UNE CONFERENCE SUR LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN PROVOQUE UNE NOUVELLE BOUFFEE NATIONALISTE
par Marie-Michèle Martinet
Le Figaro, France
24 septembre 2005
TURQUIE A quelques jours de l’ouverture des negociations d’adhesion a
l’Union europeenne
Le genocide armenien reste decidement un sujet tabou en Turquie. Pour
la deuxième fois en moins de six mois, une conference organisee
sur ce thème par deux prestigieuses universites stambouliotes,
a ete suspendue… avant d’etre finalement reprogrammee, in
extremis, dans une troisième universite de la ville. Cette nouvelle
bouffee nationaliste, qui intervient a la veille de l’ouverture des
negociations d’adhesion europeenne de la Turquie prevue le 3 octobre,
suscite certaines interrogations sur la capacite d’Ankara a s’engager
dans un veritable processus democratique.
A l’occasion du 90 e anniversaire du genocide armenien celebre en avril
dernier, les universitaires turcs avaient cru possible d’ouvrir enfin
le debat, en Turquie, plutôt que de continuer a balayer les miettes
de l’histoire sous le tapis de la mauvaise conscience. L’idee etait
simple : inviter une soixantaine d’intellectuels critiques a exposer
leur analyse sur les massacres de 1915, dont Ankara se refuse toujours
a admettre le caractère genocidaire.
Programmee pour le 25 mai, la conference fut suspendue a la dernière
minute, sous l’impulsion du ministre de la Justice, Cemil Cicek,
qui declarait alors qu’un tel debat ne pouvait avoir lieu car il
constituait une offense a la nation, un ” coup de poignard dans
le dos du peuple turc “. Quelques mois plus tard, le meme scenario
vient de se reproduire : a la suite d’une plainte deposee par des
juristes, le tribunal administratif d’Istanbul annoncait jeudi soir
la suspension de cette conference, dont l’ouverture etait prevue pour
le lendemain matin.
Hier soir, nouveau rebondissement : a la suite de vives protestations,
tant de l’Union europeenne qu’au plus haut niveau du pouvoir
gouvernemental turc, la conference etait finalement maintenue :
les debats s’ouvriront donc ce matin, a l’heure dite, mais dans une
autre universite, celle de Bilgi qui n’est pas concernee par l’ordre
de suspension.
L’honneur est donc sauf. Il n’empeche que ces blocages a repetition,
dignes d’un mauvais theâtre de boulevard, qui interviennent a la
veille de l’ouverture des negociations europeennes de la Turquie,
prevue pour le 3 octobre, reactivent certaines interrogations sur
la capacite d’Ankara a engager un veritable processus democratique
dans le pays : ” Nous regrettons vivement cette nouvelle tentative
d’empecher la societe turque d’avoir un debat sur son histoire “,
declarait hier Krisztina Nagy.
La porte-parole du commissaire europeen a l’Elargissement, Olli Rehn,
qualifie la decision des juges turcs de ” nouvelle provocation ”
illustrant les ” difficultes de la Turquie, et en particulier de son
système judiciaire, a assurer une application reelle et constante
des reformes “.
On peut s’interroger sur les intentions reelles de ceux qui, en
s’efforcant de jouer le blocage a quelques jours de la date cruciale
du 3 octobre, compliquent indiscutablement la tâche des diplomates
turcs, deja embarrasses par la delicate question de la reconnaissance
de Chypre. Veulent-ils purement et simplement saboter le dialogue
difficilement engage entre la Turquie et l’Europe ? Le premier ministre
turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, dont l’avenir politique reste très lie au
succès des negociations, avait sevèrement condamne, dès jeudi soir,
la decision des juges : ” La cour a jete une ombre sur le processus de
democratisation et sur les libertes dans mon pays “, a-t-il declare,
en s’interrogeant au passage sur les competences du tribunal.
En decembre prochain, le romancier turc, Orhan Pamuk, dont les livres
sont publies en France par Gallimard, sera juge pour avoir affirme,
dans un journal suisse, qu’ ” un million d’Armeniens et trente mille
Kurdes ont ete tues en Turquie “. Ces propos, consideres comme une
insulte a l’identite turque, peuvent lui valoir une peine de six a
neuf mois de prison, conformement au nouveau Code penal.
Le Parlement europeen a deja fait savoir qu’il designerait des
observateurs pour s’assurer du bon deroulement de ce procès, ce
qui exaspère de nombreux Turcs qui voient, dans cette demarche, une
volonte d’ingerence de l’Europe : ” Arretez de faire de Orhan Pamuk un
faux heros ! “, s’insurge Bedri Baykam, qui dirige le très kemaliste
Mouvement patriotique, proche du principal parti d’opposition, CHP.
Soucieux des consequences de cette nouvelle crise armenienne ravivant
les crispations nationalistes dans le pays, Hrant Dink, le redacteur
en chef du journal bilingue Agos, publie en turc et en armenien,
s’est efforce de calmer le jeu, en appelant ses interlocuteurs au
calme et a la reflexion. Jusqu’a present, la communaute armenienne
de Turquie s’est declaree favorable a l’adhesion a l’Europe, sachant
qu’un tel ancrage serait la meilleure protection pour l’avenir des
minorites dans le pays.
–Boundary_(ID_Is/SAmRZYmSeoBGFUd4zzA)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIAN PRESIDENT VISITS ETHNIC MINORITY SCHOOLS
Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi, in Georgian
26 Sep 05
[Presenter] A new school year has begun in Georgia and new school
buildings have been built in the city. President [Mikheil] Saakashvili
this morning attended the opening of a new building for the Armenian
School No 98.
The construction of a European-standard building for the Armenian
school began in March 2004. Three hundred and fifty children will
study there. Education Minister Kakha Lomaia and mayor Gigi Ugulava
accompanied Saakashvili at the opening of the new building for School
No 98.
[Saakashvili, addressing school-goers] It is a great honour to open
this building. We have resumed the construction of school buildings
that stopped in Georgia many years ago. For us this school is a symbol
of the changes that have occurred in Georgia.
The previous government released funds for the construction of
a building for this school several times. All of that money was
misappropriated. We began the construction of this building in March
[2004], together with the then head of the city government, Bidzina
Bregadze, and we finished it, as promised, by 1 September.
I would like this school, with its most beautiful building and
ultra-modern classrooms worthy of any European capital, to raise
generations of children who will love their culture, their roots and
their country, our homeland Georgia.
[Correspondent] From there the president went to the Azerbaijani
School No 73 in Grishashvili Street. [Passage omitted]
[Ramiz Hasanov, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Georgia, in Russian]
We took a decision to refurbish this building a little bit. It was
a minor refurbishment project. We didn’t have time to do everything.

AZERI ELECTION: OPPOSITION CANDIDATES URGE AUTHORITIES TO RESIGN
ITV, Baku, in Azeri
26 Sep 05
Azerbaijani Public TV relayed its first debate among representatives
of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), the Liberal Party of
Azerbaijan and the opposition Azadliq, Yeni Siyasat blocs at 1600
gmt on 25 September.
The TV debate was dedicated to the socio-economic situation in
Azerbaijan.
Akif Sahbazov from the Azadliq election bloc said that the government
and people represented in the Azerbaijani government are more
interested in their own affairs rather than in the interests of
the government.
Sahbazov said the country’s prime minister and his team were not
capable of conducting any reform. He ruled out any progress in the
economic and other spheres if the current authorities did not change.
Vahid Axundov from the Yeni Siyasat election bloc said that Azerbaijan
has a problem of unemployment and the only way of dealing with the
issue was to ensure that big enterprises resume their work.
He said that along with the oil sector, all other spheres should
develop.
He said that monopolies and poor credit markets damage Azerbaijan’s
economy. He urged the Azerbaijani government to resign and said that
a new cabinet should be formed.
Mubariz Qurbanli from the NAP accused the opposition of using all
means possible to discredit the socio-economic development in the
country. He described as ridiculous a comparison of the Azerbaijani
and Armenian economies.
Avaz Temirxan from the Liberal Party of Azerbaijan quoted a
representative of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
in Baku as saying that there was no democratic environment for
businesses in Azerbaijan.
He said that Azerbaijan lags behind almost all the CIS countries for
its living standards and the average salary.
The deputy chairman of the Liberal Party said that monopolies,
corruption, bribery, misappropriation and officials’ arbitrariness
were the main reasons behind the poverty.
Video: candidates in a round-table studio format.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ACTING TO END GENOCIDE
By Scott Warren, Brown Daily Herald; SOURCE: Brown U.
Brown Daily Herald via U-Wire
University Wire
September 21, 2005 Wednesday
PROVIDENCE, R.I.
Four hundred thousand are dead. Five hundred more are dying every
day. This is the current situation in Darfur, Sudan, where a
government-sponsored genocide has decimated the population.
Government planes destroy villages, militias rape women and upwards of
3 million people have lost their homes. The international community, in
a virtual repetition of its behavior during previous ethnic cleansing
campaigns in Rwanda, Cambodia and Armenia, stands idly to the side.
Just one week ago at the United Nations, President Bush said that
Americans have a responsibility to “protect the lives and rights of
others … and ensure that every human being enjoys the peace and
freedom and the dignity our creator intended for all.” These bold and
powerful words ring hollow when it comes to the innocent Darfurians.
Although the United States has given much humanitarian assistance to
Darfur, our efforts end after reaching into our pockets. We have not
taken a hard stance with the Sudanese government, constantly condemning
but never threatening more drastic action. One reason for this is
that the United States considers Sudan an important ally in the war
against terrorism, and shies away from losing potential intelligence.
Yet many Americans do not even know that a genocide is occurring.
While many Brown students, know about the crisis, the outside world
remains largely oblivious. Much of this is due to our distracted
mainstream media. According to a TVEyes report, in June of 2005,
CBS dedicated 38 segments to the infamous “Runaway Bride,” 614 to
Michael Jackson’s intriguing case, 321 to Tom Cruise’s blossoming
love life and absolutely none to Sudan. Apparently, 400,000 deaths
do not merit even a few seconds of public attention.
The majority of Americans, according to a recent poll sponsored by
the International Crisis Group, believe that more action must be
taken to stop the genocide. However, others argue that African states
seem to always have similar problems, and that we should focus on
domestic isssues and avoid becoming the world’s policeman. While I
agree that Katrina-devastated areas must remain our number — one
priority, we cannot forget the people in Darfur. The fact is, every
human life matters. Every life — American, Russian, or Sudanese —
is equal. That genocide is occurring in a country which holds little
strategic importance to the United States does not mean we should
ignore the killings. As citizens of an increasingly global world, we
need to ensure that all people are treated humanely and with respect,
without regards to where they hail from.
Many people feel overwhelmed when hearing about the genocide. They
criticize the government for not taking action but do not do anything
themselves. Today is the National Day of Action for Darfur. Religious
leaders from across the country are congregating in our nation’s
capitol to voice their concerns regarding the genocide to political
leaders.
We, as college students, need to do the same. We need to call
our congressional offices and voice our opinions. We need to call
President Bush’s office and demand more action be taken. We need
to urge our campus leaders to condemn the genocide and ensure that
our University is divested from all companies complicit with the
conspirators of genocide.
Today, a table will be set up on the Main Green allowing you to do
all this. Sunday, an action and brainstorming meeting to kick off
a semester of activism to stop the genocide will take place. Don’t
stand idly to the side as innocent civilians perish. As hundreds die
every day, we cannot follow our President’s example by throwing up
words without following through. We must act, and we must act now.
Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake.
(C) 2005 Brown Daily Herald via U-WIRE

MAYOR ACCUSED
Sunday Times (London)
September 25, 2005, Sunday
THE mayor of an Armenian town was arrested after the head of a power
company was shot dead. Armen Kelishyan was said to have killed Ashot
Mkhitaryan after accusing him of inflating his electricity bill.

ARMENIA RECEIVES 10 NEW FIGHTER JETS FROM RUSSIA
Associated Press Worldstream
September 26, 2005 Monday 10:16 AM Eastern Time
Armenia has received 10 new Russian-made fighter jets, the deputy
defense minister said Monday.
The jets are Sukhoi Su-27s, Defense Ministry spokesman Seiran
Shakhsuvarzian said. Officials, including Armenian Deputy Defense
Minister Artur Agabekian, did not provide further details on the deal.
While many other ex-Soviet republics are looking increasingly toward
closer integration with the West, Armenia has remained loyal to
Russia. It hosts a Russian military base, which has become even
more important for Moscow after neighboring Georgia pushed for the
withdrawal of Russian troops.

RA FM AWARDED VENETO SPECIAL PRIZE
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 26 2005
VERONA, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On September
24, RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian was awarded the Grosso d’Oro
Veneziano prize in the Italian city of Verona. V.Oskanian was bestowed
the prize of the Masi Foundation for his personal contribution to the
process of Armenia’s integration to European structures and extension
of Armenian-Italian contacts.
On this occasion Minister Oskanian made a speech at the 25th
awards ceremony held in the St George Cathedral (of VIII century) in
Verona, where he, in particular, touched upon Armenia’s resolution to
develop in accordance with the European standards, country’s internal
development, Armenian-Italian relations, as well as spoke about the
Armenian-Italian Days to be organized in Armenia in early October.
The Masi Foundation was created and is now headed by the descendants
of Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Famous representatives in the sphere
of literature, art, science, economy are awarded prizes of the Masi
Foundation every year. The prizes are mainly given to the Italians.
Up to this day only former Slovenian President Milan Kucan among
foreign high-ranking state and political figures has received the
Grosso d’Oro Veneziano prize.
Below is V.Oskanian’s speech submitted to Noyan Tapan by RA Foreign
Ministry’s Press and Information Department:
Honorable Senator Volcic, Honorable members of the Board of Directors
of the Fondazione Masi, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am privileged to
receive this prestigious award, il Grosso d’Oro Veneziano. This
is a special day for me. And this is, of course, a special place,
a special foundation and a special family with a glorious history of
650 years stretching all the way back to one of the greatest poets of
all times, Dante Alighieri. Dante’s descendants valued their heritage
and helped pass on his legacy. This legacy clearly manifests itself
in modern Italy and the Region of Veneto. Italy and Veneto also share
a legacy with Armenians. There is much symbolism in the fact that
Armenia’s coming back to Europe is being noted and celebrated here,
in Italy. Armenian-Italian connections are based on rich and ancient
traditions. It was in Italy in 1512, that Hakob Meghapart published
the first book ever in Armenian. The Urbatagirk (or Book of Days)
was followed in 1513 with the first published Armenian calendar. The
renowned Briton, Lord Byron, referred to the Venetian island of San
Lazaro as a fortress of Armenian independence, since the Armenian
monks of the Order of Mekhitar had found refuge there in the early
1700s. For the last three centuries, that haven has turned into a
scientific and cultural locus. Today, if you ask the Mekhitarist
fathers whether they are Venetian, they will say yes. If you ask
them whether they are Armenian, they will say yes. One can say that
they were pioneers in establishing a common European identity, about
which we speak proudly, yet with some apprehension. If it used to be
religion that bound Europe together a millennium ago, it certainly
isn’t any longer. Nor is it the economic advancement that was specific
to Europe two centuries ago. It isn’t ideology either, which was both
adhesive and encumbrance for decades in the last century.
Europe is more than its common history, more than geography, more
than a club for members. All those who’ve said Europe is an idea are
right. It is the idea of a Europe that is the common, if unattainable
ideal. Even those living outside this space have imagined and desired
a Europe which can be addressed collectively, a partner which can be
enlisted conveniently, a Europe to which they yearn to belong.
Armenia is Europe. This is a fact, it’s not a response to a question.
The collapse of the USSR brought us to a point of economic and
political crisis. I remember our discussions in Armenia, before our
entry into the Council of Europe. There were many questions about
the choice of path to take.
Dante once said that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those
who in a period of moral crisis maintain their neutrality. I’m happy to
say I won’t be going there because I was among the loudest advocates
of the European path. The choice was clear. Armenians believe in the
values of the European enlightenment, of European civilization. The
moral, ethical and existential choices that bring individuals and
societies to select democracy over other forms of government, rule
of law over rule of man, human rights over selective rights, those
choices have been made. A people who have lived under subjugation,
have seen ethnic cleansing and genocide even before the terms existed,
have lived as a minority without rights, now belong to a world where
warring neighbors have found that they can accept new borders based
on realities on the ground and move on. Europe’s nation-states have
found that they can transcend borders, without diminishing or ignoring
cultural spaces, without expecting historical identities to vanish. The
European Neighborhood Policy brings Armenia back home since Armenia’s
foreign policy priority is the gradual integration of Armenia into
European institutions. In his presentation, my good friend, Senator
Demetro Volcic described in ponderous detail my country’s foreign
policy priorities. I must admit that he is well aware of them not
as a common bystander, but as a caring and thoughtful professional,
who has proven to be instrumental in helping to integrate Armenia
into the modern European architecture. The double digit GDP growth,
which Armenia achieved each of the last five years, the successful
admission into the WTO, the spirit of the free enterprise, the
changing political system and society are promising signs that we are
on the right track. However, it is too early to say that the European
standard is round the corner. It is not as close yet as Europe itself,
as Venice, as Verona, as the shared cultural and religious values of
the past and present. To highlight and share those values, we will
be launching a two-month long Days of Italy in Armenia, beginning in
early October.
This project has received the blessing and patronage of President
Ciampi, President Kocharian and Governor Galan. The centerpiece of
these important events will be an exhibition of the riches from the
Isla Armena. In light of all this, then, the Fondazione Masi has,
in bestowing upon me this award, put a great stamp of approval on
Armenia, its foreign policy directions, its European orientation,
its future. I thank you.

YBF MANAGEMENT DENIES CHARGES OF VIOLATNG OBLIGATIONS
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 26 2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The management of the Yerevan
Brandy Factory (YBF) denied charges that the Pernod Ricard Company
– the owner of YBF had allowed to decrease the basic reserves of
brandy spirit, as well as considers the possibility of selling the
enterprise. The enterprise issued a press release stating that as
of January 1, 2005, the annual age of spirits in its reserves made
10 years as an evidence that YBF fulfils its obligations to maintain
the basic brandy spirit.
The report says that YBF is the main purchaser of grapes in Armenia
and intends to purchase in 2005 about 25 thousand tons of grapes from
Armenian farmers, that is, by 20% more than in 2004.
Dispelling rumors about a possible sale of the enterprise, YBF stated
that Pernod Ricard considers the trade mark “Ararat” necessary for
increasing its sales in countries like Russia.
Based on the above stated, the YBF management proposes that the
competent bodies organize immediately control over the amount of grapes
purchased and the reserves and quality of all the brandy spirit kept
at local producers.

NEW TIES OF COOPERATION ESTABLISHED BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND FOREIGN YOUNG DOCTORS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 26 2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. In total, 400 scientific works
dedicated to modern problems of medicine were presented at the
3rd International Conference of Young Doctors held in Yerevan on
September 19-21. 100 works from them were presented by young doctors
of Armenia. As Vardan Karamian, the Chairman of the conference
informed at the September 24 press-conference, authories of 4 works
from those present got an opportunity to participate in conferences
to be held abroad with financial assistance of the Armenian Medical
Association. And the author of the best work, Artem Grigorian was
honoured with the presidental prize of the conference: he will get
100 US dollar scholarship during a year and undertake the obligations
of the Chairman of the 4th International Conference of Young Doctors
to be held in 2007. Besides, authors of 25 works were honoured with
diplomas of the organizers of the conference: the Armenian Medical
Association, the RA National Academy of Sciences, the RA Health Care
Ministry and National Institute.
V.Karamian mentioned that during the conference, numerous new ties
and prospects of further cooperation were created among Armenian
and foreign doctors, among them a preliminary agreement was reached
concerning implementation of the “summer schools” program of young
doctors in Armenia and Iran.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PEACE-KEEPERS CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION SUCCESSFULLY, RA DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER MENTIONS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 26 2005
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The third shift
of Armenian peace-keepers will leave for Kosovo in late October.
Artur Aghabekian, RA Deputy Defence Minister, informed journalists
about it in his interview. According to him, the approaches towards
implementation of a peace-keeping mission change and in this respect
the subdivision chosen for this purpose “is trained on the basis of
fresh information received from Kosovo.”
As for the Armenian servicemen carrying out a peace-keeping mission
in Iraq, according to the Deputy Minister, there are no victims among
the Armenian peace-keepers in consequence of terrorist acts that
have become frequent lately in Iraq and if there were victims the
journalists would be the first to learn it. “Our servicemen are very
fine in Iraq and carry out their tasks successfully. This refers to all
of them – drivers, doctors, mine clearers and the intercommunication
officer who is carrying out his mission in Baghdad,” Artur Aghabekian
declared.