Turkish economy may become growth engine of Europe
FreshPlaza, Netherlands
Oct 6 2006
Turkish Industrialists & Businessmen Association (TUSÝAD) Chairman Omer
Sabancý has stated that Turkey could not be a member of the European
Union without convincing the European public opinion, and added “Truths
about Turkey should be told. A fair evaluation should be made. Turkey’s
membership in EU is an additional value for all. Turkish economy may
become growth engine of Europe. ” TUSÝAD Chairman delivered a speech
in Paris, France at a panel titled ‘Global Challenges of Europe and
Turkey’ within the scope of Turkish Week.
Reminding that the TUSÝAD demanded the abolition of article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code within the context of freedom of expression, Sabancý
went on to say, “When we make steps toward more freedom of expression,
I cannot comprehend the attitude on freedom of expression in France”,
referring to recent attempts in France to legislate a prohibition on
any speech against alleged Armenian Genocide issue. Sabancý added
he thinks such an attitude befitted a country fearing the truths.
–Boundary_(ID_WRRHv8aPhRO4BctAvft1pA)–

ARMENIAN-GERMAN BUSINESS FORUM TO LAUNCH MONDAY IN YEREVAN
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2006
YEREVAN, October 6. /ARKA/. Armenian-German Business Forum to launch
Monday in Yerevan, Armenian Development Agency reports.
The agency says Armenia’s economic capacity and investment environment
will be presented to German entrepreneurs.
Armenian Trade and Economic Cooperation Minister Karen Chshmarityan
and German Ambassador to Armenia Heike Renate Peitsch are expected
to speak at the forum.
Armenian Deputy Trade and Economic Development Minister Tigran Davtyan
and Armenian Development Agency General Director Vaagn Movsisyan are
set to read their reports.
Seventeen German companies such as Alcatel Deutschland GmbH, AREVA
Energietechnik, Siemens AG, Multitrade Commerz GmbH and ABB AG will
attend the event. M.V.-0—

SERJ TANKIAN WELCOMES HOAGLAND “HOLD”
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2006
Serj Tankian, lead singer for the Grammy Award-winning band System of a
Down, has welcomed the “hold” placed by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
on the confirmation of Richard Hoagland as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
until the Bush Administration ends its denial of the Armenian Genocide.
According to the information DE FACTO Information-Analytics agency
received at the ANCA, Serj Tankian stated, “I respect U.S. Senator
Bob Menendez’s decision to block the President’s nominee for U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia until the Bush Administration ends its cover-up
of the Armenian Genocide’~R. “His principled stand represents a
powerful contribution to the worldwide effort to end the denial
of justice for this crime, and break forever the worldwide cycle
of genocide.”
This April, Tankian was joined by fellow System member John Dolmayan in
a three-day Armenian Genocide recognition advocacy tour of Washington,
DC, featuring meetings with Members of Congress, an anti-denial rally
outside the Turkish Embassy, and a Capitol Hill screening of the new
Genocide documentary “Screamers.”
In announcing his decision last month to block the Hoagland nomination,
Sen. Menendez stressed that, “as a leader and defender of democracy,
it is our nation’s responsibility to speak out against injustice and
support equality and human rights. But if the Bush Administration
continues to refuse to acknowledge the atrocities of the Armenian
Genocide, then there is certainly cause for great alarm, which is
why I am placing a hold on this nominee.”
He added that, “I will continue to work with my colleagues in the
United States Senate to make strides toward ensuring that all people,
regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity, receive protection from
policies of discrimination and hate that lead to genocide.”
On September 7th, after more than forty minutes of intense debate,
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Ambassador-Designate
Hoagland’s nomination. Following the vote, the ANCA announced that
it would continue to urge Senators to place a hold on the Hoagland
nomination. On two previous occasions, June 28th and August 1st, the
panel delayed its consideration of the nomination due to bipartisan
concerns over a series of controversies. Among these points of
contention were the nominee’s written responses to Senator Boxer’s
inquiry, in which he questioned the genocidal intent of the Ottoman
Turkish government.
Also of concern to members of the panel was the State Department’s
firing of the current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshal Evans.
His early recall from Yerevan is widely seen as retribution for his
public statements, in February of 2005, calling for an end to “word
games” by the U.S. government in avoiding the proper recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. Despite dozens of Congressional inquiries, the
Administration has yet to explain its reasons for firing Amb. Evans or
to reveal the communications it received from the Turkish government
on this matter.
In a September 1st letter, the ANCA urged Members of the Committee to
block the Hoagland nomination until: 1) Ambassador-designate Hoagland
provides a responsible and unambiguous public statement affirming
that he does not question the clear genocidal intent of the Ottoman
Turkish government against its Armenian population.
2) The State Department provides a full, honest, and public explanation
regarding the reasons for the controversial firing of the current
Ambassador, John Marshall Evans.
3) The Administration explains any and all communications, directly
or indirectly, between the U.S. government and the Turkish government
concerning Ambassador Evans.
Since February of this year, the ANCA has led nationwide efforts to
demand answers concerning the recall of Ambassador Evans and, later,
to educate Senators about the adverse impact of sending an envoy
to Armenia that has called into question the genocidal character of
Ottoman Turkey’s systematic destruction of its Armenian population.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006
EU to Do Everything Possible for Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
Conflict – EU Special Representative in Azerbaijan
Source: Trend
Author: A.Ismayilova
06.10.2006
Alan Wadams, a special representative of the European Commission in
Azerbaijan, declared at a conference dedicated to the co-operation
between Azerbaijan and the EU, to do everything possible to resolve
the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports.
He noted that the signing of an Action Plan of the European
Neighborhood Policy will be held in Brussels in November. Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev will also attend the signing ceremony relating
to a memorandum on the energy sector.
Wadams stated the EU offers Azerbaijan its co-operation in the
economic, social and political fields. The signing of an Action Plan
of the European Neighborhood Policy will be an agreement between
Azerbaijan and the CE. The settlement of suspended conflicts was also
included in the Agreement. The EU is signing a similar document with
Armenia and Georgia.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006
Peter Semneby: Azerbaijan and Armenia delay the solution to Garabagh
conflict
[ 06 Oct. 2006 15:40 ]
Azerbaijan and Armenia delay the solution of Garabagh conflict,
Peter Semneby, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus said
in the meeting of European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee.
Ha said Azerbaijan hopes petrodollars will ensure its economy and
military strength.
“Increase of the number of weapons in the region is a great problem
and causes concern. It means Azerbaijan does not consider the solution
to Nagorno Garabagh conflict actual,” he said.
He also said Armenia waits for the solution to Kosovo problem.
“Armenia hopes the reality will play its part,” the representative
said.
Mr. Semneby plans to meet with Azerbaijan and Armenia Foreign
ministers. /APA/

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006
“Zerkalo”: Armenian Separatists Undermined OSCE “Fire” Monitoring
06.10.2006
“We regret that OSCE didn’t provide necessary conditions for
participation of representative of Nagorni Garabagh in preparation of
OSCE mission in order to evaluate ecologic situation on territories
damaged by fire.
However, it doesn’t exclude Garabagh experts’ opportunity to realize
given monitoring as realization of it has been postponed to next
day in connection with necessity of joining of “Nagorni Garabagh”
representatives to mission”. “Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nagorni
Garabagh”, Georgiy Petrosyan, said it while informing “Regnum”
correspondent on activities of “official Stepanakert” connected
with departure of OSCE group from Baku to the places where fires
were committed.
G. Petrosyan also informed that “Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Nagorni Garabagh” sent note to OSCE stating position of “leadership of
Republic” concerning participation of experts from “Nagorni Garabagh
Republic” in monitoring. “Part of territories where evaluation is
expected to be made, is under jurisdiction of “Nagorni Garabagh
Republic” being serious ground for our participation in mission
realized on opposite side”, “minister” stressed.
We should remind that accordingly to information available at “Nagorni
Garabagh Republic” authorities “alarming ecological situation is
observed on Garabagh territories “occupied by Azerbaijan”: felling of
woods in Shaumyan region is going on, ecological balance of eastern
part of Martuni region with damaged soil structure is upset”.
Thus Garabagh separatists undermined OSCE monitoring that should have
started October 4.
–Boundary_(ID_O4q6klNTv+OXMmPMxfWKcg)–

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006
Russian Foreign Minister Positively Assessed Results of Meeting with
Azerbaijani & Armenian Foreign Ministers
Source: Trend
Author: Trend
06.10.2006
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov positively assessed the
results of his meeting with his colleagues from Azerbaijan and
Armenia who arrived in Moscow to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. According to the Russian Foreign Minister, the meeting was
very productive.
The tri-lateral meeting held in Smolensk Square was attended by the
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign
Minister of Armenia, Vardan Oskanyan, Trend reports quoting
ITAR-TASS.
“Moscow was not selected a place for the trilateral meeting by
accident but because historically Russia has played an important role
in the Caucasus, particularly in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” the diplomatic source in Moscow stated.
He stressed that the key topic of this meeting was directed towards
finding ways of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The Russian co-chair of the OSCE Yuri Merzlyakov said the agreement
to conduct the meeting of the Azerbaijan and Armenian Foreign
Ministers was reached as a result of the negotiations of the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs in Baku and Yerevan.

BRITISH “THE HALO TRUST” ORGANIZATION DEMINED OVER 43 THOUSAND MINES IN KARABAKH
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2006
October 5 the Nagorno Karabakh Republic President Arkady Ghoukasyan
received British “The Halo Trust” NGO’s Karabakh program director
Wallon Kumnov and the organization’s responsible representative for the
Balkan and Caucasus region Matthew Gowell. To note, “The Halo Trust”
humanitarian organization deals with territories’ demining.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the NKR President’s Press
Service, during the meeting the guests had informed Arkady Ghoukasyan
of the course and outcomes of the implementation of the Halo Trust’s
activity in Karabakh. In part, they noted due to the organization’s
efforts over 43 000 mines and projectiles had been rendered harmless.
In his turn, the NKR President stated “The Halo Trust” organization
had been respected in Karabakh. Arkady Ghoukasyan expressed his
gratitude to the organization’s employees and assured them of the NKR
leadership’s readiness to promote the implementation of the programs
in Karabakh.

AZERI PARTY HAMPERS PACE MISSION’S VISIT TO THE REGION
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2006
October 5 the sitting of the Subcommittee on cultural heritage was
held within the frames of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe fall session. In the course of the sitting the time of
the PACE fact-finding group’s dispatch to the South Caucasus region
was discussed.
To remind, a decision on the organization of the PACE fact-finding
group’s visit to the region to estimate the cultural and historical
monuments’ condition was rendered earlier. Armenia has repeatedly
engaged the European structures’ attention to the barbarian
destruction of the Armenian monuments in Nakhijevan and other
territories controlled by Azerbaijan.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the RA NA Press Service,
the Azeri delegation’s representatives were absent from the sitting,
which caused the indignation of the Commission’s members. A member
of the Armenian delegation in PACE, RA NA deputy Stepan Demirchyan
noted Armenia was ready to receive the PACE mission. Stepan Demirchyan
expressed his indignation on the behavior of the Azeri party hampering
the mission’s organization.
The Subcommittee has decided to give a month to Azerbaijan, and,
unless the issue is set in motion, the Azeri party will be sent a
letter with the appropriate assessment of such behavior.

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006
Armenia Should Change its Attitude if it wants to Present Itself as a
Worthy Partner of International Community – Azeri FM Dep. Chief
Source: Trend
Author: A.Ismaylova
06.10.2006
If Armenia wants to present itself as a worthy partner of the
international community, then it should change its attitude, the Head
of the Press & Information Department of the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry Tahir Tagizade told Trend, commenting on Armenia’s efforts
to put up obstacles in the monitoring of Azerbaijan’s fire-affected
territories by the OSCE Expert Group.
He stressed that the statement of the Armenian side that these
territories are under their jurisdiction is senseless. These
territories belong to Azerbaijan. Armenia is attempting to legalize
Azerbaijan’s territories which have been captured by force, Tagizade
added.
“The Azerbaijani Government has its regional approach to the fires.
Armenia should refrain from this attitude otherwise it will be proof
of what Armenia holds in the region,” Tagizade stressed.