Author: Nanijanian Alex

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

MAY 6-12, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS:

TWENTY-FOURTH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW

MEDIA OF SOUTH CAUCASUS ON THE PROBLEM OF MOUNTAINOUS KARABAGH

TWENTY-FOURTH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW

On May 9 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
twenty-fourth “Press Club” show was issued. The cycle is organized by
Yerevan Press Club under a homonymous project, supported by the OSI Network
Media Program.

Representatives of the leading media and journalistic associations of
Armenia discussed the relations between Armenia and Turkey. In particular,
the guests of “Press Club” spoke about the correspondence between the Prime
Minister of Turkey Recep Tayip Erdogan and the President of Armenia Robert
Kocharian, related to the proposal of the Turkish Prime Minister to set up a
joint commission to study the issue of 1915 Armenian Genocide. The
participants expect that the main subject for Armenian media this week will
be the European tour of the US President George Bush, dedicated to the 60th
anniversary of victory of World War II, in particular, the visits to Moscow
and Tbilisi. In the opinion of “Press Club” show participants, the Armenian
media will also pay attention to the visit of the RA President Robert
Kocharian to Moscow and his meetings with the heads of several states, the
summit of the CE member countries scheduled on May 16-17 in Warsaw, the
possibilities for improving the relations between Armenia and Turkey, as
well as will continue the discussion of draft Constitutions submitted to the
RA National Assembly.

MEDIA OF SOUTH CAUCASUS ON THE PROBLEM OF MOUNTAINOUS KARABAGH

On May 7-8 in Tsaghkadzor “Karabagh Problem and Its Coverage in the Media”
seminar was organized by Yerevan Press Club with the assistance of Friedrich
Ebert Foundation. The representatives of media and non-governmental, also
journalistic organizations of Armenia, discussed political processes in the
countries of South Caucasus in the context of Mountainous Karabagh problem,
the current situation and the prospect of Karabagh conflict resolution, the
public sentiment on the issue. Presentations were also made on the specifics
of negotiations process and its influence on the MK problem coverage, the
coverage of Karabagh issue by Armenian, Azerbaijani and Turkish media as
well as stereotypes and cliches used by Armenian and Azerbaijani press.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

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[email protected]

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

Turkish Press
May 11 2005

Visit To Israel Not Enough To Resolve Problems With United States

Fatih Altayli, one of columnists of the Hurriyet daily, referred to
the relations between Turkey and the United States in his article
today:
”The bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States
is not likely to be improved.
Although some circles claim that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s visit to Israel eased the tension to some extend, (it seems
that) the United States’ problem is about Prime Minister Erdogan
himself. Erdogan has criticized the United States harshly, and not
accepted U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman’s request for an
appointment for six weeks. The United States considers those
‘intentional’ and ‘unacceptable’.
Even though U.S. President George W. Bush told Erdogan during
yesterday’s celebrations in Moscow that we was waiting for his visit,
the U.S. State Department has not scheduled yet an appointment.
Greece, which requested an appointment with President Bush after
Turkey, has already been given a firm date on May 20th. However,
Turkey, which sent its undersecretary of the MFA to the United States
to get an appointment, has not come to a conclusion yet.
Of course, the United States will make an appointment; however,
it won’t coincide with graduation date of Erdogan’s daughter. It
means that the United States will not make a beau geste. The
appointment will be fixed for mid-June. In that case, Erdogan will
have to go to the United States twice in a month.
In the meantime, President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine is
planning to pay a visit to Turkey in June. If Erdogan cannot go to
the United States since date of appointment with President Bush
coincides with President Yushchenko’s visit, the United States will
create a ‘professional tension’ by accusing Erdogan of failing to
attend the appointment.
Also, Ambassador Edelman will return to the United States in
June. And the new ambassador will not replace Edelman immediately.
The new ambassador will arrive in Turkey in fall the earliest. So,
the United States will intend to give to Turkey the following
message: ‘you should not consider yourself at the epicenter of the
world. We can carry out our relations even without an ambassador.’
In the past, Pentagon had always taken action to resolve
problems between Turkey and the United States. But now, there is a
problem between Turkey and the Pentagon, and the U.S. State
Department is trying to resolve it.”

-TURKISH PEOPLE’S SUPPORT TO EU ACCESSION DECREASES FROM 73 TO
63.5 PERCENT-
On the other hand Muharrem Sarikaya, a columnist of the Sabah
daily, referred to a dramatic decrease in Turkish people’s support to
the country’s European Union (EU) accession. Sarikaya writes:
”Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul gave EU ambassadors in Ankara
the message that Turkey is complying with adjustment protocol fully.
Gul said that there was no delay in timetable of Turkey on its path
to the EU.
But when we look at the recent surveys, there is a backlash in
Turkish people’s support to the country’s EU accession.
Economic Development Foundation conducted a survey in 23 cities
of Turkey in June 2004. According to this survey, 94.5 percent of
people stated that ‘We should be a full member of the EU’. Only 4.4
percent of people who joined the survey said ‘no’ to the EU, while
1.1 percent of them had no opinion on the issue.
Eastern cities such as Erzurum, Sivas and Van supported fully
Turkey’s membership to the EU.
The situation is different now. There are four separate surveys
conducted recently. One of them was conducted by Justice &
Development Party (AK Party). AK Party leader and Prime Minister
Erdogan earlier noted that more than 75 percent of Turkish people
supported the country’s EU accession. The last survey by AK Party
noted that this ratio was reduced to 63 percent.
Another survey was sponsored by Turkey’s Secretariat General for
EU. It said that Turkish people’s support to EU accession fall to 60
percent.
40 percent of the people who support EU membership said that ‘I
believe that we should join the EU, but the union will not accept
Turkey.’
When we consider the reasons for decrease in Turkish people’s
support, we can list three points:
1-Cyprus and Armenian issue: Despite promises made last year
that the blockade imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) would be lifted, EU has not taken any step on this matter.
Worse, some decisions taken by EU on so-called Armenian genocide
allegations put pressure on Turkey.
2-Expectation: A great expectation on EU was created by the
government before December 17th. However, most of expectations were
not met.
3-Nationalism: Activities of nationalist groups strengthened
nationalist feelings.

Zaman, Turkey
May 9 2005

Ataturk’s Historic Response to Armenian Allegations
By Zaman, Anadolu News Agency (aa)

Founder of Modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk long ago replied to
the genocide claims of Armenian Diaspora by saying, “The world cannot
accuse us on the Armenian expulsion.”

Noting that the world cannot say anything to the Turkish state
regarding the Armenian expulsion back then, Ataturk summarized the
events at the time, “On the contrary to those aspersion cast on us,
those who emigrated are alive and others would have been at home too
if the coalition of entente states had not forced us to wage war.”

Ataturk revealed the following historical realities in response to
questions of American correspondent, Clanence K Streit on 26 February
1921: “Apart from the huge exaggerations of those who behave like
enemies, the emigration of Armenians refers particularly to this
event: When the Russian army started to attack us in 1915, the
Tashnak Committee under the services of the Tsar, had encourage the
Armenians who were supporting our soldier to rebel against them. We
always considered ourselves as being caught between the firepower’s
when comparing the number and equipment advantage of the enemy. Our
supply convoys and our wounded troops were brutally killed, the
bridges and roads behind us were destroyed and terrorism acts were
performed on the residents of Turkish villages. Those groups who
accepted that the Armenians could use their guns against their own
side to attain their weapons, ammunition and food reserves, benefited
from the surrender in Armenian villages.”

Ataturk also expressed his opinions on the so-called genocide
allegations of the Armenians: “A world that almost refuses to
consider the behavior of the English in its fight against the Irish
does not have any right to intervene with our decisions regarding the
Armenians. On the contrary of blames against us, those who emigrated
are alive and the rest of them would have also returned also home if
the coalition of entente states had not forced us to wage war.
Everybody knows the tortures conducted on Armenians following the
Brest Litovks Intervention and the discharging of troops to the east
by the Russians.”

TURKISH SPEAKER PROTESTS AGAINST RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTING STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Pan Armenian News
07.05.2005 03:29

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the Turkish Parliament Bulent Arinc
has his visit to Russia scheduled in June to express protest against
adoption of a statement acknowledging and censuring the Armenian
Genocide by the Russian State Duma, reported RFE/RL. Having reported
the message of the Turkish Speaker, AP reminded that a number of
countries, including Argentine, Poland, Canada, France, Russia have
acknowledged the Genocide and the Armenian lobby «puts pressure»
upon the US Congress for passing a Resolution acknowledging the
Armenian Genocide.

–Boundary_(ID_K4VfJ3RC4gupv7RHvYAAcA)–

OMBUDSWOMAN TO TRACK DOWN VIOLATIONS
By A.V.

AZG Armenian Daily #083, 07/05/2005

Social cards

Mass media has already informed about the cases of holding Armenian
citizens’ wages and pensions for not having social cards. A
considerable part of these people rejects social cards not to give
up their religious convictions.

A separate section (3.11) in RA ombudswoman’s “Annual Report” on
fundamental violations of human rights in Armenia in 2004 deals with
violation of liberty of conscience, speech and religion. Though the
report does not reveal the anti-constitutional trend of the law on
“cards of social security”, it is still praiseworthy that Larisa
Alaverdian, the ombudswoman, did not pass by this issue. We can hope
that Mrs. Alaverdian will touch upon this issue in her special report
which is soon to be released. If the Ministry of Social Security will
still jib at making changes in the law after all, the ombudswoman will
have to include ministers name in the list of officials continuously
ignoring human rights and fundamental freedoms.

AZG Armenian Daily #082, 06/05/2005

Armenia-OSCE

MINSK GROUP TO MEET WITH OSKANIAN

Yuri Merzliakov, Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk group, said in the
interview to the Azeri ANS TV that the April 27 negotiations held with Elmar
Mamediarov in Frankfurt was “an effective and a useful one.” He said that
the OSCE co-chairs are going to meet with Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign
minister. The Russian diplomat said that the meeting might take place in
Moscow, Warsaw or in one of the European cities few days before the CE
Summit.

No settlement agreement to be signed in Warsaw – Armenian minister

A1+ web site
5 May 05

The Armenian foreign minister and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen
will hold a meeting in Warsaw in the near future, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan has told our correspondent.

It is likely that Oskanyan will meet the co-chairmen before the meeting
of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents. The date and schedule of
the meeting and the subject of discussion are still not known.

The current situation on the contact line between the two countries’
armed forces will certainly be discussed, Oskanyan said.

Asked if an agreement on preliminary conditions may be signed between
the presidents on 10 May and if it can be considered as the beginning
of the stage-by-stage settlement, Oskanyan answered in the negative.

Turkish Press
May 4 2005

Press Scan:

SABAH

HALACOGLU: “IT IS THE MENTALITY OF MIDDLE AGES”

SABAH- Turkish Institute of History (TTK) Chairman Prof. Dr. Yusuf
Halacoglu said that opening of a legal procedure against him because
of conferences in Switzerland on allegations of so-called Armenian
genocide, was nothing but the mentality of the Middle Ages. “If
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says in Brussels that
Armenian genocide has never taken place, what will happen then? Such an
attitude contradicts with international law and democracy. Of course,
we cannot say anything if Europe preferred to return to the mentality
of the Middle Age,” he added.

Kennedy on Armenian Issue: Unify Your Suggestions
By Suleyman Kurt

Zaman, Turkey
May 4 2005

Published: Wednesday 04, 2005
zaman.com

The US administration have positively viewed a possible meeting
between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian
President Robert Kocharian at the European Council regarding the
so-called Armenian genocide allegations on May 16-17 and believe that
the different suggestions offered by each party might be evaluated
together.

The US Undersecretary of the State Department responsible for
European and Eurasian affairs Laura Kennedy said, “Why shouldn’t
the differing suggestions of Erdogan and Kocharian be evaluated
together?” Kennedy met with Turkish diplomats in Ankara during her
two-day visit. Kennedy also met with the Turkish Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Ali Tuygan and National Security Council (MGK)
Secretary-General Yigit Alpogan. Turkey and the US have agreed on a
meeting of expert delegations regarding the issues related to each
party. The US official will travel onto Lefkosa (Nicosia), Athens,
Brussels and London after her meetings in Ankara.

In the news conference, Kennedy revealed that the process between
Turkey and Armenia is “hopeful”, and evaluated the possible meeting
of Erdogan and Kocharian in Warsaw as a “wonderful thing”. While
Kennedy did not make any preference between Erdogan’s suggestion
for the meeting of the historians and Kocharian’s suggestion for
conducting an intergovernmental commission, she noted, “Why shouldn’t
the two suggestions be evaluated together?” Kennedy also demanded
Turkey re-open the Armenian borders. The US official also announced
that in order to find a solution for the Cyprus issue Greek Cypriots
firstly need to address their concerns to the United Nations (UN).
Suggesting that no other state has worked as hard as the US to lift
the isolation against Turkish Cypriots, Kennedy confirmed that they
have not yet made any decision about direct flights to the Turkish
Republic of the Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The US Official added that
the date of the Erdogan-Bush meeting has not yet been determined.

Zaman, Turkey
May 4 2005

‘Let Historians to Examine Genocide Allegations’
By Erdal Sen

Published: Wednesday 04, 2005
zaman.com

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder visited Ankara last evening as
the guest of his Turkish counterpart Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. Upon his arrival, the Chancellor gave support for Turkey’s
European Union (EU) bid and the Armenian issue.

Schroder met with Erdogan last night and the two leaders spoke
about Turkish-German economics, political, commercial, and cultural
relations as well as exchanging views on the EU, Armenia, and Cyprus
issues. Schroder provided his support for the suggestions made by
Erdogan regarding the formation of a joint historians commission
to examine the Armenian issue. “We are happy that you will open
the archieves and conduct a complete examination of the issue by
specialists and historians. We find this suggestion just correct
and we support it,” said Schroder. While he praised Turkey’s efforts
regarding the EU membership process, German Chancellor pointed out the
importnance of signing the additional protocol regarding Cyprus issue.

It should be signed by October 3

According to information released, “Turkey has so far delivered all
its promises in the EU process. I believe it will continue to do
so by October 3. Turkey will continue with the reforms. We welcome
Turkey’s steps regarding the Cyprus issue. I hope that Turkey will
sign the Ankara Agreement Protocol by October 3,” said Schroder.
Touching upon Turkish-German relations as well, he said bilateral
relations accelarated more in the last period and wished for further
developments in this regard. Schroder will have an official meeting
with Erdogan today and will be received by President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer at the Presidential Residence. After completing his contacts
in Ankara, he will travel to Istanbul around noon and will meet with
the Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeous. Later, the German Chancellor
will visit Marmara University and attend a Turkish-German forum. An
entourage of 600 businessmen are accompanying Schroder on his tour.