ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/25/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://
1) Plot Thickens in Fate of Turkey’s Armenian Genocide Conference
2) Election Tensions in Azerbaijan Trouble Europe
3) ARF Bureau Seminar
4) Abkhazia Unwilling to Trade Freedom for Monetary Assurances
1) Plot Thickens in Fate of Turkey’s Armenian Genocide Conference
ISTANBUL (Marmara/AFP)–Recent reports in the Turkish press point to Turkish
government efforts to influence the recently rescheduled conference on the
Armenian genocide, slated for September 23-25 at Istanbul’s Bogazici
University.
Featuring academics and intellectuals who dispute Ankara’s version of the
1915-1917 genocide of Armenians, the conference was postponed in May after
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek condemned the initiative as “treason” and a “stab
in the back of the Turkish nation.” He also said organizers deserved to be
prosecuted.
The outburst raised eyebrows in European diplomatic circles about Ankara’s
commitment to democratic reforms, a requirement for October 3 negotiations
over
its adhesion to the European Union (EU). But diplomats said the incident could
also prove to be a watershed if the Turkish government acted to correct
Cicek’s
remarks.
Milliyet published an article on August 25 saying Turkish Prime Minister
Recep
Tayyip Erdogan requested that organizers reschedule the conference prior to
October 3, noting negative effects of its prior cancellation on European
public
opinion.
In the meantime, there are conflicting reports on whether Turkish Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul would open the conference, titled “Ottoman Armenians
during the Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and
Democracy.”
Although it was reported yesterday that Gul accepted the invitation from the
rector of Bogazici University, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman
Namik Tan announced later on Wednesday that Gul would be in New York during
the
conference opening, and would participate during its closingif his schedule
allowed.
Asked about recent change in plans, Gul explained that he agreed to
participate in principle, but only if his schedule allowed, and elaborated on
the importance of the academic gathering.
“We consider such meetings an opportunity to explain our opinion both in
Turkey and abroad,” Gul said. “We have no problems about the issue [Armenian
genocide], and it is useless to shun it as if the guilty party.” Pointing to
opinions that oppose his, he suggested that certain circles twist historical
facts to oppose Turkey.
His comments seem to have implied that the nature of the original conference
is now questionable. “I am happy to partake if I see that there is broad
representation,” he said, in an apparent reference to participation of
academics who deny the genocide of Armenians ever took place.
“We must carry out, both internally and externally, a clear campaign to
contradict this. We must be proactive both as a government and a [foreign]
ministry. We will not allow hostile circles to affect new generations with
unfounded allegations.”
2) Election Tensions in Azerbaijan Trouble Europe
Embassies of European Union member states in Baku have called for free and
fair
parliamentary elections in November, and urge political parties in Azerbaijan
to hold peaceful pre-election campaigns for the sake of Azerbaijan’s
democratic
development.
(azernews/noticias)–“Concerned about the deteriorating pre-election
environment in Azerbaijan, the EU mission there has called on all parties to
exert considerable effort in ensuring free and fair elections, according to
British charge d’affaires in Baku Colin Wells.
On behalf of the embassies of EU states in Baku, I call on all parties to
ensure that their campaigns are peaceful. Violence and threats are not in line
with democratic election campaigns. The embassies praise the authorities’
steps
on the implementation of the May 11 presidential decree on improving election
practices and are ready to assist Azerbaijan in making certain the elections
meet international standards,” Wells said in a statement released by the
British embassy there.
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE),
Rene van der Linden also expressed concern after visiting the region August
18-23.
Der Linden stressed in Strasbourg on Thursday that the November elections
would be a test case for the country and an important opportunity for the
international community to see that the government was doing its utmost to
ensure free and fair elections.
Noting the importance of election monitoring, he reminded authorities that in
January 2006 PACE would consider the report of its own 40-strong election
observation mission. Der Linden stressed that authorities must reinforce and
guarantee media independence and pluralism, including the reopening of the
capital’s Public TV station.
He urged all political parties to approach the elections in a positive and
constructive spirit of democracy, and called on the authorities to take all
the
necessary action to ensure that neither the opposition nor the media would
continue to feel at risk as a result of their lawful and democratic
activities.
3) ARF Bureau Seminar
YEREVAN (YERKIR)–A three-day seminar on political developments in Armenia and
the region begins on August 26 in Yerevan, with Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) members from around 20 countries participating in the
discussions organized by the ARF Bureau.
“We will review the positions of various countries and forces that affect the
region, as well as issues tied to Mountainous Karabagh and Javakhk, and
Armenia-Turkey relations.” indicated Giro Manoyan, who heads the Bureau’s Hai
Tahd and Political Affairs office.
The meeting is a part of a series of Bureau-organized seminars to deliberate
on matters with party members representing the ARF’s many regions, Manoyan
said.
4) Abkhazia Unwilling to Trade Freedom for Monetary Assurances
TBILISI (Civil Georgia)–Abkhaz prime minister Aleksander Ankvab told Regnum
news agency that the independence of Abkhazia would not be traded for economic
opportunities and international assistance.
In an interview, Ankvab, who criticized western diplomats, said Abkhazia
instead finds “far better understanding” of its claims in Russia.
“Representatives of Western diplomatic circles–sorry for the rough
language–always rub it in our face [that Abkhazia is not internationally
recognized], but they can not take away our natural right to being independent
and free. We are not asking to enter anything and do not beg. If they want to
speak in a dignified manner, we are ready to respond, but to try–with
economic
promises–to place us somewhere else [i.e. Georgia]–they must consider the
will of the people that will never change,” Ankvab said.
He also stressed that there is no link between Abkhazia’s political aims and
opportunities for foreign loans.
Ankvab has lead the Abkhaz political movement “Aitaira” since 2000, and was a
high-ranking Communist Party official in Soviet Georgia from 1981 to 1983. He
later served as the deputy Interior Minister for political issues of the
Soviet
Georgian from until 1990.
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) 2005 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.