Month: October 2006

STATE MINISTER TUZMEN IN PARIS FOR TURKISH WEEK IN EUROPE

Turkish Press
Oct 5 2006

PARIS – "Turks have never committed genocide in their thousand years
of history," said Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen who spoke
at a panel discussion on "Europe’s Global Difficulties and Turkey"
which was held in Paris by Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s
Association (TUSIAD) within the scope of Turkish Week in Europe.

Assessing the draft law envisaging sanction (fee and imprisonment)
on denial of so-called Armenian genocide which will be debated at
French parliament on October 12th upon initiative of Socialist Party,
Tuzmen said, "this issue has started to be used as a domestic policy
tool in some countries, and we regret it. We also have domestic
politics but we don’t mix them with other countries’ matters."

"We have never committed genocide in our thousand years of history.

We have not had any problems with our Armenian citizens neither in
Turkey nor during Ottoman period," he added.

Noting that Turkey wants this issue to be examined by historians at
a commission, Tuzmen said that politicians should not make proposals
about history.

Tuzmen stressed, "there were two Armenian ministers in Ottoman cabinet
in 1915. They remained in the cabinet after relocation as well. If
there were really a genocide, these two Armenian ministers could
not have remained in the cabinet. When Russian history is examined,
it can also be seen that a genocide was not committed in that period."

"Armenians were called ‘loyal community’ in Ottoman period. Many
Armenian diplomats and high-level officials served for Ottoman,"
he added.

Regarding the draft law to be debated at French parliament, Tuzmen
said, "I hope French parliament would act in common sense against this
draft law." He added, "if this law is adopted, will I be imprisoned
when I deny so-called Armenian genocide in France after October
12th? I think it would be very wrong in this globalizing world."

-TURKISH ECONOMY-

Regarding Turkish economy, Tuzmen said, "Turkey made more than half of
its foreign trade (which will totally exceed 200 billion USD in 2006)
with Europe this year, and France is very important in this aspect."

"Our economic performance is better than many EU countries especially
the new EU members. We are the fastest growing country of Europe in
the last three years. We catch the highest speed in export increase
not only in Europe but also in OECD. Turkey’s EU membership will be
for the interest of both our country and the EU," Tuzmen noted.

He said that Turkey will have important contributions to increase EU
economy’s competitive power as well as dynamism.

BLOCHER’S REMARKS CAUSE A STORM IN SWITZERLAND

Swiss Info, Switzerland
Oct 5 2006

The Swiss justice minister has attacked Swiss anti-racism laws that
have led to investigations against two Turks for allegedly denying
the 1915 Armenian massacre.

Christoph Blocher made his comments during an official visit to Turkey
on Wednesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Turkey’s adoption
of the Swiss civil code. His words raised a storm of protest back home.

"Article 216 bis [of the Swiss penal code] gives me a real headache,"
the justice minister told the media, referring to Swiss anti-racism
legislation adopted in 1994 to prevent revisionist views about the
Holocaust.

"No one would have imagined that this law would have resulted in
proceedings against a prominent Turkish historian," he said, following
his talks with his Turkish counterpart, Cemil Cicek.

Blocher added that the justice ministry would be "examining what it
could do to prevent this situation from re-occurring", and that it
was up to parliament and the government to decide on any possible
changes to the law.

In 2005, Swiss authorities launched criminal investigations against
the historian Yusuf Halacoglu, the president of the Turkish History
Organisation, and the politician Dogu Perincek for allegedly making
comments in Switzerland denying the 1915 Armenian massacre.

Armenians say around 1.8 million of their people were killed. Turkey
disputes this, putting the figure closer to 200,000. Under Swiss law
any act of denying, belittling or justifying genocide is a violation
of the country’s anti-racism legislation.

Scolding

Blocher’s remarks in Turkey met with sharp criticism back home.

Georg Kreis, president of the Federal Commission against Racism,
criticised Blocher for once again ignoring the separation of executive
and judicial powers.

"As a Swiss citizen I find it disturbing to learn from the foreign
press that changes to Swiss legislation are being considered,"
he noted.

Christophe Darbellay, president of the centre-right Christian
Democrats, was equally vexed: "It’s strange to see a justice minister
go to another country, which is not exactly a model for human rights,
to criticise a Swiss parliamentary decision."

The heads of two other two parties in government – the centre-right
Radical Party and the centre-left Social Democrat party – also
criticised Blocher’s statement. Blocher’s own rightwing Swiss People’s
Party – the fourth party in government – declined to comment.

"We regret such irresponsible statements," said Sarkis Shahinian,
co-president of the Switzerland-Armenia association. The justice
minister, he said, makes a mockery of Switzerland by "giving the
worst-possible revisionists the red-carpet treatment".

Regarding the Armenian question, which has dogged Swiss-Turkish
relations over recent years, Blocher said that it was not up to
politicians to comment, alluding to decisions by canton Vaud’s
parliament and the House of Representatives, which have both voted
to recognise the Armenian genocide.

"We are convinced that the solution of an international commission
of historians [to shed light on the 1915 massacre] is a good one,"
he added.

During the official visit the Swiss justice minister also held
"extremely open" discussions with Cemil Cicek on asylum and the fight
against terrorism.

Anti-terrorism collaboration is said to have helped improve relations
between the two countries. Bern has recently handed over to Ankara a
suspected terrorist, and three other Turkish citizens also accused
of terrorism are being held in Switzerland pending extradition,
declared Blocher.

Earlier in the day the justice minister gave a speech at Ankara
University to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the adoption of
the Swiss civil code by Turkey, in which he underlined the solid,
long-standing historical ties between both countries.

Later he met Turkish Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, and before
leaving Ankara laid flowers at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,
the founder of modern Turkey.

CONTEXT

Despite having a long history, Swiss-Turkish relations have recently
been strained. 2005 was an "annus horribilis":

In March 2005 Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey visited
Turkey and raised the sensitive issue of the massacre of Armenians
in Turkey early last century.

In June the Swiss public prosecutor launched a criminal investigation
against a Turkish historian in Switzerland who had denied the genocide,
a violation of Switzerland’s anti-racism laws.

In July Turkey’s foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, described the Swiss
investigation as "unacceptable" and "absolutely contrary to the
principle of free speech".

In August the Turkish authorities postponed a visit by Swiss
Economics Minister Joseph Deiss citing agenda problems of his Turkish
counterpart.

In November Switzerland beat Turkey in a vital World Cup playoff match,
triggering ugly scenes between players.

KEY FACTS

80,000 Turks live in Switzerland.

In 2004, Swiss exports to Turkey were worth SFr1.9 billion ($1.45
billion), 17% more than in 2003.

Swiss imports from Turkey in 2004 came to $410 million.

Among Swiss firms established in Turkey are Novartis, Nestle, ABB,
Ciba, Roche, Givaudan and Syngenta.

SERGEY LAVROV: RUSSIA IS INTERESTED IN THE SOLUTION OF NK CONFLICT

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 5 2006

"There is no need to involve the UN in the solution of the conflicts in
CIS countries. I find it meaningless," Sergey Lavrov, Russia Foreign
Minister in the press conference. Lavrov noted that Russia plays a
decisive role in the solution of the conflicts, APA correspondent to
PACE reports.

"Conflict parties came to an agreement on the solution of the problem
by the mediation of Russia and other countries. Russia is interested
in the solution of Nagorno Garabagh conflicts soon as possible. OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs make efforts to solve the conflict. They have
concrete methods for the solution of uncoordinated problems. But
everything depends not on mediators but conflict parties.

ERDOGAN: "TURKEY IS DETERMINED FOR FULL EU MEMBERSHIP"

Turkish Press
Oct 5 2006

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday said that Turkey
was determined to become a European Union member and to fulfill
the bloc’s requirements. Erdogan received visiting EU Commissioner
for Enlargement Olli Rehn. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and chief
EU negotiator Ali Babacan also attended the meeting, where Cyprus
and the EU were discussed. Erdogan conveyed his uneasiness over the
so-called Armenian genocide claims being brought up by the EU.

Rebutting Rehn’s claim that Turkey had slowed down the reform process,
Erdogan summarized his government’s work on the EU over the last
four years. Rehn’s meeting at Parliament was tense. Meeting with
Parliament’s EU Harmonization Commission head Yasar Yakis, Rehn spoke
harshly about Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

TUSIAD HEAD SABANCI: "FRANCE’S STANCE SHOWS ITS FEAR"

Turkish Press
Oct 5 2006

Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD)
Chairman Omer Sabanci yesterday criticized the French bill proposing
punishment for people who question the so-called Armenian genocide,
saying that he couldn’t see a French measure restricting expression as
suitable while on the contrary Turkey is taking steps to expand freedom
of expression. "This stance belongs to societies which are afraid
of the truth," said Sabanci. TUSIAD held a panel called "Europe’s
Global Difficulties and Turkey" in Paris as part of Turkish Week,
marking the first anniversary of the beginning of Ankara’s European
Union membership talks. Taking the floor at the panel, French Trade
Minister Christine Lagarde pointed to Turkey’s importance and said,
"France trusts in Turkey’s future."

DOES RUSSIA NEED A STRONG ARMENIA?

RIA Novosti, Russia
Oct 5 2006

MOSCOW, (Armen Darbinyan, rector of Russian-Armenian University and
member of the RIA Novosti Expert Council) – There is no doubt that
Armenia needs Russia to be strong. But does Russia need a strong
Armenia? This is not a rhetorical question.

It is believed that the countries of Commonwealth of Independent
States have been drawn into the zone of Russia’s influence as its
satellites. But if our goal is strategic partnership, Russia should
revise its relations with the former Soviet states, also because the
world offers us other options, including geostrategic ones.

The European Union and the United States are working hard to
demonstrate their possibilities to Armenia, trying to become a dominant
force there and in the whole of Caucasus.

Therefore, there are alternative forms of cooperation. But why start
from scratch when we have a long and positive history of spiritual
unity? Armenia is a multinational republic, but it is unique with
regard to Russia in that every Armenian is wholeheartedly devoted
to Russia. I have seen this attitude only in one other country,
Montenegro. However, this situation is not unchangeable, because both
sides have to work for strategic partnership.

It would be wrong to see Armenia as a political space and a zone of
Russian influence that will never look at other possibilities. A new
generation of young people in Armenia is now choosing what language
they should study to build a better life for themselves. And Armenian
businessmen are thinking with whom they can do better business.

Unfortunately, Russian-Armenian strategic partnership is mostly
limited to mutual visits by ministers and government officials that
usually take place in a friendly atmosphere. But maybe we have had
enough of them? Maybe we should encourage mutual visits by doctors,
teachers and young people?

I’m afraid the situation is almost the same in other former Soviet
countries.

Our sovereignty implies not only the freedom to choose, but also
the freedom to look for the real benefits of political or economic
integration. Armenia is not eager to join the common customs space
because it does not border on the EurAsEC countries, and becoming a
pro forma member, a name on the letterhead, would be unwise.

Armenia’s membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) has not benefited it either, especially in view of confrontation
with Azerbaijan in the disputed region, Nagorny Karabakh.

Armenia is a CSTO member, but Azerbaijan is not. However, Kazakhstan,
which is also a member of the CSTO, sometimes voted for anti-Armenian
and pro-Azerbaijani UN resolutions.

The CSTO in its present form may suit Asian states because they face
threats from Afghanistan and the risk of extremist attacks, and so
can benefit from collective security measures.

The Caucasus today is not a zone of common interests. With the
exception of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, there is no regional
cooperation to speak of. The Caucasian countries have different
perspectives of the future, and the main goal of their politicians
is to present their country in the best light in international
organizations. But we are expected to present common concepts and a
shared development vision. The international community is disappointed
every time our politicians put forth different approaches and clashing
interests.

No one needs Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan taken separately, because
each of them has a very small market and no transit capabilities. So
the Americans are right in saying that the Caucasus does not exist
as a political entity.

Russia has not indicated so far that it needs the South Caucasus as a
single whole. In my view, this is a losing stand for Russia, because
the regional countries may choose to drift towards an alternative
partner.

There are many reasons for the failure of the political project
called the CIS. At the same time, it offers a good chance to use the
humanitarian unity of our countries and nations. The new independent
states no longer see Russia as "the big brother", although it should
definitely be the main player in this project.

We have been idling for too long, and we have probably lost a whole
generation that has not learned to speak Russian fluently. We must
not allow the area of the Russian language to be curtailed. We must
think seriously about finding proper employment for the graduates of
Russian-Armenian University, including such where they would have to
speak and write in Russian. We need strategic business projects that
Russian corporations would implement in our countries. The process
has begun, but we are not satisfied with its progress.

As soon as business starts speaking Russian, the demand for bright
and qualified specialists who know Russian will grow. It should be
more rewarding to learn Russian than English or French.

Thanks to Russian-Armenian University, many traditionally
Russian-speaking families and the Armenian intellectual class
have become convinced of the benefits offered by a Russian higher
education. The Armenian Diaspora in Russia is closely watching our
progress, and its members send their children here. They receive
Russian degrees and hence will be able to live and work in Russia
or Armenia, depending on their choice. This is expanding the area
of the Russian language, mentality and culture, and will eventually
strengthen Russian influence.

In my view, such important projects as the Year of Armenia in Russia or
of Russia in Armenia should be used to encourage long-term cultural,
humanitarian and research cooperation. It’s been a long time since
Armenian and Russian economists, sociologists and physicists worked on
a joint project. There is no information about achievements in Russia
or Armenia, without which no development is possible in professional
spheres.

The terms "competitive country" and "competitive society" are
fashionable in Russia now. How can one win in a competition?

Azerbaijan has a strong argument – oil. Armenia’s argument should be
the minds of its people. The younger generation needs a good education,
and Russian professors can help them receive it.

I am convinced that Russia needs a strong Armenia, which would be
able to do much for bilateral relations and play a significant role
in the region.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and
may not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI ENVOY: BAKU STUDIES LAST SOLUTION TO KARABACHOS

Fars News Agency, Iran
Oct 5 2006

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Tehran said that
if the crisis of Karabachos is not solved through negotiations and
peaceful means, his country would study the last solution, meaning
that the Republic of Azerbaijan would resort to military option.

He said Azerbaijan is against war, but it does not allow an Armenian
state to be established on its soil.

The envoy stressed his country’s enthusiasm for the peaceful settlement
of the issue, but meantime reminded that if the present crisis is
not solved through diplomatic means, Baku will have to resort to the
last option.

Karabachos crisis started since 1988 which led to the outbreak of a
fierce war between the Republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia from 1992
to 1994.

The two northern neighbors of the Islamic Republic of Iran have kept
a very fragile truce ever since 1994.

GUL TO REHN: DO NOT IMPOSE NEW CONDITIONS

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 5 2006

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul warned EU Enlargement
Commissioner Olli Rehn to adopt a more constructive and encouraging
position, and not to impose new conditions.

Olli Rehn met separately with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Rehn urged Turkey to fulfill
its obligations under the additional protocol, and open both sea
and air ports to Greek Cypriots. Rehn also sought support for the
Finnish Cyprus proposal. Noting that Turkey is ready to make a
constructive contribution, Gul further said that Turkey expects the
same attitude from the respective parties. Gul added that Turkey
would take positive steps if the isolation is lifted. According to
the reports, Gul "diplomatically" expressed Turkey’s complaints about
the recent demands of the EU. Noting that Turkey’s EU membership is
not a matter of urgency, Gul called on the EU authorities to consider
the long membership venture before setting new obstacles. Recalling
that Turkey is trying to complete its transformation, the foreign
minister, in reference to the progress report, said: "We constantly
receive political messages. Like France… Please note the membership
requirements once more. Assess our performance. Remove the political
considerations from the criteria. We are already trying to make
progress. Just remove the political ambiguity." Rehn, who carefully
listened to Gul, reminded him that a period of a few months remains
to prevent a possible "train crash."

When asked about his opinions concerning the contradiction between the
French draft that would penalize the denial of the alleged Armenian
genocide and the criticisms over the Turkish penal code’s controversial
article 301, Gul said the question should be addressed to Olli Rehn.

Polemics over "cucumber size" and freedom of expression

Recalling that Turkey was criticized for its slow progress, Chairman
of the Turkish Assembly’s EU Adaptation Commission Yasar Yakis said
the issue of freedom of expression was brought to the table at a
time when Turkey was negotiating "cucumber size" with the relevant
EU authorities. In response to Yakis, Rehn noted that cucumber size
was none of his business, and the only thing he was interested in
was freedom of expression.

Recalling the previous EU Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheguen’s
remarks that had referred to the outstanding progress Turkey had made,
Yakis asked the EU to be consistent. Citing Verheguen as famous for
his exaggerations, Rehn asserted that Turkey’s progress is greatly
exaggerated. At the meetings with Turkish parliamentarians, Olli Rehn
stressed the importance of freedom of expression, and the abolition
of the controversial article 301 of Turkish penal code.

Rehn, who also underlined that freedom of expression is the foundation
of the EU, used language that bothered the deputies.

Yakis, in response to Rehn who called for the resumption of religious
training at the Heybeliada Cleric School, said that in that case,
the other religious communities would seek to open their own schools.

Rehn also expressed his appreciation of the difficulties faced by
introducing further reforms in light of the country’s sensitivities
regarding reactionary and separatist threats.

Rehn opposed to privileged partnership

Rehn criticized those who proposed a "privileged partnership" for
Turkey instead of full membership in the EU. Speaking at Bilkent
University, Rehn asserted that this would erode the reliability of the
EU, discourage Turkey from making further progress and cause severe
reactions, and further stated that the EU should remain loyal to its
commitments with Turkey.

SWISS JUSTICE MINISTER SELF-CRITICIZES ARMENIAN BILL

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 5 2006

Swiss draft bill, which would penalize those who deny the existence
of the alleged "Armenian genocide" poses a predicament to freedom of
speech, said Swiss Justice Minister Christoph Blocher to his Turkish
counterpart Cicek in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Blocher visited Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek on Wednesday
in Ankara.

"There is a dilemma between this law and freedom of speech. This law
is giving us headache too," said Blocher to Mr. Cicek regarding the
so-called Armenian genocide bill in his country.

Blocher also told Cicek that they can not recognize the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a "terrorist organization", since
Switzerland has not recognized any organization as "terrorist" since
War World II, with the exception of the Nazi party and al-Qaeda.

Following the meeting of two counterparts, the visiting minister
delivered a speech at a conference held at Ankara University to mark
the 80th anniversary of Turkey’s adoption of Switzerland’s civil code.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION ATTACKS "CRIMINAL ELEMENTS" IN GOVERNMENT
By Emil Danielyan

Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Oct 5 2006

Armenia’s main opposition forces have opened a new front in their
standoff with the government, launching a joint movement against
what they claim is the growing role of "criminal elements" in the
country’s political life. Influential Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian
and other leaders of the governing Republican Party (HHK), the main
targets of the campaign, have dismissed the accusations as an attempt
to discredit them ahead of approaching parliamentary elections.

For weeks this issue has dominated the discourse of the country’s
leading politicians, media commentators, and even prominent
intellectuals. The opposition allegations were sparked by a string of
high-profile murders and a recent influx of influential, but less than
law-abiding, individuals into the HHK. The latter development resulted
from the party’s far-reaching political alliance with Sarkisian,
which was formalized in late July.

Although the HHK continues to be officially headed by Prime Minister
Andranik Markarian, local analysts increasingly regard Sarkisian
as its de facto top leader. The defense minister, seen as President
Robert Kocharian’s most likely successor, is believed to have already
begun preparations for the next presidential election, due in 2008.

That vote will be preceded by parliamentary elections early next
year. Sarkisian has repeatedly implied that the HHK’s victory in
the polls is essential for his presidential ambitions. To that end,
he has bolstered Armenia’s largest establishment party, which already
controls many central and local government bodies, with over a dozen
loyal wealthy businessmen. Most of them represent government-connected
clans that hold sway in various areas of the country and have bribed
or bullied voters in previous Armenian elections.

Some are better known to the public by their notorious nicknames. By
"criminal elements" the Armenian opposition usually means them. "We now
see that mobsters or good fellows, as people call them, are entering
parties," said former parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian.

"By beating and terrorizing people they are trying to further their
interests. A country like that has no future." His Orinats Yerkir
(Country of Law) party was expelled from Kocharian’s governing
coalition in May, charged on August 12.

The allegations were picked up by other prominent oppositionists
who link the HHK’s increased reliance on "criminal elements" with an
apparent upsurge in the number of contract killings reported in Armenia
this year. Most of those crimes were committed in broad daylight and
have not yet been solved by the police. Their most recent victim, a
high-ranking official at the Armenian government’s main tax collection
agency, was blown up in his own car in downtown Yerevan on September
6. The car bombing came less than a month after the brutal murder
of a local businessman and the fatal roadside shooting of a reputed
crime figure that left one innocent bystander dead. A stray bullet
also killed an innocent woman in June when gunmen chased and shot
dead a notorious "good fellow" in the city’s western Malatia-Sebastia
district.

The police have urged the public not to draw far-reaching conclusions
from the killings, arguing that Armenia continues to have one of
the lowest crime rates in the former Soviet Union. Sarkisian, for
his part, has rounded on the detractors of his party’s important
new recruits. The fact that they usually lack education, use slangy
phrases, and have mobster-style nicknames does not mean they are
criminals, he claimed.

However, the opposition attacks continued unabated, and on September
28 15 opposition parties launched an "anti-criminal movement" that
is supposed to counter the "criminalization of the political field."

According to the movement’s joint declaration, "Criminal acts in the
country are committed with the connivance and direct encouragement
of the Robert Kocharian-Serge Sarkisian duo." The initiative was
joined the next day by Intellectual Forum, a radical organization
uniting prominent artists and intellectuals critical of the Kocharian
administration. In a written statement, they urged Armenians to
"declare war on this regime and return power seized by criminal
traitors to the people."

Just how the declared "anti-criminal movement" intends to achieve its
objectives is unclear, though. Its leaders admitted that they have not
even begun discussing concrete plans. Uneasy relationships among them
may well scupper those actions. In particular, some oppositionists
make no secret of their distrust of the movement’s main initiator:
Aram Karapetian, the outspoken leader of the Nor Zhamanakner (New
Times) party known for his Russian connections.

While sharing the opposition’s concerns, some Armenian newspapers
have speculated that the initiative was masterminded by Russia. The
daily Aravot said on September 18 that a senior Kremlin official,
Modest Kolerov, had recently visited Yerevan for that purpose.

Another paper, Zhamanak Yerevan, claimed last week that Moscow is
preparing the ground for installing a more pro-Russian regime in
Armenia. A group of other renowned intellectuals more sympathetic to
the Armenian leaderships apparently had Karapetian in mind when they
warned their pro-opposition colleagues, in a September 22 statement,
against being manipulated by "foreign agents."

(Haykakan Zhamanak, September 28-29, September 23; Zhamanak Yerevan,
September 28; Aravot, September 18; RFE/RL Armenia Report, September 6,
August 14)