MESROB II: INITIATIVES TO BOOST MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING NEEDED
Anatolian Times, Turkey
Oct 10 2006
ISTANBUL – “There should be initiatives to boost mutual understanding
and dialogue,” Armenian Patriarch in Turkey Mesrob II said in regard
to French bill which aims to criminalize denial of so-called Armenian
genocide that will be voted in the French parliament (on October 12th).
Releasing a statement, Mesrob II underlined that all countries,
especially Turkey and Armenia, should make necessary arrangements to
discuss and examine the matter (so-called Armenian genocide).
Indicating that all efforts hampering freedom of expression would harm
the process of dialogue between Turkish and Armenian communities,
Mesrob II stressed: “initiatives to boost mutual understanding,
dialogue and empathy should be undertaken without wasting time.”

CLEMENTE WANTS NO SLIP-UPS FROM SERBIA AGAINST ARMENIA
The Guardian, UK
Oct 10 2006
BELGRADE, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Serbia’s Spanish coach Javier Clemente
warned his team they must take unheralded Armenia seriously in their
Euro 2008 Group A qualifier on Wednesday.
“The Armenians have improved a lot over the past five years and
narrowed the gap in quality between them and stronger European teams.
The players must not think for a minute that it’s going to be easy,”
he told reporters.
“Armenia play defensively with the aim of not conceding too many
goals and the players will get anxious if we don’t open them up with
an early goal,” said the 56-year-old Basque.
“But there is no doubt that we are the favourites and I expect the
difference in quality to show on Wednesday.”
The Serbians are top of the group with two wins and a draw from their
opening three matches, having registered 1-0 wins over Belgium and
Azerbaijan and a 1-1 draw with Poland.
Armenia lost their opening match 1-0 to Belgium last month and drew
0-0 with Finland on Saturday and are seventh in the eight-team group.
Captain Dejan Stankovic said he would be quite happy with another
win by the odd goal that would leave Serbia in the driving seat
of a tight group also including World Cup semi-finalists Portugal,
Finland and Kazakhstan.
“There is no shame in winning any match 1-0. There is still room for
improvement in our game but as the coach said, we are coming together
as a unit rapidly and I am very optimistic.”
Defensive midfielder Igor Duljaj will fill in for suspended right
back Marjan Markovic while Galatasaray forward Sasa Ilic may get a
rare start in a deeper role behind the two strikers.
“He is a quality player but the line-up depends on the rival’s
formation. Ilic may not be a regular starter for Serbia but he is
still a very important player in our squad.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SABINA FREIZER: “OSCE HAS PROPOSALS TO SATISFY BOTH AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA”
Azeri Press Agency
Oct 10 2006
“Georgia and Russia broke off the relations with each other half
a year ago. The crisis had reached to its peak now. I think both
sides should make concessions,” said Sabina Freizer, the director of
International Crisis Group South Caucasus Project.
“Russia should remove the sanctions and Georgian president Mikhail
Saakashvili and the presidential administration should stop their
severe statements against Russia. Russia’s sanctions on Georgia are
not economical, but political.”
She said Georgia’s intensive dialogues with NATO and probability of
stationing NATO military bases in the country worry Russia.
Sabina Freizer also said that EU hopes it can play a great role
in Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict solution. “I am informed about the
problem and can say that OSCE has proposals able to satisfy both
Azerbaijan and Armenia. The sides can come to agreement only after
thorough discussion of proposals,” she said.

BRUXELLABAD: MUSLIMS HAVE THEIR SAY IN BRUSSELS
>From the desk of Paul Belien
Brussels Journal, Belgium
Oct 10 2006
Since last Sunday’s local elections in Belgium more than one fifth
(21.8%) of the municipal councillors in Brussels, the capital of
Europe, are immigrants of non-European origin. Most of them are
Muslims, and most of them have been elected as Socialists. The
non-European immigrants vote overwhelmingly Socialist, owing to
the fact that many of them are rentseekers who migrated to Western
Europe attracted by the subsidies of its generous welfare states. The
immigrants have become the electoral life insurance of European
Socialism.
The Brussels borough of Sint-Joost-ten-Node (where the party
headquarters of the Vlaams Belang party is located) has 19 councillors
of non-European origin on a total of 27. Eleven of the 16 Socialist
councillors in Sint-Joost are non-European immigrants, as are 4 of the
5 Christian-Democrats, 2 of the 3 Greens and 2 of the 3 Liberals. The
most popular of them is Emir Kir, the Socialist secretary of state
for public monuments in the Brussels regional government. Mr Kir, who
is Turkish, wants to demolish the Brussels monument for the genocide
of the Armenians. According to him the genocide is a hoax.
Exactly 50% of the Brussels electorate are either foreigners or
naturalized Belgians. Six years ago the figure was only 32%. In
Antwerp, where 17% of the electorate are immigrants (11.5% in 2000),
one third of the Socialist councillors are Muslims. In Ghent, where
12.6% of the electorate is foreign (8.1% in 2000), one quarter of the
Socialist councillors are Muslims. In Vilvoorde, a Flemish suburb of
Brussels, where 14.8% of the electorate is foreign (9.3% in 2000),
half the Socialist representatives are Muslims.
In Antwerp, one third of the “Christian”-Democrat councillors are
Muslims, too. The latter, however, such as Ergun Top, tend to be more
moderate. As Koenraad Elst explained here earlier, they are badly
needed to counter the large Muslim presence in the Socialist Party
in the contest for the fast-growing Muslim electorate.

PROSECUTORS SET TO SEEK JAIL TERM FOR DETAINED MP
By Karine Kalantarian
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Oct 10 2006
Armenian prosecutors looked set on Tuesday to press criminal charges
against a pro-government parliamentarian arrested for armed assault and
ask the National Assembly to lift his legal immunity from prosecution.
A source in Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General told RFE/RL
that Prosecutor-General Aghvan will likely approach the assembly for
that purpose later this week.
Hakob Hakobian, a member of the People’s Deputy parliamentary group,
remained in custody for a third consecutive day over his role in
Sunday’s reported mass brawl and shootout outside a natural gas
distribution station south of Yerevan. Law-enforcement authorities
say Hakobian ordered a large group of men accompanying him to attack
security guards that prevented him from entering the facility. They
say at least four people were seriously injured in the melee.
The lawmaker, his driver and two other associates were arrested on
the spot and taken to a maximum-security basement jail in downtown
Yerevan which is mainly used by the National Security Service, the
Armenian successor to the KGB. Under Armenian law, the prosecutors
can not keep him under arrest without the parliament’s consent for
more than 72 hours.
According to Samvel Nikoyan, a senior member of the governing
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), the parliament will likely
meet for an emergency session on Friday to decide whether to allow
Hakobian’s prosecution on relevant charges. This means that Hakobian
will apparently be released from jail by Wednesday evening.
Armenian law also requires law-enforcement bodies to immediately
inform the parliament speaker about a lawmaker’s arrest. Speaker Tigran
Torosian said he received a written notification from Hovsepian only
on Monday afternoon, almost 14 hours after the arrest.
The prosecutor-general admitted his “mistake” and promised to provide
“additional explanations” in the coming days, Torosian told RFE/RL.
Hakobian, who is also a wealthy businessman, would become the
first member of the current National Assembly to face prosecution
and the possibility of imprisonment. A decision to strip him of the
constitutionally guaranteed immunity has to be taken by the majority
of fellow lawmakers in a secret ballot.
The outcome of such a vote will be by no means certain even if
President Robert Kocharian pressures his loyal parliament majority
to let the authorities put on Hakobian on trial. Many of its members
are themselves wealthy entrepreneurs with questionable reputations.
Besides, Hakobian recently joined the HHK and will therefore count on
the backing of its two top leaders, Prime Minister Andranik Markarian
and Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian. Some observers speculate that
the case could deepen alleged friction between Kocharian and Sarkisian.
Meanwhile, another, smaller party represented in Kocharian’s
government, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun),
signaled its readiness to vote for Hakobian’s prosecution. “If this
is an attempt to end the existing atmosphere of impunity and make
everyone equal before the law, then it is welcome,” Vahan Hovannisian,
a Dashnaktsutyun leader and deputy parliament speaker, told a news
conference.
“We have nothing against Hakob Hakobian, and we can not assume the
duties of a judge or prosecutor and try to justify or incriminate him,”
he said. “That is to be investigated by relevant bodies.”

DASHNAK LEADER CONDEMNS OPPOSITIONIST’S BEATING
By Ruzanna Stepanian
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Oct 10 2006
A leader of the governing Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Dashnaktsutyun), Vahan Hovannisian, on Tuesday added his voice
to condemnations of the weekend beating of a prominent opposition
politician, saying that it was politically motivated.
Suren Abrahamian, a senior member of the opposition Hanrapetutyun
(Republic) who served as interior minister in 1999, was reportedly
attacked near his house in Yerevan by a group of unknown men.
Hovannisian, who is also a deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament,
condemned the violence as a “terrible and ugly phenomenon.” “This
attack on Suren Abrahamian had to do with political activities,”
he told journalists. “This is not only unacceptable but condemnable,
and this must be eliminated from our political life.”
Hanrapetutyun leaders have implicitly alleged that the attack may have
been the work of Prime Minister Andranik Markarian, who was recently
branded a “criminal element” by Abrahamian. The latter says that the
attackers demanded that he apologize to their unspecified boss.
Markarian dismissed such suspicions on Monday amid lingering opposition
allegations that his Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) is increasingly
relying on controversial government-connected businessmen regarded as
“criminal elements” by the opposition.
Dashnaktsutyun refers to them as “apolitical forces.” Bodyguards
of those businessmen have been widely blamed for similar attacks on
other oppositionists as well as journalists critical of the government.
According to Hovannisian, Abrahamian’s beating underscored the need
for a special law that would strictly regulate private security
services. He complained that the government is reluctant to back a
relevant bill drafted by Dashnaktsutyun.
From: Baghdasarian

TEXT OF ‘STATUS OF JERUSALEM’ STATEMENT FROM CATHOLIC, CHRISTIAN HOLY LAND LEADERS
Catholic Online, CA
Oct 10 2006
Catholic Online ()
JERUSALEM (Catholic Online) – A new and concerted effort to reach a
definitive agreement that respects and assures the special status of
Jerusalem as an “open city” and that rejects unilateral decisions and
imposed solutions is needed to secure “a total definitive and just
peace,” said a Catholic patriarch and other Catholic and Christian
religious leaders representing faith communities here.
Advertisement Decrying the erection of walls that deny access to
“many of our faithful … from the precincts of the holy city” and
security decisions by local authorities that have made the political
and social environment less secure, the 13 church leaders, including
six of whom represented Catholic churches, called on Palestinian
and Israeli government leaders to begin negotiations and draw upon
“needed international collaboration” to assure the rights of “two
people and three religions … to live together in harmony, respect,
mutual acceptance and cooperation.”
Among the 13 who signed the Sept. 29 statement, “Status of Jerusalem,”
released here, were: Latin-rite Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem;
Franciscan Father Pier Battista Pizzaballa, who as “custos” of the
Holy Land is in charge of Christian sites there; Maronite Bishop Paul
Nabil Sayyah; Syrian Catholic Bishop Pierre Malki; Greek Catholic
Bishop George Bakar; and, Armenian Catholic Father Rafael Minassian.
Other religious leaders signing the statement represented Greek
Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Syrian
Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Episcopal and Lutheran Evangelical
churches in Jerusalem.
The following is the English text of the Sept. 29 statement “Status
of Jerusalem”:
Once more, we have experienced another period of deadly violence in
the war in South Lebanon. We still face more death and demolition in
Gaza, and more insecurity in the Israeli society. Therefore, we say
it is high time to start a serious effort from all parts for a total
definitive and just peace. Moreover, we believe that peace must begin
in this Holy City of Jerusalem.
Therefore, we present the following statement hoping it will bring
a modest contribution to the birth of peace in our Land.
In 1994, we, the patriarchs and heads of the local Christian churches
in Jerusalem, published a memorandum entitled “The Meaning of Jerusalem
for Christians” that insisted on the Christian character of Jerusalem,
and on the importance of the Christian presence in her. It also
discussed the special political status that must be accorded to the
city because of her sacred character.
Since that time, we have witnessed the increasing tendency of the
political authorities to unilaterally decide the fate of the city
and define her status. The access of our faithful and our personnel
to Jerusalem is ever-more difficult. With the construction of the
wall many of our faithful are excluded from the precincts of the
holy city, and according to plans published in the local press,
many more will also be excluded in the future. Surrounded by walls,
Jerusalem is no longer at the centre and is no longer the heart of
life as she should be.
We consider it part of our duty to draw the attention of the local
authorities, as well as the international community and the world
churches, to this very grave situation and call for a concerted effort
to search for a common vision on the status of this holy city based
on international resolutions and having regard to the rights of two
peoples in her and the three faith communities.
In this city, in which God chose to speak to humanity and to reconcile
peoples with himself and among themselves, we raise our voices to
say that the paths, followed up till now, have not brought about the
pacification of the city and have not reassured normal life for her
inhabitants. Therefore they must be changed. The political leaders
must search for a new vision as well as for new means.
In God’s own design two peoples and three religions have been living
together in this city. Our vision is that they should continue to
live together in harmony, respect, mutual acceptance and cooperation.
1. Jerusalem, Holy City and city of daily life for two peoples and
three religions
Jerusalem, heritage of humanity and holy city, is also the city of
daily life for her inhabitants, both Palestinians and Israelis, Jews,
Christians and Muslim, and for all who are linked to them by family
ties as well as for those for whom Jerusalem is the location of
their prayer, of their schools, hospitals and work places. Not only
historical memories and sacred places of pilgrimage, but also living
communities of believers, Jews, Christians and Muslims, make the city
of Jerusalem beloved and unique for each one of the three monotheistic
faiths. Holy places and living human communities are inseparable.
In addition, both the sacred character of the holy city and the needs
of her inhabitants have attracted and continue to attract numerous
religious institutions. These have been recognized by the successive
authorities throughout the centuries and have acquired certain rights
that allow them to fulfill their obligations towards the holy city
and her inhabitants.
Consequently, the fundamental rights pertaining to both individuals
and institutions must be respected. For individuals, these are basic
rights that permit them to exercise their religious, political and
social duties and to meet their religious, educational, cultural
and medical needs. For communities, this is the right to possess,
to freely administer the works necessary for their ministry and
their overall human development – churches, monasteries, schools,
hospitals, social institutions, theological and biblical institutes,
accommodation for pilgrims, etc. It also includes the right to bring in
the personnel and avail of the means needed for the proper functioning
of the institutions.
2. Requirements for a just and durable solution for the Jerusalem
question
The future of the city must be decided by common agreement, through
collaboration and consultation and not imposed by power and force.
Unilateral decisions or imposed solutions will continue to be very
detrimental to peace and security.
Different solutions are possible. The city of Jerusalem might remain
united but sovereignty in this case must be shared, exercised according
to a principle of equality by both Israelis and Palestinians. However,
the city might also be divided if this be the desire of the two
peoples who live here, with two distinct sovereignties, the aim of
which would be to reach a true unity of hearts in the two parts of
the city. The wall, which tears apart the city at more than one point
and which excludes a great number of her inhabitants must give way
to an education that will strengthen mutual trust and acceptance.
Face to face with the inability of the parties involved to find a
just and durable solution up until the present time, the assistance
of the international community is a necessity. In the future too,
this aid needs to continue in the form of guarantees that will ensure
the stability of the agreements reached by the two sides.
We recommend to create as soon as possible, an ad hoc committee
to reflect on the future of the city. In this committee the local
churches of Jerusalem must be a part.
3. Special status – Open city
Jerusalem, holy city, heritage of humanity, city of two peoples
and three religions, has a unique character that distinguishes her
from all the other cities of the world; a character which surpasses
any local political sovereignty. “Jerusalem is too precious to be
dependent solely on municipal or national political authorities” (Cf.
Memorandum, 1994). Jerusalem’s two peoples are the guardians of her
sanctity and carry a double responsibility: to organize their lives
in the city and to welcome all the “pilgrims” who come from around
the world.
The needed international collaboration is not meant to replace the
role and the sovereignty of her two peoples. It is rather needed in
order to help both peoples to reach the definition and the stability
of the special status of the city.
That is why, concretely, and from the political, economic and social
point of view, her two peoples must bestow on Jerusalem a special
status that corresponds to her double character, holy and universal,
and ordinary and local, where daily life unfolds. Once this status
has been found and defined, the international community is required to
confirm it with international guaranties that will assure continuing
peace and respect for all.
The components of this special status must include the following
elements:
1. “The human right of freedom of worship and of conscience for all,
both as individuals and as religious communities” (cf. Memorandum
1994). 2. Equality of all her inhabitants before the law, in
coordination with the international resolutions.
3. Free access to Jerusalem for all, citizens, residents or pilgrims,
at all times, whether in peace or in war. Therefore Jerusalem should
be an open city.
4. The “rights of property ownership, custody and worship which the
different churches have acquired throughout history should continue
to be retained by the same communities. These rights which are already
protected in the status quo of the holy places according to historical
‘firmans’ and other documents, should continue to be recognized and
respected” (cf Memorandum 1994).
5. The various Christian holy places in the city, wherever they are,
must remain united in geography, whatever the solution envisaged.
Conclusion
For Jews, Christians and Muslims, Jerusalem is a high place of
revelation and of God’s encounter with humanity. That is why we
cannot remain indifferent to her fate nor remain silent in the face
of her sufferings. “For Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest until her
vindication shines out like the dawn and her salvation like a burning
torch” (Is 62:1).
We are launching this solemn appeal to all the religious leaders
in the Holy Land to collaborate together in order to reach a common
vision of the city that might unite the hearts of all believers. We
call on our political authorities to seek out the common points of
agreement and, in co-operation with the religious authorities, to
find a solution which corresponds to the city’s sacred character.
We hope that our appeal might be heard and that the political leaders,
respecting the nature of this holy city, might show themselves
capable of reaching a final and definitive agreement that might make
of Jerusalem a true sign of the presence of God and of his peace
among all.
+ Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.
+ Patriarch Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarchate.
+ Patriarch Torkom II, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate.
Rev Pier Battista Pizziballa, OFM, custos of the Holy Land.
+ Anba Abraham, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate.
+ Swerios Malki Mourad, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate.
+ Abune Grima, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate.
+ Paul Nabil Sayyah, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate.
+ Bishop Riah Abu Al-Assal, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the
Middle East.
+ Bishop Mounib Younan, Lutheran Evangelical Church.
+ Pierre Malki, Exarch for the Syrian Catholics, Jerusalem.
+ George Bakar, Greek Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate.
Rev Rafael Minassian, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarcate.

GEORGIA: RUSTAVI-2 TV-CHANNEL WAS IN ADVANCE INVITED TO OBSERVE ASSAULT OF AKHALKALAKI DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF
Regnum, Russia
Oct 11 2006
Opposition Industry Will Save Georgia Party’s wish to protect rights of
Georgian Armenians and to bring up a question of the national language
legalization will exacerbate tension between ethnic Armenians and
Georgians, Javakh Countrymen Union Chairman Shirak Torosyan stated
during a news conference in Yerevan.
He is quoted by a REGNUM correspondent as stating that the opposition
Industry Will Save Georgia Party is unaware of Javakheti residents’
interests; it fulfills somebody’s order, aiming at destabilizing the
situation in Armenian-populated Georgian Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
“The party’s actions are unacceptable and even criminal concerning
Armenians, who live in Javakh,” Mr. Torosyan believes.
Also, he stated that opposition’s action, covered by one of Georgian
central TV-Channels, proves “criminal intentions of opposition,
supported by Democratic Alliance ‘United Javakh’ NGO. According to
Mr. Torosyan, incident, connected with assault and buttery of police
chief of Akhalkalaki area Samvel Petrosyan was masterminded. “The
incident itself was recorded by representatives of Rustavi-2
TV-Channel. How could TV cameras be placed in advance at needed time
and in needed place? They knew, what would happen; they were informed
about that,” Shirak Torosyan believes.

FRENCH HISTORIAN DENYING FALSE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WANTS TO BECOME TURKEY CITIZEN
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 11 2006
French historian Jean-Michel Thibaux who objects to the discussion
of draft law about false Armenia Genocide in France Parliament wants
to become Turkey citizenship, APA Turkey bureau reports.
The historian appealed to Turkey Parliament Foreign Affairs
Commission chief, PM Mehmet Dulger with the help of his Turkish
acquaintance. The appeal says: “France President Jacques Chirac’s
statement “If Turkey wants to enter EU, it should recognize Armenian
Genocide” is blackmail. I protest against this policy. In this case,
Turkey can demand the recognition of the genocide committed in 1789 in
France. Hundreds of French were killed during the revolution; their
skins were used as material for cloths, and their grease used in the
kitchens of detention places. So, American people should be accused
of the death of millions of Indians, and Spanish people should be
blamed for destroying the culture local resident in South America,”
the historian said.
Justice and Development Party member Mehmet Dulger brought his appeal
to Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s notice. Edogan wanted the letter
to be investigated in the Interior Ministry.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR: FRANCE`S PARLIAMENT`S ADOPTING AN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LAW NOT TO HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON OSCE`S ACTIVITY
Author: A. Ismayilova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 11 2006
France will not gain from the adoption of the law that will envisage
a criminal responsibility for a denial of the “Armenian Genocide”,
Bernard du Chaffaut, France`s Ambassador to Azerbaijan told during
the press-conference held today.
He pointed out that France`s National Assembly is expected to put
forward this draft which was initiated by France`s Socialist Party
for the Parliament`s discussion.
The French Ambassador underlined that if even the national Assembly
adopts this draft, it will not speak that it will certainly put into
force. The Senate`s adoption is also needed for this aim. And even
if the Senate adopts the draft, that will not be an official position
of the French Government.
The French diplomat also pointed out that the adoption of the law
cannot have an influence on France`s relations with Turkey and
many countries, including Azerbaijan. This position will not have
any influence on Turkey`s joining EU, and it should be mentioned
that President Jack Shirak voted “pro” Turkey`s affiliating to
the organization. He also added that according to French laws, the
President has no right to veto any bill adopted by the legislative body
of the country. France has the analogical law concerning Holocaust.
Commenting expressions concerning the demands to expel France from the
team of the Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group on the Azerbaijani-Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Mr.
Chaffaut said that French Co-Chairman Bernard Fasier represents
France`s Government, not its Parliament. Therefore, in his opinion,
France`s expelling from the organization is out of the question.
“Moreover, neither Azerbaijan`s President nor its Foreign Office have
not made any announcement in this connection”, he told.