Trend
Today 21.09.2006
Conference of Turkic-speaking Countries Calls on
Armenia to Immediate Withdrawal of Its Troops from
Occupied Territory of Azerbaijan
Source: Trend
Author: M.Tagiyev
21.09.2006
The 10th Conference of the Turkic-speaking counties, which concluded
its work in Antalia on 21 September, adopted a resolution on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Trend reports.
All Turkic speaking countries hold a unified position on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict – Armenia must leave the occupied
territory of Azerbaijan without any condition.
“Turkic speaking countries will put maximal efforts for repatriation
of 1 million Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced people,”
the document underscored.
In case Armenia refuses from withdrawing its troops from the occupied
territory of Azerbaijan, the Turkic world will unify the efforts in
this direction.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN YOUTH UNITES WITHIN STRUCTURE OF WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS
AZG Armenian Daily #180, 21/09/2006
Armenia’s Future
The Armenian youth expresses readiness to unite and settle the current
problems of their motherland with joint efforts. The representatives
of a number of Armenia based and Diaspora youth organizations have
many interesting programs to unite and found the Association of Youth
Organizations. The Association of Youth Organizations will join the
World Armenian Congress and shape the youth branch of the organization.
Ara Abrahamian, Chairman of the World Armenian Congress, emphasized
the importance of the fact that 12 Armenian youth organizations
have already joined the WAC. He welcomed their initiative and stated
that the youth plays an important part preserving the stability and
development of our country.
In their turn, the representatives of the youth organizations,
touched upon their concerns, spoke of the new technologies and their
future activities. The youth organizations elected a governing body
and adopted the manifest for the Armenian youth of the world. As the
regulation of the Association of Youth Organizations at WAC had already
been adopted, the abovementioned structure began its activities with
participation of 12 members.
Ara Abrahamian, Chairman of WAC, offered them to open their own
informational body, a center and computer network to begin the
preparation works for a youth festival by the next year.
By Aghavni Haroutiunian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian charge d’affairs underlines his county’s desire to develop ties with Syria
SANA – Syrian Arab News Agency, Syria
Thursday, September 21, 2006 – 12:55 PM
DAMASCUS , (SANA) – Armenian acting Charge d’affair in Damascus Karen
Krikorian underlined Thursday the deep-rooted relations connecting
Syria and Armenia, expressing his country’s desire to develop ties
with Syria.
During a celebration organized by the Armenian embassy on the occasion
of Armenia’s national day, Krikorian pointed out to the continuous
progress in the Syrian-Armenian relations in all fields, calling for
activating the agreements signed between the two sides particularly
in the economic spheres and increasing trade exchange between them.
A.Zeitoun / Idelbi

RA AND NKR PRESIDENTS DISCUSSED KARABAKH TALKS
De facto- Armenia
2006-09-21 13:42:00
September 20 the present stage of the Karabakh talks was discussed
at a meeting of the RA President Robert Kocharyan and the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic President Arkady Ghoukasyan.
According to the information DE FACTO received at the RA President’s
Press Service, in the course of the meeting the parties also considered
the issues referring to the Nagorno Karabakh’s social-economic
development.
The NKR President congratulated the RA President on the 15th
Anniversary of Armenia’s independence.

Kommersant, Russia
Sep. 21, 2006
Commonwealth of Oil-Dependent States
Even non-primary-producing CIS countries depend on oil
and natural gas prices
Analytic centers believe that mid-term economic growth
in CIS countries will remain, but the long-term growth
strongly depends on oil prices and reforms in certain
countries. Apparently, economic growth in such
countries as Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan is
dependent on exported raw material prices. However,
the changes in raw material prices influences other
CIS states as well, because their economies are
closely intertwined. For instance, work migrants earn
money in rapidly richening Russia and send it to their
homes. Money transfers are economically important for
such countries as Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldavia, and Tajikistan, according to IMF’s review of
world economy.
Ukraine’s, Georgia’s, and Belarus’ economies strongly
depend on Russia’s oil and gas. Moscow now ties up
political agreements on prices with the level of world
prices on oil and gas. Thus, Belarus might lose from 2
or 3 percent to 9 or 10 percent of its GDP, depending
on prices of energy resources from Russia.
Georgia, who became the growth leader last year (9.3
percent of GDP growth), will keep it up this year as
well. This is partially the result of liberal economic
reforms and anti-corruption campaign. Yet, high growth
rate in Georgia is also the consequence of fast
economic recovery after decline. Georgia also has
another important source for growth – foreign
financial aid. Yet, the continuing debates between
Moscow and Tbilisi might slow Georgia’s economic
growth down to 5 or 6 percent in 2007.
IMF thinks Ukraine might slow down as well, due to
political instability. According to the estimations of
ING bank, if Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan —
economic leaders of the CIS – join the WTO, their GDP
growth rates will slow down by 0.2-0.5 percentage
points in 2008, but will be accelerating by extra
0.5-1.0 percentage points beginning from 2009.

EUPolitix.com, Belgium
Published: Thu, 21 Sep 2006
MEP fights for Turkish EU entry report
The MEP at the centre of a row over Turkish EU entry
has hit back at Socialist group plans to delay his
controversial report.
Camiel Eurlings’ says he will fight to have his report
on Turkey debated in Strasbourg next week.
“This cannot be postponed again,” he told this
website.
“It has been postponed so many times in the past and
with the European commission preparing its Turkey
report for November 8 we cannot afford to let this
timely moment slip.”
Socialist MEPs say Eurlings’ report is “unbalanced and
biased” and have pledged to use a Thursday meeting of
political group and committee leaders to press for the
delay.
Concern among centre-left MEPs – the parliament’s
second biggest bloc – focuses on Eurlings’ demands
that Ankara must recognise the Armenian genocide as a
precondition for EU entry.
But Eurlings’ insists it was never his intention to
force the Turks to formally recognise this chapter of
their history.
“This amendment was added when my report was being
debated in the parliament’s foreign affairs committee,
and it is an amendment I regret” the Dutch MEP
declared.
“And the amendment was actually proposed by the
Socialist MEP Veronique De Keyser. I think the
Socialists need to get together to work out what their
line is on my report.”
Eurlings report also laments a “slowdown in democratic
reforms” and calls on Ankara to remove or amend
articles that allow judges to limit freedom of
expression.
It also urges Turkey to normalise relations with
Cyprus.
“I will fight to have this report debated as planned
at next week’s plenary,” Eurlings insisted.

Londra Toplum Postasý, UK
Armenians and the Dutch East India Company
Alkan CHAGLAR
[email protected]
21 Eylul 2006, Perþembe
Since ancient times when the great marine cataclysm drove Noah to
Mount Ararat, followed by the more recent human tragedy brought on
by twentieth century famine, conflict and persecution, Armenians have
been forced to disperse in almost every corner of the globe. Fleeing
from one threat or another, this ancient and proud people, who were
the first to embrace Christianity, can be found today in all the
continents of the world having rebuilt their lives and striving to
preserve their religion and language.
Their wide distribution around the world to the most distant places
and the cultural-linguistic expertise they have acquired during their
journey there is a reflection of the international identity, which the
Armenians have been forced to accept. A reverse of their misfortune,
the Armenians have taken their new international role and capitalised
on the skills and knowledge they have grasped to their advantage, as
can be seen in their dynamic role they played in past trade between
South-East Asia and Europe and trade between India and Persia.
Armenians merchants in the Antipodes-a symbol of pioneering spirit
G.Paulus, author of The Armenian Community in the Netherlands India
(Netherlands India – later known as Indonesia), which is about the
significant role of Armenians in early European trade with Asia brings
to attention the fact that a great many Armenian Amsterdammer traders
had departed on ships to engage in trade in the mysterious Orient in
such faraway tropical places as Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore and the
Philippines. These Armenian pioneers of commerce set up factories, and
sugar plantations amid autochthons whose language was incomprehensible
and culture a world apart from either Holland or Hayastan.
Despite the long distances Armenian merchants soon settled in parts
of Java with their families clinging onto both their religion and
language, while exporting voluptuous goods to Europe and Persia.
An example of a successful Armenian merchant family is the Armenian
firm Garper & Co who shipped sugar from Semarang to the Persian Gulf
working hard with their knowledge of Europeans acquired through years
of exile there to make Javanese culinary delights palatable to the
clientele Amsterdammer dinner table. The importance the Armenians
held for their identity is perhaps best illustrated by the work of
these merchants. With the absence of a church in1808 and a growing
community, Armenian resident Gevork Manuch Merchell along with others
took matters into their own hands securing 25,000 Guilders from the
Dutch Government to establish schools and a church in Java.
This was no isolated act of helping one’s community, in 1852 Armenian
Haileian Miabanse Thioen in the Dutch colonial settlement of Batavia
(present day Jakarta), helped to open orphanages and schools for
stranded Armenian children in Indonesia. At this period of time in
Java, there was a well established Armenian population, the evidence
of which can be found on local registers. Paulus reports that in 1865,
names like Galistan Nahapiet, Garabet Galistan appear on registers,
in Surabaya, Armenian figures like Lazar Johan, Joachim Jordan and A
Demetrius are recorded while in Semarang names such as Joseph Amir,
Constantijn Manook, Arakiel Navaran, and Stefan Arathoon can be seen.
Despite arriving with the Dutch who were the colonialists and
ship owners, Armenians were important figures in these Dutch
colonies. People like Manook Jordan owned the Mlongo factory, P and B
Andreas of Rendang owned the regions sugar factory, while P.Andreas
owned Trangkil factory. The new Armenian community soon built a
small chapel in Batavia and founded a school in 1855. Manook Jordan
later used some of his acquired wealth to build a theological school
and prepare young men for priesthood. Mrs Mariam Arathoon and Miss
Tacooye Manook also founded a school after collecting 5000 guilders
in aid from the community’s church.
By the end of the 19th century Paulus reports that Armenians could
be found in many of the islands around the Indian Archipelago, in
places like Ambon, the capital of the Spice Islands. On the 6th of
January 1880, the Armenian community was formally recognised as an
incorporated society by the Dutch government.
Within a short time Armenians extended also to Singapore where they
were involved in the opium trade, which was under British control,
while some Armenian missionaries went on to the Philippines. Dominating
the opium trade, Armenians centred around Armenian Street in Singapore
continued to sell opium until the Second World War.
Armenians like Arab and Oriental Jewish merchants were among
the richest and most prominent ex-patriot people in South East
Asia. George Manook, an Armenian from Persia was among the richest
figures in colonial Dutch South East Asia. Manook who often lent the
cash strapped Dutch government funds, left behind a huge fortune of
five million guilders when he died.
An international identity
Forced to leave their homeland for centuries, but never defeated the
Armenians have successfully rebuilt their lives in exile. Through
exile, and through living as a minority in countries all over the
world, Armenians have acquired useful knowledge of languages, cultures
and places that are today prerequisites for becoming an international
banker or businessman. In many respects a survival tactic, Armenians
have capitalised on their skills to travel great distances as the first
pioneers of East-West trade, setting up trading posts in the most
isolated and distant Javanese jungles in places that few foreigners
had visited.
Perhaps the fact that Armenians can make Asia their new home is
because cannot simply confine themselves to either East or West and
look inwards like many countries, after all are the Armenians not
a peripheral people? Originating from the Caucasus, a natural front
line of East and West, Islam and Christianity, Armenians belong to
both East and West.
However, on the other hand, their homeland of ancient Churches and
mulberry trees has as a result of thousands of years of invasions
become a graveyard of churches. Considering the numerous empires
that have passed through Armenia, one wonders if the Armenians have
had much of a choice in their exile and newly acquired international
identity. To illustrate this, Armenians in the 11th century after
the Battle of Manzikert were forced to relocate their entire country
over a thousand miles away en masse to Cilicia, an arduous task
considering the lack of transport at the time and one that no doubt
required planning.
While it is true that the cultural knowledge they extracted from
travelling paid off in many ways, the underlying tragedy is they could
not perform such economic wonders in their own homeland. For whatever
the political problems between present day Armenian and Turkey, the
ability of the Armenians to survive, adapt and flourish wherever they
settle in exile is admirable lesson for us all.
–Boundary_(ID_6p1nF+ZlyWCUv51vSFTUZA)–

Sweden to Appoint its Ambassador to South Caucasian Countries
Trend
Today 21.09.2006
Source: Trend
Author: A.Mammadov
21.09.2006
The Editorial office of the website “nregion.com” became aware from
reliable sources that in the near future, Sweden will, for the first
time in its history, appoint an ambassador to the countries of South
Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. The ambassador will be the
experienced Swedish Diplomat Hans-Gunnar Adin. He had worked in Russia,
France and the Ukraine until his appointment as the new Ambassador.
Unfortunately Sweden is not going to open an embassy in any of the
South Caucasian countries, Trend reports quoting Caucasus Press. The
Ambassador’s residence will be in Stockholm.
As previously, Schengen visas to visit Sweden will be issued in
Azerbaijan by the Consular Department of Norway, in Armenia by the
German Embassy and in Georgia by the Embassy of Greece.
It seems that by the appointment of its ambassador to the countries of
South Caucasus, Sweden demonstrates its increasing interest towards
the region. Adin is expected to visit the countries of the region in
the near future.
At present, the mission of the accredited ambassador in Georgia and
Armenia has been implemented by the Swedish Ambassador to Russia,
and in Azerbaijan by the Swedish Ambassador in Turkey.
The Consulate of Sweden in Tbilisi is still in operation.

A MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE
A1+
[12:44 pm] 21 September, 2006
25 years ago the Assembly General declared September 21 the
International Day of Peace, as the Day of world armistice and combat
violence. The UN Secretary General mentions in his message that “It
calls on the people not only to think, but also to act for the sake
of peace”.
“The countries have started to really pay attention to preventing
diplomacy. The UN peace-keeping missions and efforts towards the
protection of human rights change the situation. Factually, there
are fewer wars today than in the previous decade. But still, there
are many of them. Each case of conflict is our failure which reminds
us about how many things there are to do.
I call on all the people of the world to celebrate this day with a
minute of silence for the sake of peace. Let’s remember the victims
of the war. And let each of us promise to do more for the sake of
everlasting peace”, the message said.

BBC News
Thursday, 21 September 2006,
Top novelist acquitted in Turkey
Elif Shafak hoped her novel would encourage empathy
A court in Istanbul has acquitted the best-selling
Turkish novelist, Elif Shafak, who had been accused of
insulting “Turkishness”.
Ms Shafak, 35, had faced charges for comments made by
her characters on the mass killings of Armenians in
the final years of the Ottoman Empire in 1915.
Turkey rejects Armenia’s claim that the killings
constituted “genocide”.
The EU has been urging Turkey to abolish a
controversial law that makes it a crime to insult the
Turkish state.
The trial was seen by the EU as a test of freedom of
expression in Turkey, which began membership talks
with the 25-member bloc last October.
Scuffles
The proceedings lasted just 40 minutes and ended in
utter chaos, the BBC’s Sarah Rainsford reports.
The judges said they based their decision on lack of
evidence to prove that Ms Shafak “denigrated the
Turkish national identity” in her novel, The Bastard
of Istanbul.
If Article 301 will be interpreted in this way
nobody can write novels in Turkey anymore, no-one can
make movies any more
Elif Shafak
Ms Shafak – who has recently given birth to her first
child – was not present at the hearing.
The nationalist lawyers who brought the case under
Article 301 of Turkey’s penal code walked out in anger
shortly after the trial opened.
They claimed the court and judges had been unduly
influenced by the EU.
Riot police moved in to stop scuffles between
nationalists and leftists outside the courthouse.
‘Autonomy of art’
One of the lawyers who filed the complaint against Ms
Shafak had claimed that her novel was Armenian
propaganda, dripping with hatred for the Turks.
One of the novel’s characters speaks of “Turkish
butchers” and a “genocide”, while others talk about
being “slaughtered like sheep”.
Ms Shafak was the latest in a long line of writers to
face similar charges in Turkey. But this was the first
time Article 301 had been used against a work of
fiction.
“If Article 301 will be interpreted in this way nobody
can write novels in Turkey anymore, no-one can make
movies any more,” Ms Shafak told the BBC before the
trial.
“The words of a character could be used as evidence
against the author or the film director. I think it is
extremely important to defend the autonomy of art, and
of literature,” she said.