Concordia Journal, Canada
Concordia University
June 2 2006
Haig Balian travels to Sri Lanka
allison martens
The winner of a $20,000 fellowship, Haig Balian is in Sri Lanka to
help promote journalistic ethics. He said journalism is the perfect
way to combine all of his interests, which include world travel and
politics.
Photo by allison martens
Haig Balian has scooped a $20,000 Journalism Fellowship from the
International Development Research Centre to promote media education
in Sri Lanka.
He will work with Voices of Reconciliation, a non-government
organization (NGO) that seeks to instruct the media in constructive
and conflict-sensitive reporting practices.
`In Sri Lanka, the media and NGOs don’t trust one another. NGOs are
seen as imperialist and viewed suspiciously,’ Balian said.
`They feel like what they’re trying to achieve isn’t accurately
portrayed by the media,’ which is frustrating whether they are trying
to improve health and education in the country or mediate a peaceful
resolution to the ethnic conflict there.
He will help media organizations and NGOs to understand one another
better. Similarly, he will encourage fairer and more accurate
reporting on everything from natural disasters to the ongoing civil
strife.
`It’s so important to the peace process to have a fair press. If
people don’t know what is going on, it could be a recipe for
disaster.’
Balian’s own parents left Beirut in the 70s at the height of the
Lebanese Civil Wars. Their ancestors had first settled in the Middle
East after fleeing the Armenian genocide in the early 1900s.
Peter Downie, Graduate Program Director in Journalism, says this
fellowship is a great way for Balian to kick start his career.
`Increasingly, our students are energized by international projects
that allow them to use the journalism skills they learned with us in
places other than the mainstream media.’
Balian also holds a BA in political studies from Queen’s. He has
traveled extensively throughout Asia and Oceania, and lived in
Australia for a year and a half.
He was attracted to journalism because, among other things, it would
permit him to work anywhere in the world.
`I like to create and to write. It’s a perfect fit that rolls all my
interests into one.’

Turkish Press
June 2 2006
Press Review
STAR
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH VISITING RUSSIAN FM
Visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday was
received by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament
Speaker Bulent Arinc. During their meeting, Erdogan sought Russia’s
support for ending the isolation imposed on the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Lavrov praised the positive Turkish and
Turkish Cypriot position in the Cyprus dispute, especially after the
2004 referendum held for the Annan plan, and expressed the
willingness of Russian businesspeople to invest in the TRNC. The
Iranian nuclear dispute and so-called Armenian genocide claims were
also discussed at the meeting. During the meeting with Erdogan,
Lavrov presented the Turkish premier with a Russian state medal sent
by Russian President Vladimir Putin. /Star/

Turkish Press
June 2 2006
Press Review
TURKIYE
NETHERLANDS PARLIAMENT FACES BILL CRIMINALIZING REJECTION OF ARMENIAN
`GENOCIDE’
Following France and Belgium, the Netherlands’ Parliament is also set
to consider a bill which would criminalize rejection of the so-called
Armenian genocide. The proposal was prepared by the Christian Unity
Party represented by three deputies in the 150-seat Parliament.
Meanwhile, a bill regarding pro-Armenia Belgium’s genocide in Congo
has been presented to Britain’s Parliament. The bill, initiated by
the efforts of a joint British-Turkish platform, calls on the Belgian
government to face its massacre in Congo in 1885-1908 and apologize
to the Congolese people./Turkiye/

Turkish Press
June 2 2006
At Last, A French Acknowledgement
Published: 6/2/2006

BY OZDEMIR INCE
HURRIYET- A May 18 column by Alexander Adler published in French
daily Le Figaro made me say, `At last!’ Adler is a French historian
who is fair about the Armenian and Kurdish question. On the day when
the bill to criminalize denial of the so-called Armenian genocide was
debated in the French Parliament, Alexander went one step further and
reminded the French of their responsibilities in this tragedy: `It is
certain that there won’t be any regret over how, during the 1915
genocide, France was fighting against the Ottoman Empire. The same
France helped those Armenians who could survive the genocide to
settle in the south and even fight against the new republic of
Mustafa Kemal in French uniforms.’ (Le Figaro, `Glasnost torque sur
la question armenienne.’)
It was the first time I’d read a Frenchman acknowledge that the
Armenians were wearing French military uniforms. I talked about this
hidden fact with my friends at the meeting of the European Poetry
Academy. Members from France, Belgium and Luxembourg didn’t know this
fact. After asking why there are so many Armenians in France, I
talked about the French occupation of (Antep) Gaziantep, Cukurova and
Hatay. They didn’t know about it.
So what should be done? After the bill wasn’t voted on in the French
Parliament, this doesn’t mean that the problem has disappeared. We’ll
face it again, like in the US House of Representatives and the
Senate. It is possible to explain the French role on Ottoman soil,
the French occupation and Armenian Legionnaires in French uniforms.
Therefore, the Foreign Ministry and the Turkish Institution for
History should prepare a booklet in Turkish, French, English and
Armenian. Proof from the French archives should be given in this
booklet, which should be distributed to universities, Parliament
deputies, political parties and the French media, including the
regional organs. If we don’t do this, we’ll have to resort to
economic threats.

RIA Novosti, Russia
June 2 2006
Experts start analysis of Black Sea Airbus flight recorders
16:56 | 02/ 06/ 2006

MOSCOW, June 2 (RIA Novosti) – Investigators have started analyzing
data from the black boxes of an Armenian Airbus that crashed May 3
into the Black Sea with the loss of everyone on board, Russian
prosecutors said Friday.
Rescue teams recovered the cockpit voice recorder on May 22 and the
flight data recorder May 24.
“Experts instructed to conduct a forensic examination and experts
from the Interstate Aviation Committee have started analyzing the
data from the flight recorders,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said
on its Web site.
The airliner, operated by Armenia’s Armavia, crashed while flying
from the Armenian capital, Yerevan, in stormy weather 6 kilometers
(3.7 miles) from Russia’s Adler airport, which services the popular
resort of Sochi. All 113 people on board died.

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006
National movement in Southern Azerbaijan to continue

Source: Trend
Author: S.Ilhamgizi

02.06.2006

On June 2, the Congress of World Azerbaijanis (CWA) held a press
conference on `National-liberation movement of Southern Azerbaijan is
continuing’. The conference informed about the events, protest
actions taking place in Southern Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

According to information provided by CWA press service, 24 persons
have been killed, 44 wounded and 106 arrested during the actions in
different cities of Southern Azerbaijan. During the conference, the
journalists were submitted the list of victims, wounded and arrested
men. The member of Mejlis of CWA Ajdar Tagizade stressed that the
process in Southern Azerbaijan turned into a national movement, and
our demand is independence, Turkism and union. Denying the talks on
the issue that as though the movement in the south was realized by
America or Kurds, he noted that the southern Azerbaijanis were free
in their policy. The head of the CWA Baku representation professor
Pahsa Galbinur pointed out that Azerbaijan Republic was described as
`Northern Iran’ and Karabakh was described as the territory of
Armenia in the map published in the newspaper `Misag’ in Iran. The
same newspaper was looked through at the conference.
Sarvar Masimli who participated in the action held in cities of
Southern Azerbaijan – Julfa, Marand, and Tabriz, told that the police
forces blockading these cities prevented the actions. According to
Masimli, the national movement has already created in Southern
Azerbaijan. However, in Azerbaijan Republic, this issue draws little
public attention. The CWA representatives attending the conference
pointed out that all political forces, intellectuals and community in
Azerbaijan should keep Southern Azerbaijan on the focus of attention
because Baku plays a very important role in this national movement.
The head of the CWA press service Ali Nijat said that actions and
demonstrations in Southern Azerbaijan have lasted for already two
weeks.

Today, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents to have tete-a-tete meeting in
Bucharest

02 June 2006 [17:10] – Today.Az

Armenian President Robert Kocharian will pay two-day working visit to
Romania June 4.

According to APA, he will participate in the Black Sea Forum for
Dialogue and Partnership in the capital Bucharest.
Kocharian is expected to meet with Romanian President Traian Basescu
and have other bilateral talks.
In addition, Azerbaijan and Armenian Presidents are due to meet in
Bucharest. The meeting will start by presence of Foreign Ministers of
the two states, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister
Karel de Gucht as well ad OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Steven Mann
(US), Bernard Fassier (France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and
Andrzei Kasprzyk, personal representative of the OSCE chairman, and
then there will be one-on-one meeting between the Presidents.
The MG co-chairs are assembling in Bucharest. They will hold a
consultation on preparation for Ilham Aliyev-Robert Kocharian meeting
in Bucharest on 3-4 June.

URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman, Turkey
June 2 2006
New Genocide Denial Bill on Agenda in Netherlands
By Anadolu News Agency (AA), Cihan News Agency, Hague,
Published: Friday, June 02, 2006
zaman.com
After the delay of the French bill to penalize the denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide, a similar offer came from the
Netherlands.
Prepared by the Christian Union (CU) party having three seats at the
150-seat Dutch parliament, the draft was presented to the assembly.
The bid aims to criminalize denial of the so-called Armenian
genocide.
Tineke Huizinga-Heringa, who submitted the motion, said the bill does
not contradict the freedoms of thought and speech.
Huizinga-Heringa said they thought legal regulation was called for
after certain developments were not initiated for the so-called
Armenian Genocide and Jewish Holocaust, adding they expect support
from other parties for the bid.
The Netherlands Armenian Federation and Dutch antiracism organization
(LBR) supported the offer.
The Turkish community showed immediate reaction to the latest
development by Dutch deputies.
Last year, the Danish Administration had attempted to prepare a law
criminalize people and foundations who voice their ideas about
neglecting, approving or rejecting terrorist actions.
The bill, which accepted genocide as a crime, did not mention the
so-called Armenian Genocide explicitly. The government later
abandoned this attempt.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006
Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents to have one-on-one meeting in
Bucharest
[ 02 Jun. 2006 16:57 ]
Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian will pay a two-day working visit
to Romania on 4 June (APA). He will participate in the Black Sea
Forum for Dialogue and Partnership in the capital Bucharest.
Kocharian is expected to meet with Romanian President Traian Basescu
and have other bilateral talks.
In addition, Azerbaijan and Armenian Presidents are due to meet in
Bucharest. The meeting will start by presence of Foreign Ministers of
the two states, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister
Karel de Gucht as well ad OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs Steven Mann
(US), Bernard Fassier (France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and
Andrzei Kasprzyk, personal representative of the OSCE chairman, and
then there will be one-on-one meeting between the Presidents.
The MG co-chairs are assembling in Bucharest. They will hold a
consultation on preparation for Ilham Aliyev-Robert Kocharian meeting
in Bucharest on 3-4 June./APA/

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 2 2006
SENOR ASRATYAN: `HOUSES WERE DESTROYED 13 YEARS AGO BY RETREATING
AZERIS’
According to the Spokesman of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic /NKR/
Defense ministry Sub colonel Senor Asratyan, the information
circulated today by the APA Karabakh Bureau on the fact that
`Armenians began setting fires to the houses on the territories they
had occupied in the Azeri Aghdam region villages of Yusifjanly,
Novruzlu, Baghmanlar, Sarijaly and Saybaly’ is `an awkward propaganda
action’.
While commenting on the information on DE FACTO Information-Analytics
Agency’s request, Mr. Asratyan said the information had nothing in
common with reality. In his words, the houses were destroyed 13 years
ago by the Azeri troops `retreating under attack of the Karabakh
army’.
Senor Asratyan also noted the Azeri party’s affirmations that
Armenians had allegedly taken their property from the houses to the
cars first could hardly be taken seriously: `If someone was about to
do it, why should he be waiting for over ten years?’