BBC
Saturday, 24 September 2005, 13:45 GMT 14:45 UK
Turks protest at Armenian forum
Hundreds of Turkish nationalists have been protesting outside a
controversial conference on the mass killings of Armenians under Ottoman
rule.
They chanted slogans and booed delegates entering Istanbul’s Bilgi
University for the two-day event.
The conference had been due to open on Friday, at another venue, but was
stopped from doing so by a court order.
Debate of the killings has been taboo in Turkey but there is outside
pressure for greater freedom of speech.
“Treason will not go unpunished” and “This is Turkey, love it or leave it,”
shouted the demonstrators.
“The Armenian genocide is an international lie,” read a huge banner carried
by members of the minor left-wing Workers’ Party.
Taped mouths
Armenians worldwide have been campaigning for decades for the deaths –
thought to have been more than a million, around the time of WWI – to be
recognised universally as genocide.
The conference discussing the issue was due to be held at Istanbul’s
Bosphorus University, but it was banned by an Istanbul court after
complaints by nationalists that the historians behind it were “traitors”.
The historians challenge official Turkish accounts of the killings, which
give a much smaller death toll and link Armenian losses to civil strife in
which many Turks also died.
The court ruling brought emotionally charged scenes on the Bosphorus campus
on Friday, said the BBC’s Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul.
Students, angry that the conference was cancelled, taped their mouths while
small groups of nationalists gathered to condemn plans for the forum.
EU condemnation
Bilgi University stepped in “in the name of freedom of expression and
thought”, said its president, Aydin Ugur.
Government leaders regretted the court ruling which “cast a shadow on the
process of democratisation and freedoms”, according to Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
“If we have confidence in our own beliefs, we should not fear freedom of
thought,” he told separate gathering of academics on Saturday.
EU enlargement commissioner Krisztina Nagy said Brussels strongly deplored
the court’s “attempt to prevent the Turkish society from discussing its
history”.
Turkey begins talks on joining the EU in two weeks’ time.

Pan Armenian News
ORGANIZERS OF SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN ISSUE IN TURKEY SURE IT WILL
BE HELD
24.09.2005 03:11
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The scientific conference to discuss the Armenian
Genocide, which was canceled at Bosphorus and Sabanci Universities by a
court decision, will nevertheless be held, however at another Istanbul
university, hold organizers of the event. CNN-Turk TV company reported that
the leadership of Istanbul Bilgi University had agreed to host the
conference. The Turkish court ban to hold the conference was censured by the
Turkish Government and the European Commission, reported RFE/RL.

A1+
| 14:22:59 | 24-09-2005 | Politics |
PRE-ELECTION KILLING
Today at about 10 a.m. local time Mayor of Armenian town of Nor Hajn Armen
Kelishyan shot dead head of the town electric network Ashot Mkhitaryan.
To remind, the election of the Mayor in Nor Hajn will be held in two weeks.
The incumbent Mayor put in his nomination. Ashot Mkhitaryan supported his
rival.
It should be noted that Kelishyan fired the pistol presented to him by Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan.

A1+| 14:00:10 | 24-09-2005 | Politics |
PROGRESS UNSATISFACTORY
‘The draft constitutional amendments adopted in the second reading needs
further elaboration’, Chairman of the Christian Democratic Party Khosrov
Harutyunyan.
According to him, the document should be formulated more precisely and give
no reason for debate. The CDP informed that he has submitted 14 proposals to
the National Assembly and hopes that they will find reflection during the
third reading. The proposals mostly refer to property, government system,
juridical power and local self-government.
As for the formation if independent bodies at the constitutional level and
their regulations Kh. Harutyunyan noted, «The Constitution mentions of one
body – the Liberal Democratic Party. The formation of other bodies can be
regulated by separate laws depending on the opinion of the political
majority. In Harutyunyan’s words, the fact that the NCTR was included in the
Constitution testifies that mass media has exclusive political role.
The formation of the body is not ideal but a far-sighted deed, since the
body is formed with the participation of the National Assembly. On the other
hand, in the course of time we will have to regulate the activities of the
body within the law to prevent excessive dependence of the NCTR on any state
body.
The CDP leader considers that the NKTR should bear responsibility to the NA
and the mechanisms this responsibility should be fixed precisely. «It is
obvious that the body really exists. It has become a constitutional norm and
is formed by the President and the NA», he says.
Board member of the Armenian Liberation Movement Aram Manukyan also gives a
positive estimate to the item fixing the formation of the NCTR in the
Constitution, however he thinks that formation of other independent bodies
should also find place in the Organic Law of the country. The NCTR should
become an independent body, which will guarantee the independence of mass
media.
Victoria Abrahamyan

euobserver.com
23.09.2005 – 17:42 CET
By Mark Beunderman
Brussels clashes with Turks on free speech and Cyprus
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – Harsh words were fired from Brussels on Friday as
the commission reacted strongly to a Turkish court’s suspension of a
conference on the Armenian massacre. Meanwhile Turkey has slammed an EU
counter declaration on Cyprus.
The decision yesterday (22 September) by an Istanbul court to cancel a
conference on the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman empire in 1915,
sparked a commission spokeswoman to speak of “yet another provocation”.
The term “provocation” was also used last week by enlargement commissioner
Olli Rehn when criticising a separate Turkish court decision on the filing
of charges against the author Orhan Pamuk – who had also raised the Armenian
issue.
Both the Turkish prime minister and the Turkish foreign minister were quick
to condemn Istanbul’s court decision to cancel the conference.
“To prevent a meeting which has not yet happened and where it is not clear
what is to be discussed has got nothing to do with democracy”, prime
minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul referred to the scheduled opening of accession
talks by Ankara in just over a week (3 October), by saying “There is no one
better than us when it comes to harming ourselves”.
Until recently it was illegal in Turkey to publicly talk about the tabu
topic of the massacre of the Armenians, which most international historians
have classified as genocide.
The new penal code which Ankara had to adopt following pressure from
Brussels ended this restriction on free speech.
But prosecutors in Turkey are still repressing debate on the Armenian
massacre under the reformed penal code.
The commission signalled on Friday that the “provocations” by Turkish
prosecutors will not interfere with Ankara’s bid to start entry talks on 3
October.
But the commission will raise the issue in a “progress report” on Turkey,
due in November.
Turkey blasts counter declaration
The atmosphere between Brussels and Ankara was already tense on Thursday, as
the Turkish foreign ministry rebuked the EU for issuing a “counter
statement” earlier this week in response to Ankara’s refusal to recognise
Cyprus.
The EU in its counter declaration stated that “recognition of all member
states is a necessary component of the accession process” – meaning that
Ankara should recognise Nicosia before Turkey can itself enter the bloc.
According to press reports, a Turkish foreign ministry spokesman said “we
regret the counter-declaration that the EU issued on September 21”.
“This declaration contains some unfair approaches and some new elements that
do not conform to the traditional spirit of cooperation that has been
continuing between Turkey and the EU for more than 40 years”, he stated.
The spokesman added that the statement ignored the “rights and expectations
of the Turkish Cypriot people” which he termed as a “serious injustice”.
Turkey says the EU should end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots in the
North of the island as quickly as possible.
A commission proposal to open trade with the North, linked to a financial
aid package, is being blocked by the Cypriot government.
Direct trade with the north of the island would, in Nicosia’s view, mean the
de facto recognition of the North as a separate state.
Abdullah Gul said “There is no one better than us when it comes to harming
ourselves”

Armenpress
UNICEF, GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA SEAL MEMORANDUM ON CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM
REFORM IN LORI REGION
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: UNICEF, the Ministry of Labor and
Social Issues and the Governor’s Office of Lori region signed today a
Memorandum of Understanding, laying a foundation for the comprehensive
reform of child protection system in the region.
“The existing child protection system relies heavily on a system of
institutions, that instead of strengthening capacities of families to care
for and protect their children, pulls children into residential care
institutions, where they live isolated from the broader familial and social
network that is essential for their healthy development,” Sheldon Yett,
UNICEF Representative in Armenia stressed. The Memorandum of Understanding
acknowledges the commitment of the authorities of Lori region to take up a
more holistic approach to services designed to protect the welfare of
children. “The current child protection system is not designed to
systematically identify, report and refer cases of abuse, neglect and
exploitation of children to relevant authorities in the health, education
and law enforcement sectors. Consequently, these violations go unreported
and children are not systematically referred to appropriate services,” Yett
said.
Reform of the child protection system in Armenia is one of the major
strategic pillars of the ten-year National Plan of Action for the Protection
of Child Rights adopted by the Government in 2003 and closely linked to the
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. “It’s a long term process that centres on
helping institutions to reach out and support the core role of families in
the care and protection of children. It involves strengthening monitoring
systems and the links between both national and local institutions, the,”
UNICEF Representative noted, adding, “such reform is likely to take a number
of years before being completed.”
The child protection system reform in Lori region started in 2004 with
the introduction of the so-called “Human Rights Based Approach to
Programming (HRBAP)”, an approach that involves not simply identifying
needs, but a process of enabling and empowering those not enjoying their
rights to healthcare, education and other social and economic rights, to
claim them. The approach helps to assess and identify gaps and priority
areas and draw up strategies to address them. UNICEF trained twenty experts
from national, regional and community on the practical application of the
HRBAP tools. With UNICEF support, these experts then conducted a situation
analysis of children in Lori region. Based on the findings of the situation
analysis, a “proposal for change” addressing gaps in the child protection
system has been developed.
The implementation of this “proposal for change” will help to make
services for children more comprehensive, consistent and targeted as well as
will enable the development of mechanisms to prevent, identify and respond
to cases of child rights violations at all levels.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I STARTS HIS THIRD PONTIFICAL VISIT
C A N A D A
A HUGE CROWD OF BELIEVERS GREETS HIS HOLINESS IN MONTREAL
Antelias, Lebanon – His Holiness Aram I arrived, on his third Pontifical
visit, to Canada on September 22. The Pontiff ventured on the visit
responding to the invitation by the prelate of the Prelacy of Canada,
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian and officials from the diocese.
His Holiness was greeted at the “Trudo” airport in Montreal by Archbishop
Hagopian, Archbishop Souren Kataroian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America Archbishop Moushegh Mardirosian, as
well as representatives form the diocese and the Armenian community of
Montreal.
His Holiness met with a large crowd of believers in the evening in the St.
Hagop Church in Montreal, seat of the Prelate of Canada, where a traditional
blessing of salt and water was held.
Prelate Archbishop Hagopian welcomed His Holiness in Canada and spoke about
the Pontiff’s achievements the during his 10-year tenure. The Archbishop
then invited Aram I to deliver his sermon to the believers.
His Holiness greeted the religious officials, community leaders and
representatives as well as the large number of believers who had come to
meet and welcome their religious leader. He spoke about unity within the
diocese of Canada and the entire Armenian nation.
“Cooperation is a basic imperative for our nation. As every other place,
here as well our nation’s children should gather around each other and live
their lives in collaboration,” said His Holiness.
His Holiness then considered the words of the Armenian poet “Towards the
source of light” the theme of his Pontifical visit to the three dioceses of
Northern America. He emphasized the importance of working together for a
bright future.
“This is the only path for our people. We follow this path in spite of our
differences,” said His Holiness.
Following the sermon, the believers approached His Holiness to kiss his
right hand. Then His Holiness visited the newly built Prelacy accompanied by
religious officials and representatives of the diocese.
The Pontiff’s visit to the three dioceses of Northern America falls in the
sphere of the ceremonies celebrating the 10th anniversary of His Holiness’
enthronement and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Seminary.
All the dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia will mark these
anniversaries with special ceremonies.
##
View Pictures here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses of
the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
TARJA HALONEN: ARMENIA MAY HAVE MORE INTEGRATED FUTURE
24.09.2005 04:18
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Owing to democracy and rapid economic development Armenia
may have a much more integrated future, Finnish President Tarja Halonen
stated. «Finland and the EU are interested in all of the region and Armenia
has got a good opportunity to promote relations with Finland and the EU.
Armenia has a European history in many respects,» she stated. «The European
Neighborhood Policy can be a move forward. Each country in the region is an
interesting partner to the EU and it depends on you how this interest is
realized,» T. Halonen remarked. «Armenia has a rich history, you experienced
hardships as well, however you may have a better future if you are active
and strongly develop economy, human rights, rule of law and good
administration. Thus, I call you to examine the opportunities the European
Neighborhood Policy provides for,» she stated. Touching upon the prospects
of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue, T. Halonen remarked, «I
consider the fact that presidential election in Armenia was held in 2003 and
the next will take place in 2008 a very important fact. I hope you will use
the time left till the next election and will try to solve the conflict. You
should inspire yourself to make decisions and move forward,» reported
Mediamax.

Pan Armenian News
BUILDING NEW NUCLEAR PLANT FAVORABLE TO ARMENIA
24.09.2005 03:06
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In case of closure of the Armenian (Metsamor) Nuclear
Power Plant (NPP) building a new NPP or generation of electric power on the
basis of gas may be an alternative source to Armenia, Minister of Energy
Armen Movsisyan told journalists yesterday. In his words, the building of a
new NPP is more profitable and it will cost approximately $800 million.
However, as noted by the Minister, there are no funding sources for the
project at the moment. At the same time A. Movsisyan expressed an opinion
that Armenia will not experience any problems with the international
community in the building of the new NPP, reported the Yerkir newspaper.

Pan Armenian News
FINLAND FOR LAUNCHING EU-TURKEY TALKS
24.09.2005 04:28
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «If Turkey fulfills all preconditions for starting the
talks, the EU should launch these, though the final decision should be made
by the European Commission,» Finnish President Tarja Halonen stated.
«Finland has expressed its support to EU enlargement. Turkey has expressed
desire to join the EU before Finland, however, Finland has already been part
of the EU for 10 years. Thus, the EU-Turkey relations have a long history,»
she said. Answering a question on the introduction of the issue of opening
the Armenian-Turkish border to the talks agenda and establishment of
diplomatic relations, the Finnish President said, «I would not like to speak
of subjects that may appear during the talks in detail. However, we usually
expect the candidate states to comply with the Copenhagen criteria. At the
same time Turkey has to recognize all EU member states. Finally, we hope the
candidate countries will have good neighborly relations with all adjacent
countries. We tell all candidates about it, however there are two parties in
this case: neighborhood always provides for relations between the two
countries,» reported Mediamax. It should be noted that September 26-28 Tarja
Halonen will pay an official visit to Armenia.