Author: Maghakian Mike

ARMENIAN DM SAYS DEFENSE BUDGET ENOUGH TO ENSURE HIGH COMBAT READINESS
Armenpress
Nov 06 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian defense minister Serzh
Sarkisian said today the amount of defense spending envisaged by next
year’s government budget is quite sufficient to keep an effective army.
Speaking to journalists after parliament hearings on 2007 budget the
minister said Armenia’s military budget for next year will soar by
35 percent. He said from now on Armenia’s military budget will make
3.65 percent of the country’s GDP. “Therefore the stronger Armenian
economy is the bigger the defense spending will be,’ he said.
The minister said nearly half of this budget will be used to pay army
officers. Next year the average wage of a military officer will grow
to 165,000 drams (approximately $450). The minister commented also
on Azerbaijan’s plans to increase its military spending for next year
up to $1 billion, saying a wise and thrifty use of the budget is more
important than its volume.
The draft 2007 budget calls for 100.4 billion drams (about $300
million) in military spending.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
MEDIA ADVISORY
October 31, 2006
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]
RE: Journey for Humanity Activists to End March in Washington, DC
Washington, DC – A group of Armenian-American activists who are walking
3,000 miles cross-country to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide
and other crimes against humanity, will conclude their march this week
in Washington, DC.
The Journey for Humanity walk began four months ago in Los Angeles, CA
with the support of the Armenian Assembly of America. Since then, the
marchers have crossed a dozen states and held rallies in several major
cities to promote the mission of the Journey, honor the victims and
survivors of all genocidal acts and advance the cause of genocide
prevention.
In Washington, the Armenian Student Network of George Washington
University and others will host a discussion on genocide in today’s
world featuring the Journey for Humanity team and Sam Bell and Mark
Hanis of the Genocide Intervention Network. The event will be held on
Sunday, November 5 at 3:00 pm at the Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom
at George Washington University. Representatives the Save Darfur
coalition, the American Islamic Congress, Citizens for Global Solutions
and the Genocide Intervention Network will also be on hand. All are
welcome. For more information, please contact Karinne’ Hovnanian at
[email protected].
To learn more about Journey for Humanity, visit their Web site at
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#2006-095

SUPPORT FOR EU SHRINKS, REACTION GROWS
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 31 2006
Remarks made by EU authorities on delicate issues such Cyprus and
Turkey’s human rights record have negatively affected Turkish public
opinion regarding accession to the European Union.
Drawing attention to this negative impact, Chairman of the Turkish
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Rifat Hisarciklioglu
noted that polls indicated public support for EU membership has faded
significantly, dropping dramatically to below 50 percent.
However, he also asserted that this sharp decline in support for the
EU in Turkey should not bother the union.
Hisarciklioglu recalled that the EU’s consistent double standards have
created this situation and said: “We occasionally hear comments from
EU officials referring to Turkey’s unwillingness and unassertiveness
in introducing further reforms. However, it should be noted that the
EU has been suffering from a reluctance to fulfill its obligations
and commitments on lifting the isolation of Turkish Cyprus, as well
as their double standards in relation to freedom of expression,
terrorism and the groundless genocide allegations.”
TOBB held a meeting entitled “The European Union Accession Process,
Chambers of Commerce and Industry: Case Studies-Projects” at the TOBB
Economy and Technology University.
In the opening speech, Hisarciklioglu assessed the progress report the
EU Commission will release next week. Voicing Turkey’s expectation
that the report would be based on solid and technical evaluations,
Hisarciklioglu further stated: “The progress report will give a new
direction to the accession negotiations. I hope the evaluations and
the comments in the report will help us eliminate our shortcomings
and encourage our technical work.”
The EU Commission will assess Turkey’s performance with regard
to membership negotiations held this year. The Cyprus issue and
the opening of ports to Greek Cypriots have reportedly deadlocked
negotiations between the parties.
However, according to Turkey’s State Minister and Chief Negotiator
Ali Babacan, Turkey’s troubles with the EU stem from the individual
stances of certain EU member states, not from its relations with the
EU Commission.
Babacan said: “We have confidence in ourselves. There is no problem
in Ankara or Brussels. The problem is in the European capitals. Some
countries are just not ready for Turkey’s membership in the EU;
they have their own unique internal problems.”
He noted that the negotiations would have been completed in 3-4
years if it were a technical process only and added that political
developments would determine the pace of the process and without
public support, the process could not be concluded successfully.
‘Historical compromise only possible with debate’
Stressing that certain developments within the EU have negatively
affected Turkish public opinion, Babacan cited as an example the
adoption of the draft bill by the French parliament that would make
denial of an Armenian genocide a criminal offense.
French businessmen also reacted to the bill that was passed on the
eve of elections in the country. Pierre Simon, Chair of the Paris
Chamber of Commerce, and president of Eurochambres, an umbrella
organization for European chambers of commerce, noted that a compromise
on historical issues should be sought through discussion and debate
rather than legal means.
According to Simon, who criticized the draft bill, situations like
this show how important businessmen are in the conduct of bilateral
relations between countries.
Simon said, “I believe that compromise on historical issues can only be
achieved through open and democratic debates, and not through enacting
laws,” and also called on the business world to guide politicians
down the right path.
He further said: “Trade means peace. As businessmen from the two
countries, we should continue our efforts to enhance economic
relations.”
Simon also added that the importance of dialogue, trust and cooperation
became clearer in periods marked by political discussions and
controversies.

TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN UNVEIL MISLEADING INFORMATION
Panorama.am
15:08 30/10/06
Gagik Yeganyan, head of migration and refugees department of Armenia,
said Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah
Giul have again told a lie. The minister reportedly announced a year
ago that there are 40,000 Armenians in Turkey.
Concurrently, Turkey said she will deport 70,000 Armenians, illegally
working in Turkey, in case France adopts a law punishing denial of
the Armenian genocide.
Yeganyan made a little survey to correct the number of Armenians
working in Turkey. In his words, if Giul’s words were correct that
40,000 could not be added by another 30,000 in one year.
Yeganyan beleives there are not more than 10,000 citizens in Armenia
working in Turkey which is far from Erdogan’s stated 70,000.
Similarly, Azerbaijan earlier reported they have 600,000 refugees
and this number gradually reached 1 million.

AZG Armenian Daily #205, 27/10/2006

Home
VARTAN OSKANIAN UNAWARE OF AIM OF FUSS ABOUT
DEMARCATION OF ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said Wednesday at
the Armenian Parliament that he isn’t aware of the
fuss about the demarcation of the Armenian-Georgian
border.
He stated that the map of the Armenian-Georgian border
published in 1939 is taken as a ground. He said there
are some areas where either the Armenian or the
Georgian parties “have crossed” the borders and the
delimitation is necessary to avoid territorial losses.
The negotiating sides have quite a positive view of
the process despite the current difficulties. The
ultimate statement rests upon the Parliament here. Mr.
Oskanian said that anything that may infringe the
national interests of Armenia in this process is
excluded. He added that the sides had agreed
everything at the negotiations.
As for the Armenian citizens who have been persecuted
by the Georgian authorities for crossing the
Georgian-Abkhazian border, the minister said this
problem is being gradually settled. A month ago, the
number of arrested RA citizens amounted to 30 people,
now it has reduced to 3. Negotiations are still under
way and these 3 persons will also be soon released, he
said. He believes the problem is that Georgia resolved
to apply a law that has not been applied for a long
time. Hence, these arrested RA citizens were likely to
have no idea of this law on the Abkhazian border.
By Marietta Khachatrian

DECISION WOULD AFFECT CULTURAL DIALOGUE, PROF. DUMONT
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ANKARA – “The bill adopted by the French National Assembly is a barrier
against freedom. It seems impossible for the cultural dialogue not
to get affected by this,” Turkish History Professor Paul Dumont said
on Thursday.
Attending a conference organized by Hacettepe University in Ankara,
Professor Dumont answered the questions of the A.A reporter on French
National Assembly’s today’s decision.
Dumont reminded that he teaches Ottoman and Turkish history classes
at Strasbourg University and he also instructs Armenia-Turkey
relations. He said that the decision of the Assembly would affect
the freedom of speech.
“It is so bizarre in a free country like France that the scientists
cannot study on some issues and can get pecuniary penalty or jail
sentence if they talk on these issues,” he said.
Prof. Dumont noted that the decision would be a barrier for the ones
who defend Turkey and would affect the cultural dialogue.
-FRANCE MADE A BIG MISTAKE, PROF. HALMAN-
Meanwhile, Dean of Humanities and Letters Faculty of Bilkent University
Prof. Dr. Talat Halman who attended the conference also answered the
questions of A.A on French National Assembly’s decision.
Halman said that France made a big mistake and Turkey has a justifiable
disappointment. “Turks always respected and admired French. French
culture affected our culture a lot. From now on probably there would
be a big resistance. This won’t be only an economic resistance. France
will face difficulties in terms of political agreements. We won’t
support them easily from now on. But the worst thing is that our
perfect cultural relations were damaged.
They wounded us, we did not deserve this. This is an injustice. I
hope France would correct this mistake somehow.”

RUSSIA’S FUTURE DEPENDS ON STREAMLINED IMMIGRATION
RIA Novosti, Russia
Oct 24 2006
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Yury Filippov).The lower
house of Russia’s parliament has adopted harsh amendments to the
immigration legislation in a majority vote.
The ruling is expected to be approved in the upper house and by the
president, and to come into force by the end of this year.
Foreigners and stateless persons who violate the rules of entry into
Russia, the registration and immigration regime will be fined $200,
and may be also ordered to leave the country.
Western tourists who come to Russia for a couple of weeks to do some
sightseeing and book their trips through reputable travel agencies
have nothing to fear. The law is aimed primarily at curbing the
uncontrolled illegal immigration from the former Soviet republics in
the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Russia, as the main legal successor of the Soviet Union, has inherited
from it the informal status of the “common home” for its former
citizens. Ethnic purges in neighboring republics, some of them soft
and other quite ruthless (as the anti-Armenian movement in Baku,
the capital of Azerbaijan, in 1990), forced millions of non-titular
people to leave their homes. Russia welcomed everyone who wanted to
live, work and do business on its territory.
It was a deliberate policy designed to turn Russia into the pivotal
point for post-Soviet republics. Judging by the number of immigrants,
which is estimated at 8-12 million, it has succeeded.
However, that policy was not fully consistent, and its drawbacks
have recently become apparent. The Kremlin willingly helped its
neighbors cope with unemployment and raise living standards with the
incomes their immigrants earned in Russia, without any reciprocal
requirements. The liberal immigration legislation, and its even more
liberal implementation, did not help Russia to become a political
center or at least a country whose opinion is respected without fail,
the way the Untied States is for its North American neighbors.
The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which incorporated
nearly all post-Soviet countries, is a feeble organization, a kind
of “presidents’ club” whose meetings are increasingly neglected by
club members.
Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are working hard to create a political
alternative to the CIS. Ukraine is hindering economic integration on
the basis of a customs union, and Azerbaijan and Georgia did their
best to promote the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline via Georgia, although
its economic expediency is questionable and Russia had proposed its
territory for oil transit.
Russian-Georgian relations seem to be breathing their last, with
arguments ranging from NATO and the European Union to Georgia’s
conflicts with the former Soviet autonomous republics of Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, and the low quality of Georgian wines exported to
Russia. Taken together, this shows that truly neighborly relations and
a border open to uncontrollable immigration are two different things.
It has been believed until recently that Russia had political
and economic reasons for keeping its southern and eastern borders
open. A demographic crisis is reducing the Russian population by
about 700,000 annually, and the Kremlin firmly believes that it needs
labor immigrants to accelerate economic growth. President Vladimir
Putin spoke about this in this year’s state of the nation address
to parliament.
But the absence of immigration control is a drawback, not an
advantage. Immigrants are flocking to big and rapidly developing
cities, where they mostly trade (and also work in construction,
transport and utilities), avoiding the provinces, which direly need
them to overcome the consequences of an economic depression.
Unregistered immigrants do not pay taxes, and the employers’ desire
to use cheap labor bypassing the law creates fertile ground for
corruption.
Russia does not intend to erect a new Iron Curtain, but it must
streamline its immigration legislation to prevent chaos and
uncontrollable developments. The time is ripe for this, as proved
by the fact that Putin has addressed the issue. At a recent meeting
with the government, he asked for detailed reports from the ministers
of the economy, labor, the interior and agriculture. The problem
is hugely complicated and needs a comprehensive solution using all
available possibilities of the state.
This may take several years, but the objective is worth the hard
work. Fifteen years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia
is still trying to draft the optimal principles of relations with its
sovereign neighbors, from which the majority of immigrants come. It
is still trying to form a comprehensive strategy for its economic
development, with due regard for the resources it may receive from
the former Soviet countries.
Russia must advance firmly along this path to resolve its problems
without keeping borders wide open.

BARROSO’S MESSAGE TO FRANCE
Turkish Press
Oct 23 2006
BRUSSELS – European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has
indicated that there must not be new criteria and conditions for
Turkey, referring to discussions on so-called Armenian genocide
in France.
At a news conference in Brussels, Barroso noted that Turkish
authorities should respect Ankara Protocol, stating that the pace of
reforms on public freedoms was not satisfactory.
On the other hand, EU commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn criticised
the bill on so-called Armenian genocide in French Parliament and
pointed out to the possible harm that will be caused by steps taken
to that end.
Expressing his views to the press, Rehn said that while the draft in
question was French parliament’s problem, it might however would lead
to serious problems in EU-Turkey relations.
Rehn said he is worried about the possibility of adoption of the
draft legislation punishing those who didn’t acknowledge the so called
Armenian genocide, and said such a development would harm the dialogue
between Turkey and EU.

Armenian Businessmen Suffer from Russia’s Georgia Embargo
Civil Georgia, Georgia
Oct 19 2006
Armenian businessmen have to redirect import routes as a result of
Russia’s sanctions on Georgia, which increases expenditures from 7%
to 20%, Armenian Trade and Economy Minister Karen Chshmaritian said
on October 19, according to the Novosti-Armenia news agency.
He said that Armenian importers redirect their cargo travelling from
Russia to ports – mainly Varna in Bulgaria and Ilichevsk in Ukraine –
from where it is possible to access Georgia and then Armenia.
Meanwhile, RFE/RL Armenian Service reported on October 17 that Armenian
Parliamentary Chairman Tigran Torosian told visiting group of Russian
parliamentarians in Yerevan that Russia is ignoring the interests of
Armenia while dealing with Georgia.
Russian MP Konstantin Zatulin told the Armenian daily Haykakan Zhamanak
that Yerevan has to make a choice between Russia and Georgia. “If
you don’t do that, you have no moral right to blame Russia for not
taking into account Armenia’s interests in our conflict with Georgia,”
MP Zatulin said in the interview, according to the RFE/RL Armenian
Service.

IDFA Sets ’06 Competition Slate for Annual Amsterdam Doc Festival
Indiewire.com
by Eugene Hernandez
October 19, 2006
Considered the leading international documentary festival, Amsterdam’s 19th
annual IDFA will kick off on November 23rd with Dutch filmmaker Jiska
Rickels’ first feature-length film “4 Elements.” The film is one of 18
documentaries set for IDFA’s Joris Ivens Competition, which includes just
two U.S. project this year, Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s “Jesus Camp” and
Andrew Berends’ “When Adnan Comes Home.” Also announced is the roster for
the First Appearance competition, which features films by emerging
directors. Three films from the United States are included in the First
Appearance linenup, including Andrew Jenks’ “Andrew Jenks, Room 335,”
Socheata Poeuv’s “New Year Baby,” and Mohammed Ali Naqvi’s “Shame.” (The
complete lineup for both competitions is included below.)
Opening the International Documetary Film Festival Amsterdam is the poetic
four-part film “4 Elements,” described as a, “documentary about man’s
struggle with the primordial elements.” In the film she looks at professions
in which the elements — earth, air, fire and water — play a crucial role.
In the words of a festival description, “In Fire, Russian firemen fight
forest fires in Siberia, while in Water, fishermen in Alaska hoist up king
crabs from the Bering Sea. Earth, a shortened version of ‘Untertage’
[Rickels’ student film], follows two German mineworkers as they go about
their business. In Air, which concludes the tetralogy, cosmonauts and
astronauts prepare their launch of the International Space Station.”
Other IFDA plans include a showcase of work from China and doc director Alan
Berliner presenting ten favorites at this year’s festival, while the event
will also screen a number of his films. The festival will continue through
December 3rd in the Dutch city, while the IDFA Forum, the largest
international documentary co-financing market, will run from November 27 –
29 during the festival.
IDFA feature competition lineups follow:
Joris Ivens Competition
“4 Elements,” directed by Jiska Rickels (The Netherlands)
“9 Star Hotel,” directed by Ido Haar (Israel)
“Feet Unbound,” directed by Khee-Jin Ng (Australia)
“The Grandmother of Revolution,” directed by Petra Seliskar (Slovenia,
Macedonia, Cuba)
“Jesus Camp,” directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (USA)
“Life as a Corporate Holiday,” directed by Paolo Muran (Italy)
“The Monastery – Mr. Vig & The Nun,” directed by Pernille Rose Grønkjær
“My Father The Turk,” directed by Ariane Riecker and Marcus Vetter (Germany)
“The Planet,” directed byJohan Söderberg, Michael Stenberg, and Linus
Torell (Sweden, Norway, Denmark)
“Primo Levi’s Journey,” directed by Davide Ferrario (Italy)
“The Red Card,” directed by Carte Ghermez and Mahnaz Afzali (Iran)
“Satul Sosetelor (Village of Socks),” directed by Klaudia Begic and Ileana
Stanculescu (Germany, Romania)
“Souvenirs,” directed by Shahar Cohen and Halil Efrat (Israel)
“A Story of People in War and Peace,” directed by Vardan Hovhannisyan
(Armenia)
“Tender’s Heat. Wild Wild Beach,” directed by Alexander Rastorguev (Russia)
“Tomorrow Never Knows,” directed by Kirsi Nevanti (Finland, Sweden)
“The Value of Utopia,” directed by Yanara Guayasamin (Belgium, Ecuador)
“When Adnan Comes Home,” directed by Andrew Berends (USA)
First Appearance
“Andrew Jenks, Room 335,” directed by Andrew Jenks (USA)
“Can Tunis,” directed by José González Morandi and Paco Toledo (Spain)
“Carnival,” directed by Alen Drljevic (Bosnia Herzegovina)
“Children Of The Prophet,” directed by Sudabeh Mortezai (Iran, Austria)
“The City Of Photographers,” directed by Sebastián Moreno (Chile)
“Daguanying,” directed by Liu Juexin and Tang Xiaoliang (China)
“Dead Man Walking,” directed by Petar Oreskovic (Croatia, Bosnia
Herzegovina, Serbia)
“Demolition Men,” directed by Eldar Gross (The Netherlands)
“The End Of The Neubacher Project,” directed by Marcus John Carney (Austria,
The Netherlands)
“Every Good Marriage Begins With Tears,” directed by Simon Chambers (United
Kingdom)
“Let The Street Be Heard,” directed by Itzel Martínez Del Cañizo
“The Lost Village,” directed by Manuel Jiménez (Spain)
“New Year Baby,” directed by Socheata Poeuv (USA)
“Prirechnyy,” directed by Tone Grøttjord (Norway)
“Shame,” directed by Mohammed Ali Naqvi (USA)
“Sugartown: The Bridegrooms,” directed by Kimon Tsakiris (Greece, Germany)
“We Are Together,” directed by Paul Taylor (United Kingdom)
“With Much Love And Kisses,” directed by Anastasia Cherkassova (Russia)
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