Author: Hunanian Jack

DIKO ELECTS NEW LEADER TODAY AFTER WEEKS OF ACRIMONY
By Elias Hazou

Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
Oct 22 2006

RULING DIKO goes to the polls today to elect a new party leader,
ending an acrimonious campaign with no shortage of low blows.

Back in August, Tassos Papadopoulos dropped a bombshell when he
announced he was standing down.

Papadopoulos said he had decided to step down because his duties
as President did not allow him fully to respond to his duties as
DIKO chairman.

However, his resignation was also seen as kick starting the 2008
presidential race. In a farewell speech earlier this month,
Papadopoulos appealed for unity within DIKO, but subsequent
developments have been anything but harmonious.

Papadopoulos took over the reins of DIKO in 2000 from the late founder
Spyros Kyprianou. But the day-to-day running of the party was delegated
to no.2 Nicos Cleanthous A lawyer by profession, Cleanthous, regarded
as toeing the "Papadopoulos line", now faces off against the younger
Marios Karoyian, a former presidential spokesman.

Karoyian is portraying himself as a link between the old and new
guards inside DIKO. He has pledged to open up the party and improve
its functioning, which he says has grown stale.

In this respect, Karoyian’s endeavour has been likened to that of
PASOK leader George Papandreou in Greece: more power to ordinary
party members.

On a live radio show this week, Karoyian – derided by detractors as
an upstart – indirectly criticised Cleanthous, saying that DIKO could
have done better in May’s legislative elections.

Cleanthous countered, noting that the party received 17.8 per cent
of the popular vote, and that in all fairness he should be given at
least some of the credit.

"Why is it that I am saddled with the negative things, never the good
things?" Cleanthous complained.

The campaign had turned nasty early on, when members of the Cleanthous
camp started picking on Karoyian’s Armenian descent.

In a letter printed in a newspaper, a Cleanthous supporter accused
Karoyian of not doing his military service – Armenians are not called
up to the National Guard – and cast a shadow over his patriotism.

Sources close to Karoyian dismissed this as racist behaviour and a
dishonest attempt at prejudicing DIKO members.

Cleanthous has denied all along any connection to this rumour peddling,
even speaking out against it.

But Karoyian’s cohorts have also managed to dig up dirt on Cleanthous:
they say that at one time Cleanthous "left" DIKO to join the ranks
of another political grouping, Enosis Kentrou (Union of the Centre).

The accusation struck a raw nerve with Cleanthous.

"I did not abandon DIKO, I merely became inactive for a while,"
he said.

"And this was at a time when the party came to power. Show me another
politician who would forsake the spoils of power."

At a gathering of supporters at Nicosia’s Hilton Hotel this week,
Cleanthous appealed to DIKO members’ sense of responsibility.

"Do the right thing," was his slogan, implying he was the man to
ensure stability and continuity.

Commentators note that the new party chief will have a tough task
ahead: the municipal elections – which strained relations between
the government coalition -are just around the corner.

Already, cracks have been shaping inside the party: members of the
Nicosia district branch are disgruntled at having been left out of
the decision-making process. They say that the mayoral candidates
for the Nicosia district have been imposed on them from the top.

Karoyian is almost certain to tap into this disaffection.

The party has also been rocked by allegations from former heavyweight
Nicos Pittokopitis, who claims he was robbed of the Paphos mayorship.

Pittokopitis threatened to unleash a "political typhoon" of revelations
regarding the wheeling and dealing between DIKO, EDEK and AKEL for
the municipalities.

Tomorrow’s election will be followed by a vote in DIKO’s Central
Committee to nominate an alternate chairman.

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Zvartnots Yerevan Airport to Charge 2 Euros for Security Beginning on November 1

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.10.2006 13:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ New security fare will be introduced at Zvartnots
international airports beginning on November 1. Based on the
regulations of the International Federation of Civil Aviation, each
person arriving, departing or transiting will have to pay 2 Euros. The
Central Administration of the Civil Aviation of Armenia reported that
owing to the fight against terror the International Federation and
other international organizations suggested that airports introduce
new security technologies. Specifically, to identify passengers in
Zvartnots dactylogram identification equipment will be used, reports
IA Regnum.

A-320 CRASH RESULT OF CRIMINAL SCUFFLE ABOARD?

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2006 15:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The crash of A-320 liner of Armavia Armenian
Company was a result of a criminal scuffle aboard, former pilot of
Armenian Airlines having 42 years of experience Vladimir Poghosyan
told journalists in Yerevan Thursday. In his words, before the flight
a criminal scuffle of two groupings took place, however they were
allowed aboard. Thus, the scuffle continued in the plane. He remarked,
"calls from 4 Russian citizens indicated there was firing aboard."

The Armenian pilot believes that according to the scheme of approach
landing, the crew had to make a decision on landing at the altitude
of 600 meters, however, "as the weather did not meet the required
minimum of the airport, no crew had the right to land." "Thus, I
cannot understand, why the crew decided to land in Sochi," Poghosyan
said. In his opinion, investigation by an independent Armenian
commission is necessary, as official investigation is not over yet,
reports Novosti-Armenia.

According to the preliminary conclusion of the International Aviation
Commission, inappropriate actions of the liner’s captain resulted
in A-320 crash. No failure of engines or systems was registered,
the plane responded to the robot pilot and crew actions, the level
of fuel was enough for completing the flight successfully.

A-320 liner of Armavia company crashed over the Black Sea on the night
of May 3 during approach landing in Sochi airport. All 105 passengers
and 8 crewmembers aboard died.

IRAQ’S CHRISTIANS IMPERILED
By Charles Tannock

Philadelphia Inquirer, PA
Oct 18 2006

The world is consumed by fears that Iraq is degenerating into a civil
war among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. But in this looming war of all
against all, it is Iraq’s small community of Assyrian Christians that
is at risk of annihilation.

Iraq’s Christian communities are among the world’s most ancient,
having practiced their faith in Mesopotamia almost since the time
of Christ. The Assyrian Apostolic Church has existed since 34 A.D.,
and the Assyrian Church of the East dates to 33 A.D. The Aramaic that
many of Iraq’s Christians still speak is the language of Christ.

When tolerated by their Muslim rulers, Assyrian Christians contributed
much to their societies. Their scholars helped to usher in the "Golden
Age" of the Arab world by translating important works into Arabic
from Greek and Syriac. But in recent times, toleration has scarcely
existed. In the Armenian Genocide of 1914-1918, 750,000 Assyrians –
roughly two-thirds of their number – were massacred by the Ottoman
Turks with the help of the Kurds.

Under the Iraqi Hashemite monarchy, Assyrians faced persecution
for cooperating with the British during World War I. Many fled to
the West. During Saddam Hussein’s wars with the Kurds, hundreds
of Assyrian villages were destroyed, their inhabitants rendered
homeless, and dozens of ancient churches were bombed. The teaching
of the Syriac language was prohibited, and Assyrians were forced to
give their children Arabic names.

In 1987, the Iraqi census listed 1.4 million Christians. Today, only
about 600,000 to 800,000 remain. As many as 60,000, and perhaps even
more, have fled since the beginning of the insurgency that followed the
U.S.-led invasion in 2003. Their exodus accelerated in August 2004,
after the start of the terrorist bombing campaign against Christian
churches by Islamists.

A recent United Nations report states that religious minorities in Iraq
"have become the regular victims of discrimination, harassment and,
at times, persecution, with incidents ranging from intimidation to
murder," and that "members of the Christian minority appear to be
particularly targeted."

Indeed, there are widespread reports of Christians fleeing the country
as a result of threats being made to their women for not adhering
to strict Islamic dress codes. Christian women are said to have had
acid thrown in their faces. Some have been killed for wearing jeans
or not wearing the veil.

Over the last two years, 27 Assyrian churches have reportedly been
attacked for the sole reason that they were Christian places of
worship. These attacks go beyond targeting physical manifestations
of the faith. Christian-owned small businesses, particularly those
selling alcohol, have been attacked, and many shopkeepers murdered.

Sadly, the plight of Iraq’s Christians is not an isolated one in the
Middle East. Iran’s population has nearly doubled since the 1979
revolution, but, under a hostile regime, the number of Christians
in the country has fallen from roughly 300,000 to 100,000. In 1948,
Christians accounted for roughly 20 percent of the population of what
was then Palestine; now, they are about 1.6 percent of the Palestinian
population in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

In Egypt, emigration among Coptic Christians is disproportionately
high; many convert to Islam under pressure, and over the last few
years, violence against the Christian community has taken many lives.

Saudi Arabia’s Wahabbi regime prohibits any form of Christian worship.

The persecution of these ancient and unique Christian communities,
in Iraq and in the Middle East as a whole, is deeply disturbing. Last
April, the European Parliament voted virtually unanimously for the
Assyrians to be allowed to establish (on the basis of Section 5 of
the Iraqi constitution) a federal region where they can be free from
outside interference to practice their own way of life. It is high
time now that the West paid more attention, and took forceful action
to secure the future of Iraq’s embattled Christians.

Charles Tannock ([email protected]) is vice president
of the human rights subcommittee of the European Parliament.

BARROSO: EUROPE SHOULD TAKE A TOUGHER STANCE TOWARDS RUSSIA

AZG Armenian Daily
18/10/2006

Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, has urged
European leaders to take a tougher stance towards president Vladimir
Putin of Russia in regard to issues of energetic safety, Georgia’s
blockade and investigation into the assassination of famous journalist
Anna Politkovskaya.

President Putin is slated to meet European leaders in Finland on
October 20. "I do not want to be suspected in clashing with Russia
but I am sure we will achieve no results if he step back from our
principles when it comes to Russians," Barroso said.

"WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE OUR DEAR ARNO"

A1+
[02:19 pm] 18 October, 2006

On October 28-25 a music festival will take place in Yerevan
dedicated to the 85th anniversary of renowned composer Arno
Babajanyan. Scientific conferences and concerts will be organized
during those five days.

"We must always love and respect our dear Arno as long as we live",
said composer Edward Mirzoyan. Arno’s friends remember him with
love and admiration. Pianist Arthur Papazyan recalls him not only
as a great composer, but also as a good friend and wonderful person,
"It’s a pity I have not yet played any of his works. Maybe after the
conference I will take up one of them", he said.

Today’s conference was the first event of the celebration. 12 reports
were represented. The reporters referred to the activity of the
composer from different angles. "This year we aim at pouring light on
Arno Babajanyan’s works which are not very famous. It is important
especially for the new generation. They must be well aware of the
musical heritage of Arno", said doctor-professor Svetlana Sargsyan.

The organizers of the festival are charity fund "Arno Babajanyan",
RA Ministry of Culture and State Conservatoire after Komitas.

CENTRAL BANK OF ARMENIA PUTS INTO CIRCULATION TWO SILVER COINS AS PART OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM CAUCASUS FAUNA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 17 2006

YEREVAN, October 17. /ARKA/. Central Bank of Armenia has put into
circulation two silver coins issued as part of international program
Caucasus Fauna, CBA press office reports.

Two species – South Caucasus brown bear and big-eared hedgehog are
depicted on the coins.

The press release says the coins nominal value is AMD 100.

The coins are made of 925(±50) silver of 38.61 mm (±0.15 mm) diameter
and 28.28 (±0.25g) weight.

The coins have been designed by specialists from Poland and made in
Poland. The press release syas 3000 coins of each type are released.

–Boundary_(ID_GKpPTrb1hWkXEmYiG5AE6A)- –

SITTING OF PACE MONITORING COMMISSION HELD IN YEREVAN

Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 16 2006

Sitting of PACE Monitoring Commission was held in RA National Assembly
today. Greeting the participants, NA Speaker, Head of the Armenian
delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Tigran Torosyan thanked members of PACE Bureau and Commission for
accepting the invitation to hold the sitting in Yerevan. Noting that
parliamentary elections are expected in seven months, Mr. Torosyan
expressed the hope that the fact of holding the Commission’s sitting in
Armenia will endorse the efforts directed at conducting the elections
in compliance with CoE standards and requirements.

Turning to the changes that took place in Armenia after Constitutional
amendments, Mr. Torosyan particularly emphasized the abolition of
administrative detainment, granting to the National Assembly the
right to elect the Ombudsman and expansion of the circle of those
who are eligible to apply the Constitutional Court.

NA Chairman expressed the regret that representatives of two member
countries – Georgia and Azerbaijan – did not participate in the
sitting. He is confident that the only chance for resolving the
problems member countries face is the joint discussion of issues,
including within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

"GENOCIDE ARMENIEN": UN UNIVERSITAIRE TURC RENVOIE SA LEGION D’HONNEUR

Agence France Presse
16 octobre 2006 lundi

Le president de la plus haute institution universitaire turque a
renvoye lundi a la France sa medaille de Commandeur de la Legion
d’Honneur en protestation contre une proposition de loi francaise
reprimant la negation du "genocide armenien", a affirme son bureau
lundi.

Le professeur Erdogan Tezic, president du Conseil superieur de
l’education (YOK), est le seul Turc a avoir ete decore, en septembre
2004, de la plus prestigieuse des distinctions francaises, precise
un communique de la presidence du YOK.

Dans une lettre adressee au president francais Jacques Chirac, M. Tezic
explique que meme si le gouvernement francais s’est distancie de la
proposition de loi controversee, M. Chirac appele le mois dernier la
Turquie a reconnaître le caractère genocidaire de massacres d’Armeniens
en 1915-1917.

"Cette proposition de loi n’eut-elle pas meme ete votee, le fait
qu’ainsi ce sujet ait ete erige comme un principe de la politique
d’Etat ne me permet plus de porter dorenavant la plus haute des
distinctions francaises", affirme la lettre, dont l’AFP a obtenu
une copie.

La Turquie s’est indignee du vote la semaine dernière par l’Assemblee
nationale francaise d’une proposition de loi sanctionnant la negation
du "genocide armenien" de peines allant jusqu’a un an de prison et
45.000 euros (57.000 dollars) d’amende.

Le texte controverse doit encore etre soumis aux senateurs, puis aux
deputes en seconde lecture, avant d’etre definitivement adopte.

Les massacres et deportations d’Armeniens entre 1915 et 1917 dans
l’Empire ottoman ont fait plus de 1,5 millions de morts selon les
Armeniens, 250.000 a 500.000 selon la Turquie, qui recuse la notion de
genocide reconnue notamment par la France, le Canada et le Parlement
europeen.

–Boundary_(ID_EuqFnX04zPb9ab +H50jcrQ)–

LE PROJET DE LOI FRANCAIS SUR LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN EMBARRASSE

Europolitique
16 octobre 2006

" Le vote des deputes francais rendant passible de prison la negation
du genocide armenien est sans effet sur le processus d’accession de la
Turquie a l’Union europeenne ", a estime le 13 octobre la commissaire
europeenne aux Relations exterieures, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. " Ce
qui se passe en France et ce que nous faisons nous, en tant qu’Union
europeenne, avec un pays candidat sont deux choses distinctes ",
a declare la commissiaire a la television finlandaise Yle.

Vote le 12 octobre par l’Assemblee nationale, le projet de loi
rend passibles d’une peine de prison d’un an et d’une amende de 45
000 euros les auteurs de declarations niant le " genocide armenien
". Le resultat du vote a ete communique a Ali Babacan, negociateur
turc, alors qu’il participait a la table ronde annuelle des Amis
de l’Europe, qui se deroulait a Bruxelles sur le thème " l’Etat de
l’Europe ". M. Babacan a exprime sa desaprobation a propos de la
decision parlementaire et a dit esperer que la loi serait rejetee
par le senat ou que le President y opposerait son veto.

Le commissaire a l’Elargissement, Olli Rehn, avait denonce cette
proposition de loi le 9 octobre, la jugeant " contre-productive " et
estimant qu’elle pourrait entraîner de " graves " consequences pour
les relations entre l’UE et la Turquie. " Il s’agit evidemment d’une
loi francaise et c’est bien sûr le problème des deputes francais
mais cela a des consequences potentiellement graves pour l’UE et
ses relations avec la Turquie ", avait declare M. Rehn a quelques
journalistes. Son adoption " aurait deux consequences : cela bloquerait
le debat sur la question armenienne en Turquie et cela ralentirait
et entraverait le debat sur la liberte d’expression en Turquie ",
a estime le commissaire.

Un porte parole de la Commission a rappele le 13 octobre que la
reconnaissance du genocide des Armeniens n’etait pas une condition
a l’adhesion de la Turquie.

" Les relations entre la Turquie et la France, qui se sont
developpees au fil des siècles, ont subi un choc aujourd’hui en raison
d’initiatives irresponsables prises par certains politiciens francais
peu perspicaces, sur la base d’allegations non fondees ", a declare le
ministre turc des Affaires etrangères La reaction du gouvernement turc,
soutenu par les partis d’opposition et des mouvements de protestation
dans tout le pays, n’a pas faibli face aux declarations rassurantes
du gouvernement francais qui a dit ne pas soutenir la loi. Mais,
quelques jours plus tôt, a l’occasion de sa visite dans la capitale
armenienne, le President Chirac avait invite la Turquie, si elle
voulait rejoindre l’UE, a reconnaître la qualite de genocide aux
massacres qui ont coûte la vie a au moins 1.500.000 Armeniens entre
1915 et 1917. Par ailleurs, nul n’ignore que certains membres du
gouvernement francais sont opposes a l’adhesion de la Turquie.

–Boundary_(ID_AQFQ39RoZOFN6WoTi6hlsQ)–