Author: Karapetian Hovik

RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND CYPRUS HAVE BIG POTENTIAL

Cyprus Bridge for Armenia’s Integration to Europe

Azg/am
21 Oct 2004

Demetris Christofias, chairman of the House of Representatives of
Cyprus, paid an official visit to Yerevan on the invitation of Artur
Baghdasarian, chairman of RA National Assembly, on October 18-20. On
October 19, Artur Baghdasarian and Demetris Cristofias signed a
memorandum at RA parliament. Both sides assessed the meeting effective
from the viewpoint of developing the relations and strategic
cooperation. Baghdasarian believes that the relations between Armenia
and Cyprus have entered a new stage after the mutual visits of the
parliamentary delegations of the states. Today Armenia and Cyprus are
political partners that have no contradictions in any sphere and in
all the spheres they have big potential for cooperation. It was
envisaged to deepen cooperation in political, economic, cultural,
educational spheres.

Today, the Republic of Cyprus undertakes the role of a bridge between
the EU and the Republic of Armenia, Christofias assured. He finds the
cooperation of both countries in the international structures a
priority line, emphasizing the support Armenia renders to Cyprus in
CE, at the same time. Cyprus will support us also within the framework
of “Enlarged Europe: New Neighbors” program. As for Turkey’s
membership to EU, Greek statesman said that the policy of Cyprus
concerning this issue remained unchanged, as Turkey is an occupant
country and had occupied the 32% of Cyprus’ territory. Besides, for
becoming an EU member, Turkey has many problems to solve, including
the human rights and the basic freedom issues. Turkey should recognize
the Republic of Cyprus. Christofias said that these issues will be put
before Turkey till December, if this country wants to become the
member of EU. According to the personal opinionof Christofias, to
reach this aim, Turkey should recognize the Genocide of the Armenians
in 1915 as well.

Christofias believes that the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
can be reached in peaceful way only, taking into account the interests
of RA and other countries of the region. He also thinks that the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh issue will greatly weaken Turkey’s
influence in the international developments.

Emphasizing the importance of the cooperation between Armenia and
Cyprus, Christofias assured that the Cyprus authorities spare no
efforts to preserve Melkonian Educational Institute, as that is a
center for the Armenian community in Cyprus and an integral part of
the country’s culture.

Besides all the other factors, Christofias feels himself as in his own
motherland, also for the reason that Armenia is the only country where
the word “Cyprus” is pronounced in the same way as in Greek.

By Nana Petrosian

Associated Press Worldstream
October 18, 2004 Monday

Christian clergy turn other cheek to spitting Israelis

JERUSALEM

A leader of the Armenian church in Jerusalem said Monday the church
would not press charges against an Israeli who spat at clergy during
a Christian procession last week in the Old City of Jerusalem.

In the Oct. 17 incident, a Jewish seminary student spat at Armenian
Archbishop Nourhan Manougian as he carried a cross in a procession
through the Old City’s cobbled streets. A fistfight broke out, and
the archbishop’s medallion of office was damaged. The student was
arrested but released shortly afterward.

Armenian Bishop Aris Shirvanian said the attacker apologized, and the
church decided to adopt “a Christian outlook, with love.”

Tensions are always high in the walled Old City, divided among
Christians, Jews and Muslims. The Old City contains important holy
sites of all three religions, and some are contested among competing
religions and denominations.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews have also been seen cursing Christian backpackers
on the streets of modern Jerusalem, accusing them of trying to
convert young Jews to Christianity.

Israeli media quoted the student as saying he spat at the Armenian
cleric as a protest against “idol worship.”

New UN stamp promotes benefits of disarmament to children

UN News Centre
Oct 15 2004

15 October 2004 – Declaring that “the children of the world need
books, not guns,” United Nations Messenger of Peace and Oscar-winning
actor Michael Douglas today launched a new UN stamp that promotes
disarmament.

Designed by artist Michel Granger of France, the stamp highlights
the theme that children should be in school instead of facing wars
or gun-related violence.

The UN Postal Administration (UNPA) and the Department of Disarmament
Affairs worked together to develop the stamp, which costs 37 cents
and is available for purchase.

In a video message to mark the stamp’s launch in New York, Mr.
Douglas said “the proliferation of light weapons has cheated children
of the chance to go to school, to play in the fields and to be raised
within a secure environment protected by elders. It has allowed
children to be used as instruments of war.”

He added that “the individual and social investment in weapons – that
find their way into the hands of children – must be redirected. The
children of the world need books, not guns, education, not war.”

The disarmament stamp is Mr. Granger’s third design for UNPA; he
has also designed stamps about the issue of chemical weapons (1991)
and road safety concerns (2004).

Yesterday UNPA also launched eight commemorative stamps on the theme of
Human Rights (Education Decade 1995-2004). Yuri Gevorgian of Armenia
designed the stamps for this series.

Russian minister says border checkpoint to remain closed for 30 days

Mediamax news agency
14 Oct 04

Yerevan, 14 October: “About 30-40 days will be required for
completing the special measures at the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint on
the Georgian-Russian border,” the Russian minister of transport
and communications and the co-chairman of the Armenian-Russian
intergovernment commission for economic cooperation, Igor Levitin,
said in Yerevan today.

Asked by our Mediamax correspondent, Igor Levitin said that “the
purpose of these measures is to create conditions that will make it
impossible for terrorism-related people and vehicles to infiltrate
the territory of the Russian Federation”.

Levitin named the Astrakhan-Anzali sea route (Russia-Iran) as an
alternative route for transporting cargo between Russia and Armenia,
“This will be cheaper and even faster than transporting cargo through
Verkhniy Lars,” the Russian minister said.

Levitin also recommended that issues of restoring the rail service
between Russia and Armenia through Georgia should not be politicized.

He said that following his negotiations with Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan, he was convinced that Yerevan is ready to restore
the rail service.

“If the Georgian president also demonstrates such readiness, the
issue will be close to its solution,” Levitin said.

Aliyev displeased that UN Armenia resolutions not being implemented

Interfax
Oct 14 2004

Baku. (Interfax-Azerbaijan) – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
has expressed displeasure over the fact that four UN resolutions
concerning Armenia are not being implemented.

“Four resolutions have been issued, but none of them are being
implemented. No sanctions or measures have been imposed on Armenia.
This is definitely unacceptable,” Aliyev told the press upon his
return from Romania on Tuesday evening.

“The main problem is about implementing important UN and OSCE
decisions. A mechanism should be set up for this. Unfortunately,
there is no such mechanism,” Aliyev said.

UN Security Council resolutions require that Armenian troops be
withdrawn from the occupied Azerbaijani land.

At the same time, Aliyev praised the fact that many world leaders
have recognized Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands as unlawful
and called for resolving the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh via the
restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

The president said Romanian leader Ion Iliescu shared this position
at a meeting with him.

Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh in a bloody conflict with
Armenia in the 1990s. The UN Security Council has issued resolutions
condemning the occupation of Azerbaijani territory by Armenia and
demanded the withdrawal of Armenian troops. Co-chairmen of the OSCE
Minsk Group representing the United States, Russia, and France are
mediating in the efforts to settle the conflict peacefully.

Ara Abrahamian’s Interview to Azg

Azg/am
14 Oct 04

– Mr. Abrahamian what can you say about the days of the Union of
Armenian’s of Russia and World Armenian Congress?

– The visits paid by the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World
Armenian Congress have become a tradition already. It is envisaged
that we will achieve our goals to bring great number of physicians,
scientists and businessmen that will be directly involved in
conferences, in delivering lectures and in participating in various
cultural and business arrangements. We will continue our line of
providing the Armenian schools with computers. We will bring over
a thousand PCs that will be distributed among the schools of our
republic according to our program.

This year, the International Economic Forum will become the most
important event of the UAR and WAC days. The forum is organized by
World Armenian Congress and pan-Russian Company on Foreign Economic
Cooperation. Implementing our programs, we have held a meeting of the
genocide experts to elaborate pan-Armenian position in this issue. We
created a group of the most authoritative experts in this issue, so
that they work at the given issue and represent the position they
have elaborated to NGOs and political parties, as well as to the
authorities of the Republic of Armenia.

Continuing to implement our programs, we try to establish serious
economic bases for the activities of the World Armenian Congress to
strengthen the economic relations between Armenia and Diaspora. To
achieve this aim, we invite various trustworthy businessmen of the
Armenian communities in the Diaspora and Armenian businessmen to
international business structures. On my initiative, Foreign Economic
Company is being created in Russia. Its aim is to establish trustworthy
relations between the Russian business and the leading business
structures of the world. We have already created Russian-Argentinean
and Russian-South Korean Companies for Economic Cooperation. In future
we will establish Russian-French, Russian-Italian and Russian-Brazilian
economic cooperation companies. We believe that with the time we
will manage to involve the leading countries of the world in our
business structure and establish more effective relations to implement
joint economic programs. We are supposed to establish a branch of
the given organization within the framework of CIS. I said about
this in my recent speech held in Tbilisi Economic Forum. We think
that the Armenian businessmen can also participate in that large
international business structure and use both the informational and
financial-economic opportunities of the given organization.

Besides, we want to represent two very important structures in
the forum that will contribute to economic development of our
historical motherland. The first will be the Investments’ Fund that
will finance a number of projects in Armenia, the second will be the
Center for Strategic Researches that will define the priorities for
the development of the Republic of Armenia and implement the vitally
important projects for the progress of our country. High ranked state
officials, RF ministers, authoritative businessmen of Russia and a
number of other countries will participate in the forum. We hope that
the forum will become an important event and will create beneficial
conditions for the further development of Armenia’s economy and
strengthening of the Armenian state.

– How is the World Armenian Congress developing? How close are the
Congress’ ties with national communities participating at WAC Assembly?

– We often encounter problems in organizing the work of such a
big establishment as the WAC, to tell the truth. The reason is
that different communities in different countries of the world have
different political, economic and other possibilities and each of them
demands personal approach and work. And consequently more organizing
capability is needed. Though we have dozens of staff workers within the
WAC, we still fell short. That’s why we think that a more wide-range
work may be done if a confident economic basis is created.

We keep in touch with the most developed communities of the world. We
note with pity that the European communities divided the European
Forum instead of uniting it. The Armenian Congress of Europe rose on
the Forumâ^À^Ùs ruins. This organization engaged in systematizing
European communities held its congress in Brussels lately. Our
representative of WAC was sent to Brussels to learn about their plans
and to strengthen our ties.

If we keep on dividing our organizations and establishments, we shall
not handle many things. We are certainly glad to know that the Europe’s
Armenians have their own office in Brussels and that they cooperate
with the European Parliament and European institutions. The forum is
doing the same. But all those establishments are weak if stand-alone.

We cooperate with the AGBU and America’s Armenian Congress. I think
the WAC will mark a breakthrough only when we have economic power
and when the membership in the WAC will be useful, necessary and
honorable for every community.

We try ourselves to create mechanisms that will make our projects
functional. Every Armenian community worldwide understands the need
to rally round one organization.

– What kind of relations do you have with the Republic of Armenia?

– Unfortunately our relations are not officially fixed up. I
personally have ties with the Foreign and Defense Ministries and
also the administration of the president. I meet President Kocharian
from time to time when he receives participants of our undertakings
in Yerevan. But there are no official relations as I said. And this
greatly hinders the activities of uniting the Armenians within the
framework of pan-Armenian Diaspora organizations. It’s obvious that the
Armenian state can play a great role in this issue. It should strive
for uniting all the Armenian communities and organizations. Though,
the political figures and statesmen have sometimes grounded or totally
ungrounded fears if some of the organizations becomes very strong and
influential, which means that the state should take it into account or
cooperate with it as an equal partner and not as a structure that can
dictate its own conditions to. It is not accidental that these fears
let neither Levon Ter-Petrosian nor the current authorities to create
a really functioning organization with officially fixed relations and
bilateral commitments from the held pan-Armenian forums and congresses.
Most likely, both the state and the NGOs should pass a definite path to
realize that officially fixed cooperation is greatly needed at present.

– Mr. Abrahamian, what kind of international relations can be observed
in Russia at present, particularly, after the recent events in
Beslan? We are concerned with the fact that RF President touched upon
Karabakh, as well as the other hotbeds of conflicts in the post-Soviet
territory in his speech. What is taking place in Russia generally,
and how can the current developments influence the Armenians in Russia?

– Certainly, the situation in Russia is really tense, as it is in any
multinational country. Moreover, if in the verge of that state there
exists armed and consistent conflict between the central authorities
and the rebels, especially if the conflict has religious and national
character, it is sure to have impact on the situation in common. On
one hand, the demonstrations of nationalistic and fascist elements
become more frequent. On the other hand, the fact that some of the
ethno-religious groups do not feel sufficiently protected may cause
tension. The mutual mistrust and suspicion is growing. This all exists.

I know that in Armenia RF President’s words about Karabakh,
Transdnestria and other conflicts said in connection with the events
in Beslan. But it seems to me that some of the Armenian political
figures misunderstood the context of the president’s words. It is
obvious that the president meant that the Soviet Union collapsed
through the national map. He meant only this, when saying that if
the authorities don’t take relevant measures to stop the extremist
demonstrations of religious and ethnic character, these conflicts
can spread in Tatarstan, Bashkiria and other regions of Russia and
exploit the Russian state that can have the same fate as the Soviet
Union had. Thus, I think that there was no negative shade in his
speech about Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia.

I think that though there is still tendency for the growth of the
tension between the nations, both the authorities and the mass media
try to be very cautious about this issue and to avert the danger of
a new fire. It is not accidental that RF President said that the
people who treat these serious issues with no responsibility may
involuntarily support the terrorists, while the authorit ies will
treat them in a relevant way. As for us, the Armenians, we condemned
the terrorism and morally and financially helped the victims of that
monstrous crime. Since the first day of its establishment, the Union
of the Armenians of Russia is engaged not only in organizing the
lives of the Armenians of Russia, in protecting of their interests
and in conducting cultural activities, but it established relations
with other ethnic and religious organizations, especially during the
recent years. Our Union tries to unite all the efforts of all the
national and religious organizations for creating a structure that
could be the partner of the Russian authorities. As very frequently
there occur problems sometimes with the Azerbaijanis, sometimes with
the Armenians, sometimes with the Chechens or with other nations. And
it is very important for the authorities to know that there is a
structure that protects these national groups on the behalf of the
publicity. These groups can be attacked, can become innocent victims
of the law enforcement bodies.

Already two years ago, we decided to organize Round Table with the
participation of national and religious organizations, and to make
some official structure for cooperating with the authorities, as the
national policy in Russia remains as if “hung in the air”.

That is why, after the House of Nations, the Ministry of National
Affairs were liquidated in Russia, and the existing problems not only
didn’t disappear but also doubled, we think that there should be a body
that will be able to submit the actual issues to the authorities of the
country and to concentrate the attention on their solution. Certainly,
it will be better to have such a structure at the President’s Office,
so that the representatives of various nations and religious groups
can be sure that their interest are represented on the highest level
and they have the opportunity to put the issues forward and punish
the law enforcement bodies, the local heads and solve the problems.

Unfortunately, the government’s reform, the presidential and
parliamentary elections didn’t let us complete our work. Recently,
after the events in Beslan, we again began the works of the round
table. I was elected the chairman of the board of establishers of
the round table and the Public House of Nationalities, taking into
account the authority we have in Moscow among the publicity, within
the administrative circles, at the Federative Assembly and at the
President’s Apparatus.

On September 30, we held round table on the role of the national and
religious organizations in the struggle against terrorism, national and
religious extremism. Over 100 national and religious organizations, as
well as authoritative structures and representatives of law enforcement
bodies participated in the round table. Taking into account the results
of the round table, it was decided to affirm the plenipotentiaries
of the board of establishers, its chairman (i.e. my) and to instruct
them about organization of an establishing congress in the first three
months of 2005, that is meant to organize the House of Public Nations.

We think that the House of Nations can become a part of the Public
House created at the initiative of RF President. He talked of this
structure in his speech after the events in Beslan. The Public House
is meant to control the activities of the executive power, the special
services and the law enforcement bodies. It is very important that the
House of Public Nations becomes a component part of the Public House,
that would control the national policy conducted by the authorities,
the relations between the nations and would become the partner
of the authorities in the solution of these important issues. We
very well realize that living in a multinational state, one should
build the happiness of one national group, just like one can’t build
the happiness of one social group or class. We, representatives of
different ethnic and religious groups, should work unanimously within
the framework of the House of Nations. In constructive cooperation
with the authorities we will spare no efforts to fight the monstrous
challenge of the 21-st century, i.e. the international terrorism,
as well as ethnic and religious intolerance.

– Mr. Abrahamian, we congratulate you with being awarded the Higher
Medal of the South Korea. Tell us, please, what achievements did you
receive this medal for and do you have any other foreign medals?

– Since 1999, I am the Co-Chairman of Russian-South Korean Business
Organization. I have established close ties with the political
and business circles of that country. Certainly, my activities
greatly contributed to strengthening business and economic relations
between our countries. In 2001-2004, thanks to my efforts, the goods
turnover between South Korea and Russia grew tenfold and amounted to
$5 billion. For this service the president of South Korea awarded me
with the medal in Kremlin during his recent visit to Moscow. This is
the second foreign medal that I get this year. Several months ago,
the authorities of Argentina awarded me with one of the higher medals
of their country. I don’t exclude that the number of foreign medals
can grow together with the establishment of the Foreign Economic
Organization that is meant to connect the Russian business structures
with other developed countries.

– On behalf of our newspaper, we wish you success in your work directed
not only to prosperity of Armenia but also to establishing effective
International Foreign Economic Organization.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
October 13, 2004

His Holiness Karekin II Receives President Mohammad Khatami of the Islamic
Republic of Iran

On the afternoon of September 9, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, received Mr. Mohammad Khatami, President of
the Islamic Republic of Iran and his delegation of high-ranking dignitaries.

President Khatami thanked His Holiness for the reception, and spoke of the
strong relationship between the two countries and the further reinforcement
of those bonds. “My visit to this holy place has genuinely increased the
depth of significance to my visit to Armenia”, noted the President of Iran.

His Holiness welcomed President Khatami, and referred to the mission of the
Mother See in the life of the Armenian people: “Holy Etchmiadzin is the
very soul of the Armenian individual. It is the beating heart of the
Armenian body. The sons and daughters of our nation dispersed throughout
the world, when making the sign of the cross, have always directed their
gaze toward their spiritual home, toward Holy Etchmiadzin”.

The Pontiff of All Armenians expressed appreciation for the careful attitude
of the Iranian authorities towards the Armenian community of Iran. His
Holiness further noted his joy in the continued development and progress of
relations between Armenia and Iran, and stated his hope that the ties be
fostered and strengthened for the welfare of both countries.

During the course of the meeting, both leaders placed great importance on
the role and mission of spiritual leaders in the peaceful solution of
regional conflicts and issues.

Also in attendance during the meeting were His Grace Bishop Sion Adamian,
Primate of the Diocese of Armavir; Very Rev. Fr. Anushavan Jamkotchian; G.
Gharibjanian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the Islamic Republic
of Iran, and A. Hadidian, Ambassador of Iran to Armenia.

##

Le Figaro, France
11 octobre 2004

L’Alliance française, c’est aussi une entreprise

par Mélanie DELATTRE

ON LA SURNOMME « la vieille dame ». Même si à 120 ans, l’Alliance
française n’a pas pris une ride. Au contraire, depuis sa création en
1884, la vénérable institution n’a cessé de réinventer la défense de
la langue et de la culture française à l’étranger son statut
d’association à but non lucratif lui laissant une liberté que le
Goethe Institut ou l’Instituto Cervantes n’ont pas. « En tant que
vendeurs de français, nous sommes en concurrence avec les écoles de
langues et les universités locales, remarque Jean-Claude Jacq,
secrétaire général de l’Alliance de Paris. À nous de trouver les
ressources financières et pédagogiques qui nous permettront de rester
compétitifs sur le marché. » D’autant que les subventions publiques
ne représentent que 5 % de ses dépenses.

En se choisissant en juillet un nouveau président venu du monde des
affaires Jean-Pierre de Launoit est président d’Axa Belgium
l’organisation confirme sa volonté de ne pas se couper des réalités
économiques. Sous son impulsion, l’Alliance Bruxelles-Europe a par
exemple mis en place des cours ciblés à l’attention des
fonctionnaires européens, qui ont connu un très large succès. Pendant
ce temps, l’Alliance d’Ahmedabad, en Inde, testait le tarif « heures
creuses » destiné aux femmes au foyer tandis que celle de New York
inaugurait un cours d’anglais juridique destiné aux interprètes et
aux avocats de Manhattan. Pour garder une longueur d’avance sur le
créneau de plus en plus disputé des cours de langue, l’organisation
mise à la fois sur l’expérience du réseau et l’inventivité de chacune
de ses « filiales » locales.

Franchisé en Arménie

Avec plus de 1 000 centres installés çà et là sur le globe, jusque
dans les régions les plus reculées, l’Alliance française est
l’entreprise culturelle hexagonale la mieux représentée à l’étranger.
On trouve ainsi une Alliance à Comodoro Rivadavia, en Argentine, à
quelque 1 000 kilomètres seulement de l’Antarctique, à Erevan en
Arménie et même depuis peu en plein coeur des Territoires
palestiniens, à Bethléem (voir encadré). Comme dans un système de
franchise, ces centres sont complètement indépendants statutairement
et financièrement du « siège », installé boulevard Raspail à Paris.
Ce dernier, propriétaire de la marque Alliance française, se
contentant de fournir un label et une aide logistique comme le ferait
un franchiseur.

« Nous sommes contactés par des bénévoles du monde entier qui
souhaitent promouvoir la langue et la culture française, explique
Alain Marquer, directeur des relations internationales de l’Alliance.
Après examen de leurs statuts, de leur programmation budgétaire et de
leurs objectifs, nous décidons de leur accorder ou non la
dénomination Alliance française. » Soucieuse de son image,
l’institution ne souhaite pas apporter sa caution à des projets qui
manqueraient de sérieux ou auraient peu de chance d’être viables.
D’autant que le réseau, « une franchise plus qu’une multinationale »,
ne joue aucun rôle de redistribution. « Il revient à chaque alliance
d’équilibrer son budget », précise Jean-Claude Jacq.

Quelques centres situés dans des zones défavorisées peuvent obtenir
des subventions des pouvoirs publics français, mais en règle
générale, les recettes proviennent principalement des cours, dont le
tarif est étudié pour assurer la compétitivité de l’Alliance sur le
marché local. Une heure de formation coûte ainsi moins de 50 centimes
d’euros en Moldavie, 8,6 euros à Lyon et 45 euros à New York.

L’Alliance fait sa pub à la télé

Conformément à la règle qui veut que les Alliances s’intègrent dans
le paysage local, le French Institute Alliance Française (FAIF) de
New York recourt largement au mécénat privé, système de financement
de la culture très développé aux Etats-Unis. « Les membres du conseil
d’administration, des financiers pour la plupart, déboursent en
moyenne 20 000 dollars par an au profit de l’Alliance », confie
Marie-Monique Steckel, directrice générale du FAIF.

Afin d’inciter les riches francophiles de Manhattan à se montrer
généreux, la FAIF les convie chaque année au Trophée des arts, un
gala parrainé par des stars du cinéma hexagonal, comme Isabelle
Huppert ou Jeanne Moreau. Pendant qu’à New York la directrice manie
le Blackberry et la coupe de champagne pour boucler son budget à
Ahmedabad, c’est la débrouille qui prévaut. « Pour financer la
construction d’une galerie, d’une médiathèque ou d’une salle de
projection, il n’est pas rare de mettre à contribution les artistes
du pays, qui font don de la vente d’oeuvres pour certains projets
d’infrastructures », témoigne Olivier Debray, ancien directeur de
l’Alliance de cette ville.

En cas de besoin, il leur est possible de solliciter le siège
parisien, dont le rôle est de faciliter la vie du réseau. « Nous
servons d’interface entre les Alliance à l’étranger et les
administrations publiques françaises et nous proposons de la
formation et du soutien technique », détaille Jean-Claude Jacq. La
direction parisienne recycle ainsi une partie de ses 210 cadres et
professeurs, les uns en tant qu’auditeurs ou conseillers en Chine,
les autres en tant que formateurs au Maroc, ou au siège boulevard
Raspail. Car le premier capital de la vieille dame, ce sont ses
hommes. Instituteurs ou agrégés, ils viennent d’un milieu
généralement fermé aux réalités économique : l’Education nationale.
Ce qui n’empêche pas la plupart d’entre eux de se transformer en
gestionnaires avisés. Réunis en congrès, les 265 délégués généraux de
l’Alliance représentant du siège à l’étranger n’ont pas hésité à
franchir un nouveau pas en votant la diffusion de spots de pub pour
l’Alliance à la télé…

Un terrain neutre en territoire occupé

Trois employés à temps partiel, des professeurs vacataires, un local
mis à disposition par la municipalité : l’Alliance française de
Bethléem ne dispose pas de moyens importants. Mais elle a permis le
retour de la culture française dans les territoires palestiniens,
d’où elle était absente depuis la fermeture du centre culturel il y a
plusieurs années.

Créée à l’initiative de Palestiniens francophones, avec l’appui du
consulat français de Jérusalem, la dernière-née des Alliances de
l’étranger souffle sa première bougie ce mois-ci. Symboliquement
installée dans le Peace Center, principal centre culturel de la
ville, l’association a déjà plusieurs réalisations à son actif :
l’organisation d’une fête de la musique, l’ouverture d’une
bibliothèque et, surtout, la mise en place de classes de français
pour tous les habitants de la ville, regroupés en fonction de leur
niveau et non de leur confession.

L’Alliance en chiffres

Autofinancée à 95 %, l’Alliance française de Paris dispose d’un
budget d’environ 13 millions d’euros.

RECETTES
– Cours : 12,3 millions d’euros

Location de salles : 252 263 euros.
– Subventions : 663 850 euros

DÉPENSES

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Georgians who live in Russia
By M. Alkhazashvili

The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 12 2004

Russian politicians frequently mention that there are nearly one
million Georgian emigrants in Russia who work there and send nearly
USD 1.5 billion back to their homeland.

For example, speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe debate on Georgian-Russian relations last Thursday, Russian
delegate Natalia Narochnitskaya said that “twenty per cent of Georgia’s
population lived in Moscow.”

But how real are statements about one million Georgian emigrants
in Russia?

A census held in Georgia revealed that between 1989-2002, 977,000
people emigrated abroad, approximately one fifth of the total
population. The newspaper Rezonansi reports, however, that this number
includes only 280 thousand Georgians, while the other 697,000 were
from minority groups (including 163,000 Armenians and 62,000 Azeris).

This suggests that the majority of emigrants are not in fact of
Georgian ethnicity, and do not support family members living in
Georgia. Indeed, more generally, statistics suggest that only 41
percent of Georgian emigrants help their relatives, while 7 percent
actually receive support from relatives in Georgia.

Furthermore, the 2002 census held in Russia revealed that there are
only 198 000 Georgians living there, while the 1989 census found that
there were only 131,000 Georgians in Russia. This means that only
67,000 ethnic Georgians left for Russia from Georgia between 1989-2002.

It is noteworthy that in 1989 – 2002 the number of Armenians in Russia
increased by 598,000 and that there are currently 1,130,000 Armenians
living in Russia, while the number of Azeris increased by 265,000 to
a 2002 total of 621,000.

Despite such numbers, Russian MPs continue to highlight what they
describe as the very high number of Georgians living in Russia.

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
for Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUSSELS
Tel. +32 (0)2 732 70 26
Tel. /Fax. +32 (0)2 732 70 27
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel. +32 (0)2 732 70 26
October 8th, 2004

TURKEY : THE COMMISSION MENTIONS THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

— For the European Commission :
– The “tragic events of 1915-1916” stand for a conflict factor between
Turkey and Armenia
– Turkey must commit itself to reconciliation with Armenia
– Nevertheless the term Genocide is still taboo —

Brussels, Belgium – On Wednesday October the 6th, the European Commission
put forward a positive opinion concerning Turkey’s application to
membership. When it gave this opinion, which is divided into three texts (a
report on the “progress” made by Ankara regard to the Copenhagen criteria,
another one on the impact of the Turkish accession, and finally a text of
recommendation), the Commission left the European Council to take care of
the decision of entering into negotiation. Nevertheless, it said that “any
breakdown in this progress towards democracy, human rights, fundamental
rights and the rule of law [.] will automatically bring negotiations to a
halt.”

For the first time in a text of the European executive, as it happens in the
impact study, the Genocide issue is the subject of a whole paragraph (i). It
is referred to by the following trifling terms “tragic events” and “human
suffering of 1915-1916”, and as a motive for the conflict between Turkey and
Armenia that the candidate country should resolve. Then, the Commission adds
that the will of joining the EU should lead Turkey to improve its
relationship and eventually to a reconciliation with Armenia concerning
those “tragic events”. The impact study mentions that that would allow
Europe to play an important role, through Turkey, in South Caucasus, even in
the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, and around the Caspian Sea.

As for the regular report concerning the “progress” made by Turkey, the
European Armenian Federation notices that numerous violations appear in this
report. The scale of those violations is at variance with the positive
opinion put forward by the Commission. For instance, this report lays stress
on the multiple defaults to the Copenhagen criteria connected the minorities
‘ rights.

This document exposes the discriminatory practices that affect the
non-Muslim minorities, and deplores that the textbooks convey a negative
image of those minorities. Nevertheless, according to it, the authorities
have given their word not to do that again.(ii)

This document deals with the problem concerning the dual presidency in the
Armenian schools. The deputy head of these schools is a Muslim, representing
the Ministry of Education and has more powers than the Armenian head. Then,
the inadequacy of the teaching of the Armenian language has been expressed.
Concerning the religious freedom, a fairly basic reference is made about the
obstacles encountered by the religious minorities.(iii)

The criminalization of the Armenian Genocide has a small place in this
report. In the chapter devoted to the freedom of speech, always avoiding
talking about the Genocide, the Commission exposes the article 305 (formerly
127, 308 and 306) of the Turkish penal code, that holds a prison sentence
for anyone who recognizes or affirms the facts of the Armenian Genocide in
the media or in the publications. The report mentions that the explanatory
statement of this article goes against the European Convention of Human
Rights.

The European Armenian Federation believes that when the European Commission
uses incorrect terms or doesn’t say anything about the Genocide and
therefore censors it, it participates to Turkey’s denial. Hilda Tchoboian,
the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation said: “Talking about the
Genocide without naming it, knowing that the Turkish penal code explicitly
criminalizes its assertion gives an idea of the threat against the freedom
of speech, even though this revisionist state hasn’t integrated the EU yet.”

The Federation notices that despite this censorship, this new report hasn’t
totally dismissed the Genocide issue, like the previous reports did. The
Federation agrees with the Commission about the fact that Turkey has to
commit itself to reconciliation with Armenia. Nevertheless, it believes that
when the Commission limits this huge crime against Humanity to the bilateral
relationship between Turkey and Armenia, it shuns its responsibility of
integrating the Genocide in its demands from Turkey.

The Federation also maintains that the Commission’s intention of giving a
pacifying role to Turkey in South Caucasus is a product of pure fancy. Hilda
Tchoboian said: “in a region where the equilibrium is so unstable, the will
of giving such role to a country with a massive stock of weapons, a country
that is aggressive and that hasn’t given up its expansionist aims, is more a
declaration of war than a contribution to the security and the stability of
the region”. The Federation wants to stress the fact that Turkey has never
invalidated the existence of its invasion plan over Armenia. (dated of not
even ten years).

The chairperson of the European Armenian Federation stated that “Concerning
the reconciliation on the Genocide, this is the duty of Europe to refer to
the international practice and to the International Law : to recognize, to
apologize, to compensate, and to guarantee of not perpetrating the Genocide
again”. And she finally concluded with these words: “All the constituents of
the Armenian people want a real reconciliation in conformity with the
international rules and that guarantees the right to security and to life of
Armenians and Armenia”.

————–
excerpt from the report
————–
(i) The accession of Turkey would extend the EU’s borders to Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia. Through Turkey the EU could have a stabilizing
influence in Southern Caucasus, provided that Turkey is willing to try to
solve conflicts with its neighbours already before its accession. In
particular, its relations with Armenia will need to be improved with the
establishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of the land border
which is currently closed. As regards the tragic events, in particular the
human suffering in the region in1915/1916, the prospect of Turkey’s
accession must lead to an improvement in bilateral relations with Armenia
and to reconciliation as regards these events. It is also important that
Turkey should contribute to easing tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia
in the dispute concerning Nagorno-Karabakh. EU relations with Azerbaijan,
Georgia and countries surrounding the oil-rich Caspian Sea could also be
enhanced by Turkish membership.

(ii) The history books for the 2003-2004 school year still portray
minorities as untrustworthy, traitorous and harmful to the state. However,
the authorities have started to review discriminatory language in
schoolbooks and, in March 2004, a Regulation was issued in which it is
stated that school text books should not discriminate on the basis of race,
religion, gender, language, ethnicity, philosophical belief, or religion.

(iii) The dialogue with the authorities on the issue of the dual presidency
in the Jewish, Greek and Armenian schools (the deputy head of these schools
is a Muslim representing the Ministry of Education and has more powers than
the head) is ongoing. In May 2004 the Ministry of Education stated that
children with mothers from the minority could also attend these schools
(previously only those with fathers from the minority could attend).However,
the declaration by parents of their minority status will be subject to an
assessment by the Ministry of Education. The Greek community has encountered
problems obtaining the approval of new teaching materials and the
recognition of teachers trained abroad. Moreover, in contravention of the
2003 Labour Law and in contrast with the situation of their colleagues of
Turkish origin, Greek minority teachers are only permitted to teach in one
school. The Armenian community has expressed its concern regarding the
inadequacy of the teaching of the Armenian language.

TURQUIE : LA COMMISSION EVOQUE LE GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS

— Pour la Commission européenne :
o Les « évènements tragiques de 1915-1916 » sont un facteur de conflit entre
la Turquie et l’Arménie
o La Turquie doit se réconcilier avec l’Arménie
o Mais le terme de génocide reste tabou —

La Commission européenne a présenté ce mercredi 6 octobre un avis positif
sur la demande d’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union européenne. En donnant cet
avis étayé par trois textes – (un rapport sur les « progrès » réalisés par
Ankara au regard des critères de Copenhague, un autre sur l’impact de l’
adhésion turque et enfin un texte de recommandations), la Commission laisse
au Conseil Européen le soin de décider de l’ouverture des négociations. Elle
précise néanmoins que « toute rupture dans cette démarche vers la
démocratie, les droits de l’Homme, les libertés fondamentales […] entraînera
ipso facto l’arrêt des négociations ».

Pour la première fois dans un texte de l’exécutif européen, en l’occurrence
dans le rapport d’impact, la question du génocide fait l’objet d’un
paragraphe (i) . Elle est soulevée par les termes anodins d’« événements
tragiques » et de « souffrances humaines de 1915-1916 », comme un motif du
conflit de la Turquie avec l’Arménie, que le pays candidat devrait tenter de
résoudre. La Commission ajoute que la perspective d’adhésion devrait pousser
la Turquie à l’amélioration de ses relations, et à la réconciliation avec l’
Arménie sur « ces événements tragiques ». Le rapport d’impact considère que
tout ceci permettrait à l’Europe de jouer un rôle important, par le biais de
la Turquie, dans le sud du Caucase, y compris dans le conflit du Karabagh,
et autour de la Mer Caspienne.

Quant au rapport régulier sur les « progrès » réalisés par la Turquie, la
Fédération Euro-Arménienne note qu’il mentionne de très nombreuses
violations, dont l’ampleur contredit de manière insoutenable l’avis positif
émis par la Commission. Ce rapport pointe notamment de multiples manquements
aux critères de Copenhague relatifs aux droits de minorités.
Le document dénonce les pratiques discriminatoires qui frappent les
minorités non musulmanes, et déplore que les manuels d’histoire véhiculent
une image négative de ces dernières. Cependant, il allègue que les autorités
promettent de ne plus pratiquer ces discriminations (ii).

Le document mentionne le problème de la direction bicéphale des écoles
arméniennes dont l’adjoint du directeur, représentant le Ministère de l’
Education, doit toujours être un musulman aux pouvoirs supérieurs à ceux du
directeur arménien. Enfin, l’insuffisance de l’enseignement de la langue
arménienne a été citée. Dans le domaine de la liberté religieuse, les
obstacles rencontrés par les minorités religieuses non musulmanes sont
relatés très sommairement (iii).

La criminalisation du génocide des Arméniens a trouvé timidement une place
dans ce même rapport. Ainsi, dans le chapitre consacré à la liberté d’
expression, toujours en évitant de nommer le génocide, la Commission dénonce
l’article 305 (ex- 127, 308, 306 ) du code pénal turc, qui prévoit une peine
d’emprisonnement pour toute personne affirmant le génocide dans les médias
et les publications (voir notre communiqué du 28/09/04). Le rapport
considère que les exemples cités dans l’exposé des motifs de cet article
sont contraires à la Convention Européenne des Droits de l’Homme.

La Fédération Euro-Arménienne estime qu’en censurant le terme de génocide
par l’utilisation d’appellations incorrectes ou par le silence, la
Commission européenne s’exerce au jeu de l’ambiguïté qui prolonge le
négationnisme de la Turquie. « Parler du génocide sans le nommer, quand le
code pénal turc criminalise explicitement son affirmation, est un signe
avant-coureur du danger qui menace notre liberté d’expression dès avant
toute intégration de cet Etat négationniste » a affirmé Hilda Tchoboian la
présidente de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne.

La Fédération constate que malgré cette censure, ce nouveau rapport n’a pas
totalement écarté la question du génocide à la différence des rapports
précédents. Elle s’accorde avec la Commission sur la responsabilité qu’a la
Turquie de se réconcilier avec l’Arménie. Elle considère cependant qu’en
confinant cet immense crime contre l’Humanité aux relations bilatérales
entre la Turquie et l’Arménie, la Commission fuit sa responsabilité d’
intégrer le génocide dans ses exigences face à la Turquie.

La Fédération affirme également que l’intention annoncée par la Commission
de donner un rôle pacificateur à la Turquie au sud du Caucase relève d’une
pure utopie : « Dans une région à l’équilibre aussi fragile, vouloir donner
un tel rôle à un pays surarmé, agressif et qui n’a pas officiellement
renoncé à ses visées territoriales est plus une déclaration de guerre qu’une
contribution à la sécurité et la stabilité de la région. » a affirmé Hilda
Tchoboian. La Fédération rappelle que la Turquie n’a jamais infirmé l’
existence de son plan d’invasion de l’Arménie datant d’il y a à peine dix
ans.

« Pour la réconciliation sur le génocide, c’est le devoir de l’Europe que de
se référer à la fois à la pratique et au Droit internationaux :
reconnaissance, demande de pardon, réparation, et garantie de non répétition
du génocide » a énoncé la présidente de la Fédération Euro-Arménienne. «
Toutes les composantes du peuple arménien veulent une véritable
réconciliation conforme aux règles internationales et qui garantisse le
droit à la sécurité et à la vie des Arméniens et de l’Arménie. » a-t-elle
conclu.

——————————–
extraits pertinents des rapports :
——————————–

(i) L’adhésion de la Turquie étendrait les frontières de l’UE à l’Arménie, à
l’Azerbaïdjan et à la Géorgie. Par la Turquie, l’UE pourrait avoir une
influence stabilisatrice dans le Caucase méridional, à condition que la
Turquie soit disposée à essayer de résoudre les conflits avec ses voisins
dès avant son adhésion. En particulier, elle devra améliorer ses relations
avec l’Arménie en établissant des relations diplomatiques et en ouvrant la
frontière terrestre, qui est actuellement fermée. Un autre aspect important
est celui de l’interprétation des événements tragiques, notamment la
souffrance humaine, qui se sont produits dans la région en 1915/1916. [NDLR
la version anglaise qui fait foi est différente et mentionne : As regards
the tragic events, in particular the human suffering in the region in
1915/1916, the prospect of Turkey’s accession must lead to an improvement in
bilateral relations with Armenia and to reconciliation as regards these
events.] La perspective de l’adhésion de la Turquie doit conduire à une
amélioration des relations bilatérales avec l’Arménie et à la réconciliation
en ce qui concerne ces événements. Il est également important que la Turquie
contribue à l’atténuation des tensions entre l’Azerbaïdjan et l’Arménie dans
le conflit concernant le Haut-Karabakh. Les relations de l’UE avec l’
Azerbaïdjan, la Géorgie et les pays riverains de la mer Caspienne, riche en
pétrole, pourraient également être s’améliorer à la suite de l’adhésion de
la Turquie.

(ii) Les manuels d’histoire pour l’année scolaire 2003-2004 représentent
toujours les minorités comme peu fiables, déloyales et dangereuses pour l’
État. Les autorités ont cependant commencé à corriger le discours
discriminatoire dans les manuels scolaires, et en mars 2004, un règlement a
établi que les manuels scolaires ne devaient pas faire de discrimination sur
la base de la race, de la religion, du sexe, de la langue, de l’ethnie, de
la croyance philosophique ou de la religion.

(iii) Le dialogue avec les autorités sur la question de la direction
bicéphale dans les écoles juives, grecques et arméniennes (l’adjoint du
directeur de ces écoles est un musulman représentant le ministère de l’
Éducation et a davantage de pouvoirs que le directeur lui-même) se poursuit.
En mai 2004, le ministère de l’Éducation a déclaré que les enfants dont la
mère appartient à une communauté minoritaire pouvaient aussi fréquenter ces
écoles (auparavant, seuls les enfants dont le père était issu de la minorité
pouvaient fréquenter ces écoles). Il n’en reste pas moins que la déclaration
par les parents de leur appartenance à une minorité fera l’objet d’une
évaluation par le ministère de l’Éducation. La communauté grecque a
rencontré des difficultés pour obtenir l’approbation de nouveaux matériels
didactiques et la reconnaissance de professeurs formés à l’étranger. En
outre, en violation de la loi de 2003 sur le travail et contrairement à
leurs collègues d’origine turque, les professeurs appartenant à la minorité
grecque ne peuvent enseigner que dans une seule école. La communauté
arménienne s’est, quant à elle, inquiétée de l’insuffisance de l’
enseignement de la langue arménienne.

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