Category: News

Armenia to dispose Soviet liquid missile fuel
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 13, 2004 Sunday
YEREVAN, June 13 — Armenia will dispose liquid missile fuel, which is
left on the national territory from the Soviet period. A memorandum
to the effect has been signed between Armenian Defense Minister and
Secretary of the National Security Council Serzh Sarkisyan and head
of the OSCE mission in Yerevan Vladimir Pryakhin.
Further storing of the liquid missile fuel is dangerous, because the
fuel containers have decayed. The OSCE is ready to assign experts
for helping the Armenian project.

The Dissolving Opposition
Transitions Online, Czech Republic
June 14 2004
YEREVAN, Armenia–Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian appears to
have warded off a challenge to his authority, surviving a two-month
opposition protest campaign that aimed to force his resignation. Even
though the protests failed to attract large numbers of Armenians, some
political analysts in Yerevan say the opposition campaign inflicted
considerable political damage on Kocharian.
Since April, opposition leaders had promised “decisive action”
against Kocharian. However, at the most recent street protest in
central Yerevan, on 4 June, the opposition acknowledged that it lacked
sufficient backing to fulfill its aim, and abandoned plans to march on
Kocharian’s residence. “We believe that we are not yet ready to carry
out actions needed for achieving our final victory,” a leading member
of the opposition Justice bloc, Albert Bazeyan, told a thinning crowd.
The unrest stemmed from the February-March 2003 presidential election
in which Kocharian secured a second term amid allegations of vote
rigging. His opponents still refuse to recognize the legitimacy of his
reelection and were unsuccessful in a 2003 attempt to have the voting
results invalidated. Kocharian critics later decided to embrace protest
tactics, striving to imitate the success of Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili, who came to power amid the “Rose Revolution” in Tbilisi.
The opposition unveiled the protest strategy in early April. The most
critical moment occurred early on in the protest campaign, as riot
police, during the early hours of 13 April, dispersed opposition
protesters as they marched towards Kocharian’s official residence
in Yerevan.
The leaders of Armenia’s two main opposition groups, the Justice
bloc and the National Unity Party (AMK), have since continued the
unsanctioned rallies in the city center. The protests have flagged
in recent weeks as many opposition supporters grew increasingly
frustrated over the lack of “decisive action.”
Bazeyan and other opposition leaders said they will continue to rally
supporters in the capital to keep up pressure on the authorities.
“There will be no stability in the country as long as Kocharian remains
in power because stability and Kocharian are incompatible things,”
the most radical of them, Aram Sarkisian, said.
But few observers believe that demonstrations attended by several
thousand people will pose a serious threat to the ruling regime.
Given the effective end of the protest campaign, political analysts
are examining the question of why the Armenian opposition failed
to mobilize what one of its leaders described as a “critical mass”
of demonstrators.
In the view of Aghasi Yenokian, director of the independent Armenian
Center for Political and International Studies, Justice and the
AMK never had a clear action plan. He said the opposition also lost
popular trust due to its inability to successfully press its appeal
over the presidential election tally. “The opposition has shown on
several occasions that it can let the people down at any moment,”
Yenokian said.
Still, some local political experts believe that the protests,
which provoked the worst-ever government crackdown on the Armenian
opposition, dealt a blow to Kocharian’s legitimacy at home and
abroad. That, they say, could open new cracks in the country’s shaky
governing coalition, rendering the medium- to long-term political
situation in the country unpredictable.
“Armenia is entering a period of political apathy where there is no
effective government and [no] effective opposition,” said a recent
commentary in the pro-opposition daily Haykakan Zhamanak.
Authorities have maintained throughout that the opposition protest
campaign was unconstitutional. On 8 June, one of Kocharian’s top allies
declared victory in the political struggle. “The opposition has failed
to achieve its goals,” Prime Minister Andranik Markarian said.
Throughout the crisis, Kocharian stressed that Armenia’s strong
security apparatus ensured that a repetition of the “Georgian scenario”
would not occur in Yerevan. At the same time, Kocharian has sought
to placate building popular frustration.
Kocharian has long tried to cast himself as the custodian of a
fast-growing economy. The benefits of economic growth, though, are
not evenly distributed in Armenia, as many in the country continue
to grapple with poverty. In recent weeks, Kocharian has expressed
renewed interest in improving living conditions. His schedule in
early June, for example, was full of meetings, heavily publicized by
state-controlled television channels, with officials at all levels
of government to examine issues ranging from suspected corruption in
high school graduation exams to patchy supplies of drinking water.
In addition to the high-profile effort to address popular concerns,
authorities have cracked down on the opposition, arresting hundreds of
government critics. The crackdown continued even after strong criticism
voiced by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in late
April. Since then, a 24-year-old man has been sentenced to an 18-month
jail term for hurling a plastic bottle at a riot police officer during
the 12-13 April events. Four other opposition activists received up
to 15-month prison sentences stemming from their participation in
another protest.
Although Kocharian is the winner of the latest round, experts
believe the political bout will continue. Yenokian, for one, viewed
the deepening intra-governmental infighting as a source of political
turmoil down the road. “The processes should not be considered over,”
the analyst said. “They may well have a continuation.”

Russian NTV channel off the Armenian air for good
A1+ web site
14 Jun 04
14 June: Russian NTV channel will no longer be broadcast in
Armenia. Today the National Commission for Radio and Television
[NCRT] unanimously decided to hand over the 23rd decimetre channel,
which previously relayed NTV channel programmes, to the Armenian
government for the transmission of Kultura [Culture] TV programmes.
The frequency was not put out to tender as it was given to the
government within the framework of an intergovernmental agreement on
the transmission of TV programmes concluded between Armenia and Russia.
The frequency was transferred to the Transport and Communications
Ministry. It is not yet clear who will rebroadcast. “The company
Paradiz [Paradise], which rebroadcast NTV, has no claims on it,”
the head of the NCRT, Grigor Amalyan, said. “The government has the
right to use it at its own discretion.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARINC CONDEMNS CANADIAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DECISION
Turkish Daily News
June 12, 2004
ANKARA – Speaker of Parliament Bulent Arinc sent a condemnation letter
to the Canadian House of Representatives President Peter Milliken
relating to a decision of the Canadian House of Representatives that
approved on April 21, 2004 the recognition of the so-called Armenian
Genocide and accepted it as crime of humanity.
Stating that the interpretation of the tragic event, which caused
the loss of lives during Ottoman rule in 1915, to wrong historical
data is a completely intolerable mistake, Arinc noted in his letter:
“Turkish Parliament believes that national parliaments are not the
right places to interpret historical events … National parliaments
should refrain from biased initiatives which carry the threat of
awakening hatred between the public upon the alleged and ungrounded
claims made by the marginal sectors of ethnic groups or third party
representatives about other nations.”
Indicating that, with this act, the Canadian House of Representatives
owns the responsibility of the negative developments that could
possibly develop between Turkey and Canada, Arinc stressed that
this decision fell in contradiction with the normalization efforts
of relations between the two neighbors Turkey and Armenia, in such a
sensitive part of the world. Arinc expressed Turkey’s sorrow for the
non-fulfilment of the responsibilities by those, who approved such a
humiliating and unjust decision, in such a sensitive period when the
world needs international solidarity and cooperation against violence
and intolerance.
The Armenians claimed that during the Ottoman Empire their ancestors
were executed for allegedly helping the invading Russian army during
World War I. Turkey, heir of the Ottoman Empire, rejects the genocide
claim, insisting that Armenians were killed in civil unrest during
the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey has fought hard to block international attempts to raise the
issue of the alleged Armenian genocide, while Armenia — with its
seven-million strong diaspora — has been pressing for international
recognition of the so-called genocide.

Opposition figure released as rights monitors arrive in Armenia
Associated Press Worldstream
June 12, 2004 Saturday
YEREVAN, Armenia — Authorities in Armenia have released an opposition
leader from jail after European human rights envoys arrived in the
former Soviet republic, a lawyer said Saturday.
Former Defense Minister Vagarshak Arutyunian was released late Friday,
but the case against him has not been closed and he is barred from
leaving the capital Yerevan, his lawyer Robert Grigorian said.
Grigorian said the release came after an appeal from the nation’s
human rights ombudsman, but he noted that it occurred the same day
that two representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe, or PACE, arrived in Armenia for talks on the political
situation and judicial reform.
Arutyunian was arrested during an April 12 protest in which
demonstrators called for the resignation of President Robert Kocharian,
and is accused of attempting to seize power and calling for change
in the country’s constitutional order. Six people arrested during
opposition protests remain jailed, Grigorian said.
Opposition leaders in the small, poverty-plagued Caucasus Mountain
country have organized a series of protests this spring aimed at
forcing the resignation of Kocharian, who won a second term last year
in an election they claim was marred by fraud. The April 12 protest
was forcefully broken up by police.

Kasparov throwaway
By Malcolm Pein
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH(LONDON)
June 14, 2004, Monday
“CALL a doctor!” cried Boris Spassky as his fellow former world
champion Garry Kasparov inexplicably missed a win in a king and pawn
endgame against the French champion Etienne Bacrot and saw his
Armenian team go down to a third defeat against the Rest of the
World. The score stands at 11-7 to the RoW at the halfway stage.
The Armenian team should have won this round. Vladimir Akopian was
clearly better against Vishy Anand, but after he correctly rejected a
sacrificial possibility and headed for a superior endgame, Anand
defended well and then played very quickly to induce errors from his
opponent, and won the game.
The Armenian team did score one win, as the world title challenger
Peter Leko swept aside Loek Van Wely.
The match is being played in Moscow to celebrate the 75th anniversary
of the late Armenian world champion Tigran Petrosian.
Bacrot
p p p p p p p c p p p p ) p p p p c p p p p n p p d n p p p p p p p p
Kasparov
Position after 65Kg6
Kasparov’s error comes after Bacrot has just played 65Kg6 to reach
the position in the diagram above. Kasparov played 66.Kd4?? and after
66Kh5 a draw was agreed because of 66Kh5 67.Ke5 Kg4 68.Kf6 (68.h5
Kxh5 69 Kxf5 f6! 70 g4+ Kh4 draws) 68Kxg3.
Kasparov could have won with 66.Kf3! Kf6 (66Kh5 67.Kf4 transposes)
67.Kf4 Kg6 68.Ke5 winning the f5 pawn and the game; 68f6+ 69.Ke6 does
not help. After 66.Kf3! Kg7 67.Kf4 Kf6 68.h5 Ke6 69.Kg5 the h pawn
runs.
THIS sharp pawn sacrifice from Boris Gelfand gives Francisco Vallejo
Pons (White) attacking chances and 19.c6! dxc6 20.Ne4 Qe7 21.Qe5 was
good for White. Instead, Gelfand gives up all the white squares to
win the c7 pawn but gets mated. In the final position the black rook
comes to c8 and Qe2+ wins.
B Gelfand – F Vallejo Pons
Armenia-ROW (3) Moscow
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 Nc3 Bb4 5 Bg5 Bb7 6 e3 h6 7 Bh4 g5 8 Bg3
Ne4 9 Nd2 Nxc3 10 bxc3 Bxc3 11 Rc1 Bb4 12 h4 gxh4 13 Rxh4 Be7 14 Rh5
Bd6 15 Qg4 Qf6 16 c5! Bxg3 17 Qxg3 Na6 18 Bd3 Rc8 19 Bxa6? Bxa6 20
cxb6 axb6 21 Rxc7 Rxc7 22 Qxc7 Qg6 23 Rh3 Qd3 24 Kd1 Ke7! 0-1
Pons
p p p 7 p f c e c p – o p c p o p p p p p n p p p p Y n p * b p l n b
p p p X p p
Gelfand
Final position after 24Ke7!

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 11, 2004
___________________
DIOCESE TO HOST EXPERT ON PRESERVATION OF MANUSCRIPTS
The efforts by the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library to digital preserve
Armenian manuscripts will be the focus of an illustrated presentation
by Fr. Columba Stewart, OSB, executive director of the library at
the Eastern Diocesan Center in New York on Tuesday, June 15, 2004.
The presentation, organized by the Diocese’s Zohrab Information Center,
is open to the public will begin at 7 p.m. in the Guild Hall of the
Diocesan Center, 630 Second Ave. in New York City.
The Hill Monastic Manuscript Library holds the world’s largest
collection of microfilm and digital images of handwritten books.
The most recent estimate shows the library’s holdings at 90,000
manuscripts, about 30,000,000 pages.
Begun in 1965 by the Benedictine monks of Saint John’s Abbey as a
response to the destruction of European monastic libraries during the
two World Wars, the library has photographed resources from libraries
throughout Europe and Ethiopia. Currently the library is photographing
manuscripts in Sweden and at four sites in Lebanon.
The library’s most recent efforts have been to provide increased access
to its digital images via the Internet and to focus on preserving the
manuscript traditions of the Christian East, with a special emphasis
on collections of Armenian manuscripts.
The strong Armenian literary and artistic heritage created many
wonderful manuscripts, which are today universally regarded as
masterpieces of the book arts. In April 2004, the library began
photographing the manuscripts of the Armenian Catholicate of Cilicia
in Antelias, Lebanon. They are in conversation with other Armenian
libraries, and will soon meet with the Armenian Patriarch in Istanbul
about preserving the Patriarchate’s collection
The June 15 program will begin at 7 p.m., and will conclude with
a reception. The Diocese is located at 630 Second Ave. (at 34th
St.), in New York City. The event is free and open to the public.
For further information, call (212) 686-0710 ext. 26 or e-mail
[email protected].
-6/11/04
# # #

Armenia hopes to expand cooperation with US – Oskanyan
By Alexander Plakhov
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 14, 2004 Monday 2:18 PM Eastern Time
WASHINGTON, June 14 — Armenia hopes to expand cooperation with the
United States, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said.
Speaking at the U.S. Centre for International and Strategic Studies
on Monday, Oskanyan said, “Armenian-U.S. cooperation does not run
counter interaction with Russia.”
“It is natural our partnership with Russia is deeper,” the Armenian
minister said. “Armenia is beginning its cooperation with the U.S.,”
he added.
Commenting on the situation in Iraq, Oskanyan said both sides
strengthened contacts in this field. The minister noted that the U.N.
new resolution had given more possibilities to involve other countries
in post-war reconstruction in Iraq.
In his speech Oskanyan riveted attention to the expansion of relations
with the European Union, relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan,
and the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Oskanyan
said the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh depends
on the talks within the OSCE Minsk Group, which includes the U.S.,
Russia and France.
The Armenian minister has arrived in Armenia on a visit. He will
hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Presidential
National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice, the Pentagon high-ranking
officials and congressmen.

Turkish foreign minister addresses OIC meeting on international issues
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
14 Jun 04
Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has
said in the opening of the OIC summit in Istanbul that the world is
“at a very crucial time” and has mentioned Arab-Israeli conflict, Iraq,
terrorism, Africa and economic deprivation as the main problems needed
to be sorted out. Pointing out that all Islamic countries are directly
affected by these issues, Gul said that it is the OIC mission “dictated
by common heritage and deep sense of history” to rise to the present
challenges. He asked the OIC to develop and increase institutional
relations with other regional organizations in order to “strengthen
global harmony and the settlement of regional disputes. On Cyprus,
Gul also asked the OIC member states to support the Turkish Cypriots
“materially and politically”. The following is the text of report in
English by Turkish news agency Anatolia
Istanbul, 14 June: Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul said on Monday [14 June]: “As the Islamic countries, we
must take strength from our common heritage which offers a rational
and humanistic understanding of the world.”
Speaking at the 31st session of Islamic Conference of Foreign
Ministers in Istanbul, Gul said: “We meet again at a very crucial
time. The Arab-Israeli conflict with the question of Palestine at
its core is bleeding hopes away. Iraq has yet to show a genuine sign
towards stability. Africa’s problems remain to be solved. Terrorism is
expanding its scope and intensifying in ferocity. Sense of security
is fast diminishing. The continuing political, social and economic
deprivation is bringing greater instability. Those preaching clash of
civilizations are winning more attentive ears. Prejudices, fanaticism
and discrimination are everywhere. And, insecurity is now threatening
a global economic downturn.”
“We, as the Islamic countries, are affected by all these issues
directly. Therefore, we need to rise to the challenge. This is not
a matter of choice; it is a mission dictated by our common heritage
and our deep sense of history. Our task may be difficult. However,
we must not fall to desperation. We must take strength from our common
heritage which offers a rational and humanistic understanding of the
world. This quality of Islamic culture and tradition has produced
remarkable achievements in the past. But it is not enough to content
ourselves with the old times. Our present challenge is to work for
similar achievements today and in the future,” he said.
Gul noted: “It is gratifying to see that many fellow OIC members feel
the need for improved quality of political and social standards. Even
within the past one year, we have witnessed individual and collective
efforts towards this end.”
“There has been an increasing interest both in the West and the
East in Turkey’s experience in harmonizing contemporary values with
the traditional identity. Indeed, human rights, gender equality and
realization of universal standards including the European political
criteria by a Muslim society has been welcomed by all,” he stressed.
Gul listed common values as, “the sovereign nations that make up
the OIC are determined to further the political, economic, social
and cultural progress of their societies; equality and freedom
of their citizens is their cherished principle; transparency and
accountability are guiding principles of good governance; broadening
the representative nature and democratic practices of government is
a constant objective; providing contemporary education to all its
citizens is an essential function of the government; and sustainable
economic and social development should be pursued vigorously and
efforts should be deployed in reducing poverty.”
He enumerated collective efforts as “the OIC members should assist
each other in their efforts for progress and reform; the OIC,
as an institution, should devise ways and means for supporting the
reforms in a collective framework; also for the purpose of shouldering
these tasks, the OIC needs to make a determined effort to adapt its
secretariat to the growing demands of today”.
“The OIC should develop and increase institutional relations with
other regional organizations such as the Arab League, the Economic
Cooperation Organization, the D-8, the Gulf Cooperation Council,
the African Union, the ASEAN, the European Union (EU), the Council
of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, for the purpose
of fostering intra and inter-regional cooperation and for drawing
expertise and resources for the OIC members’ national projects. These
institutional relations should also help strengthen global harmony
and attract meaningful interest in the settlement of the regional
disputes,” he said. Gul added: “I also look forward to the convening of
the second OIC-EU joint forum in Istanbul next October. This meeting
will take place at a time when the need for cooperation and mutual
understanding becomes more important than ever.”
Gul continued: “Now it is high time for the international community
to give full backing to the Turkish Cypriots by engaging in direct
economic, commercial, social and cultural contacts with them.” Gul
said: “the United Nations Settlement Plan was overwhelmingly rejected
by the Greek Cypriot side on 24 April 2004, while the Turkish Cypriots
approved it with a clear majority. This vote has fundamentally changed
the circumstances in Cyprus. The international organizations and many
countries expressed regret over the Greek Cypriot attitude. They all
welcomed the Turkish Cypriots’ determination for the settlement.”
“OIC Secretary-General Dr Belkeziz reported that the international
community, and the Muslim countries in particular, should work together
to address the plight of the Turkish Cypriots by supporting them
materially and politically. Also, the first ever official visit of the
OIC secretary-general on 28 May 2004 to the [self-proclaimed] Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus was most timely and meaningful. I commend
this action of solidarity with the Turkish Cypriots,” he stressed.
Gul noted: “The United Nations secretary-general, in his recent report,
calls on all states to cooperate both bilaterally and in international
bodies to eliminate restrictions and barriers that have the effect
of isolating the Turkish Cypriots and impeding their development.”
“Now it is high time for the international community to give full
backing to the Turkish Cypriots by engaging in direct economic,
commercial, social and cultural contacts with them. The EU and the
United States have already taken some steps with a view to putting
an end to the isolation of Turkish Cypriots,” he emphasized.
Gul added: “Our current meeting is an opportunity for this organization
and the Islamic World to extend full support to Turkish Cypriot Muslim
brothers, so as to put an end to their isolation.”
Gul continued: “Iraq remains insecure and volatile. Violence and
terror in Iraq need to be dealt with. This is essential for the
transformation and the rebuilding of the country.”
Gul said: “Iraq now has an interim government that will assume
sovereignty by the end of this month. We wish this government to be
successful. We wish they prove to serve the collective interests of
the Iraqi people in their entirety. We wish they remain conscious
that the source of legitimacy of this interim government ultimately
lies with the people.”
“I commend Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, the Special Adviser of the United
Nations secretary-general, is helping move forward the transition in
Iraq. I hope the United Nations will be able to play its independent
and effective role in assisting the Iraqis in institution-building
and election preparation in the months ahead,” he said.
Gul stressed: “Iraq meanwhile remains insecure and volatile. Violence
and terror in Iraq need to be dealt with. This is essential for the
transformation and the rebuilding of the country. The international
community should support the Iraqi people in this process. It is a
moral obligation for us. It is also an investment for regional peace
and stability. In this respect, we welcome the unanimously adopted
UN Security Council Resolution No 1546.”
“The neighbouring countries of Iraq have supported this country’s
free and peaceful future since the onset of the Iraqi crisis. This
continuing joint initiative is a great asset for the integrity and
the stability of Iraq,” he said.
Gul added: “The OIC has a meaningful role to play in Iraq. Furthermore,
UN Security Council Resolution No 1546 calls upon international and
regional organizations to contribute to Iraq’s stability. Therefore,
we should elaborate on ways on how to assist the political process as
well as the humanitarian needs in Iraq. Turkey, during its Chairmanship
of the ICFM, will pay particular attention to this point.”
Gul said that he believed that full support would be given to Prof
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu for office of OIC secretariat-general. Gul
continued: “Ihsanoglu has long been a household name for our
organization as the successful director general of IRCICA. I do not
need to repeat here what we all already know about this professional,
academic and administrative credentials. I am confident that the will
have more to offer as the secretary-general of the organization.”
“My government has an increasing interest in revitalizing the OIC
and its Secretariat. The OIC needs to continue to move forward as an
institution. We want to contribute to this in every possible way we
can. It is in this spirit that my government has decided to nominate
a candidate for the post of secretary-general of the OIC,” he noted.
Gul said: “Turkey will do its utmost over the next year as the chairman
of the ICFM to rise up to the challenges facing the organization. We
are confident that we can count on your full support.”
“The question of Palestine has become even more acute over
the past year. Violence claimed many more innocent lives. The
destruction brought by the policies of Israel deprived thousands
of more Palestinians of even minimum requirements for living. The
Palestinian [National] Authority remains mainly incapacitated. Turkey
has all along stated that the employment of terror, suicide missions,
targeted assassinations and deliberate destruction can bring no good
to any party either now or in the longer run. I would like to draw
the attention of the international community once more to the urgency
of the solution of this problem which, coupled with the situation in
Iraq, continues to undermine global peace and harmony,” Gul noted.
Abdullah Gul stressed: “In this regard, I commend the initiative taken
by Malaysia, the OIC summit chairman. The special ministerial meeting
held last April has led to a well-organized diplomatic activity. The
OIC ministerial delegation, including Turkey, has thus far met three
of the four Quartet partners. Our message to the sponsors of the
road-map has been clear. The OIC will actively stand behind genuine
movement towards settlement, and the OIC will be watchful of all
concerned parties.”
He said: “Inspired also by the Arab Peace Initiative, based on the
wise ideas of Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the OIC can
oversee the process to achieve the two-state solution between Israel
and Palestine. We can do the same for Israel’s peace with Syria and
Lebanon, based on Security Council Resolutions Nos 242 and 338. This
can be achieved through the OIC mechanisms already available. Thus,
the OIC, from its political and moral high ground, can offer full
normalization and cooperation in the region.”
Gul said: “Africa needs our particular attention. The long-standing
problems of economic development, health and famine continue to
undermine the nations of this continent. Regional conflicts make their
challenges even more difficult. The need to support sustainable
development and social progress in Africa is an international
responsibility of which we need to take our share.”
“Concerning Afghanistan, we are pleased that the Bonn process is
being implemented successfully despite difficulties. Adoption of the
new constitution is an important step towards the establishment of a
new political structure in Afghanistan. With the upcoming elections
in September, a new chapter will be opened. To maintain the pace
of this progress, Afghanistan needs the continued commitment of
the international community. Turkey will continue its support to
Afghanistan,” Gul noted.
Foreign Minister Gul said: “We remained concerned by the ongoing
situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Its people have already suffered
greatly. This question undermines the stability of the whole
region. We look forward to a peaceful solution to this question
through dialogue, on the basis of international legitimacy. The human
rights of the Kahsmiri people should be fully respected and their will
honoured as mandated by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The recent moves made by both Pakistan and India and the process of
“composite dialogue” have increased our hopes. We commend Pakistan
for its continued efforts to sustain this dialogue. We wish to see
these efforts will be crowned with success this time.”
Gul stressed that the Azeri-Armenian conflict still stands as
one of the principle obstacles to regional stability, prosperity
and cooperation in Southern Caucasia. The time has come to find a
peaceful solution to this conflict within the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. The Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories
has to be brought to an end. This is in the interest of the regional
countries as well as the international community. Turkey is ready to
play its role in settling this issue.
“International terrorism is widening its reach and increasing
in ferocity. It continues to claim lives and hopes around the
world. Terrorism has not religion, ethnicity or culture. It is an
affront to the humanity. Therefore, it must be fought back resolutely,”
he pointed out.
“For many years, the OIC has been monitoring the conditions of
the Turkish Muslim minority in Western Thrace. This minority has
vested rights based on bilateral agreements and international
instruments. However, they are not yet able to enjoy these basic
minority rights to the full extend. The OIC therefore needs to
continue to follow the Turkish Muslim minority’s plight closely. I
hope my government’s improving relations and dialogue with Greece
will also contribute to the betterment of this minority’s conditions,”
Gul stated.
“The economic and commercial activities of the OIC constitute one
of the main pillars of our cooperation. The Standing Committee for
Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), chaired by the president
of Turkey, has been a highly effective instrument in this respect. And
this year marks the 20th anniversary of its inception. A special
meeting of Ministers of Economy and Trade will be organized to mark
this and to evaluate the perspectives of further economic-commercial
cooperation among us,” Gul said.
Gul emphasized: “This year, we are also pleased to see the Framework
Agreement for the Trade Preferential System among the Member Countries
of the OIC coming into force. This is indeed a landmark. The Trade
Negotiating Committee formed under this agreement has also held its
first meeting recently in Turkey.”
” In this respect, I would also like to express my government’s
continued support for the activities of the two successful subsidiary
organs of the OIC hosted by Turkey, namely IRCICA and SESRTCIC,”
he noted.
Gul said, “I tried to address a number of major issues for our
organization. Many more vital matters constitute part of our agenda.
Dealing with these requires year-round dedication and hard work. That
is where the role of the Secretariat becomes crucial.

The Halifax Daily News (Nova Scotia)
June 13, 2004 Sunday
Much more than three B’s;
Something for everyone, including beer, barbecue, belly-dancing, at
annual party
by Rodenhiser, David
The best annual event in Nova Scotia celebrates its 20th anniversary
this week, and you really shouldn’t miss the party.
No other event in the province delivers the quality and variety of
entertainment and food, complete with fun activities for kids and a
beer tent for adults, as the Nova Scotia Multicultural Festival.
It’s a blast, it’s educational, and it’s cheap.
The festival – www.multifest. ca/2004 – takes place at Alderney Landing
on the Dartmouth waterfront. Even for those Haligonians who loathe
leaving the peninsula, it’s well worth the trip. There’s literally
something for everyone. And, this year, there’s more of everything.
“There are a lot of add-ons. We’ve got two full evenings added to
the agenda,” says Moka Case, the festival’s artistic director. “We’ll
have more than 700 performers on the stage in 1/2ve days, representing
over 40 different cultural groups.”
The festival starts Wednesday evening and runs through Sunday, plus
sneak previews noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday at
Halifax’s Grand Parade. To tie in with Acadie 400 – the celebration
of the 400th anniversary of the 1/2rst French settlers’ arrival –
the festival will feature three Acadian music groups: two traditional
bands and a hip-hop trio. Aboriginal Canadians are represented by
Kanenhi:io, a women’s quartet from Ontario, and Inuit throat singer
Tanya Tagaq Gillis.
Now, I have no idea what any of these performers sound like, which
is actually quite exciting. Hearing them will be a completely new
experience. And, even on the off chance that I don’t like them,
there are plenty of other bands playing that I know I’ll love.
Returning from last year are two top-notch local reggae bands:
Halfway Tree, boasting former Bob Marley and the Wailers bassist Bryan
Atkinson, and Verbal Warning, which features a phenomenal guitarist
who morphs reggae choruses into metal riffs. The always spicy Salsa
Picante and Alma Latina will heat things up with Latin grooves, and
perennial favourite Afro-Musica will lead you on a musical tour of
the birthplace of humanity. I dare you to try not to dance to any of
these bands.
Last year, the festival attracted 45,000 visitors – almost 20 times
the 2,300 who turned out in 1985 for the inaugural showcase at
what was then called the Technical University of Nova Scotia. The
event has grown through the dedicated work of its organizers and
participants. This year, it’s getting $7,500 from the province for
the 1/2rst time, and Ottawa is kicking in $10,000. Compare that
to provincial funding for the Tattoo ($153,300) and Celtic Colours
Festival ($125,000).
The dozens of cultural communities that make the multicultural
festival an annual success take great pride in their contributions,
be it traditional dance, colourful costumes or succulent food. This
year, the Korean Association of Nova Scotia is going the extra mile
by paying to import the Myungji Traditional Dance Company from its
homeland; the Atlantic Jewish Council is co-presenting the Flying
Bulgar Klezmer Band, billed as “Yiddish folk-rock at its 1/2nest”;
and the Armoyans, the land developing family, are sponsoring Haik!,
a children’s dance troupe from Armenia.
Besides the entertainment, you’ll get to peruse 50 exhibit booths and
feast at 28 food booths – shish-kebabs, sushi, jerk chicken, samosas,
sausages, spring rolls, tabouli, baklava and Portuguese sardines
(a steal at 75 cents a head).
Finally, for all you guys who still think it sounds about as fun as
reading a year’s worth of National Geographics, let me leave you with
the three B’s: beer, barbecue and belly-dancing.
You can thank me at the beer tent.