Associated Press Worldstream
September 29, 2005 Thursday
EU envoy praises Armenia’s constitutional amendments
YEREVAN, Armenia
An EU envoy on Thursday hailed constitutional amendments passed by
the Armenian parliament as a step in the right direction.
The nation’s parliament on Wednesday gave final approval to the
amendments, which are intended to impose a more strict separation of
powers between the judicial, executive and legislative branches.
“Now that the amendments are there, we can state that the country is
moving in the right direction,” said Heikki Talvitie, the EU’s envoy
to southern Caucasus.
Talvitie said that the EU is planning to expand its contacts with
Armenia and the ex-Soviet Caucasus nations of Georgia and Azerbaijan
under its initiative “Expanded Europe: New Neighbors.”
Tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains high more than a
decade after a 1994 cease-fire ended a six-year war that left the
disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenian hands.
Some 30,000 people were killed and a million displaced, and the lack
of resolution of the enclave’s status has impeded economic
development in the region.
A draft budget for next year approved by the Armenian Cabinet
Thursday envisages a 13-percent hike in defense spending to the level
equivalent to US$150 million ([euro]125).
The oil-rich Azerbaijan, which budgeted over US$300 million
([euro]250 million) for defense this year, will double its defense
spending next year.

The Times, UK
Sept 30 2005
,,13509 -1804495,00.html
Bloody past and racist present stand between Turkey and EU
By Ben Macintyre
Talks on Turkey’s membership of the EU begin on Monday, with the
issue dividing both the country and Europe. Today, in the first of
two articles, our correspondent looks at the case against letting it
join the club

ON A tiny island in the middle of Lake Van, on the far eastern edge
of Turkey, a team of architects is working feverishly to restore one
of the most beautiful religious buildings in the world.
Holy Cross Church, on Akdamar Island, was built by the Armenian King
Gagik in AD921 and was once the spiritual focus for more than a
million Armenian Christians.
Today there is no one left to worship in it. The entire Armenian
population here was killed or driven away by Turks and Kurdish
militias during the First World War, in what Armenians claim was the
first genocide of the 20th century – a charge vigorously denied by
the Turkish state.

For 90 years the church was left to rot. Its frescoes disintegrated
as the rainwater seeped in, and its delightful carvings were used for
target practice by local gun-toting shepherds.
In the run-up to EU accession talks next week, however, Turkey has
come under intense pressure to acknowledge its bloody past and
improve its treatment of minorities.
Four months ago the restoration work finally began, and today Muslim
stonemasons are busily rebuilding this church without a congregation.
The scaffolding-clad church is proof that attitudes are changing, but
it is also a poignant symbol of how much work – economic, political,
cultural and historical – still needs to be completed.
The membership negotiations are expected to take ten years or more,
and there is no guarantee that Turkey will ever enter this hitherto
white, Christian club, for the idea faces widespread public hostility
within Europe. For many, this poor, populous and overwhelmingly
Muslim country is simply a different culture, separated from, if not
actually inimical to, Europe.
Nowhere in Turkey feels less European than Lake Van, the starkly blue
inland body of water on the country’s volcanic eastern edge. At dusk
the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer, barefoot Kurdish children
herd ragged sheep, and a pair of women, ageless and faceless in the
all-enveloping burka, trudge through the dust to their mud-brick
home.
An hour to the east is Iran; to the south is blood-soaked Iraq, and
to the north, beyond Mount Ararat, lie Armenia and Georgia. Ancient,
biblical and Middle Eastern, this is the land of Noah; but if Turkey
gains admittance to the EU, it will mark Europe’s eastern border.
For many Europeans, that is a step too far. `No to Turkey’, rallies
in France cried before the EU constitution was roundly rejected this
year. On the shore at Copenhagen, the famous naked mermaid was draped
in an Islamic headscarf with a sign reading `Turkey in the EU?’
Turkey’s supporters are quick to point out that Europe is not a race
or a religion, but an idea. Yet the image of Turkey as an alien power
is deeply embedded in European history.
Indeed, the very concept of Europe was to some extent born out of
Christendom’s common cause against the great Muslim empire to the
east.
Gladstone, as Prime Minister, expressed the common prejudice against
a corrupt and violent Turkey threatening Europe’s very existence:
`From the black day they entered Europe, the one great anti-human
specimen of humanity. Wherever they went a broad line of blood marked
the track behind them.’
As archaic and racist as those ideas seem today, they still have some
currency, most notably in those parts of the former Austro-Hungarian
Empire that remember, with an inherited shudder, the Ottoman
Janissaries at the gates of Vienna.
Turkey’s critics need not look far to find evidence of cultural and
political incompatibility with European norms. Turkey’s military
continues to play an important (though reduced) role in the country’s
politics, while freedom of speech and other human rights lag far
behind the European standard.
Turkey has thrown off the Midnight Express image of official
brutality, but the rights and liberties of individuals are still
often at the mercy of an authoritarian state. Last year police
torture was still widespread, according to the Turkish Human Rights
Foundation.

Turkey has made significant reforms in recent years, but critics,
including many inside the country, worry that such reforms are skin
deep, a pragmatic shift to gain admittance to Europe rather than a
genuine change of heart.
Economically, despite a recent upswing, Turkey remains far behind the
poorest EU members, while many fear that an influx of poor Turkish
workers could flood European labour markets. Education levels are
below those of all European and most Latin American and Asian
countries.
Another fear is that Turkey’s addition to the EU would unbalance what
is already a fractious organisation, uncertain of its identity and
anxious about the future.

By 2010 there will be an estimated 80 million Turks. With population
determining voting power, this would give Ankara the same clout as
Berlin, Paris and London.
Meanwhile, the running sore of Cyprus remains; Ankara has yet to
recognise formally the Greek Government of Cyprus, already a member
of the club it now seeks to join.
The Turkish state remains staunchly secular, yet some argue that
bringing millions of Muslims into Europe could provide a springboard
for Islamist fundamentalism.
Turkey, after all, was until 1924 the seat of the Islamic Caliphate
which Osama bin Laden has repeatedly spoken of restoring to its
former power. Even Turkey’s most avid supporters agree that Ankara
has much more to do before this vast, teeming land straddling Europe
and Asia can be ushered into the EU.
Turkey has made progress towards addressing the EU political
requirements, but to join the union it would have to adopt
uncountable numbers of laws and regulations, ranging from maritime
safety to sewerage to food hygiene.
Even if Europe could be persuaded to admit Turkey, it is by no means
certain that Turkey will agree to be crushed into the preordained
European shape.
Support for joining the EU is falling in Turkey, from three quarters
a year ago to two thirds now. Many Turks have taken deep offence at
what is seen as foot-dragging by some European countries, and there
is a growing body of nationalist and traditionalist opinion, angered
by the abrupt changes in Turkish society, that would rather pull out
of accession talks altogether than submit to the Brussels
straightjacket.
The sense of former imperial glory is as pronounced in Turkey as it
is Britain; neither country relishes being told what to do by its
former European rivals.
That view is poignantly expressed by Ümit Özdag, a Turkish
Nationalist politician, who insists that EU membership is an
unachievable fantasy because Europe will keep shifting the goalposts.
Yet for many Turks, union membership remains attainable – and
logical. Even in remote Van, there is strong enthusiasm for
membership of a greater Europe, based on national pride as much as
admiration for Europe.
`We are a young country, we are a growing country, but Europe is
becoming old,’ declares Celal Basak, my huge Kurdish guide, as we
bounce along a rutted track that passes for a road in Van but would
dismay any European transport commissioner. `Turkey can help Europe
as much as Europe can help Turkey.’ Van is predominantly populated by
Kurds, who for decades have suffered discrimination at the hands of
the Turkish state. Kurds such as Mr Basak believe that EU membership
would give his people the autonomy and recognition they have long
craved. `I know Europe will end the troubles for my people,’ he
declares with a grin. `One hundred per cent.’
We are heading for the village known, in Turkish, as Koy. Another
former centre of Christian Armenian culture, the Kurds still refer to
it as Six Churches.
Turkey’s continued refusal to acknowledge the fate of the Armenians
has crystallised much of the opposition to Turkey’s EU membership.
This week the European Parliament declared that Turkey must
acknowledge the `genocide’ before it can be admitted.
Slowly Turkey may be inching towards that point. Yet the state stands
by its own version of events, insisting that just as many Turks and
Kurds perished in a civil war sparked by Armenian rebels. That view
is enshrined in Turkish law, though rejected by most historians.
The acclaimed Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk is today facing
prosecution on charges of `belittling Turkishness’ for stating that
`30,000 Kurds and 1,000,000 Armenians were killed in Turkey’.

The whiff of wilful historical amnesia also hangs over Six Churches,
a once magnificent monastic complex in the mountains that is now a
ruin. When I ask the village headman, Mehmet Goban, about the fate of
the local Armenians, a chill descends on the warm afternoon. `Kurds
and Armenians always lived happily together here. We do not know why
they left. We don’t know what happened to them,’ he declares, after a
long, painful pause.
This wild and tribal land seems a world away from the Brussels of
suits and communiqués, where everything is ordered and regulated,
including the horrors of history. Whether Turkey comes to terms with
its past may decide whether it becomes part of Europe; that decision,
in turn, could redefine European identity for the next century.
A thin and beautiful cat picks its way among the lonely stones of Six
Churches. Eastern Anatolia, like neighbouring Persia, is famed for
its cats. Indeed, the symbol of the region is the Van Cat, a
beautiful, lithe creature with a genetic quirk that gives it one blue
eye and one brown.
As the debate over Turkey begins in earnest, this cat may stand as a
symbol not just for Van, but for Turkey itself: with one blue eye
trained westward on Europe, and one brown eye looking to the east.
MEASURING UP
Population 70 million
Population growth rate 1.09 per cent (EU average 0.15 per cent)
Unemployment rate 9.3 per cent (EU average 9 per cent)
Religion Muslim 99.8 per cent (mostly Sunni), other 0.2 per cent
GDP per capita £4,200 (EU average £15,300)
Life expectancy male 69.94 years (EU 75.1), female 74.91 (81.6)

Rank in Human Development Index (2003) 94 (Britain, 15; Germany, 20;
Cyprus, 29)
(Sources: CIA World Factbook, UN, Eurostat)

National Legal Internet Portal, Belarus
Sept 29 2005
Marina Dolgopolova: sincere bilateral interest in national traditions
is core of cultural cooperation between Belarus and Armenia
Cultural cooperation is an important component of the bilateral
relations between Belarus and Armenia, a component which has become
ever stronger over the recent years. Its core is sincere interest in
culture and traditions of the two peoples, a desire to promote
reinvigoration of what once was a single humanitarian space for the
today’s CIS countries, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenoipotentiary
of Belarus to Armenia Marina Dolgopolova told BelTA.
According to her the cultural cooperation between Belarus and Armenia
has notably invigorated over the recent years. Minsk widely
celebrated the 100th anniversary since birthday of a brilliant
musician Aram Khachiaturian. Last year Belarusian viewers got
familiar with the works of a famous Armenian Martiros Sarian. In the
near future the Belarusian capital is expected to host an exhibition
`Treasures of Echmiadzin’.
Yerevan held a large-scale photo-exhibition `The Heritage of Belarus’
which numbered 200 pictures illustrating centuries-old Belarusian
history. Today, Belarus and Armenia are mulling over the issue to
hold an exhibition of works of Mark Shagal. A book of his poetry has
already been published in Armenian.
According to Marina Dolgopolova, in 2004 for the first time Armenia
played host to the Days of the Belarusian Television organized by the
National State TV and Radio Company of Belarus and the Public TV and
Radio Company of Armenia. In May 2005 the return Days of the
Television of Armenia were held in Belarus.
The Public Television of Armenia broadcast live concert programs of
the international art festival Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk in 2004 and
in 2005. Besides, this year minister of culture and youth of Armenia
Ovik Oveyan was an honorary guest of this international forum. And
singer Kristi of Armenia participated in the contest of young
singers.
The diplomat believes that intensifying the cooperation between
Belarus and Armenia in culture promoted building up of the
legal-treaty base: in 2003 the culture ministries of Belarus and
Armenia concluded cooperation agreement and a plan of actions for
2005-2007 in 2004.
The television companies of the two countries signed the agreement to
bring the cooperation onto a new level. According to Marina
Dolgopolova, the move would let the citizens of the two countries to
learn more about socio-political, economic and cultural lives of the
two countries.
Marina Dolgopolova noted the role of the Belarusian diaspora in
popularizing the history, culture, national traditions of Belarus and
the Belarusian language in Armenia. Though being few (about 200
ethnic Belarusians) the community `Belarus’ with assistance of the
embassy takes an active part in the Slavic written language days,
children’s music festivals of the national minorities of Armenia, art
and folk art exhibitions. The community `Belarus’ was awarded
honorary diploma of the culture ministry of Armenia in 2004 at the
art festival of national minorities.

Associated Press Worldstream
September 29, 2005 Thursday
President: Azerbaijan not expecting Ukrainian- or Georgian-style
revolution
by AIDA SULTANOVA; Associated Press Writer
BAKU, Azerbaijan
President Ilham Aliev warned against foreign interference in
Azerbaijan’s upcoming parliamentary elections, saying the country did
not expect a Ukrainian- or Georgian-style revolution because he and
the ruling party enjoyed strong support in society.
Rising political tensions before the Nov. 6 vote have led some
observers to predict that Azerbaijan could see a mass uprising
similar to those that brought opposition leaders to power in Georgia,
Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.
In an interview with Finnish state television, published Thursday in
Azerbaijani newspapers, Aliev said that any unrest in the run-up to
the election would be the fault of opposition forces attempting to
destabilize the country.
He said the opposition was led by “a small group of political losers”
who had already been in power in 1992-93 and allegedly ruined the
country.
“They have lost every parliamentary and presidential election between
1993 and 2003,” Aliev said. “We realistically assess the situation
and possibilities in the country.”
He said the opposition had support from unnamed foreign countries,
where “there are forces that do not want Azerbaijan to develop
normally, strengthen its economic potential, integrate into European
structures and be a modern, democratic state.”
Azerbaijan, a mostly Muslim nation of 8.3 million, is the starting
point for a pipeline that will ship oil and gas from the country’s
huge offshore reserves to a Turkish Mediterranean port.
“Those who are planning something in Azerbaijan should know that we
will not allow this. We are adherents of a normal political process
and very carefully look into all questions connected with interfere
in our life,” he said.
Aliev – who succeeded his late, strongman father Geidar Aliev in a
2003 election the opposition said was rigged and which triggered
violent clashes between police and demonstrators – has pledged
repeatedly that the November elections would be free.
Opposition leaders have said, however, that they strongly doubted the
vote would be fair, and have rallied their supporters for
pro-democracy protests virtually every weekend – with some marchers
displaying portraits of U.S. President George W. Bush.
Two opposition activists have been detained in connection with a case
alleging that a youth movement leader, Ruslan Bashirli, met with
agents from Azerbaijan’s rival neighbor, Armenia, aimed at organizing
an uprising by pro-democracy forces in Azerbaijan.
Tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains high more than a
decade after a 1994 cease-fire ended a six-year war that left
Nagorno-Karabakh, a mainly ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, in
Armenian hands.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri official chides breakaway Karabakh’s “independence” party in US
Congress
ANS TV, Baku
28 Sep 05
A ceremony to mark the 14th anniversary of independence of the
self-proclaimed Nagornyy Karabakh Republic held in the US Congress on
28 September does not reflect official Washington’s position, the
Azerbaijani commercial TV station ANS has said.
In an interview with ANS, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Xalaf
Xalafov said: “However, we denounce this ceremony and see it as a
propagandist meeting aimed at supporting separatism.”
The deputy foreign minister said that the ceremony was held in a room
rented by the pro-Armenian congressmen. He said that Azerbaijani
representatives also held meetings of this kind several times.
Xalafov went on to say that Baku would express its protest to the USA
over the issue.
In its report, ANS quoted the US embassy in Azerbaijan as saying that
the USA did not recognize the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic and
supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Iranian envoy in Azerbaijan blames West for ignoring UN Karabakh
resolutions
ITV, Baku
29 Sep 05
Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan Afshar Soleymani has said that great
powers have no interest in implementing four UN resolutions on
Karabakh demanding the withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani
occupied districts.
In an interview with the “Real Truth” programme of the Azerbaijani
Public TV on 28 September, the ambassador said: “Let them have the
resolutions implemented. Why do not they do this? They would have
them implemented, if they wanted. Moreover, there are a lot of
resolutions. They are not being implemented. The UN still has a
problem, i.e. great powers do not allow the UN to work effectively.”
The ambassador praised the current level of Iranian-Azeri ties.
“Our ties are very good and are developing in the political,
economic, cultural and security spheres. We have agreements on
military cooperation and they are working,” the ambassador said.
Soleymani said that ties would further develop during Mahmud
Ahmadinezhad’s presidency.
Commenting on some forces’ criticism of Iran for cooperation with
Armenia, the ambassador said that the level of Iran’s relations with
Armenia was very low compared to those with Azerbaijan. He said Iran
always supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and helped
refugees and displaced persons.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EuroNews – English Version
September 28, 2005
Parliament green lights Ankara’s EU talks, adds criticism
Even on the threshhold of formal discussions on joining together,
Europe and Turkey tensions continue. Parliament deputies in
Strasbourg have demanded that Ankara recognise the 1915 Armenian
genocide.
They also strongly criticised Turkey’s human rights record today.
‘Recognise Cyprus soon,’ they said. But the majority approved the
start of EU membership negotiations with Turkey next week.
The assembly postponed a vote to ratify Turkey’s extended customs
union with the EU. This was the doing of the conservative group,
which favours something short of full membership for Turkey in the
bloc. The postponement was a bid to put pressure on Ankara to open
its ports and airports to traffic from EU member Cyprus.
Meanwhile, EU governments remain deadlocked on a negotiating mandate
for the talks. Austria has informally linked its acceptance of the
start of the Turkey talks to an agreement to begin talks with
Croatia.
Ankara rejects anything less than full membership. Opinion polls show
a majority of EU citizens, especially in Austria, France and Germany
oppose this.Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed
parliament’s decisions as unimportant.
To seek an accord, diplomats say, an emergency meeting of the 25 EU
foreign ministers is likely on Sunday night. That is just hours
before the Turkish negotiations are meant to start, in Luxembourg.

Congressional Quarterly
CQ Transcriptions
September 28, 2005 Wednesday
KAREN HUGHES PARTICIPATES IN AN INTERFAITH DIALOGUE WITH RELIGIOUS
LEADERS AT TOPKAPI PALACE
SPEAKER:
KAREN HUGHES, UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
UNDERSECRETARY HUGHES PARTICIPATES IN AN INTERFAITH
DIALOGUE WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS AT TOPKAPI PALACE,
AS RELEASED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT
SEPTEMBER 28, 2005

SPEAKERS: KAREN HUGHES, UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE
FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

DINA POWELL, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

ILBER ORTAYLI, DIRECTOR OF TOPKAPI PALACE

ORTAYLI: Mrs. Undersecretary, Your Highness, Your Eminence, ladies
and gentlemen, this is not the first time that the spiritual heads of
the communities came to this palace and won’t be the last. We are
very happy to have you here, madam, and leave you for your meeting.
Thank you for coming.
HUGHES: Thank you so much. The tour was wonderful. Thank you. What a
fabulous setting. It’s beautiful. Well, it’s an honor and great
pleasure to be with you here this afternoon at this beautiful Topkapi
Palace. It’s just a gorgeous place. We’ve just had a wonderful quick
tour, a little too quick. I’ll have to come back when I can spend
more time. But I’m so glad that you are here, and I want to thank the
Government of Turkey for helping to make it available to us.
My brief tour helped bring some of Istanbul’s remarkable history to
life for me, and I sincerely want to thank all the palace staff. I
want to thank also each of you personally for joining this meeting. I
understand there is an important interfaith meeting under way right
now in Hatay. Some of you came from there and changed your schedules
to be here with me. I really, really appreciate that and look forward
to learning more about the meeting that you had there.
I’m here on my first trip abroad, really to listen and to learn. One
of the things that President Bush, my boss, told me as I began this
job was to take the time to reach out and meet with religious leaders
— because faith is such an important part of life for so many
Americans and so many people across the world and, I think, to build
better bridges of understanding and mutual respect it’s very
important to work with members of the faith community. In fact, I
have to say that you can probably blame President Bush for this
meeting, because he met with many of the same group when he was here.
He said that it was one of the most important and interesting and
fascinating meetings of his presidency because there is such a rich
mosaic here — not only of the history of Turkey but the history of
so many important faith traditions. So, one of the things I’ve
learned just during my very short time here in Turkey already, just
today, is that the people of Turkey and the people of America share a
language, I think, of the heart. This is a very warm and welcoming
and hospitable place and that language of caring and concern is also
very apparent in the wonderful outpouring of generosity that we
experienced not only from the Government of Turkey, but also from the
people of Turkey in the aftermath of the staggering natural disaster
that we faced with Hurricane Katrina. I want to take this opportunity
to express the gratitude of the American people to each and every
person here in Turkey who brought a dollar or came by with a donation
to our American Embassy. It meant so much to the people of my
country.
We also share many values between the people of America and the
people of Turkey: family, democracy, a belief in human rights and the
importance of interfaith understanding and tolerance. And so I’m
really here to listen to each of you, and I very much look forward to
our discussion together. Thank you all for your time and for joining
me here today.
Would each of you like to say a few words? One thing — when you have
a meeting of religious leaders, they are all so nice and tolerant
that everyone defers to everyone else. (Laughter). But please.
MUSTAFA CAGRICI, MUFTI OF ISTANBUL: (Translated text) First of all, I
would like to thank you very much for coming here and for inviting us
here. I would also like to thank the distinguished religious leaders
who have given me the first word. Especially democracy, family and
interfaith relations are some common points that Turkey and the U.S.
share, and you emphasize this. Now, I find this very meaningful, and
I think these are very important points. Indeed, in the Western world
— and, of course, everywhere in the Western world in line with the
rise of democracy — family and interfaith relations did not develop
at the same pace and with the same sound foundation, unfortunately.
But I think that the United States has an important place and has
some unique features. Turkey and the U.S. also share the fact that
they attach importance to the family and to faith and to tolerance.
So, I agree with what you have said and congratulate you on this very
perceptive remark. And I will happy to say a few more words when it
is my turn. Thank you very much.
MESROB MUTAFYAN, ARMENIAN PATRIARCH: It is a pleasure to meet you in
Istanbul. We ourselves were just participating, as you mentioned, in
a meeting of civilizations in Antioch, where we discussed the common
problems that we will face worldwide and the role of religion. Not
only in building up civilization, but also as a remedy to many of the
problems that we live through today — particularly living in the
Near East or at the tip of Europe. We are particularly concerned
about this West and East — the blocs and the way that especially
some thinkers are trying to promote a clash between civilizations.
This is one of the main points that we discuss in these meetings —
and how to solve issues of this sort in terms of culture and religion
especially. And how religious ministers could lead opinions which
affect public opinion. So, it is particularly important for us in
that sense that you are interested in bringing together the various
religions and traditions in this country as you visit. We are
grateful for this interest. Thank you.
ISAK HALEVA, CHIEF RABBI: (Translated text) First of all, let me say
“welcome” before everything else. You have honored us with your
presence and your smiling face gives us a lot of energy. Of course,
between Turkey and the U.S. there have been wonderful relations in
the past that will continue in the future — because both the U.S.
and Turkey have some common points with respect to faith, to
cultures, to family. These are the things the two countries share.
So, thank you very much for developing this nice atmosphere further.
I believe that today, all around the world, religions can live in
peace. This will certainly eliminate many problems in the world,
because religions in the past did cause some conflicts. But today,
there are other reasons apart from religion to fight. So, maybe
religions can go back to their essential duty of promoting peace and
love. Thank you very much for showing sensitivity and interest. I am
sure you will succeed in your task. We are very hopeful about this.
Thank you very much. May God be with you and be with us.
HUGHES: Thank you so much.
YUSUF CETIN, SYRIAN METROPOLITAN: I would like to bid you a warm
welcome to Istanbul. Last June, we had the chance to be present
during the visit of Mr. Bush. We had a wonderful atmosphere a very
useful meeting then and I am sure that today’s meeting will also be
very beneficial for everyone. Religious leaders and religious
officers must pray to contribute to world peace. You, the
politicians, I think can emphasize peace more. I think that for world
peace, religious leaders and politicians are the two parties that
have very big tasks to fulfill, more than ever today. We need to pray
much more for world peace, and politicians need to work much more
seriously for world peace. Religious leaders, of course, are not
politicians, but for world peace we are ready to discuss any topic,
we are ready to be present at any gathering so long as it calls for
peace to reign all over the world — because we have the tears and
screams of war. These make all countries in the world very troubled.
We believe that when there are good intentions in a meeting like
this, God will hear our voice, respond to our goodwill and hopefully
will show us good days in the future. Thank you.
HUGHES: Thank you so much.
Let me introduce Dina Powell. Dina, would you like to speak? Dina is
my deputy and our Assistant Secretary for Education and Cultural
Affairs. One of the things I have asked her to do as she leads
America’s exchange programs is to really look at people who influence
young people. People like all of you in this room. As you know, faith
leaders, clerics, religious leaders have enormous influence, and I’ve
asked her to consider exchange programs that would help foster
interfaith dialogue and a spirit of tolerance and understanding and
so.
POWELL: Thank you. It is a great honor for me to be here, to meet
with all of you, and I want to second everything that Karen just
said. You are not only amazing leaders of faith, but like you said,
you really are leaders of people and of societies. And yes, two days
ago, when we were in Cairo, we had the privilege of meeting the Grand
Sheik Tantawi of Al-Azar University, and then we met with His
Holiness Pope Shenouda. They, like you, are amazing examples. And so
I really hope that we can invite you to come to the United States and
share how wonderful it is to be men of faith who respect each other’s
faith — because, of course, the God of all of us believes in
tolerance and love, and I know you are living it every single day. We
really are so honored to use you as amazing role models and are
looking forward to working with you. Thank you very much.
HUGHES: Professor, would you like to say a few words?
AKIF AYDIN, ISLAMIC RESEARCH CENTER PRESIDENT: (Translated Text) I
would like to say welcome to all of you. One thing I would like to
add to what has been said so far is that people of different
religions and different cultures can live together. I think one of
the best places to discuss the problems of such coexistence is this
very city, because in this city, in this geography — for at least
six centuries, people of different cultural and religious backgrounds
have lived together. We have a lot of experience in this field. And I
hope that this experience will serve the population of the whole
world. Thank you very much and welcome once more.
HUGHES: Thank you so much. Monsignor, would you like —
FATHER DOSITHEOS, REPRESENTATIVE OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE:
(Translated text) Most of the important things have been expressed.
Let me tell you another story. Turkey is a very nice country. It is
beautiful, and the evidence that made me think of this is that I
spent 35 years of my life in Germany. I was born in Kadikoy, and I
left this country in 1961, vowing never to come back. But 35 years
later, I came back to Turkey. The nice thing about Turkey is that
Anatolian lands and soils are holy lands and holy soils. As you get
old like me, you understand this. The problems of Turkey are problems
that concern everyone — positive thinking is required, and all kinds
of opinions are positive contributions. Welcome to this very
beautiful country. I have also one sentence to say about the States:
when I was a child, America to me resembled the Statute of Liberty,
and I still believe that. Your presence today opens up the avenues
for liberty. I hope you will assist us in solving our problems
through avenues of liberty and freedom. I would like to greet you
all. Thank you very much.
HUGHES: Thank you. I’m going to call on the Monsignor. But first I
wanted to quickly say that at my last stop here in Istanbul, I
visited a park — a wonderful volunteer program, an after-school
program for young children. One of the young women there who
volunteers — she’s a teenager and she volunteers, working with the
younger children — she asked me, does the Statue of Liberty really
mean anything or is it just a symbol? I told her it really means
something, and someone commented to me that the Statue of Liberty
faces out and says welcome — and we very much in our country want to
face out and say welcome. We want to partner with the people of
Turkey. We want Turkish students and clerics and faith leaders and
teachers and all sorts of citizens to come visit our country. We want
Americans to come visit Turkey and to learn more about Turkey and I
was pleased as I was touring the palace to see a couple of people
from Texas, and a couple from New York. and also a couple from
Bahrain on their honeymoon. This is a wonderful city that welcomes
many, many visitors, and you do have a unique opportunity, I think,
to really focus on the values that we all have in common as human
beings.
MONSIGNOR GEORGES MAROVITCH, CATHOLIC BISHOP: (Translated text) I am
here as the spokesman of the Catholic communities in Turkey. I would
like to welcome you on behalf of all Catholic communities in Turkey.
I know that this great country is going through many problems; please
be assured that we will pray for world peace, and we will support you
through our prayers.
As you know, Turkey has a very important history. For centuries,
people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds have lived
together. In that sense, Turkey is a very experienced country and a
very experienced nation. It can teach others many lessons like we
have this wonderful bunch of flowers. And Turkey is just like this
there are yellow flowers, red flowers, purple flowers. And here, we
are people of different religions, and we will always have our Muslim
brothers respecting us. They have done so in the past they have
treated us with love and respect.
I will give you a small example. I do not know if you have had a
chance to see, but we have a very large institution set up in the
19th century. It is a nursing home called Darulacize. It is for the
elderly and for babies, infants deserted by their parents. In the
19th century, this institution was set up and at that time there was
no other institution in Europe that would open up its doors to people
of different religions. But the Sultan here set up one mosque, one
synagogue and one church in that nursing home, so that everyone could
worship according to their own religion. This can be an example to
the whole world. Turks drew this idea from their holy book, from the
Koran: In the 5-28 verse of the Maide Surah it says, “If God wished
to create you as single nation, he would have done so but he wanted
you to be of different faiths, so that you would raise your beauties
and compete with your beauties.” This competition has been going on
for centuries but sometimes in that competition, some of us stumbled
and some of us made others fall down. We have had some unpleasant
events. But we are now making very big strides. In Antioch, as you
know, we had this big conference for interfaith dialogue regarding
working together for world peace. In Turkey, we have been having
similar events very often, so we are very hopeful about the future.
Turkey should be a model and example for the world.
I would like to conclude here by saying that you should be sure that
there is only one assistant in our work — that is God, Allah.
Muslims pray a lot every day — they pray 5 times — and through
their prayers, Allah, God, protects our world. As you know, the month
of Ramadan is coming. They will be fasting for 30 days, they will be
praying, and these prayers will fall on earth just like raindrops
that will bring good crops. Our great country, Turkey, and the whole
world will benefit from them. Thank you very much.
HUGHES: Thank you so much. We have much to learn from the rich
history and tradition of Turkey, and I’m here to learn. I want to
thank the press for being here, and we look forward to continuing our
meeting in just a minute. Thank you all.
END

Agence France Presse — English
September 29, 2005 Thursday
EU is testing Turkey’s patience: senior official
ANKARA
The speaker of the Turkish parliament accused the European Union
Thursday of testing Ankara’s patience by applying “double standards”
to its long-standing membership bid.
“It seems as if our patience is being tested.
Looking at what is being done to Turkey one sees that there are some
quarters that hope to get rid of us by forcing us to walk away from
the (negotiating) table,” Bulent Arinc said in an interview with NTV
television.
“When one compares the treatment of Romania, Bulgaria or Malta to the
different treatment accorded to Turkey one sees … insincerity,
double standards and discrimination,” he added.
Arinc was commenting on a resolution adopted by the European
Parliament Wednesday which urged Ankara to acknowledge that the
Ottomans committed “genocide” against Armenians during World War I
and to recognize Cyprus during its accession negotiations with the
EU.
The talks are scheduled to open Monday, but EU countries are still
bickering over the text of a negotiating framework — the guiding
procedures and principles of the talks — with Austria insisting on a
reference to an eventual “partnership” instead of full membership for
Turkey.
“It is hard to swallow all these… But we should be patient and I
believe that we will overcome many obstacles once the process
starts,” Arinc said.
The speaker stressed that he understood widespread doubts in the EU
over the prospect of admitting a vast, populous country with a
predominantly Muslim faith, but urged European leaders “to keep the
debate away from prejudices and be objective.”

Agence France Presse — English
September 29, 2005 Thursday
EU applying ‘double standards’ to Turkey: parliament speaker
ANKARA
The speaker of the Turkish parliament charged Thursday that “double
standards” were being applied his country’s long-standing membership
bid in an attempt to provoke Ankara to walk away from the talks.
“It seems as if our patience is being tested. Looking at what is
being done to Turkey one sees that there are some quarters that hope
to get rid of us by forcing us to walk away from the (negotiating)
table,” Bulent Arinc said in an interview with NTV television.
“When one compares the treatment of Romania, Bulgaria or Malta to the
different treatment accorded to Turkey one sees … insincerity,
double standards and discrimination,” he added.
Arinc was commenting on a resolution adopted by the European
Parliament Wednesday which urged Ankara to acknowledge that the
Ottomans committed “genocide” against Armenians during World War I
and to recognize Cyprus during its accession negotiations with the
EU.
The resolution came only five days before Turkey is scheduled to
begin membership talks with the pan-European bloc on Monday, but the
start of the negotiations remains uncertain.
EU foreign ministers are to meet Sunday to break a deadlock on
opening the talks after Austria blocked agreement on a negotiation
position by insisting that Turkey be offered something short of full
membership.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has warned previously that he will turn
his back on the talks if the negotiating framework contains “any
formula or suggestion other than full membership.”
Arinc said: “It is hard to swallow all these… But we should be
patient and I believe that we will overcome many obstacles once the
process starts.”
The speaker stressed that he understood widespread doubts in the EU
over the prospect of admitting a vast, populous country with a
predominantly Muslim faith, but urged European leaders “to keep the
debate away from prejudices and be objective.”
The European Parliament resolution unleashed anger in Turkey where
discussion of the tragic killings in 1915-1917 largely remains taboo
and triggers nationalist sentiments.
“We would like to recall that discussing the issue (the Armenian
massacres) in political platforms would benefit nobody,” the Turkish
foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday.
“Turkey has always argued that controversial chapters in history
should be handled by historians and has opened its archives to the
service of all researchers,” it added.
Armenians claim that up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen were
slaughtered in orchestrated killings under the Ottoman Empire, the
forerunner of modern-day Turkey, but Ankara categorically denies that
a genocide took place.