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06/08/2005
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1) House Members Urge Pres. Bush to Raise Serious Issues with Turkey’s Prime
Minister
2) Rep. Rothman Takes Lead in Calling Attention to Turkey’s Anti-Americanism
and Anti-Semitism
3) Bush Upholds Turkey’s `Democracy’ as Example
4) Oskanian Vienna Meeting Concludes, in Washington to Meet US Officials
5) South American Countries Expand Armenian Genocide Recognition Efforts
6) Prime Minister Opens Armenian Pavilion at World Expo in Japan
7) His Holiness Karekin II Opens Arakel and Shake Aghasarkissian Diocesan
Library
1) House Members Urge Pres. Bush to Raise Serious Issues with Turkey’s Prime
Minister
Blockade of Armenia, anti-American sentiment and anti-Semitism among key
issues
discussed in Congressional letters to Pres. Bush
WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)–In the days leading up to Wednesday’s meeting between
Pres. Bush and Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, members of the US
House of Representatives raised serious concerns about Turkey’s 12-year
blockade of Armenia, growing anti-Americanism, and anti- Semitism.
In a June 3 letter, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) were joined by Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
George Radanovich (R-CA) in urging Pres. Bush and Secretary of State Rice to
“again call upon Turkey to comply with your Administration’s long-standing
position that in order to restore economic, political, and cultural links with
Armenia, Turkey should immediately lift its ongoing blockade with Armenia.”
The House members detailed the high cost of Turkey’s blockade on Armenia’s
struggling economy. “A recent State Department report estimated that the
blockade is inflating Armenia’s transportation costs by 30-35%, thereby
stifling its trade and economy,” noted the letter. “This report also stated
that opening the border would catalyze commercial opportunities for Turkey and
Armenia in the fields of energy, trade and tourism, valued at $1 billion per
year.”
The letter concludes that “if there is to be a resolution of conflicts in the
region and a reduction of tensions along borders, it is essential that Turkey
move forthwith to lift this destructive blockade.”
2) Rep. Rothman Takes Lead in Calling Attention to Turkey’s Anti-Americanism
and Anti-Semitism
On the eve of Pres. Bush’s meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan, Rep. Rothman
was joined by 10 House Colleagues in sending a meticulously documented letter
to the President, detailing rampant anti-American and anti-Semitic
sentiment in
the Turkish press.
The June 7 letter noted the rise of anti-Semitism, citing as one example,
that
“some of Turkey’s best selling books this past year include Adolf Hitler’s
Mein
Kampf, which has been published at least 45 times between 1940 and 2005 in
Turkey and is not being marketed by 11 publishers.” It goes on to detail the
complex ways anti-Semitism manifests itself, including “animosity toward Jews
and Judaism;” and, “a hostile approach towards the Jewish citizens of Turkey,
including questioning their loyalty, accusing them of treason and blaming them
for the fall of the Ottoman Empire…”
In detailing anti-Americanism in Turkey, House members cited “last year’s BBC
poll, which found Turkey to hold the most anti-American sentiment in the
world.” The letter also notes “Turkish government officials comparing the US
to Nazi Germany and President Bush to Adolph Hitler.”
Joining Rep. Rothman in cosigning the letter were Representatives Shelley
Berkley (D-NV), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), James McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty
(D-NY), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mark Souder (R-IN), Edolphus
Towns (D-NY), Diane Watson (D-CA), and Anthony Weiner (D-NY).
3) Bush Upholds Turkey’s `Democracy’ as Example
WASHINGTON (AP)–President Bush held up Turkey’s democracy as an important
example for other Mideast nations Wednesday during an Oval Office meeting with
the country’s prime minister in which both leaders declared a strong
relationship after differences over Iraq.
“We’re happy that we were able to confirm that our strategic relationship
will
move and take place in the future as it has been done in the past,” said
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Bush thanked Erdogan for Turkey’s support in building democracy in
Afghanistan
and working with the Palestinians to build an independent state.
“Turkey and the United States have an important strategic relationship,” Bush
said. “I told the prime minister how grateful I was that he is a strong
supporter of the Broader Middle Eastern Initiative.”
Erdogan said they also discussed plans to reunify Cyprus, a tiny island in
the
Mediterranean Sea that has been divided since 1974 between a Greek
Cypriot-controlled south and the Turkish-occupied north. Turkey alone
recognizes the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north, and keeps 40,000
troops there.
The issue has become vital for Turkey as it pushes to join the European
Union,
which already includes the divided island. The United States supports Turkey’s
bid for membership in the EU.
Erdogan said he and Bush also discussed Iraq, but neither leader provided any
details about what was said. They did not take questions from reporters but
only gave brief statements at the end of their meeting.
Turkey’s relations with the United States showed some strain after Ankara
refused to allow US troops in the country for the Iraq war. Erdogan’s trip to
Washington has been seen as a fence-mending visit and both leaders said he
also
encouraged US investment in Turkey.
Bush said the visit was extensive and that they focused on “foreign policy and
shared interests between our countries.”
“Turkey’s democracy is an important example for the people in the broader
Middle East, and I want to thank you for your leadership,” Bush said to
Erdogan
in front of the cameras.
4) Oskanian Vienna Meeting Concludes, in Washington to Meet US Officials
VIENNA (Combined Sources)–After meeting with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen in
Vienna, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said that a set of
issues on
the regulating the Mountainous Karabagh conflict were discussed.
According to the Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry press services, Oskanian
and the co-chairs the Steven Mann (US), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard
Fassier (France) also specified details about the June 17 meeting between
Oskanian and his Azeri counterpart, due to take place in Paris on June 17.
Okanian then departed for Washington, DC where he is expected to hold a news
conference on June 10 at the National Press Club to discuss, developments in
the South Caucasus, the Mountainous Karabagh Peace Process, and
Armenian-Turkish Relations.
The Minister is also scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice, National Security advisor Stephen Hadley, other Bush Administration
officials, and members of Congress to discuss these and other issues,
including
Armenian forces in Iraq as part of the multinational coalition.
5) South American Countries Expand Armenian Genocide Recognition Efforts
MONTEVIDEO (Combined Sources)–Parliament members of Uruguay have initiated a
signature collection campaign under a petition appealing to the European Union
to urge Turkey to acknowledge its 1915 genocide of Armenians. Similar
campaigns
have also been launched in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
The action was initiated by deputy of the Uruguayan parliament Lilian
Kechichian. All Armenian organizations functioning in Latin America have
signed-on in support of the initiative.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has already responded with a note of protest,
which says, in part, “The Paraguayan authorities support groundless statements
of Armenians.”
Uruguay was the first nation to officially recognize the Armenian genocide in
1965, while Argentina recognized it in 1985.
On April 24 of this year, Uruguayan President Tabare Vasquez addressed the
Armenian community in Montevideo, in unveiling a monument honoring the
Armenian
genocide victims.
6) Prime Minister Opens Armenian Pavilion at World Expo in Japan
AICHI (Combined Sources)–Armenia marked its national day at the 2005 World
Exposition in Aichi State, Japan on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian opening Armenia’s pavilion dedicated to the National Day of Armenia.
Welcomed by a wave of Armenian flags and the playing of the national anthem,
Margarian told guests and participants that similar events help to promote
integration among nations by establishing not only economic and commercial
relations between peoples and states, but promoting cultural and humanitarian
ties.
“In the age of scientific and technological progress, economic development is
necessary to create opportunities to unite nations and target opportunities
for
cooperation,” Margarian said.
He stressed that International integration and unification can only be
possible via the development of each sovereign state and knowledge of the
history and culture of each people.
“I assure that we brought the best from the heart and the soul of sunny
Armenia, and it has been peculiar to the Armenian people throughout the ages,
and remains today and in the future,” he stressed.
Armenia’s pavilion, “Art of Life,” presented the culture, history, economic
and intellectual potential of Armenia, as well as the co-existence of
existence
man and nature, and the country’s process of international integration.
After attending a reception in their honor in Nagoya city, the Armenian
delegation departed to Tokyo for bilateral meetings with Japanese officials.
The Expo, in which 200 nations are partaking, began on Monday with Japan Day
with Crown Prince Naruhito and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on hand for
the
opening ceremony.
“As the host country of the exposition, we have a unique opportunity to let
the people of the world know what efforts we’re making to leave a better Earth
for future generations,” the crown prince told the 2,000 guests.
“On Japan Day, I hope we can increase people’s awareness of Earth and
environmental problems, and deepen understanding among the people of the world
about Japan’s endeavors in this regard,” he said.
Koizumi said he believed that economic development could go hand in hand with
environmental protection and that science and technology were key to achieving
this.
“I hope the people of the world will work together and think about a future
where people and nature can exist in harmony,” he said.
7) His Holiness Karekin II Opens Arakel and Shake Aghasarkissian Diocesan
Library
BURBANK–Singing the hymn “Hrashapar,” His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of
All Armenians, began the opening ceremony for the Arakel and Shake
Aghasarkissian Diocesan Library. Following the reading of the Gospel, His
Eminence Archbishop Derderian thanked benefactors Mr. and Mr. Harout
Aghasarkissian and Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis Aghasarkissian for their generous
support.
His Holiness congratulated the Diocese on the occasion, and conveyed to the
faithful in attendance his blessings form the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
He concluded with the Benediction.
Attending the ceremony were Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Gagik
Kirakosian, and Aghasarkissian family friend, former Atlanta Mayor Bill
Campbell.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress