U.S. Department of State
13 April 2005

Congressman Applauds Turkish Efforts on Religious Freedom

Helsinki Commission Co-chair Christopher Smith addresses hearing
Turkey’s current government has taken “significant steps” in support of
religious liberties, according to Christopher H. Smith, the co-chairman of
the U.S. Helsinki Commission, who addressed a hearing on religious freedom
in Turkey April 12.
Smith, a Republican congressman from New Jersey, said he applauded Turkey’s
efforts to bring its legal system into conformity with Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) commitments on religious freedom.
However, “there are important areas still requiring close attention and
urgent action,” he added, citing in particular Turkey’s system of regulating
religious groups, the loss of important religious properties through
government expropriations, and the difficulties meeting openly that
protestant and evangelical groups are experiencing.
“I urge the Government of Turkey to continue its good work and redouble
efforts to fully respect the rights of individuals and their communities to
freely profess and practice their faith,” he concluded.
Also testifying at the hearing were: Merve Kavakci, former member of the
Turkish Grand National Assembly; Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, Armenian
Orthodox Church; Van Krikorian, Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission;
Barry Jacobs, American Jewish Committee; and
Jeff King, President, International Christian Concern.
The U.S. Helsinki Commission, which is also known as the Commission on
Security and Cooperation in Europe, is an independent federal agency that
monitors progress in implementing provisions of the Helsinki Accords. The
Commission is composed of nine Senators, nine Representatives, and one
official each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.
Following is the text of Smith’s prepared statement:
(begin text)
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Washington, D.C.
April 12, 2005
BRIEFING: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TURKEY
Statement by Hon. Christopher H. Smith
Co-Chairman
Helsinki Commission
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Today’s briefing will examine the
situation faced by Muslims, Protestants, members of the Armenian Orthodox
Church and the Jewish community in the Republic of Turkey. Last month we
highlighted the serious problems experienced by the Greek Orthodox
Ecumenical Patriarchate. We plan to hold a Commission hearing soon on Turkey
to discuss human rights issues overall, Ankara’s efforts to meet EU criteria
for accession, and that country’s implementation record as a longstanding
OSCE participating State.
First, I do applaud efforts by Turkey to bring its legal system into
conformity with OSCE commitments on religious freedom. The current
government has taken significant steps to improve conditions for the
enjoyment of religious liberties, steps that were unthinkable just a few
years ago. At the same time, as we learned last month about the Greek
Orthodox Church, there are important areas still requiring close attention
and urgent action.
Turkey’s system of regulating religious groups remains problematic,
especially the ban on headscarves in public institutions and the secular
government’s strict control of Islamic teaching and practice. While the EU
has rightfully focused much attention on the religious freedoms of
non-Muslim religious groups, it has been virtually silent regarding the
rights of Muslims to practice their faith. As Members of the Helsinki
Commission have consistently urged every prime minister over the past
decade, the right of women to openly manifest their religious beliefs,
including in public places and schools must be fully respected. While the
President of Turkey recently approved legislation to allow thousands of
students expelled from universities to return, including women who violated
the ban on headscarves, the ban nevertheless remains. The time has come to
end this injustice
The Armenian Orthodox Church has suffered the loss of important properties
through government expropriations. Similar to the situation of the Greek
Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox and Catholic Churches, the Armenian Orthodox
Church has lost much under current laws that enable the government to assume
direct administration of properties that fall into “disuse” when the size of
the local community falls below a certain point. In addition, the Armenian
Patriarchate continues to seek recognition of its legal status. Last
September, Turkey did adopt regulations to improve the way the size of a
religious community is gauged and to give communities with legal status the
ability to acquire new property. However, the loss of property has done much
damage to the church and the legislation does not allow for the reclamation
of properties unjustly expropriated by the State.
Protestant and evangelical groups are experiencing problems in meeting
openly, despite reforms that purportedly allow non-Muslim religious
communities to build churches and buy property. Groups without legal
standing or unable to afford these options cannot meet in other locations,
such as private homes or rented facilities, as authorities have actively
sought to close these meeting places under the pretext of zoning laws. Worse
yet, the reforms are enforced in varying degrees depending upon the will of
the local officials. I urge the government to explicitly allow for the
holding of religious meetings in rented facilities or private homes.
Turkey has a special relationship with the Turkish Jewish community dating
back to the Ottoman period, when Sephardic Jews fleeing the Spanish
Inquisition were welcomed and given refuge. After the November 2003 bombings
of two Jewish synagogues, not only did Prime Minister Erdogan publicly
denounce the bombings, but he also met with Jewish leaders, reportedly a
first in the history of the Republic. At the same time, there are disturbing
reports that “Mein Kampf,” Hitler’s notorious work outlining his
anti-Semitic world view, has become a bestseller in Turkey. I urge the prime
minister and other leaders in Turkey to speak out publicly against resurgent
interest in such racist materials.
In closing, Turkey has done much to earn a date to begin negotiations with
the European Union. I urge the Government of Turkey to continue its good
work and redouble efforts to fully respect the rights of individuals and
their communities to freely profess and practice their faith.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

A1plus

| 19:42:25 | 13-04-2005 | Social |

IN WASHINGTON THE FACT OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS ADMITTED

In the Washington Kennedy center the concert of the worldwide famous cello
player Jo-Jo Ma and his musical group `Silk Road’ took place. It is
noteworthy that alongside with melodies of different nations the group also
represented Armenian music – the works of Komitas.

While representing the Armenian national music and Komitas to the hall where
3 thousand people were sitting he mentioned the rich customs of the Armenian
art, also stressing the hard way of life of Komitas, as `the witness and
victim to the first Genocide of the 20th century – the Great Armenian
Genocide’.

High-ranked officials of the US board of administration, members of the
Congress, head of the World Bank J. Wolfenson, many artists and
representatives of the Armenian community were present at the concert.

AZG Armenian Daily #065, 14/04/2005

Region

ALIYEV PREFERS RUMSFELD RATHER THAN MUSHARRAF

Parliamentarians Condemn Activities of Harnish

Donald Rumsfeld, US Defence Secretary, arrived in Azerbaijan from Iraq on
April 12. The Wall Street Journal wrote that the American are greatly
interested in the Caspian oil and Washington pays special attention to the
regions rich in oil.

“In the course of the coming decade the US is going to spend $100 million on
the Caspian guards, the police network and the special detachments to
repulse the attack on the oil objects,” The Wall Street Journal wrote.

The newspaper noted that the Commanders of the US Air Forces located in the
German Stuttgart city coordinates the efforts of different departments and
trains soldiers that are to protect Baku-Tbilisi-Jehyan oil pipeline.
General Michael Anderson, coordinator of political issues of the US European
Commanders, stated that in 2003 the Baku Commander’s Office will also be
included in the created Caspian guards. The Baku Commanders’ Office will
have radar systems at their disposal that will help them watch the
navigation in the Caspian Sea, as well as trafficking of the drugs and arms.

The details of Rumsfeld’s unexpected visit to Baku are not known. According
to the poor information of the Azeri press, it is envisaged that he will
meet with President Ilham Aliyev, foreign minister Elmar Mamediarov and
defense minister Safar Abiyev. It’s already obvious that Aliyev-Rumsfeld
meeting will not take place, as the Azeri President paid an official visit
to Pakistan to discuss the Azeri-Pakistani relations, as well as the Nagorno
Karabakh and Kashmir issues with Pervez Musharraf.

Azeri reporter of the Moscow Nezavisimaya Gazeta wrote that the location of
the US and NATO forces in Azerbaijan will avert any revolutions in this
South Caucasus republic. “In fact, the Azeri authorities face the
alternative to either giving consent to the location of the US and NATO
forces in Azerbaijan or to deal with another “colorful” revolution in
autumn.”

This is the third visit of Aliyev to Pakistan this year. If the Azeri
political experts as well as the pro-governmental press keep stating that
the main goal of Rumsfeld’s visit to Baku is to call for the Baku
authorities to settle the issue of locating the US forces as soon as
possible, the official Baku continues denying any possibility of the
location of the American forces in the country. The Azeri authorities state
that the regulation of the country’s national security definitely forbids
the location of foreign military bases in the territory of the republic.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta reminded that the Gaballah Radar Station is situated in
Azerbaijan, and, if it was possible to violate the regulation in the case of
Russia, why shouldn’t they do that in case of the US, particularly, if the
American are time after time threatening Baku with another “colorful”
revolution.

525 Gazet noted that Charles Wald, deputy commander of the US forces in
Europe, visited Baku. “The military-political interests of the US are not
the only reason for Rumsfeld’s visit. It is not excluded that he is carrying
out a certain political mission conditioned with the attention to the
strengthening of democracy,” the newspaper wrote, adding that in the issue
of democracy the US is most likely to exercise pressure on Baku, though it
irritates the Azeri authorities.

While Ilham Aliyev evades meeting with Rumsfeld, the Azeri parliamentarians
strictly criticize activities of Rino Harnish, US ambassador to Azerbaijan,
accusing him of interfering with the home affairs of the country. Recently,
Harnish visited the regions of the country and met with the opposition
representatives.

“Azerbaijan is no Iraq for the US, to do whatever they wish there,” Jahid
Oruj, Azeri MP said. Ali Ahmedov, deputy chairman of Yeni Azerbaijan party,
said that the Azeri officials should demand from Harnish to explain his
actions.

The explanation of Murtuz Alekserov, chairman of the Azeri parliament, was
the most interesting. Turan agency informed that he said that the
authorities will allow no power shift. “We will allow no power shift. The
“velvet” revolution took place in Azerbaijan in 1993, when Heydar Aliyev
came to power,” Alekserov said.

By Tatoul Hakobian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #065, 14/04/2005

Bookshelf

COMMENTARIES OF GRIGOR TATEVATSI IN ASHGHARABAR

“Ankyunaqar” (cornerstone) publishing house that started its activities in
1998 issues only books of spiritual character and dictionaries. The
publishing house presented the readership with the legacy of Armenia’s
Christian writers. The commentaries of St. Grigor Tatevatsi to Solomon’s
Proverbs, Song of Songs and Leviticus were put out in ashgharabar (new
Armenian) in 3 separate books (translation from ancient Armenian by Khachik
Grigorian). It must be noted that none of Tatevatsi’s works was ever totally
published, let alone translation into ashgharabar. Only “The Commentaries to
Solomon’s Proverb’s” was put out by “Ankyunaqar” 5 years ago combining
grabar (old Armenian) and ashgharabar versions.

St. Grigor Tatevatsi wrote his works once to tutor the students of his
university, and all his writings have the form of questions and answers.
Tatevatsi’s publication grants our compatriots the opportunity to study and
understand the Bible and follow the bright mind of philosopher and great
spiritual father of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

By Khachik Grigorian; “Ankyunaqar”

Itar-Tass
TASS
April 14 2005

Armenia says no proposals from Turkey on genocide commission

YEREVAN, April 14 (Itar-Tass) – Armenian government did not receive
any proposals from Turkey on setting up a bilateral expert commission
to study the facts of genocide of ethnic Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire in 1915, said Victor Sogomonian, the press secretary of
Armenia’s President.

`The presidential administration staff did not get any letters to
that effect from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,’
Sogomonian said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdulla Gul said in the national parliament
Wednesday that Erdogan had sent a letter to President Robert
Kocharian containing a proposal to set up a commission that would
study the facts of extermination of ethnic Armenians in 1915.

He also said Turkey was ready to hold talks with Armenia on the
personalities to work on the commission and the methodology of their
activity.

Ankara believes this might help normalize relations between the two
neighboring countries.

The problem of Armenians genocide is the stumbling block in the
progress of relations between Turkey and Armenia that do not have
even diplomatic relations.

Armenia puts international recognition of genocide on the list of its
foreign policy priorities. Turkey denies those facts.

The campaign of carnage against the Armenians who lived in the
Ottoman Empire resulted in the deaths of 1.5 million people.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
April 13 2005

DONALD RUMSFELD: `USA HIGHLY ESTIMATE PARTNERSHIP WITH AZERBAIJAN’
[April 13, 2005, 23:46:18]

As was informed from the press service of the Ministry of Defense, on
April 12, Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, colonel-general Safar
Abiyev has met the US Minister of Defense Mr. Donald Rumsfeld.

Having conveyed to the visitor greetings of the President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, colonel-general Safar Abiyev has taken
interest in position in Iraq. Donald Rumsfeld has noted that all
there changes for the better. He has told: `I also have met
representatives of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. I thank you for
their good service’.

Minister of Defense of the United States was interested in the state
of affairs with settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Minister of Defense Safar Abiyev has
especially noted, that in the question of resolution of the conflict
while there are no changes, that Armenia with the help of the patrons
continues to arm, does not wish to refuse aggressive claims and
ignores principles of international law. He has told: `In the near
future, the BTC Main Export Pipeline will be commissioned.
Uncertainty in the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a
source of big threat to realization of the said project’.

Ministers also have discussed the military-political and public
situation in region of Southern Caucasus and Caspian littoral the
states.

Having taken interest in the state of affairs with integration of
Azerbaijan into the NATO, Donald Rumsfeld has noted that the USA
would always render to Azerbaijan assistance in this question.

Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan informed that the last year
President Ilham Aliyev has presented to the Secretary General of the
NATO the Plan of activity of individual partnership. Now, the given
plan is at the stage of discussion. He has told: `We aspire to
continuation of long-term cooperation in all areas and with the USA.
However, it is limited due to 907 Section to the `Freedom Support
Act’, which is still not cancelled. Azerbaijan counts the USA the
strategic partner’.

Donald Rumsfeld has told: `The USA also highly estimate this
partnership and are going to develop it’.

Then, the sides have touched of some questions interesting them.

At the meeting, also was present the ambassador of Azerbaijan in USA
hafiz Pashayev and ambassador of USA in Baku Rino Harnish.

Embassy Magazine, Canada
April 13 2005

A Prayer for Rwanda – Hope for Darfur
As the world remembers, a genocide in slow-motion continues to unfold

As the ice-cold rain hammered down on the small crowd of about
hundred people, I couldn’t help but feel that we have largely
forgotten. We easily forget most tragedies that happen in Africa. We
forget that one million men, women and children were butchered in
Rwanda just eleven years ago, we forget that over three million
people have died in the complicated wars in the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) in the last five years, and every passing day, we try
forget about the 300,000 people that have already died in Darfur.

Having come from the National Prayer Breakfast earlier that
morning–where hundreds of people, including dozens of ambassadors
and parliamentarians, gathered in the West Block to share their
prayer life–the small group I stood with outside in the rain, under
the shadow of the Peace Tower, seemed even smaller. They too were in
need of prayers, prayers for the million souls that lost their lives
in Rwanda eleven years ago, prayers for the struggling survivors and
prayers for victims of genocide in today’s Darfur.

Though, as Rwandans struggle every day to put their lives back
together, to maintain peace, to achieve community and national
reconciliation and to eradicate the ideology of genocide, they
require more than prayers. Despite a massive surge in humanitarian
aid after the genocide, what many saw as “guilt aid,” we have in fact
done little to support efforts to ensure that this does not happen
again in the area. Primarily, by demobilizing the ad-hoc armies that
have brutalized the Eastern DRC, some of which are made up of and run
by the thousands of Interhamwe that fled Rwanda after the genocide.

But perhaps our greatest failure–as one of many nations that
promised eleven years ago to never allow this to happen again–is our
lack of political will to do more to stop the ongoing genocide in
Darfur. A crisis our own newly-named Senator Romeo Dallaire has
called a “Rwanda in slow motion.”

Consider this BBC report, with statements from Jan Egeland, UN
Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs:

There is no crisis in the world comparable to the one now building in
Darfur. Tens of thousands of people will perish unless we get food
supplies, medical supplies, water and sanitation facilities there,
within weeks. Nearly a million people have been displaced by the
fighting.

I was to have led the humanitarian mission to Darfur this week, but
repeated delays by the Sudanese government made the timing
impossible. Researchers from various human rights organizations say
the government is responsible for atrocities in Darfur.

Human Rights Watch investigator Julie Flint interviewed a witness to
a recent massacre:

‘He said that government troops and Janjawid…the mounted militia
that is virtually an arm of the government now, surrounded a large
area before daybreak, went into the villages inside that area where
there were many displaced… and took away men who had been
displaced. 136 of those were trucked by army truck to nearby valleys,
made to kneel and summarily executed that night.’

Human Rights Watch says the atrocities in Darfur constitute crimes
against humanity.

Anyone following the devastating situation in Darfur today would find
nothing new or striking about this report–until they saw the date
the report was filed–April, 2003. Two years ago, the world knew
exactly what was going on in Darfur and we did nothing.

One year ago, in April, leaders from all over the world commemorated
the 10th anniversary of the genocide in Kigali. Many of these leaders
would have known what had been going on in Darfur for over a year.
Voicing the words, “never again,” while joining in the tacit
complicity of again, and again.

When I asked some of the diplomats and media that I had met in Rwanda
last year during the 10th year commemoration if they were returning
to Rwanda to mark the occasion of the 11th year, I was met with
quizzical

responses…why would we go this year? Apparently genocides are only
to be recognized on 10th year anniversaries, centennials, etc. This
might not be a problem if we were meeting our obligations for peace
and reconciliation in Rwanda and ending the genocide in Darfur. But
we are not.

Diplomatic complacency, the snail’s pace at which UN resolutions are
made, and the indifference that much of the Western world shows
towards Africa, do not have to undermine the efforts. Canadians, of
all backgrounds, can and must continue to acknowledge and raise
awareness about genocide in its past, present and future forms. In
working with a number of NGOs committed to raising awareness about
Darfur, I’ve noticed that many of them are made up of or supported by
Jewish groups, Rwandan genocide survivors, and of course, Sudanese
refugees. Clearly, despite the international community and the UN’s
reluctance to call it what it is, mass killing, torture and rape
based on one’s ethnic, racial and/or religious identity is genocide,
regardless of where it takes place.

One of the most striking features about the Kigali Memorial Centre at
Gisozi, Rwanda is that it also devotes one room to every major
genocide that has taken place in recent history: the Jewish
Holocaust, the Armenian and Cambodian genocides and those that took
place in the former Yugoslavia. The museum recognizes the basic fact
that the experience and memory of genocide plagues millions around
the world and that contrary to popular Western belief, Europeans can
be just as barbaric in the slaughter of their own people as “tribal”
Africans. The memorial succeeds in humanizing the victims, restoring
their dignity and the dignity of the survivors, emphasizing the value
of each life and, most importantly, promoting post-genocide
reconstruction and prevention through education.

The UN has designated April 7th as International Day of Reflection on
the Genocide in Rwanda. I’d like too see more than reflection– I’d
like to see remembrance and action on a scale commensurate with the
loss of life the world has seen recently through preventable
genocides.

Canada–a country that still boasts of it’s role as a peacekeeper,
riding on the history of decades past, when we were meaningfully
engaged internationally in human rights and development–ought to
invest more in commemoration, education, and most importantly,
prevention of genocide.

If we wish to try to re-establish our reputation in the international
community, Canadians can simply not accept the status quo when it
comes to genocide. We can engage in a massive initiative; from
acknowledging our own colonial-era genocide of the First Nations, to
taking the lead in stopping the slaughter in Darfur. Canada can
become a peacekeeper once again.

— Magdalene Creskey is a research assistant to MP David Kilgour and
has worked in community and educational development projects in
conflict areas in southern Africa.

Pan Armenian News

US AMBASSADOR TO BAKU REFUTED INFORMATION ON DEPLOYMENT OF US MILITARY BASES
IN AZERBAIJAN

13.04.2005 06:42

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The US is not going to deploy military bases in Azerbaijan
for securing the Caspian region, US Ambassador to Baku Rino Harnish stated.
In his words, during yesterday’s meeting US Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld and Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev discussed the bilateral
cooperation within the frames of the anti-terrorist coalition and
Azerbaijan’s integration into NATO.

Pan Armenian News

SQUARE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE OPENED IN MONTEVIDEO APRIL 22

13.04.2005 05:42

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Uruguay is not only the first state to recognize the
Armenian Genocide in 1965 but also the state, which has abided by its
position during the recent 40 years, Yerkir online reports. The parliament
has gathered a weighty paper-case containing bills, resolutions, decisions
and statements in support of the Genocide in support of Hay Dat. A motion to
name one of Montevideo’s streets “April 24, 1915,” was introduced to the
city council by its member Raffi Hunanian about a year ago. The issue was
included into the agenda and later the city council passed a decision to
name a broad strip in the central Montevideo the Square of the Armenian
People’s Genocide. The opening ceremony will take place on April 22.

AZG Armenian Daily #065, 14/04/2005

Economy

AZERBAIJAN TO PARTICIPATE IN BLACK SEA BANK’S ANNUAL GATHERING IN YEREVAN

The 7th annual meeting of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB)
managers will be held in Yerevan, June 5-6. Minister of finances and economy
of Armenia, Vartan Khachatrian, and secretary general of the BSTDB,
Charalabos Tsarughas called a press conference yesterday on this occasion.

Vartan Khachatrian informed that the annual meeting will consist of two
parts: the business congress will be held on the first day and the session
of the Bank managers on the second day. He also said that the Black Sea Bank
together with the Izmirlian Foundation carries out a program supporting
small and average business in Armenia. Both sides have assigned $2 million
for the program. Several other programs are in preparatory stage.

Charalambos Tsarughas gave a brief survey of the Bank’s history; it opened
in 1999, the center is in Istanbul and 11 countries took part in its
foundation. Within the member states, the Bank finances projects in the
spheres of energetics, small and average business, trade and transport. The
minister of finances and economy represents Armenia in the Board of Managers
and deputy president of the Central Bank in the Board of Directors.

The Greek official said that organizations participating in the annual
meeting — European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, World Bank —
will learn about the region’s, particularly Armenia’s, peculiarities in
economics. The Black Sea Bank will introduce its strategy designed for
Armenia. The sphere of small and average business will be highlighted as
initial one.

The second part of the event will deal with the conditions and opportunities
for financing the small and average business. Issues of financial market
will be discussed at the third part of the meeting with the participation of
not only Armenian bank representatives but also representatives of foreign
financial organizations.

Being asked about Azerbaijan’s participation in the annual meeting,
Charalambos Tsarughas said that he does not think that any of the member
states should opt out of the meeting. He assured that Azerbaijan took part
in Bank’s meeting in Yerevan 2 years ago and will participate this time,
too. He stated that the organization accentuates business issues.

Vartan Khachatrian added that the BSTDB annual meeting is to be held under
patronage of President Robert Kocharian and that the Azeri delegation’s
safety and full participation is guaranteed.

By Ara Martirosian