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07/28/2005
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Corrections:
In the article “Commemorating the Spirit of Lisbon Five,” which appeared in
our July 27 issue, in referring to the members of the Lisbon Five, we
inadvertently wrote: “The five members of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation. . . “. That should have read “The five members of the Armenian
Revolutionary Army.”
In the same article, the second to the last paragraph was incomplete, and
should have read: “Praising those Armenian establishments that instilled such
national spirit and faith in our youth in the past, the speaker stressed the
necessity of maintaining that pure outlook, unfettered nationalism, and noble
path.”
1) Looking for Commitment in All the Wrong Places
2) Turkey Can Never Be European, German Politician Says
3) US Intends to Help Azerbaijan in Democratic and Economic Reforms
4) Swiss-Turkey Relations Hit New Low
5) UN Nuclear Agency Chief Discusses Medzamor Safety in Armenia
6) Armenian Chess Player Wins Bronze Medal
1) Looking for Commitment in All the Wrong Places
European Turk parliamentarians set Prime Minister Erdogan straight
ANKARA (Aztagdaily)–During a meeting with Ethnic Turk European
parliamentarians, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked for their
cooperation in working against recognition of the Armenian genocide in their
respective parliaments.
Erdogan targeted parliamentarians from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and Sweden
during a meeting in Ankara, asking them to counter efforts by diaspora
Armenians to pass Genocide-related legislation.
The parliamentarians expressed apprehension, stating that given European
“predisposition” on the issue of the Armenian genocide, Turkish lobbying
efforts would not be
successful.
2) Turkey Can Never Be European, German Politician Says
(Reuters)–Turkey should never join the European Union because it lies mostly
outside Europe geographically, and accession talks should not begin on October
3 unless Ankara first recognizes the sovereignty of Cyprus, according to the
vice president of Germany’s CDU/CSU party, Wolfang Schauble.
Schauble made these remarks in the Polish daily, Rzeczpospolita, on July 25
following Germany’s decision last week to push for elections on September 18,
which are widely expected to sweep the center-right CDU/CSU group into power.
“The EU should not extend beyond the boundary that we call the European
continent. Otherwise people will stop identifying with it. And if so, Turkey,
the vast part of which lies outside Europe, cannot belong to the union,” he
proclaimed.
Schauble explained that the October 3 membership talks could proceed with
Ankara as planned “if by this time Turkey formally recognizes the sovereignty
of our European partner Cyprus.”
However, he added that Ankara should be made aware the negotiations are
open-ended and could possibly lead to a privileged partnership status rather
than full membership.
The vice president in charge of foreign affairs and justice brushed aside
worries that blocking Turkish entry might send a hostile message to the
Islamic
world and aggravate Washington, which has pressed for Turkish accession in
recent years.
Schauble indicated that Ankara’s NATO membership and the fact that 20 million
Muslims reside in the EU “is proof that we, Christians and Muslims, can live
together sharing the same fundamental values.”
The vice president also added that “the US will agree that it is us, the
Europeans, who know best which institutional form to give to our relations
with
Turkey.”
3) US Intends to Help Azerbaijan in Democratic and Economic Reforms
BAKU (Armenpress)–The United States is deeply committed to helping Azerbaijan
succeed in democratic and economic reforms, said Under Secretary for Global
Affairs of the United States Dr. Paula Dobriansky at a July 27 press
conference
in Baku.
Dobriansky spoke highly of the value of bilateral relations between the
United
States and Azerbaijan, specifically noting Azerbaijan’s contribution to
coalition efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the two countries’
efforts to make the East-West Energy Corridor a reality.
Commenting on Azerbaijan’s many challenges in advancing democracy, Dobriansky
said, “It is the sincere desire of the United States government that this
decree be implemented fully at all levels of government in all regions of
Azerbaijan,” adding that the US funded exit-poll, conducted by independent,
objective organizations, will help deter electoral fraud.
Meanwhile, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammedyarov will discuss the
regulation of the Karabagh conflict during his upcoming visit to
Washington, DC
from August 1-5.
Mammedyarov, who is traveling to Washington at the invitation of Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice, will attend meetings at the White House, Pentagon, and
several think-tanks.
4) Swiss-Turkey Relations Hit New Low
BERN (Armenpress)–Swiss parliamentarian Erwin Jutzet was quoted on July 27 by
SwissInfo as saying that Turkey should recognize the Armenian genocide and
stop
blackmailing Switzerland. Meanwhile, the Swiss ambassador in Ankara has had to
defend himself against a barrage of criticism concerning the Swiss
investigation of a Turkish politician.
“Turkey has to stop reacting so sensitively to such events,” Jutzet, the
president of the House of Representatives’ foreign-policy commission, told the
Tages-Anzeiger newspaper on Wednesday.
“It would do better to recognize once and for all the genocide of the
Armenians.”
On July 26, Turkey presented a protest note concerning the investigation of a
Turkish politician on suspicion of violating Swiss anti-racism laws, to the
Swiss ambassador in Ankara and the Swiss foreign ministry in Bern.
Dogu Perincek, leader of Turkey’s Workers’ Party and the subject of two
criminal investigations, has twice denied that the killings of Armenians
around
the time of World War I amounted to genocide.
Jutzet stated that it was up to Turkey to make a move “instead of always
taking offense and resorting to blackmail.” He added that the constant denial
of genocide could have ramifications for Turkey’s much sought-after entry into
the European Union, and “if Switzerland were to turn its back on Turkey, it
would be a bad sign for EU entry.”
5) UN Nuclear Agency Chief Discusses Medzamor Safety in Armenia
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Mohamed El Baradei, the director general of the
International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), praised Armenian authorities for their “good”
cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog group as he ended a
two-day visit to Yerevan on Thursday.
El Baradei said the ongoing efforts to further improve the safety
standards at
the Medzamor nuclear power station were an “important focus” of his talks with
President Robert Kocharian and other Armenian officials. He also said the
Armenian leadership plans to keep the Soviet-built facility operational for
another decade despite lingering Western concerns about its security.
“We identified issues that need to be worked on, particularly in the area of
nuclear safety,” El Baradei said. “I reviewed with [Armenian officials] the
progress we are making in improving safety at Medzamor and the steps that need
to be taken to improve it further.”
“I think the cooperation [between Armenia and IAEA] has been good,” he added.
“I think there has been a commitment to continue to strengthen safety at
Medzamor. We will continue to work with Armenian authorities to improve safety
there.”
Kocharian was likewise quoted by his press office as telling El Baradei that
he is “satisfied” with his government’s cooperation with the Vienna-based
agency. Yerevan continues to pay “special attention” to enhancing the
operational safety of Medzamor’s sole reactor, he said.
IAEA has regularly inspected the reactor, which meets nearly 40 percent of
Armenia’s electricity needs, ever since its re-activation in 1995 and has so
far not reported serious violations of safety standards there. The head of its
European department noted “a great deal of understanding” with the Armenian
authorities during a visit to Yerevan in October 2002.
However, the European Union and the United States continue to press for
Medzamor’s closure, saying that its light-water reactor is one the most
dangerous facilities of its kind in the world. EU and US financial assistance
has been key to the nuclear safety measures taken there over the past decade.
El Baradei said he did not discuss with Kocharian possible dates for the
plant’s decommissioning. “I think the Armenian authorities would like to
continue to operate the reactor for around ten years,” he said. “It is for
Armenia to decide when to shut down the reactor. Of course, there is concern
about its safety and that is why we are working with them to make sure that
safety is improved to an acceptable international level.”
Deputy Energy Minister Areg Galstian announced late last month that
Yerevan is
already making preparations for the start of what promises to be a very costly
decommissioning process. He said it will be complete by 2016.
El Baradei’s itinerary in Armenia also included visits to Medzamor and an
oncology clinic in Yerevan that has just been supplied by IAEA with modern
radio-therapy equipment. The 62-year-old Egyptian, who looks set to run IAEA
for a third term despite US opposition, said he also discussed his agency’s
“active program to protect against illicit trafficking of nuclear material”
through Armenia. It was not clear if IAEA views the country as a potential
transit route for illegal supplies to neighboring Iran whose controversial
nuclear program is facing close international scrutiny.
6) Armenian Chess Player Wins Bronze Medal
YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Winning the bronze medal in the World Chess Championship
on July 28 in the French city of Belford, Samvel Ter-Sahakian, age 12,
defeated
his competitor by gaining 8.5 points in the last round. Last year,
Ter-Sahakian
earned second place in the same category.
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