CENN – DECEMBER 17, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. IFC Environmental, Social and Disclosure Policies and Performance
Standards
2. Letter writing campaign
3. Community Center Opens in Gyumri
4. Prosecutors Concerned Over Growing Number of Gas Leak Accidents
5. Armenian Plant Set to Produce Small Hydro Power Plant Equipment

1. IFC ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS

Dear all,

As many of you are already aware, the International Finance Corporation
(IFC – the private lending arm of the World Bank) is in the process of
revising its social, environmental, and disclosure policies. While some
of the details of this process may seem arcane to some, it is important
to note that these policies are currently the de facto social and
environmental international standards, impacting nearly three quarters
of all international project finance – both public and private. The
results of this process will affect all of us, and the people and places
we care about, for a long time.

In my capacity as consultant to the Bank Information Center (BIC), I
wanted to take a moment to update you on how that process is proceeding,
and what is being done both within and outside the process by our
colleagues in civil society. I also want to urge you to get involved, in
one way or another, in this important effort.

The IFC is nearly finished with their initial round of global
consultations, and under the original plan they outlined, this would
have been the end of any chance for public input. However, due to
internal and external pressure, IFC has slightly revised their process
and the timeline. We now expect to see a revised draft of the new IFC
Environmental, Social and Disclosure Policies and Performance Standards,
as well as the “Interpretation Notes” that clarify them, sometime in
mid-January. At that point, we expect to have between 4-8 weeks to
provide comment on the draft before it is finalized and sent to a
subcommittee of the World Bank Group’s Board of Directors. This next
phase will be our critical window of opportunity.

Many civil society groups have offered comments on both the substance
and the process of the safeguard policy review. Some are attached,
(pleas see: ) others you can
access at a civil society sponsored website supporting this effort
() or at the IFC’s website which includes an official
record of comments at: I am also
happy to send you any information that you need, should you find it
difficult to locate or access.

The IFC’s consultation process has been seriously flawed from the
beginning, leading many organizations to decide to boycott the
consultation process. Overall, IFC’s process has been rushed, full
information is not available, and it has been extraordinarily
non-transparent. Many groups in civil society have been critical of the
process. In response, IFC claims that the concerns and criticisms are
largely limited to Northern-based organizations. We know this is not the
case, but it will be important in January and February to ensure that
Southern voices in particular are heard in relation to this vital issue.

BIC is ready and able to help organizations that may need or want
assistance to weigh in on this issue in any way. If you want to join
the international boycott of the process, we can help to ensure that
your support of the boycott and concerns are known. If you want to
comment on the substance or the process of the review, we can also help
by providing you with additional background information, and by putting
you in touch with other organizations that are working on similar
issues.

Whatever you do, please don’t stay silent on this issue. Whether it’s
simply to note that you consider the process illegitimate and rigged, or
to weigh in on more specific matters, please let your voice be heard.

Best regards,

Steve Kretzmann
Strategic Consultant
Bank Information Center

*******************************
Stephen Kretzmann
Strategic Consultant
Bank Information Center
&
Senior Campaign Advisor
Rainforest Action Network
[email protected]
1-202-497-1033
*******************************

2. LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN

Dear aviation and climate activists,

Some weeks ago Friends of the Earth Netherlands and AEF/GreenSkies
organised a conference on airports, air travel and climate change. The
results will be published at

Our first action is a letter writing campaign, aimed at the European
Commission. We ask you to spend half an hour on writing a letter to the
commissioners yourselves. Please forward this initiative.

We wish you happy Christmas holidays

—–

Write a letter to the European Commission

Are you concerned about airport expansion, bothered by aircraft noise,
worried about the ever growing climate impact of aviation? NOW YOU can
do something about it! Write before 2005!

FORWARD this e-mail (and attachment ‘Write to the EC’) to the people and
organisations you know

Read all details in the example.doc
to the EC.pdf
Make it your personal letter!

Evert Hassink
Milieudefensie / Friends of the Earth Netherlands
Tim Johnson
AEF/Greenskies

3. COMMUNITY CENTER OPENS IN GYUMRI

Source: Armenian NGO News in Brief, December 12, 2004

On November 2, 2004 a new Community Center opened its doors in Gyumri.
The building was renovated by the Norwegian Refugee Council and houses
Community Social-Healthcare and Pedo-Psychological Assistance Centers as
well as a Kindergarten. Services of the Community Social-Healthcare
Center will be provided by Mission Armenia Charitable NGO and are
designed to meet the needs of vulnerable, single, older and disabled
people and refugees residing in temporary dwellings. This integrated
center includes a soup kitchen, social services center, health post,
bath and laundry, hairdressing room, training resource center,
conference room and other more.

The soup kitchen will be operational on weekdays and provide hot
nutritious meals to about 200 beneficiaries. The social services center
will provide health, psychological, legal trainings and individual
consultations. The in-home services for almost 600 single older
residents of Gyumri are one of the most significant activities to be
carried out through the center: provision of individual care, personal
hygiene, medical assistance, psychological, gerontological and legal
assistance, home renovation, heating of homes, and more. It will also
serve as a good place for arranging cultural events, meetings and
round-table discussions. The health post will provide primary health
care and necessary medications to beneficiaries free of charge. The bath
and laundry will meet primary hygienic needs of older beneficiaries. The
hairdressing room will provide relevant services to the vulnerable.
Through the training resource center, computer, hairdressing and
tailoring skills will be transferred to the vulnerable refugee and local
population of the town, providing them an opportunity to acquire new job
skills. Mission Armenia Charitable NGO implements these activities
through funding support received from USAID.

Contact: Hripsime Kirakosyan
Mission Armenia Charitable NGO
42 G. Nzdeh St.
Tel.: (374-1) 44-47-92; 44-47-93
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

4. PROSECUTORS CONCERNED OVER GROWING NUMBER OF GAS LEAK ACCIDENTS

Source: Armenpress, December 15, 2004

Armenia’s chief prosecutor’s office has called in a statement today on
the population to avoid using makeshift stoves to warm their homes that
work on natural gas and urged it to observe all safety rules. The
warning came after a series of accidents from across the country
reporting death or poisoning from gas. The latest such accident occurred
in Etchmiadzin where a couple and three their little children were
poisoned by a gas leak out.

The incidents prompted the prosecutor’s office to make a probe and
reveal that virtually all accidents are due to people’s failure to
observe the most elementary safety rules and the carelessness of
authorized bodies that are supposed to supervise local gas networks’
safety.

The chief prosecutor’s office also urged the population to report
immediately about careless work of authorized bodies. It also required
that gas authorities carry out sweeping reforms within the system and
take measures to prevent such accidents in future.

5. ARMENIAN PLANT SET TO PRODUCE SMALL HYDRO POWER PLANT EQUIPMENT

Source: Armenpress, December 15, 2004

A Yerevan-based factory manufacturing electric machines said it plans to
start production of components of small hydro power stations with a
capacity ranging between 4 to 100 kilowatt/hour. The factory’s chief
engineer Felix Khachatrian told Armenpress turbines with 4-kilowatt/hour
capacities had been successfully tested, adding also that turbines with
30 kilowatt/hour capacity and higher had been designed.

According to Khachatrian, Armenian-made turbines may become more
attractive for foreigners as they are two times cheaper than others.

He said a go-between Dutch company is taking interest in Armenian
turbines, and has pledged to look for investors who are ready to assist
the Armenian plant.

—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

–Boundary_(ID_gujsNv6gbjUNSPIRH5BtVA)–

CENN – DECEMBER 20, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Evaluation of CENN activities During the period of 2004-2005
2. “The Public Eye Awards – “26/27 January 2005, Davos/Switzerland
3. Training Sessions in International Human Rights
4. BP and British Council Announce Successful Scholarship Candidates
5. AUA Promotes Anti-Smoking Movement
6. Human Rights and Environment

1. EVALUATION OF CENN ACTIVITIES DURING THE PERIOD OF 2004-2005

CENN – Caucasus Environmental NGO Network is conducting evaluation of
its activities for the period of 2004-2005 and would like to ask you to
participate in the study by answering this checklist as accurately as
possible. The information will help us assess the CENN activities and
improve our work in the future. We ask you to answer the checklist and
return it via e-mail till December 27, 2004.

We appreciate your cooperation! Thank you!

The English and Russian verisons of the cheklists is availble on the
following adress:

2. “THE PUBLIC EYE AWARDS – “26/27 JANUARY 2005, DAVOS/SWITZERLAND

Dear friends,

Every year in January, the World Economic Forum (WEF) gathers its
business leaders and the world’s political and media elite in Davos.
Current global political issues are discussed and trends in the future
development of global business are set. For the sixth time, the
international NGO coalition “The Public Eye on Davos” will be present in
Davos with an alternative event at the same time and place as the WEF.
The highlight of next year’s “Public Eye” will be an Awards Ceremony.
Candidates for the awards are WEF corporate members and other companies
that have excelled in socially and environmentally irresponsible
behavior. The “Public Eye Awards” are given in the categories human
rights, environment, labor law and taxes.

In the meantime, we received numerous nominations (the deadline was 31
October 2004). They can be viewed from January 11, 2005 (date of the
press conference) onwards at:
<;. The award winners will be presented
at the Awards Ceremony to be held on 26 January 2005 in Davos. The Swiss
actor and cabaret artist Patrick Frey will present the event.

For the full program of the “Public Eye” event please go to:
<;archive=none>

With kind regards,

Matthias Herfeldt
Coordinator “The Public Eye on Davos”
Berne Declaration

3. TRAINING SESSIONS IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS

Dear Sir / Madam,

Please allow me to introduce myself: My name is Kamala Laghate and I
work for the Netherlands Helsinki Committee as project organizer.

In May we will hold the fifth of a series of five Practical Training
sessions in International Human Rights Litigation. This training will
take place in the Netherlands from 9th to 20th of May 2005. The emphasis
is on non-discrimination and minority rights.

It is meant for lawyers and judges from the Caucasus region who deal
with human rights issues (especially non-discrimination and minority
rights) professionally, who litigate in court and could be placed in the
position to bring a case to Strasbourg.

Please find additional info on the programme in the attachments as well
as the application form.

The deadline for submitting the application is January 15th, 2005.

I kindly request you to distribute the information on the training to
other relevant organisations (such as bar / judiciary associations,
human rights organisations, courts) and individuals whom you think would
be interested in participating. The training will be taught in English,
so the applicant should be fluent in this language.

As we are based in the Netherlands and have not established many
contacts in your country yet I would really appreciate it if you would
help me in finding participants for
this course.

Thank you very much in advance!

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Kamala Laghate
Netherlands Helsinki Committee
P.O. Box 93132
2509 AC The Hague, the Netherlands
T: +31 70 392 6700
F: +31 70 392 6550

4. BP AND BRITISH COUNCIL ANNOUNCE SUCCESSFUL SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATES

Source: The Messenger, December 17, 2004

On December 16, 2004 BP Georgia and the British Council announced the
selection of their candidates for a new international scholarship
program, targeting leaders in a wide range of study fields from
businesses to media.

The BP-funded program, launched in October, will send 10 students to
study Masters level courses in the UK for a period of 12 months. The
British Council will manage this program that received more than 250
applications alongside the UK government’s Chevening scholarships
program.

The announcement follows BP’s recent commitment to a new social
investment program for Georgia, through which – in consultation with the
Georgian government – it will invest US $10 million in arrange of
projects covering areas such as education and healthcare.

Head of BP Georgia, Wref Digings says: “This scholarship program is part
of our commitment to successful, long term relationship with Georgia. It
is the first step in our education program that is set to expand to
include other long distance learning opportunities for Georgians. It
also fits well with BP’s global emphasis on the role of education in the
development of enterprise and civil society.”

Jo Bakowski, Director of the British Council in Georgia, adds: “WE have
been managing scholarship programs for the more than 10 years and they
are one of our most important activities, clearly demonstrated by the
achievements of our alumni. The candidates selected fort the BP program
are of similarly high standard and have shown how their studies could
contribute to positive change in Georgia.”

The fields covered by the scholarship are: banking, finance and
economics (including insurance); business studies; management
(agriculture, education, energy, health and transport); human rights;
law; media; social and political studies; built environment (includes
architecture, urban planning and design); and international relations
and diplomatic studies.

For further information on program, please visit the British Council
website at:

5. AUA PROMOTES ANTI-SMOKING MOVEMENT

PRESS RELEASE

December 16, 2004

American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576

Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]

Yerevan – On Friday, December 10, 2004, the Association of
Caricaturists, the Armenian Public Health Alliance, the Coalition for
Tobacco Free Armenia and the American University of Armenia hosted a
public exhibition “Artists Against Smoking,” as part of its approach to
combat smoking in Armenia.
The exhibition took place in the newly opened AUA Center Restaurant,
which has a healthy working, non-smoking environment policy.

With support from the Open Society institute, the Armenian Public Health
Alliance, formed by the Armenian Public Health Association, the Armenian
Public Health Union and the American University of Armenia, started an
ambitious multi-pronged project to combat smoking in Armenia, including
establishing the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Armenia (CTFA), which now
includes 18 NGOs representing over eight hundred people committed to
preventing the health consequences of tobacco smoke.

Earlier in the year, on October 12, the American University of Armenia
(AUA) hosted the first ever-national meeting of NGOs involved in
fighting smoking in Armenia. At the conference, AUA President Haroutune
Armenian emphasized that the Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia (CTFA)
demonstrates that Armenians can and will unite to protect the public’s
health.

According to global tobacco expert, Dr. Richard Peto, the average
Armenian male smoker loses 17 years of productive life due to smoking.
Despite this shocking finding, smoking is not perceived as a problem by
Armenian society, where 67% of adult males are estimated to smoke and 3%
of females.

Moreover, many wrongly believe that cigarette manufacturing is a benefit
to the country’s economy, looking only at the jobs and tax revenue
created by the industry, without accounting for health and other costs
paid by the government and by society at large. This false image of
tobacco industry is maintained by sophisticated advertisements and other
misleading practices seen throughout the world.

Empowering people and building public support for tough tobacco control
policy measures was and remains the focus of the initiative.
Established in June 2004, the Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia became
a member of the international Framework Convention Alliance, which
unites about 200 organizations around the world in support of the WHO
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In June, CTFA Coordinator
Narine Movsisyan, MD, MPH participated as an invited observer at the
open-ended intergovernmental meeting on tobacco control in Geneva. In
her words, it was “a great experience to learn from international
tobacco control activists. Lobbying was a bad word in the soviet times.
I would never have imagined that lobbying could be pro-human,
pro-health. Like the smokers we are trying to educate, we have to open
our minds and re-think many concepts.”

In a country in transition like Armenia, economic arguments can be very
powerful. Thus, demonstrating the long-term effects of tobacco control
as opposed to short-term economic benefits of tobacco growing and
manufacturing is of critical importance. Armenian Public Health Alliance
experts developed a comprehensive informational package for Armenian
policy and decision makers. The infopack called “Contemporary Issues on
Tobacco Control in Armenia” examined health, social and economic aspects
of the situation in Armenia and suggested appropriate solutions in light
of international experience. The Armenian Public Health Alliance’s
infopack was a critical reference at the November 17 Parliamentary
hearings on tobacco control.

The CTFA successfully lobbied Parliament to adopt the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control and is now lobbying for similarly strict
supporting legislation, in coordination with the Ministry of Health
National Tobacco Control Program led by Dr. Alexander Bazarchyan and
Chair of Parliamentary Committee on Science, Education, Culture, and
Youth, Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan.

As Armenian Public Health Alliance member Hovhannes Margaryants,
President of the Armenian Public Health Union, noted, “We intend to
stimulate a dialogue within our society and build a new non-smoking
culture. We are looking for allies and partners among journalists,
medical, cultural, business and political elite as well as parents and
other “ordinary” citizens. Everyone concerned with building a healthier
and safer homeland for all Armenians is welcomed.”

The “Artists Against Smoking” exhibition was organized within the
framework of the tobacco control project with support from the Open
Society Institute Assistance Foundation. The Association of
Caricaturists presented approximately 40 antismoking drawings. AUA
members along with guests and representatives from Ministry of Culture,
Youth Affaires and Sport, Academy of Art, international organizations
and local agencies expressed their appreciation and noted that both the
exhibition and non-smoking Restaurant are a novelty for Armenia.

CTFA Coordinator Narine Movsisyan stated, “It’s a challenge to change
people’s unhealthy behavior. Today’s exhibition is an attempt to talk to
people on a language of humor and satire. We believe that laugh can be
curative.” The opening was followed by light reception and broad local
media coverage. The Exhibition will be open for public at large through
December 17th in the AUA Club Restaurant.

6. HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENT

Source: Yerevan Press Club Weekly Newsletter, December 10-16, 2004

On December 10, 2004 on the International Day of Human Rights in Yerevan
the ceremony of awarding monetary prizes to the winners of competition
“Human Rights and Environment” was held. The competition was
administrated by the OSCE Office in Yerevan jointly with the Public
(Airbus) Center of Environmental Information.

In the nomination “Print media” the first prize was awarded to Susanna
Shakhnazarian (“Ban ev Gorts”, Syunik region), the second – to Karineh
Danielian (“Azg”, Yerevan), the third – to Arthur Sakunts and Narineh
Bulghadarian (“Civil Initiative”, Vanadzor). Encouraging prizes in this
nomination were conferred on Anush Sargsian (“Loru Marz”, Lori region)
and Sarah Petrosian (“Investigative Journalists” public organization).

In the nomination “TV Journalism” the first prize was granted to Edik
Baghdasarian (“Versus” studio, Yerevan), the second – to Satenik
Kaghzvantsian (free-lance journalist, Shirak region), the third – to
Valery Gasparian (Armenian branch of “Mir” Interstate TV and Radio
Company). Encouraging prizes were also conferred on Nelly Danielian
(“Yerkir-Media”, Yerevan) and Stella Martirosian (“Shoghakat”, Yerevan).

Special prize was awarded to the film of Hrachia Papinian (“Ankyun+3”,
Lori region).

—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

–Boundary_(ID_cbIJSUMVwgWOXCthoMhvhQ)–

SERIOUS CHANGES EXPECTED IN SPHERE OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE

STEPANAKERT, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). According to NKR Minister of
Education, Culture and Sport Armen Sargsian, serious changes which may
be considered as strategic are expected in the sphere of education and
culture by the 2005 budget. In particular, the salary of teachers will
increase and make 50,000 drams, the salary of employees of the sphere
of culture and sport will increase by 18-24%. The work directed at the
establishment of pre-school groups will continue. Another 15 groups
will be replenished to already opened 24 groups this year. Boarding
departments will be opened at some schools. It is expected that the
methodical manuals of 2.5 mln drams will be published for the first
time (the pedagogues of the republic were deprived of them during
ten years). The reforms will also be carried out in the sphere of
culture: the sum foreseen for the restoration, protection and study
of monuments will reach 100 mln drams as against 5-7 mln drams in the
previous years. According to the 2005 budget, the sums foreseen for the
holding of cultural and youth arrangements also increased. According
to the Minister, the participation of gifted children in different
cultural arrangements abroad will also become possible. According to
Armen Sargsian, this policies will be continuous.

Turquie : débat sans passion au Parlement

Le Figaro
mardi 21 décembre 2004

Députés et sénateurs ont débattu aujourd’hui de l’ouverture des
négociations d’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union européenne décidée
vendredi à Bruxelles, dans une atmosphère relativement atone dans les
deux chambres, faute de vote sur cette question et donc d’enjeu.
(Avec AFP.)

Les députés ont été avertis au dernier moment de cette séance
spéciale, comme le 14 octobre dernier lors du premier débat sans vote
sur les relations avec Ankara. (Photo Mustafa Ozer/AFP.)

Tour à tour, Jean-Pierre Raffarin a expliqué aux députés puis aux
sénateurs que «négociation n’était pas adhésion», dans le souci de
rassurer les parlementaires UMP opposés à une entrée d’Ankara dans
l’UE, conformément à la position du Conseil national de leur parti de
mai dernier.

«Il n’y a pas, je le dis clairement, automaticité de la négociation à
l’adhésion. Le processus va être long et durer au minimum dix ans
(…). Pour une raison simple: ni l’Europe ni la Turquie ne sont
prêtes aujourd’hui à une adhésion», a insisté le Premier ministre. Il
a en outre rappelé qu’en tout état de cause, les Français auraient
«le dernier mot» sur une éventuelle entrée d’Ankara dans l’Union, par
la voie d’un référendum promis par le président Jacques Chirac.

Exercice délicat pour M. Raffarin, contraint à un discours à la fois
audible par les parlementaires de l’UMP et compatible avec la
position du chef de l’Etat en faveur d’une adhésion de la Turquie.

Se faisant, il s’est attiré les critiques des socialistes mais aussi
celles des centristes dont le président François Bayrou s’est montré
particulièrement virulent vis-à-vis de Jacques Chirac et du
gouvernement.

«Décalage abyssal» entre le chef de l’Etat et le président de l’UMP
Nicolas Sarkozy, «grand concert de la discorde»: le président du
groupe socialiste à l’Assemblée Jean-Marc Ayrault a étrillé la
droite, avant de qualifier l’accord de Bruxelles «d’acte majeur».

Il a regretté néanmoins que le Conseil européen n’ait pas «clairement
signifié» au gouvernement turc que «la reconnaissance mutuelle entre
ses Etats-membres n’est pas négociable» face au refus de la Turquie
de reconnaître Chypre. Il a également déploré «l’interférence» des
Etats-Unis dans la négociation.

Très en verve, François Bayrou, qui réclame, en vain, depuis des mois
un vote des parlementaires sur une éventuelle adhésion de la Turquie
à l’UE, a dénoncé une «démocratie française concentrée, verrouillée,
et sans contre pouvoir».

«Les représentants du peuple sont écartés des sujets essentiels» et
«les 577 députés et 340 sénateurs» sont en fait «interdits
d’expression et d’engagement sur les sujets lourds, interdits
d’histoire», a-t-il lancé.

Il a rappelé qu’en cas de vote, les parlementaires auraient été
majoritairement contre une entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union. Manière
de signifier l’isolement du gouvernement face à sa majorité.

Pour les communistes, le président du groupe Alain Bocquet a accusé
la droite de «vouloir parasiter la question essentielle» du
référendum sur la Constitution européenne avec celle de la Turquie.

Alors qu’à l’Assemblée, le débat a duré une heure, le temps de la
séance des questions au gouvernement, au Sénat, les orateurs se sont
succédé à la tribune durant trois heures. Il est vrai que les
sénateurs n’avaient pas eu droit à une longue discussion sur le
sujet, comme cela avait été le cas pour le députés le 14 octobre.

Le débat n’y a pas été plus animé qu’à l’Assemblée. Seule l’annonce
par Jean-Pierre Raffarin de la libération des deux otages français en
Irak a déclenché des applaudissements sur tous les bancs.

–Boundary_(ID_SSZk9yE6RRXoOSNOyDvf+w)–

Barnier: poser toutes les questions à la Turquie dont le “génocide arménien”

Agence France Presse
20 décembre 2004 lundi 8:13 AM GMT

PARIS 20 déc 2004

La France posera “toutes les questions” à la Turquie avant une
éventuelle adhésion de ce pays à l’Union européenne, “y compris celle
du génocide arménien”, a déclaré lundi sur la radio RTL le ministre
des Affaires étrangères Michel Barnier.

“Il ne s’agit aujourd’hui que d’engager des négociations d’adhésion
qui vont être très longues, très difficiles, durant lesquelles nous
poserons toutes les questions, y compris celle du génocide arménien,
en souhaitant obtenir, avant l’adhésion, une réponse de la Turquie”,
a déclaré M. Barnier.

M. Barnier avait déjà utilisé le terme de “génocide arménien” mardi
dernier devant l’Assemblée nationale. Mais auparavant, il avait pris
soin dans ses différentes interventions d’utiliser le terme de
“tragédie”, qui est souvent employé par les autorités turques pour
qualifier cette question.

Le Parlement français a adopté une loi le 18 janvier 2001, promulguée
le 29 janvier, qui dispose dans son article unique : “La France
reconnaît publiquement le génocide arménien de 1915”, sans toutefois
en désigner les responsables.

“Le président de la République exprime une vision, exprime où se
trouve pour lui l’intérêt de notre pays, de notre continent”, a
ajouté M. Barnier en commentant la position de Jacques Chirac en
faveur d’une entrée de la Turquie dans l’UE.

Jeudi et vendredi lors du Conseil européen de Bruxelles, M. Chirac a
fermement appuyé – au nom de sa vision à long terme de la
construction européenne – l’ouverture de négociations d’adhésion de
la Turquie, qui a été fixée au 3 octobre 2005 par les 25 chefs d’Etat
et de gouvernement.

Il a cependant assuré que la route menant à ce “mariage” serait
“longue et difficile”.

–Boundary_(ID_gCo7zKxTsEBU/DVR1ymWUA)–

BONINO: TURCHIA, PAURE INFONDATE E’ UNA GRANDE OCCASIONE ;
INTERVISTA ALLA STAMPA

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
December 20, 2004

ROMA

(ANSA) – ROMA, 20 DIC – “Io dico che e’ interesse
dell’Europa che la Turchia entri nell’Unione”, sostiene
nell’intervista rilasciata alla STAMPA Emma Bonino,
europarlamentare radicale ed ex commissaria europea.

“Cosi’ come non si sono volute dire parole chiare
sull’immigrazione, nessun leader politico italiano spiega cos’e
in ballo per l’Europa con l’allargamento alla Turchia. Perche
si tratta di temi a rischio elettorale. Ma cosi’, vince sempre
chi fa leva sulla paura. Basti vedere come si e’ comportato a
Bruxelles un pezzo della Margherita, votando gli emendamenti a
favore di una partnership speciale con Ankara”.

“In Turchia gira una barzelletta. Per entrare in Europa, si
deve superare un test: alla Romania chiedono qual e’ la capitale
della Francia, all’Ungheria se la Gran Bretagna sia un’isola.
Alla Turchia, di elencare tutti i morti di Hiroshima. (…)
L’identita’ europea – argomenta Emma Bonino – non sta nelle sue
radici. E’ piuttosto memoria di quello che siamo stati, e la
nostra e’ una memoria di guerre terribili, di crociate e
inquisizione, e assieme quello che siamo divenuti. L’identita
europea, oggi, e’ nelle istituzioni, nello stato di diritto,
nelle pre-condizioni dello sviluppo e del benessere. L’Europa
oggi e’ soluzione dei conflitti, come per i padri fondatori e
stata superamento dei nazionalismi. E’ evidente che anche la
Turchia dovra’ fare i conti con la sua storia, col genocidio
degli armeni: hanno gia’ cominciato, aprendo i loro archivi
storici. E gli armeni che vivono in Turchia, oltre quelli della
diaspora, dicono che il loro futuro e’ in Europa”.

“Oggi viviamo in un mondo che non e’ piu’ quello in cui
l’Unione europea e’ nata. E mentre cerchiamo di governare le
sfide attuali, e’ nel nostro interesse che la Turchia sia nel
mondo occidentale. Perche oggi il grande scontro non e’ piu
tra democrazia e comunismo, ma tra democrazia e regimi
oscurantisti, totalitari, fanatici. Molti sono proprio in Medio
Oriente. Poi abbiamo anche capito, oggi, che il terrorismo, il
fondamentalismo, le dittature teocratiche non si sconfiggono
solo con le armi, ma anche con l’isolamento politico. E dunque
sostenendo la democrazia ovunque si manifesta. La Turchia e
gia’ parte della Nato, del Consiglio d’Europa, dell’Osce.
Dobbiamo lavorare perche sia parte dell’Unione europea: e’ solo
un Paese musulmano membro a pieno titolo che puo’ aiutare
l’Europa ad avere un dialogo piu’ rigoroso, serio e fruttuoso”.

“Bossi dice che (tra dieci anni) ci saranno ottanta milioni
di turchi che vorranno tutti venire in Italia. Beh, io credo che
se l’economia turca continua a tirare come tira, sara’ piuttosto
vero l’opposto. Questo allargamento non sara’ come gli altri,
per dirla con le parole di Buttiglione sulla Stampa di ieri, ma
gli argomenti sono proprio gli stessi che si usarono quando si
tratto’ di aprire alla Spagna. Le risulta che siamo stati invasi
dagli immigrati spagnoli?”, conclude Emma Bonino. (ANSA).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Raffarin repose les termes du débat sur la Turquie

Libération
mardi 21 décembre 2004 (Reuters – 17:37)

PARIS – Quatre jours après le conseil de Bruxelles qui a donné à
Ankara une date d’ouverture pour des négociations en vue de son
éventuelle entrée dans l’Union européenne, le débat organisé mardi
à l’Assemblée nationale a permis à plusieurs partis de redire leur
scepticisme à l’idée d’une Turquie européenne.

Pour entrer dans l’Union, la Turquie devra faire sa “révolution
européenne”, leur a répondu Jean-Pierre Raffarin, qui a repris les
arguments avancés par le président Jacques Chirac dans ce dossier.

“Oui à l’entrée de la Turquie à terme, si elle remplit les critères
d’adhésion à l’Union européenne”, a dit le chef du gouvernement.
“Pourquoi ? Parce que, si les conditions sont réunies, ce sera
l’intérêt de la France et de l’Europe”.

En cas d’échec des négociations, “s’il s’avérait que la Turquie ne
veut pas ou ne peut pas adhérer à l’ensemble de ces réformes, l’Union
lui proposera un lien partenarial en lieu et place de l’adhésion”,
a ajouté le Premier ministre à l’adresse particulière de l’UMP,
favorable à un “partenariat privilégié” avec Ankara.

A Bruxelles, les Vingt-Cinq ont décidé qu’en cas d’échec des
pourparlers, des dispositions seraient prises “pour que le candidat
concerné soit pleinement ancré dans les structures européennes par
le lien le plus fort possible”.

La séance spéciale de questions-réponses de mardi à l’Assemblée a
été décidée à la suite du conseil européen de jeudi et vendredi, qui
a fixé au 3 octobre la date d’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion
avec Ankara.

Le président de l’UDF François Bayrou et les présidents des groupes
communiste, UMP et socialiste, Alain Bocquet, Bernard Accoyer et
Jean-Marc Ayrault, se sont exprimés tour à tour pendant une dizaine de
minutes. Jean-Pierre Raffarin leur a ensuite fait une réponse commune.

Le Premier ministre a ensuite fait une déclaration au Sénat.

“Rien ne condamne la Turquie à l’exclusion éternelle de l’Europe”,
mais “il n’y a pas automaticité de la négociation à l’adhésion”,
a souligné Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

“La Turquie doit consolider sa démocratie, progresser dans le
respect des droits de l’homme et des minorités avec notamment les
tragiques questions arménienne et kurde, confirmer le processus de
réconsiliation régionale qui a été engagé avec la Grèce et régler la
question de Chypre”, a-t-il ajouté, résumant les conditions posées
par le conseil européen.

“DECALAGE ABYSSAL” ENTRE CHIRAC ET SARKOZY

Le socialiste Jean-Marc Ayrault n’a pas manqué pour sa part de
souligner “le décalage abyssal” entre la position du président Jacques
Chirac, favorable à une Turquie européenne, et celle du président de
l’UMP Nicolas Sarkozy, qui y est opposé.

“Y-a-t-il un pilote dans l’avion ?”, a-t-il lancé.

“C’est le grand concert de la discorde, c’est la polyphonie des
peurs”, a ajouté Jean-Marc Ayrault, qui a accusé l’UMP et l’UDF de
“faire assaut de simplisme pour expliquer que la Turquie et l’Europe
sont incompatibles”.

Le communiste Alain Bocquet, dont le camp milite pour l’entrée de la
Turquie dans l’Union, a déploré le “oui d’opérette”, le “oui frileux
prononcé du bout des lèvres” par les Vingt-Cinq, qui ont posé selon
lui des conditions “pour décourager la candidature” d’Ankara.

L’élu communiste a par ailleurs accusé le gouvernement de créer une
confusion entre le référendum sur le projet de Constitution européenne
“que vous prévoyez d’avancer en toute hâte au printemps prochain”
et l’adhésion de la Turquie qui représente 15 ans de négociations
aléatoires entre Etats au sein des institutions”.

“Il s’agit là d’une manipulation d’opinion qui trouble le débat sur
les véritables enjeux”, a-t-il estimé.

En réponse aux inquiétudes de François Bayrou, selon qui la France a
“renoncé à son droit de veto” après avoir “renoncé à porter un projet
européen différent”, Jean-Pierre Raffarin a assuré que la France
n’avait “pas abandonné” ce droit “qu’elle exercera le moment venu si
le projet turc n’est pas conforme au projet européen”.

Le Premier ministre a promis aux élus un dialogue “régulier” et
“transparent” sur cette question.

Ce dialogue “durera tout au long des négociations qui peuvent
s’échelonner jusqu’en 2020. J’engage donc mes successeurs !”, a-t-il
dit, rappelant toutefois que ce dossier relevait en premier lieu
du président de la République et que l’entrée de la Turquie ferait,
le cas échéant, l’objet d’un référendum en France.

“Nous serons toujours disponibles pour un débat mais ne comptez
pas sur moi ni sur mon gouvernement pour mettre à mal les principes
de la Ve République (…) qui donnent au chef de l’Etat la mission
essentielle de négocier les traités et qui donne au Parlement et au
peuple la possibilité de le ratifier.”

“Le peuple souverain aura le dernier mot. Telle est la conception
que j’ai de la Ve République”, a conclu Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

–Boundary_(ID_B1Q30JOJi7kIg3UVjwkalA)–

Le Monde
Mardi 21 décembre 2004

Deux négations, deux politiques ;
AU COURRIER DES LECTEURS

par: Thomas Hochmann

(…) Si on est plus sensible en Europe au génocide juif, c’est
notamment parce qu’il s’est déroulé sur nos terres. Mais on ne
saurait porter sur la souffrance un regard à géographie variable.
Oui, le Parti des jeunes Turcs ittihadistes a massacré la population
arménienne, hommes, femmes et enfants, avec l’intention de la
détruire. Oui, la négation de ce génocide porte préjudice à la
mémoire des Arméniens. Oui, cette négation est défavorable à la
démocratie en ce qu’elle est une atta- que contre une population
précise, qui se voit accusée de falsification et privée de tout moyen
juridi- que contre les individus portant atteinte à son passé.

En réservant l’incrimination de négationnisme aux négateurs du
génocide juif, la loi française du 13 juillet 1990 (mais aussi les
lois autrichienne, allemande, belge ou luxembourgeoise) est contraire
au principe d’égalité. Elle traite différemment deux cas similaires :
la négation d’un génocide. Peu importe, juridiquement et dans ce cas
précis, les différences entre ces deux crimes, le nombre de morts, le
nazisme, l’industrie au service de l’extermination, peu importe si
l’antisémitisme est plus répandu que l’« anti-arménisme ».

Mais même lorsque la législation d’un Etat punit la négation de tout
génocide, elle n’est pas appliquée au cas arménien. Ainsi, en Suisse,
les tribunaux ont refusé de condamner de tels actes, estimant que les
négateurs turcs ne faisaient que défendre l’opinion nationale dans
laquelle ils ont été éduqués. Le juge a notamment justifié sa
décision par l’absence de reconnaissance officielle en Suisse du
génocide arménien.

Le cas helvète est donc l’inverse de la situation en France, où le
génocide commis contre les Arméniens est reconnu par une loi du 29
janvier 2001. Il suffira au juge de se référer à cette loi. Or le
négationnisme fait partie du génocide. Les auteurs d’un tel crime
tentent toujours de le camoufler, ce qui permet à certains de nier
son existence. La loi française qui prévoit l’imprescribilité du
crime de génocide et qui reconnaît l’existence du génocide arménien
est incohérente en ce qu’elle ne punit pas la négation de ce crime.

Pourquoi ne le fait-elle pas ? Pourquoi les tribunaux suisses, avec
une loi concernant tous les génocides, ne punissent-ils pas les
négateurs du génocide arménien ? La réponse sort ici du droit pour la
politique. (…)

L’incrimination de la négation du génocide arménien ne constituerait
pas une pente dangereuse menant à la fin de la liberté d’expression,
mais la garantie juridique de la mémoire des victimes d’un affreux
crime. La négation du génocide arménien, tout comme la négation de
l’Holocauste, sort de la liberté de l’historien et n’a d’autre but
que politique. Certes, la reconnaissance officielle par la Turquie
faciliterait les choses. Mais il est irresponsable de la part du
législateur français (et ailleurs dans l’Union Européenne) de ne pas
avoir le courage de placer la justice au-dessus de la diplomatie.

–Boundary_(ID_lE0hnpK/vdK2+RiPUt4Hpw)–

Le Monde
Mardi 21 décembre 2004

Charles Aznavour L’Intégrale ;
CULTURE DISQUES

par Véronique Mortaigne

DISQUE
TITRE: L’intégrale
AUTEUR: Charles Aznavour

Un monument, un vrai : 42 CD au sommet de la maquette métallique de
l’Arc de triomphe, avec un livret de 60 pages contenant un concert à
l’Olympia de 1976 inédit en CD et un long entretien donné à Alain
Poulanges en 1995 sur France-Inter. Aznavour reste le plus connu des
chanteurs français à l’étranger, il a fêté ses 80 ans cette année, et
si tous ses disques ont été réédités par ses soins, ils n’avaient
jamais fait l’objet d’une intégrale. Voilà Aznavour tel qu’en
lui-même depuis ses premiers essais en duo avec Pierre Roche (CD 1,
1948-1949) jusqu’à Je voyage (CD 42, 2003). Aznavour, petit émigré
arménien, a travaillé avec acharnement, a composé pour Edith Piaf et
beaucoup d’autres, a chanté Mireille et Jean Nohain (CD 2), joué en
grand dramaturge Je m’voyais déjà, fait swinguer For Me formidable et
a largement mérité sa hauteur, 48 cm d’Arc triomphal. –

–Boundary_(ID_jKq+arVBzjRTSQzpTCKdmQ)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Francia planteará cuestión del “genocidio armenio” a Turquía

Agence France Presse — Spanish
20 Dic. 2004

PARIS Dic 20 — Francia hará “todas las preguntas” a Turquía antes
de su eventual adhesión a la Unión Europea, “incluyendo la del
genocidio armenio”, declaró el lunes a la radio RTL el canciller
francés Michel Barnier.

“Haremos todas las preguntas, incluyendo sobre el genocidio armenio,
con el deseo de obtener, antes de la adhesión, una respuesta de
Turquía”, declaró Barnier.

El canciller ya se refirió al “genocidio armenio” el martes pasado
ante la Asamblea Nacional. Pero antes había empleado en sus diversas
intervenciones el término de “tragedia”, que es utilizado a menudo
por las autoridades turcas para calificar esta cuestión.

“El presidente de la República expresa una visión, expresa dónde se
encuentra para él el interés de nuestro país, de nuestro continente”,
agregó Barnier, al comentar la posición de Jacques Chirac respecto
al ingreso de Turquía a la Unión Europea.

Chirac apoyó enérgicamente la semana pasada, durante el Consejo Europeo
de Bruselas, la apertura de negociaciones de adhesión con Turquía,
que fue fijada el 3 de octubre de 2005 por los 25 jefes de Estado y
de Gobierno.

–Boundary_(ID_y7E4IWuIb183KbOrdEGMZA)–