Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
July 27, 2006
Armenian Government Takes On Gold Company
An American mining group accuses the Armenian government of trying to
expropriate its assets.
By Susanna Petrosian in Yerevan
Armenia’s environment ministry is trying to revoke the license of an
American gold company in a dispute that puts investors’ rights under
the spotlight.
Connecticut-based Global Gold Corporation, GGC,is contracted along
with the Australian company Iberian Resources to mine gold, silver
and zinc in the Marjan district of southern Armenia until the end of
2007.
Now the ministry is claiming it has lost its right to do so – though
GGC continues its exploratory work, saying it has the law on its
side.
Some say Armenia wants to take back the mine in order to then sell it
off to a Russian group. Russia is by far the biggest investor in
Armenia with investments worth 400 million US dollars.
The government, however, insists GGC has lost its license because it
has failed to meet its obligations.
`The ministry gave the license and it can take it away,’ said Grant
Avetisian, who heads the department for protecting underground
resources at the environment ministry. He declined to say whether the
ministry was planning to go to court to enforce its claim against
GGC.
`GGC carried out only five per cent of the work,’ added environment
minister Vardan Aivazian. `They did not fulfil their duties as
investors. As they cannot work legally, they should go and someone
else should replace them.’
But GGC’s regional director Ashot Boghosian told IWPR that the
company had only just begun work in the mines and there was no legal
basis for stopping them continuing.
Boghosian says that by law his company’s right to do exploratory work
can be suspended only by a court, and that the company must be
informed of the allegations levelled against it 90 days before the
court hearing.
Gagik Adibekian, head of the department that deals with agreements
and contracts at Armenia’s trade ministry, confirmed that a court
order was needed for a company to lose its license.
`We did not receive any warning, and we don’t know what infringement
we have committed,’ said Boghosian.
`If the ministry tries to deprive us of our licenses and to give them
to another organisation, the best definition of this action will be
expropriation,’ said Boghosian. `I don’t think this is the situation,
and I hope that GGC’s investments will not be expropriated, as that
is a serious responsibility.’
Van Krikorian, president and chief adviser to the company, said that
the Armenian government risked counter-measures from the United
States government if it tried to force GGC to shut down its
operations, and that the company might seek international
arbitration. `The decision to strip us of our license is illegal,’ he
told IWPR.
GGC has a number of projects throughout Armenia and says it will
invest almost 10 million dollars in the country by the end of this
year. It says it is spending 1.2 million dollars on its exploratory
work in the Marjan mine, which contains an estimated 17.8 tonnes of
precious metals.
Around 400 people are employed on the project. Ashot Saakian, head of
administration of the nearby village of Arevis, told IWPR that locals
are pinning their hopes on the mining project and on GGC restoring
outdated infrastructure.
The company has won the support of economist and opposition
parliamentary deputy Tatul Manaserian, who said revoking the
company’s license without proper justification could hurt
Armenian-American relations.
`Statements like this made against GGC will make the investment
climate unpredictable in the future, and this lack of clarity is the
most serious threat for business in terms of instability,’ said
Manaserian.
However, the ministry is not backing down. It says not only has GGC
has lost its license, but that it may soon announce the name of the
new company contracted to work in the mines.
A source in government told IWPR on condition of anonymity that a
Russian investor was interested in acquiring the Marjan mine.
Under a `debt-for-assets’ deal, Russian companies now control almost
the entire energy network of Armenia and have expressed an interest
in acquiring the telephone network.
Some experts see this is an economic takeover that undermines
Armenia’s sovereignty, although trade minister Karen Chshmaritian
says there is nothing to be worried about.
`All of these processes, including the energy sector, are under our
full control,’ said the minister.
Critics are not convinced, seeing the travails of GGC as a symptom of
a wider phenomenon.
`Today Armenia’s attitude to investors is defined by its foreign
policy, which is basically focused on Russia,’ said Stepan Grigorian,
head of the Analytical Centre on Globalisation and Regional
Cooperation in Yerevan.
`Russia thinks it is not enough to keep its influence over Armenia
through the military sector alone, and is now using economics as
well.’
Susanna Petrosian is a journalist with the Noyan Tapan news agency in
Yerevan.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 27, 2006
PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH DELEGATION OF WFP LED BY ITS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
[July 27, 2006, 20:33:24]
Prime Minister Artur Rasizade met July 27 with delegation of the
United Nations World Food Program (WFP) led by its Executive Director
James Morris.
Mr. Rasizade highly appreciated the fact that such a top-ranking
international delegation visited here refugee camps, and witnessed
the people living, as a result of Armenia’s occupation of the
Azerbaijani lands, under extremely difficult conditions.
On the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the Prime
Minister said Armenia has a non-constructive stance on this dispute.
Artur Rasizade thanked the UN World Food Program for providing aid to
refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan.
Speaking of hard living conditions of those people, James Morris said
the international community should make all efforts to solve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and help the refugees and IDPs return to
their homelands.
Mr. Morris said WFP highly values Azerbaijan’s efforts towards
improving conditions of refugees among whom are many children and old
people.
He pointed out that his organization will further continue
cooperation with Azerbaijan.

Armenpress
ARMENIA TAKES UP CHAIRMANSHIP IN CAUCASIAN
PARLIAMENTARY INITIATIVE

YEREVAN, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian
parliament member who traveled to London a week ago to
take the rotating chairmanship in the low-profile
South Caucasian Parliamentary Initiative from Georgia
for the next six months, reiterated today the official
Yerevan’s arguments that economic cooperation between
rivals and open borders can serve as an extra tool to
help the involved parties to resolve their conflicts.
The lawmaker, Ararat Malkhasian, told Armenpress
that during its six-month chairmanship Armenia will
place focus on urging cooperation in nature protection
and banking sectors. He said the parliaments of
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia have assumed to set up
task forces which will be assigned to outline concrete
steps for each direction.
The Armenian lawmaker said contacts between South
Caucasian lawmakers are very important because they
are frank and immediate. He said the lawmakers also
agreed to consider the idea of designating a Caucasus
Day.
Malkhasian said the Armenian side hopes that the
Initiative would eventually turn into the
Parliamentary Assembly. He also said in London Azeri
counterparts agreed that war rhetoric in Baku is only
deteriorating chances for the peaceful settlement of
the Armenian-Azeri dispute.
The next meeting is expected to take place in Dubai
on December 16-17 when Armenia will hand the
chairmanship to Azerbaijan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway
The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief
========================================== ======
26 July 2006
AZERBAIJAN: JEHOVAH’S WITNESS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR SENTENCED
le_id=818
Mushfiq Mammedov, a Jehovah’s Witness conscientious objector has been
given a six month suspended jail sentence and intends to appeal against
this, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. He was sentenced for refusing
compulsory military service – even though the country’s Constitution
guarantees the right to alternative service, and not allowing this
breaches its Council of Europe commitments. “My son has done nothing wrong
– he’s not guilty,” his mother Sevil Najafova told Forum 18 “He told the
Military Commissariat he’s prepared to do alternative unarmed service in
line with his religious beliefs.” A spokesperson for the State Committee
for Work with Religious Organisations, defended the sentence. “Our law
says every young man must join the army, so this sentence is correct,” he
told Forum 18. The OSCE has noted that “a constitutional right would be
meaningless if the government recognised a right to alternative service
only after it had initiated the promulgation of a law.”
28 July 2006
BELARUS: TIME RUNNING OUT FOR MINSK CHURCH
id=819
New Life Church in Belarus’ capital Minsk could lose its worship premises
as early as mid-August, the charismatic church’s lawyer, Sergei Lukanin,
has told Forum 18 News Service. Minsk City Economic Court has ruled that
New Life must sell – at a low price – the disused cowshed it worships in,
following official insistence that the city Development Plan requires that
the building be demolished. No new evidence for this claim was presented at
the most recent hearing, which Forum 18 attended, one official eventually
agreeing that the church “could be sited anywhere in the city.” Minsk’s
main religious affairs official, Alla Ryabitseva, has previously told
Forum 18 that the Development Plan was the reason why New Life was not
given permission to convert the building into a church. Because it does
not have state-approved worship premises, New Life was not given the
compulsory re-registration demanded by the Religion Law, which bans all
unregistered religious activity – against international human rights
standards. The church could therefore be liquidated under the Religion
Law.
26 July 2006
TURKEY: LITTLE PROGRESS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
_id=817
Despite hopes, there has been little progress in achieving true religious
freedom in Turkey, argues Otmar Oehring of the German Catholic charity
Missio
< schen-kulturen/themen/menschenrechte>.
Delays in changing the Foundations Law; declining official interest in
acting on EU and Council of Europe advice; the lack of concrete impact of
limited changes in the way the state records individual religious
affiliation; “massive nationalistic indoctrination” in schools; and
continuing systematic discrimination against Muslim and non-Muslim
minorities contribute to Turkey’s religious freedom deficit. In this
personal commentary for Forum 18 News Service <;, Dr Oehring maintains that the Turkish government no longer seems willing to improve the religious freedom and human rights situation. Many think that EU accession negotiations may fail, and he suggests that this is likely to end any progress towards religious freedom. * See full article below. * 26 July 2006 TURKEY: LITTLE PROGRESS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM e_id=817 By Dr. Otmar Oehring, head of the human rights office of Missio <; The Turkish parliament has now departed for the holidays - without approving the new Law on Foundations as it had been expected to do. The proposed Law would regulate how "community foundations" - the organisations allowed to some non-Muslim ethnic/religious communities - own and recover property. Parliament said it would come back early from holiday and reconvene in September, rather than October, to consider this proposed law and other laws aimed to bring Turkish laws into line with European Union (EU) norms. The aim is, reportedly, to approve at least the Foundations Law before the EU reports again on accession in early October. Although politicians and the EU are concentrating now on the Foundations Law, this focuses only on one fairly narrow issue: what to do with buildings and other property taken from religious communities by the government and sold to third parties (see F18News 13 December 2005 < e_id=704>). The government
cannot now give these properties back, so it will have to offer
compensation. However, it is not willing to do so and parliamentary
deputies think Turkey should not offer such compensation. As the European
Commission is telling the Turkish government it must do so, the issue is
deadlocked.
Despite the urging of the European Commission’s Enlargement
Directorate-General that Turkey should use the good offices of the Council
of Europe, both to help it understand what needs to be done in the area of
religious freedom and to help draw up laws on religious freedom and the
status of religious communities, the Turks are reluctant. In April 2006,
the Turkish government contacted the European Commission to ask for
specialists who could advise on these issues. The EU was willing to send
three experts, two from the Council of Europe as well as a French expert
on “laicism”. But to the astonishment of those involved, the day before
the experts were due to travel the Turkish government informed them there
was “no need” to come.
The involvement of the Council of Europe in helping Turkey’s
transformation is very tricky. Its Venice Commission – which advises on
how constitutions and other fundamental laws could conform to European
democratic standards – could help Turkey on religious freedom, but can
only get involved if Turkey invites it to do so. But Turkey is not
interested.
Official religious affiliation records
One small step has been taken in the way the state records individuals’
religious affiliation. A new Personal Status Law approved on 25 April
gives citizens for the first time the possibility to ask the authorities
to remove information about their religious affiliation (or presumed
religious affiliation) from their official records. However, the law is
contradictory: while Article 35 paragraph 2 allows individuals to ask for
their religious affiliation to be removed from their records or amended,
Article 7 paragraph 1(e) specifies that citizens have to provide such
information.
Yet despite discussion for at least the past decade, Identity Cards still
carry a section giving the holder’s religion. One of the major
contributors to the debate was Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who is now Turkey’s
President, in his former capacity as Chief Justice of the Constitutional
Court. A committed secularist, he argued that, in a secular state, an
individual’s religion should not be mentioned in official documents.
Changing religious affiliation on an individual’s personal records was
possible before, but required an individual to do this through the courts.
Fear of social ostracism or hostility meant that few did this.
Although the new Personal Status Law appears to be a positive step, this
is not the case. In practice, individuals trying to change their religious
affiliation in their official records could still face problems. For a
start, they would have to tell officials – who could just record that the
individual had requested to change their religious affiliation without
actually changing it. At least this Law offers the possibility to remove
any religious affiliation from individuals’ Identity Card, but if this
does not become common any official or police officer would then ask an
individual why no religion was given. Giving no religion would be
tantamount to an admission that the individual is possibly a Christian or
a Jew – the only faiths apart from Islam allowed to be listed.
It remains unclear how many people have asked to change the affiliation on
their official records since the new law came in. In the past, individuals
did of course change their religion, but were not always prepared to do so
publicly through the courts. The authorities have given conflicting numbers
of such converts. In February 2005 the Interior Ministry’s
Directorate-General for Administration of the Provinces told parliament
that 344 people had converted from Islam to Christianity between 1997 and
2004, while six had converted from Islam to Judaism. No converts to other
faiths were mentioned. However, Minister of State Mehmet Aydin, quoting
figures from the government’s Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet)
(see F18News 12 October 2005
< e_id=670>), said 368 people had
converted “under the influence of missionary activities”.
There is much hostility to the peaceful sharing of non-Islamic beliefs,
which may have been a factor in the murder of Fr Andrea Santoro (see
F18News 9 February 2006
< e_id=724>).
The way officials record religion on personal records is predictable.
Children born to parents who are recorded as Muslims are automatically
recorded as Muslim. De facto, only three religions are permitted in the
records: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Atheist or non-believer are not
in practice allowed as options. Nor are Baha’i or Jehovah’s Witness, to
take two other examples. It remains unclear whether this has now changed,
though in practice the whims of the official are likely to override any
official decision. And if an individual asks to change the religion on
their identity card, there is no guarantee officials will also change it
on their personal record on the national register. And when you need any
official document, the first place officials look is on the register.
Islam, Islamic Minorities and Citizenship
In the Muslim world, there is a tradition that the nationality is Islam:
the nation is the umma, the body of Muslim believers. The concept of
citizenship separate from religion is not known in Islamic law and
tradition. Despite the government’s insistence that it is “secular”,
Turkey remains a deeply Islamic society so these views have a strong hold
on the population.
For almost a quarter of a century, Alevi Muslims have been pushing for
recognition as a distinct community able to organise themselves in
accordance with their own beliefs. But in May, Professor Ali Bardakoglu,
the head of the government’s Diyanet <; - which controls all official Muslim life in Turkey, despite the claimed secularism of the state - declared once again that Alevis are de facto Sunni Muslims. This is like saying that all Protestants are Catholics. Predictably, Alevis were unhappy over this statement, which means that in practice, the government does not recognise that Alevis and Sunnis are different. The government maintains that Cem Houses, where Alevis worship, are not considered places of worship but cultural centres. "We're not against Cem Houses, but they're no alternative to mosques," is the government message. The Alevis are divided as to how to respond to the government's attitude - some groups are broadly pro-government, some anti-government and some pro-Kurdish. The Republican Education Foundation, which is under Alevi control, is regarded as more ready to work with the government. It says it does not want to see a separate government body to handle Alevi affairs, but argues that taxes from Alevis are being used (or misused) solely on Sunni mosques and imams. It insists that as Alevis are Turkish citizens and taxpayers it wants to see their taxes used to support Alevi structures. Islamic groups that do not regard themselves as being under government control - such as the Islamic brotherhoods (the Sunni Nakchibendis, Mevlevis and others as well as the Shi'ite Bektashis) or new Islamic movements (such as the Nurcus and Suleymancis) - are in practice left alone. Yet there is no chance that the government will recognise Muslim differences, even though Turkey has Sunnis, Alevis and a small Shia minority. This indicates that the government is not just Muslim, but specifically Sunni Muslim, despite its proclaimed secular nature. Nationalism in Education Discussion continues over changing the school curriculum to treat all faiths in Turkey in a new way. The Alevis - like other religious minorities - complain that no progress has been reached for their teachings to be mentioned in school curricula. Further, Alevis have warned that if the government does not introduce separate religious education for Alevi children, they will lodge a case against it at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg - to which Turkey is subject, as a member of the Council of Europe. Education remains very nationalistic (see F18News 12 October 2005 < e_id=670>). Some officials of
the EU and of EU member states have complained of what one privately
described as “massive nationalistic indoctrination” in schools. So it is
highly unfortunate that the Education and Culture chapter (Chapter 26) in
the EU accession negotiations was opened and closed on the same day,
without addressing this central point. Without change in the curriculum
and teaching, there can be no progress in a society whose nationalism has
a noticeable impact on social attitudes (see F18News 19 January 2006
< e_id=716>).
Non-Muslim Minorities
Meanwhile, tensions for religious minorities remain high, as evidenced by
the murder of one Catholic priest and attacks on other priests this year.
Speculation persists that the “deep state” – the nationalist circles in
the army, police, National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) secret police
and state administration which regard themselves as the custodians of the
Ataturkist ideology – might have been behind the murder in February of
Italian priest Fr Andrea Santoro in his church in the Black Sea port of
Trabzon, an area well known as a nationalist stronghold. Other factors
behind the murder are also suggested (see F18News 9 February 2006
< e_id=724>). Such attacks on
priests could spread to other nationalist areas. Some Catholic leaders
still have police outside their residences, though how an unarmed,
plainclothes police officer could offer any protection remains unclear.
Some wonder whether they are there more to listen to what those leaders
are saying than to protect them.
Of course, all religious minority leaders remain under government
surveillance, forcing them to be very cautious in everything they say – or
to be willing to pay the price for their frankness. They know their
telephones are occasionally tapped and mail is sometimes opened before it
is delivered. “Walls have ears,” religious minority leaders say. Secretive
officials occasionally come to visit them to ask questions – people
speculate that they are from the MIT secret police.
In what is seen by Turkish Christians as a continuing humiliation, all
Christian Churches – whether their leaders and members are Turkish
citizens or not – are regarded as foreign. This attitude persists, even
though Christian communities were present on the territory of what is now
Turkey many centuries before the Turkish state, its ancestor the Ottoman
Empire, and Islam. Discussions between Christian Churches and the state
are normally handled by the Foreign Ministry, or sometimes by another
state authority chosen by the government. This humiliation is clearly
deliberate.
Nothing has happened about plans for the Ecumenical Patriarchate to be
able to reopen its seminary on the island of Heybeliada (Halki in Greek)
in the Sea of Marmara, once famed for its scholarship throughout the
Orthodox world. Closed in 1971, Turkey has grudgingly promised to reopen
it under US and EU pressure, but that now seems further off than ever.
Discussion has now fizzled out, though Patriarch Bartholomew always tries
to raise the issue whenever he can. The Armenians saw their Holy Cross
seminary in Istanbul closed at the same time, but have given up any hope
to be allowed to reopen it as a separate institution. Armenian Patriarch
Mesrop has instead proposed inaugurating a chair of Armenian Studies at
one of Istanbul’s state universities – so far with no result.
Pope Benedict’s Planned Visit
The planned visit of Pope Benedict XVI, due in November 2006, could also
raise tensions. Benedict is scheduled to meet the Turkish President and
government in Ankara, and address a selected public in the capital.
Presumably, the Pope will want to talk about relations between the
Christian and Islamic worlds and seek to overcome ideas about the “clash
of civilisations”. The Turkish public is unlikely to be present. Any views
they might have of the speech will be formed by how the local media covers
it. In Istanbul, Benedict will meet the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Armenian
Patriarch and other local religious leaders, as well as the Catholic
community.
Most Turks either do not want the Pope to visit, or are indifferent to his
visit. Some Western-oriented Turks welcome it, as they think it could help
Turkish society better understand both the Catholic Church and western
views of Islam. Some of these Turks also hope that the visit will help
Turkey understand the progress it needs to make on religious freedom. But
nationalists who strongly oppose Europe and accession to the EU – who are
growing more influential – could cause headaches for the police during
Benedict’s visit.
The government too will be closely scrutinising the Pope’s words for any
hint of anything that could be interpreted as anti-Turkish and
anti-Islamic. As soon as any comments are linked to Turks as a people and
a society, problems will arise. The Pope will doubtless be very delicate.
The row stirred up by remarks about the Armenian genocide in the final
years of the Ottoman Empire made by the Armenian Catholicos, Karekin II,
on a visit in June is ostensibly related to a historical ethnic conflict
dating back ninety years. But it is relevant to a discussion on religious
freedom, especially as the Istanbul prosecutor’s office decided to
investigate the remarks for a possible prosecution of the Catholicos for
“anti-Turkish remarks”. The very prospect of a criminal case over these
remarks shows the lack of freedom of speech. But whenever religious
leaders are prosecuted there is a knock-on effect on the rights of the
religious community. The Armenian Apostolic community – the largest of
Turkey’s Christian communities by far – was embarrassed by Karekin’s
remarks, knowing they will make their already precarious existence more
difficult.
What Prospects for the Future?
The prospect of Turkey’s EU accession seems to be the only thing capable
of driving change in the area of religious freedom and human rights more
widely. Yet the government is now not willing to enact change. Indeed, it
is becoming ever more nationalist – even if this might simply reflect the
AKP’s need for votes from the nationalist constituency. It is careful not
to show too openly that it is Islamist, as this would cause problems with
the President and the military.
All this could change after the next parliamentary elections (due in late
2006 or early 2007) and the presidential election (due next year), if the
current ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) wins. If the current
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan – or a puppet – succeeds in becoming
President, the Ataturk legacy could be changed. There will then not be a
President willing to veto laws that contradict this legacy. This would
definitely lead to a worsening climate for religious freedom. The position
for Sunni Muslims would improve, while for Alevis the situation would
remain as restrictive as it is now. Despite the religious differences with
the majority population, the Sunnis are still seen as Turks. For other
minorities – especially Christians – the situation would be worse.
Government officials sympathetic to the ideal of secularism – and
secularists more widely – are growing increasingly concerned. They fear
that, if the AKP substantially increases its vote at the next election, it
would be strong enough to change the Constitution – even against the wishes
of the opposition. It could also install a President from its ranks, who
would not then veto laws deemed to be part of an Islamist agenda, as the
current President has done.
Secularists in particular are afraid for the future. Turkish diplomats –
who are already concerned over the changing mood among state officials as
an increasing number of AKP supporters fill official positions – are very
afraid of a fundamental change in the country’s course. Many believe any
sweeping AKP victory in the next national elections would speed up the
replacement of state officials with AKP loyalists.
The old establishment is seeking to build up political forces attractive
to the electorate, in a last-ditch bid to head off the AKP challenge.
However, it remains unclear if the electorate will back them. Voters threw
out the old establishment in disgust at its corruption and ineffectiveness.
The AKP has been careful to be on its best behaviour during its current
period in office.
Although there is much talk of a military coup in the event of such
fundamental changes, no-one knows if the majority of army officers still
support Ataturk-defined secularism – or if they would be prepared to back
such an anti-Islamist coup.
Prospects for EU Accession
The level of optimism or pessimism over the future depends on who you talk
to. Western-oriented Turks still hope EU accession negotiations will
continue and that Turkey will eventually join the EU. They hope
desperately that the process will generate its own momentum that would
force the government, the administration and the army to look forward and
support reforms. This could happen, but it looks unlikely.
As the general election looms, the government is doing nothing that could
be seen as a positive step towards the reforms the EU would welcome.
Many observers are not optimistic. They do not believe the Turkish side –
whether the current AKP government or the “deep state” – is interested in
seeing such reforms. Many Turks have not even understood what religious
freedom – for example as defined in the rights set out in Article 9 of the
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) – actually means (see F18News 13
December < 704>). Or they
understand it – but reject it. Turkey ratified the ECHR in 1954, but over
50 years later has yet to abide by it.
Ataturkists fear that granting religious freedom as outlined in the
Convention would give power to the Islamists. Yet Paragraph 2 of the
ECHR’s Article 9 prevents the abuse of religious freedom by freedom’s
enemies. This states that “freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs
shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are
necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for
the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of
the rights and freedoms of others.” Indeed, Article 9 would safeguard a
real separation of religion and the state, as the Ataturkists claim to
want.
This fear is also felt on the EU side, which means that it too is
increasingly reluctant to clearly advocate religious freedom along the
lines of the ECHR. EU governments also fear such rights would open the
doors to Turkey’s Islamist groups. Although EU officials involved in the
accession process are interested in seeing religious freedom promoted
properly – indeed, they regard it as the second most important issue after
recognition of Cyprus – they seem to know that this is seen as a political
issue which is over their heads.
Many believe the accession negotiations will fail this autumn, not over
democratisation and human rights, but over the Turkish government’s
refusal to recognise the government of Cyprus in Nicosia. Many Turks would
not be unhappy at this. Yet if the EU suspends the accession negotiations,
the Turks will feel insulted and spurned by Europe. Some believe the
European Commission is therefore trying to manoeuvre to find a way for
Turkey itself to suspend the negotiations.
Possible Impact on Religious Freedom
Yet any suspension will have a very negative impact on religious freedom –
indeed, the position for religious minorities could end up being worse than
when the negotiations started. Suspension would incite nationalist feelings
and many Turks would openly say that the negotiations and even membership
of the EU itself would not benefit Turkey. Then a hunt would begin for
those who had caused the mess. Most Turks would not point to their own
government but to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Armenian Patriarchate,
the Catholic Church, the Protestants, and other obvious symbols of the
outside world.
The only hope many can see for progress towards religious freedom is that
the EU accession negotiations continue. If EU negotiations stop
completely, no hope for religious freedom will remain. Yet even if the
negotiations stagger on, it is doubtful that the majority of the
population is prepared to change its attitude to nationalism and religion,
and even consider accepting Alevis and non-Muslim Turks as full Turkish
citizens. The only other possible hope is that the reform process will
gather its own momentum independent of the EU. However, at present, there
is little sign of this happening. (END)
– Dr Otmar Oehring, head of the human rights office of Missio
< lturen/themen/menschenrechte>, a
Catholic charity based in Germany, contributed this comment to Forum 18
News Service. Commentaries are personal views and do not necessarily
represent the views of F18News or Forum 18.
For further overviews by Dr Oehring of religious freedom in Turkey, and of
the need for fundamental reform of the Constitution, see
< =68>.
For commentaries by the Anglican Chaplain in Istanbul on the roots of
Turkey’s attitude to religious freedom see
< _id=716>, and on Turkish
society’s reaction to the murder of Roman Catholic priest Fr Andrea
Santoro, see < 724>.
For a personal commentary on religious freedom under Islam, see
< _id=227>
For a personal commentary assessing western European “headscarf laws”, see
< _id=469>
A printer-friendly map of Turkey is available at
< s/atlas/index.html?Parent=mideast&Rootmap=turk ey>
Adobe Acrobat PDF and printer-friendly views of this article are available
at < 817>.
(END)
© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855
You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to
F18News
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Armenpress
STUDENTS FROM THE FRENCH UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA WIN
EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMPETITION

YEREVAN, JULY 28, ARMENPRESS: The students of the
French University of Armenia beat their peers from 18
big European universities representing 10 countries
winning the first place at Rene Cassin Human Rights
European Competition.
The French embassy in Yerevan told Armenpress the
award ceremony was handled by a jury made up of
university faculty representatives, international
public servants and lawyers. The Cassin European Human
Rights Competition involves mock trials – in French –
based on the European Convention on Human Rights. It
is open to students of law and political sciences.
The French embassy said Brigitte Jirardin, the
French minister of commonwealth, development and
Francophonia sent a special letter of gratitude
mentioning that the French University of Armenia is
the biggest French university outside France. Rene
Cassin (1887-1976) was one of the most influential
members of the Commission on Human Rights. As a
professor of civil law at the University of Paris,
Cassin was an expert in international law with an
impassioned concern for human rights.
For these reasons, the delegates to the Commission
on Human Rights selected Cassin to compose the first
full draft of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. This early draft would contain most of the
rights and much of the language that would later be
set forth in the final document.
Rene Cassin spent his life defending the rights of
men, women, and children. His dedication to bettering
the lives of others and his contribution to the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights were eventually
recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize.

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

July 27, 2006

Armenian media situation improved, but more diversity needed, OSCE
media watchdog says in new report

VIENNA, 26 July 2006 – Armenia has made significant progress in
improving media legislation, but media pluralism remains limited to
the independent, but financially weak, print media, OSCE
Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti said in a
report released today.
Haraszti prepared the report following an assessment visit to Yerevan
between 19 and 21 July.
“In order for Armenia to continue the process of media
democratization, the broadcasting sector needs to reflect diversity
of opinion, and the composition of all boards should represent the
political and social diversity of the country,” Haraszti said.
“Although Armenia has a good set of laws and has adopted a
progressive Freedom of Information Law, their proper implementation
should be ensured.”
The report also offers detailed recommendations to further promote
free and pluralistic media.
Armenian and Russian translations will follow shortly.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Press Release
ARMENPAC, The Armenian-American Political Action Committee
421 E. Airport Freeway, Suite 201
Irving, Texas 75220
Contact: Jason P. Capizzi, Esq.
Tel: (972) 635-5347
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: <; ARMENPAC SURVEYS ALL 1,944 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES TO ASSESS THEIR POSITIONS ON ARMENIAN-AMERICAN ISSUES Irving, TX - ARMENPAC, The Armenian-American Political Action Committee, recently issued its 2006 Congressional Candidate Questionnaire to every candidate seeking election to the United States Congress on November 8, 2006. ARMENPAC is glad to be the first Armenian advocacy organization to tackle this very important project, and to apprise the Armenian-American community of its local candidates' positions on Armenian-American issues before Election Day. "ARMENPAC implemented this daunting research project not just to educate the Armenian-American community, but to also educate the candidates on our issues that they will face if elected to Congress," said ARMENPAC Co-Chairs Annie Totah and Edgar Hagopian. "By beginning dialogues and building relationships with Congressional hopefuls early on, ARMENPAC is cultivating a bipartisan majority in support of Armenian-American issues." The 2006 ARMENPAC Congressional Candidate Questionnaire is comprised of questions that succinctly and objectively apprise candidates of the issues affecting the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The brief survey broadly addresses, and seeks the candidates' position on, the following topics: United States Reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide, United States - Armenia Trade Relations, Turkish and Azeri Hostility toward Armenia, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Peace Process, and the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. The 2006 ARMENPAC Congressional Candidate Questionnaire was mailed, during the week of July 17, 2006, to this year's 1,944 candidates running for seats in either the United States Senate or the United States House of Representatives. Each candidate received a unique "username" and "password" granting them access to a secure area of the ARMENPAC website, <; , so that they can submit their responses to the ARMENPAC Congressional Candidate Questionnaire on-line. Once a candidate responds to the Congressional Candidate Questionnaire, his or her answers are posted in real time in the "Candidate Response" section of the ARMENPAC website for all to view and consider before Election Day. The ARMENPAC Board of Directors will issue its list of endorsed candidates before October, 2006 based, in part, on the information collected in response to the Congressional Candidate Questionnaire. "If your local candidates have not yet responded to the 2006 ARMENPAC Congressional Candidate Questionnaire, please call their campaign office today and request that they do so before August 15, 2006. Their response, or lack of response, is crucial as ARMENPAC strives to identify which candidates are deserving of ARMENPAC's support and endorsement," said ARMENPAC Executive Director Jason Capizzi. Candidates can download additional copies of the 2006 ARMENPAC Congressional Candidate Questionnaire from the ARMENPAC website, and can contact ARMENPAC at 877-286-1046 if they misplaced their unique "username" and "password" and need another. "By issuing the 2006 Congressional Candidate Questionnaire, ARMENPAC has achieved much success by making 1,944 individual candidates aware of the issues that are most important to the Armenian-American community. We must, however, expand upon that success by contacting our local candidates TODAY to let them know that their responses to this survey are of importance not just too Armenian-American voters, but everyone who desires peace, security and stability in the Caucasus region," said ARMENPAC Co-Chairs Annie Totah and Edgar Hagopian. "Additionally, we all must make sure that we are registered to vote, and do vote on Election Day, November 8, 2006." The voter registration forms of all fifty (50) states are available on the ARMENPAC website, <; . Just click on the name of your state in the "Register to Vote" link, download your state's form, and mail it to the designated agency before your state's registration deadline. If you do not have access to the Internet, contact ARMENPAC at (877) 286-1046 and we will gladly mail you copies of your state's application forms. ARMENPAC is an independent, bipartisan political action committee established to shape public policy by raising awareness of, and advocating for, Armenian-American issues. ARMENPAC provides financial support to federal officeholders, candidates, political action committees and organizations that actively support issues of importance to Armenian-Americans. For more information and how to join ARMENPAC, please call (877) 286-1046 or visit <; .

City News Service
July 26, 2006 Wednesday 5:11 PM PST
Man Arrested in Armenia Ordered to Stand Trial on Murder Charge
VAN NUYS
A man returned last year from his native Armenia was ordered today to
stand trial for murder.
Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Meredith Taylor found sufficient
evidence to require Akop Akopyan, 33, to stand trial for the Sept. 4,
2000, slaying of Garnik Madoyan in North Hollywood.
Akopyan allegedly argued with the victim before shooting him and
fleeing in a white Jeep Cherokee driven by someone else.
Akopyan was arrested last Aug. 12 in Yerevan and turned over to the
FBI last November.
He is due back in court Aug. 9 for arraignment.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
28-07-2006
Acting Press Secretary Vladimir Karapetian Replies to
Question by Panorama.am Electronic Newspaper
Question: What is the situation with the Armenian citizens gathered at the
Ergnet border crossing point in Georgia? What news do you have?
Mr. Karapetian: We were informed tonight that the Georgian authorities have
decided as an exception to allow the citizens of Armenia to pass the border
crossing point near Egnet. We would like to reiterate our gratitude for this
step taken by a good neighbour.
During the coming hours, a string of cars accompanied by the representatives
of the Armenian Embassy in Tbilisi and the OSCE office in Georgia will be
headed for Armenia.
I take this opportunity to once again appeal to those citizens of the
Republic of Armenia who travel from Russia to Armenia via Georgia not to
take the road passing through South Ossetia. Georgia. The South Ossetia
administrative border crossing point is not functioning. The only possible
way to reach Armenia from Russia today is by means of the Poti –
Novorossiysk ferry.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
28-07-2006
Acting Press Secretary Vladimir Karapetian Replies to
Question by Haylur News Program
Question: In his interview given to the Azerbaijani news media, Elmar
Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, made a peculiar assessment of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution process, and attempted (and failed) to
present the versions concocted by Azerbaijanis. How do you interpret these
statements?
Mr. Karapetian: While listening to the Foreign Minister, one might gain the
impression that he is in no way connected to the process about which he
speaks.
I think that the Azerbaijani side still suffers from the myths they
themselves have created, and which only they believe or take seriously.
The sooner they get rid of such illusions the sooner it will be possible to
establish stability and an atmosphere of reciprocal confidence in the
region.