Author: Nahapetian Lilit

San Diego Union Tribune, CA
Dec 29 2004

Vazquez KOs Simonyan in first defense

By Jerry Magee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
December 29, 2004

Israel Vazquez was wearing black gloves when his fight began last
night and red gloves when it ended. With the gloves of both colors,
he was equally destructive.

With the black gloves, the stylist from Mexico City knocked down Art
Simonyan in the third round, inflicted a cut below the Armenian’s
left eye and had him bleeding profusely from the mouth.

In the fourth round, Vazquez had to change to red gloves after a
slash developed in one of his black gloves. Vazquez kept the red
gloves on for only 99 seconds – the 40 seconds remaining in the
fourth round when he put them on, and the 59 seconds of the fifth
that he required to stop Simonyan.

Vazquez (37-3, with 28 knockouts) thus made a successful first
defense of his IBF junior featherweight championship before what a
Sycuan spokesman said was a sellout gathering of 460 at the Sycuan
Resort and Casino.

For Simonyan (14-1-1, seven KOs), this was a first defeat. The
Armenian was in the scheduled 12-round fight through the first two
rounds, but in the third Vazquez reached him with a thunderous right.
A following left hook deposited Simonyan, clearly dazed, in his
corner.

Simonyan received a three-minute break in the fourth round while
Vasquez was changing gloves, but his reprieve was brief. In the
fifth, the champion got across another right that caused his rival to
sag.

Although Simonyan did not go down, Dr. James Jen Kin, the referee,
gave him an eight count. In concluding, Vazquez went on the attack
again and Jen Kin moved in to spare Simonyan additional punishment.

Frank Espinoza, Vazquez’s manager, said this was one of his man’s
best fights. The winner’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said he had
anticipated that Vazquez would be able to take Simonyan out, but not
this quickly.

“Art just couldn’t handle Israel’s power,” said Roach.

>From sparring with Simonyan, Vazquez said he had gained the
impression that his opponent did not possess a strong chin.

“I didn’t feel my strength,” said Simonyan. “My punches were not
there. I had no energy. I felt stiff.”

The undercard was made up of six scheduled four-rounders. For
punching power in these bouts, there was the sweeping right with
which Shawn Ross, a 254-pound heavyweight from Murrietta, knocked out
Bernard Gray of Oakland at 32 seconds of the third round.

For brevity, there was Crystal Hoy of Las Vegas stopping Sara Huntman
of Los Angeles at 31 seconds of the first round in the evening’s only
women’s match.

For class, there was Eddie Mapula, a junior welterweight from Tijuana
who would seem to have a future. He had too much in every area for
Hector Rivera of Michoacan, Mexico, and referee Raul Caiz Jr. wisely
called off matters following the third round.

For Mapula, 20, this was his fifth knockout in as many appearances.

For excitement, there was the cruiserweight go between Moses Matovu
of Las Vegas and Shane Johnston of El Cajon. Johnston, dropped in the
opening round of his first pro bout, rallied and had his rival
reeling in the second, but Matovu was able to gather himself and win
a unanimous decision.

In the other bouts, welterweight Francisco Maldonado of Guadalajara,
Mexico, outpointed Mauricio Borques of Caliacan, Mexico; and
heavyweight James Horton of Pomona knocked out James Harling of Las
Vegas with a counter right in the opening round’s final second.

NEW TIMES CONDEMNS ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT’S RATIFYING MEMORANDUM ON
DISPATCH OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO IRAQ

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27. ARMINFO. The party New Times, headed by
Politologist Aram Karapetian, condemns Armenian parliament’s ratifying
the Memorandum on dispatch of Armenian peacekeeping contingent to
Iraq.

According to the statement of the party New Times, provided to
ARMINFO, the decision of Armenian parliament is nothing at least
myopic. One should suppose that there is nothing good in the
resolution passed by the parliament. Nevertheless, there is something
good here – working places for 50 Armenian peacekeepers and 40,000
working places, promised by the president of Armenia , said in the
statement of the party New Times.

Firebombing press freedom
By NIKOL PASHINYAN

Independent Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Dec 24 2004

Armenia

Late last month, while putting the finishing touches on the next
edition of our newspaper, Haykakan Zhamanak (The Armenian Times),
we heard an explosion outside our office. Staff members rushed to
find my car on fire. That explosion was not unanticipated – nor was
the announcement by Armenia’s police that the car had caught fire
due to technical problems. But the real problem is censorship, for
the explosion was but the latest offensive in Armenia’s hidden war
against the press. For us the battle for press freedom began in 1999,
soon after founding our newspaper, then named Oragir (Diary). It made
an instant impact, but not in the way we hoped. Throughout 1999 there
were more court cases against Oragir than against all other Armenian
media combined since independence in 1991.

In one case, the prosecutor’s office brought criminal charges against
me as editor-in-chief. I was accused of slandering an Armenian
political figure and of insulting a state official. As a result, the
court sentenced me to one year in prison. By a lucky twist, however,
on the day the court ruled, Lord Russell Johnston, Chairman of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, was in Armenia. Lord
Johnston expressed his opinion about my case in his talks with the
authorities, which then decided not to send me to prison. I remained
free, only to be monitored by the police.

A second trial against our newspaper had worse consequences: a $25,000
fine (a huge sum here) based on allegations that we had damaged the
reputation of the Mika Armenia Company, controlled by the so-called
Karabakh clan that helps rule Armenia. The court’s verdict was based
on falsified documents. Following the verdict, bailiffs confiscated our
equipment, prohibited the publishing house from printing our newspaper,
and, most importantly, seized our business bank accounts, rendering
us unable to pay the fine. These events were initiated by a court
wrangle with Serzh Sargsyan, then the Minister of National Security
and Internal Affairs. We demanded an apology for his impugning our
paper’s reputation; he accused of us of libel. These manipulations
worked. Oragir was closed down, which forced us to appear under the
name Haykakan Zhamanak.

When my time under police supervision ended, the prosecutor’s office
quickly brought a new criminal case of slander against me. This time,
Armenia’s chief of civil aviation had sued me. Investigations lasted
several months, before pressure from international organisations and
public opinion forced the prosecutor to drop the charges. Later,
after his dismissal from his post, that same civil aviation chief
confessed that Armenian President Robert Kocharyan had advised
him to file his lawsuit. At a press conference just hours after my
car exploded, I announced my suspicion that the explosion had been
organised by Gagik Tsarukyan, an MP nicknamed “Dodi Gago” (“dod”
means stupid in Armenian) and one of the country’s richest men and a
close friend of the president’s family. Many Armenians believe that
Tsarukyan has carte blanche to do whatever he wants, when he wants.
Indeed, he even gets to write his own history. For although Gagik
Tsarukyan was convicted of a sexual crime in the Soviet era, two
years ago Armenia’s courts exonerated him by vacating the decision of
the Soviet court. Indeed, there is something of a taboo on writing
about Tsarukyan, and with good reason: not only is he rich, but
he also controls an army of obedient skinheads. Armenia frequently
sees skinheads attacking reporters covering opposition rallies and
once severely beating a leading opposition politician. Five years
ago, Tsarukyan himself led his thugs in a break-in at our office,
taking my staff hostage for several hours. Recently, after reading
some unflattering articles about him in our paper, Tsarukyan tried
to invite me to a meeting. I refused. Armenia’s paramount oligarch
fumed. He promised to punish me, and that he would act the next time
Haykakan Zhamanak criticised any well-known person. The car explosion
occurred the day after we rebuked Armenia’s Police Chief.

None of us are surprised that the police are unwilling to investigate
my car’s explosion. They began to do so only ten days later, when the
fire brigade stated that the fire was likely the result of an explosion
incited by “outside interference.” Such harassment is the everyday
stuff of journalism in what Vladimir Putin calls the “post-Soviet
space.” Armenia may have adopted in 1995 a new Constitution with fine
phrases about freedom of speech, but both the petty harassments and the
mortal threats of the Soviet era remain. Of course, we never believed
that press freedom would come easily. We understood from the start
that we would have to fight for it everyday. But we never imagined
the terrifying lengths to which the state – working hand-in-hand with
the new oligarchic rich – would go to defeat our cause.

We will not be defeated. An incinerated car is a small price to pay
in the battle for freedom.

The writer is Editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak, an independent
newspaper in Armenia.

USA to provide equal aid package to Azerbaijan, Armenia

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Dec 23 2004

The US Congress intends to provide equal military assistance to
Azerbaijan and Armenia next year, the US ambassador to Azerbaijan
Reno Harnish said.

Considering Azerbaijan’s active involvement in the anti-terror
coalition, the US President has proposed to set the military
assistance to Azerbaijan in 2005 at $8 million, he said. However, the
US Congress exercised its authority and set the figure at $2 million,
the same package to be allocated to Armenia. But the law on foreign
allocations is not the only source to be used in providing military
aid to Azerbaijan, the ambassador said.

“We highly appreciate cooperation with Azerbaijan in the area of
security and fighting global terror,” said Harnish, adding that the
US administration plans to continue this collaboration in the future.

ARKA News Agency
Dec 22 2004

RA Foreign Minister positively estimates the idea on NKR transfer in
temporary control of Armenia

Norair Gukasian appointed on the position of RA Deputy Minister of
Science and Education

Foreign policy of Armenia records satisfactory results during 2004 –
Armenian Foreign Minister

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

RA FOREIGN MINISTER POSITIVELY ESTIMATES THE IDEA ON NKR TRANSFER IN
TEMPORARY CONTROL OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, December 22. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
positively estimated the idea on NKR transfer in temporary control of
Armenia offered in the article at Le Figaro, he stated this in
National Press Club.
Armenia must receive temporary control over Nagorno Karabakh, joint
article of NATO PA Head Pierre Lellushe and Spanish Ex-Foreign
Minister Ana Palacio called “Putin and Spirits of Empire” published
today in Figaro states. “Europeans, Americans and Russians should
find compromise that will lead to obtaining of Armenian control over
Karabakh for some time”, the article says. “Western democracies”,
according to the authors, should initiate settlement of conflicts at
post Soviet area.
Both authors visited Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh in Oct 2004. L.D.
–0–

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

NORAIR GUKASIAN APPOINTED ON THE POSITION OF RA DEPUTY MINISTER OF
SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

YEREVAN, December 22. /ARKA/. Norair Gukasian appointed on the
position of Ra Deputy Minister of Science and Education in accordance
to the decree of RA PM, RA Government press office told ARKA.
Norair Gukasian was born in Aragatsotn region in 1954. In 1977
graduated from mathematic faculty of Yerevan State University after
K. Abovian. In 1991-2002 has taken different positions in RA Ministry
of Education. L.D. –0–

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

FOREIGN POLICY OF ARMENIA RECORDS SATISFACTORY RESULTS DURING 2004 –
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

YEREVAN, December 21. /ARKA/. Foreign policy of Armenia recorded
satisfactory results during 2004, as Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian said during his briefing in the National Press Club. “The
year 2004 was impetuous, intense, full of positive and negative
moments”, he said. In his words, the main attention of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry was directed to the issues of Eurointegration in the
frames of EU “Enlarged Europe: New Neighborhood” program. Oskanian
also mentioned that Armenian Foreign Ministry was widely focusing on
Armenia-NATO relations. “Both these priorities will be significant
for Armenia in the future: Caucasus borders approached Europe and
NATO”, he stressed. As for the Karabakh conflict, in words of the
Armenian Foreign Minister in the year 2004 we recorded alternate
success. “Particularly, taking of the issue on “occupied lands” to
the UN agenda may be an obstacle for the negotiating process”, he
said. Oskanian mentioned that during the year 2004 it was possible to
develop and deepen relations of Armenia with Russia, USA and European
countries. The year was effective also from point of view of
Armenia-Diaspora relations.
He also added that the year 2005 promises to be also active from the
point of view of the foreign policy of Armenia: the country will
launch individual program of its partnership with the EU and
individual action plan with NATO (IPAP). “In 2005 we will face
serious issues in the Council of Europe: on the regular summit of the
CE Armenia must acts as a country fully that have fully implemented
its commitments undertaken to the CE”, he said. As for the beginning
of the negotiations with Turkey on its accession to the EU in October
2005, Minister stressed that Armenia must present its position fully.
T.M. –0–

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

–Boundary_(ID_eQJAYh9fpAmlH/WLA3arbQ)–

The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia)
December 22, 2004 Wednesday
Final Edition

Is Turkey European enough to join the European Union?: Many Europeans
are ambivalent about Turkey joining the EU — others are downright
hostile

by Harry Sterling, Special to the Sun

Is Turkey really part of Europe? Ever since Kemal Ataturk founded
modern-day Turkey in 1923, Turkish governments have insisted Turkey
is a European nation. This, notwithstanding that Turkey now only
maintains a small territorial toehold on the European continent,
the vast majority of its land-mass being in Asia proper.

A critically important objective in Turkey’s claim to be a European
state has been its longstanding application to join the European Union.

And now, in an historically important breakthrough for Turkey,
leaders of the 25-member European Union have finally invited it to
begin accession negotiations next October 3. However, despite the
EU’s December 17 decision, many in Europe remain ambivalent about
Turkey joining, while some are adamantly opposed.

In the past, those opposed to Turkey’s membership were spared
from openly opposing it due to Turkey’s failure to meet various
EU political and other standards, particularly its commitment to
democratic principles, respect for fundamental human rights and
treatment of minorities.

Opponents’ second line of defence was Greece. Given Greece’s
never-ending territorial disputes with Turkey — they almost went to
war over a tiny islet only occupied by goats — other EU states could
count on Athens to predictably put up obstacles to Turkish membership,
saving them from explicitly voicing their own opposition.

However, following massive earthquakes in Turkey and Greece in 1999,
resulting in the two countries unexpectedly coming to the aid of each
other, the traditionally strained bilateral relations between them
improved significantly, resulting in Athens becoming a supporter
of Turkish accession as a vehicle for settling their differences
peacefully.

Greece’s turn-around left other EU states with no alternative but to
come out of the closet to voice their own concerns regarding Turkey
joining the EU.

Although skeptical EU leaders were persuaded at their December 16-17
summit in Brussels to reach a consensus on approving negotiations
with Turkey, some clearly hope Turkey’s actual membership will
never materialize due to Ankara’s failure to meet various EU trade,
economic and human rights criteria for new members during prolonged
negotiations which may last 10 to 15 years.

Governments favouring Turkish membership — such as Britain, Germany
and Italy — are convinced it will ultimately be beneficial to all
EU states. Turkey’s well-trained, half-million-strong military is
seen as providing the EU with the independent military clout it wants
to develop.

Its population of over 70 million supposedly would offer EU states
expanded trade and economic opportunities. Supporters also point out
that Turkey, a regional power in the Eastern Mediterranean, would
be an extremely useful bridge between the European Union and Middle
East nations.

(The Blair government is keen to have Turkey join as a counterweight
to the efforts of France and Germany to dominate EU affairs.)

However, some, like former French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing,
are totally against Turkish membership. He claims Turkey would
undermine the shared values of the EU which binds European states
together.

A recent poll reported three-quarters of French agree with him. And
despite French president Jacques Chirac’s somewhat qualified support
for Turkish membership, several in his own ruling UMP party oppose
Turkey entering the Community.

The former leader of the Dutch Liberal Party, Frits Bolkestein,
an EU commissioner, warned of the “Islamization” of Europe should
Turkey be admitted.

Many fear Turkey’s entry would result in a wave of Turkish workers
flooding into EU states, undercutting local workers by their
willingness to work for much lower wages. Others complain Turkish
membership would siphon away EU subsidies and other assistance
currently devoted to the agricultural sectors in EU countries,
including those in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Still others worry Turkey’s predominantly Muslim population would
create additional religious and ethnic tensions and divisions within
European countries where anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim sentiments have
become major issues, spawning anti-immigrant and ultra-nationalist
parties in several countries.

The recent brutal murder of controversial Dutch film-maker Theo van
Gogh, allegedly by a Muslim extremist, and the ensuing attacks against
both mosques and churches it unleashed throughout the Netherlands,
is cited as an example of the dangers now presented by the clash of
different ethnic and religious cultures in Europe.

Although the EU commission has complimented the current government
of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara for its efforts to
improve his country’s commitment to democratic principles and respect
for fundamental human rights, critics maintain much more needs to
be done.

They say that while the Erdogan government has passed new laws and
regulations prohibiting torture of prisoners and constitutional changes
guaranteeing freedom of speech for the media and political dissidents,
actual implementation remains problematic.

Critics say Turkish courts continue to be lenient in cases involving
violence against women, including the so-called “honour killings” of
females by their families for allegedly violating social customs. The
controversial move by the Turkish parliament to make adultery
punishable by imprisonment, though eventually dropped under pressure
from the EU, only reinforced the views of those convinced Turkish
membership would be incompatible with the values of the European Union.

Turkey’s failure to grant full language and other rights to its
large Kurdish population has also been criticized as unacceptable to
EU states.

(In a move angering Turkey, France’s foreign minister called upon
the Turkish government to acknowledge the mass killing of Armenians
in 1915 as a “tragedy” before negotiations with the EU begin.)

Turkish human rights advocates say that the prospect of EU membership
has been crucially important in promoting political reforms in
Turkey and the forthcoming negotiations would facilitate further
democratization and respect for human rights in Turkey.

However, Turkey will also inevitably have to deal with the thorny
issues of territorial disputes with Greece and diplomatic recognition
of the Greek-Cypriot government in Cyprus. EU leaders informed Ankara
there’s no way Turkey could join the EU without recognizing Cyprus.
The latter warned it could veto Turkey’s accession unless it recognizes
it. (Turkey has occupied northern Cyprus since a 1974 coup by Greek
Cypriots attempting to have Cyprus annexed to Greece.)

In a compromise move, Turkey has agreed to sign a customs agreement
with the EU’s newest ten members (which includes Cyprus) before
October’s negotiations start, thus implicitly giving the Cypriot
government de facto recognition.

Although this formula may partially resolve the Cyprus issue, Turkey
must still contend with years of tough negotiations before it may
realize its goal of joining the European Union.

It also has to contend with the fact that several countries, including
France and Austria, say they will hold referendums on Turkey’s
membership. Any national referendums rejecting Turkey joining could
theoretically provide governments with the justification for vetoing
Turkey’s eventual accession.

And if racial and religious tensions within European societies do not
improve in coming years it could ultimately bring to an end any hope
Turkey could have of joining the European Union.

Harry Sterling, a former diplomat who served in Europe and Turkey,
is an Ottawa-based commentator.

“IF TURKEY WERE EUROPEAN WE WOULD KNOW IT” LEADER OF FORMER FRENCH
RULING PARTY CONSIDERS

PanArmenian News
Dec 20 2004

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Supporters of the Northern League Party in Italy
took to the streets to protest at the decision. According to media
reports, they unfurled banners saying, “yes to Christian roots”.
Nicolas Sarkozy, former Finance Minister and “rising star of French
politics”, renewed his call for a “privileged partnership” with Turkey,
rather than full membership. Mr Sarkozy, who hopes to take over from
Jacques Chirac as French President in 2007, said, “If Turkey were
European, we would know it. I’m for a privileged partnership but I’m
reserved about membership, like a large number of notable voices”,
Richard Carter, EU Observer reporter, writes in his article dedicated
to the reaction to EU’s decision in some European countries. Austrian
Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel announced that his country would join
France in holding a referendum on Turkey’s accession, adding another
potential obstacle in Ankara’s path. This decision was criticized by
Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot who said, “we have never said to
the Turks, neither in 1999 nor in 2002, that a referendum would lie at
the end of the process. We have to be fair”. And Swedish daily Dagens
Nyheter reports that the Kurdish minority in Turkey are disappointed
because their hopes to have their language recognized were not raised
as a issue. Of the 70 million people in Turkey, 20 million are Kurds.

Tigran Petrosian Memorial Tournament

Chessbase News, Germany
Dec 19 2004

18.12.2004 An international Internet chess tournament is taking
place, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the birth of the 9th
world champion, Tigran Petrosian. Four teams, from Russia, China,
France and Armenia, are participating, with none of the players
leaving their places of residence. More…

Tigran Petrosian Memorial Internet Tournament
The six round tournament will take place each day from December 18-23
with games starting at 12:00 noon in Paris, 14:00 in St. Petersburg.
15:00 in Yerevan and 19:00 in Beijing.

Four boards will face-off each day, as in the Olympiad, with each
opponent facing his corresponding board representative. Each country
will face each of the other three countries two times for a total of
six rounds. Fischer time control will be used (1 hour 30 minutes plus
15 minutes added at move 40; 30 second increments are added after
every move).

The overall prize fund is $55,000 with the following breakdown: 1st
place $20,000, 2nd place $15,000, 3rd place $12,000, 4th place
$8,000. The games will not be counted toward players’ official
ratings.

Armenia (average rating: 2626) France (average rating: 2627)
GM Aronian 2675 GM Lautier 2682
GM Lputian 2634 GM Fressinet 2640
GM Sargissian 2611 GM Bauer 2622
GM Art. Minasian 2581 GM Nataf 2565

Russia (average rating: 2688) China (average rating: 2590)
GM Svidler 2735 GM Bu 2615
GM Dreev 2698 GM Ni 2611
GM Khalifman 2669 GM Zhang 2596
GM Zvjaginsev 2650 GM Wang 2536

Tigran Petrosian
Tigran Petrosian was a legendary chess champion, an Armenian hero,
and a creative genius. Nearly twenty years after his passing, FIDE
has named 2004 in his honor, and the Tigran Petrosian memorial
internet tournament held from December 18-23 online is the last in a
string of tournaments in 2004 around the world held in his honor.
The legacy of Petrosian is at the same time profound and
multifaceted.

To Armenians around the world and in Armenia alike, Petrosian
symbolized the overcoming of the struggles of a downtrodden nation, a
nation which survived Genocide, the horrors of Stalin, and global
dispersion to cheer their favorite son toward victory. For Armenians
everywhere he embodied achievement of excellence in the most
intellectual and competitive of games. The boy who was born in
Tiflis, embraced in Armenia, rose to the heights in Moscow, and loved
by his compatriots around the world. He was a unique figure in modern
Armenian history, and his relationship to Armenians around the world
was similarly distinctive. After he lost both parents before he was
16, he became the adopted son of Armenians everywhere. Though some of
his compatriots around the world had no particular understanding of
the game of chess, they would flock to his games in tournaments held
in the farthest reaches around the globe – from South America to
Europe, from the Soviet Union to the USA. Everywhere, Petrosian was
greeted with fanfare, exhilaration and cheer.

His chess style was enigmatic, misunderstood, underappreciated. He
died much too young, living life with passion and exuberance until
cancer took him away from us much too prematurely. Like any champion,
his legacy is immortal, his games are creations which will be loved
forever, and we are the lucky ones to have benefited from his genius.
For the generations of chess fans who emulate him to the millions of
Armenians who cherish his memory, we are proud and honored to offer
this tournament to all to enjoy.

AZG Armenian Daily #227, 17/12/2004

Turkey-EU

WAC’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF TURKEY’S BID TO ENTER EU

The European Commission, being EU’s executive body, has officially
announced about its readiness to negotiate with Turkey for its
political and economic integration into the European community. The
leaders of European states have to give their consent to start the
talks over Turkey’s accession to EU at the forthcoming EU summit.

No other EU bid has ever aroused so many controversial responses in
the European public and governments as Turkey’s appeal did. Despite
Turkey’s wide-ranging efforts to enlarge the circle of the supporters,
the polls show that only 1/3 of Europeans is ready to boost latter’s
bid.

Membership in the united family of the European nations supposes
that a country should secure human rights and freedom, follow the
principle of true democracy, peace and good neighborhood.

Yet, the whole history of the Turkish state and the history of its
relations with the Armenian nation give all the grounds to doubt
that Turkey will stick to European principles and values in case
it is admitted to the EU. Unfortunately the fact that the Ottoman
Turkey was once admitted to the family of the civilized nations
for its participation in the Crimean War of 1854-1856 did not turn
Turkey into a country with European civilization. Just the contrary,
Turkey implemented the policy of systematic elimination of enslaved
nations – Armenians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs, Assyrians, Maronites
and many others.

The present-day Turkey refuses to recognize the fact of the cruelest
crime against humanity, elimination of 1.5 million Armenians in the
Western Armenia, carries on the decade-long illegal blockade of the
Republic of Armenia thus maintaining tension in the Armenian-Turkish
relations and the threat of genocide reoccurrence.

Turkey ignores continual appeals of the European parliament to
recognize the Armenian Genocide and the request to take off the
blockade thus creating a ground for reconciliation and solution
for the Armenian Cause. EU’s this claim should become one of the
preconditions of Turkey’s accession. Turkey is ignoring EU’s other
standards too, particularly in securing social and civil rights
of national minorities, in renouncing its chauvinistic policy and
genocidal practice that are obligatory conditions of the Copenhagen
criteria for EU accession. Turkey’s approaches to justice and
international law should be real and not ostentatious.

The World Armenian Congress considers that Turkey’s refusal to
denounce the crime of Armenian Genocide, refusal to apply international
standards in settling quarrelsome issues with Greece, refusal to submit
to UN’s numerous decisions disapproving of Turkey’s occupation of
Cyprus and division of its territory, refusal to recognize the rights
of Kurdish national minority, continual suppression of individual,
group and religious freedoms make this country unacceptable for the EU.

How is the united Europe going to become a common house for Turkey if
its authorities do not realize the need of following the principals
and standards of a civilized community?

We are sure that the West, particularly Europe, that was putting
morality as a cornerstone in the policy of Bosnia and Kosovo, will
apply the same criterion in considering Turkey’s accession to EU.

Ara Abrahamian, President of the World Armenian Congress, UNESCO
Goodwill Ambassador

Agency France Presse
Dec 15 2004

Geopolitics lies behind British backing for Turkey in EU

LONDON, Dec 15 (AFP) – Underpinning Britain`s staunch support for
Turkey joining the European Union is some hard geopolitical logic:
reshaping the greater Middle East region.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has consistently backed Turkey`s
long-standing bid to join Europe`s exclusive club of democratic
nations — the key issue at the EU summit this Thursday and Friday in
Brussels.

Leaders of the 25 EU member states are expected to give the green
light for Turkey to start accession talks with the European
Commission in the new year.

It could be a decade before Turkey actually joins the club, but in
the meantime, in Britain`s view, a “very powerful signal” will have
gone out to one of the world`s most unruly neighbourhoods.

“A Turkey that lives under European norms of rule of law, respected
the Charter of Fundamental Rights (in the new EU constitution), that
is fully democratic, sends a signal to all its neighbours that this
is the only way forward,” said Britain`s Europe Minister Denis
MacShane.

It would signify, he continued, that it is possible for a nation
state “to be wholly Muslim in belief and practice, but wholly secular
and democratic in the application of the rule of law and state
administration.”

“Turkey as a strong partner in NATO, a friend of Israel, strong
against terror, but nonetheless a country sensitive to the rhythms
and needs of the region, I think will be a very, very powerful
partner in Europe in the 21st century,” MacShane told a group of
European journalists in London.

That logic dovetails with Blair`s rejection of the idea that the
world is in the midst of a “clash of civilisations” between the West
and Islam in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United
States in 2001.

It equally underpins Britain`s support for elections next month in
both Iraq and in the Palestinian territories.

“Getting stability, democracy, peace in the eastern Mediterranean
area — I don`t want to enumerate the countries — seems to be a
powerful international signal to send,” MacShane said.

Turkey`s adjoining neighbours, besides Iraq, include Syria and Iran,
as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, plus EU member state
Greece and candidate country Bulgaria.

Turkey has remained a strategic linchpin in NATO while implementing
in the past two years a raft of political and economic reforms, not
least, under EU pressure, the end of the death sentence under a
government which has Islamist roots.

“We are confident that if Turkey maintains the rhythm of reforms, in
every sphere — economic reform, domestic law reform, state
administration reform, human rights reform, respect for minorities
reform — then of course Turkey will fulfill EU criteria and can
join,” MacShane said.

Insofar as this week`s summit is concerned, MacShane said Britain
wants to see Turkey get an unequivocal nod that its accession talks
with Brussels will begin in earnest in the coming 12 months.

He dismissed press reports that Britain is offering some so-called
“Turkish delights” as concessions to help France and Germany appease
public concerns about Turkey moving into the European family.

One supposed proposal is that negotiations will not start until the
second half of 2005, when Britain holds the rotating EU presidency —
and France would have held its referendum on the EU constitution.

“What we want (at the summit) is a clear yes,” MacShane said. “We
want to start in 2005 and we would like the earliest day possible. I
know nothing about `Turkish delights` or anything else.”