Labour protests raise doubts over France’s EU vote
Financial Times
February 7, 2005
By John Thornhill in Paris
The French government said yesterday it would not retreat from its
determination to loosen the 35-hour working week, in spite of mass
opposition in 118 protest marches across the country on Saturday.
But some officials expressed concern that the fierce fight to extend
the length of the working week could galvanise many members of the
left into rejecting Europe’s constitutional treaty when it is put to a
national referendum, before the summer.
The government’s concerns were heightened last week when the
“parliament” of the CGT trade union, one of France’s biggest, voted
against the European constitution, claiming it was too “liberal”.
Saturday’s marches, which attracted 321,000-600,000 protesters
according to different counts, were led by some of France’s biggest
trade unions as part of their fight to preserve the statutory
35-working week. This reduction in hours has been hailed by the left
as the greatest achievement of the previous Socialist government.
Jean-François Copé, government spokesman, said the government had no
intention of withdrawing a law that gave workers greater
liberties. The draft law, allowing employees to work longer hours so
long as they reached a collective accord with their employers, would
be further debated in the lower house of parliament today.
The government commands a clear majority in parliament and is expected
to carry its draft law, which it argues is essential to render the
eurozone’s second biggest economy more competitive. A recent report by
Michel Camdessus, former IMF head, concluded that the chief reason for
the economy’s performance was its “work deficit”.
Many CGT members on Saturday’s march in Paris carried placards
rejecting the government’s vision of Europe and calling for stronger
workers’ rights. “It is impossible for a member country to revise this
constitution, so I am going to vote against it,” said Raphael Darmon,
sporting CGT and anti-constitution stickers as he demonstrated in
Place de la Nation. “France has never adopted a constitution in the
past that it cannot revise.”
Patrick Devedjian, industry minister, said a “coagulation of
discontents” among the left was a “worry” when considering the
referendum. And he appealed to François Hollande, leader of the
Socialist party, which has already held an internal vote in favour of
the constitution, not to play with fire in supporting the mass
protests.
Mr Devedjian’s fears appeared to be reinforced by an opinion poll
yesterday in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper showing that 46 per
cent of voters remained undecided on the constitution. The main
reasons for rejecting the treaty, among respondents intending to vote
No, were listed as concern about Europe becoming “too liberal”, the
general social and economic situation in France, and opposition to
opening accession talks with Turkey.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CANADA
3401 Olivar-Asselin
Montréal, Québec
H4J 1L5
Tél. (514) 334-1299 Fax (514) 334-6853
PRESS RELEASE
06 February 2005
Contacts: Shant Karabajak 514-334-1299
Roupen Kouyoumdjian 514-336-7095
Aris Babikian 416-497-8972
“CBC Radio Provides Platform to Armenian Genocide Deniers”: Canadian
Armenian Leaders
Montréal, Feb. 6 – The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
demonstrated a lack of judgment when it failed to invite representatives
of the Canadian-Armenian community to its Feb. 6 Sunday Edition radio
program where following the discussion of a book on the Armenian
Genocide, only the Turkish Embassy was allowed to present its side.
The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) president,
Dr. Girair Basmadjian, said: “It’s regrettable that deniers of the
Armenian Genocide (the Turkish Government) have been provided with a
platform while the representatives of the Canadian-Armenian community
have not been offered the opportunity to respond to the Turkish
Government’s propaganda.”
In a 25-minute segment, host Michael Enright interviewed Prof. Taner
Akçam, the author of “From Empire to Republic: Turkish Nationalism and
the Armenian Genocide”. Following the interview, Mr. Enright read a
lengthy statement sent by the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa. No such
statement was read from the Armenian Embassy of Ottawa.
Prof. Akçam is one of many Turkish historians to recognize publicly
the mass killings and deportation, in 1915, of 1.5 million Armenians as
genocide. His book represents a scholarly attempt to document the
Armenian Genocide from the perpetrator’s, rather than the victim’s
perspective. In the interview, Prof. Akçam stated that he has been
refused posts in Turkish universities because of his recognition of the
Armenian Genocide.
“We commend the CBC and thank Mr. Michael Enright for their decision to
shed light on the Forgotten Genocide of the 20th century, and Prof.
Akçam’s scholarly research. At the same time we were surprised and
disappointed to hear Mr. Enright read the Turkish Embassy’s statement
which was, as usual, full of historical fabrications and misinformation,
the usual official stance of successive Turkish governments. To us, it
is a sheer error of judgment to confront an honest academician with a
baseless political onslaught, without even giving a chance for the
author to respond.” said Dr. Basmadjian.
The Canadian-Armenian community leader said that it was unfortunate that
the CBC provided an opportunity for such a statement from the Turkish
Embassy while not inviting Canadian-Armenians the same opportunity.
“Moreover, the statement was an outright insult to the author, Dr.
Akçam, who did not lack courage to express the historical truth. The
Canadians of Armenian origin representing survivors of the said Genocide
are commemorating the 90th anniversary this year, are insulted by such
statements on a respectable broadcasting corporation such as the CBC.”
added Dr. Basmadjian.
It was omitted by the programmer the fact that the Armenian Genocide was
recognized as such by the Senate and House of Commons of Canada on 2002
and 2004 respectively, and by provincial legislatures of Ontario and
Quebec dating back to 1980.
Genocide denial out of ignorance or a false sense of “balanced
journalism” or “political correctness” is irresponsible and only serves
to promote revisionist policies. “Do we provide Holocaust deniers with
such courtesies or platforms?” asked Dr. Basmadjian.
The ANCC believes the denial of the Armenian Genocide is an
encouragement for its repetition, as it eventually happened in Ukraine,
Germany, Cambodia and Rwanda. In light of these events, it is
appropriate that the CBC apologize to the Armenian listeners and promise
to present the same opportunity to the Armenian Embassy in the future.
-30-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
U.C. Berkeley Armenian Studies Program
Contact: Prof. Stephan H. Astourian
Tel: (510) 643-8872
Email: [email protected]
AMBASSADOR JOHN EVANS TO SPEAK AT U.C. BERKELEY, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19.
UC Berkeley-The Honorable John M. Evans, U.S. Ambassador to the
Republic of Armenia, will speak in the Toll Room of the Alumni House
at U.C. Berkeley on Saturday, February 19, 2005, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Ambassador Evans was confirmed by the Senate on June 25, 2004 and was
sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia on August 11, 2004. He
presented his credentials to President Kocharian on September 4, 2004.
This event is organized by Professor Stephan Astourian, Executive
Director of the Armenian Studies Program at UC Berkeley. Ambassador
Evans will give a speech entitled `Report from Armenia: 2004-2005,’
present a video about the work of the Embassy and of the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) in Armenia, and engage in
an open conversation with the faculty, students, and community members
attending this forum.
A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Mr. Evans studied Russian history
at Yale (B.A., 1970) and Columbia, where he began a Ph.D. before
joining the Foreign Service. In the first part of his career, he
served in Tehran (1972-74), in Prague (1975-78), in the Executive
Secretariat and Office of the Secretary of State (1978-80), in Moscow
(1981-83), at the U.S. Mission to NATO (1983-86), and as Deputy
Director of the Soviet Desk (1986-89). His role in coordinating the
American response to the Armenian earthquake of 1988 earned him a
medal and statement of appreciation from the Armenian government of
that time.
Mr. Evans also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Prague (1991-94),
and as Consul General in St. Petersburg (1994-97). He was then chosen
to lead the OSCE Mission to Moldova, an international mediation and
peace-keeping effort (1997-99). On his return to Washington in 1999,
Mr. Evans assumed the direction of the State Department’s Office of
Analysis for Russia and Eurasia, winning a Meritorious Honor Award and
the CIA Director’s Exceptional Performance Award. From May 2002 until
his appointment to Yerevan, he directed the Office of Russian Affairs
at the State Department. Ambassador Evans will be accompanied by
Mrs. Donna Evans, former President of the World Affairs Council of
Washington D.C.; Mr. Robin Phillips, Mission Director in Armenia for
USAID; and Mr. Aaron Sherinian, the Embassy’s Political Officer and
Assistance Coordinator in Yerevan
The best public parking for this event is the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Student Union Garage located on Bancroft Way (left turn from Telegraph
Avenue). More information about all available parking lots can be
found at
For traveling directions to the campus, please go to the following
URL: A large campus
map is available at
The Alumni House is in the D3 square.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]
7 February 2005
LAUNCH OF 1600TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE ARMENIAN ALPHABET IN
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Sydney, Australia – Sunday, 6 February, 2005 on the Feast of St Vartan the
Warrior, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Aghan
Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and
New Zealand. During the Divine Liturgy, the Encyclical of His Holiness
Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians dated 29
January 2005 was read proclaiming 2005 the year of commemorating the 1600th
anniversary of the discovery of the Armenian Alphabet by St Mesrob Mashdots
at the instigation of King Vramshabouh and Catholicos Sahag. Also during
the Divine Liturgy, Hayrabedagan Makhtank was performed with the full rank
of clergy and deacons as it was the name day of His Holiness Karekin II.
In this auspicious year of celebration and in acknowledgment of the national
treasure that is the Armenian Alphabet, Archbishop Baliozian will soon
launch the Inaugural Archbishop’s Writing Award aimed at stimulating thought
and consciousness in Armenian youth about the relevance of maintaining the
values and faith of Armenian heritage in communities of the Diaspora in the
21st Century. The topic for the 2005 Award is “The Armenian Alphabet is
important for the Armenian identity”.
The Archbishop’s Writing Award will become an annual event and is open to
all Armenian youth from Grades 5 to12 residing in Australia, New Zealand and
South-East Asia.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Feb 6 2005
Separatist ‘minister’ says breakaway ex-Soviet regions united
Sponsored Links

AFP 06/02/2005 09:08
BAKU, Feb 5 (AFP) – Breakaway regions in the former Soviet Union have
pledged mutual support in the case of military intervention, the
‘foreign minister’ of a self-proclaimed republic in Georgia said in
an interview published Saturday.
“Our countries have an agreement that will come into effect in case
of war,” Sergei Shamba, the foreign minister of the self-styled
republic of Abkhazia told Azerbaijan’s Echo daily in a front-page
interview.
Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region of Azerbaijan, as well as
Georgia’s two separatist regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia; and
Moldova’s Transdniestr republic, “can act quite effectively”
together, Shamba said.
A series of ethnic conflicts shortly after the collapse of the Soviet
Union led to the breakaway of the regions from the newly independent
states; they have since existed in a legal limbo and are unrecognized
by the outside world.
Shamba did not go into the details of how the outcast regimes would
act in case of an attack but said “the mutual support and solidarity
between our countries is real.”
“When a people rises to fight for its victory and independence, no
force, no matter what military might it has at its disposal, can
quash this determination,” Shamba told Echo.
Three separatist republics in the Caucasus region, Karabakh, Ossetia
and Abkhazia, straddle the route of the four billion dollar BTC
pipeline, which is scheduled to begin pumping Caspian Sea oil to
western markets through Turkey later this year.
Western governments have recently stepped up their efforts to find
settlements for the simmering conflicts, which lend to instability in
the region and inflate the security costs for the BP-led pipeline
project.

Agence France Presse
6 février 2005 dimanche 9:21 AM GMT
Patrick Devedjian “choqué” par les propos de M. Erdogan sur les
Arméniens
PARIS
Le ministre délégué à l’Industrie, Patrick Devedjian, s’est dit
choqué dimanche sur France Inter par les propos tenus jeudi par le
Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan qui a déclaré qu’il ne
savait pas qu’en France, “400.000 Arméniens pouvaient faire échouer
un référendum”.
“J’ai été très surpris par la brutalité de la réponse du Premier
ministre turc.
Je suis choqué car d’une certaine manière, il semble exprimer le
regret qu’il y ait encore 400.000 Arméniens survivants en France “, a
déclaré M. Devedjian.
Le Premier ministre turc faisait référence, devant la mission
parlementaire française en visite en Turquie, à l’éventualité d’un
référendum en France sur l’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union
européenne.
Tous les interlocuteurs turcs rencontrés par cette mission
parlementaire ont exprimé leur “déception” ou se sont dit “choqués”
face aux réticences suscitées en France par la candidature de la
Turquie à l’UE, notamment en raison de sa non reconnaissance du
génocide arménien.
M. Erdogan “n’a pas l’air de comprendre que par exemple, la Shoah
n’indigne pas seulement les juifs mais tous les démocrates. Pour le
refus de la reconnaissance du génocide arménien, c’est la même
chose”, a poursuivi M. Devedjian.
“Il devrait comprendre que l’Europe s’est reconstruite sur la
réconciliation des peuples (…). De ce point de vue là, M. Erdogan a
encore des choses à apprendre”, a-t-il conclu.
L’Assemblée nationale a reconnu le génocide arménien en 2001.

Agence France Presse
5 février 2005 samedi 3:58 PM GMT
Les parlementaires français face à l’incompréhension et l’amertume
des Turcs (PAPIER GENERAL)
Par Sylvie MALIGORNE
ISTANBUL 5 fév 2005
Le président de l’Assemblée nationale Jean-Louis Debré et les
présidents de groupe ont été confrontés en Turquie à
l’incompréhension et à l’amertume des Turcs vis-à-vis des réticences
françaises sur l’adhésion d’Ankara à l’Union européenne.
Venus “sans a priori, ni préjugé”, M. Debré et les présidents de
groupe, Bernard Accoyer (UMP), Jean-Marc Ayrault (PS), Alain Bocquet
(PCF) et Hervé Morin (UDF) ont pu mesurer, pendant trois jours,
d’Ankara à Istanbul, le fossé créé entre les deux pays par le débat
en France.
Tous leurs interlocuteurs, du Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan
aux parlementaires, en passant par les chefs d’entreprise, les
associations et les universitaires, ont exprimé leur “déception” ou
se sont dit “choqués”.
L’éventualité d’un référendum sur cette adhésion a soulevé le plus de
critiques, dont celle de M. Erdogan, qui, selon un membre de la
délégation, a lancé jeudi: “Je ne savais pas que 400.000 Arméniens
pouvaient faire échouer un référendum”.
Même incompréhension samedi à Istanbul où les responsables de
l’Université francophone de Galatasaray ont vilipendé le traitement
particulier réservé à leur pays alors qu’aucun référendum n’est prévu
pour la Croatie.
M. Ayrault a souligné que les socialistes français étaient opposés à
cette disposition, de même que M. Bocquet, tandis que M. Debré l’a
défendue. Ce dernier a expliqué qu’une telle consultation était
“normale” s’agissant d’un “grand pays de 71 millions d’habitants”, en
rappelant qu’il en avait été ainsi pour la Grande-Bretagne.
“Passerelle”
Le patronat turc (TUSIAD) a manifesté son amertume en s’étonnant “des
peurs et des inquiétudes” des Français qui leur font oublier
“l’essentiel”, à savoir que “la Turquie et l’Union européenne peuvent
créer de la valeur ajoutée”.
Tous les membres de la délégation française se sont employés à
“écouter et comprendre”. M. Accoyer, partisan d’un partenariat
privilégié avec la Turquie, a eu la tche un peu plus dure, face aux
Turcs critiquant la phrase du président de l’UMP Nicolas Sarkozy “si
la Turquie était en Europe, ça se saurait”.
Sans changer d’avis sur le partenariat “car le chemin est encore très
long” avant l’adhésion, M. Accoyer a souligné le “souhait très fort”
de la Turquie d’entrer dans l’UE et estimé que l’on n’avait “pas le
droit d’avoir un préjugé définitif”.
Pour sa part, comme M. Accoyer, M. Morin n’a pas écarté la
possibilité que la Turquie remplisse les critères requis pour
l’adhésion. Pour autant, il a mis l’accent sur le “nationalisme” des
Turcs et douté de leur capacité à accepter “le partage de
souveraineté”.
Favorable à l’entrée de la Turquie, M. Bocquet a estimé que
“l’adhésion stimulait les combats démocratiques”. Pour le responsable
communiste, il faut faire en sorte que ce pays soit “une passerelle”
entre l’Europe et “d’autres continents”.
Au terme de ce déplacement, Jean-Louis Debré s’est montré satisfait
du dialogue “vrai et franc” ainsi noué. Ce ton, voulu par M. Debré, à
mille lieux du langage diplomatique habituel, a parfois étonné. Mais,
a-t-il dit, l’Assemblée n’était “pas venue pour négocier mais pour
s’informer”, ce qui lui autorise une plus grande liberté.
“Je voulais que nous identifions les problèmes, aller droit au but,
et associer l’Assemblée au processus”, a-t-il dit, avant d’ajouter:
“Je ne veux plus revoir un débat à l’Assemblée où certains affirment
sans savoir”.

Georgian president urges national unity in speech at PM’s funeral
Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
6 Feb 05

Text of President Mikheil Saakashvili’s speech at the funeral of Prime
Minister Zurab Zhvania at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi on 6
February; the ceremony, which also included speeches by parliament
speaker Nino Burjanadze, former EU envoy to Georgia Denis Corboy and
head of the Georgian Orthodox Church Ilia II, was broadcast live by
Rustavi-2 TV and other major Georgian networks
[Saakashvili] Your Holiness [Ilia II], Kalbatono [polite form of
addressing a woman in Georgia] Rema [Zhvania’s mother], my dear Nino
[Zhvania’s wife] and my dear children.
I certainly had not planned and could not have imagined that I would
be standing here in front of you in such circumstances. For all of us,
the past four days have been a major test in our lives.
Most of us have never experienced losing such a person. I have to say
that, naturally, each of us has their own way of struggling and coming
to terms with what has befallen us.
No-one should be leaving this world so meaninglessly. On the other
hand, I know of very few people whose life has been so full of meaning
as that of our friend Zurab Zhvania.
Our friends from all over the world are here today. They have
abandoned everything to come here. Many more have been unable to make
it. You have heard the text of the letters from President Bush and
legendary Vaclav Havel. I have received hundreds of such letters in
recent days. After reading these letters, I want everyone to stop to
think. You can all see what these letters say and how greatly Zurab
Zhvania was valued. You have seen in recent days how everyone on TV
has been rushing to praise and glorify him. Does a person really have
to depart from this world for us to be able to value him? When will we
learn to value living persons and to respect the dignity of living
persons? When will we learn to appreciate what we have and not to be
constantly focused on our country’s past? That is the question every
person living in Georgia should answer.
Despite this pessimism, nihilism and cynicism [changes thought] – We
all went through years when everyone was saying that nothing would
work, we were as bad as them and we would also botch everything. We
have proved them and all other cynics wrong, and now Georgia is a
proper state. This has been done, above all, together with all of us,
thanks to Zurab Zhvania’s efforts. No-one will ever be able to erase
this.
I just want to tell everyone, our friends, not to fear because it is
fear itself that we should fear as a result of the tragedy that has
befallen us. I wish to tell everyone who is listening to us that if we
want to learn to win, we should be able to unite at times of tragedy
because we should be able to overcome everything in order to unite in
victory. Over the past few days we have shown everyone that we can
unite in victory, or, rather, tragedy, which means that we will be
able to unite for our common victory.
I also wish to tell Georgia’s ill-wishers that they are pursuing a
lost cause. They should have no illusions. Although Zurab Zhvania is
no longer alive, we still are. If anyone has the illusion that it will
be possible to undermine the cause which we all started together,
which was started by the generation that came to power through Zurab’s
efforts, their hopes are in vain. We will not allow you to succeed for
the sake of Zhvania, for the sake of everyone else, for the sake of
the future of his children and all our children.
Georgia will become a very strong country. It is my personal duty and
our duty to our future and to our friend Zurab Zhvania.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgians mourn prime minister as authorities continue investigation amid
persistent suspicions
AP Worldstream
Feb 06, 2005
JIM HEINTZ

Georgians bid farewell Sunday to the late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania
amid worries about the future of their struggling country and doubts
over the official explanation of his death.
Mourners by the thousands came to the capital’s recently opened Holy
Trinity Cathedral and filed slowly past Zhvania’s coffin, which was
covered with the Georgian national flag, as priests sang requiem
music. Among those who came to mourn were President Mikhail
Saakashvili and the man he replaced after leading opposition protests
in 2003, Eduard Shevardnadze.
Georgian Orthodox Church leader Catholicos Ilya II summed up Zhvania’s
political career, his death and the country’s prospects for progress
by saying “Joy is the origin of sorrow, and sorrow is the origin of
joy.”
After the requiem, Zhvania’s body was to be taken to Parliament for a
ceremony outside the legislature before burial in the Didube cemetery,
where some of Georgia’s most illustrious people are interred.
Zhvania, 41, was found dead early Thursday in the apartment of a
friend, who also died; both deaths officially have been attributed to
carbon-monoxide poisoning due to faulty ventilation of a gas space
heater.
Although such deaths are not uncommon in Georgia, where central
heating systems went out of service a decade ago amid the country’s
post-Soviet deterioration, many Georgians resist the official
explanation.
“There’s a lot about this that isn’t understandable,” said one of the
mourners, 68-year-old retired miner Mamanti Dzhakhaia. He noted that
both Zhvania and his friend were found dead sitting in chairs, whereas
carbon-monoxide victims usually succumb while sleeping.
He also questioned whether Zhvania’s security guards were
lax. Official reports say the guards broke into the apartment only
after being unable to reach Zhvania by cellular phone for a long
period, perhaps hours.
Although Georgian officials have repeatedly dismissed the possibility
of foul play, they also have asked help from the U.S. Federal Bureau
of Investigation in analyzing blood samples to determine Zhvania’s
cause of death.
Zhvania was a key figure in attempts to lift the country out of its
post-Soviet economic collapse and political turmoil. He was also one
of the leaders of the 2003 “Rose Revolution” protests that propelled
Saakashvili to power and brought down Shevardnadze.
Zhvania earned respect and affection from many Georgians and was seen
as a moderating balance to the sometimes-incendiary boldness of
Saakashvili, who was elected president in 2004.
“He will be hard to replace. All the other members of government will
have to work better than they have been doing,” said another mourner,
47-year-old agronomist Khuta Temularia.
Among the dignitaries traveling to Georgia for the funeral was
U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, who was designated by President George W. Bush to head the
U.S. delegation. Neighboring Russia, which has had tense relations
with Georgia over two separatist regions that have ties with Moscow
and over Saakashvili’s determination to cultivate closer relations
with the West, was sending a low-level official _ Transport Minister
Igor Levitin. World Bank President James Wolfensohn also was scheduled
to attend.
Lugar on Sunday hailed Zhvania as a man noted for “cajoling more than
haranguing” and praised the ambition of his policies to make Georgia a
fully functioning nation.
“He was saying, quite simply, that Georgia is not a barren, exotic
country where imported reforms can only take root as fragile specimens
in a carefully tended hothouse,” Lugar told reporters. “On the
contrary, ‘bring reforms’ he was saying, ‘bring sound administration,
bring rationality, bring democracy … we are ready for them’.”
Zhvania’s initiatives as premier included working to seek negotiated
settlements to the separatist tensions in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Zhvania’s death followed a Tuesday car-bombing that killed three
policemen in Gori, a Georgian city close to South Ossetia, prompting
speculation that both incidents were aimed at derailing the
negotiation process.
One Georgian parliament member said both events were the work “of
certain outside forces,” an apparent reference to Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sharply rejected the assertion.

Patriarch Receives President of French National Assembly
Lraper
Istanbul
5.2.2005
ISTANBUL (05/02/2005) – His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of
Istanbul and All Turkey, received His Excellency Mr. Jean-Louis Debré,
the President of the French National Assembly, on 4 February 2005,
Friday, at 19:30 hours, in the audience room of the Armenian
Patriarchate, Istanbul, Turkey. Accompanying the President were the
leaders of the French Opposition and Mr. Jean-Christophe Peaucelle, the
French Consul General in Istanbul.
The Patriarch greeted Mr. Debré as follows: `It is indeed a great honour
and pleasure to receive in our Patriarchate the President of the French
National Assembly. As one of the four hierarchical sees of the worldwide
Armenian Church, the Patriarchal See of Istanbul, continues to be a
witness to the Christian Armenian heritage, faith and culture since the
year 1461.
Our Patriarchate’s ties with the Republic of France are close. In fact,
the last Cilician Armenian King, Leo VI Lusignan, is buried in the
Cathedral of St. Denis in Paris. Most of the Armenians living in France
today also have their family roots in Anatolia.
Anatolia became the stage for tragic events ninety years ago. It is a
fact that hundreds of thousands of Armenian citizens lost their lives,
and of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire, only a small
proportion was saved from extinction. Not only were lives lost, but also
a local culture was uprooted from its natural milieu.
Both Turks and Armenians must now face their common history and must
look forward to a peaceful coexistence in the present and future world.
God has brought together the Turkish and Armenian peoples within the
same geographical area, as very close neighbours, and even as members
sometimes of the same family, whether in Anatolia or in the Caucasus.
All those concerned need to understand that there is no alternative but
to live in peace and tolerance with each other, and to expend every
effort in this direction.
This is why, together with all the other non-Moslem minorities in
Turkey, our Patriarchal See and the Turkish Armenian community support
the accession of Turkey into the European Union. As citizens of Turkey
we support this process, since all the laws of our country will thus be
upgraded; as non-Moslem minorities we support the process, since it will
give us equal opportunity before the law; as people of Armenian descent
we support the process, because it might bring the long-awaited peace
not only between Turkey and Armenia, but also amongst all countries in
the region.
It is with these sentiments, that I welcome you once again, reminded of
the words of the Gospel: ˜Peace on earth and good will amongst men of
good will! ”
Thanking the Patriarch for his welcoming remarks, Mr. Debré replied that
the French delegation was interested in whether Moslems and non-Moslems
enjoy equal opportunity in Turkey, which aspires to become an EU member.
Where are the non-Moslem clerics trained? Do ethno-religious minorities,
and also minorities not covered by the Lausanne Treaty, enjoy cultural
prerogatives? Are human rights respected, including those of women,
children and the minorities? How do the people of Turkey regard the
non-Moslems within and without Turkey? These, Mr. Debré said, were the
issues European parliamentarians were preoccupied with.
Patriarch Mesrob replied that the majority of Turkish citizens support
the membership of Turkey into the EU, knowing well that such an
integration presupposes much change in mentality and the legal system.
Many important reforms have been passed through the Turkish National
Assembly and once a full implementation is realised undoubtedly many
changes will occur in the country. `These are our thoughts and
expectations,’ the Patriarch said.
Mr. Debré, whose visit lasted about 45 minutes, thanked the Patriarch
for his reception, signed the book of honour and took leave of the
Patriarchal See together with the other members of the French National
Assembly.
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