Turkish Press
April 27 2005

Press Review:

Aksam
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT: `WE AGAIN PROPOSE ESTABLISHING NORMAL RELATIONS
WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS’

Armenian President Robert Kocharian yesterday answered a recent
letter from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposing formation
of a joint Turkish-Armenian group to study the so-called Armenian
genocide allegations. In his letter, Kocharian said, as neighbors,
Turkey and Armenia should try to find ways to live peacefully both
today and in the future, adding that for these reasons, Armenia was
proposing the establishment of normal relations, opening the borders
and starting a dialogue between the two countries. `There are
neighboring states ` specifically in the European continent `
whose past was difficult and whose views were at odds,’ he said.
`However, this did not prevent them from opening their borders,
having diplomatic relations, sending representatives to each
other’s capitals, and at the same time discussing disputed
issues.’ Kocharian added that the proposal would not work if it
does not deal with both the present and the future, adding that for
an efficient dialogue, there was a need to foster a favorable
political atmosphere. `Thus, we have proposed and we again propose
establishment of normal relations between our countries without
preconditions,’ he said. `Within that context an
intergovernmental commission may be formed to discuss any issue or
issues existing between our countries with the aim of solving them
and coming to a mutual understanding.’ /Aksam/

Turkish Press
April 27 2005

Press Review:

Sabah:
BAYKAL: `SAYING WE’LL OPEN OUR ARCHIVES TO LOOK INTO THE
SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISN’T ENOUGH’

Addressing his party’s group meeting yesterday, opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal evaluated
recent developments on the so-called Armenian genocide issue, and
criticized the government’s stance, saying, `Saying we’ll open
up our archives isn’t enough. We should also consider the political
dimension.’ /Sabah

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
April 27, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

KANSAS BECOMES 38th STATE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

— ANCA Welcomes Proclamation by Gov. Sebelius

WASHINGTON, DC – Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas has issued a
proclamation marking the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
making the Sunflower State the 38th U.S. state to go on record
commemorating this crime against humanity, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

“Armenian Americans very much appreciate Governor Sebelius’
leadership in adding Kansas to the list of U.S. states that have
formally recognized the Armenian Genocide,” said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA. “We are hopeful that the growing
pressure on the White House – from state governments and U.S.
legislators – will impress upon the President that he should not
stand in the way of Congressional legislation marking this crime
against humanity.”

In the proclamation, issued on April 20th, Gov. Sebelius proclaims
April 24th, 2005, “Armenian Remembrance Day.” She notes that April
24th marks “the ninetieth anniversary of the genocide and
deportations of countless Armenians in Ottoman Turkey; this great
sorrow continues to haunt not only Armenians but also their
neighbors in Turkey.”

Governor Sebelius goes on to “salute the modern nation of Armenia,
and Armenians everywhere,” noting that “Kansas is grateful for the
contributions of Armenian Americans who have chosen Kansas as their
adopted home. They have employed wisdom, courage and centuries old
traditions to enrich the character of our state through their
leadership in business, agriculture, academia, government and the
arts”

In 2004, Governor Sebelius had issued a proclamation marking June
18th, 2004 as “Kansas-Armenia Partnership Day.” The measure called
attention to the special relationship between the Kansas National
Guard and Armenia, which began in 2003 as part of the State’s
Partnership Program. That program pairs developing nations in
Europe, South America and Asia with the National Guard in states
and territories to foster mutual interests and establish long-term
relationships.

During a June 18, 2004 special ceremony held at the State Defense
Building in Topeka, State Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. (KS) Tod
Bunting noted that, “Our Constitution starts ‘We, the People of the
United States…’ Through this program, it is ‘We the People’ of
Kansas who are reaching out in a spirit of cooperation to the
people of Armenia to show them who we are and how we live and to
learn from them who they are and how they live.”

The complete text of the 2005 Kansas Genocide proclamation is
provided below.

#####

Proclamation by Kansas State Governor Kathleen Sebelius

TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS, GREETINGS:

WHEREAS, today is a day for Kansas to join in remembrance of a
human tragedy that stands as a reminder for us to strive for a
future of peace, prosperity and freedom for all; and

WHEREAS, today marks the ninetieth anniversary of the genocide and
deportations of countless Armenians in Ottoman Turkey; this great
sorrow continues to haunt not only Armenians but also their
neighbors in Turkey; and

WHEREAS, we are reminded that the suffering of the Armenian people
from 1915-1923 was a tragedy which the world should not forget and
applauds efforts of Armenia and Turkey to come together to consider
these events and their significance; and

WHEREAS, Kansas also wishes these countries success as they build
on their recent achievements and encourages them to continue to
work together in a spirit of hope and understanding; and

WHEREAS, Kansas remembers those who perished and suffered, we also
salute the modern nation of Armenia, and Armenians everywhere.
Kansas is grateful for the contributions of Armenian Americans who
have chosen Kansas as their adopted home. They have employed
wisdom, courage and centuries old traditions to enrich the
character of our state through their leadership in business,
agriculture, academia, government and the arts; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
KANSAS, on behalf of the people of Kansas, send solemn wishes to
the Armenian people on this day of remembrance, and do hereby
proclaim April 24, 2005, as

Armenian Remembrance Day

in Kansas, and urge all citizens to join in this observance. Our
state and the Armenian nation stand together, with our partnership
of peace, prosperity and freedom.

DONE: At the Capitol in Topeka
under the Great Seal of the
State this 20th day of April, A.D. 2005

BY THE GOVERNOR:

Turkish Press
April 27 2005

Press Scan:

MEETING WITH ARNIE TO BE RECONSIDERED

MILLIYET- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was planning to
meet Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, during his
scheduled meeting to the United States in June. However, Erdogan
decided to reconsider the meeting after Schwarzenegger declared April
24th as the day of commemorating so-called Armenian genocide.

Turkish Press
April 27 2005

Press Scan:

RESPONSE FROM ARMENIA

CUMHURIYET- President Robert Kocharian of Armenia conditionally
backed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal to set
up a joint commission to investigate allegations of so-called
Armenian genocide. Kocharian said that the proposal would work only
if better relations were first established between Turkey and
Armenia. Earlier, Prime Minister Erdogan suggested opening up the
countries’ state archives for experts from both countries to resolve
the issue.

Turkish Press
April 27 2005

Press Scan:

KOCHARIAN: ”YES, WE CAN MEET”

ZAMAN- Armenian President Robert Kocharian has informed the Turkish
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he accepts Erdogan’s proposal to
form a committee comprised of historians and other experts to study
the incidents of early 20th century. Kocharian implied that the past
could not be discussed without taking into consideration today and
tomorrow. In his letter, Kocharian did not use the term ”genocide.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Press
April 27 2005

Press Scan:

”WE CAN CONFRONT THE HISTORY”

RADIKAL- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on
Armenia and all other third countries to open their archives to
reveal the historical facts, stressing, ”we have opened our
archives. If we have to face up to our history, we will do so. But
other countries must also face up to the same history,” Speaking at
a conference hosted by the Economist Group, Prime Minister Erdogan
said, ”no one has the right to defame our country with such baseless
allegations.”

Turkish Press
April 27 2005

Kocharian Responds To Letter Of Erdogan

YEREVAN – Armenian President Robert Kocharian responded to the letter
of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who proposed to set up a joint
commission of historians to investigate the facts of 1915.

Mediamax agency based in Yerevan said on Tuesday that Kocharian
mainly told in the letter that ”an inter-governmental commission can
be created to discuss any single question between our two countries
or all questions with the goal of solving them and achieving joint
understanding.”

Kocharian said that Armenia wanted to have diplomatic relations with
Turkey, to open the borders and to start the dialogue between the two
peoples. ”We have proposed and continue to propose establishing,
without any preconditions, normal relations between our countries,”
Kocharian wrote in his reply.

Commenting that it was mainly the responsibility of governments to
improve bilateral relations, not that of historians, Kocharian said
in the letter that ”your proposal to address the past cannot be
effective if it doesn’t relate to the present and future.”

Turkish Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia sent the letter to Ankara.

Today, Azerbaijan
April 27 2005

Azeri politicians do not expect break in a meeting of Armenian and
Azeri foreign ministers

Elmar Namazov, the co-founder of the ‘New Policy’ bloc, a political
scientist, considers the forthcoming meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani FMs, Vardan Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov, to be held in
Frankfurt on Wednesday as senseless.

“Taking into consideration that the sides could not reach agreement
on principle issues, as well as the situation on the eve of the
parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, one can state with confidence
that convenient time for compromises was lost,” Namazov told Trend.
The favorable time for compromises will come after the elections. “It
would be so naive to expect a breakthrough until the parliamentary
elections, so it would be talks for the sake of talks,” the political
scientist underlined.

He marked that on the eve of the elections the Karabakh card becomes
more applicable in the domestic struggle. “The opportunities for
compromises in Azerbaijan will appear after the elections. It cannot
be said about Armenia with strong domestic resistance,” he
underlined.

Namazov underlined that real breaks in talks will be possible as soon
as free and transparent elections are held in Armenia and Azerbaijan
and legitimate government is established.

Mubariz Ahmadoglu, the head of the Political Technologies and
Innovations Center, also too far from the optimism in the forthcoming
meeting of the Armenia and Azerbaijani FMs. Today the OSCE Minsk
Group like Armenia is in confusion. Armenia offers to liquidate a
notion of ‘Prague process’, as Armenians associate Prague as place of
domination of Azerbaijan. So the last talks were held in London, and
the next are to be held in Frankfurt. “They try to satisfy the
ambitions of Armenian. So, I don’t believe the talks to be
effective,” Ahmadoglu underlined.

He noted that the initiative in the talks on Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution is in Azerbaijan at present. Azerbaijan always
preferred the political resolution to the conflict and after the
establishment of the economic cooperation. Azerbaijan offers joint
use of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan and Armenia in parallel to
the talks on political settlement of the conflict. “This is a
concrete proposal awaiting a concrete reply, the Armenian side is not
to answer it and delays the negotiation processes

In his turn Musabayov said that nothing essential should be expected
from the forthcoming meeting of the ministers. “the only result of
the talks might be a meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
Presidents, to be held in Moscow as part of celebrations of the 60th
anniversary of the victory fascism,” he underlined.

As to Armenian Minister’s avoidance from the direct talks with his
Azerbaijani counterpart, Musabayov clarifies that Oskanian had
nothing to say because he did not have authority to t o take any
resolution.

URL:

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
April 27 2005

Erdogan calls for end to genocide claims

The Turkish Prime Minister said the history of the Turks has never
made them bow down.

April 27 – Turkey’s Prime Minister has called on the Armenian head
of the state Robert Kocharyan to end the claims of genocide before
the two counties could start diplomatic relations.

In response to a letter sent by Kocharyan responding to
Ankara’s calls to set up a joint committee of historians to use
state archive to study the genocide claims, Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said it was impossible to establish formal relations
between the two countries without dealing with the so-called genocide
issue.
`If it is necessary to question our history we will do so.
We are not a nation that denies its history,’ Erdogan said during a
joint press conference with visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Helen
Clark.
In reaction to the allegations that the Ottoman Empire
committed genocide against its Armenian citizens during the First
World War, Turkey submitted a note of protest to Russia for its
parliament giving recognition to the genocide.
The speaker of the Turkish parliament, Bulent Arinc, also sent
a letter to his Polish counterpart condemning Poland’s recognition
of the so-called Armenian genocide.