Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in Turkish
28 Sep 05
TURKISH OPPOSITION LEADER DESCRIBES EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION AS
“TRAP”
London, 28 September: [Opposition] Republican People’s Party [CHP]
leader Deniz Baykal has described the European Parliament’s demand
for the recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide as a trap.
Maintaining his contacts in Britain as the guest of the Labour
Party’s annual congress, Baykal regretted the European Parliament’s
resolution. However, he said that it has not surprised him.
Asserting that Turkey will be confronted with similar traps in the
form of demands in the future, Baykal noted: “Many conditions have
been put to Turkey. However, no condition exists to guarantee
Turkey’s accession to the EU as a member. Unfortunately, the EU
creates problems in its assessment of Turkey’s accession to the
organization.”
Stressing that Turkey has found itself in a difficult situation
because of the policy it maintained and because of its relations
[with the EU], Baykal criticized the government by saying that the
party warned it in the past. He noted: “However, they believed that
things would be put right on the way. That was a serious mistake.”
Baykal will have dinner with the representatives of many Turkish
associations and civilian organizations in London this evening.

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
28 Sep 05
US OFFICIAL MEETS RELIGIOUS REPRESENTATIVES IN TURKEY
Istanbul, 28 September: Karen Hughes, undersecretary in charge of
public diplomacy at the US Department of State, has met religious
representatives in Istanbul today.
Hughes met the Istanbul Director of Religious Affairs Mustafa
Cagrici, Vatican’s Representative in Turkey George Marovich, Turkish
Armenians Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan, Turkish Rabbi Ishak Haleva,
Turkish Asyrian Orthodox Deputy Patriarch Yusuf Cetin and Fener Greek
Patriarchate Spokesman Peder Dositheos at the Topkapi Palace.
Hughes told reporters before holding a meeting with the religious
representatives that it was US President George Bush’s wish for her
to meet with religious representatives. “This is because the
religious leaders can offer a hand to thousands and can contribute to
a multi-religious atmosphere,” said Hughes.
Huges stated that, although she has been in Turkey for a little
while, she has been impressed by Turkish warmth and hospitality. “We
are identical in many ways. Our peoples give high priority to
democracy, family life and religion,” stressed Hughes.
Huges noted that the American people appreciate the aid sent to the
US after the devastating Hurricane Katrina.
Istanbul Director of Religious Affairs Mustafa Cagrici has commented
that Turkey and the US are identical societies which value democracy
and family life.
Turkish Armenians Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan has indicated that the
clash of civilizations between the West and East is a matter of
concern for his church. “We have to discuss ways to prevent clashes.
For this reason, I find it highly essential to continue meetings of
religious leaders,” told Mutafyan.
Vatican’s Turkey Representative George Marovich has noted that Turkey
is like a garden of different flowers. “In the 1800s, the Ottoman
Sultan ordered the construction of a mosque, synagogue and church
next to each other. Such a practice did not exist in Europe then.
Such a tolerance comes from the Holy Qu’ran.”
Karen Hughes commented after the meeting that Turkey and its society
will be a source of inspiration for the rest of the world with regard
to tolerance.

NATO’s position on Armenian-Azeri conflict remains unchanged
Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian
27 Sep 05
YEREVAN
NATO’s position on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict remains unchanged,
the special representative of the NATO secretary-general in the South
Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons, has told our correspondent.
He said that NATO does not support any of the conflicting sides and
does not aim to mediate the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. “We consider that the issue of settling the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict falls under the jurisdiction of international
organizations and a solution to the issue can be achieved only in the
process of negotiations,” Simmons pointed out.
Speaking about the problems of the simultaneous joint participation
of Armenian and Azerbaijani servicemen in the Partnership for Peace
programme, the special representative pointed out that NATO’s
position also remains unchanged here. “Indeed, the simultaneous
participation of representatives from Armenia and Azerbaijan in NATO
exercises has created some problems. However, there are many other
exercises within the framework of the Partnership for Peace
programme, where the participation of the two countries’
representatives has not caused any problems,” Simmons pointed out,
adding that at the same time, NATO strongly supports the principle
that all Partnership for Peace exercises and programmes should be
accessible to all of its member countries which desire to take part
in them.
“We will continue defending this principle in all future exercises
conducted within the framework of the programme,” the NATO special
representative said in conclusion.

Haykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan, in Armenian
27 Sep 05 p 3
Public forum urges Georgia to grant autonomy to Armenian minority
by Arman Karapetyan headlined “The situation is getting worse in Javakhk”
The forum of public and political organizations of Javakhk, which was
recently held in Akhalkalaki, has suggested that the Georgian
authorities grant autonomy to Javakhk and adopted a statement in this
regard. The statement calls on the Georgian authorities to examine
the issue of setting up a state federal entity and grant autonomy to
Armenian-populated Javakhk. In an interview with the Georgian
newspaper Rezonansi last week, the chairman of the Virk organization,
David Rstakyan, said that during the forum some people may have
raised the problem of Javakhk’s autonomy, and in fact, this happened.
Rstakyan added that in Javakhk people understand that in Georgia the
word “autonomy” is associated with “separatism” as is the case with
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. At the same time, he said that as a rule,
multi-ethnic states are based on the principle of federalism.
The Armenian deputy of the Georgian parliament, Van Bayburd, said in
an interview with the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta that
people closely connected with Armenian extremist forces demanded that
the issue of autonomy be included in the document of the forum.
Bayburd added that in this case, we are dealing with the artificial
exacerbation of the situation. On the whole, the socioeconomic
situation in Javakhk is not worse than in other regions of Georgia,
and the Georgian president’s decision to buy agricultural produce for
the Georgian army from Javakhk will ease the current social and
economic situation.
In any case, Russian TV and press paid quite a lot of attention to
the forum. Javakhk continues to be a risk zone for the Georgian
authorities and will remain such until 2008 when the last Russian
soldier leaves the region. In the future, the Georgian authorities
are going to invest 100m dollars in Javakhk, i.e. one third of the
money that Georgia will receive under the Millennium Challenge
Account. Moreover, according to the Russian press, serious
investments are also expected in the sphere of creating jobs. We hope
that the Georgian and Armenian authorities will be clever enough not
to allow the situation in Javakhk to destabilize.
P. S. There are rumours that the public and political organizations
of Javakhk were angered by the fact that Georgian authorities are
trying to take control of them with the help of Javakhk’s Armenian
criminal authorities.

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
28 Sep 05
ARMENIAN LEADER, VISITING INTERPOL CHIEF PRAISE TIES
Yerevan, 28 September: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received
Interpol Secretary-General Ronald Noble in Yerevan today.
The presidential press service has told Mediamax that the Interpol
secretary-general highly values the professionalism of the Armenian
police, adding that they are taking an active part in the work of
Interpol.
Kocharyan noted the importance of the fight against crime in
conditions of globalization and new threats and challenges. The main
task of the Armenian police is upgrading equipment and organizing
training for highly-professional officers.
Ronald Noble noted that in Armenia, Interpol introduced a new system
of passport checks, which will considerably help the work of the
police.

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
27 Sep 05
Armenian president denies talks on reinforcing Russian base
YEREVAN
The Russian military base deployed in Armenia “is one of the
components ensuring security of our country”, Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan said in Yerevan today.
Robert Kocharyan said this in reply to the question from a Finnish
journalists at a joint briefing with Finnish President Tarja Halonen.
Sometimes we come across articles in the media that the Russian
military base was “dictated” to Armenia in its time, the Armenian
president said.
“This is absolutely incorrect approach, the base was deployed in
Armenia on the basis of a bilateral agreement and met our interests,”
Robert Kocharyan said.
The Armenian president noted that “we live in the difficult region
and the Russian base is one of the components ensuring our security”.
Armenia is not holding talks with Moscow on reinforcing the Russian
military base, Kocharyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agence France Presse — English
September 28, 2005 Wednesday 4:20 PM GMT
Turkey hints may shun EU talks, Britain urges compromise
ANKARA
Turkey hinted Wednesday that it may shun the start of EU membership
talks next week as political tensions rose over the country’s place
in Europe, leading Britain to warn of a “huge betrayal” if the door
was slammed shut on Ankara.
Raising the risk of a political showdown, the European Parliament
issued a stern warning to Ankara to recognize Cyprus and acknowledge
that the Ottomans committed “genocide” against Armenians during World
War I, two highly sensitive issues that have already strained ties.
The parliament did, however, endorse the start of talks set for
Monday.
The EU’s British presidency, meanwhile, battled to resolve a deadlock
over the 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 natural that we shall make the necessary evaluations following
the clarification of the negotiating framework and take our final
step accordingly,” Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Namik Tan told
reporters.
“It is out of the question that we accept any formula or suggestion
other than full membership,” he said.
EU ambassadors were scheduled to meet later Wednesday and throughout
Thursday to try to end the dispute before the talks, which were given
a green light by the EU at a December 17 summit, get under way in
Luxembourg.
Noting the atmosphere of uncertainty and possible last-minute
wrangling, a senior Turkish diplomat said that it was not even clear
when Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul would fly to Luxembourg.
“The airplane will be waiting at the airport and when everything is
resolved, we will go,” he told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Other than the Austrian obstacle, he explained, some EU countries are
pushing for tougher terms that go beyond the principles outlined in
the EU’s December 17 decisions concerning Turkey, but declined to
elaborate.
Turkish newspapers reported that one draft provision that
particularly irked Ankara was a demand that Turkey abstain from
obstructing the membership of EU countries in other international
organizations.
The provision is widely interpreted as an attempt to block a Turkish
veto to an eventual bid by Cyprus to join NATO.
Turkey’s refusal to recognize Cyprus is a major obstacle to its EU
hopes, with the EU demanding that Ankara endorse the
internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government of the
long-divided island during the accession process.
Throwing Britain’s weight behind Turkey, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
warned that “it would now be a huge betrayal of the hopes and
expectations of the Turkish people and of Prime Minister (Recep
Tayyip) Erdogan’s program of reform if, at this crucial time, we
turned our back on Turkey.”
“Anchor Turkey in the West and we gain a beacon of democracy and
modernity, a country with a Muslim majority, which will be a shining
example across the whole of its neighboring region,” he told the
Labour Party’s annual conference in Brighton.
Turkey has been trying to join the EU for decades but its place in
Europe has come increasingly into question, particularly since French
and Dutch voters rejected a planned EU constitution, partly over
concerns about the membership of this sizeable and relatively poor
Muslim country.
Underscoring increasingly hostile public opinion in parts of Europe,
the heated debate Wednesday at the European Parliament also saw
deputies harshly criticize Turkey’s record on human rights and
religious freedoms.
Ankara urged EU countries to reflect on a “strategic vision.”
“Our membership carries great importance with respect to the
contribution (it would make) to the future of Europe as well as the
Middle East and the Caucasus and particularly to the building of an
alliance between civilizations,” Tan said.

Agence France Presse — English
September 28, 2005 Wednesday 3:42 PM GMT
EU lawmakers back Turkey talks, but demand ‘genocide’ recognition
STRASBOURG
The European Parliament issued Wednesday a stern warning to Turkey to
recognise Cyprus and a “genocide” of Armenians, days ahead of the
start of start of EU entry talks with the huge Muslim country.
While giving cautious backing to the opening of European Union
membership talks with Ankara next Monday, the EU lawmakers’ demands
underscore nagging reservations in the EU about the country one day
joining the European club.
EU leaders gave Turkey a green light in December to start talks. But
strains flared after the country issued a declaration in July
reaffirming its refusal to recognize the government of Cyprus.
Turkey has also come under pressure to recognize a “genocide” against
Armenians under the Ottoman Empire during World War I, a highly
sensitive issue for Ankara.
A text adopted by MEPs said the EU legislative assembly “calls on
Turkey to recognise the Armenian genocide” and that it “considers
this recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the European
Union”.
Armenians say that up to 1.5 million of their people were slaughtered
in mass killings under the Ottoman Empire, but Ankara denies that the
Ottomans committed genocide against Armenian subjects.
Turkey’s refusal to recognise EU member Cyprus has so far proved the
main stumbling block to the opening of talks, which could last for 10
to 15 years even if all goes well.
In the adopted text, MEPs stressed “that the rapid normalisation of
relations between Turkey and all EU member states, including Turkey’s
recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, is a necessary component of
the accession process”.
Turkey has steadfastly refused to endorse the internationally
recognised Greek-Cypriot government since its troops occupied the
island in 1974 in response to a Greek-engineered coup.
The EU parliament’s motion, which will not delay the scheduled
opening of the entry talks, received the backing of 356 members of
parliament while 181 voted against and 125 abstained.
In a debate, the head of the European People’s Party, the biggest in
the parliament, Hans-Gert Pottering, voiced reservations about
opening negotiations amid concerns over Turkey’s record on human
rights and respect for minorities.
“We know that torture is still ongoing and if that does not stop,
then we should be prepared to break off or suspend negotiations,” he
said. “We cannot turn a blind eye to these abuses and infringements
on human rights.”
Greens party leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit said that the debate over
Turkey had been tainted by racism towards Muslims.
“Not everyone who is against Turkey is a racist, but the people who
are against Turkey are sometimes riding or can surf on a wave of
racism”, he warned.
Speaking to the MEPs ahead of the vote, British Europe Minister
Douglas Alexander, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency,
tried to allay fears about the costs of absorbing the relatively poor
country.
“The negotiations with Turkey will be the most rigorous yet,
reflecting lessons learnt from the previous wave of enlargement. They
are also expected to take many years to conclude,” he said.
Amid ongoing unease among some member states about starting the
talks, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw warned that it would be a
disaster if the EU were suddenly to slam the door on Turkey’s bid to
join the bloc
“It would now be a huge betrayal of the hopes and expectations of the
Turkish people…. if, at this crucial time, we turned our back on
Turkey,” he told the Labour Party’s annual conference in Brighton,
southeast England.

Agence France Presse — English
September 28, 2005 Wednesday 1:11 PM GMT
Britain warns stalling Turkey’s EU membership bid would be a
‘betrayal’
BRIGHTON, England
It would be “a huge betrayal” if the European Union were suddenly to
slam the door on Turkey’s bid to join the bloc, British Foreign
Secretary Jack Straw said Wednesday.
Straw told the Labour Party’s annual conference in Brighton,
southeast England, that launching accession talks with Turkey next
Monday was one of the “highest priorities” of Britain’s turn at the
rotating EU presidency.
“It would now be a huge betrayal of the hopes and expectations of the
Turkish people and of Prime Minister (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan’s
programme of reform if, at this crucial time, we turned our back on
Turkey,” he said.
Straw will chair an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg next
Monday that is to finalise a negotiating framework, or set of guiding
principles, for the accession talks that would start the same day,
but last many years.
EU leaders gave Turkey a green light at a summit in Brussels last
December for the talks to begin. But strains flared anew after Ankara
reaffirmed last July its refusal to recognize the government of
Cyprus.
Turkey has also come under pressure to recognize what Armenians call
a genocide against their people in the final days of the Ottoman
Empire during World War I — an event that remains highly sensitive
for Turks.
Worries about overwhelmingly Muslim Turkey was a key factor as well
in the stunning rejection of the EU constitution by French voters in
a referendum last May.
Straw said Wednesday: “The decision on Turkey will be made by EU
foreign ministers next Monday, under our presidency… But the test
next week will be of the EU as a whole.”
“Like the United Nations, the EU has to change with a changing
world… Turkey would lose from a ‘no’ decision — but Europe and its
people would lose even more.”
Straw drew a round of applause from Labour delegates when he linked
Turkey’s EU aspirations to the need for the West to engage the Muslim
world, particularly the Middle East.
“Anchor Turkey in the West and we gain a beacon of democracy and
modernity, a country with a Muslim majority, which will be a shining
example across the whole of its neighbouring region,” he said.
Earlier Wednesday in Strasbourg, the European Parliament gave its
cautious backing to next week’s start of talks with Turkey, while
demanding that Ankara recognise Cyprus and the Armenian “genocide”
during the negotiations.
Turkey’s refusal to recognise Cyprus, which joined the EU last year,
has so far proved to be the main stumbling block to the opening of
talks, which could last for 10 to 15 years even if all goes well.
Turkey has steadfastly refused to endorse the internationally
recognised Greek-Cypriot government since Ankara’s troops occupied
the island in 1974 in response to a coup aimed at uniting Cyprus with
Greece.
Speaking to the European Parliament, Britain’s Europe Minister
Douglas Alexander sought to allay fears about the financial burden of
absorbing Turkey, a developing country in relation to the rest of
Europe.
“The negotiations with Turkey will be the most rigorous yet,
reflecting lessons learnt from the previous wave of enlargement. They
are also expected to take many years to conclude,” he said.

Azeri military won’t attend NATO seminar in Armenia – spokesman
MPA news agency, Baku, in Russian
28 Sep 05
BAKU
Representatives of the Azerbaijani armed forces will not take part in
NATO’s Rose-Roth seminar due in Armenia on 6-7 October, Azerbaijani
Defence Ministry spokesman Ramiz Malikov has told MPA news agency.
Malikov described as wide of the mark a report by [Armenian] Arka news
agency which quoted the head of the [Armenian] parliamentary
commission on defence, national security and internal affairs, Mger
Shakhgeldyan, as saying that an Azerbaijani armed forces
representative was expected to take part in the seminar and his
security would be ensured at a high level.