ARMENIAN RAMKAVAR AZATAKAN PARTY LEAVES WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS
Regnum, Russia
Nov 21 2006
One of founders of the World Armenian Congress (WAC) Armenian Ramkavar
Azatakan Party (ARAP) announced about its leaving the abovementioned
organization. According to a party statement released on November
20, initially the ARAP enthusiastically appreciated prospect of
establishing such organization.
According to the statement, it became disappointed soon with chaotic
and irresponsible functioning of the WAC. In particular, leadership of
the ARAP repeatedly requested leadership of the WAC to submit a report
on its functioning. It has not received yet such report; it is said
in the statement. In that connection, the ARAP central governing body
stated that it did not account for the WAC functioning, as well as for
functioning and publications of the Azg newspaper which was handed over
to another owner against the party’s wish and without its agreement
whereas all party efforts to change the false order remained fruitless.
It is worth stressing; the WAC was founded in 2003 when parliamentary
elections were conducted in Armenia. Brother of the WAC Chairman and
Russian Armenian Union (RAU) Chairman Ara Abramyan Gagik Abramyan was
nominated according to the ARAP party lists; however, the ARAP did not
manage to overcome the 5% barrier. Gagik Abramyan stated recently that
he was going to participate in parliamentary elections again; however,
he gave it to understand that he was not going to cooperate with the
ARAP. In his turn, Ara Abramyan stated o November 20 that importance of
political sympathies of the RAU should not be overestimated. “However,
at present, we need to familiarize ourselves with election programs
of Armenian political parties,” the RAU chairman stated adding that
decision on contributing to any political party in Armenia might be
made in collective way during discussions in frameworks of the RAU
and the WAC.

UN OFFICIAL SAYS TURKEY IS NOT READY FOR THE EU
Azka Khan
Daily Kent Stater, OH
Nov 21 2006
United Nations official Miroslav Jovanovic spoke last night in the
Governace Chambers about the controversy surrounding Turkey’s admission
to the European Union. About 50 people attended the lecture.
KATIE ROUPE | DAILY KENT STATER
United Nations official Miroslav Jovanovic thinks the controversy
surrounding Turkey’s admission to the European Union is not about
politics, but more about the country’s culture and society.
Jovanovic, economic affairs officer in the transport division of the
United Nations Economic Commission, presented his argument on the
issues surrounding Turkey’s addition to the EU last night in the Kent
Student Center Governance Chambers.
The lecture, titled “Turkey in the European Union: Euthanasia or the
Rejuvenation of Europe,” was sponsored by the Lemnitzer Center for NATO
and European Union Studies through its Gerald H. Reed lecture series.
The European Union made its world debut in 1992 and currently includes
25 member countries. The EU is a political powerhouse that represents
power, prestige and prosperity.
Turkey, a country that meets very few EU requirements, applied for
membership last year. The membership has yet to be finalized, but
the long wait has some critics speaking out.
“There are only two countries that the EU is considering for
enlargement, and those are Croatia and Turkey.” Jovanovic said. “The
controversy is really about the readiness of the European Union to
accept such a large and relatively poor country.”
According to Jovanovic, there are issues to consider about Turkey’s
readiness and willingness to accept the Union’s closed regulations,
policies and spirits.
“If you want to join a club,” Jovanovic said, “you have to follow
the rules of the club.”
Jovanovic provided a number of reasons why Turkey does not meet the
rules of the EU and why the country will most likely not be accepted.
“It’s not that Turkey has to change its constitution, but the EU has
to change its constitution if Turkey is accepted,” he said.
His first reason is Turkey’s past, in terms of political relations
with other European countries, specifically Cyprus and Armenia.
“Turkey doesn’t recognize Cyprus as a country,” he said. “Then there
is the Armenian Genocide of 1915, in which millions of Armenians were
slaughtered by the Turks.”
Jovanovic said Turkey must accept its past before moving forward with
involvement with the EU.
Civil rights is another issue, he said.
He continued by saying the freedom of expression in Turkey is at a
very low level compared to the EU standards. He also mentioned that
the treatment of women needs to be improved.
When focusing on Turkey’s economy, Jovanovic said Turkey would need
61 years in order to catch up with the average GDP of the EU.
“It is on its way to European modernity,” Jovanovic said. “But there
is still a few steps that it has to take.”
About 50 people attended the lecture.
“I think it is interesting to see both the EU and Turkey perspective,”
said Lisa Kurz, a junior international relations major.
“It’s also interesting to learn about the cost and restrictions of
the EU.”

MAN STABBED, KILLED IN PARKING LOT OF TOYS R US
CBS 2, CA
Nov 21 2006
(CBS) VAN NUYS, Calif. A Canyon Country resident was fatally stabbed
after getting into an argument with a group of men in the parking
lot of a Toys R Us store in Van Nuys, police said Monday.
Wayne Allen Moyer, 36, began arguing with the men at 16040 Sherman
Way at 9:50 last night, and the dispute escalated into a fight,
during which time Moyer was stabbed in the chest, police said.
Moyer’s companion tried to rush him to the hospital, but only made
it as far as the 7200 block of Lindley Avenue in Reseda, where police
found him lying in the bed of a pickup truck.
The suspects, described only as Armenian men in their early 20s,
drove away in a white sport utility vehicle and a black Honda Civic
or Accord.
Anyone with additional information was asked to call homicide
detectives at (818) 374-0040. On weekends or evenings, call (877)
529-3855.

KOCHARIAN WANTS OPEN BORDERS WITH TURKEY YET REFUSE ANY STEP
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Nov 21 2006
* Kocharian urges establishment of diplomatic ties with Turkey
Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated late Thursday that Turkey,
as a candidate for European Union (EU) membership, should follow a
“different approach” on the issue of establishing diplomatic relations
with neighbouring Yerevan. Turkey on the other hand argues that
Armenia should withdraw its armed forces from neigbouring Azerbaijan
and should recognise Turkey’s national borders. Armenia does not
recognise Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s national borders.
Stressing that diplomatic relations should be established without
preconditions and prejudices, Mr. Kocharian claimed that although
his country had suggested to Turkey the establishment of diplomatic
relations, Ankara refused. “Our suggestion is still valid,” he said
in a speech at a meeting organized by the Bertelsmann Association in
Berlin. However a Turkish diplomat in Ankara does not find Kocharian’s
statement serious adding “Armenia is not in a position to offer
diplomatic relations with Turkey”. Reminding that Armenian forces
have been occupying almost 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories,
the diplomat added Armenia first must follow a peacefull policy in
the region.
Kocharian accepted in his speech that Turkey was an important
country. Kocharian said “Turkey closed its borders with Armenia” yet
he did not give the reason behind the decision. Kocharian did also
not touch the open air borders between two countries. Many Armenians
travel every week between two countries via airplanes.
* ‘Proposal for historians’ commission is a ploy’
The Armenian president Kocharian further dismissed the Turkish Prime
Minister tayyip Erdogan’s proposal to establish a joint commission
of historians to study the Armenian historical claims as a “Turkish
ploy” by which he claimed Ankara will try to distance itself from the
core of the alleged issue. According to the Armenian side, there is
nothing to be discussed, and Turkey has to accept what the Armenian
side says. Last week Turkish Foreign Minister Abdulah Gul declared
that Turkey has been studying to go to the international court for the
Armenian claims. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from the Ankara-based USAK told the
JTW “Armenians have never gone to the courts but parliaments, because
they do want to keep the issue in the political area. They know that
they would lose any case if they go to the international or local
courts. International law says that the 1915 events is not genocide”.
Kocharian made the remarks in response to former German Ambassador
Dietrich Kyaw, who asked him why he had rejected Turkish Premier Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal of a historians’ commission to examine
the genocide allegations. Turkey has offered many alternatives to
establish dialogue between Turkey and Armenia to solve all problems,
including the genocide claims. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
even invited Mr. Kocharian to Istanbul, yet all of these offers and
invitations were strongly rejected by Armenia and its president.
Kocharian also stated that Yerevan wants the establishment of a
commission of politicians instead of a commission of historians
and said, “Politicians, not historians, have responsibility for the
‘genocide’.” However Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedat Laciner, Turkish expert on
Armenian studies, asked “why politicians?”. Laciner further continued:
“Which politicians are responsible for the so-called genocide? The
exisiting politicians in Turkey? It is really difficult to understand
Mr. Kocharian. According to the International Law, individuals are
responsible for genocide crime. It means that even if we consider
the 1915 events as Genocide, today’s Turkey or its politicians canno
be responsible for the events happened almost a century ago. 1915 is
past, Mr. President has to realise that we live in 2006, not in 1915.
Historians, political scientists or lawyers should discuss the claims,
not the politicians.”
Kocharian: ‘Nagorno-Karabakh is independent’
Armenian President Robert Kocharian also claimed that the disputed
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence following the
collapse of the Soviet Union and the enclave has never been a part of
Azerbaijan, though the region was one of the provinces of Azerbaijan
during the Soviet Union. The European Union and the OSCE officialy
condemned Armenia as occupier in Karabakh. No state in the world,
including Armenia officially recognises Nagorno-Karabakh. Apart from
Karabakh, some other towns of Azerbaijan have also been under the
Armenian occupation.

DARCHINYAN SET FOR WORLD TITLE DEFENCE
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
The West Australian, Australia
The Age, Australia
Nov 22 2006
Australia’s dual world flyweight boxing champion Vic Darchinyan may
have to forgo some Christmas cheer, with a mandatory defence against
former world champion, Victor Burgos mooted for early January.
IBF and IBO champion Darchinyan returned earlier this week from the
country of his birth, Armenia, where he took a break following the
successful defence of his titles against Filipino Glenn Donaire in
Las Vegas last month.
According to Darchinyan, his next fight could well be in the same
city on January 7 on a proposed Don King promotion.
His American promoter Gary Shaw has told Darchinyan his next bout
will be against leading IBF contender Burgos.
The 32-year-old Mexican formerly held the IBF light flyweight world
title.
While his overall record includes 14 losses alongside 39 wins and
three draws, Burgos has suffered just one defeat in his last 12
contests stretching over six years.
Darchinyan revealed he had a special incentive to win his next contest
as the IBO would present him with a ring if he made a fifth successful
defence of its title.
The 30-year-old southpaw has already earned a ring from the IBF after
making three victorious defences of that title, though he has yet to
collect it.
He was still waiting to hear whether his appeal over the official
result of his fight against Donaire was successful.
The contest was declared a technical decision victory for Darchinyan
after Donaire was unable to continue beyond the sixth round due to
a jaw injury the referee deemed caused by a head clash.
Darchinyan was adamant there was no such contact and has lobbied
for the result to be amended to a KO, which would be the 21st of his
unbeaten professional log of 27 fights.
Meanwhile veteran Shannan Taylor today announced he would fight Nonoy
Gonzales for the vacant IBF Australasian middleweight title at Fairy
Meadow on December 15.
Taylor said he was more focused than for his last fight where he
suffered a shock loss to Canadian Ian MacKillop back in July, when
he was distracted by promotional problems outside the ring.
He said he planned to move back to light middleweight and fight
MacKillop in a re-match next February, provided he defeated Gonzales,
who has lost his last seven bouts.
Taylor, who will also promote the December 15 show, said the undercard
would include world ranked Nedal Hussein and unbeaten rising stars
Daniel Geale and Lenny Zappavigna.

ŞENSOY URGES ALL-OUT EFFORTS AGAINST ‘GENOCIDE’ MOVE IN US
Turkish Daily News
Nov 22 2006
Turkish Ambassador to the United States Nabi Şensoy yesterday
sought support from the Turkish government, opposition parties, the
press and business circles as well as nongovernmental organizations
in a move to prevent an alleged Armenian genocide resolution from
being brought up in the U.S. Congress.
“There is a need for all-out efforts,” Şensoy was quoted as saying
by the Anatolia news agency. Şensoy stressed it was significant
to obtain support from Turkish authorities, the government, the
opposition and NGOs.
Şensoy also said no resolution on the alleged genocide was
expected to appear on the agenda of the U.S. Congress by the end of
this year but added that it might be likely after the new Congress
takes charge as of January. “The U.S. administration will assume a
stance on the issue by taking into consideration the integrity of
bilateral relations [with Turkey],” he added.
A group of Turkish lawmakers including Istanbul deputy Egemen
Bagiş, a close aide to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies Reha Denemec and
Mevlut Cavuşoglu, as well as main opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP) deputy Zeynep Damla Gurel traveled to the United States
to attend the annual meeting of the Working Group on Turkey in the
U.S. Congress.
The Turkish lawmakers’ visit came after the election victory handed
control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate to the
Democrats following the Nov. 7 congressional elections. U.S. Armenian
groups have welcomed the Democratic Party’s landslide win in the
elections and voiced an expectation that the new Congress would
formally recognize last century’s Armenian killings in the Ottoman
Empire as genocide.
In France, a conference on minorities will be held on Nov. 25 on the
occasion of Armenian year, news reports said yesterday.
France declared September 2006-July 2007 as the Armenian year.
Ankara has warned Paris not to let the activities be dominated by
the alleged genocide. France welcomed the comment but said it cannot
control local activities to that effect.

NGOS NOT READY YET TO MEET WITH GOV’T ON 301
Fulya Ozerkan
Turkish Daily News
Nov 22 2006
‘We’re keeping up with studies, and dialogue is in place despite a
partial lack of reconciliation among the NGOs,’ says Necdet Okcan,
a lawyer for DİSK
Representatives from leading trade unions and nongovernmental
organizations have no plans to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan as long as they remain divided over possible changes to a
controversial article of the penal code that the European Union says
restricts freedom of expression, said a lawyer for one of the NGOs
actively involved in studies to come up with concrete proposals on
the article in question.
“I don’t think that there will be a meeting [with Erdogan] without
reconciliation among the NGOs on how to change Article 301,” Necdet
Okcan, lawyer for the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions
(DİSK), told the Turkish Daily News.
“We’re keeping up with studies, and dialogue is in place despite a
partial lack of reconciliation among the NGOs,” he added. Okcan also
said a face-to-face meeting with the government was not the only
option, noting that they could submit proposals in written format
after reaching a compromise among themselves.
Turkey is under EU pressure to amend or scrap Article 301, which
has landed a string of intellectuals in court for denigrating Turkish
identity or “Turkishness” and some for comments on the alleged genocide
of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. In its key report
earlier this month, the EU’s executive arm, the commission, clearly
said it was necessary for Turkey to ensure freedom of expression
without delay “by repealing or amending Article 301.”
In a move to bring its legislation in line with European standards,
the government has sought support from NGOs to that effect.
Erdogan has recently met with representatives from leading trade
unions and NGOs to hear their opinions on how to change Article 301.
NGOs are expected to introduce a set of proposals and arrangements
to the government in order to make the law more clear and hinder
any misinterpretation.
“Everyone should draw similar conclusions from laws. It’s not correct
to play with major laws such as those in the penal code; they should
have a sound basis,” Okcan added.
DİSK, the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions
(Turk-İş), the Labor Confederation (Hak-İş), the
Turkish Confederation of Employers’ Unions (TİSK), the Turkish
Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), the Economic
Development Foundation (İKV), the Turkish Industrialists and
Businessmen’s Association (TUSİAD), the Turkish Agriculturalists’
Union, the Turkish Doctors’ Union (TTB) and the Turkish Television
Broadcasters’ Union are actively studying proposals for possible
changes to Article 301.
Press Council Chairman Oktay Ekşi, meanwhile, had earlier sent
a letter to Erdogan, listing in detail the council’s proposals for
amendments to the article.

TALKS ON RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT INTENSIFIES – FRENCH CO-CHAIR AT OSCE MINSK GROUP
Author: A.Mammadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 22 2006
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, Russian Ambassador, Yuriy Merzlyakov,
stated in Baku on 22 November that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have
further proposals on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
which at present is being discussed confidentially, Trend reports.
Speaking on the results of the visit to Yerevan and talks held
with the Armenian leaders, the mediator said that the Armenian side
confirmed its willingness to participate in the talks. We hope the
same applies in Baku by the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev,”
he added. The diplomat also noted that the U.S. Ambassador, Matthew
Bryza, intends to meet with the leader of the Armenian community of
Nagorno-Karabakh, Arkadiy Gukasian in Los Angeles, and therefore,
was unable to visit the region with the Minsk Group mission.
Nevertheless, he voiced his hope that all 3 co-chairs would be present
at the meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Minsk
on 28 November 2006.
The French Ambassador Fassie announced that negotiations are continuing
intensively. “We have met with the Foreign Ministers three times
over the last few weeks. We are trying to build a wall in the hope
of establishing a base for future agreements on the resolution of
the conflict. We add a brick each time a positive step is taken,”
he stated .

AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION INTRODUCES AMENDMENTS INTO NATO PA REPORT ON SITUATION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS
Regnum, Russia
Nov 22 2006
“The report on the situation in South Caucasus was changed three
times during the 52nd session of NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA)
carried out in Quebec (Canada),” Azerbaijani Parliament’s Deputy
Speaker, head of the Azeri delegation at NATO PA Ziyafet Askerov is
quoted by Azeri Press Agency as saying. He stressed that “issue of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity was the most important one for us
in the report on South Caucasus prepared by UK deputy Frank Cook.”
“The issue was mentioned superficially in the first draft report. We
made our proposals in that connection. We made our proposals concerning
the report’s second variant, too. As for the third variant, it
satisfied us comparing with previous ones,” he stressed.
According to Askerov, problems connected with the Azerbaijani economy,
presence of more than 1mln of refugees and IDPs, deportation of 200,000
Azerbaijanis from Armenia, construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum and Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars
railway were present in the report.
According to Askerov, “Armenians protested against giving certain
number of refugees and IDPs, as well as dimensions of the occupied
Azerbaijani territories.” “We provided in advance all official
representatives of NATO PA with decisions concerning recognition
of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity adopted by international
organizations. We demonstrated to NATO PA documents proving arrival of
Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh 150 years ago, as well as a photograph of
a monument erected by them on the occasion. I believe it exerted big
impact. If the separate issue of Azerbaijan is discussed in future,
we will achieve adoption of a special NATO PA resolution,” the Azeri
first deputy speaker stressed.
According to him, instability of the situation in Abkhazia, South
Ossetia, Transdnestr, and Nagorno Karabakh was reflected in 13th
clause of report of NATO PA Committee on Security Civil Control on
cooperation with countries of the Black Sea basin.

8TH PRESENTATION OF PARTNER ENTERPRISES OF PEACE CORPS TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN TODAY
AZG Armenian Daily
22/11/2006
The eighth annual presentation of partner organizations of the Peace
Corps in Armenia is slated on November 22. According to the USA Embassy
to Armenia, the volunteers of the Peace Corps and their Armenian
colleagues will meet during the event with the representatives of
over 80 local and international enterprises, which contribute to the
process of Armenia’s development. The charge d’affaires of the USA
Embassy to Armenia, Anthony Godfrey, will hold a welcoming speech at
the presentation.