Azeri minister, OSCE envoy discuss Karabakh conflict, energy projects
Azerbaijani news agency APA
12 May 06
Baku, 12 May: Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has received a
delegation led by Pierre Chevalier, a special envoy of the OSCE
chairman-in-office.
During the meeting, the sides discussed cooperation between Azerbaijan
and the OSCE, the peace talks on resolving the Azerbaijani-Armenian
conflict, reforms in various spheres and large-scale energy projects,
the press service of the Foreign Ministry has told APA.
During the meeting scheduled for the second half of May between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Strasbourg, he will
again display the principled stance of Azerbaijan, Mammadyarov said.
Pierre Chevalier said he hoped that the talks between Armenia and
Azerbaijan mediated by international organizations, including by the
OSCE Minsk Group, will produce positive results and help resolve the
conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Today, Azerbaijan
May 12 2006
Armenian armed forces break cease-fire in Fuzuli and Terter

12 May 2006 [23:46] – Today.Az

Armenia keeps on violating the cease-fire.
The Defense Ministry told APA that the companies of Armenia’s armed
forces from their positions in a height in Azerbaijan’s region of
Fuzuli fired on the opposite positions of Azerbaijani armed forces
from 23.25 till 23.30 on May 10. Armenian forces again from their
positions near Jerabert village of Azerbaijan’s region of Terter
fired on the opposite positions of Azerbaijani forces from 01.50 till
03.45 on May 11.
The Karabakh bureau of APA reports that the enemy forces again from
their positions in Lower Abdurrahmanli village in Fuzuli fired on the
opposite positions of Azerbaijani forces with submachine-guns and
machine-guns at 22.30 last night.
The enemy was silenced by response fire in all cases of the
cease-fire violations. No casualties were reported.

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TREND Info, Azerbaijan
May 12 2006
Turan Morali: Ankara disappointed with Canada’s position on so-called
Armenian `genocide’

Source: Trend
Author: R. Abdullayev

12.05.2006

Ankara is disappointed with Canada’s position on recognition of
so-called Armenian `genocide’ in 1915 by Ottoman Empire and this
disappointment has been brought to the attention of official Ottawa,
informed Trend basing on conversation of Turan Morali, the ambassador
of Turkey in Azerbaijan with journalists on May 12, 2006.

«Canada has chosen a wrong position and this policy may lead to
definite undesirable political results from the point of view of
development of cooperation between the two countries’ said T. Morali.

Concerning the position of France on so-called Armenian `genocide’
the Turkish ambassador said he hoped that with Ankara’s efforts, the
bill implying imprisonment for denying Armenian `genocide’ would not
be approved in France’s Senate.

Estimation of historical events is not a competency of Senate, which
is confirmed by declaration of 400-500 historians, who signed the
document appealing to prevent acceptance of similar bills.

Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 12 2006
Turkish Intellectuals Send Letter To French Liberation Newspaper
ISTANBUL – A group of Turkish intellectuals have sent a letter to the
French Liberation Newspaper marking their disappointment with a
French parliamentary resolution that bans anyone from saying that the
”Armenian genocide” did not take place and punishes those that say
so.
The letter signed by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Insel, Prof. Dr. Baskin Oran,
Prof. Dr. Halil Berktay, Prof. Dr. Murat Belge, Muge Gocek, Elif
Safak, Etyen Mahcupyan, Hrant Dink and Ragip Zarakolu will appear in
tomorrow’s Liberation Newspaper.
The letter said ”when two different national memories start to
perceive same event oppositely, this polarization only strengthens
monologues; France is a country which must know this situation very
well. People instinctively support the ones with identical thoughts.
We have to overcome bringing Turks and Armenians to opposite sides in
a vicious circle and instead generate a dialogue and mutual history
by mutually conveying two memories to each other. We can reach this
goal only with freedom of expression and discussion and free movement
of all information.”

Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 12 2006
Erdogan Receives Executives Of French Companies
ANKARA – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received on
Tuesday executives of French companies investing in Turkey.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Erdogan said that the draft law
which was submitted to the French parliament by the Socialist Party
with the aim of punishing those who deny the so-called Armenian
genocide, would play havoc with the bilateral relations between
Turkey and France.
Stressing that historians should deal with events of the past, Prime
Minister Erdogan reacted to efforts to turn such events into a matter
of political decision.
Recalling that Turkey had opened its archives to use of researches,
Prime Minister Erdogan called on Armenia to display the same positive
attitude.
”We expect executives of French firms to react to the draft law
which will seriously hamper freedom of thought and expression. It
also contradicts fundamental freedoms,” Erdogan added.
Meanwhile, executives of French firms expressed their regret over the
draft.
Noting that they sent a letter to President Jacques Chirac of France,
they pledged to do everything in their power to prevent enactment of
the draft.

Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 12 2006
It Is Important To Pursue Turkish – French Friendship, Poudade
ANKARA – It is important to pursue friendship between Turkey and
France, said French Ambassador to Turkey Paul Poudade on Tuesday.
Upon questions of reporters about recall of Turkish Ambassador to
France Osman Koruturk to Turkey (within the scope of debates on
so-called Armenian genocide in France), Poudade said that Koruturk
was recalled for consultations about the issue, adding that he will
meet Koruturk tomorrow. Poudade stressed the importance of
continuation of the friendship between Turkey and France.
Noting that there are good relations between the two countries in
economic and political areas, Poudade reminded that France is an EU
member, and it would be for the interest of Turkey to pursue its good
relations with France.
Poudade said that the issue should not be exaggerated and he believes
the developments will be kept under control.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 12 2006
Developments In France Can Be Prevented With Common Sense, Gul
IZMIR – “I believe that the developments pertaining to a draft law
which would make the denial of the so-called Armenian genocide a
crime can be hindered by acting with common sense,“ Turkish Foreign
Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday.
Gul said Turkish government, businessmen and non-governmental
organizations showed necessary reaction against the draft law,
stating that, “how this draft law would harm bilateral relations
should be explained.“
“I hope everybody would act responsibly,“ Gul indicated, and noted
that, “a proposal (the draft law which would make the denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide a crime) which restricts freedom of
expression would be wrong as France is accepted as a leading country
on issues like democracy and freedom of expression,“ Gul said.
Gul said it would be wrong to jeopardize relations between the
countries for small domestic political interests.
Gul also said the “Pontus Greek genocide“ monument built in Greek
city of Thessalonica has overshadowed friendly relations between
Turkey and Greece.
Underscoring that bringing the past issues which were left in the
history, onto the agenda would not contribute to relations, Gul said
NGOs in Turkey would launch some initiatives to protest erection of
such a monument.
Gul said some circles in Turkey decided to erect a monument in
(northwestern town of) Kesan in the memory of those who lost their
lives during the War of Independence.
Asked about the grenade attacks on Sisli office of the Cumhuriyet
newspaper, Gul said, “we harshly condemn such attacks.“
Gul said those attacks were made deliberately to create confusion and
to disrupt tranquility.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Press
May 12 2006
Press Review
CUMHURIYET
DYP LEADER AGAR SPEAKS OUT AGAINST FRANCE’S ARMENIAN BILL
Opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar yesterday spoke
about against the French bill to criminalize denial of the so-called
Armenian genocide, saying, `We want to believe that a group of French
parliamentarians’ unfortunate efforts to cast a shadow on Turkish
history won’t resonate in the Parliament.’ He added, `The entire
world is watching and condemning with us the French parliamentarians
behind this move and the situation they put themselves and their
country in before the European Union, which they want to be a leader
of. Turkey finds it unnecessary to remind those behind this bill of
regrettable periods of history such as those in North Africa and
Algeria.’ /Cumhuriyet/

Turkish Press
May 12 2006
Press Review
CUMHURIYET
BELGIAN PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE ARMENIAN BILL
A bill to criminalize denial of the so-called Armenian genocide has
been submitted to the Belgian Parliament. The bill, drawn up by
Liberal Party Senators Francois Roelands du Vivier and Christine
Defraigne, aims to penalize those rejecting the so-called Armenian
genocide. The Belgian Parliament’s Justice Commission has not yet set
a date to debate the bill. /Cumhuriyet/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Press
May 12 2006
Press Review
SABAH
TURKISH-FRENCH COMMERCE ASSOCIATION SENDS LETTER TO CHIRAC OPPOSING
ARMENIAN BILL
The Turkish-French Commerce Association this week sent a letter to
French President Jacques Chirac warning that the bill could have
negative effects. Also a Turkish parliamentary delegation, currently
in Paris to lobby against the so-called Armenian genocide bill,
yesterday met with French Parliament Foreign Commission Deputy Chair
Herve de Charette. The delegation includes Mehmet Dulger and Musa
Sivacioglu from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as
well as Onur Oymen and Gulsun Bilgehan Toker from the main opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP). /Sabah/