Author: Basmajian Ani

Les Echos , France
7 octobre 2004

Jeux de rôle euro-turcs

PAR FRANÇOISE CROUÏGNEAU

L’Union européenne et la Turquie s’adonnent décidément à un curieux
jeu de rôle. En multipliant les garde-fous tout au long des
négociations d’adhésion, au cas où les Vingt-Cinq entérineraient, en
décembre, son prudent feu vert, le rapport de la Commission tient du
« sans doute si ». Auquel Recep Tayyip Erdogan répond « bien sûr mais
»… : en exigeant de ne pas se voir infliger un traitement différent
de celui des précédents candidats à l’Union, le chef du gouvernement
pousse son avantage, ce qui est bien naturel. Il cherche aussi à
calmer l’inquiétude des eurosceptiques turcs, qui reculent à l’idée
de devoir un jour abandonner des pans de souveraineté. Ce n’est pas
un hasard si, dans son pays, le Premier ministre parle plus
volontiers des « critères d’Ankara » que des « critères de Copenhague
». Après des décennies d’atermoiements, tout se passe en fait comme
si chacun jouait la dynamique de l’adhésion sans forcément vouloir en
assumer l’aboutissement.

C’est vrai de la Turquie. L’AKP au pouvoir a réussi un tour de force
en jouant d’un double aiguillon. Celui du FMI, qui lui a permis de
faire souffler un vent de libéralisme et d’imposer une politique
désinflationniste porteuse de crédibilité et de modernisation. Et
celui de l’Europe, pour faire passer le pays du droit de l’Etat à un
Etat de droit. Cette révolution silencieuse est loin d’être terminée.
Le lourd chapitre des droits de l’homme et des femmes, des minorités
kurdes ou du génocide arménien est là pour le rappeler. Et on peut
s’interroger sur la volonté d’un grand pays encore pauvre mais fier
de son passé, au point de refuser d’être un simple jouet dans les
mains de la superpuissance américaine, de se fondre dans l’aventure
européenne.

C’est vrai surtout de l’Union, qui semble courir vers un avenir
qu’elle n’a pas encore défini. A vingt-cinq encore moins qu’à quinze.
La polémique qui enfle autour du dossier turc est révélatrice de ses
faiblesses. Au-delà des arrière-pensées multiples que cachent les
débats sur l’entrée d’un pays jugé selon les cas trop vaste, trop
pauvre, trop excentré, trop musulman, au-delà des interrogations sur
son poids dans les prises de décision d’une Europe où il se
retrouverait à égalité avec l’Allemagne, le dossier turc constitue un
test de maturité de l’Union. Après l’avoir trop longtemps esquivé, le
temps est venu de décider de ses limites géographiques pour en finir
avec ce vieux syndrome selon lequel nul pays ne veut prendre le
risque d’être l’ultime frontière. Et de faire preuve non plus de
suivisme mais d’innovation. Pour éviter, en cas de blocage en
décembre prochain ou au fil des années à venir, d’avoir à improviser,
une fois de plus. Dans la précipitation.

Turkish Press
Oct 6 2004

Reactions Of Business Circles To E.U. Report

ISTANBUL/ANKARA – Turkish business circles assessed the Progress
Report of the European Commission about Turkey which was published
today.

Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD)
released a statement and said, ”a historical progress was recorded
in relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) with the
report.”

”Turkey, which advances on negotiation process with the EU, will
have important political, economic and social contributions to the
future of Europe,” said the statement.

TUSIAD said, ”the decision is a test for the EU in the aspects of
political maturity and democratic ethic.”

Meanwhile, the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s
Association (MUSIAD) Chairman Omer Bolat said regarding the report
that according to the expressions in the report, full membership
seemed to take a long way for Turkey.

”Turkey enters a new process but full membership is not close,”
added Bolat.

Bolat said, ”the EU pursued its unwillingness and double standards
about Turkey.” He added, ”foreign policy of Turkish government
should not be indexed only to the EU.”

Meanwhile, Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygun said
regarding the report that details in the report were not known.

”They say ‘we make you EU member but we will not permit you to move
within the EU’. It is like an invitation of someone to a meal but not
allowing him to eat. I think this attitude is wrong. They present
special status as if it were a normal condition. Which of the EU
members do not have free movement permit?” said Aygun.

Aygun said, ”they say there are many missions to accomplish. What
will happen about Cyprus, Aegean, southeast, minority and human
rights issues? Will they ask us to accept so-called Armenian
genocide? Will they ask us to open a seminary? We cannot see them
clearly.”

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
October 5, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA URGES LEGISLATORS TO ADOPT KEY PRO-ARMENIA
TRADE MEASURE BEFORE CONGRESS ENDS SESSION

— Urges Adoption of Provision as Part of Larger Trade Measure

WASHINGTON, DC – With the 108th session of Congress coming to an
end, the Armenian National Committee of America is urging
legislators to include a pro-Armenia trade measure, spearheaded by
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), in the final version of a
larger trade bill set to be approved before the end of this week.

The U.S. House, last November, approved Permanent Normal Trade
Relations Status (PNTR) for Armenia, opening the door to expanded
U.S.-Armenia commercial relations. The Senate version of this
legislation, known as the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical
Corrections Act of 2004 (H.R.1047), did not include the PNTR for
Armenia provision. As a result, the Congressional leadership has
assigned a “conference committee” to reconcile the two different
versions of this legislation. The conferees include Ways and Means
Committee Chairman, Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA); Trade Subcommittee
Chairman, Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL); Rep. E. Clay Shaw (R-FL); Ways
and Means Ranking Democrat, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY); Trade
Subcommittee Ranking Democrat, Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI); Senate
Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN); Finance Committee Chairman, Sen.
Charles Grassley (R-IA), and; Finance Committee Ranking Democrat,
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT).

The ANCA has asked Armenian Americans to call on their Senators and
Representative to urge the conferees to include PNTR for Armenia in
the final version of the bill approved by Congress. The ANCA
action alert can be found at:

The sample letter for activists includes several reasons to support
this legislation, among them:

* Increased U.S.-Armenia trade and investment advances U.S.
foreign policy by strengthening Armenia’s free market economic
development and integration into the world economy.

* Expanded U.S.-Armenia commercial relations will strengthen
bilateral relations and reinforces the enduring friendship between
the American and Armenian peoples.

* Adoption of PNTR for Armenia will help offset – at no cost to
U.S. taxpayers – the devastating impact of the dual Turkish and
Azerbaijani blockades, estimated by the World Bank as costing
Armenia up to a third of its entire GDP (as much as $720 million
annually) and half of its exports.

The Trade Act of 1974 excluded all Soviet countries from having
normal trade relations (NTR) status with the United States. One
particular provision of the Act, known as the Jackson-Vanik
amendment, required the President to deny NTR to those countries
that restricted free emigration. The policy was adopted, in part,
in response to Communist government restrictions on the emigration
of Jews. According to the terms of the Jackson-Vanik amendment,
when the President determines that freedom of emigration rights
have been reinstated in a country, normal trade relations may be
granted. To maintain NTR, the President must report to Congress
twice a year that Jackson-Vanik requirements have been met. While
successive Presidents have waived the Jackson-Vanik Amendment
restrictions on Armenia during the past decade, the passage of the
Knollenberg bill, would grant Armenia permanent normal trade
relations status, without the need for semi-yearly Presidential
determinations.

ARMENIA AMID RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN TENSION

Mironov: Show Comprehension

Azg/am
2 Oct 04

It has been two weeks that the Russian-Georgian border remains
closed. Around thousand trucks heading for Armenia had to stop at the
Verin Lars passport control point. Moscow decided to close the border
after Beslan tragedy. Russian authorities point that Georgia and
Azerbaijan had their “input” in the tragedy and that hirelings and
terrorists from pass to Chechnya via their territory.

There are two Georgian checkpoints that unite Armenia with Russia,
Verin Lars and the tunnel of Roki. Diplomatic sources informed Azg
Daily that the tunnel is partly functioning. We were told that
Armenians manage to pass to South Ossetia (through Roki tunnel) by
bribing Russian frontier guards. But therethey have problems with
passing Georgian-Ossetian border. Georgia, in its turn, gives no
permission to cross the border, and the drivers have to stay in South
Ossetia for days.

Due to talks with Tbilisi’s authorities 3 buses with Armenian
passengers were permitted to cross the border. The trucks transferring
special oil for the Yerevan nuclear power plant are also in South
Ossetia. Negotiations to get permission for the trucks are in process.

Sergey Mironov, chairman of the Council of Federation, who is paying
an official visit to Yerevan these days, said that he hopes that “the
Armenian authorities will show comprehension” in the issue of
Russian-Georgian border closure at the Verin Lars checkpoint. Mironov
defined this step as a “forced measure”. “Terrorists penetrate Russia
via Georgia where they feel rather comfortable. This step (border
closure) is not directed against Armenia’s good transportation, we now
the problems Armenia faces”, Mironov said.

Knowing about Armenia’s problems is valueless because, as Mironov put,
Armenia is blockaded by its military ally, though indirectly. Armenia
and Russia are surely friendly states but when should we use this
friendship if not today?

It is not clear yet as to when the Russian-Georgian border will
open. The customary service of Georgia stated yesterday that the
country lost $2.5 million because of the closed border. Considering
Armenian-Russian good circulation, we may say that Armenia lost even
more.

By Tatoul Hakobian

Georgia’s revenues hit by Russian border closure – official

Prime-News news agency
30 Sep 04

Tbilisi, 30 September: As a result of Russia’s unilateral decision to
close the Lars checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border, Georgia’s
state budget has suffered losses of around 4m lari [about 2.2m
dollars], deputy chair of the Georgian parliament’s foreign relations
committee, Salome Samadashvili, said at a meeting of the committee
today. Samadashvili noted that Armenian citizens were also suffering
losses because of the closed checkpoint.

First Deputy Foreign Minister Nika Tabatadze informed the meeting
that the Foreign Ministry and State Border Guard Department, in
coordination with the National Security Council, were working with
the Russian side to resolve the issue.

Tabatadze said that since the closure of the Lars checkpoint passengers
and freights from Russia had switched to the [South Ossetian capital]
Tskhinvali route, through the Roki tunnel. However, this creates legal
problems because there is no Georgian checkpoint on this section of
the border, Tabatadze said. He also noted that Armenian citizens were
unable to travel to their country through Georgian territory.

At the moment, National Security Council Secretary Gela Bezhuashvili is
trying to reach an agreement on these issues with his Russian colleague
Igor Ivanov, Tabatadze said. He noted that the Armenian ambassador to
Georgia, Georgiy Khosroyev, visited the Foreign Ministry to discuss
the problem. Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania has taken the situation
under his personal control, Tabatadze added.

Russian President [Vladimir] Putin ordered the Lars checkpoint to be
closed after the terrorist attack in Beslan.

JIRAYR SEFILYAN PREFERRING STRATEGIC RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

A1 Plus | 15:21:03 | 29-09-2004 | Politics |

“Presence of West in Armenia must be prevented in all way possible as
long as America and NATO are the allies of Turkey”, Jirayr Sefilyan
answered our question regarding the relations of NATO-Armenia and
Russia-Armenia.

He said that Armenia’s relations with Russia are more preferable than
with America since it is the ally of Turkey.

“The task of America is to now convince Armenian society not to be
afraid of the Turks. As soon as majority of Armenian people treats
the Turks as brothers, Russian troops will withdraw from Armenia. But
Turks remain Turks. The brutal murder of Gurgen Margaryan proves it”,
Sefilyan said.

Mr. Sefilyan is against sending an Armenian military group to Iraq
because it means to spoil the relations with the Arabian world. It
is intolerable since there are great Armenian communes in the states
of Middle East.

Sefilyan announced entrance of the Armenian group to Iraq must be
hindered even if Parliament ratifies the agreement.

Armenia pleased with OSCE mediators’ work, minister says

Arminfo
22 Sep 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian side is pleased with the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group
in the resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan said at a news conference in Yerevan today.

He said the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen are only mediators in
resolving the conflict and that a lot depends on the parties to the
conflict.

“In general, however, Armenia is giving a high assessment of their
activity,” Oskanyan said.

Asked about the reasons for the discontent of the Azerbaijani side,
which always expresses a negative opinion about the Minsk Group’s
work, Vardan Oskanyan said this was explained by the fact that “their
lop-sided position is not reaching out to the co-chairs”.

At the same time, the Armenian foreign minister did not agree with the
opinion that Russia had stepped up its role in resolving the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict.

“Trilateral meetings of the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian
presidents were held in the past as well. The meeting in Astana was
one in a series of meetings within the framework of the CIS summit,”
Oskanyan said and added that Russia was a country co-chairing the OSCE
Minsk Group and that a solution to the Karabakh problem was also in
its interests.

Released Azeri pressure group member set to continue anti-Armenian protests

ANS TV, Baku
22 Sep 04

[Presenter] The first deputy head of the Karabakh Liberation
Organization [KLO], the first group disabled, Firudin Mammadov, is now
the guest at “Xabarci” [news programme]. [Mammadov was arrested along
with other five members of the organization for protests against
Armenian presence at a NATO conference in Baku.] We are over to the
conference hall of ANS to speak to him. Good evening, Firudin bay
[form of address]. I congratulate you on your being set free.

[Firudin Mammadov from the conference hall] Good evening. Thank you. I
am very pleased.

[Presenter] Firudin bay, did you expect to be released today?

[Mammadov] Yes, we almost expected this. Because the public protest
against our arrest, including the attitude of the state leadership,
allowed us to think so.

[Presenter] Firudin bay, your health caused concern in the first
place. How did they treat you in prison?

[Mammadov] Taking this opportunity, first I want to thank all the
Azerbaijani public, elders, our respected sheikh [Allahsukur
Pasazada], MPs, the union of writers, as well as the mass media, who
supported us. The KLO expresses its satisfaction that they gave their
special support, aired the Azerbaijani people’s will and achieved our
freedom. As for the attitude towards us in prison, let me note that
all employees of the prison, including the inmates, irrespective of
the crimes they had committed, respected us highly. We thank all of
them. They appreciated our deeds more than judge Famil Nasibov and
the prosecutors.

[Passage omitted: the prison’s doctors, leadership did their best to
tackle his health problems]

[Presenter] My last question. Will your imprisonment have an impact on
your next protest actions? Will you be more careful in the future?

[Mammadov] I have been fighting for Azerbaijani lands since I was 18
or 19. I have not retreated a step from this fight over the past 15-16
years. Let me recall that I have lost one of the most valuable gifts
in the world – my sight – during this struggle. Even this fact has not
stopped me. You can assess now how difficult it is for me to serve
one-year suspended sentence. I think that the KLO and I, as a KLO
member, will do our best through public protests, and I can also
participate as a serviceman and a war veteran in a war if the state
leadership wages one. Undoubtedly, I will observe the law to some
extent. But the suspended sentence cannot stop me.

[Presenter] Thank you. I again congratulate you on your freedom.

A1 Plus | 13:50:38 | 20-09-2004 | Politics |

ARMENIAN MP DIED

Member of Armenian National Assembly Mushegh Movsisyan, who was
severely injured in car crash on May 28, died this Saturday after four
months in hospital without recovering consciousness.

Funeral will be held Monday in his native village of Aygek.

Parliament speaker and Movsisyan’s colleagues expressed their
condolences to his relatives.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 17 2004

OSCE TO MAKE SPECIAL EFFORTS FOR SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNY KARABAKH
CONFLICT
[September 17, 2004, 21:43:18]

As was provided by AzerTAj referring to the Russian news agency
RIA-Novosti, Bulgaria during presidency in OSCE is going to make
special efforts for settlement of critical situations in Kosovo,
Nagorny Karabakh and Prednestrovie.

The OSCE Acting Chairman, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Bulgaria Solomon Passy stated on this. He has said that the Bulgarian
Presidency would make every effort for performance of the obligation
taken on finding ways for solution of the conflict in Nagorny
Karabakh. In particular, S. Passy is going to direct to the region
his special representative – the former prime minister of Bulgaria
Phillip Dimitrov for participation in negotiations with the sides in
conflict. By S. Passy’s words, it causes concern the signals on
deterioration of conditions at the “contact line” between the sides
of the conflict. He has expressed hope that there would be ways to
lower the tension.

S. Passy also has noted that regional conflicts receive new
characteristics, increasing, thus, threat of safety in region of OSCE
and in the world as a whole. OSCE remains the basic tool for the
establishment and expansion of zone of cooperative safety and
democratic values. In this sense, adherence to political dialogue is
the main condition for presence of strong decisions of conflicts, Mr.
Passy has emphasized.