Month: November 2006

SPIRIT OF COOPERATION DOMINATES TURKIC SUMMIT
Mevlut Katik
EurasiaNet, NY
Nov 20 2006
The results of the November 17 summit of the leaders of Turkic-speaking
nations exceeded the expectations of many diplomats and political
analysts. The presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
and Turkey took the first steps toward the creation of a Turkic
commonwealth, giving an enthusiastic endorsement to efforts aimed at
strengthening energy and security ties.
The four leaders, along with Turkmenistan’s envoy to Turkey, gathered
at the Turkish Mediterranean resort city of Antalya for the summit,
the eighth such gathering of its kind, but the first held in five
years. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Officials
from Uzbekistan, who had been slated to attend, ended up boycotting
the event due to a breakdown in relations with Turkey.
The participants signed a declaration committing the Turkic states
to strengthen economic and transport ties, while stressing “the
importance of the joint fight against terrorism, the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction, drug smuggling, weapons smuggling,
human smuggling and other organize crimes.” The statement also
endorsed the concepts of Turkey’s accession to the European Union,
and a peace settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that leaves
the territory under Azerbaijan’s control.
“We declare that we support peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in accordance with the principle of territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan, and that we will further support fraternal Azerbaijan
in this dispute,” Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive].
The four leaders underlined both the “increasing importance of the
Caspian Basin for the energy security of Europe” and the “strategic
importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan [BTC] oil pipeline opening and
the [expected] completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum [BTE] natural
gas pipeline.” They also stressed the importance of the possible
addition of trans-Caspian transportation routes to both the BTC
and the BTE. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Sezer
stressed in his opening speech the importance of involving energy-rich
Turkmenistan in the summit process, and vowed that Ankara would work
to facilitate energy exports from the Caspian Basin to Europe via
Turkey. Turkic leaders underlined in the Antalya declaration that
“increasing energy cooperation would positively and directly contribute
to economic and political stability” in Eurasia.
Kazakshtani President Nursultan Nazarbayev took observers, and even
many participants, by surprise by proposing the creation of a Turkic
parliamentary assembly. Nazarbayev went on to nominate former Turkish
president and prime minister Suleyman Demirel to serve as the proposed
assembly’s first chairman.
Nazarbayev’s proposal was indicative of his interest in exploring the
feasibility of a full-blown Turkic commonwealth. “We have to discuss
it,” Kazakshtani Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart
Tokayev told EurasiaNet, referring to the commonwealth possibility.
It would appear that Nazarbayev, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
and Kyrgyzstani leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev now see closer cooperation
as a way to leverage the collective influence of “200 million Turks,”
as Nazarbayev put it, in pursit of specific policy aims.
“The problem of one Turkic speaking nation must be the problem of other
Turkic speaking nations,” the Anatolia news agency quoted Aliyev as
saying. Observers interpreted his comments as meaning Turkic states
should collectively push for results in Turkey’s EU accession process
and Azerbaijan’s Karabakh peace talks that are satisfactory to Ankara
and Baku respectively.
If the Turkic states actually opted to coordinate diplomatic action,
they might have the collective muscle to alter the existing equilibrium
in many geopolitical matters. In the case of Turkey’s troubled drive
to join the EU, for example, a Turkic commonwealth could influence
Brussels’ decision-making calculus by playing the energy card, letting
it be known that a rebuff of Ankara could hinder the EU’s access to
Central Asian energy supplies.
Kyrgyzstani diplomats also stressed that closer cooperation would
enhance Bishkek’s international profile. Kanat Tursunkulov, a top
Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry official, said President Bakiyev’s attendance
at the summit, despite the “recent troubles” in Bishkek, underscored
the Kyrgyz government’s position that closer cooperation among Turkic
states is a top political priority. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].
Commenting on the outcome of the summit, a top Turkish diplomat
said, “The era of romantic embracing has ended; the era of concrete
cooperation has started.” Nazarbayev, Aliyev and Bakiyev all quietly
expressed a desire for their respective countries to host to the next
Turkic summit. At the same time, participants emphasized a need to
proceed cautiously, seeking to dispel any impression that they are
rushing toward institutionalizing the group.
Beyond the steps toward closer cooperation, the Turkic summit will be
remembered for the public airing of a diplomatic feud between Turkey
and Uzbekistan. Some news reports claimed that Uzbek officials stayed
away from the gathering to protest the final declaration’s wording on
the Karabakh settlement. However, a senior Turkish official said the
reason for Tashkent’s displeasure was Turkey’s decision to join the
United States in supporting a draft measure in UN General Assembly’s
Human Rights Council that would condemn human rights violations
in Uzbekistan.
The official was outspoken in his criticism of both Uzbekistan’s
rights behavior and Tashkent’s reaction to Ankara’s vote. “It is
time that some countries learned that democracy and human rights
are essential to integrate into the global system,” he said. “Turkey
will persistently work to promote democracy and human rights for the
region`s own benefit.”
Turkey’s decision to vote for the draft Human Rights Council
resolution was “a reflection of our ideals and understanding of
the importance of democracy and respect for human rights,” the
official continued. “Turkey has been criticized for similar reasons
[human rights violations] in the past, but we never turned it into
a bilateral issue, and chose to make improvemenst in our [democracy
and human right] records instead.”
Such blunt talk would appear to mark a significant shift in Turkish
policy, as Turkish officials had unitl now avoided open criticism of
Uzbek government action. It may be that Turkey’s desire to meet EU
accession criteria, especially the need to bolster its human rights
credentials, is playing a role in the adoption of a toughter line
toward Tashkent. The official also indicated that Ankara is growing
tired of Uzbek President Islam Karimov’s demands. “They [Uzbek
officials] also accuse us of supporting the Uzbek opposition, citing
[the fact that] opposition leader Mohammad Solih freely travels to and
lives in Turkey. Mr. Solih is free to travel anywhere he wants to go,
and travels to Norway, Britain and the United States. Why is Turkey
being singled out?” the official said.
Editor’s Note: Mevlut Katik is a London-based journalist and analyst.
He reported this piece from Antalya where the summit took place.

ARMENIAN “MITK” ANALYTICAL CENTER: YEREVAN SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT SADVAL, AVAR AND TALISH NATIONAL MOVEMENTS IN AZERBAIJAN
Today, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2006
Armenian analytics consider that official Yerevan should gain pressure
leverage by supporting separatist movements in the territories of
Georgia and Azerbaijan.
The details of the separation ideas of Georgia and Azerbaijan
territories is declared in the writings of Apet Madoyan “Armenian
Project of Caucasus” and Andrey Arashev “International legitimating
of unrecognized countries” in official website of Armenian “Mitk”
Analytical center. Apet Madoyan thinks that statehood genes of
Abkhazians, Ossetian and Armenians are strongly developed than
Azerbaijani and Georgian genes.
“That is why Armenia should support the fight of Abkhazia, South
Ossetia and Nagorno Garabagh for the independence and freedom demands
of Chavakhetia Armenians. Besides, Armenia should continue to support
Sadval movement in Azerbaijan, “Talish liberty movement,” the projects
to make Avars more active. Armenia’s position is to gain stability
and peace in Caucasus by releasing all nations from Azerbaijan and
Georgian despotism.”
Andrey Areshev shared his partner’s view and said that Georgians
pursues genocide policy against Ossetians. Andrey also wrote that
Russia should also support unrecognized Republics in South Caucasus.
It should be noted that, “Mitk” Analytical Center has close relations
with Armenian special service bodies and issues material against
Azerbaijan. Besides, “Mitk” cooperates with Lezghin separatists,
APA reports.
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“SETTLEMENT OF FROZEN CONFLICTS: LEGAL ASPECTS OF SEPARATIST CRISIS IN MOLDOVA” REPORT PRESENTED
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2006
The GUAM countries’ representation at UN held presentation of the
report named “Settlement of frozen conflicts: legal aspects of
separatist crisis in Moldova”, prepared by New York Association of
Lawyers (NAL).
In their remarks, the authors of report – chairman of NAP’s Europe
Affairs Committee, professor M. Meyer, chairman of NAP Committee on
UN E. Defies, professor K. Borgin have noted, that the basic purpose
of preparation of the report consists in “finding of the fair legal
settlement of the question there, where the policy has failed”.
Authors of the report have come to conclusion, that the non-recognized
“Republic of Pridnestrovye” does not possess the right of
self-determination outside of the state in which it locates.
In their statements, representatives of Ukraine, Georgia and Azerbaijan
have especially estimated the approach to the report from legal
aspect and have emphasized the opportunity of the settlement of
similar conflicts only on the basis of international law.
Representative of Azerbaijan has noted, that conclusions at which
arrived the authors of the report, in present conditions are of
great importance not only for conflicts in Moldova, but also for all
existing conflicts in territory of the GUAM countries. Azerbaijan’s
representative noted similar aspects of conflicts on GUAM
space, specified presence in them of the facts of separatism
and participation of the third parties and supports from abroad,
illegal presence of foreigners and, at last, abusing principles of
self-determination. He especially emphasized the conclusion sounded
in the report – the “Republic of Pridnestrovye” does not possess the
right of self-determination outside of the state where it enters.
Then, the authors of the report have answered questions. Answering
question of the representatives of Armenia, professor M. Meyer has
noted, that, despite of distinctive features of conflicts, supremacy
of law is common for all. Professor K. Borgen in his answer, having
listed the basic terms of self-determination of peoples, said that
cession of rights could be accepted as an exclusive variant only with
the consent of the state.

PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON GOVT TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE OF THE CHERKESS PEOPLE
Interfax, Russia
Nov 20 2006
KRASNODAR. Nov 20 (Interfax) – Representatives of six public
organizations in Adygeya, Karachayevo-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria
have signed an address to the Russian federal government, urging it
to recognize genocide of the Cherkess people in the 18th and 19th
centuries.
“We ask the government to recognize moves by Tsarist Russia from
the middle of the 18th century to the beginning of Word War I
as genocide. The Cherkess people suffered great deprivations and
hardships, Zaur Dzeukozhev, deputy head of the Adyg republican public
movement the Cherkess Congress told Interfax on Monday.
“We are ready to discuss this question, hence our address to the
president. Also, we have appealed to the European Parliament because
it recognized the genocide of the Armenians,” Dzeukozhev said.
Historians have “sufficient materials in their archives, including
eye-witness reports and documents, to prove the genocide,” he said.

LEADER OF RUSSIAN ARMENIANS CLAIMS HATE CRIMES IN RUSSIA AFFECT ARMENIANS LESS THAN OTHER MINORITIES
By Ruzanna Stepanian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 20 2006
A Moscow-based Armenian tycoon argues that racially motivated attacks
in Russia affect Armenians to a lesser degree than representatives
of other non-Slavic ethnic minorities.
Addressing the concerns over the recent killings of two ethnic
Armenians in Murmansk and near Moscow, Ara Abrahamian, the president of
the Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR), told Armenian intellectuals at
the Writers’ Union in Yerevan on Monday that one shouldn’t think that
only Armenians become victims of ethnic violence and get killed. On
the opposite, he said, statistics shows that representatives of other
ethnic groups, for example Azerbaijanis, are killed more frequently
in Russia.
“One killed Armenian is already too many. But Russia is a big
country. Armenians are killed not only because they are Armenians,
but they are killed because of their ‘wrong color of hair’. There is
no deliberate murder of Armenians,” Abrahamian said, adding that much
fewer Armenians than Azerbaijanis or Georgians or representatives of
other [non-Slavic] ethnic groups are murdered in Russia.
According to Abrahamian, indeed there are some problems in Russia’s
law-enforcement bodies when they try to soften the motives of crimes,
besides corresponding work is not being done in public circles
to prevent such cases. But, he said, it doesn’t mean that Russian
authorities encourage such crimes.
The killings of two ethnic Armenians in the last couple of weeks
sparked a fresh outcry in Armenia. Scores of young people in Yerevan
signed a petition last Friday addressed to Armenia’s foreign minister
protesting Yerevan’s inaction and lack of policies on what they believe
to be crimes committed against Armenians in Russia on ethnic grounds.
Chairman of the UAR Murmansk regional community, businessman Artur
Harutiunian was killed next to his house on November 16. Earlier,
on November 11, an Armenian teenage boy, Narek Kocharian, was stabbed
to death on a railway near Moscow.
Galust Sahakian, who heads the parliamentary faction of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia, told Armenian media on November 17 that
it is time the Armenian government took “serious steps” in response
to the ongoing wave of killings of Armenians in Russia.
Heghine Bisharian of the opposition Orinats Yerkir party argued that
the Armenian authorities are partly to blame for the wave of killings
as they have not created favorable economic conditions in Armenia
that would persuade Armenians who emigrated to Russia in search of
livelihood to return.
“It was, indeed, a great loss for us,” Abrahamian said when asked
about the murder of the leader of the Armenian community of Murmansk.
“He [Harutiunian] had been doing a lot to organize Armenians, had
close ties with Armenia. Investigation is underway and it is in the
center of our attention,” Abrahamian said, adding that it is yet very
early to express any opinion as “investigators should be allowed to
do their work.”
Abrahamian said, however, that Harutiunian’s murder was not connected
with his being Armenia. He said he was a businessman and is likely
to have become a victim of “clashing interests.”
Abrahamian complained that they do not get Armenia’s assistance in
preventing such cases. Meanwhile, he said, when a citizen of Armenia
is killed in Russia, Armenia must protest it vigorously.
Abrahamian also said that Armenia must clearly express its policy
towards Georgia in view of the Russian-Georgian tensions.
Russian-Georgian relations must not affect Armenia and if they do,
then in Abrahamian’s opinion Georgia must be criticized.
“Georgia should notify in advance. In case of a blockade it must give
us a way, a corridor,” Abrahamian said.
Speaking about the upcoming elections in Armenia, the leader of
Russian Armenians said he is going to participate in the elections
but within the framework of the law. Commenting on what it means,
Abrahamian said that more than 500,000 citizens of Armenia who are
members of the Union of Armenians of Russia live in the Russian
Federation today. And so the Union must participate in the electoral
processes and express its opinion.
Currently, the organization led by Abrahamian studies the political
field in Armenia, what party presents what program and what political
views they have. In January 2007 the Union of Armenians of Russia
is going to announce what political force it will support in the
upcoming elections.

COMMANDERS’ CONTEST AND REVIEW HELD IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 20 2006
A few days ago a contest and review of the Motor Rifle and Tank
brigades’ Commanders was held in a training military unit within the
frames of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Armed Forces’ training plan.
For five days the Commanders showed their skills of using fighting
equipment and improved field training.
The measures of the kind are systematically held in the Armed Forces
with the participation of various group’s Commanders.
The Army command noted skillful combination of theoretical and
practical knowledge. The best commanders were awarded with the Defense
Minister’s gratitude and certificates of merit, the NKR MFA Press
Center reports.

DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL CO-OPERATION DISCUSSED IN MEETING OF AZERI AND UAE PRESIDENTS
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2006
The development of the bilateral co-operation was discussed on 20
November in Abu Dhabi at the meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev and United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed
Al Nahayn.
Both parties expressed their satisfaction with the development of
co-operation in various areas. It was stated that signing documents
and holding a business forum during Aliyev’s visit to the UAE will
further expand relations between the two countries. Is was agreed that
after the visit, they would fully benefit from the existing potential
for the development of relations, including economic relations.
The Presidents discussed co-operation within the international
organizations, the process of resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and regional questions. In addition, on
20 November, Aliyev met with the member of the Executive Council of
the Dubai Emirate, Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahayn. They spoke of the
successful co-operation of the two countries in various areas. Aliyev
gave an interview to the State media of Abu Dhabi and met with large
business organizations.

RV INVESTMENT TO LEAD EXPEDITION TO GOLD DEPOSITS IN OCCUPIED AZERI LANDS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2006
RV Investment plans to organize an expedition to the gold deposits
in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Company President
Reza Vaziri told APA.
“We, as an international company, tried to learn firsthand situation
by going there through Azerbaijan. But, Armenians fired on us. We will
try to learn firsthand situation within the contract signed with the
government of Azerbaijan on development of gold deposits,” he said.
Vaziri also said that his appeals to the UNO, USA, Canada, UK and
Armenia demanding stop of the illegal development of the gold deposits
which RV Investment has the right to develop have remained unanswered.
“We will appeal to the US Department of State soon,” he said.
Vaziri added that they have concrete documents to bring to court the
companies illegally tapping gold in the deposits.
“We have photos which are taken every two or three weeks. We will
settle the problem in the international court after collecting all
necessary documents.” he said.

NKR DEFENSE MINISTER: “WE HAVE MADE OUR BORDERS IMPREGNABLE”
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 20 2006
The fall call-up to the army started in the Nagorno-Karabakh. The NKR
Defense Minister Lt. General Seyran Ohanian addressed the conscripts’
relatives in the course of a meeting held at an army unit.
“It’s a memorable day, as the NKR Defense Army’s ranks are being
reinforced. I am sure the recruits will fulfill their civil duty
before the Motherland with honor. Today we have an army capable
of fighting, which protects our country, our nation’s creative
work, thus leading to the country’s prosperity. To serve in such a
country is any soldier’s sacred duty. Our boys go to protect their
Motherland’s borders with the soldiers that do not concede to the
developed countries’ servicemen by the level of their combat training.
Having provided our borders with up-to-date engineering devices,
we’ll make them impregnable”, the NKR Defense Minister noted, the
NKR MFA Press Centre reports.

U. S. ARMENIAN COMMUNITY READY TO PROMOTE NKR DEVELOPMENT
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 20 2006
“There is no Armenia without Artsakh, and there is no Artsakh without
Armenia. We should do our best to ensure Artsakh’s development”, the
Armenian Diaspora’s representatives repeatedly stated at a reception
in honor of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) President Arkady
Ghoukassian held last Saturday evening in Santa Anna (CA).
According to the information DE FACTO received at the Main Department
of Information under the NKR President, Arkady Ghoukassian had thanked
his American compatriots for their long-time support to Artsakh’s
social, economic, cultural and spiritual development. The President
underscored Nagorno-Karabakh’s achievements would be impossible without
the Armenian Diaspora’s aid. The meeting’s participants expressed their
readiness to go on rendering assistance to the NKR via implementing
various development projects in the Republic. The interlocutors
stressed the importance of the Diaspora’s active participation
in the TV marathon to be held in the U. S. November 23. The
marathon is targeted at fund raising for the Nagorno-Karabakh’s
further development, in part, Hadrut region’s construction. Famous
philanthropists Costi and Marian Shirvanian, Ralph and Savy Tufenkian,
Hakop and Mina Shirvanian, Vartkes and Mary Najarian, Vahe and
Veronique Karapetian, Roger and Ellen Ohannisian, Hakop Baghdasarian
and others were present at the reception. RÀ Consul General in Los
Angeles Armen Liloyan also participated in the event.
In the course of Arkady Ghoukassian’s meeting with the U. S. Armenian
Diaspora’s influential representatives Dr. Arthur Mesropian, Albert
Boyajian and Harry Turpanjian the interlocutors considered the
perspectives of the Nagorno-Karabakh’s all-sided development. The
NKR President also met with the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA)
leadership and activists in Los Angeles. The interlocutors discussed
the issues referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement,
the NKR regional security, social and economic development and further
democratization.
The NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian will hold a number of other
meetings within the frames of the TV marathon’s preparation.
–Boundary_(ID_UmO3FXaogIrQ/o85B22YT A)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress