Author: Karakhanian Suren

ARAM I: “HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACCEPT TURKEY IN EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
WHEN IT STILL IGNORES GENOCIDE COMMITTED AGAINST ARMENIAN PEOPLE”
ANTELIAS, LEBANON, December 15 (Noyan Tapan). In the context of a
telephone interview with a European press agency, and in answering to a
question concerning the membership of Turkey in European community, His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, expressed his concern and said:
“European community was not established only on economic interests
and political collaboration. It is fundamentally a community of human
values which ensure the identity, integrity and unity of Europe,
and give a particular place and role to Europe in international
community. Among these values human rights occupy an important place”.
According to the Press Office of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia,
His Holiness Aram I raised a great doubt and concern about the way
the human rights are respected in Turkey. He said: “To what degree
and in what way the human rights values are accepted, respected and
practiced in and by Turkey? Turkey still ignores its immediate past;
it still rejects to recognize the Genocide which was planned and
executed by the Ottoman Turkey in 1915. I believe that the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey is not only an “Armenian problem”;
it is a problem that pertains to the entire international community,
since it is a problem of justice and human rights. The recognition of
the Armenian Genocide by Turkey must be taken very seriously by Europe
as Turkey is trying by all means to become a full member of Europe”.
Then concluding his remarks, said: “In this globalized world of ours
nations, religions, cultures and civilizations must live together
on the basis of peaceful coexistence. But living together as good
neighbors and as part of broader community implies to accept our fault,
to affirm the truth and recognize the rights of the others. In fact,
the real community is built on the basis of mutual trust and by doing
justice. Therefore, it is my firm expectation that beyond economic and
political interests Europe will continue to remain firmly attached to
basic human values. It is the expectation and hope of Armenians all
over the world that the present Turkey reaffirm the truth, accepting
the historical reality by recognizing the Armenian Genocide”.
In answering to a question related to the recent pressures and
difficulties surrounding the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in Turkey,
His Holiness Aram I said: “Here is another concrete example of the
way the human rights are respected in Turkey. The World Council of
Churches and the Conference of the Churches in Europe have publicly
expressed their concern on this matter expressing their solidarity
with the Ecumenical Patriarch”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

di-ve, Malta
Dec 15 2004
EU parliament calls on EU leaders to open negotiations with Turkey
by di-ve news

STRASBOURG/MALTA–December 15, 2004 — 1105CET– European Parliament
called on EU leaders to open membership talks with Turkey “without
undue delay,” and urged Ankara to carry out more democratic reforms.
The European Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, voted 407 to 262,
with 29 abstentions, to pass the resolution, which is non-binding but
nevertheless likely to influence leaders on the eve of a historic
summit in Brussels on Turkey’s membership application.
The parliament urged Turkey to meet demands for a “zero-tolerance”
approach to torture, which the legislature says is still being
carried out by authorities in Turkey.
The resolution also said the opening of negotiations would
“pre-suppose recognition by Turkey” of Cyprus, which joined the EU in
May.
The parliament also urged Turkey to acknowledge “the genocide
perpetrated against the Armenians” nearly a century ago.
Turkey has been accused of killing as many as 1.5 million Armenians
during a 1915-1923 campaign to force them from eastern Turkey. It
denies this.
The assembly rejected an amendment calling for the preparation of a
“special partnership” with Turkey as an alternative for membership, a
proposal pushed by French and German conservatives.

The “Bible for children” translated in Ottoman language to evangelize in
Turkey
KONIGSTEIN, Germany, December 13 2004 (CNA) – Turkish-speaking Christians
now have access to a Bible for children printed in Turkish published by the
international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The 1st edition of the Bible, entitled “God speaks to his children,”
comprises 15,000 copies, 5,000 of which are to be distributed in Turkey,
while 10,000 are destined for being given to Turkish native speakers in
Western Europe.
“There are about 100,000 Christians” among the country’s population of about
66 million, said  Father Lorenzo Piretto, O. P., an Italian priest based in
Istanbul.
The majority of Christians in the Western Asian country “are Apostolic
Armenians. The Catholics are Latins, Chaldeans, Armenians and Syrians. There
are also Greek and Syrian Orthodox, as well as various Protestant groups,”
said Fr Piretto.
“The Catechists are very content to have excerpts from the Bible in
Turkish…At the entrance of churches, where the books are displayed, Muslims
are free to take a copy,” the Dominican priest added.

Zaman, Turkey
Dec 14 2004
France Backs ‘Genocide’
Following its support for “privileged partnership” for Turkey
instead of full European Union membership, France has headed down a
new path in opposition to Turkey.
French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier, attended the meeting of the
Council of European Union (EU) Common Affairs in Brussels yesterday
where he said France “will ask Turkey to recognize the Armenian
tragedy experienced in the past.”
Barnier remarked that it could not be defined as a condition to begin
negotiations, but that it would be brought to the agenda during the
negotiations.
France’s main opposition party, the Socialist Party, released a
declaration yesterday announcing that the “Recognition of soldiers
withdrawing from Cyprus, Armenian genocide, as well as progress in
human rights should be imposed on Turkey” during the negotiations.
Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, of the Dutch EU Term Presidency, says
France did not raise any condition like the recognition of Armenian
genocide and that this element was not among the Copenhagen Criteria
or pre-conditions.
Minister Barnier told the press during the meeting of Ministers that
France supports the start of negotiations with Turkey, but warned
that negotiations could be stopped at any moment and that there was
no guarantee that the negotiations would end in full membership.
Barnier said the French public would have the last say on the issue
in a referendum. The Minister also said that although asking Turkey
to recognize the Greek Cypriot administration as a pre-condition was
not legally acceptable, it is very difficult to see Turkey’s point
either morally or politically.
Barnier said negotiations may begin mid-2005 at the earliest and that
the date will be determined by EU leaders at the summit. He added
there will be no compromising on the documented results.

No similarities in Armenia with events in Ukraine, Georgia – OSCE envoy
Mediamax news agency
14 Dec 04
YEREVAN
The OSCE ambassador to Yerevan, Vladimir Pryakhin, considers
“inappropriate” the attempts to draw parallels between the political
situation in Armenia and the events in Ukraine and Georgia.
Vladimir Pryakhin said at a briefing in Yerevan today that the “OSCE
never supports either of the parties to conflict and we do not want to
be involved in the struggle for change of power,” Mediamax reports.
Vladimir Pryakhin noted that the main tasks for the OSCE in Armenia
are the assistance in building democratic society and human rights
protection. He said that in 2004 the OSCE office actively assisted in
the establishment of a dialogue between all Armenian political forces.
“Without defending either of the sides, we pursued only one aim – to
provide the protection of civil principles and human rights,” Vladimir
Pryakhin said.
He noted that the OSCE office in Yerevan is also active in the
realization of programmes of socioeconomic importance. In particular,
the OSCE office rendered assistance to the process of privatization of
Zangezur copper-molybdenum complex and financed the elaboration of a
programme of the socioeconomic development of Syunik Region [southern
Armenia]. Vladimir Pryakhin said that in 2005 the OSCE office is
planning to render assistance to the process of setting up the
community police in Armenia. In particular, the OSCE is going to
provide the community police with 50 cars, set up emergency centre and
train the policemen.

PAN-ARMENIAN YOUTH FUND TO ORGANIZE PILGRIMAGE TO DER DZOR NEXT APRIL
YEREVAN, December 13 (Noyan Tapan). The youth camp of the “Baze –
Winter 2005” Pan-Armenian Youth Fund (PAYF) will not be
held. According to PAYF Executive Director Artur Poghosian, it was
decided that four arrangements would be held within the framework of
the program in 2005 instead of two programs held annually.
On April 18-23, 2005, Pan-Armenian Youth Fund will organize pilgrimage
to Der Dzor with the participation of 130 young people from Armenia,
Nagorno Karabakh, Georgia and Russia.
The pilgrimage will start in Etchmiadzin. Young people will leave for
Aleppo after receiving the blessing of Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II. Other 70 young Armenians from Syria, the US and several
European countries will join them there. Arthur Poghosian also said
that it is expected that a meeting with the representatives of the
Armenian traditional parties and youth organizations will be held. A
conference devoted to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
will also take place here.
A. Poghosian noticed that the program of arrangements for 2005 was
discussed at the RA Prime Minister and, it is likely to be approved
till the end of the year.

Agence France Presse
10 décembre 2004 vendredi 3:57 PM GMT
La démocratisation en Ukraine aidera la Russie, pense Mme
Zourabichvili (INTERVIEW)
MOSCOU 10 déc
La Russie devrait comprendre que la démocratisation en Ukraine lui
sera bénéfique, a estimé vendredi le chef de la diplomatie géorgienne
Salomé Zourabichvili, dans une déclaration à l’AFP.
Pour que le prochain scrutin en Ukraine se déroule “dans le calme et
la stabilité”, il faut “mettre en garde la Russie contre des
tentations d’ingérence et surtout déployer le plus grand nombre
possible d’observateurs”, de manière à garantir sa transparence, a
dit Mme Zourabichvili, interrogée par téléphone à Tbilissi.
“Si l’Ukraine devient un pays démocratique à la frontière de
l’Europe, il n’y aura que des gagnants”, la Russie comprise, a
poursuivi la ministre géorgienne des Affaires étrangères. Car,
a-t-elle expliqué, “avoir à ses frontières des pays stables et
démocratiques est ce qui peut engager (la Russie) dans cette voie”.
Commentant les violentes critiques adressées récemment par Moscou et
notamment par le président Vladimir Poutine à l’Occident, Mme
Zourabichvili a parlé d'”oscillation permanente entre des éléments où
l’on croit reconnaître une possible normalisation de la Russie et des
retours en arrière, voire des régressions”.
“Il faut tout faire pour encourager la Russie dans cette voie qui est
difficile à prendre. C’est une véritable décolonisation à l’intérieur
qui est en train de se produire en Russie. Il faut l’encourager,
l’encadrer, l’aider dans cette voie difficile, mais qui est la seule
solution possible pour que l’évolution de la Russie se fasse de façon
responsable et aussi sûre que possible pour elle et pour ses
voisins”, a encore estimé le ministre géorgien.
Interrogée sur les accusations russes d'”ingérence” occidentale en
Ukraine, Mme Zourabichvili a déclaré qu’il “n’y avait pas eu
d’intervention”.
“Nous ne sommes pas intervenus en faveur d’un candidat ou de l’autre.
Nous sommes intervenus en faveur d’un processus démocratique. Tant
que la Russie considérera que le soutien à la démocratie, que ce soit
dans le Caucase, en Ukraine ou ailleurs, est quelque chose qui se
fait contre elle, elle n’aura pas compris où va le monde”.
Quant aux manifestations de mécontentement de Moscou, la responsable
géorgienne les a qualifiées de “retour aux instincts de l’Union
soviétique”.
“La grande différence, c’est que cela ne fait plus aucun effet. Les
mauvaises humeurs russes, qui autrefois pétrifiaient la communauté
occidentale, sont prises aujourd’hui avec pas mal de philosophie
(…) et ne produisent plus d’effets attendus”.
Interrogée sur la position de Tbilissi face à la situation confuse en
Abkhazie, Mme Zourabichvili a appelé Moscou à “comprendre que les
anciennes républiques soviétiques étaient devenues pays indépendants”
où la Russie “ne peut pas faire de l’ingérence directe”.
Quant au “conflit ferroviaire” opposant Tbilissi à Bakou – qui bloque
des centaines de wagons soupçonnés de transporter via la Géorgie des
chargements à usage militaire à destination de l’Arménie
(formellement en guerre avec l’Azerbaïdjan), le ministre a souligné
que son pays “entretenait d’excellentes relations politiques et
économiques avec chacun des deux pays”.
Tbilissi accepte d’empêcher le transit par son territoire de produits
militaires ou assimilés. Mais “nous nous refusons à exercer la
moindre sanction économique contre l’Arménie”, a déclaré Mme
Zourabichvili, affirmant la “stricte neutralité” de son pays.
“Sinon, on serait entraîné dans une sorte de surenchère, non
seulement néfaste pour nous et pour nos voisins, mais pour la région
toute entière”, a-t-elle conclu.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian parliament amends law on parties
Arminfo
8 Dec 04
Yerevan, 8 December: The Armenian parliament has adopted a draft
law, which has been initiated by the republic’s ruling coalition,
on changes to the law on parties in its first and final reading.
The draft law envisages strengthening of the parties. It particularly
says that a party cannot have less than 2,000 members, including no
less than 100 members in a region. The draft law also says that the
currently operating parties have to meet the requirements considered
by the changes to the law on parties during a year after the law
takes effect.
Armenia’s Justice Ministry has registered 65 parties up to now.

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Dec 8 2004
Pearl Harbor lost in shuffle
Most schools skip marking Dec. 7, 1941, attack, instead honoring
Memorial, Veterans Day.
By Darleene Barrientos, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE — To those of the World War II generation, Dec. 7 will always
be remembered as the date which will live in infamy.
But for many local educators and students, apparently it’s just
another day.
One sixth-grade Columbus Elementary school student quizzed by a
reporter Tuesday incorrectly guessed that Pearl Harbor was a plane.
His friend hit a little closer to the mark. He thought it had something
to do with a war.
But even as the rest of the country commemorated the 63rd anniversary
of the attack on Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 — the event
that marked the United States’ official entry into World War II —
local schools went about business as usual.
“We talked about it in each of the classrooms, but not as a unified
school,” said Kirk Dunn, Glendale Adventist Academy’s principal. Most
teachers at each school had the choice whether to address the event,
but it was not known how many teachers mentioned it.
No events to commemorate the event were planned at Flintridge
Preparatory School in La Cañada Flintridge, spokeswoman Karen Kahler
said. History teachers might have addressed the topic in Tuesday’s
lessons, but Kahler could not confirm that.
Glendale Unified School District teachers were also given the
opportunity to talk about Pearl Harbor with students Tuesday, but
it wasn’t known how many did. Sixth-grade Columbus Elementary School
student Kostik Galstyan said he believed the schools should specially
mark such an event.
“I know how my life is because of the [Armenian] Genocide,” Kostik,
11, said.
Hoover High School student Ben Silva, 14, said he thought
administrators should have at least made a mention of the anniversary
in his school’s daily morning announcements.
“They should have — it’s an important day,” Ben said.
At Hoover High, school officials commemorate D-Day — the day that
Allied soldiers landed in Normandy in a drive to defeat Nazi soldiers
— Memorial Day and Veterans Day, Co-Principal Kevin Welsh said.
“I think, when we memorialize and remember [Sept. 11], there’s always
a little bit of recollection that America was caught off guard. It
was the most serious intelligence setback since Pearl Harbor,” he
said. And it seems that only in context of the 9/11 terrorist attacks
that students seem to recall the date that Franklin D. Roosevelt
declared would “live in infamy.”
At Glendale Community College, students and professors were also more
concerned with upcoming final exams than remembering Pearl Harbor,
but the attitude is also due to an emotionally charged past year,
said Roger Bowerman, history professor and division chairman of
social science.
“Particularly since the invasion of Iraq, we’re at greater unease at
remembering something like that. The campus has its flag at half-staff,
but I don’t believe people see it or know why,” Bowerman said.
Part of the problem in remembering these history-changing dates
and events is partly because they are merely just dates to this
generation. If students were more aware of the ‘why’ behind some of
these dates, they would probably remember them better, he said.
“If it were not brought up by the press or films or TV, people
would kind of forget, because people are [uninterested in history]
in the United States. Many of them don’t remember when the [American]
Civil War was or even what caused it. History in public schools is
very names and dates driven,” he said.
–Boundary_(ID_o7bs5l5D5vfELg8z5q+x8A)–

ARMENIAN FM SPEAKING ON KARABAKHI CONFLICT IN OSCE
A1+
07-12-2004
Today Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan made a speech at the
12th meeting of OSCE Ministers. Referring to the issue of OSCE reforms,
Armenian FM stated that though there are various power poles inward
the organization, Armenia can’t fully join any of them, and suggests
being a colleague, neighbour and a friend instead.
Then Minister talked about Nagorno Karabakh. Mentioning the 4 meetings
between Armenian Azerbaijani FMs and the one of 2 Presidents in Astana,
during which some progress was fixed Minister expressed regret that
Azerbaijan misled Karabakhi issue from the constructive course by
raising the refugee problem in UNO agenda.
Minister reminded about the conflict beginnings and the reasons of
the present situation. A group of CE MPs who were in Nagorno Karabakh
during the tense hostilities, have registered the following in 1992:
“As a result of recent Azerbaijani attacks villages were completely
ruined, peaceful residents were killed and children suffered violence
in Nagorno Karabakh”.
“Taking into account the decided superiority of Azerbaijani Armed
Forces in comparison with human power, weapons and equipment, fuel and
food provision, frequency of air bombing of Nagorno Karabakhi one,
we can suppose that a few weeks if not less are left till collapse
of Karabakh. It is obvious that genocide and transmigration will most
probably follow”, Minister cited.
Armenia keeps remaining loyal to Minsk Group activity and expects
for the same adherence of Azerbaijan, Minister informed.
Minister Oskanyan expressed hope that European Union Summit scheduled
on December 17 will underline necessity of opening the frontiers with
Armenia in connection with launching negotiations over Turkeyâ~@~Ys
membership. Minister Oskanyan talked about these issues with Jean
Asselborn, Luxemburg Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Migration that will assume EU presidency beginning from January,
2005.
Armenian FM left for Brussels from Sofia to partake in the ministerial
sitting of NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Council.
–Boundary_(ID_d4qQK0r8YT+tfZF7qp1e4A)–