FRENCH APPROVAL OF ARMENIAN BILL STILL SPARKING REACTIONS AT HOME AND ABROAD
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Oct 16 2006
Parliament is to convene for an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday to
discuss possible steps towards France after its Parliament approved a
bill criminalizing denial of an Armenian “genocide,” Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul announced late Thursday.
“We warned France that if such a bill were passed by its Parliament,
the loser would be France. Paris will always be embarrassed by this,”
Gul said, evaluating the passage of the bill which introduces prison
terms up to one year and fines up to 45,000 euros to those who question
the Armenian genocide claims.
Lashing out at the decision, Gul said, “France showed the world
that it is a country which runs behind small policies. For the sake
of interests in the upcoming elections, France has destroyed its
historic prestige.”
Gul also stressed that France will no longer be able to define or
praise itself as the “country of freedoms where thoughts are expressed
without limits.”
Underlining that Ankara won’t take the matter lightly, Gul said,
“We won’t take a stance like that of 2001. We consider this to be more
serious than the French recognition of the genocide claims then. The
process will be monitored closely.”
Gul also expressed the hope that Turkish public will unite on the
issue and France will come out of the deadlock it has created.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry’s response to the French move was to
say immediately on Thursday that ties with France “have been dealt
a heavy blow.”
PM: Great shame, black stain on freedom of expression
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at the passing of
Armenian bill, labelling the French legislation a “great shame and
black stain on freedom of expression.”
“A historic mistake has been committed,” Erdogan said in a written
statement that also cautioned against overreaction.
“It is unacceptable for us to accept or show tolerance to the French
move. Unfortunately, no one can control the consequences of the
irresponsible behavior of French politicians,” the Prime Ministry
statement said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CITIES AND NOBELS
Mehmet Kamis
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 16 2006
After reading the novel, “Veronika Decides to Die” by Paulo Coelho,
I went to Ljubljana [in Slovenia] just to see those places and take
pictures of the squares, streets, buildings and people in the city
mentioned in this novel. While reading Orhan Pamuk’s “Snow,” I really
wanted to go to Kars with my camera on a winter day.
For a long time now, I have been dreaming of taking pictures of Kars
after making the long train journey to this eastern Anatolian city. I
am still dreaming of it. I believe novels can go beyond city walls,
take them out of their cages and present them to other lands and
people of other lands. Therefore, novelists are big boons for cities.
There can be no bigger boon than a city chosen as a theme by a
world-renowned novelist. St. Petersburg became a world city with
“Crime and Punishment” and Paris opened its soul in “Les Miserables”
to Victor Hugo, who narrated it to the whole world.
Pamuk is definitely no regime opponent. On the contrary, he is a
member of a family from the very center of the regime. He has never
been in a position to oppose the regime all his life. He has neither
suffered economic difficulties nor has he had any problems with the
regime. In other words, he is one of those white Turks. Besides,
his family includes members from Ittihat Terakki (the Committee of
Union and Progress) that put Turkey in trouble over the Armenian issue.
Though Pamuk had serious problems within his family, he spent his
life at the best schools and places in Nisantasi; he never had the
opportunity to come face to face with the Armenian or Kurdish issue.
I do not know whether he encountered any problems in the eastern
city of Kars where he lived briefly while writing his novel “Snow”
but Pamuk, generally, has spent most in life in good places and under
very favorable conditions. Although I have not been able to read any
his novels from beginning to end, Pamuk is certainly a good novelist.
At least he has aroused my interest in wanting to go to Kars.
Let me just reiterate that Pamuk is a good novelist though he holds
no serious political attitudes for or against the regime, and I
also think his remarks on the Armenians and Kurds could labeled as
opportunistic. What needs to be discussed here is the hypocrisy of
the West. The West has almost made it a condition for a novelist or
intellectual from the East to belittle his/her own society’s values
in order for him/her to be rewarded. Doors are opened for those who
ridicule and belittle Eastern values or those who speak out on issues
which are the Achilles’ heel of the East. Pamuk’s remarks must be
regarded as words uttered with such purpose to appease the West. If
he truly believed in what he said about the Kurds and Armenians,
it would have befitted the intellectual honor. Awarding Pamuk the
the Nobel Prize in Literature right after the French freak accident,
can be considered a typical Western conspiracy.
Beyond all these discussions, it is very important that a Turkish
Turk has won a Nobel prize. This is a development that can draw the
whole world’s attention to Turkey, Istanbul and even Kars. I hope
Turkey makes good use of this golden opportunity. Who knows, maybe
Pamuk will narrate the experiences, wisdom and general spirit of
tolerance in these lands to the outside world. People who have given
their souls for these lands, for the sake of the regime and power,
do not always look at the world from the same viewpoint.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH DIASPORA MEMBERS PLACED PROTEST ACTION OUTSIDE FRANCE EMBASSY IN PRAGUE
Azeri Press Agency
Oct 16 2006
Azerbaijani and Turkish Diaspora members in Czechia placed a protest
action outside France embassy in Prague, Azerbaijan-Czechia Society
told the APA.
The participants, who tied their mouth with ribbon symbolically,
hit hands together for 15 minutes. The action participants protested
against the arrest and monetary penalty considered for the deniers
false Armenian genocide by France Parliament and handed the resolution
written in Czech language to embassy officer. The chief of the society
also gave “Armenian Genocide” book written in French, Armenian and
Turkish languages and the CD to the embassy. The society is also
reported to hold series of ceremonies on Khojali tragedy will be held
in February next year in Czech. Exhibitions and seminars will be held
within the ceremony which will last for three months.

AZERBAIJANI DIASPORA MEMBERS ARGUE IN CANADA
Azeri Press Agency
Oct 16 2006
Canada-Azerbaijan Circles Federation held meeting in Toronto on October
15, Azerbaijan Educational and Cultural Center press service in Canada
told the APA.
Five circles out of seven participated in the meeting. The Federation
made annual report. They discussed Khojali and March 31 genocides.
The Federation positively appreciated the activity of “Azerbaijani
language’ weekend which is carried out at Toronto School Board and
the protest actions taking part outside Armenian embassy, UNESCO
Office and Canadian Parliament.
Akber Majidov was elected the president of the Federation. Azerbaijan
Education and Cultural Center General Manager Faraj Aliyev became
the vice-president.
Esmira Esedova, the president of Canada-Azerbaijan Friendship
Federation president, Javad Zerrin, The president of Ontario
Azerbaijanis Association, Masud Aliyev, the president of Quebec
Azerbaijanis Association and Ilham Akhundov, the president of
Canada-Azerbaijan Cooperation Association told the APA that the
meeting of Canada-Azerbaijan Circles Federation was illegal.
State Committee for Azerbaijanis Abroad confirmed the fact that the
members of the Federation argued. The problem is being solved.

JOINT TURKISH-ARMENIAN EXHIBIT FACES FORWARD
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Oct 16 2006
While diplomatic relations are on a knife’s-edge due to the French
Parliament passing a bill penalizing denial of the so-called Armenian
genocide, Turkish and Armenian documentary photographers were in
Istanbul yesterday to open a joint exhibit.
Ten photographers put together the exhibition called
“Merhabarev/Yerevan-Istanbul,” which depicts daily life in Yerevan
and Istanbul. It opens on Oct. 22 and runs through Oct. 29.
The exhibit’s title is a combination of the words “Merhaba” and
“Barev” meaning “Hello” in Turkish and Armenian respectively.
The Turkish documentary photographers are Ozcan Yurdalan, Serra
Akcan, Mehmet Kacmaz, Kerem Uzel and Tolga Sezgin, and those from
Armenia are Ruben Mangasaryan, Karen Mirzoyan, Anahit Hayrapetyan,
Nelli Sismanyan and German Avagyan.
Mainly highlighting the importance of direct dialogue and an
unprejudiced approach, the photographers focused on the importance
of greetings in all encounters by combining the two words.
The photographers also aimed at emphasizing the importance of the
future and of looking towards the future even when catching daily
life on film.
In the belief that relations between the two nations can become
normal by overcoming problems stemming from a lack of dialogue and
overcoming prejudices, the photographers aimed to reflect what they
saw and experienced through their lenses.
After first opening in Yerevan’s best-known cultural center the Moscow
Cinema, it’s on in Istanbul and will then go to Europe to France,
Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.

ANKARA WILLING TO RESTRICT DAMAGE, ACTS WITH COMMONSENSE
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 16 2006
Although the French National Assembly adopted a bill on Thursday
that makes it a crime to deny an Armenian genocide, Turkey is
refraining from engaging in serious conflict with France and acting
with commonsense.
The U.S. newspaper Washington Times reported that despite Ankara’s
threat of imposing sanctions on France, it is focusing on “restricting
the damage.”
A Washington Post article reported that Turkey was acting with
commonsense despite retaliatory threats and a general national hatred
toward France.
French President Jacques Chirac and leading politicians in the country
favor recognition of the genocide issue as a precondition for Turkey’s
EU membership.
The newspaper suggested that this was a tactic to exclude Turkey from
the European Union.
Only 106 out of a total 577 parliamentarians in the French National
Assembly approved the bill.
“Turkey’s foreign trade volume with France is $10 billion; this is
equal to 1.5 percent of France’s entire foreign trade volume. We’re
going to make the proper calculations and then take necessary steps,”
Erdogan said in a speech.
The U.S. newspaper interpreted Erdogan’s remarks as a move to calm
the tension between the two countries.

TEZIC SENDS BACK FRENCH MERIT MEDAL
Sabah, Turkey
Oct 16 2006
YOK (Higher Education Council) president Tezic has returned back
the merit medal given to him two years ago by the French President
Jacques Chirac.
In a statement made by YOK, it was said that Tezic has sent back the
Commander Merit Medal to Jacques Chirac along with a letter in order
to protest the approved Armenian genocide denial bill.

UNITED JAVAKH ACCUSES GEORGIAN AND ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES OF COLLUSION, REQUESTING TO RELEASE ITS LEADER
Regnum, Russia
Oct 16 2006
On October 15, one of Samtskhe-Javakheti (Armenian-populated Georgian
region) NGOs United Javakh (UJ) carried out protest rally near Armenian
border check-point at Armenian-Georgian border in connection with
attack on one of the NGO’s leaders Vahagn Chakhalyan, his family and
his companion Gurgen Shirinyan on October 9 near Yerevan.
As it is known, after the event happened, Vaag Chakhalyan was
arrested by Armenian authorities, being accused of illegal state
border’s crossing. According to the action’s activists, it is aimed
at neither aggravating situation in region nor applying any powerful
scenarios. The United Javakh believes it has received no less than
70% of votes at elections to sacrebulo (local governing body –
REGNUM) it is aiming at changing election committee’s decision. The
UJ leaders believe there is collusion between Georgian and Armenian
authorities, which try not to allow continuing the UJ activity, turning
to criminals, as well as to approve falsified election “outcomes.”
In such way, according to the organization’s members, they are
struggling in Samtskhe-Javakheti not because of any ambitions;
it is connected with normal request to guarantee legal foundations
for local elections’ conducting. According to on of the protesters,
“if Georgians in Tbilisi have right on revolutions, why do Armenians
in Akhalkalaki have no such rights?”
About 500 residents of Akhalkalaki area participated in the
manifestation. The action’s participants stressed; having detained
Chakhalyan in Armenian territory, republican authorities considerably
damaged their authority among Georgian Armenians. Of course, such
feelings will spread in Armenia, too. “At presence, very serious and
unclear situation has arisen for ethnic Armenians in Georgia and first
of all in Samtskhe-Javakheti. In such situation, when international
public opinion has completely deviated from assessing political and
social processes, developing in Georgia, necessity to make serious
decisions appeared for Armenian population in Samtskhe-Javakheti. The
Armenian population of Samtskhe-Javakheti needs local self-governing
more than any Georgian region. Whoever were elected or appointed
to sacrebulo, they will need to settle problems. Nobody will escape
it. It refers both to patriots and those, who sincerely believe that
the only way out of the arisen situation is to follow lead of ‘Young
Georgians.’ All of them are no enemies for their nation; all of them
may make many useful things.
Open ‘collaborators’ are rare in the region.”

CONSTITUTIONS ARE NOT TO BE TOYED WITH
By E. Triantafylidou
Kathimerini, Greece
Oct 16 2006
The decision of the French parliament last week to pass a bill making
it a crime to deny that the 1915-1917 massacres of Armenians by the
Ottoman Turks constituted genocide caused tumult in Turkey.
Turkey’s secular army and the Islamic-leaning government were both
angry at France’s bill and responded with a threat that Paris risks
losing euros, dollars and Turkey’s vast market.
“The decision lies with the people,” Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul said after the Ankara Chamber of Commerce threatened to boycott
one French product every week, if the bill were adopted. Gul also
threatened French carmakers in Turkey with retaliatory measures and
warned that French companies would be excluded from plans to build
a nuclear plant.
The president of the Council of Chambers of Commerce and Industry,
Nafi Gural, urged consumers to keep their cool. He warned that barring
French companies from economic projects will cost Turkey thousands
of jobs.
In view of the French presidential and parliamentary elections due
in the spring, critics say that deputies passed the bill with an eye
fixed on the strong Armenian minority living in their country. But
the issue is more complex than that. Germany’s presidency of the
European Union is expected to resurrect talks on the bloc’s moribund
constitutional treaty.
Constitutions are not something to toy with. For that reason, along
with its respect for the genocide of the Armenians, Europe should
take into account other obvious issues, such as the Cyprus problem.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY APPLAUDS FRANCE FOR STRONGLY AFFIRMING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006
According to the information DE FACTO got at the Armenian Assembly
of America (AAA), the Assembly welcomes the continued commitment by
the French parliament to keep the history of the Armenian Genocide
inviolable despite calls from Turkey to drop an Armenian Genocide
bill or risk damaging bilateral ties.
Òhe French National Assembly voted 106 to 19 to approve legislation
that would penalize Armenian Genocide denial with fines and a jail
term. The bill must still be approved by France’s upper house of
parliament and signed by President Jacques Chirac, who called on
Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide during a recent state
visit to Armenia.
According to The Associated Press, Chirac asked, “Should Turkey
recognize the Genocide of Armenians to join the European Union?
Honestly, I believe so. Each country grows by acknowledging its dramas
and errors of the past.”
In the week leading up to the vote, the Turkish government warned
France that bilateral relations would suffer if lawmakers approved the
bill. A statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, criticized
the vote saying, “French-Turkish relations….have been dealt a
severe blow today as a result of the irresponsible false claims
of French politicians who do not see the political consequences of
their actions.”
The Armenian government, for its part, called the vote a “natural
continuation of France’s principled and consistent defenses of human
and historic rights and values.”
The statement from Foreign Affairs Minister Vartan Oskanian also
said, “To adopt such a decision is the French Parliament’s sovereign
right and is understandable. What we don’t understand is the Turkish
government’s instigation of extremist public relations, especially
while Turkey itself has a law that does exactly the same thing and
punishes those who even use the term genocide or venture to discuss
those events.”
–Boundary_(ID_t+S3yRB6om4nH3/zJwqn Kg)–