Author: Khondkarian Raffi

ARMENIA IN PLACE OF HONOUR
ArmeniaDiaspora.com
Sept 28 2006
France, September 28, /FranceDiplomatie/. 30 September 2006 marks the
start of Armenia Year in France. Under the title “Armenie mon amie”
[My friend Armenia], it celebrates a longstanding relationship between
the two countries.
A people that has been a standard bearer of civilisation For several
hundred years the Armenians and the French have maintained a special
relationship. At a meeting in Spring 2004, Robert Kotcharian, President
of the Republic of Armenia, and the President of the French Republic,
Jacques Chirac, expressed the joint wish to celebrate the links that
unite the two peoples with an Armenia Year. Cultural events will take
place both in that country and in France from the end of September
2006 to July 2007.
This friendship dates back to the Crusades ten centuries ago, and has
developed over the course of history. “The last Armenian prince was
a Frenchman, Leon V, in the 14th century, and the word “baron” means
“sir” in present day Armenian”, explains Nelly Tardivier, the general
organiser of the event. “This Year is an invitation to an old friend,
to a remarkable culture and a people that has been a standard bearer
of civilisation.” With its own alphabet and enriched by a unique
Christian culture – several sacred texts now exist only in their
Armenian version – this civilisation is three thousand years old.
A people that has been a standard bearer of civilisation The advisors
to the French kings, Mazarin and Richelieu, studied Armenian,
19th-century intellectuals pondered the “Armenian question” and
trading links between the two nations were already considerable.
It is even said that it was an Armenian who brought coffee to France.
Today there are almost 450,000 French citizens of Armenian origin,
largely the children of refugees who landed in Marseille at the
end of the First World War, fleeing the genocide perpetrated by the
Ottoman Empire.
Armenia Year will start with a visit to the country by Jacques Chirac
together with a series of French cultural events in the capital,
Yerevan, and other towns in the Republic, from September to November.
A concert in Yerevan by the most famous French Armenian, Charles
Aznavour, will mark the start of the festivities. Also on the programme
will be readings from works in the French repertoire or related to
Armenia by actors from the Comedie Francaise in Yerevan and Gumri,
a production in Armenian of Les Caprices de Marianne [The Moods of
Marianne] (1833) by Alfred de Musset and the arrival in Yerevan of
one of the Louvre’s major works, Bonaparte au pont D’Arcole (1798)
by Antoine Gros.

Agence France Presse
27 septembre 2006 mercredi 5:24 PM GMT
Chirac lie implicitement l’adhésion turque à l’UE à la reconnaissance
du génocide arménien
Jacques Chirac a implicitement lié l’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union
européenne à la reconnaissance du génocide arménien, affirmant qu’il
s’agit de “l’esprit même de la construction européenne”, dans une
interview aux “Nouvelles d’Arménie” rendue publique mercredi par le
mensuel.
M. Chirac doit effectuer, de vendredi à dimanche, la première visite
d’Etat d’un président français dans cette ex-république soviétique du
Caucase du Sud.
La France s’est toujours refusée à établir un lien direct entre les
deux questions, les Européens n’ayant pas fait de la reconnaissance
du génocide arménien de 1915 une condition de l’entrée d’Ankara à
l’UE.
La Turquie a entamé en octobre 2005 des négociations en vue d’une
entrée dans l’UE dans dix ou quinze ans.
Rappelant qu’il était à ses yeux “essentiel” que la Turquie reste
ancrée à l’Occident, M. Chirac, interrogé sur le génocide, a souligné
que “l’Europe, c’est d’abord un effort de réconciliation, de paix, de
respect et d’ouverture aux autres”, ajoutant que cela “s’est traduit
toujours et partout par un effort de mémoire”.
“Même si c’est un processus long et difficile, j’ai confiance dans la
capacité de la Turquie à mener ce devoir de mémoire à son terme, car
l’enjeu, c’est l’esprit même de la construction européenne”, a
déclaré le chef de l’Etat.
Les Arméniens estiment que jusqu’à 1,5 million des leurs ont péri
dans un génocide orchestré par l’Empire ottoman entre 1915 et 1917.
Ankara affirme que des massacres ont été commis de part et d’autre et
récuse les accusations de génocide.
Jacques Chirac a par ailleurs appelé l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan, qui
se disputent depuis près de 20 ans l’enclave du Nagorny-Karabakh, à
avoir “l’audace de la paix” en saisissant les propositions des pays
médiateurs.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Level of Bilateral Relations between Armenia and France Very High
30.09.2006 14:47 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The level of bilateral relations between Armenia and
France is very high, RA President Robert Kocharian said at a joint
press conference with French leader Jacques Chirac. In his words,
during a tete-a-tete meeting they discussed the whole scope of issues
both states are interested in. `A special emphasis was placed on the
development of bilateral relations and higher education sector. The
existence of the French University in Armenia is the evidence of our
interest in each other. We also discussed the Karabakh problem with
Jacques Chirac, who is perfectly aware of the situation,’ Robert
Kocharian remarked.
The Armenian leader also said that the role of the Armenian community
of France was emphasized during the meeting. `The Armenian community
makes a great contribution to the development of bilateral
relations. I know that many people came to Armenia to take part in the
opening ceremony of the Square of France in Yerevan. This is a
significant event for us,’ the RA President said.

INDEPENDENCE DAY OF ARMENIA MARKED IN STAVROPOL REGION
PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 14:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 24 within the Year of Armenia in
Russia a holiday concert, marking the Independence Day of Armenia,
was organized in the yard of St. Sargis church of Pyatigorsk. As
reported by the Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians of Russia, the
event was organized by Round Table Coordination Council of Armenian
communities and Pyatigorsk Armenian National-Cultural Autonomy. Members
of Armenian communities of Kislovodsk, Budyonnovsk, Zelenokumsk,
Edissia village and stanitsa Suvorovskaya took part in the event as
well. St. Sargis church pastor Ter Khachatur opened the event with
prayer and congratulated those gathered on the holiday. Chair of
Pyatigorsk Armenian National-Cultural Autonomy David Lazaryan and
Round Table and Urartu Armenian community Chairman Mikhail Manvelov
addressed participants of the event. Folklore amateur performance
groups of Stavropol Region were in the concert program of the holiday.

DUTCH POLITICAL PARTIES SCRAP CANDIDATES WHO DENY WWI MASSACRE OF ARMENIANS WAS GENOCIDE
International Herald Tribune, France
The Associated Press
Sept 27 2006
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands The two largest Dutch political parties
have scrapped ethnic Turkish parliamentary candidates who refuse to
acknowledge the mass killings of Armenians during World War I amounted
to genocide.
The candidates include Ayhan Tonca of the governing Christian Democrat
Party. Tonca is one of the country’s most prominent Muslim politicians
and is chairman of an umbrella organization of Islamic groups known
as CMO.
The Christian Democrats also retracted the candidacy of Osman Elmaci,
and the opposition Labor Party ended the candidacy of Erdinc Sacan.
In their platforms ahead of next month’s election, both parties have
staked out positions on Turkey’s possible entry into the European
Union, a divisive issue around the continent.
The Labor Party has adopted a view shared by others in Europe that
Turkey should be required to recognize the killings as genocide before
it can be allowed to join the EU.
Whether the mass killings of a million or more Armenians in the last
years of the Ottoman Empire nearly a century ago constituted a genocide
has been the subject of academic and political debate.
The Netherlands and most European governments consider it a genocide.
Turkey and many Turkish scholars, and others, vehemently deny the
deaths resulted from systematic slaughter, saying the death toll of
1.5 million is wildly inflated and that both Armenians and Turks were
killed in fighting during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
The U.S. government has shied away from using the word “genocide”
to define the killings.
Earlier this month the European Parliament voted for the inclusion
of a clause requiring Turkey “to recognize the Armenian genocide as
a condition for its EU accession.”
Though their parliamentary runs were ended, the three politicians were
not expelled from their parties. None could immediately be reached
for comment Wednesday.
Tonca and Elmaci had initially said they would assent to the Christian
Democrat Party’s official position acknowledging the killings as
genocide, but both later denied they shared that view in an interview
with a Turkish newspaper.
“As a result of an interview in the Turkish paper Sabah, a discussion
took place between the party and Mr. Elmaci and Mr. Tonca,” the
CDA said in a statement. “In this discussion it was determined that
there is a structural difference of opinion over recognition of the
Armenian Genocide.”
It said the men would not be candidates and thanked them for their
services.
Labor’s Sacan had never accepted his party’s position accepting the
genocide as a fact.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands The two largest Dutch political parties
have scrapped ethnic Turkish parliamentary candidates who refuse to
acknowledge the mass killings of Armenians during World War I amounted
to genocide.
The candidates include Ayhan Tonca of the governing Christian Democrat
Party. Tonca is one of the country’s most prominent Muslim politicians
and is chairman of an umbrella organization of Islamic groups known
as CMO.
The Christian Democrats also retracted the candidacy of Osman Elmaci,
and the opposition Labor Party ended the candidacy of Erdinc Sacan.
In their platforms ahead of next month’s election, both parties have
staked out positions on Turkey’s possible entry into the European
Union, a divisive issue around the continent.
The Labor Party has adopted a view shared by others in Europe that
Turkey should be required to recognize the killings as genocide before
it can be allowed to join the EU.
Whether the mass killings of a million or more Armenians in the last
years of the Ottoman Empire nearly a century ago constituted a genocide
has been the subject of academic and political debate.
The Netherlands and most European governments consider it a genocide.
Turkey and many Turkish scholars, and others, vehemently deny the
deaths resulted from systematic slaughter, saying the death toll of
1.5 million is wildly inflated and that both Armenians and Turks were
killed in fighting during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
The U.S. government has shied away from using the word “genocide”
to define the killings.
Earlier this month the European Parliament voted for the inclusion
of a clause requiring Turkey “to recognize the Armenian genocide as
a condition for its EU accession.”
Though their parliamentary runs were ended, the three politicians were
not expelled from their parties. None could immediately be reached
for comment Wednesday.
Tonca and Elmaci had initially said they would assent to the Christian
Democrat Party’s official position acknowledging the killings as
genocide, but both later denied they shared that view in an interview
with a Turkish newspaper.
“As a result of an interview in the Turkish paper Sabah, a discussion
took place between the party and Mr. Elmaci and Mr. Tonca,” the
CDA said in a statement. “In this discussion it was determined that
there is a structural difference of opinion over recognition of the
Armenian Genocide.”
It said the men would not be candidates and thanked them for their
services.
Labor’s Sacan had never accepted his party’s position accepting the
genocide as a fact.

EXHIBITION REVIEW – TEXTILES AND TRIBAL ART
The Muslim News, UK
Sept 27 2006
Current events in London illustrate the immense interest in the art
and designs of the Islamic World: the popular 2006 exhibition “World
in the Art” at the British Museum, the refurbished Islamic Galleries
at the V&A.
One such exhibition was the grand and annual show, ‘Textiles and Tribal
Art – The HALI Fair 2006’, which was established almost 10 years ago.
The context and content of the show were absolutely vast: textiles,
rugs and ethnographic works of art, were shown by 75 dealers from
across five different continents.
Those who know me will agree, as a hand woven textile artist, that I
am being biased to focus and highlight the Textiles of the Islamic
World. It is also due to an overall interest and concern regarding
the contemporary issues of textiles in the art and design of the
Islamic World.
Traditional weaving techniques are widely practised in all Muslim
countries. Colour, technique, weight of cloth, design and equipment
vary according to the different continents and the countries
themselves. They are woven by specialist master weavers, who are
usually from established and talented families with a long weaving
tradition. The HALI Fair highlights these extraordinary hand-woven
pieces which deserve to be appreciated as works of Art.
The exhibition was a pleasant surprise, a cultural melting pot,
like the Silk Road. It consisted of a wealth of Ikat weaving from
Uzbekistan, rare fabrics from Algeria, carpets from Turkey and fine
woven fabrics from Mughal India and Africa.
The Nemati Collections of Rugs truly caught my attention – Tousanian
Prayer Rug, Turkey, C.1920 Silk and metal. 132×198.
Tousanian was an Armenian who lived in England and set up a workshop
in Kumpaki, a district inhabited by Armenians. In 1915, Tousanian
began to recreate some of the finest silk woven carpets, modelled
after traditional pieces. This particular piece is rare in design.
The central area illustrates a kingdom of exotic birds and animals,
while the upper mihrab depicts verses of the Qur’an. Tousanian used
traditional Kumpaki carpet techniques of weaving with metallic
threads. The texture of the Prayer Rug is incredibly smooth and
uniquely thin.
I then came across a rare collection of hand-woven fabrics from Lybia
and Tunisia. These amazing pieces of cloth are hand-dyed with natural
dye and spontaneously woven. They are very old and the collector
‘Menzel Galerie NordAfrika’ could not tell me much about the time
they were produced. I found them very contemporary and although they
were traditionally used as a bridal head cover and veil, they all
have the potential to be contemporary interior pieces.
Hand-woven textiles are a central and integral part of Islamic Art and
Design. However, the question that begs to be asked is if the art of
textiles is just part of the historical heritage of the Islamic Art
and Design or if we can revive it within the contemporary Islamic
Art and Design?

DINK AGAIN ACCUSED IN INSULTING TURKISHNESS
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.09.2006 18:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Public Prosecutor of Shishli in Istanbul has indicted
editor-in-chief of the Agos Hrant Dink and two his co-workers, one
of them being Dink’s son, for “insulting Turkishness” and demanded
imprisonment for 3 years. According to the prosecution, on July 21
Dink’s statement over the issue was published in a foreign media. “I
determine it as a Genocide, as the results makes name it that
way. Today we can see that the nation, which lived in its lands for
4 thousand years, was expatriated after those events,” Dink said in
his article. Shishli court has already sentenced Dink to 6 months of
conditional imprisonment due to a similar indictment, reports RFE/RL.

EU: PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES CONTROVERSIAL TURKEY REPORT
AKI, Italy
Sept 26 2006
Strasbourg, 26 Sept. (AKI) – A full session of the 732 member European
Parliament is on Tuesday due to discuss a controversial report on
Turkey – an EU candidate country – prepared by Conservative Dutch MEP
Camiel Eurlings. A controversial provision, making recognition of the
killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during and after World War I
a precondition for Turkey’s EU membership, is expected to be removed
from the draft, Turkey’s Cihan news agency reported. The parliament
is due to vote on the report on Wednesday.
Tuesday’s session – to be attended by EU enlargement commissioner Olli
Rehn – is also expected to make other amendments easing recommendations
on the issue of Turkey’s recognition of EU member state Cyprus, Cihan
said. The report warns the Turkish government that its continuing
refusal to allow Greek Cypriot ships and planes to enter its ports and
airspace and implement reforms could stall its membership negotiations
with the European Union.
The report – adopted by the European parliament’s influential foreign
affairs committee on 5 September – harshly criticises Turkey for
its slow pace of reform on rights, freedom of expression, and the
role of the security forces. It urged the country to “reinvigorate”
implementation of reforms, especially in the areas of freedom of
expression, women’s rights, religious freedom, trade union rights,
torture and ill-treatment of prisoners.
Turkey’s foreign ministry criticised the report as “lacking commonsense
and objectivity,” and said it would not improve the country’s ties
with the EU. After protracted negotiations, Turkey began accession
talks with the EU last October. The talks do not lead automatically
to membership, which in any event is not expected before 2015.

NATO REFLECTS APPROACHES TOWARDS PRINCIPLES OF AZERBAIJAN – AZERI MP
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 25 2006
The attitude NATO Parliamentary Assembly towards the fireplaces
requires to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the member of the
Azerbaijani delegation in NATO Parliamentary Assembly, MP Zahid Oruj
told Trend.
The Deputy noted that the Azerbaijani delegation may establish its
activities on the level of associative membership. “The associative
membership doesn’t take any steps, but is involved in raising questions
and presenting problems, and cannot influence the made decisions,”
Oruj said. In addition, he emphasized that the attitude of NATO
Parliamentary Assembly towards this issue is very important.
The attitude NATO Parliamentary Assembly towards the fireplaces
requires to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “It is impossible to
await that NATO may apply any sanctions in relation with this issue,
and send its armed forces to the territory of South Caucasus,” Oruj
spelled out.
He added that earlier, NATO Parliamentary Assembly considered
this problem from the point of view of Armenia, but now views have
changed. “At present, NATO reflects approaches towards the principles
of Azerbaijan,” Orujov concluded.

Kommersant, Russia
Sep. 21, 2006
Commonwealth of Oil-Dependent States
Even non-primary-producing CIS countries depend on oil
and natural gas prices
Analytic centers believe that mid-term economic growth
in CIS countries will remain, but the long-term growth
strongly depends on oil prices and reforms in certain
countries. Apparently, economic growth in such
countries as Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan is
dependent on exported raw material prices. However,
the changes in raw material prices influences other
CIS states as well, because their economies are
closely intertwined. For instance, work migrants earn
money in rapidly richening Russia and send it to their
homes. Money transfers are economically important for
such countries as Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldavia, and Tajikistan, according to IMF’s review of
world economy.
Ukraine’s, Georgia’s, and Belarus’ economies strongly
depend on Russia’s oil and gas. Moscow now ties up
political agreements on prices with the level of world
prices on oil and gas. Thus, Belarus might lose from 2
or 3 percent to 9 or 10 percent of its GDP, depending
on prices of energy resources from Russia.
Georgia, who became the growth leader last year (9.3
percent of GDP growth), will keep it up this year as
well. This is partially the result of liberal economic
reforms and anti-corruption campaign. Yet, high growth
rate in Georgia is also the consequence of fast
economic recovery after decline. Georgia also has
another important source for growth – foreign
financial aid. Yet, the continuing debates between
Moscow and Tbilisi might slow Georgia’s economic
growth down to 5 or 6 percent in 2007.
IMF thinks Ukraine might slow down as well, due to
political instability. According to the estimations of
ING bank, if Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan —
economic leaders of the CIS – join the WTO, their GDP
growth rates will slow down by 0.2-0.5 percentage
points in 2008, but will be accelerating by extra
0.5-1.0 percentage points beginning from 2009.