“DAYS OF ARMENIA IN SIBERIA” OPENED IN KRASNOYARSK
Siberian News Online, Russia
Oct 10 2006
“Days of Armenia in Siberia” opened in Krasnoyarsk in International
Exhibition Business Center “Siberia” today.
Vyacheslav Rychkov, a deputy-mayor, the head of the department of
food policy, commerce and services, Valery Sergienko, a State Duma
deputy, Sarkis Muradyan, the chairman of the Board of Directors of
CJSC Sibagropromstroy, participated in the exhibition opening.
Armenian delegation was headed by Arsen Grigoryan, the governor of
Gegarkunik Region of the Republic of Armenia.
On behalf of Armenian government Arsen Grigoryan thanked the exhibition
organizers and residents of Krasnoyarsk Territory for an opportunity
of holding the presentation.
‘Krasnoyarsk Territory governor Alexander Khloponin expressed his
confidence in his letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
that the exhibition would help to enlarge commercial and economic
cooperation between Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of
Armenia. Our countries take special places in the world society, and
fact prove that Armenia and Russia are interested in cooperation:
trade turnover between Armenia and Russia constituted $107 million
in 2000, and it increased up to $353 million by the end of 2005,’
Grigoryan said.
After the opening visitors were 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.
It is worth reminding that Armenian businessmen are going to have
meetings with the regional businessmen, participate 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.
Apart from that, Krasnoyarsk audience will enjoy a cultural program
prepared by the guests from Armenia. Famous Armenian singers and
musicians will give two concerts, one in IEBS Siberia, the second one –
in the Big Concert Hall of the philharmonic society.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN DAYS WILL BE HELD IN KRASNOYARSK EVERY YEAR
Siberian News Online, Russia
Oct 10 2006
Russian-Armenian days may be held in Krasnoyarsk every year, as
Sarkis Muradyan, director of International Exhibition Business Center
“Siberia”, stated.
‘Russia and Armenia have always had warm relations, and we hope that
goods of high quality only made in Armenia will be sold in Krasnoyarsk
thanks to such exhibitions in Krasnoyarsk Territory. We plan to hold
Russian-Armenian exhibitions at least once a year,’ he said.
It is worth reminding that Armenian businessmen are going to have
meetings with the regional businessmen, participate 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.
Apart from that, Krasnoyarsk audience will enjoy a cultural program
prepared by the guests from Armenia. Famous Armenian singers and
musicians will give two concerts, one in IEBS Siberia, the second one –
in the Big Concert Hall of the philharmonic society.

BASESCU: “I AM VISITING AZERBAIJAN NOT WITH THE AIM OF DISCUSSING PROBLEMS, AS THERE ARE NONE”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 10 2006
President of Romania Trajan Besescu’s exclusive interview to APA
– How do you appreciate the current relations between Azerbaijan
and Romania and what is your expectation for the forthcoming visit
to Azerbaijan?
– Romania and Azerbaijan have very good ties, covering all the fields
of bilateral cooperation, be they political, diplomatic, economic,
military or cultural. Of course, I believe there are many other issues
that our countries can cooperate on, such as bringing the bilateral
relations to the level of the political ones; however, the general
look is satisfactory.
My official visit to Baku is a sign of friendship from Romania, as
a neighbor country, to the Republic of Azerbaijan and its inhabitants.
I am visiting the Capital of Azerbaijan not with the aim of discussing
problems, as there are none, but to make the Baku authorities and
President Aliyev a political offer, in the spirit of friendship and
total openness: we would like to encourage Azerbaijan’s rapprochement
to the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, to support the
democratization internal efforts, the peaceful solving of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, according to international law principles
and norms, and also, generally, to offer a token of our wish and
political will of strengthening the bilateral ties at all levels.
– Presidents of Romania and Azerbaijan have to date signed some 20
documents within various official visits. Do you intend to sign any
documents during this visit?
– During my official visit, various documents will be signed, among
which: The Amending Protocol of the Agreement between the Government
of Romania and the Government of Republic of Azerbaijan on mutual
promotion and protection of investments; The Amending Protocol of
the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government
of Republic of Azerbaijan on trade and economic relations and
technical and scientific cooperation; Cooperation Memorandum between
the Public Finance Ministry Romanian and Tax Ministry of Azerbaijan;
The Joint Political Statement that I will sign together with President
Aliyev. This statement is extremely significant for the reiteration of
our mutual political will of consolidating ties between our countries.
– Azerbaijan signed an agreement in the sphere of energy with Ukraine
which envisages transferring the Caspian oil through Odessa-Brodi
pipeline. But, Romania proposed delivery of the Caspian oil to
Constanta port. Will this offer be in agenda again?
– With regard to hydrocarbons transport from the Caspian area
to Europe, we salute the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
pipeline, and soon, of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas-duct, that Romania
will benefit from, as well.
In relation to the Odessa-Brodi pipeline route and not only, I will
always plead for using the transport or transit capacities of the
Constanta port. Romania can be an entrance gate for Caspian gas and
oil into Europe and can be used as a transit country to Western Europe.
Otherwise, Europe energy’s security is an extremely important issue,
against the background of a significant increase of energy resources
demand; as an oil and natural gas importer, Romania is interested
in finding new import sources and alternative routes of hydrocarbons
transport.
Moreover, we are interested in identifying ways for ensuring the
feasability of Nabucco project. Azerbaijan can play an important part
as a secure transit country and supplier for this pipeline.
– Besides energy, in what spheres is Azerbaijan attractive for Romania?
– In our opinion, all fields are or can be interesting, in view
of cooperation between states that are, both, on an upwards track
of economic development. Romania is particularly interested in
strengthening our economic ties, as our trade exchange volume is quite
high – over 120 Million Dollars in 2005. The balance is unfavorable
to Romania; therefore, we would like to identify ways to increase our
export to Azerbaijan. Moreover, our interest also covers transport
cooperation; the first steps have already been made, in relation
to Black Sea and Danube merchandise transport from and to Caucasus
and Europe.
In my opinion, economic ties between our countries are in full
expansion. I believe that the Romanian part needs to make serious
efforts in order to re-establish the commercial balance, with a view
to increasing the exports to Azerbaijan. Moreover, I believe the
trade exchange volume – around 120 million dollars, is far below
the potential of our economies, that are going through a period of
significant increase. I am certain that the competent authorities
will find the ways of diversifying and strengthen the economic ties.
After its EU accession, Romania could become more interesting for
the Azeri business people, as an entrance gate for merchandise to
the European space.
– Azerbaijan and Romania enjoy military cooperation. Does Romania,
as a NATO state, intend to enlarge this cooperation?
– Firstly, I would like to congratulate Republic of Azerbaijan for
engaging in the Individual Action Plan with NATO. With regard to
your question, we would like to express our full availability to
support you in enforcing the plan, by sharing our experience in
preparing for the NATO accession. There already is a significant
legal frame in the field (cooperation agreement between the defense
ministries, agreement on cooperation in the military education field,
agreement on technical-military cooperation, agreement on protection
of mutually delivered military information); this framework and IPAP
will contribute to the strengthening of cooperation.
– Romania is one of the countries interested in GUAM. When can
Romania’s integration to GUAM come true?
– Romania’s interest for eastern neighborhood evolution is a natural
attitude of a state that is interested in supporting the objective
of the Euro-Atlantic cooperation that it is part of: expanding the
area of stability, security and prosperity, beyond EU and NATO borders.
This year, we saluted the transformation of GUAM into an international
organization – Organization for Democratization and Economic
Development – GUAM.
I believe that the regional structure ODED-GUAM is particularly
important for fighting the new threats to European security.
Cooperation between Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Republic of
Moldova in fields such as enhancing the security climate, creating a
free-trade area, cooperation in the field of hydrocarbons transport
and transit, based on projects such as TRACECA and INOGATE is extremely
important.
I would like to salute the interest of GUAM states for the frozen
conflicts that are sources of instability for the region and
burning points with a high potential of spreading the insecurity
beyond their borders. There is a need for energetic measures and
joint cooperation plans of fighting these threats. To this end, I
would like to congratulate the GUAM member states for their recent UN
General Assembly initiative of promoting a resolution on the so-called
~Dfrozen conflicts” that have been fairly enough called ~Dprotracted
conflicts”. I would like to remind you that Romania has been one of
the supporters of the resolution project.
I do not believe that we should consider the possibility of Romania’s
accession to GUAM. However, given that the GUAM region is adjacent
to the geographical space that Romania is part of , I can say that
we will involve actively in view of substantiating an efficient
cooperation between GUAM member-states, as we have already proven
within the UN framework.
– Romania is one step far from the EU membership. How do you value
Azerbaijan’s perspectives for accession to this organization? How
can you help Azerbaijan in this way?
– Firstly, I would like to congratulate the Republic of Azerbaijan’s
leadership, and to personally congratulate President Aliyev for the
official recognition of Azerbaijan’s European aspirations by the
European Commission. Moreover, I am expressing my hope that EU and
Azerbaijan negotiations on the Individual Action Plan, part of the
European Neighborhood Policy, will be concluded during the term of
Finnish chairmanship.
We believe the development of structural cooperation ties between EU
and Azerbaijan, part of the New European Neighborhood Policy (ENP),
and Romania’s status of a future EU member-state can complement and
strengthen the bilateral ties between Romania and Azerbaijan.
We are expressing our full availability to share the know-how that we
acquired in the period of pre-adhesion to Euro-Atlantic and European
structures. We are expressing our availability to initiate contacts at
the level of competent ministries. I am certain that, upon the wish
expressed by the Baku authorities, the Romanian part will respond
efficiently, presenting a concrete offer concerning the training of
young specialists.
– How did you Moldova find the referendum in Transdnistria?
– Besides officially disapproving the conflict, Romania reiterated the
support for strengthening the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Republic of Moldova, as fundamental principles in solving the
Transdnistria conflicts and multilaterally supported Republic of
Moldova’s efforts to obtain a public disapproval of the referendum.
I would like to underline that the referendum is illegal, according
to international law and Republic of Moldova constitutional law and,
subsequently, its results have no political or legal relevance.
I believe that the referendum has strict political purposes,
particularly, undermining the international community efforts for
solving the conflict and resumption of the 5+2 negotiations. To this
end, I believe that Tiraspol’s propensity for unilateral measures
(as this is not the first referendum organized by them) has to be
unanimously and firmly disapproved by the international community.

GENOCIDE BILL THREATENS TURKISH-FRENCH TIES
By Hande Culpan
Independent Online, South Africa
Oct 10 2006
Turkish-French ties appeared headed for trouble on Tuesday over
a controversial bill on the World War I massacres of Armenians as
Ankara threatened to bar French companies from lucrative projects
and boycott French goods if the draft is adopted.
The bill, scheduled for debate before the French National Assembly
on Thursday, calls for one year in prison and a 45 000 euro (57 000
dollar) fine for anyone who denies that Armenians were the victims of
a genocide under the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkey.
Drawn up by the Socialist opposition, the draft was first submitted
in May, but the debate ran out of time after filibustering from the
ruling UMP party bloc.
Turkish officials believe the bill stands a good chance of being voted
on Thursday – as a gesture to France’s large Armenian community ahead
of legislative elections in 2007 – as many lawmakers opposed to the
bill will be away in their constituencies.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul warned at the weekend that French firms
would be barred from major tenders, including one for the planned
construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant, if the bill
is accepted.
“We will be absolutely unable to (co-operate) in big tenders,” Gul
told the popular daily Hurriyet.
“The French will lose Turkey,” Gul also said in remarks to the Yeni
Safak newspaper.
The Ankara Chamber of Commerce, which groups some 3 200 businesses,
threatened to boycott French goods and the Consumers’ Union, a
non-governmental consumer rights group, joined the chorus on Monday.
Turkey sidelined French companies from public tenders “If the bill
is adopted, we will call for the boycott of one French product every
week starting from October 12. We will increase the number of French
goods and services to be boycotted until the law is annulled,” the
group’s leader Bulent Deniz said in a written statement.
In 2001, Turkey sidelined French companies from public tenders and
cancelled projects awarded to French firms when the parliament adopted
a resolution recognising the Armenian massacres as genocide.
At stake now is a flourishing trade between the two countries that
totalled 8,2-billion euros (10-billion dollars) in 2005.
About 250 French firms are active in Turkey, providing employment
for about 65 000 people.
France also plays a leading role in foreign direct investment in
Turkey, with 2,1-billion dollars (1,6-billion euors) in 2005 and
328-million dollars (260-million euros) in the first seven months
of 2006.
Many commentators warned on Monday that ending economic ties with
France would also have a bruising affect on Turkey, which sees foreign
investment as vital to its recovery from two severe financial crises.
“The ‘punishment’ to be imposed on France in case the bill is passed
will be a double-edged sword and inflict as much damage on us as on
France,” one columnist wrote in the mass-circulation Hurriyet.
Turkey could also opt for political measures against France, such as
keeping bilateral contacts at a minimum and at the lowest diplomatic
level, and even cancelling bilateral visits.
A senior lawmaker has already warned that the Turkish parliament may
retaliate with a law branding the killings of Algerians under French
colonial rule as genocide and introducing prison terms for those who
deny it.
The Armenian massacres are one of most controversial episodes in
Turkish history and open debate on the issue has only recently begun
in Turkey, often sending nationalist sentiment into frenzy.
Armenians claim up to 1,5-million of their kin were slaughtered in
orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917.
Turkey categorically rejects the genocide label, arguing that 300
000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when
Armenians rose for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with
invading Russian troops as the Ottoman Empire fell apart.

GOODS TRANSIT BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA VIA GEORGIA NOT TO BE HALTED
Regnum, Russia
Oct 10 2006
Goods’ transit between Armenia and Russia via Georgian territory
will not be halted; Armenian presidential National security council
secretary Serge Sargsyan informed the press. It is worth stressing,
Serge Sargsyan participated in the ninth sitting of Armenian-Russian
intergovernmental commission in Moscow.
Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin is quoted by Armenian Public
TV-Channel as stressing that goods’ transit between Armenia and Russia
will be carried out from port of Samsun (Turkey) to port of Caucasus
(Russia) and, then, to port of Poti. Two train-ferries will function
between the port of Caucasus and the port of Poti by the end of
2006. Meanwhile, one 20-car train-ferry connects these ports.
Also, it was decided to give Russian companies one month of time to
prepare schemes on involvement Armenian enterprises, handed over to
Russian side in frames of Property for Debts program. Special protocol
was signed in that connection.
It is worth stressing, in framework of paying out its $100mln
worth state debt to Russia, Armenia has handed over to Russia
five enterprises – Hrazdan NPP, Mathematical scientific institute,
Scientific institute of computer-aided executive systems, Materials
Science Institute, and Mars plant; ArmInfo reports.

HAMKOR BANK REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND CONFERENCE IN YEREVAN
UzReport.com, Uzbekistan
Oct 10 2006
The Third Open International Banking Conference on “Money transfers.
Retail banking services” will take place on 11-14 October at Marriott
Armenia Hotel in Yerevan (Armenia). The representatives of the Uzbek
Hamkor Bank will attend.
Among the participating banks are the largest banks of Russia
and the CIS, foreign and Russian money transfer systems, large
financial technology producers, analytical and banking publications,
international financial and banking associations.
On the agenda are the issues concerning the expansion and development
of the range of retail banking services, the liberalization of
the legislation on currency, the methods of solving technological,
economic and other challenges facing the banking community.
Hamkor Bank provides a wide range of services including foreign
currency conversion, and money transfers by means of international
money transfer systems of Western Union, Anelik, Contact, Unistream,
and Bystraya Pochta.

ERIC BOGOSIAN TAKES CHARGE ON LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT
by Raven Snook
TV Guide
Oct 10 2006
A lot of people have the impression that Eric Bogosian is an angry
guy. The perpetually black-clad, New York-based writer/performer forged
that image with his ferocious solo shows – Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll,
Pounding Nails into the Floor with My Forehead and Talk Radio, which
was made into a 1988 Oliver Stone film – and his over-the-top turn
as a Steven Seagal-taunting terrorist in Under Siege 2. On the right
side of the law in his current role of Law & Order: Criminal Intent’s
Captain Danny Ross (Tuesdays at 9 pm/ET on NBC), he’s still as intense
and unsmiling as usual, though he insists it’s all a put-on. In fact,
due to his L&O gig and the star-studded revivals of two of his plays,
this downtown rebel-turned-character-actor says he’s happier than
he’s been in years.
TVGuide.com: Hello, Eric? The music’s so loud I can barely hear you.
Eric Bogosian: Sorry. Let me just turn the Mozart down.
TVGuide.com: I never would have pegged you as a classical fan.
Bogosian: Well, after the 7,000th listening of “Freebird” I knew every
f–king note, so about two years ago I really started diving into
classical music. I’m hooked on opera, of all things. The Metropolitan
Opera was giving away $20 tickets the other night and I almost went.
TVGuide.com: Wow, Eric Bogosian: Bargain Hunter.
Bogosian: Always. I’m Armenian, so I’m totally fiscally oriented. I
am ridiculously frugal. Yesterday I was poring over my Sprint bill
trying to figure out why it was $10 more than usual. I spent an hour
on it, and that’s a complete waste of time, right?
TVGuide.com: It depends on how much your time is worth.
Bogosian: Currently it’s worth a lot! It went up to a much higher
level of worth because of my work on L&O.
TVGuide.com: Let’s talk about that gig. I’ve always thought of you
as this rebellious performance artist, so I was surprised that you
accepted a series-regular role on commercial TV.
Bogosian: Oh, I’d been trying to get on L&O forever. Every year I
would put out the word [to the producers] that if a new character
was being created, I wanted to be considered. Finally last spring
[writer-producer] Warren [Leight] asked me to come by the set to say
hi to some people. [Series creator] Dick Wolf was there and he said,
“I heard that you don’t want to do TV,” and I said, “No, no, no,
it depends on what TV.” So he asked if I would consider coming on
the show. I am so happy to be doing L&O. I’m totally f–king enthused.
TVGuide.com: Has acting always been your ultimate goal?
Bogosian: I originally came to New York in the ’70s to be an actor, but
I found the industry so overwhelming and intimidating that I quit and
ended up working on the alternative-performance scene. The movie Talk
Radio altered my whole relationship to the commercial-film industry,
but over the years I let a lot of things get in my way. I was just
unreliable. Even when I stopped all that, I was a hothead for a really
long time. About five years ago, my film career started to peter out,
so I made a bunch of changes. I decided I didn’t want to do solo
shows anymore because A) I didn’t have anything more to say and B)
I hated touring. I thought if I stopped doing my own shows I would
be able to reenter the world of acting as a character actor, which is
what I am. I felt like I had reached a point where I was ready to work.
TVGuide.com: And you’ve been working a lot lately, both as an actor
and a writer. I just saw a revival of your play subUrbia with quite
an up-and-coming cast: Kieran Culkin, Gaby Hoffman and Jessica
Capshaw. And Liev Schreiber is doing Talk Radio on Broadway next
year. I know you updated the subUrbia script. Are you tweaking Talk
Radio as well?
Bogosian: I’m doing a lot of work on the text, but I’m hoping it
doesn’t show. It’s tough to tinker with Talk Radio. It will be 20 years
old when it goes up and the guy who wrote it is a different guy than me
– not only in terms of where I was at in my life, but a different sort
of writer. I was bursting with ideas, but I didn’t have the technique
that I have now. Still, I don’t want to go back and mess anything up.
TVGuide.com: Before L&O came along, you had a recurring role on the
short-lived but much-beloved Love Monkey. How did that come about?
Bogosian: I did it as a favor to [series creator] Michael [Rauch],
who did an internship with me back in the mid-’90s. He’d come down
and hang out with me and we became very good friends. He directed
me in the film In the Weeds, and he filmed my solo show Wake Up and
Smell the Coffee…. There are so many guys working in TV right now –
Michael, Warren – who are mensches to the heavens. I’m really lucky
that they’re in my life.
TVGuide.com: You sound like you’re in a really happy place. You’re
nowhere near as angry as I thought you’d be.
Bogosian: I’m always playing heavies and bad guys. People make this
assumption that I’m like that in real life, but I’m really just a
big goofball.

AZERBAIJAN`S SPEAKER: ALIYEV NEVER AGREE ANY MATTER CONTRADICTING TO NATION`S AND STATE`S INTERESTS
Author: J. Shakhverdiyev
TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 10 2006
Azerbaijan`s President will never agree any matter contradicting
to the interests of the nation and state, Ogtay Asadov, Speaker
of Azerbaijan`s Parliament (Milli Majlis) told during the sitting
of the Parliament expressing his attitute toward the proposal of MP
Igbal Aghazadeh, Chairman of the party “Umid” (“Hope”) to commence the
alternatives of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement proposed to Azerbaijan,
Trend reports.
The Azerbaijani Speaker stressed that the negotiations have been
restored and this issue is under the control of the Head of the
Azerbaijani State.
Notably, the MP pointed out that a signing of a certain document
in connection with the EU Neighbourhood Policy is expected to be
held in Brussels on November 11-12, 2006. The document points out
that Azerbaijan should take obligations upon itself to not carry
hostilities within 5 years. The MP expressed intention to organize
parliamentary debates in this connection. At the same time, he insisted
that the Foreign office should provide the MPs with all the necessary
information. He also told that these debates should be held behind
closed doors.

REHN WARNS FRANCE AGAINST ADOPTING ARMENIA GENOCIDE LAW
By Mark Beunderman
EUobserver.com, Belgium
Oct 10 2006
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn has
warned France on its planned adoption of a law making it a crime
to deny the Armenian genocide, saying it may mean that people could
“end up in prison in an EU member state” for expressing their views.
The French parliament will on Thursday (12 October) vote on a law
proposed by the country’s socialists which would penalise the denial of
the 1915 Armenian genocide, in a move which has sparked anger in Turkey
and strong concern in the European Commission and European Parliament.
Mr Rehn told Reuters on Monday (9 October) that the proposed
legislation risks impairing relations between the EU and candidate
member state Turkey, where public opinion largely denies that a
genocide took place under the rule of the Ottoman Turks.
“The French law on the Armenian genocide is of course a matter for
French lawmakers, but there is a lot at stake for the European Union
as well, and the decision may have very serious consequences for
EU-Turkey relations,” Mr Rehn said.
“Such a law would have counter-productive consequences because it would
say to the Turks that there is nothing to discuss. Here you have the
final truth and if you happen to deny it you end up in prison in an
EU member state,” he added.
“This would put in danger the efforts of all those in Turkey –
intellectuals, historians, academics, authors – who truly want to
develop an open and serious debate without taboos and for the sake
of freedom of expression.”
The commissioner’s unusual criticism of free speech legislation in
an EU member state – instead of in candidate states – follows strong
remarks by Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan who recently asked
if he would be “put in prison” if he were to visit France and said
there was no genocide.
MEPs wade into debate Meanwhile, the draft French law has also
started to raise tempers in the European Parliament, with one of the
parliament’s senior experts on Turkey warning that the freedom of
speech in the EU is under threat.
Joost Lagendijk, Dutch Green MEP and chair of the parliament’s
delegation to the joint EU-Turkey parliamentary committee, told
EUobserver that EU efforts to promote free speech in Turkey are being
made “less credible” by the French legislation.
“The EU is rapidly developing a perception problem in Turkey,” Mr
Lagendijk said.
“If we ask Turkey to ensure the freedom of expression we cannot have
a situation where at the same time, people could end up jailed for
their views in Europe. Freedom of speech is at stake here.”
The Dutch MEP was referring to the EU’s efforts to get Ankara to
change the notorious article 301 in its penal code, which penalises
“insulting Turkishness.”
The article has been frequently used to bring charges against writers
and intellectuals – most recently the novelist Elif Safak – who in
one way or another question the prevailing Turkish view that there
was no Armenian genocide.
Was there a genocide?
Mr Lagendijk said he himself is not sure there was a real “genocide”
against the Armenians, saying that “serious historians have questioned”
whether “there was a deliberate campaign aimed at eradicating the
Armenian people, causing 1.5 million victims.”
“I am among those who believe hundreds of thousands of people died in
a horrible way, but who are not sure there was a deliberate attempt
at murdering an entire people,” he said.
The remarks have infuriated French MEPs, with centre-right deputy
Patrick Gaubert saying Mr Lagendijk’s comments are “unacceptable.”
“I am really shocked,” he said. “This gentlemen should start to
read history books. Everybody knows and nobody doubts that this was
a genocide.”
Defending the proposed anti-denial law, he said “Europe is a continent
where freedom of speech is guaranteed in an extraordinary manner. But
free speech ends when the memories of a people are abused and their
feelings are suffering from lies.”
‘No discrimination between genocides’ “There are certain subjects
where you have to show caution, pity and respect for those who have
suffered – like also in the case of the Jewish Holocaust,” he added,
the public denial of which is already illegal in France and Austria.
Martine Roure, a French socialist MEP, said that Mr Lagendijk is
“wrong.”
“There is already a provision in French law against denying the Shoah
[the Holocaust]. This does not mean that people are being sent to
prison for that – they just receive a moral condemnation.”
“We cannot discriminate between genocides,” she said ahead of
Thursday’s vote in the French parliament.

RAILWAY IN RUSSIA: CARGO TRANSIT FROM ARMENIA TO RUSSIA VIA GEORGIA TO CONTINUE
Railway Market Magazine, Poland
Oct 10 2006
Cargo transit from Armenia to Russia through Georgia and back will
not be stopped, Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said.
Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said cargoes would go to and
from Armenia through the ports of Novorossiisk and Kavkaz.
The parties said cargo turnover between Russia and Armenia would double
this year to 363.9 million U.S. dollars. Russia supplies machinery,
equipment, nuclear fuel, and surface transport to Armenia in exchange
for food and agricultural products, alcohol, previous and semi-precious
metals and stones.
Two railway ferries will run between Novorossiisk and Kavkaz by the
end of the year. Currently there is only one ferry for 20 railway
carriages.
According to Levitin, the ferry is not efficient and it will be
replaced with two ferries, each capable of carrying 52 railway
carriages.
Armenia’s National Statistics Service said Russia was the third largest
investor in Armenia in 2005 after Germany and Turkey, having invested
67.5 million U.S. dollars.
The ministers said 589 joint ventures with Russian capital were
registered in Armenia. About 300 of them are doing well, including
Armenal at the Kanaker Aluminium Plant that makes foil. It plans to
make up to 2.5 percent of foil in the world by 2008.