Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

Iran: A Look At The Islamic Republic’s Christian Minority
By Golnaz Esfandiari

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep
Dec 24 2004

Iran is officially designated the “Islamic Republic,” yet among its
more than 66 million people is a small but important Christian
minority. Most of Iran’s Christians are Armenians and Assyrians, who
remain relatively free to follow their faith. The numbers of
Protestants and evangelical Christians are said to be growing. For
these people, life is often much more difficult. RFE/RL correspondent
Golnaz Esfandiari takes a look at Iran’s Christian minority.

Prague, 23 December 2004 (RFE/RL) — Christian Armenians and
Assyrians have lived for centuries on the territory of what is today
Iran.

Vigen, one of Iran’s most famous singers, came from the country’s
Armenian community. He was loved by all Iranians in spite of the fact
his faith was different from the vast majority. He died recently, but
remains a legend.

The number of Armenians, Iran’s largest Christian minority, was
estimated at about 300,000 in 1979. It has declined in recent times
but remains culturally important.

Mardo Soghom, the director of RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, is Armenian by
origin but grew up in Isfahan, in central Iran.

“The 400-year history of the Armenian community in Iran is perhaps
the greatest example of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence,
even at the time when the country experienced isolation and
socio-economic backwardness,” Soghom said. “In the 20th century, as
the country modernized, the Armenian community thrived both
economically and culturally. After the revolution, dislocations and
restrictions affecting the general population also created hardships
for Armenians, nearly half the community left Iran. Some
discriminatory policies and restrictions came into effect, but still
community rights are generally protected.”

Armenians have two seats in the Iranian parliament but continue to
face cultural, social, and administrative difficulties. They report
discrimination in finding work, and just a few Armenian schools are
fortunate enough to have an Armenian schoolmaster.

The Assyrian Christian population is estimated at some 10,000. They
have one seat in the parliament.

Iran is also home to a small number of Catholics and a small but
growing number of Protestants.

A relatively new phenomenon is the rising number of Muslim-born
Iranians who convert to Christianity.

Issa Dibaj is the son of reverend Hassan Dibaj, a Christian convert
who was jailed and later found murdered in 1994. Issa Dibaj left Iran
five years ago and now lives in the U.K.

“There is another Christian minority that people know little about,
these are Iranians who are born as Muslims and then later become
Christians,” Dibaj said. “Their number is growing day by day. [There]
may be around 100,000 [of them], but no one really knows the exact
number.”

Such Christians run a potentially dangerous risk. Under Islamic law
as practiced in Iran, a Muslim who converts to another faith can face
the death penalty.

The government has refrained from executing people for this in recent
years, nevertheless it has taken measure to curb proselytizing by
Christians.

Some churches have been closed and reports say the authorities are
putting pressure on evangelicals not to recruit Muslims or to allow
them to attend services.

In September, 85 member of the Assemblies of God church were arrested
during a conference in Iran. One remains in jail.

Dibaj said in spite of the restrictions, he sees a growing interest
in Christianity: “[Iranians] see that the establishment which came in
the name of Islam has brought them only war, rancor, hatred, and
killings. At the same time, they see the message of Jesus, which is
love. It attracts them through programs they see on satellite or
through their Christian friends.”

He added: “People are very curious, very interested. Iranians [are]
open and they like to know more about different cultures, ideas, and
religions. I had friends who had been prisoners of war in Iraq, at
the university they were my best friends, they were very interested
[about my faith], and I gave some of them the Bible.”

Iranian Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus pretty much like
other Christians around the world. They decorate Christmas trees,
exchange gifts, and attend services. Depending on the calendar,
Armenians and Assyrians celebrate Christmas on 6 January. Others
celebrate usually on 24 December.

According to some reports Persia may even be the land of origin of
the “Three Wise Men” who — according to the Bible — arrived bearing
gifts for the birth of Christ. Some say they were Persian “Magi” —
members of priestly caste at the time.

Wrangling over Cyprus mars historic EU Turkey deal

Expatica, Netherlands
Dec 17 2004

BRUSSELS – The European Union’s breakthrough invitation to Turkey
for the start of historic membership negotiations – a goal sought by
Ankara for over 40 years – came only after last minute wrangles over
Cyprus almost scuppered the accord.

The deal to open talks with Muslim Turkey is a major turning point
for European Union, which until now has been a mainly Christian club.

For Turkey the move is a landmark recognition of a decades old drive
to be seen as a European nation.

But celebrations after a two-day summit in Brussels were marred by
an unseemly, eleventh-hour battle over EU demands that Turkey give
fast-track recognition to Cyprus

via the signing of a customs union deal.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected this and instead
forced a compromise under which he verbally pledged to sign the
agreement by the 3 October, 2005 start for accession talks, diplomats
said. EU leaders welcomed Turkey’s declaration.

The skirmish was a less than auspicious start for what were always
going to be tough negotiations to bring Turkey – with its far poorer
much more rural population – into the EU.

Even pro-Turkey leaders such as German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
say negotiations with Ankara may drag out until 2019.

The squabbles at the Brussels summit once again reflected the EU’s
complex decision-making machinery where one member state – in this
case tiny Cyprus – can make nationally driven demands.

Although it had never previously been a condition for starting talks
with Turkey, Cyprus, which only joined the EU last May, swiftly
objected to the fact that Turkey refuses to grant it diplomatic
recognition.

Turkey, until now, has only recognised the self-styled state of
Turkish northern Cyprus.

This led to hours of shuttle diplomacy at the summit with Turkey
supporters Germany and Britain being called in to mediate.

Erdogan dug in his heels due to fears that voters at home and the
ever-sensitive Turkish parliament would rebel if he was seen to be
caving in on the spot to last-minute EU demands.

Turkey has been knocking at Europe’s door since 1963 and the goal of
EU membership has spurred unprecedented reforms under Erdogan which
have won wide admiration in the EU.

For Europe, taking in Turkey makes sense for a host of economic and
geo-political reasons.

EU leaders such as Chancellor Schroeder point equally to the huge
market provided by Turkey’s booming economy and population of
70 million as well as the security advantage of making Turkey a
democratic, secular beacon for the Islamic world.

Taking in Turkey will also boost the morale of the 15 million Muslims
already living in the EU who still face tough integration challenges.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has long seen enlargement of the EU
as a way both to weaken the Franco-German dominance of the bloc and
to boost transatlantic ties. The US has long been a strong backer of
Turkish EU membership.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende – who holds the rotating
EU presidency – said the goal of negotiations beginning next year was
full accession of Turkey but cautioned: “We’re going to negotiate to
see if membership is possible. There’s no guarantee it is possible.”

Should negotiations fail, he said, Turkey must remain firmly anchored
in EU structures. This, however, is not the same thing as the offer
second class membership – dubbed a “privileged partnership” – which
was rejected by EU leaders.

Despite Friday’s EU deal with Turkey, Ankara’s path to membership
will be difficult.

Turkey faces a huge task in meeting standards of what European
Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso earlier stressed was a “very
demanding Union.”

Erdogan’s reforms are seen by the EU as just a start and Ankara’s
lengthy “to do” list includes major improvements in political and
economic structures. EU leaders say Turkey must make additional effort
to meet the bloc’s “Copenhagen Criteria” which include strict standards
for human rights, minority protection and rule of law.

More challenging for Erodgan are Europe’s calls for what many in
Turkey will see as a social revolution.

Women’s rights, religious freedom and difficult historic questions
from Turkey’s past, including the fate of Armenians during World War I,
still need to be addressed.

Asked about calls by France for Turkey to recognise the killing of
up to 1.5 million Christian Armenians under the Ottoman Empire in
1915 as a genocide, Barroso said the question would have to be up
for frank discussion.

But he underlined this should take place at a later date. Turkey
rejects the label of genocide with regard to the Armenians.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 15 2004

PACE TO HOLD HEARINGS ON REPORT ON NAGORNY KARABAKH IN WINTER SESSION

[December 15, 2004, 21:06:55]

The Report prepared in connection with the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorny Karabakh conflict, will be discussed in the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe in January next year.

Head of the Azerbaijan parliamentary delegation at PACE Samad
Seyidov, who is currently staying in Paris, has acquainted with the
text of the Report, Milli Majlis press service said.

As stated, the document reflecting the fact of occupation by Armenia
of the Azerbaijan lands, fully meets interests of Azerbaijan.

RECENT STATEMENT BY FRENCH FM IS TO SOFTEN NEGATIVE ATTITUDE OF FRENCH
PEOPLE TO MEMBERSHIP OF TURKEY AT EU

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15. ARMINFO. French Foreign Minister mentioning the
demand from Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the mass
annihilation of Armenians and the negotiations for Turkey’s admission
to the EU have been strongly linked for the first time, writes the
French newspaper Le Figaro.

According to the source, this statement by the representative of the
French government pursues a goal to soften the negative attitude of
the French people to the membership of Turkey at the EU. Pointing out
that the adoption of the decision on the issue of the Armenian
Genocide by France in 2001 have led to some tension in the relations
of France and Turkey, the newspaper expresses concern that Paris risks
reopening the old wounds by demanding Ankara to recognize the Armenia
Genocide of 1915. To note, recently French Foreign Minister Michel
Barnier have stated that after the negotiations for Turkey’s admission
to the EU begin, France intends to put the issue of recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by Turkey on the agenda. Tuesday, Barnier stated on
the air of France-2 channel that France has no intention to advance
the issue as a precondition for starting the negotiations. The French
minister is of the opinion that it is impossible in the legal field
To put this issue on the agenda, we have some 10 years, Barnier stated.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
December 14, 2004, Tuesday
15:06:27 Central European Time

E.U. Parliament to vote on Turkish entry ahead of summit decision

Brussels

The European Parliament will vote Wednesday on Turkey’s bid to join
the European Union, setting the scene for the bloc’s expected
decision December 16-17 to fix a date for opening entry talks with
Ankara.

Parliamentary sources said a majority of the assembly’s 732 lawmakers
were likely to vote for an early opening of membership negotiations
with Turkey.

Members of the parliament’s conservative European People’s Party are
split on the issue, with group leader Hans-Gert Poettering urging
E.U. leaders to offer Ankara a privileged partnership rather than
full membership but other group members favouring the launch of
accession talks.

Poettering’s stance reflects the tough position of the conservative
opposition in Germany.

However, socialist deputies, representing the second largest group in
the assembly, want to open talks with Turkey, a line also espoused by
most members of the Liberal Democrat and green groups.

The parliament’s vote is not binding on E.U. governments. But “it is
clearly a signal to the E.U. summit,” said a parliamentary official.

Euro deputies will be voting on a report on Turkey drawn up by Camiel
Eurlings, a conservative Dutch member of the Parliament who has
lauded Ankara’s efforts at reform.

In discussions on Turkey, pro-membership lawmakers have underlined
that Islam must not be an issue. Ankara’s espousal of European values
as part of its drive to join the Union would prove that “Islam and
democracy are not incompatible,” said socialist group leader Martin
Shulz.

Banging the door in Ankara’s face may stall the country’s impressive
reform effort, Shulz warned.

With only two days to go before their summit talks, E.U. governments
are still split on how best to deal with Turkey.

Germany, Britain, Spain and Italy are striving to ensure the final
summit statement does not mention French, Danish and Austrian demands
that Ankara should be offered the fallback option of a “special
relationship” if membership talks fail.

Pro-Turkey leaders are also expected to resist any reference in the
final text suggesting that “long transition periods, derogations,
specific arrangements or permanent safeguard clauses” may be
considered.

Diplomats said Turkey would also be asked to recognise (Greek) Cyprus
but said this could be done through Ankara’s extension of its current
customs union arrangement with the E.U. to all ten new members which
joined the bloc in May this year.

France has said it wants Turkey to recognise the killing of Armenians
between 1915 and 1923 as genocide. But Paris has said this is not a
precondition for opening talks and could be done after negotiations
begin. dpa si sc

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Dec 14 2004

French FM back off from Armenian statement

Turkey has always rejected claims that the Ottomans carried out a
policy of genocide against it Armenian citizens.

December 14 – France’s Foreign Minister has backed away from his
statement that Turkey had to acknowledge the so called Armenian
genocide as one of the conditions for it to join the European Union.

Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Tuesday that it was not
France’s position that Ankara had to acknowledge the allegations of
committing genocide against the Ottoman empire’s Armenian community
during the years of World War One. His comments were in contrast to a
statement made Monday that Turkey had to accept responsibility for
the events of ninety years ago in order to start accession
negotiations with the EU.
`France does not pose it as a condition, notably not for
opening negotiations,’ Barnier said on French television. `Legally,
that would not be possible.’
Turkey has always strenuously denied that any deliberate
massacre of Armenians occurred, though does acknowledge that many
thousands of Armenian and Turkish Ottoman citizens died during the
turmoil of the war in the east of Turkey.

Agence France Presse
9 décembre 2004 jeudi 4:13 PM GMT

Bruxelles jette les bases d’une politique européenne de “voisinage”
(PAPIER GENERAL)

par Par Pierre GLACHANT

BRUXELLES

La Commission européenne a jeté les bases jeudi d’une nouvelle
coopération ciblée avec sept partenaires proches de l’UE, dont
l’Ukraine, mais Bruxelles refuse à ce stade de voir derrière cette
politique de voisinage les prémisses de futurs élargissements.

Sept “plans d’action” ont été adoptés par la Commission. Ils
concernent deux pays voisins de l’Union élargie, l’Ukraine et la
Moldavie, et cinq riverains du pourtour méditerranéen: Israël, la
Tunisie, le Maroc, l’Autorité palestinienne et la Jordanie.

Ces programmes vont maintenant être transmis à l’aval des Etats
membres de l’Union. Leurs priorités ont été élaborées avec les pays
concernés. Ils se présentent sous la forme de listes d’objectifs très
précis à atteindre.

En ce qui concerne l’Ukraine, la Commission a proposé que le plan
d’action ne soit approuvé qu’après des élections “libres et
équitables” dans le pays.

L’Ukraine se prépare à un nouveau second tour de l’élection
présidentielle, le 26 décembre, après les irrégularités constatées
lors du scrutin du 21 novembre, à l’origine de la grave crise
politique qui secoue depuis le pays.

La commissaire européenne aux Relations extérieures, Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, a insisté sur le fait que cette nouvelle coopération
avec les pays situés à la périphérie de l’Union élargie ne
s’inscrivait pas à l’heure actuelle dans une perspective d’adhésion.

“Ce n’est pas une politique d’élargissement. Cela ne préjuge pas des
perspectives des pays européens qui, à un certain point dans
l’avenir, pourraient souhaiter poser leur candidature. Mais cela ne
fournit pas non plus de perspective d’adhésion”, a-t-elle déclaré
lors d’une conférence de presse.

Les “plans d’action” sont issus de la politique de voisinage élaborée
par la Commission en 2003. Son objectif essentiel est de renforcer
les relations de l’UE avec les pays restés à la périphérie de l’Union
après le grand élargissement à dix nouveaux pays, en mai dernier.

Les plans ont pour ambition d’éviter de nouvelles “lignes de
division” en Europe et d'”exporter la stabilité” vers les pays
voisins de l’Union, a expliqué Mme Ferrero-Waldner.

Ils permettront d'”améliorer la sécurité à nos frontières” grce à la
coopération en matière de migrations ou de lutte contre toutes sortes
de trafics illégaux, comme la drogue ou la criminalité
transfrontalière.

En oeuvrant à “améliorer le niveau de vie”, ils devraient réduire
aussi “les pressions migratoires”, a ajouté la commissaire.

Mais les “plans d’action” ambitionnent aussi de répondre aux besoins
des pays concernés, en aidant par exemple l’Ukraine à se préparer à
une adhésion à l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC).

Benita Ferrero-Waldner a indiqué, sans autres précisions, que
“certains Etats membres” auraient souhaité que le plan d’action avec
l’Ukraine “aille plus loin”.

La Pologne et les pays baltes (Lituanie, Lettonie, Estonie) prêtent
une attention toute particulière à l’Ukraine et avaient, avant même
leur adhésion à l’UE, plaidé pour que l’Union n’oublie pas ses
voisins de l’Est après l’élargissement.

Les “plans d’action” se fixent aussi comme objectif de résoudre les
conflits régionaux, celui du Proche-Orient pour Israël et l’Autorité
palestinienne, la question de la Transnistrie pour la Moldavie.

D’autres programmes de coopération sont en préparation pour l’année
prochaine avec le Liban et l’Egypte, ainsi qu’avec les trois pays du
Caucase (Géorgie, Arménie, Azerbaïdjan).

Selon une source communautaire, la Commission a proposé d’allouer
14,9 milliards d’euros à sa politique de voisinage. Cette source n’a
toutefois pas précisé sur quelle période cette somme serait utilisée.

SERGE SARGSIAN: I DON’T SEE ANY FACTS SPEAKING OF OUR POSSIBLE DEFEAT
IN NEGOTIATING PROCESS ON NAGORNY KARABAKH

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9. ARMINFO. All the statements on supposedly signed
documents are not true. Minister of Defence of Armenia Serge Sargsian
stated in the interview to Yerevan’s newspaper Golos Armenii,
answering the question on that themes about the defeat of the Armenian
side in the negotiating process concerning Nagorny Karabakh and
signing of an agreement with Baku on unfavorable for us conditions
have been made recently with new force.

According to the Defence Minister, there is a little coincidence of
today’s situation with that in 1992. “I do not fully understand the
noise raised today. I am always ready to listen to the just
criticism. But why do they have such malevolence? There is no ground
for this. In 1992 they also cried that Karabakh was sold, lost, but
everybody were assured that was not so. Today I do not see real facts
that are evidence of our possible defeat in the negotiating
process. All the talks about allegedly signed documents do not
correspond reality. I can certainly say: no document will be signed
out of the three principles announced by the president of Armenia,
according to which Karabakh cannot be within Azerbaijan, Karabakh
should have a fully-fledged land link with Armenia (but not a “path”
as many ill-wishers say), and Karabakh should have serious security
guarantees including a guarantee that the war will not be restarted,
Sargsian said

BBC News
Dec 9 2004

Tensions rise on Georgia’s border
By Natalia Antelava
BBC News, Georgia

Stability is essential for an oil pipeline running across the region
New tensions have emerged on Georgia’s border with Azerbaijan over
allegations of smuggling and a rail cargo dispute.
Georgian police clashed with the local ethnic Azeri population after
customs officials raided homes and confiscated what they said were
smuggled goods.

In Azerbaijan, the authorities are preventing more than 1,000 railway
wagons entering Georgia.

They claim there is evidence the cargo is bound for Armenia, a
country still officially at war with Azerbaijan.

The border between Azerbaijan and Georgia has always been notorious
for smuggling, which is the only source of income for thousands of
people who live in towns in the area.

Fragile stability

But Azeris say police are specifically targeting them, leaving local
Georgians unpunished.

For its part, Tbilisi is critical of Azerbaijani customs officials,
who are holding up more than 1,000 railway wagons on the border.

They are refusing to let them through because they believe some of
the goods inside are destined for Armenia.

Azerbaijan and Armenia remain locked in dispute over the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Georgia’s relationship with Azerbaijan is crucial to the fragile
stability of the region, where there are serious ethnic tensions and
several unresolved conflicts.

It is no less important for the multi-billion dollar Western pipeline
for the transportation of oil from the Caspian to Turkey, through
Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Turkish premier showcases Turkey as a center for religions
By SUZAN FRASER

AP Worldstream
Dec 08, 2004

In a bid to showcase Turkey as a country that respects religions, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday inaugurated a mosque, a
synagogue and church, just days before the European Union is to decide
on whether to start membership talks with the largely Muslim nation.

The side-by-side houses of worship are located in a park in the
Mediterranean resort of Belek, near Antalya, and will mainly serve
foreigners vacationing in the region. The church is partitioned into
Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox sections.

“Beyond its symbolic importance, this project gives the message of
peace and brotherhood to whole world,” Erdogan said.

European leaders will decide in a Dec. 16-17 summit whether to begin
EU accession talks with Turkey.

The 25-member bloc has expressed concern about Turkey’s treatment
of religious and ethnic minorities and has said that improved rights
for minorities are a condition for Turkish membership.

Dutch Minister for European Affairs Atzo Nicolai attended the ceremony
and urged Turkey to decrease “state intervention in worship.”

“As friends, we owe it ourselves to be critical … of each other,”
Nicolai said.

The inauguration of the mosque, church and synagogue was made possible
after Turkey changed laws that restricted the opening of houses of
worship other than mosques to boost its chances of EU membership.

Earlier this month, a nearby Protestant church that was consistently
denied permission to open finally held its first service.

Erdogan, a devout Muslim, is keen to project a positive image of the
country’s treatment of minorities. He was the first premier to visit
a chief rabbi _ visiting him shortly after suicide attacks on two
synagogues last year_ and earlier this week sent a message to Jewish
citizens for the holiday of Hanukkah.

On Sunday, Erdogan also presided over the opening of an Armenian
museum _ a rare gesture by a Turkish premier.

However, problems remain.

“Turkey’s Catholic citizens cannot claim a title of ownership on the
churches they use, let alone request permission for new ones when
there is need,” the Rev. Alphonse T. Sammut, a Vatican representative
in Turkey, said Wednesday.

Turkey is also under pressure to reopen an Orthodox theology school on
an island outside Istanbul that trained generations of church leaders,
including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, until it was closed by
Turkish authorities in 1971.

Turkey is also locked in a dispute over the status of Bartholomew,
the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians.

Turkey has long refused to accept any international role for the
patriarch and argues the patriarch is merely the spiritual leader of
Istanbul’s dwindling Orthodox community of less than 3,000.

The EU has said “religious freedom is subject to serious limitations
as compared with European standards.”

But Erdogan has warned that EU risks being branded a “Christian club”
if it excludes Turkey.

“If the EU is not a Christian club the Turkish population, which
is Muslim, should not pose any problem,” he said in an interview
published in Italian daily La Stampa Wednesday. “We want to have
a dialogue between civilizations within the EU. Turkey will play a
fundamental role in this process.”