Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Armenia’s destination: Europe via the Baltics
by Gary Peach
Baltic Times, Latvia
Nov 24 2004
Vartan Oskanian
– born in Aleppo, Syria, 1955
– B.S. in structural engineering, Yerevan Polytechnic Institute, 1979
– M.S. in structural engineering, Tufts University, 1983
– M.A. in government studies, Harvard University, 1986
– M.A. from Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, 1991
– founder of Armenian International Magazine, 1990
– employed with Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1992
– minister of foreign affairs, 1998 to present
– gave up U.S. citizenship to become minister, 1998
– fluent in Armenian, English, Arabic, working knowledge of French,
Russian, Turkish
Ever since European Union accession, the Baltics have become a model
for other former republics of the Soviet Union, striving to join the
West in economic integration. The three countries of the south
Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia – are certainly the most
eager in this regard. In recent months there has been talk of an
intensive program, dubbed “3 + 3,” that would help propel these
countries along the Baltic path of accomplishments.
Contact between the countries has certainly increased, with Georgian
President Mikhail Saakashvili touring the Baltics last month and
Estonian President Arnold Ruutel visiting Armenia last week. In
connection with the latter, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
met with The Baltic Times in Yerevan this month to talk about
integration, Nagorno-Karabagh, the extensive Armenia diaspora, and
Turkey.
What specifically would the Republic of Armenia like to get out of
these contacts with the Baltic states?
First of all, we would like to resuscitate our traditionally good
bilateral ties. There are a lot of ways Armenia can benefit from
[ties with] the three Baltic countries and the Baltic states from
Armenia. For example, one of the areas in which we work closely with
Estonia is information technology. Armenia has been a beneficiary of
the Baltic experience and the progress that Estonia has made. Three
expert teams have visited Estonia, and we’ve duplicated some of the
things that they’ve done there in Armenia.
There’s also the issue of the Baltics’ experience with the European
Union, and the process that they’ve been through. I think that could
be exemplary for Armenia in that they have crossed this path. Armenia
is moving in this direction, so there is a lot that we can learn.
There’s also an interest to establish links between the three
Caucasus states and the three Baltic states. There are a lot of
similarities, including our past and our present – in terms of size,
population, and the vision for the future. And there’s talk now that
we should establish links between the two regions – the “3 + 3” type
of thing.
Baltic politicians are very interested in sharing their experiences
with the Caucasus countries. This presumes, though, that Armenia is
interested in a strategic relationship with the EU if not membership
in itself. Is that what you’re after?
Absolutely. We’ve clearly stated, in no uncertain terms, that Armenia
wants to be a member of the European Union. We can set a date – the
sooner the better – [and] we’re moving in that direction now. There’s
no doubt about it. That’s why we think that our cooperation with the
Baltic states and countries that just joined the European Union will
be beneficial.
Today we are a member of the New Neighborhood initiative. I think
this has introduced a new quality in our relationship with the
European Union. What will be next is difficult to predict at the
moment, but we would like to see the processes accelerated.
As you know, membership in the EU entails a certain loss of
sovereignty, which Armenia, with its policy of “complementarity” –
get what you can from whom you can – holds dear.
Well, the circumstances will change. Armenia now will be different
from Armenia, say, in 15 – 20 years. The world will change by then.
And if the loss of sovereignty is good for France and the United
Kingdom, it should be good for Armenia and the rest of us. So that
issue does not concern us. Our goal now is to become as integrated as
possible in European structures, because we think that it is a
ready-made blueprint for Armenia’s development, and we would like to
adopt it.
In terms of security, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
was just here (Nov. 5). Is Armenia after membership in the alliance
as well, or are security arrangements a bit different?
Actually, security arrangements are a little bit different. If we say
today that we are eying membership in the European Union, in the case
of NATO, given the circumstances, we’re not saying [that]. At this
moment NATO membership is not on our foreign policy agenda. But given
the broadening, more inclusive obligations with NATO, it is on our
agenda, and I think we’re making headway in that direction.
Our cooperation with NATO now is very extensive. We became a member
of IPAP – Individual Partnership Action Plan – we’re developing that
plan now, and once that is finalized it will provide a new quality to
our relations with NATO.
What is Armenia trying to achieve right now vis-a-vis
Nagorno-Karabagh? Is it recognition of independent status or conflict
resolution? Or do the two go hand-in-hand?
What we’re after is to reach recognition among the international
community for Nagorno-Karabagh people’s right to self-determination.
And we are also after a comprehensive resolution to this conflict. In
other words, we’re in search of long-term peace and stability in this
region. Without the self-determination of the people of
Nagorno-Karabagh, without a comprehensive resolution to the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, we cannot achieve long-term peace and
stability in the Caucasus.
That’s our goal, and we’re working in that direction. But we
understand that to achieve this goal, we’ve got to show a lot of
flexibility in the negotiations, and we’ve got to be prepared to make
compromises on all sorts of issues.
But why hasn’t Armenia been very successful in getting that
recognition for Nagorno-Karabagh over the past 10 years?
It’s not an easy thing to do. I don’t know if you can provide
alternative examples where the international community has recognized
other people’s rights for self-determination within a nation. There
are one or two that work in our favor – that is, East Timor. That’s
why we’ve been saying that the overall trend [of conflict resolution]
now is in that direction. Especially in the case of Nagorno-Karabagh:
the legal and historic substantiation of their right to
self-determination is so strong that it cannot be denied.
Yes, they are very strong. And in that sense does Armenia feel
disappointed in the international community, which is more interested
in Azerbaijani oil than in rectifying the injustice of decrees by
Lenin and Stalin in the 1920s, which essentially gave
Nagorno-Karabagh to Azerbaijan – a country that did not exist before
WWI?
To be fair to the international community, and in particular the
mediators – France, Russia and the United States, as well as the
Minsk Group of the OSCE – I should say that they’ve managed to hold a
balanced approach and to adapt an even-handed policy. I don’t think
anyone has favored Azerbaijan because of its oil. The one thing they
haven’t done – they haven’t been assertive in forcing their views and
draft proposals that they put forward on Azerbaijan. For example,
there have been different proposals that Armenia has accepted and
Azerbaijan rejected. The international community and the Minsk Group
co-chairs have not been forceful in impressing that upon Azerbaijan,
because their thinking is that we cannot force peace or a solution
onto one side or another. This would have to be a mutually accepted
peace, providing us with long-term stability in the region.
So in that sense I think they’ve done a good job. There are no
disappointments. Our disappointment comes from the Azerbaijani side.
We’ve been so close several times to a resolution, but they have
backtracked from the very principles that they agreed to. Now with
the new leadership in Azerbaijan things have become even more
difficult because of attempts to roll back everything that their
predecessor [former Azerbaijani President Heidar Aliev – ed.] had
done, and the successes we have achieved. But we’ve got to keep
working on it to reach a solution.
About the Armenian diaspora – it is very large [approximately two
times Armenia’s population – ed.], wealthy and has given much money
to the country over the past 13 years since independence. What role
does the diaspora play in the formation of foreign policy?
Our diaspora, of course, has been very helpful over the past 10 – 12
years, but not to the extent that we expected – potentially much
bigger than the size of the contribution that they’ve made. And we’ve
seen an increase in their involvement in Armenia’s economic
development. As our economy continues to do better there is more
interest in our diaspora.
With regard to the diaspora’s impact on our foreign policy
formulation, well, I wouldn’t say there’s a direct effect, but we do
consider public opinion – both here domestically and among the
diaspora. And not always do [the two] match. But we take into
consideration not only their views on different foreign policy
matters, but also the impact of our actions on Armenian diaspora
communities throughout the world. So it’s a two-way consideration:
one is to hear their views, and [the second] to consider what impact
our policies will have on our diaspora communities.
The European Commission recently recommended that the EU begin
accession talks with Turkey. However, during [former EC President]
Romano Prodi and [former Commissioner for Enlargement] Geunter
Ver-heugen’s report to the European Parliament in October, nothing
substantial was mentioned about the genocide of 1915. Here we have a
state of almost 70 million that wants to join a group of civilized
countries but denies that the genocide took place. What does Armenia
think of this, and is Armenia working with its friends in the EU to
somehow get Turkey to acknowledge this genocide?
It’s not only the genocide that is an issue but the border between
Turkey and Armenia as well. I think this is an issue that should
concern the European Union. Basically, they’re beginning accession
talks with a country that has closed borders with a member of the New
Neighborhood policy and a state with which Brussels has good
relations. How those two positions will be reconciled is difficult to
tell. We hope that this issue will come up at the summit on Dec. 17,
and that the EU will directly tell Turkey that they have to open the
border with Armenia because there is no reason to have that border
closed.
We expressed our opinion when Brussels decided to begin accession
talks with Turkey. We expressed our concern that this was a political
decision, because Turkey has criminalized the use of the term
genocide in its penal code, and because they still have their border
with Armenia closed.
Brussels wants to have open borders and good relations with all
neighboring countries, particularly those that are part of the New
Neighborhood initiative. I hope the EU will make that view more
forceful and clear to Turkey.
What, in your opinion, is preventing more nations from recognizing
the genocide, such as the United States, the United Kingdom –
countries that know what happened in 1915?
Deep down, I think, all these countries are aware that genocide was
committed, but because there is such huge opposition from Turkey, and
given bilateral ties with the country, these states are looking at
this issue from a political angle. Otherwise, as we talk to them
privately, it is clear that they don’t lack any evidence [that the
genocide took place]. It is more political expediency than a moral
judgment.
Interview by Gary Peach

Hungarian court adjourns Azeri officer’s murder trial until February 2005
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
23 Nov 04
Presenter The trial of Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov who
is charged with murdering an Armenian officer started in Budapest
today. Our officer has rejected the preliminary testimony given during
the investigation.
Reporter over Safarov’s still pictures, footage of Budapest Azerbaijani
officer Ramil Safarov, who stood trial in the Hungarian capital
of Budapest today, rejected his testimony given to the preliminary
investigation. Azerbaijani lawyer Adil Ismayilov who is observing the
trial has told ATV that although Ramil Safarov has changed some details
in his preliminary testimony, he has confessed to committing the crime.
Passage omitted: lawyer says there were language problems
In the second half of the day, the prosecution summoned Armenian and
Hungarian officers to the trial as witnesses.
Passage omitted: lawyer gives names of the officers
The lawyer said that the witnesses also confirmed that Ramil Safarov
had murdered the Armenian officer. The defence then asked the court to
summon two more witnesses, an Azerbaijani and a Lithuanian officers
who studied together with Ramil Safarov. The court adjourned the
trial until 8 February 2005 in order to summon the witnesses.

Media Monitors Network
Nov 18 2004

Jewish Leadership Fuels Open War
by Jafar Syed
“Why the common enemy of Christian and Muslims wants an open war
between them? It is a topic that needs an in-depth analysis. Remember
one hint – `dual containment.’ If Christians and Muslim cut each
other throat, who will gain?”
`Koran’ is a Mein Kampf of war.”
— Winston Churchill
`Koran’ is a deadly doctrine.”
— Fouad Ajami, John Hpokins University
Anti-American and Anti-Muslim forces have been pursuing a two-pronged
strategy to wide the gulf between America and the Muslim World. They
are prompting the American leadership to declare an open war against
the entire Muslim World. To justify this war, they are painting the
Muslim World as the No. 1 enemy of America. By pretending to side
with America in this `terror war,’ these anti-American and
anti-Muslim forces give the impression that they are the most
patriotic segment of American society. In reality, they are the No. 1
enemy of America. Because in this `terror war,’ there will be no
winner. American Century will be buried alongside the destroyed
Muslim World. This is what they want. Why? To be discussed later.
There is a community of interests between the anti-American and
anti-Muslim forces and the anti- American and anti-Muslim media. So
it is not surprising that the that the anti-American and anti-Muslim
media does not feel any reservation when it fans hate between America
and the Muslim World. It does not feel any reservation in spreading
highly toxic opinions and statements.
Anti-America and anti-Muslim forces are not happy with the present
conduct of `terror war.’ They are not even happy with the slogans
under which this `terror war’ is waged. In their view, `terror war’
under the slogans of axis of evil, international terrorism, and
militant Islam do not define the enemy correctly. They demand from
the Bush administration to confess and declare that this war is a
clash of civilization.
`Impelled by 9/11, President George W. Bush told the American people,
we are at war, at war with an axis of evil. Mr. Bush defined the
enemy as international terrorism. Given this amorphous enemy,
America’s war aims are equally amorphous. However, since the recent
9/11 commission, Mr. Bush has defined the enemy as militant Islam – a
tautology made current by Daniel Pipes. Unfortunately, the war
symbolized by 9/11 is even more monumental: it is nothing less than a
clash of civilization as eminent scholars like Bernard Lewis and
Samuel Huntington have shown, and, in the case of Islam, a
civilization animated by a world religion.’ — Professor Paul
Eidelber, The Jewish Press Magazine, 10.22.04
These anti-American and anti-Muslims forces demand from Bush
administration to confess and declare that this militant Islam is
real Islam. Confess and declare that `Koran’ is a `deadly doctrine.’
Confess and declare, `Koran is the Mein Kampf of war.’
`If American war aims are to be sound, Washington policy-makers must
understand that `militant Islam’ is Islam pure and simple. The heart
of Islam is the Koran, which the renowned Fauad Ajami of John Hpokins
University refers to as a `deadly doctrine,’ and which Winston
Churchill describes as the Mein Kampf of War. America and Islam are
indeed engaged in a clash of civilization, which virtually every
Muslim writer would admit.’ — Professor Paul Eidelber, The Jewish
Press Magazine, 10.22.04).
These anti-American and anti-Muslims forces demand from Bush
administration to confess and declare that Muslim `moderates’ are as
deadly as `the fundamentalist’ are and they are also irrelevant in
the Muslim World.
`To compound the confusion, pundits focus the hopes of Americans on
Muslim `moderates,’ as if this minute fraction is strategically
relevant in Islam’s global war against `infidels.’ The fact that
Muslim `moderates’ advocate the destruction of Israel, America’s only
reliable ally in the Middle East, should caution us about the depth
or reliability of their moderation.’ — Professor Paul Eidelberg, The
Jewish Press Magazine, 10.22.04
These anti-American and anti-Muslims forces demand from Bush
administration to confess and declare that the religion of 1.2
billion Muslim is evil. Confess and declare that Muslims do not
believe that anything is common in Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
`The conflict between liberal democracy and Nazism was a conflict
between good and evil. The U.S. is loath to refer to its conflict
with Islam in such terms. No one can feel comfortable calling the
religion of 1.2 billion people `evil.’ Islam is commonly regarded as
a monotheistic faith having much in common with Judaism and
Christianity. This is NOT the way adherents of the Koran regarded
Judaism and Christianity!’ — Professor Paul Eidelberg, The Jewish
Press Magazine, 10.22.04)
These anti-American and anti-Muslim forces demand from Bush
administration to confess and declare that the Islamic Jihad is the
root cause of `terror.’ Confess and declare that U.S. main objective
is to eliminate the murderous ethos of Islamic Jihad. Confess and
declare that Jihad is evil. Confess and declare that Islam is an
enemy of peace and civilized society.
`To formulate war aims appropriate to Islam, the U.S. must identify
the root cause of the conflict, Islam’s Jihadic ethos – its bellicose
and contemptuous hatred of non-Muslim. It must be the remitting
objective of the U.S. to eliminate or radically alter this murderous
ethos. Jihadism must be condemned as evil, and so long Islam
propagates this ethos, Islam must be denounced as the enemy of peace
and of civilized society.’ — Professor Paul Eidelberg, The Jewish
Press Magazine, 10.22.04
Professor Paul Eidelberg also recommends a course of action, which
the America should adopt.
`The U.S. should issue a declaratory policy having the following
elements: (1) The U.S. will regard as a belligerent any Islamic
states that support or harbors terrorists. (2) The U.S. will regard
any Islamic state that encourages its people to hate and kill
non-Muslims as racist, and will take action to have that state banned
from the United States. (3) The U.S. will proclaim that the bellicose
concept of Jihad contradicts the UN Charter as well as the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, which prescribes `tolerance and
friendship among all nations, racial, or religious groups.’
Accordingly, the U.S. will regard public renunciation of Jihad as the
litmus test of whether a Muslim state is sincerely committed to peace
and worthy of diplomatic relations.’ — Professor Paul Eidelberg, The
Jewish Press Magazine, 10.22.04
Professor Paul Eidleberg blames the Bush administration for avoiding
the right conclusions, which are set by Professor. This is the reason
there is a confusion among the Americans about the war in Iraq.
`The Bush administration avoids this conclusion, which is why it has
failed to formulate, with any precision, America’s war aims.
Americans are therefore confused. They are divided over the war in
Iraq and about U.S. policy in the Middle East. The world’s only
superpower flounders, intellectually and militarily unprepared to
confront its ill-defined, ubiquitous enemy.’ — Professor Paul
Eidelberg, The Jewish Press Magazine, 10.22. 04
Professor Paul Eidleberg also advises the Bush administration to
forget `democratization’ of the Muslim World.
`The war aims of the United States should not include wholesale
democratization of Islamdom – an impractical and, in many countries,
an undesirable objective. In such countries, constitutionally
monarchy is preferable. The political objective is to rid Islam of
tyranny. The moral objective is to rid Islam of its jihadic ethos. In
pursuing these objectives, the U.S. will require the cooperation of
other nations. Such cooperation will be more forthcoming if American
war aims are clearly articulated, tenaciously pursued, with
consistency and more integrity.’ — Professor Paul Eidelberg, The
Jewish Press Magazine, 10.22.04
Paul Eidelberg chided his own fellow-traveler, anti-America and
anti-Muslim World, Mr. Pipe for separating `militant Islam’ from
`real Islam.’ For Prof. Eidelberg both are the same. He reminded Mr.
Pipe what he himself perceived in his earlier venomous spit.
`However, much institutions, attitudes, and customs have changed, the
Muslim approach to politics derives from invariant premises of the
religion and from fundamental theme established more than a
millennium ago.’ — In the Path of God: Islam and Political Power
quoted by Prof. Eidelberg, The Jewish Magazine, October 22, 2004)
Prof. Eidelberg also warns the Americans that this `terror war’ will
end in the destruction of one of the `warring party’ as happened in
Second World War.
`The current clash of civilization will eventually result in the
ascendancy of one and the decline of the other, as was the case in
the less encompassing conflict between liberal democracy and Nazi
Germany – a conflict that did not involve a world religion. But it is
precisely because Islam is a world religion that the U.S., the
champion of tolerance and pluralism, finds it so difficult to
identify its enemy.’ — Prof. Eidelberg, The Jewish Magazine, October
22, 2004).
Prof. Eidelberg is not alone in this incessant hate campaign to widen
the gulf between America and the Muslim World. All common enemies of
America and the Muslim World want an open war between the two. These
common enemies are worried that American leadership might not open a
new front against the Muslim World after the occupation of
Afghanistan and Iraq. Read what the anti- Americans anti-Muslims
Forward suggests to the Bush administration in its first weekly
publications after Nov. 2, 2004. Destroy and occupy Iran – this is
the first message from the Forward.
`Fresh off of victory, President Bush will face a major test in the
coming weeks on the multilateral approach he has adopted toward
Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. Even as Washington is
backing European efforts to pressure Tehran, the newly re-elected
president is looking to the United Nations Security Council to pick
up the lead on thwarting Iranian Nuclear aspiration.’ — Marc
Perelman, Forward, November 5, 2004)
The caption of the article is `Re-elect Bush Faces Benchmark Test On
Iranian Nukes Policy. Multilateral Approach at Stake)
Professor Louis Rene Beres, professor of International Law,
Department of political science, Purdue University, is suggesting
something else.
`International law is not a suicide pact. As Iranian nuclearization
heats up to a point of no return, Israel’s leaders will soon have to
make vitally important decisions on launching defensive first
strikes. Faced with an existentially hostile regime in Tehran, these
leaders cannot now be expected to simply sit back and wait for the
regime to deploy atomic weapons. Less than half the size of Lake
Michigan, Israel’s `wiggle room’ in strategic survival matters is
profoundly limited.’ — The Jewish Press Magazine, October 22, 2004)
The title of the article is `Israel, Iran and Preemptive Attack
Striking First Under International Law.’
Prof. Beres does not give Iran the same right of preemptive attack as
he gives `wiggle room’ state called Jewish state. Perhaps the right
of preemptive attack is `divine right’ given only to the `chosen
leadership’
Second, Prof. Beres is sending a clear message to the re-elect Bush.
If you don’t do it, Israel will.
Besides Iran, anti-American and anti-Muslim agenda setter Prof. Beres
is not happy with the Bush administration and Sen. Kerry for not
declaring an open war against Islam.
`Neither President Bush nor Senator Kerry addressed an absolutely key
issues of current American foreign policy in the opening debate. Are
we now involved in a largely operational struggle against very
particular terror group and individuals, or -rather – are we
embroiled in something much larger? Should we now be focusing on
political, military and logistical issues (the position of both
candidates) or upon the much wider religious and cultural context
from which our principal terror enemies are spawned?” — Prof. Louis
Rene Beres, The Jewish Press Magazine, October 15, 2002.
The title of the article is `After the first great debate: a war on
terror or a clash of civilization? This crucial point was missed in
the first presidential debate.’
Prof. Beres reminds the U.S. leadership that its `political
correctness’ has political consequences. It should stop playing soft
balls. It should confess and declare that Islam is against all major
`religions’ of the world, including Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
`The answers are important, as they will determine what security
measures we choose to adopt. And, if we can finally ignore the
constraints imposed by considerations of political correctness, these
answers are plain and incontestable. The roots of current and
still-impending anti-American terror lie deeply embedded in
civilizational hostility, in a partial but widespread Arab/Islamic
hatred for Western values and post-Enlightenment modernity. This
constructed and codified hatred extends to other major religions,
primarily Judaism, but also to certain parts of Christianity,
Hinduism, and Buddhism.’ — Prof. Beres, The Jewish Press Magazine,
October 15, 2004)
Prof. Beres reminds the Americans and the Europeans that they should
awake up to the `gathering threats’ of mass killings with
unconventional weapons. Prof. wants the Bush administration to
confess and declare that the `terror war’ is `authentic clash of
civilization.’
`The unvarnished truth of the terrorist threat to the United States
and the West remains widely misunderstood. We face suicidal mass
killings with unconventional weapons in the future not because there
exists a small number of pathological terrorists murderers, but
because we are embroiled – however unwittingly – in an authentic
clash of civilization. While we all wish it weren’t so, wishing will
get us nowhere. Our only hope is to acknowledge the relentlessly
bitter source of existential danger, and proceed to fight the real
war on terror from there.’ — Prof. Beres, The Jewish Press Magazine,
October 15, 2004)
Note these anti-Americans and anti-Muslims forces do not target only
the Muslim World. Nobody on this earth is save from their
demonization – including the United States.
`The dissolution of the Jewish state has been the goal of the members
of the so-called `quartet,’ the anti-Israel U.S. State Department,
the anti-Semitic E.U. (European Union), the hostile U.N. (United
Nations) and Russia, whose history of anti-Jewish pogroms are
legendry.” — Emanuel Winston, Middle East Analyst and Commentator,
The Jewish Press Magazine, October 22, 2004.
The world is told again and again that America is `blessed’ with
`freedom of speech’. It is emphasized that `freedom of speech’ should
be the norm of the world. Then why the only `chosen leadership’ is
privileged to exercise the right of speech right? Then why anybody in
the entire world is not free to exercise this right by criticizing
the outrageous acts of this `chosen leadership?’ Then why the `chosen
leadership’ is free to demonize the religion of a community but
National Front MEP Bruno Collnisch is not free to question `gas
chambers’ existence.
`I am not questioning the existence of concentration camps … but on
the numbers of deaths, historians can discuss it. As to whether gas
chambers existed, that’s up to the historian to determine.’ — Philip
Carmel, Jewish Chronicle, October 22, 2004.
What price this French has to pay for these alleged remarks, watch
and see. He is disputing only a happening. Religion is a more
sensitive issue than a happening.
If the `chosen leadership’ is free to demonize a religion, then why
Jewish donors are threatening the Duke University in North Carolina
to face the music. Its alleged crime is:
“A major US university is coming under pressure from some Jewish
donors for allowing a pro-Palestinian conference that urged
divestment from Israel over its alleged apartheid policies. The
weekend conference, at Duke University in North Carolina, also heard
calls for an end to Israel as a Jewish state.’ — Janine Zacharia,
Jewish Chronicle, October 22, 2004.
The Duke administration is running for a shelter and is begging for
mercy.
`The Duke administration said it was allowing the conference to take
place as part of its commitments to free speech.’ — Janine Zacharia,
Jewish Chronicle, October 22, 2004)
What price the Duke university has to pay for allowing the
student-run Palestine Solidarity Movement to have its meeting? Watch
and see. If the chosen leadership is free to patronize anti-Christian
movies like `last temptation’ and anti-Muslim books like `Satanic
Versus,’ then why Duke University cannot permit students to arrange a
meeting. Religions is more sensitive issue than a meeting that is not
liked by the `chosen leadership.’
If the `chosen leadership’ is free to demonize a religion, why then
eBay is forced to take off sale on eBay under the pressure of the
`chosen leadership.’ Religion is more sensitive issue than writing
about the `supremacism’ of a race.
`An anti-semitic book has been taken off sale on eBay after the
site’s management was told of its inclusion by the JC – but hundreds
of items linked to race-hate can still be found. The book – Jewish
Supremacism, by former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke – was
discovered by JC reader David Marsh after searching the site for
items linked to the word, Jewish. An eBay spokeswoman said that
offending item had been removed. But she added that sellers who
repeatedly breach eBay policies would be suspended, either for a
certain period or permanently, depending on the severity of the
offence. We have a team of people checking out items that should not
be listed. However, a search on the site for a leading skinhead punk
band turned up 215 items. eBay’s policies forbid the use of racist
language and also the listing of items promoting hatred or racial
intolerance.’ — Rachel Fletcher and Mark Scodie, Jewish Chronicle,
October 22, 2004
Christians and Muslims should band together to force eBay to take
away all the material written against Christianity and Islam. It
should be in hundreds.
If the `chosen leadership’ is free to demonize a religion, then why
an American boxing promoter is dragged to the court for making
alleged anti-Semitic remarks. And guess who is the boxing promoter?
He is world-known Don King. He claims that he has been fighting
racism and bigotry all his life. Religion is more sensitive issue
than alleged anti- Semitic remarks.
`American boxing promoter Don King has won the latest round in his
long-running fight to clear his name against allegations of
anti-Semitism. Judd Burstein – the American Jewish lawyer who made
the allegation – failed this week in a second attempt to have the
case move from the High Court in London to a U.S. court. The Court of
Appeal upheld the decision made by a judge in January. Mr. Burstein
now must either lodge a defence on the action or apologize.’ — Leon
Symons, Jewish Chronicle, October 22, 2004
If the `chosen leadership’ is free to demonize a religion, why then
protest against a College yearbook for anti-Semitic remarks? Religion
is more sensitive issue than anti-Semitic remarks in a college
yearbook.
`Jewish Council for Racial Equality director Dr Edie Friedman has
called for more anti-racism education in schools in light of the
furore over a Winchester College yearbook which included anti-Semitic
and other racist remarks. In the un official annual publications, a
Jewish boy was referred to as `Yeider,’ `Jew’ and `lesser Being’ by
other pupils. The head-teacher at the L22, 000 a-year boys’ school,
Tommy Cookson, condemned the comments, stressing that no
discrimination of any sort is tolerated. As soon as the offending
passages came to the attention of the school, we made every effort to
seize all copies, he said.’ — Gaby Wine, Jewish Chronicle, October
22, 2004)
If the `chosen leadership’ is free to demonize a religion, why then
in France legal actions are recommended for radical anti-Zionists?
Religion is more sensitive issue than anti-Zionism.
`A French government report this week attacked radical anti-Zionists,
saying they were anti-Semite by proxy, and suggested that
anti-Semitism and racism presented a real threat to French democracy.
In a 70-page document presented to Interior Minister Dominique de
Villepin on Tuesday, the report’s author, Jean Christophe Rupin,
called for increased legal action to fight anti-Semitism in Schools.
The report also proposed creating a national monitoring service to
compile details and statistics on anti-Semitism and racism. Mr. Rupin
also suggested combating radical anti-Zionists who were anti-Semitic
by proxy by passing a law, which would make comparison between Israel
and apartheid or Nazism illegal. The report was welcomed by Jewish
Organization.’ — Philip Carmel, Jewish Chronicle, October 22, 2004
Forget about French proposed measures to punish anti-Semite, note
what message this country of `free speech.’ is sending throughout the
world. Bush `our president’ has singed Global Anti-Semitism Review
Act of 2004.
`On October 16, President Bush signed the `Global Anti-Semitism
Review Act of 2004 (S.2292) into law … The bill requires the DOS to
submit a one-time report on acts of anti-Semitism around the world no
later than November 15. The report include a description of act of
violence, including physical violence, against Jews and Jewish
communities, and the responses of the governments where the acts of
violence occurred, as well as the action taken by those governments
to enact and enforce laws relating to the protection of the religious
freedom of Jewish people. The report also must describe efforts by
such governments to promote anti-bias and tolerance education.
Additionally, the report will include instances of propaganda in
government and nongovernmental media that attempt to justify or
promote racial hatred or incite acts of violence against Jews.
Further, due to amendments by the House, the legislation creates an
office to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism within the DOS that will
be headed by a Special Envoy and will be charged with responsibility
for monitoring and combating anti-Semitism in foreign countries as
well as coordinating and assisting in the preparation of the annual
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and the annual Report on
International Religious Freedom. The Secretary of State is required
to include a description of acts of violence annually as part of the
annual Report on International Religious Freedom and the annual
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices issued more than 180 days
after enactment. The description would mirror that contained in the
November 15, report.’ — Interpreter Releases, October 25, 2004)
If the `chosen leadership’ is free to demonize a religion, why then
it needs the protective umbrella of U.S. government to silence those
voices how dare to expose its worldwide domination.
Why President Bush does not include in the annual report Jewish state
where missionaries are treated like enemies and hatred is spread
against them.
`We Jews have always believed that there is no price you can put on a
Jewish soul. But that belief is being tested in Israel, where there
is an urgent need to combat thousands of missionaries backed by tens
of millions of dollars in international funding. At Yad L’Achim we
work around the clock to bring Jews back from Christianity, Islam,
and the religions of the East. We are rescuing those who have joined
cults and have been brainwashed against their own people. And once
they return and are beginning the long road to recovery, we teach
them what real Judaism is all about. Your support will make a
difference in Yad L’Achim’s fight to keep Israel Jewish.’ — How Much
is a Jewish Life Worth. Yad L’Achim pamphlet distributed by Jewish
newspapers)
Why `our’ President Bush does not include in the annual report the
Jewish state where Christian leadership and Christians are spitted
upon by the `religious’ students.
`It has been Jerusalem’s dirty little secret for decades: Orthodox
yeshiva students and other Jewish residents vandalizing churches and
spitting on Christian clergyman as they walk along the narrow,
ancient stone street of the Old City. Now, however, following a
highly publicized fracas last week between a yeshiva student and the
archbishop of Jerusalem’s Armenian Church, the issue is generating
unprecedented media attention in Israel. The fight started after a
yeshiva student at the respected Har Hamor Yeshiva spat on Archbishop
Nourhan Manougian during a Christian hold procession in the Old
City.’ — Eric J. Greenberg, Forward, October 22, 2004
Are these religious students alone in this spitting tradition? No.
American `religious’ students travels to Israel to join their
spitting brothers.
`The controversy comes as the Israel government and Diaspora Jewish
organizations have been viewed for this article suggested that the
abusive practices were more common in the ultra-Orthodox or Haredi
community, which is characterized by greater insularity. But sources
told the Forward that the practice has recently been picked up by
other segment of the Orthodox world, including visiting American
yeshiva students.’ — Eric J. Greenberg, Forward, October 22, 2004
Is only the Armenian clergy the target of the spiting tradition? No.
It is not alone.
`This is not happening only to the Armenian clergy but also to
Catholics, Syrians, Romanians and Greek Orthodox.’ — Eric J.
Greenberg, Forward, October 22, 2004)
The simple answer is there is one standard for the `chosen
leadership’ and there is another standard for the rest of the world.
President Bush cannot establish a center in the State Department that
will monitor anti-Christianity and anti-Islam activities by the
`chosen leadership.’ If he does, he will be a political corpse within
seconds.
The above quoted excerpts prove so many facts. Some of them are: The
common enemy of Americans and the Muslims gets whatever it wants.
Second, common enemy has the power to silence any voice that dare to
challenge its domination over the entire world. Third, it knows no
limits in its hate-campaign. It does not spare even religions.
As the Muslims leadership is concerned, it can quote these excerpts
when they are cornered by the talking heads of the electronic media
for spreading hate.
Why the common enemy of Christian and Muslims wants an open war
between them? It is a topic that needs an in-depth analysis. Remember
one hint – `dual containment.’ If Christians and Muslim cut each
other throat, who will gain?
Another point. In the common enemy’s history, there is more hate
against Christianity and Christians than Islam and Muslims? It is for
the Christians and Muslims to unearth it and to show the real face of
the common enemy to prove that it wants to destroy Christian and
Muslims world by `supporting’ one against the other -dual
containment.

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
17 Nov 04
Armenian, German presidents discuss economic ties
Yerevan, 18 November: German President Horst Koehler today said that
his country was ready to continue to facilitate political and
economic reforms in Armenia.
Horst Koehler said this at a meeting with Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan who is on a working visit to Germany, a Mediamax special
correspondent reports from Berlin.
The president noted that Germany’s readiness was mainly conditioned
by the fact that reforms in Armenia were yielding concrete results.
Koehler recalled that the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development headed by Germany and the International Monetary Fund had
noted the economic progress achieved in Armenia. At the same time, he
noted that the Armenian government should win the highest public
confidence in the reforms that are being conducted.
Horst Koehler said that the assistance programmes carried out by
Germany in Armenia also facilitated political and economic stability
in the South Caucasus as a whole.
In turn, Robert Kocharyan said that Armenian-German relations were
developing dynamically. He thanked Horst Koehler for technical
assistance rendered to Armenia, particularly stressing cooperation in
the field of energy, water supplies and the industrial
infrastructure, as well as a programme to support small and
medium-sized businesses in Armenia sponsored by Germany’s KfW bank.
Robert Kocharyan noted that at the moment, the Armenian government
and the KfW bank were discussing a new project aimed at developing
the mortgage market.
The Armenian president also noted with satisfaction private German
investors’ growing interest in the Armenian economy. He said that
German investment played quite an important role in the field of
information technologies and mining. Robert Kocharyan said that new
investment programmes involving German capital were expected to be
launched soon.

ArmenPress
Nov 17 2004
FRENCH ARMENIANS TO DEMAND VOTE ON TURKEY’S EU ACCESSION
PARIS, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: French-Armenians will hold a rally
Wednesday at the Palais Bourbon, home to the French National
Assembly, to demand that the country’s Parliament vote on Turkey’s
accession to the European Union. The rally has the support of the
French-Armenian Coordinating Council and is being organized by the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), the Armenian Democratic
League (Ramkavar party), and the Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) Committee
of France.
ARF press office said the National Assembly on October 14 had
discussed the issue of Turkish accession–but did not hold a vote,
despite the demand of a large number of political parties and
parliamentarians to do so. The French government, particularly
President Jacques Chirac, opposed such a vote, fearing that a
majority of the Assembly, including Chirac’s own party members, might
reject Turkish accession. That result would have undermined Chirac’s
authority and likely isolated France within Europe.
The French-Armenian rally on Wednesday is scheduled for exactly a
month before the European Union’s December 17 summit, which will set
the date on when the EU would begin formal accession talks with
Turkey. At the rally, scores of French parliamentarians are expected
to cast symbolic votes as a sign of protest against the denial of
their right to vote in the National Assembly regarding Turkish
accession. They will also demand that in the next month a formal vote
actually be held in the Assembly.
The vast majority of French voters are opposed to Turkey’s
accession to the European Union, and rally organizers hope to put
pressure on President Chirac to heed public opinion. They are also
seeking to make Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian genocide a
precondition for Turkish entry into the EU.

Racing Post
November 17, 2004, Wednesday
FOOTBALL: 10-1 ARMENIA’S TASK MADE EASIER
by IAN COYNE
HILLS yesterday slashed Armenia to 9-2 from 7-1 to win their World
Cup qualifier against Romania today after Steaua Bucharest’s
Florentin Dumitru became the 13th player to withdraw from the
visitors’ squad.
Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu is expected to field an experimental
line-up including uncapped defenders Mihai Pascovici of Farul
Constanta and Lucian Goian of FCM Bacau, and midfielders Tiberiu
Balan of Sportul Studentesc and Ciprian Danciu of Otelul Galati.
Ladbrokes should see plenty of business for the home side in their
shops, as they are 10-1 Armenia on their coupons but only 7-1 for
internet and telephone clients.
Punters who backed Wrexham at 3-1 with Skybet to be relegated from
League One at the start of the season will be far happier than the
beleaguered north Wales outfit’s fans after the club applied to go
into administration in order to avoid a winding-up order from the
High Court.
Clubs in administration receive an automatic ten-point penalty from
the Football League, which would leave the Dragons second-bottom in
the standings. The club owe pounds 800,000 in unpaid taxes.
Steven Gerrard is expected to return to Liverpool’s midfield against
Middlesbrough on Saturday after playing the second half of a Reds
reserves game on Monday.
Gerrard, who broke a bone in his foot in the Merseysiders’ 2-1 defeat
against Manchester United on September 20, admitted he hopes to stay
injury-free for the remainder of the campaign.
Anyone who fancies backing Mexico at 1-100 to beat St Kitts and Nevis
can do so with Blue Square, who are betting on tonight’s Concacaf
World Cup qualifiers.
Blue Square – Concacaf World Cup qualifiers (kick -off time): 5-4
Honduras v 17-10 Costa Rica, 11-5 draw (11pm); 1-8 Trinidad & Tobago
v 11 St Vincent, 11-2 draw (11pm); 6-5 Panama v 7-4 El Salvador, 11-5
draw (12.30am); 2-7 USA v 7 Jamaica, 7-2 draw (1.15am); 1-100 Mexico
v 33 St Kitts & Nevis, 9 draw (2am).

KARABAKH PROBLEM SHOULD BE SETTLED WITHIN OSCE MG: ESTONIAN PRESIDENT
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16. ARMINFO. Estonian President Arnold Ruutel
advocates peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
During his today’s meeting with Yerevan State University professors
and students Ruutel was asked to comment on the statements by Estonian
MPs that the Karabakh conflict should be settled in compliance with
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. He said: “I cannot say for sure
what one or another Estonian MP might have said but I am convinced
that the problem should be settled peacefully in the framework of the
OSCE Minsk Group.”
Ruutel said that Estonia has not yet formed its position on Turkey’s
admission into the EU. He said that the Copenhagen principles should
be applied here. Concerning the acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide as a precondition for Turkey’s admission into the EU Ruutel
said that Estonia is guided by the EU general policy. “We are
convinced that it would be better to discuss what happened with the
Armenian people.”
To remind, Monday Ruutel visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial, laid
flowers and planted a fur-tree on the Alley of the Memory o the
Genocide Victims.

di-ve.com, Malta
Leo Brincat to attend Political Affairs meeting at the Council of
Europe
by Ronald Mizzi, di-ve news ([email protected])

VALLETTA, Malta (di-ve news)—November 16, 2004 – 1855CET–MLP main
spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Leo Brincat, today left for Paris to
attend a Political Affairs meeting of the Council of Europe. Above
all, the meeting will discuss proposals for a near future round-table
about the political situation in Chechnya.
The meeting will also discuss the Third Summit of the Council of
Europe that will be held next year marking the 60-year anniversary
since the end of the Second World War.
The summit coincides also with the 15-year anniversary since the
democratic transition in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the situation in the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, and the fight against totalitarianism, are
also on the agenda.
As from last October, Brincat started acting as a member of the
External Relations sub-committee of the Political Affairs Committee
within the Council of Europe. The Committee is responsible of
relations with countries that are not members of the Council and with
organizations such as the EU, UN and OSCE.

PRESS RELEASE
24 April Committee
for the recognition and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915
The 24 April Committee is an organ of the Federation of Armenian
Organisations in The Netherlands (FAON)
Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague
The Netherlands
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
Tel: +31-704490209
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Reasoning accompanying Article 305 of Turkish Penal Code adjusted
THE HAGUE, 10 November 2004 – In response to written questions of
Member of Parliament Van Baalen (VVD) Minister Bot of foreign affairs
of the Netherlands stated today that the explanation on Article 305
of the new Turkish Penal Code has been adapted.
The title of Article 305 is “Crimes against fundamental national
interests”. A document accompanying the Article as an explanatory
memorandum or ‘reasoning’ is established by the parliament during the
approval of the law. The ‘reasoning’ accompanying Article 305 provided
as illustration of such offences the acceptance of compensations
for propaganda for withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus, and for
claiming that in the aftermath of the World War I the Armenians were
subjected to Genocide.
Minister Bot noted that the text of the ‘reasoning’ was not in line
with the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the EU and the European
Convention on Human Rights of the Council of Europe. The ‘reasoning’
has been meanwhile adapted. This has happened, according to Mr. Bot,
under pressure of several circles, among which Turkish politicians,
lawyers and commentators. Also the EU frequently insisted to adapt
the text. Mr. Bot believes that the question has been settled.
See the original text of answers to the writen questions in Dutch at:
3X38547X09

Governator in action-packed best-selling debut
by Peter Alford
The Australian
November 10, 2004 Wednesday All-round Country Edition
Tokyo
Arnie launches his ‘buy California’ roadshow with its biggest investor,
Japan
HE’S baaack and, as always, he’s selling something. This time it’s
the world’s sixth (or fifth, depending on whose figures you believe)
biggest economy.
The Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, arrives in Tokyo today with
his first trade mission — 57 business people, farmers and state
officials — “to promote California as pro-business, pro-environment
and pro-workers”.
There’s characteristic calculation behind even that bluff
sloganeering. Schwarzenegger hopes to persuade Toyota to build a new
Prius plant in California, arguing his state is the biggest single
US market for the eco-friendly hybrid vehicle and any high-wage
disadvantage would be offset by skills and technology resources.
No one who’s followed Schwarzenegger’s career would be remotely
surprised he’s chosen Japan to road test the “buy California” pitch
he’ll take next year to China, Mexico and possibly Australia.
Firstly, there’s Japan’s importance to his state’s economy. Japan
is the biggest foreign investor in California, owning $US30 billion
($39.5 billion) of assets, a major source of foreign tourism and the
state’s second-largest foreign market, after Mexico.
But the $US11.7 billion of exports Japan bought last year are almost
30 per cent down on the high-water mark of $US16.4 billion in 2000,
before Japan’s most recent downturn and the slump in world demand for
Californian electronics and software. Secondly, Japan loves Arnie and
he reciprocates. Schwarzenegger made a point of accompanying each
of his new movies to Tokyo, the last occasion being the release of
Terminator3: Rise of the Machines 16 months ago, when his spiel was
interrupted by questions about whether or not he was stalking then
California governor Gray Davis, predator-style.
Schwarzenegger had collided with politics in Japan even earlier,
as an unwitting terminator of justice minister Shozaburo Nakamura’s
career. Nakamura was forced out in 1999 after first allowing the actor
into the country without a passport, then allegedly souveniring the
entry papers to impress his wife and daughter.
Schwarzenegger made a lot of money in Japan and not just at the box
office. His portfolio of Japanese television ads during the 1990s
— flogging energy drinks, pay-TV, noodles and beer — set a still
unmatched benchmark for wackiness (check some at www.jap ander.com)
and earned him about $US2 million per contract, which usually involved
two or three 15-second ads in a year.
But one thing the super-salesman won’t be visiting on this trip to
Tokyo is a trade office. At least 27 US states are represented in
Tokyo — along with most Australian states — but not California.
It used to be. But in the depths of the Davis administration’s
financial crisis last year, a Democrat-led push in the state
legislature shut California’s 12 overseas offices and removed the
governor’s powers to open new ones.
Oddly enough, the same lawmakers let through a privately funded trade
office in Armenia — possibly less of a tribute to Armenia’s economic
dynamism than to the considerable influence of Armenian-American
business people on the west coast. They then refused several other
bills proposing to reopen state offices on the same basis.
The Governator is not pleased to have had his wings clipped in
this way by the Sacramento girlie-men. Particularly since Democrat
lieutenant-governor Cruz Bustamante, a remnant of the Davis regime,
exploited a legislative loophole and his position as chairman of
the California Commission for Economic Development to open de facto
offices in Taiwan and Beijing.
But it’s doubtful any shopfront Bustamante happens to open can rival
Arnie’s selling powers, and certainly not in Japan. The big fella
put it best in his first State of the State address in January: “If
I can sell tickets to my movies like Red Sonja and Last Action Hero,
you know I can sell anything.”