FEDERATION EURO-ARMENIENNE
Pour la Justice et la Démocratie
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B ~V 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
28 février 2005
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27

JACQUES TOUBON DEMANDE LA RECONNAISSANCE DU GENOCIDE AUX DEPUTES TURCS

РEn ̩voquant la question du g̩nocide dans le cadre de la d̩l̩gation
interparlementaire UE-Turquie, le député européen a provoqué une violente
réaction des officiels turcs

РSes propos outrageusement d̩form̩s par la presse turque

Bruxelles, Belgique ~V Ce jeudi 24 février à Strasbourg, M. Jacques Toubon
(PPE, France) a évoqué la « réalité indiscutable » du génocide des Arméniens
durant la 53ème réunion de la délégation interparlementaire UE-Turquie,
délégation dont il est le vice-président. Durant son intervention, M. Toubon
a indiqué à ses homologues turcs que la reconnaissance de ce génocide
constituait un « élément important pour l’Europe », élément participant de
ses « valeurs communes ». Il a notamment évoqué les nombreuses
reconnaissances dont ce génocide avait fait l’objet de la part des pays de l
‘Union et tout particulièrement la dernière en date, celle des Pays-Bas qui
est survenue le 21 décembre 2004, juste après le Sommet européen de
Bruxelles.

Son intervention a provoqué la fureur des officiels turcs qui participaient
à la réunion, et notamment de M. Sükrü Elekdag (CHP- Parti kémaliste),
ancien ambassadeur auprès des Etats-Unis et de M. Oguz Demiralp, le
représentant permanent de la Turquie auprès de l’Union européenne.

M. Toubon a alors rappelé que le Parlement européen, depuis 1987, avait à de
nombreuses reprises reconnu la réalité du génocide et depuis lors, demande
continûment à la Turquie d’en faire autant. Il a expliqué que « en refusant
de ratifier le Traité de Sèvres en 1920, la Turquie n’avait pas voulu
reconnaître ce génocide » et que cela était explicable dans le contexte
politique d’alors, mais que « 90 ans après, la Turquie doit changer » et
adopter les valeurs européennes en reconnaissant cette réalité historique.

La presse turque, l’agence officielle Anatolie et le Turkish Daily News en
tête, a le jour même travesti les propos de M. Toubon, alléguant qu’il avait
demandé à la Turquie de ratifier le Traité de Sèvres. Ce traité signé
notamment par la première république d’Arménie et par l’Empire ottoman
constituait une réparation pour le préjudice du génocide mais ne fut jamais
ratifié par Ankara et fut remplacé par le Traité de Lausanne qui éludait la
question.

« Nous saluons le courage et la persévérance de M. Jacques Toubon que les
méthodes habituelles d’outrance et de surenchère des députés turcs n’ont
pas impressionné » a déclaré Hilda Tchoboian, présidente de la Fédération
Euro-Arménienne. Aussi longtemps que l’Etat turc usera de la menace
vis-à-vis de l’Europe, et de la peur vis-à-vis de son opinion publique, il
fera la preuve que la Turquie n’est toujours pas européenne » a conclu Hilda
Tchoboian.

####

–Boundary_(ID_o1u6plyOPi7yghM5tME2cQ)–

>>From Europe to U.S.: Can Djorkaeff help end stigma?

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
February 27, 2005

By Jeff Rusnak, Soccer Columnist

Youri Djorkaeff is not a name that rolls easily off the tongue, but
in international-soccer circles it’s a name most fans recognize. Many
can even pronounce it.

Upon joining the MetroStars two weeks ago, the former France midfielder
became the biggest name to sign with Major League Soccer in five
seasons, and it’s an addition that has stirred an age-old American
soccer debate.

Djorkaeff is a week shy of 37 and he’s come stateside to finish a
career that began at FC Grenoble in 1984. In the 20 seasons since the
slender Frenchman has scored nearly 200 goals for eight top-flight
clubs in France, Italy, Germany and most recently England, where he
last played for the Blackburn Rovers.

He scored 28 goals in 82 internationals for France, and was a member
of the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship winners. His club
titles include the French Cup with AS Monaco, the UEFA Cup Winners
Cup with Paris Saint-Germain, and the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan.

It’s a resume most players could only hope for. Yet, because of
Djorkaeff’s age, there’s some debate about the merits of bringing him
to MLS. It’s a debate that’s fueled in part by the dismal showing of
the last World Cup winner to sign with the MetroStars, former Germany
captain Lothar Matthaus.

Matthaus joined the underachieving franchise in 2000 and did nothing
to improve matters. He also did nothing to erase the stigma of
thirtysomething European imports that come here for what amounts to
a soccer holiday. It’s a stigma with roots that trace back to all
those pricey imports who played in the North American Soccer League,
and it grows deeper every time someone like Matthaus disappoints.

There hasn’t been a player of Matthaus’s pedigree to sign with
MLS until Djorkaeff, and the league has suffered from the vacuum of
cultured talent. While the average American player has gotten better,
the style of play has become more predictable as teams failed to
replace Carlos Valderrama, Peter Nowak, Marco Etcheverry and the like.

Djorkaeff’s signing is a good first step in replenishing the playmaking
drain. Despite his years, he was fit enough to score nine goals in 28
goals last season for Bolton. He moved to Blackburn on a free transfer
last summer, but played just three games before injuring a hamstring.

He was released in December, but left an impression before
departing. Blackburn coach Mark Hughes described Djorkaeff as
“a fantastic professional” with the ability to play a support role
behind the two forwards. Just want MLS needs more of.

,0,7031915.column?coll=sfla-sports-headlines

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #036, 01/03/2005

Exhibition

PHOTO-JOURNALISM 2004 INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION IN ARMENIA

On March 4-27 the Amsterdam Annual Exhibition of Photo-Journalism 2004 will
be brought to Armenia by the invitation the Caucasian Mass Media
Institution. The exhibition will be held in “Moscow” cinema.

The 47th annual exhibition was held in Amsterdam, on February 13. According
to the principle of the exhibition 2003 photos were submitted for it in
2004.

4176 photographers from 124 countries submitted 63093 photos for the
international competition of photojournalism. There have been 10 nominations
set up for 62 photographers from 23 countries, including Australia, Belgium,
Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, etc.

Jean Mark Bojoune, French journalist–photographer from the Associated Press,
won the competition. His photo depicts an Iraqi prisoner that tries to
comfort his 4 years old son.

>>From April 26 to June 20 the exhibition was held in Netherlands, then it
began its world tour in over 80 countries of the world.

By Gohar Gevorgian

–Boundary_(ID_fj8A48E+g9ZJnA9At1KkaQ)–

NAGORNY KARABAKH REPUBLIC MARKS 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF TRAGIC EVENTS IN
AZERBAIJANI TOWN OF SUMGAIT

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 28. ARMINFO. Nagorny Karabakh Republic marks the
17th anniversary of tragic events in the Azerbaijani town of Sumgait.

According to ARMINFO’s special correspondent to Stepanakert, the
country’s leadership and public visited Stepanakert Memorial Complex
and in commemoration of the Armenians who fell innocent victims to
massacres in that town once known to be an international town.

268,000 TOURIST VISITED ARMENIA IN 2004

Hotels Magazine, IL
Feb 28 2005

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28. ARMINFO. 268,000 tourists visited Armenia in
2004, which is 52,000 more than in 2003. Head of Department of Tourism
of the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of Armenia Arthur
Zakarian informed during the workshop “Novel approaches to cultural
tourism”, organized by the national commission UNESCO of Armenia’s
Foreign Ministry.

According to him, during the last 4 years the visitor-tourists
increased by 4%. At the same time, Zakarian mentioned that 50% of the
tourists visit Armenia to see their friends and relatives. According
to the data of the Ministry, 70% of the tourists are Armenians,
31% of the tourists visit Armenia for the purpose of business (with
diplomatic purpose inclusive), 5% to restore their health and 1% to
get an education. Zakarian also informed that there are 5,000 travel
organizations, travel operators in Armenia. A tourist spends about
$650per day in Armenia.

The participants of the workshop mentioned that for the tourism
development in Armenia it is necessary to attract investments for
expansion of Yerevan’s airport, restoration of roads and other
infrastructures. They mentioned Armenia must seek novel ways of the
tourism development, for which it is necessary to attract investments
for restoration of historical monuments, protection and expansion of
the museum sector, as well as for training of personnel.

Karabakh leader says Armenian can’t live in Azerbaijan

Arminfo, Yerevan
28 Feb 05

Stepanakert, 28 February: The Nagornyy Karabakh republic marked the
17th anniversary of the tragic events in the Azerbaijani city of
Sumqayit today. Dozens of innocent Armenians had fell victim then.

This morning, people of Nagornyy Karabakh visited the Memorial
complex in Stepanakert to lay flowers and wreaths at the monument to
the victims of the tragedy. An official delegation of the Nagornyy
Karabakh republic headed by President Arkadiy Gukasyan also paid
tribute to the victims of the attacks.

“Sumqayit has proved that Armenians can’t live in Azerbaijan,
the Azerbaijani state is dangerous for the Armenian nation. What
happened in Sumqayit was only the beginning, it was followed by Baku,
Kirovabad [Ganca] and Maraqa. And life has shown that we made the right
choice. We set up our state, we are protecting our motherland. I am
sure that all the alternatives put forward by Azerbaijan after Sumqayit
are unrealistic and absurd because Sumqayit was not an isolated
incident, but the state policy of Azerbaijan,” Arkadiy Gukasyan said.

[Passage omitted: religious service held]

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT STARTS ITS TODAY’S SESSION BY STANDING UP IN MEMORY OF
SUMQAYIT TRAGEDY

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28. ARMINFO. Today is the 17th anniversary of the
Sumqayit tragedy.

Armenian pogroms were held by government-supported hooligans in
Sumqayit, Azerbaijan, Feb 26-28 1988 with 32 Armenians killed
as a result among them women and children. The Sumqayit tragedy
marked the beginning of Armenian massacres all over Azerbaijan in
1988-1990. Several hundreds of Armenians were killed during the
period with 300,000 Armenian fleeing to Armenia leaving their homes
and property.

The Armenian Parliament started its today’s session by standing up in
memory of those killed in the tragedy. Many thousand people gathered
today in the center of Yerevan to commemorate this tragic event.

BUILDING IN ABOVYAN STREET, IN CONSTRUCTION LOT OF NORTHERN AVENUE
BUILT IN CENTER OF YEREVAN, WILL BE PRESERVED

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28. ARMINFO. The building in Abovyan street, which
is on one of the lots of the Northern Avenue built in the center
of Yerevan, will be preserved, the chief architect of the capital,
Head of the Town Planning Department of Yerevan Samvel Danielyan
informs journalists.

He says that the task of design and construction works submitted to the
construction company mentions both existence of the building and the
problem of its preservation. This building has always been considered
a monument, it was not included in the list of monuments for technical
reasons only, Danielyan says. The preservation of the building is a
problem of designers and relevant specialists. As regards the back
of the building that has been destroyed, it is an outhouse and is
not considered a monument. At the request of Yerevan Municipality,
the office on implementation of the programs stopped all the works
in this lot. Marking will start in this lot within the coming days
and designers are currently thinking of preservation of the building
at present.

To note, Yerevan residents has recently organization an action of
protest against destruction of the building.

Analysis: Syria at Forefront of Recent Mideast
Politics

World

National Public Radio (Washington, DC)
Morning Edition
February 28, 2005

by Renee Montagne

The assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister last week
brought Syria to the forefront of international politics. Meanwhile,
over the weekend, the Syrian government arrested Saddam Hussein’s
half-brother. Former U.S. ambassador to Syria, Edward Djerejian,
discusses the latest out of the Middle East.

;sourceCode=RSS

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Glendale News Press
28 Feb2005

Helping the disabled in Armenia

Nearly $10,000 was raised during event for Pyunic, an organization that
promotes rights of disabled in Armenia.

By Robert Chacon, News-Press and Leader

GLENDALE — The Armenian earthquake of 1988 destroyed the use of
Greta Khndzrtsyan’s legs, but it did not destroy her desire to achieve.

The double amputee was two years old when the earthquake struck —
rescue workers found her in the arms of her deceased mother under
piles of rubble — and is one of the disabled athletes from Armenia
competing in the upcoming Los Angeles Marathon wheelchair race that
was honored Sunday at a luncheon fundraiser by Pyunic, an association
that promotes the rights of the disabled in Armenia.

Close to $10,000 was raised during the event at Brandview Collection
through ticket sales, donations and a silent auction. The money will
fund a variety of programs to help disabled people in Armenia.

“In Armenia, it’s not like in the U.S.,” Pyunic board member Lori
Sivazlian said. “The country does not have critical ways of assisting
them. Disabled babies in Armenia are usually placed in orphanages.”
Disabled-person access to things such as public transportation,
high-rise buildings, homes and sidewalks is virtually nonexistent,
she said, though her group is working to change that.

Pyunic was formed after the earthquake that killed 25,000 people,
and left hundreds of thousands homeless, injured or disabled. It
helps raise funds for equipments and advocacy work.

“Every time I see a person in a wheelchair enter a bus here in the
U.S., it reminds me of what we want to achieve,” Pyunic President
Sarkis Ghazarian said.

There are 130,000 disabled people in Armenia, Ghazarian said, adding
that the country is years behind in assistance for disabled people.

For Khndzrtsyan, representing Armenia in the Los Angeles Marathon on
March 6 is a source of pride, she said. This is the second time she
has traveled from Armenia to compete in the marathon.

“The last time, my arms and hands were all bloody from the competition,
but I still completed the race,” she said about the race two years ago.

Marine Hakobyan also made the trip from Armenia and is competing for
the first time in the wheelchair race. She was left paralyzed from
the waste down after the earthquake.

“I have never done this, but I have trained enough and feel good,”
she said.

Some of the roughly 200 people who attended the luncheon walked away
with paintings, jewelry, rugs and arts and crafts made in Armenia.

“I came her to support Pyunic in their efforts,” said Glendale
resident Angele Eskandari, who acquired a silver necklace during the
auction. “People are not as aware in Armenia about disabled issues
as they are here in the U.S.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress