THE ARMENIAN COLOR OF REVOLUTIONS – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
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| 19:04:19 | 28-09-2005 | Politics |
According to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the adoption of
the draft Constitution will have the effect of a revolution. “Our
social-political life has the possibility to be subverted in case
of voting for the draft Constitution”, said member of the ARF,
chief editor of the weekly “Yerkir” Spartak Seyranyan today during
the seminar “The RA Amended Draft Constitution on the Eve of the
Referendum” in the “Tekeyan” cultural center.
The representative of ARF Armen Roustamyan made it clear for those
who say “revolution” and understand “change of authorities” that “the
revolution is not an end in itself”. Pointing at the post-revolution
developments in Georgia and Ukraine, Mr. Roustamyan said, “We saw what
revolutions can result in. They must be ended after coming to power,
not with it”.
Referring to the Constitutional referendum Mr. Roustamyan said
that in case of saying “No” we will have serious problems with the
CoE. According to him, only the positive answer will open a door to
the processes of realization of democratic and human rights.
According to the head of the non-governmental organization “Democracy”
Vardan Pogosyan, the constitutional reforms are a step forward from the
previous one, “which had one primitive conception – to give everything
to the RA President as he is always right”. But in the amended version
the mechanisms of the relations between the President and the NA are
not processed either.
According to the head of the program “Armenia to Europe” Aram
Safaryan who had organized the seminar, this discussion is not the
last one. The next seminar will be devoted to the theme “Armenia
after the referendum”.

TURKEY CONFRONTS HISTORY
Opinion By Suat Kiniklioglu
Turkish Daily News
Sept 27 2005
Two weeks ago I was fortunate enough to visit a photo exhibition of
the Sept. 6-7, 1955, street riots in Istanbul. For me it was truly
an experience and cause for reflection. Seeing such graphic evidence
of those events made me genuinely uncomfortable. The exhibition and
the debate it sparked was a great leap forward in the quest towards
confronting some of the unpleasant episodes of our recent history.
Although the opening of the exhibition was marred by a protest of
a small group of nationalists, the exhibition marked an important
change in Turkey. Fifty years later, Turks on both sides of the debate
intensely deliberated the Sept. 6-7 events. The debate allowed Turks
to become aware of some of the unknown aspects of those events.
Similarly, the infamous Armenian conference, which was scheduled to
take place in May of this year, finally took place at Istanbul’s
Bilgi University last week. The conference became an important
event in itself when, in the aftermath of Dec. 17, some European
countries that are opposed to Turkey’s European Union accession
began to emphasize the Armenian issue as a precondition to Turkey’s
accession negotiations. The Turkish debate surrounding the events of
1915 had already tested new territory in the fall of 2004. Contrary
to Armenian diaspora allegations, Turks are intensely debating what
happened in 1915. A preview of the Turkish media coverage of the
Armenian issue would provide ample evidence of both the extent and
depth of the Turkish debate.
The organization of a conference on the Armenian issue that included
scholars describing the events of 1915 as “genocide” sparked widespread
protests from diverse segments of Turkish society. Coupled with the
earlier comments by Orhan Pamuk on the issue, the atmosphere became
poisoned. However, the last-minute cancellation of the conference
by Bosporus University in May and developments in the aftermath also
raised eyebrows about academic freedom in Turkey.
Contrary to claims by critics, the conference was not organized
to determine whether the events of 1915 constituted “genocide” but
instead was to be a healthy starting point for an honest discussion
on the subject. Some of the presentations that emphasized the need
to avoid the word “genocide,” to de-emotionalize the debate, were
seen as very constructive.
The Turkish government’s stance, particularly Justice Minister Cemil
Cicek’s turnaround on the conference, not only reflected an acute
awareness about the potential damages a second cancellation would have
brought about but also provided evidence of the political courage
of the AKP on these sensitive issues. The handling of the Armenian
conference, once again, confirmed the government’s determination to
start EU accession negotiations on Oct. 3.
The fact that the conference took place despite the sensitivity and
strong criticism surrounding it was also a positive step in terms of
assertion of academic freedom by the three universities involved. I
hope the bold steps taken by the three universities will set an
example to other foundations and universities.
All in all, we are experiencing a very significant but equally
difficult process. Turkey is opening up to the world, confronting
its recent history and discovering the many different shades of its
social fabric. For this process to continue in a constructive fashion
we need Armenians to confront some of the dark episodes of Armenian
history as well. It would be most helpful if an Armenian conference
could acknowledge that Armenian soldiers returning to Anatolia with
the Russian army took revenge and killed many Turks in the process.
It would be a constructive step if somewhere along this process
Armenians could come to terms with the terror unleashed by the
Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA), which
claimed the lives of 32 Turkish diplomats in the 1970s. I know we are
not there yet and that the Turkish side still needs to develop the
debate internally, but Turks and Armenians should ready themselves
for a historic reconciliation along these lines. Neither Turks nor
Armenians should continue to live with this historic burden on them.
The events of 1915-1923 and the 1970s with ASALA are too tragic and sad
for both sides. We need to find the courage and will to move forward.
There is no doubt the EU drive provides the primary catalyst
for progressive Turks to push through this process. A lot of
commentators expressed their skepticism when it was argued that the
accession process itself is as important as accession. However,
recent developments on the economic and political side confirm
the significance of the process itself. Despite the increasingly
“revanchist” atmosphere in the domestic political arena, facing up to
Sept. 6-7 and beginning to debate 1915 provide reason for optimism. I
am confident that the internal dynamics of Turkey are adequate to
sustain this process provided the target remains full EU membership.
* Suat Kýnýklýoðlu is director of the Ankara office of the German
Marshall Fund of the United States.
–Boundary_(ID_RvfDaPeMiMot4G0fyq/e4A)–

FINNISH PRESIDENT HALONEN REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Sept 28 2005
Kezban TUNCOVA, YEREVAN (JTW) During her visit to Armenia on Tuesday,
Finland President Tarja Halonen found herself in the middle of
a discussion on the sensitive issue of the so-called Armenian
massacres. Armenians argue that the 1915 Relocation Decision of the
Ottoman Empire was a genocide and Turkey should admit it. However
Turkey has never accepted the allegations. Turkish historians say the
1915 Relocation Campaign was a measure to prevent Armenian attacks
against the Ottoman Army. The Armenians rioted against the Istanbul
Government in order tyo establish their own state. More than 520,000
Turkish people were massacred by the Armenian armed groups during
the First World War.
The discussion took place soon after the Finnish President had laid a
wreath at a monument to the victims of the 1915 events in the Armenian
capital Yerevan. Armenian journalists asked the Finnish President if
she would publicly recognise the 1915 events as a genocide.
Finnish President Halonen avoided a direct response to the questions,
saying instead “We are building a common future with Armenia”.
According to the President, Finland is not in the habit of giving
recognition to historical events. She said that every generation has
the right to re-examine history, and every country has a right to its
own history. She added that countries should not become prisoners of
history. Similarly Turkish prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had called the
Armenian side to establish a joint committee to discuss the historical
disputes between Turkey and Armenia. However the Armenian FM Oskanian
rejected the offer. Turkey also says both countries should focus on
today and current problems instead of obsessively focusing on the
past. Dr. Sedat Laciner from Ankara based Turkish think-tank USAK –
ISRO (International Strategic Research Organization) said “we should
not sacrifice today for the past. Both sides made mistakes in the
past and we cannot change the history. But we can construct the
future together”.
Finnish package tours to Armenia have already begun this year.
Currently, a fifth fairly small group of Finnish tourists are in
Yerevan.
On Tuesday President Halonen held talks with Armenian President Robert
Kochharian and other politicians on trade, Armenian-Turkish relations,
the dispute over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Turkey’s
possible membership in the European Union.
The same issues came up when Halonen, who received an honorary
doctorate, spoke to students at Yerevan State University. The Finnish
President defended Turkish EU membership, which Armenia opposes,
because of Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue. She said that Turkish EU membership would benefit the whole
region, including Armenia. On the question of Nagorno-Karabakh – an
ethnically Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan – Halonen offered the
autonomous status of Finland’s Åland Islands as a model. A fiery-eyed
student responded: “Azerbaijan is not Sweden”.
Armenia has occupied almost 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories
for more than a decade and the EU and the OSCE named Armenia as
‘occupier’ in the Karabakh. Armenia also does not recognize Turkey’s
and Azerbaijan’s national borders.
Dr. Davut Sahiner from ISRO told to the JTW that Turkey’s EU membership
will be very usefull in solving the regional problems in the region:
“The old order has to be changed in the Caucasus. The economical
and political structure of the Caucaus should be integrated into the
European and Western systems. And an EU member-Turkey could play a
vital role in doing so. Armenia right now has border problems and the
irredentist Armenian groups manipulate the Armenian politics. Turkey,
Georgia, Azerbaijain and Armenia should integrate their economies.
However the Karabakh issue prevent any development. As the EU and
the US urge the Yerevan, Armenia should withdraw from the occupied
territories.”
–Boundary_(ID_YIjAZCKDOJbJwGinXZfn9Q)–

SITTING OF ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION TO BE CONDUCTED IN YEREVAN
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2005
The 4th sitting of Armenian – Georgian intergovernmental commission
on economic cooperation is to be held in Yerevan on September 29 –
30. Prime Minister of Georgia Zourab Nogaideli is to arrive in Armenia
to take part in the sitting. De Facto got the information at the RA
government press service.
In the course of the visit Georgian Prime Minister is to meet RA
President Robert Kocharyan and RA National Assembly Chair Arthur
Baghdasaryan.

TURKEY BROKEN OFF BETWEEN LIBERALS AND CONSERVATORS
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2005
Armenian Genocide conference has revealed contradictions in the
Turkish government.
In spite of all the obstacles a scientific conference devoted to
the Armenian Genocide of early XX century took place in Istanbul on
September 24 – 25.
The conference was conducted against the background of mass protests;
however the conference’s participants wish to understand their own
country’s history. “We cannot allow the discussions to be limited to
mutually contradicting opinions: whether the genocide took place or
not. We should try to realize what happened in 1915”, stated a famous
historian Halil Bektay.
“Turkey’s desire to enter into the European Union requires notable
democratic processes. However, there are certain powers in Turkey,
as well as in any society, that are against democracy”, said a
conference’s organizer Murad Begle. In his words, “some of them are
afraid to lose power and authority”.
According to a lot of politicians, the conference’s conduct is an
unprecedented phenomenon, which can change the situation in Turkey,
as well as influence on Armenian – Turkish relations.
To note, there is some uncertainty both in the relations between
Ankara and Brussels and in the Turkish political field, which is
pregnant with weakening of the position of the powers striving for
Turkey’s amendments and further growth of nationalism. One can affirm
nothing has changed within 40 years, at least Turkey’s attitude towards
Armenia and Armenians. Speaking up for the conduct of the Armenian
Genocide conference Turkish Foreign Minister does not give up the
idea of working out strategy of confrontation to the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

AZIMOV: “AZERBAIJAN HAS NEVER DEMANDED CHANGE OF OSCE MG MANDATE”
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2005
“The aim of the Vienna meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group Co – Chairs
will be exchange of information on the course of the process and
the current state of the Karabakh settlement,” stated Azeri Deputy
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov in the interview with APA agency.
In his words, meetings of the kind are conducted regularly. While
commenting on the issue referring to transferring part of OSCE MG
authorities to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister said Azerbaijan had never demanded
change of the OSCE MG mandate. “We are not even going to make such
demands. Azeri top officials have repeatedly pointed out the importance
and need for OSCE Minsk Group activities”, stated Azimov.
In his words, the OSCE MG Co-Chairs speak up for launching the
activities within a limited format: “We understand them and welcome
the approach. From the point of view the current stage of the conflict
settlement is in working out preliminary principles and organizing
discussions for coming to a political arrangement on an agreement’s
preparation. The format might be widened at the next stage”, added he.

NO DISCUSSION OF ISSUES DIRECTLY CONCERNING ARMENIA ENVISAGED AT PACE AUTUMN SESSION
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 28 2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The plenary sittings of the autumn
session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will
be held in Strasburg on October 3-7. There are no issues directly
concerning the South Caucasian region and particularly Armenia on
the draft agenda.
As Tigran Torosian, the head of the Armenian delegation to the PACE,
the NA Deputy Chairman informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent,
a meeting of heads of delegations of South Caucasian countries:
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan is scheduled for October 4, on the
initiative of Rene van der Linden, the PACE Chairman. The four-side
meeting is dedicated to democratic developments in the region.
Besides, a separate meeting of parliamentary delegations of Armenia
and Azerbaijan connected with problems of the PACE Ad hoc Committee on
Nagorno Karabakh Issue, isn’t excluded during the session days, either.

OSKANIAN AND RUSHAYLO DISCUSS PROCESS OF CIS REFORMS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 28 2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues concerning the process
of CIS reforms, events to be organized within the framework of CIS
and Armenia’s participation in them were discussed at RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian’s September 28 meeting with Chairman of CIS
Executive Committee, CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushaylo who
is in Armenia on a working visit. The executive secretary presented
the current situation in the organization, problems connected with
formation of the budget and the system.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and
Information Department, the interlocutors highly estimated the results
of the CIS Kazan summit, in particular, the interest of the member
states in the further development of CIS.
Attaching importance to humanitarian cooperation within the framework
of CIS, the parties touched upon the future programs in this sphere.

TURKISH PREMIER REFUSED TO JOIN EU RESOLUTION CONSIDERING ARMENIAN KILLINGS AS GENOCIDE
Pravda, Russia
Sept 28 2005
20:29 2005-09-28
Turkey’s prime minister on Wednesday rejected a European Parliament
resolution calling on Ankara to recognize the mass killings of
Armenians around the time of World War I as genocide.
The EU lawmakers said in their resolution that recognition of the
1915-1923 killings as genocide should be a prerequisite for Turkey
to join the European Union.
Armenians say that 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks
around the time of World War I, which Armenians and several nations
around the world recognize as the first genocide of the 20th century.
Turkey denies that the massacres were genocide, saying the death toll
is inflated and Armenians were killed in civil unrest as the Ottoman
Empire collapsed, the AP reports.
Speaking to Turkish reporters in Abu Dhabi, Erdogan also reiterated
his view that the EU has to admit Turkey or risk being branded a
“Christian Club.”
“What will the EU achieve by admitting Turkey? It will become a bridge
between the 1.5-billion strong Muslim world and the EU. It will start
an alliance of civilizations,” he added.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES TALKS WITH TURKEY
Expatica, Netherlands
Sept 28 2005
STRASBOURG – Despite concerns about Cyprus and human rights, the
European Parliament on Wednesday formally approved opening negotiations
with Turkey for membership in the European Union.
In a resolution adopted by 365 votes in favour, 181 against and
125 abstentions, the Parliament officially declared that accession
negotiations between the E.U. and Ankara can start on October 3,
as foreseen.
However, European deputies also approved, by a narrow margin,
a proposal by centre-right wing factions to postpone the vote on
approving the protocol extending Turkey’s customs union with the E.U.
and all its members, including Cyprus.
Although Turkey approved the customs
union with all 25 members, it added an appendix which said that this
did not signify recognition of the Greek-led government of Cyprus.
The appendix, the Parliament declared in the resolution, “cast serious
doubts on (Turkey’s) willingness to fully implement all provisions”
of the customs union protocol.
The European Commission is therefore to assess at the end of 2006 if
Ankara has fully implemented the protocol. If not, it could lead to
a cessation of the negotiations.
Turkey occupied the northern part of Cyprus in 1974 in protest at
a Greek-Cypriot coup on the island and is the only country not to
recognize the Republic of Cyprus. Ankara recognizes the Turkish-
Cypriot north of Cyprus as the island’s only legitimate government.
The European Parliament also voiced its concern about criminal
proceedings against Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, who has been charged
with public denigration of Turkish identity for telling a newspaper,
“Thirty thousand Kurds were killed here, one million Armenians as
well. And almost no one talks about it.”
It also raised questions about an article in the Turkish penal code
that criminalizes “acts against fundamental national interests”.
In the debate before the vote, British Minister for Europe Douglas
Alexander, speaking on behalf of the E.U. presidency, said Turkey
still has a lot to do to reach European standards.
However, he noted that thanks to its desire to join the E.U., Ankara
had already achieved impressive progress.
E.U. Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said that the bloc needs
a stable, democratic and increasingly prosperous Turkey that accepts
European values, which is why it was decided to start accession talks.
“The E.U. expects the full implementation of the additional protocol,
including (the removal of) all obstacles to the free movement of
goods,” Rehn said.
Several deputies called on Ankara not to wait until the end of
accession negotiations – which could last up to 15 years – before
recognizing Cyprus.
Social-democrat faction leader Martin Schulz of Germany’s SPD party
said, “It can not be that a country applies for membership but does
not recognize all member states.
Speaking in favour of Turkey’s accession to the E.U., British
parliamentarian Andrew Duff said, “It is extraordinary that those who
have profited so much from E.U. integration in terms of prosperity,
security and liberal democracy should refuse to extend these prizes
to Turkey.”
Duff also argued that the Cyprus issue could not be resolved if Turkey
is not allowed to join the Union.
However, another British deputy, Roger Helmer, supported the proposal
of conservative German politician and possible future Chancellor
Angela Merkel, who has called for a privileged partnership for Turkey,
rather than full E.U. membership.
The key condition, he said, should be “democratic accountability”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress