TURKISH PRESS ACCUSES FRANCE IN LYING IN ARMENIAN ISSUE
09.08.2005 08:36
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish press accuses France in lying and asserts
the country that comes against Turkey’s accession to the EU «lies to
the world in the issue of the Armenian Genocide.» According to the
Zaman newspaper writes that there are documents in French sources
allegedly proving the opposite «just Armenians had organized massacre
of thousands of Muslims in Ottoman Turkey.» Naturally, the newspaper
does not cite any facts.

EXHIBITION DEVOTED TO ARMENIAN DIPLOMAT OPENS IN ROMANIA
09.08.2005 03:36
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday an exhibition devoted to famous Armenian
Romanian merchant of 18-19th centuries, diplomat, political figure
Manuk bey Mirzayan opened in Bucharest City Museum, reported the Press
Service of the Armenian MFA. Manuk bey is a famous person in
Romania. His activities actively displayed during the Russian-Turkish
war in 1806-1912. He was awarded noble titles, state ranks on behalf
of the Russian and Ottoman Empires. Using his ties, Manuk bey played
an important role in the Russian-Turkish talks as a mediator and the
Russian-Turkish peace treaty was signed in his estate in 1812. The
Bucharest City Museum Director, Armenian Ambassador in Romania,
Romanian Senate member, Chairman of the Armenian Union of Romania and
others addressed the opening ceremony. The exhibition to last a year
presents documents of Manuk bey, handwritten documents, everyday life
items, as well as clothes and other things. The Museum has also
published a book about Manuk bey Mirzayan’s activities.

DENMARK DOUBTS PROSPECTS OF TURKISH ACCESSION TO EU
09.08.2005 06:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Danish Premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen doubts
prospects of Turkey’s accession to the EU. At the latest congress of
the Liberal Party of Denmark, headed by him, the PM stated it was not
necessary for Turkey to bean EU member equally as the EU countries. He
spoke in favor of EU partners to hold discussion over EU enlargement.
«If the EU is too large, it will collapse,» he said. Heads of EU
countries and governments have determined October 3 as the day for
start of talks over Turkey’s accession to the EU.

TRIAL OF TURKISH SCHOLAR BEGAN IN YEREVAN
09.08.2005 04:56
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish scholar indicted for smuggling stated he
did not deliberately violate any law of the Republic of Armenia. This
statementof Yektan Turkyilmaz addressed to the society and
law-enforcement bodies was conveyed by her mother when, having visited
her son yesterday, she met with journalists. Gulsin Turkyilmaz stated
her son did not plead guilty, as he did not know there are laws of
that kind in Armenia. It should be reminded that passenger of
Yerevan-Istanbul flight, Turkish citizen Yektan Turkyilmaz was taken
into custody at Zvartnots Armenian airport. 88 books of 17-20
centuries were discovered in his luggage and license was necessary to
take 7 books out of the country, while he did not have it. Yektan
Turkyilmaz is Istanbul resident and is a Duke University (North
Carolina) Ph.D. His «interest» toward the culture of Armenia is
diverse. He tried to take away medical books and literature, as well
as books on history, geography and the formation of traditional
parties in Armenia. In case of being recognized guilty, the Turkish
scholar will face 4-8 years of imprisonment. The trial starts
today. Turkish authorities are aware of the incident, however they
undertake nothing, Mrs. Turkyilmaz said. It should be taken into
account that Yektan Turkyilmaz is for recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. However, in his lawyer Vardui Elbakyan’s words, there are
apprehensions that in case of being released and return to Turkey,
proceedings may be instituted against him there, reported Armenpress.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PM RECEIVES OUTGOING INDIAN AMBASSADOR
YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian received today the outgoing Indian ambassador to Armenia
Deepak Vohra who ended his mission in Armenia.
The governmental press service said during the meeting the prime
minister thanked the ambassador for his effective work and wished
success in his further mission. On his part, the ambassador noted that
it was great honor for him to work in Armenia and he leaves the
country full of great impressions and memories.
He said that his next mission will be in Sudan and he has already
managed to find information about the local Armenian community and is
going to establish close relations with its representatives. The
ambassador thanked the Armenian government and prime minister for
supporting him during his mission.

MARGARYAN MET WITH INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA, COMPLETING SERVICE
09.08.2005 08:22
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan met with
Indian Ambassador to Armenia Dipak Vohra, who is completing his
diplomatic service in Armenia, reported the Press Service of the
Armenian Government. Margaryan thanked the Ambassador for joint
efficient work and wished him good luck in further activities. Dipak
Vohra noted that he was honored with work in Armenia and he leaves
with nice impressions and memories. He said he will continue
diplomatic service in Sudan and has already found information on the
Armenian community and plans to establish firm relations with the
Armenians of Sudan. The Indian diplomat thanked the Armenian
Government and the PM for assistance in the course of his work in
Armenia.

GREEK MFA FINANCES A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA
09.08.2005 08:49
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian-Greek relations strengthen, including new
fields, Mayor of Verona Greek city Nikolas Khartalias stated at a news
conference in Yerevan. In his words, a number of towns of the two
countries have signed brotherhood memorandums. He noted the
cooperation between Noyemberyan (Armenia) and Verona (Greece)
established in 2000 evidences that the friendly relations between the
two countries develop on the economic and cultural basis. Khartalias
said that Verona assisted Noyemberyan in restoring the city park and
Zoravar Andranik Street this year. $15 thousand are assigned and $25
thousand planned to be allocated. In his turn ARF Dashnakstutyun Greek
Center representative G. Karapetyan noted that memorandum on
brotherhood will be signed between Armenian Ijevan and Greek Nika,
Armenian Alaverdi and Greek Rendis. It should be noted that next year
the Greek MFA will provide 1.5-2 million euros that will be spent to
create employment in Armenia, Armenpress reported.

Romanian Holocaust Research Institute enrich debate

David Dahan
EJP
09/Aug/2005 16:30

The Romanian government this week announced the creation of a new
Holocaust Research Institute which could open as soon as September
2005.
Its mission will be to “clarify the truth on the Holocaust based on
scientific research and to focus on the spiritual heritage of the
Jewish community in Romania.”
Among the thirty people working on the project, fifteen are experts in
Holocaust history. The project will be financed by the Romanian
government up to 200,000 euros.
“A scientific council and an honour committee gathering prominent
international Holocaust experts will be created as consultative
branches ofthe research institute,” a spokesman for the institute
said.
International Commission on Holocaust Studies
The International Commission on Holocaust Studies in Romania was
created in October 2003, following the statements of former president
Ion Iliescu, minimizing the consequences of the Holocaust.
Directed by the Peace Nobel prize winner Elie Wiesel, the
commissionâ=80=99s aims to reveal “historical facts” regarding the
Holocaust in Romania in order toend all the controversies around the
subject.
According to the last commission report published in November 2004,
270,000 Romanian and Ukrainian Jews died in the Romanian administrated
territories during the war. The report added that 25,000 gypsies were
deported of whom half perished.
Urge to Inform Romanian on Holocaust History
Alexandru Florian from the Institute for Social and Democratic Studies
in Romania and member of the commission told EJP he hoped the new
institute will be operational as soon as this Autumn.
He also said that he was looking forward to October 9th, the Romanian
day of remembrance of the Holocaust, when the government will announce
an international contest for the creation of a monument commemorating
the Holocaust.
Florian noted an improvement in Romania Holocaust recognition since
the government statement in 2003 recognizing the Antonescu government
responsability in the in the deportation of Romanian Jews.
“Last autumn we broadcasted a documentary on national television
channels acknowledging the responsibility of Romania in the
Holocaust,” Florian said, adding that “this kind of initiative really
enriched the debate in Romania regarding the Holocaust.”
When asked if Romania experienced political pressures in order to
recognize it’s country responsibility in the Holocaust, comparable to
the pressures exerted on Turkey for the Armenian genocide of 1915
Florian answered: “Of course the government experienced some
international pressures and political pressures coming from within and
from Israel, the European Union or the United States, especially after
the choking statements of former president Iliescu in 2003.”
“Nevertheless, said Florian, `the government’s goal in the creation of
the institute, is not purely political, in order to integrate the
European Union, but the government has the honorable and sincere
objective to finally say the truth on the country’s role in the
deportation of the Jews during World War II.”
Florian stressed to EJP that he “hoped that the institute will be of
great importance in the education of youngsters and elders regarding
World War IIand the Holocaust.”

Remnants of the monastery in which the relics of St. Matthews may
reside discovered in Kirghizia
Bishkek, August 9, Interfax – Kirghiz archeologists have
discoveredruins of the Armenian monastery in which St. Matthews may
have been buried, at eastern side of Lake Issyk-Kul in the north of
the country.
Local mass media have reported Tuesday, citing the leader of the
archeological expedition Vladimir Ploskikh, that the ruins of the
monasteryhave been discovered near the village of Tiuf, on the land
surrounded by water from three sides, though they had searched for
them underwater. The ruins are concealed inside a large loam hill.
The search for the Armenian monastery in which, according to
tradition, St. Matthews was buried began in 2000, prompted by
information received from various sources, including the notes of
Russian traveler Petr Semenov Tian-Shansky.
There is a legend that St. Matthews at the end of his life went to
India but died on his way there somewhere in Kirghizia, having had
time though to found several Christian communities.
Kirghiz archeologists together with explorers from Russia and Germany
intend to continue their search for the burial place of St. Matthews
at the spot where the ruins of the Armenian monastery have been
discovered.

Azeri opposition members clash with pro-government pickets in Baku
Assa-Irada
9 Aug 05
BAKU
A group of Ganca [Azerbaijan’s second largest city] residents and
members of the Modern Musavat Party today attempted to stage an
unauthorized picket outside the headquarters of the [opposition]
People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party [PFAP] in protest against the
activities of Ruslan Basirli, who is being accused of cooperating with
the Armenian special services.
PFAP members blocked the pickets at the intersection of Rasid Behbudov
and Xaqani Streets, where the pickets were forced to retreat after a
clash broke out between the sides. The PFAP members marched towards
Uzeyir Hacibayov Street and threw eggs at the building housing the
editorial offices of [pro-government] Yeni Azarbaycan and Sas
newspapers. The police prevented them from entering the building.
Several people from both sides are said to have been injured during
the clash. An investigation is under way into the clashes that
occurred outside the PFAP headquarters in the last three days, Xanlar
Zeynalov, chief of the Sabayil district police department, has told
reporters. He said criminal proceedings will be instituted based on
the investigation. Zeynalov did not rule out that the PFAP members who
used force during the clashes will be arrested.