EU FEUDS WITH TURKEY OVER CYPRUS TRADE
(Combined sources)--European Union leaders feuded with Turkey over its EU entry bid, threatening to halt the Turkish government's quest for membership only days after the start of negotiations. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, rejected demands from European leaders for it to open its borders to Greek-Cypriot shipping by the end of the year, prompting leaders such as French President Jacques Chirac to warn of a breakdown in ties. Turkey's trade embargo against EU member Cyprus “will put in doubt its capacity to proceed with the enlargement process,” Chirac said after an EU summit in Brussels on Friday. Turkey declared on Friday it was prepared to abandon EU membership negotiations rather than open its ports and airports to Cyprus. In one of his strongest statements to date, Erdogan warned that Turkey would not move until the EU ends a trade embargo on the "republic of northern Cyprus", which is recognized by no one but the Turks since their 1974 invasion. Speaking to the Chamber of Commerce in Istanbul, Erdogan said: "Don't expect anything ... not on the subject of the ports and airports." Brussels has warned Ankara that it must open its ports and airports to all EU countries - including Greek Cyprus - by the end of the year or risk a disruption of its membership negotiations. The tough stance adopted by Erdogan showed how Turkey's EU membership talks are heading for a crisis in the fall when the European Commission delivers its annual progress report. Olli Rehn, the European enlargement commissioner, has warned of a "train crash" unless Turkey opens up its ports and speeds up reforms on human rights and free speech. Negotiations got off to a bumpy start on June 12, when Turkey dropped a last-minute boycott threat after the EU persuaded Cyprus not to press for an immediate opening of Turkish ports to Cypriot shipping. “Unless the isolation imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is lifted, don't expect anything from us,” Erdogan said Friday. United Nations efforts to reunify the island broke down in 2004 when Greek Cypriots rejected a UN unification plan that was supported by Turkish Cypriots and by Erdogan's government. The EU restricts trade with northern Cyprus. Turkey's refusal to allow Cypriot ships into its ports “would be a problem,” said Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, who chaired the EU Brussels meeting. He demanded that Turkey free trade with Cyprus by the end of the year. “It would be completely wrong to pretend that this is not a huge challenge,” European Commission President Jose Barroso said of Turkey's quest for membership. The slowdown of the pace of enlargement reflects animosity in countries such as France and the Netherlands, which last year threw the EU into political disarray by vetoing a constitution designed to streamline its decision-making machinery. A series of European leaders warned Turkey that it must act unilaterally and not attempt to link the opening of ports to the lifting of the trade embargo on northern Cyprus. Jacques Chirac, the French president, said talks may have to be suspended unless Turkey acts. The spat between Ankara and the EU capped one of the worst weeks in EU-Turkish relations since membership talks opened last October. Cyprus came close to derailing the opening of the detailed stage of the talks on Monday when it demanded that Turkey recognize its half of the island. A crisis was averted after EU foreign ministers agreed to remind Ankara that it must recognize Nicosia during the membership negotiations, which could last up to 15 years. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, will outline a detailed set of proposals in a year's time when she holds the EU's rotating presidency. A deadline for reaching a decision has been set for the second half of 2008, by which time France will hold the presidency.
KOCHARIAN CONDEMNS RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLINGS OF ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA
(RFE/RL)—Officials in Yerevan are placing timid pressure on Moscow to prevent further racist killings of ethnic Armenian residents of Russia, with President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Andranik ...EU FEUDS WITH TURKEY OVER CYPRUS TRADE
(Combined sources)--European Union leaders feuded with Turkey over its EU entry bid, threatening to halt the Turkish government's quest for membership only days after the start of negotiations. Recep ...PARLIAMENT MEMBERS VOICE CONCERNS ON RECENT VIOLENCE IN RUSSIA
During a briefing on Friday, parliament members voiced their concerns over the recent violence against Armenians in Russia. Head of the ARF faction Hrayr Karapetyan said the ARF has presented its deep ...ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL JEWELERS’ ASSOCIATION MEETS IN YEREVAN
President Robert Kocharian met with the members of the Armenian Jewelers’ International Association on Friday in Yerevan. Kocharian discussed the future plans of the association, specifically focusing ...PAUL KREKORIAN TO SPEAK AT DEBUT OF ARMENIAN DOCUMENTARY
State Assembly Candidate Paul Krekorian, who just won a hard-fought battle in the June 6 California Primary Election, will make his first big appearance since his victory at the debut of the newly-completed ...KREKORIAN WINS ELECTION DESPITE VICIOUS ANTI-ARMENIAN HATE MAIL
By Harut Sassounian In an unsuccessful attempt to undermine the election of an Armenian American candidate in the Democratic Primary for the 43rd Assembly District of California, the California Latino ...CHARGES FILED BY TURKISH STUDENT AGAINST UC IRVINE ASA DROPPED
--ANC-OC sends letters to the Administration of UCI and CSULB regarding the Universities’ position on the Armenian genocide and in support of the UCI ASA. The Armenian Student Association (ASA) at the ...MORE BUSH BS
I love the outdoors, especially hiking, climbing and, mountain biking. So it is particularly painful to learn of the Bush regime's recent shenanigans in this realm. It's not that I didn't ...ARS HONORS OUTSTANDING ARMENIAN GRADUATES FROM PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS
LOS ANGELES--It has become a tradition for the Armenian Relief Society of the Western US (ARS-WR) Regional Executive to collectively honor Armenian graduates from public high schools, in cooperation with ...AN OLD, SAD STORY: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEASURE BOTTLED UP IN CONGRESS--AGAIN
The Fresno Bee published an editorial Saturday, June 10, criticizing the inaction on the Armenian Genocide Legislation pending passage in Congress. (Fresno Bee)--It's as regular as clockwork: A bill ...SPANISH GAME DEFEATED BY ARMENIAN GAMBIT
In chess, one of the most common opening moves is called the Ruy Lopez, also known as the Spanish Game in countries outside of the United States. The opening is named after Ruy Lopez de Segura, a 16th ...IRAN’S ANDRANIK TEYMOURIAN PREPARED TO FACE PORTUGAL IN WORLD CUP
--Teymourian nominated for Christian soccer star award (IranMania/Catholic News Service)—After last Sunday’s 3-to-1 loss to Mexico, the Iranian team and its star midfielder Andranik Teymourian are preparing ...
IRAN’S ANDRANIK TEYMOURIAN PREPARED TO FACE PORTUGAL IN WORLD CUP
CHARGES FILED BY TURKISH STUDENT AGAINST UC IRVINE ASA DROPPED
PAUL KREKORIAN TO SPEAK AT DEBUT OF ARMENIAN DOCUMENTARY
ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL JEWELERS’ ASSOCIATION MEETS IN YEREVAN
PARLIAMENT MEMBERS VOICE CONCERNS ON RECENT VIOLENCE IN RUSSIA
AN OLD, SAD STORY: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEASURE BOTTLED UP IN CONGRESS--AGAIN
KREKORIAN WINS ELECTION DESPITE VICIOUS ANTI-ARMENIAN HATE MAIL
EU FEUDS WITH TURKEY OVER CYPRUS TRADE
KOCHARIAN CONDEMNS RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLINGS OF ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA
ARS HONORS OUTSTANDING ARMENIAN GRADUATES FROM PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS
- 1795 Birth of Alexander Griboedov (Russian ambassador to Persia). He worked for the return of Armenians from Persia to Armenia. He died in 1829.
- 1870 The Tsar publishes the statutes on towns.
- 1895 Start of the first defence of Van (until June 20).
- 1915 Ambassador Morgenthau explicitly described to the United States Department of State the policy of the Young Turk government as a campaign of "race extermination", and was instructed, by United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing, that the "Department approves your procedure ... to stop Armenian persecution".
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