Author: Maghakian Mike

Maryland Gazette Newspapers, MD
July 28 2004
Darnestown youth center approved
by Shannon Baylis Sarino
Staff Writer

A plan to build an Armenian youth center on 15 acres in Darnestown
was approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board July 22.
The plan will feature a 300-seat sanctuary, said Catherine Conlon, a
county planner. The sanctuary will also be used as a youth center.
Approval was also granted on the conditions that no weekday childcare
program or private school be allowed, and a portion of undeveloped
land would be given to a neighboring homeowners association.
The youth center, which is affiliated with the Soorp Khatch Armenian
Apostolic Church in Bethesda, will be built on the north side of
Darnestown Road, about 2,000 feet north of Seneca Road. According to
the planning staff report on the center, an application to build the
center was originally submitted in 1987. Hearings on the application
were held in 1989, 1995 and 2002.
The current plan consists of three parcels. The community center
parcel is made up of about 15 acres of land and eight acres of open
space and includes the house of worship, parking lot and septic
fields. The residential parcel — which contains six already existing
houses — is about 16 acres of land. The final parcel of almost two
acres of land is dedicated park land.
Conlon said before construction on the sanctuary can begin, the
center must record the lot and transfer ownership of the open space
to the Indian Run Homeowners Association, the houses neighboring the
center’s site. After the initial grading and septic digging has been
done, the center will begin landscape planning to create a buffer
between the center and the houses. Although the center does not need
to go before the Planning Board again, it could be some time before
construction begins, she said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

United States Army (press release)
July 26 2004
Major exercise underway in Baltic states
By Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey S. Mullett
ALUKSNE, Latvia (Army News Service, July 26, 2004) — U.S. Soldiers
launched an international military exercise July 20 at an army base
in Eastern Latvia.
The RESCUER / MEDCEUR exercise will continue until the end of July in
Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, three of NATO’s newest members.
`This is a U.S. European Command effort to familiarize partner
nations with multinational operations,’ said Lt. Col. Jon Dahms, the
exercise spokesman. `The three Baltic nations are hosting the
exercise, which is directed by U.S. Army Europe.
This exercise marks the first major military training event for the
Baltic States since becoming part of NATO in March, officials said.
The three nations also recently became part of the European Union,
said Col. Michael McDaniel, a Michigan National Guard officer who
leads the multi-national task force.
Troops from Germany, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia,
Bulgaria, Armenia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Azerbajan will join
U.S. Soldiers in the 15-day exercise.
Soldiers from the 7th Army Reserve Command, headquartered in
Schwetzingen, Germany, and five other Army Reserve units are
supporting the exercise, officials said.
`This is a complex operation with a lot of moving parts,’ McDaniel
said in his address during the opening ceremony July 20.
>From the task force headquarters near Aluksne, the computer-driven
scenario will challenge the multi-national staff to react to manmade
disasters.
The exercise then leaps into real world training, with mass casualty
exercises in Lithuania and a diving operation in Estonia. Polish and
Estonian soldiers will also conduct a helicopter search and rescue
exercise near Tapa, Estonia.
In addition, U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers will also work with
Lithuanian Soldiers to renovate an orphanage in Klapeida and build a
trestle bridge to allow yearlong access for Klapeida’s rural
residents to cross a flood plain. U.S. Army Reserve troops from the
368th Engineer Battalion in New Hampshire are helping the Lithuanians
install new windows in the orphanage and renovate the dining hall.
The 330th Combat Support Hospital from Tennessee is also in Klapeida
working with medical personnel from 11 other nations respond to mass
casualty events as part of the exercise.
Capt. Ilmars Lesinskis, commander of the Latvian Navy, spoke to the
troops at the ceremony about the importance of training together.
`The common job that is based on a mutual understanding, respect and
trust significantly increases our ability to react to different
crisis situations in the future,’ Lesinskis said.
Behind him the flags of the 18 participating countries, plus the NATO
banner, caught the warm breeze. Rows of international troops stood
side-by-side Tuesday morning, as the Latvian Army band performed
ceremonial music and the national anthems of both the U.S. and
Latvia.
The base, about 120 miles east of Riga, is situated just outside the
town of Aluksne and is home to the Lativan Mobile Infantry Battalion.
Officials flew in from Riga by helicopter.
Dignitaries from the Latvian government attended, as did U.S. Embassy
officials and military attaches from Russia and China.
Just 15 years ago, an exercise like this would have been virtually
impossible, McDaniel said.
`Countries once considered adversaries now work as allies,’ McDaniel
said. `Our great nations are now bound together in a global effort
against terrorism.’

ARMENIAN MINISTRY FOR TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION HAS NO DSEFINIT
POLICTY TO WI-FI ACCESS TO INTERNET
YEREVAN, JULY 26. ARMINFO. There is no definite policy of the Armenian
Ministry for Transport and Communication to the mobile radio modem
(Wi-Fi) access to Internet at present. Director of the largest
provider company in Armenia, Arminco, Andranik Aleksanyan told
ARMINFO.
He said that beginning from 2003, the given issue has been a subject
for discussion at several sessions of the IT Development Council
Support (ITDSC) initiated by ITDSC head M.Marosyan. The ministry
submitted a letter to ITDSC that small-capacity WI-FI radio modems
(for example, based on the technology Intel Centrino) can be used
without a relevant permission by the ministry, it is necessary to have
just a certificate on conformity to radio modem equipment. However,
Telecommunications Center CJSC of the Ministry for Transport and
Communications of Armenia is guided with other documents, and in order
to use Intel Centrino technology, it is necessary to calculate
electromagnetic compatibility for each radio modem and to pay for the
services on support of radio-air for the given device.
Job prices for mobile communication on the Intel Centrino technology
have not been established yet. Moreover, in conformity with the
acknowledged practice, it necessary to register all the radiant
devices (except cellular phones) at the TC CSJC and to pay for a
“permission to import.” He said that such an approach contradicts to
the letter of the minister for transport and communications to the
ITDCS, where Intel Centrino is allowed for use without a special
permission of TC CJSC. Such a situation is possible only if the CJSC
charges payment for use of the state property, the spectrum of radio
frequencies. Aleksanyan said that the world practice supposes levying
of the tax for the use of the radio spectrum. As a result, the TC CJSC
has no rights to prevent the illegal activity with use of the radio
spectrum, as it is not a state body. As any CJSC, the TC pursues
profits and development of information technologies is not prior for
it, the director said.
The ministry is an individual property of TC CJSC, which is
responsible for develoment of IT technologies in Armenia and
introduction of WI-FI technologies in Armenia. The contradiction is
supposed to be liquidated due to the newly established Regulating Body
in the sphere of telecommunications after adoption of a new Law on
Communications by the National Assembly of Armenia (in the first
reading in 2003).
At present radio modem can be purchased without permission of the TC
CJSC in any specialized shop, which violates the resolution of the
Armenian Government on the order of purchase of radio emissive
equipment. As a result, the orgnaizations legally importing radio
modems pay for the service of the TC CJSC, while others trade without
a relevant permission and gain super profits. Such a situation casts
doubt on the ability of UNICOMP company to issue and sale computers
with use of Intel Centrino technology, as it requires a license for
issue of radio emissive equipment and a permission for use of the
radio spectrum when producing computers, as well as registration of
each computer at the TC CJSC and its certification by a special
Certifying Body (there are at least two such bodies in Armenia
operating in conformity with the Law on Certification of Armenia) or
at the State Standard. This situation casts doubt on the possibility
of legal introduction of Wi-Fi technology in Armenia.

PRESS RELEASE
Bible Society of Armenia
Zakiyan 6/26
Yerevan 375015, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 1) 58.55.09, 56.49.06
Fax: (+374 – 1) 54.24.39
E-mail: [email protected]
July 26, 2004
BIBLE STUDIES IN VAGHARSHAPAT
YEREVAN – As we approach the end of the first academic year in which the
teaching of religion was introduced into the public school curriculum,
the needs of teachers has become a major concern. The school curriculum
for the 4th grade is entirely devoted to the Bible. The Bible Society
has received an official request from the educational and religious
authorities at the highest levels to assist in both the training of
these teachers and in providing them with their own copies of the
Scriptures, given the fact that many of them are teaching religion for
the first time in their lives. At the current stage, the Bible Society
Board has adopted a project of assisting the teachers of the Armavir
Region.
The first phase of this project, April 15-July 15, 2004, took place in
the city of Vagharshapat. The opening was blessed by HG Bishop Sion
Adamian, the Primate of the Diocese of Armavir. Forty teachers have
constantly attended the courses every Thursday afternoon. The manager of
this project, the Board Secretary Arshavir Kapoudjian, presented the
mission of the Bible Society and explored the objectives of this
initiative, stating: “The Bible Society will always meet the need of the
churches and this is one of the examples that BS carries such
responsibility upon its shoulders. We know very well how important your
mission is. Hence, we consider ourselves your colleagues, to work
together, to bring the Word of God to our new generation.” Arshavir
Kapoudjian (The Old Testament); Rev. Fr Serope Chamurlian, the
Representative of Mechitarist Congregation to Armenia (The Four Gospels,
The Acts); Deacon Gevorg Ghushchian, Assistant to the Vicar General of
Araratian Patriarchal Diocese (The Epistles); Revd Dr Manuel Jinbashian,
UBS Translation Consultant (Historical and Linguistic Issues in the
Bible) took part in this project as lecturers.
On July 15, 2004, was the closure of this phase. After the final
lecture, certificates have been given to the teachers by HG Bishop
Adamian. The Primate expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the
Bible Society for this important initiative. He added: “Everyday and
everywhere we saw the commitment of the Bible Society.” After getting
the certificates some of the teachers expressed their joy and thanks
stating: “This initiative gives an opportunity for not simply acquiring
knowledge but it was also a source for spiritual uplifting. Every time
we left this classroom we felt much more encouraged and enlightened. So,
we don’t want to take this moment as an end but we hope to continue this
project.”
The Bible Society plans to organize some school visits and a full-day
seminar in fall, in the city of Vagharshapat. The next step of such
project will take place in September 2004 in the city of Armavir
The Bible Society of Armenia was established in 1991, when the late
Catholicos Vazgen I and representatives of the United Bible Societies
signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the translation,
publication and dissemination of the Holy Bible in Armenia. The Bible
Society of Armenia is committed to the widest possible meaningful and
effective distribution of the Holy Scriptures in languages and media
which meet the needs of people, at a price they can afford. The Board of
Trustees of The Bible Society of Armenia consists of representatives of
the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church and the
Union of Armenian Evangelical and Baptist Churches.
For further information on Bible Society of Armenia and its activities,
call (3741) 58-55-09 or 56-49-06; fax (3741) 54-24-39; e-mail
[email protected]
###

FRENCH SOCIALISTS CONSIDER RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AS
CONDITION OF TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP IN EUROPEAN UNION
PARIS, July 26 (Noyan Tapan). The Socialist party of France considers
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide as an indispensable condition
for Turkey’s membership in the European Union. Francois Holand,
Secretary General of the party, reported about it after his meeting
with Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayipp Erdogan, answering Turkish
correspondents’ questions. “It is impossible to specify the term of
negotiations on membership as long as Turkey didn’t recognize the
Genocide,” he said. According to the “Marmara” newspaper of Istanbul,
when journalists said that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
isn’t considered as a criterion in the issue of the EU membership, and
for what basis the Socialist Party lays down such a condition,
F. Holand reminded that the French parliament had recognized the
Armenian Genocide. News agencies report that the issue of the Genocide
was touched upon during the Holand-Erdogan meeting and Erdogan noticed
that this issue should be submitted to historians for discussion.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
July 22 2004
Georgian Foreign Minister Ends Two Day Official Visit to Yerevan
By Gevorg Stamboltsian and Armen Zakarian 23/07/2004 01:49
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili completed her first-
ever official visit to Armenia on 22 July.
During the visit, Zourabichvili held meetings with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian, Prime
Minister Andranik Markarian and her Armenian counterpart Vartan
Oskanian.
Bilateral relations and important regional issues were high on the
agenda.
During the meeting with Zourabichvili, President Kocharian expressed
satisfaction with the “high level of inter-state relations with
Georgia, which are based on mutual trust and cooperation.” Kocharian
noted that Georgia is going through a rather hard time, but he
expressed the hope that “the Georgian authorities will soon overcome
these difficulties.”
“We are highly interested in stability in Georgia,” Kocharian said.
“The visit of the head of the Foreign Ministry of Georgia and
meetings at a high level will give a new context to issues on the
Armenian-Georgian agenda,” Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian said on
21 July during his meeting with his Georgian counterpart.
“The parties noted a high potential for mutually advantageous
cooperation in the matter of deepening interaction with European and
Euro-Atlantic structures, namely, with EU and NATO,” according to the
press-service of Armenian Foreign Ministry. “The countries have great
opportunities after the South Caucasian countries have been included
in the [European Union’s] New Neighborhood initiative.”
During his meeting with Zourabichvili, Oskanian emphasized the
importance of developing both North-South and East-West highways and
transport corridors. The two ministers exchanged opinions on the
resumption of traffic on all railways in the region, namely,
Kars-Giumri-Tbilisi and the Abkhaz section of the railway linking
Russia and Armenia via Georgia. The two ministers also discussed
regional electricity supplies, cooperation with Iran, and the
Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts
and how they could be resolved.
On 21 July, Salome Zourabichvili laid wreaths at the Memorial to
victims of the Armenian genocide. She also held a meeting with
representatives of the Georgian Diaspora and visited the Parajanov
museum.
“There are never concrete results from one visit, but it is a process
that we are starting. We are determined to increase our economic
relations,” Zourabichvili told journalists before boarding the
airplane for Tbilisi in Zvartnots airport.
“Political relations are very good, but we have to deepen them, and
especially we have to appear in front of Europeans,” Zourabichvili
continued. “We have to appear as one region, speaking as much as
possible with one voice.”
Asked by RFE/RL whether the key to reopening the Abkhazian section of
the Russia-Georgia-Armenia railway lies in Russia or in Georgia,
Zourabichvili answered “There is a small key here too.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RPA EXCLUDES POSSIBILITY OF RETURN OF ALL LIBERATED DISTRICTS,
NEIGHBORING ON NAGORNY KARABAKH, TO AZERBAIJAN
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. Republican party of Armenia excludes the
possibility of return of all the liberated territories, neighboring on
Nagorny Karabakh, to Azerbaijan. Member of the RPA Board Gagik
Minasian stated during the press conference at the National press
club.
At the same time he did not exclude the possibility of return of
several liberated districts, which are not included in the program of
resettlement, in exchange for Azerbaijan’s admitting the independence
of Nagorny Karabakh. Gagik Minasian mentioned that during his recent
visit to the liberated districts he made sure of that the process of
resettlement of these territories is going on quite actively. According
to him, large-scale construction works are being implemented in the
liberated territories, these populated areas are provided with power
supply. The population of these districts is getting ready for the
elections to local self-government bodies. Gagik Minasian stressed
that as regards the democratization level Nagorny Karabakh and
neighboring districts are by no beans inferior to Azerbaijan.
Speaking about RPA’s position in the issue of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict Gagik Minasian stressed that RPA advocates full
independence of Nagorny Karabakh or its joining to Armenia. He also
declared that the territories of Armenia cannot be a subject of trade
during the negotiations concerning the peaceful settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. According to him, Nagorny Karabakh must also have
direct communication with Armenia.

Eurasianet Organization
July 21 2004
ARMENIA FACING PRESSURE ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE
Samvel Martirosyan: 7/21/04
Armenian President Robert Kocharian’s administration appears to be
facing increasing pressure to soften its stance on the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Reports suggesting that Armenia is willing to
explore the return of Azerbaijani territory seized during the
Karabakh conflict are threatening to stir domestic political trouble
for Kocharian.
Both Armenian and Azerbaijani media have reported that the United
States, in seeking to break the existing stalemate in Karabakh peace
talks, is pressing Armenia to agree to the return of Azerbaijani
regions captured during the 1991-94 conflict. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive]. According to the reports, Armenia is being
asked to return anywhere between three and six of the seven areas
seized from Azerbaijan. The only area that reportedly has not come up
in discussions is Lachin, the corridor of land that connects Karabakh
with Armenia proper. Kocharian has adamantly opposed giving back what
Armenians describe as “liberated territories” as a precondition to a
comprehensive peace settlement. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].
A recent article published by the Turkish newspaper Zaman quoted
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as saying that Yerevan was
prepared to discuss the return of the territories. Gul mentioned a
meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey,
held on the sidelines of the June 28-29 NATO summit in Istanbul,
saying that the Armenian participant, Vartan Oskanian, declared: “We
[Armenia] can withdraw from all territories except Karabakh.”
Oskanian subsequently denied making any such statement during the
meeting.
Kocharian’s ambiguous comments during a June 23 session of the
Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) helped fuel
speculation about a possible deal. Kocharian stated at one point that
the question of what Azerbaijani insists are “occupied lands” could
have been settled long ago if Baku had implemented the so-called Key
West principles, which reportedly mandated that Armenia vacate
captured Azerbaijani territory. He also emphasized that any potential
handover would have to be part of overall Karabakh settlement.
“We are ready for serious negotiations on a full-scale solution to
the conflict,” Armenia Today reported Kocharian as telling PACE.
“That is exactly why we have accepted the last formula for resolution
offered by international mediators which, unfortunately, [was]
rejected by Azerbaijan.”
Some Armenian observers have speculated that Kocharian may have been
seeking to prepare Armenian public opinion for a policy shift on the
territory handover issue. Azerbaijan has denied that any bargain was
struck during the Key West peace talks in 2001. [For background see
the Eurasia Insight archive].
The speculation swirling around the Karabakh issue comes at an
awkward political moment for Kocharian. Though opposition coalition
protests that roiled Yerevan this spring have been suspended,
Kocharian critics remain committed to a six-month boycott of the
Armenian parliament. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive]. Despite the coalition’s relative weaknesses, any effort to
return Azerbaijani territory could potentially give the opposition an
issue with which it could inflict considerable damage on Kocharian’s
administration.
Kocharian is no doubt mindful of the circumstances that led to his
rise to the presidency. In 1998, the willingness of then-president
Levon Ter-Petrosian to embrace a gradual approach to a
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement sparked a chain of events that led to his
forced resignation.
A June 25 opinion poll, carried out by the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies, underscored the risks for
Kocharian. It found that only 1 percent of the 1,950 respondents
polled nationwide believed that the captured territories should be
returned to Azerbaijan. By contrast, 45.5 percent wanted the lands to
remain under Armenian control. Another 11.2 percent called for the
regions to be equally divided between Armenia and Azerbaijan, while
just under a third said that they should be made part of
Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, only 2.5 percent of the survey’s
respondents expressed trust in the Armenian authorities to resolve
the Karabakh stalemate.
Meanwhile, there are signs coming out of Azerbaijan that Baku’s
Karabakh negotiating position is hardening. In July 16 talks with the
OSCE Minsk Group, which oversees the Karabakh peace process,
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev maintained that Armenia
must meet four 1993 UN resolutions that call for the country’s
unconditional withdrawal from land outside of Karabakh. During a
public appearance July 20, Aliyev vowed that Azerbaijan “would
liberate its occupied territories at any cost,” the Turan news agency
reported.
The Minsk Group’s US, French and Russian co-chairmen — Steven Mann,
Henri Jacolin and Yuri Merzlyakov — cautioned that the two
countries’ failure to compromise could lead to a resumption of
hostilities over Karabakh. Concerns about a renewed outbreak of
fighting have risen in recent weeks.
Editor’s Note: Samvel Martirosyan is a Yerevan-based journalist and
political analyst.

U.S. Newswire (press release), DC
July 21 2004
Chief Economic Advisor to President of Armenia to Hold Press
Conference in Washington Aug. 10
To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor
Contact: Peter Hickman, 301-530-1210 or 202-662-7540, for the
National Press Club, or Haik Gugarats of the Embassy of Armenia,
202-319-1976, ext. 348
News Advisory:
Vahram Nercissiantz, chief economic adviser to the President of
Armenia, will hold an “Afternoon Newsmaker” news conference, Tuesday,
Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. in the Zenger Room of the National Press Club, 529
14th St., N.W., in Washington, D.C.
Nercissiantz will discuss the Armenian economy, regional cooperation
and the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), for which the U.S. has
selected Armenia as a potential recipient of a new form of
developmental assistance.
Nercissiantz is responsible for coordinating economic legislation and
reforms and was recently appointed deputy chairman of an Armenian
government working group to coordinate preparation for the MCA.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
July 20 2004
Turkish Prime Minister Seeks France’s Support Ahead Of Summit

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started a three-day
visit to France aimed at gaining support for Ankara’s bid to join the
European Union. RFE/RL reports that Turkish officials attach great
importance to this visit, noting that opposition to Ankara’s goal of
EU membership remains high in France.
20 July 2004 — Before leaving Ankara yesterday, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made it clear his visit would focus on
his country’s efforts to join the 25-member European bloc.
Although Ankara applied for entry into the EU in 1987, it was granted
candidate status only in 1999. And five years later, accession talks
have yet to start — a delay mainly due to European concerns about
Turkey’s poor human rights record.
The European Commission in October will review reforms implemented by
Erdogan’s Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party since it came
to power two years ago. Ankara hopes a positive assessment will
prompt EU leaders to set a date for accession talks when they meet in
December.
Before boarding a plane for Paris, Erdogan said, “I will explain [to
French leaders] what steps Turkey has [already] made on its way
toward the EU…and reiterate its commitment to bringing its
legislation in line with EU laws.”
Erdogan, who is traveling with several ministers and a large business
delegation, met today with French President Jacques Chirac at the
Elysee Palace. No details of the talks were immediately available.
Addressing journalists after meeting his French counterpart
Jean-Pierre Raffarin yesterday, the Turkish leader said he is
counting on support from Paris when EU leaders meet in December to
decide whether to open entry talks with Ankara. “We talked at length
with the [French] prime minister about the EU summit next December
and we hope all the support France has lent us on the European issue
— notably through the intermediary of President Jacques Chirac —
will continue in the future,” Erdogan said.
Yet France, where Turkey’s accession into Europe has largely
dominated the recent campaign for EU parliamentary elections, remains
divided over the issue.
The Paris-based left-wing “Liberation” daily noted today that Turkey,
which has already secured the support of most European capitals, sees
France as the biggest obstacle remaining on its road to Brussels.
With the notable exception of the Greens, all French political
parties have either voiced opposition to Ankara’s entry into the
European bloc, or refused to take a firm stance on the issue.
The strongest opposition comes from right-wing nationalist groups and
the moderate, center-right Union for the French Democracy party. They
say they are concerned at the prospect of nearly 70 million Muslims
joining the EU and claim neither history nor geography justifies
Turkey’s claim.
The opposition Socialist Party generally supports Ankara’s membership
bid and hails the significant reforms made by Erdogan’s government.
But it believes conditions have still not been met for Turkey to join
the bloc and cautions against hasty decisions. The Socialist Party
also says a precondition for Ankara’s bid should be its recognition
of the killing of hundreds of thousands of Ottoman Armenians during
World War I as genocide.
Even in Chirac’s Union for a Popular Majority (UMP) party there is no
consensus on the issue. Three months ago, the top UMP leadership said
it was opposed to Turkey’s becoming a EU member. The move then forced
Chirac — a longtime advocate of Ankara’s accession — to cautiously
enter the fray.
“I am convinced Turkey is destined to become a member of Europe. But
I am also convinced that its entry into the [European] Union will be
possible only under certain conditions that, as of today, are still
not met,” Chirac said.
In an interview with Marc Tronchot of France’s Europe 1 private radio
station, the French foreign minister today gave a similarly cautious
assessment. While praising Turkey’s efforts to meet conditions
required to join the EU, Michel Barnier warned against Ankara being
overly optimistic.
“We have to tell the truth: Turkey is not going to join the European
Union tomorrow morning. Turkey has still a long way to go before it
happens. Yet, it has been on this road for some time, preparing
itself and making progress,” Barnier said. He made it clear his
remarks were also meant to reassure those in France who believe
Turkey is not ready to join the bloc.
Talking to reporters on his way to Paris, Erdogan yesterday
acknowledged that Ankara’s membership bid may be heavily influenced
by European public opinion. “At [last month’s] NATO summit in
Istanbul, Chirac in person told me that 60 to 70 percent of France’s
public opinion was in favor of Turkey’s joining the EU,” he said.
The Turkish leader added that he hoped France’s political leaders
would eventually heed their voters’ opinion and voice support for
Ankara’s EU bid.
(Turkish TV, Anadolu, “Liberation,” Europe 1)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress