Category: News

Xinhua, China
Oct 19 2004
Armenia, China to boost bilateral ties

ERIVAN, Armenia, Oct. 19 (Xinhuanet) — Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan told visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on
Tuesday that Armenia stands ready to further strengthen cooperation
with China.
Meeting Li in the Armenian capital, Kocharyan said his September
visit to China was a success, during which the two sidesreached
consensus on developing bilateral relations. Armenia stoodby China in
its choice of a development path suited to its own conditions and is
impressed by China’s active role in international affairs, he said.
In a separate meeting with the Chinese foreign minister on
Tuesday, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian echoed
Kocharyan’s remarks on enhancing bilateral ties. He said his
government is working to implement the agreements reached during
Kocharyan’s visit to China.
Cooperation in technology and agriculture between the two
countries had been fruitful and Armenia hopes to see broadened
cooperation between the two countries’ enterprises and more Chinese
investment in Armenia, Margarian said.
Both Kocharyan and Margarian reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment
tothe one-China policy. They reiterated that the Armenian
governmentbelieves there has always been and will be only one China
in the world.
Li told his Armenian hosts China is keen to develop friendly
cooperation with Armenia and his trip is an instance of China’s
concrete actions to implement what has been achieved in the consensus
established by the leaders of both countries. Li said heis optimistic
about further strengthening bilateral ties.
Li arrived in Erivan Monday on an official visit to Armenia. Heis
also to visit Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

Agence France Presse
Oct 19 2004
Europe’s Greens meet to debate Turkey’s EU access
AFP: 10/19/2004
ISTANBUL, Oct 19 (AFP) – Europe’s Greens, once Turkey’s most vocal
critics and now the staunchest supporters of its EU membership, began
a three-day parliamentary group meeting here Tuesday with strong
criticism against any plans to hold national referendums on whether
Ankara should join the bloc.
“We are against holding referendums in one country about another
country,” Greens group president Daniel Cohn-Bendit said. “There are
seven million Turks living in Europe, so the real question in the
referendum will be, ‘Do you like Turks — do you like Muslims?'”
He singled out President Jacques Chirac, criticising his proposal to
amend the French constitution to allow referendums on future EU
members as “foolish” and “ridiculous.”
“How can a democratic president, even Chirac, say what will happen in
10 years’ time?” Cohn-Bendit asked at a press conference here opening
the meeting.
“Are they going to have referendums on the memberships of Romania,
Bulgaria, Bosnia? The French will go crazy!” he said. “This is
ridiculous. Don’t waste our time with what will happen in 10 years.”
Cohn-Bendit was flanked at the press conference by co-chair Monica
Frassoni of Italy, Dutchman Joost Logendijk and Germany’s Cem
Oezdemir, both of the EU-Turkey joint parliamentary committee.
Cohn-Bendit urged Turkey to accept the fact that it is different from
other candidate countries and that a special negotiating process is
needed to allow it into the EU.
A generally favorable European Commission report on October 6 advises
EU leaders to agree at a December 17 summit in Brussels to launch
membership talks with Turkey.
“When you say, ‘We want equal treatment,’ you do not mean it,”
Cohn-Bendit said. “Turkey is not Malta, it is not Romania, it is not
Bulgaria. It is a big country, it is a proud country, and its entry
into the EU will be an important event.”
He said the Greens had arrived in Turkey as “critical friends” in
hopes that many issues that remain to be ironed out — the situation
of the Kurds and other minorities, women’s rights, the Armenian
massacres — could be “openly discussed among friends.”
“We must have uncomfortable discussions on, for example, Cyprus and
the role of the army,” Frassoni said, adding: “The process of
building a European democracy is not finished.”
The Greens support Turkey’s EU membership, the Italian MEP said, but
so does Italy’s conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi — “his
reasons are not the same as ours,” she added.
“What is the Greens’ message to Turkey?” asked Oezdemir, who is of
Turkish origin. “The message is that we are here and not somewhere
else.
“If Turkey is today at another point than where it was several yuears
ago, it is also because of civil society, not only because of
politicians,” he said.
Another message from the Greens to Turkey’s politicians, Logendijk
said, is: “Don’t panic.”
He said the Commission report contained elements Turkey and the
Greens both disagree with, such as the open-ended nature of the talks
and mention of permanent derogations concerning this country, such as
barring its citizens from free circulation in Europe.
“But,” he said, “don’t lose your focus, don’t lose sight of the main
point: (membership) negotiations should begin next year.”
The meeting of the joint Greens/European Free Alliance group next
goes into a series of panel conferences covering aspects of Turkey-EU
ties.
Panelists include foreign ministers Joschka Fischer of Germany and
Abdullah Gul of Turkey, Kurdish activist Leyla Zana and Turkish
novelist Orhan Pamuk.

Putinru.com, Russia
Oct 19 2004
Putin appreciates political dialog between Russia and Azerbaijan
Russian President Vladimir Putin appreciates top-level political
dialog between Russia and Azerbaijan.
Opening the Kremlin meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilkham
Aliyev, Vladimir Putin said:
“We meet regularly, which I am very happy about.”
According to the Russian President, the volume of trade between the
two countries is growing, and humanitarian contacts are
strengthening. However, this is not enough, he argued.
“We ought to do more,” he said.
The Azerbaijani President agreed with what his Russian counterpart
said.
“I am very happy to see such intensive contacts: this is my third
visit to Russia – to Moscow – since I was elected president. A
permanent political dialog has been in place,” Aliyev said.
“The coming year will mark a milestone as The Year of Azerbaijan will
be held in Russia; the following year we will hold The Year of Russia
in Azerbaijan,” he added.
According to Aliyev, this is an expression of a mutual commitment to
develop cooperation in all areas.
He said that the All-Russian Congress of Azerbaijanis that is
underway in Moscow has shown how close, how sincere and friendly our
peoples are to one another.
The Russian President said that Aliyev had another reason to come to
Moscow, apart from attending the All-Russian Congress of
Azerbaijanis: on the previous day the leader of Azerbaijan, a
graduate of the Moscow International Relations Institute, had visited
the alma mater on its 60th anniversary.
“I am very happy that you have also a personal reason to come to
Moscow,” the Russian leader remarked.
Aliyev said on his part he “could not help coming [to celebrate] such
a glorious jubilee.” He recalled that he had been with the Institute
for over a decade, studying there, then doing post-graduate studies,
then teaching.
“This is another important factor of our bilateral relations,” Aliyev
joked.
The Russian President suggested that the two leaders address the
problem of Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.
“I am sure today we will have an opportunity to talk calmly about
this most acute problem of the Caucasus,” he said.
The Azerbaijani President expressed his hope that Russia would remain
a contributor to the resolution of this long-term conflict as a
neighbor to Armenia as well as Azerbaijan and as a country
co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group.
“Your participation in our meeting [with Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan] in Astana gives us hope that we could make a step
forward,” Aliyev said.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Oct 19 2004
MEETING OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AND PRESIDENT OF
RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN
[October 19, 2004, 20:23:08]
President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev on 19 October has met
in the Kremlin President of Russia Vladimir Putin, AzerTAj
correspondent reported.
Warmly greeting Head of the Azerbaijan State, President Vladimir
Putin said he was pleased with his visit to Moscow, underlining that
he has another opportunity to discuss bilateral problems and
expressed confidence that the meeting would pass in full mutual
understanding.
Noting that he was also delightful of seeing President of Russia,
President Ilham Aliyev said it was his third visit to Moscow after he
was elected President and these visits have played important role in
development of bilateral relations.
Expressing his consent with the increasing goods turnover between the
two countries, President of Azerbaijan emphasized that bilateral
political dialogue is also at high level, which proves existence of
large opportunities for development of relations for the interests of
the two peoples.
President Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that Russia as a co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group would make further efforts for the settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
Addressing the Head of Azerbaijan State, President Vladimir Putin
said: `I am very pleased that Your Moscow visit has personal aspect.
I was told that You were sincerely greeted at the ceremony on the
60th anniversary of the Moscow State Institute of International
Relations. You feel yourself a Muscovite’.
Head of the Azerbaijan State reminded that ten years of his life are
connected to this Institute and he had many friends here.
In the meeting, also were discussed issues of realization of the
agreement reached during the official visit of Azerbaijan President
to Moscow in February 2004, execution of the task to raise the goods
turnover twice, the prospects of strengthening of joint activity of
Russia and Azerbaijan in combat against terrorism. The sides
underlined necessity of increasing efforts of world communities in
fighting international terrorism.
The heads of State also had exchange of views related to situation on
the Caucasus region. President of Russia Vladimir Putin welcomed
continuation of meetings related to settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict at the level of
presidents, saying that Russia stands ready to render active
assistance in finding acceptable way of settlement of this conflict.
***
After the meeting, Heads of State had dinner in the Kremlin.

Catholic World News, United States
Oct 19 2004
Catholic, Jewish leader urge respect for Jerusalem
Rome, Oct. 19 (CWNews.com) – A three-day meeting of Catholic and
Jewish officials has concluded with a joint statement urging
political leaders to respect the sacred character of the city of
Jerusalem.
The statement punctuated the 4th session of dialogue arranged by the
Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with Jews, together
with the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Rabbi Shar Yishuv Cohen of Haifa
led the Jewish delegation; Cardinal Jorge Mejia, the retired Vatican
archivist, was the top representative of the Holy See.
After three days of discussions in Grottaferrata, just south of Rome,
the group issued a three-part statement. It began with a clear
commitment to continuing the inter-religious dialogue: “We are not
enemies, but unequivocal partners in articulating the essential moral
values for the survival and welfare of human society.”
The statement went on to affirm that “Jerusalem has a sacred
character for all the children of Abraham.” The group asked world
leaders “to respect this character and to prevent actions which
offend the sensibilities of religious communities that rely in
Jerusalem and hold her dear.”
The third point of the joint statement was directed at religious
leaders, asking them to “protest publicly” against “actions of
disrespect toward religious persons, symbols, and holy sites.” The
statement specifically mentioned a recent violent assault on the
Armenian Apostolic Patriarch of Jerusalem and the desecration of
cemeteries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AsiaNews.it, Italy
Oct 19 2004
Christians and Jews to protect the sacred character of Jerusalem

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – `Jerusalem has a sacred character for all
the children of Abraham,’ and leaders must `respect this character
and prevent actions which offend the sensibilities of religious
communities that rely in Jerusalem and hold her dear.’ Religious
leaders are asked to `protest publicly’ against `actions of
disrespect towards religious persons, symbols, and holy sites’.
These are the main points in a joint statement issued today by the
bilateral committee for religious dialogue between the Chief
Rabbinate of Israel and the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for
Religious Relations with Jewry that met in Grottaferrata from October
17 to the 19.
The statement acknowledges that at present there `is no full
understanding’ in the respective communities `of the changes that
have taken place in Catholic-Jewish relations’.
Jews and Christians `are not enemies, but unequivocal partners in
articulating the essential moral values for the survival and welfare
of human society.”
Among the examples of deplorable actions against religious persons,
symbols, and holy sites, the statement specifically mentions `the
desecration of cemeteries and the recent assault on the Armenian
Apostolic Patriarch of Jerusalem’.

Worldwide Faith News (press release)
Oct 19 2004
Spitting triggers Jewish-Christian tension in Jerusalem’s Old City
by Michele Green
Ecumenical News International
JERUSALEM – Tensions in Jerusalem’s Old City have flared following an
incident in which a Jewish seminary student spat at an archbishop
during a procession from the city’s Armenian Quarter to the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre, a site commemorating Jesus’ crucifixion and
burial.
Israeli police arrested the seminary student, but Christian clerics
living in the walled Old City say such assaults by ultra-Orthodox
Jews is a frequent occurrence.
“It happens maybe once a week,” Armenian Bishop Aris Shirvanian told
Ecumenical News International. “As soon as they notice a Christian
clergymanhey spit. Those who are ‘respectful’ turn their backs to us
or the largeross that we may carry but the ones that are daring
either spit on the ground or on the person without any provocation on
our part.”
In the Oct. 10 incident, a cross was ripped from the archbishop’s
neck when a scuffle broke out after the Jewish seminary student spat
at the cleric. The seminary student later told police he had done it
because he sawthe religious procession as idolatry. Police said the
man had been temporarily banned from visiting the Old City and that
he had been placed on bail pending an indictment.
Bishop Shirvanian said spitting against Christian clergyman had been
going on for years and that the assailants were religious Jews,
sometimes men but also women, teenagers and even children.
“This shows that it is a phenomenon that is prevailing in their
religious education and it should be corrected,” he said.
Daniel Rossing, director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian
relations, said his organization was collating accounts of spitting
incidents so they could approach rabbis and demand they teach their
congregants to stop such attacks.
“All people are created in the image of God and to spit on another
person is to spit on the image of God,” Rossing said. He said that
usually the assailants were ultra-Orthodox Jews and the victims were
“people wearing liturgical vestments or are wearing a manifest
Christian symbol such as a cross.” Rossing said he believed the
attacks were carried out due to intolerance towards Christians by
ultra-Orthodox Jews as well as to anger from religious persecution in
past centuries.
Israeli police spokesman Gil Kleiman said few Christians file
complaints with police about such assaults and unless they did it was
impossible to arrest and prosecute the assailants.
“We can only act when we have been informed by a complainant. When we
do know about it we act immediately to arrest the person who did it
and bring them to justice,” Kleiman said.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said in an Oct. 12 editorial: “It is
intolerable that Christian citizens of Jerusalem suffer from the
shameful spitting at or near a crucifix. Similar behavior toward Jews
anywhere in the world would immediately prompt vehement responses.”

Cyprus News Agency
Oct 19 2004
Cyprus House President pays official visit to Armenia
Nicosia, Oct 18 (CNA) — Cyprus House of Representatives President
Demetris Christofias began today a three-day official visit to
Armenia, as head of a parliamentary delegation, at the invitation of
Armenia’s National Assembly President Arthur Baghdasaryan.

ArmenPress
Oct 19 2004
KOCHARIAN MEETS CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS: President Kocharian received
today the visiting foreign minister of China Lee Jaosin and members
of the Chinese delegation. Kocharian’s press service said the foreign
minister conveyed to Kocharian the greetings of the Chinese president
Hu Zintao. The minister also said China gives great importance to
developing diverse relations with Armenia and appreciates highly
Kocharian’s personal contributions to boosting bilateral ties.
Kocharian in turn voiced his satisfaction with the growing
cooperation with China. According to the Armenian president, the
absence of political problems between the two nations provides them
with good development prospects. Kocharian also singled out China’s
and Armenia’s close cooperation within international organizations,
saying both have virtually the same positions on many key issues.
China’s foreign minister discussed economic cooperation with prime
minister Andranik Margarian, who underscored high-level exchange
visits for enhancing bigger trade between the two countries. Among
priority areas the two mentioned chemistry, energy and agriculture.
Other areas of possible cooperation include science, technology,
education and culture, health and tourism. Noting with satisfaction
the growth in bilateral trade circulation during the first quarter of
the running year, the Chinese FM reaffirmed Chinese determination to
make large scale investment in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Oct 18 2004
NATO SECRETARY GENERAL TO VISIT SOUTH CAUCASUS IN EARLY NOVEMBER
BAKU, OCTOBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Robert Simons, a special
representative of NATO’s Secretary General Jap de Hoop Scheffer to
Central Asia and South Caucasus was quoted by Azerbaijani Turan news
agency as saying that Scheffer plans to visit Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Armenia in early November.
In response to a question whether NATO was going to open a
representation office in the Caucasus Simons said a recent NATO
summit in Istanbul adopted two major decisions on the Caucasus and
Central Asia. According to the first one, two NATO senior officers
will be making frequent trips to these regions to monitor the
situation and work with their governments within the frameworks of
Partnership for Peace program. According to the second decision, NATO
appointed its special representatives for these two regions.
Robert Simons also commented on Azerbaijan’s discontent with NATO
and accusations that it supports Armenia’s “aggressive” policy. “NATO
advocates for resolution of problems among its partner countries on
the basis of independence, sovereignty and their territorial
integrity, hoping that all conflicts will be resolved soon through
peaceful ways, ” he was quoted as saying. He also added that NATO’s
decision to cancel Cooperative Best Efforts-2004 maneuvers in
Azerbaijan was not an attempt to defend Armenia. “Our goal is to
develop partnership with all interested countries and provide them
all with equal opportunities,” he said.