TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2006
Azeri Parliament to Make Second Protest Letter to French Government

Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

13.10.2006

The Chairman of the Milli Majlis [Azerbaijani Parliament] condemned
the draft law envisaging punishment for the denial of the so-called
Armenian Genocide adopted on 12 October 2006. The speaker made the
statement at a plenary sitting of parliament on 13 October, Trend
reports.
Asadov noted that the adoption of the draft law contradicts democracy
and human rights. He underlined the role of Armenians residing in
France in the approval of the Bill.
The Parliament made a resolution to establish a commission under the
chairmanship of Vice Speaker Bahar Muradova to develop the second
written appeal to the French parliament on behalf of Milli Majlis.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Focus News, Bulgaria
Oct 13 2006
Bulgarian PM: Chirac and I Haven’t Discussed France’s Bill on
Armenian Genocide

13 October 2006 | 13:42 | FOCUS News Agency

Paris. `French President Jacques Chirac and I haven’t discussed the
French bill on the Armenian genocide’, Bulgarian Prime Minister
Sergey Stanishev said answering a question of AP Stanishev was
received today by the French President at his Elysees Palace. `The
issue is nether related to the French-Bulgarian relations, nor to the
common European politics. It’s an issue related to the Frech-Turkish
relations’, said the Bulgarian Prime Minister, who is on a official
visit to France.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Baku Police Dispersed Picket at French Embassy in
Azerbaijan
13.10.2006 16:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On Friday the United National Front
Party of Azerbaijan tried to hold a picket at the
French Embassy in Baku. A group of 15 party activists
were pushed from the building. Two party members were
detained. Despite the pressure the activists read a
resolution calling on the `Azeri population to boycott
French products, on Milli Mejlis recognize the
genocide of 30 thousand Algerians committed by France
in 1954-1961 and refuse from the French mediation
within the OSCE MG.’ The resolution also calls on the
Azeri government to break all the economic ties with
France, reports Day.az
Baku’s discontent was aroused by the bill adopted by
the French parliament yesterday. The bill provides for
a 45 000 euros fine and a year in prison for the
denial of the Armenian Genocide.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman , Turkey
Oct 13 2006
Brussels Concerned; `Decision Foolish & un-European’
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Friday, October 13, 2006
zaman.com
Brussels has been deeply troubled by the approval of the French bill
making it illegal to deny the alleged Armenian genocide despite
warnings from the European Union and the European Parliament (EP).
The EU Commission has declared that the passing of the bill will not
be a factor in Turkey’s EU accession negotiation efforts.
Remarking that the bill had not yet become law, the EU Commission
emphasized the significance of leaving the matter to be discussed by
historians and researchers.
While negative reactions from EP members continue, one of the
harshest criticisms came from Joost Lagendijk, chairman of European
Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission, whose description of the
bill was `foolish and far from belonging to Europe.’
Andrew Duff, the English member of the EP for East England, told the
French assembly, `You have made Voltaire turn in his grave!’
Duff also said the European Court of Human Rights must be ready to
oversee the matter in case it became law.
Camiel Eurlings, the Turkey reporter of the EP, noted that France’s
decision to cut down on freedom of speech had made things more
difficult for Turkey, especially at a time when it was trying to
establish freedom of speech and thought.
Eurlings further noted that `Politicians cannot write history; let’s
leave this to historians.’
Krisztina Nagy, the spokeswoman for EU Commissioner Olli Rehn, said,
“In the case this bill becomes a law, it would prevent the dialogue
and debate that are necessary for reconciliation,” and highlighted
that the recognition of `genocide’ is not a Copenhagen criterion.
Asked if the decision would be included in Turkey’s EU accession
progress report to be unveiled on Nov. 9, Nagy said that the two
subjects aren’t related to one another.
When Zaman asked if France’s decision contradict the European Union,
which has been pressing Turkey for freedom of speech, Nagy simply
stressed that the matter should be left to historians and
researchers.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Adoption of Armenian Genocide Bill in France – Correct
Step by Good Friend
13.10.2006 16:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The bill penalizing the denial of
the Armenian Genocide in France is of great importance
for Armenia, since our two states enjoy very warm
relations, RA NA ex-Speaker Artur Baghdassarian said.
`We always stand for the development of the
French-Armenian relations and think it’s a correct
step made by a good friend,’ he said. At that Artur
Baghdassarian added he is not surprised at Turkey’s
reaction. `We should not forget that besides France
many other states have condemned the Armenian
Genocide. If we do not condemn genocides we will have
to face this evil in future. We should recognize what
happened in the past in order to prevent its
repetition tomorrow,’ he said, reports Golos Rossii.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Siberian News Online, Russia
Oct 13 2006
“Days of Armenia in Siberia” finished in Krasnoyarsk 10/13/2006
6:36:45 PM
“Days of Armenia in Siberia” were closed in Krasnoyarsk in
International Exhibition Business Center “Siberia” officially on
October, 13. Yerevan Champagne Plant, Gent Group (facing ceramics),
Vedi Alko Ltd (vintage wine) and Lamag Ltd (decorative goods) were
awarded with medals of Krasexpocenter Ltd.
It is worth reminding that Armenian and Krasnoyarsk businessmen had
meetings as part of “Days of Armenia in Siberia”, participated in a
panel discussion with members of Central Siberian Commerce and
Industrial Chamber, The Union of Industrialists and Businessmen of
Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Union of Commodity Manufacturers and
Consumers. Famous Armenian singers and musicians gave two concerts,
one in IEBS Siberia, the second one – in the Big Concert Hall of the
philharmonic society.
Visitors were also able to see an exhibition of Armenian food and
industrial goods. The expositions showed decorative goods, national
souvenirs made of stone and ceramics, shoes, textile, equipment, a
wide range of beverages, including alcohol.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Turkey Proud of Pamuk Who Recently Stood Trial for Statements on Genocide
13.10.2006 17:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish officials and writing elite
of Turkey said they are proud of Orhan Pamuk. `We
congratulate Orhan Pamuk with the Nobel Prize awarding
and wish him every success in his career. The Turkish
public has for a long time waited to see a Turkish
writer awarded with Nobel Prize,’ says the statement
of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, reports RFE/RL.
It should be noted that not long ago Pamuk had to
stand trial for insulting Turkishness. The accusation
was brought over his statement on the Armenian
Genocide. In an interview with a Swiss newspaper Pamuk
said that `a million of Armenians and 30 thousand
Kurds were slaughtered in the Ottoman Empire.’

PanARMENIAN.Net
Adoption of Armenian Genocide Bill Will Change Many Things for France
13.10.2006 17:14 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “A wrong step taken on October 12th will change many
things for France and not for Turkey,” said Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan when commenting on the French bill criminalizing
the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
“Initiative of France to turn a historical lie into a law is a big
challenge against EU`s fundamental values. The most valuable asset of
Copenhagen criteria is freedom of thought and expression. So when a
scientist says “this thing is against scientific and historical
realities” and this will be considered as a crime; then where is the
freedom of expression? Moreover, how can France be part of a problem
between Turkey and Armenia?” Erdogan asked. He said that international
politics cannot be made by avoiding scientific and historical
documents and remarked that France should look at what happened in
Algeria between November 1st, 1954 and March 19th, 1962, reports
Turkishpress.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Public Discussion of NKR Constitution Starting in Stepanakert
13.10.2006 17:28 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Issues of organization of the public discussion of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s draft Constitution were considered in
the course of working conference in the NKR National Assembly.
Chairman of the National Assembly Ashot Ghulian noted that on October
12 the draft Constitution was published in Azat Artsakh republican
newspaper with a circulation of several thousands of copies for public
discussion which is planned to realize till October 21. As a result of
an exchange of opinions the forms and means of delivery of the draft
document to all the settlements of the republic as well as the
mechanism of ensuring the process of getting possible remarks and
suggestions from citizens were defined, reported the NKR MFA press
office.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Kommersant Daily: France May Be Expelled from CoE for Armenian Genocide Bill
13.10.2006 17:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ If the bill penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial
is finally adopted France runs a risk to receive a suit from the
European Court of Human Rights, which can force Paris to cancel the
disputable law, reports Kommersant daily. Besides, if the Council of
Europe Committee of Ministers, which is empowered to consider the
verdicts drawn by Strasbourg, also rates France’s moves as illegal,
the state may be expelled from the CoE. Anyway, the date for the next
voting in the upper house of parliament has not been fixed yet and the
French senators have enough time to weigh `for’ and `against’.