Author: Dabaghian Diana

JOURNALISTS WITHOUT BORDERS RANKS TURKEY 100TH IN "MEDIA FREEDOM"

Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 24 2006

According to the Paris-based media organization "Journalists Without
Borders," Turkey ranks 100th in the world in the arena of "freedom
in the media." A list published yesterday by Journalists Without
Borders puts Finland, Iceland, Ireland, and the Netherlands in a
tie for first place in this category. Other noteable placements on
the list were Armenia, which ranked immediately before Turkey at 99,
and Denmark, which gained notoriety for the caricature crisis earlier
in the year: Danish media ranked 20th. The US was ranked at 56th,
while North Korea came in last at 168.

Journalists Without Borders declared in May 2002 that Turkey, among
other countries, was an "enemy of the media."

FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HOPES FOR PROGRESS IN THE KARABAKH ISSUE

Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 20 2006

The Foreign Minister of France Philippe Douste-Blazy has expressed
the hope that the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov in Paris will help
achieve progress in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, ITAR-TASS
was told at the French MFA.

It was reported also that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev will pay
a state visit to France in January 2007. During the meeting of the
Foreign Ministers of France and Azerbaijan it was noted that the
relations between the two countries are developing. Last year the
commodity turnover rose thrice, reaching 500 million Euros.

ARMENIAN COMMUNIST PARTY TO INDEPENDENTLY PARTICIPATE IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2007

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 24 2006

At a meeting with journalists at the "Pakagits" club, Tuesday, Leader
of the Armenian Communist Party Rouben Tovmasyan said that his party
will independently participate in the parliamentary elections in
spring 2007.

According to him, the Communist Party will form an electoral bloc
only with parties with similar ideologies, and only in this case
one may speak about cooperation. At the same time, Rouben Tovmasyan
pointed out the good prospects for cooperation of opposition parties
in struggle against any possible electoral frauds.

Commenting on parliamentary discussions of the project of the Electoral
Code’s reform, Tovmasyan emphasized that the CPA has always supported
the immediate transition to a 100% proportional electoral system. At
the same time, the Electoral Code should provide for a procedure of
recalling deputies who attempt to move to other parties.

Tovmasyan said that any parliamentary party should have the right to
immediately recall the MP who is going to change his faction.

Characterizing the modern domestic political tendencies, the leader of
Communists criticized the attempts of a number of political forces to
bribe rural voters by distributing so-called humanitarian assistance,
particularly, potato seeds. Tovmasyan said that one cannot speak
of fair democratic elections if one sees what is going on in the
political system of the country. He concluded that the CPA’s success
will be to overcome the 5% barrier if pro-governmental parties use
huge financial resources to manipulate the election returns.

FIRST JOINT PROJECT OF ARMENIAN AND TURKISH PHOTOJOURNALISTS
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
25/10/2006

Today, the first joint photo exhibition of Armenian and Turkish
photojournalists entitled "Mehrabarev" will be opened at the
Moscow Cinema. This idea that ripened at the Caucasus Media
Institute (CMI is also a supporter of the project) brought together
Armenian photojournalists from "Patkerfoto" agency and 5 Turkish
photojournalists from Turkish "Nar" agency with their photos of Yerevan
and Istanbul. The organizers are sure that the two countries that are
cut off from each other and do not maintain diplomatic relations will
have a chance to meet each other at the exhibition. The exhibition
will be displayed in Yerevan until November 2 and then will move to
Gyumri and Istanbul. Reportedly, a photo album in Armenian, Turkish
and English will be printed at the end.

OYP AND RPA REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT MUTUAL REPROACHES TO EACH OTHER AT TIME OF NA STATEMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. "I address to Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian who privatized dozens of thousands of square meters for
pennyworth only in Yerevan, registered thousands of hectares of
lands in his and his intimate people’s names in different marzes, to
Defence Minister Serge Sargsian which is famous for his participation
in numerous shady contracts, his famous habit to lose millions in
casinos, his shady control of patrol, diesel and other spheres. Stop
"black" propaganda towards the OYP, stop the unhealthy and obscene
political action way with the help of executers of your instructions,"
Heghine Bisharian, the Secretary of the "Orinats Yerkir" (Country
of Law) party stated at the October 24 sitting of the RA National
Assembly. Condemning similar action way on behalf of the party,
she called on "honest political struggle and competition but not
struggling with unworthy methods of striking in the back." Responding
this statement, Republican deputy Hamlet Haroutiunian, particularly,
mentioned that one may be opposing but must never "be ungrateful," and
display aversion for colleagues in such inadmissible doses. He also
stated that OYP leader Artur Baghdasarian did not make such a speech
himself "as everybody knows what role S.Sargsian had in the affair
of A.Baghdasarian’s formation as a politician." Every representative
of the OYP and RPA making speech among about 3 dozens of deputies
registered for statements partially or completely dedicated his
statement to criticism of the opposite side.

AZERI PRESIDENT AGAIN RELIES ON MILITARY BUDGET IN SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 23 2006

Next year the military budget of Azerbaijan will exceed 1 billion
dollars, said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at a meeting of the
Cabinet of Ministers, Azertag reports.

He said he was informed beforehand that the economic development of
Azerbaijan "will allow making the military budget of Azerbaijan equal
to the whole state budget of Armenia and even exceeding it." "I am
very glad that we have achieved this within such a short term, in two
and a half year. Of course, it will have an important part in the just
resolution of the Armeniabn-Azerbaijani Nagorny Karabakh conflict,"
the president said.

California Courier Online, October 26, 2006

1 – Commentary

We Hope Pelosi Will Replace Speaker
Hastert After Nov. 7 Elections

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

2 – Armenian Football Opens Website
3 – Pasadena Police Chief Receives
Armenian National Service Medal
4 – ATG Seed Farmer Honored with Gold Medal
5- Prelacy Announces
Appointments to
Board of Regents
6 – Armenian Community Health
Fair in Glendale Serves 300
7 – UCLA AEF Chair
Offers Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Lectures to Public
8 – Actor Simon Abkarian Will MC
Nov. 12 ANCA-WR Banquet in L.A.
9 – Gov. Schwarzenegger
Appoints Frank Zerunyan
To State Medical Board

******************************************* ***********************
1 – Commentary
We Hope Pelosi Will Replace Speaker
Hastert After Nov. 7 Elections

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

The Congressional elections on November 7 could be a turning point for all
Americans, particularly on the issue of the war in Iraq, should the House of
Representatives, and possibly the Senate, come under the control of the Democrats.
For Armenian Americans, the upcoming elections could finally provide the
opportunity they have been waiting for to remove the chokehold placed by the Bush
Administration and the Republican leadership on the consideration of House
and Senate resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Both Houses of
Congress would have voted in overwhelming majorities to approve these resolutions if
Republican congressional leaders had allowed the people’s representatives to
vote their conscience on these bills.
For the House races, it is in the interest of Armenian Americans to vote for
those candidates who are either members of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues or have pledged to join it after the election. Voters may contact
Armenian lobbying organizations in Washington before Nov. 7, to check the
affiliations of the congressional candidates in their districts. In case neither
candidate in a particular race is a member of the Caucus or a supporter of
Armenian issues, the preference should be given to the Democrat in order toassure a
Democratic majority in the House. Cong. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a long time
friend of the Armenian community, would then become Speaker of the House,
replacing Cong. Dennis Hastert, who not only has broken his pledge repeatedly, but has
actively blocked the Armenian Genocide resolution from being brought to a
floor vote. Given her long-standing record on Armenian issues, it is anticipated
that Cong. Pelosi, should she become Speaker, would
schedule a vote on the Genocide resolution.
Rather than trying to rate thousands of candidates nationwide for 435 House,
34 Senatorial and countless local and state races, I will focus on a few
critical and close ones.
It goes without saying that Armenians should help re-elect the two members
of Congress who are of Armenian origin: Cong. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and John
Sweeney (R-NY). Armenians should also vote for State Senator Chuck Poochigian, a
Republican, who is running for Attorney General of California. He is engaged in a
tough battle against former governor Jerry Brown who has an advantage in
terms of name recognition. Paul Krekorian, a Democrat, is expected to easily win a
seat in the California State Assembly.
Also deserving the Armenian community’s support is Danny Tarkanian, the son
of legendary basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, who is running for Secretaryof
State in Nevada.
The co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues deserve the
community’s special support. Fortunately, Cong. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) is expected
to get re-elected easily. The other co-chair, Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), is
involved in a tough race. A recent poll shows him in a statistical tie withhis
opponent. It is critical that the Armenian community nationwide come to his
support financially as well as with votes from those who live in his district. Even
though this goes against the earlier expressed desire of seeking a Democratic
majority in the House, the community cannot and should not abandon its
staunch supporters, be they Democrats or Republicans. By assuring that the
co-chairs, the current members of the Caucus, and new members who will jointhe Caucus
get elected, it is hoped that the Caucus would have at least 218 members of
Congress from both parties which would constitute a majority of the House.
Turning to the U.S. Senate, the key Senator that should be supported at all
cost is Robert Menendez (D-NJ) who placed a hold on the nomination of Richard
Hoagland, the Ambassador Designate for Armenia. Sen. Menendez is in a
difficult race as he was appointed to that seat by Gov. Jon Corzine, just 10 months
ago, after Corzine stepped down from his Senate seat. Menendez is opposed by
Republican Thomas Kean, Jr., an incumbent state senator and son of former
Governor Thomas Kean. The latest poll shows Menendez with a slim advantage over Kean.
The State Department would like nothing more than seeing Menendez lose his
seat, as that would vacate the hold against Hoagland next January. The Armenian
community nationwide, and particularly those residing in New Jersey, shoulddo
everything possible to secure the re-election of Sen. Menendez.
On Nov. 7, members of the Armenian American community should vote for all
those candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, who are supportiveof
Armenian issues. In the case of equally supportive candidates in a particular
race, the preference should be given to the one who is a Democrat in order to
secure a Democratic majority in the House, helping make Cong. Pelosi the next
Speaker, which will enable her to schedule a long overdue vote on the Armenian
Genocide resolution.
************************************** ************************************
2 – Armenian Football Opens Website
YEREVAN – The Yerevan United Football Club has just opened their online shop.
Fans of Yerevan United FC and the Armenian National Team are now able to buy
merchandise online for the first time ever, regardless what country they’re
living in. From team scarfs, t-shirts, or caps, it’s there, and payment is
simple and safe, with swoft delivery.
The website address is
Although the Club was promoted to the Premier League at the end of 2005, club
leaders made a decision to sit out the 2006 season, and return financially
strong in 2007.
The website carries the latest news about the Armenian National Football Team
playing qualifications for UEFA Euro 2008 competition. It is the only
Armenian football website.
So whether you’re a fan of the Armenian National Football Team or Yerevan
United Football Club, or if the browser only wants a temporary tattoo to wear to
the next Armenian function in your area, check out the Yerevan United website
and click on the shop online.
************************************************** ***********************
3 – Pasadena Police Chief Receives
Armenian National Service Medal
Pasadena Star-News
PASADENA – The Pasadena Police Department’s efforts to raise funds for
equipment for the Yerevan Police Department has earned the police chief an Armenian
National Service Medal, officials said Monday.
Pasadena Chief Bernard Melekian is the second person outside of Armenia to
receive the medal.
The award was presented to Melekian during a Pasadena Armenian Peoples’
Advisory Committee fundraising gala earlier this month.
Yerevan police Chief Nerses Nazaryan, acting on behalf of the commander of
the Armenian National Police, presented the award.
"The award was truly a surprise and an honor," Melekian said, crediting the
Pasadena Armenian group with building bridges between the Pasadena Police
Department and the Armenian community.
"My grandparents and my father, who were survivors of the genocide, always
felt they owed a great deal to this country and to Pasadena.
It was an honor to be involved with a project that helped give something of
value to Armenia," he said.
PAPAC raised nearly $80,000 for the Yerevan Police Department.
"Yerevan is the capital city of Armenia. I had the pleasure to visit that
city in 2000 and was appalled at the deficiency of equipment that a modern
department needs to do its job," Melekian said.
************************************************** ************************
4 – ATG Seed Farmer Honored with Gold Medal
YEREVAN – At the second Armenian International AgroForum Conference that took
place in Yerevan on Sept. 22-23, Hovhanness Galoyan, an Armenian Technology
Group farmer from Karnut village, near Gyumri in Shirak Marz, was recognized
by the Government of Armenia for his exceptional achievement in the seed
industry, and received a Gold Medal.
This is the second time in two years that the Armenian Government is
honoring the California based Armenian Technology Group (ATG) a Gold Medal for its
accomplishments in the rural agricultural development in Armenia.
While awarding the medal, the Minister of Agriculture Davit Lokyan praised
the work done by Galoyan and declaring that "this year the average wheat yields
were very low in Armenia (1.5-2.5 MT per hectares)," Galoyan harvested 6-6.5
MT per hectrare."
A farmer working under the directives of the ATG, Galoyan has mastered the
production of high quality certified wheat seed in Armenia. He is a member of
the Seed Producers Support Association (SPSA) founded by ATG in 1998. The
association has 47 members who are specialized in production of certified high
quality wheat, alfalfa, corn and barley seeds that are appropriate for different
growing zones in Armenia.
This award is the result of a long and dedicated efforts of long term US
based ATG technical farm advisors such as Roger Culver, and Roger Benton who
lived and worked with the farmers in Armenia for over 12 years.
" I am so pleased that our farmers are getting some recognition! They are
the backbone of Armenia’s rural economy," said Roger Benton, retired UC
Extension Agent and a long time ATG technical advisor and previous in-county director
from his home in California. "ATG farmers worked so hard to help feed the
nation and their families. I remember particularly when our seed growers literally
saved thousands of people from possible starvation and famine, by supplying
clean and treated seed to over 12,000 farmers to plant their winter wheat in
2000. May God Bless them all!"
"ATG supplied the best of Western wheat growing knowledge together with an
initial variety of high quality wheat seed to the farmers of Armenia", said
Nubar Tashjian, President of ATG. "To the credit of the Armenian farmers, they
readily adopted the Western methods together with the wheat seed and the
benefits realized are history. Those farmers adopting ATG supplied seed and
methodology improved wheat production many times over greatly benefiting Armenia. I
commend the Armenian farmer for his industry and intelligence. I congratulate Mr.
Galoyan for his achievement, a medal well deserved."
The ATG Seed Multiplication Project has been funded through USDA Foreign
Agricultural Service – Food for Progress.
Other major sponsors are the Lincy Foundation, The Bertha and John
Garabedian Charitable Foundation, PACC and other organizations and individuals in the
United States.
ATG is a California based non-profit, public benefit corporation with
offices in Fresno, Yerevan and Stepanakerd, NK. The organization can be reached at
559-224-1000. Tax deductible donations could be mailed to ATG 1300 E. Shaw Ave.
Suite 131; P. O. Box 5969, Fresno, CA 93755. You can also visit the ATG web
site at and donate on line.
********’*********************************** ******************************
5 – Prelacy Announces
Appointments to
Board of Regents
ENCINO, Calif. – Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, and the Executive
Council of the Western Prelacy announced the new appointment of members to the
Board of Regents of Prelacy Schools.
The newly appointed Board of Regents are: Dr. Armine Hacopian, Sossi
Hovsepian, Marisa Sarian, Avo Kechichian, Dr. Vartkes Tomassian, Chris Keosian, Ara
Bedrosian, George Chorbajian, Mark Guedikian.
At their first meeting on Oct. 16, the new board elected its executive as
follows: Avo Kechichian, Chairman, Dr. Armine Hacopian, Secretary, and Mark
Guiedikian, Treasurer.
Vice-Chair of the Prelacy Executive Council Dr. Hagop Der Megerdichian
attended the first meeting
****************************************** ********************************
6 – Armenian Community Health
Fair in Glendale Draws 300
GLENDALE – The Oct. 14 Armenian Community Health Fair drew over 300 member
of the Armenian community at the St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. It was
organized by the Armenian American Medical Society of California, the Armenian
American Nurses Association, and the Armenian Dental Society of California.
The guest underwent various free screenings, such as blood pressure, blood
sugar, cholesterol, dental exams, breast
exams, spinal checks, bone density tests, and spirometry checks.
The Los Angeles County Office of Women’s Health’s Mobile Van Unit was on
hand to offer free pap tests, clinical breast exams and diabetes testing. The
event was a very crucial ingredient for the multicultural, multilingual public
education campaign. It encouraged many Los Angeles County Armenian women to
seek regular, free pap testing to prevent cervical cancer.
"It’s Not Flu As Usual" brochures distributed by Krikorian Marketing
Group were supporting the County of Los Angeles Public Health campaign that
targets families and individuals, the medical community, businesses, and community
organizations. The brochures, which will be distributed throughout the
community, will be supported by a media advertising campaign that will emphasize the
importance of "Clean Hands" as the best form of preventive care to avoid the
Pandemic Flu. The campaign will be in Armenian, Russian, Arabic and Farsi
languages.
Major sponsors of the Health Fair included Glendale Adventist Medical
Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center, Kaiser Permanente, Hollywood
Presbyterian Medical Center, QueensCare, Huntington Memorial Hospital, L.A
County Women’s Health Dept., Krikorian Marketing Group, Comprehensive Community
Health Clinics, Willow Imaging, Verdugo Hospice, ARS Mental Health Services,
and Daylight Adult Health Day Care Center.
The Health Fair was supported by: Abbot, Astra Zeneca, Takeda, Aventis,
GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Otsuka, Novartis, Lifescan, and TAP Pharmaceuticals.
************************************************** ************************
7 – UCLA AEF Chair
Offers Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Lectures to Public
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern
Armenian History is sponsoring two programs the weekend of Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
The first lecture will be held Oct. 30, at 2 p.m., at the UCLA History
Department Conference Room 6275 Bunche Hall (6th floor). Entitled "Ecclesiastical
Head–Imperial Subject: The Armenian Catholicos at the Intersection of Russia’s
Internal and Foreign Policy, 1828-1914," the presentation will be made by
Professor Paul Worth, University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
The second presentation will be made on Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., at the Glendale
Public Library by UCLA AEF Chairholder Professor Richard Hovannisian.
Dr. Hovannisian will speak on "The Vanishing Landscape of Historic Western
Armenia: Illustrated Reflections on a Journey into the Past."
Both presentations are open to the public at no charge. Limited seating is
available.
************************************************* **************************
8 – Actor Simon Abkarian Will MC
Nov. 12 ANCA-WR Banquet in L.A.
GLENDALE – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
(ANCA-WR) announced this week that well-known French Armenian actor Simon Abkarian
will be the Master of Ceremonies for the ANCA-WR Annual Banquet on Nov. 12,in
Los Angeles.
The ANCA-WR Annual Banquet regularly draws over 700 dignitaries, prominent
Members of Congress and state legislators, as well as Armenian American
community leaders and political activists. The annual event is the largest of its kind
and helps raise funds to operate the nation’s largest and most influential
Armenian American grassroots and political advocacy organization.
The Annual Banquet includes an awards ceremony, during which the ANCA-WR
recognizes individuals who have contributed to the awareness and advancement of
Armenian issues. This year, the ANCA-WR will honor Bob Collins, Chief
Instructional Officer for Secondary Education for the Los Angeles Unified School
District, with the Man of the Year Award. Mr. Collins will be recognized for his
leading role in implementing the Armenian Genocide curriculum in the Los Angeles
Unified School District.
The awards ceremony will be emceed by actor Simon Abkarian. Born in Gonesse,
France, Abkarian spent most of his early life in France and Lebanon and wasan
active member of the Armenian Youth Federation. He trained as a dancer with
the Lori Dance Ensemble in Beirut and the Antranik Company in New York. He also
studied mask work at the Commedia dell’ Arte with Georges Bigot in Los
Angeles. He had a lengthy collaboration with Ariane Mnouchkine and the Thétre du
Soleil, playing leading roles in Greek tragedies, where he became known forhis
charismatic performances.
In 2001, Abkarian received the Molière, the highest honor in French theatre
for an actor, for his performance in Une Bête Sur La Lune (Beast on the Moon.
In "Yes", a Sally Potter film released in the U.S. in 2005, Abkarian plays his
first leading film role in the English language opposite actress Joan Allen.
He also played in Aram (2002), Le Voyage en Arménie (2006), and Ararat (2002),
in which he played Arshile Gorky.
Audiences will soon see Abkarian in his most recent role as "Alex Dimitrios"
in the latest James Bond movie, "Casino Royale," which will premiere in
theatres nationwide on November 17. He was also a member of French President Jacques
Chirac’s delegation to Armenia last month.
The ANCA-WR Annual Banquet will be held at the Downtown Marriott Hotel, on
333 S. Figueroa St. in Los Angeles. The banquet will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a
cocktail hour and silent auction, with the formal program beginning at 7 p.m.
For more information or to reserve a table, call the ANCA-WR office at (818)
500-1918.
********************************** **************************************
9 – Gov. Schwarzenegger
Appoints Frank Zerunyan
To State Medical Board
SACRAMENTO – Frank Zerunyan, 47, of Rolling Hills Estates, has been appointed
to the Division of Medical Quality on the Medical Board of California. Since
2005, he has served as principal and general counsel for the real estate
development firm, Public Private Community Development.
Zerunyan previously was managing partner with the law firms SulmeyerKupetz
from 1995 to 2005, Yacoubian & Zerunyan from 1992 to 1995 and the Law Office of
Frank V. Zerunyan from 1989 to 1992.
Prior to that, he served as vice president of finance for International
Marketing Alliance from 1985 to 1989. He serves on the Rolling Hills Estates City
Council, where he was elected in 2003 and serves as chair of the City’s
Traffic and Safety Committee.
This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per
diem. Zerunyan is a Republican.
************************************** ************************************

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******************************* *******************************************

The Turkish UNIFIL Troops Set off for Lebanon

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 19 2006

Thursday , 19 October 2006

A. Noyan Ozkaya, JTW (Ankara) – Some part of the Turkish military unit
to participate in the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL II)
set off on Thursday from Mersin Port. 95 soldiers of the 261-strong
engineering company left the Mersin Port after a sending-off
ceremony. The rest of the land unit will be sent on Friday by air
from Ankara to Beirut, and non-military vehicles will be sent overland
through Syria. The Turkish military unit is commanded by a major and
is composed of 261 personnel, 24 of which are civil engineers and 63
engineering vehicles, including non-military ones.

The Turkish engineering unit will be located in the village of
ash-Shaatiyah, 8 km. southeast of Tyre (Sour), and is expected to
help rebuild damaged bridges and roads. The initial location of the
Turkish troops was Baqbuq, a village in the south of Tyre, but it
was changed two days ago to ash-Shaatiyah because of the risk posed
by undiscovered landmines beneath the would-be headquarters of the
Turkish contingents in Baqbuq.

Besides the land units, a frigate from the Turkish Naval Forces
was sent to Lebanon on October 6. The frigate, TCG Gaziantep, began
patrolling off the Lebanese coast on October 15. The frigate includes
234 military staff and is commanded by a lieutenant colonel.

Turkish troops are the first Muslim peacekeepers to arrive in Lebanon
for the expanded UN force.

The Lebanese political leaders, including Hizbullah, have given their
consent for the participation of the Turkish troops in the peacekeeping
force. Turkish participation in the UNIFIL II is opposed only by
the Armenian community, with an estimated population of 150.000, or
nearly 4% of the Lebanese population. On October 13, an estimated 5.000
Armenians in Lebanon protested Turkey’s participation in the UN force.

EU wishes railway to Europe through Armenia and Turkey instead of
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars

Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 20 2006

20 October 2006 – TRACECA members – Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey
– supports Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway project but the
European Union doesn’t take this issue positive, Akif Mustafayev,
TRASECA National Secretary for Azerbaijan, told.

He said the EU sides with Armenian and doesn’t want it to be uninvolved
in the regional projects and that the EU wants a railway line from
Azerbaijan to Europe through Armenia and Turkey.

"In fact, it is impossible as long as the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict
remains unsolved. The decision taken by some countries not to finance
this project will not affect implementation of the project. The project
participant countries have decided to finance the project themselves."

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: LE PARLEMENT TURC DENONCE LE VOTE DES DEPUTES FRANCAIS

Agence France Presse
17 octobre 2006 mardi

Le Parlement turc a denonce mardi lors d’une seance speciale le vote
par les deputes francais d’un texte sur le "genocide armenien de 1915",
qui a suscite la colère d’Ankara.

"L’adoption de cette proposition de loi a porte un coup sevère aux
relations turco-francaises", a reaffirme le ministre des Affaires
etrangères Abdullah Gul dans son discours.

Le chef de la diplomatie a averti que si elle prenait effet de loi,
les liens bilateraux seraient "irreparablement endommages dans les
domaines economiques, politiques et de la securite".

La Turquie s’est indignee du vote jeudi dernier par les deputes
francais d’une proposition de loi sanctionnant la negation du "genocide
armenien" de peines allant jusqu’a un an de prison et 45.000 euros
d’amende.

Le gouvernement d’Ankara a promis de mettre en oeuvre une serie
de represailles sur le detail desquelles il est jusqu’a present
reste muet.

En France, le texte doit etre soumis aux senateurs puis aux deputes
en seconde lecture avant d’etre definitivement adopte. Le gouvernement
francais et le president Jacques Chirac s’en sont demarques.

"La France perdu sa position privilegiee en Turquie (…) a cause de
simples visees electoralistes" a quelques mois de la presidentielle
de 2007 en France, a affirme M. Gul, estimant que le texte controverse
etait incompatible avec les normes democratiques de l’Union europeenne.

"On nous demande d’un côte d’elargir la liberte d’expression chez
nous mais de l’autre côte la France adopte une proposition qui bafoue
cette liberte", a dit M. Gul.

Le ministre a profite de l’occasion pour reaffirmer la position turque
sur les evenements survenus dans les dernières annees de l’Empire
ottoman, auquel a succede en 1923 la Republique de Turquie.

Les massacres et deportations d’Armeniens entre 1915 et 1917 dans
l’Empire ottoman ont fait plus de 1,5 million de morts selon les
Armeniens, 250.000 a 500.000 selon la Turquie qui reconnaît des tueries
de part et d’autre mais recuse categoriquement la notion de genocide.

Des membres de l’opposition ont egalement pris la parole, critiquant le
"laxisme" du gouvernement.

"Le gouvernement reste timide sur les represailles" contre la France,
a ainsi estime Onur Oymen du parti republicain du peuple (CHP,
social-democrate).

Sukru Elekdag, un autre membre du CHP et ancien ambassadeur, a
reclame qu’en riposte a la politique "hostile" de l’Armenie voisine,
les autorites renvoient quelque 70.000 Armeniens travaillant au noir
en Turquie.

Dans une declaration finale, les groupes parlementaires ont declare
que "le peuple turc n’a pas a avoir honte de son histoire", et que
l’attitude de l’Assemblee francaise "ouvrira des plaies beantes dans
les relations politiques, economiques et militaires franco-turques".

Des associations de consommateurs ont appele les Turcs a boycotter les
marques francaises. Les milieux d’affaires ont invite a la moderation
pour ne pas nuire aux interets des 65.000 personnes employees par
les entreprises francaises implantees sur le sol turc.

La Turquie est un gros marche pour la France, avec des echanges
chiffres l’an dernier a 8,2 milliards d’euros.

Un boycott officiel n’est pas d’actualite, mais l’exclusion des
firmes francaises des contrats publics est envisagee. Le chef du
patronat francais, Mme Laurence Parisot, a juge mardi la situation
"inquietante" pour les entreprises francaises en Turquie.

–Boundary_(ID_5pxsfT+8PCz2cqksOTJ5fg)–