Author: Vasilian Manouk

Reuters, UK
April 26 2005

Turkey must push reforms ahead of entry talks-EU

LUXEMBOURG, Apr 25 (Reuters) Turkey must do more to push through
political reforms ahead of its planned membership talks with the
European Union later this year, EU foreign ministers agreed today
ahead of talks with their Turkish counterpart.

The ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, expressed concern about the
lack of progress on religious freedom and minority rights, and called
on the Ankara government to ensure full civilian control of Turkey’s
powerful military.

They also called for an early signing of an agreement extending
Turkey’s customs union with the EU to all new member states, saying
it would be ”an important step towards normalisation of the
relations between Turkey and all EU member states, including the
Republic of Cyprus”.

EU leaders agreed last December to open talks with Turkey on Oct.

3, but also set firm conditions for starting negotiations, saying
Turkey had to see through reforms to ensure it met the bloc’s
standards on democracy, rule of law and civil liberties.

”It is a very clear message that Turkey has to move on many fronts
and on many issues,” Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou told
Reuters.

”A lot of the laws that have been enacted are an empty letter for
the time being, because they have not been put into effect, this is
in particular in respect for human rights, the rights of minorities
and so on,” he said.

EU and Turkish ministers will hold regular talks tomorrow to discuss
Ankara’s progress towards membership of the 25-nation bloc.

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said he and his Dutch
colleague had also requested that EU president Luxembourg urge Ankara
to ”reassess its past concerning the Armenian genocide”.

Armenia wants Turkey to admit that the killing of up to 1.5 million
Armenians 90 years ago in Ottoman Turkey was genocide.

Turkey denies this, saying the numbers were smaller and Armenians
were among many victims of a partisan war that also claimed many
Muslim Turkish lives.

Turkey’s planned EU entry talks has moved the dispute up the
political agenda. France, home to an influential, 400,000-strong
Armenian community, has promised to seek a Turkish admission of
genocide, although Barnier said this would arise at some point in a
long negotiating process, not as a prior condition.

In a paper outlining what Turkey needs to do, the EU expressed
”serious concerns” about cases of torture still occurring and
called on Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan’s government to enforce a
zero-tolerance policy to eradicate ill-treatment.

The EU also expressed concern about a lack of freedom of expression
and said more should be done to boost the rights of Turkey’s Kurdish
and Roma minorities.

The ministers said the Turkish army continued to exercise influence
in politics through ”informal mechanisms”, adding that Erdogan had
to do more to control the military.

”He has to decide whether he really controls the military or he
doesn’t,” Iacovou said.

The EU paper also urged Turkey to carry out unfulfilled commitments
including enforcing intellectual property rights, removing
discriminatory laws, reducing state aid to industry and allowing
Cypriot vessels to dock in Turkish ports.

Armenian in Kuwait mark anniversary of genocide

Kuwait Times
Apr 25, 2005

KUWAIT: Hundreds of Armenians flocked at their Prelacy compound in
Salmiya yesterday to mark 90th anniversary of the mass killings of
Armenians, which happened during the reign of Ottoman Empire. To make
this anniversary more ideal, hundreds of their nationals voluntarily
donated blood to representative of Kuwait’s Central Blood Bank, while
others attended high mass celebrated by Orthodox Archbishop Dr Goriun
Babian. From early morning, Armanian filed into the circular burning
memorial flame erected in front of the Prelacy compound bringing with
them special flowers to remember millions of people perished during
the massacre. Ottoman authorities began rounding up intellectuals,
diplomats and other influential Armenians in Istanbul on April 24,
1915, particularly in the eastern parts of the country. Armenia
claimed up to 1.5 million Armenians ultimately died or were killed
over several years as part of a genocidal campaign to force them out
of eastern Turkey. Turkey acknowledges that large numbers of Armenians
died, but says the overall figure is inflated and that the deaths
occurred in the civil unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire.

Speaking to Kuwait Times, Archbishop Babian said, “We remember and
pray for our martyrs today, thanks God for the generosity and
hospitality of the Arab people including Kuwait, some of us have
survived the genocide. But we still seek justice for the deaths of our
fathers. We want Turks to recognise the genocide and confess for their
sins they committed. During the genocide, they have driven us out of
our territory and now we want to claim our territorial rights.”
According to Babian France, Russia and many other countries have
already declared the killings were genocide, but he was disappointed
to note that superpower, [United States], and United Kingdom failed to
label this atrocities as genocide. “These countries are just calling
this a tragic event in our history as massacre. Everyone in the world
recognised this as genocide and we want them condemn this act. We
don’t want this thing happen to others as well. Some other criminals
were punished, but the Turks were not,” he said.

Armenian communities around the world marked the deaths of millions in
the genocide, just like here in Kuwait. Armenians started to remember
the genocide from the first week of April.

Archbishop Babian thanked His Highness the Amir, HH the Crown Prince
and other cabinet officials for granting them full freedom they were
enjoying here. “We enjoy all kinds of freedom, education, religion and
promotion of our culture. We want to keep this relationship strong and
intact,” he said.

World War One gave the Young Turk government the cover and the excuse
to carry out their plan. The plan was simple and its goal was
clear. On April 24, 1915, commemorated worldwide by Armenians as
Genocide Memorial Day, hundreds of Armenian leaders were murdered in
Istanbul after being summoned and gathered. The now leaderless
Armenian people were to follow across the Ottoman Empire (with the
exception of Constantinople, presumably due to a large foreign
presence), the same events transpired from village to village, from
province to province.

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE: FAIR PEACE SHOULD BE BORN FROM SACRIFICED BLOOD

24.04.2005 05:57

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `It is one of the most horrible tragedies the humanity ha
sever experienced. Today marks such events should never repeat. Fair peace
should be born from the sacrificed blood,’ Vatican Ambassador to Armenia,
Georgia and Azerbaijan archbishop Claudio Gugerotti stated in a conversation
with journalists in the Memorial to Victims of the Armenian Genocide in
1915. In his words, Vatican’s posture over the issue of the Armenian
Genocide `remains the same as declared by Pope John Paul II during his visit
to Armenia and the meeting with Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.’ `It
is a statement of two churches, where the Catholic Church expresses attitude
to people who have experienced much sorrow.’ It should be reminded that in
2001 John Paul II officially acknowledged and censured the Armenian
Genocide. Answering the question whether new Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges
the Genocide, the archbishop said, `Give him some time.’

FOREIGN MINISTER VARDAN OSKANYAN AND CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION
DISCUSS ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

YEREVAN, APRIL 23. ARMINFO. Today Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan met with the members of the Canadian parliamentary
delegation, which is currently in Yerevan to participate in the
measures dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The press-center of the State Commission for organizations of measures
dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide informs
ARMINFO that the delegation consists of MPs, representatives of the
parliamentary staff and the Armenian community of Canada. The minister
welcomed the guests, thanked them for being with the Armenian people
on these days. Minister Oskanyan emphasizes with gratitude the
friendly countries that have established close relations with Armenia,
contributing to establishment and development of the country as well
as having recognized and assessed the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The
meeting participants exchanged opinions related the issues of
development of bilateral relations, activation of trade and economic
ties, the prospects of development of Armenia and a number of regional
and international issues. The dwelled on the issues related to the
Armenian-Turkish relations and the way to their settlement.

Turkey to be involved in “Caucasus ecoregion programme”

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
23 Apr 05

Izmir, 23 April: Six regional countries, including Turkey, will work
together for the Caucasus region’s nature under a “Caucasus Ecoregion
Programme” sponsored by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund
(CEPF).

The Caucasus is one of 25 regions in the world that faces ecological
disaster.

Turkey’s Harsit Valley and Eastern Black Sea Mountains, Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Iran will be under the programme until
June 2008.

The programme will involve various projects to be implemented by both
public and private institutions. “There will also be opportunities for
NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to contribute to the success of
the ecological programme,” said a source.

CEPF is a joint initiative of Conversation International (CI), the
Global Environment Facility, the government of Japan, the John D. and
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the World Bank.

The fund provides strategic assistance to NGOs, community groups and
other civil society partners to help safeguard Earth’s biodiversity
hot-spots. A fundamental goal is to ensure that civil society is
engaged in biodiversity conservation.

Pan Armenian News

ARMENIAN FM MET WITH ARMENIA-EU PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMISSION
CO-CHAIR

23.04.2005 04:33

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with
Co-Chair of the Armenia-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Commission Marie-Anne
Isler Beguin, the Press Service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.
In the course of the meeting V. Oskanian thanked Ms. Isler Beguin for
participation in Ultimate Crime, Ultimate Challenge: Human Rights and
Genocide international conference, held in Yerevan a few days ago. The
parties noted the important role of such forums within the context of
solution of complicated tasks and the prospects of regional development.
Then the interlocutors discussed questions referring to the coming actions
within Wider Europe: New Neighbors EU Program. V. Oskanian briefed the guest
with the current stage of the talks over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.

Another Vandalism against Turkish Flag in Athens: Armenians Fire Turkish Flag

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
April 22 2005

JTW – Armenians in Greece fired Turkish flag in commemoration of
the 1915 Events. Armenians met in front of the Turkish Embassy and
protested Turkey. Armenians consider 1915 Relocation Campaign as a
‘massacre’.

Armenian attack against the Turkish flag is not the fist and single
‘insult’ against Turkish flag. A group of Turkish officers visiting
an Athens military academy last week as part of confidence-building
measures between the two countries found a vandalized Turkish flag,
inscribed with hostile slogans, in their room.

The Greek officers wrote slogans including “Constantinopolis is
Greek! “, “Cyprus is ours forever!”, “Barbar Turks!”, “Viva EOKA!” on
Turkish flag.

The incident coincided with a visit to Ankara by Greek Foreign Minister
Petros Molyviatis, during which the two sides announced further steps
to bring their armies closer. Chief of the Turkish General Staff Hilmi
Ozkok announced a demand for an official Greek apology for the attack
against the Turkish flag.

JTW 22 April 2005

Gov’t to raise illegal excavations issue at PACE

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
April 21 2005

The issue on the illegal archaeological excavations by Armenia in the
occupied town of Shusha will be raised at the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) session due April 25-28.

A representative of the Azeri delegation at PACE Rafael Huseynov
says he has prepared a relevant document to be submitted to the
PACE committee on science, education and culture for consideration.
Azerbaijan will try to achieve adoption of the document at least on
the committee level, said Huseynov.

Karabakh allocates funds to restore cultural monuments – TV

Artsakh Public TV, Stepanakert
18 Apr 05

[Presenter over video of historical and cultural monuments in Karabakh]
According to the NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh Republic] department for the
protection of historical and cultural monuments, there are currently
about 10,000 historical and cultural monuments in Nagornyy Karabakh,
and 60 per cent of them need to be restored.

In 2005, 90m drams [202,000 dollars] were allocated from the NKR
state budget for that. Restoration will soon start in the Shushi and
Askeran fortresses.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

OVER 200 HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS URGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GENOCIDE

Washington, DC – Just days before Armenians prepare to commemorate the
90th anniversary of the start of the Genocide on April 24, more than
200 House and Senate Members are urging President Bush to properly
acknowledge the attempted annihilation of the Armenia people.

Lawmakers in both chambers sent letters to President Bush that were
initiated by Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Senators Jon
Corzine (D-NJ) and John Ensign (R-NV) respectively.

The House letter collected 178 signatures, exceeding the total number
of supporters on last year’s letter by nine. Similarly, the Senate
letter garnered 10 more supporters than the previous year for a total
of 32 signatures.

“We thank Congressmen Pallone and Knollenberg as well as Senators
Corzine and Ensign for their spirited leadership in rallying
congressional support for the reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,”
said Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.

“This was a community-wide effort which garnered a record number of
supporters from both sides of the political aisle,” said Board of
Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian. “That same bipartisan spirit
was also demonstrated by yesterday’s Capitol Hill Commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide organized under the auspices of the Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairs. Our community is energized and united in our efforts to
seek full and irrevocable U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide.”

The Capitol Hill observance was held in conjunction with the Assembly
and two dozen other Armenian-American organizations.

In his commemorative statement last year, President Bush did not
use the term “Armenian Genocide,” and instead offered the textbook
definition of this crime against humanity.

“On this day, we pause in remembrance of one of the most horrible
tragedies of the 20th century, the annihilation of as many as 1.5
million Armenians through forced exile and murder at the end of the
Ottoman Empire,” the President said in part.

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#2005-043

Editor’s Note: The complete list of U.S. Senators and Representatives
who have signed their names to the congressional letters is provided
below.

Co-signers to the Senate letter:

Sen. George Allen (R-VA) Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) Sen. Barbara Boxer
(D-CA) Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) Sen. Jon Corzine
(D-NJ) Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) Sen. Russ Feingold
(D-WI) Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT)
Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) Sen. John Kerry
(D-MA) Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) Sen. Joseph
Lieberman (D-CT) Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) Sen. Chuck Schumer
(D-NY) Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Sen. John
Sununu (R-NH)

Co-signers to the House letter:

Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) Rep. Thomas
Allen (D-ME) Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ) Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) Rep. Brian
Baird (D-WA) Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH)
Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL) Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-CO) Rep. Xavier
Becerra (D-CA) Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA)
Rep. Mike Bilirakis (R-FL) Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) Rep. Tim Bishop
(D-NY) Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY)
Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-NH) Rep. Sherrod Brown
(D-OH) Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) Rep. Michael
Capuano (D-MA) Rep. Ben Cardin (D-MD) Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) Rep. Jim Costa
(D-CA) Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) Rep. Chris Cox (R-CA) Rep. Joseph
Crowley (D-NY) Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) Rep. Danny Davis
(D-IL) Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA) Rep. Peter
DeFazio (D-OR) Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) Rep. John Doolittle
(R-CA) Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) Rep. David Dreier (R-CA) Rep. Vernon
Ehlers (R-MI) Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY)
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL) Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA)
Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) Rep. Mike Ferguson
(R-NJ) Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA) Rep. Mark
Foley (R-FL) Rep. Vito Fossellla (R-NY) Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) Rep. Jim
Gerlach (R-PA) Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) Rep. Mark Green (R-WI) Rep. Raul
Grijalva (D-AZ) Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA) Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA)
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) Rep. Darrell Issa
(R-CA) Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-IL) Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) Rep. Sue Kelly
(R-NY) Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI) Rep. Carolyn
Kilpatrick (D-MI) Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) Rep. John
Larson (D-CT) Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH) Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) Rep. Dan Lipinski
(D-IL) Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) Rep. Nita
Lowey (D-NY) Rep. Dan Lundgren (R-CA) Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) Rep. Jim Matheson
(D-UT) Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) Rep. Betty
McCollum (D-MN) Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) Rep. Mike McIntyre
(D-NC) Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) Rep. Michael McNulty (D-NY) Rep. Martin
Meehan (D-MA) Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Rep. Michael Michaud (D-ME)
Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI) Rep. George Miller (D-CA) Rep. Gwen Moore
(D-WI) Rep. James Moran (D-VA) Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) Rep. Grace
Napolitano (D-CA) Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton
(D-DC) Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) Rep. John Olver (D-MA) Rep. Butch Otter
(R-ID) Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) Rep. Donald
Payne (D-NJ) Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN)
Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV) Rep. George Radanovich
(R-CA) Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) Rep. Mike
Ross (D-AR) Rep. Steven Rothman (D-NJ) Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
(D-CA) Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) Rep. Paul Ryan
(R-WI) Rep. John Salazar (D-CO) Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) Rep. Loretta
Sanchez (D-CA) Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ)
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) Rep. Allyson
Schwartz (D-PA) Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-MI) Rep. E. Clay Shaw (R-FL)
Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) Rep. John
Shimkus (R-IL) Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT) Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA) Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) Rep. John Sweeney
(R-NY) Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) Rep. Mike
Thompson (D-CA) Rep. John Tierney (D-MA) Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY)
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) Rep. Chris
Van Hollen (D-MD) Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) Rep. Peter Visclosky
(D-IN) Rep. James Walsh (R-NY) Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) Rep. Diane
Watson (D-CA) Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)
Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) Rep. Joe Wilson
(R-SC) Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) Rep. David Wu
(D-OR) Rep. Al Wynn (D-MD)

-END-

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