Author: Torgomian Varazdat

EU COULD USE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AGAINST TURKEY
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels

Zaman, Turkey
Dec 18 2006

Intensified efforts to make Turkey recognize an Armenian genocide
during World War I have fallen on the European Union and Turkey’s
membership process.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation says Turkey should be made to
recognize the genocide before it can become an EU member.

Kiro Manoyan, the director of the organization, said the EU had used
Greece and Cyprus against Turkey and the time for Armenia would come
as well.

According to the PanArmenian agency, Manoyan said the Armenian issue
would eventually become an instrument for the European Union and
urged all Armenians to be ready for such a development.

The genocide issue and the Armenian lobby have a significant impact
on some EU countries. France and Holland, two countries seemingly
against Turkey in the EU, have made the matter an internal one.

A bill making it a crime to deny the existence of an Armenian genocide
passed in the French parliament on Oct. 12. The bill awaits approval
from the Senate and President Jacques Chirac, through probably will
not pass.

On Oct. 22, three Turkish electoral candidates in Holland were removed
from their party lists for denying the genocide.

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REFERENDUM AS A MEANS OF THE AUTHORITIES’ REPRODUCTION
[04:22 pm] 14 December, 2006

`The idea of canceling the NKR referendum is a guarantee for the
reproduction of the acting authorities’, Hmayak Hovhannisyan,
president of the Union of Armenian Politicians and NA deputy,
announced today.

In his words, the best way of the current authorities’ further
reproduction is the signing of the document on the Karabakh conflict
settlement. With the help of the document the pair Robert Kocharyan –
Serge Sargsyan will secure the issue of their reproduction under the
aegis of superpowers.

Hmayak Hovhannisyan claims that in case they sign the document and the
OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs agree to the signed version of the conflict
settlement, the pair will surely remain in power to implement the
program.

The opposition finds the document signing improbable and they seem to
see no menace for the country. Just on the contrary, they claim that
the acting authorities will not dare to sign the document.

Mr. Hovhannisyan also finds the opinion of certain politicians,
according to which by Zhirayr Sefilyan’s arrest the authorities want
to prove that there is inner discord in connection of that variant of
the conflict solution absurd.

Hmayak Hovhannisyan is concerned that Azerbaijan may agree to that
variant whereas Armenia relies on Azerbaijan’s refusal.

Event by the Kuwaiti Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society

Armenian Relief Society’s (ARS) Central Executive Board member Tamar Der
Bedrossian (from Lebanon) attended on 24th November 2006 a ceremony in
Kuwait City dedicated to the Society’s centennial Fund. The event was the
forerunning fund raising campaign for the Kuwaiti chapter, held in the Saint
Vartan Armenian church in Salmiya (Kuwait City), under the patronage of
Archbishop Goriun Babian, Catholicossal Representative of the Diocese of
Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf countries.

Der Bedrossian delivered a lecture in the presence of the active members of
the Kuwaiti ARS chapter and a group of supporters. Shakeh Zarigian, Head of
the Kuwaiti ARS chapter, welcomed the guest and described – in broad lines –
the worldwide activities of the ARS, highlighting its enormous contribution
to the well-being and development of the Armenian communities since 1910.
She said that through the efforts of ARS the Armenian identity was preserved
in the Diaspora communities. Considerable degree of social progress was
recorded in communities where ARS maintained presence, including Armenia in
most recent times.

Aida Bedirian played on piano a piece from Aram Khatchatourian, accompanied
on clarinet by Aliag Bedirian. Dzovinar Zakarian recited a poem by Barouyr
Sevag (`Hello’). Harout Arzoulian performed a solo sing, accompanied on
piano by Janna Seropian.

In her lecture Tamar Der Bedrossian described in a comprehensible way the
activities of the ARS in various Diaspora communities and in Armenia (after
the independence 1991). She detailed the most recent plans adopted by the
Central Executive Board. Following the lecture, a documentary film was shown
on the activities of the ARS – Armenia chapter in the last 15 years. One of
the recent achievements was the opening of a children’s care center in the
Akhourian region.

Lucy Kahkejian performed a song titled `flute’.

At the end of this informative and cultural event Archbishop Babian pointed
to the exceptional services of the ARS. He made a series of interesting
observations, based on his own eyewitness account. After the `Bahbanich’
Archbishop Babian presented the guest with a commemorative gift.
 
Der Bedrossian thanked the Armenian Community for the warmth and cordial
attention throughout her three days stay in Kuwait.

Report by Dzovinar Zakarian, Kuwait, 4th December 2006, English text by
Azad-Hye
 
You can reach the Armenian Prelacy in Kuwait and Arabian Gulf countries at:
[email protected]
 
Photo and Armenian text at:
Id=621dzj41

PanARMENIAN.Net

RA National Security Strategy Ratified
15.12.2006 18:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The interdepartmental commission on coordination of
elaboration of the RA National Security Strategy ratified the finite
text of the document December 15. `The decision was unanimously taken
by the commission members,’ said Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan.

In his words, next week the document will be submitted to
consideration and ratification of the President and government. The
Minister said the elaboration of the document based on the principles
of democratization of the society and complimentary foreign
policy. The RA National Security Strategy is expected to be signed in
May 2007, reports newsarmenia.ru.

ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT BOND MARKET NOT SUBJECT TO SERIOUS SHOCKS AS RESULT OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 14 2006

YEREVAN, December 13. /ARKA/. Armenia’s government bond market is
not subject to any serious shocks resultant from domestic and foreign
policy problems.

Head of the National Debt Management Department, RA Ministry of Finance
and Economy, Arshaluis Margaryan expressed hope that all the potential
investors have been convinced that consistent policy is implemented
in this segment.

In this context, Margaryan stressed that the Government is implementing
a balanced policy to improve mutually advantageous cooperation.

Short-term, medium- and long-term government coupon bonds are currently
issued in Armenia.

On January 16, 2007, government savings bonds will first be issued
for the population.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: REFERENDUM IN KARABAKH NOT TO IMPEDE TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.12.2006 16:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "We do not recognize Nagorno Karabakh as an
independent state. We regret that a pro-independence constitutional
referendum was held in Nagorno Karabakh," said State Department
Spokesman Edgar Vasquez. "Being co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group
the U.S. works at the Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement. Nagorno
Karabakh’s future status is being discussed in the framework of the
peaceful talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan," he said. In his opinion
the referendum forestalls the process, that is why the U.S. doesn’t
recognize its outcomes. At that he is convinced that the referendum
outcomes, reports the Voice of America.

BTA INVESTBANK ARMENIA INTRODUCES EXPRESS MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 11 2006

YEREVAN, December 11. /ARKA/. The BTA Investbank Armenia has introduced
the "FATSER" system of express money transfers. The BTA press service
reports that the system allows individuals to effect and receive
express money transfers to and from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus,
China, etc..

The "FASTER" system allows the recipients to receive the money in
one minute. The BTA Investbank also cooperates with the "Migom" and
"Western Union" systems.

The bank’s principal stockholder, Bank Turan Alem, intends to expand
its activities in Armenia in 2007. Among its strategic goals is
increasing its presence in the CIS retail, small and medium-sized
businesses and corporate service markets.

The FASTER" system was developed by the Bank Turan Alem in 2006.

Armenia’s commercial banks are currently participating in the following
money transfer systerms: Western Union, Money Gram, Anelik, Unistream,
Express Post, Interexpress, Contact, Lider, Migom, Privat Money
Transfer, STB Express, Armenian Express.

The BTA Investbank is the success of the International Investment
Bank founded in 1991. The bank is a strategic partner of one of the
largest banks in Kazakhstan, Bank Turan Alem, which purchased 48.9%
of shares in the authorized capital of the "InterInvestBank" CJSC,
which was renamed BTA Investbank.

By September 30, 2006, the bank’s assets had amounted to AMD 9.7bln,
credit investments AMD 6.7bln, total capital AMD 3.1bln, net profit
AMD 46.1mln (in January-September 2006). The bank’s authorized capital
is AMD 3.4bln.

REPUBLICAN STUDENT OLYMPIAD ON RUSSIAN LANGUAGE FINISHES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2006

TSAKHKADZOR, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The final tour of Republican
Student Olympiad on Russian Language was held on December 10 in
Tsakhkadzor. The olympiad was organized by the Russian-Armenian
(Slavonic) University jointly with the Russian Federal Agency on
Education within the framework of implementation of target program
Russian Language (2006-2010). Its implementation is financed by the
RF state budget. About 200 students from 23 Armenian Universities,
including Russian Universities’ branches in Armenia, took part in
the event. Analogous competitions are hold in Slavonic Universities
of Kyrghyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as in other CIS countries. As
Noyan Tapan was informed from the Press Service of the Embassy of
Russia in Armenia, nine winners of the Olympiad were given diplomas
and medals of the Institute of Russian Language after A.S.Pushkin,
as well as souvenirs.

U.S. AID TO ARMENIA LINKED WITH CLEAN POLLS
By Ruben Meloyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 12 2006

The provision of $236 million in additional U.S. economic assistance
to Armenia is conditional on proper conduct of its forthcoming
parliamentary and presidential elections, U.S. officials said on
Tuesday.

The five-year aid package is part of the U.S. administration’s
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program that seeks promote economic
and political reforms around the world. Armenia and neighboring
Georgia remain the only ex-Soviet states eligible for the scheme. The
Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government agency managing
it, has already disbursed the first $1.4 million installment of the
sum earmarked for Armenia.

"In order for Armenia to continue to receive this funding, the Armenian
government must maintain a high level of performance in ruling justly,
investing in people and promoting economic freedom," Anthony Godfrey,
the U.S. charge d’affaires in Yerevan, told reporters in Yerevan. "Only
by continuing to institute democratic reforms, including ensuring a
free and fair process in the run-up to the 2007 and 2008 elections,
can Armenia make sure that its people can continue to benefit from
this $236 million program."

Earlier this month, the MCC reaffirmed Armenia’s eligibility for
the program despite serious concerns about the Yerevan government’s
democracy and human rights records that were expressed by the
corporation’s chief executive, John Danilovich. In a May letter to
President Robert Kocharian, Danilovich said that a "continued negative
trend in Armenia’s policy performance would endanger the continuation
of the recently signed [MCA] Compact."

Godfrey warned that the MCC might therefore reconsider its decision
in the course of the next year. "Normally the board will review
eligibility criteria one time per year," he said. "But in the case of
a sharp drop in any of the [MCA eligibility] indicators or categories,
it can make a more abrupt decision."

"But it’s our great hope that that won’t happen," the U.S. diplomat
added.

Alex Russin, an MCC executive in charge of the compact’s
implementation, made it clear that next year’s parliamentary elections
will be a crucial test for the Armenian authorities’ stated commitment
to democracy and rule of law. "We are concerned about the upcoming
elections, and I hope that it will be a chance for the government
and the Armenian people to demonstrate greater improvement over what
happened last year," Russin said in an apparent reference to the
disputed November 2005 referendum.

The U.S. government strongly criticized the referendum and previous
Armenian elections that were marred by serious fraud reported by
local and international observers.

TURKEY: TOP RELIGIOUS OFFICIAL CRITICIZES POPE

Journal Chretien, France
Dec 8 2006

Ankara’s top government religious official accused Pope Benedict
XVI yesterday of "doing injustice to Turkey" by declaring after his
historic visit to Turkey last week that the country’s Catholics live
under difficult conditions.

In an interview with the semi-official Anatolian News Agency published
in today’s liberal Radikal newspaper, Director of Religious Affairs
Ali Bardakoglu complained that the problems of Turkey’s religious
minorities had been exaggerated during the pope’s visit.

Speaking from Rome on Sunday (December 3), the pontiff had expressed
his "cordial thanks" to the Turkish authorities for their friendly
hospitality last week during what he termed a fruitful and
"unforgettable spiritual and pastoral experience" of Christian
ecumenism and dialogue with Muslims.

But Benedict also noted in his Sunday address that the "small flock"
of Catholics in Turkey "live in conditions that are not easy." His
gentle but direct remark echoed similar comments sprinkled throughout
his four days of public statements while in Turkey.

The pope’s comments caused the foreign press to conclude, Bardakoglu
objected, that "Turkey does not have religious freedom. This is an
injustice to Turkey."

"There are countless attacks on mosques in Europe, and Muslims are
facing discrimination just because of their faith," Bardakoglu said.

"But we have never acted like this, making targeted accusations
against the Western countries and all Christians over these actions."

While he described the papal visit as "rather positive" in terms
of Turkey’s image and hospitality, Bardakoglu said that resolving
isolated problems mentioned by the pope "required discussion."

>>From the outset, it was clear that Benedict’s high-profile visit to
Turkey had the potential to go beyond its related goals of Christian
ecumenism and dialogue with Muslims. In effect, the pope’s modest but
repeated comments on religious freedom last week further dramatized
the Vatican’s campaign for "reciprocity" between majority Muslim and
Christian nations.

Advancing Solutions

In a clear statement the day Benedict arrived, Archbishop Demetrios
of America declared to an Istanbul press conference, "It is hoped,
if not expected, that the meeting between Pope Benedict and Patriarch
Bartholomew will advance the proper solution" to unresolved issues
for local Greek Orthodox Christians.

Archbishop Demetrios cited recognition of Bartholomew’s title as
"Ecumenical" Patriarch, full legal church status, the return of
government-confiscated church properties and opening of the Orthodox
seminary as major problems to be addressed with Turkish authorities.

Thus it was no surprise that Benedict specifically included the issue
of religious freedom in almost every public statement he made.

In so doing, he raised the bar of international awareness and scrutiny
of Turkey’s unresolved issues with its non-Muslim religious minorities.

The Catholic leader’s observations also made it into the Turkish media,
which rarely gives significant or balanced coverage to incidents of
discrimination or violence against Turkey’s tiny Christian minorities.

Sharing a public exchange of dialogue with Bardakoglu on November 28,
his first day in Ankara, the pontiff declared : "Freedom of religion,
institutionally guaranteed and effectively respected in practice,
both for individuals and communities, constitutes for all believers
the necessary condition for their loyal contribution to the building
up of society."

The following day, Benedict again touched on religious freedom and
minority rights during his homily outside the House of Mary, a tiny
stone church on the hill overlooking the ruins of ancient Ephesus.

Describing Turkey’s Christian community as "a small minority which
faces many challenges and difficulties daily," the pope noted that
local Catholics were still wounded by the tragic murder of Father
Andrea Santoro, an Italian priest killed last February while kneeling
in his church in the Turkish city of Trabzon.

Link to EU Guarantees

The joint declaration issued on Thursday (November 30) by the pope
and his host, Patriarch Bartholomew of the Greek Orthodox Church,
took an even stronger stance, declaring religious freedom "a witness
and guarantor of respect for all other freedoms" in the context of
European Union (EU) guarantees.

"In every step towards unification," the declaration noted,
"minorities must be protected, with their cultural traditions and the
distinguishing features of their religion." And while they acknowledged
that Europe must remain "open to other religions and their cultural
contributions," the two Christian leaders also called for a united
effort to "preserve Christian roots, traditions and values."

Later that same day, during a formal visit to Istanbul’s Armenian
Apostolic Patriarchate, Benedict made reference in his remarks to the
"Christian faith and witness of the Armenian people, transmitted from
generation to the next, often in very tragic circumstances such as
those experienced in the last century."

The Turkish government officially denies what it terms the "alleged
genocide" of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Today’s Armenian
community, which constitutes Turkey’s largest Christian minority,
faces ongoing restrictions preventing education of their clergy,
ownership of their centuries-old properties and legal church status.

In his final mass celebrated on Friday (December 1) in Istanbul’s
Church of the Holy Spirit, Benedict stressed that "the church wishes
to impose nothing on anyone…she merely asks to live in freedom."

Even today, during his general audience at the Vatican, the pontiff
continued the theme : "The distinction between civil and religious
spheres constitutes a principle, and the [Turkish] state should
guarantee effective religious freedom. Christians and Muslims should
collaborate together on issues like justice, peace and life."

Pope ‘Seriously Misinformed’

As a government-appointed bureaucrat, Bardakoglu clearly had
anticipated some discussion of Turkey’s treatment of its non-Muslim
religious minorities during the papal visit.

"If the pope says Christians in Turkey are mistreated, I will tell him
that he has been seriously misinformed," Bardakoglu told Reuters in
an interview published November 24, four days before Benedict arrived.

Sidestepping the rights of Turkey’s Christian citizens, Bardakoglu
instead cited his government’s support for places of worship for
expatriates living and working in Turkey, according to Reuters.

The EU has identified religious freedom reforms as one of four
key issues Turkey must resolve in its negotiations to obtain EU
membership status.

Statistically, Turkey has fewer than 100,000 Christian citizens. Most
Christians in Turkey are members of the ancient Armenian, Greek and
Syriac communities, in addition to an undetermined number worshipping
in small Catholic and Protestant congregations across the country.

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