioned for former
candidates, will be solidified for Turkey.
– If Turkey does not fulfill all recommendations, discussions could
be delayed.
– Negotiations will not be done in a chronological fashion, rather,
Turkey will address several recommendations at once.
– Turkey’s application will be taken under microscope.
While writing the report, the Commission was sensitive to the
concerns of its constituents. One Commission official even said that
the report’s recommendations were a “foot massage” for the EU.
Intense debate and argument surrounded the report’s drafting.
Reporters suggested that if the General Managers within the
Commission for Enlargement couldn’t compromise, then the
Commissioners would have to when they convened on Wednesday.
According to sources within the Commission, the French brought a
plethora of concerns to yesterday’s discussions regarding the
recommendation’s context. Some sources noted that French President
Jacques Chirac has turbulent approval from the public — fodder for
Prime Minister Erdogan to publicly jest him.
***************************************************************************
Turkey Prepares for Tough Talks with EU
10.06.2004
Foreign News Services
Istanbul
Last second negotiations took place in the run up to today’s release
of the European Union (EU) Commission’s Progress Report on Turkey.
Anti-Turkey EU members attempted to append plenty of conditions to
the recommendation report. Ankara on the other hand warned Brussels
about applying a double standard to Turkey’s membership bid.
“We did our homework, now it is Europe’s turn to take the test,”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said from Strasbourg.
Recommendations put forward the other day by general directors in the
Commission raised concerns in Ankara.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul held frequent talks over the
phone with his German, Dutch, British and Spanish counterparts, as
well as EU Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen. Gul
requested that the negativities be ironed out. One of Ankara’s
greatest concerns was talk about including a “permanent restriction”
on the movement of Turks in Europe. Turkey made its displeasure
known, and in the end the proposed restriction was softened.
Turkey expects the fact that it has completed all the political
criteria to feature prominently in the report.
Foreign Ministry diplomats in Ankara who assessed the “whispers”
coming from Brussels held a two session meeting led by Gul. During
the meeting, the EU Commission’s Ankara Office of Representative was
contacted. A high-level diplomat described the atmosphere in general
as “cloudy yet moderate”.
Ankara discussed with Brussels Turkey’s approach to “possible
conditions”, such as being forced to recognize the So-Called Armenian
Genocide, recognition of the Greek Cypriot administration of EU
member Cyprus, and restriction on free travel.
Points that Turkey could definitely not accept were clearly addressed
one by one. For instance, EU Commissioner for Trade Pascal Lamy the
other day insisted on the recognition of the [So-Called] Armenian
genocide as a pre-condition.
Ankara explained to Brussels that it is ready to meet any demand
regarding the Copenhagen Criteria; however, it underlined that it
would not tolerate demands unrelated to the Criteria in the
recommendation report.
Meanwhile, EU Commission President Romano Prodi reiterated that there
would be “no special conditions for Turkey.”
Ankara relaxed a bit when Brussels explained that the rule of halting
negotiations would be applied to all candidate countries from now on,
including Croatia. The rule will allow the EU to suspend negotiations
with candidate countries if there is a constant deviation from human
rights and basic freedoms. EU sources point out that military coups
and backward steps in the reform process would also lead to the
suspension of negotiations.
Diplomatic sources disclose that absence of an expression calling for
an immediate start to negotiations would not constitute any
difficulty for Ankara since a decision in that direction had already
been reached at the EU Copenhagen Summit in 2002.
***************************************************************************
Gul: EU Rejection of Turkey would Insult Islamic World
10.06.2004
Selcuk Gultasli, Salih Boztas
Brussels
While the European press write that today’s European Union (EU)
Progress Report on Turkey is not a “technical” decision based solely
on the Copenhagen Criteria, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
said yesterday that he is certain negotiations will start; however,
he warned that the Islamic world would perceive a “subjective
political rejection” as an insult.
Gul explained that Turkey has changed in the last two years. He said
that the conditions required to begin negotiations have been
fulfilled and that no matter what, Turkey’s reform process would
continue.
“What if EU rejects Turkey?” asked one reporter.
Gul replied, “If a subjective political ‘no’ comes out, its
ramifications will not be limited to Turkey. Everyone will begin to
say, ‘Regardless of what you do, you will never be accepted since you
are Muslim.’ This would provide the Islamic world with a source of
enmity against Europe. It becomes a great insult. This is a test not
only for Turkey, but Europe as well.”
Turkey dominated the headlines across Europe yesterday. The UK’s
Financial Times contends that in theory the decision about whether or
not to start negotiations is a technical decision that should be made
depending on Turkey’s progress in democracy and human rights;
however, in practice it goes far beyond the technical points.
Despite the claims of pro-Turkey Europeans who defend that the
decision on Turkey’s membership was given 40 years ago, anti-Turkey
Europeans still maintain some geopolitical, economic, and demographic
reservations. The paper predicts that the report will recommend the
start of negotiations; however, the final decision will rest with
state and government leaders who will convene in Brussels in
December.
Meanwhile, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) emphasized that the
EU toughened the accession conditions for Turkey.
Yesterday’s edition of the Guardian claims that the real issue in
terms of Turkey’s accession to EU is not religious, but economic. The
paper suggests that Turkey’s agrarian-based economy dominated by
middle and lower income groups will clash with the rich
industrialized economies of Western Europe.
Belgium’s La Libre Belgique daily writes that the EU holds the “sword
of Democles” over Turkey. The paper indicates that Brussels will try
to maintain its control over Ankara.
Le Soir on the other side claims that the documents discussed by the
EU Commission contain tough conditions.
10.06.2004
Foreign News Services
Istanbul

CENN – OCTOBER 6, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. The Eurasia Foundation Georgia Office
2. Metsamor Plant Reactivated After Repairs, Refueling
3. National Oncology Center in the Limelight of State and International
Community
4. China Allocates 100mln. USD for Construction of Rubber Producing
Plant
5. Caustic Soda Production to be Set Up in Armenia
6. ExxonMobil Fails to Find Oil in the Caspian Shelf
1. VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT — THE EURASIA FOUNDATION GEORGIA OFFICE
Vacancy Announcement
Title: PMDI Program Coordinator
Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Program Officer is
responsible for developing and managing the Pipeline Monitoring and
Dialogue Initiative (PMDI). PDMI is a new Initiative implemented by
Eurasia Foundation in cooperation with BP, UNDP, IFC for building
capacity of Georgian NGO’s in Monitoring Methods for Pipeline
Construction & Operations. PDMI supports a series of activities aimed
at developing monitoring skills amongst NGOs and their members,
providing an effective channel for increased public dialogue related to
pipeline-oriented issues.
The Program coordinator will be responsible for overall management and
coordination of the PDMI initiative, including:
a) Coordinating and facilitating the meetings of NGO representatives
involved in the project.
b) Organizing activities the NGO working groups on social,
environmental, cultural heritage, and labor rights issues;
c) Developing the training curricula for the project participants;
d) Organizing trainings for the project participants;
e) Organizing field trips and collection of relevant information in
coordination with other partners;
f) Facilitating the report writing process, compiling and submission of
the final reports
g) Representing the foundation on issues of the project in relations
with partners, donors, and media.
Requirements:
§ An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or beyond) in public
policy, journalism, law or environmental sciences.
§ At least three years experience working in Georgian or international
NGO’s.
§ Knowledge of the history and trends in civil society development in
Georgia.
§ Excellent written and spoken Georgian, English, and Russian.
§ Computer literacy, particularly Microsoft office programs.
§ Demonstrated analytical, written, and communication skills.
§ Excellent ability to work with others to achieve results; coaching,
developing teams.
Applicants should submit in English (1) a curriculum vitae (CV) and (2)
a detailed cover letter explaining their qualifications for the
position.
Applications should be submitted to the Eurasia Foundation office, or by
e-mail to [email protected].
3, Kavsadze Street, Tbilisi, Georgia 0179
Tel./Fax: (995 32) 22 32 64
The deadline for application submission is October 14, 2004
E-mail: [email protected]
2. METSAMOR PLANT REACTIVATED AFTER REPAIRS, REFUELING
Source: RFE/RL
The nuclear power station at Metsamor, which meets nearly 40 percent of
Armenia’s energy needs, was reactivated on Monday more than two months
after its sole reactor was stopped for refueling and regular capital
repairs. The plant’s director, Gagik Markosian, told RFE/RL that it
would resume supplies to the national power grid on Tuesday.
Mr. Markosian said the capital repairs have further improved the safety
of Metsamor’s Soviet-designed reactor built in 1979. He said the work,
carried out once in four years, has involved the installation of new
equipment provided by the United States and the European Union,
estimating their cost at `millions of dollars.’
According to Gagik Markosian, the two-month period has also been used
for a close inspection of the reactor core conducted by specialists from
Skoda, a Czech engineering firm chosen in an international tender. They
found it in good condition, he added.
The light-water reactor was brought to a halt on July 30 shortly after
the delivery of a new batch of Russian nuclear worth $12 million. It
replaced approximately one third of Metsamor’s previously loaded fuel
and should keep the facility operational for at least one year.
Mr. Metsamor was placed under the financial management of Russia’s RAO
Unified Energy Systems utility last year in payment for its $40 million
outstanding debts to Russian fuel suppliers.
The plant resumed power generation despite last month’s closure of
Russia’s border with Georgia that disrupted the delivery of a special
lubricant used in the process. Prime Minister Andranik Markarian warned
as recently as Wednesday that this could delay the planned reactivation.
Mr. Markosian revealed, however, that the Metsamor management found
another Russian supplier and imported the substance by air.
The U.S. and the EU continue to provide substantial financial and
technical assistance to the plant despite their long-standing calls for
its closure on safety grounds. The Armenian government says it is safe
enough to operate for another decade.
3. NATIONAL ONCOLOGY CENTER IN THE LIMELIGHT OF STATE AND INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY
Source: Armenpress, September 30, 2004
Funded by US State Department, Community and Humanitarian Assistance
Project Armenian Office of Counterpart International have provided
medical equipment and medicine in the amount of 320,000 USD to Armenian
National Oncology Center. This is a donation of US National Oncology
Coalition.
The center hosted representatives of the organization and the project
today. Counterpart International has committed itself to continue
dispatch of medical equipment to the center with the total cost of
assistance for the running year exceeding 1mln USD. Since 2001, the
organization has supplied the center with medical items of about 12 mln
USD through its Community and Humanitarian Assistance Project.
According to Sergei Khomchenko, a representative of the organization and
the project, Counterpart international assists the most needy patients.
He argued that prevention of oncology illnesses is far easier than their
treatment. He said that smoking is widespread in Armenia that is one of
the major causes of the illness.
According to Hairapet Galstian, National Oncology Center Head, thanks to
Counterpart International the center is equipped with modern technology.
He said that they are particularly in need of diagnoses equipment that
cost 1mln USD and are not affordable neither for the state nor the
center.
The center head said that government also earmarks funds for the
operation of the center.
US national oncology coalition supports medical program in some 10
countries throughout the world.
4. CHINA ALLOCATES 100MLN. USD FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RUBBER-PRODUCING
PLANT
Source: Arminfo, October 4, 2004
China has allocated 100mln. USD for the construction of a plant to
produce chloroprene rubber by Armenian technology, stated Albert
Sukiasyan the Armenian participant in the project, Director of the
“Nairit 2”.
According to him, the construction of a plant with a designed capacity
of 30,000 tons of rubber a year in the province of Shaahsi was started a
year ago. The Armenian share in the authorized capital of the
“Shaansi-Nairit” CJSC is 40%, and that of China 60%. Sukiasyan pointed
out that the State Bank of China lent a credit, and the Armenian side is
to contribute with technologies and equipment. Sukiasyan pointed out
that a rubber-producing plan is already operating in Shaansi, but it was
closed for environmental reasons. The old plant is to be shut down after
the new one is put into operation, 50km. away from the city. Sukiasyan
reported that China’s yearly demand for rubber is 100,000 tons.
An agreement on the establishment of a JV was signed on October 2001
between the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development and the
Shaansi group of joint-stock companies of synthetic rubbers.
5. CAUSTIC SODA PRODUCTION TO BE SET UP IN ARMENIA
Source: Arminfo, October 4, 2004
A number of foreign companies are showing interest in a 30mln. USD
project of setting up the production of pure solid caustic soda in
Armenia initiated by the “Nairit-2” CJSC, stated Karen Karapetyan, Head
of the Information Department, Armenian Development Agency (AAA).
According to him, the project was submitted to the Eurasian Economic
Union (EAEU) in Moscow on September 20, 2004. US companies showed the
greatest interest in the project. Karapetyan pointed out that
investments are to be directed to the purchase of up-to-date equipment.
Production is expected to be organized at the “Nairit 2” CJSC. The
project envisages the production of 50 to 100 thousand tons of caustic
soda a year. Karapetyan reported that the principal raw material in the
production of caustic soda is table salt. Salt solution is leached from
under the ground, and the formed cavities are expected to be used for
storing fuel and oil products. The storage will allow oil-processing
enterprises to be established in Armenia. Karapetyan said that the
Rustavi-based “Azot” plant is a large consumer of caustic soda in the
region.
6. EXXONMOBIL FAILS TO FIND OIL IN THE CASPIAN SHELF
Source: CBN, October 6, 2004
Major U.S. oil company, ExxonMobil, has lost hope for finding a large
oil deposit with its Azeri flagship offshore, after its local venture
partner reported on Wednesday that the first ultra-deep well yielded
only gas. The drilling at the Zafar-Mashal offshore field had been
expected to produce a considerable clue as to whether the Caspian
country’s shelf contained more significant reserves, or if its overall
potential had been overestimated.
—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

California Courier Online, October 7, 2004
1 – Commentary
Turkey Becoming More Repressive
On the Eve of EU Accession Report
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
**************************************************************************
2 – FAPC Harvest Festival Celebrates
Blessings of San Joaquin Valley
3 – Armenian Youth Volunteers
Clean Little Armenia Streets
4 – 2004 ARPA Film Festival
Begins Screenings Oct. 5
5 – Atanian’s Art Works on Exhibit
Nov. 6-7 at St. Andrew Church
6 – St. James Ladies Are Cooking
For Annual Luncheon, Oct. 30
7 – Spending a Summer in
Armenia as a Nurse’s Aide
8 – USC’s Institute of Armenian Studies
Plans Inaugural Banquet for Feb. 6
************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Turkey Becoming More Repressive
On the Eve of EU Accession Report
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Several unexpected developments took place in rapid succession last week on
the eve of the European Commission’s critical report, due on October 6, on
whether Turkey is finally ready — after a long wait of 40 years — to
begin talks for admission into the European Union (EU).
Prime Minister Receb Tayyip Erdogan has made the start of EU accession
talks his number one priority. To accomplish this, he has left no stone
unturned. He has made countless lobbying trips to various European
capitals. He has enlisted the help of the United States to pressure the
European countries into making a favorable decision on Turkey. He has also
whipped his party’s parliamentary majority into action at breakneck speed
to pass a large number of laws to comply with EU requirements, even though
most of them have not been implemented.
Just when Erdogan seemed to have all his ducks in order, he surprised
everyone by proposing an unexpected addition to the Turkish penal code —
the criminalization of adultery. He was severely criticized for that even
by his most ardent European supporters. Making mattes worse, Erdogan then
decided to withdraw the whole penal code from the Turkish parliament’s
agenda. Shocked EU officials strongly denounced his actions warning him
that unless the parliament immediately approved the revamped penal code
without the offensive adultery clause, Turkey would have no chance of
getting a date for EU accession talks.
Erdogan angrily rejected EU’s criticism as “interference in Turkey’s
internal affairs.” He bragged: “We are Turks, and we will make our own
decisions. EU membership is not indispensable.” EU officials did not back
down. They told him that Turkey had to adapt to Europe, rather than the
other way around. Erdogan immediately flew to Brussels and agreed to have
the Turkish parliament hold an emergency session and approve the new penal
code without the adultery clause.
Even though Erdogan was harshly criticized both at home and abroad for his
brash behavior, some analysts believe that he made a very shrewd move. EU
officials were so pleased and relieved by his backing down on the adultery
clause, that they immediately declared that Turkey had met all the
requirements to have a date set for the start of EU talks. By relenting on
the one issue that he had adamantly sworn that he would not, Erdogan was
able to trick the EU officials by diverting their attention away from
Turkey’s many other deficiencies in the fulfillment of EU requirements.
The EU commissioners turned a blind eye to the anti-democratic articles
found in the new penal code. These repressive clauses severely restrict the
Turkish citizens’ freedom of speech. For example: It is a criminal offense,
punishable by a lengthy jail term, to praise a person who has committed a
crime; to incite hostility against a particular group of people; to make
propaganda for a criminal organization; to reveal confidential information
related to a judicial inquiry; to insult the president, the parliament, the
government, the courts, the military, the flag, the national anthem, etc.
The most shocking restriction, however, is included in article 306 of the
new penal code that prescribes a jail term of up to 10 years for anyone who
receives a benefit from a foreign source to carry out activities against
the national interest of Turkey. The Parliamentary Committee of Justice
that had drafted this clause said that it would be illegal, for example, to
call for the withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from Cyprus or to declare that
the Armenians were actually subjected to “genocide following World War I.”
This article reveals the extent of the Turkish government’s intransigence
on the subject of the Armenian Genocide. At this most critical juncture,
when the Turks are supposed to be on their best behavior on the eve of the
release of the EU report setting a date for accession talks, they brazenly
pass a law making it a crime to speak of the Armenian Genocide! As if this
new draconian law was not enough, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul announced
last week that his Ministry had set up a committee to promote the denial of
the Armenian Genocide and to counter the planned commemorative events on
the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
All those naïve European and Armenian officials, who mistakenly believe
that by joining the EU Turkey would be a more democratic state, and
therefore, more willing to recognize the Armenian Genocide, now have to
explain why Turkey is becoming less tolerant about freedom of speech and
more eager to jail anyone who dares to speak about the Armenian Genocide!
If Turkey is not willing to recognize the Armenian Genocide at a time when
it is trying to impress the Europeans with its “impeccably democratic
credentials,” what incentive would it have for doing so once it is already
a member of the EU? Furthermore, if Turkey did not become a democratic
state decades after joining the Council of Europe and a becoming signatory
to scores of international treaties and covenants, why would it be more
democratic after joining the EU?
The blame must be equally shared by EU officials who had an absolute fit
over the adultery issue, but did not say one word against the law that
muzzles people from speaking about genocide. Apparently, Europeans are much
more troubled by the limitations placed on sexual escapades than denying
mass murder! Furthermore, the Turkish leaders, who are fond of saying that
historians and not politicians should deal with the Armenian Genocide, have
now made it impossible for Turkish historians to objectively study this
issue for fear of being locked up!
The European countries should not allow Turkey to join Europe until it
fully complies with all the requirements of the Copenhagen criteria. This
is not an ethnic, religious or geographic issue. The European Community is
a community of values. Until and unless Turkish society upholds these
values, they have no place in Europe. The mere act of adopting European
laws does not make a country European. The government of Turkey must fully
implement every one of these laws.
Finally, imagine if Germany had refused to acknowledge the Jewish Holocaust
and had passed a law making it a crime to even talk about it, would it have
had a chance to become a member of the EU? Turkey should be held to no less
a standard.
When the Turkish public adopts European values, Turkey could then qualify
to join the community of European nations!
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2 – FAPC Harvest Festival Celebrates
Blessings of San Joaquin Valley
FRESNO – The First Armenian Presbyterian Church of Fresno will host its
Third Annual Harvest Festival on October 31, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the
Church Fellowship Hall, 430 S. First Street, Fresno.
Admission is free and open to the public.
The Festival is designed for children ages Pre-School through the Sixth
Grade, their families, and for the young at heart. Activities will include
a gourmet hot dog dinner with accompaniments, bounce house, carnival games
with candy prices, nonstop popcorn machine, face painting, and contemporary
music. Children and adults are invited to wear friendly costumes and the
evening will include a Bible costume contest.
Chartered on July 25, 1897, FAPC is a member congregation of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Armenian Evangelical Union of North
America, an ecclesiastical confederation of churches, missions, and
fellowships in the United States and Dominion of Canada.
Reverend Mgrdich Melkonian is the Senior Pastor of the Church and Annette
Smurr is the Harvest Festival Coordinator.
More details about the October 31 celebration are available by calling
(559) 437-8704 or the church offices, (559) 237-6638.
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3 – Armenian Youth Volunteers
Clean Little Armenia Streets
LOS ANGELES – Hundreds of Armenian youth gathered in Little Armenia on
Sept. 25 providing their volunteer service to the AYF’s 2nd Annual Little
Armenia Cleanup. Volunteers from all over Southern California and even
Fresno helped remove thousands of pounds of trash from major streets in
Little Armenia.
Organized by the Armenian Youth Federation and cosponsored by Los Angeles
City Councilmember Eric Garcetti’s Office, the cleanup attracted volunteers
from the public at large and community organizations such as the AYF,
Homenetmen Los Angeles Chapter, and the ARF Badanegan Organization.
Before the clean up began, Rev. Fr. Vicken Vassilian, representing
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Armenian Church, blessed
both the effort of the AYF and the volunteers’ willingness to serve the
community.
Councilmember Garcetti thanked the volunteers for their efforts and
welcomed the initiative of both the
volunteers and the AYF. Relaying the AYF Central Executive’s message,
Razmig Haroun encouraged the youth to display their ownership of Little
Armenia by increasing their involvement in the improvement of the
community.
“The AYF strives to serve the Armenian nation and Armenian people by every
possible means at its disposal,” said Shant Baboujian, Chairman of the AYF
Western Region. “The Little Armenia Cleanup is one of many such projects to
make this home away from home more reflective both of the Armenian people
and our homeland.”
In the coming weeks 24 “Welcome to Little Armenia” light-post banners will
be added to the existing 39 erected last year. With the depiction of the
Tri-color, Sardarabad Monument, and Mt. Ararat; banners have added a touch
of Armenia to the community.
Official sponsors of the Little Armenia Clean-Up were: Adin of California,
Asbarez Daily Armenian Newspaper, Arbat Grocery & Deli, Horizon Armenian
Television, Nor Hayastan Daily Newspaper, USA Armenian Life Magazine,
Closet World, Color Depot, Donoyan Insurance Agency, St. Vincent Jewelry
Center, Carpet Show, Aramco Imports, Jons Market, Eric Garcetti’s Office
and staff, and the A.R.F. Hollywood Karekin Njteh Gomideh.
To learn more about the AYF, log on to
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4 – 2004 ARPA Film Festival
Begins Screenings Oct. 5
LOS ANGELES – The 2004 ARPA International Film Festival will be held
between Oct. 5-10 at ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood.
This year’s festival theme is “Films Without Borders.”
The festival will feature over 60 films from 20 different countries,
including the United States, France, Italy, India, Iran, Germany, Croatia,
Mexico and Armenia.
Produced annually by the Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art (AFFMA)
the Film Festival is dedicated to cultivating cultural understanding and
global empathy, creating a dynamic forum for international cinema with a
special focus on the work of filmmakers who explore the issues of Diaspora,
exile and multi-culturalism. It also celebrates the ideals of independent
thought, artistic vision, cultural diversity and social understanding.
Founded in 1995, the non-profit AFFMA promotes the arts and enhances the
cultural environment of the community, especially providing support to
filmmakers exploring subjects of social and cultural importance.
For further information about AFFMA, visit
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5 – Atanian’s Art Works on Exhibit
Nov. 6-7 at St. Andrew Church
CUPERTINO, CALIF. – The St. Andrew Armenian Church Cultural Committee is
sponsoring a solo art exhibition sale of the works by Armenian-American
artist from Los Angeles Vladimir Atanian, on Nov. 6-7 at the Church’s
Amerian Hall, in Cupertino.
The opening reception will be held Nov. 6 from 6 to 10 p.m. One work
Special Auction will take place at 9 p.m.
The exhibition will continue Nov. 7 from 12 non to 4 p.m.
Free admission. The church is located at 11370 S. Stelling Road, Cupertino.
For more information, call the Church office (408) 257-6743 or Viola
Uzunian-Choupak (408) 739-3888.
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6 – St. James Ladies Are Cooking
For Annual Luncheon, Oct. 30
LOS ANGELES – The members of the St. James Ladies Society are canning,
cooking and collaborating on the variety of delicacies and gourmet items
that will be featured at their 37th Annual Luncheon and Country Store, Oct.
30, at the church’s Gogian Hall, 4950 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles.
The event opens with a champagne reception at 11 a.m. followed by the
luncheon at 12 noon.
Leann Stepanian, chair of the Ladies Society, said that the Country Store
and Annual Luncheon is always well attended. “We have been fortunate that
people look forward to purchasing our simit, choereg and apricot jam,
faithfully coming back year after year to support our efforts.
The Country Store is chaired by chefs Alice Gondjian and Arpi Barsam, the
Julia Childs of St. James Ladies Society. Guests have to come early to
purchase Gondjian’s choereg and Barsam’s simit.
Lucille Bogossian, chair of the Luncheon Committee, has selected a Western
Theme, and a menu that reflects western-style cooking, with an Armenian
touch.
The Raffle Committee, chaired by Madeline Taylorson (310) 337-1783; Stella
Marashlian (310) 473-5142; and Jeanette Rakoobian (310) 641-0162) promise a
selection of beautiful prizes, as well as a First Prize of $300. cash;
Second Prize. $200.; and Third Prize of $100. Tickets are six for $5 and
can be obtained by calling any of the three co-chairs.
Tickets are $25 and reservations can be made by calling Jean Barsam (310)
541-8406 or Alice Yacoubian (310) 546-3703.

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7 – Experiences of a 16-year-old
Spending a Summer in
Armenia as a Nurse’s Aide
By Nathalie Astrid Kolandjian
As a 16-year-old Armenian-American from Houston, Texas, I embarked on a
unique adventure last summer. I volunteered to work at the Arabkir
Pedriatic Hospital in Yerevan.
I was afraid that I would be unable to communicate with anyone at the
hospital, since I spoke English and French, but no Armenian. My first day
at work was quite an experience. I was put in the hemodyalisis department.
Fortunately, two of the nurses, Amalya and Hasmig, spoke French. They
showed me around the patients’ rooms and introduced me to everyone.
Those on hemodialysis machines don’t have fully functioning kidneys. They
have to come to the hospital three times a week for four hours and have
their blood filtered by a machine. Since organ transplants are only legal
between family members, it is a rare occurrence. All the nurses become very
attached to their patients, because they see each other several times a
week. The atmosphere on the floor was surprisingly always happy. The
patients were surrounded by their families and almost everyone was cracking
jokes and making conversation.
As a nurse’s assistant, I learned to clean and set up the machines, take
the patients’ blood pressure, fill needles, and give small injections. I
stayed in the department for about three weeks, and in that time became
very close with everyone there.
>From the stories my father had told me about rushing in dialysis machines
for earthquake victims, I was hardly expecting such a hospital. From four
dialysis machines, and 5 doctors in 1988 the hospital now employs a medical
staff of 500, with four new Armenian doctors hired every year.
Out of three separate institutions (The Arabkir Pediatric hospital,
Republican Pediatric Hospital, and Centre of Uronephrology and Pediatric
Surgery), the “Arabkir” Joint Medical Centre and Institute of Child and
Adolescent Health was established.
The patients’ medical bills are covered either by state subsidies or by the
“Arabkir” United Children’s Charity Foundation. The hospital now
encompasses branches from pediatric intensive care to radiology and
neurology and serves as a national standard for renal and urological
disease diagnosis and treatment as well as for neo-natal and pediatric
surgery. The hospital, through Dr. Ara Babloyan’s leadership and his
dedicated staff, along with the assistance from donors overseas, has come a
long way.
Amalya told me that when she first started as a nurse eight years ago, she
had seven people die in one year in her department. Now, due to better
technology, and better techniques, there is not even one death per year.
The key to the hospital’s success was the dedication of the medical staff
and their cooperation with other countries. Much of the development of the
hospital would not have been possible without the help of several generous
people. Switzerland, Belgium, France and many other countries have set up
foundations and exchange programs with the hospital. Many of the people who
work there could easily have chosen a different line of work or simply
moved out of the country as many do to Russia and America. Instead, they
chose to stay and help their own people. Dr. Ara Babloyan especially, could
easily have chosen to move to another country, but he hasn’t. He hasn’t
because he loves Armenia. He is a perpetually optimistic man who sees the
bright future that Armenia has in store.
Although the hospital has come a long way, there is still a long way to go.
In the joining of the three separate institutions, the department of
pathology became independent before the Joint Centre was formed. They very
seriously need a pathology lab. There are many services that require a
pathology laboratory (surgery, ENT, Pulmonology, Gastroenterology,
Rheumatology, etc.). A new Pathology lab would also provide services for
other medical institutions such as St. Nerses G. Medical Centre. Also, the
newly established Epilepsy department needs a lot more funding if they are
to afford the latest drugs. Now they are using outdated Russian drugs.
Hopefully, with the same cooperation and dedication, this problem too will
be conquered. The huge growth of this hospital shows that what started out
as seemingly small connections, or attempts to help can blossom into
full-blown projects.
If you would like to help, contact Dr. Ara Babloyan at: [email protected]
or visit the Arabkir website at:
It is places like this hospital that illustrate what a bright future
Armenia has in store.
Nathalie Astrid Kolandjian is a 16 yr. old Senior at St. Johns High Schoo
in Houston, TX.
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8 – USC’s Institute of Armenian Studies
Plans Inaugural Banquet for Feb. 6
LOS ANGELES — Preparations are underway for the Inaugural Banquet of USC’s
Institute of Armenian Studies to be held on February 6, 2005 at Town and
Gown on the USC Campus.
The Steering Committee, led by Charles Ghailian, and the Banquet Committee
chaired by Savey Tufenkian, are hard at work planning for this grand
occasion that would involve the Armenian community, USC Alumni, supporters
and students.
In preparation for this festive event, committee members will be soliciting
gifts and donations toward an endowment in perpetuity, which would support
the Institute’s multifaceted activities for the present and future
generations.
Additional details about the February 6 Banquet will be made public in the
coming weeks. Banquet Committee members are: Elizabeth Agbabian, Sylva
Bezdikian, R. Hrair Dekmejian, Charles Ghailian, Hermine Janoyan, Mary
Kassabian, Shant Minas, Nora Sahagian, Harut Sassounian, Angele Sinanian
and Savey Tufenkian.
**************************************************************************
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PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA GEORGY PIRVANOV WILL VISIT YEREVAN OCT 5-7
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1. ARMINFO. President of Bulgaria Georgy Pirvanov
will pay an official visit to Yerevan accompanied by his spouse Zorka
Pirvanova on Oct 5-7. The Bulgarian leader visits Armenia on the
invitation of Presdient Robert Kocharyan.
The Presidential Press Service of Armenia told ARMINFO that the main
goal of the visit is stimulation of development of interstate ties,
deepening of cooperation between the two states, designation of the
prospects of economic cooperation, as well as exchange of opinions on
the issues of mutual interest. “Today, when integration into European
structures is one of the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy, close
cooperation with the countries of South-Eastern and Central Europe
seems necessary. In this context, it is more than important to develop
bilateral and multilateral relations with Bulgaria,” the press-service
says. On October 5, after a solemn meeting at the Armenian President’s
residency, a tete-a-tete meeting of the two presidents will be held,
which, in its turn, will result in enlarged negotiations. Then a
press-conference will be given. In the course of the visit, Bulgarian
President will meet Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan
and Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. A meeting with Catholicos of
All Armenians will be held in Etchmiadzin. Georgy Pirvanov will also
visit the Memorial for the Victims of the Armenian Genocide. In the
course of the visit, an Armenian-Bulgarian Business Forum will be
held. President Pirvanov is also expected to meet the students and
the teaching staff of Yerevan State University and the school after
P.Yavorov. The president is also expected to visit historical and
cultural sights. On October 7, the Bulgarian delegation headed by
President Pirvanov will leave Yerevan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The sounds of a musical legend
By Sarah Ryan
The Jordan Times
Monday, September 27, 2004
AMMAN – The clock ticks. Eight-thirty passes. The restless crowd of
3,500 people in seats at the Arena begin clapping, sporadic at first,
then insistent that Fairouz take the stage. Nine-fifteen passes. The
clapping takes on a thunderous note as the international singing
legend takes centre stage.
“She’s an angel, I think,” said Laila Sabbagh, a 16- year-old who
has seen Fairouz four times. “Her music is the food of my soul,”
added Sabbagh
Fairouz’s set-list at the Sept. 25 concert reflected her musical past
as well as her recent influences.
She played many of her standards composed by Assi and Mansour
Rahbani as well as more recent music influenced by her son, Ziad
Rahbani. Some of the big hits she sang included, `My home,’ and
`Last days of summer.’
“It’s a concert for a new generation,” said 25-year-old Samer Nahhas,
who has been listening to Fairouz for the past 10 years.
“It was amazing, literally amazing,” he said.
During the song, `I loved you in summer, I loved you in winter,’
Fairouz added a reference to the Jordan River to the cheers of the
crowd. Lighter flames dotted the Arena during the quieter moments of
the concert.
Wafa Jabour travelled all the way from Nazareth to see Fairouz sing
for the second time.
“You feel everything she says. If she speaks about love, you live
it. If she speaks about war, you feel it,” said Jabour.
During the entire concert Fairouz stood straight and proud, almost
immobile, in contrast to the orchestra conductor who had the musical
rhythms running through his veins.
Fairouz had no words for the audience, only songs.
Fairouz, who is approaching 70 years of age, sang an average of three
songs in a row, followed by two instrumental and choir songs while
she was backstage.
A 20-minute interval divided the concert into two parts. When
Fairouz walked on-stage after the intermission, she had traded in
her long black sparkling gown for a white dress, which glittered in
the spotlights.
The Lebanese icon came out for two encores to the delight of the entire
arena, displaying their appreciation with deafening roars and whistles.
The first encore had the crowd on their feet with a rendition of the
Lebanese national anthem.
Fairouz has been in Amman for the past five days rehearsing with her
orchestra from Syria, Lebanon and Armenia.
This was Fairouz’s fourth concert in Jordan. She sang in the musical
play `Petra’ in 1973, the Jerash Festival in 1983 and at the Arena
in 1999.
Fastlink sponsored the event and all proceeds from the concert will
go to the charity “Promise,” which gives scholarships to Jordanian
students in financial difficulty.
Monday, September 27, 2004

A1 Plus | 18:27:27 | 24-09-2004 | Social |
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE APPROPRIATED
One of international organisations has sent 650 tons wheat seeds as
assistance to the republic’s six regions stricken by frost in 2002 and 2003.
It became known recently that 2,100 kg of that amount were distributed
wrongly.
Journalists without borders organisation discussed that incident Friday.
The thing is that Lyudvig Khlghatyan, the headman of Armavir region’s
Dimitrov village, pocketed the aid using his levers.
A suit was filed against him. Villagers say wrongdoer Khlghatyan is backed
by more senior officials. In particular, territorial regulation an
industrial infrastructures minister Hovik Abrahamyan had been named very
often in this connection.
Assyrians make the village population’s 30 percent. That’s why the villagers
view the incident as ethnic minorities’ rights discrimination. The minister’
s deputy Gagik Aslanyan says his chief can’t tolerate persons like Hovik
Abrahamyan.
He promised that things will be put right.
Armenian PM’s adviser on ethnic minorities issues Hranush Kharatyan says
minority tinge will help to solve the problem. If the village was completely
Armenian, there would be less chances for solving the issue through court.

BBC News
Sept 23 2004
In pictures: Yezidi Kurds: Life in the wilderness
There are about 200,000 Kurds in Armenia.
Many of them are Yezidis, a secretive religious sect whose unusual
traditions have, unfairly, led to them being labelled
devil-worshippers.
Leading semi-nomadic lives, they spend winter in their villages and,
in April, move to Alpine pastures high in the mountains.
Journalists Ruben Mangasaryan and Mark Grigoryan explored their lives
for BBCRussian.com.

Uncertain origins
Yezidis are an ancient, pre-Islamic sect of uncertain origin.
They worship the “peacock god” Melek Taus, known more commonly as
Lucifer, whom they do not consider a fallen angel.
This is Pusur Uzmanyan, 60, who is the head of the family. She has 10
children and 40 grandchildren.
Like other Yezidis, she and her family live on the edges of the
Aragats mountain range in Armenia.
Taking sheep to pasture
Yezidis maintain a rich cultural tradition, not just in Armenia, but
also in Syria, Turkey and, most prominently, in Iraq.
Each family member has their own duty – men take sheep to the
pastures while the women make cheese and the children help.
Every morning the sheep are taken out to graze – teenage boys can
shepherd herds of 200-300 animals.
“It is more interesting in the mountains than in the village,” – says
Usup, 12. “Here I am totally free.”
Family fun
The Yezidi settlements are the highest in Armenia – up to 3,000m
(9,840ft) above sea level.
The big event of each day is milking the sheep.
The shepherds bring the animals back to the camp, separating them
from lambs and rams and then corralling them.
A man sits by the entrance of the corral and holds two sheep, which
are milked by two women.
The milk is then poured into a vat, boiled, leavened and left to rest
for a couple of hours.
Bread for the family
Yezidi Kurds live in big Soviet Army tents with no glass in the
windows, which are covered instead by transparent pieces of
cellophane.
A family of 10 to 12 people sleeps in each big tent.
Usually, there is also room for a small cheese factory – tubs or vats
with maturing cheese, salt in bags and truckles of cheese.
Here, Marine is preparing dough to make lavash, or Armenian flat,
round bread.
Cheese-making
Pusur Uzmanyan is getting ready to put Chechil cheese, which is
produced from cow milk, into brine.
Chechil is a special sort of cheese without a crust, which matures in
the brine – like Georgian Suluguni or Italian Mozzarella.
Cheese is the main product of Yezidi Kurd shepherds.
Once a week a buyer comes to collect a consignment of the cheese to
sell for the families.
Dinner time
When it is eating time, the men sit around the table first.
The children and women must wait until the men eat their fill and
only then can start eating.
Then comes the turn of the dogs, who eat the remains.
Usually they eat different milk products, lamb meat and, of course,
freshly baked lavash, washed down with vodka.
After the meal comes Turkish coffee or, as they call it here,
Armenian coffee!
Maintaining tradition
Yezidi Kurd children mostly leave school in April, when their
families move to the mountain pastures, although for some the school
year finishes in June.
At school they learn maths and how to speak and write in Armenian.
However, Yezidis remain fiercely proud of their traditions and have
resisted attempts to “convert” them.
This has led to devil-worshipping allegations and, in some cases,
oppression by their Muslim neighbours.

First stage in Karabakh talks over, Armenian foreign minister says
Arminfo
22 Sep 04

YEREVAN
Any meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, regardless of
their outcome, are a positive phenomenon and lay the foundation for
further steps, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in
Yerevan today, commenting on the 15 September meeting of Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in
Astana.
Asked whether a continuation of [former Azerbaijani President] Heydar
Aliyev’s course in the Karabakh settlement was possible, the Armenian
foreign minister said only that “a gradual continuation was not ruled
out” because “one option has not been rejected by the Azerbaijani
side”.
“But I cannot officially confirm the fact of a gradual continuation,”
Oskanyan said. He also added that he could not “intervene in the
essence of talks between the two presidents”.
“When the presidents think it appropriate, they will do so. I cannot
comment on the contents of their meeting,” Vardan Oskanyan said.
He noted that it was premature to talk about the essence of the talks
and to inform the public of it at this point. “Not at this stage. But
when the necessary stage is reached, the issue will be put on
discussion,” he said.
As for the next meeting of the two foreign ministers, Oskanyan said
there is no agreement to that effect yet. At the same time, the
minister said there might be a pause in the meetings. He added that
the four meetings held were the first stage which “raised” some
issues. If there is a corresponding instruction, the foreign ministers
will then embark on the second stage which will be closer to the
settlement of the issue.

Turkey snaps over US bombing of its brethren
By K Gajendra Singh
Al-Jazeerah
September 19 , 2004
For the first time since the acrimonious exchange of words in July
last year following the arrest and imprisonment of 11 Turkish
commandos in Kurdish Iraq, for which Washington expressed “regret”,
differences erupted publicly this week between North Atlantic Treaty
Organization allies Turkey and the US over attacks on Turkey’s ethnic
cousins, the Turkmens in northern Iraq.
Talking to a Turkish TV channel, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul warned
that if the US did not cease its attacks on Tal Afar, a Turkmen city
at the junction of Turkey, Iraq and Syria, Ankara might withdraw its
support to the US in Iraq.
“I told [US Secretary of State Colin Powell] that what is being done
there is harming the civilian population, that it is wrong, and that
if it continues, Turkey’s cooperation on issues regarding Iraq will
come to a total stop.” He added, “We will continue to say these
things. Of course we will not stop only at words. If necessary, we
will not hesitate to do what has to be done.”
Turkey is a key US ally in a largely hostile region. US forces use its
Incirlik military base near northern Iraq. Turkish firm! s are also
involved heavily in the construction and transport business in Iraq,
with hundreds of Turkish vehicles bringing in goods for the US
military every day. It is an alternative route through friendly
northern Kurdish territory to those from Jordan and Kuwait. But many
Turks have been kidnapped by Iraqi insurgent groups and some have been
killed.
Turkey contains a large ethnic Turkmen population and Ankara has long
seen itself as the guardian of their rights, particularly across the
border in northern Iraq, where they constitute a significant minority.
The US attacks on Tal Afar, which Iraqi Turkmen groups in Turkey say
have left 120 dead and over 200 injured, were launched, the US says,
to root out terrorists. The US has denied the extent of the damage,
saying that it avoided civilian targets and killed only terrorists it
says were infiltrating the town from Syria.
US ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman commented, “We are carrying out a
limited military operation and we are trying to keep civilian losses
to a minimum. We cannot completely eliminate the possibility [of
civilian casualties] …We believe the operation is being conducted
with great care,” he said after briefing Turkish officials. There have
not been any reports of further attacks since the Turkish warning.
The deterioration in US-Turkish relations underlines the fast-changing
strategic scenario in the region in the post-Cold War era after the
collapse of the Soviet Union, the September 11 attacks on the US, the
US-led invasion on Iraq, now conceded as illegal by United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan, and the deteriorating security situation
in that country.
Despite negative signals on Ankara’s mission to join the European
Union, Turkey is moving away ! from the US and closer to the EU – it
is even looking to buy Airbuses, and arms, from Europe rather than the
US.
At the same time, Turkey is drawing closer to Syria, normalizing
relations with Iran and improving economic relations with Russia, as
well as discuss with Moscow ways to counter terrorist acts, from which
both Russia and Turkey suffer. Russian President Vladimir Putin called
off a visit to Turkey when the hostage crisis broke at Beslan in the
Russian Caucasus last week.
And Turkey has also moved away from long-time friend Israel, the US’s
umbilically aligned strategic partner in the Middle East. Turkey has
accused Israel of “state terrorism” against Palestinians. A recent
ruling party team from Turkey returned from Tel Aviv not satisfied
with Israeli explanations over charges that it was interfering in
northern Iraqi affairs.
With newspapers full of stories and TV screens showing the Turkmens
being attacked in the US operations at Tal Afar, many Turks are angry
at what is being done to! their ethnic brethren. These have been large
protests outside the US Embassy in Ankara, and the belief that the US
attacks are a part of a campaign to ethnically cleanse the Turkmens
from northern Iraq is widespread.
“Some people are uncomfortable with the ethnic structure of this area,
so, using claims of a terrorist threat, they went in and killed
people,” said Professor Suphi Saatci of the Kirkuk Foundation, one of
several Turkmen groups in Turkey.
He claims that the the attacks are a part of a wider campaign to
establish Kurdish control over all of northern Iraq, and he points to
the removal of Turkmen officials from governing positions in the
region to be replaced by Kurds. He also says that the Iraqi police!
force deployed in northern Iraq is dominated by members of Kurdish
factions. “The US is acting completely under the direction of the
Kurdish parties in northern Iraq,” says Saatci. “Tal Afar is a clearly
Turkmen area and this is something they were very jealous of.”
While Kurdish officials deny any attempt to alter the ethnic balance
in the region, last week Masud Barzani, leader of one of the two
largest Kurdish parties, the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), said that
Kirkuk “is a Kurdishcity” and one that the KDP was willing to fight
for, which certainly did not calm fears of the Turkmens and angered
the Turks. Many Turkmen see Kirkuk as historically theirs. Turkey
considers northern Iraq – ie Kurdistan – as part of its sphere of
influence, especially the Turkmen minority. Ankara is especially
concerned that the Kurds in Iraq don’t gain full autonomy as this
would likely fire the aspirations of Turkey’s Kurdish minority.
The US military disputes that its forces laid siege to Tal Afar,
saying that the operation was to free the city from insurgents,
including foreign fighters, who had turned it into a haven for
militants smuggling men and arms across the Syrian border. And a
military spokesman denied that Kurds were using US forces to gain the
upper hand in their ethnic str! uggle with the Turkmens.The US
characterized the resistance in Tal Afar as put up by a disparate
group of former Saddam Hussein loyalists, religious extremists and
foreign fighters who were united only by their opposition to US
forces.
Gareth Stansfield, a regional specialist at the Center of Arab and
Islamic Studies at Britain’s University of Exeter, said recently that
“the most important angle of what the Turkish concern is [and that is]
that there is a strong belief in Ankara that Iyad Allawi, the Iraqi
prime minister, and the Americans, were suckered into attacking Tal
Afar by Kurdish intelligence circles, and really brought to Tal Afar
to target ostensibly al-Qaeda and anti-occupation forces with the
Kurds knowing full well that this would also bring them up against
Turkmens and create a rift between Washington and Ankara over their
treatment of a Turkmen city.”
Turkey maintains a few hundred troops in the region as a security
presence to monitor Turkish Kurd rebels who have some hideouts in the
region. But any large-scale presence has been derailed by the
objections of Iraqi Kurdish leaders. “That has created an uneasy state
of co-existence between Ankara and the two major Kurdish political
parties, the Kurdish Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan, a balance which any US military operation in the area could
easily disturb.”
Stansfield added that the incident shows how volatile tensions remain
between Ankara and the Iraqi Kurds, despite ongoing efforts by both
sides to work together. “The Turkish position has become increasingly
more sophisticated over the last ! months, and arguably years, with
Ankara finding an accommodation with the KDP and PUK and beginning to
realize that while it is not their favored option to allow the Kurds
to be autonomous in the north of Iraq, it is perhaps one of the better
options that they are faced with in this situation,” said Stansfield.
He added, “However, the relationship between the two principle Kurdish
parties and the government of Turkey will always be sensitized by the
Kurds’ treatment of Turkmens and indeed now the American treatment of
Turkmens vis-a-vis Kurds.”
Transfer of sovereignty and the Kurds In January this year, the then
Iraqi Governing Council agreed to a federal structure to enshrine
Kurdish self-rule in three northern provinces of Iraq. This was to be
included in a “fundamental law” that would precede national elections
in early 2005. The fate of three more provinces claimed by the Kurds
was to be decided later. “In the fundamental law, Kurdistan will have
the same legal status as it has now,” said a Kurdish council member,
referring to the region that has enjoyed virtual autonomy since the
end of the 1991 Gulf War.
“When the constitution is written and elections are held, we will not
agree to less than what is in the fundamental law, and we may ask for
more,” saidthe Kurdish council member. Arabs, Turkmens, Sunnis and
Shi’a expressed vociferous opposition to the proposed federal system
for Kurdish Iraq. Theyorganized demonstrations leading to ethnic
tensions and violence in Kirkuk and many other cities in north
Iraq. Many protesters ! were killed and scores were injured.
However, when “sovereignty” was transferred on June 30 to the interim
government led by Iyad Allawi, the interim constitutional arrangement
did not include a federal structure for Kurdish self-rule, although to
pacify the Kurds, key portfolios of defense and foreign affairs were
allotted to them.
A press release from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) stated
that “the current situation in Iraq and the new-found attitude of the
US, UK and UN has led to a serious re-think for the Kurds. The
proposed plans do not seem to promise the expected Kurdish role in the
future of a new Iraq. The Kurds feel betrayed once again.” It added
that “if the plight of the Ku! rds is ignored yet again and we are
left with no say in the future of a new Iraq, the will of the Kurdish
people will be too great for the Kurdish political parties to ignore,
leading to a total withdrawal from any further discussions relating to
the formation of any new Iraqi government. This will certainly not
serve the unity of Iraq.” Underlining that the Kurds have been the
only true friends and allies of the US coalition, the release
concluded that “the Kurds will no longer be second-class citizens in
Iraq”. However, the Kurds did not precipitate matters.
Demographic changes in north Iraq Kirkuk, with a population of some
750,000, and other towns are now t! he scene of ethnic and demographic
struggles between Turkmens, Arabs and Kurds, with the last wanting to
take over the region and make the city a part of an autonomous zone,
with Kirkuk as its capital.
The area around Kirkuk has 6% of the world’s oil reserves. In April
2003, it was estimated that the population was 250,000 each for
Turkmen, Arab and Kurd. A large number of Arabs were settled there by
Saddam Hussein, and they are mostly Shi’ites from the south. The
Turkmens are generally Shi’a, like their ethnic kin, the Alevis in
Turkey, but many have given up Turkmen traditionsin favor of the
urban, clerical religion common among the Arabs of the south. Kirkuk
is therefore a stronghold of th! e Muqtada al-Sadr movement which has
given US-led forces such a hard time in the south in Najaf. The
influential Shi’i political party, the Supreme Council for Islamic
Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), also has good support, perhaps 40%, in the
region. Kurds are mostly Sunnis,and were the dominant population in
Kirkuk in the 1960s and 1970s, before Saddam’s Arabization policy saw
a lot of Kurds moved further north.
According to some estimates, over 70,000 Kurds have entered Kirkuk
over the past 17 months, and about 50,000 Arabs have fled back to the
south. It can be said, therefore, that now there are about 320,000
Kurds and 200,000 Arabs in the city. The number of Turkmen has also
been augmented. During the Ottoman rule, the Turkmen dominated the
city, and it was so until oil was discovered. It is reported that,
encouraged by the Kurdish leadership, as many as 500 Kurds a day are
returning to the city. The changes are being carried out for the
quick-fix census planned for October, which in turn will be the basis
for the proportional representation for the planned January elections,
if these areeven held, given the country’s security problems. Both the
Turkmens and Arabs have said that the Kurds are using these
demographic changes to engulf Kirkuk and ensure that it is added to
the enlarged Kurdish province which they are planning. The Kurds hope
to get at least semi-autonomous status from Baghdad.
North Iraq and Turkey’s Kurdish problem Turkey has serious problems
with its own Kurds, who form 20% of the population. A rebellion since
19! 84 against the Turkish state led by Abdullah Ocalan of the Marxist
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has cost over 35,000 lives, including
5,000 soldiers. To control and neutralize the rebellion, thousands of
Kurdish villages have been bombed, destroyed, abandoned or relocated;
millions of Kurds have been moved to shanty towns in the south and
east or migrated westwards. The economy of the region was
shattered. With a third of the Turkish army tied up in the southeast,
the cost of countering the insurgency at its height amounted to
between $6 billion to $8 billion a year.
The rebellion died down after the arrest and trial of Ocalan, in 1999,
but not eradicated. After a court in Turkey in 2002 commuted to life
imprisonment the death sentence passed on Ocalan and parliament
granted rights for the use of the Kurdish language, some of the root
causes of the Kurdish rebellion were removed. The! PKK – now also
called Konga-Gel – shifted almost 4,000 of its cadres to northern Iraq
and refused to lay down arms as required by a Turkish “repentance
law”. The US’s priority to disarm PKK cadres was never very high. In
fact, the US wants to reward Iraqi Kurds, who have remained mostly
peaceful and loyal while the rest of the country has not.
Early this month, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that
Turkey’s patience was running out over US reluctance to take military
action against Turkish Kurds hiding in northern Iraq. In 1999,! the
PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire after the capture of its leader,
Ocalan. But the ceasefire was not renewed in June and there have been
increasing skirmishes and battles between Kurdish insurgents and
Turkish security forces inside Turkey. Turkey remains frustrated over
US reluctance to employ military means against the PKK fighters – in
spite of promises to do so.
Iraqi Kurds have been ambivalent to the PKK, helping them at
times. Ankara has entered north Iraq from time to time – despite
protests – to attack PKK bases and its cadres. Ankara has also said
that it would! regard an independent Kurdish entity as a cause for
war. It is opposed to the Kurds seizing the oil centers around Kirkuk,
which would give them financial autonomy, and this would also
constitute a reason for entry into north Iraq. The Turks vehemently
oppose any change in the ethnic composition of the city of Kirkuk .
The Turks manifest a pervasive distrust of autonomy or models of a
federal state for Iraqi Kurds. It would affect and encourage the
aspirations of their own Kurds. It also revives memories of Western
conspiracies against Turkey and the unratified 1920 Treaty of Sevres
forced on the Ottoman Sultan by the World War I victors which had
promised independence to the Armenians and autonomyto Turkey’s
Kurds. So Mustafa Kemal Ataturk opted for the unitary state of Turkey
and Kurdish rebellions in Turkey were ruthlessly suppressed.
The 1980s war between Iraq and resurgent Shi’a in Iran helped the PKK
to esta blish itself in the lawless north Kurdish Iraq territory. The
PKK also helped itself with arms freely available in the region during
the eight-year war.
The 1990-91 Gulf crisis and war proved to be a watershed in the
violent explosion of the Kurdish rebellion in Turkey. A nebulous and
ambiguous situation emerged in north Iraq when, at the end of the
war. US president Bush Sr encouraged the Kurds (and the hapless Shi’a
in the south) to revolt againstSaddam’s Sunni Arab regime. Turkey was
dead against it, as a Kurdish state in the north would give ideas to
its own Kurds.
Saudi Arabia and other Arab states in the Gulf were totally opposed to
a Shi’i state in south Iraq. The hapless Iraqi Kurds and Shi’a paid a
heavy price. Thousands were butchered. The international media’s
coverage of the pitiable conditions, with more than half a million
Iraqi Kurds escaping towards the Turkish border from Saddam’s forces
in March 1991, led to the creation of a protected zone in north Iraq,
later patrolled by US and British war planes.The Iraqi Kurds did elect
a parliament, but it never functioned properly.! Kurdish leaders
Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani run almost autonomous
administrations in their areas. This state of affairs has allowed the
PKK a free run in north Iraq.
After the 1991 war, Turkey lost out instead of gaining as promised by
the US. The closure of Iraqi pipelines, economic sanctions and the
loss of trade with Iraq, which used to pump billions of US dollars
into the economy and provide employment to hundreds of thousands, with
thousands of Turkish trucks roaring up and down to Iraq, only
exacerbated the economic and social problems in the Kurdish heartland
and the center of the PKK rebellion.
But many Turks still remain fascinated with the dream of “getting
back” the Ottoman provinces of Kurdish-majority Mosul and Kirkuk in
Iraq. They were originally included within the sacred borders of the
republic proclaimed inthe National Pact of 1919 by Ataturk and his
comrades, who had started organizing resistance to fight for Turkey’s
independence from the occupying World War I victors.
So it has always remained a mission and objective to be reclaimed some
time. The oil-rich part of Mosul region was occupied by the British
forces illegally after the armistice and then annexed to Iraq, then
under British mandate, in 1925, much to Turkish chagrin. Iraq was
created by joining Ottoman Baghdad and Basra vilayats
(provinces). Turks also base their claims on behalf of less than half
a million Turkmen who lived in Kirkuk with the Kurds before
Arabization changed the ethnic balance of the region.
With its attacks on Tal Afar, the US is stirring a very deep well of
discontent.
K Gajendra Singh, Indian ambassador (retired), served as ambassador to
Turkey from August 1992 to April 1996. Prior to that, he served terms
as ambassador to Jordan, Romania and Senegal. He is currently!
chairman of the Foundation for Indo-Turkic Studies. Emai:
[email protected]

A1 Plus | 13:27:22 | 20-09-2004 | Social |
FREE HEALTH CARE FOR JOURNALISTS
On Monday Armen Soghoyan, chief of Public health and social security
department of Yerevan’s municipality, told journalists all health care
clinics announced open house for media representatives on September 25
to provide them with opportunity of free medical examination.
Journalists wondered why media representatives? Maybe they are
reckoned to be among the low-income members of society living in
reduced circumstances?
Journalists were surprised when Soghoyan said the idea had been
conceived in journalists’ trade union – nobody has ever heard about
that institution.
The municipality official also says this year the medical clinics’
budget is to rise from current 24,9 billion to 31,7.