The Target is Full membership to the EU
By Balcicek PAMIR, True
TRUE, Society of European Journalists Year: 1, No. 7
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Aug 29 2005
Whenever I see the minister of foreign affairs Abdullah Gul, I want
to say ‘What’s going to happen with the EU?’. I suppose there are
many who are asking such questions, because he starts talking about
this before l even ask him. When Gul says ‘There is no reason to
feel hopeless, the doors of the European Union aren’t closed, but
are widely open’ , all l can do is to turn on the recorder to record
what he says. Abdullah Gul, whom l met within the Foreign Ministry
Residence, replies my question ‘Even against all these odds like the
negative opinions on the world press and the impositions, you are
saying that the doors are opened?’ with ‘From the intellectuals to
politicians to common people, all of us have a lack of confidence. We
can’t get over this’. We talked with the minister of foreign affairs
about the point where we stand and the future possibilities. I hope
that you’ll read the answers with interest.
We didn’t make a concession with the EU
Q : There is a widespread belief that we are giving too much to join
the Union. What do you think about this?
A.G : Everybody thinks that way. They believe that we aren’t
receiving anything in return for what we’re giving. This is totally
wrong. Actually, we didn’t give anything to the EU; we did what we
did for the Turkish people.
You are talking about the laws. For example, the Cyprus matter is
among the concessions.
A.G : What concessions? Did we give an inch of soil from Cyprus? I
think the critics don’t grasp the situation in Cyprus. For the first
time, a referendum was made under the supervision of the UN on the
island. There are two different communities there : Turks and Greeks.
The whole world saw that Cypriot Greeks didn’t assume a conciliatory
attitude. Perhaps, if such things were made in the past, ascension
of the Cypriot Greeks couldn’t be possible.
Q : Are you convinced when you say that?
A.G : Absolutely. There are many opportunities in Cyprus. Commercial
commissions have started entering the island. Serdar Denktaº is
traveling all over the world and is welcomed everywhere he goes.
But they aren’t recognized as a state…
A.G : In the past even such travels weren’t possible. There was
isolation. Now it’s slowly dissipating. I am also asking those who say
that we gave much but didn’t receive any. Aren’t the laws we made to
satisfy the political criteria important? I mean, if the communications
with Europe are stopped, will we have to revert from these reforms?
So, EU quickened what should be done.
A.G : Yes I have to admit that it did. We gave the Turkish people what
we couldn’t in the past. More freedom, more democracy, more rule of
law; we created an environment in which personal rights and freedoms
are guaranteed. EU became the impulsive force of this.
You are saying ‘We aren’t making concessions, we are creating huge
advantages. ‘Nobody refuses the reforms anyway.
A.G : Then look at the interest rates. They were about 24 percent
and are about 16 percent now.
Q : Are you talking about the interest of the loans we are paying?
A.G : Yes. Back then, turkey was getting loans with high interest
rates, now it’s different. All these are results of the negotiations
with the EU. Large finance groups observe Turkey as a country that
is negotiating with the EU. Our country’s economical and financial
status changed after 17 December because Turkey became a country with
a foreseeable future. Loaners saw that the future is more guaranteed
than before. Furthermore, the values of private companies increased
after 17 December. The value of government properties increased, too.
The same is true for real estate. They offered 3 million dollars for
Yesilkoy Airport. If we weren’t a reliable country, this price would
have been around 1 million dollars. Another example, we made a bid
about the technical examinations of the vehicles in traffic. We were
expecting 200 million dollars, but we reached 620 million dollars.
Because now investors are seeing a future. Banks of private sector
weren’t able to find customers, now they’re thinking about the price.
For example, Garanti Bank. There were no customers, but now it’s
different.
Q : Then why is there a negative atmosphere?
A.G : The unfortunate events we experienced in the past made us a
pessimist country. We didn’t get over it. Sometimes we can’t believe
that such bright futures are expecting us.
Q : There are those that are speaking negatively in Europe, people
who will affect EU’s future. For example Merkel, Sarkozy?
A.G : It’s all normal. Now, it’s important to see that there is no
paved way in front of us. We will experience descents and ascents.
Q : What are you planning about the Armenian Problem?
A.G : Now, that problem is spread into two parts. One is the
so-called Armenian genocide. We spoke against this entirely untrue
and not-acceptable idea already. Our course is set. The second part
is about developing the relations with Armenia. We are a country that
recognizes Armenia. Our diplomatic relations aren’t very strong but
we’ll do what we can to develop them.
RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
EU is concerned about the improvement of the relations with the
neighbors. The reason for their concern is, if the negotiations
result in our ascension, Turkey will become a border of EU. So they
will become neighbors with Armenia. So it’s natural that they are
concerned about this. Iran, Iraq, Syria and Georgia are also related
with the same subject.
Q : What do you think about Blair’s words ‘an EU without Turkey means
nationalism and foreigner enmity?
A.G : I agree. The nationalism in Europe is unlike ours. It’s more
like racism, and Europeans know the terrors of racism much better
than we do. That’s why I believe this warning is sound. Some European
countries have such tendencies. We face some foreign enmity in some
segments of the society conjecturally but this never lasts long.
Q : So is everything working perfectly about EU?
Everything is processing smoothly. This doesn’t mean there aren’t
any problems. We will have ascents and descents but we have to be
determined. Should I block the future of Turkey because I’m angered
by 600.000 people about the Cyprus problem?
Q : Were you expecting changes about the Negotiation Framework
Document?
A.G : There are no surprises. The Negotiation Framework Document,
dated 2014, I don’ t think it is right to discuss these because the
real decision is ours.
Q : What does ‘The real Decision is ours’ mean?
A.G : We will start the negotiations. They might take long. The really
important thing is that Turkey reaches the European Standards in many
sectors. What does it mean for the negotiations to end? An increase
in GDP, the progress of the western and eastern parts of our country
and the attainment of environmental beauty and health.
So the important thing is the point the stand.
Of course. Turkey should progress to become a European Country in all
respects. If we can’t achieve this, we can’t join the EU. But when we
succeed, it will be us who decides whether to join or not. What we have
to do is to prepare Turkey for a full membership. Especially increasing
the National Income per capita and correcting the income distribution.
Q : Is it possible that we might not need the EU when we reach
that point?
A.G : We won’t know what the political conjuncture will be at that
point. Who will be the politicians of the EU? What will be in Turkey?
Will the economical balance of the world be moved into Asia? Since
it’s impossible to answer these, I can’t answer your question. But
I know this; Turkish people may not choose to join the EU on that
day. So the last decision is ours for the EU.
Q : Do you think we can choose to say ‘no’ to the EU?
A.G : We will decide on that day actually. That’s why I don’t think
the date and framework debates are rational. If we are held up by
the decisions about the problems that EU countries have, we will lose
time. On the contrary, we should continue on our path.
Q : You are talking about the referendums that said ‘No’ to the
European constitution right?
A.G : Yes. I have some studies. According to these studies, Turkey is
a minor one of the reasons for the ‘no’ votes. 21st in one and 18th in
the other if I remember correctly. People of the EU countries didn’t
directly reject us. They have their own problems.
Yes, but Turkey is among the reasons.
Yes, but I’m saying that we shouldn’t be held up by this. We don’t
have time to deal with unnecessary touchiness. We have a not-so-easy
process in front of us. We have to be sure of ourselves. Again,
we don’t have a paved road ahead of us. As an example; am I going
to block the future of Turkey because I’m angered by 600.000 people
about the Cyprus problem? On the contrary, I will continue my path
by struggling. The framework of the negotiations is decided. A new
political condition or position isn’t possible.
–Boundary_(ID_KNRcdB3oHKqcahfZ0V/kLA)–

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN THE SPECIAL SESSION
A1+
| 13:27:23 | 29-08-2005 | Politics |
110 deputies were present at the NA special session at 10 a.m. this
morning. 96 of them voted for the agenda. The opposition except the
deputies of the Republican party and Vazgen Manoukyan who is not in
Armenia participated in the session.
At the very beginning of the session before the confirming of the
agenda secretary of the Justice bloc Viktor Dallakyan announced that
the 11th article of the present Constitution and the 74th article
of the NA regulating law have been violated. According to the NA can
discuss either the new Constitution or Constitutional amendments.
The RA President’s order about convening a NA special session says,
“RA Constitution (with amendments)”, this excited Viktor Dallakyan’s
apprehension, as this kind of a formulation can give Robert Kocharyan
the possibility to be elected a third time. Besides, the draft
constitution which was distributed to the deputies was not signed
by anyone.
The NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan mentioned in answer that
everything was clear. Viktor Dallakyan said, “It is clear for you,
but the formulation gives reason for different interpretations. Our
work must be clear enough so as not to leave room for different
interpretations”. The Justice bloc asked for a break for 20
minutes. Meanwhile, according to Dallakyan, Arthur Baghdasaryan made
a call to the President’s residence to clear up his future tasks.
After the break Arthur Baghdasaryan announced that the Draft
Constitution is subject to discussions. The main speaker is the deputy
President of the Orinats Yerkir party Mher Shahgeldyan. The discussion
is broadcast by the Armenian national TV Company.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MARS VOLTA STEPS OUT, SYSTEM STEPS UP
By James Parker, Globe Correspondent
Boston Globe, MA
Aug 29 2005
System of a Down
With the Mars Volta
At: Worcester DCU Center, Saturday
WORCESTER — Cedric Bixler Zavala, frontman for the Mars Volta,
is a spectacular dancer.
Saturday night at the DCU Center, as his seven-piece band poured
out highly mutated progressive rock — a sound that marries the
titanic riffing of Led Zeppelin to the polyrhythmic pulse of Fela
Kuti’s Afrobeat orchestras — Zavala tore up the stage. He stamped
and twisted, backsliding on his Cuban heels, kicking away the base of
the mike stand to make a sudden drop, the bulb of his afro quivering
indignantly above the slim, black-clad body, and all of this without
missing a note of his wailing, swirling vocal lines. A saxophone
screamed then chuckled; the music rose around him like flames.
Physically astonishing, the Mars Volta is still somehow remote. There
are grand exorcisms in the music, but its demons are not announced.
The lyrics read like Dylan Thomas fed through a sci-fi blender,
full of ruptured anatomies, altered states, and other symptoms of
an overheated mental life. A sub-section of the track “Cassandra
Gemini,” off the band’s latest album “Frances the Mute,” is called
“Plant a Nail in the Navel Stream.” One wonders what goes on inside
the tour bus. Poetry slams? Birthing rituals?
It’s a brave band that takes the Mars Volta out on the road, but
the members of System of a Down know what they’re doing. These four
Californian post-metal heads, all of Armenian descent, have connected
with their audience in a manner that only highlights the opening act
deficits. The crowd, churning excitedly under a gauzy, germy haze,
was wired into every flicker and time-change, every falsetto squeal,
and metallicized grunt. “Violent Pornography,” a cultural diatribe
from this year’s hugely successful album “Mesmerize,” turned into
the most ferocious sing-along heard outside an English soccer stadium.
Singer Serj Tankian, nodding along in untucked shirt and comfortable
trousers, has less-than-dazzling stage moves. But his gestures —
the extended palm, the inclined head — are those of an orator,
not a rock star.
In a gnawing, satirical voice often compared to the Dead Kennedy’s
Jello Biafra (another highly politicized frontman), Tankian jabbers
out his sermons while his bandmates twitch and roar behind him.
There’s mockery in System of a Down’s presentation — the posturings
of guitarist Daron Malakian are particularly arch — but the kids are
in on it; each elaborate grimace and burlesqued cry of “jump up and
down!” only heightened the fervor. “You and me / Will all go down in
history / With a sad Statue of Liberty . . .” Young men with shaved
heads and big beards, as if their heads were on upside-down, thrashed
exultantly. Like it or not, this is the current face of protest music.

ALI KERIMLI POSTERS WITH ARMENIAN FLAG EVERYWHERE IN BAKU – REPORT
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 29 2005
The Central Election Committee will study the issue of posters on the
Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), reformists, Ali Kerimli on
the background of the Armenian flag, spread in Baku, the Azerbaijan’s
CEC chairman Mazahir Panahov told Trend.
“We will study the issue. Certainly, it is not the time now to hold
campaign and propaganda. The relevant stage will start only after 7
September”, the CEC head said. The information of the posters in the
city is, of course, a serious matter, and we are to investigate it.
If a candidate is really conducting campaign he must be seriously
punished. But now the issue must be seriously studied,” Panahov added.
Panahov said any candidate, officially set to campaigning may be
seriously punished. “Ali Kerimli has not been even registered as the
candidate,” he said.
PFPA (reformists) has earlier reported that posters of Ali Kerimli
on the background of the Armenian flag spread in the city is another
“black PR” campaigning and counter-propaganda against Ali Kerimli.

THE TEN WORST NATURAL DISASTERS
Scott Reeves, 08.29.05, 12:15 PM ET
Forbes
Aug 29 2005
NEW YORK – Forget annoying earthquakes like the 1906 temblor that
destroyed San Francisco, or events such as the 1980 eruption of Mount
St. Helens in Washington state, and even the 1994 Los Angeles shaker
that brought down sections of major freeways.
In terms of total destruction, these natural disasters are pikers by
world standards and serve only to remind us that extremes are the norm.
The National Hurricane Center pegs Hurricane Andrew, a category five
storm in 1992, as the most destructive to hit the United States. It
caused damage estimated at $26.5 billion.
To date, 2004 was the most destructive hurricane season with four
named storms slamming ashore: Charley, causing $15 billion in damage;
Ivan, $14.2 billion; Frances, $8.9 billion and Jeanne, $6.9 billion.
Total: $45 billion.
Hurricane Hugo is ranked as fifth most destructive storm, causing $7
billion in damage in 1989.
Hurricane Allison caused an estimated $5 billion in damage in 2001;
Floyd, $4.5 billion in 1999; Isabel, $3.4 billion in 2003; and Fran,
$3.2 billion in 1996.
New Orleans last took a direct hit from a hurricane in 1965 when
Betsy’s 8-to-10-foot storm surge flooded the city. The storm was
blamed for 74 deaths in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
Like Hurricane Katrina that slammed into Louisiana this morning with
145-mph winds, we’ll take a direct approach in ranking the world’s
ten worst natural disasters by emotional punch.
1. 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake: The undersea earthquake occurred on
Dec. 26, generating a tsunami that killed 170,000 to 250,000 people,
making it one of the deadliest disasters in modern history.
The earthquake originated in the Indian Ocean just off the western
coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, generating a tidal wave that
struck the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South India, Thailand and
other countries with waves up to 100 feet high. The tsunami caused
damage and death as far as the east coast of Africa, about 5,000
miles from the quake’s epicenter.
Estimates put the quake’s magnitude at 9.15. In May, scientists
said the earthquake lasted about 10 minutes–an eternity when most
last just a few seconds–and caused the entire planet to vibrate a
few centimeters.
2. Ancient (by news standards) History: 1201, Middle East: A
earthquake in Egypt and Syria killed an estimated 1.1 million people.
Building materials of the day contributed to death toll. It took the
1906 San Francisco earthquake to convince builders that rigid brick
and mortar construction is suicide in earthquake country. Modern
steel-framed buildings swayed in California’s 1989 Loma Prieta quake
that brought down a section of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge,
but survived–often with little more damage than a cracked window.
3. Caribbean, 1780: What was then known as “The Great Hurricane”
slammed into the islands of Martinique, St. Eustatius and Barbados
in October, killing about 22,000 people.
4. China, 1959: Massive flooding killed an estimated 2 million
people. The magnitude of the disaster wasn’t new. In 1938 and 1939,
flooding killed an estimated one million people. In 1931, the Yangtze
River flooded, causing about 3 million deaths, including those who
starved. In 1887, an estimated 900,000 people died when the Yellow
River flooded.
5. Iran, 2003: An earthquake registering 6.3 on the Richter scale
flattened much of the city of Bam, killing at least 50,000 people. In
1990, a landslide triggered by an earthquake killed an estimated
50,000 in western Iran.
6. Central America, 1998: Hurricane Mitch slammed into Nicaragua and
Honduras, killing about 10,000 people and leaving more than 2 million
homeless. Mudslides wiped out entire villages.
7. Bangladesh, 1970: Storm-induced flooding killed about 300,000
people. Flooding killed about 130,000 in 1991.
8. Colombia, 1985: The Nevada del Ruiz Volcano erupted, setting off a
massive mudflow that inundated the city of Amero, killing an estimated
23,000 people.
9. Peru, 1970: A 7.8 earthquake on Mt. Huascaran set off an avalanche
that buried two towns, killing an estimated 20,000 people.
10. Armenia, 1988: An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale
killed about 100,000 people.

France, Belgium publish lists of ‘QunsafeR’ airlines
(AFP)
Agence France Presse
Aug 29 2005
PARIS – Acting in response to a series of civil aviation disasters,
both France and Belgium published on Monday a list of airlines banned
from their airspace for safety reasons.
France said it had banned five passenger carriers, and Belgium nine
cargo companies.
The action had the full support of the European Commission, which is
trying to implement an EU-wide list of suspect airlines that pools
safety information from all 25 member states.
The announcement of the name-and-shame policy follows a string of
fatal accidents this month, including a crash on August 16 that killed
160 people in Venezuela, almost all of them French tourists from the
Caribbean island of Martinique.
Fatal crashes have also occurred this month near Athens and off the
coast of Sicily.
The initiative brings France and Belgium into line with Britain,
Switzerland and the United States, where authorities have either
identified banned airlines or named countries where civil aviation
regulations are deemed to be inadequate.
But some in the industry have criticised the proposal, saying the only
way to improve security is to increase inspections and put pressure
on foreign civil aviation authorities to enforce more stringent
safety regulations.
Many tour operators in France were skeptical about the blacklists,
noting that many of the companies were unknown, and had never even
asked to fly to France.
“This list is a mistake because it leads one to believe that companies
not on the list are not risky, which is false,” said Jean-Pierre Mas,
president of Afat-Voyages.
“Furthermore, no carrier that has had an accident since 2004 is on
the French list,” added Mas.
Maxime Coffin, director of security and control at DGAC, France’s
civil aviation authority, said he accepted that the list was “not a
universal response or a panacea” to security fears after five aviation
disasters in the last month.
“Putting companies on a list is not enough to avoid all accidents,”
said Coffin, but by being more transparent, we are improving the
information available to passengers and its a way for each state to
strengthen control over its airlines.”
Coffin said the lists would also accelerate Europe-wide efforts to
monitor the issue.
Of the combined 14 airlines banned by France and Belgium, seven
are African.
The publication of the lists prompted an admission from African Air
safety regulator ASECNA, that the continent had a dearth of expertise
in the area of airline safety.
“This lack of expertise concerns the technical and commercial viability
of carriers and it’s the same for every country in Africa,” said
Amadou Ousmane, head of ASECNA, which includes 17 mainly francophone
African countries and France and is based in Dakar.
Ousmane said he believed the publication of the lists was a good thing,
commenting that air accidents in Africa occur because companies get
around the safety inspections and regulations.
“It will let the public know that it’s not safe to take any old
company,” he said.
For Thai carrier Phuket Airlines, which recently had one of its planes
impounded at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport amid a row
over maintenance and service fees, the publication of the French list,
on which it figures, was the latest blow.
“We don’t know what is the reason and what is the meaning to
justify that we are unsafe,” said airline vice-president Chawanit
Chiamcharoenvut.
“But we have to accept their decision… and improve our safety and
maintenance.”
The list of outlawed carriers, which appear on the web sites of the
French and Belgian civil aviation authorities, are as follows.
France: Air Koryo from North Korea; Air Saint-Thomas from the United
States; International Air Service from Liberia; Air Mozambique
(LAM) along with affiliated carrier Transairways; and Phuket Airways
of Thailand, which had not previously been named by the transport
ministry.
Belgium: Africa Lines (Central African Republic); Air Memphis (Egypt);
Air Van Airlines (Armenia); Central Air Express (Democratic Republic of
the Congo); ICTTPW (Libya); International Air Tours Limited (Nigeria);
Johnsons Air Limited (Ghana); Silverback Cargo Freighters (Rwanda);
and South Airlines (Ukraine).

COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES, THE FORMER USSR, LIKELY TO COLLAPSE AND TAKE A DIFFERENT FORM
Ivan Shmelev
Pravda, Russia
Aug 29 2005
As long as Turkmenistan pulled out from the Commonwealth, one may
say that the future of the CIS is rather vague
CIS leaders gathered to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the
city of Kazan, the capital of the Tatarstan republic during the
past weekend. The Commonwealth of Independent States lost one of
its members, the republic of Turkmenistan: the pullout became the
main result of the summit. Turkmenistan decided to keep the status
of an observer only. In addition, there were certain discrepancies
seen in the text of the final declaration of the summit: GUAM states
(the organization incorporates Georgia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and
Moldavia) introduced several amendments to Russia’s document about
the struggle against terrorism. Ukraine did not sign documents about
the joint economic space. Experts are currently analyzing the recent
CIS summit in Kazan, trying to understand if it was the last meeting
for the Commonwealth of Independent States or not.
The reduction of the number of states included in the Commonwealth
became the central sensation of the summit. Saparmurat Niyazov, the
President of Turkmenistan, became the only president of CIS members,
who did not arrive in Kazan to participate in the summit. That was
quite a predictable turn of events: Mr. Niyazov, who is known as
Turkmenbashi, has not been showing any interest in any integration
unions and preferred only bilateral relations instead. “The father
of the Turkmen nation” was quite frightened with the series of
revolutions on the territory of CIS states and made up his mind to
completely isolate his nation from the rest of the world.
It is noteworthy that it was Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili,
who informed the CIS leaders of Turkmenistan’s decision. The republic
of Georgia has not been noticed for its active participation in CIS
summits on the level of ministers and experts. The Georgian president
said during the summit that Georgia was willing to set up a union
of democratic states around the periphery of Russian borders. The
statement made a lot of observers believe that Georgia will be the
next candidate to pull out from the CIS. Mr. Saakashvili said that
Georgia was in the talks with Ukraine, Lithuania and other states
would join them afterwards, but it would not be a substitute for the
CIS. “Georgia does not think that the CIS has run out of its abilities
and opportunities. The CIS has problems, and they need to be solved,”
the Georgian president said.
Similar remarks sounded from Saakashvili’s colleague, the Ukrainian
president, only one day before. Viktor Yushchenko, who backs up the
idea “to promote democracy in the former USSR,” signed a special
document for humanitarian cooperation cautiously. Ukraine, Georgia,
Azerbaijan and Moldavia introduced several amendments to the document
about the need to respect other states’ sovereignty. Similar amendments
were introduced to the documents about the struggle with terrorism
and extremism (the document was originally submitted by Russia):
the above-mentioned leaders added the notion of “separatism” to
the document.
The signing of the documents to establish the joint economic space
was a long-awaited event during the CIS summit in Kazan too. Russian
President Vladimir Putin said that 29 documents were planned to be
signed before December 1 of the current year between Russia, Kazakhstan
and Belarus. “We agreed that 15 other documents would also be signed
within the same structure by March 1 of 2006. Ukraine joined the
statements that were signed today. Ukraine set out its willingness to
work as a group of four – it will be joining other agreements as they
are being prepared and developed,” Putin said. Viktor Yushchenko
specified Putin’s remarks and said that Ukraine was not ready to
establish supranational agencies in the joint economic space.
Ukrainian President, Viktor Yushchenko, had a meeting with the
President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. It is not known if the
subject of Ukraine’s mediation in the regulation of Belarussian-Polish
relations was considered during the meeting, although Mr. Yushchenko
pointed out several problems in the bilateral relations, particularly
in the field of economy, politics and humanitarian spheres. Ukraine
called upon Belarus to join their efforts in the struggle with
consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. It is noteworthy that
the presidents of the two countries failed to agree upon the dates
of visits to each other.
The CIS summit in Kazan has not resulted in any progress regarding
the regulation of conflicts. The meeting between the presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilkham Aliyev and Robert Kocharyan, which was
devoted to the Nagorny Karabakh problem, ended without any progress on
the matter. In addition, the president of the unrecognized Transdniestr
Republic, Igor Smirnov, virtually accused the President of Moldavia,
Vladimir Voronin, of the breakdown of talks. “I believe that a physical
guarantee, which can put an end to all criminal actions to disrupt
the talk process, is extremely important for us,” said. He. Igor
Smirnov thanked Viktor Yushchenko for his readiness to send Ukrainian
peacemakers to the conflict region, but the tone of his statement
was rather skeptic: “I remember when the army operations were getting
started in 1992, there were Romanian and Ukrainian observers in the
region. However, they all disappeared somewhere, and the war started,”
Smirnov said.
One may thus infer that the summit in Kazan has unveiled certain
vestiges of the CIS’s division into two camps. The first one of them
includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (with
Armenia as an observer and Uzbekistan, which decided to distance itself
from revolutionary democracies after the recent events in Andijan). The
second group incorporates members of the GUAM political and economic
organization, whereas the republic of Turkmenistan is included in
none of the mentioned associations. Discrepancies have been growing
between these groups for many years already, the sides fail to come
to a consolidated solution of the problem, which eventually makes
the Commonwealth of Independent States become a decorative club,
in which every member has its own interests. As long as Turkmenistan
pulled out from the Commonwealth, one may say that the future of the
CIS is rather vague, which became clear after the meeting in Kazan.

DENKTAS: AZERBAIJAN NEEDS TIME TO RECOGNIZE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS
Anatolian Times, Turkey
Turkish Press
Aug 29 2005
BAKU – Rauf Denktas, former president of the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and TRNC FM & Deputy Prime Minister Serdar
Denktas were today in Baku to have talks with Azerbaijani executives.
TRNC delegation also visited the tomb of Haydar Aliyev, the former
president of Azerbaijan, and cemetery of Turkish soldiers in Baku.
Rauf Denktas told reporters, “Azerbaijan needs time to recognize us
(TRNC).”
Asked whether some circles try to put pressure on Azerbaijan arguing
that ‘if Azerbaijan recognizes TRNC, Greek Cypriot administration will
recognize Upper Karabakh (under Armenian occupation)’, Denktas stated,
“this is immorality. Greek Cypriots had attacked to occupy lands of
our people, as Armenians attacked Azerbaijan. Turkey saved our lands
and people.”
Stating that it was immoral to accept Greek Cypriot administration as
the legitimate government of Cyprus, Denktas stressed, “we secured
justice and freedom by establishing TRNC. I wish our friends act by
knowing that fact. Azerbaijan embraced us and did not listen to Greek
Cypriots. We are grateful to Azerbaijan.”

NO COUNTRY RIVALS IRAN IN PAYING ATTENTION TO HOLY CENTERS OF OTHER RELIGIONS
Orumiyeh, West Azarbaijan prov, Aug 29, IRNA
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Aug 29 2005
Head of Armenia’s State Agency of Monument Preservation Artyom
Gregorian said that no other country rivals Iran in paying so much
attention to holy centers of various religions, including that of
the Christian faith Speaking at a meeting with the governor of the
provincial town of Khoy, Mohammad-Amin Rezazadeh on Monday, he referred
to Iran as a country making effort to preserve its religious centers.
He lauded the fact that so much attention is paid to other faiths
by Islam.
Currently visiting Iran at the head of an Armenian delegation,
Gregorian noted, “Prior to advent of Christianity and Islam, the
people of Iran and Armenia lived together. Given the close relations
between the two religions, sowing the seed of discord between them
is out of question.” For his part, Rezazadeh pointed to the amicable
bilateral relationship and hoped that it will continue in the future.
“We do our best to preserve churches and holy centers of the Christian
faith, similar to mosques and our own historical monuments.
“Special focus has been placed in recent years on reconstruction and
repair of ancient relics to attract tourists,” he added.
During its stay in West Azarbaijan province in northwestern Iran, the
16-member Armenian delegation toured a few of the provincial churches
including Qara-Kelisa and the mausoleum of Sadreddin in Siah-Cheshmeh.
The visiting delegation mainly aims to exchange the latest technical
developments in preserving and safeguarding archaic monuments and
their restoration.

NATIONAL BANK OF AZERBAIJAN SOLVES CONTRADICTION
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
[August 29, 2005, 14:13:23]
The national Bank of Azerbaijan has solved contradiction about the
Kazakhstan based “Bank Turan-Alem” which is going to open its office
branch in Azerbaijan, reported AzerTAj.
According to the Bank’s press release, rumors disseminating by some
mass media about the Turan-Alem’s Armenian relations are erroneous.
It added the Bank Turan-Alem has not been registered by the National
Bank and now it’s procedure reference is considering. Amongst the
shareholders of Turan-Alem are the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, the International Finance Corporation, some prestigious
foreign financial structures, said the National Bank.
The case in connection with purchasing by Turan-Alem of the
Armenia-based commercial bank Mejinvestbank’s shares wouldn’t as
evidence of it’s Armenian management, noted the National Bank’s
press release.