050902 - ANNOUNCEMENT : COMPREHENSIVE CONFERENCE ON TURKEY TO BE HELP IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

- The program, titled «Has Turkey Changed?», scheduled for Thursday, September 22nd
- The Second Consultative Meeting of European Armenians to take place on Friday September 23rd

Brussels, Belgium - A European Armenian Federation conference, titled "December 2004 - October 2005; Has Turkey Changed ?" is scheduled to take place in the European Parliament, Brussels, on Thursday, September 22nd reported the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD).

Organized on the invitation of the EPP party, and particularly through the support of Parliament Vice-President, Dr. Ingo Friedrich, the conference aims to address various points dealing with Turkish membership. Many leaders of human rights associations and NGOs will speak as well as political leaders from different European parties.

Joining Mr. Friedrich as speakers at the conference will be Mr. Jacques Toubon, vice-president of the EU-Turkey delegation; Mr. Panagiotis Beglitis, member of this delegation; Mr. Philippe Kalfayan, general secretary of the International Federation for Human Rights; Mr. Dogan Özgüden, president of the Info-Türk agency; Mrs. Hilda Tchoboian, president of the European Armenian Federation; Mr. Irnerio Seminatore, president of the European Institute for International Relations; and, Mr. Recep Marasli, editor and human rights activist.

Many other political figures have also been invited and are yet to confirm their participation, including Mrs Ursula Plassnik, Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Messrs. Michel Barnier and Hubert Védrine, formerly of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Romano Prodi, former president of the European Commission; Mr. Francis Wurtz, president of the European United Left group in the EP; Mr. Camiel Eurlings, EP rapporteur on Turkey as well as many other MEPs; Mr. Lars Grahn from the International Publishers Association and Mr. Ragip Zarakolu from the Turkish Association for Human Rights. A final program will be released shortly.

On the following day, September 23rd, the Consultative Meeting of European Armenians will be held. Just one year after the First Convention of European Armenians, these meetings will allow the leaders of Armenian associations and organizations from nearly twenty countries to deal issues facing the future of Europe; Turkey's membership; the new neighborhood policy with Armenia; the role of Armenian culture and remembrance in Europe; as well as tackling some hot issues, such as the Time Magazine DVD genocide denial campaign and Axa insurance issues.

V . V