ArmenPress
July 21 2004
PSYCHOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION HELPS INMATE GET SECONDARY EDUCATION
YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Association of
Psychologists has conceived and fulfilled a project with the support
of the Armenian branch of Soros Foundation and World Bank Armenia
office to help 15 inmates of Kosh prison to get secondary education.
The subjects were taught by teachers of secondary schools from
nearby town of Ashtarak. However, the education ministry has refused
to grant certificates to the graduates on grounds that the prison
school must have the appropriate license and the inmates must pass
exams. The Association has decided to issue its own certificates. The
project may continue if new funds are secured.

ArmenPress
July 21 2004
ARMENIAN, AZERI YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS MAY PLAY A FRIENDLY GAME IN
ITALY
YEREVAN, JULY 21, ARMENPRESS: The Italian embassy in Yerevan said
today it has issued visas to a delegation of the Football Federation
of Armenia composed of a team of 14 young players aged between 9 and
14 who have been invited to participate in a competition in Italy
organized by the FIGC – Federazione Italiana Gioco Calcio.
The competition is scheduled to take place in the Summer Center of
FIGC in Norcia (near Perugia) in Central Italy from 25 to 31 July. A
similar delegation from the Football Federation of Azerbaijan was
also invited by FIGC to the stage. It is likely that the two teams
might play a friendly match. All the expenses regarding travel and
accommodation are being covered by the FIGC.

Noyan Tapan, Armenia
July 21 2004
The Voice of Russia now broadcasted in Armenia
The Russian Voice of Russia state radio company is now broadcasted in
Armenia and Georgia. The Programs of the radio station appeared in
FM-format 6 hours a day, RIA Novosti reports. In Yerevan the programs
of Sodrujestvo channel are received from 8:00 to 10:00 and from 20:00
to 22:00. From 11:45 to 19:00 news blocs of The Voice of Russia will
be broadcasted during the last 15 minutes of each hour. Programs are
retransmitted on the frequency 103 FM. Now the Voice of Russia
discusses possible cooperation with Azerbaijan. Starting from April
programs of the Voice of Russia are put on the air in Lithuania and
all large cities of Crimea.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/21/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. Thousands Participate in ARF/ADL-Organized Demonstration 2. ARF-ADL Joint Press Conference 3. Turkish PM in Paris, Peppered With Probes on Genocide 4. Political Representatives Meet with Journalists on Karabagh Issue 5. Regional Stability Focus of Georgia FM Visit to Armenia 6. NEWS BRIEFS 1. Thousands Participate in ARF/ADL-Organized Demonstration PARIS (AYFFM1/Aztagdaily.com)--Thousands of demonstrators on Tuesday converged on the spot where Prime Minister Erdogan was expected to give his press conference. ARF and ADL representatives as well as representatives of the Cypriot and Kurdish communities of France addressed the demonstrators. Also participating was the ARF representative of Holland. That country will assume the Presidency of the European Union in the coming months. ARF's Papazian stated that representative of Armenian communities would be visiting the European leaders with whom Prime Minister Erdogan met during his tour. Papazian also reported that on Monday Erdogan had addressed a gathering of 3,000 Turks in France in an attempt to reorganize the Turkish community there. 2. ARF-ADL Joint Press Conference At the very moment that French President Jacques Chirac and the Turkish Prime Minister were meeting in France on Tuesday, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the Armenian Democratic League (the Ramgavar party) held a joint press conference. Also participating in the conference was Michel Tubiana, President of the French League for Human Rights and Vice-President of FIDHthe International Federation of Human Rights (La Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme). First to address reporters was Mourad Papazian, Representative of the Western Europe ARF Central Committee. Referencing reports by FIDH and other human rights organizations, he pointed out the dismal state of the human rights situation in Turkey. Papazian referred to Turkey's policy of genocide denial and the conditions set forth by the 18 June 1987 decision of the European Parliament. He also discussed the Copenhagen Criteria, saying that the reforms being carried out in Turkey are entirely insufficient and superficial, and the newly adopted laws have simply remained dead letters. The ARF representative concluded that Turkey is not ready for entry into the European Union. He explained that the decision to open accession talks are given only for those countries that have met the conditions set by Europe, whereas Turkey ignores European courts, which every year issue numerous condemnations of and verdicts against Turkey. Varoujan Sirabian spoke on behalf of the ADL, presenting the numerous reasons why Turkey is ineligible for entry into the European Union. He spoke of the threats to human rights and democracy in Turkeyand the dangers of the Turkish regime, in particular the Islamist ideology of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) and his ideological orientation and statements. Michel Tubiana spoke about the current situation in Turkey. He criticized Turkey's delays in implementing its recently adopted laws and considered its continual denial of the Armenian Genocide unacceptable. 3. Turkish PM in Paris, Peppered With Probes on Genocide PARIS (AYFFM1 )--Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during his official visit to France, held a press conference in Paris on Monday, July 19, in the course of which he attempted to alleviate widespread concerns in French public opinion regarding Turkey's candidacy for accession to the European Union. Erdogan said there is no need for concern in France, because December 17, 2004 is not the date by which Turkey would be joining the European Union. Rather, that is when a date would be set for starting negotiations, he stressed. Erdogan was in France July 19-20, after having visited Germany and Holland, in an attempt to secure support. Turkey has recently undertaken a massive public relations campaign in an attempt to show that it is making significant progress toward meeting the European Council's Copenhagen Criteria for Turkey's accession to the Union and should therefore receive a date for beginning accession talks. Five of the approximately 15 questions put to Erdogan during the press conference were on Armenian topics, including the Armenian Genocide. In his responses, Erdogan did not attempt to term the Genocide "alleged" or "so called" or otherwise refute the fact of its occurrence. He did say, however, that the Armenian Genocide is a matter of the past and should be left up to historians. He stressed that it is necessary to focus on the part of the glass that is full and to look toward the future. Erdogan was asked about what assurance he could give that Turkey would adhere to the decisions of the European Parliament if Turkey were to become a member of it, when in fact it has not complied with the 18 June 1987 decision of the Parliament, which set forth the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the resolution of the Cyprus and Kurdish problems as preconditions for Turkey's entry into the European Union. Erdogan replied, "We respect and implement [only] those decisions that are binding." An Azerbaijani television reporter asked the Prime Minister, "Previously you used to say that to normalize relations with Armenia it is necessary to resolve the Karabagh question, but now you talk about the Genocide issue and final recognition by Armenia of Turkey's borders. Which is the more fundamental issue?" Erdogan replied that regarding both sets of issues all sides must work hand-in-hand to reach just resolutions and live in a peaceful environment. He added that in any event the populations of the Armenia-Turkey border area wish to see the Armenia-Turkey border opened. The reporter of the Turkish Zaman paper asked what Turkey would do if the French Parliament passes a law criminalizing denial of the Genocide, and whether that issue had been a subject of discussions with the French President and Premier. Erdogan replied that no such discussions have taken placeand, in any event, he does not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of another country. The Turkish Prime Minister also referred to France-Turkey relation, economic matters, the Middle East crisis, and Iraq... always attempting to present himself as a peace-loving and democratic leader. 4. Political Representatives Meet with Journalists on Karabagh Issue YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--Representatives of various political forces and several journalists met in Yerevan on July 21 to discuss the official position along with public perception about the Mountainous Karabagh conflict resolution process. Organized by the Armenian Press Club, the event attracted Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and Republican party representatives, and members of the Constitutional Rights Union. The most outspoken critic of returning liberated territories under some sort of mutual agreement was ARF's Giro Manoyan who categorically ruled out the option, saying those territories serve as a protective zone around the Mountainous Karabagh Republic. He instead proposed that the liberated territories be defined, and MKR declare sovereignty over the liberated territories. "We shouldn't forget that blood was shed there," he declared Manoyan explained that if the status of liberated territories remains unclear, not only will speculation about its surrender to Azerbaijan persist, but its population will also face constant threat. "We should do our best to establish a situation, in which those living within the liberated territories cannot be exiled," he emphasized, saying negotiations need to become more active. 5. Regional Stability Focus of Georgia FM Visit to Armenia YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--Georgia's Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili, arrived in Armenia on Wednesday to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional issues with Armenia's leadership. Zurabishvili and Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian spoke about the advantages of forging and strengthening existing partnerships with European and Euroatlantic structures, namely, the European Union and NATO. The two bodies have recently shifted their focus to the stability of the South Caucuses, and have stepped up activity there. Addressing regional economic development, Oskanian targeted the development of road and transport corridors extending east-west, and north-south in order to make the South Caucasus a lively trade route. In this context, the full reopening of regional railroads--specifically the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi, and the Abkhazian section of the Russia-Georgia-Armenia railroads--were emphasized. Regional energy safety was reviewed, along with possible approaches to resolving issues in Mountainous Karabagh, Ossetia, and Abkhazia. Later in the day, Zurabishvili met with Armenian National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdassarian and Prime Minister Andranik Margarian who stressed that healthy bilateral relations between their two countries is key to regional stability. Margarian, who co-chairs the Armenian-Georgian Inter-Governmental Commission on Economic Cooperation with his Georgian counterpart Zurab Zhvania, is due to visit Georgia for a regular meeting of the commission to review cooperation in the economic, energy, and transportation sectors. Margarian offered Armenia's assistance in implementing socio-economic development programs in Georgia's impoverished region of Javakhk, and expressed confidence that Georgia would pay due attention to the economic, cultural, and education problems that Javakh's majority Armenian population faces. Zurabishvili also met with representatives of the Georgian community in Armenia at the Georgian Embassy, and visited the Parajanov house-museum, and the Armenian Genocide memorial. She will also be meeting with President Robert Kocharian. 6. NEWS BRIEFS 7,000 Urban Residents in Lori to Receive Food Aid VANADZOR (ARMENPRESS)Some 7,000 urban residents in the province of Lori will be the recipients of food aid from the UN World Food Program. The aid distribution is set to begin later on this month. Each individual will receive 29 kg of flour, vegetable oil and lentil. Under an agreement with the Armenian government, the World Food Program will continue its assistance into 2006. Ambassador to Italy Gives Talk on Karabagh Conflict YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)Armenian Ambassador to Italy Gagik Baghdasarian, made an hour long presentation about the Mountainous Karabagh conflict during the `Identity and Memory: Europe and the Management of Conflicts' seminar, organized by the Italian San Marino Summer University. The seminar, which was held between July 16 and 18, was attended by students, young researchers and professors from across Italy. Armenian Youth Particpate in Italian Soccer Competition YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)The Italian embassy in Yerevan said on Tuesday that it has issued visas to a group of young Futbol Federation of Armenia players. The Armenian soccer players, who are between the ages of 9-14, have invited to participate in a competition in Italy organized by the Federazione Italiana Gioco Calcio (FIGC). The competition is scheduled to take place in the Summer Center of the FIGC in Norcia, Italy from July 25 to 31. The FIGC has also invited a delegation from Azerbaijan. It is likely that the two teams may face each other in a friendly match. All trip-related expenses will be covered by the FIGC. Javakhk Artists Display their Work In Yerevan YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)An exhibition featuring the work of artists from Javakhk opened in Yerevan on July 20. Approximately 100 paintings are on display. A similar event was last held about ten years ago. Armenian Wrestler Wins Silver Medal YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)Greco-Roman wrestler Khosrov Melikian snatched the silver medal at a Europe youth championship in Slovenia. Melikian, who is a resident of Gyumri, defeated all four of his rivals in the 50 kg weight class. Writers Union Condemns Review Court Decision YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)In a move that is likely to further exacerbate relations between Armenian writers and judicial authorities, the Union of Armenia's Writers issued a statement on July 20 `to express the deep indignation about the rude violation of the Union's rights by a court of review.' The statement followed a court of review verdict that cancelled a lower court decision in favor of the Union concerning a hospital that was run by the Union for decades. The hospital was sold by the Arabkir community to a businessmen through an agreement, which the writers say is non-existent and that the community had no right to regulate the fate of the hospital. In a letter addressed to the president, the Union asked Robert Kocharian to interfere. On Monday, the chairman of the Union stated that they were not going to surrender and will take the case to the Court of Appeals. Reporters Demands Investigation into Azeri Case BAKU (ARMENPRESS)On Tuesday, the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders called upon Azerbaijan's law enforcement bodies to find out and punish the perpetrators of last Saturday's assault of Aydin Guliyev, who serves as the chief editor of opposition daily Baki-Khabar (Baku-News). Guliyev was abducted and beaten by four unidentified assailants in Baku on July 17. Guliyev said on Monday that the four masked men accused him of dispersing anti-Islamic propaganda through his publication and being disrespectful to Azerbaijan's `statehood.' He emphasized that his newspaper never published articles against Islam and that the accusations were intended to cover the real reason for the attack, which he believes could have been ordered by the government. Guliyev added that he had been receiving phone threats for around ten days prior to his abduction. The editor has since appealed to the various embassies in Baku in search of asylum. Baki-Khabar serves as the publication of the opposition Azerbaijan Democrat Party, which is currently chaired by Rasul Guliyevan ex-parliamentary speaker who now lives in exile in the United States. A former ally of the late President Heydar Aliyev, Aydin Guliyev split with the leader in 1996 and founded the opposition party. He is accused of appropriating large amounts of state funds while working as the head of an oil refinery plant in Baku during the early 1990s. PM Meets with Outgoing American Ambassador YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)On Tuesday, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian received the outgoing United States Ambassador to Armenia, John Ordway. `During our first meeting three years ago I was sure that we were going to cooperate successfully. Today it is a reality,' the ambassador stated during his farewell meeting with the prime minister. He thanked the Armenian government, and the prime minister personally, for the work the two sides were able to accomplish during his tenure. In turn, Margarian commended the ambassador's efforts in deepening the ties between the two countries and noted that visible political and economic relations and cooperation within international organizations has emerged. Margarian specifically referred to Armenia's eligibility in the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program, and assured the ambassador that Armenia will comply with the deadline and submit its suggestions and approved program to the US government. Agency to Ask Court To Dissolve 58 Political Parties YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)According to State Registration Agency of the Justice Ministry, only 63 of the 121 formerly registered political parties, have submitted the proper paperwork required for formal registration. Agency head Gurgen Sarkisian stated that they will ask the courts to dissolve the 58 parties that have not fulfilled the required criteria under the country's legal code. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 21, 2004 Wednesday
Armenia interested in stability in Georgia – premier
By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN
Armenia is interested in stability in Georgia, Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan said Wednesday, at a meeting with Georgian Foreign
Minister Salome Zurabishvili, who arrived here on an official visit.
“Armenian-Georgian relations are one of the elements of regional
stability which, however, require permanent attention and
discussions, especially in the economic sphere,” the prime minister
noted.
He expressed satisfaction over a “high level of inter-state relations
with Georgia,” which he said were based on mutual trust and
cooperation.
Margaryan expressed the hope that Georgian authorities would continue
to pay attention to the problems of Armenians living in Dzhavakhetia,
as well as to issues of the socio-economic sphere, education and
culture of ethnic Armenians in Georgia.
He reiterated the readiness of the Armenian government to contribute
to the programs of economic development of the Georgian region of
Samtskhe-Javakheti, which is mostly populated by ethnic Armenians.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 21, 2004 Wednesday
NATO technical centre opens in Yerevan
By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN
NATO will provide free satellite and Internet communication to a
number of scientific and educational centres of Armenia, thanks to a
technical centre for realization of the NATO programme Virtual Silk
Road that opened in the Armenian capital on Wednesday.
Besides Armenia, science-education institutions of Azerbaijan,
Georgia, as well as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan will also get free equipment and satellite and
Internet communication.
The executive director of the Arena Company, which is acting as NATO
partner in Armenia, Grigor Babayan, said the programme is designed
for three years and costs 2.5 million U.S. dollars. Armenia’s share
is about 500,000 dollars.
Babayan said Arena would provide with Internet communication Yerevan
State University within the framework of the NATO programme, as well
as Yerevan Physics Institute, the office of the U.N. development
programme mission and several other centres.
The Arena director said 33 more institutions of the country would be
connected to the web in the coming year.

Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press
July 21, 2004
INTELLIGENT PEOPLE, UNITE! — That Was Vladimir Putin’s Appeal During
His Visit to Kazakhstan. By Yelena Lashkina. Rossiiskaya gazeta, June
19, 2004, pp. 1, 3. Excerpts:
Astana — . . . Delegations from seven countries [arrived] in
Kazakhstan’s capital for summits of the Eurasian Economic Community
[EurAsEC] and the Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO]. . .
. The first event was the opening of an international forum titled
“Eurasian Integration: Current Trends and the Challenges of
Globalization.”
As the host, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev delivered the
first welcoming speech. “It’s extremely important that we jointly
develop and consistently implement a uniform policy for entering
world markets that works to everyone’s advantage,” he said. . . .
[In his remarks,] Russian President Vladimir Putin couldn’t [avoid
commenting] on the forum’s program. “I have the impression that
enemies of President Nazarbayev infiltrated the group of organizers,”
the Russian head of state said. “Here’s a session on security in the
Eurasian space where the main topic is defined as: ‘The Geopolitical
Interests of Outside Forces: The US, China, the EU, Japan and
Russia,’ ” said the Russian president, quoting from the forum’s
program. . . .
“All you have to do is open a map to see that Russia is situated in
the very heart of Eurasia,” . . . Vladimir Putin remarked.
“And on the subject of security in the Eurasian space, I think the
vast majority of people would agree that not only in the Eurasian
space, but worldwide these problems can hardly be addressed without
taking into account the role that Russia plays in the modern world.”
Putin ticked off other items on the program and let the organizers
have it with both barrels. “If I were permitted to take part in the
forum session titled ‘Conceptual Problems Pertaining to the
Activities of Integration Associations,’ I could briefly summarize
those problems in literally three or four phrases. They are
great-power chauvinism, nationalism, the personal ambitions of
political decision-makers and just plain stupidity, primitive
stupidity,” Vladimir Putin added quite earnestly.
Addressing the forum’s participants, President Putin said: “But
we’re intelligent people.” And so he concluded his participation in
the forum with the exhortation: “Intelligent people of the world,
unite!”
The heads of state proceeded from the forum to a meeting of
EurAsEC’s interstate council, where the parties signed an agreement
on the basic principles of that organization’s legislation, as well
as a decision on cooperation in the securities market. . . .
The heads of EurAsEC’s member states also agreed to coordinate
their efforts to gain admission to the World Trade Organization.
After the EurAsEC summit, the five members of that organization
were joined by the president of Armenia. The six then held a meeting
of the Collective Security Council of the CSTO’s member states. The
CSTO summit was held behind closed doors. But that’s perfectly
understandable: After all, the heads of the member states were
discussing the actual operations of their militaries. In particular,
according to an RG Kremlin source, they discussed joint actions in
the sphere of air defense. “To some extent, this was a continuation
of the discussion held in the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, but with greater emphasis on the CSTO space and the
fulfillment of obligations, including financial commitments, in the
military realm. . . .

Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press
July 21, 2004
Nazism Expert Killed; Extremists Claim Responsibility
THE VICTIM, N. GIRENKO, SERVED AS EXPERT WITNESS IN SCHULTZ-88 TRIAL,
SUPERVISED SCHOLARS PROVIDING EXPERTISE ON NATIONALISTIC NEWSPAPERS
SOURCE: NAZIS SUSPECTED IN MURDER OF EXPERT ON FASCISM. By Sergei
Nekhamkin and Yelena Rotkevich. Izvestia, June 22, 2004, p. 5.
Condensed text:
St. Petersburg — . . . [Professor] Nikolai Mikhailovich Girenko was
murdered Saturday morning [June 19] in his apartment by a shot
through the door from a sawed-off rifle. The case is being handled by
the St. Petersburg Prosecutor’s Office’s Administration for the
Investigation of Particularly Important Crimes. Assistant city
prosecutor Aleksandr Zhukov told reporters on Monday that at the
present time, one of the hypotheses being considered by the
investigation is that the murder was connected with Girenko’s work.
But he said the investigators are also not ruling out the possibility
that the murder was motivated by hooliganism.
That phrase — “motivated by hooliganism” — evoked skepticism on
the part of Nikolai Mikhailovich’s colleague and close associate,
Valentina Uzunova. She said that a group of scholars supervised by
Girenko that has been providing expertise on extreme nationalist
publications had received threats regularly. . . .
One unfinished trial in which Prof. Girenko was serving as an
expert witness involves St. Petersburg’s most “rabid” nationalistic
group — Schultz-88. The “Schultz case” began in the spring of 2003.
At that time, while investigating an attack on an Armenian citizen,
detectives came upon a skinhead gang of about 30 people. It was
Girenko’s expert testimony that made it clear that this wasn’t just a
bunch of city toughs, but a group of inveterate racists and Nazis in
the Hitlerite mold. . . . Members of the organization have been
charged with fomenting ethnic and racial enmity and with publicly
calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order. The
trial is still ongoing.
Among Nikolai Girenko’s final acts was providing expert input on a
group of Novgorod newspapers: Novgorodets [The Novgoroder], Ya —
Russky [I Am Russian], Russkoye veche [Russian Assembly], Dlya
russkikh lyudei [For Russian People], Yevpaty Kolovrat and Russkoye
yedinstvo [Russian Unity] (one of them was shut down by court order).
These newspapers have ties to Russian National Unity. Prof. Girenko
tangled with that organization in St. Petersburg earlier, at the
trial of Aleksei Andreyev, another publisher of nationalistic
newspapers. Shortly before his death, Girenko had begun preparing for
a new trial involving RNU.

Agence France Presse — English
July 21, 2004 Wednesday 5:51 AM Eastern Time
No compromises on Karabakh: Azerbaijan’s president
KHUDAT DISTRICT, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan will make no compromises in its negotiations with Armenia
over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, President Ilham Aliyev
said Wednesday.
The statement appeared to mark a hardening of Azerbaijan’s stance
over the conflict, which remains unresolved after a war in the early
1990s that displaced a million civilians and left some 35,000 people
dead.
“We cannot react positively to calls on us to make compromises. On
questions of our territorial integrity we will never make any
compromises,” Aliyev said on a visit to northern Azerbaijan.
“Certain calls on us (to make compromises on Nagorno-Karabakh) are
without foundation,” the Azeri leader added.
“All international norms, the economic situation, are on our side.
Large resources are being given to the army and we will continue to
make available these resources.”
Since large-scale fighting ceased in 1994 Nagorno-Karabakh — which
is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan — and several
surrounding Azeri regions have been under the control of Armenian
forces.
Azerbaijan has insisted that Armenian troops relinquish the
territory, and has said it reserves the right to use force to settle
the dispute.
In the past, Azerbaijan has signalled that it might make concessions
in order to reach a lasting peace settlement with Armenia over the
enclage. One possibility that has been mooted is an exchange of
territory.
But Aliyev’s comments Wednesday, to a unit of border guards on
Azerbaijan’s frontier with Russia, seemed to indicate that this
option has now been ruled out.

Agence France Presse
July 20, 2004 Tuesday
Chirac confirme a Erdogan son soutien a la candidature turque a
l’UE(PAPIER GENERAL ACTUALISE)
Par Suzette BLOCH
PARIS, 20 juil
BODY: Le president francais Jacques Chirac a confirme mardi son
soutien a la candidature de la Turquie a l’Union europeenne en
recevant au palais presidentiel de l’Elysee le Premier ministre turc
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, en visite officielle a Paris.
M. Chirac “a rappele que l’integration de la Turquie dans l’Union
europeenne etait souhaitable des qu’elle serait possible”, a rapporte
l’Elysee a l’issue d’un tete-a-tete entre les deux dirigeants suivi
d’un dejeuner.
Le president francais a souligne que “la Turquie avait fait des
progres considerables, et qu’elle doit poursuivre et intensifier la
mise en oeuvre des reformes democratiques et economiques”.
M. Erdogan a remercie lors d’une conference de presse M. Chirac pour
“l’approche constructive” et “l’attitude tout a fait positive de la
France” en ce qui concerne la candidature turque.
Il a tenu a preciser que le Conseil europeen du 17 decembre ne ferait
qu'”approuver le debut d’un processus de negociation”. “Nous ne
savons pas combien va durer ce processus, c’est une periode qui nous
permettra de combler toutes nos lacunes”, a-t-il insiste.
M. Chirac s’est declare a de nombreuses reprises et sans ambiguiete
en faveur d’une adhesion, alors que son propre parti, l’UMP (Union
pour un mouvement populaire), y est oppose, ainsi qu’une grande
partie de l’opinion francaise.
Lors du sommet de l’OTAN a Istanbul le 29 juin, M. Chirac a qualifie
d'”irreversible” le processus menant a l’adhesion de la Turquie.
Au deuxieme jour de son sejour a Paris, M. Erdogan a ainsi obtenu un
appui de poids dans sa campagne pour promouvoir la candidature
d’Ankara dans une France tres reticente et divisee sur cette
question.
Paris et Ankara ont fait avancer parallelement un autre dossier
important, celui de l’achat eventuel d’avions Airbus par la compagnie
nationale turque Turkish Airlines pour le renouvellement de sa
flotte.
Ces discussions “sont en cours de finalisation”, a indique la
presidence francaise a l’issue de l’entretien Chirac-Erdogan. M.
Erdogan a indique que la signature devrait intervenir mardi soir ou
mercredi matin.
Ce contrat avait ete notamment discute lundi soir par M. Erdogan avec
le Premier ministre Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
Le consortium aeronautique europeen Airbus et l’americain Boeing
devraient en principe se partager ce contrat de deux milliards de
dollars (1,6 milliard d’euros).
M. Erdogan a appele les milieux d’affaires francais qu’il a
rencontres mardi au siege du Medef (patronat francais) a l’epauler et
a investir dans son pays. La France est le deuxieme partenaire
commercial de la Turquie et son quatrieme fournisseur.
Le ministre francais des Affaires etrangeres, Michel Barnier, a pour
sa part estime mardi, interroge sur la radio privee Europe 1 que “le
chemin etait encore long” avant l’adhesion mais que ce pays etait sur
la bonne voie.
M. Erdogan devait egalement mardi rencontrer les deputes de la
Commission des Affaires etrangeres de l’Assemblee nationale puis le
president sortant de l’UMP, Alain Juppe.
Le Premier ministre turc a regrette la persistance de doutes, de
reserves ou de debats sur le principe de l’adhesion de la Turquie.
“Le fait que ces debats continuent a exister malgre le paquet de
reformes qui a ete accompli, cela nous attriste”, a-t-il dit aux
journalistes.
L’opposition de gauche francaise est, pour sa part, favorable a
l’adhesion, mais le Parti socialiste exige au prealable la
reconnaissance du genocide armenien de 1915.
M. Erdogan a declare lors de sa conference de presse que les criteres
d’adhesion a l’UE “n’impliquent pas de reconnaissance d’un genocide
armenien”.
“Un tel evenement qui s’est passe dans le passe, savoir quelle partie
a fait telle chose, laissons cela aux mains des historiens”, a-t-il
ajoute. “Nous devons construire l’avenir, il ne faut pas s’occuper de
la partie vide du verre mais de la partie pleine”, a-t-il dit.
La communaute armenienne de France (450.000 personnes) est la plus
importante apres celle des Etats-Unis. Elle a appele a manifester a
Paris pour que M. Erdogan “engage son pays dans le processus de
reconnaissance du genocide armenien”.