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HOVANNISIAN SAYS TURKEY'S EU TALKS 'IN ARMENIA'S INTERESTS'
By Anna Saghabalian
Armenialiberty.org, Armenia
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 5 2005
Raffi Hovannisian, a prominent opposition politician, welcomed on
Wednesday the launch of membership talks between Turkey and the
European Union, saying that they could pave the way for Armenia's
eventual accession to the affluent Western bloc.
Hovannisian, who served as independent Armenia's first foreign
minister in 1992, chided the authorities in Yerevan for their less
than enthusiastic reaction to what promises to be a lengthy negotiation
process that got underway on Monday.
"It must be stated clearly and loudly that Turkey's aspiration to join
the European Union correspondents to the political interests of the
Republic of Armenia," he said in a speech at the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies, a think-tank which he founded 11
years ago. "It can be predicted that even in the best-case scenario
Turkey may become an EU member only together with Armenia.
Turkey will also have to undergo serious and irreversible reforms."
The administration of President Robert Kocharian believes that the EU
should admit Turkey only if the latter opens its border with Armenia
and recognizes as genocide the 1915 mass killings of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire. Armenian leaders have repeatedly urged the EU's
governments and executive Commission to include the two issues on the
agenda of the accession talks. In a statement on Tuesday, the Armenian
Foreign Ministry expressed hope that Ankara will now be more interested
in normalizing relations with Yerevan and admitting to the genocide.
Armenian Diaspora organizations in Europe and France in particular
take a harder line, saying that Turkey is not prepared for even being
considered for EU membership. Scuttling Turkish entry into the union
is now a key goal of their activities.
However, some political groups in Armenia believe that the prospect
of Turkey joining the EU could benefit their small landlocked country
and lessen the perceived Turkish threat to its security.
Hovannisian appeared to agree with them, saying that the accession
process makes Armenia's future membership in the EU more realistic
and represents a chance for Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. "Enmity
can and should turn into partnership," he said.
In his speech, Hovannisian also attacked the Kocharian administration's
domestic policies which he said have resulted in "unbridled and
worsening corruption, legalized arbitrary practices and persisting
poverty." He reaffirmed his Zharangutyun (Heritage) party's rejection
of constitutional changes that will be put to a national referendum
on November 27.
"[Sweeping constitutional reform] can be put into practice only by a
government that received a popular vote of confidence in a free and
fair election," he said. "Constitutional reforms [sought by Kocharian]
remind of an unsuccessful attempt to hastily hide cracks in an old
and decayed structure."
Speaking to reporters separately, Hovannisian said Zharangutyun has
yet to decide whether to campaign against the passage of the draft
amendments jointly with other major opposition parties that are also
against the reform. He said the decision will be made after talks
with his opposition allies.
Armenia's largest opposition alliance, Artarutyun, and eight other
opposition groups plan to conduct a joint "no" campaign ahead of the
November vote.
By Anna Saghabalian
Armenialiberty.org, Armenia
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 5 2005
Raffi Hovannisian, a prominent opposition politician, welcomed on
Wednesday the launch of membership talks between Turkey and the
European Union, saying that they could pave the way for Armenia's
eventual accession to the affluent Western bloc.
Hovannisian, who served as independent Armenia's first foreign
minister in 1992, chided the authorities in Yerevan for their less
than enthusiastic reaction to what promises to be a lengthy negotiation
process that got underway on Monday.
"It must be stated clearly and loudly that Turkey's aspiration to join
the European Union correspondents to the political interests of the
Republic of Armenia," he said in a speech at the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies, a think-tank which he founded 11
years ago. "It can be predicted that even in the best-case scenario
Turkey may become an EU member only together with Armenia.
Turkey will also have to undergo serious and irreversible reforms."
The administration of President Robert Kocharian believes that the EU
should admit Turkey only if the latter opens its border with Armenia
and recognizes as genocide the 1915 mass killings of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire. Armenian leaders have repeatedly urged the EU's
governments and executive Commission to include the two issues on the
agenda of the accession talks. In a statement on Tuesday, the Armenian
Foreign Ministry expressed hope that Ankara will now be more interested
in normalizing relations with Yerevan and admitting to the genocide.
Armenian Diaspora organizations in Europe and France in particular
take a harder line, saying that Turkey is not prepared for even being
considered for EU membership. Scuttling Turkish entry into the union
is now a key goal of their activities.
However, some political groups in Armenia believe that the prospect
of Turkey joining the EU could benefit their small landlocked country
and lessen the perceived Turkish threat to its security.
Hovannisian appeared to agree with them, saying that the accession
process makes Armenia's future membership in the EU more realistic
and represents a chance for Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. "Enmity
can and should turn into partnership," he said.
In his speech, Hovannisian also attacked the Kocharian administration's
domestic policies which he said have resulted in "unbridled and
worsening corruption, legalized arbitrary practices and persisting
poverty." He reaffirmed his Zharangutyun (Heritage) party's rejection
of constitutional changes that will be put to a national referendum
on November 27.
"[Sweeping constitutional reform] can be put into practice only by a
government that received a popular vote of confidence in a free and
fair election," he said. "Constitutional reforms [sought by Kocharian]
remind of an unsuccessful attempt to hastily hide cracks in an old
and decayed structure."
Speaking to reporters separately, Hovannisian said Zharangutyun has
yet to decide whether to campaign against the passage of the draft
amendments jointly with other major opposition parties that are also
against the reform. He said the decision will be made after talks
with his opposition allies.
Armenia's largest opposition alliance, Artarutyun, and eight other
opposition groups plan to conduct a joint "no" campaign ahead of the
November vote.