INTELLECTUALS SOLIDARIZE WITH HRANT DINK
Erol Onderoglu
BÝA, Turkey
Sept 29 2006
Leading Turkish intellectuals declare themselves as accomplices
to Armenian-Turkish Hrant Dink who, says AI, is being harassed
through repeated prosecution and at verge of jail which would lead
to recognition as an international “Prisoner of Conscience”.
BÝA (Istanbul) – A number of leading Turkish intellectuals have
launched a new civil disobedience action declaring themselves
accomplices of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink whose most
recent prosecution in a series launched by Turkish courts is based
on opinions he expressed in an interview with the Reuters news agency.
The action comes in the wake of an Amnesty International (AI)
statement on Dink that said the human rights watchdog organization
was dismayed at recent reports that yet another case had been opened
against Dink on charges of “denigrating Turkishness” under Article
301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
The AI warned that if Dink was arrested on any of the charges leveled
against him, he would be declared a “Prisoner of Conscience” on the
international arena.
The latest charge against Dink was brought up following a statement
he made to Reuters on July 14 in which he mentioned the massacre of
Armenians during the Ottoman Empire. “Of course I’m saying it’s a
genocide” he said in the report. “Because its consequences show it
to be true and label it so. We see that people who had lived on this
soil for 4000 years were exterminated by these events.”
Civil disobedience underway
Those launching this week’s campaign in support of Dink from Turkey
have issued a public statement where they accept participating in
his offense subject to a new prosecution and request to be tried in
the same case.
Those who launched the statement were musician Sanar Yurdatapan,
spokesman of the Initiative Against the Crime of Thought, lecturer
Prof. Dr. Taner Akcam, teacher Erdal Yildirim, student Gulnur Elcik
and editor-author Nihat Ates.
But the statement is open for new signatories and expected to attract
dozens or hundreds other, under the statement “I participate in Dink’s
remarks, I undersign them. I want to be a defendant in this case”.
The statement itself can be found at and those
willing to sign it are asked to email [email protected]/
Background of the case
In reality issue to the case are not Dink’s remarks reflected to
the Reuters report but a 21 July 2006 news article in the weekly
Armenian-Tukish Agos magazine that he runs. Subject to the original
investigation was that news item and the remarks it contained.
A nationalist group of lawyers known for filing complaints against
Turkish intellectuals and writers, a group also held responsible for
interrupting many court proceedings with physical violence and dub
themselves now as the “Union of Grand Jurists,” brought up the first
criminal complaint against Dink on these remarks.
As result, under article 301 of the Penal Code, a case was launched
by the Istanbul Sisli Prosecutor’s Office where both Dink and Serkis
Seropyan, as executives of the newspapers, were put on trial.
Amnesty concerned
The recent civil disobedience action follows of a strongly worded
statement by Amnesty International on the Hrant Dink case which was
issued from London this week.
AI said it considers that this new prosecution was “part of an emerging
pattern of harassment against the journalist exercising his right
to freedom of expression” noting that this is a right which Turkey,
as a State Party to the European Convention for the Protection of
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights, has a legal obligation to uphold.
AI’s statement said that the rights monitoring group was “particularly
concerned at this latest prosecution, the third against Hrant Dink on
charges under Article 301, because it seems to constitute a pattern
of judicial harassment against the writer for peacefully expressing
his dissenting opinion.
“Furthermore, he has already been given a six-month suspended
prison sentence following an October 2005 conviction on charges of
“denigrating Turkishness” (upheld by the Court of Appeal in July
2006), and therefore if found guilty again on the same charge would
be imprisoned. Should he be, Amnesty International would consider
him a prisoner of conscience,” it explained.
The Amnesty International statement also said that it considers this
latest prosecution to be “particularly disappointing following the
welcome acquittal four days ago of another writer, novelist Elif Safak,
on charges under Article 301 relating to statements made by characters
in her novel The Bastard of Istanbul.
“The organization had seen this as a positive step for freedom
of expression in Turkey but fears this acquittal may prove to be
the exception rather than the rule and demonstrates yet again the
failure of certain members of the Turkish judiciary and prosecution to
internalize international law, as required by Article 90 of the Turkish
constitution. The organization reiterates its call for Article 301
to be abolished in its entirety, thereby putting an end to arbitrary
implementation of this ill-defined law.”
The statement continued:
“Finally, Amnesty International notes that this prosecution reportedly
arises from a complaint lodged by elements of civil society opposed to
the abolition of Article 301, who have lodged similar complaints in
the past seeking to secure such prosecutions and who have repeatedly
staged provocative and sometimes violent protests at trials, creating
a threatening atmosphere in the courtroom. The organization calls
on the Turkish authorities to ensure that all necessary measures
are taken to ensure the protection both of the defendants, their
lawyers and supporters in such cases, and of the course of justice
itself.”
–Boundary_(ID_yl9y0M+z7uEH 8pwB/jJE6w)–

PAMUK’S LAWYER SLAMS TURKISH JUSTICE MINISTER
Reuters, UK
Sept 29 2006
ANKARA (Reuters) – A lawyer for best-selling novelist Orhan Pamuk
chided Turkey’s justice minister on Friday for suggesting his client
was to blame for the controversy surrounding an article of the penal
code blasted by the EU.
The liberal daily Radikal this week quoted Justice Minister Cemil Cicek
as saying Pamuk had caused Turkey much trouble by “acting unethically”,
first confirming and later denying comments attributed to him about
Turkish massacres of Armenians.
His comments sparked a case under article 301 that makes it a crime to
insult Turkish identity. Though Pamuk was acquitted on a technicality,
his trial drew condemnation from rights groups and the European Union
as a violation of free speech.
In an open letter published in Friday’s Radikal, lawyer Haluk Inanici
denied Cicek’s suggestion that Pamuk had ever retracted his comment
that a million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds had been killed on Turkish
territory.
“In saying our client has brought down much trouble on Turkey, is
it your wish that people, intellectuals in this society not express
their views?” Inanici asked Cicek.
“Is it ethical behavior to avoid a proper discussion of article 301?
As justice minister, is it not your duty to prepare a climate for
discussion?”
The lawyer accused Cicek of exploiting Pamuk’s name for political
purposes and to divert attention away from the “anti-democratic
and anachronistic” nature of article 301, which the EU and Turkish
liberals want to see modified or scrapped.
“It is not ethical to try to belittle our client and hold him
responsible for implementation of 301,” Inanici said.
Turkey’s centre-right government, which began EU entry talks last
year, says more time is needed to assess whether it is necessary
to change article 301. Cicek, a nationalist-minded conservative,
is known to oppose any revision of the article.
Pamuk, author of novels such as “Snow” and “My Name is Red”, is one
of a large number of writers, journalists and scholars prosecuted
under article 301, though none has yet gone to jail.
An Istanbul court last week dismissed a case against leading woman
novelist Elif Shafak for comments made by her fictional characters,
also on the Armenian issue.
Turkey fiercely denies claims that 1.5 million Armenians perished in
World War One in a systematic “genocide” by Ottoman Turkish forces.
It says both Christian Armenians and Muslim Turks died in partisan
fighting that raged at that time.

INTER-STATE FORUM “DAYS OF ARMENIA IN SIBERIA” TO TAKE PLACE IN KRASNOYARSK FOR FIRST TIME
Siberian News Online, Russia
Sept 28 2006
Inter-state cultural and business forum “Days of Armenia in Siberia”
is to take place in Krasnoyarsk in International Exhibition Business
Center “Siberia” on October, 3-6 for the first time.
Guests arrive from Armenia to enlarge economic and cultural relations
with Russian biggest region, the press service of IEBS Siberia
reported. The regional center will be visited by members of Armenian
Government, mayors of Armenian biggest cities, representatives of big
business, the Union of National Commodity Producers of the republic
and cultural figures. They will be having meetings with authorities
and businessmen of Krasnoyarsk Territory in IEBS Siberia for 4 days.
On October, 4 the delegation is to meet with Krasnoyarsk Territory
governor Alexander Khloponin and Krasnoyarsk Mayor Pyotr Pimashkov.
On the same day Armenian businessmen will participate in the panel
discussion with members of Central Siberian Commercial and Industrial
Chamber, Krasnoyarsk Territory Union of Industrialists and Businessmen,
and the Union of Commodity Producers and Consumers.
The cultural and business forum will start with the presentation of
the republic and an exhibition opening, where food and industrial
goods of Armenia will be presented on October, 3. In particular,
one will be able to see national crafts of stone, wood, cupronickel,
silver, ceramics, golden and diamond jewelry, drinks and equipment.
Trade exhibition of the goods made in Armenia will take place in
Krasnoyarsk on October, 5 and 6. Famous Armenian singers and musicians
will give two concerts as part of the cultural program. One of the
concerts will be given in International Exhibition Business Center
“Siberia”, the second – in the Big Concert Hall of the regional
philharmonic society.

FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC HEADS TO ARMENIA FOR FIRST TIME
Hurriyet, Turkey
Sept 29 2006
French President Jacques Chirac is on his way to Armenia today for
an official state visit. According to his aides, Chirac, who is the
first French President to visit Armania, will include a stop to lay
a wreath at a memorial to the so-called Armenian genocide, and will
then take a tour of the genocide museum there.
Chirac, who is being accompanied by a large delegation, will also
attend the opening of Yerevan’s new French Square, as well as make
an appearance at a Charles Aznavour concert.

ARMENIA: HAIKO SAYS NO OFFICIAL PROPOSAL FROM ARMTV TO PARTICIPATE IN EUROVISION 2007
oikotimes.org, Greece
Sept 29 2006
Fotis Konstantopoulos reporting from Athens (Greece)
source: panorama.am – photo: oikotimes resources
Singer Haiko addressed to the president of the republic to know why
he has awarded him the title of honored artists, Haiko told a news
conference today. “Because there are many singers who come and go but
you stay for a long time,” the president has answered. Haiko said he is
not involved in politics and will not participate in any pre-election
campaigns. The singer said he is doing well and the tickets of his
upcoming concert are sold well. Haiko said there will be no dances as
it is not within his style. He said there will be dozens of cameras
“to approach to the international level.”
About Eurovision The singer said he has received no concrete
suggestions to participate in Eurovision contest. He even said he
is a little scared from rumors that he may participate. The singer
is in search of his soul mate. He said he devotes his songs to those
who feel attached.

OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT REGION NEXT WEEK – ARMENIAN FM
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 29 2006
The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will arrive in Yerevan on October
3 on a regional visit, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told
a press conference in Yerevan on September 29.
Oskanyan described his meeting with the mediators held in New York
early this week as “useful”, Trend reports quoting “Medimaks”.
According to Oskanyan, this meeting brought clarity to the situation
in the negotiation process.
The Minister said that the prospect of organizing the meeting with
the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers will depend upon the
results of the Co-chairs’ visit.
In addition, Oskanyan stressed that the composition and mandate of
the OSCE mission that will visit the territories located on the border
with Nagorno-Karabakh to study the affects of fires have already been
clarified. Oskanyan announced the readiness of the Armenian side
to render necessary assistance to the mission. The OSCE mission is
expected to visit the region in the near future.

FRENCH SOCIALIST PARTY INSISTS ON ARMENIAN BILL
By Cihan News Agency
Zaman Online, Turkey
Sept 29 2006
French opposition Socialist Party (PS) has brought up again a
controversial draft bill, which will penalize the denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide, to the agenda of the French Parliament.
The draft bill, which will bring up to a year’s imprisonment and a
fine of up to ~@45,000 for those who deny the existence of “Armenian
genocide”, will be discussed and voted in the French Parliament on
October 12, in line with a proposal by the opposition party.
In May, the French Parliament postponed the vote of the controversial
draft bill. The approval of the Senate is required for the bill to
come into force.
The French Parliament passed a bill in 2001 recognizing the mass
killing of Armenians in 1915 under the Ottoman Empire.
The fate of the Armenians under the Ottoman Empire during WW1 and
after is still a sensitive issue in Turkey.
Armenians claim that 1.5 million Armenians living in the Ottoman
Empire were killed as part of an intentional and systematic campaign
of genocide during World War I.
Turkey denies the allegations claiming that 200,000 Armenians died
during forced migrations due to cold weather and bad transportation
conditions.

REPRESENTATIVE OF AZERBAIJAN REJECTS ARMENIAN FM’S ACCUSATIONS
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 29 2006
On September 27, representative of Azerbaijan exercised the Right of
Reply on the last day of the general debates at the 61st session of
the United Nations General Assembly to make some things clear about
the statements made by Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian at
the General Assembly.
Representative of Azerbaijan stated that Azerbaijan regrets about
the fact that Armenia’s Foreign Minister uses the UN General Assembly
rostrum to speak aggressively about things that could harm the conflict
resolution process.
According to Azerbaijani diplomat, Azerbaijani side had to reply to his
rhetoric full of accusations to reveal that Armenian side’s extremely
aggressive statements do not agree with respective resolutions and
decisions of the UN Security Council, Council of Europe, Organization
of the Islamic Conference, OSCE and other international organizations.
On Armenian Minister’s false accusations of destruction of Armenian
monuments in the Azerbaijani lands, Azerbaijani representative said
the country suggested sending Council of Europe’s fact-finding mission
to the region but received no official answer on this matter from
the Armenian Government.
Vardan Oskanian said in his address that Armenian community of
Nagorno-Karabakh allegedly exercised its right to self-determination to
break away from Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani representative regarded this
statement as Armenia’s attempt to hide the ethnic cleansing committed
in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by abusing international
legal principles.
The Diplomat reminded UN member countries of the fact that “Declaration
on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples”
of December 14, 1960 and Declaration on Principles of International
Law Concerning Friendly Relations And Cooperation Among States of
1970. Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by World Conference
on Human Rights clearly indicate that self-determination may not
be construed as authorizing or encouraging any action which would
dismember or impair the territorial integrity of sovereign and
independent states.
In accordance with these documents, self-determination is the right
of the whole population living in the certain area. They can exercise
this right only in a peaceful way by strengthening the political
unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state. Armenia
as an UN member must comply with these rules regulating interstate
relations. Ensuring the participation of both Armenian and Azerbaijani
communities in the democratic and legal process, Azerbaijan is ready
to grant the highest status of autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh within
its borders.
Summarizing his address, representative of Azerbaijan stressed that
Oskanian’s accusations highlighted the need for raising the UN’s
awareness of the situation in the occupied Azerbaijani lands. The
General Assembly must know who the aggressor and the victim of
aggression is. To this end, Azerbaijan will use all tools and
mechanisms at its disposal.

BRITAIN TO CHINA BY RAIL: THE KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
The Messenger, Georgia
Sept 29 2006
The construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway will
probably be the most significant project in the entire Caucasus,
and could bring tremendous economic dividends to the region-if it
ever gets off the ground that is.
There have been several unexpected difficulties along the way
for this 826 kilometre project. Most recently, an unnamed Turkish
official alleged that the “Georgia is deliberately delaying the start
of work on the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway…Tbilisi is
creating all kinds of bureaucratic obstacles to delay the railway’s
construction. This is absolutely incomprehensible” reported the Baku
daily Zerkalo.
Surprisingly, the biggest stumbling block has come from the other
side of the Atlantic: the Senate’s Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Committee just passed a bill that forbids US government assiastance
to the project, after strong lobbying from the US Armenian lobby,
who argue that the railway is designed to further isolate Armenia from
the region. There is a shorter, disused route running through Armenia,
it has been closed since Turkey and Azerbaijan closed their borders
to Armenia in response to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Nevertheless, construction is due to begin in middle of 2007 and could
be completed as early as 2010. The project requires 98 kilometres of
new track be laid between Kars in Turkey and Akhalkalaki in Georgia,
30 kilometres in Georgia, 68 in Turkey. Also, the Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi
section of track must be repaired. This is estimated to cost over USD
400, Turkey and Azerbaijan say they are more than capable of meeting
the cost without US backing. The Georgian section is to be financed
with a loan from the Azeri government of USD 200 million.
This may sound like big money, but when you consider the significance
of this east west transport link-which connects railways from Britain
to china-it begins to seem like quite a small investment. Minister
of Economic Development Irakli Chogovadze says when working at full
capacity, Georgia can expect to receive USD 150 million annually from
transport fees.
Kazakhsatn and china are both excited about the project, which gives
them access to Europe much quicker than via the existing Trans-Siberian
route. The Kazakh Caspian port of Aktau is connected to the chines
border and beyond. The project also has the backing of the EU in
the form of the TRACEcA [Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia]
programme it sponsors.
The railway line has huge potential to deepen integration of Turkey,
Georgia and Azerbaijan, and in turn link them more closely with Europe
and Asia. As such, it could provide a significant boost both to the
regions economy, and its international importance.

AMERICA’S GAME?
By Steve Hanlon
[email protected]
nwitimes.com, IN
Sept 29 2006
International players are making an impact on Region football
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Friday, September 29, 2006 12:45
AM CDT
Mark Hoffman arrived at Butler in 1968. The Andrean lineman was a
walking poster for American football: big, strong and tough.
He was fingering through a second-hand textbook at the Indianapolis
school when he noticed a shocking name, Garo Yepremian. The Armenian
was born in Cyprus, before a 15-year career in the NFL, plus three
Super Bowls.
“He’d been at Butler,” said Hoffman, the head coach at Valparaiso.
“Someone wrote an article about this kid kicking 50-yard field goals
and he was gone.”
Yepremian was one of the first international players in the NFL,
before his famous line “I keek a touchdown” was said on Johnny Carson.
Today, the international player isn’t such a comedy routine. This
past summer there were a record 109 foreign-born players in NFL camps.
“It’s global now,” said Hoffman, who’s had several foreign-born
players on his roster through the years.
[rest of article omitted]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress