PanArmenian News
Dec 25 2004
ARMENIAN CONTINGENT CAN LEAVE FOR IRAQ ALREADY JANUARY 5
25.12.2004 15:04
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday by 10 p.m. at its closed sitting the
Armenian Parliament passed a decision to send Armenian military
specialists to Iraq. 91 deputies voted for it, 23 – against it, while
one abstained. Justice opposition faction and Dashnaktsutyun party,
forming part of the ruling coalition, voted against. The rest of the
factions, including the oppositionist National Unity, voted for
Armenia joining the Memorandum concluded between Poland and 19 other
countries, including Armenia. Thus, 46 Armenian specialists,
including one common commander, one signal officer at the staff of
the Polish division in Iraq, a platoon commander, three physicians (a
cardiologist, a general practitioner and a psychiatrist), 10 sappers
and 30 drivers will leave for Iraq. A salary of 600 thousand Armenian
drams will be paid to them from the state budget of Armenia, while
the US Government will cover the rest of the costs. At the same time,
a survey held by Vox Populi center for public opinion research shows
that only 6% of Armenian citizens, who took part in the study, have a
positive attitude towards sending Armenian specialists to Iraq.
Meanwhile 24% of the respondents do not have an opinion on the matter
and 60% hold a negative posture on the decision in question.
Nevertheless, in the words of the Armenian Defense Minister, the
Armenian contingent may be sent to Iraq already in January. All the
specialists leaving for Iraq are volunteers. The main doubts in the
society over the decision in question concern apprehensions regarding
the security of Armenian Diaspora in Arab countries, who can become
targets of attacks by Islamic radicals.

Turkey, the EU and religion
Faith in Europe
Dec 16th 2004
The Economist print edition
The Turkish republic is not as secular as it seems. To become
European, it will have to change
AN EVER closer partnership between Turkey and the European Union,
culminating in full Turkish membership, can only be good for relations
between Islam and the West. It will show that western nations have no
insuperable prejudice against Islam-and it will confirm Turkey’s role
as a nation whose Muslim heritage is fully compatible with democracy.
Those are the main reasons why European leaders were expected on
December 17th to endorse the opening of talks to make Turkey the EU’s
first mainly Muslim member. The Turks have worked hard to groom
themselves for Europe. But the negotiators from Brussels and Ankara
will be deceiving themselves, and perhaps riding for a fall, if they
underestimate the amount of ground they still need to travel. Among
the trickiest issues is the existence in Turkey of a relationship
between religion and the state that differs from the varied, and often
bizarre, arrangements of western Europe.
Paradoxically, the aspect of Turkey’s system that Europeans find
strangest is the curb it places on its own prevailing religion. Turkey
is often called a secular state, whose citizens happen to be
Muslim. In fact, Turkey is far from secular, if that implies an
arm’s-length relationship between faith and politics. The masters of
Turkey’s 81-year-old republic have always felt that religion is too
sensitive to leave to clerics alone. A vast state bureaucracy oversees
spiritual life; it hires imams, tells them what to preach, and runs
religious schools.
 One size fits all The effect is to steer most Turks down a narrow
religious path; they are taught to be devout Muslims, but they may not
push their piety further thanthe state allows. By banning headscarves
in universities as well as all government premises, the state imposes
a far harsher restriction on devout Muslim women than the ban on
scarves (and other obvious signs of faith) in French schools. As a
result, some Turkish women get no higher education. Nor is life easy
for millions of Turks who follow the liberal Alevi form of the Muslim
faith, not the Sunni Islam taught in schools. For the state, all
Muslims are the same; too bad for Alevis who want to opt out of Sunni
education.
What about Turkey’s tiny non-Muslim communities? Here again, history
weighs heavily. As Turks learn at school, the avoidance of any special
status for religious minorities was a master-stroke by their state’s
founders: the western powers wanted such privileges, but the republic
resisted their wiles. Those negotiations ended in the 1923 Treaty of
Lausanne, which promises limited cultural and religious rights for the
Greek Orthodox, the Armenians and Jewsâ=80’with the result that
Turkish policy still distinguishes `Lausanne minorities’ from
others. When some Turks argued recently that the treaty, properly
read, implied fair treatment of all minorities, this triggered a
furious row-and dark murmurings from the military.
In any case, joining the EU will oblige Turkey to be far more decent
in its treatment of religious minorities than the Lausanne treaty
ordains. As evidence for a lack of decency, witness Turkey’s de facto
ban on training for Christian clergy; and the recent Turkish-American
row over the Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul. As Turkey’s government
reaffirmed, it disputes the right not just of its own citizens, but of
Christians in America, to accord the patriarch his `primacy of honour’
in the Orthodox world: this is a curious act of discourtesy to a
religious leader who warmly backs Turkey’s European hopes.
Whatever Turkey’s failings, do Europeans have any right to lecture the
Turks? Europe’s religious scene is full of weird anachronisms. The
British prime minister still chooses the senior prelate of the
Anglican Church. In one part of Greece, Muslim muftis exercise
judicial powers, while in Athens, Muslims cannot get official
recognition for a single mosque. Denmark is one of Europe’s most
secular societies, but its Lutheran church enjoys huge
privileges. Allthese arrangements are likely to be challenged as
Europe grows more diverse.
Where does that leave Turkey? It would be nice, but naive, to regard
its system as simply one small variation in a colourful religious
scene. It is one thing for a state to give privileges to a particular
church, which then governs itself; quite another for a state to
micro-manage the whole of religious life.
Given its own diversity, it would be silly for the EU to impose on
Turkey some precise model for religious affairs. But Turkey won’t be a
liberal democracy in the European sense until state interference in
the world of faith becomes the exception, not the rule-and unless all
religious communities can worship, own property and form associations
freely.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ARMENIANS TO FACE COMPUTER DATABASE FAILURES JAN 1 2005
TSAGHKADZOR, DECEMBER 27. ARMINFO. Tens of thousands of holders of
social security cards may face computer database failures while
carrying out financial and social transactions. Such an opinion was
expressed during the “Social Security Cards Application” workshop held
recently in Tsaghkadzor by Social Reforms Program with the financial
support of USAID-PADCO.
All the problems will be quickly eliminated though.
The PR executive of Armenia’s Labor and Social Security Ministry
Hasmik Khachatryan says that Jan 1 2005 all Armenian citizens will
have to obligatorily hold social security cards. 2,730,137 people have
applied for the cards with 1,542,850 cards issued by territorial
social services.
To remind, the law on social security cards application took force
July 1 2004. The law say that each Armenian citizens should be give a
social security card upon providing an authorized body with necessary
information and documentation about himself. He should obligatorily
mention his card number when receiving his salary, pension, allowance
or compensation as well as when making social payments, paying taxes
and duties, opening banking accounts. Having no social security card
is administratively punishable.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PHILANTHROPIST FROM USA LUIS-SIMON MANUKIAN VISITS NAGORNY KARABAKH
STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 27. ARMINFO. Famous philanthropist from the USA
Luis-Simon Manukian was in Stepanakert to get acquainted with the
course of construction works being implemented by the funds allocated
by her.
ARMINFO’s own correspondent in Stepanakert informs, with President of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Arkady Ghoukassian and Prime Minister
Anushavan Danielian she had visited the chess school, the residential
building allotted to the families of the lost in the Karabakh war, old
people’s house and other facilities. The contribution of Luis-Simon
Manukian to the restoration and development of NKR is more significant
among the representatives of Armenian diaspora. During the telethon
in Los Angeles she had allocated $2 mln for continuation of the
construction of the highroad North-South.

NEW TIMES CONDEMNS ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT’S RATIFYING MEMORANDUM ON
DISPATCH OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO IRAQ
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27. ARMINFO. The party New Times, headed by
Politologist Aram Karapetian, condemns Armenian parliament’s ratifying
the Memorandum on dispatch of Armenian peacekeeping contingent to
Iraq.
According to the statement of the party New Times, provided to
ARMINFO, the decision of Armenian parliament is nothing at least
myopic. One should suppose that there is nothing good in the
resolution passed by the parliament. Nevertheless, there is something
good here – working places for 50 Armenian peacekeepers and 40,000
working places, promised by the president of Armenia , said in the
statement of the party New Times.

ABDULLAH GUL: THE “GENOCIDE” WILL BE THE STRONGEST CHALLENGE OF 2005
Azg/arm 28 Dec 04
The foreign minister of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, made a speech at the
Turkish parliament these days clarifying the results of the EU summit
on December 16-17. On December 25, TurkishRadicalnewspaper touched on
the key moments of the minister’s speech who had singled out the
struggle against ArmenianGenocide’s international recognition as vital
one in the Turkey-EU walk. Here is whatRadicalwrote: “We have
estimated all possible developments of the coming year, all possible
issues that will arise, the issues that need to be highlighted, the
issues that Turkey will soon face but the Turkish community is unaware
of. The first issue is the Armenian Cause. Apart from the present, we
can never allow that our ancestors and the past bear the stigma of
such condemnations. It should be explained to the world. Though we
try, I still doubt over the efficiency of our explanations. The
employees of the Foreign Ministry said yesterday that “while they
(Armenians) spend hundred we spend thousand against it”. The issue is
in the spotlight of a number of establishments, including the Foreign
Ministry. We carefully discuss the issue, we shall talk it over again
after reviewing the methods of the (fight).
As far as I know, historians, scientists that include them
(Armenians), meet with few scientists from Turkey, and we encourage
these meetings. There wasa meeting in Vienna lately. But they did not
participate at the meeting though they indirectly sent their
views. From the Armenians’ viewpoint, this was also a step. These
arrangements can develop in future. We cannot avoid it.
We have to know what measures to take and how to fight against all
these. It’ s useless saying: “They talk such things of us”. If we want
to continue like that we have to resign the European institutions. As
we cannot resign, the only thing to do is to fight to the end, for
that reason we need to get armed. It’ s an undeniable fact that our
fight (over Genocide) with one of the 25 EU states will continue. They
will do everything to stymie our accession to the EU. For that very
reason we shall keep on pushing our policy to reach a desirable
solution in the issues of the genocide acknowledgment and the Cyprus
issues. In any other case, we shall face enforcement. If we are
successful in our policy, the initiative for solutions will come from
us, and that, I believe, will bring relief (on our way with the EU)”.
By Hakob Chakrian

POSITION CHANGES AT RA FOREIGN MINISTRY
Azg/arm
28 Dec 04
By the decree of RA President Robert Kocharian, Armen Bayburdian, RA
ambassador to India, was appointed RA deputy foreign minister. Vartan
Oskanian affirmed at one of his last press conferences that a number
of new position changes are envisaged.
Gagik Baghdasarian and Arman Kirakosian, RA ambassadors to Italy and
the US, will soon return to Armenia. While Gegham Gharibjanian, RA
ambassador to Iran and RA representative to Qatar, has already
returned to Yerevan. He is likely to be appointed RA deputy foreign
minister as well.
At present, Ruben Shugarian, Tatoul Margarian and Armen Bayburdian are
RA deputy foreign ministers. Ruben Shugarian is to leave for Rome to
become RA ambassador to Italy. Tatoul Margarian will leave for the US
as RA ambassador. Armen Bayburdian has already been RA deputy foreign
minister in 1997-2000. In 2000 he was appointed RA ambassador to
India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Bayburdian, 40, is an expert
of the Armenian-European relations.
Karen Nazarian, councilors of Vartan Oskanian, former RA permanent
representative to Geneva, also expects a new position. He is also an
expert of the Armenian-European relations. At present, Garnik
Badalian, RA consul, is the acting RA ambassador to Teheran.
By Tatoul Hakobian

MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI SELLS SHEVARDNADZE’S RESIDENCE OUT TO AMERICANS
Azg/arm
28 Dec 04
The “velvet” leader of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, is reported to
sell out one of the most favorite residents of former Georgian
president Eduard Shevardnadze, Krtsansk compound, to the Americans.
Interfax agency informedthat Krtsansk with 44 hectares and 37
additional compounds was sold to an American Basel Group for $15
million. President Saakashvili is going to build a new presidential
residence in largely Armenian-populated Havlabar borough of Tbilisi.
Shevardnadze’s present-day cottage, which is part of the compound, was
not included in the privatized territory, which means that the former
Georgian leader will not move to another place.

Azeri minister, British officials discuss fight against global terrorism
Azarbaycan, Baku
26 Dec 04 p 1
Text of Azartac report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azarbaycan on 26
December headlined “Azerbaijani national security minister has paid a
working visit to Britain”
Azerbaijani National Security Minister Eldar Mahmudov was on a working
visit to Britain by official invitation between 20 and 23 December.
Minister Mahmudov met numerous high-ranking officials of this
country’s intelligence services and discussed the development of
cooperation in the security sphere between our states.
Minister Mahmudov comprehensively spoke about the problems caused by
the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, the military
aggression which our country has been subjected to, terrorist and
sabotage actions, and also resolute actions taken by our state and its
intelligence services to fight international terrorism.
British representatives expressed their satisfaction with the dynamic
and productive development of cooperation links between the security
bodies of our countries and highly assessed the important experience
of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the fight against international
terrorism.
The visit passed off in an atmosphere of sincere and mutual
understanding. The sides noted that the meetings were useful and that
they were satisfied with their results.

Iranian space research satellite to be launched
Kayhan, Tehran
27 Dec 04
Text of report entitled: ” Iranian astronomy research satellite to be
launched with the cooperation of Russia and Belgium” by Iranian
newspaper Kayhan on 27 December
Iran’s astronomy research satellite will be launched with the
cooperation of Russia and Belgium.
Announcing this, Professor Ali Ajab Shirzadeh head of Maragheh
Astronomy Centre said: At present, 22 joint international projects are
being carried out with the participation of Russia, Belgium and
Austria at this centre.
He added: So far, nine joint science and research projects in the
field of astrophysics have been completed with the cooperation of
France, Turkey, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Austria and the
scientific articles have been published in the world’s credible
science magazines.