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)–

GOING NEGATIVE NEW TERRITORY FOR POOCHIGIAN
San Francisco Chronicle, CA
Oct 16 2006
Republican state senator trails better-known Jerry Brown in polls
Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer
Chuck Poochigian first volunteered in a political campaign in 1977
at a rally where George Deukmejian was ramping up his bid for state
attorney general — and accusing then Gov. Jerry Brown of being soft
on criminals.
Nearly three decades later, it’s Poochigian’s turn to run for attorney
general — and accuse Brown, now Oakland mayor, of being soft on crime.
[Podcast: Jim Zamora interviews AG hopeful Chuck Poochigian. ]
“I guess you could say it’s ironic that we’re still having these
discussions about Jerry Brown and crime in 2006,” Deukmejian said. “I
think that Chuck has the perfect qualifications for attorney general.
And criminal justice has never been Jerry Brown’s strong suit. I
don’t know why he is running for this job.”
But the dilemma for the Poochigian is that Brown — perhaps the best
known California politician who was never a president or a movie star
— is running for attorney general.
An ex-governor is the front-runner for a job that is traditionally
seen as a steppingstone to the governor’s office. And the Oakland
mayor has shown double digit leads over the Fresno state senator in
virtually every public poll this year. Brown, 68, is particularly
strong among younger voters, according to one poll.
Poochigian, 57, who also trails in fundraising, has focused more of
his advertising and media efforts on attacking Brown and his long,
often controversial record in public office, frequently highlighting
votes and statements made 30 years ago.
Going negative is new for Poochigian, who has never faced a close
race or even a serious challenge since running for Assembly in 1994.
He won two Assembly races with 67 percent of the vote in 1994 and
’96, and was unopposed in two races for state Senate in 1998 and 2002.
Poochigian, whose Web site slogan is “tough to pronounce, tougher
on crime,” admits he might be perceived as boring but is proud of a
career — and a life — that he says is predictable, consistent and
without scandal or major controversy.
“I’m hard-working, I’m honest and I’m committed to serving the people
of California,” Poochigian said. “I’m not as colorful as some people
running (for office), but I am who I am.”
But critics said that consistency is part of the problem. They said
he has a long predictable conservative legislative record that may
play well in his home district but places him far to the right of
the California mainstream on pollution, reproductive rights and
worker safety.
Charles Suren Poochigian, the grandson of Armenian immigrants who
fled genocide, was raised on a raisin farm outside Fresno. Except
for attending law school at Santa Clara University and serving in
Sacramento, he has spent virtually his entire life in the Fresno
area. He and his wife, Debbie, married in 1977 and raised three
children together.
Poochigian has played up his bland, unpretentious background —
even telling one interviewer his favorite breakfast is oatmeal —
to show he is a consistent, hard-working straight shooter who will
fight hard for crime victims and support local police.
The senator has tried to contrast his lifestyle with Brown’s.
“We are different in so many other ways,” Poochigian said in a debate
sponsored by The Chronicle and CBS 5-TV. “While he was running for
president and traipsing around the world with his amassed wealth,
I was busy at home raising a family with my wife, attending recitals
and sporting events and being very involved in my community.”
Former colleagues said Poochigian is not as boring as he might seem.
They describe him as man who thrives in one-to-one relationships and
small meetings, and makes corny puns.
“I can attest that Chuck has a wonderful sense of humor,” said
former Assemblyman Curt Pringle, who was Poochigian’s roommate in
Sacramento for three years in the 1990s. “But that’s not his strong
suit. Chuck is a principled yet practical legislator who builds very
solid relationships that let him get things done. … I tried to
forget his corny puns.”
As a legislator, Poochigian also touts his ability to work with
Democratic colleagues, citing his co-sponsorship of 2004 legislation
that revamped the workers’ compensation system.
Some Democrats said the Fresno senator is one of the nicer legislators
around the capitol — but nice only counts for so much.
“I will agree that he is very knowledgeable, very cordial, knows
the ins and outs of the political arena,” said state Sen. Liz
Figueroa, D-Fremont, who served with Poochigian in the Assembly
starting in 1994. “He will take the time to listen, is very polite
and respectful. But I don’t recall that he ever changed his mind on
anything. … He has a very conservative view of the world. He is
the polar opposite of me. I don’t see that changing.”
Poochigian said Brown and his supporters have distorted his record
to make him appear more conservative and inflexible. For example,
Poochigian said he personally opposes abortion except in cases of rape,
incest or to save the life of the mother but said that abortion rights
are “settled law” that he would uphold as attorney general. He said
his opposition to Proposition 71 funding for stem cell research was
mainly on fiscal, not moral, grounds.
But critics fear that Poochigian as attorney general would narrowly
focus on violent criminals and sex offenders and undercut lawsuits
filed by incumbent Bill Lockyer against automakers, tobacco companies
and energy companies. Poochigian already has taken a stand against
a lawsuit Lockyer filed Sept. 20 against auto manufacturers over
emissions.
Critics note that Poochigian opposed voter initiatives legalizing
medical marijuana, banning .50 caliber bullets and sending nonviolent
drug offenders into treatment before jail. They fear he would use
his office to undercut those laws.
Among his most vociferous opponents are environmentalists who rate
him as one of the worst legislators on environmental protection.
“It would be a disaster to have Chuck Poochigian in charge of
enforcing California’s environmental laws,” said Bill Magavern of
the Sierra Club. “He has been a friend of the polluter and an enemy
of California’s environment.”
The League of Conservation Voters reports that over the past 11
years, Poochigian has voted for only 9 of 200 bills supported by
environmentalists. The Sierra Club said that in 2003-05, Poochigian
voted against all 25 bills considered most important by the group.
They also said that on at least 10 occasions, Poochigian voted against
environmental bills supported by Republican Govs. Pete Wilson and
Arnold Schwarzenegger, including AB32, a recent landmark bill to
reduce global warming.
“To think that this one bill is going to change everything for the
better is Pollyannaish,” Poochigian said of AB32.
He also dismissed criticism from environmental organizations that
back Brown.
“It’s pure politics, partisan politics,” Poochigian said. “I have a
very strong record of support for the environment. … I’m a believer
in our political and economic system; you have to find ways to clean
the environment that are compatible with a healthy economy.”
———————————- ———————————————-
Cha rles “Chuck” Poochigian Party: Republican
Age: 57
Hometown: Fresno
Career: Private business lawyer, 1975-88; aide to Gov. George
Deukmejian, 1988-91; appointments secretary, Gov. Pete Wilson, 1991-94;
Assembly, 1994-98; state Senate, 1998-current.
Accomplishments: Author of legislation that would add to the list of
crimes that qualify as a sexually violent offense assault with intent
to commit rape and continuous sexual abuse of a child; author of a
law to strengthen witness and victim notification of the release of
violent felons; established a model Rural Crime Prevention Program.
Quote: “I fight for victims and against criminals. California needs
a ‘top cop’ who will fight crime head-on, not someone in search of
another headline.”
Education: California State University Fresno, bachelor’s degree;
Santa Clara University, law degree.
Web site:

TURKISH PARLIAMENT TO RESPOND TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL
By Habib Guler
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 16 2006
As Turkey’s protest campaign against France’s Armenian genocide denial
bill continues, the Turkish Grand National Assembly will convene on
Tuesday to condemn France.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will inform members of parliament
on the new French bill and its resulting developments, after which
MP’s will be free to express their views. A statement condemning
France for the bill is expected to be unanimously approved.
Turkish Prime Minister Reccep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that reactions
against France must be well thought out, adding the parliamentary
assembly is due to handle the issue.
Parliament speaker Bulent Arinc commented on the bill, saying it
betrayed France’s basic values. Arinc assured Turkey’s response would
be resolute yet moderate.
Economic Boycott to Continue
Turkey’s Central bank has an estimated 17 billion New Turkish Liras
as part of France’s currency reserve. If Turkey withdraws this money
from the French Central Bank and private accounts, economists predict
that the French economy would suffer a great loss.
The Turkish government, which is preparing to take measures against
France, could use the Central Bank as its main trump card.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY-FRANCE-ARMENIA: CHIRAC EXPRESSES REGRET
Gareth Cartman
Paris Link, France
Oct 16 2006
Jacques Chirac has expressed his regret to the Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Attempting to re-explain the French position
on the Armenian genocide, Chirac is being forced to backtrack on
comments he made in Yerevan, Armenia.
A telephone call was enough to indicate to Prime Minister Erdogan of
Turkey that Jacques Chirac was not fully in agreement with his own
parliament regarding the passing of the law penalising negation of
the Armenian Genocide by Turks in 1915.
Turkey denies the concept of genocide and continues to contest the
actual number of deaths perpetrated by the Ottoman empire during the
second world war. The Socialist party in France proposed the law
last week in parliament, which passed succesfully without most of
the house voting. The Senate is extremely unlikely to accept the law,
and even if it did, President Chirac would annul it immediately.
Chirac continued to underline that Turkey would have to accept the
Armenian genocide as a pre-condition for entry into the European
Union. Turkey still views Chirac’s line as hostile, although has
called for consumers not to boycott French products.
The Turkish Union of Consumers has also called for a softer line to
be taken against France, although still maintains that some kind of
boycott is essential as an indication of its fury towards France.
Demonstrations continued throughout the weekend against the proposed
law.

SHEKURE BASMAN: MY SON, ORKHAN PAMUK MADE GREAT MISTAKE BY RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Azeri Press Agency
Oct 16 2006
“My son, Orkhan Pamuk made a great mistake by saying that 1.000.000
Armenians and 30.000 Kurds were killed in Turkey. Probably he said
it without any information,” Shekure Basman, mother of Orkhan Pamuk
who was awarded Nobel Prize said, APA reports.
In her interview to Sabah newspaper Shekure Basman said that the
thoughts of her son were exaggerated by Turkish press.
“Orkhan told his thoughts to a Swiss newspaper. This newspaper has
only 30-40.000 circulations. But Turkish press exaggerated it; some
radicals launched a criminal case against my patriot son. If press
did not meddle in government’s affairs the interview given to Swiss
newspaper would not have produced a reaction. Turkish press is guilty;
the government has no deal with it. Talking about false Armenian
Genocide, Shekure Basman said that the teachers taught nothing about
it at schools.
“History books did not write about “Armenian genocide”, so Orkhan
learnt nothing at school. He read nothing about it in history books,”
Shekure Basman said.

VATICAN: POPE’S VISIT TO TURKEY OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED
AKI, Italy
Oct 16 2006
Vatican City, 16 Oct. (AKI) – The Vatican officially confirmed
on Monday Pope Benedict XVI’s trip to Turkey, his first to an
Muslim-majority country since becoming pontiff in April last year.
The pope will travel to Ankara on 28 November on a four-day trip
during which he will be visiting the western coastal city of Izmir,
Ephesus and Istanbul, the Vatican announced. The Vatican said in a
statement Monday that the programme of the papal visit will announced
at a later date.
However, as the official guest of Turkey’s president Ahmet Necdet
Sezer, the pontiff is expected to visit the Anitkabir, the mausoloeum
of the founder of modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk. He will also meet
Sezer at the presidential palace, Cankaya Kosk, in Ankara.
Benedict XVI is also widely expected to visit a shrine at Ephesus,
near the western coastal city of Izmir, where many Christians and
Muslims believe that Mary, the mother of Jesus, once lived.
The pope should also reportedly celebrate on 30 November in
Istanbul the feast of Saint Andrew with the Ecumenical Patriarch of
Constantinople Bartholomew I and the Armenian patriarch, Mesrob II –
the two leaders of Turkey’s tiny Christian community.