Author: Zakarian Garnik

Zaman, Turkey
March 12 2006

Kurdish Conference Marked with Controversy over Zana
By Erkan Acar, Cagri Cobanoglu, Serbest Ozden, Istanbul
Published: Sunday, March 12, 2006
zaman.com

A panel discussion on the Kurdish issue in Turkey was hosted amid
hot and strange opinions on the Dolapdere campus of Bilgi University
in cooperation with the Helsinki Citizens Assembly and the Empathy
Group.

Described by some as the Southwest issue, and described by others as
the Kurdish problem, participants struggled to find a common ground
to share. There was hot debate between Ahmet Turk, the former deputy
of the defunct Democratic Party (DEP), and Umit Firat, one of the
organizers of the conference during the second session titled
`Organizations and Experiences’ that took place in the morning. Mr.
Turk criticized Umit’s interview with Hurriyet, a Turkish daily, that
contained angry statements over the refusal to invite those who chose
violence to the conference: `Not long before the conference began,
discussions began over Leyla Zana being refused an invitation to this
conference.’ Firat responded by refuting Hurriyet’s news report. Sefa
Kaplan, a Hurriyet reporter, who interviewed Mr. Firat, and who also
attended the conference, claimed he had evidence to confirm the news
article was true.

Sertac Bucak, the founder and former president of the International
Center for Human Rights of the Kurds, pressed the terror organization
PKK, the Kurdish Worker’s Party, for disarmament during the first
session titled `The Evolution of Kurdish Issue and its Historical
Background’ when he said: `Armed resistance fits well in with the
policies of status quo in Turkey. The last three days of bombings,
like those in Van, are a clear indication of what I just said now.
However, anyone who acknowledges the existence of the Kurdish issue
should not be claimed a separatist.’ When Ali Bayramoglu, a
journalist, asked about the allegations that the Kurds committed the
murder of a massive number of Armenians, sociologist Ismail Besikci
responded by saying: `The Intelligence Service contained many Kurdish
people. Freed from the prison, promised possession, the Kurds were
coaxed by the then government into participating in the Armenian
genocide. The Kurds then did not act on their own free will. In the
killing of many Kurds such as Musa Anter, the Kurds were again used
to trigger violence.’

Professor Ahmet Insal argued during the session on nationalism that
nationalism is an exclusionist discourse when he said `nationalism is
impossible to integrate with peace.” Mumtaz’er Turkone, professor at
Gazi University, and a Zaman columnist, argued in response that the
Turkish nationalism is not propelled by the Turks. `Perhaps the Kurds
contributed more to the Turkish nationalism than the Turks did,’ said
Turkone, `It is the Macedonians and Circassians who founded the
Republic and they created the nationalism in order to protect the
state. Ziya Gokalp, the author of The Basics of Turkish Nationalism,
was also of Kurdish origin.’

On their way to Bilgi University, the participants were protested by
Artist Bedri Baykam and members of the Patriotic Movement, a radical
right-wing movement in Turkey.

ELINA DANIELYAN REACHED THE 1/16 FINAL

A1+
01:50 pm 13 March, 2006

The Women’s Individual Chess World Championship has started in
Yekaterinburg in which Armenian Grand Masters Elina Danielyan and
Lilit Lazarian participate alongside with 64 players. Lilit Lazarian
played with Lufe Ruan from China. The tied in the first round, but
in the second Ruan beat Lazarian.

Elina Danielyan beat Adela Faysor from Romania 2.5-1.5 and reached
the 1/16 final. Next Danielyan will play with one of the best players
of the world Alexandra Kostenyuk.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/13/2006
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1) Armenians in Georgia Rally against Attack on Armenian Youths
2) Pallone And Radanovich Rally Colleagues in Support of Pro-Armenian
Provisions in Foreign Aid Bill
3) ANCA Endowment Fund Purchases New Washington, DC Headquarters
4) ANC Endorses Leland Yee for State Senate
5) Levon Aronian Wins Linares Chess Tournament
6) Pallone Extremely Disappointed over Reports of Evans’ Withdrawal

1) Armenians in Georgia Rally against Attack on Armenian Youths

YEREVAN (Yerkir/Armenpress)Thousands of Armenians attended a rally Saturday in
the Georgian town of Akhalkalak to protest an attack in the southern Georigan
town of Tsalka, in which 23 year old Gevorg Gevorgyan was stabbed to death and
two other Armenian men wounded.
Organized by the Javakhk Council of Armenian Public Organizations, the rally
denounced the crime, saying that it is a result of Georgia’s policy toward
ethnic minorities.
Speakers discussed the security of the local Armenian population and urged
the
public to remain cautious and restrained in the face of Georgian provocation.
At the end of the rally, an appeal was presented to the Georgian authorities
which demanded that they guarantee the security of the local Armenian
population and stop aggravating ethnic tensions by repatriating non-Armenians
to Armenian regions of Georgia.
They also appealed for a democratic solution to Javakhk’s problems and to
allow Armenian to be used as an official language in Javakhk.
The Human Rights Defender of Georgia, Sozar Subari, held a press conference
Saturday addressing the incident that took place on the evening of March 9.
Representatives from the Human Rights Defender’s Office arrived in the
southern town of Tsalka to investigate the incident in which about 15 ethnic
Georgians attacked three Armenian men as they were getting into their car.
After studying the preliminary report, Subari denied widespread allegations
that this crime was ethnically motivated.
“Our representatives traveled there and probed into the case. We can say that
this dispute has nothing to do with ethnic confrontation,” Subari said.
He called on the people to let government officials finish the investigation
of Tsalka events without any pressure or hindrance.
According to official data, five suspects have been detained by Georgian
police and the search for others continues.
Karen Elchyan, President of the Armenian Center of Cooperation of Georgia
(ACCG) said that victims believe the attack was motivated by ethnic hatred.
Representatives from the office of the Ombudsman and leaders of the ACCG
visited Karen Baloyan, one of the victims, in a Tbilisi hospital where he was
taken after the attack.
When asked about the incident, Baloyan said that neither he nor any of his
friends were previously acquainted with their attackers.
Clashes between Armenians and Georgians have occurred occasionally in recent
years in the predominantly Armenian populated Tsalka.

2) Pallone And Radanovich Rally Colleagues in Support of Pro-Armenian
Provisions in Foreign Aid Bill

WASHINGTON, DC–Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George Radanovich (R-CA)
called on their US House colleagues Saturday to join them in cosigning a
letter
calling on the leadership of the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee to
support pro-Armenian provisions in the fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
This bipartisan expression of support, addressed to the panel’s Chairman Jim
Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY), strengthens the hand of
pro-Armenian members of the Subcommittee, most notably Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and John
Sweeney (R-NY). Representative Sweeney, who joined the panel last year, is one
of only two Members of Congress of Armenian heritage.
The letter notes that members of Congress are “deeply troubled” that the
Administration’s request for military aid for Azerbaijan is considerably
higher
than the request for Armenia. By signing the letter, legislators will add
their
voice to the effort to ensure that the agreement struck in 2001 between the
White House and Congress to keep aid levels to these two countries equal is
fully respected. In addition, the letter calls for a hard earmark of at least
$75 million for Armenia, a one-year $5 million allocation for Karabagh, and
the
preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.
“We want to thank Congressmen Radanovich and Pallone in urging the Foreign
Operations Subcommittee to support provisions in the fiscal year 2007 foreign
aid bill of special importance to Armenian Americans,” said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. “We also value the advocacy for pro-Armenian issues
from within this panel by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, the
leadership of Chairman Jim Kolbe and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey, and the
support of Representatives Steve Rothman, John Sweeney, Mark Kirk, Jesse
Jackson, Jr., Carolyn Kilpatrick, Chaka Fattah, and our other friends.”

3) ANCA Endowment Fund Purchases New Washington, DC Headquarters

WASHINGTON, DC–The ANCA Endowment Fund announced Friday the purchase of a new
national headquarters, cementing the grassroots organization’s presence in the
nation’s capital and creating a platform for the continued growth of the
political power and influence of the Armenian American community.
“At its heart, this purchase speaks to our respect for our roots–our
enduring
historic roots as a people, our grassroots communities around the country, and
the deep roots that we have planted here in the nation’s capital,” said ANCA
Endowment Fund President Ken Hachikian. “Roots represent our identity–and our
strength. Grassroots advocacy is in our very soul. Our roots have been the
wellspring that has nourished us from our fledgling days, through decades of
struggle, and to our status today as a world-class organization, recognized
internationally as the principled, forceful, and effective voice of the
Armenian American community.”
The four-story building, formerly owned by AOL founder Steve Case, is located
near prestigious Embassy Row, blocks from the White House and the nation’s
leading think tanks, including the Carnegie Foundation and the Brookings
Institution. The newly renovated structure features the latest in computer,
communications, and networking technology.
“Now is the time to build on our successes,” added Hachikian. “We look
confidently to the future–forging new paths and embracing new
technologies–to
generate the political power, influence and respect that the Armenian American
community deserves–and that the Armenian homeland needs.”
With a proven track record of results and a rock-solid base of support to
build on, the leadership of the ANCA Endowment is currently in the planning
stages of a campaign to cover the full cost of this state-of-the-art building,
expand a variety of advocacy programs, and enlarge the organization’s life
sustaining endowment fund. These efforts will cement the long-term stability
and continuing success of Armenian American advocacy, substantially reinforce
the Armenian presence in Washington DC, and create an even more powerful voice
for Armenian Americans–in short, provide a sound footing for the future and a
permanent home for the Armenian Cause in the United States.

4) ANC Endorses Leland Yee for State Senate

SAN FRANCISCO–The Armenian National Committee – Political Action Committee
(ANC-PAC) urged all Armenian Americans to support Leland Yee for State Senate
and those living in District 8 to vote for him in the June Democratic Party
Primary. Senate District 8 includes San Francisco and San Mateo County.
“Assemblymember Yee has been a long-time friend and advocate for the Armenian
American community,” said ANC-PAC Chairman Leonard Manoukian. “Whether it is
authoring legislation to add the Armenian genocide into the school curriculum
or casting a critical vote to establish a California trade office in Yerevan,
Leland Yee has always fought to protect and preserve our culture and
interests.”
“It is an honor to be endorsed by the Armenian National Committee,” said Yee.
“I take great pride in representing such a strong and active Armenian American
community, and with the support of the ANC, I look forward to continuing my
public service in the State Senate.”
In addition to Yee’s advocacy in the State Legislature, he supported the sale
of Mt. Davidson Cross to the Armenian community and stood firm as the Turkish
lobby tried to disrupt the process. He hosted a reception in San Francisco for
the President of Mountainous Karabagh Republic, Arkady Ghoukasian, and his
delegation. Yee has always been a vocal proponent of the recognition of the
Armenian genocide, regularly attending rallies and community memorial
events to
show his support. Sevag Sarkissian, Yee’s Senior Field Representative and
native San Franciscan, has also been continuously involved in Armenian
community life.
Leland Yee is seeking the 8th District State Senate seat, which will be
vacated by Senator Jackie Speier as she seeks the position of Lieutenant
Governor. The hotly-contested Democratic Primary will be held on Tuesday, June
6.

The ANC-PAC (a non-partisan organization) seeks to elevate the level of
political participation of Armenian American voters. Working in coordination
with a network of supporters throughout the State of California, the ANC-PAC
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

5) Levon Aronian Wins Linares Chess Tournament

(Combined Sources)–Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian won the 23rd Linares
Super Grandmaster chess tournament in Spain on Saturday, after Hungary’s Peter
Leko faltered and lost the last two games.
The final standings in Linares were: Aronian 8 1/2 points in 14 games;
Veselin
Topalov and Teimur Radjabov 8 points; Leko 7 1/2 points; Peter Svidler and
Vassily Ivanchuk 6 1/2 points; Etienne Bacrot 6 points; Francisco Vallejo Pons
5 points.
Aronian will now travel to Monaco to participate in the 5th Amber Rapid and
Blindfold Chess Tournament at the Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel from March 18-30.
The 23-year-old Aronian, winner of the world cup, is ranked fifth in the
world.

6) Pallone Extremely Disappointed over Reports of Evans’ Withdrawal

WASHINGTON, DC–Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Co-Chairman of the Armenian
Issues Caucus, expressed his extreme disappointment to Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice over reports that the US Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall
Evans, is being forced from office based on truthful and forthright statements
last year about the Armenian genocide.
In a March 10 letter, Pallone shared with the Secretary that he is “outraged
that the State Department is recalling Ambassador Evans as retaliation for
statements he made in recognition of the Armenian genocide.” He added that,
“it
is simply wrong for the State Department to punish Ambassador Evans for
statements he made that are factually correct. Accordingly, I am asking you
for
an explanation as to why Ambassador Evans was removed from his post. This is
the wrong message to send to the world. I look forward to a timely response
from your office.”
Speaking last year to an Armenian American gathering at the University of
California at Berkeley, Ambassador Evans said, “I will today call it the
Armenian genocide… I informed myself in depth about it. I think we, the US
government, owe you, our fellow citizens, a more frank and honest way of
discussing this problem. Today, as someone who has studied it… there’s no
doubt
in my mind [as to] what happened . . . I think it is unbecoming of us, as
Americans, to play word games here. I believe in calling things by their
name.”
Referring to the Armenian genocide as “the first genocide of the 20th
century,” he said: “I pledge to you, we are going to do a better job at
addressing this issue.” Evans also disclosed that he had consulted with a
legal
advisor at the State Department who had confirmed that the events of 1915 were
“genocide by definition.”
Within days after his remarks and the conclusion of a speaking tour of
Armenian American communities, Ambassador Evans was apparently forced to issue
a statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian genocide were his
personal views and did not represent a change in US policy. He subsequently
issued a correction to this statement, replacing a reference to the Genocide
with the word “tragedy.”
Later last year, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), in
recognition of his honesty and commitment to principle, decided to honor
Ambassador Evans with the “Christian A. Herter Award,” recognizing creative
thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service. Sadly, as
Washington Post staff writer Glenn
Kessler revealed on June 9, AFSA withdrew its award following pressure from
“very serious people from the State Department.”
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, in a letter sent to Secretary Rice earlier this
week, wrote that, “the prospect that a US envoy’s posting–and possibly his
career–has been cut short due to his honest and accurate description of a
genocide is profoundly offensive to American values and US standing
abroad–particularly in light of President Bush’s call for moral clarity in
the
conduct of our international affairs.”
The ANCA letter also urged Secretary Rice to respond in a timely manner to
the
series of written questions on this matter submitted on February 16 by
Congressman Adam Schiff during her testimony before the House International
Relations Committee. Among these questions was a specific request that the
Secretary assure the Committee that the Department of State has not taken–and
will not take–any punitive action against Ambassador Evans for speaking out
about the Armenian genocide.

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BAGHDASARYAN, ESTINIAN CHANCELLOR OF JUSTICE DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES OF CONDUCTING CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN OMBUDSMEN IN ARMENIA IN 2006

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 17 2005

YEREVAN, October 17. /ARKA/. Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Arthur Baghdassaryan and Chancellor of Justice of Estonia Allar Yoks
discussed possibilities of conducting conference of European Ombudsmen
in Armenia in 2006, pres-service of the RA National Assembly reported
ARKA News Agency. During their meeting Yoks presented Estonian model
of the institute of Ombudsman to Baghdassaryan. He reported that this
is a parliamentary structure in Estonia, which includes functions
of parliamentary control and human right protection. Yoks expressed
readiness to cooperate with RA NA and RA Ombudsman in experience
exchange and training of professionals.

In his turn Baghdassaryan spoke about the importance of the positive
results of the referendum on amendments to Constitution of Armenia,
which will be additional stimulus for parliamentary activities and
for elaboration of a new law on Ombudsman.

Le Monde, France
jeudi 13 octobre 2005

Avec la Turquie, l’Europe renonce, par Robert Badinter
LE MONDE | 13.10.05 | 14h03 – Mis à jour le 13.10.05 | 14h03

Que le ministre britannique des affaires étrangères, Jack Straw,
triomphe est légitime. L’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion avec
la Turquie marque la victoire de la diplomatie anglaise, appuyée par
le renfort téléphonique de Mme Condoleezza Rice. Ont disparu : les
conditions ultimes que paraissait vouloir imposer, encore au mois
d’août, le gouvernement français, c’est-à-dire la reconnaissance
préalable de la République de Chypre et du génocide arménien par la
Turquie. La moindre des choses à exiger d’un candidat à l’Union,
c’est qu’il admette l’existence de tous les Etats membres de
celle-ci. Et reconnaître la vérité historique, aussi cruelle
soit-elle, est une exigence de la conscience européenne.

Encore aurait-il fallu ajouter deux autres conditions : le respect,
dans les faits, de l’égalité des femmes et des hommes, principe
fondamental de l’Union européenne, et la disparition effective de
tout traitement inhumain dans les locaux de police et les
établissements psychiatriques en Turquie. La torture sous toutes ses
formes est incompatible, non seulement avec l’adhésion, mais avec la
candidature à l’Union européenne.

Car il ne faut pas se leurrer. Depuis trente ans, aucun Etat candidat
à l’adhésion n’a été refusé par l’Union européenne. Parler de
“négociations d’adhésion” est trompeur : il s’agit plutôt d’une
longue mise en conformité de la législation du pays candidat avec les
règles et exigences communautaires. Une fois la décision de principe
prise, en l’occurrence le 3 octobre, le processus, laborieux, se
déroule et, tôt ou tard, le candidat finit par satisfaire aux
conditions fixées.

Pourquoi la Turquie manquerait-elle à cette obligation, elle qui a un
tel intérêt économique, social, culturel à intégrer l’Union
européenne, et espère que les fonds européens l’aideront
substantiellement à transformer ses régions les moins favorisées et à
moderniser ses infrastructures ? Le processus d’intégration prendra
dix ou douze années. Au terme de ce délai, si court au regard de
l’Histoire, sauf bouleversement politique en Turquie – – que nul ne
doit souhaiter – -, celle-ci deviendra membre de l’Union. Ainsi, le
désir constant du président Chirac de faire entrer la Turquie dans
l’Union européenne sera satisfait.

Pourquoi cet acharnement, cette obstination ?

Ce n’est pas pour des raisons militaires : la Turquie, au sein de
l’Organisation du traité de l’Atlantique nord (OTAN), est notre
alliée et celle des Etats-Unis. Elle n’envisage pas d’en sortir.

Ce n’est pas pour des raisons économiques : la Turquie est liée à
l’Union européenne, depuis 1963, par un accord de libre échange ! Et
le marché turc est ouvert aux entreprises européennes, notamment
françaises, dont les investissements vont croissants.

Ce n’est pas pour combattre le chômage. Le salaire moyen des
travailleurs turcs est inférieur à celui pratiqué dans l’Europe des
Quinze, et leurs avantages sociaux très limités. Le risque
d’accroître les délocalisations au sein du marché unique en sera
plutôt accru.

Ce n’est pas pour favoriser l’agriculture française. La population
agricole en Turquie représente environ le tiers de la population. La
moyenne, dans l’Union européenne, est de 5 %. La politique agricole
commune (PAC) devra donc nécessairement être transformée pour
permettre aux agriculteurs turcs de subsister ou de se reconvertir
dans d’autres activités.

Ce n’est pas non plus pour améliorer ou équilibrer le budget
européen. Le coût de l’intégration de la Turquie sera au moins égal à
celui des dix nouveaux adhérents à l’Union européenne.

Ce n’est pas, enfin, pour renforcer la sûreté de l’Union européenne
et de ses peuples. Rien ne justifie que l’Union européenne s’installe
en Asie mineure, sur un territoire plus vaste que celui de la France,
et établisse des frontières communes avec l’Arménie, la Géorgie,
l’Iran, l’Irak et la Syrie. Il n’y a pas de région du monde plus
chargée de tensions et de menaces que celle-là. L’Union européenne a
vocation à contribuer à sauvegarder la paix et à protéger les
populations menacées, plutôt que de se trouver directement impliquée
dans des conflits régionaux où la Turquie serait partie.

Alors, pour quels motifs irrésistibles l’Union européenne
devrait-elle intégrer en son sein la Turquie, comme membre à part
entière, plutôt que d’entretenir avec elle des liens étroits et
privilégiés dans les domaines politique, économique, culturel et
scientifique ?

Deux raisons sont avancées : la première est que l’adhésion de la
Turquie la contraindra à respecter scrupuleusement les règles de la
démocratie et les droits de l’homme. Mais ceux-ci doivent être
respectés parce qu’ils ont une valeur morale universelle et qu’ils
assurent aux peuples une condition meilleure, qu’il s’agisse de leur
sûreté, de leur dignité, ou de leur liberté.

La Turquie est membre du Conseil de l’Europe depuis un demi-siècle.
Le Conseil, appuyé sur la Cour européenne de Strasbourg, est le foyer
des libertés et des droits de l’homme en Europe, plus que l’Union
européenne, dont la vocation est d’abord politique et économique.
Certes, l’Union européenne offre à ses membres des avantages
considérables. Mais, faut-il, pour que la Turquie respecte les droits
et les libertés, particulièrement des femmes, qu’elle bénéficie des
fonds structurels de l’Union européenne ? Il suffit à la Turquie
d’honorer scrupuleusement les engagements qu’elle a contractés en
adhérant au Conseil de l’Europe. Et cette condition-là, essentielle à
nos yeux, n’a pas à être la contrepartie de quelque avantage que ce
soit, lié à l’entrée dans l’Union européenne.

Aussi, un autre motif est invoqué pour justifier ce choix : l’entrée
de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne nous protégerait contre le
risque qu’elle ne bascule dans le camp des islamistes. Le propos est
singulièrement injurieux pour le peuple turc. Musulmane et laïque,
liée à l’Union européenne et aux Etats-Unis par des rapports étroits
d’alliance et d’intérêts économiques, pourquoi la Turquie
sombrerait-elle, dans les années à venir, dans l’islamisme radical ?

Les Turcs sont un grand peuple qui a marqué l’Histoire. Ses élites
intellectuelles n’ont rien de commun avec l’obscurantisme des
prédicateurs fanatiques. Et, s’il y avait le moindre risque que la
Turquie puisse rallier la bannière de l’islam intolérant, alors le
président Chirac aurait dû refuser toute perspective d’entrée de la
Turquie dans l’Union européenne. Car, qu’adviendrait-il de celle-ci
si un des Etats membres, le plus peuplé de tous et jouissant de tous
les droits que lui accordent les traités européens, devenait un jour
la proie des islamistes radicaux ? Quelle erreur, si une telle
perspective avait quelque fondement, que d’admettre dans l’Union un
Etat qui serait porteur de telles menaces !

En vérité, l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne apparaît à
ses plus chauds partisans comme un geste symbolique de confiance à
l’égard de tous les peuples musulmans. Il leur paraît avantageux,
pour la France, qu’elle bénéficie de la sympathie que cet acte
susciterait autour de la Méditerranée. Mais, si la Turquie, grande
puissance musulmane d’Asie mineure est admise dans l’Union
européenne, pourquoi les autres Etats musulmans, ceux-là arabes du
pourtour de la méditerranée et du Proche- Orient, ne
l’ambitionneraient-ils pas ? Le projet d’une Union
euroméditerranéenne apparaît ainsi en filigrane dans le choix
d’ouvrir l’Union européenne à la Turquie. Ce serait là une erreur
stratégique.

Il ne s’agit pas de constituer l’Union européenne en un “club
chrétien”. L’Union est une organisation laïque et compte vingt
millions de musulmans en son sein. La Bosnie et l’Albanie, Etats à
majorité musulmane, sont vouées, le jour venu, à devenir membres de
l’Union. Mais ce qui s’inscrit dans la perspective de l’entrée de la
Turquie, c’est une Europe indéfinie, aux limites incertaines, vouée à
n’être qu’un espace marchand toujours plus étendu.

Ce n’est pas l’Europe puissance, apte à jouer un grand rôle sur la
scène du monde, rêvée par les pères fondateurs et les grands hommes
d’Etat européens d’hier. Dans le choix du président Chirac se mêlent
la mélancolie du renoncement et la fin d’une grande espérance.

Robert Badinter, ancien ministre de la justice, ancien président du
Conseil constitutionnel, est sénateur (PS) des Hauts-de-Seine.

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 14 2005

DEPUTIES OF GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT SEE “RUSSIAN TRACE” IN LATEST
PROVOCATIONS IN AKHALKALAK AND AKHALTSKHE

TBILISI, OCTOBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. According to Van
Bayburt, a Deputy of the rulling majority of the Georgian Parliament,
who is of Armenian origin, proclamations threatening Armenians
appeared in Akhalkalak and Akhaltskhe are a provocation organized by
Russia. “Who else is not satisfied with the peace in Georgia?” the
Deputy questioned.

According to the “Vesti.net” site, Giga Bokeria, one of the leaders
of the rulling party “United National Movement” doesn’t dout the
presence of a “Russian trace” either. “We don’t share the country by
the ethnic principle. All citizens of Georgia are equal. Those who
wants to lead the country on another way are enemies of this state.
In the given case, all this is too similar to actions of our northern
neighbour,” he said. During the intervew to journalists some other
Georgian Deputies also expressed such opinion.

To recap, proclamations appeared in Akhalkalak and Akhalthkhe, the
cities of the region Samtskhe-Javakhketi, Georgia, mainly
Armenian-populated, which , particularly, say: “It’s time for
revenge. Armenians, we come, one who appears on our way will die.
Russians won’t help you, their time on our land passed.” The
proclamations are signed by “Akhaltskhe Liberation Brigade.” A
criminal action has been brought on the fact.

A Russian military basis is placed in Akhalkalak which must be
replaced from the territory of Georgia till late 2008. A definite
part of Armenian inhabitants demands replacing of the basis, and,
besides, demands giving the region populated with Armenians an
autonomous status in the structure of Georgia.

YOUNG WOMAN THREATENS TO SET FIRE TO COURT OFFICERS

A1+
| 21:49:34 | 13-10-2005 | Politics |

Today resident of Buzand Street Hovik Hovhannisyan was summoned to
the central police station.

The policemen and court officers surrounded Hovhanissyan’s house and
threatened to pull it down. The sister of the accused in her turn,
demanded to return her brother and threatened to pour petrol upon
the court officers.

To remind, Hovhannisyans’ case is presently in the Court of Appeals.

To note, the court officers and policemen also tries to pull down the
half-ruined house belonging to the Muradyans, who showed resistance.

WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES TO ADDRESS ECUMENICAL CHALLENGES AT US SYMPOSIUM

Christian Today, UK
Oct 13 2005

A symposium jointly sponsored by the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA,
and the World Council of Churches (WCC), will be held on 22 October
at the Interchurch Centre in New York.

Photo: WCC moderator Catholicos Aram I speaks during the 24-27 August
2004 WCC executive committee meeting in Seoul, South Korea, while
WCC general secretary Kobia looks on. (WCC/Alexander Belopopsky)

A symposium jointly sponsored by the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA,
and the World Council of Churches (WCC), will be held on 22 October
at the Interchurch Centre in New York with the theme, “Challenges
facing the ecumenical movement in the 21st Century.”

The symposium has been planned in honour of Catholicos Aram I, head
of the Armenian Apostolic Church (See of Cilicia) and moderator of
the WCC central committee, who will be visiting the United States in
last October.

WCC general secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia will be featured as keynote
speaker and Amam I will be offering closing reflections.

A pontifical divine liturgy will be celebrated by Aram I at St
Bartholomew’s Church on Sunday, 23 October at 13:30pm. A banquet will
be followed at the Pierre Hotel to commemorate the 75th anniversary
of the Armenian Apostolic seminary in Antelias, Lebanon.

Aram I was one of the founding members of the Middle East Council of
Churches in 1974. He attended the WCC assemblies in Nairobi, Vancouver,
Canberra, and Harare as a delegate and was elected to the WCC’s Faith
and Order Commission in 1975.

Soon after, he was elected as a member of the central committee. Then
at the 1991 Assembly in Canberra, he was elected moderator of the WCC.

Other speakers will include Rev. Dr Wesley Granberg-Michaelson,
general secretary of the Reformed Church of America; Rev. Dr Diane
Kessler, executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches;
Bishop Thomas Hoyt, president of the National Council of the Churches
of Christ in the USA; Rev. Dr Robert Edgar, general secretary of the
National Council of Churches, Dr Anthony Kireopoulos, deputy general
secretary of the National Council of Churches, Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky,
moderator of the US Conference for the WCC and ecumenical officer,
Orthodox Church in America, Rev. Deborah DeWinter, programme executive
for the United States office of the WCC; and a representative from
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Archbishop Oshagan, prelate for the Eastern United States of America
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, will deliver the welcome
speech.

THE UNITED STATES NEEDS NO ENEMIES, WITH FRIENDS LIKE TURKEY!

By Dr. Christos Evangeliou
Professor of Philosophy
Towson University, USA

Hellenic News of America
Oct 13 2005

The war in Iraq, so far, has cost the lives of more than seventeen
hundred American solders, with thousand more wounded, not to
mention the billions of dollars spent. The war effort has produced
minimal results, that is, a “cleaned” Saddam Hussein, sitting in
his prison waiting for trial, and an inefficient Constitutional
Committee struggling desperately to meet the new deadline for the
New Constitution of Iraq.

It is not surprising, then, that many Americans, even those who
supported the Iraq war initially, now seem to have second thoughts
about the wisdom of starting the war and the flimsy grounds, on
which such serious decision was based. Clearly, in the minds of many
Americans and friends of America around the world, the “phenomenon”
of Saddam sitting in his prison room watching TV was not worth the
pain of even a single wounded soldier, let alone the lives of American
citizens and friends of America.

Before the war, three predictions were circulating, which the war has
proven untrue. First, of course, was the “myth” that Iraq possessed
weapons of mass destruction; second, the “myth” that the secular regime
of Saddam had “official” connections with the religious fanatics of
Al Qaeda; third, the most dangerous “myth” of all that the terrorist
threat to America (and the post 9/11 terrorized world) will diminish,
as a result of a forceful intervention in Iraq to overthrow the Saddam
regime. All these have received plenty of political attention and
public discussion two and a half years into this war.

But there is another “myth,” which the war in Iraq brought to light,
but has not received equal attention in the media. This is the
“myth” that Turkey was America’s “most reliable ally,” within the
NATO structure. For more than fifty years, since Turkey entered the
NATO Alliance in the early 1950ies, this “myth” had been cultivated
intensively and believed widely by the policy makers in the United
States and in Europe.

Having the second largest army in NATO and being well equipped with
American weapons, Turkey was considered as the “most-trusted” allied
friend. So much so, that it was tolerated even when it used the NATO
weapons for defense to invade and occupy about half of Cyprus in
1974, forcing about half of its population out of their homes. No
other NATO country (certainly, not Greece) would have done such
a terrible deed with impunity. But it was taken for granted that
Turkey’s built up of military strength would be at hand in the hour
of NATO’s need (facing then the threat of Soviet Union in Eastern
Europe and Central Asia). Especially in the Middle East, apparently
because of its strategic location in that volatile part of the world,
Turkey’s role as a potential helpful NATO ally was systematically
and continuously overestimated.

Well, the war in Iraq came to prove that all this was baseless
wishful thinking. Turkey was offered billions of American dollars
in compensation and as an inducement. But, at the end, it refused to
support NATO’s venture into Iraq, although it bargained hard for more
cash. Since other NATO countries had refused to participate militarily,
the Turkish refusal might have appeared as an “excusable misstep.”

However, Turkey went much further than this, when it refused to allow
the NATO army to open a second front in Northern Iraq in the critical
moment of the war, spring of 2003. This second refusal by the newly
elected Erdogan Government was unworthy of even a friend, let alone
allied friends, and very costly to American interests. This Turkish
plan of the second refusal was similar in nastiness and brutality
with the Attila II Plan, which Turkey applied so ruthlessly in August
of 1974, and the United States unwisely tolerated then. Now it pays
the price.

The well-thought out strategic plan to enter Iraq from the North
would have shortened the war considerably. It would also have given
the opportunity to the American army to capture most of Saddam’s
generals and other supporters, who escaped to the North and the West
before the allied armies got there. Most importantly, it would have
made it much more difficult for the fugitives and the insurgents to
save their cash and ammunition, to regroup so quickly and efficiently,
and to start their deadly quotidian attacks.

The killings are still going on in Iraq. They have increased the
American casualties from less than two hundred in the summer of 2003 to
almost two thousand, two years later. Surprisingly, no one (at least
not publicly and loudly enough) seems to hold Turkey responsible for
the unfolding and mostly avoidable tragedy in Iraq.

The “most-trusted” NATO ally proved to be the most unreliable in
the critical hour of need. For Turkey not only did not help the war
effort, it even made it more difficult. It did all these bad things
for America in a cold and calculating manner, which should have shocked
all concerned Americans. They should have demanded a radical revision
of the US policy towards this particularly unhelpful ally.

As if that was not bad enough for the future of Iraq and the fate
of the American venture there, the policy of keeping the three
diverging parts of Iraq (Kurdish, Shiite, and Sunni) united is
apparently faulty. It has been proven wrong and costly in American
lives and dollars but, ironically, it was adopted apparently to please
Turkey, the “good” NATO ally. Because Turkey fears that the natural
tri-partition of Iraq may lead to an independent Kurdish State in
Northern Iraq, it objects to such sensible solution of this problem.

So it is bound to get more complicated as time goes by and the attacks
on innocents Iraqis continue.

But that is exactly what Turkey wants “diplomatically.” It hopes that,
sooner or later, the Americans will be fed up with this bloody bath
and pull out of Iraq, allowing Turkey to imitate Saddam and try to
resolve its chronic Kurdish problem, as it resolved the Armenian
problem and Asia Minor problem, about a century ago. But that is not
by any stretch of the imagination in the US’s best interests.

America would have been served better, saving thousands of lives
of its brave solders and the lives of innocent Iraqis, if it had
adopted a different and sensible policy. As soon as the Saddam army
had dissolved, it should have allowed the liberated Iraq to be divided
naturally and peacefully into Kurdish North, Shiite South, and Sunni
Center, squeezed between the other two and kept under tight control.

If such policy had in all probability worked well for the US interests
and saved many lives, but Turkey did not like, then too bad for Turkey!

Turkey might fear that, if the tripartite division had worked well
in Iraq, and served the long-term strategic interests there, then
possibly something similar could happen to Turkey itself. Like Iraq,
turkey too seems naturally divided into three parts, the Kurdish, the
European (or westward looking) and the Asiatic (or eastward looking).

These three parts have very little in common, other than a “Turkish
identity,” forced on them after the end of World War I. The last two
parts do not even want to be part of the European Union, as the first
part wishes. The Kurds want to be part of a united Kurdistan in the
near future, while the Asiatic Turks would like to be reconnected
with their brethren in Central Asia.

So, hypothetically, with Western Turkey in European Union, with
Eastern Turkey in Central Asia, and with Southern Turkey united with
other Kurds, every one would be happy and the American interests well
served in that strategic area of the world. But will the policy makers
in the US see these advantages and act accordingly, before more lives
of innocent people and brave soldiers are lost in vain?

;lang=US

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1) Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey open Georgian Section of Caspian Oil Pipeline
2) Governor Signs Senator Scott’s Armenia Trade Office Bill
3) ARF Armenia Youth Organization Gains 42 New Members
4) Catholicos Aram I Blesses New Western Prelacy Building

1) Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey open Georgian Section of Caspian Oil Pipeline

TBILISI (AP)–The presidents of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey on Wednesday
ceremonially opened the valves on the Georgian section of a US-backed Caspian
pipeline that is seen as key to cutting Western dependence on Mideast oil.
They said the new route would help their countries prosper.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, AzeriPresident Ilham Aliyev, and
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer each pushed a button opening valves at a
pumping station for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in the Gardaban district
outside the capital, Tbilisi.
`What does this pipeline mean for Georgia? Economically, it means
investment,’
Saakashvili said at the ceremony. `But the significance of this pipeline is
first of all political. Georgia’s significance is growing on the world map and
in this region.’
`Next year we’ll get a gas pipeline, which means economic and energy
independence for Georgia,’ he added.
Known as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, or BTC pipeline, the $3.2 billion project
aims to boost the energy-hungry West’s access to the rich Caspian fields,
estimated to hold the world’s third-largest reserves. Iran, Russia,
Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan all claim shares of the Caspian’s undersea
wealth.
The three leaders opened the first section, transiting Azerbaijan, in May.
By year’s end, the 1,100-mile project is to ship up to 1 million barrels a
day
to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. It will take approximately 10
million
barrels of crude to fill the entire pipeline.
Most Caspian oil exports currently go through Russian pipelines to the Black
Sea port of Novorossiisk, where the oil is loaded onto tankers that squeeze
through the crowded Bosporus Strait.

2) Governor Signs Senator Scott’s Armenia Trade Office Bill

SACRAMENTO(Combined Sources)Senator Jack Scott’s bill that extends the sunset
date for the operation of a privately funded trade office in Armenia has been
signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
California, home to about half-a-million Armenian-Americans, conducts most of
the nearly 50 million in trade between Armenia and the United States. The
trade
office is expected to increase business and trade and tourism between
California and Armenia.
`This is an important step forward in cementing ties between the people of
California and Armenia,’ said Senator Scott. `It is also a responsible step in
these tight economic times. This office is the first privately funded trade
office for the state and it will be a win-win for California and Armenia.The
trade office will open new and large growth markets for California businesses
and investors. For Armenia and its neighbors, the office will generate
much-needed business and investment.’
The state’s trade office in Armenia opened last week in the capitol city of
Yerevan. It was funded with $75,000 in private donations. The Glendale-based
Foundation for Economic Development helped create the trade office.
Because the money was raised privately, the state was able to open the office
in Armenia even though California’s other foreign trade offices were closed
recently because of state budget woes. That could be a model for the state if
it opens other foreign trade offices, officials said.
Senator Scott recently completed a fact-finding trip to Armenia where he met
with President Robert Kocharian and foreign minister Vartan Oskanian to
announce the opening of the trade office.
`The Armenian officials that I met with are very excited about it because
they
recognize that one of the ways as a developing country they’re going to
progress is to count on the expertise and the products that would come from a
place like California,’ said the Senator Scott, who was in Armenia September
19-23. `We will be the first in the nation to reap the trade benefits of the
enormous economic potential of this region.’
Officials expect that the office will facilitate in the export of information
technology and health products going into Armenia and help Armenian businesses
export foodstuffs and other products to California.

3) ARF Armenia Youth Organization Gains 42 New Members

YEREVAN (Aztagdaily.com)–Forty-two youth recently joined the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Agbal Aghbalian Student Union in Armenia at a
ceremony that took place at the grave of Aram Boghosian who died fighting for
the Liberation of Mountainous Karabagh.
The October 7 swearing-in took place at Yerablur Military Cemetery in
Yerevan.
ARF Parliamentary faction secretary Hrair Garabedian noted the symbolism of
the
students taking their oath in the `presence of dedicated and martyred ARF
members.’
He asked the students to continue the mission of those who have sacrificed
themselves, `because the ARF is a party that carries out strugglesnot only on
the battlefield,’ but also in professions the students have chosen in their
various fields of study, he stressed.
Speaking to the new members, ARF-Armenia Supreme Body member Hratch
Tadevosian
said the people gave birth to the ARF at the end of the 19th century, and
during the subsequent 115 years, the party led a resolute fight to protect the
rights of Armenians. `But there remain many unresolved issues, and they await
you; we must be able to pursue these together, step-by-step. I hope that you
will provide force to the ARF.’

4) Catholicos Aram I Blesses New Western Prelacy Building

LOS ANGELES–Saturday, October 8 marked a historic day for the Western Prelacy
as His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, blessed the
new building that will house the Western Prelacy headquarters. The ceremony
began with His Holiness blessing a large cross that was then lifted with a
crane and placed on top of the dome of the St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen
Chapel in
the new building in La Crescenta.
While construction is not yet fully completed, several hundred guests and
clergy attended to witness the Pontiff’s blessing of the new structure, to
usher in a new era of expanded spiritual leadership for the church in the
western United States.
Many of the major benefactors who made the building possible were on hand to
take part in the special occasion including Mrs. Ashken Pilavjian and Mr. and
Mrs. John and Asdghig Bedrossian. Following the blessing and placement of the
cross, the Catholicos led a procession of clergy and benefactors into the
building to officially bless the alter inside and the overall building.
`This marks a historic day,’ said Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate of
the Western United States. The Archbishop thanked the benefactors who
facilitated the construction of the building, as well as the tireless efforts
of the Prelacy Executive Council, the Building Committee and others who have
worked tirelessly to make the building a reality. `When our people work
together for the common good of the community no resources are beyond the
reach
of those who take initiative,’ the Archbishop continued. The Archbishop also
noted the presence of a representative from the Forest Lawn memorial park that
also made a sizeable donation for the Prelacy building.
His Holiness declared that this is not just a building that will house the
Prelacy’s offices, rather `the home of our faith and nation which will serve
our church and people.’ The Catholicos also noted the integral role played by
Archbishop Mardirossian and the various benefactors and committee members who
drove the idea and realization of the structure. `May God bless and look over
all those who will care for and work in this building and the Armenian
American
community who will support this effort,’ the Pontiff concluded.
The building is expected to be completed within a year at which time all
Prelacy functions will be consolidated at this location from their temporary
location in Encino.

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