Author: Nahapetian Samvel

TURKEY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO WAGE AN ECONOMIC WAR AGAINST FRANCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.10.2006 GMT+04:00

The present anti french wave in Turkey reminds of 2001, when French
Senate officially recognized the Armenian Genocide.

However, the French parliamentarians approved the bill concerning the
criminal responsibility for Armenian Genocide denial, regardless the
open threats directed from Ankara. In Turkey and, virtually, in the
whole world there exists no more any politician or any mass media
system that has not commented on the approval of the bill. In that
connection the chorus of the voices turned out to be well coordinated,
it seems as if an experienced conductor directed them.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey and the Turkish commonage in Europe play the
conductor’s role, and by fair means or foul they strive that there will
not be even a mention of the Armenian Genocide. How much they suceed
in doing it is quite a different question, since in today’s Europe
the fact of 1915 Armenian Genocide recognition does not pose from the
historical point of view, it has a political hidden motive. According
to the representative’s words of Armenian Federation of Europe (EAFJD),
Hilda Choboyan, the membership of Turkey into EU depends on the fact
how much attention the European countries attract to this question."

Turkey should be presented with a fact that without a political
solution to that question it cannot become a full member of European
Union. Turkey is not ready for Europe, it strives to insist on its
conditions, for it to come out as if it is not EU that admits Turkey,
but vice versa, Europe gets included into Turkey,- thinks Choboyan.

By the way, the present antifrench hysterics in Turkey mostly remind
of 2001, when French Senate officially recognized the Armenian
Genocide. At that time there again existed threats from Ankara
concerning the application of economic sanctions. Everything was
over in a few months, most likely this time it will again be the
same. Turkey just does not have enough money to wage an economic
war against France, as well as any other European country. By the
end of 2006 the Turkish foreign debt will have exceeded the sum of
200 milliard dollars and it has nothing to pay off the debts; Radjep
Erdhoghan’s, Vice President’s assurance of economic growth bears no
real basis. Turkey is not Azerbaijan at all, it does not have oil,
and the whole hope is the agriculture- MB and IMF. In spite of the
active Turkish lobby in France, most probably Senate will ratify the
bill. Otherwise, everything will just look illogical- lower chamber
looks like a bigger humanitarian than Senate is and even more, than
the president of the country, Jacques Chirac is. There is one more
thing-the denial of the Holocaust in France since 1990 is subject to
criminal sanction; the first year deprivation of liberty and fine at
the rate of 45 thousand euros. So the French legislators were right to
decide that there existed no difference between the Armenian Genocide
and the Holocaust. And for some reason Germany did not give way to
hysterics in 1990.

Most probably Turkey avoids the chain reaction, that follows after
the approval of the bill. The next are Holland, Denmark, Belgium,
and maybe even Germany. All they crave to see Turkey admitted into EU,
and such a bill, as everobody has already understood, is a wonderful
trancheon. The number of Turkish migrants in Europe is reaching
10 millions, and it is constantly increasing. Exactly the danger
of Europe conversion from a Christian into a Muslem one makes the
European people remember about the Armenian Genocide. As nobody will
vouch that in an endless amount of years the turks will not recall
their "glorious" past and go back to the old. Maybe this is a sort
of fantasy but we should not absolutely exclude the desire of Turkey
to settle one more matter persuant to the experienced method -"no
Armenian, no Armenian Case". 600 years of the Ottoman Empire glory
will still excite the mind of the Turkish nation for a long time,
who in no way can get rid of " imperial thinking". But does it want
to get rid of it -here is the question? Judging by the statements
and the deeds of the Turkish politicians-not that much.

AS THE GOVERNMENT EMPHASIZES THE EU AGENDA…
By Abdulhamit Bilici, Luxembourg

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 17 2006

[NEWS IMPRESSION] — When I was invited to take part in Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul’s trip to Luxembourg, I assumed the number of
journalists accompanying him would be no more than five.

I realized I was mistaken when I entered the small VIP hall of
Ankara’s Esenboga Airport and was greeted by a large number of media
representatives, the likes of which I’d only seen on critical dates
such as Dec. 17 and Oct. 3.

Major newspapers’ Ankara correspondents as well as columnists
Taha Akyol, Cengiz Candar and Mehmet Altan were invited. The
editor-in-chiefs of certain newspapers were also invited, but Referans’
Eyup Can was the only one who came.

TV channels were not forgotten either. A Turkish Airlines Airbus was
chartered for the occasion because the number of attendees was so high.

At first I wondered if the Oct.16 troika meeting had an important
aspect we hadn’t considered yet. While it was certainly important,
it was not a meeting where historical decisions would be taken. The
troika meeting is routinely held once during each six-month EU term
presidency.

This particular meeting could almost be considered symbolic, for it
nearly coincided with the anniversary of Oct. 3, the starting date
for Turkey’s EU membership negotiations.

Besides, this troika would be held just a week the screening process
was completed. This presented a good opportunity to evaluate the
previous year and to handle the upcoming term in a sense.

It was also important for it would be the last top level meeting before
the expected Nov. 8 Progress Report. The Cyprus issue that could cause
a "train crash" in the EU process along with the Finnish proposals
would be discussed in this meeting, though nobody was expecting a
final Cyprus solution to emerge.

After having considered these possibilities one by one, I thought this
trip’s intended message, with such a crowded media contingent, was
more important than the troika meeting itself, especially considering
that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had been criticized
lately for slowing down EU reforms.

In political terms, there were some points vindicating this slowing
down. For instance, domestic support for the EU was rapidly falling,
partly because of Europe’s unjust statements on the Cyprus and
Armenian issues.

Support in Turkey regressed to 40 percent, an EU poll revealed.

Moreover, dealing with the issues of Cyprus and article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code, the solutions of which could be regarded as
concessions in an election atmosphere, also complicated support for
the EU issues.

However, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that he
instructed State Minister Ali Babacan to spend one week of every
month in Europe was the first signal that the government had decided
to handle the issue again.

As a matter of fact, Babacan, accompanied by journalists, visited
three EU capitals last week. Erdogan met Tony Blair on the way back
from the United States and hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel
when he returned to Turkey.

As such, Erdogan made his own contribution to this process. Probably
for this very reason, Minister Gul decided to travel to the Troika
meeting accompanied by a large delegation.

Though the increasing frequency of these visits reinforces the image
that the European Union agenda has not been forgotten, the government,
claiming it is distancing itself from a populist discourse, will be
mainly tested on the issue of article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.

This is the right time to take a step for freedom of thought and gain
the approval of the EU because its attitude toward Turkey softened
after France’s ban on freedom of expression.

However, the government’s wait-and-see approach has resulted in a
slowing down, and as a result, our criticisms against France weaken.

EU TELLS TURKEY TIME IS RUNNING OUT OVER CYPRUS DISPUTE

Associated Press
Oct 16 2006

LUXEMBOURG The European Union and Turkey made little headway Monday
in resolving a stalemate over Ankara’s refusal to open its ports to
Cypriot planes and ships – a decision that the EU said could lead to
a break in Turkey’s membership talks.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also criticized Turkey again
about the pace of its reforms, urging the country to "urgently" pass
laws, particularly on changing its penal code, which he said violated
European standards on human rights in freedom of expression.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja – whose country holds the
rotating EU presidency and who was chairing talks with Turkish Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul – said talks to keep on track entry negotiations
depended on compromise.

"It takes two to tango," Tuomioja told reporters after the meeting,
adding that Gul and Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders had
welcomed a new initiative by Finland to try to resolve the standoff.

"That is a good prospect, because I think it is in no one’s interest,
not in any member state of the EU, or in Turkey’s interest that we
fail," Tuomioja said.

The Finnish compromise offers to reduce restrictions on the Turkish-run
north of the island if Turkey in turn opened its ports to the Greek
Cypriots.

The proposal would open up the northern Cyprus seaport of Famagusta
to free trade with the EU. In return the Turkish side should hand
over control of the abandoned town of Varosha.

Both Greece and Cyprus, backed by other EU nations, have threatened to
block future talks if Ankara does not live up to an agreement signed
last year to extend its customs union with the Greek Cypriot part of
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004.

Turkey has refused to accept Greek Cypriot shipments until an
international embargo against Turkish Cypriots in the north of the
Mediterranean island is lifted.

Failure by Turkey to implement the deal could lead to EU leaders
suspending talks with Ankara in December.

"The problem is still there," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter
Steinmeier said. "The continuation of the accession process hinges
on the question if Turkey is ready and capable of ratifying the …

(customs) protocol. Turkey is not ready to do this so far."

Gul said his government would work to find a solution.

"We have from the very beginning adopted a very constructive approach,
and we will continue to be constructive, but we also have to remember
that it’s important that the two communities on the island also
approach the issue constructively," Gul said.

Last week, Greece and Cyprus forced the EU to postpone the opening of
a new chapter of Turkey’s EU membership talks – on industrial policy –
until a solution to the customs dispute was found.

The dispute has also threatened ongoing efforts to reunite the two
sides of the island, which has been divided since Turkey invaded in
1974 after an attempted coup by supporters of union with Greece.

Turkey has no diplomatic relations with the island’s internationally
recognized Greek Cypriot government, and backs the breakaway Turkish
Cypriot republic in the north.

In 2004, Greek Cypriots voted against a U.N.-backed plan aimed at
reuniting the country on the eve of its entry into the EU, essentially
excluding the north from receiving EU benefits. Turkish Cypriots had
approved the reunification plan.

The EU’s enlargement chief chided Turkey on its slipping reform agenda,
and urged Gul to act urgently to change Article 301 of its penal
code – which sets out punishment for insulting the Turkish Republic,
its officials or "Turkishness."

It has been used to press charges against dozens of authors,
journalists, publishers and scholars, including novelist Orhan Pamuk,
who won the Nobel literature prize last week.

EU officials have warned that the Turkish law violates EU human rights
standards and must be scrapped if Turkey wants to join.

"It should be addressed as a matter of urgency," Rehn told Gul. "We
see that the best and surest way of erasing this serious problem is
either repealing or amending article 301."

Meanwhile, Gul reiterated Turkey’s condemnation against a French
bill that would criminalize denying the WWI killings of Armenians
was genocide. The legislation still needs approval from the French
Senate and president before it becomes law.

"This has affected negatively the prestige of France as a country
where all thoughts and opinions can be freely expressed," Gul said.

LUXEMBOURG The European Union and Turkey made little headway Monday
in resolving a stalemate over Ankara’s refusal to open its ports to
Cypriot planes and ships – a decision that the EU said could lead to
a break in Turkey’s membership talks.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also criticized Turkey again
about the pace of its reforms, urging the country to "urgently" pass
laws, particularly on changing its penal code, which he said violated
European standards on human rights in freedom of expression.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja – whose country holds the
rotating EU presidency and who was chairing talks with Turkish Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul – said talks to keep on track entry negotiations
depended on compromise.

"It takes two to tango," Tuomioja told reporters after the meeting,
adding that Gul and Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders had
welcomed a new initiative by Finland to try to resolve the standoff.

"That is a good prospect, because I think it is in no one’s interest,
not in any member state of the EU, or in Turkey’s interest that we
fail," Tuomioja said.

The Finnish compromise offers to reduce restrictions on the Turkish-run
north of the island if Turkey in turn opened its ports to the Greek
Cypriots.

The proposal would open up the northern Cyprus seaport of Famagusta
to free trade with the EU. In return the Turkish side should hand
over control of the abandoned town of Varosha.

Both Greece and Cyprus, backed by other EU nations, have threatened to
block future talks if Ankara does not live up to an agreement signed
last year to extend its customs union with the Greek Cypriot part of
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004.

Turkey has refused to accept Greek Cypriot shipments until an
international embargo against Turkish Cypriots in the north of the
Mediterranean island is lifted.

Failure by Turkey to implement the deal could lead to EU leaders
suspending talks with Ankara in December.

"The problem is still there," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter
Steinmeier said. "The continuation of the accession process hinges
on the question if Turkey is ready and capable of ratifying the …

(customs) protocol. Turkey is not ready to do this so far."

Gul said his government would work to find a solution.

"We have from the very beginning adopted a very constructive approach,
and we will continue to be constructive, but we also have to remember
that it’s important that the two communities on the island also
approach the issue constructively," Gul said.

Last week, Greece and Cyprus forced the EU to postpone the opening of
a new chapter of Turkey’s EU membership talks – on industrial policy –
until a solution to the customs dispute was found.

The dispute has also threatened ongoing efforts to reunite the two
sides of the island, which has been divided since Turkey invaded in
1974 after an attempted coup by supporters of union with Greece.

Turkey has no diplomatic relations with the island’s internationally
recognized Greek Cypriot government, and backs the breakaway Turkish
Cypriot republic in the north.

In 2004, Greek Cypriots voted against a U.N.-backed plan aimed at
reuniting the country on the eve of its entry into the EU, essentially
excluding the north from receiving EU benefits. Turkish Cypriots had
approved the reunification plan.

The EU’s enlargement chief chided Turkey on its slipping reform agenda,
and urged Gul to act urgently to change Article 301 of its penal
code – which sets out punishment for insulting the Turkish Republic,
its officials or "Turkishness."

It has been used to press charges against dozens of authors,
journalists, publishers and scholars, including novelist Orhan Pamuk,
who won the Nobel literature prize last week.

EU officials have warned that the Turkish law violates EU human rights
standards and must be scrapped if Turkey wants to join.

"It should be addressed as a matter of urgency," Rehn told Gul. "We
see that the best and surest way of erasing this serious problem is
either repealing or amending article 301."

Meanwhile, Gul reiterated Turkey’s condemnation against a French
bill that would criminalize denying the WWI killings of Armenians
was genocide. The legislation still needs approval from the French
Senate and president before it becomes law.

"This has affected negatively the prestige of France as a country
where all thoughts and opinions can be freely expressed," Gul said.

STORES SHUTTERS COME DOWN
By Zelis Yildiral, Istanbul

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 16 2006

In response to France’s proposed law to criminalize denial of an
Armenian genocide during World War I, some companies are closing
their stores.

Yesterday, most stores in the Taksim Square district that sell French
goods did not open.

Many foreign members of the United Brands Association (UBA), a
non-governmental organization of the Turkish retail sector, are
concerned about reaction to the bill and are taking extra precautions.

Boycotts of French products are spreading all over the country.

>From Istanbul and Izmit in the west, to Konya and Nevsehir in the east,
fresh protests continued. Shelves in a market in Erzurum were cleared
of French products and residents in Nigde, not content to leave it
at that, burnt their French products.

In many stores, once favored products are being returned or left on
the shelves after customers learn of their French origin.

The cosmetic sector is being especially affected as 80 percent of
cosmetic products sold on the market belong to French companies.

Shoppers are going right past shelves stacked with Vichy and Loreal
creams, shampoos and make-up products.

Long-time Loreal user Ayse Genc says, "I don’t know what France is
trying to do, but it’s hurting the friendship between two countries."

Aysel Ordu says that from now on she is checking the label for French
origins, and adds "I’ve given up a French perfume I really like I’ve
been using for two years."

Agence France Presse — English
October 13, 2006 Friday

Turkish PM decries EU double standards after French genocide vote

The EU is not in a position to "preach" to Turkey on human rights
after France’s move to block free speech with a bill making it a
crime to deny Armenians were victims of genocide, Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday.

"Those who are trying to preach to us should keep their advice for
themselves," Erdogan said in a televised speech at a road
inauguration ceremony here.

"They should first rectify the backward step they have taken on
freedom of expression and then come to us," he said.

France’s lower house of parliament infuriated Turkey on Thursday when
it approved a draft law that foresees up to one year in prison and a
fine for anyone who denies that the World War I massacres of
Armenians were genocide.

The bill still needs the approval of the Senate and the president to
take effect.

European Union pressure is mounting on Ankara to either scrap or
amend Article 301 of its penal code, which has landed a string of
intellectuals in the courts for "insulting Turkishness."

Most cases, including one against novelist Orhan Pamuk who was
awarded the Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday, have resulted from
remarks the defendants made to contest the official line on the
Armenian massacres, which Ankara fiercely rejects amounted to
genocide.

The European Commission, the EU executive arm, also denounced the
French bill, saying that it "would prohibit the debate and the
dialogue which is necessary for reconciliation on the issue."

Erdogan also advised citizens not to answer the call of several
consumer and business groups to boycott French goods.

"What are we going to earn or lose by boycotting goods?… We should
consider this carefully," he said.

Erdogan pointed out that the 10 billion dollar (eight billioneuro)
bilateral trade between France and Turkey constituted only about 1.5
percent of France’s overall trade.

"We will act calmly," he said. "The steps that need to be taken will
be taken by the government on all political platforms at home and
abroad."

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had warned ahead of the vote that
French companies would be barred from major economic projects in
Turkey, notably a project to build a nuclear power plant.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Public Discussion of NKR Constitution Starting in Stepanakert
13.10.2006 17:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Issues of organization of the public discussion of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s draft Constitution were considered in
the course of working conference in the NKR National Assembly.
Chairman of the National Assembly Ashot Ghulian noted that on October
12 the draft Constitution was published in Azat Artsakh republican
newspaper with a circulation of several thousands of copies for public
discussion which is planned to realize till October 21. As a result of
an exchange of opinions the forms and means of delivery of the draft
document to all the settlements of the republic as well as the
mechanism of ensuring the process of getting possible remarks and
suggestions from citizens were defined, reported the NKR MFA press
office.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 13 2006

AMERIA CJSC CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS OF
COMMERCIAL LAW IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, October 13. /ARKA/. In the scope of the legal indicator
survey in the countries of the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development activity, Ameria CJSC conducts a research and evaluation
of the effectiveness of commercial law in Armenia, the press service
of the company reported.
Since 2004 Ameria has actively participated in the EBRD activities
with the objective to improve the legal environment in the countries
with transition economies.
The EBRD conducted surveys of laws on insolvency and corporate
management in 29 countries.
The Ameria experts carried out all these surveys and also the
activities on elaboration of concession and anti money-laundering
laws.
In this year the EBRD assesses the concession sector. The results
will be announced before the end of 2006.
Through the concession assessment project, the EBRD aims to
encourage, influence and provide guidance to governments, policy
makers and all those in charge of promoting new legislation for the
development of concessions-related legal reform in the region.
Through the concession assessment project, the EBRD aims to
encourage, influence and provide guidance to governments, policy
makers and all those in charge of promoting new legislation for the
development of concessions-related legal reform in the region.
Ameria is a group of professional services companies registered in
Armenia with the objective to provide a comprehensive package of
professional advisory and assurance services. Ameria specializes in
four major areas of professional activities: management advisory
services; assurance and advisory services; legal advisory services;
investment banking. Established in 1998, the company has become a
leader in the Armenian market of advisory services bringing an
international reach and local touch to complex issues rising in more
than 30 industry sectors. R.O. -0–

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE ALSO CONDEMNS FRENCH DRAFT BILL
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily
12/10/2006

According to a press release received yesterday, Mesrop II Moutafian,
Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, also condemned the French draft
bill that envisages punishment for a denial of the Armenian Genocide,
the CNN-Turk website and Turkish newspapers reported.

The message says that the Patriarch stated that one should be led
by the initiatives directed to unfolding dialogues and to mutual
understanding. He said that they couldn’t accept any initiative
that doesn’t attain this goal. Moutafian added that whatever are
their grounds, all the initiatives that limit the freedom of speech
will make harm to the dialogue between the Armenian and the Turkish
societies. As a result, both sides, will contribute to strengthening
of nationalistic forces, he said.

TURKISH PREMIER RESPONDS TO SARKOZY’S CONDITIONS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CLAIMS

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
Oct 9 2006

Ankara, 9 October: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
responded in return to French Interior and Regional Development
Minister Nicolas Sarkozy’s three conditions concerning the so-called
Armenian genocide.

According to sources, PM Erdogan called Sarkozy last week and indicated
that the French resolution which considers the denial of so-called
Armenian genocide a crime would harm the relations between the two
countries.

Erdogan also emphasized that such a resolution would not tally with
democracy and freedoms and that was unacceptable.

Upon Sarkozy’s three conditions suggesting that not only historians
should join the commission to be set up to investigate allegations of
so-called genocide, Turkey should annul Article 301 of the Penal Code
and Turkey should open its borders with Armenia, PM Erdogan stressed
that Turkey was the "open and transparent" party concerning this issue.

Erdogan also stated that Turkey could not get the necessary reaction
to its well-intentioned approach regarding the establishment of a
joint commission to investigate allegations of so-called genocide.

Stressing that Article 301 of the Penal Code had no connection with
this issue, Erdogan underscored that France ‘was not in a condition
to say a word’ to Turkey as a result of such suggestion considering
the denial of genocide allegations a crime.

"France is not in a condition to say a word to Turkey. It should
first look at itself," PM Erdogan said.

Erdogan also indicated that Armenia should approach with well intention
as well upon Turkey’s well-intentioned approach concerning Sarkozy’s
suggestion on the border issue.

TURKISH INTELLECTUALS TRIED OVER ARMENIAN ISSUE SLAM FRENCH BILL

Agence France Presse — English
October 9, 2006 Monday

Six Turkish intellectuals prosecuted in the past for comments on the
Armenian massacre have condemned a French bill that would criminalise
any denial that the killings under the Ottoman Empire constitute
genocide, according to a press report Monday.

"Writing history is not the job of states or politicians," said
novelist Elif Shafak, one of the authors quoted in Monday’s edition
of the liberal daily Radikal.

"I consider what is happening in France as a negative development
that leaves progressives and democrats in both France and Turkey in
a difficult situation," wrote Shafak, who was recently acquitted of
"denigrating the national identity" in a novel dealing with the
1915-1917 massacres.

The bill, submitted by the French Socialist Party and apparently
backed by many governing conservatives as well, provides for up to
one year in jail and a 45,000-euro fine (57,000 dollars) for anyone
who says the killings were not genocide.

Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, hit by one six-month suspended
sentence for his writings on the Armenian question and again on trial
for calling the killings genocide, said the bill was "stupid."

"This type of law undermines any debate between Turks and Armenians,"
said Dink, edior of the bilingual Turkish Armenian weekly newspaper
Agos. "Turkish and Armenian people need to dialogue, to discuss their
common history."

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered in
the dying days of the Ottoman Empire in a planned "genocide". Turks
say massacres were committed on both sides during World War I and
categorically reject the genocide label.