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05/12/2005
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1) ARF Lebanon Issues Statement on Elections, Electoral Law
2) Barnier Again Addresses EU Aspirant Turkey’s Past
3) Azeri Agent Confirms Baku’s Terrorist Acts against Armenia
4) Ocalan Verdict Puts Turkey under Pressure
5) ARS Festival’s Youth Forum to Encourage Leadership and Initiative

1) ARF Lebanon Issues Statement on Elections

BEIRUT–Discontent with Lebanon’s electoral law adopted in 2000, the Central
Committee of ARF Lebanon issued a press release on Wednesday, pointing to the
law’s weaknesses, specifically in providing equal representation among
Lebanon’s diverse communities.
Citing basic democratic principals–the participation of people in elections
and their right to representation–they stressed that the upholding of these
principles are especially important in countries that are based on a
confessional system.
In light of the inequality and injustice of 2000 elections, the ARF states
the
party has attempted to right the injustices of that election–by way of
political action, dialogue, and negotiations with those who have the power to
correct the previous wrong.
The ARF expresses hope that Beirut’s Armenian community is properly
represented in the upcoming parliament, and that efforts are undertaken to
draft a just electoral law–which takes into account the dream of the Lebanese
people to have a democratic government, based on the fundamentals of justice,
equality, solidarity, and respect.
Subsequently, the party announced its nomination of Stepan Der Bedrossian
(2nd
district), and former minister Jacques Chookhadarian (3rd district) for
Armenian slots in Beirut’s district elections.
The political system in Lebanon was established on the basis of
“confessionalism,” designed to achieve a balance between the various sectarian
communities in the country–so as to “ensure equitable confessional
representation.” The confessional formula allocated political positions to the
various communities in accordance with an arbitrary population ratio (6 to 5)
based on the 1932 census taken under the French mandate.

2) Barnier Again Addresses EU Aspirant Turkey’s Past

(Combined Sources)–French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier again stressed that
Turkey must recognize the Armenian genocide before it joins the European Union
(EU).
Reminding that Turkey has 15-20 years of negotiations before membership to
the
EU, Barnier said that if Turkey, at the conclusion of those mandatory talks,
still denies the Armenian genocide, then it can not become an EU member.
“We must consider that even after that [negotiations], France’s constitution
requires that Turkey’s entry into the EU must be approved via a national
referendum,” Barnier said. “Turkey must be aware of the fact that it’s not
Europe joining Turkey; rather Turkey aspiring to join the EU.
Barnier has consistently said that Turkey must come to terms with its past,
and the genocide of Armenians by the government of the Ottoman Empire at the
turn of the 20th century.

3) Azeri Agent Confirms Baku’s Terrorist Acts against Armenia

(AZG)–A former employee of Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry (1976-1995),
Aleqper
Heydar oglu Ismailov, confirmed in a letter to an Azeri Russia-language
website– Baku’s authorities organized and partly
carried
out terrorist acts against Armenians during the Karabagh war and the years
that
followed.
Ismailov, who has been working at the Intelligence Service of Azerbaijan’s
Foreign Ministry since 1997, particularly claims in his letter that terrorist
acts were organized and carried out not only in Armenia but Georgia, Russia
and
Iran as well.
On May 20 of 2004, Ismailov was called to the Ministry of National Security
were he was arrested. He was sentenced to several months of imprisonment for
national treason in favor of Russia. Ismailov specifies in his letter what
made
him speak to the public: “I’ve already suffered 2 strokes, little time is left
for me and I think it is vital that my children learn who their father is and
how to love their fatherland. That is the reason why I want you to publish
this
document.”
Ismailov confessed in the letter that while the head of the Department of
Struggle Against Interethnic Conflicts in 1991-1995, he organized and carried
out acts of sabotage: the explosions of bridges in Stepanakert and Imir (an
Azeri village in Georgia), as well as the explosion of Georgia-Armenia gas
pipeline.
He confessed that he managed to place 30 kg of trotyl in Erebuni Hotel in
Yerevan in 1993. He noted that he blew up two Armenian offices in Kuban and
Stavropol acting on behalf of Kazaks; later on, he exploded the publishing
house of anti-Armenian Kuban Harold newspaper on behalf of Armenian ASALA.
The most fascinating claim Ismailov makes is that they organized the
explosion
of the complex of government buildings downtown Yerevan for which they made
provision of 3 tons of trotyl. But the October events in 1994 (the next
attempt
of political upheaval) distracted Baku’s attention from their barbaric plan in
Yerevan. Ismailov insists that the explosion of an Armenian church in
Tebriz in
March of 1995 was being prepared but it also failed due to political
tension in
Azerbaijan.
Ismailov also said that he used more than 80 official sources for terrorist
acts against Armenia, including information from the head of Mkhedrioni
military-political group and the head of the Georgian Department of
Intelligence, major general Avtandil Ioseliani.
“General Ioseliani provided me with information that he got from Armenia
and I
offered him information from Chechen reconnaissance about developments in
Abkhazia,” he said.

4) Ocalan Verdict Puts Turkey under Pressure

ANKARA (Reuters)–Europe’s top human rights court declared the 1999 trial of
Kurdish rebel Abdullah Ocalan unfair on Thursday, pressuring Turkey to defy
nationalist anger and order a retrial in support of its EU ambitions.
Ankara signaled Ocalan could indeed be tried anew. But it moved quickly to
assure Turks who revile him as a terrorist bent on dismembering their nation
that he would not walk free.
“Whether this dossier is reopened or not, the matter (of Ocalan’s guilt) is a
closed one for the nation’s conscience,” Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said
during a trip to Hungary.
The verdict from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) raised fears of
revived political tensions in Turkey at a delicate time as it tries to meet
European Union standards on human rights before the start of EU entry talks in
October.
Ocalan, sole inmate for the past six years of an island prison in the Sea of
Marmara, evokes strong emotions among Turks who blame him for the deaths of
more than 30,000 people during a separatist rebellion in the 1980s and 1990s.
The powerful military, facing a recent increase in clashes with Ocalan
followers, called the ECHR ruling “political, not legal”–echoing a widespread
nationalist sentiment here that Europe is deliberately engineering problems
for
Turkey.
As word of the Strasbourg court verdict came, television aired dramatic 1999
footage of Ocalan blindfolded on a plane after his capture in Kenya by Turkish
commandoes–a scene which triggered euphoria and pride in Turkey at the time.
Hoping to avert nationalist anger over the new legal twist, Justice Minister
Cemil Cicek said: “We must be as cold-blooded as possible…This is not the
end
of the world…Our people must not be concerned (about the possible outcome of
a retrial), they must trust the state and the judiciary.”

LONG PROCESS

The ECHR verdict must still be approved by the Council of Europe, the
continent’s top human rights watchdog.
“This is a long process and we still have a great deal of time,” Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul said during a trip to Kiev.
A panel of ECHR judges, reaching their verdict by 11 to 6, said in a
statement
that Ocalan had not had proper access to legal counsel or the facilities
needed
for his defense.
“The applicant was not tried by an independent and impartial tribunal,” they
said.
Ocalan was tried by a State Security Court–a body set up to deal with crimes
against the state which has now been disbanded in line with EU-inspired
reforms.
Dozens of Kurds cheered and chanted outside the ECHR under a banner declaring
“Free Ocalan–Peace in Kurdistan”.
In Turkey too, Kurdish reaction was favorable.
“I hope (this decision) will contribute to Turkey’s democratization,” said
Osman Baydemir, mayor of Diyarbakir, the biggest city in Turkey’s mainly
Kurdish southeast region.
The European Commission, which will lead Turkey’s EU entry talks, welcomed
the
government’s calm response to the verdict.
“The European Commission expects that Turkey will respect this decision of
the
Court of Human Rights. Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe so it is
due
to implement all the decisions of the court,” said spokesman Amadeu Altafaj
Tardi.
Asked whether it could have any influence on the start of the accession
talks,
he said the Commission would wait to see how the decision was implemented in
practice.

MILITARY IRKED

Financial markets also shrugged off the verdict, suggesting that the
government’s reaction had struck the right balance in placating nationalists
and Brussels officials. The centre-right government must show continued skill
to stop the issue hampering EU entry talks and the foreign investment that
could follow.
Turkey’s powerful military denounced the court verdict.
“Nobody can expect an institution which gave thousands of martyrs (in the
fight against separatism) to stay impartial (over this ruling),” said General
Ilker Basbug, deputy head of the General Staff.
Liberal political analyst Dogu Ergil of Ankara University said he expected
both Kurdish radicals and Turkish nationalists to try to exploit the ECHR
verdict for their own ends.
“The feeling in Turkey of being under siege by hostile international forces
will increase a little bit more,” he said.
Ocalan was found guilty in June 1999 of “treason through separatism”. An
original death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after Turkey
scrapped
the death penalty in 2002, in line with EU requirements.

5) ARS Festival’s Youth Forum to Encourage Leadership and Initiative

GLENDALE–The Armenian Relief Society of Western US (ARS-WR) will be hosting a
Youth Forum during its annual Armenian Festival, being held at the Glendale
Civic Auditorium on May 14-15. The forum, “You Can Make a Difference,” is
scheduled from 5 pm-7:30 pm, on Saturday, May 14, at the lower level
conference
room at the Glendale Civic Auditorium.
The forum strives to appeal to today’s young generation to use their
creativity and energy to foster effective change in their own communitiesas
leaders, advisors, and program coordinators. Holding true to its theme,
various
youth leaders will present their own experiences and show that every
individual
can make a difference. Another topic of discussion will be the ability to
foster change while working within existing decision making structures.
“One of the special goals of the ARS has always been to engage the young
people to bring out the best in themselves,” said Angela Savoian, Chair of the
ARS-WR Regional Executive. She added, “Throughout our 95 year history, the ARS
has helped the youth with scholarships and internships, helping them reach
their potential through educational and work experiences. This is a new
program
and we hope to expand it year after year.”
The festival entrance fee ($4) will be waived to forum participants, who need
to RSVP by sending an e-mail to office@ARSwestUSA.org or calling the ARS-WR at
(818) 500-1343.
In April, ARS-WR took on the remarkable responsibility of being a major
sponsor of the “March for Humanity,” a youth-organized 215-mile 19-day march
>From Fresno to Sacramento. Continuing an annual tradition, the Regional
Executive will be holding an Award Night on June 6, where Southern California
chapters provide awards to bright high school graduates.
The Glendale Civic Auditorium is located at 1401 North Verdugo Road in
Glendale (the cross street is East Mountain Street). For more information
about
the festival, click on the rolling photos on the ARS-WR home page at

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