Author: Jagharian Tania

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| 16:18:43 | 10-05-2005 | Politics |

CHURCH CONVERTED INTO CAFÉ, THEN INTO HOTEL

Lately the Armenian church of St. Makar situated in Northern Cyprus has been
used as a café.

Yeniduzen Turkish newspaper writes that some Dervish Sonmezler, who is the
«owner» of the cafe is going to convert it into a hotel.

The Church was founded by Copts in the 4th century. Then it passed to
Armenians and during centuries was one of the holy places for Armenians.
Being under the jurisdiction of the Antilias patriarchate, the Church
preserved ties with Holy Echmiadzin and was the beloved place of the
Armenian community before the Turks occupied Northern Cyprus.

Recently the Church has been plundered. The manuscripts and icons were sold.

Turkey firm on facing Armenian allegations

Thursday, May 5, 2005

DIPLOMACY

Ankara is not distancing itself from the idea of having officials on
a joint research committee between Turkey and Armenia

TDN Parliament Bureau

Ankara, seeking an initiative concerning Armenian genocide allegations
via a joint research committee between Ankara and Yerevan to study
tragic events that took place in Anatolia during World War I, is now
poised for a fresh attempt regarding the international dimension of
the issue.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday informed members of the
parliamentary committees for foreign affairs, national defense,
European Union harmonization and human rights of Turkey’s foreign
policy agenda. He emphasized that the Armenian allegations were one
of Turkey’s most important matters.

“We will start an important initiative all together with government,
opposition, parliamentary and nongovernmental organizations. There
is an international community that has accepted the so-called
Armenian genocide,” Gul told members of the committees, according to
parliamentary sources speaking to the Turkish Daily News.

Turkey categorically denies the Armenian charges alleging that 1.5
million Anatolian Armenians were killed during a genocide campaign
between 1915 and 1918, while the Armenian diaspora has unleashed
a campaign on the international community to pressure Turkey into
accepting their allegations as fact.

Turkish proposals for expert and authoritative research of the relevant
history applauded by the international community are unacceptable
to Armenians, who claim that the “genocide” is a historical fact
and see debate over the issue as anathema. Recent applause for
Ankara’s initiative came from U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for European and Eurasian Affairs Laura Kennedy, who called it
“encouraging” to see a recent exchange of letters between the leaders
of both countries on how to address the killings of Armenians during
World War I.

However, Armenian President Robert Kocharian, in his reply to
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal for a joint research
committee, suggested an inter-governmental commission that would be
tasked with investigating ways to normalize relations between Turkey
and Armenia.

While studies regarding the proposal of a joint committee continue
at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, diplomatic sources told the Anatolia
news agency that Ankara has not been distancing itself from the idea
of having officials in a joint commission. Such a committee would
not necessarily be formed solely by historians, Turkish officials or
Armenian officials, but historians from third countries may take part
in the committee.

International law should decide on the controversial Armenian problem
By Senem Caglayan

The New Anatolian, Turkey
May 7 2005

In recent weeks the controversial Armenian problem has cast a long
shadow over Ankara’s foreign and domestic debates, especially those
between Turkey and Armenia.

The main goal of the Armenians’ lobbying efforts is to gain political
recognition of their claims. Although they know that political
recognition of the so-called genocide claims by various states
worldwide carries no legal effect, they consider this recognition
prestigious since they attribute a symbolic meaning to the issue.

But “genocide” is an international law term, and its chargeable
offenses are presented in the 1948 United Nations International
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The convention defines “genocide” as an act of partial or total
annihilation of a national, ethnic, or religious group. The convention
also says that rather than states, the persons that committed this
crime could be accused and punished. The convention can only be applied
to cases which occurred after it was put into force. Therefore,
since it was put into force in 1948, past events do not fall under
its purview and since it can only be applied to persons, not states,
it is clear that it has no force for events in the closing days of
World War I.

Therefore, in order to succeed in heading off recognition of the
Armenian claims, Ankara should carry the issue to a legal basis
instead of entering into a political debate with other states or
applying Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s suggestion of
establishing a “joint commission” of Armenian and Turkish historians
to investigate the controversial issue. There are a number of reasons
for this.

Firstly, political discussions can do nothing better than eroding
bilateral relations and escalating the tensions between Turkey and
Armenia. Secondly, even if historians of the two states were to meet,
they could neither reach a sound conclusion nor could they find
any evidence that settles the “genocide” issue one way or another,
since these historians will interpret the documents and archives
differently. We should keep in mind that perception of history varies
according to the interpretation of events by the historians.

Turkish Community Warns Belgian Politicians About So-called Armenian Claims

Turkish Press
May 7 2005

BRUSSELS (AA) – Reactions of Turkish community to the resolution on
the so-called Armenian genocide allegations, adopted by the Belgian
parliament and sent to the Senate for approval, have increased in
this country.

Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and political circles
continue to warn the Belgian politicians, while efforts are under
way to organize protest marches participated by large groups.

The resolution foresees that those who reject the so-called Armenian
genocide shall be sentenced to up to a year imprisonment, and fined
between 26-5,000 Euros.

-WARNING LETTER TO BELGIAN POLITICIANS-

A NGO named “Anadolu” (Anatolia) sent today (Wednesday) a warning
letter to all Belgian parliamentarians and senators, and government
members.

In this letter, this Turkish NGO drew attention that Turkish community
in Belgium and Turkish-Belgian relations would be negatively affected
in case this resolution was approved.

The Turkish community said in its letter, “we would like to know
which historical and visual evidence these parliamentarians take into
consideration to support these ‘genocide’ allegations. We wish that
these tragic incidents which claimed lives of tens of thousands of
Armenians, Turks and other people should be illuminated by experts
and historians. And to this end, we have welcomed Ankara’s proposal
to leave this file to objective historians and open state archives.
We want realities to be learned and accepted, but we think that this
can be achieved without political interventions.”

“We would like to send you a signal to alarm you because this motion
for an amendment and the initiative to find a political solution to a
historical matter will have a negative impact on adaptation of Turkish
community and healthy course of Turkish-Belgian relations. We have
seen a growing disturbance in the Turkish community in Belgium. This
community is being offended by and disappointed with this initiative”,
said the NGO.

Expressing belief that nobody would back provocations aiming to
deteriorate relations between the two countries, the NGO called
on Belgian politicians to maintain their efforts to improve
Turkish-Belgian relations and help adaptation of Turkish community
in this country.

The NGO called on Belgian politicians to support scientific and
historical researches on this matter, and not to back those who
provoke Turkish community.

“There are many things we can do and share instead of separation and
provocation,” concluded the NGO in its letter.

-THE RESOLUTION-

Olivier Maingain from the Valon Liberal Party (MR) group at the Belgian
parliament submitted the mentioned resolution which amends a law on
German Nazi genocide and aims to broaden the scope of this law.

The resolution envisages to add “genocides recognized by Belgium,
an EU member state or the UN” to the scope of this law.

The resolution shows the so-called Armenian genocide recognized by
the European Parliament (EP) in 1987 as an example, and claims that
these claims have also been recognized by the UN.

In case this resolution, expected to be passed by Senate’s internal
affairs, foreign affairs and justice commissions in coming days,
is adopted, it will be a crime in Belgium to defend that “so-called
genocide did not occur”.

If the Armenian lobby reaches this target, it will sue not only
individuals but also historians, scientists and organizations that
reject so-called genocide allegations and achieve its goal to keep
them silent.

REGULAR OSCE MONITORING OF CONTACT LINE OF NKR AND
AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES PASSES WITHOUT INCIDENTS

STEPANAKERT, MAY 6. ARMINFO. Today on the contact-line of the NKR and
Azerbaijani Armed Forces a regular monitoring of OSCE passed without
any incidents. This time the territory of the village of Seysulan,
Mardakert region, NKR was monitored.

The press-service of the NKR Foreign Ministry informs ARMINFO that
Personal Representative of the Chairman of the OSCE Andrjey Casprzyk
took part in the monitoring on the part of Armenia. The monitoring
fixed no violations of cease-fire regime. The observation mission
was accompanied on the part of Karabakh by representatives of NKR
Defense and Foreign Ministries.

Yesterday in Stepanakert, Andrjey Casprzyk met with Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanyan and Deputy Foreign Minister Masis Mailyan.

Russia ranking eighth in CIS for its production growth

RosBusinessConsulting Database
May 6, 2005 Friday 5:04 am, EST

In the first quarter of 2005, Russia ranked eighth among CIS members
rated on its industrial production growth of 3.9 percent from the
first quarter of 2004, the Interstate Statistical Committee of the
CIS has reported.

The highest industrial production growth over the given period
was observed in Belarus (up by 11.6 percent), and Azerbaijan took
second place with 10.3 percent. Growth rates were determined at 8.2,
7.4 percent in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan respectively; Ukraine and
Georgia demonstrated 7.1 percent each, Armenia – 5.1 percent, Moldova
– 3.2 percent, while in Kyrgyzstan industrial production declined by
4.7 percent. The average industrial production growth was 5 percent
for the CIS.

Over the given period, producer prices for industrial products
increased the most in Azerbaijan (up by 22.7 percent). In Tajikistan,
the prices declined by 1.1 percent. In Russia, producer prices for
industrial products advanced by 18.5 percent, compared with the first
quarter of 2004.

ARMENIAN FM GIVES ARMENIAN MOUNTAINEERS FLAG FOR HOISTING ON PEAK OF ELBRUS

YEREVAN, MAY 4. ARMINFO. Armenia’s FM Vardan Oskanyan met today with
three Armenian mountaineers who are to climb Elbrus, the Caucasus.

Oskanyan gave the mountaineers a flag for hoisting on the peak of
the mountain.

The Armenian mountaineers are on a 500-strong group from almost 20
countries. May 9 they are to climb Elbrus (5,621 m) to mark the 60th
anniversary of Great Patriotic War Victory and the formation of the UN.

The Armenian mountaineers have already climbed the peaks of Pamirs,
Tien Shan, Alaska. Their leader Hayk Tonoyan has twice climbed Ararat.

RUSSIA, IRAN AND AZERBAIJAN TO BUILD A RAILROAD PASSING AROUND ARMENIA

AZG Armenian Daily #080, 04/05/2005

Region

Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran have signed an agreement of building
Khazvin-Resht-Enzeli-Astara railroad within the framework of
North-South corridor program. It’s envisaged that the railway will
stretch 375 km. A consortium with $200 million as each parties share
was established.

Mediamax agency reminds that on February 17, 2005, RA prime minister
Andranik Margarian expressed his worry to Russia’s foreign minister
Sergey Lavrov over the fact that the planned railroad will pass
Armenia by.

Sergey Lavrov assured that “Russia will consider Armenia’s interests
and will not take steps damaging them” while implementing its
transportation projects. Russian foreign minister also note that he
will convey Armenian PM’s concern to Russian transport minister and
the head of Russian railways.

Agence France Presse
28 avril 2005 jeudi 11:58 AM GMT

Un journaliste turc d’origine arménienne jugé pour avoir “insulté les
Turcs”

ANKARA 28 avr 2005

Un tribunal turc a commencé jeudi à juger un journaliste turc
d’origine arménienne qui est accusé d’avoir “insulté les Turcs” dans
des propos tenus il y a trois ans lors d’une conférence, a rapporté
l’agence de presse semi-officielle Anatolie.

Hrant Dink, rédacteur en chef de l’hebdomadaire en langue arménienne
Agos, risque une peine de prison de trois ans s’il est reconnu
coupable par la cour de Sanliurfa, ville du sud-est anatolien où la
conférence sur les droits de l’Homme et les minorités avait eu lieu,
précise l’agence.

L’accusé, qui n’était pas présent à l’audience, a indiqué à l’AFP par
téléphone depuis son bureau à Istanbul que le procès a dû être ouvert
en raison d’une réponse à une question qui lui a été posée lors de la
réunion sur ce qu’il ressentait pendant l’école primaire lorsqu’il
récitait un serment que tous les élèves sont tenus de réciter chaque
matin.

Cette prose patriotique commence par les lignes: “je suis turc, je
suis honnête, je suis travailleur”.

“J’ai répondu que j’étais un citoyen turc mais un Arménien. Et bien
que je soit honnête et travailleur, je n’étais pas turc mais
arménien”, a expliqué le journaliste.

Il a précisé qu’il avait aussi critiqué un vers de l’hymne national
turc qui évoque “ma race héroïque”.

“J’ai expliqué que je ne souhaitais pas chanter ce vers car je suis
contre l’usage du mot race qui prête à une forme de discrimination”,
a-t-il ajouté.

Elargir les droits des minorités est l’une des questions que la
Turquie doit régler avant d’adhérer à l’Union européenne.

La Turquie, pays officiellement musulman à 99%, reconnaît les
minorités chrétiennes et juive dans le traité de Lausanne signé en
1923, qui a ouvert la voie à la création de la République de Turquie
sur les ruines de l’empire ottoman.

La communauté arménienne compte quelque 45.000 membres dans ce pays
de 71 millions d’habitants.

OSCE MG co-chairs, FM discuss peace plan

Baku, April 28, AssA-Irada

A specific peace plan was discussed at the meeting of Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov and OSCE Minsk Group (MG) co-chairs in Frankfurt,
Germany on Wednesday. Azerbaijan stands firm on its position,
Mammadyarov said. The Minister said that the peace plan is a very
`sensitive issue’ and disclosing its details would cause tensions in
South Caucasus, as there areforces opposed to the establishment of
peace in the region. The date and venue forthe next meeting of Azeri
and Armenian Presidents was also discussed with the co-chairs. It may
take place at the summit of Council of Europe states in Warsaw on May
16-17, Mammadyarov said. The Minister added that the MG co-chairs are
expected to meet with his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian in
Europe shortly.*