Author: Tambiyan Samvel

Armenian, Azeri defence ministers discuss cease-fire
Mediamax, Armenia
20 Oct 06
Yerevan, 20 October: The Armenian and Azerbaijani defence ministers,
Serzh Sarkisyan and Safar Abiyev, met on the Idzhevan-Qazax part of
the Armenian-Azerbaijani border today, the press secretary of the
Armenian Defence Ministry, Col Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, has told Mediamax.
Shakhsuvaryan noted that the meeting was held at the initiative of the
personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office on the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict, Andrzej Kasprzyk, in the context of measures aimed
at building confidence between the sides.
“During the meeting, the sides discussed the cease-fire regime,”
Shakhsuvaryan said.

IT WAS A BAD MISTAKE, CORRECT IT IMMEDIATELY
Sabah. Turkey
Oct 19 2006
EU term President Finland warns France harshly: French parliament
has made a big mistake with the Armenian genocide bill.
EU term President Finland’s minister of foreign affairs Erkki
Tuomioja criticized France harshly for the Armenian bill in the
article published in presidency website. The title of the article was
“Parliaments should not make laws regarding historical facts.”
EU warns France: Withdraw the law immediately
EU term President Finland’s minister of foreign affairs Erkki Tuomioja
warned France and demanded France to correct this bad mistake.
EU term President Finland’s minister of foreign affairs Erkki Tuomioja
warned France once again and demanded France to correct this bad
mistake. EU term President has referred as “silly” to France’s approval
of the bill which anticipates denial of the Armenian genocide as a
crime. EU term President stated: “I do not find the term genocide
exaggerated for the events experienced at that period.”

TURK HOUSE RAPS ‘GENOCIDE’ BILL
Gulf Times, Qatar
Oct 18 2006
ANKARA: Turkey’s parliament yesterday backed a declaration condemning
the French National Assembly’s approval of a draft bill that would
make it a crime to deny Armenians suffered genocide by Ottoman Turks
in 1915.
But the government stopped short of taking measures against French
interests and companies, aware this could harm Turkey’s economy more
than France’s.
Diplomats say the genocide bill, approved by the lower house last
Thursday, is unlikely to become law due to resistance from the upper
chamber, the Senate and President Jacques Chirac.
Turkish lawmakers said much damage had already been done.
“Naturally, approval of the draft by the French parliament will
inflict irreparable damage on political, economic and military
relations between Turkey and France,” said the declaration which had
the backing of all political parties.
It said Armenia would pay a “heavy price” for using lobbies in France
and in other countries against Turkey, although it did not say what
that might entail.
Turkey has no diplomatic relations with Armenia due to the tiny
ex-Soviet republic’s occupation of territory belonging to Ankara’s
Turkic-speaking ally Azerbaijan.
France is home to Europe’s largest Armenian diaspora.
Ankara denies Armenians’ claims they suffered a systematic genocide in
Turkey during World War I, saying both Christian Armenians and Muslim
Turks died in large numbers in a partisan conflict that accompanied
the break-up of the Ottoman Empire.
In yesterday’s debate in the Turkish parliament, Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul said the “baseless” Armenian claims were nothing more
than political propaganda.
“We hope this bill stops halfway and that the French come to their
senses,” Gul said.
He said the French bill violated the principle of free speech, a key
requirement of the EU, which Turkey hopes to join. He said Ankara
would fight the bill in international courts if it ever became law
in France. – Reuters

INITIATOR OF ANTI-CRIMINAL MOVEMENT ADDRESSES TO THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
Panorama.am
16:43 16/10/06
“I can clearly state that all the acts of anti-criminal movement
are determined by the joint statements issued by parties which form
the movement.
I think not only Hakob Hakobyan but many others in the hall must be
arrested. As the chairman of New Times Party I can name other persons
and we will see if they will arrest them so eagerly,” Aram Karapetyan,
chairman of New Times Party responded to President Robert Kocharyan’s
recent statement that anticriminal movement is a regular exploded
balloon while talking to a hearing on the devaluation of dollar
initiated by anti-criminal movement.

POLITICAL SCIENTIST: ARMENIA HAS BETTER CHANCES TO JOIN NATO
Panorama.am
18:24 17/10/06
Igor Muradyan, a political scientist, told a press conference today
that the problem of South Caucasus is monopolized and is dealt by
Havier Solana in Europe and Daniel Freed in USA. He said American and
European experts are also interested in Javakhk affairs but show no
open interest.
Muradyan said someone in Brussels has said Georgia will never comply
with NATO standards and there is no need to spend time on it. The
political scientist called that “cynical” saying that Romania and
Bulgaria which are part of NATO do not comply with the standards of
the alliance, either. Muradyan thinks Armenia has better chances to
join NATO.

DES HISTORIENS VEULENT SAISIR JACQUES CHIRAC SI LE SENAT CONFIRME CETTE ” PROVOCATION ”
Jean-Baptiste de Montvalon
Le Monde
14 octobre 2006 samedi
LE TEXTE etait, a leurs yeux, ” affligeant ” ; son vote constitue
” une veritable provocation “. Reunis dans la soiree du jeudi 12
octobre, quelques heures après l’examen par l’Assemblee nationale de
la proposition de loi visant a sanctionner la negation du genocide
armenien, les membres de l’association Liberte pour l’histoire ont
redige un communique virulent.
Promettant, ” si le Senat devait confirmer le vote de l’Assemblee
“, de demander au president de la Republique de ” saisir le Conseil
constitutionnel (…) pour qu’il annule ” cette loi, ces historiens
– parmi lesquels Jean-Pierre Azema, Elisabeth Badinter, Marc Ferro,
Jacques Julliard, Pierre Milza, Pierre Nora, Mona Ozouf, Rene Remond,
Jean-Pierre Vernant – font part de leur vive inquietude.
Tout en exprimant leur ” profond sentiment de solidarite ” pour les ”
victimes de l’histoire “, ils deplorent que la France soit ” engagee
dans un processus accelere de lois etablissant des verites d’Etat sur
le passe “. ” Un mouvement rapide d’appropriation de l’histoire par
des memoires particulières et de recul des libertes democratiques
” se poursuit, constatent-ils, ” alors meme que le president de
la Republique a declare que “ce n’est pas au Parlement d’ecrire
l’histoire”. ”
” VERITES OFFICIELLES ”
Liberte pour l’histoire revient sur l’autre affront de la journee :
le rejet d’un amendement UMP qui visait a exclure les ” recherches
universitaires ou scientifiques ” du champ d’application de la
loi. ” L’Assemblee nationale vient d’ôter le masque : ce ne sont pas
d’eventuels “troubles a l’ordre public” qu’elle entend empecher par
ces lois, c’est bien la recherche universitaire et tous les enseignants
qu’elle veut, sous peine d’amende ou de prison, soumettre aux verites
officielles qu’elle edicte “, relèvent les historiens.
Soucieux que leur reaction ne soit pas percue comme corporatiste,
ils soulignent qu’ils ” se trouvent en première ligne d’un combat qui
interesse tous les citoyens et met en cause la possibilite pour chacun
d’acceder a la connaissance et au libre examen “. ” Ce sont bien les
libertes de pensee et d’expression qui sont menacees “, insistent-ils.
En decembre 2005, ces historiens avaient signe une petition reclamant
l’abrogation partielle de plusieurs lois ” memorielles “, dont celle
sur la reconnaissance du genocide armenien. Si l’alinea de la loi sur
les rapatries consacrant le ” rôle positif ” de la colonisation a ete
par la suite abroge par decret, les historiens redoutent desormais
un engrenage.
Des dispositions similaires pourraient etre proposees au sujet
de l’esclavage, reconnu par la loi Taubira comme un ” crime contre
l’humanite “. ” Demain, ce sera le tour des Vendeens, et après-demain
des Albigeois ! “, s’exclame Pierre Nora, qui se dit ” epouvante ”
par cette ” formidable regression “.
–Boundary_(ID_w0Hof95CIBiKnT2UKX8cdg)–

“UNITED JAVAKHK” FACTION CHAIRMANSHIP MEMBER ARRESTED
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Vahagn Chakhalian,
a member of the “United Javakhk” (“Miasnakan Javakhk”) democratic
faction chairmanship was arrested on October 11 by employees of the
RA National Security Service. “United Javakhk” informed about it in
the October 13 statement. Presenting themselves as police employees,
they invited V.Chakhalian to the police department as a victim,
but take him to the Special Security Service isolator.
As it is mentioned in the statement, V.Chakhalian was presented
“accusation for illegally crossing the RA state border.” Based on the
accusation mentioned on October 13, the Court of First Instance of
the Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan made a decision
to use arrest as a prevention mean towards V.Chakhalian.
“Especially the circumstance causes indignation that instead of
examining and revealing dangerous criminals committed the act of
violence against V.Chakhalian, subjected to hooligan attack and got
serious bodily injuries, the latter’s family as well as faction
member Gurgen Shirinian, the victim is being pursued with false
accusations. The mentioned circumstance obviously proves presence of
direct tie between the act of violence committed against V.Chakhalian
and arrest followed it and some forces’ order,” the statement authors
mention.
“United Javakhk” is anxious that future events may bring to dangerious
and unforeseen developments. “Vahagn’s absence and the successive
attempts to liguidate the faction with firm means strike heavy blows
to the present system securing stability in Javakhk, in which “United
Javakhk” has a decisive role owing to the population’s all-embracing
assistance,” is said in the statement.
“Famous margin forces and criminal clans strive for keeping monopoly
of presenting himself on behalf of Armenians of Javakhk and with
their not responsible actions they create serious threat for the
regional stablity,” faction members mention, expressing hope that
all the interested forces, particularly, the authorities of Armenia
“will foster more clever attitude towards the mentioned forces’
activity which may bring to destroying the regional stablity system
and most seriously damage the Armenian-Georgian interstate relations.”

LES TURCS MOBILISES CONTRE LA LOI SUR LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Le Temps, Suisse
16 octobre 2006
TURQUIE. Manifestations contre le projet de loi francais. Ankara en
appelle a des represailles mesurees contre la France.
Plusieurs centaines de personnes ont manifeste samedi a Istanbul devant
le consulat de France pour denoncer le vote en première lecture a
l’Assemblee nationale francaise d’une proposition de loi penalisant
la negation du genocide armenien.
Une première manifestation a ete organisee par un petit parti de gauche
nationaliste sous l’oeil vigilant des policiers antiemeute deployes
dans le quartier de Beyoglu, dans le centre-ville. Les manifestants
brandissant des drapeaux turcs ont appele les Turcs a ne plus acheter
les produits francais. Un deuxième groupe de manifestants, rassembles
a l’appel d’une organisation ultranationaliste, a conspue le vote
des deputes francais et accuse le gouvernement turc de “laxisme”. Les
dirigeants turcs ont prevenu la France d’une crise dans les relations
bilaterales. Et des represailles economiques pourraient se traduire
par l’exclusion des firmes francaises des contrats publics.
Mais dimanche, les consommateurs turcs etaient invites a temperer
leur reaction contre la France, au lendemain d’un appel du president
francais Jacques Chirac au remier ministre turc, percu a Ankara comme
un signe d’apaisement (lire ci-contre). L’ambiance en Turquie etait
donc un peu plus calme dimanche pour une approche rationnelle quant
aux represailles contre les produits francais. Pour ne pas contrarier
sa candidature a l’Union europeenne, Ankara n’imposera sans doute
pas un boycott officiel mais de nombreux appels au boycottage des
marques francaises ont ete lances.
Le ministre armenien des Affaires Etrangères a indique dimanche qu’il
s’efforcerait de normaliser les relations avec la Turquie, malgre
son profond mecontentement devant le refus turc de reconnaître comme
genocide les massacres d’Armeniens sous l’Empire ottoman.
–Boundary_(ID_WjfnUAnMpOpC1zp5uonujQ)–

IT’S NOT AN ISSUE OF ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’ DENIAL, STUPID …
Cengiz Candar – [email protected]
The News Anatolian
Oct 11 2006
Opinions
A collision between the two trains is more imminent than expected. A
“train crash,” code for describing the deep crisis between Turkey
and Europe has been predicted, if it cannot be avoided, for December,
following the progress report which is expected to be very critical
of Turkey’s recent performance on its way to accession in the European
Union. The greatest stumbling block has been the Cyprus issue.
Yet France, by introducing legislation on punishing all those denying
an Armenian “genocide” with five years in prison, is accelerating
that collision. The Armenian issue has overtaken the Cyprus one. If
the French Parliament passes the bill in tomorrow’s vote,
a collision will be unavoidable.
But, between whom?
After all, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has warned the French
about the counter-productivity of the move, thus absolving the EU of
any responsibility in France’s irresponsible and damaging behavior.
The collision will surely take place between Turkey and France. However
it is impossible that such a collision won’t leave create a backlash
in the already troubled Turkish-EU relations.
That will add more fuel to the current public Turkish disillusionment
over its European prospects since it is not only France but also the
Netherlands and some other EU member states as well who are after
further alienating Turkey to keep it at a distance from the gates of
the EU.
The climate between Turkey and the EU would be poisoned to such an
extent that to be able to breathe the fresh air required to have
Turkey on board for accession will be very difficult.
Does Turkey have any other alternative, like moving closer to Russia,
Iran and its immediate neighborhood, as some in Ankara’s bureaucracy
have suggested on several occasions?
This is a non-option in terms of realpolitik.
However, further alienation of Turkey from the EU could also
destabilize Turkey and instability in Turkey would have repercussions
on European security, dwarfing the demise of Yugoslavia compared to
Turkey’s destabilization in a post-9/11 world with the specter of a
clash of civilizations.
The political dwarfs in France, be it the Socialists or the Nicholas
Sarkozy school of conservatives, have failed to grasp the strategic
implications of their petit-politics.
In contrast to neighboring political underweights in France and the
Netherlands, former Deputy Chancellor and German Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer wrote an op-ed piece entitled “Turkey and Europe;
Two Trains About to Collide” in which he underlined, “By intervening
in Lebanon, Europeans have made a far-reaching, risk-fraught, and,
at the same time, correct decision. The reason is that the future
of Europe’s security will be determined in the eastern Mediterranean
and the Middle East.
Europe, whether it likes it or not, has taken on a new, strategic
role in the region. Should it fail, the price will be high.
“In view of the serious risks that Europe has assumed, in full
awareness of the consequences, it is of the utmost importance that
a European ‘Grand Strategy’ for the eastern Mediterranean and the
Middle East be developed so that Europe can calmly and clearly define
its interests. In any serious variation of this grand strategy,
Turkey will need to play a central role — politically, militarily,
economically, and culturally.
“Safeguarding Europe’s interests today means establishing a strong
link — indeed an unbreakable bond — with Turkey as a cornerstone of
regional security. So it is astonishing that Europe is doing exactly
the opposite: firmly closing its eyes to the strategic challenge
posed by Turkey.
“Successful modernization and democratization of Turkey — with a
strong civil society, the rule of law, and a modern economy — will
not only be hugely beneficial for the country, but will also export
stability and serve as a model for transformation in the Islamic
world. Above all, the successful modernization of a large Muslim
country will make a decisive contribution to Europe’s security.”
He concluded, “Some in the EU — mainly in France, Germany and
Austria — seem smugly pleased by the prospect of a clash on this
issue, believing it will force Turkey to give up its drive for
membership. But this attitude is irresponsible. The EU is about to
commit a grave strategic error by allowing its report this autumn to
be guided by the short-sighted domestic policy considerations of some
of its important member states.
“Admittedly, Turkey has a long way to go. But to endanger this process
here and now, in full awareness of the possible costs, is an act of
very costly stupidity on the part of the Europeans — and stupidity is
the worst sin in politics. In European-Turkish relations, two trains
are racing headlong toward each other.
Neither Turkey nor Europe can afford the all-too-foreseeable crash.”
The issue is not merely a French legislative process on the denial of
an Armenian “genocide;” it will have strategic ramifications. It has
only been a week since U.S. President Bush strongly endorsed Turkey’s
EU bid and interpreted it as being in “the U.S.’ national interests.”
The Turkish government, therefore, could play its hand by
“internationalizing” its legitimate friction with France.

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
12 Oct 06
TURKISH MINISTER, EU’S FRATTINI DISCUSS CONCERNS OVER ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE LAW
Brussels, 12 October: Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for
EU talks Ali Babacan met European Commission Vice-President Franco
Frattini for Justice, Freedom and Security in Brussels on Thursday
[12 October].
Speaking to Turkish reporters, Babacan said that French parliament’s
decision on adoption of a bill on criminalizing denial of so-called
Armenian genocide was a concerning development regarding the future
of the EU, noting that this decision would make a negative impact on
(Turkish people’s) senses on EU.
“It is not reasonable to respond to France’s mistakes by making
mistakes. We will keep fulfilling reforms,” Babacan stressed.
Replying to questions on Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK),
Babacan noted that technical works on this matter were under way. “We
will monitor its implementation. There can be amendments on any law.
However developments in France will make difficult initiatives on the
matter,” he said.
Responding to a question on Turkey’s attitude in regard to the
decision of France, Babacan said that the government has not made a
decision on the matter yet, underlining that this issue would be
discussed in the first meeting of the Council of Ministers.
Noting that European Commission’s reaction to the decision of France
was a very important development, he stressed: “We consider the
commission’s attitude positive and sound.”
“We are continuing legal arrangements on EU adjustment laws. Turkish
Parliamentary General Assembly will debate the law on foundations
next week,” Babacan said upon a question. He noted: “Now Turkey aims
to be a full member of the EU.”
Stating that he held very fruitful meetings in Brussels, Babacan
indicated that there could be progress regarding visa procedure for
Turkish businessmen, students and academicians.
In regard to prominent Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, who won the 2006
Nobel Prize for literature, Babacan stated: “It is a very important
development.”