Month: November 2006

OVERVIEW: EU STANCES ON TURKEY
Cafe Babel, France
Nov 8 2006
With the EU progress reports on Turkey coming out this week, the
country is in the spotlight. Where do the EU members stand on its
membership bid?
Roughly there are three groups. Those who are in favour of Turkish
entry, those who are against and those who are stuck in the middle.
The United Kingdom and Finland are two countries in favour of Turkish
membership. The Finnish Presidency has for months been engaging
in ´sauna diplomacy´, trying to find a solution to the problem of
Cyprus, that is to say the opening of Turkish ports and harbours to
Cypriot ships and planes. In December the Council is expected to say
whether or not Turkey has made sufficient progress on this issue,
but Commission President Barroso has stated he expects trouble ahead.
France and Germany are against. In Germany, the coalition government
is split, with the SPD in favour of membership and the CDU in favour
of a ´privileged partnership´ with Turkey, stopping short of full
membership. In France, elections are upcoming. The likely candidate
for the right, Nicolas Sarkozy, is against Turkish membership As for
the left, it is still unclear, but it was the Socialist party which
introduced a bill making it a crime to deny that Armenians suffered
genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks after the first world war.
France will have a referendum on Turkish membership before negotiations
are concluded.
Others, mostly the new member states, seem undecided. Poland, while
inclined to listen to Pope Benedict´s claim that Turkey is perhaps
not culturally a part of Europe , is demanding fair treatment of
candidate states, Turkey among them.
–Boundary_(ID_7eD9QU69DYrC3YITapz/gw)–

SABANCI: EUROPE NEEDS TURKEY MORE THAN TURKEY NEEDS EUROPE
Anatolian Times, Turkey
Nov 8 2006
ANKARA – “In the long run and in economic terms Europe needs Turkey
more than Turkey needs Europe,” Sabanci Holding Chairman Guler Sabanci
has indicated.
In her article published in Financial Times, Sabanci stated, “Turkey
has been an integral part the twists and turns of European history
for 700 years. We should remember this long history of engagement
when discussing Turkey’s European Union membership and negotiations,
which formally began just last year. An EU report on the progress of
the talks, due to be released tomorrow, is being seen by some as a
‘breaking point’.”
She underlined, “the progress report is an interim document that
underlines what still remains to be done, as opposed to celebrating
what has been achieved. By its very nature it cannot do justice to
the profound importance of these talks when it comes to facing the
global issues of tomorrow.”
“The main challenges facing humanity over the coming century cannot
be tackled at the level of a single nation state. Climatic changes,
potential pandemics, the gap between rich and poor, security and
immigration all are problems that require a governance system that
covers significantly more than current sovereign areas. The EU is a
vaguely understood, but courageous, search for such a new governance
structure. My country has to be a part of this. Turning inward and
trying to close the world out is a backward step, both for the EU
and Turkey,” Sabanci indicated.
She noted, “the strategic importance of Turkey within Europe is
undeniable. Its experience with multi-ethnic and multi-denominational
governance structures, geographic position, historical ties with
and knowledge of areas to its south and east, its young population,
access to energy and control of water resources make Turkey a critical
player in the emerging EU.”
“The main problem is political. Economic fears are often cited but
those arguments are quite empty. For sure, the current rules of the
EU would require a transfer of resources to Turkey for about 10 to 15
years. However, in plain business terms the discounted present value
of Turkey’s contributions to an ageing Europe beyond that period is
greater than the outlay. In the long run, in economic terms Europe
needs Turkey more than Turkey needs Europe,” Sabanci stated.
“We are moving towards a lofty goal but the road there is narrow and
leaves little room for manoeuvre. After 700 years of dealing with
each other, all parties can point to historical reasons for caution.
As the process is not really one of “negotiating” but checking to
see if Turkey fulfils certain conditions for entry, it is by its
very nature unilateral. Any unilateral process is open to all sorts
of misunderstandings that need a conscious effort to prevent or undo.
There are some principles to follow that will make this process
easier,” she noted.
“First, unilateral does not – should not – mean ‘arbitrary’ or
‘variable’. If it is seen that way the ‘candidate’ may lose interest.
Something of this nature has been happening to Turkish public opinion,
in particular with respect to Cyprus. After the accession of a
divided Cyprus to the EU – in spite of the Greek Cypriot rejection of
the United Nations plan supported by the EU – the agreement whereby
sanctions on North Cyprus were to be lifted as a first step seems to
have been forgotten. Yet the demands on Turkey remain,” Sabanci said.
“Second, there is a need to find a way of providing ‘wiggle room’ for
all parties to allow politicians to win the support of their public.
It is in no one’s interest to push any party into a corner from which
they cannot emerge,” she noted.
Sabanci indicated, “third, the EU must avoid blatant asymmetry.
Turkey can not be chastised for parts of its penal code that may
inhibit freedom of expression while member states try to criminalise
historical debate about what happened to Armenian and Turkish
communities during the first world war in a manner that inhibits free
speech and research to expose the truth.”
“Fourth, there is a need to keep ‘pressure’ in the system to ensure
that the requisite reforms are being implemented, in particular the
legal protection of the individual. This should not be hard as there
are many non-governmental organizations in Turkey pushing for such
reforms irrespective of the EU talks,” she said.
Sabanci added, “most important there is a need for sincerity,
an honest effort on both sides to arrive at a successful result,
Turkey’s accession as a full member.”

“RESOLUTION IS EU PARADOX”
Sabah, Turkey
Nov 8 2006
Social democrat leader Bos who is anticipated to become the Prime
Minister of Holland in the election on November 22nd spoke to Sabah
about Turkey’s road to the EU; and the Armenian genocide and law
preparations regarding this.
Wouter Bos stated that the issue of the Armenian Genocide is always
on the agenda of Turkey’s relationship with the EU. Bos stated that
this issue can not be put forward as a preliminary condition to
Turkey. He said: “this issue which could not be solved for a century
should be discussed openly and confidently. Barristers should decide
the definition of genocide and whether it is planned and proven.” The
French Parliament’s accepting the legal bill of denial of genocide
is an approach opposite to the freedom of expression. While Turkey is
asked to take steps regarding human rights and freedom of expression,
one EU country accepts such a bill limiting this liberty; which is
a paradox for the EU. This, in turn ruins the dependability of the
European Union.”

GOING UP IN SMOKE?
By Times Team
Kenya Times, Kenya
Nov 8 2006
Security: Mp Laments Insecurity Has Reached Unprecedented Levels,
Cites Incidents Ranging From Carjackings, Raids To Ethnic Clashes
THE Government was yesterday put on notice over rampant insecurity
amid claims that the controversial Armenian brothers Artur Margaryan
and Sargarsyan could be back in the country.
Ndhiwa MP Jodhua Orwa Ojodeh (Narc) raised the issue in parliament,
demanding that Internal Security and Provincial Administration minister
John Michuki provides comprehensive statement on what the government
was doing to address insecurity in the country and to either confirm
or deny that the Armenian brothers are in the country.
The MP gave a chronology of unabated criminal incidents in the country
that included the Mathare flare-up as well as the recent raid on
Michuki’s Kangema home that also left a chief shot dead and sought
to know what the Government was doing about them.
Ojodeh raised the question parliament only hours after four armed
gangsters casually walked into Mombasa’s Moi Avenue Post Bank branch
and walked away with Sh 7.5 million.
He did not, however, give any more details regarding the Artur brothers
who were deported from the country in June after causing a security
scare at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The two had
drawn a gun to force into the country a passenger and luggage without
being inspected.
Mr. Michuki was not in the House, but his assistant Kingi Kahindi
promised to issue a statement later.
Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo who was in the Chair concurred with the
MP that the issue being raised was of grave concern and asked the
government to take the matter seriously.
Mr Michuki is under pressure following a sharp upsurge in incidents of
insecurity in the recent past with flare ups in Mathare, Kuresoi and
Kuria-Transmara border as well as spiralling cases of, bank robberies
and car-jackings.
In Mathare’s case, six people were killed on Monday night while
thousands were left homeless as bloody violence continued to
escalate. Police reports indicate that three of the people were hacked
to death during the violence while three others were shot dead by
intervening officers.
Even as Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Joseph Waweru slapped a 7.00
pm to 7.00 am curfew on Mathare residents, hundreds of them were by
yesterday evening fleeing their homes in fear of reprisal attacks by
members of outlawed gangs Mungiki and Taliban gangs, whom the police
yesterday attributed the violence to.
A contingent of General Service Unit (GSU) was last evening dispatched
to the sprawling slums as the regular and administration police
officers who had been stationed there were withdrawn following
accusation of alleged complicity.
In Kuresoi, latest reports say police gunned down four suspected
arsonists as renewed wave of ethnic skirmishes entered its fourth
day in the troubled division of Nakuru District, bringing to eight,
the number of lives so far lost since Sunday.
According to the Rift Valley Provincial Police Officer, Everret Wasige,
the four were caught up with by security personnel torching houses at
Gacharage Farm while armed with bows, poisoned arrows and pangas which
they allegedly used to attack the police when challenged to surrender.
Two weeks ago, assistant minister, Dr Wilfred Machage, escaped death
by a whisker around the same area when an arrow aimed at him hit a
wallet on his chest pocket leaving him with only minor bruise.
According to reports, two of the dead men involved in the Mathare
flare-up were killed by suspected members of the outlawed Mungiki
sect while the others were shot dead by police who found them wielding
panga’s and other crude weapons.
Besides these incidents, the rate of car-jackings and theft in the
city and the country in general have risen sharply with the latest
being the weekend theft at City Hall in which the Deputy Mayor’s
chain was stolen, the attempted car-jacking and shooting at a car
being driven by Kisumu Rural’s MP Prof Anyang Nyong’o’s wife Dorothy
and the raid in Michuki’s home.
In Parliament, Ojodeh expressed grave concerns over the contradicting
reports attributed to the Police Commissioner Ali and Mr Michuki
after the attack at the minister’s home.
“Was the raid at Michuki’s home stage managed?”, he posed. “Police
Commissioner says no raid, but Michuki confirms the attack in his
home”.
“In 1975 before former MP J.M Kariuki was murdered, there were planned
bomb attacks at OTC bus stage and Norfolk Hotel. Are Kenyans safe or
is there planned assassination of prominent persons?,” he questioned.
The MP cited other insecurity incidents among them the mayhem in
Kibera three weeks ago.
In Mathare yesterday, a vehicle belonging to one of the residents and
a private clinic operated by an International NGO were set ablaze by
irate mob. Upendo clinic and the pick up car were burnt yesterday in
the morning.
According to the residents, the violence which begun on Sunday has
spread to neighbouring villages in the slum due to alleged incitement
by unnamed politicians and police laxity to patrol the affected
villages at night.
They said the initial conflict revolved around Mungiki adherents and
traders of illegal brew “Chang’aa” over payment of bribes.
Yesterday, Nairobi Provincial Police Officer King’ori Mwangi led a
contingent of administration and regular police officers in the area
to diffuse tension. It was, however, evident that irate residents
were uncomfortable with police presence, accusing them of patrolling
the slums during the day and deserting then at night when the enemies
attack.
Several people have been injured in the skirmishes that begun on Sunday
when a group of chang’aa traders clashed with Mungiki adherents. The
traders accused sect members of demanding at least Sh100 to operate
the illegal trade.
The skirmishes have also sucked in police officers in the area who
are accused of offering protection to alleged known gang members.
Over 200 houses have been reduced to ashes since Sunday as a number
of shops and houses were looted during the night violence.

PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH HIS JORDANIAN COUNTERPART
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006
After Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and visiting Prime
Minister and Defense Minister of Jordan Marouf al-Bakhit met behind
closed doors, the meeting continued in the presence of the two
countries’ delegations.
Mr. Rasizade said he welcomes the level of political cooperation
between the two countries.
He expressed gratitude to Jordan’s Government for supporting Azerbaijan
within various international organizations.
The Premier also spoke of Azerbaijan’s economic progress, adding his
country is the initiator of the global energy and transport projects
in the region.
Artur Rasizade also spoke of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan’s efforts towards finding a peaceful
solution to the dispute.
Jordanian Premier Marouf al-Bakhit stressed the importance of enhancing
the bilateral economic ties, adding establishment of inter-departmental
commissions will contribute to this.
The meeting ended with the signing of a number of interparliamentary
agreements, including ones on economy and tourism.

CO-CHAIRS HAVE NO AGREEMENT ON NAGORNO KARABAKH REFERENDUM
Today, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006
“We have no agreement on Nagorno Karabakh referendum, we will have
discussions on the eve of the Azerbaijani and Armenian ministers’
meeting on November 14 in Brussels and determine our position on the
referendum,” said OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov.
The referendum on Constitution will be held in Nagorno Karabakh on
December 10. There is a special paragraph in the constitution to be
accepted by referendum on separatist Nagorno Karabakh regime.
Foreign Ministry Press and Information Policy Department Tahir
Tagizadeh told the APA world community and OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
should estimate Nagorno Karabakh puppet regime unambiguously. “For
Azerbaijan everything is clear – these actions are realized by illegal
regime, contradicts the Azerbaijani Constitution and international
legislative norms and can not influence peace negotiations as to its
features,” he told APA.
The diplomat considers that the steps made by illegitimate regime
can not achieve legal results.
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PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN CALLS KAZAKHSTANI BUSINESS TO “HEAD FOR ARMENIA”
Regnum, Russia
Nov 7 2006
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and president of Armenia
Robert Kocharyan took part in a business forum in Astana, REGNUM
correspondent reports.
Kocharyan who is staying in Kazakhstan with a two-day official visit,
told the audience that economically speaking, Armenia and Kazakhstan
are not competitors, thus, the president believes, the business has all
grounds to develop mutually beneficial cooperation. The Armenian leader
said that the both countries’ economies are complementary regarding
each other. “Our countries maintain great bilateral relations, free
of any controversial and sensitive issues,” Kocharyan said. He says
that the IT, banking, and agricultural spheres, as well as ore mining
and metallurgical industries may be attractive for the Kazakhstan’s
business.
Nazarbayev called Kazakhstani business circles to more actively explore
the new opportunities. “I call our companies – as the business requires
– to head to Armenia, to their own and everybody’s benefit, learn
the situation and invest in Armenian economy, using legislation and
chance.” The Kazakhstani leader pointed that for the 15 years of its
independence, Kazakhstan has invested $18bn in various international
projects. In the Caucasus, Georgia has been lately receiving most
investments.
Kocharyan said that both countries until recently “never seriously
worked on” the issue of active development of bilateral business
contacts. Nazarbayev replied that the present friendly relations
between Kazakhstan and Armenia and his personal friendship with
president Kocharyan will help to develop the business partnership.

ARMENIA: SOCIALISM IN ONE VILLAGE
Marianna Grigoryan
EurasiaNet, NY
Nov 8 2006
“Long Live Communism!,” “Long Live Socialism!,” “Long Live the Great
October Revolution!” In the Armenian village of Lernamerdz, about 40
kilometers from Yerevan, communism and its triumphant proclamations
are not a dim recollection. They are a way of life.
In Soviet times, there were reportedly only seven communists in
Lernamerdz, a hamlet of over 500 residents. But the situation changed
after Armenia gained independence in 1991, and began to dismantle
monuments to communist leaders, villagers say.
Amidst the economic hardships and political uncertainties of
independence, Lernamerdz Communist Party Secretary Samvel Mirzoyan
says, the village began to see socialism as their sole support.
“They say the country has become independent, but from what?”
commented villager Azat Barseghyan. “Once we were dependent on
Russia, and lived well… [T]oday we depend on the whole world and
are struggling to survive.”
“The example of Lernamerdz is a good illustration of what great
results people’s unity and rallying around a common idea can bring,”
said Armenian Communist Party First Secretary Ruben Tovmasyan. “The
powerful ideology of socialism cannot die. It can retreat for a while,
but it is certain to come back and triumph.” Communist Party membership
in Armenia currently stands at about 18,000 members; the party has
no seats in parliament.
The lack of political muscle does little to dissuade these villagers,
though. Nearly 15 years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the first
toast at birthday and wedding parties here is in honor of Vladimir
Lenin. Unlike elsewhere in Armenia, schoolchildren are familiar with
communist holidays, and can recite by heart poetry dedicated to the
now much-maligned leader of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.
And as in Soviet times, November 7, the anniversary of that
revolution, remains cause for official celebration, with Communist
Party representatives from nearby towns and the party’s national
leadership on hand to congratulate villagers.
“Our leader is with us, hurrah!” ring out the cries of villagers
applauding a silvery two-ton statue of Lenin that stands in the center
of the village. The monument, adorned with a red banner that proclaims
“Proletarians of All Countries, Unite!,” arrived only in 1997. It is
repaired every year to maintain its appearance.
The central government’s enthusiasm for the festivities runs thin,
however. Villagers told EurasiaNet that the government had changed
the principal of the Lernamerdz school and forbidden children to
come to school in red scarves, or to take part in the November 7
celebration. But some still attended.
“The spirit of communism is in this village,” commented Sofik
Manukyan, second secretary of the Echmiadzin city branch of the
Armenian Communist Party.
Even so, that “spirit” has so far done little to improve living
conditions for village inhabitants. Unemployment still looms large.
Some 150 people have left Lernamerdz in the past few years, said
villager Barseghyan. Twenty-three houses have had their doors locked
for years, he added.
Nonetheless, optimism for a better life persists. It is all just a
matter of time, villagers say.
“When communism returns to Armenia, people will lead a happy life,”
concluded 41-year-old Rostam Avdalyan. “Everyone will be happy then
and the sun will shine brightly.”
Editor’s Note: Marianna Grigoryan is a reporter for the Armenianow.com
weekly in Yerevan. Onnik Krikorian is a freelance journalist and
photographer from the United Kingdom based in the Republic of
Armenia. He works for a variety of publications and international
organizations.

OPPOSITION BLASTS RECENT ECONOMIC DEALS WITH RUSSIA
By Anna Saghabalian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 7 2006
Several opposition members have criticized the Armenian authorities
for continuing to yield the country’s economic potential to Russia
in a bid to secure its favors during the upcoming elections.
Aram Manukian, a senior member of Armenia’s former ruling Armenian
National Movement (HHSh) party, charged that the authorities are
trying to preserve their illegitimate power by selling out the nation’s
economic facilities.
In particular, he criticized the authorities for their recent energy
deals that would give Russia’s state-run Gazprom monopoly a commanding
share in Armenia’s natural gas distribution network and, most probably,
the incoming gas pipeline from Iran.
“These steps are taken ahead of the national elections so that the
Russian scenario works in the country once again,” Manukian said.
“There are plenty of actors who would like to play the Russian scenario
in Armenia.”
The leader of the Democratic Part of Armenia Aram Sarkisian also
sees political reasons behind the sellout of strategically important
economic facilities to Russia. He reminded the 2003 elections when
unlike their western colleagues the CIS observer mission did not
criticize the authorities for the poor conduct of the elections.
Member of parliament from the ruling Republican Party Armen Ashotian
brushed aside the opposition accusations.
“The harshest criticism of the 2003 elections came from European and
U.S. structures and it would be logical to try to appease them rather
than Russia,” he said.

EXPORTERS FEAR FURTHER DRAM UPSURGE
By Shake Avoyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 7 2006
A manager of Armenia’s leading diamond exporting company fears a
further appreciation of the national currency may leave producers
oriented for foreign markets counting their losses.
Head of the British-registered Diamond Company of Armenia and President
of the International Association of Armenian Jewelers Gagik Abrahamian
told the media at the Hayeli (Mirror) club on Tuesday that if the
situation continues it may cause many exporting businesses to wind
up their operations altogether.
Abrahamian, who is brother of influential President of the Union
of Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamian, said exporting companies in
Armenia do not yet work at a loss, but he said their profits have
considerably reduced.
“I suggest temporarily fixing the dram’s exchange rate to the dollar
or the euro to curb its further appreciation. It should be fixed
for a certain period of time allowing for a certain percentage of
fluctuation of course,” Abrahamian said, describing the exchange rate
of some 400 drams per U.S. dollar as quite acceptable.
On the whole agreeing with Abrahamian, the owner of the Mika Limited
Company, wealthy businessman Mikael Baghdasarov thinks, however, that
the appreciation of the Armenian currency will have a long-term benefit
for the economy, although he said as a cement producer he has suffered
losses. “The timing for the strengthening of the dram has been chosen
correctly, because all world prices are high, they have never been so
higher before and are likely to start to fall in the near future. If
international prices go down and the dram in Armenia gains in value,
the losses will be greater, as now prices abroad compensate the losses
incurred because of the exchange rate,” he explained.
Baghdasarov, a fuel tycoon believed to have super profits from the
favorable situation with the dram/dollar exchange rate, says nothing
should be changed in the Central Bank policy. “Only the dollar fall
should be made slower,” he said.
The Armenian dram has gained more than 40 percent in value against
the U.S. dollar since December 2003 and its appreciation is hurting
domestic manufacturers and many people dependent on cash remittances
from their relatives working abroad.
The authorities strongly deny any exchange rate manipulation. The
Central Bank ascribes the upsurge primarily to recent years’ increase
in hard currency wired home by hundreds of thousands of Armenians
living and working abroad. Another explanation is the recently observed
construction boom in the country that attracts millions of dollars
from abroad invested in property.
Last month Suren Bekirski, director of the export-oriented textile
company Tosp, told RFE/RL that as an exporter their company loses
twice as much as it gains marketing its products locally.
“If things go on like this, we will last for only a few more months,”
he said.