Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

e=politicsNews&storyID=737144&section=news

Merkel stellt Türkei Bedingungen für EU-Verhandlungen
Freitag 27 Mai, 2005 08:08 CET

Hannover (Reuters) – Die CDU-Chefin und voraussichtliche
Unions-Kanzlerkandidatin Angela Merkel hat der Türkei Bedingungen
für die Aufnahme der vereinbarten Gespräche über einen
Beitritt zur Europäischen Union (EU) gestellt.

Für den Beginn der Gespräche am 3. Oktober sei festgelegt
worden, dass die Türkei bis dahin noch einige Dinge zu machen habe,
sagte Merkel am Donnerstag bei einer Podiumsdiskussion auf dem
Evangelischen Kirchentag in Hannover. Dazu gehöre die
Zypern-Frage. “Ich halte das für ein ziemlich inakzeptablen
Zustand, dass Zypern Mitglied der Europäischen Union ist, die
Türkei will es werden und gleichzeitig kommen die beiden nicht
zueinander.” Das müsse geklärt werden. Die Türkei macht eine
Anerkennung Zyperns, dessen griechisch-sprachiger Teil EU-Mitglied
ist, von einem Friedensabkommen für die Insel abhängig. Zypern
ist seit der türkischen Invasion von 1974 geteilt.

Merkel dringt auch auf eine Normalisierung der Beziehungen zwischen
der Türkei und Armenien: “Ich muss auch deutlich sagen, dass ich es
für veränderungswürdig halte, dass die Türkei mal
diplomatische Beziehungen zu Armenien aufnimmt.” Die Beziehungen
zwischen beiden Ländern sind angespannt, da die Türkei den
Volkermord an der armenischen Bevölkerung Anfang des vergangenen
Jahrhunderts leugnet. Auch mehrere EU-Länder haben gefordert, dass
die Türkei den Tod von etwa 1,5 Millionen Armeniern während des
Ersten Weltkriegs als Völkermord anerkennt.

Auch in der gesellschaftlichen Entwicklung sieht Merkel Defizite. Bei
der Rolle der Frau in der Türkei habe sie große
Fragezeichen. Das sei ein ganz ernstes Problem ist, jenseits von
irgendwelchen religiösen Wurzeln.

Merkel plädierte erneut für eine privilegierte Partnerschaft der
Türkei mit der EU. Eine Vollmitgliedschaft kommt aus ihrer Sicht in
absehbarer Zeit nicht in Frage. Vor dem Hintergrund der Erweiterung
der EU um osteuropäische Länder habe sie Zweifel, ob die Union
auch die Kraft habe, zusätzlich noch die Türkei zu integrieren.
Die Bundesregierung hatte im Gegensatz zur Union die Aufnahme der
Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der Türkei befürwortet. Bundeskanzler
Gerhard Schröder will, dass die Türkei in die EU aufgenommen
wird, wenn sie deren Bedingungen erfüllt.

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER: KEEPING LOCKED UP BORDERS WITH ARMENIA TURKEY
BLACKMAILS EU

STEPANAKERT, MAY 26. ARMINFO. Inactivity of Armenian-Turkish border
sorts a little with Karabakh problem, stated NKR Foreign Minister
Arman Melikyan in an interview to NKR Public Radio and TV Company.

“Serious geopolitical changes take place today in both the region and
the world, and, in my opinion, Turkey keeps the border locked up with
the aim to argue about an issue of its accession to the European
Union, thus, Turkey blackmails the EU. That is the base”, he noted.

Melikyan expressed an opinion that European diplomats realize it. “I
think, they put as a counterbalance the issue of recognizing Armenian
Genocide. i.e. Armenian problems are used as an instrument for solving
mutual problems: Turkey – the closeness of borders and Europeans – the
issue of recognizing Armenian Genocide”, he added.

Melikyan noted that, in these conditions, Armenian people should
defend their interests. “I think, the main interest for NKR people is
to reach country’s fully participation in international processes and
to change the country into a fully member of international community”,
he concluded. -r-

Press sees shortcoming in Ankara’s legal code

The Associated Press
Friday, May 27, 2005

ANKARA — The Turkish Parliament on Thursday began debating a revised
version of the country’s delayed penal code reform, amid criticism by
journalists who say the amendments do not go far enough toward
eliminating threats to press freedom.

The reforms are part of efforts by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
government to raise the country’s chances of joining the European Union.
But there are concerns that the government’s failure to address certain
shortfalls may jeopardize the its chances.

Parliament had been expected in March to approve the legislation, which
would revamp Turkey’s 79-year old code by improving women’s rights and
eliminating all reference to the death penalty, which was abolished in
2002. But the government delayed the vote until now to address fears
that the new code could threaten freedoms and result in prison terms for
journalists.

Critics, however, say the revised draft makes no significant
improvement, and that one change – making it a crime to humiliate state
institutions – would even bring harsher punishment. Journalists say the
new code needs further improvements. The code was to have taken effect
on June 1.

Erdogan’s government had made EU membership a top priority, but it has
been accused of flagging in the pace of reforms needed to join the bloc.
EU leaders have agreed to start membership negotiations with Turkey on
Oct. 3.

Critics say the draft penal code legislation contains vague language
that could make it easier to crack down on journalists and make it more
difficult to cover legal proceedings.

“We know that the days when Turkey will again be remembered as ‘the
world’s largest journalists’ prison’ are ahead of us,” wrote Oktay Eksi,
a columnist for Hurriyet newspaper.

Justice Minister Cemil Cicek defended the code, saying: “It may have
shortfalls and mistakes, but no one should say these were deliberate.
Important improvements were made through good will and hard work.”

One article calls for prison sentences for those who disregard the
state’s “fundamental national interests.” A reasoning attached to the
draft of that article specifies that calling for the withdrawal of
Turkish soldiers from Cyprus or saying that Armenians were subjected to
genocide during World War I should be considered an offense punishable
by 3 to 10 years in prison.

The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said it shared the concerns of
Turkish journalists. “Far from bringing Turkish law into line with
European law on freedom of expression, some articles of the code on the
contrary, would facilitate arbitrary legal action against journalists
and entail a climate of self-censorship damaging to press freedom,” the
group said.

Late Wednesday, Parliament also introduced a measure that allows
authorities to be present during meetings between some convicts and
their lawyers.

Human rights groups say the measure infringes on prisoners’ rights.
Observers say the measure appeared to target the lawyers of imprisoned
Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan’s by making it more difficult for
him to pass on messages to his rebel group.

Among other measures, police can, with court approval, take prisoners
away from jails for re-questioning. Human rights groups object to the
measure saying it may leave them vulnerable to abuse.

Armenian MPs pass law on building depot for used nuclear fuel

Arminfo
25 May 05

YEREVAN

The Armenian parliament today adopted in its third and final reading a
draft law giving permission to the Armenian Nuclear Power Station
closed-type joint-stock company to build a depot for used nuclear
fuel.

Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan, who presented the bill, said
that at present the delivery to Russia and processing of 1 kg of
nuclear fuel used by the Armenian Nuclear Power Station will cost
2,000 dollars. In addition, in the future Armenia might develop
technologies to produce power from used nuclear fuel.

The depot is designed to store used nuclear fuel for 50 years, after
which the depot will be inspected.

The minister also noted that used nuclear fuel loses 70 per cent of
its radioactivity in the first few years, but fully only over 130
years. The construction of the depot is to cost 10m euros.

[Passage omitted: minor details]

RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER MEETS WITH HEADS OF THE CHAMBERS OF THE
BELGIAN PARLIAMENT TODAY

YEREVAN, May 23. /ARKA/. RA National assembly speaker Arthur
Baghdasaryan met with the Chairwoman of the Belgian Senate Anne-Marie
Lizin and the Speaker of Belgian House of Representatives Herman De
Croo within the framework of his official visit to Benelux
countries. As the Public Relations Department of RA NA told ARKA News
Agency, meting are scheduled with Armenia-Belgium Interparliamentary
Friendship Group, representatives of social, political and scientific
organizations, head of the Belgian diamond treatment centre and
members of Armenian community of Belgium. Tomorrow, Arthur
Baghdasaryan will hold talks with the President of the European
Parliament Josep Borrell. On May 25, the delegation headed by
Baghdasaryan will leave for the Netherlands to meet with the Chairman
of Dutch Senate Ivon Timerman and Speaker of House of Representatives
Frantz Wesglas, as well as the Director of International Organization
for Banning Chemical Weapon Rogelio Pfirter and head of the UN
International Court Shi Czyuung. On May 27, Armenian delegation will
head to Luxemburg and will be received by Grand Duke Henry of
Luxemburg, Speaker of the Luxembourg’s Parliament Lusien Walier and
Luxemburg’s Minister on Foreign Affairs and Migration Issues Nicola
Schmidt. L.V.-0-

Armenie. L’alphabet national a 1.

Le Telegramme
22 mai 2005

L’alphabet national a 1.600 ans. L’Armenie a inaugure hier une ”
allee des lettres antiques ” destinee a marquer les 1.600 ans de son
alphabet, invente par le pretre Mesrop Machtots en 405. 36 lettres
de pierre ont ete erigees a 1.600 mètres d’altitude, non loin de la
capitale armenienne, Erevan.

Les 36 lettres de l’alphabet de Machtots, completees depuis par trois
autres, sont toujours en usage aujourd’hui. Les Armeniens considèrent
que leur alphabet a ete un puissant facteur d ‘ identite de leur
communaute, notamment pendant les periodes de domination persane
et turque.

–Boundary_(ID_0sO9qFLLJO7Xq2w3jKEp+g)–

French Open Draw

AP Worldstream
May 20, 2005

Draw for the French Open, which starts Monday and ends June 5 at Stade Roland Garros (wc-wild card):

Men

Roger Federer (1), Switzerland, vs. Robin Soderling, Sweden

Nicolas Almagro, Spain, vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany

Christophe Rochus, Belgium, vs. Qualifier

Michael Llodra, France, vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25), Chile

Dominik Hrbaty 17, Slovakia, vs. Janko Tipsarevic, Serbia-Montenegro

Sjeng Schalken, Netherlands, vs. Qualifier

Qualifier vs. Kevin Kim, United States

Alberto Martin, Spain, vs. Carlos Moya (14), Spain

David Nalbandian (10), Argentina, vs. Marcos Baghdatis, Cyprus

Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, vs. Jeff Morrison, United States

Oscar Hernandez, Spain, vs. Qualifier

Qualifier vs. Mario Ancic (18), Croatia

Juan Ignacio Chela (31), Argentina, vs. Rainer Schuettler, Germany

Victor Hanescu, Romania, vs. Michal Tabara, Czech Republic

Luis Horna, Peru, vs. Jerome Haehnel, France

Potito Starace, Italy, vs. Tim Henman (7), Britain

Rafael Nadal (4), Spain, vs. Lars Burgsmuller, Germany

Mardy Fish, United States, vs. Xavier Malisse, Belgium

Peter Wessels, Netherlands, vs. Ricardo Mello, Brazil

Qualifier vs. Richard Gasquet (30), France

Sebastien Grosjean (23), France, vs. Juan Monaco, Argentina

wc-Thierry Ascione, France, vs. Davide Sanguinetti, Italy

Andrei Pavel, Romania, vs. wc-Florent Serra, France

Paradorn Srichaphan, Thailand , vs. Radek Stepanek (16), Czech Republic

Joachim Johansson (11), Sweden, vs. Fernando Verdasco, Spain

Lee Hyung-taik, South Korea, vs. Alex Calatrava, Spain

wc-Gilles Simon, France, vs. wc-Olivier Patience, France

Jiri Vanek, Czech Republic, vs. David Ferrer (20), Spain

Jiri Novak (26), Czech Republic, vs. Bjorn Phau, Germany

Felix Mantilla, Spain, vs. Tomas Zib, Czech Republic

Dmitry Tursunov, Russia, vs. Stefan Koubek, Austria

Julien Benneteau, France, vs. Gaston Gaudio (5), Argentina

Guillermo Coria (8), Argentina, vs. Kenneth Carlsen, Denmark

Qualifier vs. Robby Ginepri, United States

Jurgen Melzer, Austria, vs. Wayne Arthurs, Australia

Gilles Muller, Luxembourg, vs. Mikhail Youzhny (29), Russia

Tommy Haas (21), Germany, vs. Florian Mayer, Germany

Vince Spadea, United States, vs. Albert Costa, Spain

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Spain, vs. Olivier Rochus, Belgium

Qualifier vs. Nikolay Davydenko (12), Russia

Tommy Robredo (15), Spain, vs. wc-Peter Luczak, Australia

Qualifier vs. Jean-Rene Lisnard, France

Gustavo Kuerten, Brazil, vs. David Sanchez, Spain

Scott Draper, Australia, vs. Thomas Johansson (19), Sweden

Juan Carlos Ferrero (32), Spain, vs. Karol Beck, Slovakia

Fabrice Santoro, France, vs. Jan Hernych, Czech Republic

Thomas Enqvist, Sweden, vs. Qualifier

Raemon Sluiter, Netherlands, vs. Marat Safin (3), Russia

Andre Agassi (6), United States, vs. Qualifier

Jonas Bjorkman, Sweden, vs. Igor Andreev, Russia

wc-Arnaud Clement, France, vs. Alexander Popp, Germany

Ivo Karlovic, Croatia, vs. Nicolas Kiefer (28), Germany

Feliciano Lopez (24), Spain, vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu, France

Qualifier vs. Santiago Ventura, Spain

Albert Montanes, Spain, vs. Sargis Sargsian, Armenia

wc-Gael Monfils, France, vs. Guillermo Canas (9), Argentina

Ivan Ljubicic (13), Croatia, vs. Mariano Puerta, Argentina

Qualifier vs. Qualifier

Qualifier vs. Qualifier

Qualifier vs. Nicolas Massu (22), Chile

Filippo Volandri (27), Italy, vs. Cyril Saulnier, France

Greg Rusedski, Britain, vs. Qualifier

Jose Acasuso, Argentina, vs. Max Mirnyi, Belarus

wc-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France, vs. Andy Roddick (2), United States

Women

Lindsay Davenport (1), United States, vs. Katarina Srebotnik, Slovenia

wc-Mailyne Andrieux, France, vs. Peng Shuai, China

Tatiana Panova, Russia, vs. Qualifier

Virginie Razzano, France, vs. Dinara Safina (25), Russia

Daniela Hantuchova (20), Slovakia, vs. Qualifier

Denisa Chladkova, Czech Republic, vs. Catalina Castano, Colombia

Ludmila Cervanova, Slovakia, vs. Aiko Nakamura, Japan

Qualifier vs. Kim Clijsters (14), Belgium

Vera Zvonareva (9), Russia, vs. Qualifier

Qualifier vs. Maria Kirilenko, Russia

Jelena Kostanic, Croatia, vs. Tamarine Tanasugarn, Thailand

Vera Douchevina, Russia, vs. Mary Pierce (21), France

Flavia Pennetta (32), Italy, vs. Jill Craybas, United States

Marta Domachowska, Poland, vs. Stephanie Cohen-Aloro, France

Qualifier vs. Qualifier

Cho Yoon-jeong, South Korea, vs. Patty Schnyder (8), Switzerland

Elena Dementieva (4), Russia, vs. Barbora Strycova, Czech Republic

Sanda Mamic, Croatia, vs. Lisa Raymond, United States

Akiko Morigami, Japan, vs. Angela Haynes, United States

Maria Elena Camerin, Italy, vs. Karolina Sprem (31), Croatia

Silvia Farina Elia (18), Italy, vs. Anne Kremer, Luxembourg

Shenay Perry, United States, vs. Arantxa Parra Santonja, Spain

wc-Sophie Ferguson, Australia, vs. Mariana Diaz-Oliva, Argentina

Yuliana Fedak, Ukraine, vs. Elena Likhovtseva (16), Russia

Venus Williams (11), United States, vs. Marta Marrero, Spain

Fabiola Zuluaga, Colombia, vs. Qualifier

Alyona Bondarenko, Ukraine, vs. Sesil Karatantcheva, Bulgaria

Julia Schruff, Germany, vs. Shinobu Asagoe (19), Japan

Amy Frazier (27), United States, vs. Meghann Shaughnessy, United States

Emilie Loit, France, vs. Claudine Schaul, Luxembourg

Tatiana Perebiynis, Ukraine, vs. Emmanuelle Gagliardi, Switzerland

Maria Sanchez Lorenzo, Spain, vs. Anastasia Myskina (5), Russia

Nadia Petrova (7), Russia, vs. Mashona Washington, United States

Abigail Spears, United States, vs. Severine Beltrame, France

Kveta Peschke, Czech Republic, vs. Dally Randriantefy, Madagascar

Shahar Peer, Israel, vs. Marion Bartoli (28), France

Tatiana Golovin (17), France, vs. Lilia Osterloh, United States

Antonella Serra Zanetti, Italy, vs. Marlene Weingartner, Germany

Martina Sucha, Slovakia, vs. Tathiana Garbin, Italy

Maria Vento-Kabchi, Venezuela, vs. Elena Bovina (12), Russia

Jelena Jankovic (15), Serbia-Montenegro, vs. Anna Smashnova, Israel

Roberta Vinci, Italy, vs. Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Germany

Qualifier vs. Nicole Vaidisova, Czech Republic

Zheng Jie, China, vs. Francesca Schiavone (22), Italy

Ana Ivanovic (29), Serbia-Montenegro, vs. Stephanie Foretz, France

Iveta Benesova, Czech Republic, vs. wc-Pauline Parmentier, France

Alina Jidkova, Russia, vs. wc-Alize Cornet, France

Evie Dominikovic, Australia, vs. Amelie Mauresmo (3), France

Svetlana Kuznetsova (6), Russia, vs. wc-Mathilde Johansson, France

Qualifier vs. Eleni Daniilidou, Greece

Marissa Irvin, United States, vs. Nicole Pratt, Australia

Sania Mirza, India, vs. Gisela Dulko (30), Argentina

Magdalena Maleeva (24), Bulgaria, vs. Rika Fujiwara, Japan

Qualifier vs. Anabel Medina Garrigues, Spain

Virginia Ruano Pascual, Spain, vs. Qualifier

Conchita Martinez, Spain, vs. Justine Henin-Hardenne (10), Belgium

Nathalie Dechy (13), France, vs. Michaela Pastikova, Czech Republic

Silvija Talaja, Croatia, vs. Samantha Stosur, Australia

wc-Youlia Fedossova, France, vs. Kristina Brandi, Puerto Rico

Nuria Llagostera Vives, Spain, vs. Ai Sugiyama (23), Japan

Paola Suarez (26), Argentina, vs. Anna Chakvetadze, Russia

Qualifier vs. Klara Koukalova, Czech Republic

wc-Camille Pin, France, vs. wc-Aravane Rezai, France

Evgenia Linetskaya, Russia, vs. Maria Sharapova (2), Russia

A1plus

| 17:03:41 | 19-05-2005 | Politics |

WAR FOR BUSINESS

Today the owners of the currency exchange points situated in a tight
row in Tigran Mets Street organized a protest action and went on
termless strike. They are exasperated with checks and cavils that have
become frequent recently. However the main reason for the strike is
the decision by the Central Bank, according to which the points should
be located at least at the distance of 50 meters from each other.

The owners and employees of the exchange points state that the
authorities want to grasp the business from private owners and leave
it in hands of several people. They say that about 3000 people will
lose their job if the CB closes all the exchange points in Kasyan
and Tigran Mets Streets.

According to the protesters 12 pointes were forcibly closed today in
Tigran Mets Street and 8 points ~V in Kasyan Street. They suppose
that the authorities wish the banks under the supervision of the
state only to exercise the exchange function.

Some of the owners of the exchange points agree to speak with
journalists but prefer not to introduce themselves. If within several
days later their demand remain without response they are not going
to undertake either measures. «We are powerless», they say.

Meanwhile long queues appeared at the exchange points of the branches
of Areximbank and Promethey bank located in Tigran Mets Street.

–Boundary_(ID_ASmkb8PDS0qXmLldEV+wng)–

Arinc: Turks Have Never Committed Genocide Throughout Their History

Turkish Press
Published: 5/18/2005

CANBERRA (AA) – Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on
Thursday that Turks had never committed genocide throughout their
history.

Arinc, who is currently in Australia on an official visit, met
Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer.

Replying to questions of the A.A correspondent following the
meetings, Arinc said, “I expressed Turkey’s regret over recognition
of allegations regarding the so-called Armenian genocide in some
countries. Bitter events occurred during the World War I. However,
Turks have never committed genocide throughout their history. Not
national parliaments but historians should deal with such events.”
Referring to Turkey’s EU membership bid, Arinc said, “relations between
Turkey and the EU have been continuing for the last four decades. On
December 17th, the EU decided to open entry talks with Turkey on
October 3rd 2005. However, both public opinions and politicians of
some European countries are opposed to Turkey’s membership. Some
of them are against enlargement of the EU while the others think
that Turkey’s predominantly Muslim population would contradict the
EU. These are prejudices.” “In fact, Turkey-EU relations are based
on mutual interests. Turkey will make important contributions to
the EU. Negotiation process will start on October 3rd. We know that
the process will last for a long time and will not be easy at all,”
Arinc added.

Arinc will proceed to Sidney on Friday. He is expected to return to
Turkey on Saturday.

Azeri, Armenian leaders likely to meet in Warsaw, Russian minister says

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
15 May 05

VIENNA

The countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and
the USA – are planning to organize the Nagornyy Karabakh negotiations
between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents on the sidelines of
the Council of Europe summit in Warsaw, Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov said here today.

“Since the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders will attend the Council of
Europe summit, they are likely to have a meeting,” he said.

[Passage omitted: Lavrov’s schedule in Vienna]