12 TURKISH CANDIDATES TO RUN IN NOV. 22 DUTCH ELECTIONS
By Cihan News Agency
Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 21 2006
Twelve candidates of Turkish origin from seven different parties will
run in the upcoming elections in the Netherlands.
In September, three Turkish candidates had been previously expelled
from their parties because of their refusal to accept recognition of
an Armenian genocide.
The Turkish candidates are running for the Christian Democrats (CDA),
the Labor Party (PvdA), Democrat 66 party (D’66), Liberal Party (VVD)
and several smaller right-wing parties.
Approximately 12 million Dutch will vote for 150 members of the
chamber of deputies on Wednesday.
None of the 26 parties is expected to win a majority of the vote. A
struggle is anticipated between the rightist Christian Democrats
(CDA) and the main opposition Labor Party (PvdA).
The previous expulsion of Turkish candidates has led to speculation
that most Turkish origin voters will opt for Fatma Koser who is
running with D’66.
She might even become a minister if the predictions are true.
More than 250,000 Turkish citizens in the country have double
citizenship and approximately two thirds can vote.
There are already several Turkish MPs in the Dutch parliament.

BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR: BULGARIA MIGHT BACK AZERBAIJANS INTEGRATION TO EU
Author: S. Aghayeva
TREND Informationa, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2006
Trend’s exclusive interview with Ivan Palchev, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Azerbaijan on the threshold of
the visit of the Bulgarian Speaker to Azerbaijan
– Georgiy Pirinsky, Bulgaria Speaker is expected to pay an official
visit to Azerbaijan this week. Which issues will be the priority in
the agenda of the forthcoming negotiations with the Azerbaijani party
within the above-mentioned visit?
– Chairman of the Bulgarian People Assembly will arrive in Baku on
November 22 to take part in the sitting of the General Assembly of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation. During the forthcoming meeting, the chair of
the Organization will be passed to Bulgaria. As soon as the sitting
of the Organization is completed, on November 24-25, the official
visit of the Bulgarian Speaker to Azerbaijan will be commenced.
The Bulgarian Speaker will be accompanied by representative delegation
consisting of members of all fractions of the Bulgarian Parliament
and the Government of the Country. The agenda of the visit includes
meetings with the Azerbaijani Speaker Ogtay Assadov, Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov, Premier-Minister Artur Rasizadeh, and certainly
with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The Bulgarian Speaker will
also visit the Baku Slavic University, where he will get acquainted
with the activity of the Bulgarian Culture Centre, as well as meet
students and pedagogical staff of the University.
Bulgaria is a parliamentary state. The supreme authority of the
Country is the Parliament. All the other bodies of authority submit
to the Parliament. Being the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament, Mr.
Pirinsky has wide authorities, and he is about to discuss the wide
spectrum of different issues on both the bilateral and regional
cooperation, as well as cooperation of an international nature with
the Azerbaijani party.
– Bulgaria joins EU starting January 1, 2007. Which role that could
play in Bulgaria bilateral relations with Azerbaijan?
– It is true that Bulgaria will join EU starting from Janury, 2007.
According to EU requirements, all the member-states of the
Organization should unify their legislation in accordance with the
EU requirements. The contract and legal base between Azerbaijan and
Bulgaria today consists of 28 documents which will be reviewed once
more and unified to meet the EU requirements and standards. At the
same time, a new package of agreements of a bilateral nature is being
worked out. It is expected to cover different spheres of cooperation..
Being the Ambassador, I am quite satisfied with the development of
political contacts. For three years of the activity of the Bulgarian
Embassy to Azerbaijan, all possible visits at a level of Ministers
and Chiefs of Bodies, Speakers, and Presidents have been paid.
However, economic relations between our countries do not completely
meet the existing potential of the two countries. The commodity
turnover between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan reached just $6-8 mln. last
year.
I have had a lot contacts with businessmen of the both countries,
invited them, gave them advises, but their interest to business was
of curious tourists. However, that will have its reasons. First of
all, the lack of direct air flights between Baku and Sofia impedes
developing the mutual relations. There are intentions to establish a
new charter air flight – Baku-Varna in the next year, and to attempt
to develop tourism. I hope that the mutual skepticism that is now
connected with Bulgaria joining EU will act in the reverse direction
and make businessmen of the two countries to mutually cooperate.
– How could you estimate perspectives of cooperation between Bulgaria
and Azerbaijan in energy field? Which perspective directions of this
cooperation could you mark?
– For about 12 years, Bulgaria, Russia, and Greece have held
negotiations on constructing oil pipeline “Burgas-Aleksandrupolis”.
Finally, a month ago, the three Presidents met and signed the
corresponding document. Not only Russia oil but also Azerbaijani
one, which is carried via the Russian territory through oil
pipeline “Baku-Novorossiysk” will connect to the pipeline. At
present, a project on transporting gas from Erzurum via route
Turkey-Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-Austria is being worked out. The
construction of a pipeline is expected to be launched in the next
year. And I think that by 2011, the gas will reach Bulgaria.
– What is Bulgaria’s position toward the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
– Bulgaria position toward the Nagorno-Karabakh issue remains
unchanged. The most important in this position is that Bulgaria adheres
the thesis that Nagorno-Karabakh will always be a part of Azerbaijan,
and , as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have repeatedly stated
this territory may obtain the highest autonomy, but only within the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. And I think the conflicting
parties themselves are gradually trending to this position.

REGULAR EXHIBITION IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
On November 20 the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education,
Culture and Youth and Armenian International Women’s Association NGO
organized an exhibition of children’s works in the National Assembly,
which was dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Independence of Republic
of Armenia.
According to Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan, Chairwoman of the Committee, the
presented works of children of Gavar region Art Schools are singled
out not only by their genre diversity: paintings, sculpture, ceramic
pieces, needlework, but also by the originality of world perception:
directness, clearness, interesting color decisions, conceptions and
their free demonstration.
The MPs and employees of the National Assembly were present at the
exhibition, and they expressed words of admiration toward presented
works. They noted with enthusiasm that the cultural-educational
centres should be focused on; the talented and gifted children should
be discovered and supported, since the tomorrow of our country and
perspective of its development are conditioned by them.

FRANCE STAGING CONFERENCE ON MINORITIES IN TURKEY
NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Nov 21 2006
The conference is likely to set a jarring chord in Turkey, which
recently voiced its disquiet at the lower house of the French
parliament approving legislation that would make it a criminal offence
to deny the so-called Armenian genocide.
Guncelleme: 14:11 TSİ 21 Kasim 2006 SaliPARIS – France will hold
a conference in Versailles on minorities Turkey on November 25 as a
part of activities marking “the Armenian year”.
The theme of the conference focuses on the past and future of the
Armenians, Syriac-Keldani, Greeks and Kurdish minorities and has
been referred to as a joint activity of those destroyed or oppressed
by Turkey.
Some administrators from minority associations and academics will be
participating in the conference.
France had declared September 2006 to July 2007 as the Armenian year,
a step that has been described as a move to win votes of the about
500,000 Armenian’s living in France ahead of the French Presidential
elections in 2007.

ARMENIANS BUILD FULL-TIME CHURCH IN SCOTTSDALE
By Ari Cohn, Tribune
East Valley Tribune, AZ
Nov 21 2006
North Scottsdale is a far cry from the Armenian Quarter in the Old
City of Jerusalem, where Jerry Avakian was born.
Avakian is part of a small but growing group of adherents in Scottsdale
of the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the world’s oldest Christian
churches. As parish council chairman, he’s leading his congregation
in building Arizona’s first full-time Armenian church, at 8849
E. Cholla St.
The congregation, which currently holds biweekly services at an
existing cultural center on the site, has about 100 members but is
slowly growing, Avakian said.
“Relative to other communities, perhaps that’s small, but it’s pretty
much in line with the Armenian community in the area,” he said.
“We’re getting a lot more kids. It’s developing into a more mixed
community, so to speak.”
The church relies on visiting clergy from California to conduct the
services, but is hoping to get a fulltime priest if Scottsdale approves
its request to build a new roughly 6,000-square-foot church, he said.
“Even if there was no growth, we’d be looking for a traditional place
to worship,” Avakian said.
In 301 A.D., Armenia was the first country to establish Christianity
as its national religion. Services are conducted in Armenian, and
the faith differs somewhat from what is traditionally practiced in
the United States in its calendar, which places Christmas on Jan. 6,
Avakian said.
In the U.S., the Armenian population is centered in places like
Glendale, Calif., and Watertown, Mass., he said. When Avakian moved
to Scottsdale 30 years ago, the community here mainly comprised
second-generation Armenians.
Many were descendents of those who migrated out of what was Turkish
Armenia in early 1900s because of what came to be known as the
Armenian Genocide. During World War I, the Ottoman Turkish Empire
forcibly deported millions of Armenians to Syria and massacred untold
thousands. Turkey disputes the term “genocide,” however.
“There is a very large number of Armenians that live outside of
Armenia. I would say every family has someone they’re related to who
left Turkish Armenia at that time,” Avakian said.
Lately, he sees more immigration directly from Armenia and from
throughout the Middle East. Having a church and community in Scottsdale
could make it easier for others to relocate here, he said.
“I think the church is in fact an attraction,” he said.
The proposed church would be built on a 5.5-acre site alongside
the congregation’s existing cultural center. It’s expected to have
a seating capacity for about 270 for religious services, weddings,
baptisms and funeral services.
Artin Knadjian, of AAK Architecture and Interiors, said his designs
were inspired by an ancient church in Armenia devoted to St. Hripsime.
“It happened to be one of my favorites,” Knadjian said.
The building will hold true to religious and cultural traditions,
he said. For instance, the church will be crossshaped and capped by
a conical dome topping out at 45 feet.
“It does follow the tradition and design of the church wherein the
altar has to be on the east side of the building (facing Jerusalem)
and the entrance is on the west side,” Knadjian said. “It’s a little
similar to the Romanesque style.”
He said the exterior will be done in warm, desert browns and tans.
“It happens that the colors of ancient Armenia are similar to those
used in Arizona,” Knadjian said. Robin Meinhart, the city’s planning
department spokeswoman, said the plans are expected to come up at a
future Development Review Board meeting. Avakian said the congregations
hopes to build early next year.
sty=79350

CREATING ARMENIAN STATE IN TERRITORY OF AZERBAIJAN IS RIDICULOUS AND AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT ALLOW IT
Author: E.Javadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2006
Creating an Armenian state in the territory of Azerbaijan is ridiculous
and Azerbaijan will not allow it, the Vice Speaker of Milli Majlis
[Azerbaijani Parliament], Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the
NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Ziyafet Askerov, briefed the media,
Trend reports.
“NATO brings together 26 countries and most of them recognize the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Despite that NATO Secretary,
General Yap De Khup Scheffer, who did not participate in the
52nd autumn session but contributed via telephone conference from
Brussels. He and representatives of other countries explicitly stated
in their speeches that changing the borders would be disastrous. If
an ethnical society announces its independency in the territory of
another country, what would this cause? The Armenians residing in
Nagorno-Karabakh insist that they exercise the right to define their
destiny through the support from Armenia. But Armenians have already
defined their destiny and created their state. Creating an Armenian
state in the territory of Azerbaijan is totally unacceptable,”
Askerov underlined.

POPE BENEDICT XVI TO MAKE “TOURISTIC” VISIT TO HAGIA SOPHIA
Hurriyet, Turkey
Nov 21 2006
With Pope Benedict XVI scheduled to visit Turkey between November
28-December 1, the Vatican has confirmed that the leader of the
Catholic church will in fact be touring Istanbul’s historical Hagia
Sophia museum.
The news, published on the Vatican’s official web site, appeared to put
an end to speculation about whether Pope Benedict XVI would pray at the
Hagia Sophia, and event which many have noted could cause controversy
throughout Turkey. The Pope’s strictly touristic visit to the Hagia
Sophia will take part in between two masses the Catholic leader is
planning on attending with Christian communities in Istanbul, one
at the Greek Orthodox Saint Andreas church, and one at the Armenian
Church of the Apostles. During his visit, Pope Benedict XVI will be
meeting with Greek Patriarch Bartholomeus, as well as with Mesrob II,
the leader of the Armenian religious community in Turkey.

EUROPE’S ARMENIAN DIASPORA COLLECTED 1.1 MILLION 100, 000 TO RENDER ASSISTANCE TO KARABAKH
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
~H 1 million 100, 000 have been collected in the course of a measure
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund held in the Europe’s countries.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the Fund’s Public
Relations Department, the representatives of the Armenian Diasporas
of France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland and Germany participated in
the event. Current year over 13 000 families, the representatives of
the Europe’s Armenian Diaspora, contributed to the Nagorno-Karabakh’s
restoration.
Last year in the course of a similar measure ~H 976, 000 were
collected. 11 000 families participated in the event then.
To remind, a TV marathon targeted at promoting the restoration and
development of the Nagorno-Karabakh that suffered from Azerbaijan’s
aggression will be held November 23 in Los Angeles.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WE SHOULDN’T CONTRIBUTE TO REHN’S ISOLATION
Selcuk Gultasli
Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 21 2006
Putting aside friction on the Cyprus issue, it’s necessary to give
enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn his due. In spite of the wave
of anti-Turkish sentiment rising in Europe and pressure from many
prominent European politicians who have turned enmity towards Turks
into political empowerment, he kept a balance in the progress report
that is worthy of commendation.
What he said at the press conference while announcing the report
was the best he could do. His words, “Contrary to what is widely
believed in Europe, Turkey did not take a step backwards in its reform
efforts; it continued the reforms last year, only at a slower pace,”
disappointed Turkey’s opponents from the start.
Looking at the outcry of anti-Turkish activities across the board
from Plassnik to Stoiber and from Merkel to the Armenian lobby, it
is clear that expectations of a suspension in accession talks with
Rehn’s report have turned out to be mainly unfulfilled.
Christian Democrats are bombarding Rehn with criticism because he
didn’t display the “brave” stand they showed in their reports blaming
Turkey for two more genocides.
The Armenian lobby reproached the Commission’s “double standard”
for not even including the expression, “1915’s tragic events,” which
was in last year’s progress report.
A broad spectrum of Turkey’s opponents, enemies, and racists have made
an alliance to eliminate the influence and legitimacy of Rehn’s report.
Thus, showing the “daring” to delay his Cyprus recommendation for
a month, Rehn is being pushed to prepare the recommendation in the
most critical way, which is expected to be ready in December.
The progress report and strategy paper crystallized at a point of
balance keeping Cyprus and the reform process separate.
While these two reports and the responses to them have mainly occupied
the press, the Commission’s new enlargement plan, which was published
in the strategy paper, wasn’t discussed much in Turkey.
The real reason for Rehn explaining at length that the politics
of enlargement was not a high-speed train, that the quality of the
trip and the safety of the passengers were more important than the
train’s speed and that the aim was to arrive at the station without
a derailment, is the reality that Europe’s enlargement process is
going to advance more slowly.
It can be understood within the framework of the afore-mentioned
plan that Turkey’s candidacy, which already possesses the “heaviest”
conditions, is going to be subject to closer scrutiny.
Combining the EU’s quite cautious approach slowly turning against
enlargement with the Cyprus issue, using Rehn’s metaphor, the front
opposed to Turkey wants to derail Turkey from the track.
It’s necessary not to contribute to Rehn’s isolation, who is trying
to end Cyprus’s isolation, on Turkey’s account.
Significant moves made outside of Cyprus before the December summit
that would lighten up the Commission’s recommendation would also be
helpful to Rehn.
Article 301 of the Turkish penal code has become an embarrassing
monkey on Turkey’s back but could be useful during this period. The
only way for some ‘good’ to come out of 301 is for it to be either
eliminated or amended.

MATTHEW BRYZA NOT TO JOIN VISIT OF OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
Today, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2006
American co-chair of OSCE Minsk Matthew Bryza will not join the visit
of co-chairs to the region, US Embassy Public Relations Department
chief Jonathan Henick told.
The reason for his absence is Bryza’s tense schedule and celebration
of Thanksgiving Day this week, the most important holiday in US.
“Answering the question if another diplomat or the ambassador himself
will substitute Mattew Bryza, the ambassador answered that anyone
can substitute the co-chair, so only the co-chairs from Russia and
France Yuri Merzlyakov and Bernard Fasie will visit the region.”
It should be noted that, Merzlyakov and Fasie went to Yerevan
yesterday evening.
They will hold talks on the regulation of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian, and will discuss the issue concerning the preparations
to the meeting of Armenian president with Azerbaijan president on
November 28 in the frame of CIS Summit. The co-chairs are expected
to come to Baku tomorrow.
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