Author: Nahapetian Lilit

NKR PRIME MINISTER EMPHASIZES DIASPORA’S ROLE IN ARTSAKH ACCOMPLISHMENT

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 30, Anushavan Danielian,
NKR Prime Minister, received representatives of French branch of
the Hayastan Pan-Armenian Foundation who arrived in Stepanakert on
a charitable mission. Anushavan Danielian attached importance to the
role of the Diaspora in the issue of elimination of war consequences
in NKR, restoration of destroyed dwellings and assistance to
solution of socio-economic problems. On behalf of NKR authorities
the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Diasporan Armenians,
as well as French leadership and people for their participation in
the fund raising organized for the purpose of construction of the
North-South highway. “The Armenians of Artsakh don’t forget that at
all times fateful for the country the Diaspora has always supported
them. Today the Diaspora continues to render wide material and moral
assistance, to contribute to economic development and strengthening
of NKR independence,” Anushavan Danielian emphasized. Noyan Tapan
was informed from NKR Foreign Ministry’s Information and Analytical
Department that the Prime Minister touched upon different issues
interesting the guests, including issues concerning country’s home
and foreign policy, in particular, Karabakh settlement. A.Danielian
emphasized that “NKR has all resources for establishing a free,
fair and democratic state the whole our nation will be proud of.”

Turkish premier says media not exempt from penal code

Yeni Safak website, Istanbul
4 Jun 05

Excerpt from interview with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
published by Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak website on 4 June

[Newspaper’s introduction to interview omitted]

[Question] You have been in office for two and a half years. Do you
think that you have been successful during this period? In other
words where have you been successful and where do you see deficiencies?

[Erdogan] I would like to start with novel steps in domestic
politics. I believe that we have made some very serious progress in
domestic politics. We are not where we should be yet but we have made
serious progress. Virtually no one was convicted because of his or
her thoughts during our tenure.

[Question] Could that happen in the future now that the new TCK
[Turkish Penal Code] has gone into effect?

[Erdogan] I do not view the penal code issue the way the press has
approached it. An act that is considered criminal for an ordinary
citizen must also be a crime for a journalist. In other words
what is at issue here is not punishment for ideas. If there is any
falsification of truth, any slander, or any false reporting anywhere,
then the price paid for it. We have seen this in the past. It is a
crime when an ordinary individual does it but it is not a crime when
a journalist does it. For example they attack us over the issue of
immunity. The media attack us. Now the same media that attack us over
immunity want immunity for themselves. If you are attacking me then
you should drop your own armour of immunity too. No one has objected
to making this a crime. [There have been proposals to change] the
penalty to a large fine instead of imprisonment.

OK, but then the large fine must be imposed on everyone else. Then
what will happen to people who cannot pay the fine? Then wealthy
and well-to-do people in this country would not have a problem? Is
that fair?

[Question] The draft law does not refer to slander only. There is
a provision about basic national interests. For example national
interests could include issues such as the withdrawal of troops from
Cyprus and the Armenian genocide.

[Erdogan] The law has its own language. I am not a lawyer. I do not
know what is said in the reasoning for basic national interests but
I do not agree with that example. No judge could evaluate the matter
that way. [Passage omitted]

Most of Iran’s exports to Armenia pass through East Azarbaijan

Mehr News, Iran
June 5 2005

TABRIZ, East Azarbaijan – About 75 percent of Iran’s exports to
Armenia is transported via East Azarbaijan, said an official in the
provincial customs.

Kaviani noted that some $117.6 million out of the total amount of
exports to Armenia ($155.94m) was transited to the Armenian cities
via the customs offices of this northwestern province. “Fruits,
cooking oil and other foodstuffs, textile products, glassware and
plastic solvents were the main commodities exported to Armenia in
the last Iranian year,” he added. In the same period, he stated,
the province imported $23.33 million of various goods from Armenia,
mostly including secondhand machinery and iron wastes.

RESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee
Eastern United States
P.O. Box 1066
New York, NY 10040
Contact: Doug Geogerian
Tel: 917-428-1918
Fax: 718-651-3637
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

June 2, 2005

US Academics to Observe Karabagh Elections

NEW YORK – The Armenian National Committee reports that an independent
delegation of US academics will visit Nagorno-Karabagh this month to
serve as observers in the upcoming NKR parliamentary elections.

The delegation consists of Professors Dan Shartin and Leontina Hormel,
both of Worcester State College (WSC). Prof. Shartin is a past chair
of WSC’s Philosophy Department, while Prof. Hormel is a sociologist
specializing in the study of Ukraine’s shadow economy. Both are noted
scholars with long records of human rights activism. The delegation
will likely include additional members representing human rights
groups.

The delegation will arrive in Karabagh just prior to the June
19 elections, and will be meeting with members of the NKR Central
Electoral Commission, journalists, human rights activists, political
party representatives, as well as candidates and the electorate. They
will serve as observers on June 19 and will remain in Karabagh until
the vote tally concludes the following day.

“We are delighted that such prominent activists have agreed to join
the effort to ensure transparency in Karabagh’s elections,” stated
Doug Geogerian, ANC-ER Executive Director. “We are hopeful that
Karabagh’s leadership and people, once again, will demonstrate the
maturity to hold free and fair elections, in a region of the world
where democracy’s hold is often still tenuous.”

The delegation’s logistical arrangements are being coordinated with
the NKR’s Public Affairs Office, based in Washington, DC.

###

Turkish Press
June 2 2005

Tuzmen: We Are Trying All Diplomatic Means To Change Russia’s
Decision On Suspending Imports Of Fresh Fruits And Vegetables From
Turkey

KISHINEV (AA) – Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen has indicated
today (Thursday) that his administration is trying all diplomatic
means to change Russia’s decision on suspending imports of fresh
fruits and vegetables from Turkey.

Tuzmen told reporters that Russia’s decision to suspend imports of
fresh fruits and vegetables from Turkey is not a new one. “For the
past five years, we have been sending plant health certificates to
the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,” noted Tuzmen.

“Identical cases in the past were overcome by diplomatic initiatives
and personal contacts in Russia. Apparently, the Russians had been
waiting for a reply to their request for information for the past
seven months. As the Russians could not get an appropriate response
from Turkey, they decided to stop importing fresh fruits and vegetables
from Turkey,” commented Tuzmen.

“We are working on resolving the fresh fruits and vegetables matter
as soon as possible. The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Affairs is doing all it can to find a solution. It is unfair for
Russia to stop all fruits and vegetables imports from Turkey due
to presence of the Mediterranean fruitfly (Ceratitis Capitata Wied)
larvae,” expressed Tuzmen.

According to Tuzmen, the 25-member European Union will discuss the
quality and the numbers of the EU soon. “Some nations have joined the
EU without making some standards real. In the near future, the European
Economic Community will receive attention once more,” stated Tuzmen.

-PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BUREAUCRACY IN BRUSSELS-

Tuzmen mentioned that an empire of bureaucracy has begun to be
established in Brussels. “More and more, the people of Europe are
complaining about the slowness in Brussels in making decisions.

People in Europe have doubts that Brussels is the best place for the
decisions pertaining to their individual states,” said Tuzmen.

Tuzmen expressed that the referenda in France and the Netherlands are
internal matters of these countries. “The referenda were on the EU
Constitution and have nothing to do with Turkey’s EU membership. Entry
negotiations of Turkey will begin on October 3rd, 2005 as scheduled,”
told Tuzmen.

Tuzmen indicated that Turkey’s overall trade volume in 2005 will
reach 180 billion USD. “Out of 180 billion USD, 90 billion USD of
trade will be conducted with the EU,” declared Tuzmen.

-CHAOS IN IRAQ WILL NOT BE OVER SOON-

In reference to Iraq, Tuzmen pointed out that some forces want to
make Iraq a second Lebanon near Turkey. “The chaos in Iraq will not
be over soon. Despite the tense situation in Iraq, our trade volume
with Iraq will be around 2.5 billion USD, instead of preliminary
expectation of 1.8 billion USD,” remarked Tuzmen.

Tuzmen reminded reporters that, during the deportation of Armenians
in eastern Anatolia in the beginning of last century, there were
two ministers of Armenian heritage in the government of the Ottoman
Empire. “These ministers continued to serve in the government even
after the deportation and re-location of the Armenians of east
Anatolia. History must be examined with an objective view. Armenia
must remove certain parts of its constitution that cause a matter of
deep concerns to Turkey. Turkey, in its history, has done nothing to
feel sorry or regret,” added Tuzmen.

(SOL-MS)

Azerbaijani police force refugees off road after protest over eviction plans
By AIDA SULTANOVA

The Associated Press
06/02/05 12:19 EDT

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) – Azerbaijani police forced a crowd of angry
refugees off a road they had blocked Thursday to protest efforts
to evict them from the homes where they moved after being displaced
by war.

About 30 people, mostly women, blocked a road on the outskirts of the
capital Baku to try to attract the attention of President Ilham Aliev,
who they said often travels along the route.

Police physically forced the protesters off the road after they
refused to budge, and some said they were treated brutally. One woman
was bleeding from her chest and said she had been kicked and dragged
by police after fainting.

The protesters said they are being evicted from houses they moved
into after fleeing their homes over a decade ago during a war with
Armenian forces over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, which drove about
1 million people from their homes.

Many Azerbaijanis displaced by the six-year war, which ended in a
cease-fire in 1994 and left Nagorno-Karabakh and a chunk of surrounding
territory in ethnic Armenian control, still live in temporary housing.

Protester Mirvari Agayeva said several displaced families had moved
into privately built homes they bought in 1993, along a railway line
used to transport oil products. But she said a nearby oil refinery
that claims to own the land has been trying to evict them for months.
They recently received letters from its director ordering them out
immediately, she said.

“Let them give us apartments and we will move out,” said Mirvari
Orujeva, a 66-year-old woman who lives with three of her nine children
and several of her 28 grandchildren in a cluster of small buildings
totaling seven rooms.

SE European media roundup on EU-related issues 26 May-1 Jun 05

BBC Monitoring Service – United Kingdom
Jun 02, 2005

For queries and feedback please contact Duty Editor, Europe, on 0186254
(internal) or 0118 948 6254 (external), or email [email protected]

The following is a roundup of media reports on EU-related issues from
the applicant countries in Southeastern Europe between 26 May and 1
Jun 2005:

BULGARIA

France/EU Constitution

Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi said that although the referendum in
France had no direct connection to Bulgaria’s accession to the EU,
it would indirectly, “strengthen the Eurosceptic sentiments in Europe”.

(Darik Radio, Sofia, in Bulgarian 1500 gmt 30 May 05)

EU entry/ties with Estonia

President Georgi Purvanov said he expected Estonia to fight to
keep the rules for the EU candidates unchanged because there were
voices calling for change in the conditions with respect to Bulgaria
and Romania. Purvanov said that he expected expert assistance from
Estonia, especially in the field of environmental protection, where
the Estonians had great experience, and the EU was being exacting on
this issue.

(BGNES web site, Sofia, in Bulgarian 1053 gmt 26 May 05)

EU/Libya/nurses

Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi said that the future of relations
between the European Union and Libya in the framework of the Barcelona
Process would depend on the resolution of some outstanding problems,
including the problem of the Bulgarian nurses in Tripoli. He also said
that the issue of Bulgarian medics in Libya should not be politicized.

(BTA website, Sofia, in English 30 May 05)

EU/refugees

The government approved a National Programme on Integration of Refugees
in Bulgaria for the 2005-2007. The Refugee Agency with the Council of
Ministers is applying for the funding of a project on the establishment
of a refugee finger print system under PHARE. The programme focuses
on the measures for integration, accommodation, professional training,
education, healthcare and social assistance of refugees.

(BTA web site, Sofia, in English 26 May 05)

CROATIA

Croatia/poll

Those in favour of and those against Croatia’s entry into the EU have
for months been neck and neck. According to the latest opinion poll
of 1,000 people conducted by Puls agency, if a referendum were to be
held today it would be unsuccessful, because only 45 per cent support
EU entry.

Almost three quarters of the respondents believe that the country
is moving in the wrong direction, which is the largest number of
dissatisfied people so far. Only 14 per cent of those polled believe
that the country is moving in the right direction.

Actions by Prime Minister Ivo Sanader’s cabinet are not supported by
58 per cent of those polled, while 22 per cent of them support them.

(HRT1 TV, Zagreb, in Croatian 1730 gmt 31 May 05)

Croatia/French referendum

Commenting on the French rejection of the EU Constitutional Treaty,
Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has said that such an outcome can neither
jeopardize the idea of European integration nor have negative
consequences for Croatia’s status.

“Here in Croatia we will also have to see what consequences this will
have for us. I certainly hope that Europe, or rather the EU, will not
become exasperated by the enlargement process. Croatia is a candidate
country and we expect the talks on EU entry to start soon. Therefore
I expect, and will request that the result of the French referendum
will have no negative effect on Croatia’s association with the Union,”
Sanader said.

(Croatian Radio, Zagreb, in Croatian 1300 gmt 30 May 05)

MACEDONIA

Macedonia/EU/French referendum

Macedonian Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski has said that France’s
rejection of the European Constitution would not have negative
repercussions on Skopje’s bid to join the EU.

“I do not think that it will reflect negatively on Macedonia’s
aspirations to be a part of the European family by the end of this
decade. On the contrary, it will initiate new, more dramatic reforms
within the EU. We should not be worried, the EU should be worried,”
he said.

Meanwhile in Zagreb, Macedonian and Croatian Presidents Branko
Crvenkovski and Stipe Mesic respectively, who met on 1 June, said
that France’s No to the European Constitution was not expected to
stop their two countries on the path to the EU.

“France’s rejection of the European Constitution must not stop reforms
in our countries and the fulfilment of standards. We must do those
things that are up to us,” Crvenkovski said after his talks with Mesic.

(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1330 gmt 25 May 05; HINA news
agency, Zagreb, in English 1412 gmt 1 Jun 05)

Macedonia/EU/name dispute

The dispute over Macedonia’s official name between Skopje and Athens
cannot be part of the political criteria for Macedonia’s EU membership,
although it could have a negative impact on its road to Brussels,
Deputy Prime Minister Radmila Sekerinska has said. With the signing
of the Interim Accord, Greece has committed itself not to block
Macedonia’s integration in European institutions, but this kind of
behaviour on the part of Greece – linkage between EU candidacy and
the resolution of the name dispute – could constitute a violation of
the accord’s decree, she said.

Sekerinska said that, nevertheless, Macedonia should not compromises,
adding that she was convinced it would receive a positive avis from
the European Commission.

(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1113 gmt 30 May 05)

Macedonia/NATO/talks

Macedonia is becoming a serious candidate for the next NATO
enlargement, Foreign and Defence Ministers Ilinka Mitreva and Jovan
Manasievski respectively said after meeting the North Atlantic
Partnership Council in Brussels on 27 May. The meeting with NATO
ambassadors focused on a report on Macedonia’s progress in implementing
the action plan for NATO membership.

All reform processes were reviewed at the meeting, including the
legislation on combating corruption and organized crime, implementation
of the Framework Agreement, and the economic situation. The NATO envoys
are said to have highly appreciated the progress Macedonia was making
in defence reforms, especially the transformation of the armed forces.

(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1429 gmt 27 May 05)

Macedonia/Pope/regional ties

Pope Benedict XVI has said that Macedonia’s pledge for peace can
serve as an example to other Balkan nations, as cultural differences
are often a source of misunderstanding among peoples and a reason for
senseless wars. The Pope said this in a message to the new Macedonian
ambassador to the Holy See, Bartolomej Kajtazi, who handed his
credentials on 27 May.

He said that Europe needed the Balkan peoples and that European
integration would lose its sense if it referred to economic and
geographical borders.

(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1509 gmt 27 May 05)

Macedonia/community rights

The Macedonian government adopted on 26 May a draft law on the use
of community flags, by which the flags of ethnic communities that
represent the majority in a municipality would be used alongside
the Macedonian flag. The Albanian community is in the majority in 16
municipalities, the Turkish in two, and the Roma in one.

(MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1347 gmt 27 May 05)

ROMANIA

French EU vote

President Traian Basescu said that the rejection of the European
Constitution in France did not affect Romania’s EU entry on 1
January 2007 because Bucharest had signed a treaty containing precise
stipulations.

Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu said, however, that although
the French vote did not have juridical consequences on Romania’s EU
entry, it still created additional obligations, and therefore the
integration process would become more difficult.

(Radio Romania Actualitati, Bucharest, in Romanian 1300 gmt 30 May 05)

Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu said that the French vote in
the referendum on the European Constitution would not affect Romania’s
EU entry.

“We say clearly that the European Union is facing no blockage. Its
institutions remain intact. The decisions are made based on the
Nice Treaty, which today is in effect. We emphasize that there is no
connection between the vote of the French citizens on the European
Constitution and the continuation of the EU enlargement with the
admission of Romania and Bulgaria,” he said.

Ungureanu said, however, that the French electorate’s opinion would
exert a certain influence on the climate of intra-EU negotiations
and on the political projects currently under debate.

(Radio Romania Actualitati, Bucharest, in Romanian 1300 gmt 30 May 05)

Romanian President Traian Basescu said the French vote on the EU
Constitution must be seen in a detached manner. He said this would
have an influence from the perspective of the political evolution
in the European area. “Europe does not come to an end because of the
French negative vote in the referendum, even if it will have a great
influence upon the constitution,” he said.

(Rompres web site, Bucharest, in English 0955 gmt 30 May 05)

EU entry/early elections

Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said that early elections were
not ruled out but the problem was when to call them so as not to
hinder Romania’s accession to the European Union. “Given that late
this October the European Commission will issue a monitoring report
on Romania’s progress, I would rather we concentrated on this very
serious scrutiny, which Romania has to pass, and tackle the snap
elections afterwards,” he said .

(Rompres news agency, Bucharest, in English 0626 gmt 31 May 05)

Survey/”Euroscepticism”

According to an opinion poll, Romanians’ confidence in the European
Union has decreased drastically in the past six months. In autumn last
year, 74 per cent of the population said they trusted the European
Union (in a different, Eurobarometer poll – editor’s note). Now the
figure has fallen by almost 25 per cent, down to 48 per cent. According
to sociologists, the most pessimistic Romanians are those living in
rural areas, who do not know even the minimum of things about the
European Union. The sociologists blame the media for presenting the
negative impact of Romania’s EU entry on our farming.

(Evenimentul Zilei website, Bucharest, in Romanian 31 May 05)

EU talks/border control

Minister of Administration and the Interior Vasile Blaga said that
the contract aimed at making Romania’s borders safer, that the former
government and the French-German EADS concern concluded, would be
renegotiated. Blaga expects 420m euro to be saved. The agreement
with EADS worth 650m euro will be renegotiated at the request of the
European Commission. If Romania had run the initially signed contract
it would not have been allowed access to the EU non-repayable funds.

Blaga said EADS company responded favourably to the request to have
the contract re-discussed, and the Romanian authorities are ready to
start the negotiations next week.

On the other hand, an investigation will start at the Interior
Ministry’s level to find the way the first payments in EADS contract
were made, the minister announced.

Romania, after Finland, will have the longer external border with the
EU and must make its borders with Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova,
the Black Sea and Serbia safer.

(Rompres web site, Bucharest, in English 1620 gmt 26 May 05)

TURKEY

French EU vote/ reactions

Turkish Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party leader
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the result of referendum on the EU
Constitution in France would not hamper Turkey’s EU bid. “…We
continue fulfilling the necessary conditions of the negotiation
process upon the decision on 17 December. We expect to start membership
negotiations on 3 October. The timetable and road map of Turkey are
certain,” he said.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0943 gmt 31 May 05)

Government spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that
the result of referendum in France on the EU Constitution was not a
pre-condition for Turkey’s negotiation with the EU on 3 October.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1921 gmt 30 May 05)

Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said that the ministry believed
that the EU would be overcome problems and ratify the EU constitution
“with common sense”. Tan said that Turkey’s membership bid was
used as a tool of internal politics by several circles during the
referendum campaign and added that Turkey had increased the level of
its preparations for full membership negotiations to be launched on
3 October.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1057 gmt 30 May 05)

Prime Minister Erdogan said that it was “ugly and wrong” to use Turkey
in some countries’ domestic policies. “When some circles frequently
bring up the topic of Turkey, we get upset and concerned,” he said.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0715 gmt 27 May 05)

EU talks/”privileged membership” issue

When asked if Turkey has been offered privileged partnership instead
of full EU membership, Prime Minister Erdogan replied: “That matter
is history. All such offers are in the past. There is no such offer
in our agenda.”

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0715 gmt 27 May 05)

Republican People’s Party leader Deniz Baykal said that Turkey should
insist on full EU membership without taking into consideration other
alternatives such as “special status”.

“The thing that matters for us is Turkey’s decisiveness in its
EU bid. We should insist on Turkey’s full membership to the EU by
defending our acquired rights and we shouldn’t take into consideration
other alternatives like special status,” Baykal said.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1322 gmt 31 May 05)

EU talks/penal code

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that President Ahmet Necdet
Sezer’s veto on Turkish Penal Code did not affect Turkey’s EU
process. “We have adopted all laws and Penal Code… It will come
into effect on 1 June. Issues which concern the EU and laws about
political criteria were all changed. Thus, we have fulfilled all of
our responsibilities. We will now implement them. We will carefully
follow the implementations,” he said.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1559 gmt 31 May 05)

EU talks/Cyprus/customs union

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that the protocol extending Turkey’s
customs union with the EU to cover the new members, including Cyprus
could be signed within a few weeks. “I don’t know how long it will
last, one or two weeks,” said Gul. When asked if the protocol would
be signed during the acting presidency of Luxembourg, Gul said that
it didn’t matter for Turkey and it depended on the EU.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1424 gmt 31 May 05)

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Greek Cypriots had
not done their part in seeking a solution to the Cyprus issue and
that that was the main reason why there was no solution. “The Greek
Cypriot administration has not fulfilled its task. If Cyprus problem
has not been solved, the Greek Cypriot side is the number one reason
of this insolubility.” he said.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0715 gmt 27 May 05)

EU/IMF/new chief negotiator

The newly appointed chief EU negotiator, Ali Babacan, said that as
of this year, the relations with the IMF would gradually decrease
and disappear and they would be replaced by the EU. Babacan noted
that the negotiation process to begin with the EU on 3 October would
focus on economic issues. Babacan remarked that structural reforms
and transformations along the EU axis would increasingly replace the
IMF. He also said that the Turkish economy would advance alongside the
negotiation process and those who expected delays in the negotiation
process would be disappointed.

(NTV television, Istanbul, in Turkish 0600 gmt 28 May 05)

EU talks/UK support

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul to assure him that negotiations between Turkey and the EU would
start on 3 October. According to diplomatic sources, Straw told Gul
that they did not agree with arguments in France over Turkey’s EU
membership. Gul said that Turkey would continue preparations for
negotiations with the EU on the basis of the Nice Treaty.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1302 gmt 30 May 05)

EU talks/Italian support

Italian embassy officials in Ankara said the result of the referendum
on EU Constitution should neither affect Turkey’s bid to join the
EU nor the European Council’s decision in Brussels on beginning of
entry talks between Turkey and the EU.

Sources said that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had
earlier reiterated that Italy’s support for Turkey’s EU membership
would continue.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1003 gmt 30 May 05)

Armenian conference issue

Commenting on the EU’s reactions to postponement of the conference
entitled, “Ottoman Armenians in the Era of Collapse of the Empire:
Scientific Responsibility and Democracy Problems” to be held by
Istanbul’s Bogazici University, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said that the issue was beyond his area of interest. “I have nothing
to do with it. I am not a person who has problem with such issues. My
problem is that I think if those who have to guard the values of this
country evaluates the issue with subjective comments without taking
into all these documents on scientific grounds, it will be disrespect
to the past of our country and nation,” he said. Erdogan said that
Turkish state opened its all documents and archives on this matter,
stating that people should study these archives and then they should
held such seminars or symposiums.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0715 gmt 27 May 05)

EU talks/human rights issue

Turkey cancelled “The Torture and Maltreatment Seminar for Medical
Doctors and Judicial Personnel” that was organized with the
cooperation of the Justice Ministry, the European Commission, and
the Nongovernmental Organizations. Representatives of the Turkish
Medical Doctors Union, the London-based Medical Foundation for the
Care of Victims of Torture [name of organization in English], the
Forensic Medicine Experts Association, and the Turkish Human Rights
Foundation – organizations were kept waiting for some time without
receiving any clear information. Sherman Carroll, director of the
Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture said that that
it was revealed that the meeting had been cancelled due to certain
organizational problems but the participants had not been briefed
directly by the ministry on this issue.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in Turkish 1413 gmt 25 May 05)

EU talks/relations with USA

US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman said during his farewell
meeting with Turkish foreign minister that Turkey’s EU membership
was a strategic aim for Turkey and also an important aim for the
USA. Edelman said US support to Turkey’s EU bid would continue. Edelman
also welcomed appointment of State Minister Ali Babacan as chief
negotiator for Turkey-EU entry talks.

(Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1449 gmt 26 May 05)

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

MEDIA ALERT
June 1, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

RE: Turkish Scholars Protest Postponement of Armenian Genocide Conference

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with President
Bush on June 8 in Washington to again brand his country as a mature
and democratic nation ready for EU membership. In the last week,
however, Turkey has again shown that its actions run contrary to
the rosy image it tries to portray. The forced postponement of an
unprecedented Armenian Genocide conference at Bosphrous University
had led hundreds of Turkish academics to protest the government’s
latest assault on free speech.

Below are the latest news release by the International Association of
Genocide Scholars and a letter from a representative of the Middle
East Studies Association to Prime Minister Erdogan condemning the
Turkish government’s interference with academic freedom.

The Armenian Assembly will continue to monitor this official assault on
academic freedom and will report any developments as they happen. On
the eve of Prime Minister Erdogan’s official visit to the U.S.,
we urge ongoing coverage and commentary.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

NR#2005-057
***********************************************************************

ISSUED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GENOCIDE SCHOLARS
Affiliated with the Institute for the Study of Genocide
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
899 Tenth Avenue, Room 325
New York, NY 10019

Contact: Robert Melson, President
[email protected]
Tel: (765) 494-4187

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 29, 2005

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GENOCIDE SCHOLARS
– NEWS RELEASE –

We who serve as the Executive Committee of the International
Association of Genocide Scholars protest and condemn the cancellation
of the historians conference on the Armenian question in Turkey by
the Turkish government as a major violation of basic standards of
academic freedom in the free world.

At long last, Turkish academics and intellectuals, sponsored by
three honorable universities, were scheduled to conduct a conference
in which the historical reality of the Armenian genocide was to be
examined by many of the participating lecturers.

The government of Turkey is understandably struggling to win its
possible acceptance as a member of the European Union, and it is in
this climate that many Turkish intellectuals have moved courageously
to address the Armenian genocide, a truth which is still punishable
by Turkish law.

For the Turkish government to cancel the conference is a shameful
step and a setback to Turkey joining the free world in its growing
standards of historical truth and responsibility.

The Executive Committee of the International Association of Genocide
Scholars calls on the Republic of Turkey to allow full and free debate
and academic scholarship on the fate of the Armenian people in Ottoman
Turkey in 1915-1923.

ROBERT MELSON, President, International Association of Genocide
Scholars, Professor of Political Science, Purdue University

ISRAEL W. CHARNY, Vice-President, International Association of Genocide
Scholars, Professor of Psychology and Family Therapy, Hebrew University
of Jerusalem

STEVEN L. JACOBS, Secretary-Treasurer, International Association
of Genocide Scholars, Associate Professor of Religious Studies,
University of Alabama

####

*********************************************************************
May 27, 2005

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Office of the Prime Minister
Basbakanlik
06573 Ankara, Turkey

Via facsimile +90 312 417 0476

Dear Prime Minister Erdogan:

I write to you on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association
of North America, and its Committee on Academic Freedom, in order
to express our grave concern over actions taken by members of
your government which precipitated the decision of the rector of
Bosphorus University to cancel an academic conference entitled,
“Ottoman Armenians in the Period of the Empire’s Collapse.” These
actions violate the academic freedom and human rights of Turkish
scholars, a number of whom are members of our association.

The Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) comprises
2600 academics worldwide who teach and conduct research on the Middle
East and North Africa. It is the preeminent professional association
in the field and publishes the International Journal of Middle East
Studies. MESA is committed to ensuring respect for the principles
of academic freedom and freedom of expression in the region and in
connection with the study of the Middle East and North Africa. The
organization also counts among its membership many of the world’s
leading experts on the history of the Ottoman Empire and the Republic
of Turkey.

The conference was to have been held May 25-27, 2005 at Bosphorus
University in Istanbul. Organized by members of the history, sociology
and comparative literature faculties of both Bosphorus and Sabanci
universities, the conference sought to address in a scholarly, open and
critical manner issues surrounding the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Aided
by an international advisory committee of academics from Turkey and
abroad, the conference’s organizers adhered in their preparations to
all Turkish laws regarding public assemblies and academic gatherings.

However, according to published press reports, following
intense criticism by Turkish government officials and
parliamentarians-including Minister of Justice, Cemil Cicek, who
accused those organizing the conference of being guilty of “treason
and insult”-the university officials cancelled the meetings just hours
before they were to begin. Citing “prejudicial statements [which]
have been advanced [by government officials] regarding the contents
of a conference that is yet to be held,” the university officials
noted that these statements give “cause for concern that [they]
will result in undermining the academic freedom of state universities.”

As a member state of the Council of Europe and a signatory of
the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms, Turkey is required to protect freedom of
thought, expression and assembly. These rights are also enshrined in
the Turkish Constitution of 1982.

Therefore we urge your government to take all necessary steps to
ensure that this conference may be held as planned and as soon as
possible. Just as important, and particularly given Justice Minister
Cicek’s use of the word “treason,” a charge that conjures up memories
of some of worst forms of persecution of scholars and intellectuals
through history, we ask that you assure conference participants
and organizers that they will face no official criminal charges or
other sanctions following the presentation of their research in this
gathering. We ask that you ensure there will be no attempts to censor
their work prior to its presentation and further, that all measures
required will be taken to secure the personal safety of conference
participants and allow open and free academic exchange. Finally, we
encourage you to preclude the implementation of any of the provisions
of Article 305 of the new Turkish Penal Code, which could be used to
arrest academics who express unpopular ideas or revisionist views of
the past.

I would appreciate the honor of discussing the work of the Middle
East Studies Association with you during your visit to Washington,
DC in June if your schedule permits.

Sincerely,

Ali Banuazizi
President, Middle East Studies Association
Professor, Boston College

CC: H.E. Dr. Osman Faruk Logoglu,
Turkish Ambassador to the United States

ROBERT KOCHARYAN MET GAFESCHYAN

A1plus

| 21:01:58 | 31-05-2005 | Official |

Today Robert Kocharyan received Armenian philanthropist from the US
Gerald Gafeschyan and Senator Norm Colman.

The parties discussed the Armenian-American cooperation and the
necessity of using the possibilities provided by the Millennium
Challenge Account.

Robert Kochatyan noted that the interparliamentary commission brings
activity in the bilateral cooperation and Armenia being on the path
of reforms receives a serious support from the US.

Norm Colman in his turn noted that the Armenian community has a
considerable potential and can achieve good results.

The parties also touched upon the reforms carried out in Armenia and
regional processes.

SEN. NORM COLEMAN TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

AZG Armenian Daily #098, 31/05/2005

Visit

Sen. Norm Coleman will arrive in Armenia this week under the patronage
of the Armenian Assembly of America and Gefestchian Foundation. During
his three-day stay he will meet Armenian President US ambassador and
other high-ranking officials. The senator will visit Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial, Gefestchian Art Museum and other places.

Head of Yerevan office of AAA, Arpi Vardanian, evaluated the senator’s
visit as very important for Armenia and as one that will be significant
for fostering Armenian-US relations.