Fuel smuggling continues in northern, eastern Iran – agency

Baztab web site, Tehran
12 Apr 05

The smuggling of fuel (under the name of solvents) has been spread
from the northern borders of the country to the southern borders,
Bazrab News Agency reports.

The report indicates that some organizations affiliated to a number of
influential people are smuggling a large quantity of fuel under the
name of gas-derivative solvents, to Armenia and other former Soviet
republics.

The fuel stored in metal barrels in cooperation with the Julfa
Standards Laboratory, is exported as chemical solvents.

As this route for smuggling became common knowledge, the smuggling of
fuel has shifted to the eastern borders of the country and a large
quantity of fuel has been sent to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The huge difference between the price of fuel in Iran and abroad has
led to smuggling of fuel with substantial illegal earnings.

The difference between a litre of gasoline, petrol and white spirit in
Iran and abroad is 2500 rials and for every barrel about 500,000 rials
and as a result of the officially-sanctioned smuggling 50 per cent of
the income is given to smugglers who enjoy special immunity.

STUDENTS CONDUCT ACTION AGAINST VIOLATION OF ARMENIAN POPULATION’S
RIGHTS IN GEORGIA

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 14, the students of Yerevan
State Pedagogical University after Kh.Abovian conducted an action of
protest against violation of rights of Armenians living in Georgia.

The action was conduced near the Georgian Embassy in Armenia. During
the action the students applied to Georgian authorities emphasizing
that the action isn’t political. “We are against Georgian extreme
nationalistic forces,” student Arsen Balian declared and gave
assurance that the Georgian state authorities are also interested in
the preservation of the age-old friendship between Armenian and
Georgian peoples. Edgar Gelgelian, students’ representative, was
received by envoy Georgy Saganelidze. According to E.Gelgelian, the
envoy gave explanations on the questions raised by the students. Thus,
the envoy guaranteed that the places compactly populated by Armenians
won’t be populated by Turks. As for the reduction of the number of
lessons of Armenian language and history in Armenian schools of
Georgia, according to the envoy, this issue will be solved in favor of
the pupils’ knowledge. The envoy gave assurance that transport and
energy problems of Akhalkalak will be solved during the coming
months. As for the issue of destruction of Armenian churches, the
envoy said that only 1 case of destruction was fixed and those guilty
were punished. E.Gelgelian also said that Georgy Saganelidze expressed
gratitude to the students

Turkey calls on Armenia to agree to joint research on Armenian massacres

AP Worldstream
Apr 13, 2005

Turkey’s foreign minister told an open session of parliament Tuesday
that his government is calling on Armenia to jointly research the
killings during World War I, Armenians say was a genocide.

Armenia accuses Turkey of genocide in the killings of up to 1.5
million Armenians during World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman
Empireas as part of a campaign to force them out of eastern
Turkey. Turkey denies this.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s call, unusual in its openness, comes
two weeks before the 90th anniversary of the date that Armenians mark
as the start of the killings. Turkey is keen to head off Armenian
pressure on European countries and the United States to mark the
anniversary by recognizing the killings as a genocide.

There was no official reaction in Armenia to Gul’s call, but Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in February that Armenia had no
intention to conduct additional research on an issue that it regarded
as a historical fact.

Gul said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a letter to
Armenian President Robert Kocharian, inviting Armenia to help set up a
joint research committee.

“No doubt, a positive response from Armenia to our call, would
contribute to improving our relations,” Gul said. “We call on all
countries to use their influence on Armenia and encourage it to accept
this call.”

Turkey has no diplomatic ties with Armenia.

France and Russia have already declared the killings a genocide and
there is strong pressure from Armenian diaspora groups on the
U.S. Congress to recognize the killings as genocide.

The issue is extremely sensitive in Turkey and Turks in the past could
face prosecution for saying the killings were genocide.

The issue was rarely talked about in the past in Turkey, but recently,
facing EU pressure, Turkey has been opening up on the subject.

In rare self-criticism, Gul said Turkey has neglected to properly
respond to the Armenian accusations.

“Unfortunately, Turkey has failed to do necessary homework … and
this has led to the false image that Turkey was hiding something,”
said Gul.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

APRIL 8-14, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS:

TWENTIETH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW ISSUED

SIGNATURE GATHERING CONTINUES

RA COMMERCIAL COURT SECURED THE SUIT ON EVICTION OF “A1+”

JOURNALISTIC FORUM ON MEDIA.AM

CARICATURE CONTEST “SHARP SIGHT”

TWENTIETH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW ISSUED

On April 13 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
twentieth “Press Club” show was issued. The cycle is organized by Yerevan
Press Club under a homonymous project, supported by the OSI Network Media
Program.

Representatives of leading Armenian media and journalistic organizations
discussed the issue of journalists in hot political times. They particularly
focused on several events of public resonance, their media coverage, and
“A1+” TV support actions. The program participants expect the Armenian media
to focus this week on a whole range of issues: whether the quorum will be
achieved at an ordinary four-day Parliament session; the year of dispersing
the opposition rally in Yerevan on the night of April 12-13, 2004; 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to be commemorated on April 24.
Of the international events, as the “Press Club” participants suppose, the
Armenian media will turn to the elections of the Pope and the on-going
discussion in Azerbaijan on conducting parliamentary hearings on Mountainous
Karabagh issue.

This change of the day for the “Press Club” show, issued on the Second
Channel on Mondays, was conditioned by the two-day evening broadcasting of
RA President Robert Kocharian’s meeting with the students and professors of
Yerevan State University Department of Economics.

SIGNATURE GATHERING CONTINUES

On April 12 in Yerevan by Komitas monument a rally to protect “A1+” TV
company was held. The event was the continuation of the actions dedicated to
the third anniversary since the TV company was deprived of air on April 2,
2002 due to refusal of a broadcast license by the National Commission on
Television and Radio. At the rally, in which about 200 people took part, an
announcement was made about continuation of the signature gathering to
support the demand to the RA Ministry of Transportation and Communications,
the National Commission on Television and Radio and other competent bodies
to allocate a vacant frequency to hold a public broadcast licensing
competition (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 1-7, 2005).

The signature gathering will continue till May 3 at the editorial office of
“A1+”. By mid April, the number of gathered signatures surpassed three
thousand.

RA COMMERCIAL COURT SECURED THE SUIT ON EVICTION OF “A1+”

On April 11 RA Commercial Court heard the case of the RA National Science
Academy versus the founder of “A1+” TV company, “Meltex” LLC. The suit
demanded to vacate the premises, currently rented by “A1+” at one of the
Yerevan buildings. As it has been reported, this demand was repeatedly
voiced by NAS throughout the last year, and in 2005 it was intensified to be
an ultimatum. According to the “A1+” head Mesrop Movsesian, the Academy also
called for paying the rent owed and thus violated the existing agreements.
According to these, as Movsesian noted, the rental fee was to be deduced
from the investment that “A1+” made into the building renovation (see
details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, February 4-10, 2005).

As YPC was told by lawyer Tigran Ter-Yesayan, the attorney of “A1+” in its
litigations, it is this circumstance that was used as a basis for the
counter-claim, filed by “A1+” against the National Science Academy and
containing financials claims. Thus, as Tigran Ter-Yesayan stressed, should
“A1+” be evicted, NAS will become the debtor of “A1+”, since the rent owed
is much less than the investment made into the building renovation (over $
30,000, according to the head of the TV company).

In the course of the hearings the Commercial Court dismissed the
counter-claim and two other motions of the respondent. One of the motions
demanded the plaintiff to compensate the expenses on the dissembling and
transportation of the equipment, necessary to vacate the premises, the other
motion challenged the judge.

The RA Commercial court made a ruling to secure the suit of NAS.

According to the “A1+” lawyer, the TV company intends to challenge the
ruling made with the court of supreme jurisdiction.

JOURNALISTIC FORUM ON MEDIA.AM

On the Media.am web site of Internews Armenia public organization a forum
for representatives of media, journalistic associations, students and
teachers of journalism schools operates. Here one can discuss professional
issues, get advice or find important information.

The forum has three sections: “Law and legislation”, “Information sphere”,
“Information technologies”.

“Law and legislation”- in this section answers from the legal experts of
Internews Armenia can be received to questions on legal regulation of print
and broadcast media, the rights of journalists.

“Information sphere” – in this section one can place information on new TV
and radio programs, articles, published in print and online media, as well
as discuss urgent professional issues.

“Information technologies” – this section is intended to discuss Armenian
Internet and the problems of information technologies. The section is
conceived as a continuation of another forum, ,
operating under an Internews Armenia project.

The forum can be visited at

For more information please contact Gegham Vardanian at [email protected]
or by phone – (374 1) 58 36 20.

CARICATURE CONTEST “SHARP SIGHT”

Internews Armenia public organization invites artists, students of arts and
all other interested parties to take part in “Sharp sight” caricature
express contest-exhibition devoted to the World Press Freedom Day, May 3.
Caricatures should be on today’s Armenian TV broadcast content.

The works should be on A4 format paper, enveloped, on which the author’s
name and personal details should be mentioned (address, phone, e-mail). Each
applicant may present up to five works.

Caricatures should be submitted to 3 Arshakunyats ave., 3rd floor, Yerevan.

Deadline: April 30, 2005, 15:00.

For additional information, please, contact Narine Safaryan.

Phone: (374 1) 58 36 20

E-mail: [email protected]

The best two caricatures will be granted money award. The exhibition will be
open at Media.am website ().

Other details on the contest will be available at

N.B. Dear readers, please note that the YPC Weekly Newsletter will next be
issued on April 28, 2005.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

Conference in Moscow addresses Armenian Genocide

14.04.2005 13:11

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – A conference titled “Genocide is a Crime Against
Humanty” was held on April 13 at the Russian Academy of Sciences in
Moscow. The conference, organized by the Russian-Armenian Cooperation
Organization, Russian and Armenian scholars and sponsored by the Union
of Russian Armenians, was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide.

Armenian National Assembly Vice-speaker and the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisian addressed the
conference and read out Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian’s
message.

Professor Yuri Pivovarov of the Russian Academy of Sciences, professor
Yuri Barseghov, Director of the Armenian Institute for International
Law and Political Science, Vasil Manich of Serbian Science
Association, Italian historian Giovanni Guaita were among the scholars
who delivered speeches. All the speakers stressed that the Armenian
Genocide perpetrated by the Turks in 1915, which had claimed 1.5
million Armenian lives has not been yet recognized by the Turkish
government.

Serbians, Kurds and Greeks present at the conference also presented
facts that Turks had committed genocides against their nations too.

At the end of the conference, the participants adopted a resolution,
which among other things mentions that the Armenian Genocide has not
been recognized legally by the international community and Turkish
government due to political reasons.

FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE
Avenue dela Renaissance 10
1000 Bruxelles
Tel/Fax :+32 2 732 70 27
Email : [email protected]

Contact :Talline Tachdjian
Tel/Fax :+32 2 732 70 27
Email : [email protected]

PE : CONFERENCE SUR LES ARMENIENS DE TURQUIE

LES VERTS ADOPTENT LE DISCOURS DE LA TURQUIE

Une réunion intitulée “Les Arméniens en Turquie” s’est déroulée ce
mardi 12 avril au Parlement européen à Strasbourg, à l’initiative de
M. Cem Özdemir (Verts, Allemagne). Trois intervenants étaient invités
à s’exprimer, devant une cinquantaine de participants, lors de cette
réunion placée sous l’égide des Verts, mais bénéficiant de tout
l’appui logistique des services diplomatiques turcs : M. Taner Akçam,
historien et ex-dissident turc ayant traité de la question du
génocide, M. Etyen Mahçupyan, Arménien de Turquie et journaliste au
quotidien Zaman et M. Hrant Dink, rédacteur en chef d’Agos, un
hebdomadaire arménien de Turquie.

La Fédération Euro-Arménienne avait au préalable mis en garde les
parlementaires européens sur les risques de manipulation inhérents à
ce type de spectacle, où des membres d’une minorité otage seraient
contraints de prôner l’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Europe comme
solution à leurs problèmes, tout en évitant d’aborder les questions
taboues. Comme pour confirmer ces craintes, M. Özdemir est parvenu,
lors de son introduction du sujet de la conférence, à éviter le terme
de génocide reprenant en cela la présentation donnée par l’invitation
imprimée qui esquivait également ce terme en le présentant comme une
“interprétation historique”.

Dans son intervention centrée sur les preuves documentées du génocide,
M. Akçam a démontré de manière accablante la formidable entreprise de
falsification et d’invention d’archives par la Turquie. Il a réfuté
les prétendues incohérences entre celles-ci et les archives
occidentales en expliquant clairement que ces dernières avaient été
expurgées et même fabriquées. Il a conclu en notant que ceux qui
s’aventuraient à vouloir consulter ces archives étaient quand bien
même soumis à des menaces.

M. Mahçupyan a pour sa part stigmatisé l’emploi du terme “génocide”
comme signifiant juridique et comme blocage à tout dialogue. Il a mis
l’accent sur le rapport de devoir et de soumission entre l’Etat et le
citoyen en Turquie. Tout en soulignant la continuité idéologique entre
les responsables du Génocide et l’Etat kémaliste, il a renvoyé dos à
dos Turcs et Arméniens pour lesquels “la défense de l’identité devient
l’identité”. Il a conclu par la dialectique turque selon laquelle il y
aurait deux approches de cette question, l’approche arménienne et
l’approche turque.

M. Dink enfin, a avancé que c’était “beaucoup attendre que de demander
à cette société de définir et de nommer ce qui s’est déroulé il y a 90
ans” et qu’il valait mieux se demander si “cette société nie ce
qu’elle sait ou si elle ne peut défendre ce qu’elle ne sait
pas”. N’hésitant pas à parler d’ouverture en évoquant les propositions
turques de commission d’historiens, M. Dink a cependant précisé que
“les relations arméno-turques ne se limitent pas à l’Histoire” et que
“le dossier politique doit primer sur le dossier
historique”. Absolvant l’Etat turc, il a finalement conclu à la
responsabilité “écrasante” des Européens sur la question du Génocide
en les assignant de reconstruire les relations arméno-turques à tous
les niveaux.

“Les discours des deux représentants de la minorité arménienne de
Turquie brillaient par leur ambiguïté et leur incohérence. Comme nous
pouvions le craindre, ces personnes mues par une peur viscérale
s’autocensurent tant au niveau des idées qu’au niveau de la
terminologie” a noté Laurent Leylekian, le directeur de la Fédération
Euro-Arménienne. “Leurs propos tournaient autour du problème central
du génocide en l’évitant à tout prix” a-t-il ajouté.

En vérité cette conférence n’avait absolument pas pour objectif de
faire progresser la reconnaissance du génocide par Ankara, ni même
d’alléger le sort des Arméniens de Turquie” a constaté Laurent
Leylekian. “Comme l’annonçait explicitement l’invitation il s’agissait
plutôt de trouver des solutions, c’est-à-dire des décharges, à cet
obstacle majeur à son intégration à l’Union européenne qu’est le
négationnisme d’Etat de la Turquie.” a-t-il continué.

“Cette conférence se situait dans la droite ligne de la stratégie
turque, visant à exclure cette question du champ des relations
internationales en la centrant sur des controverses de détail et en la
réduisant à une question propres aux sociétés arméniennes et turques”
a précisé Laurent Leylekian. “Ce qui est nouveau, c’est qu’Ankara
essaie maintenant d’opposer les ‘mauvais’ Arméniens de diaspora aux
‘bons’ Arméniens de Turquie en faisant de ces derniers les instruments
de sa politique. Néanmoins, les censures et les limites de ces otages
n’échappent à personne” a expliqué le directeur de la Fédération
Euro-Arménienne.

“Les Européens ne doivent pas tomber dans ce piège comme ils sont
tombés il y a quelques années dans le piège des pseudo réconciliations
sans reconnaissance. La situation est claire : la Turquie a commis un
crime imprescriptible, le génocide des Arméniens, et elle doit assumer
cette responsabilité par une reconnaissance pleine et entière pour se
conformer aux principes de l’Union européenne. Le négationnisme
aujourd’hui comme le génocide hier ne signifient rien d’autre que le
rejet des valeurs européennes” a estimé Laurent Leylekian.

“Provenant du groupe des Verts, qui met depuis des années toute son
énergie à lutter contre la tendance naturelle du Parlement européen à
appeler la Turquie à ses responsabilités, cette initiative apparaît au
grand jour comme une tentative de diversion inspirée par l’Etat turc ”
a-t-il conclu.

FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE
pour la Justice et la Démocratie
Avenue dela Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel :+32 2 732 70 26
Tel/Fax :+32 2 732 70 26
Email : [email protected]

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
pour diffusion immédiate
Contact :Talline Tachdjian
Tel/Fax :+32 2 732 70 27

COMMEMORATION DU GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS

CONFERENCE AU SENAT BELGE : UNE RECONNAISSANCE POUR CONSTRUIRE
L’AVENIR

A l’initiative du sénateur Lionel Vandenberghe, le Sénat belge
accueillera lundi 18 avril à partir de 13h une conférence consacrée au
Génocide des Arméniens et à sa reconnaissance. Intitulée « une
reconnaissance pour construire l’avenir », cette conférence s’inscrit
dans un cycle de manifestations soutenues par un collectif de onze
associations de Belgique, regroupant citoyens européens et
ressortissants de Turquie. La Fédération Euro-Arménienne est membre de
ce collectif.

A cette occasion, ce collectif a mis en place un site Internet,
donnant toutes les indications relatives à ces
évènements et permettant également de s’inscrire en ligne à la
conférence. Le collectif propose également d’y signer une pétition
appelant d’une part « l’Union européenne et les Etats membres de
l’Union européenne à prendre clairement et explicitement en compte ces
exigences de reconnaissance et de réparation dans le cadre des
négociations d’adhésion qu’elle mène avec la Turquie » et appelant
d’autre part « la Turquie à se grandir d’une reconnaissance pleine et
entière du génocide des Arméniens. »

La conférence se tiendra à la Maison des Parlementaires (Salle des
Congrès), Rue Louvain 21 – 1009 Bruxelles . L’entrée est libre mais
l’inscription est obligatoire sur le site Internet
ou par email à l’adresse suivante :
[email protected]

Programme

· 13h00 – 13h15: Accueil

· 13h15 – 13h30: ‘Introduction: Une reconnaissance pour construire
l’avenir’ Sénateur Lionel Vandenberghe (Spirit)

· 13h30 – 13h45: ‘Le sens politique de la reconnaissance et de la
réconciliation’ Sénateur Pierre Galand (Parti Socialiste)

· 13h45 – 14h00: ‘La reconnaissance politique du Génocide arménien’
Sénateur Alain Destexhe (Mouvement Réformateur)

· 14h00 – 14h15: ‘Vécu personnel par rapport à la question arménienne’
Willy Kuijpers (Bourgmestre de Herent)

· 14h15 – 14h35: ‘Les prémices d’une justice internationale au
lendemain du Génocide des Arméniens’ Raymond Kevorkian (historien et
conservateur de la Bibliothèque Nubar Pacha – Paris)

· 14h35 – 15h00: ‘Le sens politique de la tolérance européenne au
négationnisme d’Etat de la Turquie’ Laurent Leylekian (directeur de la
Fédération Euro-Arménienne)

· 15h00 – 15h15: PAUSE

· 15h15 – 15h30: ‘Les Arméniens restés en Turquie après le Génocide’
Derwich M. Ferho (directeur de l’Institut Kurde de Bruxelles)

· 15h30 – 15h45: ‘La Turquie, un pays rendu otage de négationnisme par
ses dirigeants politico-militaires et médias…’ Dogan Özgüden
(directeur de la Fondation Info-Türk)

· 15h45 – 16h00: ‘Les relations entre les Turcs et les Arméniens’ Ufuk
Berdan (Confédération européenne des travailleurs de Turquie – ATIK)

· 16h00 – 16h15: ‘L’attitude des Kurdes vis-à-vis du Génocide
Arménien’ Recep Marasli (Ecrivain-éditeur)

· 16h15 – 16h30: Discours de clôture Pr. Ludo Abicht

· 16h30 – 16h45: Lecture de la motion Sénateur Lionel Vandenberghe

· 16h45 – 17h30: Débat: Questions & Réponses

Turkish MPs propose joint probe into genocide claims to Armenia

Anatolia news agency
13 Apr 05

ANKARA

Turkish parliament issued on Wednesday [13 April] a declaration
against the Armenian genocide allegations.

In the declaration, the parliament expressed its belief that it was
for the benefit of Turkey and Armenia to reconcile, end prejudices and
create a climate which would enable the two nations to share a common
future based on tolerance, friendship and cooperation.

Noting that the ruling and main opposition parties of Turkey laid down
a proposal to bring historical realities to daylight, the declaration
said, “this proposal envisages Turkey and Armenia to form a common
commission comprised of their own historians, search their national
archives without limitations, make public the results of their
searches, and set the working methods of the commission.

The declaration pointed out that Turkish parliament was totally
adopting and supporting this historic proposal, and went on saying,
“but, cooperation of the Armenian government is obligatory to launch
this initiative. Unless Turkey and Armenia look at the history from
the same perspective, they will only leave prejudices, enmity and
revenge to their children and forthcoming generations. What is
reasonable for Turkey and Armenia is to end taboos with a joint
initiative, clarify all sides of what they had experienced, and be
ready to settle old scores with their history. This is the only way to
prevent the past from darkening today and future”.

“If Armenia wants to establish good neighbourly relations with Turkey
and enhance its cooperation, it should not hesitate to adopt Turkey’s
proposal to re-assess their common history. Also, the parliament would
like to stress that every good-willed country and statesman that wants
to contribute to world peace and stability, should consider Turkey’s
proposal as positive, leaving aside his/her/its internal political
views. In this context, countries which want betterment of
Turkish-Armenian relations and settlement of peace and stability in
the Caucasus should support this initiative, and refrain from acts
which will harm this initiative,” wrote the declaration.

The declaration noted that countries which made decisions on Armenian
claims at their parliaments had the prior responsibility regarding
this matter, and said that these countries should support Turkish
parliament’s proposal to form a joint history commission if they
wanted improvement of Turkish-Armenian relations.

In its declaration, the parliament condemned the move of the
parliaments to make a decision about this matter for political
purposes.

The declaration of the parliament added that it was impossible for
Turkey to base its history on some one-sided and misleading
assessments.

Azeri opposition leader, Dutch diplomats discuss elections

Azadliq, Baku
13 Apr 05

Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 13
April headlined “Ali Karimli has met Dutch diplomats” and subheaded
“The election situation in Azerbaijan was discussed at the meeting”

The chairman of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party [PFAP], MP Ali
Karimli, yesterday met the Dutch ambassador to Georgia and Azerbaijan,
Harry Molenaar, and the head of the southeast and eastern Europe
department of the Dutch Foreign Ministry, (?John Lucas van Horn).

The election situation in Azerbaijan was discussed at the meeting. The
parties exchanged views on the electoral bloc set up by the PFAP, the
Democratic Party and Musavat and its future activities. The meeting
also focused on the work of European entities with the Azerbaijani
government towards ensuring the necessary changes to the Electoral
Code.

Discussions were held about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and the
PFAP’s approach to its solution. The visitors inquired about the main
provisions of the PFAP’s election manifesto. Karimli briefed the
visitors on the subject and informed them of the main provisions of
the document concerning political and economic reforms.

Other issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the
meeting.

Turkish journalists’ leader asks US president to block Armenian resolution

Anatolia news agency
13 Apr 05

ANKARA

Turkish Journalists’ Federation and Journalists’ Association Chairman
Nazmi Bilgin has asked US President George W Bush to support Turkey
against Armenian genocide claims.

Bilgin asked Bush not to support efforts aiming to end peace and
brotherhood in the region where Turkey is situated and to keep alive
nations’ pains and hatred in the past.

Issuing a written statement on the issue on Wednesday [13 April],
Turkish Journalists’ Federation said that Bilgin sent a letter to US
President George W Bush on the Armenian problem. In his letter, Bilgin
wrote that Turkey could play a strategic role in the new world order,
in the Caucasus, the Middle East as a peaceful country.

Bilgin stressed that the accusation of the Turkish nation by the
United States and the western world of committing genocide against
Armenians which was not historically and legally correct caused the
Turkish public opinion to be reactive against the West.

“We need brotherhood of neighbouring countries, not sharpened
nationalism in this geography,” said Bilgin.

“Hostility against Turks” had led Armenians to get united in various
territories where they settled in order to end their assimilation, he
commented. He added that hostility against Turks was also used by the
Armenian diaspora to get unfair benefits for themselves.

Bilgin also stressed that as long as the hostility of Armenians
against Turks continued, the Armenian problem would not be peacefully
resolved.

Noting that the pain of Turkish people could not be compared with
those of the Armenians, Bilgin said that the adoption of bills
defending Armenian genocide claims against Turkey would disturb peace
and stability in the region and the world. Bilgin called US President
Bush in this regard to prevent the adoption of similar Congress and
Senate resolutions against Turkey as they would also harm
Turkish-Armenian relations.