Zaman, Turkey
July 7 2005

France Finds The Quid Guilty of Turkish Propaganda
By Ali Ihsan Aydin
Published: Thursday July 07, 2005
zaman.com

A Paris court found the famous French encyclopedia The Quid guilty
of printing the Turkish view on the so-called “Armenian genocide”.

The court fined The Quid encyclopedias a symbolic indemnity payment
of one euro. According to the court decision the 2003 and 2004
editions of the encyclopedia, the Turkish version of events were
presented on the Armenian claim and the opinions mentioned by the
‘denying historians’ were given as if they were definite information.
The court concluded that the Turkish opinion was handled more
extensively in the encyclopedia.

The Quid was also found guilty of supporting the thesis claiming that
Armenians were deported since they cooperated with Russians against
Turks. The Robert Laffont Publishing, which published the
encyclopedia, will announce the court decision in three newspapers
and three magazines. The publishing company had made a change in its
2005 edition upon Armenian pressure. The French Armenian Case Defense
Committee (CDCA) appealed to a Paris court in 2003 to launch an
investigation against The Quid on the grounds of publishing the
Turkish version of the 1915 incidents. Commenting on the court
decision, CDCA President Harout Mardirossian said, “it is a great
victory for the memory of our grandmothers and grandfathers”‘ adding
that with this decision France sent a significant messeage to Turkey
to end its ‘denial propoganda’. Stressing that the fight against
denial would continue, Mardirossian said they would try for France’s
enacting a law to punish those denying the Armenian genocide. Four
law drafts about this issue are waiting to come to the agenda in the
French Parliament.

A Paris court heard the case in May. Armenian organizations had
claimed that the genocide is a reality accepted by everyone and there
cannot be a “Turkish opinion” and “Armenian opinion”. Accusing The
Quid of propaganda in favor of Turkey, CDCA claimed that the
viewpoint shown as scientific was in fact Turkey’s official stance
and to question the “Armenian genocide”. Refuting the accusations,
Robert Laffront Publishing said they had handled the genocide issue
taking all its aspects into consideration and that they mentioned
Armenian opinions in the section about Armenia. Formerly, the court
had convicted famous historian Bernard Lewis to a symbolic payment of
one euro for indemnity in 1995 after he spoke to French newspaper Le
Monde against the so-called “Armenian genocide”.

The Messenger, Georgia
July 7 2005

Environmental model for regional cooperation

Georgian environment minister suggests Regional Environmental Center
can be a model of how to work together to develop the South Caucasus
By Anna Arzanova

In a pioneering pan-regional project, the ministries of environment
of the three South Caucasus countries are working together to resolve
ecological problems across the region.

Speaking on Tuesday after a meeting of the Regional Environmental
Center, set up by the three countries in 1999, Georgian Minister of
Environment and Natural Resources Giorgi Papuashvili commented that
the REC is unique “because Armenia and Azerbaijan also took part in
this meeting despite the political problems that these two countries
have.”

He said that Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are linked with each
other by the problem of protecting the environment, and that it is
very important to work on this problem together.

“This meeting can be a good example for political negotiations for
the development of the South Caucasus region, because within the
framework of this organization the South Caucasus is presented as a
united region before the international community,” Papuasahvili
stated, adding that he hoped this would one day be true in terms of
economics as well.

Tuesday’s meeting of the REC brought together the ministers of
environment of all three South Caucasus countries, as well as
representatives of the European Commission, which is the main donor
of the center – Charge d’Affaires of the EC Delegation to Georgia and
Armenia Jacques Vantomme and EC Brussels representative Soledad
Blanco

Minister Papuashvili said afterwards that a declaration had been
adopted in which the sides confirmed their readiness to actively
participate and strengthen their work within the organization.

He notes that the headquarters of this organization will remain in
Tbilisi and that chairmanship of the center will rotate between the
environment ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Soledad Blanco stated that the South Caucasus region has a wonderful
environment and incredible diversity, but warned that the region is
currently facing major environmental challenges.

“These challenges – whether air pollution or water contamination or
loss of diversity – are regional problems and not specifically the
problems of Georgia, Armenia or Azerbaijan,” she stated, adding that
regional problems require regional solutions.

She said that the REC is aimed precisely at finding regional
solutions to ecological challenges faced by the South Caucasus as a
whole.

Although set up in 1999, however, “we have come to the conclusion
that some adaptations are needed to make sure that this center really
does what the founders want it to do.” Tuesday’s meeting was intended
to discuss these changes.

“We exchanged views on new ideas and also discussed issues such as
how to make the country offices fully operational and how to make the
center more representative of the interests of all three countries,”
she stated.

She stated that a lot had been achieved, and that a number of
principles had been agreed upon that would be followed by more
technical work.

Blanco also noted that the REC is intended to facilitate the
implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), which
includes Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“These three South Caucasus countries are close neighbors of the
European Union and it is logical that there would be good relations
among neighbors and that we try to establish a closer relationship –
this is what the ENP is trying to do,” she stated.

Representative of the Armenian embassy in Tbilisi Gagik Airapetian
and representative of the Azeri ministry of ecology of Azerbaijan
Farik Farzaliev also expressed satisfaction with the results of the
meeting, which was also attended by the environment ministers of
Armenia and Azerbaijan Vardan Aivazyan and Husein Bagirov.

The Messenger, Georgia
July 7 2005

South Caucasus gets armed

All three South Caucasus countries have been spending large sums of
money on armaments recently, leading to concerns among regional
analysts that armed hostilities could renew between Azerbaijan and
Armenia.

In Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliev has overseen a vast increase in
funds allotted to defense – from USD 135 million in 2003 to USD 175
million in 2004 to USD 300 million in 2005. A number of Azeri
politicians including government members have stated that if the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not resolved soon, they do not rule out
the use of force. Furthermore, Azerbaijan is threatened by the fact
that military material and personnel from the Russian base
Akhalkalaki is headed to the Gyumri base in Armenia. Yerevan itself
has embarked on its own acquisition program, recently purchasing 10
combat jets Su-25 from Slovakia.

For years the Georgian government neglected its own army and the
result was obvious: poorly dressed, poorly armed soldiers, who did
not have basic conditions to train or even stay healthy.
Post-revolution President Mikheil Saakashvili then touted the army as
a leading priority for the country and launched major reforms.

Military reforms are crucially important for the country’s ambitions
to integrate into NATO. However Georgia media reports some observers
in NATO believe Georgia had gone overboard in its procurement
efforts. The newspaper 24 Saati quotes ambassador of Estonia to NATO
Harry Tiido as complaining: “There does not exist a normal program
for weapons buying that considers its appropriate use in the future.
Thus without this, as a result of maintenance current expenses will
grow.”

On the far side of the Caspian, Turkmenistan is reinforcing its own
military, a fact that also troubles Azerbaijan since the two
countries have conflicting views over the division of the Caspian
Sea. The newspaper Kviris Palitra reports that Ukraine recently
announced its willing to provide military assistance in exchange for
natural gas from Turkmenistan. Georgia too provides military material
for Turkmenistan, refurbishing aircraft from the Turkmen airforce in
exchange for debt relief.

To the north there is also concern of increased arms. On Wednesday
Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov reaffirmed at a press
conference in Nalchik that two extra mountain rifle brigades would be
deployed in the North Caucasus following the withdrawal of Russian
military bases from Georgia. One would be deployed in
Karachai-Cherkessia and the other in Dagestan near the
Georgian-Russian border, he said, stressing that they would be well
equipped and staffed by contracted soldiers. Their mission, he said,
would be to liquidate any terrorists on the Georgian-Russian border.

Ivanov is visiting the region as part of an inspection tour, a tour
that a columnist for RosBusinessConsulting described on Tuesday as
designed to “check up on the battle readiness of troops deployed in
the region.”

The news agency says its analysts have seen a “very strange
situation” developing in the North Caucasus. “The federal leadership
is preparing for large-scale military action in the Russian Caucasus.
At the same time, Moscow is not trying to deal with underlying issues
in the Caucasus through peaceful means. To the contrary, one gets the
impression that the federal leaders are purposely trying to provoke
new inter-ethnic conflicts in the region, playing a complicated game
with Western special services,” the columnist says.

Increased support for the military is obvious in Georgia today and a
welcomed change from previous years when weapons, soldiers and
discipline hit rock bottom. There are also immense risks involved
when a pattern of increased military forces is witnessed throughout
the region. It is at this point that regional cooperation and
diplomacy becomes all the more necessary.

Euro-reporters.com, Belgium
July 7 2005

Turkish media freedom
Written by Brussels journalist David Ferguson

“Despite some improvements, the amendments do not sufficiently
eliminate threats to freedom of expression and a free press,” said
Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
following a legal review of the new Turkish Penal Code. Penal reform,
together with recognition of Cyprus, is a precondition to the
European Union opening negotiations with Turkey on 3 October.

The revised Turkish Penal Code was finally approved by parliament on
29 June and has now to be published in the Official Gazette before
entering into force. Gone are the infamous explanatory ‘examples’ for
Article 305 concerning “offences against fundamental national
interests”. Two examples of ‘offences’ originally included were
removed from the explanatory “Reasoning Document” in the new Penal
Code. The ‘example’ indicated that it was a crime to demand the
withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus or claim there was a
genocide against Armenians.

Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media is
generally happy with the reform. He listed only 23 provisions that
still need to be revoked (see report). Haraszti says seven of the 23
changes suggested by the OSCE in May have been made.

“A welcome improvement is the deletion of most of the provisions
which assumed stronger sanctions when the media was involved,” said
Haraszti in a press statement. “Turkish lawmakers acknowledged that
information about crimes could be in the interest of free discussion
of public affairs.”

However, three major areas remain where media freedom is endangered
include the right of journalists to report and discuss on
public-interest issues, restrictions on access and disclosure of
information, defamation and insult provisions remain a criminal
rather than a civil offence.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Al-Ahram Weekly, Egypt
July 7- 13, 2005

A silence vocalised
Recently in Beirut, Youssef Rakha witnesses two sides of post-war
night life

In the nightclub scene of post-war Beirut, BO18 and Michel
Elefteriades’ Music Hall are among the most vibrant venues. Lying,
respectively, in the East Beirut massacre site of Karantina and the
Starco Complex (in the city’s traditional commercial centre), they
arguably represent Beirut’s age-old dual aspect — the one Christian
and Francophone, the other (though one of the war’s so-called green
lines, lying as it does in the twilight zone separating Beirut’s
hypothetical two halves) a melting pot of remarkable religious,
ethnic and cultural diversity. (It is worth noting that Karantina,
having turned from the Beirut sea port quarantine at the turn of the
century to an Armenian refugee camp in the 1920s, and eventually a
Palestinian one through the 1970s, when the famous massacre occurred
in 1976, has only recently been incorporated into East Beirut’s more
prosperous stretches. Likewise the commercial centre — the site of
much destruction and bloodshed during the war — has taken on the
general characteristics of present-day West Beirut.) Yet both venues
demonstrate that, in the wake of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990),
the musical heritage of the city became all the richer. With Marcel
Khalifa setting the work of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish to
music, Ziad Rahbani offering a running commentary on events (in the
form of comedy as well as music), and Ahmed Qa’bour giving the
conventional patriotic song a humorous or emotional edge by turns,
the war in itself may be said to have made a direct contribution to
such plenitude and variety. In the last 15 years, much like other
aspects of post-war Lebanese life, live music has been situated in
the neoliberal framework of a business- oriented, West-inspired
society.

Designed by Bernard Khoury, whose principal gripe with much
reconstruction work was the way in which it ignored the immediate
history of the locations in question, B018 evokes the notion of a
tomb — at several different levels. Far more than a Disney-like
memorial to the 1976 massacre, it incorporates the experience of
burial into its very construction. One enters and exists through a
narrow passageway giving onto a circular courtyard with a retractable
steel ceiling that opens and closes periodically through the night.
The space is constructed almost entirely underground, with only the
steel semisphere of the roof showing. Much seating folds up, like a
coffin; and on every table there is a small coffin model that opens
to reveal the picture of a dead music star. Khoury did not intend the
building as a direct reference to war or any of its trappings,
however; and judging by the attitude of the prosperous, Westernised
crowd that patronises B018, no such dynamic operates at any obvious
level.

Rather, the sense of claustrophobia one feels on traversing the
passageway (in the course of which one pays the hefty entrance fee)
combines with the mirror-lined steel of the ceiling, occasional
exposure to the sky and the typically stuffy atmosphere of an
overcrowded nightclub, to give a uniquely eerie impression — one
that proves life-affirming by virtue of acting as an incentive to
participation rather than having a dampening effect. Here as
elsewhere many of the bouncers are ex-militiamen; and it is almost as
if the compulsion to dance and otherwise respond to the stage
performances is by way of fleeing the sense of danger or impending
death the atmosphere of the place subliminally summons up. (Many have
testified to the danger of war having a life-affirming effect on
their personal, intimate and private responses to life.)

Of the many young bands who use B018 as an exposure forum, ‘Aks
Esseir (Wrong lane) — the band of the by now well-known rapper Rayes
Beik — is among the most stimulating. Politically outspoken, Rayes
Beik delivers his carefully constructed messages in his own
distinctive rhythms which, though recognisable as rap, benefit from
the local musical heritage and respond to lines from Arabic rather
than international pop. The voice of an angst- ridden generation who
suffered the consequences of war without instigating or taking part
in it, he broaches subjects like cultural identity and political
standpoint in a vernacular at once deeply engaged with street life
and one step removed from it. This is no doubt partly the result of
his own relatively privileged background — something that often
generates irony. (The tone in which he insists on “enough playing
with the American”, for example, is in itself remarkably American; so
too when he claims that “they’re living it up”, he sounds remarkably
like one of “them”.) Yet there the words, poetically strung together
and often pronounced at remarkable speed, acquire a force that lends
them credibility. And there is remarkable courage in the way Rayes
Beik takes issue with Beirut’s new capitalists — themselves, in many
people’s views, the war criminals who messed up the life of his
generation of educated Lebanese. It goes well with the atmosphere of
B018 even as it outshines much less politically vociferous fare.
Perhaps Rayes Beik’s most powerful image is that of “speaking in
silence” — a silence, he says, that makes his voice “loud in Beirut”
— so loud some call for his death.

That said, the experience of B018 remains distinctly exclusive; one
has the feeling that the venue is only fully accessible to a rich and
powerful clique — white-skinned and seemingly sectarian — a sense
almost wholly dispelled at the Music Hall, located in a far less
politically charged part of town, and built like a 1940s Egyptian
cabaret (or at least so one imagines). Full of deep red velvet, with
frilly curtains and large, restaurant- style tables arranged in a
gradation that helps improve the stage view, the Music Hall boasts a
far more representative range of clientele — perhaps the full range
of Beirut’s constituency — and provides a rigidly constructed
programme so seamlessly coordinated it allows for little fluctuation
in audience response. The brainchild of the Greek- Lebanese
entrepreneur and music enthusiast Michel Elefteriades (the Arab
world’s answer to the miraculous impresario), the Music Hall thrives
on the Oriental Roots Orchestra, which he founded — a rich amalgam
of musicians from all over the world who, individual virtuosity and
expertise within a specific tradition notwithstanding, achieve a
remarkable degree of integration. Harmony may not be technically the
right word to describe the result of their jamming, but even though
they include traditional Arab, Balkan brass and Caribbean elements
working together and very often simultaneously, nothing jars.
Everyone more or less contributes to everything but, depending on the
performance being presented, one or more elements of the orchestra
will be given the greater space to stand out — with the adding notes
and rhythms rather by way of embellishment. Many performances — the
male belly-dancer who, dressed in T-shirt and jeans, brought the
evening to a remarkably debauched close, for example — were dance
rather than singing centred, something that allowed for even more
variety in the way of mixing and matching instruments, musicians and
music styles.

Among the more outstanding participants are the veteran Mount Lebanon
voice Tony Hanna and East Jerusalem Chehade brothers, Rami ( oud and
vocals) and Farid ( buzuk ). Though sadly without the accompanying
Yugoslavian Gypsy Brass Band on this particular occasion, Hanna
appeared in the waistcoat and top hat he had taken to wearing to
adapt to his new-found soulmates. (CDs testify to an incredibly
refreshing mix of Lebanese melancholy and Yugoslav cheer, although
the upbeat dabka rhythms, perhaps to a greater extent than to the
plaintive droning of ataba, prove readily adaptable to the sound of
Balkan brass.) For their part the Chehade brothers made their
greatest contribution in the context of other people’s numbers —
Rami’s quiet, flowing approach perfectly matching his brother’s fiery
energy. Adopting a distinctly Oriental image, the Chehade brothers,
though Christian, are sometimes jokingly mistaken for members of the
Taliban. Their own, Grammy-winning CD testifies to profound mastery
of the widest range of traditional Arab sounds. But it was their
individual skill and capacity for connecting with the audience that
made them stand out that night. Their presence testified to the open,
inclusive atmosphere of the Music Hall, which made for a truly
rewarding evening. Palestinians singing alongside Maronites and all
manner of foreigners demonstrated the virtues of pre-war (West)
Beirut even despite their situation within the aforementioned
neoliberal framework, which evidently allows for them still,
notwithstanding its consequences for the worse off and in defiance of
increasingly perilous political conditions. Such, indeed, is how one
imagines the Paris of the East at its best.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Switzerland-Armenia Association
Contact: Sarkis Shahinian <[email protected]>
Case postale 497
3000 Berne 14
CCP 87-481645-0
eMail: [email protected]

The Grand Council of the Canton of Vaud
Formally Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
Report of the Switzerland-Armenia Association (SAA)

Lausanne, Palais de Rumine, 5 July 2005

In the same room in which the Treaty of Lausanne was signed, after a
dignified debate, the Grand Council (legislative bodies) of the Canton
of Vaud rejected this morning a report of the State Council (executive
body) – written under the supervision of the Federal Council (Swiss
government), published on January 12, 2005 – refusing to characterize
the massacres of the Armenians in 1915 as Genocide. This report has
been issued by the State Council as an answer to the postulate Sandri,
adopted in 2003 by the Grand Council, which was demanding the
recognition of the Armenian genocide by the State Council.

While not wanting to condemn either the Turkish people or the current
government, yet maintaining the importance of honoring the Armenian
people, the Grand Council followed the recommendations of the
commission charged with examining the original report, and adopted a
formal resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Before voting, the final brief intervention of Cantonal Minister
Jean-Claude Mermoud, director of DIRE (Institutions and External
Relations Department) no longer evoked the main arguments of the
report: the absence of intention of the crime committed by the Young
Turks against the Armenians at the turn of the last century and the
points aimed at diminishing the importance of the worldwide recognition
of the Armenian genocide. The document, which was rife with
imprecisions and omissions – more than simple misjudgment – reflected
the desire not to displease the Swiss Foreign Ministry and the Seco
(State Secreteriat for Economy), given the obvious fact that a topic
close to the highly sensitive nerves of an economic partner (Turkey)
was being touched. Minister Mermoud said that the only difference with
the commission was in “how” to accomplish the task of remembrance and
that he would not place any obstacles in the work of the Swiss Foreign
Ministry.

Fortunately, the representatives – of all political backgrounds –
recognized the erroneous arguments of this report and rejected it with
overwhelming majority (with 85 votes in favor, 51 against, and 12
abstentions). Moreover, they reiterated the task of remembrance assumed
following the adoption of the Sandri postulate, on 23 September 2003,
which resulted in the cancellation of Foreign Minister Calmy-Rey’s
visit to Turkey ten days later.

In the very place where the great European powers and Turkey sanctioned
in 1923 the termination of the political rights of the Armenians, the
Grand Councilors today reaffirmed not only the appropriateness, but
also the responsibility of political bodies to characterize as genocide
this crime against humanity in adopting by an overwhelming majority (86
votes in favor, 35 against, and 25 abstentions) the following
resolution:

« The Grand Council of the Canton of Vaud recognizes the Genocide of
the Armenian people of 1915 and honors the memory of its victims. »

For more information, would you please consult the Website

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IN FRENCH
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Le Grand Conseil vaudois
reconnaît formellement le génocide des Arméniens
Compte rendu de l’Association Suisse-Arménie (ASA)

Lausanne, Palais de Rumine, le 5 juillet 2005

Dans la salle même où avait été signé en 1923 le Traité de Lausanne
qui voulait clore la question arménienne, et suite à un débat qui
s’est distingué par la dignité de ses propos, le législatif vaudois a
ce matin reconnu formellement le génocide des Arméniens. Il a pour
cela rejeté un rapport, rédigé en collaboration avec le Conseil
fédéral, dans lequel le Conseil d’État refusait de caractériser comme
génocide les crimes commis en 1915 contre les Arméniens. Ce rapport
faisait réponse au Postulat Sandri adopté en 2003.

Tout en soulignant ne pas vouloir condamner ni la population turque ni
le gouvernement actuel, mais bien désirer honorer le peuple arménien,
le parlement cantonal a suivi, par une nette majorité, la
recommandation de la commission chargée d’examiner ce rapport. Cette
commission recommandait de rejeter le rapport et d’adopter une
résolution de reconnaissance formelle du génocide des Arméniens.

Le Conseiller d’État Jean-Claude Mermoud, directeur du DIRE, semblait
fort pressé de conclure au plus vite une affaire qu’il n’arrivait plus
à maîtriser. Sa courte intervention finale n’évoquait plus l’absence
d’intentionalité du crime commis par les Jeunes Turcs à l’encontre des
Arméniens, et surtout elle ne revenait plus sur les argumentations
visant à affaiblir l’importance de la reconnaissance internationale du
génocide des Arméniens. Ces motivations constituaient pourtant la
colonne vertébrale du rapport du Conseil d’État, soulignant ainsi la
superficialité qui avait caractérisé sa rédaction. Le document, plein
d’imprécisions et dont l’ampleur des lacunes allait bien au-delà de la
simple méconnaissance (cf. en annexes la rapport de l’ASA), et qui
touchait à un argument fort sensible pour le partenaire économique
turc, arrivait mal à cacher la volonté de ne pas déplaire au DFAE et
au Seco. M. Mermoud devait conclure en disant qu’il ne s’opposait que
dans la manière d’accomplir le devoir de mémoire.

Les députés – toutes tendances confondues – ont reconnu les erreurs du
rapport et l’ont nettement rejeté par 85 voix contre, 51 pour et 12
abstentions. Ils ont en outre réitéré le devoir de mémoire assumé lors
de l’adoption du postulat Sandri, le 23 septembre 2003. Celui-ci avait
immédiatement provoqué l’annulation par Ankara de la visite de Madame
Calmy-Rey en Turquie, prévue dix jours plus tard. Ainsi, dans ces
lieux mêmes où les Puissances européennes avaient décrété en 1923,
avec la Turquie, la fin des droits politiques des Arméniens, les
Grands conseillers ont eux réaffirmé non seulement la pertinence, mais
surtout la responsabilité du politique de caractériser comme génocide
ce crime contre l’humanité et ils ont adopté, à une écrasante majorité
(86 voix pour, 35 contre et 25 abstentions) la résolution de
reconnaissance suivante:

« Le Grand Conseil du Canton de Vaud reconnaît le génocide du peuple
arménien de 1915 et honore la mémoire des victimes ».

Les interventions:
Suite à la présentation, par le président du groupe M. Roger Saugy,
des conclusions de la commission recommandant de rejeter le rapport du
Conseil d’État et d’adopter le projet de résolution, le député
Alexandre Bidaub (PS) analysait de façon très structurée les
contradictions du rapport; il rappelait la Convention de l’ONU de 1968
sur l’imprescriptibilité des crimes contre l’humanité et des crimes de
guerre, et il concluait que les États fédéraux, en tant que sujets
politiques indépendants, ont les mêmes compétences que les parlements
nationaux en matière de droits humains. M. Jean-Claude Gogniat
(libéral), opposé à l’adoption de la résolution, partait du fait que
beaucoup d’autres génocides n’avaient pas été reconnus jusqu’à présent
et qu’il n’y avait donc pas raison de reconnaître spécifiquement
celui-ci. Selon lui, la Turquie devrait accomplir son devoir de
mémoire seule, sans que l’on exerce sur elle une pression
externe. M. Jean Martin (radical) rappelait lui le juste droit du
Grand Conseil de juger s’il y avait eu génocide. Il était suivi par
François Cadosch (libéral), qui affirmait l’importance pour la Turquie
de laver une fois pour toute devant tous cette tâche de sang de son
drapeau. M. Régis Courdesse (libéral) devait souligner la
superficialité du rapport du Conseil d’État, tandis que M. Christian
Polin rappelait la toute nouvelle reconnaissance du génocide arménien
par le Bundestag allemand et rejettait le rapport, ne voulant pas
devenir ainsi complice de la négation de ce crime contre
l’humanité. M. Massimo Sandri (POP), auteur du postulat qui avait
débouché sur ce rapport, rappelait la phrase de Hitler: `Qui se
rappelle encore donc de l’extermination des Arméniens`, pour conclure
qu’il fallait justement en parler aujourd’hui et ici, dans cette même
salle où avait été signé le Traité de Lausanne. Il faisait projeter
une photo d’époque, où l’on reconnaissait les mêmes tables sur
lesquelles avait été signé le traité qui devait sceller la naissance
de la Turquie moderne et, en même temps, la condamnation des Arméniens
à l’oubli. M. Pierre Zwahlen (PS) intervenait en disant que cette
résolution pouvait aider la Turquie dans son travail de mémoire et que
l’art. 91 de la Constitution vaudoise autorisait le GC a entreprendre
une telle démarche de reconnaissance formelle. M. Denis Bouvier (POP)
introduisait alors une version amendée de la résolution, où le nom de
l’Empire ottoman apparaissait dans le cadre de la responsabilité de ce
génocide. Suite à une critique provenant notamment de l’UDC
(M. Jacques Chollet), préferant nettement la version concise de la
résolution, M. Bouvier décidait finalement de retirer sa
proposition. M. Jean-Claude Rochat (radical) soulignait l’importance
de rendre honneur aux victimes de ce génocide et rappelait que c’était
justement à la suite des pressions politiques externes que l’on
arriverait à pousser un État comme la Turquie à accomplir son devoir
de mémoire.

Pour conclure, le Conseiller d’État Jean-Claude Mermoud a pris la
parole en dernier, affirmant que sa seule divergence d’avec les
intervenants tenait dans la manière d’accomplir ce devoir de mémoire.
Il a exposé les difficultés diplomatiques intervenues à la suite de
l’adoption du postulat Sandri et ceci l’avait poussé à prendre contact
avec le Département de Madame Calmy-Rey. Il souhaitait que cette
résolution n’apporte pas d’avantage de difficultés aux relations
diplomatiques entre la Suisse et la Turquie. Après septante minutes
d’interventions caractérisées par une grande dignité, et destinées par
leur teneur au plus large public de toute la société vaudoise et
suisse, la discussion s’est terminée par l’adoption de la résolution
affirmant le reconnaissance du génocide des Arméniens.

DFAE Département fédéral des affaires étrangères
DIRE Département des institutions et des relations
extérieures (du
Canton de Vaud)
Seco Secrétariat d’Etat à l’économie

Baku Today
July 7 2005

Ago Group Presents Its Report on Armenia and Azerbaijan

07/07/2005 20:46

A delegation of the Ago Group of the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe visited Baku from 29 June to 2 July 2005 to assess
the progress made by Azerbaijan in the fulfillment of its commitments
to the Council of Europe.

The delegation met with the President of the Republic, members of
government as well as representatives of the opposition and civil
society. The 6th visit of the Group a couple of days before the
meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly in
Baku, underlines the importance which the Council of Europe attaches
to Azerbaijan’s democratic development at a decisive juncture in its
political history.

The forthcoming parliamentary elections were very much at the centre
of the discussions. The recent presidential decree was warmly
welcomed by the delegation. It, however, noted the concerns raised
regarding the composition of the election commissions, the accuracy
of the voters lists, the right for the opposition to campaign without
harassment in the whole country, as well as equal access to the media
for all parties and candidates.

The President expressed his determination to have completely free and
fair elections and underlined that he had given clear instructions to
all public authorities concerned to that effect. He stressed that
this is, indeed, a major opportunity for creating a normal political
environment in the country.

The Group noted that a number of important steps have been taken
which, if sustained, will without doubt improve democratic practice
in Azerbaijan. The initiation of dialogue between ruling and
opposition parties and the adoption of a code of conduct, the fact
that rallies can now be freely held by the opposition are noted in
this context. Further progress on the question of political prisoners
has also been made through the two recent presidential pardons and
the setting-up of a task force between the authorities and NGO’s to
solve all the remaining cases once and for all.

The delegation welcomed the announcement, after the first day of its
visit, of a court decision allowing two of the opposition
representatives arrested during the October 2003 events to run for
the parliamentary elections, as the delegation had urged. It
expressed the hope that the remaining five personalities will also be
allowed to participate.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

CROSSROADS July 7, 2005

PRAYERS FOR LONDONERS
Although the full extent of the terrorist attacks in London this morning
is not yet clear, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their
families, and the more than 1,000 who were wounded in the coordinated
attacks on the public transportation system in London.

DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM IN FULL SWING
Seventy-five students ranging from ages 13 to 18 are at the St. Mary
of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, for the 19th annual St.
Gregory of Datev Institute Armenian Christian Studies Program.
Some of the comments offered by the Datevatzis include: “We talked
about Jesus as a doctor. We read passages from the Bible about His
healings.”. “I had a really great time in Open Discussion.” . “The first
day of Datev went by so quickly. I was so excited to see my old friends and
make new friends.” . “After lunch we continued the Datev games and then went
to the pool. .An enjoyable day will be capped with my two favorite Datev
activities-Bible study and evening service.”
Much to the delight of the Datevatzis, Archbishop Oshagan visited on
Monday, July 4, and shared the day of fun and learning activities.
To see photographs and read Datev impressions from days 1, 2 and 3 go
to:

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN IN RACINE FOR ARS CONVENTION
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan is in Racine, Wisconsin today, July 7, where
he is the guest of the Armenian Relief Society (Eastern USA) at the
charitable organization’s annual regional convention. His Eminence opened
the sessions with a prayer. He praised the ARS for its distinguished service
to the Armenian nation and encouraged the members to continue their
dedicated service. The Eastern region is comprised of 33 chapters. The
organization’s triennial international convention will convene in Montreal
in October.

PRELACY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING THIS SATURDAY
The Eastern Prelacy’s Executive Council will meet this Saturday, July 9,
at the Prelacy offices in New York City. The Council meets once a month.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL BE IN NEW JERSEY ON SUNDAY
Archbishop Oshagan will attend the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, this Sunday, July 10.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I RECEIVES FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA
His Holiness Aram I met with the foreign minister of Armenia, Vartan
Oskanian, on July 2. Also attending was Armenia’s ambassador to Lebanon, His
Excellency Arek Hovhannisian. Issues related to the Middle East, Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh were discussed.

CATHOLICATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN
MECC WOMEN’S PROGRAM
The Middle East Council of Churches’ (MECC) committee of women’s
programs organized a one-day conference which convened in the museum of the
Catholicate of Cilicia on June 25. More than 100 women, representing
different church denominations, participated. The main theme of the
conference was “What does being a Christian mean?”

ARMENIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES ISAIAH THE PROPHET
Today, July 7, the Armenian Church commemorates the life of St. Isaiah
the Prophet. The book of Isaiah is the longest prophetic book in the Bible.

STS. THADDEUS AND SANDOUKHT REMEMBERED
This Saturday, July 9, the Armenian Church remembers St. Thaddeus and
St. Sandoukht.
According to the historian, Movses Khorenatsi, the apostle Thaddeus came
to Edessa where he healed the sick and baptized King Abgar. Khorenatsi
writes that from Edessa Thaddeus went to Armenia where he preached and
converted the Armenian king, Sanatrouk, and the king’s daughter, Sandoukht.
When faced with the opposition of his governors, the king recanted his
conversion. Sandoukht however refused to renounce the Christian faith. She
was imprisoned and executed by order of her father, and thus became Armenia’s
first martyr.
Thaddeus was martyred at Artaz, (present day northern Iran). The
Armenian monastery of St. Thaddeus is built on the apostles’ tomb. In the
beginning of the twentieth century the monastery was an important crossroad
for the defense of the Armenian population of Van, Daron and surrounding
areas. A popular annual pilgrimage by Armenians from around the world takes
place in July. During the four-day festival thousands gather in pitched
tents on the monastery grounds, attend services, sing and dance in
remembrance of St. Thaddeus, one of two apostles who brought Christianity to
Armenia. St. Thaddeus Monastery and the other famous Armenian monastery in
northern Iran, St. Stephen Monastery on the banks of the Arax River, have
undergone major renovations in recent years. In the late 1970s Armenian
youth throughout the Diaspora spent their summers living and working
together and, under the supervision of experts, helped restore the ancient
monasteries and beautify the surrounding grounds.

“See, some shall come from afar, others from the north and the west, and
some from the land of Syene.” (Isaiah 49:12-13)

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Armenian, Iranian governors sign cooperation protocol

Mediamax news agency
7 Jul 05

YEREVAN

The governors of Iran’s Hormozgan Province, Ebrahim Derazgisu, and of
Armenia’s Ararat Region, Alik Sarkisyan, signed a protocol of mutual
understanding in Yerevan today.

Alik Sarkisyan said the protocol envisages cooperation between the two
regions in the spheres of agriculture, industry, trade, tourism and
culture. He said that Iranian businessmen expressed their readiness to
invest in Ararat Region.

An agreement was reached on the opening of trade representations in
Hormozgan and Ararat as a result of Ebrahim Derazgisu’s visit.

Alik Sarkisyan noted that businessmen of Ararat Region are interested
in the implementation of projects in Hormozgan since the region can
serve as a “gate to the Arab world”.

Azeri foreign minister, Georgian envoy discuss cooperation

MPA news agency
7 Jul 05

BAKU

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and the visiting
Georgian president’s representative on Abkhaz issues and the exiled
head of the [Tbilisi-backed] government of the Autonomous Republic of
Abkhazia, Irakli Alasania, have met to discuss a range of cooperation
issues. MPA news agency has learnt this from Tahir Tagizada, the head
of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry information department.

Alasania briefed Mammadyarov on the Abkhaz problem. In turn,
Mammadyarov spoke about the course of talks on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict’s settlement.

The two men also discussed the development of the system of
communications within the context of confidence-building measures in
the region, Tagizada said.