EUobserver.com, Belgium
Sept 30 2005
[Comment] Why we should delay opening accession negotiations with
Turkey
30.09.2005 – 11:02 CET | By Peter Sain ley Berry EUOBSERVER / COMMENT
– The British Presidency, we are told, has been working very hard to
ensure that the negotiations to allow Turkey to accede to the
European Union will begin, as scheduled, on 3rd October – that is
next week. They may indeed begin. Or on the other hand they may not.
If they begin they may be broken off, perhaps indefinitely. If they
are postponed now they may never start. The situation is not a happy
state of affairs for anybody. This may be the 21st century but
diplomacy remains an artisanal craft.
The immediate reason why the talks may not commence is that Austria
is reportedly still not happy with the UK Presidency’s negotiating
framework. The only intended outcome this envisages is full EU
membership for Turkey. Austria would prefer to see reference to a
‘privileged partnership,’ as an alternative. Turkey has countered by
indicating that it would not enter negotiations on this basis.
Regardless of this there are at least seven other good reasons why
the talks should not commence next Monday, despite that being the
desire of the British Presidency, the European Commission, the
European Parliament, at least 23 of the EU’s 25 member states and, of
course, Turkey itself. These reasons, moreover, have nothing to do
with the merits, or otherwise, of Turkey’s case for Union membership
sometime around 2015. Nor do they have anything to do with Turkey
being predominantly poor, predominantly Muslim or predominantly in
Asia.
EU cannot negotiate honestly
The first is that the Turkish negotiations are already in a big hole
before they have even started. And the first thing you should do when
you are in a hole is to stop digging, or as the early pilots were
instructed should they find themselves in a tailspin: ‘centre all
controls and pray like hell.’ Pursuing the negotiations now is likely
to harm both parties: both Turkey’s prospect of eventual membership
and Europe’s own necessary constitutional reform process.
The second reason to postpone the talks is that the EU is simply not
in a position itself to negotiate honestly with Turkey at this time.
It is currently deeply divided on Turkish membership. There is major
– if not majority – opposition in all the EU’s institutions and in
national parliaments. A substantial part of the European Parliament
is opposed, as are an even wider section of the European electorate.
This absence of full-hearted consent will hamper the negotiations.
The persistence of such a split will damage coherence within the EU,
making constitutional and economic reforms far more difficult to
achieve.
This split in European opinion can be attributed to several factors –
several of which can be addressed. If they are – and Turkey does
certain things and Europe does others – public opinion may well
become more favourable.
Not recognising Cyprus is ridiculous
It is ridiculous, for instance, that Turkey does not currently
recognise one of the states of the Union it is seeking to join. As
its delegates sit down to negotiate Turkey will still be banning
certain EU ships and aircraft (namely those from Cyprus) from its
ports and airports.
It is also ridiculous that Turkey should be still prosecuting
writers, like the respected novelist Orhan Pamuk, for expressing
non-violent opinions and that it should keep active on the statute
book laws that make it a crime to ‘denigrate Turkish identity.’ This
is the third reason why talks should not start now. Turkey should
address such fundamental un-Europeanism before embarking on accession
negotiations: not during those negotiations.
But Europe also needs to do certain things if it is to bring its own
citizens ‘on-side.’
It needs to have, for instance, an overall enlargement policy – not
just for Turkey, but for the Ukraine, for the Balkans, for the
Caucasus states, for Belarus and Moldova. How large should the Union
become? How should it be managed at that size? How financed? In other
words, where are we going? Many, especially in France and the
Netherlands, would like to know.
EU needs overall enlargement policy
Until we ourselves have formed an opinion on these matters how can we
negotiate with Turkey? That is the fourth reason for delay. We need
to be able to fit Turkey into a wider enlargement framework before we
open talks.
Part of this framework would be the institutions we might need to
manage an expanded Europe. The late lamented European constitutional
treaty proposed institutional change to accommodate 25 member states,
not 35. In any case it was rejected and we are left with the existing
‘stretched’ version of a system designed for 15. We can’t honestly
embark on discussions about further European enlargement before we
put our own constitutional house in order – for what is adding new
member states but changing the fundamental nature of the Union? This
is the fifth reason why the accession talks should not begin now.
Then we have the problem of Northern Cyprus. Of course, with
hindsight, we should not have allowed Cyprus to join the Union before
reunification of the island. The Turkish Cypriots loyally voted for
the UN backed reunification settlement. The Greek Cypriots, knowing
they had nothing to lose, did not. The result is an unresolved mess
and a state of bitterness and non-recognition between Turkey and the
Cypriot government. This festering sore needs to be healed before the
Turkish accession talks commence. This is the sixth reason to delay.
A seventh reason is the events – I don’t want to be prejudicial – of
1915. So many Turkish diplomats have been killed and still are killed
by those who hold them, even today, responsible for tragedies that
occurred ninety years before, that this is also unfinished business
that risks clouding a new political future. What happened to Turkey’s
Armenian population – and to indigenous Turks in Turkish Armenia –
should, three generations later, surely be a matter for independent
historians. That also requires action by Turkey, but not only by
Turkey.
Turkey’s hinterland
These then are the reasons for delay. But postponing the talks by a
few years need not delay eventual Turkish accession. Both sides have
problems to sort out. Once these are resolved, the accession
negotiations will proceed more speedily and still could conclude by
2015.
In the meanwhile, Turkey and the EU should talk about the economic,
military and political future of the eastern Mediterranean and its
large hinterland. Turkey is not an island: it is rather the centre of
a region, one of the reasons that a hundred years ago it had a large
empire. The future of the region as a whole should not be divorced
from Turkey’s bid for EU membership. And that provides yet another
reason, if one were needed, for not rushing into talks which, on
present omens, look destined to end in tears. The enemy of diplomacy
is rush. ‘N’ayez pas trop de zèle,’ as Talleyrand used to say.
The author is editor of EuropaWorld

Pravda, Russia
Sept 30 2005

Armenian church leader in Turkey urged EU to support Turkish EU bid
The leader of the Armenian church in Turkey urged European leaders to
support Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, saying postponing
Turkish membership would harm regional stability.
Pressure to delay Turkish membership “will be a blow not only to
Turkey and Europe but to reconciliation between East and West,”
Mesrob II wrote in a letter to the 25 EU foreign ministers, who will
hold an emergency meeting Sunday aimed at overcoming Austrian
objections to starting entry talks with Turkey.
Vienna insists that Turkey be offered the option of a lesser
partnership rather than full membership in negotiations. All 25 EU
nations have to agree on a negotiating mandate before talks can begin
with Ankara as scheduled on Monday, reports the AP.
I.L.

Pan Armenian News
AZERBAIJANI REPRESENTATIVE ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF UN GA COMMITTEE
30.09.2005 04:38
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijani permanent representative in the UN Yashar
Aliyev has been elected Chairman of the UN General Assembly Special
Committee on Decolonisation. The structure is included in 6 UN GA committees
dealing with the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of
Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, use of outer space for
peaceful purposes and conduction of peacekeeping operations in conflict
zones. Yashar Aliyev will preside over the Committee during the 60-th
Session of the UN GA, reported Day.az.

OregonLive.com, OR
Sept 30 2005

Mellow metal
Friday, September 30, 2005
Heavy-metal music once was all about cutting class, chasing chicks
and getting down with Satan. In this post-millennial era, however,
decadence is out, raging against the machine is in. And nobody’s
raging as loudly as System of a Down.
The Armenian American act brings its inexplicable blend of thrash,
operatic vocals and folk music to town, touring behind its latest CD,
“Mezmerize.” A companion disc, “Hypnotize,” is due in November.
“Mezmerize” delivers the required social content (pro: justice; anti:
violent pornography) but also includes touches of surrealist humor
and jarring changes that suggest jet engines tearing themselves
apart.
Opening band Mars Volta (formerly At the Drive-In) shares System’s
fearless eclecticism but favor moments of Afro-Cuban rhythms and
horns along with the expected guitar crunch on its latest CD,
“Frances the Mute.”
So what if the dudes in Motley Cre wouldn’t consider these guys hard
rockers? As Beavis once said to Butthead, “Heavy metal has come a
long way.”
7 p.m. Thursday, Rose Garden arena; Ticketmaster; 503-224-4400. Also
appearing: Hella. — Curt Schulz Special to The Oregonian

Pan Armenian News
TARJA HALONEN: EU WILL SPARE NO EFFORT FOR KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
30.09.2005 03:51
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Achievement of peace within the shortest terms is an
important factor for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Certainly, each party to conflict has its claims. However a compromise
meeting the EU criteria should be achieved. We support the negotiations held
within the OSCE Minsk Group framework. As a state assuming presidency in the
EU we will do everything within the limits of the possible to promote the
peaceful negotiations and provide security of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
citizens. We believe that the New Neighborhood Policy will prove fruitful
for the South Caucasian states’, Finnish President Tarja Halonen stated in
Baku during the joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev. She said she has been to the region with the OSCE Minsk Group
delegation and is informed about the conflict. `In my opinion all the
conflicting parties will derive profit from the peaceful process. The
European Union is interested in the peaceful settlement of the conflict. We
support Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the OSCE and EU,’ Mrs. Halonen noted
adding that the EU will spare no effort for Karabakh conflict settlement.
`The New Neighborhood Policy is very important both for Azerbaijan and the
EU. I welcome your joining to the policy and hope that the negotiations in
this direction will start at the nearest possible date. Democracy in the
region is developing but there is still a great deal of work to be done.
Democracy is a process. I welcome the accession of Azerbaijan to the Council
of Europe. It is obvious that your country is aspired to meet the
commitments undertaken to the CoE’, she said. When commenting on the
forthcoming parliamentary election in Azerbaijan the Finnish President said,
`I believe the authorities and the opposition will act within the criteria
set by the CoE. Let us wait till November. At the moment I call upon the
President and government to hold a democratic election, since the democratic
development of Azerbaijan greatly depends on the upcoming election.’

Helsingin Sanomat, Finland
Sept 30 2005

President Halonen calls for honest elections in Azerbaijan

“I wish you an honest and lively election”, said President Tarja
Halonen, on Thursday as she said farewell to the Speaker of the
Parliament of Azerbaijan. The Azeri capital Baku was the last stop on
the Finnish President’s visit to the South Caucasus.
Azerbaijan holds Presidential elections in just over a month,
and observers around the world are wondering if the same kinds of
accusations of fraud will arise that were prevalent in connection
with the Presidential election of 2003 and the referendum on the
country’s constitution in 2002.
It was on the basis of these votes that Azeri strongman Heidar
Aliyev transferred power to his son Ilham Aliyev in the face of
opposition riots and boycotts.

President Ilham Aliyev was the official host of the visit. Heidar
Aliyev, who died in late 2003, has become the focus of a personality
cult of sorts; during Halonen’s visit, he was repeatedly referred to
as “our great leader” and “our national leader”.
Streets in Baku are full of posters depicting the late
President, and Halonen had to lay a wreath of red roses at the statue
of Heidar Aliyev, located in front of the Heidar Aliyev Centre.
President Halonen did not appear to be bothered by the matter.
“It would not seem to be a completely strange phenomenon in Finland’s
past either. We do have quite a few statues of presidents in our
country”, Halonen pointed out to Finnish journalists.

President Halonen appealed for honest elections at every possible
turn on Thursday. Sitting next to Ilham Aliyev at a press conference,
she emphasised that it is the responsibility of the government and
the President to see to it that the elections meet all criteria set
by the Council of Europe and the OSCE.
She also pointed out to the Azerbaijan opposition that it needs
to exercise proper conduct as well.
A large opposition demonstration is scheduled to take place in
Baku during the weekend, and President Aliyev expressed concern that
the opposition would try to provoke clashes, because it knows that it
will lose the elections.
Halonen would not make any predictions about the honesty of the
election, but she did predict that Aliyev’s party would win. At 43,
the younger Aliyev is a very popular figure in the country.

There was discussion on Thursday on increasing trade between Finland
and Azerbaijan, on possible investments, as well as over the conflict
in the ethnically Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Halonen urged the three countries of the Southern Caucasus,
Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, to work together to find a
solution. According to her calculations, “1+1+1 equals more than
three”.
President Halonen returns to Finland on Friday evening.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:
September 30, 2005
ACNIS Polls Target Armenia’s Regional and Communal Development
Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
today convened a policy roundtable to sum up the results of the two public
surveys it simultaneously conducted in September on local development and
governance perceptions in Yerevan and all Armenia. 1000 respondents from all
regions of Armenia except the capital participated in the first poll, while
500 Yerevan residents took part in the second.
ACNIS director of research Stiopa Safarian greeted the audience with opening
remarks and made a comparative analysis of the two polls. According to their
findings, there is a marked difference between the socioeconomic development
of Yerevan and that of the remaining regions. Accordingly, 50.3% of the
respondents living in the regions find this disparity to be very
significant, 35.2% significant, and only 11.3% insignificant. The results
among Yerevan residents are 49.6%, 40%, and 8.2% respectively, fairly close
to the opinions of the first group of respondents.
It is unfortunate that people living both in the regions and in Yerevan have
a desire to move away from their permanent places of residence: 44.7% of
regional respondents and 37.9% of those living in Yerevan express such an
inclination. The percentage of those who do not want to leave constitutes
43.7% in the regions and 52.5% in the capital city. Of interest is that
whereas a plurality, namely 15.4%, of those who want to move from the
regions prefer Yerevan as their new destination, most Yerevan dwellers have
their sights set abroad, particularly the United States at 8.6%, Russia
7.8%, and Europe 5.8%. The other peculiarity refers to the causes for
leaving their places of habitation. Among the respondents from the regions
the primary reasons are unfavorable living conditions and unemployment,
48.1% for each. For 45.1% of capital residents it is the uncertainty of
their future, though 44% of them also point to unfavorable living conditions
and 30.1% to unemployment. This notwithstanding, an almost equal
preponderance of the two respondent groups, more than 70%, is convinced that
finding a job and earning money is much easier in Yerevan than in the
regions.
According to the surveys, agriculture, at 48.1%, has the greatest
development potential in the regions, while in Yerevan it is trade and
commerce with a result of 26.7%. As indicated by 47.1% of the respondents
living in the regions, the most promising branch of agriculture in their
place of residence is farming, followed by cattle breeding at 29.4%,
agricultural products 22.4%, small cattle breeding 19.7%, and beekeeping
9.6%.
It also is noteworthy that the participants of both surveys favor the
election of local community leaders. To the question “Would you like to
elect your regional governor?,” 63.5% of regional participants respond in
the affirmative, with 10.4% opposed. Regarding a corresponding query on
election of the mayor of Yerevan, 62% of capital residents say “yes” and 14%
“no.” The questionnaires make it clear that only 22.8% of the respondents
from the regions are satisfied with the activities of their community
leaders, whereas in Yerevan this rating is a mere 19.2%. On the contrary,
49.6% and 50.6% respectively are dissatisfied with the work carried out by
the person in charge of their community. Even more, a large percentage has
no confidence whatsoever in its community leader. 45.6% of the republic-wide
respondents maintain that their regional governor impedes the development of
the region or has no role in it at all, and 60.5% of survey participants
from the capital city say the same of their mayor. On the matter of the
current territorial-administrative division of Armenia’s regions, 40.5% of
the first and 24.6% of the second respondent groups express discontentment
over the regional layout.
During his policy intervention on contemporary problems facing local
government, prefect Davit Petrosian of the Nor Nork district of Yerevan
brought forth the example of his own neighborhood and highlighted recent
institutional changes, such as the collection of property tax by the
boroughs, which have increased the community budget and solved many
problems. “The relationship between community bodies and condominia needs
legislative clarification. It is also necessary that jurisdiction over the
schools be transferred over to the communities, and empowerment of the
councils of elders be further elucidated and enlarged,” Petrosian said.
In his address, deputy chairman Davit Tumanian of the Association of
Community Financists talked about the prospects for improving local
administration in Armenia. “Overall, this domain is legislatively regulated,
but it requires further fine-tuning. In order to consolidate the local
government system, it is indispensable for the National Assembly to adopt a
strategy for decentralization.”
The formal interventions were followed by contributions by Sos Gimishian
from the Association of Community Financists; chairman Aram Grigorian of the
Association of Condominium Presidents; analyst Hripsime Manukian from the
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Monitoring and Assessment working group;
chairman Aram Mailian of the Political Discussion Club; analyst Armen
Galstian from the International Center for Human Development; lecturers
Vilik Yedigarian and Haik Chilingarian from the Academy of Public
Administration; analyst Gor Hakobian of the Institute for Democracy and
Human Rights; ACNIS analysts Syuzanna Barseghian and Hovhannes Vardanian;
National Citizens’ Initiative coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian, activists
Gohar Isakhanian and Armen Martirosian; and several others.
Among the respondents from the regions 9.3% are 16-20 years old, 25.4%
21-30, 22.9% 31-40, 20.2% 41-50, 10.4% 51-60, 7.1% 61-70, and 2.6% 71 and
above. 45.7% are male and 54.3% are female. Among them 31.8% have received
higher education, 10.6% incomplete higher education, 24.6% secondary
specialized, 29.4% secondary, and 3.2% have incomplete secondary education.
44.6% are employed, 34.8% unemployed, 11.5% are pensioners and welfare
recipients, and 8.8% are students.
In the Yerevan poll, 13.3% are 16-20 years old, 30% 21-30, 15.6% 31-40,
21.7% 41-50, 11.6% 51-60, 4,6% 61-70, and 2.2% 71 and above. 40% are male
and 60% are female. Among them 49.2% have received higher education, 13.2%
incomplete higher education, 16.4% secondary specialized, 17.6% secondary,
and 3.2% have incomplete secondary education. 54% are employed, 24.6%
unemployed, 8.2% are pensioners and welfare recipients, and 12% are
students.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2005, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the nation.
For further information on the Center or full graphics of the poll results,
call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; e-mail
[email protected] or [email protected]; or visit or
and
df
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

European Parliament

Sept 30 2005

EU: European Parliament postpones vote on protocol to Ankara
Agreement

/noticias.info/ – The Parliament postponed voting on approval of the
protocol extending Turkey’s association agreement with the EU to the
ten new member states. MEPs feared that the Turkish declaration that
the protocol does not mean any form of recognition of Cyprus would
form part of the ratification process in the Turkish parliament and
thus gain legal force.
Nevertheless, in a political resolution voted afterwards, Parliament
notes “the Commission and the Council take the view that Turkey has
formally fulfilled the last conditions for starting the accession
negotiations on 3 October 2005.”
At the request of the EPP-ED group, Parliament voted 311 votes in
favour, 285 against and 63 abstentions to postpone the vote on
Parliament’s approval of the protocol extending Turkey’s customs
union with the EU to all its new members, including Cyprus. The vote
to postpone has no legal consequences in terms of the starting date
for accession negotiations. Stumbling blocks were the Turkish
declaration that the signing of the protocol to the Ankara Agreement
does not mean any form of recognition of Cyprus and the Turkish
refusal to admit vessels and airplanes from Cyprus. A majority of
MEPs first wanted guarantees from the Turkish authorities that the
declaration was not going to be part of the ratification in the
Turkish parliament, fearing that it would then have legal
implications.
Nevertheless, in a political resolution adopted afterwards by 356
votes in favour, 181 against and 125 abstentions, Parliament noted
the Commission’s and Council’s view that access negotiations with
Turkey can start on 3 October. But by the end of 2006, the Commission
must assess if Turkey has fully implemented the protocol. If not,
this could lead to halting the accession negotiations. During the
negotiations, which are open-ended and will not automatically lead to
Turkish EU membership, Turkey should be kept under permanent scrutiny
and pressure to ensure that it maintains “the pace of the necessary
reforms”.
Parliament also said it considered Turkish recognition of “the
Armenian genocide … to be a prerequisite for accession”.
MEPs deplore that the Annan plan for a settlement of the Cyprus
question has been rejected by the Greek Cypriot community and hopes
that Turkey will maintain its constructive attitude in finding an
equitable solution. Meanwhile, the Council should keep its promise
and reach an agreement on the financial aid and trade package for
northern Cyprus.
On other issues, MEPs voiced their concern about the criminal
proceedings against Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, about article 305 of
the penal code which criminalises “acts against the fundamental
national interest”, about the restrictions on foreign funding for
associations, and about the “Law on Foundations” concerning religious
communities.
Parliament wants each negotiation session at ministerial level to be
preceded by an assessment of the fulfilment of the political
criteria, both in theory and in practice, “thus exerting permanent
pressure on the Turkish authorities to maintain the pace of the
necessary reforms”. Also, a full programme of clear targets,
timeframe and deadlines should be fixed for the fulfilment of the
political criteria. The Commission and the Council should report
annually to the European Parliament and the national parliaments on
the progress made by Turkey in this respect. MEPs reiterate that the
accession negotiations are an open-ended process and will not
automatically lead to Turkey joining the EU, even if the objective is
Turkish EU membership. Finally, Parliament underlines that the EU’s
capacity to absorb Turkey is an important consideration as well, and
needs to be monitored by the Commission during the negotiations.
Debate on opening of accession negotiations with Turkey
Speaking on behalf of the Council, Britain’s Minister for Europe,
Douglas ALEXANDER said the strategic case for opening negotiations
with Turkey was convincing, but it was necessary to be scrupulous in
ensuring all the requirements were met before Turkey could join.
Turkey had met the two conditions laid down by the Council in
December, and its declaration stating that it had not recognised the
government of Cyprus had no legal effect. The negotiations would be
the most rigorous yet, and Turkey would not accede imminently. The
Turkey which would join would be a different Turkey, and the EU might
also be different by then too. Progress so far had been encouraging,
and the conditions for opening talks had been met, he said.
Enlargement Commissioner Oli REHN agreed that the formal conditions
set out by the Council for opening negotiations had been met. He also
stressed that the talks would be the most rigorous yet undertaken.
There were good signs – such as the Turkish government’s recognition
that there was a Kurdish issue and that the conference on the
Armenian question would finally go ahead – but also bad signs – such
as the uneven implementation of freedom of expression rights. “Both
Europeans and Turks should work to build a relationship based on
mutual trust, ” he said, pointing out that the common goal would be
accession but that by their very nature the talks were open as to the
result they would achieve.
British speakers during the debate on Turkey
Roger KNAPMAN (IND/DEM,UK) said that he opposed political union with
Turkey as much as he opposed it with France, Germany or Italy. “But
what of the euro-fanatics whose ardour suddenly cools when they reach
the Bosphorus? It is not hypocrisy, but fear, fear that public
support for the whole EU project will collapse if Turkish membership
were seriously pursued.” For this reason, he said, he was happy to
see the EU plough ahead with negotiations, destroying itself in the
process.
Andrew DUFF (ALDE, UK) said “It is extraordinary that those who have
profited so much from EU integration in terms of prosperity, security
and liberal democracy should not refuse to extend these prizes to
Turkey.” He said the EU’s absorption capacity was a real issue, with
the need for a settlement of the constitution ahead of Turkish or
Croatian entry. He also argued that the Cyprus issue and instability
in the Balkans could not be resolved if the EU refuses membership to
Turkey, and called for a stepping up of trade relations with northern
Cyprus.
Roger HELMER (NI, UK) said there were powerful reasons in favour and
against Turkey’s accession to the EU. The key condition, he said,
should be “democratic accountability”, Mr Helmer felt that Turkey’s
accession would “dilute the influence” of his constituents in terms
of self-determination and he therefore opposed Turkish membership of
the EU. Mr Helmer welcomed the proposal from Angela Merkel on
privileged partnership for Turkey as it would incur fewer costs for
Turkey. Mr Helmer wished the option of privileged partnership could
also be made available to the United Kingdom.
Geoffrey Van ORDEN (EPP-ED, UK) stated that “last Christmas the
Council voted for Turkey”. The conditions laid out at that time had
been met and Turkey was therefore ready to start negotiations. Mr Van
Orden warned against the separatist dissidents still at large in
Turkey that risked undermining Turkish secularism and unity. He
stated that Turkey should be treated in the same way as all other
candidates for accession. Mr Van Orden stated that the Cyprus
question should be treated separately from the accession
negotiations. However, he recalled that the people of Northern Cyprus
had voted in favour of the Annan plan on reunification and that Greek
Cyprus had rejected. He said the EU had done little to support
Northern Cyprus. Mr Van Orden welcomed the imminent opening of
negotiations and recognised that the talks would last many years.

Datos de Contacto :
Contact: Marjory VAN DEN BROEKE Press Room Unit – Press Officer
E-mail address : [email protected] Telephone number in
Brussels : (32) 2 28 44304 (BXL) Mobile number : (32) 0498 98 3586
Telephone number in Strasbourg : (33) 3

Pan Armenian News
RA AMBASSADOR TO EGYPT TO COMBINE OFFICE IN MOROCCO
30.09.2005 02:56
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from the RA President’s
press office, according to Robert Kocharian’s decree of 29.09.2005 Sergey
Manasarian was relieved of the post of Armenian Ambassador to the Kingdom of
Morocco. By another decree Armenian Ambassador to Egypt Ruben Karapetian was
appointed RA Ambassador to Morocco (residence in Cairo).

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN COMMISSION NEXT SITTING TO BE HELD SPRING 2006
29.09.2005 12:39
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Coordinated and important decisions were taken during the
4-th sitting of the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission on
economic cooperation held in Yerevan today, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
Nogaideli stated during the press conference upon completion of the sitting.
He marked out several important lines that were discussed during the
sitting. `First of all it is trade. Both parties supported consolidation of
economic ties. Georgia cancelled transit highway-user tax early this year
and today we agreed that Armenia will make analogous decision as regards
Georgia. This move will promote the growth of commodity turnover between
Armenia and Georgia,’ he said. `Presently we are discussing the possibility
of opening new highway, railway and air communication lines in two
directions Yerevan-Tbilisi and Yerevan-Batumi. We fully support the creation
of alternative transport ties for Armenia including the restoration of
Kars-Gyumri railway communication,’ emphasized Zurab Nogaideli. He informed
that during the sitting the commission touched upon tourism development as
well. `We were glad to learn that 12 thousand Armenians had a rest at the
Georgian coast of the Black Sea this year. We are also pleased that Armenian
investors pay attention to the resort infrastructure in Adjaria’, he said
adding that some important decisions were taken in energy sphere as well. In
this view he specified two directions. `First, we have not coordinated
Georgia’s debt for the energy supplied by Armenia yet. Second, an investment
program targeted at construction of a high-voltage power line that will
allow to increase the export of Armenian to Georgia should be discussed,’
the Georgian Premier said. `Besides, we have considered the possibility of
opening a joint Georgian-Armenian university in Georgia. Next year we are
launching an efficient investment program in Samtskhe Javakhetia. The
program includes building of a highway connecting the region with Tbilisi,
Armenia and Turkey. Being a highway of international motor communication it
will attract investments to the economy of the region. Next year we are
launching a project targeted at repairing of Georgian schools including the
schools in Javakhetia. The Armenian government will co-finance the repair of
village schools of Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki regions,’ the Georgian
Premier stated. He also informed that the next sitting of the
Armenian-Georgia commission on economic cooperation will be held next spring
in Batumi. `I attach great attention to the development of business
cooperation between the commercial structures of Georgia and Armenia. I will
by all means contribute to the consolidation of ties and creation of an
economic system promoting efficient activities of Armenian and Georgian
entrepreneurs’, Zurab Nogaideli resumed.