PAMUK CONSIDERS EU TOOL FOR DEMOCRATIZATION
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 26 2006
Turkey urgently needs democracy; if we attain that, we won’t consider
the European Union necessary, said Orhan Pamuk, a renowned Turkish
novelist, yesterday.
Pamuk, who recently avoided a prison sentence for remarks opening the
so-called Armenian genocide claims to discussion, and faced fierce
criticism in the country for doing so, said that he wants to express
his ideas free from fear of prison or attack.
Speaking to leading Spanish daily El Pais, the author complained
about the appearance of an “attack culture” in his country, adding
that one has to be very careful about what they are about to say.
According to Pamuk, there’s a strong nationalist group in the Turkish
army that also has anti-Western sentiments, which he claimed is
working against the government’s European Union bid. “Concerning
EU membership, I can say that the government has slowed down after
facing solid opposition,” said Pamuk.
He also criticized views equating Islam with terrorism and said
that the Muslim world has been inflamed by recent conflicts, and
not because of Western ideas. “There’s a growing anger in the Muslim
world due to recent wars,” he said.
The full interview is to be published in El Pais’ Sunday supplement.

OSKANIAN: NKR PEOPLE HAS RIGHT TO LIVE IN PEACE AND WITHOUT FEAR
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 26 2006
We Ask For Nothing More And We Expect Nothing Less
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. On September 25, RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian made a speech at the 61st session of
UN General Assembly. Below is the text of the Minister’s speech
submitted to Noyan Tapan from RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information
Department.
“Madame President,
It is a pleasure to congratulate you and to wish you a year that is
relatively free of crises and catastrophes. In other words, a year not
like the one we’ve just had during which my good friend Ian Eliasson
successfully navigated through troubled waters.
The year of turmoil, as he called it, included conflicts, as well as
man-made and natural disasters that required our collective response.
These challenges to our united will are becoming more numerous,
more dangerous and more complex.
Of all the events last year, the one which stood out most tragically
was the war in Lebanon. There I believe we lost a great deal of
credibility in the eyes of the peoples of the world who had a right
to expect that political expediency would not prevail. We watched
with great disappointment and dismay the political bickering within
the Security Council and the reluctance to bring about an immediate
ceasefire, even as the bombs were being dropped indiscriminately.
When any world body or power loses moral authority, the effectiveness
to undertake challenges which require collective response is
undermined.
In other areas, a united international community has succeeded. It
has played a supportive role in the civilized process which brought
Montenegro to this day and this body. Together, we created and
empowered the Peace building Commission and the Human Rights Council
– two bodies which hold great promise in delivering deeper and more
purposeful engagement by a world community committed to building
peace and protecting human rights.
The most insipid and threatening challenges in the world remain those
of poverty and hopelessness. When the world’s leaders met six years
ago, they decided that the UN was the ideal mechanism to confront
the social ills facing our societies, they publicly accepted their
combined responsibility in achieving accelerated and more even social
and economic development. They said to the world that, together, we
will channel international processes and multinational resources to
tackle the most basic human needs. Thus, they placed the principle and
potential of united action on the judgment block. Six years later,
the world continues to watch in earnest to see if individual and
regional interests can be rallied in striving for the common good.
Madame President,
We are faced with the same challenges, locally. In Armenia, we are
encouraged and rewarded by our extensive reforms. These reforms are
irreversible and already showing remarkable results. We are going to
move now to second generation reforms in order to continue to register
the successes of the last half decade: legislative and administrative
strides forward, an open, liberal economy, double-digit growth.
Encouraged by our own successes, this year we have determined to build
on our course of economic recovery and target rural poverty. We are
reminded of the remarkable promise made to the victims of global
poverty in 2000: “To free our fellow men, women and children from
the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty.” To do
this at home, we will leverage the philanthropy of international
organizations and friendly governments with the traditional generosity
of our Diaspora to build and repair infrastructure, which is essential
to facilitate and enable economic development.
But infrastructure alone does not reduce poverty and remove unjust
inequalities. Creating economic opportunities, teaching the necessary
skills – these are essential to erase the deep development disparities
that exist today between cities and rural areas.
Madame President, we will begin in our border communities, because
unlike other countries, where borders are points of interaction and
activity, Armenia’s borders to the east and the west remain closed.
As a result, regional economic development suffers.
But with Turkey, it is more than our economies that suffer. It is the
dialogue between our two peoples that suffers. Turkey’s insistence on
keeping the border closed, on continuing to prevent direct contact and
communication, freezes the memories of yesterday instead of creating
new experiences to forge the memories of tomorrow. We continue
to remain hopeful that Turkey will see that blocking relations
until there is harmony and reciprocal understanding is really not a
policy. On the contrary, it’s an avoidance of a responsible policy
to forge forward with regional cooperation at a time and in a region
with growing global significance.
Madame President, let me take a minute to reflect on Kosovo,
as so many have done. We follow the Kosovo self-determination
process very closely. We ourselves strongly support the process
of self-determination for the population of Nagorno Karabakh. Yet,
we don’t draw parallels between these two or with any other conflicts.
We believe that conflicts are all different and each must be decided
on its own merits. While we do not look at the outcome of Kosovo as a
precedent, on the other hand, a Kosovo decision cannot and should not
result in the creation of obstacles to self-determination for others
in order to pre-empt the accusation of precedence. Such a reverse
reaction – to prevent or pre-empt others from achieving well-earned
self-determination – is unacceptable.
Efforts to do just that – by elevating territorial integrity above
all other principles – are already underway, especially in this
chamber. But this contradicts the lessons of history. There is a reason
that the Helsinki Final Act enshrines self-determination as an equal
principle. In international relations, just as in human relations,
there are no absolute rights. There are also responsibilities. A
state must earn the right to lead and govern.
States have the responsibility to protect their citizens. A people
choose the government which represents them.
The people of Nagorno Karabakh chose long ago not to be represented
by the government of Azerbaijan. They were the victims of state
violence, they defended themselves, and succeeded against great odds,
only to hear the state cry foul and claim sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
But the government of Azerbaijan has lost the moral right to even
suggest providing for their security and their future, let alone to
talk of custody of the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Azerbaijan did not behave responsibly or morally with the people
of Nagorno Karabakh, who it considered to be its own citizens. They
sanctioned massacres in urban areas, far from Nagorno Karabakh; they
bombed and displaced more than 300,000 Armenians; they unleashed
the military; and after they lost the war and accepted a ceasefire,
they proceeded to destroy all traces of Armenians on their territories.
In the most cynical expression of such irresponsibility, this last
December, a decade after the fighting had stopped, they completed the
final destruction and removal of thousands of massive hand-sculpted
cross-stones – medieval Armenian tombstones elaborately carved and
decorated.
Such destruction, in an area with no Armenians, at a distance from
Nagorno Karabakh and any conflict areas, is a callous demonstration
that Azerbaijan’s attitude toward tolerance, human values, cultural
treasures, cooperation or even peace, has not changed.
One cannot blame us for thinking that Azerbaijan is not ready or
interested in a negotiated peace. Yet, having rejected the other
two compromise solutions that have been proposed over the last 8
years, they do not want to be accused of rejecting the peace plan on
the table today. Therefore, they are using every means available –
from state violence to international maneuvers – to try to bring the
Armenians to do the rejecting.
But Armenia is on record: we have agreed to each of the basic
principles in the document that’s on the table today. Yet, in order
to give this or any document a chance, Azerbaijan can’t think, or
pretend to think, that there is still a military option. There isn’t.
The military option is a tried and failed option. Compromise and
realism are the only real options.
The path that Nagorno Karabakh has chosen for itself over these two
decades is irreversible. It succeeded in ensuring its self-defense,
it proceeded to set up self-governance mechanisms, and it controls
its borders and its economy. Formalizing this process is a necessary
step toward stability in our region. Dismissing, as Azerbaijan does,
all that’s happened in the last 20 years and petulantly insisting
that things must return to the way they were, is not just unrealistic,
but disingenuous.
Madame president, Nagorno Karabakh is not a cause. It is a place,
an ancient place, a beautiful garden, with people who have earned the
right to live in peace and without fear. We ask for nothing more. We
expect nothing less.”

“UNITED JAVAKHK” ALLIANCE STARTS PRE-ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The “United
Javakhk” democratic alliance started its pre-electoral campaign on
September 25. According to the “Javakhk-Info” agency, a car column
consisting of more than 40 cars went through villages of Orja, Khando,
Varevan, Alastan, Kokia, Korkh, Totkham, Majadia, Aragova, Balkho of
the region of Akhalkalak.
As Vahagn Chakhalian, a member of the “United Javakhk” chairmanship
mentioned, “though no party agreed to cooperate with “United
Javakhk,” however, with the help of initiative groups, we nominated
candidates in 22 regional electoral districts of Akhalkalak.” In
V.Chakhalian’s words, the local authorities already prepare for
electoral falsifications. “They well know that they will be able to
help pass candidates nominated by them only with the help of electoral
falsifications.” In V.Chakhalian’s words, the people is this time
full of decisiveness and “will not allow any local clan to hold the
elections like the previous ones.”
“We call on the people to vote on September 5, and to gather on
September 6 in the Mesrop Mashtots square of Akhalkalak and to stand
for the own vote,” V.Chakhalian stated.

SERGE SARGSIAN MEETS WITH DEPUTY AMBASSADOR OF GREAT BRITAIN TO RA RICHARD HYDE
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 26 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of finishing
official obligations of Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Nunn, the
Military Attache’ of the United Kingdom, and introducing newly
appointed Military Attache’ Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Ridout,
Serge Sargsian, the Secretary of the RA National Security Service
attached to President, Defence Minister received on September 26
Richard Hyde, the charge de affaires of the United Kingdom to the RA,
Deputy Ambassador. Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, the Press Department
Chief of the RA Defence Ministry, the Press Secretary of the Defence
Ministry informed Noyan Tapan about it.
Congratulating the newly appointed military attache’ on the occasion
of undertaking the post, the Minister thanked Lieutenant Colonel Nunn
for the done work, wished him success in the future activity.
At the meeting the sides facted that cooperation ties were strengthed
during the last 3.5 years in the military sphere, a progress was fixed.
Newly appointed attache Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Ridout promised
to more deepen with his activity the cooperation level during his
officiating.

MR OLLI REHN MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, RESPONSIBLE FOR ENLARGEMENT
European Union

Sept 26 2006
EU: “Reforms in Turkey – in the first place it is the interest of
the Turkish citizens” EP debate on Turkey (the Eurlings report)
Strasbourg, 26 September 2006
President, Honourable Members,
Let me first thank Mr Eurlings for his report which includes useful
elements for the assessment of Turkey’s progress towards accession. I
also thank the members of the AFET Committee for their contribution.
Turkey’s accession is a matter for constant debate. The momentum
for reform has slowed down in Turkey in the past year. I will come
back in a moment to the main reforms Turkey must address as a matter
of priority.
However, we should not lose sight of the progress accomplished in the
last decade, nor of our commitment towards Turkey. The goal of the
negotiations started on 3 October 2005 is full EU membership of Turkey,
and by its nature it is an open-ended process with no automatism.
This commitment stems from a solid understanding that integrating
Turkey to the EU is of mutual benefit. The EU needs, for its own
interest, a democratic, stable and increasingly prosperous Turkey.
Turkey’s strategic significance was once again illustrated by its
decision to take part in the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon.
Moreover, Turkey’s economic dynamism, its young population, and its
potential key role as an energy hub will benefit our future prosperity.
For these reasons, and because Turkey sufficiently respected the
political criteria, the European Council decided to open accession
negotiations a year ago. This decision was widely supported in this
Parliament. Progress in the negotiations, however, does not depend only
on progress in the technical talks, but first and foremost on the pace
of reforms on the ground related to the Copenhagen political criteria.
In the past twelve months, there has been a lack of progress in this
regard. The expectations have risen since Turkey became a negotiating
country on 3 October last year. It is therefore all the more important
that new initiatives are taken and that tangible progress is still
achieved before the Commission will present its report on 8 November.
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of the reforms. Journalists,
authors, publishers and human-rights activists still face judiciary
proceedings for violations of article 301 of the penal code on the
vague grounds of “insulting Turkishness”. In July, the final ruling
of the Court of Cassation in the case of Hrant Dink established
jurisprudence on the notorious article 301 that violates European
standards. Thus, despite the acquittal of novelist Elif Shafak last
week, the freedom of expression remains under threat. The judiciary
proceedings have a chilling effect and damage the important work
carried out by journalists, intellectuals and activists. I have
repeatedly expressed my concern of this, latest to Foreign Minister
Gul last week in New York. It is now high time that Turkey amends the
restrictive articles in the penal code and brings them into line with
the European Convention on Human Rights.
Freedom of expression is indeed a fundamental human right on which
any open society is based, and a foundation for modernisation, social
progress and solving conflicts between various social groups.
An open and constructive exchange of views is needed in Turkey,
including the most sensitive issues. This is necessary both for the
democratic process in Turkey and for facing tomorrow’s challenges,
as well as for Turkey’s reconciliation with its neighbours, including
Armenia. Reconciliation is a principle that is both the origin and
the outcome of the European integration project. I therefore urge
Turkey to continue to take concrete steps in this direction.
Freedom of religion is another area where tangible progress is
needed. The Law on Foundations, which is currently debated in the
Turkish Grand National Assembly, should address the shortcomings.
Restrictions applied to non-Muslim religious groups on property rights,
management of foundations and training of the clergy must be lifted.
There are also Muslim minorities that face discrimination. The Alevi, a
Muslim community of 15-20 million, face legal restrictions to establish
places of worship and receive no financial support from the state.
Turning to the Southeast, the spiral of violence undermines positive
developments witnessed since the emergency rule was lifted some years
ago. Terrorism is a common enemy: Turkey and the EU unequivocally
condemn the PKK, and I deeply deplore the loss of innocent lives in
the attacks that have taken place throughout the year.
However, a policy based merely on security considerations does not
suffice to address the problems of this region. The Southeast faces an
aggravated socio-economic situation, not only due to security threats,
but also due to high unemployment and poverty. Greater effort is also
needed to enhance cultural rights. We expect Turkey to soon adopt,
as it has previously announced, a comprehensive strategy targeting
all the needs of this region – economic, social and cultural needs.
Let me now turn to Turkey’s obligation to respect its commitments. We
expect Turkey to fully implement the Additional Protocol of the Ankara
Agreement, and adapt it to the accession of ten new Member States.
Turkey should remove obstacles to the free movement of goods, including
those on means of transport, which are in breach of the Association
Agreement. Hence, Turkey should open its ports to vessels under flag
of all Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus. As set out
in the Negotiating Framework, the progress in the negotiations also
depends on Turkey meeting its obligations. Let me once again reiterate
that Turkey’s obligations under the Ankara Protocol are not linked
to the ending of economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.
The draft report rightly calls on the Council to make renewed efforts
to reach an agreement on the trade facilitation regulation concerning
the Northern part of Cyprus. The Commission fully supports the
efforts of the Finnish Presidency to overcome the stalemate on the
trade regulation, thus helping the Council and the EU member states
to live up to their commitments. It is also appropriate to underline
the continuation of the constructive commitment by Turkey in finding
a comprehensive settlement on the Cyprus question, acceptable to both
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, based upon the principles the
EU was founded.
President, Honourable Members,
To conclude: it is our mutual interest that Turkey pursues its
democratic, societal and economic transformation with the goal of
joining the EU. If Turkey succeeds, with our consistent support, it
can become an ever sturdier bridge of civilisations, at a moment when
the relationship between Europe and Islam is the greatest challenge
of our time. Turkey is an important benchmark in this regard. It
matters for our own future.
While the Commission is prepared to support Turkey along the process,
it is ultimately up to Turkey to carry it forward. The extraordinary
parliamentary session convened last week (19 Sept) to accelerate
the adoption of the 9th reform package is a welcome step. Yet, a
more resolute reform process is needed for Turkey to progress on the
path to EU accession. In this process, we should remember that – as
Prime Minister Erdogan suggests – the Copenhagen political criteria
could actually be called the Ankara criteria, since they are there,
in the first place, for the sake of Turkish citizens, not merely to
please the EU.

SERGE SMESOV TO BE APPOINTED NEXT FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 26 2006
Serge Smesov, Deputy Director of the Continental Europe Department
of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be appointed the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia.
Previously he worked as French ambassador to Kazakhstan, ArmInfo
learned from well-informed diplomatic sources. It should be noted
that the new Ambassador will be appointed after French Ambassador
Henri Cuni’s tenure in office comes to an end.

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS THE CONFLICTS ON GUAM TERRITORY ON NOVEMBER 6
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 26 2006
Discussion of the conflicts over GUAM territory in the 61st session
of the UN General Assembly is scheduled November 6, “Trend” agency
was told at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.
Preceding this the Council of Foreign Ministers of GUAM countries
will continue preparing for the discussions. This decision was taken
by Foreign Ministers of GUAM countries (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan
and Moldova), who held their recurrent meeting in the framework of
their participation in the UN General Assembly session.

MAMMADYAROV: THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS THE PARTIES CANNOT AGREE UPON
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 26 2006
Speaking about the negotiation process over the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict at the 61st session of the UN General Assembly,
the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov declared that
“there areas still two components, which the parties cannot agree upon.
These include the final status of Nagorno Karabakh and withdrawal
of Armenian troops from the occupied territories.” In his words,
“there is a common agreement, according to which the status should be
determined by participation of representatives of both Armenian and
Azerbaijani communities.” “But for this the Armenian forces should
withdraw from current positions, and residents of the occupied
territories must return to safe lands,” Mammadyarov added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

500 OFFICIAL AND ABOUT 100 UNOFFICIAL EVENTS TO BE ORGANIZED ON OCCASION OF YEAR OF ARMENIA IN FRANCE
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 26 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The starting point of Year of
Armenia in France will be the September 29 official visit of French
President Jacques Chirac to Armenia and opening of the Square of
France in Yerevan, in the place of crossing of Mashtots Avenue-Sayat
Nova-Baghramian streets. The next day, on September 30, a gala concert
will be held in Republic Square with participation of Charles Aznavour
and his friends with presence of the two countries’ Presidents. On this
occasion French variety stars, including Michel Legran, will arrive
in Armenia with legendary singer Charles Aznavour. Unprecedented
fireworks with the colors of the French flag will take place at the
end of the concert.
As Edvard Nalbandian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Armenia to France, informed journalists at the September 26 press
conference, in a symbolic way Year of Armenia in France started
on September 21, the day of the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence. It will be concluded in the same symbolic way in France
on the country’s national holiday, on 2007 July 14. In 2007 a large
gala concert will be also held in France with performances of Moris
Ravel’s and Aram Khachatrian’s two great works, “Bolero” and “Dance
with Swords.”
In E.Nalbandian’s words, besides cultural events, many economic
conferences and forums will be held in France on the occasion of Year
of Armenia. A conference dedicated to cooperation between Armenia
and France in the issue of government decentralization will be
held in October with participation of Chairmen of French Senate and
Armenian National Assembly and delegation led by RA Prime Minister:
23 Armenian and French regions cooperate currently in the format of
“sister cities” or “sister regions.”
Conferences dedicated to trade-industrial, agricultural and high
technologies spheres will be held in December, February and March,
respectively.
In the words of Vigen Sargsian, Assistant to RA President, who was
present at the press conference, 500 official and about 100 unofficial
events will be held in France on the occasion of Year of Armenia. The
catalogue of events has been already published in France. Besides
state governmental commissions, Armenian communities of France will
also organize some events.
The President’s Assistant said that many exhibitions with display
of Armenian medieval cultural values, painting, photography will be
organized in 125 French cities. An exhibition under the title “Surb
Hayastan” (St Armenia) to be opened in the halls of Louvres museum is
the most characteristic of them. In addition to Etchmiadzin treasures,
Matenadaran collections, 40 Armenian khachkars (cross-stones)
will be also displayed at the exhibition. As V.Sargsian commented,
these are the khachkars that have been already displaced from their
proper environment.
During the year the Armenian Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras
will perform on tours in different cities of France. Besides,
retrospective reviews of Armenian films, jazz and variety concerts
will be organized. The 3rd biggest collection of Armenian manuscripts
in the world kept at the French National Library will be organized
at the Library.

SAMVEL TER-SAHAKYAN THE CHAMPION OF EUROPE IN UNDER 14 COMPETITION
Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 26 2006
Armenian chess player Samvel Ter-Sahakyan achieved European
Champion’s title in the under 14 blitz chess competiion. Earlier
Samvel Ter-Sahakyan had achieved the same title in the blitz chess
tournament in Hertseg Novi city of Chernogoria.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress