Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenia and Cyprus to boost cooperation in health sphere

Arminfo
13 Jul 04

YEREVAN

Armenian ambassador to Greece, and concurrently to Cyprus, Vagram
Kazhoyan visited Cyprus on 5 July.

The press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Arminfo news
agency that during the visit the Armenian diplomat and Cyprus’s health
minister, Akel Akkelidhou, signed an agreement in Nicosia on
cooperation between the Armenian government and Cyprus in the health
and medical spheres. Within the framework of the agreement Cyprus will
present to the Armenian Health and Defence Ministries drugs and also
an apparatus called Fresenius for regulating and ensuring blood
circulation during heart surgery which will be given to a hospital in
Armenia in the nearest future.

An agreement on charitable acts was signed during the Armenian
ambassador’s previous visits. Within the framework of the visit
Kazhoyan met Minister of Education and Culture Pevkios
Yeoryiadhis. The sides discussed the signing a programme On
cooperation between Armenia and Cyprus for 2004-2007 in the spheres of
education, science, culture and youth and sport and also prospects of
developing cooperation in the sphere of education.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 13, 2004 Tuesday

Russian market promising for Armenian producers – premier

By Susanna Adamyants, Alexandra Urusova

MOSCOW

The Russian market is the most promising for Armenian producers,
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said in Moscow on Tuesday.

He said the Armenia pavilion at the All-Russia Exhibition Center had
helped to increase bilateral trade by $5 million.

“Energetic efforts are being taken to upgrade trade and economic
cooperation to the level of political partnership,” Margaryan said.

The Armenian premier had negotiations with his Russian counterpart
Mikhail Fradkov.

ARKA News Agency
July 9 2004

Armenian population is not well informed on acting legislation of the
country – the Chairman of Asparez Club

Catholicos of All Armenians receives Minister of Internal Affairs of
Byelorussia

State Committee of Water Handling Facilities plans to collect about
AMD 4 bln for irrigation water consumption by the end of this year

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

ARMENIAN POPULATION IS NOT WELL INFORMED ON ACTING LEGISLATION OF THE
COUNTRY – THE CHAIRMAN OF ASPAREZ CLUB

YEREVAN, July 9. /ARKA/. Armenian population is not well informed on
acting legislation of the country, the Chairman of Asparez Club Levon
Barsegian stated today. According to him, last 5 months, organization
conducted program on familiarization and education of population in
two regions of Armenia – Lori and Shirak (4 cities – Gyumri,
Vanadzor, Stepanavan and Alaverdi). In the frames of the programs,
some activities were held in the regions – seminars, TV debates, TV
reels considering the laws passed in the country, namely the law on
ombudsman, on freedom of information, on mass information, on public
organizations, on bodies of local self-government. `In result we
discovered that the citizens not only not familiar with the laws, but
even have no idea about functions of ombudsman for example’,
Barsegian said. `We think it is time to increase the role of
publicity in the processes of democratization of the country’,
Barsegian said.
The club operates at the territory of Gyumri for about 4 years. In
the beginning of 2004 the Club received grant from Open Society
Institute Assistance Fund in amount of $13.4 thousand and invested
additional $3.6 thousand of own assets. On these assets the Club
realized program on familiarization and education of population in
Lori and Shirak. L.D. –0–

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

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVES MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF
BYELORUSSIA

YEREVAN, July 9. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness
Garegin II received Minister of Internal Affairs of Byelorussia
Vladimir Naumov and the Hayk Hariyunyan. As Holy See of St.
Echmiadzin , during the meeting the Head of Armenian Apostolic Church
mentioned the centuries-old ties of Armenian and Byelorussian peoples
highly appreciating the spirit of partnership between two Ministers.
Garegin II also touched upon the issue of interaction of the Church
and the State, introducing the guest with the mission of the Armenian
Apostolic Church. As it is mentioned in the press release, the Head
of the Armenian Apostolic Church asked Naumov to send his greetings
and warm wishes to the Patriarchal Exarch of All Byelorussia
Metropolitan Philaret. T.M. -0–

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

STATE COMMITTEE OF WATER HANDLING FACILITIES PLANS TO COLLECT ABOUT
AMD 4 BLN FOR IRRIGATION WATER CONSUMPTION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, July 9. /ARKA/. By the end of this year the State Committee
of Water Handling Facilities plans to collect AMD 3,5-4 mln for
irrigation water consumption, as stated Andranik Andreasyan, the Head
of State Committee of Water Handling Facilities at today’s
press-conference. He said that the total collection related to
irrigation system made 60% or AMD 2,1 bln for last year and mentioned
that the collection indicator made AMD 420 mln as of July 1, 2004
given the average tariffs of irrigation water, which corresponds to
the indicator of last year. He also said that the collection volume
will increase abruptly in coming days and months. In particular, the
expectations are connected with the farmers’ profit gained from the
realization of grain crop, which will allow making payments for
irrigation. Andreasyan informed that institutional changes are
carried out in the irrigation system and mentioned that 54
organizations-consumers are involved in the system, against the 18
organizations of last year.
The bill receivables make AMD 4,5 bln in the system of water industry
of Armenia, of which AMD 3 bln are due to irrigation water
consumption and AMD 1,5 bln – for drinking water. L.V. –0–

Alexandria Town Talk, LA
July 11 2004

TOMPKINS: U.S. Olympic boxer fought here last year
Bob Tompkins / Staff Reporter/Columnist

USA Boxing officials weren’t kidding last year when they said there
might be a future Olympian in the Under-19 National Championship
Boxing Tournament that was held last August in Alexandria.

There was.

Vanes Matriroysan, a native Armenian and resident of Glendale, Calif.
who lost the 152-pound title bout to Nick Casal of Niagra Falls,
N.Y., here last August, is one of nine members on the U.S. Boxing
Team that will compete next month in Athens.

Curiously, after Casal won the title by beating Martirosyan, he said,
“It was the most competitive fight I’ve had this year. He definitely
belonged in the finals. He’s a good fighter.”

Martiroysyan, 18, was ranked just 14th in his weight class in
January, but he won 11 fights in six weeks and took advantage of
slips by boxers with bigger reputations to make the U.S. Olympic
team.

A semifinalist at this year’s U.S. Championships in Colorado Springs,
Colo., Martirosyan then beat five foes in five days to win the
Western Trials, which got him to the Olympic Trials. After America’s
top two welterweights were disqualified, Martirosyan advanced to the
Trials final and beat Corey Jones, 18-4. He then outpointed Austin
Trout at the Box-Offs to make the U.S. team and won the Americas
qualifier in Tijuana, Mexico.

Vicente Escobedo, another member of the U.S. team, didn’t box here
last August, but Anthony Vasquez of Snyder, Texas, who was runner-up
in the 132-pound finals in the Under-19 Championships here, pulled
the upset of the U.S. Championships last March by defeating Escobedo.
The U.S. National Champion in ’03, Escobedo, 22, won the Western
Trials to get back on track to making the Olympic team.

Eric Parthen, the executive director of USA Boxing, expressed
disappointment last week that Alexandria is no longer trying to build
a USA Boxing Southern training center, as it hoped to do a year ago
before state and federal grants for such a project were rejected.

“We’re certainly disappointed that hasn’t become a reality,” Parthen
said, “yet Central Louisiana is still being mentioned as a possible
site in the future, so it’s not dead yet.”

Officials from USA Boxing spoke highly of this community, the
hospitality and news coverage during their experience here last
summer, when Alexandria hosted the U.S. Junior Olympics and the
International Invitational Boxing Tournament in addition to the
Under-19 National Championships.

After all those positives, it’s a shame the bitter aftertaste lingers
with Louisiana College’s logical legal bout with Houston’s Galena
Park Boxing Academy and Youth Center for not paying a $78,000 bill
for food and lodging for the boxers during the first two events.

Galena Park director Kenny Weldon said many times to local officials
that while his group could bring the events to town, it could not
afford to finance them. The England Authority last summer voted to
provide “up to $30,000” to help with the financing of the U.S. Junior
Olympics (facility rentals, lodging, etc.) and the City of
Alexandria, according to Councilman Myron Lawson, agreed to
contribute $35,000 as a general sponsorship for the first two events.
Those events, incidentally, never would have taken place here without
LC’s help.

We can’t wait to see how this gets resolved, and LC, understandably,
wants the waiting to end.

FIFA Rankings List

.c The Associated Press

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) – FIFA Rankings of national teams for June released
Wednesday (previous rank in parentheses):

1. Brazil, 835 points (1).

2. France, 813 (2).

3. Spain, 792 (3).

4. Czech Republic, 762 (11).

5. Netherlands, 748 (5).

6. Mexico, 743 (4).

7. United States, 735 (9).

8. England, 733 (13).

9. Italy, 729 (10).

10. Turkey, 723 (5).

11. Argentina, 722 (5).

12. Portugal, 715 (22).

(tie). Germany, 715 (8).

14. Greece, 710 (35).

15. Denmark, 706 (15).

16. Cameroon, 702 (12).

(tie). Ireland, 702 (14).

18. Nigeria, 697 (16).

19. Sweden, 686 (18).

20. South Korea, 670 (20).

21. Iran, 664 (19).

(tie). Saudi Arabia, 664 (24).

23. Croatia, 662 (20).

24. Japan, 660 (23).

(tie). Belgium, 660 (17).

26. Russia, 655 (31).

27. Poland, 653 (26).

28. Senegal, 651 (26).

29. Paraguay, 650 (25).

(tie). Costa Rica, 650 (26).

31. Morocco, 646 (33).

32. Romania, 638 (31).

(tie). Uruguay, 638 (29).

34. Egypt, 637 (29).

35. Tunisia, 634 (33).

36. Colombia, 622 (37).

37. Ecuador, 616 (37).

38. Norway, 613 (36).

39. South Africa, 610 (39).

40. Jordan, 605 (42).

41. Bulgaria, 602 (40).

42. Slovenia, 598 (41).

43. Iraq, 582 (45).

44. Finland, 578 (42).

45. Switzerland, 577 (47).

46. Mali, 576 (46).

(tie). Zimbabwe, 576 (48).

48. Serbia-Montenegro, 574 (44).

49. Jamaica, 565 (51).

50. Venezuela, 562 (50).

51. Bahrain, 559 (57).

52. Australia, 556 (49).

53. Latvia, 555 (53).

54. Honduras, 553 (55).

(tie). Qatar, 553 (54).

56. Kuwait, 552 (59).

57. Algeria, 550 (52).

58. Oman, 548 (63).

59. Scotland, 545 (55).

60. Israel, 544 (57).

61. Wales, 541 (60).

62. Ivory Coast, 539 (69).

63. Trinidad and Tobago, 536 (77).

64. China, 535 (65).

(tie). Thailand, 535 (61).

66. Chile, 534 (65).

(tie). Cuba, 534 (80).

(tie). Slovakia, 534 (61).

69. Congo DR, 532 (65).

70. Libya, 525 (82).

71. United Arab Emirates, 523 (76).

(tie). Ghana, 523 (89).

73. Bosnia-Herzegovina, 522 (64).

74. Zambia, 521 (77).

75. Peru, 518 (72).

(tie). Iceland, 518 (65).

77. Ukraine, 515 (71).

78. Hungary, 514 (74).

(tie). Angola, 514 (85).

80. Uzbekistan, 513 (83).

(tie). Burkina Faso, 513 (73).

82. Estonia, 512 (75).

83. New Zealand, 510 (80).

84. Syria, 508 (83).

85. Belarus, 507 (86).

86. Austria, 502 (70).

(tie). Kenya, 502 (79).

88. Guinea, 501 (92).

(tie). Guatemala, 501 (87).

90. Canada, 495 (95).

91. Haiti, 486 (88).

92. Macedonia, 484 (93).

93. Turkmenistan, 481 (90).

94. Albania, 480 (91).

95. Togo, 474 (94).

96. Indonesia, 472 (97).

97. Republic of Congo, 468 (107).

98. Rwanda, 467 (100).

99. Bolivia, 463 (97).

100. Vietnam, 461 (96).

(tie). Uganda, 461 (97).

102. El Salvador, 447 (104).

103. Malawi, 446 (101).

104. Cyprus, 443 (102).

105. Georgia, 437 (102).

106. Panama, 435 (120).

107. Sudan, 433 (105).

108. St. Kitts and Nevis, 431 (120).

109. Botswana, 430 (115).

(tie). Lebanon, 430 (109).

111. Moldova, 426 (108).

112. Northern Ireland, 425 (110).

113. Liberia, 420 (106).

114. North Korea, 418 (125).

115. Lithuania, 414 (110).

116. Barbados, 411 (113).

117. Singapore, 408 (114).

118. Armenia, 407 (116).

119. Azerbaijan, 401 (112).

120. Benin, 398 (122).

121. Gabon, 395 (122).

122. Malaysia, 390 (118).

(tie). Mauritius, 390 (118

(tie). Tahiti, 390 (117).

125. Swaziland, 384 (124).

126. Mozambique, 382 (126).

127. St. Lucia, 369 (128).

128. Madagascar, 367 (127).

(tie). Solomon Islands, 367 (130).

130. Lesotho, 366 (128).

131. Fiji, 362 (133).

132. Malta, 361 (131).

(tie). Palestine, 361 (132).

134. Cape Verde Islands, 347 (146).

(tie). Yemen, 347 (135).

136. Tajikistan, 344 (136).

(tie). Faeroe Islands, 344 (134).

138. Grenada, 331 (138).

139. Ethiopia, 330 (137).

140. Maldives, 316 (141).

(tie). Sri Lanka, 316 (139).

142. Vanuatu, 315 (142).

143. India, 314 (143).

144. Kazakhstan, 313 (140).

145. Hong Kong, 306 (145).

146. Gambia, 302 (144).

147. Myanmar, 294 (147).

(tie). Suriname, 294 (154).

149. Andorra, 287 (148).

(tie). Namibia, 287 (149).

151. Burundi, 277 (150).

152. Sierra Leone, 276 (151).

153. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 273 (163).

(tie). Liechtenstein, 273 (152).

155. Taiwan, 270 (153).

156. Kyrgyzstan, 263 (158).

157. Bangladesh, 252 (155).

(tie). Luxembourg, 252 (156).

159. Chad, 244 (157).

160. Nicaragua, 238 (161).

161. Eritrea, 237 (159).

162. Bermuda, 233 (164).

163. Antigua and Barbuda, 231 (162).

164. Papua New Guinea, 228 (160).

165. Equatorial Guinea, 217 (164).

(tie). Tanzania, 217 (166).

167. Dominica, 215 (168).

168. San Marino, 214 (167).

169. Netherlands Antilles, 210 (171).

(tie). Dominican Republic, 210 (172).

171. Seychelles, 202 (169).

172. Niger, 201 (170).

173. Laos, 198 (175).

(tie). Mauritania, 198 (173).

175. Nepal, 196 (174).

176. Pakistan, 192 (176).

177. Samoa, 178 (177).

178. Central African Republic, 173 (178).

179. British Virgin Islands, 169 (179).

180. Belize, 161 (180).

181. Guyana, 154 (181).

182. Tonga, 145 (182).

183. Cayman Islands, 141 (183).

184. Cambodia, 137 (184).

185. Mongolia, 135 (185).

186. New Caledonia, 119 (186).

187. Macao, 113 (187).

(tie). Guinea-Bissau, 113 (188).

189. Bhutan, 108 (189).

190. Cook Islands, 101 (190).

191. Philippines, 99 (191).

192. Bahamas, 98 (192).

193. Somalia, 95 (193).

194. SIao TomDe e PrDincipe, 90 (194).

195. Brunei, 75 (195).

196. Aruba, 71 (196).

197. Anguilla, 66 (197).

198. Afghanistan, 63 (198).

199. Djibouti, 50 (199).

200. U.S. Virgin Islands, 47 (200).

201. Puerto Rico, 35 (201).

202. Turks and Caicos Islands, 26 (202).

203. American Samoa, 19 (203).

204. Guam, 17 (204).

205. Montserrat, 6 (205).

07/07/04 13:18 EDT

RUSSIAN FIRMS TO PARTICIPATE IN KAZAKH TENDER FOR UPGRADE OF AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROL

Interfax-AVN military news agency web site, Moscow
7 Jul 04

Nizhniy Tagil, Sverdlovsk Region, 7 July: Russian air traffic control
system designers and manufacturers will participate in a tender on
upgrading the Kazakh air traffic control system, Nikolay Bordyuzha,
secretary- general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO), told Interfax-Military News Agency at the Nizhniy Tagil arms
show on Wednesday (7 July).

“We have arranged for Russian manufacturers to display their air
traffic control systems and participate in the Kazakh tender,”
Bordyuzha said.

According to him, the Russian side has already made corresponding
proposals on upgrading the Kazakh air traffic control system, and is
continuing work with this end in view.

Bordyuzha said that many CSTO member-states enjoyed an economic boost,
singling Kazakhstan out as an example. “At the present time this
country is ready to participate in developing new weapon systems,” he
said.

According to Bordyuzha, Tajikistan, Armenia, and other CSTO
member-states are also experiencing economic growth. “CSTO
member-states will have enough real money in the near future, and
these assets will be used to procure Russian arms and materiel,” he
emphasized.

He also noted that cooperation had recently been revived within the
CSTO framework. “Many industrial enterprises embrace the approach of
establishing interstate holding companies. The Oboronitelnye Sistemy
Holding Company is being established at the moment. It will comprise
enterprises and companies from the following five CSTO member-states:
Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan,” he said.

Kazakh Defence Minister Mukhtar Altynbayev earlier told Interfax- AVN
that Kazakhstan would be studying proposals on modernizing the air
defence systems and air traffic controlling systems sometime before
2008 or 2010.

The Kazakh government has approved a plan to create an integrated
system for air traffic control for the period from 2004 to
2010. According to this plan, a tender will be held in the second
quarter of 2010 to determine who will carry out the project.

Experts say the value of the contract may amount to 1bn dollars.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 6, 2004 Tuesday 3:38 PM Eastern Time

Interaction with Armenia among Russia foreign policy priorities

By Svetlana Alexandrova, Alexandra Urusova

MOSCOW

The latest meeting of the Minsk group of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict showed that the sides are ready to look for
the solution to this long-standing problem, Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday following the talks with his Armenian
counterpart Vardan Oskanyan.

The Russian minister pointed to the “coincidence of the positions of
the two countries virtually on all the questions of the bilateral and
international agenda”.

He stressed that interaction with Armenia “is a priority trend in
Russian foreign policy”. “This is fully manifested in such areas as
cooperation in investment, trade and economic partnership and the
political dialogue”.

He said the recently formed Russo-Armenian business council
contributed much to the development of relations. Lavrov said
cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the
CIS, United Nations and the Council of Europe was discussed at the
meeting.

In his turn, Vardan Oskanyan expressed satisfaction with the results
of the talks with Sergei Lavrov. “I am sure that our political
dialogue will be continued, especially now that many interesting
events take place in our region”, he said.

Le Figaro, France
02 juillet 2004

Turquie : il n’y a rien d’irréversible;
EUROPE Au moment où les Pays-Bas prennent la présidence de l’Union
pour six mois

par Nicolas DUPONT-AIGNAN

En déclarant à Ankara lors du sommet de l’Otan que « le mouvement
conduisant à l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne est
irréversible et au total souhaitable », Jacques Chirac met le peuple
français devant un fait accompli inacceptable et dangereux.

En engageant la France, sans même envisager de consulter les
Français, le président de la République tourne le dos aux principes
fondateurs de la Ve République qui voulaient que les choix décisifs
pour l’avenir du pays soient ratifiés par référendum. De surcroît,
l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’UE n’a jamais fait l’objet d’un débat
au Parlement, ni figuré dans un programme présidentiel. Prendre
prétexte de la continuité de la politique française depuis le
rapprochement initié par le général de Gaulle avec la Turquie pour
favoriser son adhésion est un contresens car, à cette époque, l’Union
européenne n’avait rien à voir avec l’ensemble intégré qu’elle est
devenue aujourd’hui.

On peut d’ailleurs refuser l’entrée de la Turquie en Europe sans pour
autant nier l’importance de ce pays dans l’équilibre géopolitique du
continent européen, ni btir avec lui un partenariat solide, comme on
le fait par exemple avec le Maghreb.

Reconnaître comme irréversible l’entrée de la Turquie revient, moins
d’un mois après l’élection du Parlement européen, à balayer d’un
revers de la main la position de tous les partis politiques de la
majorité et plus largement d’une grande majorité de Français. Au
moment où les Français sont de plus en plus las de cette Europe qui
se construit sans eux, voire contre eux, il est dangereux pour la
santé démocratique de la France de vouloir une fois de plus passer en
force. L’histoire a amplement démontré qu’il est vain de vouloir
gouverner contre le peuple.

Si vraiment les chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement sont si sûrs de
l’utilité de l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’UE, pourquoi ne font-ils
pas alors valoir leurs arguments devant les peuples souverains ?
C’est tout le sens de la pétition nationale « Un million de
signatures pour un double référendum » que vient de lancer Debout la
République. La perspective de l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union
s’inscrit en effet dans le cadre de la future Constitution qui
asseoit la représentation des Etats au prorata de la population. Dans
vingt ans la Turquie aura près de 100 millions d’habitants et
détiendra ainsi près de 20 % des droits de vote du Conseil européen
loin devant la France.

Comment considérer comme « européen » l’ancien empire ottoman, situé
pour l’essentiel hors de notre continent ? A l’évidence, intégrer la
Turquie à l’Europe serait aussi pertinent que d’encourager l’Espagne
à adhérer à l’Organisation des Etats Africains ! Nier à ce point la
géographie, c’est prendre le risque d’une grave déstabilisation de
l’Union. La dynamique nationale turque est d’ailleurs au moins autant
tournée vers l’Asie centrale turcophone (au point qu’Ankara accorde
sur simple demande aux ressortissants de ces anciennes républiques
soviétiques la nationalité turque) que vers la Méditerranée.

Souvenons-nous aussi que l’histoire commune turco-européenne, si
souvent invoquée par les partisans de l’adhésion, a essentiellement
été placée sous le signe d’une expansion militaire et religieuse que
les Européens n’ont définitivement refoulée qu’à l’extrême fin du
XIXe siècle !

La démographie turque ne rapproche pas davantage ce pays des nations
d’Europe : outre qu’elle compte de nombreuses communautés émigrées
dans l’Union (qui fausseraient la donne électorale dans les pays
d’accueil en cas d’adhésion), la Turquie n’a toujours pas délimité
ses frontières et refuse de reconnaître le génocide arménien.

Quant à la question essentielle de la laïcité turque, elle est
beaucoup plus ambiguë qu’elle n’y paraît : d’un côté, celle-ci est
imparfaite et précaire (elle constitue une sorte de concordat, par
nature révocable), de l’autre, seules des élites extrêmement
minoritaires s’en revendiquent. En fait, cette quasi-vitrine laïque
ne tient que par la volonté de l’armée, au détriment de la bonne
santé démocratique du pays. La victoire électorale récente des
islamistes, qui sont loin de chérir la modernité occidentale malgré
leurs dénégations, est emblématique de ce dilemme…

Pourquoi alors l’entêtement de certains dirigeants européens ?
Hétéroclites comme toutes les justifications qui étayent les
mauvaises causes, les raisons ne manquent pas : routine d’une
construction européenne « au petit bonheur la chance » fondée sur
l’inconséquence de la fuite en avant, opportunisme électoral
(Schröder), acharnement à diluer l’UE dans l’Otan (Angleterre et
Etats-Unis), posture bien-pensante qui consiste à brandir un
universalisme détourné pour cacher une incapacité morale à assumer
les différences… Mais, dans ces conditions, pourquoi ne pas
proposer conjointement des négociations d’adhésion à l’Ukraine, à la
Biélorussie, à la Moldavie, à Israël et aux pays arabes du pourtour
de la Méditerranée ? Le temps n’est-il donc pas venu, au contraire,
de reconnaître l’erreur du sommet d’Helsinki, qui a
malencontreusement ouvert la voie de l’adhésion turque ?

Etre l’ami de la Turquie (ce qui est le cas de la France) consiste à
lui dire la vérité et à lui proposer une solution alternative : celle
d’un partenariat nouveau permettant à ce grand pays de jouer
pleinement son rôle à la charnière de l’Europe, de l’Asie et du
Proche-Orient.

Les peuples de l’Union, qui prennent aujourd’hui toute la mesure de
l’enjeu européen, veulent désormais avancer les yeux ouverts et les
pieds sur terre. Aussi, si le débat turc leur était confisqué,
gageons qu’ils se le réapproprieraient lors des référendums sur la
ratification du futur traité sur les institutions de l’Union.

Nicolas DUPONT-AIGNAN, Député UMP de l’Essonne ; président de Debout
la République.

Armenian fugitives to move to third country by late July – Azeri minister

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
2 Jul 04

[Presenter] The case of a group of 200 Wahhabis, which has been
drawing up plans against the state, will be submitted to court in the
near future, Azerbaijani National Security Minister Namiq Abbasov has
told ATV. The minister went on to say that prosecutors are trying to
establish the Wahhabis’ main purpose although the fact that they have
been drawing up plans against statehood has been confirmed.

[Passage omitted: reported details]

[Correspondent over video of Namiq Abbasov] According to the minister,
the case will be submitted to court as soon as it is completed. Judges
will have a final say.

As for soldier Aydin Huseynov who has been taken prisoner in the south
of Agdam District, the minister said that the state commission of the
Azerbaijani National Security Ministry for POWs, hostages and missing
persons is not dealing with the issue yet. According to the minister,
the Armenian side has not registered our soldier as a prisoner of war
yet. Mr Abbasov said that the state committee will be come to grips
with the issue as soon as the soldier is granted prisoner of war
status.

As for the plight of Artur Apresyan and Roman Teryan who fled Armenia
to Azerbaijan on 8 April, the minister said that work is under way to
move them to a third country and a final decision on the issue will be
made by late July.

Vusala Karimova and Bahruz Aliyev for “Son Xabar”.

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
July 1 2004

Gul: Dialogue, Cooperation And Respect For Others’ Values Are Our
Basic Principles

ISTANBUL – Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that dialogue, cooperation and respect
for others’ values were their basic principles.

Gul added that the idea of clash of civilizations was not valid for
Turkey and Turkey’s foreign policy.

Gul delivered a speech at the closure session of ”Istanbul
Pan-Atlantic Student Summit” at Koc University in Istanbul.

Stating that half of Turkey’s population consisted of youths under
the age of 25, Gul underlined the importance of NATO Youth Summit’s
convening in Turkey.

Stressing that Turkey was determined to educate youths in political,
economic and other fields, Gul noted that the government had a
reformist structure. He added that they attached great importance to
values of youths.

Gul noted that Turkey expected to start membership negotiations with
the European Union (EU) at the end of 2004, stating that they knew
contribution that Turkey would make to EU, hoping that EU would also
comprehend it.

Stating that NATO alliance was based on democratic ideals, he said
that NATO had responsibility to protect and defend common values.

Gul said that the alliance had fulfilled this task from the very
beginning, stressing that it would also continue to take steps on
protection of freedoms and fight against terrorism.

Foreign Minister Gul said that the alliance adopted exchanging
mutually views on every issue as a principle, stating that NATO was
going through an adaptation process continuously.

Stating that NATO also undertook significant tasks to improve
stability in the world, Gul underlined that Turkey attached great
importance to further improvement of its relations with NATO, EU and
also regional countries.

Gul asked students attending NATO Youth Summit to take Turkey’s
messages of peace and tolerance to their countries.

Replying to a question on their expectations after referenda held in
Cyprus on April 24, Gul said that Turkey and the United Nations
extended great efforts for solution of Cyprus issue.

Noting that Cyprus plan prepared by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
envisaged a two-sided but united Cyprus, Gul said that the Turkish
Cypriot side accepted the plan in the referendum, but a historic
opportunity was missed as the Greek Cypriot side rejected it.

”What Turkish Cypriots expect from now on is the lifting of economic
embargo and travel embargo,” he said.

Stating that Turkey preserved its perspective of a lasting
resolution, Gul called on western countries to keep their promises to
lift embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot side.

Asked what kind of things could be done to change relationship
between the Islam culture and western culture for the better, Gul
said the Republic of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire which had a 600
years of history attributed importance to tolerance and mutual
respect.

Stressing that nobody was messing in religion and language of others
and nobody was assimilated in Turkey, Gul said that it was proven
with existence of worship places of three religions in Ortakoy
district of Istanbul.

Gul said that Turkey would continue contributing to peace in the
world and stability in the region.

Asked what kind of steps that the NATO envisaged to take for
resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at Istanbul Summit,
Gul said that Palestinian-Israeli problem concerned not only those
two regions, but also whole region and the world.

Stressing that steps for resolution of this chronic problem would
relieve firstly the region and later the world, Gul said that a road
map was prepared and a broader platform beyond the NATO discussed the
issue.

Gul said Turkey supported such initiatives and would exert every
effort.

Asked about matters that had been discussed during his meeting with
the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Gul said it was a
very beneficial meeting and both sides were satisfied with the
meeting.

Noting that problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia could not remain
stagnant while partial progress was recorded in other problems in the
region, Gul said it was a great achievement as the sides were
satisfied with the meeting in Istanbul.

Stating that they would hold another meeting in New York in
September, Gul added that he believed they would record progress in
resolution of problems through dialogue.