Author: Tashjian Arbi

KOCHARIAN CONCERNED OVER INCREASING NUMBER OF GAS INCIDENTS

ArmenPress
Dec 23 2004

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Concerned with the growing number
of fatal incidents caused by natural gas leaks president Robert
Kocharian called today a working meeting with senior officials of
bodies authorized to supervise the safety of gas use.

Kocharian’s press office said the president has instructed relevant
government agencies to combine efforts to prevent use of poorly
installed homemade gas heaters and illegal connection to municipal
gas pipes.

A man, his wife and 7-year-old child were asphyxiated by a natural gas
leak in a rural Armenian village, emergency officials said Wednesday –
the third such incident of gas poisoning in Armenia this month.

Officials were investigating the incident, which took place in
the southern village of Brnakot in Syunik, but said preliminary
information showed that a poorly installed homemade gas heater and
an illegal connection to municipal gas pipes were to blame.

Last week, a family of five died in the town of Etchmiadzin. Two days
later, a gas leak killed two people in the town of Gyumri.

DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSIT AIR TRAFFIC IN ARMENIA IS MAIN COMPONENT OF ARMAVIA’S
STRATEGY

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 23. ARMINFO. Timetable of the flights of Armavia
is now formed counting on the development of transit traffic and
involvement of air flows between Europe and Asia, the south and
the north. Commercial Director of the company Mushegh Sayadian told
ARMINFO.

Sayadian mentioned that at favorable concatenation of circumstances
before the completion of the new terminal of Zvartnots airport
Armavia plans to set stables transit flows in these directions. “Of
course in this plan it’s early yet to compete with Dubai or Istanbul,
but Yerevan has big opportunities to become the main air-transport
centre of the TransCaucasus”, the interlocutor mentioned. Besides,
Armavia connects its future just with the development of transit.

In 2005 the national transporter plans to be engaged in the development
of Gyumri airport, as 20-25% of the passenger flow of Armenia are
residents of Shirak region and the southern regions of Georgia.

It should be noted that during nine months of 2004 the national
transporter of Armenia – the company Armavia has transported over
316,000 passengers and 1,100 tons of post and cargo. The passenger
turnover of the air company totaled 557/7 mln p/km, and the cargo
turnover 2.3 mln tons km. The company today serves 20 routes and has
interline-agreements with over 40 air companies of the world.

CENN – DECEMBER 20, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Evaluation of CENN activities During the period of 2004-2005
2. “The Public Eye Awards – “26/27 January 2005, Davos/Switzerland
3. Training Sessions in International Human Rights
4. BP and British Council Announce Successful Scholarship Candidates
5. AUA Promotes Anti-Smoking Movement
6. Human Rights and Environment

1. EVALUATION OF CENN ACTIVITIES DURING THE PERIOD OF 2004-2005

CENN – Caucasus Environmental NGO Network is conducting evaluation of
its activities for the period of 2004-2005 and would like to ask you to
participate in the study by answering this checklist as accurately as
possible. The information will help us assess the CENN activities and
improve our work in the future. We ask you to answer the checklist and
return it via e-mail till December 27, 2004.

We appreciate your cooperation! Thank you!

The English and Russian verisons of the cheklists is availble on the
following adress:

2. “THE PUBLIC EYE AWARDS – “26/27 JANUARY 2005, DAVOS/SWITZERLAND

Dear friends,

Every year in January, the World Economic Forum (WEF) gathers its
business leaders and the world’s political and media elite in Davos.
Current global political issues are discussed and trends in the future
development of global business are set. For the sixth time, the
international NGO coalition “The Public Eye on Davos” will be present in
Davos with an alternative event at the same time and place as the WEF.
The highlight of next year’s “Public Eye” will be an Awards Ceremony.
Candidates for the awards are WEF corporate members and other companies
that have excelled in socially and environmentally irresponsible
behavior. The “Public Eye Awards” are given in the categories human
rights, environment, labor law and taxes.

In the meantime, we received numerous nominations (the deadline was 31
October 2004). They can be viewed from January 11, 2005 (date of the
press conference) onwards at:
<;. The award winners will be presented
at the Awards Ceremony to be held on 26 January 2005 in Davos. The Swiss
actor and cabaret artist Patrick Frey will present the event.

For the full program of the “Public Eye” event please go to:
<;archive=none>

With kind regards,

Matthias Herfeldt
Coordinator “The Public Eye on Davos”
Berne Declaration

3. TRAINING SESSIONS IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS

Dear Sir / Madam,

Please allow me to introduce myself: My name is Kamala Laghate and I
work for the Netherlands Helsinki Committee as project organizer.

In May we will hold the fifth of a series of five Practical Training
sessions in International Human Rights Litigation. This training will
take place in the Netherlands from 9th to 20th of May 2005. The emphasis
is on non-discrimination and minority rights.

It is meant for lawyers and judges from the Caucasus region who deal
with human rights issues (especially non-discrimination and minority
rights) professionally, who litigate in court and could be placed in the
position to bring a case to Strasbourg.

Please find additional info on the programme in the attachments as well
as the application form.

The deadline for submitting the application is January 15th, 2005.

I kindly request you to distribute the information on the training to
other relevant organisations (such as bar / judiciary associations,
human rights organisations, courts) and individuals whom you think would
be interested in participating. The training will be taught in English,
so the applicant should be fluent in this language.

As we are based in the Netherlands and have not established many
contacts in your country yet I would really appreciate it if you would
help me in finding participants for
this course.

Thank you very much in advance!

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Kamala Laghate
Netherlands Helsinki Committee
P.O. Box 93132
2509 AC The Hague, the Netherlands
T: +31 70 392 6700
F: +31 70 392 6550

4. BP AND BRITISH COUNCIL ANNOUNCE SUCCESSFUL SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATES

Source: The Messenger, December 17, 2004

On December 16, 2004 BP Georgia and the British Council announced the
selection of their candidates for a new international scholarship
program, targeting leaders in a wide range of study fields from
businesses to media.

The BP-funded program, launched in October, will send 10 students to
study Masters level courses in the UK for a period of 12 months. The
British Council will manage this program that received more than 250
applications alongside the UK government’s Chevening scholarships
program.

The announcement follows BP’s recent commitment to a new social
investment program for Georgia, through which – in consultation with the
Georgian government – it will invest US $10 million in arrange of
projects covering areas such as education and healthcare.

Head of BP Georgia, Wref Digings says: “This scholarship program is part
of our commitment to successful, long term relationship with Georgia. It
is the first step in our education program that is set to expand to
include other long distance learning opportunities for Georgians. It
also fits well with BP’s global emphasis on the role of education in the
development of enterprise and civil society.”

Jo Bakowski, Director of the British Council in Georgia, adds: “WE have
been managing scholarship programs for the more than 10 years and they
are one of our most important activities, clearly demonstrated by the
achievements of our alumni. The candidates selected fort the BP program
are of similarly high standard and have shown how their studies could
contribute to positive change in Georgia.”

The fields covered by the scholarship are: banking, finance and
economics (including insurance); business studies; management
(agriculture, education, energy, health and transport); human rights;
law; media; social and political studies; built environment (includes
architecture, urban planning and design); and international relations
and diplomatic studies.

For further information on program, please visit the British Council
website at:

5. AUA PROMOTES ANTI-SMOKING MOVEMENT

PRESS RELEASE

December 16, 2004

American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576

Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]

Yerevan – On Friday, December 10, 2004, the Association of
Caricaturists, the Armenian Public Health Alliance, the Coalition for
Tobacco Free Armenia and the American University of Armenia hosted a
public exhibition “Artists Against Smoking,” as part of its approach to
combat smoking in Armenia.
The exhibition took place in the newly opened AUA Center Restaurant,
which has a healthy working, non-smoking environment policy.

With support from the Open Society institute, the Armenian Public Health
Alliance, formed by the Armenian Public Health Association, the Armenian
Public Health Union and the American University of Armenia, started an
ambitious multi-pronged project to combat smoking in Armenia, including
establishing the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Armenia (CTFA), which now
includes 18 NGOs representing over eight hundred people committed to
preventing the health consequences of tobacco smoke.

Earlier in the year, on October 12, the American University of Armenia
(AUA) hosted the first ever-national meeting of NGOs involved in
fighting smoking in Armenia. At the conference, AUA President Haroutune
Armenian emphasized that the Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia (CTFA)
demonstrates that Armenians can and will unite to protect the public’s
health.

According to global tobacco expert, Dr. Richard Peto, the average
Armenian male smoker loses 17 years of productive life due to smoking.
Despite this shocking finding, smoking is not perceived as a problem by
Armenian society, where 67% of adult males are estimated to smoke and 3%
of females.

Moreover, many wrongly believe that cigarette manufacturing is a benefit
to the country’s economy, looking only at the jobs and tax revenue
created by the industry, without accounting for health and other costs
paid by the government and by society at large. This false image of
tobacco industry is maintained by sophisticated advertisements and other
misleading practices seen throughout the world.

Empowering people and building public support for tough tobacco control
policy measures was and remains the focus of the initiative.
Established in June 2004, the Coalition for Tobacco Free Armenia became
a member of the international Framework Convention Alliance, which
unites about 200 organizations around the world in support of the WHO
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In June, CTFA Coordinator
Narine Movsisyan, MD, MPH participated as an invited observer at the
open-ended intergovernmental meeting on tobacco control in Geneva. In
her words, it was “a great experience to learn from international
tobacco control activists. Lobbying was a bad word in the soviet times.
I would never have imagined that lobbying could be pro-human,
pro-health. Like the smokers we are trying to educate, we have to open
our minds and re-think many concepts.”

In a country in transition like Armenia, economic arguments can be very
powerful. Thus, demonstrating the long-term effects of tobacco control
as opposed to short-term economic benefits of tobacco growing and
manufacturing is of critical importance. Armenian Public Health Alliance
experts developed a comprehensive informational package for Armenian
policy and decision makers. The infopack called “Contemporary Issues on
Tobacco Control in Armenia” examined health, social and economic aspects
of the situation in Armenia and suggested appropriate solutions in light
of international experience. The Armenian Public Health Alliance’s
infopack was a critical reference at the November 17 Parliamentary
hearings on tobacco control.

The CTFA successfully lobbied Parliament to adopt the Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control and is now lobbying for similarly strict
supporting legislation, in coordination with the Ministry of Health
National Tobacco Control Program led by Dr. Alexander Bazarchyan and
Chair of Parliamentary Committee on Science, Education, Culture, and
Youth, Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan.

As Armenian Public Health Alliance member Hovhannes Margaryants,
President of the Armenian Public Health Union, noted, “We intend to
stimulate a dialogue within our society and build a new non-smoking
culture. We are looking for allies and partners among journalists,
medical, cultural, business and political elite as well as parents and
other “ordinary” citizens. Everyone concerned with building a healthier
and safer homeland for all Armenians is welcomed.”

The “Artists Against Smoking” exhibition was organized within the
framework of the tobacco control project with support from the Open
Society Institute Assistance Foundation. The Association of
Caricaturists presented approximately 40 antismoking drawings. AUA
members along with guests and representatives from Ministry of Culture,
Youth Affaires and Sport, Academy of Art, international organizations
and local agencies expressed their appreciation and noted that both the
exhibition and non-smoking Restaurant are a novelty for Armenia.

CTFA Coordinator Narine Movsisyan stated, “It’s a challenge to change
people’s unhealthy behavior. Today’s exhibition is an attempt to talk to
people on a language of humor and satire. We believe that laugh can be
curative.” The opening was followed by light reception and broad local
media coverage. The Exhibition will be open for public at large through
December 17th in the AUA Club Restaurant.

6. HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENT

Source: Yerevan Press Club Weekly Newsletter, December 10-16, 2004

On December 10, 2004 on the International Day of Human Rights in Yerevan
the ceremony of awarding monetary prizes to the winners of competition
“Human Rights and Environment” was held. The competition was
administrated by the OSCE Office in Yerevan jointly with the Public
(Airbus) Center of Environmental Information.

In the nomination “Print media” the first prize was awarded to Susanna
Shakhnazarian (“Ban ev Gorts”, Syunik region), the second – to Karineh
Danielian (“Azg”, Yerevan), the third – to Arthur Sakunts and Narineh
Bulghadarian (“Civil Initiative”, Vanadzor). Encouraging prizes in this
nomination were conferred on Anush Sargsian (“Loru Marz”, Lori region)
and Sarah Petrosian (“Investigative Journalists” public organization).

In the nomination “TV Journalism” the first prize was granted to Edik
Baghdasarian (“Versus” studio, Yerevan), the second – to Satenik
Kaghzvantsian (free-lance journalist, Shirak region), the third – to
Valery Gasparian (Armenian branch of “Mir” Interstate TV and Radio
Company). Encouraging prizes were also conferred on Nelly Danielian
(“Yerkir-Media”, Yerevan) and Stella Martirosian (“Shoghakat”, Yerevan).

Special prize was awarded to the film of Hrachia Papinian (“Ankyun+3”,
Lori region).

—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

–Boundary_(ID_cbIJSUMVwgWOXCthoMhvhQ)–

CONTRACT ON TRANSFER OF VANADZOR CHEMICAL PLANT TO SLOVAKIAN COMPANY SLZ TOL
BE CONCLUDED ON JAN 10, 2005

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24. ARMINFO. A contract on transfer of Vanadzor
chemical plant to Slovakian company SLZ will be concluded on Jan 10,
2005. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan made this statement at a
press-conference after his visit to Lori region on Dec 18.

He says that next year it will become clear whether it is possible
to exploit the plant with profits on the investments the Slovakian
party intends to attract. The transfer of the plant does not mean that
its work will be guaranteed as it is connected with a possibility of
receiving profits the following year, the president says. He emphasized
that the owner of Vanadzor chemical complex has invested funds in the
plant, but failed to put it into exploitation. “One should not make
rash steps in the big business, everything must be well-calculated
here,” the president says.

It should be noted that SLZ intends to reactivate the plant on February
15, 2005 and to restore the production of carbide, corundum and acetate
ribbon. For this purpose, the company intends to invest $880 mln for
purchase of raw materials and $600,000 for current expenses. The owner
of 100% of the plant’s shares is the OJSC “Zakneftegazstroy Prometey,”
which belongs to the Russian businessman, Armenian by origin, Senik
Gevorgyan. Vanadzor chemical complex consisting of the chemical
plant, the chemical fibre plant and Vanadzor thermal power plant was
privatized in the May of 1999 for $1.5 mln. It has been idling since
then. The owner has already invested some $20 mln in the enterprise.-m-

KOCHARIAN DOWNPLAYS VANADZOR RESIDENTS FEARS

ArmenPress
Dec 20 2004

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
downplayed last Saturday fears that construction of a new correction
facility in the proximity to the country’s third-largest town of
Vanadzor may affect the criminal situation there.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to the province of Lori, Kocharian
said the ultimate goal of extensive reforms in the judicial system
is to bring Armenian prisons in line with western requirements.

Kocharian said the town people should not worry that the new correction
facility is being built within the town’s boundaries, citing the
example of a big Russian prison that is in the downtown Moscow.

The new prison is being built on a location that used to host a bus
terminal, which, according to provincial governor, Henrik Kochinian,
can be used also for establishing workshops to give jobs not only
to prison population but also to other town residents. He said there
will be around 300 new jobs as soon as the construction is over.

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Dec 18 2004

Muslim and Turkic World Welcomed; Armenians Protested EU’s Turkey Decision

“Turkey’s Accession to the EU will positively affect Europe’s
relations with the Muslim world.” Nawab Han, Iranian journalist

Jan SOYKOK (JTW)
18 December 2004

The European Union’s historic decision to start negotiations with
Turkey has welcomed by Turkic world and Muslim world while the Greek
Cypriots were disappointed with the decision. The Armenian Diaspora
groups protested the EU decision.

Nawab Han, from IRNA Iranian News Agency said Turkey’s entry will
change the idea of that the EU is a Christian club. I believe “The
EU’ Turkey decision will positively impact Europe-Islamic world
relations” added Iranian journalist Han.

Bedir Al-Sarhan from Kuwait News Agency argued Turkey’s entry to the
EU will help the EU in understanding the true nature of Islam.
“Turkey, as a European Muslim state, will be a model for the Muslim
world” added Kuwaiti journalist.

Similarly diplomats and journalist from the Turkic world welcomed
Turkey decision. An Azerbaijani diplomat said that a EU member Turkey
will help regional stability in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

On the other hand about 2,300 Armenians protested the EU’s Turkey
decision in Brussels. The Armenian protesters defended that Turkey
has to accept the 1915 events as ‘genocide’ if it wants to enter the
EU.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 16 2004

UKRAINE, AZERBAIJAN: RELATIONS EXPANDING
[December 16, 2004, 12:26:15]

On December 15, Chairman of Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijan Republic
Murtuz Alaskarov has received the ambassador of Ukraine in the
country Anatoly Yurchenko.

Murtuz Alaskarov has told: “Due to efforts of heads of our states,
relations existing between our countries have reached the level of
strategic partnership. Mutual visits of heads of the states, in
particular, the contracts signed during visit of the President of
Azerbaijan of Ilham Aliyev to Ukraine, have opened a new stage in
development of our connections. Our inter-parliamentary relations
also develop on ascending, and our deputies successfully cooperate in
the international organizations.

Then, Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament has in detail informed on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, has thanked the state
and people of Ukraine for support of the fair position of Azerbaijan
in settlement of the problem.

Having expressed gratitude for warm reception, ambassador Anatoly
Yurchenko has told: “I am, as a diplomat, satisfied with the level of
development of relations between our countries. We should work at the
further expansion and strengthening of our contacts. The ambassador
has said that during his diplomatic activity in Azerbaijan would
aspire to this.

The ambassador has in detail informed Chairman of Milli Majlis on
present situation in Ukraine, has noted re-establishment of stability
in the country. Anatoly Yurchenko also has told: “Irrespective of who
will come to power in Ukraine, the relations between our countries
will stay constant”.

At the meeting also were exchanged views on other questions
representing mutual interest.

–Boundary_(ID_Bo4MNEcRjmUG5GbcQ/6ORw)–

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
12/15/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) EU Assembly Backs Calls for Armenian Genocide Recognition
2) Aram I Expresses Concerns Over Turkey’s EU Bid
3) ANCA Welcomes European Parliament Vote Pressing Turkey to Recognize the
Armenian Genocide
4) ARF Bureau Representative Holds Political Meetings in Cyprus
5) BRIEFS

1) EU Assembly Backs Calls for Armenian Genocide Recognition

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–On Wednesday, the European Parliament added its voice to the
French government’s calls on Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide in
order
to win membership in the European Union (EU).
Reaffirming its earlier resolutions, the EU’s legislative body urged
Turkey to
“promote the process of reconciliation with the Armenian people by recognizing
the genocide perpetrated against the Armenians” in 1915-1923. It also
called on
the EU’s member states and executive commission to seek Turkish recognition of
the genocide during the anticipated accession talks with Ankara.
The calls were part of the European Parliament’s non-binding but important
resolution urging EU leaders to give the green light for the start of such
talks at this week’s summit. The French government has already indicated that
it will press Ankara to end its long-running policy of genocide denial.
Still, France’s Foreign Minister Michel Barnier made it clear that that will
not a be precondition for the entry talks, a statement echoed by European
Parliament President Josep Borrell. “We are just recognizing certain
historical
events,” Borrell told a news conference in Strasbourg. “We are not stating
that
this would be a prerequisite to opening negotiations.”
The European Parliament also renewed its calls for Turkey to reopen its
border
with Armenia “as soon as possible.” The resolution notes that by repeatedly
refusing to do so, Ankara “missed an opportunity to promote good neighborly
relations with Armenia.”
The Turks imposed the blockade in 1993 out of solidarity with Turkic
Azerbaijan and made its lifting contingent on a pro-Azerbaijani solution to
the
Mountainous Karabagh conflict and an end to the Armenian campaign for
international recognition of the genocide.
The resolution was welcomed later on Wednesday by a Brussels-based lobbying
group representing Armenian communities in France and other EU countries.
“This
is a brilliant victory for all those Europeans who want to preserve the
European values in the face of an unrepentant state,” the president of the
European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, Hilda Tchoboian, said
in a statement.

2) Aram I Expresses Concerns Over Turkey’s EU Bid

ANTELIAS–During a phone interview with a European press agency, His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, expressed his deep concern
about
Turkey’s EU bid, stating, “The European community was not established only on
economic interests and political collaboration. It is fundamentally a
community
of human values which ensures the identity, integrity, and unity of Europe,
and
gives a particular place and role to Europe within the international
community.
Among these values, human rights occupy an important place.”
Pointing to Turkey’s notorious human rights record, the Cathlicos remarked,
“To what degree and in what way are human rights accepted, respected, and
practiced within Turkey? Turkey still ignores its immediate past–it still has
failed to recognize the genocide planned and executed by Ottoman Turkey in
1915. I believe that the recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey is not
only an ‘Armenian problem.’ It is an issue that impacts the international
community, since it deals with the fundamental issues of justice and human
rights. The recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey must be taken very
seriously by Europe, as Turkey is trying by all means to become a full member
of Europe.”
In concluding his remarks, Aram I said, “In this globalized world of ours
nations, religions, cultures, and civilizations must live together on the
basis
of peaceful coexistence. But living together as good neighbors and as part of
the broader community implies that we must accept our faults, affirm truths,
and recognize the rights of others. The foundation of a real community is
built
on mutual trust and justice. Therefore, it is my firm expectation that beyond
economic and political interests, Europe will continue to remain firmly
attached to basic human values. It is the expectation and hope of Armenians
all
over the world that the government of Turkey will reaffirm the truth by
recognizing the historical validity of the Armenian genocide.”

3) ANCA Welcomes European Parliament Vote Pressing Turkey to Recognize the
Armenian Genocide

WASHINGTON, DC–The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed the
adoption of three strongly worded measures by the European Parliament calling
on Turkey to properly recognize the Armenian genocide. These measures were
actively supported by the Brussels-based European Armenian Federation for
Justice and Democracy (EAFJD), which represents more than two hundred Armenian
associations across Europe.
The provisions were added on the eve of the December 17 vote of the European
Council on opening membership talks with Turkey as amendments to a
Parliamentary report on Turkey’s progress toward accession to the European
Union. The report, prepared by Camiel Eurlings (PPE/The Netherlands),
passed by
a vote of 407 to 262. The Eurling Report stresses in Paragraph 55 that, “the
opening of negotiations will be the starting point for a long-lasting process
[…] and does not lead ‘a priori’ and automatically to accession.” An
amendment to the report suggesting that Turkey be granted a “privileged
partnership” rather than actual membership in the European Union was rejected
by a secret ballot.
“Armenian Americans join with the European Armenian Federation and Armenians
across Europe in welcoming this historic vote reaffirming the international
consensus that Turkey must recognize the Armenian Genocide, lift its blockade
of Armenia, and abandon it hostile policies toward Armenia and the Armenian
people,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “The strong support for
these measures across the European political spectrum has resonance around the
world, including here in the United States, where a growing number of American
legislators are growing tired of increasingly strident–often
desperate–Turkish efforts to dictate US policy on the Armenian Genocide.”
The Eurling Report made specific reference to Armenian issues in eight
separate paragraphs, with three dealing specifically with Armenian genocide
recognition. Amendments on the genocide were brought to the floor by the
following political groups: Group of the European People’s Party (Christian
Democrats) and European Democrats (EPP), Socialist Group in the European
Parliament (PSE), Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
(ALDE), Confederal Group of the European United Left–Nordic Green Left, and
The Independence and Democracy Group ( IND/DEM/ Netherlands).
The European Parliament urged Turkey to “promote the process of
reconciliation
with the Armenian people by acknowledging the genocide” and called on the
European Council and Commission to demand it to “formally acknowledge the
historic reality” of the genocide.
The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) welcomed
the adoption of the Eurling Report and the three amendments clearly
articulating the European consensus that Turkey must acknowledge the Armenian
genocide. “On the eve of the European Summit, heads of state must, as they
chart a course for the future, take into account the democratic will of the
European electorate and our elected representatives in the European
Parliament,” stated Hilda Tchoboian, Chairperson of the European Armenian
Federation. “This is a tremendous victory for Europeans who want to preserve
European values in the face of Turkey’s ongoing denial of the Genocide,” she
said.
Since the European Parliament resolution of 1987, which set the
recognition of
the Armenian genocide as a precondition to the consideration of Turkish
accession to the Union, the European Parliament has continuously restated this
principled position in successive resolutions. This message was reinforced
earlier this week by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, who called on
Turkey to recognize the genocide against the Armenians. The clear consensus
within European circles remains: Turkey cannot join the Union without
giving up
its ultra-nationalist and aggressive policy towards Armenia. “European
Armenians urge the upcoming meeting of the European Council to reflect the
will
of the European public, to honor this vote of the European Parliament, and to
respect the European values on which the European project is based,” concluded
Tchoboian.

4) ARF Bureau Representative Holds Political Meetings in Cyprus

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–On December 14, an Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
delegation, headed by bureau representative Hrant Margarian, held several
meetings with the leaders of various Cypriot political parties.
The ARF delegation met with Cyprus Socialist Democratic Party (EDEK) chairman
Yanakis Omiru, who, underscoring the centuries-long friendship between the
Armenians and Greeks, spoke about the Republic of Turkey’s attempt to join the
European Union, and the need for it to recognize the Republic of Cyprus and
properly address the issue of the Armenian genocide before gaining membership.
Hrant Margarian pointed to the close ideological ties between the ARF and
EDEK, and noted that the meeting is aimed at conveying the ARF’s concerns
about
Turkey’s EU bid ahead of the December 17 summit. Echoing Omiru’s statements,
Margarian added that Cyprus is expected to take a firm stance against Turkey’s
entry and bring forth the genocide issue. Omiru, in turn, said that his party
is in favor of using Cyprus’s right to veto Turkey’s membership if it fails to
meet such requirements.
During his stay in Cyprus, Margarian was also received by Dimitris
Christofias, president of the Cyprus parliament and secretary general of the
Communist Party, AKEL. At the meeting, the bureau representative highlighted
the ARF’s stance and noted that Turkey, through the blessing of the United
States, would try to derail the system of values held in high esteem
throughout
Europe.
In response, Christofias noted that his heart “demands a veto,” but added
that
his party will support Cypriot President Tassos Papadopulos’s decision.

5) BRIEFS

Annan Asks UN Members for Holocaust Commemoration

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters)–Secretary-General Kofi Annan has begun efforts to
convene a special session to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of
Nazi concentration camps.
A majority of the 191-member assembly will have to approve the January
session, requested by the United States and supported by Russia, France,
Hungary, Canada, and the Netherlands, representing the 25-member European
Union, as well as other nations.
Although US Congressman Tom Lantos, a California Democrat visiting Annan on
Monday, said Arab nations had raised objections, Yahya Mahmassani, the Arab
League’s UN ambassador, told Reuters he was unaware of any opposition.
Lantos survived by serving as a 15-year old messenger for Raoul Wallenberg,
the Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from Nazi
destruction near the end of World War II. Wallenberg is the uncle of Nane
Annan, the wife of the secretary-general.

Britain’s Straw Meets Azeri President

LONDON (AFP)–British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw met Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev Tuesday in the Central Asian leader’s first official visit to Britain
since taking office last year. They discussed oil, the major industry for
petroleum-rich Azerbaijan, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project
intended to provide a major export route for oil from the Caspian region.
“We fully support Azerbaijan’s commitment to political and economic reform
and
to deepening relations with the European Union,” Straw said, adding that
Britain would continue to urge the state to make greater democratic and human
rights reforms.
Referring to the Karabagh conflict, Straw said he assured Aliyev of Britian’s
support for efforts to find a peaceful settlement.

Blair and Aliyev to Work Together on Karabagh Conflict

LONDON (Armenpress)–Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair and Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev agreed to “work together on the peaceful and stable resolution of
the Karabagh conflict,” according to a joint statement published after their
meeting.
According to the document, Blair and Aliyev “expressed support to the OSCE
Minsk Group efforts, pointing out the importance of preservation of the
armistice established in 1994.” They also stated their readiness to help South
Caucasus “to become peaceful stable and prosperous region within the
frameworks
of Wider Europe policy.”

Rising Gas Use in Armenia Prompts Safety Concerns

YEREVAN (RFE-RL)–A consumer rights group accused Armenia’s government and
natural gas distributor on Wednesday of failing to take adequate
precautions in
restoring centralized gas supplies to households that were disrupted shortly
after the Soviet collapse. The Armenian Union of Consumers said lax safety
controls have been responsible for the death of seven people reportedly caused
by gas leakages and carbon monoxide emissions.
“We have serious concerns on this issue. In terms of safety, the situation is
far from satisfactory,” said the union’s chairman, Armen Poghosian. “According
to our information, there have already seven death cases in the country in
recent weeks.”

Mines in Karabagh Kill Ten this Year

STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)–The HALO Trust, a British humanitarian
organization,
reported that 31 people, including three children, were injured by
antipersonnel and anti-tank mines this year in Karabagh; of these, ten people,
including one child, died as a result of their injuries. The Trust said the
accidents were due to stepped-up agricultural works and failure to observe
safety rules. The organization said it intends to expand its efforts to inform
the population about the danger of mines, and noted that there have been fewer
accidents involving children since the NGO began working to educate school
children of the danger.

Soccer-Teenager Manucharyan Voted Armenia’s Top Player

YEREVAN (Reuters)–Teenage striker Edgar Manucharyan, whose goals helped
Pyunik Yerevan clinch a fourth consecutive Armenian league title, has been
voted the country’s player of the year. The 17-year-old, currently on trial
with Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam, scored 21 goals this season to finish as
Armenia’s joint top scorer with team mate Galust Petrosyan. The pair also led
Pyunik to a league and cup double in 2004, their second such feat in the last
three years.

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ISN, Switzerland
Dec 14 2004

Turkey EU bid threatened by genocide past

European Community ISN SECURITY WATCH (14/12/04) – France has added
another condition for Turkey’s eventual membership in the EU,
demanding that Ankara recognize the mass killing of Armenians in
1915. EU ministers gathered yesterday for a foreign ministers meeting
in Brussels to prepare the next summit of heads of state, where
members will decide on the club’s next wave of enlargement by setting
dates for membership talks for Turkey and Croatia and confirming
Bulgaria and Romania’s membership by 2007. Speaking after the
meeting, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said his country
would raise the question of the massacre, when up to 1.5 million
Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turkish forces. `I think that
Turkey, as a big country, has a duty to remember. I believe that when
the time comes, Turkey should come to terms with its past, be
reconciled with its own history, and recognize this tragedy,’ Barnier
told reporters. He said France’s demand was not a condition for
opening membership negotiations with Turkey, which are expected to
begin next year, but warned that the issue would be raised once talks
were officially opened. Armenians say 1.5 million of their people
died in an Ottoman Empire campaign to force them from eastern Turkey
between 1915 and 1923. Turkish authorities refuse to recognize the
1915 massacre as genocide, saying Armenians were killed or displaced
only as the Ottoman Empire tried to quell civil unrest. Armenia has
asked Turkey to apologize as a condition for establishing diplomatic
relations. France officially recognized the Armenian genocide in
2001, and is now coming under pressure from Armenians living in
France to raise the issue with Turkey, just ahead of EU membership
bid talks. Turkey signed the association agreement for EU membership
in 1963, and it is expected that a two-day EU summit this week will
finally decide to begin formal membership talks. At the summit, which
begins on Thursday and Friday, leaders must also decide exactly when
negotiations will be opened. EU sources told ISN Security Watch today
that negotiations would most likely begin in the second half of 2005,
but that the talks would not guarantee EU membership in the end. In
France, a large section of the population is against Turkish
membership, and a referendum will be held on whether to accept Turkey
in the EU. Recent polls show that a majority of citizens in Germany
and Austria are also against Turkey’s EU membership. In other news,
foreign ministers yesterday said Croatia would be given the green
light to start entry talks with Brussels, provided the EU decided it
was satisfied with the country’s level of cooperation with the UN war
crimes tribunal in the Hague. `Negotiations could be opened around
April 2005, when the Council anticipates that Croatia will fully
cooperate with the [International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia] ICTY,’ Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, whose country
holds the EU presidency, said at a press conference. Retired Croatian
Army General Ante Gotovina, accused by the ICTY of massacring Serb
civilians during the 1992-1995 Balkan wars, is the remaining obstacle
impeding Croatia’s EU entry talks. Authorities in Zagreb have
repeatedly said they were not informed of his whereabouts, while ICTY
officials have suggested otherwise. Some EU member countries have
raised doubts about Croatia’s claims of ignorance with regard to
Gotovina’s whereabouts, and have been pushing other member states not
to fix a date for the talks, until Zagreb prove its full cooperation
with the UN tribunal regarding the fugitive general. (By Ekrem
Krasniqi in Brussels)

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Dec 14 2004

France: `Erdogan should bring a stone from the Moon’
View: Baris Sanli, Analyst at ISRO

I am a nice person, a logical one,at least my friends call me so, but
even I can not understand French. Probably NASA should set up a
research team and send a shuttle to France, communicate with Chirac,
also with Armenians. You can blame me for speaking nonsense but
please try to understand all this French opposition from a Turk’s
perspective.

There is a joke about Turkey’s membership to the EU. Bulgaria,
Romania and Turkey came to the doors of the EU commission. First the
President of Bulgaria enters to the commission.

Commission says:

`Ok, Mr. President. We will ask you a question. If you know, we will
take you to the EU’

President of Bulgaria replies:

`Ok, I am ready’

They ask:

`Tell us the name of the Japanese city where atomic bomb first
exploded’

The President answered :

`Hiroshima’

and he passed the questioning and his country hopefully joins to the
EU.

When it was Romania’s turn, they asked the year when the atomic bomb
exploded in `Hiroshima’.

President of Romania answered the question right with the answer year
1945. Hopefully again, Romania joined the EU.

When Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Leader came, the Commission welcomed
him, and said
`Ok, now, your question, If you answer this question in 5 minutes, we
will accept Turkey to the EU’

Mr. Erdogan said:

`I am ready, I worked hard for the last 45 years, day and night, you
can ask me any question’

Commission asked the question:

`Ok, now tell us the names and birth dates of all the people died in
Hiroshima during the atomic bomb explosion’

***
This was a nice joke, I recall from a Turkish Newspaper maybe two
months ago. Turkey had done everything, Cyprus, Human Rights, Zana
and her friends, Kurdish. Now there are no more alternatives. Turkey
should be given a date.

What makes me feel sick is the `French view’. They were given
capitulations; Ottoman Empire had good relations with them. Turkish
Republic was always nice to France, even French used to taught in
schools in 1960s. France was a raw model for Turkey. Nope, no problem
whatsoever.

All this adds up to French problem of stubbornness. Think that way, I
watched the Turkish Intellectuals visit to Yerevan capital of Armenia
last night on CNN Turk. There were street interviews. One old and
wise Armenian said:

`Every nation has bad people and good people, we should look to the
future’. Even Armenia’s Armenians are supporting Turkey’s membership
to some extend.

But with French this is a different story.

I am not sure but maybe if Erdogan can go to the Moon without a
rocket and bring a stone from the Moon, French’s Turk skeptics will
be satisfied.