Month: November 2006

DID WE WIN OR LOSE THE AMERICAN ELECTIONS?
Ali H. Aslan
Zaman, Turkey
Nov 14 2006
With the Democrats taking control of Congress by overpowering the
incumbent Republicans last Tuesday in the mid-term elections, the
political landscape in Washington has changed. A new era is beginning
in America. The reason for President Bush’s defeat is another analysis
entirely. So how will the current picture affect Turkey?
Ankara has been trying to repair the relations with the Republican
Bush administration that were seriously strained during the Iraq war.
However, giving precedence to strengthening relations with the party in
power didn’t allow for the establishment of necessary communications
with the Democratic opposition. Until now, a big part of the work
was handled with the help of the lobbying firm of former Republican
leader Bob Livingston. But now the Congress is in the hands of the
Democrats…
Should Turkey take on an air of “the old king is dead; long live
the new king”? I think not, because although the Republicans have
lost the majority, close to half the Congress and the White House
are still in their hands. Consequently, even if they are weakened,
they still have power that shouldn’t be underestimated. On the other
hand, there is no reason why Ankara shouldn’t show the Democrats
flexibility in advancing relations. Even if we’re a little late,
we haven’t missed the train completely…
Most of the Democratic leaders who will hold key positions in
Congress’ foreign policy have problems with Ankara for different
reasons. Future Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Leader
Harry Reid, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Joe Biden,
and House International Relations Committee Chairman Tom Lantos can
all be included in this category. It is important to dissipate the
chilliness with key Democratic leaders. If Prime Minister Erdogan
had been able to realize his Washington visit after January 2007,
and had been able to meet with Democrats instead of coming during the
election campaign period when Congress was on vacation, it would have
been much more productive…
The Democrats’ general viewpoint on the issues of Iraq and the
alleged Armenian genocide, which carry near-future crisis potential
in Turkish-American relations, is rather far from Turkey’s. They may
not be able to decisively implement everything they said before the
elections. However, many influential Democrats have become dangerously
engaged with the Armenian lobby regarding their genocide claims. When
it comes down to the bottom line, President Bush will interfere again,
but it’s questionable as to how effective the Republican White House’s
request to the Democratic leaders in Congress will be. An important
factor of most Democratic campaigns was Turkey’s not looking favorably
on an immediate pull-out of troops from Iraq because of its anxiety
about its leading to increased chaos. It is known that some like
Senator Biden support possibilities that even include Iraq’s being
divided into three different states.
If the Armenian resolution passes Congress in April, if steps are
taken in Iraq to deepen Turkey’s concerns, and if concrete measures
are not taken against the presence of the PKK, we might very well
find ourselves in a new Turkish-American crisis in the spring. Just
the Armenian genocide issue alone is enough to poison Turkish-American
relations. Imagine how the already Washington-sensitive Turkish public
opinion and ruling establishment would respond. Fears of the eastern
part of the country being divided between the Armenians and Kurds would
hit the roof. The perception that the U.S. is not Turkey’s friend would
be strengthened. With Ankara entering an election atmosphere, it would
not be easy to find a brave knight to stand up for Turkish-American
relations. And the common strategic vision between the two countries
could be seriously damaged.
Let’s look at the bright side. The tracks Democratic President
Bill Clinton left behind in Turkish-American relations are an
important legacy. The Democrats’ adopting a more internationalist
and world-harmonious image than the Republicans is an advantage for
Turkey. It is expected that the Baker-Hamilton Commission, which has
turned into a vehicle for salvaging the situation for both parties,
will recommend mechanisms that make Iraq’s neighbors a part of the
solution. Consequently, our quotient of being listened to in Washington
can increase. The Democrats will try and draw a more realistic and
pragmatic foreign policy line than the idealistic, surrealistic
and maximalist line represented by the neocons. They might want to
put the breaks on democratization in the Middle East and partially
return to former pro-stability policy and spread reforms out over a
longer period of time. Most Democrats see diplomatic engagement with
Syria and Iran as more suitable to American interests. They want to
rejuvenate the peace process in the Middle East. All of these are
compatible with Ankara’s line.
The change in the political picture in America can lead to tactical
variation in its foreign policy, but its general strategic stance
won’t change much. It is a strategic necessity that the United States
not offend an important regional power like Turkey. Turkey can not
be taken for granted as before. If Turkey becomes offended, it can
not make a sufficient contribution to straightening out the grave
position of the U.S. and Israel in the Middle East, and the hands of
the radicals would be strengthened in the war against terror.
Turkish-American strategic relations should not be sacrificed to
internal political concerns in both countries. Train-wrecks could be
avoided by intense dialogue.

THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA DID NOT OK HOAGLAND’S APPOINTMENT US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
Zaman, Turkey
Nov 14 2006
According to Armenian Aravot newspaper referring to its own sources,
the Armenian Assembly of America has agreed with Richard Hoagland’s
appointment US ambassador to Armenia. According to the periodical,
US senators have recently received some phone calls from the AAA
informing that the latter did not have any more questions connected
with Hoagland’s appointment US ambassador to Armenia. At the same
time, the source claimed that the AAA sources allegedly stated to the
senators that they had also received official Yerevan’s approval of
Hoagland’s appointment.
Meanwhile, speaking to REGNUM correspondent, head of the AAA office
in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh Arpi Vardanyan stated that there was
no phone call to the senators. “We could not agree with Hoagland’s
appointment US ambassador to Armenia. Moreover, we oppose the current
policy of the US administration that does not recognize the fact of
Armenians’ Genocide. We believe that truth should be said about the
Armenians’ Genocide in Ottoman Empire,” she stated. “We have principal
disagreements with US government concerning recognition of Armenian
Genocide, and we are sure that truth should not be denied.
The recall of the ex-US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans continues to
raise questions, and we continue to insist upon complete and final
recognition of Armenian Genocide by the USA. We are also informed
that the Armenian government has approved Hoagland’s candidacy, and
we are sure that presence of an ambassador will be more favorable
for the Armenian-US relations than its absence,” Arpi Vardanyan stated.
To remind, Armenian public was quite repelled by the Richard
Hoagland’s candidacy after the diplomat’s indulging in statements
denying Armenians’ Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915. The Aryan Order
published an unequivocal commentary about it. Despite protests of the
Armenian public opinion, including several Armenian NGOs, Richard
Hoagland’s candidacy nominated by the US president George Bush was
considered and approved. Speaking on the occasion, US Senator from New
Jersey Robert Menendez stated that many politicians including the US
President avoid qualifying the crime committed in early 20th century
in Turkey as Genocide, and Hoagland’s appointment may become a step
backwards that will benefit neither Armenian nor Diapora’s interests.
On November 8, US Charge d’Affairs to Armenia, Vice-Ambassador Anthony
Godfrey stated at press conference: “Despite the negative Armenian
public opinion of the candidacy of Richard Hoagland who has been
approved US Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Armenia,
the US government does not consider any other candidacy for the post.”

EU TO SIGN ‘NEIGHBORHOOD’ ACCORDS WITH 3 SOUTH CAUCASUS NATIONS
Kyiv Post, Ukraine
Nov 14 2006
BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union will sign accords with Georgia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia Tuesday offering the three nations extensive
economic help and easy access to EU markets in return for a pledge
to commit to across-the-board reforms in the years ahead.
“These agreements will boost our relationship,” said EU External
Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner after she had dinner
with the foreign ministers of the three south Caucasus nations Monday.
The ‘European Neighborhood’ accords offer broad EU economic help
and cooperation in justice affairs, transport, energy, environment,
research, education, health and other sectors.
They aim to craft a “ring of friends” – eventually embracing Israel,
Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinians, Tunisia
and Ukraine – and offer them easy access to the EU’s vast internal
market if they stay the course on reforms.
Crucially, EU membership is not on offer. This has riled some
countries, notably Ukraine.
The EU sees the neighborhood accords as an opportunity to help settle
frozen conflicts in the south Caucasus and help nations there to
normalize frayed ties with Russia.
The EU is concerned about poor relations between Russia and Georgia
and the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
On Tuesday, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will have
another round of talks about the disputed territory in Azerbaijan that
has been under the control of Armenian and ethnic Armenian Karabakh
forces since a 1994 cease-fire ended a six-year separatist war that
killed about 30,000 people and drove about 1 million from their homes.
“This is a big problem hampering the development of the (south
Caucasus) region,” said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
He and Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian met last Oct. 24
in Paris.
The final status of Nagorno-Karabakh has not been worked out. Years
of talks under the auspices of international mediators have brought
few visible results.
On Monday, the EU foreign ministers said they will not recognize a
weekend referendum vote result backing independence for Georgia’s
breakaway province of South Ossetia.
The ministers said in a statement the vote “did not contribute to
efforts for peaceful conflict resolution (and) contradicts Georgia’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Earlier, Georgia’s Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli told reporters
his government “remains faithful to a peaceful resolution of the
conflict.” He added that “all sides must refrain from provocations”
like the independence vote.
Election officials in South Ossetia said voters in the disputed region
had approved independence for the tiny Caucasus Mountains province
on Russia’s border, which split off from Georgian central government
control in a bloody 1990s war.
The EU sees the vote as a Russia ploy to destabilize Georgia.
Georgian-Russian relations hit a new low in September after Georgia
briefly detained four Russian officers it accused of spying. Russia
responded with economic sanctions and a crackdown on Georgians living
in Russia. Earlier this month Russian state-controlled natural gas
monopoly OAO Gazprom said it would more than double the price it
charges for gas supplies to Georgia.

MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO TAKE PLACE IN THE 2ND HALF OF THE DAY
Author: A.Ismaylova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 14 2006
The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov
and Armenia Vardan Oskanyan will take place on November 14 at 17:00,
Baku time, the Chief of the Press and Information Policy Department
of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Tahir Tagizade informed Trend.
He stressed that the meeting will also be attended by the co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group. In the evening, the sides are expected to
participate in the supper on behalf of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Karel De Gucht.

RA AND AR FMS MET IN BRUSSELS
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 14 2006
November 14 a recurrent meeting of RA and AR FMs Vardan Oskanian and
Elmar Mammadyarov was held in Brussels.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the RA MFA Press Service,
the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs had also been present at the meeting.
To remind, the Karabakh conflict settlement’s basic principles
suggested by the OSCE Minsk group are being discussed at the talks’
present phase.

ARMENIA – NKR INTERPARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMISSION’S CURRENT SITTING TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 20 – 21
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 14 2006
The issues referring to the harmonization of the legislation in the
sphere of economy, the peculiarities of economic situation in the NKR
will be considered in the course of the sitting, the Chairman of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic National Assembly Permanent Commission for
Foreign Affairs Vahram Atanesian told DE FACTO Agency. Besides, the
Parliamentarians will share the experience of bringing the legislation
in line with the Constitution’s requirements.
Vahram Atanesian also said the consultations on the conflicts’
settlement and regional cooperation would be conducted. Within the
consultations’ frames the Karabakh deputies will familiarize themselves
with the experience of the RA Parliamentary delegation’s work at the
European structures.

SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICTS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS DISCUSSED IN BRUSSELS
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 14 2006
November 13 Armenian, Azeri and Georgian FMs met with the European
Union’s high-ranking officials. To note, RA FM Vardan Oskanian arrived
in Brussels to participate in Armenia-European Union Cooperation
Council’s current sitting.
According to the information DE FACTO received at the RA MFA Press
Service, at the meeting the European Union had been represented
by Finland’s FM Erkki Tuomioja, the EU High Representative for the
Foreign Policy Javier Solana, the European Commission’s Commissar
for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Germany’s Minister
of State Gunter Gloser, the EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby.
In the course of the meeting the parties discussed a wide spectrum
of the regional issues. In part, they considered the process of the
settlement of the conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and the
South Ossetia.
The same day the EU representatives and the South Caucasus countries’
FMs held a joint press conference.
To note, the Armenia-European Union Cooperation Council’s 7th plenary
sitting will be held November 14. Armenia-EU Action Plan will be
signed in the course of the sitting.

ALGERIAN PM BILHADIM SAYS FRANCE SHOULD ACCEPT ITS PAST CRIMES IN ALGERIA
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Nov 15 2006
* Algerians cannot understand why France, championing the genocide
issues in Europe, do not apologize from the Algerians for the genocide
committed by French in Algeria.
* Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem renewed his call on
France to admit to crimes it committed during its colonization of
Algeria, if it wanted full normalization of bilateral relations
* Abdulaziz Bilhadim, the Prime Minister of Algeria criticized France’s
accusing Turkey of Armenian ‘Genocide’. According to Mr. Bilhadim,
France should first face its own history instead of accusing other
countries
Umit YEKPARE (JTW) – Abdulaziz Bilhadim, the Prime Minister of
Algeria, reminded France of their accusations about Turkey regarding
the so-called Armenian ‘genocide’. He said: “you should also face
your own history. You should accept your crimes waged between 1830
and 1962. 1.5 million people died.”
Algeria is “ready” to cooperate with France “so that it recognizes
crimes committed against Algerians,” Algerian Prime Minister Belkhadem
said. “The Algerian can forgive, but will never forget.”
However Nicolas Sarkozy, French Interior Minister, urged the
Algerians to forget their colonial past. “I come as a friend. I
attach much importance to this trip,” Sarkozy said on his arrival,
yet he refused to apologize from Algeria fort he French crimes during
the colonial years in Algeria. Sarkozy even accused the Algerians for
“some past mistakes”:
“Suffering is not just on one side… There is suffering on both sides,
and each one of us must travel the two sides of the Mediterranean
towards appeasement and towards a common future. We should avoid
words and deeds that harm, and try to understand” he added.
* “First apologize for the colonies”
The Prime Minister of Algeria, reminded of the words of President
Chirac, said: “France should accept its crimes during the colonial
period in order to establish friendly relationships.”
Algeria, its colony for years, where more than 1,5 million of people
were killed, is asking France to apologize from Algeria. France
recently accuse Turks of committing genocide during the First World
War against the Armenians. However Turkey says that France is not
sincere in its accusations but abusing the Armenian Issue to prevent
Turkey’s EU membership. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedat laciner from USAK
says “if France is sincere in its accusations, it has to accept many
genocides committed by the French in the recent past.”
* Sarkozy Does not Want to Speak About the French Past in Africa
French Home Affairs Minister and possibly candidate for the Presidency
in France Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy has been deeply affected when Prime
Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem kept attached to Algeria’s claim
consisting in France recognizance and apology for the colonial era
crimes. Sarkozy, in his latest Algeria visit, argued that France is
not a colonial country right now. The French official told Belkhadem
“our generation has nothing to do with colonialism”, noting that “the
colonial system deserves to be incriminated”. According to Mr. Sarkozy,
Algeria should forget its colonial history to mend the relations.
The lack of a positive response of any sort from France, delayed
Algerian-French friendship treaty that, was going to come into
existence by the end of 2005. However, Normalization of ties, has
since independence been very gradually, slow. Algeria always hoped
that, France’s apology for the Genocide would be necessary in order
to sign a friendship treaty by the end of the year similar to the
1963 Franco-German reconciliation treaty.

TOP DIPLOMATS FROM ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN MEET IN BRUSSELS FOR TALKS ON DISPUTED TERRITORY
The Associated Press
International Herald Tribune, France
Nov 15 2006
YEREVAN, Armenia: The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
met in Brussels Tuesday for talks aimed at resolving the long-running
conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia’s
Foreign Ministry said.
A ministry statement said talks between Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov,
took place in a “constructive atmosphere” and said international
mediators planned to travel to the two South Caucasus nations in the
coming weeks to arrange a possible meeting of the two presidents.
There was no comment from Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on the talks.
Nagorno-Karabakh is a region in Azerbaijan that has been under the
control of Armenian and ethnic-Armenian Karabakh forces since a 1994
cease-fire ended a six-year separatist war that killed about 30,000
people and drove about 1 million from their homes.
Today in Europe
The region’s final status remains unresolved, and years of talks
under the auspices of international mediators have brought few
visible results.

AIMING TO HEAL WOUNDS OF WAR
By Courtney Perkes
Orange County Register, CA
Nov 14 2006
Surgeon from Iraq is exposed to new techniques in O.C. on a trip
sponsored by relief agency.
ORANGE – With a metal instrument, Dr. Avadis Muradian holds open the
gaping pink flesh of a knee, where a sophisticated artificial joint
will allow a long-distance cyclist to ride his bike again.
The operating room at St. Joseph Hospital is a world away from
Muradian’s hospital in Basra, Iraq, where he treats children maimed
after grenades explode in their hands.
And unlike what he saw during the knee-replacement surgery last week,
Muradian can’t send his patients home with greater mobility because
prosthetic fingers and hands aren’t available.
The 50-year-old surgeon is visiting Orange County and Los Angeles for
three weeks to see the latest in orthopedic medicine, which brings
him hope for what Iraq may someday offer.
Watching other doctors here, he says, will help him at home, where
he treats overwhelming needs with limited supplies.
On this afternoon, the jet-lagged, affable doctor is amazed by
his first 48 hours outside the Middle East. In medical school,
he studied out of American textbooks. But he said nothing rivals
standing shoulder-to-shoulder with American surgeon Dr. Robert Gorab.
“I’m ashamed to ask what is this equipment,” Muradian says after
watching four surgeries. “It’s very advanced. He did an operation
today with the aid of a computer.”
>>From the operating room, he steps into the doctors lounge, where
his American counterparts are chatting or working on computers. In
the background, Fox News plays footage of the day’s carnage in Iraq.
Muradian prepares a cup of hot tea and sits down to relax. He plans
to visit relatives he’s never met who live in Los Angeles. He wants
to see Hollywood: “If I can see Tom Cruise, Al Pacino and DeNiro,
I’ll be very grateful.”
But mostly he’s thinking about ways to bring more healing to his broken
country. He also would like to show Americans an Iraqi face outside
the news of war. As he has met patients, he notes their surprise when
they hear where he’s from.
“We are not bad people,” Muradian said. “We really are not people
that like killing. I want to see a peaceful Iraq – no violence, more
development, more reconstruction, more hospitals. I want every people,
every country to respect Iraqis.”
Muradian works at Basra General Hospital, built by the British in
the 1920s. Iraqi police guard the entrance. There are separate wards
for men and women. Without an insurance system, the government pays
doctors’ salaries.
In the early days of the war, Muradian performed all kinds of emergency
surgeries, many outside his specialty. He’s always on call, though
he’s never summoned during the middle of the night. Nobody, he says,
goes out at night.
He remembers after the war started, numerous groups offered aid to
his hospital. In the end, none of the offers panned out except for
a fresh coat of paint for the building.
“We saw nothing,” Muradian said. “We don’t want paint. We want
equipment. We need instruments for fractures, prosthesis.”
He must be creative to make use of his primitive equipment. He has
made some simple tools himself – a contrast to Dr. Gorab, who consults
with medical-device companies to help design new products.
“If you have no glass to drink water, you use your hand.” Muradian
said.
Muradian, whose grandparents moved to Iraq from Armenia, said he
sees another side of Iraq, beyond the casualties and violence. As
a Christian, he said, he lives in harmony with Shiite and Sunni
Muslims. As a doctor or tabib, as he’s called in Arabic, he’s treated
with respect.
His trip is paid for by the nonprofit Buena Park-based Global
Operations and Development and a group of surgeons from the Orthopaedic
Education and Research Institute of Southern California.
As part of an ongoing exchange, more Iraqi doctors will visit in
February.
Juliana Ditty, executive vice president of Global Operations, arranged
for Muradian to stay with local families. Her group has sent 18
40-foot containers of medical supplies to Iraqi hospitals.
Gorab said plans are in the works to send over supplies that Muradian
can use.
“There’s all kinds of equipment in hospitals across the country that
never gets used. It’s sitting in basements,” said Dr. Vance Gardner
of the education and research institute. “They’re thirsty for it.”