Agence France Presse
24 août 2005 mercredi 8:27 AM GMT
Conférence sur la question arménienne en septembre à Istanbul
ISTANBUL 24 août 2005
Une conférence universitaire sur les massacres d’Arméniens sous
l’Empire ottoman, reportée en mai dernier sous la pression d’un
ministre turc, sera finalement organisée en septembre à Istanbul,
a-t-on appris mercredi auprès des organisateurs.
L’événement baptisé “les Arméniens ottomans d’un empire en déclin”
doit avoir lieu du 23 au 25 septembre dans l’enceinte de la
prestigieuse université de Bogazici.
Des universitaires turcs ainsi que des intellectuels devraient lors
de ce colloque questionner la position officielle d’Ankara sur une
période controversée de l’empire ottoman.
La conférence avait été reporté sine die après que le ministre de la
Justice Cemil Cicek eut accusé ses participants de “trahison”.
Des diplomates européens avaient évoqué un coup sérieux au credo
réformateur d’Ankara, dans la perspective du début des négociations
d’adhésion avec l’Union européenne, fixée au 3 octobre.
Le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères Abdullah Gül a accepté de
participer à la session inaugurale de cette conférence, rapporte
mercredi le journal Hürriyet.
“Il n’y avait pas de raison de reporter la conférence. Nous pouvons
aisément discuter de cette question”, a-t-il dit, cité par le
quotidien.
Plusieurs pays ont reconnu le caractère génocidaire de ces massacres,
l’UE enjoignant pour sa part la Turquie de faire face à son passé.
La Turquie reconnaît des massacres mais rejette catégoriquement la
thèse d’un génocide.
Les Arméniens affirment que jusqu’à 1,5 million des leurs ont péri
lors de massacres orchestrés par l’empire ottoman, auquel a succédé
la République turque.
Ankara soutient que 300.000 Arméniens et au moins autant de Turcs ont
été tués au cours de troubles suscités par le soulèvement des
Arméniens, qui ont fait cause commune avec les armées russes en
guerre contre l’empire ottoman, et lors d’une déportation vers la
province ottomane de la Syrie qui a suivi cette sédition.

La Croix , France
24 août 2005
Un été dans La Croix.
Les arméniens de turquie (3/7).
Dossier. Kars veut rouvrir sa frontière sur le Caucase. À moins de
cinquante kilomètres de la République d’Arménie, la ville de Kars est
dans un cul-de-sac depuis que la Turquie a fermé la frontière. Son
maire tente par tous les moyens de faire bouger les choses. KARS,
reportage de notre envoyé spécial.
par PLOQUIN Jean-Christophe
Pour quelques mois, John Hurd a posé son sac à Kars, ville de 120 000
habitants à l’extrémité nord-est de la Turquie. Après une mission en
Afghanistan et avant une autre en Chine, cet archéologue baroudeur,
sujet de sa Très Gracieuse Majesté, veille sur un projet de
développement touristique et urbain soutenu par une fondation
californienne, le Global Heritage Fund. Le site s’étendra au bord de
la rivière que surplombe la puissante citadelle qui symbolise la
ville et son caractère stratégique de porte du Caucase. Du Xe au XXe
siècle, du royaume arménien des Bagratides à l’empire russe de
Nicolas II, l’éperon rocheux s’avançant dans une boucle de la rivière
a été sans cesse renforcé. Ses fortifications massives, au matériau
sombre, jette une ombre guerrière sur le vieux quartier ottoman.
Nayif Alibeyoglu, le maire de Kars, soutient fermement le projet. Cet
homme dynamique, qui amorce son deuxième mandat, mise sur le tourisme
pour sortir sa ville du cul-de-sac où la diplomatie l’a enfermée.
Ouvertement, dans les médias turcs, il appelle à l’ouverture de la
frontière avec l’Arménie, distante d’à peine 40 kilomètres à vol
d’oiseau. Erevan, la capitale arménienne, n’est qu’à 200 kilomètres
par la route, Gumri, l’ancienne Leninakan, à 100 kilomètres. Mais la
Turquie a décrété un blocus de l’Arménie depuis que celle-ci a occupé
des territoires de l’Azerbaïdjan, république turcophone du Caucase,
lors de la guerre du Haut-Karabakh. “Depuis dix ans, la Turquie suit
une mauvaise politique”, peste le maire.
L’ambition est de transformer l’ancien centre historique de Kars,
excentré depuis la construction d’une ville nouvelle par les Russes à
la fin du XIXe siècle, en un site de villégiature mêlant populations
locales et visiteurs adeptes du tourisme culturel. De grandes maisons
ottomanes à un étage seront réaménagées. Un hammam de 1595 sera
rénové. Le pont construit en 1650 sera dégagé. Les masures bties ces
vingt dernières années seront rasées et leurs populations relogées.
Le projet de rénovation englobera aussi l’église des Saints-Apôtres.
L’édifice, de petite taille, a été érigé entre 930 et 937.
Caractéristique de l’architecture arménienne médiévale, elle est
surmontée d’une coupole reposant sur un tambour orné de 12 reliefs
évoquant les Apôtres, un chef-d’oeuvre où se sent l’influence
persane. L’église a été transformée en mosquée, mais l’imam du lieu
n’hésite pas à l’ouvrir aux visiteurs.
“Nous voulons faire de Kars une plaque tournante du tourisme pour la
Turquie de l’Est”, explique John Hurd. Si la dynamique est
enclenchée, de nombreux sites archéologiques des environs regagneront
alors de l’intérêt et pourront être sauvés des assauts du temps et de
la négligence des hommes. Parmi eux figurent des vestiges arméniens
de première importance, notamment le site d’Ani, une ancienne
capitale arménienne.
Avec un peu de chance, si la paix s’instaure d’ici là, la
restauration pourra même se faire avec l’aide d’experts venus de
République d’Arménie. “J’aime cette idée des dividendes de la paix”,
sourit John Hurd.
Pour accélérer le rapprochement, Nayif Alibeyoglu a, lui, pris le
chemin… de la Scandinavie. En février, il s’est rendu à Kirkenes,
sur la mer de Barents, où une coopération a été mise en place depuis
1993 par la Norvège, la Suède, la Finlande et la Russie, entre des
régions tournant jusqu’alors chacune le dos à leurs frontières.
Aujourd’hui, les échanges culturels et les mariages mixtes sont
nombreux. Et les Norvégiens sont prêts à apporter leur expérience de
désenclavement régional dans le Caucase.
En juin dernier, un vice-ministre des affaires étrangères, Kim
Traavik, s’est rendu à Ankara, à Kars puis à Tbilissi, en Géorgie,
pour apprécier la bonne volonté des différents acteurs. La
coopération commencerait d’abord entre quatre provinces frontalières
de Géorgie et de Turquie, dont Kars, distante de 150 kilomètres de la
frontière. Il faudrait améliorer les formalités pour l’octroi de
visas, raccourcir les procédures de passage aux postes frontières,
refaire les routes, amorcer des partenariats en matière de tourisme
et d’agriculture… Si une dynamique se dessine, l’initiative
pourrait être progressivement étendue à l’Azerbaïdjan et à l’Arménie.
Voire à la Russie et à l’Iran, rêve tout haut le maire, qui voit déjà
Kars en capitale du Caucase.
Nayif Alibeyoglu imagine des événements sportifs transfrontaliers,
des échanges de jeunes, un partage d’expériences entre organisations
de femmes… Il suggère la création d’une zone franche commune avec
l’Arménie. Il a déjà lancé, l’an dernier, un festival culturel où se
sont produites des troupes de Géorgie, d’Azerbaïdjan et d’Arménie. La
deuxième édition de ce “Festival du Caucase” est prévue le mois
prochain. Ces événements visent à créer une opinion favorable. “Il y
a encore beaucoup de nationalistes en ville, prévient un
fonctionnaire municipal. Des racistes qui sont hostiles à tout
rapprochement avec l’Arménie.”
Sous l’impulsion du maire, Kars se promeut aujourd’hui comme une
ville mosaïque et met fortement en avant l’identité particulière que
lui ont donnée les urbanistes russes à la fin du XIXe siècle. Des
rues coupées au cordeau, des fontaines aux élégantes caryatides, de
larges trottoirs plantés d’arbres, des édifices publics aux façades
ouvragées à chaque grand carrefour…
Le regard positif jeté sur cette période vaut en quelque sorte
réhabilitation des Arméniens, tant ceux-ci se mêlaient aux Russes à
l’époque. Kars, qui a vécu sous la férule de Moscou de 1878 à 1921,
n’a pas vécu de pogroms. Elle a, au contraire, servi de base arrière
aux milices arméniennes qui appuyaient parfois les troupes russes
face à l’armée ottomane et qui perpétrèrent des exactions contre des
populations civiles turques et kurdes. Avec le retrait russe, des
milliers d’Arméniens prirent à leur tour le chemin de l’exil.
Aujourd’hui, à Kars, les Arméniens ne sont plus qu’un souvenir. Rifat
Hancioglu, 77 ans, toujours tiré à quatre épingles dans son magasin
de tissus, se souvient de quelques camarades de classe partis depuis
aux États-Unis. Ali Ercan, qui tient un restaurant sur l’une des rues
passantes de Kars, est, lui, l’un des rares a s’être rendus en
Arménie. C’était en 1979, au temps de l’Union soviétique. Il
s’agissait de transporter de la viande et du poisson de rivière. Le
voyage avait duré deux jours et, la nuit, il avait dû revenir dormir
à la frontière.
Nayif Alibeyoglu est d’autant plus convaincu de l’absurdité de la
situation que les relations commerciales se développent à grande
vitesse entre la Turquie et l’Arménie, mais en passant par des canaux
détournés, via la Géorgie, l’Iran ou Istamboul. Kars, elle, reste
prisonnière de la raison d’État.
JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PLOQUIN
DEMAIN
Un dimanche à Vakiflar, au pied du Musa Dagh.
Le conflit du Haut-Karabakh
Sur les ruines de l’Empire ottoman et des anciennes conquêtes russes,
la République d’Arménie est proclamée en 1918, et reconnue par le
traité de Sèvres en 1920. Mais les troupes turques d’une part, et
l’Armée rouge d’autre part, occupent le pays. En 1922, la République
d’Arménie est intégrée à l’URSS. L’année suivante, Staline rattache à
l’Azerbaïdjan la région à majorité arménienne du Haut-Karabakh. En
1988, les Arméniens se soulèvent et réclament le rattachement de
cette enclave à l’Arménie. En 1991, celle-ci obtient son
indépendance. De 1988 à 1994, une guerre oppose l’Azerbaïdjan aux
Arméniens du Haut-Karabakh, soutenus par l’Arménie. En 1994, les
Arméniens contrôlent l’enclave et s’emparent de sept régions
d’Azerbaïdjan. Un cessez-le-feu est alors signé, qui prévaut
toujours. Le conflit a fait plus de 26 000 morts et un million de
personnes déplacées, dont 750 000 Azerbaïdjanais.
La Turquie n’a jamais été impliquée militairement dans le conflit du
Haut-Karabakh, mais elle a décrété un blocus de l’Arménie. On évalue
néanmoins aujourd’hui le montant du commerce entre l’Arménie et la
Turquie à 100 millions d’euros par an. Trois vols hebdomadaires
relient Erevan à Istamboul et plus de 30 000 ressortissants de la
République d’Arménie vivent dans une semi-clandestinité sur les bords
du Bosphore.

La Croix , France
24 août 2005
Un été dans La Croix.
Les arméniens de turquie (3/7).
Dossier. Kars veut rouvrir sa frontière sur le Caucase. Les vestiges
d’Ani se délabrent chaque jour un peu plus. L’ancienne “ville aux
mille églises”, carrefour d’une des routes de la soie, ne bénéficie
pas d’une restauration adéquate. ANI, reportage de notre envoyé
spécial.
par PLOQUIN Jean-Christophe
Un jour peut-être, Ani révélera ses secrets. Des archéologues auront
dénudé les tumulus, retracé les rues antiques, cartographié
l’histoire d’une ville qui compta sans doute plus de 100 000
habitants au XIe siècle avant de décliner à partir du milieu du XVe.
Fondée par une dynastie arménienne, elle passa sous suzeraineté
arabe, byzantine, turque, géorgienne, mongole, mais le catholicossat
de l’Église grégorienne arménienne y demeura de 992 à 1441. Elle a
gardé depuis le Moyen ge le surnom de “la ville aux mille églises”.
“C’était un peu notre Rome”, résume un Arménien.
Ani, aujourd’hui, se fondrait dans la steppe environnante si des
murailles ne bornaient ses limites septentrionales. À l’intérieur de
l’enceinte, quelques vestiges restent péniblement debout. Des restes
d’églises. Une cathédrale dont le toit a disparu et qui n’existe plus
qu’à l’état de squelette. Une jolie mosquée du XIe siècle, la
première qu’auraient btie en Anatolie les Turcs seldjoukides. Une
église, enfin, toujours vaillante, dominant la rivière qui sert de
frontière avec l’Arménie.
Saint-Grégoire de Honentz se découvre en surplomb. On voit d’emblée
le clocher béant, la végétation qui gagne, les ouvertures étroites
dans les murs, les frises soigneusement ouvragées. Après avoir
descendu le sentier, on fait face à un portique à moitié effondré qui
reposait sur des colonnes de basalte. À l’intérieur, les parois sont
couvertes de fresques du XIIIe siècle. Près de l’entrée, à gauche, un
groupe de sept femmes est représenté au pied de la Croix. L’ovale des
visages est d’une beauté stupéfiante. Les mains jointes, les yeux
suggérés d’un trait, évoquent une profonde affliction. D’autres
scènes retracent la présentation au Temple et la vie de saint
Grégoire l’Illuminateur, qui évangélisa au tout début du IVe siècle
la nation arménienne, baptisa son roi, et vit s’ériger le premier
royaume chrétien du monde.
L’église est relativement à l’écart du trajet suivi par les groupes
de touristes. Ce jour-là, une dizaine de Japonais étaient de passage,
ainsi qu’un car de touristes turcs venus d’Istamboul. Sur un bout de
chemin, leur guide donna un coup de menton en direction de deux
miradors plantés à cinq cents mètres, de l’autre côté de la
frontière. “Regardez, il y a deux drapeaux, un russe, un arménien,
marmonna-t-il. Tout est contrôlé par les Russes là-bas. Entre
Arméniens et Turcs, il y a eu huit cents ans de bonnes relations.
Mais l’impérialisme russe a tout détruit”.
Le divorce est symbolisé par la petite rivière qui coule rapidement
le long de la frontière. Du côté turc, un pilier de pont ancien
s’élève. Sur l’autre rive s’étendaient sans aucun doute des faubourgs
d’Ani, lorsque la cité était une étape importante entre Byzance et
l’Asie centrale. Mais aucune fouille n’a été entreprise. La zone est
sous contrôle militaire. Le vent apporte seulement le grondement
d’engins de chantier qui exploitent une carrière.
Ani ne peut que ptir des relations détestables entre la Turquie et
l’Arménie. Des travaux entrepris par des équipes turques sur les
murailles relèvent de la reconstitution plus que de la restauration.
L’architecture et l’art arméniens ne sont pas étudiés en Turquie où
l’identité arménienne de dizaines de monuments est systématiquement
niée ou occultée. C’est notamment le cas sur le panneau de
présentation rouillé qui accueille les visiteurs à Ani. Or, Ani est
plus qu’un symbole d’une antique indépendance arménienne. C’est un
élément du patrimoine de l’humanité qui mériterait d’être inscrit au
catalogue de l’Unesco.
J.-C. P.

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Basisdienst Deutsch
23. August 2005
Aussenpolitische Kommission des Staenderats (APK) Armenier-Genozid
kein Thema im Staenderat
Die Aussenpolitische Kommission des Staenderats (APK) will das
Verhaeltnis zwischen der Tuerkei und der Schweiz nicht dramatisieren.
Der Armenier-Genozid wird im Staenderat nicht diskutiert.
Die Aussenpolitische Kommission habe dieselbe Position wie der
Bundesrat, sagte Peter Briner, Praesident der Aussenpolitischen
Kommission des Staenderats am Dienstag vor den Medien. Man duerfe
nichts dramatisieren. Das Verhaeltnis zwischen der Tuerkei und der
Schweiz habe sich nicht stark veraendert.
Die APK habe die Ausladung von Joseph Deiss durch die Tuerkei an
ihrer zweitaegigen Sitzung vom Montag und Dienstag in Schaffhausen
thematisiert. Fuer die APK sei klar, dass die Ausladung von Deiss in
Zusammenhang mit der Einvernahme des tuerkischen Politikers Dogu
Perincek stehe, gegen den die Schweiz wegen seiner oeffentlichen
Leugnung des Armenier-Genozids ermittelt.
Deiss-Besuch wird nachgeholt
Deiss sei nicht offiziell ausgeladen, sondern der Besuch aus
Termingruenden verschoben worden, sagte Briner. Die Beziehungen
gingen weiter. Der Besuch des Wirtschaftsministers werde nachgeholt,
wenn genuegend Wasser den Rhein hinuntergeflossen sei.
Der Armenier-Genozid, den der Nationalrat vor zwei Jahren als
Voelkermord anerkannt hatte, wird im Staenderat nicht diskutiert
werden, sagte Briner. Die Diskussion im Nationalrat habe aufgrund
eines persoenlichen Vorstosses stattgefunden. Ein solcher liege im
Staenderat nicht vor.
Die Aussenpolitische Kommission sei nach wie vor der Meinung, dass
sich die Schweiz nicht in die Aufarbeitung der tuerkischen Geschichte
und in den Armenier-Genozid von 1915 einmischen sollte. Sie habe der
tuerkischen Regierung anlaesslich eines Besuchs im letzten Jahr
jedoch eine Aufarbeitung der Geschichte zusammen mit Armenien
empfohlen.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Servizio di base in Italiano
August 23, 2005
Svizzera-Turchia: Commissione estera Stati sdrammatizza
SCIAFFUSA, 23 ago
La Commissione della politica estera (CPE) del Consiglio degli Stati
getta acqua sul fuoco riguardo alle tensioni fra Svizzera e Turchia.
Secondo il suo presidente Peter Briner (PLR/SH), i rapporti fra i due
paesi non si sono particolarmente deteriorati nel corso degli ultimi
mesi.
La commissione, riunita ieri e oggi a Sciaffusa, ha discusso della
decisione di Ankara di procrastinare “sine die” la visita del
consigliere federale Joseph Deiss, prevista in settembre. Tale rinvio
– afferma Briner – e’ chiaramente dovuto all’apertura in Svizzera di
inchieste contro il politico turco Dogu Perincek per negazionismo del
genocidio armeno.
In una conferenza stampa odierna, il “senatore” sciaffusano ha
precisato che il viaggio del ministro dell’economia elvetico non e’
stato annullato. La visita e’ stata differita per motivi di
calendario, ha indicato, aggiungendo che Deiss si rechera’ in Turchia
quando gli animi si saranno calmati.
Briner, interrogato dall’ats all’inizio di agosto, aveva affermato
che le tensioni fra Berna e Ankara in seguito alla vicenda Perincek
erano state provocate in particolare dai media. La stampa turca ha
evidentemente “mobilitato l’opinione contro la Svizzera”, aveva detto
il politico. Un secondo procedimento e’ stato aperto dalla giustizia
elvetica anche contro lo storico turco Yusuf Halacoglu, sempre per
negazionismo del genocidio armeno.
Il consigliere agli Stati ha ribadito oggi che la Camera dei cantoni,
contrariamente al Nazionale, non affrontera’ il tema del genocidio
armeno. Non si puo puntare il dito contro la Turchia a 90 anni dai
fatti, ritiene il presidente della commissione.

Turkish Press
Aug 24 2005
Conference On Ottoman Armenians During Decline Of Empire

ISTANBUL – The Conference on Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of
the Empire will be organized in Istanbul between September 23-25,
Bogazici University (BU) Rector Prof. Dr. Ayse Soysal and Sabanci
University Rector Prof. Dr. Tosun Terzioglu said on Tuesday.
Releasing a written statement, Soysal and Terzioglu said that the
conference was scheduled to be held last May, but was delayed.
The conference would be held at the Bogazici University, they added.

The Daily Star, Lebanon
Aug 25 2005
Conference examining massacre of Armenians to go ahead in Turkey
ISTANBUL: A conference questioning the official line on massacres of
Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, aborted after Turkey’s justice
minister branded it an act of treason, will go ahead in September,
organizers said. The event dubbed “Ottoman Armenians of an Empire in
Decline” has been scheduled for September 23-25 at Istanbul’s
Bogazici university.
Gathering academics and intellectuals who dispute Ankara’s version of
the 1915-17 killings, the conference was postponed in May after
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek condemned it as “treason” and a “stab in
the back of the Turkish nation,” and said the organizers deserved
prosecution.
The outburst raised eyebrows in European diplomatic circles about
Ankara’s commitment to democratic reforms, a requirement for October
3 negotiations over its accession to the EU.
But diplomats said the incident could also prove to be a watershed if
the Turkish government acted to correct Cicek’s remarks.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has now agreed to take part in
the conference’s opening session, the Hurriyet newspaper reported
yesterday.

“There was no reason to adjourn the conference. We can easily discuss
this question,” the newspaper quoted the minister as saying.
Ankara’s quest for EU membership struck another hurdle last month
when it insisted it would not recognize the Greek Cypriot government
of Cyprus.
Several countries have recognized the Armenian massacres as genocide
and Brussels has called on Turkey to confront its past and to allow
greater freedom of speech.
Ankara recognizes that the massacres took place, but strongly rejects
that they amounted to genocide.
Armenians claim up to 1.5 million of their people were slaughtered in
mass killings under the Ottoman Empire, forerunner to the Turkish
republic.
Ankara claims that 300,000 Armenians, who sided with Russian forces
against the Turks, were killed in the uprising and in deportations to
Syria. A similar number of Turks were also killed in the conflict,
according to the official version. AFP

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/24/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Hopeful Signs on Karabagh Emerge after Moscow Meeting 2) New Twist to Bogazici Armenian Genocide Conference 3) US And Turkey Set to Discuss Bilateral Ties and Rebels 4) EU Commission Sees Turkey Accession Talks on Target for October 3 5) Armenian Catholicos Set to Visit Javakhk 1) Hopeful Signs on Karabagh Emerge after Moscow Meeting MOSCOW (AP/Itar-Tass)--The foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan said on Wednesday that they saw hopeful signs recently in the drive to find a settlement to the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian stressed that the self-determination of Mountainous Karabagh is a priority in settling the conflict, which should focus on the rights of its population to take care of their fate. "Other problems are to cope with the consequences of the conflict, settle territorial claims, and return refugees," and added that there is hope the sides would find common denominators. `It would bring peace and stability to southern Caucasus." "The settlement requires active work," Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said, adding that it is premature to talk about any headway in resolving the conflict. The three ministers met in Moscow on Wednesday, along with representatives of the United States, France, and Russia, who are mediating negotiations on settling the conflict. They also discussed arrangements for a meeting Saturday between Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Russia's Volga River city of Kazan. Russia's mediator Yuri Merzlyakov said that Russia "holds a clear position on this issue." "We believe that one should not impose his solution of the problem on the parties to the conflict; they should arrive at it independently, without outside interference," Merzlyakov said. "If a mutually acceptable accord is reached, we'll be able to guarantee it. The settlement should make all the parties involved feel safer, the balance of forces that historically developed in the region should not be upset, while the region itself should not become an arena of rivalry," he added. 2) New Twist to Bogazici Armenian Genocide Conference Abdullah Gul decides to open previously censured gathering of academics ISTANBUL (Combined Sources)--Bogazici University rector Ayse Soysal and the President of Sabanci University, Tosun Terzioglu, told the press on Tuesday that Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul would be opening a conference titled "Ottoman Armenians during the Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy." The conference was initially scheduled for May, but postponed after Turkish justice minister Cemil Cicek branded it "a dagger in the back of the Turkish people." It has been rescheduled to take place at Istanbul's Bogazici University on September 23-25. Soysal and Terzioglu both stressed that such conferences must be viewed from an academic standpoint, without forgetting that the universities do not necessarily share the views of lecturers. They defended their right to criticize politically motivated opposition or support of such discussions prior to their onset, saying that such tactics directly harm the fundamental freedoms of science and education. They suggested that viewpoints could more appropriately be addressed-fully reviewed and criticized in academic circlesafter presentations are allowed to be made. Though they did not elaborate on Gul's appearance, Hurriyet newspaper reported that in a phone conversation with Soysal, Gul responded to the invitation, saying that he would have to check his schedule for conflicts. However, Gul confirmed that he would be launching the conference. "The rector requested that I speak, and I accepted. We have no reservations or concerns about this matter. Why should we bury our head in the sand? That is what I said about the first planned conference that was postponed unnecessarily. Our society can undoubtedly debate this issue." But the Turkish Justice Minister had condemned the original initiative as a blow to government efforts to counter a mounting Armenian campaign to have the Genocide recognized internationally. "We must put an end to this cycle of treason and insult, of spreading propaganda against the [Turkish] nation by people who belong to it," he had told parliament. According to the AKI news agency, the conference will feature 12 sessions and lectures by 38 academics; panel discussion topics will include "Deportation and Massacre," "Disaster and Rescue Stories," "Memories and Witnesses," and "Things the World Knew that Turkey did not know." 3) US And Turkey Set to Discuss Bilateral Ties and Rebels ANKARA (AFP)--A ranking US official is expected in Turkey on Thursday for talks on bilateral ties and possibly measures to combat armed Turkish Kurd rebels holed up in the mountains of northern Iraq, a US spokesman said. Matt Bryza, deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, "will be visiting Ankara for two days to discuss general matters.... the PKK (the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party) issue could also be brought up," the spokesman, who requested anonymity, said Tuesday. Bryza is also expected to meet officials in charge of the economy and "possibly" military officials, he added. US Joint Chief of Staff General Richard Myers, and General John Abizaid, head of US Central Command, are also expected in Ankara in September, but the exact date of the visit has not been set, the spokesman said. Turkey has long pressured the United States to act against thousands of PKK militants who have found refuge in northern Iraq since 1999 and stepped up their attacks on Turkish targets over the past several months. Last month, the Turkish army's number two, General Ilker Basbug, said that Washington had ordered the capture of PKK commanders in northern Iraq and warned of a Turkish military incursion into the region if Baghdad fails to curb the rebels. Last week, the PKK, listed by the US and the European Union as a terrorist group, announced a unilateral one-month cease-fire until September 20 to give Turkey time to take steps to resolve the conflict. Ankara did not respond to the truce offer. Some 37,000 people have died since 1984, when the PKK first took up arms for self-rule in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast. 4) EU Commission Sees Turkey Accession Talks on Target for October 3 BRUSSELS (AFX)--The European Union's executive commission said on Wednesday it still expects accession negotiations with Turkey to open as scheduled on Oct 3, amid French pressure for a delay. "As far as the views of the commission are concerned, the commission presented the negotiation framework for Turkey before the summer break... and of course it hopes and expects this will be adopted by the member states," said Krisztina Nagy, spokeswoman for EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn. At the beginning of the month, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin poured cold water on the prospect of the talks starting on time as long as Ankara does not recognize EU member Cyprus. Nagy said that, for the commission, Turkey had met the conditions set for opening the talks, namely carrying out a package of legal reforms and adopting a customs agreement with the EU. "There were two preconditions set for the opening of the start of the negotiations....these two things have happened." EU foreign ministers will have their chance to address the question of accession talks with Turkey at an informal meeting in the Welsh city of Newport on Sept 1-2. Ahead of that meeting, EU ambassadors are to discuss the issue on Aug 31. Turkey only recognizes the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, proclaimed in 1983, nine years after Turkish troops occupied the northern third of Cyprus in response to an Athens-engineered Greek Cypriot coup in Nicosia aimed at uniting the Mediterranean island with Greece. Turkey says its position towards the Greek Cypriot administration will remain unchanged until the conflict is resolved and the Turkish and Greek communities of the island are reunified. 5) Armenian Catholicos Set to Visit Javakhk AKHALKALAKThe Catholicos of all Armenians, Karekin II is set to visit southern Georgia's predominately Armenian region of Javakhk to consecrate the newly constructed Armenian Diocese building on October 1. Karekin II also plans to meet with the local population, which has not had a visit from an Armenian Catholicos since Khrimian Hayrig in 1896. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

PRESS RELEASE
The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
August 24, 2005
National Citizens’ Initiative Starts Examining Violation of Property Rights
in Armenia
Yerevan–The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened the first of
its roundtable series on “Human Rights, State and Communal Necessities.” The
meeting brought together policy makers, lawyers, jurists, analysts, experts,
media representatives, and some former residents of Yerevan’s Kentron
district whose ownership rights have been breached while implementing
Yerevan’s construction investment plan.
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening
remarks and wished the participants fruitful work, while stressing this
matter’s importance for the Armenian society and the state. “The institution
of a market economy in Armenia is unimaginable without property rights. It
is impossible to build democracy without human rights, including the
recognition, respect, and defense of ownership privileges. Consequently,
when the possessions of the citizen of the Republic of Armenia is being
alienated, that must occur exclusively within the frameworks of honoring
human rights, the laws of the Republic of Armenia, and international
approaches and norms. Our task today is to examine the legality and grounds
for the property alienation of hundreds of families previously living in
downtown Yerevan. From that vantage point, by taking into account the
fortune threatening Kond, the area near the wine factory and other
neighborhoods, and the similar procedures that have gotten underway in
different communities of Yerevan, in the city of Vanadzor and elsewhere, the
alienation of the estates of former dwellers of Lalayants, Pushkin, Buzand,
Aram, and other streets, therefore, is not the final serious test for us
all,” Khurshudian said.
The opening remarks were followed by NCI’s 10-minute “no comment” video
clip, which aims to apprise the public roundtable participants of the
essence of the problem, from the infringements upon ownership rights to
protests and public operations for the protection of personal rights, all of
which have been met with either the authorities’ silence and apathy, or
insufficient answers.
And in order to obtain explanations for the unanswered questions,
representatives from the corresponding authoritative bodies were also
invited to the event. The first roundtable on alienation of property started
with a policy intervention by Armen Tadevosian, a specialist from the staff
of Armenia’s ombudswoman. According to him, the human rights defender’s
office is dealing with this matter for a long time now. In the department’s
2004 report, there is an expansive reference made to the violation of the
rights of former residents of those areas in the Kentron community that have
been declared construction zones. In the words of Tadevosian, Armenia’s
ombudswoman has made attempts to get explanations from related structures.
In the face of the authorities’ harsh resistance, however, these efforts
were sometimes unproductive. Armen Tadevosian even recalled the time when
the president of Armenia had appealed to the Constitutional Court, whereupon
the defender of human rights was accused of intervening in the rule of law
and meddling in the affairs of jurisprudence. Despite all these, the
evaluation by the ombudswoman’s office is that what has taken place and that
which is occurring now is “a blatant violation of our citizens’ ownership
and other economic rights” and that “the City Hall is not taking into
consideration the rights of the land user or the proprietor.” Tadevosian
noted that “in the case when there is no adopted law on real estate that is
included in the alienation belt of Yerevan’s construction projects, when the
owners do not agree with alienation, then the government of the Republic of
Armenia is not empowered to adopt such resolutions.” He also declared that
the ombudswoman’s office has exhausted all measures toward the protection of
human rights, and that it would come out with an extraordinary report that
would call on the people to petition the MPs in their constituencies, and
encourage them to join the National Assembly’s signature campaign. Perhaps
in this way, it might be possible to make the Constitutional Court take up
the matter.
Vice-chair of the “Bureau for the Carrying out of Yerevan’s Construction
Investment Plans” state organization Samvel Papikian and the specialist from
the same office, Gagik Martirosian, pointed out that the alienation of
people’s property in the name of state needs is taking place legitimately,
and that it is based on the government’s resolution #950, adopted on October
5, 2001, which relates to “the confirmation of the order for the purchase,
offering a purchase price, and usage of land and real estate located in
Yerevan’s Northern Avenue and other alienation belts of the city of
Yerevan,” and decision #909, reached on June 17, 2004, which relates to
“allocating unauctioned land for the purpose of implementing construction
investment plans in the areas acquired for state necessities, in order to
engage in urban development projects in the main avenue of the city of
Yerevan.” According to Papikian and Martirosian, “the government itself has
defined state needs and the zones for usage, and the agency is bringing
those decisions to life.”
As mentioned by the lawyers, jurists, and legal advocates participating in
the roundtable, the purchase and acquisition of land and real estate in this
territory were accompanied by severe violations. First, Article 8 of the
Republic of Armenia’s Constitution stipulates that “the right to property is
recognized and protected in the Republic of Armenia,” and then, in
accordance with Article 28, “the owner may be deprived of private property
only by a court in cases prescribed by law. Private property may be
alienated for the needs of society and the state only under exceptional
circumstances, with due process of law, and with prior equivalent
compensation.” The state has not verified in any way as to how allowing
private companies the opportunity to make investment proposals and to gain
profits from newly-built structures is linked with state necessity. What are
“state needs?” How exceptional are the property alienation cases? Why is the
person being compelled to “vacate his own home?” Why is he being obliged to
“conform” to the contract’s content and sum of the compensation, etc.? None
of these is defined. Both the lawyers and residents agree that the
compensation amount does not correspond to the value of the property.
Accordingly, it cannot satisfy the proprietor, especially when the allocated
compensation cannot cover the cost of an apartment in similar or even worse
condition in the same area. This procedure also conflicts with Section 1 of
the 1st Protocol of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and
Basic Freedoms, which requires consideration of the right of property.
The next two policy interventions referred to the legal defense of ownership
rights. Member of Armenia’s Barristers’ Union Arthur Grigorian talked about
“the upholding of the standards for fair trial ‘in the cases of alienating
the property of citizens for state needs.'” The lawyer who has taken part in
numerous hearings in that respect maintained that the legal breaches were
blatant and many.
In his turn, director of the legal firm “Right,” Vahe Grigorian, pointed out
many violations of the right for legal protection, which he and his clients
had confronted during the court defense of property rights. “The affixation
of property alienation under exceptional cases in the Constitution perhaps
is not enough to dispossess the person from that right. The citizen’s
consent is very important,” Grigorian noted.
The two men also underscored that when it comes to protecting transgressed
rights, the courts’ dependency on Armenia’s executive authority has become a
very serious issue. Numerous residents have already exhausted the internal
avenues of court defense, and a number of cases now have been forwarded to
the European Court of Human Rights. They further added that at the court,
the representatives of the authorities are not able to point to a state need
that validates the people’s deprivation of their belongings en masse. And
from the very beginning, there was not even a construction plan or any
architectural document prior to this procedure. Vice-chair of the “Bureau
for the Carrying out of Yerevan’s Construction Investment Plans” state
organization Samvel Papikian and the specialist from the same office Gagik
Martirosian mentioned that there was a blueprint.
During the debates, it became apparent that one of the painful issues in
this process was tied to the understanding of the precept of “with due
process of law” that the society and legal advocates retain on the one hand,
and the state maintains on the other. Since they are deprived of the
opportunity to appeal to the Constitutional Court for the violation of their
constitutional rights, Armenia’s citizens are also dispossessed of the
chance to dispute the government’s resolutions in court. Consequently, the
resolution of this matter meets an impasse, and remains hanging on either
the National Assembly, the President, or the political will and wishes of
the government itself. For now, however, this is lacking.
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian stated that extensive infringement upon
property rights have made the preparation of the summary report an urgent
matter. “In the upcoming months, the NCI will come up with a tri-lingual
review, which will be presented for public attention and discussion during
one of the following roundtables,” Khurshudian furthermore informed.
The remainder of the session was devoted to exchanges of views and policy
recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists in
attendance. Noteworthy were interventions by MP Vardan Mkrtchian; Armenian
Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) research coordinator
Stiopa Safarian; Ruzan Khachatrian of the People’s Party; Edgar Hakobian of
the “Heritage” Party; NCI legal advisor Lusine Shahmuradian; “Institute of
Culture and National Values” NGO chairwoman Armine Gasparian; a number of
specialists from the Armenian ombudswoman’s staff; head of the “Victims of
State Needs” civil initiative Vachakan Hakobian and a group of former
residents of the Buzand, Lalayants, Aram, and Pushkin streets who are
members; and many others.
The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association founded
in December 2001 by Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow
citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall
improvements in the state of the state, society, and public institutions.
The National Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which
includes individual citizens and representatives of various public,
scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law and
State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and
Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the
Initiative’s work and outreach.
For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; e-mail [email protected]; or visit

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS MEETS WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE
WCC DIAKONIA AND SOLIDARITY MIDDLE EAST DESK
His Holiness Aram I met with the director of the WCC Diakonia and Solidarity
Middle East Desk, Dr. Michel Nseir, in Bikfayya on August 24. Dr. Nseir had
come to consult with His Holiness on the problems the WCC faces in the
Middle East.
The two talked about issues related to cooperation between the churches in
Jerusalem and the World Council of Churches. They also discussed problems
related to the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
His Holiness and Dr. Nseir also discussed about the activities and work of
the Middle East Council of Churches and the agendas of the two upcoming
ecumenical meetings in Damascus and Beirut.
The first meeting will look into preparing the delegates form the Middle
East to participate in WCC’s 9th congress in Brazil in 2006. The agenda of
the second meeting will include discussions about the possibility of
cooperation between ecclesiastical organizations and churches.
The Catholicosate of Cilicia will send delegates to both of these
conferences. The primate of the Diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sebouh
Sarkissian and the Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate, Bishop Nareg
Alemezian, will participate in the meeting to be held in Damascus.
The chairwoman of the Catholicosate’s ecumenical committee, Dr. Nora
Bairakdarian-Kabakian will participate in the meeting to be held in Beirut.
His Holiness made certain recommendations to Dr. Nseir on how to render WCC’
s Middle Eastern department more active and effective.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress