AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone 212.319.6383 x.118
Fax 212.319.6507
Email [email protected]
Website
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 16, 2004
ARARAT MAGAZINE HELD EXCITING LITERARY EVENING WITH ANAHID AWARD
WINNERS ERIC BOGOSIAN, DIANA DER-HOVANESSIAN, GREGORY DJANIKIAN
NEW YORK, NY- Three Armenian-American authors read from their writings
and shared thoughts on their work to a New York area audience at a
special ARARAT magazine event held at AGBU headquarters on November 4.
The three authors, New York writer/performer Eric Bogosian, Boston poet
and translator Diana Der-Hovanessian, and Philadelphia poet Gregory
Djanikian, were all winners of the Anahid Literary Award, and it was
clear this evening that the award had helped reinforce their ties to
Armenian literature and culture in multiple ways. ARARAT commemorated
the fifteenth anniversary of these awards by a special anniversary
issue this year, including samples of the writings of the winners,
and through this event. The first editor of ARARAT, Jack Antreassian,
was instrumental in the establishment of the prize, and the members of
the selection committee affiliated with the Armenian Center at Columbia
have largely been ARARAT board members, including its recently deceased
longtime chairman and ARARAT editor, Leo Hamalian.
The program, with Aram Arkun of ARARAT serving as master of ceremonies,
began with Diana Der-Hovanessian reciting some of her work, new and
old, interspersed with interesting comments on what inspired these
poems. Her trips to Armenia and meetings with Armenian writers were
vividly described. Among other things, the audience learned of her
frustration with the distortions of Armenian culture and history
in a prominent museum exhibit which galvanized her to push for
the establishment of an Armenian museum, which eventually became
the Armenian Library and Museum of America located in Watertown,
Massachusetts. Diana Der-Hovannesian’s own poems deal with personal
as well as Armenian themes. She is one of the premier translators
of Armenian poets into English. She has awards from the NEA, PSA,
PEN-Columbia Translation Center, National Writers Union, American
Scholar, Prairie Schooner and Paterson Poetry Center. Aside from
teaching and workshops at various American universities, she has
taught twice as a Fulbright professor in Yerevan. Her own poems have
been published in Armenian translation, and she is now working on
a new anthology of 19th and 20th century Armenian poetry.
The program took a radically different turn with Eric Bogosian, a
creator of monologues and solo shows as well as a playwright, novelist,
and actor. After some comments about his connections with Armenians, he
surprised the audience with a reading from a new novel in progress-Lost
Beauty. Bogosian, announcing his admiration for the writer Philip Roth,
noted that he felt a little like Roth himself, known for playing
a role as a character in his own novels. Bogosian’s protagonist,
incidentally, is having an affair while questioning various aspects
of his life. Before beginning the reading Bogosian apologized for the
raw language, and wondered whether he was not the Henry Miller of the
Armenians. Bogosian found that he can express more through the form
of a novel. In addition, he will also be performing as Satan in a
new play entitled “The Trial of Judas Iscariot,” scheduled to open
next spring at the Public Theater. Bogosian’s solos have received
three Obie awards and a Drama Desk
Award, while his works have had extended runs Off-Broadway, and have
been performed around the world. He has appeared in over two-dozen
films, including his own adaptation of his play Talk Radio and Atom
Egoyan’s “Ararat”. In 2004, Bogosian was named a Guggenheim fellow.
The final speaker, Gregory Djanikian, presented a series of his
poems, published and unpublished. Some dealt with life in America,
but most dealt with the Armenian Genocide and its repercussions. They
will have a place in his forthcoming fifth volume of poetry, which
represents a renewed dialogue with his Armenian past and an attempt
to grapple with the continuing existence of terrifying violence
in this world. Djanikian, born in Egypt, grew up in New York and
Pennsylvania. He began writing seriously while an undergraduate in
college. His literary awards include a National Endowment for the Arts
Fellowship, the Eunice Tietjens Prize, the Friends of Literature Prize
and two honors from “Poetry” magazine. In addition to his writing,
he is Director of the Creative Writing Program at the University
of Pennsylvania.
ARARAT magazine (), the magazine that for decades
has been a forum for quality writing in the English language on
topics of Armenian culture, politics, and literature, especially from
Armenian-American talent, is sponsored by the AGBU. Copies of the
special 96-page Anahid Award issue or other back issues are available
at $7 each, while annual subscriptions are $24. To subscribe or
order back issues, please contact Hripsime by calling, 212-319-6383,
emailing, [email protected], or by mailing your request along with a
check to ARARAT/AGBU, 55 E. 59th Street, NY, NY 10022-1112.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone 212.319.6383 x.118
Fax 212.319.6507
Email [email protected]
Website
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 16, 2004
AGBU LAZAR NAJARIAN-CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN SCHOOL CELEBRATES 50th
ANNIVERSARY: LA ALUMNI RAISE CLOSE TO $30,000
The largest Armenian preparatory school in the Diaspora, the AGBU
Lazar Najarian-Calouste Gulbenkian School celebrated its 50th
Anniversary with special events in Aleppo, Syria, while members of
the institution’s Los Angeles Alumni sponsored a gala this past spring
which raised close to $30,000 for their alma mater.
Anniversary Celebrations in Aleppo
Some 4,000 gathered in Aleppo this fall, to celebrate five decades of
dedicated service and achievement at AGBU’s largest school. Attended by
local government officials along with hundreds of Najarian-Gulbenkian
alumni from around the world, groups of graduates-beginning with
the Class of ’62-filed into the sports arena of the city’s Municipal
Youth Palace under banners indicating their graduating class.
The ceremony began with a performance by the AGBU AYA Scout
Marching band, and was followed by speeches from the Armenian
and Arab principals of the school who both spoke about the
institution’s continuing success at upholding the highest educational
standards. Sixty of the school’s past and present teachers were
recognized for their contributions with awards during the event. Guests
were also treated to a presentation by the city’s newly formed AGBU
AYA Antranig Dance Troupe.
A smaller formal event at AGBU’s Aleppo center took place the next
day and the messages of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicosate
of the Great House of Cilicia, and AGBU President Berge Setrakian,
were read to those in attendance. The special guest speaker for
the commemoration was former principal, Yervant Agishian (1956-69),
who currently resides in the United States. During the event, the
generosity of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation was acknowledged
for the success of the school; the Lisbon-based Foundation funded the
building of the new Najarian-Gulbenkian school building inaugurated
last year. The Foundation’s Director of the Armenian Section, Zaven
Yegavian, has been a long-time supporter of Najarian-Gulbenkian and
its commitment to excellence in Armenian education.
The three-day anniversary celebrations concluded as AGBU leaders,
members, and guests participated in the Divine Liturgy at St. Kevork
Church which included a memorial service for the souls of the school’s
benefactors, principals and alumni.
Alumni Banquet in Los Angeles
Attended by 300 guests, the Los Angeles alumni banquet at the Brandview
Collection Banquet Hall in Glendale, California, included special
invited guest current Principal Hagop Mikayelian, former teachers,
and graduates who spoke about the contributions of the School to
generations of Armenians.
AGBU’s Lazar Najarian-Calouste Gulbenkian School has an active and
energetic L.A. Alumni Association, chaired by Hovsep Nalbandian. During
the last 15 years, the L.A. Alumni Association has stayed true to its
mission to support the ongoing financial needs of the School, providing
funds for student scholarships and other grants on a near annual basis.
Guests of honor for the L.A. Gala were Class of ’77 graduate, Adam
Kablanian, and his wife Rita. In appreciation of the value and positive
impact the school played in the Kablanians’ lives, the couple made
a $10,000 donation to the Aleppo school.
Founding member of the L.A. Alumni Association, Vahe Ekmekjian (Class
of ’73) commented, “I would like to thank the Organizing Committee,
our guests of honor, and many friends for making this event possible.
I congratulate the School on its 50th anniversary and hope for another
50 years of success.”
Established in 1954 with 80 students, AGBU Lazar Najarian-Calouste
Gulbenkian School today educates 1,550 students from pre-kindergarten
to high school, with many students benefiting from financial aid
every year to further their education.
For more information on the AGBU Lazar Najarian-Calouste Gulbenkian
School, visit their web site at , or visit Global AGBU
on the AGBU homepage,

Erdogan: Turkey’s Accession Into The E.U. Will Result In Compromise Of Civilizations
Anadolu Agency: 12/16/2004
BRUSSELS (AA) – In a meeting with Turkish columnists in Brussels, Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Turkey’s accession into the
European Union will result in compromise of civilizations. ”Our European
friends are aware of the role Turkey can play in harmonizing relations between
civilizations. There are now many European circles that look at Turkish membership
as crucial and absolutely necessary,” told Erdogan.
     In response to a question on Turkey-Armenia relations, Erdogan replied
that if and when a positive approach is witnessed from the Armenian side,
Turkey would be ready to open its border gate with Armenia. ”Whatever took place
in history must remain in history. We must build our new world on peace. We are
positive towards Armenia. We want national borders be respected. We have made
Turkish air space available to Armenian commercial planes. There is no reason
as to why we should not open the border gate as well. However, we want to see
the same positive attitude from the Armenian side as well. An important part
of Azerbaijan is still under Armenian military occupation. This fact should
not be ignored and forgotten,” said Erdogan.
     Erdogan said Turkey is prepared for a temporary ban on the free movement
of Turks in EU countries. ”Yet a permanent ban on the free movement of
Turkish nationals would be against the EU laws and regulations.”
     In reference to the issue of Cyprus, Erdogan remarked that Turkey is
ready to discuss Cyprus during its entry talks with the EU.
     He noted that it would mean failure of all efforts if EU leaders put a
text which they would not say ”yes” on the table. ”I hope they won’t,” he
added.
     Turkey expects the formal announcement on the conclusion of the EU
summit tomorrow (Friday) at 13.00 hours. ”It would be wrong to declare the
summit’s decision as victory. We must not be spoiled by our success. Furthermore, a
possible negative summit decision should not be viewed as a big disaster.
Whatever the decision at the summit, Turkey can continue to develop on its own
feet,” expressed Erdogan.
     (ES-A?
2004-12-16
Copyright 2004 Anadolu Agency. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
–Boundary_(ID_uD0CRbjsz7reR4hCpoCgqA)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Patriarch Of Armenian Community In Turkey: I Advocate Turkey’s Membership To The E.U.
Anadolu Agency: 12/16/2004
ISTANBUL (AA) – Mesrob II, Patriarch of Armenian Community in Turkey, said on
Thursday that he always advocated Turkey’s membership to the European Union
(EU). He said he believed the EU would give a date to Turkey on December 17th
to start full membership negotiations.
     Mesrob II told A.A correspondent that he shared the view that the EU was
not a Christian club, and noted that, ”religion and religious culture have
become a tool of politics both for the EU and the Turkish politicians more than
necessary. Parliaments of the EU member countries do not make decisions
according to the doctrines of the Bible and the Turkish parliament does not make
its decisions according to Koran. Integration of the EU and Turkey would be for
the interest of the region, the world and the peace among the civilizations.”
     Replying to a question about the attitude of the Armenians living in
France, putting forward the allegations of ”so-called Armenian genocide”,
toward Turkey’s EU membership, Mesrob II said, ”the disaster in 1915 is an issue
which can be abused. To this end, the foreigners will bring this issue on the
agenda when they have the opportunity. The issue should be excluded from being
an issue of exploitation soon by starting official and unofficial dialogue
process.”
     ”Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an earlier statement
said this was the job of historians and should be left to historians. His
statements are extremely realistic. Meeting face to face with history is important
for building of future on solid basis. People can not embrace each other before
making peace. Dialogue process should be initiated,” Mesrob II said.
     (AY-A?
2004-12-16
–Boundary_(ID_Q/KgzWED02g8F3UjNDLwsg)–

Gas leak from homemade heater kills family in Armenia
Associated Press Worldstream
December 16, 2004 Thursday 10:15 AM Eastern Time
YEREVAN, Armenia — A natural-gas leak from a homemade heater killed
a family of five in Armenia, officials said Thursday.
The accident Wednesday in the city of Echmiadzin killed a married
couple and their three small children, the Prosecutor General’s
Office in the former Soviet republic said. It said the heater was
set up without regard for safety standards.
The family was among a growing number of victims of accidents resulting
from the improper use of homemade heaters and from insufficient
oversight by officials charged with enforcing safety standards.
Many people in the poor ex-Soviet republic use homemade gas heaters,
sometimes tapping illegally into gas lines, because their homes lack
heating due to the prohibitive expense.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Saudi Press Agency
December 16, 2004 Thursday 8:01 PM EST
Riyadh, December 16
E.U. leaders confident Turkey will win
entry talks 3 Brussels Observers expect the E.U. to fudge the issue
at the summit and issue a declaration saying they welcome “the
intention” of Turkey to extend customs union.
Asked about calls by France for Turkey to recognise the killing of up
to 1.5 million Christian Armenians under the Ottoman Empire in 1915
as a genocide, Barroso said the question would have to be up for
frank discussion.
But he underlined this should take place at a later date.
Turkey rejects the label of genocide with regard to the Armenians.
The second major summit sticking point is what wording will be used
to make clear to Ankara that negotiations will be open-ended and
their successful outcome is not guaranteed.
A senior German official said full membership for Ankara was the E.U.
goal and demands by a minority of member states, led by Austria, for
setting an option of second class membership – a so-called
“privileged partnership” – was not on the cards.
“That issue is dead,” added an E.U. diplomat.
Austria as well as France and Denmark, still remain nervous about
admitting a large, poor and mainly Moslem state with 70 million
people to what has until now been a mainly Christian club.

Gold Coast Bulletin (Australia)
December 16, 2004 Thursday
History, legend and tradition
THE history of Christmas dates back more than 5000 years, the
traditions we now associate with December 25 were celebrated
centuries before the Christ child was born.
The concept of Christmas originated in ancient Egypt in the days of
King Osiris and Queen Isis around about 3000BC.
After the untimely death of King Osiris, his wife Isis claimed a
full-grown evergreen tree sprang overnight from a dead stump,
symbolising the new life of the king’s spirit from his death.
On each anniversary of Osiris’s birth – the date we now know as
December 25 – Isis would leave gifts around this tree.
Isis became the Queen of Heaven and Osiris became the reborn divine
son of heaven. Through the later Phoenicians, Osiris became Baal the
sun god.
The mother and child became the Babylonian’s objects of worship, the
trend spread across the world under various names – Cybel and Deoius
in Asia, Fortuna and Jupiter in pagan Rome.
The 12 days of Christmas, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carol
singers and feasts can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians.
The Mesopotamians believed Marduk – the ruler of all their gods –
waged war on the monsters of chaos each winter. To help Marduk in his
struggle the Mesopotamians held a 12-day festival.
The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated Sacaea, a similar
festival featuring an exchange of roles; slaves became masters and
masters obeyed.
Early Europeans feared the sun would not return after the December
winter solstice, rituals and celebrations welcomed the sun after the
shortest day of the year.
In Scandinavia, the sun disappears for days during winter.
In ancient times, a sunless 35 days saw scouts scurry to the
mountaintops in search of the sun. At the first glimpse of light, the
great yuletide festival would be held with a special feast served
around a fire burning with the Yule log.
Across the land bonfires would be lit and apples tied to tree
branches as a reminder of the return of the warmer season.
The ancient Greeks celebrated the victory of their god Kronos against
Zeus and the Titans in December and the Roman’s celebrated their god
Saturn during the Saturnalia festival from mid-December to January 1.
The celebration involved festive feasts, visits with friends, and the
exchange of gifts called strenae or lucky fruits. The Romans decked
their halls with garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles.
As Christianity spread across the globe, church leaders became
increasingly cranky about the continuing pagan festivals. They tried
to put a stop to the fun and games but gave up and combined old
traditions with the new enlightenment.
The exact day of the Christ child’s birth is not reliably recorded
but it has been celebrated since 98AD. According to the Encyclopaedia
Britannica, some Latins may have transferred the birthday of Christ
from January 6 to December 25 around 354AD. December 25 was then a
Mithraic feast or the birthday of the unconquered Sun.
The Syrians and Armenians clung to January 6 accusing the Romans of
sun worship and idolatry, claiming the December 25 festival was
invented by the disciples of Cerinthus.
In 137AD, the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ Child
celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350AD, Julius I – another Bishop of
Rome – chose December 25 as the day to celebrate.

Associated Press Worldstream
December 16, 2004 Thursday 10:15 AM Eastern Time
Turks anxiously await historic EU membership decision, but worry
about possible conditions
LOUIS MEIXLER; Associated Press Writer
ANKARA, Turkey
Jeweler Murat Tekcan said he’ll be happy if EU leaders realize his
country’s decades-long dream by opening the door for Turkey to become
the bloc’s first Muslim member, but quickly added that he has no
plans to celebrate.
Like many here, Tekcan fears that EU membership conditions will be
too demanding and negotiations too drawn-out.
“I hope that they won’t ruin this dream,” Tekcan said as he sat in
his small jewelry shop in an Ankara mall.
EU leaders are widely expected to decide at a dinner late Thursday
night whether to open accession talks with Turkey, but are also
likely to impose tough conditions. Public opinion in many EU
countries is against accepting a poor Muslim nation of 70 million
people that would bring EU borders to unstable nations like Syria,
Iran and Iraq.
Those conditions will almost certainly include a demand that Turkey
carries out more democratic reforms and take moves toward recognizing
the divided island of Cyprus, which became a member in March.
On Wednesday, the European Parliament also urged Turkey to
acknowledge “the genocide perpetrated against the Armenians,” an
extremely sensitive issue in Turkey.
The Ottoman Empire has been accused of killing as many as 1.5 million
Armenians during a 1915-1923 campaign to force them from eastern
Turkey. Turkey says the number is inflated and that many people were
killed during the collapse of the empire when Armenians rose up
against Ottoman rule.
“They’re going to put forward conditions like the Armenian genocide
or Cyprus,” Tekcan said, pointing to a television behind him that was
airing a live press conference by EU Commission President Jose Manuel
Barroso.
Like many Turks, Tekcan fears that could just be the first in a long
list of hurdles.
“We’re afraid of what we’ll face if we enter the EU,” Tekcan said.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Brussels Thursday
lobbying EU leaders but also making it clear that Turkey is willing
to walk away if conditions are too tough.
“Putting a text on the table that we can’t accept means a collapse,”
Erdogan told reporters. “I hope they don’t.”
But walking away would be a disaster for both Turkey and the European
Union.
For Turkey, membership would be the realization of the dream that
began in 1923 when Mustafa Kemal Ataturk helped create a secular,
pro-Western Turkish republic from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire.
Entering the EU would not just give a huge boost to the Turkish
economy, but would also reinforce the country’s pro-Western
orientation and be seen by many Turks as the stamp of approval that
Muslim Turkey, already a long-standing member of NATO, is a
full-fledged member of the West.
“Tonight will be the moment of truth,” editor in chief Yusuf Kanli
wrote in the Turkish Daily News.
The newspaper’s headline – “The Longest Supper” – described the
feelings of many Turks.
Erdogan has largely staked his party’s future on a successful EU bid,
and leaving the talks could be a disaster for his Justice and
Developments Party, which has an absolute majority in parliament, but
is made up of several different factions, including a strong
pro-Islamist group.
For Europe and the United States, accepting Turkey would help cement
the country’s Western orientation at a time of great instability in
the Middle East and would show the Islamic world that Muslims can be
accepted as part of Europe.
In Ankara’s posh Karum shopping mall, Taner Eksioglu said he was fed
up with EU demands and Turkey’s forty-year quest to join the European
bloc.
“They show us the carrot and then take it away and then they show us
the carrot and take it away again,” said Eksioglu, a retired civil
servant. “I don’t trust the EU and I don’t want to be part of it.”

Turkey: This is the moment… but EU goes back in the fridge if terms are too tough
by Anthony Browne, Brussels Correspondent
The Times (London)
December 16, 2004, Thursday
TURKEY gave warning yesterday that it would abandon its 40-year dream
of joining the European Union if it is presented with unacceptable
conditions by EU leaders at a dinner in Brussels tonight.
In an apparent last-minute attempt to soften entry conditions,
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, said that he could
modernise his country without the EU. He made the statement just as
the European Parliament voted to let Turkey join the EU, and Jose
Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, said:
“This is the moment.”
Tony Blair and his counterparts in the European Council are almost
certain to approve starting entry talks with Turkey tonight. However,
they are set to include a series of conditions to appease the deep
misgivings in many member states about letting such a large, poor,
Muslim and mainly Asian country become the biggest member of the Union.
France and Austria are demanding that entry talks should not
necessarily lead to full membership, while EU leaders have already
agreed that Turks could be permanently barred from the right to live
and work in EU countries, a right given to other EU citizens. Turkey
will also be required to reach a deal on Cyprus, and officially
recognise the Cypriot Government.
Almost unanimous agreement has been reached between member states. A
British official said last night: “It’s within grasp, but not in the
bag. We are almost there, but not there.”
However, Mr Erdogan dramatically upped the stakes in unusually
forthright language, saying as he left for Brussels: “We do not
expect any unacceptable conditions to be put before us, but if such
conditions are imposed…we will definitely put the matter in the
refrigerator and continue on our way.”
Asked whether it would make a difference to the final hours of
negotiations, the British official said: “It’s a factor. It’s going
to be on people’s minds; of course it is.”
Turkey is particularly annoyed at the demand for a “permanent”
safeguard against Turkish immigration to Western Europe, and at the
suggestion that entry talks – which are expected to last ten years
-may end only in a “privileged partnership” and not full membership.
Wolfgang Schussel, the Austrian Chancellor, insisted that the EU must
make it clear that the talks will not necessarily lead to membership.
“It has to be in there that the result will come from an open process,
and that this result cannot be guaranteed in advance,” he said,
adding that he would not accept giving all Turks the right to work
anywhere in the EU. “This would overwhelm the capacity of our labour
markets in the EU,” he said.
Mr Erdogan said that his campaign to join the EU, which has been his
top political priority for the past two years, was a “civilisation
project” to modernise Turkey.
However, he insisted that the country could carry on without the EU.
“We want to move this project forward together with the European
Union…but if unacceptable conditions are put forward,” he said. “I
have to openly say that this will not be the end of the world. We
will continue on our way, because Turkey is strong enough to shoulder
this task.”
Abdullah Gul, the Turkish Foreign Minister, said: “What we demand
is nothing more than our legitimate rights. We will not accept any
injustice.”
The threat is likely to cause annoyance with more sceptical EU
leaders, who feel that Turkey is trying to bully its way into the EU.
Last weekend Mr Erdogan said that Islamic terrorism would continue
unaba-ted unless the EU stopped being a “Christian club”.
In many European countries already struggling to integrate Muslim
minorities, such as France and Germany, there is widespread popular
opposition to letting Turkey join.
In London, Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, set out the reasons
for membership to the House of Commons. “Turkey’s dynamic economy and
society would be a valuable asset to the whole of Europe,” he said,
“but Turkey’s European destiny is also important for wider reasons,
because of the signal which a European Turkey would send to people
everywhere of Europe’s commitment to diversity and to truly universal
values.
“We want to see an economically successful, democratic Turkey anchored
in Europe and that would deal a heavy blow to those who stoke up
mistrust and division and it could be an inspiration to many others
in the Muslim world.”
After a bitter debate, the European Parliament in Strasbourg passed
a non binding motion calling on EU leaders to start entry talks
with Turkey, by 407 votes to 262. The Parliament urged EU leaders to
open talks with Turkey “without undue delay” and rejected decisively
amendments offering a “special partnership.”
It also called on Turkey to accept that it committed genocide against
the Armenians in 1915, a condition that France has also insisted on
but that Turkey has rejected.
As the momentum to start negotiations seemed unstoppable, Senhor
Barroso said: “It is now time for the European Council to honour
its commitment to Turkey and announce the opening of accession
negotiations.”
He insisted that current concerns about Turkey should not be used
as an excuse to delay negotiations. “I believe this is the moment,”
he said. “In ten years, Turkey won’t be the same as today…and fears
that exist today can be put aside.”
*THE LONG ROAD TO EUROPE
1952: Turkey joins Nato
1963: Turkey signs first “association agreement” with the European
Economic Community, offering possibility of eventual membership
1980-1986: “Association agreement” suspended after a military coup
1987: Turkey formally applies for EU membership
1989: European Commission rejects Turkey’s application because of
human rights abuses
1996: Customs union starts, giving Turkey access to the EU single
market
1999: European Union accepts Turkey as an official candidate
2002: EU leaders set down human rights and political conditions for
starting membership talks with Turkey
October 2004: European Commission’s EU executive declares that Turkey
has met conditions and recommends that formal membership talks begin
December 16: EU leaders decide on membership talks

AZERIS TO DRAW NEW MAP TO RESTORE ORIGINAL PLACENAMES IN KARABAKH
Trend news agency
Dec 16 2004
BAKU, 16.12.04. A total of 2.2bn manats (about 448,000 dollars) have
been allocated from the Azerbaijani state budget for the development
of a new topographic map of Nagornyy Karabakh, Trend has quoted the
head of the executive authorities of the town of Xocali, MP Elman
Mammadov, as saying.
He said the placenames given by the Armenians in the Soviet period
not only on the territory of Karabakh itself, but also in the
adjacent Goranboy District will now correspondent to their historical
equivalents. Mammadov said more than 20 residential settlements had
been Armenianized in Xocali alone, but in the years of independence
the places received their original names.
The new map of Nagornyy Karabakh is being prepared jointly by
specialists from the Institute of Cartography under the National
Academy of Sciences and the State Committee on land and cartography.