Worldwide Faith News (press release)
June 30 2004
Middle East Christians hang tough in tough circumstances
by Alexa Smith
RICHMOND, June 30 – It was a history lesson in four parts.
The first to speak was the Rev. Younan Shiba, a pastor from a
Presbyterian church in downtown Baghdad. Mary Zumot stood at his side,
translating, as he told about the Iraqi denomination that came into
being in the 1920s as a product of the work of Presbyterian
missionaries from Iran.
Then came the Rev. Amanuel Ghareeb, a Presbyterian from Kuwait, who
spoke of the approximately 300,000 Christians in his country.
Then the Rev. Hendrik Shanazarian, of the Armenian Evangelical Church
of Iran, who recounted 175 years of Presbyterian history there.
And finally the Rev. Mitri Raheb, a Lutheran pastor from Bethlehem,
the very birthplace of Christ.
Gathered in a corner of the General Assembly exhibit hall, the men
spoke one by one, surrounded by maps of Palestine, photos of
Palestinians and a gigantic Middle Eastern tapestry whose threads are
intertwined like the history of Christianity in that troubled part of
the world.
The Rev. Victor Makari, the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s liaison to the
Middle East, spoke of a “continuous 2,000-year history of
uninterrupted witness.”
Admittedly there are problems aplenty. Severe legal restraints. Testy
political climates. War. Poverty. Economic instability.
But each man gave thanks to the international church for speaking up
for them in times of trouble – while giving the U.S. government mixed
reviews, for its action and inaction in their homelands.
Said Raheb: “I wish I could say what Amanuel Ghareeb said: That
American troops came to liberate us from Saddam and the Iraqi
occupation. Unfortunately, I cannot say that about American
troops. And you know why? Kuwait is oily. Palestine is only holy.”
Raheb went on: “We continue to live under the longest ongoing
occupation in history,” referring to the 57-year-long Israeli
occupation – and now, the 27-foot security wall the Israeli army is
building across the West Bank, which is swallowing up Palestinian
orchards, farms and homes as it goes. Both subsidized by U.S. dollars.
In the same breath, Raheb told his audience not to stop speaking up,
but rather to raise its voice. “I wish you would challenge both Bush
and Kerry to be as courageous as Ronald Reagan,” he said, recalling
the former president’s speech at the Brandenburg Gate during the Cold
War.
“Tell them to tell Sharon to tear down this wall that is surrounding
the little town of Bethlehem,” he said
Shiba said he’s looking forward to deepening ties with the U.S.
church as Iraq begins to rebuild.
In a press conference later in the day, he said the church in Iraq –
like the churches that opposed the war elsewhere – hoped violence
would be averted. But while Iraqis are grateful for the troops who
toppled the Hussein regime, he said, it soon became clear that there
was no plan for stabilizing Iraq. Instead, he said, the U.S. presence
was “like blind bats banging against the walls.”
Now, Shiba said, the role of the international church is to work for
peace and help rebuild – and to remind the U.S. government of its
responsibility. He said U.S. Christians should not stop speaking,
even if the Bush administration still refuses to meet with mainline
leaders, as it did before the war.
“I believe this is a challenge for the church,” he said. “Even if you
are turned down by the administration … You must respond to the
calling of (your) Master to engage in the work of rebuilding. While
your voice may be smothered, your actions can be loud. And it is our
privilege to partner with your church.”
Shanazarian said church unity is critical for Christians who are
minorities in their home countries. He said the Fellowship of Middle
Eastern Evangelical Churches has helped relieve the isolation of
Iranian Christians, many of whom are leaving Iran in search of
economic security.
Shanazarian presented a small Persian rug bearing the image of Jesus
to the PC(USA)’s Worldwide Ministries Division, calling it “the image
that unites all of us.”
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Anadolu Agency, Turkey
July 1 2004
Gul: Dialogue, Cooperation And Respect For Others’ Values Are Our
Basic Principles
ISTANBUL – Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that dialogue, cooperation and respect
for others’ values were their basic principles.
Gul added that the idea of clash of civilizations was not valid for
Turkey and Turkey’s foreign policy.
Gul delivered a speech at the closure session of ”Istanbul
Pan-Atlantic Student Summit” at Koc University in Istanbul.
Stating that half of Turkey’s population consisted of youths under
the age of 25, Gul underlined the importance of NATO Youth Summit’s
convening in Turkey.
Stressing that Turkey was determined to educate youths in political,
economic and other fields, Gul noted that the government had a
reformist structure. He added that they attached great importance to
values of youths.
Gul noted that Turkey expected to start membership negotiations with
the European Union (EU) at the end of 2004, stating that they knew
contribution that Turkey would make to EU, hoping that EU would also
comprehend it.
Stating that NATO alliance was based on democratic ideals, he said
that NATO had responsibility to protect and defend common values.
Gul said that the alliance had fulfilled this task from the very
beginning, stressing that it would also continue to take steps on
protection of freedoms and fight against terrorism.
Foreign Minister Gul said that the alliance adopted exchanging
mutually views on every issue as a principle, stating that NATO was
going through an adaptation process continuously.
Stating that NATO also undertook significant tasks to improve
stability in the world, Gul underlined that Turkey attached great
importance to further improvement of its relations with NATO, EU and
also regional countries.
Gul asked students attending NATO Youth Summit to take Turkey’s
messages of peace and tolerance to their countries.
Replying to a question on their expectations after referenda held in
Cyprus on April 24, Gul said that Turkey and the United Nations
extended great efforts for solution of Cyprus issue.
Noting that Cyprus plan prepared by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
envisaged a two-sided but united Cyprus, Gul said that the Turkish
Cypriot side accepted the plan in the referendum, but a historic
opportunity was missed as the Greek Cypriot side rejected it.
”What Turkish Cypriots expect from now on is the lifting of economic
embargo and travel embargo,” he said.
Stating that Turkey preserved its perspective of a lasting
resolution, Gul called on western countries to keep their promises to
lift embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot side.
Asked what kind of things could be done to change relationship
between the Islam culture and western culture for the better, Gul
said the Republic of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire which had a 600
years of history attributed importance to tolerance and mutual
respect.
Stressing that nobody was messing in religion and language of others
and nobody was assimilated in Turkey, Gul said that it was proven
with existence of worship places of three religions in Ortakoy
district of Istanbul.
Gul said that Turkey would continue contributing to peace in the
world and stability in the region.
Asked what kind of steps that the NATO envisaged to take for
resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at Istanbul Summit,
Gul said that Palestinian-Israeli problem concerned not only those
two regions, but also whole region and the world.
Stressing that steps for resolution of this chronic problem would
relieve firstly the region and later the world, Gul said that a road
map was prepared and a broader platform beyond the NATO discussed the
issue.
Gul said Turkey supported such initiatives and would exert every
effort.
Asked about matters that had been discussed during his meeting with
the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Gul said it was a
very beneficial meeting and both sides were satisfied with the
meeting.
Noting that problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia could not remain
stagnant while partial progress was recorded in other problems in the
region, Gul said it was a great achievement as the sides were
satisfied with the meeting in Istanbul.
Stating that they would hold another meeting in New York in
September, Gul added that he believed they would record progress in
resolution of problems through dialogue.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 1 2004
PACE SECRETARY GENERAL MEETS HEADS OF STANDING COMMISSIONS OF MILLI
MAJLIS
[July 01, 2004, 11:21:38]
Secretary General of PACE Mr. Bruno Haller met the heads of standing
commissions of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijan Parliament) of Azerbaijan
Republic.
Opening the meeting, vice-speaker of Milli Majlis, head of the
standing commission on defense and security issues Ziyafet Askerov
noted that Azerbaijan is keen in integration to the European family,
European values, deepening of cooperation with the Council of Europe.
Our country, therefore, constantly fulfills the taken obligations,
Mr. Askerov emphasized.
He also noted the unsuccessful efforts of the OSCE MG, the major
mediator in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh conflict, the crucial problem for our people, on application
of double standards related to the sides-in-conflict, indifference of
the world community to the fact of ignorance by Armenia four UN SC
Resolutions, principles of international law, stressing that this
arouses concern in the Azerbaijan community. He noted that Azerbaijan
adheres peaceful settlement of the conflict. And it is high time to
make decisive steps. If the peaceful negotiations will not have any
success, Azerbaijan will try to release its occupied lands by any
means.
Speaking of the issues of cooperation, Mr. Bruno Haller noted:
`Structure of our parliaments are alike. And this opens opportunities
for further development of links. Cooperation of Azerbaijan
Parliament and PACE fives reason for satisfaction and we aspire to
development of the regional parliamentary ties. Parliamentary
dialogue plays a key role in inter-state relations’.
Mr. Bruno Haller stated that due to the election of Terry Davis as
Secretary General of the Council of Europe, in the region for
preparation of report on Nagorny Karabakh conflict is expected to
come a new reporter. He expressed confidence that this would be a
objective report reflecting the truth.
Also were attending the meeting the heads of the standing commissions
of Milli Majlis Asya Manafova, Eldar Ibrahimov, Sirus Tebrizli,
Shahlar Askerov. It was suggested to invite specialists of relevant
standing commissions to PACE, visit to the region of representatives
of PACE commission to exchange experience.

Azer News, Azerbaijan
July 1 2004
CE Secretary General confirms Garabagh part of Azerbaijan

The Council of Europe (CE) Political Committee held discussions on
Upper Garabagh on Thursday. Terry Davis, newly elected CE Secretary
General, presented a report on the issue. According to a member of
the CE Parliamentary Assembly representation in Azerbaijan Asim
Mollazada, who attended the meeting, Davis said in his statement that
Azerbaijani territories are under occupation and emphasized that
Azerbaijan is included into the United Nations (UN) together with
Upper Garabagh. In his speech at the Council of Europe on 23 June
Armenian President Kocharian maintained that “Garabagh has never been
part of independent Azerbaijan”.
He said that at the time of collapse of the Soviet Union two states
were allegedly formed: the Azerbaijani Republic on the territory of
the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic and the Republic of Upper
Garabagh on the territory of the Upper Garabagh Autonomous Region.
Mollazada said that the report presented by Davis disclosed
Kocharian’s attempt to deceive the Council of Europe and the entire
international community. Davis said talks on settling the conflict
are underway. He went on to say that the last elections in Azerbaijan
and Armenia led to a delay in the talks. He also spoke of the
activity of the OSCE Minsk Group. Speaking at the meeting, Mollazada
stated that the biggest obstacle to settling the Garabagh conflict is
Kocharian himself, as he is not interested in a settlement meeting
international legal norms. “The policy pursued by Armenia and
Kocharian is based on an aspiration to acquire legal and political
support for occupation”, he concluded. Davis’s written report on
Upper Garabagh is expected to be discussed at the CE Political
Committee on September 14. Although Davis will prepare the report
himself, it will most likely be presented by the Committee chairman
Yakich. The report will be discussed at the PACE January session.
Court threat
At a Friday meeting of the Milli Majlis (parliament) Azerbaijani MPs
reacted to Kocharian’s words. MP Mais Safarli called upon the
parliament not to remain indifferent to the Armenian President’s
speech at the Council of Europe. He proposed that an appeal be sent
to the international court to arraign Kocharian. Supporting Safarli’s
proposal, MP Jahangir Huseynov noted that it was necessary to adopt
the appeal by the end of the parliamentary session. Other MPs
stressed that an appeal to bring the Armenian president to court
should be sent not only to the international court and organizations
but also to those countries that support Armenia’s policy of
aggression. Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov underlined that there were
enough grounds to arraign Kocharian and said that appropriate legal
documents would be compiled for the purpose.
OSCE PA to discuss Garabagh conflict
Upper Garabagh will be on the agenda of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly (PA) session to open on July 4, Speaker of the Milli Majlis
(parliament) Murtuz Alasgarov told a Friday meeting of the
parliament. Eldar Ibrahimov and Sattar Safarov, members of the
Azerbaijani delegation at the OSCE PA, will attend the session.
Underlining that the Council of Europe has already recognized Armenia
as an aggressor, Alasgarov said that the OSCE, which is directly
involved in the settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict, had not
yet adopted a relevant decision on the matter. The Speaker stressed
that it was high time to demand the OSCE pass decisions and
resolutions recognizing Armenia as an aggressor.

Azer News, Azerbaijan
July 1 2004
Istanbul talks – breakthrough or not

President Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who arrived
in Istanbul, Turkey to attend the June 28-29 NATO summit, held
discussions on the settlement of a number of interstate and regional
problems. President Aliyev also held closed-door meetings with
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan on Monday. No
statements were issued upon conclusion of the talks. “Along with
Upper Garabagh conflict, the parties discussed issues pertaining to
Turkish-Azerbaijani cooperation and the Cyprus conflict”, Turkish
President’s spokesman told journalists.
Armenia backs Turkish efforts
On Monday, the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers,
Elmar Mammadyarov, Abdullah Gul and Vardan Oskanian held a private
trilateral meeting in Istanbul, Turkey at the NATO summit. The three
foreign ministers held a news conference following the meeting.
According to Dursun Ozden, Azernews correspondent in Turkey, the
ministers stated that their countries were interested in maintaining
peace and stability in the region. They underlined that the peaceful
settlement of the conflict over Upper Garabagh as well as ways and
means of cooperation in achieving stability were discussed during the
meeting. It was stressed that Turkey, which is a member of NATO and
has great influence in the region, could play an active role in the
resolution of the conflict. The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers stressed that they supported Turkey’s increasing efforts to
solve the conflict. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that
peace and stability in the Caucasus are attracting growing attention
internationally. “NATO is promoting a new strategic shift towards
South Caucasus states. The European Union in its newly introduced
“Neighborhood Policy” has decided to implement a new strategy for the
South Caucasus. Therefore, a new strategic vision should be shaped by
the countries of the region,” he stressed. Gul also noted that the
South Caucasus countries had not yet been able to overcome the
problems which are threatening stability and discouraging economic
prosperity in the region. Underlining the need to hold further
trilateral meetings, the three ministers stated that such meetings
would promote mutual understanding. Armenian Foreign Minister
Oskanian said that the parties also touched upon the issue of opening
the Turkish-Armenian border. He added that it will take “some time”
to resolve the problem. The Armenian side was offered a new formula
for the settlement similar to the one used in resolving the Cyprus
conflict, Turkish diplomatic sources said. Prior to the trilateral
meeting, Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Abdullah Gul and
Vardan Oskanian met in private. Along with the Garabagh conflict, the
two discussed the relations between Turkey and Armenia, Turkish media
reported. The friendly nature of the statements by both the Armenian
and Azerbaijani foreign ministers is amazing. Particularly surprising
is Mammadyarov’s statement that Armenia and Azerbaijan were
interested in Turkey’s stepping up its role in the settlement of the
conflict.
Baku ready to “soften” its position – Turkish sources
Yerevan has previously unequivocally opposed Ankara’s involvement in
the process, saying that Turkey could not be an impartial mediator.
Mammadyarov also said that the details of Turkey’s participation in
the conflict resolution would be outlined in the next 2-3 months.
Opposition sources in Ankara said a break through in the
Turkish-Armenian relations may take place soon. The parties have
allegedly agreed to open the Turkish-Armenian frontier, and it is
necessary to prepare the public in both Azerbaijan and Turkey for
this. Azerbaijan will play a special role in the public awareness
campaign. Turkey will try to convince Baku that in the changing
conditions such a step would not contradict Azerbaijan’s interests.
According to the same source, it is for this reason that Armenian
Foreign Minister Oskanian said it would take “some time” to resolve
the problem. His statement implies that in general, the problem can
be resolved, but it will take a while to work out some controversial
issues, including Baku’s disapproval of the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian frontier. It appears that Baku is ready to “soften”
its position in order to avoid damaging relations with Turkey.
However, such a step would most likely be interpreted by the
Azerbaijani public as another diplomatic defeat. Azerbaijan and
Armenia were close to a breakthrough in resolving the conflict in the
past. Former President Ter-Petrosian was close to resolving the
controversial issues between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia when he
was overthrown. In 1999, when the international community urged
Kocharian to attend the Istanbul talks, the Armenian parliament
speaker and the Prime Minister were shot to death in the country’s
parliament. Armenia is therefore an unpredictable country and hopes
for the settlement of the conflict remain uncertain.

Azer News, Azerbaijan
July 1 2004
Azeri, Armenian FMs may next meet in Prague

The next meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers is
expected to be held late in August or early in September.
Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, told
Regnum information agency that the meeting may take place in Prague.
Merzlyakov said that although the third meeting of the two foreign
ministers was constructive, no progress is in store at the current
stage of talks.
He noted that work on the agenda of the forthcoming gathering was
underway but declined to say if any concrete proposals would be
discussed during the meeting.

Tehran Times, Iran
July 1 2004
Armrosgazprom To Bid on Laying of Iran-Armenia Gas Pipeline
Moscow (PIN) – The company Armrosgazprom is planning to take part in
a tender on constructing and maintaining an Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline, the press service of the company reported.
The gas pipeline customer is the Armenian government. A basic
agreement on laying the pipeline was signed in Yerevan (Armenia) on
May 13, 2004. According to the document, the gas pipeline will be
operational by January 1, 2007.
Armenia will get some 1.1bn cubic meters of gas annually through this
pipeline. Each country is to finance the laying of a pipeline on its
territory. Armenia is expected to spend about $90m to $100m and Iran
some $120m. Armrosgazprom was created in 1997 in compliance with a
Russian-Armenian government agreement and it is the exclusive
wholesale buyer and supplier of gas in Armenia. The Armenian
government and Gazprom have a 45-percent stake each in the company;
Itera has a 10-percent block of shares. Armrosgazprom owns the whole
gas distributing network in the republic. MSK/DWN
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2004
HIGHLIGHTS:
POLITICS AND MEDIA
“YERRORD UJ” WEEKLY PUBLISHED
POLITICS AND MEDIA
On June 29 in Yerevan a seminar “Political Developments in Armenia and Their
Media Coverage” was held. The seminar was organized by Yerevan Press Club
with the assistance of Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Representatives of
media, public, also journalistic organizations of Armenia, international
structures took part in the event.
The subject matter of the seminar was pre-conditioned by the events that had
occurred over the past few months with regard to the activities of Armenian
media. These are in particular the opposition rallies, accompanied by
violence against journalists (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April
2-8, 2004 and April 9-15, 2004), the change of the owner of “Kentron” TV
company, presently called “Aravot TV” (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, April
23-29, 2004), the amendments to the RA Criminal Code provisions on libel and
insult adopted by the parliament recently (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, June
4-10, 2004) and, finally, the speech that the President of Armenia Robert
Kocharian made at the PACE session in Strasbourg on June 23, where the
problems of Armenian media were touched upon too.
The seminar was opened by Asparuh Panov, the deputy head of programs of
Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Romania, Bulgaria and South Caucasus. The
presentation of the Chairman of “Asparez” Journalist’s Club of Gyumri Levon
Barseghian was devoted to the Armenian media reflection of the political
situation in 2004, and the Chairman of the Committee to Protect Freedom of
Expression Ashot Melikyan presented the cases of journalist and media rights
violations through the lens of the inner political developments.
At the seminar the joint statement of Yerevan Press Club, the Journalists
Union of Armenia, Internews Armenia public organization and the Committee to
Protect Freedom of Expression war released, adopted with regard to the June
trial of the case on the attack on journalists on April 5 (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, June 4-10, 2004) and the lack of progress in the investigation
on other cases of violence against journalists.
“On June 10, 2004 the court of primary jurisdiction of Center and
Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan sentenced two people, who engaged in
violent actions against journalists during the rally of April 5, to a fine
of 100,000 drams each. The process became a comedy show. We cannot call it
otherwise, because both the preliminary investigation and the court
proceedings and the sentence cause doubt and frustration. The proceedings
were only instituted on Part 1 of Article 185 of the RA Criminal Code
(“Premeditated destruction or spoilage of property”), whereas the charges
should have also been introduced on Article 164 (“Obstruction of legitimate
professional activities of journalist”): the violent actions, committed on
April 5 with regard to journalists, contain the signs of crimes, stipulated
by these two Articles of the RA Criminal Code. Therefore, Article 20 of the
RA Criminal Code (“Cumulative offences”) should have been applied which was
not done by the structure implementing the preliminary investigation. The
court on its behalf did not correct the mistake of the preliminary
investigation and did not send the case to additional investigation.
Neither the bodies of preliminary investigation, nor the court displayed any
wish to protect the right of journalists to gather and disseminate
information, to say nothing of the fact that the punishment defined is not
adequate to the misdeed. Moreover, the supporters of those who committed the
crime obstructed the entry of journalists to the courtroom and exerted
pressure on the course of the trial.
We expected more disclosures and trials to come, however nothing was done to
find those guilty of other violent acts.
Up to day no measures have been taken to punish the policemen who were
impartially observing those who interfered with the work of media
representatives and broke their equipment on April 5.
The policemen who gave a beating to journalists on Baghramian Avenue in the
early morning of April 13 were not revealed and punished either. Not even a
condemnation of their actions was made. Instead from the highest power
levels statements were made that it had been impossible to tell journalists
from the demonstration participants.
We once more demand that the right of the public to receive and the right of
the journalists to impart information be respected that any attempt to
infringe these rights be prevented.
We call on all the media and journalists be more united and consistent when
it comes to professional solidarity, when the right to free gathering and
dissemination of information is violated”, the statement by four
journalistic organizations says.
The seminar participants noted the disputability of the answers that RA
President Robert Kocharian gave in Strasbourg to the questions of the PACE
deputies and journalists with regard to the media situation. In particular,
the statement of the President that the Law “On Television and Radio” was
proposed by the opposition was incorrect (apparently Kocharian meant to say
that the discontent about the work of the National Commission on Television
and Radio should be addressed by the opposition to itself). The appropriate
official draft law was developed by the present RA Minister of Education and
Science and at that time deputy Sergo Yeritsian, who has never had anything
to do with opposition. Since the draft law of Yeritsian was supported by the
specialized parliament committee, it was presented by Shavarsh Kocharian as
a disciplined Chairman of the committee. However, the circumstance that the
latter at the same time heads one of the opposition parties does not
constitute sufficient ground to ascribe the authorship of the law to the
opposition. The proposal of the President to hold a media monitoring in
Armenia and remove the problem of “A1+” TV company from the agenda, should
it reveal plurality on TV air and access of opposition to it, also has
little ground. Firstly, there are reasons to maintain that the failure to
provide a license to the TV channel has political motivation, that the
number of competitions seemingly lost by “A1+” were conducted with legal
violations and the appropriate suit is currently being considered by the
European Court of Human Rights, and it is hardly fair to link this problem
with the monitoring results. Secondly, during the presidential and
parliamentary elections of 2003 (i.e., after the loss of air by “A1+”) both
the OSCE observation mission and a number of local non-governmental
organizations held monitoring and recorded a generally inobjective coverage
of the elections by Armenian media. It is the elections and political
tensions that allow determining the existence of freedom of expression and
diversity of opinion in the country. During the periods when the political
developments are proceeding relatively calmly, the count of the air access
of certain parties cannot be illustrative enough. Monitoring can of course
be conducted – the media situation analysis and how adequate their coverage
of public and political life is, the degree of satisfaction of information
demands of the citizens are always useful. But regardless of its results,
the problem of “A1+” will remain.
As the only example of positive changes in the sphere of media recently the
seminar participants noted the mildened punishments for libel and insult in
the Criminal Code.
“YERRORD UJ” WEEKLY PUBLISHED
On June 26 the first issue of “Yerrord Uj” weekly was published. The
newspaper has 16/A3 pp. and a print run of 3,000 copies. The founder of
“Yerrord Uj” is “Mission L”, the Chief Editor is Vahram Aghajanian.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]
Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]
Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

Public debate on Turkey to come
01.07.2004 – 09:01 CET | By Honor Mahony
EUOBSERVER / THE HAGUE – The Dutch EU Presidency has pledged to be fair
on the question of whether Ankara is ready to start EU membership
negotiations amid concerns that the EU may not be ready for Turkey.
“The Netherlands feels a responsibility to make sure that our decision
is well-reasoned and rock-solid”, said Dutch prime minister Jan Peter
Balkenende on the eve of the Dutch EU Presidency.
While the European Commission will decide in the autumn whether Ankara
has met the political criteria for joining the 25-nation block, Mr
Balkenende says this is just one of two types of debate that will take
place.
The Dutch leader said that discussion on the political criteria is
“technical”.
The second discussion amongst the European public is likely to centre
around whether “an Islamic country belongs to Europe”.
However, the Dutch are insisting that this debate, as well as whether
the EU is actually ready for a country the size of Turkey, should not be
additional criteria.
“We need fair play … the rules of the game are clear”, said Mr
Balkenende referring to the fact that if the European Commission decides
that Ankara is ready, it will then be up to leaders in December to
actually decide, on the basis of the report, to open negotiations
without delay.
Late debate
With French leadership ambivalent on Turkish EU membership, the
opposition Christian Democrats in Germany actively opposing it and the
Austrians also making negative sounds, the Dutch do feel that a debate
will come – it is just later than it should have been.
Referring to 1999, when EU leaders actually decided to give Turkey
candidate status, Dutch Europe minister Atzo Nicolaï said, “that was the
time for debate”.
He added, “I think the leaders knew what they decided but the public
didn’t know”.
However, it is too late for the “principle debate” of whether Turkey
should join the EU, he concluded.
“We have to realise Turkey has to be ready and the European Union has to
be ready”.
Mr Nicolaï also conceded that there is a risk that the planned Dutch
referendum on the Constitution, which is set to happen in the same
timeframe as a decision on Turkey, may be linked to the issue.
“That is always a risk”, he said.

Azer News, Azerbaijan
July 1 2004
Armenia blames Azerbaijan for ceasefire breach

Armenian Defense Minister Serj Sarkisian has expressed his position
on the ceasefire breach on the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontier.
He said the situation on the contact line between Armenian Tavus
region’s Berkaber village and Azerbaijan’s Gazakh region’s Mazam
village is different from that on the rest of the frontline. However,
Sarkisian said Armenian military units allegedly did not launch any
attacks and breached the ceasefire only in retaliation to Azerbaijani
strikes.
He added that two Armenian military men died as a result of the
skirmish. Two Azerbaijani officers were killed and two civilians (a
child and a woman) injured as a result of ceasefire breaches by
Armenia in June.